The Ninth

Part 6. Not again, but again

At 8 am the sun was brightly shining above Endhill already, while Dean had managed to get home before that moment after languid conversations with Martha at Corona. Kayla was in the kitchen making something like breakfast.

"Excuse me, but what happened to you, miss Sheridan, that out of the blue you decided to get to the stove so early and cook something?" Dean said laughing as he walked into the kitchen.

"The end of the world", she answered with a laugh, "We are not monsters after all. Still people. At least a little bit. Want some too?"

"Of course, don't even ask!"

"Then I'll make some for you too", Kayla chuckled in response.

"Where's Mary Lou?"

"Hal said she hasn't woken up yet. Well, we're gonna wait. And she'll go to hell."

"Right", Dean narrowed his eyes.

- - - - - -

It was almost noon when Dana woke up very abruptly and quickly from a strange feeling in her body. Everything hurt. Her neck hurt, but the pain strangely subsided, then grew back. Lying on the couch was no longer possible.

"God, what's going on with me... Did I fall down in my sleep or something..."

She got up, left the room with a crouching step and went into the bathroom to wash her face. The smell of food from the kitchen hit her nose. The strange noise in her ears grew louder.

"Why does the food smell so strong... what's happening?"

Dana turned the faucet on, scooped water up in her palms and splashed it on her face. When she opened her eyes, she became numb... Her eyes were charcoal black. Just like Dean's.

"What the hell is this?!" Dana rushed to examine her face, as the wound on her neck healed completely and vanished. She was trembling with fear. Returning to the room, she opened the curtain. It was clear weather outside, and the tree by the window had finally shed all its leaves, and because of this, it seemed as if the sun was shining brighter than usual. But, to her even greater surprise, nothing was happening.

"No. No. What's going on?!"

Dana ran out of the bathroom and decided to quietly go downstairs.

"Oh my god... I'm so thirsty", she thought.

And here was the first floor...

Dean was in the kitchen. He was sitting in a chair reading a newspaper, his eyes darting over the lines. On the table, there were the leftovers of the breakfast that Kayla had left for him.

"Oh... You're up already, love? Come here", he held out his hands to her.

"I'm very thirsty", Dana for some reason bypassed Dean and went to the fridge. She kept looking down all the time. Dean stood surprised. 

"Wait, wait, take my place, I'll pour you some water now. You can finish my breakfast, by the way. Kayla cooks so good, she should go back to being a human with such skills."

Dana took Dean's place, and he gave her a glass of water.

"Here. It's not cold."

Dana drank it all in an instant.
"No... I think it's not the water I want."

All this time she was somewhat scared to look at him. But then Dana's hands involuntarily reached for the fridge. She walked up to it again. Opening it, she saw Kayla's flasks with blood and took one in her hands.

"Dana? Why would you need our food..." Dean was getting nervous.

"But..." Dana opened the cap. "Why am I doing this..."

"Are you sleepwalking? Or is it our company that has such a bad influence on you..."

"God, it's just... What... No, please. No. I'm so thirsty. I'm literally dying of thirst."

Dana greedily grabbed right at the flask, which went empty within a minute. Head down, she trembled, covered her face with her hands, and slowly, very slowly turned towards Dean.
He was petrified with shock. Through the bloodstains on her face, two black eyes stared at him in tears.

"What the hell?! Who did this to you?!" Dean yelled furiously. Dana started crying.

Kayla and Hal immediately showed up. 

"Huh, admit it, you're responsible for this?" Dean suddenly attacked Kayla, going crazy with rage. Kayla pushed him aside forcefully.

"Do I look like someone who would do it just out of nothing?!" she yelled back.

"Oh my god... Dana? Are you..." Hal couldn't believe his eyes.

"Your handiwork, huh, you scum?" Dean approached him with great anger.

"Dean, are you crazy? It's not my fault, I'm just as shocked as you are now! Dana... Only you can answer us now, who did this to you?"

"It's her..." Dana looked back at the storeroom where Mary Louise was.

"Bitch!" Dean slammed his fist into the wall. "I don't care anymore. Consider her dead. That's it."

And he quickly walked out of the kitchen. Hal ran after him.

Dana fell down and screamed. Kayla ran up to her immediately.

"What is it? Say whatever it is now!"

"My whole body hurts so much!" Dana was in tears, hysterical. Kayla hugged her tightly.

"You're gonna feel the worst today, just be patient dear... What a terrible thing it really is. Dean will kill her. Even I already know that."

"Is that true? Am I becoming just like you?"

"Yes, you are."

"It really hurts!" Dana couldn't help it. "Oh wait... What is this..."

She touched her teeth and was horrified. They were two sharp fangs.

"What do I do now?!" she shouted even louder. Feelings and emotions were too heightened. "Dean. Where is Dean? Will he leave me?"

"Dana, he's just like you. Why would he leave you?"

"Where is he?"

Her head was spinning, thoughts were scattered.

"I want to see him!"

"Dana... They went to discuss dirty work. Mary Louise will be killed today. He won't spare her. It's Dean. He doesn't think about anything when he kills."

"Now I'll be the same?"

"I don't know what will become of you. But the first week will be very tough. Be prepared and just hold on."

"I really want to go outside..."

"There's sun already. You'll burn."

Dana started walking straight to the door.

"Dana, stop, you'll burn!" Kayla screamed.

But she didn't seem to hear her. She pushed the door open and ran out.

"Dana!!!" Kayla rushed after her, but managed to slow down at the door. "Come back!"