This is my punishment for stealing those coloring books back in the 2nd grade. I bet they are going to make me color in them for eternity. I finally gathered some courage and asked:

“What kind of species are you, when you kidnap people?”

The alien who looked like he could be their leader wasn’t happy with this question.

A tense silence filled the room before strange, otherworldly sounds began to pour from their mouth. It was unlike anything I’d ever heard. An eerie, high-pitched resonance that made the lights flicker with every syllable. Was this their language? Why weren’t they using English like before?

Suddenly, a new voice cut through the tension:

“Did someone call for a doctor?”
“Who are you, and how did you get in here?” one of the aliens demanded.
“Me?” she said with a confident smile. “I’m the Doctor.”

The aliens exchanged baffled glances, their voices harmonizing in unison:
“Doctor Who?”
“I thought you’d never ask” she answered with confidence and then proceeded to snap her fingers.

What happened next was beyond comprehension. It was as if the very fabric of reality had unraveled. One moment, I was in the hospital room, surrounded by flickering lights and strange beings. The next, an object began materializing around me. Before I could process what was happening, I found myself seated inside a gas station diner.

I stared at her, torn between gratitude and suspicion. Was she my savior, or was this just another form of abduction? I didn’t even think to ask her name before blurting out the first thing that came to mind:

“You’re not going to make me color, are you?”
She laughed, a sound that somehow felt comforting, and introduced herself.
“You must be so confused right now. My name is Clara Oswin Oswald,” she said.
“Ivana” I said my name, still disoriented.
“Where are we?” I asked, my voice shaky.
“You’re inside my TARDIS.”
“TARDIS?” I repeated, utterly lost.
“Yes, TARDIS. Short for Time and Relative Dimension in Space. It’s a spaceship—just like the one those aliens used.” she explained.

A spaceship? Was this some kind of elaborate joke? Or had I truly lost my mind? I couldn’t tell anymore. Maybe I was the crazy one here. Maybe I always had been.

“So… those aliens,” I began hesitantly. “Are they actually Time Lords?” I asked.

Clara’s expression shifted at my question, her smile fading into something more serious, almost somber. She leaned back against one of the diner stools, her arms crossed as she studied me for a moment before speaking.

“No,” she said quietly. “They’re not Time Lords. Far from it, actually. The Time Lords… well, let’s just say they’re a complicated lot. These aliens, though? They’re something else entirely. Something more dangerous.”
I swallowed hard, my pulse quickening. “Dangerous how?”

She hesitated, as if deciding how much to tell me. “They’re called the Vortan. They’re scavengers of time and space. They don’t just kidnap people for fun. They take what they need, whether it’s knowledge, resources, or…” Her voice trailed off, and her gaze darkened. “Or something worse.”

I didn’t want to know what “something worse” meant, but my curiosity got the better of me. “And what do they want with me?”

Clara tilted her head, her dark eyes narrowing slightly. “That’s the question, isn’t it? You’re not exactly their usual target. Coloring books in the second grade? Hardly the stuff Vortan legends are made of.”

Her attempt at humor didn’t land. I was too busy trying not to spiral into a full-blown panic. “So what do we do now? Are they going to come after me?”

Clara grinned, the playful confidence returning to her face. “Not if I have anything to say about it. They won’t be able to trace you here, not inside the TARDIS. It’s completely cloaked from their sensors.”

I blinked, still struggling to process everything. “But… why help me? You don’t even know me.”

Her smile softened, and for a fleeting moment, there was something almost maternal in her expression. “Because that’s what the Doctor would do. And because I’ve been where you are—lost, scared, not knowing who to trust. You don’t have to go through it alone.”

Before I could respond, the TARDIS shuddered violently, the lights dimming for a split second before stabilizing. Clara snapped to attention, her cheerful demeanor evaporating as she rushed to the console in the center of the room.

“What was that?” I asked, my voice rising with panic.

“Trouble,” she muttered, her fingers flying across a series of glowing buttons and levers. “The Vortan must’ve left a tracker on you. Clever little parasites.”

“So… they can find us?” I stammered, gripping the edge of the counter for support.

“Relax,” Clara said, though her tone wasn’t exactly reassuring. “I’ve dealt with worse. But we’ll need to shake them off before they get too close.”

Before I could ask how she planned to do that, the TARDIS jolted again, sending me stumbling into a booth. Clara steadied herself with practiced ease, then turned to me with a mischievous glint in her eye.

“Hold on tight, Ivana. Things are about to get wibbly-wobbly.”

She yanked a lever, and the room was consumed by a deafening roar. The walls seemed to ripple like water, and I could feel the floor shifting beneath me as if the entire diner was being hurled through a hurricane.

And then, just as suddenly as it began, everything went still. The TARDIS hummed softly, its lights glowing a soothing blue.

Clara exhaled, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face as she turned to me. “There. That should buy us some time.”

I stared at her, my heart still racing. “Where are we now?”

She glanced at the monitor on the console, her lips curving into a satisfied smile. “Somewhere the Vortan won’t dare follow. A little place I like to call Earth… but in the 14th century.”

I gawked at her. “The 14th century?!”

“Yup,” she said with a grin. “Perfect spot to regroup and figure out our next move. Plus, I’ve always wanted to visit medieval England.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but before I could say a word, the TARDIS door creaked open, revealing a cobblestone street bathed in the golden light of a setting sun. The air smelled of wood smoke and freshly baked bread, and the distant sound of a lute drifted through the air.

Clara stepped out, turning back to wink at me. “Come on, Ivana. Adventure awaits.”

I hesitated, torn between staying in the relative safety of the TARDIS and following this strange, impossible woman into an alien past. Finally, with a deep breath, I took a step forward.

“Just one question,” I said as I joined her outside. “You’re sure there’s no coloring involved, right?”

Clara laughed, that warm, comforting sound that somehow made me feel like everything might just be okay. “No promises,” she said with a teasing grin. “But trust me, you’re going to love this.”

You can read the previous chapter here