The Empty (Castiel's Pov)

                                    

                                          
[Description: After Cass died and suddenly woke up in the empty, he tries to get back to Earth. But since he was away, things have changed]

People use the word "empty" too much, I think it has lost its true meaning to it. 
If they are in a room that has few things in it, they call it empty. Or some of them who are struggling with emotions, yet don't feel anything. They try explaining it by saying "I'm feeling empty" when nothing brings them joy, sadness, anger, lust, or any of the emotions that I'm sure I have to catch up on to discover and understand. 
But in both cases, there was still something. The room had painted walls, the person had all the emotions locked up somewhere safe, forgotten, but all of it was still in them. 
What a waste to use a word like this.
When I say "empty", I think of the place where angels go when they die. 
No one has ever been to it and came back to tell the tale, therefore no one really knows what to expect of it. It's like for people, or at least those who believe: after death, they either end up in Hell or Heaven. Nobody can tell them what it's like, but they managed to picture it in movies, showing their fantasies when they think of these words. 
The empty is like Hell or Heaven for angels. We have ideas about it, but not knowledge. It was that way for me too, until I died and woke up. 
In the empty, there literally was nothing. Nothing to grasp, nothing to see or hear. Silent, dark, and infinite. 
Except me, there wasn't a soul around. It felt like ages have passed since I became aware of where I am, but I couldn't be sure of it. I called out, hoping I'm not the only one, but I didn't receive any answer, didn't sense another presence apart from my own. 
At least not until I noticed the ground behind me shaking, rippling, seemed like it turned into liquid, identical to black water. It started billowing, rising higher and higher, beginning to take shape right before me. 
I saw legs forming first, then the torso, arms and head. The water-like material was slowly getting more solid, and after a half-a-moment worth blink, I was standing in front of a mirror. I tilted my head to the right to examine the picture, but my reflection didn't match with the movement.
"Castiel" it called out, taking a step towards me.
I was taken aback by whatever this thing was, but then realisation hit me.
"You're the empty" I said.
"Took you long enough" a crooked smile crept across his face, appearing as I never have before. Not more than a few moments later, the awful, threatening smile was gone, got replaced with a deadly serious face and a blazing look in his eyes.
"You..." he spat it like he loathed every letter of the word that referred to me. "You woke me up. If there's one thing I hate, it's being awake. And you're so loud" his voice became jaggy and raspy by the time he got to the last words, and I could see he physically had to restrain himself from ripping me apart then and there. 
I took my chance. 
"If I annoy you so much, let me go. I'm needed on Earth, let me get back." 
It was a risky thing to say, considering how furious he already was, but what was I, if not dead already? What can he do to me? 
"Believe me, there's nothing for you back there." he told me, and I was left speechless by that for a second. But now was not the time to think about it, not until I can get myself out of this situation. 
"You said I woke you up, and you can't go back to sleep because of me. Help me get back then, and I won't be a problem for you anymore. But if you keep me here, I'll continue to be loud, so uproarious that you won't ever be able to rest." I reasoned, maybe threatened too. 
"Or I could simply wipe you out of existence." 
"If you could, you would have already" I said and judging by the look on his face, he knew I was right. "Bring me back." I emphasised each syllable, bit by bit. 
He took a deep breath, and if looks could kill, I'd be even more dead than I was, if that's possible. 
"You irritating, infuriating, maddening..." 
"I don't think this is the time to bring out the synonym dictionary" I interrupted. 
"You think you're so smart, huh? Alright then. Let's see how you manage once you're all alone." 
That's all he said before he snapped his fingers and just like waking up from a dream, I found myself in a different place than I was before. 
My surroundings weren't familiar, all I could see was a long road, a closed sleazy shop on the side, decayed and putrid trees, but nothing else. 
All of a sudden, blinding light appeared out of thin air, getting closer and making my eyesight worse, eventually forcing my eyes to close. It swept past me with incredible speed, leaving nothing but smoke behind it. 
A few moments later the same kind of light came into view again, and now I could perceive the shape of the car it belonged to. It slowed down until it arrived right beside me, then stopped there, a man looking out the window. 
"What are you doing in the middle of nowhere at this time of the night, buddy?" when I didn't answer for a few seconds, he added: "Do you need a lift?" 
Having no idea how to get anywhere from here, I accepted his offer. 
I remember Dean once telling me that people are taught from a young age not to get in a stranger's car, especially if they're alone. The driver could be a sociopath for all I know, but I wasn't afraid of him, not when I needed to get back home fast. 
I didn't tell him the exact location, but if he can get me to the state, I can manage from there. 
---------------------------------------------------------
Finally arriving at the bunker, I bursted through the door, having missed the place and the Winchesters so very much.
"Sam! Dean!" I yelled smiling, but no answer came back. "Guys?"
I peeked in every room I could find, kitchen, dungeon, everywhere, but they weren't here. The car was however untouched in the garage, and Dean's duffel bag full of weapons layed on the table. No way he would go anywhere without that, let alone the Impala. 
"Dean!" 
"There's nothing for you back there"
The empty's promise echoed back to me. Panic and anxiety started creeping in me, being close to take form as a separate individual. 
My stomach dropped and skin warmed, as if hot coals were put inside of me, pulling me down with their weight. 
They were gone. 
God knows where they went, but they weren't here. Nothing even indicated them being here for a while. 
"No no no... Damn it" I whispered to myself, frustrated by the incapability to do anything other than walk back and forth between these walls. 
"Let's see how you manage once you're all alone" 
"Damn it!" I screamed this time, the sound filling the whole bunker.