The Littlest Timelord: Cracks in Time

Chapter 3

The Doctor and Elise followed little Amelia up to her bedroom. In her wall was a four foot long crack shaped a bit like a "W".

The Doctor ran his fingers along the crack as he inspected it. "You've had some cowboys in here. Not actual cowboys, though that can happen", he told Amelia.

"I used to hate apples, so my mum put faces on them", Amelia said, looking down at the apple in her hand.

It had a smiley face cut into it. Elise thought it looked rather weird. Like a small head.

Amelia handed the apple to the Doctor.

"She sounds good, your mum. I'll keep it for later". The Doctor put the apple in his pocket. "This wall is solid and the crack doesn't go all the way through it. So here's a thing. Where's the draft coming from?" He pulled out his screwdriver and scanned it. "Wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey", he said, checking the results, "You know what the crack is?"

"What?" Amelia asked.

"It's a crack. But I'll tell you something funny. If you knocked this wall down, the crack would stay put, because the crack isn't in the wall".

"Where is it then?"

"Everywhere. In everything. It's a split in the skin of the world. Two parts of space and time that should never have touched, pressed together right here in the wall of your bedroom. Sometimes, can you hear...?"

"A voice. Yes".

Growling came from the other side of the wall.

The Doctor grabbed a glass of water off Amelia's nightstand. He chucked the water out before using it to listen to the voice coming from the crack.

Amelia turned to Elise. "Is he always like this?" she asked.

Elise just shrugged.

"Prisoner Zero?" the Doctor asked.

"Prisoner Zero has escaped. That's what I heard. What does it mean?" Amelia asked.

"Prisoner Zero has escaped".

"It means that on the other side of this wall, there's a prison and they've lost a prisoner. And you know what that means?" the Doctor asked.

"What?" Amelia answered.

"You need a better wall". The Doctor moved Amelia's desk away from the wall. "The only way to close the breach is to open it all the way. The forces will invert and it'll snap itself shut. Or..."

"What?"

"You know when grown-ups tell you everything's going to be fine and you think they're probably lying to make you feel better?"

"Yes".

"Everything's going to be fine". The Doctor stuck out his hand and Amelia grabbed it.

Elise held Amelia's other hand as they stared down the wall.

The Doctor aimed his sonic screwdriver at the crack.

It widened, filling the bedroom with a bright light.

"Prisoner Zero has escaped. Prisoner Zero has escaped".

"Hello? Hello?" the Doctor asked.

A gigantic blue eye came out the crack.

"What's that?" Amelia asked.

A bolt of light shot out of the crack and hit the Doctor, who doubled over as the crack closed.

"There, you see? Told you it would close. Good as new", the Doctor said.