Chapter 3
"So there is no rhyme or reason to where you go? You look in the paper for weird happenings or get coordinates from your dad and you just go?"
"Exactly, wherever the hunt takes us." Dean replied as he drove along the interstate.
"Okay. So where are the coordinates taking us to this time?" I asked as I leaned forward from the back seat.
"Fitchburg, Wisconsin." Sam replied.
I froze at the name of the small town. Maybe I heard wrong, "Sorry, I didn't hear you. Where are we going?"
"Fitchburg, Wisconsin." Dean replied, "That's where the coordinates pinpoint."
"Maybe the coordinates are wrong." I said quickly.
"We've been following coordinates since we were kids. I'm pretty sure they're right." Dean laughed but it died when he looked through the rear-view mirror at me.
I was staring straight ahead at nothing and my eyes were glazed over. Dean nudged Sam to look back at me and they shared a look, both seemingly worried.
"Is there something about Fitchburg we should know?" Sam asked.
I shook myself out my dazed state and looked worriedly out the window, "No, nothing. Maybe you guys can just leave me in the next town and pick my up when you're done though." I said as I thought back to my last voicemail from my douche bag of an ex-boyfriend.
He's been leaving me many and they would alternate between various versions of 'I miss you, please come home' and 'If I ever see you again you're going to wish you never ran away in the first place'. Out of the two, I believe the latter is the most likely scenario.
"We're not going to leave you in some random town unless you tell us why first." Dean said, glancing at me, once again, in the rear-view mirror.
"Fitchburg is the town I ran away from." I said quietly, "I'm afraid at what's going to happen if I go back."
Sam looked back at me, "I think it's about time you told us your story. How did you end up in Chicago?"
"I'm an only child did you know that?" I said, "So when my parents died at sixteen I got everything. It was in their will that if they were to ever die, I must be granted full emancipation. That way the system would never get me. So I got to stay in my home, finish high school and live my life comfortably. They had amazing life insurance so I never had to worry about a thing."
"Sounds like the perfect life." Dean said.
"It wasn't. I didn't have my parents and I missed them. I had many friends but I was still lonely. And then I met him when I was eighteen." I said darkly, "He was twenty-five and just started his internship at the hospital. One of the youngest to get it too. I fell during gym class and when I got to the hospital he was there to help. It was just a sprain so he was allowed to treat it. He asked me out that day and it progressed from there."
I smiled slightly as I remembered the beginning, "The beginning was great. He was charming and suave. Knew how to sweep a girl of her feet. I fell hard and fast. Not surprising considering how lonely I a – was." I caught myself quickly, "We moved in together after six months. Eight months was when things started going down hill. It was the first time he ever hit me."
"He what?!" Dean shouted.
I ignored Dean and continued my story, "I should have left right then and there but he told me it was an accident and that it would never happen again. I believed him."
"Well that was stupid." Dean muttered and Sam hit his arm, "Ow! What was that for?!"
"She's trying to tell her story. Be a little more sensitive would you?" Sam snapped and motioned for me to continue.
"I started seeing less and less of my friends after that. I didn't realise that he was totally isolating me from the rest of world until it was too late. Everyone had moved on with their lives and I was stuck at a stand still. The violence started more often after that. He told me he didn't want to do it but I deserved it. He said once I started cooperating the way he wanted me to, he would stop punishing me. I always managed to do something wrong though."
"He's the one who's wrong." Sam said.
I nodded, "It took my awhile but I eventually figured that one out. While he was working the nightshift at the hospital one night, I packed what I could, took what money I had left over – which wasn't a lot because he made me sign over to a joint account – and left Fitchburg behind."
"Why Chicago?" Dean asked.
"It was the first city that popped into my head and I had always wanted to see the Windy City." I said, "Best decision I ever made since my parents died."
They finally knew it. They knew most of my story (aside from a rather small detail that I deemed unnecessary) and there was no going back now. I think they sensed I didn't want to talk more on the matter and changed the subject. They really were a pair of great guys – well, one all the time and the other when he wants to be.
We arrived in Fitchberg at around 3:30pm. I stayed in the car while Dean and Sam asked the locals what was going on around here. It was weird, I never expected Fitchberg to be the centre of any supernatural activity. Sam eventually came back to the car and leaned against it while waiting for Dean, the windows were down in the car.
"I talked to everyone, nothing seems to be going on in this town at all." Dean said as he came back to the car and leaned down to look at me, "Was there anything suspicious when you were here?"
"Not that I know of." I said quietly, "But like I said, I was pretty isolated from the world."
"Right." Dean replied and stood back up.
"Dean…What time is it?" Sam asked.
"Ten after four. Why?" Dean asked.
Sam pointed at the park, "What's wrong with this picture?"
The three of us continued to look at the park and I found it strange as well. There was no one there.
"Schools out." Dean said.
"So where is everybody?" Sam asked.
"No idea but I'm going over to talk to that mother." Dean said and walked over, coffee in hand.
He was only over there for about five minutes before coming back. He had a look of concentration on his face. He had definitely come across something suspicious. He made eye contact with me briefly and I didn't like the look he was giving me.
"Let's get a motel room and I'll tell you what we have to do next." Dean said and got into the car. Sam followed suite and we drove to the first Inn we saw.
Once inside the room, I sat on one of the beds and opened my satchel to get my cell phone out. I had another voicemail. I couldn't listen to it yet because Dean and Sam were still here but I would listen to it the first chance I get. I looked up as Dean opened his duffle and took out a suit.
"We need to go to the hospital." Dean said and glanced at me.
"Why? What's wrong?" Sam asked.
"The park is empty because the kids keep getting sick and sent to the hospital. If that doesn't scream that something is wrong, I don't know what does."
"I can't go to the hospital." I said, standing up.
Dean looked at me, "I know, that's why you're going to stay here." He said and walked into the bathroom to change.
Sam was next and as Sam was getting ready, Dean took out his pistol and pulled the chamber before handing it to me. I looked down at it with shock before meeting his intense gaze.
"If someone tries to break into this room, shoot first, ask questions later." He said seriously.
"Dean…I don't know if I can do that." I whispered, looking back down at the gun again.
"You said he's a doctor right?" I nodded, "Then unfortunately he's mostly like smart. If he finds out you're here. He'll come. Use the gun as a first resort. Not a last."
"Okay." I said quietly, putting the gun beside me and clutching my hands together in attempt to stop their shaking.
Dean kneeled down in front of me, "Nothing is going to happen to you alright?" He tried to reassure me and it somewhat worked so I nodded.
Sam eventually came out of the washroom, ready to leave and looked at me. He saw the pistol beside me and shot a look to Dean. They seemed to have a silent conversation in their minds before Sam nodded.
"We'll be back in a bit and we'll have food." Sam smiled at me, "Any favourites? You know, since this is your home town?"
"Maurices." I said, "They have the best pesto fettuccini and cherry cheesecake."
Dean smiled, "Alright then. We'll see what we can do."
They left and I looked around the room. Another with only two beds but I suppose that's the norm. I laid down on the bed I was on and flipped my phone open to call my voicemail. I hovered over the buttons before slowly typing in my passcode and sighed before putting the phone to my ear. Might as well get this over with.
"Look you worthless bitch. It's been weeks. If you know what's good for you, you'll find your way back. You have nothing and you have no one and you'll die out there. You know I'm your best bet so get your ass back here. You know no one else will want you."
I shuddered at the anger in his voice and deleted the message. I ignored the familiar words that he always used to say to me. You have nothing. You have no one. No one else will want you. The words stung but I kept up my mantra that they weren't true. I'm my own person. I can survive on my own. I'm not worthless.
I curled up on the bed and kept repeating that mantra to myself until I fell asleep. There were no dreams just blissful nothingness behind my eyes. I didn't wake up either until I heard the doorknob to the room start to jiggle. I must have been hyperaware of my surroundings to be able to hear the quiet jiggle of metal because I sat up fast. I grabbed the gun and I held it tightly in my hands as I aimed it at the door. He was coming for me.
Or I thought he was until the door finally opened and Dean and Sam walked into the room. They both moved out of my line of fire quickly and calmed down when they realised I wasn't going to shoot. To be honest though, even if it wasn't them I don't think I could have pulled the trigger. My hands were shaking like crazy.
Sam and Dean looked at each other before Dean cautiously came over and took the gun out of my hands. Sam, deeming it safe, walked over to the small table and set the take out containers down on.
"I didn't fire." I said quietly.
"Good thing too, or you would have killed us both." Dean said, setting the pistol down on the night stand.
"No, I mean. I couldn't fire." I tried to explain and looked up at him as he came back to stand in front of me, "You told me to shoot first, ask questions later. I couldn't bring myself to actually do it though. If it was him he would have got me. He would have-"
Dean put his hands on my shoulder to calm my sudden panic attack and it somewhat worked. I took in a deep breath and let it out slowly and refocused my eyes on his. How could he possibly have this affect on me after only a few weeks of knowing each other?
"Listen to me okay?" Dean said slowly, "He wouldn't have gotten to you. We wouldn't have let that happen." I nodded and when he saw that I was calm he asked, "You good now?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." I said and stood from the bed.
"Good!" Sam cut in and held up a foil container, "Because we brought food."
I smiled and walked over, admiring my favourite meal from my favourite restaurant. I thanked them both and we all ate in peace, with light conversation. It wasn't until we were done eating that the conversation turned to the current case.
"So what did you both find out today on your investigation?" I asked them, distracting myself from my phone that just started lighting up, signalling an incoming call. Luckily I keep it on silent.
"The children in town are coming down with serious illnesses over night and it hospitalizes them." Dean said.
Sam tacked on to that by saying, "It goes through families though. If one child in the family gets sick, the next night it's the other child. We found a hand print burned into the window sill of one of the children's rooms today too."
I raised an eyebrow, "What does that mean?"
"It's a tell tale sign of Striga – a type of witch." Dean replied as he got up and went to the old coffee maker the room had.
"So a witch is making the children sick?" I asked as I got up to help Dean look through all the books we had with us, to see if we could find anything on it and how to destroy it.
"Essentially…yes." Dean said.
"Hold on. I've never even heard of this before." Sam said as he opened up his laptop and tried to research it.
"Then how do you know it exists?" I asked as I flipped through one of the books to try and find information on a Striga. I was leaning against a wall.
"Because my dad told me." Dean said with a shrug of his shoulders, while going through another book.
"Told you but not Sam." I asked, looking up at him from my book.
He nodded, "That's right."
"Weird." I said and looked back down at the pages I was flipping through.
We all were researching in silence trying to figure out what exactly it is we were dealing with here but out of the corner of my eye I could see my phone light up again. That was the fourth time. He's never called me that much in a row before and it was worrisome. Turns out, I wasn't the only one who noticed though because when I looked over Dean was eyeing me while making a couple quick glances to my phone.
I shrugged at him but it probably looked more like a twitch because of my nervousness and I went back to reading. A couple minutes later however, my phone started lighting up again. I tried my best to ignore it but I guess Dean was getting annoyed with how fidgety it was making me.
"Someone must be really desperate to reach you." Dean said as he walked over to the bed and picked up my phone, "Come to think of it, I never see you answer it."
I dropped my book and went to take my phone back but Dean pulled it away from me, "That's because it's not important."
"Sure it is." Dean said and looked at the phone, "Six missed calls. Three voicemails. Who could it be?"
"Who do you think it is?" I snapped and finally snatched my phone away from him, "I don't have any friends or family remember?"
"Ah…" Dean said, "So it's the ex. He seems pretty desperate to get a hold of you all of a sudden. Does he know you're here?"
I looked down at my phone, "I don't think so. At least I hope not…The calls and voicemails aren't anything new." I explained.
Sam looked up from his laptop, "What do you mean they're nothing new?"
"Over the passed couple weeks I've been getting phone calls everyday. On a good day I only end up with one or two voicemails. On a bad day I've had as many as six."
Sam's look turned worried, "That's bordering on stalking and harassment Aria. Why haven't you reported him?"
"No one is going to believe me over him. He's a doctor." I shrugged, "Let's not talk about this anymore. We have more pressing matters to deal with."
Just like that, the matter was dropped. I put my phone in my bag so it wouldn't distract us anymore and we all continued our research. Dean was fixing up his second cup of coffee when Sam finally found something on the computer.
"You were right Dean. It was hard to find but you were right. Striga's are a type of witch. They're Albanian but most legends date back to ancient Rome. They feed off of Spiritus Vitae." Sam explained.
Dean leaned against the tall counter of the small kitchenette area, "Spirit what?" He asked confused.
"Vitae. It's Latin and translates to breath of life. Like a life force or essence." Sam said.
"Didn't the doctors say the kids bodies were worn out?" Dean asked as he wrote down some notes from what Sam was saying.
"It's a thought. Anyway. Striga's can feed off anyone but they prefer…"
"Children." I put in, "Which makes sense. Children are so full of life and buzzing with energy. They're strong and resilient."
"That's right and get this. Striga's are invulnerable to all weapons devised by God and man." Sam finished reading.
My mouth dropped open, "So what? They're invincible? They can't be killed?"
Dean dropped his pen and walked over to his duffle, "They can be killed, because that bit of information isn't right."
"What?" Sam asked, disbelievingly.
"If you catch her while she's feeding, she's vulnerable and can be killed by consecrated rot iron." Dean explained, grabbing a book from the bag and going back over to the counter.
I laid my book on the counter and looked at him, just as Sam did, "How do you know that?" Sam asked.
"Dad told me. I remember." Dean said. He said it as if it was no big deal and after the few weeks I've spent with him, usually means he's trying to down play it.
I looked to Dean who seemed bothered by this tidbit of information and decided to stay out of it. I walked over to my duffle and grabbed some clothes before going into the bathroom for a shower.
As I was taking off my clothes I realised I had the opportunity to get more of my stuff from the house. As long as I went while he was at work, I should be able to get in and out of the house with no trouble. As I showered I wondered how I could go about it but then remembered Dean and Sam were pretending to be doctors.
I finished my shower quickly, got dressed and went to speak to them only to realise that they had left. I rolled my eyes as I flopped on the bed and stared at the ceiling. They most likely got a lead and went to pursue it. Why do they always have to do it at night though? They need their sleep too.
I didn't realise I feel asleep on the bed until I woke up to Sam laughing right outside the door. Something funny must have happened while they were out and it looks like they were out all night, if the sun coming through the windows were anything to go by. I stood up and opened the door only to squint in confusion when no one was there. I leaned out the door and looked around and saw Dean and Sam walking over to a boy sitting on a bench.
I grabbed my jacket and followed them over to the little boy. Dean had just knelt down and asked the boy what was wrong when I arrived.
"My brother is sick. He has pneumonia and is in the hospital." The boy responded, "I should have mentioned the window wasn't latched. He wouldn't have got pneumonia if the window was latched."
Dean looked to the side and then back at the boy, "Listen to me. I can promise you that this is not your fault."
"But it's my job to look after him." He said.
Who I presumed to be the mother of the boy came out of the Inn with a pillow and rather large teddy bear in hand. She spoke to her son, giving him instructions on what to do while she stayed at the hospital with her youngest son Asher. The boy, Michael, tried to beg for him to go with her but she wouldn't have it.
Dean being the part time gentleman that he is, told the mother that he would drive her to the hospital. No one should be driving in the state she's in, she wouldn't be focused on driving. She finally gave into Dean when he insisted and handed her keys over to him.
Dean walked up to Sam and I, "I want to kill this thing. I want it dead, you hear me?" and was about to walk around the vehicle and get in but I called after him.
"Yeah?" He asked, turning to face me as I walked passed Sam and up to him.
"While you're at the hospital, I was wondering if you could do me a favour?" I asked.
He looked down at the keys and then up to me, "What is it?"
"Ask for Dr. Travis' schedule for the next 48 hours. He's usually in Emerg but sometimes covers in paediatrics. I need to know when he's working so I can go to the house when he's not there."
"Anything else?" He asked.
I nodded, "Find out who's doing this to the children as soon as possible. I want to help kill it."
His lips twitched up into a half smirk, "You got it."
We watched him drive off before I turned to Sam and Michael with a soft smile on my face, "Hey Michael, how about I make you some breakfast. You'll feel a little better when you have a full stomach."
"Are you a good cook?" Michael asked.
"I've had a lot of practice. I'm sure I can make you anything you want." I said confidently.
"Pancakes?"
"Of course!" I exclaimed with a clap of my hands, "How about you go inside take out a mixing bowl and frying pan. I'll do the rest when I come in." He nodded and went back inside, allowing me to give my full attention to Sam.
"We need to figure out who this Striga is and fast." Sam said.
"Agreed." I crossed my arms.
He looked at the closed door Michael went into and then back to me, "I'm going to head to the library to look up some old records. Will you be okay here?"
"Yeah I'll be fine. I'll keep the kid company for a bit, get his mind off things. Let me know what you find out."
So I stuck around and made Michael breakfast and later I made him a grilled cheese for lunch. I heard the Impala roll into the parking lot around two but since I was in the middle of playing checkers with Michael, I stayed put. He was a very smart kid. He was wiser than what children his age usually are but that's probably because he became the man of the house at a young age.
We were just about to start another game of checkers when Dean and Sam came into the front asking to speak to Michael. We all gathered around the front desk and I was shocked when Dean didn't beat around a bush and just came right out and asked Michael to be bate so they could kill the Striga. You can't just say that to a kid and expect him to just comply; the kid probably thought we were all crazy now.
"You're crazy!" Oh, I was right, "Just go away or I'm calling the cops." Michael finished, pushing me from behind the counter and picking up the phone receiver.
Dean still tried to reason with him though, "Just hold on a moment okay, you have to believe me. This thing came through the window and it attacked your brother. Now I've seen it and I know what it looks like because it attacked my brother once too."
Michael calmed down and hesitantly hung up the phone, "This thing…is it like…does it have this long black robe?"
Dean nodded, "You saw it last night didn't you?"
"I thought I was having a nightmare." Michael said quietly.
Dean looked off to the side and happened to make eye contact with me before looking back at Michael, "I would give anything not to have to tell you this, but sometimes nightmares are real."
"So why are you telling me?" Michael asked confused.
"Because we need your help." Dean explained, "We can kill it. My brother and I…" at my cough Dean rolled his eyes, "And Aria now too I guess…it's what we do. But we can't do it without you."
That was the moment Michael became even more scared, "What? No." He shook his head and took a small step away from the three of us.
"Michael, listen. This thing hurt Asher and it's going to keep hurting kids unless we stop it. Do you understand me?" Dean said firmly.
In the end, Michael still denied Deans request and the three of us were back in the motel room figuring out what we were going to do next. Dean was pacing and Sam was sitting on the bed. I was leaning against the wall near the door.
"Well that went crappy." Dean sighed.
"What did you think was going to happen?" I asked, "I know about this stuff and I still think you sounded like a lunatic asking Michael to do that."
"Not to mention, you can't ask an adult to do something like that, much less a kid." Sam said, shaking his head.
Just then there was a knock at the door and stood from my leaning position beside it. I looked to the boys before turning the knob and pulling it open. Michael was standing on the other side and although he still looked scared, he looked determined as well, which was a far cry from his earlier state of mind.
Dean came up beside me and couldn't even get a word out before Michael spoke, "If you kill it, will Asher get better?"
Dean looked back at Sam before moving his eyes to me and back at Michael, "Honestly? We don't know."
Michael nodded, "You said you're a big brother. Would you take care of your little brother? Do anything for him?"
"Yeah I would." Dean replied quietly.
"Me too." Michael said and his resolve seemed to visibly strengthen, "I'll help."
I smiled as I leaned my head against the door as Dean looked almost proudly at Michael. As an only child I never understood the bond of siblings but I liked to think that if I had a sister or brother, I would do anything for them as well. Dean told Michael to go get ready for bed and that we would be there soon.
We got the equipment that we needed and went to set it up in Michael's room. Sam was making sure the connection to the laptop worked while Dean and I were setting up the night vision camera on the bookshelf. When it was hooked up, I left the positioning up to Dean and went to tuck Michael in. He jumped into the bed and I pulled the covers up around him, making sure he was comfortable.
"What do I do?" Michael asked once the camera was in position.
Dean came over to him and sat on the bed to help calm the boys' nerves. I was on the other side of the bed making sure the blankets were straight. I knew they wouldn't stay like that but it was a nervous habit of my own.
"You stay right here in bed. Under the covers." I said as I pulled the covers a little further up to cover him more.
"And if it shows up?" Michael asked, turning his gaze from me to Dean.
"We'll be right in the next room. We're going to come in with guns." Dean warned him, "When we do I want you to roll off this bed and crawl under it."
"What if you shoot me?" Michael asked.
"We won't." Dean reassured, "We're a good shot."
Michael gave me a nervous look but spoke to Dean, "Even her?"
"Uh…I'm working on it." I said slowly and realised I should have let Dean answer because Michaels eyes widened at my answer.
"She wont be shooting anywhere near you, so don't even worry." Dean reassured him again and sent me a small glare, "We're not going to fire until you're clear. Ever hear a gun shot before?"
"Like in the movies?"
Dean shook his head slightly, "It's going to be a lot louder than in the movies. So I want you to stay under the bed, cover your ears and do not come out until we say so. Do you understand?"
Dean gave Michael one last chance to back out but Michael's mind was set. He wanted to help. He wanted to make sure that what made his brother sick wasn't going to come back. It amazed me how brave some kids could be.
We walked into the living room and sat down, watching what was going on in Michaels room. We could see everything perfectly and all we had to do was wait. It was a long wait too and I could barely keep my eyes open but I fought it. I wanted to be part of the reason this thing went down.
"What time is it?" Dean asked.
"Three." Sam replied after checking his watch and putting the listening device back to his ear, "Are you sure iron rounds are going to work?"
"Consecrated iron rounds and yeah. It's what dad used last time."
"If he used it last time, then how is this thing still alive?" I asked, puzzled at the logic in that statement.
"Because he didn't shoot it while it was feeding." Dean said, not taking his eyes off the screen for one second.
"Hey Dean. I'm sorry." Sam said quietly, "I've always given you a lot of crap for following dads orders but I know why you do it."
Dean glanced at Sam and then shook his head, "Oh God, kill me now."
I smirked a bit and nudged him with my shoulder, "A little heart to heart with your brother isn't going to kill you, you know."
As I nudged him, I caught a whiff of his distinct smell and nearly melted. He did smell really good and I bet that smell is not only from him but attached to his leather jacket too. Seriously, I shouldn't be reacting this way to a guy I just met, especially after what happened the last time I got all giggly over a guy.
"It just might." He rolled his eyes but stopped and leaned forward when he noticed something on the screen, "Look at that."
There was a shadowy hand lifting up the window and we all got our guns out, ready to strike at the best time. We waited patiently for the dark figure to come into the room and start feeding before rushed to the door and banged it open. Dean shouted for Michael to get down and once he was, we all started firing at the Striga, which eventually crumpled to the ground.
We all kept our guns up as Dean slowly went to see if we did the job. The thing wasn't moving so Dean began to lower his gun as he looked over at us. Before he could speak though, the Striga was up and whipped Dean against the wall.
I ran over to Dean to see if he was okay but the Striga ended up getting to Sam and started sucking the life out of him. Completely forgetting about my gun which I dropped beside Dean when I bent down, I ran for the Striga to try and knock him off of Sam. It must have expected that though because its hand shot out, he grabbed me and threw me against the book shelf. That was the last thing I remember before waking up in our motel room with a splitting headache.
I sat up with my hand to my head and looked to the door as Dean came in, picking up the last duffle bag, mine. It's really disorienting waking up and knowing you've missed something vital. He came over and sat down beside me when he noticed I was awake.
"How you feeling?" He asked as he gently touched the side of my head, causing me to wince.
"Like I got thrown into a wall by a crazy ass supernatural being." I said sarcastically as I touched my own head and winced.
He chuckled a little, "It was a bookshelf actually and you have quite the bump. No blood though which is a good sign."
I smiled, "Unlike you…I vaguely remember seeing blood on the side of your head." I said as I looked toward his temple.
He shrugged, "Ah, it's cleaned up, besides, I've had worse."
"And I'm sure there will be worse." I said as I let him pull me up off the bed, "Are we headed out?" I asked, gesturing to the duffle he set on the floor when he sat down beside me.
He picked it up, "That we are. There is plenty more out there to hunt. Besides, we have a stop to make before we leave this town behind us for good."
"And where's that?" I asked as I put on my boots and picked up my satchel.
"Your old house. My sources tell me that Doctor Good-for-nothing is currently at work."
So we left the motel and I gave Dean the directions to my old house. Once we got there, they were about to get out of the car and come in with me but I told them to stay. This was something I had to do on my own. They seemed iffy on letting me go alone but I told them there was no danger as long he was at work. I even reassured them by telling them I would leave the front door open.
As I walked to the front door, I got the keys out of my satchel and unlocked it. It's funny, I always felt like I was in a prison when I lived in this house but now, as I entered, I felt free. This wasn't my home anymore and it was liberating.
I went to my room and took the suitcase out of the closet and set it on the bed. I went through all my drawers and packed all the clothes I thought were appropriate for my new life. That meant I by passed the dresses and high heels. I went for my last four pairs of skinny jeans, my three pairs of yoga pants, and all my t-shirts instead. Of all my shoes, that were mostly gifts from him but that I never really got to wear, I took my running shoes and my extra pair of combats.
I planned on leaving everything else behind but when I came out of the bathroom with my shampoo and straightener, I walked passed my mothers jewellery box. It was a small one and it played a song when it was opened and as antique looking and lovely as it was, it was what was inside that I wanted the most. I opened the bottom drawer and took my parents wedding rings out. I could never leave those behind so I found a piece of twine string and threaded it through the rings before tying it in a knot behind my neck.
I walked slowly through the house as I walked to the front door. I just wanted to take one last look at my childhood home before I left it forever. The passed four years may have been hell for me but before that and before my parents died there was happiness and I owed it to them and myself to remember that.
I left my suitcase by the front door and walked over to the mantel, picking up a four by six picture of my parents and nearly cried at the feelings that over whelmed me. I quickly took it out of the frame, folded it and put it in my pocket. As I set the frame back down, I frowned when I noticed the picture beside it. It was of me and the bastard. At a quick glance we looked happy but if anyone were to look closer they would see the strained muscles of my forced smile and the evil twinkle in his eyes.
I narrowed my eyes at it and then with as much force as I could muster I chucked the glass picture frame at the wall. I felt a little better after that and just wanted to keep going so without a second thought I went to the garage and grabbed one of his sluggers and went to town. I smashed the glass end tables, the coffee table, and all the picture frames I could see that held fake happiness. I picked up vases and threw them at the wall and when everything breakable was shattered I turned to the sixty inch flat screen TV mounted on the wall. I lifted the bat and gripped it tightly and was just about to slam right into it when a chilling voice was heard from behind me.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
I slowly turned as I lowered my bat and whispered the devils name, "Vince."
I looked passed him to see he shut the door that I deliberately left open. This was not good. I hadn't seen him in weeks and ignored all his calls so I was overdue for a sound beating from him. This meant the altercation would end in either of two ways – my reluctant submission or my death. I'm thinking the latter because I don't want to go back to what I was.
"Babe, it's been so long since I've seen you. I missed you so much." He said as he took a step toward me.
I held the bat out in front of me and stepped behind the couch so it was between us, "Don't come any closer to me."
He looked at the suitcase by the front door and smiled, "You know, if you wanted to go somewhere, all you had to do was ask. I would have taken you anywhere you want to go." He said, trying to sound charming as he took more steps closer, "In fact, how about we do just that? How about Hawaii?"
I shook my head as I gripped the bat so hard my knuckles turned white, "I'm not going anywhere with you."
"Of course not, not until you clean this up of course." He tsked, "What a mess you made for yourself."
He jumped at me and I squeaked, running behind the other couch which was closest to the front door. I turned to face him again only to see he was super close so I did the first thing that came to mind, I swung the bat at him. He caught it though and threw it aside. I ran for the door and just managed to get it a crack open before Vince grabbed a hold of my hair and pulled me backwards.
I screamed and kicked with all my might but it was no use. He was stronger than me. He threw me on the couch and punched me in the face, his college-pride ring cutting me near the eye. I tried to beg for him to stop but he went to punch me again. This one would have for sure knocked me out or broken my nose if it wasn't for Sam and Dean barging in through the front door.
Dean immediately went on the offence and pulled Vince off me before beating the crap out of him. Sam came over to me to see if I was alright and I quickly told him I was fine and to help Dean, who was just body checked into the wall. Sam went to defend his brother and together they knocked Vince out, leaving him in the middle of the living room floor surrounded by all the glass that I had broken earlier.
Deciding to finish what I was going to do before Vince came home I picked up the bat and swung it as hard as I could at the TV, putting the bat right through it. I left it sticking out from the TV as I walked to the front door with the Winchester brothers.
"How did you know something was wrong?" I asked as I picked up my satchel.
"You said you'd leave the door open." Sam said as he opened the front door for us to leave.
"Wait." A tired, groaning voice said from behind us and the three of us turned to see Vince struggle to his knees, "Aria, if you walk out that door now. I will make you regret it."
Feeling empowered by coming back here, getting closure, and having Dean and Sam by my side I reached into my satchel to get my phone, "You can try Vince, but you'll never be able to find me."
I flipped the phone open and broke it in half before dropping it at my feet. I took the handle to my suitcase and rolled it behind me as I walked with Sam and Dean to the impala. Dean popped the trunk and placed my suitcase inside. Sam got into the passenger seat and I was just about to open the back door to get in before Dean stopped me.
"It looks like it hurts." He said, gesturing toward the cut near my eye.
I smiled, "Ah, its fine. Besides, I've had worse." I said, using the same nonchalant tone that he used earlier.
"And there maybe worse to come. You think you're ready for it?" Dean asked.
I smirked as I opened the backdoor to the car, "I think I can handle it." I winked and got in, letting him close the door behind me with a chuckle.
