Echoes of Hell (Supernatural Fanfiction Book 4)

Shadows of Betrayal

Sam's Point of View

Dean had finally drifted back to sleep after the brief period of lucidity he'd had earlier. I let him be, knowing how exhausting these brief moments of consciousness could be for him. With his sleep having returned, I decided to join the others in the hospital cafeteria. I needed a break—both for my sanity and for my stomach, which had been growling insistently.

I gathered with Castiel, Gabriel, Bobby, Ruby, Ellen, Jody, and Rufus as we made our way down to the cafeteria. The atmosphere was a mix of quiet conversations and the occasional awkward silence, everyone lost in their own thoughts. We didn't realize how much we were underestimating the importance of staying with Dean.

As we settled down for a meal, the clinking of cutlery and the hum of conversation filled the room. For a few moments, the weight of the situation seemed to lift, replaced by the mundane normalcy of hospital food and casual chatter. I could see how everyone was trying to act like things were okay, but the tension was palpable. Everyone knew Dean was still in a fragile state, and each of us was dealing with the stress in our own way.

But while we were engrossed in our meal, the reality of leaving Dean alone was completely overlooked. The fact that we weren't in the room with him became a glaring oversight only when it was too late.

Dean's Point of View

The room was quiet, save for the soft beeping of medical equipment and the occasional shuffle of the nurses outside. I was left alone in my wheelchair, my mind spinning with a chaotic storm of thoughts. Despite the exhaustion tugging at me, my mind was restless. I couldn't stop the dark cloud of guilt and fear that seemed to follow me wherever I went.

And then he appeared.

Crowley materialized in the dim light of the room, his presence as unsettling as ever. The mere sight of him made my skin crawl, but there was something more sinister in his demeanor this time—an unsettling calm that set my nerves on edge.

"Hello, Dean," Crowley said, his voice dripping with malicious glee. "I see you've been keeping yourself busy."

I wanted to scream, to ask him how he had found me, but the words caught in my throat. Crowley stepped closer, his eyes locked onto mine with a predatory glint.

"You thought the first war was something, didn't you?" he continued, his tone chilling. "That was just the beginning. I've got plans, you see. Big plans. And you're going to be right by my side, whether anyone likes it or not."

He paced slowly, his gaze never leaving me. I could feel a cold sweat forming on the back of my neck, the fear rising like bile in my throat.

"And when the time comes," Crowley said, his voice lowering to a whisper, "you'll be triggered by a simple code word. You'll do exactly as I say. You'll kill Sam, and you won't even think twice about it."

My heart pounded in my chest, a visceral reaction to the horrifying thought of harming Sam. The fear was overwhelming, almost paralyzing. Crowley's smirk widened as he saw my reaction, savoring the effect his words had on me.

"You're mine, Dean. No matter how much you fight it, you'll be back. And when you are, you'll be my perfect little weapon," Crowley said, his voice dripping with sinister satisfaction.

Before I could say anything, Crowley vanished, leaving me alone once more. The room seemed colder, darker, the shadows pressing in around me. I felt like a puppet on strings, my body and mind warring against the control Crowley seemed to have over me. The fear and guilt were overwhelming, leaving me feeling more helpless than ever.

Sam's Point of View

Once we arrive back in Dean's hospital room, I watch as Castiel does his angel thing of checking to see if anyone had been in the room with Dean while we had been downstairs in the cafeteria eating. Castiel's expression darkens as he confirms my worst fear: Crowley had been here. The words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I can feel the dread creeping up my spine.