Night Falls
Notes: Thanks for the reviews. This will be the second to last chapter.
Previously:
Buffy's eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness. Stepping forward, she led them through a wide passageway, until they came to a sudden drop. Looking down, Buffy could see the Turok-Hans. Their fell voices lingered in the air, harshly yelling, as they prepared for war. "Fuck me," Faith muttered beside her. Buffy looked down at their enemies with despair. There were thousands of them.
"You worried yet, love?" Spike asked.
Buffy looked over at him and sighed, "Maybe just a little."
Chapter Fifty-Three:
Wesley maneuvered cautiously through the bus yard. While he had hoped to march into battle with the rest of the Scooby Gang, Buffy had given him a different task. Despite overwhelming odds against them, Buffy believed, or at least hoped, that they would defeat the First. Thus, they needed an exit strategy. Buffy had placed Wesley in charge of finding transportation to deliver the survivors back to the house once the battle was over. They could not be certain how many Turok-Han vampires that First had gathered. Though the First may fall, Buffy knew that the Turok-Hans would not simply surrender in despair. They would continue to fight and the Scooby Gang would need a way out.
Wesley stopped beside one of the buses. The moon shone down on him and the silence of night fell on everything. Quietly boarding the bus, he moved to the driver's seat. "If I were keys, where would I be?" He murmured to himself. Flipping down the sun visor, he smiled as a ring of keys fell into his lap. "So very predictable."
He sifted through the keys until he found one which looked to be correct and stuck it into the ignition. He turned it and the bus roared to life. Slowly, he pulled the bus out of the parking space. He was to wait in front of the building. The survivors would meet him there. He pulled the bus around to the front of the school and parked. The building was dark. It looked utterly desolate. Wesley shivered as he gazed at the burned structure. Though he had wanted to fight, he knew that he was lucky to have been picked for his job. A chill air settled in the bus and he wrapped his coat tighter around his body. All he had to do was wait.
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"You worried yet, love?" Spike asked.
Buffy looked over at him and sighed. "Maybe just a little. But we have the advantage so long as…" Before she could finish speaking, a deathly silence fell over the cavernous room. Smiling grimly, Buffy looked down, only to see thousands of eyes looking up at her. "They don't see us," she finished lamely. The Turok-Hans erupted in a single battle cry. The walls seemed to shake from the fury of their voices.
"I don't know about you, but I'm kinda intimidated," Faith admitted.
"Like we haven't faced overwhelming odds before," Buffy scoffed.
"This overwhelming?" Spike asked, his voice taking a whimpering tone, despite his best efforts to remain calm. Buffy looked across the drop before her and saw the First Evil standing on the opposite side. It was wearing her face. Lifting its arms, it smiled, and pushed its palms outwards towards the group of girls surrounding Buffy. With that signal, the Turok-Hans charged.
"What the…" Kennedy murmured, swaying beside Faith.
"Are you okay?" Faith asked, touching her arm. The instant Faith's fingers met the Potential's skin, they began to tingle. Kennedy looked down at her hands, as if she were seeing them for the first time. Then she smiled.
"I think it worked," she whispered. "I think I'm a Slayer." Faith looked back at the other girls, who were having similar reactions.
"Just in time," Faith murmured.
"Buffy!" A voice suddenly rang out from behind them. Buffy turned and saw her sister running through the crowd, holding the Scythe.
"Dawn?" Buffy asked confusedly. "What are you doing here? You're not supposed to be down here."
"Willow wanted me to give you this," Dawn said, thrusting the Scythe into her sister's hands.
"Giles was supposed to bring this down, not you," Buffy said anxiously as the Turok-Hans began charging up the hill. "Everyone get ready!" She shouted to the group. Turning her attention back to Dawn, she grabbed her sister's arm, and tried to lead her away.
"No," Dawn said, smiling softly at Buffy. "I belong here."
"What are you talking about?" Buffy asked, looking into her sister's eyes. She saw something there that she had never seen before. A power seemed to linger there; a power that was growing with each second. "What happened to you?" She asked, knowing that something about her sister was inherently different.
"Willow woke it up," Dawn said.
"Woke it up?" Buffy repeated in confusion. Dawn nodded and smiled.
"She woke up the Key," she replied.
"They sent you here to fight," Buffy said, paling. Dawn shook her head.
"No," she answered. "They sent me here to keep you alive."
"Buffy!" Faith shouted. Buffy turned to look at her lover. Their eyes locked for a fleeting moment. "Get in position." Buffy nodded and quickly slipped Dawn one of her knives.
"Remember, the first rule of slaying," Buffy said sternly. "Don't get killed." She moved back into her position next to Faith. She could see the Turok-Hans now. They had reached the top of the hill. The first wave of vampires crashed into them. With each vampire she killed, a dozen more took its place. Buffy wielded the Scythe with expertise, lopping the head off of the nearest vampire. Turning, she sliced another through the chest. All around her, vampires were turning to dust. The dust lingered in the air, clouding her vision, until she could only see what was happening right in front of her. She had lost track of Dawn and the battle had barely begun.
Dawn froze as the vampires charged over the hill. But even as she felt her resolve weaken, she felt something else in her strengthen. Lifting the knife, she gripped it tightly in her hand. Amelia had said that her strength was not in her ability to fight, but in her ability to protect others. Dawn was not certain what that meant exactly. The vampires charged into them. Two girls near her fell. Vampires were on them immediately. Dawn felt anger surging through her. Dropping the knife, she rushed over to where the nearest girl lay. A vampire was on top of her, plunging its teeth into her neck. Reaching down, Dawn pulled the beast off of the new Slayer and lifted him high into the air. For a moment, she held him there, amazed at the strength she now possessed. Then she felt something go through her. Her hands felt like they were on fire. Glancing down at them, she saw smoke rising from her fingers. The vampire began to squirm. Flames danced out of her hands and lit the vampire in a terrible blaze. Dropping the demon, Dawn stumbled backwards, watching as it burst into flames.
"Holy shit," she muttered. Pulling her eyes away from the now charred vampire, she moved over to the wounded girl. Buffy had made no plan for how to treat the wounded; she had assumed that those who fell would not get up again. However, Dawn could see that some of the girls could continue to fight if they were able to receive some rudimentary medical care. Grabbing the fallen girl by the shoulders, she pulled her towards the back of the group, away from the battle. Finally, they reached the hole just below the Seal. "Can you get up there?" Dawn asked. The girl nodded and pulled herself through the hole, looking back down at Dawn.
"Go to Giles. Have him bandage your wound and come back down," Dawn instructed. The girl nodded and disappeared. Dawn turned and looked back down the dark tunnel that led to the battle. She could hear sounds of fighting echoing through the black chamber. Steeling her resolve, she moved forward, back into the fray.
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Faith slammed her knife into the neck of the vampire in front of her and yanked the blade out through the other side. The vampire stumbled forward, its head sliding off of its neck, and burst into dust. Faith took a moment and glanced around. She could see dead girls everywhere. Some of the girls who had fallen were still alive and she saw Dawn pulling them out of the battle. Spike was fighting beside her, though the medallion around his neck did not seem to be having any effect that Faith could see. She wondered why Angel had brought it or if he knew more about it than he had let on to Buffy. She thought of the blonde Slayer. She had lost sight of her lover nearly as soon as the battle had begun. She could still feel the other girl, however. Faith had always been able to feel Buffy.
A vampire appeared in front of her and charged into her, knocking her to the ground. Her head slammed against the stone floor and stars exploded in front of her eyes. "Shit," she muttered. The vampire lay heavily upon her. She could see its yellow eyes staring down at her hungrily. Its head shot forward and she felt fangs pierce her neck. Panic rose up in her chest. She felt like she could not breathe. Suddenly, the vampire was gone. Faith lifted herself onto her elbows and stared in wonder as the vampire flew through the air and landed several yards away. Looking up, she saw Dawn staring down at her.
"You okay?" Dawn asked, helping Faith to her feet.
"Tell me that you did not just do that," Faith murmured.
"I just did that," Dawn said proudly.
"Does Buffy know about this?" Faith asked, knocking another vampire out of the way as it charged at them. Spike grabbed it and twisted its head off of its neck.
"Yeah," Dawn said, a bit deflated. "I'm not so sure that she was happy about it."
"So you're what, a Slayer now? How did that happen?" Faith asked.
"I'm not a Slayer," Dawn corrected. "I'm the Key."
"You've always been the Key," Faith stated.
"No, the Key has always been me. Now I'm the Key," Dawn replied. "Where's Buffy?" She asked.
"The last time I saw her," Faith said, pointing through the cloud of dust and ash, "she was over there." Dawn nodded and disappeared from Faith's sight. Faith sighed and followed her.
Dawn pushed her way through the crowd until she saw Buffy. Her sister was fighting two vampires and she appeared to be losing. Dawn watched with horror as one of them grabbed her around the neck from behind. The other plunged a sword through the Slayer's stomach. But Dawn was not the only one who had seen. Faith charged through the crowd and tackled the vampire holding Buffy, rage boiling up in her heart. The vampire released the blonde Slayer and fell to the ground. Buffy collapsed onto her knees. Faith slammed a stake into the chest of the vampire she had landed on top of and rose to her feet. The other vampire glared at her haughtily.
"Faith!" Buffy said, capturing her lover's attention. Faith looked down at Buffy. Blood was spilling from her stomach. She felt the connection between them begin to fade. "Take this!" Buffy commanded, throwing the Scythe to Faith. Faith caught the weapon and felt an incredible power move into her. The vampire charge. With one clean stroke, Faith cut off its head. Dawn moved over to Buffy and wrapped her arms around her sister, pulling her away from the battle. Faith watched Dawn pull Buffy to the side. She wanted to help her girlfriend, but she knew that she had to keep fighting. Dawn looked up and nodded at Faith. The dark haired Slayer turned back to the battle as the second wave of vampires charged into the group.
"You're okay," Dawn said as she pulled her sister into the shadows of one of the rock walls. Leaning against it, she pulled the blonde Slayer into her lap.
"Everything's failing," Buffy murmured. "We're not going to win."
"Yes, we are," Dawn said firmly. Lifting up her sister's shirt, she pressed her hands onto the bleeding wound.
"You can't do anything for me," Buffy protested. "It's too deep." Dawn felt her fingers tingling as she pressed her hands against the wound. A golden light suddenly shot forth from her fingertips. Buffy gasped. She could feel the wound starting to close. The blood disappeared and when Dawn moved her hands, there was nothing left of the laceration. "How did you…?" Buffy asked, sitting up and inspecting her stomach.
"I have no idea," Dawn replied breathlessly. She could feel her power waning.
"You're tiring," Buffy stated.
"A little," Dawn admitted.
"Get out of here," Buffy commanded. Dawn shook her head. Buffy softened and added, "You've done enough. You have to take care of yourself. Go back to Giles and the others. Help the wounded girls."
Dawn sighed. "You'll be alright?" She asked.
"I'll be alright," Buffy said, helping her sister to her feet. They regarded each other for a moment. "I'll see you when it's over." Buffy said and turned back to the battle. Dawn moved through the crowed, back to the Seal. She watched as a vampire slipped up through the hole. They were starting to break through the line of Slayers. Lifting herself up, Dawn moved through the basement and climbed the stairs back up to the hallway. Several vampires were running ahead of her, heading towards the room where Willow had done the spell. Dawn followed.
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"Are you sure sending her down there was a good idea?" Hailey asked, looking over at Amelia.
"It's her time," Amelia nodded.
Hailey was about to reply when the door burst open. A wounded girl stumbled in. "Dawn told me to come here," she said faintly. Xander rushed forward and caught her as she swayed.
"She's been bit by a vampire," Xander said, leading her over to Giles.
"Alright," Giles said, looking around the room. "There has to be a medical kit somewhere in here. Anya, Andrew, look in the adjacent rooms," he instructed. Moments later, several other girls appeared; some with wounds worse than others.
"How do you feel?" Hailey asked, moving over to Willow as Andrew and Anya reappeared with several kits shoved under their arms. The girls formed lines in front of Giles and Amelia, who tended to their wounds.
"A little shaky," Willow replied. "But I'm okay. I don't think I can use any more magic for a while though. It would drain my strength." Hailey nodded. Her eyes fell on the door to the classroom. Vampires had climbed through the Seal. She could feel them drawing nearer. Taking one of Willow's hands, Hailey lifted it to her lips, gently kissing the tender skin.
"Get everyone out of here," Hailey said lowly. "Get them to the bus."
"What?" Willow asked.
"Just do it," Hailey said, looking deeply into the witch's emerald eyes. "I love you, you know that right?" She said as she let go of Willow's hand and strode forward.
"Hailey!" Willow called after her as she stepped out of the classroom. Hailey stared down the hallway at four Turok-Hans that were charging at her. Closing her eyes for a moment, she prayed that she would survive to see her lover again. Gripping a stake in her hand, she opened her eyes, and ran forward.
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"You heard her," Willow said. "We have to get everyone out. To the bus," she instructed, helping one of the injured girls to her feet.
"Wait," the girl said. "I'm okay."
"You're bleeding pretty heavily," Willow stated, recognizing the girl as Colleen.
"I can't leave," Colleen said.
"Why not?" Willow asked.
"I promised Maria that I wouldn't leave her behind," Colleen said. "I have to go back." Willow sighed and let go of her.
"Go on then," she said as Colleen ran from the room, speeding past Hailey and the vampires. "Everyone else," she instructed. "To the bus."
Willow led the group from the room. Xander and Anya were helping one of the girls, who's leg had been badly mauled. Andrew helped another, while Giles and Amelia brought up the rear, shepherding the injured girls and the rest of the Coven members towards the front doors. Willow paused and glanced back at Hailey. Hailey had killed two of the vampires. The other two were circling her. "Get out of here, Red," she heard Hailey say. Hailey smiled at her and nodded. Willow wanted to stay. She wanted to remain at her lover's side. But she knew that she did not have the strength to fight. Despite herself, she began to run, moving towards the front doors. Giles was waiting for her, holding the door open as the others began to board the bus. The first light of dawn was streaming in to the school.
"She'll be alright," Giles reassured her.
"I know," Willow nodded. Glancing one, last time back down the hallway at the Slayer, Willow disappeared through the doors with Giles just behind her.
……………………………
Colleen rushed down the hallway. One of the vampires had ripped into her side with its claws. Though she had wanted to remain behind and fight, Dawn had pulled her out of the way. Before they had left the house that day, she and Maria had promised each other that no matter what happened, they would not leave each other behind. Maria had become like a sister to Colleen in the time that they had become friends and she knew that she would not be able to live with herself if she abandoned her sister in the time of her greatest need. Barreling through the hallway, she burst through the basement door in the kitchen, and raced down the stairs. Finally, she reached the Seal and dropped down through the hole.
……………………………………
Hailey smashed her stake into the vampire's heart. It burst into a cloud of dust. Only one vampire stood before her. She could sense others coming. The vampire charged. Hailey sidestepped it and slammed her stake into its back. It stumbled forward a cloud of dust and ash. "Where is everyone?" Someone asked. Hailey turned and saw Dawn running towards her.
"I sent them to the bus," she replied. "Get out of here. Go with them."
"Are you sure?" Dawn asked. Hailey nodded. Dawn rushed past her, breaking through the front doors of the school. Hailey watched her go and turned back around. Another group of vampires were charging at her. Always they were coming; she could feel them in her very bones. She steeled herself, preparing for the next assault, when the ground suddenly began to shake.
"Bloody hell," Hailey muttered as the ground began to rip open beneath her. Diving to the side, she watched as the building began to violently shake around her. The vampires skidded to a stop, obviously as confused as the Slayer. Finally, they turned back around and fled. The roof was starting to collapse. Hailey struggled to get to her feet, but the ground shook brutally. Something heavy slammed into the back of her skull and she fell face first onto the ground, her eyes rolling back into her head, as her mind slipped into a sea of darkness.
……………………………..
Spike suddenly stopped fighting and looked down with awe and dread at the medallion hanging around his neck. Something was happening. An intense pain flooded his chest and he screamed in agony. Faith was by his side in a matter of seconds. "What's wrong?" She asked concernedly.
"I think it's working," Spike forced out, despite the pain. "I can feel my soul," he said with wonder. "It kinda stings." Suddenly, a white light issued forth from the medallion. The ground began to shake. A rumble roared up from the earth and everything started to collapse.