A/N: Thanks again for the reviews. Had a question about what actually happened to Rose on the bridge when she was attacked. All I can say is read on, the Doctor will explain everything in the next couple of chapters. Again, violent chapter. You have been warned.

"Time Lord?" said Rose before clapping her hand over her mouth, realising she once again had control of her senses, "You think I'm a Time Lord. Look whoever or whatever you are you've got it wrong."

"Nineteen years ago. Cardiff, I saw you then. Your machine poorly disguised but we knew it," said the lead alien, reverting back to his shadow like state and wrapping around Rose like a blanket, "You have not aged a day and your scent," he breathed her in, making Rose shudder in disgust, "Your blood, your very essence is of the Time Lords. You shall be our greatest victory."

"Victory?" said Rose trying to move out of the grip but seeing the clawed hands and remembering all to well what they had done to her on the bridge, "What are you?"

"The Time Lord does not remember the Hatrevic, the Shadow Walkers, the Nightmare. The other realm that you suppressed, you restricted us, forbad us to feed on what was rightfully ours, the suffering, the essence, the blood," hissed the creature in her ear, "We were joyous when we heard of Gallifrey's destruction, we sought this world immediately, the miserable, loveless world but the people could not sustain us, their blood fulfilled us only for a short time. We were to quit until you came along. Your blood, the surviving Time Lord, burning with creation, you shall be our salvation. Take her."

Two of the shadow creatures wrapped around Rose, lifting her with claw like hands, ripping her flesh as she struggled. The mutilated carcass on the table was removed and Rose carried towards it, kicking and screaming. She fought hard but all too soon felt the sharp pain of a needle in her arm. Her eyes began to swim and she reached out for the glimmer in the back of her mind.

'Whoever you are, whatever you are help me!'

Her possessor returned, trying with all its might to fight the drug but to no avail. Rose could hear it crying, calling out for someone in the swirling blackness. Rose felt the calm first. The peace. These creatures meant no harm, they were trying to survive and she could save them. She would not resist, this was paradise. She pushed her would be saviour away.

The Doctor checked the sonic screwdriver for the fifth time in as many minutes. He knew they were close, just one more stone to find but with dawn already broken he knew they were running out of time. He felt desperately uneasy but could not piece together any of the information he's already found out. The death in the river had left him shaken, he had never let someone in the way he had Rose before and the fear of losing her was clouding his judgement terribly. He started as Jackie grabbed his arm.

"Look, that coach. I recognize it. It was parked by the pub we were in and was there when we went out to see that body," she said.

The Doctor stepped closer and the sonic screwdriver beeped in his hand. Casting his eyes down they fell upon the last stone, he bent to pick it up and as he did a familiar face flashed in his mind, her face desperate and urgent. He dropped the sonic screwdriver in shock and backed away from the pendant.

"What's the matter?" said Mickey, "You saw something didn't you?"

"Just a memory," said the Doctor, his voice distant, "Rose is inside that building but something isn't right. Something isn't right about this place. It seems so familiar. Shadows and nightmares, its like something from a dream. Some old story that hasn't yet ended."

"Doctor you're scaring me, stop talking like that," said Jackie.

The Doctor shook his head, becoming aware once again of the people around him, "We have to get inside, get Rose out," he said picking up the sonic screwdriver and the pendant, "Jackie, unfasten those horses attached to the cart, we'll need to make a quick get away. Mickey, come with me, I'll need your help."

Mickey nodded but Jackie would not let go of the Doctor's sleeve.

"I'm frightened," she said, "Please get her out."

"I'll try," said the Doctor before creeping up to the building.

Rose felt the cool metal on her abdomen and then smelt the tinny, fresh scent of her own blood. She could hear the creatures chanting around her but she felt nothing but contentment. She felt the blade again, cutting across the incision in a macabre crucifix. She could imagine her blood, pure and red and flowing. Beautiful. Why had she resisted? These creatures were angels, releasing her, making her beautiful. Her soul would fly free when their work was completed. She felt the struggle in her mind but willed it away, her unwelcome possessor.

'Rose please fight it. You've been drugged, they are manipulating your mind. They are not good, they will kill you. Feast on your soul. I am within you now, if they take you, they take me and nothing will stop them. I am weakening at your resistance to me, I was never that powerful in life. Let me take full control and I will save you.'

'Why should I trust you?' said Rose, trying to focus on the flow of her blood, the beat of her own pulse. She was so alive.

'Because you love him, you love the Doctor and if you die you will destroy him.'

'The Doctor.' Rose's memory kicked, the Doctor taking her hand, telling her to run. The Doctor comforting her when she watched her father die. The Doctor waving madly at her when she crashed the control platform on Justicia. The Doctor pulling her close in a lover's embrace. Call me baby. She felt the pain then, felt the reality and a scream forced its way from her lungs.

'Tell me who you are and I'll trust you,' she said to her possessor. She saw a face appearing, large dark eyes and short black hair. A pretty girl no more than fifteen and yet Rose knew she was older.

'I know you. You're his… Susan. You're Susan aren't you?'

'Rose you're failing let me through. I can't explain it all but let me through and I can save you.'

'How are you here? You died. Gallifrey burned.'

'The TARDIS crash weakened the vortex that holds me now. The Hatrevic had already broken the fabric of this world and with the TARDIS' help I got through. I found you. I thought I could help but they have sensed me and will use me but I can try and stop them. Use what I have left of my birth right and fight them. I am dead but not destroyed. Let me through.'

'Do it.'

Rose felt herself pushed down to nothingness, seeing through her eyes but without conscious thought. She heard her voice, screaming and crying. Felt her body jerk and fight and all the while the chants continued. Her skin slashed and her soul being pulled into the void but her resistance grew. She knew a million things at once, knew the Doctor's face in his original form. Saw Gallifrey strong and proud. Heard her voice change pitch and yell.

"Grandfather! Grandfather! I know you're near! Save us!"

The Doctor nearly fainted when he heard the screams from the room above him. He knew that voice. He stumbled up the stairs, Mickey following nervously behind and crouched down to peer around the door. His eyes widened in terror at the scene and he fell back against the door frame.

"Go back downstairs," he said to Mickey, "Get Jackie away from here."

"What's happening?"

"Rose is in there."

"Well then, let's get her and get…" A strangled scream cut Mickey off and he paled dramatically, "They're killing her. What are they Doctor?"

"Hatrevic, creatures of shadow from the realm of the dead, a dimension that exists alongside this one. The murders make sense. To sustain on this world the Hatrevic need to feed on the miserable souls of the world it inhabits. The mutilation is part of the ritual and now they have Rose. My people controlled them, kept them from this world but they've broken through."

"Can you fight them?"

"I can try but I've never been tested. I ran away, left my people to mop up the problems of the universe."

"Why is Rose screaming for her grandfather?"

"Because Rose isn't Rose at the moment. I've felt it for a while, a presence long forgotten, told myself I was being stupid but I wasn't. A child of Gallifrey has taken Rose's body in a vain attempt to keep her safe but it has only fuelled the Hatrevic's desire. Rose is crying for me, my granddaughter is keeping her alive but she won't last long, I can feel her fading," said the Doctor, slipping the sonic screwdriver out of his pocket and handed it to Mickey, "I can keep them busy. Flick the switch on that and untie Rose's bonds. She's badly hurt but you need to work fast. I can only distract them for so long. It is light outside so they won't be able to pursue you. Get moving, if I can I'll follow you. Here, take this."

Mickey felt the TARDIS key warm in his hand and looked up in terror at the Doctor.

"I've installed an emergency protocol in the TARDIS. If I don't make it out you need to try and get the TARDIS to work without me. Click the sonic screwdriver up two settings and it will start the cycle. Get home."

"Doctor…"

"Get home," said the Doctor before springing to his feet and rounding the corner.

Mickey heard the vicious cries but resisted the urge to run. Following the Doctor he made his way into the swirling blackness of the room. Saw the eyes glowing red and the claws bared, edging towards the Doctor. The Time Lord's face was stony, concentrate. He was muttering under his breath, some light surrounding him that Mickey could only guess the origin of. Mickey tore his eyes away, searching for Rose. He retched at the sight. Her blood flowing down the sides of the table, her stomach and arms slashed revealing deep wounds. Her eyes were wide and staring but no recognition came to them. Mickey flicked on the sonic screwdriver and set about releasing the bonds. As the final one clicked open Rose's body slid from the table to the floor and she screamed. He picked her up, not caring as the blood seeped into his shirt. With one final glance at the surrounded Doctor he fled the room. Rose crying and screaming in his arms.

"Grandfather! Don't leave him behind! Grandfather!"