Purple Vortex [II]

Blink Pt1:

Wester Drumlin

On a dark night, a woman climbed over a set of lovely wrought iron gates that had a 'Danger Keep out Unsafe Structure London County Council' notice on them but she ignored it and went up the gravel driveway that led to a big house.

She broke through a boarded up window to get inside and she took pictures of the plastic covered chandeliers resting on the floors as well as other pieces of furniture. She soon noticed the letter B was peeking underneath a piece of peeling paper.

She pulled at it to reveal the words 'Beware the Weeping Angel.' Underneath that was, 'Oh, and duck! Really, duck! Sally Sparrow duck, now.'

The woman did so right as the window behind her broke by a pot that was thrown, which bounced off the wall and broke on the floor. When she turned the light of her torch revealed a statue outside, a winged angel with its hands covering its face.

She went back to the wall and pulled more of the paper off the wall to reveal: 'Love from the Doctor & Galaxy (1969)'

-9-

"Kathy?" Sally called as she walked up some stairs and in one of the rooms the Doctor was on a monitor screen.

"Yes. They're coming. They're coming for you, but listen, your life could depend on it. Don't blink. Don't even blink. Blink and you're dead. They are fast, faster than you can believe. Don't turn your back, don't look away, and don't blink. Good luck."

In the room there were other screens with the image of the Doctor, one with him and Galaxy and one with him and Martha.

-9-

"Hello?"

"Bit freaked. Need to talk. Making you a coffee." Sally quickly said as she spoke to her friend over the phone. "Sally Sparrow, it's one in the morning. Do you think I'm coming round at one in the morning?" Kathy asked. "No. I'm in the kitchen. What's that on all those screens in your front room?"

"Oh, God. Oh, God. Sally, you've met my brother Larry, haven't you?" Kathy asked. "No." She replied. "You're about to." Kathy said and the door opened and a man who was naked stood there. "Okay. Not sure, but really, really hoping. Pants?"

"No."

"Put them on! Put them on! I hate you! What're you thinking?" Kathy yelled as she ran into the kitchen and Larry put his hands up as he walked away. "Sorry. My useless brother. Sally? What's wrong? What happened?"

Wester Drumlin

Sally and Kathy climbed the same gate Sally had the night before. "Okay, let's investigate! You and me, girl investigators. Love it. Hey! Sparrow and Nightingale. That so works." Kathy said. "Bit ITV."

"I know! What did you come here for anyway?" Kathy asked. "I love old things. They make me feel sad." Sally answered. "What's good about sad?" She asked. "It's happy for deep people."

They walked into the room with the writing on which Sally looked at before walking out into the conservatory to look at the garden.

"The Weeping Angel." Sally said when she saw the stone statue covering its face. "Wouldn't have that in my garden." Kathy said. "It's moved." Sally said. "It's what?"

"Since yesterday. I'm sure of it. It's closer. It's got closer to the house." Sally said as they walked back inside, "How can my name be written here? How is that possible?" She asked and the doorbell rang.

"Who'd come here? What are you doing? It could be a burglar." Kathy said as Sally went to the door. "A burglar who rings the doorbell?" She asked. "Okay. I'll stay here in case of..." Kathy trailed off. "In case of what?" Sally asked. "Incidents?" She said. "Okay."

Sally walked to the front door and opened it to see a man standing there. "I'm looking for Sally Sparrow." The man said. "How did you know I'd be here?" Sally asked. "I was told to bring this letter on this date at this exact time to Sally Sparrow."

"Looks old."

"It is old. I'm sorry, do you have something with a photograph on it, like a driving licence?" The man asked. "How did you know I was coming here? I didn't tell anyone. How could anyone have known?"

"It's all a bit complicated. I'm not sure I understand it myself." The man said as Sally handed him her licences, "I'm sorry, I feel really stupid, but I was told to make absoultely sure. It's so hard to tell with these little photographs, isn't it?"

"Apparently." Sally said. "Well, here goes, I suppose. Funny feeling, after all these years." The man said. "Who's it from?" She asked. "Well, that's a long story, actually." He said. "Give me a name."

"Katherine Wainwright. But she specified I should tell you that prior to marriage she was called Kathy Nightingale." The man said and a bang sounded from somewhere in the house. "Kathy?" Sally called. "Kathy, yes. Katherine Costello Nightingale."

"Is this a joke?"

"A joke?"

"Kathy, is that you? Very funny." Sally said, walking back into the house with the man following her. Kathy? Kathy? Kathy!" She shouted but there was no sign of her friend. "Please, you need to take this. I promised." The man said. "Who are you? Why are you here?"

"I made a promise." He said. "Who to?" She asked. "My grandmother. Katherine Costello Nightingale." He said. "Your grandmother?" She asked, surprised. "Yes. She died twenty years ago."

Sally took the envelope and opened it to see a number of old photos of a woman.

"So, they're related?" She asked, looking at them. "I'm sorry?" The man asked. "My Kathy, your grandmother. They're practically identical." She said and read the letter she found with the photos.

"My dearest Sally Sparrow. If my grandson has done as he promises he will, then as you read these words it has been mere minutes since we last spoke. For you. For me, it has been over sixty years. The third of the photograph is of my children. The youngest is Sally. I named her after you, of course."

"This is sick. This is totally sick." Sally said, throwing the photographs and letter before running up the staircase. "Kathy? Kathy! Kathy?" When she got to the top of the stairs, there were three statues on the landing, each hiding its eyes in different ways.

One was holding a Yale key on a chain. When Sally crouched to look at the statue, the one behind her revealed its eyes and she took the key and turned, the statue's eyes hidden once again.

When she heard the door close, Sally ran down just before the statue that had the key could touch her. "No, wait! Hang on!" She shouted as the man was heading down the driveway. She picked up the photographs and letter that he had collected and placed on the banister rail and ran outside.

The statues watching as she ran off.

-9-

"I suppose, unless I live to a really exceptional old age, I will be long gone as you read this. Don't feel sorry for me. I have led a good and full life. I've loved a good man and been well loved in return. You would have liked Ben. He was the very first person I met in 1920."

Sally walked along a cemetery as she visited Ben and Kathy's grave with some flowers.

"To take one breath in 2007 and the next in 1920 is a strange way to start a new life, but a new life is exactly what I've wanted."

"1902? You told him you were eighteen? You lying cow."

"My mum and dad are gone by your time, so really there's only Lawrence to tell. He works at the DVD store on Queen Street. I don't know what you're going to say to him, but I know you'll think of something. Just tell him I love him."

A statue watched Sally as she left the graveyard.