Summary: OK, so, this is one of those 'what if?' deals. What if Angelus hadn't stopped at Jenny Calendar's murder, but gone on to hurt those around the Slayer as much as he could?

Spoilers: Up to 'Passion'.

Disclaimer: I own none of the 'Buffy' characters. I only own the plot.

A/N: This is a dark fic, might be disturbing (hey, it's rated R for a reason). There will be quite a lot of violence (there is some here too). Please review, feedback is greatly appreciated.

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Buffy had come to know the sound of a neck breaking as well as she had known her mother's voice. She could tell from the pitch, the volume, the timbre of the noise made by those bones fracturing, what kind of person they belonged to. Was it a male or a female, a thin or a fat person? Was it a young or an old one? She always knew.

Her un-asked for education on the matter began when he started sending tapes to her home of the sound of her friends' dying. He hadn't quite had the time to do that for Jenny Calendar. Hers was more of an impromptu demise. He hadn't brought the tape recorder with him that day. In truth, he hadn't had that great idea yet, but he would soon, and then he would never leave the mansion for a kill again without that tape recorder.

Everybody was in pain after Jenny's death, and Angelus loved it. He was beside himself with glee, in fact. His Buffy and the teacher were never that close; as a matter of fact, Buffy had hated her. Yet now, she was suffering. If her death had this effect on her, Angelus couldn't wait to see what she'd do when Willow died.

She didn't do much, really. She didn't even cry, at least not when anyone could have seen her. It happened one week after Jenny. The Scoobies had said goodbye after school that day, just like any other day. However, they were being extra-careful, lately, phoning each other often to check. To see if everyone was still alive. When everyone got home, they called everyone else to discover, with relief, that they were all fine. Giles and Buffy had stayed back a while to train in the Library. Then, the Slayer and her Watcher both went home where Angel could never get in.

Willow too had phoned. But she wouldn't be fine for much longer. She'd stepped out for a few minutes, to water the plants in the back garden. Her mother wasn't going to be back for a few days, so she was in charge of all the 'household-y' things. She never had the time to pull her cross out. He was just too quick for her.

Buffy found the tape on her doorstep when she finally got home after the long training-session.

'Mum? Is this for you?' she yelled somewhere in the direction of the kitchen.

'What honey?'

'There's a package on the doorstep. You didn't see it?'

'Maybe it's some secret admirer of yours,' said Joyce, smiling. 'It wasn't there when I came in.'

'Okay. I'll tell you if it's for you. Call me when dinner's ready.'

She was intrigued when she saw the tape. Was it a love declaration, maybe? She smiled inwardly. Then it hit her that Angel was the only guy, apart from Xander, she had really got to know in her time in Sunnydale, so if it was indeed a guy, it would be him. And right now, it wasn't even him. So she dreaded hearing what he would have to say. But she knew she had to, for the sake of Slayer duty. So, alone, up in her room, she pressed play.

'Hello, lover. It's me. Guess who I have here?'

'Buffy!'

The Slayer froze.

'Yep, that's right, Buff. It's your little friend. I'm going to kill her now. Want to hear?'

'Buffy, if you can hear me, I love you all! Please, don't blame yourself. This is *not* your fault. I love you-'

Then came that sickening crack. It was sharp, almost cackling with some sort of energy. Magic, perhaps? That was the sound Willow's neck made.

Buffy heard her friend's body slumping to the floor. Then, his voice, mocking her.

'It's not your fault, Buffy.'

TBC…