We rushed through the doors, Gavin quickly locking them, instantly instilling a sense of security, for we were now in the protected environment of the T.A.R.D.I.S..
Given this, I immediately fell to my knees, releasing a collection of gasps and whimpers that I had held for several minutes. My lungs felt like death and my body ached beyond belief over running so much. Everyone else appeared to be more or less in the same shape.
Gavin was kneeling beside me, Master was hanging onto the control panel, Bane and Joker were leaning against the wall away from us, and Jim was sprawled out on the couch.
Each of us huffing and puffing, trying to catch our breath.
I, for one, wanted to collapse and call it a day, but alas, there was too much trouble brewing just outside our door and time was against us.
We recovered for several minutes, without saying a word to eachother, each of us clearly happy just to have made it out alive. Well, maybe Jim might have been disappointed...
I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to wrap my head around what just happened.
Most of us were grateful not to be dead, but me most of all.
How in the even holy mother of corndogs was I still present as a fleshy creature?
It was impossible for me to remain and yet..well, here I am.
Just as well, it'd be terribly rude and inconvenient of me to go off and die and leave y'all at a cliffhanger.
"How.."
My ears finally heard. And I shot my head up, opening my eyes. Master was facing me.
"..are you BLOODY alive?!"
He had straightened himself up, pointing at me with his hand, where I slowly stood myself.
Gavin's attention was brought to us, which made him quickly stand up, getting a bit closer to me in an almost protective manner.
Master shook his head, "I don't understand you..what the *beep* ARE you?!"
I jerked my head back, looking as confused as him.
"What?!" "First the electrocution and now this. You should be DEAD, Demens. DEAD. So I ask again..WHAT are you?!" He then got up in my face, making both me and Gavin switch to defensive mode. "Are there any genetic details you'd like to share with us BESIDES being the bloody Queen?!"
I swallowed, having trouble looking him in the eye. But I managed.
"I'm as lost as you, believe me."
"Yeah, but Demens, there's a problem here that you're not getting.."
Joker emerged from Bane's side, approaching us. He pointed.
"Those things devour flesh, right? Literally shred the skin off your bones like little piranhas? They were all over you and then suddenly, YOU'RE STILL ALIVE?!?!"
I swallowed again, briefly cutting my eyes at Gavin who was inches away from me, staring down Master and Joker like a hawk.
"HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?!" Joker continued.
"Everyone just CALM down!" Gavin exclaimed.
"Stay outta this, pretty boy!" Joker snapped. His attention returned to me.
"It's NOT possible! Which makes me think you're probably a WITCH!"
"Everyone just CALM down!" Gavin exclaimed.
"Stay outta this, pretty boy!" Joker snapped. His attention returned to me.
"It's NOT possible! Which makes me think you're probably a WITCH!"
His eyes flashed to Master. "Let's burn her."
Argh, I swear..
"I am most certainly NOT a witch! And in case you four forgot, with your heads stuck on your freaking ego, I put my life on the line for you idiots back there! Which is something I absolutely did not have to do! But I did! So don't go interrogating me! I don't know why I survived that..I was fully prepared to die from it..but I didn't. I'm here. So ACCEPT it."
"Perhaps it is a quality of her power."
Ah, bless Bane. Always coming to my rescue.
Their eyes cut to him. "We don't have proof she has any powers.." Joker muttered.
My look and mood darkened upon laying eyes on him.
"She hasn't used her so-called powers once this whole time." He walked off to the fridge, looked inside, and pulled out a bottle of root-beer. Closest thing to beer as I would ever allow on the T.A.R.D.I.S.. "..That was all just a rumor."
"WHAT ARE THESE RUMORS YOU GUYS KEEP TALKING ABOUT?!"
I made Master in particular jolt with how I had lunged about, my fists curled, my voice exploding like thunder. "WHO told you about me?! And why would you believe whisperings of an ancient queen THAT NOBODY HAS EVER HEARD OF?!"
"We don't know!" Master retorted, defensively. "All we know is that the same voice that woke us and brought us back was the same voice that told us to seek you out! That is the only reason!"
I narrowed my eyes, "What all did it say? TELL me!"
"That the Character Queen was an ancient ruler.." Jim emerged from the couch.
"She would bring us peace and help us. Guide us to victory and glory. Our salvation. She would be an aid to what we seek. Stuff like that..."
I was about ready to scream, but stuck with yelling. "And you BOZOS thought that that meant KILLING your enemies and DESTROYING the universe?!?!"
The awkward could be felt in the air, as the boys glanced at one another in stunned silence.
I facepalmed so hard, it hurt. Like my tolerance of stupidity.
"Did it ever occur to you that the voice brought you back for a second chance, and it guided you to the Queen for your own SALVATION?! As in TRYING TO SAVE YOU, YOU IDIOTS!!!"
Gavin was trying to hold back a laugh.
Master made a face.
"Well now that you say it like that, it makes sense!"
I huffed, shaking my head, my eyes still squinted at him. "Maybe, just maybe, someone titled 'The Character Queen' would be the leader of both parties and unite them for good, seeing as how they've been screwing the universe up with their CRAP?!"
I threw my finger at the door.
"Look at the mess y'all have caused! Endless destruction, death, mayhem, war, division, loss, crime--and for WHAT?! Because all you guys are is a bunch of UNSUPERVISED children!"
"Lies!" Jim exclaimed. "..Lots of people 'supervise' me."
He winked at Joker, who only slapped him on the head.
I couldn't even. "I just..." I turned away, shaking and holding my head.
"I can't..I just can't...you guys just...."
Despite my own inner protests not to, I looked back at the fiends.
"You lot are actual five year olds..YOU did it cuz you were hungry.."
I pointed at Master, then at Jim. "YOU did it cuz you were bored!"
Then at Joker. "And YOU did it cuz you needed a laugh!"
I threw a hand at the well-behaved Bane. "The only justified one was Bane..he can't breathe!"
"AND because his face hurts." Gavin added, his arms folded as he smirked sneakily from the corner.
"Yes, thank you Gavin." I agreed, nodding his way.
"Yes, thank you Gavin." Joker mocked in a condescending tone.
"MARRY me, Gavin, I LOVE you, you're sooooo cuttteeeeeeee.....he's gonna be a problem--as your LAPDOG!" "YA KNOW WHAT, CLOWN, I'M SICK OF YOU."
I immediately whipped my gun out and held it up point-blank at his forehead, which made him as well as everyone else in the room jump, eyes widened.
"OKAY, OKAY, OKAY, let's not get crazy or something!"
His wild eyes cut to the others. "God, this kid is even more unpredictable than I am!"
I growled internally, almost wanting to laugh at the comical image of him throwing his hands up so quickly.
"Do it!" Master encouraged, bending with excitement. "DO IT!"
I sighed and rolled my eyes, lowering my weapon.
"We don't have time for this nonsense, we've gotta get to the hotel."
"Hey, you still didn't answer how you're still alive!"
I swung around, jamming my weapon under J's chin, which he flinched at.
"WITCHCRAFT."
He slowly eased. "..I knew it.."
I shook my head again, storming off.
"I told you, I don't know exactly, okay? Maybe it's a power, maybe something's looking after me, I. DON'T. KNOW." "Something..or someone?" Jim wondered, mystically.
"DO NOT say your lord and savior, I will kill you." Master threatened.
"Okay, I won't."
Master rolled his shoulders, "THANK you."
I turned my head at him. "It was my savior and lord."
"I H A T E YOU." He snarled.
I only grinned, deviously.
I would say I've been around these boys too long, 'cept I've always been like this.
"Guys...I don't know. None of us know. But it happened and I'm here. If someone is looking out for me, fine. Let's just move on now, okay?"
"Agreed.." Bane spoke up. "..Miss Demens has thus proven herself effective in the field and her strategic actions have saved us on more than one occasion. We should trust that her survival is top priority, no matter the reason."
I grinned at my masked bud. "He's my favorite. Forever and always."
The others made faces. Bane almost glowed with pride.
I then turned to Gavin, of whom was still crossing his arms, leaning next to the doorway.
"You alright?"
His eyes lifted, looking surprised I was randomly checking in on him.
"Oh...yeah..why wouldn't I be?"
I shook my head. "I dunno..I just wanted to make sure that they didn't hurt you."
"But Sarah, they didn't even touch me--" "I meant them."
I eyed the others, darkly. He shrugged his shoulders, uneasily.
"Oh..no..I'm fine...."
I sniffed and turned away.
"..Thank you."
I felt too compelled to smile at him to just ignore his gratitude and he smiled back.
I then advanced for the control panel. "Let's get going, boys!"
I was about to operate the controls, when Master suddenly jumped up infront of me and brought his arm down to separate us.
"NO!" He barked, making me jerk my head back. "ONLY me!"
He positioned his hands on the controls, eyeing me sternly, but I only wanted to laugh.
"Holy beaver, man, grow up!" "You're asking too much of him."
"Stay in your corner, Jim!" I pointed at the Timelord, a hand on my hip.
"Take us to the hotel!" "Where IS the hotel?" He snarked.
I only squinted at him, "I thought you knew everything, Mr. Ego."
"The waitress said it's not far." Bane approached us. "But still a reasonable distance between us and Cataclysm's forces."
I nodded at him, encouragingly and thoughtfully.
"So that's who it is, eh?" Master wondered aloud. "Cataclysm's gotten to those blokes."
"Yes, well that's rather evident." I sassed. "The voice told me that we've been expected and it needed me. Plus Cataclysm's somewhat mad at you lot, so, makes sense why they'd pass on your coming along." J crinkled his brows. "I hate what you've turned us into..you've given us a bad reputation!"
"You gave yourself a bad reputation. Now go take a nap, ya cranky old hag."
He scowled at me, but did indeed proceed to pass me and head for the hallway.
"I'll do just that." He walked further into the darkness. "Wake me when this is all over."
I shook my head at his grumbling, before turning my attention back to the Master.
"Go ahead, Masta. The T.A.R.D.I.S. will know the way."
I laid a hand on the console. "Right, boy?"
Master rolled his eyes. "The T.A.R.D.I.S. isn't going to-"
At that second, the ship made a throaty grinding sound that made everyone jump.
Even Bane.
"What the--?!"
I smiled. "We share a special bond."
He grew furious, "Not with my T.A.R.D.I.S., you don't!"
"This is a family T.A.R.D.I.S., Master, we SHARE!"
He made a face, but said nothing else. That's when the ship suddenly started moving on its own and we jerked to catch ourselves. I grinned wide and let out a laugh of triumph.
"AHA! I told you!" I pointed, immaturely. "In your face, ya British nitwit!"
"I bloody hate everything!!" He snarled, clinging onto the panel.
The ship itself had lifted into the air and was now gliding across the rooftops, flying through the crisp night air. I ran to the doors and opened one, just to watch everything pass below.
It felt like a ride from an amusement park, my breath continuously sucked right out of me.
I laughed, having more fun than even I could ever imagine.
Gavin and Moriarty soon joined me, both holding onto the doorframes on either side of me.
Even Bane came behind us to enjoy the ride.
"I must say.." Jim's droll Irish accent rose over the wind pounding against us.
"It really is a rush..riding this way."
I turned my head at the Irishman, still grinning from the fun of it all.
"Still bored with life, Jimbo?" I said as loud as possible. "Or do you have a change of heart?"
He pursed his lips, rolling his eyes boredly to the town..obviously putting on an act.
"I wouldn't know.."
That part..didn't seem like an act. It seemed to be complete honesty that he really was conflicted on what he was feeling..whether he was actually enjoying anything at all..whether he actually had a heart to change. And my smile faded only a little as it seemed he couldn't look back at me.
My eyes turned from him onto Gavin. Who of which was busy watching everything with the face and spirit of a child. He was ecstatic..and to be honest, it kind've melted my heart.
On either side of me were two men with complete polar opposite personalities.
One who had lost his innocence and moral stability with no foreseeable solution to get it back..the other was one who, despite reaching an age and point in his life where much has already happened, still looked at everything with the sheer joy and gentle nature of an adventurous boy.
Regardless of their conflicting outlooks...I wanted to help and understand both.
"And you.." I lured his eyes back to me. Which made my expression soften with surprise over how much prettier he was right now, with the moon shining on his face and the wind quivering his hair.
"I quite like having you around..you really fit along with us. You should consider that."
His innocent smile remained and his eyes twinkled at hearing me say this.
"..You really mean that?"
I could sense Jim glaring our way, but I didn't dare acknowledge it.
I only smiled in return, looking back down. That's when my eyes wandered to our right and caught sight of what we needed. "There it is!" I exclaimed, dangerously lunging my body out to point.
They snapped their focus on the hotel.
"Wow..." Jim realized. "It's big!"
The building only became clear as we had turned in it's direction.
"We're getting close!" I peered to spot the van. And bless..they had made it.
"There's the Mystery Machine! They're safe!"
"Not that anyone really cared otherwise."
I slapped the back of Jim's head. That's two slaps he received that day that I recall.
Another one and I was gonna have to send him to his room.
However, he was unfazed. Seems the lot are growing used to my abuse.
"We better close the door."
"What? Why?"
"Cuz the ship's gonna transport us inside!"
Jim turned his head at us. "Why not just park it on the rooftop?"
"Nuh uh, I want it safe with us!"
I shooed them away and quickly closed the doors. "Alright, boys, get ready!"
I could feel Gavin and Jim glance at eachother as I bolted forward, before parting ways.
"What's the plan when we park?" "We'll get to that. Just hold on."
Master stared me down as I held onto the column, gearing up for the ship's violent shakes.
The longer he stared, the more I felt unsettled and I dashed my gaze at him. "Yes?"
He shook his head a bit funnily and looked away, squinting down at the metal.
"Nothing..just...thinking about..food."
I became alarmed. "Not looking at me, you're not!" I shot a finger at the fridge, "Skit skat!"
He surprisingly obeyed like an obedient puppy. Gavin took that chance to rush over to me, bending over to whisper, "Now I only know basic things about the Master..why exactly have you been so worried about him being hungry?"
I cut my eyes at him. "His previous death was reverted by a ritualistic resurrection..which unfortunately went wrong, when his 'wife' Lucy sabotaged it in an attempt to stop his rebirth. But it only twisted the process, killing everyone in the building but him, who was now a being pulsing with energy, but still in the crossroads of death. Keeping his body required him to consume energy.."
I gave him a look of dread. "..Any energy."
Gavin's face sunk. "Oh my.."
My eyes returned to the Master, who had gotten out a bowl of chicken filets and was scarfing them down. I sighed. "Even though he died yet again and seemingly appeared fine when I met him...it looks like he's experiencing the same problem, albeit..more slowly."
Gavin chuckled, turning his head. "Heh..we just need to make sure he's well fed, then, won't we?"
I rolled my eyes, "YEP. And I'M supposed to be the teenager. All that attitude and neediness, he's just a high maintenance prima donna."
I heard stifled laughter and rolled my head to Jim.
"What are you laughing at, you're worse than him!"
"Am I now?"
"Oh please, you literally turned London over like a pancake simply cuz you were BORED!"
Gavin nodded in agreement, "It's true."
"YOU, my dear Jim-Jim Moriartay, are merely a tiny demon seed, desperate for attention and amusement, who's a devious little imp running with a lighter he has no business wielding, ready to start a FIRE."
Gavin glanced at me.
"I love how these men are literally mass murderers and you're throwing insults at them fluently like they're second rate cheerleaders."
I shook my head. "Doesn't stop it from being true."
The T.A.R.D.I.S. grinded and rattled and finally shook and stopped, indicating that we had landed.
I turned and started off. "For reals though, that's all villains really are..a bunch of children. Rotten little brats that don't like being told no."
"And you're not a brat?!" Master retorted, waving around half a filet, the other stuffed in his mouth.
"I never said I wasn't..now stay in your corner, ya pesky martian!"
He gave such a look of disdain, I almost choked on air.
"I'm not a martian!!"
I'm sure him and the Doc have heard this so many times that it's become a slang term to them.
I hurried to the door, with Gavin and Jim in tow.
One of the literal only points in my life where boys are chasing after me. -_-
Without further ado, I threw open the door, smiling instantly at the inside of a building revealing itself on the other side.
"Huh..." Master commented with a full mouth as he joined us. "We didn't crash."
I glared at him as he glared at me. "What a shame."
I narrowed my eyes, "Didn't your mom ever teach you not to talk with your mouth full?"
"You eat with your mouth full all the time!" He argued.
"You eat like a carnivorous tyrannosaurus rex!"
"FUNNY, I don't remember there being a vegan version of those!"
"You aren't very lady-like.." Jim threw in, with wandering eyes and an unpleasant facial expression.
I rolled my own eyes. "And this is news to me how? I ain't ever stated I WAS such a thing."
"Then don't complain about not getting a man."
"If a man has a problem with my unlady-like personality while shamelessly sporting his own, then he's a hypocrite." Master and Jim gave eachother questionable expressions.
I spun back around, throwing my hands up to the ceiling. "I'm trapped as a girl every man should want that nobody wants!!" I wept. "Why is life impossible?!"
That's when Bane poked his head out from behind the others, "Miss Demens.."
I turned my attention fully on him, only to receive a look of urgency.
"Oh..right..thank you, Bane. I quite forgot."
I cleared my throat and stepped out the door. "Here we go!"
But my arm was grabbed. Gavin pulled me in and we locked eyes, the both of us having the entirety of eachother's attention. "Something doesn't feel right.."
I rose my brows as his eyes honed in on the rest of the environment.
"Something doesn't feel right at all..."
He eased his grip as he looked around suspiciously and I couldn't help but chuckle.
"What is that, your ninja sense?"
His head rolled back to me and he gave me a playful look of sarcasm.
"I'm going to scout around..be careful."
I smirked, looking away. "Yes, sir."
He departed from the four of us, heading toward the entrance, as I exited the rest of the way out of the ship.
"You two are adorable." Master teased.
"Shut it." I snapped, too busy looking around to argue.
"Yes, please shut it, she's a married woman."
I groaned loudly, expressing my irritation to the two villainous men.
They chose to be silent.
The hotel was actually pre-ty nice and uber clean..making me believe that only the ritziest types of people came to this place. Certainly nothing that a poor girl like me could afford under normal circumstances. There was an enormous staircase, two elevators, fancy plants, a lounge area-- an area where food seemed to be presented at some point, just not at that time-- and over to our right was the reception desk. I naturally was gearing myself up to explain why my spaceship had suddenly appeared out of nowhere and why it had landed right on the nice polished marble floor of the lobby.
But to my utter joy, all that sat before me was an old man, resting his head against his hand, and snoring quite loudly. I wiggled my brows as I glanced at the boys.
"Well that was easy." Master muttered.
"Sadly.." Jim sulked.
I proceeded to lead my three companions to the desk and I leaned forward, inspecting the man.
I snapped my fingers a few times, close to his ear..but he did not budge.
"America's finest, I take it?" Master jabbed. I scowled at him.
"While you're busy taking cheap shots at my proud 'Merica heritage, I'mma go make sure everybody's safe." I pointed at my masked bodyguard as I started to move. "Bane, you're in charge!"
Master slammed the counter, Jim tossing his arms in the air, as Bane stared down at them with his usual smug-as-possible demeanor. "Why do you ALWAYS do this?!"
Of course, the slam on the counter apparently made the old man now jump out of his seat, making the boys jolt and the old man yelled out a jumbled,
"THEY'RE HERE!!!"
I never before have seen such shocked expressions as I saw on the boys' faces at that moment.
I almost died from spouting out laughter as I went up the steps.
- - -
Taking the stairs over the elevator seemed like the most logical choice at the time given that elevators can be sabotaged and I would have no control over it deciding to fly back down to the ground floor and I die. Gavin was right..something didn't feel right.
A feeling I simply couldn't shake off, not with all the shrugging in the world.
I crawled those steps with the utmost caution, peeking ahead of me as much as possible.
As I was reaching the top, I swallowed. I took the last few steps upwards and stepped out into the hallway. My eyes zoned in on every little detail, trying to take note of my surroundings. The exits, the rooms, the amount of time it'd take to get back to the lobby, the length of the halls, the props I could use as potential emergency weapons. These are the precautions necessary to take when you're an adventurer. The most important thing I caught sight of was the figure sitting in a chair from a distance. Someone thankfully all-too familiar. I waved from the roughly 50 foot distance.
"Mulder!"
The trusty FBI agent, who's chair was next to a room, was reading a book with one hand, a disposable paper cup in the other, turned his head to me and he perked up in his chair.
"Oh, she's here..she's here!"
In an instant, three other doors opened, Fred, Shaggy and Scooby poking from one, Velma, Daphne and Mabel from another, and finally Scully from the one next to Mulder.
"She's alive!" Mabel cheered.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah!" Scooby delighted, clearly smiling.
"Wait, she is?!" That's when Dipper hurried his head out from behind Scully. He beamed.
"You're back!"
I rose my brows. "Glad to see I made such an impression."
I started to approach them, easing my tense body.
"Where's the kid?" I questioned Scully with a jerk of the head.
"She's sleeping." She led me to the inside of her and Mulder's room, me smiling and waving at the others as I passed, where I entered inside and Scully nodded at the passed out girl on the bed.
"She's doing better now, but something tells me she needs a whole lot of rest after the performance she pulled back in town." The sound of Mulder's voice behind me explaining peculiar events made me feel like I was living an episode of X-Files.
I narrowed my eyes as I stared at her..short brown hair a bit lighter than mine, wrapped in a blanket as she laid on her side, a pillow tucked under her head as a TV played a few feet from her bed.
She was sleeping soundlessly and did look a little weak, but it did appear she was much improved.
"Who is she??"
Before I gave anyone time to answer, I turned to face Scully and Mulder.
"Didn't you reach the hospital?" "We reached it, but we never made it inside.."
Scully folded her arms. "The place was being guarded by some..creature."
"It chased us off. We had no choice but to come back."
I nodded, my eyes wandering to the Scooby Gang. "So that's it..they're slowly taking control, all over town." "Who are they? What do they want?" Daphne questioned.
"And more importantly, why do they want you?" Said Dipper, looking concerned.
I glared at them, my arms folded, mind reeling. "..Y'all have anymore ammo for your mags?"
They both nodded. "..Good. So you four staying here, yeah?"
Scully nodded. "Mabel is sleeping with Velma and Daphne, Dipper is sleeping on the bed next to mine and the girl's.." "And I'm the chair, keeping watch."
Mulder rubbed his eyes, obviously exhausted. I don't think any amount of caffeine could help his sad state. "Excellent..you guys gotta stay in your rooms, for now at least. Me and the boys are sweeping the area, which we gotta find a way to fortify the place..place some type of barrier..maybe a forcefield? Eh..anyway, we make it secure, then we'll all meet downstairs and get something to eat. At some point tonight, we will sleep, but we gotta figure things out before the morning hits."
I exited the room, starting back down the hallway. "Be prepared."
"For what?" Fred questioned.
"Anything."
~
I made my way back downstairs, where I heard an older voice argue back and forth with the Master and I made an effort to quicken my pace.
There, I saw the three companions of mine standing in the same spot I left them for once, but the old man was now up and talking..unfortunately, him and the Master were getting into it.
"I don't care how many times you demand it, sonny, and I don't care how many times you tell me you're hungry, we are NOT serving anything, food court hours are OVER!"
Master puffed up, "Listen here, you old fool-"
"OLD fool?!"
"Are you seriously disputing with the elderly staff over food when you JUST finished an entire plate of filets?? You do know we're being chased by murderous monsters, yeah?"
The old man adjusted his thick black-trimmed glasses at me. "Little lady, if you don't have a room key, just what were you doing up there?!"
I reached the end of stairs and advanced for the four, completely ignoring what was said to me.
"--Which I am being a total hypocrite, cuz I ask you now sir, are you out of food? That would have to be the most reasonable explanation of why you are refusing to serve any, cuz if not, why in tarnation are you making a fuss about bringing it out?!"
The old man folded his arms in a huff. "It's against the hotel rules!"
I let my arms out, gesturing at the completely empty lobby. "Who's gonna stop you?!"
His eyes wandered around in a paranoid fashion.
That's where I leaned in against the counter. "Where is everybody, anyway? Why is it so..empty?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "You kids are the only guests."
Master jolted, "KIDS?!"
I tapped the Master's forehead with the back of my hand without taking my eyes off the old man.
I felt the Timelord's judgmental stare.
"What do you mean?" Bane questioned. "No others have come before us?"
The staff made a face. "I can't understand..you got a..." He gestured at his own chin.
"..Say, what's wrong with your friend, what's that thing on his face?.."
Bane tried again, but the old man shook his head, now leaning forward with his ear pointing at him.
"WHAT?! You're gonna have to speak up, son!"
Even Bane was now looking murderous.
"A 10 story hotel with one staff member and just us being the only guests?"
I rotated toward the boys, leaning against the counter still. "Gavin's right..something is fishy."
"Wazzat?!" The old man exclaimed. I whirled around.
"IsaidsomethingisfISHY!" I yelled right at him in one breath and he sucked in his lips.
I turned back around.
A few seconds later, the man's finger pointed past my eyesight at the T.A.R.D.I.S..
"Wazzat?!"
I merely glared at the ship with a still perplexed expression. "Modern art....I think it's best you boys stay in the T.A.R.D.I.S. tonight, keep the ship ready for when I need you."
"What about you?" Inquired Jim, with a tone that could be mistaken for concern.
"..I'm gonna stay in one of the rooms."
"By yourSELF?" Master questioned, straightening up.
"Yes."
"Why?" Jim was worrying me with his interest in this.
"Bait."
They, all three, gave me such a judgmental gaze that I felt guilty for even suggesting such a thing.
"Absolutely not, you little idiot, you are not staying here by yourself!"
"We must stay together, Miss Demens."
I perked my head at them. "Is that a stroke of concern I hear?"
"Don't test me, earth girl!" Master huffed, looking away.
"Look, those creeps want me, this hotel has a mark on it, we need answers, the staff is gone-"
"They're not gone! They just..didn't show up!"
"-Uh huh, the staff didn't bother to show up and there's no other guests besides us? Has anyone even SEEN a horror movie or murder mystery? I mean, these are the signs."
"Question." Master folded his arms. "What's the difference between a horror movie and murder mystery?" "There isn't one." Jim responded, straight-faced.
I made a face as I realized this, "That's a good point, there isn't one."
I turned back around at the elderly staff of one.
"Listen, I'm gonna need you to keep doing what you're doing..and we're gonna need food. So...food. And we're gonna need free range of the hotel, no questions asked, cuz we got monsters about and I need you compliant, kay?"
The old man, peering at me with enlarged eyes behind his glasses, his thin white hair surrounding a glossy bald spot at the top of his head, his green hotel attire adorned with gold trimmings and shoulder plates, scrunched up his face and leaned in, his spinning chair creaking.
"Why should I allow all that, eh? You called me elderly. I'm a senior, little miss!"
"Don't take it personally, everyone older than me is elderly."
I unclipped my walkie talkie and brought it up to my mouth.
"And don't call me 'little miss'."
I held down the button. "Gavin, what's your 20?" I laughed as it clicked off and glanced over at the boys. "I've not realized how much I actually wanted to say that."
The walkie clicked. "--Here."
I jolted my head in front of me, where the glorious ninja boy himself was coming from the entrance.
I clipped my walkie back on my belt. "That was quick..anything?"
"I would say so..they're watching the building."
I furrowed my brows. "What?"
"They've found us already?!" Master retorted.
"You young people and all your excitement.." The old man muttered at the floor.
I sighed deeply, closing my eyes a second as my hands gripped onto my hips.
"Okay.." I cleared my throat. "..Okay, first thing's first. We need to keep them from getting in. So we need some kind of forcefield to put around the building."
"Hm.." Jim pondered. "Maybe we can get your pixie friend to put a little pixie magic around the place." "Oh, we're not bothering Tink, she just came out've a mess."
Master suddenly perked. "I have something that will do the trick. Wait here."
He scurried off back into the ship.
The old man looked up at us, particularly at me and Gavin.
He pointed at him and my heart stopped.
"Is he your boyfriend?"
I shot my head at him in an instant, just as Gavin started blushing and looking away.
"NO." "Your brother?" "NO!!"
His head turned to Jim. "What about him?"
Jim nodded. "Husband." "HUSBAND?!"
"NO! No, no, NO!!" I waved an impatient hand at the man. "None of us are related and none of us are together! So quit asking questions!"
Not even two seconds, "Why??"
I swung around, slamming my hands on the countertop. "Old man, you are cruising for a bruising!"
He jerked back, eyes widened. "Alright, little miss, no need to be such a spitfire!"
"I TOLD YOU, NO LITTLE MISS!!"
In that moment, I was yanked away by no surprise- Sir Gavin of Ninjalot.
He pulled me away from my one-sided violent confrontation and ushered me to the side out of earshot. "Let's get you over here before you start brawling with the hotel staff of one."
He faced me and brought instant calm to my huffing, puffing body of irritation.
This man was the white lei to my Stitch, and God was apparently the Lilo.
"Now look.." Gavin crossed his arms, his hair naturally falling over his glistening eyes.
He presented himself with such a tranquil and collected manner, which seemed impossible to have in such a situation as our's. "We need to think calmly..rationally..what our next steps are going to be. After we get a barrier around the building, what's next?"
I shook my head at the floor, my hands at my sides. "Oh, how should I know?"
"Well, you're the Queen." My eyes rolled his way. He slightly smirked.
"Sarah, like it or not, you ARE the one in charge, with everyone looking up to you. You're the one who needs to find solutions and put together plans. This is what you wanted."
"This is not even close to what I wanted.."
"..I know..it's..complicated now...everything usually is."
My head lifted and I exhaled some stress away, trying to get my cool together.
"Okay..you're right..we need to..we need to focus and..try to survive the night."
Gavin nodded, having the utmost confidence in me that I absolutely d i d n o t have in myself.
"Alright..so what do you need from me? How can I help?"
I cleared my throat, taking concentrated breaths. "OK, I need you to just..guard the entrance, make sure they're not getting in for now. When Master comes back, we'll work from there."
He nodded and immediately went to go do so, drawing his sword which made a ringing sound that echoed all throughout the lobby. The old man gawked, swinging his head at me.
"Your boyfriend's a samurai?!"
I wanted to scream. "J u s t..." I pointed at him. "STAY in your corner, Popeye!"
He made a face and silently shifted in his chair, obviously offended.
I was returning to Jim and Bane, who were probably feeling left out, not yet having their bit in the game plan. "Boys..I have duties for you. Jim, you're getting the food. Take--" I paused to point at the old man. He perked. "Bud!"
"--Take BUD here to help you. Bane, you're gonna go up and help guard the hallway with Mulder. After we get a barrier around the building, y'all gonna sweep the upstairs and make sure it's clear before we can rest up." "ALL the rooms? In ALL ten stories?"
"We must." Bane snapped. Jim rolled his head.
"Once you've done that, I need you to put security cameras in each hallway and then put booby traps to alert us if anything comes near. We're going to tap into our inner Kevin McCallister for this bit. I want everyone armed and ready. The kid upstairs is getting better; if we absolutely need a weapon strong enough to take these guys on, I have a feeling she'll have no problem providing. We know she's dangerous."
The boys nodded in agreement.
"When Master is done, I'll have him go with you. And at some point in life, Joker too."
Jim folded his arms. "Look at you, getting all strategic on us."
He leaned in. "Leadership looks good on you."
"Youuuuuu disturb my soul. OK, let's get to it."
I clapped three times and the boys snapped into action.
Bane made for the stairs, where Jim went towards the kitchen area in the back.
"Alright, grandpa, let's get a move on."
Bud rose and followed after him. "I don't understand anything, but alright."
I rose a brow and watched as they all left me behind and soon I was alone, standing in absolute empty silence. This made things awkward and unsettling. I shrugged my shoulders uneasily at the quiet and continuously swallowed, looking all in front of me.
I heard nothing for several moments...........until I started to hear something behind me.
It sounded almost like.....dripping....and there was a chill..a chill that came from no where, making me shiver. I passed this off as my imagination getting a little stupid.
Until I heard..breathing. "...........S a r a h."
I sucked in my breath and swung around, scanning the opposite side of the lobby.
Nothing was there. The silence remained. I took a deep breath. "...Not today, Satan.."
"Demens!"
"WHAT?!"
I screeched and instantly drew out my weapon at whoever just called my name.
Master skid to a stop and rose his hand at me. "WHOA, put that away!!!"
I sunk, realizing I was jumping at shadows. I wasted no time in holstering it.
"..Sorry....."
He crinkled his brows. "What's wrong?" I only shook my head with a sigh. "Nothing..yes?"
Master smiled, forgetting about it quickly, and lifted a device up, presenting it with care.
"I've got it."
~ to be continued ~
Argh, I swear..
"I am most certainly NOT a witch! And in case you four forgot, with your heads stuck on your freaking ego, I put my life on the line for you idiots back there! Which is something I absolutely did not have to do! But I did! So don't go interrogating me! I don't know why I survived that..I was fully prepared to die from it..but I didn't. I'm here. So ACCEPT it."
"Perhaps it is a quality of her power."
Ah, bless Bane. Always coming to my rescue.
Their eyes cut to him. "We don't have proof she has any powers.." Joker muttered.
My look and mood darkened upon laying eyes on him.
"She hasn't used her so-called powers once this whole time." He walked off to the fridge, looked inside, and pulled out a bottle of root-beer. Closest thing to beer as I would ever allow on the T.A.R.D.I.S.. "..That was all just a rumor."
"WHAT ARE THESE RUMORS YOU GUYS KEEP TALKING ABOUT?!"
I made Master in particular jolt with how I had lunged about, my fists curled, my voice exploding like thunder. "WHO told you about me?! And why would you believe whisperings of an ancient queen THAT NOBODY HAS EVER HEARD OF?!"
"We don't know!" Master retorted, defensively. "All we know is that the same voice that woke us and brought us back was the same voice that told us to seek you out! That is the only reason!"
I narrowed my eyes, "What all did it say? TELL me!"
"That the Character Queen was an ancient ruler.." Jim emerged from the couch.
"She would bring us peace and help us. Guide us to victory and glory. Our salvation. She would be an aid to what we seek. Stuff like that..."
I was about ready to scream, but stuck with yelling. "And you BOZOS thought that that meant KILLING your enemies and DESTROYING the universe?!?!"
The awkward could be felt in the air, as the boys glanced at one another in stunned silence.
I facepalmed so hard, it hurt. Like my tolerance of stupidity.
"Did it ever occur to you that the voice brought you back for a second chance, and it guided you to the Queen for your own SALVATION?! As in TRYING TO SAVE YOU, YOU IDIOTS!!!"
Gavin was trying to hold back a laugh.
Master made a face.
"Well now that you say it like that, it makes sense!"
I huffed, shaking my head, my eyes still squinted at him. "Maybe, just maybe, someone titled 'The Character Queen' would be the leader of both parties and unite them for good, seeing as how they've been screwing the universe up with their CRAP?!"
I threw my finger at the door.
"Look at the mess y'all have caused! Endless destruction, death, mayhem, war, division, loss, crime--and for WHAT?! Because all you guys are is a bunch of UNSUPERVISED children!"
"Lies!" Jim exclaimed. "..Lots of people 'supervise' me."
He winked at Joker, who only slapped him on the head.
I couldn't even. "I just..." I turned away, shaking and holding my head.
"I can't..I just can't...you guys just...."
Despite my own inner protests not to, I looked back at the fiends.
"You lot are actual five year olds..YOU did it cuz you were hungry.."
I pointed at Master, then at Jim. "YOU did it cuz you were bored!"
Then at Joker. "And YOU did it cuz you needed a laugh!"
I threw a hand at the well-behaved Bane. "The only justified one was Bane..he can't breathe!"
"AND because his face hurts." Gavin added, his arms folded as he smirked sneakily from the corner.
"Yes, thank you Gavin." I agreed, nodding his way.
"Yes, thank you Gavin." Joker mocked in a condescending tone.
"MARRY me, Gavin, I LOVE you, you're sooooo cuttteeeeeeee.....he's gonna be a problem--as your LAPDOG!" "YA KNOW WHAT, CLOWN, I'M SICK OF YOU."
I immediately whipped my gun out and held it up point-blank at his forehead, which made him as well as everyone else in the room jump, eyes widened.
"OKAY, OKAY, OKAY, let's not get crazy or something!"
His wild eyes cut to the others. "God, this kid is even more unpredictable than I am!"
I growled internally, almost wanting to laugh at the comical image of him throwing his hands up so quickly.
"Do it!" Master encouraged, bending with excitement. "DO IT!"
I sighed and rolled my eyes, lowering my weapon.
"We don't have time for this nonsense, we've gotta get to the hotel."
"Hey, you still didn't answer how you're still alive!"
I swung around, jamming my weapon under J's chin, which he flinched at.
"WITCHCRAFT."
He slowly eased. "..I knew it.."
I shook my head again, storming off.
"I told you, I don't know exactly, okay? Maybe it's a power, maybe something's looking after me, I. DON'T. KNOW." "Something..or someone?" Jim wondered, mystically.
"DO NOT say your lord and savior, I will kill you." Master threatened.
"Okay, I won't."
Master rolled his shoulders, "THANK you."
I turned my head at him. "It was my savior and lord."
"I H A T E YOU." He snarled.
I only grinned, deviously.
I would say I've been around these boys too long, 'cept I've always been like this.
"Guys...I don't know. None of us know. But it happened and I'm here. If someone is looking out for me, fine. Let's just move on now, okay?"
"Agreed.." Bane spoke up. "..Miss Demens has thus proven herself effective in the field and her strategic actions have saved us on more than one occasion. We should trust that her survival is top priority, no matter the reason."
I grinned at my masked bud. "He's my favorite. Forever and always."
The others made faces. Bane almost glowed with pride.
I then turned to Gavin, of whom was still crossing his arms, leaning next to the doorway.
"You alright?"
His eyes lifted, looking surprised I was randomly checking in on him.
"Oh...yeah..why wouldn't I be?"
I shook my head. "I dunno..I just wanted to make sure that they didn't hurt you."
"But Sarah, they didn't even touch me--" "I meant them."
I eyed the others, darkly. He shrugged his shoulders, uneasily.
"Oh..no..I'm fine...."
I sniffed and turned away.
"..Thank you."
I felt too compelled to smile at him to just ignore his gratitude and he smiled back.
I then advanced for the control panel. "Let's get going, boys!"
I was about to operate the controls, when Master suddenly jumped up infront of me and brought his arm down to separate us.
"NO!" He barked, making me jerk my head back. "ONLY me!"
He positioned his hands on the controls, eyeing me sternly, but I only wanted to laugh.
"Holy beaver, man, grow up!" "You're asking too much of him."
"Stay in your corner, Jim!" I pointed at the Timelord, a hand on my hip.
"Take us to the hotel!" "Where IS the hotel?" He snarked.
I only squinted at him, "I thought you knew everything, Mr. Ego."
"The waitress said it's not far." Bane approached us. "But still a reasonable distance between us and Cataclysm's forces."
I nodded at him, encouragingly and thoughtfully.
"So that's who it is, eh?" Master wondered aloud. "Cataclysm's gotten to those blokes."
"Yes, well that's rather evident." I sassed. "The voice told me that we've been expected and it needed me. Plus Cataclysm's somewhat mad at you lot, so, makes sense why they'd pass on your coming along." J crinkled his brows. "I hate what you've turned us into..you've given us a bad reputation!"
"You gave yourself a bad reputation. Now go take a nap, ya cranky old hag."
He scowled at me, but did indeed proceed to pass me and head for the hallway.
"I'll do just that." He walked further into the darkness. "Wake me when this is all over."
I shook my head at his grumbling, before turning my attention back to the Master.
"Go ahead, Masta. The T.A.R.D.I.S. will know the way."
I laid a hand on the console. "Right, boy?"
Master rolled his eyes. "The T.A.R.D.I.S. isn't going to-"
At that second, the ship made a throaty grinding sound that made everyone jump.
Even Bane.
"What the--?!"
I smiled. "We share a special bond."
He grew furious, "Not with my T.A.R.D.I.S., you don't!"
"This is a family T.A.R.D.I.S., Master, we SHARE!"
He made a face, but said nothing else. That's when the ship suddenly started moving on its own and we jerked to catch ourselves. I grinned wide and let out a laugh of triumph.
"AHA! I told you!" I pointed, immaturely. "In your face, ya British nitwit!"
"I bloody hate everything!!" He snarled, clinging onto the panel.
The ship itself had lifted into the air and was now gliding across the rooftops, flying through the crisp night air. I ran to the doors and opened one, just to watch everything pass below.
It felt like a ride from an amusement park, my breath continuously sucked right out of me.
I laughed, having more fun than even I could ever imagine.
Gavin and Moriarty soon joined me, both holding onto the doorframes on either side of me.
Even Bane came behind us to enjoy the ride.
"I must say.." Jim's droll Irish accent rose over the wind pounding against us.
"It really is a rush..riding this way."
I turned my head at the Irishman, still grinning from the fun of it all.
"Still bored with life, Jimbo?" I said as loud as possible. "Or do you have a change of heart?"
He pursed his lips, rolling his eyes boredly to the town..obviously putting on an act.
"I wouldn't know.."
That part..didn't seem like an act. It seemed to be complete honesty that he really was conflicted on what he was feeling..whether he was actually enjoying anything at all..whether he actually had a heart to change. And my smile faded only a little as it seemed he couldn't look back at me.
My eyes turned from him onto Gavin. Who of which was busy watching everything with the face and spirit of a child. He was ecstatic..and to be honest, it kind've melted my heart.
On either side of me were two men with complete polar opposite personalities.
One who had lost his innocence and moral stability with no foreseeable solution to get it back..the other was one who, despite reaching an age and point in his life where much has already happened, still looked at everything with the sheer joy and gentle nature of an adventurous boy.
Regardless of their conflicting outlooks...I wanted to help and understand both.
"And you.." I lured his eyes back to me. Which made my expression soften with surprise over how much prettier he was right now, with the moon shining on his face and the wind quivering his hair.
"I quite like having you around..you really fit along with us. You should consider that."
His innocent smile remained and his eyes twinkled at hearing me say this.
"..You really mean that?"
I could sense Jim glaring our way, but I didn't dare acknowledge it.
I only smiled in return, looking back down. That's when my eyes wandered to our right and caught sight of what we needed. "There it is!" I exclaimed, dangerously lunging my body out to point.
They snapped their focus on the hotel.
"Wow..." Jim realized. "It's big!"
The building only became clear as we had turned in it's direction.
"We're getting close!" I peered to spot the van. And bless..they had made it.
"There's the Mystery Machine! They're safe!"
"Not that anyone really cared otherwise."
I slapped the back of Jim's head. That's two slaps he received that day that I recall.
Another one and I was gonna have to send him to his room.
However, he was unfazed. Seems the lot are growing used to my abuse.
"We better close the door."
"What? Why?"
"Cuz the ship's gonna transport us inside!"
Jim turned his head at us. "Why not just park it on the rooftop?"
"Nuh uh, I want it safe with us!"
I shooed them away and quickly closed the doors. "Alright, boys, get ready!"
I could feel Gavin and Jim glance at eachother as I bolted forward, before parting ways.
"What's the plan when we park?" "We'll get to that. Just hold on."
Master stared me down as I held onto the column, gearing up for the ship's violent shakes.
The longer he stared, the more I felt unsettled and I dashed my gaze at him. "Yes?"
He shook his head a bit funnily and looked away, squinting down at the metal.
"Nothing..just...thinking about..food."
I became alarmed. "Not looking at me, you're not!" I shot a finger at the fridge, "Skit skat!"
He surprisingly obeyed like an obedient puppy. Gavin took that chance to rush over to me, bending over to whisper, "Now I only know basic things about the Master..why exactly have you been so worried about him being hungry?"
I cut my eyes at him. "His previous death was reverted by a ritualistic resurrection..which unfortunately went wrong, when his 'wife' Lucy sabotaged it in an attempt to stop his rebirth. But it only twisted the process, killing everyone in the building but him, who was now a being pulsing with energy, but still in the crossroads of death. Keeping his body required him to consume energy.."
I gave him a look of dread. "..Any energy."
Gavin's face sunk. "Oh my.."
My eyes returned to the Master, who had gotten out a bowl of chicken filets and was scarfing them down. I sighed. "Even though he died yet again and seemingly appeared fine when I met him...it looks like he's experiencing the same problem, albeit..more slowly."
Gavin chuckled, turning his head. "Heh..we just need to make sure he's well fed, then, won't we?"
I rolled my eyes, "YEP. And I'M supposed to be the teenager. All that attitude and neediness, he's just a high maintenance prima donna."
I heard stifled laughter and rolled my head to Jim.
"What are you laughing at, you're worse than him!"
"Am I now?"
"Oh please, you literally turned London over like a pancake simply cuz you were BORED!"
Gavin nodded in agreement, "It's true."
"YOU, my dear Jim-Jim Moriartay, are merely a tiny demon seed, desperate for attention and amusement, who's a devious little imp running with a lighter he has no business wielding, ready to start a FIRE."
Gavin glanced at me.
"I love how these men are literally mass murderers and you're throwing insults at them fluently like they're second rate cheerleaders."
I shook my head. "Doesn't stop it from being true."
The T.A.R.D.I.S. grinded and rattled and finally shook and stopped, indicating that we had landed.
I turned and started off. "For reals though, that's all villains really are..a bunch of children. Rotten little brats that don't like being told no."
"And you're not a brat?!" Master retorted, waving around half a filet, the other stuffed in his mouth.
"I never said I wasn't..now stay in your corner, ya pesky martian!"
He gave such a look of disdain, I almost choked on air.
"I'm not a martian!!"
I'm sure him and the Doc have heard this so many times that it's become a slang term to them.
I hurried to the door, with Gavin and Jim in tow.
One of the literal only points in my life where boys are chasing after me. -_-
Without further ado, I threw open the door, smiling instantly at the inside of a building revealing itself on the other side.
"Huh..." Master commented with a full mouth as he joined us. "We didn't crash."
I glared at him as he glared at me. "What a shame."
I narrowed my eyes, "Didn't your mom ever teach you not to talk with your mouth full?"
"You eat with your mouth full all the time!" He argued.
"You eat like a carnivorous tyrannosaurus rex!"
"FUNNY, I don't remember there being a vegan version of those!"
"You aren't very lady-like.." Jim threw in, with wandering eyes and an unpleasant facial expression.
I rolled my own eyes. "And this is news to me how? I ain't ever stated I WAS such a thing."
"Then don't complain about not getting a man."
"If a man has a problem with my unlady-like personality while shamelessly sporting his own, then he's a hypocrite." Master and Jim gave eachother questionable expressions.
I spun back around, throwing my hands up to the ceiling. "I'm trapped as a girl every man should want that nobody wants!!" I wept. "Why is life impossible?!"
That's when Bane poked his head out from behind the others, "Miss Demens.."
I turned my attention fully on him, only to receive a look of urgency.
"Oh..right..thank you, Bane. I quite forgot."
I cleared my throat and stepped out the door. "Here we go!"
But my arm was grabbed. Gavin pulled me in and we locked eyes, the both of us having the entirety of eachother's attention. "Something doesn't feel right.."
I rose my brows as his eyes honed in on the rest of the environment.
"Something doesn't feel right at all..."
He eased his grip as he looked around suspiciously and I couldn't help but chuckle.
"What is that, your ninja sense?"
His head rolled back to me and he gave me a playful look of sarcasm.
"I'm going to scout around..be careful."
I smirked, looking away. "Yes, sir."
He departed from the four of us, heading toward the entrance, as I exited the rest of the way out of the ship.
"You two are adorable." Master teased.
"Shut it." I snapped, too busy looking around to argue.
"Yes, please shut it, she's a married woman."
I groaned loudly, expressing my irritation to the two villainous men.
They chose to be silent.
The hotel was actually pre-ty nice and uber clean..making me believe that only the ritziest types of people came to this place. Certainly nothing that a poor girl like me could afford under normal circumstances. There was an enormous staircase, two elevators, fancy plants, a lounge area-- an area where food seemed to be presented at some point, just not at that time-- and over to our right was the reception desk. I naturally was gearing myself up to explain why my spaceship had suddenly appeared out of nowhere and why it had landed right on the nice polished marble floor of the lobby.
But to my utter joy, all that sat before me was an old man, resting his head against his hand, and snoring quite loudly. I wiggled my brows as I glanced at the boys.
"Well that was easy." Master muttered.
"Sadly.." Jim sulked.
I proceeded to lead my three companions to the desk and I leaned forward, inspecting the man.
I snapped my fingers a few times, close to his ear..but he did not budge.
"America's finest, I take it?" Master jabbed. I scowled at him.
"While you're busy taking cheap shots at my proud 'Merica heritage, I'mma go make sure everybody's safe." I pointed at my masked bodyguard as I started to move. "Bane, you're in charge!"
Master slammed the counter, Jim tossing his arms in the air, as Bane stared down at them with his usual smug-as-possible demeanor. "Why do you ALWAYS do this?!"
Of course, the slam on the counter apparently made the old man now jump out of his seat, making the boys jolt and the old man yelled out a jumbled,
"THEY'RE HERE!!!"
I never before have seen such shocked expressions as I saw on the boys' faces at that moment.
I almost died from spouting out laughter as I went up the steps.
- - -
Taking the stairs over the elevator seemed like the most logical choice at the time given that elevators can be sabotaged and I would have no control over it deciding to fly back down to the ground floor and I die. Gavin was right..something didn't feel right.
A feeling I simply couldn't shake off, not with all the shrugging in the world.
I crawled those steps with the utmost caution, peeking ahead of me as much as possible.
As I was reaching the top, I swallowed. I took the last few steps upwards and stepped out into the hallway. My eyes zoned in on every little detail, trying to take note of my surroundings. The exits, the rooms, the amount of time it'd take to get back to the lobby, the length of the halls, the props I could use as potential emergency weapons. These are the precautions necessary to take when you're an adventurer. The most important thing I caught sight of was the figure sitting in a chair from a distance. Someone thankfully all-too familiar. I waved from the roughly 50 foot distance.
"Mulder!"
The trusty FBI agent, who's chair was next to a room, was reading a book with one hand, a disposable paper cup in the other, turned his head to me and he perked up in his chair.
"Oh, she's here..she's here!"
In an instant, three other doors opened, Fred, Shaggy and Scooby poking from one, Velma, Daphne and Mabel from another, and finally Scully from the one next to Mulder.
"She's alive!" Mabel cheered.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah!" Scooby delighted, clearly smiling.
"Wait, she is?!" That's when Dipper hurried his head out from behind Scully. He beamed.
"You're back!"
I rose my brows. "Glad to see I made such an impression."
I started to approach them, easing my tense body.
"Where's the kid?" I questioned Scully with a jerk of the head.
"She's sleeping." She led me to the inside of her and Mulder's room, me smiling and waving at the others as I passed, where I entered inside and Scully nodded at the passed out girl on the bed.
"She's doing better now, but something tells me she needs a whole lot of rest after the performance she pulled back in town." The sound of Mulder's voice behind me explaining peculiar events made me feel like I was living an episode of X-Files.
I narrowed my eyes as I stared at her..short brown hair a bit lighter than mine, wrapped in a blanket as she laid on her side, a pillow tucked under her head as a TV played a few feet from her bed.
She was sleeping soundlessly and did look a little weak, but it did appear she was much improved.
"Who is she??"
Before I gave anyone time to answer, I turned to face Scully and Mulder.
"Didn't you reach the hospital?" "We reached it, but we never made it inside.."
Scully folded her arms. "The place was being guarded by some..creature."
"It chased us off. We had no choice but to come back."
I nodded, my eyes wandering to the Scooby Gang. "So that's it..they're slowly taking control, all over town." "Who are they? What do they want?" Daphne questioned.
"And more importantly, why do they want you?" Said Dipper, looking concerned.
I glared at them, my arms folded, mind reeling. "..Y'all have anymore ammo for your mags?"
They both nodded. "..Good. So you four staying here, yeah?"
Scully nodded. "Mabel is sleeping with Velma and Daphne, Dipper is sleeping on the bed next to mine and the girl's.." "And I'm the chair, keeping watch."
Mulder rubbed his eyes, obviously exhausted. I don't think any amount of caffeine could help his sad state. "Excellent..you guys gotta stay in your rooms, for now at least. Me and the boys are sweeping the area, which we gotta find a way to fortify the place..place some type of barrier..maybe a forcefield? Eh..anyway, we make it secure, then we'll all meet downstairs and get something to eat. At some point tonight, we will sleep, but we gotta figure things out before the morning hits."
I exited the room, starting back down the hallway. "Be prepared."
"For what?" Fred questioned.
"Anything."
~
I made my way back downstairs, where I heard an older voice argue back and forth with the Master and I made an effort to quicken my pace.
There, I saw the three companions of mine standing in the same spot I left them for once, but the old man was now up and talking..unfortunately, him and the Master were getting into it.
"I don't care how many times you demand it, sonny, and I don't care how many times you tell me you're hungry, we are NOT serving anything, food court hours are OVER!"
Master puffed up, "Listen here, you old fool-"
"OLD fool?!"
"Are you seriously disputing with the elderly staff over food when you JUST finished an entire plate of filets?? You do know we're being chased by murderous monsters, yeah?"
The old man adjusted his thick black-trimmed glasses at me. "Little lady, if you don't have a room key, just what were you doing up there?!"
I reached the end of stairs and advanced for the four, completely ignoring what was said to me.
"--Which I am being a total hypocrite, cuz I ask you now sir, are you out of food? That would have to be the most reasonable explanation of why you are refusing to serve any, cuz if not, why in tarnation are you making a fuss about bringing it out?!"
The old man folded his arms in a huff. "It's against the hotel rules!"
I let my arms out, gesturing at the completely empty lobby. "Who's gonna stop you?!"
His eyes wandered around in a paranoid fashion.
That's where I leaned in against the counter. "Where is everybody, anyway? Why is it so..empty?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "You kids are the only guests."
Master jolted, "KIDS?!"
I tapped the Master's forehead with the back of my hand without taking my eyes off the old man.
I felt the Timelord's judgmental stare.
"What do you mean?" Bane questioned. "No others have come before us?"
The staff made a face. "I can't understand..you got a..." He gestured at his own chin.
"..Say, what's wrong with your friend, what's that thing on his face?.."
Bane tried again, but the old man shook his head, now leaning forward with his ear pointing at him.
"WHAT?! You're gonna have to speak up, son!"
Even Bane was now looking murderous.
"A 10 story hotel with one staff member and just us being the only guests?"
I rotated toward the boys, leaning against the counter still. "Gavin's right..something is fishy."
"Wazzat?!" The old man exclaimed. I whirled around.
"IsaidsomethingisfISHY!" I yelled right at him in one breath and he sucked in his lips.
I turned back around.
A few seconds later, the man's finger pointed past my eyesight at the T.A.R.D.I.S..
"Wazzat?!"
I merely glared at the ship with a still perplexed expression. "Modern art....I think it's best you boys stay in the T.A.R.D.I.S. tonight, keep the ship ready for when I need you."
"What about you?" Inquired Jim, with a tone that could be mistaken for concern.
"..I'm gonna stay in one of the rooms."
"By yourSELF?" Master questioned, straightening up.
"Yes."
"Why?" Jim was worrying me with his interest in this.
"Bait."
They, all three, gave me such a judgmental gaze that I felt guilty for even suggesting such a thing.
"Absolutely not, you little idiot, you are not staying here by yourself!"
"We must stay together, Miss Demens."
I perked my head at them. "Is that a stroke of concern I hear?"
"Don't test me, earth girl!" Master huffed, looking away.
"Look, those creeps want me, this hotel has a mark on it, we need answers, the staff is gone-"
"They're not gone! They just..didn't show up!"
"-Uh huh, the staff didn't bother to show up and there's no other guests besides us? Has anyone even SEEN a horror movie or murder mystery? I mean, these are the signs."
"Question." Master folded his arms. "What's the difference between a horror movie and murder mystery?" "There isn't one." Jim responded, straight-faced.
I made a face as I realized this, "That's a good point, there isn't one."
I turned back around at the elderly staff of one.
"Listen, I'm gonna need you to keep doing what you're doing..and we're gonna need food. So...food. And we're gonna need free range of the hotel, no questions asked, cuz we got monsters about and I need you compliant, kay?"
The old man, peering at me with enlarged eyes behind his glasses, his thin white hair surrounding a glossy bald spot at the top of his head, his green hotel attire adorned with gold trimmings and shoulder plates, scrunched up his face and leaned in, his spinning chair creaking.
"Why should I allow all that, eh? You called me elderly. I'm a senior, little miss!"
"Don't take it personally, everyone older than me is elderly."
I unclipped my walkie talkie and brought it up to my mouth.
"And don't call me 'little miss'."
I held down the button. "Gavin, what's your 20?" I laughed as it clicked off and glanced over at the boys. "I've not realized how much I actually wanted to say that."
The walkie clicked. "--Here."
I jolted my head in front of me, where the glorious ninja boy himself was coming from the entrance.
I clipped my walkie back on my belt. "That was quick..anything?"
"I would say so..they're watching the building."
I furrowed my brows. "What?"
"They've found us already?!" Master retorted.
"You young people and all your excitement.." The old man muttered at the floor.
I sighed deeply, closing my eyes a second as my hands gripped onto my hips.
"Okay.." I cleared my throat. "..Okay, first thing's first. We need to keep them from getting in. So we need some kind of forcefield to put around the building."
"Hm.." Jim pondered. "Maybe we can get your pixie friend to put a little pixie magic around the place." "Oh, we're not bothering Tink, she just came out've a mess."
Master suddenly perked. "I have something that will do the trick. Wait here."
He scurried off back into the ship.
The old man looked up at us, particularly at me and Gavin.
He pointed at him and my heart stopped.
"Is he your boyfriend?"
I shot my head at him in an instant, just as Gavin started blushing and looking away.
"NO." "Your brother?" "NO!!"
His head turned to Jim. "What about him?"
Jim nodded. "Husband." "HUSBAND?!"
"NO! No, no, NO!!" I waved an impatient hand at the man. "None of us are related and none of us are together! So quit asking questions!"
Not even two seconds, "Why??"
I swung around, slamming my hands on the countertop. "Old man, you are cruising for a bruising!"
He jerked back, eyes widened. "Alright, little miss, no need to be such a spitfire!"
"I TOLD YOU, NO LITTLE MISS!!"
In that moment, I was yanked away by no surprise- Sir Gavin of Ninjalot.
He pulled me away from my one-sided violent confrontation and ushered me to the side out of earshot. "Let's get you over here before you start brawling with the hotel staff of one."
He faced me and brought instant calm to my huffing, puffing body of irritation.
This man was the white lei to my Stitch, and God was apparently the Lilo.
"Now look.." Gavin crossed his arms, his hair naturally falling over his glistening eyes.
He presented himself with such a tranquil and collected manner, which seemed impossible to have in such a situation as our's. "We need to think calmly..rationally..what our next steps are going to be. After we get a barrier around the building, what's next?"
I shook my head at the floor, my hands at my sides. "Oh, how should I know?"
"Well, you're the Queen." My eyes rolled his way. He slightly smirked.
"Sarah, like it or not, you ARE the one in charge, with everyone looking up to you. You're the one who needs to find solutions and put together plans. This is what you wanted."
"This is not even close to what I wanted.."
"..I know..it's..complicated now...everything usually is."
My head lifted and I exhaled some stress away, trying to get my cool together.
"Okay..you're right..we need to..we need to focus and..try to survive the night."
Gavin nodded, having the utmost confidence in me that I absolutely d i d n o t have in myself.
"Alright..so what do you need from me? How can I help?"
I cleared my throat, taking concentrated breaths. "OK, I need you to just..guard the entrance, make sure they're not getting in for now. When Master comes back, we'll work from there."
He nodded and immediately went to go do so, drawing his sword which made a ringing sound that echoed all throughout the lobby. The old man gawked, swinging his head at me.
"Your boyfriend's a samurai?!"
I wanted to scream. "J u s t..." I pointed at him. "STAY in your corner, Popeye!"
He made a face and silently shifted in his chair, obviously offended.
I was returning to Jim and Bane, who were probably feeling left out, not yet having their bit in the game plan. "Boys..I have duties for you. Jim, you're getting the food. Take--" I paused to point at the old man. He perked. "Bud!"
"--Take BUD here to help you. Bane, you're gonna go up and help guard the hallway with Mulder. After we get a barrier around the building, y'all gonna sweep the upstairs and make sure it's clear before we can rest up." "ALL the rooms? In ALL ten stories?"
"We must." Bane snapped. Jim rolled his head.
"Once you've done that, I need you to put security cameras in each hallway and then put booby traps to alert us if anything comes near. We're going to tap into our inner Kevin McCallister for this bit. I want everyone armed and ready. The kid upstairs is getting better; if we absolutely need a weapon strong enough to take these guys on, I have a feeling she'll have no problem providing. We know she's dangerous."
The boys nodded in agreement.
"When Master is done, I'll have him go with you. And at some point in life, Joker too."
Jim folded his arms. "Look at you, getting all strategic on us."
He leaned in. "Leadership looks good on you."
"Youuuuuu disturb my soul. OK, let's get to it."
I clapped three times and the boys snapped into action.
Bane made for the stairs, where Jim went towards the kitchen area in the back.
"Alright, grandpa, let's get a move on."
Bud rose and followed after him. "I don't understand anything, but alright."
I rose a brow and watched as they all left me behind and soon I was alone, standing in absolute empty silence. This made things awkward and unsettling. I shrugged my shoulders uneasily at the quiet and continuously swallowed, looking all in front of me.
I heard nothing for several moments...........until I started to hear something behind me.
It sounded almost like.....dripping....and there was a chill..a chill that came from no where, making me shiver. I passed this off as my imagination getting a little stupid.
Until I heard..breathing. "...........S a r a h."
I sucked in my breath and swung around, scanning the opposite side of the lobby.
Nothing was there. The silence remained. I took a deep breath. "...Not today, Satan.."
"Demens!"
"WHAT?!"
I screeched and instantly drew out my weapon at whoever just called my name.
Master skid to a stop and rose his hand at me. "WHOA, put that away!!!"
I sunk, realizing I was jumping at shadows. I wasted no time in holstering it.
"..Sorry....."
He crinkled his brows. "What's wrong?" I only shook my head with a sigh. "Nothing..yes?"
Master smiled, forgetting about it quickly, and lifted a device up, presenting it with care.
"I've got it."
~ to be continued ~
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