They arrived shortly after three a.m. in the morning, pulling into the driveway of the Watersprings apartment complex on Jupiter Road. They had
decided to stay close to a main city, but snuggled in the comfort of a suburb on it’s outskirts. They parked on the left side of the soft brick red
building, close to the exit and stepped out. They looked around them, finding everything normal and walked up the light gray path to the entrance.
He opened the first door with a set of key, then a second, escorting the way into the lobby. They didn’t bother with the elevator, taking the stairs to
the second floor, to apartment 225.

Willow simple followed, not really taking in her surroundings, her heart much too heavy right now. The apartment, however wasn’t like anything she
had expected it to be. It was spacious, light, clean and furnished with three bedrooms it seemed. The furniture looked comfy with the living room and
dining room connected which opened into an open kitchen with counter.

“We’ll stay here as long as we can. Everything is yours to use, anything you need, just let me know,” she said.

Willow thanked her and was shown to her room. It was roomy with a full size bed at one corner.

“Rest, but remember, you can’t fall asleep yet, not until after sunrise.”

Willow nodded, remembering the vital information.

“I’ll come and check on you later.”

The door closed behind her as Willow slowly slumped to the floor. Tears that had tried so hard not to fall began to flow in torrents down her cheeks.
Dear God, when had everything turned to its worst. She pulled her knees up to her chest, offering herself the only comfort she had as she wrapped
her arms around her. She was alone now. Alone and scared.

She mourned over her parents, for her life and for her unknown future.

                                                      * * * * * * * * * * *
 
 

Angel slowly looked through the various items in the large locker. It contained some clothes, but most importantly small boxes which held
momentous and photos, along with various spell books. Things which should have been turned to ashes in the fire and not inside an unknown locker.

The locker was neat and contained no dust. He pulled out her fuzzy sweaters not sure what he was looking for. When he pulled out the final garment
he smiled knowing he had found it.

He closed the locker quietly, not wanting to disturb anything else. He quietly moved to the offices, finding the log book without much a problem.
Animity was key to a place like this, cash the only thing really needed. A name and date were the only thing really needed with a deposit and that
was all that he found. Locker 422 belonged to Cliffie Johnson secured for a year and opened just three nights ago. He found a way out the same way
he had found a way in. He just hoped the item in his hands gave him more answers then questions.

                                                      * * * * * * * * * * *
 
 

“How did everything go?” the female voice asked on the other end of the line.

“Not what we expected.”

“Her parents?”

“Dead.”

“Oh God, and her?”

“We brought her back with us.”

“Is she hurt?”

“The gash on her is almost healed. Roberto is going to take a look at it before he goes to sleep.”

“Does she know about her parents?”

“She was there.”

“Pobre...... Bring her here tomorrow. We shall help you.”

“We’ll be there late in the afternoon.”

“We’ll wait for you here.”

“See you soon...”

“Ceci?”

“Yes?”

“Are you okay?” the concerned voice asked.

“I’m fine,” she replied flatly.

They said their good-byes and hung up the phone. She swallowed the lump in her throat and walked to her room. Her time of tears was over long
ago. She had to look at to the future and hope everything sacrificed had not been in vain.

                                                      * * * * * * * * * * *
 
 

“Don’t you think we should tell them about this?” Doyle asked.

They had gone to Angel’s apartment, no longer wanting to disturb Giles. Cordelia had gone to take a shower and to bed, something the other two
needed as well.

“We will, just not yet.”

“How did you know about the key?” He asked curious.

“You should head to bed, Doyle,” Angel replied without looking up from the laptop in front of him.

“What are you looking for?” he asked, trying a new avenue.

“Anything that will give me a clue about why they needed to run away.”

“What?” Doyle asked confused.

“Why would you store all your most prized possessions away?”

“I don’t know... because you’re leaving...” Doyle replied.

“Any why would you leave so abruntly? The locker was opened three days ago.”

“Because someone’s after you....” Doyle said following his logic.

“And the fire last night....”

“Means they found them.”

“The police report says that they never found a body.”

“So you think she’s alive?”

“She was either taken or ran.”

“But the police report also said their wasn’t any sign of foul play or arson.”

“This is the same place where bite marks on victims are considered hickeys,” he added.

“True. But that doesn’t mean she’s not dead Angel.”

“That also means she might not be. Her parents bodies were recovered but not hers.”

“Okay, let’s say she is alive and in trouble. Why not come to her friends for help?” he asked.

“Maybe she doesn’t want what happened to her parents to happen to them.”

“Or they took her.”

“Exactly.”

“And have you found anything?”

“She deleted a lot of her files three days ago. They were getting ready to leave. I’m sure they’re disks or something, but I didn’t find anything like
that in the locker.”

“Good luck then. I hope you find something for everyone’s sake. It’s one thing to mourn for someone you think died and another to know she may be
out there or captured. I’m heading to bed.”

Angel nodded and remained looking, finding one file that was protected by a password which Angel couldn’t seem to break. After two hours of
trying his eyes gave out, sleep overwhelming him. He turned off the laptop and headed to the couch. Sleep would come very easily.

                                                      * * * * * * * * * * *
 
 

Angel walked down the deserted street, not sure where to go. This wasn’t like a dream he’d ever had before. He re-thought that the moment he
heard the screaming ahead. He reached a house engulfed in flames, the screams piercing the chilly night air. And as quickly as it had appeared to him,
it vanished, a flicker of smoke its only remains.

The screams were replaced by sobbing. He followed the cries as best as he could, finding a tiny white room. He found her cowered in the corner of
the floor, her hands covering her face.

He instantly kneeled next to her, hoping, praying, it was her. He hadn’t seen her since he had left Sunnydale so many months ago. He’d fall asleep
each night with desires and hopes to see her once again, just a glimpse, but she didn’t return to the comfort of his dreams. Though he could feel her at
times, she never appeared to him, something he had wanted as badly as seeing a sunrise once again. And now she was here, suffering and all he could
think of was taking in his arms and not letting go, but he knew that would not be possible. He would eventually wake and she could be gone, just as
the last night they had spent together.

“Ari... Ari.......” he muttered against her soft brown hair as he gathered her in his arms.

She gazed up at him, wrapping her arms around him the moment she saw him.

“Angelus,” she said softly between sobs.

“I’m right here, right here,” he tenderly said as he caressed her hair. “Tell me, Ari, what’s wrong?”

“Hold me, please. Don’t let me go,” she pleaded.

Angel rocked her in his arms for some time. Her sobs gradually lessening, his hold never faltering. It only took a moment, his eyes closing and
opening, for her to vanish, leaving him once more alone in the cold white room with a soft whispering of a ‘thank you’.

                                                      * * * * * * * * * * *
 
 

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