Part Six
SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY, Sunnydale, CA
February 27, 1999
"Dammit!" Xander swore, slamming a book shut. "There is nothing in
any of these books that will help me…us," he corrected himself quickly. .."find
Cordelia." He motioned to the stacks of books around him. Buffy placed her hand
on his arm. She stroked his hair.
"We'll find something Xander," she promised. "When have we failed
before?" Xander studied Buffy with heavy eyes. He nodded meekly. His friends
wouldn't lie.
"I'm not finding anything on the net either," Willow sighed, exasperated.
Xander rose and started pacing nervously.
"The longer we take, the worse the chances of finding her," he whispered.
Buffy and Willow exchanged concerned glances. "Cordy," he murmured softly,
longingly.
"Maybe we're not right after all," Oz spoke up.
"We have to be right," Willow shook her head. "It's just a daunting
task. There's so much evil in the world," she shuddered. "Just think…all
of these books and webpages contain information about hundreds of demons and creatures.
That's not a small number. It might take some time to find this thing."
"Maybe we should try focusing closer on Little Red Riding Hood itself. The history
of the story, where it came from…" Buffy offered. Giles furrowed his brow and
paused a moment.
"Little Red Riding Hood was one of the Grimm Brothers tales," he began.
"And the Grimms got their stories from German legend and folk tales told by
storytellers. Perhaps we need to examine German and Bavarian tradition and lore,"
he suggested. Buffy nodded and moved towards the stacks.
"It's worth a try," she responded. Willow clicked twice and began typing.
"I'm on it," she called.
"Giles, where are your books about German legends and demons?" Buffy yelled
from behind the bookshelves.
"They should be in the aisle to your left Buffy," he replied. She grabbed
several and jumped down the stairs. She handed a book to Xander. He immediately opened
the text and began reading. Buffy did the same. The only sounds coming from the library
for the next hour were the turning of pages, the clicking of computer keys, and the
shallow breathing of a very panicked Xander.
BEYOND SUNNYDALE
February 27, 1999
Cordelia's throat was raw from screaming. She could feel the dried tears on her face,
and a cool draft forced her to shiver, goosebumps appearing all over her bare arms.
She rolled her neck, trying to relieve the stiff feeling that had settled there from
the position she was in. Cordelia opened her eyes, which had been clenched shut for
the duration of the abuse the creature had inflicted on poor Amanda. She squinted,
adjusting her eyes to the dimly lit cave? Forest? Damn, I wish I knew where I was,
she cursed silently. She focused her gaze on the crumpled figure in front of her.
Amanda was lying motionless on the ground, half-naked and bleeding.
"Amanda," Cordelia called softly. The child did not respond. Cordelia shuddered,
seeing the blood running down the Amanda's face and the cuts all over her tiny body.
What kind of monster did such a thing to a little girl? She grew nauseous thinking
of what the thing might do to her. "Amanda," she whispered more insistently.
"Mmmmmm." This time, the child whimpered in response. As if on cue, the
creature appeared, no longer a human male. His fangs were protruding, and his fur
was tangled.
"Hello my lovelies," he called, a gleam in his eye. Amanda yelped and curled
tighter into a fetal position. The wolf gathered her into his paws and threw her
against the wall. She groaned and fell silent. He seized her arms roughly and rebound
them. The child hung, listless. Her blonde hair was now caked and matted with dried
blood, and it clung in clumps against her head. Cordelia felt the knot in her stomach
tighten as the creature approached her. His rank breath invaded her nostrils, and
the sick feeling returned. She inhaled sharply as he traced a claw along her cheek
to her jaw.
"So beautiful," he hissed. He ran the claw along the neckline of her dress,
opening a cut across the exposed curve of her breasts. Oh, God, I hate blood. Especially
my own, she thought, shuddering again. "I can't wait to have you," he murmured.
"But I'm saving you."
"Why are you doing this?" Cordelia rasped weakly,
"Oh, because I can," he grinned devilishly. "You'll find out soon
enough. But," he stopped, and suddenly the old woman stood before Cordelia.
"In the meantime, I must go and find another toy to play with," she laughed,
nudging Amanda's lifeless form with her shoe. "She's getting old and boring.
I'll be back soon," she cackled and disappeared into the trees. Cordelia rattled
her chains desperately.
"Help! God, help me! Xander? Buffy? Giles? Please, someone!" she yelled,
hearing nothing but the sound of her own voice echoing throughout the darkness. She
slammed her wrists against the wall in frustration and anger, sharp pains shooting
up each arm. Amanda's raspy breathing was slowly getting steadier.
"No one will help you," she reminded Cordelia, lifting her small head gingerly.
Blood dripped from her mouth, and she had deep, purple bruises over her left eye
and across her cheeks. The gash on her face had finally stopped bleeding. "No
one can save us."
"My friends will save us," Cordelia promised the battered child. "They
will find us and save us, and everything will be okay." For a brief moment,
she believed the words she spoke were true. That moment passed, and despair quickly
replaced her hope.
Part Seven
SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY
February 27, 1999
Xander's head was down on the desk, his face pressed against the pages of a book.
He was trying so hard to keep his eyes open. Someone touched his hand lightly. His
eyes fluttered open. He leapt to his feet.
"Cordelia!" he cried joyfully, throwing his arms around her and gathering
her into a fierce hug. "You're safe!" She rested her head on his shoulder
and hugged him back. But suddenly, she was moving away from him, a terrified look
on her face. "Cordelia?"
"I'm so scared, Xander. Please help me. Please," her warm brown eyes were
dull with pain and her beautiful smile was twisted into a sullen frown. "It's
going to hurt me!"
"What baby? What's going to hurt you?" Xander urged gently.
"If you love me, Xander, you'll help me," she cried, reaching for him.
Xander stretched his arms towards her, but she got further and further out of his
reach. "Xander," she pleaded, her voice getting softer and softer.
"Cordy!" he screamed.
"XANDER?" Xander's eyes flew open in response to the person shaking him
and calling his name. Buffy was standing above him. She pushed his damp hair off
his forehead.
"Cordelia! She was here!" Xander insisted. Buffy smiled ruefully and kneeled
down next to him.
"No, Xander. You were having a dream," she whispered soothingly.
"It was a nightmare," he confessed. "I couldn't save her. She just
got further and further away from me," he said, wringing his hands together
in frustration.
"We'll save her," Buffy sighed, squeezing his hand. She empathized with
her friend. She had feared the same things when Angel had been sent to hell last
May. She remembered wondering if she would ever see him again. But Angel had returned,
and she prayed Cordelia would too.
"I think I found something!" Giles called eagerly from his seat behind
the his desk. The others rushed to him. A large text lay open before him, and a hideous
creature's picture stared out at them from the pages. "I think this is our beast,"
he pointed at the page accusingly.
"What is it?" Xander demanded.
"It's name is Dieb Madchen Hellrot," Giles began. "More commonly known
as Madchen."
"Come again?" Buffy asked.
"If I remember my German correctly, it translates to 'Thief of girls in red.'
Which would make sense according to the details we have," he added, his forehead
crinkled in thought. He studied the page more intensely. He heaved a sigh and looked
around at the teenagers. "It's mostly in German. And I don't remember enough
to decode that much." Willow jumped up.
"It's no problem Giles. We'll just find a way to translate it. It worked for
the curse," she reasoned, taking the book into her hands and moving to the computer.
"It can work for this too." She sat down with confidence, and began searching.
"We'll solve this and find Cordelia, no matter how long it takes, Xander,"
Willow promised, giving him a reassuring smile. Xander exhaled deeply and crossed
his fingers. He was determined to save the woman he loved. And with some help from
his friends, it was possible. He had hope.
Sunnydale, CA
February 27, 1999
Madchen hobbled along the dark and deserted streets of Sunnydale, using the cane
to guide the withered body of the old woman he often assumed. He was frustrated,
desperate to find a girl to take back, but he knew it was a fleeting idea at this
hour of the morning. The old woman had been wandering for quite some time, and there
was not a single sign of a victim for the taking. She sighed, dejected, and turned
to walk back towards the alley. Headlights suddenly flooded the street. Madchen inhaled
and studied the approaching car. There was a young woman behind the wheel, but he
couldn't make out her features. It's worth a try, he thought, and flung his elderly
form into the road. The brakes of the car squealed, and the automobile stopped short
of the old woman's shriveled body. She laid down for added effect. The girl jumped
out of the car and raced towards where Madchen lay. He breathed a sigh of relief.
She appeared to be about sixteen, and she was wearing a red sweater and jeans. Tonight
is my lucky night after all, he thought happily. What are the chances?
"Ohmigod, are you okay, ma'am?" The young girl dropped to her knees and
hovered over him. He steadied his hands on the pavement, slipping his left hand inside
the pocket to make sure the handkerchief was still there.
"I'm fine," Madchen replied in the shaky old woman's voice. He touched
his palm to his head to "check" for injury.
"I didn't even see you! I'm so sorry!" she cried. "I'm so sorry!"
she repeated, tears forming in her eyes.
"It's okay child," he smiled, stroking her blonde hair.
"Are you sure? God, I've only had my license for three days. My parents would
kill me if they knew I hit someone!" He laughed to himself. No need for the
parents to kill the girl. He would take care of that in due time.
"Well, they don't have to know. Everything is fine, really," he added.
"Thank goodness," the girl let out a relieved sigh.
"Will you help me up?" She nodded and extended her hand. Madchen removed
the cloth from his pocket and pulled her towards him. He covered her mouth and felt
her relax in his arms. He stood quickly and grinned triumphantly, moving towards
the alley as fast as possible. The old woman soon disappeared, and Madchen was himself
again. He pulled her wallet from her pocket, studying the license for identification.
Jessica Dorilant. He replaced the wallet and retreated further into the alley. He
was eager to return to his prisoners and introduce them to his latest conquest.
Part Eight
BEYOND SUNNYDALE
February 27, 1999
A low growling sound awoke Cordelia from her restless slumber. She exhaled in relief
upon realizing it was only her stomach.
"Cordelia?" Amanda called. "Your friends aren't coming," she
said quietly, an accusing tone in her tiny voice. "We're going to die here,"
she mumbled. Cordelia stared at the child, a bit taken back that a six-year old was
so blunt about death.
"We're not going to die," Cordelia stated firmly.
"I want to go home! I miss my mommy," Amanda wailed suddenly. "And
Daddy and Colin."
"Is Colin your brother?" Cordelia asked gently.
"Yes. I miss him. I love my brother very much," Amanda replied softly.
She paused. "Do you have a brother?" Cordelia shook her head.
"No. I don't have a sister either. It's just me. But I always wanted a brother,"
she added truthfully.
"Do you miss your mommy and daddy?" Amanda asked. Cordelia felt a twinge
of guilt for having to think about it. Fact was, she rarely saw them when she was
home. Still, the child wouldn't understand her position.
"Yes," she answered. "And I miss my friends."
"Do you have a boyfriend?" Amanda wondered, her eyes shining. Cordelia
smiled at the girl's enthusiasm.
"Yes," she swallowed hard, thinking of Xander. The gentle brown eyes, the
brown hair she loved to run her fingers through, the lopsided, sexy smile he would
give her…her eyes welled up again. "I miss him a lot," she whispered.
"What is his name?"
"Xander," Cordelia replied, letting his name escape her lips.
"That's a funny name," Amanda giggled, the first time Cordelia had heard
such a noise in the time she had been held there. She smiled wistfully.
"He's a funny guy. He can always make me laugh, even when I'm sad. I love him,"
she choked on the last three words, stung by the thought she may never see Xander
again. Without thinking, she tried to move her fingers to touch the silver locket
that always hung around her neck. The searing pain in both wrists reminded her such
an action was not possible, so Cordelia had to settle for looking down at the necklace
she treasured so much. It was the first gift Xander had ever presented her with,
making it even more special. Her heart cried out for him in vain, knowing it wouldn't
receive an answer. A flash of light startled both girls, and they attempted to shield
their eyes as best they could. The creature emerged from the middle of nowhere, a
girl hanging limp in his arms.
"Did you miss me girls?" he laughed maniacally, throwing the unconscious
blonde onto the dirt. She groaned in response, awaking slowly.
"Oh God!" She began to scream, but was immediately silenced when Madchen
struck her hard across the face. She slumped down again. Madchen licked his lips
and inched towards Cordelia. She cringed and turned her head away. She could feel
his body next to hers.
"Hello beautiful," he whispered, blowing gently on her ear. Cordelia shivered
at the contact. He stepped back and looked her up and down. "Such a nice package,"
his eyes drilled holes into Cordelia's body. He extended a claw and caught it on
the top of her dress. He dragged his paw/hand down, ripping the fabric and forcing
it to split in half. Cordelia felt her face grow hot as more of her skin was exposed.
Settling his gaze on the now-revealed black lace of her bra, his mouth spread into
a large smile. Cordelia noticed the jagged cut he had opened across her breasts earlier.
It had stopped bleeding, but she paled at the sight of the swollen red flesh. "I'm
going to have so much fun with you later," he hissed in delight. Cordelia flinched.
"Please don't hurt me," she whimpered. She couldn't be brave anymore. She
was too terrified. Anger invaded the wolf's eyes.
"I'll do what I please," he roared, striking Cordelia hard across her cheekbone.
She heard a sickening crack and screamed out in pain. She dropped her head down.
Madchen grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked her upward again. Cordelia screamed
again. Amanda watched, wide-eyed, in horror, and the new girl didn't move. She seemed
frozen in fear. "Don't question me," he warned menacingly. "And I
won't have to punish you." He slashed her across the face, and blood immediately
began flowing down her cheek. Cordelia was too scared to cry. She just nodded meekly.
The creature nuzzled her, turning her stomach yet again. "You're so pretty.
Like a doll," he breathed. "My doll. My Little Red Riding Hood." Cordelia
was horrified. Little Red Riding Hood? The sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach
returned full force. The reason why she was chosen dawned on her as the creature
slunk away from her. In an instant he was no longer the wolf, but the young man again.
He unbuckled his belt and grabbed a screaming Jessica.
"No!" she yelled, her pleas echoing dully off the walls. Madchen heaved
her petite body to the ground and climbed on top of her. Jessica kicked and grunted
as he ripped her clothes off.
"The more you fight, the more it's going to hurt," he promised cruelly,
slamming her head against the dirt. She howled in pain. Cordelia said a silent prayer
that he spared her for the time being, and she tried to drown out the hideous sounds
coming from the helpless girl lying before her. With each passing minute, her hope
slipped away a little more.
SUNNYDALE HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY, Sunnydale, CA
February 27, 1999, around daybreak
Willow's eyes groggily opened to the whirring of the computer. She rubbed the sleep
from her eyes and stared at the screen. It was still scanning the translation. Come
on, she urged silently, willing the program to finish. She glanced at her watch.
She squinted and read the numbers again carefully. 5:45. She yawned and looked around
at her friends. Buffy was sleeping on the stairs in front of the bookcases, curled
up with her body on one step and her blonde hair resting two steps up. Giles was
tilted back in his chair, snoring lightly from behind his desk. Next to her, Oz's
eyes were tightly shut, and his mouth was wide open. Willow smiled at her peacefully
sleeping boyfriend. She scanned the library for Xander. He still pacing around the
room nervously. Willow sighed. Poor Xander. She thought again. Poor Cordelia. Xander
caught her attention and raced to her side.
"Why didn't you wake me up when I dozed off?" Willow wondered.
"Everyone was so exhausted. You needed some rest, Will," he answered. His
eyes wandered to the computer screen. "Is it done yet?" he demanded anxiously.
Willow shook her head and took his hand.
"Not quite," she replied softly. She squeezed his hand. "Have you
been up all night?" Xander's bloodshot eyes provided the answer, but he nodded
anyway.
"I can't sleep not knowing where she is, if she's hurt, or…" A sob escaped
his throat. "God Will, I can't imagine my life without her. I never thought
it possible, but I need Cordelia in my life. I love her so damn much," he whispered.
"I know, Xander. I know," she answered.
"Do you think she's okay?" Xander asked, chewing his bottom lip. Willow
didn't have a good feeling about the whole situation, and she wanted to pretend everything
was okay. But looking at her best friend of twelve years, she couldn't lie to him.
"I don't know. I hope so," she added. "Cordelia's a pretty strong-willed
person. She can hold her own against most people. She won't give in to anyone without
a fight," Willow said with a smile. Xander nodded.
"That she is. She's a fighter," Xander replied. He thought of his girlfriend:
her silky brown hair, those sparkling brown eyes, the soft lips he loved to kiss…he
shook the image from his head. It was making it hurt more. "We have to find
her," he stated fiercely. He set his head down in Willow's lap. She stroked
his hair absently, attempting to soothe him.
"We will," she promised. It was only half true. It was easier to lie to
him when she wasn't looking directly at him.