The Doctor's initial reaction--to kick whatever it was off of himself--became immediately impossible. His leg felt numb, like he'd been stabbed with a block of ice or some sort of an anesthetic. The feeling spread to his other leg, and he was left flailing, caught by something cold and strong. The tentacle appeared to have some sort of talons along the side, and he felt them dig into his flesh, cutting wounds into his muscles and nerves.

Was this it? Would this be how he died? After everything that happened, he'd be pulled to his own death by something unexpected and strong? It seemed unfair. So utterly anticlimactic after the fight with the Master and the Time Lords. And what about the Marquis? Or the ten thousand other things that could've killed him in this lifetime? But this? This was unfair!

He could feel Jack near him, trying to unlodge the tentacle, but it was stuck, tight into his skin. The Doctor felt light-headed, a little dizzy, and he couldn't---

Suddenly, the tentacle released, snapping back into the darkness.