Lost in Thought : Snippets of an Alternate POV

Escape the Room

But they were doing it - despite everything, the fear, the animatronics, the blood stain on her hand that she refused to look at - she kept going, refusing to give up with the same courage and determination that had helped her survive all those years with her mother's neglect and abuse. And he was so immensely proud of her.

He just hoped he'd be able to tell her that when all this was over. But he'd had a feeling for a while now, much like he had shortly before they'd lost Rose, that something was coming. Or, perhaps more accurately, someone. A feeling that had only grown stronger when Bria had been taken.

One of the animatronics teleported into the room ahead and he held out his hand to warn her to stop. She flinched and dropped her flashlight, ducking to grab it and trying to freeze in place, only to wobble unsteadily as the robot entered their hallway, tilting its head at them.

He closed his eyes, knowing what was going to happen before it happened. What had to happen - he wouldn't allow anything else. He just regretted that she would have to watch.

He was already in motion by the time she started falling, darting in front of her and using his arm to keep her behind him as the animatronic lunged with an earsplitting screech.

His last thought as the gaping maw filled his vision was of her.

xXx

His first thought as he woke up was that he hated teleports. And knockout gas, which he could just about detect the remnants of as it dissipated. Also otters, but that wasn't related. He hoped.

Once had been enough.

His second thought was that he had a horrendous headache - one of the many reasons he hated said teleports, no matter how quickly it was fading.

His third thought was more of a realization that he had been handcuffed to the wall. Which, he supposed, still counted as a thought.

His eyes flew open and the Master's grinning face promptly greeted him. "Did you miss me?" the other Time Lord crooned.

He rolled his eyes, scanning his surroundings as he spoke and tensing when he saw no sign of Lyssa - or anyone else - in the circular control room. "Inasmuch as I miss the sensation of getting attacked by a swarm of carnivorous flies several centuries ago. Or maybe that particularly tenacious squid." He paused for a moment to think about it. "Actually, upon consideration, I think I prefer the squid."

"Now that's just hurtful," the Master pouted, his shoes producing a dull clink as he paced the hard metal floor. "And after all I've done just for you and your precious girl," he sneered.

The Doctor cast him a flat look, using the opportunity to subtly test his bonds. "Build a bridge and get over it," he said scornfully, borrowing one of the human phrases Lyssa was so fond of before changing the subject. "Where are we?" he asked, giving up on breaking out of his cuffs. They'd been made out of Gallifreyan zinc, one of the strongest metals in the universe - and, after what happened to Gallifrey, one of the rarest.

But who would better know how to restrain a Time Lord than another Time Lord?

"Don't you know already?" the Master pretended to look shocked. "And here I thought you were so very fond of robots filled with tiny cross people. I liked it so much I used it as inspiration. It's different enough from Cybermen that Missy can't claim I copied her."

He gestured to the large screens covering one wall, a row of controls set into the desk below. The black and white feed coming through the screens glitched occasionally, but seemed to indicate that they were looking out onto the stage, the other animatronics once more beside the one they were in.