A/N: Written for Jared Padalecki, in accordance with his response to my question at Toronto Con 2011, "If you could commission a fanfiction writer to write any kind of story (for Supernatural), no matter how bizarre or ridiculous, what would you request?"
The response: "Maybe something like The Shadow Man, from The Twilight Zone."
Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural or its characters.
Shadow Man
1
"E-du-di?" a young boy called, in his grandparents' native tongue, to his sleeping grandfather. The old man stirred, head turning toward the small voice.
"Yes, Raj? What is it?"
Raj felt guilty, as he was supposed to be looking after his sick grandfather while his mother was out getting his medicine. "I need to use the bathroom."
The old man narrowed his eyes at his grandson. "Well, go on, then. I'm not so ill that I need a sitter, you know. Your mother, she worries too much."
"I worry, too, E-du-di," he replied, sincerely.
"You are too young to worry about such things," he replied, unable to hold in a fit of coughing. Raj stood quickly from his chair and was at his grandfather's bedside, clutching the old man's arm through the spell. "I am alright, Raj," he said, catching his breath. "Go to the bathroom, before you have an accident."
Raj's face switched from worried to offended, in a split second. "I'm nine years old! I haven't had an accident since I was little!"
The old man couldn't help but to laugh. "You are right. You are growing up faster than your old grandfather can keep track of. Nonetheless, off you go!" He watched Raj's face neutralize, before he scampered out of the room rather quickly. He smiled, proud of the boy. His older grandchildren had always been rebellious, turning away from their Cherokee roots that he'd always wanted to keep strong within his family. Raj was an exception; such a good boy, always minding his parents, and genuinely interested in the ways of his ancestors. The boy's mother was the same, in that aspect. Though there were some things he wished she hadn't put in Raj's head at this age. One of those things being the sense of over-protectiveness.
He adjusted himself a bit more comfortably on the bed, intending to fall back to sleep. But just as he was ready to close his eyes, he was hit with the sudden feeling that someone was in the room. From the corner of his eye, he saw a figure and quickly turned his head to see who it was. But there was nothing there...
Raj flushed the toilet using his elbow and went to the sink to wash up. Though he was in a hurry to get back to his grandfather's side, he couldn't fight the compulsion to thoroughly wash his hands. Upon turning off the faucet, Raj felt the tingling of goosebumps form on his arm and watched as they rose up on his skin. An eerie feeling came over him, and he rushed to dry his hands and head back toward the room.
The house was quiet, as he made his way up the dim hallway. He'd expected to hear the soft snoring of his grandfather, at least. His little body hummed with anxiety, not really understanding why. But it made him move slowly; cautiously. And once he reached the doorway to his grandfather's room, he suddenly knew what his senses had been trying to warn him of.
What he didn't quite comprehend, in that moment, was why.
Raj stood, frozen both physically and mentally, as he watched the life leave his grandfather...
Tbc...