Chapter 28
Little Wonder
There isn't that many luxury apartments in Sunnydale. The affluent of our merry valley tend to congregate on the cluster of walled mansions on the hillsides to the north. That's where Cordelia, Harmony and her ilk were weaned on their silver spoons. I am sure, knowing what I learned last year of the power structures the Mayor had in place, that which flowed their way came from Machida and his ilk. Delta Zeta Kappa men, voting Wilkins, sneering down their noses at the towns folk who existed in their minds to be used as sacrifices, drones and playthings.
I am working class, from a barely working class family, themselves crawling up from, and sneering down at "trailer trash".
Faith is too, I gather. She scrubs her clothes in the sink with well practiced routine and calloused hands (mmmmm).
Helping to lay waste to Delta Zeta Kappa had been a joy for me.
So those kind of people dwell to the north, and the warfies and factory workers to the west. Buffy and Willow hail from the upper middle classes, which gather to the east. But there is a vacuum between their class and those of sickening abundance in Sunnydale. Very few, if any, who rose through the ranks by making their own fortunes.
Thus, things like luxury converted warehouse apartments aren't common. So, when I find myself looking up at one on my way to the costume store, and I notice a flapping tarpaulin on the top floor, it makes we wonder.
And I keep wondering all the while I am in the fancy dress store, waiting to pick up my order.
The door has been kicked in, boarded up, and then kicked in again.
I am assaulted by the smell of mold and dust carried on the cool Fall breeze. The space is large and dim, the only light coming from the grey evening sky.
The carpet is creme, with a faded blue framed square central feature set before a large arch brick window. The bed is mussed and scattered with comics, and a tub of furry things which I suspect were twizzlers in a former life.
The furniture has been trashed, and here and there lamps lay broken. I can almost picture the fight as it ranged across the room, almost feel the burning, frustrated rage behind the blows. The raw emotions exploding into violence. The hurt forming hurt. The urge to destroy, and be destroyed.
The carpet squelches underfoot as I approach the raised dias that leads to the broken arched window. The tarpaulins were not secured properly, and have come down in the rain. One flaps idly at the edge of the broken glass.
Out here is where it ended. It must have, because she fell at the end. Or was pushed. Or jumped.
The knife isn't rusty, despite laying in a dirty grey puddle where the gutters have overflowed. It still looks as sharp and wicked as the day I saw it, held to Willow's throat. I don't touch it. I see no point. I would carry the damned thing to the fires of Mount Doom, and I you bet I wouldn't hesitate to throw it in.
When my curiosity beats out my fear, I lean out over the balcony, down to the street below. I recognise it as the one behind the cinema.
Jesus. That's a long way to fall.
"Lex? What are you doing?"
"Psyching myself up."
"For what?"
I point towards the garment bag hanging from the shower rail and return to staring at myself in the mirror. Faith pops the spoonful of yoghurt she was eating in between her teeth and holds it there, whilst she peels back the zip.
"You want me to wear this for ya?" She grins "Lexi you kinky nerd."
"No! It's not for that… it's for work."
"You got a side gig?" Brows waggle. She licks the spoon clean and places it in the yoghurt on the sink.
"Faith. Stop. This is hard enough for me as it is." She slips the golden tiara with the little red star onto her head and looks approvingly at herself in the mirror. I swallow. Oh. Uh. "Uh… so Maggie insists we are all in costume for Halloween tomorrow and I am freaking the hell out."
"Body issues." She says, flatly. "So why did ya pick it out in the first place?"
"Because it's Sunnydale." I say, to which she gives me a blank stare. "Look, last year this chaos sorcerer cast a spell and a bunch of us became our costumes. Monsters and ghosts and ghoulies everywhere. Folk died. It was chaos."
"And you thought in case of a repeat you would become a superhero." She says.
"Well, yeah."
"This town, man." She shakes her head. But I notice her face fall and her eyes rake through memories. "I used to want to be a super hero." She says then gives a little puff of a laugh. "Little Abigail wishin' she was strong." She slides another mouthful of yogurt in her mouth and sucks the spoon clean. Then with a wicked smile, I find a golden lasso wrapped around me. "So be honest, what did you become last year? A My Little Pony? Strawberry Shortcake?"
"I plead the fifth." I say.
"I think this lasso is broken." She says, and gives it a little shake. "But do me a favour, if it does happen again, head on home because Linda Carter had it going on."
"That she did." I sigh. She then tugs the lasso, leans in and gives me a strawberry flavored kiss.
"Me? I would dress up as Electra."
"I can see that." I grin.
"Look Lex, you don't got nothin' to worry about-no, shut up with that double negative crap already. You have an amazing body".
" I do. I know I do. In theory, anyway." I sigh and tap my skull. "Loose wire up here. I am working on it."
"Loose wire explains a lot." She then takes off the tiara and sets it on my head.
"Where it belongs" She says.
