Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Fire

Chp.23

The Waste Land

All other info is in the first chapter

She throws the doors open, and jumps out of them as Giles pulls the bus up to the curb. She doesn't wait for it to come to a complete stop, in front of the huge building. She looks up at the mostly forboding looking structure, straitening her back as a chill runs up it, as if something were lurking inside of it. Taking a deep breath she begins winding her way through the weeds and brambles that litter the walk up to the doors.

Walking by the old fountain in the atrium, Faith doesn’t pay it any attention to the huge object, and doesn't notice that the water that used to flow clear is now turning a brownish, gray color. Her attention is riveted to the two wooden doors that stand not even ten feet in front of her.

Making her way up to one of the doors, she tries opening it.“What the hell?” She asks herself, as she tries to push it open, and it doesn’t budge at all. Thinking that it’s stuck, she pushes a little harder. She didn’t think she used all that much strength, but suddenly she’s nearly falling on her face as the lock pops, and the door groans open. She looks back at the door to see that the lock is still hanging from the doorframe, and the door is still standing wide open.

Turning back to the lobby, she sees that it’s completely devoid of life, and most of the furnishings that had been there not more than a month ago. Dust has settled on anything and everything that had been left

She slowly walks around the room, making her over to the big wooden desk that stands at the back of the huge lobby. As she passes the big, round couch that is built into the middle of the room she runs a finger along the back of it. The finger pushes a mound of dust particles to the edge of the old piece of furniture. She glances down as the dirt hits the floor, and wrinkles her nose in disgust. "Angel, really needs to look into hiring a maid," she mumbles as she takes the last few steps up to the counter. "This place is turning into a major dump."

She realizes that noone has come out to find out who was in the building, she turns and leans on the counter "Angel," she finally shouts as Willow makes her way inside.

She turns to the door as she hears someone sneezing like their brains are gonna come out if they sneeze again. Her eyes land on the redhead as Willow sneezes yet again, as she takes a few steps more into the room.

“Faith?” She asks after one particularly powerful sneeze.

Faith shrugs her shoulders at her, and shakes her head.

“What’s goin’ on? Where’s everyone?” She slowly turns around on the first step leading into the lobby, and looks questioningly up the flight of stairs on her right.She takes in a deep breath and bellows as loud as she can. "Freeed," she draws the name out until she nearly chokes while exhaling."Wesley?" Her gaze comes back to Faith as she says the man's name.

Faith having turned back to the desk notices that a few papers are left laying out on it. She picks them up, and turns back to the confused redhead. "There's no use yelling for'em Will's." She waves the papers in front of her as if that explained it all.

Willow turns to the dark brunette,puzzlement showing plainly in her eyes, and another name ready to be called from her lips.

Faith shows her the papers that are still clasped in her left hand.

Willow makes her way over to the slayer, grabbing the papers from her, then realizes that she'd yanked them away. "Sorry." She doesn't get a response from Faith. "What are these?" She finally asks when she figures out Faith's not going to answer her appology. She ducks her head down to read the first line that's type in bold, black ink. "Sorry for the inconvience, we've moved." She looks up in question at Faith.


“Yeah, now read where they’ve moved to.” She snorts.

“Wolfram and Hart. We still help the helpless. If you’re in need of help, please contact us at Angel Investigations Wolfram and Hart or call us at 555-8666 ext.777."

Looking back up and pushing a strand of hair behind her shoulder, she inhales. “What’s a Wolfram and Hart?” She asks, as she looks into the brown eyes of the slayer in front of her.

Faith couldn't believe that Giles hadn't told the gang about the evilness of the place that Angel had apparently moved in to. She shakes her head at how dense the watcher could be at times. She decides to give Willow as little information as possible.

“It’s an evil law firm.” That’s all the explanation that Faith gives her, before sliding past her, and out the door again. She hadn't lied to her, she just hadn't given her the whole truth. If she wanted that she'd just have to ask Giles, because Faith wasn't even going there. Willow and her inquisitiveness would drive her nuts with all the questions that her genius little mind could conjure. And Faith just really didn't want to endure that, she had more pressing matters to attend to.

Turning back to the stunned red head, “We can’t stay here, unless Angel will give us the okay.” She turns on her heel, taking a few steps toward the bus. “You comin’?” She asks over her shoulder, as she walks out of the gate and knocks on the door of the bus.

Stirred from her stunned silence, “Yeah.” Willow replies, the stack of papers still in her hand, as she shuts the door as best she can, and makes her way back out onto the street, and onto the yellow vehicle.

A/N Hopefully I got the formatting fixed now so the chapters will be back to the original.