Chapter Fifteen – Hunting
About an hour after they left campus the car pulled to a stop in an old industrial area of city. Olivia felt relieved when the car stopped. She decided it would be better to walk back to campus than ever get into a car with Buffy behind the wheel again. Slayer senses and reflexes probably meant Buffy and Faith were right in saying they would never actually hit anything. But it also meant they could get a lot closer to stuff, going a lot faster than anyone had any right too. Dawn wasn't kidding about heart attack inducing.
She looked down at the squirt gun Faith had given her during the drive. 'Holy water' the woman had said.
Buffy looked over at her. "Just squirt it at any vamps that come your way. It won't kill them, but it will keep them from coming closer. Janie, your job is to keep an eye on the detective. Stay close to her. Understand."
"Yes," the girl replied.
"Good," Buffy said. "Let's go."
She led the group down a block to an old seemingly abandoned warehouse. Buffy and Faith both scanned the outside.
"Anything?" Buffy asked.
"Nothing on the old Spider Sense," Faith replied. "We got all the ones inside last night."
"So why are we here now?" Olivia asked.
"We were rushed last night," Buffy answered. "We didn't have time to check for and seal off every possible exit route. The Master that ran this place was smart. He probably dug some of his own tunnels linking up to the city sewer system and utility tunnels. We're going to do a more thorough search this morning. There is a possibility that a stray minion or two got away during the confusion."
"We should start on the east side," Faith said. "We were focused on covering Willow while she did the spell last night. That was the last area we cleared out."
"Right," Buffy said. "Remember Janie, stay close to Olivia. Neither of you wonders out of sight of either Faith or myself. Clear."
"Yes," Janie answered. Olivia nodded.
Buffy led the group into the building and they made their way towards the east side of the warehouse. The area was partitioned off into several smaller rooms.
"It doesn't look like anything happened here last night," Olivia noted. "The place is run down. Doesn't look like its been used in months."
"Vampires are nice in that they are self cleaning," Buffy said. "Some of the dust on ground belongs to the Master's duplicates. We also try to mop up after any big fight. We've got an informal arrangement with the Cleveland PD. As long we keep things under control they don't bug us about the demon stuff. Part of that agreement is cleaning up after ourselves. Never had to worry about that much in Sunnydale. The cops there were idiots."
"The Mayor wanted it that way," Faith said. Buffy flashed her a look. "I'm ok with it now B," she said. She cocked her head. "Over here gang. Look at the floor."
Olivia looked down at the floor. Someone had laid wood out over one area of the floor. It was cut into pattern. Olivia noticed one of the shapes was square and about the right size for a person to fit through.
"You think there's a trapdoor under there?"
"One way to find out," Faith said. She knelt down on the floor next to square. She felt around like she was looking for a latch then just shrugged her shoulders. She raised her fist and punched directly down. Her fist slammed through the floor. She started to pull her out and grabbed the side of the hole she had made. She yanked up. There was loud grinding noise as the trapdoor was pulled lose from its hinges. Faith casually tossed the door to the other side of the room.
Olivia peered down the hole in the ground.
"There's no ladder and the ground looks about 20 feet down," she noted.
"There are some footprints down there," Faith said. Buffy leaned over the whole and nodded.
"How can you tell?" Olivia asked. She could barely make out the ground.
"Good night vision," Buffy answered. "No vamps directly down below right now, but it definitely looks like a couple may have used this to get away."
"Gotcha," Faith said. "The three of us can get down with ease. But Olivia probably can't do a twenty foot drop"
"You three stay here," Buffy said. "I think I saw some rope back the other way. I'll be back in a second."
A few minutes later Olivia was being lowered to the ground by Faith. Buffy and Janie were already standing in the chamber waiting for her. She touched the ground and removed the rope. She was surprised when Buffy pulled her aside. She saw the rope get yanked back up and Faith drop effortlessly to the ground.
"How are we supposed to get back up?" Olivia asked.
Faith looked at her and grinned. She crouched down and sprung straight into the air. Olivia watched in amazement as she caught the edge of the hole and dangled for a couple of seconds before dropping back down.
"That's how," Faith said. "There wasn't anyplace to secure the rope. Besides this place is probably connected to the sewer and utility tunnels. B and I know those pretty well. There's plenty of ways out."
Buffy pulled a flashlight out and handed it to Olivia. "Keep it pointed towards the ground about five or so feet in front of you. Don't shine it down the tunnels or around the walls. A flashlight down here is the equivalent of an 'Eat at Joe's' sign to vampires."
"Door over here," Janie said. Olivia walked up to it.
"Looks thick. At least three inches," Olivia said. "Reinforced. Probably bolted from the other side." In the back of her mind she figured ESU would have to either cut through a door like this or resort to a small charge to get it open. Suddenly she felt Faith grab her by the arm pulled her aside. She watched as Buffy walked up to the door and kicked it solidly in the center. Her mouth dropped open as the door tore off its hinges.
Buffy looked at her and shrugged her shoulders. "Faith you've got point. Janie stick with Olivia, remember keep the flashlight pointed towards the ground. I'll take the rear."
"No problem B," Faith said as she moved walked through the door. Olivia followed after her. They were walking through what appeared to be a hand dug tunnel about fifteen or so feet long. It punched through the side of service tunnel.
Olivia saw the door lying about ten feet into the tunnel. She looked back at Buffy who just stared blankly back at her.
Faith stopped at when she reached the service tunnel. She paused and closed her eyes. Then she couched down and examined the ground around her.
"What are you doing?" Olivia asked.
"A little hunting," Faith replied. "This way," she led the group off to the left.
After they'd traveled about a block Faith motioned for everyone to stop.
"Where are they?" Buffy asked.
"About a block over," Faith replied. She motioned with her hand.
Buffy nodded and focused her attention in the direction Faith had motioned. "Got 'em," she said. "Janie, what do you feel?"
Janie tried to focus in the same direction as Buffy. Olivia could see the girl concentrating.
"I don't feel them," she said.
"It's ok Janie," Faith said. "You're still learning. I didn't really start to develop the talent until after Sunnydale. The old Council never taught the Slayers how to use their senses properly. There are more than a couple of them."
"I agree," Buffy said. "Can't tell how many just yet." She looked up towards the roof of the service tunnel and smiled. "I think we've got everything. Let's scout them out."
"There are vampires up there," Olivia said.
"Yep," Faith replied. "B and I will take care of them. You and Janie stay back."
"But I can take them," Janie said.
"You stay with Olivia," Buffy said. "Your responsibility is to protect her. Understand."
"Yes," Janie said in a resigned voice.
"You got your holy water Olivia?" Faith asked.
Olivia pulled out the squirt gun. "Right here."
"Ok," Faith said. "Remember. Squirt it directly at the vamps. It's like acid to them. Some of the older ones can shrug off the effects pretty quickly but fledglings and weaker vamps will be out of action for a minute or two if you get them in the face."
"Just stay with Janie," Buffy said. "Turn off the flashlight. Don't want to advertise ourselves too early."
Olivia was starting to feel nervous. It was one thing to hear about vampires and listen to stories over dinner. Buffy was about to lead her to real vampires. She was about to have her first real encounter with the supernatural. She glimpsed and the three girls with her. Well not counting the Slayers.
The group began to move forward slowly. Faith stopped them again after they had gone about a half block.
"One of them is old B," she said. "And he's strong. I can feel him from here."
Buffy nodded. "Probably the master's number two. He'll be perfect."
"Perfect for what?" Olivia asked.
Buffy just shrugged off the question. "There should be a couple of supply and service rooms around here. They're probably holed up in one of those." She glimpsed back up towards the roof of the tunnel. "Janie what do you feel now?"
Janie paused and another look of concentration crossed her face. "I think I can feel them now," she said.
Olivia could see a changed in the girl. The Slayer came more to fore. Her eyes had a predatory gleam and Olivia felt the now familiar feeling in the pit of her stomach that something dangerous was nearby.
"I can take them," Janie said.
"Your job is to protect Olivia," Buffy said. "Do you feel anything else?"
"What do you mean?" Janie asked.
Faith shook her head. "Still doesn't get it."
"Ok, Faith and I will go in first. Janie stay with Olivia," Buffy said.
Faith and Buffy stayed a few feet ahead of Olivia and Janie. Suddenly Olivia saw Faith bolt forward in blur. She thought she heard a whooshing sound.
"Takes care of the guard," Buffy said. "The rest are probably in the alcove just around the corner. Faith and I go in first. You two follow. Got it?"
"But …," Janie started.
Buffy cut her off. "Stay with Olivia. Don't do anything until Faith or I tell you."
"Yes ma'am," Janie said.
"Don't call me ma'am," Buffy said. "I may be oldest Slayer on record but I'm not a senior citizen yet."
Olivia blinked. Oldest Slayer on record. Buffy wasn't even thirty.
"Let's get the party started B," Faith came back down the tunnel.
Buffy nodded. "Let's go."
