Phantom Pain
Author: JimboS
E-mail: RaistlinM1@aol.com
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters used in this story only the plot is mine, and even that is pretty basic.
Author's note: I hope you enjoy the story. It has been brewing in my head for a while now and after the last episode the plot finally came together for me. So here it is. Enjoy and since this is my first try at true angst let me know what you think of it.
Dedication: MJ, I appreciate you to no end. I thank you so much for taking time out to look over this.
* * *
Chapter 1
The waxing moon spread its pale cold light across the deceptively quiet town of Sunnydale, as a sparrow flew low through the night riding the last remnants of the warm air currents that rose from the cooling ground. The bird watched the ground passing beneath him intently on the look out for a late night meal, but all that could be found was a slip of a girl walking on the lonely sidewalk below. The girl traveled through the night with a confidence that is only discovered when a person loses all fear for anything that lurks in the night but then again that is how all Slayers walk.
Buffy strode forward with purpose slowing only long enough to check the piece of paper, with a listing of recently rented houses and apartments on it, clutched in her right hand with the address for the house in front of her. She finally came to a stop in front of a small cookie-cutter house, triple checking the address to be sure.
There could be no mistake; it was the same house where Buffy had been attacked the other night by the dangerous vision-inducing demon the other night during her search for the nerdy trio. Buffy did a sweep of the perimeter of the house looking in the windows for signs of her prey. Buffy stopped in front of a small window to the basement when she saw a few assorted gadgets and toys lying around inside.
A quick pull on the window caused the latch to give way to the supernatural slayer strength allowing the Slayer entry in to the trio's lair. Buffy was amazed at the strange mix of science and science fiction. Toys and models were strewn among the surveillance equipment and the blue prints of the Millennium Falcon are mixed in with designs for freeze rays and other weapons. Buffy walked through the small hovel of a basement checking for clues as to the whereabouts of the group, but she could find no sign until stumbled upon a VHS tape with a yellow post-it note attached with 'PLAY ME' written on it.
Buffy gave the room a quick search to find a place to play the tape that she held in her hand. Her search was rewarded when she spots another note sitting on a VCR across the room with 'OVER HERE' written on it. Buffy placed the tape in to the VCR and pressed play before waiting for the picture to arrive.
She was not surprised to see Warren, the leader of the trio, smiling at her, but she was surprised to see that the VCR had been hooked up to the entire surveillance system placing Warren's smiling face on all seven televisions screens.
"Slayer," said Warren with a wide smile, as if he was sharing in a joke with Buffy, which gives her an immediate bad feeling. "I'm so glad that you decided to drop in and visit us. I mean it took so much work for us to put together our little spell."
"What spell," Buffy asked the screen too shocked to consider the fact that nobody was in the room.
"What spell, you ask," said Warren smiling even wider as if he saw Buffy's surprised look. "Well we were going to just conjure up another demon to fight you, I mean we did well with that last one, but I just figured that it wouldn't be enough. I mean every time we attack you head on we lose, so I had an idea. Why not attack your friends and family? So I had my comrades bake up a little spell that summons a demon to the Summer's residence as soon as you enter this room. I wonder how long it will take you to get there. Hopefully in time to save the day, but I doubt it."
The camera zoomed in for close up of Warren's condescending smile as he reveled in his victory, but his appearance quickly disappeared when Buffy lashed out at the screens spilling them to the ground. Buffy calmed down quickly from the sudden violent outburst when the full impact of Warren's words hit her sending an icy chill running through her spine while sending her running through the basement door and out of the house and into the night to save her loved ones.
* * *
"So where do you think she is," asked Dawn from the door way to the kitchen holding a bowl of popcorn.
"I don't know where Anya is," answered Xander as Dawn seated herself next to Xander on the couch in front of the TV and the starting movie. "I just hope she is okay. I think I may have to accept the fact that she won't be back."
Xander tried not to look so sad and defeated when he said Anya's name but failed miserably, his face making it apparent for the briefest of moments how much he was hurting inside. He tried his hardest to not recognize what he had just said hoping that Dawn wouldn't press him for an explanation. Hoping to ignore the truth that his heart had known, but it had been said and there was no going back.
"What do you mean," Dawn asked even though she had seen the brief conflict in her friend's face. She just could not stop herself from voicing her question hoping to find the truth.
"I don't know who I was kidding when I said I thought we would get together," answered Xander with a sigh, his chin falling to meet his chest. "I think we both know that I screwed this up too bad. I mean I left an ex- vengeance demon at the altar. I was the only guy Anya trusted with her heart and I dropped it. I don't think she is coming back after all of this."
"Hey," said Xander looking up to meet Dawn with a forced smile, "as long as I don't get syphilis or something I'll consider myself pretty lucky."
Dawn's heart went out to the man before her. "You know you don't have to be here if you want to be alone or something," she said, "I think I can handle a movie night by myself."
Xander smiled at the teenager beside him and threw a reassuring arm over her shoulder. "Now what kind of friend would I be if I left now," said Xander with a slightly less forced smile. "Willow is at one of her addicts meeting and Buffy is out on patrol. I can't just leave you here at Slayer central alone now can I?"
"No, really, I can take care of myself," answered Dawn not wanting anyone to feel obligated to be around her.
"Okay I'll accept that," said Xander, "but that doesn't mean I'm leaving. I can't think of anything better right now than a classic 'Dawn and Xander movie night'. It feels good to just sit and relax for a few hours without the threat of demon attack or vengeance."
Of course the fates could not allow such a wonderful straight line delivered by Xander to go without a punch line, so it was at that point that the spell took place creating a swirling unstable portal to form in the Summers' front lawn. Out of the glowing ball of energy spilled a snarling salivating demon that could only be described as a sort of enlarged werewolf.
The movie was interrupted by a powerful slam against the Summers' front door shattering the door into kindling and knocking the barrier off of its hinges. The beast entered quickly behind letting loose with a powerful snort spraying snot and slobber onto the hardwood floor before launching itself forward toward the living room and the two terrified occupants seated on the couch within.
Dawn, who was sitting closest to the door, could not help but stare at the monster that had invaded her home her body tensed every muscle clenching in anticipation for the retreat that was not coming, but her brain could only shout that it was not happening. It could not comprehend that not only was this monster attacking her but that her sister was nowhere in sight.
Dawn stared helplessly as the beast sprang at her with its claws leading the way heading directly for her, but she was literally shaken from her stupor when Xander threw her off of the couch and out of the beast's trajectory. She landed on the hard wood floor and slid on her stomach for a few extra feet slightly bruised but thankful taking a bump instead of a disembowelment.
Xander watched the lupine creature land on the couch and turn to leap at Dawn again, so he acted first by throwing a left hook into the beast's muzzle whipping the head sideways, which elicited a self-satisfied smile. The smile was short lived when the creature leapt for him instead of Dawn, who was slowly orienting herself with her new position on the floor.
"Dawn, run, get help," Xander yelled to her, which caused her to pull herself up to a kneeling position and turn around to find him in a death lock with the hairy beast. He held the creature's wrists trying desperately to keep its claws away from his vulnerable body with his legs curled up beneath him to keep his opponent from getting close enough to rip into him with its powerful jaws and knife like teeth.
"Xander!" Dawn called from her spot on the floor feeling frozen with fear not knowing whether to try and help or to run for help.
"I'm kind of busy right now Dawn," growled Xander through teeth clenched from the exertion of protecting himself. "Do you think you could go get Buffy for me so she can kill this thing? Like now!"
Dawn sprang to her feet to take off for the broken door and the relative safety of the Sunnydale night. Dawn ran past the couch and the death grip happening on top of it her long brunette tresses trailing behind her like a multitude of flowing ribbons.
The beast turned its head to follow Dawn as she made her way for the door taking its eyes off of the construction worker under it. Xander let go of the creature's left claw and swung his fist while lowering his legs to bring the beast's head within striking distance. His knuckle connects with the left eye of the demon causing it to bellow in pain and surprise.
"Stay focused Spot," said Xander; "she isn't snack food. If you want a bite I'm right here!" Xander punctuated the last statement with another right cross to the creature's face, but instead of meeting with flesh and bone demon pulls back allowing the swing to fall short before slamming its jaws down upon Xander's right arm.
Xander cried out in pain but even the sound of his own scream filling his hears could not drown out the sound of his humorous shattering under the intense pressure of the teeth clamped down on his right arm. Xander grabbed at the mouth of his attacker trying hopelessly to pry open the jaws trapping his arm.
Xander worked desperately to free his arm mentally picturing a dog fighting for an old sock shaking its head furiously trying to win possession of the cotton prize. "Please don't let him shake, please don't let him shake," pled Xander silently but his pleas fell upon deaf ears as the demon began to shake its head vehemently breaking the bone further and tearing the flesh open wider. Black spots began to float into Xander's vision promising release from the pain an his mind began to give in to the pain, but he stubbornly held on to consciousness fearing the consequences of giving in far more than the pain currently running rough shod through his brain.
Blood poured from the wound freely entering the demon's mouth and adding to its blood lust motivating the creature to begin tearing into the man's torso covering his dagger like claws with the viscous liquid. Xander switched tactics moving his left thumb up to jab into the eye of the beast, and his efforts were met by the sound of painful grunts that were not his own.
Xander felt the jaws loosen their grip and the teeth disengage from his torn arm, but his elation was short lived because the demon was only trying to find a better grip on the man's tattered arm. His screams would not be silenced when he beast ripped into Xander's flesh tearing open the flesh to drink from the warm blood flowing through the appendage. Xander watched the darkness in front of his eyes expand to cover his entire vision but before he was silenced by unconsciousness he heard several other screams mix with his own, but he was too far gone to comprehend their meaning.
* * *
Buffy ran through the night at top speed hoping with all of her furiously pumping heart that she would not be too late. Buffy spotted Dawn running down the street thoroughly exhausted from sprinting for so long at about the same time that the teen spotted her causing the two to shout the other's name at the same time and rush to meet the other.
"Dawn are you alright," asked Buffy, grabbing her crying sister by the shoulders and inspecting her for injuries.
Dawn slumped into Buffy's arms weeping and gasping for breath letting her big sister support her tired body. "Xander…trouble…help…demon," Dawn managed to get out between sobs and gasps of air.
It took Buffy a second to decipher the halting message and realize that the danger was far from over. Buffy pulled Dawn away from her to look her sister in the eye and said, "Stay safe, I've got to save him."
Buffy barely stayed long enough to see her sister nod in understanding before once again running toward her home. Fences and mailboxes blurred due partially to the speed of her sprint but mainly because of the tears pooling inside of her blue-green eyes and streaking across her face to be absorbed by her blonde hair.
The last hundred yards were the longest she could recall being able hear the screams from inside but not help drew out each second into several torturous lifetimes. Finally Buffy reached her broken down door only slowing long enough to pick up a long wicked looking shard of her front door.
Buffy turned the corned mentally prepared for the worst, but her worst could not compare to the actual scene that greeted her eyes and shattered her heart. With a cry of primal fury Buffy jumped forward and drove the long stake-esque weapon into the back of the demon's neck puncturing the skin and severing the spinal column connected to the brain and the trachea spelling death for the attacking beast.
The demon fell onto the couch and evaporated into the air leaving no evidence of it's existence aside from the carnage reeked upon the Summer's residence and one Xander Harris.
Buffy rushed to her friend to hoping for the best and placed her fingers to his neck and almost bursts into tears again when a pulse, a weak unstable one, but a pulse greeted her touch.
Buffy moved to find the phone that had been knocked off of the end table hoping desperately to find a dial tone. Luck was with the Slayer because she was able to call forth a dial tone and then 911 from the battered piece of machinery.
"Hello, this is Buffy Summers at 1630 Revello Drive," said Buffy frantically as soon as she hears an answer from the other side. "I need an ambulance right away. My friend has been attacked and his pulse is weak and he has lost a lot of blood."
"Stay calm and remain on the line ma'am," said the voice from the telephone. "An ambulance will arrive shortly. I need you to put pressure on the wound to slow the bleeding and stay calm until the paramedics arrive."
Buffy put the phone down and grabbed a blanket from the hall closet. A quick yank ripped the blanket into usable sizes leaving enough to wrap around Xander's torso and wrap around his almost nonexistent arm. Buffy held her friend tightly rocking back and forth, trying to draw comfort from her friend's unconscious body, until the paramedics came arrived and pulled her away. She watched them work furiously to stabilize Xander's condition enough for transport before loading him on to a stretcher and into the ambulance.
Buffy climbed in to the ambulance as well and stared at her friend's ashen face searching desperately for a sign of life, but she was only met with silence and desolation. Buffy watched Xander breath; her entire world reduced to the subtle rise and fall of his chest with the ambulance's siren's keening her sorrow to the night echoing through the quiet streets and resounding inside her shattered psyche.
End of Chapter 1
* * *
Author: JimboS
E-mail: RaistlinM1@aol.com
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters used in this story only the plot is mine, and even that is pretty basic.
Author's note: I hope you enjoy the story. It has been brewing in my head for a while now and after the last episode the plot finally came together for me. So here it is. Enjoy and since this is my first try at true angst let me know what you think of it.
Dedication: MJ, I appreciate you to no end. I thank you so much for taking time out to look over this.
* * *
Chapter 1
The waxing moon spread its pale cold light across the deceptively quiet town of Sunnydale, as a sparrow flew low through the night riding the last remnants of the warm air currents that rose from the cooling ground. The bird watched the ground passing beneath him intently on the look out for a late night meal, but all that could be found was a slip of a girl walking on the lonely sidewalk below. The girl traveled through the night with a confidence that is only discovered when a person loses all fear for anything that lurks in the night but then again that is how all Slayers walk.
Buffy strode forward with purpose slowing only long enough to check the piece of paper, with a listing of recently rented houses and apartments on it, clutched in her right hand with the address for the house in front of her. She finally came to a stop in front of a small cookie-cutter house, triple checking the address to be sure.
There could be no mistake; it was the same house where Buffy had been attacked the other night by the dangerous vision-inducing demon the other night during her search for the nerdy trio. Buffy did a sweep of the perimeter of the house looking in the windows for signs of her prey. Buffy stopped in front of a small window to the basement when she saw a few assorted gadgets and toys lying around inside.
A quick pull on the window caused the latch to give way to the supernatural slayer strength allowing the Slayer entry in to the trio's lair. Buffy was amazed at the strange mix of science and science fiction. Toys and models were strewn among the surveillance equipment and the blue prints of the Millennium Falcon are mixed in with designs for freeze rays and other weapons. Buffy walked through the small hovel of a basement checking for clues as to the whereabouts of the group, but she could find no sign until stumbled upon a VHS tape with a yellow post-it note attached with 'PLAY ME' written on it.
Buffy gave the room a quick search to find a place to play the tape that she held in her hand. Her search was rewarded when she spots another note sitting on a VCR across the room with 'OVER HERE' written on it. Buffy placed the tape in to the VCR and pressed play before waiting for the picture to arrive.
She was not surprised to see Warren, the leader of the trio, smiling at her, but she was surprised to see that the VCR had been hooked up to the entire surveillance system placing Warren's smiling face on all seven televisions screens.
"Slayer," said Warren with a wide smile, as if he was sharing in a joke with Buffy, which gives her an immediate bad feeling. "I'm so glad that you decided to drop in and visit us. I mean it took so much work for us to put together our little spell."
"What spell," Buffy asked the screen too shocked to consider the fact that nobody was in the room.
"What spell, you ask," said Warren smiling even wider as if he saw Buffy's surprised look. "Well we were going to just conjure up another demon to fight you, I mean we did well with that last one, but I just figured that it wouldn't be enough. I mean every time we attack you head on we lose, so I had an idea. Why not attack your friends and family? So I had my comrades bake up a little spell that summons a demon to the Summer's residence as soon as you enter this room. I wonder how long it will take you to get there. Hopefully in time to save the day, but I doubt it."
The camera zoomed in for close up of Warren's condescending smile as he reveled in his victory, but his appearance quickly disappeared when Buffy lashed out at the screens spilling them to the ground. Buffy calmed down quickly from the sudden violent outburst when the full impact of Warren's words hit her sending an icy chill running through her spine while sending her running through the basement door and out of the house and into the night to save her loved ones.
* * *
"So where do you think she is," asked Dawn from the door way to the kitchen holding a bowl of popcorn.
"I don't know where Anya is," answered Xander as Dawn seated herself next to Xander on the couch in front of the TV and the starting movie. "I just hope she is okay. I think I may have to accept the fact that she won't be back."
Xander tried not to look so sad and defeated when he said Anya's name but failed miserably, his face making it apparent for the briefest of moments how much he was hurting inside. He tried his hardest to not recognize what he had just said hoping that Dawn wouldn't press him for an explanation. Hoping to ignore the truth that his heart had known, but it had been said and there was no going back.
"What do you mean," Dawn asked even though she had seen the brief conflict in her friend's face. She just could not stop herself from voicing her question hoping to find the truth.
"I don't know who I was kidding when I said I thought we would get together," answered Xander with a sigh, his chin falling to meet his chest. "I think we both know that I screwed this up too bad. I mean I left an ex- vengeance demon at the altar. I was the only guy Anya trusted with her heart and I dropped it. I don't think she is coming back after all of this."
"Hey," said Xander looking up to meet Dawn with a forced smile, "as long as I don't get syphilis or something I'll consider myself pretty lucky."
Dawn's heart went out to the man before her. "You know you don't have to be here if you want to be alone or something," she said, "I think I can handle a movie night by myself."
Xander smiled at the teenager beside him and threw a reassuring arm over her shoulder. "Now what kind of friend would I be if I left now," said Xander with a slightly less forced smile. "Willow is at one of her addicts meeting and Buffy is out on patrol. I can't just leave you here at Slayer central alone now can I?"
"No, really, I can take care of myself," answered Dawn not wanting anyone to feel obligated to be around her.
"Okay I'll accept that," said Xander, "but that doesn't mean I'm leaving. I can't think of anything better right now than a classic 'Dawn and Xander movie night'. It feels good to just sit and relax for a few hours without the threat of demon attack or vengeance."
Of course the fates could not allow such a wonderful straight line delivered by Xander to go without a punch line, so it was at that point that the spell took place creating a swirling unstable portal to form in the Summers' front lawn. Out of the glowing ball of energy spilled a snarling salivating demon that could only be described as a sort of enlarged werewolf.
The movie was interrupted by a powerful slam against the Summers' front door shattering the door into kindling and knocking the barrier off of its hinges. The beast entered quickly behind letting loose with a powerful snort spraying snot and slobber onto the hardwood floor before launching itself forward toward the living room and the two terrified occupants seated on the couch within.
Dawn, who was sitting closest to the door, could not help but stare at the monster that had invaded her home her body tensed every muscle clenching in anticipation for the retreat that was not coming, but her brain could only shout that it was not happening. It could not comprehend that not only was this monster attacking her but that her sister was nowhere in sight.
Dawn stared helplessly as the beast sprang at her with its claws leading the way heading directly for her, but she was literally shaken from her stupor when Xander threw her off of the couch and out of the beast's trajectory. She landed on the hard wood floor and slid on her stomach for a few extra feet slightly bruised but thankful taking a bump instead of a disembowelment.
Xander watched the lupine creature land on the couch and turn to leap at Dawn again, so he acted first by throwing a left hook into the beast's muzzle whipping the head sideways, which elicited a self-satisfied smile. The smile was short lived when the creature leapt for him instead of Dawn, who was slowly orienting herself with her new position on the floor.
"Dawn, run, get help," Xander yelled to her, which caused her to pull herself up to a kneeling position and turn around to find him in a death lock with the hairy beast. He held the creature's wrists trying desperately to keep its claws away from his vulnerable body with his legs curled up beneath him to keep his opponent from getting close enough to rip into him with its powerful jaws and knife like teeth.
"Xander!" Dawn called from her spot on the floor feeling frozen with fear not knowing whether to try and help or to run for help.
"I'm kind of busy right now Dawn," growled Xander through teeth clenched from the exertion of protecting himself. "Do you think you could go get Buffy for me so she can kill this thing? Like now!"
Dawn sprang to her feet to take off for the broken door and the relative safety of the Sunnydale night. Dawn ran past the couch and the death grip happening on top of it her long brunette tresses trailing behind her like a multitude of flowing ribbons.
The beast turned its head to follow Dawn as she made her way for the door taking its eyes off of the construction worker under it. Xander let go of the creature's left claw and swung his fist while lowering his legs to bring the beast's head within striking distance. His knuckle connects with the left eye of the demon causing it to bellow in pain and surprise.
"Stay focused Spot," said Xander; "she isn't snack food. If you want a bite I'm right here!" Xander punctuated the last statement with another right cross to the creature's face, but instead of meeting with flesh and bone demon pulls back allowing the swing to fall short before slamming its jaws down upon Xander's right arm.
Xander cried out in pain but even the sound of his own scream filling his hears could not drown out the sound of his humorous shattering under the intense pressure of the teeth clamped down on his right arm. Xander grabbed at the mouth of his attacker trying hopelessly to pry open the jaws trapping his arm.
Xander worked desperately to free his arm mentally picturing a dog fighting for an old sock shaking its head furiously trying to win possession of the cotton prize. "Please don't let him shake, please don't let him shake," pled Xander silently but his pleas fell upon deaf ears as the demon began to shake its head vehemently breaking the bone further and tearing the flesh open wider. Black spots began to float into Xander's vision promising release from the pain an his mind began to give in to the pain, but he stubbornly held on to consciousness fearing the consequences of giving in far more than the pain currently running rough shod through his brain.
Blood poured from the wound freely entering the demon's mouth and adding to its blood lust motivating the creature to begin tearing into the man's torso covering his dagger like claws with the viscous liquid. Xander switched tactics moving his left thumb up to jab into the eye of the beast, and his efforts were met by the sound of painful grunts that were not his own.
Xander felt the jaws loosen their grip and the teeth disengage from his torn arm, but his elation was short lived because the demon was only trying to find a better grip on the man's tattered arm. His screams would not be silenced when he beast ripped into Xander's flesh tearing open the flesh to drink from the warm blood flowing through the appendage. Xander watched the darkness in front of his eyes expand to cover his entire vision but before he was silenced by unconsciousness he heard several other screams mix with his own, but he was too far gone to comprehend their meaning.
* * *
Buffy ran through the night at top speed hoping with all of her furiously pumping heart that she would not be too late. Buffy spotted Dawn running down the street thoroughly exhausted from sprinting for so long at about the same time that the teen spotted her causing the two to shout the other's name at the same time and rush to meet the other.
"Dawn are you alright," asked Buffy, grabbing her crying sister by the shoulders and inspecting her for injuries.
Dawn slumped into Buffy's arms weeping and gasping for breath letting her big sister support her tired body. "Xander…trouble…help…demon," Dawn managed to get out between sobs and gasps of air.
It took Buffy a second to decipher the halting message and realize that the danger was far from over. Buffy pulled Dawn away from her to look her sister in the eye and said, "Stay safe, I've got to save him."
Buffy barely stayed long enough to see her sister nod in understanding before once again running toward her home. Fences and mailboxes blurred due partially to the speed of her sprint but mainly because of the tears pooling inside of her blue-green eyes and streaking across her face to be absorbed by her blonde hair.
The last hundred yards were the longest she could recall being able hear the screams from inside but not help drew out each second into several torturous lifetimes. Finally Buffy reached her broken down door only slowing long enough to pick up a long wicked looking shard of her front door.
Buffy turned the corned mentally prepared for the worst, but her worst could not compare to the actual scene that greeted her eyes and shattered her heart. With a cry of primal fury Buffy jumped forward and drove the long stake-esque weapon into the back of the demon's neck puncturing the skin and severing the spinal column connected to the brain and the trachea spelling death for the attacking beast.
The demon fell onto the couch and evaporated into the air leaving no evidence of it's existence aside from the carnage reeked upon the Summer's residence and one Xander Harris.
Buffy rushed to her friend to hoping for the best and placed her fingers to his neck and almost bursts into tears again when a pulse, a weak unstable one, but a pulse greeted her touch.
Buffy moved to find the phone that had been knocked off of the end table hoping desperately to find a dial tone. Luck was with the Slayer because she was able to call forth a dial tone and then 911 from the battered piece of machinery.
"Hello, this is Buffy Summers at 1630 Revello Drive," said Buffy frantically as soon as she hears an answer from the other side. "I need an ambulance right away. My friend has been attacked and his pulse is weak and he has lost a lot of blood."
"Stay calm and remain on the line ma'am," said the voice from the telephone. "An ambulance will arrive shortly. I need you to put pressure on the wound to slow the bleeding and stay calm until the paramedics arrive."
Buffy put the phone down and grabbed a blanket from the hall closet. A quick yank ripped the blanket into usable sizes leaving enough to wrap around Xander's torso and wrap around his almost nonexistent arm. Buffy held her friend tightly rocking back and forth, trying to draw comfort from her friend's unconscious body, until the paramedics came arrived and pulled her away. She watched them work furiously to stabilize Xander's condition enough for transport before loading him on to a stretcher and into the ambulance.
Buffy climbed in to the ambulance as well and stared at her friend's ashen face searching desperately for a sign of life, but she was only met with silence and desolation. Buffy watched Xander breath; her entire world reduced to the subtle rise and fall of his chest with the ambulance's siren's keening her sorrow to the night echoing through the quiet streets and resounding inside her shattered psyche.
End of Chapter 1
* * *