ASTA Episode 1.10 "Incubus"

[shred]

TEASER

~BAR NONE~
~David’s office~

A pair of pants hung on the back of the chair precariously; a blouse was strewn on the floor just beside the chair. On the desk were a man’s shoe and a sock. The rest of David’s and Tabitha’s clothing were scattered on the ground without much regard.

Tabitha and David were lying on the ground with Tabitha in the crook of David’s arm. She had her jacket over her unclothed body while David had his shirt covering his waist and his chest remained bare.

DAVID: This is so much better than talking.

Tabitha snuggled closer to David, wrapping her arm across his chest.

TABITHA: Hmmm…yes. I should have just come here and offered sex instead of trying to work things out.

David chuckled. He dropped a kiss on the top of her head and rested his cheek on her hair.

TABITHA: But…I do have a question though.

DAVID: Shoot.

TABITHA: Why did you change your mind about us? Not that I’m complaining of course. I’m just surprised that you’re willing to work this out even though I never told you what happened.

DAVID: Because you were honest.

Tabitha tilted her head so that she was looking at him, confused.

TABITHA: I was?

DAVID: Yeah. I mean, you could have easily lied to me and told me that some large raccoon trashed the bar or that you were downstairs in the basement because you were forced to go down there. But you didn’t. You accepted responsibility and didn’t deny that anything went down.

TABITHA: But I didn’t tell you what happened.

DAVID: No, but I’ve got to give you credit for not hiding the whole thing from me. Besides, it takes two to work a relationship. If I can’t meet you halfway, then you shouldn’t be with me.

TABITHA: (smiled) You’re the greatest man I’ve ever met, David.

David returned her smile and bent his head. Their lips met for a searing kiss.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~CAVE~

Asta and Xander stared dumbfounded at the naked man before them. The man was bald, tan and well built. He had his head bent and his eyes closed. His hands were laced together in front of him.

XANDER: Erm…who are you?

The man’s eyes snapped open and he looked up. A snarled formed on his lips as he regarded the two people in front of him.

MAN: The people will weep and blood will pour as I walk this land.

Asta and Xander blinked at his words.

XANDER: I’m sorry…what?

MAN: Monsters and fears will plague their minds and all that will be left are screams.

ASTA: He isn’t making sense.

XANDER: That or we are too dumb to know what he’s talking about.

The man turned his head towards the covered hole. He walked towards it and cocked his head, studying the pile of rock and dirt that covered the hole. He waved his right hand at the heap of rubble. The whole mound exploded, spewing rock and mud everywhere. The impact caused Asta and Xander to fly backwards. Once the dust settled, Asta squinted and saw a gaping hole where the rubble was. The man climbed out and disappeared.

XANDER: What just happened?

ASTA: I think we just released Sha.


CUT TO BLACK

OPENING CREDITS ROLL

THEME SONG “Club Foot” by Kasabian


Starring:
Jewel Staite as Asta Dawson
Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris
Tom Lenk as Andrew Wells
Cillian Murphy as Oliver Pike
Ashley Scott as Tabitha Pike

Guest Starring:
Tyron Leitso as David Boone
Dean Cain as Ashley/Astwihad

Created by Irene Issac with Beck Schwarz
Based on the hit television show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”

END OF CREDITS

[shred]

ACT 1

~ELEVATOR~

Pike cried out in frustration when he failed to reached the trap door above his head for the umpteenth time that he tried. He kicked the wall of the elevator in frustration. He glanced down at Andrew, who was sitting on the ground beside him.

PIKE: Get up and give me a boost.

Andrew gestured to his injured arm.

PIKE: Ok, get up and I’ll give you a boost.

ANDREW: What do you want me to do when I get up there? Cut the cable so that we can plummet to our deaths?

PIKE: No. We’ve got no knife to cut the cables.

Andrew rolled his eyes as he climbed to his feet.

PIKE: Just get up there and see whether you can get us moving again.

ANDREW: Unless I’ve got a way to switch the power back on again, I don’t think I’ll get us moving. There was a storm approaching when we came into the building so I think the storm knocked out the power in the building.

PIKE: Well, we can’t stay here and do nothing. I’m getting restless and I’m itching to do something.

ANDREW: Maybe you should try to sit still and just do nothing. You’re not required to run around and do something every single minute you know.

PIKE: I’m not wired that way.

ANDREW: Then I can’t help you.

Pike sighed in frustration before going to the doors of the elevator. He used his fingers and used all the strength he had to try to pry the door open. When he couldn’t, he pressed his forehead against the door and closed his eyes, panting a little.

PIKE: If I don’t do something, I’m going to go crazy.

ANDREW: Why don’t you try the phone again? Or try to get it working?

Pike opened his eyes and cast his gaze to Andrew, his forehead still against the door.

PIKE: You mean try to rewire the phone till it works.

ANDREW: If you can, why not?

Pike spun around with excitement in his blue eyes. He grabbed Andrew’s shoulder and shook him.

PIKE: Andrew! You’re a genius.

ANDREW: My arm!

PIKE: I could kiss you.

Andrew looked scared.

ANDREW: Please don’t.

Pike released the Watcher and went to the button panel where the phone was. He picked it up and placed it against his ear. A soft dial tone was head. Pike’s eyes widening in surprise.

PIKE: It’s working!

Andrew looked at Pike, puzzled. He was gently rubbing his injured shoulder.

ANDREW: So fast? Wow. You’re good.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~BAR NONE~

TABITHA: I think the rain has stopped.

David pulled up his pants and buckled it. He stopped and listened.

DAVID: I think you’re right. Let’s go and see whether the power is up.

David slipped on his t-shirt while Tabitha buttoned up her blouse. A minute later, the two of them left the office.

When they entered the bar and restaurant area, the place was still in darkness. David called out to the waitress who was seated at one of the booths. She was scribbling on a note pad.

DAVID: Kelly, has the storm stopped?

Kelly looked up at David and nodded.

KELLY: It has. But the whole street is still without power.

DAVID: Ok. How about you head on home then? I don’t think you can do anything else here. Come back in tomorrow.

KELLY: You sure? I can help you lock up.

DAVID: That’s alright. I’ll probably be here late anyway. You better go back and get some sleep.

KELLY: Alright. (smiled) Thanks, David.

Kelly picked up her purse, which was beside her, and made her way towards the exit. She gave a wave to David and Tabitha before stepping outside, the door shutting behind her.

David grinned at Tabitha.

DAVID: Great! We are all alone now. How about I take that dinner offer? The kitchen is still open – I can whip something up. Or do you want another drink?

Tabitha checked the time on her watch as David made his way towards the bar.

TABITHA: I think I should go.

David regarded her as he made her a drink from the bar.

DAVID: What? Why? I thought maybe we could talk…and then go back to my office…

Tabitha smiled as she approached the counter of the bar. She reached out and touched David’s hand.

TABITHA: That sounds like a really good idea, David…

DAVID: But you’re leaving.

TABITHA: Yeah. Oliver and Andrew are involved in something and I told them I’d catch up to them when I was done here.

David blinked at what she said. He set down the glasses and folded his arms across his chest.

DAVID: When you were done here?

Tabitha eyes widened.

TABITHA: No, no. I don’t mean it that way. When I said when I’m done here, I didn’t mean…when I’m done here. Understand?

DAVID: I really don’t.

TABITHA: Look, David, what we had just now was really special for me and I will remember it for the rest of my life. And I assure you that I didn’t plan for this to happen. I came here to talk and work things out, that’s all. I didn’t come here to get you in my pants and pretend that everything that happened the past few weeks didn’t.

Tabitha leaned over the counter and kissed David. She pulled away a moment later.

TABITHA: I’m not done here.

David cracked a smile.

DAVID: Ok.

TABITHA: I still have to go though. But I’ll come back. And then we can have that dinner.

DAVID: I’ll be waiting.

The two came together for another kiss. A few minutes later, Tabitha waved to David goodbye and left Bar None.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~CAVE~

XANDER: Sha?! We released Sha?!

ASTA: Who else can that be?

Both Asta and Xander were just below the gaping hole, looking around for the best possible way to get out. Asta then knelt down, laced her fingers together and stuck it out for Xander.

ASTA: Here, I’ll give you a boost.

XANDER: But Sha was never in the talisman. He was released 50 years ago. How could we have released him?

ASTA: Xander! Boost!

Xander placed his right foot in Asta’s hands and Asta boosted him up. Xander grabbed hold of the edge of the hole and pulled himself out of the cave. He got onto his stomach and reached down for Asta.

XANDER: Grab my hand!

Asta jumped up and grasped Xander’s hand. With a grunt, Xander hauled Asta out of the cave. The two of them collapsed on the wet ground of the cemetery, panting.

XANDER: Ok, so let me get this straight. Sha was never released. Or, if he was, he was put back into the talisman. So now, we’ve just released a crazy shape shifter, who can drive people mad with their dreams and loves to torture?

ASTA: Sounds about right.

XANDER: We are so screwed.

Asta got to her feet and extended her hand to Xander. He took it and she yanked him to his feet.

ASTA: We gotta go find him before he does some real damage. Who knows what he has done already.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sha walked the streets of Hades Valley, taking in the sights around him. There were not many people around as it was quite late at night but there still a few milling around. A group of teenagers walked by, laughing and yelling on top of their voices. A couple strolled down the street with their hands around each other. They strode past a police car.

Sha turned his head away from the car and continued with his journey.

VOICE: Sir! Hold it right there!

Sha slowed to a stop. He did not turn around.

VOICE: Turn around with your hands where I can see them.

Sha followed the newcomer’s instructions. When he turned, he saw a middle-aged man, dressed in blue, walking slowly towards him. His right hand was resting on something attached to his belt.

COP: Can I have your name, sir?

SHA: I am Sha.

COP: Alright, Sha, do you know that it’s a felony to be out in public nude?

Sha cocked his head, as if to study the police officer from head to toe.

SHA: Spiders.

COP: (frowned) What?

Sha smiled. There was no trace of malice in it. It was a pure, genuine smile.

SHA: Scream for me.

COP: Wha –

The officer looked down at his hands when he felt something crawling on them. Then he screamed.

COP: Get them off! Get them off.

Spiders, large, hairy, spiders, were crawling all over him. The officer shook his arm vigorously to get them off but it did not work. They kept crawling up his arm and then his torso.

Of course, they were not real spiders. It was all in his mind.

SHA: Screams will be the only thing that you’ll hear as your mind takes over.

With that, Sha turned and walked away from the shrieking cop. His next target was the couple.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Tabitha came out of Bar None, she made a beeline towards town. However, her journey was interrupted when a screaming young woman came barreling towards her. Tabitha reached out and grabbed the girl.

TABITHA: Hey! Calm down! What’s going on?

There was a wild, crazy look in the woman’s green eyes. Tears were streaming down her face and she was sobbing.

WOMAN: Run! Run before the water comes!

TABITHA: Water? What water? What are you talking about?

The woman turned and pointed at the empty street behind her.

WOMAN: Can you see it? It’s coming! The water is coming! It’s going to flood the whole town and everyone will die.

She turned back to Tabitha and grabbed her arms.

WOMAN: I will die! I can’t swim.

Tabitha looked at the woman and then at the silent, empty street. There was no water in sight.

TABITHA: I don’t understand…there’s no water there.

WOMAN: You’re blind! I can hear the water coming. Can’t you hear it?

TABITHA: No, I can’t. Look, I think you should come down and just tell me – calmly – what’s going on.

The woman’s grip on Tabitha tightened.

WOMAN: The water’s coming! The water’s coming!

TABITHA: Did I mention calmly?

With a cry, the woman shoved Tabitha to the ground and ran screaming down the street. Tabitha stared after the woman from the ground.

TABITHA: Try not to run into something! Like someone holding a knife or a pair of scissors.

Tabitha stood up and dusted dirt of her pants and coat. Then something slammed into her and she went down to the ground again. Tabitha glared at the person who ran her down. It was middle-aged cop, who was practically tearing his uniform off his body.

COP: They are everywhere! They are everywhere! Get them off!

TABITHA: Geez, am I in the right town?

She looked down the street and when she was sure that there was no one around, she stood up again.

TABITHA: Anybody else wants a turn at knocking me down?

Tabitha adjusted her coat and continued walking down the street, which led to town.

TABITHA: Good.

############################################
~ELEVATOR~

ANDREW: It’s been half an hour.

PIKE: They’ll be here.

ANDREW: You didn’t tell them who we really are right?

Pike rolled his eyes.

PIKE: Why would I want to do that?

Andrew shrugged.

ANDREW: I don’t know. It would explain why they are not coming to get us. They are probably waiting for the cops to arrive first.

PIKE: No, I didn’t tell them. And we are on the seventh floor; it would take time for them to get here with their equipment.

A noise was heard and it came from the door of the elevator. It was like a scraping noise – like something metallic was scratching against the door of the elevator. Pike and Andrew exchanged glances.

ANDREW: Do you think it’s them or Sha?

Pike did not answer as he stood up and went to the door. He pressed his ears against it.

PIKE: I can’t hear anything.

Pike closed one eye and tried to look through crack in the middle of the two doors. He cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled through the crack.

PIKE: Hello? Who’s there?

There was silence.

Andrew started to panic. He scrambled to his feet and flattened himself against the wall. His eyes were wide with fear.

ANDREW: It’s Sha! He’s coming for me!

PIKE: Shh!

Pike pressed his ear against the crack and listened intently.

VOICE: It’s maintenance personnel.

Pike grinned as he turned to Andrew.

PIKE: You heard that? They are here to get us out.

ANDREW: Sha is a shape shifter. He could be one of them!

PIKE: But we have the talisman. If it is really Sha, we’ll just use the talisman and stuff him back in there.

ANDREW: Do you know how to use it?

PIKE: Do you?

Andrew looked up at the ceiling helplessly.

ANDREW: I’m going to die.

VOICE: Step away from the door!

PIKE: Ok!

Pike stepped back and stood before Andrew.

PIKE: Just relax, Andrew. I’ll make sure Sha doesn’t get to you.

Andrew frowned at Pike.

ANDREW: Didn’t you say you wouldn’t save me?

PIKE: That’s before I realized how much we need you for this.

There was a loud grinding noise and then silence. Then the door started to vibrate for a while before the grinding noise was heard again.

ANDREW: Why can’t he just burst the door open like all demons do?

PIKE: Maybe it’s not Sha.

ANDREW: Maybe he wants you to think that before he rips your throat out and tortures me again.

There was silence once more. A moment later, the doors of the elevator slid open, revealing four people. Two of them were dressed in blue jumpsuits and had tools in their hands while the other two were the security guard on the seventh level and a young police officer.

Pike smiled at them.

PIKE: Thank you so much. I thought we would never get out of here.

ANDREW: Anyone here named Sha?

PIKE: We will be leaving now.

Pike grabbed the front of Andrew’s shirt and pulled him with him as Pike started to leave the elevator.

The police officer came forward, blocking Pike’s and Andrew’s path.

OFFICER: Not so fast, fellows. You’re not going anywhere unless it down to the station.

ANDREW: What?

OFFICER: You are both are under arrest.

[shred]

ACT 2

ANDREW: Under arrest? What do you mean under arrest?

The police officer pushed Pike, face first, against the wall and put his hands behind his back. He took out a pair of handcuffs and snapped it on.

PIKE: Hey!

For Andrew, the security guard just pinned his good arm behind his back and pushed him against the wall.

PIKE: What are you arresting us for?

OFFICER: For burglary.

GUARD: I called up my boss and he said that there was no such thing as the silent alarm.

ANDREW: But…but your boss doesn’t know about the alarms. It’s a safety measure.

OFFICER: I’m sure it is.

The cop leaned forward, close to Andrew’s ear and sneered.

OFFICER: But save your stories for the court.

PIKE: You can’t arrest us when we didn’t…

The guard slipped his hand into one of the pockets of Pike’s jeans and pulled the talisman out.

PIKE: …take anything.

OFFICER: This is enough to put you away for at least five years.

The security guard tugged Andrew away from the wall and started pushing him down the hallway. Pike and the cop followed them shortly. Outside, a squad car was waiting for them.

ANDREW: Look, this is all a misunderstanding. We don’t even know how that thing got into Pike’s pocket. I mean, what is it anyway? A watch?

OFFICER: Just get in the car.

ANDREW: This doesn’t make sense. Of all the things we could steal in there why would we take a watch?

PIKE: Andrew, just give it up. I don’t think they are –

The sound of groaning cut Pike of in mid sentence. The two men whirled around and blinked when they saw the cop and the guard slumped on top of each other, unconscious.

PIKE: Right.

They looked up when they head footsteps approaching them. Tabitha grinned brightly at Pike and Andrew.

TABITHA: Just once I would like to see the two of you save my ass instead of me being your knight in shining armour.

PIKE: Tabby, what are you doing here?

TABITHA: I told you guys I would catch up with you when I’m done and here I am. And my timing couldn’t be any more perfect.

ANDREW: We got arrested for burglary.

Tabitha smirked.

TABITHA: Burglary? And here I thought it was for something else.

PIKE: What did you do to them?

TABITHA: Just a small sleeping spell. It will last for about a couple of hours.

PIKE: Handcuffs?

Tabitha waved a hand at his cuffs.

TABITHA: Release.

The cuffs clattered to the ground.

TABITHA: You’ve got the talisman?

Pike crouched down beside the security guard and reached into his breast pocket. He took out the talisman.

PIKE: Got it.

TABITHA: Let’s go find Asta and Xander. I think Sha is up to his old tricks. On the way here, I bumped into two very scared and very crazy citizens of Hades Valley.

ANDREW: I thought Sha was only after Asta and me? Why go after strangers?

PIKE: Could be his new strategy – harm the innocent so that the two of you could come to him and fall into his trap.

TABITHA: Maybe. Or he could be up to something else altogether. We’ll find Asta and Xander and then head back to the house and figure out how to use the talisman. We need to get Sha in that thing before he does anymore damage.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Asta and Xander were hurrying down the street, which led out of the cemetery, with their eyes peeled for any sign of Sha.

XANDER: Well, on the bright side, we now know that Sha isn’t the one after you and Andrew and that the talisman we found was the real deal.

ASTA: That’s comforting to know.

XANDER: How did we release him anyway?

Xander pointed an accusing finger at the Slayer.

XANDER: Did you secretly chant something?

Asta raised an eyebrow at Xander.

ASTA: Do you really think I have the capability to do that?

XANDER: Don’t underestimate the power of mind control, Asta. It’s more powerful than you think.

ASTA: So you’re saying that I willed for him to appear?

XANDER: Who knows? We don’t exactly know how this thing works anyway.

He pulled out the talisman from his pocket and looked over it. She snatched it from Xander’s hand and stopped walking. Asta looked intently at the talisman. There was dried blood on it.

ASTA: It’s your blood.

XANDER: What?

ASTA: You touched your shoulder and then touched the talisman. It must be your blood that triggered Sha’s release.

XANDER: Shouldn’t these kinds of things need special blood. Like blood of the Slayer or a demon or a pig?

ASTA: Blood is blood, Xander. When you come down to it, it serves the same purpose. It gives life.

Xander raised his eyebrows in amazement.

XANDER: Well, aren’t you insightful.

Asta handed the talisman back to Xander. She flashed him a smile.

ASTA: It’s just common sense.

They started walking again.

ASTA: How are we going to find him? He’s a shape shifter. He can be anyone. (to Xander) He can be you!

Xander shot her a look.

XANDER: Or you!

ASTA: Sha only takes the form of men, Xander. So unless I have a –

Xander raised a finger, cutting her off.

XANDER: I get it. You don’t have to spell it out for me.

Asta chuckled, shaking her head.

ASTA: You girl.

XANDER: I’m not a –

A sharp scream shattered the night, pulling Asta’s and Xander’s attention away from their conversation. They snapped their eyes down the street.

ASTA: It came from over there.

The two of them broke into a run.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As the man screamed in terror, Sha grabbed the man by the collar of his shirt with his right hand and slammed his left hand against the man’s chest. Sha’s forehead furrowed in concentration. Slowly and surely, Sha’s naked skin began to mold and his bones began to shift as he started to change, started to take form of the man he was holding onto.

Clothes, exactly the same as the one the screaming man was wearing, began to cover his flesh. A minute later, Sha was the mirror image of the man he had his hands on.

MAN: You…you’re me!

Sha grabbed the man’s head roughly and twisted it clean off.

SHA: I can be anyone I want to be. I can be in your mind, your dreams, your body.

ASTA: Hey!

Sha shifted his eyes to his right and saw Asta standing in a fighting stance.

SHA: I can be you too.

ASTA: Well, I’m not a man so you can’t.

SHA: No, not physically. But if I can be your dreams, your mind, doesn’t that make me you?

ASTA: I’m more than dreams.

Sha cocked his head, his eyes boring into Asta’s.

SHA: You…you’re more than a Slayer.

Asta blinked at his words.

ASTA: What?

SHA: I would like to hear you scream.

ASTA: You wish.

Asta’s gaze flickered to the dead body briefly before going back to Sha.

ASTA: You are going to pay for that, Sha.

SHA: You only speak my name when I make you bleed.

ASTA: Not gonna happen.

Asta leaped at Sha but the shape shifter easily dodged her by taking a step to his right. Asta hit the ground and rolled. Sha heard a noise behind him and turned around. This time he was not quick enough when Xander came flying at him. The two went to the ground.

Xander threw a couple of punches before producing the talisman and shoving it to Sha’s face. The shape shifter looked at the object in awe.

SHA: The talisman!

XANDER: That’s right. Now get back in there, you demon!

Nothing happened. Sha looked at Xander quizzically.

XANDER: I command you! Get in there!

Sha roared before lashing out at Xander. He went tumbling back, dropping the talisman on the way. Before Sha could grab it, Asta kicked the talisman away and then aimed a kick at Sha’s head. Once again, the demon was too quick. Sha grabbed Asta’s foot and twisted. In order to prevent her foot from breaking, Asta twisted her whole body and yanked her foot free. When Asta stood up, Sha was already on his feet. He turned and shot out his arm, grabbing Xander by his neck.

SHA: Sha sees everything.

He tossed Xander against a window of a shop like he did not weigh a thing. The glass shattered upon impact as Xander went through the window.

ASTA: Xander!

Sha faced Asta and came towards her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TABITHA: Oliver, stop the car!

PIKE: What? Why?

TABITHA: Just do it! I think I saw something.

Pike slammed his foot against the brake and the car came to a screeching halt.

ANDREW: What’s going on?

TABITHA: (to Pike) Go back!

Pike put the car in reverse and stepped on the accelerator. The car shot back.

TABITHA: Stop here!

The car stopped suddenly.

ANDREW: What are you doing?

PIKE: What did you see?

Tabitha pointed out her window.

TABITHA: It’s Asta.

PIKE: Who’s the dude?

ANDREW: It’s Xander.

Pike shook his head. He leaned over and pointed at the person he was talking about.

PIKE: No, not Xander. I’m talking about the dude that’s holding Xander…and is now throwing him through a glass window.

TABITHA: Oh shit!

The three of them hurriedly climbed out of the car and raced towards Asta and the rest.

PIKE: Andrew, get Xander! Tabitha, come with me!

Tabitha and Andrew split ways, with Andrew heading towards the shop that Xander crashed through. Stepping over glass and broken wood, Andrew carefully made his way towards the still Xander.

ANDREW: Xander. Xander!

He crouched down beside the other man. Xander had a large cut across his left cheek, other than that he did not look like he was injured badly.

ANDREW: Come on, Xander. Wake up!

Andrew looked out of the window to see how the others were doing.

Tabitha and Pike were picking themselves off the floor.

TABITHA: He’s strong. Like very. Why didn’t the books say that he was this strong?

PIKE: No, time to think about that, Tabby.

Pike ducked a punch and planted a roundhouse kick at Sha’s chest. Sha stumbled back a few steps. Then Tabitha came in. She stood before Sha and raised her hands.

TABITHA: Estar –

Sha knocked her off her feet and Tabitha went flying back. She crashed into Pike.

Asta leapt onto the back of the demon and wrapped her arm around Sha’s neck. She started to strangle him.

ASTA: Tabitha! Torch him!

Tabitha untangled herself from her brother and sat up. She turned towards Asta and the shape shifter. Pike turned his eyes to his sister.

PIKE: Do it!

TABITHA: I can’t. If I do, Asta will burn with him.

PIKE: Wait till she’s off.

TABITHA: What?

Pike was not listening. He was up on his feet and running towards Sha and Asta. He slammed into the demon and tackled the two of them to the ground. Pike looked up from where he was and saw that Asta was off Sha.

PIKE: Tabby, now!

Tabitha raised her hands towards the shape shifter and concentrated.

TABITHA: Estar Ardiendo!

A round fireball formed between Tabitha’s hands and then shot towards Sha. The fireball hit Sha squarely in the chest and engulfed him.

SHA: Earth, wind, water and fire. Nothing will stop me.

As soon as he uttered those words, the fire, which swallowed up his whole body, went out in a wink of an eye.

TABITHA: The books didn’t mention that either!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Xander groaned when he came to. With the help of Andrew, he sat up, rubbing the back of his neck.

XANDER: What happened?

ANDREW: You smashed through a window. But I think you’re ok. Do you feel ok?

XANDER: I think so.

He touched the wound on his cheek and winced.

XANDER: Except that doesn’t feel ok.

ANDREW: It doesn’t look that bad. There’s no glass in it. It’s basically a scratch.

XANDER: (scowled) I’m sure. Which is why it hurts like hell?

Andrew looked sheepish.

ANDREW: Sorry. I’m not good with wounds.

XANDER: Never mind that. How’s everyone doing?

ANDREW: Not good. Tabitha tried to burn him up but he just shrugged it off. This guy is strong – and now fireproof.

Xander looked around the shop that he and Andrew was in. He noticed that he was in a sporting store.

XANDER: We need a plan and fast.

Xander got to his feet and went to the cashier’s counter. In the glass case were hunting knives.

XANDER: Bingo.

ANDREW: If he can’t be killed by fire, what makes you think he can be killed by knives?

XANDER: We are not going to kill him. We are going to put him back into that talisman and to do so, we need blood.

ANDREW: His blood?

XANDER: No, just mine.

Xander looked around the shop before spotting a racket hanging on a shelf a few feet away from him. He went to it, grabbed it and came back to the counter.

XANDER: Stand back.

Andrew did what he was told. Xander raised the racket and slammed it into the glass case. The glass cover shattered upon impact and caved it. Xander tossed the racket away and reached into the case. He took one of the knives.

ANDREW: The talisman is with Pike.

XANDER: Can’t use that – it’s fake. The one Asta and I found isn’t.

ANDREW: How do you know?

Xander turned to Andrew, looking grim.

XANDER: Cause we released him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SHA: Dreams, bad dreams, hallucinations, visions, incubus.

Sha gave Asta another smile and this time there was malice in it. Sha took hold of Asta by the front of her blouse. He hauled her up, her feet inches off the ground.

SHA: Death and blood. These will be the things you’ll see.

Asta struggled violently against Sha’s grip but to no avail. He was too strong for her. She started to claw at his hands. Sha gave her a genuine smile, which took Asta by surprise.

SHA: Scream for me.

Asta head butted the demon and felt the grip on her loosen. She took that moment to wrench herself free. She then dropped to the ground and swept her legs at Sha. Her legs took Sha’s legs out from under him and he went to the ground. As Asta stood up, Sha was doing the same. She ran towards the shape shifter.

Sha easily caught her. He wrapped his free hand around her neck. Asta’s eyes grew large.

SHA: Scream for me.

In one fluid motion, Sha snapped Asta’s neck.

[shred]

ACT 3

Asta screamed, her hand flying to her neck. Sha dropped the Slayer to the ground and looked around him. Tabitha and Pike were on the floor, looking up at him in fright.

SHA: My time of reign is now.

With that, Sha turned around and walked away. Pike quickly got to his feet to go after Sha but Tabitha got hold of his shirt and stopped him.

TABITHA: No, don’t. He’s too strong. You can’t take him alone.

PIKE: But we can’t let him go.

TABITHA: We have to. We’ll regroup, find his weakness and get him. But for now, we’ll let him go.

Pike pursed his lips in a thin line. He looked at the disappearing figure of Sha and sighed.

PIKE: Ok, but we have to be quick.

At that moment, Xander and Andrew came running out of the sporting store. Both of them had hunting knives in their hands.

XANDER: Where is he?

TABITHA: He’s gone.

PIKE: You were thinking of taking him out with knives?

XANDER: Something like that.

Xander’s eye caught sight of Asta huddled on the floor, rocking herself gently.

XANDER: Asta?

He knelt down beside her and touched her arm. Asta flinched away.

XANDER: Asta, are you ok?

ASTA: I died, he killed me. He snapped my neck…and I died.

Xander looked over at Tabitha, Pike and Andrew, who stared back at him, confused.

XANDER: Did Sha do anything to her?

TABITHA: I don’t think so. He just held her and then he dropped her and walked away.

Xander returned his attention back to the shaking Slayer.

XANDER: Asta, what happened? What did Sha do?

Asta’s eyes widened in fear.

ASTA: He killed me, Xander.

XANDER: No, he didn’t. You’re still alive. You are talking to me, aren’t you?

Asta frowned. Her hand touched his throat.

ASTA: He…snapped my neck.

XANDER: He didn’t. It was all a –

ANDREW: A dream!

Xander turned to Andrew.

XANDER: What?

ANDREW: Sha must have infected her. Sha did kill her but all she saw was her dream…or nightmare in this case since it had a nightmarish ending.

PIKE: What are we going to do now?

TABITHA: We’ll go back and do more research. There are so many things about Sha that we don’t know.

Xander slipped his hands around Asta and helped her to her feet.

TABITHA: We’ll go back, regroup and come up with a plan that doesn’t get anyone else killed.

############################################
~HOUSE~
~later~

Xander entered the kitchen where Tabitha, Pike and Andrew were. Tabitha and Andrew were seated at the dining table, going through books while Pike was pacing the length of the kitchen restlessly.

Tabitha looked up as Xander came in and sat across from her.

TABITHA: How is she?

XANDER: I don’t know. She seems a bit better but she isn’t speaking so I’m not sure how she’s doing. The dream of her getting killed shook her up real bad.

TABITHA: It’s every Slayers worst nightmare, I guess, to get killed in the line of duty. And seeing how Asta is not as confident as – let’s say Buffy – I can’t imagine how this is affecting her.

XANDER: Just hope she doesn’t do anything bad like unleashing a demon on us to get us all killed.

Tabitha raised an eyebrow skeptically.

XANDER: It has happened before.

PIKE: Guys! Can we concentrate on finding out about Sha instead of wondering whether Asta will kill us or not?

Tabitha scowled at her brother.

TABITHA: You could help us, you know?

PIKE: I can’t sit still in one place and do research, knowing that Sha is still out there killing and making people go nuts.

TABITHA: Whoa. Wait a minute I just realized something. If Asta was already infected by Sha, how did she get infected again? Did she get re-infected or something?

XANDER: No, she didn’t get re-infected. She wasn’t infected by Sha in the first place. Sha isn’t responsible for Andrew’s kidnapping and Asta’s visions and dreams.

PIKE: He’s not?

Xander looked embarrassed.

XANDRE: Did I not mention that?

Andrew raised his good hand, looking sheepish.

ANDREW: You did to me but I didn’t understand.

XANDER: Asta and I found the real talisman in the cemetery. When my blood touched it, we released him.

PIKE: Wasn’t Sha released already fifty years ago?

XANDER: Maybe. I don’t know how he got back in the talisman but I’m pretty sure that he has been in that talisman for a long time so he can’t be responsible for the things that we think he’s responsible for.

TABITHA: He could have been released fifty years ago but was put back in.

ANDREW: Or the books were wrong and he wasn’t released at all.

XANDER: Well, whatever it is. I’m pretty sure Sha isn’t responsible for Andrew’s little torture session and Asta visions and dreams.

TABITHA: (to Xander) So you released Sha?

XANDER: Yeah but…but…it was totally accidental!

TABITHA: And it was because of your blood?

XANDER: Yes. So I’m thinking the only way to put Sha back into the talisman is through blood – maybe mine.

PIKE: Ok, so we need to find a way to hold him long enough so that you can bleed on him. (sarcastically) Sounds simple enough.

ANDREW: You saw firsthand how he whipped us around. How do you think we would be able to hold him long enough? Plus we have one man down – we need Asta in this kind of situations.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Asta was in the cemetery fighting a very large vampire. The creature looked like he used to be in a motorcycle gang when he was alive.

She was going through the motions. A punch here, a kick there and another punch there. She looked as if she had everything under control. Then the vampire got smarter, faster. He caught her wrist, twisted it and shoved her to the ground. Her stake clattered to the ground from her hand. The burly vampire picked it up and towered over her.

He plunged the stake into Asta’s heart.

ASTA: NO!

VOICE: Asta?

Asta spun round and lashed out blindly at the newcomer. Her fist caught Pike in the jaw and he flipped to the ground. Asta took a moment to stare at Pike, finally realizing that he was no vampire or anyone evil.

ASTA: Pike?

Pike slowly stood up, rubbing his jaw.

PIKE: Ow.

ASTA: I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was you. I thought you were someone else.

PIKE: Let me guess – someone in the dream you just had?

Asta closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose.

ASTA: What do you want?

PIKE: I thought maybe we could go out and patrol – maybe look for Sha? The rest are downstairs doing some research on him and they suggested that we go look for him.

Asta gaped at him.

ASTA: What? No!

Pike looked taken aback.

PIKE: No?

ASTA: No! He’ll kill you – he’ll kill me!

PIKE: We are just going to see where he is and what he’s up to, that’s all. We’ll wait for the rest to come up with a plan to take him down for good but for now, we’ll just track him down and make sure he doesn’t do any more damage.

ASTA: No, no…he’ll kill us all. I know it.

She looked around the room.

ASTA: I have to go.

PIKE: Yes…to go look for Sha.

ASTA: No…no, to find a cure.

PIKE: Yes, by looking for Sha.

Asta shifted her gaze to him.

ASTA: I have to go.

PIKE: I’ll come with you.

Asta walked past Pike and made her way towards the door of her room. Pike took hold of her hand as she walked past.

PIKE: Asta…

ASTA: Get away from me!

With a flick of her hand, she tossed Pike to the other side of the room. Pike hit the wall before falling to the floor on his hands and knees.

PIKE: Asta!

Without a moment’s hesitation, Pike ran after the Slayer.

PIKE: Asta! Wait!

Xander and Tabitha came out of the kitchen with puzzled expression on their faces.

TABITHA: What’s going on?

Pike hurried down the stairs.

PIKE: Where’s Asta?

XANDER: I thought she was upstairs with you?

PIKE: She was but she left. She said she was going to find a cure.

TABITHA: A cure to what?

PIKE: To what’s happening to her maybe. I don’t know. She was pretty out of it. I couldn’t understand most of the things she was saying.

Andrew then came up behind Tabitha and Xander. He looked at the three of them

ANDREW: What’s going on?

XANDER: Asta left. Did you see her leave?

ANDREW: I heard the front door close. I assumed it was Pike and Asta going out. Why did she leave?

TABITHA: She’s looking for a cure for her nightmares.

ANDREW: There’s a cure?

Xander turned his eye to Tabitha.

XANDER: Is there?

TABITHA: I don’t think there is. I’m thinking, once you kill Sha or put him in back into the talisman, the nightmares stop.

ANDREW: She’s going after Sha.

PIKE: I don’t think so. When we were upstairs, she didn’t believe that she could beat him. She didn’t want to go find him when I suggested it because she was so sure he’ll kill her.

XANDER: Then where else can she get a cure?

TABITHA: Who knows? It’s hard to know what’s going through her mind right now.

PIKE: I’ll go find her. You guys stay here and continue find a way to defeat Sha.

XANDER: I’ll come with you.

PIKE: No, stay. If they need muscle, they can count on you. I won’t be long.

Pike jogged up to the front door, yanked it open and left the house a second later.

############################################

Asta ran as fast as she could. And as she ran, her eyes roamed the streets she was in, searching.

ASTA: Come on, where are you?

Asta flew through the air and crashed into a tombstone, the stone crumpling under her weight. She lay on the ground to catch her breath. At that time, a tall, lanky vampire came to her, towering over her.

VAMP: I didn’t know it was going to be this easy, little girl. I thought you were the Slayer. Aren’t you supposed to be stronger than this?

Asta kicked out, catching the vampire in his knee. The vampire roared in pain as he grabbed his knee.

VAMP: Bitch!

Asta climbed to her feet and gave a roundhouse kick towards the vampire. The creature caught her foot in midair and pushed it away. He reached out, grasped Asta’s jacket and pulled her close.

Fear was clearly evident in Asta’s eyes. She gulped.

VAMP: Let’s see how you taste, little girl.

The vampire bared its teeth before lowering his head towards the Slayer’s neck. Asta gasped as the vampire’s teeth pieced through her skin. She could feel the blood gushing out of the artery.

A few minutes later, the vampire dropped Asta’s dead body to the ground.

Asta stumbled and almost fell to the gravel but she managed not to lose her balance and she continued running.

ASTA: Where are you?

Using her Slayer powers to her advantage, she poured on more speed on her pace. She ran past Bar None. The cemeteries. Finally, she slowed to a stop when she came to the monastery.

Breathing heavily, she looked around.

ASTA: Come on, come on. Show yourself.

Someone stepped out of the shadows and approached her.

ASHLEY: Looking for me?

Asta jumped, startled, at Ashley’s sudden appearance.

ASTA: Yes. How did you know I was looking for you?

ASHLEY: Something told me that you were.

He tapped the side of his forehead and winked.

ASHLEY: Sixth sense.

He folded his arms and stepped closer to her.

ASHLEY: Why are you looking for me? I thought you made it clear you don’t want us to be friends.

ASTA: I know. But I need your help.

Ashley grinned.

ASHLEY: Now, this is interesting…

ASTA: But this doesn’t mean we are still friends. I…I need your help.

ASHLEY: My help?

ASTA: Yes. You said you know about magick, spells…

ASHLEY: I do.

ASTA: So, I’m sure you can help me.

ASHLEY: What about your friends? Can’t they help?

ASTA: No. Because I don’t think they are as powerful as you.

Ashley’s smile grew bigger.

ASHLEY: You’re a smart girl, Asta.

Asta looked desperate as she ran her hand through her hair.

ASTA: So can you help me or not?

ASHLEY: It depends on what you want?

ASTA: There’s this demon called Sha. He infected me.

ASHLEY: What do you mean?

ASTA: He’s this demon who makes people experience nightmares and drives them crazy with it. Now, I’m having the nightmares. I don’t know how to get rid of it. It’s killing me, Ashley.

Ashley cocked his head.

ASHLEY: Literally? Or just in your dreams?

Asta blinked.

ASTA: What?

ASHLEY: What are the nightmares you’re seeing, Asta?

ASTA: Is it important?

ASHLEY: If you want me to help…

Asta averted her gaze. She took in a deep breath.

SHA: Scream for me.

Sha snapped Asta’s neck.

The vampire plunged the stake into Asta’s heart.

The vampire bared its teeth before lowering his head towards the Slayer’s neck.

ASTA: My death. I keep seeing the many ways I can die.

Ashley stroked his chin thoughtfully.

ASHLEY: I see.

ASTA: So can you help me?

ASHLEY: I need to get some things first. I don’t really know –

Asta grabbed his hand, cutting him off.

ASTA: Ashley! Will you help me or not?

Ashley smiled.

ASHLEY: Of course. That’s what I’m here for – to help you.

[shred]

ACT 4

~HOUSE~
~kitchen~

ANDREW: Guys, look at this.

Tabitha lifted her eyes from the book she was reading and peered over at Andrew.

TABITHA: What is it?

Andrew picked up his book and turned it around so that the page he was reading was facing Tabitha and Xander.

ANDREW: It tells us here that Sha was indeed released fifty years ago but was later put back into the talisman about a year later.

XANDER: Did the book mention how it was done?

ANDREW: A little.

Andrew set the book down.

ANDREW: Xander was right in saying that blood is involved in putting Sha back. It’s Sha’s blood and the blood of the person who released Sha in the first place has to be used.

XANDER: So it is my blood.

ANDREW: Yes.

TABITHA: Then what?

ANDREW: Well, the book does say that the talisman is Sha’s weakness. In order to beat him, he has to come into contact with it.

XANDER: And the nightmares?

ANDREW: Should be gone once Sha’s in the talisman.

TABITHA: Is there a way to destroy the talisman so that there’s no possibility that Sha could be released ever again?

Andrew nodded and handed her the book. Tabitha took it and scanned the text he pointed to.

TABITHA: That’s it?

ANDREW: Pretty much.

TABITHA: Why didn’t the people who put Sha back into the talisman do this?

ANDREW: Don’t know. Maybe they thought that Sha would never be released again.

Tabitha threw a smirk at Xander.

TABITHA: Guess they didn’t count on Xander.

############################################
~MONASTERY~

Astwihad entered the monastery and made a beeline towards where Ahriman was seated. He went up to the railing in front of the massive being and waved his hand at it. Bottles of all shapes and sizes appeared on the railing.

Astwihad took one of the bottles and started studying them.

ASTWIHAD: Have you heard of a demon named Sha?

AHRIMAN: A shape shifter. Able to make someone’s nightmare became so vivid, they think those nightmares have come true – it drives people crazy. And he loves to torture as well. (pause) Why?

ASTWIHAD: Asta ran into him and now he has infected her.

Astwihad looked at Ahriman wistfully.

ASTWIHAD: She’s having nightmares of her death.

AHRIMAN: How touching.

Astwihad went back to his bottles. He picked up a small, circular one, popped the cap and took a whiff. He frowned.

ASTWIHAD: Do you think this would work?

AHRIMAN: On what?

ASTWIHAD: On Asta – to get rid of her nightmares.

Ahriman leaned forward in his seat, his red eyes dimming.

AHRIMAN: And why would you want to do that? We have no business with Sha and his business.

ASTWIHAD: No…but Asta came to me for help. This is the perfect opportunity to build her trust for Ashley. And from what we have seen, she’s still a vulnerable teenager. She needs someone who she can count on and I want that someone to be Ashley.

AHRIMAN: As do I, Astwihad. But do you think it’s wise? We can’t have Sha on our tails. We can’t afford any distractions.

Astwihad waved a hand at Ahriman, brushing off Ahriman’s concern.

ASTWIHAD: Don’t worry about Sha. I’ll take care of him if Asta and her friends can’t. He’s just a shape shifter, a measly demon. He’s beneath me.

He brought up the small, circular bottle before him. He gave a smile.

ASTWIHAD: Now, tell me, Ahriman, would this work?

############################################

Sha had changed his form into another male. Now, he looked like a punk rocker, with coloured Mohawk hair, dressed in ripped, black tank top and jeans. Pike only recognized him when the rocker grabbed hold of a man dressed in a business suit, whispered something in the terrified man’s ear and let him go.

The man then started running down the street yelling on top of his voice that the world was ending because his stock prices went down. The man then started hitting a teenager with his briefcase when the teenager called him a psycho.

Pike immediately stepped in, yanked the briefcase away and knocked the man out. The teenager wasted no time in fleeing the scene.

Pike dropped the case to the ground and faced Sha, who was looking at him intently.

PIKE: Erm…you’re not trying to make me see my nightmares are you?

SHA: Your sister.

PIKE: What about her?

SHA: That’s your incubus.

PIKE: Incubus? Doesn’t that mean a male demon having sex with women?

Sha did not reply. He turned around and started walking down the street.

PIKE: Hey! I’m not done with you!

Pike started to follow the shape shifter but kept at a safe distant. His cell phone rang. Pike answered it after the first ring.

PIKE: Yeah?

TABITHA: Hey, it’s Tabby. Where are you?

Pike took a quick look around at his surroundings.

PIKE: Somewhere between Millwall and Crawford.

TABITHA: Have you found Asta?

PIKE: No but I did find Sha and guess what he is now.

TABITHA: Ronald McDonald?

PIKE: Not quite but he does have the same colour hair. He’s a punk rocker. It’s a funny sight.

TABITHA: I bet. Listen, follow him and make sure he doesn’t do any damage. The rest of us will meet you in about fifteen minute’s time.

PIKE: You’ve got a plan? Tell me you’ve got a plan.

TABITHA: We’ve got a plan.

PIKE: You’re not saying that to make me feel better are you?

TABITHA: Nope, it’s the real deal. Just keep tabs on him. I’ll call you to know where you are once we are ready to move.

PIKE: Ok. But don’t take too long. I don’t know how long I can follow him before he decides I’ve become a nuisance and rips my throat out – or worse, tortures me.

TABITHA: We won’t take long – we are almost done.

PIKE: What about Asta?

TABITHA: We are going to let her go for a moment. We’ll deal with Sha first.

PIKE: You think it’s wise.

TABITHA: We don’t exactly have a choice, Oliver.

PIKE: Right. I’m sure she can take care of herself.

TABITHA: Yeah. And she said that she’s going to find a cure so I’m sure she’s in safe hands.

############################################
~PARK~

Asta was seated on one of the park benches, waiting impatiently. She kept fiddling with a loose thread on her coat as she glanced around the park.

Then she head footsteps coming up behind her. Asta stood up and whirled around.

ASTA: You’re here.

ASHLEY: You’re early.

ASTA: I’m desperate.

Ashley chuckled. He slipped his hands into the pocket of his black duster and produced a small, circular bottle.

ASTA: Is that the cure?

ASHLEY: The one and only.

ASTA: Good. Cure me already.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PIKE: I’m nearing the monastery now. I think Sha’s heading towards the Hellmouth.

TABITHA: No surprise there. Keep him distracted. We’ll be there in ten minutes.

PIKE: Hurry.

Pike hung up his cellphone and stuffed it into his pocket. He picked up his pace.

PIKE: Hey! Sha! We need to talk.

Sha, who still had the appearance of a punk rocker, looked over his shoulder and scowled slightly. The shape shifter faced him.

SHA: My reign is now. Do not disturb me or you’ll pay.

PIKE: But I want to talk – man to man.

SHA: I’m no man.

PIKE: No, you look like an American Idol reject. Look, what you’re doing is wrong. You need to stop.

Pike shook his head, not believing what he just said.

PIKE: Man, I sound so lame.

Sha smiled before turning around and continuing his way towards the monastery. Pike sighed and ran after him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ashley offered the container to Asta but pulled it away before she could touch it.

ASHLEY: But on one condition.

ASTA: What?

ASHLEY: You have to agree that we can be friends and that you’ll allow me to help you become a better Slayer.

ASTA: That’s two conditions.

ASHLEY: No, just one. It’s a two parter kind. One doesn’t go with the other. What do you say?

Asta chewed her lip, her brow furrowing thoughtfully.

ASTA: Deal.

Ashley smiled. He touched a finger to the opening of the container and tipped it forward so that the liquid inside touched his finger. He removed his finger and brought it near Asta’s mouth.

ASHLEY: Say ‘ah’.

Asta opened her mouth and Ashley touched her finger to her tongue.

ASHLEY: You should be cured now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pike flew back and skidded across the asphalt. He groaned as he slowly picked himself up.

PIKE: God, I hate this.

He looked up and rolled out of the way just in time when he saw Sha’s foot sailing towards his head.

PIKE: Where are you Tabby?

Pike got to his feet and gave a punch across Sha’s jaw. The demon’s head snapped back upon impact but other that that, it did not seem to faze him. Pike gave another punch and Sha took it without much of a fight.

Then Sha reached out and grabbed Pike by the throat. Sha sneered.

SHA: My reign is now.

TABITHA: Oliver!

PIKE: It’s about time.

Sha turned to his right and growled when he saw Tabitha, Xander and Andrew running towards him. He dropped Pike to the ground and turned towards them.

XANDER: Pike! Catch!

Pike had a second to react when he saw the one-eyed man tossing him a weapon.

XANDER: Make him bleed!

Pike caught the knife out of the air. He recognized it as one of the hunting knives that Xander and Andrew took from the sporting store from earlier. Pike lifted his eyes to see where Sha was. The demon still had his back towards Pike. He was walking slowly towards his sister and the rest.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that Tabitha, Xander and Andrew started to spread out. They formed a rough circle around Sha. Xander was directly in front of Sha while Tabitha and Andrew were on his either side. Pike completed the circle with him standing behind.

Xander stepped up. He had something in his hands.

XANDER: Sha, I got something for you. Here – catch!

Xander threw the object in his hand to Sha. The shape shifter unwittingly caught it. He dropped his gaze to the object. It was the talisman.

TABITHA: Pike, do it!

Pike went up to Sha and grabbed Sha’s shoulder and made the demon face him. Sha looked at Pike, confused. Pike smiled pleasantly before slashing the hunting knife across Sha’s chest. To Pike’s disbelieving eyes, Sha began to bleed.

PIKE: He’s bleeding!

As if on cue, Andrew ran towards Sha and used his good hand to knock him down. Yanking the talisman out of his hands, Andrew slapped it onto the wound. Sha did not even struggle through all of this. He looked dazed and confused.

ANDREW: Xander!

Less than a minute later, Xander was towering over Sha. He took the hunting knife from Pike and used it to slit his palm. His flesh tore open and blood began to dribble out. Xander crouched down and pressed his bleeding palm on top of the object.

Sha’s eyes widened in pain.

XANDER: That’s right buddy. Your time to get stuffed back in is now.

The talisman started to glow. Andrew took hold of Xander’s arm and started to drag him anyway.

ANDREW: I think it’s better if we step back.

Xander and Pike did what Andrew asked them to do. They joined Tabitha, who was a few feet away, watching.

A bright beam of light shot out of the talisman. Sha’s mouth dropped open in a silent scream. A minute later, the shape shifter vanished. The talisman clattered to the ground.

PIKE: Wow. That was…easy.

TABITHA: It’s the talisman. It makes Sha weak.

XANDER: Yeah but I didn’t know it would reduce him into a silent weakling.

ANDREW: Guess we under estimated the talisman’s power.

TABITHA: And now to destroy Sha and the talisman forever.

She walked up to the talisman, lifted her foot and stomped on the object, breaking it into pieces.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~PARK~

ASTA: I’m cured?

ASHLEY: You should be. If it doesn’t work, then I can’t help you.

ASTA: How will I know whether it has worked?

ASHLEY: You just have to wait and see.

Asta smiled gratefully at Ashley.

ASTA: Thank you.

ASHLEY: Don’t thank me yet.

ASTA: Still. You helped me out even though I clearly told you I didn’t need your help. So thank you.

ASHLEY: (smiled) Told you that you could trust me.

ASTA: Well, I do now.

With one last smile, Asta walked past Ashley and made her way home. Ashley turned and watched her go. A smile slowly crept across his face.

ASHLEY: That was much easier than I thought.

############################################
~HOUSE~
~later~

Asta opened the front door of the house and was greeted by Xander and Andrew. Xander had his arms across his chest while Andrew had his arm on his hip. They both did not look happy.

XANDER: Well, looks who is back.

ASTA: Hey guys.

ANDREW: We were worried sick about you!

ASTA: I’m sorry. I just needed some air.

XANDER: Did you find what you were looking for?

ASTA: Yeah.

Xander dropped his hands to his side and softened his expression.

XANDER: We were worried about you.

ASTA: And again, I’m sorry. But I’m fine now.

ANDREW: Good.

ASTA: What happened to Sha?

XANDER: He won’t be showing his face around here anymore.

ASTA: Great! I knew you guys could do it.

Asta went up to the two men and pecked them on their cheeks.

ASTA: Thank you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~BASEMENT~

Andrew was seated on his bed, his cellphone against his ear. He was slowly unwrapping the bandage on his injured arm.

GILES: I need you to go L.A. There’s a Slayer I need you to pick up.

ANDREW: But I have my own Slayer.

GILES: I know. But I need you to get this Slayer and bring her back to England.

ANDREW: Why me?

GILES: You’re the best person for this job – Buffy’s words. It’s a simple responsibility. Just go to L.A, get the Slayer and come back to Cleveland. There will be a plane in Cleveland to pick her up. There are some people who badly want this girl. Bringing her to Cleveland will put them off your tracks. Do you understand?

ANDREW: Yes, I do.

GILES: Good. I’ll send some backup in case something goes wrong but I doubt it will. (pause) I trust you’re able to do this?

ANDREW: I won’t let you down.

GILES: Yes, please try not to. I’ll keep in touch.

Giles hang up and a moment later Andrew did the same. He grinned.

ANDREW: Cool, I’m going to L.A.


CUT TO BLACK

END CREDITS

Special Guest Star
Anthony Steward Head as Rupert Giles

Written by
Irene Issac

Story Editor
Beck Schwarz

Special Thanks To
Everyone and anyone who helped in making this episode a success

A BECK TO SHREDS production. © 2007 Irene Issac

[shred]

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