The Weeping Angel

Chapter 16: The Stone Girl

CHAPTER 16: THE STONE GIRL

Alright, obviously the Doctor was drawing a blank this time. Someone was going to have to do something soon, he needed time. I looked around at everyone, all of them glancing around nervously, jumping every time they heard a yell come resonating from the darkness. 

The Doctor just kept the sonic high in the air, pulling at his shirt with his free hand, obviously searching his mind for any way of escape. He was glancing around the edge of the circle of green light where the shadows were pulsating and writhing, even hissing softly now and again.

This was it. We had no TARDIS. No wall to keep us safe, no light to trust but the one he held. And we were sealed in here. I just prayed it wouldn't become our tomb. I hated that thought, dying on some alien planet so far away from home. Then again I suppose there was no one on Earth to really miss me. 

Slowly I developed an idea to buy him that time. 

The Vashta Nerada came from only one book, only enough to take out one person at a time, so we needed a distraction. That was the problem, how do you distract man eating shadows? Well, that's where I could be of assistance. If I was in fact part Weeping Angel as Jack had explained, then maybe I could just use that to my advantage.

I was shaking slightly, obviously nervous. This whole thing was a mess, and the Doctor had no way to fix it. 

I remembered Jack, and what he had told me that one night I stayed up talking to him. 

~

Torch wood was completely vacant with the exception of Jack and myself. I was wearing a pair of Gwen's pajamas since she had been kind enough to give me some of hers. I was sitting on the makeshift bed that Owen had set up in the morgue as weird of a bedroom as it made.

"Hello, Beautiful," Jack said upon entering the room, winking. I laughed softly.

"Salut, Harkness," I smiled and watched as he walked over. He wore a plain t-shirt and sweat pants. He plopped down next to me on the edge of the bed. 

"What's up, kiddo?"

"Not much, just thinking."

"About?"

"Stuff."

"Aren't you specific," he said humorously, nudging me lightly. 

"Well," I began, "I guess I was thinking about everything Tosh found out."

"Oh yeah? You know i'm familiar with all that stuff. If you have questions, I'm your guy," he smiled at me. I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck.

"Um, what exactly are those things? The weeping.. whatever... Time Angel... thing."

"Weeping Angels are quantum-locked statues. They can only move when nothing is looking at them, the second they are unobserved they can move-"

"Then why can I move freely?"

"I'm assuming that's the Timelord part of you overriding the Weeping Angel.  But I'm assuming the whole quantum-lock thing is just altered. So you could probably turn to stone under some circumstance."

"Turn to stone," I echoed, "You realize how mad you sound?"

"The universe is a crazy place, sweetheart." 

"I'm learning..." I trailed off and ran a hand through my hair. 

"You'll be just fine," he rested a hand on my shoulder and I leaned against him. 

"I hope you're right."

"Oh I usually am," he grinned and I couldn't help but laugh softly. Jack pulled me into a hug.

"What about the Timelord thing?" I asked, resting against him. It felt so nice to just relax, and to feel cared for. It was as If I'd known Jack for ages, he was so kind and warm, always smiling and happy to talk to me. My whole life it was more of solitude. 

"Now that I know less about," He paused thoughtfully, "I know the Doctor is a Timelord, I know they live awhile, regenerate and such. I guess that's really it..."

"If the Doctor is one when why don't you know about them?"

"Because," he spoke more quietly now, "he was supposed to be the last one."

~

This must have been what Jack meant. My skin ached and felt almost like it was just splitting. I winced. Maybe the darkness was what allowed the whole quantum-lock shit to go down. The stone. The idea of that honestly scared me. 

I felt my skin tighten over my hands and I looked down to see the stone texture creeping up my arms.

"Au Revoir," I sighed and worked up the nerve and then stepped into the shadows.

"ARANWEN!" I heard the Doctor shout. 

Then silence.

I wasn't dead, just... covered in Vashta Nerada. Right, okay, not dead. we're off to a good start. As long as they were trying to kill me they wouldn't have the time to keep the lights off or kill anyone else

Good, Louna. Sacrifice yourself. 

It felt so strange being in this state. It wasn't tight feeling as it had been during the transition, it felt almost natural. 

Now all I could do was pray the Doctor had the time and light he needed to find a way out and hopefully save me. I hoped this wouldn't be my end, but at the same time I couldn't say it wouldn't be a good way to go. Saving people. 

For a fleeting moment, I thought that maybe, just maybe, this was how I was supposed to go. Maybe I was born this way so that I could hold off these shadows and save these people. Save the Doctor. If that were true I couldn't help but feel satisfied, this would be my own way to save the universe, by letting the Doctor keep bettering the universe for even a day more. Because you see, you only get one shot at this thing called life, but if you do it right, pack in enough meaning, once is enough. 

_____

We're down to the wire at last, only four chapters remaining. Thank you so much for all the fans and for continuing to read despite my lack of updates for while there. I'll finally be finishing up this book and I am both excited and sad! Thank you again! I love you all!

Lotte xx