A/N: Because I was asked. . . I titled the story "Infection" because of later on. . .
(Chapter Two - - - - - - - - - - - -)
Buffy skidded to a stop a mile away from the high school and took in a few breaths. It was now completely dark and as she stared up at the moon, she wondered what she was doing exactly.
She couldn't recall why she reacted the way she did when the door wouldn't open. Was it because the kick that usually saves the day did squat to help? Was she actually running to Giles for aid to help herself?
The door was probably jammed because of ice or mold and Wesley was fine and was just being the scared little man he was. Yet, Buffy couldn't shake a fear of abnormality, a different abnormality than usual, lurking around that house.
Buffy laughed to herself and made the decision to turn around and head back the way she came. She made the silent plan to find Xander, who had probably given up the chase long ago, and go back to house to Willow.
From there, she planned trying to be a good Samaritan and at least wait with Wesley if the door still refused to open until the next morning, which happened to be Saturday. Buffy doubted anything bad could come out of this situation and she watched her breath float delicately along the path of the wind.
(---------)
Willow threw the energy ball at the window and waited until it dissipated before checking to see if there was anything. The window was barely scratched and Willow sighed. She felt as though she had tried everything and she was tired.
"Hello?" Wesley called as loud as he could go, praying that he hadn't been left alone.
"Nothing's working and I'm too tired to try anything else. Don't you know anything?" Willow asked, slightly annoyed but her attitude changed with the answer.
"I've been trying spells myself and nothings WORKING!" Wesley yelled and Willow heard a hard crack against the door and tried to hold back a chuckle when he yelled out in pain.
The wind whipped Willow's back and she wished she had worn a heavier sweater. She turned at the sound of crunching feet approaching and her heart began to race. Not knowing Buffy had turned back, Willow feared it was something that went bump in the night. Or growl, or screech . . .
She jumped when someone called her name and only calmed down slightly when she saw it was Buffy and Xander - but Giles was missing. Buffy's cheeks and nose were bright red with cold and Xander still seemed to be out of breath from running back and forth.
"Where's Giles?" Willow wrapped her arms around her at a weak attempt to keep warm.
"Buffy, here decided to turn back and wait until morning." Xander threw his thumb over his shoulder at Buffy as he rolled his eyes. Buffy playfully smacked his thumb away and explained further.
"I figured the door is frozen shut. Besides, what could Giles do anyway?"
"I don't know? Call the fire station to get them to break the door down?" Willow suggested throwing her hands in the air. The three friends were silent, all of them wanting to solve this in a different way. Xander wanted to just leave him there, Willow wanted to call the fire station and Buffy wanted to wait until morning.
"I think I'm more powerful than the fire brigade and so are you Will. Neither of us could open the door. Doesn't that tell you something?"
"If it was frost, you think the fire spell I cast would've worked. I think something ultra-supernatural is going on here and we need Giles' expertise on this." Willow was careful not to stomp her foot as she made her way down the porch stairs to continue the argument.
Inside the house, Wesley had resorted to placing himself gingerly on the floor in front of the door, his head in his hands. The house was freezing and cobwebs lingered in every square inch and Wesley heard scuttles inside the walls. Faint lines of moonlight sifted their way through breaks in the mold covered windows.
"Laissez-moi dedans. . ."
Wesley barely it the first time but did know who, or what, ever said that wasn't speaking English. It was too faint for him to translate the whisper and the second time it was said wasn't much louder than the first. He picked his head up and wished he could see his surroundings.
The third time was loud enough and Wesley strained his ears to finally figure out it was French.
" 'Let me in'?" Wesley looked at his hands, the only thing he could make out in the room he was sitting. "I can't let you in, remember?" Wesley called, thinking it was one of the people outside. "Come to think of it, I didn't know they could speak French…" Wesley mumbled to himself. He was right in thinking that, all outside were arguing and none of them knew French.
Feeling slightly braver, Wesley decided to stand and try to make his way to the other side of the room at least. The floor creaked and without warning the entire house stopped moving. The wind refused to blow and the dust that had been making intricate designs in the soft moonlight creases seemed to pause in mid air.
A different kind of chill, different than any type of wind or breeze Wesley had ever felt before, slid along his cheek and disappeared only for a moment before returning to do the same. The next time, the chill glided down his whole body, ending right at the tips of his shoes.
Wesley began backing away to the door again and his back hit it with a slam. He thought it was over but noticed the wind was unmoved and the dust particles were still paused. He had never been more terrified in his life.
(---------)
Outside, Buffy was about to make an interesting point when Willow shushed her and looked around. Buffy noticed that look and it was the 'something's-not-right' look.
"What's wrong Will?" Buffy whispered.
"Don't you feel it? Look at the tree." Willow pointed at the tree, once branches dancing in the wind, now as placid as a sleeping baby. Xander breathed out and watched as his breath cloud seemed to drop to the ground like a limp piece of celery, rather than drift and slowly dissipate.
"Why did the wind stop?" Buffy's heart raced. Something definitely wasn't right and at the moment, she regretted not getting Giles.
It was the creepiest feeling when everything stops moving. It was entirely silent – not even the chirp of a cricket was heard.
The trio cautiously stepped up to the door and they looked at each other before Buffy called out.
"Wesley? Are you okay?" after receiving no response she tried again. "Hello? Wes?" Suddenly, from inside the house somebody screamed. Buffy turned to Willow, her eyes wide. "Will . . . go get Giles."
Willow didn't have to be told twice and she turned and ran off into the night at full speed. Buffy turned back to the door, Xander close by her side.
"Wesley?" Xander called.
Wesley couldn't respond for he was unconscious and even if he was awake, he wouldn't have been able to answer back.
The wind refused to blow and the dust settled confidently on the ground now, it's purpose complete.
Chapter three on the way!