CHAPTER TWO

Rebecca Taylor hummed to herself as she entered her mother's home. She had promised her a visit a few weeks ago and never got around to it. She rang the doorbell but nobody answered. She was baffled, her mother said she would be home, the Jeep was in the driveway. She tried the handle and found it unlocked. She opened the door and stepped into the hallway.

" Hello?" she called out, brushing her blonde ponytail over her shoulder, " Mom?" she walked down the dim hallway which lead her into the kitchen. The tea set was set out but no sign of her mother. She went into the living and froze, unable to scream or cry out. The scene that was before her was so horrifying it made her heart stop cold.

Blood splattered the walls and the carpet. She could see a figure behind the couch, she ran over and saw her mother, two arms were missing. She knelt down, transfixed by the gory scene, her voice completely gone.


Abigail came home with Starbucks coffee and muffins. Lorne pulled her aside as the group helped themselves.

" Why didn't you tell me where you were going?" he asked.

" You were sleeping. And besides, I don't have to tell you everything I do," Abigail said shortly, taking a drink of her coffee before walking up the stairs. Lorne didn't follow.

" I have a meeting with a client, see you all later" he said-rather grumpily and left the hotel.

At that moment, the phone rang and Angel went to answer it. He had a long conversation before hanging up and turning to the group, " We have an assignment…it's a pretty gory one too."

" What is it?" Fred asked, sitting down, munching on her third muffin.

" A friend of mine from the force is investigating the death of a woman in her early 40s. She was found in her house by her daughter."

" Doesn't sound too bad so far." Gunn said.

" With her limbs torn off." Angel added, " The daughter is very traumatized, hasn't spoken a word since she found her mother."

" I don't blame her. The poor girl…poor mother." Fred said sadly.

" This case sounds familiar though," Angel frowned, " But I can't quite put my finger on it."

" We should go to the scene and check it out. Is it demon-related?" Gunn asked.

" Don't know, which is why we're going."

" Should we call Cordy? Maybe she wants to help."

Angel frowned, " She's with Connor, and no. It'll be too distressing for her. Go and see if Abigail wants to come."

Fred nodded and went upstairs to find the newest team member of Angel Investigations. She found the petite woman in her bedroom, using her laptop.

" Hey Fred. What's up?" Abigail asked without even looking up, " I have so many emails to get through…"

" We're on a case, want to come?" Fred asked brightly.

" What sort of case?"

" A woman was found in her home murdered and it could be demon-related." Fred said.

" Sure, I'll come. Don't know much help I can be though."

" Your input is always welcome. Oh and Lorne's gone to a client meeting-"

" I know, he mentioned it before. Let's go."

" Grab your weapon, in case of trouble." Fred advised. Abigail grabbed her sword, a birthday present from Wesley. It had her name engraved in the tang. She wasn't an expert using a sword-even clumsy. She had meant to ask Wesley to teach her how to use it properly-but with everything that had gone down between him and the group-she had pushed the idea aside.

She went with the group in Angel's car to the crime scene. " They haven't taken the body away yet, so we could look at the scene without disturbing it." Angel said before they opened the door and walked down the hallway.

They stopped at the entrance to the living room. Fred covered her mouth with her hand, " Oh My God." She whispered.

Abigail was standing behind them and couldn't see with the three of them crowding the doorway, " Is it that bad?" she asked pushing through them and into the living room. She stopped in her tracks as the familiar scene loomed before her. She stared at the mutilated body, the splattered blood and the room spun dizzily around her.

Then everything went black.