Buffy slipped her stake back into her bag and admired her handy work. The ashes of the three
vampires lay scattered across the ground, as a memento of what had just happened. Buffy felt
quite pleased with herself. Now all she had to do was find Willow, and they could get down,
and party some!!!
"Willow?" she whispered, loudly. "Willow?!" There was no response. Of course there was no
response! Buffy wasn't even shouting. She cursed herself for being so tentative, and began to call
again. "WILLOW?"
"SLAYER?" a familiar voice answered. Buffy could tell that it was Spike.
"Never mind just one vampire," she thought bitterly. "It always has to be the whole she-bang."
Whenever Spike was around, there was trouble. Buffy didn't really know him properly, yet. He
hadn't been around for long, but she guessed she would have plenty of time to learn. Peering
through a well-placed bush, Buffy saw several figures standing on the bridge above the pool.
"Please don't let them have Willow!" she wished, hopefully. There were more than just several
figures there. Spike, Willow, and eight other vampires, respectively. "Oh shit," muttered Buffy. "I
bet there's more of them, waiting for the order to descend on the beach party." Little did Buffy
know, how right she really was.
"SLAYER! WE'VE GOT SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK TO YOU!"
"BUFFY! IT'S A TRAP!" squealed Willow, anxiously. Buffy felt deep anger inside, that they
dared to frighten her friend so much. Straightening her dress, Buffy put on her cutest smile, and
skipped over to the swimming pool area.
"Hi," she said, smiling.
"Approach," said Spike. He smiled too. But it was more of a smirk than a smile. Buffy did as
told. As she reached the foot of the bridge, two vampires stepped down and grabbed her by the
arms. She shrugged, unperturbed, as they produced rope and began to systematically bind her
ankles and wrists together.
"What is this? Are we playing kinky games or something?" she asked, sarcastically.
"We can play whatever you want, love," Spike leered, "if it involves you dying." Buffy raised an
eyebrow. Spike gestured to a vampire, who then handed him a dagger. Holding Willow by her
two little plaits, he placed the dagger in a suitable position on the front of her neck. "Or her," he
finished. A low key of laughter rang from the vampires, and Buffy was pushed forwards to
Spike. "Give my regards to your God," he said, laughing. "I'm sorry, but we must leave you, as
we have a dinner date. Most of your friends are invited, actually, ducks. I really wish I could
stay around to watch you drown." Buffy suddenly realised what they were planning to do to her,
and the colour drained from her face.
"No!" screamed Willow, but Spike silenced her with the knife.
"Shush, m'love," he whispered, soothingly into her ear. "Lets go!" Spike and five of the vampires
began to head for the beach, with Willow in tow.
Buffy felt a hand rest on her back, and suddenly she was falling forwards. Taking a deep breath,
she decided, would be the best course. If the pool was as deep as it looked, Buffy wouldn't be
able to keep her head above water for more than five seconds. Twisting in mid-air, she managed
to land on her back - spraying water everywhere, upon impact. She seemed to sink deeper
through the water for a long time, it cushioned her fall, letting her down slowly. Buffy felt
frustrated, but most of all she felt scared. Now that she was lying at the bottom of a swimming
pool away from anybody who could help, she suddenly realised the danger of her situation. As
her feet touched the bottom, she put all of her weight on them, and was propelled upwards to
the surface. She opened her mouth to breath and found herself sinking again.Wriggling her tied
hands and feet, Buffy hoped that she would be able to create some sort of a swimming stroke
which would allow her to float to the top. Nothing seemed to be working. Buffy's only hope was
to keep springing out of the water, for short gasps of air. Her legs ached with exhaustion, which
only slowed down the process. Buffy was spending more time below than above, and it scared
her. Suddenly, something splashed into the water beside her. Buffy tried to open her eyes to see
what it could be, but the chlorine stung her eyes. Forcing herself painfully up to the surface, Buffy
took another gulp of air in. It was more of a sip than a gulp - not enough for the journey down
and up again. Buffy felt something soft brush against her, and the next thing that she knew, she
was being dragged from the blue depths. Willow gazed at her, worriedly - her face streaked
with driplets of water. Buffy smiled, and swallowed a mouthful of cool air. It felt good. Really
good. For a moment, she almost forgot where she was, but a growling sound soon reminded
her. Willow pulled Buffy's bound wrists towards herself, and placed them around her neck. Like
this, she was able to swim with Buffy on her back for a short way. A tiny island in the centre of
the pool, provided safety for a while, but for how long? Buffy stretched her toes, and realised
that the water was still too deep, and much too cold.
"Willow," she whispered, shivering. "You have to get back to the others...create a ....diversion.
There's no telling what Spike has planned!" Willow shook her head.
"I'm not leaving you!" she said, as she struggled with the knot around Buffy's hands. "You can't
stay here alone, Buffy, you need someone to-"
"I'll be fine," replied Buffy, firmly, as the rope came loose. She grabbed it quickly. "Willow, you
have to go! I'll be fine!" Willow frowned, disbelievingly, but began to swim away, anyhow. A
vampire lurked near the edge of the water, and he laughed as Willow approached. Buffy quickly
flung the heavy rope into his face - momentarily blinding him - and Willow was able to climb out
of the pool to freedom. Buffy watched her go, sadly. She was alone, again.
