Chapter 2 Highway to Hell

A/N: Chapter 2 is a fun one. We're in full demon/vampire slaying mode now. As before I mention that there's a new baddie coming and here's the chapter that I introduce that baddie. He's a mean one and I think you'll like him. If you think Elizabeth is crazy, she' got nothing on this guy. Anyways, lots of good stuff in this chapter well maybe not good but its still good, that makes sense right? Hope you like it, happy reading.

Livin' easy
Lovin' free
Season ticket on a one way ride
Askin' nothin'
Leave me be
Takin' everythin' in my stride
Don't need reason
Don't need rhyme
Ain't nothin' that I'd rather do
Goin' down
Party time
My friends are gonna be there too
I'm on the highway to hell
On the highway to hell
Highway to hell
I'm on the highway to hell

No stop signs
Speed limit
Nobody's gonna slow me down
Like a wheel
Gonna spin it
Nobody's gonna mess me around
Hey satan
Payin' my dues
Playin' in a rockin' band
Hey mumma
Look at me
I'm on the way to the promised land
I'm on the highway to hell
Highway to hell
I'm on the highway to hell
Highway to hell
Don't stop me

I'm on the highway to hell
On the highway to hell
Highway to hell
I'm on the highway to hell
(highway to hell) I'm on the highway to hell
(highway to hell) highway to hell
(highway to hell) highway to hell
(highway to hell)
And I'm goin' down
All the way
I'm on the highway to hell

Highway to Hell by ACDC

Buffy, Dawn, Giles, Willow, Xander, Oz, Anya, Doyle, Cordelia and Spike were outside the old factory that after all this time it still stood. They all gathered around the entrance to the factory knowing vampires and demons still come here. Buffy looked at the building and then turned to the group as Spike lit up a cigarette.

"Alright we stay in formation for the sweep after that we pair off." Buffy started, she looked everyone and they looked different these days they all did. Buffy wore more Angel's look when slaying of course with her own touch. She wore a black leather jacket, black shirt, dark jeans and boots that had a slight heel to them. She also has been using his crossbow and understands now why he favored it so much. The rest of the group had similar looks, darker colors. Dawn was somewhat dressed similar to Buffy. The reason for the darker colors was to hide in the shadows.

Buffy did have Spike in the group now but they were still one man down. To be dressed in darker colors helped everyone hide. "Any questions, comments or concerns?" She asked and Spike raised his hand. "That was rhetorical but what?"

"Why do I always get stuck with the Watcher?" Spike asked and Buffy just stared at him and she wasn't going to answer she didn't have time for that. Giles looked a little annoyed as well.

"Let's do it." Buffy continued on and the ten of them walked in. They were a tight group now. They have been training and keeping up with fight skills very street fighting styles as well. When they come into a place like this or they sweep a cemetery they line up and quickly look around. If there's a sign of danger they form up meaning the bunch together a little so everyone's back is covered. This was going to be an in and out mission. Just then a horde of vampires were before them.

"Take them all out!" Giles yelled and the A-Team did what they were supposed to do, they paired up it was Buffy and Dawn, Willow and Oz, Xander and Anya, Cordelia and Doyle and then Giles and Spike. Buffy and Dawn went back-to-back and Buffy fired while Dawn let heads roll. Dawn was no longer the kid in training trying to hold a sword up. Buffy and Giles have been training her like a slayer and she knew how to pack a punch these days. She wields a katana like she's been fighting for years.

"Dawn," Buffy said and she bent over and Dawn rolled over Buffy and slice the head off a vampire while Buffy fired at another one. Just then the two tossed each other's weapons at one another. Buffy rolled to the floor and then stabbed a vampire and then cut it's head off. Dawn fired the crossbow and reloaded it quickly. Once she reloaded it she used it like a sword hitting a vampire with it and then fired at the vampire at point blank in the chest. She then took out her dagger and stabbed another vampire and Buffy came over staked it. Buffy then tossed the stake to Dawn and Dawn took out one more vampire.

The A-Team formed up and continued their sweep to see if there was anything else. This was their typical nights. Over the last three months this group has built up some serious moves and have become a serious strike force you do not want to mess with and Buffy was the core.


Buffy was driving Dawn to high school. She was a little nervous. For the entire summer Buffy had Dawn with her helping with the loss of Angel and now Dawn was back in school. Willow and Oz would be back in class and the mansion will be just a little empty and lonely until Dawn gets back. Buffy pulled up to the school and looked to Dawn.

"You ok Buffy?" Dawn asked and Buffy nodded. "You sure, you look…worried."

"Why would I be worried?" Buffy asked and Dawn smiled and leaned in and hugged Buffy. Buffy hugged her back and felt better. "Have a good day." Buffy meant it and Dawn smiled grabbing her backpack and got out closing the door waving to Buffy. Buffy watched Dawn until she couldn't see her anymore and then headed back to the mansion.


At the mansion Spike was there. He had fallen asleep after last night's patrol. But you can't fall asleep around these people without getting picked on. Doyle walked into the living room seeing Spike was completely out and smiled. He left quickly heading into the kitchen and grabbed a spoon. Cordelia decided to take off the semester mostly to help Buffy recuperate and to help Giles with research. But she was really taking a semester off because she had no drive to go to school not after seeing the world almost end and watching her friend die saving the world. So she sat at the table and saw Doyle looked too giddy for the morning.

Doyle went to the sleeping vampire and Cordelia came in to see what was happening and she saw what was about to happen she thought 'boys' and left. Doyle put the spoon in Spike's mouth and took a step back smiling. Just then Buffy walked in and saw Spike asleep with a spoon in his mouth and Doyle smiling like a little kid at Christmas.

"Good morning Vietnam!" Doyle screamed waking Spike up and he even did a few karate chops as he was beyond startled and then pulled the spoon out of his mouth.

"What the hell man?" Spike demanded and Doyle continued to laugh as he did a little dance. "Very funny."

"Oh come on school's back in session and there's nothing on daytime TV we gotta make our own fun." Doyle explained his action and then he looked to Buffy as she caught the whole thing. Buffy said nothing and continued to walk away thinking 'boys.' Xander then walked in catching the last part of the sentence.

"What's going on?" Xander asked.

"Half demon boy thinks it's funny to pull little gags like spoon in the mouth." Spike got up from the couch.

"He was sleeping?" Xander asked with a smile and Doyle nodded. "Classic."

"You know when you guys try to play pranks on each other it escalates so don't start that crap up." Buffy came back into the living with a mug of blood sipping it.

"Fun sucker." Xander muttered but Buffy can hear that.

"Just remember Doyle, you started it." Buffy reminded him, which actually meant go ahead at your own risk and don't get me involved. Buffy walked away and went into the study where Giles was. Anya was at the magic shop at the moment and Giles will head over there in a bit. "We really need to fight something evil." Buffy sat down. "Something more than the run of the mill vampires."

"Why?" Giles asked as he was finishing the morning papers and his tea.

"Because our boys are pranking each other for entertainment." Buffy answered and Giles laughed a little and then looked up to Buffy and put his serious face back on. "Really?"

"Right, they're grown men they shouldn't do that." Giles quickly added but he kind of wanted in on the pranks. "Well unless Doyle gets some vision or the world ends it's just going to be our run of the mill vampires." Buffy didn't look impressed. "Or as Xander said once we can summon a demon here." Buffy rolled her eyes and set the mug down.

"No, something will come, something always comes." Buffy stated.


The afternoon rolled around as Willow and Oz came back to the mansion and picked up Dawn from school as they walked in they heard something coming from the training room and looked in. Xander and Doyle were jousting while Spike was the ref. He had been stuck here all day so he had to pass the time. Doyle and Xander were patted down with pillows and using the training sticks as the jousting weapons. They also wore football helmets and then charged at each other.

"Did we miss something?" Willow asked and Oz looked like he wanted to join in a little.

"They've been…bored," Buffy came by watching Doyle and Xander get up. "So bored that Xander put itching powder in Doyle's boxers." Dawn started to laugh a little. Boys they get old but they don't really grow up. If Angel was still here he'd be in on all this.

"We need to get back to fighting real evil." Cordelia walked passed them and Buffy agreed walking with Cordelia as Doyle and Xander got back ready to try again.


All seems well and under control in Sunnydale. The vampires were kept in line; Doyle's visions have saved lives. It seems like it's living on easy street. But you can never get comfortable. In fact living in Sunnydale you should get comfortable by living uncomfortably. The Hell Mouth was opened about four months ago. Hell itself began to pour into the world. When Angel closed it most of the demons and the monsters went back in, most. One demon managed to hold on and stay on earth. But the problem is he's not going to be at his strongest yet, he needs to wait about two months before he has his full strength but it won't hurt going around now torturing poor and unfortunate souls.

The demon has taken a human body to walk in although he'll need a better body as this one will fall apart. It took months to get the body going and now it was already falling apart. The demon walked around the streets of Sunnydale and was drawn to a certain spot. The demon stood before the ruins of the old high school. The building was finally torn down and the construct workers have been slowly moving the debris away. The demon walked up to the yellow caution tapes and walked right through them. He then started to walk on the rubble looking around and continued to walk.

He was searching for something and would continue to look for it but it didn't take long. He felt it under his feet as he stood on the old high school's stone foundation. The Hell Mouth was just under him. He had no intentions of going back to Hell he had every intention in opening it again. He was a higher up demon and can do it but he'll need some help and he needed to see if any more demons managed to stay on earth before the gates closed.


Buffy was in her room at the little desk checking over mail. It was the typical bills, bank statements and financial figures of her company. She has had her yearly meeting with the company and where they stand. The Riley suing case didn't even leave a dent because the case was dropped, no Riley no case…darn. Even if Riley lived Wolfram and Hart still wouldn't have drained much from Buffy.

As Buffy was sorting the papers Dawn came up to the door. Her room now in the mansion was one door down from Buffy's. It was the typical teenage girl room as she lives here and for the most part she is happy here. The biggest question for everyone is Dawn still the key? Can she open Hell up if she wanted to? To a degree that was a question best left unanswered.

As Buffy sat there she could hear some faint music coming from downstairs. The music seems to keep everyone upbeat and busy. That's what they do these days, stay busy and keep fighting. Keep calm and kill evil that's the motto these days. It was some sort of Spanish music going on, the group is crazy.

"Buffy?" Dawn asked poking her head in and Buffy looked up. Dawn opened the door up a little more but stood there.

"What?" Buffy asked as Dawn came in holding something a newspaper and held up in front of Buffy.

"Might have found something." Dawn answered meaning they might have found something "better" than vampires.


Buffy and Giles were the leaders of the group. You had the bronze and the brains with these two. Giles was reading the paper that Dawn found and Buffy sat there waiting for the Watcher to finish up while the music was still playing out in the living room. Doyle and Spike were probably having a beer or two and Anya might be having one too. Tonight seemed to be very relaxing.

"So?" Dawn asked hoping not only did this news article mean something but she hoped she found something herself to prove to the group she was valuable. Of course she is but she wanted to be a fighter. She has a ways to go but she's picked up quickly and no longer needs to fight to stay alive, she can fight and win.

"This man has been missing for three months?" Giles asked and Dawn nodded as she sat down.

"I've been looking up other articles to see if there's any news about him. So far nothing." Dawn answered as Buffy sat there. The problem is people go missing in Sunnydale all the time and usually return as a vampire or just turn up dead. "It's the date of his disappearance that caught my attention." Giles skimmed through and found it.

"June first," Giles' tone sounded a little worried.

"Day after the world almost ended." Buffy stated. May thirty first will forever be burned into this group's mind and June first was the start of like the New Year or even a new life.

"And that's not all," Dawn had more, she was getting very good at this. Like brother like sister. They do share the exact same blood so of course Dawn would be good at this. "I've been reading all those demonic books and found this," Dawn had one book and there was a page marker in one.

"You penciled in one of my books?" Giles asked and Dawn was quiet for a moment.

"I can erase it." The young teen said and Buffy smiled. "Ok so demonic omens and this town is seeing it."

"Of course we live on a Hell Mouth." Giles stated, there's bad omens everywhere and it's the normal part of living here. You actually get use to it and forget it's even there.

"That's what I thought," Dawn agreed for a moment. "But it's the stuff we don't see." That impressed Giles greatly. "In the last three months we have five electrical storms, and it's been rather cool this summer much cooler than normal. Also there have been several people missing it's not the typical vampire snacking."

"I'm impressed Dawn." Giles complimented her. "Ever thought about being a Watcher?" He asked and Dawn shrugged. Dawn loved to read and from what she just said, the research she had to put into this she could make a very fine Watcher or a scholar. Buffy smiled and was impressed to; Dawn was growing up and too quickly for her liking. "So what do you think it is?"

"I don't know but it's something to look into and it starts with Scott Boman." Dawn finished. Scott seemed to victim zero in this. Buffy then leaned forwards looking at the book Dawn found and started to read what she underlined. So far Dawn's theory was correct these were omens meaning a demon was around but not your low level, minion demon. Signs like these meant a bigger demon was in town. Just then three of them heard laughing coming from the kitchen.

"We'll start tomorrow," Giles stated because the laughing going on meant the group was too relaxed to go out tonight. Buffy will go do a sweep but last night's patrol was the biggest thing they've had since James and when you look back on it wasn't that hard. The group can use a night off, they all could. But for Buffy she still has to keep moving so she'll hunt to make sure everything is quiet.


The new demon in town was digging through the rubble at that school. He needed to be sure this is where the opening is. Once he knows then he can gather what he needs to open it. But because his strongest night doesn't happen until Halloween he will need to recruit demons to help. But the demons he needed were not going to be the ones here. The demons he needed have to come from Hell so there would be a summoning ritual.

"Hands up!" A voice called out and the man digging stopped as he was crouched on the ground. He looked over his shoulder as a cop was there holding up his flashlight. "This is private property no trespassing." The man then stood up and face the cop the cop however took a step back seeing the man. The man looked pale, sickly pale and his eyes were white, completely white. "Listen," The man wasn't listening as he walked closer to the cop and the cop drew his gun. The man grabbed the cop's wrist before he could fire and the man snapped the cop's arm in half. Then the man grabbed the cop's head and twisted it violently.

"Humans," The man muttered and then went back to clearing the rubble.


Buffy was watching the scene unfold as a dead body laid on the ground. Buffy felt it probably more so than anyone else, it felt cooler around here. As she listened to what was being said she didn't like that whatever happened here happened on these grounds. These grounds have held so much death including the slayer's twice. As she listened Xander came over.

"Anything?" Buffy asked.

"It's all hush, hush but from what I've heard the cop was murdered last night." Xander answered as Buffy looked around. "Hate this place." Buffy nodded in agreement. "Got a map of the school I can pinpoint what was here like a classroom or something."

"We're near the library," Buffy stated as she looked around and Xander knew it too. The space between the sidewalk and here, some of the structure that still stands and the library was the center of the school or pretty close. Just then something caught Buffy's attention as she looked up, crows were circling. When crows gather like this, when they circle it means death was upon you or it's already here.


At the mansion Buffy had Xander's map, the book Dawn had made notes in and all of Dawn's notes, which were really good. Buffy had a good start on this but where is it going to go? Everything was spread out on the kitchen table as she looked. She was alone at the moment; everyone was at work or class. Doyle and Cordelia were at the magic shop helping with inventory. Spike was home in his crypt asleep so now Buffy was alone.

Loneliness was an old friend for her and she didn't miss it. But keep busy was what she was telling herself. So what was happening here in Sunnydale? Just then someone walked in the dining room and it was Spike.

"Got a little something," Spike held something in his hand.

"It's daylight out." Buffy stated and Spike answered. "Sewers?" Buffy asked and Spike nodded and then handed Buffy the files. They were just any files though. "You stole these from the Sunnydale PD?" Buffy's eyes widen.

"Just barrowing I'll return it," Spike stated and then looked to what Buffy had out. "Snagged the file on that Scott Boman and the missing people." Buffy laid out the files and took Scott's first. "Nibblet did some of this?" Buffy nodded as she read. "Not bad." Spike was impressed like Giles was. "So, what are we fighting?"

"I don't know," Buffy answered as she read the report. "It has to be a demon though based on the signs and what was at the school."

"School?" Spike asked as he pulled out a chair and sat down.

"Dead body at the old high school, near where the library was." Buffy finished.

"Hell Mouth?" Spike asked and Buffy nodded as she picked up another file and began to read. She had a blank piece of paper as she wasn't taking notes but there were pictures of symbols so she drew them. She gathered everything she could out those files so they can be returned and no one gets arrested.


Giles left the magic shop and came to the mansion to see what Buffy found and the symbols she copied from the police records. At first Giles wanted to scold Spike for doing something like that but right now it was proving very useful.

"Celtic," Giles stated as he looked at the symbols and Buffy sat there. "These are Celtic symbols."

"And?" Buffy asked.

"This can help us, may not narrow down the demon or whatever is here but it can point us in the right direction." Giles stated so now they have more to go on. The one symbol that caught Giles' attention was a pentagram with what looked like a tree behind it.


Everyone was home at the mansion and Giles might have found what they were up against but the look on the Watcher's face meant it was bad. Everyone was in the study because the white board was in there as Giles began to write.

"Ok, I believe I know what is here and I've contacted Wesley and he concurs and it's bad." Giles started and if that's how this was going to start then yes this is bad. "What do we know about Halloween?" Then Xander threw his hand up fast.

"You dress up like Spiderman and get candy." Xander answered and Giles didn't look amused but Buffy had to smile just a little. That's not the answer Giles was looking for but Xander can boil things down to its simplest parts from time to time.

"Halloween was the halfway point between the summer and winter solaces. It concluded summer and began the harvest before winter. It also started the idea of the Day of the Dead. Now back then it was believed on the night before The Day of the Dead spirits can wonder the world freely, thus Halloween or better known as All Hallows Eve. This is where the costumes come to play. A Pagan god known as Samhain would come every All Hallows Eve night and take souls of people in the streets mostly children. To counter the god people would wear masks and leave sweet treats out as an offering."

Well that seemed to ruin Halloween for everyone and of course Giles wasn't done. "Also people of non-Celtic origin like down in Mexico wear the costumes and mask believing that the spirits of lost souls will pass them by."

"And that's how we get costumes and candy now?" Cordelia asked and Giles nodded. "Creepy."

"But the it's the Pagan god we're focusing on," Giles went on. "Samhain was not always a god in fact he predates quite a bit of history." Giles wrote on the board. "He use to live on earth and possess one person a year to collect souls, gods do not do that."

"Demons do." Buffy added and Giles nodded.

"Samhain was a demon and is one of the more powerful demons out there. If you do the demon hierarchy he's closer in the folds of the First." Giles finished and there was that collected 'oh crap' feeling in the room. "Samhain was cast into Hell thousands of years ago on All Hallows Eve. We pay homage to him hoping he never returns."

"So all this, the lightening, the crows means Samhain is back?" Willow asked and Giles nodded. "But isn't he strongest on Halloween?"

"Yeah and we got like two months before then so we can kick his ass right?" Doyle sounded a little nervous.

"You have to understand," Giles went on. "Samhain is one of the original demons, the Old Ones." Xander and Willow remembered the conversion about the Old Ones back in high school. Anya knows about the Old Ones as well.

"But the Deeper Well, shouldn't he be there?" Xander asked.

"Samhain isn't an Old One but he comes from them." Giles answered. "He's very powerful and if he is here there's no telling what he wants. He's meant to be in Hell."

"How did he get here?" Oz asked.

"When the Hell Mouth opened." Buffy answered but looked confused. "But it was closed when Ang…" She didn't finish it. "When it closed didn't anything that crawled out get sucked back in?" She asked hoping no one noticed the hitch in her throat.

"That's what I thought but maybe Samhain who is an old demon being that he is old was able to stay." Giles gave out his theory.

"He possessed Scott and is now walking around." Dawn added and Giles added.

"He's looking for the Hell Mouth, a cop died on the old high school grounds." Xander jumped in.

"So he's going to finish what Glory started, open the gates back up." Cordelia finished. They have the end result, the answer but now they needed to know how Samhain was going to do this.

"So how's the lacky going to open up Hell again?" Spike asked.

"I don't know there's several ways to do so." Giles sat down thinking.

"How many is exactly?" Willow asked and did they really want to know?

"There are sixty six ways to open a Hell Gate." Giles answered.

"Sixty six," Willow muttered. "And finding these is how easy?"

"Well we know of a few," Giles went to the board again and wrote it out. "There's the grand plan which is Book of Revelations, there's the ritual death which was Angel's," Giles had to pause for a moment remembering when Angel first died. Giles has gotten too cocky with believing Angel was invincible. "His death as a slayer allowed the Master to walk and he opened Hell, there's the bloodletting which was Dawn, the sacrifice of three demons and then the Sisterhood of Jhe."

"Oh and Acathla," Doyle added.

"Acathla is a portal to Hell not a gate there's a difference but Acathla was a blood ritual." Giles corrected the half demon.

"I don't like blood anymore." Buffy muttered.

"Ok so we know of five, sixty one more to go." Xander sounded not all that thrilled.

"Well, you think Samhain will use any of these and what about Dawn? Could she open Hell again?" Anya asked. "I mean is she still the key?" That was a good question but one they don't want an answer to.

"Let's assume Samhain does not know about the key and he doesn't use these five," Giles put everything in perspective. Also it meant it was time to look for the rituals. Maybe the Powers That Be will help them find like a list to do this all sixty-six ways. But since when do they ever catch a break that easily? Never.


Samhain walked the streets and once he found the place he stopped and stared at the building, the magic shop. Samhain walked up to it and punched through the glass. The place was bewitched for such things like these but Samhain is a demon and very old and powerful demon and with the wave of his hand the spell was no more. Samhain then climbed into the store and looked around. He started to browse the shelves to find well hopefully find everything he needed.

As Samhain grabbed various items something caught his attention a few things, they were pictures. He looked at them; there were five of them with pretty much the same people in them. One of them caught his attention as he reached for what looked like the most recent one and he stared at the man in the middle.

"Slayer," Samhain whispered. The slayers all of them that have come to be are known in the underworld once they make their first kill. The male slayer is very well known, there has been a price on his head for a while for the amount of demons he has put there. You don't make friends unless you do some killing. But there was a rumor circulating that the slayer was dead but there was one other person who caught his attention. This person has been to Hell, he's seen her and then one day she was gone. Samhain put the picture down to continue to shop.


The next day Giles had Buffy down at the magic shop as it was clear someone broke in. They had an idea who it was as Willow and Anya began to try and figure out what was stolen. Dawn was with Buffy because Buffy wanted Dawn in her line of vision. If this was really Samhain and he was trying to open Hell again Dawn needed to stay close. Dawn walked around the shop and then she noticed something.

"Buffy," Dawn called to her sister and Buffy walked over and pointed. The five pictures that basically showed the A-Team over the years were all hanging upside down. Usually if something is desecrated its to show power, domination and fear. Like when a cross is upside down it means something unholy is here. To display the pictures like this shows Samhain was not only here but he knows who these people are.

Buffy took Dawn's hand and led her off away from what is actually very disturbing and humiliating because two of those people in the pictures are dead. Buffy walked Dawn to Giles because she needed to go somewhere and fast.

"Giles, watch Dawn I'll be back." Buffy ordered and before Dawn could say anything Buffy left. Buffy drove to a certain place as fast as she could. Once she got there she ran to a headstone. It was a very cool day much to cool for September in southern California. Buffy ran to a headstone and the grounds looked untouched except for the flowers that everyone brings him. Buffy for over three months now has kept his gravesite clean. But if Samhain did that to their pictures and if he knows the slayer is dead he could desecrate Angel's grave. That made Buffy sick but there is one way to counter that.


Father Michael was now at Angel's gravesite giving it a blessing of protection. He also brought with him four Saint Michael medals to buried in the four corners of the grave. This was an important place and not just for Buffy but for the hunters and those who fight against evil. The hunters that did fight with Angel do come by and pay their respects. As Father Michael said the prayer of protection Buffy buried the little medals. In fact Angel was laid to rest wearing his Saint Michael medal the one Buffy gave him.

"Done," Michael stated as Buffy stood next to him as they stared at his headstone together. "If Samhain decides to even try anything it'll burn him." Buffy nodded thinking "good." Angel maybe dead but she'll still protect the slayer but making sure nothing harms his resting place. "What are we up against with this demon?" Michael asked as he and Buffy began to leave.

"It looks like he wants to open the Hell Mouth…again. We're trying to figure out which ritual he's going to use and how to kill him." Buffy answered as they walked.

"Keeping busy these days." Michael added and Buffy nodded but this whole thing that Samhain hung the A-Team's group pictures upside down and the fact that he could have ruined Angel's grave stirred up some unwanted feelings. She wanted to put this demon back in Hell where is belongs.


Samhain found a little nitch in the ruins of the school as he drew out his symbol, the pentagram in a circle with a tree. He needed to summon five demons from Hell, kill three people of innocent blood; the demons would then commit self-sacrifice while standing over the opening of the Hell Mouth. All this had to be done at three in the morning exactly. Now if he were here Halloween night he could open Hell up himself. But without the thousands of wondering souls that are basically jacked up during Halloween he wasn't strong enough.


At the mansion Giles had what was stolen from the magic shop also Father Michael was at the house because of the nature of the situation, these people were all targets. The Father stood at the end of the table while everyone else sat down.

"Based on what Samhain has stolen he is performing a summoning ritual." Giles started.

"Demons," Anya spoke up. "He's going to summon demons."

"Great why?" Doyle asked as he looked around.

"Samhain's power comes from Halloween when the spirits are most active. Without that he's pretty much your standard demon…sort of. He can't open Hell without the help of others but these demons that he will be summoning are…" Anya paused for a moment. "They'll be the warrior demons something we haven't seen yet. These demons are from Hell. The demons we fight are I guess bunnies compare to the ones in Hell."

"Great," Spike muttered. "So these demons what do they look like?"

"They'll possess a person to be able to walk and then self sacrifice killing that person there's no way to protect them." Anya was an ex-demon she knows how this all works.

"It'll be performed over the Hell Mouth itself also three innocent lives will be needed." Giles added and the group was getting tired of all this. "We just need a time and a way to kill Samhain."

"The usual right?" Oz asked.

"No, Samhain is using Scott Boman, he'll need to be cast out and sent back to Hell." Giles answered meaning they would need to perform another exorcism but unlike last time they have a priest who will do it without question because he knows what's really bumping in the night. "Now we just need a time."

"Three in the morning," Michael spoke up. "It's the hour which spirits are most active." And Giles nodded. They got a plan now it was time to get weapons but first Michael will perform a blessing over the group because this has to do with demons that actually possess you something they don't deal with normally. Buffy was worried about Dawn this was new territory even for her.

"Dawn," Buffy went to pull her aside. "Listen,"

"No, I'm going I'm the one who found all this remember?" Dawn asked reminding that she was the one who started this.

"I've dealt with possession before and it's hard also these demons are the real deal not the monsters we fight." Buffy was explaining how bad this can and mostly likely will get.

"I can do this I can help." Dawn insisted. "It's the line business." Dawn was going to fight tooth and nail on this one.

"Well, new line of business, you hold them I'll kill them." Buffy wanted Dawn to fight something real, something that has form and these things can move in and out of people. Also the fact that demons lie and they can read you. Because Angel's death is still very fresh the feelings that come with and guilt that Dawn feels that maybe she should have jumped will be used against her.

"I'm going, I need to do this." Dawn stated. "I'm not some little kid anymore Buffy, I know what's out there. It killed Angel and this, maybe this is my way of stopping what I should have three months ago." Dawn stood there and Buffy realized what she meant. And in that moment she could Angel standing right there. "Please, let me do this I need to."

"Ok," Buffy whispered knowing she can't stop Dawn and yes Dawn is no longer a little kid. She's now the age when Angel was called it was so surreal.


The gang waited until the late hours of the night before leaving. They wanted to get there before the ritual started to hopefully stop it. Buffy drove the Mustang leading the group. She hoped one day they can stop coming to the old high school it brings back a lot of unwanted memories, thoughts and feelings. Buffy drove in silences to the high school. This won't bring Angel back but they still had to stop Hell from opening or what Angel sacrificed himself for will be completely lost.

Buffy pulled up seeing the school off in the distance. The van and Giles' car pulled up next to her and everyone got out to get their weapons. Buffy was nervous as with Dawn. To a degree everyone was nervous but for different reasons. But Buffy needed to bury all that and save this world…again. She grabbed the crossbow and made sure an arrow was ready.

The group formed up and started to head to the ruins. They needed be careful as not all of the school was in pieces on the ground. They would have to go underground for the Hell Mouth and kick some ass there.

"This place can go at any second so everyone watch it." Xander stated as they started to climb through the rubble. One thing caught Buffy's eye and that was the platform it was still there. She shook it off trying to get rid of the image of Angel jumping to his death. Now was not the time to get upset it was time to channel that into something else.

Buffy had the crossbow up and then looked down. The blood from the cop was still stained on the ruins. Buffy looked around and in a nearby tree crows waited for death to arrive. Buffy shined the flashlight on the crossbow down a shaft that Samhain had dug. Everyone peered in and Buffy slung the crossbow on her back and jumped in. She landed perfectly on her feet and looked around the dark place and saw the tunnel.

Buffy then shined the light up to the others. It was a far jump and not everyone was going be able to squeeze down here.

"Ok listen," Buffy called up. "I need Spike, Doyle, Willow, Giles and Michael only." Dawn's widen and before she could say anything Buffy cut her off. "Everyone else you're the second front, we fail you fight."

"You got it." Xander stated and then Spike took Father Michael and tossed him down the shaft and Buffy caught him.

"You think God will show tonight?" Buffy asked Michael as she looked up seeing Spike prepping Giles.

"If he doesn't got this." Michael held up the baseball bat he used during the fight with Glory. Buffy caught Giles and then Doyle jumped down and went into his demon form and then Spike tossed Willow down as Doyle caught her and then Spike joined them. The six of them made sure they had their weapons ready and then Buffy lead the way. Dawn sat there looking more upset than ever. She needs to be down there.

Buffy led them down the narrow tunnel carefully. She rounded a corner and at the end they all saw a light knowing that's where they needed to go. Buffy looked in and Samhain in Scott's body was standing over the mouth. Three people were tied up in the corner and that would be one priority, get them out. There were five other people all laid out on the tips of the pentagram with Samhain in the middle. The group was too late the demons were summoned as the place got so cold Giles, Willow, Doyle and Michael saw their breath.

The five men on the ground then rose up as they were no longer in control. Buffy looked to Michael as he would need to get close but stay hidden. Spike will grabbed the three innocents and try to get them out. Buffy remained in her spot while the others started to circle the place. Willow was here for the binding spell and to keep it up as much as she can. Doyle was muscle and Giles will help Michael with the exorcisms.

Buffy was quiet on her feet and not only did she have the crossbow but she had a sword on her. For some reason she was nervous about this mission maybe because if they failed the world would end and Angel's death would be in vain. She got closer as Samhain continue to chant something. He needed to summon the demons first and then kill the three innocent and then the demons will self-sacrifice.

Father Michael and Giles started to set up for the massive exorcism. They couldn't do one at a time so maybe they can do a massive one? They're going to try and save as many people as possible. Buffy got a good shot on Samhain and took aim but they showed up just two seconds too late as the five men rose. Buffy could tell the men were no longer men.

Samhain smiled as the demons were ready but Buffy wasn't going to let that happen. She stood up and took a shot at one demon and the man went down but got right up. Buffy's eyes widen. She quickly reloaded as Samhain looked to her.

"Spike!" Buffy yelled. "Doyle!" It meant it was going down. Spike and Doyle jumped in to take out the demons as Samhain looked around. Buffy came out and fended off one man. Behind a small rock Giles and Michael started the ritual and it didn't take long for the demons to realize what was happening. Willow held up her hand and started to chant her self to not only keep the binding spell up but to make it stronger.

Up on the surface Dawn waited. She wanted to help and be down there it felt like she needed to. The rest of the group that wasn't down there waited until they heard something. They looked down seeing three people. Dawn then decided as soon as she can she'll get down there and help Buffy. The rest of the group started to help the people out and then Dawn saw the moment.

"Dawn!" Cordelia yelled as the teen jumped into the shaft. She didn't even look up she just turned on her flashlight and ran.

Down in the pit the demons weren't dying. This hasn't happened to any of the A-Team before. Buffy, Doyle and Spike teamed up but the demons in the men were not dying.

"We're real demons." Samhain stated and Buffy, Doyle and Spike looked to him. "The demons walking this world are weak and tainted we're from Hell. We come from Hell and killing us isn't easy." Samhain smiled meaning they were in trouble. "Kill them boys." The five of them attacked Buffy, Doyle and Spike and they blocked them. One man was keen on Buffy and went after her. Willow saw that her friends were in trouble and went to help.

Buffy was now isolated from the others with one demon man. The man was smiling at her. Buffy then threw a knife at him and it landed in his heart and he looked down at it taking it out and dropped it.

"Buffy it's so good to see you again." The demon smiled at her. How did this demon know her? Actually demons can read minds but to say it was good to see her something was wrong. "You don't remember me do you?" The demon asked.

"Who are you?" Buffy demanded and the demon smiled.

"Look at me real hard and you'll remember." The demon said and Buffy looked to him.

'Buffy screamed in pain as a black creature stood before her. He had red eyes, pale face; yellow crooked teeth, his skin looked charred and his spine could be seen as it pointed out further than it should. The demon was carving into Buffy and then stabbed her before she went to jump into the fire.'

"Cruciate," Buffy muttered and the demon smiled and more memories of Hell came back. Her first reaction would be to run to Angel but she was alone in this one.

"Good times huh?" Cruciate smiled as Buffy backed away and her vulnerable side was beginning to show. Cruciate jumped to her and she managed to block one swung but not the second one. Buffy went down and Cruciate smiled. "I missed you Buffy, I'm going to take you back, I'm going to take your soul with me." Just then something hit Cruciate and the demon went down.

"Get away from my sister!" Dawn yelled and the demon got up. Dawn held her ground standing in front of Buffy. Cruciate ran to Dawn and in a split second Dawn rolled to the ground and picked up the crossbow and shot at him. But it did nothing. Behind the rocks Michael and Giles continued on but it wasn't doing anything but Willow help with that. She chanted something and then all five demons screamed and fell. Because they were mortally wounded the humans that were now back were dead as they laid there. But what did Willow chant to be able to force five demons out of five people?

Just one demon remained and Samhain stood there. Giles and Michael started up again as this would be easy while Buffy, Spike, Dawn, Willow and Doyle formed up around him. He smiled knowing what will happen but he wasn't afraid.

"This isn't over yet, you wish it will be though." Samhain threatened them and then looked to Buffy and smiled. "I'll take you all down you worthless humans. I will see you all in Hell especially you Elizabeth, you belong there." Then his body went limp and the Scott the man Samhain possessed went to the ground. Buffy raced to him but it was too late.


How many times is this closing the Hell Mouth for the group? Five times now? It felt like it was getting harder to do so. Now they know of six ways and there are sixty more ways still unknown. That'll be the side project for the group find the other ways to open Hell up. Buffy was in the study asleep. She was already on the research trying to keep the gates closed. Angel died keeping the Mouth of Hell from opening and she will not let his death be in vane. Giles then walked into the study seeing Buffy was asleep.

The mission, the whatever you want to call it was a success but Buffy looked far from looking successful. Giles gently put his hand on Buffy's shoulder shaking her little to wake her up and she did.

"How long was I asleep?" Buffy asked rubbing her eyes trying to focus.

"An hour give or take." Giles sat down in front of her with a cup of tea. The sun was setting on another day and Buffy was hard at work and she was already looking for answer. "Buffy, we'll find more ways." Giles assured but Buffy was her own mission. "Buffy," She looked up at him and he leaned a little forward to her.

"Angel died closing the Hell Mouth, twice actually," Buffy blurted out.

"Is this all about Angel?" The Watcher asked and Buffy sat back in her chair. "Buffy," Giles had to get something out her. "I know his death is still weighing on you it's weighing on all of us. There are times we're out there and I look for him, waiting for him to make the call. But he's not here."

"It's not his death Giles it's just if anything opens the Hell Mouth it's not just game over we lose. Everything Angel fought and died for will be gone." Buffy stated and that was true.

"One day we won't be able to stop it, one day the end will come." Giles had to be honest with her. "When it does we'll be the front lines but Buffy you can't be afraid anymore. You can't bury yourself in books. Angel wants you out there not here." Buffy just listened to him. "More things will try to open up Hell and I need you to be ready." Buffy nodded understanding but she didn't like it. "Patience Buffy, things will come and we'll find our answers."

"I've been patient before, doesn't seem to get me anywhere." Buffy sounded groggy and testy.

"Then in the mean time how about you go out there and kill something or whatever you kids do these days." Giles suggested like a father would to his child when asked what to do because they are bored. Buffy didn't get up and just sat there. "You don't like my suggestion?" Again she didn't say anything. The grief of Angel's loss was disappearing it's the anger, the resentment; the want to find fault is coming. It might be expressed out loud for some of the group but for Buffy hers was silent. Her struggles were and always will be silent. "Buffy you look awful."

"Thanks," That came out with some venom to say the least. Giles was about done with her. Ever since Angel's passing it felt like Buffy was on a suicide mission, finding ways huge ways to make up for something. "You know I might look awful and tired because once again something came out Hell to open Hell. Or maybe these last five years to this day it feels like we're pushing a boulder up the steepest hill we can find and have nothing to show for it. We lost a slayer, we lost a soldier in a war we're losing, losing everyday." Buffy was snippy but this is what Giles was looking for. Something was weighing on her and it wasn't just Angel.

For Buffy everything that has happened in the last five years felt completely undone after Angel died. Even though she and the group avoided another ending the world deal it takes it toll on you. Not to mention she was reunited with the demon that tortured her in Hell for a hundred years and that brought back a world wind memories. "I also was introduced to the demon who tortured me for a hundred years and nearly had me lose my humanity so you know what screw you."

Giles knew this was good, Buffy has bottled up a lot and this is needed. He knew not take it personally. Buffy has been through so much, seen so much, done so much that if didn't take it's toll on her he'd be worried.

"Do you want to quit?" Giles asked and he knew the answer but sometimes you do feel like giving up. It's ok because it happens to the best of all us. Buffy looked up to him wondering how he could ask that. Buffy has been working nonstop and it's catching up.

"What? No," Buffy stated. "I want to make sure Hell stays closed, the world doesn't end and maybe I get my humanity back."

"Well, driving yourself into the ground won't get you there Buffy. You need a break we all do." Giles said as he sat there.

"I can't quit Giles, can't stop it's not option and neither can you." Buffy stated and that was true. They have gone down the path for too long and too far to stop. If they stop then its over. "I can feel something it's…" She faded out because the day after Angel died is the day she felt a shift in the earth. "Something's coming, something big and if I stop it's over."

"Then do this even though this hard and it's the hardest on you, just smile." Giles was giving some advice to Buffy. "I'm doing it to, tell yourself to get through the day or the week and then smile. Smile because it's your job, it's our job. Smile because you're alive one more day. Then we do it again." Giles looked away for a moment and Buffy realized she wasn't the only suffering from Angel's loss. For Giles, Angel was the son he always wanted and now he was gone. A father lost his son and that's a hard-hitting blow.

"So you and I will fake it?" Buffy asked and Giles looked to her nodding. "Fake it until we make it." And honestly that sounded like the best plan yet. Get the job done and smile at the end because that's one more day of life.


Buffy drove down the road to drop Dawn off at school She could tell Dawn had a question and with one look Buffy gave Dawn permission.

"What did that demon mean?" Dawn asked as Buffy went back to focusing on the road.

"I knew him." Buffy answered honestly.

"When you were in Hell?" The teen asked and Buffy nodded. "I'm sorry."

"Why?" Buffy asked as she made a turn.

"You went to Hell and you were tortured." Dawn answered as she looked to Buffy.

"I've been tortured all my life Dawn." And that was true to. With Angel gone it was like another way of torture for Buffy. "I'm ok."

"Can a demon actually drag us to Hell?" Dawn had another question and Buffy pulled up to the school.

"They won't have to." Buffy answered and Dawn looked confused.

"So, what are you saying?" Dawn wanted to know what Buffy meant and the vampire looked to her.

"Dawn, we're all going to Hell, let's just enjoy the ride until we get there." Buffy answered and Dawn nodded and just got out to get to class. Buffy watched Dawn disappear into the crowds and she sat there for a moment. Buffy knows if she keeps this up then she will go back. She jumped right back on that familiar highway again. Maybe taking Giles' advice would be good. Maybe if she smiles enough she'll start believing she's happy.

As long as she keeps working, keeps fighting it's going to be ok. And smile; smile because she's still alive, smile because Giles, Dawn and everyone is alive. Just smile and maybe things will get better in time. Buffy gave a small smile at the same time fighting the small tears. It's a start and you have start somewhere, start over. She sat there for a moment with her fake smile and some small tears running down her face. Buffy finally left the school fighting to smile even if she doesn't mean it yet.

So that's chapter 2 and it's rather emotional. We finally get to see where Buffy really is. She's on that fine line of wanting to quit or just keep going but going because she has to. She wants to actually live but parts of her are just existing again. She's got things to live for but it's not enough yet. We'll see more of that two-sided Buffy. The one who is out there fighting and the other who's just a shell.

And a new baddie of six is Cruciate. Cruciate is one bad demon you'll see soon. What's next? Well, we're only in chapter 2; we got a long way to go. What do you think is going to happen? What's to come? Let me know.

No forum review of the chapter but if you wish to post something there go for it. Anything you want to talk about in this chapter? Got a question? Guess? Post. Got a sneak peek of chapter 3 for you guys. Until the next post thanks for reading, comments and reviews are always welcomed. You guys are the best.

Chapter 3 Ah Freak Out

Buffy sat on the edge of her bed knowing she had to try and sleep. But she sat there as silent tears fell. But she wasn't the only one with silent tears. Just one room down Dawn was awake sitting in her bed with tears rolling down her cheeks. Just like Buffy, when the day is done, when the chores are done, when the jobs are finished, when its all-quiet, oh so very quiet Dawn cries too. She missed her big brother.

Buffy had crawled into bed with some stray tears but she heard the door open and then closed silently. She knew it was Dawn. After Angel's death she would wake up to find Dawn asleep next to her almost on a nightly basis. It's stopped for the most part but once in a while Buffy will wake up and find Dawn next to her. What is left of Angel are these two maybe that's why they are so close now.

"Buffy?" There was a catch in Dawn's voice meaning she had been crying. Buffy rolled over seeing the teen standing and knew just like her Dawn had been crying. Buffy sat up and Dawn crawled in with tears. Sometimes they cry together, sometimes alone but they still cry. Buffy pulled Dawn to her and held her for a moment and felt a small little wave of peace. Both girls laid down in the bed just silently crying wanting the same thing, their Angel.