Something felt wrong from the moment she stepped off the plane. Though the sky was clear, it felt as though a dark cloud loomed over the city of Detroit, hovering just out of reach. Yet, at any moment, that cloud could swoop down and blanket the city in darkness and evil. Walking from the airport to the waiting limousine, Faith felt a shiver. Goosebumps crawled up her arms.

During the ride to the arena, she kept her attentions focused outside, staring out the tinted windows. Conversation flowed all around her, but she wasn't paying any attention. She watched people moving by and wondered if any of them were the reason for the cold that slid up her spine. Did one of those innocent looking people have a plan for that night that could be put in the category she somehow knew to be "Big Bad?"

She knew that it wasn't vampires. That was an entirely different feeling. When vamps were around, her stomach twisted in knots and she felt nauseous. This was almost an ache behind her eyes. She could massage her temples until her fingers went through her skin but it wouldn't do any good. Nothing would stop it until the disaster was averted.

Faith felt somewhat guilty. She was planning to hide from the whole thing, when all her senses told her that she should be out there trying to find it. She shouldn't have been trying to get herself ready to cut a promo or wrestle Victoria. She shouldn't have been thinking about what she and Dave were going to do once she was sure everyone would stay inside. She was special, and that meant going out there to face the Big Bad and making sure that no one else was hurt.

But right then, the only way she could think of doing that was to stay inside with them. Even if the others listened, Dave would have followed her. Dave had spent all the nights since their first vampiric encounter trolling the streets with her and there was nothing she could do outside of knocking him unconscious that would stop him. By the time Dave found her, he would have everyone else with him, and then they'd all be in danger. How could she fight if she were constantly worried about others?

She thought that maybe that was why she had been alone before. Maybe she knew that being close to people only got them hurt, or worse, and had therefore pushed everyone away. It seemed like a lonely life, and although the idea made sense and had merit, it wasn't a life she wanted to go back to. She never wanted to remember it fully because her partial memories clouded her new life enough.

"Faith!" She jumped in the seat and turned with blinking eyes to Trish. "We were saying that we would humor your need to stay in tonight and have a party. You can keep at least three girls safe by finding chicks to party with Ric."

"I don't need her to find me chicks." Ric snorted a laugh. "I can do it on my own. The second I step outta this car... WHOOO... they'll be all over me."

"Uh huh. Space Mountain and all that." Trish giggled. "It's kinda icky when ya think about it. I mean, sure he's hot for his age..."

"Hey, now!"

"...but he's like... a parent with us. I mean, Steph..." Her head turned. "Would you wanna ride Space Mountain?"

Stephanie pretended to gag, holding her throat as she leaned in against Hunter. "No offense, Ric," she said, sitting back up and laughing, "but thinking of you like that is akin to reliving the moment Dad called himself a genetic jackhammer. It's like... parental sex and that's just... ew."

Ric rolled his eyes. "Then it's a good thing for the both of ya that I don't want ya. I can find my own chicks, thank you, and trust me, they'll be as safe as safe can be."

"You got seatbelts for Space Mountain?" Randy smirked and elbowed Dave in the side. "That's one to see."

"Uh huh." Dave's eyes traversed the interior of the car and finally landed on Faith. "You alright?"

She opened her mouth to speak, but Hunter cut her off. "She's fine. Stop babying her. She's the one that's supposed to be the tough broad, right? The big hero to save everybody. You're just lucky I didn't wanna go out tonight, anyway."

"Hunter, if you want to die that's your business." Faith rolled her eyes and turned back to look out the window. "I would just prefer not to have it on my hands. I don't know what's going on, but it's not vamps. It's not anything that I know right now. I just... it's weird and it's wrong and I should be out there."

The car went silent for a few moments. They continued on with only glances passing between them. When they pulled into the arena parking lot, Trish leaned over and stretched her arm out. Her fingertips just barely touched Faith's leg as she said, "You don't have to save the world, ya know."

She didn't know how to say that, in a way, she did. She had to save them, and that was her world. If she couldn't save them, then what would be left? Faith took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I have to save my world," she said as the door opened, "and for right now that's what I'm doing."

Faith got out of the car and quickly walked around. Dave caught up with her and grabbed her hand. She pulled him along, keeping her eyes straight forward. She didn't need to see his sympathy or his concern. She just needed him and the others to stay inside this one night, until everything was over.

Faith went inside the building and before the door could close behind her and Dave, she bent over, holding her stomach. "What the hell?" She forced herself up and tried to look around. A vampire? In the arena? In the backstage area during broad daylight? Something had to be wrong. Her senses had to be screwing up on her. She took a few steps forward and her stomach cramped up again. She felt Dave beside her and the grip she held on his solid arm was the only thing that kept her grounded.

Then suddenly, she shoved him back. Whatever it was, it was coming towards her. She didn't stop to see where everyone was. She just spun and her foot landed solidly against an arm. Faith dropped down into a handstand and bent her body backwards. Her feet planted solidly in a chest and she kicked. As the body reeled backwards, she jumped back to her feet. She stood in a fighting stance, then watched as the man across from her stumbled back then steadied himself on his feet.

Faith started to go forward, then stopped as she got a good look at his eyes. Flashes from one of her most vivid nightmare-memories popped in her head. The torture, the rain... begging him to kill her because she deserved to die. Looking at him, she knew that this person had at one time been her friend, her only friend, but now, she couldn't feel anything for him. He was a stranger. She didn't know his emotions or even his name, just his face.

"Faith," he said, moving towards her in halting steps, "it's me, Angel."

"Angel..." She said the name, but it didn't spark anything. She didn't feel anything. She watched as two people came up behind him, one an older man with glasses, the other a short red-haired woman. Behind them came William Regal. She knew the faces of the people behind Angel, but that was it. "What are you?"

Hunter shoved past, bumping Faith's shoulder as he moved in front of her. He took a stance just ahead of her. Dave and Randy moved up at either of his sides. Ric stood just to the left of Dave. Trish and Stephanie took their places on either side of Faith. Hunter bellowed, "What the hell is going on here! Who the hell are you and what the fuck are you doing here!"

The one with the glasses moved in front of Angel, and the woman came up with him. Faith couldn't see him, but she heard his unfamiliar voice as he said, "My name is Rupert Giles and this is Willow Rosenburg and Angel. We've come for Faith."

Angel's voice came again as he said, "We're here for the Slayer."

"The Slayer..." Faith whispered, shaking her head. The title made sense. She did slay the vampires. But it held no recognition for her, no feeling of being. It was just a title that was put on her that she didn't know if she even deserved.

Faith was ready to step forward and shove everyone out of the way when a small voice that she assumed came from Willow said, "Actually, they came for Faith and, um... I came to meet Stacy Keibler. And yeah, I sorta came for Faith, too, but right now... can one of you pretty girls please tell me where Stacy Keibler is? You're both hot, too, by the way, just... where's the leggy blonde?"

And in a moment filled with tension and uncertainty, Faith couldn't help but laugh and be glad for the moment of levity.