A.N/ Hey everyone, my apologies for not updating! I have been really busy with my sick mom, schoolwork, preparing for my black belt, working on my book, and work. I promise that I will start updating a lot more. I will try to have a new chapter up every week to two weeks. Bear with me guys.
I had lost my muse for a while but it came back to me a couple days ago and I have been furiously typing. I know these last three chapters have been not very action packed but I need to set up the story.
I got the inspiration for this chapter from the songs "Growin' Up in the Gutter" by Yelawolf, and "Dazed and Confused" by Led Zeppelin. The title coming from the line in Growin' Up in The Gutter, "Lucifer loosens up his grip." So I changed it slightly, and found it fitting.
Chapter Three: Lucifer Tightens His Grip
"Been dazed and confused for so long it's not true"
-Led Zeppelin
Detroit Metro Airport:
He stood staring at the rotating baggage claim, feeling as if he was being watched. He looked around to see people bustling around from place to place. The black suitcase slowly made its way to its master. He lifted it off of the rotating belt, and pulled its silver handle up. He grabbed a big black case that held some of the equipment for their lock down He pulled out his iPhone and checked the time; he unlocked the phone to see the photo of the mysterious brothers. He had been searching for more information on them during the plane ride here but still he found nothing.
It had been months since he came across their mug shots, and all he had learned about them was that they were wanted felons, and he had found multiple photos of them on security cameras across the U.S. But it still wasn't enough to seize his wonder.
He put the phone in his pocket as he heard Aaron call his name. "Hey Zak, thanks for grabbing that, that holds the Spirit Box, and the EVP recorders that would suck to have someone steal." Aaron grabbed it from Zak, and put it on the small baggage trolley that he pulled behind him.
"Yeah, don't mention it," Zak looked around once more, feeling uneasy, and slightly sick. "Do you feel that?" he asked.
"Feel what?" Billy asked. "Man, sometimes I think you are more sensitive to paranormal energy then Aaron, Nick and me." Billy hit Zak's shoulder, trying to bring him back to reality, "Come on man, we have to go get our rental car."
Zak nodded, and followed Aaron and Billy. Nick soon caught up to his friends once he grabbed his luggage. They made their way through the airport, and Aaron attempted to not squash any small children with the huge luggage trolley while Zak walking beside him.
After walking around the airport for a long time, they finally found the baggage claim. "Finally! Zak, I thought you said that you have been here before!" Nick proclaimed as he saw the rental car sign.
"I have, it just has changed that's all." Zak rubbed his neck as he rolled his bag behind him. He never had been the best with direction but for his prides sake he kept that small detail to himself. "Let's just get the car and go."
They obtained the grey minivan that had been waiting for them, and began to load up the trunk with their baggage and various technical equipment. "Doing good guys," Zak said as Billy, Nick, and Aaron turned and stared at the man who was lounging against a lamp post while they put the bags into the car.
"Care to help?" Billy asked sarcastically.
"No you guys look like you have it; I will just sit here and supervise." Zak smiled slyly and began humming a Praga Khan song.
"Why don't you put those muscles of yours to use, and not just stand around while we load up your bags which most likely contain five pounds of hair care products alone." Aaron chucked in one of Zak's suit cases. Zak and Billy chuckled slightly, while Nick snorted in agreement.
After they left the airport they began traveling down the highway in silence, Billy drove while Zak sat beside him in the passenger side. Nick and Aaron were in the back seat; Aaron was furiously tapping on his iPhone, and Nick had his head phones in, and sat silent like always.
The silence began to unnerve Zak; he started flipping through the stations on the radio as they made their way through the town of Ann Arbor. He stopped when he heard a familiar song: "U Can't Touch This" by MC Hammer. Sitting back in his seat, Zak realigned his glasses by pushing them up his nose.
"I love this song!" Aaron excitedly proclaimed from the back seat. He set his phone down and motioned for Zak to turn it up. Zak did as told, and Aaron began singing it loudly with much enthusiasm. Zak stared at him as a voice began erupting beside him, and he jumped to see a singing Billy. After a few more seconds, Zak began singing with them.
The car now full of loud voices, Nick took his headphones from his ear and stared at his friends. Zak looked at Nick as he began singing the chorus and doubted that Nick would join them. But to his surprise, Nick's voice joined theirs. They sat driving down the highway singing along with the radio. When the song came to a close, they all smiled then resumed whatever activity kept their interest before the song came through the radio. They made their way to the town of Jackson. A voice came from the back, "I'm hungry," Aaron complained as he drug out the word "hungry."
Zak didn't realize it until it was brought to his attention but his stomach was also growling like it had been continuously doing for two months.
"Yeah man, me too." He looked at the signs that told him what food places would be at the next exit as they entered Jackson. "Oh, there is a McDonald's, a Burger King, and a few other places at this next exit." Though he hated the thought of eating greasy food such as McDonald's, but his hunger was making itself very well-known now. They pulled off the exit as and waited by the stop light to turn to the restaurants. The light changed as they went to turn, but as they did a black Impala ran the red light going way too fast as it moved toward the highway.
"Damn idiot!" Billy yelled as he slammed on his breaks attempting not to hit the car. It was out of character for Billy to swear much, but man did he have a horrible case of road rage.
Zak watched as the Impala sped toward the highway, and loud noise came from it, both the sound of the revving engine and - if he heard correctly - what he thought was the chorus to "One" by Metallica. Any other time he would have admired the car, but since it almost caused a crash he didn't find it too appealing. Then his mind raced back: Where had he seen that car before? Then it hit him: the Winchester's had a black Impala just like that. He shook his head; there was no way it was them, and it couldn't have been since the license plate was different. 'But how many black Impalas are there left?' he thought, but shook the thought out of his mind as they drove in the opposite direction to McDonald's.
He felt as if something was missing, but what it was Zak didn't know. He felt in a rut, like giving up and dying would be less painful then the life he was living. He felt distraught, like his vision was foggy. Fear took him over. Could he make a wrong decision from cloudy judgment and have it hurt his team? He couldn't let that happen. He couldn't let his dazed state confuse his judgment and put them in jeopardy. But he felt as if spirits and demonic presences were around him lately; as if he couldn't get away.
Sleepless nights full of nightmares; of black eyed men and women. Each one looking different but having the same laugh, the same voice, and the same name: "Beelzebub," and each time the spirit made people die in similar ways. Cringing, Zak stared out the window. His stomach growled louder, just like he had been doing for weeks. No matter how much he ate he was hungry. Even when he ate large amounts! Zak had given up on the thought of ever being full, and tried to limit his food intake, but each time he just couldn't stop eating. He sighed and continued to think of the single name that made him cringe, "Beelzebub"
Zak didn't dare look up the name for the was afraid of what the beast could be. 'It must have been a spirit, that was the only option.' Zak thought, trying to reassure himself. But he had doubts about Beelzebub.
oooOOOooo
The Winchester brothers had taken the wrong exit in attempt to go North instead of East. But yet again, Dean insisted that the way they were going was correct, and Sam just needed to sit back and relax.
"Dean, I am telling you this isn't the way." Sam pulled out his phone and looked at the GPS settings. "Look we are going South and we need to get on the highway going North." He held the phone in front of his stubborn brother who just swatted his hand away.
"Sam, those things were made by some engineers who couldn't find their own ass with both hands and a flashlight." Dean noticed that they had passed multiple restaurants and was heading towards areas full of houses. He knew he had taken the wrong way but he would never let Sam know that he had.
"It says we just need to turn around, and then there will be a turning ramp to the highway where we need to be." The younger Winchester brother proclaimed as they stopped at a light. Sam looked around he saw people walking towards a Taco Bell, and to what appeared to be a large church. He sighed once more, feeling annoyed by his brother's constant attempt to prove Sam wrong, and to always be right. The light turned and the Impala began moving forward.
They continued to speed down the road, "Sammy we are going the wrong way," Dean said smoothly as he sped up and turned the car around in the middle of the road almost being hit by a truck.
"Dean, you can't pop a U-ie in Michigan! They are illegal!" Sam yelled as he saw his life flash before his eyes, though he didn't dare tell his brother he told him so, for he just wanted to get to Ruth before it was too late. They began back towards the highway, passing by the various restaurants. Though the windows were shut the cold air could be felt seeping through.
Sighing, Dean pushed the radio as his Metallica CD began playing, he bobbed his head slightly. "The speed limit is 55 Dean, you are hitting 70," Sam said staring at the old fashion speedometer.
Dean stopped singing the second verse and turned to his little brother, "Sammy, I'm the driver. The driver drives how he wants and…"
Sam grunted and cut his older brother off mid-sentence, "And passenger shuts his cake hole. Yes Dean, we have been over this, many, many times." Sam rolled his eyes as he looked out the window. His thoughts turned to Leia, the girl who he had met at the small pizza place. They sped through a red light almost hitting a van. "Dean! You almost hit that guy!" Sam said aggravated.
"You miss by an inch, you miss by a mile." Dean said just shrugging off the near death experience as he got onto the highway and began heading towards Lansing.
Dean sighed; he could see in Sam's eyes that Lucifer was beginning to take him. Little things made Dean think this. Lucifer was slowly taking a toll on his brother. He was making Sammy his own, tightening his grip on Sam's soul. Why else would Leia come? He knew Leia had been an angel. But why would she come and not Castiel? Was he okay?
Dean clenched his jaw. 'So this is my life, sitting with my little brother in a car, listening to old music, eating greasy fast food, hunting a demon, wondering if an angel is alright, and on top of all of that wondering if your brother will be Lucifer,' Dean thought as he shook his head. His father was the reason he had this life. His father was the reason that Sammy was going to be Lucifer's vessel. Dean bit back the urge to curse his father's name under his breath. Even though John Winchester had been a drunk, a hunter, would leave them alone for days, and destroyed their childhood, he was their father, and Dean wouldn't dare curse his father who was dead.
His knuckles turned white as he gripped the steering wheel as a memory came back to him.
"Dean I am going to go to on a business trip," John Winchester muttered as Dean nodded knowing what that really meant. "You keep your brother safe." He grasped Dean's shoulder and stared down at his fourteen year old son.
The older Winchester brother simply nodded. "Yes sir," he said, not daring to drop his father's gaze. "Take care of Sammy, got it," he said for what felt like the millionth time. This was the third new town in a month, but luckily it was summer so no new schools.
New schools didn't bug him, he was usually pretty popular and every girl swooned when they saw his leather jacket and bad boy attitude. But it was Sammy that he was worried about; he was small for his age and skinny. And his know it all demeanor just made him a walking target for bullies. And Dean always took care of Sam and his issues at school. "Dad, why should I have to take care of Sammy, I'm not his damn father?" he had snapped, not meaning to speak what he was thinking. He remembered feeling his father's grip tighten on his shoulder as he ushered him out of the dirty motel room.
His father had slammed the door behind him as he let go of his son. Dean saw the rage in his eyes, and the look of anger on his face that Dean only knew too well, "Don't you ask that shit in front of your brother," he said harshly.
"I don't wanna have to take care of Sammy, I'm not his father! You are, and you're a sucky one at that," Dean proclaimed as he tried not to drop his father's deathly stare.
"I do what I gotta do to keep you boys alive," his father had said gruffly.
"Then why aren't you ever here? Why am I the one who has to feed Sammy? Put Sammy to bed? Tell Sammy that you will be home soon, when I don't have a damn clue when you will be!" Dean cried as deep, sorrowful tears that he had been neglecting to shed sprang to his green eyes. He hated crying in front of his father but he had been holding back these emotions for so long that now they all just came forth.
"I'm doing the best I can Dean!" his father said. Dean could see the hurt in his father's eyes, but at this point Dean was too far gone to stop. He and his father shared the same stubbornness, but Dean felt remorse for yelling at his father as he was currently doing.
"Why do you leave us?" Dean asked in a small voice as more tears began pouring from his eyes. His father's heart hurt but John had to take the case; he had to make sure no one had to go through what he had to when he lost his wife.
"I have to, it's my job."
Dean took in a shaky breathe trying to not let his voice crack, "Why don't you get a normal job? Like a mechanic, or a garbage man. Why be a hunter dad?" Dean sadly asked.
"So no one has to lose their wife like I had to. So no children have to lose their mother the way you and Sam had to. I am trying to take down that son of a bitch that took her from us!" his father yelled, his voice never wavering. Shocked at his father's explanation, Dean took a small step back. "You take care of your brother, you hear? I got to get to Chicago by nightfall, don't open the door to no one. I left a pistol under your pillow. Don't leave him alone," John said as he began walking to his Impala with his bag on his back. "And remember Dean, take care of Sammy," he said as he climbed into the driver's seat and drove away, not even telling his youngest son goodbye.
Dean had stood outside for a few minutes to make sure his eyes were fully dry so his little brother didn't see his tears. Sniffing one last time, Dean opened the door and entered the disgusting motel room. Locking the door behind him like he was always told, he turned to see his little brother lounging on one of the beds as a book was in his hands.
Sam's gaze looked up to his brother and scowled. "Where's dad?" he asked as he bit the inside of his cheek hoping that his father wasn't on another hunting trip.
"Dad went on a- a business trip," Dean proclaimed as he opened a bag of chips and sat a crossed from his brother on the opposite bed.
After a few moments of silence Sam asked the same question he had every time his father had left: "Why doesn't he ever say goodbye to me?" Sam asked in a childish tone. Dean saw the sorrow in his little brother's eyes.
"Dad had to leave as soon as possible; he has things to take care of. He wants to be here but he has to take care of business." Dean lied; he didn't know if his father wanted to be with them. But he couldn't tell Sam about his uncertainties.
"If he wants to stay so bad he would stay," Sam muttered in a gravely cold voice. So cold that it sent shivers up Dean's spine.
Sighing Dean leaned back on his bed. "He doesn't have a choice."
"He has a choice. He always has a choice." Dean looked over to his little brother who stared down absent mindedly at his book. His hazel eyes were filled with tears. Standing up, Dean sat beside his younger brother. He took the book from his small hands and stared at his brother.
"Sammy look at me," Dean instructed. His brother looked up as tears rushed from his eyes, "Dad loves us. He just needs to kill the thing that killed mom. That's why he's always gone," Dean explained, though he fully knew his brother was aware of this. "Once he kills that son of a bitch we can have a normal life."
His younger brother sniffed and half smiled.
"You promise?"
"I promise," Dean said. No matter what happened, young Dean Winchester was sure he would find some way to let his younger brother obtain a normal life.
The memory made Dean cringe; once again it was a promise he would never be able to keep to his brother. Turning, he saw Sam leaning up against the window, eyes closed and breathing heavily. Though he knew he couldn't keep his promise, he knew there was one promise he was always going to keep. His father's words came back to him: "Take care of your brother." He promised himself, just as he had promised his dad every time his father had left them alone, to protect Sam. "Gotta keep Sammy safe," he thought as he turned down his music trying to not disturb his sleeping baby brother.
A/N. Dean can see Sam slipping, does this mean Sam will begin acting differently when around whatever creature that is awaiting them?
Who is this creature that is eating away at Zak? And why does he feel as if he knows Sam and Dean?
Hope you enjoyed, hopefully these unanswered questions will be answered soon. Please leave reviews!
