Finding the Dark
I reached up to the top of the gurney, feeling for the sheet that had once covered the body for politeness' sake, or at least to keep any of the others from looking at the things they didn't want to really see in the first place. Or...the last place...or at all. All I knew was that it purpose seemed to be concealment, and that suited me as much as
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I flinched at the noise, trying to decide if I should try and locate exactly where the increased sound was coming from. If I looked out, then maybe I would know, but then I could be exposed too, and that could be...
I didn't want to go back. I just couldn't go back. Tensing even more I let my body be a wall under the sheet as I scooted even deeper under the table. The walls were cold and strong, and they made me feel better.
"Fred? It's safe. It's Wesley, you can come out now."
"There isn't time for names anymore," I announced quietly, to myself. "Names are like chocolate ice cream and pillows with real feathers in them...extra. And of course they take too much time too. You think it's just you being greedy, but really they are just as selfish. They'll take as much as they can...they all will." I wondered if my breath sounded like my heart. "Until there's nothing left."
But at least I knew...and what I knew I could avoid. Reaching above me, my hand walked across the counter until it found a small metal container of some sort or the other. I grabbed it and held it close before sending it scattering to the farthest corner of the room. It clattered and clanked quite noisily.
Maybe now they would forget I was here...
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And with that, Faith made an exit that at any other time, would have seemed thoroughly non sequitur. In this time, and in this place, though, it seemed completely in keeping with the rest of the insanity that had apparently gripped the enitre building. I hadn't seen such widespread madness since 1968, when a lesser demon went on an LSD-fueled spell-casting spree and turned everyone in Leicester Square into flower children.
I proceeded to watch the situation go from bad to worse. After Faith's departure, I witnessed my son speaking to a young woman who had taken up refuge underneath a table, though refuge from what, I wasn't sure. Realising that this exceedingly odd individual was the 'Fred' with whom we were supposed to meet, I felt my frustration and apprehensions increase even further.
"Fred? It's safe. It's Wesley, you can come out now."
After treating us to a long stream of nonsensical ramblings, this 'Fred' cast some sort of metal cylinder rolling across the floor. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw it rattle its way across the ground and strike the wall with a hollow clank. Apparently having hoped the move would distract us, the young woman had fled even further beneath the desk, despite Wesley's repeated entreaties to come out.
"We most certainly do not have time for this, Wesley."
His reply to my frustrated question was as unhelpful as I'd expected it to be.
"I don't know, Father, but I think that whatever it is, I know who's behind it."
Rolling my eyes, I found a nearby stool upon which to sit.
"Brilliant deduction," I said, feeling the weight of the absurdity pressing heavily on me. "I should have thought that more than obvious. And since you seem to be determined to do anything but address the problem, I'm going to."
Leaning against the table, I felt the fatigue setting in.
"In just a bit."
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Even as Fred began to retreat further and further into her makeshift refuge, I tried my best to keep a calm, even tone in my voice. We couldn't have her getting even more upset, could we?
"No one's going to take anything away from you, Fred."
I said it, and I meant it. Of course, it was patently obvious as to just what 'they' Fred was referring: Wolfram & Hart and the Senior Partners. There was no denying that 'they' had already taken a great deal from us, and it would be to the surprise of no one if the offer that had led to our taking these jobs were simply a ruse by which to take away even more. But there wasn't going to be any more of that, not if I had anything to say about it.
"We most certainly do not have time for this, Wesley."
"Allies, Father... never prudent to enter battle without them..." I muttered under my breath, eyes darting around the lab, wondering which of the lab-coated villains with whom Fred had been required to associate was listening in on our conversation, reporting everything back to Lilah or Eve or the Senior Partners themselves. Every one of them looked highly untrustworthy, especially the floppy-haired one, that Knox.
There was the rattle and clank of metal striking vinyl floor tiling, and I watched as Fred cast a metal cylinder skittering across the floor. Instead of following the errant rubbish bin, I crouched down even further and regarded the increasingly nervous-looking Fred again.
"I promise, it'll be all right. You can come out from under there."
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It was too loud and chaotic in there. And I was starving. Where was that pizza? And when did Willow get a car to start delivering pizzas anyway?
I stood there, my arms crossed over my chest, half watching what was going on with everyone, no one really even noticing I was there.
"Did anyone happen to see the pizza delivery person on their way in?"
I waited for an answer, but no one was really paying attention to me. They all had their own deals going on. Wes was trying to coax Faith's friend Fred out from under the table. And Roger was flipping out. And the other woman --
Looking up at the clock on the wall, I realized it had been like 30 or more minutes since I ordered my food.
"It's been over 30 minutes, so that means it's free." I grinned, looking around at all of them. Still no one looked at me.
"I'm just gonna go outside and wait for Willow to bring that pizza. If you guys need me, which from the looks of it, you won't, then I'll just be..." I pointed to the door. "..outside. Tell Faith too if she comes back."
I slipped out the door, making my way through the building looking for the front door.
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Have to say I was right with Daddy Wyndam-Pryce on that one.
Wesley was crouching by the table trying to coax Fred out. Poor innocent damsel-in-distress Fred. I mean how stupid did you have to be to fall for that cowering under the table routine?
"I don't know, Father," I whispered, "but I think that whatever it is, I know who's behind it."
I folded my arms tightly across my chest when his gaze moved to lock with mine briefly.
Huh. He thought I was responsible for this? It was so typical of him to blame me, and not accept that Fred was a passive aggressive manipulating little bitch.
"well what's goin' on is this kickin' party we are havin' though not sure who asked that dead girl, but hey she hasn't been all loud like some people. Or stealin' my date. Besides I thought it was invite only, and I don't remember sayin' boys were allowed."
I didn't move away from Faith, even though the way her arm was draping around me was...well, unsettling. Briefly I wondered if she was high, if they all were high on some gas leak or something.
"Sorry darlin' but I gotta keep Fred's feelin's in mind here, but any other time I could'a brought a smile to your lips."
What the hell? Now Faith was acting like Fred was her gal too? Did everyone love Fred? I fought the urge to slap her for saying that to me, and was relieved when she finally left the room.
Something metal and loud rolled and clanked across the floor. Great, now she was throwing things.
Wesley's father was taking a seat and looking decidedly annoyed, and pretty peaky too now that I was looking at him.
I moved to touch his shoulder.
"Are you alright? You don't look so good." I said softly, ignoring Kennedy who was spouting something about pizzas being free.
"I promise, it'll be all right. You can come out from under there."
Wesley was still trying to get Miss Fraidy Cat to come out from under the desk. Still playing the knight protector.
"Oh, for the love of...leave her down there, Wesley. Why you picked her over me, I cannot begin to fathom. I mean look at her, Wes. Creating a burrow under a piece of office furniture. Throwing expensive equipment around. Putting on that goody two shoes innocent act. Does she even have a cleavage? I expect if she finally lets you get groiny with you, that you'll bruise yourself on her bony hips. Well, it serves you damn right." I rounded on Wesley, deep resentment roiling to the surface. "You keep acting like I'm the enemy but I'm not. I've been trying to cover your ass, with your father, with Angel, with a lot of things. Why do you think I didn't fight you when you broke up with me. Because I didn't care? You really are a complete moron if you believed that. Don't you get it? Don't you see what's going on right in front of your damn face?"
In the middle of my rant I noticed Eve slipping through the lab doors, she grabbed something and then headed back out again.
Finally when I was done, I stood there waiting for Wesley's response. When he didn't immediately answer, I threw up my hands and stalked out of the door after Eve. Screw him.
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