A Devil Went Down to Sunnydale I (Patreon)

Chapter 1: Welcome to Hell


The bright mid January Southern California morning was in full swing as Xander Harris made his way down the road towards Sunnydale High, the sun's rays already promising another day of sweltering heat. His skateboard glided along the pavement at a steady pace, the wheels rattling softly against the asphalt. Dressed in an unbuttoned white semi-translucent short sleeve button up, a blue tank top and wrinkled corduroys, Xander embodied the shaggy indifference common to skateboarders. A light breeze ruffled his messy mop of black hair as he took in the sights around him.

Students milled about on their way to school, some walking, others biking or rollerblading. A few cars pulled up to the curb, dropping off their teenage passengers before speeding off to beat the morning rush. Just another day in good ol' Sunnydale, Xander mused, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

As he continued down the street, his eyes caught sight of something unexpected. Glancing to the side, Xander noticed another boy riding a skateboard, keeping pace with him effortlessly. Intrigued, he slowed his own board slightly, taking a moment to study the stranger.

The boy's black t-shirt with red lettering and ripped jeans were nothing out of the ordinary, and neither were his well-worn basketball shoes. But what struck Xander was the teen's appearance. His skin was a rich, dark tone, complemented by full lips and a somewhat wider nose. However, it was the boy's eyes that truly caught Xander's attention—a pair of bright, piercing blue orbs that seemed to hold a mischievous glint. Crowning the boy's head was a wild mane of dreadlocks, the same vivid shade as fresh blood.

Whoa, definitely never seen anyone like him around here before, Xander thought, his eyes widening slightly. He prided himself on not being racist, but even he had to admit that the boy's unique features stood out in the sea of familiar faces. Despite its size and surroundings, Sunnydale wasn’t the biggest of places to live in, and its population was far from the massive throng of some of the bigger locales in Southern California. That in mind, new faces were rare and new faces like his… even more so. 

As if sensing Xander's gaze, the other teen glanced over, a lazy smirk playing on his lips. With a casual two-fingered salute, he kicked off on his skateboard, propelling himself forward with impressive speed. Xander watched in awe as the boy rounded the corner, his movements fluid and effortless, disappearing from sight in a matter of seconds.

Dude, I'd totally eat gravel if I tried to pull off a move like that, Xander admitted to himself, a grin spreading across his face as realization dawned on him. “New kid! Sweet!”

Excitement bubbling in his chest, Xander kicked off, determined to catch up with the mysterious newcomer. He rounded the corner at a more moderate pace, his eyes scanning the crowd of students rushing towards the doors of Sunnydale High. Much to his disappointment, the new kid was nowhere to be seen, lost among the sea of faces.

Aww, man, Xander thought, his shoulders slumping slightly. Undeterred, he wove through the thickening mass of students, his skateboard gliding smoothly beneath his feet. He slid past a short yellow bus and an Asian girl on a bike, his reflexes honed from years of navigating the chaotic hallways.

"'Scuse me, comin' through, pardon me, 'scuse me, whoa!" Xander called out, his voice carrying over the chatter of his classmates. "Not sure how to stop! Please move, whoa, 'scuse me..."

As he maneuvered through the crowd, a flash of blonde hair caught his eye. Xander's gaze landed on a pretty, leggy girl dressed in a short-sleeved white button-down, a miniskirt, and high-heeled boots. Damn, that combo should be illegal for school, he thought, his teenage hormones taking over.

(Buffy's literal outfit and makeup on her first day, miniskirt and heels included)

Unable to resist, Xander craned his neck to get a better look, openly staring as he skated by. So focused was he on the blonde beauty that he failed to notice the stair railing rapidly approaching. With a sickening crunch, Xander collided with the metal barrier, his body flipping over it and landing on his back with a painful thud. His backpack provided little cushioning as he lay there, grunting in agony.

“I'm okay. I’m okay,” he tried to convince himself through gritted teeth, the throbbing pain in his back suggesting otherwise. “I feel good.”

Through the haze of discomfort, Xander noticed a pair of legs making their way towards him, penny loafers stepping carefully to avoid tripping over his sprawled form. Glancing up, he found himself face-to-face with a familiar presence, a smile spreading across her features as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

Willow Rosenberg, his best friend since childhood, stood in front of him, her shy and bookish demeanor evident in her modest green dress layered over a white long-sleeved shirt. The old-fashioned black penny loafers on her feet were a telltale sign of the fact that her mother definitely picked out her clothes for today. Yet, despite her unassuming appearance, Willow's eyes sparkled with intelligence, and her smile radiated a genuine charm that often went unnoticed by the shallow minds of high school.

Xander's face lit up at the sight of her, his pain momentarily forgotten. "Willow! You're so very much the person that I wanted to see!" he exclaimed, pulling himself up with his skateboard in one hand.

Willow's eyes widened slightly, a glimmer of hope in her voice as she replied, "Oh, really?"

As they began walking towards the school together, Xander's mind raced, searching for a way to capitalize on this fortunate encounter. "Yeah. You know, I kinda had a problem with the math," he admitted, his tone casual.

Willow's shoulders sagged almost imperceptibly, a flicker of disappointment crossing her features before she quickly masked it. "Uh, which part?" she asked, her voice steady.

Xander, oblivious to her reaction, shrugged. "The math. Can you help me out tonight, pleeeease, be my study buddy?"

Willow's eyes narrowed playfully as she tilted her head. "Well, what's in it for me?"

Xander's face scrunched up in faux-thought for a moment before a grin spread across his face. "A shiny nickel!" he declared theatrically.

Willow rolled her eyes, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Okay. Do you have 'Theories in Trig'? You should check it out," she suggested, her voice carrying a hint of amusement.

"Check it out?" Xander repeated, his brow furrowing in legitimate confusion for a moment.

"From the library?" Willow raised an eyebrow at him, turning slightly to the side as another student brushed past her, the bustling crowd of teenagers filling the air with noise. "Where the books live," she added, her tone teasing.

Realization dawned on Xander's face, and he nodded enthusiastically. "Right, right, I'm there! See, I wanna change…"

As they approached the front doors of the school, a familiar figure emerged from the sea of students. Jesse, Xander's best friend and a close enough companion to Willow, sauntered up to them with a goofy grin plastered on his face, above his dull orange t-shirt and khaki shorts. Standing a good bit taller than Xander, Jesse somehow managed to be even more awkward… which was quite the accomplishment. 

"Hey, hey!" Jesse greeted, his smile broadening as he clapped hands with Xander, their enthusiasm palpable in the brief moment of contact.

Xander returned the gesture, his own grin widening. "Hey, Jesse, what's what?"

Jesse's eyes sparkled with excitement as he leaned in conspiratorially. "New girl!" he announced, voice clearly giddy and excited.

Xander's face lit up, mirroring his friend's enthusiasm. "That's right," he agreed, nodding vigorously. "I saw her. Total ten, talk about a hottie!"

Beside them, Willow's mood seemed to deflate once more, her shoulders sagging slightly as the boys talked about another girl. Xander, caught up in the moment, failed to notice.

"I heard a couple of people were transferring…" Willow interjected, her voice trailing off as she glanced around the bustling schoolyard.

Xander blinked, his mind briefly flashing back to his earlier encounter. "Couple? Oh, yeah. I saw this other dude on a skateboard. Black kid, dreadlocks, red hair," he emphasized, shooting Willow a joking suspicious glance.

Instinctively, Willow's hand reached up to touch her own long fiery locks, a small smile playing on her lips despite herself.

"Relative of yours, Will?" Xander teased, his eyebrows waggling mischievously.

"Haha," Willow retorted, rolling her eyes exaggeratedly as she fought to suppress a grin. After a moment, her expression turned thoughtful. "But I do know something about him. My dad mentioned that they got a new young client. He's an orphan, I think, from Los Angeles, and got a lot of money in inheritance. Kinda sad."

“Yeah, yeah.” Xander nodded, his face growing somber for a brief instant before he turned his attention back to Jesse, who was still grinning like a Cheshire cat. "So tell!"

Jesse stared blankly, his smile faltering slightly. "Tell what?"

Xander raised an eyebrow, his voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "What's the sitch? What do ya know about new girl?"

Jesse's grin returned in full force, his eyes sparkling with renewed excitement. "New girl!"

Xander shook his head, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Well, you're certainly a font of nothing!"

Laughing loud, the trio stood in the middle of the crowd of students as they rushed around them, sounds of laughter, shouting, and the occasional slamming of locker doors filling the air. The sun's rays streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the bustling hallway. Xander's gaze wandered, taking in the familiar sights and sounds of Sunnydale High.

Another year, another chance to not totally screw things up, he mused, his thoughts tinged with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety. And hey, maybe this time, I'll actually manage to pass Advanced Trig without bothering Will too much when I don’t feel like studying.

As they made their way deeper into the school, Xander couldn't shake the feeling that this year was going to be different. New faces, new adventures, he thought, a grin spreading across his face. Bring it on, Sunnydale. Xander Harris is ready for anything.

                                                                – o – o – o – o – o – o – o –

A few minutes later, Xander found himself walking down the hall, still in a good mood from his little powwow with both his friends. The bustling crowd of students filled the corridor, their chatter and laughter echoing off the walls as they hurried to their first classes of the day. 

Suddenly, his eyes widened, and his heart skipped a beat as he spotted a familiar figure just a door or two down. It was the same blonde girl from before, her shoulder-length golden locks pretty as ever as she walked with a confident stride. Xander couldn't help but stare, his mouth slightly agape as he took in the hottie for the second time.

Damn, she's even hotter up close, he thought, his mind racing with a thousand possibilities.

However, his ogling was cut short as another girl, too engrossed in her conversation with a taller black boy to pay attention to her surroundings, accidentally bumped into the blonde, causing her to lose her grip on her bag. The contents spilled onto the floor, scattering in every direction.

"Oh! Sorry!" the blonde girl exclaimed, her voice tinged with surprise and a hint of frustration.

The other girl, realizing her mistake, quickly apologized. "That's okay."

The blonde girl glanced down at the mess, her shoulders slumping slightly as she surveyed the damage. "Oh…" she muttered, her tone deflated.

With a sigh, she knelt down and began scooping her belongings back into her bag, her movements hurried and clearly embarrassed.

Xander's face shifted into a grimace of sympathy, heart going out to the girl. Man, talk about a rough start to the day, he mused to himself, watching as she struggled to gather her things.

But then, an idea struck him, and a grin spread across his face. Now's my chance, he thought, his eyes sparkling with mischief and anticipation.

Seizing the opportunity, Xander quickly made his way over to the blonde girl, squatting down next to her to assist in the cleanup effort. He reached for a stray pen, his fingers brushing against hers for the briefest of moments.

"Can I have you?" he blurted out, his brain momentarily short-circuiting as he found himself in such close proximity to the object of his affection.

The blonde girl looked up at him, her brow furrowed in confusion, and Xander felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment.

Smooth move, Harris, he chastised himself, mentally facepalming at his own stupidity.

Quickly realizing his mistake, Xander let out an awkward chuckle. "Duh... Can I help you?"

The girl's confused expression melted into a smile, and Xander felt his heart skip a beat for a second time this morning. "Thanks," she said, her voice soft and sincere.

Together, they began gathering her scattered belongings, Xander handing each item to her without really looking, his attention focused solely on the girl beside him. He couldn't help but marvel at her beauty, the way her golden hair framed her face, and the warmth in her blue eyes.

"I don't know you, do I?" Xander asked, trying to play it cool despite the butterflies in his stomach.

The girl shook her head, her smile widening. "I'm Buffy. I'm new."

Buffy, Xander repeated in his mind, committing the name to memory. Even her name is cute.

"Xander. Is, is me. Hi," he stammered, mentally kicking himself for his awkwardness.

Buffy grinned at him, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Um, thanks."

As they finished gathering the last of her belongings, Xander found himself at a loss for words. He wanted to say something clever, something that would make her laugh and remember him, but his mind was drawing a blank.

"Well, uh, maybe I'll see you around... maybe at school... since we... both... go there," he managed to get out, words stumbling over each other in a jumbled mess.

Wow, real smooth, Xander, he thought, internally cringing at his own malfunctioning brain.

But to his surprise, Buffy didn't seem to mind. She simply smiled at him, her eyes warm and friendly. "Great!" she said as they both stood up. "It was nice to meet you."

Xander handed her the rest of her books, watching as she stuffed them into her bag. With a final smile and a wave, Buffy hurried away down the hall.

"We both go to school," Xander muttered to himself, his voice dripping with self-admonishment. "Very suave. Very not pathetic."

He reached out for a moment, as if to call her back, before clenching his hand into an embarrassed fist. Way to go, Harris. You really know how to make an impression.

But then, something caught his eye. A small object still lay on the floor, forgotten in the chaos of their encounter. Without really paying attention, too focused on Buffy's retreating backside to truly divert his focus, Xander bent down to retrieve it.

"Oh, hey!" he called out, rising to his feet with the object in hand. "Hey, you forgot your…"

As he looked down at the item, his words trailed off, and his brow furrowed in confusion. In his hand, he held a wooden stake, its surface smooth and worn.

A stake? he thought, turning the object over in his hand. What the hell is she doing with a stake?

But Buffy was already too far away, the noise of the crowd swallowing his words. Xander stood there, holding the stake, glancing at it with confusion written all over his face, and his mind racing with a thousand questions.

"Wow, a bonafide vampire hunter," a voice came from behind him, calm and drawling, breaking Xander out of his confusion-induced daze. "This school has everything, doesn't it?"

Xander whirled around, eyes wide with surprise as his mouth moved on instinct, the words tumbling out before he could even think. "I wouldn't let the school take credit. That's all me." His gaze landed on the speaker, and his eyes widened further as recognition dawned on him. It was the same kid he had seen skateboarding earlier, the one with the red dreadlocks and piercing blue eyes.

The speaker in question raised an eyebrow, one hand lazily playing with a single lock of his blood-red dreads, and smirked at Xander. "That's crazy, homie. Do tell."

Xander blinked, his brain taking a moment to catch up with the situation. Well, look at you, Xander. Barely even started the day, and you're already the talk of the town. Or at least the talk of the mysterious new kid. "Yeah, y-yeah…" he paused for a moment, his mind racing to come up with a clever response. Come on, Harris, don't let the joke die now.

With a sudden burst of confidence, Xander barreled on, his voice taking on a faux-serious tone. "I come from a long line of Hellsings, actually. It's in my blood."

The red-haired boy's smirk shifted into a grin, his white teeth somehow even brighter than his striking blue eyes. "Really?" he shot back, his voice dripping with amusement.

Xander nodded his head, crossing his arms in a mock-serious manner. "Well, it's in my head, and that's good enough for me," he finished, barely suppressing the urge to laugh at his own joke.

The boy with the red dreadlocks let out a loud laugh, the sound echoing through the bustling hallway, and held out his fist.  "You're killing me with this, homie."

Xander smiled back, his free hand reaching out to complete the fist bump. Looks like I'm not the only one with a sense of humor around here, he thought, feeling a sense of kinship with the other teen.

"Killing you? What, don't tell me you're a vamp? In SoCal?" Xander quipped, his eyebrows waggling mischievously. "What kinda crazy SPF do you use?"

"Nah, homie," the other teen answered, still chuckling. "Not a vamp. That would definitely be awkward, though." He paused, his grin softening into a genuine smile. "You're cool, bro."

Xander felt a warmth spread through his chest at the compliment. It wasn't often that he found someone who appreciated his particular brand of humor. "Thanks, you're pretty cool yourself, uhhh…" he trailed off, gesturing for the other boy to introduce himself.

"Sam. Sammy, if you feel like it ," the red-haired teen supplied, his name rolling off his tongue with an easy confidence. "Short for Samuel Lucius Ash the Third."

"Nice name. I'm Xander. Hold your applause, though," Xander responded, raising both hands up, palms facing Sam in a mock-surrender. "It's short for Alexander Lavelle Harris."

Sam raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of amusement and disbelief. "Lavelle?"

Xander sighed, his smile becoming less genuine and more bitter as he continued. "Yeah, don't know what the 'rents were thinking. Must have been drunk."

"Must have," Sammy agreed with a slow nod, his eyes holding a glimmer of understanding.

A thought suddenly struck Xander, and he couldn't help but blurt it out. "Hey, I saw you skating earlier. How'd you get so good at it?"

Samuel's lips curled into a smirk, his blue eyes twinkling with mischief. "Years of practice, homie. But I can give you some tips if you want."

Xander's face lit up, excitement coursing through him at the prospect of learning from someone who clearly knew their stuff. "Sweet!"

Reaching into his pocket, Sam pulled out a sleek black business card with red lettering. He handed it to Xander, who took it with a curious expression. "Here's my card."

Xander glanced down at the card, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. In large print, it read "Odd Jobs and Services for a Good Deal," followed by Sam's full name and number. Flipping the card over, he noticed a strange circular logo with odd symbols etched within.

Unable to contain his amusement, Xander let out a laugh, his face pulling into a comical expression. "You have a card? You have a business?"

Sam smiled softly, his eyes glinting with a hint of challenge. "So you don't want the tips?"

Realizing his mistake, Xander quickly pocketed the card, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "I didn't say that," he laughed, trying to play it off.

"Well, I gotta head to my first class, Xan Man. Be seeing ya, homie."

With a final nod and a casual wave, Samuel turned around and walked away, his dreadlocks swaying with each step. Xander watched as the other teen rounded the corner, disappearing from sight.

"Yeah… be seeing ya," Xander mumbled, glancing down at the stake still clutched in his hand. What a way to start the day, he thought, shaking his head in disbelief. First, a mysterious blonde with a penchant for pointy sticks, and now a cool new kid who actually gets my jokes.

A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he tucked the stake into his back pocket, the weight of it a reminder of the strange encounter with Buffy. Look at you, Xander. Talking to two new kids on their first day. You bonafide social butterfly, you.

As he turned to head to his own class, he failed to notice a pair of piercing blue eyes staring at his back.

  
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The last two days were officially a new type of Hell, and Xander was being all too literal when he said that.


It wasn’t bad enough that he had to give up his glorious freedom to be another unwilling victim of the United States mandatory school system, he also had to find out that not only are vampires real, but so are all other types of monsters and demons and they’re all running around his town, free as birds.


On top of that, said town was also built on a literal gate to literal freakin’ Hell.

It couldn't even just be an ancient Indian burial ground, Xander thought bitterly, his mind racing as he stumbled through the darkened alley. It had to be so much worse. I already had to worry about lead popping up all over the place, who knew what weird Hell energy was doing to my system?


To make matters worse, their only defense against all this was the blonde new girl. Impressive as she was when it came to kicking evil ass, she was all of 5’2” and with a face that wasn’t very threatening.

Buffy may be tiny, but she's mighty, Xander mused, trying to distract himself from the searing pain in his leg and the terror gripping his heart. She's like a pocket-sized superhero, all wrapped up in a pretty blonde package.

All of that barely mattered right now, because to make matters somehow even more worse, he was running down the back alley of the Bronze as his new friend Buffy fought off vampires with the help of an old friend and a British librarian in tweed, because one vampire in particular seemed dead set on drinking him like a fresh bottle of juice.


“Where you goin’, bud?” the voice cackled through the alley, the laugh lacking all of its usual harmless goofiness. “It’s me, harmless ol’ Jesse.”

Jesse chased after him, barely moving at a light jog as Xander struggled to keep moving despite the pain.


Xander panted heavily as he dashed through the darkness of the alley, the echo of his desperate footsteps swallowed by the ominous shadows. The sharp pain shooting up from his upper thigh, where a vampire had unintentionally clawed him open, slowed his pace, leaving red staining his jeans and a trail of glistening blood behind him.

This is bad, this is so bad, Xander's mind screamed, his thoughts jumbled and frantic as he tried to push through the agony. I'm gonna die in this alley, and I never even got to second base with a girl.


He cursed himself for fleeing the relative safety of the club, thoughts racing as panic and adrenaline fueled his shaky legs. "I should've stayed," he muttered under his breath, the fear of the creature that attacked him overshadowed by the terror of the one now pursuing him.

The shadows seemed to close in around him, the narrow walls of the alley feeling more like a coffin with each passing second. Xander's heart pounded in his chest, the sound of his own blood rushing in his ears nearly drowning out the ominous footsteps behind him.

Jesse, once a friend, now a nightmarish version of himself as a vampire, taunted Xander with a chilling casualness. "You smell kinda good, bro. Is that weird of me to say?" His voice, laced with a horrifying hunger, bounced off the graffiti-covered walls.

Xander's response was breathless, his voice tinged with both fear and defiance as he clutched the wooden stake hidden in his jeans. "Very! I'll call it kosher if you leave me alone tho," he retorted, managing a weak smile despite the dire situation.

Come on, Xander, keep it together, he urged himself, trying to steady his breathing and focus through the haze of pain and terror. You've got a weapon, you've got a chance. Just keep him talking, keep him distracted until Buffy can get here.

But even as he tried to convince himself, Xander knew deep down that his chances were slim. He was just a regular guy, a high school student with a penchant for snark and a love of comic books. He wasn't a superhero, he wasn't a fighter. He was just... Xander.

The blood loss was starting to take its toll, his vision blurring at the edges as he stumbled forward, his legs feeling more like lead with each step. The world seemed to tilt and spin around him, the shadows dancing in his peripheral vision like twisted specters.

Jesse laughed, the sound more terrifying than reassuring, as he quickened his pace. "No can do, bud. A man's gotta eat." His once-friendly eyes now glinted with predatory anticipation in the dim light of the alley.

"Yeah, yeah," he gasps, trying to inject some bravado into his voice as he ran from his former friend. "You’re a growing boy and all that. Didn't figure you could grow anymore considering you're DEAD!" Xander's heart sank, a cold realization settling in the pit of his stomach. 

He knew he couldn't outrun Jesse, not in his current state. But he'd be damned if he was going to go down without a fight.

Come on, Buffy, he silently pleaded, a last desperate hope clinging to his heart. Where are you?

The alley seemed to stretch on forever, the end nowhere in sight as the shadows closed in around him. Xander's breath came in ragged gasps, his lungs burning with each desperate inhalation. He could feel Jesse's presence behind him, the vampire's hunger palpable in the air.

This can't be happening, Xander thought, a hysterical laugh bubbling up in his throat. I'm too young to die, too pretty to be vampire chow.

But even as the morbid humor flitted through his mind, he knew it was a futile attempt to keep the fear at bay. The reality of the situation was inescapable, the danger all too real.

Xander's vision swam, the blood loss and exertion taking their toll. He stumbled, his foot catching on an uneven patch of asphalt, and he nearly went down. But somehow, through sheer force of will, he managed to stay on his feet, to keep moving forward.

Just a little further, he told himself, though he knew it was a lie. Just a little further, and maybe Buffy will find me. Maybe she'll save me.

But deep down, Xander knew it was a foolish hope. He was alone in this alley, alone with the monster that had once been his friend. And as much as he wanted to believe otherwise, he knew that no one was coming to save him.

Jesse's footsteps grew closer, the sound echoing through the alley. Xander's heart raced, his pulse pounding in his ears as he tried to push himself to move faster, to escape the inevitable.

The chase turned dire as Jesse shifted into a blur, appearing in front of Xander in a sudden burst of vampiric speed. The friend turned freak grabbed him by the jacket and slammed him against a cold brick wall, the impact sending a shockwave of pain through Xander's already battered body.

This can't be happening, Xander thought, his mind reeling as he stared into the face of the creature that had once been his best friend. Jesse's face was monstrous, brow ridged, features distorted and mouth twisted by the fangs that protruded menacingly.

With the stake now pointed at Jesse's heart, Xander trembled, both from pain and the cold realization of what he had to do. His hand shook, the rough wood digging into his palm as he tried to steady his grip.

Jesse smirked, his eyes mocking. "Ooh! All right. Put me out of my misery. You don't have the guts."

He's right, Xander thought, despair washing over him. I can't do this. I can't kill my bud.

But even as the thought crossed his mind, another voice spoke up, a voice that sounded suspiciously like Buffy. That's not your friend anymore, Xander. That's a monster wearing his face.

Fear, pain, and a desperate burst of willpower collided as Xander ignored his own agony to drive the stake forward. He let out a primal scream, a sound that was equal parts terror and determination as he put every ounce of strength he had left into the thrust.

Jesse, caught off guard by Xander's sudden move, tried to react, but it was too late. The stake pierced his chest even as his superhuman hands speared through Xander's chest in a last, futile defensive attack.

Xander gasped, the pain so intense that for a moment, he couldn't breathe. He looked down, eyes wide with shock as he saw Jesse's hands buried in his chest, blood already soaking through his shirt.

This is it, he thought, a strange sense of calm washing over him. This is how I die.

But even as the thought crossed his mind, Jesse collapsed into dust, his body disintegrating before Xander's eyes. The hands that had been buried in his chest vanished, leaving behind gaping wounds that pulsed with each ragged breath.

Xander crumpled to the ground, his legs giving out beneath him as he clutched at the fatal wound. Blood flowed freely, mixing with the dust that was once his friend. He gasped for air, his mind a whirl of pain and confusion.

"Fuck," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper as he tried to crawl forward, his hands and knees scraping against the rough asphalt. He managed a few feet before his strength gave out, and he crashed to the ground once more.

I can't die here, he thought, even as the world began to spin around him. I can't leave Buffy and Willow alone. They need me.

But even as he tried to convince himself, Xander knew it was a lie. He was just a regular guy, a high school student with a penchant for snark and a love of comic books. He wasn't a superhero, he wasn't a fighter. He was just... Xander.

Blood flowed from him as he watched with droopy eyes and darkening vision, the red liquid trailing out in front of him like a macabre river. The pain was fading now, replaced by a cold numbness that seemed to seep into his very bones.

I just... he began to think, a haze filling his thoughts. I just wanna be the hero for once.

A warmth suddenly made itself felt from his back pocket, something that felt almost hot but small. What?

Xander's brow furrowed, confusion cutting through the fog that had settled over his mind. He tried to reach for the source of the warmth, but his arms refused to cooperate, his fingers twitching uselessly at his sides.

Before he could question it further, a flash of red light filled the alley, so bright that it seared his retinas even through his closed eyelids. Xander blinked rapidly, trying to clear his vision as he heard footsteps clicking towards him slowly.

A pair of red dress shoes filled his vision, stopping just short of stepping atop his blood. Xander blinked again, his eyes struggling to focus as he cast his gaze up from his position on the filthy, cold alley floor.

Black dress pants, a black vest, a black tie, and a red dress shirt were the major things he noticed, but what was above all those took his breath away.

"...you?" Xander croaked, his voice barely audible over the pounding of his own heart.

A mouth full of perfectly straight, brilliant white teeth smiled back at him. "Me." The figure ran his hand through his mane of thick, blood-red dreadlocks, piercing blue eyes focused on Xander's bloody, wheezing form. "Hey there, Xander."

"...wha..." Xander managed, his mind struggling to process what he was seeing.

But even as he tried to convince himself it was a trick of his failing mind, Xander couldn't deny the evidence of his own eyes. Samuel was there, looking for all the world like he had just stepped out of a fashion magazine, not a hair out of place despite the chaos.

What the hell is going on? Xander thought, his mind spinning with questions even as the world began to fade around the edges. How did he find me? Why is he here? And what's with the sudden wardrobe change?

Samuel Ash shook his finger and made a noise that was clearly discouraging as he spoke in that slow drawl, seemingly unbothered by watching another kid mortally wounded and bleeding to death. "I wouldn't bother talking. You don't have the energy. Just nod or shake your head. Okay, homie?"

Xander opened his mouth to speak, only to realize the other boy was right. His tongue felt like lead in his mouth, his jaw refusing to cooperate as he tried to form words. Guess I'm not getting any last words in, he thought, a morbid sense of humor still clinging to his fading consciousness. After a moment, he nodded, the simple motion sending a fresh wave of pain through his battered body.

"Good. See, what I'm here to do is offer you a deal."

A deal? Xander's mind raced, trying to make sense of Samuel's words through the haze of pain and blood loss.

He nodded weakly, hoping Sam would get to the point before he passed out. The edges of his vision were already starting to blur, the shadows of the alley seeming to close in around him like a shroud.

"Good. Me too. As in 'I'", Sammy pointed a thumb at his chest, his voice carrying a note of confidence that seemed out of place in the grim surroundings, "want 'you'" he pointed an index finger at Xander's prone form on the ground, "to live. Planet Earth would be worse off without you and you don't want to die if you can help it, you're a fighter that way."

Xander nodded, a flicker of hope sparking in his chest despite the dire situation. He wants me to live, he thought, clinging to the words like a lifeline. Maybe there's a chance...

"Which is why I took it upon myself," Sam snapped his fingers, and what could only be described as a red glowing pawn chess piece appeared over his palm, the thing hovering a few inches above it, "to make things happen. You wanna live right, Xan Man?"

Xander's eyes widened, his gaze transfixed by the glowing chess piece. What the hell is that? he wondered, his mind struggling to process the impossible sight before him. Is this really happening, or am I just hallucinating from the blood loss?

He nodded, barely able to do anything else as his vision continued to darken. The pain was fading now, replaced by a cold numbness that seemed to seep into his very bones.

"You want to make a difference, don't you?"

Another nod, weaker this time. Of course I do, Xander thought, a flicker of his old determination sparking to life in his chest. I want to help Buffy, I want to keep Willow safe, I want to be more than just the useless sidekick.

"You want to put vamps in the dirt, right?"

Xander opened his mouth, his voice barely above a whisper as he forced the words out. "...y-yes."

"That's what I want to hear, homie," Sam grinned as he squatted down to the alley floor, his face mere inches from Xander's own. Up close, his eyes seemed to glow with an otherworldly light, the blue irises almost luminescent in the darkness.

What are you? Xander wanted to ask, but the words wouldn't come. His tongue felt heavy in his mouth, his lips refusing to form the syllables.

"Welcome to your new life," Samuel said, his voice seeming to echo from a great distance as Xander's consciousness began to slip away.

The last thing Xander saw before the darkness overtook him was the scarlet glow of the pawn piece as it touched his forehead, the warmth of it seeming to spread through his entire being like a wildfire. 

And then, there was only darkness.