Alec landed on his back, the air forced from his body. Shannon's head collapsed onto his stomach, making him cough and wheezed. Every muscle ached as he eased himself from under Shannon, and she too staggered to her feet. Red lights blazed, the entire planet on alert. Sections of the planet and the different layers of the complex were confined by the metal walls that had separated the two of them from the Doctor.
The Doctor ran from the cottage, checking behind him to make sure Sasha had followed. There was a growling behind them and the pattering of claws. As the two of them reached the stairs to the lower layer, a metal wall fell between them and their escape.
"We're trapped!" Sasha gasped, panting as she caught up with the Doctor.
"Damn it!" the Doctor screamed. "What to do? What to do?"
"Can we get out?" Sasha panicked. "Is there a switch? A weakness? A special code?"
"Shut up! I'm thinking!"
"Then think quicker!"
"Why don't you work this out? Off you go. Save us before the monster gets us. You are up to that – aren't you?"
"Not fair! Now's not the time to bicker, just open the door! Get us out!"
"It's what I'm doing!" the Doctor snapped, staggering to his knees, turning red as he pressed his fingers to his temples. His face twitched as thoughts passed through it.
Behind them, the scratching of claws grew louder, accompanied by smashing glass and a howling roar.
"I don't mean to panic you, but panic!" Sasha insisted.
"Shut up!" the Doctor barked.
The cottage doors were thrown from their hinges, clattering to the floor as they splintered into shards, scattering throughout the garden. The monster prowled the doorway, sniffing the air for the scent of its victims. Snarling, it took a step in the direction of Sasha and the Doctor, its black fur standing on end.
"Doctor," Sasha whispered, "any moment know would be amazing."
"Yes! That's it!" the Doctor cried. "It's a simple security system, the sonic should be able to calculate the . . ."
"Just do it!" Sasha screamed, realising there was no point in staying quiet as the monster bared its teeth. "Now!"
The Doctor waved the sonic screwdriver at the metal wall, making it rolls upwards, back into the sky. "Go under it!" the Doctor instructed. Sasha obeyed, crawling under the rising gap as the creature began its sprint towards them. Quickly, the Doctor followed, rolling through the gap to the other side. Immediately, he waved the sonic at the wall, this time to lower it. As the wall locked back into the floor, there was a crash as the monster sprung itself it its prey, crashing into the metal.
"You took your time," Sasha gasped, leaning against the wall as she regained her breath.
"You can do it next time then," the Doctor joked. "Come on. The other door didn't hold for long; I imagine this one won't either."
"Good point," Sasha agreed, jumping off the wall as the monster wailed behind her. "Down a level?"
"Definitely," the Doctor decided. He took Sasha by the hand and led her down a set of spiralling stairs that led down to the next floor. Immediately, the floor above them seemed to disappear, replaced with a layer of sky, even though it was still there. Almost running, they bounded down the steps, arriving at the next set of lush green grass and flashing red lights as a siren wailed. A large metal wall slammed shut before them.
"Sonic," Sasha instructed.
The Doctor opened the door with the sonic, rushing through it will Sasha as soon as it had risen enough for them to climb under. On the other side of the wall was a large field, stretching across the whole of the layer they were on. Vibrant flowers sprouted from the ground, along with flashing red lights which illuminated statues of cherubs with a haunting light. Far in the distance was a large glass building, like a green house, a shining beacon.
"What's that building?" Sasha asked.
The Doctor watched as far away figures ran to it, staggering and crawling from their feet just to get to the building. "Tourist information," the Doctor replied.
"Helpful?"
"Yes. Information on the planet, other people who can help, we'll be able to locate Alec and Shannon . . . And I hope they have biscuits."
"Good. Let's go," Shannon decided, this time she grabbed the Doctor, running with him towards the tourist centre.
"So, waterfall then," Shannon smiled, "a little romantic, if you ask me."
She and Alec had arrived at a waterfall, gushing down into a deep, sparkling lagoon. Yellow mossed trees surrounded them, glittering with dew on the petals of lily pads. Letting her fingers trickle into the flowing water, Shannon sat at the top of the waterfall, perched on a rock.
"I guess it is," Alec agreed, sitting beside her, "but we shouldn't get too comfortable; that monster is still out there."
"But it didn't follow us down onto this level. It'll be off following the Doctor and your sister. Even if it did decide to get us, I bet you it couldn't find us in this complex – it's like a labyrinth."
"But what if it can smell us out?" Alec worried.
"Relax!" Shannon laughed. She wrapped her hands around Alec's palm, massaging it a little, then placed it in the water. "Can you feel that?"
"Yes," Alec smiled.
"And do you like it?"
"Yes."
"I thought you would," Shannon grinned, holding his hand under the water. "My dad used to tell me this story, well, more of a theory, but he told me it like it was a story. I'll try my best. We used to come down to this stream, one in a forest near us, every Saturday morning, even if it rained. Me took my hands and placed them in the water, and talked to me. He said that the rushing of the water cleans your mind and soul, not quite in such a hippy way though. He said that any worries would be washed away, and would eventually make their way into the ocean, where they can never be found again. I was a day-dreamer type of a child, so cowered away from the beach whenever I was on holiday because I thought that if I touched the water I'd be covered in every worry ever had. I know, it's a stupid story but it's what I like to think. I took Mum to do it once, after Dad had died, and she cried. She wasn't sad though; she was smiling. It makes you feel happy, that weightless freedom, even the most damaged of people."
Alec looked up into Shannon's eyes, which were puddled and a little red. Under the water, he placed his hand in Shannon's, squeezing it comfortably. He stroked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, stroking her as he did so. "You're right, it does make you feel happier."
"I knew you would say that," Shannon smiled, squeezing his hand back. "Any worries?"
"None at all."
"Then I guess my Dad was right. I'll never swim in an ocean again," she giggled, standing up and drying her hands in Alec's hair.
Alec laughed, wiping his hands on Shannon's leg for a bit of fun, hiding his true disappointment that their intimate moment hadn't lasted as long as he'd hoped.
The Doctor and Sasha reached the Tourist Information building, bursting through the large glass doors. Panic infected the air, poisoned by the screaming of many species of people as they ran through the room and from desk-to-desk. There was complete madness, no-one taking charge, or at least coming up with a solution.
"OK, everybody listen!" the Doctor cried. He is calls were drowned, one amongst hundreds of other voices. "LISTEN!" he bellowed. A couple of yellow heads turned, but most were still oblivious.
Sasha leapt onto a table, clearly seen by everyone as she unleashed a petrifying whistle. "Listen!" she called, now having the attention of the entrance room. "There is a monster a floor above us, and those metal walls won't hold it for much longer. We need a find a way of trapping it . . . Or destroying it, but we'll use that as a last resort . . . Unless, of course, it tries to kill us. Ok, priorities . . . Hold on, Doctor, can they actually understand me?"
"Yes," the Doctor replied.
"Good. Priorities. We need to save everyone on this planet from that monster. Any ideas?" the room fell silent as Sasha waited, with a slightly widened jaw, for a reply that was never going to come. "Doctor?"
"Yes, ok then," the Doctor began, crawling up onto the table beside Sasha. "We need to know our resources, what exactly is in this building that we can use. I need to know which doors we can lock, any tracking devices, weapons, security protocols, transport and anything else that can help. Staff, any ideas?"
A woman in a suit poked her hand up from the crowd – she was humanoid, but her head resembled some sort of an insect. "The planet is currently in lockdown – it's been split into areas, sealed by automated walls, sirens wail and an immediate distress signal is sent to the nearest sign of intelligent life. All forms of teleportation are forced to close, and the only doors to be locked are controlled from this building."
"Good," the Doctor smiled, "very good resources over all; biscuits would make it excellent. Lock the doors to this building, only let non-threatening life forms in or out. Hold on . . . Teleport! You said teleport! Is there a teleport station within this building?"
"Of course," the woman replied. "There are teleport stations across the planet; it's standard requirements for a tourist planet of this size."
"Good, we can evacuate the planet via the teleports."
"But this is just one room; there are fifty two thousand other tourists across the planet, we can't evacuate them all. They are all in danger. And as I said, teleports don't work now."
"Then send them a message to use the teleports, and don't worry, I'll get them to work. Where's the station in this building?"
"I could show you," the woman offered.
"Yes. You," the Doctor said, pointing to a man in staff uniform, "send that message to the other buildings, and make sure everyone knows. You," he said, pointing to another member of staff, "I want you to seal this building. Alert me as soon as someone tries to enter."
"But what are we escaping from?" the first woman asked.
"A monster," Sasha replied. "So follow every instruction the Doctor gives you because he will save your life. Does everyone understand?" Heads nodded. "Good. Show us where the teleport station is."
"It's this way," the woman gestured, leading the Doctor and Sasha through the thick crowd of people and up a set of stairs. Along a corridor, the woman opening a door, leading them into a white room. On the ceiling hung a large circular device, controlled from a desk at the side of the room. The Doctor jumped to the desk, rummaging through the various buttons and controls. "It won't work. The planet has sealed itself so no transport."
"Really, won't they?" the Doctor smiled, taking the sonic from his pocket and aiming it at the desk, which suddenly flared with light as it burst into action. "Trust me, it'll work now. Quick, go and get the tourists – we're going to send them somewhere safe . . . Sorry, what's your name?"
"Aliana," the woman replied. "I'll fetch them now," she said, hurrying out of the room.
"Where are you going to send them?" Sasha asked, stepping towards the Doctor as he typed a stream of numbers into the desk.
"The nearest survivable planet will have to do. Luckily, the surrounding planets are as safe as this one," the Doctor explained, slightly distracted by his work. "I should send you too."
"But you won't. Wouldn't you?"
"No point," the Doctor laughed. "I've done it before, trying to keep my friends safe, but they always find a way of getting back. The TARDIS usually helps, somehow. I think it likes to help. Especially you, Sasha, I know you'll find a way of getting straight back into the danger."
"Of course," Sasha grinned. "Utter bad penny, I am. You'll need me anyway."
"I don't like companions with an ego."
"Now that you've got me, I won't be going anywhere else," she laughed. There was a sudden wailing from the floor below them, followed by screaming. "What was that?"
"Come on!" the Doctor instructing, running out of the room and back onto the corridor. He peered over the balcony, watching as the tourists below scurried from the door. A man was running towards the building, red with fear and glistening with beads of sweat, not far ahead from the black-furred creature that hunted him. He reached the doors, tried to open it, and then realised that it was locked. "Open the doors!" the Doctor commanded. "OPEN THEM NOW!"
A member of staff rushed to a computer, typing and pressing buttons unto the doors yielded. The man pulled at them, heaving to force them open. Quickly he hurried into the building, but not quite fast enough, pulled back as the monster clung to his leg with its long claws. The man screamed.
"NO!" the Doctor screamed. Running, he descended the stairs, pushing past the crowd and dived to the man, reaching out to grab him before the creature could carry him off. The man was pulled back, screaming as the monster persisted to carry him off, but the Doctor wouldn't let it happen, pulling the man back through the doors using every bit of effort he had. "SASHA! A LITTLE HELP PLEASE!"
"Ok!" Sasha gasped, panicking as she watched the Doctor struggle to hold onto the man. "What to do? How do I had?" she flustered.
"JUST DO SOMETHING!" the Doctor demanded.
"Yes, ok!" Sasha screamed. She stole a chair from the room and brandished it at the monster, stabbing at it with the chair legs in a desperate attempt. As she hit the creature in the jaw, it released its grip, growling as it cowered back.
The Doctor used the opportunity to pull the man back through the doors, back into safety. "LOCK THE DOORS!" he called.
Before the monster could enter the building, the doors slammed shut and locked themselves.
Sasha collapsed to the floor, panting. "Jesus, that scared me!"
"It was me doing all the work!" the Doctor snapped. "How can you be exhausted by giving it a pathetic little poke with that chair? That was awful!"
"I got the job done. You would've been dragged off as well if it wasn't for me. My pathetic poke saved your life, Granddad."
"Hey!"
"Then don't push it," Sasha said with a smirk. "Can someone give this man some help?" Sasha instructed, gesturing to the man that she and the Doctor had just saved. "Anyway, teleport. Let's get these people saved."
"So you're in charge now?" the Doctor challenged.
"Yep," Sasha smiled. She watched as the monster ran out into the distance. "Where do you think it's going?"
"I don't know," the Doctor sighed, crawling back to his feet.
"Are Alec and Shannon in danger?"
"Aren't we all? Follow me. We'll be able to find out," he instructed, leading Sasha back up the stairs. "Aliana!" the Doctor called. Aliana appeared from the crowd, standing to attention. "Teleport everyone off this planet; I've already set the coordinates. Make sure you leave too."
"But what about yourself, Doctor?" Aliana worried.
"I'll stay here with Sasha. We'll be able to get rid of the monster, I'm certain."
"Will you be alright?"
"I'm sure. I have more than enough experience of danger anyway."
"I hate mazes," Alec groaned, "of all the things to put in an intergalactic garden." He followed Shannon through the winding labyrinth of black bushes. "I didn't expect there to be a gothic inspired layer either." Unlike the other sections of the garden, the sun didn't shine bright. At most, it shone a ghostly white, which contrasted against the ebony labyrinth.
"Really? I like mazes. And puzzles," Shannon smiled, clearly enjoyed herself.
"Seriously? This place creeps me out."
"Me too, but it's part of the fun. You don't watch horror films if you want a laugh, you do it for the thrill of being scared."
"I don't like horror movies. I could barely make it through Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. God knows how I'm going to make it through the Goblet of . . ." Alec trailed off, looking behind him to realise that Shannon had vanished. "Shannon?" he stuttered, suddenly feeling a cold chill. "This isn't funny, Shannon!"
"Come and find me!" Shannon taunted, her voice appearing from somewhere amongst the darkness.
"I won't be able to find you, Shannon. We'll both be lost in this maze."
"I won't move then. You can come to me."
"Shannon, please. Ok, I'll say it . . . I'm scared."
"BOO!" Shannon screamed, leaping out of the darkness and grabbing Alec from behind.
"ARGH!" Alec screamed, falling to him feet. "I think I let out of bit of . . . Never mind."
"Ha!" Shannon laughed. "That was hilarious! Here, let me just . . ."
"Shush!" Alec snapped, suddenly frozen solid, his eyes white and bulging.
"What is it?" Shannon whispered. "Is this just a joke?"
"I'm not joking. This is serious," Alec whimpered, gesturing for Shannon to step towards him. "Shush. Don't make a sound or it'll hear you. It's just a step behind you."
Panting, Shannon looked over her shoulder, her heart racing so fast she thought it would burst. There, growling, a monstrous face protruded from the bushes, its eyes glaring. "What do I do?"
"Don't make a sound," Alec instructed, slowly making his way to his feet. His plan didn't work – the creature aimed its gaze at the two of them, crawling out of the darkness towards them. "RUN!" Alec screamed, grabbing Shannon's hand.
The two of them ran through the maze, lost in the darkness, confused as hedges and bushes disappeared and moved around them, persued by the growling and scraping of claws. Within moments they were lost, no idea of where to go, just the animalistic noise that followed them. They stopped – trapped and surrounded by black hedges that closed around them.
"Where do we go?" Shannon panicked.
"We're trapped," Alec gasped. In front of them, the monster appeared. It stalked them at the other end of the corridor of hedges, baring its fangs and scraping its knuckles along the floor. "Oh my God!" Alec whimpered, squeezing Shannon's hand.
"The Doctor will save us," Shannon whispered. "Help us, Doctor."
As the two of them cowered, trapped in their graves, the monster leapt through the air, the image of its sharp fangs printed onto Alec's fearful eyes.
I really hope you liked this! It would be great to see more reviews! The next chapter will be posted soon. Should I continue for another series? :)