Sometime later Willow awoke. She was in an old bedroom of some kind. The mattress of the bed was burnt and almost fully blackened and at the end of the bed sat an odd collection of old dolls. These were also grey from smoke and were badly damaged.
At first Willow wondered what on earth she was doing in such a place but then she remembered. She remembered it all: Oz, the woman, the men in grey cloaks, the chanting, it all came back to her. She wanted to burst into tears but knew she had to keep it together for Oz. She remembered his last words to her. He wanted her to get help, so she would. She wasn’t ready to give up on Oz yet.
Willow straightened up and studied her surroundings. At once she recognised the place. She’d been held prisoner here before by Spike. It was the old factory. At least she knew her way out of here.
Nervously, she poked her head round the side of the door. She could she the steps to the door. They were straight ahead of her, only one cloaked man was standing between her and her way out. She wouldn’t be able to take him on; he’d overpower her for sure. Her only chance would be to run for it.
“I can do this, I can do this,” she told herself quietly. She took a deep breath and ran.
Willow had never run so fast in her life. She could see the stairs in front of her getting closer and closer.
The cloaked guard noticed her as she flew past. “Hey you! Come back!” he cried as her started to run after her.
Willow didn’t look back. She could her the footsteps of the man behind her getting nearer and nearer but the steps were so close now. She was almost there. She was going to get out.
She jumped onto the first step and ran up but was faced with a problem. There was an enormous hole in the middle of the staircase where Cordelia had fallen through before. She didn’t have time to think though. The man behind her was closing in on her. She was going to have to jump; it was the only way. She had to do it for Oz. Willow held her breath, bent her knees and jumped.
She landed with a thump and let out a sigh of relief. She’d made it. She pushed open the steal door and ran out of the building.
It was daylight now. She’d been there all night. Willow kept on running down the street but stopped when she heard a scream from behind. Turning around, she saw the cloaked man who was chasing her. He burst into flames.
“Vampires,” Willow told herself, “they never learn.”
She stood still for a moment to catch her breath and think. She had to find Buffy. She’d know what to do. If anyone could help her it was Buffy.
********************************************
Buffy was at Giles’ apartment. Xander was there too. I the middle of discussing her patrol the previous night they heard a knock at the door. Xander went to get it.
“Willow!” he exclaimed as he let her in, “and just when we were thinking you’d disappeared off the face of the earth. Where were you last night? It’s not like you to miss the eagerly awaited Scooby meeting.” He noticed the tears rolling down her cheeks. “Willow?”
“Willow, what’s wrong?…What’s happened?” asked Buffy with concern.
“Oh Buffy,” sobbed Willow, “it’s bad, something terrible’s happened with Oz…Buffy I think I’ve lost him.”
“Lost him?” asked Buffy. “Willow what’s happened?…Have you two rowed?”
“No, I…” Willow stopped. She didn’t no where to start.
“Here,” said Giles offering Willow a seat which she took. “Now tell us from the beginning. What’s happened to Oz?”
******************************************
Giles, Buffy and Xander listened attentively as Willow, between sobs, explained the events of the last two evenings. After she had finished, Giles was the first to speak.
“This kind of thing is not unheard of,” said Giles raising from his chair. He started pacing back and forth. “It’s been going on for a long time. This woman you speak of is probably part of a tribe or group. They raise werewolves and…”
“Raise werewolves?!” interrupted Xander. “Cause that makes complete sense. I mean who wouldn’t want a cute and cuddly pet werewolf!”
Giles rolled his eyes. “They raise the werewolves waiting for their fur to grow thicker. Then, after a while, they kill them and sell their fur and teeth for money. Quite sick really.”
Willow looked up. “They’re going to kill Oz!”
Buffy put the arm round her shaken friend. “Willow, listen to me. No-one’s going to kill Oz. I won’t let it happen.” She turned towards Giles. “Do we know how to reverse the spell?”
“Yes, I do. It’s in one of my books. I think I have the necessary ingredients here.”
Willow smiled. She was going to get her Oz back.
“Great,” said Buffy. “You and Willow will stay here and perform the spell. I’ll go to the factory. Xander, will you come with me? I might need some back up.”
“Sure,” he replied, “anything to help Oz.”
“Buffy I want to come with you too.” They all turned round to face Willow. “Oz needs me.”
Giles put his hand on her shoulder. “Willow if you want to help Oz you need to stay here and help me with this spell. I have the necessary books and ingredients but only an experienced witch can perform the spell. I need you here.”
“I promise I won’t let anything happen to him,” said Buffy.
“And I believe you,” replied Willow smiling at Buffy.
“Right!” said Xander. “Off to battle it is.” And with that he and Buffy left the apartment.
To be continued .........
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