Cassia

Chapter One: Nightmares

Disclaimer: I do not own Dr Who. Though I want to write for it someday ^^

The dark breeze was enough to chill to the bone as she fumbled through the dark. Finding an object with her hand she inspected it, going over it slowly as she closed her eyes to help her concentrate. A loud clang echoed through the hallways as a latch was swung open. She stuck her hand in warily before jumping down, trembling madly as water splashed around her. It was to late to turn back now, she shivered through the water slowly, careful not to disturb the objects that bumped into her. She began to wade, then began to swim as the water level rose higher the further she went. She held he mouth tightly closed to smother the screech that ripped through her as she swam into her hard and cold surroundings. Feeling around she discovered a dry landing, she jumped up onto it careful not to fall back into the murky sludgy deep. It was a tunnel, feeling her way she crawled through, the slops and slurps of the sludge sending a chill up her spine every step. Her hand landed on warmth causing a whimper to shoot through her, her hand traced the object, she shivered as she identified it, squeaks echoed through the tunnel to confirm her fears. "Rats...!" she fought her way through the slime as swiftly as she could in the opposite direction of the noise but she could hear their cries echoing closer.

In her haste she fell. She screeched as she flailed, her hand landing onto a metal cylinder grasping it for dear life, she sighed in relief. Her hands slipped some as she felt goo drool onto her head making her shiver; like a cold bloody hand stroking down her face. Her feet fumbled for anything to grab onto, her hands slipping moment by moment. She kicked her legs a little too far, her hands slipped and she started falling into the darkness screaming. Her lungs expelling far more than she ever knew they could. She landed with a hard thump onto a wiry frame, desperately trying to think as she attempted to calm herself down. She jumped as the frame shifted and laughed cruelly, "Did you really think you could escape Nghyon?"

She woke up screaming and thrashing in her sheets, "Shh... Everything's going to be okay," she shivered as she clutched hold of the man tightly.

"Daddy...!"

"It's okay Alisia, everything's going to be alright."

"It-it was her again... The same nightmare..."

"Everything's going to be okay. It was just a dream."

"It feels so real..."

"It's okay." her dad told her as he stroked her hair.

She sniffled, "I was so scared..." He shushed her into she fell into sleep again.

"I heard we're getting a new substitute teacher for homeroom!" Shelley jumped excitedly before examining her friend, "Didn't you hear me Alisia?"

Alisia looked up, "Hmm?"

"Sheesh... It looks like you haven't slept in weeks..."

"I've been having nightmares..." she mumbled.

"The same one?" she nodded in reply. "That must mean something right?"

She shook her head, "Dad said it's just an interpretation of one of my fears or something..."

"You think it's real?" Shelley asked.

Alisia shook her head vigorously before biting her lip, "No. Nothing like that could be real." Doubts swam in her mind as the images and feelings grew more vibrant.

"That'd be scary..."

The two headed to their classroom when Alisia stopped abruptly, she looked up to see a man in a blue pinstriped suit staring back at her. Emotions bubbled inside her as his looked intensified from something akin to shock and... Hope...? She felt the strangest urge to run to him and hug him as tight as she could, What am I thinking? I don't even know him! She closed her eyes as his emotions wrapped around her, a warm breeze embracing her taking her breath away. She'd never felt a mixture like this before; joy, fear, longing, hope, loneliness, sadness, love, but the strongest one was pain... She staggered under the weight of his aura, she gasped in air before laboriously opening her eyes. Her books were spread across the floor, she cast her gaze down to hide from the staring faces of her classmates. She grabbed her books one by one, cradling them in her arm. Shoes appeared in her vision and she looked up, "Here let me help you."

"I-I'm okay."

"Are you sure?" She could feel the concern radiating from him as he handed her, her notebook.

"J-just got a bit dizzy."

"Maybe you should head to the nurse's office," he said.

"I'm fine. Really," Alisia stood up.

Shelley walked closer to him, lowering her voice before she spoke, "She hasn't been sleeping well."

Alisia glared at her. "Let's go to the nurse." She looked up at him pleadingly, "I'll carry your books."

Alisia sighed and handed them to him, "I'll see you later. Get some rest okay?" Shelley waved.

The two walked in silence before the man said, "... I'm... Mr. Smith. I'm substituting for Mr. Green today."

"Alisia."

He paused for a moment, "Have you been eating well?" She bit her lip and clenched her hands around her bag before nodding, "You don't seem so sure about that."

"... I haven't had much of an appetite."

He stopped, "You need to eat."

"I know... I just keep thinking about my nightmares..." She froze in alarm.

"Nightmares?"

"It's-it's nothing!" she quickened her step.

"Nightmares aren't nothing," she could feel the worry and the intensity of his emotions seeping in once more and held her head. "Hey. Hey. Easy now," she opened her eyes to see him holding onto her.

"... What...?"

"You're swaying Alisia," she looked at him closely, the scenery around her began to change and she could hear him screaming for her. Tears seeped from her eyes as her mind burned, "Hey!"

She opened her eyes slowly, wincing at the bright white lights, "You're okay." A blonde woman stood above her.

"... Mum...?" she mumbled.

"No, sweetheart. I'm nurse Applegould."

"I want my mum..."

"I've already contacted your parents. You're going to be fine." She smiled, "That new teacher John Smith is so sweet. He brought you in here and was so worried about you that he didn't want to leave you!" she chuckled "I almost had to push him out."

"Dad..?"

"What'd you say honey?"

Alisia closed her eyes and drifted into sleep.

Darkness surrounded her. She was floating... Weightless... Yet so cold... Her fingers stiffened as she drifted... Lights glistened in the distance... Cold, so tired... A bright ball came into view; yellow and wispy. Everything grew dimmer as her eyes blurred, drifting shut with a light crackle.

She gasped filling her lungs with air as she coughed, "Hey, you're okay."

"Dad..?" she asked weakly.

"I'm here. I'm here." She scanned her surroundings as she clung to him; a pale blue room with lacy white curtains, science and math trophies, and a fluffy brown teddy bear smiling on top of green sheets. She relaxed and snuggled closer to him. "Another nightmare?"

She nodded, "A different one..."

She could feel his surprise; she'd had the same nightmare for the past few months. She told him the dream, expressing how she could feel the pressure and cold slicing into her body. "You'll be okay. Everything's going to be alright," she could feel the uncertainty in his voice and curled up tighter.

"You need to get more rest. And eat," he added, "You have to eat."

"... Okay..."

He hugged her, "I know things have been tough since your mum died, but everything's going to be okay..."