The Doctor

by Jennifer Bull

  Spinning around, I rushed back to the door, only to see the handle slowly disappearing. I tried to grab it, but my hands fell through thin air. I kicked at the door, no longer caring if he knew we were here. He already did. Unfortunately the door wouldn’t budge, and I just ended up with a very painful stubbed toe.

  There was no way out; we were trapped.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Daniel

  ‘Maybe I’m just insane. That would explain a lot.’

  ‘He knew we were coming,’ Jack hissed, looking furious with himself.

  I had to admit, it did look like we’d just walked straight into a trap. The werewolf was standing next to me, tapping his clawed feet on the stone floor. I told him to stop it, but he just glared at me and continued. Controlling him was something I was still learning, and it amazed me each time he did what I asked him to. I guess it was too much to expect him to do what I said every time I asked.

  ‘What now?’ Sarah asked in a low voice, holding tightly to Jack’s hand. Good question.

  ‘We stick to the plan,’ Jack whispered, ‘The Doctor must have known we were coming for him, but it wouldn’t have been hard to work out we weren’t just going to sit around and do nothing. I don’t think he knows anything of the plan, so we go ahead with it. Ready Dan?’

  ‘Ready,’ I replied, looking at the werewolf next to me. He was still fidgeting from one foot to the other. I hoped we were ready.

  I sent the werewolf off for the first part of the plan. We needed to know exactly where the Doctor was so Jack could focus on him. The werewolf needed to find his hiding place and cause enough of a distraction so that part two of the plan could start before the Doctor realised what was happening. It shouldn’t be too hard—the wolf was good at distractions.

  Once the werewolf had tracked him down I pinpointed his location to Jack, who tried to break through telepathically into his mind. If we were right, and this whole place was a projection created by the Doctor, the only way to get out of here would be to turn the Doctor in on himself; lock him in his own mind. That wasn’t going to be easy. We needed to keep him from figuring out what we were doing for as long as possible, but I had my doubts about how well that was going to work.

  Suddenly my connection to the wolf changed drastically. Not again. I could feel the control ebbing away from me. My mind grew foggy and I was struggling to focus on where the wolf was. I thought I had him under control, but maybe I never did. This must be the Doctor playing games with me again.

  ‘Dan? Are you okay?’

  Jack’s voice was muted, as if he were talking to me through a door. I wasn’t okay, but I couldn’t seem to reply.

  Then everything went crazy. The werewolf came hurtling around the corner, smashing into one of the cabinets and sending it flying across the room. He paused right in front of me, his chest heaving from the weight of his breathing. His nostrils flared and he looked right into my eyes. If I hadn’t been frozen with fear I would have run right through the door, handle or no handle. The werewolf could do scary very well.

  ‘Shit.’ I heard Jack mutter under his breath. Great. If Jack thought this was bad, then it was a lot worse.

  That was when it happened. The werewolf made his move, claws outstretched, and he attacked me. Within seconds my clothes were ripped and he wasn’t stopping. I tried to shield myself with my arms, but he just attacked those too. Stop, please stop. He didn’t.

  Sinking to the floor, I heard a squeal from Sarah, and Jack came closer until I could hear him through the wolf’s grunts and my yells. The wolf just ignored Jack and kept his attention—and his claws—on me.

  ‘Dan, you know this isn’t really happening. Focus on Beth, you need to take back control. The Doctor does not tell the wolf what to do—you do.’

  That would be much easier to believe if it wasn’t attacking me right now. There was blood all over my arms, my legs, even on the floor around me.

  ‘Think about Beth,’ Jack said desperately, his hand holding tightly to my shoulder, ‘If you let the Doctor win then it’s not just you who suffers. Beth won’t wake up from her nightmares.’

  The image of Beth entered my mind. It was a few months ago and we were sitting out in the local park watching the others playing Frisbee on the grass. I had told them that I couldn’t play due to my very sore ankle I had gained when doing something exceptionally manly earlier that day—I’d decided that tripping up over the cat didn’t class as manly, so I avoided the truth and made something up. Mostly I had just wanted to hang out with Beth, who was lying on the picnic blanket and enjoying the sunshine.

  I remember laying down next to her, propping my head up so I could watch the guys falling over themselves whilst trying catch the Frisbee that had clearly been thrown anywhere other than towards the catcher. That day Beth and I spent the whole time chatting and playing games. I even think the others were actually keeping out the way to give me a chance to spend time with her, which didn’t happen very often.

  I wanted to have that again. I wanted to see her, to touch her, to spend the rest of my life with her. I just needed to get out of here, and then… well, getting her to talk to me would be a start. I would not let the wolf ruin my life. Or Beth’s.

  Snapping back to my current reality, I saw Jack move away and turn his attention to something else. His body language suggested it wasn’t something I was going to like. As the wolf moved slightly, I could see past him to what Jack was looking at. The Doctor. He was a big guy, with dark bushy hair that looked like it hadn’t been cut, or washed properly, in years. He was standing there, only a few feet away, laughing hard. I had a sudden overwhelming urge to jump up and wipe that damn smile off his face, but I had a significant other problem to deal with first.

  ‘Your friend is weak,’ he said to Jack, a smirk on his face, ‘he will die before he learns to use the werewolf properly. I gave him a gift, but he is not worthy of it.’

  ‘A gift?’ Jack cried, his fists clenched, ‘You think all the things you have done were to help people? You’re deluded. You’re a serial killer, nothing more.’

  The Doctor just smiled at him and didn’t say anything. He was wrong. I could control this. I had to, for Beth’s sake. Knowing I’d done it before meant I knew I would be able to do it again. With every ounce of strength left in me I turned my attention to the wolf, who stopped in his tracks. He would not hurt me anymore.

  By the time I had regained some level of control, Jack was looking very tired, but it seemed like the plan was well underway. Despite the unexpected attack, the wolf had done what we needed and kept the attention of the Doctor long enough for Jack to enter his mind. That in turn had distracted him from our real intentions.

  ‘Maybe he is not quite as weak as I thought,’ the Doctor said with a grin, ‘Interesting. When I’ve finished having fun with you all, I think I’ll keep the werewolf here to study him a bit more. I don’t usually get to see my subjects in the flesh.’

  I was too weak to retaliate, or even get up. There was nothing more I could do now except keep the wolf out the way and let Jack take on the Doctor.

  The wolf was looking at me sheepishly now, sitting on the floor next to me. He kept edging closer, and each time I shuffled away. If he thought that sad look was going to make me forgive him, he had another think coming. Luckily I hadn’t been too badly hurt, despite the blood that was everywhere. I had cleaned myself up as best I could, but I could definitely do with a wash, and some new clothes.

  I saw Jack wink at Sarah when the Doctor was distracted. It was time to implement the plan; it had to work, otherwise things weren’t looking too good for us. The Doctor had been expecting Jack to try to use telepathy against him, and he’d been ready for it, but what he didn’t know was that Sarah was telepathic. Even he couldn’t anticipate that. If Sarah could just get a head start before he realised it was her in his head, there was a chance. It was small, but it was all we had.

  Sarah was looking very nervous as she moved out of the Doctor’
s sight and screwed up her face in concentration. I had to avert my attention away as the wolf was staring at her, his tongue hanging out. I was not about to give the game away now.

  Wishing I could send the wolf in to help, I had to sit by helplessly and watch as Jack struggled against the Doctor’s hold, and Sarah desperately tried to break inside him. If I sent the wolf in, the Doctor would just mess around in my head until I lost control. Again. Then the werewolf would be back to his old stalking, haunting tricks. Or his new attacking me trick. Not what we wanted right now. I shifted painfully until I was slightly more comfortable. The wolf came a little closer and stared at me, his ears flat against his head. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he was actually feeling guilty.

  Suddenly the Doctor’s stance shifted and he took his eyes off Jack. He was glaring at me as if accusing me of something. I hadn’t done anything, and the wolf was right next to me so it wasn’t him either. Swallowing hard, I held his stare for what seemed like hours, before he turned away. My heart was thumping away against my chest as I glanced over to Jack. He was looking at me, and we didn’t need to speak to know what the other was thinking.

  Simultaneously, we followed the Doctor’s gaze to Sarah. She was shaking from head to toe under his stare.

  ‘So,’ the Doctor snarled, ‘You’ve been hiding things from me. How did you manage to avoid detection all these years? How could there be a telepath in my building without me knowing?’

  He was shouting now, and Sarah was cowering away from him. Jack rushed over and put himself between the Doctor and Sarah. I wasn’t quite sure if he was brave or just plain stupid. Probably both.

  ‘Get out of the way,’ the Doctor yelled, hesitating only a second before ripping off one of the glass cabinet doors with nothing more than his thoughts and flinging it hard at Jack. The glass crashed over him, showering the rest of us in little splinters. Jack crumpled to the floor.

  I moved to try and get up, but my leg stayed where it was. The wolf had his great paw on me and was holding me down. Move, I yelled, trying to push him off. He ignored me. So much for being the one in control.

  Jack groaned and turned his head, but didn’t get up. At least he was alive. I could see blood dripping down his face from a deep cut, but otherwise he looked okay. Sarah, however, looked like she was about to die of fright. I tried to motion to her that it would be okay, but every part of her was focussed on the Doctor, who was slowly advancing towards her, ignoring Jack’s weak attempts to stop him.

  ‘You thought,’ the Doctor said to Sarah, practically spitting all over her, ‘that you could use your powers against me? You’re pathetic. Your powers are practically none existent; I felt you enter my mind immediately.’

  ’N—No, you didn’t,’ Sarah said, her voice barely louder than a squeak.

  ‘What did you say?’ The Doctor asked in a very dangerous voice.

  ‘No,’ Sarah said, a little more confidently this time. Jack was lying still on the floor, trying to stop the bleeding from his head. ‘No, you didn’t. I’ve been in your head many times and you had no idea. I saw the boys arrive at the old house, because you saw the boys arrive at the old house. I saw you with them in my old cell when you were pretending to be me. You had no idea.’

  I couldn’t take my eyes off the two of them. Sarah was standing straight now, looking the Doctor directly in the eyes. I couldn’t help but feel proud of the way she stood up to him. I’m not sure I would have had the strength to do that. The Doctor was looking lethal now. This could be really bad. Jack had finally managed to stop the bleeding, but he still looked in a right mess. I caught his eye. I hope you know what you’re doing Jack.

  ‘So this was your plan. To try and sneak into my head while I was distracted with that boy?’

  Sarah just shrugged at him, with a disinterested look on her face. Way to piss off the very angry serial killer, Sarah.

  The Doctor’s eyes narrowed so far that it was surprising he could even see anything anymore. ‘You will pay for this.’

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Sarah

  ‘Everything’s as clear as mist now.’

  Was I really that stupid? Apparently so. Trying to wind up an already very angry man who had a tendency for torturing and killing people was beyond idiotic. And yet, here I was.

  Jack had done a good job at distracting my father so I could start to enter his mind. He hadn’t even noticed, he was that self-involved, thinking he was just playing with us. He didn’t believe I was capable of anything other than being his plaything, something to torment and that was all. I was going to prove him wrong.

  Calming my shaking nerves, I cleared my mind and set to work. I needed to latch on inside his head and then follow Jack’s instructions. He’d said that locking my father in his own mind shouldn’t be hard once I started, we just needed the element of surprise.

  My father had turned his attention on me now, and I just had to hope I had enough of a head start. He was still grinning at me and I would have loved to wipe that look off his face. There was still time. Focus Sarah.

  I could feel him starting to fight back now. My ability to access his head was lessening and I felt him enter mine. Gasping, I held my hand hard against my forehead as the first headache started. Jack had warned me about this, but I wasn’t expecting it so soon.

  My father was strong, that much was certain. He was gaining momentum now, starting to box me in on myself. I needed to do this now.

  Focussing hard, just like Jack had told me, I opened the connection I had with my father. The one he knew nothing about. All I had to do was keep it wide open and direct everything through it. I felt my father reaching into my mind, locking me inside myself, and I opened the connection a little wider. It was working!

  I could see something other than the room now, flashes of images. It was similar to the previous times I had entered my father’s mind and seen the boys, except this time the images were static. I was just getting tiny snippets, and I think they were memories. Perhaps even some of his thoughts. He wasn’t going to be happy if he realised I was seeing this far into his mind. Then again, if all went to plan I would be safe by the time he figured it out.

  The images disappeared and I was staring at my father again. He was still grinning, more than ever now that he could see the pain he was causing me. There was a delighted smile on his determined face. Both hands were clamped to my head now as the headaches went from strength to strength. Keep going.

  He had no idea what I was doing to him. I was putting on a good show, pretending to fight him and stop him from locking me inside my mind. He was laughing now, but it wouldn’t last, not when he succeeded in what he was doing. The problem for him was that he didn’t realise I was directing everything through my connection. Only a few minutes more and we would win.

  The images came back, a little stronger this time. There was something familiar about them, but I couldn’t quite place it. Every time I felt like the answer was on the tip of my tongue, the image vanished and another one took its place. It was a jumble in his mind, it was no wonder he was crazy. I’d be crazy if my mind was this messed up.

  His face came back into view, and I was pleased to see he was sweating. He might not be suffering from the same headaches as I was, but at least it was taking a lot of effort on his part, trying to mess with my head. I was going to wipe that smarmy look off his face if it was the last thing I did. I knew it was working and that just made me more determined than ever.

  My father was losing his strength, but it was too late for him to stop now, the damage was already done. I don’t think he had figured it out yet. A wave of tiredness came over me and I thumped my hands against my head. I could not stop now. The connection was still open wide and we were almost there.

  ‘You’re doing great Sarah, fight him.’ Jack’s voice floated through the air and I latched on to it, wanting to think of something other than the pounding in my head. Feeling the sweat running down my face I wiped it away with my sle
eve.

  The images returned, but they stayed longer this time. I watched carefully, trying to work out what I was missing. It took a while, but finally I understood and the images disappeared for the last time.

  I had renewed energy now, I was almost there. He wasn’t even pushing anymore, the mind had taken over and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

  Watching him with interest, I looked up into his eyes as he finally realised what we’d done. I didn’t need to hold the connection open anymore, I knew it wouldn’t close now. He’d finished locking the mind in on itself. Only, he realised that he was not locking me away like he’d thought—he was locking himself away through our connection. Which he was now very aware of. Those small, dark eyes glared at me and goosebumps erupted over every bit of my skin.

  ‘You bitch,’ he snarled at me in the last few seconds he had, before disappearing so far into his own head that even he couldn’t get out.

  Everything was clear to me now, I knew who I was, why I was here. I looked over at Jack and smiled, the first genuine smile I’d given in a very long time. I needed to explain to him what had just happened. He needed to know.

  Before I could open my mouth and speak, all of a sudden the room started swaying, and I collapsed to the cold floor. Jack’s face was the last thing I saw as everything faded to darkness.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Jack

  ‘Tez’s Rule #13 - At some point everyone makes a mistake. But if you’re going to make a mistake, just wait until I’m gone first.’

  ‘No!’ I cried as I rushed over to Sarah. I’d known it had worked the moment she’d taunted him into attacking her, but this wasn’t part of the plan. Daniel joined me at Sarah’s side as she lay motionless on the floor. The Doctor was a few feet away, splayed out on the floor where he had landed, but I was not bothered about him right now; he couldn’t hurt us anymore.