Fandom: BtVS

Season: 6

Timeline: Afterlife

Characters: BtVS Ensemble & Angel

AN: In this version, Buffy never went up to the top of the tower. We're pretending Dawn and Spike found her wandering the streets.

"Is…this hell?"

"What?"

Buffy turned to face Dawn and Spike with a pained expression, and repeated her question. "Is this hell?"

" No. Buffy, no." Dawn took a step closer to her sister. "You're here ... with me. Whatever happened to you, whatever you've been through, it's ... it's over now."

Buffy moved her arms around herself and she shook her head. "No." she turned and started wandering again. "It feels like hell." She stated "It looks like hell, but it's cold." The Slayer crouched down in the middle of the street and held her knees. "Why is it cold?"

Spike pulled his long coat off and he moved past Dawn, draping it around Buffy. "Here, I don't need it."

Buffy hesitated, then pulled the coat around her, staring at the ground.

The blonde vampire set his hands on Buffy's arms. "We need to get you inside Luv. Come on, it's not that far."

Buffy slowly looked up to Spike, then rose to her feet even slower. "Will you keep me safe?" she asked.

"Yes. I promise, nothin'll hurt you." Spike gave a small nod, looking to the Slayer's eyes. They were so vibrant and full of life before, now they seemed almost as cold and dead as his probably looked, though Spike hadn't seen his own eyes in years.

Dawn felt a few tears rolling down her cheeks and she walked to her sister. "You're safe, you're home." She told her, then hugged Buffy tightly. "I missed you so much."

The world is so cold…but isn't this hell? I'm in a bad dream…everyone wants to hurt me…the world is closing in on me and I can't breathe.

No…this is real.

I woke up in a coffin…

Oh God…I'm dead…

But I'm breathing…my heart is beating…but I can't feel anything.

I can't be alive…I have to be in Hell.

What did I do to deserve Hell? Why am I here?

I dream of angels, but I walk with demons…somebody save me…I can't feel anything but pain and cold.

But Hell is made of fire.

Why am I freezing, frozen inside?

Somebody help me, please.