Darkness Unleashed

[Lucifer]

Lucifer could feel even from within the Cage the moment the Darkness was released onto the earth. Oh what had the Winchesters done now? While it was amusing to watch the humans self-destruct after being corrupted, losing his true vessel to the ancient evil was not an idea he was fond of. He hated sharing his toys. Especially with the dark mistress that had tempted him so long ago. She could have anyone else, but not Sam.

That spineless fool Crowley had his demons chasing after witches and spell books, and it was time he reminded them of what was really important. Sure, the Book of the Damned could come in very handy, but that could come later. He wanted to play a little game with his old ally, and it was his move. Let's see how long it took for her to sense his 'friendly' challenge. Continuing to ignore the presence of his older brother and bunk buddy, he sent out a warning call to his lowly pets that rippled throughout Hell and shook the very Cage itself. It was a warning that the Darkness was a force to be respected and feared, even by those that called themselves her allies. He didn't fear her per say, but they shared a mutual respect. He was pleased to see how his message sent most of Hell into a panic, glad to know they still recognized who their true king was. Crowley was just a child who'd gotten too big for his bridges. The pawns had been set in motion. Now to see how things played out.

[Harley Eve]

For the longest while, she had been laying low. Under the radar one might say, after her true purpose had been fulfilled. Azazel was wiped from existence, with a little shoving in the right direction from her end. Up to this point, she hadn't even truly met the Winchester boys. They were the talk of every demon, vamp, angel: down below and up above. Even creatures in purgatory knew their names. She enjoyed watching them. Seeing the way they lied to each other, betrayed each other, trusted each other. How many times the gates of hell had been rattled and all because of them. Their life-long mission to save the world but yet, they kept pushing it closer and closer to the end of humanity.

Harley didn't care to see the end of the world. Especially since that meant she'd be locked down in the cage all over again, and she didn't fight her way out just to see ten sad little years to what was a story meant to last an eternity. No, she'd rather skip out on bowing to Crowley's feet as the pathetic demon called himself the King of Hell. He could never truly be such a thing, not with Lucifer waiting for his chance to rise again. She didn't care much to see that happen, either.

No, she liked this world. She liked to hide among faces and lives, each giving her a different type of satisfaction. She did her fair share of dirty deeds, but she wanted to live with these mortal fools just as much as the next guy. But that was all coming down to an end, as the boys messed up once again. This time, in a way that even had Satan himself warning them all. She could feel the message, the gates of hell themselves rattling and filling in every demon's head. The end was coming. Again. This time.. she wanted to help stop it.

[Dean Winchester]

Dean knew that something was wrong even before he saw the strands of foreboding black smoke snaking their way across the countryside. The Mark was gone, and he had just killed Death. If that didn't come with consequences...hell, he didn't know what did. He distinctly recalled Death telling him about the Mark's purpose before Sam arrived. It seemed to be burned into his memory. That was probably a good thing.

"Before there was light, before there was God and the archangels, there wasn't nothing. There was the Darkness, a horribly destructive, amoral force that was beaten back by God and his archangels in a terrible war"...

Those two sentences were enough to make Dean cringe as he remembered Death's words. But what Death had said about the Mark...that was even worse now that it had been ripped off of his arm by Sam's attempt at making a cure..."God locked the Darkness away where it could do no harm, and he created a Mark that would serve as both lock and key"...

This new force they were up against was dark and evil, and so ancient that even Castiel wouldn't know how to deal with it. And now that Death was gone...the only beings on Earth who had the ability to help them would be the archangels, who were all either dead or locked away...or God, who hadn't exactly been the most accessible when they'd needed him most. They wouldn't be finding him in New Mexico on a tortilla, that was for sure.

So, naturally, as they always were with these looming forces...they were doomed.


But Dean knew he was REALLY screwed when his baby's tire fell into a pothole. A damned POTHOLE, of all obstacles. This tiny hole therefore prevented his escape from the smoke that was making its way towards him. Dean shot a glance in the rearview mirror and his stomach twisted. He slammed his foot down on the gas pedal. The tire was spinning rapidly, but they weren't going anywhere.

"The Darkness", as Death called it, was speeding up considerably as it sidled across the landscape, and there was nothing Dean could do about it.He was completely and utterly helpless. And he didn't like it. Who did, honestly? Heart pounding, he floored the gas again. Nothing. He gritted his teeth and tried again. Come on, come on... He thought desperately. Nothing, still.

Before he had a chance at another attempt, the smoke washed over the Impala, and he was lost in blackness.

[Sam Winchester]

I saved Dean. For a moment, that was all that mattered. Time and time again they would pull their selfish deeds, risking the world just to see each other alive. The consequences, and there were always consequences, were an endless cycle of saving and dying. They always battled through, ramming head on into obstacles no matter how dangerous. This had become somewhat natural to the Winchester's.

Except this time, he knew it was different. After what small explanation was given to him, Sam knew that this darkness was unlike anything they had gone up against before. For two men that could say they fought against Satan and survived (in one way or another), it simply meant the world was on the brink of being screwed.

But Sam was willing to pay his dues. He knew it was because of him this ancient evil would be unleashed. His cure to save Dean had backfired and it would be innocent people paying the price. They would do something to stop it: they always did. At least, that was what he believed until this ancient evil actually took a form before their eyes. It was something that they knew absolutely nothing about: and it was racing right towards them.

"Dean.." his hands were gripped into fists, his eyes momentarily darting towards the face of his brother. The look of panic in the older sibling's eyes was no more comforting. He squirmed in his seat, looking back at the black fog which sped across the landscape, headed directly towards the two. Even if the tire jumped out from the pothole, how long would they have until the darkness caught up to them?

It was too late to even figure the numbers. The Impala was engulfed in the black fog, the windows completely darkened by the essence. Sam watched wide-eyed as it moved around them, bracing himself for the unknown. It was in the split moment that he looked out his own window that suddenly, his brother was gone. "Dean!" His voice hollered and echoed inside the car, but there was no chance that either of them could step outside of it. It, the darkness, took him: and it wasn't until the darkness washed completely over that Sam could hesitantly step outside from the car.

[Lucifer]

Whether he liked it or not, and he was guessing not, Sam was still and would always be connected to him, both by fate and by the piece of his grace Lucifer had left deep within Sam when he possessed him all those years ago. Had it been that long? Lucifer smirked to himself, hoping Sammy hadn't forgotten about him so soon. He had immensely enjoyed making Sam think he'd been hallucinating him once, when in reality he'd really been there in a way, a psychic projection he'd slipped through realities cracks when Sam's torture in the cage had left his mind vulnerable. He'd tried to shove him off on Castiel, but did he really think he could get rid of him that easily?

Sam had a lot to learn about the darkness, and he was bored anyway, so he focused on the angel/vessel connection he could still sense with the young Hunter, however faint. With the darkness freed, the veil between earth and hell wasn't all that strong, and he'd always been good about finding his prison's weak spots. Oh Sam, remember me? he said playfully in Sam's mind.

[Sam Winchester]

He could still feel the ache in his bones as he stepped out from the car. His fight against his own brother which took place only minutes ago still rang in his ears. It left him groggy and exhausted, showing in his tired eyes and slow movements. But this was no time to be anything except alert. His body was worn and used to pain from his countless years battling evil. He had learned how to push it to the back of his mind and that was what he did now, as his main purpose was to find Dean. Wherever the darkness could have taken him, he hoped it wasn't far. The first place that he thought to check was around the Impala itself, a look of confusion still wearing in his face.

Then suddenly, he stopped. His hand gripped against the trunk of the car, allowing his weight to slouch onto it as he clenched his eyes shut. He felt what was like pressure pushing against his skull, as if his brain was making room for two. A familiar feeling that had long ago subsided. He knew, a part of him knew exactly what it was. Whom it was. Yet, he wouldn't yet consider it true. That voice which for so long had prodded and played with his mind returned. A voice and figure that haunted his very being, pushing him off the edge of sanity and stability. It was supposed to be gone. He was supposed to be gone. "No."

He gulped a growing lump in his throat, opening his eyes that held a new look of determination. He pushed on, shoving off from the car as he walked in the direction his gut told him to. He had to find Dean, he reminded himself. You're not real.

[Lucifer]

Lucifer chuckled softly. You keep telling yourself that Sam. Relax, I just wanted to have a friendly chat. Want to know more about the Darkness? he said nonchalantly. He loved how freaked out Sam was at just his voice. He wouldn't torture the poor boy with appearing in "person" to him yet. He would never know when he'd show up.

[Sam Winchester]

Sam kept his focus on moving forward, walking through the large open field that moments ago had been nothing but darkness. Now there was seemingly nothing around him for miles other than the grass, flowers, and trees. But now his mind felt disorientated. Tainted, used, broken again. How was it possible? It had all been in his head before. At least, that was what he believed. It was what made sense to him. Looking down as he stumbled through the field, he pressed his thumb against a certain spot on his wrist. But the voice was still there. Why would I believe anything you have to say? That was his main thought. Yet, there were so many more. Questions on how and why Lucifer's voice was back in his head. Hesitance, as he wanted to learn everything he could about the darkness. Yet if it was only his mind playing tricks, how would the voice know anything?

[Dean Winchester]

Dean stood in a tunnel of smoke, watching in awe as the darkness swirled mysteriously around him. He felt confined, trapped. The sound of the smog revolving around him was nearly deafening, pulsing within his eardrums like continuous thunder. He looked around slowly, searching for some sort of sign of the real world or humanity. Sam was nowhere to be seen, and that worried him. His brother had been right beside him when the darkness had washed over them. Where could he be now? Still in the car? Dean had no idea how he had ended up standing here, within the...'eye of the storm', so to speak. One minute he had been watching in dismay as the darkness came crashing towards the Impala, and then...he was here.

As he tried desperately to make sense of his situation, the storm around him seemed to recede slightly, widening the space between him and its spiraling edge. Grass appeared as his feet, its normally bright green color shaded considerably by the darkness surrounding it like a black cloud. And then he saw the woman. Standing with her back to him, facing the cloud of black smoke, she seemed completely at ease, her shoulders relaxed and her posture normal. She wore a black sleeveless dress, with her chestnut hair loose and spilling over her shoulders. 

"Hey!" He yelled to her, having to strain his voice to be heard over the sound of the darkness. "The hell's going on!?" 

[Lucifer]

Lucifer gave a mock pout that translated into his tone. Fine, no story time for you. Better hurry and find Dean. Who knows what the darkness is doing to him. he taunted. Sam would come to figure out the truth in his own good time. He could play along with this game. I will give you one little hint how I'm here. Remember Gadreel and how he left his Grace in you after you were possessed? Our bond is so much stronger.

[Ellis Morgan]

It ended as quickly as it started. Ellis wasn't sure what had just happened, and she wasn't sure she wanted to find out, but whatever it was, it was one hell of a storm. She crawled out from under the rubble of her motel room, scathed but alive and conscious, and clutched her forearm, gritting her teeth and cursing against the pain it emitted. Blood coated it and she was almost sure it was broken, but there were bigger problems. A strip of her now tattered sweatshirt served as a quick bandage for it and with her good arm, she dug around for her gun, then loaded it and climbed out to the street, assessing the damage as she started to leave town on foot. She silently prayed to whatever deity there was out there that there were survivors of this mess.

[Sam Winchester]

Lucifer's voice pushed him to move faster, as if he could run away from it. Finding Dean would give him at least some sort of peace of mind. Right now he was alone, Dean's disappearance leaving him with nothing except for the voice echoing in his head and racing thoughts of the world falling apart around him. They didn't know what they were going up against, and what if Lucifer really did have the answers? No. He wouldn't play along with this game. He couldn't. Gadreel... every time he thought of the name, there was no stopping the flash before his eyes of his own hands killing Kevin. But up until the angel's self-sacrifice, there had been something that kept them connected. The grace that he left behind. Lucifer had left something behind as well. He could feel it, each time Lucifer possessed his mind there was something that felt as if the voice belonged there..

Sam didn't know how long he was walking. He appeared completely worn; a glossy, tired look in his eyes. But he perked up ever-so-slightly at the sight of something unconscious in the field. Someone, more specifically, and as he advanced he sped up the pace towards the figure. "Dean!" He shouted towards him.

[Harley Eve]

She wanted to see it happen. If the world was going to come crashing to an end, she was going to be able to say she had seen the beginning. She stood in the center of an empty street, the lousy houses and businesses of this small town on either left and right. The far and few people whom were quick enough to see it coming were running in the opposite direction of which she was facing. Not far in the distance, was the fast-moving black fog, desperate to eat up this town, and who knew how far past it. She didn't believe it would do anything to her. She already had demon blood pumping through her veins, so what was the worst that could happen? The fog engulfed everything. It tore down some buildings, and those that had just been running past her fell silent to the ground. It washed right over her. The length of the storm seemed long: long enough for her to ask herself if this was now all there was.

But then it ended, the last of the darkness passing the town and continuing it's path of destruction. Harley looked around, surveying the damage it caused. More importantly, what it had done to the people directly exposed. She walked towards one of the bodies laying face down on the concrete. Using her boot, she rolled an unconscious male over to inspect. He wasn't dead. His heart was still beating and.. was that some kind of tattoo? She crinkled her brows at what looked like black veins on his skin. No, it definitely wasn't something right, as they continued to sprout and grow up his chest and to his neck.

[Dean Winchester]

She saved me. That was Dean's last thought before the tunnel of dark smoke and the woman disappeared. That woman saved me from the Darkness. He remembered every feature of her face, and for some reason...he didn't want to forget. He felt...connected to her. After all, she had been the one who'd said that first. He recalled her pulling down the collar of her dress, revealing the small mark on her chest, a Mark of Cain identical to his own. But his Mark was gone now. And the Darkness was released. He'd had one last look of her face, the fleeting thought of how she had rescued him, and then there was nothing...nothing but blackness and solitude. 

And then he smelled flowers. Grass and flowers. Almost as if his nose were pressed up right against the ground. His eyelids twitched, and he cracked them open, creasing his forehead as he tried to figure out what was going on. Dean grunted as he pushed himself up off the ground and struggled into a standing position. That was when he caught sight of Sam, pulling him to his feet. 

[Ellis Morgan]

The town felt too desolate, too lifeless. no birds sang, no mice ran the streets, and no people moved about. Ellis began to think the unnerving thought that she was alone in all this. Bodies littered the street left and right, crushed under buildings and overturned cars, and she had to stop twice to fight back the nausea that threatened to overtake her from the corpses around her and the searing pain in her arm.

On one of the main boulevards, a young blonde woman inspected a man lying on the ground, black veins covering his neck. "Hey!" she called, relieved as she jogged over to the girl. "What's up with him, is he still alive?" Slowly, she knelt down, not waiting for an answer, and inspected the black veins spreading across his body, speechless.  She'd never seen anything like this before.  Pressing two fingers of her good hand down on his artery, she felt for a pulse.  He had one, and that was a good sign. A string of curses escaped her lips and she fumbled for her gun when he suddenly opened his eyes and grabbed her.