[Hunter's Game] ~ Day Twelve | Clara

[comeonthensexy]

[ The Doctor doesn't think he can at all be blamed for being incredibly frustrated at the end of this trial. There's a lot bubbling under the surface, particularly concerning Oowada. But that's not what occupies most of his mind.

He shuts and locks the door behind them in Clara's room, and makes a frustrated noise. ]

Of all the--

[ Okay. Breath. Breath. ]

We don't have enough pieces, we don't know enough, not close. What happens after you die? There has to be some sort of... after life. But it can't be, it can't be an after life. It can't even be proper death! There's something else going on here, and I need to know what--

[ His expression shifts; his eyes widen, lips part and the crease to his forehead goes away. Ah... ]

Comments

[parallels]

So you think they're not really dead?

And Critter is just keeping them somewhere?

[She paces the room for a few moments and then looks back at him.]

[comeonthensexy]

[ When he speaks again, his voice has changed. It's the tone he has when he's realised something but not saying anything about it. ]

Yeah. Has to be. People don't just come back from the dead. They're still alive, even if it's only for the duration of the game.

[parallels]

[She watches him, closely. Like she's unsure of what he'll do next.]

But we're still separated. We can't get to them. They can't contact us.

[comeonthensexy]

[ He could almost be laughing now. She should probably be worried. ]

Yes, I know that. Well, that we can't contact them. There is one way to get to them.

[parallels]

No.

[She twists around to face him.]

No.

[comeonthensexy]

[ He snorts, and walks to the other end of the room just to move. ]

Yes. There's no other way. There just isn't.

[parallels]

[She advances on him. cornering him. It's like her heart has stopped. Her chest hurts and it's hard to breathe]

Yes there is. Don't do it. Everyone votes for themselves and then we figure out what to do about the dead.

[comeonthensexy]

[ Sure, do that. He won't crumble, and he'll stand tall. ]

Figure out what? I can't figure out what it is until I've seen it for myself, seen what happens. You're all really clever and brilliant, but you don't have the same knowledge of the universe as I do. There's something more at work here but it could be almost anything. Teleports. Or maybe we're not actually here and just think we are. Maybe only our minds are here. I don't know, and I can't know until I see.

[parallels]

And where was your knowledge of the universe five days ago? Or the day we arrived? What good was it then? What good were you?

[It's harsh, but all his answer did was make her angrier. Wound her more deeply.]

[comeonthensexy]

Exactly!

[ He spreads his arms. ]

What good have I done? Nothing! I've had no ideas, no plans, except from trying to solve a mystery where clues are given to us rather than have to be found. I've just been... waiting. And hoping. But now I have an idea, I finally have something. Something I can control, do on my own! This whole stupid game we've all only been controlled. Well, I'm done with that. I'm deciding my own fate.

[parallels]

[Every sentence is like a slap in the face.]

Your idea. Being the hero.

That's what matters, is it?

[comeonthensexy]

Being the hero? There's nothing heroic in this, it's just--

[ He raises a finger, leans in close and points it right between her eyes. ]

Don't be like this, stop it. I have to, don't you get it?

[parallels]

[She reaches out and violently slaps his hand out of her face.]

You don't. You just think you do. You just want to think you have to so you can justify it.

[comeonthensexy]

I do.

[parallels]

No, you don't!

[Her breath is coming in short, shallow breaths. Tears are prickling at her eyes as much as she hates it.]

I know you hate being stuck. Not being able to help, but you don't have to do this.

[Sharp inhale. Light exhale.]

Please.

[comeonthensexy]

[ Damn it. He has to, doesn't he?

He straightens up abruptly. ]

I have to do this. I'm a hunter, Clara!

[parallels]

[She flinches, like someone had violently struck her. Like all the breath had been knocked out of her lungs. For a few seconds she struggles to breath.]

You're not.

[comeonthensexy]

[ He takes a few deep breaths, and then steps by her close enough to nudge her with his shoulder as he brings his hands up to rub them over his face. ]

[parallels]

You're not.

[She pulls away, feeling extremely sick.]

You said before-

The Watcher said your windows were dark.

[comeonthensexy]

[ He snorts. ]

Windows were dark. Please.

[parallels]

Don't do that!

[She barely contains her voice to below a yell. Her head is reeling, pounding, and her stomach is lurching from stress.

If it's true or a lie, either way she feels like her world has been upended.]

[comeonthensexy]

[ He whips back around. ]

England protected the countries. What do you think I was doing?

[parallels]

How did you hide? How did Ukraine get it wrong? How did no one catch you?

[She swallows and tries to steady herself to no avail. Her hands are shaking, her entire body trembles.]

Or are you lying to me?

[comeonthensexy]

[ He laughs, wry. ]

Playing the perfect prey is easy. I didn't want to die, Clara. And I didn't want you to know. So I played the perfect prey. But I won't die, and I won't be tied down by some stupid rules. I'll be in charge of my own time. Probably. I have a much greater chance "dead" than I have alive right now.

[parallels]

[At first it's like she didn't even hear him. She just stares blankly at him.

The room feels tight, like the walls are closing in and the air is heavy. It's hard to breath. No matter how she tries inhale it's not enough. She's like a fish gasping for breath on a dock. She tries to swallow to clear her throat. There's darkness creeping on the edge of her vision.

She steps forward. A shaking unsteady step.]

I'm going to be sick.

[A flat voice as if stating the weather. She stumbles towards the door, struggles to unlock it and moves out into the main room.]

[comeonthensexy]

[ He stays, absolutely still, closes his eyes... and takes a few deep breaths. That's that. That's it. No turning back now.

He swallows, rubs his hands over his face again, and then moves to check if the coast is clear before he slips out of the cabin. ]

[parallels]

[After sicking up what little is left in her stomach, Clara stumbles out of the bathroom to see the cabin door slightly ajar. It doesn't take much thought to put two and two together.

There are already tears in her eyes from heaving and now they don't stop. They just keep coming as sobs erupt and wrack her tiny frame. She goes back to her room, shuts the door, buries her face in her pillow and cries like she hasn't cried in 8 years. Not since she lost her mother. Now she's lost the other person she thought she could trust.