10.) Bad Dreams: The Horror Movie
by Mooncalf
Disclaimer: Buffy The Vampire Slayer and related characters are owned by Joss Whedon, WB and Mutant Enemy. I can only take credit for the new main characters I have created and various other vampire minions which may wander into my stories. I created them, so they are mine. Don't sue as this is just pure fanfic.

*****Chapter One - The Horror Movie*****

It was Friday morning and Buffy didn’t have any classes due to the long Christmas Break, she sat in the library on the desk idly leafing through a magazine and chatting with Giles.

‘Well, it’s been really quiet, sort of like there’s no more vampires left in Sunnydale…it’s like everything stopped after Christmas.’

‘Yes, it has been a little slow hasn’t it? But that’s no reason to slow your patrols, or indeed your training.’

‘Yeah I know, as a slayer I must be prepared for everything that might happen, blah, blah, blah.’

‘No need to be flippant about it, I was only saying.’

‘But you only say it everyday; it’s imprinted in my mind. Besides, I might be able to spend a quiet night in on my birthday…no zombies or anything, y’know?’

‘Hey guys.’ Said Xander strolling into the library with Cordelia.

‘Hey, someone looks happy.’ Said Buffy, smiling at Xander, although she already knew why he was happy, it was obvious. They were back.

‘I am…one week later and they’ve cleared their heads, can’t blame me for being happy can you?’ Xander replied, grinning like an idiot.

‘I guess not.’ Buffy smiled at her friend and then looked at the equally giddy Giles. Oh yeah, they’re in love.

‘So, what’s going on?’ He asked.

‘Nothing much as usual…hey, as it’s quiet lately, anybody up for a movie night tonight?’

‘Sure, but no foreign films, reading the subtitles gives me a headache.’ Said Cordelia.

‘Okay, what about a weepy…or a Thelma and Louise type thing?’ Cordelia nodded in agreement.

‘No way, no chick flicks tonight guys, you all had your way last time.’ Said Xander.

‘Had their way with what?’ Asked Oz as he and Willow walked in.

‘Hey.’ Said Buffy and Cordelia.

‘Hey.’ They replied.

‘They had their way last time we had a movie night, we had to watch a chick flick, not this time, no way.’

‘Well, what about a nice foreign film?’ Said Willow. ‘We could hire The Big Blue, that French film; it’s got dolphins in it and everything…’

‘No, Will…we already decided no foreign films and no slushies.’ Said Xander.

‘We didn’t decide on no slushies.’ Said Cordelia.

‘Well I did, and I’m sure Oz would agree, right Oz?’ Oz nodded and looked apologetically at Willow.

‘And I bet Pierce wouldn’t be up for a smoochy slushfest.’ Xander looked pointedly at Cordelia.

‘Alright, alright. You win, what do you suggest instead.’ Said Buffy.

‘I think I’d go for a nice slick horror movie.’

‘No way, those things are really wiggy.’ Said Buffy.

‘Oh, she who fights vampires and demons, and generally lives her life as a hammer horror heroine.’ Said Xander.

Buffy frowned. ‘Fine then, we’ll have a movie of your choice. We’ll meet at my place at say…eight? We can order Pizza and I’ll get some popcorn.’

‘Cool, I’ll bring some dip.’ Said Willow, and Xander gave her a look. ‘For the chips that I’ll be bringing...for the popcorn.’

‘Hey, I hear there’s a new rental at the video store, something called the Dream Snatcher…one of those straight to video movies. Classy.’ Said Oz.

‘Cool, maybe we can get that one in, sounds good.’ Xander said excitedly.

‘Yeah, I’ll swing by the store on the way to Buffy’s.’ Oz volunteered.

‘Giles, you up for it?’ Said Buffy.

‘Hmm? Uh, no, Evelyn and I have a…a date.’

‘Way to go Giles.’ Said Xander as he slapped him on the back and headed for the door. Cordelia followed him out. ‘Good luck.’ She said.

‘We’re all gonna be rootin’ for ya man.’ Said Oz as he led Willow by the hand and out of the door.

Willow smiled at him and gave him the thumbs up. When they’d all left Buffy turned to him and said
‘So, they’ve got no idea you two have been on together since Christmas.’

‘No, they haven’t the foggiest…except Xander of course.’ He smiled and returned to his books. Buffy smiled, she had not seen Giles this happy since Jenny. She hopped off the table, dumping her magazine. As she walked away she didn’t notice a flyer fall out of the magazine. It was advertising the Circus of Horrors.

**********

At Buffy’s house she was standing in the kitchen and looking at a note on the fridge, reading it aloud.
‘Buffy, there’s soda’s in the fridge and money for the pizza by the phone. Popcorns in the cupboard, try not to wreck the house. I’ll be back tomorrow night. Have fun. Mom.’ She smiled and put the note back; then she proceeded to put the popcorn into bowls.

Later on everyone had arrived. Pierce was sitting in an armchair with Cordelia in his lap, Oz and Willow were on the sofa, and Xander and Esme were stretched out on the floor. Buffy plopped herself down in the other chair, popped open a soda, grabbed a bowl of popcorn and began to read the video box.

‘Okay, here we go. In a small peaceful town in Alabama...it all seems to happen in the south huh? Hmm, anyway…four teenagers from the local high school notice that people in the town are acting strangely and dredging up old arguments from the past. Family feuds are once again started and old wounds are savagely opened. The Dream Snatcher, an urban legend in back woods towns seems to have arisen… Oooh, this sounds like it might be really tacky. Great.’ She picked up the remote control and pressed play.

About forty five minutes later they were all staring intently at the screen, stuffing their faces with popcorn, chip’s and soda. A woman on the screen was screaming and pleading for her life, and bleeding profusely from a bloody, but unrealistic wound.

‘Eww!’ Said Cordelia. ‘Why did I let you make me watch this?’ A hand reached forward and savagely slashed the throat of the woman on the screen, blood poured from her neck. ‘EWW!’ Cordelia squealed again and covered her eyes with her hand.

‘Oh please, there is no where near that much blood that comes from the jugular, whether you slit it or…bite it, at least not the way I do it.’ Said Esme. Everyone stared at her, amazed and shocked by what she’d said. ‘Well it’s true.’ She said in her defence. ‘Not that I do it anymore. I pierce blood bags quite cleanly though.’ She smiled sheepishly, Buffy thought she looked too innocent to be a vampire…but then she had seen her fight.

And from the way she moved in training, when she occasionally helped out as Buffy was becoming too strong for Giles, she had proved that she was capable of much, much more. More than Buffy would ever know.

‘I guess you’re totally over the ‘everybody knows I’m a vampire’ thing then huh?’ Xander asked.

‘Of course, you can never keep a good blood-sucker down.’ She smiled and again everyone stared at her. ‘I’m just gonna be quiet from now on.’

A man on the screen was yelling at someone and pleading not to be shown his past. There was another tremendous slashing noise as the mans stomach burst open, pouring blood everywhere.

‘Eww! Bathroom break!’ Cordelia said and leapt off of Pierce’s lap to run out of the room.

‘I hear ya.’ Said Willow, as she followed her hurriedly.

‘Now that’s more realistic, but the intestine doesn’t actually come out unless you pull it and…’ Now even Xander looked at Esme oddly. ‘Well…I saw Angel do it before!’

‘Gross. No wonder you two got on so well when you were kids.’ Buffy said, getting up to follow Willow and Cordelia to the bathroom. And I’m actually okay with that, cuz I’m part of his past now too…cool. She thought, and smiling to herself she practically skipped to the bathroom.

After the movie had finished everyone went home. As they were walking out of Buffy’s house they shared their thoughts on the movie.

‘It sucked.’ Said Oz bluntly. ‘No wonder it never made it to screen release.’

‘Yeah, not enough blood and guts.’ Agreed Xander.

‘And the blood was all wrong.’ Said Esme.

‘Well it gave me the wiggins.’ She said. Suddenly she felt that what she’d said made no sense. ‘I mean, despite me actually living it out everyday and all.’ She added, smiling slightly.

They heard a scream from the end of the path, Buffy became immediately alert. Then they heard voices.

‘Pierce, you scared the life out of me, don’t do that!’ Cordelia’s voice shouted, followed by Pierce’s wild laughter.

It occurred to Buffy that she didn’t often hear Pierce laugh. Then again, there’s not a lot to laugh about when you’re a vampire. She relaxed against the doorframe and said goodnight to her friends. She thought the night had gone well, and Esme was clearly getting over Eli’s death…she was her usual self. Sick jokes, sudden changes in mood, you-had-to-be-there kind of scenarios and generally using her vampiric past to gross people out. Typical teenager…well, a 235 year old teenager.

The only thing that would’ve made the night perfect was if she’d had a partner to laugh with…but it had been her choice. There was plenty of time to meet new guys at college, and she’d be turning 19 in a few days.



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