His Fallen Grace

Chapter Twenty-Two

Castiel stared at the very small amount of change he had left in his palm, giving the pay phone before him a look before letting out a heavy sigh. He'd called twice, and there'd been no answer. He just wanted to call. Just to say goodbye. He eyed the change in his hand, then the pay phone. He would try one more time.

He fed the machine and picked up the phone, pressing it to his ear.

Ring...

Ring...

Ring...

Ring...

Ring...

The dial tone stopped, and her voice mail went off.

Hello, you have reached Kimberly Blass. Leave me a message and I'll call you back as soon as possible.

He shoved the remaining change back in his pocket and let out a huff. He was frustrate, but mostly worried. He didn't have much money left. Not enough to get him food or a place to stay, anyways. The last ride he had gotten hadn't been as generous as the last, not that he should expect handouts, of course.

He gave the pay phone one last hopeless look before crossing the street. A few people were bustled around a newsstand as he passed, catching some of their conversation.

"It's just dreadful..."

"What?"

"Didn't you hear? Just in Esbon someone was murder in their apartment."

Castiel froze, and turned back to them.

"Excuse me?"

The two elderly women standing there looked to him as he held out his hand.

"May I see your paper?"

***

It was true. Castiel couldn't believe it. Kimberly was dead. He'd left to protect her, but it'd been in vain. They'd gotten to her anyways. He sunk into an alley way, back against the wall, sitting on the asphalt, paper in hand. He stared at it, he read it, over and over, but he didn't want to believe it. He couldn't. If they'd gotten Kimberly, had they...?

No, no. He couldn't think that way-but now he knew. The angels were on his path. Time was of the essence. He couldn't stay here. Not for much longer. One more night, he told himself. Just one more. He'd stay here, right in this alley. He wouldn't impose on people anymore. Not after that. It was clear to him now. The angels would harm anyone willing to aid him, to aid a traitor. So for now, he would lay low. He would stay in Burr Oak for not but a night, and leave at day break.

He took off his trench coat and laid it on the ground, lying atop it and gazing upward, up at the stars. It reminded him of that night. The screams. The pain. He curled up, turning on his side. Everything had been his fault. He made them fall. Kimberly was dead because of him. That was all he ever did. Screw up. He was wanted, and hunted. At this point, Castiel thought maybe he was better off dead. If God keeping him alive was a punishment, he wish it'd just be over already. He was tired of breaking things.

Maybe he'd stop running, just stay and let them find him. He didn't want any more people to die, to die because of him. Over time, there'd been enough casualties caught in the crossfire.

How many people had died because of Heaven's angels? How many people had died because of him? They were supposed to look after humanity, not lay waste to them over sibling rivalry.

He sat back up and gazed at the sky before bowing his head closing his eyes. Perhaps it was hopeless, all signs had shown God had abandoned them, but Castiel needed something, anything.

"Father, I... I don't know where you are... or even if you're alive, but... Father, I need a sign. Something. Anything. I need to know what to do next-"

He opened his eyes as a gust of wind blew by, watching a few leaves that were picked up by the breeze, and across the way, he saw it. A sign--a neon pub sign, flickering on.

***I know a few of you were asking for updates yesterday, and I felt bad, but I didn't know if I could pump out three chapters in a day. But here you are. :] I plan on updating another today as well~ BTW. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 3K READS YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING. When I started this, I never ever expected this much out of it. Thank you so much, it means a lot. ♡***