This is just another thanks for reading and an evil, mocking laugh for keeping you all in suspense about what's gonna happen to Lyric! Mwhahahahahahaha! For those asking, yes, Lyric is based on me except I'm rather more antisocial. You wouldn't catch me walking down a street reading. I'd be holed up in a dark room playing Pokémon.
Chapter Four: London and LotR
The Tardis skids to a jerky stop. The Doctor presses the last few buttons then runs to the doors.
"Who first then, you or me?" he asks.
"Depends. Am I going to die as soon as I open that door in some weird, paradox thing?" I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.
"No!" The Doctor laughs then butts back in as I'm about to push open the doors. "Well maybe."
I raise one eyebrow then push The Doctor in front of me. "Go on. Out. If you don't die, I'll know it's safe for me." I smile sweetly.
"Are you SURE you're not Scottish?" he asks then straightens his bowtie and walks out the door.
Lyric grins after The Doctor as he pushes his way out. A moment later he jumps back in, smiling.
"You may need a change of clothes." He says, turning to the hat stand beside the door and pulling on a rather dashing top-hat.
"Why?" Lyric asks, drawing out the word for effect.
"Have look then but don't let people see you." The Doctor says, exchanging his tweed jacket for a long black tailed jacket. Lyric turns away and pokes her head out of the Tardis door.
The sight that greets her eyes makes her jump back in shock. Horse drawn carriages, cobbled streets, chimneys belching black smoke. Women in ruffled dresses and man wearing flat-caps and top hats.
Lyric spins back into the Tardis, slams the door and leans against it, eyes wide.
"Where are we?" she gasps. The Doctor jumps out from behind the console in the most perfect suit to match the other men out on the street.
"Victorians! Eighteen eighty something!" he grins, trotting down the stairs, cane in hand. "Well! Go find something to suit the time!"
Lyric grins and dashes off up the stairs. She stops halfway down the corridor, unsure where to go.
"Third on the right!" The Doctor yells up after her. Lyric pushes the door open and her jaw drops. Usually, Lyric isn't the sort to care about how she looks and what she wears but even for someone who cares as little about fashion as her, the wardrobe room is something to gape at. The room is filled to the brim with clothes. There are stairs leading up to a second floor overflowing with clothes on hangers and dumped on the floor.
Ten minutes later, Lyric walks down the stairs, grinning like a loony. The Doctor looks up from swinging his cane from hand to hand and laughs. "Perfect! Let's go then!" he yells, jumping up and running to the door. He stops and turns back to face Lyric. "You look very nice by the way."
"Ta. I mean, thanks very kindly mister." Lyric replies, curtsying, the long sapphire blue and gold dress lifting just above her ankles. She fidgets, wriggling her shoulders uncomfortably. "How do you bend over in a corset?"
"I don't know, never worn one. Well. I have. Only once though, and that was for a bet!" The Doctor says, wiggling a finger at her. "Shall we go?"
"Right. Yes. Come on then." Lyric mutters, biting her lip. She takes a deep breath and steps out the doors. The Doctor follows her, stepping right into a pile of horse manure.
"Oh, just great. Just bloomin' wonderful." The Doctor glares, kicking it off against the Tardis.
"Oh, don't be such a baby. Let's have a look around." Lyric laughs, pulling him onwards. There's a young boy selling newspapers on a street corner. "Have you got any money?"
"Um, yes, hang on a tick." The Doctor says, checking his pockets. He pulls out a handful of gold coins. Lyric reaches out to take some but The Doctor snatches them back exclaiming "Nope! Wait! These are doubloons. These are the ones you need."
Lyric takes a couple of the small bronze coins and walks up to the boy. "One paper please." The boy looks up at her susbiciously.
"Why'd yoo want one ma'am,if yoo don't mind me asking." He asks, his thick London accent making it hard to understand. "Yoo canna read, canya?"
Lyric glares, angry at being accused of illiteracy. She's about to contradict him when The Doctor steps up behind her.
"She was getting it for me." The Doctor says, snatching the paper off the boy and flicking a single coin at him. "And I'd advise you not to ask so many questions if you want paying for the paper. Run along now. Shoo!"
"Yes, sorry sir, thank yoo sir." The boy stutters, touching the rim of his hat and running down the street. Lyric glares at him.
"He said I couldn't read. I'd rather punch him than scare him." She snarls, cracking her knuckles.
"Don't do that. Most unladylike. As is reading." The Doctor replies, raising one eyebrow. Lyric snorts but lets her hands drop by her sides.
"Let's see the newspaper then." Lyric sighs, holding her hand out. "I want to know what years it is. Exactly. Not just eighteen eighty something again."
"No need. We are in the year eighteen eighty eight, on November eighth. Round dinner time." The Doctor says, handing her the paper. Lyric stops, staring at the date on the paper. "Hey, what's up?"
"What happened this year? Something important." Lyric mumbles. Suddenly, a sharp scream pierces the cool evening air. Lyric and The Doctor both spin round, the paper falling from Lyric's hand.
"Jack the Ripper." Lyric gasps as The Doctor sprints off in front of her. She jumps after him, holding her skirts above her feet so not to trip. The Doctor darts down alley after alley, Lyric bouncing off corners after him, desperately trying not to fall flat on her face.
The Doctor stops so suddenly I almost bump into him.
"Why have we stopped?" I ask.
"Shh." He replies, holding up a hand to silence me. Another, closer, scream that cuts off in a rabid gurgle sets us off running again. One more alley and The Doctor screeches to a halt again. I stop before I ram into him as the sharp, copper smell of blood reaches my nostrils. I gag, trying to see past The Doctor. All I can see over his shoulder is a tall man kneeling over a woman on the floor, a pool of blood spreading out from her. The man has a tall, crooked top heat on and his coat tails are ripped and dirty. A long, blood red (or blood covered?) tail with a pointed tip sneaks out from under his coat, whipping back and forth.
The Doctor takes a step forwards, hands outstretched. The man spins round, snarling, pointed teeth bared. His fingers are tipped with claws and held in them…. Is something bloody and red that I don't even want to think about.
"Hello. I just want to talk." The Doctor says, slowly inching forwards. The man hisses once more then springs up into the air, landing on the rooftop above with the agility of a cat. The Doctor jumps back and fumbles with his cane. He points it at the fast disappearing man. It whirrs and he flicks it back up to his face.
"What the hell was that?" I gasp, trying to keep my eyes of the woman on the floor.
"A Lothlorian." The Doctor replies, turning round and walking swiftly away. I pause for a moment before following him.
"Wait a sec. Isn't that from Lord of the Rings?" I ask. The Doctor looks back at me, grinning.
"Tolkien should know, he was one!" he smiles then sets off back towards the Tardis.
"You have got to be kidding me." I gasp, running after him.
Enjoy! Sorry it took a while, Pokémon was calling!