The Always More (Doctor Who Fanfiction)

Chapter Twenty-four

Chapter Twenty-Four
Irene

Where am I?

Does it matter? Laughs a much higher, squeakier voice than my own. You're safe.

Right. I'm safe.

I recognize the sense of direction, and open my eyes. I squeak. Intense, dark eyes bore into mine. A visual of MJ, her skin sliced up in an ungodly fashion, races through my mind. But this skin is darker than hers, and still intact.

"Hi," I smile. I don't know why. Because I'm safe here, I suppose. Wherever here is. I stretch out all my tight muscles, and feel the grit of sand under my fingernails when I smooth my dress.

"Young lady, you should get up," says the man gruffly.

"Why? It's fine down here. I could sleep forever."

"You and me both." He disappears from my vision, and I assume he left me here, so I shut my eyes again and sigh contentedly. With no warning, hands are wedged under my shoulders, and I yelp as I am wrenched off the ground and to my feet.

"Hm?" My legs wobble, and I stretch again. I glance around, but every thing in my vision is oily and doesn't seem important enough to register. So I ignore it. I'm safe here, anyway, wherever it is. "I like your hat, Mister. Where can I get one?" Yes. I would like a hat like that. I ruffle the skirts of my dress, and take one step that turns my foot to jelly and I fall forward. The man catches me, and sets me back up right.

"What's your name?" He asks, British. Of course.

I rub my eyes. "Why? Who wants to know?"

He asks, "Ren?"

Immediately, I focus. "What did you say?"

"That's what your friends called you, I think. I heard him say it. Is that you?"

"Friend..." a nagging voice in my head tells me that this is important information, but it slides off my mind like butter on a hot skillet. "Yes. Where can I buy a hat?"

"My name is Mayor Wenchil."

"My name is like... Irene... or something." I wander past him, humming a tune.

"Oh, this is bad," he mutters.

"What is?" I ask airily. "I like your hat."

"You have your own," he gestures towards my head. I reach up to feel for a hat, but instead find strings of entangled metal circling my head. A crown. I pull at it, but it won't come off. I guess I don't mind.

"Huh." I smile, and continue gliding towards the nearest gazebo structure. "That's cool."

"Irene, your friends need you. They're looking for you."

"Why? I'm right here. Ooh, are those strawberries?" I promptly pick and eat three from the bush. They taste more metallic than strawberries, but they're still good. "So, where are they? I'll bring them back."

"The last I saw of them... they were jumping off a cliff."

I blanch. "What?"