This World We Live In

Before I start this, I should say that none of this was my idea. But Cas said it would be good for me to put it down into words. And I know what you’re thinking. Why is it me writing this and not Sam, the Stanford kid, right? Well that’s easy. Sam and Gabriel are on their honeymoon. Can you believe it?? My own brother, marrying that ‘trickster.’ Ah, well at least they’re happy. Also, Sam didn’t see it like how I saw it. It didn’t happen to him, it happened to me, so it’s only fitting that I be the one to write it, don’t you think? Who knows, maybe this’ll help some hunters later on, but I doubt anyone is going to have to face something like this, like ever. Sammy and I just have rotten luck. We seem to get stuck with the really powerful stuff, like, well, I shouldn’t give too much away. Anyway, so this is what happened I guess. I’m not much of a writer so bear with me.

~ D. W.

The quiet breeze ruffled the foliage as I crashed through the trees. Cold fear crept up my spine. I could hear the growls of the hellhounds as they leaped at me. One of them pinned me down, tearing at my flesh. It closed its jaws around my throat, and suddenly I was in a brightly lit courtyard. Amara was standing in front of me.

“Dean,” she said. “We have a problem. Something has...been released from Heaven.” Her face was frantic, frightened. “Listen carefully, Dean. This isn’t like anything you or anyone has ever faced. There is no defeating it. It will destroy us all...” Amara’s voice faded away and I found myself back in the darkening forest, hellhounds ripping into me. But this time I could hear a voice. It was soft, like velvet, but deep within, it resonated with a feeling of...what’s the word? Ah yes. Chaos.

I jolted awake soaked in sweat.

“What the hell?” I murmured. But whatever I had just dreamed about was lost in the endless folds of my consciousness. I shrugged it off and got out of bed, pulling on a red flannel shirt and jeans.

“Sammy?” I called once I entered the dining room of the Bunker. My eyes wandered around the room until they landed on a beige trench coat hanging over a chair. I froze. My stomach heaved as memories flooded forward. His smile. His eyes. His...gullibility. I could remember how it felt to watch his life flash away. Anger boiled in the pit of my stomach. I was going to kill him. I was going to kill Lucifer for killing Cas.

“Dean? Are you okay?” I unclenched my fists and sighed, turning to Sam.

“Yeah. I’m good. Did you find us a case?” I asked.

“Well, Dean don’t you think we should take a little time? I mean, we lost mom and Cas just—”

“Don’t.” I gritted my teeth. “Don’t talk about him.” Sam paused.

“Dean can I ask you a question?” he asked. I raised my eyebrows at him. “Did you... like Cas?” I scoffed.

“Of course. He was family. I don’t think I understand.”

“I mean, did you lov—”

“So what’s this case you found?” I asked.

“Dean...”

“Look Sam, I didn’t love Cas. Not in that way. I like girls, okay? Now can you drop it?” I said, exasperated.

“Fine. But don’t think I haven’t noticed when you stare at his coat,” Sam replied. I ignored him and opened my laptop, skimming for something that might be a case. Sam sat next to me. I searched until I found an article describing two disappearances in two days. I pointed it out to Sam.

“Maybe vampires trying to recruit?” Sam offered. I shrugged.

“No way of knowing until we check it out,” I said and grabbed my jacket and Baby’s keys. I heard Sam sigh as I headed up the stairs and out the door.

Sam and I didn’t talk much on the drive to Topeka. When we finally got there we donned our FBI uniforms and headed into the police department.

“Hey boys. Sheriff Jackson,” a balding man in a blue suit extended his hand toward us. Sam shook it. “So what can I do for you today?” I held out my totally not fake FBI badge.

“Agent Collins, and this is my partner Agent Gabriel. We’re here about the two disappearances you’ve had the last couple of days,” I said. Sam pulled out his badge for punctuation.

“Ah, I see. One of you boys is already here,” Sheriff Jackson gestured to a short man with a beard talking to a police officer. Sam and I looked at each other, stunned.

“Thank you Sheriff. That’s all for now,” Sam said and we beelined to our “partner.” When we got there, the man turned to us.

“Ah. Dean. Sam,” he said and turned to the police officer he was talking to. “Please excuse me. I need to talk to my partners.” The officer nodded and the man led us to an isolated corner of the room.

“You guys! It’s so good to see you! I mean, sure I see you like every day considering who I am, but still! Hey, you don’t happen to have any pop tarts do you? Those things are so damn good,” he said once we were out of earshot.

“Chuck??” Sam exclaimed.

“That’s exactly what I was thinking, Sammy. But this couldn’t possibly be Chuck, considering he abandoned all of us to go live the high life with his sister,” I said bluntly.

“Now, now Dean. No need to be rude. And yes, it’s me. I’m back. Something’s happened. Dean, you should already know about this. Amara told you, didn’t she?” he asked. I blinked, surprised.

“Um, no. I haven’t seen Amara since you—” I broke off as visions of my dream last night flooded my brain. “Wait, my dream. That was actually her?” I asked incredulously. Chuck nodded.

“I assume she told you what escaped from heaven?”

“Actually, no. She didn’t get the chance. Something disrupted my dream. All she said was that it couldn’t be defeated. And then there was this voice...” I trailed off. Suddenly Chuck pinned me to the wall, his eyes searching mine like a mad man. It was the same terrified look Amara had given me in my dream. A jolt of fear spiked up in the pit of my stomach. What could frighten the two most powerful beings in the universe like this?

“You have to tell me Dean. What did the voice say? What did it say??” He hissed.

“Uh... Well it wasn’t that clear...” I said. Chuck tightened his grip.

“Don’t mess around with me Dean Winchester,” he said through gritted teeth.

“Okay, okay! Jeez, Chuck, relax. All it said was some nonsense about ‘finally being free’ or whatever. Oh and something like ‘I can’t wait to finally meet you, Dean.’” I huffed. Chuck released me and sighed. I gave him a dorky smile.

“You’re sure that’s all he said?” he asked. I nodded, not trusting my voice after almost being choked to death. “Hmm.”

“Are you going to tell us what’s going on or are we just going to have to figure it out ourselves?” I asked. Just as Chuck was about to reply, a police officer walked up.

“Is there a problem here?” she asked. “I saw him pin you to the wall.” I smiled at her.

“Oh it was just practice,” I said. She frowned.

“If you say so, Agent,” she said and walked off. I turned back to Chuck.

“So?” I asked.

“Wait,” Sam interjected. I rolled my eyes.

“What now, Sammy?”

“Shouldn’t we focus on one thing at a time? Mom is still gone and Lucifer’s son is still missing. We need to find them, he said.

“Unfortunately, Sam is right,” Chuck replied. “We do need to find Lucifer’s son, but not to get rid of him. We need his and his father’s help.” I threw up my hands.

“You have got to be kidding me!” I yelled and instantly regretted it as people turned to look at me.

“Uhh, let’s take this somewhere else, shall we?” Chuck said and touched our shoulders. Suddenly we were in the parking lot of a diner. We walked inside and sat in a booth. A hot waitress walked up. I smiled at her and she rolled her eyes. Oh well. Not every girl has the guts to hook up with Dean Winchester.

“What can I get you?” she asked.

“I’ll have French toast with strawberries. And do you guys have pop tarts?” Chuck replied.

“Um, no. Sorry,” the waitress said. Chuck shrugged. After me and Sam ordered, I turned to Chuck.

“Okay, ‘O Mighty One,’ what is this new threat we’re up against?” I interrogated.

“This... is a long story. I guess I should start by saying that Amara and I were not the first ever beings. There was something before us. This thing was very powerful. More powerful than, well, than me or Amara,” Chuck began. The waitress walked up with our food. After she left, Sam spoke.

“Wait, how can something be more powerful than you. Isn’t there a reason that people call you ‘All Powerful?’ he said. Chuck sighed.

“As much as it hurts my pride to say this, no. We are not ‘All Powerful.’ In fact, compared to this thing, mine and Amara’s power is very... limited you might say. This thing’s power has no limits. It knows no bounds. It could destroy everything without even blinking. It could set fire to all of creation without breaking a sweat. It-”

“Okay, okay, we get it. Can you continue with what ′it′ exactly is now?” I interrupted. Chuck cleared his throat.

“Right, okay. This creature was sort of made up of everything in the whole universe. The planets, stars, atoms, organisms, molecules, et cetera. But its whole make-up was sort of chaotic. Wherever it went, chaos would ensue. Therefore, Amara and I called it Chaos,” Chuck paused to eat some of his French toast. I suddenly remembered the voice from my dream. How it had had a feel of complete disarray. It made sense now. Chuck swallowed and opened his mouth to continue.

“Chaos minded his own business. He didn’t care for, well, much of anything. But Amara and I grew afraid. We thought that Chaos might one day decide he just didn’t want us around anymore. So we gathered every angel in existence at that time and we came up with a plan to lure Chaos into a cage forged in celestial alloy made with Angel Grace and a mixture of Amara’s dark and my light. We believed it to be powerful enough to hold Chaos. And for several eons, it wan. Chaos didn’t mind being locked up. He was indifferent about the whole ordeal. But as time wore on, he became bored. Boredom turned into resentment and resentment turned to anger. Once Chaos became angry enough, he broke the cage, absorbing the power within it. That was three days ago. These freak storms all over the place? Well they’re not so random. Chaos is looking for me and Amara. And once he finds us, he will exact his revenge.” Sam and I sat silent for several seconds. Then I got angry.

“So you’re telling me that this whole thing is your doing? If you hadn’t been so self-absorbed there would still be peace between you and Chaos! And now you’re dragging us into it? I say just let him kill you. I’m sure he would make a better god than you,” I spat.

“Dean,” Sam said. “Maybe we should help. Who’s to say Chaos will stop at Chuck and Amara?” I took a deep breath.

“Fine. You’re right, Sam. So I’ll help. But only for the people. Not for you,” I said to Chuck.

“That’s all I ask. I have a plan to get Lucifer back and find his son, Jack. All that we have to do is—“Chuck broke off. “He’s here,” he whispered. “If I leave, I’m sure he won’t bother you guys,” he hissed hurriedly and vanished.