The house had never felt so small.

Erica sat on the edge of the couch, staring at the floorboards while Bobby moved around the kitchen. She could hear the familiar sounds of him making coffee, opening cupboards, and muttering to himself about something he couldn't find.

Normally, those sounds would have comforted her.

Tonight, they only reminded her that the world outside was still moving, even though hers felt like it had come to a complete stop.

Sam was in trouble.

Dean was running out of time.

And Erica had no idea how to save either of them.

She dragged both hands down her face.

"God, this is a mess."

From the kitchen, Bobby answered, "You're telling me."

Erica looked up.

"You're not even going to pretend you didn't hear that?"

"Honey, I heard you the first time."

She huffed and leaned back against the couch.

For a few minutes, neither of them spoke. Bobby eventually came into the living room with two mugs of coffee, setting one on the table in front of her.

Erica stared at it.

"I'm not really in the mood for coffee."

"Didn't ask if you were."

She gave him a tired look.

"You're very comforting, you know that?"

"Been told."

Bobby sat in the chair opposite her. His expression was serious now, and Erica knew that whatever he was about to say wasn't going to be a joke.

"Look, Erica. I know I'm not your dad."

She stiffened slightly at the mention of John.

"But I know your brothers," Bobby continued. "And I know you. You love those boys, even when they're being a couple of pain-in-the-ass idiots."

A reluctant smile tugged at her mouth.

"That's putting it mildly."

"Point is, you got a chance to help Sam. Maybe not a perfect chance, and maybe not an easy one, but it's something."

Erica looked down at her hands.

"What if I make things worse?"

"What if you don't?"

She didn't answer.

Bobby leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

"Nobody's asking you to have all the answers. But Dean came all the way here because he believes you might be able to reach his brother. Don't take that lightly."

Erica swallowed.

She knew Bobby was right.

That didn't make the decision any easier.

Because there was something Dean hadn't told her. Something he'd tried to keep hidden behind his usual tough-guy attitude.

He was running out of time, too.

Dean Winchester had made a deal with a demon.

And when the year was up, his soul belonged to Hell.

Erica had learned the truth, and ever since then, she'd been unable to stop thinking about it.

Her oldest brother was going to die.

Her other brother might already be lost.

And she was supposed to sit around waiting for someone else to figure out how to fix it?

No.

She couldn't do that.

Erica stood abruptly.

Bobby looked up.

"Where are you going?"

"Out."

He frowned.

"Out where?"

"Just out."

"Erica—"

"I need some air, Bobby."

He studied her face for a moment. Whatever he saw there made him stop arguing.

"Don't do anything stupid."

Erica grabbed her jacket from the back of the couch.

"Define stupid."

"Anything that makes me regret letting you out of this house."

She managed a small smile.

"I'll try to keep that in mind."

Then she walked to the door.

Bobby called after her just as she reached it.

"Kid?"

She turned.

"Be careful."

For a moment, she couldn't find anything sarcastic to say.

"I will."

And then she was gone.

⸻

The Crossroads

The drive took longer than Erica expected.

She kept both hands on the steering wheel, her eyes fixed on the dark road stretching ahead of her. The headlights cut through the night, illuminating patches of dead grass, crooked fence posts, and trees that looked like twisted fingers reaching toward the sky.

She'd passed through this part of the countryside before.

Every hunter knew the stories.

Crossroads demons. Deals. Wishes granted at a price no sane person should ever agree to pay.

It was the sort of thing John Winchester had warned his children about since they were old enough to understand what a demon was.

Never make a deal.

Never trust a demon.

And never, ever believe that you can outsmart something that's been manipulating human beings for centuries.

Erica could practically hear her father's voice in her head.

She tightened her grip on the steering wheel.

"Sorry, Dad."

The car rolled to a stop near the crossroads.

For a moment, Erica simply sat there.

She could still turn around.

She could drive back to Bobby's house, call Dean, and tell him she'd help find another way. They could research the demon, search for an exorcism that might work, and keep looking until they found something that didn't involve sacrificing anyone.

That was what a sensible person would do.

Unfortunately, Erica Winchester had never been particularly good at being sensible when her family was in danger.

She reached for the small box she'd brought with her.

Inside were the things she needed to summon a crossroads demon.

She stepped out of the car.

The night air was cold against her cheeks, and the silence felt unnaturally deep. No passing cars. No distant voices. Just the faint rustle of leaves and the crunch of gravel beneath her boots.

Erica walked to the middle of the dirt road and knelt.

Her hands hesitated over the ground.

This was real.

Once she did this, there would be no pretending it was just another hunt.

She was about to summon a demon and bargain with it for the lives of her brothers.

She placed the box in the dirt.

Then she stood and took several steps back.

Her heart hammered against her ribs.

"Okay," she whispered. "I really hope this works."

Nothing happened.

Erica waited.

The wind picked up, sweeping across the road and tugging at her jacket.

She glanced around.

"Seriously? I've got places to be."

Still nothing.

Her nerves turned into irritation.

She folded her arms and glared at the empty crossroads.

"Come out, you little bitch!"

A voice answered from behind her.

"Well, that's no way to talk to me."

Erica spun around.

A woman stood several feet away, dressed impeccably despite the muddy road and the hour. Her dark eyes gleamed with amusement, and her smile was far too pleased with itself.

Erica recognized the type immediately.

The kind of person who could make a threat sound like an invitation.

The kind of person who would happily watch the world burn if she could profit from the flames.

A crossroads demon.

The woman tilted her head.

"You must be Erica Winchester."

Erica forced herself not to react.

"Depends who's asking."

The demon laughed softly.

"Oh, I like you already."

"That's unfortunate. I can't say the feeling's mutual."

"Such a sharp tongue. I wonder where you got that from."

"Family trait."

The demon's smile widened.

"Now, what is it you want, Miss Winchester?"

Erica took a breath.

This was it.

No turning back.

"I heard you're the one who can help me with something important."

"That depends on what you need."

Erica stared directly into her eyes.

"I know Dean made a deal."

For the first time, the demon's expression changed.

Only slightly, but Erica noticed.

"Did he now?"

"Don't play dumb. We both know his time is running out."

The demon studied her with renewed interest.

"And what does that have to do with you?"

Erica's throat tightened.

"Dean wants to save Sam. He wants to get the demon out of him before his time is up."

"And you think I can help with that?"

"I know you can."

The demon took a slow step forward.

"Then let me guess. You want to make a deal of your own."

Erica didn't answer immediately.

She thought about Dean standing in Bobby's doorway, trying to sound calm while telling her that Sam might be gone.

She thought about Sam, who had spent years looking out for her in his own quiet way.

She thought about what would happen when Dean's year was over.

One brother trapped in a body that might no longer belong to him.

The other dragged to Hell.

And Erica left behind to live with the knowledge that she could have done something.

She couldn't let that happen.

"Yes," she said.

The demon's eyes gleamed.

"How interesting."

She circled Erica slowly, examining her as though she'd found something valuable at an auction.

"So, what are you offering me, sweetheart?"

Erica's hands curled into fists.

"Take Dean's place."

The words hung between them.

The demon stopped walking.

For a moment, even she seemed surprised.

Then she laughed.

Not a polite laugh. Not an amused little chuckle.

A full, delighted laugh that echoed across the empty road.

"Oh, my dear girl. You really are a Winchester."

Erica glared at her.

"Is that a yes or a no?"

"You're offering your own soul in exchange for your brother's?"

"That's exactly what I'm offering."

"And you understand what happens when your time is up?"

"Yes."

The demon's smile sharpened.

"One year. Then Hell comes to collect."

Erica swallowed.

She understood the words.

She understood what they meant.

But understanding something and being ready to face it were two very different things.

Still, she kept her chin raised.

"Can you do it or not?"

The demon regarded her for a long moment.

"Yes. I can arrange for Dean's contract to be transferred to you. But a deal is never quite as simple as that."

Erica's stomach sank.

"There's a catch."

"There's always a catch."

"Of course there is."

The demon stepped closer.

"If I'm going to make this arrangement, I want something else from you."

Erica's expression hardened.

"What?"

"When the demon is removed from Sam, you will not come after me."

Erica stared at her.

"What?"

"You heard me. Neither you nor your brothers will hunt me, try to exorcise me, or interfere with my business. You get your brother back. I get to go about my life without the Winchesters breathing down my neck."

Erica's jaw tightened.

"You want me to promise that we're never going to come after you?"

"Precisely."

"And if you hurt somebody else?"

The demon shrugged.

"That would be none of your concern."

Erica took a step forward.

"That's a pretty big condition."

"And you're asking me to save your brother and take your other brother's place in Hell. I would say we're both making sacrifices."

Erica hated her.

She hated the demon's smile, the smugness in her voice, and the way she spoke about human souls as if they were nothing more than currency.

Most of all, she hated that she needed her.

The demon extended a hand.

"Do we have a deal?"

Erica looked at it.

One year.

That was all she had.

One year to live, to hunt, to spend time with her brothers, and to hope that somehow they would find a way to break the contract before Hell came for her.

One year to save Sam.

One year to give Dean the chance to live.

It wasn't enough.

But it was more than either of them had right now.

Erica lifted her eyes.

"Fine."

The demon smiled.

"Excellent."

"But if you try to trick me—"

"Oh, sweetheart. I would never."

"You're literally a demon."

"Details."

Erica scowled.

"So, what do we do now?"

The demon stepped close enough that Erica could smell her perfume.

"Seal the deal."

Before Erica could ask what that meant, the demon reached up, cupped her face, and kissed her.

Erica froze.

The kiss was brief, but the sensation that followed was anything but ordinary.

Cold swept through her body, sharp and unnatural, as though someone had opened a door inside her chest and let winter rush in. Her breath caught. For one terrifying second, she felt as if something had reached deep inside her and marked her very soul.

Then it was over.

The demon stepped away, looking satisfied.

Erica stumbled backward.

"What the hell was that?"

The demon smiled.

"Contract's sealed."

Erica wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, glaring at her.

"Could've warned me."

"Where would be the fun in that?"

"I swear to God—"

"Careful, darling. You're going to have to get used to watching that temper of yours."

Erica took a steadying breath.

She wasn't going to let this woman get under her skin.

Not tonight.

"Okay," she said. "How long do I have?"

The demon's smile faded into something almost businesslike.

"One year."

Erica felt the words settle over her like a sentence.

"One year," she repeated.

"That's right. When the time comes, Hell will collect."

Erica looked away for a moment, trying to swallow the fear threatening to rise in her throat.

Then she looked back.

"Fine."

The demon seemed pleased.

"Then we have an agreement."

A sudden gust of wind swept across the crossroads.

Erica blinked against the dust.

When she opened her eyes, the demon was gone.

The road was empty.

The night was quiet.

And Erica Winchester was standing alone in the dirt with a deal hanging over her soul.

⸻

The Price of Family

For several minutes, Erica couldn't move.

She stared at the place where the demon had stood, half expecting her to reappear and tell her that the whole thing had been a joke.

But there was no one there.

Only the wind.

Only the dark.

Only the knowledge that she'd just traded a year of her life for the chance to save her brothers.

She slowly bent down and picked up the box.

Her fingers were trembling.

She hadn't realized how badly until she tried to close the lid and nearly dropped it.

"Okay," she whispered to herself. "Okay, Erica. You've got this."

The words sounded ridiculous.

She didn't have this.

She had no idea what she'd just gotten herself into beyond the obvious. She didn't know whether the demon would keep her word, whether Sam could be saved, or whether her brothers would ever forgive her when they found out what she'd done.

But she had made her choice.

And she couldn't take it back.

Erica returned to her car and sat behind the wheel.

For a long time, she stared at the phone resting in the passenger seat.

Dean needed to know that she was going to help him.

He needed to know that Sam might still have a chance.

But she couldn't tell him the truth.

Not yet.

If he knew what she'd done, he'd never accept it. He'd find a way to stop her, even if it meant sacrificing himself all over again.

Sam would do the same.

They would both try to save her.

And Erica had just made a deal to save them.

She picked up the phone and scrolled to Dean's number.

Her thumb hovered over the screen.

Then she pressed call.

It rang once.

Twice.

"Erica?"

Dean answered immediately.

She closed her eyes at the sound of his voice.

"Hey."

"Where the hell are you? Bobby said you went out."

"I'm fine."

"That wasn't what I asked."

She almost smiled.

Of course Dean would notice.

"I'm coming to meet you."

There was a pause.

"You're coming?"

"Yeah."

"Erica, are you sure?"

She looked out at the empty crossroads, the moonlight spilling across the dirt road.

No, she wasn't sure.

She was terrified.

But she had made a promise, and she intended to keep it.

"Yeah, Dean," she said quietly. "I'm sure."

"Okay. I'll text you the address."

"Dean?"

"Yeah?"

She swallowed hard.

"I'm going to help Sam."

His voice softened.

"I know, kid."

The call ended.

Erica lowered the phone and stared at it for another moment.

Then she started the engine.

As the headlights illuminated the road ahead, she forced herself to look forward.

She had one year.

One year to save her family.

And she was going to make every second count.