Q/A - Sikanda - I'm sorry you don't like Riley, but I told you back in chapter 70 that Riley would be in the story. He will not be killed. Good news though I'm thinking of skipping his return in season 6.
Chapter 94: Hush
The last rays of the afternoon sun pour into the class, blacklighting the students and washing Professor Walsh's face in rich amber as she speaks. Buffy sits near the front, by Willow. Riley stands to one side of the class.
"So this is what it is. Talking about communication, talking about language. Not the same thing. It's about the way a child can recognize and produce phonemes that don't occur in its native language. It's about inspiration, not the idea but the moment before the idea when it's total, when it blossoms in your mind and connects to everything, before the coherent thought that gives it shape, that locks it in and cuts it off from the universal. When you can articulate it, it becomes smaller. It's about thoughts and experiences that we don't have a word for. A demonstration. Payson Halliwell." Professor Walsh says.
Buffy looks around her. Me?
"Thank you for volunteering. Come down to the front here." Professor Walsh says as hesitantly, Buffy does. Stands by Professor Walsh. "Typical college girl, one assumes. Lie down on my desk."
"What?" Buffy asks.
"Go ahead. You're perfectly safe." Professor Walsh says.
Buffy does, pretty embarrassed. Some titters from the class. She lies on her back, propped up on her elbows and waiting for the next thing.
"Riley. If you could oblige?" Professor Walsh asks.
Riley moves from his spot on the side. He seems quietly angry at Professor Walsh, "A demonstration, right?"
"Be a good boy." Professor Walsh says. Riley moves around to the back of the desk, stands by Buffy. "A kiss is just a kiss, I believe the line goes. The rest comes from you."
Buffy and Riley look at each other.
"This feels very strange." Buffy says.
"Don't worry. If I kiss you, it'll make the sun go down." Riley says as he takes her in his arms and in front of a sea of ogling students, they kiss.
As the kiss deepens, the light changes. The sun is going down. As Buffy pulls away, it is dark, moonlight the only illumination. The classroom is empty except for her and Riley.
"See?" Riley says."
"Fortune favors the brave..." Buffy says as she stands as she looks about them. Riley turns to her - and she puts her hand up. Did she hear something?
Very faintly, it can be made out: A little girl, humming tunelessly to herself.
"Do you hear that?" Buffy asks as she heads out of the classroom, slowly.
Riley watches her go, smiles as he whispers to himself. "Along came a spider..."
Buffy moves slowly through the atrium toward the hall, led by the humming, which becomes a nursery rhyme:
"Can't even shout. Can't even cry. The Gentlemen are coming by. Looking in windows, knocking on doors... They need to take seven and they might take yours..."
Buffy turns the corner and sees a little girl standing facing her at the other end of the hall. In the girl's hands is a small box, perfectly square, carved wood.
"Can't call to mom. Can't say a word. You're gonna die screaming but you won't be heard." Little girl says.
Riley comes out as well, a worried expression on his face. He comes to Buffy, reaches silently out to her...
Buffy looks back - at a hideous grinning white face.
Buffy wakes with a start, she's actually sitting in Professor Walsh's class.
"So I'll see you all Monday for a final review session." Professor Walsh says.
The class bustles about, getting their stuff together and filing out as Buffy gets her bearings. The light is different than in her dream - - just the nondescript glow of the overheads. A comforting space.
Willow is putting her books away. "Boy, that was an exciting class, huh?"
"Oh yeah. Wow." Buffy says.
"And that last twenty minutes - it was a revelation. Just laid out everything we needed to know for the final. I'd hate to have missed that." Willow says.
"Just tell me I didn't snore." Buffy says.
Willow smiles, "You were very discreet. Minimal drool."
"Oh, yay." Buffy says as they head out.
They round the corner heading out of class.
"So, were you dreaming?" Willow asks.
Buffy nods, "At first yeah. It was kind of intense."
They pass Riley without seeing him. He folds in behind them, "Intense? Really? 'Cause you seemed so peaceful."
"Of course it was only for a moment that –" Buffy says, embarrassed.
"Right. You guys headed toward Kresge?" Riley asks.
"Student center." Buffy says.
"Great. So this dream." Riley says.
Willow stops, deciding to leave them alone. "You know, you guys go, I'm gonna do the thing. I'll see you after the Wicca group."
Buffy glares at Willow as if to ask, Wicca group? "'kay"
"Bye.." Riley says.
Buffy and Riley continue on as Willow, sneaks over to the arched window from the atrium to the hall to peek out at them.
"So, tell me about your dream. As a psych major I'm qualified to go "Hmmmm"." Riley says.
"I don't remember it all..." Buffy says.
"Well, did I appear at all in this dream?" Riley asks.
Buffy smiles, "There may have been a cameo..."
"Is that right?" Riley asks.
They pass the arched window, where Willow is very subtly holding a book in front of her face.
"A featured role, actually." Buffy says.
"Romantic lead?" Riley asks.
"I'm not saying any more." Buffy says.
Willow drops the book, looking out after them with satisfaction.
A few moments later, as Riley and Buffy exit the building and head up the path.
"So what have you got going on tonight?" Riley asks.
"Patrolling." Buffy says.
"Patrolling?" Riley asks.
"Uh, petroleum." Buffy says.
"Petroleum." Riley says.
Buffy nods, "Uh huh."
"Tonight you have crude oil." Riley says.
"And homework. What about you?" Buffy asks.
Riley shakes his head, "Oh, you know, grading papers..."
"Well, that'll be fun." Buffy says.
"Not "petroleum" fun, but it passes the time..." Riley says as they stop by the wall, about to slip up.
"So I'll..." Buffy says.
"I guess I won't see you till..." Riley says.
"Yeah..." Buffy says.
They are close, leaning subtly in... could be a kiss...
"What papers?" Buffy asks.
"Papers?" Riley asks.
"Grading what papers? There's just the final coming up." Buffy says.
Riley nods, "Oh. Yeah. No, some late... papers."
"Oh. Okay, neat." Buffy says.
Riley smiles, "Right. So."
"Class." Buffy says.
Riley nods, "I'll see you then."
The moment is blown. They part, each completely unsatisfied by the closing.
Buffy gets a few steps away, muttering to herself, "Fortune favors the brave..." She rolls her eyes, walks on.
Later at the Manor Buffy is talking to Giles and Piper about her dream.
"Can't even shout, can't even cry... the Gentlemen are coming by... It sounds vaguely familiar - you're sure you never heard this as a child?" Giles asks.
Buffy nods, "I'm sure."
"All right... and the girl was holding a box. Nothing else?" Piper asks.
Buffy nods, "Yes."
"Well, it certainly could be premonition mixed in with the dream." Giles says. "When your premonition power first started it did play out in your dreams. I'll check it out, let you know if I come up with anything."
Piper nods, "I'll look through the Book of Shadows for anything."
Later the doorbell rings and Buffy goes to answer it. "Willow." She moves aside and let's Willow enter. "So how did your Wicca group go?"
Willow shakes her head.
"So, not stellar, huh?" Buffy asks.
"Talk! All talk: blah blah Gaia blah blah moon, menstrual life force power... I thought after a few sessions we'd get into something real, but..." Willow says.
Buffy shakes her head, "Willow most witches in those groups aren't actually witches. They have no active powers. Can't cast a spell. Phoebe went to one of those in the beginning and rapidly grew disinterested."
Willow nods, "I think your right for them it was just a fad. Nowadays every girl with a henna tattoo and a spice rack think she's a sister to the dark ones."
"While I don't agree with you going to the group. And have said so before. I'm still sorry it was a bust." Buffy says.
Willow nods, "It would just be nice to know there are others out there beside us, you know. Talking about us, I've been wondering. Since I'm a witch, does that mean Faith is also?"
"It's a possibility." Buffy says. "Everyone in my family has been a witch dating all the way back to Melinda Warren. So it's very possible Faith is also since you are."
"Hey how's with you and Riley? You guys seemed pretty snugly after class..." Willow says.
"See above, re: talk, all talk." Buffy says.
"Do I have to tie you two together?" Willow asks.
"We almost, but..." Buffy says.
"Get with it! I need my vicarious lovin'!" Willow says.
"I don't know - I get nervous, and I start babbling, and he babbles - it's a babble-fest. Plus every time we talk, I have to lie. Either being Slayer or Charmed comes up one way or another... it bothers me that I can't tell him the truth." Buffy says.
"It didn't bother you with Parker." Willow says.
"I know. But with Riley... I wish I could just come clean." Buffy says.
That night in a clock tower the box from Buffy's premonition dream is opened. A whispering sound come from deep within.
The whispering spreads over the whole city.
In Buffy's room she is asleep as she lets out a sudden deep breath.
In the clock tower the collective breaths of the entire city head back here. They all stream directly into the box. The hand of a Gentlemen closes the lid, who grins with satisfaction...
Buffy wakes. She's had a bit of a thrasher: The blankets are askew, her foot sticking out, head near, but mostly under, the pillow.
She yawns, pulls herself up. Grabbing a towel she heads to the bathroom, intending to beat Piper, Phoebe and Paige there. She quickly washes her face, brushes her teeth, all the morning routing things before exiting back into the hall where she runs into Phoebe.
"Good morning." Buffy mouths but nothing comes out. She stops - says it again. Tries to clear her throat.
Paige mouths, "Hey." She gets her no further. She freaks a bit, tries to talk, looks at Buffy.
"Paige?" Buffy mouths.
"Have I gone deaf?" Paige mouths.
Buffy shakes her head, points to her throat. Paige goes to her, breathing hard, what do they do? They're both freaked.
Leo and Piper comes out of their room equally freaked. Leo makes a motion about orbing up there.
Buffy nods and mouths, "Good idea."
Leo orbs out.
Later Buffy and Piper make their way through the streets. Needless to say, it's quiet, but nevertheless there is a great deal of activity going on there. They take in the following tableaux:
THE BANK, which has a sign saying "Sorry, we're CLOSED".
THE LIQUOR STORE, which has a sign saying "Yes, we're OPEN!", and a line that reaches well out the door.
A MAN, in a business suit, sitting in the middle of the road crying.
A CAR that is up on the sidewalk after crashing into the fire hydrant. A fountain of water shoots up next to it.
A PRAYER MEETING is being held in the nook by the magic shop. A preacher stands before a congregation reading silently from a bible. Next to him, an old woman holds a small chalkboard with the chapter and verse written on it.
Some ten people kneel before him, also reading silently. As they pray, a young college student joins them, kneels.
A man selling dry erase boards on the sidewalk. $10 apiece. They come with the velcroed on marker and a string to keep them around your neck, he wears one as demonstration. He's doing some business.
Piper and Buffy pass by it all, wary and watching. They see dry erase guy and give each other a look: what a sleaze.
Later at Giles apartment Willow and Giles are at the table, researching. Xander and Anya watch TV with the sound off, waiting for some kind of bulletin. Olivia, a friend of Giles, sits with a good strong drink in her hands. She clearly is the least prepared for this. She smiles politely at Buffy and Piper as they enter, then takes a prodigious swig.
Xander and Anya look back at Buffy and Piper, they nod in greeting. He stands, starts towards them - a fact registered by Anya, who still questions his affections. But he stops, waves lamely - he has nothing to say - and turns back to the TV, perching on the arm of the sofa.
Giles rises, puts his hand on Buffy's arm.
Buffy returns the grip briefly, then looks at Giles, at the books. Anything?
Giles shrugs at Buffy - no leads so far.
Buffy absently removes her board as she looks at Giles' notes - and sees the ones from last night. She picks Giles' notepad from the pile of books, holds it up, pointing to the top where he has written "THE GENTLEMEN". Gives him a questioning look. Again he shrugs, indicating there is nothing in the books.
Xander snaps, trying to get their attention as Anya turns the TV up. Something has come on: The local newscaster, with a special report.
Everyone gathers round to listen.
"We have this breaking news item from San Francisco, California. Apparently the entire city has been quarantined due to an epidemic of - as strange as this may sound - laryngitis. It seems the entire city has been rendered unable to speak. There is no word yet what might have caused this or what other effects might be seen from this epidemic. Local authorities have issued a statement - a written statement, I should say – blaming recent flu vaccinations. A few skeptics call it a city-wide hoax. In the meanwhile, San Francisco has effectively shut down; all schools and businesses will be closed for the time being, and residents are advised to stay home and rest up. The Center for Disease Control has ordered the entire city quarantined - no one can go in or out – until the syndrome is identified or the symptoms disappear. We'll bring you more on that as it develops."
Xander mouths, "That's it?", clearly frustrated. He turns the sound off again.
Buffy takes her board from the table, writes on it, holds it up to the others: "Keep researching. I should be in town tonight."
Giles mouths: "Why?"
Piper nods understanding and writes on her board, "Demons will be out in force. What better chance to prey on innocents when they can't scream to let anyone know their being attacked. I'll go with Buffy. We have Phoebe and Paige researching also. Leo went to ask the Elders if they know anything."
Giles nods.
That evening Piper and Buffy walks down the street, past a car that has hit a hydrant. Water gushes up above the car. In the background, kids are hanging out on a bench, blasting a boombox and partying a little too hard.
Buffy see something ahead, stops. Riley is by the bookstore. On the sidewalk, someone has started a trash can fire, and Riley is framed in front of it. He is getting between two businessmen who are in a fistfight. Riley tries to be nice, then pushes one away sternly and effectively when he gets in his face.
Piper and Buffy comes up quickly. Riley has turned to talk to the other guy. As his back is turned the first guy picks up a pipe - but Buffy comes up and grabs his wrist, twisting it quickly and efficiently till we hear something snap. The guy silently screams and drops to his knees, Buffy never even stopping or looking at the guy.
Riley has defused the second guy, turns to see Buffy and Piper. He and Buffy fall into a strong embrace. Look at each other.
"Are you okay?" Riley mouths.
Buffy nods and mouths, "You?" She touches his face. They hear glass breaking down the street and he indicates he should go. She nods, indicating she and Piper are heading the other way.
Buffy and Riley part as far as holding hands, then pull each other back into a kiss. He goes. Buffy watches a moment, then she and Piper takes off the other direction.
Later Piper and Buffy enter the Manor. Phoebe is sitting at the dining room table on her laptop, researching.
Paige has the Charmed Book of Shadows and is slipping pages.
They look at Piper and Buffy as if to ask anything?
Piper shakes her head and mouths, "No. Leo?"
Phoebe and Paige shakes their heads.
In Willow's dorm, Willow comes out of her room and instantly senses something is wrong. At the junction to the next hall, there are a pair of girls comforting each other. Willow heads that way.
Willow enters the next hall to find more people, six or seven, most of them clustered around a boy's room. Willow moves toward them, passes through.
The lights are still off in here, and the shades drawn. Willow enters, moves slowly to the body. Looks down at it.
At Giles apartment Olivia sits on the stairs, drawing. She's clearly shaken. Giles puts a mug of coffee beside her, crosses to the door. He opens it, grabbing the morning paper from his doorstep.
The headline reads: "BRUTAL SLAYING SHOCKS SILENT COMMUNITY"
And the sub-heading: "15 Year Old Girl Found Stabbed, Heart Was Missing."
Something starts to click in Giles' mind. He looks at Olivia, who holds up her sketch: what she saw last night.
Giles sees the picture, throws down his paper and crosses to his bookshelf. Scans the demon books until he finds a particular volume and pulls it out.
The title reads: "FAIRY TALES"
Later in a lecture hall, the lights are low - it's dim but not dark. Xander is closing the last of the blinds. He heads down from the back to the front where the other are gathered. Piper, Phoebe, Paige, Buffy, Willow and Anya are in front row seats, Willow is ready to take notes. Giles is pulling the screen down. He has an overhead projector and a series of transparencies set up on the desk. Xander stands to one side, waits with the rest.
Giles slides a transparency on the projector, we see it on the screen.
ON THE SCREEN: "WHO ARE THE GENTLEMEN?"
Giles puts the next sheet on the projector.
ON THE SCREEN: A picture, in Giles' borderline child drawing, of a Gentleman, with the heading "THEY ARE FAIRY TALE MONSTERS."
Next sheet:
ON THE SCREEN: "WHAT DO THEY WANT?"
Willow's hand shoots up. Before Giles can put his transparency up, Willow points meaningfully at her heart.
"Boobies?" Xander mouths.
ON THE SCREEN: "HEARTS." Incongruously sweet cartoon hearts.
Giles places one on after another, tells a story thus:
ON THE SCREEN: "THEY COME TO A TOWN..." Two Gentlemen on a hill overlooking a small town.
ON THE SCREEN: "THEY STEAL ALL THE VOICES, SO NO ONE CAN SCREAM." A gentleman with his hand out, pulling some smoke-like mist out of the mouths of a group of people.
ON THE SCREEN: "THEN:" A Gentleman entering a bedroom.
ON THE SCREEN: A Gentleman cutting into a sleeping man. Kind of bloody.
ON THE SCREEN: The Gentleman holding his heart up. There is blood everywhere.
Everyone looks: Giles is getting a little carried away with the blood there, gives them pause. All except Anya, who finds the picture show kind of neat. She even munches from a bag of popcorn.
ON THE SCREEN: "THEY NEED SEVEN." Picture of seven hearts. "THEY HAVE AT LEAST TWO."
Xander has scribbled on a pad, holds up for all to see: HOW DO YOU KILL THEM?
Buffy snorts contemptuously, then circles her fist around an imaginary stake, plunges it down repeatedly.
Everybody looks at her, a little thrown: the gesture doesn't read the way she intended.
Piper's eyes go wide at the implications of the movement of Buffy's hand.
Realizing it, Buffy hurriedly and sheepishly grabs a stake from her purse, repeats the gesture.
Everyone makes, "Oh, I get it" faces.
But Giles shakes his head, puts up:
ON THE SCREEN: "IN THE TALES, NO SWORD CAN KILL THEM." A Gentleman with several swords in him, still grinnin'.
ON THE SCREEN: "BUT THE PRINCESS SCREAMED ONCE AND THEY ALL DIED." A princess yelling her head off, Gentlemen falling over dead. "THEY CANNOT STAND THE HUMAN VOICE."
Taking a deep breath, Buffy lets out her best yell. Not a peep. Makes a "that's not gonna work" face.
Willow goes frantic with an idea, reaches into her bag and pulls out a CD. Mimes a person singing, then a Gentleman covering his ears in pain and then flopping over dead with his tongue hanging out.
Giles is ready for that one:
ON THE SCREEN: "ONLY A REAL HUMAN VOICE." Picture of a Gentleman perfectly happy with a gramophone playing nearby.
Willow makes a "Fine, whatever" gesture.
Buffy has written, holds up: "How do I get my voice back?"
Giles shrugs, points to books. Still looking.
He places another sheet on:
ON THE SCREEN: "BUFFY WILL PATROL TONIGHT." Picture of Buffy (that Buffy finds less than flattering) with a crossbow.
Buffy nods and indicates herself and Piper. She then writes, "Better to have backup."
Piper nods in agreement.
Buffy nods. Giles then points to himself and the others, then picks up a research book.
Xander objects. Points to himself, then mimes himself hunting with a rifle. Giles acquiesces, and Xander smiles happily.
Everyone stands, the show and tell concluded. Buffy crosses to the desk, picks up the picture of the Gentleman, the first one. Studies it.
That night Piper and Buffy patrols. Unlike last night, the streets are empty. No one wants to be out on such a night. They spot a Gentleman far away - and is suddenly jumped by four Footmen.
Buffy throws one Footman to the ground. She grabs the other by the head and twists its neck 180 degrees. It falls dead, and the other takes off, loping for home.
Buffy looks to Piper and mouths, "They can die."
Piper nods and uses her exploding power on one of her footman and it explodes.
Buffy powers up a fireball, vanquishing the second one that attacked Piper. Then she and Piper gives chase after the last remaining footman.
The footman runs through the door into the clock tower. He passes the boarded-up window, and Buffy comes crashing through, crossbow slung over her back like a rifle, tackling him.
Piper comes in the door and notices Riley is there as he reaches his gun, slams the butt into the face of the Footman.
Buffy kicks her Footman, throws another, reaches back for her crossbow spinning.
Riley comes up with the rifle. He and Buffy face each other.
Piper claps getting Riley and Buffy's attention and points towards five more footmen.
The five footmen attack en masse - too close for weapons. Riley throws one while Buffy kicks hers. Piper raises her hands and explodes hers. Riley gets his far enough away to blast it with an electrical charge. It keels over, spazzing out.
Buffy fires wide as the third is on her, knocking the crossbow down.
Riley turns and sees Buffy spinning, kicking to the head, then planting and driving the heel of her hand to the Footman's chest, sending him flying back into a beam and snapping it.
Riley is even more stunned. This girl is superhuman.
Riley turns to help Piper when he sees her use her exploding power on another footmen, vanquishing it. He's grabbed from behind. Buffy sees one going upstairs, starts to take off after it, then looks to Riley. He seems to be in control of his fight, so she decides to follow. Piper watches Riley and the footmen trying to get a clean shot.
Buffy climbs up past a pendulum and into the clock tower. She looks to her right - there is a shrine of jars, five of them full. No sooner does she see it than she is jumped by four Footmen. They wrestle her to the ground - and here come the Gentlemen, the tall guy leading, scalpel in hand.
Buffy struggles but he is about to cut her as his partner looks on with glee, the others behind. Then his partner is vanquished from the force of Piper's exploding power.
Riley stands next to Piper behind the pendulum. Riley fires his gun and hits a Footman.
That's all Buffy needs. She wrestles free, kicking the Footmen away, and starts fighting. The fight takes her over to the other side of the clock tower.
Riley fires his weapon - out of juice. He throws it down and takes on a one hand to hand. Piper takes the other hand to hand.
The Gentlemen stand off to one side, grinning but worried.
Buffy is doing her best, but it's hard - the she sees the box behind Riley.
Buffy signals to Piper and Riley, who are blocked from her by Footmen, to smash the box. He gets the message, grabs his rifle and swings his rifle and swings the butt down on a harmless incense bowl.
Keeping the Footmen at bay, Buffy points to the box impatiently, mimes opening a box.
Piper nods getting it and lifts her hands using her exploding power on the box and it explodes.
Theirs and everyone else's voices escape the box
Buffy rears back, on her knees, very pissed, taking in a huge breath.
The Gentlemen look terrified.
Buffy and Piper scream. Long, hard, top of their lungs.
The Footmen fall to the ground in writhing agony.
The Gentlemen put their hands to their ears, in as much agony, then go stiff, arms at their sides.
Then their heads explode.
Piper, Buffy and Riley look around them, exhausted, as the monsters all lie dead at their feet.
The next day at the Manor. Buffy is watching TV when a knock comes at the door. She gets up and answers it to find Riley standing there.
"Hi." Riley says.
"Hi." Buffy says. She moves aside and Riley walks into the living room and sits on the couch. Buffy sits on a chair opposite him. "Piper!"
Piper comes into the living room from the kitchen, "Hello Riley." She sits in a chair next to Buffy.
"Well. I guess we have to talk." Riley says.
Buffy and Piper nods.
"I guess we do." Buffy says.