"Don't panic, I've got you."
Chapter 1
The forest was drenched in darkness.
He stumbled through the mass of trees, calling out for help. His heart was pounding and his forehead was sweaty, despite the cold of the night. He felt scared, more scared than he had felt in his whole life. He knew what was coming for him… he knew what they would do. He knew he was a dead man.
But that didn't stop him from trying to escape.
He heard a bark from far away, and that was when he took off running.
Over roots, through shrubbery, around trunks, he ran like his life depended on it.
Because it did.
The barks and growls got nearer, and he ran even harder, sprinting through the dark woods. His legs felt like fire and the uneven ground made his teeth rattle, but he didn't care. If they caught up with him, that wouldn't even matter. Nothing would matter.
His breaths became heavy with exhaustion, but he kept running. He had to. He couldn't go… not now…
They were right behind him now, their menacing barks cutting through the silence of the night. He tried to run even faster, but it was impossible. His legs were trembling in fear and his chest felt like it was going to cave in.
I can't die, he thought desperately. I was just trying to save him… I couldn't live without him. Why was an eternity in Hell the price I had to pay for my brother?
The ground was rushing towards him all of the sudden, and he landed on the dirt with a loud "oof!"
He immediately made to get up, but it was too late.
They attacked him, clawing their way up his legs and then tearing open the flesh on his chest, making blood spurt from under their claws. He screamed and writhed in agony, and in that moment, he could feel every nerve, every vein, and every muscle in his body turn to fire.
"Dean!" a voice cried out from far away. He longed to answer the person, or call for help. But he could feel himself slipping away, his lips unable to move and his mouth open in a permanent scream.
"Wake up, Dean!" The voice screamed, closer this time, and something large and heavy struck him across the face.
He could still feel the skin being torn on his chest, and his screams grew louder…
"Dean, you have to wake up! Dean!" The voice sounded desperate now, and several heavy blows struck his face.
Spots covered his vision, and the forest around him started to disappear.
"Dean! Wake up, you're dreaming!" The voice yelled, right next to him now.
If this was what Hell was like, then it wasn't so bad. He couldn't hear the hounds anymore, and everything was so nice and quiet.
But then he started to burn.
Flames licked up and down his already injured body, scalding his skin. He screamed, the pain unbearable. The smell of burning flesh reached his nose, and he gagged, the smell absolutely repulsive.
He was powerless to do anything as he burned alive, the pain more intense than anything he has ever felt. He would have taken the hellhounds ripping him apart one hundred times instead of this incessant burning. The fire caught on his arms, and he was powerless to do anything but scream as his skin bubbled, blackened, and started to peel.
Suddenly, a mirage of painful images and memories started to play in his mind as he burned, almost has if it was a movie. Every person who he couldn't save, ever tortured face, his dad's death…
The fire suddenly stopped, and the scene changed.
There were abandoned buildings all around him. The sky was dark and the night was cloudy. It took him a second to gather his bearings, and when he looked down at himself, he realized that everything was fine. He wasn't burned, he wasn't mauled… he was fine.
He heard a commotion on his right, and he turned.
He saw his brother standing there, staring down at an apparently unconscious man. The man seemed oddly familiar, and he stared at him, trying to recognize him.
"Sam!" a voice cried out. Sam turned, and he mirrored him, trying to find who said his brother's name.
He was shocked to find himself and Bobby walking quickly towards Sam. He stared at his other form, watching as relief filled his features. He then realized that he was just an apparition, and all he could do was watch.
"Dean," Sam said in solace, clutching his apparently hurt arm. A smile of relief flashed across his brother's face.
Scuffling from behind him made Dean turn, and he saw the man who was unconscious just moments ago pick up a knife.
The pieces clicked into place, and Dean immediately remembered.
The man's name was Jake, and he was in the Cold Oak, South Dakota, also known as the most haunted place in the country.
Not only was it the most haunted place in the country, it was where he brother died.
Dread filled him at the thought of having to relive this. He had prevented reliving this memory ever since it happened. It was so painful that he knew if he had to see it again, the walls that he carefully constructed around himself would crumble, letting all of his emotions flow out.
Jake began to run towards Sam, and Dean cried out "NO!"
"Sam, look out!" His other self cried out.
Dean was powerless to do anything but watch as his younger brother got impaled with the knife.
He saw the color drain from Sam's face, and the other version of himself ran towards him. Dean tried to run to his fallen brother, but some invisible force locked him in place, unable to move. He closed his eyes, desperately trying to get rid of this dream like he always did. He pinched himself, trying to wake himself up.
He opened his eyes, revealing the fact that his technique didn't work, and that this wasn't a nightmare.
It was real.
It was just as painful as the first time. The light was leaving Sam's eyes as his other self bargained and attempted bravado, like he always did when a situation got emotional.
Tears were flowing down Dean's cheeks as he watched his other self hold his brother tight, a steady stream of denials running out of his mouth.
This hurt more than anything. This hurt more than the burning, more than the hounds. He would do anything, ANYTHING… to prevent himself from reliving this memory anymore.
Sam's eyes closed, and Dean knew he was gone.
Pain tore through his chest as an inhumane howl left his lips.
He fell to the ground and sobbed openly, the grief of his brother's death overtaking every other rational thought.
"Dean!"
There was one final blow to the face, and the eyes of Dean Winchester flew open.
~End Chapter 1~