Chapter Two

As soon as the sun had descended from the sky, Spike herded everyone back in the truck, and off they went. The trip was long and, apart from the radio, very quiet. No one had much to say, each lost in their own thoughts. Illyria and Gunn were delegated to the back seat of the truck, while Layla sat up front with Spike. She spent the most of the trip with her face pressed to the window looking at what she could manage to see in the darkness.

"So where are we going then?" Gunn said, breaking the silence.

"We appear to be going north." Illyria answered, looking at Spike.

"Yup." Spike answered. "Thought we would see the rest of California before we leave it. Also, I wanted to stop by the crater formerly known as Sunnydale. Want to see my handy work so to speak."

Illyria nodded, and Gunn rolled his eyes.

"So where are we then?" Gunn asked.

Spike looked around for a sign, "Not sure really. Wasn't paying attention."

Layla pointed to a sign coming up, "It says, we are 30 miles from San Mateo."

Gunn stomach gurgled. He flushed with embarrassment.

Illyria looked at him quizzically. "I believe Gunn is hungry again."

Gunn looked at her defensively, "Well we have been on the road for six hours!"

Illyria just looked at him. Spike grinned. "Relax kiddies. We'll stop in the next town for the night. San Mateo here we come!"

The hunter ran....and ran...he felt compelled by a drive he had never known. His bruises and cuts burned as the wind hit them. His muscles cried out for a rest he wouldn't give them. It had been three days, and still his body hadn't completely healed from the beating it had gotten. His father had been furious. His mother had been quietly worried, and fussed over his wounds. He hadn't meant to worry them. He honestly hadn't been thinking at all when he rushed off. Run...just keep running... 'Don't fool yourself,' he thought, 'You've been this way for months.' His dreams had been haunted by images both frightening and awesome, and every night he felt the blood boil in his veins. Compelling him to hunt. It frightened him.

He came upon a fence almost as high as him, but he jumped it easily, and kept running. Driven by emotions tightly buried during the day, but always under the surface. He leapt over tombstones, and slowed. He was being followed. He smelt the air, every part of his body tense and waiting. It wasn't a long wait. The demon jumped him from behind, and the hunter fought back with every bit of skill and fervor his eighteen years could give. The demon didn't stand a chance. The hunter looked down, breathing softly. Reason started dawning. This is the tenth demon this week! When did San Matteo become a demon haunt? He had never even seen a demon until a couple months ago. Now all of a sudden his hometown was becoming ridden with them. He scanned the scenery around him, and smelled the air. Nothing. Yet, the feeling of being watched hadn't died with the demon. Prudence, he decided was the better choice, and checked his watch: 10:00; more than enough time to meet up with his friends at Joe's Pizza! He took off at a run.

A figure appeared from around the tree, downwind, with a video camera. He took out a cell phone and spoke, "Yes sir. Subject is performing remarkably. He just took out a Ferral Demon without any weapons." He nodded, "Agreed, more observation is necessary, but contact should happen soon. Yes, I have the video tape. I'll come immediately." He closed the phone, walked to his car, and drove off into the night.