Hide and Seek
Chapter 29 – Trouble Ahead
The Master couldn't help the smile that slid across his face. Although he had given the Doctor an ultimatum he knew exactly what the Doctor would do. He would risk the girl's life, his life, and Jack's life to get to Donna. His eyes were like slits as he considered with relish what the Doctor would be doing right now.
His thoughts turned to the wiring set around the steel fortified reservoir and a frown creased his brow. He could have set the charges earlier than he intended, and then watched from a distance as the Doctor cried his heart out at the cruelty of it all, which he undoubtedly would. He was at the power station now and hadn't bothered with his suit this time, changing into a black jumper in place of the shirt and jacket. He didn't need to dress up for the greatest show on earth.
He'd checked all the charges, timers and detonators, before leaving the chamber, so it was all systems go. Checking once last time that the fencing around the area was live he took deep breath, blowing it out with finality and walked away.
One hour and fifty minutes to go. Everything was set. All he had to do was sit back and enjoy the party.
Once back outside he made his way over to telecommunications area. He'd have a pretty good view of the whole area from the fifth floor. There was a heat haze on the horizon now as the suns were at their warmest, and he took a handkerchief out of his pocket to wipe the sweat from the back of his neck. The air was a stark contrast to the cold air he'd experienced in the power station. He thought back to Donna, and how good she had been. He couldn't wait to taunt the Doctor with his exploits which would make her loss even more painful for him.
He entered the interior of the telecommunications building, the metal sides gleaming blue in the sunlight. Making for the stairs, he licked his lips in anticipation of what was to come.
"Can I help you," one of the staff asked, putting his paperwork aside.
"Sorry, how rude of me," the Master answered, stepping back and grabbing the little Canthion around the throat.
The Canthion waved his arms frantically in the air, knocking paperwork and a mug from his desk, but the Master continued squeezing until he fell unconscious to the floor.
"Don't let me disturb you, please. It looks important," the Master said as he dropped the body and walked away.
#
Owen sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Yeah, I don't know what to do about it, Tosh. I'm outside his flat now. I couldn't see the diary on him at all."
"Oh," said Tosh unhelpfully down the phone. What on earth was she meant to say? "It's your call, Owen, but I can't see how you can stop this now without making yourself known to him."
Owen shrugged. "I know. Maybe he'll go out again. Maybe he'll decide to read by torchlight. I don't know. But if Jack gets onto it he won't let go. And he'll find out I'm back, we're back…" he tailed off and sighed again.
Tosh really couldn't blame him. She didn't want to ask him the question that had just popped into her head, but she needed to know the answer, and she braced herself and did it anyway.
"Are you sure you would let this happen if you knew he had the diary at home? I mean if there was no comeback…maybe you'll get a chance to go back in there."
Owen turned his eyes to the car ceiling. He wondered how she was going to react to his answer. "Yes," he said. "It needs to be done. I know that, so do you. I just want to get this done and forgotten about."
Tosh just nodded. She wasn't shocked at his answer but she didn't think she had anything else to say. She could hear Owen shifting around in the car, restless.
"Well my part is done. All the notes are deleted online."
"Thanks," said Owen quietly.
"It's your choice now," she told him gently. "I'll see you later when you get back." She finished the call and tried to release the tension from her hands, clasped by her side.
Owen heard the phone go dead. Damn it, why did he feel like he wanted to cry? What was wrong with him? He looked up at the flat, disbelieving what would eventually happen.
In that moment, the light in the living room was switched on and Owen closed his eyes tightly and held his breath.
#
Donna hung from the chains in her cell, her body moving gently, softly swaying in a comforting motion. What she wanted more than anything was for her Gramps to be there, to give her a cuddle. But that wasn't possible, the only person likely to come was the Doctor, and now she didn't want him to. Didn't want him to see her like this.
She adored him, he was her best friend and she missed him so much. Together they would have got out of this mess already. She didn't know where he was, she didn't even know if he was still alive and that worried her. She had such a sore throat from her screaming and crying and she just felt completely wretched.
And she was still bleeding, but it was hard to tell how much.
She brought her eyes up sharply when she heard a sound. What was that she could hear? Was it the Master coming back? She put her head on one side listening, her red hair clinging to her pale washed-out face. Was she just imagining it because she was so tired and in pain?
"Who's there?" she whispered, scared of the reply she may get in return.
If it was the Master, he'd probably returned to kill her. If it was the Doctor she'd rather die anyway than let him find out what had happened.
But no-one came. She tossed her curls back over her shoulder and winced at the pain in her hand. She had a headache and a sore throat, her bloody hand was throbbing and every bone in her body ached. She felt bruised and battered. She was fit for the knacker's yard and nothing else. Pinching her lips she thought she would probably die here, and maybe the end should just hurry up and put her out of her misery. She was scared, and it was making her morbid, she really needed to buck up, but quite honestly she didn't know what there was left to fight for.
She was cold. The dampness here underground had seeped through to her bones. She'd done shivering though, she was well past that. And she was tired. Her body literally ached with tiredness. Her brain wasn't tired though; that was in overdrive as usual, instinctively picking out every sound. She could see very little in the darkness, not that there was anything to see when the cell had been lit by torchlight. Her eyes widened as she tried to see through the darkness and she jumped as a metallic clang reached her ears. Her legs were still tied together though and tape was cutting into her ankles, she tried wiggling her toes but even they were refusing to respond now.
She hung her head down now, her red hair falling forward and covering her eyes. In the darkness she recalled the sound that she'd heard earlier, shortly after the Master left. A regular four beat rhythm resounding around the room and bouncing off the four walls. She'd lifted her head, her mouth open as she listened.
She gave a wry grin now. It had stopped a while ago, but still that beat drummed inside her head. It was probably her death knell, sounding out her final minutes. Well, let it toll she thought, her fighting spirit had deserted her. Whatever happened she was ready, willing and waiting.
