Alice smells burning flesh. Hot and acrid, the scent makes her nostrils burn and her stomach lurch.
She surveys her surroundings-a large room made of stone walls, windowless, a flickering light hanging over her. There is a shadow in the corner of the space that fills her with dread. She is wearing the same clothes she went to sleep in at the bunker.
"You can feel me, I know it", the figure says, stepping forward into the light.
Her senses collect themselves. She stiffens, confused. The man before her is not human, she is sensing both angel and demon before her.
"What are you?", she manages.
"I'm disappointed, Alice. Shouldn't you know? But it's alright, I understand how even you could be confused." He approaches her slowly, turning his head this way and that, an amused smile forming on his face.
"What are you?", she repeats, her voice more pronounced.
"Alice, my dear...I am Lucifer, in the flesh."
She doesn't look impressed, doesn't have much of a reaction at all. "Lucifer…?"
"Come now, you're brighter than that", he sighs. "Lucifer, Satan, the Devil-whichever incantation strikes a chord".
"Awesome. I'm dreaming about Satan. New personal low."
His smile deepens. "Well, you are dreaming, but this is reality, too. It's complicated, I guess, and I know you're playing it off-it feels different. You know it's more than just a dream."
She shakes her head, hugging herself while stepping back from him.
"You're afraid of me. That won't do. How are we supposed to have a relationship if you fear me?"
The color drains from Alice's face. "What are you talking about?"
Lucifer runs his hands over her shoulders, caresses her face. "Alice, you are special, more gifted than you realize. I tried all this once before, but it didn't pan out so well. I'm giving it another shot-the honest way". He smirks, pleased with himself. "I need you to do me a favor. I need you to bear me a son."
He continues his monologue, but Alice has mentally checked out, her eyes glazing over.
"I didn't think I was on a timeline, but as you seemed to have wandered into the Winchester's care-he rolls his eyes-I figured I'd better get to you before they get their hooks in. You know, it's amazing. I'm always the bad guy, they have no idea how much grief they cause me."
She is unresponsive. Lucifer calls her name, snaps his fingers a few times before she acknowledges him again. "I won't do it", she confirms, conviction apparent.
"I imagined you'd say that. It's a pity. I didn't want to have to cause you trauma-I know you've been through a lot", he looks her evenly in the eye. "But this is big. With your gifts and my...well, you know, our child will rule the world. The world, Alice."
More silence. He lets it linger for a moment, studying her face before clapping his hands together with purpose. "Well! It's alright. I was smart enough to purchase some insurance."
He snaps his fingers. They are no longer inside. The sky is black, smoke creeps through the grass, snakes between sizzling trees.
"Alice!", a strained call from a restrained man. It's Sam. Alice spins around, fixes her eyes on him.
He is caged and bound with chains. Soaked in blood, too much to come from one body...it pools at his feet and spills over the cage. His body is wedged between stakes that appear to float in mid-air. From his neck, down to his hips, on all sides, spaced a few inches apart.
The weapons begin to move inward, twisting and piercing his skin. Deeper and deeper, agonizingly slow. She can't hear her own screams over Sam's.
Lucifer feigns a wince. "Just say yes, Alice and this all stops."
She has fallen to her knees, body wracked with sobs.
"Aww. You care about him already. You're so sweet. You're going to make a great Mother".
It is three AM. Ear piercing screams reverberate throughout the bunker.
Cas is at Alice's side in an instant. The others file in moments later-Jack first, then Sam, followed by Dean, who throws on the light.
"She won't wake up", Cas groans. The screaming doesn't cease. She is writhing and kicking, her wrists twitching at her sides. Cas is calling her name. He tries to steady her hand in his, hoping touch will pull her out, but as he unclenches her fist he sees that her palms are bloodied.
The men look at each other, unsure of what to do. Her cries become a wail- a mournful, horrible sound. It seems impossibly loud. Dean holds his hands over his ears. "Cas, do something!"
The angel had been trying to jostle her awake, his grip gentle but firm on her shoulders. Jack holds her legs down easily, also calling out to her with no success. On and on, the awful combination of yelling and crying.
"Come on", Dean hisses, nudging Cas aside. He shakes her hard, more fiercely than he means to. The shaking becomes more of a lift and shove, raising her shoulders from the bed and smacking them back down.
"Enough, Dean!", Sam snaps. And it is that easy. At the sound of his voice, Alice's eyes fly open. She is off the bed in a flash, clamoring over to him. She touches his face, paws over his chest before throwing her arms around him.
"What the hell…", Dean breathes.
Her heart is pounding, Sam can feel it against his own chest. She is sweat-soaked. "Woah, woah...hey", he pulls her away so she can meet his eyes. "Alice, do you know where you are?"
"Sam...Sam, he had you. You were...god, it was so awful. I'm…", she slowly realizes the commotion she's caused. Her blood on his shirt. All of them staring at her.
She retreats to the bed. "Guys, I am so sorry...it was just a nightmare, but it felt so real...I've never had a dream feel so real, so vivid. I don't know...I'm sorry." She rubs at her shoulder.
"I rattled you a little", Dean says, more of an explanation than an apology. Cas shoots him a look.
"You said 'he' had me. Who had me, Alice?", Sam asks calmly.
"It's...it was just a dream. It's ridiculous." She glances at each of them, feeling vulnerable and foolish.
"Try us", Dean says. His arms are crossed over his chest.
She purses her lips nervously. Cas intervenes. "I think it's a little intimidating for Alice, with all of us standing here expectantly".
Dean scrunches his face. "Since when are you so attuned to people's emotions?"
"That's a good question", Cas replies, his voice even.
Sam concurs, "Cas is right. Let's give her some room".
Jack gives her a reassuring smile before walking out the door. Dean offers a small nod, grateful to be dismissed from the situation.
"I'll let you two talk", Cas says. Alice protests. "No, you don't have to-"
"It's alright. I'll be here, dear one". He disappears from the room, which makes Alice jump.
Sam is amused and for a moment, lighthearted. "Yeah...he does that. Its good. Means he's comfortable with you."
She brightens briefly before returning to her previous sheepish state. "I dreamt of Lucifer, Sam"