College Girl (Book Four, BTVS)

chapter 15 - This Year's Girl

"Spread out?" Willow asked.

"Not too far," Buffy told us.

"So not a problem," Xander told us.

We split into two groups, me with Willow, Buffy with Xander, walking along.

We came across two trees, both groups on either side, looking up at a demon's horribly mutilated body tied to the trees. Its chest was surgically cut open. It had been skinned. It was smoking.

   ~~~~     

We went back to the basement.

"I've never seen anything like that," Buffy told us.

"And I can go a long healthy stretch without seeing anything like that again," Xander told us.

"It had to be Adam who killed it, but why?" Willow asked.

"He's studying biology," I answered. "Human, demon... whatever he can get his hand on and tear apart. Learning what makes things work."

"I really don't want to be around for the final exam," Xander told us.

"It's not coming to that," Buffy told us. "The Initiative created this thing, and they can't stop it. But we will."

"Question," Xander told us. "Will hiding in a cabin with stockpiled chocolate goods be any part of this plan?"

"No," I answered.

Xander sat down next to Willow. "Told you."

Willow gave Xander a look, looking at Buffy and me. "What's first?"

"Riley," Buffy answered. "I'm not leaving him down there with the people that created this thing. I don't care how many guns they have, I'm going in." I sat down in a chair across from Willow and Xander. "Okay, Will, I need you to hack into the security mainframe and buy me a ten minute shutdown of operation systems."

"That could be..." Willow trailed off.

"Tricky," Buffy finished. "Not impossible. If you can't do it online, then use magic. Xander, any gear you've been saving for a rainy day, I want you to give to me."

"Uh, give to us," I corrected. "You're not going in there alone."

Buffy nodded.

"You want stealthy stuff?" Xander asked.

"No," I answered. "We tried sneaking in. This time, we're gonna use force. I figure we'll go in through the elevator shaft, use the cable as towlines. Then blast open the facility doors and find the infirmary."

We heard Riley's voice behind us. "Am I really worth all that?"

Buffy turned to face him instantly in relief. "Riley!" She embraced him tightly, making him flinch in pain. "Oh, God. I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?"

"No, a giant skewer through the rib cage hurt me," Riley answered. "That was just a reminder."

I stood. "How did you get out?"

"I walked," Riley answered.

"They didn't try to stop you?" Willow asked.

"Oh, they did," Riley answered. "Repeatedly. But then I told them they couldn't keep me without a major ass-kicking, one way or another. So, here I am."

"That's... great, Riley, and you know..." Xander trailed off, standing, walking closer. "There's no polite way to ask you this, but, uh... did they put a chip in your brain?"