-Chapter Eight-

The Story of Hell

Amber slept for nearly two days solid and she occupied only bed. Clark offered to take the floor but, he felt a little peeved at being carted out of his own bed, probably, an effect of the red kryptonite, he could feel it and had to resist the temptation of putting it back on. Buffy was right. She did need him with a clear head.

Clark stood on the balcony looking over the stretch of city lights scattered aimlessly across the buildings. He could see in the distance a small dot that he guessed was Smallville. He could be there in ten seconds flat, but, he didn't dare move. He couldn't face them, not after everything he'd done or what he could do to them. He brought pain to everyone who came into contact with him, he was even afraid to have Buffy and Amber sleeping in his apartment.

He watched Buffy as he sat on the balcony. She reminded him so much of Lana, beautiful and strong at the same time. Lana, he thought. He had promised Whitney before he died taht he would look after her, at first he thought he could do that by being her friend or even loving her, but, the more he stayed with her, the more he lied to her was the more he hurt her. That was his curse. To forever be alone.

He stood up and walked to the bathroom. He closed the door and looked at the scar on his chest. It was a pentagon emblem with a giant 8 inside of it. It was burnt into his very skin and was a reminder of his mistakes and of the pain he had caused. He had been warned by Jor-El, that this would happen, but, he didn't listen, so this was his punishment and their salvation.

"Clark!" He heard Buffy banging on the door, "Are you in there?"

"Yeah," Clark squeaked involuntarily, I'll be out in a minute."

"Well, hurry up she's awake!" Buffy cried excitedly.

Clark barged through the door before realising he still had his shirt off, revealing to Buffy the large scar on his chest. She gasped in horror.

"Clark," she breathed worriedly, "what happened? What is that?"

"The mark of my family crest," Clark said his eyes lowering down to the symbol with great displeasure and hate, "and the mark of my sins."

"Does it hurt?" Buffy asked going to touch it.

"Everyday," Clark sighed dismally, "come on, let's find out what happened to her?"

Buffy nodded taking that he didn't want to talk about it. He walked over to the bed in which Amber sat staring down at the floor. He bent down to her.

"Amber," he said softly. "What happened to you?"

"What happened to you?" she replied gapping at the scar on his chest.

Clark closed his eyes in anguish. "It doesn't matter," he said softly under his breath so that it was no more than a whisper. "Please, we can't help you unless you tell us what happened to you? Who did this to you?"

"I don't know," she said not looking at Clark. She didn't seem to want to talk about the subject.

"Amber," Buffy said softly, bending down next to Clark. "Please, if you tell us what happened maybe, we can help."

Amber looked deep into their eyes. She gulped trying to build up the courage to talk. "I went to the blood bank last week," she stammered, "like I always do. It seemed same as ever. I got the shot, they got the blood and I got a cookie and $20."

"But?" Clark asked knowingly.

"But, then, I met him," she grumbled with hate. It burnt in her eyes. Who ever this man was he must have done something really terrible.

"Who did you meet?" Buffy asked sharply. "Who?"

Clark placed a hand other Buffy to shield her from Amber as Buffy went to shake a distraught Amber. Tears wept down Amber's face. Clark took her hand and grasped it.

"Amber," Clark said softer, "please, who did you meet?"

"Ken," she said blankly, her eyes wide at horror by the very name.

"Who's Ken?" Buffy asked.

"He takes you and then, he-he..." she burst into tears as she relieved the horrible memory of her ordeal. "He makes it so that your nothing. No identity, all your meant to do is be quiet and be a nobody. All they do is make you mine rocks and see if there are any jewels in them. Then, they sell them off to the highest bidder."

"But, how come you look like that?" Buffy asked nodding at the wrinkles on her face. "You don't exactly look sixteen anymore."

"Time passes longer in there. A century passes there while, only a month passes," Amber spluttered her hands shaking.

"But, how did you escape?" Clark asked. "I mean, if they are vampires, then, they could have easily have stopped you."

"I pretended I was dying," Amber said shakily, "that's how you get out. You die. They work you until you die."

"Do you know where it is?" Buffy asked anxiously. She leaned forward to hear what Amber had to say.

"It's in Suicide Slum. It's disguised as a homeless shelter," Amber replied continuously shaking. Her hands flailing a little as she cupped them together. "Please! Don't let them take me! Don't! Please, they'll be after me!"

Suddenly, the window leading to the balcony smashed open letting loose shards of glass. A dark-haired vampires crashed into the apartment. Three others following after him.

He spun around and kicked Buffy off of her chair. She flipped over and slammed to the floor. Clark jumped to his feet but, was too late as the vampire hit him in the face with a fist. Clark couldn't believe just how strong he was. The vampire ran at Clark. Clark grabbed him and threw him against the wall. It was only then, that he was it dangling around the vampire's neck. A small chunk of Kryptonite dangling around a small chain.

A searing pain flew threw Clark's body, he saw the veins on his hand turn green and pulse as the poison filled his body. Clark grimaced in pain. He could hardly stand as the vampire stood smiling. He head butted the weakened Clark. He fell to the ground in pain and gasping through it as the vampire bent down so that the Kryptonite dangled just inches from his face.

"You're not as tough as I was told," he chuckled evilly. Clark lost consciousness with a blow to the head. The vampire stood up to see Buffy taking on the two vampires at the same time. She must have disposed of the other.

He picked up a glass vase from the coffee table in front of him and with one swift blow it smashed over Buffy's head. She fell to the ground. Dazed.

Buffy lay on the floor. She could hear Amber's screams as the vampire shaped blurs moved towards her. "No!" yelled one of the vampires, "we don't feed on them. The boss wants them brought to the him. They know too much about the operation. We can feed when the boss tells us."

"Fine, but, I get the blonde," the other vampire growled. He turned and grabbed Buffy she could see the hungry look in his eyes. She was scared more than ever, more scared than she'd ever been, more than when she faced Angel, more than when she faced The Master because now, she was going to Hell.