The House of Xander

It was evening,. It as dark. There was a curfew. But the youth of Sunnydale didn't care. Word had spread fast about Xander's party, that he had the house to himself for the night and, although he was one of Sunnydale High's greatest losers, he was also the ex-boyfriend of the dead popular girl and also friend to the crazy blonde chick. Therefore, unwittingly, Xander had made himself one of the most talked about subjects of the night, and everyone wanted to be in his presence.

Not everyone believed that there really was a masked murderer stalking their quiet little town. After all, no one had actually seen this maniac for themselves. It was quite likely that Buffy Summers had imagined things, or even be killing herself. There were a lot of stories around school, that she was mentally unstable and that she came from L.A. L.A. was full of psychos.

Cars raced wildly down country roads, arriving in a haphazard clump in front of a house filled with loud rock music. Everyone knew that this would be a great night. It could have been that the stars twinkled mysteriously in the clear black sky. Or it could have been the beer crates and beer bongs being smuggled in shopping bags.

Xander stood by the front door, welcoming his guest with flourish. And a large Hawaiian shirt. He didn't seem to notice the alcoholic goods, or he didn't' care. He have each guest a high-five, seemingly proud of himself for throwing such a popular senior party. A van drove in, and Xander moved left the door for a moment to greet the visitors.

Inside Oz's van, Buffy shivered. Willow looked on sympathetically, and put an arm over her shoulders.

'Buffy, if you've changed your mind, we could go back'

Buffy shook her head, and forced a bright smile. 'And miss out on all the fun? I don't think so'. She opened the van door, and Willow and Oz followed in her wake. Xander came towards them, smiling in welcome.

'Hey, you made it!', he exclaimed, hugging Buffy, then Willow, and stopping just before he reached Oz.

'Hey,' acknowledged Oz with a nod. 'Nice turnout.'

'I know, isn't it weird?' In a good way, I mean. It's just, wild!' he held out his arms wide and spun around gleefully. 'I just can't believe so many people are here!'

'You can tell he doesn't party much,' whispered Willow to Buffy with a nudge. Buffy couldn't help but smile.

'Anyways, come one, come all, to the House of Xander!', he shouted, practically skipping to the house. Willow, Oz and Buffy followed him quietly, but with a little more enthusiasm than when they first arrived.

'Xander,' said Buffy, falling into step beside him. 'Aren't your parents like, going to totally massacre you when they come back ?'

'And why should I care?', said Xander with a shrug. 'They're not perfect parents, so why should I be their perfect son?'

Buffy widened her eyes, but said nothing.

Inside the house, rooms were full with partygoers, dancing madly to the music and swigging liquids from purple plastic cups. In the kitchen, a man lay on his back on the kitchen counter, guzzling beer.

'Eew,' said Willow, making a face. 'Xander, make him leave, he's underage!'

Xander went up to the guy and slapped his hand in greeting. 'Hey man'

Willow and Buffy looked at each other in disgust. 'I give up on the minds of men', Buffy shrugged.

Outside the house, two lone figures skirted the driveway, finally colliding into each other. The girl stepped backwards angrily, whilst the man stood still.

'Hey, watch it!' said Faith in annoyance. She frowned when she took a closer look at who was obstructing her. 'Angel?'

Angel grimaced, looking guilty. 'Hey, Faith,, I was just checking things out. Making sure things were alright.'

'Buffy.', Faith said with a nod. Then she smiled. 'You weren't invited either, huh?'

'Angel shifted uncomfortably. 'I wouldn't really put it like that, I-'

'Yeah, I know. It's just the asking you that was the problem. Why not just go in anyway?'

Angel looked wistful for a moment, and Faith nodded in understanding. 'Oh right. Xander would never let you into his little castle. Well isn't that a-'

'I'm going in anyway,' he cut in. 'Xander invited me in earlier.'

Faith furrowed her brows. 'Wait, I thought you just said.'

But Angel was gone. Faith sighed in annoyance. Vampires were so flaky sometimes.

Xander's party was in full swing. The house was full of carefree partygoers, and even Willow had loosened up and was enjoying herself. Buffy mingled, keeping an eye on anyone acting suspicious. No bleeding eyed black cloaked sadist yet. She had to admit she was a little relieved that she didn't have to worry about thwarting that night.

'We're out of Twinkies!' cried Xander in horror. 'I'm sure I put more out than that! What are we going to do?'

'Eat donuts instead?' suggested Willow.

Xander looked at her in horror.

'Do you have anymore Twinkies?' asked Buffy smiling.

'Yeah, actually, in the basement!' Xander cried excitedly. 'Buff, you're my saviour! Can you go down and fetch them?'

'What am I, your Twinkie wench?' Buffy groaned. 'But I suppose I can-'

'I'll go,' offered Willow, giving Oz a quick kiss. 'I admit this party's bombed without Twinkies'

Before anyone could argue with her, she had already gone.

Willow opened the basement door, frowning at the dust and darkness that awaited her. Why Xander kept Twinkies in the basement, she couldn't begin to fathom. As she made her way down the creaky wooden steps, the door slammed shut behind her.

'Shoot!' she cursed, wrapping her arms around her body as a tingle of fear shot through her. Willow had been in Xander's basement countless times over the years, but until tonight, it had always seemed so homely and safe. Now, she felt like a timid six year old, still believing in monsters under the bed and in basements.

Of course, she thought with a shiver. Turns out monsters are real.

She found the light switch and flicked it on, brightening the room to a harsh glare. She squinted, and found the box of snacks that Xander kept in the corner. Sighing with relief, she started to fill her arms with the packets of food.

Suddenly, the room was shrouded in darkness. Willow jumped. The light had failed. It was often the case in Xander's house. His parents couldn't be bothered to hire an electrician.

'Relax, Willow', she whispered to herself. 'Just get outta here'

Light filled the basement again, and she took a deep breath. But someone was standing in front of the exit. Someone wearing a long black cloak and a ghostly mask.

Willow gulped when she saw that the figure was clutching a large, sharp knife. She took a step backwards.

The masked figure tilted his head slighty, and red blood gushed from his eye sockets.

She let out a strangled sound, and dropped the Twinkies. She looked around her wildly, and remembered the hatch leading out of the house. She run up to it and pushed at the hatch hard, but cried out when it wouldn't move.

Willow looked across the room and saw the killer walking slowly towards her.

She started screaming. 'Help!' she knocked wildly at the hatch door. 'Help me!'

The killer brandished the knife, and she winced as it gleamed under the harsh lights.

She focused hard, and muttered a word in Latin. The knife flew out of the murderer's hands, and flung itself straight at her, she shut her eyes, but the knife just missed her by an inch, piercing the door above her head. She breathed in relief, congratulated herself on her witchcraft and grabbed the blade.

'Step back!' she screamed, waving the knife at the killer. 'Don't come any closer.'

The killer tilted his head to one side, almost mocking her.

'I mean it!' she warned, putting one shaky leg forward. 'Let me leave, and I won't tell anyone. Please. Just let me go'

The killer stepped back into the shadows.

Willow decided to take her chance. She run to the main basement door, and reached the doorknob. The door refused to open.

'No!' she screamed.

The killer knocked her on the head with something heavy from behind. She leaned agianst the door, and dropped the knife. Seizing his chance, the masked figure retrieved his weapon, and raised it high above her head. She gazed into a pair of bleeding blanks sockets before the knife thrust deep into her stomach and into the door.