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illustrationillustrationWitch's Faith
Episode 2 – Uncaged

Beginning of story ~ List of all 32 episodes

 

For just a moment, Faith did not recognize the redhead on the other side of the glass. The girl's hair was different, and she was out of place here. And then suddenly Faith was back in Sunnydale, hurting and being hurt. It seemed like yesterday. Faith's world was so different now, so surreal, that it had never occurred to her that she might get a visitor from those times. Buffy haunted the dark Slayer's dreams, of course. They had hurt each other so badly, and Faith would love the chance to hurt her again. And she thought of Angel from time to time. But Faith could not remember the last time she had given the slightest though to... Willow Rosenberg. Yes, that was her last name, wasn't it?

"Red!" Faith let her surprise show in her voice, and mentally kicked herself. Buffy's little spy would take back a report of Faith's weakness.

"Faith... you look good. How are you doing?" Willow's smile seemed sincere as she spoke into the prison phone.

Faith concealed her surprise now. "I'm fine." A lie. "You look good, too–almost didn't recognize you!" The truth. The subtle insult? Intentional.

Willow had a lot of bad feelings about Faith–most of them well deserved–and she needed to know what Faith was really like now. She'd nearly been murdered by Faith! One of a million evil deeds the dark Slayer had committed. But then she had turned herself in to the police. Repented? Perhaps. And Willow had the power to watch out for herself now. But she wasn't kidding herself: Faith was dangerous. Maybe too dangerous for Willow to handle? "How long do you have in here?"

"Life," said Faith, watching Willow's reaction. Willow's face showed concern, of all things. "Or I could have been out two months ago. It seems to be out of my control. I've been a good girl, stayed out of trouble–or at least, I haven't been caught–but I can't even get a parole hearing. Rules are being bent–against me. The Watchers' Council has agents here, keeping an eye on me, and keeping me where they want me." Willow raised her eyebrows. "You think I'm paranoid? I can always spot them. But the minute I do, they're replaced by someone new. Sergeant Thomas on the evening shift–he's with the Council. And someone in the cafeteria. I don't know who yet. So... how long do I have? Another week, another year.... forever maybe." Faith's voice was bitter. Willow didn't know that the bitterness was directed at Faith herself. Repentance? Paying for one's crimes? Meaningless. If you're going to be sorry later, don't do it in the first place! And if you do it, never look back. But Faith had looked back. She had been weak. She had felt remorse. And she was now paying the price of betraying herself.

Willow was silent for a while. "What's it like? Prison?"

"Pretty much the same as anyplace else. Nobody can be trusted, and anything you want you gotta get for yourself. Don't get out slaying much, though," Faith added wryly.

"Would you?"

"What?"

"Would you be a Slayer again if you could?"

"It's all I think about. I train every day." Not strictly true–Faith's simple dreams also included power and comfort for herself. But yes, slaying was her reason for living. Not that anyone cared, with Buffy around. Everyone knew Faith was a distant second to the "real" Slayer.

Willow smiled at Faith. The dark Slayer took it as a smile of superiority. Buffy must have known Faith would never agree to see her–so she'd sent her little sidekick instead!

"So, Red, are you here to gloat, or to spy?"

Willow's smile vanished, and she did not reply. But Faith imagined her saying, "I'm here to help."

The former friends–and former enemies–just stared at one another.

"I said I'm here to help. If I can. I'm not with Buffy anymore. If you want to be a Slayer again, I may be able to help you." Faith imagined Willow saying these things, but no words were actually spoken. "Faith, I can't read your thoughts. You have to speak out loud."

Faith betrayed surprise again. "You're one hell of a witch!" She had forgotten that Willow had been learning magic. Evidently, she had kept at it.

"Yes," Willow answered telepathically. "I can do magic now that I would never have dreamed of before." She reached into her jacket pocket and a glow came from within. There was a brief flash on Faith's side of the glass and an Almond Joy bar materialized. Willow shrugged, still holding the phone to her head for appearance's sake. "It's not much. Who would have thought prisons didn't have gift shops?"

Faith quickly hid the candy bar with her hand, and then slipped it into her clothing. She would have bet any money that not a soul on Earth remembered those were her favorite.

"Faith, I have information on some vampires in Sunnydale. But Buffy doesn't want my help. You see... I've gained a lot of power. She's not comfortable with that. So... I'm out of the group."

"So you decided to help me?" Faith arched a skeptical eyebrow. Anyone watching would think she was crazy, answering Willow when the girl hadn't said a word. But better that than have Willow's words be overheard.

"If you still wanted to slay. If you really had put the evil behind you."

"I committed terrible crimes. I felt the need to pay the price. But what's that worth when you get right down to it? What I really want is to do some good again." Faith was now bending the truth a little, shaping her answers to what Red wanted to hear.

"I'm betting I'm powerful enough to get you out. I could make you the most powerful Slayer that has ever been. Stronger than Buffy. She's afraid to take what I offer. I'm guessing you'd like to make her regret that just as much as I would."

Red had certainly changed–for the better! Faith smiled. Buffy might just be in for some nasty surprises! "I'm your gal."

"So help me out here. Who or what can get you out of here, fast?"

"Well, the parole board reviews cases and can call a hearing at any time. I'm guaranteed a hearing in three years. But they can call one any time."

"Where are they now?"

"Right now?"

"Right now. We've got a deadline here–any day now vampires will be walking the streets in broad daylight–it's a long story."

"Well, I'm not actually in charge here, in case you hadn't noticed. But if they're holding a hearing now, it would be right next door. There." Faith pointed to a securely barred conference room beside the visitor area.

"Pack your things."

"You serious?" Faith asked. Willow replied with an evil smile that Faith thought suited the redhead quite well.

 


 

Less than two hours later, Faith was standing in the hearing room, unable to believe what was happening. Willow was a worthy ally indeed! That girl had more guts than ten of her sniveling followers in prison. And power... such power! Faith had no idea where Willow was, but clearly the witch was controlling this whole proceeding. The greenish cast to the coffee might have something to do with it.

"Your behavior record is excellent. And this letter verifies that you have a stable job waiting for you." The board chair held up an ad for bubblegum and Faith held back a smile. "You are free, on two years parole. You must meet with your parole officer now, and every week for the first year. For the second year, you will meet every other week. Do you understand?"

"Loud and clear." The parole officer worried Faith, but she'd cross that bridge when she came to it.

A short while later, Faith was wearing her own clothes–somewhat more revealing and stylish than an orange uniform. She sat in a small, unguarded room with Willow and Mrs. Betts, the parole officer. Willow was doing all the talking now.

"Faith has a job on an assembly line in L.A. She volunteers at a soup kitchen and attends church every week. You will report each week that you have met with her and that she is doing extremely well. You will never see her again."

The woman nodded. "See you next Friday, Faith. You call me if any problems come up! Are you all set for this week? Are you going to be all right?"

Faith smiled at the woman–a born victim in a world full of them. "Five by five!"

 


 

Faith walked out to Willow's car in a daze. This couldn't really be happening. She didn't truly believe it until the gate closed behind them and they were on the open road. She was speechless, watching the horizon slowly change. The afternoon sun turned to rain and it was the sweetest sound Faith had ever heard. She was so happy she could sing. She wished Willow would drive faster. A hundred miles an hour... two hundred! She was ready to slay–vampire after vampire turning to dust before her. And then she wanted sex–real sex, not a stranger's head between her legs in the showers, forcing orgasm quickly because privacy might end at any moment. Faith glanced curiously at Willow, wondering if her suspicions about the girl's homosexuality were correct and admiring the redhead's body.

Willow was elated as well. She had done powerful magic today, and it had worked without a hitch. Buffy couldn't stop her now. Evil had a new enemy–a force that would make the Scoobies look like a joke! She hoped Tara would realize what she was missing and be suitably jealous. And she found she actually liked Faith's company. Faith didn's seem scary or arrogant like she once had. What Willow saw in Faith now was simply the well-deserved confidence that comes from existing above the rest of humanity.

Willow spoke for the first time since they had hit the road. "Thirsty? There's water in the back seat."

Underneath a blanket, Faith found several filled thermoses. And a crossbow. And a bundle of lovely, wood stakes. The real thing! The Slayer forgot the water and took a stake in her hands. She caressed it, felt its perfect weight. Its solidity made the future suddenly solid as well.

"Hey, Red... thanks."

"Don't thank me, just... stay out of trouble, OK?" said Willow, not unkindly. "Or at least–make trouble for those who deserve it."

Faith looked down at the stake. "You know it, Red!"

"And another thing... don't call me Red. My name is Willow."

"Willow it is. It's a pretty name." Faith smiled at her new friend. She grabbed a thermos and shared some water with Willow. "You don't have any food, do you?"

"No, just your candy bar. Split it?"

"Oh, right!" Faith took out the candy and broke off half for the witch. "Why Almond Joy?"

"It's your favorite, right?"

"Yeah. You remembered."

Faith didn't realize it and Willow didn't point it out. But there were tears in the Slayer's eyes.

 

Continue to Episode 3 – Partners.

They ordered a little food and watched TV, waiting for full darkness to go out on patrol. Willow thrilled to the Slayer's strong presence beside her on the couch. What was it that made Faith seem so alive? So powerful... Was Buffy the same way, and Willow had simply become used to it? She watched Faith out of the corner of her eye. No. Faith was something special.

 

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