Galbotorix78

This post relates to S11E01 "Out of the Darkness, Into the Fire."

All observations are drawn from the "Rabids" (Sam quote) as portrayed in that episode only.

Conclusion #1: Unlike the Croatoan virus, the "Rabids" die on their own within a short time frame, estimates between 12-24 hours. Motivated individuals can resist the effects.
- Evidence A: Mike, the father in the hospital, takes 3-4 hours to show the black-vein signs. Since it is afternoon when the boys notice the vein marks and night by the time Mike dies, the "Rabid" "shelf life" is no more than twenty-four hours. This is an over-estimate but since no quantitative times are revealed during the episode, I am erring on the longer term.
- Potential problem: Since Mike resists/fights the Darkness within, he dies faster than normal? If resistance does not affect time, his case is normal.
- Evidence B: The construction crew man in the hospital attacking the door that dropped dead was infected when the darkness was released (early morning? The sun was up after a nightly vigil with Death) but died before the sun set. Perhaps giving into the Darkness corrodes the vessel faster than resistance since the evil is processed?

- Additional Note: The nurse that infects Sam would have been exposed about the same time as Mike. Since she was killed, her time table is not helpful.

Conclusion#2: "Rabids" retain some memory and functionality after infection.
- Evidence A: The most obvious evidence of this is Mike who is able to speak. "Amara. Her name is Amara."
- Evidence B: The "Rabids" that arrive at the hospital drive there. The jeep is not wrecked and runs fine with working headlights. Five Rabids arrive at the hospital, but only three chase Sam. Could this be an indication of scouting parties to cover more ground? If so, Rabids are capable of strategy.
- Unknown - "Rabids" have a hive mind like other monsters (Supernatural Season 6 with Alphas like the Father Vampire). Remember that the Darkness predates Eve and monsters so the similarity would not be linked. Perhaps the Darkness can control specific groups at will.

Conclusion#3: "Rabids" have a high stimulus response to sound.
- Evidence A: The construction worker attacking Mike and Amara's door hear's Sam.
- Evidence B: Sam shouting "Hey" is enough to get the attention of Rabids.
- Potential Problem: The infected nurse does not leave the closet to attack the Winchesters before other Rabids arrive.

-Additional Note: The lead woman Rabid smells/senses Sam's contamination. This could indicated heightened senses overall, but at least indicates self-identification of Darkened individuals.

Conclusion#4: One Rabid is always left at the scene of a massacre. These could be individuals that take longer to act on symptoms, or it could show that Rabids expect humans to investigate an area of silence.
- Evidence A: The construction crew attacks a residential area and a hospital, but one Rabid is still there when the Winchesters arrive.
- Evidence B: The hospital is abandoned*** except for one nurse who wandered the closet.
*** Mike and Amara are being attacked. Other than infection/murder that is underway, no one else is seen in the hospital.

Summary
1) Infected individuals (Rabids) can resist to some extent - Mike
2) Rabids are cognizant enough for basic memory, functionality, and "motor" skills (pun!)
3) Rabids have heightened senses.
4) Rabids live 12-24 hours and try to kill or infect while alive