As Bobby finished the final line of the ritual, he lifted the ritual bowl with both hands.
A pulse of pale white energy burst from the bowl and swept through every room, forcing everyone to shield their eyes.
When the light faded, Dean slowly lowered his arm and looked around. Every ghost was gone. The shrieking had vanished. The unnatural cold had disappeared. The house fell silent.
Sam cautiously lowered his shotgun. "It looks like the ritual worked. They're all gone."
Bobby let out a long breath, setting the bowl back on the floor. "Yeah... looks that way."
Dean, who had wandered into the kitchen to make sure no spirits remained, finally relaxed as he confirmed the room was empty.
"Well done."
The calm voice came from directly behind him. Dean flinched and spun around. Castiel stood only a few feet away, trench coat immaculate, expression unreadable.
"Seriously? Can't you use a door like a normal person? You scared the crap out of me."
"If you would prefer, I can leave and enter through the door."
Dean rubbed both hands across his face. "...No."
"I was attempting to avoid interrupting your conversation."
"Well, you somehow managed to make it worse."
"I swear, this has been the strangest damn week of my life."
Castiel ignored the comment. "The spirits have been returned to their rest, but this changes nothing. The first Seal has already been broken."
Dean folded his arms. "You keep talking about these Seals. Who the hell is breaking them?"
"Lilith. Even now, as we speak, she continues trying to break the remaining Seals."
"Then what the hell are you angels doing? If you know who's behind it, stop her."
"Dean, we are not as omnipotent as you believe. There are thousands of Seals scattered across the world, and my brothers and sisters are guarding as many as they can. Lilith needs only sixty-two more to free Lucifer from his Cage, and we cannot protect every one of them."
Dean's jaw tightened. "So why come to us?"
"Because you have faced Lilith before and survived. You understand what she is capable of, and at this point every ally matters. We need your help to stop her before she reaches the remaining Seals."
Dean gave a dry laugh. "Yeah, the last time we crossed paths with her, we almost died."
"I am aware. Even so, humanity cannot afford for you to refuse. If Lucifer escapes his Cage, the human race will face extinction."
Dean stayed silent for several moments, trying to process it. He opened his mouth to ask another question, but before he could, Castiel vanished without warning.
Dean stared at the empty space and shook his head. "Damn it. This guy always shows up, says whatever he wants, and disappears before anybody gets to ask the important questions."
A moment later Sam called from the hallway. "Dean, you in there? We are going to get something to eat."
"Yeah, coming, Sammy."
***
Three days after the Witness incident, Dean, Sam, and Henry were back on the road in the Impala. For the first time in days things almost felt normal again.
The Apocalypse was still looming somewhere in the background, but there were no ghosts flooding towns, no angels appearing out of nowhere, no Seals breaking in front of them. Just driving down the highway toward another hunt.
Their destination was an old friend of the Winchester family. Travis.
Henry sat in the back seat, absentmindedly flipping through a small calendar. Three days remained before Crowley's deadline expired.
If Crowley failed to return Bela's contract, Henry had already decided what would happen next — wipe out a handful of crossroads demons, not because it would solve anything, but because Crowley needed to understand he wasn't making empty threats.
He closed the calendar. "So we're going to meet an old contact named Travis?"
Dean kept one hand on the wheel. "Yep. Travis. Known him for years. Dad worked a bunch of hunts with him, so we kinda grew up around the guy."
"He's one of the hunters Dad trusted," Sam added.
Henry nodded. "Got it."
Dean smiled faintly. "You know, it actually feels good getting back on the road with you two." He tapped the wheel in time with the classic rock playing through the speakers.
"Hunting monsters, grabbing cheap motel rooms, eating crappy diner food... I'll take this over angels, Seals, and Apocalypse crap any day."
Sam looked over from the passenger seat. "I don't think the Apocalypse cares what you'd rather be doing."
"Yeah, well, it can take a number."
A while later the Impala pulled into a roadside gas station. Dean climbed out. "I'm hitting the restroom."
"I'll fill the tank," Sam said.
Henry stepped out and stretched, enjoying the brief stop after hours of driving.
Then he froze. A familiar sensation brushed against his senses. Angelic grace. Faint, but unmistakable. His expression turned serious immediately. The presence was coming from the direction of the restroom.
Without saying anything he started walking toward the building and pushed open the door.
It was empty. Only the faint residue of angelic power lingering in the air.
"Dean?"
*****
🔥 For Advanced Chapters Join My Patreon 🔥
👉 patreon.com/DeathNote4455
🚀 Get early access to 24 Advanced chapters.