Spike listened attentively to Fang's explanation, a tinge of guilt washing over him as he realized he hadn't considered her dietary preferences before suggesting the cafe. He mentally chided himself for not asking beforehand, wishing he could turn back time and avoid this awkward situation altogether.
"I see. I'm sorry-" he began, ready to apologize, but before he could finish his sentence, a blood-curdling scream pierced the air. "SPIKE!"
The scream seemed to echo in his very soul, sending a chill down his spine. His heart pounding, Spike turned abruptly to see Maya's ghostly apparition materialize right next to him, her spectral form leaning in close, her anguished face inches from his own.
"Maya..." he whispered, his voice barely audible over the roar of his own heartbeat.
Maya's appearance was hauntingly tragic. Her ghostly figure bore the marks of her torment, with cuts marring her neck and tears streaming down her translucent cheeks. The anguish in her eyes mirrored the agony of her voice, and Spike felt the tension in the air build around her tortured spirit.
For a moment, his guard slipped, and some of his own coffee spilled over the edge of his cup as he recoiled in shock. Despite the chaos unfolding around him, he couldn't tear his gaze away from Maya's haunting form, his mind swirling with guilt.
Maya's spectral voice pierced the air like a mournful wail, her words echoing with an intensity that sent shivers down Spike's spine.
"I loved you, Spike!" she cried out, her voice filled with anguish and betrayal. "I loved you with all my heart, and you... you killed me! Why, Spike? Why did you do it? Why did you betray me?"
Her words cut through the air like a knife, each accusation striking Spike's heart with a force that threatened to overwhelm him. The pain in Maya's voice was agonizing, her ghostly form trembling with the weight of her sorrow.
"I trusted you, Spike," she continued, her voice cracking with emotion. "I believed in you, and you... you destroyed me. How could you? How could you do this to me?"
As Spike began to open his mouth to respond to Maya's accusations, a wave of confusion swept over him. This wasn't right. He didn't know Maya outside of his contract, and Maya had certainly never laid eyes on him before. Yet here she was, accusing him of betrayal and professing her love for him as if they shared a history together.
The memories flooded into Spike's mind, vivid and disorienting. Scenes of laughter and intimacy intertwined with moments of anger and betrayal, all playing out in his mind's eye with a clarity that left him reeling. But how could these memories be real? It didn't make sense.
Frustration gnawed at Spike's insides as he struggled to make sense of the situation. This couldn't be happening. This couldn't be real. And yet, her presence was undeniable, her anguish cutting through him like a knife.
With a heavy heart, Spike forced himself to push aside the confusion and focus on the present. There would be time to unravel the mystery later. For now, he had to deal with the ghostly apparition before him and find a way to put an end to Maya's torment.
He turned to Fang. "We should go."