**Aftermath**

The silence was deafening as I drove down the desolate highway, the only sound being the hum of the Impala's engine and the occasional crackle of the radio. It had been months since Dean's demise, and I still couldn't shake off the feeling of emptiness that lingered within me. Sam was off doing who-knew-what, and I was left to pick up the pieces of my shattered life. I had tried to reach out to him, but he was MIA, and I was starting to lose hope. As I drove, my mind kept wandering back to the events that had transpired. Dean's death, the subsequent defeat of Lucifer, and the aftermath that had left me feeling lost and alone. I had kept in touch with Bobby, but even his usual gruff demeanor couldn't lift my spirits. I spotted a news article on the passenger seat, one that I had torn out of a newspaper a few days ago. "Mystic Falls: Mysterious Animal Attacks on the Rise." The article spoke of a small town plagued by a series of brutal attacks, with eyewitnesses describing the perpetrator as a wild animal, possibly a bear or a mountain lion. I raised an eyebrow; the description didn't quite add up. These attacks sounded more... calculated. My gut told me to investigate further. I'd been driving for hours, and Mystic Falls wasn't too much farther. I decided to take a detour and see what was really going on in this seemingly idyllic town. As I entered Mystic Falls, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The town seemed quaint, with its quaint shops and friendly residents. But there was an undercurrent of tension, a feeling that something was off. I parked the Impala near the local diner and stepped out, taking in the sights and sounds of the town. A group of teenagers walked by, chatting and laughing, but their smiles seemed forced, and their eyes darted nervously towards the woods. I walked into the diner, and the bell above the door rang out, announcing my arrival. The diner was cozy, with a friendly waitress who greeted me with a warm smile. I took a seat at the counter and ordered a cup of coffee, striking up a conversation with the waitress. "So, what's going on in this town?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant. "I've been hearing rumors of some pretty strange attacks." The waitress leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. "You mean the ones at the Salvatore Boarding House? Yeah, they've been happening for weeks. People have been seeing... things, lurking in the shadows. Some folks say it's a wild animal, but others claim it's something... supernatural." I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. A Salvatore Boarding House? That sounded like a lead worth exploring. As I sipped my coffee, I noticed a group of people outside, staring up at the trees. I followed their gaze and caught a glimpse of something moving in the shadows. My instincts kicked in, and I knew I had to investigate further. I finished my coffee, paid the waitress, and stepped out into the evening air, ready to face whatever was lurking in the shadows of Mystic Falls.