A Fantasy of a Nightmare (Doctor Who fanfiction)

I wake to the loud cacophony of pots and pans clanging next to my ears. "Clara," snaps an annoyingly high-pitched voice beside my already ringing ear. "Breakfast isn't ready yet. Do you know what that means? Make it." I sit up, rubbing my eyes as Sophie slams the pan she had been holding into my stomach. Dull, throbbing pain shoots through my body. I roll out of bed in a tangle of thin sheets, muttering under my breath. "Well why can't you make it?" I called back at her. "I only made it all last week. And last month. I do believe it's your turn." Even from my awkward position on the floor, I can see her stiffen. She spins around on her heel, gold curls whipping around her pale face. "Excuse me?" She asks, eyes narrow like a snake. Her little posse stands around her, whispering and muttering. "What did you just say?" I swallow the bile slowly crawling up into my throat. "Nothing. I'll just get on breakfast, then." Waving the rusting pan weakly, I manage a slight and unconvincing smile.

"That's what I thought." Sophie hissed.

Maybe one day there's a chance I will get out of this bloody excuse of an orphanage. Maybe one day I'll be adopted and this torment will end. But Sophie will surely be adopted first. Who wouldn't want her as a child instead of me? Beautiful, perfect Sophie with her curls like molten gold and porcelain skin and crystal blue eyes fringed with dark full lashes, her tall, curvy build. As opposed to me, dark straight hair and wide brown eyes and short willowy build. Nothing spectacular or worth seeing. Too much curiosity, they'd tell me. Too many questions and not enough answers. Ladies aren't supposed to be this curious, Madame Halton would say to me. Ladies are supposed to be proper and quiet. Like Sophie, she'd gush with adoration. I flip the eggs over in the pan as a stream of thoughts races through my head. Vivid dreams of a man in a blue box, every night. Inviting me in; telling me to come with him and see the stars. And I always try, but I wake before I can reach the doors of the mysterious box.

The war raging just outside our windows.

Sophie and her stupid clique, always pushing me around and telling me what to do.

Well, joke's on them, I think as I spit into the pan. Despite my anger I manage a small smile. Maybe today won't be such a bad day after all. I ladle the food I made onto several plates and load it all up onto trays to be taken to the rest of the girls. Mindless chatter surrounds me as I walk into the crowded mess hall. I look straight ahead, ignoring the pointed glances coming my way. Once I get to Sophie's seat, I set her food down with a slam and walk out.