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'Not so long ago, everything looked so bright – '

The Doctor took my hand gently and secretly so the others couldn't see. 'If there's one thing I've learned in my travels, it's that, for all its horrors, the universe tends towards good. In the middle of a moment, it's easy to see darkness, and to give in to the blackest despair. But across the scope of centuries, the view reveals a path that always encounters valleys but continues ever higher, that never stops rising.'

I was surprised to hear those words of support. He'd always seemed so distracted, so uncaring. 'That's what I always wanted to believe.'

'Then keep believing. Don't lose heart, Summer.'

I desperately wanted to accept what he said, but for some reason I couldn't put into words, I was afraid of what was to come.

We drove around an area suggested by Stimson without much luck until Ben called out, 'Doctor, I think you were right.'

A light show played out over the rooftops not far away. Stimson drove too fast while attempting to re-light his cigarette, then brought us to a sharp stop when he saw where we were headed. The guy we'd seen at the Polo Grounds stood in the deserted street, light streaming out of him so that the surrounding buildings were painted in the most amazing displays of shifting colours.

'Cool,' Stimson said, transfixed. 'And weird. And a little scary.'

As we approached, the light-guy indicated a dirty, old wooden door in a place that looked like it'd been abandoned for years. It was locked, but the Doctor managed to get it open with some little gadget he pulled out of his pocket. An atmosphere of damp and age drifted out. The glaring lights revealed cracked plaster, sagging ceiling, and a trapdoor in the middle of dirty floorboards.

'I think we need to go down,' the Doctor said.

The minute we ventured inside, the amazing light-show winked out. The street was empty, no sign of where the guy could have vanished to so quickly.

'Spooky,' Stimson said, clearly affected by what he'd seen.

Beneath the trapdoor, stairs wound down into the dark. 'Do you think this is Mathilda's secret hideout?' Ben said anxiously.

Polly looked pale in the fading light. 'What if some of those things ... those Colour-Beasts ... are here, Doctor? They could be all over the place and we wouldn't be able to see them. They could kill us before we even knew anything was happening.'

'It seems from what Summer told us of her experience in the Goblin's house that those things can be seen – with the right altered perception,' the Doctor said.

'If you're tripping,' I added.

He nodded, removing from his pocket something that resembled a hypodermic but with no needle. 'I prepared this earlier ... not quite sure when or how I intended using it.'

Polly eyed it warily. 'What is it?'

'A synthesised substance that will mimic the effects of lysergic acid diethylamide without any of the dangerous effects.'

'Wow,' Stimson said. 'Opening the doors of perception.'

'In a way,' the Doctor mused. 'It will help us see clearly. But I don't think it wise for us all to take it. We need lucid minds for what lies ahead.'

'I'll do it,' I said. To be honest, there was no bravery in my offer; I simply wanted something to distract me from my thoughts about Denny.

'Oh, Summer, I don't know – ' Polly began.

'I've dropped acid before. I know what to expect.'

The Doctor waved Polly silent and took my arm. 'It might be a little different from what you're used to. Certainly it won't be so potent.'

'I'm not looking for kicks.' Now I'd made my decision I felt steel in me.

'Right you are, then.' The Doctor put the hypodermic-thing against my forearm and I felt a little pressure but no pain. He patted the back of my

hand like some friendly old uncle, then turned to the others. 'Let's go, shall we?'

The Doctor and Ben tried to persuade Stimson to stay behind, but he wasn't having any of it. As we made our way down the stairs, the hit started to work.