[Reviews - 74]
-
Table of Contents [Report This]
Microsoft Word Chapter or Story | ePub eBook Chapter or Story | Printer Chapter or Story

Has been viewed 3571 times

- Text Size +




Chapter 3

Running away was not fun. Her high school counselor, Mr. Laughlin looked like a mouse on the inside. Mary Downing, who ran the Espresso Pump was a little like swine. The guy in the booth at the Sun Cinema looked like an adaptation of Jack from that movie where they nearly stole Christmas or something. Right now, she couldn’t remember, a headache was coming on strong.

Her head hurt more when she went into the little convenience store to buy sunglasses. Her plan was to lie in the sun until it went down somewhere where she didn’t have to see anyone or anything. So far, the plan wasn’t working.

People were bustling around all over as she walked out of the little shop, and she turned, headed toward the park. At least there, if she played her cards right and went straight home afterwards, she’d be peachy keen. A few taller elm trees lined an opening to a small wooded area, so she decided that she’d plant herself right there. A warm breeze blew over her as she lay down, and she snuggled right into a cushy spot.

No more than five minutes after she got there, she felt the light from the sun blocked. Her eyes stayed shut, but she still grimaced. “Can I help you?”

“I was just in the neighborhood, thought when I saw you lying here, thought I could saunter on over and kiss you hello.” Riley, shit.

“Riley, as much of a great surprise that this is, it really isn’t right now. I seriously have some issues that you don’t want anything to do with, I swear!” Mentally, she shoved him away.

She felt him lean down and her lips were brushed with his. “I missed you last night.”

“Me too. Don’t you have somewhere else you’d rather be right now though?” She sat up, starting to feel a little caged.

“Nah. I have no where to be but here with you.”

Double shit. “Riley, really, I would love to sit and talk to you, but you have to know something. Serious slayer stuff.”

“I was attacked by something last night and it changed me a little.” She hesitated, “I can’t look at you.”

Riley put his hand on hers. “What happened to you Buffy?”

“Everything I look at shows its true face to me. I can’t look at anything truly evil, nothing gross—don’t even want to go there. Let’s just call it good and you go to school and do, something, and I’ll come find you as soon as this blows over. I swear.”

“We can face this together, Buffy. Don’t shut me out, not if you’re afraid.”

Inwardly, she rolled her eyes. “No.”

He sat there, not wanting to leave, she could tell. “It’ll be okay, Riley. I can do this, promise.”

“You don’t have to face this one without me. I mean how bad can I be?” He looked at the grass and kicked it over to her. She felt his eyes move on her. “Buffy, look at me! I need you to see that I’m okay!”

She shuddered, keeping her eyes tightly shut. “No,” she said quietly, “I can’t look Riley. That’s just how it is!” Standing up, but facing the other way, she started running, for what she didn’t know.

A hundred feet and she was nailed to the ground from behind. Rolling, she pushed her attacker to the side. Glancing the way it had gone, she saw a face full if deep scars, white and swollen, like if it had drowned. And in it, something familiar—Riley. It--no he--raised a hand to grab her and she flew to her feet and ran faster than she’d ever gone in her life, heading for the woods.




Buffy had never been more thankful for nightfall. She wandered the streets like an orphan, stake at the ready for any baddie that happened to come her way. Her feet were aching, but she had nowhere to go to relax and think. So, like a good little soldier, she walked aimlessly, through the hot Californian night.

The thing that she thought had been Riley scared her. If that was how he was on the inside, boy, was she wrong about him. What did it mean, him all corpse like and suffering from an extreme case of the bloated? She would check with Giles first thing in the morning, he’d be able to help her.

Coming around to Sunny Rest, she walked through the gates, headed toward some of the new ‘deposits’. Sitting on top of a tombstone, she took her stake out and twirled it in her hand absentmindedly. She turned quickly after a few minutes, to where she heard a noise. “Hello?”

A cigarette plumed a few feet away, coming toward her. She closed her eyes and sighed audibly. “Spike. Don’t really need your shit right now.”

She felt him a foot or so away, and readied herself to run. “Slayer. What do I owe to your visit to my home?”

“First of all, Spike, I’m not visiting your place, just resting, you know, waiting for the newbies. Second, none of your business what the hell I’m doing. Thirdly, I want you to leave me alone. Like now, so be gone please.” She turned the other way.

He chuckled. “Why’re your eyes closed, Slayer?”

“Oh, thought you’d gone Spike. Do you need me to go through my speech again? Cause I gotta tell you, I’m running real short on patience tonight!” She turned a little more, facing completely away.

“Knock the high and mighty crap off, the witches came by looking for you earlier. Wanted to let me know all about your problem. Can’t look at anyone without seeing someone how they really are, eh? Sucks to be the Chosen one right now, don’t it?”

He inhaled sharply and started to circle her, taking predatory steps. She turned with him, never letting his face come close to her eyes, because, Oh God, she really didn’t want to truly know how evil he actually was. He had come in so handy so often lately, and sometimes the extra muscle could help when it was necessary.

He grabbed her by the arm and swung her to face him.

Her hand flew to her mouth as she gasped.





You must login (register) to review.