FATE’S CHOICE

CHAPTER 1: A Small Voice

“Something’s wrong”, a small voice from the corner of the room said. Everyone instantly looked up and over towards the little boy that was no more than five years old staring out the window.

“He talks”, Xander asks surprised.

“We just figured… he hadn’t... he hasn’t spoken until”. Willow tried to say. Buffy just stood up and walked over to the small child. He gently looked up at her with his piercing brown eyes.

“What’s wrong”, she asked kneeling down in front of him trying to get him to talk to her. She couldn't understand why he wouldn't talk to her since she was the only one he would follow around. He often crawled into her lap and sat there for hours. The small boy didn’t answer he just grabbed her hand and looked down. She instantly felt the energy running through her hand.

I know that feeling… where do I know…God why won’t he talk to me. And those eyes they remind me of…

“Buffy”, Willow said bringing her out of her thoughts. “Maybe…maybe he’s afraid.”

Buffy looked back to the boy, “Is that it, are you afraid”? He shook his head no and looked to see Buffy staring back at Him. “Can you at least tell us your name”, she asked pleading with her eyes for him to talk to her.

“He’s been here for two weeks and this is the first time he’s spoken and now he knows we know he can talk I doubt he’s gonna…”, Xander tried saying before being interrupted.

“Gage”, the small boy said shocking everyone. Buffy smiled at him and he smiled back his dimples spreading across his cheeks.

“Are you saying you’ve been able to talk this whole time”, Gage lowered his head. “And you never thought to answer our questions when we asked you and….”

“Giles”, Buffy yelled getting him to stop questioning the small child.

“Well I was just”, Giles tried to say.

“Well don’t”, she replied.

“Is that true”, she asked looking back down at him. He nodded his head yes.

“You shouldn’t have done that”, she began to say before she saw tears. “Oh its okay, I’m not mad I...we were just really worried is all”. She put her hand on his dark sandy blonde head. “I think we need to talk though”.

He looked up nervously but Buffy just smiled at him and he nodded. She gently took his hand and they walked towards the door.

“I think we’ll go for a walk and talk”, Buffy said looking back at Willow.

“Well what do we do while Buff talks to the kid”, Dawn asks.

“Research, we still need to find out why the sun is not on its normal course”, Giles replied still looking at a book.

“Yeah, with the sun setting sooner than normal and all. Is it just me or does it seem apocolypsy”, Xander asked. Everyone just rolled their eyes. “I’m just saying the kid shows up around the time the sun starts going all oooh and aww.”

 “I don’t think he’s evil and I didn’t sense any evil but I did sense power. He kinda seems like he's somewhere else”, Dawn said looking at everyone else.

“Dawn I know that you are currently studying with Willow and some of the other potentials but I wish you wouldn’t we still don’t know if”, Giles tried to explain.

“Yeah I know. Used to be key, I know I’m being careful. Don’t worry”, Dawn answered frustrated.

“Don’t worry Giles I’m keepen an eye. And yeah I know what you mean. I kinda got that from the kid too.” Willow said nodding and looking back at willow.

“You know the kid does have a name”, Kennedy chimed in.

“Sorry you’re right, It’s…we’re just so used to not knowing’, Xander tried to say.

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 “You will tell me where the Key of Luminati is”, a small disheveled demon yelled as he stalked towards the prisoner.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about and even if I did I sure as hell wouldn’t tell you”, Faith said struggling to get out of the chains that had her chained to a rock wall. She had already lost count of how long she had been there. She had bruises and gashes all over her body. “What the hell kinda key is it anyway?”

“Well did you find out? I ask you to...to do one thing”, another demon asked walking into the cave.

“Oh it’s you again”, Faith said looking at the ugliest demon she had ever seen. “Is that your real face or did your throat just through up, cause I gotta tell you…”

“I am Kavuloq, Lord of this world and you will watch that tongue of yours before I rip it out”, he said walking up and inspecting her before he hit her. “I thought you were supposed to have strength”, he said hitting her across the face again causing her lip to bleed.

“My lord I don’t think she knows anything”, Meviq answered his master’s earlier question.

“I expected more...and they say you’re the champion for the powers”, Kavuloq said.

“Actually that’s still me”, a voice said stabbing the demon in the stomach with his sword as the startled demon turned. The demon fell as Angel went over to Faith and hit the chains with his sword. Faith fell into his arms and passed out.

Angel carried Faith out of the cave and opened the portal.

“My Lord”, Meviq said walking over to his master. Kavuloq stood up looking at the entrance to the cave while whipping off his stomach. “Shall I go after”, he asked.

“No let them go, they know nothing. Gather the soldiers, there is still work to be done”, Kavuloq said stomping out of the cave.

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“I’m sorry “, Gage said looking at his feet as they walked down the trail. They had decided to walk the trail that wasn’t used for training.

“It’s okay I know what it’s like”, Buffy said giving his hand a gentle squeeze. “You know you can talk to me”. Gage looked up at her deciding whether or not to talk.

Buffy could see him struggling, “You don’t have to right now. Take your time”. He smiled back up at her.

“I miss my mommy", he said the tears evident in his little brown orbs. Buffy stopped and picked him up and put on top of a big rock and knelt down. She gently placed her hands on his arms that were hugging his sides and gave a small squeeze.

“You’ve been very strong but it’s ok to cry. I know what it’s like to loose someone you love. I lost my mom many years ago too” she gently said.

“That lady wasn’t my mom. Those people weren’t my parents”, the boy said his eyes watering even more.

“But I thought”, she tried to say puzzled.

“No mommy left me with them”, he said as he sniffed.