I don't know how long I had been out, but waking up attached to a bunch of monitors with an IV in my arm only made things worse. I scrambled out of bed, ripping the IV out and pressing myself into a ball in the furthest corner of the room, very lost and very confused. Where am I? I-I thought I was… I remembered the Doctor and remembered blacking out, but that distrust in me seeped out, making me think the worst. He lied. He left me with them! He left me with them a-and now— A worried hum echoed in the room and my thoughts came to a halt, remembering the sound.
"We are safe. Hidden. Safe."
The voice I was used to called out, easing my fears slightly along with the Tardis's gentle humming. Safe. Safe, alright. I-I have to still be in the Tardis then. Another room? I looked around, the sight of the medical room still making me slightly nervous but not as much as before. Okay. Sick bay then. I just need to find the Doctor and— The Tardis hummed again, this time worrying me.
"What do you mean he's not here?" I muttered, using the wall behind me to push myself up onto my feet. "How long have I been out?"
She hummed once more.
"A while? Seriously? Can't just tell me then?"
I rolled my eyes as she hummed once more, myself not the least bit surprised that I could converse with her, having conversed with things far stranger in my lifetime than a blue police box. Wobbling slightly as I tried to get my muscles back up to speed, I headed over to the monitors that had been checking me and frowned. That long? Man. I must have really took a hit then. I shook my head and spoke to the Tardis once more.
"You have anything that could boost my immune systems?" I gestured to my freshly bandaged arm. "I would've healed already if I hadn't had my healing abilities knocked down so far."
She hummed and a drawer opened on a nearby cupboard, showing me a bundle of bottles with pills. I sighed and began searching for the right one, finding it, downing a few pills dry, and pocketing the bottle; knowing I should be taking them every so often. This brought my attention down to my grimy clothes though and I grimaced, looking back up at the ceiling.
"Don't suppose you could do anything about my clothes then?"
The door opened and I nodded, heading out and walking down the hall until I came to another door. Once I opened it, I smirked, patting the door frame.
"Oh, I do like you."
The wardrobe was huge and I pulled out some nice jeans, black ankle boots, a white printed t-shirt and a leather jacket; tossing my old clothes in a bin the Tardis provided. Thanking her, I asked if she could point me towards the console room and the next door I opened just so happened to be that. My grin slowly fell as I released that she was right, and the Doctor wasn't around, leaving me alone to be bored. Sighing, I rubbed the back of my head and settled for fiddling with buttons and switches on the console; the Tardis warning me whenever I started to reach for something I shouldn't mess with. I found one that turned out the lights, one that played music, one that turned on the monitors facing the door, and even one that turned off the gravity. I left the music playing, humming as I danced around the console messing with things (finding a button that filled the room with bubbles even!) when suddenly the door slammed open and the Doctor and Martha returned.
"Get down!"
I ducked as they dove across the floor and a green laser blasted into the room, before the Doctor closed the door. He then grabbed Martha by the shoulders, shouting at her.
"Did they see you?!"
"I don't know!"
"But did they see you?!"
"I don't know! I was too busy running!"
"Martha, it's important. Did they see your face?!"
"No, they couldn't have." She finally said as a bubble floated between them, making them both turn to me as I poked my head up from the other side of the console.
"I'm guessing I missed something?"
The Doctor threw his coat over a railing, running around the console and flipping things here and there; turning off the bubble machine and the music before putting the Tardis into motion.
"What have you been doing?!"
"Nothing bad!" I replied. "Just pushing buttons!"
"You could've launched yourself into a black hole for all you know!"
"No! The Tardis told me which ones not to touch!" I argued, making him turn to me with a surprised look.
"She did?"
An alarm went off then, and he turned his attention back to that with a frustrated shout.
"Ah! They're following us."
"How can they do that? You've got a time machine." Martha questioned, moving over next to him and I moved to his other side.
"Stolen technology. They've got a Time Agent's vortex manipulator. They can follow us wherever we go, right across the universe. They're never going to stop, unless." He stood up, pulling a hand through his hair until he realized something. "I'll have to do it. Martha, you trust me, don't you?"
"Of course I do."
He turned to me then. "You're going to have to trust me too, Riley."
I nodded. "Alright. I'll do my best."
"Because it all depends on you two."
"What does? What are we supposed to do?"
The Doctor ducked under the Tardis and pulled out a watch, holding it in front of us. "Take this watch. My life depends on it. This watch, Martha, Riley. This watch is me."
I looked at the watch with wide eyes, the watch just under my shirt seeming to pulsate as Martha spoke.
"Right. Okay. Gotcha." She took the watch from him as he ran to the other side of the console, her panicking. "No, hold on. Completely lost."
"Those creatures are hunters. They can sniff out anyone, and me being a Time Lord, well I'm unique. They can track me down across the whole of time and space."
"A time what?" I questioned.
"Later." He grumbled at me as Martha let out a short 'huh'.
"And the good news is?"
"They can smell me, they haven't seen me. And their life span'll be running out, so we hide. Wait for them to die."
"But they can track us down." Martha muttered.
"That's why I've got to do it. I have to stop being a Time Lord… I'm going to become human."
"How?" I questioned, feeling my heart go up into my throat as a memory pushed its way to the front of my mind.
"Don't worry. It'll hurt, but please, please don't worry. It'll keep you safe. I promise."
I shook my head out of the thought, putting a hand to my forehead as he lowered a headset.
"Never thought I'd use this. All the times I've wondered." The Doctor muttered.
"What does it do?" Martha questioned, myself staying silent as I struggled to figure out what my head was trying to tell me.
"No. Too soon. Not yet."
"Chameleon Arch. Rewrites my biology. Literally changes every single cell in my body. I've set it to human." He put the pocket watch into the headset and sat down, pulling it on. "Now, the Tardis will take care of everything. Invent a life story for me, find me a setting and integrate me. Can't do the same for you two. You'll just have to improvise. I should have just enough residual awareness to let you both in."
"But hold on. If you're going to rewrite every single cell, isn't it going to hurt?"
"Oh yeah." He said. "It hurts." He then spotted me still holding my head. "You alright there, Riley?"
"Huh?" I looked up at him, whatever I was thinking flying right out of my mind. "Yeah… Yeah. I'm fine."
He nodded. "Alright. Wish me luck."
"Good luck." Martha whispered, before he turned it on, screaming loudly and making the two of us cringe before the Tardis settled down and our new adventure began.
Or so I thought. I groaned, tugging at my collar as I sweated away in a thick wool suit, not pleased that—due to my short hair and lack of… more feminine qualities—I was being forced to act as a footman for Mr. Smith, otherwise known as the late Doctor.
"Oi, I don't want to hear your groaning. Least you don't have to clean the floors with a rag and deal with the brats making fun."
I frowned over at Martha. "Yeah? Well least you don't have to die in three layers of wool clothing and silently follow that idiot like a shadow should he need something. Oh! And let's not forget the nightly strolls to the stream just to bathe!" I hissed back at her, before turning away. "I can't wait till those things are done following us. How long have we been here? You know how I hate humans."
"Too long."
"Right. God, what I wouldn't give to have the old Doctor back."
"You and me both." She muttered, opening the door and returning to her worried expression since we had come over after the Doctor had apparently fallen down the stairs. "Is he alright?!"
The Matron stood there looking appalled. "Excuse me, Martha." She spotted me and gave me a frown as well. "Riley. It's hardly good form to enter a master's study without knocking."
"Sorry. Right, yeah." Martha hurried back to the door, rapping her knuckles on it as I snickered, before hurrying back in the room. "But is he alright? They said you fell down the stairs."
I nodded, coming over beside her. "We're only concerned, sir."
"Ah, eh, just a tumble. That's all." The Doctor replied, or rather, John Smith replied.
"Have you checked for a concussion?" Martha questioned as I rolled my eyes and set about making some tea for the umpteenth time since we've been here.
"I have." The Matron replied. "And I dare say I know a lot more about it than you."
Martha nodded, though I watched her from the corner of my eye, knowing that she despised the Matron with a passion. "Sorry. I'll just tidy your things."
Martha went about doing such as I finished up the tea, passing the cup to Mr. Smith, who nodded gratefully at me and sipped it, speaking with us.
"I was just telling Ms. Redfern—Matron." He corrected. "Um, about my dreams. They are quite remarkable tales. Um, I keep imagining that I'm someone else and that I'm hiding."
"Hiding? In what way?" Ms. Redfern questioned as Martha and I glanced at one another.
"Um, eh… but once every now and then…" He chuckled. "Mm, this is gonna sound silly."
"Tell me."
He ran his tongue over his teeth. "I dream, quite often, that… that I have two hearts."
"Well then, I can be the judge of that." She replied, pulling out a stethoscope. "Let's find out."
She put it on one side of his chest, making me eye Martha who—as I have noticed recently—was rather jealous of the Matron, before she moved it to the other side of his chest; removing the stethoscope with a smile.
"I can confirm the diagnosis. Just one heart."
"Hm." He grunted with a tilt of his head.
"Singular." She continued.
"I have, um, I have written down some of these dreams in the form of fiction. Um… Not that it would be of any interest—"
"I would be very interested." She told him, surprising him.
"Well…" He got up, pulling out a book from a pile on his desk and flipping through the pages. "Um, I haven't shown it to anyone before."
He passed it to her and I mentally sighed, holding my hands behind my back and standing in the back of the room, listening silently.
"A journal of impossible things." She read, flipping through the pages as I glanced at the well done sketches from where I was. "Just look at these creatures. Such imagination!"
"It's become quite a hobby."
"But it's wonderful… And quite an eye for the pretty girls." The woman said, giving him a look as she found a sketch of a woman on one of the pages.
"Oh no. She's, uh, just an invention. This character, Rose, I call her. Rose… She seems to disappear later on."
More pages were turned and I noticed a little blue box dawn rather small on the next page.
"Oh, that's the box! The blue box. It's always there. Um, like a, um, a magic carpet. This… This fun little box that transports me to faraway places."
"Like a doorway?"
He nodded, though I could tell that that wasn't exactly what he thought of it as. "I sometimes think how magical life would be if stories like this were true."
"Mm, if only."
"All just a dream." He chuckled as a bell rang and I frowned, looking down out at the yard.
"But along with dreams there always comes nightmares."
"You're always such a downer, Riley. Cheer up!" He said, coming over and patting me roughly on the shoulder as the Matron set the book back down on his desk with a small smile.
"I best be going. Have to go check up on Jenkins again."
"Ah, but take the book!" He said passing it back to her.
"Oh, but I couldn't."
"No, please." He smiled. "I want you to read it. You know, um, tell me what you think."
She slowly smiled back and nodded, taking the book with her. "Alright. Thank you… John."
He grinned with a little wave as she headed out and I handed him the books he would need for the next class, before he did the same. Martha groaned and rushed out too and I sighed, heading out as well to perhaps find someplace quiet to sneak a drink or two as I had been for the past few nights. My headaches were getting worse, after all, and the pills were doing little to help.
I settled myself down in the servant's kitchen with a nice cup of whiskey that the cook had snuck out for me, us having become good companions for my duration here, though I was far from trusting her; hating every second I was stuck around these greedy humans. I rubbed my temples with a groan, trying to stop the voices ringing in my head as I struggled to figure out what my head's been trying to tell me this whole time. Everything seemed so familiar, but I couldn't place it and every time I tried, that voice whispered to me.
"It's too soon. You can't. Not yet."
The whispers though had very nearly grown into shouts and I struggled to keep my composure at times when the headaches struck violently. Grabbing my drink, I chugged it down, grimacing as the alcohol burned the back of my throat but enjoying the fact that my headache dulled ever so slightly. Between the headaches and the nightmares, I was worried that I would lose it while serving the Doctor's new persona. I was almost begging for these things chasing us to find us already just so I could take out some anger on them.
"And that can't happen too soon." I muttered under my breath, finishing off the whiskey and pulling my watch out from under my coat, ignoring the looks from the staff as my brown collar was revealed—having been hidden under my collar and tie.
Oh, just leave me be for once. I complained, the watch seeming to pulsate in worry in my hand as I sighed and tucked it away; fixing my appearance once more and heading back out into the school halls, hoping to maybe pass some time in the library since I wasn't needed while Mr. Smith was off teaching. I think I'll just tick to calling him that… Just until the Doctor returns. Because even though I don't trust him, I trust him more than this Smith fellow.
"Ooh, it's freezing out here! Why can't we have a drink inside the pub?" Martha complained as I snickered, hands tucked away in my pockets as she brought out her and her friend's hot drinks.
"I'd complain, but, oh, that's right! Three layers of suits!"
"Yeah, well, shut it."
I snickered, sipping my own drink which I had gotten earlier and relaxing, her friend answering her question.
"Now don't be ridiculous. You do get these notions. It's all very well, those suffragettes, but that's London. That's miles away."
"But don't you just want to scream sometimes? Having to bow, scrape, and behave. Don't you just want to tell 'em?"
She smiled. "I don't know. Things must be different in your country."
"Yeah, well, they are. Thank God, we're not staying."
"You keep saying that."
"Just you wait. One more month and we're as free as the wind."
Her friend looked over at me. "You and your friend here? You never introduced us."
"Oh, well this is Riley. Riley, um…" She looked over at me and I just forced a smile on my face.
"Just Riley's fine."
Martha rolled her eyes when I didn't say much more than that, having gone back to drinking. "Don't mind him. He's not a people person."
"More like not a human person." I grumbled, sipping once more only to nearly spit it out when Martha nudged my ribs harshly. "Oi!"
"Riley, this is Jenny."
"Mn." I grumbled, glaring at Martha as I went back to my drink, only to earn another hit to the ribs.
"Be nice!"
I ignored her, making her sigh before she turned back to Jenny with a sad expression.
"I wish you could come with me, Jenny. You'd love it!"
"Where ya gonna go?" She asked, looking curious.
"Anywhere. Just look up there."
The three of us gazed up into the stars.
"Imagine you could go all the way out to the stars."
Jenny laughed. "You don't half say mad things!"
"That's where we're going. Into the sky, all the way out." Martha replied seriously.
"Hm." Jenny hummed, looking down at the table the same moment Martha and I spotted an orb of light flash in the sky.
"Did you see that?" Martha questioned.
"See what?" Jenny asked as I nodded silently, brows furrowed.
Martha stood up. "Did you see it though? Right up there. Just for a second."
"Martha, there's nothing' there." Jenny said, causing her to humph, though I knew we weren't imagining it.
Just then, the Matron came running up the drive, looking scared out of her wits as she looked up at the sky.
"Matron, are you alright?" Martha questioned also noticing her odd behavior.
"Did you see that? There's something in the woods. I-It was… this light!"
Mr. Smith walked out of the pub then, looking around in worry. "Anything wrong, ladies? Rather too cold to be standing around in the dark."
"There! Look, in the sky!" The Matron said, pointing up as a light flew across the dark; my frown growing.
"Oh, that's beautiful." Jenny said, though Martha was standing once more.
"All gone. Commonly known as a meteorite." Mr. Smith said, glancing over at the Matron smugly. "It's just rocks falling to the ground. That's all."
"Came down in the woods." The Matron said, still sounding a little frightened.
"No, no, no. No. They always look close when actually they're miles off. Nothing left but a cinder. Now, I should escort you back to the school." He said to her, making her smile before he turned to us. "Ladies? Sir?"
"No, we're fine, thanks." Martha said dully, though Jenny looked eager to go.
I shrugged, setting my cup down. "I'll escort them, sir. When they're ready."
"Then I shall bid you goodnight." He said with a slight bow, putting on his hat and leaving with the Matron.
Martha wasn't done yet, and waited until he was gone to speak with Jenny. "Jenny, where was that? On the horizon, where the light was headed?"
"That's by Cooper's Field." She said, before Martha started heading towards the drive. "You can't just run off! It's dark! You'll break a leg!"
I sighed, quickly finishing my drink and tugging my own hat on my head. "I'll get her. I trust you'll get back alright?" I asked, out of duty rather than actual caring.
She nodded. "No! I'll come with!"
I shrugged, grumbling under my breath. "Whatever."
The two of us chased her down out to an open field where there was absolutely nothing. Jenny tossed her hands up.
"There you are. Nothin' there. I told you so."
"And that's Cooper's Field?" Martha asked, not looking convinced, though I felt the same way.
"As far as the eye can see, and no falling star. Now come on. I'm frozen to the bone. Let's go." She hissed through her teeth and I had half a mind to hand her my coat, but I felt my lips twitch up in a snarl at the thought of helping a human and kept to myself instead. "As your Mr. Smith says, 'Nothing to see'."
She started heading back and we followed, slightly disgruntled. The next morning, Martha had set out early to check in with the Tardis; though I had wanted too, but she said if we both disappeared, then there would be questions, so I reluctantly stayed behind.
"Tea?" I asked, and Mr. Smith nodded.
"That'd be nice. Thanks."
I heard a small 'thud' behind me and saw that Mr. Smith just picked up the watch containing his old self and plopped it back onto the mantle. That watch… why is that tugging at bells inside my head. A sharp pain tore through my skull and I groaned, clutching my head and allowing the cup and saucer I was carrying to drop to the floor with a crash.
"Too soon! Too soon! Not yet! You can't!"
"Riley! Look what you did!" Mr. Smith scolded, before seeing my pained expression. "Wait, are you alright?"
I nodded, waving my free hand at him as I knelt down to clean up the mess. "Fine. Just peachy. Headache, is all."
"Well, be careful. I'm off." He said, face scrunched up in slight concern before he got his things on and headed out the door, leaving me behind to try and keep the headache at bay.
Taking a chance, I took off my watch and set it down on the mantle as well, returning to clean the floor without my waist coat and a loosening my tie and shirt collar since Mr. Smith wasn't to return for a little while more. That, and the Tardis was kind enough to make sure he was never too harsh on Martha and me, unlike the Matron and other higher members of this society.
"Stupid humans." I grumbled to myself as I scrubbed at the floor. "Couldn't just stop with the physical torture. Nah, had to make me serve them too. Punky little brats. Doctor included. I'll be sure to show him a thing or two. Accidentally bump him out of the Tardis doors when we're in the time vortex or something. Just a little 'whoops' and off he flies."
I smirked to myself as I continued to think up ways to 'accidentally' get my revenge when the door opened and the Matron stepped in, catching my eye as I rolled them up towards the ceiling, preparing for the whining thing she called scolding.
"What are you doing?!"
"Cleaning a spill, ma'am."
She frowned. "I'm not stupid. Mr. Smith sent me up here saying you were complaining of a headache and asked me to check on you, but I doubt he expected you to be in this state of unruliness."
"Sorry for being unruly." I muttered quietly, finishing my scrubbing of the floor and discarding the glass into the waste bin nearby along with my ruined handkerchief. "I don't need your assistance. It was just a headache."
"If it was just a headache, then Mr. Smith wouldn't have worried enough to personally find me right before his class to send me up here." She snapped back as I scoffed through my nose and grabbed my waistcoat. "Now sit down and let me get this over with. Or should I tell him that you didn't allow me this, and have him discipline you?"
"Fine." I snapped, dropping down into a chair and crossing my arms over my chest, not the least bit pleased about this as she took out her stethoscope and checked my heart rate.
"Heart rate's normal."
"Could've told you that myself." I complained, earning a glare as she went on.
"Take a deep breath and hold it."
I did, letting it out when she said to, before she frowned, glancing at me and then shifting the stethoscope to the right side of my chest.
"That's odd."
"What? Am I dying?" I asked sarcastically.
She shook her head, removing the stethoscope and packing it back into her bag. "No. I just thought I heard something… Like an echo of your heart, but it was my mistake."
I frowned in confusion. An echo? What, like a second heart or something? But that would mean— I was cut off as that sharp pain returned, making me hiss in pain and clench my eyes shut; a hand on my forehead.
"Not yet! Not yet!"
"Riley? Are you alright, Riley?"
I scowled up at the Matron, hand still covering half my face. "I'm fine. I don't need your help."
"Shame." She frowned back, digging through her bag and shoving a bottle at me. "Then, I don't expect any thanks for giving this to you."
With that, she left, leaving me growling in frustration until I shouted and slammed my fist down on Mr. Smith's desk. My shoulders shook as I tried to keep my anger under control, clenching my eyes shut and taking a deep breath through my nose as I had done thousands of times back when I had been captured. Calm down. Just… calm down. The anger faded and I slowly leaned forward in my seat, burying my face in my hands. Please… Just calm down.
(will be calling Riley 'he' for this portion)
Mr. Smith sat at his desk, eyes focused on the resting Riley who slept soundly in a chair off in a corner of the room. He would've awoken him, but he figured the young man could do with some rest after the mishap this morning. He's never fumbled something like that before. Or anything, really. He does have a rude way of speaking though. Doesn't seem to like people much at all, actually. Mr. Smith couldn't help but smile a little though, as Riley's head dipped down and he grumbled in his sleep. He couldn't think about him long though, when a knock came to his study door. Getting up to answer it, he was slightly surprised to see one of his students there.
"You told me to come and collect the book, sir." The boy, Timothy Latimer, said; reminding Mr. Smith.
"Good lad. Yes. Yes! The Definite Account of Mafeking by Aitchison Price. Where did I put it?" He said, moving into the room to search through the books on his desk. "And I wanted a little word, though keep quiet. My footman is asleep." He gestured over to Riley briefly, confusing Latimer.
"Shouldn't he be working?"
"Nah. He needs a little break. Wasn't feeling well this morning. Though you, Timothy. Your marks aren't quite good enough."
"I'm top ten in my class, sir."
"Now, be honest, Timothy. You should be the very top. You're a clever boy. You seem to be hiding it. Where is that book?" He muttered the last bit to himself, moving over to the small hall of books in his study to search there, leaving Latimer scanning the room curiously. "And I know why. Keeping your head low avoids the mockery of your classmates. But no man should hide himself, don't you think?"
"Yes, sir." Latimer said, before spotting a couple of watches on the mantle.
"You're clever. Be proud of it. Use it."
The boy picked them both up, one in each hand as they whispered to him.
"Time Lord. Hide yourself."
"Not yet. You can't. Too soon."
"The secret lies within. I'm trapped. I'm kept inside the cogs."
Latimer opened that watch first, the golden glow coming from it lighting up his face.
"In the dark, waiting. Always waiting."
"Hide us. You must hide us."
Latimer closed it and went to open the second, but spotted Mr. Smith and quickly shoved both away in his pocket as Mr. Smith came over with the book.
"Fascinating details about the siege. Really quite remarkable." He then noticed the panicked looking Latimer. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, sir. Fine, sir."
"Right then. Good. And remember, use that brain of yours."
"Power of a Time Lord."
"Hide us. Too soon."
Latimer's vision shifted to the Doctor using his sonic screwdriver, before shifting back, Mr. Smith looking at him strangely.
"You're really not looking yourself, old chap. Anything bothering you?"
"No, sir. Thank you, sir." The boy nodded and hurried out of the room, leaving a confused Mr. Smith behind as he hurried back to the dormitory.
Once there, he sat on his bed, brushing a finger over the one watch and opening it as it spoke to him.
"You are not alone. Keep me hidden."
Latimer continued to look into the watch though, seeing the creatures that the Doctor has met, before snapping it shut. His eyes shifted over to the other watch and he picked that one up, putting the other in his pocket.
"Too soon. You can't." The watch whispered, making Latimer wonder if it was like the other and he popped it open.
I snapped right up, a feeling of dread washing over me as I quickly scanned the room. Mr. Smith spotted me and walked over, putting a hand on my shoulder.
"You alright? Nightmare?"
I ignored him, standing and pushing past him, spinning around the room in search of what was causing my unease, only for it to stop as a bell was rung outside.
"Riley?"
I turned to him quickly, looking him over before shaking my head and pulling a hand through my hair. "Sorry. I just… had a really bad feeling all of a sudden. You best get to your next class, Mr. Smith. You're in charge of the firing range today."
"Right. If you're sure—"
"Yes. I'm fine."
"Alright then." He nodded towards me. "Best clean yourself up a bit if you're going out though. You'll give me a bad name."
"Apologies." I bit out, bowing my head as he nodded back and headed out.
The sound of gunfire started to fill the air as I adjusted my tie and started to button up my shirt, lips turning down in a snarl as I had flashbacks to my own wartime.
"No, don't! Don't shoot! They're unarmed!"
"They are enemies! Fire!"
"No!"
I closed my eyes to calm myself, reaching for my watch, when I suddenly remembered I had taken it off earlier and forgotten about it. Sighing, I went over to the mantel to grab it only to find, not only the Doctor's watch gone, but mine as well.
"No… No, no, no, no, no! This can't be happening!" I half-shouted, searching everywhere for it but finding no trace.
I searched and search for what seemed like hours, until Mr. Smith returned, giving me a worried look.
"Riley? What's going on? You appear flustered and you still haven't fixed that messy appearance!"
"Where is it?" I muttered, before turning to him and grabbing the lapels of his coat. "Where is it?! Where's my watch?!"
"I don't know what you are talking about! Now get your hands off me and get out! You are dismissed, Riley!"
I slammed his back up against the wall, ignoring his orders as I growled lowly in my throat. "Now you listen here, you bumbling idiot. That watch is the most important thing in my life and now it's missing. This is your bloody study so you must know what happened to it. And if I don't find it soon, there's not going to be anything to stop me from ripping this town apart to find it. Not even the Doctor."
A loud gasp came from the doorway and I barely gave the Matron a glance as I shook the stunned Mr. Smith violently.
"Tell me where it is!"
A hand grabbed my upper arm, catching me off guard enough for the Matron to pull me away from Mr. Smith and slap me hard across the face.
"You release him now and get out, Riley."
I rounded on her, taking pride as she stepped back at the sight of my glare. "You think you can tell me what to do, human?! Fifty years wasn't enough for you?!"
"Riley!"
I turned towards Mr. Smith only for a fist to knock me back into his desk, my head ringing and jaw throbbing. Mr. Smith looked down at his fist in surprise before pulling the Matron close and looking confident.
"I will not have you speak to the Matron like that, nor myself, Riley. Now get out."
I slowly got up, having to use the desk to get me on my feet, before heading out of the room silently. Once outside with the door closed behind me, I slammed a fist against the wall, ignoring the cracks that formed under it and resuming my search for my watch. I cannot lose it now.
I searched and searched, despair rolling off me in waves the later it got. It wasn't until night had fallen that I left the school and headed back to the Tardis. I couldn't find it. I couldn't find it anywhere. My head throbbed, a latent reminded of Mr. Smith's punch and the Matron's slap. The Tardis hummed in worry, but I shook my head.
"There's nothing you can do. If I don't find it soon…" I trialed off, feeling that feeling of anger and a deep dark sorrow building up within me, knowing that I would snap and the last time that happened…
I don't even want to think of it. I dropped my head in my hands, sitting in a chair the Tardis popped up for me, just as I heard the door open and some ruffling.
"You're not going to find it here." I said to Martha, knowing it was her without having to lift my head since—despite being in 1913—she continued to wear the same perfume as always.
"I-I have to try." She then paused. "Wait. What are you doing in here? Shouldn't you be—Oh my God! What happened?!"
She hurried over the moment I lifted my head to show the bruise on the side of my face that was already swelling.
"You look like someone punched you!"
I pulled my face away from her, standing up and making for the door. "Yeah. Someone did."
"And shouldn't you be with the Doctor?"
I hesitated in opening the door, remaining silent as she caught on.
"Oh… Oh, no. He didn't! Why would he do that?!"
"Because he's human." I snapped at her over my shoulder. "And all humans are the same. They only care for themselves. I lost the most important thing to me and he didn't even bat an eye."
I slammed the door and left, walking out in the chilly air and taking out the bottle of pills the Tardis had given me, taking one.
"Wait! Riley! I'm sure he didn't mean it! He doesn't know what he's doing!" Martha called out after me, moving to stand in front of me, stopping me. "Please. Just… help me, at least. If we find his watch, we might find what you lost too. Please, Riley."
I frowned at her, but I knew she wouldn't leave me alone if I didn't help so I reluctantly agreed. "Fine. But I'll tell you exactly what I told him." I got in her face, making her take a hesitant step back as I snarled. "I will tear this town apart and everyone in it if I don't find what I'm looking for."
She slowly nodded as I marched past her, the two of us heading straight for the party we knew Mr. Smith was at, to find the two watches. And mine better be there, or we're going to have a problem.
"Jenny, um, I think Jenny has been possessed or something by these things." Martha mumbled as we walked.
I took in a deep breath, trying to calm myself for now and think, skimming through my head to try and figure things out. "Keep going. Tell me everything."
"Well, you weren't there, but there were these… these things that attacked us. They know what the Doctor smells like, but they weren't close enough to smell or see me. If they saw us, then we would've already been found."
"Right. Hunters, he said. What else, what else… The watches. He said they knew the scent of a Time Lord and he locked that up in the watch, right? So if that watch was opened, then they would catch a sniff. These hunters waited this long and I doubt it was just because they were waiting for a chance to get at us, or they'd have done it already."
"Then what changed?" Martha frowned then. "And did you say 'watches'?"
"Yes, I said watches." I grumbled. "I lost my father's watch"
"But I thought—"
"I have no memories! I have small glimpses, but that's it! That watch is the only thing I have that reminds me who I am, okay?! Now's not the time for my life story, we've got to focus!"
"Sorry." She grumbled as I sighed and pulled a hand through my hair.
"Sorry. It keeps me calm and without it, I get touchy." Shaking my head, I waved my hand about. "Anyway, back to these… things. They didn't pop up until now because they didn't know about him until now. Whoever took the watch or watches, probably opened them at a point."
"Opened them?"
I nodded, a frown marring my features. "Yeah. I had a bad feeling this afternoon. That must have been when he opened it."
"Wait. You're saying you can sense when the watches are opened?" She asked in disbelief.
I shook my head. "Only mine."
Her eyes widened. "A-Are you saying that your watch is—"
"No." I frowned over at her. "I'm not saying anything. But if that watch gets opened, then I can't tell you what's going to happen. Got it?"
"Is… Is it bad?"
"I don't know. And I hate not knowing." I muttered just as we headed up the steps and the man at the entrance waved a finger at us.
"Oh, staff entrance I think, Miss, Sir."
"Yeah? Well think again, mate." Martha snapped at him as we both stormed past him and into the village hall.
She caught site of the Matron as I scanned the room, searching for odd things out and she tapped my shoulder the moment I spotted a young girl witting alone at a table.
"I'm going to go talk to the Matron. You search for the watches."
"That's my plan."
We separated as I searched around, picking up a glass of champagne to calm the frustration trying to well up in me again. Something odd. Different. Whatever these things are, they're alien to this planet. They can't quite fit in yet, even if they take human form. The only thing I could find was the little girl and Martha, as Mr. Smith headed her way looking upset. I noticed the girl was watching them as well and an unsettling feeling made its way into my stomach as I decided to head over towards Martha as she pulled out the Doctor's sonic screwdriver.
"Do you know what this is? Name it. Go on! Name it."
Mr. Smith stared at it oddly, as did the Matron and I debated on when I should jump in, catching sight of the girl still watching.
"John, what is that silly thing?" The Matron asked, but Mr. Smith couldn't answer. "John?"
Martha gave him the okay and he took it from her, looking over it as if trying to remember something as she spoke. "You're not John Smith. You're called the—"
Now. I poked my head in with a smile, snatching the sonic from Mr. Smith and tucking it into my pocket.
"Now, Martha let's not confuse him just yet."
She frowned at me, angry for interrupting. "What do you mean? We have to!" She turned to Mr. Smith, ignoring me. "The man in your journal, he's real! He's y—"
"Me." I spouted, covering her mouth with my hand, mentally feeling sick for touching a human's mouth. "Yes, right. Keep that a secret now. Got some things coming after me and—"
I was cut off as there was a loud thud behind us and a portly man walked in shouting at everyone.
"There will be silence! All of you!"
Scarecrows started walking in and I dropped my hand from Martha's mouth as I silently wished I kept my mouth shut moments ago.
"I said, silence!"
"Mister Clarke, what's going on?!" One man questioned as Mr. Clarke reached in his pocket and shot him, vaporizing him on the spot and sending the people in the room into screams.
I quickly turned to Mr. Smith, seriously. "Smith. Listen. Everything I just said? Forget it. All of it. Don't say anything."
A younger boy came up then, a student from the school, though I didn't recognize him.
"We asked for silence!"
"Actually, you demanded it, but who am I to say that loudly." I muttered under my breath, earning an elbow in the ribs, courtesy of Martha Jones.
"Now then, we have a few questions for Mr. Smith."
The little girl from before stepped forward and I mentally patted myself on the back for catching her as the odd one out.
"No, better than that. The footman. He's the Doctor. I heard them talking."
"You took human form." The student said, make me raise a brow in pretend confusion.
"Who, me?" I gestured to myself. "Yeah, sorry. I've always been human."
Mr. Smith stepped forward. "Of course he's human. He was born human. As were you, Baines. And Jenny! A-And you, Mr. Clarke. W-What's going on? This is madness!"
"Ooh, and human brains too. Simple, thick and dull."
I winked at him. "Oh, not quite." I tapped my temple. "I'm the last thing from thick, mind you. Human or not."
Jenny spoke up then. "But he's no good like this."
"We need a Time Lord." Mr. Clarke said after.
"Easily done." Baines stepped forward and pulled out a gun, pointing it at me as the crowd gasped. "Change back."
"Yeah." I drawled out, rolling my eyes and being extremely calm for someone with a gun pointed at them "About that. I don't really know what you're talking about."
"Change back!" He ordered and I shifted my gaze to his, eyes hard.
"I'm the last person you should be ordering and pointing a gun at, mate."
"Get off me!" Martha yelled, drawing our attention to her as Jenny put a gun to her head as well.
"She's your friend, isn't she? Doesn't this scare you enough to change back?"
I shrugged, putting my hands in my pockets. "Not really."
"Riley!" Mr. Smith shouted, but I ignored him.
"Riley, I'll get you for this!" Martha complained as I rolled my eyes.
"Yeah, like I haven't heard that one before."
"Wait a minute." Jenny looked over a Martha before back at Mr. Smith. "The maid told me about Riley and Mr. Smith. And Mr. Smith and the Matron. That woman, there."
"Then let's have you!" Mr. Clarke called out, grabbing the Matron as I sighed.
Blaine smirked. "Have you enjoyed it, Doctor? Being human? Has it taught you wonderful things? Are you better, richer, wiser? Then let's see you answer this. Which one of them do you want us to kill? Maid or Matron? Your friend or Mr. Smith's lover? Your choice."
"Really now? Haven't you figured it out yet?" I snapped my gaze to them, eyes ice cold. "I don't care about some measly humans. Kill them."