Chapter 9:
Buffy gaped up at the curator, he mouth hanging open, her eyes wide. She realized she must look like a deer-in-the headlights, but at the same time she couldn't get past the curators jovial smile and welcoming air. He had his hands clasped in front of his chest, his head slightly tilted, looking down at them.
Panicked, Buffy grasped pathetically for some sort of excuse as to what they were all doing breaking into this apparently kind man's museum. " I know what this looks like, but I swear, we're not."
" Oh, I know who you are," the man said, again smiling as he said this and looking completely pleased. " You're the lot that broke into my humble museum a few weeks back, taking two of my more honored treasures."
Spike frowned, thinking back on something. " Wait, I the cameras before we."
Once again, the curator jumped in, " Oh, I have other ways of watching over my little hoard of goodies; you don't leave your most precious gifts unguarded do you?" He smiled as if their panicked and bewildered expressions had given him some sort of an answer. " Ah, you see, you always keep important things safe." For the first time, his expression changed, and with the most forlorn features and melancholy tone of voice he added, " But sometimes bad things can happen to the things you hold dear." With a quick and understanding glance, Spike looked over at Buffy, who he found looking at him. They both quickly turned back to look at the curator, all four of breakers-and-enterers still lying on the floor.
" I tried to protect my things, but I knew that wandering hands would one day decide to take my things for themselves."
" But you don't own the museum," Anya said, standing up and dusting off her skirt. The others all quickly followed, finally realizing they had all been on the floor. " You don't own any of the artifacts either. These things all belong to the city and the wealthy contributors. Technically, we stole from them," she said with a smile that signified how much she had enjoyed correcting him.
The curator looked slightly angered by this. " No, these are my things. I watch over them, and I command those that take care of them. They are my things."
Buffy, slightly wigged out, just nodded to the curator to calm him down. " Okay, your stuff. Got it." Then she reached up and frantically touched the necklace, drawing his attention to the gold jewelry and the red rash on her skin surrounding it. " Now take it back!"
The curator walked closer to her, and looked down at her neck. He squinted, then pushed his glasses up against his face. He turned his head from side to side and looked thoroughly engrossed in his inspection when he pulled back rapidly and grinned. " Can't help you, it won't come off."
Buffy's eyes widened and she took a step forward, which must have looked threatening, because the curator backed up speedily. " Won't come off? I don't remember applying glue to it before I put it on. Why won't it come off?"
The curator smoothed his clothes and turned away from them, starting off down the hallway. The four of them exchanged confused and worried glances before hurrying after him. He talked as they walk, occasionally gesturing to an artifact and speedily giving them its history.
" I cursed all of my artifacts," he said.
" Cursed?!" Xander and Buffy exclaimed. " Cursed how? Why?" Xander asked, panicky.
" Oh, to ensure that things would not be stolen. Or, if such a calamity occurred, the thief would not go unpunished." The curator wagged his finger in the air as he said this, as if he was upholding some sacred law.
" Yeah, but you see, we didn't steal these things!" Buffy exclaimed, jumping up in front of him, causing the small procession to come to a halt.
" Well, of course you did. I know, you are wearing my necklace that was once displayed in that case." The curator pointed behind her and she turned quickly to glance at the neck shaped stand, covered in navy felt, that was now bare.
" No, you don't understand," Buffy said, turning back to face the old museum runner. " I did not steal this necklace! He did!" Buffy gestured to Spike. " He stole it, he gave it to me, I knew nothing about it being a prized artifact in a musty museum."
" Now wait here," the curator said. " My museum is not now, nor has ever been musty."
With a confused look Buffy said, " Of course not. But the important here, I did not steal the necklace, he did, curse him!"
" Hey, wait a second." Spike said, not liking the sound of being cursed. " Yeah, all right, I nicked it, but it was for a lady, a good chap such as yourself must understand that." From the blank look on the curator's face, Spike sighed and waved his hand dismissively. " Forget it. Yeah, I stole it, but I am bloody returning it, what more do you want?"
The curator scowled. " Well, I would have been quite pleased if the stealing part had never happened, but no sense in worrying over the past, what's done is done." He began to walk away, as once more Buffy and Spike exchanged one of those shy and knowing glances. Then they all hurried after him as he went into an office.
The room was lined with artifacts that were obviously more rare and valuable, kept out of reach of prying eyes and hands. There was a desk somewhere buried beneath backpacks and half eaten fast food sandwiches and bags of chips, not to mention enough papers to have once made an entire tree. Buffy shuffled her way through the clutter, glancing at the curator.
" So what are you going to do? You can't just leave me like this, it's not my fault. As I said, he did it."
" Yes we know, Miss Repetitive-Guilt-Tripper. I did it; we have all established this. Let's move to the pummeling of a little old man." Buffy glared at Spike before turning back to the curator.
He was standing still, looking around at the walls and smiling. She rolled her eyes, concluding that he was scattered brained beyond recovery, and just decided to wait until he snapped himself out of his funk. She looked down at his desk, noticing his name plate. She leaned forward, wiping the layer of dust away and read the faded words.
" Melvin Pascal." She read the word and rolled her eyes, marveling at the true geekiness it inspired.
" There's the name of a true blue dude if I ever heard one," Xander whispered to them.
" Yeah, not much with the strength or coolness. It reeks of a book-wormish nerd who hasn't discovered the opposite sex yet," Anya added perkily, maybe just a bit too loudly.
Mr. Pascal turned to glare at them. " Well, parents aren't kind when picking names. As you all well know." He turned away from them as they all glared back at him.
Spike was noticing something else about his statement though. " How do you know our names?"
" Ah, what a good question. Spike, Buffy Summers, Xander Harris, and Anyanka. All can be researched quite easily. Just takes a bit of patience, a lot of spare time, and an Internet hookup. A few spells move the process along quite nicely, too."
" If only the demons of the town knew that the slayer was on the net, I'd be out that whole element of surprise thing I've been working on." Buffy shook herself out of the idea that she was on display, and looked at Melvin. " So what? Are you calling the police?"
" Oh, no. I was going to, but seeing as you did take the time to return it, out of selfish reasons or no, I will grant a little lenience. That, and if you are in a cell, you can't very well work of your debt, now can you?"
This plunged them all into silence. Finally, Anya broke it with her ever unknowing air. "Debt? We don't owe you money. Just take your crusty old artifacts back and we'll go away."
" Ah, if only it were that simple. You see, the curses I placed on the items in the museum have specific steps to follow to release them. For instance, you cannot return anything without replacing the item."
" That's ridiculous!" Xander yelled. " Where am I going to find an ancient warrior's hammer just lying around? There is no way I can replace that. I think its just some gimmick to get yourself some new stuff."
The curator frowned. " Oh no, its nothing like that, young man, I assure you. It is simply the only way to break the particular spell I placed on the items. And for some clarification, you don't have to replace the item with the exact same thing you stole. Just something worthy of a place in a museum. And for reference, I will supply what needs to be gotten."
Melvin hurried behind his desk and started shuffling through the drawers. He finally pulled out a piece of paper, adjusted his glasses, then read over it. He held the paper out to them then, and no one took it. They all just stood and stared at the eccentric old man.
He sighed and brought his arm back to his side. " Well, if you don't want to replace what was taken, and you don't want the necklace to come off, and you want the hammer to go on hammering, then it is just prison for you law- breakers. Keep in mind, the hammer will get more aggressive, and the necklace will slowly kill you, but."
" What?!" they all exclaimed. " Kill me?" Buffy asked, her hand flying to her through, fingering the red rash that seemed to have grown. " How long will it be before it.?"
" Oh, a little while. Don't worry dear, just long enough for you to retrieve these items.." He once again held the paper out to them, and Buffy snatched it from his hands and started out of his office.
" Okay, guys, let's not dawdle. People dying from cursed necklace, let's hop to it."
" Oh wait!" the curator yelled. " There is one thing. You have only twenty- four hours to retrieve my things. If you don't, the necklace will kill you and the hammer will pursue you until it." Off of Xander's very nervous look, Melvin shrugged. " Well, you know. Also, I need some insurance."
" Now we're indebted to you and need to make a deposit?" Xander asked.
" Well, I need half of you to stay here, to make sure the other two don't just run off. I'm sure there are other ways to fix the little curse I made, but nothing to stop me from calling the police. This is really your only choice. So two of you stay, and two of you go."
The four glanced at each other. " Oh, I'll stay here," Anya quickly said. " Safely out of harms way, should harm happen to pass by."
Buffy rolled her eyes. " I'll go, I can't stay here. I need to get this stupid thing off my neck soon."
" I'll go with you," Spike said, looking at her. " I did give you a grubby present."
" Then it's settled," Melvin said with a smile. " You two go get those items, and you two go retrieve my hammer then come back."
" Your hammer?" Anya asked. " You can't be serious. It's dangerous. I thought I made it clear about the wanting none of the danger. Buffy does that, I watch from a safe distance."
" Well, I need to know it hasn't been damaged." The curator motioned to Buffy. " I can see the necklace is in fine shape, but I need to know the hammer is also. So run along now, time is a' wasting." They all exchanged looks of worry and doubt before Melvin shooed them out of his office.
" And don't you come back here without my things!" the curator yelled after them as they exited the museum.
Outside, they gathered under a streetlight and looked at the list. After skimming it quickly, Buffy noticed something. " Hey! There are three things on this list, you only stole two." Buffy shot warning threatening at both of them. " Right?"
" Oh, yes, we limited our crime spree to only taking three things. There was this really nice ring I saw, but the case was locked. Couldn't get it open." Her mouth creased in a pout of disappointment. " I tried for a long time, its such a pity to have to have left it. You know, I could."
" Anya!" Xander yelled at her. " Please, Buffy's dying from a cursed necklace, and my apartment is still being smashed to bits by a renegade hammer. Can we focus, please?"
Anya shrugged and nodded her head towards the list. " What does it say?"
Buffy looked down at the first item again. " Penalties for two stolen things, one broken. You broke something?"
" Oh, that," Spike muttered. " Bloody statue, out of the corner of my eye, I swear it looked like a security guard."
" So you what, killed the bad cement figure?"
" Something like that," Spike mumbled, shrugging.
Buffy sighed before looking to Xander. " You two better hurry up and get that hammer. That curator looked ready to blow a gasket or something. He seems rather attached to the artifacts."
Xander looked at her seriously. " You'll be all right?" he glanced at Spike.
" I'll be fine," Buffy said quietly.
Xander nodded, then he and Anya hurried away. As soon as the were out of sight, Buffy looked back to the paper.
" Okay.the first test, or whatever this is." Buffy read for a second then rolled her eyes and sighed. " Great, a riddle. It says:
An object hides among the fold,
It isn't young, it isn't old.
The object has no life or creed,
The problem is it can't be seen.
Only those who walk in night,
Can find the object in the light."
Buffy looked up at Spike, a frown creasing her brow. " What the hell does that mean?"
Anya and Xander entered his home, a distant hammering coming from farther back in his apartment. Xander surveyed the damage done to his nice living space, and threw his arms up in dismay. " I'll never get my deposit back for this month!"
The walls were littered with large gaping holes, and the table in his dining room was smashed down the middle. The kitchen counter was also marked by bangings from the hammer, as was the floor. His TV also had a large hole in its screen. He was afraid to even look at his other rooms.
" Wow, it's ruined. The hammer really doesn't do that great of work," Anya said matter-of-factly.
" Yes, I-" Xander was cut off as he yelled and fell backwards. The hammer, after crashing through his bathroom door, came flying at him to smack into the wall.
" Xander!" he heard Anya scream. He scrambled to his feet and grabbed her arm, pulling her along with him.
The hammer chased them across the room, swinging at them. Each time they dodged it and it went hurtling into something else, bashing it to pieces. They turned and ran for the door, but the hammer swung around in their faces. " Anya, get down!"
They both fell to the floor and the hammer went flying past them into the far wall. It smashed through the foundation, stuck there, the handle wiggling. " Get into my room!" They hopped up and ran over to the door, pulling it closed quickly behind them. Xander locked it, and they fell back on his bed, breathing hard after the chase.
" So, what do we do-" Just then, the hammering sound began, as the door pushed on its hinges. Xander looked panicked for several moments, before reaching for a chair. They began pushing things up against the door, until all that remained in its original place was the bed.
" Now what?" Anya panted, as the hammering continued, and the furniture shook.
" I don't know." Xander looked to the window, knowing that there was a very long drop on the other side of it, and no hand holds to climb their way down. He also knew they couldn't go back to the museum at all without the hammer. But if Spike and Buffy succeeded in retrieving the items on that list, if they didn't get back to the museum with the hammer in time, Buffy would die. And if that door gave, so would they. " We're trapped."
Buffy gaped up at the curator, he mouth hanging open, her eyes wide. She realized she must look like a deer-in-the headlights, but at the same time she couldn't get past the curators jovial smile and welcoming air. He had his hands clasped in front of his chest, his head slightly tilted, looking down at them.
Panicked, Buffy grasped pathetically for some sort of excuse as to what they were all doing breaking into this apparently kind man's museum. " I know what this looks like, but I swear, we're not."
" Oh, I know who you are," the man said, again smiling as he said this and looking completely pleased. " You're the lot that broke into my humble museum a few weeks back, taking two of my more honored treasures."
Spike frowned, thinking back on something. " Wait, I the cameras before we."
Once again, the curator jumped in, " Oh, I have other ways of watching over my little hoard of goodies; you don't leave your most precious gifts unguarded do you?" He smiled as if their panicked and bewildered expressions had given him some sort of an answer. " Ah, you see, you always keep important things safe." For the first time, his expression changed, and with the most forlorn features and melancholy tone of voice he added, " But sometimes bad things can happen to the things you hold dear." With a quick and understanding glance, Spike looked over at Buffy, who he found looking at him. They both quickly turned back to look at the curator, all four of breakers-and-enterers still lying on the floor.
" I tried to protect my things, but I knew that wandering hands would one day decide to take my things for themselves."
" But you don't own the museum," Anya said, standing up and dusting off her skirt. The others all quickly followed, finally realizing they had all been on the floor. " You don't own any of the artifacts either. These things all belong to the city and the wealthy contributors. Technically, we stole from them," she said with a smile that signified how much she had enjoyed correcting him.
The curator looked slightly angered by this. " No, these are my things. I watch over them, and I command those that take care of them. They are my things."
Buffy, slightly wigged out, just nodded to the curator to calm him down. " Okay, your stuff. Got it." Then she reached up and frantically touched the necklace, drawing his attention to the gold jewelry and the red rash on her skin surrounding it. " Now take it back!"
The curator walked closer to her, and looked down at her neck. He squinted, then pushed his glasses up against his face. He turned his head from side to side and looked thoroughly engrossed in his inspection when he pulled back rapidly and grinned. " Can't help you, it won't come off."
Buffy's eyes widened and she took a step forward, which must have looked threatening, because the curator backed up speedily. " Won't come off? I don't remember applying glue to it before I put it on. Why won't it come off?"
The curator smoothed his clothes and turned away from them, starting off down the hallway. The four of them exchanged confused and worried glances before hurrying after him. He talked as they walk, occasionally gesturing to an artifact and speedily giving them its history.
" I cursed all of my artifacts," he said.
" Cursed?!" Xander and Buffy exclaimed. " Cursed how? Why?" Xander asked, panicky.
" Oh, to ensure that things would not be stolen. Or, if such a calamity occurred, the thief would not go unpunished." The curator wagged his finger in the air as he said this, as if he was upholding some sacred law.
" Yeah, but you see, we didn't steal these things!" Buffy exclaimed, jumping up in front of him, causing the small procession to come to a halt.
" Well, of course you did. I know, you are wearing my necklace that was once displayed in that case." The curator pointed behind her and she turned quickly to glance at the neck shaped stand, covered in navy felt, that was now bare.
" No, you don't understand," Buffy said, turning back to face the old museum runner. " I did not steal this necklace! He did!" Buffy gestured to Spike. " He stole it, he gave it to me, I knew nothing about it being a prized artifact in a musty museum."
" Now wait here," the curator said. " My museum is not now, nor has ever been musty."
With a confused look Buffy said, " Of course not. But the important here, I did not steal the necklace, he did, curse him!"
" Hey, wait a second." Spike said, not liking the sound of being cursed. " Yeah, all right, I nicked it, but it was for a lady, a good chap such as yourself must understand that." From the blank look on the curator's face, Spike sighed and waved his hand dismissively. " Forget it. Yeah, I stole it, but I am bloody returning it, what more do you want?"
The curator scowled. " Well, I would have been quite pleased if the stealing part had never happened, but no sense in worrying over the past, what's done is done." He began to walk away, as once more Buffy and Spike exchanged one of those shy and knowing glances. Then they all hurried after him as he went into an office.
The room was lined with artifacts that were obviously more rare and valuable, kept out of reach of prying eyes and hands. There was a desk somewhere buried beneath backpacks and half eaten fast food sandwiches and bags of chips, not to mention enough papers to have once made an entire tree. Buffy shuffled her way through the clutter, glancing at the curator.
" So what are you going to do? You can't just leave me like this, it's not my fault. As I said, he did it."
" Yes we know, Miss Repetitive-Guilt-Tripper. I did it; we have all established this. Let's move to the pummeling of a little old man." Buffy glared at Spike before turning back to the curator.
He was standing still, looking around at the walls and smiling. She rolled her eyes, concluding that he was scattered brained beyond recovery, and just decided to wait until he snapped himself out of his funk. She looked down at his desk, noticing his name plate. She leaned forward, wiping the layer of dust away and read the faded words.
" Melvin Pascal." She read the word and rolled her eyes, marveling at the true geekiness it inspired.
" There's the name of a true blue dude if I ever heard one," Xander whispered to them.
" Yeah, not much with the strength or coolness. It reeks of a book-wormish nerd who hasn't discovered the opposite sex yet," Anya added perkily, maybe just a bit too loudly.
Mr. Pascal turned to glare at them. " Well, parents aren't kind when picking names. As you all well know." He turned away from them as they all glared back at him.
Spike was noticing something else about his statement though. " How do you know our names?"
" Ah, what a good question. Spike, Buffy Summers, Xander Harris, and Anyanka. All can be researched quite easily. Just takes a bit of patience, a lot of spare time, and an Internet hookup. A few spells move the process along quite nicely, too."
" If only the demons of the town knew that the slayer was on the net, I'd be out that whole element of surprise thing I've been working on." Buffy shook herself out of the idea that she was on display, and looked at Melvin. " So what? Are you calling the police?"
" Oh, no. I was going to, but seeing as you did take the time to return it, out of selfish reasons or no, I will grant a little lenience. That, and if you are in a cell, you can't very well work of your debt, now can you?"
This plunged them all into silence. Finally, Anya broke it with her ever unknowing air. "Debt? We don't owe you money. Just take your crusty old artifacts back and we'll go away."
" Ah, if only it were that simple. You see, the curses I placed on the items in the museum have specific steps to follow to release them. For instance, you cannot return anything without replacing the item."
" That's ridiculous!" Xander yelled. " Where am I going to find an ancient warrior's hammer just lying around? There is no way I can replace that. I think its just some gimmick to get yourself some new stuff."
The curator frowned. " Oh no, its nothing like that, young man, I assure you. It is simply the only way to break the particular spell I placed on the items. And for some clarification, you don't have to replace the item with the exact same thing you stole. Just something worthy of a place in a museum. And for reference, I will supply what needs to be gotten."
Melvin hurried behind his desk and started shuffling through the drawers. He finally pulled out a piece of paper, adjusted his glasses, then read over it. He held the paper out to them then, and no one took it. They all just stood and stared at the eccentric old man.
He sighed and brought his arm back to his side. " Well, if you don't want to replace what was taken, and you don't want the necklace to come off, and you want the hammer to go on hammering, then it is just prison for you law- breakers. Keep in mind, the hammer will get more aggressive, and the necklace will slowly kill you, but."
" What?!" they all exclaimed. " Kill me?" Buffy asked, her hand flying to her through, fingering the red rash that seemed to have grown. " How long will it be before it.?"
" Oh, a little while. Don't worry dear, just long enough for you to retrieve these items.." He once again held the paper out to them, and Buffy snatched it from his hands and started out of his office.
" Okay, guys, let's not dawdle. People dying from cursed necklace, let's hop to it."
" Oh wait!" the curator yelled. " There is one thing. You have only twenty- four hours to retrieve my things. If you don't, the necklace will kill you and the hammer will pursue you until it." Off of Xander's very nervous look, Melvin shrugged. " Well, you know. Also, I need some insurance."
" Now we're indebted to you and need to make a deposit?" Xander asked.
" Well, I need half of you to stay here, to make sure the other two don't just run off. I'm sure there are other ways to fix the little curse I made, but nothing to stop me from calling the police. This is really your only choice. So two of you stay, and two of you go."
The four glanced at each other. " Oh, I'll stay here," Anya quickly said. " Safely out of harms way, should harm happen to pass by."
Buffy rolled her eyes. " I'll go, I can't stay here. I need to get this stupid thing off my neck soon."
" I'll go with you," Spike said, looking at her. " I did give you a grubby present."
" Then it's settled," Melvin said with a smile. " You two go get those items, and you two go retrieve my hammer then come back."
" Your hammer?" Anya asked. " You can't be serious. It's dangerous. I thought I made it clear about the wanting none of the danger. Buffy does that, I watch from a safe distance."
" Well, I need to know it hasn't been damaged." The curator motioned to Buffy. " I can see the necklace is in fine shape, but I need to know the hammer is also. So run along now, time is a' wasting." They all exchanged looks of worry and doubt before Melvin shooed them out of his office.
" And don't you come back here without my things!" the curator yelled after them as they exited the museum.
Outside, they gathered under a streetlight and looked at the list. After skimming it quickly, Buffy noticed something. " Hey! There are three things on this list, you only stole two." Buffy shot warning threatening at both of them. " Right?"
" Oh, yes, we limited our crime spree to only taking three things. There was this really nice ring I saw, but the case was locked. Couldn't get it open." Her mouth creased in a pout of disappointment. " I tried for a long time, its such a pity to have to have left it. You know, I could."
" Anya!" Xander yelled at her. " Please, Buffy's dying from a cursed necklace, and my apartment is still being smashed to bits by a renegade hammer. Can we focus, please?"
Anya shrugged and nodded her head towards the list. " What does it say?"
Buffy looked down at the first item again. " Penalties for two stolen things, one broken. You broke something?"
" Oh, that," Spike muttered. " Bloody statue, out of the corner of my eye, I swear it looked like a security guard."
" So you what, killed the bad cement figure?"
" Something like that," Spike mumbled, shrugging.
Buffy sighed before looking to Xander. " You two better hurry up and get that hammer. That curator looked ready to blow a gasket or something. He seems rather attached to the artifacts."
Xander looked at her seriously. " You'll be all right?" he glanced at Spike.
" I'll be fine," Buffy said quietly.
Xander nodded, then he and Anya hurried away. As soon as the were out of sight, Buffy looked back to the paper.
" Okay.the first test, or whatever this is." Buffy read for a second then rolled her eyes and sighed. " Great, a riddle. It says:
An object hides among the fold,
It isn't young, it isn't old.
The object has no life or creed,
The problem is it can't be seen.
Only those who walk in night,
Can find the object in the light."
Buffy looked up at Spike, a frown creasing her brow. " What the hell does that mean?"
Anya and Xander entered his home, a distant hammering coming from farther back in his apartment. Xander surveyed the damage done to his nice living space, and threw his arms up in dismay. " I'll never get my deposit back for this month!"
The walls were littered with large gaping holes, and the table in his dining room was smashed down the middle. The kitchen counter was also marked by bangings from the hammer, as was the floor. His TV also had a large hole in its screen. He was afraid to even look at his other rooms.
" Wow, it's ruined. The hammer really doesn't do that great of work," Anya said matter-of-factly.
" Yes, I-" Xander was cut off as he yelled and fell backwards. The hammer, after crashing through his bathroom door, came flying at him to smack into the wall.
" Xander!" he heard Anya scream. He scrambled to his feet and grabbed her arm, pulling her along with him.
The hammer chased them across the room, swinging at them. Each time they dodged it and it went hurtling into something else, bashing it to pieces. They turned and ran for the door, but the hammer swung around in their faces. " Anya, get down!"
They both fell to the floor and the hammer went flying past them into the far wall. It smashed through the foundation, stuck there, the handle wiggling. " Get into my room!" They hopped up and ran over to the door, pulling it closed quickly behind them. Xander locked it, and they fell back on his bed, breathing hard after the chase.
" So, what do we do-" Just then, the hammering sound began, as the door pushed on its hinges. Xander looked panicked for several moments, before reaching for a chair. They began pushing things up against the door, until all that remained in its original place was the bed.
" Now what?" Anya panted, as the hammering continued, and the furniture shook.
" I don't know." Xander looked to the window, knowing that there was a very long drop on the other side of it, and no hand holds to climb their way down. He also knew they couldn't go back to the museum at all without the hammer. But if Spike and Buffy succeeded in retrieving the items on that list, if they didn't get back to the museum with the hammer in time, Buffy would die. And if that door gave, so would they. " We're trapped."