Chapter Nine: In Which The Lights Go Out and Rose Makes a Choice
Rose POV
When Rose re-entered the ballroom it was like she'd never left. She slipped back into the crowd, thinking that one had noticed her. That was until she made eye contact with Lady Penelope. The icy glare that the heiress was giving her told Rose that Penelope somehow knew what she and The Doctor were there for. It only confirmed their suspicions that Lady Penelope was up to something.
Doctor POV
The Doctors investigation took him to the sleeping quarters of Lady Penelope. An entire wing of the mansion was devoted to her bedroom, her closets, and her Headz collection. The wing was separated from the rest of the house by a set of double doors. They were locked, but that had never stopped The Doctor. He simply soniced the lock and snuck inside. He found himself at the end of a rather long hallway, with another set of double doors at the end. He quietly made his way towards the far end of the hallway, passing the many doors that lined either side.
Occasionally The Doctor would pause and read the plaque next to the door. For example, the first room he came upon read 'Summer Wardrobe'. Across the hall there was 'winter wardrobe'. Further along there were countless other rooms. Including 'gloves' 'sleepwear' 'hats' 'makeup' 'shoes' 'swimwear' and many others. Not one plaque read Headz. When he reached the end of the hall The Doctor paused in front of the double doors. He assumed this must be her bedroom. So far there was no sign of her precious collection. With a sigh he soniced open the doors and entered the room.
Immediately he found what he was looking for. There was a bed in the middle of the room. That was the only thing remotely bedroom about Lady Penelope's bedroom. The room was lined with heads. Each one sitting on its one little pedestal sitting on the counter in front of its own personal mirror. The walls were lined with mirrors, each with a little stool in front of it so that Lady Penelope could sit and look at herself in the mirror. The Doctor could see a doorway leading into a second head lined room.
As if that weren't creepy enough they were all looking at him.
The Doctor stumbled backwards and collided into someone. It was then that he realized he'd been followed. Before he knew it there was a hand clamped over his mouth and a small voice was whispering in his ear. "You shouldn't be here sir. You and your lady friend is in great danger. You're lucky I found you before someone else could I reckon. Anyone but me would have your hide. Especially the Lady. You are in big trouble now." The stranger told him "What kind of trouble?" He asked. "It's a long story sir." The stranger, who was clearly a girl, told him. "You'd better get to telling it then." The Doctor replied.
Her name was Simone and she was a prisoner. She had begun working at the estate two years ago. Not even a week after she started she saw something she wasn't supposed too. A kidnapping. "I was just leaving for the night when I heard a commotion in the main hall. It was late so I was curious as to what it was." So she hid behind a statue and watched. "I could make out four figures. Two of em were big brutish men who is never seen before. One was the Lady. I could tell just by looking at her, the way she holds herself, like she's so much better than the rest of us." The Doctor nodded, that was what made Lady Penelope stand out in the ballroom, she practically oozed self-confidence. "The two men were escortin' a young woman down the hallway. She was kicking and screaming all the way so I knew something was wrong."
Simone stopped talking, clamping her hand back over The Doctors mouth. He could hear footsteps in the distance. When they had faded she resumed her story. "I followed them. I wanted to know what they were doing. Cuz I knew that it had to be bad from the way the girl was crying and carrying on." The girl had been one of Lady Penelope's unfortunate victims. "They took her to a room I'd never been in before. Found out later that's where the surgery takes place. The one to remove their heads. The lady gave her a choice. The easy way or the hard way. She could willingly give up her head and she'd receive a new one in return, or she could refuse." The Doctor frowned. "What would happen if she refused?" He asked. "They'd take her head anyway and she'd be disposed of." Simone said, confirming what The Doctor had already assumed.
Simone went on to tell about how she had been discovered snooping and that because of this she was being kept prisoner. "Why not just take your head as well?" The Doctor asked. "I'm not old enough. You've gotta be at least twenty." Simone explained. "Why are you telling me this?" The Doctor asked. "Because that's why you're here. You're in great danger because of it." Simone told him eyes wide. "The Lady has her sights set on her next victim. There ain't nothin that can stop her once she's picked her next victim." The Doctor shook his head. "Who is it? Who's she after?" Simone shook her head. "You don't wanna know sir." She said. "Tell me!" He insisted. "Your friend sir. The girl named Grace. And I'm afraid you're too late to stop her."
Rose POV
The party Got a lot less boring when the lights went out. One second everyone was talking and laughing. Then the lights flickered once, twice, three times before going out completely, submerging the room in darkness. Ladies began to scream and Rose could hear glass shattering somewhere fairly close to her. People were panicking, someone was bound to get hurt in the darkness.
Rose couldn't see a thing. Right now there was probably some poor lady being dragged away to have her head removed. Rose shivered at the thought. She needed some light. Back on the TARDIS, when she'd been getting dressed for the party, she'd found a bigger-on-the-inside clutch. She'd moved the contents of her purse into it, including the torch she'd used to battle that shadow monster. She reached into the clutch, feeling around for it, it had to be there somewhere. There! She'd found it. Before she could pull it out of the clutch she was grabbed from behind.
Rose dropped the clutch in surprise as a hand covered her mouth. A strong pair of arms was wrapped around her waist and she was picked up off the ground. She struggled, trying to free herself, but the grip was too strong. A damp cloth was pressed over her nose. That was the last thing she remembered before she blacked out.
When she came to Rose found herself strapped to an operating table. There was someone standing over her. Rose tried to place the face but everything was a bit woozy. How had she even gotten here? "Sleeping Beauty wakes." The woman said. Even though her tone was icy
And cruel she still managed to sound so bloody nice, which didn't make any sense. Rose recognized that voice. She groaned and tried to sit up. "What do you want from me Penelope?" She asked. "Information?" Lady Penelope laughed. "Don't flatter yourself. I knew of your plans all along. I need no information. What I want from you is your head."
Doctor POV
Something was wrong. People were screaming, and not the good kind of screaming either. "It's started." Simone whispered. The Doctor stared at her. "What has? What's started?" She shook her head. "I'm sorry sir. There's no saving your friend. No one can stop her now." The Doctor stood. "i do believe you're wrong. There is definitely a chance for Grace." He informed Simone. The girl looked up at him, clearly confused. "What do you mean?" She asked. "Oh it's quite simple really. You've said no one can stop Lady Penelope. Well, She hasn't met me yet."
Rose POV
Lady Penlope had kidnapped Rose, drugged her, tied her to a table, and now she wanted Rose to give up her head. Well, at least Rose had a bloody choice. She could willingly give Penelope her head and receive a new one as payment, or she could refuse and they would take her head anyway. Either way Lady Penelope won. Okay it wasn't much of a choice, but at least she had one.
"Tick tock Grace! Time is running out. Make your choice." Penelope sing-songed. Rose rolled her eyes. "You know what? I'm quite a fan of this new face, I'm really starting to like it, so I'd rather not let you have it." Rose said, hopefully sounding way more confident than she felt. Lady Penelope sighed. "I didn't want to do this. I hate being the villain." She turned to address on of her henchmen. "Sedate her."
Rose struggled against her binds, trying to break free. She shut her eyes tight as she felt a needle poke her in the arm. She focused on staying conscious, hoping that her new superior biology would keep her awake. She opened one eye to see Lady Penelope preparing the machine. It looked like a cross between a pizza cutter and a laser. She shivered inwardly as she imagined that slicing through her neck. Someone, she wasn't quite sure who, lifted her head and fastened some sort of collar around her neck.
Rose was about to give in to the darkness that was creeping into the edges of her mind when The Doctor burst into the room. It was like she was watching it happen in slow motion. She heard Lady Penelope yelling at her goons to seize him. Saw him being restrained. Heard him shouting her new name over and over. "Grace! No! Stop this! no!" Then she Couldn't keep her eyes open. Slowly she slipped into a deep, death-like, sleep.
A/N: Dun dun dunnnnn. How do you like the cliffhanger? Don't worry. The Doctor will save the day. If he isnt disposed of as well. Mwahahaha.
Okay. I'm done being evil (For now). I'll have the next chapter up before school starts for me. After that updates will most likely be longer.
A big thank you to everyone who has favorited/followed this story. It's gotten over 4 thousand veiws! That's amazing guys. Thank you for sticking with me through this.
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-Eva