The End | {BOOK 5}

38| Inside Dean's Head

"You're a new burden that he was handed. You're a weak, helpless thing. You think that they care about you, love you? You're a job, a job none of them wanted. And you-" Michael stopped talking abruptly as I appeared in the doorway.

"Jack? Go help Sam."

Jack stood from the map table, making his way over to me. As he passed, I grabbed his arm, stopping him briefly.

"Wait. Don't believe anything he says. He's lying."

"And I can still hear you," Michael called over.

I glared at the archangel, letting Jack go and making my way warily over to the table.

"You have questions," Michael smirked at me.

"You masked your true form from me... why?"

"What's wrong? Do you not like being able to see this pretty face more clearly?" he taunted.

I bit my lip, avoiding his gaze as I touched my wedding ring on my finger.

"I'm surprised," he continued. "After the way you reacted when he first said yes, I thought you wouldn't be able to stand being near me."

"The others were busy getting ready," I replied, still not looking at him.

The archangel hummed before going silent for a few minutes.

"Tell me," Michael finally spoke. "Why do you love this world enough to risk your own life?"

"Tell me," I countered. "Why do you hate this world enough to burn it to the ground?"

"Because I can. Because... me and my brother- my Lucifer- when we fought in my world, we thought that God would come back, give us answers- why he'd gone, what we'd done- but instead, do you know what happened? Nothing. No God. Nothing. And now... now that I'm in here-" he tapped Dean's temple, "now I know why. God- Chuck- is a writer, and like all writers, he churns out draft after draft. My world? This world? Nothing but failed drafts. And when he realizes that they're flawed, he moves on and tries again."

"No, that's not how..." I shook my head. "Why would he do that?"

"Because he doesn't care!" Michael yelled. "About you, me- anything. Now, at first, I thought I'd do better. Show him. Be more God than God. But now... I just want to burn every one of his little worlds until I catch up to the old man."

"And then what?"

"Even God can die," he smirked.

I swallowed, continuing to play with my ring as I thought over his words.

⁘

"Let me."

"Ellie, you can barely look at him out here. How could you possibly handle this?"

"I was useless last time, Sam! Let me help this time!"

"You will be helping this time," Sam replied. "Jack and the others will need help dealing with the monsters on their way."

"Sammy, please," I begged.

"You heard what he said before. Last time he was possessed, he said it was like he was drowning. This time it will probably be worse."

"So let me get through to him! I need to be the one to do this."

Sam sighed, running a hand over his face.

"Only one person besides Cass can do it, and I really think it should be me," he tried arguing one more time.

"Look, I know you're his brother, but this time, I really feel like I should be the one to do this, Sam. Please."