So, when episode 12 upset me like it did, early last summer--I decided that I had become a wee too obsessive about a television programme--albeit, one of the best programmes on the planet (I admit it, I'm biased)...still, I'd written the first three chapters of a story called, "Dark Holiday" a 10/Donna story, and just left the poor characters out there on the cold, windswept moor with a dead body.
So, I'm (mostly) over it now, and have begun writing again...finished chapter 4 just now. I've gotten really rusty though...started writing a bit past 1am...and didn't finish until 3am--two hours to write just 7 1/2 paragraphs! Oh, now I know I'm getting worse.
To read the whole story, (NOT that I'm asking you to, honest. I just write this crap for my own pleasure, and when someone comes along who likes it, that's just icing on a very delicious cake, for me. http://davidtennantsdoctor.wordpress.com/doctor-who-dark-holiday/
DARK HOLIDAY
CHAPTER FOUR
Pushing open the wooden gate which lead to a small stone cottage, the Doctor paused and looked around. Donna noted that the place seemed deserted, with only a few scattered sheep, grazing upon the hillside behind the back garden. “What do ‘ya think?” she asked, “Shall we invite ourselves to tea?” The Doctor turned and raised an eyebrow, then grinned at her, “Not a bad idea, Donna. Oooh, I hope she’ll serve some cake and sandwiches. I’m feeling a bit peckish.” He gazed at the house, then at the sheep on the hill, gesturing to them. “You think if I asked them nicely, they might know if anything baaa-d may have happened, ’round these parts?”
Donna glanced at the animals and smirked, “Unless your real name is Doctor Dolittle, I’d say that’s probably a baaa-d idea.” The Doctor winced at her good-naturedly, then faced the little flock and called out, “BAAAHHH”–which came out sounding not so much as a bleat, as more of a deep belch. The sheep on the hillside ceased their grazing, and then bolted away to another part of the pasture. Donna unsuccessfully tried to hide her laugh. Nudging him, she said, “Come on, you big…sheep scarer. Let’s try the bell, shall we?” Giving the fleeing animals a disgruntled look, the Doctor shrugged and trudged up the path to the front door.
Donna was about to ring the bell pull, when the door abruptly swung open in their faces. A young woman stood there, looking expectantly at them. She seemed to be in her early twenties and was rather plain looking, with short straight brown hair. Her slightly bovine face and drab grey dress might have made her seem somewhat frumpish, yet the young woman was wearing a pleasant smile, as if she was delighted to have company. ”There you are! Have a nice walk from the village, did you?” She asked.
The Doctor and Donna exchanged looks, raising their eyebrows. He shurgged as if to say, he didn’t have a clue, either. Smiling, the Doctor belted out, “Hello! I’m the Doctor and this is Donna. And you must be Mrs. Williams. Very nice to meet you.” He rattled off, ”I must say, Mrs., that yes, it is a cracking day for a ramble, but Donna and were a bit parched, so we’d thought we’d pop ’round for a spot of tea and a nice chat. I love a chat and a cuppa’, don’t you, Donna? I could do with some cake and sandwiches, though. Especially cucumber and egg, I like cucumber and egg sandwiches, just the thing for a late afternoon nosh. Mind if we come in?” The Doctor asked, and as he did so, he stepped around the young woman and into the cottage. Donna was getting used to the Doctor’s rather unusual perception of basic human manners. Fixing a warm smile on her face, she followed the Doctor’s lead. “Oh, this is a chaming cottage, I’ll bet you’ve done wonders with it, decorating and all that.” She cooed smoothy, as she stepped over the threshold.
Strangely, the young woman didn’t seem to be at all put out or surprised by the Doctor’s behaviour. In fact, she almost seemed thrilled with it. The Doctor was already busy, snooping at the knick-knacks cluttering nearby table, and hadn’t noticed Mrs. Williams hurriedly shutting the door–and locking it. But, Donna did. She noted that the young woman had descretely placed the key behind a vase on another stand, before turning to the Doctor. “Well, let’s see you two get all comfy, before I go and put the kettle on, shall we?” She said, ushering them into a small lounge, and seating them on the settee. The room was decorated with so many dark heavy funishings and knick-knacks, that they made the lounge look even smaller than it seemed.
As she had walked into the room, Donna felt like the walls were closing in on her. Looking at the retreating back of Mrs. Williams, as she bustled towards the kitchen, Donna suddenly grew cold inside. Giving an involuntary shudder, she heard the young woman say, ”I’ll have to tell the mister we have company. Won’t he be delighted! We’ve not had many visitors lately, and I’m sure he’d enjoy your company as much as I.” As the woman left, Donna started when she felt the Doctor’s cool hand on hers. “Are you alright?” He asked softly, concerned. She managed a smile, “It’s nothing really, I’m fine.” Yet, the Doctor persisted. “What is it?” When Donna hesitated, he smiled and said, “It’s alright, Donna. Whatever it is, I’ll believe you. I promise.”
Donna smiled back, uncertainly. “It’s–it’s nothing I can put my finger on. Only…” The Doctor leaned forward, and whispered, “Only what? Something about this place makes you uneasy? Something you can’t explain?” Looking startled, Donna fleetingly wondered if the Doctor had somehow read her mind. She nodded. “Yeah. I wish I knew why, but I don’t. Sorry. Maybe it’s the fact that she seemed to be expecting us, that was just a little creepy.” “Or,” added the Doctor, “maybe it’s the fact that she’s locked us in?” Donna looked at him. “You saw that? What, do you have eyes in the back of your head–wait, don’t tell me if you do, I don’t want to know.”
The Doctor grinned, “Well, better there, than the back of my–” “Buns and tea!” Mrs. Williams chortled, whisking back ino the room with the tea tray. Placing the tray down on a nearby table, the woman poured the tea and passed out the buns. Pulling up a chair, she sat. “Oooh, isn’t this lovely?” She said, as she took a sip of tea. Donna tried the tea, it was amazingly good, and she said so. “My own special blend, I’m so glad you like it.” The young woman said. The Doctor gave the slightest pause, before sipping his tea. “Mr. Williams is out feeding the hens, but he’ll be in directly to join me–us. I know he’ll probably be famished.”
Donna was about to ask the young woman a question, when suddenly her head began to feel woozy. She thought it might be the closness of the room, until her eyes began to blur. Concentrating–for her mind seemed to be wandering, Donna looked over at the Doctor. He was staring at his cup, when it fell to the floor, breaking on the flagstones. The sound of the shattering china seemed far away to her. She wanted to ask him what was wrong, but then her own cup seemed to slip from her hands. Vaugely, Donna heard a someone else enter the room. “Is this them, then?” A strange man’s voice asked–a young man, by the sound of it. “Yes, but I don’t think we’ll have to worry about them asking too many questions about us, any longer, do you, dear?” Mrs. Williams said. “No, Missus, I don’t. They certainly look healthy don’t they?” He asked. Donna could no longer see, slipping into a deep coma-like slumber, the last words she heard were the young woman asking, “Did you bring the straws?”
