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Old Nobodaddy was dark inside him, ripping through his body like a wild beast. His spine was a fishbone lodged in Old Nobodaddy's throat, but something else was wrestling it back. Something that wanted his backbone for a crutch, gathering its strength.

***

Mrs Kreiner lashed out at the Doctor, swearing, clawing for his eyes.

'Don't look at me. Feel me. I am the devil,' she rasped, her voice deep and powerful. She spat at him as he fell backward, and Maria screamed. 'I will burn you in darkness, bone by bone.

'See what you've done?' Maria cried at the Doctor as he scrambled back to his feet. She saw the old woman's eyes were swollen, shrouded in shadow, fixed on her. Her wrinkled, bony chin protruded as she grinned, lips thick with drool, and she held out her wasted arms.

'Come to me.'

***

'I don't want to come to you,' mumbled Taylor, snatching his hand from Lucy's and stumbling away down the corridor.

Russell started to follow him, then noticed how much Lucy was shaking, and paused. A large tear slid down her pale cheek, and she looked up at Watson, who was supporting her.

'This isn't right,' she whimpered. 'I'm scared.'

***

Maria found herself moving towards Mrs Kreiner, who nodded encouragingly and held her arms open wider.

The Doctor turned, kicked the tape machine off its chair and unplugged the light-pattern generator. He left the room in silence and black as pitch.

An earthy chuckle sounded in the dark.

***

Lucy's eyes brimmed with tears. 'It's like I'm full of cold water.'

Russell shook his head and ran off down the corridor without another word, leaving Lucy and Watson frozen behind him like waxworks.

***

The Doctor slammed on the main light and Mrs Kreiner recoiled from the harsh brightness, hissing and spitting. Grabbing hold of Maria's cardigan, he hoisted her back and out of reach of the old woman's flailing arms. Then he advanced on Mrs Kreiner. Her face was pale, her eyes losing some of the swelling.

'Relax,' he said. 'Take yourself back, now, Muriel. It's all right.'

The old woman seemed suddenly confused and looked at him tearfully.

The Doctor placed a hand on her forehead, smoothing away the dry furrows in her skin, squeezing her hand and muttering soothingly under his breath.

'You're back,' he breathed. 'Back in your room here. Dinner was delicious tonight, wasn't it?'

'The food is always delicious here,' mumbled Mrs Kreiner, happily. 'And there's always people to talk to. I may stay, mayn't I?'

'Of course. But sleep now. We can talk again tomorrow.'

'You are good, indulging an old woman... You must visit me again.'

'Oh, I shall; the Doctor whispered. 'I promise.'

***

Austen writhed on the leather couch, Old Nobodaddy screaming in fury as the sky became a ceiling again, as empty and dull white as the rest of the room.

***

'I'm sick,' said Lucy. "like me to bed, Davydd, please.'

Watson nodded, and slowly, gently, manhandled her listless form along the corridor.

***

'Charles!' moaned Nurse Bulwell as Roley appeared in the doorway of the room.

'What the deuce is going on?' Roley said, looking like a decorated stick in his nightgown. 'Cynthia came to me scared out of her wits by screaming.'

'Your pathetically primitive hypnotic techniques have triggered a fit in Mrs Kreiner,' stormed the Doctor.

'What? Nonsense, man. She's asleep. Look at her!'

The Doctor seemed about to explode, but Maria cut in. 'It's true, Charles.'

She straightened her dress, and when she spoke again it was almost smugly. 'A schizophrenic episode, just like that, if you please.'

'Her usual?'

'Her usual.'

'Crikey Moses,' uttered Roley. 'And now she's sleeping soundly? You didn't give her anything?'

'I was able to pull her mind back to before the fit,' said the Doctor. 'Before your technique did any more lasting damage.'

Roley ignored him, rushing to the bed and examining Mrs Kreiner. 'Pupils aren't dilated...