~XI~ – The Easter-egg Hunt for Anna Milton

The one downside to being an angel is being tuned into the angel radio. It never quiets, it never softens. It's a miracle in itself if you can shut it off for a while before it bursts its way back into your skull.

For now, I've managed to calm it down. I took some time away from the Winchesters, and away from all of Heaven's eyes, as I did not want any angels, Uriel especially, to find me. I'm teetering on a thin line with them by being with the Winchesters. I'm just glad Ruby hasn't been seen with me. Who knew what assumptions would come out of that?

I've found myself at a disgusting bar, feeling Sam and Dean's presence inside. I watch from the window at a distance. Sam looks to be under some alcohol influence. I shake my head. This is what hunters do in what downtime they have. Nothing major has been happening, so why wouldn't they have a little free time?

"Well, son of a bitch," comes a female voice. I half-turn to find Ruby walking towards me. "The hell are you doing here, feathers? Playing guardian angel to those bozos?"

I snort. "Hello to you, too."

"Gasp. Was that an attempt at being civil?"

"I was making sure they're alright."

Ruby squints to look into the window. "You should be like them and loosen up some. Get some beers in you."

"I don't believe alcohol will have any effect on me."

"Don't know until we try it. Seriously, what are you doing here? Did you know I was gonna find them?"

"I don't waste my time in wondering about a demon's routine."

"But you waste your time checking in on those two." She points to the Winchesters through the window.

"What are you doing here?"

"I don't know how you haven't had anything come back in that radio in your head. Got a psych ward escapee on the loose." I tilt my head. "A chicken flew the coop. Basically, a crazy person fled from the place she was holed up in. That dumb enough for you?"

I scoff at her. "And why would a crazy person fleeing from a place she probably doesn't like concern you?"

"It concerns me, concerns the demons. Why she's so special, I don't know. Just heard an order that she's wanted breathing. Figured I'd give the Winchesters the tip so they can get to her before the demons can." She brushes past me, entering the bar. Sighing, I find myself following after her.

Sam notices Ruby first, and he notices I'm with her, at a considerable distance away. Her presence is still uncomfortable. Dean notices his brother has gone missing, and he looks angry when he sees Ruby.

"Well, you got a lot of nerve showing up anywhere near me," he snarls to her.

"I just have some info, and then I'm gone. Not sure what feathers here plans to do. Most likely aid you guys with what I'm about to give you, since apparently she's your puppy dog."

"I'm not—" I begin, but I'm cut off by Sam.

"What is it?" he asks Ruby.

"I'm hearing a few whispers," she states.

"Ooh, great, demon whispers—that's reliable," Dean says.

"Girl named Anna Milton escaped from a locked ward yesterday. The demons seem pretty keen on finding her. Apparently, some real heavy hitters turned out for the Easter-egg hunt."

"Why?" asks Sam. "Who is she?"

"No idea."

Sam looks to me. "Do the angels know about Anna?"

"I've kept it quiet up here," I say, tapping the side of my head. "All the chatter gives me a headache."

"I'm thinking she's important," Ruby continues, "cause the order is to capture her alive. I just figured that whatever the deal is, you might want to find this girl before the demons do. You know, be a good Samaritan and all that."

The Winchesters exchange looks with each other. Dean looks uninterested, while Sam is trying to convince his brother.

"Look, maybe we should check it out," he tells Dean.

"Actually, we're working on a case, but thanks."

"What case?" asks Ruby, who doesn't sound convinced.

"Uh, we've got leads, big leads."

"Sounds dangerous."

"Yeah, well, it sure ain't goose-chasing after some chick who, for all we know, doesn't even exist, just because you say she's important."

"I'm just delivering the news. You can do whatever you want with it. Far as I'm concerned, I told you. I'm done."

"Wait, wait, wait," Sam stops Ruby. "This hospital Anna escaped from—it got a name?"

* * *

Ruby kept to her word. After relaying her information about Anna, she disappeared. I remained with the Winchesters to scope out this lead.

We're at the hospital Anna escaped from, questioning the psychologist.

"Of course I want to help however I can," she says.

"Now, the orderly has no recollection of Anna's escape?" asks Sam.

"Apparently, she knocked him unconscious. The blow caused some amnesia. He doesn't even remember coming into her room."

"That's a hell of a right hook to knock out a guy that's got eighty pounds on her," Dean comments.

"We think she may have planned this, waited behind the door."

"Right," says Sam. "Uh, you mentioned Anna's illness was recent."

"Two months ago, she was happy, well-adjusted, journalism major, lots of friends—Bright future."

"So, what happened—she just...flipped?" Dean questions.

"Well, that's the tragedy of schizophrenia. Within weeks, Anna was overtaken by delusions."

"What kind of delusions?" I ask.

"She thought demons were everywhere." The psychologist hands a sketchbook to Sam.

"Interesting."

"It's not uncommon for our patients to believe that monsters are real."

"Well, that—that's just batty," says Dean.

The three of us look at the book. The images are sketched, and scary. There's some scrawl on one page: Raising of the Witnesses. On the next page: Samhain the next seal is broken.

This Anna Milton has a connection to the world's events right now. Somehow. She knows that Samhain rose, she knows the Witnesses rose. But how can she know if she's human?

But what if she's not?

No person with an illness could make up things like this and actually be accurate about them. Not that the humans would know it's really happening, we like to keep supernatural affairs under wraps.

"That's Revelations."

"Since when does the Book of Revelations have jack-o'-lanterns?" asks the psychologist.

"It's a, uh, it's a little-known translation."

"Well, Anna's father was a church deacon. When she became ill, her paranoia took on religious overtones. She was convinced the Devil was about to rise up and end the world. I hope you find her. It's dangerous for her to be out there alone right now."

If she knows this kind of information, it's most definitely dangerous for Anna Milton.