It was dark outside. The blinds over Sam's window remained open, revealing the night. The hall outside Sam's room was empty and the lights were dimmed. Sam's room was dark. It was oddly quiet.
"Psst. Sammy." Lucifer whispered.
Sam ignored him, staring at the ceiling.
"Saaaaamy." Lucifer sang a little louder.
Sam put his arms behind his head. He knew he wouldn't get any sleep tonight. He never slept. Not anymore. Sam released an exhausted sigh.
"Sammy!" Lucifer hissed.
Vaguely, Sam wondered what horrible torture Lucifer had in store for him tonight. The angel had a way of being especially awful when night fell.
If only Marin would come to visit….
Sam flexed his foot inside his shoe. The lighter was still there. When Marin came back, they would make a salt circle and burn her bracelet.
"Wanna spoon, Sam?" Lucifer whispered, "It'll be just like the good ol' days, right bunk buddie?"
Sam licked his dry lips and ignored the hallucination. It wasn't real. It couldn't hurt him.
Well, aside from the fact it was literally killing him.
Sam swallowed. The truth was, he needed to pee right now, but he was putting it off. For some reason, it seemed like every time Sam decided to leave his room he saw something horrible.
When Sam could put off his trip to the toilet no longer he sat up. Grimacing through his sleep-deprived headache, Sam warily made his way to the restroom.
Sam walked slowly into the bathroom.
I'm in a mental ward. I'm dying. But it's ok. I'm going to help a girl named Marin, and then this will all be over. Sam reminded himself. If I see something, it's not real…
Sam's use of the toilet was (thankfully) uneventful. Then he approached the sink. The same sink where he had seen blood.
There wasn't any blood. Sam told himself. It was all in your head.
Nonetheless, Sam's hands trembled as he turned the squeaky faucet.
Clear water poured out.
Sam washed his hands. He used the soap dispenser. All normal.
Maybe nothing would happen this time…
Sam could see his dark reflection in the mirror. The bathroom was lit with moonlight that poured from a window. Sam probably should have turned on the lights when he went in here. Oh well. He could see well enough.
He could see a black figure with red eyes reflected behind him.
Sam gulped. He stared at the reflective glass and resisted the temptation to look behind him.
Sam's heart started to pound. His hands shook as he turned the faucet off.
The black figure stared at him from the shadows. Sam still didn't look behind him.
He turned away from the shadow. He started toward the door. The moonlight cast a long white rectangle of light on the floor. Sam watched his own shadow slide over the bathroom door.
Sam froze.
Shadows of two giant black wings extended from his back.
Sam turned back to the mirror. He could see his reflection. Dark, feathery wings unfolded from his back and spread until they filled the entire room.
Sam glanced at his own shoulder but saw nothing. The wings were only reflected in the glass.
Sam looked back in the mirror again.
His own eyes were glowing red.
No!
Sam covered his face with his hands. No, no, no, no!
Sam staggered back until he bumped into a bathroom stall.
No! No! No!
Trembling, Sam uncovered his eyes. He had to get out of here. He had to get away from that awful reflection with red eyes.
Sam turned to go, to run—only his path was blocked by the dark, shadowy figure with glowing eyes he had seen earlier.
It was Lucifer. He knew it.
The black shadow laid a hand on Sam's face. It was cold.
"Sorry if it's a bit chilly. Some people think I burn hot, but it's really quite the opposite…"the angel's words echoed in Sam's mind.
Sam shook violently.
The angel tilted his head. He placed another cool hand on Sam's face...
Then his mouth opened and he started screaming.
Something black and serrated shot out of the angel's chest and into Sam heart.
Sam screamed. His ass hit the cold, hard floor and the lights came on.
"You alright, man?"
The nurse, the same African-American nurse Sam had stolen the lighter from was in the bathroom and running to his aid.
The guy really needed a name. Sam glanced at his I.D: Marcus.
"You ok, Sam?" Marcus asked. He helped Sam to his feet, "You know, it really helps if you turn a light on." he added, half-chuckling.
Sam suddenly realized he was trembling, "Yeah. I'm fine."
"No offence, but you don't look fine." Marcus said, "What happened?"
"I…I…" Sam stuttered, " I fell."
"That's an awful lot of screamin' for a fall." the nurse raised his eyebrows skeptically, "You hurt?"
Sam shook his head.
"Let's get you back to your room." Marcus suggested.
Lucifer was sitting on the table and laughing as Marcus helped Sam back to his bed.
"Maybe I should get the Doctor." Marcus said.
"No, I'm ok." Sam answered.
"You sure?"
Sam realized he was covered in sweat. His white hospital shirt was drenched.
"Really, I-I'm fine." Sam said.
Lucifer laughed harder.
"You should really try to get some sleep." Marcus said.
Lucifer cupped his hands around his mouth, "HE WOULD IF HE COULD. BUT A HALLUCINATION OF LUCIFER KEEPS HIM AWAKE."
"I-I know. I'll lay down." Sam said.
"Something you wanna talk about?" Marcus asked.
"YOU WOULDN'T UNDERSTAND." Lucifer shouted.
"No. I'm ok." Sam said and gave what he knew was and unconvincing smile.
The nurse pursed his lips and nodded.
"I'M REALLY NOT OK!" Lucifer yelled as Marcus left the room.
Sam curled on his side with his back to Lucifer. Then, he realized his face was wet. Tears. He'd been crying.
Crying like a total wimp in front of that nurse. He really was pathetic. But he didn't care. He just wanted it to be over.
Sam clenched the sheets in his hand and let the tears fall. Tears of frustration and a deep sadness he didn't understand.
AN: Explanations to come in the next chapter.
What do you think?
