Speedy update as I already had this chapter written before I even uploaded the first part, this is a bit shorter but I think it gets things started quite nicely :)
Dislcaimer: I own neither shows, just DVDs, tops and novels
2
Black snow flakes began to fall softly from the sky as the three time travellers trudged through pulling their jackets and coats closer, shivering from the cold.
"These snowmen are kinda creepy." Vince admitted as they passed their fourth which had a tatty scarf wrapped around its chunky neck.
"Don't look at them then." The Doctor replied smoothly strolling ahead with his hands in his pockets, an old gas mask from the Blitz over his head covering his face "So this Zoo…" He continued turning to Howard who was by his side, Vince now a couple of steps behind gazed up and down the street that seemed foreign to him with all the snow "How long has it been closed?"
"Couple of years now, we still don't know why. It just sort of happened. One day we're cleaning out the elephant enclosure and the next we're flat hunting with Naboo and Bollo."
"Strange."
"The animals were taken away and all the staff were…Well, fired I suppose." Howard continued as best he could through the mask over his face.
"Taken where?"
"We don't know, to a better Zoo I suppose. The Zooniverse wasn't exactly the best Zoo in the world and the boss was just insane. And the owner well-"
"Boss and an owner?" The Doctor interrupted.
"Yeah, Bainbridge owned it but he suddenly disappeared the day before the animals were taken."
"Seems a bit of a coincidence. What do you think, Vince?" The Timelord spun round to face an empty street covered in black snow "Vince?" He called "Oh where has he gone now? Does he always wander off? He always does when he's with me!"
"Easily distracted. Should we find him?"
"He's a big boy, he knows where we're going."
The sounds of children screaming and playing in a near by park attracted Vince's attention, a group of children hung around by the swing set in a large circle crowding over something or someone. Quickly he crossed the road forgetting about the Doctor and Howard and about going to the Zoo, instead he hurried and jumped over the small metal fence surrounding the park, he dashed past the plastic slides and benches and hurried to the group.
"Scuse me…Scuse me…" He called carefully pushing himself past the kids to find a small boy laying on the floor in the snow on his back "Oh my god." He gasped while bending down to his knees. The child wore no mask and was coughing for fresh air "Where's his mask?" Vince asked to the children surrounding him but they simply shrugged "Don't you know this is dangerous?" He asked quickly "Where are his parents?"
"Home." A little girl answered tucking her mitten hands into her coat pockets. Vince stood and looked past the children in search of the Doctor, he caught the faint sight of them but they seemed too far away, without thinking Vince slipped off his own mask and secured it as best he could around the boys head.
"Where does he live?" Vince asked, the stagnant air catching in his lungs in an instant making him cough gently but again the children shrugged, instead Vince looked for the nearest building that would be open and ran.
The Doctor rattled the locked gates of the Zoo making the chain and lock around the handles clatter together. He quickly slipped a hand inside his blazer and pulled out a small device; his Sonic Screwdriver.
"Don't know where I'd be without this."
"Don't you think we should wait for Vince?" Howard asked scanning the street surrounding the Zoo for his best friend.
"Like I said, he's a big boy! Come on." The Doctor let the chain fall to the floor and pushed the gates open allowing them entry.
The Zoo was dark and deadly silent, no lights reached the area only that of the moon.
"Well it's a bit quiet in here." The Doctor whispered while strolling past the cages frowning at each one "Good job there's nothing in them."
"Why?"
"Because I would have freed them all by now. Then not only would we have black snow but wild animals running loose in Dalston."
"I take it you hate Zoos then."
"Yup, pretty much."
"Me and Vince loved it here." The two carried on until they reached the hut where Naboo used to sell souvenirs "We had good times here."
"Hello, what's this door for? I do love a good randomly placed door!" The Doctor grinned turning the handle of a green door next to the abandoned souvenir hut, surprisingly it swung open with a gentle creak "Shall we investigate?"
"Would be rude not to." Howard smiled back following the time traveller into the room trying to keep as quiet as possible "I've been here before though, Doctor."
"Oh? What's down here?"
"Secret lab."
"Brilliant! If there's one thing I love more than a randomly placed door it's a secret lab!"