3rd Person's POV

In the basement, Richard takes a sword and walks behind a kneeling Tom. Tom has a series of symbols carved onto his chest. Richard begins to carve another one on Tom's back.

The three girls shackled to the wall all stare in disgust and fear of what was happening and what was to come.

Cordelia frowns looking over at Laney who was on the ground passed out. Cordelia was very worried about her friend. She felt guilty. Like this was her fault. Laney didn't even want to come tonight. The only reason she said yes was because of Cordelia and Colby. Suddenly feeling angry, Cordelia glares ahead. Colby better have had nothing to do with this.

"Buffy?"

Buffy looks over at Cordelia.

"Where are we?"

Buffy sighs, "In the basement, far as I can tell."

"What's happening? What did they do to us?"

"They drugged us."

Cordelia pouts, "Why? What are they gonna do to us?"

Buffy for once was stumped. She didn't know what was going on and she didn't know how to get out of this situation. She hoped Laney would wake up soon but she also hoped the girl stayed asleep because once she was awake she would be in trouble. There was no way Laney could fight off these guys by herself.

"I don't know..."

Shocked Cordelia's mouth falls open. Buffy had never been stumped. This wasn't good.

Cordelia whines, "I wanna go home."

Callie sighs, "No one's going home. Ever. Look, one of them's different than the others." She looks at Tom, "Nicer."

Buffy whispers, "Tom."

Richard is finished carving Tom's new symbol. He gets up and turns to the girls. Two brothers help him on with his robe.

Callie shakes her head, "He's the one to watch out for."

Buffy shakes her chain a bit and looks up where it's anchored.

Tom looks at her, "She's last."

Cordelia stares at Tom in confusion, "Last? For what?"

Tom walks over to the well and picks up a bag.

"Who's first?! Answer me! Who's first?!"

Tom lets four stones drop out of the bag and into his hand.

Buffy huffs, "Four stones." She looks at Cordelia and Callie then at Laney on the ground, "Four of us."

Cordelia begins to panic, "Buffy..."

Buffy shakes her head giving Cordelia a firm stare, "Stay calm. We'll get outta this."

Tom pours water over the stones.

"Why'd I ever let you talk me into coming here?"

Buffy can't believe her ears, "You forced me here! Not the other way around."

Tom is done with his stone-cleansing ritual and faces the girls. He stares at Buffy.

The ritual is continuing. Tom stands on the basement stairs holding the sword.

"Machida."

The Brothers all reply, "In his name."

"We who serve you, we who receive all that you bestow, call upon you in this holy hour."

"In this holy hour."

Tom turns to walk toward Richard, holding the sword horizontally in both hands.

"We have no wealth, no possession... except that which you give us."

"Except that which you give us."

He places the sword on Richard's arms, "We have no power, no place in the world... except that which you give us."

"Except that which you give us."

Richard hugs the sword to his chest, crossing his hands over his heart.

Cordelia stares at them with a raised brow, "What are they, some kind of cult or something?"

Buffy snorts, "Yeah, a psycho cult."

Cordelia sighs, "You've gotta do something... uh oh I think Laney is waking up."

Buffy snaps her head to to Laney who was moving her hand to her head groaning quietly. Thankfully the frat has been paying attention to Tom who continued on. Buffy gets Laneys attention and shakes her head frantically. Laney stares at her with a confused look before closing her eyes again and laying still.

"It's been a year since our last offering."

Richard lowers the sword and rests the tip on the floor.

"A year in which our bounty overflowed. We come before you with fresh offerings."

"Offerings? He's talking about us?"

Callie rolls her eyes at Cordelia's delusional head, "Do you see anyone else chained up in here?"

Tom, "Accept our offering, Dark Lord, and bless us with your power. Machida!"

The Brothers yell, "Machida!"

Tom tosses the stones into the well at the center of the basement one at a time.

Cordelia looks ahead frightened, "What's down there?"

"Come forth, and let your terrible countenance look upon your servants, and their humble offering. We call you, Machida."

"In his name. Machida."

"There's something down there and he's gonna throw us down there with it."

Buffy gulps, "I don't think so."

Cordelia frowns, "No? Well, that's good! That, that's..."

"I don't think we go to it. I think it comes to us."

Cordelia snaps her head to Buffy giving a terrified look before crying, "Ooohhhhhhh! No!"

Tom looks up, awaiting Machida's arrival. The girls all stare at the well, and suddenly Machida rises out of it.

"Oh, my God!" Cordelia screams, "It's a half-man, half-snake, green and scaly."

He growls as he looks at the girls. Cordelia keeps screaming at the top of her lungs. Buffy stares at Machida in wide-eyed horror. She tries to yank her chains from the ceiling.

"C'mon, Buffy! Oh, my God! Oh, c'mon!"

Machida remains stationary and spreads his arms.

Tom grins, "For he shall rise from the depths, and we shall tremble before him. He who is the source of all we inherit and all we possess. Machida."

"Machida."

"And if he is pleased with our offerings, then our fortune shall increase."

"Machida. Let our fortunes increase."

Laney had no idea what the hell was going on. One second she was having fun with Colby, accepting his date. Next she was in the bathroom and taken by Tom and Richard. They said she can thank Colby... was he a part of this psycho cult? He wanted to be in the frat... how could he not be a part?

"And on the tenth day of the tenth month he shall be enhungered. And we shall feed him."

Machida gazes over at the girls.

"Feed him?" Cordelia pouts.

Machida rises before her.

"Feed him?!"

Buffy renews her efforts to break the chains from the ceiling as Machida reaches Laney. It bends down and starts to sniff her. Laney tries not to flinch as she feels hot breath on her face.

Suddenly she lets out a yelp as her throat is grabbed and she is held in the air. She gasps out in pain as Machida claws rip through the skin on her neck.

Cordelia screams pulling her chains as she watches her best friend be thrown across the basement by a half man lizard thing, "Oh, no!"

...

Outside, Angel, Willow and Giles walk through the bushes from the street to the lawn.

Willow sighs, "Looks like everyone's gone."

They look up at the house as a robed figure comes up behind them. The figure steps on some foliage, and Angel instantly spins around to confront him.

"Hey!"

Xander flinches before lifting the hood from his eyes, "Hey! What are you guys doing here?"

Willow bites her lip worried, "A bunch of girls are missing, and the Zeta Kappas may be involved, plus Laney and Buffy. Are you wearing makeup?"

Xander smears the lipstick off with his fingers, "No. I think Buffy's still inside somewhere with Cordelia and Laney. Cordelia's car's still here."

"Why are you wearing that?" Giles indicates to the robe.

"Oh, I found it in their trash. I saw them through the window. They were wearing robes and went down to the basement. I was gonna use it to sneak in."

Giles holds his chin thinking, "They may be involved in some kind of ritual."

Willow gulps, "With the missing girls."

Angel growls, vamped out, "With Buffy and Laney!"

Xander steps back, "Okay, that is the guy you wanna party with."

Angel growls once more rolling his eyes before something catches his sight. A figure creeps around as if looking for something. Quickly hurrying over to the figure, Angel grabs the boy and yanks him back to the group.

"Anyone of you know him?"

Xander and Willow gasp as Giles looks at them in confusion.

Glaring Xander pokes the boy on the chest, "You're the guy that was talking to Laney the other day."

Colby raises an eyebrow, "Uh yeah..."

Willow shrugs, "Colby?"

"Right... um I'm sorry do I know you guys? And what's with this guy? Is there something wrong with his face?"

Xander rolls his eyes, "Just your run of the mill Vampire."

"Xander!"

Xander looks at Angel, Willow, and Giles shrugging, "What we live on hell mouth he's bound to figure it out. Plus he's part of this frat."

Angel tightens his grip on the Colby's shirt, "Where is Laney?"

Colby sighs, "I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know? Do better than you don't know."

"Seriously I have no idea. I've been looking for her for the past hour. Actually we were looking for her friends, Buffy and Cordelia. And then she started to feel sick and I let her go to the bathroom. I should've stayed with her. But I got locked out the house."

"And you didn't try to get back in?"

"I called everyone and no one answered. So I thought that they left. I just came from down the street where I saw Cordelia's car."

Xander shakes his head, "I don't believe him. He's in this frat. He has to be a part of the cult."

Colby raises an eyebrow, "Cult? I'm just trying to continue the legacy. I don't know anything about a cult. But that would make sense... we don't know anything about this frat until we are no longer pledges. Our fathers and their fathers were pledged to a vow of silence. They could never speak of what happened during their years here."

Giles nods, "That is quite a statement. I believe he may be telling the truth."

Xander groans, "I don't believe this guy for one second."

Willow rolls her eyes, "Guys..."

Colby chuckles, "Like I care about your opinion guy I don't know." Turning to Angel, Colby looks down at his hand, "You wanna let me go now?"

Angel growls at him, "Not really. I don't trust you."

"Says the vampire..."

"Guys..."

"Okay let's think about this... you invited her to this party. Probably drugged her and took her to wherever it is to do whatever cultish stuff you guys do."

"Them sure... me no. I'm not even in the frat. I'm a pledge. Whatever don't you think we're wasting time?"

"Thank you!" Willow yells glaring at Xander and Angel, "The one you guys are blaming is the one who remembered what's happening! The ritual is probably going on now. Can we go?!"

...

Laney groans in pain knowing she would have a bruised back. Machida closes in on Cordelia and she screams.

"Hey, reptile boy!" Buffy gets his attention.

Tom glares, "No woman speaks to him!"

Buffy ignores him, "You don't want her. Look at her. She's all skin and bones. Half an hour later you'll be hungry."

Tom comes over to Buffy, "I told you to shut up! He backhand punches her and holds up his sword."

"You speak again and I'll cut your throat."

Xander steps up to the door holding his head down and knocks. Tackle comes to the door to answer.

"Got locked out dumping the trash. Let me in. I don't wanna miss the, uh..."

Tackle opens the door and waves him in, "Come on."

"...you know what." Xander throws back his hood, "Where are they?!"

He punches Tackle in the face and knocks him down, but has really hurt his hand doing it. Angel comes in behind him and punches out Linebacker as Colby fights another guy. Willow and Giles follow them in.

Downstairs, two brothers unchain Cordelia and hold her. Tom hears the commotion upstairs and frowns.

"Something's going on upstairs." He looks to the brothers and orders, "Go. Go!"

Several of them rush upstairs to see what's going on. Buffy looks up at her chains again, then back at Machida.

Tom smiles looking back at the show, "Feed, Dark Lord!"

Machida rises above Cordelia, then moves in to take her from the brothers' grip. She screams loudly and struggles. Buffy yanks hard at her chains again, and they finally break loose from the ceiling. She quickly steps over to Machida and punches him in the face. He pulls back away from them, holding the side of his face. Buffy starts fighting the brothers. Tom takes a swing at her with his sword.

Angel throws a brother to the floor. Willow jumps over him, runs to the basement door and goes in. Xander is on Tackle's back, punching him.

"That's for the wig!" He punches again, "That's for the bra!"

Giles struggles with a door. A brother tries to grab him from behind, but he elbow-punches him and knocks him out.

Colby punches a brother and glares, "I thought you guys were cool man."

Willow comes back out of the basement door, "Some guy's attacking Buffy with a sword! Also there's a really big snake!"

Angel punches another brother and sends him reeling into the sill of an opening in the wall. Willow screams and backs off as the brother falls to the floor.

Buffy scrambles away from Tom and his attacking sword.

"You... bitch. I'll serve you to him in pieces!"

He swings hard. Buffy ducks and counters with the chain, wraps it around the sword, rips it out of Tom's hands. It falls to the ground as she looks back at him glaring.
She quickly hits him with a right, then a left, then she spin-kicks him in the side of the head. He flies back tripping on the alter, falling on his ass and knocking himself out.

"You talk too much."

Angel, Xander, Willow, Giles, and Colby tear downstairs as Machida gatheres Cordelia in his arms.

"Hellllppppp!!!"

The sword is picked up off the ground as Laney stands looming behind Machida with a murderous stare. 

"Back off, wormy!"

Machida roars at her. Laney raises the sword and brings it down hard and fast on the middle of Machida's snake body, cutting him in half.

Xander, Willow, and Angel all stare at Laney incredulously as Buffy stares proudly and gives a firm nod. Colby raises an eyebrow feeling kind of turned on.

Laney falls to the floor in exhaustion as Cordelia drops beside her. Everyone was safe.

Suddenly, what's left of the severed snake jiggles and lies still a couple of feet from the upper torso.

Colby and Angel help Laney up. Laney lets out a hiss as Cordelia's hand lightly grazes her back.

"That doesn't looks so good."

Laney shrugs, "I'm staying at your place tonight. And you're fixing me up."

Willow and Xander un-chain a very freaked out Callie. Laney leans against Colby as Angel walks over to check on Buffy.

"You did it, you saved us."

Cordelia walks right past Buffy and hurls herself into Angel's arms.

"I've never been so happy to see anyone in my whole..." She fights the tears, "You guys, I just really... hate you guys, the weirdest things always happen around you!"

Tom comes to near the alter. And, unbeknownst to any of our heroes, the snake body begins slowly moving. Until it joins up with the torso. A squooshy sound of flesh and protoplasm meeting and the two halves re-join!

Cordelia glares at Tom, "You're going to jail for about fifteen thousand years. Oh god, it's over... it's really..."

That's when Machida, re-joined, suddenly pops up again. Angel takes a threatening step forward next to Buffy and growls.

Machida towers over Tom, "For a hundred years I have given your forebearers wealth and power. And this is how you repay me.
From this day forth you are alone in the world."

Machida slides back down. Cordelia is afraid to breathe. With good reason. Machida pops back up, grabs Tom.

"Lil' somethin' for the road."

Machida disappears into the pit with Tom. Tom's screams are heard as well as a quick couple of chomps and then silence.

Willow and Xander help Callie toward the stairs.

Buffy moves to Giles, "I told one lie, I had one drink..."

Giles nods, "And you nearly got devoured by a giant demon-snake. I think the words "let that be a lesson" are a tad redundant at this juncture."

"Sorry, Giles."

"I am, too. I drive you too hard, because I know what you have to face... from now
on no more pushing, no more prodding... Just... an extraordinary amount of nudging."

"Ugh enough talking I'm in pain! Can we go now?"

...

Laney lays on her stomach as Cordelia cleans her bloody back and puts ointment on her cuts.

"I better be able to wear strapless dresses and crop tops after this."

Cordelia snorts, "Don't worry, this stuff works wonders."

KNOCK KNOCK.

The girls' heads snap to the door where Angel stands leaning against the doorway.

"Can I come in?"

Laney snorts, "What is this the vampire diaries? You don't need to be invited in... do you?"

Angel chuckles shaking his head before bending down slightly to Laney's face, "You okay?"

Laney smiles holding up her thumb, "I'm good. Minus the fact that I'm half naked in front of you guys... oh the embarrassment."

Angel rolls his eyes, "Don't be embarrassed."

He wanted to tell her that she looked better than all the women he had known over the centuries, but then he thought about Buffy. He liked Buffy a lot so he didn't think that was the best thing to blurt out.

Laney laughs patting Angel's face, "Whatcha thinking so hard about bestie?"

Angel glares playfully, "And who said we were friends?"

"You did! You can't take it back now!"

"Mmmm I might have to."

"Oh please you love me!"

Shaking his head with a smile, Angel stands up and walks towards the door. He stops and turns back to a grinning Laney, "Feel better... pal."

Laney laughs as Angel disappears.

Cordelia shakes her head at the two, "He loves you. He's so laid back around you. And totally doesn't act like he has a stick up his ass."

Laney nods, "It's progress... he's very hard headed... a mess..."

Cordelia sees something out the corner of her eye and clears her throat, "Speaking of messes, I will be cleaning this up while you talk to him."

Laney looks over at Colby as he walks through the door with a guilty face.

"Hey..."

Colby nods, "Hey... I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I had no idea. If I did I wouldn't even had been a part-"

"Colby! It's okay. I know you didn't know."

"How?"

Laney shrugs with a slight smile, "Because I thought back to everything you did that night. You weren't acting. I could see the honestly in your eyes. You tried to make sure I didn't even drink anything but water, for goodness sake. I trust you... don't break it okay?"

Colby nods finally grinning, showing a dimple in his cheek. Laney blushes as Colby's hand rests on her head and runs through her hair.

"I'm taking you out tomorrow. No ifs ands or buts about it."

"Can't wait." Laney grins.

And for once she felt like the world was on her side.

Um screw Tom and Machida...

Anybody else want a friendship like Cordelia and Laney?

Angel?

Colby?

Tom? 😂

Fav character?

Duo?

Trio?

Future predictions?

Any special requests...