Episode 4- Witch Hunt
Scene 1
Buffy could hear her heart pounding wildly. She stood frozen, afraid to turn. Her eyes roamed wildly, searching to discover if anyone else had heard the voice. Then it sounded again.
“Cor, Buffy. . .” It was rich with emotion.
She slowly brought herself around. Her green eyes widened at the sight of him. He wore exactly what he had in her dreams (when he was wearing anything at all): black jeans, a skin-tight t-shirt, and a long, worn, leather coat. His features were more beautiful than she imagined, though. His blue eyes glistened, pouring out his soul to her. He might have been an actual angel because he seemed to glow. Well, that could have been the radio-active hair but . . . She couldn’t help reaching out to stroke the hollow of his chiseled cheek-bone. Her flesh met his smooth face and a shock ran through her, which made her shiver. Her lips parted in a tiny ‘o’.
The reunion ended abruptly. She was knocked aside by a furious black body. The slayer pounded on Spike. Buffy watched in shock. They struggled for a moment before he got the upper-hand. He held the slayer in a hard lock and she kicked violently against it. He winced.
“Not another Dana,” Spike moaned. “Do me a favor, slayer, and keep the sharpies away from this one. I tend to like my hands.”
Buffy glanced at his hands. So do I, she thought. She shook her head, snapping out of it. She straightened.
“Okay, we need to get her somewhere set off,” Buffy commanded.
“Got any padded rooms?” Spike questioned.
“Unfortunately no.”
Spike shifted the slayer until he had her draped over his shoulder like a sack of flour. “Lead the way.”
She had to think fast. She led him up to the third floor.
“No one is staying on this floor yet. We haven’t gathered that many slayers yet,” Buffy explained.
She opened the last door down the hall. Spike shoved the slayer into the room.
“Willow, get the key!” Buffy shouted.
The door shook on its hinges. Spike and Buffy both held the knob.
The red-headed witch raced up to them. She waved a brass key proudly. Buffy snatched it out of her grip and shoved it into the lock. Then she took a step back and exhaled a deep breath.
Loud pounds erupted from the other side of the barrier.
“Is that wood strong enough?” Spike asked with a raised brow. He has a scar, Buffy thought. I don’t recall a scar in my dreams.
“I don’t know,” Buffy spat.
“Oh bollocks.”
“I can make a force field,” Willow said. She paused. “In a few hours. My energy levels need to rise.”
“Okay. It just needs to hold for a few hours. Okay,” Buffy said. “We better get someone to guard the door.”
“Any of the other slayers would be glad to do it. You . . .” Willow glanced from Buffy to Spike. “Should catch up.”
Buffy fumbled with her hands. I don’t know this man, she thought. He’s going to expect . . . stuff. The dreams never held any kind of details about their relationship. All she knew was that he loved her. She didn’t know why, and more importantly she didn’t know the extent of her feelings for him. Willow and Dawn said she could hardly get by without him, but she couldn’t imagine it.
“Go somewhere private,” Willow said. “I’ll take care of this fiasco.”
Buffy nodded. She stole a quick look at Spike before going down to the second floor and into her bedroom. She held the door open for him and then shut it softly. She held the doorknob longer than she should have before facing him.
He stepped forward. “I’ve missed you.” He waited for a response. When he received none he continued. “I know you probably want to stake me good and proper for not telling you I was back. Fact is I was scared. Terrified. I made a ton of excuses about why I didn’t contact you. First I was a ghosty, then I thought I’d ruin my heroic exit, then the ancient Illyria who –“ He shook his head. “I was just scared. Scared you would deny what you said.”
What did I say?
He neared even more. “Can you say it again, Buffy? I’ll believe you this time.”
Her lips wobbled. She backed away. “I don’t remember.”
He stopped dead. His jaw set and his eyes hardened. “Oh, right!” His voice dripped with rage. “We’re back to the denial game, are we?”
“You don’t understand,” Buffy squeaked.
“I understand perfectly,” he said. He nodded. Then he pushed past her and stormed out. She didn’t move for a long moment. She heard commotion start up and followed it.
She came downstairs to find Spike shooting daggers at Willow. The witch appeared about ready to crumple inside herself.
“Is that right!?” Spike exclaimed. “When will you stop playing with people’s heads like you have the right, Red?”
Dawn and Xander entered the scene.
“Don’t blame her, Spike,” Dawn said. “I asked her to do it.”
He deflated. He suddenly looked like a little boy who’d been betrayed.
“Do you hate me that much, Dawn?” Spike choked. “Wanted to erase me from your life? Did the slayer speak too much about yours truly?”
“No!” Dawn gaped in horror. “NO! It wasn’t like that! I only wanted to help Buffy. She loved you, Spike. She was about ready to die without you. I wanted her to be happy. That’s all. I wanted her to live. That was why you sacrificed yourself. So she could live. Isn’t that right?”
“Oh boy,” Xander muttered. He stayed back, not wanting to get involved.
“Buffy would have pulled out of it. She’s strong,” Spike declared. “I’ve always hated you scoobies, but this is over the top.”
Xander raised his hand. “In my defense, I was in Africa hiking through jungles and making friends with monkeys.”
Spike snorted. “What a world this is, whelp. My least favorite of you lot and you’re the only one who I can’t blame. What a shame.”
Xander’s lips lifted slightly. “Ain’t life funny sometimes?”
Buffy spotted Giles in the far corner. Spike noticed him as well. He knew somehow just by looking that he had been in on it as well. This was his breaking point. Spike spun around and grabbed Buffy’s wrist. He dragged her away.
“Grab a bag, pet. We’re fleeing this place.”
“What?” Buffy tugged away.
Spike slowed. “Your mates like to rule your life. I’m taking you away to freedom.”
Buffy got her arm free. She formed a fist and slammed it into his nose. “How dare you!” she spat. “I don’t even know you. How dare you take me away from the people I ‘do’ know!”
He gaped in disbelief.
She pointed at him as she walked away. “Stay the hell away from me!”
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Please don’t hate me
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