Ketch Me if You Can

Chapter 5

I lay awake, staring at the ceiling. This weird sense of guilt plagued my mind after Charlie and I had finished with each other. I couldn't shake it. Every bit of my mind was telling me this had been a mistake. But I didn't know why. I enjoyed it. I had wanted it. It felt so good in the moment. But now I couldn't help but feel dirty and like I'd somehow betrayed something.

I sighed and quietly got out of bed, trying my best not to disturb Charlie who was still fast asleep. I crossed the room to my duffle and pulled my phone from it.

'Are you awake? -A'

I didn't think I'd get a response, but it came while I walked to the bathroom. I slipped inside and shut the door before opening the message.

'Perhaps. -K'

"Always such a smug asshole," I mumbled to myself.

'Can we meet now? I'm 30min out. -A'

'I'll be waiting. -K'

I let out a breath I hadn't known I was holding. Good. I could spend the drive thinking of what to say to him and how to get the damn key. I slowly opened the bathroom door and peered out. I could still hear Charlie's soft breaths as she dreamed. I crept out and to the side of the bed our clothes had been thrown off. After I'd dressed I crossed to my duffle again and slipped the bottle of priest blood into it, before zipping it closed and throwing it over my shoulder. I sighed again. Charlie would be upset in the morning when she found out I was gone, but hopefully, she understood.

I headed for the door and was about to turn the handle and leave before I turned around and scribbled a short note onto the motel stationary on the bedside table.

'Sorry. Had some business to take care of in Sioux City. -A'

Hopefully, she wouldn't hate me too much.

"What are you doing, Mouse?" The sudden voice in my too-quiet car almost made me swerve off the road.

"Holy fuck, Crowley!" I yelled at the demon, "You can't just....I could've died!"

"And you would've found your way back just like the last time." He said smugly.

"You and I both know I only have a few left, I'm not trying to waste them on a car accident." I huffed.

"And yet, you're willing to drive into the arms of someone who's not only tried to kill your brothers but is working for someone who is actively trying to kill them." Crowley sounded agitated.

"I'm not...wait." Something he'd said didn't make sense. "What do you know that we don't?"

"Your little fling," He gestured to the road in front of me, "Is working for Asmodeus."

"The demon prince?" I clarified.

Crowley nodded. "The very same."

"Why?" I slowed down a little, giving Crowley a few extra minutes to tell me whatever he'd almost killed me over.

"It's not clear, but it seems he's helping the prince make some sort of army." Crowley looked out the window at the passing landscape.

"An army? For what? There's no huge threat right now."

"Other than you and your brothers? No, your right there's not."

"Then why build an army? Unless he knows something we don't." I glanced at the demon, he was smiling. "What is it, Crowley? What aren't you telling me?"

"He has Gabriel locked up down there," Crowley said almost casually.

"Gabe's dead." I said confidently, "We saw the wings burnt into the ground."