She loved a good horror film as much as the next person, but she still couldn’t believe that a vampire could have done this, let alone a fake vampire from a film!
She pulled up a chair and sat down next to the bed, continuing to gaze at the shaking girl.
She jumped as the door to the hospital room opened and Mr Cook walked in, his face pale and concerned.
“Sorry,” he said, looking a little more sincere than he had earlier.
“What can I do for you, Mr Cook?” said Cartwright, turning in the chair to look at him.
“I just…I just came to see Heather’s body.” He swallowed. “I just can’t believe she’s gone…”
“I know,” said Cartwright, giving him a sad smile.
“And this girl?” said Mr Brown, nodding towards Rose. “The same thing happened to her?”
Cartwright looked back at Rose and nodded.
Mr Brown shook his head and turned to leave. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
Cartwright frowned. The poor man, she thought to herself, it’s going to be a long time before he gets over this.
When she looked up again Rose’s eyes were opened and staring right at her. They were dark and sad and she looked terrified.
“Rose,” said Cartwright. “Are you okay?”
Rose opened her mouth and looked like she was about to say something. And then nothing came out. Her eyes remained glassy and blank as Rose drew her last breath.
Rose was dead.
Tylaya awoke to find herself lying down on her back on hard, cold concrete. Above her was darkness, but she could just make out high, crumbling stone walls rising up around her. The building didn’t have a roof and the rain had started to fall again. She felt damp and cold.
She was suddenly aware of a pain in her right shoulder and her hand went to it and felt around. She winced in pain and brought her hand up in front of her face - blood. She had been bitten.
She started breathing heavily, the fear rising inside her.
Get a grip, she thought to herself. You’ve been in worse situations than this. She sat up quickly - a little too quickly - and went dizzy. It felt like a hangover and she tried to focus on her surroundings, her vision slightly blurry. She’d noticed that for some time since she’d been in Alice’s body - she was definitely starting to wonder if she needed glasses.
She was sat on an old, stone alter, but, thankfully, hadn’t been tied down to it. She swung her legs over the side and looked around. She was sat in the ruins of the abbey, the walls rising high above, but ending where a roof used to be.
She slipped off the alter and back to her feet. She felt unsteady for a few moments and then steadied herself.
She couldn’t remember how she got here. She remembered getting a little ahead of the Doctor and Maxus on their trip up here, and then just blackness and a searing pain in her shoulder.
She was about to walk away from the alter when there came a shuffling sound from the corner. She quickly twirled around and standing there was Count Orlok, his face the only thing giving away his location amongst the blackness.
“Good evening,” she said calmly, trying to fight back the fear inside of her.
Orlok opened his mouth to say something and then closed it quickly, a look of puzzlement on his face.
“Everything okay?” she said, trying to remain confident.
He opened his mouth again, but the words wouldn’t come out.
Of course! thought Tylaya. He comes from a silent movie. He can’t talk.
Orlok opened his mouth again. “…I…”
Tylaya was startled. Clearly he could talk, or was just learning too.
Orlok looked pleased with himself as he opened his mouth to speak again. “I…found…you.” There was a hint of a foreign accent about his voice, but she couldn’t quite place it.
“I wasn’t lost,” said Tylaya, her eyes constantly fixed on the strange figure.
“You…are all…lost.”
“You’ve hurt innocent people. Even killed at least one,” said Tylaya, disgust in her voice. “You’re not even real.”
Orlok smiled. “I do not claim to understand your world, but I know it has what I need to survive.”
“Which is?”
“Fresh blood.”
She could feel the hairs standing up on her skin. She wanted to turn and run, but she felt that it would be futile. He looked a little meek stood there right now, but she suspected he’d be able to move quicker than her. She wasn’t about to argue about the nature of a vampire.
“You are different though,” he said. “You and your friends are…different.”
“That’s because we’re time travellers,” she said, reaching down, Orlok’s view obscured by the alter, for the dagger she kept tucked in her belt.
“You travel through time?” he said, running the thought over and over in his head.
“Yep,” she said, gripping the suede handle of the dagger. It wouldn’t kill him, but it might give her a distraction to escape.
“This is…not possible.”
“Neither are you,” she said. “You come from a film. There are no such things as vampires. Well, not anymore anyway.”
He smiled, his sharp teeth caked with dry blood. “I am here now. That is all that matters.”
“I guess so,” said Tylaya. Like lightening she pulled the dagger from behind her back, drew her arm back and then launched it at Orlok.
It hit him in the shoulder and he snarled in pain, but it was just enough for her to turn and bolt across the grassy floor and towards the other end of the abbey.
She daren’t look behind her. She knew he would give chase, but she had to keep running.
Back at his house, Mr Cook was sat in his armchair, a whiskey in his hand. He was looking up at the ceiling, his eyes red. He drained the last of the whiskey and then looked back to the ceiling.
“Help me,” he said, his hand clamped around a small, brightly coloured marble. “Please, help me.”
There came no answer.
He became angry. “Please. It’s not my fault. I didn’t want this to happen. I swear I didn’t.”
Still no answer.
“For god sake!” he yelled, throwing the marble to the floor. “Help me!”
The marble hit the floor, there was a flash and the marble started to glow yellow. Mr Cook had to shield his eyes. When the light died down standing in his front room were two, thin, black figures. They stood at roughly seven foot high and their black skin looked like vinyl. They had no faces, just a smooth surface, and their arms and legs were thin and insect-like.
“You came,” said Mr Cook hopefully.
“It is too late,” said one of the figures, it’s voice low.
“You have to let me take it back,” pleaded Mr Cook.
“It is too late,” said the other figure, it’s voice slightly higher.
“But it was a mistake. I never intended for her to die.”
“You must live with the consequences.”
Mr Cook rose from his chair and shook his head. “But you’re the Make-Real-Men. You can bring her back.”
“You only had one request. You chose the film.”
“But I didn’t mean for her to die. Or that poor girl in the nightclub.”
“You must live with your actions now,” said the second creature. “Maybe you will learn.”
And with that the two figures slowly narrowed until they were nothing more than thin black lines which dispersed into nothingness.
The marble had gone cold and grey as Mr Cook fell to his knees.
Tylaya rounded one of the walls and ran straight into the Doctor knocking him flying to the ground. Maxus ran up and grabbed a hold of Tylaya and looked down into her eyes.
“Are you okay?” he asked, worry in his voice.
“I’m…I’m fine,” she said, a little taken aback by his concern. “He’s right behind me though.”
“Nobody worry about me,” said the Doctor, wiping mud off his hands and onto his trousers.
“Doctor!” said Tylaya, grabbing the Doctor’s hand and hauling him to his feet. “I’m sorry.”
“Where is he?” said the Doctor, getting yet more mud on his shirt.
As if to answer the Doctor’s question, Orlok suddenly appeared from around the corner. He stopped as he saw the three time travellers standing before him, his mouth wide open and his eyes flicking to each of them in turn as if deciding which one to go for first.
“You know I can’t let you continue to exist,” said the Doctor. “You know you’re not real.”
“As I said to your friend - I am real now.”
“That’s what concerns me,” said the Doctor.
“Stake him!” said Maxus.
“Have you got a stake?” said the Doctor angrily.
Maxus didn’t respond.
“The sun will be up soon,” said the Doctor. “The sun will rise and turn you to dust.”
Orlok turned to look out over the cliff and towards the sea. On the horizon there was a slight orange glow. This stranger was right - the sun would be up soon.
“Doctor, it’s no use trying to reason with him,” said Tylaya. “He’s only interested in getting to our blood.”
The Doctor put his hand in his pocket and took out the sonic screwdriver. He kept a distance but ran it up and down in front of Orlok. He frowned at the readings and shook his head.
“What?” said Maxus.
“He’s not even registering as a life form.”
Orlok launched himself at the Doctor and the Doctor fell back again. Maxus managed to drag the vampire from the top of him and the three of them started running back towards the steps.
“I can draw him away,” said Maxus as they slipped on the wet grass and then made their way through an archway into the courtyard of the museum building that sat in front of the abbey.
“Don’t be stupid. You don’t stand a chance,” said the Doctor.
“I can at least try and find something to fight him with.”
“He’s a vampire, Maxus. And not a regular, normal vampire either. My people fought them - the real ones - a long, long time ago. I know how hard they are to beat.”
“I’ll find a way,” said Maxus.
“You stupid, stupid git,” said Tylaya.
Maxus grabbed her hands and stopped her running.
“What are you doing?” said the Doctor, skidding to a halt on the pebbles and out of breath.
“Will you marry me?” said Maxus.
Tylaya frowned. “We’re getting married anyway.”
“I know,” he said, breathlessly, “But I mean really marry me. Marry me when this is all over.”
The Doctor held out his hands. “We don’t have time for this!”
She looked confused and then her mouth curled into a smile. She laid her arms on his shoulders. “Of course I will you big, stupid idiot.”
He kissed her on the lips as the Doctor rolled his eyes, and then broke away from her. “I’ll be back.”
“You better,” she said with a laugh.
“Come on!” said the Doctor as Orlok appeared in the archway across the courtyard.
Cartwright had had a long night and was about to turn in for the night and finally crawl into her warm bed, when the doors were flung open by a distraught and dishevelled Harry Cook.
Oh god, thought Cartwright. She had sympathised with him, but now this was getting a little too much.
“Mr Cook,” she said as politely as possible, “what can I do for you?”
“It…it was me,” he stammered.
“I beg your pardon.”
“Arrest me.”
Nut job, thought Rita. “I don’t understand.”
“It was me. It was me. I killed Mary. I killed her. I let that thing out. It was me!”
And slowly the thoughts of Rita Cartwright’s bed drifted away again like a long forgotten dream.
Maxus had headed in the other direction when he spotted something. On the other side of a small stone wall that surrounded the perimeter of the abbey ground was a road and then a small, barbed wire fence with short, wooden posts holding it up.
He vaulted the stone wall and ran over to the fence. He grabbed at one of the wooden posts and tugged and tugged until it slopped out of the wet mud. He then began furiously rubbing the post against the wall. After a few minutes it still hadn’t sharpened any more. He angrily threw the post to the ground and then put his boot on it and tugged until the thing splintered in two.
It was crude, but at least he now had a suitable enough stake.
The Doctor couldn’t go on. He was out of breath and they were back at the lookout area halfway down the steps. He collapsed against the bench, clutching at his chest. He even reached in his pocket hoping to find one of those blue pills Aleena had given him so long ago. He felt so disappointed with himself. He didn’t want to die a weak man.
Even Tylaya was struggling in this much weaker body of Alice’s. She clutched at her side, feeling the stitch boring into her.
They heard running footsteps and Orlok emerged out of the darkness. Unlike them he didn’t even look affected by the running.
“We can’t outrun him,” said Tylaya, backing up against the small wall.
“We can’t give up,” said the Doctor.
Orlok slowly walked over to them. The Doctor struggled up off the bench, but the vampire simply batted him back down as he closed in on Tylaya.
“I’m sorry, Alice,” she said as she closed her eyes.
And then they heard the yell. The battle cry as Maxus emerged from the darkness, splintered stake in hand and launching himself off the steps at Orlok. The count turned at just the right moment as Maxus, with all of his might, plunged the crude stake into his chest.
Orlok was stunned and looked down at the stake in surprise.
The sky was getting lighter and a shaft of sunlight broke through the clouds, hitting Orlok full force. The count collapsed to the ground in fear, waiting for the inevitable.
But nothing happened.
Everyone was surprised, even Orlok, as he seemed unaffected by the sunlight and the stake. He felt the sunlight on his face for the first time and it felt good. He smirked as he grabbed at the stake and removed it from his chest.
“Doctor…” said Maxus, edging away, “why isn’t he dead?”
“I don’t know,” said the Doctor.
“He’s a vampire!” said Tylaya.
Orlok closed in on Maxus.
A thought suddenly dawned on the Doctor. “No he isn’t.”
“He is. He is!” said Maxus.
“No. He may look like a vampire, but he’s essentially a film!”
“How does that help?”
“How would you destroy a film? The quickest and easiest way?”
Maxus thought for a moment. “Burn it?”
“Exactly!” said the Doctor.
Maxus scrambled away as Orlok lunged on him. “Have you got a match then?”
His hands went to his pockets and he pulled out a box of matches. “I can’t condone burning a living being to death,” said the Doctor, suddenly feeling sick at the thought.
“I can though,” said Tylaya as she grabbed a box of matches out of the Doctors hand. She struck one of the matches and threw it at Orlok.
The count looked up in shock as his cloak caught on fire. He screamed in agony as the flames fluttered up him until all but his head was engulfed in flames. He snarled one last time as the flames consumed his entire body. Slowly the flames began to die away as Orlok creased and crumbled into a huge mound of ash and what looked like burnt film.
Finally all that was left was a small burnt pile on the floor with the smoke gently rising from it.
Tylaya breathed out and looked at the Doctor. “I’m sorry,” she said guiltily.
“It had to be done,” he said quietly.
It was dawn and the sun had risen. The Doctor and his companions left the police station and Cartwright escorted them down the street.
“It makes no sense to me,” she said to the Doctor.
The Doctor shook his head. “The man wanted to frighten his wife. He made a deal with the wrong aliens.”
“That’s what makes no sense to me. Aliens. Vampires…It’s all too much.”
“Will you tell the truth?” said Tylaya.
“Nobody would believe me. As far as they’re concerned Harry Cook is a lunatic who killed his wife and that poor Rose girl.”
“But Harry was at home when Rose was attacked. How are they ever going to ever pin it all on him?” said Tylaya.
“They’ll find a way to make it fit,” said Rita. She sighed. “And anyway, he was the one who set all of this in motion. He can take responsibility for what happened.”
The Doctor shook his head. “Sometimes I wonder if your species will ever open your eyes.” He turned and walked away.
Tylaya smiled apologetically to Cartwright. “He has…issues.” She and Maxus then turned. “See ya.”
“Good morning,” said Cartwright. She closed her eyes and stretched her neck. Now maybe she could finally get to her bed.
In the hospital morgue, Rose was being wheeled out for a final autopsy to be carried out on her. The porter moved away from the stretcher and exited the room.
The sheet over the body moved slightly and then was ripped back. Rose opened her eyes with a start, looking all around the room. And then she opened her mouth and tasted the air.
And she licked her lips.
She licked her fangs.
EPILOGUE
Maxus awoke with a start and turned to his right. Tylaya was sleeping soundly next to him and he smiled. It had taken a while to get used to, but he finally felt content with Tylaya. He finally felt ready to settle down with her.
And then he got the sense that something was standing at the end of his bed. He looked up quickly. It was the outline of a woman.
“Who are you?” he whispered, careful not to wake up Tylaya.
The woman lowered herself so the faint orange glow of the roundel illuminated her face.
Maxus gasped and looked back at Tylaya. It wasn’t possible. “You’re a ghost!” he said.
“I’m not,” said the woman. She looked identical to Tylaya. She looked identical to Alice.
“You can’t be here. Ty’s in your body now.”
“I know,” said Alice, her face looking fierce, “and I want my body back.”
TO BE CONTINUED...
Next time: The Doctor, Tylaya and Maxus find themselves in the middle of a robotic war zone...and the Doctor bumps into an old companion, and an old incarnation. Coming Sunday 26th October 2014.
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