Remember Me
Title: Remember Me
Author: crumpledquill
Fandom: The Sarah Jane Adventures
Rating: PG-13
Genre: AU
Pairing: Sarah Jane/Ellie Faber
Spoilers: None as it's AU.
Disclaimer: I disclaim all characters etc that aren't mine.
Summary: An alternative take on the SJA episode: The Curse of Clyde Langer.
What on Earth was that? Or, more to be more apt, what in the universe was that?
Sarah Jane Smith looked up to the attic skylight above her head. There, flapping about on the window were a couple of trout.
Splat!
Oh and there was another.
It was raining fish! Actual real living fish!
She quickly made her way to the other window and looked out over Bannerman Road. There certainly wasn’t a black rain cloud just over her house, it was everywhere. As if on cue her mobile phone started to vibrate in her pocket. She picked it out and quickly looked at the caller ID - Clyde; no doubt he was calling to see if any of this was alien.
“Sarah Jane we’re at school and-”
“Don’t tell me, it’s raining fish?”
“How did you know? I-It’s nothing alien is it?”
She laughed, hearing rustling in the background then Sky shouting,
“Is this normal Earth weather?!”
“I’m onto it - and Clyde, tell Sky not to worry please?”
***
After investigating the cause of the freak storm, both Sarah Jane and Mr Smith had concluded that there was nothing alien about it - nothing whatsoever. The storm, however odd, was completely and utterly normal; although it did seem a little eerie because on further investigation something else had happened at the same time.
A Mojave totem pole had recently been brought to the Museum of Culture. However this certain totem pole held a certain legend. It had been recovered from a cave, where it was hidden, it was said to be cursed. However the last time it had been touched by man,
“A storm came and fish fell from the sky!”
Clyde laughed at that, shaking his head,
“Sounds alien to me!”
“Oh come off it Clyde! It’s just coincidence, not everything has to come from the planet Zog!” Rani snapped, crossing her arms over her chest and trying her utter best to sound reasonable. Still it didn’t work, on Clyde, Sky, herself, or even Sarah Jane.
“What are we waiting for then?” she finished, grabbing her coat on the way out.
***
The three children went before her, storming ahead to get inside of the museum. It was all too much of a coincidence, even for her liking, something dark could be at hand here - and yet it could be nothing.
“Come on mum!” Sky called, running after Clyde and Rani.
Sarah Jane followed slowly, interrupted by a blonde girl, a homeless girl.
“Got any spare change?” she asked casually, her eyes portraying more than she was meant to. Usually Sarah Jane didn’t give money to just anyone, but she seemed genuine, in need. She fished in her pocket and handed the girl a few pound coins. In return she got a smile before the girl walked on.
“Why did you do that?” Sky asked, out of nowhere.
Sarah Jane turned around and smiled down at her new daughter,
“Because sweetheart - she needs it more than I do.”
Just seeing that poor girl had made her heart so much heavier. In that moment she’d forgotten all about the totem pole and aliens and everything. With everything she’d seen in her lifetime, and everywhere she’d been, sometimes there was nothing more alien to her than home.
As she ushered Sky inside the museum she felt herself look back to see if she could catch a glimpse of blonde hair again. However there was nothing.
***
It hadn’t felt quite right being in that museum yesterday. She’d been looking at the totem, up close, just to try and look for anything unusual - it was when she’d gotten a splinter. But it didn’t feel like just any splinter. When she’d come home she’d ask Mr Smith to check it, to see if there was anything out of the ordinary about it. Apparently there wasn’t so she just pushed the thought to the back of her mind.
It was just a splinter; it was bound to hurt a bit.
Sarah Jane headed back to the museum, intent on getting her ‘scoop’. She’d do just a little more snooping around, and if she was completely and utterly satisfied that the totem pole had nothing to do with aliens then she would still sell her story about the link with the fish storm.
However things hadn’t gone exactly to plan.
“Excuse me ma’am, could you please not touch the exhibits,” the curator had asked her gently, it had been the same woman from yesterday - she was in charge of the exhibit.
“Oh I am sorry,” Sarah replied and turned to face her.
“It’s ok. I recognise you. You were here yesterday weren’t you?”
“Yes - my name is Sarah Jane Smith. I’m a journalist, and well, I noticed nobody had printed a story as of yet about the totem and the-”
“You!” the woman cut her off, her face changing to that of anger. “You ruined the exhibit yesterday! You tampered with the display!”
“What?”
“Security!”
Eventually a security guard came over, looking just as puzzled as Sarah Jane felt.
“Escort this…this…Sarah Jane Smith out of here immediately!”
As soon as she said that his face changed and he man handled her out of the museum.
Odd wasn’t the word for it.
***
She had gone home immediately after that, whatever was going on it had something to do with that totem pole, and it wasn’t mere coincidence. However as soon as she set foot in the attic.
“Sarah Jane.”
It was Mr Smith. That was all it had took, for him to say her name - much like the others.
“Leave this house or prepare to be disintegrated.”
“What?!”
It was even affecting non humans.
“I order you to shut down this instant Mr Smith - this is my home-”
“Leave. Now.”
A countdown appeared on screen, she knew it was no joke of course having programmed the Xylok herself. It wasn’t the first time he’d turned against her, it wasn’t the first time he’d been effected either.
A loud beeping noise came with the countdown, and with every second it counted down from thirty a beep emitted. Sarah Jane grabbed her bag and ran outside into Bannerman Road, as soon as she reached the pavement the beeping stopped.
Tentatively she tried her luck and put one foot on the driveway. Luckily she moved it in time before a laser literally singed the ground where she’d placed it.
“Blimey what’s going on here?”
She turned around quickly to see Rani with Sky in tow. They’d walked home from school.
“Oh Rani thank god, listen, you must listen to me-”
“What the matter Sarah Jane?”
Her young friend’s expression hardened. Sarah took a step back.
“Mum?”
“Don’t go near her!” Rani shouted, grabbing Sky’s hand.
“Mum? Mum what’s going on?”
“She’s dangerous. A mad woman!”
“No Rani, you wouldn’t say those things! You’re being affected too. Sky…don’t say my name, Sky whatever you do-”
“Sarah Jane what’s going on?” Rani’s father yelled from across the road. His concerned expression changed into something hard. “Call the police!”
Sarah quickly looked at Sky then back to Rani and her father,
“I’ll be back Sky don’t worry, Rani will keep you safe.”
“Like hell you will!”
She had no choice but to run. There was no point in hanging around anyway. Everyone was affected in this; she had to figure this out alone.
***
Unable to get her car off of the driveway Sarah Jane intended to take the tube back to museum, it was the only way she’d figure anything out. However for some reason the machine wasn’t accepting her Oyster Card, and then a whole fiasco happened and she ended up being banned from setting foot in the station. Instead she walked there.
She’d arrived just before closing time. Of course she couldn’t just stroll in so she took another entrance and climbed in through the window to the staff room. With much evasion she made her way back to the exhibit.
There she managed to keep out of sight. The curator wasn’t around however the security guards were. One false move and she’d be thrown out with no hope of getting back in. She ducked and crept behind different displays, trying to keep out of the way. She just needed to scan the totem, try and figure something out.
Then she bumped into someone.
Sarah Jane jumped, turning around quickly only to come face to face with Clyde. She groaned inwardly and stepped back.
“Don’t say a word,” she tried, but of course he was having none of it.
“Sarah Jane? What’s-you! She’s following me! Help me!”
With a sigh Sarah Jane turned on her heels and ran for it, evading the security guards on her way out. She sprinted up the street and ran into someone, toppling to the ground. She looked up quickly, pained and scared.
“It’s alright, I’ve got you.”
She took the hand offered and didn’t think twice. It was the girl from yesterday, the blonde girl - the homeless girl. Together they ran.
***
“Thank…thank…you…” Sarah Jane panted, breathless from running.
“No problem,” the girl replied, just as breathless - she had a smile on her face. It was odd but Sarah Jane welcomed it. Not many people were nice to her now.
They were underneath a bridge somewhere. Sarah stood up; trying to figure out just where, but then again with all the tents around it was unrecognisable. Sometimes the most alien places were on Earth itself.
“Where are we?” she asked, having finally caught her breath.
“Home,” the girl replied, “Well home for tonight - can’t stay in the same place twice.”
Sarah turned around to face her; she rummaged around in her bag for her purse,
“I have some money here…somewhere…we, you, don’t have to stay-”
“Don’t - don’t let on that you have any money, any at all.”
The girl closed her hands around Sarah’s, stopping her from opening her purse.
“Put it away,” she continued with a smile, “I’m helping you - you look like you need help.”
“You’re very observant,” Sarah replied, shoving her purse back in her bag, “And you’re right, you are so very right. I’ve never needed help as much as I do now.”
The girl laughed,
“Well one good turn deserves another.”
Sarah’s brow knit automatically and it dawned on her. Yesterday, it was just a passing moment, but she’d given the girl some money.
“So - what’s your name?” the girl continued. Sarah froze.
“Come on, you’ve got to have a name.”
“Erm…”
She couldn’t tell her her name; it was cursed, as hard as it was to believe.
“Jones,” she replied quickly, “Donna Jones.”
“Donna Jones?” the girl replied knowingly, “Well Donna my name is Ellie Faber.”
“Nice to meet you Ellie.”
***
That night they shared a tent together. It was cold under the bridge, colder than a winter’s day. Sarah could see her breath in the air. Oh how she took things for granted, basic things, things she cursed before indeed she herself was cursed. What she wouldn’t give right now for a hot bath and a nice warm bed.
“Remind me tomorrow - I’ll use the money I have a buy us a nice warm coffee.”
Ellie laughed at that, huddled next to Sarah for warmth. Her face, it said that nobody had offered to buy her coffee before.
“I’ll hold you to that Donna.”
Sarah shivered and Ellie automatically placed her blanket over her, the only one she had.
“No you need-”
“I’m used to this,” Ellie laughed, “You’re not.”
Sarah smiled at her, but that smile faded quickly enough.
“But you shouldn’t be.”
Ellie shrugged at that,
“Life is different for us all.”
Sarah sighed at that - it sunk in. Ellie was right, oh indeed she was right. It took a while but Sarah finally asked the question.
“How did you end up homeless?”
“Well,” Ellie began, it took her a while but she finished, “My dad died - stepdad wasn’t exactly kind to me. I was Seventeen when I ran away, he was glad to see the back of me.”
“I’m so sorry,” Sarah replied automatically. She could see that she’d struck a nerve with the girl, and she gently brushed her hair out of her face.
Ellie didn’t flinch or pull away - she actually sort of liked it. Nobody was that kind on the streets, some people looked out for each other but others…they couldn’t care a less.
“It’s ok - I’ve grown up now,” she smiled.
“How long have you lived like this?”
“Five years.”
Sarah took that in - five years. Five long years she imagined.
“The streets hardened me. I know it’s not the best life, but it’s all I know,” she continued, “I do dream one day that I’ll get out of here, get a job, a house. But nothing ever happens. On the streets, you’re no one.”
Sarah shook her head,
“I promise you - as soon as this mess is sorted out, I’ll help you. You can even stay with me if you like.”
Ellie laughed slightly and nodded,
“Alright Donna - it’s alright.”
With that she kissed her gently.
***
The next morning Ellie took her to a soup kitchen. Sarah had insisted that she could buy them something more substantial to eat. However Ellie had insisted that she kept the twenty pounds in her purse, saying that she’d want that coffee later.
They sat at next to each other. Ellie introduced her to some familiar faces and advised Sarah just to keep her head down - not everyone was nice. They spoke with a woman nicknamed ‘Mystic Mags’, who liked to read tea leaves. She said something bad was coming - but how could it get any worse than it already was?
“I’d be careful if I were you,” the woman addressed Sarah, “The Night Dragon might get you too.”
She glanced up at Ellie before leaving the kitchen. Night Dragon? She’d seen aliens, monsters, she’d been to other planets. Why would she be scared of the words of an old lady? The problem was just that - she was.
“Wait!” Ellie called after her.
Sarah slowed her pace.
“Why’d you storm out like that? Just ignore her - she speaks a load of rubbish most of the time.”
“Yeah - well after the past couple of days I don’t know what is real and what isn’t anymore,” she turned to face Ellie, “What’s this Night Dragon?”
Ellie laughed at the conviction in Sarah’s voice.
“You’re joking, right?” she continued, obviously Sarah wasn’t, “It’s a myth - an urban legend. You know, like the monster under the bed. It’s just something we homeless people say - The Night Dragon will take you away.”
“And does it?”
Ellie shrugged,
“I dunno - sometimes people just go missing, vanish into thin air. But then I suppose that’s life here.”
***
That night they settled in an empty alleyway. Rain poured but luckily they had found an alcove. Ellie laid some cardboard on the ground and started a fire. Sarah made their ‘bed’. When the fire was going Ellie sat next to her, huddling against her because of the cold.
“Where were you when it happened?” she asked, looking up at Sarah curiously.
“When what happened?” she replied, her eyes fixated on the rain.
“You know - the fish thing.”
“I was…home.”
It felt so long ago and yet it had only been two days. Everybody hated her, Rani, her parents, Mr Smith, Clyde but not Sky. She wondered, no, she hoped that maybe Sky was fighting for her.
“Sounds nice,” Ellie commented, squeezing her arm. Sarah looked down at her.
“Why did everyone turn on you?”
Sarah’s brow furrowed,
“What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean. I saw them, at the museum, and I imagine it was the same for you at home too. It seemed like people just flipped when they saw you or something. Why?”
She shrugged, she couldn’t tell Ellie the real reason or even divulge just a little.
“Something just happened - I don’t know what.”
Ellie pulled away then, scared for a moment. She took a minute or so to stare at Sarah Jane, and eventually she shook her head.
“No - it wasn’t something you did. Even I would know if you’d done something bad. There isn’t a bad bone in you.”
That caused Sarah to blush. Ellie smiled and snuggled close to her once more,
“You gave me money the day before last. And I thought to myself - what a beautiful woman.”
Sarah wrapped an arm around her, holding her closer.
“I thought the same,” she whispered.
Ellie looked up at her again. Their faces inched closer until their lips met. They kissed. It started gentle but it turned into something more, something more passionate and warm. Something they’d both been looking for, for a long time. It kept them warm through the night.
***
Sarah had finally lived up to her promise and first thing that morning she took Ellie for a coffee. She patently waited outside for her, watching over her things. Last night they’d both made a promise to be there for one another, and if there truly was no way out Sarah promised to be by her side until the end - one way or another.
“Mum!”
She turned around quickly to see Sky running toward her. Around ten paces behind were Clyde and Rani. She enveloped her daughter in a hug.
“Oh Mum I missed you so much!”
“Sarah Jane!” Rani called.
“You need to help us, right now - there’s no time,” Clyde finished her sentence for her.
“What? But - how?” Sarah tried her best to understand how and why they were talking to her, here with her, and not calling the police.
“There’s no time to explain!”
“I broke the curse!” Sky shouted up, squeezing Sarah Jane into an even tighter hug.
She had to pry Sky away, looking back regretfully - Ellie.
“Please - there’s no time.”
She nodded,
“Ok - quick, but we must get back here right away!”
She left. She left to save the world.
***
Sarah had been searching all day. She’d gone to the kitchen, she’d found the bridge, but there was no sign of Ellie.
Every blonde head she saw she thought it was her - but it wasn’t, it never was.
“She’s gone,” Clyde spoke. The kids had helped her look, but he was the most grown up out of them all right now - even herself. “You have to let her go.”
Sarah shook her head,
“No! I made a promise to her that I wouldn’t.”
She couldn’t bear the thought of Ellie living like this anymore, especially not alone. She thought of the worst immediately.
“I won’t give up.”
“Excuse me,” she heard a voice - a man, a homeless man, he was at the kitchen yesterday, “I heard you were looking for Ellie.”
Sarah nodded quickly, her heart racing with anticipation. Did he know where she was? Was she safe? Was she looking for her too?
“Yes. Yes - I am, where is she?”
He shook his head, remorse clear on his face - her stomach sunk.
“The Night Dragon took her.”
Sarah’s eyes widened and she turned around quickly, looking at where the man was pointing. Her eyes squinted then came into focus. A van, it read ‘Night Dragon Haulage’.
“Take’s you across Europe, Glasgow, Paris, Budapest. Gives you a new life.”
Sarah just nodded.
“A new life,” she whispered solemnly. Ellie was gone.
Author: crumpledquill
Fandom: The Sarah Jane Adventures
Rating: PG-13
Genre: AU
Pairing: Sarah Jane/Ellie Faber
Spoilers: None as it's AU.
Disclaimer: I disclaim all characters etc that aren't mine.
Summary: An alternative take on the SJA episode: The Curse of Clyde Langer.
What on Earth was that? Or, more to be more apt, what in the universe was that?
Sarah Jane Smith looked up to the attic skylight above her head. There, flapping about on the window were a couple of trout.
Splat!
Oh and there was another.
It was raining fish! Actual real living fish!
She quickly made her way to the other window and looked out over Bannerman Road. There certainly wasn’t a black rain cloud just over her house, it was everywhere. As if on cue her mobile phone started to vibrate in her pocket. She picked it out and quickly looked at the caller ID - Clyde; no doubt he was calling to see if any of this was alien.
“Sarah Jane we’re at school and-”
“Don’t tell me, it’s raining fish?”
“How did you know? I-It’s nothing alien is it?”
She laughed, hearing rustling in the background then Sky shouting,
“Is this normal Earth weather?!”
“I’m onto it - and Clyde, tell Sky not to worry please?”
***
After investigating the cause of the freak storm, both Sarah Jane and Mr Smith had concluded that there was nothing alien about it - nothing whatsoever. The storm, however odd, was completely and utterly normal; although it did seem a little eerie because on further investigation something else had happened at the same time.
A Mojave totem pole had recently been brought to the Museum of Culture. However this certain totem pole held a certain legend. It had been recovered from a cave, where it was hidden, it was said to be cursed. However the last time it had been touched by man,
“A storm came and fish fell from the sky!”
Clyde laughed at that, shaking his head,
“Sounds alien to me!”
“Oh come off it Clyde! It’s just coincidence, not everything has to come from the planet Zog!” Rani snapped, crossing her arms over her chest and trying her utter best to sound reasonable. Still it didn’t work, on Clyde, Sky, herself, or even Sarah Jane.
“What are we waiting for then?” she finished, grabbing her coat on the way out.
***
The three children went before her, storming ahead to get inside of the museum. It was all too much of a coincidence, even for her liking, something dark could be at hand here - and yet it could be nothing.
“Come on mum!” Sky called, running after Clyde and Rani.
Sarah Jane followed slowly, interrupted by a blonde girl, a homeless girl.
“Got any spare change?” she asked casually, her eyes portraying more than she was meant to. Usually Sarah Jane didn’t give money to just anyone, but she seemed genuine, in need. She fished in her pocket and handed the girl a few pound coins. In return she got a smile before the girl walked on.
“Why did you do that?” Sky asked, out of nowhere.
Sarah Jane turned around and smiled down at her new daughter,
“Because sweetheart - she needs it more than I do.”
Just seeing that poor girl had made her heart so much heavier. In that moment she’d forgotten all about the totem pole and aliens and everything. With everything she’d seen in her lifetime, and everywhere she’d been, sometimes there was nothing more alien to her than home.
As she ushered Sky inside the museum she felt herself look back to see if she could catch a glimpse of blonde hair again. However there was nothing.
***
It hadn’t felt quite right being in that museum yesterday. She’d been looking at the totem, up close, just to try and look for anything unusual - it was when she’d gotten a splinter. But it didn’t feel like just any splinter. When she’d come home she’d ask Mr Smith to check it, to see if there was anything out of the ordinary about it. Apparently there wasn’t so she just pushed the thought to the back of her mind.
It was just a splinter; it was bound to hurt a bit.
Sarah Jane headed back to the museum, intent on getting her ‘scoop’. She’d do just a little more snooping around, and if she was completely and utterly satisfied that the totem pole had nothing to do with aliens then she would still sell her story about the link with the fish storm.
However things hadn’t gone exactly to plan.
“Excuse me ma’am, could you please not touch the exhibits,” the curator had asked her gently, it had been the same woman from yesterday - she was in charge of the exhibit.
“Oh I am sorry,” Sarah replied and turned to face her.
“It’s ok. I recognise you. You were here yesterday weren’t you?”
“Yes - my name is Sarah Jane Smith. I’m a journalist, and well, I noticed nobody had printed a story as of yet about the totem and the-”
“You!” the woman cut her off, her face changing to that of anger. “You ruined the exhibit yesterday! You tampered with the display!”
“What?”
“Security!”
Eventually a security guard came over, looking just as puzzled as Sarah Jane felt.
“Escort this…this…Sarah Jane Smith out of here immediately!”
As soon as she said that his face changed and he man handled her out of the museum.
Odd wasn’t the word for it.
***
She had gone home immediately after that, whatever was going on it had something to do with that totem pole, and it wasn’t mere coincidence. However as soon as she set foot in the attic.
“Sarah Jane.”
It was Mr Smith. That was all it had took, for him to say her name - much like the others.
“Leave this house or prepare to be disintegrated.”
“What?!”
It was even affecting non humans.
“I order you to shut down this instant Mr Smith - this is my home-”
“Leave. Now.”
A countdown appeared on screen, she knew it was no joke of course having programmed the Xylok herself. It wasn’t the first time he’d turned against her, it wasn’t the first time he’d been effected either.
A loud beeping noise came with the countdown, and with every second it counted down from thirty a beep emitted. Sarah Jane grabbed her bag and ran outside into Bannerman Road, as soon as she reached the pavement the beeping stopped.
Tentatively she tried her luck and put one foot on the driveway. Luckily she moved it in time before a laser literally singed the ground where she’d placed it.
“Blimey what’s going on here?”
She turned around quickly to see Rani with Sky in tow. They’d walked home from school.
“Oh Rani thank god, listen, you must listen to me-”
“What the matter Sarah Jane?”
Her young friend’s expression hardened. Sarah took a step back.
“Mum?”
“Don’t go near her!” Rani shouted, grabbing Sky’s hand.
“Mum? Mum what’s going on?”
“She’s dangerous. A mad woman!”
“No Rani, you wouldn’t say those things! You’re being affected too. Sky…don’t say my name, Sky whatever you do-”
“Sarah Jane what’s going on?” Rani’s father yelled from across the road. His concerned expression changed into something hard. “Call the police!”
Sarah quickly looked at Sky then back to Rani and her father,
“I’ll be back Sky don’t worry, Rani will keep you safe.”
“Like hell you will!”
She had no choice but to run. There was no point in hanging around anyway. Everyone was affected in this; she had to figure this out alone.
***
Unable to get her car off of the driveway Sarah Jane intended to take the tube back to museum, it was the only way she’d figure anything out. However for some reason the machine wasn’t accepting her Oyster Card, and then a whole fiasco happened and she ended up being banned from setting foot in the station. Instead she walked there.
She’d arrived just before closing time. Of course she couldn’t just stroll in so she took another entrance and climbed in through the window to the staff room. With much evasion she made her way back to the exhibit.
There she managed to keep out of sight. The curator wasn’t around however the security guards were. One false move and she’d be thrown out with no hope of getting back in. She ducked and crept behind different displays, trying to keep out of the way. She just needed to scan the totem, try and figure something out.
Then she bumped into someone.
Sarah Jane jumped, turning around quickly only to come face to face with Clyde. She groaned inwardly and stepped back.
“Don’t say a word,” she tried, but of course he was having none of it.
“Sarah Jane? What’s-you! She’s following me! Help me!”
With a sigh Sarah Jane turned on her heels and ran for it, evading the security guards on her way out. She sprinted up the street and ran into someone, toppling to the ground. She looked up quickly, pained and scared.
“It’s alright, I’ve got you.”
She took the hand offered and didn’t think twice. It was the girl from yesterday, the blonde girl - the homeless girl. Together they ran.
***
“Thank…thank…you…” Sarah Jane panted, breathless from running.
“No problem,” the girl replied, just as breathless - she had a smile on her face. It was odd but Sarah Jane welcomed it. Not many people were nice to her now.
They were underneath a bridge somewhere. Sarah stood up; trying to figure out just where, but then again with all the tents around it was unrecognisable. Sometimes the most alien places were on Earth itself.
“Where are we?” she asked, having finally caught her breath.
“Home,” the girl replied, “Well home for tonight - can’t stay in the same place twice.”
Sarah turned around to face her; she rummaged around in her bag for her purse,
“I have some money here…somewhere…we, you, don’t have to stay-”
“Don’t - don’t let on that you have any money, any at all.”
The girl closed her hands around Sarah’s, stopping her from opening her purse.
“Put it away,” she continued with a smile, “I’m helping you - you look like you need help.”
“You’re very observant,” Sarah replied, shoving her purse back in her bag, “And you’re right, you are so very right. I’ve never needed help as much as I do now.”
The girl laughed,
“Well one good turn deserves another.”
Sarah’s brow knit automatically and it dawned on her. Yesterday, it was just a passing moment, but she’d given the girl some money.
“So - what’s your name?” the girl continued. Sarah froze.
“Come on, you’ve got to have a name.”
“Erm…”
She couldn’t tell her her name; it was cursed, as hard as it was to believe.
“Jones,” she replied quickly, “Donna Jones.”
“Donna Jones?” the girl replied knowingly, “Well Donna my name is Ellie Faber.”
“Nice to meet you Ellie.”
***
That night they shared a tent together. It was cold under the bridge, colder than a winter’s day. Sarah could see her breath in the air. Oh how she took things for granted, basic things, things she cursed before indeed she herself was cursed. What she wouldn’t give right now for a hot bath and a nice warm bed.
“Remind me tomorrow - I’ll use the money I have a buy us a nice warm coffee.”
Ellie laughed at that, huddled next to Sarah for warmth. Her face, it said that nobody had offered to buy her coffee before.
“I’ll hold you to that Donna.”
Sarah shivered and Ellie automatically placed her blanket over her, the only one she had.
“No you need-”
“I’m used to this,” Ellie laughed, “You’re not.”
Sarah smiled at her, but that smile faded quickly enough.
“But you shouldn’t be.”
Ellie shrugged at that,
“Life is different for us all.”
Sarah sighed at that - it sunk in. Ellie was right, oh indeed she was right. It took a while but Sarah finally asked the question.
“How did you end up homeless?”
“Well,” Ellie began, it took her a while but she finished, “My dad died - stepdad wasn’t exactly kind to me. I was Seventeen when I ran away, he was glad to see the back of me.”
“I’m so sorry,” Sarah replied automatically. She could see that she’d struck a nerve with the girl, and she gently brushed her hair out of her face.
Ellie didn’t flinch or pull away - she actually sort of liked it. Nobody was that kind on the streets, some people looked out for each other but others…they couldn’t care a less.
“It’s ok - I’ve grown up now,” she smiled.
“How long have you lived like this?”
“Five years.”
Sarah took that in - five years. Five long years she imagined.
“The streets hardened me. I know it’s not the best life, but it’s all I know,” she continued, “I do dream one day that I’ll get out of here, get a job, a house. But nothing ever happens. On the streets, you’re no one.”
Sarah shook her head,
“I promise you - as soon as this mess is sorted out, I’ll help you. You can even stay with me if you like.”
Ellie laughed slightly and nodded,
“Alright Donna - it’s alright.”
With that she kissed her gently.
***
The next morning Ellie took her to a soup kitchen. Sarah had insisted that she could buy them something more substantial to eat. However Ellie had insisted that she kept the twenty pounds in her purse, saying that she’d want that coffee later.
They sat at next to each other. Ellie introduced her to some familiar faces and advised Sarah just to keep her head down - not everyone was nice. They spoke with a woman nicknamed ‘Mystic Mags’, who liked to read tea leaves. She said something bad was coming - but how could it get any worse than it already was?
“I’d be careful if I were you,” the woman addressed Sarah, “The Night Dragon might get you too.”
She glanced up at Ellie before leaving the kitchen. Night Dragon? She’d seen aliens, monsters, she’d been to other planets. Why would she be scared of the words of an old lady? The problem was just that - she was.
“Wait!” Ellie called after her.
Sarah slowed her pace.
“Why’d you storm out like that? Just ignore her - she speaks a load of rubbish most of the time.”
“Yeah - well after the past couple of days I don’t know what is real and what isn’t anymore,” she turned to face Ellie, “What’s this Night Dragon?”
Ellie laughed at the conviction in Sarah’s voice.
“You’re joking, right?” she continued, obviously Sarah wasn’t, “It’s a myth - an urban legend. You know, like the monster under the bed. It’s just something we homeless people say - The Night Dragon will take you away.”
“And does it?”
Ellie shrugged,
“I dunno - sometimes people just go missing, vanish into thin air. But then I suppose that’s life here.”
***
That night they settled in an empty alleyway. Rain poured but luckily they had found an alcove. Ellie laid some cardboard on the ground and started a fire. Sarah made their ‘bed’. When the fire was going Ellie sat next to her, huddling against her because of the cold.
“Where were you when it happened?” she asked, looking up at Sarah curiously.
“When what happened?” she replied, her eyes fixated on the rain.
“You know - the fish thing.”
“I was…home.”
It felt so long ago and yet it had only been two days. Everybody hated her, Rani, her parents, Mr Smith, Clyde but not Sky. She wondered, no, she hoped that maybe Sky was fighting for her.
“Sounds nice,” Ellie commented, squeezing her arm. Sarah looked down at her.
“Why did everyone turn on you?”
Sarah’s brow furrowed,
“What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean. I saw them, at the museum, and I imagine it was the same for you at home too. It seemed like people just flipped when they saw you or something. Why?”
She shrugged, she couldn’t tell Ellie the real reason or even divulge just a little.
“Something just happened - I don’t know what.”
Ellie pulled away then, scared for a moment. She took a minute or so to stare at Sarah Jane, and eventually she shook her head.
“No - it wasn’t something you did. Even I would know if you’d done something bad. There isn’t a bad bone in you.”
That caused Sarah to blush. Ellie smiled and snuggled close to her once more,
“You gave me money the day before last. And I thought to myself - what a beautiful woman.”
Sarah wrapped an arm around her, holding her closer.
“I thought the same,” she whispered.
Ellie looked up at her again. Their faces inched closer until their lips met. They kissed. It started gentle but it turned into something more, something more passionate and warm. Something they’d both been looking for, for a long time. It kept them warm through the night.
***
Sarah had finally lived up to her promise and first thing that morning she took Ellie for a coffee. She patently waited outside for her, watching over her things. Last night they’d both made a promise to be there for one another, and if there truly was no way out Sarah promised to be by her side until the end - one way or another.
“Mum!”
She turned around quickly to see Sky running toward her. Around ten paces behind were Clyde and Rani. She enveloped her daughter in a hug.
“Oh Mum I missed you so much!”
“Sarah Jane!” Rani called.
“You need to help us, right now - there’s no time,” Clyde finished her sentence for her.
“What? But - how?” Sarah tried her best to understand how and why they were talking to her, here with her, and not calling the police.
“There’s no time to explain!”
“I broke the curse!” Sky shouted up, squeezing Sarah Jane into an even tighter hug.
She had to pry Sky away, looking back regretfully - Ellie.
“Please - there’s no time.”
She nodded,
“Ok - quick, but we must get back here right away!”
She left. She left to save the world.
***
Sarah had been searching all day. She’d gone to the kitchen, she’d found the bridge, but there was no sign of Ellie.
Every blonde head she saw she thought it was her - but it wasn’t, it never was.
“She’s gone,” Clyde spoke. The kids had helped her look, but he was the most grown up out of them all right now - even herself. “You have to let her go.”
Sarah shook her head,
“No! I made a promise to her that I wouldn’t.”
She couldn’t bear the thought of Ellie living like this anymore, especially not alone. She thought of the worst immediately.
“I won’t give up.”
“Excuse me,” she heard a voice - a man, a homeless man, he was at the kitchen yesterday, “I heard you were looking for Ellie.”
Sarah nodded quickly, her heart racing with anticipation. Did he know where she was? Was she safe? Was she looking for her too?
“Yes. Yes - I am, where is she?”
He shook his head, remorse clear on his face - her stomach sunk.
“The Night Dragon took her.”
Sarah’s eyes widened and she turned around quickly, looking at where the man was pointing. Her eyes squinted then came into focus. A van, it read ‘Night Dragon Haulage’.
“Take’s you across Europe, Glasgow, Paris, Budapest. Gives you a new life.”
Sarah just nodded.
“A new life,” she whispered solemnly. Ellie was gone.