Churchwell groaned as he woke up.
"You have led me straight into their hands." He said to The Doctor, who woke up as well.
"What? Oh, I don't believe this. Locked up again." The Doctor said. Then he saw Celestia sleeping, her head in his shoulder. He decided that she should sleep for a while because she didn't sleep in days.
"You aren't part of the cult by any chance, are you?" Churchwell asked.
"That sort of thing has never appealed much. Too many rules. It's all a bit solemn. Going around in robes and things, chanting? That's not for me." The Doctor said.
"What about your girlfriend?" Churchwell asked, pointing to Celestia.
"Oh, no." He denied. "She's not with them either."
"But you have managed to deliver me straight into their lair." Churchwell said.
"We're in their lair, are we? How fascinating. Mind you, it looks like a hundred other lairs I've been in. Dust, brick wells, old blankets, damp. I bet there are a few old rats in here too just for authentic charm." The Doctor said.
"No one knows where this is. We could be anywhere." Churchwell said.
"Knocked out, blindfolded, banged up in a cellar. It's all par for the course."
"Not for me it's not!" Churchwell exclaimed.
"Feels like we're under sea level. My ears are doing funny things. Are yours?" The Doctor asked him.
"My ears are still ringing."
"We're definitely under sea level." The Doctor deduced. "Can't you feel the tension in the air? This isn't exactly the safest place to be tonight."
"By morning we'll all be under sea level, if we don't get our throats slit first!" Churchwell exclaimed again.
"Come on then. I think you should tell me, what are they after?" The Doctor asked.
"The portrait. They think I know where the portrait of Estella is hidden." Churchwell said.
"But you told us it didn't exist."
"It doesn't! But how do you convince a bunch of fanatics of that?" Churchwell pointed out.
"I can see your problem. I wouldn't fancy a crowd like that dogging my footsteps." The Doctor agreed.
"I've managed to keep out of their way for years. It's why I never went out into the city at night." Churchwell said.
"At least you're confronting your fears now. Why do they want the picture anyway? Would it be worth going to all this bother?" The Doctor asked.
"It would to them. They're frightfully mixed up in necromancy and arcane law. They believe the portrait will give them the key to resurrecting the Duke's beloved. They think they can do this tonight." Churchwell explained. Suddenly, The Doctor noticed that Celestia began to stir and to groan slightly.
"Good morning." The Doctor softly smiled at her.
"Doctor, hi." Celestia said as she removed her head from his shoulder to rub her eyes. "Where are we?"
"I don't know exactly but I just figured out how we're gonna get out of here."
"How?" Churchwell asked this time.
"There's a breeze." The Doctor said.
"It doesn't matter if we catch a chill. We'll all be dead soon anyhow." Churchwell said, annoyed.
YOU ARE READING
Fixing The Problems
FanfictionCelestia is a Time Lady from Gallifrey who is the best friend of The Doctor. She met him when they joined Time Lord Academy. They immediately got along and became best friends. She is also coming from a family of, what some people might call, "witch...
