Escape

Buffy emerged into the cool night air, thankful for the gentle breeze that caressed her face, making it feel as though she could breathe again.

Taking small, brisk steps, Buffy began to walk down the dark alley towards the lit street that would lead her home… home, which was a cramped studio apartment with a nasty draft and an ant infestation. Since she only lived 3 blocks away from the diner, she usually walked to and from work. Not owning a car, Buffy always got around town by way of foot or public transportation, every now and then getting the occasional lift from a friend.

But as Buffy neared the street, a sudden noise from behind had her halting in her tracks, the fine hairs on her arms standing on end as a shudder coursed through her body. Pulling her jacket tighter around her body, Buffy began to move faster, shaking off the familiar tingling feeling that stubbornly lingered in the back of her skull. Suddenly, she began to bolt, repeating a mantra in the back of her mind as she fled.

'It's nothing. There's nothing there. Nothing, nothing, nothing...'

Without warning, the 'nothing' attacked.

Buffy didn't have time to react as she was grabbed from behind in a powerful, bone crunching hold, and thrown to the ground the next instant. Groaning, Buffy didn't have to look to know that her knees and palms must have been skinned to a bloody pulp on the rough pavement. However, she didn't get a chance to even think about this as the same set of hands gripped her shoulders once again, dragging her roughly to her feet.

Thrusting her elbow back quickly, Buffy heard a loud "Ooomph!" as she connected with her attacker's stomach, causing him to release his hold on her. Spinning around, Buffy gasped as she came face to face with the very thing she'd been dreading to see again, something she'd tried time and time again to convince herself only existed in her nightmares.

A vampire.

His eyes were bright amber and fierce, his face gleaming with a fury that chilled her to the bone. The deep ridges in his forehead twitched as he looked at her through his hooded eyes, a low growl emanating from his throat.

Buffy lashed out, screaming as she let loose with a powerful kick that knocked the stunned vampire off his feet. But he was standing again the next instant, moving with a speed and agility far greater than that of any normal man. He advanced on Buffy, throwing a punch that she dodged, but managing to get in a solid kick to her stomach, forcing her back several steps. Winded, Buffy knew she didn't have time to catch her breath as the vampire charged at her. Stepping aside quickly when he was mere inches from her, she used his own momentum to thrust him against the brick wall, hearing him yelp as the rough surface cut into his face. Buffy yanked him back by the shoulders, pushing him against an open nearby dumpster such that his neck was positioned over the edge, his head just inside. Then, Buffy slammed the lid down with all her might, hearing a sickening crunching sound as the cold metal connected with his neck, snapping it.

Buffy only released the lid when dust appeared where the vampire once had been, settling in a pile at her feet. Wiping the sweat from her brow, she took a moment to collect herself, leaning against the wall and squeezing her eyes shut momentarily.

But Buffy didn't have much time to calm down when she heard another noise behind her. Spinning around, she narrowed her eyes to see a figure emerging from the shadows, clapping slowly. Groaning with great displeasure as the person came into view, Buffy rolled her eyes.

"Nice work, luv."

Buffy let out a bitter laugh. "Glad you approve." Shaking her head in disbelief, she stared at Spike across the alley with a look of mixed curiosity and disgust displayed across her features. She bit her lip, realizing this enigmatic stranger had her more than a little intrigued.

"Doesn't mean I approve." Spike casually leaned against the brick wall that lined the alleyway, never taking his eyes off her. "Got the strength, lamb, but no real technique. Dirty little fighter, you are," He smirked. "You know what I think, pet?"



"Do I really care?"



He ignored her.

"Having all the finesse of a bull in a china shop might suit you now, but one of these days it's going to catch up with you. You keep on this way, some nasty thing'll get a taste of you. It'll have you on the bloody ground and suck you dry before you even know what hit."

His words seemed to knock the wind from her lungs, and she sucked in a sharp breath, suddenly feeling more than a little dizzy.

"Once more, from the top," Buffy said as she pushed off from the wall at the opposite side of the alley from where Spike stood. Cautiously, she moved closer to him, taking small, reluctant steps. "Who the hell are you, what do you want, and why in God's name are you looking at me like that?"

Spike's head tilted to the side, his lips again curled into an amused smile as though he were studying something he found rather enjoyable. "Which should I answer first, luv?"

They now stood mere inches from each other, facing off in the middle of the darkened alley.

"I'm not your love," Buffy snapped.

"Alright, then, how's this?" He cleared his throat. "Which should I answer first... slayer?"

Buffy felt like she'd been punched in the gut by his words, her mouth suddenly very dry. He knew. How did he know?

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Her weak protest was met with a rather obnoxious laugh. Buffy glared at him.

"That so?" He challenged. "Because I'd find myself hard pressed to find another 'normal' bird like yourself that can sever the head off a demon with the strength of ten men like he's nothing more than a rag doll."

Determined to stand her ground, Buffy shook her head firmly. "You've got the wrong girl."

"Don't think so, luv. I know who you are, I've been tracking you for a long time now. 3 years, to be exact." He looked at her, trying to gauge her reaction. "You're the slayer, the protector of the innocent, the bleedin' chosen one, whether you like it or not."

Another shake of her head. "You're wrong."

"Am I, now?"

Then, without warning, Spike pounced on her, knocking her flat on her ass and straddling her as he pinned her arms above her head. Shocked, Buffy struggled beneath him wildly, her movements affecting Spike in a way that appalled her as she felt a telltale hardness poking her in the stomach.

"Get off me, you fucking creep!"

But he merely chuckled, leaning forward and pressing the hard lines of his body more fully against hers, forcing her further onto the pavement. Her eyes flashed with a fire of defiance, and she successfully freed her hands from his grasp, clawing wildly at him. But just as she thought she could break free, an inhuman growl escaped his throat, effectively startling her and giving him the slight hesitation he needed to regain the upper hand. Just like that, her hands were once again pinned above her head, and as she looked into Spike's face she let out a gasp of shock.

Staring back at her weren't the blue eyes she was expecting, but rather, two amber ones that shined ominously with their own fury.

He was a vampire.

Spike clucked his tongue at her, shaking his head. "Feisty, pet. I like that…"

Buffy gaped at him, snapping her mouth open and shut like a fish. "You - you're a... vampire," She sputtered.

Spike's lips twisted into that familiar cocky smile, his hold on her unrelenting as he spoke. "Kewpie doll for the lady."

Her heart beat had accelerated so much she feared her chest might explode as she lay beneath him, her body rigid. "But, how didn't... why didn't I..."

"So you've noticed the tinglies you feel when a big bad's in the vicinity, have you?"

Buffy shrugged. "They're kind of hard to ignore."

Spike grinned, allowing his human guise to return as he did. "That they are."

Releasing her hands, Spike sat back on his heels, allowing Buffy to prop herself up on her elbows. Confused, she opened her mouth to speak. "So then, how do you-" But Spike cut her off.

"Do you know what this is?" Buffy's eyes drifted to the large, smooth stone that gleamed even in the darkness surrounding them, inset in the ring that banded his finger. Wondering how she'd somehow managed to miss it before, Buffy bit her lip and shook her head, unable to form words as her stomach tied itself into tight knots.

Standing up quickly, Spike reached down and yanked Buffy roughly to her feet, and she quickly pushed him away with as much force as she could muster, desperate to put distance between them. Spike, undetered despite having staggered backwards a few steps from the blow Buffy had dealt, merely gazed at her in silence. He held up his hand so Buffy could clearly see the ring in question.

"It's called the Gem of Amara. Beautiful, isn't it?" Spike paused, admiring the ring with a frown. "Actually, thought it was a bit much myself, at first." Shrugging, he rubbed the stone absentmindedly. "Well, if looking like Elizabeth Taylor's the price I pay for invincibility, I'd say it's a fair bargain."

Hearing Buffy's gasp, Spike chuckled. "Don't tell me you've never heard of this?"

Her stunned silence answered his question.

"It's legendary, pet. A stone that keeps a bloke like myself from burning up in the sun. And the slayer - that's you, honey," He paused, flashing a grin her way, "Can't get stake happy on me... Or, you could, but it wouldn't matter. I feel I've outgrown my 'turning into dust' phase."

"This ring," He continued, "Blocks that sixth sense of yours too. Makes me undetectable, unkillable... unstoppable."

Buffy had heard enough. Blindly, without thinking, she flew at Spike, her fist connecting with his jaw and sending him reeling. Quickly, she delivered a right hook to his chin, catching his fist as he tried to punch her back. She kneed him in the groin, hard, and Spike doubled over. Hesitating for just a split second when Spike let out a groan of pain, Buffy was caught off guard when he delivered a swift kick to the back of her knees, sweeping her feet right out from under her.

Buffy gasped, stunned and defeated while Spike stood over her, looking as smug as ever.

"Lesson the first; never underestimate your opponent, 'specially not one who's got one of these nifty little buggers," He said, wiggling his fingers to indicate the Gem.

Buffy pushed herself to her feet, swallowing hard and wincing at the dull ache that seemed to radiate through every joint in her body. "Why?" She demanded. "The ring doesn't make you any stronger or faster, does it?"

"Doesn't have to," Spike replied. Shuffling inside his duster, his hand emerged a second later with what appeared to be a small wooden stake. Tossing it up once in his hand for good measure, he threw it to Buffy, who caught it with a look of utter confusion on her face.

"C'mon, slayer, do it." He opened his leather duster wide, exposing the black t-shirt underneath. "I know you've used a stake before, you must've. Otherwise you wouldn't be standing here right now. So, do it, stake me. Right through the soddin' heart." When Buffy still hesitated, completely baffled and wondering exactly what kind of game he was playing, Spike lowered his arms, closing the distance between them in two long strides.

"Let me help you, then." Taking the hand that clutched the stake in his, he thrust it toward his chest, the pointed wood piercing through his yielding flesh. Spike hissed and Buffy gasped, her eyes wide.

"Stings like a bleedin' bitch, but doesn't even hurt as much as it used to." Pulling the stake from his chest, he let it fall to the ground with a clatter. "And as you can clearly see, I'm not dust."

"I feel pain, I bleed, I sleep. But one thing I don't do, is die," He paused, "Or breathe. Because really, I'm already dead. But I don't turn to dust."

"Yeah, think we already established that part," Buffy retorted, finding her voice again.

Spike chuckled, advancing on her slowly.



"See, there's no use fighting me, luv. Wouldn't do you any good." His tongue darted out to wet his lips, and Buffy again noticed the hungry gleam in his eyes, the one that she'd seen earlier in the diner. "Now, we play by my rules," He whispered.

Suddenly, Buffy felt her back hit the brick wall, realizing he'd backed her into a corner.

His arms were braced at either side of her head as he leaned in, burying his nose in her hair, breathing in her scent that left him drunk with desire. Oh, how he wanted her.

'Smells so good... I could dance all night with this one.'

Buffy's eyes drifted shut as his lips brushed her temple, his closeness having a strange effect on her.

Why was she letting him touch her? He was a vampire, a killer. She wasn't supposed to be turned on by this, she was supposed to be disgusted, repulsed. She should've been attacking him, not allowing him to ravage her in a dark alley.

Yet as he pushed her jacket from her shoulders, forcing it down her arms, her legs felt like lead weights, rendering her unable to move. As the cool night air hit her exposed flesh and raised goose bumps, Spike leaned closer, grinding his erection against her covered sex as his hands sought her breasts. Buffy realized she wanted this, him, she craved it. She wanted him to touch her, kiss her, fuck her. She wanted him to make her feel something her life had been missing for far too long. He could fill the void, could make her forget the emptiness, soothe the pain. It felt as though that was all that mattered at the moment. She needed contact, closeness, if only for a night.

It was wrong. Her mind screamed at her to stop, warned her that she was on dangerous ground, but she ignored all sense, feeling only pleasure. It felt good. God help her, but it felt good.

Buffy whimpered, her panties instantly soaked through as his thumbs stroked her nipples through the thin fabric of her uniform, turning them into hardened nubs. Suddenly, she felt his lips grazing her ear, realizing he was speaking to her in a low, hushed tone.

"Newsflash, Goldilocks, you can't escape your calling. It's who you are, and you can't stop that just as much as you can't stop time." His hands explored her body as he spoke, making it hard to concentrate on what he was saying. Buffy felt as though warm molasses were coursing through her veins, moaning when a hand snaked between her legs, giving her a squeeze and stroking her roughly through her clothing, causing the rough fabric to rub against her throbbing clit.

"Obviously you know this," Spike continued, his hands never ceasing its movements, "Since kicking vampire ass in a dark alley isn't what most girls your age are into these days," With surprising tenderness, he suddenly pulled back slightly and brushed a lock of blonde hair away from her face, staring down at her with a strange dreamy expression. "It's a pity, really, the way you avoid your calling like the plague. It can be such a good feeling. The power, the glory... Give into it, let it take you over..."

Buffy found it difficult to understand whether he was still talking about slaying, or something else, but his words had her head spinning.

"What do you want with me?" Her voice was feeble now, weakened by a combination of weariness and uncertainty, as well as her increasing desire.

One hand trailed downward and came to rest loosely on her neck, his gaze following, watching as he fingered the soft skin there, tracing a line down the side of her throat. He stared in silence for several long moments before finally answering her, his tone light but his words chilling.

"I want to fight you, I want to fuck you, and then I want to finish you."

At his words, her eyes snapped open and reality came rushing back. He was dangerous, a killer, a vampire. What the hell had she been thinking? Her mind told her to flee, her body prepared to fight, and she pushed at his chest with a loud yell, igniting a new fury deep within.

But before she could break free, he'd managed to pin her arms behind her, caught between her body and the brick wall, and Buffy knew it was over. Spike had had her at his mercy since she'd entered the alley, only now did she realize that.

She'd run from her calling, tried to escape it, and had failed. There had been so many excuses as to why she had run away, so many things she wished she could change. And now, she was getting what she suddenly felt she deserved for being such a coward.

When she felt two sharp fangs pierce her throat, her body tensed and she cried out, but she didn't even try to fight it anymore. Spike took deep pulls of her blood, sucking hungrily at her neck and Buffy went limp in his arms as dizziness overtook her.

'Rest, I can rest now'

Those were her last thoughts before everything went black.

---

A/N: Evil cliffhanger, I know. Another update will be coming soon though. Thanks so much to ten, wildwomen, MarzBar, and Michelle for your reviews! I have a feeling that this story may end up being longer than I originally intended. Anyway, next update we'll find out a little more about Spike, and why exactly he'd been tracking Buffy since she ran away. Also, we'll find out the exact circumstances and reasoning for why Buffy did what she did. So please keep those reviews coming! They make me happy! :)