PART THIRTEEN: Captured...
Faith looked over at Buffy as she walked among the potentials. She couldn’t believe that Buffy actually...loved her. The brunette felt so lucky. Who would have ever thought it? She then looked back over at Kennedy. She could tell that the girl was really trying hard to concentrate on the potentials...but her mind was wavering. Faith hoped she said all the right things to her.
If anything, the brunette slayer was worried about Christine. She and Faith had talked for hours about how they have fallen into dark times...but it seemed that the potential was still struggling. Even though Christine, herself, said many times how she had overcame everything...had she really? Faith noticed the potetnial acting a little different. Was she hiding something? The brunette didn’t really understand it, but decided that the potential would tell her on her own time if she wanted to.
Faith and Christine easily became friends due to all the hardships they had been thorough. They could relate with each other. Christine felt different from the other potentials, making her feel alone. And Faith? Well, she felt out of place as well. Then there were Christine’s dreams about the brunette slayer and her life. Faith never understood how or why that happened...how Christine saw those things or even why. It made the brunette really uncomfortable at the beginning. Faith guessed it was the prophecy working early to connect the two of them...she didn’t know nor really care anymore. But Faith knew how it was to fall into a deep darkness and how hard it was to get out. Their circumstances and situations may have been different...but the feeling was the same. That feeling of darkness, loneliness, and pain were the same.
Faith looked back at Buffy. The brunette slayer guessed that she too was still recovering. She would never forget the things she did...and how she felt in her dark times. Angel even told her that she would probably be haunted for the rest of her life. And here she was, among everyone, on the good side, making the good fight. She just hoped she was doing an ok job...
At the other side of the yard...
Buffy had looked over at Faith. Even though the brunette was watching the potentials and every now and then gave instructions, Buffy could tell something was on her mind. Everything with the younger slayer was new to the blonde...but she really did care about the other girl. Buffy had grown up a lot through the past couple of years. She remembered exactly how she treated the younger girl and felt bad. But it all didn’t matter anymore.
What mattered was, now...today...and this moment that they all shared together. The blonde knew not to dwell on the past. Easier said then done...but sometimes...you just have to let things go and move on. She knew that it must be hard for Faith to let go of her past...and the things she had done. But Buffy wanted to help her with that. Help her realize that there were greater things in the world and in life.
The older slayer smiled at Faith as the brunette made eye contact with her. Buffy and Faith were happy with each other and were just happy with that. The blonde was glad that the younger slayer could help out with the other potentials. Just then, Willow came out and called to all of them that it was time that they take a break. The redhead and Fred had decided to take a break from their researching to get some stuff out for the potentials.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and started to head on in to Casa Summers. The potentials were a little tired and needed a break anyway. Kennedy followed behind Xander and Anya into the kitchen.
“Wow Will. This is great!” Xander exclaimed seeing how Fred and Willow prepared a little meal for everyone. Fred smiled. The potentials grabbed the food hungrily and scattered themselves around the house to eat.
“It was no problem, besides, with two people who know a little bit about magic...we were able to do it quick,” Willow said smiling. Fred nodded in agreement.
“Hey? Has Christine come back yet?” Kennedy asked.
Somewhere...unknown...
Christine was still unconscious as the two bringers brought her into the cave that The First was in. Caleb followed them in close behind. The First, in the form of Buffy, turned around to face them. “Well done,” The First said smiling. Caleb smiled. “Now, you know what to do,” The First said as Caleb nodded leaving the room. Another bringer stood at the opening of the cave as the preacher walked out.
The two bringers who brought the bleeding potential in backed away near the opening, leaving Christine in the center of the room. The First walked up to the potential turning into Christine herself, and grabbed her chin forcibly. “Now now, wakey wakey,” The First mocked kicking the potential in the face, causing her to fly across the room into a stone wall.
Christine lay in a heap on the floor before lightly coughing. She was slowly gaining consciousness. The First walked up to her and crouched down and got in the potential’s face. “That’s it...you’re no fun to me like this,” The First spat hitting Christine across the face causing her to fly again and hit the ground.
Christine felt her whole body was in pain. She groggily looked up at The First, who was coming at her again and crouched down again next to her. The potential looked around the room hazily, her eyes resting on some weapon stuck in stone. The First followed Christine’s gaze.
“Ah...not for you. That scythe is for a slayer...and they will never get it. You will never touch it either...it’s a slayer thing,” The First said laughing. The First was trying to make Christine feel useless as it laughed at her. “I am going to enjoy killing you...but I think I am going to wait until I can have more fun with you...so you can really feel the pain,” The First said getting up and kicking the potential in the ribs causing Christine to cry out. The First looked at the state Christine was in.
Her body was practically broken and she was starting to spit up blood. Blood ran down her face from various cuts and various bruises were showing up. “You are so pathetic...always have been...and always will be. They don’t trust you...no one does...don’t bleed too much while I am gone,” The First smirked.
The First started to walk away and paused at the opening of the cave. “Chain her up,” The First demanded as it walked away. Christine knew that she had to do something. She could barley form a thought as she heard chains rattling coming her way. The three bringers walked closer to the potential. One grabbed her wrist preparing to clasp the chains on them.
Christine mustered up her strength and threw the bringer backwards into the wall. Another bringer came up and kicked at Christine causing her to cry out in pain. She quickly grabbed the chain lying next to her and flung in around the bringers ankles, who was coming after her, causing him to go down. Another bringer came at her and backhanded her, picking her up and tossing her to the other side of the room.
Christine wasn’t sure if she could last much longer. The one bringer that she threw the chain at was trying to get it off his ankles as the other one she threw was starting to get up. The bringer that threw her charged at her grabbing some chains that were on the floor.
The potential franticly looked around where she was at for something she could use. If they succeeded in chaining her to the wall...she knew she was going to die. Christine then saw a glow from next to her...the scythe...
The bringer whipped the chain around Christine’s arm as she pulled herself up next to the scythe. The potential yelled out in pain as the bringer yanked and yanked her arm out of the socket. Christine reached for the handle of the scythe...she just had to try...and the other two bringers were closing in....
