Purgatory

All she knew nowadays was running. Running like hell for her life. She used to be fit, the hunter's life made sure of it; chasing after monsters wouldn't be possible if she couldn't keep up her strength and stamina.

But that was before she died, or at least that's what they assumed happened. One minute they were fighting Dick - seriously, why would he call himself that - and the next thing they know is black goo literally exploding from his body and covering all three of them. And so Castiel - Cas to friends - Dean and her were stuck in this unfamiliar and dangerous place.

They figured out it was dangerous in the first hour of waking up. The air was stiff and thick with blood, urine, and who knows what. Castiel was the first one to realize where they landed, and when he spoke the words out loud in his rich, monotone baritone, Taylor's blood froze in her veins.

Purgatory. The place of myths they learned not that long ago about. The site where all supernatural creatures went after their final death. So they were stuck, one Angel and two humans. The trio that the majority of the paranormal community either heard of or, worse - encountered at some point.

That was nearly a year ago, or so Castiel told them. For Taylor, each day blurred together, they didn't need food or water - they were dead after all - but that didn't mean they didn't crave it. In the odd evenings, when they managed to hide well enough, they would talk in hush whispers, four of them, and tell each other stories or what they missed the most.

Yes, four of them. It wasn't that long in their new location when they encountered a ravenous group of werewolves. Dean had his machete, something he took of the dead body a while ago, and Cas had his angel blade. That was the first and possibly the last piece of luck they had - safely tucked in whatever celestial space pocket he usually kept the weapon, he slid it out with ease, killing the first creature they came across. It took Taylor longer to obtain something for herself, but she eventually carried a sword taken from a skinwalker that tried to steal her face.

Anyway, at some point, they came across a bunch of werewolves; hearing about a Winchester, Singer, and their Angel made them group together and plan an ambush. That's when Benny came in, slashing at the lycanthropes, baring his teeth at them while spinning Taylor out of the way and deadly claws.

Since that day, Benny the Vampire has traveled with them. Safe to say, he was a pro, living in Purgatory for many decades, and without him, they probably would be dead.

But what scared Taylor the most was her humanity. With each passing day, week and month, it felt easier to react, to just raise her arm and slash at the nearest enemy. And everyone who wasn't either Dean, Cas, or Benny was an enemy.

As time passed, it was harder to remember times when she traveled with Winchesters in the old Chevy Impala, singing off-key to the rock songs and studying the cases. It got harder to relate to the woman she was, someone who didn't just see a monster. They encountered several supernaturals who, while maybe not good, were neutral and didn't harm humans. She would spend time asking questions, and putting it all in her hunter's journal, later convincing the boys why they should spare them.

That was the old Taylor. The new Taylor lived in a place out of time and space, where nothing else mattered but the survival of the fittest. And she certainly didn't want to die. Castiel explained this to them - because they were already in an afterlife, a place between Heaven and Hell, if they die, that's it, game over. No escapes no miracles, no resurections.

On one cold and foggy evening, they hid in a cave after clearing it of three Leviathans, and she finally voiced her concerns.

"It's just... it gets too easy," Taylor whispered, avoiding eye contact and staring at her worn-out red sneakers.

"What you mean, T?" Dean's childhood nickname usually made her smile, but she couldn't force herself to do it now. It had been so long since she smiled.

"Killing. Every time we see someone, there are no questions, just a blade across the neck or to the heart."

"That's Purgatory for you, Doll," Benny yawned, showing off his fangs, but it didn't bother her anymore. She scrunched her face and shook her head.

"It should. If we'd meet you now, we'd not hesitate. We wouldn't give a shit that you helped us."

"I wouldn't let you just kill me."

Taylor shrugged, but she noticed how Dean's face darkened, and Cas tensed his jaw even more. The Angel spoke less and less every day. It wasn't a place for him, it was not where he was supposed to go after death, and it started to get to him, she thought.

"My point is, it wouldn't be the same. Either you'd end us or the other way around. And it scares me."

Benny sighed, taking off his hat and running his fingers over his hair. "I told you before that there is a way out of here."

"And we told you it's too dangerous," Dean interrupted, glaring at the vampire. They had this conversation many times, but for the first time, Castiel seemed to change his mind.

"Is it, Dean?" the Angel asked, and his eyes softened for a moment when he glanced at Taylor. At this point, it's worth trying. It's better than what we're doing right now. If there is a way for us to get out of here, or at least you two... we should try."

And that's where we come back to running. Running for their life once more. After they set up the plan and Benny explained in more detail how to get out of this horrid place and what he would get out of this, they gathered what they could and started their journey.

The spot the vampire mentioned was miles upon miles away, and eventually, they ended up in a tough spot once again. Even more than before, Taylor realized, as they were down one member. The previous night Dean performed the ritual and stored Benny's soul in his arm.

The other creatures had to catch on to what they had been trying to do because they had been chased since early this morning, and they woke up to a howling not far from them. The first Leviathan they encountered nearly ripped Tylor apart, and since then, her heart wouldn't stop racing. Acid rose up in her throat, and she felt deep in her belly that they won't get out of this alive. The fear she felt the moment they stepped into the clearing, a bright smudge of light flicking ahead, was more profound than anything she had felt her whole life.

"Go!" Castiel's urgent calls were muffled by the blood pumping in her veins and her heavy breath, yet she pushed her tired muscles forward, trying to get closer.

With a swift slash of her blade Taylor managed to decapitate the short man that stood in her way, a vampire, she thought. She could hear shouts and cut-off cries of pain behind her, Dean's words of encouragement right behind her.

She was so close, almost could feel the breeze on her skin, and could see the greens of the forest on Earth, so different to shadows and grays her eyes got used to. Taylor huffed, and the air was knocked out of her, along with her sword, when a heavy body collided with hers. Seconds later, she found herself on the ground, something digging painfully into her back, and the yellow eyes of a werewolf flashed above her. Reacting instinctively, she kneed him in his side, but it didn't really affect the creature. One hand wrapped painfully around her neck while the other sneaked lower between her breasts.

"I'll have fun with you and then enjoy your sweet beating heart," he growled at her, and Tylor's eyes traveled above his shoulder.

Dean spotted her and spun around, away from the escape rift. She tried to shake her head, but with the heavy weight on her, she couldn't.

"Go! Run!" she managed, and for a moment, she wasn't sure if he heard her until something flashed in his eyes, and the next thing she knew was his broad frame disappearing from her eyesight - into the light.

It would be a lie to say that she wasn't terrified. She didn't know where Castiel was; the monster on top of her was fumbling with her clothes, yet she felt at peace.

It was a long road, since her first hunt, since the day she met John Winchester and his sons. They had known each other for most of their lives, and she couldn't stop a soft smile at the realization that Dean had gotten out. He would reunite with his brother, and they will continue to get rid of monsters from the Earth.

It was her end of the line. Shutting off noises around her and the disgusting feeling of foreign hands on her nearly naked body, she released her last breath. Finally, she would be at peace, hopefully with her father.