Angel stood for a long second, wondering what to do. He swiftly turned around and jumped back, startled at what was before him. Angel had found himself standing face to face with… himself. Angel often forgot exactly what he looked like due to the fact that he cast no reflection so it took him a few seconds to realise what, or who stood before him. He met his double's eyes. His look-alike then gave a sinister, dirty smirk. Angel knew at once whom he was facing.

"You." He said darkly.

"I think that you meant to say 'me' there did you not? My God, who ever thought I could become so stupid. I thought that boy scouts were supposed to be smart?"

"You thought a lot of things in your time that turned out to be wrong though, didn't you?" Angel mocked.

"Ok fine, its been a while since I have been let out of my box, and the only reason that I am is to show your sorry excuse for an unlife 'the error of your ways' or whatever. I think that I should explain that I'm not actually real, for the sake of those of us who are extremely dumb, so don't bother getting that soul of yours in a twist, you are in this on your own, you are talking to yourself." Angelus explained with minimal patience.

"I am not you. I am nothing like you, you led a pointless existence, you strove for nothing and took delight in primitive things like torture and death, you…." Angel tried to continue, but decided that he hadn't really thought this one out.

"Who are you trying to convince here, yourself…or yourself…"? Angelus laughed.

"I don't think that you have quite got to grips with the fact that, despite your soul being a huge wet blanket on your girly, human loving life, it doesn't and will never completely put a cork on the fact that you are a demon." Angelus smirked as he said this, as though he had just remembered something. He continued "Come on, this is the fun part…off we go, into our future."

Angel followed his evil self out of the graveyard at the other side. His head was racing and he wasn't really paying attention to where he was going, until he found himself in the courtyard outside Giles' house. He followed Angelus straight through the door. They found themselves confronted by a very morbid scene. Giles, Buffy, Willow, Xander and Spike were gathered together around the sofa at the front of Giles' front room. Buffy and Dawn had obviously been crying, whilst, it seemed that Giles was attempting to interrogate Spike.

"Spike, it is vitally important that you tell us everything that you know about him and his past. I no that this is a new situation but any clues at to what sort of behaviour we are likely to encounter may be of vital importance."

"Of vital importance? Why didn't you say so?" Spike enquired with a small smirk. "When are you lot going to catch on? I don't care! The sooner psycho-boy rips you all to pieces the better, as far as I'm concerned."

"Oh forget it, you are as useful as ever."

With that Spike stood up and swept away.

"Giles, what are we going to do? Its not like last time…we can't just kill him." pleaded Willow in a very soft voice. Xander quickly intercepted her.

"We can't? Oh I'm pretty sure that we can. Personally I think that evil vampire with no soul or remorse isn't quite as bad as mentally unstable vampire complete with soul and full knowledge of his actions on mad killing spree…don't you?"

Angel began to take everything in. He thought he had figured out what had happened but he daren't ask his soul-less alter ego to confirm his suspicions.

"It's my fault." Whispered Buffy in a hollow, harsh voice as she fought to hold back the tears.

"Buffy, don't." Giles began.

"No Giles, he came to me. He came to me! He told me that he needed me; that I was the only person that could help him, the only person who really knew who, what he was. But I pushed him away. He wasn't coming to me as lover; he was coming to me as a friend. I could have stopped all of this Giles…I will stop all of this. I'll have to kill Angel…again. There is no saving him this time is there?"

Giles looked at her sympathetically.

"I'm so sorry Buffy, but you mustn't blame yourself. This was bound to happen with or without you. Wesley told me that Angel had become increasingly reclusive. To have a demon living inside you, as well as a soul full of remorse, with no social outlet its little wonder that this didn't happen long before now. But yes. It seems that we have no choice but to...uh...destroy him." Giles finished with an air of sadness. By now Buffy had lost he battle with her tears and was weeping on Willow's shoulder whilst Xander gently stroked her back.

"Well, it looks like you are going to get put to sleep like the big useless dog that you are." Angelus grinned. "One problem though. Even if you have as much pride as a dead horse, I don't really want to be hunted down by little-miss-cry-a-lot and her slayer-wannabe mates. So I suggest that you do something about it, if its not too much trouble."

"What? But I don't understand. Is this actually happening? Or is it destined to happen? Is there anything I can do about it?" Angel pleaded, growing increasingly distressed.

"How the hell would I know? I know as much as you do about this stuff. I know its been a while since you looked in a mirror but you do actually look a lot like me, which is a lot to do with the fact you are me. You are alone here. You are talking to yourself!" Angelus let a slight laugh out as he spoke.

Angel began to understand. He was alone. The person before him had exactly the same thoughts, feelings and memories as he had. The only difference was that he, Angel, cared. And this was his future, insane and alone.

As he lost himself in his thoughts, Angel found himself standing in the main entrance of the Hyperion Hotel. He thought for a second that he had perhaps been transferred back to reality until he noticed Angelus by his side. Angelus smiled excitedly.

"This is the best part!" he informed.

Angel could hear a loud noise coming from upstairs, a combination of screaming, yelling and banging. He was about to head towards the noise when Angelus grabbed his arm and pointed towards the main door.

Wesley, Cordelia and Gunn walked in, and then Wesley and Cordelia slumped themselves down on the seating area in the centre of the main hall, whilst Gunn hovered around them. They all held weapons; Wesley a crossbow, Cordelia a stake and holy water and Gunn an axe. They all seemed very apprehensive, and cringed and jerked at the noises coming from upstairs. Cordelia had clearly been crying and if Angel wasn't mistaken, Gunn and Wesley seemed a little red around the eyes too.

"I can't believe this has finally happened. I mean, I know we always spoke about it, and planned it but I never thought we would ever have to do it. Especially seeing as he is not even evil." Cordelia said sadly. She rested her head briefly on Wesley's shoulder, who gave her a quick reassuring hug.

"Its for the best. There is no other way, even the Host said so, it's the end of the line for Angel." Said Wesley. They both startled at the sound of Gunn kicking a wooden sideboard with much more force than would have been required to break through it. Wesley simply gave him an understanding smile, which Gunn barely returned before slouching down the wall to sit on the floor.

"I wish that the others would hurry up and get here, the sooner we get this done, the easier it is for everyone." Sighed Wesley.

"Can't we just do it? I mean there are three of us." Gunn enquired.

"The state he is in, he would have us all dead in minutes." Replied Wesley.

A few silent minutes later, the expectants arrived through the door and, as always, looked ready for whatever they had to face. Buffy, Giles, Xander, Willow and Spike marched confidently towards the three who were waiting.

"Giles."

"Wesley." The two watchers greeted each other with remorseful handshake, and a mutual understanding of the tragic circumstances.

Cordelia greeted Xander, Willow and Buffy. She met eyes with Buffy.

"I'm so sorry." She said, feeling hot tears fill her eyes again. Buffy's brave face diminished as she hugged Cordelia. Soon, Willow and Xander joined to form a huddle. They all emerged with red, stinging eyes. Buffy glanced at Xander with a curious expression, and a half smile.

"Well, I guess I care more than I thought I did." He shrugged before his face fell into sadness once again."

"How has he been?" Buffy asked in a tone that suggested that she didn't really want an answer.

"He has been getting progressively worse, more so over the past few days." Wesley informed. They all stood in what seemed an appropriate silence before Spike interrupted.

"Well as touching as this is, I will have to resist the urge to break into sad song and suggest that we get a move on. I have waited for this day for a long time you know."

"Jerk." Angel and Angelus said simultaneously, before glancing at one another awkwardly.

"Why is he here?" Cordelia snapped and the shot Spike an angry glance.

"We needed as much muscle as we could pull together, especially if he is as bad as you say." Buffy said whilst glancing nervously in the direction of the painful screams.

"Very well, shall we?" Wesley said with a tone of regret, gesturing towards the stairwell.

The group slowly ascended, followed by Angel and then Angelus. They all found themselves standing around what Angel just about recognised as his bedroom. The door and the doorframe had been reinforced with steel as well as bolted with several locks and chains. The noises were much louder and more terrifying. Angel could hear the clatter of chains and angry roars. Wesley extracted a set of very large keys from his pocket and began the unlocking process. As he moved to push the door open everyone slowly raised their weapons. He leant on the heavy steel door to push it open. Unsure of what to expect, Angel was taken aback by the strong smell of dead flesh and blood that came from the room. Despite his imagining the worst, nothing could prepare him for the scene before him.

He saw himself, squatting in the corner of the room. He was wearing his demonic face, which was covered in blood and scratches. His hair had grown past his chin and was matted with blood. He was wearing only his trousers, which were dirty and torn. His entire chest and back were immersed with dried blood from various gashes and wounds. His hands were in shackles with trailing chains, which had been ripped from a wall, and his hands and wrists were in tatters, from trying to remove them, Angel supposed. The room was sprawled with various animal corpses, which had been given as food, and every piece of furniture had been torn to pieces. There was barely any wallpaper, and the wall was a mass of blood, scratches and dents. He was staring at the group through yellow eyes and a mass of hair that covered his face, his teeth were bared and he made slow rumbling noises. Buffy had obviously not been prepared for this scene either.

"Angel?" she whispered in disbelief as she slowly crept forward.

"Buffy, no" Wesley warned.

"Angel it's me, you must be in there somewhere. Angel please..." she continued, as Wesley and Giles closed in behind her, attempting to quietly discourage her.

The Angel in the corner tilted his head at the sound of her voice and squinted his eyes as though trying to recall a vague memory that had long since been forgotten.

"Angel…" Buffy whispered as she slowly placed her hand out in front of him. Within less than a second, Angel had pounced on top of her, pressing the chains on his hands against her throat. He had pinned her arms down with his legs, as she attempted to cry out. Almost immediately everyone at the door besides Angel and Angelus had rushed in on the scene. Angel almost started forward before Angelus grabbed him again before reminding him:

"You don't exist here, remember? So sorry, no hero of the hour today I'm afraid." The scene that unfolded before him happened so quickly that he barely had time to react.

By now, Angel had been pulled from Buffy but the situation was far from controlled. Giles had been thrown against a wall with such force that he had left an indent and was lying unconscious on the floor. Wesley had made several attempts at Angel with the crossbow but had only managed to hit Spike on the leg instead. Gunn now attempted to behead him from behind but Angel turned round and grabbed the axe. Both of them fought for it before Angel drove Gunn backwards into a wall causing Gunn to let go of the axe. Angel swung the axe manically and hit Gunn on the forehead, killing him instantly. Angel was then thrust forward onto Gunn's body by Buffy who had kicked him and was now attempting to retrieve the axe. Angel grabbed Buffy by the throat and lifted her up, but suffered a blow from behind. He turned around to find Willow beating him with a broken piece of wood. He dropped Buffy and attacked Willow, ripping her neck open with his teeth in an uncontrolled, animalistic fashion. By the time Xander had succeeded in pulling him away, she was dead.

"Willow! No!" screamed Buffy as Xander threw himself into a sobbing heap beside her body, followed by a squealing Cordelia. Suddenly filled with a new, powerful rage, Buffy hit Angel with such force he fell backwards onto a pile of broken chairs. She threw herself on top of him and lifted her stake to kill him. He grabbed her wrist to block her and attempted to bite her neck. Spike ran forward to help her just as Wesley aimed his crossbow at Angel and struck Spike in the heart instead. As Spike vanished into a pile of dust on the floor, Wesley moved in, attempting to apprehend Angel. Buffy pulled herself, and Angel backwards, and used her legs to throw him against a wall. By now she had a stream of blood running down her face from her head. Angel stood up and stared at Buffy and Wesley with vicious eyes. Wesley lifted his crossbow, and as he did Angel lunged towards him. Buffy attempted to block him, but was too late. Angel grabbed Wesley by the head, and Wesley dropped the crossbow. With a brief twist, Angel had broken Wesley's neck, he was dead. Buffy had also dropped her weapon, and now Angel closed in on her, trapping her in a corner. Xander and Cordelia ran to help her. Cordelia took the bottle of Holy Water from her pocket and threw it over Angel as she ran towards him. He yelled out in pain but it only seemed to fuel his rage. He lifted a broken table and hurled it at them, sending them both flying towards the opposite end of the room, knocking them out. Buffy used this moment to attempt to escape. She lifted her leg in order to kick Angel whilst his back was turned but he turned round in time to grab her ankle and send her crashing onto the floor. He swiftly grabbed her by the shoulders and sunk his teeth into her neck. Buffy struggled to free herself, and as she did she grabbed onto an upturned chair, breaking the leg off. As she began to slip out of consciousness, she squeezed the piece of wood between herself and Angel, and struggled to push it through his heart. Angel disappeared in a cloud of dust leaving Buffy limp and lifeless propped against a bloody wall. Xander and Cordelia regained consciousness, pulled themselves up from the rubble and stood, horrified. Five bodies lay scattered across the room in pools of blood, and two piles of dust; one topped with a wooden arrow, the other with a chair leg also lay in the devastation. Just then, Xander noticed Giles twitch and attempt to open his eyes.

"Giles!" he yelled as he and Cordy sprinted towards him. Giles coughed slightly as he attempted to speak.

"What happened? Is everyone alright?" he choked. Cordy and Xander exchanged horrified glances, and stepped aside so that Giles could see the devastation. He pulled himself to his feet and gasped at the scene that faced him. He began to tremble, and then he saw Buffy's body spattered with blood, slumped in the corner. He rushed towards her.

"No, no, God, no" he knelt beside her, lifted her hand into his and began to sob. He lifted his head and began to glance around the rest of the blood stained room to see Willow's body lain on the floor, a pool of blood draining from the wound on her neck.

"Willow..." said Giles in a desperate tone. He began towards her and then stopped to see Xander and Cordelia sobbing in each other's arms. He started towards them and they both reached out for him.

Angel still stood in the doorway, with his hand clutched over his mouth and a single tear falling from his cheek. The whole scene, from Wesley opening the door, to watching the only three survivors hold onto one another as though they would never let go, crying so hard as though they would never stop, seemed to happen in seconds. He turned around; he had so many questions to ask Angelus.

"Save it." Angelus smirked "Ok, I know that you had the third degree all prepared for me, but I'm really not in the mood. Anyway, you already know the answers. Good job by the way, if you hadn't got yourself killed, that would have been one of your best massacres!"

"But, I don't know…" Angel began.

"You really are incredibly stupid, aren't you? I mean I was sorta kidding earlier, cos I didn't really want to insult myself, but I was right. Ok I'll try again. You, Angel. Me, Angelus. You have soul. I have no soul. But we are the same person. You know what I know, I know what you know, you think how I think, I think how you think etc etc…geddit?"

"Well, yeah but… I don't know what to do! That can't happen, I'll kill myself before I let that happen, please help me!" Angel was on his knees now; he didn't have the strength to stand.

"Ok I'm going now. Have fun trying to sort your sad excuse for an unlife out, and try not to get us killed. Oh, and Merry Christmas!" Angelus smirked as he slowly faded away, leaving Angel listening to the sobs of the broken-hearts that his future self had created.

"Please help! Please! I'm not a killer, please…" Angel continued to sob with his head in his hands.