The TARDIS console room was rocking violently from side to side, the sound of the engine distorted and struggling. The Doctor reached over the controls, yanking a lever back and flicking a few switches. Amy and Rory stood at the side of the console's platform, hanging onto the railing for dear life. They were both struggling to remain standing as the TARDIS continued to shake back and forth, almost as though it were trying to send them off balance.
"Calm down, old girl!" the Doctor shouted, feverishly pressing and pulling at any of the controls he could get hold of.
"What's going on?" Amy screamed, before being thrown to the floor.
"She won't stabilise! It's like something's just grabbed hold of her and is pulling her out of the vortex!" the Doctor explained, still trying to get the console in working order.
"What's doing it?" Amy asked, as Rory helped her back to her feet.
"Well, it is, most probably, a thing!"
"A thing?" Rory stammered, annoyed and confused.
"Yes, Rory, a thing. A very big, extremely nasty and very not good sort of thing!"
The Doctor tugged heavily against the main lever, the light bulbs on its stand all flashing out, as the room fell still with a heavy thud that sent everyone tumbling to the floor. The engines had stopped and the console was back in its usual, mostly still state. The Doctor was the first to be back on his feet, straightening out his braces and tweed jacket, before checking his bowtie.
"Cool." He murmured, as Amy and Rory sluggishly helped each other clamber back to their feet.
"Why can you never fly this thing smoothly?" Amy demanded, slightly breathlessly.
"Oi! It's not my fault! She's an old type 40." the Doctor explained. "She's not as smooth as she used to be. Would have been. Maybe. Actually, it's always been like this. Don't know why, really. Been meaning to check, for… quite a while."
With a final observation of the console, he ran towards the TARDIS doors, bursting to explore their new location.
"Doctor, what's out there?" Rory asked.
"I've absolutely no idea." the Doctor replied quietly, pulling the doors open.
He stepped outside, onto a large patch of dead grass. A very large patch. He looked around, taking in the surroundings – a hilltop, whole hill covered in grass, but at the top it was all dead. Small village below, by the looks of it early 21st century. Turning around, he saw the colossal, ancient house.
"Ah! Now that looks interesting…" He started walking over, as Amy and Rory emerged from the TARDIS and took in the sight of the building.
"Looks lovely." Rory commented, sarcasm heavy in his voice.
"Looks like the sort of place that needs exploring." Amy said, apparently either missing or ignoring the sarcasm, as she ran after the Doctor.
"Er… Amy? That's not what I meant… Amy!" Rory knew his attempts were in vain. Giving up, he ran after her.
"So, where are we?" Amy asked the Doctor, excitedly.
"Not sure… your time, I think…" he was checking the sonic screwdriver as he spoke. "Yep, definitely, 2011, but…" He let himself fall to his knees, and then onto all fours, pressing his ear against the ground, and sniffing at the tall blades of lifeless grass. "I wonder…"
He plucked a few blades from the ground and stood up, placing the dead grass in his mouth. After a few seconds of careful consideration, he spat it back out. "This grass has been here for centuries…" he said, now scanning the ground with the sonic.
"Yeah, so? It's all dead!"
"Well look at the rest of the hill! Covered in fresh green grass, but up here it's all completely dead. Why?" He was pacing up and down, examining everything. "And I'll tell you something else; it died in a very peculiar sort of way. It's as though all the life was just drained out of it. It doesn't make sense!"
"So what did it?" asked Rory, who had caught up with them.
"Good question. The only possible thing, as far as I can tell, is that house!"
The Doctor pointed at the large, decrepit yet imposing building.
"But, it's just an old mansion. Looks like it's been abandoned for years."
"Ah, yes, but, looks can be deceiving. The readings from that place…" he scanned it with the sonic again, "are phenomenal! The amount of power that thing is giving out is huge! That is no ordinary house." the Doctor explained, becoming more and more excited.
"What is it then?" Amy asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.
"I don't know. But I intend to find out."
The Doctor grinned broadly and then started striding towards the house's heavy concrete steps. "Come along, Pond!" he called back to her.
Amy smiled, following the Doctor up to the house, Rory at her side. He always seemed so nervous when confronted by these things, but couldn't deny there was a buzz of excitement in his heart whenever they were facing something new.
The three of them reached the door and it swung open for them. The Doctor peered inside, cautiously, stepping over the threshold, into the dilapidated old building, Amy and Rory close behind him, stepping inside with a bit less confidence. Once they were all within the house's walls, the door flew back on its hinges, shutting itself with a weighty crash. There was a series of clunking sounds, as locks sealed themselves, keeping the door shut. A thin smile touched the Doctor's lips.
"Now it starts."