A/N: Howdy, ya'all! You ready for another helping of Eight Ways? Well you better be because this chapter contains the Slayer arguing with the non-mutants and our favourite Zippo cracking one-liners!

            To Caltimere: Hiya ***waves*** glad you enjoy all the exchange between Willow, Xander, and Tabitha. I just thought if there ever was a funny threesome of jokes, they'd be it? Don't you agree?

            To Mika: I. am. awesome. those are my new favourite words! Hehe, sorry the ego is expanding again. I better go deflate now. Keep reviewing.

            To CosmicBandito: A new reviewer! Yay! I'm happy you like this story and I hope you keep enjoying it! Keep at reviewing!

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Chapter Twenty Three- High School Horror

                        Buffy, Colossus, Tabitha, Xander, Willow, Faith, Kitty and Lance rushed towards the screams of the people trapped inside the school. Their hearts pounded in tune as they all thought a silent prayer.

            Buffy reached the screams first. They were on the top floor right next to the staircase to the gym. The Tora-Kone all seemed to be coming from there and Buffy's mind was swamped with worry for the C Team, but she forced those thoughts from her mind when she saw the problem at hand.

            A girl Buffy recognized as Amanda Sefton, Kurt's girlfriend, slammed a guitar hard on a Tora-Kone's head. Behind her stood all the still living residents of Bayville. After a quick head scan, Buffy estimated about a hundred people.

            Only a hundred, Buffy thought grimly as she rushed forward to help Amanda, only a hundred out of all of Bayville.

            As her teammates moved to stake the Tora-Kone, Buffy grabbed the shoulder of the vampire Amanda was fighting. The vamp jerked its head around to look at Buffy. The Slayer gave it her Summers grin and flipped the vampire on its back and immediately rammed her scythe into his heart.

            "Miss. Miss Summers?" Amanda said in disbelief.

            Buffy reached down and picked up a wood shard from the guitar Amanda had broken. As she throw the sharp piece of wood to the dark-haired woman she said, "Not now, Miss Sefton." Then she wheeled around and roundhouse kicked the Tora-Kone that had been sneaking up behind her.

            "Everyone!" Buffy cried and everyone in the small group turned their eyes to the Slayer, "Follow me! We're going to try to find safety."

            With that everyone, Buffy and her teammates as well as the civilians, rushed down the halls of the school trying to out run the Tora-Kone. Amanda was at Buffy's side, looking confused and awe-inspired. They moved quickly to the bottom floor and moved towards the cafeteria to try to make it to those doors since they were the closest.

            As they made it into the white-tiled room, Buffy turned to the people she had just rescued. Her eyes scanned them impatiently as she tried to figure out if anyone was missing.

            "Alright, anyone who didn't make it say 'I'!" Xander said and when no one answered he replied to them, "Good, glad to see everyone is here."

            "Miss Summers!" Came the pompous voice that Buffy learned to hate, "I can't believe it! I knew there was something wrong with you! The minute I saw you, I knew you were up to no good."

            Buffy rolled her eyes and said, "God, Kelly, you just couldn't get killed like a normal person, could you? I bet the vampires took one look at you and ran the other way. If I didn't know you were a weak spineless coward, I'd say you were a demon." Then she saw Duncan at his side and groaned.

            Xander also saw the blonde-jock and he said with annoyance, "Oh, my day just keeps on getting better and better. Risk my neck to save the kind of people who would've beaten me up in high school. Why couldn't the chess team have survived? Why must the nerds always go first!?"

            Kelly moved right up into Buffy's face, saying testily, "You brought this, didn't you Miss Summers!? You're a mutant, aren't you!? I knew it! You're probably related to that Summers boy. See, I told you the mutants would destroy us!"

            Slayers can't kill humans, Slayers can't kill humans, Slayers can't kill humans, Buffy chanted to herself, "Listen Kelly, I'm doing this for your own good. You know those guys out there, they want to kill you. The whole 'suck you blood' deal. I'm the only thing stopping them. Well, me and my horde of mutants. How do you like them apples?"

            "You're fired!" Kelly shouted heatedly.

            Slayers can't kill humans, Slayer can't kill humans., "Ah, geez, and just when I was planning the best prom ever! I had everything planned out! There was- oh, wait! I guess it doesn't matter now seeing as how THE WORLD IS GOING TO BE DESTROYED!"

            "Do you want me to kill him for you?" Colossus asked, stretching his sword.

            "Don't tempt me." Buffy murmured as Kelly's face got suspiciously red. Slayers can't kill humans, Slayers can't kill humans, Slayer can't kill humans.

            "And when we get out of this I'm going to tell the president about what you've done! All the mutants will be kept on a shorter leash from now on! And you, you Miss Summers will be looking at a jail cell!

            Slayers can't. Slayers can't. not allowed to kill humans. can't kill him. can't kill him, Buffy said, her fist clenching.

            "You've made the biggest mistake of your life, Summers!"

            I can't kill- ah, screw it! Buffy's face twisted in both rage and disgust as she rammed her first hard into Kelly's face. The principal choked in surprised and then collapsed into a heap. Duncan moved to help him to his feet.

            "Nice move." Colossus said in approval.

            "Buffy," Willow said wearily, "I though you weren't allowed to kill humans."

            "I'm not." Buffy agreed, frowning as if that was a great disappointment, "But I don't remember not being allowed to hurt. Besides you can't kill Kelly, he's like a cockroach."

            "Ah, B," Faith said moving up to her Slaying partner, "we've got a problem. You're not going to like it very much. Not at all, really."

            Buffy rolled her eyes, "Why am I not surprised? Okay, Faith, what's the stitch?"

            Faith looked backed towards the exit doors, where Xander and Tabitha stood pounding on it, "See those doors over there? Ah yeah, we can't open them. Someone's put some kinda of witchy spell on them."

            Turning to her redheaded companion, the blonde Slayer said, "Will, do you think you could do something about that? I mean magick is your forte, isn't?"

            Willow frowned and looked towards the magicked doors. She shook her head sadly, "Even from here, Buffy, I can tell I'd need some heavy books, magick items, and more power. Whoever did this knew what they were doing."

            "Great. Why can't we ever have an amateur enemy?"
            "What about Andrew and Jonathon?" Faith said, "They were wannabes if there ever was one."

            "I mean evil yet non-annoying amateurs."

            "Buffy?" Xander said as he and Tabitha walked up to the Slayer and her rescued humans, "Don't you think we should like. I dunno. leave. maybe?"

            "It won't take long for the vampires to pick up our smell." Tabitha pointed out, "And then it's an all-you-can eat feast of human blood. We don't want that, right?"

            "I guess we start moving. We'll head towards the gym. Since its closer, we'll have a better chance of surviving." Buffy said, going over the plan in her mind.

            "Wasn't that like where the vampires are coming from?" Kitty wondered.

            "Yeah, wouldn't we just be handing ourselves to them on a silver platter?" Lance pointed out and Buffy nodded, considering.

            "Well, we really don't have a choice, Lance. We're sitting ducks by just staying here, too. Maybe we'll be lucky and the Tora-Kone will have left the gym. If they have, then we got a clean break. It's a risk we have to take." Buffy said.

            "I say we do it." Colossus said and Buffy turned to smile up at him, "After all, Buffy is right. Staying here will only give them a better opportunity of getting us."

            "Everyone!" Kitty shouted, pulling herself away from the door. She had half of her body phased through the door, "The Tora-Kone are like heading this way!"

            Buffy clapped her hands in a panic, "Alright, you heard the hell kitten! Faith, I want you to lead with Kitty and Lance. Tabitha and Xander, guard the middle. Colossus, you and I will be bringing up the rear. Will, by me, got it?"

            "Why should we listen to you?" Duncan demanded suddenly, throwing a haughty look at the Slayer.

            The blonde Slayer shrugged, "I didn't say you had to." she pointed.

            "Yeah," The Dark Slayer agreed, "you can just stay here and deal with the Tora-Kone when they get here. Sounds good to me. How 'bout you?"

            Duncan glowered but didn't protest anymore. Everyone got in formation. Buffy gripped her scythe and besides her, Willow muttered a prayer.

            Amanda came up to Buffy and said softly, "Is Kurt alright? I've been so worried about him?"

            Buffy frowned, "He was okay last time I saw him." She didn't mention to Amanda that the last time she had seen Kurt was right before she had sent his team into battle with the Tora-Kone. She didn't want to worry the young woman.

            Amanda sighed, but with relief, "I just want to see him again so badly."

            Buffy patted her shoulder, "I promise, I'll do my best to get you to him."

            And then they were moving in silence. Faith's back was stiff and Lance was standing protectively next to Kitty. Their feet, the Slayers, mutants and now the civilians, pounded against the linoleum. Buffy's eyes scanned every corner, every inch of the school, making sure it was safe.

            Then they reached the gym.

            Relief pumped through Buffy as she saw the safe Team C propped up against the wall, trying to heal themselves. Jean was leaning into Scott, her head resting on his chest and his arm was around his shoulder. Jean's eyes were closed and Buffy guessed Scott's were as well. Ori and Pyro had their backs pressed against one another and they drew in long ragged breaths. Ori's hair was raggedly looking, losing what little curl it had, and the same went with Pyro's hair. Kurt was propped up against the wall besides Jean and Scott, looking worried and sick. He was in his regular form and his blue fur was looking very pale.

            Next to Buffy, Amanda's pretty face broke into a smile, "KURT!!" She shouted, rushing towards her boyfriend.

            Kurt turned at the sound of his voice and his whole body lit up. He met Amanda halfway and spun her around in the circle of his arms, "I vas so vorried about you! I zought we hadn't made it!"
            Amanda pressed her head into Kurt's shoulder and began to sob with joy. Kurt stroked her hair lovingly, trying to soothe her. Buffy was touched by the pretty picture they made but now was not the time.

            "I'm glad to see all of C Team is okay, but we'll have to move again." Buffy pointed out, "It won't take long for the Tora-Kone to realize where we are."

            Ori and Pyro helped each other to their feet, as did Scott and Jean. Ori groaned and leaned against Pyro, who supported them both.

            "I'm in Hell, aren't I?" Ori groaned, "That can be the only reason why I'm being forced to move when I can't even feel my legs."

            Pyro shook his head at her and said, "We don't have time for you to complain, luv. Unless you want to be the main course?"

            Ori paled, "Good point let's go."

            "Where's Gambit and Rogue?" Scott demanded when he noticed the two missing teammates.

            "Rogue got injured." Faith explained, "So I told Gambit to take her back to the Institute. Hopefully, they made it. Hopefully."

            Jean bit her lower lip in worry, "I hope they're okay."

            "Guys, I think we should like go!" Kitty shouted suddenly and everyone turned to watch Tora-Kone rush into the room.

            Come on!" Lance shouted, grabbing Kitty's hand and pulling her through the hole made by Ori and Pyro. Buffy nodded and everyone followed them, the Tora-Kone right on their heels.

            Buffy and her team rushed into the night air, the growls of demonic vampires following them. Outside, there were hundreds more waiting for them. Buffy knew they were being forced into a trap. The Tora-Kone were purposely not allowing them to go anywhere they didn't want the Slayer and her people going.

            They were being forced into the football field.

            As everyone crowded around the Slayer in the middle of the wet green field, Faith moved up to Buffy's side. Clutched in her hand was a stake and there was a vicious light to the Dark One's eyes. She was high on battle rage.

            But her eyes turned sober as Faith looked around the field, "I don't like this." she muttered against Buffy's ear.

            "Kinda seems like a trap?" Buffy wondered, her fingers tightening around her scythe. Her eyes narrowed when she saw no Tora-Kone rushing after them. Though it should bring her joy to see no enemies, a feeling of dread twisted Buffy's stomach.

            Then all of a sudden there were Tora-Kone. Hundreds of them, all surrounding Buffy and the others. Their fangs glowed in the moonlight and Buffy's heart started to pound. She pushed herself up against Colossus.

            "Differently a trap." Faith said.

            "What do we do now?" Kurt asked, holding Amanda to him.

            Just as Buffy opened her mouth to reply a Tora-Kone howled and suddenly all the vampire were rushing towards them, ready to give them all the kiss of death.

            "Fight." Was the Slayer's answer.

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                        O_o. Ooooh! A cliffhanger! So what's gonna happen to everyone? How will Buffy manage to save them? Will someone offer some aid? You'll just have to find out on the next chapter, Dark Places, where Buffy and the mutants battle the Tora-Kone! Until then please, please, PLEASE review!

                                    "I swear to drunk I'm not God!"

                                                -Lizzy Rebel