Chapter 30
They were running again. Willow had a magic-y head start on them. Buffy and Angel were ahead of the group, running at almost full force. Buffy looked back and then she shot out a hand to stop Angel. Xander had stopped and was leaning against a tree.
"Come on, we have to keep moving." Buffy said.
"I think I'm gonna be sick." Xander said.
"Again?" Anya asked.
"Xander, we don't have time." Buffy said.
"I know, it's just. what happened back there, the sounds of it. The smell." Xander said.
"I know."
"Willow did that."
"That's why we have to move." Angel said.
Buffy put a hand on Xander's shoulder and looked at each other. Xander nodded and they started to walk fast.
"You heard what she said. 'One down.'"
"So, we're thinking 'two to go.' Jonathan and what's-his-face, the other guy?" Anya asked.
"Andrew. Both of them are just sitting in the county jail without a clue Willow's coming." Buffy said.
"You don't think she's gonna kill them too? She wouldn't. There's no good reason."
"Will's got an addictive personality, and she's just tasted blood."
"She could be there already." Angel said.
"No she couldn't. A witch at her level? She could only go airborne. It's a thing. Very flashy, impresses the locals, but it does take longer." Anya said.
"Longer than what?" Xander asked.
"Teleporting." With that Anya vanished in a whoosh of smoke.
"Right, Vengeance Demon. How could I... at least she'll get there first."
"And I'm counting the ways that could go wrong." Buffy said.
"Anya can handle herself."
"Against Willow, tonight? Don't be too sure."
"She's got to come down sometime, doesn't she? I mean back there she was out of her head, running on grief and Magicks."
"Doesn't matter. Willow just killed somebody. Killing changes you. Believe me: I know." Angel said.
"Warren was a stone cold killer of women just getting warmed up. You ask me? Bastard had it coming."
"Maybe. Jonathan and Andrew don't." Buffy said.
"This is still Willow we're dealing with right?"
"I hope so. I mean, I want to believe that as much as you do, but whatever she's going through, we gotta stop her. And maybe we can if we get to Angel's..." They stopped in front of Angel's car. It was almost ripped to shreds. ".car." Buffy finished.
"Willow." Xander said.
"Looks like she wants to finish the job without us tagging along. Meet us at the jail."
"Sure, but how are you guys gonna."
Buffy and Angel started to run. They leaped over a cut down tree without any effort and kept going. They were moving at an incredible speed.
"Okay, then, I'll just... catch up. She's only my best friend, you know. No big deal, just... Glad I can help." Xander called after them.
Buffy and Angel reached Main Street and ran into the alley next to the police station. They could hear shouts and a lot of commotion. Willow told the cops to "Back off." Buffy listened harder and she could hear Andrew and Jonathan screaming for help. Buffy looked at Angel and he nodded towards a side door. Buffy walked over and turned the knob until it broke then pulled the door nearly off its hinges. They entered the station house and were greeted by another door. Buffy and Angel, in unison, pulled their legs back and kicked the door in. The alarms went off, but they ignored them and headed into the empty station house. They started up some stairs, but were met by yet another door. Buffy rammed it with her shoulder and the door broke away. They ran upstairs into the holding room.
"Buffy! Oh thank God. Help us!" Jonathan called.
"It's ok. We'll get you out." Buffy said. "Angel, I don't have any keys."
"Buffy, we're super heroes, we don't need keys. Besides, we don't have time." Angel said.
"Right." Buffy grabbed a bar and Angel grabbed another parallel to hers. Buffy counted to three and they pulled. The bars gave way easy and Jonathan and Andrew shot through them. Buffy and Angel straightened up.
"Anya." Buffy started.
"Just go. I'll be fine." Anya said.
Buffy and Angel led Andrew and Jonathan out the way they came. They raced into the alley and Buffy went to see what was happening. Willow was flying up to the whole she had created in the wall. Buffy turned to Angel. She was about to say something, but an inhuman screech cut her off. Their hands shot to their ears and Buffy grimaced.
"Ahh! What is that sound? God it kills!" Andrew cried.
The screaming grew.
"We have to make a run for it." Buffy said to Angel.
"Are you kidding? She's like Dark Phoenix up there! And you expect us to just outrun her?" Andrew asked.
"Pretty much." Angel said.
A police car drove up next to them. Xander called, "Get in."
Buffy opened the back door and let Jonathan and Andrew get in. Angel was already on the passenger side and waiting for Buffy. She ran around the car and grabbed on as Xander drove forward. She jumped in as the police turned and yelled at them to stop. They didn't. They drove as fast as Xander would go.
Buffy checked the mirror. "Is she coming?"
"I don't see anything." Xander said.
"You guys all right?" Buffy asked Jonathan and Andrew. "Are you injured?"
"No. I, I don't think so." Jonathan said.
"Where are you taking us?" Andrew asked.
"We'll find someplace safe and keep you there until we can stop Willow." Buffy said.
"'Run and hide!' That's your brilliant plan?"
"I don't believe this!" Jonathan groaned.
"Boys? If you don't knock it off, I will pull this car over and you can just walk to your painful deaths from here." Xander said.
"I don't get it. Willow's a witch. Why doesn't she just. you know. wave her arms and make us dead?"
"She doesn't want you dead." Angel said.
"She wants to kill you." Buffy finished.
"But we didn't do anything!" Andrew whined.
Angel shot his fist back and punched Andrew in the nose.
"OW!"
"Hate to admit it, Buff, but Jonathan may have a point. Why isn't she right here right now?" Xander asked.
"Maybe, maybe she's just getting her mojo up and running, or maybe she hasn't figured out how much power she really has yet." Buffy answered. Angel slipped his arm over Buffy's shoulders. "And neither have we."
"Guess we keep running, huh?" Xander asked.
"I still can't believe that was Willow. I mean... I've known her almost as long as you guys. Willow was... you know. She packed her own lunches and wore floods and she was always... just Willow." Jonathan said.
Everyone was silent as they took what Jonathan had just said in. The sound of a semi-truck came up behind them. They didn't think anything of it until the truck rammed them from behind.
"Geez it!" Jonathan cried.
"What was that?" Andrew asked.
"Just Willow." Xander said.
Buffy and Angel looked back. Willow was on top of the truck, driving it magically. The driver looked confused and frustrated.
"Any ideas?" Xander asked.
"Drive faster." Buffy and Angel said.
The truck rammed them again. Xander put the petal to the metal and they rocketed off. They weren't fast enough for the magic-y speed of Willow's very own semi and they were rammed again. This time, the two bumpers got stuck and the sound of crushing, squealing metal sounded throughout the car.
"Well, this is faster." Xander said.
"She knows you guys are in this car too, right?" No one said anything. "Right?" Jonathan asked again.
Buffy looked into the car's side mirror and saw Willow on top of the truck. She was sweaty and she looked a little exhausted. The bumpers separated and Buffy started to get worried about Willow.
"Angel, look." Buffy said.
"She's draining." Jonathan said from the back of the car.
"She's what-ing?" Xander asked.
"Just keep going."
Willow started to shake and then she fell. Buffy didn't want to leave her, but they had to. She was still dangerous. Xander sped away and the truck jack-knifed to a stop. Everyone in the squad car watched as they drove away.
"Cool!" Andrew said.
Dawn and Conner paced the room as Clem was saying, ".Not like I'm knocking the nacho cheese ones, I like the taste. It's the texture I can't deal with. So gritty. Kinda hurts my tongue, so I'd give 'em... a seven. Seven-five maybe and you think this is dumb, don't you?"
"No! As taste tests go, this is definitely one of the better ones I've been to." Dawn said.
"This is my first one. But it's good though. Interesting." Conner added.
Clem sadly put the chips away. "I get it. No biggie. You guys wanna play cards?"
"Clem." Dawn said.
"I can be a real boredom-buster, if you just give me half a chance."
"It's not you."
"Still, I feel responsible. It's not fair, kids your age, cooped up in an apartment. Tell you what: let me get my hat and coat, I'll take you guys to a movie. We'll go nuts. PG-13!"
"Clem, look at us. Do we look weak to you? Or incapable?"
"Heck no!"
"So why are we stuck here?"
"No good reason I can see."
"Tara was our friend as much as anybody else's."
"Sure, I could see that." He motioned to Dawn. "You two were ... I'm still real sorry about what happened. If there's anything I can do to help, just name it."
"Anything?" Conner and Dawn asked.
"Aw, you're not going to get yourselves in trouble now, are you? Or me? 'Cause Buffy's the Slayer; I'm a demon, that's real incentive to get along with her..."
"We need a demon to help us from what Dawn told me." Conner said.
"Spike would have." Dawn added.
"Spike's gone."
"I know, that's why we need you."
"I'm going to regret this." Clem said as they headed out the door.
Anya unlocked the door and Buffy, Angel, Xander, Jonathan, Andrew, and her ran in.
"Thanks Anya, for getting here so fast. It's a big help." Xander said.
"And once again we find Xander Harris needing the big help." Anya retorted.
"Whatever. So, can you still sense Willow? Knowing her location would be a real comfort right now."
"No. I can't. And that means whatever she's feeling, it's gone way beyond simple vengeance."
"Did I mention the me needing comfort?"
"Whatever we've got here, better grab it fast. This is going to be one of the first places Willow would think to look for us." Buffy said.
"Then what are we doing here?" Andrew asked. They all turned and looked at him. "You know, I could summon a demon to kill her."
"And I could smack you so hard your eyeballs switch sockets." Xander said.
"No one is getting killed. Sit down." Buffy turned to Anya. "We've got to find some kind of Magicks that'll stop Willow."
"But she drained the place." Angel said. "Took everything."
"Not everything." Anya said. She reached under the counter with a key and unlocked a hidden door. She came back up with a small old book.
"What is it?" Xander asked.
"Book of protection spells. Anti-magick. Our last resort."
"Think you can work this stuff?"
Anya opened the book then looked back up at them. "Ah. Okay. The good news is: text is intact. Bad news is: I can't read a word of it. It's like in, ancient Sumerian or something."
"Can I take a look at." Jonathan started.
"Shut up." Buffy and Angel cut him off.
"I just thought, you know, as long as you're protecting us, the least I could do is..."
"I'm not protecting you, Jonathan. None of us are. We're doing this for Willow. And the only reason it happens to be your lucky day is because if she kills you, a line gets crossed, I lose a friend. And I hate losing." Buffy said.
"She REALLY does." Angel said.
"I get that. It's just... you know she's running out of power, right? I could tell, I could practically feel it. I've dabbled in the Magicks."
"I'm thinking Willow's in a league of her own about now, dabble-boy." Xander said.
"But still, running that hot for so long. just a matter of time before you gotta recharge. No matter how juiced up you are."
"Thank you. Now remember that thing we talk about?" Buffy asked Jonathan.
"About me shutting up?"
Buffy nodded. Jonathan went back to the table and sat down next to Andrew. Xander took Buffy and Angel over to the side to talk to them.
"Guys, say this works. And we stop Willow from working the hoodoo for a minute. What then?" Xander asked.
"We talk to her." Buffy answered.
"Great. And say what?"
"Whatever she's going to do, she starts with these two. They're the line she cannot cross. And if she's running low on the Magicks.she's probably somewhere now trying to get it all back."
"Where?"
"I think I know."
Xander got a look of realization.
"Xander stay here and watch the dead geeks walking. Angel and I are going to find Willow." Buffy said.
She and Angel headed out and walked fast through the streets of Sunnydale.
They were running again. Willow had a magic-y head start on them. Buffy and Angel were ahead of the group, running at almost full force. Buffy looked back and then she shot out a hand to stop Angel. Xander had stopped and was leaning against a tree.
"Come on, we have to keep moving." Buffy said.
"I think I'm gonna be sick." Xander said.
"Again?" Anya asked.
"Xander, we don't have time." Buffy said.
"I know, it's just. what happened back there, the sounds of it. The smell." Xander said.
"I know."
"Willow did that."
"That's why we have to move." Angel said.
Buffy put a hand on Xander's shoulder and looked at each other. Xander nodded and they started to walk fast.
"You heard what she said. 'One down.'"
"So, we're thinking 'two to go.' Jonathan and what's-his-face, the other guy?" Anya asked.
"Andrew. Both of them are just sitting in the county jail without a clue Willow's coming." Buffy said.
"You don't think she's gonna kill them too? She wouldn't. There's no good reason."
"Will's got an addictive personality, and she's just tasted blood."
"She could be there already." Angel said.
"No she couldn't. A witch at her level? She could only go airborne. It's a thing. Very flashy, impresses the locals, but it does take longer." Anya said.
"Longer than what?" Xander asked.
"Teleporting." With that Anya vanished in a whoosh of smoke.
"Right, Vengeance Demon. How could I... at least she'll get there first."
"And I'm counting the ways that could go wrong." Buffy said.
"Anya can handle herself."
"Against Willow, tonight? Don't be too sure."
"She's got to come down sometime, doesn't she? I mean back there she was out of her head, running on grief and Magicks."
"Doesn't matter. Willow just killed somebody. Killing changes you. Believe me: I know." Angel said.
"Warren was a stone cold killer of women just getting warmed up. You ask me? Bastard had it coming."
"Maybe. Jonathan and Andrew don't." Buffy said.
"This is still Willow we're dealing with right?"
"I hope so. I mean, I want to believe that as much as you do, but whatever she's going through, we gotta stop her. And maybe we can if we get to Angel's..." They stopped in front of Angel's car. It was almost ripped to shreds. ".car." Buffy finished.
"Willow." Xander said.
"Looks like she wants to finish the job without us tagging along. Meet us at the jail."
"Sure, but how are you guys gonna."
Buffy and Angel started to run. They leaped over a cut down tree without any effort and kept going. They were moving at an incredible speed.
"Okay, then, I'll just... catch up. She's only my best friend, you know. No big deal, just... Glad I can help." Xander called after them.
Buffy and Angel reached Main Street and ran into the alley next to the police station. They could hear shouts and a lot of commotion. Willow told the cops to "Back off." Buffy listened harder and she could hear Andrew and Jonathan screaming for help. Buffy looked at Angel and he nodded towards a side door. Buffy walked over and turned the knob until it broke then pulled the door nearly off its hinges. They entered the station house and were greeted by another door. Buffy and Angel, in unison, pulled their legs back and kicked the door in. The alarms went off, but they ignored them and headed into the empty station house. They started up some stairs, but were met by yet another door. Buffy rammed it with her shoulder and the door broke away. They ran upstairs into the holding room.
"Buffy! Oh thank God. Help us!" Jonathan called.
"It's ok. We'll get you out." Buffy said. "Angel, I don't have any keys."
"Buffy, we're super heroes, we don't need keys. Besides, we don't have time." Angel said.
"Right." Buffy grabbed a bar and Angel grabbed another parallel to hers. Buffy counted to three and they pulled. The bars gave way easy and Jonathan and Andrew shot through them. Buffy and Angel straightened up.
"Anya." Buffy started.
"Just go. I'll be fine." Anya said.
Buffy and Angel led Andrew and Jonathan out the way they came. They raced into the alley and Buffy went to see what was happening. Willow was flying up to the whole she had created in the wall. Buffy turned to Angel. She was about to say something, but an inhuman screech cut her off. Their hands shot to their ears and Buffy grimaced.
"Ahh! What is that sound? God it kills!" Andrew cried.
The screaming grew.
"We have to make a run for it." Buffy said to Angel.
"Are you kidding? She's like Dark Phoenix up there! And you expect us to just outrun her?" Andrew asked.
"Pretty much." Angel said.
A police car drove up next to them. Xander called, "Get in."
Buffy opened the back door and let Jonathan and Andrew get in. Angel was already on the passenger side and waiting for Buffy. She ran around the car and grabbed on as Xander drove forward. She jumped in as the police turned and yelled at them to stop. They didn't. They drove as fast as Xander would go.
Buffy checked the mirror. "Is she coming?"
"I don't see anything." Xander said.
"You guys all right?" Buffy asked Jonathan and Andrew. "Are you injured?"
"No. I, I don't think so." Jonathan said.
"Where are you taking us?" Andrew asked.
"We'll find someplace safe and keep you there until we can stop Willow." Buffy said.
"'Run and hide!' That's your brilliant plan?"
"I don't believe this!" Jonathan groaned.
"Boys? If you don't knock it off, I will pull this car over and you can just walk to your painful deaths from here." Xander said.
"I don't get it. Willow's a witch. Why doesn't she just. you know. wave her arms and make us dead?"
"She doesn't want you dead." Angel said.
"She wants to kill you." Buffy finished.
"But we didn't do anything!" Andrew whined.
Angel shot his fist back and punched Andrew in the nose.
"OW!"
"Hate to admit it, Buff, but Jonathan may have a point. Why isn't she right here right now?" Xander asked.
"Maybe, maybe she's just getting her mojo up and running, or maybe she hasn't figured out how much power she really has yet." Buffy answered. Angel slipped his arm over Buffy's shoulders. "And neither have we."
"Guess we keep running, huh?" Xander asked.
"I still can't believe that was Willow. I mean... I've known her almost as long as you guys. Willow was... you know. She packed her own lunches and wore floods and she was always... just Willow." Jonathan said.
Everyone was silent as they took what Jonathan had just said in. The sound of a semi-truck came up behind them. They didn't think anything of it until the truck rammed them from behind.
"Geez it!" Jonathan cried.
"What was that?" Andrew asked.
"Just Willow." Xander said.
Buffy and Angel looked back. Willow was on top of the truck, driving it magically. The driver looked confused and frustrated.
"Any ideas?" Xander asked.
"Drive faster." Buffy and Angel said.
The truck rammed them again. Xander put the petal to the metal and they rocketed off. They weren't fast enough for the magic-y speed of Willow's very own semi and they were rammed again. This time, the two bumpers got stuck and the sound of crushing, squealing metal sounded throughout the car.
"Well, this is faster." Xander said.
"She knows you guys are in this car too, right?" No one said anything. "Right?" Jonathan asked again.
Buffy looked into the car's side mirror and saw Willow on top of the truck. She was sweaty and she looked a little exhausted. The bumpers separated and Buffy started to get worried about Willow.
"Angel, look." Buffy said.
"She's draining." Jonathan said from the back of the car.
"She's what-ing?" Xander asked.
"Just keep going."
Willow started to shake and then she fell. Buffy didn't want to leave her, but they had to. She was still dangerous. Xander sped away and the truck jack-knifed to a stop. Everyone in the squad car watched as they drove away.
"Cool!" Andrew said.
Dawn and Conner paced the room as Clem was saying, ".Not like I'm knocking the nacho cheese ones, I like the taste. It's the texture I can't deal with. So gritty. Kinda hurts my tongue, so I'd give 'em... a seven. Seven-five maybe and you think this is dumb, don't you?"
"No! As taste tests go, this is definitely one of the better ones I've been to." Dawn said.
"This is my first one. But it's good though. Interesting." Conner added.
Clem sadly put the chips away. "I get it. No biggie. You guys wanna play cards?"
"Clem." Dawn said.
"I can be a real boredom-buster, if you just give me half a chance."
"It's not you."
"Still, I feel responsible. It's not fair, kids your age, cooped up in an apartment. Tell you what: let me get my hat and coat, I'll take you guys to a movie. We'll go nuts. PG-13!"
"Clem, look at us. Do we look weak to you? Or incapable?"
"Heck no!"
"So why are we stuck here?"
"No good reason I can see."
"Tara was our friend as much as anybody else's."
"Sure, I could see that." He motioned to Dawn. "You two were ... I'm still real sorry about what happened. If there's anything I can do to help, just name it."
"Anything?" Conner and Dawn asked.
"Aw, you're not going to get yourselves in trouble now, are you? Or me? 'Cause Buffy's the Slayer; I'm a demon, that's real incentive to get along with her..."
"We need a demon to help us from what Dawn told me." Conner said.
"Spike would have." Dawn added.
"Spike's gone."
"I know, that's why we need you."
"I'm going to regret this." Clem said as they headed out the door.
Anya unlocked the door and Buffy, Angel, Xander, Jonathan, Andrew, and her ran in.
"Thanks Anya, for getting here so fast. It's a big help." Xander said.
"And once again we find Xander Harris needing the big help." Anya retorted.
"Whatever. So, can you still sense Willow? Knowing her location would be a real comfort right now."
"No. I can't. And that means whatever she's feeling, it's gone way beyond simple vengeance."
"Did I mention the me needing comfort?"
"Whatever we've got here, better grab it fast. This is going to be one of the first places Willow would think to look for us." Buffy said.
"Then what are we doing here?" Andrew asked. They all turned and looked at him. "You know, I could summon a demon to kill her."
"And I could smack you so hard your eyeballs switch sockets." Xander said.
"No one is getting killed. Sit down." Buffy turned to Anya. "We've got to find some kind of Magicks that'll stop Willow."
"But she drained the place." Angel said. "Took everything."
"Not everything." Anya said. She reached under the counter with a key and unlocked a hidden door. She came back up with a small old book.
"What is it?" Xander asked.
"Book of protection spells. Anti-magick. Our last resort."
"Think you can work this stuff?"
Anya opened the book then looked back up at them. "Ah. Okay. The good news is: text is intact. Bad news is: I can't read a word of it. It's like in, ancient Sumerian or something."
"Can I take a look at." Jonathan started.
"Shut up." Buffy and Angel cut him off.
"I just thought, you know, as long as you're protecting us, the least I could do is..."
"I'm not protecting you, Jonathan. None of us are. We're doing this for Willow. And the only reason it happens to be your lucky day is because if she kills you, a line gets crossed, I lose a friend. And I hate losing." Buffy said.
"She REALLY does." Angel said.
"I get that. It's just... you know she's running out of power, right? I could tell, I could practically feel it. I've dabbled in the Magicks."
"I'm thinking Willow's in a league of her own about now, dabble-boy." Xander said.
"But still, running that hot for so long. just a matter of time before you gotta recharge. No matter how juiced up you are."
"Thank you. Now remember that thing we talk about?" Buffy asked Jonathan.
"About me shutting up?"
Buffy nodded. Jonathan went back to the table and sat down next to Andrew. Xander took Buffy and Angel over to the side to talk to them.
"Guys, say this works. And we stop Willow from working the hoodoo for a minute. What then?" Xander asked.
"We talk to her." Buffy answered.
"Great. And say what?"
"Whatever she's going to do, she starts with these two. They're the line she cannot cross. And if she's running low on the Magicks.she's probably somewhere now trying to get it all back."
"Where?"
"I think I know."
Xander got a look of realization.
"Xander stay here and watch the dead geeks walking. Angel and I are going to find Willow." Buffy said.
She and Angel headed out and walked fast through the streets of Sunnydale.