The Changing Man (Doctor Who Fan Story)

Chapter 18

Chapter 18

        We sat cross-legged on the balcony floor, leaning against the transparent fence which protected us from the wind. I watched my thumbs as they fumbled around each other like a pack of drunken bees while The Master had one of his arms around my shoulder while the other one was playing lazily with a lock of my hair. Sadness and despair filled me from head to toe, as the feeling of regret swirled around, hand in hand with embarrassment. I pulled my knees up against my chest and rested my forehead on my kneecaps as the thought of me wanting to attack my family replayed within my mind, threatening to tear me apart from the inside out.

"I can't believe that I almost attacked them.." I grumbled, my voice muffled by my knees.

"Like I said, it wasn't your fault. Martha attacked you and your instincts took over" The Master tried his hardest to cheer me up, but I knew inside him that he wouldn't have been phased by me attacking them.

"So? She had a valid reason, I haven't been trying to help them" I stopped myself short as a hard lump rose in my throat.

"And I am glad that you haven't been trying to help them escape, I don't want you to give Einstern and Gunner cause for them to harm you and point guns at you"

Heat flooded to my face and tears threatened to fill my eyes up to the brim and spill over the edges.

"How can you say that? This is not me, I would always try to help them, I don't care if I get hurt, just as long as they are safe and away from this place!" I gasped, trying to control my violent shudders.

The Master had stopped twirling my hair and had placed his hands into his laps, they were balling up so hard that his knuckles turned white. He was breathing heavily.

"Ashly, just use your head for a moment!" He growled, his eyes turned to that awful coal black colour, the same colour when I was first shoved into that room with him. It sent the shivers to run up and down my spine in fear. He carried on, his teeth clenched together "I care if you get hurt, so don't try to swoop in and save the day for them. I hope you have been paying attention these past few days because this place is swarming with soldiers armed with guns that could easily end your life!"

"Then what do you expect me to do? Nothing!? They are my family!" I held my knees tighter to my chest, feeling my hearts pound heavily, making the blood rush to my head, spinning it dizzily. My breaths came as short and panicky gasps. This is not like me,

"...No, not nothing. In all my years of battling against The Doctor, I have learned that you cannot trap him forever. It took me a while to carefully plan on Arch-Angel, but even then after a year, he was able to escape. So, believe me when I say that he will be able to find a way to escape from Einstern's clutches Ashly, there is no need for you to be in harms way" His expression softened and his eyes were still black, but not as sharp and frightening as before. He reached his hands out to take mine and grasped my chin with the other, forcing me to look at him directly. "Promise me, that you won't do anything stupid to get yourself hurt"

I frowned ever so slightly, allowing my mind to cloud to protect my thoughts from his mind. Yes, I knew that my father would be able to find a way to escape soon, but at what cost? I have been paying attention, and the same gun wielding soldiers that the Master is worried about hurting me would probably hurt, or even kill one of my family or friends. Without me, there would surely be consequences, but with me, they would have a better chance as I have some limited knowledge of the base layout. However, if I do help them, then it would probably mean betraying and leaving the Master, something that made my blood freeze and my throat tighten. Could I do that? Would I?

I looked back at the un-suspecting Master who waited for my answer, his eyes were more golden than before and his touch was gentle.

"I promise, I won't help them, just let nature take its course" I whispered. My hearts sank as I knew that one of these nights, I will be sneaking out without him and trying to help my family escape. I'm sorry, my love. My mind was still clouded, preventing the Master from hearing my internal conversations, but he didn't seem to notice the block. His face erupted into a wide smile and a small glimmer of a tiny tear was visible on the corner of his eye, his arms snaked around me as he hugged me tightly and planting a small kiss on my forehead.