'O' by a_silver_story | Part Two | Chapter 01: Alice
Title: O Part Two
Author: a_silver_story
Chapter: 01
Characters/Pairings: Janto, Gwen/Rhys
Rating: PG-15
Word Count: 26,617
Warnings: Mild Horror
Disclaimer: Based on “The Ring” as directed by Gore Verbinski, with adapted screenplay by Ehren Kruger. Samara Morgan/Sadako Yamamura belong to Kôji Suzuki, as do all situations or characters recognisable to The Ring, The Ring Two or the short film Rings; and either Ringu, Ringu 2 or Ringu 0: BÂSUDEI films and novels.
Torchwood and associated recognisable situations and characters belong to the BBC and Russell T. Davies.
This is a work of fanfiction and is not written for profit, only for funsies.
Summary: Jack and Ianto adopt a little girl who isn't all that she seems - but shortly after her eighth birthday she disappears, presumed dead. Five years later, Alice Carter is found curled up in her walk-in wardrobe, her features twisted into a macabre expression of horror. The cause of death leads the remnants of Torchwood straight to a mysterious videotape that apparently kills all those who watch it in seven days - and for Torchwood, the clock is ticking. Torchwood crossed over with Kôji Suzuki's 'Ringu' universe.
Five Years Later
“I hate television,” Becky sighed, taking a sip of her champagne before reaching for another chocolate from the box on the bed. Alice gave her a fondly exasperated look, and carried on flicking through the channels, tucking the bit of the towel wrapped around her head back into place.
Becky sighed again. “TV gives me headaches. Katie says it's because of all the magnetic waves in the air from TVs and phones, and we lose ten thousand more brain cells than we're supposed to.”
Alice laughed. “Because sixteen-year-olds know everything.” She pushed the remote to Becky, with grumble. “You pick. I don't care any more.”
“I knew everything when I was sixteen,” shrugged Becky. “I've just forgotten it since.”
“That's old age,” joked Alice, taking a sip of her champagne and wiping the lipstick from her I'm Divorced! Party makeover from the rim.
“You should hear some of the things that girl comes out with,” Becky giggled. “'Mum - did you know that the Titanic was sunk on purpose?', 'Mum - did you know that you can die if you only eat rabbit?', 'Mum - did you know that the Government -”
“The rabbit thing is true,” Alice interrupted, popping a truffle into her mouth and tugging her towel turban off, fed up with it. “But only if you eat nothing but rabbit - have some carrots with it, and you'll be fine. But rabbit on its own? You die of malnutrition.”
“How the Hell do you know that?”
“I saw it on QI,” shrugged Alice.
“Whatever. Let's see what you have to say to this one: 'Mum - did you hear about that videotape that kills you when you watch it?'.”
Becky laughed, then paused with a frown when she noticed that Alice wasn't laughing along with her. “What kind of tape?” asked Alice.
“I … I dunno,” said Becky, her frown deepening. “A tape. A regular, old-fashioned videotape. You rent it or something, or you pick it up without knowing or something … And you play it, and it's like somebody's nightmare … or something. Apparently there's a man who appears, and he's smiling at you … seeing you … though the screen. And when it's over, the phone rings - somebody knows you watched the tape, and they say, 'You will die in seven days'. And then seven days later … Look, Katie tells it better than I do. Shall we ring her? Alice?”
“I … I watched it …”
“It's a story, Alice. You're the sensible one, remember?”
“No … Josh and I saw it. Last weekend …”
Becky looked shocked. “You said you'd gone to visit your Dad in Cardiff!”
“I know … I wanted to tell you but … it's hush hush at the moment … What with …” She jerked her head in the direction of an empty frame that had once held a picture of her son Steven with his father and her very recently ex-husband Joe.
Becky nodded her understanding, and grinned. “You were with Joshua all weekend?”
“His mates rented this place - this chalet - out in the country. We went to a local pub for the quiz, and the lads wanted to record the match and the machines were ancient … so we borrowed a tape from the head office. The next night, we … we played it back. But the football wasn't there … We were expecting David Beckham and what we got was … what you described …”
Her voice trailed off quietly, and she took a deep breath.
“We thought it was a joke or something - the Welsh making fun of us English townsfolk. But then the phone rang …”
She trailed off again, glancing up at her television. “It freaked me out that much I nearly rang my Dad.”
“You're trying to scare me now,” Becky said worriedly.
“It was a week ago … a week ago tonight …”
“Alice … ?”
With a great convulsion, Alice gripped her throat in alarm, choking and spluttering, tumbling to the side and arching over Becky's lap. “Alice!” cried Becky. “Alice!”
Alice's eyes bugged out wide, then her entire form stilled … before shaking with laughter at Becky's terrified expression. Becky shoved her off. “Don't do that to me! You know I'm impressionable!” she snapped.
Alice laughed at her. “You fell for it! You know those things are stupid.” And if there was anything like that out there, Dad would have warned me.
Grumbling, Becky used the remote to switch off the telly and began to refill their champagne flutes. Alice watched the gold liquid foaming and filling her glass, holding her hand out for it gratefully - only to spill a great deal when she jumped about a foot off the bed.
Sharp and shrill, the phone was ringing.
Her eyes darted to the clock.
2200 hours.
In the pit of her stomach, rising up to her chest, Alice felt a fear beginning to creep through her body.
“Alice? Are you okay?” Becky frowned at her, and understanding seemed to dawn. “You … you really watched a tape?”
Like frightened schoolgirls, they made their way downstairs, pausing in the hallway by the phone table. Alice stared at the telephone, and Becky trembled beside her. Alice got a grip of herself.
“This is stupid,” she snapped, and lifted the receiver. “Hello?”
“Mum!”
“Oh!” She breathed a sigh of relief. “Steven!”
Becky laughed, releasing her nervous tension. “I'll go and get the ice cream,” she murmured and left Alice to her phone call.
“No, sweetheart. You have to sleep at your Daddy's tonight … Because I said so … No, Steven, I'm not arguing with you again. You should be in bed anyway … I know … I know you do … Yes, I love you too. Okay … bye … bye bye …”
She hung up, and went into the kitchen to find it deserted and the freezer door half open. She tutted. “Rebecca!” she chastised, slamming it shut. She smiled at the drawing of a bright, round sun Steven had drawn on his first day of school, now stuck to the fridge with an 'I Heart Mummy' magnet.
Alice jumped violently. God, I'm highly strung tonight, she thought, striding into the living room and glaring at the white noise flickering and hissing on her new state-of-the-art widescreen LCD HD Ready television. “Becky!” she grumbled, “You'd kill me if I did this to you - where's the rem-”
She halted and frowned, spotting it lying on the sofa. “Very funny,” she muttered, stooping, picking it up and hitting the red button. Tossing it back onto the settee, she turned to go back upstairs.
The white noise sprang to life again.
“Becky … seriously … not funny …” she whispered, picking up the remote and switching it off again. Afraid but curious - and she was still her mother's daughter, curiosity would win out - she crouched in front of the TV, frowning into the dull reflection.
Something moved behind her on the far right.
A flicker.
Too fast to be Becky.
But was it though? What else could it have been … ?
In one movement, Alice grabbed the wires and wrenched the three-point plugs from the wall as she bolted into the hall. Panicking, she called out for Becky.
No answer.
The house wasn't that big - Steven could hear her snoring most nights …
Alice spun. The TV was showing white noise again.
Not connected.
Not plugged in.
She grabbed the phone, dialling the number she wouldn't admit she knew by heart as she ran down the hall and up the stairs.
“Hey!”
“Dad …” Alice breathed, getting to the landing and freezing, spotting the bottom of her bedroom door. The carpet was sodden and wet, cold and turning the blue carpet almost black. The puddle leaked out from her bedroom, and time seemed to slow as a droplet ran down the side of the crystal doorknob and plummeted to the ground with a plink on the rest of the water.
“Alice? Alice … you still there?”
Her chest felt tight. She could only breath in tiny gasps, her lungs burning with the effort. Her Dad's voice was tinny and distant as she reached for the doorknob, icy beneath her fingers.
Taking the deepest breath she could, Alice pushed open the door and entered her bedroom.
Next Part | O Masterlist |
Formatting is being really difficult, and also my net keeps cutting out. If posting of parts is slow, I can only apologise.
Author: a_silver_story
Chapter: 01
Characters/Pairings: Janto, Gwen/Rhys
Rating: PG-15
Word Count: 26,617
Warnings: Mild Horror
Disclaimer: Based on “The Ring” as directed by Gore Verbinski, with adapted screenplay by Ehren Kruger. Samara Morgan/Sadako Yamamura belong to Kôji Suzuki, as do all situations or characters recognisable to The Ring, The Ring Two or the short film Rings; and either Ringu, Ringu 2 or Ringu 0: BÂSUDEI films and novels.
Torchwood and associated recognisable situations and characters belong to the BBC and Russell T. Davies.
This is a work of fanfiction and is not written for profit, only for funsies.
Summary: Jack and Ianto adopt a little girl who isn't all that she seems - but shortly after her eighth birthday she disappears, presumed dead. Five years later, Alice Carter is found curled up in her walk-in wardrobe, her features twisted into a macabre expression of horror. The cause of death leads the remnants of Torchwood straight to a mysterious videotape that apparently kills all those who watch it in seven days - and for Torchwood, the clock is ticking. Torchwood crossed over with Kôji Suzuki's 'Ringu' universe.
Five Years Later
“I hate television,” Becky sighed, taking a sip of her champagne before reaching for another chocolate from the box on the bed. Alice gave her a fondly exasperated look, and carried on flicking through the channels, tucking the bit of the towel wrapped around her head back into place.
Becky sighed again. “TV gives me headaches. Katie says it's because of all the magnetic waves in the air from TVs and phones, and we lose ten thousand more brain cells than we're supposed to.”
Alice laughed. “Because sixteen-year-olds know everything.” She pushed the remote to Becky, with grumble. “You pick. I don't care any more.”
“I knew everything when I was sixteen,” shrugged Becky. “I've just forgotten it since.”
“That's old age,” joked Alice, taking a sip of her champagne and wiping the lipstick from her I'm Divorced! Party makeover from the rim.
“You should hear some of the things that girl comes out with,” Becky giggled. “'Mum - did you know that the Titanic was sunk on purpose?', 'Mum - did you know that you can die if you only eat rabbit?', 'Mum - did you know that the Government -”
“The rabbit thing is true,” Alice interrupted, popping a truffle into her mouth and tugging her towel turban off, fed up with it. “But only if you eat nothing but rabbit - have some carrots with it, and you'll be fine. But rabbit on its own? You die of malnutrition.”
“How the Hell do you know that?”
“I saw it on QI,” shrugged Alice.
“Whatever. Let's see what you have to say to this one: 'Mum - did you hear about that videotape that kills you when you watch it?'.”
Becky laughed, then paused with a frown when she noticed that Alice wasn't laughing along with her. “What kind of tape?” asked Alice.
“I … I dunno,” said Becky, her frown deepening. “A tape. A regular, old-fashioned videotape. You rent it or something, or you pick it up without knowing or something … And you play it, and it's like somebody's nightmare … or something. Apparently there's a man who appears, and he's smiling at you … seeing you … though the screen. And when it's over, the phone rings - somebody knows you watched the tape, and they say, 'You will die in seven days'. And then seven days later … Look, Katie tells it better than I do. Shall we ring her? Alice?”
“I … I watched it …”
“It's a story, Alice. You're the sensible one, remember?”
“No … Josh and I saw it. Last weekend …”
Becky looked shocked. “You said you'd gone to visit your Dad in Cardiff!”
“I know … I wanted to tell you but … it's hush hush at the moment … What with …” She jerked her head in the direction of an empty frame that had once held a picture of her son Steven with his father and her very recently ex-husband Joe.
Becky nodded her understanding, and grinned. “You were with Joshua all weekend?”
“His mates rented this place - this chalet - out in the country. We went to a local pub for the quiz, and the lads wanted to record the match and the machines were ancient … so we borrowed a tape from the head office. The next night, we … we played it back. But the football wasn't there … We were expecting David Beckham and what we got was … what you described …”
Her voice trailed off quietly, and she took a deep breath.
“We thought it was a joke or something - the Welsh making fun of us English townsfolk. But then the phone rang …”
She trailed off again, glancing up at her television. “It freaked me out that much I nearly rang my Dad.”
“You're trying to scare me now,” Becky said worriedly.
“It was a week ago … a week ago tonight …”
“Alice … ?”
With a great convulsion, Alice gripped her throat in alarm, choking and spluttering, tumbling to the side and arching over Becky's lap. “Alice!” cried Becky. “Alice!”
Alice's eyes bugged out wide, then her entire form stilled … before shaking with laughter at Becky's terrified expression. Becky shoved her off. “Don't do that to me! You know I'm impressionable!” she snapped.
Alice laughed at her. “You fell for it! You know those things are stupid.” And if there was anything like that out there, Dad would have warned me.
Grumbling, Becky used the remote to switch off the telly and began to refill their champagne flutes. Alice watched the gold liquid foaming and filling her glass, holding her hand out for it gratefully - only to spill a great deal when she jumped about a foot off the bed.
Sharp and shrill, the phone was ringing.
Her eyes darted to the clock.
2200 hours.
In the pit of her stomach, rising up to her chest, Alice felt a fear beginning to creep through her body.
“Alice? Are you okay?” Becky frowned at her, and understanding seemed to dawn. “You … you really watched a tape?”
Like frightened schoolgirls, they made their way downstairs, pausing in the hallway by the phone table. Alice stared at the telephone, and Becky trembled beside her. Alice got a grip of herself.
“This is stupid,” she snapped, and lifted the receiver. “Hello?”
“Mum!”
“Oh!” She breathed a sigh of relief. “Steven!”
Becky laughed, releasing her nervous tension. “I'll go and get the ice cream,” she murmured and left Alice to her phone call.
“No, sweetheart. You have to sleep at your Daddy's tonight … Because I said so … No, Steven, I'm not arguing with you again. You should be in bed anyway … I know … I know you do … Yes, I love you too. Okay … bye … bye bye …”
She hung up, and went into the kitchen to find it deserted and the freezer door half open. She tutted. “Rebecca!” she chastised, slamming it shut. She smiled at the drawing of a bright, round sun Steven had drawn on his first day of school, now stuck to the fridge with an 'I Heart Mummy' magnet.
Alice jumped violently. God, I'm highly strung tonight, she thought, striding into the living room and glaring at the white noise flickering and hissing on her new state-of-the-art widescreen LCD HD Ready television. “Becky!” she grumbled, “You'd kill me if I did this to you - where's the rem-”
She halted and frowned, spotting it lying on the sofa. “Very funny,” she muttered, stooping, picking it up and hitting the red button. Tossing it back onto the settee, she turned to go back upstairs.
The white noise sprang to life again.
“Becky … seriously … not funny …” she whispered, picking up the remote and switching it off again. Afraid but curious - and she was still her mother's daughter, curiosity would win out - she crouched in front of the TV, frowning into the dull reflection.
Something moved behind her on the far right.
A flicker.
Too fast to be Becky.
But was it though? What else could it have been … ?
In one movement, Alice grabbed the wires and wrenched the three-point plugs from the wall as she bolted into the hall. Panicking, she called out for Becky.
No answer.
The house wasn't that big - Steven could hear her snoring most nights …
Alice spun. The TV was showing white noise again.
Not connected.
Not plugged in.
She grabbed the phone, dialling the number she wouldn't admit she knew by heart as she ran down the hall and up the stairs.
“Hey!”
“Dad …” Alice breathed, getting to the landing and freezing, spotting the bottom of her bedroom door. The carpet was sodden and wet, cold and turning the blue carpet almost black. The puddle leaked out from her bedroom, and time seemed to slow as a droplet ran down the side of the crystal doorknob and plummeted to the ground with a plink on the rest of the water.
“Alice? Alice … you still there?”
Her chest felt tight. She could only breath in tiny gasps, her lungs burning with the effort. Her Dad's voice was tinny and distant as she reached for the doorknob, icy beneath her fingers.
Taking the deepest breath she could, Alice pushed open the door and entered her bedroom.
Next Part | O Masterlist |
Formatting is being really difficult, and also my net keeps cutting out. If posting of parts is slow, I can only apologise.