Oh wow, a quick update, yay! Aren't I nice? You can thank Trenderman for this one, it's dedicated to Trenderman for encouraging me to update again. God.. I love writing this story.
"You don't really believe that legend, do you, Doctor?" I finally ask the question intriguing my mind since the young guy with the story left The Doctor and I alone.
Does anyone really believe something if it is labeled as a legend? I'm the kind of person who loves straight facts but will trust people if they sound honest enough, hence why I believed The Doctor. In my mind, The Doctor either really believed he was an alien called a time lord, or he simply was one. But this legend, although slightly exaggerated, has facts backing it up as well as a similar situation playing out right before us.
I need to see if the Doctor believes the rumor or story.
"The way I see it, every Legend starts somewhere." He looks through the keyhole while continuing to speak. "Every Story either comes from someone's imagination or someone's misunderstood experience."
"Like Chinese whispers?" I enquire, quickly looking down the hall to make sure the young man talking to me before is out of earshot after leaving moments ago.
"Exactly! Every legend starts somewhere, like the Loch Ness Monster for instance. Poor Nessie, he was just trying to get home to his planet when a tourist started taking pictures of him." He puts the sonic screwdriver back in his pocket before grabbing my hand and leading me back down the hall. After a second, he leans closer to me so the men interrogating Erni don't hear. "He's Photo shy you see, the lights scared the life out of him. He's somewhere in the Atlantic now."
I'm unsure whether to accept this new information as fact or not, but maybe just accepting The Doctor's stories as truth will be far easier Friendship wise.
"There you are sir. I was wondering whether you were wanting to investigate the side window for any signs of a break-in. The only concern is we can't seem to procure a ladder." The ultimate poshness of the young man is for some reason getting on my nerves, either that or I want to hear more of The Doctor's story.
"No problem there, we'll check it out right now Rodrick." The Doctor replies, not pausing in his path to the Door the whole time Rodrick speaks. At least, I now have a name to the face, it's better than calling him 'the young one' I suppose.
Eventually, we find the window to the locked room. Staring up at it, it's obvious we do need a ladder to even try and go in that way unless some acrobat suddenly appears.
"Now, according to the owner, there are hinges on the door inside the room. I can use The Sonic to unlock them." He glances sideways at me before coughing awkwardly. "Mind giving me a lift?"
"What? You expect me to help you get up there? I'm not a bodybuilder you know, I'm a librarian. Most likely a fired librarian at that." I stare at the window out of The Doctor's reach.
Like I could really lift someone who's half a foot taller than me! It must be a joke.
"Well, I'll lift you then." And just like that, we enter a vicious staring contest that only ends when I groan in annoyance as I buckle easily under his gaze three minutes in.
"Fine! I'll do it, but if this is an excuse to look up my dress, I might as well tell you I'm wearing jeans underneath." His stunned innocent look almost reduces me to laughter. "And... I don't know how to use that sonic thing."
"You think what you want it to do and hold down the button, Simple programs will work in that situation." The Doctor turns and places his hands on both my shoulders kindly. "Are you sure about this? We don't know what's really in that room besides an unmoving child."
"Eh, I make children laugh. I'll be fine!"
Deciding against climbing on his shoulders while wearing a massive dress. We decide to try a similar initiative to mounting a horse, he gives me what I think is called a leg up before letting me stand on his hands. I have to admit he's quite strong to hold all my weight like that.
Holding a rock I grabbed off the ground before climbing to the window, I look down at the Doctor nervously. "What if the owners come running when they hear me break the glass?"
"What are they going to do? Arrest a Detective?"
"You're not a real Detective!" I exclaim, clasping more tightly to the window ledge as the Doctor wobbles slightly.
"I don't think the neighbors heard you say that, do you mind repeating yourself a bit louder?"
"Shush! I'm focusing on not messing this up." I have about fifty seconds before I expect myself to make a mistake. I really need to build more confidence in myself, either that I should join a gym.
"Just make sure you don't cut yourself on the glass."
"Oh, now you're worried about that." I finally balance myself and try and give the glass a push. "Thank's a lot Doctor."
"Not to insult you or anything, but you're really getting heavy." I gasp in anger, momentarily losing my balance, causing me to fall forward with my hands in front of me. I accidentally smash the window in front of me just enough so I can open the latch inside. I gradually pull myself up, resting my stomach on the window ledge while I try and find all the glass on the floor to avoid.
"Did you just call me fat? Just you wait until I get down there." I yell at him, trying to edge myself forward carefully inside.
"Of course not! Wait, why are you wearing running sneakers in the 18th century?"
"Hey," I mutter, looking down at him mid-struggle while clinging the ledge for my dear life. "I don't judge you and your bowtie. So in return, stop judging my Nikes."
The seriousness in my voice must catch him off guard as the laughter that follows my request is definitely spontaneous. Thankfully he no longer needs to hold me up as I then proceed to collapse into the locked room.
Unluckily, though, I still seem to be very much myself, so when I tumble inside I land palms down on a shard of glass, cutting my right hand badly. Great... Just what I need right now. The Doctor better not say anything like 'I told you so' or I will hide his sonic screwdriver.
"Lia? Lia-Marie? Are you ok, I heard you gasp, please tell me it was a good gasp!"
With a sigh of exasperation, I sit up on my knees, surveying the damage and blood dripping down my hand and along my arm.
"This isn't funny Lia, Say something?!"
What does he think happened? That a monster decided to kidnap me? That is sooooo three hours ago. Standing up, I briefly stop at the window to reassure him, "Oh yeah, that. It was totally a gasp of pleasure. There are tables full of chocolate in here as well as like five hot guys checking me out. No seriously, why else would I gasp?"
"Oh, you're using sarcasm now. Amazing." He mutters as I show him my injured hand. "You still have the Sonic?"
Patting my jeans pocket under my dress, I feel the shape of the magical device before taking my first real look around the room. It feels strange like I don't want to explore or survey the area, yet I want to know everything the small room has seen.
There are piles of luggage and a shelf of expensive items laid out along one wall. The young child I saw through the keyhole kneels before one of the larger chests in the room, almost in a praying position with the light streaming in underneath the locked door casting an eerie shadow on the wall next to him. Even so, the shadow looks nothing like the dark black one I saw earlier.
Glancing back at the child I realize he must be a young boy of nine or ten. He is wearing ripped raggedy clothing and shoes with holes all through them sparking the protective caring side within me.
"Hey, um. Little boy? Are you alright?" Wow, I would feel so confident if I were him. Being saved by a random girl pretending to be a knight in shining armor is especially high on my to do list. Particularly armor that happens to be a pretty dress and some mighty expensive sneakers. "Come on kid, speak to me?"
I step forward and lightly grab his shoulder to turn him to me but the sight I see causes a scream to leave my lips before I can even think about it.
His eyes are completely white, his face expressionless as he remains unmoving after he faces me. I step back in shock, what have I gotten myself into...
My eyes move from the little boy to the door, unknowingly ignoring the Doctor's shouts of worry. Written on the door in black letters are four words artistically spread along the wood.
I
want
the
girl