"Giles," Buffy called out as she entered the library the next morning. "Giles, we need to talk. Willow didn't come home last night and I just learned she's not in school today."
"I'm afraid Mr. Giles didn't come in either," said a man walking out from behind one of the bookcases.
The man was carrying a bulb for one of the overhead lights. Buffy recognized him as the maintenance man she and Angel had run into the night before.
"Summers, isn't it?" Ian asked. "Buffy Summers."
"Uh, yeah," said Buffy. "What do you mean he didn't come in?"
"The principal said he just didn't show up," said Ian. "Perhaps he's ill."
"Yeah, maybe," said Buffy. "Thanks."
"My pleasure," said Ian.
Buffy headed out of the library. This couldn't be coincidence. First Willow and now Giles. Angel and Giles both said that Amanda Walken went after not only the Slayer but also her friends and family. It wasn't hard to guess what Amanda was up to. She'd take Buffy's friends captive and use them to lure her to wherever Amanda was.
Buffy had to find Xander and Cordelia. If Amanda hadn't taken them yet they'd have to be warned. And she might need their help against Amanda. As she walked hurriedly through the halls he saw Harmony walking toward her.
"Harmony," said Buffy walking up to her, "do you know where Cordelia is?"
"She didn't come to school today," said Harmony. "She was supposed to give me a ride to school. I had to ride the bus. How humiliating. Riding a school bus like an ordinary student? My reputation is never going to recover from this."
"Chill out, Harmony," said Buffy. "Your reputation is going to be fine."
"Are you kidding?" Harmony asked. "Do you have any idea what it's like to be caught riding a bus like I was..."
Buffy wasn't listening to Harmony. Instead, Buffy was heading on down the hallway. If Cordelia wasn't in school it could mean only one thing. Amanda had taken her, too. Which left only Xander. And Buffy was very worried that Amanda had gotten to him, too.
By noon Buffy had not been able to find out if Xander was in school or not. She had no idea what his class schedule was and none of his friends had seen him that day. But they also didn't know if he was in school or not. She headed for the school bench where the Scooby Gang normally spent their lunch hours. If Xander were in school he'd be there on his lunch hour.
The lunch hour passed uneventfully. Buffy waited the entire time but Xander never showed up. Buffy was about to head out when Ian came walking across the yard toward her.
"Well, Miss Summers," said Ian. "Seems we keep running into each other."
"Yeah," said Buffy suspiciously. "You certainly seem to get around."
"Well, a school this old usually takes a lot of work to keep it up," said Ian. "Are you okay? You seem worried about something."
"Oh, nothing really," said Buffy. "Just a couple of my friends didn't come to school today."
"They must be ill," said Ian. "The flu is beginning to make the rounds, I understand."
"Yeah, the flu," said Buffy. "I'd better get going. I don't want to be late for class."
"You have a good day," said Ian, as he walked back toward the school.
Buffy watched Ian as he walked away from her. She didn't think it was coincidence that he seemed to be around as much as he was. Maybe vampires weren't the only allies Amanda Walken enlisted in Sunnydale. It was a safe bet that she would also have some human allies to help out during the day when she was forced to stay inside, away from the sun.
But there was nothing she could do about that now. She couldn't do anything about it in broad daylight with the entire school watching. She'd have to wait until he was alone. He probably knew where Amanda was hiding out. Which meant he would know where her friends were.
Buffy followed Ian into the school. He seemed to be going about his business as if he hadn't a care in the world. And he didn't seem to notice her following him. All she had to do was wait until he went into a secluded section of the school. Then she could get the answers from him that she needed. And she knew she wouldn't have any trouble getting those answer. Her Slayer abilities would prove quite useful in that area.
It was less than an hour later when Buffy lost Ian. He had gone into the gymnasium and she had followed closely behind. When she had entered the gym she saw him exiting through a door on the other side. As she followed him through that door he had simply vanished. There was no sign of him anywhere. She spent the rest of the day looking for him without success.
That night she snuck out of her bedroom window as she had on so many nights in the past. At least her mom was still safe. Amanda hadn't taken her. Yet. But Buffy was not under any delusions. She knew that when Amanda was finished with Buffy, she'd be going after Joyce as well.
"I think Amanda has the others," Buffy said to Angel as he came walking across the yard. "None of them were in school today. And I think she might have that Ian fellow working for her, as well. He seems to be around way too much."
"She has had humans working for her in the past," said Angel. "I wouldn't put it past her to have someone watching you during the day."
"Did you find out anything?" Buffy asked.
"Nothing," said Angel. "Wherever Amanda is hiding out she hasn't left any clues."
"We have to find them," said Buffy. "If she's taken the others they can't be safe for long. We need to know where she's keeping them."
As if on cue, Patrick McGee came walking up to them. Buffy and Angel turned to face him. Angel stepped in front of Buffy in a defensive stance.
"Patrick?" Buffy questioned "What are you doing out this time of night?"
"Probably looking for a snack," said Angel.
"Take it easy," said Patrick, "I'm just here to deliver a message."
"What's going on?" Buffy asked.
"He's a vampire," said Angel. "And I'm betting he knows where Amanda is hiding out."
"Exactly why I'm here," said Patrick. "She wants to see Buffy. Tonight. She said to tell you she'd be waiting at the mausoleum in the cemetery. Oh, and she said to tell you she also has invited some of your friends to join you."
"They'd better be okay," said Buffy.
"They're fine," said Patrick. "For now. But if you don't show up I can't guarantee how much longer they'll be safe."
"Oh, we're going to show up all right," said Buffy. "And we're going to put an end to Amanda once and for all."
"I wouldn't count on it," said Patrick. "You don't stand a chance against her."
"I wouldn't count on that," said Angel.
"You have no idea how powerful she is," said Patrick. "And once she's finished with you all of Sunnydale will be ours for the taking."
Suddenly Buffy pulled out a wooden stake and staked Patrick. She and Angel watched as Patrick vanished into dust.
"One less vamp to worry about," said Buffy. "Now, let's go pay Amanda Walken a visit."
She and Angel headed off down the street for the cemetery.