I smelled like fish and chips.

The grief I had been feeling had settled across my shoulders like an old shawl as soon as I stepped back into the TARDIS.

"I think I need a cat nap before our next adventure."

The Doctor pointed toward the metal archway and I nodded before walking towards it.

The song of the TARDIS rose around me, the smell of rain caused me to relax. The song gained more layers the closer I got to my rooms.

There was a hallway off the main hallway of tunnels, a wide arched door made of what looked like driftwood.

My name was on a brass plaque to the side.

When I opened the door I couldn't help the gasp that came from me. High ceilings that arched above me, an open living room with light woods and cloud-like seating area.

As I walked further I came upon what looked like a Moroccan inspired door that opened as I approached, the room was so open and airy. I had always felt claustrophobic with most designs and it had taken me forever to get my room at the Powell estates to my liking. I let out a sigh before continuing behind an organic looking wall partition that led to my large bathroom.

Showers were always something that could calm me when I felt stressed about something and as the warm water cascaded over me that night I felt like all the grief from before was for now washed away.

In my dreams, I at last opened a door in my Mind Palace I'd been curious about for ages.

'STARLING' was written across its galaxy ombre double doors.

I stepped through them to be flooded with memories from another time and place; and another me.

'Time will be my gift.'

'All Starlings have a component of the first, they are beings whose consciousness has been infused with starlight.'

'Be careful...the rules may not apply as completely to you as others but you have more at stake. The responsibility of Time...'

They were pieces of puzzle that I had just begun to unbox and I couldn't help but feel a nervous anticipation as I looked forward to the future when I'd uncover more.


The Doctor began to speak as soon as he heard my footsteps coming up the staircase to the console.

"We went forwards in time, now let's go backwards."

The TARDIS shuddered as the Doctor tried to pilot back in time, but I got the distinct sense that she was reluctant.

After my dreams, I felt as if I could feel the TARDIS more accurately than before. She seemed to sense something about me and was more 'talkative' with her emotions. It was through this that I felt her worry and it felt directed toward me specifically. I couldn't help but feel nervous.

"I don't think she's very happy about where we are going."

"Oh, shush." The Doctor rounded the console, "Now hold down that lever there."

"Sorry Sexy," I whispered before holding down the lever and feeling a rough shift as she tried to shake me loose.

"I said hold it down!"

"I am! She's fighting against it."

The Doctor slammed down another level and then the wheezing sound of Sexy's engines echoed in the console room before the ship landed jarringly at their destination.

"Ow." My arm was yanked roughly as I fell still trying to hold onto the lever. An apology came from the TARDIS and I spoke up again, "Just a strain I think."

The Doctor moved to where I sat against the centre and offered his hand.

I took it with a slight wince.

His eyebrows furrowed just a tad before he pointed toward the TARDIS doors, "1860 Naples. December 24, 1860 to be exact."

I looked down at my fitted t-shirt and jeans before looking back at the doctor, "Where would the changing room be? I don't suppose I'd be well received in my current clothes."

"No you wouldn't." He let out a laugh before gesturing toward the hallway, "Down there, take first left, 2nd right, 3rd on the left go straight past and under the stairs and then past the bins, fifth door on your left."

I ran forward, leaving behind my previous nervousness.

The room was endless. Spiral staircases led up to each new level and the levels went up and up.

"How am I going to find anything here?"

A ding sounded and I watched as the levels moved as if they were on conveyor belts until a new wardrobe shifted into place on the ground level. It seemed colour-coordinated but the organisation stopped there.

"Alright, 1860 wintertime."

I pulled out ball gowns, swimming costumes, chemises, corsets, petticoats and day dresses but still didn't find anything quite what i was looking for. I wanted something warm but not too high of a collar, something that wouldn't restrict my running too much, knowing with the Doctor there was always running.

I narrowed down the selection to a blue and black printed evening dress with only a slight bustle, a red velvet ball gown and a winter coat that would fit a more a-line skirt.

"Do you perhaps have something in the red velvet but with a similar pattern and styling to the blue?"

Some movement was heard and then another ding.

The dress was perfect. Rounded neckline, gathered puffed shoulder sleeves and an a-line velvet burgundy gown.

There was a screen by the staircase that displayed all the tutorials needed for how to wear everything and put on the underpinnings.

I was thankful for the front lacing corset that would take the weight of the petticoats. As I finished up I looked at myself in a floor to ceiling mirror in one of the alcoves. It fit perfectly. The only out of era items were my kneehigh boots over my warm stockings, but with my coat on I was ready for an adventure in the 19th century.

The doctor was checking the TARDIS's undercarriage when I walked back in.

The Doctor looked up and then back at his workings but not before looking quickly back up, eyes wide.

I giggled at his double take, "Do you think I'll do?"

"You look..." His gob hung open for a moment before he cleared his throat.

"Fantastic?"

"Beautiful..." and then as if he caught himself, he looked away, "...considering."

I shook my head, before tossing a curl behind me, "Not all of us can reach the perfection of the great Time Lords."

His smile dropped and my gut sank.

"Well, should we get going?" I looked at what he was wearing, "Aren't you going to have your own 1800s makeover?"

"I changed my jumper, good enough."

The Doctor got up from beneath the TARDIS and strode toward the doors.

I picked up my skirts and raced after him.

He paused, "Ready?"

He offered his arm and I slipped my arm through his.

"Most definitely."

As we walked the streets of 'Naples' I soaked in the frigid air and peered curiously at the houses that reminded me of some that were in the old corridor of Cardiff.

"I got it wrong. Not Naples, Cardiff."

I nodded and looked at him smiling, "1800s still though." I looked at the other passerby.

"Yes 1869."

"Not that far off then."

He hummed in return, something I noticed he'd started to do more.

Screams pierced through the night air.

The doctor's features lit up in a glorious excited smile, "That's more like it."

We followed the screams toward a building with a red sign over its double door walkway. We ran in as its occupants ran out screaming.

We came in time to see a gaseous light creature flying around the room in what looked like distress.

One of my mind's doors whispered, 'Gelth'.

The Doctor ran up to the man who stood on the stage, "Did you see where it came from?"

"Oh so the mastermind reveals himself..."

I looked away, a shiver going down my spine as I felt as if something was watching me. I looked behind only to see a winged sculpture standing by one of the box seats. Something felt wrong about it but I couldn't put my finger on it.

I stared at it, something telling me not to look it straight in its eyes.

The light creature drew my attention from the statue, and I watched as it disappeared into a gas lamp.

"Projection on glass, who put you up to it?"

The bearded man continued to interrogate the Doctor while I looked back to where the statue had been.

I let out an embarrassing squeak when I saw it gone, I looked around and it was nowhere to be seen.

"What is going on?"

"I would like to find that out as well."

I looked at the Doctor, "You saw it too? It was there and then it vanished." I pointed to where I'd seen the sculpture.

"A gaseous creature of some sort. How fascinating! It has to be able to travel somehow. The woman in the crowd, do you know her?" He turned back toward the bearded man and the stage manager who had joined the conversation. It would seem he and I were not talking about the same thing.

The stage manager spoke up, "The lady was a regular customer to the theatre, I heard she passed not long ago. The ones who took her away were from the local mortuary."

"How do you know that?"

As the gentlemen continued, I realised the Doctor had never seen the statue. I gripped my skirt, my heart palpitating in my chest. An overwhelming sense of unease came over me as I looked back at the Doctor. I couldn't help the words that spilled out, "I'm not sure I'm supposed to be here."

"Of course you are."


We took a carriage to the mortuary to investigate further the gaseous creatures.

The way to the mortuary was filled with bickering between the Doctor and the man revealed to be Charles Dickens.

I had never gotten through any of his books on my own, only reading them thoroughly for school projects.

I was much more concerned by the statue that seemed to be following the carriage. When I'd look out the window I'd catch glimpses of it, by the side of the road, standing by a house or peering around a corner.

"Rose, Rose."

I jumped as the Doctor shook my shoulder.

"We are here."

Perhaps too much of my fear had shown on my face because Charles Dickens who still was in the carriage with me looked at me with a deep frown upon his lips.

"Where are you parents, child?"

"Do I truly look that young?" I patted my cheeks.

"Perhaps its your lost expression."

"Thank you for your concern Mr Dickens, but my mother is aware I'm travelling."

He pointed at the doctor who was scanning the outside of the mortuary with his sonic screwdriver, "With him?"

"Well..."

The Doctor returned and offered his hand to help me out of the carriage,

"Out you go, Rose."

Mr Dickens took the lead and knocked brusquely on the door.

A woman in maid's attire answered, "I'm afraid we are closed, sir."

Her young and gentle features were truly apologetic but there was something at the edges of them. Apprehension. Her eyes met mine before they looked over my shoulder, widening in horror. She could see it too, I wasn't going mad.

"When does an undertaker keep hours? I demand to see your master at once girl!"

I smiled apologetically at the girl who looked even more affronted, "I'm sorry Mr Dickens but he's not able to greet you." She closed the door keeping her gaze to what was behind me.

The Doctor stepped forward keeping the door open, "Having trouble with your gas?" He slipped past, putting his head immediately against their old wallpapered walls. "There's something in the walls, in the pipes."

Pounding sounded down the hall.

"Odd for a mortuary." Charles Dickens brusquely made his way past the maid and after the Doctor.

The Doctor ran down the corridor and opened the door where the pounding came from.

The maid called after him, "Sir! Please don't!"

I looked towards her, "I'm sorry. He never listens. I'm Rose by the way."

"A rose of many names."

Down the corridor they heard Charles Dickens exclaim, "It has to be a trick."

The Doctor, though, talked to the beings within the room, "What do you want?"

"Open the rift. We are dying. This form cannot be sustained. Help us."


We all sat having tea pondering over the information Mr Sneed had given us, I got up and followed the maid to the kitchen.

I helped wash my dish.

"Miss, please, its my job."

I stepped back and let her continue and leaned against the pantry wall.

"I gave you my name, may I have yours?"

"Gwyn, miss."

I smiled in thanks before my face got stiff as I remembered.

"You saw the statue too."

Gwyn nodded, "I'm so sorry miss."

"Why are you sorry?"

"If it wasn't for this place, you wouldn't have come. The hunters know you exist now."

A hunter, a predator then was after me. I felt my hands shake.

Could it only want me because I was a 'Starling'? Or would a future me find out the real reason but only after being captured.

I jumped slightly as I felt a hand pat mine.

"All will be well in the end, miss."

"Thank you Gwyn." I could sense an otherness about Gwyn, similar but not the same to mine.

Gwyn's song was unique. It reminded me of something gentle but powerful. Like those solo piano performances that rose in strength and then suddenly you realised there were other instruments playing seamlessly alongside it.

"Gwyn, I..."

I stopped as I saw a dazed expression on Gwyn's face.

"I see your home. Your London with buildings that reach up to the sky and goodness of youth running around half naked..." She drifted off.

"Gwyn."

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to..."

A new voice spoke up, "You grew up on the rift. You are part of it. You are the key."

"I've gone to all sorts of charlatans and table-wrappers, but none could tell me."

I got a bad feeling and what the Doctor said next confirmed it.

"Then you will be able to show us what to do."


I shivered.

They would discover the name now of the gaseous creatures trapped due to rift under the house.

A door had given me information and I looked over to Gwyn. She caught my eye and shook her head.

I had a feeling the Doctor wouldn't like me running away, but even the TARDIS didn't want to bring me here. It must have known the hunters were here at this time. Even now I could feel the TARDIS pulling me towards her. Her song was so loud in my head it was painful. Her anxiety was felt with each rising note in my mind.

"Doctor, you will have to do this without me." I gestured toward the area set aside with candles and low lights.

"What do you mean?"

The Doctor was angry. I was doing something unexpected out of his control and he didn't like it.

"It is not that I won't but I can't." I winced as the urgency of the symphony in my mind heightened again, its tempo beating behind my eyes and thundering in my ears.

The Doctor's eyes narrowed, "And if it was the only way?"

"There's always another way."

I turned and walked over to Gwyn who met me halfway and walked me to the door.

"Keep your eye on it, miss."

"I will. I'm sorry, Gwyn. I wish I could stay by your side."

She clutched my hand and smiled, "I hear it too, I'm surprised it hasn't driven you mad."

I swallowed thickly, "It just might."

A wry smile came upon my lips, "Gwyn, there is something I need you to do for me."


[Excerpt of what happened to the rift, the Doctor, Dickens and Gwyn.]

The Doctor stared angrily at the door even after they'd finished their task.

And yet he couldn't get out of his head the sense of panic and fear that came off Rose in waves as she ran back to the TARDIS.

He didn't even know if she was safe.

Gwyn sighed as she stirred awake, the Doctor's attention immediately turned toward her.

Her gentle eyes met his, "Do not be angry at her, Doctor. She needed to be safe." She sat up, her hand to her head. "Safe and sound."

"Who?"

"They hunt her."

"Who?"

"The Bad Wolf."


The rift had to be closed and the young Gwyn had stayed behind.

The Doctor was sure that the young woman had just sacrificed her life for them, her body had been so ice cold before they'd left the cellar.

To his surprise and that of Charles Dickens, Gwyn followed them shortly after they had left. Her eyes, the clearest they had ever seen.

"Doctor, Mr. Dickens..." She nodded to each, "We must leave, she said the house will collapse shortly."

As they ran, the Doctor asked once more, "Who?"

"The Black Swan, sir."

Doctor looked at the rubble that once was the mortuary, it was strange how none of the other buildings were disturbed.

Gwyn turned toward the Doctor, "One day Doctor you'll realise Rose saved me."

The Doctor looked off into the distance, "She wasn't even here."

A sad little smile came upon Gwyn's lips, "I would have been dead if it weren't for her."