Testing: Clara Oswald

Chapter Seven

          Chapter Seven

The grin had disappeared from Clara's face and was now turned down at the corners. Her eyes were big as they settled on the creature that stood behind the Doctor, on two feet.

The Doctor was watching Clara and when he noticed the expression on her face his changed too, to a frown to match his companions. "Clara, what is it?" He asked her. She took her eyes off of the creature to look him in the eyes. "Turn around." She mumbled, her eyes then flashing back.

His eyebrows furrowed before he began to turn, slowly, he didn't want to know what had been hiding in the dark. This was what he had been afraid off. Something lurking, creeping, making home in the quiet, luring darkness. His fear was becoming a reality.

When he was turned all the way around his gaze fell on the creature, as big as it was. He recognized right away what it was. He had seen them before. Big, wooden, toy dolls. Typical. Stick it in an abandoned house, the perfect way to scare anyone.

"Oh well, here we go again." The Doctor said. Clara shifted her weight on her feet. "Doctor, what is it?" She asked. He pointed to the life sized doll in front of him as he smiled. "This is a Peg Doll, Clara." He told her. Clara then pursed her lips. "Okay...so what do they do?" She started as she backed up a bit. "Like, should we be scared or something?" The Doctor's eyebrows came together once again as he thought and soon realised that yes, he should be a teeny, tiny bit scared at that exact moment. He brought his hands together in front of himself, folding them but holding them up. He turned his head slightly so that he could see his companion out of the corner of his eye. "Yes, Clara, we should be pretty frightened." He mumbled, quietly but still clear enough so that he was heard.

That's all Clara needed. The young girl had turned on the balls of her feet, pushing off hard, giving her the momentum she needed to get as far away from these creatures as she could. She heard the Doctor behind her as the two of them ran through the house.

She didn't know exactly where she was going, she didn't know the house well at all, she'd only been in it for about twenty minutes. So she just kept running, in no particular direction, passing staircases and hallways upon staircases and hallways. She passed big doors with wide frames and countless windows that let close to no light in at all, making the big, empty house nice and cool, as if there was air conditioning filling it up.

She didn't know if the peg doll was following her, it probably would have done her well to have known but soon enough there were more.

She rounded a corner that looked a lot like one she had rounded just a few minutes before, and she came face to face with another one. Clara let out a shriek, the Doctor banging into her from behind. "Hurry, come back this way." He yelled as he grabbed her hand, pulling her away from the doll.

He took her down more hallways, the both of them sliding on their feet, uncontrollably. They were coming out of the doors now, each one opening a new entry. It was like they were spilling out, flooding the area. Clara continued to shriek whenever she came face to face with one; the Doctor could feel her jumping out of her own skin. She was terrified, as she should be.

The Doctor had no idea where was safe within the house, he knew he needed to get out, but how could he do that when he didn't know where the door was. He was filled with panic, it threatening to spill out of him, just like the peg dolls.

There were so many, it was impossible to keep away. Clara followed the Doctor closely, trying not to fall behind or loose him. "Can't you do something?" She yelled. The Doctor didn't look back at her but dodged a very big wooden hand as it was swatted at him. He was breathing heavily. "It doesn't do wood!" He yelled back at her. "What doesn't?" This time he turned quickly, pointing at another hand that was coming towards Clara. She noticed him pointing and she ducked, avoiding the blow. "The sonic, it doesn't do wood." He mumbled. Clara let out a sigh of disbelief. "Really, it does everything else but wood?" She asked. He nodded solemnly, grabbed her hand and continued to run.

"We need to find the door!" He yelled over the noise. The peg dolls were breaking things now, causing quite the ruckus as they tried to get to their victims. Clara shook her head but she knew he couldn't see her. She was very out of breath and was just about to pass out of exhaustion. She needed water, badly.

They passed more doors that were blocked off by the wooden humanoids. The Doctor was searching frantically for one that wasn't, so that they could get out of here. The desert seemed a much better option now.

Finally, one came into sight. There was a peg doll next to it but it was worth a try. Clara looked behind her. There still was a group of them chasing them. She hoped that they could get out quickly.

The two of them ran down the hallway, landing hard on the door. The Doctor tried the handle and to his surprise it worked. He pushed through, falling through, hitting the ground with a thud. Clara followed him out, closing the door loudly. They were hit with the sudden silence. The two of them were breathing heavily, the Doctor on the ground and Clara leaning on the door. "Can they get out?" She asked. The Doctor didn't move but he mumbled a small 'no' to reassure her.