I have recently updated Chapter 1 with information that is vital to understanding Chapter 2. Please re-read Chapter 1 before you continue...
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"There are still no new leads in the ongoing investigation for the perpetrator of the most heinous act of vandalism Sunnydale has ever seen. Graves of all sizes and families were destroyed with no discernible connection between them."
-"It appears that this was the work of one vandal, possible with a sledgehammer or some other type of bludgeoning instrument, we uncovered fingerprints or DNA at the scene of the crime and have no leads or suspects at this time. However there is still much of the area to canvas and a lot of evidence to sift through back at the station. We hope to have a solid lead by the end of the week."-
"that was Police Chief Evans from Sunnydale Metro."
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Buffy stood in the shower, the ice cold water poured down on her head, calming her frazzled nerves. Her swollen wrists throbbed painfully but she could feel the new bone growth already forming. Most of her scars and bruises were gone except for the large gashes in her forearms, though she couldn't recall where exactly those came from.
She forced herself in a pain induced coma and was easily out for three days. Although they were easy to go into, with her slayer strength, they were not so easy coming out of. She was lucky her mom was at an art exhibit all week and she had no one to check in on her. Although the police had discovered the scene, she was certain she wouldn't get caught. Luck was in her favor as they found no evidence, her friends were busy with their own summer plans and Angel…Angel was holed up all day.
Her chest ached and her throat tightened at the thought of her lover…ex-lover…She shoved her face under the icy water again letting the shock force his name from her conscious mind.
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Eventually she forced herself from the water and carefully dried off, wincing as she patted down her wrists. Dressing was more painful then she would have imagined as she stood in front of her closet dripping wet and shivering. Every outfit reminded her of Angel.
She inadvertently let mind wander to her perfect night with Angel, and as her memory became more and more vivid, her hands started to follow the path his took that night down her naked body. Before she realized it, she could have sworn he was there, touching her in the way only he could ever touch her. The emotion and arousal of that night merging into the pain and heartbreak of this one boiled over.
She lashed out, trying to purge her mind of his torturous body, and smashed her right arm into her full length mirror causing it to shatter and fall to the successful in making her forget him, it also broke her strong will not to let her tears manifest and she ran into the bathroom to clean up with tears streaming from her eyes.
She crouched over the white porcelain sink, staining it red as she picked the glass out of her bleeding hand and fastened bandages to every piece of cut skin and set every broken bone, then she slowly climbed her broken and battered naked body back to bed.
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Deep in the woods, behind the grassy solitude of the cemetery she crouched, the place invited her in and yet screamed at her to leave simultaneously. She slowly raised herself erect & stepped solemnly from the undergrowth. The early morning dew stung her bare feet as she walked slowly between the graves, trying not to spook their inhabitants.
Stone after stone she passed, glancing at each name. Some of them she recognized but most of them she didn't, until one caught her eye and her breath. Buffy A. Summers the headstone read. Confusion wafted over her until her eyes spotted the disturbed grass beneath it, then suddenly everything became clear.
A noise to her left startled her and she turned to face the source. Her lover's brooding figure stepped from the trees and spoke one word as the sun broke over the trees and everything burst into flames.
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Buffy awoke to the sounds of screaming and she broke into shattered sobs as she realized the screams were hers. She still felt the heat of the fire and the fear that grew deep inside her. She drew her legs in to her chest and scrunched close to her headboard, pulling the sheets tight around her, wishing the world away between heavy, broken sobs.