Cindy and the Doctor travelled back into town and drifted among the people in the marketplace. The Doctor knew that Cindy would have to pick up groceries for the three women back home, though he didn't know why she even bothered. He presumed it was because she was scared, and by now was desperate in escaping the clutches of whatever aliens lurked around the house. Something happened to her in that large mansion while he wasn't there, and he had to get it out of her before she'll forget altogether out of fear. If anything, appeasing them was Cindy's best option, and doing what they said was better than being reprimanded.
The Doctor tagged along with her for protection, but as she concentrated solely on getting food, he couldn't help but question her. "You never told me what happened back there."
Cindy ignored him, but knowing the Doctor wouldn't give up, she replied, "I don't want to talk about it right now."
"And why not?" the Doctor said, impatient. "For god's sake, Cindy, something bit you on the back of your head and I'm pretty sure it wasn't a spider."
Cindy's body language indicated that she hated all the questions directed at her, and chose to ignore him.
"When you confirmed the fact that the people I meet see strange things when they're with me, you were right. I know you saw something out of the ordinary in that building… and it wasn't human. And you know it."
Cindy turned around brashly, putting a loaf of bread in the basket she held. "So what if I did? They didn't kill me!"
"That's exactly what I mean! They didn't kill you, despite the venom. That only indicates one thing—they're trying to keep you alive for some sort of purpose. Why did they bite you, Cindy? What caused them to lash out at you?"
"Will you just SHUT UP!" Bystanders exchanged glances at Cindy's outburst, but the marketplace started to buzz after a few moments of silence. The couple stood quietly, the Doctor's eyebrows raised and Cindy's expression full of rage. Quickly Cindy broke the stare, continuing on her way down the booths as the Doctor awkwardly followed.
I don't want to remember…
The piercing green eyes, the strange, alien face staring at her eerily… she couldn't get the images out of her head. She sighed, putting her hair behind her ears, knowing that the Doctor wouldn't stop until he had an answer.
"I stood up for myself," she finally said, catching the Doctor's attention. "I got back and they were mad at me for being home after dark… and I just lost it."
The Doctor's smile was from ear to ear as he felt like jumping for joy, giving Cindy a tight squeeze. "I knew at some point you weren't going to take their nonsense anymore! Good for you!" Cindy couldn't help herself as she smiled, hating how the Doctor could manage to make her smile and frown within minutes.
"Yes, well, after that, things started to get strange. They began accusing me of seeing you, and that's when I got mad and started to yell. They didn't even respond to my big long speech on how I hated them, either! They just stared at me, changing shape as if their faces were masks and they were taking it off for me to see. Sometimes I noticed their eyes flash green, but instantly they changed back and I didn't know what else to do other than stand there. That's when they ambushed me and… I woke up the next day feeling sick. It got even stranger when I walked down the stairs to see them grin at me, like I was food or something…" She grimaced, trying to shake the thought of being eaten alive out of her head.
The Doctor thought to himself, and like always was quick to respond to the situation. "Sounds to me like they were keeping you in order."
"What do you mean?"
"Weeellll you escaped the house with me without them knowing, came home late, and then started declaring your rights all in the same day! They were trying to shut you up. I think they're trying to keep you quiet and compliant to stop you from rebelling… but why?"
Cindy noticed his musings and said bluntly, "Because they're awful people?"
The Doctor rolled his eyes. "They are not people! They are sentient beings from another world—in other words, aliens, and very dangerous, as I can tell. The venom they injected into you was a clear warning, and they're telling you, and me probably, to knock it off."
"I just hope they don't eat me," said Cindy, trying not to imagine it.
"If only I knew what they were, then maybe I can figure this all out…"
Not much was said after that, for Cindy couldn't focus on anything but appeasing the creatures she would go home to. Part of her couldn't even believe that what the Doctor was talking about was real.
"I'm not leaving your side," the Doctor suddenly declared.
Cindy looked at him, her face full of shock. "But isn't it dangerous for you? If they truly discover that you're not a Duke, they could come after you! They might do something far worse than what they did to me."
"Yes, but considering I don't want you to get hurt again, I have to keep an eye on them to see what they're up to. I'm not going to sit back and let them mess with your head again. If anything, I'm trying to figure out what they want you for."
"Aww… being all protective of me, are you?" Cindy teased.
"Because I wouldn't want anyone hurting a brilliant little thing like you," the Doctor teased back, pinching her cheeks. Cindy batted his hands away.
"Oh, stop!" she laughed.
"Not until you're done grocery shopping, because by now it's getting quite pointless and boring."
"You try dealing with 'sentient beings from another world' that want to kill you."
"Story of my bloody life, Cindy! Story of my life."
"Mother! Mother!"
Anastasia's cries caught the attention of Lady Tremaine as she perked her head up to see her daughter crash through the door to her bedroom. "What is it, child?"
Anastasia looked out of breath, but excited. If anything, Lady Tremaine knew that whatever news she brought was good, because it regarded Cinderella no doubt. "You won't believe what I just saw out in the market today."
Lady Tremaine's smile managed to reach her eyes, which was a rare thing for her in the household. "Try me… for I have a pretty good idea."
"It's Cinderella. She's with the Duke again, even while she shops! Even though we enforce the rules, she always manages to break them. I tell you, Mother, there is something about that Duke that she likes. She can't seem to stay away from him."
Lady Tremaine laughed softly. "I've noticed. I'm not as oblivious as I seem, you know. We can't allow her to keep in contact with that imposter."
As if on cue, a powerful earthquake erupted, sending Anastasia to the floor. It stopped within a minute, leaving the room disarrayed. The women's expressions were full of fear.
"They're getting worse every time," Anastasia said, smoothing out her dress.
"Indeed they are. These cracks are appearing in several places now, and no matter how many times I seal them up they never stop coming back. Ever since this man came they have gotten worse over time."
"Is he not the girl's species?"
"Obviously. It's bad enough that he and Cinderella have gotten increasingly close… and even closer can cost us the throne. No matter what, we need to keep her going down the correct path to the desired end."
"Until we ruin it," smiled Anastasia, her eyes flashing a light green, if only for a few seconds. "Which one of us will try on the slipper? Me or Drizella?"
"It doesn't matter. You'll both fit."
Anastasia's expression was of pure joy, making her mother smile out of genuine happiness. "Even in the castle we would keep the girl controlled in an endless loop of torture until she's nothing but a husk."
"Oh, I can't wait! Is it almost time to bring the news of the Ball?"
"Very soon, daughter, be patient. Once she returns home we will announce it. However, we need to take extra precautions. I'm assuming the 'Duke' will be coming back?"
"I heard he wasn't going to leave her alone, which means he'll be close by."
"Then you know what needs to be done. Go to her bedroom and grab whatever possessions she owns." With a nod Anastasia was on her way out the door, no questions asked. "Oh, and dear? Be sure to remind the girl that my bedroom needs to be tidied."
A mischievous grin plastered itself on Anastasia's face, practically skipping to the Cinderella's bedroom as she said a quick hello to her sister. Lady Tremaine prayed for all to go well, getting up from her chair to welcome Cinderella downstairs.
She couldn't move. Her grip to the basket full of groceries was like iron. She could only stare at the house in front of her, afraid that the aliens would barge out of the door towards her without mercy, ready to rip out her throat and kill her. She swallowed down air, her feet stuck to the ground. I can't do this, I can't do this, I can't do this, I can't—
A warm hand touched her shoulder, with the body attached to the hand hovering behind her back protectively. She turned around to face him, his eyes bearing down at her like she always pictured in her dreams. "It's going to be all right, Cindy. I'm right here."
"I still don't like the idea of you coming with me."
"Well, tough, because I'm waltzing in with you." His grin gave her the clue that she didn't need to worry about him. If anything, Cindy knew that he could take care of himself just fine. Experience was another part of him that she saw in his eyes.
I think he's seen far more than I can ever imagine.
She looked back at the house with fear in her eyes, trying to convince herself to move forward.
Inside the residence, Drizella stood near a window, looking out at the couple and sending a visual message to the other women. "The imposter is with her. Best be prepared. Here they come!"
Cinderella opened the door to the estate, the Doctor close behind as the women frantically made their way downstairs, holding their dresses up to keep from stepping on them. All looked disgruntled and mildly surprised.
"Cinderella, how on Earth could you bring this man into the house?" said her stepmother, rushing down to her side.
Cindy was still frozen, and refused to talk back in case of being ambushed again. Still, she stood her ground.
"If there's one thing I realized about this town, it is the fact that there is no 'Duke of London' anywhere. Not only is this upsetting, but it is also enraging to see you going behind our backs in order to see this meddlesome liar!"
The Doctor had his doubts, but was proud of Cindy when she spoke back to them: "Why does it matter? He's not who he says he is, so why can't I see him as a friend? He's not rich, nor does he own land or have money; he's a simple man living in a simple home."
Drizella was quick to retort. "You never deserved a man, you filthy pile of shite! Why would any man ever desire such a wench like you? Hell, on second thought, keep the bastard! A no-good rotten liar fits you to a tee!"
"And besides," added Anastasia, "it's not like we don't know how much you absolutely adore him!"
Cindy looked at her feet, her cheeks red, despite not knowing how or why they knew about what went on inside her head. She admitted to herself that she did have a bit of a crush on him, though she had a feeling that wasn't a shocker to anyone she knew or not. The Doctor, nevertheless, wasn't as surprised to hear it.
"Funny," continued Anastasia. "Your little infatuation sounds an awful lot like the feelings that Ro–"
"Now, now, Anastasia," Lady Tremaine interrupted with a smile. Cinderella was in a state of shock at the fact that the creatures in front of her were able to know a lot more than what she expected. "I think it's best if we speak to this man in private."
Lady Tremaine's menacing glare was directed at Cindy, who couldn't help but object. "I know a lot more than you think I do, and I think I have a right to–"
"Leave, heathen, or I'll take care of you myself!"
The Doctor leaned in to whisper in Cindy's ear. "I think it's best if you went, Cindy. I don't want you hurt."
The stepsisters rolled their eyes as Cindy quickly left the scene after putting her groceries on a nearby table, loudly mocking her as she went upstairs. "It figures that she listens to you."
"That's because I'm brilliant." He flashed her a wide smile, loving how they glared at him. Even in disguise, messing with them was still fun. "Almost spilled the beans, there, didn't you? She already knows. I told her already. She knows that she's not Cinderella, though the only part that's missing from her are the memories she used to possess."
Lady Tremaine was quick to lay down the rules. If there's one thing she's noticed about the strange man in front of her, it was that he knew way too much to be ordinary. "Who are you, sir? Explain yourself!" By then, all of their eyes flashed a bright green, their true selves showing through. They, particularly Lady Tremaine, felt slightly intimidated.
"Is it really that important to know who I am, ladies?" said the Doctor, leaning against the door nonchalantly. "At this point, you're gripping at straws. This little universe is falling apart for an important reason and I have the right to know what you're doing with Rose."
"I'm assuming you have some form of relation with this Rose, then?" asked Drizella. "I didn't know she came with company."
"Also," added her sister, "don't you find it strange how he hasn't been affected by the changes we've caused?"
"I crash landed here after a solar storm," explained the Doctor. "I have technology that Rose attached to by accident, hence why I probably wasn't included in your sick game. That's all it was: an accident. And somehow, after countless observations, you managed to build a world from her memories of a film and steal her mind, insert another, as well as take her away from me. Why are you doing this to her? How are you achieving this? Tell me!" The women were taken aback by his forwardness, and clearly were not used to being ordered around.
Lady Tremaine noticed his tense body, his eyebrows meeting and his eyes blazing with such intensity she could have sworn she saw fire. The man that stood before her obviously was important to Rose, and based on the man's behavior, it was the same for him. She smiled devilishly. "Your fiery passion is so strange to us. You clearly have feelings for this human."
"What kind of feelings, Mother?" teased the stepsisters.
"The kind of feelings I can sense from little Cinderella upstairs," replied the stepmother, giving the Doctor a mocking smile. "How very cute."
"I wouldn't mock me if I were you. If I'm capable of taking your little 'plaything' away from you within hours of meeting her then you should be very scared. I don't give second chances to abusive harlots. And if any more earthquakes come the longer I stay then this little universe you built around a fairytale will crumble… with you around for the ride. So fess up!"
Lady Tremaine let out a soft chuckle, enjoying the quarrel she was involved with. She sensed strong emotions coming from the imposter, and immediately was tempted. Slowly all three began to morph the upper portion of their bodies, showing the Doctor their actual faces for an honest conversation. Their nostrils were quite large, with their beady eyes that still glowed green; their black skin faded into the peachy-colored flesh that they chose not to transform; their faces appeared flat, almost like the crest of a triceratops, with their mouth, eyes, and mouth all centered into one part of their visages.
The Doctor was mildly impressed with their appearance, and also captivated. He couldn't help himself. "Ooh… you're gorgeous! All of you! You certainly look better without those human masks you dupe us with!"
"Don't start mocking us, now!" barked Drizella, her voice soundly slightly altered due to the morph.
"Oh, no, I mean it!" said the Doctor, his eyes lighting up out of pure fascination, taking out his specks for no reason other than to gush. "Out of everything I've seen, you ladies are truly unique, and trust me, I've seen a lot." Realizing that he was being overly enthusiastic at an inappropriate time, he snapped himself back to the topic, and his eyes soon sharpened. "But now that I know you're willing to talk now that I've seen who you really are…"
"Ha! You think we are willing to reveal our identities?" said Anastasia. "What we want to know is who you are. Don't think because you're interfering in our lives that we're going to spill everything out of our mouths for you. Tell us your name! Where are you from?"
"My name is the Doctor, and I'm not telling you."
"I said your name! I demand you tell us your name and where you're from!"
"It's just The Doctor. And no. Sorry!" He did a little wave, trying to irritate them.
Lady Tremaine gave the stepsister a glance that indicated that she would take over. Anastasia huffed at not being able to finish what she started, but backed down. "Well, then, Doctor… now that we know how Rose came to us, we could say we are truly grateful. After all, we were very hungry after centuries of starving… and without your accident, we would have perished."
The Doctor glared at them. "Explain yourself."
"We needed a host," said Drizella, smiling at the thought. "We can sense possible meals far off into space, and once we found your foreign craft in a state of weakness we entered past its defenses. We were delighted to find your previous human girl, ready for the taking. Our kind have advanced devices, capable of breeching the mind for weaknesses, including that of a sentient ship, no doubt."
"This… what was it? It was some sort of device capable of rewiring the genetic code and psychological state, correct? It was perfect. There was barely any effort needed to rewrite the girl's brain. All we needed was a way in…"
Rose must have attached her head on the chameleon arch by mistake during the crash, thought the Doctor. They must have sensed her mind through the arch when they invaded my ship.
"It just so happens," Lady Tremaine continued, "that she had a collection of juicy material for us to trap her in."
"What on Earth would you want with a fairytale story told through film?" said the Doctor, bewildered.
"It's not just any moving-picture film, Doctor," Lady Tremaine said. "We have learned that it is a film that we can exploit. This Cinderella character is a girl everyone abuses… the kind of food we need—suffering, pain, misfortune, fear… it is delicious. We devour it until our host could no longer bare it."
"But why feed off of emotions like sadness? Why not happiness, or joy?"
"There's no reason not to. We prefer the taste of sadness to happiness, because it's all too easy to obtain; happiness is such hard work... but only if we cling to a host will we be able to eat. As we speak, little Cinderella is fearful and scared, and we soak it up and enjoy her suffering every single night."
"Not only is it mouthwatering, but it's wonderful to watch as she withers and cries, wanting all of the suffering to end," the stepsisters said in a mocking tone, intended to make the Doctor lash out. "The more we hurt her, the better it tastes."
The Doctor felt himself grip the doorknob of the house, turning his knuckles white the angrier he got.
Stay focused.
Letting go of the doorknob, he said in an exasperated tone, "But why build this world with your capabilities? What point is it?"
The three women noted his stress. "How else are we going to consume the fear and sadness if the person isn't surrounded by the environment of the character in which we create?" Lady Tremaine said matter-of-factly. "They need to believe it… feel it. Trap her old self to keep her alive, and let the suffering never end. She may know she's not who she is, but she has no memory of you, or whatever pathetic life she used to have. All she has is us."
"Yeah? Well, she has me now!" The Doctor, by now, was short tempered. He didn't come as far as he did with Cindy to watch them take control. "And look what I've done: I've managed to change the course of this storyline, all because she met me. And you know what? I demand that you let her go."
All three barked a laugh. "Why should we? We are starving, Doctor! We have dealt with centuries of starvation! We are so close to the end of the story that her mind has given us. We cannot stop until we've eaten it all!"
"I can find you another place to go, a place where you won't go hungry again. I can bring you on my ship and take you anywhere. Just please let Rose go." The Doctor was shocked to find that they were pondering about such an offer. Greed was in their eyes, and they didn't look willing to wait a few more minutes to find another meal. "C'mon, now. No one has offered you a better deal than this!"
"We don't need you, Doctor!" Drizella snapped. "Who are you to say such things? Who do you think you are, the Almighty God?"
The Doctor smirked. "More like the Oncoming Storm." Their confused faces made him giggle, and he got the impression that they have never heard of him or what he's done in the Time War and probably didn't care either way.
Lady Tremaine was the first to speak after the brief silence. "I warn you, Doctor… do not interfere in our affairs any longer or you will suffer the consequences. Leave her behind. We may control the events, but you are the ultimate threat to tearing it all down. I can see the way you look at our meal, and it is a danger to us. You'll never have your precious little human back… unless you want to be our next meal?" Her upturned smile was enough to make his skin crawl, but all he felt was rage. The Doctor felt as though logic was taking a back seat, but when it came to his companions, there was no way in hell that he was going to give up.
He gave them an impassive, determined expression. "Then so be it. Be difficult. But it is I that should warn you."
"Of what?" laughed the women.
"Of me." He chuckled. "Be afraid."
Cindy crept through the house, tiptoeing as quietly as she could across the hall and down the stairs. She spotted the clock—3:30 AM. It was the only time in which she could speak to the Doctor without being watched. All were sleeping soundly in their beds, and neither one would be keeping an eye on her as she did her chores. Cindy felt exhausted from the emotionally draining day, but she had to speak to the Doctor. After what had happened that day, she didn't want to miss a single second.
As always, she escaped behind the barn, towards the trees where he first found her just days before. She was never told to meet him anywhere, but before he left the house she caught a glance that told her to stick around. The whole time she had listened to him talk to the aliens… and part of her couldn't believe her eyes or her ears.
'The Oncoming Storm'? The Doctor has a reputation?
Cindy already knew that the Doctor was a mysterious figure, but how mysterious she didn't know. She had the gut feeling that he was keeping a lot more secrets than what he told her about. She didn't have the heart to ask him, though. She didn't want to interfere, and part of her knew that Rose had all the answers to the looming questions.
She heard a few footsteps behind her, and turned around to see a long-coated figure hiding amongst the trees. While still dark, the moon was out, and the figure caught a sliver of moonlight along his body. He said, "Cindy… I've got a hell of a lot to talk to you about."
Cindy smiled, tucking hair behind her ears as her stomach filled with butterflies. "Don't have to, Doctor. I eavesdropped."
The Doctor couldn't help but smile, the pride in his eyes clearly visible to Cindy even in the hour of night. "Oh, you bad, bad girl! I love it!" He ran over to her and gave her a tight squeeze, making her giggle.
"Shh, we have to keep quiet," she whispered. "We don't want to wake them up. I don't know how good of hearing they have."
"I only stopped by because I wanted to talk to you about the information they told me today. I'm sure it's quite a shock right now."
Cindy smirked. "I'm getting used to it." She found that the Doctor wasn't letting her leave his arms. Even though he wasn't showing it, she felt how tense he seemed, as though he were afraid she would die if he didn't touch her.
"The only way, and possibly the greatest method to getting you out of here, is an important object that you should have," the Doctor explained. "The TARDIS, when using the chameleon arch, stores your identity in an object of your choice, and if I'm correct on this then I can only assume that the TARDIS and our new friends have a similar if not exactly the same item used to store your memories. I have no idea what it is, but it is something of importance to you and Rose."
"What do you mean?"
"The reason you became Cinderella is partly due to the aliens, but also due to the power of my ship's technology."
"Doctor—"
"It's possible that the TARDIS sensed what she believed to be a virus attaching itself to the chameleon arch, since she usually does a scan during emergency situations for possible threats from within. As she was programing Rose's thoughts automatically due to the arch's accidental activation, it's likely that she took information from the aliens as they entered the device and used it to her own advantage."
"Doctor—"
"I want you, at some point during the night, find that possession. Pick random things if you have to. It could be anything. We might have to get things from the TARDIS in order to activate it since she—"
"DOCTOR!"
This time, the Doctor remained quiet and looked right at Cindy, his brown eyes focusing on her face. What he saw was her empathetic expression, looking at him with somber eyes.
"You're… really gripping me tight, you know," she said, looking down at his arms that have refused to leave her body. "What's going on, Doctor? Tell me what's wrong."
Embarrassed, the Doctor let her go, which made Cindy wrap her arms around her body to protect herself from the harsh winds.
"Honestly? I'm nervous, Cindy. I don't admit it very often, but I am. I have no idea what species these beings are, and if I do then they are no longer recognizable. Nor did I even ask since I knew they wouldn't tell me. I'm scared that I won't be able to defeat them. I don't know their strengths, or their faults. All I know is that they have your memories and that they're willing to hurt you. Granted, they're only doing what nature intended, but I'm not going to give up. I don't want to lose you…"
To the Doctor's surprise, Cindy stood up on her toes and pecked him on the lips, making him tense up. He felt a warm rush of hormones go through him as his hearts hammered at the touch.
"Thank you for going so far for me, Doctor," she smiled. "For the both of us."
Like the fool he tended to be around this impossible human girl, he grinned manically while ducking his head, hating the way he reacted to such a simple gesture of affection.
"I don't want to kick you out, but… I don't want them catching you sneaking around again."
"Fair enough," he said, tenderness in his eyes. "I'll see you soon."
With a final hug goodbye, the Doctor left but promised to keep returning. The story was continuing onward, and he needed to be there every step of the way. The aliens in question were going to continue the story line the best they could so they could ruin it, and ruin Rose's life. Not on the Doctor's dead body.
The Doctor found that he was lost in his own thoughts on his way back to the TARDIS. It was a slow stroll back, hating himself for having to leave her behind again. It felt like he was regenerating every time.
Rose… why do you do this to me? You're making this so much harder for me than it already is.