CHAPTER ONE: THE END
The sun was rising. Its rays swung out over the city, blinding it with fury. It revealed the terror of that night to the world, a world that did not believe in such things. Not until now. As this world realised the pain of the people that had stood alone to face the darkness, it was already too late. They had faced it. And were still fighting.
Despair was spreading like a thick curtain over the last remaining members of the group. Illyria, Spike, Gunn & Angel. They had fought, fought with the intensity of people who had nothing left to fight for, but still continued striving. But only as the sun rose and they were forced into a corner of a disheveled building did they realise that it was no use. Every evil thing possible had rained down on them, all hell had broken lose and now they had to die with the fact that they had hardly made a dent in the ranks.
"Looks like it ends here mate" Spike was leaning against the wall, bruised and bloodied, looking at Angel. "It's a bloody conspiracy. Personally I pity you, you poor sod, since you're the one in charge of this bunch. You have to deal with it"
"Spike..." Angel gritted his teeth out of frustration or pain, he couldn't figure out what. He decided to go with frustration.
"So...seems to end here then," Gunn cut the conversation in half. "Any regrets and prayers please resolve now, cause' we're about to become pulp. Literally."
"Yeah, I've got one," Spike cheerfully plonked himself onto the ground. " Dear god. I hate you. See ya in Heaven! Spike."
"I would not make fun of it now. You are foolish, I never will understand this...Humour. This is only because I will never live to understand it. I hate being mortal" Illyrias speech was received by silence. Nobody was listening. Everybody was waiting, as the door was pounded on with such force the ceiling was crumbling in the corners of the large basement car park. Waiting for the final blow.
Angel tensed his body, watching the door carefully. As the pounding continued, his thoughts suddenly landed on Cordelia. He smiled inwardly. Funny how the oddest things came to mind in the time of danger. He wished he had said something, anything before she had died. Anything. But he would be soon joining her finally, where she was. Very soon. The door shook. They stood ready. With a last groan, the wood splintered, and it crashed down, timber flying through the air. And they came.
They rushed towards the four standing, a crowd of worst nightmares imaginable. But greater, much greater.
Time was stopped. Everything was gone. They lived for the moment, all four launching themselves to the end, knowing that this clash would be the last. And they would fail. They ran, battle cries drowned by the growls and roars from demons. They were tiny compared to the power they were throwing themselves against. But they fought.
The end never came. A voice echoed around the room, powerful, determined. A blue light resounded, rippling fields of energy spread. And they watched in wonder as the armies crumbled, ashes to ashes, with the powerful wind that slammed against them. Then a thunderclap. Then nothing.
Slowly they turned, hardly daring to believe who could have such power to vanquish all in one spell. They were greeted by a portal, glowing softly in multicoloured light, tendrils of magic whipping out, like electricity magnified, tenfold. The centre however was clear, like a mirror, except a mirror into another place. A person was standing in the middle, dominating it. But the gang was only interested in the two people who stepped out of it. Or the two girls, to be exact.
Angel felt his knees turn to mush underneath him. His eyes blurred, focusing on the girls standing together, unsure. His eyes followed one. Two words escaped his lips, his voice dry and dazed. "Cordelia? Fred?"
The sun was rising. Its rays swung out over the city, blinding it with fury. It revealed the terror of that night to the world, a world that did not believe in such things. Not until now. As this world realised the pain of the people that had stood alone to face the darkness, it was already too late. They had faced it. And were still fighting.
Despair was spreading like a thick curtain over the last remaining members of the group. Illyria, Spike, Gunn & Angel. They had fought, fought with the intensity of people who had nothing left to fight for, but still continued striving. But only as the sun rose and they were forced into a corner of a disheveled building did they realise that it was no use. Every evil thing possible had rained down on them, all hell had broken lose and now they had to die with the fact that they had hardly made a dent in the ranks.
"Looks like it ends here mate" Spike was leaning against the wall, bruised and bloodied, looking at Angel. "It's a bloody conspiracy. Personally I pity you, you poor sod, since you're the one in charge of this bunch. You have to deal with it"
"Spike..." Angel gritted his teeth out of frustration or pain, he couldn't figure out what. He decided to go with frustration.
"So...seems to end here then," Gunn cut the conversation in half. "Any regrets and prayers please resolve now, cause' we're about to become pulp. Literally."
"Yeah, I've got one," Spike cheerfully plonked himself onto the ground. " Dear god. I hate you. See ya in Heaven! Spike."
"I would not make fun of it now. You are foolish, I never will understand this...Humour. This is only because I will never live to understand it. I hate being mortal" Illyrias speech was received by silence. Nobody was listening. Everybody was waiting, as the door was pounded on with such force the ceiling was crumbling in the corners of the large basement car park. Waiting for the final blow.
Angel tensed his body, watching the door carefully. As the pounding continued, his thoughts suddenly landed on Cordelia. He smiled inwardly. Funny how the oddest things came to mind in the time of danger. He wished he had said something, anything before she had died. Anything. But he would be soon joining her finally, where she was. Very soon. The door shook. They stood ready. With a last groan, the wood splintered, and it crashed down, timber flying through the air. And they came.
They rushed towards the four standing, a crowd of worst nightmares imaginable. But greater, much greater.
Time was stopped. Everything was gone. They lived for the moment, all four launching themselves to the end, knowing that this clash would be the last. And they would fail. They ran, battle cries drowned by the growls and roars from demons. They were tiny compared to the power they were throwing themselves against. But they fought.
The end never came. A voice echoed around the room, powerful, determined. A blue light resounded, rippling fields of energy spread. And they watched in wonder as the armies crumbled, ashes to ashes, with the powerful wind that slammed against them. Then a thunderclap. Then nothing.
Slowly they turned, hardly daring to believe who could have such power to vanquish all in one spell. They were greeted by a portal, glowing softly in multicoloured light, tendrils of magic whipping out, like electricity magnified, tenfold. The centre however was clear, like a mirror, except a mirror into another place. A person was standing in the middle, dominating it. But the gang was only interested in the two people who stepped out of it. Or the two girls, to be exact.
Angel felt his knees turn to mush underneath him. His eyes blurred, focusing on the girls standing together, unsure. His eyes followed one. Two words escaped his lips, his voice dry and dazed. "Cordelia? Fred?"