Part 4: Dreams and Departure
Bri's heart pounds furiously in her chest as her feet carry her down the hall of the high school. She glances behind her and her beautiful eyes widen in fear. Faster and faster she runs, her feet a blur of motion beneath her. She turns down a hall, frantically searching for a safe haven. There's a door at the end of the hall and she runs to it, pulling on it in panic. Finding that the steel door is locked from the outside, her face contorts in fear.
She turns slowly to face her pursuer. The creature fills the doorway, sufficiently blocking her only exit. Only its head is visible. The rest of its body is coiled through the halls of the school. Bri faces it, her countenance not revealing the crippling fear she feels. Her eyes dart around the vacant hall, searching desperately for a weapon.
Suddenly the creature lets out an angry hiss and lashes forward, sending Bri flying into the far wall. The impact leaves a crumbling dent in the wall but the slayer merely shakes her head clear and rises on wobbly legs. Another hiss echoes in the small space and this time Bri is prepared for the impact. She crashes into a large trophy case, cringing at the shards of glass slicing into her skin.
But now she has a weapon. She grabs the biggest trophy discreetly as she stands to face the monster. Closing her eyes, she opens all her senses. She listens for the angry hiss. She waits for the rush of air as the beast lurches forward. As it does, her hand lashes out, embedding the trophy deep within the creature's neck. It lets out a feral howl, its body recoiling in pain and leaving the doorway unguarded.
Bri takes this opportunity to escape and runs past the monster and out the door. She heads for the library as she hears the creature recover and charge after her. When she sees the door to the library her heart sinks. A group of around twenty vampires stand between her and freedom. She knows that her only other exit is blocked by the beast.
Her heart pounds furiously in her chest as she mentally reviews her very small list of options. No weapons, no escape, only her and instant doom. Deciding that she'd rather go out fighting, Bri charges forward. She manages to knock two vampires unconscious and twist another's head off with her bare hands before eight others restrain her.
One steps forward wielding a blade. He twirls it in his fingers letting the light glisten off the metal. Bri's face remains calm even as he approaches. But as the vampire plunges the blade into her heart, her face contorts in pain and as her life slowly slips from her, one name is on her lips. "Spike."
Spike shot up abruptly in bed, beads of perspiration covering his face and chest. He was panting needlessly and the smooth silk sheets were a tangled mess around him. The last images from his dream remained imprinted on his mind- Bri dying at the hands of a random vampire, the look of astonishment, and her last word. But the most terrifying aspect of the dream was her fear and pain.
Fear and pain that he could acutely feel with all the intesity of being there in her place. His chest still ached where the blade would have entered and if his heart beat anymore, it would have still been racing.
Glancing at the clock, Spike realized that it was almost seven in the evening. He leapt from his bed, realizing that he hardly had enough time to reach the airport before Bri left.
Bri fidgeted with her fingers idly as she sat in the airport terminal. She glanced up at the clock on the wall opposite where she was sitting and found the time to be 7:55. "Flight 546, Richmond to Los Angeles, will now begin boarding." Rising from her seat, the slayer threw her carry-on over her shoulder and prepared to head for the boarding gate.
"Don't go." A familiar voice pleaded from behind her.
She turned, fighting the tears in her eyes. "I have to." Bri stated simply.
"No, you don't." Spike moved forward until he was inches from her. He gripped her arm, holding her in place.
"I'm needed there. There's nothing here for me."
"I'm here for you."
"Vampires and slayers don't mix. You said it yourself and you were right."
"But I was wrong about everything else I said. I do care about you. I do love you. And I want you to stay."
Bri bit her lip and shook her head. "Final boarding call for flight 546, Richmond to Los Angeles." Came a voice over the loudspeaker. The slayer jerked her arm from Spike's grip and ran to the gate before anything else could be said.
Spike watched as she rushed onto the plane and it geared up for flight. As it ascended into the sky, he kicked the ground furiously and cursed loudly before hurrying home to pack his things.