Something is wrong with Buffy Summers. Her friends might want to pretend otherwise. At first, Spike wanted to pretend too. However, soon there are signs even he can’t brush under the rug. Only, he’s not quite sure how to fix it. Can’t even determine where the crack is exactly. The only thing Spike knows for certain is that he’s going to have to do something different—faster or more clever—if he’s going to save Buffy…from herself.
Thank you to OffYourBird for creating me this gorgeous banner!!
Artists: None
Characters: Buffy, Dawn, Spike, Willow
Genres: Angst, Dark, Drama, Horror
Warnings: Adult Language, Attempted Suicide, Sexual Situations, Violence
Completed: No Chapters: 26
Word count: 66,869 Hit Count: 33,838 ePub Downloads: 206
Published: January 14, 2018 Updated: June 27, 2020
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All chapter titles and poetry excerpts are borrowed from “The Conqueror Worm” by Edgar Allan Poe.
Not a 100% sure if this will earn its "R" rating, but I wanted to be safe rather than sorry.
This is my first story. Thank you for taking the time to read!
1. Horror the soul of the plot by justsue - Likes: 34 Comments: 27 Word Count: 843 Hit Count: 4,453 Published: January 14, 2018
2. Out are the lights by justsue - Likes: 26 Comments: 16 Word Count: 1,695 Hit Count: 1,514 Published: January 17, 2018
No copyright infringement is intended.
All chapter titles and poetry excerpts are borrowed from “The Conqueror Worm” by Edgar Allan Poe.
Thank you so much for all your lovely reviews! Hopefully, I won't disappoint. That being said, this chapter is mostly filler (but necessary).
3. Quivering Form by justsue - Likes: 23 Comments: 14 Word Count: 1,543 Hit Count: 1,466 Published: January 21, 2018
No copyright infringement is intended.
All chapter titles and poetry excerpts are borrowed from “The Conqueror Worm” by Edgar Allan Poe
Some dialogue borrowed from episode 6x2 (Bargaining)
Once again, I'd like to thank you all for your wonderful support.
4. Chased for evermoreā¦ by justsue - Likes: 24 Comments: 13 Word Count: 1,190 Hit Count: 1,395 Published: January 24, 2018
No copyright infringement is intended.
All chapter titles and poetry excerpts are borrowed from “The Conqueror Worm” by Edgar Allan Poe
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read and review!
5. A Play of Hopes and Fearsā¦ by justsue - Likes: 23 Comments: 18 Word Count: 1,246 Hit Count: 1,532 Published: January 28, 2018
No copyright infringement is intended.
All chapter titles and poetry excerpts are borrowed from “The Conqueror Worm” by Edgar Allan Poe
As always, thank you so much for your wonderful feedback!
Also, even though I've thanked OffYourBird a hundred times by now, I wanted to say thank you again for creating me a banner for my story. It's perfection!
6. Much of Madness by justsue - Likes: 22 Comments: 16 Word Count: 1,347 Hit Count: 1,464 Published: January 31, 2018
No copyright infringement is intended.
All chapter titles and poetry excerpts are borrowed from “The Conqueror Worm” by Edgar Allan Poe.
Thank you guys for all your lovely reviews.
(3 weeks after Spike finds Buffy...)
7. Shift the Scenery by justsue - Likes: 24 Comments: 16 Word Count: 2,450 Hit Count: 1,362 Published: February 04, 2018
No copyright infringement is intended.
All chapter titles and poetry excerpts are borrowed from “The Conqueror Worm” by Edgar Allan Poe.
Thank you all for taking the time to read and review. I truly appreciate it.
8. Funeral Pall by justsue - Likes: 26 Comments: 16 Word Count: 1,731 Hit Count: 1,308 Published: February 07, 2018
No copyright infringement is intended.
All chapter titles and poetry excerpts are borrowed from “The Conqueror Worm” by Edgar Allan Poe.
As always, thank you for reading and reviewing!
Just in case the "flashback" last chapter threw people off...I just want to make it clear that it's been 3 weeks since Buffy's resurrection. Last time we saw her, she was banging her head against a wall and saying some weird stuff. Dawn reports this to Spike and asks him to go check on Buffy. So, everything from this chapter on is following from that moment.
Okay, on to the story!
9. Invisible Woe by justsue - Likes: 23 Comments: 14 Word Count: 2,447 Hit Count: 1,215 Published: February 11, 2018
No copyright infringement is intended.
All chapter titles and poetry excerpts are borrowed from “The Conqueror Worm” by Edgar Allan Poe.
Thank you for taking the time to read and review!
10. Come and Go by justsue - Likes: 22 Comments: 14 Word Count: 2,420 Hit Count: 1,232 Published: February 14, 2018
No copyright infringement is intended.
All chapter titles and poetry excerpts are borrowed from “The Conqueror Worm” by Edgar Allan Poe.
Thank you for your lovely reviews!
Previously, Buffy decided to go "patrol" in order to get away from her friends and the "worms" causing her insomnia. Spike ends up saving her from a vampire. He asks her if she wants to go back to his place and she agrees...
11. Veils by justsue - Likes: 30 Comments: 23 Word Count: 2,480 Hit Count: 1,190 Published: February 18, 2018
No copyright infringement is intended.
All chapter titles and poetry excerpts are borrowed from “The Conqueror Worm” by Edgar Allan Poe.
A tiny bit of dialogue (well, a thought) is borrowed from “The Gift.”
Thank you for taking the time to read and review!
Previously, Buffy goes to Spike's crypt to escape from her friends. They share some back and forth banter in the form of limericks; they also share a kiss which gets interrupted by Dawn. Buffy then spots the bruises on Dawn's neck, which she doesn't remember causing.
12. To and Fro by justsue - Likes: 24 Comments: 12 Word Count: 2,413 Hit Count: 1,249 Published: March 03, 2018
(I noticed that my story has been featured! That was a lovely surprise. So very, very cool!)
Thank you all for your lovely reviews!
No copyright infringement is intended.
All chapter titles and poetry excerpts are borrowed from “The Conqueror Worm” by Edgar Allan Poe.
Previously: Buffy cleans for hours day and night to combat the "worms" she believes are going to devour her alive. Spike does his best to soothe her compulsions by visiting her everyday while Willow and Tara are gone. After overhearing a Scooby plan to force her back into patrolling, Buffy attempts to get away from her friends; this leads to her spending some quality time with Spike. They share a chaste kiss that is (unfortunately) interrupted by Dawn. Buffy finds out that she was the one responsible for injuring Dawn and bruising her neck. The knowledge of this triggers another one of Buffy’s “episodes.” She starts shouting in Yiddish. When Spike responds to her in the same language, Buffy says, “klug eyngl” or “clever boy” before she collapses. Spike and Dawn return to the Summers’ house to put Buffy back in bed. On the way, Dawn informs Spike that Willow is using magic to prevent people from contacting Giles. Spike declares that he’s going to find a way to undo whatever magic she’s using and get in contact with Giles, once more.
13. Motley Drama by justsue - Likes: 36 Comments: 27 Word Count: 3,324 Hit Count: 1,272 Published: March 20, 2018
No copyright infringement is intended.
All chapter titles and poetry excerpts are borrowed from “The Conqueror Worm” by Edgar Allan Poe.
Some dialogue adapted from episode 6x4 “Flooded”
Previously: Dawn informs Spike that Willow is using magic to prevent people from contacting Giles. Spike declares that he’s going to find a way to undo whatever magic she’s using and get in contact with Giles, once more. He steals a book from the magic shop that he hopes will provide him with answers. He also tries to convince Buffy to stay away from Willow, but she's a little reluctant to follow his advice. Buffy develops an out-of-character smoking habit. And, she invites Spike to the dinner party her friends are forcing her to throw/attend.
14. Self-Same Spot by justsue - Likes: 25 Comments: 15 Word Count: 3,632 Hit Count: 1,105 Published: July 22, 2018
No copyright infringement is intended.
All chapter titles and poetry excerpts are borrowed from “The Conqueror Worm” by Edgar Allan Poe.
15. Drowned in Tears by justsue - Likes: 22 Comments: 11 Word Count: 4,294 Hit Count: 1,106 Published: July 29, 2018
No copyright infringement is intended.
All chapter titles and poetry excerpts are borrowed from “The Conqueror Worm” by Edgar Allan Poe.
FYI: I added a “sexual situations” warning to the story.
Thank you all for taking the time to read and review!
Previously: Willow tries to hurt Spike during Buffy’s “Welcome Back” party. Spike discovers that his chip no longer works on Buffy, but he doesn’t tell her.
16. Vast formless things by justsue - Likes: 33 Comments: 21 Word Count: 3,387 Hit Count: 1,063 Published: August 02, 2018
No copyright infringement is intended.
All chapter titles and poetry excerpts are borrowed from “The Conqueror Worm” by Edgar Allan Poe.
Thank you for all your lovely reviews!
17. Ever Returneth by justsue - Likes: 28 Comments: 20 Word Count: 4,180 Hit Count: 1,090 Published: August 16, 2018
No copyright infringement is intended.
All chapter titles and poetry excerpts are borrowed from “The Conqueror Worm” by Edgar Allan Poe.
Thank you all so much for your reviews on the last chapter! This one will not feature rotten meat for those of you who like to snack as you read :P
18. Rush of a Storm by justsue - Likes: 30 Comments: 17 Word Count: 3,010 Hit Count: 1,235 Published: August 23, 2018
No copyright infringement is intended.
All chapter titles and poetry excerpts are borrowed from “The Conqueror Worm” by Edgar Allan Poe.
Thank you all for your fantastic reviews! I really had fun seeing everyone's various interpretations of Willow's character.
Hope you enjoy this one!
19. Phantom by justsue - Likes: 29 Comments: 18 Word Count: 3,088 Hit Count: 1,101 Published: August 30, 2018
No copyright infringement is intended.
All chapter titles and poetry excerpts are borrowed from “The Conqueror Worm” by Edgar Allan Poe.
Okay...so, part of me thought this chapter deserved a bit of an *extra* warning, but I wasn't exactly sure of what to warn you of. Let's call it a "hard" R for disturbing imagery.
20. Human Gore by justsue - Likes: 32 Comments: 20 Word Count: 3,742 Hit Count: 1,037 Published: September 13, 2018
No copyright infringement is intended.
All chapter titles and poetry excerpts are borrowed from “The Conqueror Worm” by Edgar Allan Poe.
Thank you guys for your comments and likes from the last few chapters! I truly appreciate each and every one of them :)
Previously....After the entity torments Buffy using the face of various figures from her past, Buffy appears to finally succumb to its power. Spike wakes up alone in the church after his night with Buffy, but recalls bits and pieces of a dream in which Joyce Summers revealed the creature that has been torturing her daughter.
21. Mortal Pangs by justsue - Likes: 25 Comments: 13 Word Count: 4,263 Hit Count: 993 Published: September 20, 2018
No copyright infringement is intended.
All chapter titles and poetry excerpts are borrowed from “The Conqueror Worm” by Edgar Allan Poe.
Thank you all so much for the love you've given the last few chapters! I greatly appreciate it :) In comparison to the last chapter, things are a tad less crazy, but I'm hoping it'll clear up at least some of the questions you've been patiently waiting to be answered.
22. Puppets by justsue - Likes: 26 Comments: 14 Word Count: 1,846 Hit Count: 1,108 Published: September 27, 2018
No copyright infringement is intended.
All chapter titles and poetry excerpts are borrowed from “The Conqueror Worm” by Edgar Allan Poe.
Thank you so much for all of your lovely comments!
Previously: Tara and Dawn walk in on Buffy attacking Willow. Buffy snaps out of her trance and finds herself covered in her friend's blood. Giles finds himself starring in Sophie's Choice. Armed with only a name, Spike rushes off to save Buffy from the demonic influence within her.
23. The play is the tragedy, "Man" (Part I) by justsue - Likes: 26 Comments: 16 Word Count: 2,805 Hit Count: 1,106 Published: October 18, 2018
No copyright infringement is intended.
All chapter titles and poetry excerpts are borrowed from “The Conqueror Worm” by Edgar Allan Poe.
Thank you all for your lovely comments!
Previously...
Giles tells Spike that he must "appeal to the dybbuk's lingering humanity" in order to persuade it to leave Buffy. Dawn decides that her sister has "come back wrong" and sends the Buffybot after her. Machla coaxes Buffy to Glory's tower and persuades her to jump.
24. The play is the tragedy, "Man" (Part II) by justsue - Likes: 20 Comments: 12 Word Count: 4,014 Hit Count: 762 Published: June 06, 2020
Hi there! For those who are new to the story, welcome! For those who have read this story before, I know you've had to wait a long time for an update. Thank you for your enduring patience. There will be postings once a week until the story is complete!
No copyright infringement is intended.
All chapter titles and poetry excerpts are borrowed from “The Conqueror Worm” by Edgar Allan Poe.
25. In a Theater by justsue - Likes: 20 Comments: 8 Word Count: 1,394 Hit Count: 756 Published: June 13, 2020
I am so grateful for all of your reviews. I was seriously nervous about posting again. Thank you all for your encouragement.
No copyright infringement is intended.
All chapter titles and poetry excerpts are borrowed from “The Conqueror Worm” by Edgar Allan Poe.
Previously: Spike tries to convince Machla to leave Buffy's body. Just as it seems like his words might be working, Giles begins a ritual to seal the dybbuk away. Panicked and enraged, Machla vows to destroy the Slayer.
26. And its Hero (Part I) by justsue - Likes: 24 Comments: 16 Word Count: 2,085 Hit Count: 724 Published: June 27, 2020
Disclaimer: No copyright infringement is intended.
All chapter titles and poetry excerpts are borrowed from “The Conqueror Worm” by Edgar Allan Poe
Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing!