Where Darkness Leads

Chapter 19

"In time before return now again," Joshua announced into the air. The stairs were becoming blotted out, and heavy breezes of wind started to pick up. By his side, Matthew looked on.

"Joshua!"

"Hey, get me off of here!"

"Be quiet, child!" Joshua said.

"Centuries ago, I almost stopped you. I don't intend on failing this time." Catherine yelled.

She walked forward towards the makeshift altar he had made for himself.

"Kaaaaa friem!" he yelled with a wave of his hand.

Instantly, the skylight blew apart, throwing Catherine back agains the roof door. The glass rained down onto the study table.

"Look out!" Angel exclaimed.

Everyone jumped back, seeing the remnants of the skylight hit all the books lying on the table.

"Boy, it says he was the first archangel to fall. Created right after Satan." Willow said, reading from the book in her hands.

"We're definitely not dealing with your average demon," Giles replied.

"Hey, Michael?" Michael heard, turning his head.

Michael stepped back into the hallway, where he noticed all the lights going out at once.

"Patrick?" Michael questioned. "Patrick, is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me."

Michael saw a shadowy figure in the middle of the hallway.

"You can't be," he said, shaking his head. "You're dead. I saw you die."

"They sent me back. It's good to see you again."

Michael walked closer, widening his eyes.

"Hey, the lights are out in the hallway," Willow said.

"Let's go check it out," Buffy said to Angel.

"Right."

Buffy and Angel walked out, seeing the hallway in darkness.

"This is really creepy."

"Must be something wrong with the fuses," Angel said, looking around. "Although I suspect it's more than that."

"Buffy!" Michael screamed.

"Michael?" Buffy said scared.

Buffy and Angel turned, looking down the hallway seeing a tall figure gripping Michael by his neck. They both could see Angelus from the dim glow of the emergency lights. Angel's face grew into a mixture of shock and anger.

"Well, isn't this like déjà vu?"

"Let him go!" Buffy shouted indignantly.

"Let me recall," Beliar said, thinking. "No, I don't think that is what happened. And Angel remembers the look you had on your face. Now that was priceless."

Glies, Xander, Willow, and Catherine came out into the hallway, seeing where Buffy and Angel stood watching.

"Oh my god," Giles said.

Giles, Willow, and Xander walked a few steps forward.

"Buffy?" he asked.

"Well, it looks like the whole Scooby Gang is here."

"Let Michael go."

"Buffy, we don't have much time," Giles said, resting his hand gently on Buffy's shoulder. "Catherine couldn't stop Joshua. He's still on the roof."