A/N: Sorry for the HUGE delay in posting. Things have been crazy so far this summer. I'm not going to even go into that. Anyway, here's the new chapter. Please read and review. Hope you guys enjoy!
When the light finally faded, I opened up my eyes. I appeared to be in a cell in some sort of dark and dingy dungeon. The only light coming from some lanterns hanging up against the opposing wall. "What the hell just happened?" I wondered aloud.
"You were teleported into a Dalek prison camp." Wait! That voice. I knew that voice! I immediately spun around.
"River?"
"Hello, sweetie."
"What are you doing here?"
"I was attempting to ward of a Dalek attack at the University where I teach when I was captured and, as luck would have it, transported into the same prison cell as my daughter."
"Don't you dare call me that" I spat.
"Call you what?"
"Your daughter."
"But it's true. You are biologically my daughter."
"Screw Biology! You tampered with my memories and sent me off to a foreign planet where I ended up in a shit foster home. Do you have any idea what they did to me there? Well, do you?" I was screaming by this point. "As far as I'm concerned, you're as good as dead to me." River sighed.
"It's a shame you feel that way" she said, almost sounding hurt. "Nonetheless, if that's how you truly feel, I promise to permanently disappear from your life once I know that you're safely aboard the TARDIS with the Doctor."
"Promise?" I skeptically asked.
"Cross my hearts promise, Violet. If you still feel this way, that is."
"Oh, I'm sure I still will. No doubt about that."
"Great! Now that this is settled, let's start discussing our escape plan, shall we?"
"Alright, what do you have in mind?"
"If my calculations are correct," River stated, "the Dalek security system shuts down for approximately 4.2 seconds daily while the power jumps from one switch board to another. A convenient flaw. Anyway, I have quite the advanced Vortex Manipulator which is programmed to transport the wearer from here to directly inside the TARDIS, regardless of where or when she may be."
"She being the TARDIS?" River nodded. "Sounds easy enough."
"It is, so long as the jump is made within those 4.2 seconds. The catch is the Vortex Manipulator is only meant to transport one person…"
"Meaning that one of us gets left behind."
"Right," River affirmed. She took the Vortex Manipulator off of her wrist and strapped it onto mine. It felt much heavier than I had expected it to.
"See the red button right above the display panel?" I nodded. "When I tell you to, I'm going to need you to push that. The moment you feel a tugging sensation, I need you to push the green button directly next to that. Understood?"
"Yep. But, River…I mean, Mom…what about you? How are you going to escape?"
"I have my ways, sweetie. No need for you to worry."
"Are…are you sure that you don't want to make the jump instead?"
"Violet, sweetie, it is my duty to ensure your safety. Now, not another word about this. Alright?"
"Sure, ok. So, how long until I can make the jump?"
"1 hour 39 minutes and 26 seconds…and counting. Looks like you're stuck with me until then."
"So what do we do until then?"
"We could always chat, if you're up for that."
"Um…ok, yeah. Chatting sounds good."
"Wonderful! So tell me all about your time on Earth." I cringed when she said that. This was something I was not comfortable sharing, especially with this woman.
"Are…are you sure you don't want to talk about something else?"
"Positive. Now, tell me everything. The good, the bad and the ugly." I took a deep breath.
"Right. The good, I suppose, is that I'm an honors student at my high school and I'm number two in my class ranking and, um, yeah." I played with my hands and stared at the ground as I said this.
"Well, that is good. Anything else? Boyfriend?" I shook my head. "Girlfriend? Best friend?"
"No. I didn't exactly have friends. I was more of a social outcast."
"Nothing wrong with being a bit different."
"I was more than just 'a bit different'. Nobody wanted anything to do with me, and they made sure I knew it too."
"How exactly?" River asked, giving me her full, undivided attention. Tears streamed down my face as I told her about the bullying at school, abuse in my foster home, cutting myself, everything." When I was finished, River grabbed my hands and held them in her own.
"I'm so sorry, sweetie" she told me. "But I promise you that I will fix this. Just you trust me."
