The Ben Chatham Christmas Special: 'Dark Yuletide': Part 1

Ok folks, the idea of this story is to accompany the Doctor Who Christmas Special. My intention is to create a story that has more of the atmosphere of the classic series about it, although it will be a Ben Chatham spin-off story .

"DEADLY YULETIDE: Part 1"

Ben Chatham has gone into retreat for the Christmas period to the 'Water of Life Holistic Healing Centre' located in the Norfolk countryside near the coast. Ben felt that a complete break from the world was needed after the emotional trauma of discovering that his lover Anselm had been unfaithful to him. Staying with him at the centre are Katie Ryan and Shakey Jake, the latter having put Ben in contact with the centre out of concern for his emotional health.
Ben and Jake are sitting in the lounge area sipping tea and staring at the snow falling out of the window.
“Gosh its bleak and cold out there” Ben observes.
“Hey man the snow’s really beautiful. Dig the scene and relax. You feelin’ better about things now?” Jake comments.
“No I’m not. Anselm seems to think that I’m being unreasonable. He keeps texting me but like hell am I going to reply. I’ve put all the effort into the relationship and now I feel completely betrayed.”
Ben’s dreamy eyes fill with tears and he takes another sip of tea.

Meanwhile, Katie is attending a lecture by the centre’s founder, Dr Gideon Aston on the healing benefits of free love. She had expected him to be an elderly gentleman and was pleasantly surprised to see that he is a young, dark-haired man of around thirty with smouldering good looks.
“Free love is honesty. It is nothing less than the therapy of freeing the heart from the confines of stifling marital constraints and the inner psychosis that results. Every day I meet women whose inner selves are dying through lack of true passion.”Katie stares at Dr Aston as he speaks, visualising herself in his arms.
After the lecture, the Doctor asks for two volunteers to attend the evening massage therapy session with the Doctor and Katie instantly raises her hand and is chosen , along with another girl named Jade. As they leave the lecture however, one of the other women pulls Katie to one side by the arm:
“Hey what the hell are you doing?” Katie demands.
“I’m sorry. Look my name is Marianne Chiles and I’m a private detective. Look I recognised your colleague Ben Chatham the moment you arrived. Are you here for the same reason I am?”
“What the **** are you babbling on about?” Katie demands.
“Clearly not. Look, this place is not safe. There is something inordinate going on here. Several women have vanished without trace after booking in here. I am currently being employed by a very wealthy client whose wife has vanished here. I think that whatever is going on here, Aston is involved with it.”
“Oh push off, you are clearly a nut” Katie exclaims and storms off.

In the lounge, Ben and Jake are relaxing as the sun sets on the snow-clad countryside outside the window. Ben is feeling mellow after trying some of Jake’s ‘special’ flapjack.
“Hey man, dig the vibes. The moonlight glistening on the snow is like far out.” Jake observes.
Ben stares out across the snow and notices a strange yellow glow from beyond some trees. He is shocked to see something lift off from beyond the trees and shoot off into the sky. He shoots up from his chair:
“Hey did you see that? There was some kind of alien craft out there” ,Ben exclaims, “come on, lets get out there!”
Ben drags a reluctant Jake out of his chair and they set off into the cold night.

Meanwhile, Katie has had a shower and decides to set off for the massage therapy early. She looks at herself in the mirror:
“Looking good girl. How about paying a visit to that dishy Doctor’s room to show extra willing” she says to herself with a smile. Setting off for the Doctor’s private room , she hears a commotion as she approaches. She recognises Marianne’s voice:
“…. let me go. You won’t get away with this…”Peering round the corner, she is shocked to see a piercing light emanating from Aston’s eyes into Marianne’s body , after which she falls to the ground, dead………………….

……………….. To be continued.