-----
Los Angeles, California. A
few hours later
At a
residence called the “Family Home”, a black tar-looking portal to a
demon slave dimension suddenly disgorged a number of filthy humans. In
single file, they rushed away as their leader came out last, holding a
homemade knife to the throat of a demon.
The
demon’s minions followed out of the black rectangular pool, as the man
shoved the weapon closer to his hostage’s neck. “Tell 'em to stay where
they are!!” he yelled.
His
captive just snarled, “Humans don’t fight back! That’s how it works-!”
But
unfortunately, the creature never got to finish the diatribe as the
human slashed its throat – and demon blood sprayed everywhere.
“That’s for 4 ½ years of hell, Ken!” the killer spat out, as the
corpse fell to the floor. He then looked at the other demons and smiled
wolfishly, “Who’s next?”
One
demon actually looked happy with the situation, as with the so-called
Ken’s death he was now in charge back home. Deciding that it just wasn’t
worth it, he gestured and all the demons dove back through the murky
black pool. Which then disappeared with a flash of light – leaving only
a blank tiled surface.
The
human just turned around, and followed in the path of the others. He
found them waiting for him, and got mad about that. “Damn it, the orders
were for you not to wait for me!”
The
others looked down, but seemed unrepentant.
“Never
mind. Time to evac the hot zone!” the man snapped, using U.S. army
slang. “Deploy however you want – you guys are still technically
civilians. Now go-go-go!”
The
brutally mistreated ex-slaves just hugged each other, unused to saying
anything other than “I’m no one”. And as they split up and headed into
L.A., their rescuer and former fellow slave also took off, with the air
of a soldier moving through unfamiliar territory.
A man
who many people in Sunnydale would have now incorrectly
identified as Xander Harris, after all that had happened to him.
Chapter 7