What Could Have Been (Supernatural)

Hell

Your head was throbbing when you woke up, your wrists even more painful. Quickly you stood taking the weight off your wrists. You blinked bleary trying to focus on your surroundings. Then you wished you hadn't, the demons were circling Castiel like two great predatory birds eyeing their prey. Castiel hung, all his weight supported by his wrists. His bare feet dragged on the ground missing toes, no strength supported him. You couldn't tell if he was alive, he was soaked in blood and sweat, burns could be seen on exposed skin, bruises discolored the rest. His shirt, tie, and coat were ripped to shreds and sitting in a charred pile on the ground. One of his ears was hanging by a thread of skin, his other was missing completly, one of the angel's legs was bent the wrong way, as if the demons had taken the knee joint and snapped it backwards. You felt bile rise in your throat as you took in the horrific sight. The demons were arguing a few feet away.

"This has been fun and all, but we need to know where the Winchesters are, we should just posses him. Rip the information from his mind!" The female grinned licking her bloodied lips as she spoke.

"We can't! Look at him. Being human has weakened him. He would not survive possesion."

"So?"

"So! We need him alive!"

The female grunted angrily but seemed to give up. The male snorted, then he saw you. Your wide eyes met his narrowed ones. "You know if you are so bored, we don't need her alive." The female looked up excitedly, Castiel also seemed to try to look up but you were horrified to realize nothing was under his tattered eyelids. The female grinned widely and addressed the angel "Tell me Castiel, you are so willing to bleed for the Winchesters, are you willing to let that human bleed, and die, for them as well?"

Without waiting for a response the female selected a dainty silver knife and walked over to you. You felt your eyes begin to water in expectation but you refused to cry. You would try to be strong, for Castiel. He seemed to be struggling, but he was so weak he could do nothing. Then you did begin to cry, silent tears. It was your fault Castiel was in the position he was in, your fault he was experiencing all the pain, but here he was trying to fight demons for you. He whispered something, but it was unintelligible. The male laughed, "I'm sorry what was that? I couldn't hear you." The female joined him in chuckling then she slit the tiny blade between your fingers severing the skin.

Despite your earlier determination to remain strong you screamed, a loud wordless cry of pain. "No! Please stop!" Castiel's voice rose, though it was still difficult to hear. Your scream died down to whimpers and you tried to focus on his voice. Castiel was begging for you, pleading for the demons to stop. But they just laughs, the female continued to slit the tender webs of skin between your digits. Castiel still hadn't revealed the location of the Winchesters by the time the demon finished cutting so she stepped back and seemed to consider you.

"You are a virgin aren't you?" She seemed both surprised and excited at the fact. You only stared at her trying to block out the pain. She nodded to herself and wielded the knife again. This time instead of cutting at your skin she cut your cloths. Dropping the pieces to the ground one by one. Cold air assailed your exposed skin and you shivered, blood rising to your face ashamed. Both demons laughed, enjoying your humiliation nearly as much as your pain. You were suddenly grateful Castiel couldn't see what was going on.

The male demon noticed a tiny tattoo you had on your side, it was the sigil for the Tibetan Tulpa. He grinned and seize a second knife from the table. He jogged a few steps over to you and lifted the knife, he elbowed the female demon gesturing at the tattoo then began his work. Pressing the sharp tip against your unprotected skin the demon pulled the knife and started carving. You bit your lip trying not to scream and felt salty blood fill your mouth. The demon moved slowly, to extend the pain and it felt like hours before he was finished. Shuddering you looked down to see the same sigil carved into your abdomen. It would scar for life.

The female began to carve your back, though you suspected her cuts were much less artistic. She laughed highly before calling out again "Where are the Winchesters Castiel?" He seemed to snap, "I don't know, please stop I don't know please." The demons growled and pressed the knife deeper into your back. You screamed your throat raw. "I don't think this human believes you. Tell me!" She stabbed the knife between your shoulder blades twisting it fiercely. You passed out from the spin, welcoming the darkness.

It did not last long however. One of the demons injected you with something that pulled you from the painless sleep. "Now, now" the female cooed "we don't want you drifting off do we." The male selected a hammer from the table and held it by your knee. "Castiel, if you don't tell me what I want to know I will break this darling's kneecap." Your eyes rolled wildly watching the hammer swing closer to your leg. "Please!" You shrieked, "just tell them!" Castiel said nothing and the demon swung the hammer. Blinding pain erupted and you screamed, you screamed until you could scream no more. Echoing around you laughter filled the room. Twisting duets with your cries. "Where are the Winchesters!?!?"

"Right here!" The voice was impossible, you knew. You were hallucinating you must be. There was no way that that was Dean stabbing his knife through the ribcage of the female. There was no way that Sam was grappling with the male splashing holy water all over him. You saw but you could not believe that it was possible. Yellow light flashed in the bodies and in a matter of minutes both demons lay dead. Looks of complete surprise still etched on there features.

You watched through tear blurred eyes as Dean raced to Castiel's side he checked to see if his friend was still alive, then he gently released him. Lowering him to the floor, mindful of the many injuries inflicted by the pair of demons. "I shouldn't have killed them so quickly." He said darkly. Sam gripped his brothers shoulder then turned to you. Painfully you tried to talk but you couldn't force yourself to form words. Before releasing you Sam splashed some holy water on you to check to see if you were indeed a human. The lack of sizzling flesh convinced as he released you and lifted you to the ground covering you with his coat. You nodded your thanks as delirium started to overcome you.

Whatever drug the demons had pumped you full of prevented you from falling unconscious again. So uncomprehending you watched as the two brothers kneeled by Castiel trying to stop bleeding and bind wounds. You felt yourself getting woozy as blood started to pool around you. Dean glanced at you and waved Sam away saying something that you didn't pick up. Sam backed away from Castiel and quickly began to bind your wounds as well. He seemed to be talking to you but you couldn't understand him. Eventually he stopped, and finished working in silence. You had no concept of time but you knew it wasn't long before Sam picked you up, and Dean held Castiel in his arms. Together the four of you left the room and started making your way through twisting halls.

No demon or other form of resistance stopped your progress and you soon found yourself next to the impala. The two brothers spoke about something, them you were placed in the trunk. Confused you tried to fight but Sam restrained you easily he said something but you couldn't understand, his words seemed to float and dance in the air around you. Eventually you stopped trying to struggle and Sam covered you with a blanket, then he closed the trunk. You could hear shifting as the boys adjusted something in the back seat. Them the engine revved and the car started to move. The drug began to wear off as you lay in the darkness and at some point you drifted off.