Somewhere In Between
by tainted_blood_chylde
Rating: PG
"Watch out!" Faith called as Catherine was hurled against a wall.
"What the hell are these things?" She screamed back.
"Vampires! These are the things that bled their blood into a humans I think, creating the ones we are used to dealing with" Faith called as she kicked and punched a vampire that was trying to bite her, she swung her sword and buried it in the chest of one of her opponents. "Takes a little bit more, ooomph but there we go!" she demonstrated as she cut the beast in two.
Catherine kicked the vampire in front of her and stood back to back with Faith the vampires began to circle them. "I don't like this" she said simply.
"Oh no?" Faith said sarcastically before lashing out and kicking and staking one of the Vampires. Catherine took that as a hint and started punching wildly at one of the Ubervamps as he lunged at her. She kicked him so hard that his head flew from off his shoulders.
"No, it's too neat like someone set us up" Catherine snapped.
"Point tak----ahn!" Faith said as she withdrew from the battle and clutched her side. Blood was spilling from her side, How?
"Faith!" Catherine said as she jumped in front of her as an Ubervamp went into frenzy over the smell of the blood. She kicked him and took the sword off Faith before finishing off the final two Ubervamps. "Come on" she said as she lifted the older slayer off the floor and helped her to her feet. "We have to move."
"To where? We don't know how many there are and I have no idea where to go they won't find us" Faith reasoned with her as they stumbled into the vineyard.
"Lucky for you I brought Xander then?" Catherine smiled as she helped Faith into the driveway where the red car was waiting.
Kennedy pulled the knife of Buffy's side and licked the blade. "I never knew what the big deal was about you guys before, the blood of slayers. Always seemed so pointless yet the vamps made such a big deal out of it. It's because you're sweet" Kennedy said as she held a cup to the wound in her side and collected the blood.
Buffy felt limp, like all the energy had just been drained out of her. She stared hatefully at Kennedy, wondering why the young potential had turned on them. Was she working with the First?
"Nicely done" someone said as Buffy struggled to raise her head and focus on the voice.
"You approve?" Kennedy asked meakly as she looked at the wounded slayer.
"Yes. It's exactly what I needed" the voice said.
Buffy strained her eyes and looked up. It couldn't be, she couldn't do this to her. Slowly Faith appeared out of the haze and Buffy's eyes filled with tears and she shook her head rapidly.
"Sorry B, guess you really need to learn who to let your guard down to and to think I actually watched you crying your little heart out. 'It is different.. because this time I'm falling in love with you' Pathetic. Like anyone would ever really fall for that line, didn't you wonder why it took so long for me get back to you? Why I split? Because you're disgusting B." Faith snapped at her as the tears fell down Buffy's face and she shook her head in protest. "Look at you, you're past it. It didn't take long for me think up all this. Kennedy wasn't willing at first, but you'd be surprised what the thought of power can do to a person" Faith said as she walked over to the cup of blood and dipped her fingers in it.
"I bet you think this is some kind of trick, something some big evil is doing to test you" Faith said as Buffy tugged on her chains and Faith drew closer. She put her blood soaked fingers on Buffy's forehead and drew a strange symbol on it. "I don't feel like a test do I? Or if I am, we both know that it means your little Faithy is already dead don't we? Either way B, you lose" Faith said as she licked her fingers. "But you still taste great though" she winked and Buffy closed her eyes.
Faith picked up the blade and ran it along the surface of Buffy's forehead. It started to glow.
"Hey!" Kennedy protested. "That power belongs to me!"
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot about you" Faith said as she turned around threw the knife at Kennedy. Buffy stared in horror as the mislead Potential fell to the floor with the knife buried deep in her skull.
Faith smiled wickedly and walked over to the girl's body. "Someone really should have taught her about being careful what she wished for" Faith said cruelly.
Buffy stared at her furiously and tugged desperately at the chains. "Oh don't worry B.." The First/Faith said as she changed form and took on Kennedy's appearance and lifted the books on Spike's table. "I'll play with you later" she winked.
"Oh come on!" Xander yelled in protest as the car overheated and came to a standstill. He smacked the steering wheel and got out to assess the problem.
"You keeping okay?" Catherine asked Faith as she changed the dressing on the wound. She noticed another scar further down her stomach. "How did you get that one?"
"Buffy gave it to me" Faith answered as she winced in pain.
"You two are pretty close huh?" Catherine said softly.
"We weren't always, time was we tried to kill each other. But yeah, earlier today.. we got pretty close" Faith admitted.
"I know, I felt it" Catherine told her. Faith raised an eye brow in question as if to ask how.
"When we were fighting, it's as if I was moving with your fists, making the blows as well as taking them and then you went up to her room before I could ask you how it was happening. I went all the way to the door and I had to come straight back down, I could feel the energy passing between you" she paused a second as if overwhelmed by the memory. It obviously was a great high for her.
"It was passing through me as well. Giles mentioned something to me about a connection. I think it splits through all of us" Catherine explained. Faith locked gazes with her, if she could feel their passion, what was to stop Faith feeling Buffy's pain? Catherine obviously wasn't injured.. that meant something was happening to Buffy.
"We have to get back" Faith said urgently.
How was this happening? Buffy wondered as she furiously tugged at the chains. The First had touched her.. how? What had they missed? Kennedy, that poor young fool. Buffy noticed the sun coming up. Spike would be down here soon. All she had to do now was wait for him.
"Let me get some bloody sleep" he snapped as he locked the door to the basement and kept the Potentials out. He walked slowly down the stairs.
"Spike hurry!" The First/Buffy called.
He ran downstairs to see Buffy standing beside a wounded version of herself. Buffy looked in horror as the First stood talking to Spike. "I don't know how I did it, but there was a passage in the book about how to make something soul turn flesh.. Spike. We have the First" she said in a hushed tone.
"We should tell Giles" he said as he was about to hurry up the stairs.
"No!" The First/Buffy said impatiently. "I don't know how much longer this spell will last. I need your help to bind it to this room. Keep it flesh and draw all of the power from it."
Buffy looked expectantly at Spike and hoped he would come to his senses. Realise what was happening. She screamed a little and tugged on the chains.
"What do you need me to do?" he asked as he stepped forward and took the robe that The First/Buffy handed him as he stared at Buffy as she was tied up. Buffy looked at the First who simply winked at her.
"Just do exactly as I say."
"I still don't understand, wouldn't red be able to help you better?" Spike said as he knelt down in the circle of salt Buffy/The First was drawing around him.
"No, she's too unpredictable with magick" Buffy/The First interrupted him. "We don't have time for that." The First/Buffy looked at her watch. "I need YOU" she said provocatively. Spike looked at her in wonder as she drew closer to him, close enough to kiss. She ran her hand along his arm and he looked at it before looking back at her. "I'm real, trust me."
"Shouldn't we at least see what it has to say?" Spike said.
"No, apparently a great deal of its destructive power comes from its ability to speak. It draws power and memories from its victims, that's why it tormented us so much. It was feeding and gathering up its strength, we need to remove all of it. I don't know what it will say or claim. We need to stay focused" The First/Buffy said as she looked at her watch. "It's time" she said before walking over to BUffy and holding the knife to her throat.
"Say the words now!" The First/Buffy shouted as she pressed the blade into the real slayer's neck.
"Life and death, none bind thee. I force you to this flesh, a human entity. May the soul pass through the blade, and transfer power the one who slayed" he said before throwing the match into the bowl of herbs. The smoke began to build and it was only a matter of seconds before Spike looked up and saw that The First had changed form and taken on HIS appearance and that his beloved Buffy was staring at him from her chains, wildly trying to escape.
Too late to act, too late to stop the blade from slashing along the slayer's delicate flesh. He watched in horror as the blood spilled from her neck and she fell limp. A small white glow formed around the blade and The First/Spike licked the blade. "Always knew you'd be the one to help me kill her" he laughed before he stabbed her in the chest and drew out all the energy. Spike pulled his arm over his face to protect his eyes from the light when he looked back he saw Kennedy standing over him. "You were sooooo stupid, you didn't even notice that she'd killed me too" she giggled indicating the body laying in the corner.
Spike looked over and buried his head in shame. "Never had a chance did I? I mean, how could a poor little Potential like me defend myself against someone like you? I mean how could Giles and the other know that you had been secretly plotting to turn Kennedy into the next slayer and get rid of Buffy?" she smirked. Spike shook his head and stood up backing away from her.
"No!" Spike said desperately shaking his head, tears spilling from his eyes.
"Oh yes, I mean after they find Buffy locked up all dead down here, Kennedy in the corner. What do YOU think Faith is going to assume? After all.. I can't touch anything" The First/Drusilla smiled at him. Spike looked up as he heard a car door slamming.
"TTFN" she smiled in Faith's form before disappearing.
Spike looked desperately around the room. He ran to Buffy and pulled the blade out, tears falling desperately from his face. "Buffy? Say something pet" he said as he held her throat in vain as the blood continued to spill. He looked over at Kennedy and saw that the body was gone. Huh?
The basement door was laying open. "He's down here!" Kennedy shouted. Spike's eyes widened, was the young potential dead at all? How had she gotten past him? No she had to have been dead. Otherwise the First couldn't have taken her form.
Kennedy rushed downstairs and opened her mouth in shock. Faith quickly followed so did Catherine. "We're too late!" She cried.
Faith limped mutely into the basement and looked at the scene in front of her. Spike was laying in the room alone with the body of her girlfriend. Blood covering him, tears in his eyes.
"It's not what it looks like!" he pleaded as Catherine walked over to him and hoisted him in the air. "The First, that!" he said as he pointed over to Kennedy.
"You poisoned me!" she cried. "You tried to force me to become the slayer" she protested.
"NO!" Spike said.
"What happened?" Catherine snapped at the young slayer-to-be as Faith walked into the room and fell to her knees at Buffy's side, she took her in her arms and sobbed.
"What's going on?" Giles said as he finally caught up with the girls. "Good lord" he said as he walked into the room and saw what was happening.
"NO!" Willow cried and went to rush forward but Kennedy grabbed her and held her.
"He tried to change me. He asked me to come down here and when I did he already had Buffy locked up like that, he hurt me so I ran upstairs before the ritual was complete. I think he wanted to ME the slayer" Kennedy said in between sobs. "I was so scared."
"Sounds like all the information I need" Catherine said before lifting a stake.
"Wait!" Spike pleaded.
"Why?" Faith said before turning to him. "Why did you do this?" she demanded.
"I--" SPike began before a crossbolt pierced his heart. Faith looked around to see Xander standing with a crossbow and looked back to see Spike falling to ashes.
"We need to get her to a hospital" Willow cried. "We need to get her upstairs, there must be a spell.. or.. there must be a.." she cried as Kennedy hugged her.
"It's too late Willow! She's gone" Kennedy/The First said matter-of- factly.
Faith's Journal
I can't believe what a day this has been. Five hours ago we were in bed, I was watching you sleeping. Everything was perfect. I finally had you. Then I had to make the worst mistake in the world, I left you. I wish to God I hadn't, I never knew he'd go that far. Everything just feels so surreal. I don't care about anything anymore. I thought I was in heaven but I was only given the guided tour. I can't believe you're really gone. Everyone is upstairs in the living room. I should really be up there giving them the pep talk, taking charge. I can't. I can't face them and tell them it's going to be okay. It's not. Nothing will ever be okay again. I can barely breathe. Why couldn't he have killed me as well? I feel like I've been stabbed in the heart. I miss you so much. I'm so sorry I wasn't here in time to protect you. I wish I could take your place. How can I still be here without you? Why didn't that blow kill me too? I wish it had. I wish this was over, I can't take feeling this way. Please God make this a bad dream. Please God be here with me. I can't do this alone. I can't do this at all..
"How long has she been down there?" Rona asked Kennedy.
"I don't know, but it feels like forever" she answered as they peeked down the stairs.
"You guys know what this means right?" Jun Lie, a small chinese girl of about thirteen said. "One of us has been chosen."
"No, Giles said that Buffy was excluded from that" Kennedy said quietly as she looked in at Willow and the older ones. "I don't know why we aren't allowed in there" she huffed.
"Because, they think we're too young to hear all of it" Rona said.
"They don't want us scared" Margret said as she picked at her nail polish.
"Dawn's in there" Jun Lie remarked.
"No she isn't, she's in her room. Crying. I would be too if I were her" Rona said.
"We should go cheer her up" Jun Lie suggested.
"No! We should leave her alone. That's what I would want, she doesn't need to look at us and see what her sister died to protect" Kennedy protested.
"She's right, we should leave her alone for a little while" Rona agreed before walking into the hallway to sit with the other potentials. Margret and Jun Lie followed while Kennedy remained in the kitchen, she looked at the basement door. Faith was still downstairs, Willow and the others were all in the living room. The other potentials were in the hallway, no one would miss her if she crept upstairs.
The First/Kennedy smiled as she walked into Dawn's bedroom. "Always were the little cry baby weren't you?" she said nastily.
"What are you doing up here? Get out!" Dawn snapped.
"And to think, poor Spikey got the blame, bet you didn't know Willow had a thing for your sister did you?" Kennedy smiled. "After that she just had to go."
"You!" Dawn said as she stood up from her bed and backed away. "You killed her!"
"Oh not quite" The First/Spike said as it changed form. "You see Kennedy helped, was just a little bit too vain. Should have seen the look on her face when I told her I'd help her become Slayer" he smiled.
"Oh my God! Fai-" Dawn tried to scream before a hand was placed over her mouth.
"You any idea how many times I wanted to you to shut up?" The First said bitterly as it twisted into Buffy's form. "The last three years all you've done is leech onto me. You wanna know the real reason I lost the power of dreams Dawnie? Why the world is ending? It's YOU" it snapped at her in Buffy's voice. Dawn shook her head, tears falling like a river from her eyes she tried to bite against the hand clamped over her mouth but it was useless, she was hoisted into the air. The First dug its sharp nails into Dawn's face and watched as the blood flowed from the girl's cheeks.
"You never knew when to stop, always Dawnie this and Dawnie that. You stole my life! My Mother! My Friends! The Monks had to take a part of me and give it to you. The Key. You have no idea how much that annoyed me, looking at you everyday and knowing that you were never meant to be there. Taking the burden of raising you! You're nothing but trouble!" She snapped before she pulled the girl closer to her and changed into Joyce Summers form.
"You were nothing but a disappointment to me. Now it's time I put you to bed the way I should have the first time I ever saw you." She said nastily as she drag Dawn to the bed and shoved a pillow in her face. "I need more than just one drop of slayer blood to fully come into being. I need the source, and part of that transfered to you" the First/Jenny Calender said as she pulled out the knife that had been used to kill Buffy and stabbed the young girl in the chest.
"Kennedy!" Rona called from the hallway as she went into the kitchen to tell her about the meeting Giles wanted to hold.
"Yes?" Kennedy answered as she smiled weakly and held up the tray of tea and biscuits she had made for everyone.
"I'm not listening to this!" Willow shouted as she covered her ears and proceeded to leave the room.
"I'm sorry Willow but we have to face facts. You can't bring her back again. It'll destroy the slayer line" Anya called after her.
"I don't really think that's what anyone wants to hear right now" Xander said as he buried his head in his hands.
"I don't care if it's not what everyone wants to hear right now, it's what they need to hear" she bickered. "Buffy is gone, Faith has turned all non-active girl on us, the only slayer functioning we DO have is a complete stranger. Willow might turn evil and Dawn can't even come out of her room and all anyone seems to be doing is sitting around!" Anya said as she looked at the room of gloomy faces. "The First will find out about this soon and attack us, we are screwed. We need to DO something!"
"We can't do anything!" Andrew cried. "The Big Slayer Momma was chopped by the one person who actually had information on the big evil and we killed him!"
"That's enough!" Giles said to them all. "Anya's right, we do need a battle plan. But as of right now I feel the best thing everyone can do is have a moment to rest. We need time to think" he said before wiping the tear from his eye and walking into the kitchen and downstairs into the basement to talk to Faith.
"You really shouldn't listen to them you know" Kennedy said as she followed Willow into the dining room.
"How can I still be standing here? We're losing everyone!" Willow began to sob. "I can bring her back, I did it before, I KNOW I can" she sobbed.
"No you didn't, I brought her back" The First said as it changed into Tara. Willow shook her head and backed away in fear.
"You can't be here! You're not Tara!" Willow sobbed.
"You think you were actually strong enough to pull that off?" Tara said as she followed Willow to behind the table. Willow looked over to the open door and thought about shouting for Catherine.
"Oh, you were getting there, I'll admit that. I could feel it everyday, the hate for the world building up inside you. The addiction. I nourished it" she smiled before she changed into Warren.
"You didn't quite get there though. I thought you might have actually helped me do what I've been wanting to do since this pathetic little planet was formed but you chickened out" he said as he pushed a chair out of the way.
"You fell for the old we love you story, it's the one thing about humans I find the most irritating. You actually think anyone here can actually love you? That you're strong enough to help them? I mean look at you!" he said as he pointed at her.
"You thought you had this house safe yet I managed to get in here, HELLO!! Here I am, I managed to take away your lover, your best friend, the girl you love. Oh believe me, Kennedy is dead, I just left her upstairs beside the Slayer's little sister" he said as he looked up at the ceiling where a red patch of moisture was forming. "Under the floor boards though, it was fun watching you guys blame it on Spike. You're all so predictable and you're useless" he said as he pointed at her.
"I don't even know why I am still hanging around here. I've gotten everything I need. I guess I just wanted at least one of you to know that, YOU LOSE" he smiled before disappearing with the book that Willow had of transferring slayer power from one vessel to another.
Willow mutely slide down the wall, tears spilling freely from her eyes.
"I don't know how I'm supposed to do this" Faith said numbly as she looked at the older slayer's body and Giles walked down the stairs. "I mean I thought about covering the body but, I can't help but stare at it, it doesn't seem like it could be her. It's too simple a death for everything that she was. How am I supposed to follow in her foot steps?" Faith said as a tear fell from her eyes.
"I honestly don't know" Giles said as he walked and sat down beside her. "It doesn't seem possible somehow, I really am at a loss."
"I felt the blade go in. When I was fighting earlier, I felt the stab wound. But I didn't get the rest. I think she realised what was happening. I think she stopped it" Faith told him. "Everyone upstairs is expecting me to lead them, because I'm the Slayer. Because I'm the second in line." She said as she looked at him. "I'm not that strong Giles. I'm only a girl. I can't do this without her. I don't know how" she cried.
"Buffy used to tell me the same things. She was only fifteen when she was called. That is unusually young for a slayer, she had to adapt to taking on the role of becoming a leader. She was not born to be as exceptional as she was. She became so through trying even if she doubted she could not" he told her before looking at the book in her hands.
"I'm not sure I can take another second of this" The First/Spike said as he came over and picked up the blade. "You really have to learn to stop blattering about and get on with it. I'm flesh now by the way. The war is here" The First said as it looked up at Faith before turning into Buffy. "And you're about to lose, Bye honey, Mwah! I'll see you on the other side." The First said sweetly before vanishing.
"Giles!" Rona screamed from upstairs and Faith and Giles ran upstairs to Dawn's room to find Dawn's body hanging from the ceiling, her body completely covered in symbols like the bringers bore on their faces.
Faith's Journal
This can't be happening. Buffy I am so sorry. I should have paid better attention. I should have.. Oh God I'm so sorry. I can't.. Why Dawn?? What was so important about Dawn? I can't think straight, this isn't real. It can't be real. I'm having a bad dream and you're going to wake me up with kisses in a few seconds. Oh God Dawnie.. I'm sooo sorry. Why couldn't it have taken me?? And Kennedy.. What part did she have to play in all this?? Christ. Everything is so muddled.. I... Please be here, please wake me up. Please tell me this isn't happening. Please help me. Xander's guilt-tripping himself for killing innocent Spike and Willow can't even speak. Everyone is terrified and I can't bring myself to say anything. No one around here seems to be doing anything. I was right B, this is it. It's the end and I think we've just lost.
Catherine shifted in through the masses of tearfilled faces and finally got to the living room.
"I've had enough!" She annouced and nearly all the eyes looked at her. "I know this is a really bad blow for you guys. I didn't know any of these people but I sure as hell would have liked to. But their deaths are gonna be for nothing if the rest of us don't get off our asses and do something!"
"Hey those were our friends!" Xander snapped.
"Yeah that's why you killed one of them?" she retorted and Xander fell silent again and hung his head in shame. "I know everyone is suffering. I know this is hard but you have to help yourselves now. This thing can hurt you now, don't you realise what that means? It means we are running out of time" she said as several of the potentials looked up at her.
"Well what are we going to do? Buffy's gone. She was the one with the plan. We had three slayers yesterday now we're down to two, if you can even count Faith" Anya spat at her.
"Oh you can count her in" Catherine replied before walking into the kitchen where Faith sat washing the blood off the older slayer's face. "I need your help in there" she said quietly.
"I can't help anyone, you see what happens when I try to do the right thing?" Faith said as she nodded towards the corner where Dawn and Kennedy's bodies lay wrapped up in towels.
"It'll happen to them if you don't!" Catherine snapped as she pointed into the hallway of sobbing girls. "We NEED you Faith, we can't do this without you" she exclaimed.
"Well I need her!" Faith snapped back. "I've never done this alone before, I don't know what I'm doing!"
"Neither do I! But I'd rather have us BOTH working together not having a clue than both alone not working and clueless!" she scolded the older girl. "Buffy would have said the same!"
"There won't even be time to bury her" Faith said quietly.
Catherine walked up to her and placed a sympathetic hand on her shoulder. "Then we have to make sure we come back won't we?" she said before holding out a knife for Faith to take. Faith took the knife and stood up eye level with Catherine, she smiled weakly.
"Let's get going" she said as they walked into the living room again to assemble the troops.
Faith's Journal
Well B, This is it, everyone is suited up and ready to go. I hope we are doing the right thing. I can't believe you aren't here with me. I might not even get to bury you, but if the world ends I guess it really doesn't matter. We'll both be forgotten corpses laying in opposite ends of Sunnydale. I just wish I knew what your last few hours were, what you were thinking last. I wish I was there to save you. Why didn't Spike help you? Is Dawn with you? Whatever way this turns out. I'll see you later. One way or another.
Faith left the note in Buffy bloodied palm and wiped a tear from her eye before kissing her one last time and walking out of the house hitting the CD player as she left and jumped into the school bus leaving Agent Provocatuer - Red Tape blaring down the neighbourhood after them.
Buffy woke suddenly, choking and suddenly aware of falling. She grabbed onto the ledge, where was she? She pulled herself up again and looked around her. She had to think, what had happened? How long had she been here? How far was she from home? She looked down, she was at the Sunnydale Dame, where her and Piley had killed that Sovolty demon not too long ago. She wasn't too far from the beach, that meant there had to be a road somewhere near here.
She looked around her, at her clothes. The wound in her side had healed long ago, leaving a small cresent shaped scar. What was the last thing she remembered? Kennedy, the basement. Spike, some kind of ritual, and a knife at her throat. She threw a hand to her neck, no sign of any scar appart from those left by Angel and the master. What was going on? How much time had past?
It was an early morning, just slightly past sun rise. She stood up, her muscles felt oddly sore, like she hadn't used them in years. Her clothes were the same ones she had been wearing that day in the basement, only they looked clean and fresh from the wash. She looked up and saw a ledge a little further from her own. That must be the way out she thought before jumping upwards and grabbing onto it. She hoisted herself up and grabbed onto the soft earth and stood up. There was a young girl laying there, she looked familiar, Buffy drew closer and turned her over. It was Dawn.
"Dawn!" she said as she shook her. No luck, the young girl's eyes remained closed. Buffy checked for a pulse, nothing. Tears formed in her eyes and she turned her over again and backed away from the body. She looked up, there was no way she could reach the way out and take it with her. She would have to leave it here. On that note Buffy wiped the tears from her eyes and climbed up to the main road. It was a hard trek and her lungs burned. The road was empty so she decided to walk the rest of the way. She walked for about two hours and still not a car passed by. What was going on? Normally cars lined this road.
Further along she felt a tingle of hope, a car was sitting parked up ahead. She smiled to herself and ran up to the car but frowned as she reached it. The indicators were flashing, but there seemed to be no one inside. She drew up to the side and found that the door was open, not a person in sight. Buffy checked the car, someone had left in a hurry, their bag was still in the car. Something had happened here. Something she didn't even want to think about.
She checked the ignition, the keys were still in the car. She climbed into the car and fired up the car, it moaned a bit but eventually kicked into life. She was sure whoever had left this behind had no more use for it. She drove it about three miles to the first drive in cafe. It was deserted, she felt her spirits weaken. Where was everybody? She felt like she was walking through that English movie, 28 days later. She wanted to pass it entirely but her stomach demanded food.
She pulled over and looked at all the empty cars, she walked inside. There were a few bodies, vampire attacks. Seven people in total, one of them was a seven year old girl, she was free from any marks, her throat had been snapped. Buffy had found her in the bathroom, she guessed it had been done by the woman whose arms she lay just a few feet from. Better for her to take her life she must have thought than to leave her to that fate to the monsters who tore through the cafe Buffy guessed. She walked into the main kitchen, a newspaper was sitting she read the date. 22/04/03. She had been gone a whole week. She walked over to the stove that someone had left running and turned it off. She grabbed a packet of crisps from the rack and munched on them before flicking through the radio for a station.
Nothing. There was only static, She frowned before Buffy picked up the remote for the television. She turned it on. Nothing. She flicked through all the channels. Not a thing. It was like nothing was working. There was no one around. Buffy picked up a shotgun from behind the counter and a few rounds and a few cans of soda and other items before walking back to the car. A little further along the road she came across another car and a broken down school bus. She saw blood on the windows and a few bodies of young kids. It made her feel sick.
Just a little further behind there was a row of police cars and other cars. Looked like someone tried to put up a fight here. Why hadn't that Catherine girl prevented this? She drove further into Sunnydale, there was no one around. The town looked dead. She drove to the school, it was just left open, raided for a few essential supplies and then abandoned. She drove to the vineyard. It was completely empty. No sign of anyone or anything. Just a few dead bodies. No Faith, No Willow. No one.
She got back into her car and started the dreaded journey back to the house. They had to be there. Or if not they must have left some kind of note behind. Walking into the living room Buffy found the house was empty. Only a bloodied note left on the kitchen table in the hand of a girl that looked very much like Faith. Buffy broke out sobbing and picked up the note. It was a letter to her from Faith.
The battle was a disaster. We lost Catherine was in minutes and it only took the Ubervamps seconds to kill Giles and the rest. I tried to hold on as long as I could but it was hopeless. I came back to the town with whatever survivors we had. The plan is to ralley the town, try to make a last defense. I don't even think I can last that long, god my head hurts. I am so sorry B. Please forgive me for not doing better. I love you so much. Everything is so dark, I feel so weak. They are gaining on us. I can hear the screams from down the street. It's the end, we lost, I only left this behind encase, I know it's impossible but if you ever came back to me. That you'd know, that we tried. That I'm sorry. I couldn't help the first killing Dawn or Kennedy. I'm sorry we didn't listen to Spike, I'm sorry for all of this, I couldn't stop Catherine from leading us into battle. I couldn't bare living if you weren't with me. I knew it was a mistake to storm the school but we did it. I'm so sorry. I love you. Oh My God they are in the house! This is it B, I guess I'll see you soon.
Faith.
Buffy dropped the note and backed away from the counter. Oh God her Faith, she hadn't died after all. It was Buffy who was the one that.. Oh God.. This couldn't be happening. It was a trick. This wasn't real, this wasn't really happening. It couldn't end like this, this wasn't her world.
"What's the matter? Scared? Alone?" The First taunted as it took on Willow's form. "You know how angry I was when I found out that you and Faith had been together? Why I just lost it. Did you have any idea that I loved you? That hurt me Buffy, it hurt me even more that you didn't help me cos you screwed up. You put me through hell, and all I ever did was know you!" it snapped at her.
Buffy started crying. "I'm so sorry, please forgive me" she said as she sank against the wall.
"Forgive you? How can I forgive you Buff? I'm dead, and it's all your fault. How could you be stupid enough to get captured like that? How could you and Miss Oh So Sorry Pycho Killer over there expect to be forgiven? You had a job, a duty. You didn't pay attention, and look what happened!" it yelled from Xander's voice as she covered her ears and tried to shut out its words.
"Then again all you ever were was a disappointment" it said as it changed into Angel. "You weren't half as good as I thought you would be" it knelt down beside her and turned into Giles.
"You really didn't deserve to be the slayer. I always wanted a better charge. If you had of listened to me years ago we would have gotten a better slayer and none of this would have happened. You're pathetic" he said before standing up and changing into Riley.
"I mean, you just didn't know how to accept help. Why do you think everyone left you?" He said as he looked down at her in disgust. "Because you were nothing but a tramp" it said as it changed into Anya. "We all lost our lives B, and it was all your fault. You thought you were gonna get sucked into hell? Well welcome to it" Faith said as she sat up from the table. "Your own private hell, where all you have is time, time and your guilt" she spat as she disappeared and Buffy was left completely alone.
...continued in part 31...