ONE
The blackness was complete, beyond pitch. The kind of blackness where you couldn't see your own hand inches from your face. Dean knew this to be true; he had tried several times to confirm it. The sunlight filtering through the mouth of the cave had long ago dissipated. However, the batteries in the flashlight were alive and well and though the beam was narrow and completely inadequate, it was light. Dean swung his beam behind him and blinded Sam with the sudden onslaught of brightness.
"Damn it, Dean," Sam cursed. "Stop doing that."
He smirked but of course his brother couldn't see that so he kept his voice matter-of-fact. "I'm just checking that your still there, safe and sound."
"More like ready to save your ass, oh fearless leader. And yeah, I'm on top of it."
"Well good cuz…"
"Shhh," Sam sharply interrupted the bantering. "Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?" Dean swung the beam ahead of them and bounced it off the walls of the cavern for, oh, about two seconds. Nothing. He turned and gave Sam an unconcerned shrug.
Annoyed, Sam grabbed the flashlight from his brother. "You're going too fast, you'll never see anything that way."
Sam smoothly and efficiently scanned the corners and gullies. Still nothing, but at least they had a better idea of the space they were in. A three foot wide rocky ledge bordered the wall of the cavern which was about the length of a football field. The inky black water a foot below them gave no indication of depth and filled the cavern to the far wall. They could no longer make out the crevice through which they had come but knew it was still there among the crags. After that it was a ten minute creep back out through the mouth of the cave. Super fun times, Sam thought.
"Give me that," Dean snatched the flashlight back. "Shall we continue or do you want to set up the picnic blanket here?"
"I'm serious Dean, I heard something," Sam brooded, but continued to trudge closely behind his brother along the ledge.
Seconds later they both heard it. It was the type of sound that came with sensation as well; a swooping, wind rush above their heads. Close enough to raise the hairs on the back of their necks. Dean swung the beam towards the sound but… nothing. He put down their backpack of 'goodies' and brought the shotgun up against his shoulder, maintaining light on the ceiling the whole time. Sam too had his shotgun at the ready and had flicked on the flashlight taped to the barrel. The two beams scanned the roof of the cavern.
"Bats?" Dean questioned.
Sam tentatively shook his head. "Too big, I think."
"Not a spirit, no EMF, no light flickering," Dean waved his flashlight to illustrate his point.
Sam just nodded, eyes glued down the length of his gun.
"We should have brought flares, I can't see a damn thing," Dean complained. It was true; they had not anticipated the blinding darkness of the cave.
After a couple minutes of nothing Sam started to wonder if it knew they were looking for it and was hiding. It seemed to have a little more sense than your everyday bat and that was bad news. On top of that, their vision was limited to two very narrow beams of light, more bad news. He suddenly felt very unprepared.
"Well, we can't hunt it if we can't see it," he said to justify his next suggestion. "I think we better head back out and get some flares. If the past year of random attacks has indicated anything it'll still be here tomorrow."
Dean, hating to abandon an unfinished hunt, reluctantly agreed. They turn back towards the crevice through which they had come, Sam now in the lead.
It was only feet from the crevice that they felt the swooping again. This time it physically ruffled Sam's hair. Instinctively, they had both taken a defensive crouch and the light beams crisscrossed frantically above their heads.
"What the hell is it," Dean cursed, frustrated.
"Let's just get out of here until we can get the upper hand. Right now, it's too fast and accurate. Probably can see in the dark…"
Sam's words were barely out of his mouth when the rush of movement brought a flurry of wings and claws down upon his head. His arms were up in a moment, swatting at the mass of leather and fur. Big bat!? he thought. It didn't seem to mind the beating and instead sunk its' talons deep into his shoulder causing Sam to yell out in shock and pain. The powerful wings flapped incessantly and made it impossible to grab the creature. Was it was trying to carry him away?
"Dean!" What the hell was he doing? All he could see through the black was the spot of the flashlight dancing at his face.
"I can't get a shot if you keep moving…" the strained reply came from out of the dark.
"Screw that and get this thing off me!" The talons in his shoulder were beginning to pull at his flesh and it hurt like a bitch.
In a heartbeat he felt Dean beside him, hammering the bat thing with the stock of the gun. It didn't let go.
And then the cavern was filled with an ear piercing siren screech. Sam was nearly deafened, the ringing consumed his ears, the pain consumed his mind, and the flashlights lay abandoned on the ground. He didn't even notice the flock of bat things rain down and drive Dean back, away from his brother.
Dean's ears buzzed from the bat's wail as he was bombarded with four more of the creatures, talons scratching relentlessly at his face and arms. It seemed they were purposely driving him away from Sam. He swung the butt of the shot gun and very effectively bludgeoned one of the bats away. Then there were three; he had to get to Sam.
Through the flurry of wings he heard Sam roar in pain and saw him drop to the ground. Another step backwards and he could swing the gun up to get off a shot. As he did a pair of talons gripped his forearm and instantaneously another sensation lit up his senses with a fiery pain that surged through his nerves. A gunshot rang out… He felt dizzy, disorientated, and the world turned upside down as he lost his footing and plunged unaware into the shady waters.