Chapter 10: Two Roads to Take

-The Graveyard Woods-

They had been running through the woods for what had seemed like forever. Hiding until the demons left, they were all split up into three groups, separated, not knowing what had happened to the others. However they all knew where they should meet, Spike had gotten Dawn out of the graveyard as fast as he could, however they had gotten lost a few times when going strange directions to avoid the demons, however when they went to get into the car they had driven in they realized that it had been torched, it sat in the parking lot on fire, the metal and leather seats burning, causing an awful smell. They could hear the loud noise of motorcycles roaring in the background and took off in the direction of the magic box, when they got out into the open street Spike realized that they needed some wheels or they'd never make it there all the way unharmed. He could hear a single demon biker on his was down the road and told Dawn to where she was as he went to stand in the middle of the street. As the biker came rolling down the road, Spike knocked him off, and his bike went skittering along the road. He called Dawn over and they drove to the magic box.

-Magic Box-

Spike pulls the bike up out in front of the magic box to find that it luckily hadn't been raided, yet. He grabs Dawn's hand and pulls her into the shop to find a very scared Anya holding a baseball bat about to hit Spike, he flinches for a moment but then Anya realizes who he is and puts the bat down. Tara is also sitting at the table.

Anya: "Oh… it's you… have you seen Xander?"

Spike: "uh, sorry no… How'd the both of you get here so soon?"

Tara: "I used a locator spell t-to guide us out of the woods."

Dawn: "Are we going to be safe in here?"

Spike: "Yea… yea we'll be fine nibblet… go sit down."

Dawn sits down at the round table where Tara is sitting, Anya is standing by the counter and Spike is currently looking out the window at the destruction outside. He watches as demons roar down the street, buildings were set on fire and shops were being broken into, and Spike wondered how long it would be until they tried to break into the magic box. Then he sees what he had been hoping not to, two demons approach the shop, one held a large piece of wood which looked to have nails in it. They point to Spike's motorcycle which was parked outside the shop, then the one demon picks up a rock and throws it at the window, it hits and causes the window to crack, however it dosen't break in. There is an audible gasp of shock from everyone in the magic box.

Anya: "Hey!"

Spike: "Anya, I don't think it's a good idea to yell at the demons and let them know that we're all in here.'

Dawn: "Spike, what are we gonna do?"

Spike looks at Dawn and then at everyone in the room, he thinks back to what Buffy had said to him at top the tower in his last event amend, he thinks about what she said to him just before they had gone to fight Glory, when she had re-invited him into the house. She had trusted him, relied on him to protect her friends.

Spike: "You all wait here… m' gonna go get rid of these blokes."

Spike walks out the door of the magic box and into the night, the demons before him approach and Spike puts on his best performance to persuade them to leave, with a turn of his head he vamps out, while inside the magic box Dawn had run to the window to see what would happen.

Spike: "This shop's been picked clean like the rest of em… I must say when you lot start something you really try to finish it."

Demon: "And just who are you."

Spike: "The name's Spike."

Demon: "Well, Spike… This is our town now, and there isn't going to be any room for low life vamps, so either get out of our way."

Demon2: "Or, well make you get out of our way."

Spike: "I'm not going anywhere."

Demon: "Then I guess we'll have to…"

Spike throws the first punch knocking the demon off guard, however soon it is a full on fight, Spike held his ground well, however it was two against one and they were good fighters. Any other vamp would have been dead already, it was a full on fist fight back and forth, until the demon who had been holding his two by four with nails in it decided to put it to use, he hit Spike hard over the head and the vamp fell to the ground lying on his back, the pain in his head making his vision blurred, then he saw the two demons above him and a two by four aimed at his heart.

Demon2: "Like I said, we'll make you get out of our way."

The demon lifts the makeshift stake and is about to plunge it into Spike's heart when everything goes white. He had almost forgotten that he wasn't in reality; it was only an event amend, not really the past, but simply a chance to prove something. He was already dead.

-Elsewhere-

Spike awakes to blinding white lights once again, however when he looks around he realizes that he is somewhere that he didn't recognize, this wasn't the sorting station. Spike twirls around trying to see something that would explaine where he was, but he sees nothing, nothing at all. It was brighter then usual, and it was complete oblivion, for a second Spike wondered if he had gotten stuck in between where he was and where he was going, but then he heard a voice, he whirled around once more trying to find someone to match the voice, but again he saw nothing and no one.

Voice: "Spike…William"
Spike: "Who's there?"

Voice: "This is the voice of the powers"

Spike: "Ah, so this is judgment then… well, at least show yourself."

Voice: "We have no form, no body, or shape… we have decided on your fate William."

Spike: "So soon, I kinda thought this would be more trial like, what with Valerie defending me and all."

Voice: "She has already presented your case… In what seemed like a few seconds for you to arrive here there were hours for Valerie to tell us her understanding of your case… as the powers we see all, we know all, but we cannot judge a persons character at this moment in time, we can understand character, and emotions of the past but exactly where a person in currently needs to be proven… We have seen your past, the total destruction you caused, the lives you took, the pain you caused. You took without remorse and your selfish actions would be enough to send anyone to hell as you would say, ten times over; however, Your case worker, Valerie has explained that she thinks that you've grown, she believes that you are capable of sacrifice and love… also from what we have seen from your event amend we believe that you are capable of giving up what you have to do what's right for another, and that you have the ability to see what is right even when it conflicts with what you want."

Spike is quiet not knowing what to say or what that means.

Spike: "So what does that all mean?"

Voice: "We are going to give you two choices."

AN: Final two chapters on their way, thanks again to all my reviewers: funkydevil206 and wicked-angel-413. Hope everyone liked this chapter, I know I leave you hanging a little bit, but I'll update soon I promise.