Chapter I - Beginning

If Dad had a say in anything, I am sure he would have done everything in his power to prevent the events that lead to the end of my innocence (I am not being overdramatic).

It all started when Uncle Dean broke into our apartment at two AM. Mom and Dad went to some party and they allowed me to have a friend over to watch movies since I thought that dressing up and asking strangers for candy was pretty stupid. At the time, I had no clue it was Uncle Dean, so I automatically assumed the worse and thought that he was some ax-wielding maniac who had a sick addiction to killing innocent teenage girls.

Thank you, stupid horror movies.

So, armed with only a softball bat and a can of hairspray (a damn good weapon, if you ask me), Lily and I tip-toed into the living room. My eyes were glued on "the burglar" as he tried to maneuver around the kitchen in complete darkness.

"Shouldn't we call the police first?" Lily suggested. In many ways, she had a point. However, I was someone who had to take care of the situation myself and couldn't possibly rely on someone else to do a good of job as I. Besides, we had just finished watching Lara Croft: Tomb Raider so I felt like a heroine in my own action-filled movie (hey, a girl can dream).

"Let's get him out first, then we'll call," I said. It seemed like the "Lara" thing to do. Now, if only I could get an action sequence in an awesome mansion with a totally hot antagonist.

"Okay, here's the plan," I whispered to Lily. "I'm gonna jump him and spray him in the eyes with this," I motioned towards the hairspray. "Then you're gonna hit him in the head and—hopefully—knock him out."

"Do you know how stupid that plan is?" Lily inquired. "How about we hide in a closet and call 911."

"He could leave before they got here," I countered. "It would be better if we surprise him and—" the "aw shit" look on Lily's face made me freeze midsentence "—he's right behind me, isn't he?"

Lily nodded.

Before the man could have the first move, I turned sharply and sprayed his face with my hairspray. I didn't get him directly in the eyes like I hoped (he was shorter than I suspected), but he still staggered back, moaning in pain. Not even waiting for Lily to make her move, I kicked the man in the jewels.

Knowing that we had him down, I flipped on the overhead light. I looked down at the man and immediately recognized him as my uncle, Dean. He didn't look much different from the dated picture of my Dad's—mostly just older.

"God," Uncle Dean muttered, "what the hell is wrong with you?" His voice cracked from the pain.

"I'm sorry," I said, attempting to help him onto the couch. He flinched away from my touch, like I was going to punch him or something.

"Okay…now I'm confused," Lily said, looking between me and Uncle Dean. "Do you know him or something?"

"Yeah, he's my uncle."

"Wait…uncle?" Uncle Dean asked. If it was even possible, he seemed even more confused. "Who are you?"

I swallowed hard. Uncle Dean didn't know who I was. Then again, Dad hasn't contacted his family in fourteen years. I shouldn't have been surprised—but I was.

"Liz," I said. Dean was still confused, so I elaborated. "Sam's daughter."

A moment passed before Uncle Dean broke the silence. "What the hell? Are you telling me that I'm an uncle?"

Nah, I'm just busting your balls. I am just a random chick who just happens to be living with your brother and his wife. I am just calling you "uncle" to screw with your head. Sorry 'bout that.

"Yeah, I guess I am." That was a stupid statement.

"You know, you look like a female version of Sam." Despite everything that had just happened, he chuckled. "So, pretty much Sammy."

I just chuckled dryly out of awkwardness. This was certainly a hell of a way to spend Halloween. And to think I would have missed this if I went out.

"Well…as touching as this moment is…I think I'll get going." Despite the fact that it was the middle of the night and she didn't even bother to get any of her things, Lily rushed out the door and didn't even bother to close the door behind her.

Seconds later, Mom and Dad appeared at the doorway, studying the direction where Lily had just disappeared from. "What the hell is with Sa—" Dad froze midsentence, his gaze now transfixed on Uncle Dean.

"Hey, Sammy," Uncle Dean said, beaming up at his brother who he hasn't seen in a decade-and-a-half.

To say that an awkward silence filled the room would be a major understatement. The silence was as thick as fog that gagged us and prevented us from even thinking of something to say. Well, that is how I felt, anyway.

"Dean…what are you doing here and why are your eyes red?"

"Nice to see you to," Dean muttered, obviously annoyed at Dad. "Oh, and at least you trained your daughter to handle burglars."

Dad's nostrils flared anger, like they always do when he gets pissed. I have only seen this happen a handful of times—many of which I have caused.

"Look, can I talk to you for a sec…alone." Uncle Dean emphasized the last word.

"Whatever you need to say you can say in front of Jess and Liz." Dad put a protective arm around Mom in an I dare you to question me sort of way. I just hung back towards the back wall, feeling really awkward about this situation.

Uncle Dean shrugged. "Okay, whatever you say, Sammy." He was instantly serious. "Dad hasn't been home in a few days."

"So, he's working overtime on a Miller time shift," Dad said. Okay…that just made no sense to me. What the hell is a Miller time shift? "He'll stumble back sooner or later."

"Lemme clarify. Dad's on a hunting trip and he hasn't been home in a few days."

Something in Dad's face changed, but I couldn't really identify what it was. "Excuse us," he said, "we have to go outside."

Dad and Uncle Dean left, leaving Mom and me in their awkward wake.

"Well, that was…interesting," Mom said, obviously trying to get rid of the awkwardness. "So…did you really attack him with hairspray?"

"Lily had a softball bat, if that helps," I said, giving Mom my best innocent smile.

She just shook her head. "I just wish I knew what the hell is going on all of a sudden."

"You and me both," I muttered as she walked into her bedroom. "You and me both."

Once Mom was out of earshot, I left our apartment and silently followed Dad and Uncle Dean.

"I swore I was done for good," Dad said. I couldn't see them, but their voices carried through the tiled stairwell. They also weren't trying to keep their voices low.

"C'mon, it wasn't easy, but it wasn't that bad," Uncle Dean argued.

"How can you say that? You were there! Do you remember when I told Dad when I was scared of the thing in my closet? He gave me a .45."

"Well what was he supposed to do?"

"I was nine. Years. Old. He was supposed to say 'Don't be afraid of the dark'."

"Don't be afraid of the dark," Uncle Dean mocked. "What, are you kidding me? Of course you should be afraid of the dark! You know what's out there!"

Okay, if I wasn't freaking out before, I was scared shitless. The way they talked, it made them sound like madmen who think that monsters exist. Dad taught me at a young age that monsters like vampires and werewolves don't exist. Was he lying to me this whole time?

"Yeah, I know. But, still—the way we grew up after Mom was killed, and dad's obsession to find the thing that killed her! But we still haven't found the damn thing, so we kill everything we find!"

Yep, he was lying to me.

"Save a lot of people doing it too." Uncle Dean seemed proud about that feat. And, yeah, I would be too. Of course, I still had no clue on what kind of saving they did. Maybe they were like Supermen or something. That would be pretty cool.

"You think Mom would have wanted this for us?" Dad and Uncle Dean stepped outside and I didn't make it to the door in time. It closed with an audible click and I was afraid of opening it in fear that they would hear it.

Curiosity filled every crevice in my mind as I wandered back up the stairs. It honestly felt like a millennium ago when Uncle Dean first broke into the apartment. I also felt a millennium older, as well.

I walked into the apartment just as Mom stepped out of her room, dressed in some pajamas. She didn't notice my disappearance. I contemplated the idea of telling Mom what I overheard Uncle Dean and Dad talking about. However, I'd rather not explain how I totally eavesdropped on them.

A few minutes later, Dad walked back into the apartment, looking rather pissed off (even more so than earlier).

"What's going on?" I asked him, half-hoping that he would explain. He just walked past me and into his bedroom, Mom close on his heels. I was about to follow them, but they closed the door on my face. Being careful not to push too hard on the door, I leaned an ear against it. If I focused, I could hear them talking.

"Wait…you're taking off?" Mom sounded surreal.
"Is this about your dad? Is he all right?"

"Yeah, you know, just a little family drama."

I could tell Dad was lying. It wasn't the way he talked, since he was damn good at hiding his emotions, but it was like I just knew that he was lying.

"But your brother said he was on some kind of hunting trip," Mom said, trying to clarify what she meant.

"Uh…yeah. He's just deer hunting up at the cabin," Dad explained. In a bitter voice, he added, "he's probably got Jim, Jack and Jose along with him. We're just gonna go bring him back."

"What about the job interview? You have been waiting for this opportunity with the execs for months. You might finally be able to get out of that damn cubical."

"I'll make the interview," Dad assured. If it weren't for the nagging feeling I had, I would have believed him too. "This is only for a couple of days."

I heard the shuffling of footsteps heading towards the door and I made a mad dash into my room. I jumped onto my bed and pressed the play button on my remote.

Dad knocked softly on my doorframe. "Can I come in, kiddo?"

"Yeah," I said, pausing the movie again.

Dad sat at the edge of my bed. "I want to apologize for Dean. He doesn't normally do things by the book."

I shrugged. "It was an adventure," I said, trying to shrug it off.

Dad saw past my veil and gave me "the look". "Liz, you can tell me if it bothered you. I didn't like him showing up at two AM unannounced either."

Despite the fact that Dad gave me an open invitation into admit my true thoughts and feelings, I kept up the façade. "It's fine," I said. "But, I should probably check on Lily. I think it really freaked her out."

Dad laughed softly, but he tapered off before too long. "I know this is sudden, but I'm going with Dean for a few days. Our Dad is in a spot of trouble and we just need to drag him back to sober-land."

I nodded in response. I wanted to tell him that I eavesdropped on him and Uncle Dean, but I didn't have the nerve to do so. I might have been exploding with questions, but Dad had enough on his plate right now to deal with me.

"When will you be back?" I asked.

"Before Monday," he assured.

After our goodbyes, Dad left.

-SPN- SPN- -SPN-

"Has Dad called yet?" I asked Mom for the umpteenth time this weekend. For the umpteenth time, she said no. For the umpteenth time, I felt like my nerves were going to explode.

By Sunday night, I felt like killing someone…particularly Uncle Dean. If it weren't for him, none of this would have happened.

I decided to go to bed early, much to Mom's disappointment. I have noticed that Mom and I really have nothing in common. It is usually Dad who keeps us a family. If something happened to him…I dunno what Mom and I would do. We'd probably end up killing each other.

I laid there in the dark for a couple of hours, listening to the distant rumble of the television Mom was watching. Eventually, that turned off and I was left with the eerie silence of an all-too quiet house.

Eventually, I felt myself begin to doze off. I was almost in dreamland when all hell broke loose.

I felt Mom's fear before I heard her screams. I was out of my bed in a flash and ran into her room. In the dim light, I saw Mom pinned to the ceiling, blood collecting in her nightgown. Her eyes were wide, but lifeless.

I was about to cry for help, but some invisible force threw me into the wall. I didn't notice the shadowed man in the corner until he spoke.

"Mary Elizabeth Winchester," he said in an oddly tantalizing voice. "Such a pretty name for such a pretty girl."

"Shut up," I was somehow able to shout.

I gagged on my own breath as if a hand was pushing down on my throat. I could barely breathe, let alone form any sort of speech sounds.

"What, a cute girl like you doesn't like compliments?" The man stepped out of the corner and into the dim light of the moon. Even in the dull lighting, I could still see his glowing yellow eyes that sent shivers down my back.

"You are probably wondering why your mother is dead on the ceiling and why I am here," the yellow eyed freak said. "Well…it is just all part of my master plan that includes your father."

I struggled against the invisible bonds. I wanted this nightmare to end. I want to wake up in my room with Mom and Dad asleep in their room. Maybe if I am extra lucky, that whole thing with Uncle Dean and hearing what Dad's childhood was like was just all part of the dream too.

"When my other children try to have kids, I make sure something happens so that those children aren't born. But, you," the yellow eyed freak pointed directly at me, "I decided to let you live. You were an…experiment, of sorts. I didn't know what could possible happen, but you are something else."

The yellow eyed freak walked right up to me and looked directly into my eyes. "I hope you understand that killing your mommy, in the long run, will be better for you and your daddy."

I wanted to say something, but I couldn't make a sound. Damn freak.

Somewhere in the living room, I heard a door open and close. The yellow eyed freak smiled menacingly. "It seems that Daddy is home sooner than expected." He turned his attention back towards me. "I hope to see you real soon." With that, the freak vanished.

Dad walked into the room. He seemed completely oblivious to the fact that Mom was dead on the ceiling and that I was pinned to the freaking wall. Dad hopped onto the bed and sighed in relief.

I watched as a single droplet of blood fell from Mom's abdomen. Dad twitched, but obviously didn't think much of it. When more poured down, Dad opened his eyes.

"NO!" he cried, backing up farther into the bed. Mom burst into flame and, in a matter of seconds, the entire ceiling was engulfed by fire.

With a loud thump, I fell to the ground. I coughed loudly from the smoke. I looked up at Dad who was still transfixed on Mom.

"Dad," I shouted in a hoarse voice. Uncle Dean burst into the room and only took a split second to rush into action.

"C'mon, Sammy," Uncle Dean said, trying to pull Dad off the bed. Dad automatically obeyed.

I stood up and followed Uncle Dean and Dad out of the apartment. I could already hear sirens in the distance as we rushed outside. In a matter of minutes, fire trucks and police cars surrounded us as the apartment building burned.

I didn't know how long it was, but everything just felt like a blur. It could have been minutes or it could have been hours.

Somehow, I found myself standing next to Dad and Uncle Dean, who were doing something in the back of Uncle Dean's car. Dad was toying with something, but I couldn't tell what.

Dad threw something in the back of the truck with a disgruntled sigh. He slammed the trunk shut and said, "We have work to do."