A/N: Another early update! YAY! Good thing I didn't leave you hanging for long, eh? Don't you love/hate cliffhangers?
Anyway, since the 50th is rapidly approaching, thought I'd do more regular updates than once a week. I'm still only a few chapters ahead, but I think I'm finding my writing stride again. No more excuses, time to pick up the pen! (Er…laptop)
In other news, I've been assigned a massive project for studio I've been putting off for four days now, and I really should go to studio today to get started. So, I'd love to hear some alerts on my phone for new reviews while I'm doing my project! You guys are already awesome, but you'd be really, super awesome if you would leave some reviews
Also, I've started reading Diversion at the recommendation of my mother. Four chapters in and I'm hooked. Highly recommend it. It's a bit like Hunger Games, but I see no hint of a love triangle yet so *phew*
Anyway, off we go! Alons-y!
-REMEMBER ME-
PART II
CHAPTER NINE
Echoes
"May God have mercy on your soul!" shouted the town crier, in a dooming voice.
The executioner gripped the handle, the woman stood poised, ready to fire, and the Doctor stood tall and still with a noose around his neck.
With a loud clang, the executioner pulled the handle, and the trap door beneath the Doctor's feet swung open, and the Doctor fell through the hole, swinging by his neck. Where before he had been perfectly still, now he kicked his feet, closing his eyes and turning very red in the face. (The executioner didn't know it, but he'd already engaged his respitory bypass system.)
The woman watched, arrow pointed, waiting for a signal, a sign.
The Doctor's eyes flew open, and locked on the woman.
She winked, and then she fired.
With a whistling noise and a snap, the arrow tore right through the rope just above my head. With a great pain and burning sensation in my neck, I fell through the air until my feet hit the ground, and then my knees. Disgusted, I pulled the rope off my neck and gingerly touched the burned skin there.
As I took deep, normal breaths again, I heard the muffled roar of an angry crowd denied fresh blood. The sunlight filtered through the wooden boards beneath the platform, shielding me from the crowds.
My thoughts turned to the woman.
She'd saved me. She'd saved my life. Well, my respitory bypass system would have saved me, but not for forever. It would have taken longer, but there would have been no more Doctor. Without her intervention, I surely would have died. The woman had saved my life.
I hoped I'd get an opportunity to thank her, but I know all too well, having lived my life, how that might not be the case.
Why did she seem so familiar?
"Psst! Doctor!"
Clara!
I turn with the biggest toothy grin to face my lovely companion, who smiled brightly back at me, knowing I was safe.
She looked like she'd been through hell and back, but none the worse for the wear. She had dirt on her face, tiny hairs were escaping from her bun, and one of her knees was skinned, but I'd never seen a more pleasant sight.
She's surrounded by several natives, who all appeared to have accepted her as one of their own. Once again, she manages to astound me.
"Clara!" I whisper ecstatically. She grins, dirty cheeks flushing in excitement.
"Doctor!" she cries, rushing to me and throwing her arms around me, standing on tiptoe in order to reach high enough. I laugh, hugging her right back.
This girl. This impossible girl. If I'm not careful, I could really—
No, stop that thought right there.
"Clara, quickly!" reminded one of her friends.
"Yes!" she say, pulling back and slipping her tiny hand into mine, grinning. "Right! Come on, Doctor, we've got to get you out of here."
And left behind, in the crowd, was the woman who had saved the Doctor, always, she was meant for this. No longer invisible, the woman lowered her bow as the crowd, denied their vindication, looked for a culprit.
In the time it took for them to discover who it was who stole their vengeance, the woman lowered her eyes, accepting her fate. She offered up a silent prayer, losing herself in her hopes and shutting out the world she would soon no longer be a part of. The roar of the crowd, the anger, the people stepping on her feet, the eyes turning towards her…they all no longer existed, were no longer real.
The only real thing was the man she had saved, the man who this world called God…the Doctor. The Doctor, who she had saved. The Doctor, who was now far, far away. The Doctor, who she now prayed to and for. The Doctor, who she now remembered.
"Run you clever boy," she whispered under her breath. "And remember."
Sound came rushing back, until the crowd was screaming in her ears. She felt their angry roar, and knew it was all directed at her. And then she felt a sharp blow to the back of her head, and all went to darkness.
A/N: Yes, it was another version of Clara! A lot of you guessed correctly! I was surprised so many of you guessed River, who I hadn't even thought of! Hm…maybe I should have River make a special guest appearance! ;D Not yet, though. Have to get through this adventure first, and my treat for after this one, and we'll see where things go from there I've got a big space where not a lot is written between right now and the climax of the Fourth Doctor's arc, so maybe I'll write in an extra adventure with River Song in there
Anyway, please leave a review!
Speaking of reviews, I've noticed that the chapters where I was rude were statistically getting more reviews, and I'm completely surprised. So help me prove that the human race responds better to kindness than rudeness this chapter and leave lots of reviews because I asked nicely!
Wonderful readers, please kind sir/madam, would you leave a review for this author who works so diligently to bring you reading enjoyment? Thank you, thank you! (Insert top hat and moustache in a gentlemanly fashion.)