Title: The trick is to keep breathing; Prologue
Author: Midnight Red
Rating: PG-13 more, or less
Disclaimer: Joss is God. I own nothing. I'm just playing in their sandbox!
Lyrics to The Trick... belong to Garbage.
Author's note: This is my first Willow/Spike fic... be gentle please!
Dedication: To Inell, she’s a goddess, a goddess I tell ya! *g*
Feedback: Please? It will be received, treasured and answered!

The Trick Is To Keep Breathing - Prologue

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Harsh waves crashed thunderously against the surf. In the flawless sand, a
crude circle of rocks surrounded a small, sputtering fire. A lone figure
huddled near the fire's heat, futelessly rubbing her bare arms trying to
regain some resemblance of warmth. Her tangled red tresses fluttered
aimlessly in the cold wind, almost as if paying homage to the unforgiving
night.

Insanity glittered in her green eyes, and her white dress hung in tatters on
her slight frame. Suppressing a shiver, she reached for a small, woven
basket that sat next to her. Riffling trough its contents, she yelped in
glee when she found the object of her search. Pulling out a small pouch, she
carefully opened it. Slowly, she released some of its contents unto the
fire. It suddenly roared to life, reaching high upwards, towards the
nighttime sky. Taken aback, the pouch fell from her fingers, spilling its
contents in the sand.

Clutching the small emerald that hung around her neck, she whispered.
"Trouble's a' brewing, but nobody believe. They think me's crazy," giggling
she said, louder now, "But I'll show 'em. Call me crazy, did they? Nobody
be calling me crazy if me daddy be alive. But he's dead! The bad, bad man
took 'im. And then they burned me mum! Called her witch, did they? I'll show
'em"

Stifling a sob, she fell to her knees. Unexpectedly, harsh pain wracked her
body. Her screams drifted through the isolated beach, swallowed by the heavy
wind. Images flickered in her mind, she tried to make sense of them, but the
pain took away her reasoning. Blood, she saw so much blood. Shudders ran
through her body, sobs wracking her slight frame.

And suddenly, everything just stopped.

The din of the wind died down, the sea was calm, the fire had banked down,
and the pain was gone. Blinking back tears, she looked around her.
Bewildered, she stood there, very confused. Heartbeat racing, her eyes
darted around the deserted beach. In the darkness, something moved. Her
confused mind tried to make sense of everything that was happening, but it
was too much. Helplessly, she glanced all around her, trying to make sense
of the darkness. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw something move, but
in a blink, it was gone. From behind her, a voice spoke, "'allo luv"

Her body was found the next morning.