T.A.T.U blared over the speakers while the band took a break. Paige was glad it did, cause it was the only music she'd heard all night that she reconsidered.
"What's the time?"
"10:54. Why?"
"I have to go home now."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. Maybe I'll see you around."
"Have you got pen and paper?"
"Yeah." Paige dove her hand into the bag and pulled out the paper and pen. "Here."
Tyler scribbled down something. "Here. Meet me here tomorrow at 7:00pm okay?"
"Yeah, sure. Bye Tyler."
"Later Paige." Paige picked up the bag, pulled it over her shoulders, and walked fast down the stairs. The song faded as she pushed the door open and walked a block to the right.
She found a deserted alleyway and walked quickly to the back.
She closed her eyes and imagined her bedroom.
She spun and spun and with little darkness, arrived in her bedroom.
"Wow, head rush."
April pushed the door open. "Finally. Thought you weren't going to make it."
"I always make it. I can go back tomorrow night right? To go to his new address?"
"Of course. So Wesley was a success?"
"Brandon wasn't there but he gave me the address he moved to after he left his place."
"Great. Now go to bed, you look really out of it."
"Thanks." Paige threw the bag into the corner and climbed under the covers only to fall asleep.
---
"Dude, why'd you bring a human?"
"'Cause I met her and then I liked her so I bought her."
"Dude, we can't kill her if you're like attached to her."
"That's the point. I'd like to have one friend you can't kill."
"Ty, we need food."
"You'll have to go to the blood bank again. It's not my job to feed you."
"The blood bank's food is grotty and it has a disease."
"That's the point. Now, go home or something. I have to do a sweep before I go home."
"You're always sweeping. Doesn't your sister notice? Ooh we could go drink her."
Tyler stepped forward and pushed a stake to his heart. "Go near her and you will die so fast."
Caleb raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. Chill man, I wasn't gonna."
"Guys, my parent's are taking me back to Sunnydale tonight."
"So, how come we're only finding out about this now?"
Aidan shrugged. "Forgot. So, next time you're there, let me know. But you'll have to be careful. Slayer lives in Sunnydale."
"She does? Now you tell us."
"Okay, calm down." He pulled the digital watch to his eyes. "Gotta go home now. See you all later." He stood and jogged out the door.
"Guess we might as well go to. Can we come on your sweep with you Ty?"
"No. Go home. Eat from the blood bank or no where else."
Tyler walked off in the direction of the park. The remaining two stood till he was out of sight.
"What'd you say we pay old Wes a vis, huh cous?"
"Sure. Sounds like fun." And they walked off in the direction of their old friend's apartment.
---
"Why do they keep dying?"
"I don't know Dawnie, I don't know. I think, that maybe someone's got in it for the Potentials. Like they have power or something like that. I think they should have someone strong around them all the time."
"Yeah, and no more patrolling till we know what's happening."
"But what else are we going to do?"
"You can stay home and train. I don't think there should be a problem with school cause vamps can't come in the day. So as long as someone takes them there and back, they should be fine."
"So, who'll do patrols then?"
"Me or Angel or Spike or someone. Has to be someone really strong. You girls can go to your room now."
"Okay Buffy."
When the girls and gone and Angel was sure the door was closed he asked, "How are they holding up?"
"Bout as good as can be expected I suppose. They're a bit quiet but I didn't expect them to be happy and jumpy or anything."
"Have you spoken to Giles?"
"Yeah, he's sending someone to pick the bodies up tomorrow. Says he'll deliver them to their families and they'll do the whole 'funeral' thing. We still aren't allowed to go by the way."
"Are we going to hold a memorial here?"
"Yeah, now that there's three, we need to. Hopefully we won't have to have anymore."
"Any idea who the big bad is this time?"
"Not a clue. Willow's looking through books for any prophecies but, cause we don't know much, chances of her finding anything are really slim."
"Think we can deal with the big bad? I mean, it killed three girls under our noses, and we couldn't stop it."
"Whatever it is, we can deal. We have to. For everyone's sake."
---
She tossed and turned and tossed again. Something was wrong she was feeling it inside her. She tried to drift off to sleep again but a force hit her.
It was so much like a dream, but so real.
Dream
She ran through the school hall. "Slayer, come out and play."
Her breathing grew stronger and she ran the corner too sharply, sending her flying into a hard body.
"Don'tcha wanna play with your old pal Slayer?"
"You aren't real. No of this is real. It's a dream."
Faith shrugged. "So what if it is? You think it's real. He thinks it's real. I know it's real. Don'tcha wanna feel him again? Look me in the eyes and tell me you don't want him all over you again," She was interrupted by,
"STOP! Leave me out of this sick dream." She turned and ran in the direction of the exit. She smashed into something and was forced onto the ground, skidding back a few feet.
"Trying to leave Slayer? Don't you want to play? You know you'll have fun, if you join the game."
"I don't, leave me out," She panted out words, not making any sense.
She watched helplessly as a hand crept over Spike's shoulder. "Willow?"
"Spikey, doesn't she want to play with me? She's making me all sad Spikey."
Spike growled. "No one makes my girl sad." He face transformed and his vampire face showed up, growling at Buffy.
"Better run Slayer, I'm in the mood for a chase."
Buffy jumped up and ran down the hall. Her head turned into each room as she passed them. In every one was someone close to her turning their head's to reveal a vamp face. When she looked, they started drinking another her.
Hands reached out and gripped her shoulders. She looked up, her face feeling like a child's, with the pout and all.
"Come on sis, you know I won't hurt you. Just stand still and no one will get hurt. Except you." Dawn lowered her head and pierced her neck.
"No, stop, please." Dawn pulled her head up as she felt Buffy's heart slow.
She bit her arm and placed it over Buffy's mouth. Slowly, the red liquid dripped down Buffy's neck. "See you soon."
End Dream
---
"Tomorrow? Three bodies?"
He sighed. "We've been through this. Be there tomorrow. There are three dead bodies for you to collect and I want them back here a.s.a.p. Got it?"
"I got it. So anyway, I found a demon. You summon him to do a job for you, he does it, give him gold and he's gone no trouble."
"No catches?"
"None at all. So, he okay then?"
"Yeah, whatever. I told you to deal with it. I just deal with the main plan."
"Okay, it's done. Anything else?"
"Send the Slayer a message."
A wicked grin formed on his face. "What kind?"
"Make it a dream, feeling kind of dreamy today. Hmm, something about Angelus returning and Rouge Faith returning and all her friends becoming vampires and her having to stake them. Sound okay?"
"Sounds like fun. I'll get someone on that fast. And, we found the real one."
"You did? Who?"
"Young girl, England. Close connection with that witch and co, though she doesn't know it yet."
"Good. Send her some dreams too. Lots of blood and guts and death and power being too much something along those lines."
"On it. See you in a day or two."
"Whatever."
---
"Buffy? Buffy! Wake up."
"What, where am I?"
"In your bed. Are you okay? You started thrashing around really bad and muttering stuff."
"Just a bad dream. I'll be fine. Let's go back to sleep."
"Okay, if you're sure you're fine."
"I am, honest Xander."
"Alright, night Buff."
"Night Xand."
---
Dream
Red, everything was red, the grass and the sky and the sun and my own hands. "Oh god, what did I do?"
There was a gasp and mutterings from the grass near a tree. Paige was pulled towards the tree. She bent down, and felt a sea of something was over her.
"Are you okay?"
"You, did, this, to, me, us."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean too."
"Not, good, enough. You killed, and killed and you didn't even stop to think. Thousand's have died and thousands more will die because of you. It's all your fault."
"What did I do?"
"You slaughtered. You burned. You stabbed then, over and over, till they had no blood left. You are filth. Worse than vampires, worse than I was. I was stopped, before I did worse. You can't be stopped. You're doomed to kill and hurt and never be stopped."
"No, please, help me. What do I do?"
"Stab me, in the heart. It will all be over if you do."
"Are you sure you want it?"
"No one want's to die. But if you kill me, the pain will end, and I can live happily with my lover. Do it now."
Paige stepped up. "I don't have a dagger."
"In your pocket you do."
Paige stuck her hand into the pocket of the coat and pulled out the sharp object. It was covered in blood and her hands made it worse.
"I don't want to do this."
"You have killed more than me. You don't get to choose now. Kill me, make it end."
"Okay." Paige closed her eyes and pushed the dagger through her heart.
She gasped and started sucking the air in harshly.
She laughed a hollow and cold laugh.
"You believed me? It's worse now. I was the only one who could help you stop and you killed me. Thank you. Now I can live happily with my lover, and you can suffer down here, in this hell you made all by your self. Have fun." She sucked her last breath.
"No, please. I'm sorry, don't leave me all alone. I need you, please, someone. Please" She broke down, the sobs coming out, until they subsided.
End Dream
---
"Paige? Are you all right? You were whining in your sleep."
"Hmm? Oh, just a bad dream. I'm okay now though. Sorry if I woke you."
"I was getting a drink. You sure you're fine?"
"Positive. Night April"
"Night Paige."
She closed the door and left Paige to lie in the dark.