If I Die By Sunrise

Amy

She woke up with a start. The blood curdling screams resounded in her head again. She felt cold and alone and her heart's violent beating did nothing to curb the effect of the visions flashing behind her closed lids.

The bile rose in her throat and she rushed to the bathroom to clear it.

Downstairs she heard Peter's voice once again trying to placate an already torn up Jane. "You'll be fine. He'll be fine. He always is."

Jane's response came muffled as Amy's body retched again.

"I just don't know any more Peter." She said through a barrage of tears.

The guilt that washed over Amy was sudden and had her retching again until there was nothing left for her stomach to expend.

With the last of her willpower she treaded past Ed's room, unable to face his cold, unmoving form. Rationally she knew it wasn't her fault, that shit happens, even crazy inhuman predator shit. Yet every time she walked by or visited him in his bedroom, she remembered what happened and she lost almost all hope.

What with Jerry's attack and Charley going to fight him and ultimately going missing.

A strong link in their chain was gone.

Their little army was depleting and there was nothing she could do to stop it. She wasn't that useful. Sure she was quick and brave when called upon but even she had to admit she was dispensable. And hell, neither of them were any match for a vampire.

But in order to survive, she couldn't think like that. She had to see the glass as half full. Ignorance was perhaps as blissful as they said.

Jane had her head in her hands as Amy entered the kitchen. Peter was busy with his new invention; a handheld stake launcher similar to a high tech sling shot. He was paying neither of them any mind which they knew meant he was onto something good.

When Jane saw her she gave Amy a half-hearted smile. This only made her feel worse. If only she stopped Charley. If only he had listened. He wouldn't be the subject of so many of her nightmares.

Peter had been so mad. Jane had been tough but as upset as he was. It wasn't until later when they finally realized what this meant. That Charley was in deep shit. Trapped in the clutches of an evil demon wasn't the best way to go. Yet they all valiantly refused to believe that he was dead...

"Right, are we all ready for Operation Save Charley?" Peter asked, banging his hands on the counter to get their attention.

Amy and Jane snapped back to reality to give him quizzical looks. He was truly losing his mind.

Jane spoke, her voice hoarse from crying so much, "What do you mean? Do we look like we are in any shape to save Charley? Ed's in a coma remember?"

Peter only smiled, grinning like a true mad hatter. He handed them each one of the new hand held devices.

When he realized that Amy and Jane still didn't get it, he huffed. "All we need is three."

"You're ridiculous." Jane said. He really wasn't. In fact the women could argue that he was a very reputable vampire slayer, having kept them alive so far with the help of his masterpieces and copious amounts of Midori. The idea still seemed ludicrous.

Peter was defiant. "Charley was less equipped and he left to try."

Jane nodded. "It's too risky."

Amy was going to speak before an idea caught up to her. "Hand me the phone. I'm going to call someone."