I do not own Supernatural or any of its brilliant characters despite the fact that I enjoy writing about them regularly.
.o0o.
Four Hours Earlier
"It's time for group" Dr. Boyle seemed to materialize before the cell, her hair held together in a tight bun on top of her tense head. She spoke in her usual detached voice, but now a sort of concealed whimper snuck in. She was afraid of him.
John went with her willingly, leaving his wings behind. He did, however, fold his unfinished drawing and carefully slid it and a few of the more appealing crayons into the pocket of his uniform blue robe.
The two walked together down the halls in a way they hadn't before. Now, they moved more slowly, as if the next step could mean a sudden mental break. Orderlies dropped what they were doing to watch them pass, expecting a similar occurrence.
He was no longer the sane, innocent man Annabelle had described.
When they entered the familiar room, all went quiet. Every one of the other ten patients froze to watch him enter. The plump girl with the wandering eyes, Beth, let out an audible squeak, collapsing into her chair. Evan, the man who had previously been accepting of him, forced a nearby patient into the open chair next to him, avoiding John's eye contact.
The only person who didn't seem averse to John's presence was Reece. He motioned to the open seat beside him, which John reluctantly accepted.
Dr. Boyle sat down and raised her eyes to the group, scanning each of their faces.
"Would anyone like to start?" she said, looking directly at John.
Silence gripped the room. Everyone turned to John, expecting him to speak up. John looked down at the floor submissively and fingered the folded up drawing in his pocket.
"I guess I'll start," Reece said in a strong, calm voice. "Today I had a visitor."
Everyone smiled comfortingly except Dr. Boyle.
"There weren't any visitors today, Reece," she said blatantly.
"Yes there were," he asserted, maintaining his collected tone. "They came to my room and told me to do something."
"And what was that?" Dr. Boyle sighed.
"I can't tell you. I can't tell anyone until it has been done." He was menacing, staring down everyone who looked his way.
John was suddenly intrigued. Something about Reece's eerie tone raised more than the average alarms.
"Why is that?" Dr. Boyle didn't even bother to look up from her papers.
"It's what they asked of me."
For the first time, Reece went quiet out of his own free will. He held his hands in his lap defensively.
The group was released into the common room for leisure time. John fled to a table in the corner of the room, avoiding the other's watchful eyes. He pulled out the folded paper and the crayons and laid them out on the surface in front of him carefully.
Reece pulled a chair up to the table, causing it to shake and the crayons to roll to the floor. John moved to grab at them, but Reece raised an arm, preventing him from moving from his chair.
"I'll let you get them in a second," he said. "I have to tell you something."
John just looked back at Reece silently.
"We're leaving."
John froze. Part of him considered screaming to alert everyone of this heinous and terrifying suggestion, but a stronger, more curious part of him fought back.
Jimmy.
Listen to this guy, Jimmy whispered in the back of his mind. He's acting unusual.
John, unable to respond to Jimmy, just nodded.
"Wow, I thought I'd have to persuade you." Reece leaned down to retrieve the fallen crayons. "We have to leave at once. Follow me."
Reece stood casually, raking his blonde hair out of his eyes with his fingers. He strode to the door and stopped before a young orderly. The two chatted nonchalantly for a few moments, the orderly laughing repeatedly. Finally, Reece nodded for John to follow and disappeared out of the door.
John scrambled to his feet, jamming his items into his pockets. He tried, unsuccessfully, to mirror Reece's stride as he left the room.
Reece was waiting in the hallway, his hands in his pockets. The two ran together to the end of the hall, met by the familiar metal doors that imprisoned the hospital's patients. Reece pulled his hand from his pocket to reveal a set of keys.
Suddenly, a small gasp rang out in the hall like a siren. Beth was frozen behind them, hands held in front of her face in fear.
"Don't you say a word," Reece growled at the girl, shoving the keys into John's chest and starting towards her.
"Help," Beth whimpered, barely loud enough to be heard.
She turned towards the door where the rest of the patients and multiple orderlies were within reach. Reece dove between her and the door and thrust her out of the way.
"Help!" Beth murmured slightly louder than the last time, falling into the wall.
"Don't you dare say a word about this," Reece ordered, shoving the girl again.
"Help!" she yelled out once more, ignoring his threats and sending him into an apparent rage.
Reece grabbed her hair and shook it violently. Beth began to cry audibly, choking and gasping. Reece put one hand over the girl's mouth and another around her round neck. She thrashed and squirmed, throwing her balled fists into his chest hopelessly. He only strengthened his grasp around her neck, lowering her onto the floor.
John started towards the two, startled by what he was witnessing. He froze at a loud snap that burst through the hall. Beth crumpled to the floor, a blank expressionless look occupied her face.
I take back what I said earlier. Jimmy squawked.
"What have you done?" John heard himself say.
"Come, we're leaving," Reece left the woman on the floor and ran to John.
"No," John flinched, "I'm not going anywhere with you."
Reece's eyes narrowed and his face stiffened. He grabbed John's arm, ripped the keys from his hand and jammed them into the door.
"You're coming whether you like it or not."