XIII
An evening party for Maxwell Hollerford

Manchester
1775

No matter how hard she tries as she searches through the factories and speaks to the people out on the streets, Rose is no more than a mare step closer to learning more about what is going wrong in Manchester. Everyone is now well aware that God is dead and that the gates of hell have been opened. Some have claimed that they have seen the Devil in his dark, shadowed form carrying a single red candle, just like the sketch the children did. But as she searches through the factories, Rose can't help but notice that they are a little ahead of their time with the revolution. It is only 1775 and the workers are already working on building the first steamboat.

The first steamboat isn't due to be built till around 1807.

It only fears Rose to think that history's timeline has started to get tangled up.

Some factory workers who Rose is able to quickly pull to the side are happy to answer any of her questions. Some run away and curse her for ever asking such a thing. But the more questions that are answered, the more Rose realises that there is absolutely no one in the city that will be willing to help her.

However curiosity gets the better of Rose when she starts to ask some of the workers if they have heard of Maxwell Hollerford and if they have, what is their opinion on him.

Everyone thinks highly of Max. He really is the hero of the city and many men inspire to be like him.

Rose guesses that it is now drawing on to midday.

She has been standing outside one of the factories doors for the whole morning and she knows that she has been there for longer than she should. She has observed the men that walk in and out of the factories and she spies through the dirty windows at the things they are building. But it only comes to her surprise as she returns to the first factory she visited, that standing on the corner near the entrance door is a weeping angel.

The stone angel is as still as a real statue and Rose, in fear, keeps her eyes glued to it. Its head is bowed and it covers its face with its hands.

What Rose is going to do now that she has found a weeping angel she doesn't know. She is too scared to look away or move in case she loses it. But no matter how much her eyes sting from keeping them open, she refuses blink. Not once.

But then there is a bell ringing from inside the factory which is then followed by chatter from the working men.

A large group of men come out of the factory, probably on a lunch break, (Rose assumes) and suddenly obscures her view. Rose yelps at this and suddenly pushes the confused men to the side. But just as she fears, the angel has moved.

Rose looks blankly at the space where the angel was only seconds ago, ignoring the men that are snapping at her for being such a silly, crazy woman. Their voices are only muffled in Rose's ear.

Rose eagerly searches the area around her, hoping that she will find the angel again before it kills anyone. But as soon as the men starts to walk away, the angel suddenly appears again. It is standing beside a brick wall opposite to where Rose is standing.

Rose's heart leaps straight up into her throat just as she notices that not only has the angel changed its place, but it also changed its whole posture.

The angel is now standing upright and its face looks blankly out ahead. Its stone arm is stretched forwards and its finger points directly to the group of men, pointing directly to its next target

From then on, it seems as if everything suddenly happens all at once and Rose's actions are controlled by her hysteria and fear.

She runs forward at a high speed, screaming out in frenzy. The men turn to look back at Rose and they only roll their eyes, taking her as a crazy, uncontrollable woman. But before they even have any time to turn away, Rose has already reached them. She manages to snatch one of the large iron hammers one of the men is carrying and spins to face the angel.

Only this time the angel has moved again and is right up her backside.

"Goodness me!" One of the men cries. "Where did this arrive from?"

The stone angel looks as if it is ready for attack. Its cold blank eyes are fearless as it bears its sharp teeth. Rose takes one swing with the hammer, striking it through the angel's waist, instantly smashing the statue to pieces.

The men cry out in horror as the statue vanishes right before their eyes.

There is only silence for a few moments as Rose tries to figure out if smashing the angel in the way she has done will have done anything to destroy it. She doesn't know if she has killed the remains or has made everything worse.

Moments later, Rose feels two strong hands seize her by the arms before dragging her away from the factory. Her attention suddenly comes back to the present moment and she realises that there are far more people standing around her, having witnessed the scene, than there were before. But everyone just stares at Rose like she has gone wild.

But it only takes Rose a couple of minutes to realise that she actually has gone wild. It is as if she is no longer in control of her own body as she kicks wildly about and wriggles in this strong man's grip.

The man only holds on tighter as he continues to drag her away from the factory and other prying eyes. Yet the man eventually stops and speaks to another man who stands in their pathway. Rose shakes her head and suddenly notices that the Butler is standing there in front of them, talking to the man who has taken hold of her. Rose's hearing returns and she is aware of everything that is being said.

Rose blinks a few times, recognising this Butler from Jack Gruntler's house. Is she actually going crazy and is now seeing things? But as she listens to his voice, she starts to steady her breathing and focus.

"Sir, this woman has been outside the factory all morning only to cause havoc over some architecture. She needs to be removed from these premises!"

"I do understand this, Walter," The Butler replies. "But I can take it from here. She is currently a resident with Master Franklin and Maxwell Hollerford. She is a little dazed from her travels but we are looking after her as much as we can," the Butler then reaches his hand towards Rose. "Now come on, Jackie Orman, lunch will be served shortly. It is time for you to come home."

Rose knows that the Butler is only going along with the idea that Rose is crazy and she doesn't hesitate to go with the flow. Questions will be raised if she suddenly acts normal after the sudden hysteria that took over her.

Rose shrugs her shoulders and lets out a loud sigh, just like a teenager would do during a strop. The man releases Rose and watches her as she slumps her way over to the Butler. She keeps her head low and her shoulders hunched over as she walks, dragging her feet with every step. The Butler gently rests his hand on Rose's back and carefully directs her away from the scene.

Rose does not speak until they are as far away from the factories as they can get. "I guess I owe you a thanks."

"I'm glad to be of service to Jack Gruntler's friends as long as they do not get themselves into too much trouble."

Max's party is that same evening. When Rose and the Butler return to the house, they find all the servants rushing around the house, cleaning every nook and cranny before putting up the decorations. The large table is removed from the large dining room and in replacement there are rows of tables sitting around the perimeter of the room. The tables have been covered with white table cloths and sitting on top are silver dishes and plates waiting to be filled with food. The cooks are busy in the kitchen finishing off last minute cakes and dessert decorations while cooking the turkey and other food that is purchased.

The Butler leaves Rose shortly after they arrive for he, being in charge of the servants, has to make sure that everything is running smoothly for the party and that there are no hiccups. Rose finds herself wondering around the house in search for April but she is nowhere to be seen. Their bedroom is empty. The sheets on the bed are fresh and clean and some of April's possessions have been neatly placed on the desk by the window. Rose can't help find feel more curious about the possessions April always carries in her hand luggage with her at all times. But to Rose's disappointment there isn't much in the way of anything that could be of use to their situation. But Rose does find it rather strange that April continues to carry around with her the little blue book that has nothing but blank pages inside. Rose and the Doctor have often found her reading through the book and writing in it while they were in the parallel world. However as she flicks through the pages there isn't even one single smudge of ink.

Rose decides that she wants to return to the Tardis after having another walk around the house. She asks many of the servants if they want help with the preparations but everyone declines Rose's kind offer.

Rose leaves Edina who is scrubbing the upstairs hallway floor and halts at the top of the stairs as she hears two male voices discussing in low but harsh tones downstairs in the main hallway. Rose suddenly crouches so that she is hidden in the shadows before she subtly looks through the banister. Standing in the middle of the hallway with his back to her is Master Franklin. He is facing a tall man with dirty blond hair.

"…he does not deserve a party like this!" The man with the dirty blond hair snaps. "Everyone looks up to Maxwell like he is some sort of God, but I do not see him as anything else other than an arrogant little sod!"

"Doctor Columbus," Master Franklin says calmly, his voice of high authority. "If you intrude my house like this one more time then I will have to call the police. This is not the first time you have threatened my household."

"And this is not the first time you have threatened me!" Doctor Albert Columbus takes a step closer to Master Franklin, pointing a finger in his face. "I demand to have my papers; I am done with waiting for his laziness."

"Your papers have been completed and will be given to you shortly."

"I want them now!"

Master Franklin lets out a loud sigh before he reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a scroll that is bound together by dark blue ribbon. He holds it out to Albert to take but quickly pulls it away before Albert can take hold of it. "I have a deal with you. I will happily trust you with these papers if you can do something for me in return."

Albert narrows his eyes as he tries to grab the scroll off Master Franklin. "I am in no mood to give Maxwell any benefits."

"It will not benefit Maxwell in any shape or form. It is a duty that I am giving you without his knowing."

Albert Columbus sighs heavily. "Go on."

Master Franklin lowers his voice to the point that Rose is unable to hear. She only hears mumbles and the occasional words including, Heat Miles, power, time and money.

"Missus Tyler," Edina whispers as she drops down next to Rose. "You shouldn't be listening in to the Master's business!" Edina desperately tugs onto Rose's arm and pulls her backwards. Rose, still trying to keep low and in the shadows, rolls backwards till she is lying on the top landing floor.

There is silence for a long moment and both Edina and Rose knows that their movement must have caught their attention downstairs. They both peer through the banister and look down at them. Master Franklin's attention is straight at Albert Columbus who is looking up at their direction, but not once do his eyes catch theirs.

Albert lets out another sigh before looking at Master Franklin. "It is a deal." He says almost reluctantly.

They firmly shake hands and Master Franklin allows Albert to snatch the scroll out of his hands before turning and leaving the house, slamming the door behind him. Master Franklin remains standing in the hallway for a while, looking out at the door.

Edina nudges Rose and urges her to go elsewhere.


The party guests start to arrive around six o'clock that night. The Butler stands by the front door and welcomes everyone into the house. By six thirty the house is already full with hundreds of rich people from the city who both Max and Master Franklin know. The party mainly congregates in the dining room and the living room, but the hallways are still crowded with many people and it is difficult for anyone to pass through.

Soft, joyful music plays in the background but everyone's chatter almost drowns out the music. Master Franklin stands by the chaise lounge in the living room, talking to a couple of old friends he has not seen in a while. He holds onto his drink firmly in his hand but remains standing stiffly on the spot.

Everyone seems relaxed and at ease in their joyous atmosphere but Master Franklin seems very tense. His voice is soft like usual and he is more than happy to talk to all the guests and laugh with them, but he refuses to sit down and he finds that he cannot remain in one spot for long.

The food tables are constantly being filled up with more food and drink so none of the guests are left wondering to an empty table. All in all, the servants know that the party is running smoothly and that hopefully the whole night will be a success.

Max jumps from one person to the next, shaking their hands, kissing their cheeks and catching up on everything that has happened in their lives since their last meeting. Many people thank him for the help he has given them and many congratulate him on his success. Most of his close friends that he works alongside with clap him on the back and passes him a drink. One of Max's old tutors while he was still studying to be a biologist comes over to Max and praises him for everything he has done for the city. They are standing by the fireplace in the dining room and before Max can protest his old boss turns to the people in the room and makes a speech to celebrate Max's work. Max however feels a little embarrassed by the speech and spends the time with his hands in his pocket as he tries to avoid to stares of everyone else in the room.

"Let us have one last toast for our very own Mister Maxwell Hollerford!" the man announces gleefully in a loud booming voice and everyone in the house cheers enthusiastically. Max just raises his champagne flute in acceptance and gulps it down in one.

The night wears on and the servants bring out a table for the dining room and many people join together to play a few board games. Laughter echoes through the house and it really seems everyone is in a good mood, despite the disaster of the ship sinking and Horace's death yesterday.

Max remains standing by the fireplace as he starts to drink his new glass of champagne which one of his friends brings over to him. Standing beside Max is his closest friend, Victor Kitts, who he has worked alongside with quite often. They both lean against the mantelpiece with a drink in their hands, observing the room around them and everyone there. They speak of old times and laugh at each other's jokes.

Despite having a large house full of people who claim to be Max's friends, Max knows that his only closest friend is Victor and has been since the day they first met.

Max spots Master Franklin standing in the corner on the opposite side of the room, looking rather uncomfortable. But once he catches Max's eye, he nods and raises his champagne flute before drinking. He then suddenly turns to Edina who passes him with an empty silver tray, and whispers something in her ear. Whatever he has said to her, she blushes evidently and giggles before she leaves the room. Master Franklin drinks the rest of his drink before following her. Max watches them with a harsh scowl and cannot help but feel jealous over the authority Master Franklin has over Edina. He longs for her to perhaps look at him admiringly as he does to her. But she is his maid, and that is completely off limits.

Max suddenly snaps back to attention as a hand is waved in front of his face.

Victor laughs. "Away with the fairies again?"

"Apologies." Max says before drinking more of his wine, but his throat tickles him and he suddenly starts coughing harshly. Max snatches out his handkerchief to cover his mouth and to hide the blood that splatters on the cloth. His throat burns as he continues to cough loudly, his face turning very bright red in the face.

For a moment Victor looks at his friend horror struck and heads turn to their direction as the room slowly starts to fall silent. Max's face is extremely red but his only concern is to hide the blood his spits into his handkerchief.

But soon Max stops coughing and is able to hide his handkerchief before anyone notices the blood. Max shakes his head, really feeling the heat rising but forces himself to laugh purposefully to ease the situation seeing as everyone in the room has their eyes on him in a slight panic.

"Drink went down the wrong hole." He manages to say.

Victor then starts to laugh and so do many of the people in the room. The tension eases off as quickly as it came and Victor starts walking Max out of the room.

"You are quite a character, Maxwell." Victor laughs as they make their way out of the dining room and into the hallway.

"I try to keep it low sometimes." Max's throat is burning and he desperately wants a glass of water.

"Say," Victor begins. "Do you still have any idea when your sister might be back from her travels? So many would love to meet her. I myself for one."

Max stares at his friend as he suddenly realises that he has not seen April since she had returned from a very long walk only an hour before everyone started arriving. Max passes his champagne flute to Victor.

"Excuse me." He says before turning away from him and squeezing past everyone else in the hallway. He makes it for the stairs and runs up them as soon as he reaches them. He then has to pass a load more people before he reaches April's bedroom door which is shut just like all the other bedrooms.

Max knocks before opening. There is a slight orange glow to the room as the candles on the bedside tables and desk are lit. But there is no one in the room.

"April?" Max calls softly as he closes the door behind him.

There is nothing but silence in the room. All that can be heard is the muffled chatter and laughter from outside the door. Lying flat on top of the bed is a dress one of the maids has put out for April to wear to the party.

Max knows that April is hiding somewhere in the room, just from seeing a flicker of a shadow. He quietly makes his way across the room and crosses to the other side of the bed. He then crouches down on his hands and knees, crawling on the floorboards before he stops to lay flat down on the floor. He lays his head sideways on the floor as he looks at his twin sister who is curled up in a ball under the bed.

Her eyes are full of tears, her scowl is harsh and she looks fearful. Max says nothing but just looks at his sister who avoids his eye.

But eventually April speaks in a low whisper. "I don't understand why it's all changed."

Her words are barely heard through her cries but Max understands what she is saying. He knows that she is talking about her nightmare. It seems to be the only thing she can think of during the day. It is that or he finds her looking blankly into the distance, clutching onto the UNIT badge. She never tells him but he guesses that UNIT were very close to her.

"It's trying to say something to me but I can't see what," April continues. "It's killing me and I don't know what to do. I never told the Doctor. I never told anyone."

Max sighs. "Why are you all the way up here worrying about it though?" he says softly. "You're not helping yourself."

April's scowl deepens. "There are too many people here. They all want to see me. It's all too much."

There is a long pause of silence.

"Max I'm scared," April cries after a long while. "I'm scared of the people downstairs. I'm scared of what I saw in the parallel world. I'm scared to be near anyone, and I feel like my childhood has come back to haunt me. I see Bruce's face clearly in my memory again," April shuts her eyes tightly. "And now the Doctor thinks I'm dead. I've lost him; I've lost Terry, my family and UNIT. Even the stars seem so far away from me." April hates herself more for sounding so pathetic. But she cannot help but feel as scared as she does now.

Max watches his sister as she continues to look down at the floor she is lying upon. He shifts a little on the floor before speaking. "April, there's a reason why your nightmare has changed – there must be. And for that you can't tell, but for all you could know is that this might be a good happening. Right now neither the Doctor nor UNIT can save you from that mare of yours. And no matter what you choose to do about it and whatever happens next, April, as your brother, your twin brother, I will be here for you all the way."

There is a little silence as April looks rather pensive for a moment, Max reaches his hand out towards April and she looks at him for the first time before slowly taking his hand in hers. Max smiles as he holds onto April's hand tightly.

"Now come on," he says as he gives her arm a little tug. "You're going to have to face your fears to get a move on swiftly." Max lets go before standing up. April hesitates for a moment before she shuffles out from under the bed.

"What?" She says as she gets up again.

"I'm not going to let you stay up here all on your own and worry about everything that right now you cannot deal with," Max gently takes hold of April's arms and looks at her in the eye. "I want you to be happy tonight. Join me for an hour or two and then you can leave if the company of too many people is too much for you," Max quickly shushes April before she can make any protests. "Please, April, just for me. Just step into my world for a short while and I won't ask any of this from you again. I want you to meet my friends."

"So you really do have hundreds of best friends." April mutters.

Max smiles. "Not quite. They're all acquaintances down there. There are one or two exceptions of whom I do call my friends."

April looks at her brother for a long while before she gives in. Just to please her brother she says that she will join him at the party for a couple of hours. Maybe it will distract her from her nightmare and everything else.

Max goes to get Edina who helps April get into the dress she put out for her. Edina is also kind enough to style April's hair. She pins the top half back and pulls all of her hair to hang over one shoulder. April remembers the time back in the parallel world when Ireen Summerland styled April's hair before their live interview on national television.

Edina is quiet as she arranges April's hair, but April understands that she probably has to rush back to the party to clean up any mess that has been made.

"You are looking very lovely, ma'am," Edina says when she is finished. "I am sure Mister Hollerford's friends would be pleased to meet you."

April says nothing in response as she continues to look at her own reflection in the slightly dirtied mirror. She adjusts the collar of her dress and the ends of the sleeves that completely covers her arms. Edina gives April a small curtsey before hurrying out the room. April watches her leave before looking back at her reflection.

She can't help but notice that she looks like a completely different person dressed up in a eighteenth century dress and her hair styled in a way she never has it done before. April asks herself if she can face the many people crowding the house and prove to them that she is a completely sane person that has no troubles to scare her. Yes. Many a time has April pretended that she is okay just to cover up how she is really feeling. For her brother's sake, she knows that she has to put on a brave face and pretend that she has nothing to worry about.

April opens the bedroom door and finds that the long corridor is empty but she can still hear the voices and music from downstairs. She makes her way down the corridor but as she turns the corner she is met by a large gaggle of people congregating around the top landing near the main staircase. She is met with a range of different pale colours including silver, pink, sand and blue-grey that radiates off the oil lamps. It is mainly the female's dresses that are so colourful.

People turn to look at April as she tries to squeeze past them. Whispers spread across the crowds but April does not feel safe until she sees Max again. She is just at the top of the stairs when he suddenly grips hold of her wrist. He smiles at her warmly.

"You okay?" He asks in a low voice and April nods. When he offers her his arm, she takes it gratefully and he starts to take her down the stairs. "There is far more space down here now that the dancing has begun."

April grips tightly onto her brother's arm as they descend the stairs. The house seems so much more alive and brighter now that the rooms are filled with large groups of people. It has somewhat of a relaxed atmosphere and the corridors that sometimes seem rather ghostly are now alive and full of people. Down in the main hallway is where the dancing takes place. Everyone is dancing in their pairs but all follow the same footsteps and movements. Max and April stands at the bottom of the stairs as they watch the dancers spin and weave in and out of each other.

Max nods over to Victor Kitts who starts making his way towards them, walking around the perimeter of the hallway.

"April, this is a long term friend of mine, Victor Kitts. And Victor this is my twin sister, April." Max introduces them.

Victor takes April's hand and bows before kissing the back of her hand a little longer than necessary. "A pleasure," He then stands up and straightens his wig which has gone a little skewwhiff from passing so many people. "May I offer my lady a drink?"

"I'm alright thanks." April mutters uncomfortably.

For the rest of the night, Max, April and Victor stay with each other. April is introduced to many other people who Max has worked with. Everyone is rather pleased to finally meet April and is enthusiastic to know more about her travels, but Max speaks for April most of the time, saying that she is too tired to explain everything. April tries to keep her brave face on but she can't help but feel rather uncomfortable under Victor's watchful gaze.

Max does all the talking for the rest of the night and April just stands beside him, holding onto an empty champagne flute and watches all the spinning from the dancing.

No one starts to leave until the early hours of the morning. Glasses and champagne flutes are left dotted around the house and a lot of the food has been knocked on the floor. The Butler closes the doors after the last guest leaves around four o'clock in the morning. He then turns to Max who walks into the hallway.

"Would you like us to start tidying away, sir?" the Butler asks.

"No your duties are done for the night. It will be sunrise in a couple of hours so I suggest you dismiss everyone for the night. We will clean this up in the morning." Max replies before he turns to April who is sitting at the bottom of the stairs pulling off her shoes.

The Butler watches her and April only glares up at him. She knows that he is keeping a watchful eye on both herself and Max. She wonders how often he speaks to Jack Gruntler about everything that has happened.

Max sits down next to April when the Butler leaves them alone in the hallway.

"That wasn't so bad, was it?" Max says.

"Parties aren't exactly my thing," April replies. "And your friend, Mr Kitts, couldn't always tell the difference between my eyes and my breasts."

Max sniggers. "Well you are in luck. Victor has a fiancé. But he's a good man." There is then another long silence. A clock can be heard ticking from another room. "Will you sleep tonight?"

April looks down at the black and white tiled flooring. "I don't know."

"April, you need to sleep. It will only make your mental health worse. Don't think I don't already know everything you went through while living with that shape shifter. My Butler told me all. It explains why you tried to drown yourself."

"I was devising a plan on how to find out why my nightmare changed."

"Well it was a funny way of doing so," Max pauses as he knows that his words are coming across a little too harsh. "Sorry," He mutters. "But will you please get some sleep tonight? Forget that I will feel your pain when we wake up. I am sure you must have felt my pain from my coughing earlier."

April keeps her gaze on the tiles. "I said the same to Rose: I don't know if I can get myself out again."

Max sighs. "You managed to free yourself last time I am sure that you can do it again."

April says nothing in response. Max hugs his sister close to him and kisses her on her forehead.

"Everything will be okay in the end."