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Part 2
Buffy became disgusted with herself as she stumbled over a fallen tree branch for the second time. <Okay, witness my coordination> she thought. She drew herself back to the matters at hand when she heard someone approaching. She whirled around to face the newcomer. He was male, that was easily distinguished, but his face was concealed by the shadows. When he stepped into the light, Buffy gasped.
"Angel!! How? Why?" she sputtered, emotions warring across her face.
Angel said nothing. He merely starred at her. The silence was almost frightening. Finally, Angel spoke.
"Why? Why'd ya do it Buffy? I didn't deserve it. I thought you loved me."
"I-I do. Angel, I'm so so sorr….."
But Angel was gone. He had vanished right in front of her eyes. Echoing in her head, she could hear an anguish filled scream. Angel's scream.
"Angel!"
Buffy's cry threw her awake. She glanced wildly about the room, dazed and confused until her memory came back. She was sitting in her bed, in a Holiday Inn. Throwing the covers off, Buffy quickly got out on bed and poured herself a glass of water. Clutching it with shaking hands, Buffy sat down in a nearby chair. <It was a dream, it was only a dream> she reassured herself. But, God, it had felt so real. The hurt, the betrayal, the pain she had seen in his eyes was all too real.
She glanced out her window to the streets below. Wilmington was actually a pretty city. The ocean was a restful sight. But Buffy didn't want to fall asleep. She didn't want the nightmare to return. She threw on some clothes and started for the door.
She paused at the table near her door. A small stake was lying on it. <I don’t need it. They can't hurt me. I'm already dead.> She started to head out the door when she paused again, <But what if it's an innocent person being attacked. I have an obligation to fulfill no matter how much I want to die.> As if she had two voices, a devil and an angel waging war on her shoulder, she heard the devil speak. <Humanity be damned! What has it ever done for me?> But the sense of duty won out, and Buffy shoved the stake up her sleeve.
She wandered aimlessly around until she came to a park. There she saw a young girl, around her age, walking. That wasn't what Buffy feared, it was the vampire walking behind her.
Audrey prepared herself. She pulled on the jacket Alfred had given her for her 17th birthday and shoved two stakes up her sleeve. With some encouraging words from Alfred, she was out the door.
Alfred and she had fought all day. He had wanted to accompany her on her first night out as the Slayer. She had argued that she felt even stronger than she normally did, and he wouldn't always be there when she fought. She might as well get used to going stag. Finally, Alfred relented. Audrey had been relieved. Sure, these reasons she had given him were sound enough but she really wanted to go out on her own because, well, she didn't actually know why. She just knew this was something she had to do herself.
Aimlessly wandering, looking for anything paranormal, Audrey soon found herself on a course to the park. Vampires really seemed to jam on parks. Why was that? She was growing tired of looking. She wanted to see some action. <Vampires, never around when you need 'em> she snorted to herself. Almost immediately, she felt a demonic presence behind her. <Took you long enough>
Buffy broke into a run. While running, she pulled out the stake she had stashed. She was almost in throwing range when the girl whirled around and neatly sent a stake into the heart of the vamp. He fell to the ground, ash.
<What the?>
Almost instantaneously, Audrey saw Buffy. She lowered herself into a fighting stance.
<Whoa!> Buffy thought. She hurried to calm the scene. "I know what you're thinking. But don't worry, I don't bite." <Did I just say that?>
Audrey halted a little at the girl's words. No, she didn't seem to be paranormal but there was something odd about her, something almost….familiar.
"Who are you?" Audrey demanded.
<Oh God. We can't go through this conversation. What is this? Fate's cruel trick?>
Breaking out of her and Angel's dialogue, Buffy replied warily, "I might ask you the same thing. However, since my mom taught me nice manners, I will answer first. My name's Buffy. Now be a good girl and answer my question."
"Audrey," she replied automatically before the girl's words sunk in, "Wait! Buffy? That's not a common name. D-did you…no! It's impossible."
"What's impossible cryptic girl? I'm not much good at these puzzles. Now, since you dusted a vamp, I'm gonna assume you are what we call a good guy. Am I right?"
"Buffy…Summers?" gasped Audrey, still in almost shock.
Buffy did a double take. "What the hell? How'd you know that! Who are you? I mean, really?"
"My-my name's Audrey Arlin. I'm a Slayer, like you."
Buffy's mouth dropped open.