Doctor Who_ The Nightmare of Black Island - Mike Tucker [50]
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Even though she was more frightened than she had ever been in her life, Ali was hugely proud of herself. She knew that she’d have some explaining to do to her mum, and she didn’t even want to think about how angry her dad was going to be, but the rest of the gang. . . They were going to be well impressed, and there was no way that Dai Barraclough was ever going to be able to tease her again, not after he’d run off like a startled rabbit.
In the dark Ali allowed herself a little smile. But that swiftly faded as the sound of something further down the tunnel reached her. Had one of the monsters entered the tunnel behind her? The noises were getting louder and louder. Whatever it was was coming fast. Ali clambered to her feet. She could hear splashing footfalls echoing down the tunnel and the sound of laboured breathing. She started to back away, fumbling with the batteries. The tunnel was too small to hide in. In her panic the batteries slipped from her grasp. She heard them splash into the water that trickled through the drain. With a cry of despair she dropped to her knees, fingers raking through the slime. The noises behind her were getting closer and closer. In terror, Ali abandoned the batteries and started to run. She could see nothing and her feet threatened to slide from under her at every step. She ran with her arms outstretched, desperately trying to balance herself against the wet walls. Her ankle caught on something and she went flying, bouncing off the tunnel wall and diving headlong into the freezing water. Sharp pain shot through her shin, but ignoring it she scrambled to her feet and continued her headlong flight. She didn’t care what her parents or friends thought of her now; she just wanted to get out of this tunnel, out into the open air and away from whatever horror was in here with her.
Her eyes blurred with tears. As Ali made to brush them away with her sleeve, she cannoned into something tall and dark. And screamed.
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Ali bit and screamed and flailed at the thing that had caught her, lashing out with her fists and feet. She could see nothing as the darkness was total, but the thing that had her was tall and gangly and she could hear it gasp in pain as her blows connected.
‘Ow! Careful! You’re going to do me some serious damage.’
It was a most un-monster-like voice.
Ali stopped struggling and an electric blue light lit up the tunnel. Rose’s friend the Doctor stood there. He held a slim tube, like a torch, and the blue light was flaring from its tip.
‘You’re stronger than you look,’ he said, hunching over, wincing in pain and rubbing at his knee.
Ali slapped his arm. ‘Ow! What was that for?’
‘You scared me!’
‘Well, you scared me too!’ The Doctor was indignant. ‘Honestly. Charging about like that. Took years off me.’
He crouched down, looking her full in the face. Ali suddenly realised what nice eyes he had.
‘What were you running from?’ His voice was gentle and full of concern.
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Ali pointed down the tunnel behind her. ‘Something down there. Something behind me. I can hear it.’
‘Can you now?’
The Doctor cocked his head to one side, listening. In the quiet dark the splashing footsteps were clear.
‘Hear it?’ whispered Ali. ‘I think it’s one of the monsters.’
‘Do you? Well, it’s your lucky day.’ The Doctor stood up, pulling his coat straight. ‘’Cause I’m the Doctor, and if there’s one thing that I do well, it’s monsters.’
He held out the silver tube, pointing the glowing tip down the tunnel. Ali huddled behind him, staring into the shadows