Shadows & Nightmares
By Simarillion

Fandom: Supernatural RPS
Universe: Alternative Universe
Rating: R/NC-17
Pairing: Jensen Ackles/Jared Padalecki, others
Warnings: slash, M/M, violence, gore
Word Count: 643 words (14,540 words total)
Summary: The hunt is on.
Disclaimer: None of the herein presented happenings and events are true. Everything is 100% fiction and that includes the sexuality of the characters. I don’t claim to be in the know about their relations and private affairs, and I don’t make any money with the creation of this story.
The title of the story was taken from the Shadows & Nightmares compilation by Two Steps From Hell.
Author’s Note: This storyline stems from my wish to write some kind of horror/thriller plot. Listening to Two Steps From Hell’s Horror and Thriller albums didn’t help any.

Masterpost



19.
The week has been a horror and Jared is sure that his boss thinks the apocalypse is just around the corner. What other explanation is there for the madness that is currently the workload they are supposed to do. It's almost like the world will end if this proposal isn't finished today, or that letter wasn't sent, like ten minutes ago. Not even coffee and Red Bull are of any help anymore and Jared stays longer and longer at the office each day. Today at least he got back home in time to go for a run. The lack of workout is slowly but surely driving him isane. It's like an itch he can't seem to scratch and it starting to drive him mental. This has to be the longest time he's gone without some kind of workout and while inactivity is exhausting for humans, homo sapiens lupus has the added energy of the wolf to deal with.

It's getting dark as he heads out to the park, mentally tired but needing the physical exertion to calm his nerves. Jared walks fast paced to the park and once he's crossed the street, he heads out at a slow jog. The movement and the rhythm help him to clear his mind and let go of the stress and madness that is his workday. For the first time in days, if not weeks, he's able to just let go and center himself. The itching under his skin gets weaker with every pounding step he takes. He passes the two girls that usually jog at the same time as him. They are already on their way back, but they wave at him cheerfully. After the first two weeks of them always meeting during their runs, they had started to run together from time to time and Jared now knows that Rhianna, the blonde one, works as an assistant for some CEO and Eve, the dark haired one, is a kinder gardener. They know each other from high school.

Jared waves back and runs on. Even though the daylight is pretty weak now, he continues his run. One of the positive things about his wolf is that he can see in the dark and the semi-dark far better than the average human. It will need to get a lot darker before he will have to head back. Passing the pod at the center of the park Jared lets go and really starts running. It feels absolutely divine and he promises himself to do this more often. The cool evening air, the sounds of the city all around him and chilly smell of the late autumn air are familiar and welcome to Jared, making him feel at home. Caught up in the enjoyment of the moment he lets his wolf closer to the surface, not much - just a little bit, and inhales deeply. The scents are much sharper and distinguished with his lupine senses.

It's also the reason why he notices the subtle traces of a smell that are somehow familiar but that he can't trace. Jared closes his eyes and runs on, allowing his olifactory sense to get a little stronger. The scent is getting stronger and when he passes a row of bushes he stops in his track, his eyes focusing on the foliage that is hiding the source of whatever he's trying to figure out. When he takes a step closer to the bushes, there's faint sound of rustling and Jared sees something grey moving around. He stops and tries harder to make out what is hiding under the bushes. There's more rustling and suddenly Jared recognises the smell. It's the wolf from the woods. It has been tracking him to the city.

Panic grips him and Jared turns around and starts running. Not again. The wolves are not going to attack him again.


20.