Buffy Logo 'Killed By Death'
Story Code '5V18'

by Rob Des Hotel
and Dean Batali
Buffy

Buffy is so ill with the flu that she nearly stakes Xander while out on patrol, and then promptly collapses. Her friends take her to the hospital, where half of Sunnydale is also recovering from the same virus. Overcome with fever, Buffy sees a terrifying demonic figure stalking the halls of the hospital, and then learns that several children have mysteriously died. Delirious, Buffy begins talking about slaying vampires, and has to be sedated; her mother explains that Buffy has hated hospitals ever since her cousin died in one, when the eight-year-old Buffy was alone with her. Later, a boy named Ryan tells Buffy that ‘Death’ is coming for the children, but he is invisible to adults. Meanwhile, Angelus tries to visit Buffy, as vampires can enter any public buildings, but Xander drives him away. After Buffy tells her friends about the demonic figure she has seen, they begin researching into it; it seems that the prime suspect for the deaths of the children is Doctor Backer, as Buffy discovers that he was using an experimental drug on the sick children, but this theory is dashed when she later witnesses his death by an invisible force. Willow and Buffy ransack Backer's office for clues, while Giles and Cordelia's research uncovers the legend of Der Kindestod, a demon that sucks the life from children. Buffy realises that the demon was also responsible for the death of her cousin; deducing that she is only able to see the creature when she is delirious, which is why it is invisible to adults, Buffy deliberately ingests some of the flu virus to make herself extremely ill. She and Xander follow the demon down to the basement where the children are hiding; they are just in time to stop Ryan from being killed, and Buffy is able to put an end to the Kindestod demon.

Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers), Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris), Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg), Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia Chase), David Boreanaz (Angel), Anthony Stewart Head (Rupert Giles), Kristine Sutherland (Joyce Summers), Richard Herd (Dr. Backer), Willie Garson (Security guard), Andrew Ducote (Ryan), Juanita Jennings (Dr. Wilkinson), Robert Munic (Intern), Mimi Paley (Little Buffy), Denise Johnson (Celia), James Jude Courtney (Kindestod)
Directed by Deran Serafian

TX (US): 3rd March 1998
TX (UK - Sky One): 23rd July 1999
TX (UK - BBC): 17th February 2000

Notes:
*Featuring Buffy, Xander, Willow, Giles, Cordelia, and Angel