November 12, 1997

Dear Journal,

I think that's how you're supposed to start these things off anyway. This is gonna be pretty quick- we just finished off a demon and it's 3:16 in the morning so I need to knock out.

This was one of the harder cases, I have to admit. The son of a bitch used one of my old high school buddies as his meat suit. Dad and I were driving through Fairfax, a little town in Indiana that Sam and I went to school in a few months ago, looking for a motel to spend the night at on our way to Bobby's in South Dakota. When I was at Truman High I met this cool guy, Cory. We were never really close or anything, but he had my back a few times when Amanda and I were having a little fun in the janitor's closet and he seemed like a decent kid. Never gave me any problems. I barely recognized him today when Dad and I stopped for burgers, until I saw Amanda kiss him and walk out the door, blushing. She always was the romantic type. I wonder if she ever got Cory to meet her parents. I left before she could bring me home.

I sat down on the stool next to Cory and slapped a hand on his back, motioning towards the door and giving a thumbs-up. He smirked, pleased with himself. Then he recognized me and remembered my past with her. I told him he didn't need to worry before the words even came out of his mouth.

He seemed really confused to see me, asking why I was back in town. I told him I missed it and wanted to come back and visit. Dad and Sam went out to find a motel and Cory and I walked around town, just talking about what's been going on since I left. I told him I'd just been traveling with my dad and Sammy, avoiding the whole demon topic. He rambled about how perfect Amanda is and honestly, I'm glad I got out of that little love-fest with her. Never was my thing, but clearly Cory's one for all that romantic crap. I'm surprised she went for me in the first place.

It had gotten dark after about an hour and I mentioned that I should probably be getting back to the family, and Cory grabbed the front of my shirt and pulled me around the back of the building we were next to.

"What the hell, dude?" I had asked him, but realized what was going on when he pulled out a knife. I slammed my arm across his chest and pushed back, simultaneously kicking his feet out from under him. He landed on his back and I immediately kneeled on his chest and grabbed the knife from his hand, shoving it into his throat. I apologized to Cory, who wasn't even really there anymore, and watched the body illuminate around the blade.

Did I learn anything from this hunt?

Don't be so easy to trust.

I'm going to bed.