The Preacher
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.
Sorry this chapter is a little shorter than usual but it just seemed like the perfect place to end it.
Chapter Eight
Fighting the encroaching darkness his brother's attack had left him facing Dean struggled to remain conscious, afraid that if he gave into his body's demands he wouldn't wake up again, that the preacher and his followers who now included Sam would see to it that he was given the ultimate and irreversible sentence of death. It wasn't that Dean was afraid to die, what really scared him this time was what the preacher would do to Sam, what would become of his brother after he'd gone.
With the preacher absent from the proceedings the guards decided to have a little fun of their own with their prisoner and called upon the crowd for suggestions as to what they would wish to see the accused suffer.
The first whispered suggestion the guard took from a young woman had the man laughing so heartily he very nearly choked before regaining his composure and making his way back to Dean.
After whispering an instruction into the ears of his two companions they immediately grabbed a hold of Dean's hand and held it firmly against the rough wood in front of him before a young boy of no more than eight or nine years old ran forward brandishing a long, sharp pointed instrument which he placed in the flame of the fire burning just beside the platform. After waiting a few minutes during which time the boy repeatedly trotted toward Dean, kicking his legs and running back again, much to the delight of the crowd.
Still fighting to remain conscious Dean weakly struggled against the hold the guards had on him, not afraid to admit he was worried about what was coming and gasped as he watched the child pull the instrument from the flames and purposefully stride toward him.
Dean screamed in agony as the sharp, white hot tip of the implement the child was carrying was pushed under the top of his finger nail before being thrust as far down as it could go and then flipped upwards, his nail roughly torn out of the skin.
This was repeated three more times until all of the nails on one of Dean's hands were missing.
Dean fought ever harder to fight the rapidly advancing darkness and would have probably succeeded had it not been for the child running forward one last time to lay the once again white hot instrument across the newly exposed and raw flesh where his fingernails once were.
A deluge of ice cold water slamming against his face brought Dean back to consciousness. Before he even had time to get his bearings he was dragged, his knees unable to support him, from the platform and onto the ground below which was directly in front of the spectators.
The guards played with him, pushed him from one to the other, dragged him to his feet when he fell, laughed and cheered as fresh blood poured from yet another injury, slammed fists into the already badly injured young hunter.
After a particularly rough 'game' in which the guards had repeatedly kicked and battered him until he thought he could stand no more Dean lay face down in the dirt when he became aware of someone standing over him, someone who hadn't been there a few minutes before. Raising wary eyes Dean's gaze settled on his brother.
"Sammy." He breathed.
"Get up Dean, do you have any idea how pathetic you look lying there in the dirt, but then again, I suppose that's where you belong." Sam's foot shot forward connecting with Dean's side, the resounding crack and flaring agony telling Dean that his brother had just shattered another one of his ribs.
"Sa…" Dean tried again.
Bending down and grasping a hold of the collar of Dean's jacket Sam dragged his brother upright, moved his face to within inches of his brother's and spat "Do not even talk to me, do not use my name, you are nothing, nothing but a filthy, pathetic animal." Sam then thrust his brother away and watched with disgust as he crashed to the floor a yelp of pain escaping his lips as his broken rib connected with the hard ground.
The preacher who had been watching the events unfold nodded approvingly and invited Sam to sit beside him before he addressed the court.
"My people" the preacher began "It is my duty to inform each and every one of you that we have reached a verdict in this, the most disturbing of trials it has ever been my misfortune to preside over.
Sam silently nodded his affirmation as the preacher addressed the crowd.
"We have decided" the preacher continued "that the accused does not deserve the privilege of life, so therefore it is deemed only fair that he be put to death."
The crowd roared their approval as Dean was roughly pulled to his feet and dragged back to his original place.
The preacher signalled for the crowd to quieten before continuing.
"As we have all heard, the accused even subjected his own family, his flesh and blood to his thirst for evil, so it is only fitting that his very own brother, a young man who has suffered throughout his life at the hands of the one who should have been his protector, be the one to decide exactly how the accused will face his punishment." The preacher turned to Sam and nodded his consent for him to speak.
"It is with a heavy heart that I address you this evening" Sam began "but I feel it is my duty to protect all of you" Sam swept his hands wide, as if embracing each and every one of the spectators "to end this rapidly, therefore, I have taken the liberty of having a chamber prepared where the accused is to spend his last hours of life, the chamber is already air tight so it is my promise to you that he shall not survive for longer than twenty four hours at the most once he is secured behind it's walls. I also assure you that whilst he is awaiting death and judgement at the hands of god, he shall suffer, he shall suffer greatly for his crimes." Sam finished speaking with a bow as the crowd cheered, clapped and whooped for joy at his news.
"Let the sentence of this court be carried out without further ado. Remove the condemned." The preacher demanded.
With no fight left in him Dean was dragged from his platform and paraded in front of the baying crowd before being dragged from the court through a long corridor of sorts and thrown into a cold, damp and pitch black room.
Dean crumpled to the ground as his body bounced off the wall and could do no more than lie and listen as his only escape route was bricked up until he was left all alone, the silence deafening except for the thudding of his heart, the only part of his bruised and broken body which seemed to work of it's own free will.
Tears of despair and frustration at his inability to save his brother rained down Dean's face, he knew this was the end and in a way welcomed it, it would mean an end to all the fighting to protect the only family he had left, he only hoped Bobby would be able to save Sammy. Dean closed his eyes and waited for the end to come, a picture show of his life playing out behind closed lids. A smile broke out as he saw his mom chasing him as they played hide and seek, as hid dad tossed the ball to him, as Sammy smiled a gap toothed baby grin his way and then Dean knew no more as his mind closed down and he slipped into the deepest of deep sleeps.
0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0
"Dammit, dammit all to hell." Bobby cursed as he watched Sam deep in conversation with the preacher and couldn't fail to notice the bond between the two.
"I don't see Dean." Kelvin whispered.
"No me neither." Bobby repeated before pulling Kelvin to his side. "It looks like we're too late."
"Whaddya mean we're too late." Kelvin questioned, his eyes wide and full of concern.
"You see Sam; see how friendly he is with the preacher?"
"Yeah, but I figured it was just an act."
"It's no act, it means that Sam has passed through the gateway of his own free will and his thoughts have become corrupted, in other words, Sam now believes everything the preacher tells him is true." Bobby explained.
"What do we do, how do we get him back, if we seal them all in the circle then even Sam won't be able to escape if what you say is true."
"Oh it's true alright, Joshua warned me about it but I hoped against hope that it wouldn't happen, this just makes our job all the harder as we have to get Sam back through the gateway to reverse it's hold on him and then we have to find Dean." Bobby rubbed a weary hand over his face as he finished explaining.
"But if Sam's thoughts are corrupted won't he turn against you also."
"Maybe so, but I'm hoping that as the preacher hasn't made my acquaintance he will not have distorted the way Sam sees me."
The two hunters crouched as they discussed their options, always ensuring they were well hidden from view until a short time later they finalised their plan.
"You ready." Bobby asked.
"Ready." Came the reply.
"Ok let's do this."
Kelvin ran one way and Bobby the other, both reciting in their minds exactly how this was going to play out, or was supposed to play out. The first thing Bobby had to do was get Sam alone and somehow entice him away from the rest of the preachers followers and then he had to make sure he walked him through the gateway but it had to be the opposite way to the one he had taken the last time he passed through and then with luck the Sam he knew would return and hopefully remember where Dean was, assuming Dean didn't turn up before then. 'Damn Winchesters, nothin but damn trouble ever since I first set eyes on em' he cursed but deep down knew there was nothing he wasn't prepared to do for those boys.
Kelvin's job was to run to the opposite side of the inhabited space and wait for the signal from Bobby telling him that it was time for him to begin making his way back around to the front, pouring the liquid which would trap all of the inhuman or possessed and then he was to recite the ritual which would draw demons out leaving the body's they inhabited free to walk away, if there was anything left of them after having been ridden by demons for lord only knows how long Kelvin thought.
Bobby made his way through the crowd as they partied and was as sure as he could be that no one would be leaving for a good while yet. As casually as he could he strolled along, happy that no one was giving him a second glance as he searched for Sam.
The hairs on the back of his neck suddenly standing on end had Bobby spinning on the spot only to take a step backwards as he came face to face with the very person he was looking for.
"Sam, good ter see yer." Bobby struggled to keep his voice even as the icy cold glare of the normally warm and expressive hazel eyes bored into him but then the familiar yet unfamiliar face of the youngest Winchester broke into a wide, welcoming grin.
"Bobby, glad you could make it although I'm afraid you missed all the fun."
"Fun, what fun would that be?"
"The trial silly." Sam smiled.
"Trial?" Bobby questioned, his blood running cold.
"Dean's trial of course. That is why you're here isn't it?"
"Dean's trial" Bobby falteringly repeated before recovering his composure "I missed it, dammit, how'd it go?"
"Very well, very well indeed, a very satisfactory outcome was reached and has already been acted upon."
"What was the outcome?" Bobby fearfully asked.
"I fear to tell you that Dean was sentenced to death." Sam's face remained emotionless.
"And it's already happened?" Bobby fought back the sting of tears threatening to spill from his eyes as he thought of all the eldest Winchester must have endured at the hands of the mob all around him and how devastated he must've felt as his own brother turned against him.
"It was swiftly taken care of and now we celebrate, the preacher has given us licence to have a little fun before we return to work at first light. It seems a party of highly unfavourable hikers are due to arrive around mid morning and we must be prepared." Sam's voice remained monotone.
"Good, no more'n he deserved." Bobby nearly choked on the words but knew he had to retain Sam's trust if he was going to stand any chance of getting at least one of the boys out of here and back to safety.
"Amen to that." Sam raised a tankard and took a long pull of the strong ale inside.
Bobby's eyes searched the surrounding area for any sign of the gateway whilst he spoke with Sam and feared he'd never find it, there being so many entrances and exits around the place, but then he spotted a couple of guards, one on either side of one particular opening and knew there was a better than good chance that that was what he was looking for.
Guiding Sam in the direction of the guarded gateway Bobby kept up a conversation, asking questions about Dean's trial and the witnesses he'd been forced to face, his stomach churning and his heart aching for the boy when Sam reeled off the names.
Once the two hunters were close enough to the gateway Bobby turned to look at the guards and then back to Sam before whispering in Sam's ear that he had something of great importance to tell him about the hikers due to arrive in the woods the next morning, something he was sure the preacher would find invaluable to be armed with but as he wanted Sam to take all credit for the information Bobby asked if the guards could be excused whilst he shared the information.
Sam looked doubtful "That is not possible, the preacher insists this entrance is guarded at all times, even I have not been allowed to enter."
"C'mon Sam, you and I can guard it whilst we talk." Bobby cajoled.
Sam looked uncertain, he examined Bobby closely, turned and scanned the crowd before eventually nodding "Okay, but we must be quick, the preacher will be angry if he finds out."
"It'll be quick Sam, I promise." Bobby reassured.
"You may go and join in the festivities" Sam approached the guards "but do not stray far from your post, you will be required to resume your duties shortly."
The guards looked questioningly at Sam, waiting for further confirmation.
"The preacher wishes it so." Sam finished.
Once alone with Sam Bobby backed toward the entrance of the gateway, encouraging Sam to follow so that they could be sure they wouldn't be overheard, the older man forming a plan in his mind the whole time.
Once they were mere inches from the threshold Bobby reached forward to place a hand on Sam's shoulder as though about to tell him some great secret when he suddenly 'accidentally' lost his footing and floundered, arms flailing as he fell backwards, over the entrance to the gateway before landing on his backside.
Seeing the older man falling Sam instinctively reached forward to steady him and was pulled forward into the forbidden area, the effect on him instantaneous. He fell to his knees as his skull threatened to burst as the memories of the last few days crashed into his mind and fought for pole position. He gasped as every minute of Dean's trial played out before his eyes, even the times Sam wasn't present became part of the vivid picture show, he watched as his brother was tortured, played with, jeered by the crowd, his pain at seeing those he loved turn against him, as everything good he'd done in his life was turned into something bad, evil, as he was sentenced to death, the manner in which that sentence to be carried out chosen by his own brother. Sam could feel the despair Dean had felt as though he were living it himself. And then it stopped, then there was nothing, the images fled his mind and Sam was left with nothing but the wetness on his face as tears flooded from heavy eyes.
"Sam?" Bobby tentatively ventured. Sam?" He tried again, this time to be rewarded with a swift glance from hazel eyes filled with fear, sorrow, pain and loss.
"Bobby." Was all that Sam could manage to utter.
"Sam, we have to get out of here, now." Bobby stood, turned to face the exit of the gateway and came face to face with the preacher.
0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0
T.B.C.
Thanks for reading.