After two weeks and several minor incidents she finally got out of the hospital. Everyone was in better moods after Melody left, especially the staff. When she could do nothing but lie in her bed, she promised to herself that when she got released she would walk for hours and go as far away as possible. There, she stood motionless in front of the bloody building she spent too much time in for her liking. The world she was looking at was vast and foreign. She didn't belong there. It was the wrong time, the wrong place.
Melody didn't know what to do next. She wanted to be free but didn't know how to begin. And the letter the Doctor had left on her bedside table didn't help her in sorting thoughts. She didn't understand his intentions. The Doctor was a great mystery, even legend for her , although she would never admit the latter. She had heard so many tales about his horrible deeds that there were times when she thought he was just a myth. The Doctor, the creature with cruel faces, slaughterer of innocent, man of many names except for the real one. This man was a dark silhouette, living in shadows.
Within her living memory, there was ghoulish mutter from behind her. Never in her life would she get rid of those terrible voices spitting fiendish stories in her ear. Sometimes she still sensed the strange smell of the tricksters, a sickening mixture of fester and roses. There was some odd touch-tinge of iron. The very essence of the smell always made her breath fasten. She was sure human blood smelled just so.
Melody hardly remembered her childhood, as she took great effort to forget it. The memories of her goodnight stories were too sharp, too bright, too often recalled. They followed her wherever she went. Their breath on the back of her neck was something that had almost driven her to insanity. She had thought that if she killed the Doctor, as she was ordered, the whispering voices would leave her. If he was gone, there would be no more stories to tell. She had evolved since then, but still somewhere deep inside she secretly believed that the death of the Doctor would solve everything. He was a curse that followed her everywhere, a curse that she needed to be free from.
Melody had planned to leave her past behind her many times before. She got the chance to do so from him, The Doctor, quite paradoxically. It was her new beginning. She wasn't and didn't want to be Melody or Mels anymore. And however outlandish the name was she knew she would go by it. River Song finally moved forward.
She had been walking for a few hours. The city was disappointing and unlikable. At first, she wasn't certain whether she would return to the Earth, but many footsteps later; it seemed like a good idea. She sat on the nearest bench. Earth was where she began. The only thing left to do was to think of some way to get three thousand years back and many light years away.
Her skirt didn't feel comfortable. It was too short and she was trying not to get unwanted attention. She opened black leather bag Amy gave her, took out a blue book and opened it. As she had found out the first day in the hospital, it was blank. River turned its pages until she got to place where a letter was folded. She had read it many times before but reread it once more, nevertheless.
Dear Melody,
I know you're confused. I give you something you never really had. I give you the freedom of decision. Do whatever you want to do. I promise I won't interfere.
The Doctor
PS: Amy and Rory say they love you.
PSPS: There's a credit card in the small pocket in your bag.
PSPSPS: Remember rule one.
She stood up. Even though it was sunny calm day, warm wind began to blow. The air smelled like rain and electricity. River knew he was coming.
Out of blue, the TARDIS appeared. A loud thud could be heard as the ship settled. She didn't know what to do. The box and her were both motionless for a minute. Then the door opened, but no one came out. The TARDIS hummed and it sounded somewhat impatiently. River walked inside. Her interior looked differently. The console room was dimly lit. It was darker, colder, and utterly empty. She walked to the console and looked over to corridors, but nobody was there either.
The box suddenly started jerking as it took flight once again. River had to catch railing so that she wouldn't fall. It didn't last long. When it finally stopped, she released her grip. Her legs were still shaky. If the Doctor was home, he would have come to meet her. There was no point in seeking him. River had no idea where the TARDIS landed and decided to check it. She walked out of the blue door.
"No, no, no, that bloody thing has done it again! "
"What's happened? Oh..."
The Doctor angrily paced through desert. Clara was trying to walk as quickly as him. It was very hot, "What will we do now?"
"I don't know!"
"I'm thirsty."
"Well, you obviously have to wait."
Clara looked around as The Doctor kept walking, "Where are we going anyway?"
"We've got to find some shade. You humans don't last long out in the sun."
"Oi, watch it! Anyway, I can't see any."
"That's why we're looking for it."
It was late night where she landed. The street she walked weren't very different from New New York's avenues. River looked around, searching for some sign that would indicate the place's name. Then she saw it. It was big and blue and green and in the wrong place. The thing in the skies was the Earth. Her jaw almost dropped. She was on the Moon. The thought didn't have enough time to sink in properly, because the TARDIS started to dematerialise. River ran back to it and tried to open the door, but it just wouldn't move. And few seconds later there was nothing.
The TARDIS came back an hour later. They were both cooked by then and Clara had serious heatstroke. The Doctor pushed the door and shut them behind Clara more forcefully than needed. She walked to the med bay to get some pills and water. The Doctor was alone with his ship. He gave the console a strict look.
"I know that you and Clara don't get along with each other much. That's between you and her. What you did this time, however. It crossed the line. I won't let you harm her just because you're being ridiculous," His words were sharp. He had his best parental face on. "Why did you leave anyway? What were you thinking you lunatic old ship?" The TARDIS was stubbornly quiet. The Doctor would have gone on for ages, explaining to his oldest fellow how to treat companions if he hadn't noticed a white paper on the floor. He picked it up and began to read. His eyes widened as he immediately recognised the short letter. The Doctor smiled widely and his look was suddenly warmer when he looked at his ship again.
