Darkness Falls: Part Two
by Willow Mallory
Xander, Buffy, Willow, and co. aren't mine! I'm not creative enough to think of good characters like that, what were you thinking? And if anyone thinks I could come up with good characters, thanks, you made my day. They belong to Joss (grrr...arrgg), Fox, the WB, and Mutant Enemy. I don't own 'em!

I'm pretty much new at this writing stuff, so feedback is always appreciated. But be gentle! No really bad flames, please, I'm a very unstable person. Oh, yeah, Jesus loves you.



***

Xander awoke groggily, his eyes slowly adjusting to the darkness of the room. The day before had been torture as he fought to keep awake. The thought of his captors being able to come in at any time and kill him was enough to make his awakeness last another seven hours, but his body slowly ran out of gas. He was relieved to see that he was in one piece. He raised his tired arm and looked at his watch. It read ten o'clock. PM or AM was indistinguishable, as there were no windows in the small room. His stomach growled. They hadn't given him any food or water the whole time he had been there. He scooted over to one of the bare walls and leaned against it. He rolled up the sleeve of his sweater to see a good sized bruise developing. The room was cold, and he rolled his sleeve back down and folded his arms around his chest, hugging himself in a vain attempt to keep warm. From the coldness, he guessed it was night. He slowly stood up and stumbled to the door. He could hear voices coming from the other side. Talking. Discussing, most likely him. What to do with him. He heard the voices slowly subside, as if they were walking away from him. He slid down the door back to the floor.


* * *

Willow clutched her backpack tightly as she wound through the halls of school. She hadn't wanted to come to school, but her other life had to go on. Xander's mom had called her frantically that morning, searching for her son. Willow had lied and said she didn't know what happened, or where he was. Well, half lied. They were doing all that they could to find him, but that wasn't much. The only lead was Buffy's dream about the warehouse. Too bad Sunnydale was filled with warehouses. Giles was searching Angel's records to see if he had any preferences in hideouts. Buffy decided that that night she would beat any information that she could out of any vampire she could find. Willow wanted to come with her; she wanted to know everything as soon as it happened. But nothing was happening, and she had a normal life to deal with.

As soon as she saw Oz, her spirits went up. He was what she needed, a friend and supporter. She made a beeline for him. Oz was at his locker, and as soon as he saw Willow, he gave her a sympathetic smile. The night had been rough for both of them. Willow had called him at three in the morning, not being able to sleep. He hadn't minded, as he couldn't sleep either. They had talked till morning, expressing their fears and concerns. They knew what Buffy thought, even though she hadn't told them. The thought had crossed both their minds many times last night.

"Xander's mom called me this morning," Willow told him. "She was so worried, and I had to lie to her." Her face seemed to sink. "I've never lied to his mom, ever."

Oz put his arm around her. This was tough. He and Xander had even been getting along the night before, moving past their prejudices and really seeing each other. Oz had actually been liking Xander, and he was pretty sure Xander had been liking him. Now he would probably die; no, he couldn't let himself think like that. Willow would catch on in an instant. Think positive.

They made their way towards the library. There they found only Giles, searching through the usual torrent of books. He never looked up as they approached. Willow smiled sadly in his direction, then spoke.

"Giles? Have you found anything?"

Giles startled at the sound of her voice. He looked to Willow and Oz standing together, Oz's arm draped around Willow's little shoulder. "Not yet, I'm afraid. I haven't found any preferred hiding places for Angel. Or Spike or Drusilla."

Willow's shoulders slumped. Still no good news. For all they knew, Xander could be dead right now. Or worse. Xander could be a vampire. She shook the thought out of her head. She couldn't bear the thought of Xander being a....this time she literally shook her head.

"We've got to find him, Giles. They could be torturing him, or, or, they could even change him into a vampire." Willow said.

Giles winced at the remark. He knew Buffy hadn't told them, so how did they?...he mentally kicked himself. *Do you really think Willow's stupid enough to not think of that?* He looked up at them. "Don't think like that, Willow." He walked to her and put his hand on her shoulder. He spoke in a whisper. "We'll find him, I promise."

Just then Buffy entered the library, carrying her school books and looking distressed. "Giles, have you found anything yet? I'm having a bad feeling...." she stopped short when she noticed Willow and Oz standing there.

"As I told Willow, nothing yet." Giles said, sidestepping Buffy's 'bad feeling' remark. But Willow wasn't going to let it be pushed away.

"A bad feeling? What kind of bad feeling?"

Buffy shook her head. She didn't want Willow in any more distress than she already was. She groped for an answer. "Well, I mean, with Xander gone how can I get anything BUT bad feelings. It's not like I'm getting feelings that say, 'Oh, Xander's okay now, they're just having some fun with us.'"

Her method of consoling wasn't the best. Willow knew she was just trying to protect her, but she was mad anyway, and rightfully so.

"Buffy, I'm his best friend! I have every right to know everything that's going on! Every little feeling! Especially since you're the slayer and your feelings usually mean something and..." it was one of those Willow anger moments that are quite unusual. Oz tried to move in to calm her down, but she pushed him away. Finally she broke down and accepted Oz's embrace. Buffy stood and watched her and Oz leave the library. She had never taken such a verbal beating from Willow, and it came as quite a surprise. Giles put his hand on her shoulder. She turned to look at him.

"She's right, you know. We can't keep things from her."

Buffy nodded her head in agreement. "No more secrets."


* * *

The coldness of the room was unbelievable. Xander looked at his watch once more. It had gone around the face a whole time, and it was once again ten o'clock. But it seemed to be colder now. *It must be night.* He had been here almost 24 hours, with still no water. He rubbed his upset stomach. He had not seen his captors since they had thrown him in here, and had not heard them since the conversation twelve hours ago. Hoping to find an escape route, he searched the bare room. Maybe there was a trap door or something. As much as he doubted the possibility, at least it sustained him for the moment; at least it gave him some kind of hope. He stopped short when he heard someone approaching. Standing, he tried not to look too disheveled. When Spike opened the door, Xander hoped he was bringing water, not the inevitable. But Spike brought nothing, not even his wheelchair. He walked into Xander's private prison. Xander hadn't expected that.

"Buffy's dream was right..." he muttered. Spike closed the door behind him.

"You ever wish things were just, different?" Spike asked. Xander didn't move. "Things that you think you can't change until, suddenly, you can?" Spike walked to a wall, and leaned against it. Lighting a cigarette, he continued. "I can change this."

"Change what?" Xander nervously asked.

"Angel. I want him dead. I want Drusilla back. I want things back to the way they were before he returned."

Xander looked at him incredulously. "And you're telling me this why?"

Spike looked up at him, game face on, yellow eyes glinting. "Because you're going to help me."

Xander tried to back away, but there was no place to run. Spike advanced towards him, and backed him up against a wall.

"No! Please, no!"

Spike grabbed Xander's shoulders and held him in place. Xander squirmed as he lowered his head to bite him. He felt Spike's teeth sink into his neck, and his blood being drained. He fell to his knees, and slumped over. Spike slit his wrist and grabbed Xander's chin. He held up his mouth, and let the blood from his wrist drip into it.

Xander could feel the warm blood in his mouth and he wanted so badly to spit it out. But he was so weak, he couldn't get the strength to move an inch. He was surprised to even still be breathing. From what his brain was telling him, that wouldn't last long, though. He couldn't swallow either, and the blood slowly trickled down his sore throat. As sick as it was, it was a comfort, as any liquid would be. So soothing. Then he felt the change begin to take place. He felt himself start to die. It was freaky feeling, like everything was just running down; like one had just spent 24 hours awake and his body was forcing him to sleep. The same feeling, only more so. He rolled to a laying down position, then on to his back, looking to the ceiling. Spike stood up to admire his work. Xander felt himself losing control. Losing consciousness. He closed his eyes to the all-consuming darkness.


* * *

As Buffy entered the Bronze, she could feel a shiver race up her spine. Something had happened, she knew it. It had to be Xander. She turned on her heel and left. Cordelia had seen her enter, and had seen her leave. Her gut instinct told her something was wrong. She smiled at the thought. Gut instinct. A year ago she would never had thought she even had a gut instinct, much less felt it. She was surprised at even feeling it tonight, but with Xander gone, she had been hyper-sensitive to everything. So she discreetly followed Buffy. When she saw Buffy round the alley corner, she stopped short. That alley. She did not want to go in there.

"Cordelia Chase, don't be such a chicken," she coached herself. She took a deep breath and started walking again.

When she entered the alley, she felt as though it was colder than the street. She shook it off, telling herself that it was just her. Nothing more. Hearing her approach, Buffy turned around.

"Cordelia, what are you doing?"

"I saw you come in the Bronze, and I saw you leave. What's the rush?"

Buffy looked up and sighed, searching for an answer to put Cordelia to ease. "Nothing, I just remembered I have a project due tomorrow...in Geometry."

Cordelia shook her head. "I'm in that class, there's no project." She paused for a second. "It's Xander, isn't it?"

Buffy sighed again and nodded.

"What do you feel?"

"I don't know," Buffy said. "I just suddenly had the wiggiest feeling. I know something happened to him." She paused. "I'm going to find him. I think I'll be able to if this feeling lasts."

Cordelia just looked at her. Buffy just looked back. Cordelia took the defensive. "Well I'm coming too! I'm his girlfriend!" Buffy just shook her head 'no'. Cordelia's eyes widened. "What do you mean, 'no'? I'm coming whether you want me to or not!"

Buffy again shook her head. "Cordy, it's way too dangerous. I can't let you come. You could die, or even break a nail."

Cordelia cringed, then got a hold of herself. "So what? What's a nail? This is Xander's life we're talking about!"

After Buffy got over the initial shock of Cordelia making light of breaking a nail, she gave in. If Cordy would risk her nails for this, Buffy's was a lost cause. "Okay...just stay out of the way.


* * *

When Xander woke up, he felt different. He looked around the room, and it seemed different. He felt so...good. Strong. His senses seemed sharper. He could see better, hear better, smell better. Then he remembered. Spike. The bite. He rubbed his neck in panic, but nothing was there. *Oh god, I'm a vampire.* The thought scared him. Then it started to comfort him. Then he got downright happy. That was when the hunger hit him. A hunger like he had never felt before, not even when he was possessed by that hyena.

He stood and walked to the door. There was no handle on this side of the door. He placed his hands on the frame. Before it had seemed so strong, but now...He brought his hands back and pushed, hard. The door cracked and fell. Xander stood there in shock. Freedom was available. As long as...he glanced at his watch. 2:00. And it was night, as there was no sunlight coming through the cracks in the door outside. He smiled, for the first time in many days. Then he heard voices. Ducking behind a stack of crates, he observed Angel walking in, with Drusilla on his heels. Xander smiled again. Maybe now he would have a chance to fight him. But Angel saw the open door before he could attack. He rushed into the prison to see Xander gone, and started cursing. Xander tried his best not to laugh. Then he had a plan. *Plans sure are coming easy these days.* He strolled out from behind the pile of crates.

"Wha'cha looking for?"

Angel whirled around, all vamped out. "You! Damnit, how did you get out?!"

"You didn't lock the door," he replied. "Tsk, tsk, not a good thing, inmates could escape. I thought you were brighter than that."

Angel stared at the boy. "If you're at all smart, you'll get back in there. Or we'll have to do this the hard way."

Xander shrugged. "I'm all for the hard."

Suddenly Drusilla grabbed him from behind, surprising him. He quickly threw her off of him. She laid on the floor where she had landed, looking stunned and hurt. Angel looked at Xander in amazement. How did he...? He didn't care how. The vampire rushed him, knocking the boy to the ground. Xander didn't move from where he fell. Angel smiled.

"Too much for you, huh? You should know you can't....."

He didn't get to finish his sentence, for the boy hit him hard with an uppercut, lifting himself off the ground. Now Angel laid on the floor, and Xander stood over him. It was his turn to smile.

"Man, I love this! This is great!" he exclaimed, his new-found strength a source of delight. Angel was in total shock. He had no idea of what was happening. Then one popped into his mind.

"You're a vampire," he stated rather than asked. He looked to where Drusilla still laid, twirling her hair around one finger. When Angel looked back to where Xander once stood, the young immortal was gone.


* * *

Cordelia wound her way through the streets, with Buffy pointing every move. Finally they reached an old warehouse, at which the slayer exclaimed, "This is it!" The two girls cautiously entered the place, Buffy holding an ever-ready stake, and Cordelia holding a dark wooden cross. The place was a maze at first, winding through the front entryway. It was dark, with no windows or lights. Cordelia shivered involuntarily.

"Buffy," the girl said, her voice high and nervous. "Shouldn't we call for backup, or something?"

"There is no backup, Cordy," she answered, to which her companion shivered again. "This is it. If we're gonna find Xander, we have to do this...."

That was when they heard something. Hurried footsteps. The two ended the talking, and stood in quiet. It was deafening. Then they saw the approaching shadow, walking quickly for the door. Buffy flew at the shadow, knocking it down, and ready to plunge the stake into it's chest.

"Buffy!"

The slayer stopped, then embraced Xander tightly. "Xander, are you all right?"

He stood back up, and brushed himself off. Cordelia rushed to kiss him. Xander kissed her back, though not like he usually did. "I'm okay, just a little hungry, that's all."

"Come on, let's get out of here," Cordelia said, wrapping her arm around Xander's waist.

"Let's," the slayer responded, turning around and heading for the exit. The two others followed. They made their way back outside, where cold night air awaited them. The girls shivered. Xander did not. He did notice Cordelia's shaking, and put an arm around her shoulder. Not that it would help any. The three piled into Cordelia's car, and drove back to the Bronze.


* * *

"Xander!"

Willow plowed down those in her way as soon as she saw Buffy and Cordelia enter, with said boy in tow. She threw her arms around him as soon as she reached him, with some of the unfortunate souls in her way grumbling obscenities. Xander hugged her back tightly. For some reason he could not understand, he was really glad to see her. When she finally released him, Oz moved in for a handshake, but Xander pulled him into an embrace. He really didn't understand why he did that. He should want to kill him, not hug him. But fluffy feelings abounded when Willow and Oz were concerned. Not so with Buffy. He was tense around her, and an overwhelming urge to fight her was pounding on him. With Cordelia he was neutral. No fluffy feeling, but no murderous feelings either. Pretty much the same as before he was changed. He was brought out of his thoughts by the sound of an excited Willow.

"We should go to the library!" she almost yelled, as the Bronze was over-crowded and hardly a word could be heard. "Giles'll want to know about this!"

He heard Buffy agree, and the group filed out of the Bronze. Xander really didn't want to leave, he wanted to feed. And he wasn't sure about seeing Giles, either. If he wanted to murder the slayer, the same probably went for the watcher. But if he didn't go, the slayerettes would suspect something was up. He decided he could wait a little bit longer, then would make an excuse, and leave. The group split up between cars; with Willow, Buffy and Oz going in his van, and Xander and Cordelia going in her convertible. The young vampire was immensely grateful that he wasn't in the same car with the slayer. He didn't know how much more he could take before animal instinct would take over. Shortly the group arrived at the school, and walked into the library.

"Giles?" Buffy called out, hoping he was there. As hoped, the man emerged from the stacks. Seeing Xander, he emitted a bright smile. Xander tried not to look repulsed.

"Xander! You're back!" the watcher exclaimed, descending the stairs from the stacks. "That is quite a blessing."

Xander nodded, and when Giles moved in for a hug, it took everything in him not to step back. Luckily, even Giles didn't want it to last long, and quickly released the boy. Giles asked for the whole story, which was quickly told. Then he and Buffy started to talk of attacking the now-known hiding place.

"Angel didn't see us, so he shouldn't know we were there," Buffy was saying, when Xander interrupted.

"Look, guys, I'm tired," he said, rubbing his head for effect. "I'm gonna bail for the night."

"Yes, yes, you should," Giles agreed, snapping shut a book that he has been studying. "You need to rest, and your mother needs to know you're all right."

"Yeah, so, I'll see everyone tomorrow," he said, making his way to the exit.

The rest of the group said their good-byes, and Xander left. The cold night air hit him as he made his way out of the building, but it didn't bother him. He was just hungry. Making his way back to the Bronze, he spotted a girl in an alley. As he approached her, she approached him. Xander wasn't getting any undead vibes off of her, so they started talking. As suddenly as they started, they stopped. He fed. After the deed was done, he looked at her dead body, lying on the ground, slumped against the alley wall, in satisfaction. His first kill. And it felt good.



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