Chapter Three

The Krafayis roared, and the Doctor and Robyn turned on their heels and fled. The beast lumbered after them, chasing them down the cobblestone street. Then, without warning, the Doctor pulled Robyn around the corner, hoping the creature would just run past them. "Good," he panted, both of his hearts racing.

"This not good," Robyn replied. "We've got something chasing us, and the only way we can see it is with that mirror!"

Not in the mood to argue, the pair of them started to run again, trying to get away from the invisible alien as fast as they could. The Krafayis roared again, continuing to make it presence known as it chased them down the street. In its haste, it knocked over a bicycle, which slowed it down a bit, but it didn't deter it completely, and soon it gave chase yet again.

"We'll have to lead it somewhere we can slow it down," said the Doctor. "That should give us the chance to get away."

"Would it?"

"Maybe, maybe not, it's worth a shot."

The Doctor and Robyn quickly ran through an archway, and then into a street that had a few empty crates, and a couple of tables propped up against the walls, as well as a couple of barrels; more than enough objects to hold the Krafayis at bay. The pair of them started knocking things over, hoping their efforts would be enough to slow the Krafayis down. Suddenly, the archway they'd passed through, not moments before, cracked and broke, the pieces falling onto the road, as if the beast had hit it on its way through since it was too tall to go underneath it properly.

"Take that," the Doctor breathed, knocking over another table. "And that!" Once he was done, he grabbed Robyn by the hand and ran, both of them hiding around the corner. The ploy worked, and the Krafayis got caught by all the debris, and it soon decided that it would have to give up on its quarry for now. The Doctor looked around the corner, breathing a sigh of relief.

"Is it gone?" Robyn whispered.

"It is," the Doctor replied. "For now." He started around the corner... and almost ran straight into Amy, who was coming from the other direction. All three of them jumped in fright, none of them expecting the other to be there. "You scared the living daylights out of me!"

"And me," Robyn added, her heart thumping madly.

"Sorry," said Amy. "But when I woke up and Robyn was gone, well..." She sighed, and shook her head. "And I got bored. As much you admire his command of colour and shape, it is hard to get fond of Vincent Van Gogh's snoring." She looked at Robyn harshly. "So, what have you got to say for yourself, kid?" she asked. "The Doctor told you to stay with me, didn't he?"

Robyn frowned. "He did," she said with a sigh. "I didn't listen, I know, and I'm sorry!"

"And it nearly got you killed," Amy replied, scolding the little girl. "You're lucky you even managed to find the Doctor," she continued. "Or else he probably would've found you..." She looked at the Doctor sadly. "Oh, you know."

"Amy," the Doctor warned. "There's no need to bring that up again. Ever."

Amy nodded. "You're right, sorry," she said. "I won't. Really, I won't." She frowned, now noticing the device strapped to the Doctor's chest. "What, on earth, is that?" she asked, looking at the mirror in confusion. "And why are you wearing it like that?"

"It helps him see the monster," Robyn replied. "Just like Vincent can."

"Yes," the Doctor agreed. "That's what it does, more or less." He took Robyn by the hand. "And why I've got it rigged up like this isn't important, the fact that I've got it, on the other hand, is. Come on, let's get back to Vincent's place, he'll be waking up soon, if he isn't already, and he'll be wondering where we've gone." Just then, Robyn's stomach growled. "But we'll pick up something for breakfast on the way first."

Robyn smiled. "Thanks, Dad."

"Someone's got to keep you fed, don't they?"

"I suppose."

Amy frowned for a moment, remembering the events of the previous night. "Could we find some sunflowers?" she asked. "I want to brighten up Vincent's yard a bit, and sunflowers might just be the thing we need."

The Doctor nodded. "Yeah, we can do that, easy. There should be plenty of sunflowers around here, and who knows, maybe you might be able to convince Vincent to paint them."

Robyn rolled her eyes. "Still hungry, Dad," she complained. "Can we go now?"

"In a minute," the Doctor replied. "We'll have to be careful, in case the creature is still around."

"But you said it was gone," said Amy looking around in alarm. "And now you're saying it might still be here?"

"You can never be too careful." He sighed. "Anyway, let's go, before someone starts complaining again, all right?"

Amy nodded. "All right."

The trio walked back through the streets, picking up breakfast supplies on their way. Amy's request wound up being much more difficult to begin with, but eventually they found enough sunflowers, as much as they could carry, to brighten up the whole of Vincent's courtyard a million times over.

"This is going to look amazing," said Amy happily, arranging some of the sunflowers in a vase on the table. "He's going to be so surprised!"

"Not as surprised as he will be when Dad goes in to wake him up," Robyn replied, pouring herself a cup of juice. "I just hope Vincent's all right, especially after last night." She took a sip of her juice, then licked her lips. "And that poor woman, losing her daughter like that..." She shuddered. "You understand why I did it though, going out last night when I did?"

"Can you keep a secret?" Amy replied, looking at the little girl conspiratorially.

Robyn raised her eyebrows. "I can."

"I thought about doing the same thing as you did."

"You mean going after the Doctor?"

Amy nodded. "Yep. But I thought Vincent needed me more, at the time." She frowned. "Don't get me wrong, I was still worried about him, but..."

"After last night you didn't want to risk it."

"Nope. But I would've done it anyway. Keeping the Doctor safe is worth it."

Robyn nodded. "Yeah. It is."

OoOoOoOoO

"Wakey wakey, rise and shine," the Doctor called, throwing open Vincent's bedroom doors. "Breakfast is served in the courtyard." He moved to the windows next, opening them as Vincent awoke with a jerk. "Whoa, what a morning!" He turned to Vincent, who had still not yet gotten out of bed, and clapped his hands. "Come on," he said impatiently. "And Amy's got a little surprise for you."

Vincent walked over to the window, to find Amy, and Robyn, sitting at the table in the courtyard, surrounded by sunflowers in baskets, and vases; everywhere there'd been an empty space the previous night were now taken up by the bright yellow blooms. Even the window boxes, he noticed, had been filled with the flowers; a feat which had not been easy when the Doctor had to stop Robyn from almost falling out the windows while they were planting them.

Amy smiled up at the artist. "I thought I'd brighten things up to thank you for saving me last night," she called. "I thought you might like to, possibly, to perhaps, paint them, or something?" She leaned on the table. "Might be a thought."

"Yes, well, they're not my favourite flower," Vincent replied.

"You don't like sunflowers?"

Vincent studied one of the blooms. "No, it's not that I don't like them," he said, reaching out to the flower delicately. "I find them complex, always somewhere between living and dying, half human as they turn to the sun. A little disgusting." He smiled. "But, you know, they are a challenge."

"And one I'm pretty sure you'll rise to," said the Doctor. "But, moving on, there's something I need to show you." He quickly ushered Robyn and Amy inside, joining Vincent in the kitchen. Now they were all gathered together, he could tell them what they were up against. He took out a photograph that the device had printed out, then handed it to the artist.

Vincent recognised it immediately. "That's him," he said, running his thumb over the paper. "And the eyes, without mercy."

"This is a creature called the Krafayis," the Doctor began. "They travel in space. They travel, as a pack, scavenging across the universe. And sometimes one of them gets left behind, and because they are a brutal race, the others never come back. So, dotted all around the universe are individual, utterly merciless, utterly abandoned, Krafayis. And what they do is, well, kill, until they're killed, which they usually are because other creatures can't see them."

"But I can," said Vincent.

Amy looked over Vincent's shoulder, and studied the photograph while she listened to the Doctor's speech. So this had been the creature that had attacked her, and had killed the other girl. This had been the creature that had been chasing Robyn and the Doctor while they were out. She shivered, then crossed the room and sat down, scratching her head.

"Yes," the Doctor continued. "And that's why we're in a unique position today, my friend; to end this... reign of terror." He grinned. "So, feeling like painting the church today?"

Vincent looked at him with worry. "What about the monster?"

"Take my word for it. If you paint it, he will come."

"Okay, I'll get my things," Vincent replied, rising from his seat with a renewed sense of purpose. He started for the door, intending to get his equipment together as quickly as he could.

"And I promise you, we'll be out of your hair by this time tomorrow," the Doctor called after him.

Vincent stood in the doorway, and something about the look in his eyes told Robyn that telling him they'd be leaving the next morning was the wrong thing, and there would be consequences that couldn't be avoided, but would need to rectified, and quickly, if Vincent was going to be in a fit state to help them.

"This is risky," said the Doctor, his face lined with worry.

"Riskier than normal?" asked Amy, leaning forward in her seat.

"Well, think about it," the Doctor continued, standing from his seat and briefly checking that Vincent wasn't there to overhear. "This is the middle of Vincent Van Gogh's greatest year of painting. If we're not careful, the net result of our pleasant little trip will be the brutal murder of the greatest artist who ever lived. Half the pictures on the wall of the Musee d'Orsay will disappear." He snapped his fingers here to illustrate his point. "And it will be our fault," he finished, collapsing on the couch between the two girls.

"But we'll be able to stop it, right?" asked Robyn nervously. "As long as we keep Vincent safe, we can find it?"

The Doctor sighed, and put his arm around her shoulders. "We'll find it, with or without Vincent. We'll just have to risk it, won't we?"

Robyn had never felt more helpless in her life. They couldn't put Vincent in danger, they just couldn't, but she, and neither could the Doctor, evidently, find a way around it. Vincent had to be there to paint the church, or else the Krafayis might not show up. But, on the other hand, if he was there, they ran the risk of having him die before he could paint anything else, and time would be irreparably damaged, and it'd be all their fault! What were they going to do? "How long does it take for someone to get dressed?" she asked quietly. "And to get painting equipment together?"

The Doctor frowned. Vincent was taking a fairly long time to come back, and he suspected that something was wrong. He kissed the top of Robyn's head. "Wait here, both of you, and start getting ready to go. I'll go check on Vincent and see if he's all right."

"Can I..." Robyn bit her lip. "Can I come with you?" She closed her eyes, trying hard not to cry, but it wasn't working, and a few tears managed to slip down her face. "Please say yes."

"Robyn... I think it's better if I go and talk to him alone," the Doctor replied, wiping her tears away with his thumb. "He might not be in the best frame of mind to see anyone else."

Robyn nodded reluctantly, then leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. "Make him feel better," she said.

The Doctor smiled. "I'll try," he replied. "But I can't make any promises."

"Then don't. Just make Vincent feel better."

OoOoOoOoO

The Doctor knocked on Vincent's bedroom door with trepidation. "Vincent," he called through the door. "Vincent?" He opened the door and stepped into the room, finding the artist lying on his bed, crying into his pillow. "Vincent, can I help?" he asked, approaching the man carefully.

"It's so clear you cannot help," he said. "And when you leave, and everyone always leaves, I will be left once more with an empty heart and no hope."

"My experience is that there is, you know, surprisingly always hope," the Doctor replied, crouching by Vincent's bedside.

"Then your experience is incomplete," Vincent countered angrily. "I know how it will end, and it will not end well."

The Doctor paused for a moment, trying to work out what to say that could help break Vincent from his depressed state. Deciding to take a chance, he clapped him on the shoulder. "Come on, come out," he said, hoping that it would work. "Come on, let's go outside, eh?"

But Vincent lashed out. "Out!" he cried. "Get out! What are you doing here? What are you doing here?" He curled himself up into a ball, continuing to sob as the Doctor backed away.

"Very well," the Doctor replied, raising his hand in defeat. "I'll leave. I... I'll... leave you." He turned, and quickly walked out of the room, just as Amy and Robyn came up the stairs to meet him. The hopeful look on his daughter's face broke the Time Lord's hearts, much worse than it would to see it destroyed when he told her he couldn't make Vincent feel better as she had requested.

"What's happening?" asked Amy.

"We're leaving."

Robyn's face crumpled. "Why?"

"Everyone knows he's a delicate man," the Doctor replied. "Just months from now he'll..." He paused, unable to bring himself to say the words, even though he knew they had to be said. "He'll take his own life." Disgusted with himself, he pushed past Amy, heading for the stairs.

"Don't say that," Amy begged as he went past her, a hint of grief creeping into her voice. "Please."

The Doctor said nothing, then turned and walked downstairs. But the look on his face spoke volumes.

Amy looked at Robyn, who was staring at Vincent's door intently, her arms folded across her chest. "What are you thinking about?" she asked.

"Vincent. I'm trying to decide whether I should go in there and talk to him."

"If the Doctor couldn't help him, what makes you think you can?"

Robyn looked at her accusingly. "What, do I look like I'm completely useless just because I'm a little kid?"

"Of course not," Amy replied. "But..."

"Oh, thanks a lot." Robyn turned to follow her father downstairs, tears of anger threatening to fall.

Amy sighed, then headed after the girl. "Don't be like that," she said, as she tried to catch up. "I didn't mean it that way."

Robyn whirled around. "Didn't you?" she yelled. "Why would you say that if you didn't mean it?" She burst into tears, beside herself with sorrow. "Amy..." she said, shaking with sobs as the older girl wrapped her in a hug. "I'm sorry... I want to help him..."

"Shh, it's okay," she replied, smoothing the little girl's hair down her back. She frowned. "I want to help him too, but the trouble with Vincent is too big for you on your own. Now, if you have some help yourself, then maybe you might make a difference, but not this time." She studied Robyn's face, then wiped her tears away with her scarf. "Come on, let's go inside, back to the Doctor," she said, leading Robyn into the house.

The Doctor was looking at one of Vincent's paintings as they entered the room. He sighed. "Ah, come on," he said, taking Robyn by the hand and drawing her close. "We'll have to do this on our own. Go to the church at the right time, and hope the monster still turns up."

"Are you sure about that?" Robyn asked, trying to keep herself calm as she looked up at him. "Do you really think it'll still show up at the church?"

"I hope it does," the Doctor replied. "I mean, we might have a better chance if Vincent were coming with us, but..."

Robyn frowned. "Since we have to go it alone, there's no guarantee that it will."

The Doctor nodded. "That's right." He frowned. "By the way, were you yelling outside?"

"Yeah, I was. I got angry at Amy for a little while," she admitted. "I didn't like something she said, so I got mad at her... and myself a bit too." She sighed. "I wanted to help Vincent, after you left. I wanted to go in there and talk to him."

"I know you wanted to help him, Robyn, but it doesn't always work."

But before he could say anything more, a shadow appeared in the doorway, casting a domineering figure over the trio. From the shape of the shadow, there was no way to mistake who it could belong to, especially since only the four of them were around. Robyn looked at the shadow's owner and smiled, overjoyed to see him again.

"I'm ready," said Vincent. "Let's go."

OoOoOoOoO