Secrets in her Silence | Supernatural

003

The Impala hummed along the interstate, a steady rhythm against the quiet expanse of the night. Dean was at the wheel, his eyes flicking between the road and the rearview mirror. Sam, navigator in hand, was lost in the map, his brow furrowed in concentration. In the backseat, Eden was hunched over, her knees drawn up to her chest. Her fingers traced patterns on her worn jeans, a silent language of her own.

"You think she's okay, Sammy?" Dean asked, his voice low.

Sam glanced up, his gaze following Dean's to the rearview mirror. Eden was still motionless, her head bowed. "I don't know, Dean. Her world's rapidly changing right now, and she has no way to express her feelings on that. So, honestly, probably not."

There was a long silence, broken only by the soft whir of the tires. Dean reached over and adjusted the rearview mirror, trying to catch a glimpse of Eden's face. He could see the outline of her profile, sharp and delicate. A pang of sympathy hit him. She was a kid, after all, thrown into a world of chaos and death.

"She's definitely strong, though," Sam murmured. "As far as I can tell, she's handling Bobby pretty well."

Dean nodded, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. He knew what Sam was saying. From what he could tell, Bobby had become like a father to Eden, a steady rock in a world that was constantly shifting. And now, he was gone. Dean couldn't deny the fact he knew exactly how she felt.

A sudden bump in the road made Eden wince. She turned her head up, making eye contact with Dean. She furrowed her brows in a way that said, 'What the hell, man?', until she turned her head down again, digging her fingernails into the back of her neck.

"Hey, it's okay," Dean said softly, his voice carrying to the backseat. "Just a bump in the road."

Eden didn't look up, only displaying a look of pain on the parts of her face they could see.

"Eden? Hey, what's wrong?"

Suddenly, Eden's body stiffened. Her breathing quickened, and a low, guttural sound escaped her lips. Her eyes rolled back in her head, and she began to thrash violently. Sam and Dean spun around, the older brother wasting no time pulling off the side of the road.

"Eden!" Dean shouted, reaching for her. But before he could touch her, she went limp. Her body slumped against the car seat, and her eyes fluttered open, but they held an eerie emptiness. Sam swiftly got out of his seat and into the back.

A static-filled voice crackled through the car radio, a discordant melody that seemed to pierce the silence. It was a language unknown to them, yet it carried a chilling familiarity. The voice grew louder, more insistent, and Eden's body began to convulse again.

"What the hell is happening to her?" Sam demanded, his voice trembling as he tried to keep her head safe.

Dean's eyes were fixed on Eden, his face pale. "I don't know, but it's like she's being possessed."

The static grew louder, so loud that Dean had to slam his hands against his ears to keep the sound from blowing his eardrums, then abruptly, it cut off. Eden's body stilled. Her eyes slowly focused, resting on Sam. Those forest green eyes decked with flecks of gold glazed over with silent tears.

Then, as quickly as it had begun, the episode was over. Eden, with Sam's help, slumped back against the seat, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She looked at the brothers, a fear in her eyes, tired and bitter. She was used to this, and the brothers could tell it wasn't the first time something like this happened.

The Impala was silent for a moment, the only sound the rapid thumping in their chests until the radio clicked on again.

"I thought I had you figured out. Can't breathe whenever you're gone. Can't turn back now, I'm haunted."

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"What the hell was that? I mean, I know you can't communicate, but I - we need some explanation. What kind of shit was that? Why did it mess with Baby's radio? Was it like - like possession or something?" Dean ranted, confused, and concerned for his brothers safety, his cars, and frankly, the girls.

Eden furrowed her brows. Baby? God, don't tell me he's talking about his damn car. She looked at Sam, confused as hell, shaking her head. He shrugged his shoulders back, feeling a hint of entertainment that his brother was asking complicated questions to someone who could only respond with yes or no.

Dean took a deep breath, trying to straighten himself out. "Okay, let's start off easy. Has this happened before?" He watched her in the rearview mirror, with those piercing green eyes that made her feel like a hawks prey. Eden nodded.

"Cool." He didn't mean to say that. Deep down, he did think it was kinda cool, though. "Uh - did Bobby know about these episodes? Is that why he was holding onto you?"

Eden bit the inside of her cheek. She didn't like to be interrogated like a criminal. I'm literally just a girl. Kind of? She remembered to nod, trying not to let her thoughts run wild.

Hesitantly, the oldest Winchester started up the car again. It seemed he was done with the questions, but Sam wasn't.

"Are you possessed?"

She remained still for a moment. Was she? Was she not? I'm a natural blonde you dumbasses, I don't fucking know.

Eden shrugged, a confused expression on her face. Sam furrowed his brows. It's a simple question?

"Are you two done?" Dean questioned, for once understanding what the girl was trying to tell them. Sam, on the other hand, didn't understand how she couldn't know, but gesturing for Dean to drive anyways.

Then, once again, they were back on the road, and Eden decided she didn't like what Dean was playing on the radio at the moment. She zipped open the duffle bag on the floor, tucked between the front and back seat, and pulled out her silver MP3 player. Pressing the buds into her ears and clicking the center button on the device, their kryptonite began to play.

"You and I walk a fragile line."