A Girl Named Willow *The Adventures of the Tenth Doctor/COMPLETE*

Chapter Sixteen

"Doctor, why did Talcone go all… crazy?" Willow asked again as they inched along the hallway wall. 

They had finally reached the hallway that led to a series of stairs that eventually linked to where the weapons and aircrafts were stored, but the Doctor wasn't positive that everyone was at the wedding. "There could be a guard at any turn," he had told her as they made their way down a stairwell. 

"The behavior he displayed was the proper way barbaric Rotarians act. I think that me stepping in was a trigger, not exactly sure," he raced across a door at the base of the stairs, and waved Willow to do so as well. "Contrary to Talcone's beliefs, I think that the Rotarians haven't re-evolved. He isn't as barbaric as his proper ancestors before the age of clever Rotarians, thank goodness for us," he began to make his way down the stairwell as he spoke. "The clever ones were just good at suppressing their anger, leading to a new kind of Rotarian with a different genetic makeup. After neglecting activities that caused them to have feelings and hope, Talcone's generation is devolving. They are going back to square one. But, nevertheless, it still takes time, meaning that Talcone can suppress his anger, but I guess I was the last straw for him."

"Angry Talcone is becoming a barbaric monster because his family banned reading," Willow simplified, trying to keep the growing fear from showing on her face.

"Yes," he rolled his eyes and made sure Willow saw him do it. "Whatever floats your boat." 

Willow shrugged sheepishly at his annoyance. A big crashing noise came from behind the farthest wall. 

"Looks like we got company," the Doctor breathed while taking a step back. 

"Oh great," Willow groaned. 

Talcone stepped from behind the hallway. He was covered in a dark blue substance that appeared to have stained his face and clothes.

"Hey Talcone, nice to see you," Willow laughed nervously as she grabbed the Doctor's hand for support of her now shaking legs. 

Talcone growled at them before whipping out a massive knife from one of the pouches around his waist, replacing his staff. He waved it around menacingly before breaking out into a sprint. "I'll have your neck, Doctor!" 

The Doctor's eyes widened and his hand flew to his neck.

"Run!" He shouted, grabbing Willow's wrist.

 They sprinted around the corner and ran as hard as they could to a connecting identical hallway. 

At the end of it was a big steel door with a massive lock on the face of it. 

"Here it is," the Doctor said proudly as he reached in his pocket from his screwdriver in mid-sprint. 

"How do you know?" 

"I don't, but we're gonna give it a go. Steel door with a massive lock on the front? Seems like our best bet. Let's live a little 'ey?" 

"Not the time dude," Willow anxiously glanced behind them while biting her nails. "Let's just see that sonic in action."

The Doctor pointed his sonic screwdriver at the door. One whirring noise later, the lock clicked open. 

They forcefully pulled on the heavy steel door, which took longer than the Doctor had liked. The door moaned and groaned the more they forced it open and grew increasingly stubborn after every pull.

A low growl filled the halls' space, and both the Willow and the Doctor looked up at each other, then at the opening of the hallway. Realizing there was no time, the duo squeezed themselves through the narrow opening that was created by their struggles.