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Period Ten - Realization and Memories
Wait, something's off. "Where's Jenny?" I ask, panic starting to course through me.
"Hang on, that's right! She's not here!" Amy exclaims.
"Who saw her last?" I ask urgently, pulling on my chain restlessly.
"She ran out with the rest of us..." Mickey starts.
"She got away." Rory says quietly, voice quickly rising in excitement. "Didn't she? She must have! The guards would have taken her back here if they had caught her!"
My hearts quicken in hope. "Then we're not back where we started after all!" I say excitedly. "If Jenny is out there, then there's still a chance for us."
"Yeah," Mickey says hesitantly. "Let's just hope our wacked out captors don't notice."
"Just try to act natural." I say thoughtfully. "We can only hope for the best now."
"You really think that will work?" Rory asks doubtfully.
"What else can we do?" I ask, exasperated.
I watch my friends as they sleep. Amy and Rory snuggled against each other, Martha and Mickey holding hands, Clara at a reasonable distance to my right, with her arm under her head as a pillow. I look down at River from my spot leaning against the wall. Her head is resting comfortably on my lap, and I watch as her body rises and falls ever so slightly with the regular breaths of someone who is asleep. I almost wish that I could sleep. Well, actually I can, but Time lords only need rest every once in a while; and I feel wide awake right now. I suppose it's a good thing right now though, because I'll be awake to protect my friends if something happens. Although I doubt I'd be of much help while chained to this insufferable wall.
I'm jolted out of my thoughts by the loud grinding sound, signaling the opening of the door across the room. I gently shake River awake.
"What is it?" She asks groggily.
"They're opening the door again." I say loudly to the whole room. River quickly gets to her feet, and I follow suit. I glance over at the rest of my friends, and see that they have begun to wake up too. I turn back to the door, and wait to see what Atisha has to throw at me now. I only hope that it's not another companion. "Remember, act natural!" I say hurriedly to the people around me. They nod, but I can tell they're nervous. I'm worried too - worried that the General will notice Jenny's absence.
The door opens fully, and I glare as Atisha's face comes into view. She walks calmly into the room as if she owns the place - which I suppose she does. I breathe a small sigh of relief that she doesn't look about the room.
"Do you know why I'm here, Doctor?" The General sneers.
I roll my eyes. "No, I don't. Why are you here, General?"
"I've finally gotten my hands on another one of your companions."
My hearts skip a beat. "Oh, yeah?" I ask, trying to keep my voice under control. "And who would that be?"
"Two, actually." Atisha continues, as if I hadn't said anything. "I'm sure you remember them. Although..." She pauses, looking at me smugly. "I don't think she remembers you..."
"No!" I shout, taking a step forward. My chain pulls on me tightly, sending me off balance for a moment. "No, please! You don't understand! You can't bring her here!" My voice has become desperate, and Atisha just smiles at my internal struggle.
"We had to bring her Grandfather as well; he put up quite a fight for his age. And besides, two is better than one, right?" Atisha taunts, eyes boring into me.
"Please!" I beg. "Please. She can't remember! She can't see me!"
General Atisha smiles at me and turns to someone out of my view. "Please escort Donna and Wilfred into the holding cell."
"No!" I cry.
My two friends are pushed into the room and injected. I bury my face in my hands and turn away quickly. I hear Atisha laugh behind me, and then the door closing.
"What is going on here?" Wilfred demands of the room.
"I don't get it." Clara says. "D-"
"DON'T CALL ME THAT!" I shout at Clara. I peek through my fingers at her and see her take a step back in surprise.
"What?" Amy exclaims. "Why can't we-?"
"Listen to him." River says in a calm, sad voice. "Don't ask questions."
"Excuse me!" Donna's voice bellows from behind me. Same old Donna Noble. "WHERE AM I?"
"You can look at her," River's voice says to me gently. "She won't recognize you."
"What are you two whispering about?" Donna asks angrily.
"Honey, calm down! Yelling won't help us any." Wilfred says, evidently trying to stay calm himself.
"Sweetie, it's ok..." River reassures, taking my arm gently and pulling my hands from my face.
I shake my head in protest. "Ok?" I say quietly. "OK? How is any of this ok? I've put everyone in danger!"
"We won't hurt you, I promise." Clara's voice says timidly. "We're all in the same boat now."
"Well, I'd like to abandon ship, if I may!" Donna says in her familiar sarcastic and angry tone.
"Whoa there! Don't get angry with us!" Amy huffs.
"HOW SHOULD I KNOW WHO TO BE ANGRY WITH?" Donna screams. "I'VE BEEN KIDNAPPED AND TAKEN TO WHO KNOWS WHERE, AND BEEN PUT WITH A BUNCH OF LUNATICS!"
"Calm down, sweetheart!" Wilfred says desperately.
"I will not calm down! Not until someone explains what is happening!"
"Wait..." Martha says apprehensively. "I know you, don't I? Haven't we met before?"
"I think I would recognize you if we had, lady!" Donna snaps.
"But...No! We did meet!" I remove my hands from my face and whip around just as Martha is continuing. "Yeah, we did! I'm a friend of the -"
"Stop!" River and I yell at the same time. Donna raises an angry eyebrow at me.
"Excuse me? Who are you?" She demands.
"A...I'm..." I stutter.
"He's a friend. We all are." River pips up.
"Oh yeah, because I'm really going to believe that!" Donna snaps. "Who are -" She takes me in fully, and I catch my breath. "Why are you chained up? WHAT THE-"
"It's you..." Wilfred says in wonder. Donna pauses in her rant to look at him quizzically.
"Who? Gramps, how do you know him?"
"You've done it again..." The elderly man continues, coming towards me. "You said you would..."
"Hello..." I barely manage.
"You said it's like dying...Was...Did it hurt?"
I swallow. "Yeah...Always does."
"You found someone, right? You haven't been alone?"
"No...I...uh...Yeah, I found someone."
"GRAMPS!" Donna yells. "How do you know him?"
"I can't tell her, can I?" Wilfred asks in a weak voice.
"No. You can't."
"Isn't there some way-?"
"If she remembers she'll die." I whisper, not wanting Donna to hear.
"SOMEONE EXPLAIN WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW OR SO HELP ME-"
I cut Donna off before she can begin one of her rampaging rants again. "We've all been kidnapped by some psychopaths trying to get off as aliens. It's all for a big publicity stunt." I feel awful about lying to her, but the alternative is much worse.
"Oh, you have got to be kidding me!" Donna exclaims. "I've been kidnapped just so some idiots can get famous off of a big scandal? Just my luck!"
Amy comes over to me, staring me down. "What is this all about?" She whispers. "Why won't you tell her the truth?"
"Rule one." I sigh, closing my eyes. "The Doctor lies."