RUN

She screamed in pain, as he yanked her back. Had he just broken her ankle? “Let-go…I haven’t.” She gasped. “I haven’t done anything wrong and neither has-” She looked at him, terrified. “What is it that you want from us? What makes you-” She looked to Pan. She took a deep breath. “Stop it!”

She tried to use a spell, one of the silent nature. The tpye that Pan had taught her. “Stop.” She screamed. She wouldn’t allow him to know, but she was quite terrified. Enough, to the point that she feared he’d kill her…But if someone didn’t stnad up for them, they’d both be killed. “He s done nothing wrong. We needed to eat, and there was nothing. You’ allow us to starve wouldn’t you?”

Crowley tried to keep his poker face up as he listened, but the more his guide explained the game the more anxious he got. Given his experience, it took a lot to scare him. This boy, shadow, whatever he was seemed to be rather skilled at causing fear and confusion. He really enjoyed it, too. Talk of battlefields and fighting to the death reminded him of the arena Downtown. He wasn’t much of a fighter, never had been. But if that’s what it would take to survive then he was going to have to. At least he was good at that. All he’d ever had to do was survive. Although, now more than ever the demon king was starting to realise he had gravely underestimated this creature and made a fatal mistake in partaking in his twisted little game.But It was far too late for regrets now. 

The most unsettling thing, though… The thing that worried him the most. How he got them to fight. Crowley had to wonder what this creature knew about him, what leverage he could possibly use against him. Everyone has something they care about, even someone as seemingly cold and heartless as Crowley. Did he know what that was? How could he? How could he possibly know? But what if he did… The demon’s hounds flashed into his mind, then his mother… If had them, any of them… Then he was right. Crowley would do anything to keep them safe. 

“I’m sure I will,” he replied with a weak smile. “You’ve described everything quite substantially and I am quite aware of the rules of the game now. I suppose all that’s left to ask is …” He paused and swallowed hard before continuing.“ what happens now?”

That swallow got Shadow to chuckle. He loved sensing that fear rise in his co-workers, his alliances. It gave him power over them. Whatever he asks would be done in a heartbeat. He wouldn’t have much trouble. “Why that’s easy. We prepare your world now. All those monsters, creatures, it’ll be so much fun to get in the game. As enemies or obstacles. I’d love to see these Winchesters and hunters your world seems to obtain. See who might be joining the game soon. After we’re done, you’ll help me travel to other worlds to see what they offer for the game. What they need to be taken away to play. You’ll be able to use my minions to aid you as weel as your own, but if you dare expose what I have planned.” He chuckled darkly. “Let’s just say you’ll regret ever sensing my energy. Perhaps even being born. Really depends on how much I’ll make you scream”

Crowley gave him a wary look, if he was aiming to unnerve then it was working more than Crowley would like to admit. Then his attention turned to his minions. Nobody rushed to the aid of their fallen comrade, everyone just stood and watched. It wasn’t clear if they were just frozen in fear or whether they were silently relieved it wasn’t them. Then came the unsettled looks that cast each other, wondering which of them would be next.

Crowley turned back to the figure while his minions were still in shock. ‘It’s all business, Crowley’. A small humourless laugh fell from the demon king’s mouth at that. The number of times he said that to the people he’d conned.Perhaps this was his karma for that, but now was not the time for such foolish thoughts. He needed to focus if he wasn’t going to get out of this alive. Failure was never an option.

As more branches shot out of the dark the minions jumped back, some reaching for weapons. When they only took the corpses, Crowley groaned and rounded on his minions. “Keep your heads,” he snapped. “Save your weapons and your strength for when you actually need them.” He jabbed a finger towards where one of them had been dragged off and said, “That is what happens when you don’t. Stay focused and you might just make it out of here.” That was very unlikely but they had to believe there was at least a chance of survival, even if they were already one down.Back to business, Crowley listened carefully once more. “Of course. I’m all ears.”

He smirked. This so-called King of Hell was wise. He could be the remaining few survivors of the Game if he stayed so wise that is. “Walk with me” he simply said. Turning his back to the demons and walking into the fog. Steady and slow. As if nothing ever happened before. As if it would be walking with a fellow friend. As if he was normal. 

“As if I would waste my efforts on someone so frivolous as yourself.”

Henry tried to struggle and get out of his grip, but it was impossible. Soon the knife was stabbing into him, and despite his best efforts, he couldn’t help but cry out in pain. As soon as he could, he stopped screaming and tried to control his breathing. It was near impossible. This wound hurt worse than any he had received in his life. “I … can’t let you … hurt them!” Henry insisted. He had to be strong, for his moms. So he tried to stay quiet, and brace himself for the next stab. He couldn’t help but wonder how badly that would hurt if this wound already hurt so terribly. It didn’t matter. He couldn’t give up; his family’s lives depended on it.

The shadow seemed to glare with it’s shining white eyes. What game did this demon mean? Credence was hurt but the Obscurus was now doing everything to protect it’s host from this creature. “Damn you.. you ca-can’t take wands away. They are the only source a young magical child has here!” 

He was certain his blood had magic in it to which worried him. The boy was weak but still willing to fight for the sake of the younger ones. “You are a monster.. killers have tainted souls and hearts. You lack such, demon!” He didn’t shiver, just attacked again, the force attacking the Shadow.

Hope surged within her heart as she saw a hint that it might work. Emma could have sworn she saw it on Henry’s neck, the light forcing the darkness to fade, and she thought she was so close— Don’t fail me now! That thought was quickly lost as she was physically yanked away from her son. Emma struggled, tried to free herself from the grip, but her hands were useless in that moment. She tore her eyes away from her family to shoot Shadow a sharp look.

“That’s just sad. I’ve been there, I’ve lived a life where my priority was to fight instead of saving anyone. Not caring about anyone. What a USELESS EXISTENCE,” Emma taunted back, and when Shadow’s fingers wrapped around her neck she kept her smirk. If there was one thing she’d learn from that life, it was how not to show weakness. I’ll save them, Emma thought to herself. Just hang in there, please. Just wait for me. 

She choked on a scream as shock and pain invaded her body and soul, a sensation almost familiar but entirely different. Despite being thrown, Emma hardly registered that fact until she was looking up at Shadow a moment later, after trying to get her brain to focus on her own voice rather than the ones trying to intrude her mind. She stood, a menacing glare in her eye. “I’ve fought darkness before, I’m not gonna lose to it - or you - now. You want to fight? FINE. I’ll play your game. They have nothing to do with it. Let them go, I’ll give you your fight.” Emma was, however, prepared for him to refuse her bargain if he so wished.

“You’ve fought darkness? Perhaps, but you haven’t fought for your body before” He said, his minions moving her arms and legs to him. He chuckled at her. “Look at you. A puppet in this big game of the world. Just a simple savior, who still has much to learn about darkness” Her body flew back and down but then stood up. Making herself do all sorts of things as her family screamed and shook. “You should know better than try making a deal like that. An idiot would make such a deal. Let them go and you’ll fight? What a pathetic savior you are. Do you even know how darkness works? “ he laughed a bit. “I still can’t wrap my head around that fact you killed some villains, destroyed their darkness and yet. Here you are, trying to play that dumb card on me. I’m not like most villains sweetheart. Get on my level”

He shook his head at that, taking a step back. He didn’t want to listen to the shadow. He didn’t want to listen to the man who was about to enjoy putting multiple people from multiple worlds through hell. And he knew what the right answer was to the question. He knew what Bae would want. And he knew what it was to wake up from the dead, how disorienting and painful it was, especially when you found out someone had to take your place. “No. I wouldn’t. The only person I’d kill to get my son back to the living is myself.” Or maybe someone who enjoyed the pain of others, like the shadow himself. But the point stood he wouldn’t just kill randomly for the chance to bring Bae back to life. He wouldn’t want that. “And I know Belle and Henry will be affected by this. I know what war does as well. But if I help they can maybe get through in one piece.”

“You wouldn’t kill yourself now. You’ve got plans, you always do. Being the Dark One, you try playing that card. But as someone darker than you, I can see passed that. You would bring your son back, I know you would take whatever chance you could have to have a family with Belle, Henry, and your son. Which is why....I have a gift for you” He said, snapping his fingers. 

His minions came down from nowhere with someone in their arms. It was Bae. Not as a ghost, though, he was actually there. In person. He was struggling as much as he could, but obviously, it was no use. “You see, with the game, I have gotten something from each player. Something they want, something that was taken from them. Something that would drive them to kill whoever they need in order to obtain whatever” He said with a smirk. “Baelfire here is not only not dead. But he’ll bring you a life you’ve always wanted. A life where you have all the power you want and the family you’ve been trying to obtain since the day you met Belle”

“They? What are they?” She asked. She looked genuinely worried. “It should hardly be quite hard to turn things off. I’ve done so for the past three centuries.” Yet somehow, her mind drifted to one person in particular. Of course it always did. If he found out about him, well he would have something to hold over her. Even if she’d claimed to not love the child, she did think of him occasionally. “I’ve nothing to hide.” She lied again.

“I intend on suriviving.” She took a deep breath. She also dod not say, and getting the hell out of here. She would find a way out, even if it meant calling that same child for help. Slowly, she walked towards her tent. Once inside, she examined the wond on her shoulder. Still bleeding.Knowing she could not heal it, without the proper herbs she rippd a piece of cloth from her gown and bandaged it. After settling, she walked out to attempt to meet the boys.

He gave her the time. But before the final day came, he came into the camp. Dragging some bodies with him. He was angry at Pan. Thinking the sirens he replaced the mermaids with were meals for the island. As he dragged them along, every lost boy noticed and quickly escaped into their tents. Shutting them tightly and praying that Shadow wasn’t going to kill them. He found Pan trying to teach Rowena some spells before growling. His eyes turning completely red, no pupil in sight. “ PAN!” He roared. Shaking the island a bit. He dropped the corpses and used his magic to have Pan fly into his hand. Choking the poor boy. “You’ve got explaining to do” He growled. 

It was a blur of pain, no way for Pan to see what was coming let alone react and defend himself. When he was finally on the ground he got on all fours and coughed, trying to get his breathing back to normal. He glared at the blood, why had he done this? He didn’t care this much about his boys, did he? He slowly pushed himself up so he was standing though he did sway a little, he wiped his mouth on the back of his hand and glared at the shadow, “Please. This is just the warm up! Like an old man like you even his it in you to kill me! You’ll get tired long before I break!”

Crowley looked over each victim as he listened. If a witch and an angel both failed to take him down then Crowley’s power might not work against him either. That’s what this was, these poor saps were an example. A clear demonstration of just how powerful he was and what he was willing to do. And all Crowley and his minions could do was watch, trying not to grimace too much as each victim wriggled and writhed, their screams piercing through the demons’ ears. He may claim to be worse than Lucifer, but he certainly had a similar taste for destruction and slaughter. At least Lucifer had a reason behind his actions, who knew what this shadow wanted.

The demon king lifted his head when the shadow came near, wearing his best poker face. His eyes grazed over the knife before rising back up to the figure. He took it and dragged the blade over his palm to cut it, holding out his bleeding hand and squeezing slightly until a few drops fall to the ground. “Will that suffice?” 

Shadow chuckled as the island shook when the drops fell to the ground. Suddenly, everything was still. “Oh indeed. Now just be careful when you are here” he leaned to Crowley’s ear. “The island seems to like the taste of demon blood,” He said before pulling back. Looking straight behind the king as one of the demon minion’s legs were grabbed by some of the trees and roots, pulling him along. They screamed and dug their nails into the ground, pleading for help. It was for a second until they were dragged into the ground and it was silence once more. 

He smirked before turning around, walking back to the dead bodies. Kneeling down to one, cutting it open. He stuck a finger in the metallic, red liquid and put it in his mouth. Pulling it out as he licked his lips. “Just be lucky we fed the island regularly. Or you won’t be as safe as you might think. Even if I’m quite the..villain. I have no control over the island, I simply chose to feed it for an alliance. To make sure none of my clients or my minions are been eaten. You know? It’s all business Crowley. Even when you wish it wasn’t”

Wendy shrieked and wrenched her hand away from him, drawing it towards her chest before cautiously glancing at the mark. Like the black spot, she thought, reminded of the book Treasure Island and the verdict of judgement placed upon those marked. The Darling gave an involuntary shiver as she stared at it, only to determinedly close her fingers into a fist, tucking the black stain away - out of sight and hopefully out of mind,      “No, I don’t, but I do want to know what you just did to my ha—Ah!” Wendy’s stinging retort slipped into a high pitched cry as she was forcefully grabbed and pulled through the open window. Had she not feared for her life the entire journey, Wendy would have probably enjoyed the flight as she had the flight time she ventured through the skies. Now, she merely clung to his arm, her nails digging into his flesh, as if a small reminder that while he had her in his grasp, Wendy Darling would not take his cruelty without biting back.       Yet no even her sharp grip could hold her weight as she felt him loosen his hold. “Don’t you dare,” Wendy threatened as she glanced beneath them only for him to let her go entirely. She screamed bloody murder as she plummeted towards the ocean, cringing in pain as her bare legs beneath her nightgown hit the water. She kicked as best she could with a layered nightgown and shawl on, to break the surface, drawing in as much air as possible before sinking slightly, the elaborate dressing gown dragging her back down to the depths. She shrugged it off quickly, her heart sinking as she watched it disappear.      “You absolute tosser!” the Darling girl yelled at the shadow, before clumsily thrashing her way to the shore. Despite never being a strong swimmer, Wendy’s fright pushed her towards the shore in a rather decent time, with only a few brushes of webbed hands at the soles of her feet - more enough to spur her on. Wet and tired, she trudged up onto the sand and sat herself down to begin wringing out her hair, breathing heavily as she did. 

If ever there was a way to overpower this freak, Peter would gladly crush him like an insect. Tame, broken, there was always that will he had, even when he was the mere swindler man. He had the will to fight but never could in front of his son. Yet he set a worse example..

“One day your time will come to an end to.” He whispers bitterly and grabs hold of the remaining boys who seemed to give up. He teleports to the lagoon that they once played at. Peter looks at it and growled at a siren who dared poke her head up. He wanted the mermaids back, wanted to hear them sing, and talk about the day. 

He can only give the two boys peaceful thoughts. “To die is a great adventure..” He whispers, no longer believing his own words. They would be smiling at their dreams as Pan snapped their necks as quickly as he could. He threw them into the lagoon John once loved dearly. He bit his lip and can finally scream out to the sky in only pain and the greatest sorrow Pan would hear, he swears others realms would feel it…

That scream. It was music to his ears. Pain traveled through his body. He loved that feeling. Shadow soon faded back into Neverland with some new bodies, he sat on the ground as he watched the island drag the bodies into tree roots or into bushes. Consuming the bodies and their energy. That would last the island a good few years. Maybe even 100 if there was enough blood spilled every couple of days. He chuckled as the branches that seemed to hug him. The island liked Shadow for what he did. Not only feeding it but as well as making all fear it. The island itself could feel the fear from the newbies and the lost boys. The sirens didn’t like the island but the island enjoyed the blood trails from the ocean going to the sand. To say the least, the shadow was a good keeper of the island. At least he did one good thing. 

That wasn’t an option. Choosing was not an option. Emma would save them all, she’d find a way. She’d have to find a way. It was difficult to concentrate, to try to calm down enough that she was in control of her own body and her own magic again, when she could see darkness consuming her loved ones— And while listening to a brat continuously taunting her, as well.

“SHUT UP!” Her rage manifested itself in a beam of blinding white light directed at him, her hands still shaking but from anger instead, the force of her magic creating a blast of wind. Her eyes glimmered with fury for a brief second, her chest rising and falling with quick, shaky breaths after that light went out. Emma whipped her head around to look at her family, scrambled to her feet and looked down at her hands. She had to try something, anything. Henry stood closest to her and she pressed her hands to his chest, where the darkness was trying to reach. “I’m sorry,” Emma muttered quickly and heard Henry groan in pain when her magic created another flash of white to counter the darkness surging through his veins.

Well, this was a complete disappointment. The savior! More like the crybaby. The light hit him but he faded back quickly. Then watched as she tried using light to counter the darkness. He rolled his eyes. God she was a pathetic girl. He was expecting what all villains in the underworld said. She was determined and would fight. Now she’s just crying. Shadow groaned in annoyance. His minions acting quickly and grabbed Emma by the arms, pulling her away from Henry. “You know I thought you were going to be worth opponent. I really thought you were going to fight. But look at you, you’re pathetic.  Not even trying hard enough. “

Henry could feel some of the blood draining from his face as the shadow continued to talk. His blood would make some villain powerful one day, and slightly less terrible, no one would remember him. Henry already knew what it was like not to be remembered. Many of his classmates had forgotten who he was as he aged, all due to his mother’s curse. Henry had hated it so much, and the idea of everyone forgetting him forever was scary. He at least wanted his loved ones to remember him; but it sounded like their memory of him would disappear too.

“What if I don’t want to be a believer anymore? Can I stop somehow?” He’d rather be a knight than a believer. At least then people could remember him. He didn’t necessarily need to be remembered for noble deeds, but he did want to be remembered by those he loved, and who loved him. The shadow’s talk of his mothers not loving him wasn’t working; Henry had two true love kisses with them that proved they cared for him. But the idea of being completely forgotten was truly terrifying. “Surely there’s a way! There has to be!”

Soon the shadow was picking him up, and threatening to make him scream so Henry could lure his loved ones here. “No. I won’t. I’d rather you kill me than lure some innocent human to their death. You can try to make me scream, but I’ll resist.” Henry couldn’t help but feel the shadow would win this fight in the end, but that didn’t mean that Henry wouldn’t do his best to resist.

It was impossible to both of the beings. Never had it thought someone can ever hurt it’s host in this form. Credence was now frightened as the hand reached through the mass and grabbed his near see through form. The tendrils attacked and lashed at the other now in an attempted to force him to release the boy.

The white eyes shined as it looked at the red eyes. This wasn’t good as it felt Credence gagging and choking from being picked up by his throat, only to be slammed down, knocking the air out of him. He was fully in shock now, giving the Obscurus full control. Credence was bleeding, he knew the smell to easily, to the point it wanted to try to comfort him.

Suddenly it came again and again, slamming the boy down. Credence was scared, hurting, and the Obscurus could do little. If this were human, it would have been dead. But it clearly wasn’t–

A cry came from the black mass and more blood. A dark face showing, a mix of the boy’s and a beast’s. Pain and rage on it. ‘Leave. Him. Alone.” The voice finally came, a growl in it that sounded like Credence’s but not. “Why Take Wands Away?!”