Authors Notes, Disclaimer and Intro
 

PROLOGUE -- The Woods
 
 

"Hey Ri-ster!"

Riley turned around and caught sight of Graham, Mason and Steven coming his way into the rec room.

Riley adjusted his bag.  "Hey guys.  Where you at next?"

"See that's your problem Ri," Steven tapped his friends head.  "Always thinking about class and psyche papers and books.  That's not what college is about."

"And what is college about then?" Riley asked amused.

"It's about the hunnies, and certain things we do under the ground," Forrest added in a low voice.

"Well at least Ri, you're interested in one of those things more than school.  Or should we say Hunny.  One," Graham gestured to Buffy Summers laughing with a few of her class friends.

"Yeah," Riley nodded, in a happy daze.

"How long has it been between you two man?"

"'Bout seven months," Riley grinned foolishly at Buffy who looked his way.  He smiled widely at her again and she waved to her friends, signalling she was going to meet him.  Buffy walked over and kissed Riley gently, to the chorus of cat calls from his friends.  Embarassed, they broke apart.

"I'll see you later," Riley said to his friends, walking off hand in hand with his girlfriend.

"Riley keeps ditching us for the slayer.  What the Hell is up with that?" Forrest fumed.

"I don't know but it's past my last nerve," Steven stared after them.

"What has she got that we haven't got?" Forrest asked his three friends.

"A vagina," Mason said coolly.

"Oh smooth Mason, smooth," Graham smiled.

Cordelia twisted the phone cord round her finger.

"Yep.. You got it right.. No we're not closing.  Just moved.. Uh huh... You have?  That's great!!  I mean, I'm sorry to hear a big scaly ugly demon is attempting to sacrifice your children but I.. uh.. meant great I get to kill something this week... No Sir, I'm not homocidal.  I just like my demons dead... No! I said homocidal - Y'know someone who likes to kill things.  Not.. Y'know.  Yes, I'm sure your sister is very nice but I don't think of women like that..  Anyway, Sure. Tomorrow.. 8am?  Problem?  Uh.. Not really.  I'll get round it somehow.  OK.  Thanks.  See you then.  Bye," Cordelia put down the phone and punched the air.  "Yes!"

She picked up her scribbling pad and started towards the kitchen where Angel would be.

Then Cordelia dropped the pad and fell against the table, her head searing in pain.

"Angel!" She screamed.  Flashes.. A girl screaming.. Horrific..

Cordelia begged it to stop and when she looked into Angel's deep brown eyes, fear struck in her heart.  The vision; what effect it would have on him..

All she said; "She's in trouble."

Then Angel grabbed his jacket and ran out Cordelia's front door.  "She's in the forrest!" Cordelia called after him. As she held her head, she begged it not to be true, Cordy wished she had told him exactly how She was hurt.

"That goddamn bitch of a Slayer," Forrest growled, prowling through the woods with Steven.  "Finns gone with her again.  When was the last time that he came with the unit?"

"I can't remember," Steven admitted, being extra vigilant due to the dangerous HST they were tracking.  "It shouldn't be like this.  He should be with *us*."

"She's so snobby and superficial," Forrest raged, hitting a branch out of his way.

"I'd like to tear her I'm Miss Perfect head off," Steven hissed.

"I'm so in love with her... Buffy's special.." Forrest imitated.

"Buffy's a special pain in my ass.  Thinking I'm so pretty and I'm so strong, everyone should do as I say and shut up when I say!"

"If we could just get a hostile and program it to kill her--"

"Ssh!" Steven whispered.  "What was that?"

"Wasn't no bunny rabbit," Forrest said in a breath.  They crouched down low and scurried forward.  Steven blinked and then saw a flying kick connect with Forrests temple.

"Oh God!" The attacker yelped.  "Sorry!"

Steven looked at the Slayer menacingly.  That girl has screwed with us for the last time..

"Sorry!  Is he OK?" She babbled nervously.  She went to check on his but Steven swung round his taser gun and angrily shot out a crackle of white light that hit her.  Her body sizzled and she fell down, smacking her head off a tree root.  They were deeply embedded in the woods.  Greenery and shrubs were not lacking and they could hardly see the moon above them.

Steven went to Forrest's side.

"Are you OK man?"

"Yeah," he said. holding the back of his head.  "What the hell was that?"

"Who.  Slayer."

"That little bitch!" Forrest raged, standing up.  "Just when you talk about her, she flies in and hits your face."

"Yeah."

"I want her dead," Forrest stood over Buffy's body.  Steven had put his voltage not high enough to knock her out completely but enough for her to lose all control of her body.

"What should we do?  Take--"

"No no no," Forrest shook his head, kneeling down.  He pursed his lips and then made a snap decision.  He flicked out his knife and used it to tear through her jumper, exposing her.  "We're gonna find what it is that makes Finn so hot for her.  And teach the whore a lesson."

He pulled her jeans down roughly and then stood over her, straddling her body.  He pulled his own belt free and unzipped his pants.

"Hold her," Forrest ordered.  "Then you can."

"But-"

"That's an order," Forrest glared.
 

Buffy rolled her head, seeing the familar faces above her, shouting.  Yelling.  She felt tugging around her own clothes and ripping.  She opened her mouth to say something but words evapourated.  And when she felt her underwear tear, she tried to move; get away.  Her limbs wouldn't obey.  Was she drugged?

And then she felt it.  Shocked and disgusted, hot tears scalded her cheeks.  Frustrated at not being able to doing something.  Again and again.  Sharp and searing.

Can't speak.

Slayer:  Can't act.

Can't move.

Please help me, she tried to beg but her raw throat stole the plea from her.

Again and Again.

Again.

Not me!  I'm the Slayer!  I have to--

Hot.  Aching.  Violent.  Stopit stopit stopit.

Twice she felt it spill.  First time she thought it was the ending of this thing that was so very beyond a nightmare.  Then

Helpless.

END OF PROLOGUE