Disclaimer: This story contains a lot of changes to Supernatural canon! It's a story that I originally posted on Quizilla back in the day, so the character of Charlie is not Charlie Bradbury. I could have changed her name but it just didn't feel right, the character always felt like a Charlie to me.
Hope you enjoy this short prologue and don't be afraid to leave me your thoughts in the form of a review or a PM if you prefer!

November 2nd, 1987

A loud bang echoed through the house. Charlie's eyes snapped open. Her room was pitch black, save for the small night light next to her bed. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. The house was silent now and she wondered if the bang was real or just something she'd dreamed.

Charlie slid off her bed and crept to the door. She opened it a crack and was immediately blinded by the sudden, bright light of the hallway. One of her parents had to be up, neither one ever left lights on otherwise.

"Mommy? Daddy?" she called out cautiously.

Soft footsteps followed her words. "Are you alright, sweetheart?" the comforting voice of her mother came from down the hall.

Charlie looked around. Her mother was nowhere to be seen. Something felt wrong and fear began to take hold. "Mommy? Where are you?"

"Close your eyes if you're scared, sweetheart."

It was a strange request, but Charlie obeyed. As soon as her eyes were closed, she heard light footsteps coming towards her. "Don't open your eyes, baby, no matter what you hear. Promise me, Charlie."

Trembling now, Charlie felt a lump forming in her throat. Something was definitely wrong. "What's happening, mama? Where's daddy?"

She felt her mother's soft hand stroke her hair gently. "It's nothing for you to worry about, sweetheart. You and I are going to go for a little drive, alright?"

Charlie felt her feet leave the ground, as she was picked up into her mother's loving arms. Hugging her tightly, she buried her face in the familiar shoulder. Gentle hands stroked her back, as they made their way down the creaky, wooden staircase. The rooms downstairs were dark and Charlie shuttered. A strange feeling hung in the air and an awful smell burned her nostrils, as they made their way through the darkness.

Suddenly, a light turned on, blinding her once again. Squinting, Charlie could make out the form of her father, standing beneath the staircase, his face twisted with anger and grief.

"Let her go!" he commanded, his voice booming through the quiet house.

"Daddy? What's happening?" Charlie stared at her father wide eyed and trembling.

"It's gonna be alright, darlin'," his voice was soothing but his expression never changed. "Let her go, Karen!"

Karen turned to face her husband and Charlie found herself staring at the front door. Karen's grip on her daughter tightened and Charlie felt no safer. Why did her father sound so alarmed? Tears spilled from her eyes and rolled down her tiny cheeks. "Let me go, mama, please," she pleaded, her voice shaking with fear.

Karen set her daughter down gently. "I was hoping we could do this the easy way, Bobby." Her voice had changed suddenly beyond recognition. Charlie glanced up at her face cautiously and let out a cry of fear. Her mother's eyes were black, empty and soulless, her face twisted into a horrible grin. "Sorry about this, kid, really."

It all happened so fast. One minute Charlie was staring up at the thing wearing her mother's face and the next she was pinned up against the wall by some invisible force. She screamed and trashed, trying to free herself but it was no use, the thing had her locked in place.

Bobby's eyes blazed with anger. "LET HER GO!"

Karen grinned and shook her head. "A devil's trap by the door? Tsk, tsk, Bobby. I'm afraid I'm going to have to crush your daughter's pretty little skull if you don't let me go."

Bobby's eyes darted from his wife to his daughter. If he let the demon go, it would take his daughter and disappear into the night. If he didn't, it would kill her. It was an impossible choice.

Then, as if by the grace of God, the phone rang, creating a momentary distraction. A moment was all Bobby needed. Everything seemed to suddenly move in slow motion, as he dove for the shotgun he kept hidden under the stairs. Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger. A loud blast echoed through the room, and before Charlie's mind could fully process what was happening, she had fallen to the floor, next to her mother's lifeless body. Black smoke arose into the air, diving straight for Bobby. He held up his necklace. "Charlie has one too. What are ya gonna do now, huh?"

The demon hung in the air for a moment, before blasting through the window and disappearing into the night. Trembling with fright, Charlie nestled up against her mother, too afraid to move. A moment later, she felt her father's gentle hand on her back.

"It's gonna be alright, darlin'," Bobby's voice trembled slightly. "Close your eyes and come with me."

Her ears still ringing from the shotgun blast, Charlie placed her hand on the floor to push herself to her feet. She frowned. The floor was wet. Curiously, she looked down. Her hand was covered in something red and warm. "Daddy," she spoke the word, her voice flat from shock. "Mama's bleeding."

Bobby drew a sharp breath and snatched Charlie up off the floor. "Let's get you cleaned up real quick."

"But daddy, mommy needs to go to the hospital!"

Bobby opened his mouth to speak but the words refused to come out. How do you tell your child that it is too late to save their mother? Before Charlie could say anything more, the phone rang again, startling the both of them. With Charlie still in his arms, Bobby made his way over to the phone and placed it to his ear.

"Bobby?" a man on the other end spoke his name in a frantic voice. "Something's happened, Mary- she's- " There was a sharp intake of breath. "You need to get your family to safety."

Bobby swallowed hard and closed his eyes. It was as he had feared all along. "It's too late, John." A heavy silence followed his words, both men still in shock.

"Stay where you are, I'm coming."