Chapter 1: The righteous man.

Watching humanity. Their lives. Their laughter. It never got old to garrison leader Castiel. And sitting on that soft couch over a fluffed cloud, he had the perfect view to 13 year olds Claire and Jane.

He enjoyed watching them act out scenes from their favorite series of books. They looked so happy while reciting lines. Ecstatic while adding their own spin to the series. And, to be honest, he enjoyed the story. It had enough elements to make him believe all could be true. And the main characters were people he'd begun to care about too.

He had enjoyed their performances so much in the past week he'd decided to try out the book series himself.

There, sitting in his favorite lounge, where the sun entered brightly and with no pressing matters to attend to, he began to read. And he read. And read. And read. Book after book.

"Castiel," Uriel interrupted. Castiel sighed. "Are you okay? You've been here for three sundowns."

"Just reading." Castiel replied. "Is something wrong?"

"We have a problem." Uriel held his breath and Castiel knew he only did that when delivering important news.

"How big of a problem?"

"Lilith."

"The first demon?"

"She's out of hell. Some assholes opened a gate and let her escape. Now she wants to break the 66 seals."

Castiel smiled. "I wouldn't be too worried. The first seal is for a righteous man to accept hell. Has anyone heard of such a man doomed?"

"No."

"Then everything is fine. We'll keep an eye on it, anyway."

Uriel nodded and left. Castiel went back to his book.

Jane was crying. Uncontrollably. Sobbing. The book in her hand received the tears from her eyes. She looked at Claire and her friend's red eyes looked back. "You read that part?" Both girls were holding the same book All Hell Breaks Loose by Carver Edlund. It was a very thick book and Castiel himself had started it along with them when he tuned in to the girls. In a way, he wanted to feel as if he was reading with them. As if, in some strange way, they were connected by the words.

"Poor Dean. Now what will he do?" Some minutes later Claire gasped. "I can't believe he did that."

"It's Dean. Righteous. Would do anything for his brother."

"But sell his soul?"

Castiel couldn't believe it either when he read the words. And as he kept on going, everything in his mind ticked. It ran around A righteous man. What if the righteous man was someone who didn't deserve it? Someone who actually chose it? Someone like Dean, who sold his soul. It wouldn't hurt to look into it.

"Uriel." Castiel called softly and the angel appeared before him. "Can you help me develop a list of souls doomed for perdition for selling their souls?"

"Should be easy." Uriel said and looked out the window, where the two girls discussed the book. "Still watching Earth, I see?"

"They're entertaining. They put on good shows."

Uriel clicked his tongue. "Mark my words. Humanity will be your downfall, Castiel. You get too invested."

Castiel shook his head and rolled his eyes. "I've been told."

"I'll have the list in the morning."

"Thanks Uriel."

Castiel finished the book as he waited for the list. He was very surprised towards the end when the gate to hell opened and let demons out. Uriel's words echoed on his mind Some assholes opened a gate.

It was too much of a coincidence. Too much.

Uriel came in and dropped the list on Castiel's small table. "Thanks Uriel."

"No problem." He stepped out.

Castiel glanced at the list. It wasn't long. Not many people knew the procedure for making a deal with a demon. Thus, not many actually went through with it. He looked at the names already in hell when one number popped into his eyesight.

One year. This man was given one year before going to hell. Normally it was ten. Why only one year? He glanced at the name.

Dean Winchester.

Castiel widened his eyes. Could this man be…..It was the exact same thing that happened in the book. Dean from the book was given one year and this man had also….

Carver Edlund. He investigated in heaven. The records. He found him on Earth. And he found Carver Edlund wasn't his name. Not at all. It was Charles Shurley. The prophet. Which meant everything from the books was real.

And maybe, just maybe, Dean was the righteous man who would break the seal.

"Uriel!" Castiel called frantically. They needed to save Dean. They needed to get to him before he broke the seal.