Chapter 4

Running faster and faster, trying to get away from the Demon that has destroyed both her home and family; a teenage girl cries in pain holding her arm as she runs, blood oozing from the place where he cut her. "Somebody help me!" she cries hoping someone would hear her. Suddenly something snaps behind her, as a low growl is heard through the land.

The girl turns revealing her face making Buffy scream in terror as her eyes shot open. "Just a dream" she told herself. She shook her herself trying to get rid of the shakiness that had overcome her. Just a dream, but also her worst nightmare. Looking around in the darkness of her room she could see perfectly, but it still felt creepy as though somebody was watching her. She would not be getting anymore sleep tonight. Buffy went to her closet and slipped into her patrolling clothes. Pulling out the trunk that looked like any other girly thing, if you didn't remove the fake bottom; she grabbed a stake and a vial of holy water and snuckout her window. Careful not to wake her mom. "It won't hurt to do another sweep." She said to herself. She needed to slay something, the helplessness of her dream was starting to freak her out. Hopefully she'd left one vampire alive for her to dust now.


"Chloe I bet you five dollars Clark'll miss the bus today." Pete said smiling. They always bet on silly things like this, and Clark was one of the main things they bet on. He pulled out a five from his wallet.

"I'll take that Bet" Chloe said laughing slightly She always enjoyed betting with Pete. She fished a five out of her purse and held it in the air between them as she watched out the window for Clark.

Clark jumped up grabbing his red backpack when he heard the bus. He ran outside just as it pulled away watching Chloe and Pete exchanging money. He smiled and ran everything becoming a blur as he went. This was the way he loved to travel anyway.

"Statistical Fact, If Clark Kent moved any slower he'd be extinct." Pete said, taking the five from Chloe.

The bus stops once more to pick up another student. Chloe looks up wondering if they were at school already and was surprised to see a very tired looking Buffy. "Hey, are you okay?" She asked concerned.

"Hmmm? Oh fine, fine....." Buffy said a little dazed. She still hadn't been able to shake off last night's dream. Her eyes had dark shadows from lack of sleep which was hard for Buffy since she usually barely slept anyway, but last night was different seeing how not many things make her wake up screaming anymore.

"You missed it Buffy! Clark totally missed the bus again." Pete said trying to cheer her up. He held up the five. "I knew he would, but Chloe didn't think so." Pete turned to Chloe making sure she could see him slowly put the five in his pocket.

"No I just didn't want to bet against my best friend, and I'll win that back." Chloe said chuckling. She always broke even with Pete by the end of the day, but betting was still fun for her. She was still smiling as they arrived at Smallville High.

"I thought you missed the bus?" Buffy said as she walked down the steps and onto the school grounds. She hoped she didn't look too terrible, or that he didn't notice that she had owl eyes.

Clark was there walking up to them smiling. "I took a short cut." He said laughing st his own private joke. Technically it was shorter than ridding the bus, even at half speed he still made it there before them.

"Through what a wormhole?" Pete said still confused as to how Clark, the slowest man on earth, made it to school before them.

Clark's expression changed as he noticed how bad Buffy looked. Not that she looked bad or anything, just really tired and stressed out. He walked over by Buffy and whispered just loud enough so only she could hear. "Are you okay? You look really worn out."

"Fine, just need to get through this day and go home to get some sleep." Buffy said. Crap he did notice. She's really going to have to cover up her eyes with serious make up when she gets inside. Silently she chuckled to herself, feeling like a normal girl if it weren't for the reason for the need of makeup.


-CRACK!- A tree snaps as a vampire is launched into it getting impaled on the branch sticking out. Angel ducks as the remaining vampire charges him, knocking him into a tombstone. Angel walks over to the broken tree and rips a piece from it to stake the dazed vampire, only to be grabbed by two more of them. "What the hell?" He said, where did these guys come from? "Willow, Xander grab the civilian and get out of here!" Angel yelled, struggling out of their grasp as he delivers a right hook to the female vampire; staking the male with the tree piece in his hand, then turns and stakes the female.

"Get your grimy hands off me!" The girl says to Xander slapping turns to watch Angel stake the vampires and screams as the one that was knocked into the tombstone starts coming towards her.

Angel throws the stake at the vampire watching it explode into dust, then starts walking towards the girl who hit Xander a little amused. "You okay?"

"Hello salty goodness" she breathed looking the man up and down, and turns on the helpless girl charm. Hugging Angel her face buried in his chest. " I was so scared" she said putting her hands on his muscular chest looking up at him. "How can I thank you, you mysterious black clad hunk of the night thing?"

Xander made gagging sounds, as the girl practically drools on Angel. "Typical Cordelia" he mutters to Willow, as she nods in agreement. They had seen this with her way too many times; she hadn't even paid attention to the fact the people turned to dust, just that there was a good looking guy standing there.

Angel steps back, "No need little lady, helping those in needs my job, and working up a load of sexual tension and prancing away like a magnificent poof is surely thanks enough for me."

(Sorry couldn't help but put that for the ending)