Lightning streaked across the sky and thunder crashed endlessly! Rain poured as if the sky had opened and let an entire universe sized ocean crash down to earth! The streets began to flood as the storm drains overflowed unable to contain the mass amounts of water that fell from the unforgiving heavens. Water flowed like small rivers down streets and through alleyways, under cars and over fresh green lawns, drowning everything in sight with its icy cool embrace. Water rushed toward Revello Drive and ran head first toward the slayer's abode. The house was dark and seemed as if death has encompassed it with huge, fatal arms. The growing river crashed against the outside steps and onto the porch. Then it began to seep under the door and into the darkness of the house.
Xander sucked his burnt thumb and placed another lit candle with the large bunch on the coffee table in the living room.
Candlelight satiated the room and bathed the slayer in a golden glow. Buffy was laid neatly on the couch, her dead body lying so still and languid against the backdrop of the storm and it's fury outside the large picture window behind the couch. Xander reeled at the sight of the storm, water crashing against the window and causing the young man to wonder if the water was going to swallow the house whole and slowly drown the occupants.
Tara lumbered into the room with another lit candle and placed in on the mantelpiece above the fireplace. Willow was lighting another candle to place in the same vicinity and Dawn was positioning another group of candles on a small table against a back wall opposite Buffy.
Nobody cried.
Nobody mourned.
Everyone was numb with disbelief and misunderstanding. What had this meant? How could they trust him so and let the dangerous creature hang around the one place he was meant to stay away from? It had been their fault and each of them knew it.
Xander trudged over to the couch and slowly covered the slayer with a blanket. Her face was peaceful as he shrouded it gently. Everything seemed heavy, as if a new weight had been heaved onto the shoulders of the slayer's friends and family. The air was tight around them and everything seemed to move in slow motion, yet they themselves seemed to be moving at a fast speed, held up by the dense air.
Dawn crossed the room and knelt next to her sister. She had cried her tears out hours ago. Suddenly something cold brushed the young girl's knee and she squealed.
Willow asked concerned.
Dawn looked down to the floor and her knee. The carpet had been soaked through! Dawn looked past the carpet and onto the wooden floor in the entrance way. A rather large puddle of water formed over the smooth wood and was still growing.
Dawn asked in a very frightened voice.
The carpenter quickly made his way to Dawn and helped her up off the wet floor. Gently handing her to Willow and Tara, Xander walked towards the door and looked fro the leak.
I need a towel--or a blanket! Something to block the door off! Quick! Xander raised his voice as thunder crashed directly overhead and lightning flashed brightening the room for an instant.
Willow grabbed a gray, wool blanket from the couch and threw it at her friend. Xander caught the blanket and immediately began to apply it to the crack below the door. The puddle stopped growing and the carpenter sighed with temporary victory. The young man then slowly stood, his pants dripping from the wetness below.
Suddenly a deafening roar met his ears and the ground began to shake! The door began to bend inward as if under terrible strain!
Willow hollered as water began to spurt from new cracks in the door frame.
Xander looked deep into the eyes of his best friend as the door gave way and a torrent of water rushed in sweeping him off his feet.
***
Spike circled the park stalking his prey. The sexy brunette was walking all alone and well out of hearing range. The nearest ear, besides his of course, was a mile away at least. The vampire grinned with delight and silently crept up behind the tasty little morsel.
Hello there, luv.
The girl jumped nearly out of her skin and turned. A sigh of relief passed through her luscious lips as she eyed the sexy man in leather standing before her. Uh, hi. She grinned slyly.
What's a gal like you doing out here all alone in the dark? Spike stepped toward her and cocked his head to the side curiously.
Well actually, I don't live here. I was supposed to meet a friend but I think I got lost. Her voice was smooth, yet unsure.
Spike decided she probably wasn't lying about the not living here part. She probably didn't have a clue about the danger of the place which made the vampire smile and decide to make his move. Well, I bet if you tell me where you need to go, I can show exactly how to get there. Spike kept his charade on...one more moment.
You would? How sweet! Thank you. She smiled and walked toward him, getting closer to him.
Spike casually waved her ahead like a gentleman would a lady before entering a restaurant. Then he followed her, took in the sultry scent of her perfume, the scent beating below her flesh. You smell simply delicious, pet. Spike spoke half seriously half slyly.
The brunette smiled and swayed her hips. Thank you. It's a new perfume I got from my friend for my birthday.
Spike's eyes narrowed behind teh girl's back and an evil grin formed on his face. It was your birthday then? Well, then I should give you a gift.
The brunette giggled and turned, Oh, you don't have to--- She screamed.
Spike lunged at her, his game face firmly in place. Suddenly he hollered out in pain and retracted like a dog at the end of his leash!
The brunette took the chance to turn and run for her life, leaving the vampire to moan and curse in pain.
UGH! BLOODY CHIP! Spike held his head and growled. This just wasn't working out the way he planned.
***
Dawn screamed as her friend disappeared under the rushing water! Willow and Tara grabbed Dawn and pulled her away from the soggy outburst and moved to the back of the room. All three women could only stare as the water slowly melted away to a small lake on the wooden floor.
Willow called out to the sodden mess but only silence answered her. The young witch bounded towards the calming flood and frantically searched for any sign of her friend.
Tara told Dawn to stay and she went to help her lover search. They found him in a heap leaning against the wall. His eyes were closed and he didn't move. A large open gash on his head told of his collision with the hall table.
Oh my god, Xander! Willow waded to her friend and tried to shake him. The water was cold as ice and she began to shiver. Xander's skin was white as death and even colder as Willow fell to her knees beside him in the water and held him to her breast. Tara had waded in behind Willow and now began to pull her friend away from the drenched form of the young carpenter.
H-He's gone, Willow. W-We have to get out of this water and change before we catch a c-cold. Tara didn't mean to sound so uncaring--the sight of Xander's twisted body made her want to vomit! But right now it was more important to keep her other friends safe until this madness blew over.
Willow cried and tried to fight Tara and hold onto to Xander, but her limbs had begun to numb with the cold and all she could do was watch as her best friend shrank into the distance and then disappear around a corner. Xander, no. Willow's throat closed around the words and she turned and buried her head in Tara's shoulder. She wept with all the frustration and bitter anguish that had welled up inside her since that fierce day when nothing had felt right and all she could do was try to keep her chin up for the sake of all her friends. She could not keep the charade up any longer.
Dawn watched as Tara and Willow rounded the hall corner and fell in a heap on the soaked carpet of the living room floor. Both girls were drenched and shivering, clinging to each other for their lives. Dawn didn't have to see what had happened to know what was going on. The pain in Willow's face was more than enough.
Dawn glanced at the couch and the body of her older sister. Willow had shed the blanket to throw to Xander and now Buffy lay open to all the hurt that surrounded her. Dawn's lower lip quivered and a tear began to fall. She quickly brushed it away and once more trudged to her sister's limp body. It was a sad sad day in the house of the slayer and the air told everyone that it was only going to get worse!
