A/N: Sorry about the length of this chapter. Also, to clarify the timeline bit—I WROTE it before Sleep Tight aired, but it's actually in a somewhat-AU where Cordy returns without Groo, and Wesley never naps the kid. And for those having trouble with the time jumps, the 4 *s indicate a jump either back (and the flashbacks happen chronologically) to 1982 or to the "present," which is also happening chronologically. OK, here we go…
Redemption, Part Two
Angel slid open the large, rusty door as quietly as he could.
"Why is it always an abandoned warehouse?" he whispered to Wesley and Drew. "Honestly, I need some variety in my life."
The three entered the warehouse, carefully listening for any signs that Cordy, Fred, and Gunn had experienced problems getting in a back door. When silence greeted them, they cautiously began to walk down an aisle, weapons brandished. They reached the center of the building, where Angel had found the stored orb days earlier. Soon after, the others joined them and they prepared for the clan to arrive. A loud bang of a door closing, followed by an audible conversation in Torflakk and a putrid odor, heralded the entrance of the demons.
"Ready, guys?" Angel asked, lifting his sword. The others nodded, grouping into a circle, their backs to each other.
Six demons entered the aisle and roared when they saw the group in the middle. They charged and frenzied fighting began. Gunn and Fred teamed up against one demon, while the others each took on one. The demon fighting Angel ran up a different aisle, with Angel in pursuit. Despite a soon-to-be-nasty bruise on Gunn's face and a cut across Drew's arm, the others managed to defeat the remaining demons—three were dead, while the other two escaped. They began to regroup and tried to figure out where Angel and the other demon had gone.
Meanwhile, Angel finally caught the escaping demon and began to wrestle with him. The demon landed a solid punch and Angel fell to the ground. The demon stood menacingly above him and was preparing to attack when he started to gurgle. He turned around, dropping to his knees. Angel could see a knife hilt sticking out of his back. Sputtering, the demon fell to the floor, dead. Breathing heavily, though unnecessarily, the vampire tore his eyes from the demon to thank whichever friend had helped him, only to see an unfamiliar brunette reaching down to him.
"Hi."
"Hello," she responded.
"I'm Angel. Who are you?"
"I'm the Slayer."
****
December, 1982
In the pre-dawn light, Anne walked slowly down the street, smiling to herself as she remembered the night spent with Drew. When he first arrived in town, she hated him so much. He had, after all, basically destroyed her life. Now, she couldn't imagine her life without him. Their relationship and her duty as the Slayer had given her existence so much meaning. She loved every day they spent together and every night they fought side by side in their joint cause.
A scream snapped her out of her reverie as she neared the park. She broke into a run, aiming towards the swings where three baddies tussled with someone—a female by the sound of the scream. She grabbed the closest one's shoulder and forced him to face her—yep, definitely vampires. She punched him and followed it with a kick to the stomach. He stumbled back into the swings. The other two turned on her and she fought them both simultaneously with a mixture of martial arts and street smarts. She staked one just in time for the first vampire to regain his bearing and charge her. Quickly turning, Anne staked him and faced the final vamp. He snarled at her and then fled. Rather than chasing him, she switched her attention to their teenage victim, who was slowly rising from the ground, winded.
"JENNY?!"
"Oh, Anne! Thank you so much!"
"What are you doing here?"
"I didn't know if you were able to patrol tonight, so I thought I'd check it out myself. I don't know what I would have done if you…hadn't…oh, Anne! That's the closest it's ever been!"
Anne pulled her friend in for a hug. Jenny began sobbing incoherently, clutching her friend tightly.
"Shh, Jenny. It's ok. You're going to be fine. I'm here."
Jenny began to breathe normally. She whispered into Anne's ear, "Too bad you were hours too late."
Anne pulled back, confused. Jenny had morphed into a hideous monster, teeth protruding, eyes glowing.
"Tricked ya."
Anne was too shocked to react; she could only cry out at the sharp puncture as her friend lunged into her neck.
****
"The Slayer? Sorry, I know both Slayers. One's a petite blonde; the other's in jail."
"Well, rather, I'm A Slayer. You're the vampire with a soul, right? You could say we have a lot in common. I'm not a Vampire Slayer so much as a Vampire-Slayer."
Angel stared at her. "Huh?"
"I was called in 1981 and turned in 1982."
Realization hit, and Angel stood up.
"Really? Weird."
"Yeah, I guess. So, Torflakk demons, huh?"
"Oh, thanks, by the way. You really helped me out just then."
"No problem. I'm hoping you can do the same."
"What's that?"
The woman—vampire—reached down and removed her knife from the demon's body. Wiping it off on the demon's tunic, she replaced it in a holster strapped to her shin. Looking back at Angel, she began to speak earnestly.
"These demons had an Orb of Kaul. You've retrieved it?"
"Yes, but we have no idea what it does. I have a former Watcher working for me…well, rather, I work for…never mind. He's trying to figure out what it's for, but hasn't been able to accurately translate the scrolls yet."
"That's okay. I know what it does. If you'll hook me up with some pig's blood, I'll explain everything."
"Deal."
Angel started towards where he had left the others and his new acquaintance followed. Before they made it a few steps, the rest ran into the aisle. Realizing Angel was fine, they all skidded to a halt. They stared at the two, confused.
"Oh, everyone, this is…"
Drew stepped around Wesley and into the light cast by an overhanging lamp. He approached the vampires, his mouth hanging open.
"Anne?"
"She looked back at him with equal amounts of fear and shock. "Drew?"
****
Drew Carrington paced his small office nervously. Anne usually called him when she got home, but she hadn't last night. He didn't remind her, though, and so he figured she had forgotten. Rather than wake her parents, he chose not to call her. However, Anne and Jenny were both absent from eighth period history that day, and neither one's parents had called in an excused absence.
He turned and walked to his desk once more. Feeling useless, he picked up his coat off the back of the chair and walked out the door. Although it was still light out, the sun had already set that winter evening and the air was brisk. He rubbed his hands together as he hurried towards his car. Upon reaching it, he felt in his pocket for his keys and laughed when he grabbed a stake instead.
"These
things are everywhere," he mumbled as he finally unlocked the door.
"DREW!"
He whirled at the sound of Jenny's voice.
"Jenny, where have you been? I've been so worried about you two!"
"I'm sorry! There was a thing."
"What happened? Where's Anne?"
Drew reached out, concerned, and placed his hand on Jenny's shoulder. She was visibly shaken and pale.
"She's dead."
It was as if the world stopped. Drew couldn't find any words to form a response. Jenny could only nod.
"Yes, she's dead. I killed her."
The vampire that had replaced Anne's best friend rose to the surface, attacking the Watcher. In shock, he blindly struck out in defense. The petite girl fell to the ground, growling. She leapt back to her feet and rushed the teacher. He reached in his pocket, grabbing the stake. As she slammed into him, he maneuvered the stake in front of her heart and mourned his young friend as she turned to dust.