Chapter One

I woke up and everything around me was dark. I had no damn idea where I was and all I knew is that I hurt, everywhere hurt. A thought tugged at the back of my mind, I was forgetting something important, so important. I tried to move but I felt suffocated, nothing worked. My muscles felt heavy. Where was I? What was I doing before waking up here? I couldn't help but focus on the niggling feeling that I needed to remember what was happening, I knew it was life and death… Or at least that's what my gut was telling me.

24 hours earlier:-

Buffy's POV

I'd just gotten out of the shower and as per usual, my doorbell rang. It could only be one person at this time of morning so I ran down the stairs wrapped in my fluffy pink towel. Willow was always popping round first thing in the morning and when she did, she usually she brought coffee and donuts. Mmmm, coffee. I was caught up in my thoughts about said coffee when I opened the door. I must have zoned out because the next thing I hear is a cough… And it doesn't sound like Willow. I look up to see a grinning Faith.

"Hey B, goin' for a new look?" Her eyes lit up mischievously and I had to wonder if I was blushing right about now. It felt like I was. Why was I even worrying about this? "Hey, Earth to Buffy… You gonna invite me in or are you gonna let us both freeze to death?" Damn, I'd zoned out. I don't know what it was about Faith seeing me in my towel, but I felt like a cat caught in headlights. She seemed to be finding it amusing though, her eyes always gave her away. "Yeah, sure… Come in. There's juice in the fridge." I told her and excused myself to go get dressed.

I came down twenty-six minutes and four outfits later. I wore a pair of tight blue jeans and a sheer white blouse with a vest underneath. I'd left a few buttons open to expose the silver cross that hung at my chest. A pair of brown leather boots completed my outfit. I felt happy with my choice.

I walked into my lounge to find Faith sprawled across the sofa, booted feet on my coffee table. She'd certainly made herself at home, the aforementioned juice on the table and my last bag of potato chips being demolished right before my eyes. It was my turn to cough now…

"I thought you wouldn't mind B" she said looking between me and the chips… "It's only, I never get to have any at home. The girls have usually raided the cupboards by the time I get home." I felt kinda sorry for Faith, she'd opened up her home to some of the Slayers we'd recruited here to Cleveland, no one asked her to. She just felt like she owed it to everyone to set a good example, according to her after a few drinks, it was a long path to redemption… and this was the least she could do.

"Don't worry about it, I have to go grocery shopping this morning anyway." She shot me another of her grins and emptied the last few crumbs from the bag into her mouth. "About that grocery shopping… You need to take a rain check. Giles sent me. He thinks there's some new big bad in town." Faith had her grim face on now, she looked at the clock on the wall to her left. "We have ten minutes to get to the compound to meet the others… I'll drive."