Blum Apartment Complex. Floor 4. Room 407. Will Mayweather's apartment.
With a loud bang, the apartments door swings open and Will hurries though sideways with the Huntress still held onto tightly in his arms. She'd grown very cold and her breathing was barely registering now.
He hurried to the couch in his living room and laid her down as carefully as he could. Her muscles tightened on impact from the pain. As she did so, her hands started to glow a golden colour.
Petrified, Will jumped backwards and glared. As they glowed, the colour of her hands changed. They weren't pale and cold anymore. Instead, her nails changed from uneven and rough to shiny and shaped. When the glow faded seconds later, they went back to normal.
None of this was making any sense to poor Will. This whole situation seemed like a strange dream. A very unusual and out-of-character dream at that. Heartbeats from two hearts, a glow which changed her hands, falling from that ridiculous height and living?
Continuing to curiously pondering about what he had seen, Will threw his damp coat and scarf onto a small, round dining table.
All of a sudden out the corner of his eye, Will noticed that the Huntress was shivering.
'Warmer place' he remembered aloud.
He hurried over to his small fireplace at the couches side and stoked the nearly dead orange coals. With a few extra logs, it grew strong and warm. He sat on the other couch across from the Huntress and watched over her closely. He even threw a blanket from the end of the couch over her drenched, weak body.
It was a crochet blanket which had been passed down from generation to generation within his family. It was one of the few dear things he had left. It bore many colours which were growing dull with age but bore beautifully crocheted flowers on its upper side.
After a short while, he dragged one of the wooden chairs away from the dining table and sat near the Huntress. He watched the fire whilst taking glances at the Huntress as she slept. Even though ten or so minutes past with only the sound of the fire, Will still didn't know what else to do, better yet question.
'What the hell is going on? This is all meant to be behind me' he whispered under his breath whilst twiddling his thumbs. He leant forward in his chair and jumped at an unexpected noise.
'What's behind you?' came a hoarse female voice
It was the voice of the Huntress. Spoken not in question or shock, just plain and simple. She lifted her head and watched Will closely as he studied her from his chair. His expression only gave surprise from her conscious presence. Interesting.
'Nothing to worry about. You should be resting and maybe thinking about telling me what the hell is happening right now. Nothing is making any sense and there's nothing I hate more.'
As Will's voice turned from a straight forward statement to into obvious uncertainty, the Huntress couldn't help but grin as she thought to herself. Humans. He has the idea of curiosity, but lets his emotions get the better of him. Not much, but just enough. Also lacks the confidence to just come out and question everything directly. Strange indeed.
'You really want to know how I fell? Why I'm still alive? What that presence was?' she inquired.
As she spoke each question, Will leaned more and more forward each time. The anticipation was killing him. His curiosity had grown so much over the last ten minutes that it was becoming unbearable. He was starting to sweat even though he wasn't yet warm.
It was only now that the Huntress took notice of Will's physical features. A kind and gentle face, low shaven brown hair, those pale blue eyes. Considering she'd only met one human so far; she didn't mind what she saw. Then again, she didn't know what others even looked like. Just like Time Lords, she presumed.
'I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. I can't say why. If you want to keep your normal life, you've got to forget me, everything you've seen tonight and walk away. In this case, throw me out since I can't walk. If I do tell you, you'll be stuck with me until I leave for good.'
The more she spoke, the more puzzled Will got. Normal life? Throw her out? Stuck with her for good? What could be so bad or dramatic that it means those consequences? Were all of his questions worth the possible outcome?
Will sat in silence for a long time trying to decide what to do while the Huntress stayed silent to let him think.
After being in the force and having seen the crazy things he saw, his tactical mind was at work trying to figure out what would be the best action to take. Indulge her claims and risk it or believe all of the insane things his seen tonight and walk away without answers.
Rolling her eyes from boredom, the Huntress sighs and finally speaks up. 'Look. That presence you felt behind you earlier is not of this world. It's my duty now to stop it before it puts all life on earth in jeopardy.'
'Life on earth in jeopardy? This isn't a fiction book! How would something like that be your duty?'
Even with the burning pain in her muscles and joints, the Huntress couldn't help herself. She pushed her body up into a sitting position. Will's raised voice set her off. Her stubbornness couldn't take an action like that lying down, quite literally.
'Because I'm not human either! How else could someone survive that damn fall!'
This caused a full-on silence to occur. Only the honking horns outside and the small fire inside could be heard. The Huntress couldn't believe that she'd raised her voice and put her body through the pain of sitting up just for pain to be the only result, while Will couldn't believe what the Huntress had just told him.
Not human? Like, an alien? This woman who calls herself the Huntress is actually a human-looking alien? How can this be possible? Why is this happening? I mean, I knew deep down by the sound of possibly two hearts and her glowing hands, but to hear it...
The Huntress looked away from Will as she started thinking to herself. Her mind flickered through the events which happened recently. Suddenly, she remembered something.
Will watched in awe as she started using her lower arms to frisk her still-damp coat pockets. First the outside pockets, then the pockets inside the coat lining. Her panicked face suddenly turned to joy as she pulled out a small device from her left inner pocket. It looked like a multicoloured wand with veins and a purple tip. Almost like it was made of unmelting ice. Nothing like he'd ever seen before.
'Yes! Thank goodness! Didn't lose the new one! Seems that its worth waterproofing them after all.'
She grips it tight and examines it carefully. 'Undamaged too. Perfect. Now I just have to, argh!'
She suddenly curls and cringes as her body shoots sharp pains all over. As her eyes well up with tears and her breathing grows more laboured, her body relaxes once more and leaves her laying down again, unable to move from fear of more pain. The sonic screwdriver is still in her hand but her grip has loosened. As she stays still, her mind is left in a flux of panic and agony.
As all of this unfolded, Will just watched in panic with no idea how to help her. He watched and thought over and over again. What do I do?
'I want to help, Huntress' came the softened voice of Will. Almost gentle, but so determined and serious. He meant every word.
All the Huntress could do was move her eyes over to him as he sat on his chair and watched the fire, unable to look at her anymore. Maybe he refused to believe she's an alien? Maybe he hated seeing her in pain? Whatever the reason, he wanted to know the truth as well as help her. So genuine.
'I was sitting at the door of my ship. Small thing, hovering high above the clouds. And the Thames. It was shot down and I fell. Shooting down a ship of that design shouldn't be so easy, yet it happened. The same presence you felt behind you did that, at least I believe it did.'
As she slowly explained things, Will's eyes had diverted to hers. He observed and almost absorbed every word she spoke. Almost like gospel. His mouth was nearly gaping. Not so much surprised, but jaw-dropping.
'That's not all. I'm not going to die...'
This made his eyes widen and his jaw truly drop. His understanding face turned into pure confusion. Disbelief even.
'...Before I tell you why though, I need to know that you can't only handle the truth but can be trusted as well. Go back to the river. Open your mind to the impossible. There's something you missed. When you figure it out, come back and tell me what you've seen through your own eyes.'
Moments after the last word leaves her mouth, her eyes close and she's asleep again. Will reaches to wake her but retracts his hand instead. Waking her would do nothing but make her condition worse.
Could I have really missed something at the river? What does she mean by opening my mind to the impossible? I already believe that water remembers, so what else could it do? Whatever it is, I've got to find out. No, I'm going to find out. This is the kind of action and mystery that I've missed. I could be me again. I could actually find out the truths of the worlds beyond. It's, it's actually real...?
Will makes sure that the fire is well stoked and that some water is left near the Huntress in case she needed a drink before he grabbed a navy suit jacket from the coat rack near the door along with a dry purple scarf and leaves for the Thames once more.
A few minutes after he leaves, the Huntress experiences uneven breaths again. Moments after this, golden energy swirls
'Not yet' she whispers. 'Not yet...'
Her hand slowly tightens around her sonic screwdriver and she fights to give a small grin. 'Let's see how much the kid can handle when he comes back. If he comes back...'
* * *
St. Armand's Clinic. A small place on the outskirts of London. Worked by only a few doctors, nurses and essential employees such as a receptionist and accountants.
As it was so late, nearly everyone had gone home already, save for one doctor. A man who not long ago worked as a surgeon in the Royal London hospital. Someone wanted him out and their will was done. He was transferred to a clinic that a suburb was attempting to close down on account of its lack of use.
Gray Broke. A man who is not only a brilliant doctor but carries a creative and imaginative mind. Something not many possess nowadays. Aspects of his life were hidden away from everyone he ever knew, including his parent. Gorgeous paintings, smooth sketches and even fine narratives.
He stayed behind to pack up his workstation and the reception area. Instead of entrusting the cleaners, he'd clean certain medical equipment himself. There was no doubt that he trusted Kaycee as a friend, but as a cleaner he'd rather not take such a risk.
It had just struck eleven on the clock in the office. Finally. Time to get home, he thought.
He threw his white coat on a hook in his office and put on a loose black jacket. He wore clean jeans with a plain grey t-shirt. His brown hair was spiky and he was one of those guys who would let his facial hair grow, but not have a proper beard before shaving again. It has been a while since he's shaved.
He was calm and relaxed when he left the office, double-checking the security system before leaving the building. It had been another slow day, so he thought that the Thames route home would help take the boredom away. Something nice and calming to listen too as he walked back to his little flat.
It started to cloud over as he walked and seemed like some drizzle was on the way. Not that unusual for London. Not many people resided in this area, so it might as well be called abandoned. However, as Gray walked and observed the river, something was not right as he looked at the waters current. Rivers always flow in one general direction. To his eyes right now, it wasn't moving an inch. Still water. And it wasn't a surface illusion.
Gray noticed the small foot bridge over the river ahead of him and held his suspicions until he got there. He walked until he hit what he assumed was the middle of the bridge and peered over the edge.
His suspicions were correct. That water wasn't moving. It may as well have been in a glass since it was that still. This shouldn't be possible.
To his right near the underneath of the bridge was a strange shape sitting half amerced in the water. It looked like a mossy, filthy sphere. It didn't mean much at all to Gray. That is until something about the sphere changed.
Without reason or action, two glowing spots appeared on it. Aqua in colour. Almost like eyes.
In that one moment, Gray was entranced. He's freedom was gone and his mind went blank. His eyes never left those of the sphere's aqua glow. Without noticing or with any doubt in his actions, Gray started to lift himself up onto the wall of the bridge. First he was crouched, then kneeling and then finally he stood tall atop the wall. Ready to jump.
Spellbound, Gray uttered a sentence before preparing to jump. 'For the discovery.'
His left leg started moving forward until it was out over the edge. He was planning to step off the edge when an arm wrapped around his waist and yanked him backwards. Hard.
Gray landed on his saviour and was shaken free of his trance. Frightened, he scrambled to his feet and looked at the man who he knew had saved his life. Though he'd never met this man before, it would be something he'd never forget or regret.
'Hey. You ok? I mean, thanks' Gray mumbled as he held out a trembling hand out to the man.
'You're lucky' was the only reply given as Gray pulled Will back onto his feet. Will was slightly distracted by the pain in his back after pulling Gray and having him land right on top of him. Risky move, but it paid off. Not the first time tonight, either.
'What the flaming heck was that thing?' Gray shouted uncontrollably. Will moved his head backward in retaliation to Gray's loud voice. 'I don't actually know. I just know that you shouldn't look at it. Death and all of that.'
As soon as he finished his sentence, Will knew that he should have been more considerate with his words. The word death had brought terror across the man's face.
'Look. I have a friend who knows about this stuff, but maybe you can help me here. Ok?'
Gray shook his head and looked at Will directly. His trembles stopped and he focused on calming his breaths. 'How would I help you, mister expert?'
Will could only shake his head. 'Is there anything strange about the river itself. Anything say, impossible?
Gray turned around to look at the river again but Will quickly stopped him by grabbing his shoulders and twisting him back around. 'No. Don't do that.'
'Right. Ok. Got it. The water. There isn't a current. The water doesn't move at all. Can't be possible.'
Will looked down in pure thought. Like he said, it didn't seem possible. 'How can you tell?'
'Oh, I have a sister in the navy. She taught me some stuff about water movement. I'm also a doctor, so I taught her some handy medical stuff.'
Without thinking twice, Will grabbed Gray's hand and started running, dragging him along.
"What the flipping hell are you doing now!?' Gray exclaimed, even though he never tried to stop running.
Will smiled as he looked back at him. 'Taking you with me to my new friend. I'm Will by the way'
'Gray Broke. This guy better be worth this. Your just lucky I have nowhere else to be.'
Will smiled again and looked up at the stars. 'It's a she. And she certainly is.'