A Shadow of a Doubt - Chapter 8

The three original Scoobies glanced around the basement for the sound. The shadow enveloped Xander until he was covered with it and he fell to the floor gasping for air. The figure or shape of the silhouette was of a girl who seemed to be quite strong and powerful with green, glowing eyes.

Buffy blinked a couple of times before helping to get the figure off of Xander. The figure disappeared as soon as Buffy touched Xander. The only sign that the figure or shadow was there was the faint, uneven breathing of Xander.

"Did you see that?" Buffy asked, pointing to the space where the girl was standing.

"See what, stars? Cause I can see a lot of those right now and they aren't the friendly, twinkle, twinkle, wishing stars," Xander replied between breaths.

"You know, Buff, I know you are angry with him, but don't you think that was a little too far?" Willow asked as she helped Xander gently off the floor.

"What? It was not me! Didn't you see the girl with the glowing, green eyes?"

"All I saw was you on top of Xander trying to crush him. I honestly think you should calm down a bit, Buff. Go for a walk or maybe tend your garden," Willow patted Buffy on the shoulder with concern and headed with Xander up the stairs leaving her alone in the basement confused.

"What the hell just happened? I know I am not loosing it. There was a girl with green, glowing eyes. I saw it, didn't I?" Buffy said aloud to herself.

"You saw something alright."

"Who are you?" Buffy looked around and saw the same girl in front of her.

"That depends on who is asking! Who do you want me to be?" the girl said with a laugh.

"Oh I know that trick. I'm not saying anything until you tell me who you are," Buffy sprang to grab the girl and grabbed air. The girl seemed to move really quickly because she was now behind Buffy.

Buffy turned around and squinted at the girl. She focused on the girl and froze. The girl looked exactly like Buffy, but with green, glowing eyes.

"You're the Slayer, aren't you?" The girl circled Buffy like a wolf circling its prey.

"Used to be. What's it to you?" Buffy backed away from the girl, searching the girl's face.

"Used to be? That's not what I've heard. You are the strongest, most powerful, advanced Slayer on this earth. I wouldn't be here if you were not. I think you know what I am talking about," the girl folded her arms, turning into a perfect duplicate of Kennedy.

"Quit with the small talk and tell me what is happening.Who are you and why are you hurting my friends?" Buffy fumed.

"You mortals have little patience. Chill for a while. If I wanted to kill you I would have destroyed you and your friends a long time ago."

"I am what is going to be happening. I am Fate. I control time and you don't have much of it. Your decision of whether to go into battle with your friends or not will determine the destiny of the world. Think about it. Do you want all your friends dying out there alone? Suffering with no help?" The girl laughed wickedly, her eyes glowing and scanning Buffy.

"Did I say something wrong? You look a little flushed. I wouldn't worry about it. It's probably nothing. Maybe this is really all a dream. You never know."

"The First?"

"Or maybe I'm an old friend coming to make things right again," the girl turned from Kennedy into Dark Willow, down to the exact sound of voice and physical appearance.

"You're not real. This is just my past talking and haunting me," Buffy replied, shivering and hugging herself.

"An itsy, bitsy spider is weaving a web of lies and nesting in your mind. Trickle, trickle, trickle. Snap! All is dark," The image cloaked in red mist and solidified into Dru, laughing, swaying and spinning around in a hypnotic rhythm.

Buffy cringed and backed away into the corner, but Dru's glowing green eyes froze her in place.

"It's alright now. Mommy's here, Buffy," the figure replied, morphing into Joyce, suddenly appearing in front of Buffy hugging her close.

This did not seem like the First. Didn't the First pass through things? This was definitely strange. Buffy felt so frustrated and vulnerable that she began to cry and gave into the warm embrace of what actually smelt, felt, looked and sounded like her mother.

Ever since she moved to Italy she vowed to herself that she would back away from fighting evil and now she believed that she was going mad. Mad from not being able to turn away from the battle within her mind. It did not matter what she did anymore with her life, the fight against evil always became a part her. For so long she fought to keep her present life at peace with Dawn and her friends around. Her intention was to leave fighting for the other slayers because her work was not as special anymore to the world. It did not matter how hard she tried to ignore her calling to fight. Destiny always caught up with her and brought her back to what she was meant to do.

It was like iron filings sticking to a magnet. Deep down her will to repel fighting was weak. She had to admit that there was less action in Italy than in California.

It looks like my New Year's resolution has gone down the toilet, Buffy thought, drying her tears in her sleeve and looking up at the mysterious figure of Joyce.

"Feeling all better now, honey?" Joyce asked, wiping Buffy's last tear with her thumb.

"Yeah, I guess a little," Buffy said with a sigh, putting a hand through her hair.

"Good! Because the party is just about to begin," Faith's voice replaced Joyce's as the figure turned into Faith. Her eyes sparkled with a mischievous grin. Buffy started to scream as Faith put her hand over Buffy's heart causing some light to flow out of it. Buffy felt herself collapse to the floor. The room was blurring and getting further away from her.

"I always like it when they scream. It makes the moment more thrilling and amusing," Faith said, her glowing green eyes blinking as she transformed into Phoebe.

"Nighty, night. Wow, this power is actually fun to use and works like a charm. I want to do more!" Phoebe begged to the empty air.

A red mist dissolved into Cole's fiery eyes.

"Congratulations on a job well done. You need patience though, honey. You'll have more fun later. Right now we have a vampire to conjure," Cole said with a laugh as his body fully solidified in the room and he took her hand as they dissolved into a red mist and vanished from the room altogether.

"Slayer, are you alright?" Spike asked, running down the stairs and searching with his night vision for Buffy. He could have sworn he heard a muffled scream and he could sense something was wrong.

"What happened, luv?" He called out. No reply.

He caught a glimpse of her from the corner of his eye. She was as white as a sheet and sounded like she was barely breathing.

He went up to her and felt her shake violently. He could tell her eyes were awake, but her mind was in a different place. A place that seemed familiar to him. He could hear her heart beating wildly to barely thumping at all and her heavy breath became shallow as he held her in his arms.

"God, don't leave me, Buffy. Not now, luv. Not ever. I'm sorry if I caused you any pain, but don't give up on me. You need to fight this," Spike whispered softly, gently shaking her. "We need you!" Spike shouted throughout the echoing basement, as a tear fell down his cheek.

Andrew: Wow! Spike has definitely become a softy. It looks like he has been watching way too much of Passions. (makes kissing noises and laughs)

Spike: Watch what you say, mama's boy or I am going to personally crack your head open like a cocoanut.

Andrew: Ha, ha. You wouldn't even dare. (Andrew sticks his tongue out at Spike when he thinks Spike is not looking. Spike turns towards Andrew with his demon eyes glowing.)

Andrew: Yikes! Help me, gentle viewers! Review and hopefully I'll be able to tell you the rest of Hell of a Time.

(See Andrew running and screaming like a girl as Spike effortlessly pounces on him and the camera fades out.)