10 days earlier

At first light we left, fast and furious, leaving a trail large enough for anything to follow.  Our goal:  Find a phone and call in help, regroup, get supplies and stay ahead of the undead.

We ran until we found a car, half full of gas, hot wired it and made a mad dash for the next county over.   We figured we'd get food, weapons and use the phone.

We slowed as we barreled into town, eventually stopping the car on the street. 

We looked around and stepped out of the car, listening, looking for signs of life.

"It looks deserted."  Ken rasped out.

I nodded agreeing, moving up to the door of a local mart.  I pushed the door open and peered into the darkened insides, wincing as vampires smiled and looked at me, inviting me in.

I backed away and stood with the others and looked around town, noticing the gas station and to be more precise, the pumps.

"They want to play.  Fine.  We'll play."  I said determinedly as I ran towards the pumps, motioning the others to follow me. 

We grabbed up some old gas cans, filled them and torched the buildings infested with the undead.  Each of us smiling as their tortured screams rang out through the air. 

We filled the car up with gas, broke into a vending machine, empting it of all its goodies and piled back into the car. 

We drove slowly out of town, watching for any signs of survivors, for any possible nests and for anything else that we might need.

I looked behind us at the burning buildings; the stores, the destruction we'd caused and I let a new determination flow through me. 

"Stop the car."  I said, climbing out and standing on the street.

I looked to Wills.  "Fry the whole place… don't leave them anyplace to hide."

I listened as Will completed her spell, watched as everything before me went super nova.  I climbed back into the car, thinking, a plan forming in my head.

"First station you see, stop."  I hesitated, looking at Ken and Will, continuing, "I want maps of these little towns, country roads.  We're gonna backtrack and catch them off guard." I smiled.  "We're gonna blow them to hell and back."

Ken nodded, put the car in drive and pulled us away from the white-hot flames.

We rode in complete silence all the way to the next town, the car coming to a stop outside of the local stop and shop.  I crawled out of the car, stretched and looked around, getting my bearings, trying to sense if we were alone or not.

I saw a pay phone off to the side; I strode over and lifted the receiver to my ear, only to hear nothing.  "It's dead."  I called out to the others as I headed over to the store to peer inside.

I cradled my hands around my face to see inside the dirty glass and put my face up against the window.  The glass shattered, cutting my face up and sending me falling backwards over the asphalt.  I scooted back quickly, taking in what was before me, vampires, all smiling, all salivating, all watching me intently.

"I'm gonna kill you."  I said, pushing myself to my feet, glaring at them.

"We're coming for them."  They hissed.

I turned and looked at Ken and Wills and my heart fluttered inside my chest.  I looked back to the vamps.  "He's saving you for last." 

My smirk died on my face and anger took over.  "Yeah, but you won't be around to see it."  I said, as I looked around, bending to pick up a crow bar.  I tapped the bar against my hand and strode forward, toward the vamps just inside the store. 

I taunted them, pulling them forward and then at the last minute, I arced the bar through the air, catching a vamp through the head with the curled part, hooking him and then I tugged him out and into the sunlight, watching him squirm until he burst into flames.

I smiled and looked to the other two vamps inside and moved forward again, continuing to clean out the store.

When I was done, I heard clapping behind me, turned and found Kennedy sitting on the boot of the car.  She held up a card that read, 10. 

She threw the card on the ground and starting laughing, mocking the vampires. "We're coming to get you."  She taunted, still laughing, adding, "No shit.  Like we couldn't figure that out."

"Guys."  Willow whispered lowly, pointing to the open doorway of a nearby store.

We all looked and froze, watching as a vampire, knocked an arrow into a bow, dipped the rag tipped surface into oil and lit it up, smiled and aimed it in our direction.  He pulled the arrow back, released it and we watched it as it arched through the sky and embedded itself into the back of the car. 

We all stood there, dazed, each thinking, ‘what the fuck', before Kennedy's voice cut through the fog and spurred us into action.  "Move.  It's gonna blow!" 

We all bolted away from the car, seconds before the explosion.  We fell and rolled across the asphalt, each of us tearing up our skin, our clothes, hunkering down, trying to avoid the falling debris.

I got up, scanned the distance, saw the vamp nocking another arrow and pulled Wills up to a standing position.  I ran over to Ken, who still had her arms over her head, protecting her as best she could.  I shook her and realized that she was stunned and hurt.  I pulled her up and backed us away from the burning car and out of range of the vamp.

Willow ran to the other side of Ken and helped me carry her, holding her up while I rummaged through the nearby cars, looking for another ride.

Nothing worked.

We pulled Ken between us as we ran, not stopping, continuing on, pushing, trying to find a place to board up and fight it out.

We heard laughter as we left, our tails firmly placed between our legs.  We might be down but we weren't out, not by a long shot.

We lost all our supplies.  The only weapons we had were what we were carrying.  But our luck was getting better.  Ahead was salvation:  A police station, full of cars, ammo and weapons and just possibly a good place to bed down for the night.

We ransacked the cars outside, pulling anything that might be useful later on, bags, cuffs, batons, even going as far to bust into the personal cars out back, taking what we wanted, including another car.

We opened the double doors to the station and pulled in our newly confiscated vehicle and set about siphoning out the gas from the surrounding cars.  We need it when we made our final dash for freedom.

We finally backed inside the building, closed the doors and pulled the car up flush against them as a barricade.  Nothing would get in and we wouldn't get out.

We geared up the generator and hunted through the building, grabbing ammo, shotguns, guns and holsters, busted up anything that could be made into a stake and then we fortified the other entrances.

Now all we had to do was wait and continue hunting through the rubble that was left of the station.  We got nervous as darkness approached but we continued to hunt throughout the night, loading the vehicle with everything that we'd need, or might need in the coming days; water, food, fuel and firepower.

Vampires continued to gain entry through the night, scratching and shattering the windows, laughing and we continued to bust a cap in each of them as they stuck whatever part inside our personal space.

We put our backs together and waited, firing at will, keeping the vamps back and out and us safe, at least for the time being.

9 days earlier

The sun would soon rise.  We were tired and ready to get out of our cocoon, get some fresh air and put some distance between this God forsaken place and us.  Close to daybreak Willow had been rummaging through the desks in the office.  "Hey."  Will called out to us.  "I found a phone."

"I got a signal."  Will laughed out.

I took the phone and dialed the memorized numbers.  Listening and waiting as a girl picked up the phone.

"Yeah?"  She asked, worriedly.

"Put Faith on."  I stated.

Silence ensued.

I pulled in a shaky breath and pushed on.  "It's Buffy.  I need Faith's help." 

The girl started breathing heavily into the phone.  "She should be there by now."  She hesitated, before continuing.  "Giles called her a day ago, told her she was needed… so she put us into a safe house and took off."  I closed my eyes, fighting back oncoming sickness as she paused for a long moment, before adding, "she hasn't called in yet."  She pulled in another shaky breath, asking.  "Is something wrong?"

I inwardly grimaced and wiped at my face.  "It was a trap."  I stated lowly.  "Dawn and Giles they're gone."

The young girl started crying.  I pulled in a deep, cleansing breath and did what I had to do.  "Suck it up.  You're in charge.  Protect those girls."  I paused, getting her attention.  "Do you understand me?  You're a slayer, next after us, you be smart and be careful."  I hesitated and continued.  "If any of us call, don't give away your hiding spot and don't come to us.  Stay put and stay alive."

"I understand."  She stated firmly and severed the connection.

I blew out a breath and leaned back against the wall.  I could feel the others eyes on me, waiting anxiously.  I sighed.  "Giles called Faith in a day ago."

"What?"  Ken asked, adding.  "No fucking way.  I can't believe this."  She paced and looked back at me.  "Why didn't you warn her?  Why?  There's no excuse."  Ken shook her head, turned and walked away from Willow and me.

I looked down at the ground, not saying anything. 

"You think she's dead?"  Willow asked.

I shook my head.  "No, he'd turn her…  he'd make her insane and then he'd turn her."

Willow blew out an aggravated breath.  "Well that's just great.  We all know how much fun an insane Faith can be."

I watched as Willow walked away from me and I closed my eyes, pushing my emotions deep down.  I pulled in a breath, squared my shoulders and cracked my neck.  "Let's go."  I called out, heading directly to the car.

Kennedy got behind the wheel and moved the car back enough so that I could open the doors, letting in the sunlight and letting us out to what could be our last day alive.

I walked outside and looked around, motioning for Ken to bring the car out when something caught my attention on the ground.  I walked over, picked it up and turned the chain and crucifix over and over in my hand.  I read the inscription that adorned the shroud that draped over the gold cross, embedded were the words, ‘faith, hope, and charity'. 

I sighed, whispering, "Faith."

I turned and faced Willow and Ken, who were looking at the necklace and charm.  We all turned and walked silently back to the car, got in and started off toward God knows where.

"Turn around."  I said, suddenly sitting up in the back seat.

"What?"  Ken asked.

"Turn around.  Let's go back the way we came.  Take them head on.  They're trying to stay ahead of us, keep us flustered… so let's backtrack, go right to the big dog, take him on and out."  I smiled, put Faith's necklace around my neck and felt that old adrenaline building up underneath my surface.

"Now you're talking."  Ken said, smiling, as she pulled the car onto the street, heading back into nothing.

"Get ready to get your ass kicked."  I mouthed.

8 days earlier

We drove all night, slowly, carefully, through the burnt debris of town after town, couldn't say the destruction was the results of the vampires or ours.  I tried to be upbeat, positive, tried to lead our group of three onto victory, well tried to at least make us all think we could win.

We stood a chance.  There was hope, right?  Right?  If not for hope then why bother?

I thought about Giles, Dawn, Xander and now Faith and closed my eyes.  If only I'd of let Kennedy kill Dawn… then Xander would still be here.  If only I'd of told Faith what happened… then she'd be here too.  And what about all the others; the slayers, the ones that I'd left alone and undefended, what about those?  The death toll was rising but I knew how to take them out.  Kill the master, kill them all and that was my goal, to kill that one, devious, ugly mother-fucker and wipe out all of his creation.

I knew where he'd be holed up and that's where we were heading, back to the beginning, back to where he made his first stand and where I got my first ass kicking. 

We drove all day and pulled up just outside of town near dark. 

"Where to?"  Ken asked from the front seat.

I sighed and scanned the horizon.  "The armory.  They won't think to look there."

Willow and Kennedy turned and stared at me.

I explained.  "They won't look where we've already been and failed."

"I hope you're right."  Ken mouthed and drove the car towards our destination, the terrain becoming more and more dismal, burnt and littered with random bodies, victims of those we couldn't save.

We drove past the scattered remains, careful not to run over any of them.  We kept the windows rolled up, protecting us from the certain stench.  Slowly, the bodies littered over the ground and around the car, sat up, smiled and watched as we drove through them.

"Oh shit."  I mumbled, watching helplessly as more and more bodies sat up and stared at us, each of them standing up and surrounding the car.

Ken stomped on the accelerator and plowed over several people, the car slowing from more and more people stepping in front of us, blocking us.

"Don't stop!"  I yelled. 

The windshields shattered all around us; hand were pushing through the broken glass, grasping hold of us, pulling and clawing.

"Willow."  I called out, instantly kicking her free from the tugging arms.

"Spell."  I ground out between gritted teeth, kicking and punching.

Time stilled, became frozen.  It seemed as if hours had ticked by when it was only a few seconds before a bright light enveloped us, and the undead, freezing us, putting us in a kind of thick, hazy stasis. 

I blinked, the bright light leaving spots before my vision, shook off the after affects and looked around at the abandoned town.

I looked to the others and sighed, thankful that we were all still here, still accounted for and still whole.

We drove in silence the rest of the way to the armory, pulled the car inside the burnt out building and waited while Wills fortified the place and cleaned up the remnants of war, bodies and debris.

We slouched and waited, waited for nightfall to end, watching and jumping at each and every little noise, our hearts pounding, our blood curdled as we heard random screams of torture through the night.

Tomorrow we would attack:  Our goal; kill the master, then kill them all.

7 days earlier

Twilight filtered in through the cracks in the walls, casting its grayish hue around us, pushing the shadows back, our signal to get ready.

We bid our time, counting seconds, minutes until the final showdown.

It was time.

We crept out of hiding and slinked towards the lair, each step calculated, precise; each thought geared toward the master, his demise, and his end of reign.

We burst in through the doors, breaking them, crashing through painted over windows, only to find a horrific site before us.

Before us laid an undead nightmare, drained and nailed to beams was the master, dried up, long gone but not dusted and around him, his cohorts, his followers, all weakened and dried up as well. 

We stepped through the decaying bodies without incident, listening to the moans and whimpers of the fallen dead.

I looked around, scanning for Dawn and Giles but not finding either.

"What do you think happened?"  Willow asked from behind me.

"Who cares?"  Kennedy huffed, adding, "let's just kill them and move on."

I nodded, walked over to the pitiful master and plunged a stake into his un-beating heart, watching as he finally imploded and scattered over the floor.

His followers followed, one by one, combusting, turning to ashes before us, leaving us alone with a few undead still lying scattered around the dirty, darkened room.

"Why didn't they dust?"  Will asked.

I shrugged, nodding that I didn't know, moving back towards them, moving us back together, keeping us tightly packed because safety did come in numbers.

We looked at each other, ready to discuss our next move when something sounded around us.  We stilled, listening.  Kennedy broke the silence.  "I know why those bodies didn't dust…" She hesitated slightly before continuing.  "They weren't dead."

"Really?"  I asked, my voice hopeful that she was joking but knowing we were totally fucked.

"Uhm… Run?"  Kennedy asked.

"Maybe."  I stated casually, looking to Willow, continuing.  "You think you could show em the sun?"

Willow smiled.  "Oh yeah, I can show them the sun alright."  She looked down at the floor and raised her head back up, revealing black eyes.  Electricity flowed from her fingertips as she incanted a spell, removing the vampires from our midst and illuminating up the area momentarily.

I looked around, taking advantage of the passing light and froze as a body, chained to a support beam came into view.  Its legs were shackled all the way up to the waist, leaving its arms limp and hanging as its torso and head slouched over.

I pointed at it, giving the others a heads up.  We eased over towards it, spreading out, stakes at the ready.

I moved closer and froze, squinting through the fading light, realizing that I knew that mark on its arm.

I blew out an anxious breath.  "It's Faith."  I called out and moved in to get a closer look but was stopped, pulled back by Kennedy.

"Careful."  She whispered.

"Yes… do be careful."  Giles said and stepped out from behind the shadows, moving closer to Faith.  Dawn stepped out and moved to the opposite side of her, blanketing her between them.

"We wouldn't want anyone to get hurt."  Dawn mocked, giggling as she pushed Faith back up against the beam, holding her in place. 

Faith coughed and blood trickled from her mouth.  She groaned, causing Dawn to laugh more heartily, to smile broader and watch us with glee as she leaned in and licked the small, red trickle along Faith's chin all the way up to her lips, where she bit lightly and pulled back.  She watched me for a reaction, any reaction.

"Kill me."  Faith rasped, her voice weak from exhaustion and pain.

Shadows moved around us.  I looked, noticing that more and more vampires were filtering in.  I looked at the chains around Faith.

"Unchain her Will."  I called out, moving towards Faith, knocking Dawn back and away, instantly trying to break the chain.

"I can't… I'm too weak from before."  She cried out. 

I pulled on the chains, trying to break them but couldn't.

"Go.  Live and fight another day."  Faith said weakly.

I let the chain drop from my hands and looked up at her, nodding and backed up.

I backed away, watching as Dawn moved up beside Faith again, laughing, running her hands over her, claiming her.

I moved toward the exit, looking back a last time, watching as more and more vampires became visible.  I drew a stake and bulleted it through the air, fast, hard, right at Faith.

Faith moved suddenly, grabbed the stake out of the air with one hand, grabbed Dawn with the other hand and pushed the two together, grinding the stake into the chest of what used to be my sister.  I watched helplessly as my sister, in shock, dusted right before my eyes and watched as Faith gloated and reveled in her kill.

Giles went after Faith, growling, his fangs bared, his minions moving in after her, surrounding her.  I saw her take a hit and slump over.  I stepped forward and everything went black.

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