Chapter 39: Fight or Flight

"Shit," Spike swore as he tripped over yet another root. 

Buffy laughed at him, her white teeth flashing in the dark light.  Their trip back to the house was proving to be much more difficult than Spike imagined, for himself anyway.  Buffy seemed to have preternatural vision, avoiding all the gnarled roots, rocks and various other hazards littering the dark ground.  Spike, on the other hand, seemed to have an unnatural knack for finding and tripping over every single thing they ran across.  It irritated him to no end, but Buffy thought his constant trips and near-miss incidents were hilarious.  So Spike put on a happy grin, and even fell a few times when he could have caught himself, all to hear Buffy laugh. 

They continued to plod through the forest at a steady pace.  Buffy found the small road that she had been following earlier, and she and Spike continued down it.  They held hands and joked and kissed and generally ignored the seriousness of the situation.  Sure, they had a serious sociopath after them, and they were lost in the woods, and it was dark, and damn, could anything go right for them? 

The dark thoughts that haunted Spike earlier were coming after him again with a vengeance.  He hesitated to tell Buffy about them for some reason he couldn't fathom, even to himself.  They fluttered though his mind like moth's around a light, ghostly whispers of the dangers lurking about, behind that tree or around the corner from where they now walked.  As a consequence, Spike's grip on Buffy's hand tightened until she cried out. 

"Hey, Spike, ease up.  My hand isn't that delicate but you're about to crush it," she joked, shoving him lightly. 

"Oi, sorry about that, luv.  I just got a little spooked, that's all," Spike said contritely. 

Buffy raised a brow.  "Aww, do you want me to protect you?" she cooed in a falsetto voice. 

Spike shot her a dark look.  The effect of it was lost though, considering that it was nighttime.  "Very funny, luv.  It's not like we're in the park in the middle of the day, can't blame a guy for being weirded out."

Buffy shrugged.  "Well, yeah.   But there are two of us. You know, twice the pleasure, twice the fun?"

Spike cocked a brow.  "I like the sound of that, pet."

Buffy grinned and smacked his arm.  "Filthy mind.  I like that.  But later."

Spike laughed and the two of them continued down the moonlit path. 

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Hidden in the darkness of a tree, Riley watched the blonde duo.  Much like the dark thoughts that possessed Spike, Riley too was haunted.  Voices flitted through his mind like swirls of mist across the ground.  Screams of pain and cries of anguish recoiled through his mind until he cried out and grabbed his head. 

"No, no, no nonono," he cried out. 

His breath sobbed out his lungs.  His lungs were on fire and his eyes watered.  After a few minutes, Riley's mind cleared and his breathing returned to normal.  Gone were the moans of pain and images of blood.  Replaced by a burning obsession and nurtured by madness, Riley's thoughts flew to his golden Goddess.  She could save him, help him, protect him.  All he needed was Buffy.  All that stood in his way was Spike.  With a renewed sense of purpose, Riley strode through the darkness.  He reached the old house and began to plan.  He would win Buffy tonight, or die trying. 

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Buffy's breath wheezed out.  She was so tired.  Bone tired.  All she wanted to do was sleep, sleep with a blanket and Spike and never wake up.  Her body was dragging and her mind cried out for release.  She and Spike had been walking for what seemed like forever.  The last hour was the worst.  As the numbness from blood loss and the cold got to her, Buffy's thoughts began to wander. 

How does the moon stay in the sky?  She giggled at the thought and swayed into Spike. 

Spike raised a brow and wrapped his arm around her body.  He was well aware of Buffy's declining strength, but until they found the house he couldn't do anything.  He had already given her his coat and shoes, but she was still losing blood.  When she started to giggle uncontrollably, Spike became seriously worried. 

"Luv," he said quietly. 

Buffy looked at him.  Her eyes were glazed and distant.  There was no flash of recognition as Spike looked at her.  A goofy smile graced her face, like a happy drunk she threw her arms around Spike. 

"Hi, you.  Where we goin'?" she asked, bouncing on her heels. 

Spike sighed and rubbed his hands down her arms.  "Don't worry, luv, we're going to find the house. Remember?  The house?"

Buffy nodded her head vigorously.  "Uh-huh, yup.  I 'member.  The house with the mouse."  She giggled again. 

Spike rubbed his eyes.  "Sure, pet, the house with the mouse."

As he spoke, they walked around a small curve and it came into view.  Spike almost wept in relief when he caught sight of the imposing structure.  Here was safety from the woods and a chance to help Buffy. 

"C'mon, luv, just a little bit further," he coaxed.

Together, they stumbled like a pair of drunks up the stairs and into the dark house.  Once inside, Spike gently placed Buffy on a sofa and cautiously looked around.  He could see no sign of Riley, but that didn't put him at ease.  Quietly, Spike stalked through the small living room and into the kitchen.  In a cabinet he found bandages and on the counter was some fruit.  Hauling these items back into the living room, Spike began to doctor Buffy's feet.  She ate some apples and a banana.  Spike ate and apple too, wanting to keep his strength up for whatever he might face. 

"Spike," he heard Buffy saw in a quiet voice. 

"Yeah, pet?" he asked. 

"Where are we?" she questioned. 

"Back in the house," he replied. 

She was silent for a moment.  "Spike?"

Spike sat up silently and wrapped his arms around her.  Silent tears coursed down her cheeks as he held her.  They rocked together, Buffy shaking and Spike crooning to her softly.  

After a few minutes, Buffy pulled back with a shaky smile.  "Thanks."

Spike grinned.  "Anytime, ducks."

"What do we do now?" Buffy asked.

"Well, way I see it, we find a phone and call someone to pick us up and get the hell outta here," Spike said. 

Buffy laughed.  "Sounds like a damn good idea."

They stood together and walked toward the kitchen.  Buffy scrounged for more food while Spike searched for a phone.  He found one buried underneath some papers on the table. 

With a feeling of glee, Spike snatched up the phone.  He swore sincerely when he heard nothing.  No dial tone, no indication that the phone even worked.  "Stupid piece of shit!"

Buffy looked up in alarm.  "Now what do we do?"

Spike was about to answer when a blinding pain hit the back of his head.  He stumbled forward and Riley stood behind him, smiling.

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Buffy's heart leapt into her throat.  Raw terror swept though her at the sight Riley made.  His face was caked with dirt and grime.  Rivulets of sweat beaded though and his matted hair stood on end.  All and all, he made a rather grotesque picture of a mountain man. 

"Buffy," he whispered. 

She opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out.  Instead, a strangled cry emanated from deep in her throat. 

Riley stumbled forward, hand outstretched.  His eyes bored into hers, and Buffy forced herself to hold his eyes.  She slowly moved back, hoping to draw him away from Spike.  Her plan worked and Riley followed her through the living room and outside into the darkness.  Once outside, Buffy turned and ran. 

Tears streamed down her cheeks and her legs quivered with fear.  Her breath sobbed out, wheezing and hissing.  Behind her, she could hear Riley behind her, crashing through branches and feet pounding against the ground.  Buffy ran faster and faster, deeper and deeper into the woods.  Logically, she knew that she was making the ultimate heroine mistake, running into the darkness.  She could almost laugh at herself, how often had she ridiculed the girls in movies for doing that exact thing.  Instinct overrode logic, and so Buffy ran. 

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A/N: Wow, I am so sorry.  Between surgery and school, I haven't had the easiest recovery.  If you're still reading this story, I thank you deeply.