The Preacher
I feel I should point out that this story was completely written before the fabulous Dark Side Of The Moon aired on tv so any similarities are entirely coincidental.
Disclaimer: Don't own them, more's the pity.
Once again I would like to thank sjd for lending me her ears when I needed to have a rant and for looking over this for me.
Chapter Six
Sam continued to pace the length and breadth of the gloomy space he was forced to wait in for the preacher to return. Time and time again he looked longingly at the opening which would take him out of his prison except that there was some kind of force field preventing him stepping through as he had found to his cost immediately he was left alone.
Being unable to see any guards outside Sam had decided to try his luck and made a bid for freedom only to be thrown back, his body slamming against the far wall as the force-field did its job.
The sound of loud cheers and rapturous applause brought him back to the present and set his heart pounding so hard against his ribs he was sure it'd burst through at any moment, he just knew that something bad was happening to his brother, could feel it as tears of frustration filled his eyes.
"Have you reached a decision yet Sam?" The preacher appeared as if from thin air.
"What's goin on? Sam demanded.
"Oh, you mean the excitement of the crowd that you can hear?"
"Why are they excited?" Sam asked quietly, his body trembling.
"They are witnessing the first stage of your brother's punishment, the first but by no means the last, we still have many witnesses who wish testify, in fact, I think this trial may well last far longer than I had anticipated."
What is that supposed to mean? What are you doing to him?"
"Me, I'm doing nothing to your brother, whatever punishments are handed out for him to face he has brought upon himself by the heinous crimes he has repeatedly committed for most of his life." The preacher clasped his hands in front on him in a prayer like manner.
"My brother has done nothing wrong, in fact it's just the opposite, he saves people, is one of the most selfless individuals anyone could ever wish to meet, he's a good person." Sam's voice took on a pleading note.
"I can see that you are not ready to accept my offer just yet, but fear not Sam, you will soon come to realise that my way is the only way." The preacher faded from view even as he spoke the last word leaving Sam staring at an empty space and cursing his inability to protect the one person who had protected and cared for him his whole life.
"You may as well do as he says."
Sam spun around as the soft voice broke the silence to find a fragile young girl, she couldn't have been more than sixteen or seventeen he guessed.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Miriam, I am the preacher's daughter, or I was until he had me tried and executed."
"His daughter! What was your crime?" Sam fumbled to rephrase his question as the girl's eyes filled with tears and her body trembled "I'm sorry Miriam, what I meant to ask was what did your father think you had done."
"Love." The word was little more than a whisper.
"Love?"
"Yes, I fell in love with a man of whom my father did not approve, you see, Edgar came from what my father deemed a lowly family, in other words, he thought Edgar was not good enough for me because he worked as a labourer in the mines, his father had abandoned his mother leaving her to raise nine children alone; so, as you can imagine, times were hard and the family could not afford many of the things that people such as my father took for granted, but they were good people, hard working." Tears slid down Miriam's cheeks as she lost herself in her memories.
"What happened?" Sam gently pushed.
"I went against my father's wishes and married Edgar." Miriam smiled at the memory before once again her face clouded over and tears spilled out of brimming eyes to glide a path down her stricken face. "At first my father did nothing more than disown me, refused to even acknowledge my very existence, it was as though I were already dead to him and then, a year after my marriage I gave birth to a little boy, he was beautiful, the image of his father but there were complications, he became ill and was unable to be saved, he died in my arms when he was just three months old."
"I'm so sorry." Sam whispered.
Miriam continued as though Sam hadn't spoken. "We buried our son the day following his death and stayed beside his tiny grave until darkness fell when Edgar led me away and back to our home; we were lying in bed just holding each other, trying to comfort one another when the door was forced open, three men rushed in and pulled Edgar out of the bed and dragged him outside, I too was dragged from the house by my hair only to watch as a noose was placed around Edgar's neck and he was hung from an oak tree; he struggled and fought to break free but it was to no avail and all to soon his struggles ceased and he was still. My Edgar was dead.
It was then that my father showed himself, he declared to the small crowd that had gathered that Edgar and I had murdered our son.
Sam remained silent, not wanting to interrupt Miriam as she recounted her story.
"I was tried and found guilty of murder; my father sentenced me to death.
I was led from the court and brought to this very place" Miriam's eyes travelled around the dark space "where the entrance was blocked, there was no window back then, and I was left here alone in the dark until finally there was no more air and I died. My father said he chose for me to pay for my crime in this way because it would give me time to reflect on what I had done and to beg god for forgiveness." Miriam's voice a mere whisper as she finished her story.
"That's terrible; I can't imagine how awful it must have been for you." Sam felt terrible for the girl and wished there was something he could do for her.
"Do as he says Sam, if you don't he'll just kill you like he has so many innocent people over the many, many years since my death."
"He has my brother, I have to save him."
"I'm sorry for your brother Sam, really I am but he is lost, you will not be able to save him, save yourself and find a way to stop him, please find a way to stop him." Miriam begged.
"I can't leave here without Dean, I just can't." Sam spoke more to himself than the girl standing a short distance from him.
"You have to, please, you must and whatever you do, do not allow him to persuade you to participate in any kind of plan, I have seen so many times how he turns against those who, thinking they will finally be allowed to leave, agree to do as he bids only for him to turn on them and try them for betraying a loved one. Please Sam, please do not do his bidding, you are a good man, I sense that about you."
Before Sam could answer, Miriam, a stricken look on her face glanced over her shoulder before returning her attention to Sam "I must go, he is on his way back, please remember what I have told you, please do the right thing" and then she was gone.
Sam turned full circle but once again he was alone, his prison silent but inside his head Miriam's words still rang loud and clear leaving him alone to face the toughest decision of his life.
"I just thought I would stop by once more on my way to returning to the proceedings and to remind you that your brother's life may depend on the line you take." The preacher's icy glare bored into Sam.
"How do I know you'll let Dean go if I do as you say?"
"You don't for sure, what you have to ask yourself is; would Dean do this for you, does he have a chance of survival if you refuse my offer, the choice is yours Sam, now am I wasting my time or do you have something to say to me?"
Even whilst knowing deep down that it was the wrong thing to do and remembering Miriam's words Sam followed his heart and decided that he would go along with the preacher's plan, because, he reasoned with himself, it would save his brother's life and once they were out of these damn woods he would be able to put it all right, would be able to convince Dean that he had no choice, that it was the only way they would both survive, so, with a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach Sam gave the preacher his answer "Okay, I'll do it your way."
The preacher's mouth curved in a self satisfied smirk as he made his way towards the dread filled young hunter standing a short distance away "I am so happy you have chosen the righteous path Sam, or may I call you Samuel now that we are to become as colleagues in the fight against evil, at least for now?"
"The names Sam."
As if he hadn't heard Sam's words the preacher continued "I shall return later Samuel, you and I shall put our plan into action, for now though you must remain here whilst I oversee your brother's trial."
"What, but I thought you said if I agreed you'd let Dean go." Sam stammered.
"No Samuel, I did not say that, I said I would spare his life, he must still be tried, and as the trial is under way it is beyond my power to end it before it reaches its natural conclusion." The preacher looked into the young man's eyes "Do not fret, your brother will survive, I have given my word." The preacher then faded from view leaving Sam once again alone with his thoughts, thoughts as to whether he'd done the right thing.
0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0
"Joshua, Bobby here, listen I need to call in that favour you owe me. Remember I called you about that hunt John's boys were goin on and how I was worried it could turn against em, well I'm pretty damn sure it has so how long before you can get to me?"
Bobby listened, the scowl on his face growing deeper and his temper rising as the voice on the other end of the line spoke before he cut in, his voice raised in anger.
"I don't give a rats ass about any damn job you think you can't get away from, you git your butt down here asap you got that." Bobby was ready to slam the phone down when the voice on the other end begged he listen.
His face softening a little at hearing the hunters reasons for not being able to drop everything and hot foot it to join the search for the Winchesters quelled Bobby's anger a little but he was still pissed and didn't refrain from letting the unfortunate Joshua know about it.
"Why the hell didn't yer tell me before now that it's family you're helpin out, y'know I wouldn'ta asked if it wasn't important, yeah yeah I hear ya but how do I know I can trust this friend a yours?"
Bobby listened to what the hunter on the other end of the phone had to say and was assured that the man coming to give him a hand was one of the best and one hundred percent reliable having worked with Joshua on a number of hunts and never having failed him, besides, as Joshua had informed him, the guy had heard of the Winchesters and had once, a few years back worked briefly with John on a case.
"Yeah, I'll keep you up to date just soon as I know myself what's goin on." With that a worried Bobby ended the call and set about gathering everything he'd need in his search for the boys.
0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0
Dean's agony filled cries only increased as the guard beside him smothered the flames devouring his hand with a rough hessian cloth, the harsh material squishing the tender blister filled skin and increasing the pain tenfold.
"Are we ready to recommence?" The preachers voice stilled the whooping and clapping of the raucous, blood thirsty spectators.
"We are ready." The prosecution announced.
"Good" continued the preacher "Now let us begin with the defence. Does the defence wish to call upon the poor innocent young woman Meg? The preacher smiled down on the figure seated just below his high platform.
"No sir" the prosecution began "it is felt by me that the young woman has suffered enough at the hands of the accused, to prolong her ordeal would just add to that. We are satisfied with what we have seen and heard."
Dean, still wracked with pain from the injuries to his hand not to mention the battering his body had taken since all this began dropped his head in despair, unable and unwilling to so much as try to voice a protest, knowing that it would just cause him further suffering. The only thing keeping him going was the fact that he hadn't seen Sammy, so hopefully that meant the preacher was lying when he said that he'd be seeing his brother soon enough.
Dean knew that if Sam was able he'd be tearing the woods apart looking for him but he also hoped that the kid'd taken the time to contact Bobby and get some help because the way things were going Dean knew he'd be in no fit state to help when the time came, if he even survived that long.
Shaking the negative thoughts away Dean berated himself for being weak and focussed his attention on the proceedings, his mind unable to process what his eyes were seeing as the next witness took the stand.
The prosecution once again began the questioning.
"Would you kindly tell the court your name and how you became associated with the accused" the voice boomed.
"Yes sir" came the tremulous reply "My name is Jessica Moore; I first met the accused just over four years ago whilst I was in college." She stopped speaking and looked downwards as if to compose herself.
"Are you alright to continue my dear child?" The preacher asked.
"Yes sir, please forgive me, the memories are painful."
"Of course, take all the time you need."
"Thank you, I'm ready now to tell my story" Jessica looked over to where Dean stood transfixed staring at her "I was living in an apartment with Sam Winchester, the accused younger brother."
One night, it was Halloween actually, I remember because Sam and I had been to a Halloween ball, anyway we were asleep in bed when unbeknown to me Sam heard something and got out of bed to investigate, it turns out his brother, Dean, had broken into our apartment. The next thing I knew Sam was leaving with his brother, he seemed kinda scared, wouldn't tell me where he was going just that Dean said he had to go with him and that was the last time I saw Sam. I was killed two days later." Jessica finished speaking on a sob.
"And you think the accused is the one who caused your death?" The prosecution asked.
"Yes, it all adds up, he was jealous of my relationship with Sam and had me killed."
"Thank you Miss Moore. Unless the defence has any further questions I request that the young lady be allowed to stand down." The prosecution finished.
"We have no questions, we are satisfied that Miss Moore has covered everything we needed to hear."
"You may stand down my dear." The preacher smiled lovingly at the young woman.
"It wasn't like that, you know it wasn't, Jess, tell them the truth." Dean implored.
The witness stood ready to make her exit when a box was thrust in front of her "Please choose a punishment for the accused." The preacher instructed as the pale figure reached into the box and pulled out a piece of wood before passing it to the preacher who immediately gave a gentle shake of the head.
"No my dear, it is you who must read the punishment."
"Please sir, I have seen what is written and I would request that this be kept from the accused until it is time, it will have more impact on him, I beg of you sir."
The preacher glanced at the words, a smile crept across his face before he nodded "You are correct my dear, this is one which shall be saved until later."
Dean trained his sight on both the preacher and Jess, 'no not Jess' he corrected himself 'it's not her, she wouldn't do this' to see if he could get any indication of what was in store for him, the only sure thing he could discern was that it would be nothing good, of that he was certain.
A shiver ran up his spine as the preacher's cold gaze settled on him, a slight nod giving him no clue as to the pain which assaulted his body seconds later as a heavy, blunt chunk of wood was brought down on his one remaining uninjured hand, the crunching and grinding as the impact was made leaving him in no doubt that several bones had been badly broken or even crushed, the agony as just seconds later the nail of his forefinger was ripped from it's bed of bruised and swollen flesh had Dean gasping for breath and silently begging for it to stop.
But Dean's wish was not to be granted as his attention was drawn to two figures, head's bowed, slowly making their way onto the witness stand. "NO, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"
he hollered, tears coursing unchecked down his cheeks.
"Mr and Mrs Winchester" the prosecution began "I am sorry we have to meet under such dire circumstances as these but I'm sure you will understand that for the sake of all the innocents in the world and for your son's own sake we need to put to an end the destructive path he has chosen."
Dabbing her eyes Mary Winchester looked directly at her son "How could you have done all these terrible things Dean, I loved you, gave you everything; died for you, how…" Her words were cut of as she broke into uncontrollable sobs.
"Mom, please mom, I swear, I didn't do anything, you have to believe me." Dean's heart shattered into a thousand pieces at seeing his mom so obviously heartbroken, at hearing her words. His head told him this was not real, his mom and dad weren't really standing in front of him saying those terrible things but his heart told him different, in his heart he could see the grain of truth in everything they said, no matter how tenuous it was there was no denying that what they said could be interpreted as fact.
"Stop, stop this now" John Winchester's arm tightened around his wife's trembling body as his deep voice growled the order "You have done enough, your poor mother's heart is broken and I will not allow you to hurt her more, do you understand me boy. Your whole life you have disappointed me and you will do it no more, this will end today, and I'm goin to end it."
Dean sank further and further into the abyss of despair as he listened to his parents, the parents he worshipped recount his life, but not as he remembered it, they told it as one failure after another beginning with just after Sammy was born, through to his mom's death which was portrayed as him not following orders and putting Sammy in danger, his mom dying trying to save the baby she loved more than life itself and culminating in his dad sacrificing his own life in order to once again save the life of the youngest Winchester because once again Dean had failed in his one job of looking after the boy, even going so far as to let the baby of the family face death because his older brother had been careless enough to invite evil into their lives.
"Mr Winchester" the prosecution continued "We have all listened with dismay to your story and I'm sure I am not alone in offering you both my heartfelt sympathy at having produced a child such as your eldest, the accused. What I and the many good people here today would like to know is what you meant when you said you would end it, can you please explain to the court."
"Of course" 'John Winchester' began "My wife and I have tried our whole lives to do the best for our children, as any parent would, but time and time again we have been betrayed by our eldest, time after time when our boys were small we had to watch as Dean put his brother's life in danger by not taking care of him, by refusing to heed our advice to look out for the younger boy, he would encourage Sammy to do things which would undoubtedly have led to his death had not my wife or myself been around to stop him and then, even after our deaths we have had to watch from the afterlife, which should have been our peaceful eternal rest together as Dean has made his brother run the gauntlet of terror time and time again, he even watched as his younger brother suffered what would have been a fatal knife wound had it not been for our family friend Bobby Singer. So I came here today with a heavy heart but knowing I had to be truthful, no matter how painful for both of us" John hugged a still weeping Mary tighter "to see justice done and the unstoppable vehicle of destruction that is our eldest son dealt a punishment which will see an end to his actions." John finished speaking and lowered his eyes.
"That is very brave of you sir." The prosecution added.
"Not brave, necessary." John finished.
The prosecution nodded gravely before pointedly walking towards Dean before making his way to the spectators and finally returned to his spot at centre stage of the proceedings where he spoke to the hushed court.
"Surely the testimony of the accused heartbroken parents will have moved you all as much as it moved me and will serve as a reminder, if indeed any were necessary, that the evil standing before you" he glanced in Dean's direction "must be stopped, not only for the good of all mankind but for himself also. We today have the power to save this poor misguided individual from committing further atrocities for which he will undoubtedly spend eternity burning in the fires of hell. I implore you to keep in mind everything you have heard today whilst we listen to the words of our final and possibly most valuable witness."
Dean simply stared straight ahead, he didn't have the strength of mind or body to fight any further right now, his whole being still reeling from the sight of his mom and dad and the words they spoke against him and although he continued to try and tell himself that none of it was real the complete and utter despair he was fighting against was taking a hold and seeping further and further into his very soul.
"Your honour" the prosecution turned to face the preacher "I wish to call upon…"
0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0
Bobby and Kelvin Morris were already on the road towards the woods holding the Winchesters within its confines.
Kelvin Morris had rapped on Bobby's front door a short time ago and had been invited into the cluttered house by the seasoned hunter who all the time watched the newcomer for any reaction the man may have to the many subtle tests he had prepared in an effort to ensure no demonic or otherwise influence.
Kelvin passed the first tests by being able to simply walk past the wards Bobby had surreptitiously placed, gulped the holy water laced beer he was offered and hardly flinched as Bobby's silver knife 'accidentally' slipped through his fingers only to cut the unsuspecting hunters arm deep enough to draw blood but not deep enough to need stitches. Bobby then led the man into his library and watched as he sent him across the room to retrieve a book, a hidden devil's trap under the threadbare rug in the middle of the room and a more obvious, if you looked up, one painted on his ceiling.
Satisfied that the hunter Joshua had sent him was on the level Bobby filled the man in on what he knew so far before they both set off on what the heavy feeling in the pit of his stomach told Bobby wasn't going to be an easy or straight forward mission.
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T.B.C.
Thanks for reading.