18. Another terrible news
After a few moments of silence, James finally walked out of the mansion, followed by Dean and Sam. The night air was cold, but it did little to numb the heavy feeling in his chest. The trio didn't speak as they made their way to the Impala, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the quiet street. James's mind was still swirling with everything that had just happened. He couldn't shake the image of his father fading away, a part of him still unsure if he had done the right thing.
Dean opened the driver's door and slid into the front seat, while Sam took the passenger seat. James sat in the back, still lost in thought. The engine roared to life, and they drove in silence for a few minutes. James knew he should say something, especially to Sam, who was probably waiting for his explanation.
James sighed and started explaining what had happened since the day the demon had attacked his family to the brothers.
After he completed the explanation, Sam, who had been quietly listening, looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "So the demon took your mom, huh? And now you're planning to go after her?"
James nodded slowly, a grim expression on his face. "I don't know where she is, but I will find her. No matter what it takes."
Sam leaned forward, placing a hand on the back of the front seat. "We can help, you know. You don't have to do this alone."
James glanced at Sam, then back out the window. "I appreciate it, Sam. But I need time to think. I'll contact you when I'm ready. I'm not sure I'm ready to dive headfirst into all of this just yet."
James looked at Sam, who was giving him a sad look and spoke,"And about Jessica... she's been worried about you. You disappeared for three days and your cell was out of reach. You should call her after you drop me off at the hospital."
Sam sighed, rubbing his temples. "I know. I'll contact her. I'm just not ready to explain all this to her yet. It's... complicated."
James nodded understandingly. "Take your time. But don't leave her hanging too long."
He stared out of the car window as the Impala moved through the quiet streets. The silence in the car was heavy, but James didn't mind. Dean and Sam seemed to give him space, and he was grateful for that. His thoughts were all over the place, and he needed a moment to gather himself. When the hospital came into view, James straightened in his seat. He had left against the doctors' advice, but he had to sneak back in now to avoid raising suspicion.
Dean pulled the car into a dark side street near the hospital and turned off the engine.
They got out of the car, the cold air making James shiver. Dean led the way around the hospital, sticking to the shadows. The building's lights cast sharp reflections on the ground, making it tricky to stay hidden. They stopped near a side door labeled "Authorized Personnel Only." Dean crouched near the lock and motioned for Sam to keep an eye out.
Dean pulled a small pouch from his jacket and took out lockpicking tools. James watched in silence as Dean worked quickly. The faint clicks of the tools were barely audible, but after a few moments, there was a soft click, and the door swung open.
"Got it," Dean whispered, stepping back. "Let's move."
They slipped inside, and James was hit by the familiar smell of disinfectant and the faint sound of machines beeping. The dim hallway felt eerie, but they moved quietly.
They climbed the stairs quickly but quietly. The faint creaks of the metal steps echoed slightly, making James wince with every sound.
When they reached the second floor, Dean opened the door just a crack to look out. The hallway was mostly empty, but voices from the nurse's station carried faintly.
Dean gestured for them to stay close to the wall as they moved down the corridor. Room 214 was ahead, but a nurse was walking toward them, her eyes on the clipboard she held. Dean quickly pulled James and Sam into a nearby corner, pressing them against the wall. The nurse passed by without noticing them, her shoes clicking softly against the floor.
Once she was gone, Dean motioned for them to move quickly. They reached Room 214, and James let out a breath of relief when he saw the door. Dean opened it carefully, letting James slip inside. Sam stayed by the door to keep watch while Dean followed James in.
James's bed was just as he had left it, the sheets still messy. His belongings were on the small table by the window, untouched. Moving quickly, James pulled back the covers and climbed into bed, trying to ignore the discomfort from his still-healing wounds.
Dean stood by the door, arms crossed. "You good?"
James nodded. "Yeah. Thanks for this..... and everything."
Dean peeked in, looking tense. "We need to go. The nurse is coming back."
Sam clapped James on the shoulder. "Take care of yourself. And remember what we talked about."
James nodded, his face serious. "I will. Thanks again."
Dean and Sam left quickly, disappearing into the shadows just as the nurse's footsteps grew louder. James lay back against the pillow, his body aching slightly.
He adjusted the pillow under his head and opened the system panel.
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System Panel
Name: James Bennett
Constitution: 1.7
Principle: Essence Sovereignty Level 1 (55/100)
Essence Energy: 90/100
Essence Regeneration Rate: 5 per minute
Abilities
1. Essence Sense (Basic)
{30/100}
2. Essence Shield (Basic)
{5/100}
3. Essence Strike (Basic)
{2/100}
4. Essence Absorption (Basic)
{5/100}
5. Essence Flame (Basic)
{25/100}
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James sat on the stiff hospital bed, staring at the glowing system panel before him. The quiet beeping of the heart monitor filled the room as his eyes scanned the numbers. His abilities had grown. Essence Sense had risen to 30, Essence Shield gained a single point, and even Essence Strike, which he barely used, showed progress. The Principle of Essence Sovereignty itself now sat at 55 out of 100.
"Progress," James muttered, closing the panel with a thought.
He leaned back, letting the exhaustion of recent events catch up with him. His body ached, his mind was heavy, and the hospital room felt suffocating. He let his eyes drift shut, hoping sleep would bring some relief.
---
The next morning, James was startled awake by a soft knock at the door. He sat up, wincing at the soreness in his muscles, and before he could answer, the door creaked open. Sam stepped inside, looking like a shadow of himself.
"Sam?" James said, his voice laced with concern.
Sam's pale face and red eyes told James something was terribly wrong. Sam shut the door and sat heavily in the chair by the bed, his head in his hands.
"She's gone," Sam said, his voice shaky.
James frowned. "Who's gone?"
Sam looked up, his expression filled with pain. "Jessica," he whispered. "She's dead."
James froze, the words hitting him like a punch to the chest. Jessica, Sam's girlfriend, who had been his joy and light. Jessica, who was also James's good friend.
"No," James said, his voice barely audible. "That's not possible. I just saw her—"
"She died the same way my mom did," Sam interrupted, his voice trembling. "Pinned to the ceiling. Fire everywhere. I couldn't do anything."
James's stomach churned. The image of his mother's death flashed in his mind—her lifeless body surrounded by flames. Now Jessica had suffered the same horrific fate.
"I left Dean at the motel," Sam continued. "I couldn't talk to him. Not yet. I came here because... because I knew you'd understand."
James swallowed hard, struggling to process everything. "Sam, I'm... I'm so sorry."
Sam let out a bitter laugh, his hands trembling. "There's nothing to say. She's gone. Just like Mom. Why does this keep happening?"
James placed a hand on Sam's shoulder. "You're not alone," he said quietly.
Sam leaned back, staring at the floor. After a long silence, he pulled a small velvet box from his pocket, holding it in his shaking hands.
"I was going to ask her to marry me," Sam said, his voice cracking. "I had everything planned. Dinner, candles, the perfect moment. And now she's just... gone."
James felt his throat tighten. "She loved you, Sam," he said gently. "She would've said yes in a heartbeat.
Sam's face crumpled, tears streaming down his cheeks. "I couldn't save her," he whispered. "Just like I couldn't save Mom."
"We'll figure this out," James said, gripping Sam's shoulder. "We'll find out what's doing this, and we'll stop it. I promise."
For a long time, they sat in heavy silence, the grief shared between them.
"Thanks for being here," Sam finally said. "I didn't know where else to go."
"You've always got me," James replied. He had no idea what he could say to make his friend feel better.
Sam nodded, though the pain in his eyes remained. Jessica's death wasn't just a tragedy—it was a cruel reminder of the evil they were up against.
James clenched his fists. It felt like some sort of bad luck was surrounding him and Sam, taking away the people they care about the most.
James sat quietly, his mind racing as he tried to remember if Jessica's death had happened in the season of Supernatural he'd watched before being reincarnated. He frowned, searching his memory for clues, but nothing came to him. Frustrated, he decided to stop thinking about it. He stayed silent beside Sam, sharing the heavy silence between them.
Then an idea popped into James's head. His principle—Essence Sovereignty—let him sense supernatural beings. Maybe it could help him find Jessica's spirit if it was still here, just like how he was able to see Dad.
Turning to Sam, James spoke carefully. "Hey, with my abilities, I might be able to see Jessica... if her spirit is still around. Do you want me to try?"
Sam froze for a moment, staring at James with wide eyes. His expression was full of pain and hesitation. Finally, he asked, his voice quiet, "You really think you can do that?"
James nodded. "I'm not sure, but I can try. If her spirit's here, we might be able to talk to her, find out what happened, or... just let her know she wasn't alone."
Sam's face showed a mix of hope and sadness. He swallowed hard and said, "Yeah. If there's even a small chance... I need to see her. Just once more."
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