The Barrier (A Destiel AU)

Prologue

1979

Deep in the woods, hidden in the array of tall, shadowing oaks, is the Novak mansion. Nobody knows when it was built, nor do they recall it ever really being there. It suddenly appeared, years ago, and it's inhabitants were unknown to the community of Clearwater Heights. A black iron gate surrounds the eery house that seems to produce it's own fog and a creaky swing set sways in the wind, abandoned and unused. If you were to look up into the windows you could almost swear there had been somebody staring back; someone with cold, dark eyes.

This particular day is like most days in the sleepy town, wet and foggy and chilly. A boy around 16 years of age is taking a walk near the edge of the forest, wrapped in his father's old coat and wool socks. Everyone in had warned their children not to venture into the woods. They say that those who stroll into the forest come back telling strange tales of witches and ghosts. Some disappear forever, never to be seen again. All the children were too scared to take a chance but they often talked about strange sounds heard coming from the forest, the faint faces seen hidden in the dark shrubs.

An young man named Bobby Singer, had told those who would listen about his crazy encounter with a witch a couple months ago. Nobody really believed the young troublemaker who was only in his 20's, but Bobby wasn't lying. More likely, he wasn't even telling the full truth. He knew things, things that as never come to light before. One day Bobby was sitting in his usual chair outside of the Roadhouse, a beer in one hand and the morning paper in the other. It was not unusual, Bobby was usually found in this position, but something was different. Bobby could sense it- something was wrong.

Somebody was going into the forest. Nobody ever went into the forest. Bobby leaped out of his chair, yelled to his girlfriend Ellen that he would be back shortly, and took off towards the woods.

~

John Winchester, a boy around 18 years of age, was taking a walk near the edge of the forest, wrapped in his father's old coat and wool socks. The boy, who had also been told by his mother to never go into the forest, had never dared to step foot past the fence blocking the entrance to the woods. John usually didn't take the path near the forest (no one ever did) but he was more curious then ever. John gazed into the darkness. The hairs on the back of his neck were rising and the temperature around him seemed to drop a few degrees.

He couldn't help feeling like someone was watching him. He had the feeling but no one else was around, no one on the path with him. Unless... the watcher was tucked somewhere in the woods... "Hello?" John called out, searching for movement over the fence.

But nobody answered, nothing moved except for the branches high above him. There is no one out there, he thought. He took a step forward when suddenly, everything around him stopped. The wind had stopped, the air still and John could no longer hear the distant sound of the train's whistle. He gasped and then,

"John..."

He turned and looked into the woods. Someone, something, had whispered his name. "John..."

There it was again. The voice belonged to someone in the shadows, someone who did not want to be seen. The voice carried in the air, circling around John's head like a seed in the wind, looping in one ear and out the other; the only word that came to John's mind was magic. "Come to me..."

John was transfixed; nothing felt real. The world behind him- the town, the people, the gossip- was gone and he wanted to follow the voice. The forest was calling his name and the warning didn't seem to matter anymore. He took a step forward, and then another, and then he was off the path and standing on another. The fence that kept him from crossing into the wide expanse of trees had disappeared and John knew that he had to, he must, cross over before- "JOHN, NO!"