Chapter 21 Sin City
A/N: Ready for an intense chapter? Also special announcement at the end. Enjoy.
Angel was driving on the quiet road as he saw a sign for Los Angeles. He hasn't been there in years and part of him didn't want to return at all. He left that city never to look back but here he was returning. They had to return someday he knew it would happen. But they were in a situation; they were coming up to Las Vegas a big city meaning people were here. They had to avoid the streets and all the roads they could take that led close to the city. That scared Angel and all he could was drive through it as fast as possible. He would not allow them to camp out close to the city nor drive through the city without him.
Then in the distance he could see the cars piled up but the side of the road getting into the city was empty. Buffy sat up and looked out to the driver's side window and Connor looked to the window too. One the street leaving the city was cars everywhere.
"Angel, Buffy come in," It was Xander on the walky talky. Buffy reached for the walky talky.
"What?" Buffy asked.
"What the hell?" Xander asked and Angel looked straight ahead. Buffy then looked to Angel as he was focused on the road.
"What do we do?" Buffy asked knowing they would be coming close to Sin City closer than they would like. Angel quickly glanced to her and then back to road.
"I don't know," Angel answered and he was worried. "We'll try to stay on the outskirts of town. And if possible let's not stop for any reason." Angel suggested.
"Easier said than done." Connor commented looking out the window.
"Uh guys, plan what's the plan?" Xander asked on the walky talky and Buffy thought for a second. Angel's plan was the best but who was she kidding they were going hit a bump. They don't call it Sin City for nothing.
"Keep driving." Buffy answered and in the van Giles shrugged meaning ok. Xander however didn't like the answer.
"Keep driving?" He asked and looked to Willow and Faith. Xander scoffed and put the walky talky away. Buffy looked around as they were coming up to a car pileup. Buffy sighed knowing this wasn't good. She did not want to be this close to the city at night. Xander was frantically looking for another road for them to take to get around the city. Willow was making sure they had everything they needed for protection spells and hoped it worked. Last night after being attack by the zombies she felt no mystical energy from them so charms and spells should work. Faith was getting her crossbow ready. In the Jeep Buffy made sure this time she had more than one magazine on her. In the back Connor was loading up the weapons. Buffy grabbed her rifle and passed it to Connor.
"Reload," She order and Connor took it and began to reload it. Buffy was getting anxious she didn't like this at all. They were driving through the traffic and they all prayed that they could find a path.
"Damn, damn, damn," Angel muttered under his breath as he drove slowly. Then he reached for the walky talky and needed answers now. "Xander, talk to me I need another road like now would be good." Angel demanded. Xander was working on it trying to find one to get onto that would allow them to go around the city. But Nevada was vast with desert meaning they didn't want to veer off too much and get lost or break down. The city was completely dark and they didn't want to drive through, they probably couldn't even get through it right now. Then Angel cursed seeing the road was completely blocked. Angel stopped the Jeep and Connor handed Buffy the rifle Rick gave her.
Angel, Buffy and Connor piled out of the Jeep along with Giles, Faith, Willow and Xander from the van and they grouped together. They had some flashlights to see but they couldn't be waving them around or they could be ringing the damn dinner bell. It was quiet which could be good or bad.
"Ok so new plan."Xander said and they all looked to each other. "Hundred dollars that driving through the city is impossible and a sign that says eat me."
"Paper money is only worth so much to the undead." Connor commented.
"Well we can turn around and back track and find another road." Willow suggested.
"Can't spare the fuel." Giles killed that idea, there was no more going backwards. Buffy looked around and then walked to the van and then climbed up onto the roof.
"Willow," She looked to the witch and Willow came over and climbed up and joined her. "What can you see?" She asked and Willow took in a deep breath and looked straight ahead. Buffy saw Willow's pupils go big as she took in everything.
"Cars are piled up all the way into the city," Willow started as Buffy had the scythe in one hand and the rifle in the next. "Uh…zombies and demons everywhere. There's no way we can get through." Willow said to Buffy. The rest of the gang hung around the van waiting and then Angel lit up a cigarette with Giles.
"You smoke?" Connor asked to both his father and well grandfather.
"Don't do it." Were Giles' good words to Connor. For Angel smoking was just a rush to calm himself. He barely did it now if he was Angelus he smoked like a chimney. But smoking wouldn't harm him it just relieved the nerves he had because right now he was very apprehensive and had to do something.
"How close can we get to turn off onto another road?" Buffy asked Willow and the witch went to search for the answer. Then Willow pointed in a direction.
"There, but it's piled up and zombies aren't that far from it." Willow answered. "What's your plan?" Buffy looked around and down to the gang. Angel then reached for her and she climbed down into his arms. Xander helped Willow down and they ready for a plan. Buffy gave Angel a disapproving and he tossed the cigarette away.
"Ok, Willow's going to move the cars just enough for us to get through." Buffy started and Xander reached back into the van for the map and opened it up against the side of the van. Everyone then aimed their flashlights to it to see.
"Ok here's the off ramp," Xander started. "It'll take us around the city but we won't be completely home free, still have to go through smaller parts of the city."
"It's better than driving through the whole city at night." Faith commented and then they all heard it. It was like a faint moan coming from the city. Each of them faced the city as the moan died off.
"That's ok right? Cities moan on the all time," Xander sounded nervous. Buffy knew it was time get going and now. The sooner they leave the better.
"Ok Willow start moving the cars, keep your lights low or off and follow us closes, no stragglers.' Angel gave out the orders.
"What if we do get trapped in the city?" Connor asked and everyone looked at each other not knowing the answer. What would they do?
"Then God help us." Giles said and that was the answer. If they can't get pass this city then LA is impossible. Everyone then went back to their cars and Willow and Xander switched seats so she could see everything. Angel started up the Jeep and he could feel it, the Jeep was slowly giving up on them. One thing is for sure the Jeep wouldn't make it the home trip, wherever home was. Willow concentrated and the cars ahead of them moved. She was only moving them slightly, just enough to squeak on by. Angel tapped the gas barely and they would idol their way through. But you could feel it in both of the cars, the tension, the dread, the anxiety of this.
Buffy kept the scythe in her hands and the rifle in her lap. Connor leaned forward and held out his hand and Buffy grabbed it, squeezing it tightly. Angel was focused on the dark road. The headlights were off so they wouldn't attract anything they didn't want to see. Behind them was the van and to let Giles follow them Connor had a lantern in the back window of the Jeep just turned on enough so they could follow. In the van Faith was ready with her crossbow and Xander had his gun ready.
Angel slowly turned the Jeep following the new path Willow was making. Connor was ready, he was ready to protect his parents and the group, they were all he had left now. Angel just stayed focus on the road. He had to lead this group safe especially the precious cargo sitting next and behind him. Then Angel did a quick glance which made Buffy looked too. She knew he saw something and he did. Not more than three yards away were zombies. They weren't moving just standing there, lifeless. Angel then looked to Buffy and he had the panic look and Buffy was worried.
Angel grabbed the walky talky and told everyone to be quiet as possible and then he went back to driving. Buffy remained still as possible as they navigated through the cars. In the van Willow made each car movement carefully. One wrong move then they could find themselves in trouble. Xander did his best looking to the map and then saw a sign. The exit ramp was just up ahead. In the Jeep Buffy shifted and Angel glanced to her quickly and saw what she saw.
"There, there, there," She pointed and Angel nodded. Angel drove the car well just steered it as it idled along. The engine wasn't even on; the car was in neutral in order to keep it quiet. They could see the way and it was much clearer but that didn't mean anything. Angel then did that unnecessary sigh and looked to Buffy. Connor then reached for the walky talky.
"Guys be ready to floor it when you turn the engine on." Connor said meaning they would have to put the pedal to the metal in a second. Buffy started to brace herself not sure what to expect but it wasn't going to be good.
"Do it," She ordered Angel and he turned the engine on. The lights came on and in front of them was a horde of zombies. "GO!" Buffy yelled.
"Go dad! Go!" Connor yelled and Angel slammed on the gas and shifted gears. The Jeep went flying forwards. In the van Giles did the same, slammed on the gas and drove. The zombies went after the cars not caring if they got hit or ran over. Angel weaved through the traffic and now came onto an open road again with random zombies coming after them. But they got through the horde.
"Woo!" Angel called out and Buffy laughed in both excitement and sheer disbelief they pulled that off.
"You two are crazy!" Connor yelled to his parents. Angel kept driving fast though he wasn't taking any chances until they were far away from this city. Connor reached for the walky talky to check in on everyone else. "Giles? Xander you ok?"
"We're good," It was Xander's voice and everyone could breathe for a moment. "Keep on this road." Was Xander's order and Angel did so as they drove following it. The road was clear for now as they kept going. Buffy literally crawled over to Angel looking out his window. Connor went to his window to see what she was looking at and he could see it. He then grabbed the walky talky again.
"You guys are going to need drive faster." Connor said and Buffy went back to her seat and grabbed a gun as Angel was putting his foot on the gas. Giles saw what they saw, they all did. "Willow know any spells that could help?" Connor asked as Buffy cocked the gun ready to fire. Then Connor got back on the walky talky. "Willow know any spells?"
In the van Willow thought about it. She then opened the top of the roof and Faith was going to follow her. Willow did a quick chant to keep them both stable as they were driving. Willow held out her hand which created an invisible wall stopping the zombie. It would last long but it would slow them down. Buffy was ready to fire but only if she had too they had to spare the bullets.
"They need to drive faster." Connor said as he looked out the back window seeing the van further behind than he'd like.
"That van's top speed is what? Maybe a hundred?" Angel asked.
"I can get out run faster than that!" Connor said and went back to the walky talky. "Guys you have to speed up!" But something wasn't right and Connor hit the walky talky. Buffy looked at it and grabbed it. The battery was dead and all the batteries were in the van. "This is not our night."
Willow's spell was working but in the driver's seat Giles did his best to keep up with the Jeep. They needed to get away from the city like now. But there was no way to communicate to them. Xander tried but there was nothing coming in from the walky talkies. There was one way though. As Angel was driving do his best to focus forward he heard a voice in his head. 'Angel it's Willow, listen I've got a invisibility cloak spell going but it only holds for a few seconds to a minute but it's enough to keep them away. Xander says to keep driving straight.' Angel did as he was told and kept driving. Something was about to give, this Jeep wasn't going to carry them like this. It was old when Buffy brought it to Cleveland and now with this little journey it was giving out.
Buffy had the gun ready as they kept driving. Up the way though Angel could see they would be slowing down a little because of the new set of cars. Angel slowed down gradually and then started to weave. He was doing his best to get them out of here and fast. 'Take the next exit.' Willow's voice said to him. Angel did just that and kept going until the Jeep started to feel weird. Buffy then looked to Angel. 'They're slowing down.' Which was good but was it good enough? Just then in slow motion Angel saw the outside rotating.
Buffy woke up and looked around and then felt someone pulling at her. She looked up and she wrapped her arms around Angel's neck as he yanked her out of the Jeep.
"Grab the scythe," Buffy mumbled and Connor reached for it. Angel then set her on the ground and she gave a cry of pain. Buffy looked down and saw thick piece of glass in her leg. Buffy reached for it and tore it out. Angel then put his hand over the wound as Connor went to the back and reached for a shirt and ripped it. He went to his mother and started to wrap it. As Connor did that Angel got all the weapons he could carry and threw them to the ground. Then he held up a gun making sure the makeshift silencer was on it and fired at three zombies. Buffy started to reach for weapons and so did Connor. Buffy stood up trying not to put weight on her leg but she knew they were about to run in a second.
Angel grabbed the last bit of the weapons he could and then rushed to his son and Buffy. Angel and Connor got on both sides of Buffy and she wrapped her arms around theirs and they were off. In the van Giles saw the Jeep up ahead and started to panic. Angel, Buffy and Connor couldn't stand and wait they had to keep moving as fast as possible. Angel held out a gun and gunned down a few zombies along with Connor and then the van pulled over. Faith opened the door and Angel shoved Buffy in first and then got Connor in and then he jumped in. Before Angel could even closed the door Giles already sped off. Angel then stood over Buffy to examine her wound further. Faith reached for the first aid kit and whatever other supplies they had.
Angel took off Connor's makeshift dressing and started to give her clean one. But first it was about to be painful as he put on an antiseptic. Buffy winced in the pain and then Angel grabbed the gauze and started to rewrap is up. Giles glanced behind him to see if everything was under control. It was chaos right now. Just as Angel wrapped up the wound everyone flew forward. Giles slammed the breaks on and they were lucky they didn't flip and no one flew from the van. They all grunted looking around and Angel looked through the windshield. Giles' was stunned and Xander's jaw dropped. Buffy rolled over looking around and Connor was next to her and she reached out for him. He grabbed her hand letting her know he was ok. Faith grunted as she rolled over and looked to Willow who was sitting there half out of it.
Angel stared down the thing that was in the road. Giles and Xander didn't make a move at all.
"The hell is that?" Xander asked and Giles shook his head meaning he hadn't had a clue.
"Giles back the hell up." Angel ordered and Giles nodded and took the shifter and slammed on the gas and the van went reverse. The thing in the road roared and then chased after them. It stood nearly twelve feet tall, deformed, and now chasing them. Giles then served and then slammed on the gas and drove. "Xander get back here!" He ordered and Xander got up and got into the back and Angel climbed into the seat. "Giles switch places," Giles nodded and the two swapped places effortlessly and now Angel was driving. Buffy crawled to the back of the van and looked out. She saw the thing chasing them.
"Angel! Lose it!" She yelled and that was his plan but the problem was that they were driving back into the zombies they worked so hard to get passed. This was so not their night. Angel then took a sharp turn and drove up the hill and the thing went after them and now he was heading forwards again. But the thing was still after them. Buffy sat back down and knew it was time to load up on the guns that was the only way to take this thing out. Faith and Connor grabbed some weapons and were ready. Xander grabbed a shotgun and made sure it was loaded. Up in the front seat Angel kept driving as fast as this van could take them.
Just then their luck was running out. The cars were piling up again.
"Oh shit!" Xander cried as Angel didn't stop driving. Angel weaved through the cars and everyone in the back held on, this was a bumpy ride to say the least. But just like the Jeep the van rolled too. But unlike the Jeep is landed back on its tires. Buffy then reached for the door and got out and it was time to take this thing down. Buffy stumbled for a second and then took aim. She fired at it and got a clear shot right between the eyes. Everyone else in the van slowly got out. Angel then saw Buffy grabbing the scythe as he tried to start the van back up but it was gone.
"Grab what you can carry!" Buffy yelled and everyone grabbed weapons and ammo and piled out. Buffy then saw a wave of zombies coming their way. "Run!" She yelled and they did. Angel reached for her pulling her along and they ran together in a group. They did their best to spare the ammo they had as they would only fire on a zombie or a demon if it was close. They then came closer to the city where it wasn't safe not at night. Right now the streets were empty only because they were on the outer parts of town. But with the noise they would be making it wouldn't be quiet for long. They needed to find a secure place to hide out and get their bearings and thoughts together.
Buffy was looking around and then a scream was heard. She turned around and gunned down a zombie but it was too late. Faith reached for the bite mark on her arm and neck and then looked up and saw some zombies making their way to them. But in those zombies were a few demons. Angel then got to Faith's side and scooped her up.
"No leave me here!" She yelled.
"They die first then you, we're not leaving this city without you!" Angel said as the zombies closed in.
"Go!" Buffy yelled as she kicked a door and shoved Angel inside. She made sure Willow, Xander and Giles went in but there was no Connor. "Connor!" She then saw him firing at some zombies. Buffy then looked to Angel and then reached for the door and shut it.
"No! Buffy!" Angel yelled and Xander ran to the door holding it down and Willow and Giles put a table in front of it. Buffy ran across the street with a wounded leg and grabbed her son to run. She then swung the scythe and cut the head off of one zombie. The two ran into another building and Connor started to barricade the door as Buffy stood there looking around. Connor back up to his mom as they had to figure out what to do next.
"Look out!" Connor yelled and fired at an oncoming zombie. Buffy pulled out a pistol and fire at another one. Then there was a third gun shot that went off. Buffy felt the bullet go past her and she looked behind her seeing a dead demon. Then she looked up and saw Rick standing there holding the gun that killed the demon and saved Buffy's life. Rick looked to Connor and it was nice to see the police officer. Just then Rick snapped his fingers and pointed down and both Buffy and Connor dropped to the ground and crawled to Rick. He then got them into another room and closed the door but not before seeing zombies at the window ready to break in.
The three ran well Connor ran but Rick noticed that Buffy was limping and he helped her. Rick got her to Connor and then he got in front of them and led them to the back of the building. He motioned them to be quiet and opened the back door. The ally was clear as he looked up and down.
"Ok, go, go, go!" Rick whispered loudly and they did. Rick then opened another door and they got in. Rick started to barricade the door and Connor made his mother sit.
"Faith, Faith was bit." Buffy panted and Connor looked devastated. What he saw true then, Faith was bitten and he couldn't help but reach out and hug her. Rick took another step back and then looked to Buffy. So far they were safe but they had to get back to the group. Rick then got down to the ground with them and Connor pulled away from his mother and looked to Rick. Rick just knew he needed to get Buffy and Connor back to Angel that's all that mattered at the moment.
In the other building two streets away the gang barricaded themselves in as Angel did his best to cover Faith's wounds. As a slayer she should heal but he wasn't so sure about this time. The bites were deep, all the way to the muscles deep. Angel didn't know what could happen right now and Faith looked to him.
"You don't let me become one of those things." Faith warned him and Giles couldn't help but let a tear fall. "Don't let me." Angel nodded, agreeing to her wishes. "Don't,"
"We're not leaving this place without you, you're not dying here." Angel said and Faith nodded and Angel took her hand into his. "I promise I won't let you die here." Faith nodded and tears started to fall and she reached out and hugged Angel. Willow then hugged Xander and he held his friend. Inside Giles' head he was screaming he couldn't lose another slayer. Dawn's death was almost too much to bear. But Faith's death next, he didn't know what that could do to him. But now they had to find Buffy and Connor. They weren't leaving this place without them. Zombies were closing in, the night was only starting and they have no out.
I see that lantern trimmed low burning in our home.
And though I feel like crying, I swear tonight, I'll cry no more.
And how many times have I prayed
That I would get lost along the way?
Dream with the feathers of angels stuffed beneath your head.
The regulator's swinging pendulum.
Come with me and walk the longest mile.
Is his wallet leather? Is his wallet fat?
For not a year later it's got you lying on your back.
You should have closed your windows and got another dog.
You should have chained up all the doors and switched up all the locks.
And how many times have I prayed
The angels would speed me away.
Dream with the feathers of angels stuffed beneath your head.
The regulator's swinging pendulum.
Come with me and walk the longest mile.
WHAT! Faith got bit! They're trapped! Oh and it's a cliffhanger! So good. Hope you're liking it and there's tons more to go. So what's next? More to come but let's say they're going to burn something to the ground. And what about that promise Angel made to Faith about not dying here? Will he keep his promise? And will Rick get Buffy and Connor out and to the group? Will he be just as cool here as he is in The Walking Dead? All to come soon.
Have an announcement to make, forgot to announce in my other update from my other story. I've got a forum going. Got enough requests to make one. It's about everything Buffy/Angel also it's about my stories or other stories. You can chat with me, I'll chat with you. You can ask me questions on each of my stories on just about anything. Now if it's a story that's in progress I can only talk about so much. So anyways check it out see if you wish to post topics and such. The forum is called The BuffyAngelWhedonVerse and the link is myforums/nurjen08/2065276/
Comments and reviews are welcome thanks for reading.
Song: Regulator by The Clutch