Chapter 21

Location Unknown

The pain emanating from your wrists started to increase as you slowly open your eyes. As your weight shifted, the shooting pain flowed down your arms and into your shoulders. Looking upward showed that you were in shackles. You sigh heavily as you look down to see your legs dangle below. You couldn't move anything below the waist and took deep breaths to calm the rising panic. After opening your eyes again, you take in your surroundings. Looks like a basement of sorts with boxes along the walls and a metal table with various cups and plates scattered across it. The floor was stone as were the walls. The shackles were metal and new, the shine was still on them. The chain was settled across a massive metal girder. Any movement from your arms led to severe pain. You had to check though… had to make sure that the chains would not give way. One good shove forward proved that the chains were not budging from that spot above; maybe soldered. Of course the movement created some new scratches that caused fresh blood to trickle downward. You rest your head down, tired and at a loss of what to do next. The only thing to do was wait for your captor.

Time was passing but you had no idea if it was going fast or slow for you. There was no sound in the basement you were held in. Still no feeling from the waist down and your arms were going numb from being extended upward. Your chest was burning with pain now. Every breath created more movement and more pain. The tears were falling now. Hopelessness set in. You try to recall the events before and remember seeing yourself. If this was the case, there was no way for Dean to know that you were in any real danger. Rick was the only person you had a bond with that could sense your panic, but he was too far away. It was only you in this basement. Thirst started to set in. At least you had a full meal. In despair, you look down to see urine accumulate on the ground by your dangling feet. You didn't feel it. You didn't feel it.

You come out of your haze again. Still no one around. The panic is now giving way to anger. You let yourself get caught. You must have attracted another Tess in this dimension that you didn't know existed. The mind plays tricks on you though, because you forgot that this dimension was your own. You don't listen and create false scenarios around Kat'Rin coming back from the dead to destroy you. Thoughts of her seducing Dean and working her way back to Rick and the team and taking over your life and changing them all invade your thoughts now. Since no one has come for you, then that must mean that you are meant to die down here. All alone. Your worst fear. The eyelids are so heavy now. You must rest them again.

Still nothing greets you as you open your eyes again. The thirst is driving you crazy. You see the cups on the table and imagine that they must be full of water. If you could just get to them… the movement tares a scream from you. The voice creating it is tired and ragged from the periods of crying and screaming for help. The pain has become your friend now. It lets you know that you are not dead yet. Still nothing stirs from below your waist. All hope is gone that you will ever walk again. Fuck, all hope is gone. No one is coming for you. No one is checking in on their captive. No one cares. You're going to die down here, all alone and no one will ever notice. Kat'Rin will just take over your life now. As you focus on the table, you see a full chicken dinner set out for you. Dean is sitting down, cutting pieces off and serving Rick and Mack. They are talking about things and eating and drinking. You yell at them but they don't hear you. They keep eating and start to laugh. You are screaming at them but no heads turn your way.

Too tired to think now. Your head bobs downward as the sounds from your empty stomach are the only way for you to know that you are still alive. You've been in between states of consciousness, hallucinations and utter panic. Eyes don't register anything. You keep seeing things and just decide to close your eyes. Sleep was all you wanted. When you slept you dreamt of a perfect life with everyone. No one was angry or worried or sad. Close your eyes now… back to that perfect life with no pain.

"Fuck! No! Stay with me, Tess! Please… please… please…" You snap out of a dream thinking you heard Dean's voice. You dismiss it as another hallucination and close your eyes again. There is a growing pain though… starting in your arms and moving downward across your chest. Sharper pain explodes from your legs as you silently laugh that of course, at the end of your life, you would feel your legs again.

"Shit, shit, shit… We're losing her…" The voices are unrecognizable. Just snippets from your life to comfort you as you died; at least this is what you told yourself. You had no way of knowing that two men were working in a state of panic. Both scared that you were lost forever. One last time you fight to open your eyes. One last time you struggle with consciousness, just for old time's sake.

"She opened her eyes, Rick! She's still here!" You see Dean and smile. Of course it would be him. Only Dean knows you well enough to judge your sins and bring you to the next level of your life. You smile warmly as a tear falls. So many things to tell him but your voice doesn't work. "Tess, for goddess sake… please, please stay with me. I need you. I can't survive without you. Please goddess, please…" His voice sounded as if he was in severe pain. This confused you and caused you to try and sit up to comfort him. Pain shoots out all around you as you force a hand to land on his chest which was very close. Dean looks up at you as tears fall from his eyes. Why would he be crying? Isn't this a good transition? Maybe he knew your sins were too much… maybe he was crying because your next life was going to be worse…

"Hold her still Dean!" Was that Rick's voice? Why would he be here too? You are starting to get confused and this is creating a new level of panic. Something was not right. Something was very wrong. This was not a hallucination. This was real! You try and scream out to let them know you were still here with them but no voice came out. A warmth starts to envelope you as you struggle to keep control. The heart speeds up as the panic builds. No… you didn't want to leave. Not like this… please… Your inner voice screams out as the warmth overtakes you and your body slumps. There is nothing else for you to feel right now.