(Disclaimer: Don't own anything; following story is mine)
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Forsaken.
Chapter Eleven.
Its voice started as a whisper; an almost silent sigh as it was bought to life. It swirled as it grew, its voice now a malevolent murmur as it recognised itself; realised its purpose and started its journey. It gave a low laugh as its almost invisible fingers reached down, picking up whatever it could, plucking remnants of the forest that had fought its way free of the mire, looking for escape, only to be dragged into another assault. The shrapnel floated on the wind, spinning pirouettes in a graceful dance, hiding its true intent. The wind darkened as it collected the drying soil; a blackened soul, giving a glimpse of its true self as it fed off the dying forest; feeding a hunger that could not be sated.
It snaked its way down the mountain, its many hands darting out dutifully as it continued its gathering. It forced the ammunition deep into its bowels, it would start its assault slowly; a tortuous tease as it built its arsenal for the final, fatal attack. Its voice was now a guttural growl as it grew in strength and continued its thunderous march towards its prey.
It howled through the desolate surroundings, issuing a roar as it felt the presence of those it sought and it sent forth its first assault. Its first wave just an innuendo, a slight hint as to what was to come; it whipped around its targets, investigating, its fingers probing, leaving nothing untouched; scraping the skin, tiny needles of dirt piercing their flesh, looking for entry, searching for a weakness. It called on its second wave when it felt their first stirrings of worry and it rushed forward, bringing with it sharp, stinging blows, scratches …creating a diversion as it assembled the last of its arsenal.
Its bellow was heard for miles around and it stormed down the mountain, the final assault now beginning. It ripped trees from the earth, gathering missiles that were soon to be launched with perfect precision. It sent out its battle cry, a warning to those in its path of its intent; and when it found one, one that had strayed into its path, it plucked his cowering form from the mire and showed him its power, throwing him high and slamming him onto jagged trunk, his scream drowned out in the maelstrom.
It raged down the mountain and when it saw its prey, it launched the first of many attacks, firing its missiles…projectile after projectile aimed with pinpoint accuracy and when it saw them looking for protection and finding it only with each other, it roared triumphantly as it let loose its final barrage on the huddling forms of its targets.
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Sam threw himself at Dee as the artillery flew at them and he yelled as he was hit by rocky bullets, his back taking the brunt of the attack, his back that now felt like it was on fire. He felt an explosion in his mind and he screamed, rolling off Dee as he grabbed his head, the whirlwind that surrounded him now forgotten as the electric firings in his mind now took precedence.
Dee rolled over and grabbed Sam by the scruff of his jacket and started to drag the screaming man towards a cluster of boulders fifteen feet away. "PUSH, SAM!" she yelled into his ear and was a little surprised when he started to dig his heels into the earth and help their progress through the mire. She was hit again and again by the winds munitions, her body almost numb from pain. She didn't know how long it took to crawl the fifteen feet to the relative sanctuary of the boulders but it had taken a toll on the both of them, the bruises were already starting to show and they were both covered with scratches, deep and shallow, as they took shelter.
Sam was aware of nothing but the excruciating pain that seared his mind, his screams a distant echo in a mind that was slowly breaking down. His fingers tore at his head, seeking a way in, a way in to try and stop the agony …to bring it all to an end…everything…everything had to end.
Dee sat and leaned back against one of the boulders, pulling Sam's head into her lap "SAM! SAM! LOOK AT ME, LUV!" she screamed, but it was no use…he couldn't hear her above the raging wind or his own screams, let alone whatever was going on in his head. She tried to pry his fingers from his head, but the vice-like grip he had on it made it impossible. She reached down and pinched him painfully in the chest…it didn't register. Sam wasn't here. She lifted his eyelids, his eyes were a startling shade of blue. Shit. She jumped as a tree trunk crashed against the boulders, splintering and sending sharp shards into their haven. They were running out of time…and she hated to think what was happening with Riley and Dean, they were out in the open, no cover whatsoever. She closed her eyes and put her hands over Sam's and concentrated…time to take a peek into the younger Winchesters' mind and see exactly what was going on in there.
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Dean grunted as the tree hit him, slamming across his back, crushing him against Riley…but not killing them. He looked up and laughed softly; the logs they'd taken cover under moments ago were holding up part of the tree, sheer dumb luck had saved them.
"RILEY!" he yelled into her ear "YOU GOTTA WAKE UP!" he got no response. He moved one of his hands down and pinched her cheek hard 'RILEY! NOW, DAMMIT!" he pinched her again and she started to stir "THAT'S IT! WAKE YOUR ASS UP, NOW!" he yelled over the howling wind. She moaned a little, her head moving from side to side and then her eyes snapped open.
"JESUS!" she yelled…then turned her head and spat, as dirt from the wind flew into her mouth. She turned back to Dean "HOW FUCKED ARE WE?" she screamed above the cacophony around them.
"PRETTY FUCKED! WE'RE KINDA STUCK!" he motioned to the tree that was pinning them down.
"YOU ALRIGHT?"
"BEEN BETTER" he grinned "ALTHOUGH ITS MORE COMFORTABLE IN FRONT THAN IN BACK!"
"HILARIOUS!" she moved her arms either side of him and tried to push the tree up a little "I CAN'T MOVE IT!"
"IT'S A WHOLE FREAKIN' TREE, RILEY! YOU'RE NOT SUPERMAN!"
"WELL WE CAN'T FUCKING WELL STAY HERE!" she pointed.
Dean turned his head and saw the wind building again, it was now a black, swirling mass as it tumbled menacingly down the mountain. He pushed his hands into the soil either side of Riley and started to dig at the dirt around her, scraping the soil away as she dug with him. "CAN YOU MOVE?"
She wriggled "NOT ENOUGH!" and they began digging again, Riley trying to shift the soil with her back, trying to create a hole from which they could slide out. She looked up the mountain "HURRY!" she yelled as she saw a large boulder being pushed by the dark cloud, tumbling towards them.
Dean dug furiously as Riley moved underneath him, trying to dislodge the soil at her back and he felt her shift a little and he dug his hands into the earth, scooping out large handfuls as the wind lashed at them, hurling shrapnel forcefully. He felt the pressure on his back lessen slightly "WAIT!" and he sunk his hands into the soil at his side and dragged himself out from under the tree, his back scraping painfully down its bark as Riley pushed him forward. He yanked his feet out and reached back in, helping her out and they threw themselves to their right, the boulder crushing the tree that had pinned them and then continued its death roll down the slope.
They crouched and looked around for some kind of shelter, anything that would help them ride this out but there was nothing.
"WE HAVE TO GET TO THE CABIN!" yelled Riley "IT'S OUR ONLY CHANCE!"
Dean nodded "WE'LL DEAL WITH THOSE ASSHOLES WHEN WE GET THERE!"
They ducked their heads and started to push themselves forward…heading into the belly of the beast.
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Dee concentrated on Sam, blocking out all around her as she used the gift she had slowly come to accept. Her first steps into his mind were tentative ones, it was always a dangerous thing to do, going into someone else's mind, and she guessed that Sam's mind was one scary place…especially now …but she had no choice, she understood all their lives depended on it.
She winced as her mind joined with his, there was something else here…something that was trying to claim Sam; she could feel the dark cloak that shrouded his mind and she crept cautiously around it, trying to find a way in…a way into Sam without alerting the other to her presence. She concentrated and slipped under the film of darkness, feeling it close at her back. She inched ever deeper into his mind and headed towards the scream that was Sam but it felt her and it roared, screaming in rage at the intruder and she yelled back, screaming for Sam, telling him to fight, that what he believed was a darkness within himself was his enemy…an enemy that was coming for all of them…for Dean and he was the only one that could stop it and the storm outside. She gritted her teeth as she was hit by the darkness and thrown from Sam's mind. She slammed back into her own and screamed as the connection was broken, blood running from her nose as her vision swam.
Sam could feel nothing but the darkness that had wrapped itself around his mind, showing him images of things he couldn't even begin to fathom. Depravity on a level he'd never thought possible and he felt a stirring within him, a soft whisper urging him to look deeper, to take pleasure in what he saw…that this was what he was destined for. He tried to turn away but it held him fast and he felt the temptation, the gentle whisper now a mantra in his mind, luring him, pulling him ever closer to the darkness. He tried to stop himself but he was no longer in control, he was weak and this evil was strong…it had him shackled within his own mind and he roared in frustration.
He stopped suddenly when he thought he heard Dee yelling at him and he listened closely; she was here, in his mind, and she yelled, telling him he could stop this, that he had to save them…save Dean and he roared again as he heard it roar and when it loosened its hold on him to deal with Dee he screamed in defiance, concentrating on his brother as he broke free of the chains that bound him and he turned on his invader, fighting through the black shroud and forcing it from his mind. It raged at him as it made its escape, vowing to be back, staking its claim on him and he turned his attention to the wind outside…and he was shown his brother…as he heard a malevolent chuckle tickle his mind; he saw Dean and Riley running towards the storm, heading into the blackness…running towards their deaths and he roared at the gale…willing it to end, ordering it back from where it came…refusing to let it claim his brother and Riley. He screamed again as his mind exploded in pain.
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Dean and Riley braced themselves as they started their march towards their adversary. Stubborn determination etched on their faces as they stared into the eye of the storm. There was no other way to go, if they stayed where they were, they'd be killed; if they headed down the mountain, they'd be taken out from behind; the only way was up and if they were going to go out, they were gonna go out on their feet and fighting.
Riley turned to Dean "WELL WINCHESTER! IT'S BEEN FUN!" she grinned.
Dean laughed "YOU'RE INSANE!"
"SHHHH, DON'T TELL ANYONE!"
"ON THREE?" he yelled with a grin and she nodded.
"ONE!" they yelled in unison and started their run towards the black wind. They were hit with rocks and branches, sticks and debris of all kinds and they put their arms over their faces as they threw themselves into the swirling mass, the screaming of the wind an almost physical blow...and then it died around them. The winds death, so sudden, so unexpected it was like another blow. They stopped and turned in circles as the debris dropped lifelessly around them.
"What the fuck?" said Dean as he looked at Riley.
"Don't look at me, I'm just a freaked out as you look" said Riley.
"Come on…the sooner we get to the cabin the better" they moved off to the side of the mountain and continued their climb. He turned to her "How's your head?"
"Sore" she put her fingers to the back of it, they came away dirty and bloody "Bugger" she looked at Dean and grinned "Saved your arse did I?"
"Yeah, you're my hero" he laughed then stopped when he saw her frown and followed her gaze "Jesus…that's gotta hurt"
They walked towards the tree and the old man that was skewered on it; the large jagged truck that had ripped through his chest, stained a ruby red, his mouth frozen in his last scream, his arms and legs hanging lifelessly, a gory puppet left over from natures last performance.
"I know this guy" said Riley as she walked over to him and climbed the tree carefully and moved the man's head towards her.
"Jesus, Riley…that's creepy even for you" said Dean with a grin.
She reached into the mans back pocket and took his wallet out before jumping back down.
"Ooookay...and stealing from the dead..." he grinned "you're like the perfect woman"
She laughed as she walked over to him "Ever the opportunist" she turned serious "I saw this guy, Dean. Before the storm hit…same clothes, jacket, boots the lot…only…" she shook her head "he was about fifty years younger"
"Bullshit" said Dean.
Riley shook her head and opened the wallet "I'm positive. Details are my thing…this is…" she stared at the drivers licence "See?" she handed the licence to Dean.
Dean stared between the photo on the licence and the dead man on the tree. It couldn't be…but he could see the resemblance between the tww, they had the same odd shaped birthmark on the right cheek; and if what Riley was saying were true, then the man had aged over fifty years in the space of half an hour. He took the wallet from Riley and put it in his jacket, ignoring the feeling of foreboding that washed over him "Let's keep moving" she nodded and they continued their climb.
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They crouched behind a cluster of large boulders as they watched the cabin. It didn't take long before the door opened and five men came out. They looked around warily, their eyes darting round the landscape, not taking in anything, the fear clearly evident in their eyes. They watched as one of the men sent two down the mountain to look for them and another off to 'the cave' to ask Lucian what the hell had happened to the wind-storm. The three men took off, moving as fast as they could as another moved down towards the front of the cabin and stood watch, the door closing behind the other as he went back inside.
Riley turned to Dean "Dagger?" she whispered.
He reached into his boot "You need both?" he asked.
She grinned "Nope" she peeked over the boulder and flipped the dagger, testing its weight, getting the feel of it. She caught its blade between her fingers and looked again, gauging the distance.
Dean peeked through the boulders "Riley, he's over sixty feet away…you can't get to him without him seeing you…and this needs to be a silent kill"
Riley smiled "Trust me, Dean" she looked again and moved to her left slightly and rose suddenly, throwing the dagger forcefully and ducking back down, not watching her throw.
Dean did watch; he watched as the dagger tumbled end over end, its blade glinting as it spun rapidly towards the man. He stared open-mouthed as it hit, disappearing up to the hilt as it lodged into the base of the man's skull. The man was dead before his legs crumbled underneath him, he didn't utter a sound. He turned to Riley.
She gave a short smile "It's a gift" she peeked round the boulder "I'll move the body, you got the one inside?"
He grinned at her "Watch and learn" and they eased round the boulders, Riley heading for the dead man, Dean for the cabin.
Dean crept up the stairs, took a deep breath and knocked on the door. He grinned into the shocked face of the man that opened the door "Avon calling, asshole" and he punched the man in the face, his nose exploding under Dean's fist as he fell back into the cabin. Dean grabbed the man by the scruff of the neck and punched him again, rocking his head sideways. "Look at me, prick! You want to fuck with me and my brother?" the man turned his blue eyes to Dean, the fear radiating out of them "Yeah, you be scared" and he punched the man in the temple, knocking him out.
He walked outside and saw Riley covering the dead man's body with logs. She walked over and grinned "Avon calling?" she laughed.
"I gave him a makeover" he turned "I need ropes…where's my car?" he asked and she pointed. Dean turned further and his mouth dropped open as he looked back at Riley "Why didn't you tell me!"
"I did. Told you she was lodged between two trees"
"Not five feet off the fucking ground you didn't!" said Dean as he stared at his beloved car, hanging precariously between two trees. He walked over and popped the hood, she was wedged between the trees. Fuck. He grabbed ropes from the trunk and closed it, heading back to the cabin, muttering under his breath as he passed a grinning Riley.
He tied the man to the chair and gagged him as Riley went and had a shower. He grabbed the medi-kit from the back of the Impala and scanned the mountain, looking for any sign of Sam and Dee. There was none. When he finally came back inside, Riley was putting her clothes in front of the fire to dry.
"Thanks for the shirt" she said.
He grinned "You're welcome…still didn't think it was necessary"
She laughed "Yeah, alright. Any sign of them?"
He shook his head, worry lines creasing his forehead "Sit. Let me see the back of your head" she sat at the table and he looked at the gash "It'll need stitches"
"Do it" she said.
He finished ten minutes later and went to shower as Riley kept watch for Sam and Dee.
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Sam and Dee crept towards the cabin, it was all quiet inside, nothing but the steady wisps of smoke from the fire lifting into the air. It worried them. The two men Dee had shot had obviously come from the cabin…which meant there were more inside. They'd found no sign of Dean and Riley and weren't sure whether that was a good or bad thing.
Dee used the scope to try and catch sight of any one inside "Shit, if they're inside, they're staying away from the windows" she whispered.
"Let me" said Sam and he stood and ran quickly to the steps of the cabin and crept quietly up them, he looked back, Dee was covering him with the rifle. He nodded and knocked on the door, his pistols at his side.
The door was flung open and he was looking down the barrels of two pistols as Dean looked down the barrels of his,
"Dude! Get your ass inside!" Dean grinned "I've got fire, a half-naked chick and a hostage" he looked over Sam's shoulder "You too, Dee" he grinned "You get my best side?" and he turned to his left.
Dee laughed as she slung the rifle over her shoulder and followed Sam into the cabin. Riley was sitting cross-legged on one of the beds going through some notes, a beer in her hand, a pistol on the bed next to her and there was an unconscious man strapped to a chair, his face a bleeding, pulp covered mess.
"Showers that way" said Riley and pointed to a door off to her left "Hot water doesn't run out"
"Nice shirt" said Dee with a laugh as she sat on the bed next to her friend and took her beer.
"You alright, Sammy?" asked Dean, the worry that had left him when he'd seen Sam alive and well, now crashing back as he saw the look on his brothers face.
Sam looked at Dean "We're in some serious shit, dude"
"Figured" said Dean.
Sam shook his head slowly "No, Dean…" he looked at Dee then back to his brother "We're never getting off this mountain"
To be continued…
