'It's too bad she didn't live. But, then again, in this world, who'd want to?'
The words echoed in Stuart's mind. He watched the man from the restaurant crouch down in the pouring rain. Except, now, it was Andrea, grinning maliciously. What did the man mean by 'in this world'?
'Which you seem to call home.'
Stuart looked. Just as Andrea smiled, the rain stopped.
Stuart stared vacantly, as he sat opposite Sarah Jane in the attic, amidst a new investigation.
'...dead relatives turning up? What's that all about?' Sarah Jane said, her voice gradually fading in.
She looked at him.
'Stuart?'
He blinked, snapping out of his trance.
'What do you think?'
His eyes darted.
'Ghosts too obvious?'
'Yes,' replied Sarah Jane, with just a hint of adamance.
Stuart chuckled.
'Now I see why earth is the top choice for invaders. They're the irrefutable scapegoat for every unusual occurrence on this planet.'
Sarah Jane rolled her eyes.
'Do you remember those grey figures that started appearing everywhere a few years ago, which then turned out to be Cybermen?'
Stuart shrugged.
'What about them?'
Sarah Jane flashed him a look.
She leaned back, folding her arms.
'Here, you didn't tell me. How'd your date go last night?'
Stuart moved his gaze to the floor.
'Strange. Surreal. Bizarre. Someone's hilarious idea of telling me I might've imagined the whole thing, Andrea included.'
Sarah Jane's eyes narrowed.
'What do you mean?'
'A man, who seemed to know me, was sitting in Andrea's place when I came back inside. Said she was never here.'
'Andrea who?'
'Yates.'
Surprise, confusion, and intrigue all rolled into the one expression on Sarah Jane's face.
'Andrea Yates - you're sure?'
Stuart sighed.
'Yep.'
'She...died...47 years ago.'
Stuart scoffed.
'Oh God, a date with a dead woman. How marvellous.'
He might have overdone the flippant tone, he thought.
Sarah Jane scorned.
'She was my school friend, Stuart,' she snapped. 'Only 13.'
Stuart frowned.
'Sorry.'
Dead? What was going on?
A half-empty trolley accompanied Stuart down the breakfast aisle. Shredded Wheat or Bran Flakes? Decisions, decisions.
'When angels are asleep, what do you do, then, Mr Milligan?'
Stuart turned, seeing the man from the restaurant beside him.
Angels? There wasn't such a thing.
Unless-
'Is that what Andrea was?'
The man smiled.
'If you believe so.'
Stuart stared.
'What are you?'
The man turned to the cereal.
'Human.'
He looked at Stuart.
'Like you.'