Year of the Doctor

Chapter 2

*Chris' POV*

"Run where?" I asked as the shrieks and thundering footsteps became louder. I looked behind me just as a swarm of those black alien-monster-things appeared around the corner. The Doctor grabbed my wrist and urged me forward as we ran at a break-neck speed.

"Just follow me and Amy!" the Doctor instructed, releasing my wrist to run ahead. "And whatever you do don't let the Zegoraths touch you!"

With that note we ran in a single line; the Doctor in the front, me in the middle, and Amy taking the rear. it was really weird though, because I felt like a smile was creeping up my face. My heart was pounding with both fear and, oddly, happiness. It felt as if I supposed to do this ever since I was born, as if running from danger and enemies was in my blood.

"Doctor!" I heard Amy yell with a gut-wrenching scream, pulling me away from my thoughts. I turned around just in time to see Amy being pulled by the wave of Zegoraths. I stopped running, feeling frozen for a second time that day; every wild feeling was completely erased and replaced with fear. What should I do? What could I do? I had seen what those things did with a metal pipe when they touched it, they'll just as easily melt me if I tried anything. I could feel myself backing away slowly as the Zegoraths paid attention to me once more. One of them spoke, but I couldn't understand what they said. A few of them left their pack to come to me, arms outstretched. One managed to get within inches of my face and I could feel its fingers reach for my neck, a weird tingling sensation following its touch.

I barely registered what was happening when the Doctor grabbed my arm once again and ran.

*Doctor's POV*

The Doctor stopped running when he heard Amy's shout and turned around to see her being pulled away by a Zegorath.

"Amy! No!" the Doctor yelled, chasing after the Zegorath, attempting to grab it. He couldn't just let Amy be taken away again! He needed to save her like he always did, like she believed he always would.

"Get the child! Sssssshe will be a key component!" the Doctor heard a Zegorath hiss. He had completely forgotten about Chris in his concern for his friend and he barely noticed the stinging as a Zegorath had taken hold of the Doctor's arm.

"I'm okay Doctor," Amy promised as she attempted a less-terrified smile, shooing the Doctor with a wave of her arm, "Go! Protect Christine; these things seem to need her for something and I bet it's not to invite her to tea."

The Doctor looked at Amy with a torn look. He continued to chase after for her, reaching out his hand in hopes of catching her's. The Doctor didn't want to let her go with the Zegoraths, he didn't want to worry about her if he could help it; but at the same time, he knew she was right. He needed to protect Christine since she was just a girl who had done nothing, she hadn't even chosen to meet aliens or put her life in danger. Amy knew what the risks of running with the Doctor, and she could take care of herself. This Christine, on the other hand, was so scared of what was happening, she couldn't move. "GO!" she yelled as the Zegorath picked up speed. The Doctor knew which girl he had to protect more, and he hated his choice. He hated being forced to choose.

"Okay," he said, nodding calmly while letting his arm drop to the ground and his pace slow down, "but, I'll be back."

"I know you will," Amy whispered almost too low for the Doctor to hear, with tears in her eyes, "You always do."

Blinking back tears, the Doctor turned and ran back to Christine.

*River's POV*

"Oh, Rory, dear," River called as she re-entered the main console, "We need to be going."

Rory was at the T.A.R.D.I.S door admiring the banner and balloons he had been putting up for an hour. He was finally finished and couldn't wait to see the look on Amy's face when she and the Doctor returned. "Where? Why?" he asked.