Chapter 2

"Alex, what do you mean this is the Wizard World?" Harper asked, "I've been there several times. I don't remember it looking like this."

"Because it's changed," the Doctor replied as he looked over one of the skeletons.

"How?" asked Alex in a mixture of sadness and anger, "As much as I don't want to admit it, I had friends here. What happened?"

"I don't know," the Doctor answered.

"You never know!" Alex snapped.

The Doctor stood up to face Alex, "But I will."

Alex glared at the Doctor, "You better. I had friends here."

The Doctor didn't get a chance to reply before Alex ran out. Harper wanted to go after her, but the Doctor stopped her, saying, "Let her go. She's going through a marathon of emotions. She's lost a huge chunk of her life. She could lash out."

"How do you know?" asked Harper. The look on Harper's face reminded her of what the Doctor lost, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything by it."

The Doctor half-smiled, "I know you didn't. It's a common question and most of the time a legitimate question. I'm a special case."

"Anyway, I'll try to remember," Harper said.

The Doctor merely nodded as he started to examine the remains again. He was in thought when he said, "Harper, you're smart. These bodies died months ago, not years. The dryness of the air and lack of moisture all around inhibited the bacteria growth greatly."

"What are you getting at?" asked Harper.

"These bodies are clean to bone. That takes years in a climate like this. Plus the dry air should have mummified portions of the bodies. Am I correct?"

"Yeah," Harper said, "Then why are the bodies like that?"

"Because they were hit with a weapon designed to disintegrate bodies," the Doctor replied.

"But why are the bones here?" Harper asked.

"The weapon was designed to destroy softer tissue, not the hardened minerals in bone," the Doctor said.

"That makes sense actually," Harper acknowledged, "But who in this place has a weapon like that?"

"No one from Earth or the Wizard World version of Earth in this time period. This is alien tech," the Doctor said.

"How did aliens get here? Alex said that the Wizard World was guarded again most technology."

"Yeah, she told me too, but Time Lord tech is the most advanced in the universe. That's how we got here. Whoever did this has the power to get into this world, have disintegrating weaponry and the ability to change climates. Whoever did this, they are advanced."

"Any ideas?"

The Doctor looked at Harper and told her, "I honestly don't know. Anything that was that advanced, the Time War practically wiped them out. Chances are we are dealing with a group of survivors rather than an entire alien race."

"That's a little refreshing," Harper replied.

The Doctor walked back into the foyer with Harper right behind. He continued his walk down deeper into the castle. Behind him, Harper followed, asking, "What about Alex? We can't just leave her."

"We'll find her," the Doctor said, "Besides; she went the way I'm going?"

"How could you possibly know that?" asked Harper.

"Simple," the Doctor smiled as he looked back at her, "I can see her footprints in the dust and sand on the floor."

Harper looked down and saw Alex footprints on the floor. She looked at the Doctor, "I can't believe I didn't think of that."

"Not everyone can be a genius like me," the Doctor smirked.

"Enjoy riding that high horse much?"

"More than you know," the Doctor grinned innocently.

Harper looked down at the ground and smirked at the Doctor, "Okay Mr. Genius, what about the footprints next to Alex's?"

"What other footprints?" asked the Doctor as he turned around to look at the floor. Sure enough the Doctor saw the other set of footprints. The Doctor got down to examine the footprints. They were much larger than the two girls and his own huge feet. He commented, "Damn those are huge feet."

"What made them?" asked Harper.

"Don't know, but there in the castle with us right now," the Doctor said, "That print was fresh. It's following Alex."

"Is it the alien that did this?" asked Harper.

"Harper it's a footprint, not an encyclopedia. I only know that it's at least eight feet tall," the Doctor said, "And that's an assumption."

"Well shouldn't we be going and trying to find Alex. She's being hunted for God's sake."

"She can take care of herself," the Doctor said, "She has magic. There are only two races immune remember. Both of them are dead and neither one of them can make a print like this one. Plus, you know how Alex can be. She can weasel herself out of most situations. I have faith in her."

"What about me?" asked Harper as the two of them started walking again.

"You'd be dead in two seconds," the Doctor replied matter-of-factly.

Harper glared at him, "Thank you. I feel the love pouring out."

"I know," the Doctor said.

The two of them stopped as they reached a fork in the hallway. The Doctor looked to see which way Alex went, but the prints stopped. The Doctor figured she flashed out to stop the two of them from following her. However, the larger prints continued down the hallway to the left. The hallway was dark and uninviting. The Doctor took out a flashlight and shined it down the hallway.

Harper saw it, "We aren't going down that way, are we?"

The Doctor turned to her, still holding the flashlight down the corridor. He answered, "Of course we are, my redheaded friend."

"I told you I don't like it when you call me that," Harper replied, rolling her eyes.

The Doctor, still staring, asked, "Are you coming?"

Harper looked towards the Doctor and screamed. The Doctor could tell that Harper was looking behind him. He turned around only to be met with a huge fist. The Doctor flew backwards. Harper ran towards the Doctor who groaned as he got up. Harper looked at the monster that sent the Doctor flying. It was eight feet tall with huge muscles and a huge brow. The dark grey skin had blotches of brown mixed with it. The most disturbing thing was the bald spot on the top of the head while long hair went past the monster's shoulders.

Dazed, the Doctor looked up to see the creature. He muttered, "Ogron."

Harper knelt down next to the Doctor and tried to help him up, but the larger Doctor was too much. The Ogron lumbered closer to the two of them as the Doctor was able to sit up and move himself to the wall. He said, "Harper, get ready to run."

"What?" asked Harper.

"It's an Ogron. They're strong, but slow both physically and mentally. This one nearly KO'd me."

The Ogron reached out towards Harper, but the girl bolted. The Doctor stood up, still leaning against the wall. He took out a pocket knife, ready to defend himself as the Ogron turned its raised arm towards the Doctor.