Spike groaned and opened his eyes.  The pain behind his eyes throbbed and his vision was blurry.  He looked around, trying to remember what the hell happened.  Then, it hit him.  He and Buffy had returned to the house for the phone and supplies.  Then, she screamed and his world went black.  Riley, it had to be Riley.  Why the bloody hell did we come back to this godforsaken house?

Slowly, Spike pushed his way up onto his feet.  The world dipped and spun, but it didn't slide out from under him.  He remained upright for a few moments, getting his bearings and clearing the remaining fog from his head.  Once his head was completely clear, Spike grimly strode out the house.  Death occupied his mind and his dark thoughts centered on one man.  If that motherfucker has touched one hair on her head, I'm gonna kill him. 

Buffy fell and swore.  Her legs felt like rubber from running so much, and her lungs were on fire.  She'd been running for hours and it was taking a toll on her body.  Just need to sit and rest. 

Gasping, Buffy took cover behind a large tree.  Somewhere out there, she knew, Riley lurked.  He was hunting her, methodical and cold.  Wait until the prey exhausted itself then strike.  Well, fuck him, he wasn't getting her.  Her resolve strengthened, Buffy stood up and began to walk.

"I know you're out there, Riley.  You want me? Come and get me you sick fucker!" she screamed. 

Somewhere in the back of her mind, Buffy knew this nightmare would only end one way.  Riley had to die.  He would never stop.  Tragic and almost Shakespeare in nature it was.  Riley seemed so nice on the surface.  What happened to a person to twist them in such a way?  How do people hide their inner demons so well?

Buffy stopped again to catch her breath.  A twig snapped somewhere in the distance.  Immediately, Buffy's heart kicked up a beat and her breath quickened.  She searched frantically for a weapon, settling on a sharp rock.  It was ridiculous, really, and Buffy almost had to laugh at herself.  She was cautiously walking in circles, arm raised, rock in hand. 

"C'mon, you sick sonofabitch!  You don't scare me.  You're nothing but a loser.  A little loser with a crush," Buffy yelled.  She knew taunting the insane man probably wasn't the smartest course of action, but her breaking point was nearing. 

Another twig snapped, closer this time and Buffy's head flew up.  The moonlight glinted off an undeniable peroxide head.  Buffy's heart leaped.  Spike!

"Spike," she yelled and ran toward him.  She was so overcome with emotion, that Buffy didn't think it odd that Spike didn't answer her. 

Buffy ran toward Spike and was almost to him when a second figure jumped out of the shadows. 

Riley tackled Buffy and they both flew to the ground.  Buffy gained her feet first, delivering a swift kick to Riley's face.  

"Spike!" she cried again.  Why isn't he helping me?

The shadows cleared and Buffy felt sick.  Spike was bound to a tree, bleeding from several cuts to his body as well as his face.  His arms were splayed out and his feet bound at the ankles.  A pagan sacrifice to a bloodthirsty god. 

Anger boiled and exploded inside of Buffy.  She turned and faced Riley once again.  Instead of the fear she had felt for so long, she felt nothing.  Icy calm swept over her.  This was it, win or lose, live or die. 

Spike moaned again and opened his eyes.  This was getting a bit ridiculous.  He felt like the fucking damsel in distress, always being caught and getting his ass kicked.  It wouldn't have happened, but he didn't see Riley until it was too late.  The tree branch connected with his solar plexus and all went black. 

He woke when Riley cut him the first time.  Anger in his brown eyes turned them black and evil.  Spike often felt that he'd seen evil before, in the face of some of his clients, but nothing compared to the mask that Riley wore. 

His face was stained with dirt, and his hair stood up like he'd been electrocuted.  His eyes were open and wild, and he slashed at Spike with a ferocity Spike had never experienced.  Whimpers issued from Riley's mouth, along with cries of glee and grunts of pleasure.

Never once did Riley say a word.  He had devolved back into a primal beast.  Not capable of speech, just knowing the pleasure of causing a foe harm.  Once he grew bored with his knife, he used his fists.  Over and over again he rained punches down on Spike's body and face.  After a particularly nasty blow to the face, Spike fell into blessed darkness. 

Now, Spike stained against his bonds as Riley and Buffy fought.  Each time Buffy took a blow, Spike felt it.  She stumbled and fell and Spike cried out with her.

"Luv," he cried, "Let me loose.  Buffy, cut me free," he yelled from his makeshift prison.

Buffy looked back at him, surprise in her eyes.  "Spike?" she yelled, dodging Riley's fist. 

"Yeah, luv.  It's me, get me loose!" he cried. 

Buffy dodged another blow from Riley and made her way back to spike.  Furiously, she grappled with the ties holding him to the tree.  She got an arm free when Riley again tackled them both down to the ground. 

Buffy felt the wind leave her body when she hit the ground again.  Her elation about Spike was short lived and again she was fighting for her life with a madman. 

She twisted out from under Riley and delivered a vicious kick to his kidney.  He howled and hit the ground, but swung out a fist on his way down.  It caught Buffy behind the knee and sent her flying. 

She hit the ground and her entire world went grey.  Stay awake.  C'mon girl, you can do it.  Stay up!  It was a losing battle and Buffy felt the world slide away, little by little.  

Then, strong arms closed around her and she heard Spike's voice.  "Luv?  Buffy, can you hear me?" 

It sounded so far away.  Buffy stained to answer, but she couldn't quite form the words.  A slurred "Spike?" came out. Then her world went black. 

Spike felt Buffy slide away.  His inner demon grinned.  Time to finish it. 

Riley lunged and spike danced away.  His body screamed in pain and spike almost cried out, but fought it back.  No way he was gonna give into the pain until that bloody bastard was dead. 

Their dance continued for several minutes.  Lunging and countering.  Riley got a good hold on Spike one time, and he ground his hand into an open knife wound.  Spike screamed and slammed his fist into Riley's face.  He felt a crunch and knew that Riley's nose was broken.

Riley screamed in pain and retreated back.  Predator was now prey.  Spike followed him. The battle continued until Riley pulled his knife.  He swung out blindly, and Spike knocked the knife from his hand. 

Cornered and wounded, Riley tried again to flee.  Spike grabbed the fallen knife and, in a wide arching swing, plunged the blade into Riley's chest.  Riley's eyes widened with shock and he looked at Spike.  His lips moved, but nothing came out.  Then, a wheezing breath and the tortured Riley Finn was no more. 

Buffy came out of the dark and found herself in Willow's car.  She was lying in the back seat, draped over Spike's bloody body. 

"Spike?" she asked.

Spike looked down at her and his blue eyes lightened into a smile.  "There you are.  Was beginning to wonder, luv."

"Spike, what happened?" Buffy asked. 

As Spike told her of Riley's final moments, Buffy felt tears rise.  "He needed help.  No one helped him."

Spike shushed her.  "No, luv.  No pity tears for Finn.  He was a bastard and got his.  Now, sleep.  Willow's taking us to the hospital."

Buffy rolled her eyes.  "Again?  I hate that place."

This caused Spike to chuckle.  "Me too, luv.  Me too."