Author's Note: Wanted to try something a little different. Not sure if it works or not - but here it is.
Waste Land
What used to be Cleveland, Ohio.
Quiet.
Broken, bloody bodies lay on the dusty and dead earth. Nothing moved except for the flies which were now calling the war zone home.
The battle here had been long and hard. Both sides lost great numbers. Those that survived fled, not wanting to end up the same way as their comrades.
Movement.
Only small. She's lying there. The last. Broken and bleeding like the rest.
Movement.
She twitches. Her eyes flutter. Another twitch and another.
She opens her eyes and looks up into the sky. The stars above twinkle like the always do.
She tries to look round, she can't see much, but she can smell the death around her - on her.
Sitting up, she wipes at her eyes, hoping that doing so with erase the picture that she sees before her. It doesn't. Forcing herself to get up is a struggle. She's tired and week and just wants to give up. But she can't. The mission isn't over. She will not fail.
Wading through the mass of bodies, both human and demon alike, she picks up a fallen axe. Not wanting to have to use it, but its there just in case.
Remembering.
"We need you to go back to Cleveland. Where she took her last breath and bring back help," said a withered old man.
"But how? There is no one left to help us. Everyone is dead," Grace replied.
"When you get to her resting place, use this to make the call," he said, handing Grace a blue amulet. "Unfortunately my child there is a price for doing this."
"What is it? It can't make things any worse than they already are."
"It could get worse if you fail. I can't tell you any more about what needs to be done. You and you alone is permitted to do this task, and you alone will know the price."
"If it will help to save the world than I will do anything," with a determined look in her eyes, she stands. "I will set off now."
"Take a team with you, but they must stay clear while you finish the mission. You are the worlds last hope, please be careful."
Almost there.
At this point in time she really doesn't care what needs to be done to save the world. She really will do anything.
She see's the remains of the mausoleum that was built around the resting place of the greatest slayer to live. Realising that she didn't even know her name.
As she enters the ruins, she sees the door in the ground and pulls on the handle. On a good day this wouldn't have been a problem. But in her current condition, opening it took more out of her.
Without thinking she begins the descent down the stone steps that lead to a large tomb. As she gets part way down, she sees a light flickering at the bottom, and the further down she goes the lighter it is.
The stone steps lead into a big open space. Candles flicker in their stands around the room, revealing the carved runes on the stone walls.
The room is pretty bare. A few urns some dusty old books and...
"It can't be," Grace whispers.
Lying on a stone table in the middle of the room is the slayer scythe.
Dropping her axe she limps over to the table and touches the scythe to make sure that it is really there.
Upon closer inspection of the table, she sees that there is a a hole carved in the top. The hole looks big enough for the amulet to fit in.
Taking the amulet from around her neck. She stops and looks at it, before placing it the hole.
Pain
The room grows lighter until it is unbearable to look. Pain racks her body. She screams and grabs onto the table, fumbling trying to take the amulet back.
There is a loud bang in the room, and thats when she falls to the ground unconcious.
Moments later her eyes flutter open. The light isn't as bright now. She feels weaker, she can't move.
She cries out, tears streaming down her face. She thinks she's failed.
"Hush now, don't fight it. Let go and tell me why you are here," came a female voice. So gentle, but also powerful.
"Wha...What's happening...Who a...are you," Grace sobs.
The owner of the voice steps forward into Grace's sight. She gasps and with that her tears fade away. "You're her..."
"The names Buffy," she says with a gentle smile.