When the Sun Falls (BTVS)

Chapter 4: Too Late

Season 2: Episode 20

I roll over in the bed. My back was slick with sweat,or blood, either way, it stung. My head was pounding, and I felt like my hair had been pulled out of my head. My arms were filled with several deep gashes, now all crushed with blood. My insides ached, screamed for some numbing cream. I push myself up with a grunt, feeling the heavy weight of my head on my shoulders. I let out a shaky breath before a whine, as the action sets off another wave if dizzy spells.

I hear footsteps on the other side of me, as I turn to find Angel, completely unscratched, pulling a shirt up over his back. He buttons it halfway before looking at me and smiling. " You really do know how to have a good time. I'll be out and I want you gone by the time I come back."

Internally, I smile, but to him, I just nod as he walks out of the room. Taking a deep breath, I slide my feet over the side of the bed. I feel the cold floor on my aching feet and push off, standing there for a second to let my trembling legs and wobbling body adjust to standing.

Taking a deep breath, I go over to the fountain and splash my face with water. Next, I scrub off the blood all over my body, and what I could reach on my back. The water drips onto the floor, turning the tiles a rustic red. I dunk my hair in the water as well, and twist it back as I search the floor for my clothes. I found my underwear still intact, but my bra wasn't so lucky. Slipping them on, I find what was left of the black dress and wear that as well. Lucky, it covered most of my wounds. With this, I hear a clatter in the other room, as well as footsteps heading in my direction. I look around and hide behind the pillar. Angel couldn't be back by now, it's been ten minutes.

" Bloody hell!" I hear a British voice shout, " This is why we can't have nice things!"

With this, I see Spike stomp in, rolling up the bloody sheets. I step forward, into the dim light and he stops, looking me up and down, "Oh."

I inch myself closer to the exit, keeping my eye on the now walking vampire , " What day is it?"

Spike tilts his head, " It's Thursday night pet."

I nod and turn to leave. I heard feet behind me and a hand catched one of my bruised arms. I yelp as Spike turns me around, chuckling to himself, " He really did you good, didn't he?"

I keep my eyes down, pulling my arm out of his grasps. Walking away, I turned to see that he was still standing in the doorway. Letting out a deep sigh, I walk through the street, asphalt cutting my feet due to the fact that I didn't have shoes. If Spike was telling the truth, and it was in fact Thursday, then mom would be at a PTA meeting for Sarah's school.

I climb through the back window, going to the fridge to find something to eat. Picking a few items out, I went up to my room, which was still a mess from when Angel had tried to capture me. I shudder as I think about his name. Going to the shower, I strip the dirty clothes and turn the water to a hot temperature. Sitting down, I curl into a ball, and all I can do is cry.

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The next morning, I make sure to cover all of the scars that I had been given. As far as everyone else needed to know, I was on a camping trip with my dad, not being tortured. I throw on a turtleneck tank top to cover the bite marks, and a dusty pink jacket on top of that to cover the scars on my arms. My legs were in relatively good condition, besides the bruises on my inner thighs, which were covered with a skirt. I put on an extra layer of makeup to make my face look normal, hide the split lip and speckled bruises.

Mom drops me off at school, where I see Buffy in the parking lot, sitting in a car with a boy that I had never seen before. There is panic in her eyes as she reaches for the door, finding it locked. The boy reached up to touch her and she went into defense mode, slamming his face on the steering wheel. I laugh as he clutches his nose in pain, until I see Snyder come up, looking dead scary. He takes Buffy and the boy to the nurses office, and I follow. Outside of the door, I finally catch up. " Principal Snyder. Hi, Buffy was just defending herself, please don't punish her."