10. Stuck

A hard slap to my face brings me back to reality.

I wince, rotating my jaw. My eyes can't adjust to the poor lighting, but I know we're not in the motel room anymore. I don't even know where we are. My truck is still there. Shit.

I'm sitting on the cold floor, my arms stuck behind my back. I wiggle, I'm chained to a pole. Across from me, Muriel is the same way. To my left, Castiel remains shackled, standing.

"Josette," he breathes, noticing my alertness.

"I'm okay. I think." I gasp, feeling a dull throb in my side. "Scratch that. That douchebag stabbed me."

"If I can get us out of here, I can get you help."

My lips turn into a snarl as someone—probably another angel—makes his way into our room. He has a dirty appearance, with nappy dark hair that's long enough to pull back into a ponytail. His clothes look as though he took over a homeless person's body. My eyes briefly look at an angle. There's a table with torture devices.

Son of a bitch. Who is this bastard? I can't complain too much, those two angels wanted me dead. Here I am, alive. Something changed their minds. Speaking of the angels from before, the taller one is the flank. I don't see the shorter angel anywhere in sight.

"Malachi," Castiel growls.

"Let me take a look here," says Malachi. "One coward"—he nods to Muriel, who's coming to now—"one measly human"—at this, he looks at me—"and then there's you, Castiel. The reason why we're all suffering down here."

"Let these two go, they have nothing to do with this."

"Oh, but they do. Guilty by association." Malachi smirks. He hums as he goes to his instruments of torture. "I've thought about how to go about this. I can just use you as the guinea pig, or I can have your human pet here serve the purpose." Malachi unravels a long, thin whip. "I think I'll start with the human."

Malachi stands in front of me. My breathing is already running fast.

"Tell me what I want to know, Castiel, and I'll spare her pain," he says softly.

"I call bullshit," I hiss. I yelp as the whip cracks at my ear, not hitting flesh.

"How do we reverse Metatron's spell?"

"I don't know," Castiel mutters.

I flinch as the whip stings my cut cheek.

"Surely you know something, as you aided him in exiling us all from Heaven."

"He tricked me into helping."

I yell as the whip tears into my shoulder.

"Tell me the truth, Castiel," says Malachi. "Tell me how to reverse this!"

"I don't know a way!" Castiel shouts. This earns me a strong sting across my forehead.

"He clearly doesn't know anything!" I screech. "Stop this!" This earns a strike across my collarbone that leaves me gasping.

"Malachi!" Castiel roars.

"Oh, is she a soft spot for you, Castiel?" Malachi purrs. "Then tell me how to reverse the spell."

"He said he fucking doesn't know!" I pant.

Malachi turns to me, kneeling. "I should just end your pathetic life right here and now. Maybe that'll help him remember."

"If you want someone to take your frustration out on, I'm right here!" Castiel yells. I shake, and Malachi abandons me.

He repeats the same question over and over again, and Castiel repeatedly tells him the answer. I watch in pain as Castiel is struck by Malachi again and again, looking more bloody than me. His screams of pain are worse than mine had been.

"This is a bonus, Castiel," says Malachi. "We were tracking Muriel, cowardly holdout that she is, and wonder of wonders, she led us to you."

"Not knowingly," Muriel says.

"I stand corrected. Not knowingly. Stupidly."

"I've explained in detail," Castiel pants. "I don't know how Metatron's spell worked. Therefore, I can't assist in reversing it. I was an unwitting accomplice."

"Ohhh. A dupe. The great Castiel. Valued and trusted Castiel." Malachi goes back over to his collection of torture instruments. "Top-of-the-Christmas-tree Castiel. No more than a dupe. Dupe or mastermind, you were inside the circle. You know where Metatron's weakness lies."

"No. I don't."

Malachi sighs. "Theo."

The angel—Theo—goes towards Castiel.

"No!" I scream, as Theo pulls Castiel's head back, sliding a silver blade down his chest. I writhe against my chains. I want to shove that blade up Theo's ass, and then Malachi's.

"You'd suffer, even die for your beliefs," says Malachi. "I get it. But is Metatron, whose polls numbers have totally tanked"—Theo laughs—"worth your life? More importantly, is Metatron worth her life?" He doesn't mean me, he means Muriel.

"No. No, she's innocent. You leave her alone."

"Hm. I have no intention of touching her."

With an exchange from Malachi, Theo looks towards Muriel. Muriel, who's panting in fear.

"Virtue is its own punishment," she murmurs.

"Please, no!" Castiel begs.

Muriel screams as Theo plunges the silver blade into her chest. My mouth parts in horror. Muriel's body falls sideways, unmoving. Now, I'm scared for my life. Theo looks to Malachi for confirmation, but Malachi lets him back off. I can't breathe in relief just yet.

"Angels butchering angels," Castiel says in disgust. "Is this what we've become?"

"Just following your example, Castiel," says Malachi. "How many did you kill in Heaven? How many in the Fall? Oh, you didn't know? A host of angels died when they fell—Azrael, Sophia, Ezekiel..."

My ears perk at a name. Ezekiel. But...isn't that the angel that helped heal Sam? I steal a look at Castiel. He caught onto the name too.

"'Died' doesn't even describe it," Malachi rants. "Devastation. Wings shredded, unspeakable agony at your hands. So, I think you would want to provide any information you have, considering..." But Castiel gives no response. "All right. I leave you in the hands of an artist." Malachi looks to Theo. "I don't care what's left. Kill the human too."

Malachi leaves, and now it's just Theo, myself, and Castiel.

"Don't ask for mercy," says Theo. "There is none." He goes to the door and shuts it before going back to Castiel. He picks up a drill, and my eyes widen. "I'll give you one last chance for this to end."

"Give me a quick death." Castiel holds his head high, eyes closed, and I'm ready to start screaming.

"I need you to speak to Metatron."

At this, I'm confused. So is Castiel, as his eyes are now open.

"He'll listen to you," Theo goes on. "Ask him to raise me to Heaven. You can do this, Castiel. I'll be a soldier for Metatron, do anything he wants."

"You—you serve Malachi," says Castiel.

"I thought he was the answer, but he's crazy."

"You're...noticing this now?" I ask smartly. "You were more than willing to do his dirty work."

"I did what I had to."

"When you were sure he would defeat Bartholomew," Castiel concludes.

"But no one will survive this war."

"So, you prefer to sit it out in Heaven."

"I can talk to him about restoring your Grace."

"Well, it's, um, it's true. Metatron and I do have a working relationship."

Theo smiles. "I knew it!"

"You're clever, Theo."

"You're allies."

"And he could use a skilled soldier like yourself. Oh, but I don't know."

"I-I'm a team player, Castiel."

I snort softly. Suck up.

"All right. Well?" Castiel gestures to his manacles. Theo opens them. "I'll—I'll need a moment to make contact. And you have something that I'll need."

"Anything."

I jump back as Castiel takes a medical instrument, slicing Theo's throat open. Blood comes out, but so does a white, wispy substance. It flows into Castiel's mouth, and his eyes glow a strange blue. I cringe, shrinking away as Theo screams. Blinding light comes into the room.

"Josette."

I open my eyes, panting. Castiel looks at me softly as he helps get me free. I gasp, remembering the pain in my side. Castiel moves the fabric, exposing the hole.

"I can heal it," he tells me. "If I don't, you might bleed out."

"If it doesn't take much out of you, do it."

I whimper, feeling the wound heal. I look down and touch the pink skin. He did it. I look at Castiel in wonder. I touch the gashes on my face and collarbone. All gone, like they never existed.

Castiel helps me to my feet, and I hug him.

"What's this for?" he asks.

"Saving my ass, again." I pull away, looking at the carnage.

"We still need to get out of here, and then call your brothers and tell them what we found."

I nod. I search for my phone on my person, but I come up empty. "Shit, they must've taken it." I rub my face. "We'll need to settle for a payphone when we find one."

Castiel goes to Theo's fallen body, digging around, pulling out a silver blade. He hands it to me.

"You'll need this more than me," he tells me. His eyes are full of concern. "Are you up for this?"

I twirl the blade in my hand. "Let's kick some angel ass, Cas."

We don't get very far before angels come after us. I mainly defend myself, as Castiel takes out most of our enemies. At times, I help him when I see him falter a bit. We leave a trail of bodies in our wake.

I nearly squint from the change of scenery. We emerge from the dark and into the light. As tattered as we look, we don't attract attention. Pay phone. Pay phone. Where the hell are we, anyway? I need to get to my truck. I look around, and my eyes fall onto a payphone. I lead Castiel to it, and we both squeeze ourselves in. I hand Castiel the change and he dials Dean's number. I scoot closer so I can listen.

"Dean, I don't have a lot of time, so listen," says Castiel. "The leader of the opposition is an angel named Malachi."

"How do you know that?"

"He had me, and your sister. I, uh, I was tortured."

"What about Josette?"

"She got a little wounded. But we got away."

"How?"

"I...I did what I had to. I became what they've become. A barbarian."

"But it was necessary," I remind him softly. "If we didn't fight, we'd be back with the corpses."

"What are you—Cas, where are you and Josette?" asks Dean.

"It's better I stay away."

"Um, excuse me, but you mean we, right?" I ask.

Castiel looks at me. "I've brought you in deep enough, Josette. I can't pull you through this when this is something I need to handle myself. Once we're done here, I'll bring you back to your truck and you can go on home."

"Have couples therapy after this is done, okay?" Dean barks.

"They're gonna want me even more now. But I'm gonna be all right. I...I got my Grace back. Well, not mine per se, but it'll do."

"Wait, you're—you're back? You got your mojo?"

"I'm not sure. But I am an angel."

"And you're okay with that?"

"If we're going to war, I need to be ready."

"Cas."

"Dean. There's more."

"What?"

"Didn't you say Sam was healed by an angel named Ezekiel?"

"Uh...Yeah, why?"

I briefly take the phone from Castiel. "Ezekiel is dead. He died when the angels fell." I pause, and Castiel takes the phone back.

"Cas, you listen to me, okay? Make sure you get yourself as healthy as you can. Make sure Josette doesn't do anything stupid."

I scoff, rolling my eyes.

"I'll call if something happens." Dean ends the call.

I'm the first away from the payphone, trying to find the nearest bus stop.

"Josette—"

"Come on, Castiel, you and me are taking a bus ride back to that motel and getting my truck."

"I can't go with you."

"The hell you can't."

"Josette—"

"Oh, let's face it, Castiel, I don't think I'm going back to Rexford!" I throw my hands around wildly. "I think you're stuck with me, just as much as I'm stuck with you."

"Is that a good thing?"

I blow air out. "I don't know yet. What I do know is that I..." I bite my lip.

"You're what?"

"I think...and I can't believe I'm saying this...but I think the life is pulling me back to it. And I can't fight it anymore." I smile sadly. "You can hate my help and try to run away from me all you want, Castiel, but somehow we'll still get stuck together. Might as well accept it now."

"Josette," Castiel pleads. He looks around. "You might want to put away the angel blade before people call the authorities on us."

I look down at the red blade. "Well, won't this to be fun to hide on the bus?"

**It was only a matter of time before Jo accepted her fate. Yeah, unfortunate thing that her nickname, one at least, is Jo.

Fun fact: Josette was originally going to be a brunette, but then I decided she needed to represent Mary in some way. She's a mix, Dad's eyes and the rest of her is her mom.**