Hiding behind a convenient bush, Buffy surveyed the University campus. Most people on the site were either dead or running around aimlessly, chased by various creatures. Buffy didn't want to be here when the rest of the Hellmouth demon population decided to hit the newest terror joint. She glanced sideways to both Watchers and Faith.
Dark stains were smeared all over the central courtyard. Two strange monsters walked in uneven circles around each other, blocking their route to the dormitories.
"What in God's name are those?" Giles adjusted his glasses out of habit, crouching alongside Buffy.
Faith ran her hand nervously down her thigh. "Never seen them before."
Voirrey didn't comment, but eyed the movements of the creatures in question like a hawk, mouth furrowed in a taut line. It wasn't exactly a scowl, but it seemed as though she was gathering the pieces of one together in case she needed them in a hurry. Buffy personally thought the creatures looked like corpses dipped in an oil vat. Emaciated muscles poked out from their ragged clothes. Both appeared painfully thin in appearance. Each walked with a permanent slouch.
"They're even uglier than usual," Buffy said.
Giles scratched his chin. "All manner of things converge upon the Hellmouth." He looked at the other Watcher for assistance. "Do you perhaps recognise them?"
Voirrey gave a non-committal shrug. "Can't say I've seen them or read about them."
"Darkwalkers…" Giles tested the word from the prophecy.
Voirrey gave him a sharp, appraising stare. "Maybe."
Oh, please, Buffy's Inner Slayer snorted. Those things aren't Darkwalkers. They're simply the puppets.
Movement caught Buffy's eye. "Someone's over there." She jerked her finger over to the entrance of one of the dormitories, choosing to ignore the snide mental voice. A student peeked furtively outside, palms pressed to the glass doors. He sized up the walking corpses.
"He's gonna run."
Faith proved correct. The student shoved open the door and broke out into a sprint, going in the opposite direction of the monsters. Their slow, unbalanced movements didn't seem to offer any threat. At least, until the student attracted their attention. Their heads jerked in his direction. They began to shamble after him, moving considerably faster than Buffy thought possible. Their speed peaked at a dead run. Before he reached the edge of the campus, they seized the student with spindly limbs. Voirrey shot out a hand as Faith jerked forward, holding the brunette in place. Buffy hesitated as well, realising she was about to do the same thing. Faith clenched her teeth, the muscles popping on her neck.
The captured student convulsed, inky darkness spreading onto his skin, discolouring the veins rapidly. Within the blink of an eye the student hit the ground, his form crumbling into the night. Then he was dust. Nothing.
The corpses resumed their slow, shambling gait, making their way back to the centre of the courtyard.
Buffy revised her mental assessment of them.
"I think it's safe to presume we shouldn't let those creatures come into direct contact with us," Voirrey said.
Faith nodded, her eyes bulging. "Yeah… ain't gonna hear me arguing on that score."
"The bad guys aren't playing very fair," Buffy complained, parting the bushes slightly. "In my world, the most you had to worry about was being knocked around a bit, maybe some unfashionably dressed cyborg, maybe being killed a little…"
"I don't recall them ever playing fair." Giles shook his head at Buffy's words. "Regardless, we need to get past those creatures and enter the dorms. I'm afraid with their speed, that may prove to be difficult."
"Yeah, so G-man - this is where guns would be real handy. This ain't the seventeenth century or whatever."
"Contemplate that another time, Faith. As it is, we'll have to find another way in." Giles began retreating on his hands and knees, only to find no-one else was doing the same. "Unless someone has an idea they'd care to share out."
"I got this," Buffy said, coming to a decision. "We don't have much time, so I'll run out there, get them chasing me. Doubt they can outrun a Slayer. They don't look very building climb-y, either."
Instead of the storm of protests Buffy expected, she instead got a nod from Voirrey, and a worried but accepting frown from Giles. Faith on the other hand, inhaled sharply. She violently shook her head. "No."
"Take this." Voirrey placed a sun bomb in Buffy's palm.
"You guys not hearing me? No way!" Faith clutched at Buffy's arm roughly. "We gotta stick together, it ain't safe out there -"
"It's okay." Buffy briefly patted the dark Slayer's fingers, teasing them off. "Wish me luck." She grinned her most optimistic smile and kicked off, drawing the corpse's attentions. Fear and fury trickled through the Slayer connection from Faith's end. Buffy ignored it to concentrate on outrunning the very fast corpses. She swerved around the corner of the first building, adrenaline flaring up in her muscles. The thought of those creepy monsters hot on her tail scared the heck out of her.
Her assessment about their speed proved to be correct. They were fast, terrifyingly fast. Not quite Slayer fast, though. Definitely not climb-y, either. She scaled up the reception area via one handy pipe, nearly tearing it off as she vaulted onto the flat roof. The corpses scraped at the wall, not happy at her escape. Buffy smirked, proud of herself. When they began to retrace their steps, the smirk vanished. She thumped the roof.
"Where are you all going? I'm right here!"
A couple of them stopped at the sound, swayed for a tantalising moment…
Then continued moving away.
Buffy muttered under her breath as she climbed back down. She waved her hands frantically, trying to get their attention. "Hey! Stop a second! I'm only joking. Come on guys, I'm sorry I tried to escape…"
The corpses spun around and shambled after her again. With a resigned sigh, she whirled and sprinted.
She skidded at the next corner. Panic surged through her when she nearly crashed into a club-wielding vampire.
"Slayer," he grinned, swinging it at her. Buffy sidestepped, feeling the weapon whisper over her head.
Nervous at the near miss, Buffy fumbled for her stake. "Can't we talk this out?" Stay calm. The corpses won't catch you if you're careful. Empty reassurance. One tiny slip up - one dead Buffy.
She scowled at the vampire. He looked oddly familiar. Mutated and cloven hoofed. She was sure she'd seen something like him before…
Buffy choked out all the air in her lungs as the vampire's next swing connected. She flew some fifteen feet, landing hard and rolling to a stop against a stone bench. Coughing, she scrambled upright, stunned at the power behind the hit. Her ribs felt tenderised. Not broken, but they wouldn't take kindly to another strike like that. So. Vampire. Not run of the mill. Hell, he could probably pick up the mill and deck her with it. Also, corpses. Now coming around the corner. Holy…
Buffy barely avoided their outstretched arms, taking off again at the fastest speed manageable. The sudden brush with the corpses set her heart palpitating wildly. The vampire gave chase as well, roaring as his hooves thundered on the concrete.
Any ideas? She flicked the thought into her brain, wheezing from the effort of her inhuman pace.
Live long enough so the others rescue Willow and Tara, then somehow miraculously escape?
Knew I could count on you. Buffy remembered the sun bomb Voirrey had handed her, shoved very helpfully in her right jacket pocket.
If you're planning to use that, gain a bit more distance. And make sure there's nothing for him to hide behind. You really don't want that thing missing.
Yeah. She glanced behind. The vampire strode ahead of the corpses. He no longer wielded the club, having tossed it to the side for more speed. He was pretty fast. Faster than the corpses. Possibly faster than her. Not good.
Speed. Never enough when you needed it. Faith pounded ahead of Giles and Voirrey, not liking the fact the dormitories were so empty. Well, not counting the smears of blood, intestines and the occasional limb decorating the corridors - but when it came to people being actually alive or panicking and running and stuff, it resembled something out of Silent Hill. She launched herself up the first flight of stairs, sporadically throwing her Slayer senses out to seek the familiar presence of the Wiccans. Cordelia said they'd be attacked in the dormitories.
Damn. Her legs strained as she hurled herself up the stairs four steps a time, using the banister to add momentum on the turn. The window of opportunity was narrow. Once the entire underworld of Sunnydale heard about the carnage at the university, they'd be streaming in like the whole place was a club dealing free shots. Anyone lucky enough to make it out of the first wave wouldn't make it out of the next dozen. She needed to stick to the plan. Dive in, dive out. Don't hang around. Save her friends before something finds and eats them. Ignore any heroic impulses to save anyone else as well. The heroic one particularly chafed. It increased her mental list of all the people she couldn't save.
The second floor was quiet, but noise came from the ceiling. Faith started on the next flight, pushing herself harder. Time. So little of it. Her hand slipped near the top but she crouched up, hitting the corridor at a stumble. Blood-scent pervaded her nostrils. Her boots were covered in it. So was her hand.
Dashing wildly, Faith made it to Tara and Willow's dorm room. She took in the sight of broken furniture and slashed curtains, as though a bull decided to rampage through it. Several bulls with clawed hands. Chunks of wood littered the carpet. Wooden supports impaled the bed mattress. The window creaked in the twilight wind, wide open. Maybe…?
Faith slammed her hands on the sill, peering out to the sheer drop below. The Inner Slayer tugged at her consciousness, drawing attention to specks of blood running across an outer ledge to what probably once had a drainpipe attached to it. Sure enough, most of it lay shattered below. Faith began to make her way along, trying hard not to register the drop. The trick to it was to ignore it, shunt it out of mind and pretend she walked on solid ground.
And not look down.
Using her enhanced strength, she jumped up, fingers grasping onto the roof edge. They barely gripped on, and there was a frightening moment when they slipped inches before she swung up, one heel pushing the rest of her body over and onto the flat roof. She saw stars in the darkening sky, wisps of cloud.
Somehow, she surmised, Tara and Willow made it up here. Maybe they used the pipe successfully, and something else ripped it off the moorings. Where are they?
More specks of blood stained the roof, growing exponentially larger. It cumulated into a large puddle just by the raised stair entrance, coming from the section just out of vision.
Faith strode forward, fists clenched tight. Cold knots formed in her stomach.
She stopped. A tumble of moon-lit red hair stirred in the wind. Willow lay in a huddled heap, bruises on her arms. Unconscious.
Fuck. Is the blood…?
No, not her blood. Faith knelt beside the redhead. Aside from a broken leg, the bruises, and the unconsciousness, Willow didn't seem too bad. Maybe. Hopefully.
Then that means…
Faith swallowed. She swung the roof door open. Her first focus was the stairs. The next was the thing sprawled on the bend before the next set of steps.
No, no, no! Faith hurtled down, wrists stinging as she impacted the wall. Immediately she crouched down, reaching into matted blonde hair.
Jesus Christ. Faith checked for a pulse, thoughts spiralling into black recesses. She wanted to find whatever did this, and have a long, heartfelt conversation. One that involved hanging them by their intestines off a cliff.
The Inner slayer hissed in outrage. Looks like some bastard tore up her face.
More than that. Chewed on her face. Jagged teeth marks scissored over the left side of her head, leaving it a sinewy pulp of ruined flesh.
Last and not least, she couldn't feel a pulse.
Buffy squeezed her eyes shut as sunlight exploded behind, searing her eyelids. When the light faded, she whirled back to confront the cloven-hoofed vampire, hoping the bomb had incinerated it. She panicked when she saw him, but relaxed when she noticed he wasn't moving, charred completely black by the blast. He took a step. Or maybe just got pushed forward by the wind. His form crumbled into dust.
All in all, pretty creepy to watch.
The disgusting shambling oil things closed in on her, unaffected by the blast of light.
Buffy made it to the edge of the copse on the University grounds, found an oak tree and climbed up it. She watched with a mix of mild amusement and hysteria as the creatures milled about uselessly, lifting herself up higher when one scratched the bark. Other than that, they stood in a collective stupor, swaying on the spot. They did this for a full minute.
"You know, I'm really glad you guys can't climb."
None of them deigned to answer. She squinted at them, swinging her legs loose on the branch she sat on.
"So as much as I enjoy this great conversation we got going, I'd appreciate it if you all moved. Soon."
More swaying. She found it hard to see them properly under the shade of the trees and the oncoming night. This made her nervous. "Really soon. Working on a time limit, here. Normally I'd come down and kick your asses, but there's the whole touch thing you do, and you don't seem to die like normal bad guys. Got any tips?"
Doubt it, the Inner Slayer commented, But I think your words are getting to them - they're not rocking so much. Well, either that or they just fell asleep.
Buffy slumped out and shook with weak, involuntary laughter; the sort that came when hearing something unexpected. Do they even sleep? They don't have eyes.
The standoff continued. Then -
Oh! Think they're moving.
Coming to some sort of unanimous conclusion, shuffled off one by one. They split up into separate directions, one disappearing into the trees, others heading back to the direction of the main campus.
Better and better. She waited a few moments, then jumped down, making a beeline for the car-park. It didn't take long to get there. Concern spiked when she still saw both Watcher's cars, but no actual Watcher, Wiccans, or Slayer in sight.
They should be out by now. She rubbed her sleeves together, contemplating searching for them. All the while she kept herself low, not willing to draw any attention. Her senses buzzed with demonic activity, making her itch for some sort of combative action. Instead she lurked by the cars. A minute. Two minutes. Time played on her anxiety like an instrument.
An incessant chant rang in her head. What if they're in serious trouble? What if they're dead or dying, and could have been saved if you were searching for them? What if… Interrupted by footsteps, she snapped out of her wallowing self doubt and focused on the people approaching. Buffy's unease evaporated into relief when she saw the two Watchers and Faith, then fast-forwarded into dismay when she realised Faith and Giles each carried a limp person in their arms. Tara. Willow. Willow lolled like a little rag doll, dwarfed in the Watcher's arms. With bandages swathed over her face, Tara was curled in Faith's embrace like a baby animal. Faith cradled the unconscious Wiccan with fierce protectiveness, mouth thin with concern. When she locked gazes with Buffy, the simmering anger in them made her shudder.
It reminded her of a very different Faith.
Wordlessly, Buffy opened both car doors. Voirrey kept delivering furtive glances back, as though expecting to be ambushed at any moment.
"Are they…?" Buffy began, as Faith manoeuvred gently into Voirrey's backseat, taking care not to jostle Tara.
"Alive. Just." Faith was terse, her focus on the blonde in her arms.
"My car." Giles gestured to Buffy. "And hold Willow for me, please." He placed Willow in Buffy's arms and guided her to his car. Buffy slid onto the leather upholstery, examining Willow for injuries. Giles closed the door and entered the driver seat.
Willow's leg twisted at a bad angle. The shock might had forced her unconscious, unless the bruises were indicative of brute force, maybe trauma to the temple…
The car jerked into life, backing out and swerving after Voirrey's rust bucket of a vehicle.
No one seemed willing to congratulate Buffy on her death defying performance of running away from a steroid-induced vampire and shuffle-y things. Willow certainly wasn't going to say anything. Giles didn't.
Buffy stared out the window as they fled the scene of the crime. The University blurred by into long street roads. Clouds formed thicker in the skies, heavy with the threat of rain. Not for the first time, doubt crept into Buffy's consciousness. Maybe this would be the apocalypse that intended to stay.
Nah, course not. We'll come up with something.
I hope we do. Buffy watched the first drops of rain hit the car window.