The dark hallway seemed to go on forever with each door seeming to mock the hunter for his unwillingness to open them. Dean hadn't opened any of the doors as he continued on his trek through the dimly lit hall. The single light bulbs made islands of light on the carpeted floor that Dean walked through with hesitation. It seemed as if the darkness around the circles of light sucked out all the air out of the room. With each section of light there were two doors on each side of the hallway. The first time Dean encountered them he reached for one handle before pulling his hand away out of fear. He wasn't sure why he feared them but the emotion was so strong and sudden that his only response was to pull away. He then decided that he would continue walking the hallway until he encountered something other than the double doorways every ten feet. However, it seemed as if he's been walking for days and he hasn't come upon anything. Dean stepped out of the circle of light and entered the darkness all ready seeing the next dim light bulb a few feet ahead. He stopped underneath the light and looked up at the slightly swaying light bulb. He reached out and grabbed a hold of it and pulled his hand away from the hotness of it. He turned back the way he came and saw only a row of light islands awaiting him.
He had no idea where he was only knowing that the last thing he remembered was entering the motel room. He must have fell asleep as the only option Dean can think of was that he was asleep. Asleep meant he was dreaming but everything seemed so real. And the dream wasn't changing at all. The same damn doorways that Dean feared to even touch. Dean's thoughts ran through his head for a moment before he came up with a small plan. He bent down and started untying his right boot eventually pulling it off of his foot. He took off his sock and left it hanging off the doorway handle careful enough to not touch it. He slipped his boot back on before stepping to the edge of the light.
"Here goes nothing." He stepped through the barrier and walked into the darkness. He walked straight for the next section of light not even bothering stopping when he saw the doorway had no sock on it. He kept up the pace as the next island's door was also bare giving him hope that he was actually making progress through this endless hallway. He felt his spirits picking up before walking under the next light bulb to stop in shock and anger. There on the door was his sock as if it was waiting for him the whole time. Dean ran his hands through his hair before turning back the way he came.
"What do you want! Show yourself! I know you're there!" He was pretty sure that he was alone but he knew this wasn't a normal dream. He was stuck somewhere and someone brought him here. He was sure that no one would answer him but he was growing frustrated. He needed to escape before he was stuck here forever.
"Sam! Sammy!" His voice echoed and he could have sworn that he heard his voice coming back at him from behind. It scared him to think that this hallway was just a giant circle but he knew that he never turned. Always going straight and never seeing anything different. Dean grabbed the sock out of frustration before taking the time to put it back on. He stood from tying up his boot and looked straight at the door that was in front of him. He knew it was a bad idea but it was the only choice he had right now. He wasn't willing to walk forever through this hallway especially since he just kept coming back to where he started. He reached out and grabbed the handle and the fear surged through him. For a second he thought that walking through the hallway forever wasn't such a bad idea but he knew he needed to get back to reality. He turned the handle and pushed open the door only seeing a bright light come from the open doorway. He took a deep breath before stepping through it hearing the door shut behind him in response. The light started to fade and before he knew it he was standing in the middle of a living room.
"Why are we leaving? The baseball game is tomorrow and I'm going with Andrea." Dean turned at the voice and saw twelve year old Sam storming in pouting up a storm. Sam looked up at him with those puppy dog eyes before turning and looking at someone behind him.
"Because we have a hunt a few states over and we are leaving in one hour." Dean turned at that voice and saw his Dad sitting behind a desk covered with papers. Dean's heart clinched at the sight of his father alive and talking and he took a step forward slowing reaching out. John looked up from the desk and up towards Dean's confused face with a slight frown.
"You okay Dean? Are you sick?" Dean breathed deeply before trying to speak.
"No Sir. I'm okay."
"Good. Now go help your brother pack." Dean turned to see Sam turning away with anger and running straight for the room Dean knew they shared. Dean moved forward thinking this is what he was supposed to see. He came up to the door and opened it seeing Sam sitting on one of the twin beds staring at his hands. Dean closed the door gently and came to sit across from his brother on the other bed occupying the room.
"Um... Not sure what I'm..." Dean started to speak wondering what he was supposed to say but his younger brother interrupted him.
"Why won't Dad let me stay? I can stay here and you guys can come back after the hunt."
"You can't stay here. Dad wants you with us." Sam looked up with those big eyes and Dean saw the anger from them.
"Why? To sit in the car and wait for you guys? I don't get to do anything anyway. Please, Dean. Ask Dad if I can stay. He will listen to you!"
"You know he won't listen to me. We can't leave you here by yourself."
"I'm not a kid Dean. I can take care of myself for a few days."
"I know you can." This conversation was turning to the main one that Dean had with his brother all his life. Dean wasn't sure if he was supposed to go off track and say something new but he wasn't going to risk it. Maybe if he played along he could leave this world behind and finally wake up. Sam let his head fall forward so that he continued staring at his hands. Sam's long hair was hiding his eyes from his brother but Dean knew he was brooding deeply. Dean reached out and put his hand on Sam's shoulder not surprised that Sam shrugged it off.
"Sam." Sam stood from his bed and started grabbing his things to pack. Dean watched him for a minute before trying to speak again.
"Sam. Listen." Sam turned to face him and Dean saw all the anger that a twelve year old could muster against him. Dean flinched back wondering what lead to this conversation for Sam to be so angry.
"No Dean. You listen. I won't be hunting the rest of my life. Right now you guys are allowed to push and pull me any way you want but when I come of age I'm out of here. I'm leaving and I won't look back." And with that Sam turned to the door and slammed it on his way out. Sam's words hurt especially since Dean knew Sam would eventually leave him. Leave him for college and to have a good and safe life for a few years.
"Dean!" His father's voice came from the living room and Dean instinctively stood at the sound. He didn't bother grabbing the duffle bag since he made the decision to leave his family behind in this fantasy world. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to do but he wasn't going to live through his life twice. He reached for the door and opened it with a sigh. He walked through to the bright light he encountered before. The door closed behind him and the light faded to reveal the hallway that he started with. He looked behind him and saw that the door he entered before was gone. He stepped forward and placed his hand on the wall where the door used to be. It felt like it was never there and that he made up the whole thing. Dean turned to see the other door on the side of the hallway waiting for him. Dean wasn't sure what he was supposed to do now but he assumed a door disappearing was progress. He stepped forward and grabbed a hold of the handle. Fear greater than before took a hold of him and he let go of the handle with a gasp. He looked at the door with a glare before grabbing hold of the door handle and opening the door in a rush. He stepped into the light wondering what part of his life he would relive now.