'Damn it… How is this even possible?!'
Sam's mind was in disarray. He couldn't see anything around him. The darkness was so deep in this part of the forest that he couldn't even go back anymore.
But the shadows weren't the only thing that stopped him from going back.
Clang.
Dean's sword struck something in the dark. Before he could land another strike, the entity had disappeared.
Sam cursed loudly.
"How… these ghouls… There shouldn't be a nest here!"
Dean grit his teeth, his forehead covered in cold sweat.
"How the heck am I supposed to know?!"
The two were looking in opposite directions, their backs facing each other. Dean was holding a new sword… Sam's sword. His own sword gave in a long time ago. But this one didn't have the crimson sharpness. Sam could only augment one weapon in a day, which meant Dean had to fight without his enchantment.
He wished that were their only problem.
Something flashed past him. Something tall, but not too big. He heard a flap behind him, and something clashed against Dean's sword. The clash was louder than before, more frightening.
It didn't take them too long to cover the pincer nest. Having done his part, Conrad had gone to check up on the other team. Sam hadn't thought much of it. After all, they had already crossed the nest. All they needed to do now was take care of the nearby pincers and clear the path for the rest of the cohort.
So, they kept moving forward. However, there was not a single pincer to be seen.
Before they knew it, they were deep inside the territory of another nest. A nest filled with darkness, not even a single ray of sun reaching the ground.
It was a ghoul nest.
Sam frantically turned to his right. Something had just moved in that direction.
'Two nests… so close to each other… Both of them should have killed each other by now!'
Beasts that roamed the planet now weren't intelligent. The vast majority had pulp for brains. The intelligent ones were rarer than diamonds. So, when one of the two nests of lower ranks came anywhere near the other's territory, a war would ensue. It would not stop until one of the commander-level beasts is dead.
So, for the two nests to be so close to each other and yet there was no news of it, nor had they killed each other by now… it felt like the universe wanted him dead.
Panting heavily, he dodged another attack. Dean swung his sword, only to cut through the air.
Dean grumbled in a low voice.
"It's alright… We can… we got this. The rest of the group will be here anytime now."
Sam gulped heavily, a horrified expression covering his face.
'No…'
Ghouls were a reclusive species of beasts. They tended to nest in places devoid of any form of light. There was a very low chance of the group running into them as long as they were inside the nest. Even if Conrad used his ability, he'd have to be at least a dozen meters near them to notice them.
That was why when the first ghoul arrived, they tried to go back immediately.
By then, they were already surrounded. The exit was blocked… wherever it was. They had lost their way, fending against who knew how many ghouls in the thick veil of darkness.
As a matter of fact, he thought fending was a tall word for what they were doing. The ghouls were playing with them, while Dean frantically swung his sword in the darkness, hoping to hit something, anything.
With each passing second, their thoughts grew darker. A maniacal laugh reverberated in the vast expanse, echoing all around them.
They were being hunted.
Sam drew in a deep breath.
'Relax… I need to relax. Dean is still with me… As long as we're together, there's noth—'
"Sam!"
Sam turned back immediately.
'Huh?'
Dean wasn't behind him anymore. He was there, somewhere in the darkness. The next second, his face appeared in the darkness.
He was trying to say something, but Sam couldn't hear it. He wasn't even looking at him. Instead, his eyes were locked onto something above Sam.
Sam tried looking up, but it was too late. The ghoul plunged its sharp talons into his shoulder. Before he could react, his body was pulled into the air.
"Aargh!"
Sam's scream resounded in Dean's ear like a nightmare.
"Sam!"
He tried reaching out where the scream had come from, but Sam was nowhere to be seen. He could hear something flying around him. But it wasn't a single ghoul; they were all surrounding him.
Clenching his jaw, he sprinted in a random direction. His sword flashed in the darkness. But no matter how much he tried, nothing obstructed his sword. There was no movement anywhere near him.
Sam… he was gone.
Thump.
Dean stopped immediately. Something fell to the ground near him.
'Sam…'
Following the sound, he reached the location.
"S… Sam…?"
A head… Sam's head was lying on the ground. His head had been ripped off his body.
His eyes were wide, not even a glimmer of life left in them.
"... Sammy? No… it can't be…"
Dean's eyes trembled, his hands shaking heavily. He fell to his knees. Pulling together whatever strength he had left, Dean reached for his brother. Touching his Sam's cold skin, he flinched.
He gently picked up Sam.
His brother's head was lying in his hands. His brother's head… His brother…
Sam was dead.