Disclaimer: I don't own a thing.
Warnings: Character deaths, violence, emotional torture, language. I'm not the most geographically minded person, but I did get some basic facts about Detroit.
Word Count: 7,809
AN: This is essentially a two-parter. As always, enjoy!
Chapter 29: Cry of the hunters
'In the beginning was the word-No. No, that wasn't quite right. The beginning was indeed important, yes, but this is-'
Chuck sighed, looking up from his screen. Taking another swig of his drink, he took in his surroundings. It was quiet. One of Bobby's clocks ticking away from a tucked away corner. A clink of ice in Chuck's glass. The small fan in the kitchen moving it's blades in lazy whirls. A creak in the floorboards, and he looked up to see Clary.
She sat up, smiling as Chuck continued his clacking of the keyboard. She padded into the kitchen. Fixing herself some of the leftovers Simon made the night before, she set herself to writing out a letter. She tried to keep her handwriting neat as tears pricked her eyes. She took too many breaks, refilling her tea, and watching Chuck type. Clary stared at the writer until her eyes fully blurred and she had to wipe her eyes to clear them.
Chuck leaned forward, taking a swig of his drink. Sucking in a breath, he tried to keep his fingers steady as the power of his words went onto the page, solidifying their strength.
'-For every person we end up caring about, is another story that at some point, will have to end. That's the part everyone wants to know about right? How it ends?'
SPNTMI
Sam stood across from the Devil, with the soul-sword dangling in his hand. The hilt burning into his flesh. Arm shaking and vision wavering, he kept himself upright as he stared at Lucifer's back. Sam swayed as he took a step forward. Lucifer smiled and Sam stopped. He couldn't keep his eyes off Lucifer, despite their surroundings. At the top of the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center. The restaurant wasn't crowded, only a few people sat at tables, and none of them spoke. Shivering, Sam kept quiet as he watched Lucifer stare at the skyline. Little cracks of ice appear at the edges of the glass. Lucifer only gave a single inclination of his head in Sam's direction.
"So now that we have a little time together...what would you like to do?"
Sam swallowed, trying not to gag. No words slid past his mouth as he narrowed his eyes. After a few minutes of silence, Lucifer tutted and Sam flinched, unable to back away as Lucifer fully turned to face Sam.
"I brought these ones here..." he gestured to the possessed men and women lounging around the bar with a sweep of his hand. "...as a peace offering, well, more of an incentive, really. I know that you've been dicked over by Azazel's little playgroup for, oh, about forever." He shrugged. "So, here they are. Go nuts."
Sam shook his head. "Just get it over with." he said.
Lucifer shook his head with a soft laugh. "Well, if you insist. Say, the magic word, Sammy."
Sam's eyes flashed but he said nothing, dragging the moment out before taking a slow, deep breath. "Yes."
Smiling, Lucifer spread out his arms and a humming whine permeated the air, like a machine powering up. Light engulfed the room. Sam dropped the sword as he threw up his hands. The last clear thing he caught a glimpse of was Lucifer putting a hand on his shoulder. Sam threw back his head, screaming as hot-cold power flooded through him, tangling his senses until all he could understand was pain. Images slammed into his vision, without out context or reason as he could have sworn he heard his insides searing with the force of the archangel filling him up. Doubling over, Sam was flung back into the recesses of him mind.
With a kind of swimming sight, Sam watched himself, his body straighten. The sensation of moving was still there, but distant, as if he could only feel himself from some kind of memory of how to move. Sam shuddered, or rather, imagined himself shuddering despite his body not making a move of the sort. Sam tried to move his hand, to flex his fingers, anything.
A rumble from his stomach, traversing up to his throat, and pouring out of his mouth. Sam was laughing. The command to laugh still worked. He could still feel his body working and how it was not under his own power. Sam's own mental voice screamed, echoing in his head. He heard his voice rattling in his own ears, spoken aloud to chill the room.
"Easy Sammy..."
Lucifer turned Sam's body on his heel, picking up the fallen sword. As he hefted Maellartach into the air, Sam's muscles sang with power as grace threaded through them at the slightest movement. Until, Sam was dizzy with the feeling, and he had to concentrate to hear Lucifer's words.
"We've got work to do."
With that, Sam tumbled back into the corners of his own mind.
SPNTMI
The sky darkened as the scent of ozone permeated the air. Grace thrumming through the streets as Ancients, demons, and angels alike shuddered at the rapid rush of power oozing out from every atom. The screech of of Lucifer's wings did not bother the archangels Raphael and Michael as they shot through the sky. Lightening flashed.
"They approach." Raphael called out, voice cracking the windows of buildings within five blocks.
"Deal with them." Michael said. His voice pitched for all the heavenly host to hear. "Half our forces to Raphael and the other to me, to combat these beasts. Leave Lucifer to me."
Thunder seemed to boom in agreement with the celestial command.
Gabriel reeled back in his seat with a sharp breath. Dean whipped his head in the archangel's direction.
"What?"
"Michael and Raphael-they know we're here. Looks like Sam said yes. We're too late."
"No." Castiel rasped from the backseat. "We must try."
Whatever Dean was about to say was cut off by Gabriel twisting around to look at his younger brother.
"I didn't say we wouldn't, just that it's gonna be way harder now. Now, that the Death Star knows we're coming and how many mooks we'll have to plow through to get to Lucifer-"
"You know where Sam is?" Dean asked.
Gabriel nodded as Castiel shuddered. Gabriel pointed ahead of them.
"He's at that tower."
Dean frowned. "In The Renaissance Center? That tower."
"Yup the building in the center."
Dean pressed the gas pedal harder, shooting forward. The impala barreled forward and as they were about to head to an intersection, Cas suddenly called out.
"Dean, to the left."
Dean turned in time to see a wave of croatoans rush at their car. Bobby's van and Clary's truck swerved behind them in time to avoid the swell of infected people racing to them. A few were unlucky enough to get hit by the rear end of Clary's truck as it brought up the rear. Castiel could just make out Jo and Isabelle dispatching the ones that got to close to the truck bed. As the creatures fell, something in his chest somewhat lightened but not enough to dissipate the dread and anger that came from the vague proximity of ancients lurking blocks away.
Castiel's lip curled at the thought. Bobby's van's headlights flashed and Dean slowed enough for Bobby to pull up beside them. Magnus sat in the passenger seat, rolling down the window, and Dean followed suit.
"There are too many beasties to handle-" Magnus shouted. "You need to get to Sam and let us handle with the riffraff-"
"What?" Dean shook his head. "Gabe know's where Sam's at-"
"Then go." Magnus shouted.
Castiel nodded. "Dean, he's right. At this point, you're probably the only who stands a chance at getting through to Sam."
Dean squeezed his eyes shut and then gave a brisk nod. He sped up without a word. The van and pickup truck getting smaller in his rear view mirror. Gritting his teeth as he saw demons, croatoans, and even an ancient swarm the two vehicles. A quick flash out of the corner of his eye, and Dean swerved in time to miss the tangle of trip wire lines as demons raced towards them, unheeding of the mini-explosions rattling the street. Dean plowed through them. A demon hit the grille, flipping onto the windshield, screeching as it's jacket sleeve got caught on the windshield wiper. With a sharp turn, Dean shook the demon off.
The ground thudded as he took a turn too tightly. Gabriel gave rapid fire directions, Dean's hands white-knuckling the steering wheel as he took a side street and came out at an intersection. Gabriel cursed seconds before a bolt of lightening struck the ground. Street lights flickered on and off like demented Morse code as cars went skidding across the pavement. Dean slammed on the breaks, shielding his eyes. The scent of rubber couldn't cover the acidic stench coming from the street. The back end of the impala rose to a thirty degree angle, Dean shouting as he opened his eyes.
Raphael stood in front of them, his right foot pressing into the grille of the impala. Dean glared as more angels in plain, black suits appeared, circling the car. They wore identical blank expressions. In each of their hands were angel blades. The impala was set down none too gently as Raphael fixed his gaze on the three of them.
"Dean."
Dean didn't move as he answered Castiel.
"What?"
"Go."
"What?" Dean's voice rose. "Dude-"
"I'll handle this." Castiel's flinty voice rumbled in the car.
Dean twisted in his seat to stare. He held Castiel's gaze for no more than a minute but to Dean it felt far longer. He finally gave a final nod.
"Kick it in the ass." He said.
Castiel held up his angel blade before exiting the car. Raphael glowered at the younger angel, voice like the dregs of gravel at the bottom of the well. A crack of thunder at the end of his speech.
"Castiel, stop this foolishness-"
"You first."
Raphael took a step forward and a flurry of movement interrupted him. Dean pulled back as more angels filled the street. Dean recognized Anna, Balthazar, Tabris, and the other rescued angels. Each respective flock rushing to combat each other, but he stayed transfixed as Raphael didn't slow his approach to Castiel, who tensed. Another sharp burst of light and then they were gone.
"Go go go go." Gabriel shouted.
Dean peeked up through his windshield as he hit the gas. The clouds were lit up as if from the inside out and he caught the silhouettes of two pairs of wings surrounded by lightening spasming out of control.
Bobby's van hit yet another croatoan. It went flying, knocking into the crowds of infected people. They staggered back just as Clary's truck barreled past them. They flanked each other, taking sharp turns as they tried to get past the hordes of creatures. Soon they clambered onto the hood and windshield of Bobby's van. The scrape of their fingernails across the glass of the windows made Alec wince. He caught Magnus's gaze and gave him a tight smile.
"I don't think we can go any farther with the van." Alec said.
Bobby cursed but inclined his head. "Any ideas?"
Alec opened his mouth to answer, but a rumble caught his words in his throat. His eyes widened. Simon fumbled with the shotgun in his lap, trying to prevent the spare cartridge box from skittering away. The sudden rumbling grew in intensity as whatever it was came closer.
"What now?" Alec snapped breathlessly.
"Uh, giant T. Rex?" Simon asked.
"Funny." Bobby growled.
Alec sat up straighter. "I think I've got an idea."
"You think?" Ellen asked.
Alec's eyes glittered in the low light, seeming to become sharper as he gave another nod.
"We need to lead these creatures to a single, concentrated place and destroy them in one fell swoop."
"I don't disagree but what place?" Bobby asked.
"That building that was, oh a few blocks up from us. It looks big enough to contain the damage." he said.
"What about this big thing headin' for us?" Ellen asked. "Sounds too close for us to leave."
"Right." Alec turned to Magnus. "I'll stop it. I need you to mark me with that fearless rune Clary gave us."
Magnus gaped at him. "We didn't have time to see if it even worked."
Alec tried to smile. "It's now or never." he said.
Magnus swallowed. "All right. Come here."
As Alec scooted forward, he handed the warlock his stele. Alec shuddered at the warmth of Magnus's fingers as he pressed his stele into Magnus's palm. Alec turned his back to Magnus and moving his shirt around to exposed his back. Magnus began to speak and Alec had to focus on the words.
"We'll have to split up again. Alec and I will deal with this beast and the rest of you hurry to the center. I suggest using the vehicles as a way through." he said.
Bobby hmm'd as Simon handed Ellen the shotgun. Their hushed voices didn't carry over the screeches of the croatoans trying to find away in. Simon grabbed one of the two-way radio's and filled in the others from the truck.
"You done?" Bobby asked Magnus, at the affirmative, he added. "Go now. Good luck to ya."
As the mark settled into Alec's skin, a strange calm settled over him. That voice of caution, of indeed, fear settled into the background. A smile played on his lips as he adjusted his shirt back into place. Checking his weapons to see if they were in place, and when that was satisfactory, he turned to Magnus. The warlock's eyes seemed to sparkle more than usual and Alec didn't really care if that was an effect of the rune of now.
"I'm ready, you?"
Magnus blinked. "Yes."
Without a further word, Alec opened the sliding door and dashed out. Magnus hoot on his heels. Bobby and Ellen covered them with gunfire as Simon kept the bolder croatoans at bay with his own rune. Those sounds faded into the background as Alec stared up at the owner of those rumbling footsteps. Magnus cursed in Cthonian behind him.
"I don't beleive it. An elapid. I've never seen one this size before."
Magnus waggled his fingers, flinging magic at the croatoans swarming the cars. The blue fireballs caught at the creatures, which screamed in pain, and scattered them back. Headlights free, the light blinded anyone directly in front of them. Bobby blared his horn as he shot forward, with the pick up truck right behind him. Alec caught sight of Isabelle in the truck bed. He gave her a jaunty wave as she passed by him. He didn't catch what she shouted at him, as he had already turned his attention to the massive elapid in front of them.
It was a snaked headed beast with a thick scaled body and jointed, insecticidal legs that ended in jagged, yellowed claws. Its hooded head connected to a flattened, cobra-like neck as it reared back. Venom slicked fangs gleamed in a sickly jaundiced hue. It gave a phlegm filled hiss before shooting out a black-green ichor from its mouth. Magnus leapt out of the way in time, but Alec merely stepped aside. It's thick venom hit a light post, disintegrating it with a slow simmer. The elapid reared up again, waving its legs in the air. The stench coming from its underbelly would be enough to send a grown man reeling and it's scream piercing the air. Instead of recoiling, Alec grinned.
'Bring it.'
SPNTMI
The van crashed through the Winter-garden restaurant and atrium as the truck fishtailed past them and out of sight. The truck crashed through the General Motors showroom, blitzing past the few cars left on display as Isabelle pushed Jo out of the truck and Jocelyn managed to duck and roll to safety. The three women hurried to Simon and Bobby just as demons entered the fray.
Bobby, Ellen, and Jo fired their shotguns as Isabelle's whip shot through the throng of demons in a blur. As soon as a demon laid a hand on Simon, the wanderer mark lit up and destroyed his attackers.
"Here, I'll cover anyone who needs to reload." Simon called.
Bobby darted behind him as Jo fired a round into a demon that ventured to close to Ellen. Isabelle swung her whip in a high arc above her head. Jocelyn darted to and fro, a hijacked angel blade in her hands. No demon could steer clear of it. Ellen and Bobby switched places and the little huddle of defenders moved further along the food court until they managed to get to a grubby water fountain. A cherub with an urn that had a long crack down the front of its face partially obscured them from the demons pursuing them.
Long peals of laughter made them look up. Meg and Sebastian leered from above, the floors above them could be seen from the ground level. At the couple's intrusion, Jocelyn's glare turned murderous.
"We could do this all day." Sebastian called. "Isn't that right, mother?"
"Then come down here and prove it." she shouted.
Another burst of screeching and crashes that meant ancients were close by. Bobby raised his gun higher as Jo reloaded. Simon held up his fists. Ancients of all manner jostled for space and some demons unlucky enough to be close at hand were struck by pincers, claws, and fangs. Sebastian continued to taunt Jocelyn, who gave back as good as he got.
"Do you still have those explosives?" Ellen asked Bobby.
He grimaced. "Still in the van."
"Think we can make a break for them?" she asked.
"I'll do you one better." Bobby pulled a slim stick out of his jacket. "Just pushed the button."
They exchanged a look. A loud thud forced their attention back to Meg and Sebastian. One of them had thrown an ancient down to the ground level and now it advanced on them, pincers clicking together as it scuttled along the floor. Bobby took a shot and it darted to the side. Simon raised his fists higher as the creature rose up on ungainly legs and flung its jaws open wide-
A quick snap. Flames shot out, inches from Simon's face. He sprang back in time to avoid getting burned as the ancient writhed in pain. Another echoing snap and like magic, an angel-Michael-appeared. He raised his hands, fingers curled for a second before snapping them. Fire came to life, and with a wave of Michael's hand, twisting into a lasso of blazing heat. Flames razing demons and croatoans alike. The remaining ancients couldn't get away fast enough. They caught fire with ease, writhing around. Demons screamed, trying to leave their hosts to no avail. One flaming ancient careened into a demon just as it was trying to exit its host. The two melded into one giant fireball and crashed into a department store. Meg and Sebastian were no where to be seen. Michael kept snapping his fingers like some demented conductor as he produced more fire to command.
The flames continued and the group managed to stay out of its way for the most part. Keeping their heads low, zigzagging away from fireballs and leaping, fire coated demons. Bobby ran out of shells, the tip of his gun catching fire, and he flung the gun away from him. It landed in the fountain with a quiet splash. They made it back to the van. The ground shook, sliding the van forward as a loud ringing grew in intensity. Hurrying into the driver's seat, Bobby twisted the wheel just as Jocelyn opened the sliding door and ushered the others inside.
Sebastian and Meg darted out from behind the brake lights. Sebastian swung out a right hook as Meg splayed out her hands. Jocelyn lost her grip on the van door, flung back from the force of Meg's kinetic attack. Simon rushed forward to meet Sebastian's fist and the latter was flung back from the force of Simon's mark. Ellen managed to grab Jocelyn's shoulders.
"Drive!" she shouted.
Bobby pressed the gas and they shot forward just as Meg grabbed Jocelyn's ankle. Sebastian sprinting behind them, the red brake lights casting a glare over his snarling face. Bobby sped past the General Motors showroom and Clary's pick up truck. He took a wide turn just as Jocelyn kicked Meg in the face, shaking the demon loose and sending her flying into a Lexus. Sebastian sped up. Barreling past more retail shops, the van jerked. Sebastian grabbed the door, jamming it. Jo shot at him, missing his face by inches as he kept the door open.
Meg sprinting forward, took a running leap, kicking out at the wall and landing onto the roof of the van. Her shuddering impact made Bobby swerve again as the ringing grew even more intense. Bobby clapped his hands over his ears, trying to clamp down on the wheel with his elbows, to no avail as he lost control of the vehicle. The ground shook. Dust and plaster sifted down as the foundations groaned, unable to drown out the sound of an Archangel.
Another snapping, groan of protest came from somewhere ahead of them, vibrations coming from that direction. The van took a sharp left, missing a set of stairs by a narrow margin to careen into an elevator. It was already halfway away from it's intended position, the top half barely showing, with only its thick wire cables keeping it aloft. The opening for the elevator's slot still showed. The van slammed into it at an angle, length wise so that the van blocked the entrance to the elevator.
Meg was flung from the roof, tumbling down the windshield. Bobby managed to grab a gun, shooting out the glass, which spider webbed just in time for her to fall backwards. Sebastian slid across from the van. Jocelyn uncoiled from her position and sprang forward, blade flashing as she moved in for the kill. The van tilted, groaning as it leaned against the broken elevator. It couldn't hold the weight and the van began to shudder. Bobby sat up, struggling to get out of the driver's seat. His elbow hit the steering wheel, and the van twisted further. The back end sunk, angling as the wheels spun.
Meg sat up, advancing as Bobby held up his gun at the already cracked glass.
"Go." he shouted.
He shot the glass just as Jo pushed Simon out of the way. Simon twisted around in time to see his rune force Jo backwards into the van. Simon landed on the floor as Sebastian's feet. Isabelle's whip caught on the belt loop of Jo's jeans as Bobby pried himself loose from the drivers seat. The glass windshield shattered as Meg was blasted back. Ellen reached for Jo.
"Ellen." Bobby called.
"Just go." she said. "Hurry." she yelled back to him.
After a second's hesitation, Bobby crawled through the broken windshield, leaving himself exposed to Meg. Simon darted forward just in time to send Meg reeling back. Bobby got past the headlights.
"Thanks boy." he panted.
"Not a problem." Simon replied.
The ground shook yet again, this time accompanied by blinding light and searing hot-cold blast of energy. The walls were coated in ice for only a few moments before cracking and melting. The ground cracked, deep grooves appearing in the marble floors. Jocelyn, Simon, Bobby, Meg, and Sebastian all retreated back as the ceiling started to collapse. No one was able to get any closer to the other three women. The van jolted forward, sending Ellen tumbling into Jo and Isabelle winced at the added weight when the van's own weight proved to be too much for the elevator, and the combined mass sent them all tumbling down the elevator shaft.
SPNTMI
Dean parked along a deserted street and gaped at the building in front of him. The southwest tower 100 and the northwest tower 200 had collided with each other, the tops of their respective buildings pressed into each other, leaning away from the center tower to crush into one another. Tower 200 couldn't hold it's own weight, although tower 100 didn't look much better off. Despite the relative quiet of the area, Dean still shuddered.
"Please tell me Sam's on the third floor or something."
"Fraid' not." Gabriel said.
"And you can't just zap me up to the top?"
Gabriel shook his head. "Michael and Lucifer have already begun fighting. Too risky. We sneak in and I'll break up the fight. Buy you enough time to try and get through to Sam." he said.
"Yeah. Great."
The two of them hurried up to the entrance of tower 100. The lobby was deserted. Everything at a slant as furniture slid to the side, chairs stacked against each other as Dean made his way around the obstacles in his path. Gabriel hopped over an overturned table. They past a post office, its lights flickering. Paper fluttered through the air. Dean's shoes crunched over shards of glass. It was the only sound in the immanent area. Past the buzz of archangel grace and the dull groans of the building, there was nothing to make a protest.
Gabriel only a few paces behind Dean, the two made their way to a stairwell. Emergency lights flashing as the red tone colored the building. Entering the stairwell, the hairs on the back of his neck and having someone behind him, Dean pulled the seraph blade out from his jacket. Eyeing the silver tube, he sucked in a breath and then spoke.
"Castiel."
At once, the blade hummed with life, extending into a short sword that ran up the length of his elbow. Dean gaped as a small, blue spark ran along the edge of the otherwise silver blade. Pulsing with power, he shivered as it traveled up his arm. Colors grew brighter, sharper as new found sounds reached his ears. More shaking from the building as a familiar shout lay underneath from a high pitched, angelic whine.
"Sam." he wheezed.
With a burst of strength-an angelic boost for his muscles-and Dean took the stairs two at a time.
SPNTMI
He heard Dean's words, clear as a bell.
"Castiel."
Wings flaring as a portion of his strength went to Dean. Thunder vibrated through his grace in response to Raphael's shouts. Castiel couldn't move, the mix of lightening and grace filled the air. Raphael shot across the sky, striking Castiel, flinging himself back from the archangel. Lightening crackling and a tendril went for Castiel, who turned away, missing it by inches. Raphael slams into him and Castiel parries a thrust, their blades flashing as they blitz through the sky.
Raphael battering his wings against Castiel, who swung his blade. It struck at Raphael's grace and with a scream, Raphael thrashed, sending Castiel's blade falling out of the sky. Thunder boomed. Raphael's voice filling directly into Castiel's mind, reverberating into his thoughts.
"I am Heaven and you think you can challenge me."
Flaring his wings wide in defiance, Castiel shifted as Raphael gathered the winds to him, the sky going completely black. Castiel couldn't help but shiver-far too human a response for some-as it began to rain. Castiel stared as Raphael's form branched out, his grace covering the sky. An idea came to Castiel and he took a moment to make peace with it. Castiel reached out with his thoughts and pulling Raphael's blade away from the archangel and taking it for himself. The thunder growled for Raphael as Castiel raised the blade up high, like a conducing rod. The lightening, called up by Castiel's grace, gathered to him, cracking loud enough to deafen.
"You dare?!" Raphael boomed.
"Yes."
Raphael charged, Castiel let his grace usher in the lightening to it, until they blended together enough that one ended with the other. It flowed from him to his blade. Castiel shook with the force of the power, blade vibrating as Castiel swung his sword just as Raphael slammed into him-
SPNTMI
Jo groaned, body aching in protest as she sat up.
"Mom?"
An answering groan made her sit up straighter. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Ellen struggle. Isabelle was closer and was able to pull Ellen free faster than Jo could. The van creaked in response.
"Think the van broke our fall." Ellen said.
"We're lucky to be alive." Jo replied.
Isabelle nodded. "Now what?"
"Now we get out of here." Ellen said. "We won't be able to go back the way we came, but going back to ground level would be fore the best."
"All right, let's get moving." Jo said.
Together the three of them pushed the broken sliding door back open, its track mechanism squealing off its hinges. The van lay on its side, a few feet away from the felled elevator. They were at the bottom of the elevator shaft.
Isabelle whistled. "We really were lucky. We could have fallen a lot farther." she said.
"Good thing it was the ground floor then." Jo said.
"Take as many weapons as you can carry." Ellen replied.
"What about the explosives?" Jo asked.
"We've got enough to cause a problem wherever we end up." Ellen waved the detonator in her hand.
Salvaging what they could, the trio managed to climb down the small gap in height. The wire cables were thick enough to support their weight, but everyone went down slow just in case. Isabelle's whip helping every step of the way. The elevator shaft led down a long tunnel. It almost resembled a subway tunnel, minus the tracks. They walked down the length of the dark tunnels. Their footsteps echoed as the sounds of a far off fight came from above. Isabelle and Ellen clicked on their flashlights.
"Hope the others are ok." Jo said.
"They will be." Ellen replied.
Isabelle said nothing as Jo clicked on her own light. The hard parked concrete was strewn with cables, grime, and litter of all sorts. The odd scrawl of graffiti gleamed in their flashlight beams and droplets of water plinked from a far off place. Dust sifted from the ceiling whenever the building shook and the trio hurried their stride.
It was unclear how long they walked for. Ellen's stop was abrupt and the younger women froze. Ellen held up her hand for silence. There, coming in closer-a multitude of footsteps. A break in the tunnels revealed a network of crowded pipes. Screams shot through the air as a wave of croatoans appeared around the bend.
"Where did they come from?!" Isabelle pulled back.
"Run!" Ellen shouted.
They took a tight turn on the left and the croatoans gave chase. Isabelle's whip shot into the crowd as she swerved out of reach of the infected hordes. Jo pointed up.
"Get to the pipes." she shouted.
Ellen took a running leap, hands managing to get a grip on the thick metal. Her legs dangling as more infected grabbed at her ankles and calves.
"No!"
Jo fired into the crowd, and as the first wave of infected fell to the ground, the ones behind them crawled over the fallen bodies. Spent casings littered the floor. One rolled underneath Isabelle's shoe as she took a step back. A croatoan sprang at Jo. Isabelle's whip shot out just as both women fell the the ground. As the croatoan bent over Jo, the gold thread-y-ness of the whip buried itself in the infected creature's throat. Its blood splattered over Jo's already bruised face. The infected slumped to the side, impeding the advancing croats movements. Jo reloaded and fired into into a croat that got too close to Isabelle. The shot sent it reeling back into a pipe.
Ellen took the butt of her shotgun and repeatedly slammed it into a pipe until it broke. Pressurized steam blasted the croats back and the girls helped each other up as the creatures shrieked at the heat. Ellen yelled, crawling farther away as Jo and Isabelle race underneath her. Already the infected were catching up. After following the pipeline, they came to a larger space. They could fan out and not have to hug the walls. There was another elevator shaft above them; wire cables hanging in long loops. A small alcove five feet from the ground.
Croatoans screaming long before arriving. Raising their guns, Ellen and Jo shot a barrage at the incoming wave as Isabelle darted, weaving through the attackers. A second wave of them and Isabelle pulled back, cutting more croats along the way.
"This bottle-necking isn't working!" Isabelle called.
"The explosives!" Jo called back.
Ellen reloaded as the girls pulled back. A third wave of infected forced them back and heaving themselves up into the little alcove.
"I'm out." Jo said.
"I've only got two rounds left." Ellen said.
Isabelle shook the blood off her whip. "So it's down to the explosives then?"
Mother and daughter exchanged long looks. Isabelle kept silent, staring at the screaming of the infected. Calm settling over her, Isabelle nudged Jo's ankle with her boot. Jo winced and began to speak.
"Hand me the detonator." she said.
"No." Ellen shook her head. "Baby, no."
Jo gave a shaky smile. "It's my choice."
Isabelle's eyes blurred but she felt herself nodding all the same. Ellen kept shaking her head, voice small and breaking.
"We can still get out of this." she said.
"No, we can't." Jo replied. "At least you two can get away."
Ellen said nothing as Isabelle put a hand on Jo's shoulder. Jo's shoulders slumped and she didn't move away from Isabelle. Ellen drew her knees up to her chest, tapping her blue jean covered ankle. Jo started, eyes widening before filling with tears. Isabelle leaned forward, catching a glimpse before squeezing her eyes tight. She didn't make a sound. On Ellen's pants , was blood, the material ripped far enough to see the deep lacerations from a bite.
"Oh mom."
"So you see, I won't leave you."
Jo's mouth trembled and it took her minutes before she could finally nod. Ellen returned her shaky smile. Isabelle wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. Jo cleared her throat.
"We've still got knives left." she said.
Isabelle's grin was tight. "And my whip."
Both Ellen and Jo turned to stare at Isabelle, who shrugged at their expressions. Ellen took a deep breath.
"You sure?"
"Gotta go sometime."
Laughing quick and quiet, Jo held out her hand for the detonator. Ellen paused, hand hovering over Jo's before setting the slim control in the young woman's hand. With a tight grip, Jo pulled out a knife from her boot before easing herself to the edge of the alcove. Only a few of the croats noticed, some even turning back the way they came.
"Hey." Jo stood up.
A collective rustle of movement and shouts. Isabelle flung her whip, letting it sail through the air as Jo took a running leap into the crowd. Landing on the shoulders of a croat, Jo stabbed it in the neck, as it gurgled she brought up her knees and kicked off the infected. It landed on top of another croat and Jo took on yet another infected with a running jump. Ellen followed suit, slashing her way through the creatures to get to her daughter. Ellen and Jo fought back to back, cutting down the closest infected, but they just kept coming. Both turned to Isabelle.
"Isabelle!" Ellen called.
A group of infected swarmed the alcove, pulling themselves up to reach Isabelle. Ducking out of reach, she kicked out the corner of the wall, whip slicing past to catch on a cable a hundred feet above her. Isabelle swung to safety, slowed and then dangled. Infected growled and screeched, unable to get to her.
Isabelle's arm shook from the strain, dizzy from vertigo as she tried to swing to get momentum. Sweat slicking her hands, she slipped down the whip just as croats overwhelmed Ellen, swarming until Isabelle could only hear her.
"Mom!" Jo rushed the infected.
"Now!" Ellen screamed.
Isabelle swung forward until she went flying sideways, almost letting go of her whip as she landed in a tangle of wires and pipes. Wheezing, she struggled to sit up. A rumbling from below forced her to freeze. The wires tightened around her body, cutting off circulation as the pipes rattled like they felt pain. Earsplitting cracking rent through the air and Isabelle tried to defend herself from the noise. Fingers inching for her whip and curling her hands around it just as another deafening shake blasted her away from her hiding place.
A part of the wall had been blown through as concrete, plaster, and metal flying in all directions. Isabelle's whip caught on a elevator cable, pulling her even farther up as flaming debris went even farther with a responding shake from the building. A steaming metal pipe hit her calve, knocking her off course. Isabelle screamed as she was flung up past an elevator, whip slack as her limbs waved. Her whip found a loose pipe, the force of the whip forced it open as steam shot out at her body.
Shrieking, Isabelle twisted her body in time to see the elevator being forced upwards by the blast below. A split second before Isabelle hit the roof of the elevator, she gripped her whip tight. Slamming into the elevator, the left side of her face landing on an exposed bolt. A loud crack as her blood splattered over the hot metal. Her left eye gave way, burning in a hot gush of blood as she screamed. The elevator shot up, boosted by force and heat, until the ceiling rained pieces of itself. A clear opening in the elevator shaft and Isabelle was bucked off. Pinwheeling, Isabelle slack as she went through the air and landed in a heap next to a wishing fountain. She tried to stifle a sob as her body protested and she set her head back down. The building kept rumbling and Isabelle, now thoroughly unconscious, slid forward until a corner stopped her.
SPNTMI
The sudden shaking made Dean throw up his hands, splaying them against the walls. Gabriel clutched the rail.
"The hell is that?" Dean shouted.
"Well it's not my brothers-"
"Just great." Dean gritted his teeth. "How much farther?"
"A few more floors."
Together, they made their way up. Dean had to pull himself up by the rails until they were high enough that gravity did most of the work for them. The leaning building forced his legs to hurry as momentum carried him the rest of the way. His legs shook as he clutched the railing. Facing the final door, its red handle stated its status as an emergency exit. With one shaky breath, he let go of the railing and sped down to the door, the force of his body opening the door for him.
Dean looked down, shouting as his legs fumbled for control. Vertigo hit as he wrapped his arms around the emergency door's handle as he looked for the roof. Said roof was at an extreme downward slant. Dean jumped when he felt Gabriel pressing into his shoulders.
"Come on." he said.
"How?"
Dean looked past the roof to see that the building next to him, while they were leaning on each other, a hairs-breadth from collapsing in on each other, still had a noticeable gap between roofs. On the left side of this tower dug into the tallest building in the center, with the tower on the other side had it's right angle in the tallest building. The right side was also a bit higher in degrees when it came to scraping against the center tower. There was was very little overlap between all three structures. Dean's feet dangled over the concrete by half a foot and he let go of the door. He turned to face Gabriel.
"Last I checked, only one of us can fly." Dean said.
Gabriel nodded. "True. Well, I'll just have to make sure you don't fall to your death."
"Very reassuring. Thanks."
Before Gabriel could reply, Dean began to move, half trotting half sliding down. He managed with no incident, reaching the corner of the roofs and peered down to see a five foot gap between the two.
"Son of a bitch."
Backing up, Dean climbed back up a ways, and extended out his arms. Wobbling, he stood up and judging the distance, sprinted down. The corner of the roof jutted out at an angle and Dean hit it, using his momentum to push off it and clear the gap. Soaring for just a moment, arms and legs waving as lightening flashed behind him, blinding him. His foot caught the corner of the other side of opposite building, and he fell back.
A pair of hands shot out, grabbing him by his jacket. Gabriel hauled him to his feet and onto the next roof. Panting, Dean eyed Gabriel. The archangel merely raised an eyebrow.
"Thanks for that."
"Yeah, whatever, I get paid by the hour."
Scowling, Dean gestured to the center building. As the side of roof they were on dug into the side of the building, thunder rumbled.
"So we are even close to Sam?"
Gabriel sobered, jerking his head to the building.
"Yup in there. Maybe we still even have the element of surprise on our hands. Just hold onto me."
Dean's mouth pressed into a thin line as he pulled out his seraph blade and then grabbed onto Gabriel's jacket. As soon as Dean was touching him, Gabriel moved. Dean's vision blurred and he was vaguely aware that they were moving far faster than he could on his own. With a single jump, they were passing a broken window, the frame vibrating as they went by. Gabriel set them down a minute later.
Dean sprang away from him and gaped at the scene. Adam and Sam, each with a sword in hand. Dean swallowed hard.
"Adam-"
"Isn't here." he said.
"Hey bro." Gabriel addressed them both. "Michael I think it's time you stepped away."
Adam-or rather, Michael scowled, eyes flashing as he glowered at Gabriel.
"You have that backwards, brother. I'm doing as our father commanded. I have to slay the serpent." Michael said.
Sam tutted and out the sound, Dean's heart sank as he stared at what was wearing his brother. Sam stared at him with an expression he never used with Dean and he leveled Maellartach at Dean, the blade not quite at chest level.
"Dean. What a surprise." he said.
Dean's mouth trembled. "Get out of Sam."
Lucifer chuckled. Michael and Gabriel glared before Gabriel turned his attention back to Michael.
"Listen, you're my brother, I'll always love you, but you're such a drone. Never thinking for yourself. Now give those boys a chance to work this out. They're stronger than you give them credit for-"
Michael actually growled. "You think you can just-" he cut himself off, closing his eyes. When he opened them, he seemed calmer. "This is my destiny. I won't let even you get in the way of that."
Gabriel gave a quick little nod, sucking on his teeth and rocked back on his heels. "Ok." Gabriel charged at Michael. "Now, Dean!"
Dean dashing forward to Lucifer, raised the seraph blade high above his head-
SPNTMI
Raphael and Castiel crashed into each other and thunder shook in reply. Raphael gripping tight, pinning Castiel in place, raising one wing for a lethal blow. Castiel thrust his sword into Raphael, forcing the lightening'ed grace to travel from his blade into Raphael's wound. As it struck Raphael, Castiel was unable to pull away, wings beating in protest as the power traveled into Raphael, lighting him up from the inside out, and trapping Castiel. Castiel seized as if he had stepped on a live wire, Raphael's screams surrounding him.
The archangel clung tight as Castiel was attacked by the recoil. Blinding light and searing heart permeated Castiel as Raphael died, reeking of ozone as Raphael's wings thudded against Castiel. Deep wrenching pain ripping through him and Castiel couldn't help the screams spiraling out of his body as the two celestials went into free fall-
SPNTMI
The seraph blade shattered into a thousand pieces. Dean stared as his weapon fell at his feet. Lucifer pursed his lips into a pout.
"Awww, now that's a shame."
Dean stared up into Lucifer's face and saw no trace of Sam looking back at him.
SPNTMI
Clary gasped, tears spilling down her cheeks. Hugging herself, she stared at the letter lying atop the three journals and the tiger's eye hourglass necklace gleaming beside them. The only other sound was the typing from Chuck's laptop and she wiped her eyes before sitting up and leaving the kitchen. Walking back to Eden, who lay in a small little crib Dean had found in a garage sale, lay Eden. Her little chest moved up in down in an easy rhythm of sleep, pink cheeks puffing with air. Clary kissed the top of her head, lips touching a small wisp of red-gold hair. Soft baby scent filling her nose and Clary held back a sob.
She stood up and went out the back door. Ithuriel pressing to her side, sending waves of comfort. Clary smiled.
"You don't have to do this." Ithuriel gave a little hum.
"What kind of person would I be if I didn't?" Clary shot back.
"Human."
Clary huffed. "All the same."
Ithuriel gave the impression of pausing, and after a moment Clary felt herself nodding along with the angel.
"Very well."
Clary trembled, tears spilling down her cheeks afresh. "Will it hurt?"
"Not at all."
"Alright then."
Clary took in the bright sunshine, the way birds called and insects hummed in the heat. She didn't bother to wipe her tears, but she wanted her eyes to clear. Clary gave herself another moment before closing her eyes. Ithuriel sent another wave of comfort and Clary pictured the angel pressing against her side in an embrace as the grace began to overwhelm her. Light filling her from the inside out as new found heat expanded through her limbs, back aching as Ithuriel's wings pushed out. Clary's last thoughts turned to her family as she let Ithuriel's grace guide her soul to it, until it no longer needed to do so and Clary's spirit tangled into the grace to soar alongside it. She could see it all.
Ithuriel opened her new found eyes and took flight.
SPNTMI
TBC...