Supernatural

Purgatory Time

Chapter 1: Survive

There was only one thing Dean was certain of as he ran in the dark, cold, creepy, dirty, and very muddy place he learned mere seconds ago was 'Purgatory'.

If there was no way to go back, and if he was stuck here forever-or if he died here…He hadn't said goodbye to Sam.

But Sammy must be looking for him-so he should also keep on-…

What was he supposed to do about this situation he was in? What could he do?

Survive.

At least, that was what he was trying to do every second spent in this hellhole.

Not wasting a second to look back-to check if those…those…gorillas that were similar to wolves, their red eyes glowing slightly in the darkness surrounding him.

Gorilla-wolves, Dean thought. Nothing out of the usual on purgatory. What was next-

Nearly stumbling on a piece of rock, he heard the distance between him and the gorilla-wolves shorten as he slowed and regained his balance, continuing on running as fast as he could, his breathing quickening with every passing minute.

He felt like he had been running for hours, but it must have only been half an hour. The area around him was still gloomy, and he had to keep his guard up, running with alertness he rarely had to use continuously. Here, it was as if any creature could sneak up on him at any moment.

This must be a 'kill or be killed' game in real life.

But how was he supposed to fight defenseless? With no weapon in hand? -

The demon-killing knife!

Feeling the rough blade in his hand as he jumped above a cut and broken tree, he realized he had been holding it the whole time.

There was a tiny problem, though…

What if it was useless against these creatures? It was called 'a demon-killing knife' for a reason-

Son of a bitch!

He couldn't even shout the words out loud as he took turns here and there, trying desperately to get rid of the gorilla-wolves that had almost got him.

Branches cracked underneath his boots, and he really felt the need to take a break, but of course, these creatures knew nothing about the word 'break'. Maybe except for using it to break bones.

These things were faster than pretty much any other creature he had faced off-and that said something since he had fought many, many, way too many to count creatures.

Though he should exclude demons. And angels. And hellhounds. They were all faster-

Cursing under his breath after he fell on the ground, he quickly tried getting back up-a result of having checked what was around him for a moment, which, not surprising, was more trees, more gloominess, and more nothingness except that shred of darkness that grew.

A demon-killing blade against a pack of gorilla-wolves. The end would either be his own end, or the creatures.

He very much preferred the latter.

Before he could take a step anywhere, two gorilla-wolves were in front of him, one of them lunging at him with speed he barely processed.

"Damn it!" He screamed as he plunged the knife towards the creature, slicing only a part of it, not killing it.

So, the blade could hurt these beasts. That was good news. Sort of.

Breathing in, and then out as controlled as he could-doing his best to slow down his heart that, right now, felt like it could explode after being chased by freaking gorilla-wolves.

His hands were shaking, he noticed as he looked at his hands after he watched the gorilla-wolves run away, growling into the night.

As he stared at his hands, adrenaline finally slowing its rush, he knew that his hands never shook, not really. At life or death situations, yes, but this wasn't anything like that. This was…

Dean had no idea what this was. But he decided, shakily bringing himself to walk the few meters to a trunk of a tree, that there would be no giving up. If he had to kill to survive here, that's what he'd do.

And anyway, it didn't really count as killing if all these creatures were already dead, right?

Also, these creatures were all evil, so he felt nothing wrong in killing any one of them.

How many of these things could there be? Ten? A hundred? It was sad that this place had no list of what was here, and what could be done about them. Would've made his job much easier.

What was his job again? He thought as he shut his eyes for a moment, resting his tired eyes.

Quickly snapping his eyes open, he looked around, making sure the place was clear.

There was no resting here, it seemed. Not in Purgatory. Not with countless monsters around. He had to be awake, alert, and ready to attack at any given moment.

He was a trained hunter.

His main priority was keeping Sammy safe. That was what came first. Always.

To do that, he had to survive-and get out of here.

In order to survive, he had to remain on guard.

Him and Cas had both been on guard while dealing with that dick of a Leviathan leader-

"Oh shit." He whispered to himself, feeling his heart that had calmed down quicken with the realization he just made.

Where was Cas? What happened to Cas?! Cas was here-in Purgatory, he knew that. They landed to this hellhole together. He had seen Cas when he woke, and was informed of the place being called Purgatory, and no other information. But seconds later Cas was gone and he was being chased by those gorilla-wolves…Had some freak got him?! Was Cas-Where was Cas?! With all his angel mojo, couldn't he find him? Or was his mojo not as easy to use here? Or was Cas fighting for his life right now? Was this his fault-he had told Cas to clean up his mess even though Cas said he didn't want to fight-Was this Dean's fault? Had Cas left him-

He shook his head, getting rid of the last thoughts as soon as they got there.

This was Cas he was going on about. Any doubt he had could go to hell, and so could all those questions without answers.

He'd get the answers he needed one way or another.

For now, he leaned heavily against the tree, out of energy-stamina fully depleted. He was so damn tired, and in need of something he got with Sam after a case was finished-something refreshing, or relaxing, like driving his Baby, or some sort of stress-relief, like drinking some beer, or even going on a case with the 'Team Free Will'-him, Cas, and Sam,-or all of the above-something.

From the looks of it, the darkness around could mean that it was nighttime.

Glancing around, waiting for something disgusting to crawl out-or jump at him with sharp claws, he started to hum a song-he didn't even know which one, but he did so until the tapping of his foot stopped and he was no longer so fricking tense.

It was a habit, he knew, humming a song he liked to calm himself down, but he didn't remember ever doing it after that one time with that case on a plane with Sam.

Right. Sammy.

A sudden wave of guilt washed over him as he thought over the recent events-him leaving Sam behind, intentionally or not. It was his responsibility-as the older brother-to look after Sammy.

And he had left him behind.

He wondered if there was a 'Worst Older Brother of The Year' mug for him. When-…If he got out, maybe he'd go and search for one for himself.

And a number of beer cases. And hamburgers, lots of them. Fries too-

Focusing back onto his surroundings, he inhaled deeply.

Man, he really didn't like doing this. Praying…What was the difference between praying and begging, anyway?

Clearing his dry throat, he spoke quietly, keeping an eye out for any activity.

"Cas? You there? Hope you got your ears on. I, uh," he came to a halt, words not forming the way he wanted to. Too many things had happened in one day-or was it two days? Whatever it may have been, he blamed his racing heart and sweaty hands at the lack of words he got out. "It's been, like, not too long since I learned Purgatory actually exists."

What could he say? Being chased non-stop by killer beasts for a while in a danger zone really gets to him.

It had also been a while since he actually prayed.

More importantly, was Cas even listening…?

Gulping down that thought-that frightening thought that might as well be true considering how alone he felt, and how silent it got around him.

He spoke, voice a bit more confident, eyes shut as he tried to do better at this whole praying thing. "Would be really helpful if you come down here, Cas. I think I missed the part where you explained things about this place. Get your feathers here-Please?"

Opening his eyes, he looked around hopefully, almost desperate, like a very much needed angel would suddenly show up and help him out-get him out of here and back to the real world-to his Impala and Sam.

He wasn't even able to make any references-he must be way more stressed being in an unnatural place and all. But making any sort of reference with Cas was sort of not as funny since the angel got none of them-not even one!

-That wasn't the point right now.

Right now, all he wanted was to see the appearance of the familiar trench coat wearing angel, but as he stared around-left and right, and even the top of the tree, and also stood and walked around the tree, checking any and every place somebody could land on.

"Cas?" He whispered, but the word was lost in the silence. Nobody replied. No 'Hello Dean'.

An awful feeling rose in his stomach as he waited and waited and waited-yet nobody arrived.

Since this place was a place for punishment, maybe there were some creatures strong enough to make Cas use power enough that he couldn't make it here? Or maybe it was just the signal messing it all up-maybe they were too far apart that his words couldn't reach Cas? Maybe the whole radar thing worked differently here in Purgatory? Or maybe he was hurt or-

Clenching the knife tighter in his hand to concentrate on it, he stopped before any darker thoughts could make their way into his head.

Cas was strong. Stronger than anyone he knew. He was an angel! He would survive. He'd be alright…

Sighing, he calmed himself, and planed what to do. After all, no plan for any man meant death. Instantly. Especially when the setting was in Purgatory-of all places!

Alright.

First, he needed to have some goal.

He had to survive. And, well, he was doing a bang-up job so far. Almost eaten by gorilla-wolves…Was there anything worse than that?

Anyway, surviving was going to always be his immediate goal while in here.

He also had to find Cas. He had to find Cas. He had to see what happened to Cas. He had to find Cas.

After he found him, they would survive, and then escape this place.

It seemed impossible, but they'd done the impossible before. What was another impossible task to them? Nothing. That was what it was. They'd both get through this.

Dean felt his throat close up as he felt his thoughts being only to calm his doubts and fears.

Was there anything he was missing?

Survive. Find Cas. Get out of here together.

Sammy would be okay, he had to assure himself before he got on a mental debate on what his brother's situation might be like. Sam was safe, with no Leviathans around him. And all the stuff they got in the Impala should be enough to keep a good hunter like Sam safe. Sam could take care of himself.

And Dean had to do the same to get back. In one piece, he hoped.

He would survive. He would find Cas. And then they would both get out of here.

Simple as that.

Yep. Simple.

And to survive in a kill or be killed area, he would kill, no matter what.

He would fight his way through, and he would survive. And find Cas and get them both out.

But first, he had to learn to adapt to this unknown territory so he had an idea of what he would be living in for however long it took to get Cas back.

First, he had to learn to survive in Purgatory.