After Buffy took in her new surroundings, she knew she had to get out before she drowned. But for some reason she thought she already had, but it would have been impossible for that to happen if she was alive now. She finally wiggled free of the wires and started kicking for the surface.

The man had walked to the edge of the dock and saw bubbles coming from underneath the water. He bent forward to get a harder look and maybe se what was causing the bubbles. When all of the sudden a girl with blonde hair and cuts and bruises all over her face shot up with her arms spread like wings. The man fell back on his ass and looked in horror as he saw what looked like a Zombie.

"Bloody Hell!" He screamed. He moved on his hands and knees, his eyebrows knitted. Before he got to the edge the girl had her hands on the end of the dock and was pulling herself up onto the dock.

The man moved to help her when he saw she was struggling to get up. But she beat him to it. When he got close enough she was already on the dock. She sat on her knees, arched her back, bent her head back and screamed at the black sky. She brought her head down when she was done.

"Are you ok?" He questioned totally wigged out by what he just saw.

She shot her head up, scared shitless of the man.

"Where am I?" She asked holding herself.

"You're at Harbors Dock. In New Orleans, Louisiana. My names Spike. What's yours?

"Buffy."

"Buffy. That's a pretty name."

"Thank you." She said trying to hold back sobs. "How did you know I was here?"

"I had a dream that you were thrown of the dock by some guys."

Buffy started crying openly. "I don't know how I survived. I was anchored about 15 feet under attached to a 40 pound weight with barbwire."

Spike looked at her and knew that he was going to have to tell her that she didn't live. "Buffy, you didn't survive. I had a dream about you and you were dead."

She looked at him and shock. "No, no I didn't!" She shakily stood up. "If I did I wouldn't be here!" She pointed to the ground. "I'm...I'm dead. I...I died. Wait what am I doing here then when I should be dead at the bottom of the Mississippi River? That man killed me." She said realizing what had happened to her earlier that evening.

"Who killed you?" He asked.

"A man named Craven. Him and his buddies all took turns raping me...then they dumped me."

I think I know why you came back. I've heard of it happening before."

"Heard of what happening?"

"You're now considered 'The Crow'. A crow, that crow..." He pointed to the crow that was standing by Buffy's feet. "gives you new life. Unless that crow gets hurt, or dies you are invincible to any, and everything else. It happens when someone has vengeance to seek on somebody else. Or more plainly you kill your own killers. That's how you finally get to rest in peace."

"How do you know all this?"

"It's part of the Mexican Heritage. It takes part in Día de los Muertos."

"The day of the Dead?"

"That's how it works. Someone I know was a guide for two other Crows. Eric Draven, a man that helped house her, and another when she was 24 Ashe. She was killed trying to save him. That was 7 years ago. Since then I've only heard of 3 more. Alex Corvis; he was executed for the murder of his girlfriend. It turned out to be some rouge cops and Jimmy Cuervo; he died when some people in a satanic gang killed his girlfriend for her eyes. Then, then there's you. Buffy...well I don't know your last name."

"Summers. What's yours?"

"Michaels." She then took into account his accent.

"So where are you from Spike Michaels?"

"Um London originally. I moved here when I turned 20 and never went back. I'm your guide. You'll never rest until justice slash vengeance is taken care of."

"Well, I guess I have to go take care of some old friends." She said strongly.