Continuing from 'The Empty Child - Part I'

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ROSE FOLLOWED THE DOCTOR into the house, making sure to stay close to his back when they maneuvered through the kitchen via the back door. She made sure to re-shut it and rejoined the Doctor who was peeking around the corner into the dining room. The house was dimly lit and the table was set for supper. Hoards of food were laid out and each seat, besides two of them, was accompanied by a child, with the same young woman as before with braids at the head.

"It's got to be the black market!" A boy said, rubbing his hands as he examined all the food. "You couldn't get all this on coupons."

"Ernie, how many times?" The girl with the braids snapped and Ernie grew quiet. "We are guests in this house. We will not make comments of that kind. Wash up."

They all laughed except Ernie who whined, slumping in his chair. "Oh, Nancy!"

"So that's her name?" Rose whispered, low enough for the children not to hear them.

The Doctor took her hand. "Come on." And she let him lead her to the two vacant chairs. They stayed low and close to the walls where none of the children noticed.

There was more discussion, then Nancy held up a plate of what looked to be slices of turkey meat. "All right, then." She took one slice and handed it and the serving fork to the nearest child. "One slice each, and I want to see everyone chewing properly."

As it was passed around, the Doctor sat down at the other end of the table, pulling Rose down to his right. "Thank you, Miss." a boy said.

"Thanks, Miss." Another said.

"Thank you, Miss." A third said.

When the plate got to the Doctor he said cheerfully. "Thanks, Miss!" And took two pieces, despite Nancy's wishes.

All the children panicked and rushed out of their chairs. "It's alright," Nancy told them, glaring down at the Doctor. "Everybody stay where you are!"

"Good here, innit?" The Doctor passed the plate to Rose, who didn't take any and placed it back on the table. The Doctor smiled at his plate. "Who's got the salt?

"Back in your seats," Nancy ordered the kids and Rose was shocked at how they all obeyed, slowly sitting back in their chairs and giving them wary eyes. Rose smiled at the nearest little girl at her left and she shyly looked down. "They shouldn't be here, either." Nancy directed at her and the Doctor.

The Doctor noticed all the children returned to eating. "So, you lot, what's your story?" He asked no one in particular.

"What do you mean?" Ernie asked, shoveling some mashed potatoes, without the gravy, in his mouth.

Rose took into account how quickly all the children ate like they were starving. "Are you all homeless?" She asked worriedly, noticing their dirty clothes.

"Why do you want to know that?" Another boy asked her suspiciously. "Are you coppers?"

The Doctor snorted. "Of course, we aren't coppers." He chewed a piece of his meat. "What's a copper going to do with you lot anyway?" He used his fork and waved it around at them. "Arrest you for starving?"

"But it's the Second World War, right? Rose asked the Doctor, who confirmed with a nod. "Shouldn't you all be in the country?"

"I was evacuated." A boy told her. "Sent me to a farm."

"Why did you come back?" Rose wondered.

"There was a man there-"

"Yeah, same with Ernie." The boy who accused them of being coppers told her. "Two homes ago."

"Shut up," Ernie told him. "It's better on the streets anyway. It's better food."

"Yeah." The copper boy agreed. "Nancy always gets the best food for us."

The Doctor looked at Nancy. "So that's what you do, is it, Nancy?"

"What is?" She asked, using her knife to slice her meat.

"As soon as the sirens go off, you find a big fat family meal still warm on the table with everyone down in the air raid shelter and bingo!" He snapped his fingers. "Feeding frenzy for the homeless kids of London Town. Puddings for all, as long as the bombs don't get you."

"Something wrong with that?" Nancy retorted.

"Wrong with it?" The Doctor let out a laugh. "It's brilliant! I'm not sure if it's Marxism in action or a West End musical."

"Why did you two follow me?" She asked. "What do you want?"

"I want to know how a phone that isn't a phone gets a phone call." The Doctor replied, pointing the tongs of his fork at her. "You seem to be the one to ask."

"I did you both a favor," Nancy replied. "I told you not to answer it. That's all I'm telling you."

"Great. Thanks." He said sarcastically. "And I want to find a ginger in bright orange. I mean a specific one. I didn't just wake up this morning with a craving." He looked around the table. "Anybody has seen a girl like that?" He started when Nancy took away his plate. "What have I done wrong?"

"You took two slices," Nancy replied like it was obvious and all the children giggled. "No gingers. No orange." She put the plate back on the other end of the table and put a hand on her hip. "Anything else before you leave?"

The Doctor nodded. "Yeah, there is actually. Thanks for asking! Something I've been looking for. Would've fallen from the sky about a month ago, but not a bomb. Not the usual kind, anyway. Wouldn't have exploded. Probably would have just buried itself in the ground somewhere, and it would have looked something like . . this." He pulled the rough sketch he made a bit ago from his pocket and showed it to the others.

Before they could answer there was a knock at the front door. Everyone jumped. "Mummy?" A child's voice asked. The Doctor and Rose both remembered it from the phone call. "Are you in there, mummy?" The Doctor stood and pulled the drapes to the side- he and Rose saw a little boy with a facemask through the window. "Mummy?"

"Who was the last one in?" Nancy demanded.

"Them." Ernie pointed at the duo.

"No, they came round back." Nancy denied. "Who came in the front?"

"Me." The boy from the farm replied.

"Did you close the door?" Nancy asked.

"Er . ."

"Did you close the door?" She repeated. When no one answered her and the little boy's cries grew closer, she bolted out of the room to the entry hall. The Doctor and Rose followed and saw her locking the door just in time for the silhouette to emerge from the door's window. "What's this, then?" He asked. "It's never easy being the only child left out in the cold, you know."

"I suppose you'd know," Nancy muttered.

"I do, actually, yes."

"It's not exactly a child."

"Mummy?"

Nancy ran back into the dining room. "Right, everybody out!" They heard her order. "Across the back garden and under the fence. Now! Go! Move!"

The Doctor and Rose watched the children pile out of the dining room and leave from the garden door. "Mummy? Mummy?" The child called out. "Please let me in, Mummy." The duo looked back at the child. "Please let me in, mummy." When a hand reached through the letterbox, Nancy threw a vase at it- shattering against the door but it was enough for the child to take his hand back

Rose turned on her. "Whatcha do that for?" She demanded.

"You mustn't let him touch you!" Nancy shrieked.

"Why?" Rose asked, narrowing her eyes. "What happens if he touches me?"

"He'll make you like him."

"And what's he like?"

Nancy was taken aback. "I've got to go."

"Nancy!" The Doctor stopped her. "Answer her question. What's he like?"

"He's empty." When a telephone on the dresser rang her eyes widened and she whimpered, taking a step away from it. "It's him. He can make phones ring. He can! Just like with that police box, you saw."

The Doctor picked up the phone and put it to his ear. "Are you my mummy?" Came out of the receiver, loud enough for Rose to hear.

Nancy took it from him and slammed it back down on the hook. Various things, like a radio and a toy monkey, started to ask for mummy as well.

As he turned them all off Nancy spoke, already walking backward towards the garden door. "You two stay here if you want." She turned fully around and raced to the outside.

The little boy put his hand through the letterbox again. This time they saw a scar on the back of its hand. "Mummy?" It asked. "Let me in, please, mummy." Hearing the begging hurt Rose. "Please let me in."

"Your mummy isn't here," Rose told him gently, as she knelt to the hands level. The Doctor joined her.

"Are you my mummy?"

"What's wrong with him, Doctor?" Rose asked.

The Doctor swallowed. "No mummies here." He told the boy. "Nobody here but us chickens." He chuckled.

"I'm scared."

"Why are those other children frightened of you?" Rose asked.

"Please let me in, mummy." The child pleaded again. "I'm scared of the bombs."

The hand retracted and Rose stood, seeing the chance. "That's it. I'm opening it."

Rose stood and unbolted the door. But after swinging it open she blinked in astonishment. The boy was nowhere in sight.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

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- Kayleigh