by Mace

Buffy was standing in the stacks. She took a book off the shelf and put it into her backpack. She took a brown book out of her bag and replaced it on the shelf. The spine read: ASTRAL PROJECTION. Buffy moved forward and a book fell to the floor seemingly of its own accord. She reads the black, leather bound book's spine and puts it in her backpack along with the other book. She turned just as Giles entered the library.

"Oh, um, Giles, I was looking for you. I have a ton of math homework, and I was wondering if I could skip training today," Buffy said nervously.

"Um . . . I suppose so, Buffy. . . ." Giles replied suspiciously.

"I know I should practice, but I'm trying really hard to please everyone right now . . . and I just now realized you said yes," Buffy said.

She started to turn the other way and exit the library.

"I have noticed you seem to be more responsible than before, and you've been working very hard lately," Giles called after her.

"Speaking of responsible, I have to go to English. See you later, Giles," Buffy said as she nearly ran from the library.

"She *is* the strangest girl," Giles muttered.

Immediately after school, Buffy rushed home. She came in her front door and slammed it hard on purpose so as to attract the attention of her mother if she was home.

"Mom! Mom, are you home? Mom!" Buffy yelled as she searched the house.

When no one answered she continued to look around the house. Her search ended in the kitchen when she found a note on the refrigerator.

"Dear Buffy, I have to work late at the gallery. There's some food in the fridge for you. I'll be home around eleven. Get your homework. I love you, Mom," Buffy read aloud.

<< Good. No interruptions. >> Buffy thought as she trekked upstairs to her room.

Later, around sunset, Buffy was in her room humming an unrecognizable tune. Candles were lit all over her room and the smell of jasmine incense seemingly filled Buffy's mind. She took a moment to look out her window to admire the fiery sunset. << This could be the last time I ever see my room, my window. >> She walked over to her bed and plucked at her quilt as almost a calming gesture.

She opened her bag slowly and pulled out the first book. As she began reading, a sense of dread washed over her. << Uh, uh. No, Buffy, you are going to do this. >> She put the book down and reached for the black, leather-bound book. It fell open on a page. A small smile which worked its way into a grin played over her face. She read and reread the page several times before closing it and reaching for a glass fill with a putrid, brownish-puke-colored liquid. Buffy sniffed and made a face. She held her nose << Like that will help at all >> and swallowed the liquid. She coughed and gagged and set the empty glass on the table.

"Oh, that was really disgusting," she said aloud.

Even with her Slayer-strength, the liquid was still potent enough to knock her unconscious. She wove over to the bed and lie down. She glanced at the clock which read 6:14. She shifted onto her back and began breathing deeply.

The clock read 7:39 when Buffy opened her eyes drowsily and glanced at the clock. Buffy sighed despondently. She saw the ring Bex gave her on her night stand. Buffy picked up the ancient ring and slipped it on her left, middle finger. Buffy closed her eyes for the last time and drifted of to a sleep-like state. It took only a few minutes before a translucent Buffy was floating over her body. The figure above her fades out. Buffy continues to breathe.

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