Sandy stepped out of her cottage and made her way down the wooded path. Enjoying the night sounds around her, she stopped for a moment and listened to a pair of bullfrogs coming on to each other in the mild spring night.
Meandering her way along the crick, she turned up the I-pod that swung from her neck. Music pumping she danced a couple steps, enjoying the music and the freedom. She knew it was only a matter of days before, both quiet and free time became scarce commodities. She had left her roommates catching up on their bullshit, opting instead for the cool night air and the empty fairway.
She had been working at Knoebel's Amusement park for three seasons now. Every spring after she finished her finals she headed here to Elysburg, Pennsylvania to work the park for the summer. Luckily, this year she had scored onsite housing. The small cabins were located at the back of the property and were free for use, by employees. However, there weren't enough accommodations for everyone so, Sandy had been on a waiting list for the last three years.
Sharing the cabin with five other girls was tough, but it allowed her to save almost every dime she earned. She had gotten into college with no help from her family and she intended to keep it that way. Sandy had left home, the day she had accepted her diploma and she had no intention of returning.
Sighing, she veered away from the stream that cut through the park, and headed towards the rides. Soon the blacktop would be swarming with hot, sticky children and their irritated parents. Smiling slightly she jumped up onto the Merry-Go-Round, her most favorite of all the rides here at the park. The horses stilled in mid-jump, their heads thrown back, teeth bared, Sandy had been eighteen years old the first time she had sat on this same horse. She had been broke and was desperate for a job. She had stopped at the attached campground on a whim while passing through the area; it was then she had noticed a help-wanted sign. Now here she was an old hand, ready to start her fourth year.
Hopping down from the horse, she again started back towards the stream. Lost in her thoughts and her music she never noticed the shape that followed. Tossing her long brown hair back from her shoulders, Sandy stepped lightly over the bridge that crossed the stream. Veering away from the path that led towards the campgrounds she instead made her way back towards the cabins.
Stumbling slightly, Sandy paused as her ear bud fell out. Just before she went to put it, back in a noise caught her attention. Listening intently, she turned at the sound of footsteps moving through the carpet of leaves that were underfoot. Not able to see anyone at first, Sandy called out. "Hello?"
As a dark figure stepped out of the shadows, Sandy took a step back. Not familiar with the man, she nodded and began walking again. Ripping both buds out of her ears; she felt panic clawing its way down her throat as the footsteps followed. Nearly running now, she glanced over her shoulder only to see the man was holding something in his hand. As he moved towards her, a shaft of moonlight winked off the blade of a large knife. Veering off the path Sandy headed for the stream, hoping to loose the man in the darkness. Stepping down too close to the edge of the stream, her arms windmilled as the ground beneath her gave way. Falling into the icy water, she scrambled to her feet.
"No please, no don't do this. Please someone help me please." Sandy scrabbled along the bank of the river, trying to pull herself out. Shooting frantic glances over her shoulder, she could see that he was still there. Finally, in desperation, she stopped trying to climb the steep bank of the stream; and instead began following the path of the water.
It was only as she felt a white-hot pain between her shoulders; she realized he had caught her. Releasing one final scream, she fell, face first into the cold water. Her last breathe a mixture of water and silt from the bottom of the stream.
Smiling he knelt over the young girls body. He gave a merry laugh as he pulled the butcher's knife from her back. Watching as the water turned red from the blood that spilled from her body, he once again plunged the knife into her back. Again and again, the knife came up into the air and then swung down in an arc, plunging into the back of the young girl.
Finally, the knife stopped. Eyes closed the man breathed deeply, enjoying the coppery scent of the blood. His tongue darted out, to taste the spray of blood, which had landed on his lips. Grinning, eyes so wide the whites were showing, the man began to laugh. Loud, deep, belly laughs, rolled through him and he made no attempt to stop.
Standing at last, he looked down at his victim, lying facedown in the water. A mounting horror began to grow within him as he realized just what he had done. "No" he mumbled, unable to take in the sight before him. "No, not again, I didn't mean to, I'm sorry." Tears streaming down his face, he glanced all around him, expecting to find the police ready to take him back. He calmed somewhat when he realized that no one was around. His twisted mind quickly began calculating, grabbing the woman by the feet he began dragging her away. Intent on finding a nice hidey-hole to put her in, he reassured himself that this time he wouldn't be caught.
888
Standing on a wooden bridge, Dean leaned his elbows on the railing and gazed down at the water below. Ignoring the shouts, squeals and crying that surrounded him he asked Sam, "So this is where it happened."
Sam nodded standing next to Dean he gazed around at the stream below him. "Yup, three men have drowned so far this season, and its only June. Every drowning was deemed and accident."
"That water can't be more than a foot at its deepest, how the hell do three grown men drown in it?" Dean asked as carefully pulled his EMF meter from his pocket. Not getting a reading, he shut it down and slipped it back into his jacket pocket. "So Sammy, how do you want to do this one?"
Sam smiled lightly and said, "I have a plan."
Dean felt a moment's foreboding at the sight of Sam's grin. Frowning he began walking back towards the parking lot, carefully stepping around the quickly melting ice-cream cone of a now purple-faced, shrieking, little boy. "I don't know Sam, I gotta say this one might be more than we can handle."
Sam turned surprised eyes on his big brother, waiting for an explanation; he nodded to the screaming kid's mother. "What do you mean, Dean? We can handle one angry water wraith."
Dean grabbed hold of his patience with both hands, as a young girl with a set of pigtails reached out and clutched his jeans with sticky cotton candy fingers. Trying to smile, so he didn't frighten the girl he quickly looked around for a parent. Spying a frantic looking Mother, he caught her attention and pointed down at his leg.
"Oh Thank God, Sally. Don't you ever run away from Mommy again, do you understand me?" Dean watched as the woman slung the small child over a hip and grabbed the hand of another older boy. "It's not the wraith that I'm worried about Sam." Dean said picking up his pace before any other children managed to latch on.
Leaving the crowds behind as they headed for the parking lot, Dean asked. "Why do you think it's a wraith Sam?"
"Well, we've got three men, not connected in any way drowning in the same foot of water. I'll tell you it was blind luck I even noticed the deaths. The park is trying to keep things quiet. This is their busy season and they don't want bad publicity cutting down the numbers." Sam said, one step behind Dean as the brothers walked towards the car.
Climbing into the car, his voice filled with trepidation, Dean asked, "So what's the plan Sam?"