The Land of The Great

Trouble on Alabama Avenue

We took off quickly, making my stomach lurch and grumble. I didn't realize how hungry I was until we passed a crowded Steak n Shake.

"Are we going to get any food?" I almost yelled over the purring engine of the car.

"If you're really that hungry, then you can have the food under the seats." Kennedy looked back, blowing a wave of smoke into my face.

I ignored the badassery and continued my venture for potato chips on the underside of the seat in the small, compact car. I eventually found the food, some weird chocolate chip cookies in a smashed plastic box and greenish brownies. I sighed, I disliked chocolate. I inspected the odd brownies before realizing what they most likely were.

"Are these pot brownies?" I poked Wes in the arm, not realizing he had been asleep. How could you sleep in a car blasting Green Day? Wes jumped up and realizing it was me, scowled.

"What?"

"I said, are these pot brownies?" I held one up to his nose and he slapped it down.

"Jesus Christ." He sniffed them, almost gagging. "Kennedy, what did I say about the pot brownies?"

Kennedy dialed down the Green Day, turned her head towards Wesley, and threw a beautiful persuasive smile. "Sorry babe, last time the band had a gig we used the car for some transportation, Erika must've slipped them in."

"Right.. of course." Wes sputtered and readjusted his position. "We'll get some real food soon when we get to our city."

"Our city?"

"You'll see."

"Uhh Wes, we have trouble at 1 o' clock." Kennedy looked into the mirror and I turned around to see who was behind us.

"Isla. Lay down. NOW." Wes was yelling, and I scrunched down into my seat, the memories of me curled up on a sidewalk on a cold night flooding back to me. I opened one eye to see Wes unzipping a backpack, revealing a load of weapons. Tires squealed behind us and Kennedy made a sharp right turn, and I dug my nails into the seat as we sped forward.

"Babe, we aren't trying to die tonight." Wes tried to coax her but Kennedy sped forward, swerving around traffic.

"We'll die if it means saving others, Wesley." She grinned wildly and stepped on the gas pedal once more. She chucked her cigarette out the window, and put her hand out, making an obscene hand gesture to whoever was behind us.

"Kennedy!" Wes glared. "We don't need to anger them more."

"Right, of course," She said sweetly. "Babe." She added a twist of venom at the end, making Wes's facial expression drop.

Kennedy slammed on the brakes, causing me to fall onto the floor. She colorfully cursed as hooded figures walked towards the car. I heard Wes open his car door. He was secretly hiding a large number of weapons in his clothing.

"Isla, stay here." Kennedy muttered, opening the car door and stepping out. I heard the commotion and deep voices. I wasn't going to just stay in the car and miss the action. I sat up quickly and peeked out the window. I saw a glinting dagger in the seat where Wes was. He must've forgotten it. I picked up the dagger and slid it into the sleeve of my black hoodie. I slowly maneuvered up and onto the seat and opened the car door.

"Isla! I told you to stay there!" Wes almost screamed but had to contain himself.

"Who's this?" A figure showed a grin underneath the hood. In fact, there was nothing else there except for a big toothy grin. The rest was empty black air.

All hell broke loose. Kennedy used this as a distraction and immediately raised her hands, shooting flames straight towards the figures. I held in a gasp, confused but astounded. Wesley started throwing iced daggers and weapons with a surprisingly good aim. They raced around as I noticed more spilling out. Something clicked inside me and all of a sudden I felt energy erupt in my gut. I looked at my hands and they started to do things on their own, they flew up as if I surrendered and I felt the pain in my stomach pronounce itself. I threw back approaching with a simple flick of my finger. At first, I was in shock, then I realized everything and continued to clean out the annoying hooded figures. Soon, cars were backed up all around us, honking and flashing lights and temperamental screaming out the windows.

By the time cops had arrived we were already speeding along backroads and cursing profusely while doing so. Wes seemed relieved at our easy release. No one mentioned me getting out of the car or fighting off the weirdos.

"What were those things?" I finally broke the silence. Wes was driving now, Kennedy curled up in the passengers seat with a blanket.

Wes's eyes were dull and distracted. He looked older than he was, as of fighting had taken a piece of his young soul. "Shadow Eaters" he finally responded, "Look, this is hard to explain and frankly I'm not the person to explain it. Things will get better once we get to the City. For now, get some rest, those were some pretty amazing moves out there." He looked over at a sleeping Kennedy, the feeling of love gleaming in his eyes.

"So she's fire and you're ice?" I looked at Kennedy's arm, seeing a mark etched into her skin, a single flame.

"You could call it that." Wes smiled oddly and didn't answer any more questions.

I laid down on the seat and slowly fell asleep.

---

"WE'RE HEEEREEE" Kennedy shouted in my face causing me to sit up and whack my head on the low ceiling of the car. "Time to meet the rest of the gang." She flashed a freaky smile and started to clean up the vehicle. I slowly got up and staggered out of the car. A man around 45 was standing near the car, his nose turned up at the smell of something.

"Castiel Evergreen." He held out his hand. "You must be Isla Grant, delighted to see you made it in one piece."

"Yes sir, and thank you." I returned a firm handshake, making the man flinch and have his eyes pop open slightly wider.

Castiel whipped his head around to Kennedy as if I was a boring new addition. "Kennedy what did I tell you about pot brownies?" Kennedy stopped unloading and slowly turned around.

"The what?" She pretended to be oblivious to what he was talking about.

"You know perfectly well what I said, missy." He glared and her ears turned pink.

"Oh, I got rid of them." She lied once more, or at least I thought she did.

"What's the smell then?" He wasn't going to give her a break.

"I put the box in the Shadow Eaters transportation device." She shrugged, I thought they could use a 'sorry we creamed you' gift. The smell is still here, I know, but trust me the brownies are gone." She stood her full height, she was 5'10 in black skinny jeans and black converse with a navy blue and white jersey that read "Land of The Great Football League."

"You play football?" I couldn't keep my mouth shut much longer.

"Yep." She clearly didn't want to explain. "Castiel you may want to explain to this girl what we are, before she spazzes like Skyler did." "

"Follow me." He insinuated and led me to a large stone building.