Doctor Who and the End of Days (The Future Doctor Chronicles Part Three)

Chapter Ten

With his chest heaving and his lungs burning Father Solomon made it to the top of the stairs and into the orientation hall. The comparative safety of the outside world was only moments away. Once there they could mingle with the crowds of shoppers and slip away unseen.  

He stumbled suddenly and reached out to steady himself as without warning John stopped and began to rub his temples with the palms of his hands. There was clearly something wrong with him but he's chosen the worst possible moment to stop. With each passing second the angels were getting closer. 

"What's wrong John? Why have you stopped?" he asked, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. 

"It's my head," he turned to face him and stared at him through red rimmed eyes "it's full of voices and they're all talking at once. Stranger still I recognise some of them." 

"Why's it strange that you recognise some of them?" 

"Because they're from a fictional television programme. Maybe my wife's right. Maybe I do watch too much Doctor Who." he said with a weak smile. 

"What are the voices saying?" he asked thoughtfully. 

"They're all saying the word Doctor. Shame he's not real because he'd have this business sorted out in no time." he replied with a laugh. 

Father Solomon placed his other hand on John's shoulder and turned him around to face the main entrance but as he did so a noise startled them. He twisted his head around and saw the first angel appear through the still closed door. 

"I think it's time we we're leaving." warned Father Solomon pointing at the door where a second angel had already emerged.  

John looked from the angels to the main entrance and realised the only chance they had and it was slim would be to make a run for it. So he launched himself forward and ran as fast as his already aching legs would allow. Once he'd made it up the short flight of steps that separated the lower orientation hall from the upper he could see the open door and beyond. His wife Jen was sat on the car park barrier opposite waiting for him. She smiled as their eyes met but then moved her head to the side and opened her mouth in shock. 

Without stopping John turned his head and saw his pursuers rapidly gaining on him. The first angel lifted its right arm and pointed it at his chest. Time seemed to slow down to an impossible speed as he waited for the inevitable. A bolt of lightning leapt from its fingertip and hit him. The last thing he felt was his heart stop before he slumped face down onto the cold stone floor.  

Having witnessed John's fate Father Solomon closed his eyes and awaited the same. Several seconds passed by but nothing happened. Maybe he was dead he thought as he slowly opened his eyes. To his relief he wasn't and furthermore the angels had gone leaving John's corpse on the floor. 

He stood over him and made the sign of the cross in the air. Before he could conclude with a short prayer John's body suddenly twitched. He would have put this down to involuntary spasms had he not stretched his arms out and arched his back. After doing this for several seconds he lay perfectly still but that wasn't the end. An orange mist appeared to seep from his body until it completely enveloped it. Then as quickly as it'd appeared it was gone. 

Jen ran through the main door and knelt down beside her husband's lifeless form. She grasped John's shoulder and flipped him onto his back. A swirling orange vapour rose from his face but quickly dispersed revealing a sight that caused her eyes to widen in shock.