Last Chance

Chapter 2: What is that?

AN: I got nothing.....


They had brought small, but powerful headlamps that could be worn to keep their hands free, but were not as cumbersome as a helmet. Standard weapons would dispatch the creature, but they also carried their usual accelerants, strong nylon rope and electronic trackers to tag their way so they didn't become lost.

Both carried knives, heavy gloves and Sam had insisted on a first aid kit, a thermal blanket, water and protein bars. Dean had sarcastically asked if he wanted a teddy bear as well, but Sam had ignored him. "We're gonna be underground, Dean, an old mine, maybe caverns, it's cold, probably wet. Aything could happen," was all he said.

The creature could have been far away by now, anywhere along the fifty miles of tunnels lacing the countryside, but if it had gotten what it wanted, it would still be close by, waiting out it's short gestation period. Hopefully that would be the case and both parent and progeny could be taken out in one fell swoop. The next-closest hunters had been two states away and they were cutting it too close as it was.

"We have to go through the main entrance to get to the mine, there's a service entrance but it's on the other side of the mountain," Sam was saying as they moved up the gravel walkway to the main entrance.

Dean trudged along slightly behind him, his backpack an uncomfortable weight pulling at his shoulders. He couldn't get the tart scent of the dust he was covered with out of his nose, surprised he could smell anything at all.

"Did anyone happen to say if there was a guard or something?" Dean asked in a low, hoarse voice. "I'm not looking forward to trying to explain what the hell we're doing here." He turned away and sneezed suddenly, dust falling in a sparkling shower from his clothes, setting the bells in his head to pealing. Grimacing, he pressed the heel of his hand to his forehead.

"Bless you," Sam said, "They have a night watchman, Bobby said, but it's just some old guy who watches the cameras they have mounted from an office in the back." Sam glanced at his watch, "The contact said he's usually asleep by now. We just need to be quiet."

Dean nodded, leaning against the wall to watch as Sam knelt and made quick work of the locks on the door.

The main entry led to a small cafe on one side, the mandatory gift shop/museum in the center taking up the largest area, dim lights burning here and there. Examples of different types of coal cars, miner's tools, clothing, and equipment was arranged about the room, wall murals depicted a timeline for changes in mining through the decades. At the far end of the room was a heavy wooden door with a sign over it that said "Welcome to the Brightline Mine"

The room smelled of new construction and had obviously been dressed for a party. Grand Re-Opening signs were everywhere and sparkling souvenirs crowded the shelves.

They moved carefully through the room, watchful of displays. Sam paused at the cash register to pick up a brochure that had a map of the original mine tunnels and scanned it for a moment before stuffing it in his jacket.

"Let's go," he said, glancing over at Dean, whose attention had been caught by a collection of miners pick axes. "Dean!" He hissed. "C'mon."

Dean jerked, dropping his hand from the pick he was touching. "Sorry," he muttered, giving the pick one last glance. He pulled his pack up higher and crossed back to Sam. "You know we oughta get a couple of those things, they look like they'd make a helluva weapon."

"Don't be ridiculous," Sam replied with a snort, "A pick axe would make a crappy weapon." He paused by short hallway that led to door marked 'Employees Only'. He stopped, putting a hand out to halt Dean as well, placing a finger in front of his lips in answer to Deans look.

Now Dean could make out muffled, tinny music.

The door's open, Sam mouthed, cocking his head toward the thin slice of light from the slightly ajar door.

He awake? Dean asked, face suddenly twisting.

He experienced a serious 'oh shit' moment as now that it seemed like they needed to be quiet, he was swept with an overwhelming need to--

aaaaaaaacchhooooo!!!!!!!!!

Horrified, he clamped his hands over his mouth and stumbled away into the gloom trying not to follow up with the coughing he knew would be next.

Sam had flattened himself against the wall and they both stood frozen for an eternity of heartbeats, Dean desperately trying to muffle his coughing in the crook of his arm.

Seconds ticked by.

Silence prevailed.

Lowering his hands Dean crept back, eyeing the doorway. "What the hell?" he whispered.

Sam reached out and slowly pushed a finger against the edge of the door nudging it open a little further. Dean peered around Sam, into the dimly lighted room.

The very empty room.

Three monitors cast a bluish glow in the room but neither the desk chair nor the small couch against the wall were occupied.

"Maybe he's in the bathroom," Sam wondered softly, stepping cautiously into the room and looking around.

"I'll check it out," Dean replied, moving in the direction he had seen the sign advertising restrooms.

The bathroom was empty. Annoyed with himself, he rubbed at his watering eyes, looking at his reflection in the mirror. He looked like shit. Running a little cold water in his hands, he gently patted the puffy skin under his eyes, thinking the cool water might ease some of the pressure. Wiping his face on his sleeve he went back to the office, finding Sam seated at the desk watching the monitors.

"No sign of the guy," Dean reported. "Maybe he's out somewhere smoking."

Sam shook his head and pointed at the center monitor. "I don't think so..."

Dean leaned forward, squinting. "What the hell?" he murmured, "What is that?."

"I think it's the transport car," Sam replied, "But it's at the bottom of the shaft. It should be at the top. Someone took it down the tracks."

"No," Dean said, "not that," he lifted his hand and pointed. "I mean what's that stuff all over it?"

Sam traced his own fingers over the screen, as if he could brush away what they were both seeing draped all around the little transport car.. "It looks like-"

"Spiderwebs," Dean finished.


The two sliding bars that normally bolted the heavy wooden door to the actual mine entrance in place were pushed back and the padlocks swung open loosely at the ends. It swung open easily at Sam's touch. Both brother's flinched back but nothing came at them.

"It still doesn't explain where the guard went," Dean said, peering into the darkness.

Sam reached out and flipped on a series of switches. Red, low wattage lights popped on, illuminating the small anteroom and down the inclined tunnel beyond, disappearing below eye level. It wasn't bright but you could see to move around.

"Why are the lights like that?" Dean asked, frowning. "It's like being in a theater."

"I think these must be emergency back-up lights," Sam said. "Red makes it easier to see in the dark. See the bigger lights along the walls? There must be something wrong with the system. We need to wear the lamps." He set down his pack and rummaged for his head lamp. Dean did likewise , fastening the strap in place, knowing he looked stupid and glad there was no one to see but Sam. A click and bright light stabbed gloom.

They edged forward, both drawing their side arms. Moving to the tunnel opening they both looked down. The tunnel dropped at a shallow angle but still cut off their view of what lay at the end despite the headlamps.

"Whadaya think?" Dean asked, eyeing the narrow maintenance stairs that ran next to the wall with undisguised distaste.

"I think maybe the guard saw something and for some idiot reason decided to check it out." Sam sighed and raked a hand through his hair. "I don't think he came back."

"Shit," Dean spat in disgust, "Well, I guess we better go down." He kept his gun out but moved toward the stairs. There was locked gate but a powerful kick broke it free and they started slowly down, unable to walk without ducking slightly even though there was plenty of headroom.

Half way there, they were able to make out the transport car in the beam of the head lamps, wispy strands of God-only- knew- what tethering it to the walls and ground like huge cobwebs. The sight slowed their steps as they cautiously approached the bottom of the stairs.

Walking a hundred feet on even semi-level ground was a no brainer, going down a hundred feet of narrow stairs was another matter all together. By the time they made it to the bottom, Deans legs were vibrating and he'd broken out in a sweat.

He paused at the bottom, wiping sweat from his upper lip. Sam moved past him, closer to the transport car.

That should not have been so hard, Dean thought.

"Dude, there is no way in hell I'm going back up those stairs," he proclaimed.

"It's just 'cause you're sick," Sam replied, "Take it easy for a minute."

Glancing around, Sam saw a large wrench sitting on a small table under a control panel against the wall. Grabbing it, he used it to poke into the filmy ropes covering the car. They stuck and came away with the tool when he pulled it back, offering some resistance. Closer up it looked like stretched out grey bubble gum.

"Don't get that crap on you," Dean admonished, walking closer. "Whatever the hell it is."

"Definitely," Sam agreed, releasing the wrench. It fell to the ground, but the webby material dragged it slowly back towards the car. Sam studied the phenomena with interest. The whole thing appeared to be shrinking in on itself, closely enveloping the outlines of the transport car. "I don't know what this is, but it's like some kind of weird, stringy, shrink wrap. I think it's actually drying around this thing like some kind of casing."

"Yeah, great to know. Where the hell did it come from?" Dean walked forward. "Fuck." he said suddenly.

Sam looked up at Dean's expletive and went to join him at the front of the car. "You okay--oh." He cut himself off as he saw at the what had startled Dean.

Dean stood at the front of the car. His light clearly revealed that the door had been wrenched off the hinges. More cobwebs spread across the opening and blood was splattered on the interior floor. It had dripped on the ground and spread in a dark puddle.

A very large puddle.

"Well, I guess that answers a lot of questions," Dean remarked, sweeping the ground with his light as he moved his head. He pointed at the trail that showed something had been dragged down the tracks and around the bend, bleeding profusely. "Stupid bastard." Dean coughed.

Sam had no answer for that. He settled his pack more comfortably. "Looks like this a waste of time after all."

They set off down the tracks following the blood trail.


End Notes: Yeah, I'm disapointed in it too...sorry