The Hunted: Let's Play
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 Three - Let's Play*****

Wesley reached the bottom of the stairs and stopped for a moment to decide whether to run out of the building or to tell the gang what was going on. His loyalty cursed his cowardice for being such a wuss and he ran to tell the others.

‘Giles!’ He said, running down the corridor. ‘Buffy and Faith are going into battle on the roof!’

‘That’s it, I’m gonna…’ Angel started down the corridor again but Willow grabbed his arm.

‘We wait.’ She said sternly. ‘Right Giles?’

‘Absolutely, unless we hear a scream or something…but, we uh, wait. Yes.’

Wesley noticed Cordelia leaning against the wall, looking a little dishevelled…well, being attacked by a horde of vampires will do that to you. ‘Cordelia? Are you all right?’ He asked quietly.

‘Yes, no thanks to you.’ She said shortly.

‘I’m sorry, I should’ve…’

‘Save it weasel boy.’ She held a hand up to stop him speaking and strutted past him to where Xander was standing. Wesley was in shock; she’d never called him weasel boy before…although everyone else had.

**********

The fight began on the roof. Reluctantly Buffy threw the first punch, she had hoped to save Faith but now it seemed too late. Faith didn’t seem phased and swung her knife at Buffy; Buffy ducked.

‘This should be fun B, one slayer against another.’

‘Yeah, but didn’t we already decide who the better slayer was?’ Buffy saw that she had hit a nerve, Faith kicked her hard in the stomach, sending her falling to the ground.

‘I always thought you had a competitive streak B. I just never thought you’d use it on a friend.’

‘You’re not my friend.’ Buffy said pulling herself to her feet and leaning back against the doorway. ‘You never were.’ Faith looked hurt, but only for a moment before she began to retaliate.

‘I didn’t mean competitive with me…I meant your other friends. Willow, Xander…Giles.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘You always have to be better than them don’t you? You’ve always got to prove that you’re the slayer and they’re just your sidekicks. Batman and Robin, The Lone Ranger and Tonto…Buffy and Willow.’

‘You don’t know what you’re talking about.’

‘Oh don’t I? What about Angel, B? Think about how you treat him, he knows that you could kill him at any moment.’

‘But I wouldn’t, I wouldn’t kill anyone…’

‘But you could, B, couldn’t you? You could fire one shot of that crossbow and end it all…you broke up right? What if he didn’t leave you alone, asking you to take him back, I bet you’d kill him then wouldn’t you?’

‘I wouldn’t!’ Buffy yelled and fired her crossbow angrily at Faith. Faith was hit in the stomach, she staggered backwards into the ledge of the roof, holding her stomach. Blood seeped through her fingers; she looked at Buffy in shock and collapsed further onto the ledge.

‘I…I thought you said you couldn’t kill anyone…’

‘You’re not just anyone.’ Buffy said bitterly, silently regretting what she’d done.

‘I knew it.’ Faith coughed. ‘I knew you had it in you B, that killer instinct…all slayers have it. What a rush huh?’

‘Shut up!’ Buffy threw her crossbow at Faith in a temper; she couldn’t stand to have become like Faith…to become a killer. The crossbow hit Faith in the face; the force of the blow sent her tumbling backward over the ledge with a scream. In one second all the anger, hate and adrenaline drained from Buffy...and she realised how easy it was to become a killer.

But she didn't have to...Faith didn't have to...there was always a chance to go back, no matter how bad it got. It was then that it all made sense, what made them different but ultimately the same...the second they had to decided wether to be a slayer or a killer. Buffy chose to be a Slayer.

‘Faith!’ Buffy ran to the ledge.

**********

Down stairs Willow checked her watch. ‘Five minutes is up guys. We have to start the spell.’

‘What about Buffy?’ Angel asked. ‘She’s not back yet…what if…’

‘Faith probably took a little more convincing than usual…that’s all…now stop worrying. The Mayor will probably send for more vampire guards in a second, we’ll need to keep them off Giles while he starts the spell. Right Giles?’ Willow asked, trying her best to calm the worried group…they’d never been faced with this kind of situation without Buffy around for back-up.

‘Yes, right…the spell, I need the book.’ Willow handed Giles the White Chronicles and handed Cordelia a cross to protect herself. They heard the footsteps of a group of guards approaching and stood in a circle around Giles as he began to read from the book.

**********

‘Faith! Faith? Where are you?’ Buffy yelled as she reached the balcony.

‘B! Help me!’ Faith screamed from where she was hanging. She had fallen over the ledge and was hanging by one arm, slipping further every second.

‘Hold on Faith, I’m coming.’ Buffy leant over the ledge and tried to reach Faiths hand, but Faith was too far down.

‘Buffy, don’t let me fall, please!’ Buffy had never heard Faith beg before…she never guessed that Faith was capable of fear. She ran back across the roof to search for something that would reach Faith. She found a long electrical cable. She pulled it roughly from the wall, there was a spark as it disconnected, but it was still live. She pulled the other end of it, now it was dead, then she ran to the ledge and hung it down to faith.

Faith used her free hand to grab the cable and then transferred her other hand to it carefully. Once she had a tight hold Buffy pulled her up carefully. At the top of the ledge Faith released the cable and toppled over onto the roof. Buffy dropped the cable and knelt by Faith’s side. Faith was now bleeding heavily, she was getting weaker and weaker.

‘Faith…’ Buffy whispered. ‘…I’m so sorry, I never meant for this to happen.’

‘If you’d just let me go.’ Faith was crying with pain and sadness. ‘I could have started a new life, somewhere else…somewhere where I could forget about that guy.’

‘I just wanted you to face up to your mistakes, you can’t keep running…that’s what I did when Kendra was killed, it was the worst mistake of my life, I almost lost all my friends.’

‘B, I don’t have any friends to lose.’

‘You have me, I’m you’re friend…remember, friends don’t give up on each other.’

‘But you almost gave up on me tonight, didn’t you? You almost killed me.’

‘I’m so sorry.’ Buffy was crying too now. ‘I never meant for anyone to get hurt…but I promised myself that I wouldn’t let you go bad…I didn’t want you to work for the Mayor, he would’ve just used you and then got rid of you later.’

‘I know, that’s why I was leaving…but then I saw the fight…I thought you’d finally come to your senses and come to kill me…so I ran. It’s nice to know you cared though.’

‘Not cared, care. You’re still my friend.’ Buffy smiled and wiped her eyes. Faith smiled back and sniffed, the two slayers hugged carefully avoiding Faiths wound.

‘Ow!’ Said Faith, Buffy released her from the hug and sat back. She stared down and noticed that she had Faiths blood on her clothes. She looked at faith and then at the wound. Faith nodded, knowing what Buffy was about to do. With one hard pull Buffy tore the crossbow bolt out of Faiths stomach. Faith Winced and held the wound tightly, trying to stop the blood. Buffy moved Faith's hand and shirt to see the wound.

It wasn’t as large as she’d thought, but it was quite deep. She ripped the sleeve off her blood stained shirt and made a compress for the wound.

‘Hold this, tightly.’ She ordered. Faith sat up slightly and leant against the ledge, holding the cloth to the wound. Buffy undid her belt and placed it around Faiths waist. Faith moved her hand and let the belt put pressure on the compress. Buffy tightened the belt to keep the compress in place.

‘Is that too tight?’ She asked as Faith winced.

‘No, as long as I can still stand and use a crossbow.’ Buffy gave her a questioning look. ‘I want to help B. I’m sick of running, you’re right, it doesn’t work.’

Buffy smiled and helped her friend stand up. Together they headed down the stairs off of the roof, Faith limping slightly and leaning heavily on Buffy for support. Physically and emotionally.

**********

Downstairs the group were surrounded and outnumbered by 10 vampires. Angel was fending off two that were getting too close to Giles when he stopped and turned to the stairway exit.

‘I can smell blood!’ He yelled, and without wasting another second he ran from the group, heading for the stairs and leaving the gang unprotected. Willow lowered her cross from the vampire that she was tackling and turned to where Angel had gone.

‘Angel! Wait! Where are you going, we…’ One of the vampires fists hit her across the face and sent her back into the wall, knocking her unconscious. Xander and Oz couldn’t help because they each had two vampires attacking them and Wesley wouldn’t help, pretending that he had to keep the vamps away from Giles who was already heavily protected by holy water and crosses…still busily chanting the spell.

Cordelia saw the vampire advancing on the weakened Willow and ran to protect her. She waved her cross in the vampires face frantically, he leant back slightly and she saw her chance to kick him in the crotch. Once he had doubled over in pain she grabbed Willow’s crossbow and aimed for him, she was pleased with her result when she dusted him.

‘Woo!’ She clapped her hands with joy, still standing protectively over Willow. ‘I could get used to this. Now, who’s next?’

Buffy and Faith reached the bottom of the stairs and kicked the door to the hallway open. It hit something; Angel. He fell backwards onto the floor and looked up at Buffy and Faith. They were a terrible sight. Both were a mess, there clothes ruined and they’re hair…well, ‘bad hair day’ doesn’t cover it…and they’re faces were grimy. They’re hands were covered in blood, as were they’re clothes. Faith looked out of breath as she leant against Buffy for support.

‘Buffy! You’re bleeding!’ Angel said, jumping up and running to her side.

‘It’s not me, it’s Faith.’ She said, shrugging out of his worried grasp. ‘She’s on our side now.’ Faith smiled weakly and faltered on her feet. Buffy steadied her and turned to Angel worriedly.

‘We need to get this over with quickly, I don’t know if she’ll last much longer. Has the spell been started?’

‘Yes. Willow said that we need to get the Mayor near Giles before the spell was complete…but he’s still in his office.’

‘Well, I’ll see about bringing him out…you take Faith, give her a crossbow and get back there to help.’ Buffy pushed Faith into his arms and ran towards the office. Angel carried faith easily to the fight; he noticed that they were losing. Willow was unconscious, Xander and Oz were outnumbered and Wesley was hiding behind Giles. It seemed to Angel that Cordelia was the only one getting anywhere as he saw her shoot one of the vampires that held Xander. She dusted him with near perfect accuracy.

Angel leant Faith against the wall next to Willow and handed her a crossbow…he instructed her to shoot anything that moved. She nodded weakly and loaded the crossbow. Angel rushed back into the fight and pulled one of the vampires off of Oz, his strength seemed to have doubled after he knew Buffy was alive and well. There was no stopping him now. Xander had only one vampire to cope with now, so he dusted him easily with his crossbow. As he turned round he saw that there were still six vampires left. He saw Faith standing by the wall with a crossbow; she seemed to be aiming it at him. He ducked as she fired, when he stood up again he gave her an angry glance, wondering what the hell was going on. He thought.

Then he turned round to see the pile of dust behind him that had been created by the vampire Faith had just shot. He smiled at her and turned back to the fight.

**********

Inside the Mayors office Buffy stood on one side of the desk and Mayor Wilkins stood on the other. Buffy clutched her crossbow tightly. The Mayor grinned broadly.

‘I just love you slayers…you never give up, do you.’

‘Not when scum like you still get away with everything.’

‘Oh, now that hurts. I suppose you’ve come here to slay me with that…contraption.’ He pointed to her crossbow. ‘Well, sorry missy, but not today…or ever again.’ He chuckled. ‘Didn’t your boyfriend tell you, I’m immortal.’

‘He told me…but I don’t care.’

‘Well, there’s nothing you can do to hurt me.’

‘Yet.’

‘Ooooh, feisty…just like your little friend Faith…have you killed her yet?’ He smiled widely.

‘You bastard!’ Buffy picked up a chair on her side of the desk and threw it at him. It hit him, knocking him backward into the wall. He stood up, not at all phased and smiled even wider.

‘Immortal, remember.’

‘Yeah, but I’m not.’ Buffy smiled at the Mayor and beckoned him to step round the table.

‘What are you getting at…you kids today, can’t make any sense out of anything.’

‘I’m saying, you’re immortal, but your guards, my friends and I aren’t.’

‘Your point being? I mean, you do have a point don’t you?’

‘Of course I have a point! I mean, yes, my point is that out there my friends and your ‘slaves’ have probably killed each other.’

‘So?’ The Mayor showed only a spark of interest.

‘So, I’m saying that it’ll be only me against you. Just me and you.’ She stepped closer to him and smiled, placing her crossbow on the desk. She slipped one of her arms round his arm and whispered into his ear. ‘After the ascension, Sunnydale would be yours…and I want to be there.’ She stroked his cheek. ‘Imagine what fun we could have.’ He smiled thoughtfully and reached behind him to pick up her crossbow.

‘What if I don’t want to share Sunnydale with you?’ He asked, investigating the workings of the crossbow…not realising that it wasn’t loaded.

‘You’d never find out what a nice, friendly girl I am.’ She sidled up to him and smiled. He stepped back, still fingering the crossbow.

‘But what if I wanted to kill you instead?’ He aimed the crossbow at her. She smiled.

‘You’d have to catch me first.’ She sprinted out of the door, slamming it in his face as he gave chase. He fell backwards onto the floor and began to struggle to his feet, excited by the chase.

Outside the corridor was covered in vampire dust, the gang had won the fight. Cordelia and Xander were trying to bring Willow round, she was barely conscious. ‘What?’ She muttered as she opened her eyes. Giles was nearing the end of the spell, while Wesley began collecting the discarded crosses and crossbows…in case they should come under attack again. Faith had dropped her crossbow and was sliding down the wall, Angel went to her and held her in his arms…supporting her. Buffy ran to them.

‘He’s coming! Finish the spell Giles!’ At that moment the door to the Mayors office burst open, he strode out carrying the loaded crossbow. He was a little shocked to find that Buffy hadn’t run very far…she’d spoilt the game. Then his smile faded completely when he saw that all her friends were still alive, even Faith. He roared angrily and aimed the crossbow at Buffy.

‘It’s not loaded.’ She said calmly. He threw the useless weapon to the ground.

‘Well, never mind, you’ll all be dead anyway…after Graduation day.’

‘Oh yeah.’ Buffy said calmly, but casting a nervous glance at Giles casting the spell. The Mayor hadn’t noticed him yet. Good. ‘About Graduation day, its not gonna happen. I don’t think you’ll live that long.’ She smiled as Giles spoke the last word of the spell and looked up at her with a smile.

‘What do you mean I won’t…’ The Mayor began, but suddenly he found his self surrounded by flashes of white light and clouds of smoke, like a mini thunderstorm. He began to feel himself being lifted off of the floor. Suddenly he started spinning in the air, as the light became more intense.

‘Slayer! What are you doing!’ He called. He continued shouting as the clouds of smoke became thicker, suddenly there was a slight exploding sound and the Mayor, and the light and the smoke disappeared.

‘Great spell, abracadabra, poof and it’s all over. Way to go G-man.’ Xander smiled. ‘One question, where did he go?’

‘Lets just say he’s somewhere where he’ll never bother us again.’ Buffy smiled.

**********

The mayor found himself…or at least his spirit…in the body of a small squirrel. He crawled down the tree and ran across the forest floor. He scuttled along until he came to the forest’s edge, he was guessing he was in a national park…he saw a park rangers truck heading down the road that ran along the edge of the forest. He ran out into the road hoping to stop the truck, not realising that squirrels weren't properly equipt to thumb lifts…or talk. The truck didn’t see him and didn’t stop. Just before the oncoming tyre squashed him he squeaked helplessly. He’d never have guessed that his immortality curse would only work if he were human.

***********

Outside his office everyone congratulated Giles and Buffy on getting the Mayor and they congratulated the gang for fending off the guards. Faith stood up by herself for a moment and looked around blearily…she was losing consciousness.

‘Did we get him?’ She asked.

‘We got him.’ Buffy said.

‘Oh good.’ Everything around Faith went black as she collapsed into Angel’s arms again. Everyone gathered round her worriedly.

‘Faith?’ Angel asked the limp body in his arms.

‘Faith!’ Buffy yelled, running to the slayer’s side.

‘Is she alright?’ Wesley asked, concerned for the first time that day.

‘I…I think she’s dead.’ Buffy said helplessly overwhelmed with guilt.


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