"So, what's the plan? Do we have a plan?"

River questioned, her voice urgent as they could hear the commotion of Dave down the hall.

"Where's Ruri and Donna?" She added, looking round as he clenched his jaw.

"I teleported them back to the Tardis. If we don't get back there in under five hours, emergency program one will activate." He told her as she nodded.

"Take them home, yeah. We need to get a shift on." She tried to hurry him, but he took out his sonic, frowning.

"They're not there." He said through gritted teeth. "I should have received a signal. The console signals me if there's a teleport breach."

"Well, maybe the coordinates have slipped. The equipment here's ancient." River suggested as he sighed, rushing to a nearby node device. "Ruri Rogers and Donna Noble. They're somewhere in this library. Do you have the software to locate her position?" He questioned, the node beginning to turn its head as it slowly revealed Donna's face, staring blankly back at the Doctor.

"Donna Noble has left The Library. Donna Noble has been saved." The node told him, The Doctor's expression falling.

"Donna." He breathed out, voice breathy.

"Donna Noble has left The Library. Donna Noble has been saved."

"How can it be Donna? How's that possible?" River asked, her own confusion evident on her face as she looked between the node and The Doctor.

"Donna Noble has left The Library. Donna Noble has been saved."

"What about Ruri?" River asked, her eyes widened slightly, causing The Doctor to turn to face her, worry quickly appearing in his eyes. "Why isn't the node mentioning her?"

" I don't know..." He replied, unsure himself as he furrowed his brows, turning back to the node. "What about Ruri Rogers? Has she been saved?" He asked, his voice a little more frantic. The node seemed to pause.

"Ruri Rogers has left The Library." The node simply stated, causing River to frown. "Donna Noble has left The Library. Donna Noble has been saved."

"Doctor, we need to go."

Ruri opened her eyes, gasping as she sat up. Her head was pounding, and her limbs felt a little tingly. Squinting, she reached up, holding her head for a moment as she tried to adjust to the new lighting. She finally began to take a look round, seeing her surroundings. Furrowing her brows, she slowly pushed herself of the carpeted ground, taking note of how she appeared to be in... a hotel reception?

"What the hell..." She muttered to herself, turning as she decided to head towards the desk. She had an idea, sporting a phone as she sighed in relief. Who did she call? She landed on the police, they'd be able to get her and take her home. Right? Dialling '999' she lifted the phone to her ear, only to be met with beeping as she groaned in frustration, putting the phone down and trying again, getting the same result. "What kind of hotel doesn't have a signal?" She thought aloud, giving up on the idea. "Why do I keep appearing in silent places?"

Before she could do or say anything else, a weird whirring sound filled the air, causing her attention to turn towards the staircase. The wind seemed to pick up, as she narrowed her eyes, watching as something began to appear, flashing into sight. Raising a brow, she realised it was a blue box, a police box? Looking shocked at what she'd just witnessed, the door suddenly creaked open, revealing a ginger woman.

"Let's go to Ravan-Skala, he says." She spoke, Ruri noting the Scottish accent. "The people are six hundred feet tall. You have to talk to them in hot air balloons and the Tourist Information Centre is made of one of their hats, he says. I'm sorry, but I don't see any huge hats." She called back, as another person appeared, with one more following. A man in a bow tie spoke.

"Amy, Beaky, this could be the most exciting thing I have ever seen." He grinned, gesturing to the space around them.

"You're kidding." 'Beaky' looked unamused.

"How can you be excited about a rubbish hotel on a rubbish bit of Earth?" 'Amy' retorted, raising a brow.

"Because, assembled Ponds, this is not Earth." Bow-tie man clapped his hands. "This has just been made to look like Earth. The craftsmanship involved. Can you imagine?"

"What? Then where are we?" Amy frowned.

"I don't know. Something must have yanked us off course." He shrugged, as his gaze eventually came to land on the hotel desk, his eyes meeting Ruri's own as he instantly lit up, even more than they already were. "Ruri Rogers!" He exclaimed, causing his two friends to look where he was, watching as he rushed down the stairs towards the girl, who seemed taken back by his reaction. As he got to her, he quickly pulled her in for a hug, lifting her slightly off the ground as he spun round with her, causing her to widen her eyes in surprise. "Thought you'd be here somewhere!" He finally put her down, leaning back as his hands rested on her shoulders.

"Um..." Ruri looked at him. "Hi?" She raised a brow. "Do I know you?" She asked, as he laughed for a moment, pointing at her as if she told a joke.

"That never gets old." He wagged his finger at her. However, Amy seemed to watch Ruri closely as she made her way to join her friend.

"Doctor..." Amy said lowly, causing him to glance at her. "I don't think she's joking." She half whispered as the man's smile slowly dropped.

"Hold on..." Ruri shook her head. "Doctor?" She frowned. But it couldn't be. This wasn't the man she was just with.

"Oh..." The 'Doctor' muttered as he slowly turned back to Ruri, awkwardly removing his hand from her shoulder. "Sorry Ruri." He swallowed the lump in his throat. "Didn't mean to be all..." He waved his hands about.

"But you're not The Doctor." Ruri looked him up and down. "The Doctor I saw had spikey brown hair, pinstripe suit and was less..." She gave him a face as he frowned.

"Oi!" He pouted. "Yes that was me." He soon wore a small smile. "Hello." He waved, as Ruri looked to the woman for help.

"What he's trying to say is-" Amy stepped in. "You met another version of him... You do that." She folded her arms, as Ruri slowly nodded.

"Of course I do." Ruri said skeptically. "Is there anything I don't do? Apparently I just appear places now also?"

"Ah, yes, about that." The Doctor began, but his friend interrupted them, still stood on the stairs.

"Have you seen these?" The man asked. "Look at the labels underneath." The Doctor and Amy quickly went to their friends side, looking at the photographs on the wall. Ruri furrowed her brows, deciding to follow. "Commander Halke, defeat. Tim Heath, having his photo taken. Lady Silver-Tear, Daleks."

"Paige Barnes, other people's socks. Tim Nelson, balloons. Novice Prin, sabrewolves. Royston Luke Gold, Plymouth? Lucy Hayward, that brutal gorilla." Amy continued to read, turning to the man in the bow tie. "Doctor, what does it mean?"

"I don't know. Let's find out." He smirked, before spinning on his heel to rush down to the desk.

"Sorry, so who are you?" Ruri asked the pair as Amy gave her a small, kind smile.

"I'm Amy, and this is Rory." She introduced. "We travel with The Doctor."

"More like get into trouble because of The Doctor." Rory commented as Amy shh'd him. A ding pulled their focus back to The Doctor, as they saw him ringing the bell.

"Why didn't I think of that?" Ruri mumbled to herself, but was relieved she hadn't when three people appeared, with two of them seemingly ready to attack whilst the other stayed at the back with a white flag.

"Whoa!" Rory exclaimed, as the three on the steps rushed to stand behind The Doctor by the desk.

"Blimey, that was a bit quick." The Doctor commented, looking at the strangers.

"We surrender." One of them spoke, as Ruri looked over at him, shock on her face as she saw his rodent like appearance.

"Um... Amy..." Ruri whispered to the woman, as Amy turned to see her shocked expression.

"Oh..." Amy furrowed her brows. "I'm guessing this is the first alien you've seen..." Ruri nodded slowly, before her head snapped to her.

"We're nice!" Rory exclaimed, causing Ruri to peer over at him as Amy frowned at him.

"She's threatening me with a chair leg." The Doctor spoke, pointing to the leader of the group, who Ruri saw was in fact holding a chair up at the man.

"Why are you surrendering?" Ruri finally asked. "That implies you're fighting something..." She came to the conclusion as The Doctor turned to smile at her.

"Good point, gold star for Ruri." He commented, being interrupted by the woman holding the chair up at them.

"Who are you?" She questioned, eyes narrowed.

"Oh god, we're back in reception." The other human-looking person spoke, anxiety lacing his tone.

"I've never been threatened with a chair leg before. No, hang on, I tell a lie." The Doctor continued as Ruri rolled her eyes at the man.

"Doctor!" She exclaimed, as Amy turned to Rory.

"No, hold on, did you just say, it's okay, we're nice?" She frowned, as Rory shrugged. Before they all knew it they were all bickering amongst themselves.

"Okay, I need everyone to shut up, now." The woman in front of them exclaimed, causing everyone to go silent, like kids being scolded by a teacher. "Their pupils are dilated. They're as surprised as we are. Besides which, if it's a trick, it'll tell us something." She commented.

"Oh, you're good. Oh, she's good." The Doctor smirked, before turning to his companion. "Amy, with regret, you're fired." He told her as she looked confused.

"What?" Amy raised a brow.

"I'm kidding." He waved her off, laughing slightly before turning back to the woman. "We'll talk." He whispered to her, holding up his hands in a 'phone me' sign. "I take it from the pathological compulsion to surrender, you're from Tivoli." He continued.

"Yes. The most invaded planet in the galaxy. Our anthem is called Glory To Insert Name Here." The... alien... responded. "Names Gibbis by the way."

"You with the face, Howie was it, you said you were surprised to be back in reception."

"The walls move. Everything changes." Howie explained.

"You, clever one. What's he talking about?" He turned back to the woman, as she began to lower the chair.

"The corridors twist and stretch. Rooms vanish and pop up somewhere else. It's like the hotel's alive." She explained as Ruri frowned.

"What? Like a funhouse? Why would someone make a hotel like that?" Ruri asked, as The Doctor shrugged.

"Unique selling point?" He offered.

"Better hope you don't need the toilet in the middle of the night." Ruri joked as he sent her a grin.

"Yeah, and it's huge, with, like, no way out." Howie added.

"Have you tried the front door?" Rory asked, causing the woman to raise a brow.

"No. In two days it never occurred to us to try the front door. Thank God you're here." She sarcastically replied as Ruri couldn't help but smirk at the woman, with Amy letting out a laugh, as Rory saw, sending a glare their way as she weakly apologised. The Doctor walked to the door, as he opened it, revealing a wall.

"They're not doors, they're walls. Walls that look like doors. Door-walls, if you like, or dwalls. Woors even, though you'd probably got it when you said they're not doors." He rambled as Ruri nodded at him. "I mean, the windows are-" He moved over to a window, pulling back to curtain to reveal more bricks. "Right, big day if you're a fan of walls."

"A fire hazard if you ask me, how did this place even pass hotel inspection?" Ruri asked, pulling a face at the walls as The Doctor sent her another small grin. She would admit she felt more relaxed around 'this Doctor', even though she wasn't fully convinced they were the same person.

"It's not just that. The rooms have things in them." The woman added.

"Things? Hello! What kind of things?" The Doctor asked, walking back towards her. "Interesting things? I love things, ask anyone."

"Bad dreams."

"Well, that killed the mood." He frowned. "How did you get here?"

"I don't know. I'd just started my shift. I must have passed out, because suddenly I was here." She explained, shrugging as Ruri glanced down at her ID card that was attached to her hip, reading the name 'Rita'.

"I was blogging. Next thing, this." Howie added.

"Oh, I was at work. I'm in Town Planning. We're lining all the highways with trees so invading forces can march in the shade." Gibbis shrugged.

"Ah." The Doctor let out.

"Which is nice for them."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"So, what have we got. People snatched from their lives and dropped into an endless, shifting maze that looks like a 1980s hotel with bad dreams in the bedrooms." The Doctor narrowed his eyes, looking round the room. "Well, apart from anything else, that's just rude."

"Is that what happened to me?" Ruri asked, as The Doctor turned to her.

"Maybe. Where were you last?" He asked.

"The Library?" She offered. "Shadows that weren't shadows?" He nodded, realising.

"So this is where you went..." He trailed off as she gave him a confused look. "Teleport went wrong, must've thrown you here."

"Well, I don't fancy doing it again." She quipped. "Gave me a right headache."

"Yeah, sorry, that'll be the teleport." He spun on his heels again. "We'll pop back to the Tardis, I'll do a planet-wide diagnostic sweep, and then we'll have a sing song." He announced as Amy frowned, looking back at the staircase where the ship should've been.

"Where's the Tardis? You parked it there, didn't you?" She turned to The Doctor.

"Is the TARDIS that blue box?" Ruri asked as Amy nodded.

"And our way out. And it's gone." Rory added, internally groaning.

"Don't suppose we could call for a lift?" Ruri asked, trying to hide her anxiety.

"Okay, this is bad. At the moment, I don't know how bad, but certainly we're three buses, a long walk and eight quid in a taxi from good. Are there any more of you?" The Doctor asked, turning back to the other three.

"Joe. But he's tied up right now." Rita told him.

"Doing what?"

"No, I mean he's tied up right now." Everyone looked confused at the woman, as she led them through the hotel corridor to the dining room, revealing the said man, in fact tied up, sitting at a table. The Doctor slowly approached the man, as he gave him a slight smile, greeting him. He took a seat next to Joe as he leant back in his chair.

"Hello. I'm the Doctor."

"We're going to die here." Joe replied, his voice a little manic.

"Well, they certainly didn't mention that in the brochure. Is Joe there? Can I have a quick word?" He raised a brow.

"Oh, it's still me, Doctor, but I've seen the light. I lived a blasphemous life, but he has forgiven my inconstancy, and soon he shall feast."

"Anyone else feeling a little creeped out?" Ruri whispered, as Amy sent her a glance.

"Well, you've been here two days. What's he waiting for?" The Doctor continued.

"We weren't ready. We were still raw."

"But now you're what, cooked?"

"If you like. Soon you will be, too. Be patient. First, find your room." Joe smiled.

"My room?"

"There's a room here for everyone, Doctor. Even you."

"You said you'd seen the light now..." He tried to push, leaning forwards slightly.

"Nothing else matters anymore. Only him. It's like these things. I used to hate them. They make me laugh now. Gottle o' geer. Gottle o' geer." After a second he laughed, as the dolls around him also snickered, causing shivers to go through Ruri's spine. "You should go. He'll be here soon."

"I think you should come with me."

"What did he mean? He'll be here soon?" Ruri asked The Doctor as they walked back into the reception. "Sounds pretty ominous..."

"Hmmm." The Doctor hummed in agreement. "I don't know, but I intend to find out." He told her, before he stopped walking to finally look at her properly. "Are you ok?" He asked suddenly as she stopped to look at him also.

"I think so." She said lowly. "But you did promise me some answers. If that was you." She raised a brow.

"I know." He sighed. "Things just keep getting in the way."

"Ok, then answer me this, before it all kicks off..." She licked her lips. "Who are you?" He looked at her for a second in silence, before forcing a smile.

"I'm The Doctor, I'm a Timelord, I travel around space and time in my ship, called the TARDIS. And you Ruri Rogers, somehow always seem to follow me." He landed on as she furrowed her brows.

"Why?" She asked.

"I'm still working it out." He admitted as she gave a small nod, accepting his answer. For now. "Why you four?" He suddenly asked, turning back to the others. "That's what I don't understand. Aside from all the other things I don't understand."

"What does it matter? Sooner or later, someone will come along and rescue us." Gibbis answered. "Or enslave us."

"You're cheery." Amy commented as The Doctor began to talk again.

"First, we find the Tardis. Quick thing before we go. If you feel drawn to a particular room, do not go in, and make sure someone else can see you at all times." He said, in a similar tone to the last Doctor Ruri had met. Maybe it was him...

"Joe said, he will feast. Is there something here with us?" Rita asked, as Joe began to laugh.

"Something to add, Joe?"

"Here comes a candle to light you to bed. Here comes a chopper to chop off your head. Chop, chop, chop, chop."

"Can we do something about him?" Howie asked as Ruri side eyed Joe.

"Yeah, it's a little bit creepy." She added.

The gang all walked down the first floor corridor, after deciding to tape Joe's mouth closed and strap him to a luggage trolley, Gibbis wheeling him along. Ruri stayed close behind The Doctor as Amy and Rory followed. She glanced back at the pair, seeing how Rory kept checking on Amy as she started to piece it together, falling back a little to walk with them as The Doctor chatted with Howie.

"So... are you two...?" Ruri looked between them both as Rory instantly nodded, Amy chucking a little.

"Married?" She raised a brow. "Yes. Luckily for him." She teased as Rory playfully glared at his wife.

"Well I suppose this lifestyle must keep the marriage exciting?" Ruri joked as Amy laughed, with Rory rolling his eyes.

"That's one way to look at it." He answered. "What about you? How are you finding all this?"

"Yeah, I mean..." Ruri shrugged. "Not quite sure what's going on, where I am, why I'm here or what even happened for me to be here." She sighed. "And he keeps telling me he'll explain, but hasn't as of yet."

"Yup, that's The Doctor." Amy smirked. Suddenly a door opened ahead, as a man in what looked like a PE teachers gear stepped out, looking at the Doctor.

"Have you forgotten your PE kit again? Right, that's it, you're doing it in your pants!" The strange man shouted as The Doctor looked confused, as he headed back into the room he came from.

"That was... weird." Ruri voiced, as The Doctor noticed Howie walking towards one of the other doors.

"Hey! Don't!" The Doctor called out, but it was too late, Howie had opened the door, revealing a room full of girls as they laughed at him.

"Oh, look, girls, it's H-H-H-Howie!" One of the girls called.

"What's loser in K-K-K-Klingon?" Another added as they all laughed, causing Howie to stumble back.

"Shut the d, d, d, the door. This is just some m, m, messed up CIA stuff, I'm, I'm, I'm telling you." Howie spoke, voice shaking as The Doctor shut the door, turning to the man.

"You're right. Keep telling yourself that. It's a CIA thing, nothing more."

They all ventured up to the next floor, Howie still shaken up by his room encounter.

"What's with the rooms?" Ruri asked The Doctor lowly, as she walked beside him. "Rita said there was things inside them, like bad dreams?"

"Imagine your worst fears, the things you don't want to think about, now imagine a hotel with rooms catered to every single guest it has." He replied, glancing down at her.

"But why?" She shook her head. "Is there something here that's feeding of people's fears?"

"It seems that way..." He muttered.

"Er guys?" Rory's voice called to the group, as Amy turned, freezing as she saw a shadow at the end of the hall.

"Look." She told The Doctor as he spotted it also. Ruri jumped as something roared down the hall.

"Okay, whatever that is, it's not real, yeah?" Amy asked, frantic as The Doctor seemed alarmed.

"No. No, I'm sure it isn't, but just in case, let's run away and hide anyway." He said, rushing to a door as he opened it. "In here." Gibbis, Howie and Amy followed suit, rushing into the room as Rita and Joe disappeared into another. Rory stayed in the hallway, looking down the corridor in confusion, as Ruri stayed by the Doctor. "Rory, come on!" After a moment he ducked into the room, coming face to face with...

"The Angel statue..." Ruri whispered, as the Doctor glanced at her.

"Don't blink." Amy told them all.

"But that's it..." Ruri told him, turning to him. "That's what I saw!"

"Amy, get back." The Doctor approached Amy. "Why haven't they got us yet?" After a moment, the lights flickered, causing the room to go dark, letting the Angel move. The Doctor furrowed his brows, taking a step forward as he reached out for the Angel, but found his hand slip through it. "Amy, they're not real. They should have got us by now." He grabbed his friend gently as he turned her away from it. "Amy, look at me. Focus on me. It's your bad dream, that's all."

"I don't even think they're for us." Rory announced as everyone turned to see Gibbis hiding away in the wardrobe, hearing his whimpers. The Doctor began to head back towards the corridor, slowly stepping out.

"Doctor, what are you doing?" Amy asked.

"I'm sorry, I just have to see what it is. I just have to see." He peered round the doorframe, finally getting a view of the beast. "Oh, look at you. Oh, you are beautiful."

"Maybe stop complimenting it and get back inside!" Ruri exclaimed as he watched, seeing Joe run out from one of the other rooms.

"Oh dear... I think it's going after Joe." The Doctor grimaced. They could all hear Joe from the corridor, calling to the beast. The Doctor quickly rushed out into the corridor to follow as he tried to stop the inevitable. The others all came out of the room, Gibbis shaken, with Ruri left with more questions than answers. Leaning against the wall, Ruri felt someone next to her as she peered up to see Amy, giving her a small smile.

"How you holding up?" She asked, as Ruri let out a breath.

"I'm great. Tip top. On cloud nine." Ruri joked, as Amy gave her a knowing look. "That thing, what was it? You've seen it before?"

"It's a weeping Angel." She told her. "It's this being that relies on you seeing it, as soon you you turn away or blink, it strikes. Sending you back in time." She explained as Ruri nodded slowly.

"So that's how I got here..." She thought aloud. "It was there... At my mums grave." Amy listened intently. "I thought it was someone messing around." She shrugged. "But apparently not."

"Hey-" Amy moved to face her body towards Ruri. "The Doctor will figure it out. He'd never give up on you." She added as Ruri gave her a confused stare.

"What does that mean?" Amy seemed to realise her slip up as she shrugged.

"He's The Doctor. He doesn't give up on anyone." She cleared her throat, as Ruri gave her a skeptical look.

Everyone returned back to the dining room, all chatting amongst themselves as The Doctor paced, obviously trying to come up with a plan.

"If we can wedge a chair under the door handles, that should stop anything from getting in." Rory suggested to Ruri, as Rita appeared, carrying a tray of cups.

"Help yourself to tea. Guys, tea over here." She told them all as Ruri smiled at her in thanks.

"That's the one thing us Brits will do." Ruri commented. "Drink tea when in crisis." She joked as Rita gave a small laugh.

"Every time the Doctor gets pally with someone, I have this overwhelming urge to notify their next of kin." Rory commented, peering at Ruri as he flinched, causing her to stare at him in confusion. "Oh. Sorry." He laughed. "The last time I said something like that, you hit me with your shoe. And you literally had to sit down and unlace it first." He added as she raised a curious brow at him.

"Well, I hardly know the man, so now's your time to shine." Ruri replied, grabbing one of the cups of tea, as Rita walked over to The Doctor.

"Don't think I'll take my chances. You weirdly have a good memory." Rory retorted.

"That's the second weird thing I've been told today about The Doctor and me." Ruri said as Rory raised a brow. "Amy mentioned something earlier, felt like she was implying something." Ruri shrugged. "And now you with the shoe comment." Rory simply shrugged, grabbing his own cup of tea as he took a sip, trying to avoid her stare. "Anyway-" She cleared her throat, taking her own sip.

"What did you just say?" The Doctor's voice cut through the room as everyone glanced over at him and Howie.

"Nothing. Praise him!" Howie blurted, covering his mouth as Gibbis began to grow frantic.

"This is what happened to Joe!" He said, voice raised.

"God, it's going to come for me now." Howie trembled, as Ruri put her cup down, walking towards them.

"You'll lead it right here." Gibbis snapped as Ruri sent him a glare.

"I won't leave you. I promise you. You have my word on that." The Doctor said lowly to the man, as he looked at him anxiously.

"I don't want to get eaten."

"He's going to lead the creature right here!" Before they knew it, commotion broke loose as Ruri sighed, growing irritated as she stood up on one of the nearby tables.

"Oi!" She exclaimed, causing them all to stare at her in silence. "This isn't helping!" She told them all as The Doctor nodded at her.

"Yes. Thank you." He said, before helping her down off the table.

"Don't you see? He'll lead it right here." Gibbis argued.

"But it wasn't after us." Ruri retorted, causing The Doctor to raise a brow at her. "You saw it, it went after Joe, it left us alone."

"Exactly, whatever it is out there, it's obviously chosen Howard as its next course. Now, tragic though that is, this is no time for sentiment. I'm saying if it were to find him, it may be satisfied and let the rest of us go." Gibbis said. "All I want to do is go home and be conquered and oppressed. Is that too much to ask?!"

"Yes, it is when you'd voluntarily throw someone else to the beast to ensure you survive." Ruri bit back as The Doctor watched her, seeing the Ruri he knew shining through, a small smile on his lips.

"It's okay. I'll stay with Howie. You take the others and go." Rita offered, as the Doctor shook his head.

"No. We stay together." He told her adamantly, before waltzing to Gibbis. "Your civilisation is one of the oldest in the galaxy. Now I see why. Your cowardice isn't quaint, it's sly, aggressive. It's how that gene of gutlessness has survived while so many others have perished. Well, not today. No one else dies today." He said slightly darker. "Right? Brilliant. Howie, any second, it's going to possess you again. When it does, I'm going to ask you some questions. Please try to answer them." Ruri had to admit, it was strangely attractive to see him take control of the situation.

"I hope my mum's all right, she's going to be w, worried. " Howie began to splutter, his tone slightly changing.

"Howie? Howie. Howie, you're next. We're all dead jealous. So, tell us. How do we get a piece of the action? Why isn't he possessing all of us?" The Doctor asked, looking at him.

"You guys have got all these distractions, all these obstacles. It'd be so much easier if you just let it go, you know? Clear the path."

"You want it to find you even though you know what it's going to do?" Amy asked, brow raised.

"Are you kidding? He's going to kill us all. How cool is that?" Howie laughed, as Ruri sent him a concerned stare.

"It's as I thought. It feeds on fear. Everything, the rooms, Lucy's note, even the pictures in reception, has been put here to frighten us. So we have to resist it. Do whatever you have to. Cross your fingers, say a prayer, think of a basket of kittens, but do not give in to the fear." The Doctor told them all.

"Okay, but what are we actually going to do?" Amy questioned.

"We're going to catch ourselves a monster."

"Are you sure it's fear?" Ruri asked, watching as the others all began to set off for their plan.

"What else could it be?" The Doctor looked down at her, intrigued by her question.

"I don't know. This just feels too easy. Too obvious." She shrugged, as he lightly scoffed.

"Don't complain." He teased. "Sometimes I need an easy win."

"I'll go with Howie and Gibbis." Ruri announced as he looked worried. "I don't trust him to make sure Howie stays out of danger."

"No stopping you is there?" The Doctor asked as Ruri shook her head. "Same old Ruri."

Ruri watched anxiously from the side of the room, as Howie spoke over the intercom, his words travelling throughout the whole hotel as he enticed the beast. After a few minutes, the line was cut, leaving Howie disappointed as the beast hadn't appeared yet.

"What's going on? You lied to me." Howie asked, his eyes wide as he looked for the pair.

"Calm down, Howie. This is for your own good." Gibbis argued.

"Oh, at least stand where I can see you." Howie challenged as Ruri decided to take a step out, ignoring Gibbis' pleads. "You were right, you know. Chances are, if you hand me over, he'll leave you alone." Howie tried as Ruri glanced back at Gibbis.

"Yes, well, we saw how that idea got shot down in flames." He glared at Ruri.

"It's not like chucking me out of a plane to lighten the load. I'm asking you for this. I'm begging you."

"But it's not you begging is it Howie?" Ruri finally spoke, folding her arms. "It's whatever has a hold over you."

"He showed me the light. This is my true desire. The one true faith." Howie continued.

"What about your conspiracies?" She questioned, raising a brow. "You believed in them not long ago, what happened?"

"I saw what I should believe in." He paused. "Him. Praise him." Ruri frowned, as she replayed his words in her head.

'What I should believe in. Him.'

Her eyes widened as she turned to Gibbis.

"Don't let him go!" She told him sternly. "It's not fear!" She exclaimed, as she turned on her heel, running out of the room, off to find The Doctor.

Ruri raced down the corridors of the hotel, heading distant roars as she tried to ignore them, pushing herself on. She needed to tell The Doctor. It could stop the beast from killing anyone else. She eventually made her way to the security room, knowing that's where he had planned to be. She rushed into the room, out of breath as she saw the Doctor looking upset.

"It's not fear..." She shook her head, causing him to look up at her. "It's faith."

Everyone reconvened back in the dining room, bar end as they all sat solemnly. Rita had gone, Howie too. Much to Ruri's own anger at Gibbis who ignored her and the plan, releasing Howie from his ties. The Doctor was raging, yelling as he destroyed things around him, causing Ruri to watch in sympathy. She knew how he felt. She was feeling rather similar with losing Howie. After a few minutes, he calmed down, approaching his companions as he sat beside them at the bar.

"It's not fear. It's faith." The Doctor finally spoke. "Ruri was right." He let out a breath. "Not just religious faith, faith in something. Howard believed in conspiracies, that external forces controlled the world. Joe had dice cufflinks and a chain with a horseshoe. He was a gambler. Gamblers believe in luck, an intangible force that helps them win or lose. Gibbis has rejected any personal autonomy and is waiting for the next batch of invaders to oppress him and tell him what to do." He paused. "They all believe there's something guiding them, about to save them. That's what it replaces. Every time someone was confronted with their most primal fear, they fell back on their most fundamental faith. And all this time, I have been telling you to dig deep, find the thing that keeps you brave. I made you expose your faith, show them what they needed." He explained, as they intently listened.

"But why us? Why are we here?" Rory questioned, brows furrowed.

"It doesn't want you. That's why it kept showing you a way out." The Doctor looked at him. "You're not religious or superstitious, so there's no faith for you to fall back on. It wants them." He turned to Amy and Ruri as they both looked confused.

"Us? Why?" Amy asked.

"Your faith in me, Amy. That's what brought us here." He paused, before glancing at Ruri. "And your own faith in your mum." He told her as she bit her lip, looking down.

"But why do they lose their faith before they die and start worshipping it?" Rory shook his head, eyeing his wife.

"It needs to convert the faith into a form it can consume. Faith is an energy, the specific emotional energy the creature needs to live." He explained. "Which is why at the end of her note, Lucy said-"

"Praise him." Amy finished.

"Exactly." The Doctor said before quickly snapping his head to her.

"No. Oh, please, no." Rory shook his head, worry etching it's way onto his face. They all began to hear stomps from nearby, alerting them the beast was coming.

They all quickly took off, running through the corridors to try and escape the beast. The Doctor was determined to stop it before it could get Amy and before it could even imagine going after Ruri. As they ran through a crossroads, Amy stopped, turning as she slurred her words, staring at the beast at the end of the hall in awe. Ruri noticed, as she quickly grabbed Amy dragging her with them, the Doctor opening a nearby door as they ran in. Turning, they were faced with a young ginger girl, sitting on a suitcase as she stared out the window. Ruri furrowed her brows, before realising it was Amy.

"Doctor, it's happening. It's changing me. It's changing my thoughts." Amy muttered, as she fell down to her knees, trying to fight the thoughts. Rory, Ruri and Gibbis stayed at the door, holding it with all their might as the beast tried to break in.

"I can't save you from this. There's nothing I can do to stop this." The Doctor told her gently, kneeling down to level with her.

"What?" Amy asked, confusion on her face as she searched his eyes.

"I stole your childhood and now I've led you by the hand to your death. But the worst thing is, I knew. I knew this would happen. This is what always happens." He carried on, placing a hand on her cheek as he gently stroke her hair. The three at the door couldn't hold it back any longer, as the door flew open, knocking them all forward. Ruri landed next to Rory as he pulled her out the way of the beast. "Forget your faith in me. I took you with me because I was vain. Because I wanted to be adored. Look at you. Glorious Pond, the girl who waited for me. I'm not a hero. I really am just a mad man in a box. And it's time we saw each other as we really are."

After a moment, the Minotaur began to stumble, staggering backwards as it groaned.

"Amy Williams, it's time to stop waiting."

The room began to dissolve around them, leaving them in what seemed like a void of a space. Rory helped Ruri up as he quickly rushed to Amy's side, watching as the Minotaur collapsed to the ground.

"I severed the food supply, sacrificing their faith in me." The Doctor explained, taking a step and kneeling beside the beast. "I gave you the space to die. Shush, shush." He consoled it as he gently stroked its head. Ruri watched sadly, as she realised it was just doing what it knew how to. She went to its side, as The Doctor stood.

"What is it, a minotaur or an alien? Or an alien minotaur? That's not a question I thought I'd be asking this morning." Amy asked.

"It's both, actually. Yeah. Here we go." The Doctor approached a screen as it held a database. "Distant cousin of the Nimon. They descend on planets and set themselves up as gods to be worshipped. Which is fine, until the inhabitants get all secular and advanced enough to build bonkers prisons."

"Correction. Prisons in space." Rory commented.

"It didn't want just me, so you must believe in some god or someone, or they'd have shown you the door too. So what do Time Lords pray to?" Amy asked, standing beside the Doctor as he gave her a soft look, before avoiding the question.

"According to the in-flight recorder, the programme developed glitches. It got stuck on the same setting, the fears from the people before us weren't tidied away." The Minotaur growled, as Ruri looked down at it with sympathy.

"What's it saying?" Ruri asked, peering back up at the Doctor.

"An ancient creature, drenched in the blood of the innocent, drifting in space through an endless, shifting maze." The Doctor spoke, translating for everyone. "For such a creature, death would be a gift. Then accept it, and sleep well. I wasn't talking about myself." The Doctor drifted off as the beast let out its last breath, causing Ruri to sniffle, before standing up. She peered at the Doctor who seemed to be deep in thought, furrowing her brows she approached him.

"Was it talking about you?" She asked him in a whisper, just so he could hear. He wore a sad smile, as he lowered his head, before turning to Ruri. He didn't answer, as Ruri gave him a sad look, reaching for his hand as he took it gratefully, both of them sharing a look.

The TARDIS materialised on a quiet street, as the doors opened, allowing the four to step out as Amy smirked, turning to The Doctor.

"Don't tell me. This isn't Earth, that isn't a real house. And inside lives a goblin, who feeds on indecision." She joked as The Doctor smiled at her, shaking his head.

"No. Real Earth, real house, real door keys." He reached into his pocket, chucking some keys at her as she caught them, looking surprised.

"You're not serious?" She scoffed.

"The car too? But, that's my favourite car." Rory grinned, rushing over to it. "How did you know that was my favourite car?"

"You showed me a picture of it once and said this is my favourite car." The Doctor mocked as Rory walked over to the man, enveloping him in a hug as the two patted each other on the back. After pulling away, Amy turned to her husband.

"Rory, can you give us two minutes? Two minutes?" She asked, as Rory nodded, taking the keys from Amy for the home.

"She'll say that we can't accept it because it's too extravagant and we'll always feel a crippling sense of obligation. It's a risk I'm willing to take." Rory told the man as Amy lightly scolded her husband. The Doctor walked forwards as Rory headed towards the door to their house, leaning on the car bonnet as Amy joined him, Ruri watching from where the TARDIS stood.

"So. You're leaving, aren't you?" Amy asked, not looking at him.

"You haven't seen the last of me. Bad Penny is my middle name. Seriously, the looks I get when I fill in a form, it's-" The Doctor rambled, as Amy cut him look.

"Why now?"

"Because you're still breathing."

"Well, I think this is about the washing up, personally." She teased, nudging him as he smiled tightly. "After everything we've been through, Doctor. Everything. You can't just drop me off at my house and say goodbye like we've shared a cab." She argued as he gave her a sad stare.

"And what's the alternative? Me standing over your grave? Over your broken body? Over Rory's body?" His voice trembled.

"If you bump into my daughter, tell her to visit her old mum sometime." Amy told him, a small smile on her lips.

"And look after him." The Doctor told her as he pushed himself off the bonnet, walking back towards Ruri and the TARDIS.

"Look after you." Amy called after him. "And Ruri, make sure he doesn't get himself into too much trouble whilst we're away." Ruri gave her a smile and nod. "And don't be too hard on him." The Doctor opened the TARDIS door, looking back at Amy, eyes glassy as Amy shared the same look. She waved at him as he disappeared inside, Ruri following as the TARDIS began to dematerialise.

Ruri stood as she watched The Doctor silently trail around the console, pressing buttons and pulling levers as he fought the urge to cry. She bit her lip, unsure on what to do or say. She cleared her throat, taking a step forwards as she leant against the barriers.

"This is the TARDIS then?" She asked, trying to distract him as he peered at her. "I like it." She complimented, earning a slight smile. "How does it do that? Be this big in something so small?"

"Timelord technology." He simply told her. "Stuff of magic." He added, not meeting her gaze.

"I'm sorry." She blurted out, causing him to stop what he was doing. "For losing Howie." He frowned as he walked round the console to stand in front of her. "I know I insisted on making sure he was ok, and I couldn't even do that." She sighed, as he shook his head.

"That wasn't your fault." He told her softly. "Don't ever think it was your fault."

"Still..." She shrugged. "I should've been there." She landed on.

"Ruri... You're still new to all this." He wore a small smile as he stepped closer. "And you know what I think?" She shook her head. "I think you are brilliant." He grinned. "And don't let anyone tell you otherwise." He pointed at her as he wagged his finger causing her to smile. "Now! How about, we go on a little trip?!" He exclaimed, clapping his hands as he spun back round to the console. "What do you say?" But as he turned back to hear her answer, she'd gone. She'd disappeared into thin air as his smile fell. "Looks like it's just you and me..." He spoke to the TARDIS, patting the console.