It seemed like slow motion.
Like something out of a film.
Jack watched, terrified as the creature they had been so desperate to capture was diving on his beloved friend. The Captain reached for his loaded gun in the secure glove compartment and jumped out the car.
Rose's eyes could only focus on the sharp claws that were edging closer to her. She fell back to the ground, as the creature's feet landed, one on either side of her legs. It bent down, examining the possible breakfast in front of it when it heard the footsteps of her colleague. Jack raised the gun but the creature was one step ahead and teleported, leaving nothing but a shaken Rose on the ground surrounded by green smoke.
Jack examined the street, expecting the alien to appear at any moment. Eyes focused on the task, he called to his colleague. "Are you alright?"
"Brilliant." she muttered, getting to her feet. "So, that's the bad guy. Friendly, then."
Jack rolled his eyes. Even in the middle of danger, Rose could still find something to be sarcastic about.
"Rose, you need to be armed." he said, but it sounded more like an order.
Normally, the blonde would argue back, but she had seen what this traveller from another world could do to human flesh and decided not to take any chances. She ran to the car, keeping her eyes on the sky, in case it decided to drop in again, typed a password on the keypad on the vault in the back of the car. One click later and a semi – automatic hand gun was in front of her. Rose slammed the car door shut and then locked it, her gaze returning to Jack who was examining the claw marks on the ground.
"Where did it go?" she asked, holding the weapon in both hands.
"Back to where it was hiding?" he suggested, standing up.
"Jack, we have to be careful." Rose told him. "We can't start firing guns in the middle of a sea-side town."
Jack spun around to her, his expression was a mix of confusion and anger. "How else do you propose we defend ourselves?"
Rose shrugged. "Maybe we could reason with it?" She then realised how stupid her suggestion sounded and shook her head. "Okay, wishful thinking on my part."
Before Jack could give her a counter argument, they heard a low growl coming down the road, a few feet from where they were. Jack nodded to Rose, signalling her to follow him.
Turning to face the noise, they marched down the back alley behind the houses, guns aimed, ready for what came next. Jack had more experience with guns than Rose but she did receive full training when she joined Torchwood. However she still had never fired a gun while out in the real world.
John hated guns.
He always use to hate it when Jack used his when they were travelling together. Rose understood why he did, he was protecting them. Sometimes you couldn't talk your way out of every situation, although John did always try, but didn't always succeed.
Wandering in front, Jack took the lead and in the distance heard children laughing. He peeped his head around the corner and saw a group of small boys playing football in the road. Rose lowered her weapon and backed away.
"Jack, we need to get back to the car-" Rose started before a searing pain cut through her shoulder. She collapsed to the floor, behind her was the alien they had been hunting. It licked the blood off its claws, loving the taste of fresh meat.
Jack aimed his gun at the alien, ready to shoot. The alien tilted its head, observing the brave defender, it's hallow eyes making him feel uneasy. Rose clutched her shoulder and backed away from the enemy, as blood soaked through her jacket.
"What do you want?" Jack asked. The alien didn't respond, but snickered at the Captain. "Tell me." he said, his voice louder.
"Jack, remember the kids." Rose whispered.
The alien pointed at the gun, then at the ground, telling him to lower it. Jack warily compiled. "Do you understand me?"
The alien simply nodded.
"Do you speak?" Rose asked, her voice stern as her hand clamped over the wound to try to slow down the blood flow.
The alien noted the girl's bravery. Not many humans could understand what she was seeing and cope so well with it. The alien assumed that was not a newcomer to such situations, which would make the situation all the more interesting. The human race were such a primitive species, just walking out into the sunlight. But even the young must learn who has the power in the food chain.
A deep, commanding voice came from the alien which shook the Torchwood dynamic duo to their cores. "Stay out of my way. Otherwise next time you won't be so lucky." It glared at them, then it's attention was drawn to the sound of laughter. Children running and playing as they should. It's hollow eyes warmed, no longer did they seem like the endless darkness but a dark shade of grey. The alien took one last look at the pathetic threat that stood before it and teleported away, smoke wafting through the alley.
Rose left out a sigh of relief, but then bit her lip to muffle a shriek as Jack tried to pull her hand away from her injury.
"You need to let me take a look. Let's go back to the car."
His glasses were resting on the end of his nose as he studied the computer screen. Alec's good mood had given him a better insight, and even though Ellie was avoiding the sun shining behind him, he felt as if they would discover the truth about the case soon.
But if he wanted to solve it, he needed help. Still convinced that Torchwood knew more than they were letting on, he decided that he should give Rose a call. He picked up the phone and dialled the number that Ellie found for the rental cottage.
He waited as phone rang, but no one picked it up. She must be out. She could be on her way here already.
The office door opened and a pale Ellie walked. He didn't have a chance to ask what was wrong when she thrust a folder into his hands.
"This just came in." she said, weakly.
Alec opened the folder to discover a set of photos of a stripped corpse. The body was petite compared to the last one, smaller bones, shorter limbs. A new victim. He shuddered.
"Have we identified the body?"
"Yes. It's Helen Jones." she said, her voice cracking. "Her body was discovered in her house by her own mother. According to the hospital she worked at she never turned up for work yesterday." Ellie took a deep breath, still recoiling from the gruesome images. "They rushed the results."
With his happy mood successfully destroyed, Alec stood up and grabbed his coat. His expression was blank, as he opened the door. "Let's go see the crime scene."
"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow." Rose mumbled, her grip on the chair handle getting tighter.
"Sorry. But this has to be done."
She hissed in pain. Some days, she really did miss the shops. "You think with all the technology Torchwood has collected over the years, they would know how to fix wounds without the use of stitches." The last word she yelped as Jack poked the needle through the skin again.
"Rose, keep still." Jack said, hating that she was in so much pain.
Rose and Jack arrived back at the cottage as quick as they could. He sat her down in the living room asking Rose to take off her jacket and top. He'd never thought he would say those words, and if he did, it would be a joke.
But this was no joke.
His jaw dropped when he saw how deep the cuts went. Rose needed medical attention, but had to make do with what training he had in the army. He couldn't take her to the hospital and alert the police. Too many questions and not even they had all the answers.
Jack fixed her up as best as he could and then rubbed her shoulder, trying to ease her pain. "Should have made you stay in the car." he muttered, more annoyed at himself.
"I'll be okay." She turned to look at him and gave him a small smile.
Jack sighed. "You're so stubborn, you would never listen to me anyway."
"Where would be the fun in that?" she retorted.
Both of them chuckled, nearly forgetting their fight a few hours ago. Rose hugged her friend and went back to her room, fetching a clean top. In the distance she heard a quiet beeping noise, and marched back into the room. Jack was leaning down, looking at the laptop.
"Trouble?" she asked.
Jack looked up, his face grim. "The police got a call from Helen Jones' house this morning. A woman – I'm assuming her mother – called in saying she had found a dead body."
Rose's breath hitched. "Is it her? Is it Helen?"
Jack didn't answer, instead he closed the screen down a little too hard. He stared at the blood on his hands, Rose's blood from where he had helped her. Jack cringed, not wanting to think about another girl he couldn't save.
Rose broke the silence and said. "We need to get to that house."
Ellie and Alec pulled up to Helen 's house, weaving between other coppers that were standing outside. Neighbours were standing the distance, making comments as their eyes carefully watched the officers. Police tape surrounded the house, forever marking its walls.
Alec opened the car door and wrinkled his nose. "I hate spectators." he whispered. Ellie followed him inside the house, ignoring the wandering eyes of nosy neighbours. They didn't see the black car pull up with the dynamic duo inside, more aware of the true danger that was lurking in the shadows.
"I saw her yesterday." she admitted. "She was heartbroken over Billy."
"Rose?" Jack said, worried about was running through her mind.
The blonde turned to him, her eyes colder than he'd ever seen them. "When we find this thing. I won't show any mercy."