Dawn shook violently as she cowered in the chair. The man pacing back and forth in front of her was nothing but a shadow, just like the judge and jury. All of them stared at her with their eyeless faces, and she shivered in fright.

"Your honor, I think you can see that this woman is guilty." The man growled, coming to a halt in front of Dawn, his face coming into focus.

"Who are you?" Dawn whispered, studying his face. He was short, and wore a weird-looking hat.

The judge banged her gavel, "You are NOT allowed to ask questions!"

Dawn flinched and looked over at the jury. It hit her like a ton of bricks as their faces came into focus that she knew them. Willow, Tarah, Xander, Anya, Spike, Angel, Giles...Joyce.

"Mommy?" Dawn gazed teary-eyes at her mother's cold face. She choked back a sob and looked at the "lawyer".

"Isn't it right that you did NOTHING to stop your sister from killing herself?"

"I tried." Dawn whispered, "I swear! I tried to get her to stay."

The man sneered slightly and clicked a remote that suddenly materialized in his hand, and suddenly there was a small television. The man put it in slow motion as the scene of Buffy plunging from the tower to her death began to play, "You just let her go. You wanted to save yourself and you let her go. Isn't that right, Dawn?"

"No!" Dawn choked, "I would have gone instead, but she...she..."

"She's guilty!" Willow spat, acid tingeing her voice.

"Guilty!"

"Guilty!"

As each member of the jury screamed their answers, Dawn sobbed harder. When it came down to Spike, her tears slowed.

"Spike. You know. I...I tried to make her stay. Please--"

"Guilty." He whispered, and the jury was gone. The short man slammed his fist down on the table.

"I rest my case, your honor." He said, tipping his hat a bit.

"WHO ARE YOU?" Dawn screamed.

"My name's Whistler." He said, "And I just proved that you killed your sister."

The judge turned to her and her face became clear.

"Glory?!"

"That's right, sweet cheeks. You are hereby sentenced to life in HELL."

"No!" Dawn struggled as to strong arms pulled her out of her seat, "NOOOO!"

Dawn sat up in bed, panting. She glanced at the clock. It was still light out, only 6pm. She had fallen asleep reading her English assignment...Day-mares were just as bad as nightmares, apparently. She shook her head to herself and got up, picking up her journal from her nightstand.

"It wasn't real." She whispered and hurried out the door.