Have Faith Pt 9/?

Faith cautiously poked her head into the young girl's bedroom. I know you have this thing about me--and I'm totally cool with it--but there's this thing going on and maybe we should just--

Faith stopped and listened. Spike tromped up behind her and she motioned for him to be quiet. Faith tentatively stepped into the bedroom, Spike followed right behind.

The room was quiet. Too quiet. A notebook lied open on the end of the bed, a closed textbook lying halfway on top. A chewed pencil sat next to the books. It was sharp and ready to use. The small window was open a crack, the curtains fluttering in a soft breeze. Everything else was neat and tidy. Everything in its place.

Wow! The li'l sis is a real neat freak! Faith said softly. B' was never like this. She always had stuff on the floor, weapons hidden around, it was a mess. I remember--

It was Spike's turn to motion for silence. Vampire didn't move. Slayer didn't move. Something else did.

Turning around, Faith breathed with a sigh of relief. Hey! B! We were just looking for you. Something strange is going on.

Spike moved in front of Faith and slightly held out his arm, motioning for her to stay behind him. That's not Buffy.

*******

Xander slowly descended the recently well used basement stairs. Hello? Buffy? Xander paused, When only silence responded, the slayer's friend began to look around.

The cot the vampire slept on was empty and it's one blanket was lying in a crumpled heap on the floor. A small glass with droplets of an orange liquid sat on the floor just under the cot. The small table Xander had made for Buffy, now stood a short distance away from the cot. Xander remembered Buffy bringing it down for Spike's things. It stood empty.

Finding nothing to help with the mystery, Xander decided to resume his search in the kitchen. Turning around he headed for the stairs. Suddenly, something caught his eye just underneath the staircase. Walking towards it he noticed it was a small plastic alarm clock! Picking it up, he saw the tiny pink hands moving with rhythm around a baby blue clock face with purple numbers. Hardly his color. Xander thought aloud as he started towards the kitchen once more.

Willow met Xander in the kitchen just as he was shutting the basement door.

I didn't find anything unusual upstairs. There were a few things out of place, but hardly enough to suggest something wrong might have happened. A few school books on Dawnie's bed, a few clothes on on the floor in Buffy's room, nothing totally screaming we need help'! Willow paused and looked at the frustration on her friend's face. What about you?

Nothing. Just a blanket on the floor, a glass that I'm guessing once carried orange juice, and this clock. Xander held it up for his friend to see. Nobody's down there and Spike's things are gone. Normally I would suggest that he did something baddish, grabbed his things and took off laughing. But knowing Spike lately? I'd just say he's missing as well.

Wait. you found Spike's blanket in a heap and an orange juice glass.

Xander replied although it was more of a question than an answer to one.

Buffy took some orange juice this morning when she went to see Spike. Knowing Buffy, she would have brought the glass upstairs and put it in the sink when she was finished. And Spike would never throw his stuff on the floor. He would have folded it before he left, unless he left in a great hurry. I know it sounds like nothing, but it is something. If only I knew what.

So what are you saying, Will? That they left in a great hurry? We already knew that. But why did they? Xander was waving the alarm clock around while gesturing.

Willow's face brightened. The clock! It's Dawnie's! I noticed it was missing from her room, but I didn't think it was something to mention. I just thought she might have gave it to one of the girls to use.

Okay, again with the what are you saying'?

What if Dawnie was visiting him when this all happened? She could have dropped the clock when she was swished away to wherever she is at!

Xander shook his head. Dawn doesn't visit Spike down there. It's like Buffy's forbidden her to see him or something.

As if Dawn has always listened to Buffy? Willow asked with some frustration.

Okay then, why would she have a clock with her?

Willow's mouth turned into a slight frown. I don't know.

Well, after all that we are right back where we started. Now what-- Suddenly Xander became quiet and his eyes went wide.

Willow began to say something but Xander motioned for her be quiet and stay as he placed the alarm clock on the counter and left the kitchen. Unsure, Willow did as she was told.

After a few moments of an eerie silence, Willow heard Xander call her from the living room. Willow quickly found her way to where Xander was standing facing a wall.

Uh, Will? Instead of explaining with words, he simply pointed at the wall and stepped back for her to see.

Willow gasped as she saw the silvery ripples and the tiny slithering tendrils reaching out, motioning for Xander to follow,

Do you suppose this had anything to do with the wind or the whisper? Xander asked. His voice kind of hit a high note.

What wind? What whisper? Willow asked.

That wind! The wind that just blew through here, strong enough to blow a building down, but didn't move anything!

I-I didn't feel a wind, Xander. Are you sure? Willow asked meekly.

Did you hear the whisper? Xander asked, panic coating his words. Please tell me you heard the words. When Willow only frowned, Xander knew she had not. Okay. This is getting very creepy.

Suddenly, one of the tendrils lashed out and tried to grab Xander. He jumped out of the way just in time.

Hey! Back off! I'll come when I'm ready! Xander huffed.

The tiny tendril backed away a little and seemed satisfied to wait.

Willow looked ready to pounce as she watched the silvery tendrils move like the arms of an octopus. What do you mean come when I'm ready'? You're not going in there are you? WIllow asked, her voice quivering. You can't go in there! It's a portal to another place! You don't know what's on the other side or if you'll even come back! Willow had begun to panic.

I have to, Will. The whisper--it's telling me to come'. I have to go! Buffy's in there--I can feel it!

Willow glanced at the portal and frowned. Slowly, however, she nodded. But I'm coming with!

Xander nodded in approval. Okay, but I'll go first just in case the thing on the other side isn't as pretty as you. With a small smile and a deep breath, Xander walked through.

Caught off guard by the comment, Willow blushed and was slow to follow her friend. Hurrying to follow, Willow tried to understand why she hadn't heard the whisper or felt the wind. She knew Xander didn't just see or hear things that weren't there.

As soon as Xander's back disappeared into the silvery, rippling mass, Willow rushed to walk through. Tentatively she reached out with her hand and touched the doorway to a mysterious, maybe even dangerous, unknown place. Instead of going through, however, her hand met something solid.

Willow whispered in desperation.

Frantically, the witch felt around the entire mass and tried to walk through to catch up with her friend. Each time she met a solid wall. The silvery curtain began to separate in the middle and pull away from itself, slowly, until it was gone. A normal white wall remained.

Willow cried. She pounded on the wall with her closed fists.