Chapter Text
The sun was low in the sky by the time Vesper returned to the Colony House, her wet hair stuck to the back of her neck, and since she didn’t want to get her things wet, she was in what she had bathed in: black underwear, nothing else. The walk back was quiet, a silence that allowed her thoughts to run wild. Dean had left early, and there was no sign of his usual easy smile: he was terribly embarrassed that Vesper had gotten so close to him and had no idea what he was doing with the girl and why. Vesper watched as the man disappeared down the path, although she was already swimming alongside Fatima by then. Of course, her friend had seen what had happened between her and Dean and had brought it up. They started talking about it when Vesper glanced back at Dean and must have seen him leave in a state of uproar. So there really was a moment between them? Vesper had pulled away from him because she was scared by the intimate moment she felt between them. She looked deep into his green eyes and suddenly felt the feeling that he was going to kiss her. It startled her and she pushed herself away from him. She thought it couldn’t be real, it was just some strange desire to connect in her mind because Dean had been nice to her. But when Fatima started talking about seeing them and then Dean suddenly left, she had to think that maybe she hadn’t just imagined that moment.
Now, in the familiar chaos of the Colony House, Vesper felt the weight of the day settling in on her. Laughter and conversation filtered out of the common rooms, where a few people were still eating and playing cards. She slipped past them without noticing, and her feet carried her up the stairs to her room.
Once inside, she closed the door, leaned against it, and let out the breath she hadn’t realized she had been holding. The room was just as she had left it – quiet, still, her own little sanctuary. She dropped her clothes to the floor and changed into dry underwear – a mismatched pair of red panties and a worn purple bra – then threw herself onto the bed and sighed heavily as she closed her eyes.
Her mind replayed the afternoon in fragments: the warmth of the sun on her skin, the cool touch of the water as she dove in, Dean’s laughter echoing in her head. She had a way of forgetting the dangers of this place, if only for a little while. The rules, the fear, the constant struggle to survive. On this day, things seemed almost… normal.
But normal didn’t exist here. Not really.
A soft knock on her door jolted her out of her thoughts. She sat up, her brow furrowed. Most of the residents knew it was not worth bothering, so she had no idea who could be looking for her. No one knew how she managed it, but Vesper Holloway was actually quite a withdrawn girl, and yet she had authority and always knew everything. She hesitated for a moment, then stood up and quickly put on the same pair of men’s shorts and tank top before walking to the door.
Ellis was there. He had been down at the lake all day, too, as Fatima’s boyfriend. His dark eyes met Vesper’s, and for a moment neither of them spoke.
“Hi,” Ellis finally said quietly.
“Hi,” she replied, opening the door a little wider. “What’s up?”
Before the boy entered, he glanced over his shoulder, as if to make sure no one was watching. He closed the door behind himself, which piqued Vesper’s curiosity. Ellis wasn’t exactly the type to just drop in on a conversation to make friends. They had known each other for a long time, but it was Fatima that always got them together.
“I saw you and Dean today,” he said, leaning against the wall with a feigned indifference that made the situation even stranger.
Vesper raised an eyebrow.
“Okay... and?”
“And nothing,” he said with a shrug. “It’s just... you seemed to be having fun.”
She crossed her arms and studied the man.
“Why do I get the feeling there’s more in it?”
Ellis laughed and shook his head.
“I don’t know, Vesper. Maybe I’m the only one surprised. You’re not usually the ’lakeside buddy’ type.
She rolled her eyes, though his words stung more than she wanted to admit.
“People change.”
“Really? Even you?” he asked, a little harsher than he had intended.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Vesper hardened her voice. Was Ellis speaking to her on purpose now?
“Nothing,” he raised he hands in surrender. “Just… be careful with him, okay?”
“Careful?” She frowned. “Dean’s not a threat.”
“Maybe not,” Ellis said, turning the word serious. “But he’s not like you, Vesper. He hasn’t been here long enough to see how things really are. You get too close, and one day he’ll do something stupid and you’ll be the one to clean up after him. Is that really what you want?
His words hit harder than she had expected, and they brought out a nervousness that Vesper hadn’t anticipated. She clenched her hands at her sides and tried to keep her voice from shaking with nervousness.
“You don’t know him,” she said.
“And you do?” Ellis retorted.
Silence settled over them, thick and heavy. Finally, Ellis pushed himself away from the wall, his expression softening only a fraction.
“Look,” she said, her voice quieter. “I don’t want to tell you what to do. I just… I don’t want to see you get hurt.”
Vesper stared at him, unsure of how to respond. Part of her wanted to tell him to mind his own business, but another part – a part she didn’t want to acknowledge – understood where that thought had come from. She’d been here long enough to know how easily things could go wrong.
“I’ll be fine,” she said finally, her voice firm, unwavering.
Ellis nodded, though his eyes lingered on her for a moment longer than they should have. Then he turned and opened the door.
“Come down to dinner, Donna’s looking for you,” he finally said in a neutral tone.
“I’ll be right there,” she replied, watching him disappear down the hall.
When the door closed behind him, Vesper took a shaky breath and fell back onto her bed. Her thoughts were a jumble, a jumble of memories and emotions she couldn’t quite place. Dean’s smile, Ellis’s warning, the quiet dread that was all too common not only in the house but in her mind.
She lay on her back, staring at the ceiling in silence. But deep down, she knew she couldn’t fall apart. She couldn’t think too much about what Ellis had told her.
Meanwhile, in one of the town's homes, Dean paced the narrow walls of the living room, feeling the terror of the night press harder on his mind. Sam sat cross-legged on the sofa, tinkering with an old pocketknife, his lips pressed into a thin line as he concentrated. Across the room, Remus Lupin leaned against the wall, his sharp eyes scanning the street. He was silent for most of the evening, as he often was, though the tension in his posture betrayed his unease.
The three of them lived in a delicate balance, like mismatched puzzle pieces forced into the same frame. Dean and Sam had only known Remus for a week, but it was clear that the young man carried secrets he was unwilling to share. His friends – James, Sirius, and Peter – lived in the Colony House, but Remus preferred to stay away from the crowd. He decided to stay in the town, keeping his distance, though Dean suspected he was still attached to the others in a way they couldn't understand.
Sam looked up and broke the silence.
"Dean, you're going to put a hole in the floor."
Dean stopped walking and glanced toward the window. The bulging moon hung high in the sky, casting an eerie light on the empty streets.
"Something's wrong," he muttered to himself.
"What do you mean?" Sam frowned.
"The town's too quiet," Dean said, ruffling his hair. "You can usually hear the monsters. They're grunting and scratching and trying to sneak into the house. But now? Nothing."
Remus straightened, his eyes narrowing.
"You think something's wrong?"
“I don’t know,” Dean admitted, his stomach churning with pain. “I don’t like this silence.”
As if to confirm his fears, there was a sudden commotion in the distance – a loud crash broke the silence of the night, followed by a series of bone-chilling screams. A whole crowd screamed, a chorus, and the three men froze. Dean froze, his heart pounding in his chest. The sound came from the direction of the Colony House.
Sam jumped to his feet.
“What the hell was that?”
Remus didn’t answer. He walked quickly and purposefully to the door.
“I’ll check.”
Dean grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair, his mind racing.
“The monsters got in!”
“Then there’s nothing we can do,” Sam said sharply, interrupting his brother, stepping forward, his jaw set. “You know that.”
“You think I’m just going to sit here while people die? No way!” Dean clenched his fists. “Sam…”
“No,” Sam said firmly. “I’m coming with you. I’m not letting you go there alone.”
Dean hesitated, torn between his protective instincts and his brother’s stubborn determination. Finally, he sighed.
“Okay. But stay close. Can we go?”
Sam nodded, and he was off.
“I’m coming too,” Remus said, his voice leaving no room for argument.
Dean turned to him, frowning.
“Are you sure?”
Remus looked at him.
“James, Sirius, and Peter are up there. Do you really think I’m staying here?”
Dean nodded and grabbed the crowbar by the door.
“Then let’s go.”
The three of them moved quickly and silently through the empty streets, clinging to the walls, the sound of madness growing louder as they approached the Colony House. The massive structure loomed ahead, its windows bright but lifeless. Dean’s stomach churned at the sight of the front door swinging on its hinges.
“They really got in,” Remus said quietly, his voice shaking with nervousness.
Dean glanced at him and saw that his hands were shaking slightly as he gripped the rusty metal he had picked up before they left. He wondered briefly about the depth of the bond between Remus and his friends, but he didn’t have time to dwell on that. They had to go in, no matter how much every fiber of their being protested.
“Stay close,” Dean whispered and started inside.
The scene that greeted them was a nightmare. Blood stained the walls, and furniture overturned and shattered. The faint sound of movement echoed through the halls, accompanied by the sickly sweet sounds of the monsters.
Dean swallowed hard and tightened his grip on the crowbar.
“We’ll find whoever we can and escape. Quickly!”
Sam nodded, his eyes wide but determined. Remus said nothing, his gaze fixed on a few bodies lying to their right in the common room. Most of their skin had been skinned off, their bellies had been cut open, and their entrails were all gone. Bloody footprints covered the floor, and there was not a soul there.
As they went deeper into the house, the sounds of the monsters grew louder. Dean's heart pounded in his chest, but he forced himself to remain calm. They passed several rooms, each more horrific than the last, until they reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Let's split up," Dean said quietly. "That way we'll find the survivors faster."
"No way!" Sam hissed. "We'll stick together."
"You're right," Remus said. "Separation is suicide."
Dean cursed but didn't argue. They climbed the stairs together, each step a creaking reminder of how vulnerable they were. The upstairs was just as chaotic as the downstairs, but the faint sound of crying caught their attention and they headed in the direction of the sound.
Dean slowly pushed the door open, revealing a small group of survivors huddled in the corner. Ellis was among them, his face pale and bloodied.
“Dean?” Ellis whispered, his voice trembling. “What are you doing here?”
“We’re looking for people. Survivors,” the man replied, scanning the room. “Who’s still alive?”
Ellis shook his head, tears welling in his eyes.
“I don’t know. They’re everywhere. We’re the only ones around,” he gestured behind him. There could hardly be seven of them.
“Where’s Vesper?” Dean asked, his chest tightening. He couldn’t help it, he just couldn’t get the image of Vesper mutilated from his mind. Nothing had ever happened between them, he didn’t think it was justified, yet he felt the need to protect her and he couldn’t rest until he found her. His skin itched from the knowledge that he had no idea if Vesper was okay.
Ellis hesitated.
“She was on the top floor, in her room, when it started.”
Dean didn't wait for him to finish. He turned and, ignoring Sam's protests, started toward the stairs.
"Dean, wait!" Sam grabbed his arm. "You can't just go up there!"
"You stay here," Dean snapped, freeing his arm. "I'm not leaving her up there."
Sam hesitated, then turned to Remus.
"I'll go with him, you get them out of here."
Remus sighed, but nodded, gripping the bat tighter.
"Let's go," he said. He only agreed to leave his two roommates behind because James, Sirius, and Peter were crouched behind Ellis.
"Take them to us and lock yourselves in," Dean growled, turning to head upstairs. He had never felt so afraid before, and the scariest part wasn’t the monsters or the helplessness, but the knowledge that he couldn’t protect Vesper.
The top floor was a war zone. The monsters moved through the hallways with eerie grace, their twisted smiles and singing voices making the hairs on Dean’s arms stand up. He saw one of them drag a body into a corner and quickly pull Sam into a nearby room before he could see them.
“I know Vesper’s room is down the hall,” Dean whispered. “We’re going together.”
Sam nodded, his face pale but determined, and he didn’t answer, his jaw trembling as he gripped the club that served as his weapon.
Together they stepped back into the hallway, moving as quietly as they could. Every shadow seemed to shift, every creak of floorboards was a death sentence. Dean's heart pounded in his chest as they reached the door to Vesper's room.
He stopped, looking back at Sam, wondering if his brother was ready for whatever they would find inside – though the truth was that he really wanted to reassure himself that Sam was with him, no matter what. He put his hand on the door, ready to push it in, but hesitated for a few seconds.
There was nothing for a moment. Then there was the faint sound of movement on the other side of the door.
Dean glanced at Sam, his grip on the crowbar tightening. They both looked at each other, their brows furrowed in confusion. It was... the sound of conversation.
"...you and me," the man's voice said. Dean had never heard that sound before, and it was eerie now, after the sea of blood and corpses in the rest of the house.
“I really don’t understand what you want from me,” Vesper’s voice rang out. It was shaking, but she was trying to stay calm.
“Don’t you understand?” the man chuckled. Dean moved the door just enough so that they could see in but not be noticed by those inside. Inside stood a pale man dressed as a cowboy, and Vesper was facing him. However, the Cowboy had a face that looked as if it had grown sharp teeth and a beak, not to mention the fact that his skin had stretched and twisted, transforming his face into something completely otherworldly. Dean stared in horror at the monster, before whom the young woman stood with apparent calm. The monster spread its arms and pointed around. “This is all because of you.”
“Just kill me,” Vesper shrugged. “You got in, you’ve killed so many people over the years and tonight, all pure blood,” she cried. “Why are you playing with me?”
“Come on, darling,” he nodded his strange, distorted head to the side. “You don’t understand, do you? This is all about you,” he raised his hand and caressed the girl’s face, who pulled away from him in disgust.
“Enough,” Dean grimaced.
He slammed the door and without further thought, slammed the crowbar on the monster’s head. Vesper jumped aside with a scream, and Cowboy’s neck bent at an unnatural angle. After a few moments of shock, he adjusted his head back into place and let out an otherworldly, bone-piercing scream that clearly indicated to even inexperienced monster hunters that he was calling his companions to him.
Sam slammed as well, while Dean jumped to Vesper.
“Are you okay?” the man gasped.
“What are you doing here?” the young woman was startled.
“I couldn’t leave you here...” Dean replied thoughtlessly. “But we have to go” he shook his head.
“The others are coming too” the girl replied. “He called them...”
“We’re several floors up, the window is not an option, and they’re definitely coming in the hallway” Sam interrupted, panting, as he fought with the creature, but it grabbed the man’s weapon with one light movement and, as if it were a thin twig, pulled it away from Sam and threw it into the corner. “There’s trouble!”
“Stupefy!” A shout was heard, immediately followed by another.
“Incarcerous!” the curse rang out and the next moment a rope came out of nowhere and twisted around Cowboy, who fell helplessly to the ground, writhing in his shackles.
“What the hell!” Vesper was horrified and automatically grabbed Dean's arm. She squeezed his elbow while the man stood in front of him defensively.
“Damn!” Sam was terrified.
Remus, Sirius, and James stood in the doorway with their wands drawn, although the two men and the woman thought they were simple sticks. The three young men sent various beams of light toward the monster with light movements until they declared him completely defeated.
“What the fuck?!” Vesper gaped, as silence settled over the room for a moment.
“Yes, we can cast spells. No, this is not from the devil.” Remus panted and rolled his eyes.
“Trust us” Sirius added. “We want to save your lives, come on! We're getting everyone out of here!”
Vesper and Dean exchanged a doubtful look, then probably both decided that they had no other choice, so they set off after the three strange boys – wizards? Sirius and Remus went in front, followed by Vesper, Sam Dean, and James at the back, who were paying attention so that no one would attack them from behind. The two Winchesters and Vesper had no idea of what was happening around them, but they followed the young guys, hoping that they would get out of this nightmare. Sirius and Remus sent curses and hexes of various colors at the monsters that appeared, whose faces were just as ugly as the tied-up Cowboy in Vesper's room. They screamed and extended their sharp claws towards them, but the boys' response to each monster's attack was a curse. They shouted Stupefy, Diffindo, and Impedimenta over and over again, and the monsters staggered back, some falling as if they had been flying. Vesper and the Winchesters followed the boys, hearts pounding and fear in their veins, and Vesper felt every part of her body tremble. It's been a while since she felt so weak, almost sick of fear, and her head throbbed. She wanted to get out. She wanted to get out more than anything.
Minutes that seemed like hours later, they reached the open sky, where, though they gasped, they could not stop. Smiling, walking monsters were approaching them from the trees of the keep, and the six of them ran as fast as they could toward the town. The sound of screams and cries filled the night, and Vesper felt as if she were about to collapse under the weight of endless terror.
When they reached the house where Remus and the brothers had become permanent residents in recent days, they were relieved to lock the door behind them. They were safe.
There were far fewer people inside than they had expected. They had expected a crowd, but there were barely four of them inside: Fatima and Ellis were sitting at the kitchen table, worried, while in the living room, there was Donna, who was staring nervously out the window, and Victor, who was crouching in the corner, breathing hard. He must have been having a panic attack.
"What the hell was that?" Sam was outraged, turning to the three young boys, who were looking at each other questioningly. Now they had to tell the truth about themselves, there was no point in denying it.
"Wizards exist," Remus finally said. "And we are them."
"We won't hurt anyone," James raised his hands to show his innocence.
"Witches are evil," Sam shook his head.
"We're not," Sirius shook his head. "And we're wizards, not witches."
Before anyone else could speak, they all turned in the direction of the thud: Vesper collapsed. Dean only now noticed that her clothes were not only dirty, but bloody, and she was much paler than usual. Vesper lay unconscious on the floor, her top soaked in dark blood, gasping for breath, and when Dean pulled her top up, he was met with a huge, deep scratch. A monster had reached Vesper.