The Wind Beyond the Walls of the Mind: Chapter 28, part 1 - This Fragment In Time
by Gaius Petronius
The Wind Beyond the Walls of the Mind
Chapter 28 - part 1
Epilogue
This Fragment in Time
by Gaius Petronius
Disclaimer:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all the characters that appear on the show are the exclusive property of Joss Whedon, the WB, Fox and Mutant Enemy, Inc. This story can be read on its own or as a sequel to H. P. Lovecraft's "The Haunter of the Dark" from which the Ancient Ones, the Shining Trapezohedron and the character of Robert Blake are derived.
Content Note: This part is rated PG-13 for violence and some raunchy language.
By four a.m., some of the billowing smoke in the vicinity of Giles' apartment had begun to clear, but the streets were still clogged with wreckage and virtually impassible. The apartment itself had been badly damaged by flying debris during the attack of the Ancient Ones and, without power, was now illuminated only by candles.
Faith lay stretched out motionless on the sofa, her face and hands ghastly pale and her appearance in the flickering candle light, more like a corpse than a living person. Her red eyes were wide open and unblinking. Around her sat Buffy, Xander and Willow, their faces expressionless as if maintaining a death watch. Buffy, her hands swathed in bandages, held one of Faith's hands in hers and gently rubbed it. Every now and then, Xander stood up and paced back and forth in front of the sofa. Finally Willow reached out and grasped him by the arm, urging him gently to sit back down on the floor in front of the sofa by her side.
She knew there was no purpose to any activity. It had been over two hours since they all had returned from the New Age Curiosity Shop through the devastated streets of Sunnydale. They had lain Faith carefully across the back seat of Giles' beat up Citroen. The drive was agonizingly slow, with Giles taking numerous detours around collapsed buildings and downed power lines. By the time they all arrived at the apartment, there was still no change in Faith's condition. Now, Willow had accepted the fact that it was just a matter of waiting.
Giles fussed in the kitchen sweeping up broken glassware, while Anya, Tara and Cordelia attempted to straighten up the battered furniture and piles of fallen books scattered around the floor of the apartment. Kate bucked a sheet of plywood up firmly in place over the shattered living room window as Angel completed nailing it into position.
In the dining alcove, Spike sat at the table, his face glued to a portable battery powered black and white television. The tinny voice of a news announcer from the miniature screen cut through the silence of the apartment.
"The series of violent earthquakes that rocked the Sunnydale area shortly after 10:00 p.m. seem to have subsided for now although authorities are warning residents to be alert for any aftershocks which could follow. There are reports of numerous fires still burning out of control throughout the city while emergency crews have been called in from surrounding towns and from as far away as Los Angeles itself."
Every few moments the picture on the screen dissolved into snow as the signal drifted, then returned.
"Our Live Sky Chopper is on its way to the scene as all communications and power to Sunnydale are out with the total destruction of the municipal power plant. The areas of most serious damage, in addition to the generating station, appear to be in the older section of the downtown, the docks and the vicinity of the UC Sunnydale campus.
"We have reports that a natural gas explosion touched off a massive cave in covering approximately a three square block area between the campus and a neighboring cemetery. No word yet on fatalities but emergency teams report numerous injuries throughout the earthquake area. We'll have more reports as the information becomes available."
In the courtyard outside the apartment, a dozen Initiative soldiers milled around what was turning into a makeshift operations center. In the middle of the group, Riley stood staring off vacantly. Now everything was over, but not in the way in which he had envisioned it. At his side, Graham waited patiently for orders, any kind of orders to keep the surviving Initiative soldiers busy. In the distance, emergency and fire truck sirens wailed continuously.
"Okay, get your men to assist the civilian authorities," Riley finally said to Graham, "First priority is the wounded and controlling those fires."
Graham nodded. As the men began to move, suddenly from just beyond the courtyard, Forrest and several of his squad strode into view leading six injured soldiers. Studying the advancing group, Riley immediately spotted familiar faces. Joel, his hands badly burned, walked under his own speed, while Hunter, barely able to stagger on one leg, limped into the courtyard. He was supported on both sides by Forrest and two other soldiers. A bloodied white rag was tied around his left leg just above the knee and his forehead wrapped in a stained makeshift bandage.
"Holy Shit!" Riley exclaimed, finally letting loose the emotions he had managed to suppress since the conclusion of the battle, "I thought we'd lost you guys!"
His relief was short lived as the Initiative soldiers drew nearer, and he recognized the extent of the injuries.
"Nah, my men found 'em wandering around near the campus," Forrest quipped trying to keep the conversation light, "Figured they were goofing off trying to pick up chicks!"
"No way, sir," Joel piped up as his face squinted with pain from his burned hands, "We executed a perfect RLH maneuver."
Riley's eyebrows rose in a question.
"A 'Run Like Hell!'" Joel grinned, "Tactically sound, don't you think?"
Riley shook his head and smiled in spite of what he could see and the faint scent of burned flesh in the air. He then leaned in close to Hunter who was draped silently between the shoulders of two soldiers.
"Anything I can do for you, Hunter?" Riley asked quietly.
"Yeah," Hunter replied weakly and his voice trembled, "The phones are out, and I really wanted to get a hold of Sandy. See if she's . . . okay."
Riley looked over at Forrest who grinned back reassuringly.
"I read your mind," Forrest said calmly to Hunter, "Johnny and Preston just radioed in. She's on her way over with them right now."
Hunter closed his eyes and nodded.
"Thanks. I gotta lie down now, guys," he said as if every word were an expenditure of energy for which there was only a limited supply remaining.
"I want a cot over here quick!" Riley suddenly screamed furiously at the men, "Where the hell's that fucking medivac bag!"
"Easy, easy! We're on it," Forrest replied as he turned Hunter over to several other soldiers who laid him out gently on the grass in the courtyard.
Riley, his face cast in gloom, glared at Forrest.
"Hey! Why the long face? We won, man!"
Riley stared around at the injured men, the whirling smoke and the cinders that still fell occasionally from the sky. He took a deep breath. "Yeah, . . .," he said flatly, shaking his head, "I guess we did."
Suddenly, inside the apartment on the couch, Faith began breathing rapidly and her hand trembled in Buffy's. Her body shivered and Willow lowered her head sensing the impending end. In a panic, Buffy called out.
"Giles! Giles!"
Her Watcher moved quickly from the kitchen to Buffy's side. Gently, he took Faith's shivering hand from Buffy and checked for a pulse. He then placed his fingers against the side of Faith's neck. He struggled to hide his emotions, remaining a clinical as possible but the concern on his face was visible to all.
"Giles, . . . what's happening?" Buffy whispered.
"Her heart is racing . . . " he replied, "It's beating wildly out of control. I'm afraid . . . this may be the end."
Willow squeezed Xander's hand as he stared motionless at Faith. Suddenly, Faith sat bolt up right. The move was so unexpected, it caused Willow and Buffy to jump. Xander leaned forward and, holding Faith by the shoulders, tried gently to urge her back down onto the couch.
"Easy, Faith, easy," he said tenderly, "You gotta lie down."
Sensing that something was happening that none of them understood, Buffy gripped Xander by the arm and restrained him.
"No, Xander," she said, "Wait a minute."
It seemed like the whole room held its breath as Faith turned to face Buffy.
" . . and . . . who . . . are . . . you . . ." the dying Slayer said in an empty voice.
"What is it, Faith?" Buffy asked intently, "What are ya trying to say?"
As Faith stared blankly at Buffy, she reached her arm up and placed it on Buffy's shoulder as if asking to be assisted to her feet.
"Okay, hang on," Buffy reassured her.
Buffy wrapped one arm around Faith's waist and lifted her to her feet. Faith staggered slowly forward, supported by Buffy, towards the front door.
"What's she doing?" Tara asked, but Willow didn't answer at first. Her mind was racing, the visions of the future now coming together toward one final act that she couldn't yet clearly see.
"I don't know, . . . ," she answered, "But . . I think . . . Faith wants us to follow her."
Buffy gently nursed Faith forward step by step. In a moment both were heading out the front door followed by the rest of the Scooby Gang.
Easy . . . easy, Faith," she said quietly, encouraging the weakened Slayer, "You just show me the way. Show me where you want to go."
As everyone left only Spike remained behind in the apartment. Without looking away from the portable television, he called out to the empty apartment.
"Rupert, be a good Watcher and see if they got the cable up yet."
Just before dawn on a pathway in the deepest and oldest part of the Sunnydale Cemetery, what appeared to be a ragtag procession wound its way among the gravestones, overgrown trees and plantings.
At its head, Faith, supported by Buffy, staggered forward between towering monuments and out into an open clearing. Willow and Giles were by their sides. Straggling out behind followed Riley, Xander, Anya, Tara, Angel, Kate and Cordelia. Giles had insisted that they all come since he, too, knew that an end was approaching for which they all had to be a part.
Suddenly, Faith, breathing heavily and her brow bathed in perspiration, stopped on the edge of the clearing and took Buffy's arm away from her waist. Swaying a little, she managed to stand on her own and step several feet forward without Buffy's assistance. Buffy's face was furrowed with concern while Willow and Giles stared in amazement.
Beneath Faith's feet, the clearing was carpeted in soft green grass. Bordering the open area loomed a semi-circle of towering monuments crowned by white marble figures of angels, guardian beasts and figures of the dead, their covered heads bowed in respect. Willow couldn't shake the impression that they all now stood on the edge of a holy place.
"I still can't believe she can even walk," she whispered. Giles answered her very quietly.
"They say sometimes towards the end, physical strength and a strange mental clarity miraculously reassert themselves one last time. And the patient can even sometimes relate to friends and family what they see in those final moments, . . . their visions of what is to come . . . beyond the veil."
Suddenly, from deep within the clearing appeared a faint white pinpoint of light. The focus of illumination rapidly grew and spread out in a circular motion until it encompassed the far side of the clearing, casting the long shadows of the gravestones back across the faces of Buffy and the others. The mass of light deepened and took on dimensional form until it reached backwards like a vast glowing tunnel stretching far beyond anything visible from this world.
Lining the edges of the tunnel were dozens of human figures stretching away into the distance, all vaguely defined in the soft yet powerful light. There were some men but mostly a large number of young women, little more than teenagers. They wore clothing of all periods ranging from ancient times to the modern day. At the front of the light stood three figures. The first was clearly recognizable as Anson MacDuffie, and Willow gasped when her eyes fell on him.
". . . Giles . . .!" she whispered, restraining the urge to point.
". . . I see him . . ." Giles replied in astonishment following her gaze.
The second figure was a taller gentleman whom Tara instantly recognized though she didn't know how. He wore conservative clothing dating from the early part of the twentieth century. Over his shoulders was draped a long dark trench coat and he carried in his hand a floppy felt hat. His face was long and drawn with piercing eyes that, in Buffy's mind, could see through to the darkest secrets of the soul. At the same time however, the eyes conveyed an infinite sadness as if they bore the weight of centuries of care and sorrow.
Next to him stood a young woman, no older than Buffy and Willow. She wore a light white flowing robe more in keeping with something from ancient times and a warmer climate. Her long blond hair spilled down her shoulders over the robe and stretched almost to her waist. A soft wind rose, and her robe spread out gently behind her in the breeze.
MacDuffie stepped forward out of the light first and walked up to Willow. While clearly visible, there was a softness to his image as if he had no corporeal substance.
"Hello, . . . my Bonnie Lassie," he said quietly.
"Hey . . . Mr. MacDuffie," she answered sniffling.
"I'm afraid I've mucked things up badly for you," he said humbly, "We were supposed to have a little chat but . . . well . . . events got a tad hectic there towards the end."
"That's okay," she said firmly, trying not to let the wetness she felt building up in her eyes start running down her cheeks, "I think I understand . . . what I'm supposed to do."
"Are you sure?" the specter asked.
Willow nodded, now confident.
"Very well, then."
MacDuffie reached out his hand and placed it firmly against Willow's forehead. At the moment of contact, there was a very soft almost imperceptible flash of yellow light where his hand touched her skin and then it was gone. Willow gasped and sensed a tingling in her fingertips. All was suddenly clarity and she stared at MacDuffie with a new understanding.
". . . There . . . the deed is done . . ." he whispered as he drew his hand back.
Willow smiled in spite of the single tear running down her cheek.
"Ahh, none of that now, Lass," the Guardian chided her.
"It's not that," Willow replied wiping her face, "It's just . . . where am I going to get my chamomile tea from now on?"
"Oh dear . . . this is a problem," he mused, rubbing his chin, "Well . . . I hear there's some very strange shop in the mall. A young lady there has some things behind the counter but they're not very . . . fresh . . ."
Willow couldn't help but let out small laugh that somehow softened everything that she was feeling. MacDuffie smiled and stepped back into the light.
"Farewell, my dear Guardian," he said with finality, "I leave things in your very capable care. May the Goddess always be with you."
As MacDuffie faded back into the light, the tall gentleman at his side stepped up in front of Faith. For a few moments, neither moved. Then, very slowly, he took his free hand and ran it slowly across Faith's face. As his hand passed by, the ghastly pallor of Faith's complexion vanished away. Her eyes suddenly shone again with their natural rich mahogany brown. She stopped trembling and was able to stand up straight. She shook her head, as if her mind had just returned from a long journey, and looked up at the tall, imposing figure in front of her. She recognized him immediately.
". . . hey . . . " she said hesitantly, "Mr. Lovecraft . . ."
". . . hello, Faith . . ." he answered very softly.
His gaze drifted out over the Scooby Gang and fell on Tara.
"You must be Tara," he said motioning her forward, "You know me as Randolph Carter. At least that's the name I gave myself in my stories. You performed your task well, and we are all greatly in your debt."
Tara was speechless and stared almost stunned at the shimmering figure before her.
"There's someone I want you very much to meet," the old gentleman said turning to Faith once more.
Lovecraft held his hand out to the young woman by his side. She approached Faith and stood just a few feet in front of her. Her white flowing robe still blew gently in the steady breeze. She was just a touch shorter than Faith, and her long blond hair hung in waves over her shoulders. She looked to be the same age as Faith who eyed her up and down.
"Who the hell are you?"
When the woman answered, her voice was clear and crisp but with a sassy undertone.
"Hi . . . My name's Karintha . . . but my buds call me Kari."
"Well, guess what, I'm gonna call you 'K'" Faith replied half sarcastically but nervously.
"That's all right," Karintha smirked right back, "Just don't get confused."
"Not much chance of that while you're wearing those duds," Faith smirked as she eyed Karintha's flowing robes. She then cast a glance back over her shoulder towards Buffy.
"Although you remind me a lot of another chick I already know," she said.
"I like the outfit," Karintha said casually but sincerely, indicating Faith's black leather jacket, "Is it leather?"
"The real baby."
"Can I touch it?"
"Uh . . . sure . . ." Faith answered, puzzled, "But don't get funny. I only dig guys."
Karintha stepped up to Faith and ran her hand up and down the soft black front of Faith's jacket.
"Wow . . . I'd forgotten what it felt like," Karintha said, marveling at the softness of the jacket, "I never was allowed to wear leather. Something about Hathor being sacred to Isis and all that shit."
"Are you gonna talk weird like Giles?" Faith scowled.
"Nah, that's okay," Karintha answered, thumbing at MacDuffie and Lovecraft, "I never can figure out what they're talking about, either."
The image of the young woman in front of Faith flickered and resumed speaking after a pause.
"Listen . . . I think we gotta go now."
"Yeah, . . ." Faith answered resigned and discouraged, "I figured after this was over, I wasn't gonna hang around here anymore. So where are ya taking me? Slayer Heaven or some other deadsville place where we sit around playing harps and forget what it was like . . . to be alive?"
"Nothing like that!" Karintha grinned.
"Whew! That's a relief. I mean I was just beginning to get my shit together here and then . . . " Faith suddenly sighed and continued sadly, ". . . I blew it again. I went and lost it all."
"No you didn't," Karintha said softly as she reached out and put her hands on Faith's shoulders to reassure her, "You saved it all. But sometimes you have to give up the things you love the most in order to save them."
"That sucks."
"No shit. Been there."
"You saved the world once, too, didn't ya?" Faith said in awe as she looked Karintha straight in the eyes.
". . . yeah . . ." the vision answered quietly as if reliving her own ancient pain, "A long time ago."
"So . . . where are we going?"
"Relax, this'll be a blast," Karintha replied easily, "There is so much more out there than just your cheesy little Sunnydale. It even beats LA!"
Karintha gazed up at the sky. Faith followed her eyes.
"There are realms and levels of existence," the image continued, "Different universes, worlds beyond time and space. Our being stretches far beyond the physical forms we take on here in this place for our brief moment in time. And the only limits are our own hopes and dreams. You still got dreams, don't cha?"
"Yeah. . . . I guess so . . ." Faith said sadly, looking back down at the ground, "I don't quite get it but it sounds sorta cool. So they need Slayers, huh?
"Hey! You and me, babe. . . " Karintha grinned as she wrapped her arm around Faith's shoulder, "We're not Slayers anymore. . . . You're a Guardian now."
"Hang on a sec," Faith scowled again, "This is getting weird."
"Come on! Go for it!" Karintha punched her playfully in the arm, "You defeated the Ancient Ones! Gave your life and soul to do it. You did more than any of us ever have. By going through that ordeal, you were transformed. You've left the pain, the agony, those things that held you back, . . . you're now leaving them all behind . . ."
"Now I really don't get it!" Faith shook her head. Suddenly MacDuffie and Lovecraft were standing close by her side.
"Faith, the Guardians watch over all levels of space and time," MacDuffie explained carefully, "Over the centuries many of us have remained behind here because of the threat to this universe from the Ancient Ones. Because of your victory and your sacrifice, that task here is complete. There will be new threats to this world, of course . . . " Here he cast a glance back in Willow's direction, ". . . but those will fall to new Guardians and Slayers to handle."
"We all have our Realms and realities over which we stand watch," Lovecraft added," I patrol the Dark. And Faith, . . . you . . . and those who battled by your side, you all are now of the Guardians of the Gates of Dawn."
Karintha bowed her head as she knelt down in respect before Faith.
"You see, hun, I only started it," the white robed woman said with a touch of awe in her voice, "But you . . . you did what none of us could do . . . You finished the job."
Faith couldn't take it anymore. She reached out, sliding her fingers under the tip of Karintha's chin. Gently she tipped the young woman's head back up to look at her.
"Hey, what the hell's this shit!" Faith said and her brown eyes sparkled, "Don't you do that!"
"But why not?" Karintha answered, "You earned it. You're now the foremost among us . . . besides, I thought that's what you always wanted."
At those words, Faith glanced sadly back over her shoulder at Buffy.
". . . yeah . . ." she said quietly almost to herself, "So did I . . ."
* * * * * *
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