“Oh, little hacker…” Angelus’ voice rang through the nearly empty room. When the words worked their way into Willow’s ears, her head shot up. Angelus was back…maybe she’d finally learn what was going on here. She shrunk back into her bindings, hoping to hide from the cruel vampire. Unfortunately, that wasn’t going to work.

“What do you want?” she said again, hoping that maybe she could just tell him something and he’d go away. She really didn’t like hanging there…in a dark, damp room…in her nightgown…and being held by Angelus. Things like that were bad. Very bad, and should really be avoided.

Good lot of a job she had done.

Angelus entered the room, closing the door shut behind him. Sauntering over to Willow, he hummed a violent little tune. “We’ve already had this discussion, red. But now I have a different idea.” He worked the plan through his head again quickly. Time to put on the sweet and innocent act, and hoped the teenage girl would fall for it. Considering the words he just used, it would.

He softened his features expertly. The eyes sagged, the mouth relaxed, and his whole demeanor changed instantly. No more Angelus - he was working soul-boy now.

Willow watched as Angelus seemed to change before her eyes. In fact, he looked almost kind, soulful…angelic. A shudder ran up her back as she realized she was looking at Angel…or what used to be angel. Evil guy now, she reminded herself as she looked at his luscious body. Evil. Evil evil evil evil evil…

“Willow…listen, I was thinking…” he started slowly, smiling softly. “And I figured something out that was bugging me. It’s just, that…” He looked deeply into her eyes. “I think I really like you, and I was wondering if there was a chance, y’know, that we could…go out.”

The hacker was very much slack-jawed. In fact, she could almost hear her chin hit the floor. It was a trick. A mean, evil, horrid trick that was pulling on her in order to make her vulnerable.

And dammit, it was working.

But before Willow could even think to react, Angelus charged forward and captured her mouth with his.

First, Willow tried to pull away. But, unfortunately, the wall was in the way of her head, and she couldn’t make it. Second, she tried to cut off the kiss, but he held her head in his hands firmly, and she couldn’t do anything. Third…goddamn, she was enjoying it, and that was a bad.

Finally, thoughts of Oz filled her head. Oz! Oh god, she was cheating on Oz. Or was this cheating? She wasn’t willing…but she was liking it. Oz didn’t kiss like that…or hold her like that…or make her feel like that…

Bad Willow! She mentally reprimanded herself. She was doing bad stuff…but then again, she couldn’t help it. Eventually giving in to Angelus’ oral attack, she told herself over and over again that it was just her body responding.

Angelus could almost feel Willow’s thoughts. First, rejection. Then, denial. There was a lot of that. But eventually, he could feel the acceptance. Grinning, he finally decided that maybe his insane plan would actually work.

***

“Someone’s got Willow.”

“Check.”

“That someone knows who the Slayer and Watcher are.”

“Another check.”

“And we have absolutely no idea what’s going on, if Willow’s in trouble, and what the hell we’re supposed to do.”

“Triple check.” Xander checked off their list with his hand, making a checking sign in the air. “So basically, we’re really screwed. Willow’s missing, being tortured, threatened, hurt…oh god,” Xander trailed off, putting his head in his hands. “Oh Wills…” he moaned into his hands.

Cordy went over to comfort Xander, but she had no idea what to do. People disappeared in Sunnydale every day.

But why did it have to be Willow?