Author's Note: Hey guys! So this is my first ever fanfic and I'm super excited/ nervous about it. I've been changing this chapter non-stop ever since I posted it because I have perfectionist problems and feel that I'm finding errors that don't really need to be fixed, but change it anyways. Please give me your views, thoughts, opinions, etc. so I know I'm at least having a few people wanting more. I almost have Chapter 2 done, but would like to see how people like the story from the beginning. Okay sorry for taking up space! Enjoy!
Empty. Blank. Desolate.
My life had started with a blank canvas - like any recollections prior to now had been wiped clean from my mind. However, the best part of having a vacant past was choosing my own beginning.
My timeline truly begins on the night I met two of the world's greatest unsung heroes, the Winchesters. Back then, I had no idea what kind of monsters were out in the world hidden in the darkness before them. It never occurred to me that someday I'd chase those very same monsters by their side. However, the boys disappeared on the same night they found me, but I still remember the day we met like it was yesterday.
I woke up dazed in the deep, dark depths of some unknown forest. Not a human to be seen or heard except for the chatter of wildlife around me. I was naked and cold. The damp ground beneath my body chilled me to the bone. I looked down and jumped in shock upon seeing a huge crater indent the earth where I laid. Frightened and afraid, I quickly rose to my feet and ran - ran until the mysterious hole was long behind me.
My feet crunched beneath the underbrush and the overhanging branches scratched at my face as I continued to sprint mindlessly further into the woods. I sprinted as far as my feet could carry me until a root hidden under a pile of leaves caught my toes, causing my face to meet dirt.
I tried to rise from the ground, but gasped in agony as my ankle radiated with pain. I cried out and hoped anyone could hear me.
"H-Help! Please!" I croaked as my throat forced out words between dry lips. Unfortunately, my only response was the chilly hands of the wind that nipped at my bare skin. I began to sob and curled into a ball on the forest floor, defeated. I exerted my already battered body as I wept and grew sleepy with exhaustion. The damp ground soothed me as I laid my cheek upon it. I encouraged the end to near as I laid there. When my sore eyes finally closed shut, I welcomed death, or whatever there was on the other side, with open arms. It was only when a strong hand shook my shoulder did I pull back from the darkness.
As I awakened, my head raised to view the source that disrupted my transition to the afterlife. However, a warm, yellowed light temporarily blinded me of sight as my eyes adjusted from the contrast.
"Hey? You alright?" A gruff voice asked as a hand reached towards me again.
I quickly cringed from away from it and shouted in fear. "Don't touch me!" I cowered, a hard surface hitting my back as my arms wrapped around my knees to pull my legs tightly to my chest. The hand instantly flinched away from my reaction.
"Sam, what the hell are we going to do with her?" The same voice spoke. "She's got no I.D., no name, and no cell phone. And not to mention, naked as a newborn. Trust me man, I wanna help her. I really do, but we have to worry about other things like the damn asteroid we saw hit the ground, for starters!" His voice bellowed, sounding exasperated.
"Dean, could you lower your voice? You are only going to scare her more." Another voice replied, his tone completely calm.
As they talked with each other, I took a mental note of my captors' names.
"What do you suppose we do with her, huh? You want to become Mary Poppins and take her in?" Dean said mockingly.
"Don't be so dramatic. We'll take her to the nearest police station, just be patient for a second" Sam responded.
"Who are you? And what do you want?" I questioned fearfully, rubbing at my cloudy vision. A rough material was bundled around my body and I glanced down to realize that a giant jacket was zipped onto my frame, hiding my obvious nudity.
"Hey, it's okay. It's alright. You're safe. I'm Sam and this is my older brother Dean." A very tall man approached me, his brown hair long and straight. "Don't mind his bad mood. He isn't always like that." He stated with a small smile, causing Dean to give him a quick glare before he continued. "Look, we were in the woods when we found you nearly dead on the ground. We are just trying to help." He added his eyes sincere. "Do you remember anything or anyone that could have done this to you?"
"I-I don't know. I can't remember. I can't remember anything. " I stuttered groggily. "I was alone." I blinked at him, my eyes widened with innocence.
I gazed at the elder brother named Dean as he kneeled down in front of me, handing me a water bottle. I snatched it from him swiftly and gulped down the refreshing fluid as I assessed him. He was also very tall, but didn't reach such towering heights as his younger sibling. His dirty blond hair was cropped short and his face bared a great deal stubble, yet, what startled me most was the beautiful shade of green in his eyes.
"We saw a rock, or a meteor if you will, hit the surface around this area. My brother and I came here to check it out and found you." He explained as his eyes evaluated me in return. "Why is that?"
My brows furrowed in concentration as I tried to recall anything before waking up in the forest. "I really don't know. I-I'm sorry." I apologized as I peered at his handsome face.
He shook his head, his eyes closed in frustration. "Sam, we can't question her all night. She might have family or friends looking for her. Let's just leave this to the police. They should know what to do." He spun on his heel to face his younger brother. His eyes searched Sam's face to decipher his thoughts.
"That's probably the best we can do." Sam replied, watching me with concern.
As a way to ignore their constant stares, I observed my surroundings. I detected the walls were made of some sort of wood and found that the light from earlier was originating from a tiny fireplace occupying the middle of the room. The rest of the space was completely bare of anything else, except for a couple duffel bags and sleeping bags thrown in a corner.
"Hey." Sam called my attention back to him. "We are going to take you somewhere safe. You won't have to worry. They'll clean you up and find your home as soon as we get there, alright?" He stated gently as if any sudden movement or noise would scare me off like a skittish fawn.
His face radiated compassion and his words sounded genuine. Knowing that I had no other options, I nodded my head in understanding. I wrapped the jacket tighter around my shoulders as he gently stood me up. I winced as I tried to stand on my forgotten injury and glimpsed down to see my ankle bandaged with gauze.
"Just a sprain." Dean spoke up as he noticed my scrutiny. "Looks like it hurt like a bitch to earn, but you should be as good as new in a couple weeks. Just try not to put all your weight on it." He reassured.
"Thank you." I replied and tugged my lips into a small smile of gratitude.
Sam steadied me as we walked outside to a sleek car parked out in front. He opened the door and helped me inside before slamming it closed. They both climb into the front seats soon after - the ignition roaring with a start. As Dean peeled away from the small shed, my eyelids began to droop once more from lack of rest and easily drifted off to sleep.
I was jolted awake as the car came to a halt. I lifted my head to peep outside the window and saw a building titled KS Police Department at the top in big bold letters. I stretched my arms above my head and let out a loud yawn.
"Good, you're awake." Dean stated from the driver's seat. "We're here princess." His eyes met my gaze in the review mirror, a smirk on his face.
Sam got out to open my door and aided me once again while we trekked to the entrance of the structure, Dean followed close behind. "Um...Sam?" I asked hesitantly as I hobbled along the pathway with him.
"Yes?" He hummed.
"I-I just want to say thank you-" Dean cocked an eyebrow so I added, "-you both, for everything. I wish I could repay you, but I don't really have anything to give." I proclaimed with shame.
"No, no. It's no trouble at all. We're just happy nothing bad happened to you. Luckily, we got to you first." He smiled kindly. "By the way, is anything coming back to you at all? Like an address or name?" he questioned.
"No, not really. It's in my brain somewhere... I can feel it, but it's coming out fuzzy, like- like I have loads of sand weighing down my memories, too thick and heavy to muddle through...if that makes sense." I tried to elaborate.
"Huh, interesting." He replied thoughtfully as he opened the front doors to the station. Dean flanked behind me and placed his hand on my lower back. He protectively led me inside, his support shown in his actions.
We all approached the main desk where a lady in uniform talked on the phone. As soon as she hung up, the woman turned to us and eyed my state of distress before looking to the boys. "May I help you...?" She probed cautiously.
As they explained the night's events, I noticed the name plate on her chest. Rebecca Johnson was her name. She nodded attentively as she listened to Dean and Sam's account. When they finished, she met my eyes and gave me a friendly smile, her teeth bright against her dark skin.
"You alright, sweetie?" Rebecca drawled. "Sounds like you had a rough day. Not to mention, you looked like you went to hell and back." She commented, eying the dirt that covered my face, the bruises that scattered across my skin, and hair tangled and grimy atop my head. "You know, Officer Mayson here can take you around back to get cleaned up and give you a fresh pair of clothes? How does that sound?" She asked as she gestured towards the cop who sat next to her. The other officer rose as I nodded my head waving me along with her.
Meanwhile, Rebecca turned back to the brothers and spoke. "Thank you boys for doing this. She could've found anyone out there and I'm glad it was you two. Your help is much appreciated, but we can handle it from here. I promise she will be well taken care of." She pledged.
I observed the brothers one last time, my eyes shifting back and forth to each one. "I don't know what else to say other than thank you. If our paths cross again one day, I hope to repay you somehow." I declared with a firm voice.
Dean decided to speak up before Sam got the chance. "No need to." He grinned. "It's the least we could do. I guess we'll see you around then, sweetheart." They waved goodbye before exiting the doors they came through.
Once the boys left, the station took up research. However, what they found was everything, but reassuring. I had no home address, social security, or evidence of even existing. Without my past to guide me, how was I supposed to remember who I was?
While the station investigated further, Officer Rebecca Johnson took me under her wing and into her home as her own. She managed to set me up with a job at a small diner in town, saying it was no big deal since she knew almost everyone in the area. I decided to use the opportunity to my advantage to save up money for my own place. Rebecca shouldn't have to be burdened with the responsibility of taking care of me forever. I wasn't hers after all.
"Rebbecca, can I tell you something?" I asked as I rinsed the soapy plate she handed me, washing all traces of lasagna from the night's meal.
"Of course. You can tell me anything honey." She mused, peeking at me from her peripheral. "Is there something wrong?"
"I-I just...Look, I don't want this to sound like I'm not enjoying my stay here with you or anything, because I am. I really am. But I-" I hesitated, continuing to scrub the plate even though it was already shiny and spotless.
"Honey, the plate's clean you don't need to drown it to death." Rebecca chuckled as she pulled the platter from my hands to place it on the drying rack. She turned to me and waited for my eyes to meet her gaze before speaking. "Holly. You don't have to explain yourself. I know you appreciate me. You've helped me ever since you moved in. You have only made my life easier. Just tell me what's on your mind." She placed a soft hand to my cheek, rubbing the skin there with her thumb in encouragement.
I pulled my lips up into a small smile as I heard her call me by the name she specially chosen. "I want to get my own place you know? I want to have something to call my own. I want to live my life as people my age are supposed to. I-I just need to push my past behind me and only look ahead towards the future, but...I can't do that if I stay here." Tears prickled my eyes as I noticed this would be goodbye. "You've made me feel so at home here, like I was family, and I could never thank you enough for that. I will always see you as my mother, despite what I find out about my true family. You will always be the woman I see when I think mom."
"I know you will make me proud. I just hope that you will miss me as much as I miss you." She joked as tears began to stream freely down her own face. "Don't think that you can't come visit! If you're ever close by, just stop on in for dinner, or lunch, or whatever." She grasped my shoulders and pulled me into a long embrace. "This house will always open to you. This will always be your home. No matter what." She pulled away after a moment of silence to wipe at her face with her apron. "Okay, enough cryin'. We gotta get these dishes done." I pulled back from her with a laugh, eying her blotched face and runny mascara. She laughed along with me for I probably looked just as a mess as she did.
While we went back to cleaning the dishes, we happily reminisced in all the memories we had together in our home.
It's been a couple months since my incident in the woods. I was enrolled in school nearby my work and found a small apartment that was just in town. I even tried to catch up with current events by watching whatever was on TV, but seeing pregnant teenagers and singing middle-aged actors in high school wasn't the information I expected to receive. However, as cable TV became my only source for entertainment, I easily watched every program that came on air, making me more media savvy than I would've liked. Though, despite the perks, life wasn't all that easy. I struggled day to day juggling school and work like everyone else, but everything was coming together and I finally felt at peace with who I was. I wasn't that girl lost in the woods anymore...I was just, me.
I lean against the ceramic counter behind my back, closing my eyes and taking a couple deep breathes after a particularly long and tiring day at the diner. Working the night shift after class was overbearing and my feet are aching from the constant stop and go.
I check to make sure all the doors are secure to the restaurant before strapping my backpack to my shoulder. As I stroll to the scrap metal that was my car, I pull out my phone from my pockets and slip the ear buds dangling from the device into my ears. Losing myself in the music, I hardly notice anything with the sound of harmonious voices and percussion filling my ears, including the stranger hiding in the dark alley as I pass.
The intruder jumps out from the shadows and my throat prepares to rip out a terrified scream until a sticky hand clamps down on my mouth, trapping all sounds from escaping it. A heavy body forcefully traps me against my car, making me utterly defenseless. Chills run up my spine as I stare into the merciless eyes of a man. The night conceals his features as he leans closer to me, his lips twisted up into a sneer.
"You didn't think we would find you, huh, darlin'?" The man's rank breath fans across my face. "Too bad Daddy is long gone and now there is no one here to protect you." He grins mercilessly as my mind spins with confusion and dread. I struggle against his weight and he pulls a knife to my throat, causing me to be still. "I've been waiting a long time to do this." He states harshly, poking the tip of his blade into the delicate skin of my neck.
"Hey! Douche bag!" A different voice shouts tauntingly, sounding weirdly familiar. The man ceases the movement of his knife and quickly turns around to inspect the empty street for its owner.
"Why don't you say that to my face, coward!" He hisses, his tone filled with spite, his eyes still sweeping the street. I knee him sharply in the groin and push him away from me into the light of the street lamp hanging above us. The man curses and glares at me darkly. The dim light revealing his face as his eyes turn black as night, making him look paranormal and deadly. My eyes widen in fear as the black-eyed man reaches for me once more.
"On your left." A shadow pops up behind him before a blade plunges into the man's back and out his chest. I watch in horror as his eyes and mouth burn a red and yellow color, an agonizing scream emitting from his mouth before he drops to the ground, dead.
I'm stunned into silence as my hero walks into the halo of light. "D-Dean...?" I choke out.
He pulls his gaze from the dead man to look at me - his face scrunching up in recognition. "Naked girl from the woods?" he asks, tilting his head.
"W-what are you doing here?"
He quickly straightens his leather jacket, an arrogant smirk gracing his face. "Well, it's nice to see you too. I guess."
Suddenly, the thought of him killing the black-eyed man just a few moments prior, comes to the forefront of my mind. "Are you insane!?"
His eyebrows rise in surprise from my rude tone. "...Excuse me?"
"You just killed someone!" I yell at him. "In front of me!"
"Yeah, well, he looked like he was about to stuck you like a pig, so what was I suppose to do?" He rolls his eyes, seemingly indifferent about the whole situation.
The statement stumps me momentarily. "Is that suppose to excuse you from committing a federal crime?"
"You don't even know what that guy was...do you?"
"A psychopath, obviously, but you seem to be the only one I'm concerned about at the moment." I claim.
"I just saved your life!"
"That doesn't really clear the fact that you murdered a guy in cold blood!" I retort. "You could've just knocked him out or something!"
"Just forget it." He rolls his eyes, exhaling furiously. "Have fun figure things out for yourself. I'm outta here." He spits.
I watch him stomp away, my feet wanting to rush after him, but my mind telling me differently. "Dean...w-wait!" I call out to him reluctantly, willing to sacrifice my sanity for answers. I run to catch up with him and pull on his shoulder to stop him from advancing further. "Look, I'm sorry, alright? Thanks for saving my bacon, but can you really blame me for being a little overwhelmed here?" I eye him accusingly. "I almost got killed by some lunatic and saw the life leave his eyes by your hand, and it's not even the end of the day yet. Please...I need to know. For the last bit of rationality I have left, you owe me that." Goosebumps prickle my body as the image of the inky, black orbs of my almost killer haunt my thoughts. "I-I saw his eyes...They were pitch black..." You shake your head, not even believing the words coming out of your own mouth. "What was he?"
He sighs deeply before indulging me. "That guy was a demon. And it looked like he was tracking you for a whi-"
"A demon?" I cut him off. "You got to be kidding me."
"I wish I was." Dean stares at me flatly.
"...You're not joking..." I pause. "...Really?" I ask again, questioning his sanity.
"Really."
"Dean, you better not be messing with me because I swear to God this isn't very funny." I laugh humorlessly, my heart rate picking up in speed.
"You saw it yourself." He rasps. "I don't know what more proof you want from me." He eyes my skeptical expression and he rubs a hand to his tired face, obviously irritated with the way things are going. "Look, I'm not hosting the latest episode of Punk'd here. The black eyes, the inhuman strength, the red and yellow glow that shot out of his ass? Those were all signs, sweet heart. See that right there-" He pauses to kick the corpse lying on the ground. "-is not human. Well, was human until the poor bastard got possessed. And if demons want you, then you are officially on their radar, which is probably the worst position you could be in right now. Trust me, you don't want to get involved in anything these sons of bitches have to offer. They're bad news." He states. "And it's a good thing me and Sammy were in town at the right time. You'd probably be 6 feet under by now."
"Wait..." I waver. "Sam is...here?"
"Yeah, we're staying at a motel a couple minutes walk up the road...but I think I should be asking the questions here." He reprimands, observing my themed uniform from the diner. He spots the name tag on my chest, claiming my name is Holly, and purses his lips in thought, but makes no comment about it. "Why, exactly, is a demon tracking you down in the first place?" His eyes rise to meet mine with a cold stiffness.
"Do you think I know?" I take offense by his accusing glare. "All I knew an hour ago was calculus problems and a hundred different ways of making pancakes!"
"Hey, take it easy!" He raises his hands up in warning. "Do you want the whole damn town to hear you?"
"I'm finding out demons are real and you want me to calm down?" I scoff.
"Oh, we are quite real cupcake." A voice interrupts us from across the street.
We turn our heads across the way to see a woman leaning against the side of an old antique shop. She tilts her head up to glower at Dean, her eyes immediately flicking black. "You just killed my friend there. Now, that wasn't very nice." She replies coldly. "Looks like I will just have to take a life for a life and that petty thing right beside you is going to be the first on my to do list." She continues, sauntering up to us both.
"Stay back, bitch." Dean recovers faster than me, pulling me behind him protectively. "You aren't gettin' anybody without going through me first." He raises his knife towards her, the tip covered with blood from his last kill.
"You think I would fight a Winchester by myself? Oh please, I'm not that stupid." She chuckles darkly. "I brought back up of course." She impishly smiles before signaling her hand in the air.
I shake with terror as two more figures, giant ones, walk out of the shadows next to us. "Uh...Dean? We got some more company." I point out as two barbarian-sized men stroll out of the alley and approach him, their scowls menacing.
Dean whispers to me quickly as he sizes up the men. "You stay down and stay low. Don't try anything stupid that will get you caught in the crossfire. I can handle this, got it?" I nod as I step away from him considerably, squatting behind a car. Dean dauntingly twirls his blade around his fingers - his legs stancing into fighting position. "Who's the lucky lady that wants to go first?" He calls out smugly, encouraging them forwards with the flick of his blade. When the demons circle around him instead, his grin widens further. "Alright...bring it on fellas."
The woman runs at him first and dodges his swooping knife, just barely. She spins around and lands behind him, pushing him forward with a harsh shove. "Need to be faster than that, Deano." She purrs as she runs at him again in full speed. This time he gets a hold of her arm and twists it sickeningly behind her back, the position holding her in place. She gasps in pain as Dean speaks into her ear, "Don't underestimate me too much, bitch." The woman glares at him furiously before his knife plunges into her chest, dropping her body next to her deceased partner on the floor. He looks towards the two demons behind him, motioning them forward with a finger. The gigantic men stalk towards him, their fists already up and ready.
"We've been waiting to get our hands on a Winchester." One of them growls, his eyes shining with vengeance. "This will be fun, won't it?" He glances at his equally as massive friend beside him. "Sure will."
The two throw every possible gut-busting punch, but Dean dodges them swiftly. His speed being an advantage to their strength. The duo easily grow frustrated and choose to trap him between their hefty frames like a cage of solid muscle. As Dean begins to lose his footing, one of the men clutches his neck from behind into a powerful choke hold.
"Not so easy to escape now is it? Boy, I'm going to enjoy chewing on your flesh." They mock as Dean struggles against the man's strong grip. The other demon at his front knocks the knife out of his hand, wrenching his arm back and landing a blowing punch to his gut. Dean groans in pain, but his face masks the agony, not willing to reward them with his suffering as they continue pounding his body into a pulp.
I watch on in panic while Dean struggles against the other massive man's tightening choke hold, his face pinking from the lack of air. I look around frantically thinking of anyway to help him. I could go run and get Sam, but what if I was too late? I didn't even know where the motel was. I smack myself on the forehead when I realize that I still have my backpack on my shoulder. I hastily slip it off and search inside for anything useful. I rifle through one pocket finding dirty school cloths, a calculator, a bottle of water, a cell phone, and some markers. I huff in irritation before unzipping the next pocket, instantly seeing my huge calculus textbook.
I silently thank the Gods before pulling it out. I whistle for Hulk twin number one's attention as I weigh the book in my hand, calculating how far and how strong to throw in order to hit my target. "Hey! Frankenstein's monster!"
Once his attention is on me, I throw the textbook as far as I can, seeing it hit him square in the head. He stumbles back in a daze, releasing Dean from his grasp. I pump a triumphant fist to the sky as Dean staggers away from him, gasping for air. When he gains enough oxygen in his lungs, he reaches down and grabs the fallen knife from the sidewalk to stab the man directly in the heart. The demon convulses with the same red and yellow glow as the others.
The remaining demon glares at me, his black eyes cruel, when his last comrade falls down to the growing pile of bodies on the floor. "Oh, shit." I gasp as he charges towards me like a bull, his piercing eyes keeping me frozen into place. Luckily, Dean catches up to him before it's too late and tackles him to the ground. They tussle on the sidewalk, punching, and kicking for dominance over one another. Somehow Dean manages to get the monster on his back and pins his arms down with his sturdy legs. He roars in finality as Dean sinks the knife into his torso, cutting him off short with a gurgling sound.
Dean slowly rises from the last demon's body panting heavily and wipes the sweat off his forehead. He glances at the motionless body one more time before glowering at me. "What did I say about keeping low?!"
I stare at him in disbelief. "I was just trying to help."
He shakes his head in frustration as he goes to pick up the item that I threw. "Seriously? A damn math book? Are you nuts?! What were you trying to do, huh? Give us a math lesson?"
I flush from embarrassment, crossing my arms in defense. "Well, it was the only thing I had! It's not like I carry around weapons every day to kill Hulk-sized demon men."
He pauses a little to take a breath, still wearing an annoyed expression as he closes the distance between us. "One demon was enough already, but four? Somethin' weird is going on here." He shakes his head disapprovingly.
"I just...I don't understand. Why would demo-they want me?" I ask, throwing my hands up in exasperation. "I'm just a normal member of society. What really makes me so damn important to them?"
"Ever since we found you in the woods with no memory, no identification - nada. I wouldn't exactly call you normal." He adds sarcastically. "Look, just come with me and we'll try to figure this out together, alright? Sam and I will keep you safe for the time being. I promise." He declares, placing his hands on my shoulders to temporarily soothe me. I sigh and nod in agreement, knowing I really didn't have a choice in the first place, besides, after what I've seen, there was no way I was leaving Dean's side now.
He smiles and slaps a hand to my arm, pleased with my response for once. "Welcome to the world of the supernatural."
