Neon Lights

Chapter 53 - Where's My Angel?

•Dean's POV•
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January 9, 1969
6:47 p.m.
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It's been four days.

I don't know what happened, but I haven't seen Cas anywhere. And it's not just me - nobody's seen the kid in four days.

My heart pounded. What if he's been injured? What if he died?

I shook away any irrational thoughts. Maybe there's something I missed? I've been worried that it'd come to this, but I think I have to stop by the Novak residence. Maybe he is injured or ill, and has been kept indoors. Or maybe he's not allowed to see me.

I slowly advanced up the walkway upon arrival. Someone peeked through the window at me, and the door opened before I even reached the porch. "You've got some kinda nerve comin' 'round here."

Michael.

"Uh--" I paused, "Why? What have I done?"

"Corrupted my little brother, that's what!" He stood on the porch, pointing to the road behind me, "Get the Hell out of here!"

"Wait--" I breathed heavily, he knows, "I just need to know...is Cas here?"

Michael rolled his eyes, "No. And if you don't know where he is then he's obviously not with you, so I hope he died in a car accident."

I felt a spear impale me through my chest. "How can you say that?" I asked, choked, "He may be gay but he was your little brother long before that. So how can you wish that on someone? Isn't that actually a sin?"

Michael scrunched up his nose, "What would you know about sins?"

"I don't, really," I shrugged, "But I'm athiest, so I do know logic. And I know that logically, no real God would want His people wishing death on each other."

Michael frowned, "Get off my property or I'm calling the cops."

I turned and left, though I'd much rather join him on the porch for a fistfight. I'd love to see sweet little Catholic Mikey try to hit someone, I bet he couldn't even touch me.

When I was halfway down the street, I heard pattering footsteps rapidly approaching from behind. I stopped and turned around to find Gabriel panting and catching his breath.

"Hi," I mumbled awkwardly.

Gabriel looked up at me, "Where is Cas?"

"I-I don't know," I shrugged, "That's why I came to you."

"I was worried you'd say that," Gabe's lower lip quivered with ever shaky inhale of air, "I've been looking for him everywhere. Any idea where he might be?"

I shook my head, "I tried the beach, but he's not there."

"Try the beach again," Gabriel grabbed my wrist and pulled me, "Come on!"

***

The beach was basically empty when we got there thanks to the dreary weather. It wasn't raining, thank fuck, but clouds covered the sky and the wind pushed against us, cold and hard and unforgiving. If Cas has been hiding out here, I can almost guarantee he's caught pneumonia again.

I gulped.

Gabe looked around madly, rushing to the small fishing dock and tearing the sand out of the ground looking for Cas. "I don't think he's under--"

Before I could finish my sentence, I noticed something - a dark-blue, barely noticeable bag hidden in the shadows under the fishing dock. I recognize it - it's the one Cas brought to NYC.