My Little Fanfiction Corner | Fanfiction Short Stories

Doctor Who: The Unlucky Anamoly

Written for the March Madness 2021 contest.

Winner of the March Madness 2021 contest on the Wattpad Anthology profile.

The late afternoon sun blared down one day in March upon the city of Newcastle. The spring air was wafting through the streets filled to the brim with people, shoppers, and early partygoers alike. Sadie Darlington was among the throng of people, her shoulder-length wine-red curls bobbing along as her heels bounced as she walked. Taking a sharp turn past the cinema complex, she made her way down the alley towards St. James' Park.

The city was filled with old and new architecture, the alleyway being no exception. The cobblestones under Sadie's Converse were uneven, twisting her footing this way and that as she ploughed down the street. All the little buildings she went past had bow windows, each one having a varying purpose from the next. Some were shops, others little homes. But the one that Sadie was looking for was situated in the middle, before the alleyway curved towards the open of another part of the city.

Books were piled high in the window, torn, and battered. The black paint on the sign was weathered, some of the golden letters missing as the others had paint chipped. Inside, it looked dark and dreary. Abandoned, Professor Cornelius Garras had muttered before he asked her to find the worn shop.

Sighing, Sadie shoved open the stiff, unbudging door, hammering her shoulder into it again and again and again. A bell tinkled above as she struggled, the sound echoing through the emptiness of the old store.

When the door was finally open wide enough for her to fit through, she creeped in, the floorboards creaking under her feet. Dust particles swirled around her, tickling her nostrils, but she bit down the need to sneeze.

In any other circumstance, she may have explored the old bookstore and the toppled over books on the dust covered shelves. Sadly, this was not one of those occasions. She had been directed here by her professor as a favour. Sadie planned to see it through.

Pulling a crumpled piece of paper out of her jeans pocket, Sadie skimmed the words on the page. Instructions were a more accurate representation of what was on the piece of paper. Very precise and specific instructions.

Ten steps forward from the door.

Turn right through the bookcases until you are at a fork in the middle.

From there, turn left until you reach the furthest bookcase.

There is a boldly blue book, not covered with dust and not weathered. Pull it towards you.

Following the instructions to a 't', Sadie eventually made it to the bookcase, spying the stark dark blue of one of the books. It was evidently the only book in perfect condition, the hardcover unfaded and it didn't look as though it would crumble beneath her fingertips.

Reaching for it, her fingertips twitching, she was abruptly stopped.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," a soft man's voice called from behind her, echoing through the emptiness between them.

Turning on her heel, Sadie fixed her large, round glasses perched upon her small nose. She stared at the man who sat comfortably on a seat by the window across from her in strange, old fashioned clothing, a book spread out in his hands. It seemed to her that he was reading it, but he didn't turn the pages. She took note of his long curly hair and the curious glint in his eyes.

Indeed, he was peculiar in appearance. But that only piqued her interest in the stranger.

"Why not?" she asked, trying to sound braver than she felt. Something about his tone had her second guessing her decision to help Professor Cornelius Garras.