𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐘 ● BTVS

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐍𝐄.

 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐒𝐇 𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐃𝐀𝐘 

the quiet murmuring of the others in the coffee shop kept dakota's mind at ease as she sat tucked away in the corner. she always needed a slight background noise while she worked. her one leg was pulled close to her chest as she leaned against the glass pane of window behind her. the black notebook rested against her knee whilst the pencil glided across the page.

she had to be hidden in the corner so people wouldn't get freaked out by what she was doing. there were times people noticed her gaze fixated on them and they'd take off, or aggressively question what she was doing. but there was the occasional person who allowed her to sketch them.

the others found it creepy how she would draw strangers without their knowledge or permission, if you even needed that. but dakota thought it was better to draw random people simply living life. she caught what they were doing or thinking in that exact moment. she found it mesmerising how you could learn from a person by merely observing them.

she was currently sketching a young child, maybe six or seven. they were flat out asleep on the cafe table. it was quite late and dakota wondered why their parent hadn't taken them home yet. the child was so peaceful, so innocent, unaware of the dangers within the world. sound asleep. safe in their dreamland.

while dakota sketched away, a familiar face walked past the coffee shop, a cigarette between their lips. he glanced at the window, his once swagger pace slowing to a stop, smirk lining his lips. without hesitation he headed straight for the door, bell ringing out as he entered.

his blue eyes scanned the room, looking for the girl he had just seen. they landed on her and he immediately approached her like a predator on a mission. what he had failed to release was that dakota knew he was there, that he was making his way straight to her. but she remained in her peaceful state, acting blissfully unaware of his presence.

"well, well. what do we have here?" he asked mockingly, looking down at the curly headed brunette, his eyes wandering over her body, lingering at the top of her chest where a great portion of skin was visible. 

"get out of here, spike," dakota stated plainly, barely glancing up from her book, unbothered. her tone was very monotone, she had dealt with this before. "oh, not very friendly today," spike continued to smirk. dakota rolled her eyes, a sense of deja vu washing over her.

dakota battled against the vamp in the darkened hallway. he had her pinned against the wall, she had nowhere to go, no escape from him. an old shovel was the only thing keeping them separated. he pushed against her, the pole ramming against her chest. 

with a grunt, dakota pushed back, mustering up the strength to throw him off her. the vampire stumbled back, scowling at her with a bumpy forehead. before he managed to get back at her, dakota lifted up her booted foot, kicking him square in the chest. she rose the shovel in the air, smacking him over the head with it, a heavy breath exhaling from her lips. 

from the end of the corridor, another vampire watched the whole ordeal. he had been watching since the nasty vamp ambushed dakota, but he didn't step in. he enjoyed watching the fight. he hadn't been able to get a proper look at the girl, but what he could see, he liked. a lot. she put up a good fight which spike admired. 

after giving the demon a few more hits to the head, dakota pulled out the stake that was in her back pocket, plunging it deep into his chest. he turned into a pile of dust at her feet, making the girl sigh in relief. she hadn't gone one and one with a vampire before, let alone without anyone of the scooby gang near.