"Have Faith" Pt 6/?
Dawn walked briskly down the stairs, glanced into the living room, and carried on to the dining room through which she would find the kitchen. Suddenly she stopped and backed up a few steps, resting her gaze on the scene before her.
Everything was still!
On the floor sat Faith. She was encircled by the potentials, and Andrew. It was as if they were frozen in their positions. Faith had her hand up in some sort of gesture, Andrew had his mouth open as if in mid-sentence, and the girls just sat there with their eyes glued to Faith.
Dawn, afraid to into the room, instead scanned it with her eyes. Dawn gasped as she saw Willow and Xander off to the side watching the group on the floor. Or at least, that's what it looked like they were doing before being frozen in place, Willow with a worried look on her face and Xander frustration clearly written on his. Neither moved.
"Buffy." Dawn whispered to herself. "I have to find Buffy---Spike!"
Dawn ran through the dining room to the kitchen. Throwing the basement door open, she flung herself halfway down the stairs and then froze. "No." Dawn grasped the railing for support.
Buffy sat lip-locked in a kiss with Spike. However, that's not why Dawn became so disheartened. Even in the midst os a kiss, neither vampire nor slayer moved a muscle. They too were frozen in time, or space, or whatever it was that was happening.
'Now what am I going to do?' Dawn thought. Aloud she said, "Buffy! Why do you pick a time like this to play smoochies with Mr. Baby-sitter?"
Another voice, on Dawn had never heard before, startled her. "Perhaps they just got bored."
Dawn saw a little man some out of the shadows and walk towards the couple on the cot.
"I was actually just playing. I loving positioning humans during a time-out. It's so much fun to watch them wake up!"
The man was probably no higher than Dawn's chest and he wore a fluorescent yellow suit with a neon blue tie. His short hair, gelled into tiny spikes, and his leather shoes were the same color as the tie.
Dawn gripped the railing in anger. "What did you do to them?" She demanded through her teeth.
"Who me? Nothing! Well...nothing that can't be undone anyway."
"Fix them!"
"Oh, don't worry. They'll be good as new as soon as I get what I came for. So come along, we'll be on our way, and your friends will be freed."
Dawn let go of the railing and slowly began back up the stairs. "What?"
"Well, why else did you think you were free from what has taken over your friends? It's not by mere chance that you are free. I can't very well take you with me if you are frozen like them. It doesn't work that way, unfortunately. So come along and--!
Dawn couldn't believe her ears! "Y-You're crazy! I'm not going anywhere with you!" she gasped then flew up the rest of the stairs to the kitchen.
"Now don't be like that," the little man called after her with concern. "It's only a little while! We'll even use the soft chains for you!"
Dawn slammed the basement door shut and latched it shut. The she ran to the living room to try and get someone's attention.
"Willow! Xander! I need help! Faith!" Dawn shook each person hard but nothing happened. "Wake up!" she screamed.
"They won't wake up that way."
Dawn looked up and saw the little man walk into the living room. Dawn screamed and ran to Faith. She was a slayer which meant weapons!
Sure enough, Dawn found a rather large stake hiding in a special leg sling under Faith's jeans cuff. Dawn turned to face the little man, stake held up in ready.
"Get away from me! I am not going to be your pawn! I won't do anything for you!"
"There's nothing to do, really. Just stay chained to a wall for a little while. The little man started slowly walking towards Dawn.
Dawn held the stake above her head as she began to back away. "Stay away from me! You will not use me like you used Spike!"
The little man looked confused. "I didn't---Oh!" The little man suddenly began to laugh. "You think--" laughter "You think I'm--" more laughter "You think I'm---The first!" The little man burst into roars of laughter and tiny tears began to run down his cheeks.
Dawn watched the little man with confusion. She was still backing away slowly, stake raised. She didn't see the rippling wall behind her.
The little man, now gasping, wiped tears from his eyes and took some deep breaths.
"Oh, Dawn! I assure you I am no The First. My name is Zeppi. I'm kind of a chaos demon...well sort of....almost like.....okay not really. I freeze time. But one day I hope to become a chaos demon. Sometimes, I freeze time just for fun. Other times, I'm hired by another demon, or a vampire, or a goddess, or whatever else needs me."
Dawn stopped backing away, but still stood ready to strike. Her back was now inches from the wall. Dawn carefully watched Zeppi as he spoke. He had stopped moved toward her.
"Why do you want me then? Did somebody hire you to come and get me? I have the right to know why you came into my house and messed with my friends."
Zeppi grinned. "You're a very smart girl, Dawn. Yes, someone hired me to obtain you. She does not mean you any harm, however. She simply wants you as bait," he said matter-of-factly.
"No way!" Dawn shouted, disbelief thick in her voice.
"Please? It will only be for a little while. I promise." Zeppi took one step toward her.
"No!" Dawn took one step back and touched the wall. "I'm not--"
Before she could finish, something grabbed her from behind and clamped a hand over her mouth, drowning her scream. Dawn tried desperately to get away, but the more she struggled the more hands wrapped tightly around her. Soon it felt as if a hundred hands were squeezing her. She couldn't breathe!
"I'm sorry, Dawn. I didn't want it to happen this way." Zeppi actually sounded sincere. "But I guess this is the way is has to be." Zeppi sighed sorrowfully and talked to whatever it was holding Dawn. "Come, Agri, we must be on our way. Mazilia won't like it if we tarry much longer."
Dawn tried a scream as the hands began pulling her into the wall. Zeppi followed her and Agri with a small frown. Everything went black.
