AN: Believe me when I say that I'm the most surprised one at the creation of this story. It was born in a break from Complex Cycles and won't be continued until I have finished the fifth chapter of said story. (If someone is interested in it, that is.)
TITLE: High Mountains, Wide Rivers.
AUTHOR: Leni
DISCLAIMER: I own Buffy and Willow in this story.
DISTRIBUTION: If there's enough response to get me to write this further... feel free and take it (after e-mailing me, of course.)
TIMELINE: I'll go three years into the future. Willow never resurrected Buffy after 'The Gift'. I'll even slip into denial and say 'Connor who?'. In one word? Right until the finale of S5/S2, completely AU after that.
SUMMARY: What happens when a completely normal and innocent Buffy Summers is misplaced in a world full of vampires and demons?
PAIRINGS: Buffy/Angel
RATING: I'm still not sure... this chapter is still PG-13... we'll see how it goes after that. (IF it goes at all.)
FEEDBACK: I have to read SIX books in this summer (in three different languages!) and write a report about each one, I have to write at least 3 chapters of Complex Cycles before school starts, I have another idea for a short B/A-fic and one for a SM fic. If I don't receive any I will simply begin working on those last. dani_vasq@hotmail.com , a_d_v_v@yahoo.com.ar
Oh! and I don't know anything about the layout of the hotel or the dorms. If there are mistakes... forgive me and tell me what you know.
And Danielle, I owe you one. You were a real sweetie betaing this for me! Thanks!!!
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Eventually she would have known that it could only have been a dream, she really would have. But it had never felt that way. How could it be so real and at the same time--- Just a dream?
It had all had began last night. God! It felt like it had been months before. Well, she *had* lived months over there, it was not her fault if time progressed differently here.
That night...*last night* she only wanted to play a bit. So what if her games ended up turning his world upside down? At least it had only been a dream, hadn't it?
Well, *last night* Willow had come up with a great idea. When would she learn that Willow's ideas always ended up *badly*? (and she was being really nice about it!) Willow Rosemberg had been her best friend since high school. Luckily, they had been assigned to the same dorm room on campus. Unluckily, Willow had developed a tendency to magick, magick books and, of course, spells. Her best friend was a Wiccan and she was... well, she loved her enough to accept her, weird and all.
Now, her best friend had been raving mad for some weeks. How had Steve *dared* to break up with her? Was she not enough for him? Of course she was! Steve was just a lowly rat who didn't deserve a second thought! Of course, Will had thought of him every five minutes... until that last afternoon. Er... sorry... until *yesterday* afternoon.
Her dear friend had come smiling from her last Coven-meeting. She had not mentioned the evilness of men for two whole hours. And she had been *grinning* from time to time. When she had asked her what was it about, Willow had just GRINNED WIDER. She had thought that her innocent friend had fell prey to a powerful drug. Who knew what happened in those reunions? But, of course, it could not be that simple. Willow had used no drugs, no, OF COURSE NOT, she had just used some 'contacts' and bugged them until she got her wish.
Now Willow had a spell to show her her soulmate. Wouldn't it be fantastic? No more mistakes when looking for a boyfriend. Just a little spell and all her problems would be solved. Didn't she want to try it too?
She should have said no. She didn't even believe in those things! But, just to prove Will wrong, she went and accepted. Else, it was only a harmless game, wasn't it? Willow would be disappointed, true, but it couldn't get worse than that. She *really* should have said NO.
The spell was fairly simple. Just put some odd herbs into a bowl, burn them, put the ashes in your hands, chant a little, concentrate and voilà! you got to see your other half and even to *know* where to find him.
Simple? Think again.
Of course, she hadn't actually thought about it *last night*.
It should have been easy, shouldn't it? There she was, feeling weird and repeating like a parrot.
"Lass mich ihn sehen.
Lass mich ich kennen.
Lass mich wissen, wo ihn zu finden.
Lass mich ihn berühren."
And again and again.
"Lass mich ihn sehen..."
Now she knew that Willow really should learn a little more of German. How couldn't she have known that 'berühren' actually meant 'to touch'. *Touch*. as in going there and *touching* her soulmate.
And that was exactly what happened, one moment she was in her dorm, with her magically challenged best friend and then... suddenly... she was in a dark room, on a soft bed and *touching* a sleeping figure.
Why did some men like to sleep naked?
And so it began...
******
Translation of the spell: "Let me see him. Let me know him. Let me know where to find him. Let me touch him. Let me see him..."
*******
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She was not in a dark room.
She was not lying on a bed.
And she was definitely NOT feeling skin beneath her hand. There was NO nude body besides her.
She was sitting by her dinner table.
And she was going to open her eyes.
And she was going to laugh at Will's pathetic spell.
The figure had NOT moved.
The figure had NOT gasped.
The figure was NOT naked.
The figure was NOT a young, handsome, *naked* man.
She was SO going to kill her best friend.
She fainted
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"Buffy?"
She awakened slowly. Man, that had been some dream! She was gonna warn Willow about using hallucinogens in her little spells. Or she would do it when that stupid headache stopped.
"Is that really you?"
A faint touch on her cheek. A caress? She tried to open her eyes. Where was she...? Had Will brought her to a hospital? Urrrgh! She *hated* hospitals! And why was that person touching her? Had she broke a bone or something?
"Buffy?"
She tried to open her eyes. It was difficult. When she finally managed, she had to shut them again instantly. The harsh light of that lamp had practically blinded her. What kind of fool would use such a lamp in a hospital room? She was sure it was *forbidden*. It was inhuman for God's sake! And then she realised...
Those eyes... she had glimpsed a pair of worried brown eyes just before she had to close them again. She had seen them before... In her dream... it was not possible, was it? She had to be hallucinating again. That was it. She was gonna share a laugh with that poor doctor or nurse when she told him about her weird dream about his eyes. She blushed. She would leave out the naked part... no need to be locked up in the psychological department...
But first things first.
Her friend was gonna get an earful when she saw her. To cast an unsafe spell! It didn't matter if magic didn't exist; those herbs had had something in them! That little irresponsible witch! When she got her hands on her...
"W-Willow?" she asked.
"She is in Sunnydale," the doctor (?) answered without stopping touching her.
Of course she was in Sunnydale! Where else? She was about to tell the--- doctor or whatever exactly that when he continued rashly, "I can't believe you really are here, Buffy," he said passionately. Suddenly, she was swept in a tight embrace. She did the first thing which came to mind.
She screamed.
"HELP!"
The man loosened his grip on her instantly. "Buffy?" he asked concerned.
She opened her eyes. This time the light didn't hurt too much and she could observe her surroundings. She stared in shock at the man in front of her, her cheeks turning bright pink. In those short seconds, Buffy Summers realised three things. First: This man *was* the man of her dream. Down to the point where only a sheet covered his--- intimate parts. She blushed even more. Second: This was no hospital. Third---
"We are not in Kansas anymore, Toto," she murmured.
And she promptly fainted again.
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The world returned to its normal axis soon after.
That nightmare had been one of the worst. Except for the part where that *hunk* had been in front of her.
Her surroundings were silent. She smiled. Thank God, Willow was not researching one of those long-dead mages tonight. She certainly would not stand the *click-click-click* of her mouse tonight. She relaxed and opened her eyes.
The room was thankfully dark and silent.
The bed was comfortable.
The ceiling was higher.
The window was on her right hand.
Dazedly, Buffy thought she might have moved in her sleep. Because normally the window was at her left... and the curtains were a lot simpler than these were... and men were not allowed in the dorm room.
This time she didn't faint. She only stared at the unmoving figure.
"Are you awake?"
She nodded numbly, unaware and uncaring if the man perceived her gesture or not. Apparently he did because he continued firing questions.
"Who are you?"
Shouldn't she be the one asking that? The last thing she remembered was... well, the last thing she remembered *before* him clad in just a sheet was she and Willow doing that silly spell. It was supposed to show them their respective soulmates... did that mean that this man...?
"Who are you?" she echoed.
He stayed silent for some seconds. She felt scrutinised and vaguely comforted by it. She shook her head. she thought ironically.
The man finally spoke. "Then you are not Buffy," he accused with a discouraged tone in his voice.
"Of course I am," she snapped, "I am Buffy Summers and you, whoever you are, are going to let me go in this very instant!"
She was hauled up and pushed into a wall before she realised it. "DO NOT LIE TO ME," the stranger hissed, "I don't know who - or what - you are, but do not DARE to tell me that you are Buffy."
She stared at him, a panicked and confused glare that wouldn't serve against someone as strong as this man... He let her go, anyway. She fell to the floor in a heap, still looking at him. She was afraid--- no, she was terrified of this man. What did he want of her? What had he done to Willow? What would he do with her? She had read enough newspapers to know what kind of madmen populated the world... kidnappers, assassins, r--ra--rapists...
And to think that the last thing she remembered of her normal life was a harmless spell to meet her soulmate!
"What do you want from me?" he asked. His voice sounded tired, as if he didn't care about her answer.
She didn't have one. She just stared at him bewildered. What did *she* want from *him*? What kind of sick game was he playing with her?
He crouched in front of her. She flinched back until her back touched a wall. She glanced up at him in despair. She didn't want anything. Anything! She just wanted to go home. Unharmed.
He hadn't moved from his crouched position. He met her eyes and looked at her intensely. He shook his head in apparent amusement. "You look so innocent, so scared. I have to give it to them. All these years and they haven't forgotten this humble enemy. Should I be honoured, *girl*?"
She practically felt the sting in that last word. And it was all directed to her. "I--I don't k--know..." She felt the tears begin to gather and fall.
"Ooooh.. You *don't* know," he said in a patronising voice. At the sight of her tears, he brought a hand towards her. She flinched away and turned her head. She was relieved when he didn't try anything else. "And you are even crying, too," she heard the stranger say. "Are those real tears? I have to ask, you know. I'm known to fall for such tricks." She cried even harder. "Shh, shh... no need to get so distressed. Did they send you to kill me?" Her eyes opened in wonderment. *What* was he talking about? "I guess not. Darla didn't want that either..." he strayed off: "Maybe they thought you would make me happy..." he mused aloud, "Are they testing if I could still lose it? After everything Buffy's friends and mine did? They should have known better." He chuckled darkly. "So what am I going to do with you now, huh?"
Buffy felt her whole body go tense at those words. She would be helpless against him. Helpless...
How had she gotten to this situation?
"You are still crying... Drop the act, will you? No amount of tears would make me believe you are *her*. I'll have to congratulate them for making you so human." She felt him nearing her. "Her very reflection..." A hand brushed against her hair. Her breathing became erratic. Oh God. Oh God. Oh God... "You even got me for a while. So much like her. So many..." Her hair fell loose as he took the hairpin out. "...memories." Oh God. She shivered now. "You even smell like her." She sniffled. "Tell them it was for naught. I won't be defeated by some impostor. Tell them that if they want me..." She could feel his stare even as she wasn't looking him. "... they should at least bring Buffy back."
She didn't even protest that *she* was Buffy this time.
A small weight against her head. Her hairpin.
Strong arms raising her from the floor.
She whimpered when she felt the soft mattress under her.
"You are still crying, I see," he observed detachedly. "I don't know what you are capable of." She heard as he rummaged through a nearby closet. "But I cannot let you do it." Her hands were hauled behind her head hastily. She cried out at the pain. She felt silent when she felt the manacles around her wrists. Oh God. Oh God. Oh God...
So helpless...
The door closed and silence fell in the dark room.
He was gone. She was tied up. He would come back and then...
Oh God...
Buffy sobbed bitterly.
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Hours passed and nothing happened.
Not a sound. Not a movement. Nothing.
Turning her head, Buffy could distinguish a clock at the night table. Squinting her eyes, she tried to make out the numbers. 8:30.
Morning or night?
It had been night when she made that stupid spell, she reflected. It should be morning now. Except that it didn't feel like it. No light entered the room except for a slim patch of artificial light under the door.
Or maybe she had been out so much time that it was night again?
She was confused... Why hadn't that man come back? Would she be left here? Forgotten by that man... just like that?
She felt the sting of tears again. She had cried so much in these last hours that she was truly surprised that there were still tears in her.
Buffy wanted out.
And still nothing happened.
She saw as the clock went from 9:59 to 10:00. Now she was sure that it was daytime. She could hear the cars passing by in the street. Rushing cars with rushing drivers who would not hear her screams. She had already tried. Nothing happened. Not even her abductor came to check up on her or gag her or anything. She didn't cry for help anymore. Why bother?
Else, her throat was sore. It was impossible to utter a sound without feeling a pack of needles teasing her raw skin.
Buffy wanted water. Hell! She wanted far more than water. She was ravenous!
Yes, Buffy was definitely hungry. Her stomach churned impatiently now. She had not eaten anything in... she looked at the clock again: 11:00... 15 hours.
She took a deep breath and prepared for the worst.
"HELP!"
Instantly, she felt the tears come again. Her throat felt as if someone had poured pure alcohol over it. She let herself cry again, the wet feeling on her cheeks confirming that this was no nightmare, that she was wide awake at the hands of some madman who didn't even care about her.
Buffy was hungry.
Buffy wanted water.
Buffy wanted OUT.
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In a daze, she heard heels clicking against the floor. She didn't open her eyes. "I need the bathroom," she murmured to the mysterious visitor in the room.
She heard a surprised gasp. The clicking came nearer. "It is impossible," she heard the astounded whisper. It was a woman. What was a woman doing here? Had she been found? Had she been saved? The stranger's next words dissipated her doubts.
"At least he didn't maintain you as a secret and wait as you stole his sanity," the newcomer mused aloud. "I can't believe they would fall so low as to..." Buffy heard the pause and felt the woman's intense gaze on her. "Who am I kidding? They are the lowest of the lowest. I just didn't expect them to be so foolish." Buffy tuned her off as she continued her ranting against some 'they'. Where exactly was she?
"Bathroom," she rasped out again when she felt the woman calm down.
"Bathroom? Are you crazy? I am so not letting you go of that bed, even less of this room. Do you think me so careless? That I have stayed alive in this business is NOT because I'm a brainless chick, ok? In case they hadn't briefed you completely, I'm THE Seer, the one with the visions and the migraines, Cordelia Chase---" Buffy started at the known name. "--Angel's partner and best friend," the woman continued.
"Cordelia?" she asked, confused.
"Oh. I see they *have* informed you about me. Well, it's no wonder. Angel told me you asked about Willow. They wouldn't include her without including me, of course."
This time, she did open her eyes. Indeed, in front of her, surrounded by the light of the outer room, was Cordelia Chase, Sunnydale High Princess and eternal snob. Buffy furrowed her brows in concentration and tried to remember what little she had been told of the former May Queen. Nothing had been mentioned about gangs or kidnappers, she was sure. "Cordelia?" she repeated. "What are you doing here?"
"What does it seem I'm doing?" she responded, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm guarding you, of course! Angel is in no shape to see you without falling apart and Gunn--- do you know who Gunn is?" Buffy shook her head. She didn't even know who this Angel fellow was! Cordelia continued mindless of Buffy's confusion. "I thought so. I mean no harm, but Gunn was never really part of us when you left us. Now it has changed, a little..." Cordelia stopped her musings and got back to the answer. "Well, Gunn has taken Angel on patrol. Poor guy, he has to be really worried about our boss to *insist* going for a sweep to the *sewers*." She made a face of disgust, which Buffy quickly mimicked. Who were those weirdoes to talk about going *willingly* to the sewers? "And Wesley is busy trying to decide what to do with you so that left me doing guardian duties." She made a pause and regarded at the tied girl. "Cause problems and I'll demand a raise," she added as an afterthought.
Buffy didn't even want to think about what this Wesley was doing. '...what to do with you...' The words came unbidden to her mind. "Cordelia?" she called her former classmate. She tried to localise her but even raising her head as much as she could, she could not see a trace from her.
"What do you want?" the now familiar voice snapped from a dark corner on the other side of the room.
Buffy tried to look at her with no avail. "*What* are you doing here?" she asked in the direction the voice had just come.
"I already told you."
"No, no." Buffy shook her head. "I mean *here*, in this house. Why did he send you? How are you involved in this--- deal?" She wanted to say 'gang' but she decided to use a safer word. You never knew how the members felt about their 'association'.
"You don't know?" the voice asked truly surprised.
"How would I?" Buffy said exasperatedly. She felt the sting in her throat again, but ignored it. With Cordelia here, maybe she had a chance to get out of this mess. "I heard you were in L.A. trying to be an actress or a singer or whatever would help you in your way to world-wide fame. Harmony said you would come back home with you tail between your legs and marry a loser in no time." She shut up abruptly expecting the May Queen to tell her off. When there was no response, she continued. Maybe if she tried to get her help... "Look, Cordelia, I know your father had problems with the IRS and that you have no money but I could help you. I really could. My m--" She breathed in. This was her best card. "My mum left me some money in the bank. I--I could give it to you. All of it if you want it... Just--- just let me go, ok? Let me go and we'll go to Sunnydale for the money a--and I won't tell a soul that you were involved in this. I promise." By now Buffy was in tears again. "Please, Cordelia, please. Let me go."
She heard the clicking again and then she watched as Cordelia came from the darkness and stood open-mouthed besides her. She looked at her as if searching for something. Buffy was beyond caring, if Cordelia didn't give in she was... helpless. "Please," she mouthed again.
Cordelia's scream didn't let her continue. "WESLEY!"
"Angel was right," she murmured as they heard the heavy steps coming up the stairs, "you are not *her*." Buffy stared wildly at her while Cordelia tried to assess the lying girl. "But then, *who* are you?"
"I'm Buffy. Buffy Summers. We went to high school together. Cordelia, don't you remember me?" She made a pause and breathed deeply to calm her nerves. "Just help me get out of here. I promise I won't even tell the police about this. Just let me go."
"Do you have a problem, Cordy?" a man's voice asked from the doorway. From Buffy's point of view he seemed pretty inofensive, just a dark-haired guy with glasses on. Of course, giving the fact that handcuffs were tying her to a bed, she really didn't think he was the harmless man he appeared to be. The stranger looked at her and gasped "God..." she heard him mutter under his breath.
Cordelia shook her head and pointed at her. "She--- she---" She breathed in sharply. "She is not what Angel said."
He put an arm around her waist soothingly. "I know she looks like Buffy but you have to understand that it's impossible."
"No!" She turned until she faced him. Although she was just whispering, Buffy could still make out her words. "Look, I *know* she is not Buffy, ok? But she recognised me from *school*. How many people at W&H know that we were classmates? And she mentioned *Harmony*. For God's sake, Wesley! Harm was turned short after I came here! Why would the Slayer talk about *me* with her? Something is wrong here, Wes. She doesn't even recognise you or Gunn. Gunn, I could understand, she never met him before she..." Cordelia cast a quick glance at her, "before she jumped," she finished her sentence. "But she didn't even react when I mentioned Angel. How would she kill him if she doesn't react at his name?"
"It's just a trick, Cordy," he declared in a reasoning voice.
Cordelia looked at her one more time and slumped her shoulders. "Yeah, of course Wes... It's just that she is so... *real*."
In the ensuing silence, Buffy saw her opportunity to speak for herself. "I *am* real, damn it!" she cried out. "Cordelia is right. I *don't* know you." She addressed the strange man "*Any* of you..." She saw the man opening his mouth and cut him out before he could speak. "Look, there's obviously been a misunderstanding here. You're looking for a Buffy. Well, it's NOT me, ok? NOT. ME. I'm just Buffy Summers, sophomore at Sunnydale College. I don't know the Buffy you are looking for. I don't even know you..." she finished with a strangled sob.
"And how do you know me?" Cordelia asked after some seconds.
"I already told you. We were classmates. I *know* you remember me. And you remember Harmony, too. I just heard you speaking about us."
The man shook his head. "And what about Willow?"
She blinked at the sudden change of topic. "Willow? What about her?" Then she remembered that her best friend surely was with her when she was kidnapped. Her gaze darkened. "*What* have you done with her? If you have touched even one hair of hers, I swear..."
He stared at her in confusion and then looked questionly at Cordelia.
Cordelia shrugged and told her, "*Why* would be harm Willow? We are on the same side, for God's sake!"
Buffy just laughed at that. What else could she do? "Why? Oh my God! This is too rich!" She calmed a little and then stared at her *captors*. "I've wondered the same, you know. *Why* would I be *here*? *Why* would you kidnap *me*?"
"KIDNAP?" both screeched.
"Yeah, k.i.d.n.a.p." Buffy was already feeling sick and dizzy. And she still wanted to use a bathroom. "What else would you call DRAGGING me out of my dorm room?" she continued ironically. "Bringing me here and," she gestured to her handcuffed hands, "CHAINING me to a bed?"
When she looked at her captors, they were staring at her bewilderment.
"What? Don't like it when you hear the truth?" Buffy snapped.
"Dragging you?" the dark-haired man whispered.
"Bringing you?'" Cordelia said like an echo.
"Yes!" Buffy practically screamed. "DRAG. BRING. And don't forget CHAIN! How could you do this to me? I was just playing around with Willow-- damn it! where is Willow?" She remembered the first 'conversation' she had with the-- *blush* --half-dressed man. "That man told me she was still in Sunnydale. Of course, that'd mean I am NOT there... but that's not the point yet.... Where is my best friend?"
"She is at home. Safe. She and Tara are looking after Dawn."
Wesley nudged Cordelia, reprimanding her for sharing confidential information. Buffy just looked at them in wonderment. After some moments she felt calm enough to ask. "What are you talking about? Why would Willow be with a Tara? Or looking after this Dawn chick?" At their unresponsive and... surprised (?)... faces, Buffy continued, "I left Willow at the dorm, ok? We were goofing around with that spell of hers... well, *I* was goofing, Willow has taken a liking for the occult arts..."
"Don't you tell me!" she heard Cordelia mutter under her breath. Buffy kept on speaking, "And well, that's the last thing I remember before you took me away. So, if Willow was with me and now she is not, I have to ask *again*: Where.Is.She?"
Cordelia turned to Wesley and shook her head. He just shrugged.
Buffy sighed. What was she thinking when she tried to get them to talk?
After some moments of silent staring, he put his hand on the small of the brunette's back and steered them towards the door. Buffy heard the click of the door closing again.
At least, she reflected, she had hoped to go to the bathroom.
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And she *had* gone to the bathroom, she mused now. After Wesley returned to the room some minutes later and took a lot of 'samples'.
Buffy recalled the fear she had felt when seeing the syringe and some other instruments. He took some blood, hair and even a piece of her *nail*. Later she would make him pay for a complete manicure, Buffy remembered. The oddest moment had had to be when he sat at her side and put the stethoscope to her chest and listened to her heartbeat. He had seemed surprised at that fact. At that time, Buffy had been too nervous to wonder much about that but now, she nearly laughed aloud when she figured what must have passed through his head.
Of course, there was no reason to laugh now. Would there ever be?
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Buffy writhed when the older guy put the stethoscope on her. What was he trying to do? It was not as if she was ill or something. And she was sure that the man wasn't even a fucking doctor!
She was about to tell him exactly that, when he gasped and stared at her. The look in his eyes stopped her rash words. He then put two of his fingers on her neck. In a sudden flashback to a Biology class, she understood that he was looking for a pulsing point. And she was understanding this ordeal even less...
To be kidnapped, she could understand. There were weirdoes everywhere, after all. But to be touched in such a... clinic... way by one of them--- That was entirely another matter.
Now he looked positively flustered and confused, clutching the stethoscope in one hand and staring at her with wild eyes.
"Keep your hands off me," she hissed as threateningly as possible. Which, since she was chained and prisoner, was a complete paradox in itself.
Nevertheless, it seemed to work because he stepped out of his stupor, scrambled to his feet, took those damn tubes of him -that damn needle had *hurt*- and scurried to the door mumbling some unintelligible words all the while.
A half-hour later, he came back with Cordelia in tow. Both of them stared her from head to toes and Cordelia murmured something that sounded like a question and Wesley only nodded in response.
Then the brunette neared her and Buffy sighed in relief when she felt her chains being unlocked. "Don't move," an unknown voice warned.
Moving slowly to a sitting position, Buffy could see a black man at the doorway. She shivered when she saw the gun and the sword (?) at his waist. "Are you sure of this, English?" the newest stranger continued.
'English' -what was his name again?- nodded again. Buffy nursed her hurt wrists. They were red and in some parts raw, thank God she hadn't struggled much or there would be blood and -in time- scars. Cordelia gathered her hands after some moments and put some antiseptic on the red marks. Buffy smiled briefly in thanks before the stinging struck. Fuck it, it *hurt*! She blew on it trying to mitigate the pain a little.
"Do you still want to go to the bathroom?" Cordelia whispered.
Buffy nodded and then looked at the other occupants of the room. Why were they freeing her now? Would they let he go? Just like that?
"Come on, I'll guide you."
Buffy was on her feet in a second and a wave of dizziness engulfed her. "You should know better than that," Cordelia chided gently. Buffy's thoughts came to a halt. Cordelia Chase? Gentle? "After such a long time of just lying down you can't get up so fast, believe me, I know it."
Buffy nodded absently and let the taller girl take her arm and guide her through the room and into a corridor.
After they left the room, she heard the black guy speak in a loud voice. Loud enough for his companions and Buffy herself to hear him. "Darla was also human when she came back." She felt Cordelia's grip getting stronger and winced. "And this blonde is not the bitch who condemned him to an eternity of suffering."
"Not an eternity anymore," she heard the other man comment.
Cordelia opened a door and tugged her arm signalling that they had reached their destination. Buffy entered and wondered why that guy had intended her to hear those words. They had no meaning for her, that was for sure; not that she could say the same from her two other captors...
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I'll be waiting to see some reviews here before posting the second chapter. Take care!
TITLE: High Mountains, Wide Rivers.
AUTHOR: Leni
DISCLAIMER: I own Buffy and Willow in this story.
DISTRIBUTION: If there's enough response to get me to write this further... feel free and take it (after e-mailing me, of course.)
TIMELINE: I'll go three years into the future. Willow never resurrected Buffy after 'The Gift'. I'll even slip into denial and say 'Connor who?'. In one word? Right until the finale of S5/S2, completely AU after that.
SUMMARY: What happens when a completely normal and innocent Buffy Summers is misplaced in a world full of vampires and demons?
PAIRINGS: Buffy/Angel
RATING: I'm still not sure... this chapter is still PG-13... we'll see how it goes after that. (IF it goes at all.)
FEEDBACK: I have to read SIX books in this summer (in three different languages!) and write a report about each one, I have to write at least 3 chapters of Complex Cycles before school starts, I have another idea for a short B/A-fic and one for a SM fic. If I don't receive any I will simply begin working on those last. dani_vasq@hotmail.com , a_d_v_v@yahoo.com.ar
Oh! and I don't know anything about the layout of the hotel or the dorms. If there are mistakes... forgive me and tell me what you know.
And Danielle, I owe you one. You were a real sweetie betaing this for me! Thanks!!!
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Eventually she would have known that it could only have been a dream, she really would have. But it had never felt that way. How could it be so real and at the same time--- Just a dream?
It had all had began last night. God! It felt like it had been months before. Well, she *had* lived months over there, it was not her fault if time progressed differently here.
That night...*last night* she only wanted to play a bit. So what if her games ended up turning his world upside down? At least it had only been a dream, hadn't it?
Well, *last night* Willow had come up with a great idea. When would she learn that Willow's ideas always ended up *badly*? (and she was being really nice about it!) Willow Rosemberg had been her best friend since high school. Luckily, they had been assigned to the same dorm room on campus. Unluckily, Willow had developed a tendency to magick, magick books and, of course, spells. Her best friend was a Wiccan and she was... well, she loved her enough to accept her, weird and all.
Now, her best friend had been raving mad for some weeks. How had Steve *dared* to break up with her? Was she not enough for him? Of course she was! Steve was just a lowly rat who didn't deserve a second thought! Of course, Will had thought of him every five minutes... until that last afternoon. Er... sorry... until *yesterday* afternoon.
Her dear friend had come smiling from her last Coven-meeting. She had not mentioned the evilness of men for two whole hours. And she had been *grinning* from time to time. When she had asked her what was it about, Willow had just GRINNED WIDER. She had thought that her innocent friend had fell prey to a powerful drug. Who knew what happened in those reunions? But, of course, it could not be that simple. Willow had used no drugs, no, OF COURSE NOT, she had just used some 'contacts' and bugged them until she got her wish.
Now Willow had a spell to show her her soulmate. Wouldn't it be fantastic? No more mistakes when looking for a boyfriend. Just a little spell and all her problems would be solved. Didn't she want to try it too?
She should have said no. She didn't even believe in those things! But, just to prove Will wrong, she went and accepted. Else, it was only a harmless game, wasn't it? Willow would be disappointed, true, but it couldn't get worse than that. She *really* should have said NO.
The spell was fairly simple. Just put some odd herbs into a bowl, burn them, put the ashes in your hands, chant a little, concentrate and voilà! you got to see your other half and even to *know* where to find him.
Simple? Think again.
Of course, she hadn't actually thought about it *last night*.
It should have been easy, shouldn't it? There she was, feeling weird and repeating like a parrot.
"Lass mich ihn sehen.
Lass mich ich kennen.
Lass mich wissen, wo ihn zu finden.
Lass mich ihn berühren."
And again and again.
"Lass mich ihn sehen..."
Now she knew that Willow really should learn a little more of German. How couldn't she have known that 'berühren' actually meant 'to touch'. *Touch*. as in going there and *touching* her soulmate.
And that was exactly what happened, one moment she was in her dorm, with her magically challenged best friend and then... suddenly... she was in a dark room, on a soft bed and *touching* a sleeping figure.
Why did some men like to sleep naked?
And so it began...
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Translation of the spell: "Let me see him. Let me know him. Let me know where to find him. Let me touch him. Let me see him..."
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She was not in a dark room.
She was not lying on a bed.
And she was definitely NOT feeling skin beneath her hand. There was NO nude body besides her.
She was sitting by her dinner table.
And she was going to open her eyes.
And she was going to laugh at Will's pathetic spell.
The figure had NOT moved.
The figure had NOT gasped.
The figure was NOT naked.
The figure was NOT a young, handsome, *naked* man.
She was SO going to kill her best friend.
She fainted
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"Buffy?"
She awakened slowly. Man, that had been some dream! She was gonna warn Willow about using hallucinogens in her little spells. Or she would do it when that stupid headache stopped.
"Is that really you?"
A faint touch on her cheek. A caress? She tried to open her eyes. Where was she...? Had Will brought her to a hospital? Urrrgh! She *hated* hospitals! And why was that person touching her? Had she broke a bone or something?
"Buffy?"
She tried to open her eyes. It was difficult. When she finally managed, she had to shut them again instantly. The harsh light of that lamp had practically blinded her. What kind of fool would use such a lamp in a hospital room? She was sure it was *forbidden*. It was inhuman for God's sake! And then she realised...
Those eyes... she had glimpsed a pair of worried brown eyes just before she had to close them again. She had seen them before... In her dream... it was not possible, was it? She had to be hallucinating again. That was it. She was gonna share a laugh with that poor doctor or nurse when she told him about her weird dream about his eyes. She blushed. She would leave out the naked part... no need to be locked up in the psychological department...
But first things first.
Her friend was gonna get an earful when she saw her. To cast an unsafe spell! It didn't matter if magic didn't exist; those herbs had had something in them! That little irresponsible witch! When she got her hands on her...
"W-Willow?" she asked.
"She is in Sunnydale," the doctor (?) answered without stopping touching her.
Of course she was in Sunnydale! Where else? She was about to tell the--- doctor or whatever exactly that when he continued rashly, "I can't believe you really are here, Buffy," he said passionately. Suddenly, she was swept in a tight embrace. She did the first thing which came to mind.
She screamed.
"HELP!"
The man loosened his grip on her instantly. "Buffy?" he asked concerned.
She opened her eyes. This time the light didn't hurt too much and she could observe her surroundings. She stared in shock at the man in front of her, her cheeks turning bright pink. In those short seconds, Buffy Summers realised three things. First: This man *was* the man of her dream. Down to the point where only a sheet covered his--- intimate parts. She blushed even more. Second: This was no hospital. Third---
"We are not in Kansas anymore, Toto," she murmured.
And she promptly fainted again.
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The world returned to its normal axis soon after.
That nightmare had been one of the worst. Except for the part where that *hunk* had been in front of her.
Her surroundings were silent. She smiled. Thank God, Willow was not researching one of those long-dead mages tonight. She certainly would not stand the *click-click-click* of her mouse tonight. She relaxed and opened her eyes.
The room was thankfully dark and silent.
The bed was comfortable.
The ceiling was higher.
The window was on her right hand.
Dazedly, Buffy thought she might have moved in her sleep. Because normally the window was at her left... and the curtains were a lot simpler than these were... and men were not allowed in the dorm room.
This time she didn't faint. She only stared at the unmoving figure.
"Are you awake?"
She nodded numbly, unaware and uncaring if the man perceived her gesture or not. Apparently he did because he continued firing questions.
"Who are you?"
Shouldn't she be the one asking that? The last thing she remembered was... well, the last thing she remembered *before* him clad in just a sheet was she and Willow doing that silly spell. It was supposed to show them their respective soulmates... did that mean that this man...?
"Who are you?" she echoed.
He stayed silent for some seconds. She felt scrutinised and vaguely comforted by it. She shook her head. she thought ironically.
The man finally spoke. "Then you are not Buffy," he accused with a discouraged tone in his voice.
"Of course I am," she snapped, "I am Buffy Summers and you, whoever you are, are going to let me go in this very instant!"
She was hauled up and pushed into a wall before she realised it. "DO NOT LIE TO ME," the stranger hissed, "I don't know who - or what - you are, but do not DARE to tell me that you are Buffy."
She stared at him, a panicked and confused glare that wouldn't serve against someone as strong as this man... He let her go, anyway. She fell to the floor in a heap, still looking at him. She was afraid--- no, she was terrified of this man. What did he want of her? What had he done to Willow? What would he do with her? She had read enough newspapers to know what kind of madmen populated the world... kidnappers, assassins, r--ra--rapists...
And to think that the last thing she remembered of her normal life was a harmless spell to meet her soulmate!
"What do you want from me?" he asked. His voice sounded tired, as if he didn't care about her answer.
She didn't have one. She just stared at him bewildered. What did *she* want from *him*? What kind of sick game was he playing with her?
He crouched in front of her. She flinched back until her back touched a wall. She glanced up at him in despair. She didn't want anything. Anything! She just wanted to go home. Unharmed.
He hadn't moved from his crouched position. He met her eyes and looked at her intensely. He shook his head in apparent amusement. "You look so innocent, so scared. I have to give it to them. All these years and they haven't forgotten this humble enemy. Should I be honoured, *girl*?"
She practically felt the sting in that last word. And it was all directed to her. "I--I don't k--know..." She felt the tears begin to gather and fall.
"Ooooh.. You *don't* know," he said in a patronising voice. At the sight of her tears, he brought a hand towards her. She flinched away and turned her head. She was relieved when he didn't try anything else. "And you are even crying, too," she heard the stranger say. "Are those real tears? I have to ask, you know. I'm known to fall for such tricks." She cried even harder. "Shh, shh... no need to get so distressed. Did they send you to kill me?" Her eyes opened in wonderment. *What* was he talking about? "I guess not. Darla didn't want that either..." he strayed off: "Maybe they thought you would make me happy..." he mused aloud, "Are they testing if I could still lose it? After everything Buffy's friends and mine did? They should have known better." He chuckled darkly. "So what am I going to do with you now, huh?"
Buffy felt her whole body go tense at those words. She would be helpless against him. Helpless...
How had she gotten to this situation?
"You are still crying... Drop the act, will you? No amount of tears would make me believe you are *her*. I'll have to congratulate them for making you so human." She felt him nearing her. "Her very reflection..." A hand brushed against her hair. Her breathing became erratic. Oh God. Oh God. Oh God... "You even got me for a while. So much like her. So many..." Her hair fell loose as he took the hairpin out. "...memories." Oh God. She shivered now. "You even smell like her." She sniffled. "Tell them it was for naught. I won't be defeated by some impostor. Tell them that if they want me..." She could feel his stare even as she wasn't looking him. "... they should at least bring Buffy back."
She didn't even protest that *she* was Buffy this time.
A small weight against her head. Her hairpin.
Strong arms raising her from the floor.
She whimpered when she felt the soft mattress under her.
"You are still crying, I see," he observed detachedly. "I don't know what you are capable of." She heard as he rummaged through a nearby closet. "But I cannot let you do it." Her hands were hauled behind her head hastily. She cried out at the pain. She felt silent when she felt the manacles around her wrists. Oh God. Oh God. Oh God...
So helpless...
The door closed and silence fell in the dark room.
He was gone. She was tied up. He would come back and then...
Oh God...
Buffy sobbed bitterly.
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Hours passed and nothing happened.
Not a sound. Not a movement. Nothing.
Turning her head, Buffy could distinguish a clock at the night table. Squinting her eyes, she tried to make out the numbers. 8:30.
Morning or night?
It had been night when she made that stupid spell, she reflected. It should be morning now. Except that it didn't feel like it. No light entered the room except for a slim patch of artificial light under the door.
Or maybe she had been out so much time that it was night again?
She was confused... Why hadn't that man come back? Would she be left here? Forgotten by that man... just like that?
She felt the sting of tears again. She had cried so much in these last hours that she was truly surprised that there were still tears in her.
Buffy wanted out.
And still nothing happened.
She saw as the clock went from 9:59 to 10:00. Now she was sure that it was daytime. She could hear the cars passing by in the street. Rushing cars with rushing drivers who would not hear her screams. She had already tried. Nothing happened. Not even her abductor came to check up on her or gag her or anything. She didn't cry for help anymore. Why bother?
Else, her throat was sore. It was impossible to utter a sound without feeling a pack of needles teasing her raw skin.
Buffy wanted water. Hell! She wanted far more than water. She was ravenous!
Yes, Buffy was definitely hungry. Her stomach churned impatiently now. She had not eaten anything in... she looked at the clock again: 11:00... 15 hours.
She took a deep breath and prepared for the worst.
"HELP!"
Instantly, she felt the tears come again. Her throat felt as if someone had poured pure alcohol over it. She let herself cry again, the wet feeling on her cheeks confirming that this was no nightmare, that she was wide awake at the hands of some madman who didn't even care about her.
Buffy was hungry.
Buffy wanted water.
Buffy wanted OUT.
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In a daze, she heard heels clicking against the floor. She didn't open her eyes. "I need the bathroom," she murmured to the mysterious visitor in the room.
She heard a surprised gasp. The clicking came nearer. "It is impossible," she heard the astounded whisper. It was a woman. What was a woman doing here? Had she been found? Had she been saved? The stranger's next words dissipated her doubts.
"At least he didn't maintain you as a secret and wait as you stole his sanity," the newcomer mused aloud. "I can't believe they would fall so low as to..." Buffy heard the pause and felt the woman's intense gaze on her. "Who am I kidding? They are the lowest of the lowest. I just didn't expect them to be so foolish." Buffy tuned her off as she continued her ranting against some 'they'. Where exactly was she?
"Bathroom," she rasped out again when she felt the woman calm down.
"Bathroom? Are you crazy? I am so not letting you go of that bed, even less of this room. Do you think me so careless? That I have stayed alive in this business is NOT because I'm a brainless chick, ok? In case they hadn't briefed you completely, I'm THE Seer, the one with the visions and the migraines, Cordelia Chase---" Buffy started at the known name. "--Angel's partner and best friend," the woman continued.
"Cordelia?" she asked, confused.
"Oh. I see they *have* informed you about me. Well, it's no wonder. Angel told me you asked about Willow. They wouldn't include her without including me, of course."
This time, she did open her eyes. Indeed, in front of her, surrounded by the light of the outer room, was Cordelia Chase, Sunnydale High Princess and eternal snob. Buffy furrowed her brows in concentration and tried to remember what little she had been told of the former May Queen. Nothing had been mentioned about gangs or kidnappers, she was sure. "Cordelia?" she repeated. "What are you doing here?"
"What does it seem I'm doing?" she responded, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm guarding you, of course! Angel is in no shape to see you without falling apart and Gunn--- do you know who Gunn is?" Buffy shook her head. She didn't even know who this Angel fellow was! Cordelia continued mindless of Buffy's confusion. "I thought so. I mean no harm, but Gunn was never really part of us when you left us. Now it has changed, a little..." Cordelia stopped her musings and got back to the answer. "Well, Gunn has taken Angel on patrol. Poor guy, he has to be really worried about our boss to *insist* going for a sweep to the *sewers*." She made a face of disgust, which Buffy quickly mimicked. Who were those weirdoes to talk about going *willingly* to the sewers? "And Wesley is busy trying to decide what to do with you so that left me doing guardian duties." She made a pause and regarded at the tied girl. "Cause problems and I'll demand a raise," she added as an afterthought.
Buffy didn't even want to think about what this Wesley was doing. '...what to do with you...' The words came unbidden to her mind. "Cordelia?" she called her former classmate. She tried to localise her but even raising her head as much as she could, she could not see a trace from her.
"What do you want?" the now familiar voice snapped from a dark corner on the other side of the room.
Buffy tried to look at her with no avail. "*What* are you doing here?" she asked in the direction the voice had just come.
"I already told you."
"No, no." Buffy shook her head. "I mean *here*, in this house. Why did he send you? How are you involved in this--- deal?" She wanted to say 'gang' but she decided to use a safer word. You never knew how the members felt about their 'association'.
"You don't know?" the voice asked truly surprised.
"How would I?" Buffy said exasperatedly. She felt the sting in her throat again, but ignored it. With Cordelia here, maybe she had a chance to get out of this mess. "I heard you were in L.A. trying to be an actress or a singer or whatever would help you in your way to world-wide fame. Harmony said you would come back home with you tail between your legs and marry a loser in no time." She shut up abruptly expecting the May Queen to tell her off. When there was no response, she continued. Maybe if she tried to get her help... "Look, Cordelia, I know your father had problems with the IRS and that you have no money but I could help you. I really could. My m--" She breathed in. This was her best card. "My mum left me some money in the bank. I--I could give it to you. All of it if you want it... Just--- just let me go, ok? Let me go and we'll go to Sunnydale for the money a--and I won't tell a soul that you were involved in this. I promise." By now Buffy was in tears again. "Please, Cordelia, please. Let me go."
She heard the clicking again and then she watched as Cordelia came from the darkness and stood open-mouthed besides her. She looked at her as if searching for something. Buffy was beyond caring, if Cordelia didn't give in she was... helpless. "Please," she mouthed again.
Cordelia's scream didn't let her continue. "WESLEY!"
"Angel was right," she murmured as they heard the heavy steps coming up the stairs, "you are not *her*." Buffy stared wildly at her while Cordelia tried to assess the lying girl. "But then, *who* are you?"
"I'm Buffy. Buffy Summers. We went to high school together. Cordelia, don't you remember me?" She made a pause and breathed deeply to calm her nerves. "Just help me get out of here. I promise I won't even tell the police about this. Just let me go."
"Do you have a problem, Cordy?" a man's voice asked from the doorway. From Buffy's point of view he seemed pretty inofensive, just a dark-haired guy with glasses on. Of course, giving the fact that handcuffs were tying her to a bed, she really didn't think he was the harmless man he appeared to be. The stranger looked at her and gasped "God..." she heard him mutter under his breath.
Cordelia shook her head and pointed at her. "She--- she---" She breathed in sharply. "She is not what Angel said."
He put an arm around her waist soothingly. "I know she looks like Buffy but you have to understand that it's impossible."
"No!" She turned until she faced him. Although she was just whispering, Buffy could still make out her words. "Look, I *know* she is not Buffy, ok? But she recognised me from *school*. How many people at W&H know that we were classmates? And she mentioned *Harmony*. For God's sake, Wesley! Harm was turned short after I came here! Why would the Slayer talk about *me* with her? Something is wrong here, Wes. She doesn't even recognise you or Gunn. Gunn, I could understand, she never met him before she..." Cordelia cast a quick glance at her, "before she jumped," she finished her sentence. "But she didn't even react when I mentioned Angel. How would she kill him if she doesn't react at his name?"
"It's just a trick, Cordy," he declared in a reasoning voice.
Cordelia looked at her one more time and slumped her shoulders. "Yeah, of course Wes... It's just that she is so... *real*."
In the ensuing silence, Buffy saw her opportunity to speak for herself. "I *am* real, damn it!" she cried out. "Cordelia is right. I *don't* know you." She addressed the strange man "*Any* of you..." She saw the man opening his mouth and cut him out before he could speak. "Look, there's obviously been a misunderstanding here. You're looking for a Buffy. Well, it's NOT me, ok? NOT. ME. I'm just Buffy Summers, sophomore at Sunnydale College. I don't know the Buffy you are looking for. I don't even know you..." she finished with a strangled sob.
"And how do you know me?" Cordelia asked after some seconds.
"I already told you. We were classmates. I *know* you remember me. And you remember Harmony, too. I just heard you speaking about us."
The man shook his head. "And what about Willow?"
She blinked at the sudden change of topic. "Willow? What about her?" Then she remembered that her best friend surely was with her when she was kidnapped. Her gaze darkened. "*What* have you done with her? If you have touched even one hair of hers, I swear..."
He stared at her in confusion and then looked questionly at Cordelia.
Cordelia shrugged and told her, "*Why* would be harm Willow? We are on the same side, for God's sake!"
Buffy just laughed at that. What else could she do? "Why? Oh my God! This is too rich!" She calmed a little and then stared at her *captors*. "I've wondered the same, you know. *Why* would I be *here*? *Why* would you kidnap *me*?"
"KIDNAP?" both screeched.
"Yeah, k.i.d.n.a.p." Buffy was already feeling sick and dizzy. And she still wanted to use a bathroom. "What else would you call DRAGGING me out of my dorm room?" she continued ironically. "Bringing me here and," she gestured to her handcuffed hands, "CHAINING me to a bed?"
When she looked at her captors, they were staring at her bewilderment.
"What? Don't like it when you hear the truth?" Buffy snapped.
"Dragging you?" the dark-haired man whispered.
"Bringing you?'" Cordelia said like an echo.
"Yes!" Buffy practically screamed. "DRAG. BRING. And don't forget CHAIN! How could you do this to me? I was just playing around with Willow-- damn it! where is Willow?" She remembered the first 'conversation' she had with the-- *blush* --half-dressed man. "That man told me she was still in Sunnydale. Of course, that'd mean I am NOT there... but that's not the point yet.... Where is my best friend?"
"She is at home. Safe. She and Tara are looking after Dawn."
Wesley nudged Cordelia, reprimanding her for sharing confidential information. Buffy just looked at them in wonderment. After some moments she felt calm enough to ask. "What are you talking about? Why would Willow be with a Tara? Or looking after this Dawn chick?" At their unresponsive and... surprised (?)... faces, Buffy continued, "I left Willow at the dorm, ok? We were goofing around with that spell of hers... well, *I* was goofing, Willow has taken a liking for the occult arts..."
"Don't you tell me!" she heard Cordelia mutter under her breath. Buffy kept on speaking, "And well, that's the last thing I remember before you took me away. So, if Willow was with me and now she is not, I have to ask *again*: Where.Is.She?"
Cordelia turned to Wesley and shook her head. He just shrugged.
Buffy sighed. What was she thinking when she tried to get them to talk?
After some moments of silent staring, he put his hand on the small of the brunette's back and steered them towards the door. Buffy heard the click of the door closing again.
At least, she reflected, she had hoped to go to the bathroom.
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And she *had* gone to the bathroom, she mused now. After Wesley returned to the room some minutes later and took a lot of 'samples'.
Buffy recalled the fear she had felt when seeing the syringe and some other instruments. He took some blood, hair and even a piece of her *nail*. Later she would make him pay for a complete manicure, Buffy remembered. The oddest moment had had to be when he sat at her side and put the stethoscope to her chest and listened to her heartbeat. He had seemed surprised at that fact. At that time, Buffy had been too nervous to wonder much about that but now, she nearly laughed aloud when she figured what must have passed through his head.
Of course, there was no reason to laugh now. Would there ever be?
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Buffy writhed when the older guy put the stethoscope on her. What was he trying to do? It was not as if she was ill or something. And she was sure that the man wasn't even a fucking doctor!
She was about to tell him exactly that, when he gasped and stared at her. The look in his eyes stopped her rash words. He then put two of his fingers on her neck. In a sudden flashback to a Biology class, she understood that he was looking for a pulsing point. And she was understanding this ordeal even less...
To be kidnapped, she could understand. There were weirdoes everywhere, after all. But to be touched in such a... clinic... way by one of them--- That was entirely another matter.
Now he looked positively flustered and confused, clutching the stethoscope in one hand and staring at her with wild eyes.
"Keep your hands off me," she hissed as threateningly as possible. Which, since she was chained and prisoner, was a complete paradox in itself.
Nevertheless, it seemed to work because he stepped out of his stupor, scrambled to his feet, took those damn tubes of him -that damn needle had *hurt*- and scurried to the door mumbling some unintelligible words all the while.
A half-hour later, he came back with Cordelia in tow. Both of them stared her from head to toes and Cordelia murmured something that sounded like a question and Wesley only nodded in response.
Then the brunette neared her and Buffy sighed in relief when she felt her chains being unlocked. "Don't move," an unknown voice warned.
Moving slowly to a sitting position, Buffy could see a black man at the doorway. She shivered when she saw the gun and the sword (?) at his waist. "Are you sure of this, English?" the newest stranger continued.
'English' -what was his name again?- nodded again. Buffy nursed her hurt wrists. They were red and in some parts raw, thank God she hadn't struggled much or there would be blood and -in time- scars. Cordelia gathered her hands after some moments and put some antiseptic on the red marks. Buffy smiled briefly in thanks before the stinging struck. Fuck it, it *hurt*! She blew on it trying to mitigate the pain a little.
"Do you still want to go to the bathroom?" Cordelia whispered.
Buffy nodded and then looked at the other occupants of the room. Why were they freeing her now? Would they let he go? Just like that?
"Come on, I'll guide you."
Buffy was on her feet in a second and a wave of dizziness engulfed her. "You should know better than that," Cordelia chided gently. Buffy's thoughts came to a halt. Cordelia Chase? Gentle? "After such a long time of just lying down you can't get up so fast, believe me, I know it."
Buffy nodded absently and let the taller girl take her arm and guide her through the room and into a corridor.
After they left the room, she heard the black guy speak in a loud voice. Loud enough for his companions and Buffy herself to hear him. "Darla was also human when she came back." She felt Cordelia's grip getting stronger and winced. "And this blonde is not the bitch who condemned him to an eternity of suffering."
"Not an eternity anymore," she heard the other man comment.
Cordelia opened a door and tugged her arm signalling that they had reached their destination. Buffy entered and wondered why that guy had intended her to hear those words. They had no meaning for her, that was for sure; not that she could say the same from her two other captors...
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I'll be waiting to see some reviews here before posting the second chapter. Take care!