CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Angel's car is parked in an alley behind a building. The police helicopters shined their spotlights on the car, but it's empty.
Angel's leading the others through the sewers. " Um, Angel, we should really look for Abigail-" Fred began. Lorne had been silent throughout the whole trip and she was worried about him. She was worried about everyone.
" It's too late to help her. She should have stayed with us," Angel replied shortly. He didn't dare look at Lorne, he could feel the demon's red eyes boring holes into his back.
" What if Jasmine or Connor does something to her?" Fred pressed.
" It's unlikely, they may use her for leverage," Wesley tried to reassure Fred-and Lorne.
" Oh God, Cordy. I almost forgot…" Fred remembered.
" Do it. Forget about her. We all have to now. We don't have a choice. Minute's up." He said grouchily and walked on with the others following.
I can't believe we left you behind, Lorne thought to himself sadly, I'm sorry Abikins. I should have made you stay with us. I failed you again. At that moment he didn't care wether or not anyone lived or died.
* * *
Angel and Wesley, who were walking out front of the gang, suddenly fell through the floor into a huge hole.
" Oh my God," Fred hurried to catch up and peered through the hole, " Are you guys okay?" she shouted down at them.
Wesley managed to hold on to the floor so he doesn't fall to the bottom of the hole. Gunn reached out to grab Wesley's hand.
" Easy, I got you." Gunn grunted pulling him up.
Whatever Angel grabbed onto didn't hold, and Angel fell to the bottom of the hole. He looked up and sees Fred and Lorne turn around, surprised at something. Then a gang of teenagers walked up to the edge of the hole—the kids pointed sharp wooden poles at Angel.
* * *
After their confrontation and learning Angel and the others were fleeing from Jasmine also the teens allowed the runaway group to join with them.
Fred sat down next to Lorne as Gunn and his old gang member Randall discussed tactics. Wesley and young Matthew kept a look out while Angel brooded in the shadows. Fred noticed Lorne was watching the vampire intently.
" You okay?" Fred asked, " You haven't said a word since-" he looked at her but didn't reply.
" Lorne, please say something." Fred pleaded.
Lorne looked at Angel as anger boiled up inside him. He stood up slowly and clenched his fist as he stormed over towards Angel.
" Lorne," Angel greeted the demon tiredly.
" How could you?" Lorne asked.
" How could I what?" Angel replied and it was the wrong thing to say. Lorne flew into a rage that was so uncharacteristic of Lorne, Angel actually took a step back.
" You made us leave her!" Lorne was shouting at Angel, " She could have been in big trouble but you insisted on leaving as if she didn't matter!" the group was now staring at the vampire and demon. Fred's mouth was open in shock at Lorne. She had never seen the kind-hearted, gentle demon like this before.
" Lorne, she knew the risks. She should have stayed with the group." Angel pointed out mildly. This only infuriated the demon more.
" So this is her fault is it?" he demanded.
" Guys," Wesley began, holding Lorne's arm, " Please-"
" Stay out of this," Lorne snapped yanking his arm from his grip. Then he did something that shocked everyone-including himself. He punched Angel in the jaw, sending the vampire staggering backwards.
" Lorne!" Fred exclaimed as Lorne went for Angel again, his rage not quite depleting. Gunn grabbed his arm just as Lorne socked him again.
" Enough!" Wesley ordered him, " Calm down Lorne. This isn't helping."
Lorne sighed and his shoulders sagged, " I just want to find her." He told him before retreating to a far corner of the hideaway and didn't move.
* * *
Abigail awoke on a cold, hard floor. Her head was throbbing and when she rubbed it, her hand came away with blood. She wiped it on her blouse. She was locked up in a cage. Again.
It was the cage they used for Angelus. She was back at the Hyperion. The woman must have been given orders to bring her back here so that Jasmine and Connor can deal with her. She looked at her watch. It was nearing 7pm. She's been out three hours. No wonder she felt like crap.
Connor walked down the stairs carrying a tranq gun.
" Let me out," Abigail demanded the kid.
" Why? So you can go running back to Angel and the others? I think not," Connor said as he unlocked the door, " Jasmine will be down here soon."
Abigail tried to make a run for it but grabbed her arm and socked her in the eye, making her see stars. She kicked in the leg and he laughed.
" I wanted to kill you but Jasmine wouldn't let me. I tried to convince her since you've always had it in for me-from the moment you and I met."
" That's because you nearly killed Lorne. Or have you forgotten?" Abigail reminded him.
Connor pushed her back into the cell and locked the gate. " I haven't forgotten. And I hope Jasmine will let me kill him-in front of you." He sneered and disappeared upstairs.
