Dark by Daylight (Torchwood fanfic)

1

With the absence of warmth and under the cover of darkness I'm walking down the silent frozen streets. The damp ground from the ongoing threat of rain muffles my footsteps. I draw my jacket tighter round my frame, my dark clothes blending into the surrounding darkness. I hear a rustle behind me and pick up my pace knowing fully well that the chances of a murder occurring are high. I shy away from the street lamps and their misty white glow, keeping to the shadows that mask my soul. My hands feel like ice and my teeth chatter, my heart hammers as I keep an ear out for monsters lurking although I don't know what I'm so afraid of. My breath rises up before me in clouds of white as I breathe out. I slip into an alleyway, glancing behind me as the light of the street disappears behind a wall. Another rustle and my hands curl, dropping the hem of my jacket, preparing for a fight. I push my dark hair out of my face and my eyes dart around warily, stinging in the icy air. I'm not afraid, although the thumping in my chest tells another story. Suddenly I catch sight of a creature moving in the dark and I stop with a sharp gasp. Shivering, my eyes search for signs of life. I frown, ignoring the pounding in my chest. I shake my head, convincing myself I'm seeing things and take off again through the abandoned streets. I shouldn't be too cautious. After all, these parts are crawling with outlaws and drug addicts. That's why I'm here after all.

I tread carefully, my hair and clothes damp with the light rain beginning to fall.

There's a snap. I spin around, my numb fists raised, just as a large figure comes lunging at me from the shadows. I inhale sharply my heart leaping and I throw myself backwards as the beast lands where I was standing milliseconds before. Shaking, I stumble backwards in fright as the deformed figure straightens up and gives an unearthly screech. I gasp, frosty air fills my lungs and terrified, I finally have the sense to run as my racing mind tells me the creature before me isn't human.

I flee down the street, slipping on the wet bricks and stone, the ice in my chest clawing away at me as I run through the bitter night the thunder of heavy uneven footsteps behind me.

I swing round a corner and run blindly down the endless street.

Glancing back I see a creature with sharp pointed teeth and wrinkled skin growling at me.

I run, tripping as I try and escape the snarling beast chasing after me.

I turn, terrified up the ramp of the car park, taking sharp intakes of breath every time I turn to see it right on my heel snapping at me.

I slip on the wet floor, my lungs constricted and my stomach burning from the running, pain coursing up my stiff thighs as I run.

I gasp for breath, my throat tight as I run up yet another ramp.

My heart jolts and I let out a pained, terrified shriek as I see the sharp jagged teeth of the monster snarling at my shoulder.

"Help!" I squeal out but it's pointless because no one's going to come.

I run up another ramp, feeling the creatures hands paws claw at my leg and I jump, the sensation causing me to run faster.

My brain is numb and my heart is pounding in my ears and adrenaline courses through my body.

Suddenly I emerge on the top level and skid to a haut, letting out a desperate gasp as I find no more ramps and no doors. The only exit being the open wall that drops 50 feet over a road.

I spin around to face the creature. Sensing I'm trapped, the snarling beast slows its pace and snarls at me waiting to see what I'll do.

I back away slowly, painfully aware of the drop behind me.

The creature growls at me, lurching forwards and my heart races and I step back a couple of feet in terror.

I hold the palms of my hands up in the direction of the monster, treating it as if it were an animal. The creature cocks its head to the side, breathing heavily, staring at me as if waiting for me to run. I back away slowly, trying to hold back the creature with my hands held up in surrender. The creature snarls and limps closer.

The creature charges at me, it's claws extended letting out a terrible shriek of victory. Petrified, I scream desperately as I turn and run, stumbling as I reach the edge of the floor and I jump on top of the foot high wall, staring off over the edge onto a road that will certainly be my death, nothing holding me back from falling this very instant. The creature's claws suddenly dig into my jacket, tearing through the fabric and pulling me back to be mauled. I'm to horrified to scream. Suddenly the creatures claws are torn from my clothes and I'm about to fall over the edge when a pair of human hands grab me and encircle me, bringing me back to safety.

I stand shaking horrifically from the trauma, my eyes squeezes closed in the strangers embrace.

"It's okay, it's okay. I've got you," says a deep American voice.

Realising I'm safe, my eyes open and I glance behind me at the open wall and the night sky that I have not fallen into and turn back to look at the man.

"Hey, gorgeous," smiles the man.

My shaking eases off and I slowly relax as I become acutely aware of his warm hands delicately on my waist. My mind races with a million things to say but despite the odd encounter the first thing that comes tumbling out my mouth as I look at him is, "I- oh God, you're gorgeous."

He laughs and pulls me closer and I'm immersed in how seductive he is.

"Captain Jack Harkness," he says with a smirk. "And who are you?" He asks.

"Delilah," I say staring at him, unable to tear my gaze away from this dashing man.

"You okay?" He asks me, his captivating blue eyes downcast as he looks at me.

"Yeah," I stammer.

"You're beautiful," he tells me, his lips straying dangerously close to mine and my heart is fluttering in my chest and I'm unable to think straight. My eyes are wide as I stare breathlessly at him. And I've forgotten that he's older than me and we shouldn't even be this close.

He pulls me up and steps back and I'm still staring, unable to tear my gaze away.

He smirks at me and then suddenly raises his finger to his ear looking serious.

"Yeah," he says to no one in particular. "Yeah I'm coming."

He takes his finger down and looks at me and my heart is pounding and there are butterflies in my stomach.

"You coming?" He asks me indicating back down the ramp.