(Disclaimer: Don't own anything Supernatural related; the character of 'Eden' and the following story belongs to me)


Echo.

Chapter Nine.

The dark walls of the lair ran thick with blood; it pooled in the cracks in the ground, seeping into the earth faster than it could be absorbed. Unwanted remains sloughed down the walls from where they'd been thrown high; the laughter that had accompanied the act now a distant echo.

The fetid stench of fear and death hung heavily in the air; raining down on the bones of the damned that were scattered contemptuously around the chamber. The lifeless bodies of the four men hanging, half-eaten, from the gore covered walls; like macabre pieces of artwork in a malevolent museum; a montage of death and defilement that gave a preview of what was to come.

The scuffling of tiny feet; the gnawing of razor-sharp teeth as the rodents feasted on the discarded echoed loudly round the lair; the covetous gnashing masking the silent, slithering approach of another. It snuck up on its prey, slinking through a mouth that was still opened in its last scream. The squeal was short lived as the feaster became the feast; rotted flesh still held in its jaws as it was devoured. Another life claimed in this depraved den.

Torture ruled here; existence was just a pit-stop on the long journey towards a welcome death. A death that was being prayed for; begged for by one who still held some remnants of sanity. A silent call that was a raging shriek in her head.

She'd stopped screaming hours ago. She understood now that her screams...her fear only urged the beasts on. So she stayed quiet. Biting back her screams as they'd slashed at her, opening her skin, letting her bleed so they could drink. Fighting all the primal instincts that rose from the depths of her, squashing her vocal fight for survival. She would not call them back with her agonised howls…not again.

She turned her head; her hair sticking to the putrefied slush at her back as she surveyed the carnage in which she lay. She stifled a sob as her eyes lit upon the grisly carcasses that hung from the walls; decomposing leftovers that rattled out her fate.

She shook her head; the sickly sound of the sludge sucking at her head, turning her stomach as it disturbed the decaying mire and released its stench. She bit her lip as a scream welled up inside her, she fought it back and anger rose in its place. She would not just lie here and wait for the monsters to return and play with her before …NO! She looked at the daggers that had her pinned to the floor, they were driven in so deep, there was no removing them; and the serrated edges sent blinding pain up her arms if she moved even slightly. She had no choice. She took a deep, shuddering breath and counted to three…then four…then five…before she wrenched her hands towards her; biting down so hard on her lip, she broke the skin. But she didn't scream as the blades ripped through her flesh, severing the nerves and tendons as they sliced between her knuckles; turning her hands from two to four as they fell apart from each other. She ignored the pain; it didn't matter; she was halfway free.

She sat up and looked at her feet; and this time she let the sob come. She didn't need to worry about her feet. They weren't there. She shook her head again. No! She'd decided to escape and that was all there was to it. She rolled onto her stomach and began to commando-crawl through the stinking quagmire; kicking up bones and flesh as she made her way to the opening on the far wall. She increased her efforts, she had to get out of here before they came back. She didn't notice the sharp bones that cut into her skin; the blood that dribbled down her chin from her bitten lip or her ragged breathing. All pain was forgotten as she edged closer to the opening; her useless hands hanging limply as her brown eyes focussed solely on the opening.

She dragged herself through the aperture and into a long tunnel but she could see the darkness starting to fall back as she pushed herself forward…pushed herself towards freedom. She grunted with the effort to drag herself through the thick soup underneath her but her determination only increased the closer she got to daylight.

She could hear the wind whipping through the forest outside; could smell the honeysuckle over the stink of death and she could see the bright blue sky outside. She could taste freedom and she smiled as she got to the entrance of the lair.

She dug her elbows into the earth and drove herself forward; the sun's warm rays hitting her grime-covered face as she revelled in the joy of emancipation. She lifted an elbow to move again and was stopped in her tracks as two claws thudded down in front of her; their talons sinking deep into the earth. She looked up into the smiling visage of the monster and screamed.

It lowered its head as it grabbed hers; its talons piercing her scalp as it pulled her face to its "There IS no light at the end of the tunnel!" it snickered as its tongue flicked out and licked her roughly up the face.

"WHY?" screamed; wanting an answer to why she was to die this way.

"Why not?" it chuckled "It's no worse than what you did to your mother?"

"MY MOTHER DIED IN A CAR ACCIDENT YOU PIECE OF SHIT!" she yelled as defiance rose up inside her.

It yanked her head back painfully "She screamed out your name in vengeance!" it smiled "Meet her vengeance" its wings opened with a crack and she screamed in terror as she was lifted from the ground "I am your God…"

"YOU'RE A MONSTER!" she yelled and spat in its face.

It opened its jaws and roared "I AM VENGEANCE! AND VENGEANCE WILL BE MINE!"

She screamed as the other monsters flew in; their talons sinking into her arms "NOOOO!"

It grinned at her "Honour thy father AND thy MOTHER!" it hissed into her face; her scream cut short as her arms were ripped from their sockets and her head from her shoulders; her torso landing with a dull thud as it was returned to the earth.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Impala pulled slowly into the yard; her lights flashing over the broken shells and burned skeletons of cars and trucks; a metal graveyard that had to be traversed expertly to reach the unwelcoming looking cabin in the distance.

"I don't like this" said Eden.

"You've got no say in it" said Dean as he put the car in park and turned to her "You said we're in deep shit" she nodded "Well when we're in deep shit" he motioned towards the cabin "We come here"

"I still don't like it" she said as she followed them from the car; grabbing her satchel, bow and arrows.

"Aaah,,," laughed Sam softly "Don't think you're gonna be needing them"

"You carrying?" she asked and he nodded "Well so am I"

"Ooookay" said Sam; piquing an eyebrow at his brother.

Dean gave Sam a short shake of the head "When we get inside, just let me and Sammy do the talking" he looked at her feet "Do you have shoes in your magic bag?"

"Why would I need shoes?" she asked "And it's not a magic bag…it just has…secrets" they stared at her; she rolled her eyes "Okay, it's a magic bag and I'll pull a rabbit out of it later"

"Don't like rabbits" muttered Dean as he turned towards the cabin.

Eden looked at Sam "Long and …pretty scary story"

"Aren't they all" said Eden as they walked up to the porch.

The door opened before they'd made the top step and a grumpy looking man nodded to Dean and Sam before shifting his gaze to her, taking in her choice of weapon and the bandage over her shoulder and round her hand. "Boys" he said; his eyes not leaving hers.

"Bobby" said Dean.

Bobby's gaze went between the three of them before a small sigh escaped his lips "How bad this time?"

"Bad" the three of them replied.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

They settled themselves around the table in the lounge. Eden took in all the books, papers, remnants of weapons being fixed that were scattered about the room…the general chaos of the place. But she knew organised chaos when she saw it.

Bobby came back in and handed beers around. "Cheers" he said and watched as the woman raised the beer to her lips and drank.

"Thanks" she said "Although you could have just asked if I was a demon; save the holy water for someone who really needs it" she sipped her beer again.

"She's not a demon, Bobby" said Dean.

"Yeah? Well something's not sitting well with me, Dean" he said, his eyes not straying from Eden's "What trouble are you in?"

"Bad kinda trouble…" started Sam.

"Yeah, got that on the porch. Was hopin' for a little more now" said Bobby; then watched as Dean and Sam looked at each other then at Eden then back to each other "Well?"

"Okay" said Dean "Just…believe what we're gonna tell you"

"I'm listening" said Bobby slowly.

Dean took a breath "We've got rogue Furies on our asses because me and Sammy've been Chosen by an Order for an Awakening that happened about two weeks from now that killed Sam and almost killed me; but we were set back and now Eden's bosses are sending a hit squad after us 'cause we killed an assassin… well, technically he killed himself so Eden wouldn't taint him…but he's dead anyway" said Dean in a rush "Oh and Eden…that's Eden" he pointed to her "She's a Watcher. Mine and Sam's" Bobby, Sam and Eden just stared at Dean "What?"

Sam shook his head with a laugh "Seriously?"

Bobby looked at Eden "You're a Watcher" she nodded and he smiled "Bobby Singer" he put out his hand and she shook it "You can call me Santa Claus"

She laughed softly "You owe me a shitload of presents Santa"

"Bobby, we're telling you the truth" said Sam "Eden's a Watcher and …"

"No" he said with a shake of his head "She's lying to you" he laughed "And you're gullible enough to believe her?"

"She's not lying. She's a Watcher" said Dean seriously.

"Watchers are myth, son and even if, and I'm talking a big if here, they were real; they're not allowed to make contact"

"Did you not hear me say assassin, Bobby? They're gunning for her because she made contact" said Dean "Look, you gotta take our word for it…"

"Furies" said Bobby.

"Rogue Furies" said Sam "Bobby, I wish we had the luxury of time to convince you we're telling the truth but we don't. We need to know all you know about Watchers…"

"Why do you need me?" he laughed "You got a Watcher sitting right there" he said as he pointed to Eden.

"She's the bastard child of a fallen Watcher…" started Dean.

Eden turned to him "Will you stop calling me that"

"Hey, you said it" said Dean with a grin "And you've got your beer now"

"What is it, Bobby?" asked Sam; he'd seen the change come over the man when Dean had referred to Eden that way "Bobby?"

"Is he going to faint?" asked Eden, when she saw the look on Bobby's face.

"I'm not going to faint" said Bobby as he looked at her "You're a Watcher" she nodded "But …you're a …hybrid"

She clenched her jaw "That's one of the things I've been called, yes"

"What do you know?" Dean asked him.

"If she's who she says she is…" started Bobby.

"She is" said Dean and Sam in unison.

Bobby shook his head slowly "Then you…" he pointed to Eden "Have just signed your death warrant and you've dragged Dean and Sam along for the ride" he stood and glared at her "Do you know what you've done?"

"Here we go…again" she muttered. She looked at Dean "I told you this was a bad idea" she stood "I'll be on my way"

"Ohh, no" said Bobby "You are going back to…wherever it is that you come from and you're telling your …bosses to leave the boys alone and …"

"No" said Dean and Sam.

"Bobby, she saved our asses and …" started Sam.

"She hasn't damn well saved you! She's put targets on your back!" he started to pace "A freakin' watcher..this is just ...shit!"

Eden stood "The targets were already there, Bobby"

"Awesome" deadpanned Dean as he tried to look at his back.

Eden went and stood in front of Bobby "I'll give you a quick rundown" she said "Dean and Sam were 'Chosen' …have been chosen since they were born. The time for their Awakening came and I was called as their Watcher, the Furies as their testers. Only it was rogue ones that took Sam and killed him and then went after Dean. I stopped it and set them back for another chance" she put up her hand as he opened his mouth "These rogue ones are out there killing…defiling people and they're coming for Dean and Sam and it's my job to stop them. Once I do that, then and only then will I leave. Do you understand?"

"No, I don't freakin' well understand!" angered Bobby.

"The rogue ones are NOT going to stop. They know I'm helping Dean and Sam and they know they had Sam before. They've marked him and if we don't kill them before he died in the alternate time, then they get him"

"Hey, whoa….hold up there a second..." said Dean as he stood "You never told us that"

"I've only just convinced you I am who I say I am" said Eden "And you didn't need the added pressure"

"Pressure?" said Dean incredulously "How about the truth!"

"What do you want me to say?" she asked "That if I don't kill the rogue ones then Sam goes back to them? He does and he dies again…" she glared at him "You raise your hand to me again and I will put you on your ass"

"Enough" said Sam softly as he stood "Just stop" he looked at Eden "When do …did I die?" he asked Eden.

"Next Thursday" she said "11.09pm"

He nodded "So we've got ten days"

She shook her head "You were taken on Monday. I've got til Thursday to stop your death; but if I don't kill them by the time you were taken then…" she sighed "remember when you touched my shoulder wound?" he nodded "Well that's going to be nothing. I'm sorry, Sam."

"What are you saying?" asked Dean "That he'll feel what happened to him?" and she nodded "But you've changed things…"

"Yes. And the first time round that man in the forest wasn't taken. So I've changed things for a lot of people. But we're coming to a point where the times are going to converge and normally; there wouldn't be too much of a problem. But death is a powerful thing" she said as she looked at the three men "you know that. We're going to run alongside a time where …" she looked at Sam and said softly "where torture and pain on a level you cannot even begin to comprehend, exists."

"A flow-over effect" said Bobby quietly.

"In a manner of speaking" said Eden. She looked at Sam "I don't want you to go through that again so we have til Monday; Thursday at the absolute latest"

"Anything else you'd like to tell us?" asked Dean, his voice tinged with anger "Seeing as you're in a caring and sharing mood right now?"

Eden ignored his sarcasm "The sense of dejavu will get stronger; you'll probably experience flashes of the alternate time. It'll be worse for Sam than for you, Dean. He's had contact with the rogue ones"

"You said they've marked, Sam" said Bobby "What do you mean?"

She sighed "They've had Sam once before; they've …tasted him. They have a taste of him and they'll be able to follow him. Us."

"Like dejavu for them?" asked Sam.

"Sort of. When I set you back and left Dean his memories and the note…I sort of created a…new time…new life…for you. So they wouldn't have known exactly that they'd had you but they'd have had some kind of …awareness of you. But when I went to kill the one in the forest…I didn't know there was more than one…none of us did. But they knew who I was, so they'll know what I've done. Which was why I had to make contact"

"So you did screw us over" said Dean.

"Leave her alone, Dean" said Sam. He turned to Bobby "Why did you freak out when Dean called her the bastard child of a fallen Watcher?"

Bobby went to his bookcase and started searching through them as Dean glared at Eden and she ignored him.

"Are these the same mistakes you made when you killed the last ones that were Chosen?" asked Dean.

She glared at him "No. Different ones. But I was hoping, you know, third time lucky"

"We're your second ones. Eden" said Dean; glaring at her.

"Your point?" she asked angrily.

"Here" said Bobby as he rose with a book in his hand and started flicking through the pages "And stop acting like five year olds" he said to Dean and Eden.

"She started it" muttered Dean.

Bobby sat "And I'll end it" he stared hard at them before returning his eyes to the book "I haven't looked at this book in a long time. It was Pastor Jim's" he said as he kept flipping through the book, scanning the pages quickly.

"What sort of book is it?" asked Sam.

"More of a journal of sorts. Jim was interested in the myths and legends surrounding the stories in the Bible…"

"And we're mentioned in there…only Enoch got it wrong" said Eden.

"Jim believed that too" said Bobby "Here" he began to read.

"You want to read that aloud, Bobby?" asked Sam.

Bobby put up his hand as he continued to read. He finally raised his eyes to them "There's a lot of supposition, different ideas he had but he was interested in one particular story he said kept popping up from different sources"

"What story?" asked Sam.

"That there would be a Watcher that was different from the ones that came before them. One who had a foot in both worlds. Ours and theirs"

"Sounds like Eden" said Sam "What else?"

"Oh here's the good part" said Bobby "It says…"

Eden cocked her head, frowned then moved quickly; grabbing her bow and quiver.

"Eden?" asked Sam.

"Stay here" she said "And I mean stay" she looked at Dean "Don't start. You stay here and you stay near Sam. You hear me?" she stared at him "And stay away from the windows"

"Rogue ones or the hit squad?" asked Dean; his anger of moments ago forgotten as he shifted into business mode.

"Rogue" she said and turned to them "Listen carefully. Do not ask questions. If I don't come back" she went to her satchel and took out three vials of blue, crystallised liquid "This will kill them. Coat arrows or bullets with them, arrows work better though. Do not get the poison on your skin. The arrow needs to pierce the heart or it doesn't kill them. Once you do kill them, the Early Ones will come for your Awakening" she said "You say no. You hear me? NO. You don't listen to their promises and you don't let them separate you. You stick together and you say no. Understand?"

"Not really" said Sam.

"Just tell them no. They have to listen. You'll have killed the rogue ones so they have to listen. Say no" she paused "Please"

"They will" said Bobby as he saw something in her eyes that was more than fear.

She nodded "Stay low" and she turned the lights off; her shadow seeming to face out of existence.

Dean pushed Sam down between the wall and the sofa "Stay there" he ordered and went to the cabinet on the far side of the room and took a long-bow and arrows from it. He worked quickly; coating the arrows with the liquid Eden had left. He took his dagger out and coated it as well and gave it to Sam.

"If you're going out there, so am I" whispered Sam as loudly as he dared.

"You stay here" said Dean. He looked at Bobby "You make sure he stays safe"

"Dean, let her do this. You heard her" said Bobby "This is her fight. Not yours"

"That's bullshit and you know it. Besides, I don't take orders from anyone" he said, putting the quiver over his back "Now I'm freakin' Robin Hood" he muttered to himself.

They turned quickly as they heard something crash against the front door and then drop with a sickening thud. They looked at each other, the shadows dancing over their features; they knew that sound.

"Stay here" said Dean as he moved quickly to the front door. He pulled an arrow from the quiver and held it firmly in his hand as he inched the door open; his eyes scanning the porch quickly before dropping to the body that lay crumpled on the boards in front of him.

"Jesus…" he muttered; looking up as a shriek burst through the night. A shriek that made his blood run cold but sent a blinding rage through him.

"Christ Almighty…"

Dean turned to Sam and Bobby who stood in the doorway "Get back inside!"

"They're here" said Sam as they crouched near the body.

"Where's the rest of her?" asked Bobby as he looked at the body that was sans head, arms and feet.

"Is that…Eden?" asked Sam; his face pale.

"No" said Dean. "It's a message" he pointed to the words carved into the torso.

SUFFER THE CHILDREN! TICK! TOCK!

"Assholes" said Sam angrily "They're fucking well playing with us"

To be continued…