A purple room surrounded a now-conscious Stuart. Another room in the factory, or an entirely different location? For some reason, his arms ached. Ah, no cuffs, he thought, as he rubbed his eyes with his free hands.
Oh. The soul stealer, Ruby was standing before him. And an unconscious Sarah Jane was also present, slouched against the wall further down. Perhaps it was just Ruby after all. Maybe she had succeeded in draining Sarah Jane this time. Nah, too obvious, again.
At that moment, another familiar face entered the room behind Ruby. His favourite Bane, Wormwood.
She gracefully strode over to the woman in red, studying Stuart and Sarah Jane.
'So kind of you both to grace us with your presence,' she said.
But the tone was cold, like her icy blue eyes.
Stuart crossed his arms.
'This was all your idea, then?'
'Perhaps.'
'Perhaps?'
'Of course it wasn't,' snapped Ruby. 'Why else do you think we've got Sarah Jane here, as well?'
Stuart shrugged.
Wormwood approached Sarah Jane, lightly slapping her face.
Sarah Jane jumped awake to the words 'Rise and shine.'
Her eyes darted around, gradually looking in horror at the woman crouching before her.
'Wo-'
'Shut up,' Stuart hissed.
Ruby smirked.
'Enjoying the show?'
'What do-'
'Shut up!' Stuart repeated, through gritted teeth.
Sarah Jane sat up, not uttering a word.
Wormwood stood up and faced Ruby.
'Are you enjoying the show, Ruby?'
Ruby looked awkwardly at her.
'Yes.'
'Good,' Wormwood said, turning back to Stuart and Sarah Jane.
'Onto business,' she continued.
Ruby flashed a 'don't try it' look at Stuart, who complied.
'I can't thank you enough, Ruby,' Wormwood said, pacing around her a little. 'For going above and beyond in my plan.'
Sarah Jane and Stuart glanced at each other, then Wormwood.
A thunderstorm rumbled in Ruby's eyes.
'Your plan?' she growled, her tone akin to that of a furious Pitt Bull.
'All of that, what I did, was just for fun?! You promised revenge, Wormwood.'
A unperturbed smirk was stretched across Wormwood's face.
So, Stuart was right. Revenge, indeed.
A terrified silence loomed over him and Sarah Jane, who watched like hawks.
Wormwood faced Ruby.
'Then consider my promise...terminated,' the last word spoken like a mouse.
Wormwood raised her hands, one on her phonic disruptor, and activated.
A piercing discharge brought Ruby screaming to her knees, slicing through her ears.
Several minutes later, it stopped.
Ruby gradually manoeuvred herself into a sitting position on the floor, eliciting the odd whimper.
Her shaken demeanour was met by a stare colder than frostbite, from the woman standing before her.
'Please,' she squeaked, though it was barely audible. 'Pl-please...'
Wormwood pressed the jewel on her ring, morphing into her true tentacled form, towering over the woman on the floor, emitting a formidable snarl from her huge mouth.
The colour drained from Ruby's face.
Wormwood swooped.
Sarah Jane looked away, but could sense Stuart cringing as the head disappeared. Ruby was screaming.
The screaming stopped, leaving a deathly silence.
Stuart shuddered.
Wormwood re-emerged in her human form.