Jack leant against what was left of a section of the city wall. He'd spent the last three hours scouring the ruined city for the Doctor.
There was no sign of him; not a flash of that tan coat. If he'd escaped from the ship, he sure wasn't in the city anymore.
He looked out at the empty countryside that seemed to stretch for miles. If the Doctor was out there, he would be impossible to find.
Then it struck him. In his panic to find the Doctor, he'd forgotten he had the best blood hound in the universe.
He had never been more pleased to see that blue wooden box, and his heart filled with hope as he stepped inside.
"Hello again old girl," he said. There was rumble under his feet and a feeling of worry washed over him.
"I know, I'm sure you can find him," he replied.
The TARDIS rumbled again, and this time a wave of apprehension went through him as the time rotor began to move.
"Whoa girl!" Jack exclaimed as he fell against the railing. A wave panic and urgency rushed through him.
He clambered up the ramp, grabbed hold of the console and managed to swivel the view screen towards him.
He had to look twice.
They weren't on the planet anymore. In fact he hadn't got a clue as to where they were, because it was pitch black.
"Still broken then, guess I'll have to go outside."
The TARDIS rumbled again. Ignoring it, he walked down the ramp and went to open the door, but found it wouldn't budge.
Again anxiety ran through him, the TARDIS was intent on him not leaving.
"Come on sweetheart, he could be in trouble out there."
Jack tried the door again but it still wouldn't open. This time a wave of fear washed over him.
Was the TARDIS afraid?
"Come on, open the door, then I can find him."
He tried the door again, this time it opened and he stepped outside. He stopped, the view screen wasn't broken; it was pitch black outside.
He went to step back inside the TARDIS, but the door slammed on him and wouldn't open when he tried it.
He shrugged his shoulders, turned around and walked into the dark.
The Doctor felt like a herd of Sartilan Karvoks had run through his head; which meant it hurt, considering Karvoks were twice the size of elephants and three times as heavy.
He groaned and tried to sit up, but once again he found himself restrained. He could feel the metal collar dig into his skin. He managed to get into an awkward half-sitting, half-lying position against what he hoped was a wall.
He didn't bother looking for a door. It was once again too black to see anything. Panic began to rise as his mind worked overtime. He fought it down as it wouldn't help; he needed to remain calm.
He took in a few deep breaths, telling himself it was just dark and there was nothing out there.
Then he felt it...he was no longer alone.
"I hope it's not going to be the silent treatment again, that really is annoying," he said into the darkness.
He was surprised when this time he actually got a reply.
"You are different to the others, your mind is stronger than theirs. What manner of creature are you?"
The voice was more like a whisper as it faded in and out, like a radio that kept losing its signal.
"Oh, I'm nothing special," he said as he tried to pinpoint where the voice was coming from.
"That is a lie, those that I have examined do not have two hearts, nor could they resist me as you have."
"Well that would explain the headache," he said in a casual tone.
He however felt less than casual. The word examined left him with unpleasant thoughts. He felt very much like an unfortunate frog in a jar.
"Yes, you resisted well, but physical pain is the same, no matter the species. You are too different to be an anomaly of genetics. You will make an interesting shade."
The Doctor didn't like that last part, it smacked of conversion. "Ah, well, that's very nice, but black is so not my colour."
"Do you think you have a choice, all things will become one with the darkness. You will become one with the darkness."
"Ah, right, now is that darkness with a capital D, because I'm very fussy when it comes to sharing."
The Doctor shifted uncomfortably, as that feeling of overwhelming dark flooded into his mind again. This time it was more powerful. It split apart his defences, and darkness flooded into the only light that was flickering in his mind, snuffing it out.
Now he knew only the darkness and it was howling at him.