Starry-Eyed

St. Louis Beginnings

St. Louis Beginnings

"You have to go," I yelled at him. "Doctor, you have to go now!"

"I'm not leaving you!" he screamed back, trying to stretch his hand out even farther.

"You have to, there's no other way!"

"There is always a way. I'm the Doctor, there's always something!"

I smiled at him sadly, knowing this would be the last time I ever saw him, his crazy hair and Chuck Taylors. "I used to think so too."

He didn't seem to hear, instead leaning back into the TARDIS and shouting to our other accomplice, "Rose! Get me the rope!"

He wasn't listening, and I knew I didn't have much longer until the Alreeys returned.

"Can't you just admit it and go? Save yourselves before it's too late!"

"Get it through your mind that I am not leaving you." His determined face only made this harder, I wished they would just leave and get it over with.

As he was tinkering with the sonic screwdriver, I felt something pull at my arms. I looked behind my shoulder, seeing the bonds of the nightmare tugging at me. Wait, it was me that was resisting this? I didn't have to wait for the Alreeys to come, I could just decide when to go?

I knew what I had to do. For the people of Earth, along with the Doctor and Rose, I would have to be succumbed to my fears, the terror designed especially for me. I had a feeling I knew what it was - if they could see inside my mind, the first thing they would do was stick me in a coffin. But what was my life worth, compared to billions and billions of others? The Doctor would do it in a heartbeat. Well, really in two, hence his double hearts. Why shouldn't I do the same?

"Go," I said. "I mean it. In only a few minutes, they'll be here."

"I don't care. We will have you out by then."

I ignored him, sticking to the point. "When I go, you need to get in the TARDIS and fly away immediately. The world needs you to suck up your emotions and just listen to me for once."

At this, he stopped and looked up. "What?"

"Listen, Doctor. I might not see you again. I want to say that I regret nothing. At all." I smiled, reaching out a little for him, but of course not being able to reach. "Don't travel alone, okay? But don't forget me either."

His eyes followed my left hand, which was reaching down to the lever pulling me here. "Bella, what are you doing?"

I looked at him, one last time. "Goodbye, Doctor."

"Izzy, no!"

But it was too late. I pushed the handle back, and was immediately sucked into the void.

The door slammed in my face.

Stuck, stuck, stuck. Help, help, oh please, someone get me out of here, help-

"Julia, Julia!"

My eyes flew open, and I was breathing heavy. I gathered my surroundings. No box. Well, not a small one, anyway. Just the TARDIS. And no Alreeys. Instead, I found trusty Rory sitting on my bed, looking over me with concern. Thank heavens. I was safe.

"Rory," I sighed. "Sorry."

"It's no problem, you know that." He smiled softly. "Bad nightmare?"

"Not exactly. More of a bad memory."

"Ah. I know how that feels."

I plopped back down into my pillow. "Thanks for waking me up, Williams. You can go back to sleep now."