AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Suggestions and comments appreciated, as usually. I'm kinda clueless on pairings, so whoever tosses me a few I'll go with it--including a few of my personal favorites, like B/Aus : )

Remember, the timeline is really screwed up--people should be dead when they're not, people should have long left the show, etc. etc…

Learning to Trust
0 Dead; Night 1

The metallic tip of Lindsey's weapon seemed to glow in the near-morning dark. He brought the samurai-like sword down to his face, observing it carefully before turning his gaze towards Connor and Buffy.

Buffy's face grimaced. How could someone kill actually kill someone else? Sure, she killed people--undead people, and demons, but not the regular humans. She had a feeling the stranger with the sword was not like regular people, or at least not as emotional. "You're actually going to participate in this game?"

"It's not like I have a choice," Lindsey answered nonchalantly, acting as if the game of killing were no big deal. I've seen it happen, and I've done and attempted it before. What's to lose?

"You're willing to spill blood?" Connor asked, picking up Buffy's negotiating tactic. "Innocent blood?"

For a split second, Lindsey's eyes flushed. He looked almost normal, or at least sensitive, with sad puppy eyes. Both Buffy and Connor thought there might be a chance to convince him…but the split second ended and his eyes narrowed into dark slits once more.

"Look," Lindsey said, raising his sword down to his waist yet still keeping it at defense level. "I don't know you guys, and you don't know me. Sure, we could get to know each other, but what's the use of that?"

"We could gather a group…try to get out of here…" Buffy babbled, trying to find a way out of the whole situation. God, why'd I have to accept Willow's offer?

"Yeah," Connor said. "Its just a matter of…trust." He lingered on the last word. Connor could admit it to himself--he had a problem with trust. Colts used to tell him it was a one-man world, and with all that Connor had been through, he began to think that was the truth. Could he trust anyone else in the game? He knew he could trust Cordelia, but he had to find her first.

"And plus," Lindsey continued, his stare piercing both Connor and Buffy. "I'm kind of ticked off. I was supposed to be at a W&H meeting, but instead I ended up in this--"

"Wait," Buffy interrupted as Lindsey fixed his tie with his free hand. "Me and a few of my friends met at this place on a lime green flyer. It was advertised as club, uh party place, on the flyer."

Instantly, Lindsey stopped playing with his tie and straightened out his W&H suit. What, did the girl think that he didn't know what a club was? Just because he was well dressed in a gray suit didn't mean anything…

Connor spoke up, feeling Lindsey's tension. "Yeah, same with mine. Or, what one of my friends got from who knows where."

All three of them seemed to stop in time, thinking. Lindsey forgot why he was holding the sword as Buffy and Connor forgot they were under attack. Finally, Buffy spoke up. "Did each of your flyers say 'Battle Royale'?"

Both of the males nodded. "Yeah," Lindsey said. "And isn't that what the Asian guy said? On the speakers? 'Battle Royale'?"

At the thought of that, Lindsey automatically lifted his sword and quickly flowed into a fighting stance. Connor and Buffy took another cautious step back, trying to figure out a way to escape. Buffy thought of a plan, and hoped that Lindsey was as gullible as she thought he was.

As she looked Lindsey dead in the eye, her eyes widened. She crouched down and looked around, acting as if she heard something.

"Shhh," Buffy whispered, keeping her crouching stance. "Behind the bushes."

Both Connor and Lindsey automatically backed away. Lindsey quickly stepped away from both Buffy and Connor's packs. As soon as he was far enough, Buffy went for it. She ran towards the forest green colored bags and grabbed one as she continued to run. Buffy could tell Connor wasn't far behind--he somehow anticipated her move and seemed to be following her. Fortunately for both of them, Lindsey's agonizing yell told them exactly what they wanted to hear: something other than angry footsteps following them.

Buffy ran, Connor right behind her. Tossing her pack over her shoulder, she quickly dodged the trees thanks to years of training and even without her Slayer strength, she knew she would be one of the survivors--if there were any.

Willow's head throbbed frantically as she slowly took in the new information. She could trust these people--they were her close friends. Or maybe even associates; nevertheless, they wouldn't try to kill her. Or would they? So many questions to wonder about…

She thought of Tara then. She was right behind me, Willow thought to herself. How could we have been separated? It must have been drugs…

Willow's thoughts were interrupted by a stranger's scream. It didn't seem like he was in danger--more like a scream of disappointment. Still, she thought it was safe to take precautions. In her head, she estimated the scream being a far enough distance away from her group.

Anya spoke up, ignoring the scream. She probably didn't even hear it. "So we kill each other? That's the point of the game?"

If it were anyone else who said the exact same thing, Willow would have been scared. Only, it was Anya--always pointing out the obvious.

"That's pretty much it, luv," Spike commented, seeming somewhat bored.

"How are we going to get out of here?" Harmony whined, oblivious to the fact of death and blood. "My hair is so going to be ruined if we stay here."

Wesley took that moment to share his opinion. "The announcer said there was no way of escape. But everything has flaws…"

"Y-yeah, that's true," Willow added. "Nothing's perfect. W-we just have to get everyone together, in one big group thing."

"That may be harder than said," Wesley challenged. "I estimate this forest covers a huge amount of ground. For a game of its, ah, nature of death and killing others, the area would have to be slightly large. That way, when it gets down to the last hours, everyone will be forced into one space, since like he said: areas will appear off limits--"

"Then my hair will really be screwed," Harmony sighed. "With the head explosion and all."

"Yeah, that can really kill you," Anya said, sounding serious.

Silence surrounded the group as light slowly poured out of the sun and into the sky. No one except Willow seemed to be worried. She wondered who else would be caught in the deadly so-called game?

"Wesley," Willow said, sparking an idea. "Did you come with anyone else? Wait, what am I talking about--you had to come with someone else. I mean why on earth would you come to a fun, crazy, energetic non-boring people's--"

"Willow!" Wesley said, slightly ticked off. "I think I get the point." He rubbed his chin in anticipation, thinking to himself. "I came with the entire A.I. group, and I'm guessing you came with Buffy and her friends?"

Willow nodded, then looked to Spike who was feeling around in his leather coat jacket for a cigarette box. "Did you follow us here? C-cos I don't remember Buffy saying…"

Spike flashed a successful grin and took out his cigarettes. Lighting one up, he looked to the sky and puffed out some smoke. "No, redhead. I, if you can believe it, got one of these flyers all on my own."

"Me too!" Harmony chirped. "I wonder who else is in the game?"

At the end of Harmony's sentence, everyone quieted. No one seemed to notice as Anya snatched one of the survival packs, hiding it behind her back. Willow turned her head to late, only to see Anya's suspicious smile gleaming under the early-morning sun.

"Wait," Willow whispered to Wesley, the only older adult she could trust besides Giles. Where is that guy, anyways? "So Angel came, too? You don't suppose…"

"No," Wesley said sharply, understanding exactly what Willow's intentions were. "I don't think Buffy's around him. It's a gut feeling, I suppose. But if they are, I know they're concentrating on the game rather than themselves and their feelings."

Harmony frowned. "That's harsh, Wes."

He shrugged in return. "It's the truth."

Angel's eyes were deadly. The thickness of the trees blocked the sun, and for that Angel was glad. Even if the mysterious announcer said no sun could pierce him, Angel wanted to be sure.

Lilah sighed out of no where, trying to gain a little attention. The vampires around her didn't seem to care as she continued to punch in numbers on her cell phone. It was rather funny to watch someone in high heels and a short, light gray suit-skirt on a forest lane stumble every so often, yet still be able to dial a number. Angel would have grinned if he noticed, but his attention was focused entirely on the man ahead of him: his former self, out in the open, for everyone to see. How could it have happened? It must have been some dark magic…but Darla along the side of Angelus himself? None of it seemed possible to Angel.

Angelus, on the other hand, couldn't have been any happier. Maybe he wasn't happy, but extremely amused by Angel's priceless expressions. With Darla wrapped around his finger like a puppet, Angelus' rein of torture was steadily rising. His plans of revenge and irony would be ready--Angelus swore to himself he would not lose this time, and this would be the day when even the fearless Slayer would tremble. A part of him--and also Angel--knew that Buffy was in this fun, twisted game as well.

Should he participate? Slowly pick off Angel and the Slayer's friends one by one, a two-in-one package? Angelus chuckled at the thought; why wouldn't he participate? The sudden noise of laughter caused everyone to turn their head to stare.

"What are you thinking about," Darla mused, sounding more like a sentence than a question. She continued to caress his back with her sharp nails as she waited for the answer.

Angelus said nothing. He probably didn't hear anything she said; his thoughts were too good to be interrupted. Lilah groaned and looked away, trying her cell phone once more and not giving any of the group attention. Darla, on the other hand, continued to massage Angelus.

Angel could tell he was brewing up a plan. Something to get back at him, and maybe even Faith for trapping Angelus in his mind once more. That grin is too twisted, Angel thought to himself. I hope I'll be able to stop him when he chooses his victim.

It seemed as though Angelus heard Angel's thoughts, and he cornered them with his own. You are the victim. Everyone else plays a simple part in my own revenge…but you. You are the key. You will only be able to watch as I burn down those you love--just like you did to me.

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