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Anya felt the welts growing. There were so many along her back. It hurt to even breath at this point. There was also a great big bruise across her cheek as well. She'd gotten to feisty for Mr. Summers liking. And he'd found some new ways to torture her. Ways that she never thought that she would ever be tortured.
Buffy sat in the corner as usual. It was beginning to really piss Anya off. Buffy had once been one of the strongest young woman that she had ever known. Then things had happened and she had even let herself try to kill herself. That was a true sign of weakness in the young woman's eyes. It took more strength to live then to die.
How was she supposed to get Buffy to see that? How was she to get her to fight back? They'd been trapped for so long that she didn't even know what day it was anymore. It was frustrating to be stuck where there was no real light. Only what little that Mr. Summers allowed.
The petite blond began one of her whimpering states. It always seemed to go on and on. For hours on end she seemed to just sit there and whimper. And it drove Anya nuts. So much so that she couldn't take it anymore.
Anya stormed over to Buffy and slapped her hard on the face. "Will you just shut up!" Buffy looked up at Anya, an expression of surprise on her face. It was the first look of any kind since Anya had arrived. Before, it had just been a big blank look. "You need to snap out of it! We need to find a way to get out of here."
Buffy shook her head. "You know there is no way. You know there is no escape. Daddy has us trapped and good. We are stuck here till he gets what he wants. And from me, he'll never get that so I'm stuck for life."
"What the hell!" Anya took Buffy by the shoulders and shook her hard. It hurt her to even move because of the wlts on her back from the whipping. "That man has got you brainwashed. Look, it's never too late to get the hell out of dodge. And we can do it if we just stick together."
Again, Buffy took on the blank look that irritated and frustrated Anya to no end. So, she slapped her hard. When that didn't work, she shook her some more. Still, there was no change in Buffy. So Anya got up and went to the one thing that she and Buffy were permitted to have. She picked up the glass and dumped the contents on Buffy.
"What the hell?" Buffy jumped up. "What the hell did you do that for?"
"Why do you think." Anya sighed heavily. "It was like you were asleep or something. I tried waking you up in other ways, but you didn't respond. So, I did it my way. Now, are you with it enough to discuss trying to escape from this place? I don't plan on spending my prom here. Hell, I don't want to spend another night here."
Buffy giggled a bit. "You didn't seem prom material." She quickly changed her attitude at the glare that Anya shot her. "Right. Not the important thing. Important thing is figuring out a way out of here. The only thing I can think of is if one of us knocks out the guard when he comes to get us. We can get the keys and try and make a run for it."
"Well now." Anya smiled a bit. "Now that you are back in the land of the conscious you actually can think of some really good ideas. We'll have to figure out with what. And we'll have to do this timing well. Because if we get caught, I don't even want to think what your father will do to us."
"Me either." Buffy smiled. "Thanks."
"For what?" Anya was a bit confused.
"For not giving up on me." The two smiled at each other. Then sat down in the corner. They had the makings of a plan. Now all they had to do was get the details right. And then, they would be free from their jail.

Reilly looked around him once again. He knew he shouldn't be where he was. But he didn't care. After spending so much time watching Willow and Tara, he knew that neither of them could be the killer. At least that's what every fiber in his being was telling him. Whether he was right or not remained to be seen.
And that's why he was here. Just outside was the crime seen. Well, a block over. He was at a seedy little place that most good law abiding citizens never would be caught dead in. It was a bar. A particular bar. One that he knew the bartender well. He was a snitch. There was no other way to describe Willy and his bar.
Willy's place. It gave you the creeps just looking around. You could smell the smell of low lives. And you could smell other unpleasant things. Why people came here was beyond him. Yet he knew. It was for those that couldn't show their faces in regular bars. This place catered to a lot of parolees. And those that were trying to make sure that they didn't get caught again.
Willy spotted Reilly right away and slowly made his way to the end of the bar that he had settled down out. "Reilly my old friend old buddy old pale. What are you doing in my fine establishment? And can I get you a cocktail or something?"
Reilly shook his head. "I'd say this was far from a fine establishment Willy. The roaches are bigger then the boiled eggs you offer. And you know that I don't drink. You know why I'm here so let's just cut to the chase. Or would your clientele want to know that you deal with a rookie cop?"
It was noticeable as Willy started to twitch. He picked up a bar towel and began wiping glasses that were already obviously clean. "Hey now. There is no need for threats. Since when don't I play along?"
The young officer smiled big. "Just give me what I want to know. I'm here about the MaClay stabbing. See, I'm not entirely convinced that Rosenberg did it. Even though there is a great deal of physical evidence against her."
"Yeah well gee." Willy scratched his head. "You see, that's a tough one." Reilly grabbed him by the collar. "Or maybe not." The weasely man choked and sputtered for a moment after the police officer let go. "You see it's just that the one that did it wouldn't be too pleased if I was the one to spill. I don't want to be getting into any trouble."
"Well let's see." Reilly began looking around him. "I think I'm seeing a few health code violations. And there are definitely more people in here then should legally be permitted. And what's this? No Emergency Exit sign? That's a big time violation there."
"All right." Willy shook his head. "I don't know what is worse. Getting killed or losing all my business. But you are here and tightening the screws so I guess." He took a deep breath before spilling what he knew. "I don't have any facts but it was a mob hit. I'm pretty sure it was the guy here in Sunnydale. The one that took over. I think Mr. MaClay did something that didn't please him very much."
"I see." Reilly eyed the weaselly bartender. "Are you sure that's all that you can remember? I'd hate to have to come back here with a health inspector. But I'm sure it would worth my time in the name of public safet."
"It's all. I swear." Willy held up his hands in surrender. "I don't have a name for sure. All I know is that whoever did it was paid well. And that there seemed to be a personal gain for him as well. Wish I could help you out more."
"I'm sure you do." Reilly quickly got up and left. The less time in that place the better. He now had a new lead. One that he had suspected all along. With one blond victim and Buffy having disappeared, it was more then coincidence. Now all he had to prove who did it. Before it was too late for Willow Rosenberg.

Dawn sat all alone. It was getting to be the way for her. Ever since everyone at school found out that she was Willow Rosenberg's little niece she had been an outcast among what little friends she had. Not even the one that she had had a crush on was hanging out with her. She couldn't understand why they would punish her for something her niece might have done.
But that's the way it was in middle school. It was survival of the fittest. You always had to try and find a way into a clique. And once you got in, you had to destroy those that could possibly outdo you in anyway. And this was an easy way to destroy someone.
She sighed heavily thinking how bad she felt. Bad because she was basically feeling so bad for herself. Think about it. Willow could really suffer for what others thought that she had done. Granted, she didn't know her cousin all that well but she was cool. It had taken a bit, but the had become somewhat close. That was a good thing.
But it was also hurting her. Was she being selfish for not being able to let go of that fact? That what little bit of a social life she had been able to establish was gone. Of course it had come to the attention of a few that she was gay. That could also have something to with it as well.
Another huge sigh escaped her. She opened up the lunch that Willow had packed for her. It was funny. When she had first moved in, the redhead would have nothing to do with her. But then she slowly started to do things for her. And now, she said she needed to. For she didn't know if she'd be able to do those things again.
Dawn was startled by a shadow being cast across the picnic table. She was even more surprised when she saw who it was. It was the girl that she had had a crush on for the longest time now. And had become her one true friend, or so she had thought. But here she was. What was going on?
"Hey Dawn." Sharron sat down and placed her own bagged up lunch on the table. "Before you say anything, I just wanted to say sorry for getting all avoidy on you. It was stupid of me but I guess peer pressure is a big thing. I didn't want to not fit in."
"It's OK." Dawn smiled for the first time in weeks. With all that was happening with her cousin and the lack of social life, there had been nothing to smile about. And there was the growing animosity between her dad and her grandfather. And her uncle was back in town and she knew there was bad blood there. "A lots been going on. Not to make you feel guiltier then you probably already do, but I really could have used a friend."
"I know." Sharron shook her head. Her cheeks got a bit red. "So much for being your true friend. I don't even know the meaning of true friend." For a moment, she stared down at the apple that she had unpacked. "Dawn, there is something else."
"Oh?" Dawn got sad again. She didn't know what it was but she got the feeling that it wasn't of the good. The way her family's luck had been going as of late, it wouldn't surprise her that this was of the very, very, very bad.
"I was just wondering." Sharron managed to look Dawn in the eye as she asked the question that was burning inside of her. "Is it true? Are you really gay?"
Now Dawn blushed quite a bit. She wasn't ashamed of liking other girls. But the fact that the one girl that she had a crush on was asking her, now that was embarrassing. And very nerve racking waiting for the answer.
"Yeah, I am." Dawn held her breath waiting for Sharron's response.
"Cool." Sharron picked up her apple and took a bite. She eyed Dawn. A very big smile on her face. Was that acceptance? Or could it be more? Did Sharron have the same type of feelings? Dawn could only hope.

Willow knew even before she opened up the envelope who it was from. Why had she sent it to her? That was the thing that had her wondering. After all, they shared the same bedroom and were able to be together because the judge let her out as long as she was in the custody of her uncle which was a very good thing.
That perfume. She knew it well. It was definitely from Tara. The girl that she loved more then anything in the world. How many other girls would stand by her throughout all of this? She had more love and belief in her then anyone else had ever shown for her. She knew that she was the luckiest person in the world.
Or was she? Willow couldn't believe the words that she read. Tara was breaking up with her? And doing it in an impersonal letter? The writing was her style, her famed blue gel ink, her perfume. It couldn't really be from her could it?
She all of a sudden couldn't believe in the two of them. The letter said that Tara had reexamined the evidence. And even though she hated her father, she couldn't be with the person that was the one that killed him. Even the worst of people didn't deserve to die in the way that he died. And it was obviously her that had did it?
What the hell? Tears were streaking down Willow's face. This was the last thing that she needed. She needed all the support that she could get. Her uncle was busy with his own problems, though always making time for her. Xander was beside himself with the fact that Anya had been gone for so long. Bout the only one that seemed to be a constant now in her life was Faith.
More tears fell as she reread the letter. The pain that she felt was unreal. How could someone that supposedly loved you so much do something so cruel. It was one thing to break up with her. But she didn't even have the nerve to do so in person. Didn't she at least deserve that much for all that they had gone through?
Just then, Tara walked into their shared bedroom. She had a suitcase in her hand. More tears fell as Willow quickly made her way out onto the balcony so that she didn't have to face her former girlfriend. She couldn't do that. Not now anyways. Her emotions were to on edge at this point to be civil.
Not that being civil was the first thing on her mind. She just wanted to lash out at Tara and everyone else in the world. To hurt them the way that she had been just hurt. So much for believing in her and always being there for her. Those must have just been empty words that Tara had said to her.
Her anger grew even more as Tara packed more and more of her things. How dare she just send the letter then take her stuff and go. That was just not right. How could she forgive her after that? Not being there when she needed her the most.
The funny thing was is that the blond packed a pictured of the two of them together. Why in the heck would she want that when she didn't want anything to do with her again, at least that's what the letter said. More tears fell as she watched Tara walk out the door. And it appeared that she was in such a hurry too.
Willow held the letter tightly in her hand. She just couldn't believe it. Tara betrayed her. Betrayed her worse then anyone had ever betrayed her. It was hard to believe that there could be such pain. But this was the worse thing that had ever happened to her. And she really didn't know how she was going to survive without her everything.