Where Darkness Leads

Chapter 2

The mansion on Crawford Street was deserted. A few dirty windows were partially boarded up by old pieces of wood. It allowed the interior to stay in shadows avoiding the harsh rays of sunlight during the day. Angel fed the fireplace throwing on another log. The flames grew higher in a burst of smoke and sulfur. He watched the bright reds and yellows glow illuminating the dark room. As the fire continued to burn he became reminded of his great ordeal. The memories of the inexplicable torture he endured in hell had never been too far from his thoughts.

Why was I spared? His release back to the world remained a mystery to him. The First, in the form of Jenny Calendar, had tried to take credit for sending him back to haunt him enough so he would lose his soul to Buffy. When Buffy had found him he was prepared to die on that hill where the sun would come up.

He wasn't going to make the same mistake he did before. He was determined not to let it happen. Even though he didn't want to admit it Buffy's words to him were real and convincing. However, suddenly when Buffy said she wasn't prepared to watch him die it oddly started to snow. It came at the best possible moment for them both.

Buffy's mind was still occupied from the dream she had during the night. She kept busy collecting books from her locker for her first class.

"Buffy, hi," a voice said sounding distant to her.

"What?" she said, refocusing her attention turning her head.

"I said hi, how are you?"

She could see the voice she heard was Michael's standing in front of him looking at her curiously.

"Michael," she said quickly. "oh I am doing good. How are you?"

"I'm fine. You had seemed distracted there for a minute."

"Yeah, I just had a lot of on my mind lately," Buffy explained. "You wanted to say something?"

"I did, I actually didn't get a chance to thank you for saving my butt yesterday from that bully."

"Don't worry about it. I know what it was like to be new once," He has no idea.

"Well I wanted to do something to repay you like taking you out. I mean only if you're not seeing anybody."

"No, not at the moment. My social calendar is pretty free these days."

"Great. Is there any place you would like to go on our date?"

"We could go to The Bronze."

"The Bronze?"

"It's a club where a lot of us hangout like Willow and Xander."

"Sounds like a cool place. Pick you up at about 7, your house."

"Sure."

Buffy gave him the address and walked away just as Willow approached.

"Wasn't that Michael I saw walking away?"

"Hm mm," Buffy said with a nod. "He just asked me out."

"That's great."

"What's great?" Xander said overhearing with Oz beside him walking past them.

"Michael asked Buffy out."

"Really. The new kid," Xander said obligingly.

"But what about Angel?" Willow asked.

"Angel and I agreed he needs time alone," she said solemnly. "Being stabbed and sent to Hell by your girlfriend isn't something you can easily erase from your mind."

"I think this is a good thing. I mean you can't stay alone forever because then you get all depressed and before you know your entire life passes you by without ever meeting someone," Willow said.

Buffy could make out the tone of their voices. It was completely understandable due to her relationship with Angel. It was tumultuous at best. The terrorous acts Angel committed against everyone were things you didn't necessarily ever forget or get passed overnight.

In this same space Angel was going to kill Willow and take everybody else with her before she stopped it. She realized in that moment the kind and loving man she knew no longer existed but was replaced by a monster. A monster she regretfully helped to create.

"Where is he taking you?"

"The Bronze."

"Oz, isn't the band playing tonight?" Xander questioned.

"Yup," Oz said. "Devon has got some new material for us to try out."

"That's wonderful," Willow exclaimed.

Willow had become Oz's biggest fan. Before she was even too afraid to talk to boys and now here she was dating a musician who was a guitarist in a rock band and a werewolf during some nights of the month no less.

The Bronze was always a nice place to escape the boredom of school. People dancing aimlessly on the floor to The Dingoes band was plenty to watch.

"Did you want a refill on your drink, Buffy?" Michael asked sitting next to Buffy amid the crowd of people standing around.

"Yes, thanks."

Michael took both their cups and walked over to the espresso counter.

"How is the date going?" Willow asked sitting down next to Buffy as the band had just finished another song.

"It's going good," she said. "How are you and Oz been doing?"

"We're fine, better than fine. Great, super."

"Really?"

"I think my Mom is finally warming up to him."

"Boy, there is hope for us yet."

"Here you go," Michael said returning.

"Thanks," Buffy answered.

Willow listened hearing the band gearing up to play another song.

"Well, it looks like they are starting up again. Talk to you later?" Willow exclaimed all excited.

"Yeah, Will."

Willow knew it was the right cue to leave Buffy alone on her date.

Buffy turned her head away from the tub of the main floor for a moment and her eyes froze. Sitting at a table alone away from the den of people was a woman. She looked again passed the people weaving by and immediately noticed it was the girl she had been seeing in her dreams. She slowly sat up and walked out the front door. Buffy quickly jumped out of her seat and began to walk away.

"Buffy, what's going on?" Michael said looking up from his drink.

She quickly spun back around and said, "Ah, I think I saw somebody I need to catch up with."

Buffy spun back around and raced outside. In the alley way she turned her head fast searching up and down either way. The girl was gone suddenly having disappeared. Buffy was now more confused than she was before.