Cadence opened her eyes and felt around for her phone, which was playing her alarm. She sighed as her fingers grasped her phone, the awful pre-set alarm sound continuing.

She sighed to herself as she hit stop on her phone, cutting off the sound then stretched. Setting the phone down, Cadence took a moment for the rest of her body to wake up before getting out of bed. Grabbing her coffee grinds, she made her way down the hall to the kitchenette where her small coffee pot was. Letting the machine brew, she went back to her room to get dressed, making sure everything was ready for class.

When her clock read 7:40, she grabbed her coat and book bag, filled a thermos with her coffee, and then went down to the lobby, before making her way to her Religious Studies class. One hand was readily in her pocket, the delicate body parts covered in her favorite pair of mittens. Walking out of the building, Cadence stepped into the cold air and smiled at the white flakes falling from the sky. Her breath came out in white puffs that mixed and curled with the steam from her coffee. Her boots crunched softly over the fresh layer of snow and again, her keys jingled in the side pocket of her book bag.

Looking around her, Cadence watched for any sign of her unwanted guests. Not finding anything, she happily made her way to class. Entering a modern looking building on the opposite side of campus, she met up with her friend Charlie, or as Cadence affectionately called her, Charles. Giving her friend a smile, "Good morning, Charles."

"I hate that you're smiling right now."

Cadence frowned, "Is this better?"

Charlie fought off a smile then hit Cadence on the shoulder, "Ready for the class you don't have to take?"

Cadence mockingly gasped, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Oh come on," said Charlie as the two girls began their walk down the hallway, "As if you aren't getting the highest grade in the entire class."

Cadence smiled modestly as they entered the lecture hall and took their usual seats in the back corner. The two sipped from their coffee as they took out their notebooks and a pen. With everything ready, they waited patiently for the class to start. As they looked around the hall, they noticed that their teacher was nowhere to be seen. The clock reached eight, the time the class started, then a young man walked in.

"Good morning," said the man in a deep husky voice, "My name is… Paul Rubens. I'll be your sub today."

Cadence scoffed, then raised her hand, "Where is Dr. Strong?"

The man was quiet for a moment, "He grew… very ill last night.'

Another student then raised his hand, "Isn't Paul Rubens the dude that played Pee-wee Herman?"

Cadence smiled behind her coffee as the man in front paused to think of an excuse, "Yeah, it sucks." The man smiled, "Word of advice people, don't name your kid after a giant one." The class chuckled then he clapped his hands together, "Alright who's ready to talk about the end of the world?" Turning around he wrote the word 'apocalypse' on the black board.

Charlie gave Cadence a weird look, before saying, "But sir, we're not finished with Genesis yet."

"Hey, I don't make the plans," he said. His green eyes glanced at Cadence who returned his look with a glare of her own. "Alright, so what does anyone know about the end of the world?"

Cadence waited for someone to start the class, but all eyes turned to her - a common thing in the class, unfortunately. Sighing, she began, "Well it really depends on what version you want to believe in sir."

Paul raised an eyebrow, "Care to explain?"

"Well, in most versions the actual ending of the world doesn't even happen until the 66 seals established by the angels after Michael defeated Lucifer the first time are broken. Once that happens, Lucifer and Michael have to meet to battle it out. The battle is said to be so great that the entire Earth will be destroyed, and angels will shepherd the lost souls of innocents to Heaven, and the demons will take the others to Hell. Presumably Michael will be able to win again, but seeing as it hasn't happened, no one can really tell."

Paul Rubens paused, the look on his face annoyed, "Alright anything else?"

Cadence took a sip of her coffee before saying, "Once the fight is over, either God or Lucifer will come to Earth and hit the restart button and life will begin again."

He frowned, "Does anyone else know anything about the apocalypse?" No one answered, "Is there anyone awake?"

Cadence's hand slowly entered the air.

"Anyone besides you?"

"Sorry, Paul, but it looks like you're going to have to lecture on it." Cadence gave a sweet smile.

The look on the man's face was priceless. Fear mixed in with his nervousness as he realized that he was actually going to have to teach the group of students a thing or two about a subject that he himself didn't quite understand.

Paul Rubens gave a weird smile, then said, "So the apocalypse, the end of the world… the day that Lucifer and Michael battle it out once and for all. Can anyone tell me the name of the four horsemen?"

Cadence raised her hand.

Paul sighed, "Yes?"

"Famine, Death, Pestilence, and War."

"Thanks. Let's ah… let's have some of the other students answer from now on okay, princess?"

Cadence gaped at him, annoyance written all over her face. Paul Rubens smiled and said, "Does anyone know what they do?"

Charlie rose her hand.

"Yes?"

"Death brings death, Pestilence brings sickness, War brings fighting, and Famine brings hunger."

Paul smiled, "Um… yeah that about sums it up. Can anyone tell me what happened to Lucifer before this?"

Charlie gave a confused look to Cadence before saying "Um… he was cast down from Heaven and defeated by Michael?" Cadence gave a small giggle as they watched the man trying to teach the class slowly give up.

Paul Rubens paused and said, "Alright… honestly, I've got nothing more for you guys. Go."

The students did not need to be told twice. The entire lecture hall emptied in seconds leaving only Paul Rubens, Cadence, and Charlie. The two girls made their way down the steps to the floor of the hall and over to the substitute.

Turning to Charlie, Cadence said, "I'll meet you outside. I just need to ask Paul something really quick." Charlie nodded and left the lecture hall. Walking over to the substitute teacher, Cadence poked him hard in the chest. "What the hell do you think you're doing," Cadence asked, "You can't just waltz in to my fucking class room like you own the place."

"Hey it was the only way to get to you!"

"Dean…."

"I know, I know. You don't hunt."

The sound of rushing air came and upon turning, Cadence jumped at the sight of Castiel, "You know a lot about the Apocalypse."

Cadence shrugged. "I'm majoring in biblical studies."

The angel gave a look of inquiry, "Really?"

"Yeah."

"Really?" This was asked by Dean.

Sighing, Cadence replied, "Yes. Really."

"Then that's perfect, now-" There was a flash and suddenly the group was standing in the living room of a well-furnished house, "Come with us… come on Cas!"

"Sorry."

"Did you just zap us somewhere?" asked Cadence.

"Yes."

"How?"

"I'm an angel."

Cadence scoffed then proceeded to look around the room, "Why are we in Dr. Strong's living room?"

"I wasn't kidding when I said he was sick." Dean walked behind her while Castiel was left standing in the middle. "How do you know where we are?"

Cadence was quiet for a moment, then replied, "I come here a lot… Dr. Strong is helping me with my school work."

Dean gave an unconvinced look in her direction, then said, "Okay."

"But if he's sick, then why are we here?"

Dean didn't say anything.

Cadence felt a sudden drop in her chest as she turned to face the hunter. "Dean, what are you not telling me?" When he didn't say anything she frowned, "Dr. Strong isn't just sick is he?"

Sam came into the room, his skin paler than usual, "Guys, you might want to come this way."

Cadence looked to Dean while she walked past him, following Same down the hallway that would lead to the bathroom, a closet, a guest bedroom, and finally Dr. Strong's room. Castiel fell in step behind her, completely stone faced. Cadence found it odd that she wasn't at all phased by his behavior, or lack of personality. Normally if someone was completely void of all emotion it really pissed her off. However, when it came to Castiel, she was totally cool with it, like it was expected of him. When he turned his head to look at her, she lowered her gaze and turned away. She could feel his bright blue eyes burning a hole in her face. They came to a stop outside of the master bedroom.

Becoming nervous, Cadence shifted her weight from one foot to the other, then cleared her throat, "What did you find Sam?"

Sam didn't say anything.

Frowning, Cadence stepped forward and opened the door. At first everything looked normal, until her eyes reached the bed. There she was greeted with the horrible image of her professor hanging on the wall with his arms spread out to his sides, with his insides pouring out of his abdomen. His intestine coiled on his pillows, staining the white material with the black-red of blood and bodily fluid. On his head was a thorn crown which had sliced through his skin causing thin lines of red to crawl down his face.

Cadence fell back into the hallway as she took in this horrible image. Covering her mouth with her hand, she fought to hold back a sob as she to keep a calm and collected appearance. Leaning against the wall, Cadence fought to let out a cry, her body trying to make the sound but not having enough air to do so… until she inhaled. Taking in a ragged breath, she let it out in a loud sob, her form finally crumbling to the floor.

In the corner of her blurred vision, Cadence saw the hem of a tan trench coat and nice dress shoes. As the hem lowered the face of Castiel appeared in front of her. It held the same quizzical look from before. "Is this really the hunter you want to recruit? Someone who cries she sees a body?"

Dean could be heard off to the side, "Jesus Christ, Cas… that is her teacher."

"Still, it's unacceptable," standing he continued, "Do you two know of anyone else who can help us?"

Anger washed over her as she fought back her sobs. Cadence stood slowly and wiped her eyes clear of tears. Turning to Castiel, she looked the angel in the eye she said, "You're so fucking lucky there are people here… because believe me I will find a way to cause you serious pain."

Taking a step forward, Castiel made sure his face was close to hers, "Are you threatening an angel?"

Nodded Cadence replied, "Oh yeah, you bet I am. No get the hell out of my way, Feather Boy… I need to find out what killed my teacher."