Chapter 5

Alaya was showing Harper around the Woodlander village. It seemed like a nicer place than what Alaya said the City was like. Harper felt like she was in a village from a magical land in a fantasy novel. The morning mist was gone, but the moisture was the same. The grass was greener than what she had seen for the last few times she saw grass. The trees were soaring into the cloudy sky. Harper was walking through the village center when a villager gave her a fruit and told her that it a gift.

Harper did notice something about the villager and every other Woodlander. Their eyes were all the color orange like Alaya's eyes. She couldn't help but notice. It was strange that everyone's eye color was the same. She told herself that it was another planet and the one eye color could be a normal thing here on unlike the multiple ones on Earth. She followed Alaya to a table outside a small building. They both sat down, facing the village center. She asked, "How long have you been here with the Woodlanders?"

"A few years," Alaya said, "I wasn't that old."

"Why did you rebel and join the Woodlanders?" asked Harper.

"I didn't believe in the violence that the Citizens lust for," Alaya answered.

Harper nodded. She asked, "How long do you think it will take your party to get the TARDIS back here?"

"Not too long. They left a while ago when you were still asleep," Alaya said.

Harper crossed her arms and said, "About that. Why was I asleep?"

"You were drugged so there would be no struggle and would attract the Citizens," Alaya explained.

"Makes a little sense, but they could have just told me not to say anything," Harper told her.

"Would you have been quiet?" asked Alaya.

"Probably not," Harper said, "I would have been loud and screaming to get the Doctor's attention."

"So the hunting party did the right thing," Alaya replied.

"It was still a little rude," Harper responded. The two of them were still for several minutes. Harper just listened to the sounds of the wildlife coming from the forest and the bustle from the village center. Alaya stared blankly at the ground, playing with her hair. Harper finally broke the silence by saying, "How many Woodlander villages are there?"

Alaya answered, "The Citizens think there is only one village, but there are several. I don't know the exact number, but I know it is quite a bit. There are more Woodlanders than the Citizens believe there to be."

"So if there would be a war between the two of you, it would actually be closer than the Citizens think?" asked Harper.

"Yes, it would be closer," Alaya answered.

A loud cheer erupted throughout the Woodlander village. Alaya and Harper stood from their seats to see a group of people hauling the TARDIS to the village center. Alaya stood in amazement at the police box. Harper was too happy for words. She knew the safest place would be in there if anything bad was to happen.

Alex was standing on the balcony when she noticed that there was a riot going on down in the streets. She kept watching as the Doctor and Karyss talked inside about the history of the Citizens and the rebellion and formation of the Woodlanders. Alex could see Jareth with a knife in one hand and something else in the other. She couldn't get a good look at it until Jareth turned around. She gasped when she saw it was a head. She was going to go back inside when a man approached Jareth. She continued to watch as the two men spoke with each other. Jareth seemed ready to kill the man but didn't. After a couple minutes, Jareth dropped the head. He looked up at the balcony with a look that frightened Alex. He burst into a run with several others behind him. The man who approached walked in the same direction.

Alex didn't take any chances. She ran back inside and said, "Doctor!"

The Doctor looked at her, "What?"

"I think our covers been blown," Alex said.

"How do you know?" the Doctor said, standing up.

"Jareth is coming with a group of men and their in a hurry," Alex said.

The Doctor gave Karyss a nod and Karyss left the room. The Doctor told Alex, "I want you to be ready."

"Ready for what?" asked Alex.

"To flash out and leave me behind," the Doctor said.

"I'm not going to do that," Alex said, anxiety filling her voice.

"You have no choice. What will it serve for you to die?" asked the Doctor, "I know I won't die, but you will."

"How do you know?" asked Alex.

"Something that Karyss told me," the Doctor answered, "I'll go get imprisoned, but I'll escape and find you. I promise."

"Okay," Alex replied, "But where do you want me to go?"

"To the woods," the Doctor said, "The Woodlanders will find you. Understand?"
With fear in her face, Alex nodded. The Doctor walked to the door. He opened the door the see Karyss standing at the end of the hallway. Jareth came up to him. With no hesitation, Jareth slit Karyss's throat. Blood squirted on the walls and Jareth as Karyss's body fell to the ground. Jareth continued on his way and the Doctor shut the door.

The Doctor turned to Alex and said, "Get out of here now, Alex!"

Tears appeared in her eyes as she lifted her wand up and waved it around. In a flash of light, Alex vanished. The Doctor heard the door open. He knew someone was standing behind him. Taking a deep breath, the Doctor said, "Jareth."
"No, not Jareth."
The Doctor spun around. His body ran cold all the way through. He managed to say, "Master."
"Hello Doctor, it's been a while, hasn't it?" asked the Master smiling maliciously.

To Be Continued...