Sam sat at the counter of a small town bar. He sipped his large beer glass and looked around to the other patrons at the bar. He spied Dean chatting up a girl at the jukebox across the room. He watched Dean as he flirted with the girl. Sam sighed deeply and put his lips back to his glass. The cool liquid poured down his throat, and he felt it temporarily soothe him. He closed his eyes tightly.
'Is that your brother?' A young woman's voice caused Sam to open his eyes back up. It was the bartender standing in front of him.
'It is.' Sam nodded.
'That girl he's talking to, she's really buying it.' The brown haired bartender shook her head slightly. Her ponytail swung back and forth as she watched him.
'Yeah, they usually do. But...' He paused.
'I don't know why.' Both Sam and the bartender spoke at the same time. Sam smiled widely at their in unison answer. She laughed back at him. She had warm inviting blue eyes. She looked down at Sam's glass. It was almost empty.
'Can I get you another one?' She asked him.
'Sure, that would be great.' He nodded.
'Alright, sit tight.' Sam watched as she filled up his pint glass and returned it to him at the counter. He smiled at her and pulled out his wallet. She put up her hand to signal him to stop. 'It's on the house.'
'Really?' He asked surprised.
'Yeah, I have an older sister, reminds me a lot of your brother over there. She drives me crazy. So, I know how it is.'
'Well thanks.' Sam took a sip of his beer. 'I think this is the first time Dean being an idiot has worked out in my favor.
'Good, you deserve it.' She smiled and turned away. Sam couldn't help but fantasize what it would be like to be with the bartender. It had been a long time since had gotten close to a girl. He took a deep breath and then another sip of his beer. He felt a hard blow to his shoulder. It caused him to jump and spill beer on himself.
'Sammy!' Dean laughed at Sam's reaction.
'Jesus Dean.' Sam put the glass back down on the bar. He grabbed a few napkins to sop up his wet jeans. 'Was that necessary?'
'No, but it was pretty funny.' Dean replied. He sat down at the bar stool next to his brother. 'So, I saw you chatting with that lady bartender.' He raised his eyebrows at his brother. 'Very nice.'
'Yeah, she was only talking to me cause we bonded over what a jackass you are.'
'No way.' Dean scoffed. 'She didn't say that.'
'She basically did.'
'Oh yeah?' He raised his hand high up to signal the bartender. 'Excuse me.'
'What are you doing?' Sam asked with suspicion.
'Excuse me Miss?'
'Yes. What can I do for you?' The bartender asked Dean.
'Well, you can start by telling me your name.' He smiled widely at her. 'I'm Dean, and you've already met my brother Sammy here.'
'I'm Laura.'
'Laura. Nice to meet you.'
'The pleasure is all mine.' She said with sarcasm. He watched her expression for a minute waiting for her to lighten up, but it didn't happen. 'What else can I do for you Dean?' She asked with a look of skepticism.
'I was wondering if you could make me a special drink.' He flashed his charming smile at her. 'Special?' She shook her head.
'Yeah, you look pretty proficient behind the bar. Why don't you make me your best drink.' He attempted to flirt with her.
'Well, what kind of liquor do you usually drink?' She asked him.
'Anything that's within reach.' Sam interjected.
'What?' Dean swatted his hand at Sam. 'No. He's kidding.'
'No, I'm not.' Sam replied.
'Why don't you just make me anything you want.' Dean tried to redirect the conversation.
'Anything I want?' Laura asked him.
'Anything.' He nodded his head.
'Alright then Dean.' She gave him a mischievous smile. 'I think I know just the thing.' She gave Sam a quick smile and then turned around and eyed the liquor bottles. She pulled a few bottles off the wall and began mixing a drink.
'What happened with the girl at the jukebox?' Sam asked Dean.
'I don't know. She said she had to go home.' He shrugged his shoulders. 'You can't win em all.'
'I suppose.' Sam shook his head.
'What I really came over here for, was to tell you we've got a case.'
'What is it?' Sam sipped what was left of his beer.
'Bobby called, he wants us to look into some strange police reports of out a place called Graysville Idaho, it's a couple miles outside of Boise.'
'Okay.'
'He said that there have been a large number of calls in the past month reporting lost children wandering the street in the middle of the night.'
'That's a little strange.' Sam nodded his head.
'You're telling me. People report encounters with groups of two or three children. Usually boys, though some people said they saw a young girl. There is always and older child who looks to be about 13 and the other children are younger 10 or 11 years old.'
'Have there been any reported children missing around the area?' Sam asked.
'No. No one knows who these children are. The reports say these kids just appear, and they ask for rides, or favors. Sometimes they're spotted knocking on peoples doors.'
'Weird.' Sam scratched his head.
'In every instance they are asking for small favors. A ride home or permission to come inside and use the telephone.'
'That's a little bizarre, but I don't understand the issue.' Sam shook his head. 'A little kid knocks on your door asking to use the phone in the middle of the night. After they use the phone don't their parents come pick them up?'
'No. In all these cases no one helps out the children. They beg and plead but reports of an overwhelming sense of fear and dread prevent people from helping the children. And after a while the children disappear.'
'Well, that sounds like our kind of case.'
'It sure does. I haven't told you the best part yet. These children have black eyes.' Dean raised his eyebrows at Sam. 'Not dark eyes, or empty eyes. Black eyes.'
'Like Demon eyes?' Sam asked quickly.
'That's what Bobby originally assumed but these kids aren't acting like Demons. No one has been hurt, or killed. The children show up out of no where asking for help, and then they disappear. They speak in creepy monotone voices, staring at their potential victim. Demons are scary, but the reports of spine chilling, gut wrenching dread in the presence of these children sound too extreme.'
'What could they be?' Sam asked.
'I don't know yet. Bobby is still researching it. He said we should try to find out some more details by heading into town.'
'Alright then.' Sam nodded his head. 'Sounds like a plan.'
'Here you go.' Laura put a martini glass filled with green liquid in front of Dean. He stared at the drink for a second and then looked back at her. She stood stone faced waiting for Dean's reaction.
'What the hell is this?' He finally spoke. He could feel Sam smiling next to him.
'I uh... believe that's an Appletini.' Sam choked out trying not to explode in laughter.
'An Apple...what?' Dean replied.
'You said anything I wanted.' The bartender continued. 'I tried to pick a drink I thought matched your personality.' A large smile spread across her face as she was unable to hold back any longer. A loud laugh erupted from Sam's lips and then Laura joined in. They couldn't help it.
'Very nice...' Dean replied sarcastically. He shook his head. 'You realize I'm not paying for this right?' He picked up the drink and sniffed it. He grimaced at the sweet smell of the cocktail.
'Please, it's my treat. Enjoy.' She said between laughs as she walked away from the brothers.
'Oh Man.' Sam continued to laugh. 'You should have seen your face.' He smacked his brother on the shoulder. 'Priceless.'
'Well, I'm so glad I can amuse you.'
'You definitely can.' Sam continued to laugh. He put his hand to his stomach and winched. 'Oh, I haven't laughed like that in a long time.'
'You want to finish that beer?' Dean asked his brother. 'We should be heading to Boise.'
'Sure Dean, whatever you say.' Sam tried to slow his laughter.
'Well.' Dean looked at the glass again. Then he looked around the room to see if anyone was watching him. 'It was free.' He picked up the glass.
'You aren't really going to...' Sam raised his eyebrows. Dean gave Sam a dirty look and then took a large sip of the cocktail. A look of disgust quickly spread on his face.
'Oh.' Dean put his hand over his mouth to keep from spitting the drink out. He shook his head frantically.
'It can't be that bad.' Sam shook his head. 'You're exaggerating. Just swallow it.' Dean shook his head again and then choked the liquid down.
'Ugh!' He grimaced. 'Your turn princess.' Dean pointed to the drink.
'What? Why should I drink it?'
'Come on Sam it can't be that bad.' He mocked his brother.
'Fine.' Sam picked up the glass. He took a big swig of the liquid.
'Well...' Dean watched Sam's face as he tried not to make the disgusted face he wanted to. 'Oh come on.' Dean repeated Sam's earlier statements. 'You're exaggerating, just swallow it.' Sam swallowed hard and shook his head.
'God that's awful.' He grimaced.
'I'm going to the car.' Dean announced. He looked over at Sam's beer glass. He picked it up and drank down the rest of Sam's beer in one sip. 'That's better. Thanks Sammy.'
'Dick.' Sam shook his head.
'Oh, on your way out make sure to tell your bartender girlfriend I said thanks.' Dean said as he walked away.
'I'm on it.' Sam muttered as he watched Dean disappear through the front door. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a few bills.
'Hey.' Laura leaned against the bar counter. 'Sorry about that, I didn't think you guys were actually going to drink it.'
'People really order those?' Sam asked.
'Unfortunately.' She smiled. She took a napkin and placed it on the counter. 'I work most nights till 1.' Sam looked at the napkin it had her name and phone number written on it. 'In case you ever get tired of hanging out with your brother, you should give me a call.'
'Okay.' Sam said. He picked up the phone number and stood up. 'Maybe I'll see you later.'
'I hope so.' She smiled.
Sam and Dean drove all night and ended up in Graysville Idaho sometime around 3am. It was a small town like many of the other small towns they had visited over the past few years. They checked into a local motel to get some sleep before they had to be at the police station in a few hours. They woke up when the sun rose, their eyes still puffy from lack of sleep. The brothers dressed in their suits and headed downtown. The town square was wide open and people passed each other happily. Nothing looked out of the ordinary. Dean parked the Impala a few feet from the police station. Sam and Dean headed into the station. A young man was standing at the front desk of the police station concentrating very hard on a crossword puzzle. He stared intently at the words, his pencil scribbling in the margins. Sam and Dean stood for a minute watching him, he didn't look up. Sam cleared his throat to get the attention of the young officer. He didn't acknowledge them. Dean spoke up.
'Who's winning?' Dean asked him.
'Winning?' He asked looking up. 'It's a crossword puzzle.'
'I realize that.' Dean flashed his fake FBI badge in front of the boy. 'I'm Agent Stradlin and this is my partner Agent Mccagan. We're from the FBI.'
'Oh.' The young police officer quickly put the puzzle under his desk. A nervous smile spread across his face. 'Are you here about the skunks?'
'Skunks?' Sam asked him.
'They're making a mess of the trash. When I asked Officer Landry if we could shoot them he said he'd have the FBI look into it.'
'No, were not here about the skunks.' Sam shook his head.
'Well, if you have time, when you're done doing whatever your doing here can you look into them?'
'Can we speak to Officer Landry?' Dean asked him.
'Sure, he's in the back.' The boy waved them to follow. They walked past all the desks of detectives and police officers. The boy stopped and listened for a minute at an office door near the back of the station. 'I think he's in there.' He smiled.
'Shouldn't we knock?' Sam asked him.
'Right!' He knocked on the door. 'Officer Landry the FBI is here, but not about the skunks.'
'What?' A man yelled back in reply. The brothers heard motion inside the office. The door handle opened.' Skunks?' The man replied as he opened the door. 'What on earth are you talking about Timmy?' He shook his head.
'The skunk problem, you said...'
'Oh, right.' He laughed remembering. The officer looked at Sam and Dean and froze for a minute. 'FBI. Interesting. Thank you Timmy, I'll take it from here.' Timmy walked away leaving Sam and Dean with Officer Landry.
'Good morning boys.' Officer Landry spoke slowly, he waived the brothers into the room. 'Please, sit down.'
'Thank you.' Sam replied. He watched as Officer Landry looked each of them up and down very carefully. They were used to local police becoming suspicious whenever the 'FBI' stepped in but it seemed Officer Landry was especially unsettled by their presence.
'So, what brings you boys here?' He closed the door behind Sam and Dean and then sat at his office desk.
'Well, we heard you've been having some strange sightings around here at night.' Dean began.
'That's why you're here?' He asked looking nervous. 'You mean the kids, playing pranks. You boys must have a lot of free time over there at the Beaurau. I Hardly think this is a matter for the FBI.'
'We'll be the judge of that.' Dean replied.
'With all due respect Agents this is a very small town. Now, I don't know where you boys come from but around here kids can get bored real easily. They're always playing jokes on people. Dressing up in costumes, scaring folks. It's annoying, but believe me it's harmless.'
'What can you tell us about the nature of these calls?' Sam asked ignoring the Officers excuse. He pulled out his small notebook. 'You've had twenty of them in the past two weeks correct?'
'Yes.' He nodded his head solemnly. 'That sounds about right.'
'And you had more of them about a year ago correct?'
'Yes.'
'Don't you think that's a little odd?' Dean asked him.
'I really don't.' He shook his head. 'Like I said it's just the kids around here. They're awfully wild you know.'
'Wild ten year olds?' Sam clarified. The officer stared back at them and shrugged his shoulders. 'Were going to need copies of those police reports.' Sam reminded him.
'Of course.' he nodded his head. 'I'll have Timmy copy them for you, you can have them in about an hour.'
'Thank you Officer Landry.' Sam replied.
'I have to warn you though, you're wasting your time here.' He sighed.
'Thanks for the heads up.' Dean replied sarcastically. He stood up and looked to his brother. Sam stood up next to him. 'We'll be back in a few hours for those reports.'
'Wonderful. In the mean time, enjoy your day in Graysville.' He replied with a tinge of cruelty in his voice.
'We will.' Sam replied. Both Sam and Dean turned to exit the office. Sam looked around to the faces of all the police officers. They seemed to stare strangely at Sam and Dean as they began walking out. Dean stuck his hand into a donut box that sat on one of the police officers desk. He pulled out a chocolate donut and put it in his mouth. Sam shook his head at his brother, he looked around as everyone continued to watch the two brothers. Sam felt self conscious as they watched them. Dean continued to chew on the donut. 'Could you not do that?' Sam whispered to Dean.
'What?' Dean replied with his mouth full. 'I'm hungry.' Dean smiled at the faces of the cops who watched him. Dean didn't care who was looking at him. 'Don't be so uptight.' He turned to his brother. Dean pushed open the front door of the police station as his cell phone began ringing. He pulled it out of his suit pocket.
'Who is it?' Sam asked him.
'It's Bobby.' He replied. Dean pressed the answer button on the phone. 'Bobby.' he greeted their friend over the phone. 'Did you find anything else out about these little monsters?'
'I sure did.' Bobby replied. 'This one you're not going to believe.'
'Alright, shoot.' Dean replied. He pointed to a small cafe a few doors down from the police station letting his brother know he wanted to eat there. Sam nodded in affirmation. They began walking towards the cafe.
'They're called Black Eyed Children.' Bobby said.
'Black eyed children, okay.' Dean repeated.
'Ask him if they're demons.' Sam urged his brother.
'Are they demons Bobby?' Dean asked him.
'Not exactly.' Bobby answered him.
'They're not demons.' Dean told his brother. 'Well not exactly.' Sam and Dean continued to walk through the town square as Dean talked to Bobby on the phone.
'According to my research.' Bobby continued. 'They're a kind of succubus. They exist to collect souls for their masters.' Bobby began. 'They work under the guidance of Fallen Angels who make sure all is going well. There have been reports of them all over the country for years. But this is the first time they've been seen multiple times in the same place. There must be a powerful fallen angel living in this town.'
'So, they just walk around trying to steal everyone's soul.' Dean asked him.
'Not everyone's. They're only here to collect degenerated, or irredeemable souls.'
'Great.' Dean sighed. 'Well, looks like were screwed then.' Dean laughed.
'You want to let me finish here?' Bobby grumbled on the other line.
'Yeah, go ahead.' The boys walked into the small diner and sat down at a booth. A young man walked up to them with a hot coffee pot in his hand. 'Yes, please.' Dean nodded to the boy. He filled up his cup followed by Sam's.
'These creatures take the form of small children with black eyes. They wander around looking for these degenerated souls and once they find them they use their childlike form to trick people into getting close to them. They're only dangerous if you let them be, and they can't steal your soul unless you give them permission.'
'Who the hell's going to do that?' Dean pointed to his menu as they waiter wrote down the boys breakfast orders.
'People don't realize that they're giving permission. When these black eyed children ask to be let in your house, they're really asking for permission to steal your soul. They're giving lip service to creational law that says you must agree to be enslaved. They take the invitation inside your house, or the entrance to your car as that agreement.'
'That's quite a stretch don't you think?' Dean said as he took a sip of his coffee. 'Do you know how to kill them?'
'They're is an incantation that sends them back to hell, I just haven't found it yet.' Bobby replied.
'Alright Bobby. Let me know when you find it.'
'Will do.' He took a deep breath. 'Until I find it, do me a favor and be smart. You and your brother sound like prime targets for these things. If you see one of them be careful, don't let them in anywhere you are.'
'Of course.'
'The last thing I need is to lose another Winchester.' Bobby sighed.
'Bobby I promise we'll be extra careful.'
'Alright. I just have a weird feeling. Come back by the house to visit after you're done in Idaho. I haven't seen the two of you in months.'
'Sure, we'll do that.' Dean agreed. He smiled glad that they had Bobby in their lives. Bobby had once hunted with their father but after he lost his wife he stopped going on the road as much. He still worked with hunters, but more so in the informational capacity. He read newspaper articles and watched news station reports trying to find anything that could be a supernatural case.
'Tell you're brother I said Hello.'
'Will do. Thanks Bobby.' Dean said and then hung up the phone. Dean took a long sip of his coffee, it warmed him. Sam stared at Dean waiting for the information. Dean took another sip of his coffee trying to annoy his brother.
'Well?' Sam spoke impatiently. 'What did Bobby say?'
'He said these Black eyed children are a kind of succubus, that they work under the direction of fallen angels. They roam the earth trying to steal the souls of the unredeemable.'
'Wonderful.' Sam sighed. 'Were screwed then.'
'That's exactly what I said.' Dean laughed.
'Well, how do we find them?'
'We've got to let them find us Bobby said. But we've got to be careful, were prime candidates for these black eyed bastards.'
'Great.' Sam shook his head. He didn't like not having a real plan in place.
'Don't worry.' Dean nodded at his brother feeling his unease. 'As soon as we get those police files we will know who we have to talk to about this. We can isolate locations and stake them out.'
'If we get the police files. The police chief really didn't like that we were looking into this. Makes me think he's got something to hide.' He thought back about their earlier time in the station.
'You know how local cops get when the FBI comes in and steps on their toes. I wouldn't worry about it too much.'
'Bacon and Eggs.' A young woman with short blonde hair put the plate in front of Dean. He looked up at her and smiled. She looked nervous. 'Yogurt with granola and Orange.' She said as she put the plate in front of Sam.
'You ordered yogurt and granola?' Dean shook his head in disbelief. 'Why?'
'Can you not criticize everything I do?' Sam asked his brother. Dean chuckled in response. He looked again at the young girl. She looked at the boys with wide eyes and an uneasy look.
'Um...' Dean stared back at the girl suddenly interested in her strange presence. 'Thank you.' He looked at her name tag. 'Evi.' He furrowed his brown. 'That's an interesting name.'
'Thanks. But it's pronounced like Stevie with an E. Evi.' She answered quickly. 'Enjoy your breakfast and be careful with that bacon.' She smiled slightly.
'What is it still alive?' Dean laughed.
'It's just hot.' She responded and turned away quickly. Dean watched her as she walked away to the back of the kitchen. He looked over at his brother who was staring skeptically at Dean's plate and the large pile of bacon on it.
'That was a little strange.' Dean remarked.
'It was more than a little strange.' Sam stared back at him. Dean picked up a strip of bacon.
'It's not even that hot.' He put the bacon to his mouth.
'No!' Sam yelled as he snatched the bacon from his fingers. 'You can't eat that!'
'Sammy come on.' Dean exhaled audibly.
'We've got to be careful. That interaction was too strange, maybe she was trying to warn you. Or maybe she was trying to hurt you.' Sam looked around the room.
'Maybe she was just flirting with me.' Dean said picking up another piece of bacon. He noticed a note under the pile of pork strips. He pulled it out. 'Look at this.' Dean remarked.
'What is it?'
'A note. I told you she was into me.'
'She didn't look like she was in to any one.' Sam sipped his coffee. 'She looked scared when she put our plates down. Don't tell me you didn't see that.'
'Yeah. I saw it.' Dean grumbled. He opened up the note. 'Check the missing persons files if you really want to know what's going on.'
'Missing Persons.' Sam said out loud. 'How does she know what we're here for?'
'There's only one way to find out for sure Sammy.' Dean nodded his head.
'Okay, well we should get back to that police station. Tell them we also need the missing persons files. Maybe there is a connection.'
'Okay, what about the girl?' Dean asked.
'Where is she?' Sam looked around the room but could not find her.
'Don't you think we should ask her.' Dean asked.
'We should go, is what we should do.'
'What about the food?' Dean pointed to his breakfast plate. 'It just arrived?'
'Eat it fast.' Sam said. 'Find her if you can. I'll meet you at the police station in ten.' Sam drank down the rest of his coffee and stood up.
'I don't know what the rush is.' Dean ate a piece of bacon. 'This is good.' He smiled.
'Do you want to solve this case or not Dean?' Sam shook his head. 'Ten minutes.'
'Alright, alright. Ten minutes.' Dean sighed. He watched his brother as he walked out the front door. He looked down at his breakfast. He ate as much as he could quickly and walked up to the front register. He pulled a twenty dollar bill out of his pocket. An older woman stood behind the register. 'Hi, I need to pay for my breakfast.'
'Of course.' The woman began punching some numbers into the register. She took his money and gave him change.
'Is our waitress around I wanted to give her a tip?'
'George was your waiter.' She raised her eyebrows at her. 'George!' She yelled. The young man who originally took their order appeared behind her. 'This guy wants to give you a tip.' George stared quietly at Dean.
'Yeah.' Dean fumbled through his cash and handed him a five dollar bill. 'Thanks George.'
'You're welcome.' He turned and walked away. Dean stood still at the register.
'Was there something else?'
'Yes. The girl. Who actually brought our food. Is she around?'
'What girl?'
'Evi I think her name was.'
'Oh. She's gone home for the day, her shift just ended.' The woman tapped her pencil impatiently against the counter.
'Do you know where she went?' Dean asked her.
'No.' She lowered her glasses to look at Dean. 'If you want to leave her a tip I'll make sure she gets it tomorrow.'
'She's working tomorrow?'
'She might be.' The woman continued to look skeptically at Dean. 'Listen. This is a family establishment. If you're trying to pick up on Evi do it in a bar.'
'I wasn't trying to...'
'Her brother is the bartender at The Underground. You'll find her there most nights.'
'Oh.' Dean nodded his head. 'Well, thanks a lot for your help.'
'Did you need anything else?'
'No.' He smiled at the woman. 'I'll be going.'
'Good.' She replied flatly.
'Have a wonderful day.' Dean smiled again and headed for the door. Dean met up with his brother outside the police station and the two of them brought back the files along with the list of missing persons back to their motel room. They looked through the files of people who reported the black eyed children and cross referenced them with the missing persons but didn't see any connection. Sam decided they would go around and interview some of the people from the reports and then go to the bar to find Evi. After going door to door talking to people about the black eyed children they found they were no closer to solving the mystery. Every person said the same thing, they were approached by two young children asking them for various favors. In each case they refused to help the children. The children were persistent and spoke calmly in an almost monotone voice. Everyone described the children as speaking more sophisticated then children usually speak. Some say they've seen them multiple times, standing at their front doors knocking over and over again for long periods of time. They invoke a sense of fear and dread in everyone who encounters them. They stare straight ahead with black lifeless eyes.
