Lightning Crashes 𖤐 Sam Winchester

Chapter Eighteen

THEY WERE AT the river an hour later, and Sam's nerves were out of line by the time the three of them looked out at the water.

"Is this gonna work, it's not an ocean." Sam stated as he closed the door to the Impala.

"The water has a current, it will work just as an ocean." Themis told him. "Of all places, you couldn't live in Florida?"

Astra sent the woman a look. "I fell in Kansas. Literally."

Themis stuffed her hands into her coat pockets. "It will work."

Astra sighed as she zipped her jacket up. "Okay, what do we have to do?"

"We need closer to the water." Themis instructed. "My energy will combine with the current during the ritual."

Sam sighed as he watched Themis walk towards the river docks. Astra looked up at him, offering a half smile before she followed her mother towards the docks. Sam was last, his hands stuffed in his pockets.

As they walked onto the docks, Astra stared at the flowing water and immediately thought of how she was unable to see the bottom. She wasn't sure how deep it was.

"What's next?"

Themis stared at the thick clouds in the sky, and she closed her eyes. Astra and Sam watched as she began to say words silently, her lips moving without making a sound.

Themis' eyes opened. "Now, we start."

Astra looked up at Sam, who had a sour look on his face. He didn't like this plan in any way, considering that it could cost Astra her life. He didn't want her to do it.

The woman took a step towards her mother and nodded. Themis smiled as she reached for her.

"Your bravery hasn't changed." Themis whispered.

Astra remained silent as her mother pressed her palms to each side of her head, and she closed her eyes. Sam watched as the sky darkened, and the wind began to blow wildly as lightning struck. Astra closed her eyes as she grew anxious, listening to the words fall from her mother's mouth.

Astra gasped as a pulse formed in her mind, sending her to her knees. Sam moved forward, but he was stopped.

A wall of water formed as it rose from the river, shielding the two women by closing in around them. Astra's head began to pound, and she gritted her teeth.

Sam tried to get through the barrier. "Astra!"

Lightning flashed across the darkened sky as the weather grew worse at Themis's hands. Sam squinted as the wind blew harshly against him, practically sending him backwards.

Astra's head felt as if it had been set on fire, and Themis's eyes opened. They glowed a bright, electrical blue, just as Astra's did before. Themis stared to the river as the air lingered with Astra's screams.

Themis shook her head as she stared to the sky. "NO, ZEUS!"

The woman fought to keep the ritual from being interrupted, but the wall began to burst. Themis watched in horror.

Blood flowed from Astra's eyes and nose as she choked, her blood-curdling scream overpowering the storm.

There was a large burst between the two, and Themis fell backwards, stumbling as she fell against the dock. Sam landed on his back, looking up just in time.

Astra's body was thrown from the dock, and she landed in the river. As her scream died, Sam's heart sank inside of his chest. The man staggered to his feet and ran towards the edge of the dock, searching for Astra.

"Astra!" He yelled, searching frantically.

He noticed the woman's body traveling farther down the river, and he quickly dove into the water before swimming towards her. He struggled to fight the current, occasionally bumping into a rock here and there until he managed to reach her.

Sam grabbed her arm and grabbed ahold of a tree branch before pulling himself from the river. When his feet were able to touch, he climbed to the river bank, dragging Astra.

"Astra." He was breathless, cold and wet. He hovered above her and began to search for a pulse.

He shook his head and his teeth chattered. "Come on, Astra."

Sam placed his hands against her chest and began performing CPR. He didn't enjoy the short amount of time he had to learn it, and he could only hope he was doing it right.

Sam tilted her head farther back and plugged her nose before placing his mouth on her own. He blew hard down her throat, pulling away to catch his breath before doing it again.

The cold and his anxiety caused his body to turn numb. "Astra!"

He shoved harder against her chest, and water spewed from the woman's mouth. Sam quickly sat her up as she heaved, the remaining water leaving her lungs. Astra fell towards Sam weakly, coughing.

"Sam."

Sam held her head as he hugged her body to his.

Her purple lips quivered and her teeth chattered as she pressed her cheek to his chest. "It d—didn't work."

Sam sighed as he managed to gain his breath. "It's okay."

Astra looked up at him. "Where—Where is Themis?"

Sam helped Astra back to the dock, where she noticed the woman's body. Astra's knees wobbled at the sight, and she gripped Sam's jacket hard. He looked down at her and frowned, noticing the tears in her eyes.

"Something happened during the ritual." Sam said to her. "It's like. . . It was rejected."

Astra fell to her knees before Themis and she brushed her mother's hair from her face.

"Astra, I think Zeus rejected the ritual." Sam said. "Everything seemed to be fine, but her eyes changed and she said his name. She was trying to protect you, in the end."

Astra leaned forward and closed her mother's eyes. "He knows she was with me."

Astra fell backwards weakly, and Sam hurried to her aid. The two watched as Themis's body began to disintegrate, disappearing into a white fog.

"We've got to get you home." Sam told her, lifting her from the ground. Astra wrapped her arm around his neck, burying her face in his neck as he carried her to the Impala.

When they got back to the house, Sam quickly carried Astra into his bedroom and set her on the bed. He searched frantically for clean clothes, grabbing a pair of her sweatpants and one of his hoodies.

Astra took the clothes, and Sam turned away before searching for his own. He pulled out a pair of sweatpants and one of his sweatshirts, stripping out of his wet shirt. He turned around a few seconds later, realizing that Astra hadn't moved. Her glossy eyes were staring down to the floor, and Sam kneeled before her.

"I should have listened to you." She whispered. "I should have just sent her away— how could I be so stupid?"

Sam shook his head as he placed his hand on her face. "You wanted to remember who you were, Astra. And you were given the chance. I didn't like it, but I knew it's what you wanted. You're not stupid."

Astra laughed. "How can you be so understanding over a mistake?"

He brushed her hair away from her cheek and tucked a wet strand behind her ear. "Because we're only human."

Astra quickly moved to take off her wet clothes, and Sam moved away before turning towards the cupboard. He grabbed a few blankets and opened them fully. When Astra was dressed, he walked towards her and sat down on the bed.

The woman moved towards him, laying her head against his chest as he wrapped his arms around her.