Chapter Four: Bright Light

(Short chapter, sorry. Thanks for all the critiques.)

"Dawn!" Willow screamed. Nothing was left of the girl. "Oh my god."

Xander helped Spike up, who had tumbled to the floor after trying to hold onto Dawn. "Thanks, " Spike said.

"Don't mention it. Seriously, never mention it," Xander replied.

Willow looked at the spot where Dawn disappeared. "Wha-what happened?" She turned to Xander. "Where did Dawn go?"

The three looked at each other. Xander spoke up first. "Is this another Big Bad trick?" He pinched Spike, who snarled menacing. "Just checking," he said.

"Check this, wanker," Spike's face changed into vampire mode. "Real enough?" His distorted face was right in Xander's.

"Stop it!" Willow barked at the boys. "We have to find out what happened to Dawn. I'm going to get Buffy." She started for the stairs when Spike, who had changed back into himself, grabbed her arm.

"No, Red. Buffy needs her rest, we can figure this out," he said.

Willow, noticing his concerned tone, nodded. "Okay. Xander go get Giles, he can help us."

"Hey!" Dawn's voice called out from above their heads. Xander swiveled around, "Dawn?"

Up above them, was a glowing energy ball of pale, translucent light no bigger than a softball. "Hey!" It shouted again. "Guys, I'm here!"

"Dawn?" Willow asked the ball. "Is that you?"

The ball of light seemed to nod. "Yeah. What happened?" It asked in Dawn voice again.

"I- I don't know," Willow replied looking at Spike, who shrugged still eyeing the ball. "I don't trust it," he whispered to Willow.

"Dawn isn't the key anymore, right?" Xander asked. "I mean, Buffy made sure of that."

"I'm not sure Xander. But, uh, go get Giles any ways. We'll need him," Willow said and Xander ran out the front door. "Spike, keep an eye on... Dawn"

Spike ran and grabbed a large jar and lid from the kitchen, and stalked the ball of light. He held them like he was catching a firefly.

"What are you doing?" Willow asked.

"Goin' to catch me a bit o' light," he answered. He jumped with vampire-like abilities and caught the ball of light in the jar. Slamming the lid on it, he laughed, "Ha ha, gotcha!"

"Spike!" It yelled. "Let me out!"

"Uh uh," the blond shook his head. "Not 'til the watcher gets 'ere."

Willow rolled her eyes and sighed. She looked to the stairs leading to where her best friend lay sleeping. "I should wake Buffy up."


Tara looked at Buffy. Tears rolled down her cheeks. "Is-is she really dead?" Buffy asked, still staring at herself on the floor.

Tara shook her head. "No. Dawn is still alive. But not your sister. She lives as the Key now."

"Why aren't I doing anything?" Buffy asked.

"You never got over her death. You all tried to bring her back, like Willow did for you, but it didn't work. Then things with Andrew, Jonathan, and Warren," Tara shuddered at her murderer's name, but she continued. "Happened, they opened the Hellmouth, Warren killed me, and Willow turned. She killed them all. Willow almost succeeded in destroying the world, but instead, she leads it. She killed Giles. "

"She killed him?"

Tara nodded. "In a final attempt to stop her."

"What about Xander?"

Tara looked down. "After Xander called off the wedding and Anya and Spike's uh, thing. Xander went after Spike." Buffy inhaled sharply. "Xander killed Spike. Then..." She looked at Buffy's fearful expression, "you killed Xander."