Just Imagine...

Light in my Darkness

Jack didn't know how many days or how many deaths it had been before Sam returned home from her mission in London. She seemed confused and concerned by the new developments at the hub - which was now a huge building built above ground - but as soon as she laid eyes on him, her expression turned to rage. She rushed over to him, pressing her palms against the glass that blocked him from her.
"Hey, Jacksie! Don't worry, I got in contact with Ianto," she said, voice muffled, "I dunno what happened to Owen, Tosh, and Gwen, but we're gonna get you out of here and find a way to fix this, I promise!"
Jack felt tears welling in his eyes but he couldn't cry, it would use up his oxygen faster and he would die again.
"I know you can't speak to me, but listen," Sam went on, "I love you. And I'm gonna do whatever it takes to stop this, even if I have to die myself. Okay?"
Jack managed the tiniest nod, which was incredibly difficult and painful with all the wires hooked up to his body.
Suddenly, there was the sound of a door opening, and Sam whirled to the right, eyes widening in fear.
"No..." she breathed. Jack couldn't see what she was looking at, but he already knew.
Sam felt herself begin to tremble as Owen and Tosh walked towards her in the exact same calm pace, hand in hand, though there was no affection in the entwinement at all. The worst part was their eyes, which were emitting a creepy black light.
No. Not light. It was darkness, darkness itself, as if Tosh and Owen's eyes had become tiny black holes waiting to swallow her up. Sam took a step away from them, fists clenched and teeth bared like a dog.
"Hello, Sam." Tosh murmured with a dead smile.
"Hello, Sam." Owen echoed with the same expression and in the same tone.
"We're so glad you're back," Tosh went on, "have you come to join us?"
"Never!" Sam snarled, "whatever you are that's inside my friends, listen up! You're not gonna get away with this! We're gonna beat you! I don't know what you want, but this isn't the way to get it, and it ain't gonna work! Now get outta my friends' heads!"
Tosh and Owen both laughed, and it was the most horrible sound Sam had ever heard - there was no joy in it at all, only malice. Cruelty.
"Aww," Tosh cooed, "look at you, the big strong warrior. You're not that tough at all, really. Your heart is breaking over something you can't control or fix. This was destined to happen. There's nothing wrong with this version of the future. It's okay, Sam."
"I know that's not you talking, Tosh!" Sam exclaimed, feeling tears in the corners of her eyes, "I know the real you is still in there! Fight it! I know you're both strong enough to fight it!"
"Make her shut up, Owen." Tosh murmured to Owen.
"Certainly, dearest." Owen responded, then marched up to Sam.
Sam tried to back away but Owen only increased his pace, grabbing her by the wrist so tightly she cried out in pain. He swung at her and she used her free arm to block the punch.
"Owen, please," she begged, staring into his soulless eyes, "don't do this!"
"You don't have to fight us, Sam," Owen responded, seemingly not struggling at all despite exerting an inhuman amount of strength, "in fact it will be much easier if you give up."
Sam kicked him in the stomach and he stumbled back with a grunt. Sam took the opportunity to grab his wrists and pin them behind his back, pressing her elbow into his nape.
"I don't wanna hurt you!" Sam exclaimed desperately.
"You can't hurt us." Owen laughed cruelly, grinning vacantly over his shoulder at her. Sam yelled in pain as Tosh kicked her in the back with the point of her heel, waves of agony rippling up and down her spine. She loosened her grip on Owen's wrists and he whipped around to punch her in the chest. Sam staggered away from them, wheezing as she fought to regain her breath.
"Why are you doing this?" She demanded, tears streaming down her face, "why do you want this world so badly? Why are you doing this to my friends?"
"We wouldn't expect you to understand, Sam." Tosh said.
"It's because of a war that's been going on forever, since the beginning of time." Owen added.
"And we're finally winning," Tosh concluded with the most horrifying smile Sam had ever seen, "join us. Join the winning side. You'll thank us."
"No I won't!" Sam cried, "because I'm not a part of this! None of us are a part of this! Why can't you just fight your own battle with whoever you're against? Why take over human beings to do it for you?"
"Abaddon is dead," Owen hissed, striding up to her, "that means Pwccm can rise and take over, finally destroying the Light once and for all."
"The what?" Sam demanded, "Abaddon?! What's that thing got to do with this?!?"
"Jack Harkness over there killed him," Tosh said, pointing at the imprisoned Jack, "remember? He provided us with the perfect opportunity to take over. And in turn we will use his energy to build our empire, he is the true heart of Torchwood, and we honour him!"
"This is not honourable!" Sam seethed, "this is madness! The human race was never a part of your petty little spat, why can't you just leave us the fuck alone?!"
"I do apologize," Tosh murmured with a hint of genuine regret, "but we can't. This is not your world anymore."
Sam heard a click behind her and realized Owen had bound her hands with some kind of futuristic handcuffs. He put his hand on her head and firmly pushed her down so she was kneeling on the floor in front of Tosh. Sam didn't hold back her tears, she let them flow freely as Tosh stepped closer to her, gently touching her face.
"Why are you crying?" Tosh asked, almost compassionately.
"Because I love you!" Sam sobbed, tears leaking into her mouth as she spoke, "Tosh, please. I know you're in there somewhere. Don't let this happen. Think of Jack. Think of Ianto. Think of Owen and Gwen. Think of me! You're my... you're my Soul Sister. And I know you're strong enough to beat this so please, just try!"
"I am not your friend anymore," Tosh said coldly, "but I can be. If you surrender yourself to us."
Sam closed her eyes. She couldn't bear to look anymore, couldn't bear to see Tosh and Owen's dead, black eyes any longer.
"I'm sorry, Jack," she whimpered in a voice barely loud enough to hear, "I'm sorry, Ianto."
And Jack, imprisoned in his little glass box, had to watch as the darkness flowed out of Tosh's eyes and into Sam's. He was powerless to stop it.
This time he did cry, using up all the oxygen in the tiny space so fast he died almost immediately, though it was still a minute too late in his opinion.