46
"So how do they disappear? And how can this be unreported?"
"Well," taking the newspaper out from under his arm The Doctor opened it and turned to a page. "There are missing persons articles see," he pointed to a group of four pictures. "But the police are just fobbing it off as them running away." Phil looked up at him and then back at the paper.
"So why are we getting involved in a possible police case?"
"Because it's fun Phil! Where's your sudden sense of fun gone?"
"I'm still in shock over you being a partial magician." Phil laughed lightly and frowned at the paper. "They're all fairly youngish."
"Wow, you're jumping on this detective thing already?"
"I love detective stuff!"
"Phil?"
"Yes?"
"Sherlock Holmes is fictional."
"I know – hey! How did you know I was about to reference him?"
"I just knew." The Doctor grinned and looked to the stage as a man in a black suit walked on.
Escapology, regular magicians, they were all in this show tonight. Phil frowned, it was so much magic to take on. Beside her The Doctor sat with a rather bemused expression, she half wondered if he agreed with her earlier thought. It really was to much magic and tricks to take on at once. Shaking her head Phil directed her attention to a man who just walked on and sat down. Unlike the other men who had been on, he wasn't wearing some extravagant suit. He was just wearing some brown trousers, a white shirt and black braces. All in all he looked a little to normal to be appearing in a magic show. Phil was just being stereotypical based on the other magicians which had already been on.
Suddenly there was a eerie feeling in the theatre and a child's laughter echoed throughout the space. It sent goosebumps up Phil's arms, leaning forward she watched as a little child no older than ten ran along the isle. As if that wasn't weird enough hearing a woman suddenly burst out crying just added to the moment.
She turned to look at The Doctor, he frowned and looked at her. "You can't summon the dead right?"
"No! Of course not, how terrifying would that be? I can't think of anything worse than dead relatives wondering around the place. But now that you mention it...that boy does seem to be see-through, and that woman seems extremely distraught." He said thoughtfully.
The man sitting down seemed to strain as the boy disappeared, he even went as far as groaning and gripping onto his head. It was for the better part – extremely theatrical – which was ironic if anything.
The Doctor just looked at the man a little boredly, contacting the dead was just wrong. It was in a category of things not to do. He flinched however when Phil had gripped onto his arm, being bought back to the present and out of his thoughts he looked at her hand. Her knuckles were slowly turning white from gripping onto his arm tightly. He was starting to loose the feeling in his arm because of her grasp. He took turn to gripping onto the chair arm, wincing and turning to pull her hand off of his arm he took a glance to the stage.
"Oh dear," that was all he could say for the matter. "Phil? Psst! Philippa look away!" He whispered at her, finally getting her hand off of his arm it didn't take long for her to take turn in gripping onto his hand.
The reason for her sudden dramatic nature was based on the fact that on the stage stood a little boy. Doctor managed to recognize the boy instantly thanks to a photo he'd previously seen in Phil's flat back in London. That was way back soon after they'd first met, shaking his head and trying not to go down memory lane he just put a hand over her eyes.
There was a reason why the dead shouldn't be contacted, least of all in a way like this. The reaction from the living, from the people left behind was one of pure grief and sadness. Sure there were a few people who felt comforted by seeing their dead relative walking in the theatre, or standing beside the man on the chair. But for the better part people would breakdown – much like the woman earlier on.
Phil was on no exception, all she could do was stare at the little boy who had similar black curly hair to her, and the same shade of dark emerald green eye colour. The Doctor was no psychic but it didn't take him long to figure out the connection between Phil's dramatic moment, the photo and the boy. She didn't try removing his hand which just signalled more to him that she didn't really want to be confronted with her dead younger brother. One thing that he could clearly feel was the tears trailing to her cheeks, it was a hard moment.
The moment lasted another few minutes before Tim dissipated into thin air and the man walked off. He received a huge applause, The Doctor shook his head and removed his hand. Of cause they would be thrilled by something like this. After all apparently people liked the paranormal.
"Come on Phil," standing up and helping her up too he easily, and quietly, led her out of the theatre.
"Here."
"You have chocolate in your pocket?"
"Well yeah of course I do! You never know when hunger kicks in," The Doctor said as if storing chocolate in his coat pockets was normal. Phil didn't want to comment on how it didn't melt, looking at it for a long while she slowly opened the wrapper. Looking up she pulled a face, "Yes Phil?"
"You're eating a banana."
"Of course I am! Do you know why? Because bananas are good," he gave a swift nod and ate more of the fruit. Swallowing it he waved the half eaten fruit at her, "It's alright Phil."
She scrunched her face up and shook her head. Pulling the wrapper back over the chocolate she held it out to him. "No you need it more, chocolate is good for shock...and it's generally good so eat it."
"But I'm not hungry."
"Want to swap then?"
"Heh, no you're alright." Phil said quietly while eyeing up the banana which he was still holding. The two were standing outside of the theatre quietly, Phil was struggling to make sense of everything, and The Doctor was busy eating the banana and looking around at everything.