"…stop!"

Suddenly everything's quiet. The voices are silent.

I open my hand and the makeshift stake clutters to the floor.

It was her. I know it now. Not a figment, not a dream, not that … that other one from beneath. Dawn! She said Dawn's in danger. Buffy asked for help and I wasn't there. I wasn't there! Not there, not there! Stop it! There's time for that later.

How many hours since… It doesn't matter. I run through the basement.

"Buffy! Dawn?"

No answer. I search the whole basement. It's like a maze. Old. From the old school, I reckon. Didn't get blown up like the rest of the building. I wish I'd been there to see it. Must've been quite a firework and a good brawl. News of the Mayor's spectacular demise travelled as far as Brazil.

I wonder who's brilliant idea it was to rebuild the school.

I come across a pile of rubble: pieces of concrete, sand, and white broken tiles, with cutting edges, that are gleaming in dim daylight that seeps down from above.  I look up.

A hole in the ground, leading where? Restroom, from the smell of it. "Buffy?"

I listen.

School's out. Above us everybody's gone. No running, no locker door slamming, no smoking in the restroom, no bells ringing for class. All quiet now. They'll be back tomorrow. Unless it's Sunday, of course. What day is it? Don't know really, or how long I've been down here. Seems like forever.

"Buffy?"

There's no reply. Like I thought. She's long gone.

AN: Many thanks to Chen, Mikelesq and Marcee.