It hadn't taken Sam long to find an abandoned car on the roads of Bright Falls. His body was on overdrive; he had to reach Cauldron Lake and end this for good. It killed him, knowing that he was leaving Dean behind but there were no other options now. He couldn't bring himself to care anymore whether he lived or died. If Dean cared, he couldn't tell anymore. He had seen the relief in his brother's eyes after Zane had resurrected him, the tears that streaked his face. He had felt Dean's arms around him as he had held onto him with everything he had. And yet, only months ago, he had been the source of his pain. Even now, Sam could hear his brother's cruel, cutting words.
In fact, every relationship I've ever had has gone to crap at some point – but the one thing I can say about Benny? He has never let me down.
Benny has been more of a brother to me this past year than you've ever been! That's right. Cass let me down. You let me down. The only person that hasn't let me down is Benny! Sam shook his head, slamming his foot on the gas pedal. Regardless of how Dean felt, he was doing him a favor. He wouldn't make it out of the Dark Place alive. If all went well, the world would be free of the Dark Presence's reign and his life would be the cost. No great loss. He wasn't embarking on this mission just to die, he knew that much. His life was merely a small price that would be the price of ending the ageless war between the Light and the Dark. A tear slipped down his cheek as he sped onwards into the darkness. This ends tonight.
"Al, you can't be serious," Barry said angrily. "Sam and Dean are on their way to Cauldron Lake – they're probably not going to be seen again – and now you're going back? Dude, we didn't see you for an entire year after you left!"
"Barry, you don't understand. Neither of them can end this war – it's suicide. I have to do this!" Alan countered. "If they do this, they'll be lost in the Dark Place forever."
"So will you if you go through with this! Al, please reconsider this. There has to be other options!"
"Such as?" The Clicker's lost, and we're running out of time. There was no time to debate alternatives. It was do or die, except no matter what he chose, death would come. It was a matter of ensuring that no more innocent people would get hurt, and his life would be the price. "I have to go."
"I'm coming with you!"
"No," Alan said firmly. "I'm doing this alone. Nobody else is going to get hurt." He met his friend's eyes. "Thomas Zane chose me to do this. Right when I stepped foot into this town…"
"This is goodbye, isn't it?" Barry said despondently. "For good."
"I'm sorry, man. If I don't do this, no one else will." The writer, the champion of light, felt his throat close with tears. Never again would he see his wife, the light of his life in the dark world. He had no way of knowing if she was still alive although deep down, he knew she was most likely amongst the dead. Fate was working against him in every way possible, and there was no fighting it. Not this time, not ever. Wordlessly, he pulled Barry into an embrace. His friend clung to him, silently begging him not to go.
"If all goes well, everything that's happened will be reversed and nobody but you, Sarah, Sam and Dean will remember anything," said Alan quietly. The two men broke apart, and Alan made his way out of the lighthouse. I love you, Alice. I am so sorry.
Dean's hands were trembling violently as he sped down the highway. He'd found the Impala on the side of the road, presumably left behind from a black twister. Come on, come on, come on. Sam was ahead of him by what he guessed was at least twenty minutes, and Cauldron Lake wasn't too far from the lighthouse. A couple miles, at the most. Dean brandished his cell phone and dialed his younger brother's number. "Pick up, Sammy. Please pick up," he pleaded.
"Dean?" Sam's voice reverberated through the other line, filling the eldest Winchester with relief. Maybe I can persuade him into not doing this.
"Sam! Sam, my god, what…where the hell are you?" demanded Dean. "Whatever you're thinking of doing, don't do it. You don't have to die!"
His younger brother chuckled bitterly. "Stop pretending that you actually give a shit about my life, Dean," he said. "You've made it more than clear that I'm nothing but a goddamned screw-up who breaks everything I touch. Who knows? My sacrifice is the only thing that'll save everyone." Oh my god. No, no, no. This can't be happening.
"Sam, listen to me. There's gotta be another way to end this, a way that doesn't end in me losing you."
"Another way?" Sam's voice wavered. "Do you even know what's at stake here?"
"Yeah, I do! Your life is the thing at stake right now! Sammy, I'm begging you, don't do this! You're all I got, and I-I can't do this without you." Dean's chest constricted. "Don't do this."
"Goodbye, Dean." The line went dead, and Dean pocketed his phone, cursing in anger and frustration. He slammed the gas, trying to ignore the feeling of dread that swept over him as the Dark Presence howled into the night.