Part Fourteen
MADCHEN'S LAIR
February 27, 1999
The sound of the ax hitting the dirt with a dull thud startled Madchen, and he directed
his gaze to where Xander had fallen.
"Xander!" Cordelia screamed, her voice strained and hoarse. Xander stared
in a mixture of relief and horror at the sight of his girlfriend. He thanked God
he had found her, but he froze at seeing the condition she was in. She was shackled
to a wall of some sort, and she looked pale and terrified. He felt his anger begin
to rise as he studied her battered and bruised body. Her usually glossy brown hair
hung limp and tangled, clotted with blood. There were large purple bruises over her
left eye and along her jaw, as well as a large gash across her cheek accompanied
by several smaller cuts. Her torn and shredded dress barely covered her chest and
stomach, forcing her to tremble as a result of the cold air hitting her mostly naked
skin. And more gashes and cuts covered her breasts, abdomen and legs. He clenched
his fists, furious that anyone could do such a thing to an innocent girl, let alone
do them to HIS Cordelia. He sucked in a deep breath as he drew his attention away
from her for a moment to the massive beast that was looming next to her. Xander scrambled
to his feet and grabbed the ax that had fallen several feet to his left.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here? Prince Charming come to rescue the
fair maiden?" His voice was steeped with sarcasm, and he didn't seem to be threatened
by a trespasser's presence. He took a few menacing steps towards Xander.
"Let her go," Xander said in a slow and steady voice. Madchen threw his
head back and laughed.
"Wrong fairy tale. Little Red Riding Hood didn't have a Prince Charming,"
he taunted, inching closer. Cordelia rattled her cuffs, clinking the metal against
the wall, desperate to get free. "And besides, she's not a maiden anymore,"
the creature added,watching the sound of the words enrage Xander.
"Don't listen to him, Xander!" Cordelia cried. "He didn't do anything
to me!" Madchen spun and punched her square in the face, splitting her bottom
lip. Blood began to trickle down Cordelia's chin. Xander gasped and held the ax tighter.
"Yet…" he hissed, turning his focus back to Xander. "She'll be all
mine as soon as I take care of you."
"You'll never have her," Xander began. "I came for Cordelia, and I'm
not leaving without her!" He drew the ax from behind his back and advanced on
Madchen.
"Ah, the pathetic woodsman routine. You know, in some variations of the story,
he actually fails to save the poor girl and dies a slow and painful death. Bet you
can't guess which woodsman you're going to be. A hero…" he leapt at Xander and
knocked him to the ground. "Or a miserable failure." He made an attempt
to wrestle the ax from Xander's grip. Xander kicked out with all his strength, and
Madchen went flying backwards, hitting the wall. He fell to the ground, motionless.
Xander rushed to Cordelia's side.
"Cordy, sweetheart, are you okay?" he asked softly, brushing her damp,
knotted hair out of her bruised and bloodshot eyes. She nodded.
"Thank God, Xander. Thank you. Thank you," she repeated again and again.
"I knew you'd come. I knew it." He traced his finger along the jagged cut
that stretched across her face, then moved his fingers downward, wiping away the
fresh blood that was dripping from her rapidly swelling lip.
"I would never give up on you. I love you," he whispered fiercely, pressing
his lips to her scarred forehead.
"I love you," she replied. Her voice may have been weak, but the words
she spoke were strong.
"How do I get you out of these?" he asked, touching his hand to the rusty
metal chains.
"You'd need these," a deep, throaty voice behind him hissed, jingling a
set of keys. Xander turned and was greeted with a huge paw that smashed against his
skull. He sunk to the floor, stunned. The ax clattered to the ground next to him.
"Xander!" Cordelia screamed. Her voice willed him to get up. His eyes and
Madchen's eyes both settled on the ax at the same time, and they both lunged for
it. Xander felt his fingers touch the splintered wood of the handle just as Madchen
landed on his back. He groaned at the incredible pressure on his spine. Madchen's
paw covered his hand, attempting to loosen Xander's hold on the weapon. The creature
plunged his claws into Xander's skin.
"Damn!" Xander howled. But he kept his grasp on the ax. He knew if he resisted
and let Madchen get the weapon, he and Cordelia would probably never see daylight
again. His thoughts were interrupted by a searing pain that quickly spread through
his head. It took him a minute to realize the beast had kicked him in the skull,
and the ax now lay between his gangly paws.
"Any last words?" Madchen murmured, advancing on him. Xander was frozen.
He swallowed hard and looked at Cordelia. He didn't care what happened to him. She
was all that mattered. Her safety. Her life. And he had failed. He locked eyes with
Cordelia, and he saw the look of sheer terror on her face.
"Xander!" she screamed again. And she continued screaming. Madchen stalked
over to her, furious.
"Shut up!" he roared. He kicked her in the rib cage, and she groaned in
pain. He then slammed her head against the wall. She let out a small moan. Her eyes
closed, and her head slumped downwards.
"Noooooo!" Xander yelled, clamoring to his feet, a bit dizzy and dazed.
Madchen moved towards him.
"I shouldn't have done that," Madchen said in a low voice. "She deserves
to see her boyfriend die in front of her eyes." He swung the ax a couple times
tauntingly. "On the other hand, I could bind you like she is and let you watch
me…" A smile spread over his face. "…Well, you know," he cackled evilly.
"You wouldn't," Xander rasped, trying to shield the gruesome image from
his mind.
"I would," he sneered in return. "What an idea!" He tossed the
ax across the lair and clapped his paws in delight. Before Xander could move again,
Madchen had grabbed him tightly. The beast roughly forced Xander's hands behind his
back and dragged him towards the wall where Cordelia hung, unconscious.
"Do what you will with me," Xander pleaded. "Please, please don't
hurt her!" Madchen pretended to think before a moment.
"Sorry, I don't swing that way," he joked with a sneer.
"Please?" Xander cried, in vain. It was obvious that this creature had
no remorse, and he wasn't going to change his macabre plans. Madchen shook his head,
a grin on his face.
"This is going to be so much fun!" he cried, unlocking the empty chains
next to Cordelia. His grip on Xander loosened slightly as he fumbled with the key,
and Xander seized the moment to stomp down on Madchen's hairy foot. He shrieked,
and Xander wrestled himself away from his paws. The creature spun around, staring
Xander down with venom in his eyes. Xander took a deep breath and thought of his
lifeless girlfriend. She kept him going, feeding his body with the necessary adrenaline
to fight this monster that was twice his size. The ax lay out of reach, and if he
attempted to retrieve it, he would leave himself vulnerable to attack from behind.
I'm on my own, he reminded himself. He gathered his nerves and strength and prepared
to do battle with Madchen, their hands as their only weapons.
Part Fifteen
BEHIND THE BRONZE, Sunnydale, CA
February 27, 1999, approaching dusk
"What is taking so long?" Willow chewed a fingernail nervously as she paced
back and forth. She glanced at her watch again, squinting in the dim light that was
being provided by a streetlight at the opposite end of the alley. Oz sat stoic, perched
on a garbage can, swinging his legs. Every so often, his feet would bounce off the
metal with a dull clink.
"Killing demons takes time," he shrugged, leaning down to pet a gray cat
that was rubbing up against his feet. Willow shot him a scornful look.
"Oz? It's probably a stray, and it could have a disease," she frowned.
Oz shook his head, but withdrew his hand at his girlfriend's request.
"What if they don't find her? Or worse what if they do, and she's already dead?
Or what if this Madchen thing kills them all? Oh God, Oz!" she continued her
frantic pacing. Oz hopped off the garbage can and stood before her. He gently took
her by the shoulders and steadied her.
"Will, everything is going to be fine. Buffy will not let anything happen to
Giles and Xander, and Xander will not let anything happen to Cordelia. You saw the
determination in his face. His resolve face," Oz joked with a smile. Willow's
lips turned up slightly.
"I hope you're right," she sighed and began her rhythmic walking pattern
again. Oz paused a moment and spoke again.
"Will?"
"Yeah," she stopped her pacing for a moment.
"I feel guilty for even saying this, but I'm glad it wasn't you Madchen chose.
I don't know what I'd do if anything ever happened to you," he confessed in
a whisper. Willow stared at him, then she threw herself into his arms and hugged
him fiercely.
"But nothing did happen to me. I'm right here. You're never going to lose me,
Oz," she promised, looking into his eyes. "I'm not letting you go!"
Oz smiled and kissed her lips gently.
"Best news I've gotten all day," he murmured.
"Do you think we should go in after them?" Willow asked. Oz shook his head.
"It hasn't been that long, hon. Besides, Buffy said to stay here in case they
need us to get back out. I think we should trust her on this one," he replied,
stroking her hair absently.
"Okay," she agreed. "I just hope they hurry up!" she added, her
eyes fixed on the brick wall.
In the portal…
"We're off to see the Wizard," Buffy sang quietly, trying to soothe her
nerves as she walked through the maze of trees in the portal. She really did hate
forests, and it was really because of that scene in the 'Wizard of Oz' with the apple-throwing
trees. That and her cousin had told her when she was little that one of the munchkins
hung himself from one of the trees during the filming of the movie, and he said if
she paused the tape she could see him. Buffy knew now that it was a horrible legend
and not true, but she couldn't help think of it as she made her way through the dark,
foreboding grove of trees. A noise from up ahead caused her to jump. It sounded like
laughter. It wasn't happy laughter; it was more of a taunting nature, almost ridiculing.
She turned around in a circle. Nothing. She rubbed the goosebumps that kept reappearing
on her arms and continued down the darkened path. "Who's afraid of the big,
bad wolf?" she sang, changing tunes, hoping it would get her mind off her fear
and back on the dire situation Cordelia was in.
"What the hell?" she muttered. Hearing the laughter again, she looked to
her left. She was back where she had started. "Damn!" she swore, angry
at the waste of time. She sighed in exasperation and ran down the path Xander and
Giles had chosen earlier.
Part Sixteen
MADCHEN'S LAIR
February 27, 1999
"Xander!" Giles called. The boy could run, the librarian thought as he
continued along the tree-lined path. Xander hadn't started that far ahead of him,
and Giles had been running for quite some time now. He hoped that Xander had found
Cordelia and spared the poor girl from harm. Even Giles had developed a fondness
for Cordelia. She was a much different person now than she was when she first began
frequenting the library. Giles often made comments on Cordelia's less than tactful
way of putting things, but he admired her honesty a great deal. And he knew that
Xander loved her deeply. He continued to run, but the next thing he knew, his feet
no longer had contact with solid ground. He felt himself falling and braced his body
for whatever eventual impact there would be. Giles hit the ground with a grunt. He
sat up and saw Xander approaching a monstrous wolf-like creature.
"Madchen," Giles breathed. Neither Xander nor the beast was aware of Giles'
entrance. He looked to the left, and his jaw dropped at what he saw. Cordelia's body
hung limply from her shackles, bruised and bloodied. Giles couldn't tell if she was
alive or not. He turned his gaze back to the impending battle between Xander and
Madchen. A glint of silver caught his eye. Giles gasped as he laid eyes on the ax
lying a few feet away from him. Xander didn't have the ax, he realized. It was the
only way to defeat Madchen! He crept towards the gleaming weapon slowly, not wanting
to attract attention to himself. He closed his hands over the splintered wood handle
and smiled triumphantly.
"Xander! Catch!" Giles called. The boy spun around and caught the ax perfectly
between his hands.
"Giles! Thank God!" Xander replied, sighing, a slight hint of relief in
his voice. He could not be completely relieved until Cordelia was safe and with him,
out of the reach of this hideous monster. He tightened his grip on the ax and returned
to the creature.
"You think you can defeat me?" Madchen roared.
"I don't think I can. I know I can," Xander answered with confidence. He
lunged and swung the ax. Madchen dodged the stroke, but the ax cut into his upper
arm. He howled and stumbled backwards.
"The stomach, Xander! Go for the stomach!" Giles called.
"I'm trying!" he called back, drawing the ax back again. He swung, this
time catching the creature's neck. He fell to the ground, blood seeping from his
wounds. Giles glanced over at Cordelia. Hurry, Xander, he willed the boy. He watched
her chest rise and fall slowly, now aware she was alive, if but barely. They needed
to get her out of there.
"Mmmmph!" Giles turned his head and saw Buffy's body slam against the dirt
with a groan.
"Buffy!" he whispered, shaking her gently. She opened her eyes and sat
up gingerly.
"Ow," she moaned, rubbing her rib cage. "Giles!" she whispered
excitedly. "Did you find Cordelia?" He nodded and motioned towards the
shackles. "Oh, God," Buffy cringed at seeing the state of her friend. She
glanced over at Xander. "How is he doing?"
"He has the upper hand," Giles replied, nodding towards the creature that
was still down on the ground.
"Should I go help?" Buffy asked, standing and preparing to do battle. Giles
put his hand on her arm and stopped her.
"I think this is something that Xander needs to do on his own. For himself,"
Giles replied softly. Buffy nodded, silent, knowing her Watcher was right.
"You're going to pay for what you've done," Madchen hissed, slowly getting
to his feet. Xander took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He brought the ax around,
imbedding it deeply in the creature's stomach. He opened his eyes as the monster
began to howl and bleed.
"You first," he mumbled, falling to his knees. Buffy and Giles held their
breath. Madchen's yellow eyes were wide as they rolled back in his head. He placed
his paws on the ax protruding from his abdomen, attempting to pull it out. But his
attempt was futile, and he hit the ground with a sickening thud. His blood stained
the earth around him a deep scarlet, and he grew still. As the last breath escaped
his body, a blinding flash of light forced Xander, Buffy and Giles to shield their
eyes. When they removed their hands, they were stunned to discover they were in the
alley behind the Bronze. All evidence of Madchen and his den of torture had disappeared.
"Xander! Buffy! Giles!" Willow screamed, thrilled to see them. Xander looked
around, panicked as Willow and Buffy embraced. His eyes settled on Cordelia, crumpled
in a heap just to his left. Her chains had vanished, but the cuts and bruises hadn't.
He rushed to her side. Removing his jacket, Xander carefully draped it around her
nearly naked body, covering her as best he could. He touched his hand to her head,
and gently lifted her head up to cradle it in his lap.
"Xander don't move her!" Willow warned. Xander ignored her.
"Cor, baby, wake up!" he whispered to her. She did not reply, except for
her shallow breathing. "Cordelia, please, honey!" he repeated, stroking
her bruised cheek. Giles moved behind Xander. Oz, Buffy and Willow were frozen. "Cordelia,
don't leave me! Hold on!" he cried, close to tears. He let his fingers wander
to her neck, resting them on the silver locket that was still fastened around her
neck. Despite all she had been through, it was still there. The tears slipped down
his cheeks as he touched the necklace, remembering the night he had given it to her.
They had come such a long way since then. "Hold on, Cordy. I need you. I love
you." Buffy was getting choked up listening to him. Giles placed a hand on Xander's
shoulder.
"Xander, let's get her some help," he urged. Xander nodded numbly, gathering
his motionless girlfriend in his arms. He followed the rest of his friends to Oz's
van, never taking his eyes off Cordelia's peaceful face.
"She'll be okay, Xander," Willow promised, turning around from the front
seat as she fastened her seat belt.
"She has to be," Xander replied softly, holding Cordelia close to him as
the van sped off towards Sunnydale General Hospital.