I stand in a daze, confused about everything. How did I get here? Where was here any way? A billion thought raced through my head. l stopped took a deep breath assessing myself to find all the cuts and bruises I remember having were gone. I try to think of what had happened, but it ends up resulting in a giant headache. I slow down,asking myself one question at a time. Who was I? that was easy, Claire Rose Argent. Where was I? Ummm Earth? I hope. I look around the grassy yellow field once more for any clue of what had happened, but nothing except the endless dirt comes to view. No, it can never be that easy can it? I sigh and start to stumble to the sound of passing cars. Tripping every once in a while over the rocky terrain. My gaze begins to falls to my feet trying not to look directly at the hot sun. When I see a trail of red liquid clear as day out of the corner of my view. I follow the path of blood with my eyes to a lump of what looks to be a human and then in the blink of the eye all evidence of the hallucination is gone. Rubbing my eyes and looking once more I come to the conclusion that I must be tired considering I hadn't slept in…...well, God knows how long. Collecting the little sanity I have left in another deep breath I continued along the path.
"You think you can escape me, thats cute" a cold voice says. I remember the voice,but I can't seem to remember where it is from "you'll just end up back where you started, back in hell". I turn to see the cold shadow of a man. the sight of him seems to bring terror running down my spine. Confused and afraid I stumble back and take off full sprint towards the dark shape fallows me chasing me like a bad dream. I was a hunter, things like this weren't suppose to scare me. I was suppose to turn and stab anything that goes bump in the night, but this was different. I felt like prey to the dark creature. All my instinct to fight went out the window and all I could think of was one word. suddenly I am shaken back into reality by the screeching brakes of an oncoming car. The car skids to a stop inches away from collision. The black hood glistens in the afternoon sun. I look up into the window of the 1967 Chevy impala to see two men just as shocked as I was, in the front seat. I wave at the driver with a forced smile trying to act casual. He waves back hesitantly, still as shocked. Then i just stand there not knowing what to do to make this any less awkward, luckily I don't have to. The passenger of the car opens the door and steps out. He is a lot taller than I would have expected. His muscular build with long light brown hair that rest just above his shoulders makes me feel like an stranger smiles showing a full set of normal white teeth. His greenish blue eyes look at me with concern.
" Are you okay" he says kindly walking over to me.
" umm yeah…. I was just…" I turn back to find no sign of any attacker " running". Wow that was a stupid answer. I can already tell he doesn't believe me by the quizzical look on his face.
" Running" he says with a laugh following my gaze to the empty field " from what?"
"Oh you now just running" I reply twirling my brown hair with anxiousness " I do that sometimes you know just start running can't stop one minute I'm there the next minute I'm here. Where is here?" His face grows more and more questioning as i ramble on, i decide its best to just stop talking.
" Kansas. 20 miles outside of Dodge City. Are you okay?"
" Kasas? How the hell did I get to Kansas I was hunting Vamps in Washington?" I look up dumbfounded realizing I was talking out loud " I….I mean.." I sigh giving up on trying to sound sane.
"You're a hunter?" the stranger asked to my relief.
"Yes" I ask testing the man to see if he was a threat.
" Don't worry" he says as if reading my thoughts " Hi, I'm Sam and thats Dean" he points over to the driver tapping impatiently at the steering wheel. He has dark brown hair and green eyes that remind me of the ocean. " We're the Winchesters".
"Apocalypse Winchester?" I ask remembering that name from all the hunter talk. Sam smiles and nods as if starting the end of the world was no big deal.
" Do you need a ride?" The hunter asks. I smile finally something good in this nightmare. Taking that as a yes he gestures for me to follow him and gets into the black impala. I slide hesitantly but gratefully into the center back seat and shut the door.
"This is….." Sam stops realizing that I haven't even told him my name. wow no wonder they had started the apocalypse, picking up insane people on the side of the road how stupid.
" Claire"
"This is Claire, she is a hunter"
" So why is she in my car" Dean asks annoyed. He looks at me sharply with his green eyes watching my every move as if I was a threat making me shift uncomfortably in my seat.
" I have no clue" I admit "I am kinda….very lost"
"We are helping her" Sam orders looking at Dean sternly. Dean heaves loudly as if making sure that everyone hears him.
" What is with you and strange girls man I mean Ruby, Meg, Becky."
"Shut up" Sams say clearly annoyed by his brother. Dean smiles knowing he has accomplished his goal of giving his brother a hard time.
"So what are you doing in Kansas?" Dean asks as the car roars to life.
"I have no clue"
" Are you hunting something?"
"I don't know?" Dean stares at me puzzled through the rearview mirror.
"Do you know anything"
"I know my name is Claire" I say with not as much confidence as I had hoped for. Realizing how stupid I must sounded once again even to the hunters who started the end of the world. The driver stares at me for a few minutes not saying a word.
" Well ok then" Dean says breaking the awkward silence by turning up the music. The lyrics to AC/ DC's Back in Black. I gaze out the window in silence trying to think of anything that could connect me to the gap in my memory, but to my surprise staring back at me in the endless fields is a dark coated man with red eye. I jump startled by the sight of the figure, but when I look back there is only the empty pastures of grass melting into the horizon. I stare outside watching for any sign of the man,but soon buildings began to appear and the fields are whisked away along with any hint of the stranger.
The Impala pulls up to the old gas station. Dean turns the key and the engine dies out.
" I gotta get some gas, why don't you and Sam get some food, you do know what that is right?" he says turning to me with a smile.
I smile widely and raise my middle finger
" You do know what that is right" I ask, my voice dripping with sarcasm. Sam laughs, but Dean looks shocked clearly not use to being outsmarted. I get out of the car proudly, followed by a smiling Sam. Leaving Dean alone staring at me through the car window.
" So you really don't remember anything?" Sam asked as we walk into the store.
"I remember fighting Vampires with other hunters, and then….. poof waking up in Kansas" I reply trying to be vague not wanting him to know any details about me,Ii was still hesitant to trust these hunters.
" I am sure it will come back to you give it time." Sam reassures "I'm gonna grab some sandwiches why don't you get some water". He says walking towards the food aisle. I look around scanning my surroundings instinctively looking for all exits and any signs of danger. Nothing. No signs of demons, Vampires, just usual the cashier flirting with the young blond, a old lady having trouble deciding on a flavor of gluten-free cookies. I stroll over to the refrigerated aisle and grab three ice cold water bottles. The cold flow of condensation down my fingers makes me realize how dry the back of my throat is. I turn and walk over to Sam who is already handing the cashier three meat and cheese sandwiches. Handing the water to the boy and smiling as he Sam pays with a credit card that identifies him as John Bonham. I smile at the creative idea of naming themselves after led Zeppelin's dead drummer.
"Add a news paper " Sam say to the clerk grabbing a Kansas Daily off the shelf. The cashier hands me the bag and smiles politely. Exiting the store I see Dean leaning against the car with a phone to his ear talking happily with the person on the other end. He smiles as i hand him a sandwich, taking one for myself and handing the bag to Sam. Unwrapping the food I sink my teeth into the moist bread as the joice trickles down my throat. I smile satisfied as I take a swig of cool water.
" Anything interesting" Dean asks to sam as he hangs up the phone. Sam skims through the paper quietly taking a few bites out of his sandwich.
"No, just the usual boring stuff" he says "Want to look see if anything triggers your memory". He asks handing me the paper. I look at the title. Nothing. the pictures. Nothing just the boring news. Date. November 23 wait! What?
"It's November 23,2011" I ask shocked looking up at the brothers. They nod questioningly as if it's obvious, which it should be. " It was April 3 last time I remember"
" That was six months ago" Dean points out. I look down at my half eaten sandwich realizing that this may be the first thing i have eaten in half a year. It made it seem more important.
"wow nothing gets past you" I snap.
" You said you were hunting with other people maybe they can connect the dots" Sam suggest to break the tension," do you know their number". I nod and he pulls out a phone from his jeans and hands it to me. I call the first number that comes to mind. Jason's. Dialing the numbers by heart i put it to my ear and wait for the ring,but instead an automated voice comes on apologizing that the number had been disconnected I hit cancel and try another cell,but the same voice answers. I continue till I have covered all of Sarah's, Matt's and Jason's contacts with no luck. I hang up, ending the call along with any hope of contacting my friends. Handing back the disposable phone in disappointment to Sam I shake my head.
"They probably have already gotten rid of all their contacts." I conclude, a hint of sadness showing in my voice.
"Don't worry we'll figure this out." Sam assures, trying to encourage me, but a mountain of worries fill in my mind of what had happened in the past six months. I mean how can someone forget six months of their life. I pause realizing I've faced weirder.
"Yah, we'll make some calls I'm sure someone has heard about this." Dean adds walking to the drivers side door of the impala. I look up from my hopeless gaze at the gravel floor and force a smile. Maybe this wasn't so bad, the Winchesters seemed nice. I walk around the hood of the impala and slide back into my previous spot behind the brothers. As the impala begins to turn onto the highway Dean looks back at me with a genuine smile.
"But right now looks like you're stuck with us."