Chapter 1
The
girl hung on grimly to the tree root that was protruding over the
edge of the cliff. Below her, the sea relentlessly battered the rocks
that were jagged and seemed to be waiting for her to fall. She
probably could have hung there all day, if that memory hadn't
surfaced. In her mind's eye, she could see her father with his ivory
handled dagger in his hand, the expression on his face was one of
rage and a slight touch of fear. Fear of me! She had thought
joyfully. Her triumphant feeling had been replaced by one of pain, as
her father cut her across the forehead with his dagger. The memory
repeated itself, again and again. She tried to block it out but
couldn't. Her grip on the tree root began to weaken. Please
somebody find me! She thought despairingly. Then far above her, a
face appeared over the edge of the cliff, looking down at her. The
face was that of an old man, with shoulder-length white hair.
"Do
you need any help child?"
She bit back the angry reply she
was about to give.
"Yes! Please help me back up!"
Her
voice was choked with tears of desperation.
The man lowered a rope
and she grabbed onto it.
The rope was pulled and she scrambled on
to safe ground in a sobbing heap. She felt someone put a hand on her
shoulder and she looked up. The old man was looking at her with
concern. She noticed that he was carrying a walking cane.
"What
is your name?" she asked him.
"I am known as the
Doctor." was his calm reply.
She took in this information with no visible reaction. She directed her gaze to the Doctor's companions. There were three of them: a young man and woman who looked to be in their early thirties, and a young girl who looked about 15. Each of them smiled as she looked at them. She then turned back to the Doctor and was about to ask him the names of his companions, when he spoke.
"This
is my Granddaughter Susan." he said, pointing to the young
girl.
"And these are my two friends, Ian Chesterton and
Barbara Wright." he said pointing to the young man and woman.
She was very surprised that the Doctor had answered her question
without her asking it. Maybe he could read peoples minds….
Not quite Child, but I can catch the gist of what you mean.
Her
eyes narrowed. Evidently The Doctor had some skill with mental
abilities.
Stay out of my head Doctor! She snapped
mentally, irritated. He chuckled at her annoyance and asked out loud:
"What is your name Child?"
"My name is Louise," She replied, "But most people call me Firestorm".
To her amazement, she noticed a blue box behind the Doctor, with the words 'Public call Box' located at the top...
