Castiel ran as fast as he could, the angel cursing his vessel's exhausted muscles. His chest was bleeding, his trench coat drenched with it, as well as mud. He whipped his head back, his tousled, sweaty, hair whipping in his eyes. He was scared. God—God, he was terrified.

I'm coming, his chest reminded him and Cas let out a strangled sob, tripping over his loafers and almost face-planting into a tree. He caught himself and pushed on, his chest burning still.

She's coming—Amara is coming.

Cas scrambled for his phone, hoping it wasn't destroyed. He hid behind a tree, his back flushed against it. He hit speed dial, his blue eyes wild as they searched around him. He closed his eyes and waited, trembling.

Dean looked down at his phone, answering as soon as he saw 'Castiel' flash across the screen. "Cas? Dude, where are you?" Dean asked quickly, stopping when he heard Castiel's pained gasps. The call he was expecting was not from Cas, but from Sam.

"Dean…" The angel whimpered and Dean was on alert, his back squared. "Where are you?" Dean asked again, walking over to where he had parked the impala.

"S-she told me that she was coming Dean…" Cas continued, his voice soft and weak. Dean's eyes widened and he felt he could easily snap his phone in half. He stopped, the sounds of children playing innocently behind him bringing him no comfort, nor ease. "…Message to you," Cas finished brokenly. Dean was running now, jumping into the impala.

Amara hurt Cas. Amara was near Cas.

"That's not what I asked," Dean tried, his voice worried and high pitched. He jammed the key in the ignition, his hand trembling. The hunter had seen the destruction Amara had caused…The way she had vanquished the angels so quickly had him terrified. Cas could not go near her—should not be within ten feet of her!

"…following me, I think," Cas whispered, Dean barely catching it. Dean heard the sound of gruff rustling and the familiar sound of feet shuffling. Cas was running again, his breath haggard. "…Mouse…I'm the mouse…"

"Cas!?" Dean roared, truly frightened when Cas' breaths became more erratic—more terrified than Dean had ever heard before. Castiel was frightened—rightfully so. Dean could not drive fast enough, just as he could not locate Cas' location fast enough. God, where was Sam when he need him?!

Dean's stomach dropped when he heard the sounds of Cas falling, sounds of crunching and gasping. He could envision Cas scrambling upon the dirt, his trench coat trapping him as twigs and rocks scrapped at his palms—dug into his skin. Dean almost snapped the steering wheel, stomping on the breaks. He almost wrecked. Dean was frozen, back squared and green eyes wide as he listened to the horror on the other end of the phone: it was silent. Cas was no longer gasping, no longer shuffling…Nothing.

His phone blinked blue, indicating that Cas' location was found: Missouri, Mark Twain National Park. A little too close to home. Dean blinked and changed gears robotically, his phone still glued to his ear.

As he drove Dean expected to hear another sound—something, but all he got was the call being dropped. As the phone buzzed in his ear, his heart plummeted further down into his stomach. He dropped the phone, his fingers cold. He needed to call Sam, but his fingers didn't want to move.

It was daylight still…afternoon. Dean had already guessed that Sam had gone ahead and met with Lucifer, despite his warning. However, it was Dean's fault that he hadn't made it…Amara had stopped him just as she had Cas.

Quick as lighting she was, unpredictable and more powerful than anything Dean could ever hope to see. He was terrified of her, but even more for Cas. That was what caused him to momentarily close his eyes and reach out to her, testing whatever 'bond' she claimed they shared. He begged her to not hurt Cas, whispered it—begged it—and then a miracle happened: Cas appeared in the car, bloodied and unconscious. Dean cursed and swerved to the side of the road, almost running into a speed limit sign.

"Holy shit, Cas," Dean gasped and his hands went to his friend's head, warm blood soaking them. "Hey, hey!" Dean gasped as Cas' eyes fluttered behind closed lids. Dean let out a sharp breath, relieved he was alive. As cut up and bruised as he was, he was whole. Dean let his eyes trail down his bloodied body, sucking in a breath when he saw what looked to be seared marks into the angel's limp chest. Dean tore his shirt apart, his fingers freezing along with his heart at the words he found:

I'm coming.

They were brutal, large, and still bleeding; the phrase seared into the tanned flesh of Cas' vessel.

"…Coming, Dean." Dean jumped, his fingers pulling away from Cas' torn flesh. Cas' blue eyes bore into his green ones. "…Amara is coming." Dean could only nod, the hunter not knowing what to say or do. Cas gripped his hands, his eyes budding with tears. "Sam…where is Sam?" The angel gasped, fat tears rolling down his cheeks.

"…Told me he was lost…Down, down, gone where he shouldn't." Dean's stomach hurt again, his body trembling alongside Cas' own. Cas gripped onto onto the lapels of Dean's suit, fingers trembling. "…Cage," The angel whispered to him like a sin, his lips trembling. He passed out then, falling into Dean's opened, stiff, arms. Dean could not move. Could not breathe. Sam was lost. All hope was lost.