Bright Lights
By: Peanutbutter
This story takes place after season 2 and obviously during the Season 3 premier episode. I changed it a little though so that a day in the hell dimension is a hundred years on Earth. Buffy falls through and is kept below for a hundred years. The earth she goes back to is nothing like she remembered it though there are some familiar faces.
Chapter One
'Anne, Anne who?'
Buffy watched with hazy vision as Lily crumpled to the ground. Buffy remembered her in flashes. The blond headed girl who had once worshipped vampires hoping they would take her to a higher plane of existence. She had always been looking for something better something she just couldn't take hold of. Buffy gasped as Lily fell to the ground her knees hitting the floor first before she fell to her side her hand stretching out before her. Her shirt sleeve rolled up exposing half of her tattoo. The other half belonged to Rickie, Rickie was dead. She wanted to scream as she saw the pool of blood surround the hopeful blond girl's head. She laid still her eyes wide open. She was dead Buffy knew it.
Buffy had fallen head first through the portal only able to twist herself enough before hitting the ground to strike her shoulder first instead of her head. Unfortunately her head has still hit the floor with a resounding smack after her shoulder. Buffy blinked as her blond locks once bound back by an elastic fell into her eyes, everything around her was still swimming. Not only had she hit the floor but someone or something had smacked her across the back of her head. Her body didn't want to work.
"Get to your feet!"
Buffy turned her head to look at the demon who had spoken. He loomed over her throwing her body into shadow. She wasn't thinking clearly as she stumbled to her feet and her eyes settled on her friend.
"What's your name?"
Buffy turned her troubled vision back to the demon only now feeling a little better. "Buffy," she said without thinking and smiled as the demon's face contorted in anger, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
She realized as she saw the hand holding the metal club speeding for her face that she should have waited until she didn't feel as woozy. Her reflexes were slow and off and before she could block the blow it struck her in the temple. She felt the waves of unconsciousness washing over her and then there was nothing.
"Get up."
Buffy rolled onto her side and grumbled as something over her continued to shake her shoulder. The voice was loud and becoming more and more insistent the more she tried to ignore it. Finally she rolled onto her back and opened her eyes. At first there was nothing but darkness and she wondered who was waking her up in the middle of the night. Her head was pounding and she wondered if she was sick.
"Wake up."
A light suddenly hit her in the eyes making her eyes dilate painfully and she squinted into the brightness her hand flying upward to cover her face. Only when the bright orange glow disappeared from her closed eyelids did she remove her hand and open her eyes again. She squinted but found her eyes had adjusted there was a girl not much older than herself leaning over her a light mounted to a miners cap on her forehead.
"You have to wake up they're coming back." The girl hissed her eyes wide and frantic.
"Who's coming back?" Buffy asked still holding her head as she moved to a sitting position only to hit her head on the ceiling.
"You know who, them, the recruiters. You're new and I guess they're coming to check on you. You should have been working before hand, but you were passed out or something. If you don't start working now they'll consider you defective and dispose of you. I've seen it happen now get to work." The girl, covered in dirt and soot shoved a helmet into Buffy's hands and pointed out the tools scattered at Buffy's side. "I've been in the dark for months and I want to get out of here, so work!"
Buffy crawled to her knees careful to keep her head low and picked up a pick axe. Bits and pieces of her memory were flooding back to her as she flipped on the light of her helmet. Her world became a little more illuminated as she looked on the solid rock wall surrounding her every side. The ceiling was low, but just twenty feet in front of her the tunnel widened and gave way to a wider and taller tunnel. She listened for a moment and heard a clank and jingle, that most be 'the who'. She paused for a moment her memory flooding back quickly, the demons, hell dimension, and slave labor. Buffy's face hardened as she gripped the pick axe tighter and pushed her way out from under the low ceiling. The girl to her side whipped around and grabbed her arm firmly.
"What are you doing? I told you I want to get out of here if you don't do your work I get stuck down here for another four months!" Her grip tightened and she pulled firmly. If Buffy had been anyone else she would have been yanked back under, but Buffy wasn't an ordinary girl and she didn't move but wrenched her arm free of the girl's strong grasp.
"Well I don't plan on staying in the dark or down here." Buffy rose to her feet to see four demon guards heading for her. She wasn't intimidated by their sneers or the jangle of their keys as they swaggered down the dark hall casting a glow on the workers as they turned their head their hats illuminating the workers. There were hundreds of workers shoved under the low ceiling. She was unable to distinguish between their tightly packed bodies. They were all covered in dirt and soot so black that it was impossible to tell whether they were male, female, or even if they were all human. She was going to change that though, she was going to get them out.
"Well look what we have here boys it looks like one of our workers has a complaint." He sneered and raised a large black rod over his head and Buffy could smell the electricity cracking in the air.
"I do actually," Buffy announced and pulled on the side of the uniform she most have been stuffed into while unconscious. "You see this whole loose mechanic look is not good for me. I mean I look like a man and hey gray so not my color. The living conditions down here are horrible. If I don't see any improvement I'm afraid I'm going to have to inform the union."
The demon who had originally spoken cocked his head to the side and pulled his pale veiny lips back in a grotesque smile of jagged teeth and black gums. "What's your name slave?"
Buffy put her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes, "Okay that line is really getting old. Sure I mean I had problems with the name thing before, but I've got it now. My name is Buffy Anne Summers and in close inner demon circles I'm known as the Slayer."
"Wrong answer," the demon raised his stick again blue sparks jumping higher off the stick as he twisted a dial at the side.
"This is really getting old so instead of having some more of this invigorating conversation I'm going to get out here," Buffy bent down and picked up the small axe she had been given by the girl under the cave wall and tossed it into her right hand. "You think I can jam this through your forehead?"
The demon didn't say anything but opened his mouth and screamed running at Buffy with the stick raised. Buffy's headache was already feeling better and she grinned slightly as she did a flying kick and knocked the stick out of his hand. Buffy grinned as the weapon rolled away and under the cave wall. Hopefully someone would pick it up and fight back. The other three demons rushed her at once and Buffy felt a thrill running through her as she pushed them out of the way and whacked a few in the nose. She really had missed doing this. In only moments the demons were unconscious. Buffy dusted her palms off and looked down the dark cave hall.
"So does anyone know how to get out of here?" She asked as she picked up the axe again and found one of the sticks and flipped it on. "I think it's time for us to break out of here." It took a few moments but soon a couple of people crawled out from under the cave wall. She knew it wasn't all of them but it was a few and she really didn't have time to inspire the afraid to escape. She needed to get out of this hell and close the dimension off.
"It's this way," a man crawled in front of her as he straightened to full height. Even standing straight his back still hunched a little. His hair was long curling around his ears but the color was hard to determine due to the ash colored shoot that coated his entire body. "My names is Hamel Rodgers, I've only been here for two days, but I remember where it is I came in from." He smiled slightly and wiped a little shoot off his cheek. "That's the last time I take a commute to America."
Buffy smiled a little at his thick British accent reached her ears. It was nice to hear, it reminded her of Giles. "So two days huh, me I've been her for one, or so I think, I kinda spent most of the trip unconscious. My name's Buffy Summers."
"Well I'd have to say that was fortunate for yourself and for me. If you had been conscious I'm assuming that you would have gotten out of here without me and I am not very partial to staying. I do have a wife and children to get back to." He stuck out of his hand a gentleman even in a place like this. "Nice to meet you Buffy Summers and thanks."
"Wife?" Buffy asked as she followed the dust covered man through the darkened tunnel feeling all the better even after a hard fight. Her headache was subsiding and Sunnydale was looking more and more appealing.
"Yes, I do expect you're not too far from being engaged yourself, a fine woman like yourself, despite the, um," he turned for a moment and winked at her, "masculine display back there. Did you study in China? I've seen the style before when a caravan went though England."
Buffy mumbled a quick no as she continued to follow him she kept her eyes on her surroundings and pondered over what Hamel had told her. All of it was a little off. She cocked her head to the side and wondered if perhaps he knew anything about demons, besides what living down here had taught him. He seemed a little too calm about it.
As Buffy scanned the tunnel her eyes fell on the breaks were dirt streaked faces peered back at her. Some of them were shackled to the walls others shaking and pressed against the wall. Did she have time to get them all out, perhaps if she went back to Sunnydale and got some help? She swallowed and shook her head, she couldn't do that. She had to depend on herself; after all she had been doing it for an entire summer. Reaching out Buffy grabbed hold of Hamel's dirty shoulder, pulling him to a stop.
"What," he asked, "we have to keep moving I don't imagine well go unnoticed for long, not to mention the bodies you littered the hall with."
"I can't leave them here," Buffy whispered as she remembered Lily and way the demon had carelessly snapped her neck. "I have to let them go."
"They're shackled, dear, I don't think you'll be able to let them go, it'll take a bit more time than me have." Hamel shook his head and indicated the end of the tunnel that was just now coming into view. "I don't want to be down here for the rest of my life."
Buffy ignored him and ducked under the ledge as she reached for a small girl's manacles and pulled. Within moments the metal snapped and she looked up at Hamel. "I'm not leaving unless they all come, besides I'm not you're average girl."
"So I'm beginning to see," He watched the girl clamber out of the ditch and into the hall. He turned back to Buffy, "we don't have time to do that to everyone."
"I know," Buffy whispered back and moved to the wall where there was a long metal chain latched to the wall. Buffy wrapped her fists in the chain and shut her eyes as she pulled. Within moments she heard a groan followed by a shower of dust and bits of rock. If she wasn't dirty before she was definitely filthy now. "That's why we're setting everyone free."
"I guess you proved me wrong, you did, I suppose we're all gettin' out of here," He reached his hand down toward her and pulled her out of the ditch. "Now we really have to hurry. I don't think an empty tunnel will go unnoticed for long." He started to jog and Buffy fell into step behind him.
"Are you telling me this isn't the only tunnel, there's more, how many," just as the words escaped her mouth they stepped out of the tunnel and into a semi lit cavern. Buffy let her gaze travel across and over and finally up. The tunnels were never ending there were guards at each door. There were more people there than she'd ever be able to count, or set free.
"I'm afraid there are more than you will be able to free," he frowned and cocked his head to the side as he looked at Buffy. "I don't you are but I have a feeling my wife is going to want to meet you, that and she'll never believe where I've been. I was supposed to hope the boat back to England yesterday."
Buffy was about to ask him why he didn't take a plane when a loud cry rang out behind her and she suddenly felt a push. The people she'd set free were pushing on her back begging to be let out of the tunnel. There was something coming, something big. Buffy grabbed Hamel's arm as he was suddenly pitched forward and almost plunged down the ledge the stick in his hand slipped from his fingers and it went tumbling end over end down the dark cavern.
"How do we get out of here?" Buffy shouted over the roar and shuddered as she heard the electric shock sticks shudder and spit. She could feel the force behind them. "We just ran out of time."
"I remember," Hamel started as he finally began to catch his breath his focus still on the hole he had almost plunged into, "the opening is the third row up, we have to run up the stairs."
Buffy looked to her side where the cave spiraled upward to each new level. Each one ran into a new set of demons. She couldn't fight them all off and she wasn't sure about Hamel's fighting ability and he had lost his only advantage. She was going to have to find another way and quick. Right now she had to get off the ledge.
"Let's go! You tell me where to go!" Buffy called and jumped off the ledge pulling Hamel with her. It was like a wave behind her and the people she had freed fell forward some falling over the side screaming. Buffy didn't stop to watch them fall, she couldn't stop, she wasn't going to be stuck here and if she could help it she was going make sure their recruiting business was shut down for good.
"Right," Hamel stumbled forward behind her and they started to run. The screams were deafening as the demons pushed their way, violently, though the people and crowded toward their escape route. The prisoners started to scream banging their fists and chains against the walls.
"There's no other way," Hamel gulped between breaths of air, "to get out of here. We have to get up the stairs."
Buffy watched as the demons crowded down the stairs and began to run at them. Buffy stopped her heart racing in her chest as she wondered how she was going to get of this. "Can you fight?"
"I can fight," Hamel said as he watched the approaching demons his fists balling at his sides, "but I don't think I'm going to be able to fight well enough to push them off of me." He swallowed, "so is your super strength contagious?"
Buffy snorted a little, "that would be nice, but no. Just hold on, I'm thinking."
Hamel turned his head to the left and right and started to shake the two of them were going to be torn to pieces, he was going to die and he was never going to see his family again. This wasn't not how he wanted this to end.
Buffy looked to her side to see Hamel closing his eyes and waiting for the end. She understood why. She could hear them pounding down on her and they were close. Her eyes swept frantically over the surroundings trying to find something that would help her. She finally looked downward into the chasm and saw something spiraling upward. Buffy squinted and watched it come closer and then a grin spread across her face.
"Hamel," she called over the roar of her surroundings, "you ever do a long jump?"
"I…I um never went out of track and field when I was in Oxford, but…why are you asking?" He opened one eye to look at her and was shocked by the smile she was flashing him. "What are you smiling about? We're about to be crushed!"
Buffy's smiled widened and she grabbed Hamel's hand, "Jump!"
With barely a three step running start Buffy and Hamel plunged off the edge of the cliff toward the black abyss. Buffy kept her eyes focused on their goal and with a might heave she pulled Hamel forward and the headed right for it. She smiled and in seconds they smashed into the bottom of the coal cart with a boom and a cloud of dust.
Buffy got to her knees coughing as she got to her knees. She wanted to jump for joy and scream, but there was enough screaming going on. Hamel was still screaming his mouth wide open and his hands flailing in front of his face. Buffy managed to laugh a little and pulled his hands down. "Hamel we're fine open your eyes."
Hamel's screams died slowly and he looked around slightly embarrassed, "well um where have we landed?"
"We're in a coal cart on our way up." She answered. "I saw the track right before they were on us and thankfully the cart was on it's way up."
"Right," Hamel cleared his throat and looked at Buffy very seriously, "you are never to tell my wife about that or my children."
Buffy laughed and formed an 'x' over her heart, "cross my heart."
Hamel nodded still serious despite Buffy's laughter, "Right, now how are we getting off?"
"Easy, when the cart passes our level we jump for it. I watched the track line and we pass right by the tunnel entrance. We should get there before our loyal fans do."
"Loyal fan?" Hamel asked as he finally built up the courage to look over the edge.
"A joke Ham, a joke," Buffy grinned and patted his back.
He frowned, "please don't call me that."
Buffy smiled, "all right lets get out of here. I think this is our stop."
Hamel peeked over the edge and nodded his agreement. "It is, let's hope they haven't decided to rearrange."
The winding coal cart twisted next to the tunnel entrance and Hamel and Buffy both hopped out of the cart and landed solidly on the ledge. Freedom was in their midst. This tunnel was different from the others more open and clear. Buffy remembered standing there just a day ago. She hadn't known who she was, but she knew now. She was Buffy, teenager, warrior, and the Slayer and she was going to get out of here.
"Come on," Hamel grabbed her arm and pulled her through the entrance, "I'm past ready to get out of here."
Buffy followed him through the entrance. It was surprisingly empty; all of the guards must have been called down after the two of them. This was going to make for a quick escape. It didn't take them long to see the portal. It was on the ceiling swirling in a gray pool of blacks and whites.
"This is it," Buffy breathed, "come on I'll throw you through first and I'll be up in a second."
"Right then, also if you don't mind I'd like to come off somewhat of a hero when we tell this story. I'm not really one to be considered a coward."
Buffy grinned, "I'll glorify you a little," she winked, "you're wife is lucky to have you Hamel. You fought your way out of hell to get back to her."
He smiled and wiped a little of the dirt off his cheeks. For the first time Buffy could see the smooth clean lines of his face and the faintest tint of his bright brown hair. He was very handsome. "Well let's make sure that happens." He stepped into her cupped hand. "Don't throw me too hard now. I don't want to hit the ceiling on the other side."
Buffy laughed, "I'll remember that. On three, one, two…" Buffy was about to say three when a chill raced up her spine and she paused. She heard a whirling sound slice the air and then something warm splashed over her making her eyes shut tightly.
"What…" She looked up to see Hamel looking down at her his mouth open and his eyes wide. There was a trail of crimson running from the corner of his mouth. Buffy watched horrified as his body seemed to go in different directions. His torso slid to the left and his legs to the right. She screamed as she watched the pool of blood widen and finally realized what had hit her in the face.
"Nobody leaves here," A voice behind her hissed and she heard hard steps coming toward her.
Buffy turned slowly tears already streaming down her cheeks to see the demon responsible grinning at her in his own way, his grin of sharpened teeth making her shudder slightly. He was holding a thin sword in his hand that glistened in the dull light, her friend's blood dripping off the blade. Buffy got to her feet her shudders left her and her teeth clenched. "You're not going to live to get me back down there you bastard."
Buffy jumped forward driven by the hatred and rage that boiled insides of her. Everything was coming to the surface her friend's death, Angel's, Hamel's. She screamed as she dodged his blows and sword swings. She was hitting him smacking him and every one of his blows missed their target. Finally she stood still as he swung at her one last time. Buffy swung her arm at his sword and jumped up at the same time spinning as she kicked him across the jaw. The sword shattered and flew to the side and Buffy was on top of him her arms around its neck. She twisted and heard the dull crack as she snapped his neck he slumped to the ground and Buffy backed away.
There were still tears streaming down her cheeks as she reached Hamel's side. His eyes were still wide as if they could see her and his mouth was slightly parted. God, he would never get to see his wife again, or his kids. Biting her lip she promised him silently that she would find them and tell them something. Even if it wasn't something she could explain. Buffy stepped around him as she heard the faint steps of reinforcements and jumped upward and the portal swallowed her.
Buffy landed on the other side of the portal the tears making her curl into herself. Why did it always have to end like this? "I'm sorry." She whispered. "I'm so sorry."
In her despair she didn't notice how her surroundings had changed. The building around the portal was crumbling charred pieces of the building scattered around her prone body. There was a putrid stink in the air. The sky was dark and overcast and around her was complete silence.
This is still a work in progress but I've got a couple of chapters done already and a pretty good outline so there should be no reason why this story won't be finished. Please give me feedback!
