Melinda had been locked in the room for days. She lost count of how long. The ceiling fan spinning around and around, casting moving shadows on the floor. She was tired, and extremely sore. The first 4 hours after she woke up she spent pounding, and kicking and punching the door, screaming for someone to let her out. Her knuckles, once bloody, she scabbed and bruised. Her dominate foot ached from kicking solid iron. Her throat was scratchy from hollering for days.
She sat on the cot staring aimlessly at nothing. She was hungry, but she was too distressed and tired to even care. She had no idea if anyone was alive. For all she knew, she was locked in this room for enternity.
At first, Melinda was furious, at everything, but mainly at Castiel. For locking her down here all by herself, where she was vunerable to everything. But as the days, and hours passed, that anger seized. She realized, she was protected from anything evil. She wasted so much energy and time staying mad at Castiel, she hadn't realized it until sat down and thought about it. What he did was Dean's wish. Castiel kept her safe, even if that meant locking her in this room for all of forever.
But why didn't he join her? Why hadn't Bobby? That's something she couldn't quite put her finger on. Melinda stayed perfectly still. Her head ached from the lack of food. She was dehydrated, and felt as weak as a newborn. This wasn't how she wanted to die. She wanted to die for a reason, protecting someone, killing some evil thing. Attempting to save the world, not being locked in some room forever. As much as it bothered her to be useless, Melinda thought about all the other ways she could die, and now that she thought about it, this was more peaceful and just about anything. All she had to do now was lay down and die. She had no one now. Castiel was probably ripped to shreds right now, same with Bobby.
Melinda laid down, staring at the ceiling, waiting for death come.
A knocking came to the door.
Melinda didn't move. It was her imagination, she was sure of it. But then she heard the door unlock, and open up. She knew she was hallucinating, but she looked anyways.
There, Castiel stood limply and bloody. His face scratching and his clothing stained. He looked as if he'd been fighting for days.
They both stood in silence, just watching each other. Melinda got up off the cot, and weakly stepped over.
"I.. thought, you died." Melinda spoke quietly.
"I had to check on you." Castiel told her. "I had to make sure no one got to you."
Melinda came even closer to him. "I know what you did, and why you did it." She looked away, ashamed for what happend the last time she saw him. "And I'm sorry for how I acted."
Castiel just looked at her. "We cannot be bothered with apologies anymore."
Melinda looked at him. "I want to go upstairs." She said like a child who'd been sent to their room.
This time, Castiel vowed not to stop her. He knew the end was coming, even for her. "You won't like it."
Melinda gave him a strange look as she stepped passed him. She said nothing as she began up the stairs. Castiel followed closely behind, protecting her again. Melinda got to the top of the stairs, and headed for the the main room.
"NO!" She shreiked as she saw the sight before her. There was Bobby, fallen out of his wheelchair, bloody on the ground. His throat was slit, and his eyes were dead and lifeless. He must have been this way for days.
Melinda fell to her knees, upset, wanting to cry, but the tears just wouldn't come. Now, all her family had been slaughtered. Castiel cautiously came closer. "I couldn't get back in time." Melinda half-ignored him and she hugged Bobby's dead body, not ever wanting to let go. "He probably died trying to keep something from getting you." Castiel finished. Melinda squeezed Bobby tightly, wishing the life would slip back into him.
She finally let Bobby go, still watching him. His body flopped on the ground. She turned around to Castiel. "Where were you this whole time?" He asked desperately.
Castiel went to her, helping her up off her knees. He spun her around, gripping her by the arms, looking deeply into her eyes. "Do you remember why they let me out of Heaven?" Castiel's words were rushed. He wanted her to understand, and not fight him anymore. He shook her as he spoke.
Melinda looked at him fearfully. "Yes. Because they wanted you to fight."
Castiel let her go. He walked passed her looking out the window. Melinda turned to him. "Castiel. What happend?"
He hadn't asnwered her at first. He went to the window and looked outside. He wasn't sure if he wanted to tell her or not. He closed his eyes.
"Dean has parished. So has Michael. Lucifer's army has won against Heaven, Melinda."
Melinda gasped. She couldn't believe what she had heard. Not only had the bad guys won... Dean was dead. For good this time. Melinda's heart ached. Ached for him, for the whole world. Her head dropped, trying to keep herself together.
"And Sam?" She asked weakly, not wanted to hear.
Castiel turned to face her. "He will be Lucifer's vessel for eternity." He finally said. His tone was grim.
Melinda looked up to the sky. "And God?" The tears came silently.
Castiel went to her, cupping his hand around her face. "No one knows." He said embaressed. God had failed the whole world. Melinda looked up and out the window, walking passed Castiel towards it. She could tell the sky was dark and a sickly grey. She looked out at the horror before her. The field 50 yards away was littered with bodies and blood. Bits and peaces of human scattered all along the earth, staining the grass red.
This was the post-Apocalypse. So much had happend in only a few days, and Melinda felt as if she and Cas were the only ones who had survived. Never had she ever felt so small.
Castiel placed his hand on her shoulder. "Are we the only ones left?" Melinda dare ask. Castiel waited a moment, staring out at the body count in the field. "No. Groups of rebels lead by various hunters are scattered throughout the world. They've been fighting the Croatoan virus for weeks."
Melinda whipped around. "Croatoan?!" This came as a shock to her. This was exactly how Dean saw it. Everything anyone ever predicted came to life. The shock hadn't settled, but Melinda still peered out the window. "How many are infected?" She dare ask again.
"The numbers are unknown at this point. It seemed to be less than half the world. Everyone else has been confirmed dead." Castiel sounded more like an anchorman brodcasting the news than anything else.
Melinda turned around and looked up at him. "Where are you getting this from if everyone is dead?" She asked with suspicsion.
"The angels," Castiel continued staring outside. "There's only 5 of us left."
Melinda took a sharp breath. "Ouch," she muttered. Her gaze went back to the window. None of what Castiel had told her completely sank in yet. It was more of those 'see it to believe it' situations.
"Our options are not limited, Melinda." Castiel tried to bring in some good news. Melinda sensed something good, then turned to face him. "What did you have in mind?" She asked him.
"We can either stay here," Castiel paused. "Or we can join one of the rebel groups, and fight the virus. Save what's left of humanity!"
Judging by Castiel's enthusiasm, Melinda could tell that's what he wanted to do. But Melinda shook her head, then walked away.
"Only to be captured, and infected by the disease, turning evil, and bowing down to what Lucifer wants? No, no Castiel, I will not do that. It would be a disgrace to Dean's memory."
Castiel looked at her, half-hurt, half-not understanding. "What do you mean?"
Melinda glared at him, then her eyes watered. "At first, it sounds like a good idea, Cas," she stepped closer to him, assuring him ihis intentions were not wrong. "For a moment, I thought that's what Dean would have wanted. For me to keep fighting, and save whatever is left of this world."
Melinda held his face in her hands. "But if he was here, right now, at this very second, I know if he had a choice between life or death, he'd choose death. You know why?"
Castiel said nothing. His silence encouraged her to continue.
"He's fought evil all his life. So has Sam, so have I. And I'm tired, Castiel, I'm just tired. This world has ended for a reason, and we can only fight for a lost cause for so long." She was defeated.
Tears fell from her eyes as she began to get to her point. "It's time to rest. I want to rest now."
Castiel shook his head, gripping by her arms. For the first time in history, he was scared.
"What are you saying, Melinda?" He asked forcefully.
Melinda paused, preparing herself. "I heard what Dean told you to do that one night. If you couldn't help me anymore." Castiel looked even more afraid. "It's the end, Cas," Melinda looked down, wiping her eyes. "I don't want to see the world I love turn evil."
"I want you to kill me." Melinda choked out.
Castiel shook his head. His was in a violent disagreement with her, and he would not have it.
"No." He said sternly. "I won't do it."
"Please. I just want to rest." Melinda said softly.
Castiel gripped her even tighter, pulling her closer to him. His lips only inches from hers. "No, Melinda, I'm going to save you!"
Melinda lips quivered. "You have saved me. Countless times." She whispered. "Castiel, Please." Melinda pleaded. Her eyes were teary, but she looked more tired than sad. She had accepted her fate.
Castiel looked down at his love, holding her like it was the last time he ever would.
"I know you are afraid. It's okay to be afraid." Melinda ran her hand through his hair gently and over his cheeks. Castiel looked away in sadness. He felt a stinging sensation behind his eyes as his vision went blurry.
"I can keep you safe," Castiel attempted to convince her, "We can live far from the danger and I will protect you, and I will keep you safe, I promise you."
Melinda shook her head. "I can't run from the danger. I will never be safe."
Castiel's eyes were big and sad, and tearing up. He had never felt this way in all of his existence.
"My family is dead. And I just want to be with them again." Melinda did her best to speak against her tears. "Just let me rest. Let me be safe." Melinda asked one more time.
Castiel let a tear slip from his eye. Melinda caught it in her hand, and whipped it dry. She smiled genuinely. "Don't cry. I want this." Melinda put her arms around his neck, her head dangling close to his.
In all this time, only now had Melinda felt she hadn't kissed him enough. Only now, she wished she loved him more. It was too late now, she missed her chances. Because of this, she felt she couldn't kiss him goodbye. She didn't want to say goodbye. She would die, and never feel pain again. She always feared she would be felt alone with her fear and sadness in a doomed world, but not anymore. She had taught him touch, feeling, hate, anger, happiness, emotion... love. And under all the wrong circumstances, she taught him saddness. And this time, she'd be leaving him behind.
Castiel looked into her eyes. More tears fell as he held the only thing he loved.
Melinda eyed Bobby's silver knife on his desk, then reached for it as much as she could. Once she pulled it into her grasp, Melinda pulled to to her, placing it in Castiel's hand, pressing it against her chest. The tip of the knife poked at her neck. It was sharp, so she lifted her head as much as she could so she couldn't feel the coldness of the blade.
"I love you, Castiel," Melinda combed his hair through her fingers, embracing the feeling before she couldn't embrace it anymore.
Suddenly, Castiel's lips came crashing onto Melinda in a passionate kiss. He held her in his arms, lifting the blade, lining it across her neck. The kiss was long, and neither of them stopped. They're tears mixed on their faces. How could something so sad, feel so happy? The last thing Castiel wanted to do was pull away.
So he slit her throat before he had a chance.
Melinda choked, her eyes locked with his for a split and silent moment, before turning up to the ceiling. Melinda flopped lifeless into his arms, her blood staining his clothes all over again. Overtaken by what he had done, Castiel dropped the knife and dropped Melinda, her body collapsing to the floor. A stream of blood drained from her neck and made a shallow puddle on the floor.
Castiel looked down at his dead love, ashamed of what he'd done. Two body lay bloody on the floor. Everything was dead silent.
Castiel was out of breath. He had no idea why his was was went. Why was his eyes stinging? What was this strange feeling? All he knew now was Melinda was dead. He had killed her--- not killed, saved. But he still couldn't bare it.
He didn't want to go on like this. She was right... she couldn't run from danger, and niether could he. Castiel knew killing Melinda was justifiable, and whereve she is now, she's safe and protected.
Castiel wanted that too. He wanted that securtiy for himself as well. He was overtaken by this new emotion, and he didn't like it at all. It wasn't like happiness, or love he felt before. This emotion made him want to die.
He looked at the silver knife on the ground beside Melinda. He bent down and picked it up, exlamining Melinda's blood that dripped off. He knew angels could kill over angels, but can an angel kill itself? There was only one way to find out. Castiel quickly dragged the knife across his neck, bleeding quickly.
Suddenly, he fell to the floor with a dead thud. It had worked.
The End.