Doctor Who - Incarceration

Part Six - Sanctuary

The Valeyard led Clara further and further into the bowels of Vascancera.

"One question," she said, stopping by a large, yellow-lettered sign.

"Yes...?" he growled.

"We're going into the high security area. Why, exactly?"

"By definition this is the safest and most secure area of Vascancera. There is an extremely dangerous creature out there; this is the best place for us to seek sanctuary."

"But surely the high security area's where the most dangerous prisoners are?"

The Valeyard inclined his head. "It is where they were incarcerated, that is true. But most escaped when the doors opened. This way." He gestured down the corridor.

"You're sure?" she asked, frowning.

"I'm certain." He reached for her arm and then glared at her with pursed lips as she pulled away from him.

"How?" she asked.

"I just know," he said. "You may not have noticed, but we're trapped in a prison full of rioting psychopaths. If we could save the debate until later, that would be ever so helpful." He beckoned her on, a gesture accompanied by the sound of raised voices from behind them. Clara glanced back and then nodded.

They emerged into a cavernous area ringed by shattered prison cubes and occupied by a crowd of creatures, ranging from the humanoid to the downright bizarre, who stared at them suspiciously as they approached.

"Welcome to sanctuary," grinned the Valeyard. "Of sorts, anyway. Make yourself at home--I have matters to attend to." He walked over to a group of creatures who were huddled around a computer panel.

Clara kicked her heels and looked around, noting how everyone either avoided her gaze or returned it with aggressive intensity. "Just like being a teenager again," she muttered with a wry smile. She noted a particularly timid looking girl huddled in a corner not far away and made a beeline for her. "The old house party survival trick," she muttered to herself. "Find someone even more pathetic than you; they're most likely to be grateful for the attention." She fixed her most reassuring smile on her face as she stopped in front of the girl. "Hi," she said. "I'm Clara. Mind if I sit here?"

The girl shrugged and squeezed herself even further into the wall, steadfastly avoiding eye contact.

"I'll take that as a 'yes' then," said Clara, throwing herself to the floor next to her.

She looked around the room. Most of the others had lost interest in her, although a few still watched her hungrily; one creature licked its lips as it leered at her, exposing rows of sharp teeth. Clara shuddered and looked away.

"Nice place, hey?" she asked the girl. Upon receiving little more than a noncommittal grunt in reply, she ploughed on. "You been here long?"

"Why are you bothering?" the girl asked from behind arms folded across her face. "We're going to die here, all of us. There's no point in talking, except to bring attention to us, make us targets."

"What makes you so sure we're going to die here?"

She laughed hysterically. "Look around you. We're trapped in the most secure prison ever invented, and surrounded by murderous psychopaths. Hell, you could be a murderous psychopath yourself, come here to kill me."

Clara raised an eyebrow. "Really? Do you think I look like a murderous psychopath?"

The girl grudgingly glanced at her and then snorted. "All right. But even so, doesn't change the facts."