Rating:G
Chapter 24 - Kill Will vol. 1
(Tarantino's fans please calm down. This chapter is just another experiment.)
Part 1 - Days of Our Lives
Sunnydale High courtyard, 1996
"Students. It's a great honor and privilege for me to welcome you to the second year of your studies on Sunnydale High. Due to some unpleasant circumstances, I couldn't come here last year to wish you good speed when you first came to this school and I'm afraid words can not express how enthused I was after your director called me and I got another chance to talk to you. I hope you won't see me only as Richard Wilkins, the mayor of Sunnydale and descendant of the founder of this institution, but also as a man who really cares about young people, their education and their future. I think I won't exaggerate when I say your class is the most important of all that ever entered this school. Believe me. During your graduation, you will see history in the making. This is the beginning of a long journey and at its end, none of you standing here and listening to me, will be the same. May the events and decisions shaping your personality make you stronger and prepared for the changes in your life. Good luck to you all."
"That's pathetic." Jesse remarked, watching mayor's performance and hoping he was finished and won't add another lecture about teenage behavior.
"Clap to the crap." Xander smirked, his mind miles away from the school or anything else that had something to do with education. "It's still better then a math class."
"I think it was quite motivating. Don't you think it was motivating?" Willow addressed her friends, munching her favorite pencil and ready to write down the whole speech, but in the end she decided against it. "Especially the part about growing up and changing your personality. I mean who knows what's going to happen in several years ? I mean one day I might wake up and look into the mirror and realize the Willow I used to know is gone and I certainly don't want myself to surprise me this way. And what if something really bad happens and I won't be able to handle it? Like in the end of the last year when we wrote a test and there was a very difficult question and I didn't know the correct answer! I had to guess! I mean guessing is so inaccurate! You can't just keep walking around, guessing results and hope nobody will find out! Guessing is bad."
"Hey Will." Jesse was looking around, trying to locate the object of his interest. "Do you know if Cordelia is here as well?"
"I guess." Willow shrugged.
"Well, I have to apply my new charm on the ice queen." Jesse roused himself to action. "Make her see the real me."
"The real you is babbling and drooling every time the Miss of Bitchverse gets close to you man." Xander tried to talk Jesse out of another useless attempt to ask Cordelia out. "I really don't understand your obsession. I would never hook up with someone who has her attitude."
"Here she comes." Jesse noticed Cordelia walking close to their group. "Hey, Cordelia. Care to join me for some..."
"Excuse me?" Cordelia interrupted Jesse, giving him a cold stare that reduced his self-confidence to zero point. "Who gave you the permission to open your slobbery mouth in my presence?"
"That would be Thomas Jefferson." Willow mumbled quietly, hoping QueenC won't notice.
"Oh please. If he had know people like you will be born," Cordelia observed the group of people she considered a bunch of freaks, "he definitely would have added a few exceptions to the constitution."
"Cordelia. Why don't you get in daddy's car he gave you to make it a bad debt and drive to the nearest hospital?" Xander suggested, hoping she will get the message and leave them alone. "I'm afraid you're in need of an immediate surgery, because your ego is outgrowing the other already improved parts of your body."
"I'm sure you could use some medical help yourself Harris." Cordelia wasn't disturbed by his insult."Too bad the insurance company won't pay you a psychology analysis. On the other hand, we all know what the results would be, don't we?" With a triumphant expression Cordelia stormed away to Harmony and her other friends.
"Is dropping someone accidentally into a cistern full of acid qualified as a murder?" Xander wondered with a dreamy look spreading on his face. "I mean, in her case it would be a favour to the whole society."
"So."Jesse fetched a sight of relief Cordelia was gone and his humiliation didn't last as long as usual. "Fortunately we don't have any more lectures today. I say we check out the new band I heard about. Willow, you're coming?"
"I..uh." Willow muttered, slightly shaking her head. Going out with Xander? Sure. Any time. Listening to heavy metal? Not really her idea of a nice evening. Xander and Jesse will undoubtedly spend the whole time staring at barely dressed girls in leather anyway. Also Amy needed her attention more then the others. "I promised Amy she can visit me this afternoon. Her mother started another diet invasion. We plan to make brownies and load us up with various chocolate goodness."
"Ok. See you tomorrow when another day of teenage terror and indescribable torment begins." Xander smirked, pleased with his description of Sunnydale High.
"You know, most people just call it education." Willow remarked.
"Most people don't have to sit next to Cordelia." Xander shrugged and followed Jesse to the exit. "Have fun with Amy."
----
Willow put another couple of brownies on her plate and returned back to the living room where Amy was waiting for her. Willow's parents were on a business trip to L.A. so Amy and Willow could use the whole house. They had spend most of the afternoon talking about pretty much everything, though Willow carefully avoided the theme 'our parents', because she doubted Amy was ready to criticize her mother in Willow's presence. Willow was glad she didn't have to go through the same problems, however sometimes she felt a little envious her parents didn't pay attention to her at all. Willow doubted her mother would notice she gained thirty pounds until she couldn't fit in the door.
"Here you go." Willow handed the plate with brownies to Amy and sat down on a sofa next to her. "What's on TV?"
"A live report from a heavy metal get-together." Amy shrugged, pretending the news were boring and continued with a perfectly neutral expression. "They just showed how the police arrested Xander and Jesse, because they had danced naked in front the local McDonald, singing a remix of 'We are the champions'."
"What?" Willow forgot all her previous thoughts and ran to the screen, but couldn't recognize the two men who were manhandled into the police car. "Very funny."
"Gotcha." Amy smirked, seeing Willow's reaction."Still into Xander huh?"
"Me and Xander?" Willow fruitlessly tried to avoid blushing. "You're so out of line. We broke up after the Barbie thing. I mean it's not like we've ever dated. He is a friend! A dark haired, brown-eyed, handsome, male friend I like. I mean friend like not boyfriend like, which is good! There is nothing bad about liking your friend you know. No boy-friendliness here. It's boyfriend-free zone. Anything else in the news?", Willow quickly changed the subject.
"The police found another dead girl in Weatherly Park." Amy got serious. "That's the third this month. She had small bite marks on her neck and arms and according to the newscaster there was no blood in her body.",Amy shuddered, remembering the pictures. "What kind of psycho could do this?"
"I have no idea, but I've read about a similar case in L.A. a few months ago. Plenty of students died during a ball in Hemery High and they all had the same symptoms. Of course I don't believe everything I read in tabloids, but this case is just too familiar. I mean what if the guy responsible for the murders in L.A moved to Sunnydale? He could be passing by our house right now!" Willow's eyes got a little wider while she franticly searched the room for anything unusual. "Perhaps we should check the locks again and barricade the doors ... and plank the windows ... and earth up the cellar ... and choke up the chimney. I have enough food for both of us for six days. The water is ..." Willow's expression changed from worried to terrified. "What if he poisoned the water?"
"Willow!" Amy bit her lip to restrain herself from laughing."Please calm down. There is no serial killer obsessed with your water supply out there."
"That's what you think." Willow disagreed, marching nervously around her armchair, watching suspiciously every shadow that dared to move. "And then somebody knocks on the door and introduces himself as an agent from an insurance company and of course you let him in, because he'll look like a guy from an insurance company and then the next day my parents return and we'll both be dead and I certainly don't want to explain my mom why there are two corpses watching television in her living room. Ok, that probably won't happen, but it's not save out there. What do you think?"
"I think I'll check the ingredients in those brownies." Amy chuckled, giving Willow an amused look. "We're not in Amsterdam."
"Ok, I admit I overreacted." Willow calmed down a little and even managed to stay on one place for more then two seconds. "Still, don't you sometimes feel there is more to this city then it seems? I heard people talking. They said this place is evil."
"Well, my dad used to say mom is evil, but I guess that's just a typical marriage thing." Amy shrugged. "At least we both know we're the good guys, right?"
----
In a swirl of the typical violet lighting effects Willow's Pel'tak jumped out of hyperspace and cloaked to hide from the Goa'uld sensors. Willow was aware sooner or later her ship will be detected. To be more specific, she was counting on it. She erased all ship's logs and with a small movement of her hand she set the reports she had read before on fire, leaving nothing but a few grains of ash. Now only one more thing had to disappear - herself. The air surrounding her began to crackle, small lighting bolts flashing near her skin and Willow's body was gone, however her mind still controlled all ship's functions. The transport decloaked and floated seemingly freely towards Anubis's space station.
Part two - First wave
Sunnydale, 1998, Amy's POV
I wonder what dad or even my with cheerleading obsessed mother would say if they knew where I'm heading right now. Dad would probably freak out and give me a long lecture about being young and confused, but I can't deny it anymore. I'm a witch and I want to control my powers. I burned my left arm during a fire spell one week ago, which made me realize I'm not immune to my own experiments and according to the vampire I met in Bronze, there is only one guy in this town who can help me. Rack. So I decided to visit him. What do I have to lose?
I walk down one of the many dark and muddy streets to the corner where Rack's place is located tonight. When I reach it, I can't see any signs of a door or other entrance. Frustrated I look around and I'm ready to leave when a cold arm touches my shoulder. I spin round quickly, thinking of an offensive spell to get rid of anyone who dared to attack me, but the guy just stands there with his hand opened and smirks when he notices how scared I am.
"I'll show you the way inside for twenty bucks.", he offers. "The first time it's always hard to find."
"I've already been here several times." I try to sound self-confident, but the sentence comes out more like a pleading and I give him the money.
"Sure." the man chuckles shortly and then takes my hand. "And I'm a vampire with a soul."
He pulls me towards the empty space of the alley and the air feels suddenly much hotter then usual. The man continues walking forward, the air rippling around him and his form begins to disappear. I follow him through the invisible barrier, my body shivering with cold and sweating at the same time. The room we enter is quite small, equipped with a sofa and some old and dusty chairs. Wow. I heard the place is cloaked, but I certainly didn't expect it to be hidden so well.
The door to the next room opens and a tall man with brown shoulder-length hair comes into the room, looking at me and the scar on his face twitches.
"I was here first." The guy who showed me the way inside goes forward, but Rack ignores him, staring at me. "Ladies first." Rack takes my hand in his own and we leave together to his room.
I see a single sofa and a wooden table in the middle and wonder what will come next. Rack doesn't say a word and just keeps watching me, which is beyond creepy. For the first time I hesitate if coming here was such a good idea. The magic in this place is different then my own, though it seems strangely familiar. The last time I felt the same way was before Buffy used my mother's curse against her.
"Oh. Yes." Rack breaks the silence, realizing what I'm thinking about. "She was here a few times. I always warned her about using spells she can't handle. Make sure the same won't happen to you. I suppose you came here to ask me where she is, little Amy?"
"No." I shake my head without hesitation. "Wherever she is, she deserves to be there. I want to learn how to control my spells."
"You know the prize?"
"Yes." I nod. I've been told he'll require part of my own powers.
"You're sure?" Rack chuckles. His question had much deeper meaning - many people who came to him simply couldn't handle what he was able to offer and the consequences were ... well, he has never cared about the consequences. It wasn't his fault the customers couldn't deal with the effects, was it? "So, let's see how much you can take, little Amy."
He puts his hand under my collarbone and slight sparks of magic start to flicker between my skin and his finger tips. I close my eyes and let out a soft moan, giving into the sensation, which quickly takes over my whole body. I imagined the feeling will be cool, but this surpasses any of my expectations. It's like all molecules in my body connected and created a unity more powerful then anything I experienced before. The nervousness and insecurity melts away with Rack's touch and is replaced by a new-found self-confidence. I don't understand why was I scared of coming here. 'High risk; you don't know what the guy could do to you; high prize to pay' and all that bullshit is forgotten. Fortunately. The preaching part of my mind obviously has no idea what it is talking about.
I'm not sure how long I've been there. Seconds. Minutes. Hours? Does it matter? Rack's words seem so distant and I suddenly find myself in the ally where the entrance to his house was. I remember Rack mentioning something about a gift to his Little Amy. 'Little Amy', I giggle, walking down the street, observing the people around me. Like I'm some kind of child. Is he really so stupid? I'm a witch! I have more power then my mother could ever dream about. I'm the most powerful witch in this town and Rack will make me even stronger. I can feel the spell he cast burning below my skin, asking to be released. I see a boy in my age strolling along the ally and decide to give it a try. Why the hell not?
"Hi." I approach the guy, tossing the various possibilities in mind. Better start with something simple. "Do you know what time is it?"
"I'm sorry, I don't have a watch." , he replies, prepared to leave.
"Do you want to buy this one?", I pick up a piece of aluminium I see lying on the ground and look deep into his eyes, using the spell for the first time. "I bought it during my trip to Switzerland."
"Wow. It's beautiful.", the guy admires the metal sheet I showed him. "But I have only 90 dollars.", he quickly starts searching his pockets, looking desperate he can't offer more.
"That's fine, I'll take what you have.", I grab the money and rush away, leaving him to inspect his new 'watch'. I wonder when will the spell wear off and he'll realize he spent 90 bucks for a piece of trash. I head home, speculating about other usage of Rack's gift. Entering the house, I almost bump into my dad, who is standing by the stairway with his arm crossed. It seems he has been waiting for me for quite some time by now and certainly isn't happy I was gone the whole day.
"It's late.", he eyes me suspiciously. "Where have you been? I was scared."
"I was in the library." I try to look innocent, keeping the eye contact and pick up an empty sheet of paper. "This is the book a borrowed."
"Oh, you were in the library.", my dad nods, smiling at me. "I see you borrowed a new book. What is it about?"
"Power." ,I grin, putting the paper into my bag."It's all about power."
----
Willow materialized near the main reactor of Anubis's base and carefully opened the case containing the control crystals for power supply and security systems. Sneaking into the stronghold was easy, because the sensors couldn't detect her as long as she kept her incorporeal form and she was lucky there were currently no Jaffa guarding the core. Not that their presence would change anything. "Flux", she whispered and both stones melted, destroying the socket they were attached to in the process, so that nobody will be able to replace them. Then she went to a terminal with data about the station and sank her fingers into the keyboard. Soon she found out the set wasn't there, however she stumbled over another interesting information. Amy. Willow smirked, extracting her fingers from the board, her eyes now completely black.
Part three - Crossing Jordan
Lindsey stepped aside to free the way for a large wooden crate his subordinates dragged towards an abandoned Goa'uld temple he chose for the resurrection ritual. It has been more then five years since he witnessed a similar spell, losing his arm to Angel in the process, but the memories were still fresh like it happened the previous day. The movers placed the crate to the middle of the hall between two golden columns where a sarcophagus used to lie centuries before and stepped back to give Lindsey and the monks enough space to perform the ritual. Lindsey took the completed set and put it on the top of the crate.
"Five breaths will be taken to make one breathe.", three monks in brown capes began to chant, walking around five gagged men who were chained to the crate.
From Lindsey's point of view, the experiment with Darla was a fault that almost cost him his life. He couldn't deny he had some feelings for her and she was the main reason he left his lawyer career and abandoned Wolfram&Hart. In the beginning he had actually believed he was free and they had forgotten about him. Foolish. The only way to leave the firm was to die and even that often didn't help. The spell the monks were ready to cast was a proof that there was no place to hide. Of course without the power of all the artifacts it wouldn't work, but Lindsey was sure there were other ways to make him pay for his lack of loyalty.
"Five souls will vanish to make one appear."
However the power of the set had to be tested before they try to open a large portal between dimensions and a violation of the natural order was the best way to make sure they were ready. This will be much different then bringing back Darla from the dead. Darla hated and despised Angel for killing her and admired Angelus at the same time. The woman he was about to resurrect had no reason to hate slayers and Angel's band of good-doers, yet Lindsey was sure he will be able to persuade her if he uses the correct approach. One way or another, she will obey Wolfram&Hart or her return to the land of the living will be a very short one.
"Five will bleed to make one heal. Five will burn to crush the seal. Five will perish to make one real.", the monks stopped and raised their hands. "No matter if she is in heaven or hell, five will die to finish the spell."
The monks and everyone else felt the earth shake and the five human sacrifices writhed in agony, unable to scream as their clothes caught fire. For a few seconds the flames illuminated the temple and then all fire was sucked inside. A ring of blue light spread from within the crate, throwing everyone to the ground. Lindsey was the first to stand up and carefully walked to the grilled opening, looking at the shivering figure inside.
"You don't have to be afraid." Lindsey tried to get her attention, but the woman ignored him and just kept staring at the side of the crate in front of her, her whole body shaking.
Lindsey wasn't surprised by her lack of interest in communication with him. She probably didn't have many opportunities to improve her talking skills where she came from. Also being raised from the dead tends to make people a little cranky, especially before lunch. There will be enough time to prepare her and use her weak state to shape her personality later.
"Take her to my ship." Lindsey ordered, thinking about his next move. He has just gained a powerful weapon against the SWC. The question was how to use it.
----
Willow was about to leave the reactor control room when she heard footsteps behind her. She turned to face her attacker, muttering a silencing charm.
"K.." the Jaffa wanted to speak, but when his mouth opened no words came out. Without thinking about the reason, he pulled the trigger on his staff to fire at Willow. The blast left his weapon, but it hit only a bluish energy shield in front of her. Before the soldier had a chance to fire again, Willow waved her arm and the weapon flew away from his hands. The Jaffa tried to speak once more, with the same result as previously. His lips moved, but no sound could be heard.
"It's hard to call for reinforcements without your voice, isn't it?" Willow smirked mischievously, creating another spell to prevent him from moving and attacking her with his knife. "Too bad you guys don't use cell phones. If I were you I'd send an SMS - something like: I'm in a deep shit."
Willow walked to the Jaffa and took away his knife and zat."Now be a good boy, call the others and tell them they should send all soldiers to the north sector, because there are intruders. You try to warn them and you'll be dead before you finish the first word." Willow canceled the charm and gave him his transmitter.
"Jaffa Kre! A witch in the rea..."
Willow snapped her fingers and the Jaffa's spine cracked, his body falling to the ground. She eyed him for a while with a neutral expression and then shrugged. "I thought I made it clear." She took his zat and shoot him three times to cover her tracks and then left to the south sector to find Amy.
Part four - Girlfriends
Kennedy entered the room she shared with Willow, wondering where her girlfriend was. Willow missed the dinner as well as the last meeting with SG-1, which was more then just a little strange, because Willow had never missed an opportunity to discuss Goa'uld technology with Carter before. She noticed a DVD disc lying on the desk, labeled 'Kennedy'. She smiled and put it impatiently into the player. It had been exactly two years since her first date with Willow and Kennedy had prepared a romantic evening for them, but it seemed Willow was one step ahead of her. She pressed 'Play' and sat down to watch the message.
"Kennedy." Willow's form appeared on the screen, the hardness of the decision she had just made still imprinted on her face. "When you'll see this message I'll be already gone. The reason why I had to leave is complicated and I hope you'll understand I didn't have any other choice. In my life, I made many mistakes and most of them can not be undone. An hour ago I found out there is another problem I am responsible for, however this time I have the power to change it. The spell awakening all new slayers destroyed the balance and the only way to save our planet is to ensure only one slayer will stay alive. You can ask Giles, Buffy or Dawn for details, but for me the most important part is the fact that restoring the balance means losing you and I can't let that happen. If I regain the Scythe I'll cancel the calling of all slayers except Buffy. I know it was your dream to become a slayer and I really wish you were The One to continue the line. You are one of the strongest women I've ever met and perhaps one day you'll be called again and lead the other potentials in our fight. I wish I could be there when it happens."
"The second part of the prophecy says I have to die to save the others. Right now, you're probably thinking about various possibilities how to stop me so I have to ask you for a last favour. Please don't. Many years ago, when I did my first spell I knew there will be consequences. I won't try to pretend I'm not scared, I won't try to pretend I'm ready to die, because I'm not. There are many things I hoped for, many things I wanted to experience ... with you. Two years ago I didn't believe I'll be able to love someone again and then you appeared and everything changed. I think you don't realize how much you've changed me."
"You told me once, you'd like to see the 'scary Willow' and at that moment I promised to myself you never will. We can both act like the darker part of me is gone, but we both know it's still hidden inside me, waiting to be released. I can't win this fight without losing control, that's why I can't take you with me. I'm afraid that no matter if I succeed or not, the Willow you used to know will never return. Buffy once told me destiny is something you can't chose, so you should do the best with what you have. I know I made some wrong decisions in the last two years, but there is one thing I'm sure of. You. Thank you for being the light that helped me defeat the darkness inside me, the one who encouraged me every time I thought I've lost. I love you Kennedy. That's the one thing that will never change."
The screen went black as the message ended, leaving Kennedy speechless. She raised her hand, touching a photograph of her and Willow that was lying on the table in front of her, running her fingertips along the features of her girlfriend. Girlfriend? Willow was much more then that.
"I love you too.", Kennedy hold back tears. "That's why I can't let you die." Taking Willow's DVD out of the player she rushed to Giles's office. He had a lot to explain and Kennedy knew she didn't have much time to catch up with Willow.
Part five - Judging Amy
Amy was walking through one of the medium-sized halls of the station when she heard a slight cracking behind her. Without showing any signs of surprise she turned around to find Willow standing right in front of her. She expected to see hatred or despite, but Willow's face lacked any emotions. There was only a glimpse of ... boredom?
"So you finally decided to show up." Amy greeted her former friend.
"Where is the Scythe Amy?"
"You don't waste time, do you?" Amy remarked, eyeing carefully Willow's every movement. She knew Willow won't kill her before she reveals the location of the headquarters, where Anubis kept the set, but there are many spells that hurt the victim without killing it.
"Tell me what I want to know and I'll let you go." Willow stated, her face still blank. "You know you alone can't defeat me."
"Lucky me. I don't have to." Amy replied, watching a place behind Willow where six figures dressed in black cloaks appeared and proceeded slowly towards Willow, circling her, chanting in Latin. "Surprised?", Amy smirked when Willow noticed the other witches.
"Not really." Willow shrugged. If she was scared then she knew well how to cover it. "I knew you couldn't steal the Scythe alone. I just didn't expect it was Wolfram&Hart who helped you."
"Arrogant and underestimating my powers as usual. Even in the moment when you see you will lose, you won't admit I have the upper hand. Why? Because your mind simply isn't able to acknowledge the fact you could be defeated by someone like me." Amy stepped back and joined the circle of the other witches, chanting the same incantation. "Good bye Willow.", she added.
"Good bye Willow.", Willow whispered, waiting calmly for the attack. Each of the seven witches took the hand of her neighbor, connecting their powers. A circle of red light formed in front of them in the height oh their eyes with Willow in it's center. Willow didn't flinch, observing the light approaching her without any attempt to defend herself. The radius of the circle slowly decreased and when it reached Willow the witches finished their chanting and the light shot into Willow's body.
Willow felt the energy penetrate her and spread through her torso. Knowing what will follow, she didn't fight it. The red in her hair disappeared and was replaced by black, dark veins covered her arms, legs and finally her face as well. Willow looked at Amy, bolts of energy cracking between her fingers and her expression changed from neutral to amused. The only thing Amy could do was watch her six companions fall to the ground dead.
"Whoops." Willow smiled, faking surprise. "I guess this wasn't part of the plan, was it?"
"What did you do?", Amy wanted to teleport out of the hall, but realized her own magic was gone.
"An simple protection charm. Well, it's simple for someone with my abilities. It turns around the effect of an offensive spell." Willow explained. "So instead of losing my strength I gained new power from you and the cloaked bitches from Wolfram&Hart. I have to tell you, it's been a long time I felt so good."
"So this is the Evil Willow I heard so much about? I admit you are the complete opposite of the Willow I used to know."
"Opposite?" Willow laughed. "Oh please. Don't be so naive. Good and Evil aren't opposites, they are identical. They're subjective. What's good for me is evil for you and vice-versa. The ideals and principles you hold dear might seem crazy and evil to someone raised in a different country and culture. Anyone who believes he's a good guy only because of his morality is so out of line as the bookworms who wrote all the religious crap, thinking their opinions are the best for everyone just because they stuffed up their minds with more volumes. You're weak and I'm strong, which means I define what's good and what's evil and right now I decide you have one minute to tell me where the Scythe is."
Amy tried to escape from the hall and alarm the guards, however after she made the first few steps, she fell to the floor, screaming in pain, her legs unable to support her. She wasn't sure what happened, but she felt she didn't have the strength to stand up again.
"Your teleportation spell is really a funny thing to cast." Willow remarked, observing Amy's condition. "In case you wonder what are the two rods hovering close to the window - that would be your shin-bones. My offer still holds. Give me the information and I'll heal you and let you go."
"You won't escape." Amy managed to rasp out. "The Jaffa and demons guarding this base will soon be here."
"You're sure?" Willow replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm afraid this hall is the only place in the station with functional life-support system. I realized this place smells so I decided to give the rooms an airing. Also the heat generators are off line and I heard it's quite easy to catch a cold in February, especially when you are in a space station two billion miles away from the nearest sun. So?", Willow crouched next to Amy. "What's your decision?"
"Tartarus. The coordinates are in my PDA." Amy sighed, giving up the fight, looking Willow straight into the eyes. "Do you really want to destroy it? Don't you see killing the slayers is the only way to save the Earth?"
"The only thing I see is a weakling, begging me to spare her pathetic life she doesn't deserve and I can't understand how Willow could be a friend of someone so pitiful and unworthy like you. You messed up my life for the last time Amy. Enjoy your stay. It will take hours before the air in this hall will get cold enough to kill you so I wonder if you freeze to death or die because of the inner bleeding." Willow stood up, taking Amy's PDA.
"Wait!" Amy shouted, realizing Willow was about to let her die. "You said you'll heal me and let me go!"
"Well." Willow shrugged, without showing any sign of compassion. "I guess that makes me a liar."
Willow teleported to her ship, leaving Amy swearing and yelling into the empty space of the hall. She started the engines of her Pel'tak and left the base and it's personnel to their fate.
After Willow had teleported away Amy realized she was probably the last survivor on the station. She crawled slowly towards the nearest communication terminal, hoping Willow didn't switch off the connection between this base and Tartarus. She knew they were too far away to save her, but she would be damned if she let Willow get away with her death so easily. When Willow comes to Tartarus, they will be ready for her. Also doing a favor to Anubis and Wolfram&Hart meant they might use a sarcophagus or a spell to resurrect her later. She activated the computer and checked the status. Most halls were filled with vacuum, the emergency locks were opened. The temperature in the rooms with air was bellow 200 Kelvin (-100 Fahrenheit) and still decreasing. Amy switched on the communication and Lindsey's face appeared on the screen.
"Amy what happened?" Lindsey eyed Amy's condition, wondering what could hurt her in one of the best protected places in the galaxy.
"Willow." Amy mumbled, trying to fight the pain in her legs and stay conscious. "I couldn't stop her."
"And the others?"
"Dead. She used a spell to gain our powers and then killed them. She disabled the shield, opened the emergency locks and most of the air was sucked outside. Then she switched off the power generators and the rest of the crew froze to death. Also I think she accessed our computers before she attacked me."
"I'll inform Anubis and the senior partners. You can be sure your sacrifice won't be of no avail. Wolfram&Hart will do anything to bring you back." Lindsey assured her. "Do you know where she is heading?"
"Tartarus." Amy nodded, closing her eyes. She was too tired to keep them open. The two of them kept talking for another five minutes, Lindsey promising he will do anything in his power to save her, until Amy was so exhausted she couldn't form words anymore. She ended the transmission, switching off the computer and leaned against the wall to rest. It is said people see their whole life in the last seconds before they die, but Amy remembered only the moments that changed her the most. The images of her mother swapping their bodies and Buffy saving her, creating her first spell, meeting Rack, her three years long rat career, her choice to join Wolfram&Hart. She felt the temperature in the hall decrease rapidly. Opening her eyes for a while, she could already see the vapor condensing when she breathed out. She didn't want to sleep. Not yet. But the will to stay awake was sinking faster then the temperature. Before she closed her eyes for the last time, she couldn't help thinking about the last matter she discussed with Lindsey during their previous conversation. It was one simple question.
"One more thing." Lindsey asked thoughtfully. "Is she aware Tara is alive?"
End of Volume One.
A/N In case you wonder what exactly was so experimental on the chapter, here is The cliché list of Volume 1:
-Mayor's speech-pretty much a copy of the speech in Graduation day, I'm sure you noticed.
-Willow saying she can't imagine she would become evil
-The beginning of Amy beeing addict - a dark street, a guy who shows her the way, the power she felt afterwards, Amy lying to her dad-it couldn't have been more straightforward. And of course the stolen line in the end.
-The ritual bringing Tara back-I don't know why the incantation always have to rhyme, but because they do, so does this one.
-Part four-the soap opera Willow-No comment needed.
-Willow's lecture about good and evil - The evil masterminds simply can't keep their mouth shut and have to spend the most critical moments talking.
-Amy crawling to the nearest computer to tell Lindsey about Willow - Another bad guy habit. They never just die, they have to annoy the heroes to the very end.
-Amy remembering her life before she died - I wanted to add a tunnel with a train, but that would be really too far over the edge :-)
-The stolen last line of the whole chapter.
-All chapters are named after TV shows. I case you wonder how much they have in common with the shows, the answer is I have no idea, because I haven't seen a single episode from any of these shows. They didn't air in the country where I come from.
Please review. Which parts you liked/disliked? I hope you managed to read through the chapter without being mad at me. This is simply something I wanted to try.