Hi , thanks to all for reviewing and also for just reading.
Hope you like this chapter and will continue reading!
Christie
Title:The Game
Genre:Drama/Horror/Angst-all those good things!
Characters:Dean and Sam of course.(It's mostly Dean-centric, but has a healthy dose of Sammy)and some OC's.
Rating:PG13(for now)Rating will go up when it gets more graphic.
Summary:Dean finds himself an unwilling participant in a deranged game of survival.
Disclaimer:I own nothing to do with Supernatural.
The Game
CH10
(Several hours before Sam's Vision)
"Wakey, wakey! Nap times over Dean. It's your turn to play!"were the sing-song words, along with water being thrown in his face, that ushered him back into consciousness once more.
With a deep, painful hacking cough, he slowly lifted his head and blinked his eyes, looking around in confusion.
"Yeah, thats right my young friend, time to rejoin the rest of us in the land of the living."Marty, or whoever the hell he actually was, said in a taunting voice, following his words with a hard smack to Deans left cheek.
"Hey! Leave him alone you stupid fuck!"Dean vaguely recognized the voice of Cole yell angrily after feeling the sting of the hit." Think you're a real bad ass hitting somebody who can't defend themselves don't you? Well you're not, you're a fucking pussy!"
"Cole, Cole, Cole,"Marty replied in a chastising tone,"Such a filthy mouth on one so young. You should really bite your tongue and watch what you say to me considering the position you're in, don't you think?"
"Bite my tongue? How about you bite me? We're not stupid! We know you're just gonna kill us all anyway, so why even try to act like you're not?"the teen snapped in reply.
"That is not necessarily true Cole. Some of you might very well survive, though I will admit that it's looking doubtful at the moment."Marty replied, then turned his attention back to Dean, who's pain filled green eyes were now focused on him."Ah good, now that I have your attention we'll just move right along to our next event. First of all, I'd like to give you all a little history lesson about this wonderful facility that I have transformed into what you have seen thus far. Well... as mentioned earlier, this used to be a army prison, one that supposedly held the worst of all the criminals that performed wrong doings against our illustrious country."
Dean, who was somewhat more alert, was trying his best to get out of the chair he now occupied, but found it to be impossible due to the fact his arms and legs were being held restrained by thick leather straps, so thus far he had accomplished nothing more than ridding himself of the little bit of energy he had left.
Marty's dialog paused when he noticed Deans actions.
Seeing his fruitless attempt at escaping along with the fact he apparently wasn't captivated by his story, Marty tsk tsk'ed then rared back and struck Dean in the face with the butt of his gun, not hard enough to knock him out but definitely regaining his attention, and said," I would pay attention to this Dean, because it's something you really need to hear. Not to mention it's just down right rude not to listen when someone else is speaking. Have you no manners?"
Dean would've liked nothing more than to put his foot up the other mans ass at that moment and ask how was that for manners but, given the fact he was fighting consciousness, that just wasn't going to happen. He groaned and spit blood from his mouth, as his throbbing head, which felt like it weighed a hundred pounds, started drooping again.
"No, no! No more napping!"Marty exclaimed, grabbing Deans hair and roughly yanking his head back up.
Hissing in pain, Dean gritted his teeth and once more locked eyes with the man, glaring angrily at him.
"There is a little fire left in there after all I see. We're going to have to do something about that aren't we? Now as I was saying. This was a prison, but being as how it was run by armed forces, occasionally they took it upon themselves to practice martial law by personally handling certain prisoners that they felt didn't deserve a fair trial. You see as far as they were concerned the moment someone walked in these doors, they were guilty. And who would ever question a little accident here and there since our armed forces would never consider breaking any laws? Our friend Mickey, be it he were still alive that is, could attest to the inhumane treatment, since he was a guard here for many years and enjoyed partaking in it himself."
Deans eyelids were slowly closing, his thoughts growing more jumbled in his semi- delirious state, feeling nothing but agonizing pain and discomfort as sweat pouring freely from his fevered face.
Taking a thoughtful look at the young man, Marty decided that instead of hitting him again, which might only serve in making the younger man more incapable of taking in what he needed to hear, maybe he would just speed his little history lesson up a tad and get on to the next part of the game.
"To make a long story short, the guards got a little out of hand with their punishments and would accidentally kill an inmate occasionally, and to cover up what they'd done they would bring the bodies down to this room to dispose of them. I'm guessing when the inspectors came around every so often they didn't think that the old crematorium in the basement was actually being used, so why even bother to check it out? Had they done so, they would have found quite a few remains from the MP'S dirty work and the inhumane treatment would have been stopped long before."
Crematorium? Dean thought, that one word ringing clearly in his mind as he forced himself to focus on his surroundings.
"Now, on to the game!"Marty exclaimed, clapping his hands together in an almost gleeful manner.
"Dear, bring the boy up here now."he ordered Rose, who had been standing with one hand on Cole's shoulder while holding a gun to his back with the other.
Nudging him forward, they walked up to the two conveyor belts that ran into one of the ovens and stopped.
"Go on now Cole, don't be shy. Hop on up there, we don't have all day."Marty ordered.
"I'm not getting on that thing!"Cole replied, eyes round with fear as he looked at the large furnace the belt fed into.
"Fine, then I suppose we'll just kill you now then. How's that sound?"Marty asked tauntingly, aiming his gun at the boy.
"Stop. Don't...do it."Dean muttered.
Seeing as how he really had no choice since the only adult that was on his side was unable to assist him in any way, Cole reluctantly did as he was told, climbing up on the belt, and laying flat on his back as, Rose strapped him down tight with the flame retardant straps that were used for holding the coffins in place, placing a piece of duck tape over his mouth, then stepped back, a slight smile on her face.
"What...are..?"Dean started to ask, confusion now mixed with the pain in his eyes.
"What am I doing you ask?"Marty cut him off, knowing what he was about to question."Before I tell you, lets see what's behind door number two."and saying this he walked over to the conveyor belt that fed into the other furnace.
After standing over a long lumpy object covered with a large tarp the rooms occupants had until that point not noticed, Marty suddenly exclaimed,
"Viola!"as he yanked it away with a flourish, revealing none other than a bound and gagged SJ who's eyes were almost bugging out from his head as he stared wild-eyed around the room.
"That's right folks, our deserter here didn't get very far when he bolted from the room. Come on SJ, did you really think I would leave the door in the next room wide open for you just to run on out? Give a fellow more credit than that."Marty said, patting the black man on the head before turning his attention back to Dean," You're probably asking yourself just what kind of plans I have for you and all, so let's get right down to the nitty gritty. Now pay close attention Dean. Seeing as how you seem to possess a little something known as a "hero complex", I've come up with the perfect way to let you act on it one last time, well sorta... but anyway... We'll call this the "which is the worst way to bite it" part of the experiment. How in the world could this be in any way considered a scientific experiment you ask? It's very much one. My theory is that the human psyche is very fragile and can only take so much before one, say um...Dean for example, just snaps! Turning the victim into a mere shell of what they once were. Up till now, despite your injury and hardships that yourself and the others have faced, you Dean, have remained stoic, brave and unbreakable my young friend. Making you by far the most challenging individual of the lot. To be totally honest, I was really starting to feel a little guilty for involving you in this at all after the amount of energy you put into trying to save my life. And sacrificing yourself by jumping in front of Katie? I was truly moved, but then... I remembered exactly why you were chosen... I'm just rambling again aren't I?"he asked, shaking his head and smiling before he started talking once more.
"Dean, I know this may seem a bit harsh to you, but both of our friends are going to die. The catch is, and here's where the psyche experiment comes in, you will hold the power to choose which goes the easy way, and which the hard. I feel this will be what breaks the spirit of our local hero once and for all."
"No."Dean stated, understanding breaking through his pain-hazed mind when Marty held a gun in front of his face."Do...w-what...want...to...m-me."
"No, no. That's not how its going down Dean. That would ruin everything, not to mention be far less entertaining. What is going to happen is this, one of them is going to have to burn to death in a furnace, while the other is going to die by your hand. The choice you must make is this, which deserves to suffer the pain of being burned alive, and which deserves a quick and easy death by a bullet fired from the gun that will be in your possession?"
"Fuck you! N-no!."Dean exclaimed, his mind totally clear for the moment due to the horror of what he was told to do, and added adamently." I will not! You'll have to kill me if you think I'm g-gonna murder anybody."
There was no way in hell he was going to. Sure he took out demons and such all the time without hesitation, but this was different. It was not his place to choose how another living person died, and he wouldn't. He'd rather die.
"What fun would be in that Dean?"Marty asked"I'd much rather witness you dying slowly and painfully from your wounds. You know,I'm willing to bet infection and gangrene will set in soon, if it hasn't already. And look at your shirt. Looks like you've started bleeding again. But no, it's not your time to die just that. As a added plus, I do have something very special planned for you later on so it's best to keep you around as long as possible."
"I'm...not...k-killing anybody for your entertainment you b-bastard."
"Very well,I was really hoping we wouldn't have to do this, but you leave me no choice."Marty said, looking over Dean's shoulder and saying with a sigh,"Beth dear, bring our other young friend up here if you don't mind love."
Behind him Dean heard muffled sounds of struggling, and seconds later Rose, or Beth as Marty had called her, appeared beside the chair Dean was strapped to, an arm around the neck of a now gagged Katie with a small pistol aimed at her head.
"Sick f-fuck!"Dean yelled, glaring at Marty with venomous hatred.
"Thats right, I am a sick fuck, and that being said, you needn't have any doubts as to whether I will do what I'm about to say. "Marty replied with a smile before continuing on, " You either A, cooperate by doing as you're told so little miss Katie's brains wont be splattered all over you and the chair you're sitting in while I burn both of those two up anyway to top it off, or B, save one life and lose 2 instead of three. Choice is yours."he finished with a shrug as he walked over and flipped on the furnaces.
God, why not me? Dean pleaded, looking back and forth between the three people who's lives were now his to end.
He couldn't kill an innocent kid, he thought as his eyes landed on Cole, I just couldn't. Or even SJ, no matter how much an ass he is doesn't deserve to die like this
"Why? Why m-me?"he asked Marty."D-don't even...know...you."
"Alright, "the man said with an indulgent grin," I suppose I can reveal why you, and the others also, were my choices for this experiment since I feel we're great pals now and all.
Let me first of all start out with Marty, the person who's identity I decided to borrow. As you've figured out, he was a lawyer. A crooked one, but a lawyer none the less. A year or so before it was closed down my son Robbie was a prisoner at this very place. One night he was drug from his cell by some guards who thought he was behind one of the other inmates being shanked during lunch time, one guard which was Mickey I might add. Normally it wouldn't have been a issue for an inmate to be murdered by another, but this particular victim was one who was an informant to the guards as to the wrongdoings and plans that were being made by the other prisoners. So they killed my boy by beating him to death. This time though, the proper authorities found out about it before they could dispose of Robbie's body. The prison was from there on out closely watched to see if any other abuse was taking place, and closed down not a year later. But Mr. Marty was one of the guilty parties defense attorney, and despite the amount of evidence placed against the guard, he got off scot free. Can you believe that? The guy was even testified against by his fellow guards and still got off due to Marty berating my boys character so badly. After this I took a page from their very on book and decided to hand out justice myself to those behind what happened. Mr Cole there,"he said nodding at the boy,"his father was the judge on Robbie's case, and what better way to pay ole judgie back than by taking from him the same thing he did me.
As for Mickey, I said earlier he was one of the guilty party behind my boys murder. Katie's father was at the time a medical examiner and went before the court and told a flat out lie saying that he found large traces of drugs and alcohol in Robbie's system, thereby collaborating the guards story that he was only killed in self defense. So as with the boy, I decided that it would hurt her parents far worse by murdering their only child."
Taking a slight pause of thought, he continued,"SJ, well I have to say that his participation in this was formed solely due to personal reasons, as was the actual Rose, Casey, and yourself. SJ, for a short time,did to me what he was best at and because of this I lost everything. My home, my wife, my job, hell even my fucking dog. Just because a stupid fool tapped into my life savings and bank accounts, taking all my money and putting me in irreparable financial peril. It did take me several years to track down who was behind it, but finally I traced it back to him. The real Rose was a caregiver for my mother for many years before she died, and when the old hag did kick the bucket she left a small fortune to her. I took her to court, but she testified that I had done nothing to help my mother in any way for all the years she was ailing, and said I did nothing but make mother miserable by trying to squeeze every penny from her that I could, so in the end the jury voted in her favor. Casey was a college student whom was on the jury at my brothers case and was very key in swaying the other jurors into finding him guilty. Which leaves us with you Dean. Why would I involve a person who has been in town for such a short period of time? Because you and that other man working with you were butting your nose into something that was not your business is why! Going around town and asking questions about the murders that have taken place as of late. Making the law enforcement delve deeper into the cases. They were coming dangerously close to tying the victims, who were just random individuals I chose to use as practice for this whole scenario, to me. So I decided that by getting rid of the instigator, I'd get rid of the problem. It was either you or your other young friend, and since I got the distinct feeling that you were the one really running the show, I went to your motel room, drugged you as I'd done the others, and here we all are. So is that explanation enough?"
Son of a bitch, Dean thought. The murders he and Sam had been here investigating hadn't been committed by anything supernatural. No, it was just some crazy bastard with a personal vendetta.
At least one good thing had come out of all this, Marty had chosen him instead of Sam.
"Oh, and I haven't formally introduced myself have I? My name is Bill Lincoln and that lovely woman who has been helping me throughout this is my wife Beth."Bill announced as an afterthought.
The fact he'd just told them he and his wife's real name proved one thing to Dean, regardless of what the man said otherwise, he had no plans on letting any of them leave here alive.
Releasing the strap holding down Deans right arm, Bill laid the gun in his lap and stepped backward, saying,
"Now choose."
"I-I can't do this. I won't."Dean argued, looking at the gun in his lap, but not picking it up.
"Maybe this will help you decide."Bill said, reaching over and flipping the switch that started the convener belts.
"Don't do this. He's just a k-kid."Dean pleaded, something anyone who knew him would have ever fathomed him doing."Don't make me."
Muffled screams were heard from both Cole and SJ as their bodies moved closer to the actual furnace, and as Dean wracked his mind to try and come up with an alternative to doing as Bill ordered, he let his eyes fall on the gun once more, feeling a sliver of hope.
He'd just shoot Bill instead of either of them, then save them both.
"I know what you're thinking Dean."Bills voice broke in smugly, and as if reading his mind, continued on, saying,"And it would be an unwise course of action since my wife has a gun also and would kill you and the girl for pulling such a stunt."
The muffled screams were growing as the teen and SJ's feet actually reached the furnace opening and entered into the flames.
"Uh oh, times running out Dean. Make a choice now, after all do you really want Cole, who I'm sure would be the one you'd choose, to have to die such a slow agonizing death? As a matter of fact, I'm sure he'd thank you for it."
Still Dean did nothing but let the gun lay there.
"Beth honey, kill the girl."Bill ordered, and hearing the sound of her cocking her gun, Dean yelled,
"No! S-stop. I'll d-do it. Just don't hurt h-her."
He had no choice, Cole and SJ were as good as dead anyway.
Though knowing this still didn't stop the tears that came to his eyes as he picked up the gun in his shaking hand and aimed it at the teen.
What would his father think if he saw him now? Sitting here blubbering like some little bitch.
He'd be so ashamed, but Dean couldn't help it. As Bill had predicted, having to do this was the straw that would break this camels back.
"Anytime now Mr. Hero."Bill taunted impatiently.
"I'm so sorry."Dean said, meeting the teens eyes, receiving a look of understanding and resignation in return.
Extended arm shaking, Dean closed his eyes and pulled the trigger, and hearing the sickening sound of bullet hitting flesh, let the gun fall from his hand to the floor.
"Nice shooting there kid. I'm impressed, you got him right in the head."Marty commented as he went over and unbuckled the remaining straps holding Dean to the chair, enabling him to stand or do as he wished.
Dean didn't move for several seconds, just sitting there with his head bowed in shame and disgust at himself for what he'd done, listening as SJ's muffled screams continued, the acrid smell of burnt human flesh filling the room.
Finally the sound stopped, and Bill spoke again,
"Are you just going to sit there all day killer or what?"
Dean rose unsteadily to his feet, not once looking at Cole's body, and walked several feet before his legs gave out and he dropped to his knees, blood from his wound soaking not only his shirt but the jeans he wore also, and once again started crying silently.
"Awww...how touching."Bill said mockingly."Really."
Katie had been made to witness the deaths of the nice boy and the mean old man, but instead of being angry at her friend, a maturity that was unusual for her age allowed her to realize that what Dean had done was not his fault in the least, so she felt sadness and compassion for him.
She struggled to get away from Beth, and finally succeded by stomping the womans foot as hard as she could.
"No, let her go dear."Bill told his wife, who looked so angered by the girls actions that he thought she would surely kill her given the chance.
Using a trick her daddy had taught her, she quickly worked her hands loose from the rope wrapped around it and jerked the duct tape off her mouth.
"Don't cry Dean."she said, reaching and wrapping her arms around the man who still was on his knees. Hugging him tightly."You didn't have no choice."
Sniffing loudly, he did something else he'd never have been caught doing under normal occasion and allowed her to embrace him without pulling away.
"Now for the final round."Bill spoke up from behind them before rearing his foot back and kicking Dean in the back right where the projectile had pierced through.
Dropping with a scream of pain, Dean tried to move as he saw the other mans fist headed for his face, but failed, and was once again knocked out cold.
"Bring her."Bill ordered Beth as he grabbed Deans legs and started dragging him across the room, his wife close behind until he reached what looked like a large black box.
After hefting him up, he then roughly threw Dean into the small space, then turned towards Beth and Katie.
Grabbing the girl he put her kicking and screaming inside also, then put the lid on the box before she could try to escape.
"Oh by the way Katie, you know how I said that some of you might make it out alive? I lied."his muffled voice came through as he locked the many latches.
Finishing this, he pushed the box, which he'd placed on a dolly to make it easier to move, towards a brick wall with a hole in it just large enough for the box, then commenced in bricking the box and its two occupants up until you couldn't tell there had ever been a hole there in the first place.
Wiping his hands, he grabbed up his wife and kissed her deeply, then pulled back and said,"Game over."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Wake up Dean, please wake up."were the first words he heard as he drifted out of the merciful, painless darkness back into harsh reality.
"Please Dean! Wake up!"Katie repeated, shaking him slightly in the total darkness, unseen tears flowing down her cheeks as she silently prayed that he wasn't dead.
Then a second later, she felt him move, followed by a low moan.
"Thank god."she said aloud, grateful for just the small movement and sound.
"Sam? Where are you? I can't...see."he said in a small frightened voice, and she grabbed his hand that was groping aimlessly at the walls and ceiling and said,
"It's okay. I'm here Dean, so please don't be scared." trying to sound as brave as possible.
For several moments he said nothing as he forced his muddled mind to remember what was going on, and needless to say that was no easy task, but finally he spoke, asking in a barely audible whisper,
"Where?" which was the only word he could manage to get out, but Katie knew what he was trying to ask, and replied,
"We're in a box Dean, and I think he bricked us in a wall."she replied, trying not to let here fear show through. She needed to be strong for Dean.
No sound other than Deans labored breathing was heard for several minutes as the words sunk in.
When they had done so, he started frantically feeling around the interior of the box, and that, alone with his full blown fever, made him start panicking then hyperventilating.
"No, no. Don't do that please."Katie pleaded, frightened by his desperate attempts at escaping."Please!"
After several minutes he had depleted him energy and sat back in resignation.
"We'll be okay, you'll see."Katie said confidently, but received no reply.
"Dean? Dean?"she yelled frantically, shaking him lightly, but received no response.
Oh god, please don't let him be dead, she prayed, then leaned her head over and put an ear to his chest, seeing if she could hear a heart beat.
It took a moment but she finally heard it beating slowly.
Snuggling close to him, not caring about the blood on his clothes and pooling on the floor beneath him.
Help will come, I'm sure, she thought mentally reassuring herself.
It just has to.
TBC
Kinda overly angsty chapter, and I realize Dean was a little out of character, but I hope you still enjoyed.
Will update again as soon as possible, so until then. Ta ta, and don't forget to R&R!