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Scotland, 1990, the mansion stood in silence, as its broken windows like hollow eyes staring into the fog. Inside, the air was thick with dust…and something else.
It was 11:30 pm, as Hilary Grayling-Palmer groaned when she saw the bedside lamp flickered on. She pulled the blanket over her head.
“Hilary,” her mother said gently, “we need all the help we can get. You did so well last time”
“What’s the point?” Hilary muttered, her voice muffled,
Emma was about to say something, as Hilary got up and dressed.
Walking down the hallway, to her father she asked, “dad, why can’t we just leave it alone? Let the ghost be. This gift is pointless” she said slumping down on the couch.
Alec Palmer, adjusting the equipment, looked over at her sharply, “hey, don’t talk like that,” he said firmly, “that gift is special. You should be so proud, that you unlike your brother and sister got your mother’s ability.”
“Whatever” she responded rolling her eyes
“Hilary, if it wasn’t for your mother’s gift, we wouldn’t have met and you wouldn’t be born!”
Hilary hesitated with a sigh, “fine”
It was a few minutes later, Emma joined them, “how are we doing?”
Alec finished setting up a camera, “were ready”
“Good.” She responded and looked at Hilary to get up
Hilary did, as Emma positioned her towards an opening of the hallway, “just like we practiced. Take a deep breath. Reach out…but don’t force it”
Hilary swallowed, then stepped forward into the center of the room, “I’m calling to the spirit who haunts this house,” she said, her voice steady but quiet
Emma closed her eyes, feeling the spirit in the air, “let us help you find your way home” she said
For a moment, nothing, then the temperature dropped, when Emma’s eyes snapped open, “it’s here”
But it wasn’t coming to her, it rushed toward Hilary.
As Hilary gasped from the invisible force slammed into her, throwing her backward onto the floor.
“Hilary!” Emma and Alec said rushing to her side
“I…I can’t do it” Hilary said, shaken, her voice trembling, “it’s too strong”
A sudden knock echoed through the house, as all three froze. Then another knock, as Alec exchanged a glance with Emma, then cautiously moved toward the door, as he open it and standing outside in the cold night air were two figures.
One familiar, one not
“Hello again,” said the man, with a sharp, curious gaze and a Scottish accent
Beside him, Clara smiled, “remember me?”
Emma stepped forward, squinting…and then her eyes widened, “Clara? You have changed”
Clara grinned, “time travel, remember?”
“And you are?” Alec asked, looking at the Doctor
“Oh, Alec, you do know me. I’m the Doctor, just…new face”
“He’s an alien…regenerates”
Alec blinked, removing his glasses, “and now you’ve got a Scottish accent?” putting his glasses back on
The Twelfth Doctor smirked, “right! Isn’t brilliant?”
Hilary, still shaken, stared at them, “wait…time travel? That’s not possible”
The Doctor’s eyes lit up as he looked at her, “ah! You must be Hilary Grayling-Palmer. Daughter of the professor and psychic. Who also shares the same ability”
Hilary frown, “who the hell are you and what’s this about?”
“Hilary, watch your language. But she’s right, what’s this about?” Alec asked
“Just thought we’d drop in,” the Doctor said casually, “catch up, and oh we heard about a ghost in this house. One that can’t quite find the light”
Emma looked at Clara, “you came back to help?”
“Of course,” Clara said warmly
Alec sighed, “very well, follow me”
He led them into the main room, where a board covered in notes, sketches, and photographs had been set up, “this house was built in 1899,” he explained, “during construction, several workers got injured or died, after seeing her.”
“Who is she?” Clara asked
“No one really knows. Some people say she was a nun or a nurse, that tragically died 100-200 years ago.” Emma replied
“I read that before the mansion was built there was a monastery on this land, followed by a hospital” The Doctor said
Alec removed his glasses, “exactly. Some say the nun cursed any man that set foot on this land. But as for the nurse, she’s trying to find the light, but the words that she calls out is Hel.. then she is gone”
Emma shook her head slowly, “I don’t believed it’s the nun, because the land isn’t cursed. I would feel it” she said looking down the dark hallway
The Doctor followed her gaze, his expression sharpening, “then it must be the nurse that needs our help”
The room settled into an uneasy quiet, as Alec adjusted the dials on his equipment, the low hum filling the space. Emma stood still, eyes half-closed feeling for disturbances. The Doctor paced, scanning and taking photographs in every corner.
Clara meanwhile, watched Hilary, as the girl stood apart from the others, arms folded tightly, gazing at the board.
Clara stepped beside her gently, “so, do you like having this gift, being a psychic?”
“Are you kidding? I had to change schools because I was called a freak”
Clara didn’t react, just leaned slightly against the table beside them, “funny thing about having the gift,” she said lightly, “it usually just means different but special. People don’t always know what to do with different”
Hilary glanced at her, surprised, but said nothing, and continued gazing at the photograph of the ghost.
Clara noticed something else in her expression, something deeper, not just frustration. Like she was drawn to the ghost, but also feels guilty about something else, but Clara didn’t ask.
Just then the machines began to move, as Alec called out, “Doctor, were getting readings again”
The Doctor snapped to attention, sonic screwdriver already in hand.
The machine flickered erratically, “it’s never been this fast or strong in readings” Emma said
The temperature dropped sharply, as a low, resonant hum filled the air…deeper than before, almost…alive.
The Doctor’s expression darkened, “oh, that’s not good,” he muttered
Clara looked up, “what is it?”
“Remember last time, when the temperature drop?” The Doctor asked
They all gasped, as a wormhole appeared, Alec staggered, “another wormhole”
“A breach,” the Doctor said, stepping forward cautiously, “like before, a pocket of space-time punching through into our universe”
Emma gasped, “it’s the spirit…it’s connected to this!”
“The spirit is just lost” the Doctor responded as he looked over at Hilary, “and it’s calling to someone”
The hum grew louder, as Hilary’s breath caught, as she continued to stare at the swirling light, “do you hear that?” she whispered
Clara turned to her, “Hilary?”
“It’s calling me”
Emma rushed forward, “no, don’t listen to it!”
But Hilary tool a step closer, then another
“Hilary, stop!” Alec yelled
But she didn’t stop, as her expression softened, almost peaceful, “it’s not angry,” she said quietly, “it’s…alone”
She walked closer as it pulled her, “Hilary!” Alec shouted again, grabbing her…but the force pushed him back
Clara lunged forward, “Hilary, don’t”
“I can’t help it” she said
Then suddenly a blinding flash, and Hilary was lifted off her feet and pulled forward.
“NO!” Emma screamed
Alec reached out desperately…but his fingers closed on empty air, as Hilary vanished into the light.
The wormhole vanished and everything was silent
Emma collapsed to her knees, “Hilary…” she whispered and began crying
Alec stood frozen, staring at the empty space where his daughter had been.
Clara turned slowly to the Doctor, her voice tight, “tell me you can fix this”
“Oh, I will” he said quietly
The silence after Hilary vanished felt heavier, as Emma sat trembling and Alec pacing in tight circles.
Clara offered Emma tea, as she sat beside and comforted her.
The Doctor, was pacing back and forth and figuring out why the wormhole took Hilary, “it’s just doesn’t make sense,” and begins scanning the area with his sonic screwdriver, and reads the results.
“What’s it telling you, Doctor?” Clara asked
“It chooses and connects”
Clara looked at him, “so, why Hilary?”
He turned to Emma, “what aren’t you telling me?”
Emma froze, “what?”
Alec stopped pacing, “we’ve told you everything, about the ghost and house”
“Not, the house, about Hilary” he said
Alec removed his glasses, “we told you everything”
Clara glanced between them, “something’s been bothering her,” she said softly, “not just because she’s psychic”
Emma’s eyes filled with tears, “she told us something” she admitted
Alec tensed as he put on his glassed, “Emma!”
“She told us she like girls”
The room fell silent, as Clara’s expression didn’t change, but her eyes softened
“I told her it was just a phase” Alec said
“I don’t mean to step in line and yes you’re her father, but nothing is wrong with liking girls” Clara said
Alec rubbed his forehead, as he turned away, “I was trying to protect her”
“From what?” Clara asked
“My brother,” he said, “he was…like that” as he swallowed hard, “he couldn’t handle it, and took his own life”
Emma got up from the couch, and reached for him, but he didn’t move
“I wasn’t rejecting her,” Alec said, his voice cracking, “I was trying to make sure she didn’t end up the same way”
Clara nodded and understood
The Doctor, who had been listening in silence, finally spoke, “what made you decide on this house to help the spirit?”
“It was Hilary. We were choosing other places to investigate, and she chose this one, but didn’t say why” Emma said
The Doctor nodded and said, “need the camera, like before”
Alec gave him the camera, and said, “Clara with me”
As Clara followed, she said, “Doctor” and gave him a look
“What?”
She gave him the same look he did before when they investigated the house, “let’s invite them on the Tardis”
He turns, “why? It would be easier just the two of us”
“It’s their daughter”
He turns to them, “would you like to come with us?”
Emma got up immediately and said, “yes”
Alec stands where he is and doesn’t move, “you coming professor?” the Doctor asked
“Come one, Alec” Emma said
He sighed and said, “very well”
Minutes later, they were all inside the Tardis, “woah” Emma said, “you change it”
“Yes, that happens”
“It’s exceptional” Alec said
“So, where are we going?” Emma asked
“Nowhere. Like last time, standing in the same stop, but taking photographs” the Doctor said
“You’re mapping the timeline, again?” Clara asked
“Exactly,” the Doctor replied as he pulls down the latch and the Tardis groaned and begins to move.
As they move through the timeline, they visit the grounds and take photographs. For the Doctor and Clara, it’s routine… but for Alec and Emma, every new sights draws a gasp of wonder.
Back in the mansion, the Doctor and Alec develop the photographs and load them in the Kodak slide viewer, while Emma and Clara sit down to talk.
“So, you and the professor…I assume you didn’t wait long to get married?” Clara asked
Emma smiled, “he proposed right after you guys left. We were married soon after, and for two years we traveled, investigating places that were said to be haunted.”
“Did you help any spirits find the light?”
“Several. But about a year and a half in, I lost my ability. At first, I didn’t understand why…then..”
“You found out you were pregnant?”
Emma nodded, “yes, she took my gift and I couldn’t do anything for eight months. But when she arrived… she was so beautiful. I was going to name her Victoria, after my grandmother, but Alec suggested Hilary”
“Did you name her after your many time granddaughter ,Hila?”
Emma smiled and nodded, “yes or perhaps Hila will be named after Hilary, someday” she added with a laugh
“Do you think that’s why she hates the gift? She feels guilty for taking it from you?”
“Maybe”
Clara nodded, “is she your only child?”
“No, we have twins, four years younger, a boy, Alec Jr, or AJ, and a girl we named Clara” Emma said with a smile
“You named your daughter after me?”
“Yes”
“I’m honored”
Emma smiled lingered
“Where are they now?”
“With my parents in London. They don’t have the gift, like Hilary.”
“Do, they ever investigate together, as a family?”
“We tried, but they were too frightened and wanted to stop. It was a difficult decision to leave them behind but, we know it’s for the best. It’s another reason Hilary resents the gift…she’d rather be with her brother and sister”
Clara gently placed her hand on Emma’s understanding.
From across the room, the Doctor called out, “were ready,” as he switched on the slide viewer with his screwdriver, preparing to guide them through the mansion’s history.
The Doctor explains the history of the mansion, tracing its past from a monastery, to a hospital, and finally into the estate it had become.
As he continued flipping through photographs, Emma suddenly leaned forward. Her eyes narrowed, “wait…stop,” she said, stepping closer, “it can’t be…”
“Emma, what is it?” Alec asked
“Look, Alec.”
He removed his glasses and studied the image. His expression shifted, “your right…it can’t be”
“What is it?” Clara asked
“The Shadow Man” Emma said quietly, “when Hilary was younger, she used to have this nightmare about a shadow figure approaching her, trying to pull her away. But she always managed to wake up from it”
Alec slowly put his glasses back on,” she’s right. It terrified her. Did it take her?”
“No,” the Doctor said calmly, “The Shadow Man as you call it…is actually known as the Auxilator. Latin for ‘the helper’ . It may look frightening, but it’s harmless. I’ve seen it before”
“You have?” Clara asked
“When I was young,” the Doctor replied, “it calls to people, not to scare them, but to guide them. It helps them find what they’ve lost”
“But Hilary hasn’t lost anyone,” Alec said, “Not really. Her uncle, but he passed way before she was born”
“And she had everything here” Emma added
“Ah,” the Doctor said thoughtfully, “let’s take a closer look,” and pulled up another photograph
This one was from the 1920’s, with two girls laughing and holding hands in a garden, “it’s Hilary, with some girl” Emma said with a gasp
“She looks happy,” Alec said, his voice tinged with guilt, “I haven’t see her like that in a long time”
“Who’s the girl beside her?” Clara asked
“Your ghost,” the Doctor said, “the one who’s been calling to her. Her name is Sadie Jones. In 1985, she became trapped by a wormhole, just like Hilary, and has spent five years in 1920’s, living here in the mansion. Claimed she was an orphan. The family took her in as her own.”
“Wait… you said her name is Sadie?” Emma asked
“Yes, the Doctor confirmed
Emma turned to Alec, “it has to be her”
Alec shook his head, “that’s not possible.”
“What is it?” Clara asked
“A year ago,” Emma began, “Hilary told us said she met a girl at the library. Said her name was Sadie and they had a connection. That’s when Hilary came out and said she liked girls. She tried to find her again, but…she was just gone”
“Well,” the Doctor said, “that meeting wasn’t random, it was met to be. They belong together, but they are needing our help to get back to their own time”
“How do we do that?” Alec asked
The Doctor snapped his fingers and pointed at Emma, “Same as before. We’ll need both the psychic link, and blood calling to blood.”
Alec frowned, “why can’t Hilary come back on her own? She has the ability, why does my wife have to go through it again?”
Emma met his gaze, “because she doesn’t believe in herself”
Alec looked at her, uncertainty still clouding his expression.
The Doctor and Clara rushed to the Tardis and began setting up the gear once more.
“I can’t let you do this again Emma,” Alec said, his voice tight with worry.
“Alec, I need to get our daughter back”
“There has to be another way”
“We both know there isn’t”
He held her gaze for a moment, then nodded, the weight of it settling in. He knew she was right.
Minutes later, the equipment was ready, the Doctor moved quickly, adjusting controls with practiced precision.
“Right,” he said, “this time is different. You’ll call for Hilary, then Clara, you and I will go through the wormhole, find her and Sadie and bring them home”
Alec stepped forward, “can I come?”
The Doctor shook his head, “sorry, Professor. We need you here to stabilize the system”
Alec hesitated, then gave a reluctant nod.
The Doctor placed the headgear carefully on Emma, then they took each other’s hands, as Emma closed her eyes and called out, softly, “Hilary?”
A wormhole appeared and opened before them, the Doctor, Clara, and Emma stepped toward it,
Emma turned back to face Alec, again, “bring our daughter home,” Alec said, his voice steady despite everything
“I will,” leaning in and kissed him, “I love you”
“I love you, too” he replied
“We have to go!” the Doctor called
Emma grabbed Clara’s hand tightly. Together, the three of them stepped forward and vanished into the wormhole.
They landed hard in the garden, as Clara pushed herself up first, looking around, “we made it.”
The Doctor being scanning, “1920s, same house, in the garden.”
Emma took in a breath, “she’s here, I can feel her”
They suddenly heard laughter, and turned, there she was, “Hilary!” Emma said
Hilary turned, “mum?”
Emma rushed forward, “Hilary!”
They embraced tightly
“I thought I lost you,” Emma whispered
Hilary shook her head, “no…I’m okay. I’m with her”
She looked back at Sadie, who watched cautiously
“Mum, this is Sadie. Sadie my mum Emma Graylin-Palmer”
Sadie smiled, “how did you find us?”
“With my help, and Hilary’s parents” the Doctor said
Clara cleared her throat, “and mine”
“Right you as well” the Doctor said
“Mum this is the same Sadie…the same Sadie I met a year ago at the library”
Emma smiled, “I thought so. But how did you get here?”
“Just like me mum, a wormhole and the Shadow Man”
Sadie nodded, “Hilary’s right. Right after we met, I was walking home, when I saw the Shadow Man. I was so frightened I ran… and then I saw a wormhole. It pulled me in and I ended up here in 1921. The family who lived here took me in. But I kept calling her name in my dreams, and here in the garden”
“The garden?” Emma asked
“Yes, why?” Sadie said
“In our time, the garden’s gone. It was built over and now it’s just the hallway. That’s where we hear you calling to us”
“I called for Hilary constantly,” Sadie said softly, “I never gave up”
“It’s good thing you didn’t,” Clara said, “because we’re here to take you back and you don’t need to worry about the Shadow Man.”
“Why? Is it gone?” Hilary asked
The Doctor shook his head, “no, the Shadow Man is harmless. It’s called Auxilator. It doesn’t reach out to hurt you, it reaches to help you find the one you’ve lost. It’s been guiding you toward each other all these years”
Hilary hesitated, “now that we’ve found each other… will it leave us alone?”
“Yes,” the Doctor said gently, “it will disappear and you won’t see it again”
“I’m glad…but why did it take me to 1921?” Sadie asked
“Because you were meant to find each other in present…1923.” the Doctor replied, “and now that you have, we can take you both home”
“I don’t know if I can say goodbye to the family that took me in?” Sadie said softly
“I have an idea,” Emma said, “give me some clothes to borrow, and we’ll tell them I’m your aunt, that come to find you after all these years”
Everyone agreed it was a good plan, and suggested she use the psychic paper to support the story. They returned to the mansion, where Emma quickly changed and introduced herself to the family, and explained she was taking Sadie home.
An hour later, Emma had changed back into her own clothes. They gathered together, holding hands. Emma called out to Alec, “Alec, help us get home”
A wormhole opened, and they leapt through, landing back in the mansion. The moment Hilary saw Alec, she ran to him,
“Dad!” she cried, throwing her arms around him
“Hilary!” he replied, holding her tightly
“Alec!” Emma said, rushing forward to hug and kiss him
“Emma!”
“Are you both alright? Are you hurt?” he asked anxiously
“Were fine,” Emma assured him
Alec looked at Hilary, “I’m so sorry for the way I acted. I was trying to protect you. I didn’t want you to end up like your uncle”
“I understand, dad” she continued, her voice steady, “but will you accept me for who I am?”
Alec smiled, pulling her into another embrace, “I will always love and accept you for who you are”
Tears filled Hilary’s eyes, “thank you, and there’s someone I want you to meet”
Sadie stepped forward, “dad this is Sadie. Sadie this is my dad, Professor Alec Palmer”
“Nice to meet you, Professor”
“Likewise. You have a quite an adventure in the 1920s, haven’t you?”
Sadie told him of how she had ended up in the 1920s and what life there had been like. While she spoke, Emma gently pulled Hilary aside.
“Hilary I need to know…do you hate your gift, because you took it from me when I was expecting you… and because we’ve kept AJ and Clara in our adventures?”
Hilary hesitated, then nodded, “yes, I’ve always felt guilty.”
“Don’t,” Emma said softly, “even though I couldn’t use my power, you were the greatest gift I could ever receive…along with your brother and sister. How about we take a break and go on a family vacation?”
Hilary smiled and nodded, “I’d like that. Could Sadie come too?”
“Of course”
Sadie turned to them, “how am I supposed to get back to my family in London? I assume they think I’m missing…or worse”
“Yes, most likely,” the Doctor replied, “but if you come with us, Clara and I will take you home”
They all stepped outside to the Tardis, when Hilary and Sadie saw it,, they exchanged puzzled looks.
“How are we supposed to all fit in there?” Sadie asked
The Doctor snapped his fingers, and the door swung open. The girls stepped inside and gasped.
“It’s bigger on the inside,” they said in unison
“That never gets old” the Doctor said with a grin
Hilary and Sadie exchange numbers, promising to see each other again soon before sharing a warm hug.
The Doctor and Clara said their goodbyes to Alec and Emma, who thanked them sincerely. Then the Doctor, Clara, and Sadie stepped into the Tardis and departed.
Alec, Emma and Hilary stood together, waving as it vanished.
Moments later, the Tardis landed in London. Sadie stepped out, thanking them before rushing to reunite with her family who were overjoyed to see her safe and alive.
The Doctor and Clara watched from the distance. Clara nudged him lightly, “happy ending?”
The Doctor smiled, “very happy ending”
The End