Sanctuary Fighting back the darkness with style.

This story is set in the world of Supernatural.

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Lyca’s Story (part one)

Laura didn’t flinch at the intermittent light hitting her eyes. She just stared at nothing, her mind refusing to grasp what couldn’t possibly be. She looked at her trembling hands. She had tried to wipe the blood away but no matter how much she rubbed them on her jeans she couldn’t get rid of it, probably because her jeans were soaked in it too. Were her hands were going to be stained like that forever? Yet another car pulled up in front of her and in the reflection of the window she saw her pale face staring back at her, eyes swollen and puffy, and a red streak looked as though it had been drawn across her cheek where she had tried to wipe away her tears.
The weather was still freezing but she felt nothing, not the biting wind, nor the antiseptic that was being applied to her arm. She was numb. Would she ever feel again?
Just beyond the commotion she could make out a dark figure watching her.
‘It was you,’ she thought.

***

“I don’t believe in ghosts.” Laura stared up at the looming presence of the old clothing factory. This place had seen it all. It had suffered at least two fires, each with its own fatalities. One whole side of it had been crushed and rebuilt after a tree fell on it in the big hurricane of ’87, at least three people died in that, buried under the rubble.
“Then why won’t you go in?” Mark stood with his arms crossed and a smug look on his face. He knew she was scared but had to push it as much as possible.
“Cause the place is a death trap, that’s why,” Laura insisted, she pulled her jacket tighter against the March wind. It was freezing, what the hell were here doing there at two in the morning? “Carrie, back me up here.”
Carrie looked from Mark and back to Laura, she was shivering.
“I think you’re scared of ghosts,” Carrie smirked. “Besides, if it gets us out of this weather I’m all for it. It’s freezing out here.”
“Come on Laura, all the cool kids are doing it.” Mark teased her backing his way toward the factory.
“Seriously guys. That place looks like it could collapse at any minute. Why do you think there are danger signs all around it?” Laura called. She held back as long as she could but although she didn’t want to go into that place, she also didn’t want to be left outside by herself. Fighting away the bad feeling she’d been having since they’d arrived, she reluctantly followed her friends inside.
“Wow, look at this place.” Mark kicked aside a rotted wooden chair, the clattering echoed all around causing Carrie and Laura to stop dead in their tracks.
“You know maybe Laura’s right and this isn’t such a good idea.” Carrie stood close to Laura, so close Laura could feel her shaking. Weather it was from cold or fear was unclear but it was a fair bet it was a bit of both.
“You know, there are supposed to be at least three ghosts haunting this place,” Mark ignored Carrie, looking positively thrilled to be there. He moved about quickly, looking under every nook and cranny, examining every detail he could see.
“You’re loving this aren’t you?” Laura couldn’t help but grin at him, he was such a big geek.
“You bet I am. Do you know how many hauntings there actually are in Britain?” he asked. When Carrie and Laura shook their heads he looked disappointed. “Me neither, but I’m gonna find out one day.”
“Yeah I bet you will, but next time can I stay home?” Laura laughed, even against the cold. But at least they were out of the wind.
“Nope. You two are coming with me, all the way. It would be wrong for me to keep these experiences all to myself,” he grinned at them. “Come on. We’re here, let’s look around.”
With that Mark disappeared through a doorway. Carrie and Laura exchanged amused glances before following after him.
“So, have you decided if you’re going to go to Uni or not?” Carrie asked Laura.
“I dunno, I was thinking of taking a year off. You know, when I hit eighteen I plan on enjoying life for a bit.” Laura explained thoughtfully.
“You wanna travel?”
“What? No, I hate travelling. Couldn’t think of anything worse.” Laura cringed at the thought
“Hey, where’s Mark gone?” Carrie stopped walking and looked about.
“Oh great, this place is huge. We really don’t want to have to go searching for him.” Laura sighed, that bad feeling creeping its way into her nerves again.
“Maybe we should just go wait by the car,” Carrie suggested eagerly.
“You wouldn’t desert me would you?” Both girls screamed as Mark appeared behind them, speaking deeply into their ears.
“You stupid sod.” Carrie punched him in the chest causing him to fake being winded. “You scared the crap out of me.”
Laura couldn’t help but smile as her two best friends jested. When were they going to figure out they liked each other more than friends?
“Come on, you’ve got to come see this.” Mark took them by the hands and pulled them along behind him. Eventually they passed through some double doors to emerge in a large room, it had turned over desks all piled up against one wall and the chairs piled on top of that. A few pieces of machinery still stood dotted around but they were far from working.
“God, what’s that smell?” Laura wrinkled up her nose. “Smells like something’s burning.
“So what are we supposed to be looking at?” Carrie asked, she looked at Mark expectantly.
“This room.” His eyes were wide and glistened with excitement as his arms swept the room broadly. “This is where the big fire was, the first one anyway.”
“Yeah, smells like it.” Laura put her hand over her mouth, she could practically taste burnt flesh.
“I know, isn’t it great? It’s like it happened yesterday.” Mark began poking around a piece of machinery, some sort of old fashioned sewing machine, Laura wasn’t sure, everything looked old here. “They say at least four people died in this room, trapped inside because someone locked the doors. Could you imagine them banging on the doors screaming for someone to let them out while they were slowly burnt alive.”
“You’re enjoying this way too much,” Laura told him, Carrie nodded her agreement.
There was a crash as the table right behind Laura tumbled off the pile, she jumped out of the way narrowly missing getting hit by it. All three of them just stood there in silence. Laura’s heart thundered in her chest as she stared at her attacker. It lay still and innocent on the ground although not unscathed. One of its legs had been broken clean off by the impact and it had a crack all the way down the middle.
“See, I told you the place was haunted.” Mark came up to Laura and nudged her playfully with his shoulder. Laura was still freaked out and didn’t laugh.
“Can we go now?” she walked away trying to stop the shake in her voice.
“What, and miss all the fun?” Mark couldn’t believe his ears.
“Yeah Mark. Let’s go, please?” Carrie was just as freaked and pleaded with her eyes for Mark to agree to vacate the area. Laura smiled, she knew Mark couldn’t resist when Carrie did her puppy eyes. Mark’s shoulders slumped in defeat.
“Alright,” Mark said sadly. “If you bunch of wussies can’t hack it, I’ll guess I’ll have to escort you home.”
“Ever the gentleman.” Laura gave him a mock curtsy.
Mark held his arms wide out to the side and turn to regard the room.
“Well, I fear I must take my leave of you,” he told the ghosts. “But I shall return, never you fear.”
In reply, the broken table leg on the floor flew to him. From behind him Laura could see Marks body lurch slightly forward. At her side she heard Carrie gasp. Slowly Mark turned to face them, his face had turned white and his mouth was open in shock. Protruding from his stomach was the table leg; it had impaled him in the gut and now just stuck there like a stake that had missed a vampire’s heart. Mark fell to his knees but stumbled back to a sitting position, holding himself up on one hand.
“Oh my god, Mark.” Laura rushed to his side but couldn’t bring herself to touch him. “Carrie,” she called. Carrie just stood there, fear and confusion etched on every part of her features. “Carrie, for god sake, help.” Laura shouted at her. Finally Carrie moved and got behind Mark, keeping him from falling backwards.
“Erm, what do I do?” Laura’s hands hovered over the table leg, unsure what action to take. “Should I pull it out, or will that just make it bleed too much? Oh god I can’t remember.”
Mark murmured something but Laura could hardly hear him.
“What?” she asked leaning her ear to his mouth.
“Don’t touch it,” he managed. Immediately Laura took her trembling hands away.
“Oh god, oh god,” Carrie sobbed. Tears streamed freely down her pretty face.
“Erm, ok. We’ve gotta get out of here.” Laura’s thoughts raced, she tried to remember the way out.
Before they could act more pieces of table and chairs began launching themselves at the trio.
“Shit,” Laura cursed while ducking the bombardment as best she could.
“Can we go?” Carrie shouted.
“Help me.” Together Laura and Carrie lifted Mark to his feet, one getting under each arm and practically dragged him to the door. All the while Mark screamed in agony at every movement.
“I’m sorry,” Laura winced at his pain.
Finally they made it to the door and Laura momentarily propped Mark up against the wall with Carrie holding him up, while she slammed the doors closed.
“What the fuck was that?” Carrie yelled. Laura could see she was panicking. Carrie’s eyes were wild and unfocused.
“I have no idea but I suggest we don’t stick around to find out.” Laura slipped her head under Mark’s arm and they began to drag him to the exit. All the way Mark’s screams protested the pain. “Hold on Mark, we’re nearly there,” Laura assured him.
They reached the main door and Laura pushed it open, except it didn’t open. She pushed it again, still it stayed shut.
“Hold on.” She released her hold on Mark, leaving Carrie to hold him up herself and tried the door with both hands. She barged it with her shoulder but it stood fast against any assault she could throw at it. “It won’t open,” she said desperately, her until now iron will melted.
“Great.” Carrie sank to the floor, taking Mark with her.
Mark was in a bad way. His trousers were caked in his own blood. His eyes were starting to roll in his head. Urgently Laura slid to the ground next to him and took his head in her hands.
“Mark? Mark! Stay with me here.” She shook his head firmly. “Hey, come on Mark, you’ve gotta stay conscious. Hey look at me.”
“He’s gonna die isn’t he?” Carrie looked vacant. Oh god, Laura was losing her too.
“Carrie.” Carrie didn’t respond. “Carrie!” Laura shouted at her, this jerked her responses too look at Laura. “Come on Carrie, I need you here.” Laura took her hands and squeezed them hard. “I need you to keep talking to Mark, you’ve gotta keep him awake, no matter what, ok?” Laura spoke directly into her face, making sure she was taking it all in. Slowly Carrie nodded.
“Ok,” she said weakly.
“Carrie, can you do this? I need you to do this,” Laura said sternly.
“What should I say?” Carrie looked confused.
“Hell, I don’t know. Why don’t you tell him you love him?” This got her attention.
“What?” She looked Laura directly in the eyes.
“Oh come on, it’s so obvious. And he feels the same way.” Despite the situation they shared a smile there.
“Ok, why not. I mean, it’s not like things can get any worse,” Carrie admitted. “Wait, what are you going to do?”
“I’m gonna try and find a way out of here.” Laura had pulled out her mobile and was waving it around in the air.
“Let me guess, no signal?” Carrie already knew the answer to her question. Laura looked serious.
“I’ll be back, I promise.” With that she left them. A scared girl with the man she loved bleeding to death beside her.
Frantically Laura tried every door and window she could get to, not a single one would budge.
“This is ridiculous,” Laura spat under her breath as she tried another door.
She turned to head towards the next likely exit when she was stopped short by someone standing in front of her.
“Oh Jesus.” The man facing her was almost black, but Laura could tell that wasn’t his usual coloured skin. Beneath the burnt blackened exterior there were patches of white flesh still unscathed. It was definitely a man; he staggered towards her, arm out stretched. His body still emanating smoke from the fire in which he died.
“Stay away,” she screamed at him. Looking past him she saw the open hall way. Taking a deep breath Laura made break for it. She ducked past him and legged it down the corridor. Behind her she heard the man roar in anger. Suddenly the glass in the rooms she was passing began to shatter, covering her in shards of propelled glass. Shielding her eyes she didn’t dare stop. She ran. Ahead there was a door that was hanging off its hinges, it lifted from the ground and tugged at the last hinge holding it in place.
“Oh shit.” Laura passed it shifting to one side but it was too late. The door flew at her. Quickly she spun away from the flying entrance but it collided with her right leg knocking her to the floor.
“Argh, damn it.” She smacked the ground, angry that she’d been careless; there were people depending on her.
There was a crash ahead of her. She looked up. The door had impacted into an old fire exit knocking it ajar slightly. Laura ran to the opening. There might be just enough room to squeeze through.
“Hey.”
Laura screamed.
“Fucking hell, you scared the crap out of me,” she told the shadow on the other side of the door.
“Are you ok?” the figure asked. All Laura could tell was that it was male.
“I am so far from ok it’s unbelievable,” Laura told him.
“How many of you are there?”
“I’ve got two friends by the main entrance, but the door won’t open.” Laura looked over her shoulder fearful the burnt guy was going to come after her some more. “Listen, you’ve gotta help me, call an ambulance, my friend is really hurt.” Laura tried to think of something to tell him that he would believe.
“Have you seen it?”
Laura did a double take to the man she could hardly make out in the shadows.
“It?” she questioned.
“Well you are dealing with a ghost right?” the voice said urgently. “So have you seen it or not?”
“Erm,” Laura wasn’t sure what she should say.
“Listen, I need to know who it is cause I’ve got a few options here. And I can’t get in to see for myself cause it’s sealed you inside. So I either wait until you and your friends are dead and then take a peep, or you can help us all out right now and tell me what you’ve seen.”
Laura took a second to take that in. Then her mouth started working in spite her brain not having caught up yet.
“It’s a man, he’s all burnt up.”
“Got it.” With that the figure was gone.
“Wait, you can’t just…” It was no use, the man, who ever he was had disappeared.
“Great.” Laura head butted the door. But she only took a second then she was examining the gap in the doorway. If she had some help she could maybe force it open and they could get out. If only that guy had stuck around, what a jerk!
Suddenly Laura felt a chill, and it wasn’t the draft coming through the gap in the doorway. It was coming back.
Laura was on her feet in a second and staggering her way back to Carrie and Mark. Her right leg refused to hold weight for very long and insisted that the pain get worse with every step.
Finally she rounded the corner to the main entrance.
“Oh thank god.” Carrie was pacing back and forth, she looked positively terrified. “What the hell happened to you?” Carrie indicated to her limp and the several cuts she had all over her from the shattering glass.
“You so don’t want to know.” Laura looked down at Mark. He was conscious and waved weakly at her, a little smile refused to leave his face. “So you guys talked huh?”
“You could say that.” Carrie flashed Mark a bright smile. Then she turned her back on him and her face turned to a storm. “We’ve got to get him the hell out of here.”
Laura looked again, despite the stupid grin on his face Mark was in a bad way. Under him there was a pool of blood and the table leg rose and fell with every breath he took. His face was ashen and drawn. Laura was afraid to move him but knew it was the only way.
“Listen, I’ve got an open door round the back, we’ve got to go. Quickly.”
Carrie and Mark just looked at her for a second.
“It’s the only one I’ve found so far and that thing is coming for us, we’ve gotta move.” Laura looked painfully from one friend to the other. It only took them a few moments to nod, and then Carrie was helping Mark to his feet. Mark couldn’t restrain the scream of pain that escaped his lips as he was pulled to his feet. Laura moved to help and resuming their previous positions Carrie and Laura half dragged Mark down the corridor towards the newly made exit.
“I told you this place was haunted,” Mark said weakly, a small smile appeared on his lips as he was pulled down the hallway.
“For once Mark, I am not going to argue with you there.” Laura was struggling to carry Mark as well as hold her own weight. Her leg was refusing to work properly. Glancing down she saw why. There was a huge gash in her jeans, through it she could see layers of bloody flesh. Damn, the cut was deep and seeping blood fast. She hadn’t even thought to look earlier, must’ve been the adrenaline. But they were so close she daren’t stop now, so she pushed on through the pain.
“There it is.” Laura pointed with her free hand at the slightly ajar door.
“Oh, thank god,” Carrie muttered.
They struggled to get there but when they did they were forced to set Mark down on the ground.
“You’re gonna have to help me force it open a little more,” Laura told Carrie.
Carrie nodded and together they slammed their bodies into the door. Slowly it opened just a little more.
“That should do it.” Laura and Carrie sighed with relief and exchanged happy glances.
“Right then,” Carrie stepped away from the door and looked at Mark fondly. “Let’s get the hell out of here.” She grinned at Mark who couldn’t help but smile back.
Laura wondered what they’d spoken about that had put them both in such a happy mood, despite everything else that was going on.
“You first, Mark.” Laura began to move towards him but something made her stop, a smell, it was like burnt flesh, just like she’d smelt back in the machinery room.
Her eyes widened and she turned back to the corridor. At the end of the hall, just staring at them was the charred man. Laura opened her mouth to shout a warning but before any sound came out a pain of glass from one of the half broken windows flew from its holding and launched itself at them.
Pain erupted in Laura’s shoulder and she heard the glass shatter against the wall behind her. She gritted her teeth against it, determined not to let that damn thing win against her. Triumphantly she stood tall and held her head high. She wouldn’t be beaten so easily.
In front of her Carrie stood facing her. Her face looked surprised. Laura was about to say that she was fine and took a step closer to her. Then she noticed the strands of Carries hair falling past her shoulders. A line on her neck turned red and her eyes rolled in her head.
“Carrie!” Mark yelled.
Laura held her arms out to catch Carrie as she fell. As Carries body fell into Laura’s, her head missed Laura’s outstretched arms and tumbled onto the ground by Laura’s feet. From Carrie’s neck blood spurted like an explosion, spraying Laura’s chest. Laura fell to her knees taking Carrie’s body onto her lap. The blood from her neck wound continued to pulse onto Laura’s legs but Laura couldn’t move. She stayed on her knees, arms still outstretched to catch her friends fall. Laura ears couldn’t even hear the screams of anguish coming from Mark.
Slowly a sound did manage to find its way to her ears. It was laughter.
Laura’s eye line slowly raised, gradually the sight of a burnt disgusting man came into view. He stood several feet away. His teeth were still white, visible as he opened his mouth to mock them in laughter.
Gently moving Carrie onto the ground beside her Laura rose to her feet and faced off with the ugly son of a bitch. His laughter stopped and he levelled his gaze with hers.
“You evil bastered.” Laura’s voice shook with anger and aguish. Tears freely fell from her eyes but her body didn’t cry. She stood firm and strong, her teeth clenched so hard her jaw hurt. Without realising what she was doing she was charging at the burnt man, the pain in her leg only hindered her slightly and she advanced on the monster, prepared to rip the thing to pieces.
Then she was lifted from the ground and thrown through one of the barely intact windows. Her arm was caught on the wooden frame which ripped open her skin roughly. Laura was on her feet in a second. Seriously, he didn’t think that was going to stop her did he? She made her way back through the hole she was thrown through, collecting a huge piece of wood on her way. The charcoal figure had almost made it to Mark who sat helplessly cowering by the doorway.
“Hey.” The thing turned to face her as she swung the block of wood in her hands.
The wood passed straight through it, no resistance, nothing. She swung again, with every piece of strength she could muster. This too past right through it.
Laura gawped at the monster as it grinned at her. Slowly it moved closer to her and the block of wood was ripped from her hands.
Laura took a step away and for a second she prepared to run. But something stopped her. Weather it be despair or exhaustion, Laura didn’t rightly know, but she faced that thing, she stared it in the eyes as that block of wood swung its way towards her head.
Before the wood could connect with anything, the charcoal man seemed to burn again, this time from the inside out. His body gradually disintegrated in a red hot ember, turning to the ash it should have been a long time ago.
Laura watched open mouthed and her stomach collapsed as she suddenly breathed again.
The thing was gone, how she had no idea but it was gone. Past where it had been standing she could see Mark lying on the ground, eyes staring towards the ceiling.
Laura staggered over to collapse at his side. She took his hand in hers and squeezed it hard. Mark didn’t respond. Tears rolled from Laura’s eyes as she shook Marks hand. Mark slipped a little further down the wall but his eyes stayed in the same place in their sockets.
Laura let Mark’s hand fall from hers. She reached over and closed his eyes with her finger tips. Although she tried to avoid it her eyes fell over the sight of Carrie’s headless body, but Laura felt nothing. She was completely numb.
Slowly she reached into her pocket and pulled out her mobile phone. There was a signal, full strength. Steadily she punched in 999, sticking the phone to her ear she listened to the voice on the other end.

***

She couldn’t remember what she’d said, but eventually the police and ambulance had turned up and escorted her form the building.
Now she sat on the end of an ambulance, some stranger patching up her arm, intermittent lights flashing in her eyes. Her hands stained with the blood of her best friends, whose bodies where still where they’d fallen awaiting the coroner. Her mind refused to comprehend what had happened and yet she knew it had been real, and she also knew not to speak the truth. She had babbled something about a mad man in the building, that he had killed her friends and almost her too. Now, sitting on the back of the ambulance, Laura stared past the mayhem at the dark figure.
‘It was you,’ she thought. ‘Thank you.’ She knew that somehow that person, that man, had saved her life. Slowly he turned and disappeared into the darkness, leaving Laura to wonder if she would ever see him again.