PART FIFTEEN: Aftermath...
The bringers, knowing they didn’t have a chance now, escaped as fast as they could. But not all could get away. And they knew that The First would be furious. Even though it couldn’t touch them...they were still frightened. The potentials that witnessed what happened chased the bringers out into the front, killing a few of them in the processes. The potentials smiled as they watched the last group of bringers flee the house...for they knew that they won this battle...
The back yard...
The group of potentials in the back along with Anya, Giles, and the rest, were unaware of what took place inside the house. They were able to finish a few bringers before they started fleeing. Not understanding why they were retreating, they chased after them.
“Yeah! That’s right! Run cowards!” A potential yelled triumphantly looking at the bringers flee. Anya and Giles couldn’t shake the feeling that something had to have happened.
“Should we follow them?” another potential asked standing next to Anya. Giles shook his head.
“No. They retreated for a reason. And even though we may have won...there have been some casualties,” Giles said looking around. There were three dead potentials lying near him. “We must take care of ourselves first,” he instructed walking into the house.
Inside the Summers' house...
Willow knelt next to Christine. “What is that?” A potential asked pointing to the axe that was partway in Christine’s hand.
“That’s the scythe...” Buffy stated in awe as she reached down to pick it up. She was drawn to it. She felt like it was made for her, like it belonged to her.
“How did she get it?” Fred asked knelling next to the redhead. Buffy looked up.
“I don’t know,” she replied. Willow sighed.
“She’s lucky to be alive. She’s got some broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder...” Willow was saying still examining the unconscious girl. “We’ve got to act fast. I know some spells that can help,” the redhead announced looking at Faith. The brunette slayer remained silent, on the other side of Christine, as Willow reached out and suddenly yanked the fallen potential’s dislocated shoulder back into place. Some near by potentials looked like they were about to be sick. Buffy jumped.
“Sorry, there was no other way to get it back into place,” the redheaded Wicca said sheepishly.
“I shouldn’t have let her go by herself,” Faith stated shaking her head. Willow looked at her.
“It isn’t your fault Faith,” she said trying to reassure the younger slayer.
“Willow’s right, there was no way we could have known that this would happen,” Buffy added. The older slayer felt horrible as well. She was responsible for these girls. She had never seen anyone so badly beaten before. The blonde slayer had to look away as the sight became too much.
Faith just sighed. Willow moved to try to pick Christine up. “No way Red. I’ll get her,” the younger slayer said getting up.
“Be careful, I’m not sure about all her injuries,” Willow stated as Faith gently picked up the broken girl. With each step she took she felt more and more guilty.
Kennedy stood in the hallway, not being able to see Christine like that, in the state she was in. It hurt her to see her like that. And she felt ashamed. She knew there was nothing she could do to help and let the gang care of her.
Kennedy watched as Faith carried Christine up stairs with Willow and Fred trailing close behind. “She’ll get better,” Buffy said entering the hallway. The brunette potential just looked at her blankly. She knew that Buffy was just trying to help...but Kennedy couldn’t help feeling any different as she turned and walked out of the hall with out a word.
Buffy watched her go. The older slayer felt a little bad for Kennedy. It must have been hard to have to stand back and watch, not being able to do anything for the person that you loved. Not to help, not to touch...nothing. Buffy could only imagine how Kennedy felt. To feel so helpless. And the blonde knew that the potential probably blamed herself as well, even though she shouldn’t.
Buffy looked around the nearly destroyed house. She then felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to find Dawn standing there with a sword in her hand. The blonde slayer looked from the sword to her little sister, who seemed to grow so much in the past few years.
“I kicked ass,” Dawn just simply stated, excited. Buffy couldn’t help but laugh a little. Dawn frowned.
“What? What’s so funny?” the brunette asked as her older sister chuckled. Buffy didn’t say anything as she just smiled and wrapped her sister in a hug.
Somewhere...
All Christine saw was white when she opened her eyes. “Hello?” she asked to no one in particular. All she could do was cover her eyes. Then the brightness began to subside a little. As the potential put down her arm, she noticed that there wasn’t a scratch on her. She put her hands out in front of her to examine them.
“Again...you are not dead,” came a voice from behind her. It startled her as she turned around. It was the same two children from earlier...The Powers That Be. Christine looked at them for a moment. The little girl in front of her smiled.
“What?” Christine asked. The girl cocked her head to the side.
“You may not think it, but you are doing well,” the boy stated staring at her. Christine couldn’t help but feel lost.
“We try to help, be we are not suppose to,” the girl next to the boy stated. The potential nodded.
“The First was growing stronger...” The boy said.
“But you weakened it...have an advantage now,” the girl stated.
“The scythe. You were able to get it due to the connection you have with the other slayer,” the boy said.
“Faith?” Christine asked.
“Yes,” the girl answered.
“You will heal quicker too. Some of her essence is in you. The slayer healing from her should help you to heal,” the boy stated. Christine thought for a moment.
“Wait a minute. Is that how I was able to pull the scythe out in the first place? It thought I was Faith?” Christine asked. The boy smiled as he nodded. The potential then looked down at the ground. “I...feel...like I’m being used...” she simply said looking back up.
The little girl looked at her sadly. “No,” the girl stated looking into her eyes. “You were chosen. No one else can do what you are destined to do.” She stated. Christine just looked at them. Upon making a decision she looked at the little girl.
“What am I to do?”
