Willow, Xander and Oz are attempting to keep the Sunnydale vampire population in check during Buffy's absence with only moderate success. As the gang restarts school we learn that Buffy is working as a waitress in L.A. using the name Anne and trying to forget her old life. Buffy runs into Lily (formerly known as Chanterelle) and her boyfriend Rickie who quickly turns up missing. Buffy discovers Rickie dead but mysteriously aged to an old man. Continuing her investigation Buffy tracks down Ken (a social worker) and Lily and all three fall through a portal in the floor. They are in a demonic factory where the humans are slave labor. Back in Sunnydale the gang succeeds in staking a vampire though it's not exactly pretty. Meanwhile Buffy and Lily wake up in a cell and Ken explains they are in an alternate dimension where a hundred years passes before a day on Earth goes by. Buffy overcomes the guards with some help from Lily and leads her and the other slaves back to Earth. After handing
Buffy Summer's journey as the Vampire Slayer begins when she moves to Sunnydale, a small Californian town that, unbeknownst to most residents, sits atop a Hellmouth - a portal to supernatural forces. She is discovered by Rupert Giles, the school librarian and her Watcher, whose role is to guide and train her as the Slayer. Alongside Giles, Buffy forms an eclectic group of friends, her "Scooby Gang", including Willow Rosenberg, a shy but highly intelligent witch; Xander Harris, Buffy's best friend and comic relief; and Cordelia Chase, a popular girl who becomes a reluctant ally.
Buffy's relationships with those around her, particularly romantic entanglements, are a major focus of the series. Her most notable love interests are Angel, a vampire with a soul, and Spike, who, despite being a villain, develops a complex and evolving bond with Buffy. The complexities of her relationships, particularly her love life, highlight the emotional weight of Buffy's duties as the Slayer and her desire for connection, love, and a sense of normalcy.