Heaven's Light ✿ The Doctor [2]

8- Fear Her (pt. 2)

The Doctor absentmindedly starts eating marmalade from a jar with his finger, only to freeze when Rose cleared her throat. She shook her head at him and he glances at Trish, who avoids eye contact, and Avery, who gives him an unimpressed look, before he puts the jar back down. Refocusing on the situation, Avery explains what she has figured out, "Those pictures are alive. She's drawing people and they end up in her pictures."

"Ionic energy." The Doctor informs her, "Chloe's harnessing it to steal those kids and place them in some kind of holding pen made up of ionic power."

"And what about the dad from hell in her wardrobe?" Rose questions, sending a concerned glance towards her sister, who rolls her eyes at the look.

"How many times do I have to tell you? He's dead." Trish counters.

"Well, he's got a very loud voice for a dead bloke." Avery mutters to herself before a thought dawns on her that she says out loud, almost in a daze, "If living things can become drawings, then maybe drawings can become living things."

She cringes at the thought, a chill running down her spine as the Doctor shivers uncomfortably at her words before turning to Trish and attempting to explain, "Chloe's real dad is dead, but not the one who visits her in her nightmares. That dad seems very real. That's the dad she's drawn and he's a heartbeat away from crashing into this world."

"She always got the worst of it when he was alive." Trish responds.

"Doctor, how can a twelve year old girl be doing any of this?" Rose asks softly.

"Let's find out." He suggests, pushing off the counter.

They followed the Doctor upstairs to Chloe's room, finding her sitting on her bed. She does the Vulcan salute when the Doctor enters. "Nice one." He compliments, making Avery and Rose share soft smiles at the gentle interaction. He puts his fingers on her temple and her eyes roll back into her head. A moment passes as she loses consciousness and he gently lays her back on the bed, "There we go."

"I can't let him do this—" Trish begins, stepping towards her daughter worriedly.

Avery quickly shushes her as Rose gently pulls her back. "Don't worry, he's very good at this. Just trust him." Avery assures with a gentle hand on Trish's shoulder.

"Now we can talk." The Doctor tells Chloe.

"I want Chloe. Wake her up." Chloe's voice comes out in an echoing whisper, but it clearly wasn't her as she demanded the girl's consciousness to be returned, "I want Chloe."

"Who are you?" The Doctor asks.

"I want Chloe Webber!" The voice demands, using Chloe's body to slam a fist down on the bed angrily.

"What've you done to my little girl?" Trish cries.

"Doctor, what is it?" Rose adds, looking at the Doctor curiously.

The Doctor ignores the questions as he watches Chloe's body carefully, addressing the being inside her, "I'm speaking to you, the entity that is using this human child. I request parley in compliance with The Shadow Proclamation."

"I don't care about shadows or parleys!"

"So what do you care about?"

"I want my friends."

The Doctor crouches down beside her, speaking softly, "You're lonely, I know. Identify yourself."

"I am one of many. I travel with my brothers and sisters. We take an endless journey. A thousand of your lifetimes." The being explained before growing upset, "But now I am alone. I hate it. It's not fair, and I hate it!" Her eyes shoot open.