Hello! Second chapter ahoy! Almost got this out early twice, then decided not to, and then almost forgot...haha Another slow chapter, for which I apologize. The next chapter should pick up a bit. Anywho, I hope you guys enjoy (:
They made their way to the figures, Amy trying her best not to trip over her skirts. Blimey, how did girls get around?
As they got closer, Amy got a better look at them. It was a teenage boy and girl, like she had initially thought. The boy was about eighteen or nineteen, with a mop of butter colored hair and eyes so blue they were practically purple. He glanced at her briefly before looking away again; his gaze didn't rest on one thing for long. Everything seemed to interest him.
His companion was younger, probably not much older than sixteen. She had mousy brown hair pulled back from her face in a bun at the back of her neck. She wore a plain, coal-colored dress with a white lace collar that cinched at the waist and fell to the ground, covering her feet. The sleeves reached her wrists and didn't look particularly warm.
"Who're you lot, then?" the boy asked, his gaze flickering between the three strangers in front of him.
"Mine inspectors!" the Doctor said cheerfully, flashing them the psychic paper.
"Lemme see that?" the boy asked, reaching for it. The Doctor obliged and let the two of them examine the paper. They exchanged a glance and the boy handed it back, flipping it shut in the process. The Doctor thought he saw something different flash across it, but found it blank when he opened it back up.
"Well, it's too late for an inspection," the boy said, scratching his face. What looked like ash was smudged across his tanned left cheek and nose. "Mine's already collapsed. We're here to tell people it ain't safe." His eyes flicked to Amy again, and she briefly saw a familiar gleam in them that she couldn't quite place. "Why're you traveling with a woman?"
"She's here to make sure the children are all alright," the Doctor lied quickly. "Y'know, women are so much better at that and children can be such pains."
"There's no children here, ma'am," the girl said, and the time travelers all seemed surprised at the American accent she spoke with. She was looking up at Amy - who was over a head taller than the girl - with green eyes that were a mix of awe and confusion.
"Well, guess you have nothing to worry about then, Amy!" the Doctor said cheerfully. Then he turned back to the teenagers. "What're your names, then?"
"John," the boy said quickly.
"John what?" the Doctor asked.
"Dunno," John said with a shrug. "Haven't used my last name in awhile. Mine owners don't really care about the last names of orphans."
"And what's yours?" Amy asked the girl, giving her a reassuring smile. The poor girl looked nervous.
"K-Kimberly, ma'am," she stammered.
"Nice to meet you, K-Kimberly!" the Doctor said, shaking her hand. That got a smile out of her. Even John was grinning widely.
"No, no. It's just Kimberly," she corrected.
"Right. Sorry, Just Kimberly."
She laughed and rolled her eyes.
"I'm the Doctor and these are my assistants, Amy and Rory. We're here to find out why the mine's collapsed."
"Weak foundations, I thought," John said, eyebrows crunching together in confusion. "That's what the owner told us, anyway."
"Well, we'll just validate that, alright?"
"Go ahead. Do whatever," John told them, waving a hand behind him, where a large mound could be seen.
"Amy, Rory, stay here and find out what you can. I'll go do my thing," the Doctor said, walking in the direction John had pointed. It wasn't much more than a large mound of dirt and wooden planks. Something big caused it to collapse; it couldn't have been something as simple as weak foundations. He pulled out his sonic screwdriver and quickly scanned the mound. It beeped at him sporadically every time it got near any of the wood.
"Rory may be right," he mused. "That really is rubbish."
Meanwhile, Amy and Rory were trying to get as much information out of the two teenagers as they could.
"So, when did the mine collapse?" Rory asked, trying to sound professional.
"Yesterday morning, 'round 10," John said, looking thoughtful. "Sound right, Kimberly?"
Kimberly nodded, the hat she was wearing slipping in her face. She quickly pushed it up. She still looked nervous, like she was about to get yelled at at any second.
"You two look a bit big to work in mines," Amy observed.
"We work in the factories," John explained. "The owner of this mine owns it. Needed somebody to warn people about this place being unsafe - don't want any legal troubles. It's Sunday, so we weren't working and now he doesn't have to pay us or lose any money or anything."
"Have you two been standing here all day?" Rory asked, looking around. It was still pretty chilly out, although the sun was starting to warm up the stones underfoot.
"Most of it," John said with a nod.
"So, is it nice to get fresh air and quiet?" Amy asked Kimberly, giving the girl another smile.
"Yes, ma'am," Kimberly agreed with a nod. Amy was beginning to wonder if the look of awe was something the girl's eyes always shone with.
"Are you two really not getting paid for standing out here?" Rory asked, looking concerned.
"'Course not," John replied, looking surprised that he had even thought about that question. "Why waste the money on two kids workin' on a Sunday?"
Right, Rory thought. Victorian era. Child labour.
This was going to be a long adventure.