A/N: Hello Hello! If you're still here, congrats! You've made it to the end of this epic journey! I hope you're enjoying it!
This story has been over a year in the making and I'm so proud of this!
Hope you'll enjoy this last chapter!
PS - angst awaits!
Clara slowly started coming to her senses. First, it was the low distant hum, then the cold... then...
She let out a groan as Clara felt her head throb.
.
It was cold and uncomfortable. Of course, she was faced down on the ground with her wrists and ankles tied. As her ear was pressed against cold ground, she could feel the steady thrum of engines. Her head spin as she tried to elevate her head.
.
It was nothing new... She'd had similar experiences with the Doctor.
Clara sighed. The Doctor... Her Doctor.
She shook the thoughts from her head. The teacher had to find out where she was. And most importantly... How to get out.
.
Clara did her best to turn facing up. She hissed when Clara pressed the back of her head against the cold hard floor. Still bruised... She couldn't have been out for more than a day.
.
Upon opening her eyes to the ceiling, she noticed that it was quite dark, and it surely wasn't her living room. She struggled to sit up, and as she did, she felt the whole room spin around her. After a few seconds, she was able to stabilise herself and notice that she was in a pretty dark and gloomy cell. It was relatively small; to be expected. There was absolutely nothing else in that cell except for a window, too high up for Clara to reach or see what was out there.
.
She could still feel slight vibrations under her fingertips. Most definitely on a spaceship.
.
Right... She had all of this under control. Just release herself from the bonds, find a way out, get in a emergency escape pod and... Well... get away as soon as possible. From there, she'd try to get home.
Her priority was to get away from whoever was holding her hostage.
And she didn't want to wait until they get to her in the cell before she plans her escape.
.
They had bound her hands and ankles, so they definately did not want her to run, let alone being able to negotiate with her capturers.
.
Right. First step; break free.
.
Clara shuffled her ankles and fought against the ropes. She hoped that they would at least budge enough for her to be able to slip out.
She mumbled curses. The ropes were too tight and tough. Damn them.
.
That did anything but let her lose hope. The human fought harder against the restraints, biting her bottom lip as she felt the rough ropes bite into her skin.
As long as she found a way out, she was ok. No escape without some pain and a few bruises here and there.
.
The girl stopped fighting as soon as she heard the lock click.
She had woken up too late to have enough time to make her way out.
Not to worry though, she had another plan.
Talk your way out of it, Clara.
It always works. Well... Mostly.
.
She fought for the last few moments before the door opened with a creak.
.
"Hello again, Clara. Good to see you!"
.
All her plans were reduced to ashes once she heard who was at the door.
.
That voice... It felt so familiar. She couldn't see who it was. But that voice sparked such fear in her...
.
The being walked slowly towards her. "You don't have to be afraid. You know I have always taken care of both you and the Doctor." She gasped once the being's face caught the light. "But the Doctor is not with you, is he?"
.
She shuffled back, her back hitting the wall. Tears started filling her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away.
That voice... It made her head hurt, her neck ache and her arm throb as her body remembered the pain she had endured just a few weeks before.
.
"I thought you'd be happier to see me, dearest!" The Leader made a sad face to mock the fear she was failing to hide. "You don't have to be scared of me."
"You don't scare me." She swallowed thickly, her back pressed against the cold wall.
"Surely, your body language says otherwise." He shook his head. "I thought you'd put more of a fight... Seeing how you are so much like the Doctor."
"Try me." She snarled.
.
A headache took over her, and as much as she gritted her teeth, a desperate whimper escaped her pursed lips. "You shouldn't provoke me, Clara. I thought we've learnt that from last time."
.
She made an effort to look up, even if every effort made felt like it depleted her energy. Clara was able to see the capturer's disgusting smile. "H... How?" She breathed, her eyes closing shut, still fighting against the force that possessed her.
.
The headache vanished as quickly as it had come, leaving Clara exhausted; panting for air, her head leaning against the wall, even if there was pain from the bruise at the back of her head. "I thought you had cracked it, to be honest. I simply spiked the coffee whilst I kept you busy around the house. You know... An open window... The bathroom..."
.
Her eyes opened a sliver. "It... It was you?" She croaked.
"Well of course it was me!" The Leader sighed in annoyance. "Oh come on Clara, do keep up. You're missing all the fun!"
Her eyes rolled in her head as she focused on regaining as much energy as possible whilst also staying alert.
"And of course, the sedative effect wore out, but whilst your brain was weakened from it, I was able to establish a telepathic connection, which doesn't wear as easily as the sedative, fortunately."
.
Clara still felt weary but was able to open her eyes, with much caution, lest she starts feeling dizzy.
"I admire you, Clara. Your strength... your passion. As much as I loathe you being one with the Doctor, I do wish you never have met him. I would have taken you all for myself. Then again, I wouldn't have met you hadn't you been with the Doctor. It's a bit tedious. Anyway, I may still offer you some consolation from your breakup."
"Never." She said, her hands turning to fists behind her back. "I don't need your consolation. That's not what you took me for, I'm sure."
"The Doctor has forsaken you, dear. He's moved on."
"You're lying." She replied through gritted teeth. As much as she loved the Doctor, she never wanted to let him go. Him moving on meant that his love for her... Those days spend together... were meaningless.
"I can always send him a message to come and-"
"No, no please." She pleaded. "Leave him out of it!"
.
The Leader's eyebrows arched. "Are you seriously still protecting him after he kicked you out?"
She gasped. "How do you-?"
"I have my means." He grinned. "I highly doubt the Doctor will ever come get you, dear. So I guess you're stuck with me."
"I'd rather stay stuck with you than ever bringing the Doctor into this." But she couldn't imagine how she would cope with a lifetime of torture. If she ever were submitted to the kind of torture as the last time, she would pray for a swift death, and forgiveness. "Please... Anything but him."
"Even after knowing all the pain and suffering I can put you through?"
"I've been through worse." Her voice broke. It was a hard thing to do, staying strong. But she was saying the truth; Trenzalore was a hellish experience and she was still somewhat suffering.
.
"But this... this is what you don't understand, dear Clara. You alone are virtually insignificant. I'm sure I'd find something to do with you... Then again, torturing a vulnerable human is not as fun.
"But you... as the Doctor's companion... I'd break him beyond repair. And break a human in the process. Adds a little bonus to the great win, don't you think?"
"Why are you doing this?"
"The same reason I did it last time; vengeance. But last time, you were able to escape. Well, the Doctor took you away. Not that you really could do anything alone after I tortured you, could you?" He laughed. "So the Doctor gave me enough time to divise a foolproof plan."
"Vengeance doesn't lead to anything. Trust me-"
"Trust you? I trusted the Doctor would save us a long time ago. Now look at me; no relatives, and a life on the run without my home planet." He breathed a laugh. "I believe there were times he let you down too, didn't he?"
She bit her bottom lip. She was still hurt, by many things. But nothing more than banishing her from the TARDIS.
.
"I will take that as a yes. Besides, he doesn't want anything to do with you now; that must be the harshest of them all." Tears streamed down Clara's face. "That is what happens when you trust the Doctor, Clara. He lets you down. He crushes your hopes and dreams."
"I know what you're trying to do." She breathed a laugh; to hide her pain, of course.
"Enlighten me."
"You're trying to force me to lose trust in the Doctor even if I have the slightest hope." She mumbled. "I'd be easier to crack that way... And maybe even join you for your own disgusting purposes."
The Leader's claps echoed through the small empty cell. "Bravo! You have cracked the first code. You will definately be a wonderful subject to crack now that I have known you better." The Leader walked springly in front of his subject. "Mind you, I wouldn't want to crack you faster; after all, I do love when someone fights back. More entertainment for me. But yeah I would definately enjoy having you break the Doctor instead. If not, I will have to break you and enjoy seeing the Doctor trying to fix you and patch you up." His lips curled once again into a disgusting smile. "That will break him in the process."
.
Clara's heart stopped. How could he do that? She would never let him do that.
And yet, every word she said against the Leader felt futile. She had not control over this situation and she was done for.
The best thing Clara could do was do everything in her power to leave the Doctor out of this. At least she'd get hurt instead of them both.
She did this out of love. She felt the need to protect him. Always. Clara used to think that it was because of her sole purpose on Trenzalore... Born to save the Doctor.
But now she notices that it is out of love that she protects him.
Even when he broke her heart.
.
His booming voice brought her back to reality after the rush of questions she had. "I have much planned for you this time, Clara Oswald. Consider the last time we met... A test drive. Trial and error; what breaks the Doctor most? And this time, I'm not sure the Doctor would be able to repair you as he did last. If he ever bothers to come, that is." The Leader sighed. "I hope he does... Or else that would be anticlimactic."
.
"Please... please leave the Doctor out of this. I swear... if you do... I won't fight back. I'll do anything you want. Just please..." Her voice broke. She couldn't squeeze another plead out of her now closed-up lungs. Only a whimper came out, which felt like music to the Leader's ears.
The Leader cocked his head. "Awwww... Look at the poor human begging for her ex's life." He walked towards her, kneeling down in front of her just so his eyes locked onto hers. She was desperate to keep as strong as possible. "But do you really think I'll change my plans just to please you?" He snarled.
"Go to hell." She spat, her eyes filling with tears. She was done for... Well and good.
"Oh, I will. Once I'm done with you." He moved closer to her, to the point where she had to press her back against the wall to get as far away from him. His foul-smelling breathe invaded her nostrils as his sharp teeth peeked behind his smile. Clara closed her eyes tight. It's just a nightmare. Just a nightmare. "But till then, I'm sure we will have a great time."
FIN
A/N: Ohhhhhhhh that was a wild ride, wasn't it?
I *was* planning to have a sequel but then decided against it. I thought after 15 months, it's time for something new.
*I'm very sorry*
Wishing you a very happy New Year which will *hopefully* be better than this one.
Hope I'll see y'all in 2022 3