In All The Wrong Places

Will strode through the doorway, face pale beneath his black beard, his long hair tied back, making him look like a buccaneer from days of old. Anna stood up, her own face equally pale, shaking from head to foot, Ellie clinging to her. She had awoken in the night, seized by some nameless terror, driving her to Tessa's box-room, only to see two empty camp-beds, Bethany gone like Abigail, Tessa still snoring like an elephant.

"What the hell is it!?" Will demanded, glancing at the others who were assembled in their pyjamas and nightgowns, the sight of their red-rimmed eyes only serving to set off further alarm bells. "Why you all tricked out like you're at a wake!?"

"Bethany's gone," Anna choked out, knowing without words Abigail was equally gone, "and Sam's dead. The – the Skitters..." She broke down, burying her face in her hands, Will swaying on the spot, his sky starting to fall, his family falling apart with it.

"What do you mean she's gone?" Terry asked urgently, stepping forwards, exchanging a glance with Tessa's father.

"She done gone out to find Abby and Jess," Bob spoke up, "Sam too – me an' Craig went out after 'em, but we only found Sam."

"What was left of him," Craig said darkly, making Bob elbow him sharply in the side, earning himself a silent but sore rebuke.

Will just stood there, his face now completely bloodless, his green eyes blazing like emerald fire. "I'm going back out there," he said abruptly, barely able to see for the tears blinding him, "and don't try and stop me," he fired at Terry who was just about to attempt just that, "you're not a father, I can't expect you to understand."

It's not easy for me to talk about
I have heavy heart-strings
I'm not simple, it's trigonometry
It's hard to express
I can't explain…

Anna waddled in the direction of the supply shed, clutching the Bowie knife Will had given her when the world had ended, Bob by her side, gun in hand, both jumping at the slightest sound. It was three in the morning, the sky pitch black, the darkness hiding its cracks. Anna stopped for a moment, pain shooting through her as the baby viciously kicked her, almost as if it was angry at Anna for awakening it from its embryonic slumber.

"S'gonna be okay, Anna," Bob said, taking her elbow, "Will's a tough nut to crack, an' Abby an' Bethy are j'st like 'im. He'll brin' 'em back, both of 'em."

"I know," Anna said, exhaling sharply, battling the tears springing to her eyes again, "it's just the waiting and the not knowing."

Bob clucked his tongue sympathetically, before steering her on, anxious to get her inside. They'd all been sitting in the living room, the tension so thick it could be cut with a knife, Anna unable to take anymore, mumbling an excuse she wanted something to eat, playing the card of her cravings. But Tessa's father had suddenly forbidden her the kitchen, something that had made everybody raise their eyebrows, Terry smoothing it over by saying there was nothing in the cupboards, a blatant lie.

But Anna had just accepted his words, just wanting out of the house, its once welcoming atmosphere now suffocating. Something had changed, the 7th Mass suddenly hostile, Anna not understanding why. The fact Terry would sanction denying food to a heavily pregnant woman, before allowing her go unescorted out into the darkness and danger, only served to emphasize this abrupt change in attitude.

"They's mad at us," Bob said quietly, putting her anxious thoughts into words, "for bringin' trouble to their doorstep."

"I – I don't think it's just that," Anna said slowly, uneasily remembering Terry's almost flippant manner over the fact three children were missing when Skitters could be stalking the woods outside, "I think... I think there's something else going on."

Bob frowned as he pushed open the supply shed door, the words dying on his lips at seeing a stranger standing in front of the shelves, the man whirling around, rifle instantly raised in their direction. "Uh," he said stupidly, "put dem gun down!"

"Only if you lay down your weapon first, buddy," the stranger snarled, tossing his long brown hair back. "And close the door, sweetheart," he fired at the frozen Anna, "you're lettin' in a draft."

Anna hastily obeyed, holding her hands up in front of her in silent surrender, dropping the Bowie knife as she did. "Please," she said, her voice cracking, "don't – don't hurt us."

The stranger studied Anna, his sweeping gaze taking her in from top to toe, from her blonde ponytail down to her baby bump, lingering on her beautiful face the longest. "Nobody's dyin' tonight, darlin'," he said, even as he kept his rifle raised, "just let me take my fill, and I'll be on my sweet way."

"Are you hungry?" Anna said just as stupidly as Bob, making the stranger raise his eyebrows.

"No, I'm fine and dandy," the stranger said sarcastically, "I'm eatin' like a king out there, dinin' on tree bark and Bugs Bunny."

"I'm sorry," Anna said, lowering her hands, something about the long-haired stranger strangely reminding her of her husband, "I – I mean you're welcome to take what you need." Her bright blue gaze was no longer scared but sympathetic, Bob looking at her like she'd lost her mind.

The stranger studied her again, his brow furrowing slightly. "You're not with the sainted 7th Mass are you?" he said suddenly, startling Anna. "Can't imagine one of their own offerin' me the run of their stash."

"No, we just joined them," Anna said, not understanding his angle, "my husband was searching for the 2nd Mass" -

- "You don't wanna join them, sugar," the stranger said, finally lowering his rifle, "they're battin' for the other side."

"What, they're with the aliens?" Bob squeaked, eyes widening behind his glasses.

"You really don't know, do you?" the stranger said, almost like he was enjoying their ignorance. "Their second-in-command's shacked up with some alien human hybrid and she runs with two-hearted honest to goodness Gallifreyans who look like the average Joe" -

- "An alien that looks human?" Anna said, her blood running cold at the thought of this new threat facing her husband and daughters out there. "Not a Skitter?"

"Yeah, an alien that ain't one of the eight-legged bastards that's kicked our ass to kingdom come," the stranger agreed, his face darkening, "and the same goes for the girl. Two different species, man. The whole universe is swarmin' with these shitfucks and they're headin' straight for our neck in the woods."

Anna took a step back, unable to process the fact there were other aliens out there, not just the ones they were up against. Her naivety made the stranger lose what was left of his already strained impatience, his lips curling downwards.

"Listen, honey, the 2nd Mass ain't the only ones to turn traitor," the stranger snapped, "I've seen your 7th Mass conferrin' with the cooties" -

- "I see you've uncovered our dark secret," Terry said coolly, making Anna and Bob whirl around, the stranger instantly raising his rifle. "Now, now, there's no need for any of that," he admonished as his men entered the supply shed, "let's keep things friendly, huh?"

Before Anna and Bob could react, they and the stranger were surrounded, Terry taking their weapons, those of his men aimed at their heads. The next thing they knew, all three were marched outside and into the barn, the stranger separated from them, Anna and Bob forced to stand against the wall where the rest of their people were gathered, Craig conspicuously absent.

"What's goin' down, man!?" the stranger demanded, struggling with his captors.

Terry just ignored him, turning to Tessa's father who carried Ellie in his arms, Anna crying out, trying to reach her daughter, one of the men slamming his rifle butt into her stomach, making her scream and collapse to the ground in agony, anyone trying to help her receiving the same treatment, being battered back.

"What about this one?" Tessa's father said, holding Ellie up like an offering.

Terry studied her for a moment. "Too small," he said, shaking his head. "But we've got enough for now."

"What, you think those five will cut it?" Tessa's father said, thinking of the Bellamy boys, the Dupont twins and Abigail tied up and awaiting collection by the Skitters.

"For now," Terry reiterated, before turning around to face those lined up against the wall, his eyes narrowing, signalling Tessa's father to take Ellie over, dumping her in Anna's arms, ignoring the silent plea in the woman's eyes.

"What are you doin'?" Bob cried out stupidly, clutching his niece as the men raised their guns, the stranger staring in horror, realising what Terry was about to do.

"What I should have done a long time ago," Terry said tiredly, the sound of gunshots silencing their screams.