“I have swimmers ear!”

Anya swung her sword and decapitated one of the vampires, her sword blocking a second attack almost immediately. Fighting desperately, she pushed the vamp backwards causing it to lose its footing and fall into a conveniently overturned wooden chair.

Turning rapidly, Anya ran the three steps between her and Andrew and plunged her sword deep into the chest of the vampire that was hovering above the terrified man.

Behind them, and unseen to the pair, Bringers filled the corridor and crept silently towards them.

As Anya turned, her eyes went huge and white as she came face to face with one of the Bringers who drove his curved blade deep into her chest. She fell to the ground, her dying whisper calling Xanders name.

Back in the Hellmouth, Spike spun, breaking the neck of the vampire he was fighting before stumbling backwards as if hit by some unseen force. He stared dumbly at the amulet around his neck, before raising his fingers to its medallion and jerking them away sharply as if it was suddenly burning hot.

“Buffy! Whatever this thing does, I think it’s…..” He began before screaming in agony and taking many more steps backwards.

In the heat of the battle, Buffy failed to hear Spikes cries for help and swung a large axe expertly, removing the heads of two Turok-han effortlessly.

“Keep the line together! Drive them to the edge! We can’t let them do….“ She yelled, trying to keep the group together and in formation. Her words were cut off suddenly and she looked down to where a new searing pain had hit her. From the right of her stomach, the tip of a sword protruded, its point covered in her blood.

Taking a few faltering steps forward, Buffy gasped, more in surprise than in pain and fell forward landing face first in the dust.

To the left of the fallen slayer, Faith despatched yet another vampire and turned to where Buffy had been standing.

“Buffy!!” she yelled, fighting her way through the ensemble to her fallen comrade. Kneeling at her side, Faith gently laid her battle-bloodied hand on Buffy shoulder.

Raising her head slightly, Buffy grimaced against the pain that ripped through her abdomen.

“Hold the line!” she gasped raggedly as she handed the scythe to Faith who looked at in with an expression of mild shock before getting back to her feet and swinging instinctively at the next group of vampires.