Chapter 2
Dawn ran through the
darkness blindly, the trees seemed to be reaching out for her as she struggled
on. The image of Spike lying injured on
the ground flashed into her head once again and a loud sob tore from her
throat.
The next moment the
ground seemed to give way under her feet and she went tumbling down.
“Now what’s a sweet
little piece like you doing out in the middle of the night.”
Dawn screamed as a
cold hand wrapped around her throat and pulled her up, she stared into the
yellow eyes of the vamp as she dazedly watched his sharp fangs descend towards
her neck.
‘NIBBLET!’ Dawn heard Spike’s voice echo in her head ‘Kick him in the nuts’.
Dawns knee came up
sharply hitting the vampire viciously between the legs, he let her go abruptly
as he cradled his injured privates “You little bitch!”
‘RUN!’ Dawn obeyed the command, turning on her heel
and racing towards town once again. She
seemed to be running blindly through the streets, however every now and then
Spike’s voice would sound clearly in her mind ‘Go right here. Cut through the
park. Left here’ Dawn paid no attention to the darkened houses around her
until she came to
Dawn’s footsteps
sounded like drums as she ran up the pavement ‘Almost there’ she thought and began to slow down. ‘NO
Nibblet, he’s coming, not safe yet.’
Dawn put on a burst of speed as she headed towards the house, knowing
that the vamp was not far behind her.
She took the front
steps in two large strides and began pounding on the door; fear strengthened
her blows as she franticly tried to gain the attention of the home's occupant.
……………………………………………………………………………………………..
Joyce hurried down the
stairs, the frantic pounding waking her from a restful night. As she neared the door she could hear the sounds
of someone’s pleas for help. Buffy had
warned her about opening the door to strangers at night; however the ‘girl's?’ terrified cries seemed to
pierce her heart. ‘Ok, if it’s a vampire
they can’t get in without an invite and if it’s a demon they’ll break down the
door eventually.’ Resolve
straightened her spine as Joyce threw open the door to face whatever was out
there.
Dawn could feel the
vamp getting closer as she renewed her assault on the door, at the first sound
of heavy boots landing on the wooden porch she spun round to face her
attacker. With her back against the door
Dawn took up a fighting stance as her eye’s desperately searched the darkened
porch for something to use as a weapon.
Just as the vamp began moving forward, the door behind her swung open and
Dawn fell through with a small squeal.
The vamp roared in
fury as his prize tumbled out of his grasp.
Joyce looked down in
surprise at the sobbing young girl who she now held in her arms. As the vamp roared ,she casually leant forward
and slammed the door shut, a small laugh escaping as she caught the shocked
look on the vamps face as the door had swung closed.
“Shhh Shhh.
It’s ok, you're safe now.” Joyce began to rub her back gently, as she tried
to soothe the shaking girl. She looked into her tear filled eyes and took
note of the myriad of scratches that marred her face, Jand oyce felt an
overwhelming rush of protectiveness run through her.
“You come and sit here,
and I’ll get you something to drink” Joyce drew her into the living room and
settled her onto the sofa, pulling a small throw rug around her shoulders. “Would you like a glass of water or something
else?”
“HHot ChChocolate
please.” Dawn burrowed deeply into the blankets and studied the slayer's mother.
Joyce smiled gently.
“Hot Chocolate, it is.”
Joyce filled the
kettle and put it on to boil before she moved to the phone “Giles, it's
Joyce. Is Buffy still there? Good, can I speak to her please?” Joyce cradled the phone on her shoulder as
she waited for the sound of her daughter’s voice.
“Buffy, you need to
come home. No, I’m fine. I have a young girl here, a vamp attacked
her. I’m not sure it could still be
outside. OK sweetie, see you soon.” Joyce hung up and finished making the hot
chocolate, grabbing the bag of mini marshmallows as an after thought.
Joyce sat the cup on
the coffee table tossing the bag of marshmallows beside it; she turned to speak
to the girl, only to see her transfixed by the bag. “What’s the matter, sweetie, don’t you like
them?” she sat down beside her and fussed with the blanket across her shoulders
“You don’t have to have them, I only keep them because a …. friend …. of my
daughter's likes them” Joyce sat back in surprise when the girl darted forward
and grabbed the bag, before curling up on the sofa and sobbing loudly.
Dawn clutched the
small plastic bag as memories hit her.
‘The Slayer’s mum, Joyce, she’s a top bird.’ Spike had smiled affectionately as he spoke of
the Slayers mother ‘Always ready with a
hot cuppa and a willing ear. Makes the
best hot chocolate with these little marshmallows init.’ Dawn remembered that she had tried to make
Spike a hot chocolate that night. He had stoically drunk the lukewarm lumpy
concoction she had offered him, stating that soon she would be giving Joyce a
run for her money when it came to hot chocolaty drinks.
Dawn had loved him
even more after that.
“Mom” Buffy stopped as
she saw her mother sitting on the sofa, a small form huddled under a blanket and
sobbing heartbrokenly beside her.
“Buffy, was the….”
Joyce trailed off, as she noticed the others follow Buffy in.
“Dust.” stated Buffy as
she moved towards the sofa “And who’s this?”
Joyce stared at the
girl beside her “I don’t know, all I’ve managed to get out of her so far is hot
chocolate.”
“Quite understandable,
really,” said Giles “She’s most likely in shock”
Dawn started to quiet
down as strange voices began to make their way through the sound of her
sobs. She sat up abruptly and stared at
The Slayer for a few minutes before throwing herself at her and wrapping her
arms around her throat. “Please,” she begged. “You have to get him back. They’ll hurt him. Please you have to save him.”
Buffy stared down at
the girl in confusion “Who? Sweetie, you
have to calm down and tell
Dawn sat back slightly.
“Spike! They took him. You have to get him back.”
……………………………………………………………………………………………….
Spike felt a sharp
boot digging into his ribs “Shit, Riley he’s still awake. We hit him with enough juice to knock out an
elephant”
Spike felt another
presence move towards him. “Nah he’s fine, paralyzed. He won’t be any trouble”
Spike gave a sigh of
relief, he had been worried that they would knock him out before he knew if
Dawn was safe or not.
As soon as Dawn had
started to run Spike had extended his senses, sending her messages when he had
picked up on danger. When he finally realised
that she was safe, he had allowed himself to succumb to unconsciousness.
Spike woke up in a
stark white room; his body felt like it was on fire, his limbs ached and
burned. Groaning he tried to pull
himself up, finally giving up in frustration he focused on the white tiles that
covered the roof of his prison.
He started in surprise
when he heard a loud buzzing sound, and saw one of the roof tiles swing open, a
bag of blood dropping to the floor.
Spike lay still, his
eyes fixed on the bag just out of his reach, he tried to move an arm out
towards it, biting down on his lip in pain as he concentrated on his task.
After what seemed like
hours Spike finally managed to grab hold of the corner of the blood bag and
began to pull it towards him. The
burning sensation was finally starting to abate and Spike was able to pull
himself up into a corner. Exhausted he
left the bag resting on his chest as he gathered the strength to lift it to his
mouth.
During his attempt to
get hold of it he had managed to tear a small hole in the bag. Blood was slowly seeping into his shirt
“Bloody hell” he muttered to himself. After
awhile, the smell of the blood started to get too much for Spike’s demon, so he
lifted his arm to grab the bag once more.
Thankfully it no longer felt like he was being jabbed by a thousand
needles every time he moved. Just as the bag reached his mouth, Spike suddenly
tossed it aside, muttering “Fuck” At the last minute, Spike had noticed the underlying
scent of drugs. He closed his eyes and
rested his head against the wall as he tried to push his hungry demon back
down.
After a few minutes,
Spike heard the sound of his cell door opening and opened his eyes to see one
of his captors approaching him. A square
metal box in his extended hand.
“You just have to do
things the hard way,” the figure said, as he pressed the box against Spike's neck
and sent a pulse of electricity through him, once again sending Spike into
unconsciousness.
“Ok guys come and get
him.” Riley kicked the unconscious vamp in the ribs “Professor Walsh wants this
one down in experimental”
Two men joined him in
the room and helped to man handle Spike onto a gurney.
Riley looked down at
Spike in disgust. “I don’t know why we keep these animals alive.” He sent another
electric shock through the vampires prone body, laughing as his muscles jerked
in response.
“Come on Riley” one of
the men stopped him before he could shock Spike again “Walsh won’t be happy if
you mess him up too much.” He looked down at the body before him, sympathy
flashed briefly in his eyes before he covered it “Anyway, aren’t you meant to be
out looking for that girl the Hostile was with?”
Riley slapped the man
on the back “Yeah Graham I am. Pretty
little thing she was, too.” Riley gave
him a sly smile “I’m really looking forward to bringing that one in.”
Riley strode out of the room, as he went to suit up and look for the pretty little brunette who had escaped.
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