Ruby couldn't believe it. How could she have been so stupid! Why in the world would she decide to stay in a burning building with a 16th century criminal on the loose? There was no time to kick herself though, because said criminal was now slowly walking towards her.
"Oh goodness," he feigned concern, "I'm so glad someone heard my desperate cry for help." He kept his distance. Smart, because if he even came within arms reach of her she'd have him on the floor begging for mercy.
"You really are a sick bastard." Ruby knew that the Doctor would be here soon. She knew he would.
"As a matter of fact I am." He smiled, but it didn't warm her from her toes up. It chilled her spine and made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end.
"So, would you mind telling me from where you came?"
The best thing to do was to keep him talking and at a safe distance. The Doctor would show up. "Why should I tell you that?"
"Curiosity, love."
Ugh! He repulsed her in a way that was inconceivable. And who gave him the right to call her "love?" She grimaced at the predatory hunger on his face. She could only imagine the horrendous thoughts that were crawling through his mind. Just the thought made her nauseous. Where in the world was the Doctor.
"Yeah, well curiosity did kill the cat," she narrowed her eyes at him.
He only looked at her and chuckled. Oh, how she hated being patronized. "Is that a threat? Why," he gave a quick once-over, "I don't think you could harm a fly."
Oh, how she hated to be patronized. He took a step closer and without hesitation Ruby took a step backwards, keeping her eyes on the odious man than now stood before her. "Yes, it was a threat. Now, keep your distance!"
She slowly stepped out of her shoes, preparing to fight for her life. Out of the corner of her eye she could see smoke pouring through the space beneath the door. It was starting to feel like a really bad horror film that she couldn't escape from.
"If only I could ignore that temptation."
Oh, yeah. Just a crash of lighting would make this Oscar worthy. I guess having the room slowly fill with smoke makes up for it.
"And as I said before," Seymour said, "you wont have the strength to fight."
He took another step and Ruby only backed up further. "Try me."
"I plan to." Ruby's back hit the wall and suddenly she was cornered.
The Doctor kept staring up at the building waiting for a sign from Ruby. He would just as quickly run up there himself, but the princess' guard was holding him back.
"Listen to me. My friend is up there and could be in a lot of trouble. Please you have to let me go!" he pleaded.
"I can't do that sir."
He groaned in impatience. "Ok. Yes, I started this fire, but it wasn't intentional. Come on. If you were me would you be sitting here quietly?" The man didn't answer. The Doctor really didn't want to do what he knew he had to do. Luckily, he knew that the pain would be temporary. Excruciating, but temporary. "I'm sorry. Really, I am so sorry." With a kick of his leg he brought the man to his knees clutching his groin in agony.
And with that he ran into the burning building.
Immediately he ran through the first set of doors and encountered a wall of flames. The fabric that had lined the walls was wholly engulfed in flames. The beautiful tables were now being reduced to hot coals that only fed the fire. But he didn't care about the danger surrounding him. He had to get to the other side of the room to the staircase.
Without hesitation he ran through the flames and ash and almost tripped up the stairs taking them three at a time.
Now if he only knew what room she was in.
Thomas stepped closer toward Ruby and she only stared at him. She was scared, but never would she show it. "How did you escape?"
"Well, I didn't really escape. You released me, Ruby." He laughed for a moment, before he took one more step closer. "Your dress caught on the latch of the door that was keeping me in there."
She couldn't believe it. It was all her fault.
She started to cough as the smoke filled the room and her lungs. But something distracted her thoughts. Seymour had placed his hand on her shoulder and that was her limit. He could talk to her and inch as close as he wanted, but he couldn't touch her.
With her other arm she grabbed his wrist and twisted it back. The surprise on his face was unmistakable. She let go and realized that she shouldn't have. He got up and moved to grab her, but she was too quick. She sidestepped him and he faced her once more. This time she was ready. She bounced on her toes and kicked him in the side. It must have hurt because for a moment there he couldn't breathe, and neither could Ruby. The smoke was starting to fill her lungs and left her gasping for air. But she had to finish with him. If she were going to die she'd die fighting.
Thomas Seymour staggered up onto his feet and had a murderous look on his face. He lunged toward her and she only thrust her palm upwards breaking his nose and punched him in the ribs. He dropped like a wet noodle.
At that moment the door was thrown open and there stood the Doctor amidst the smoke. He took one look at the man on the floor and gaped at Ruby in shock until he noticed that she was coughing beyond all reason. He rushed to her side just as she collapsed into his arms from a lack of oxygen.