Anima Medici

Chapter 3

There was no signal. Willows just tore the door open and they both burst into the hallway to the sight of the jock-who-wasn't-Nick- screaming, thrashing. Blood spewed from his buff shoulder like a geyser, staining his blue jersey as a large, rabid man chewed on him like a T-bone steak. He held the jock in a death grip, trapping him in his arms. Pieces of cloth from the jersey went into the monster's mouth, along with muscle and skin.

"Aw…Brent…oh sh*t oh sh*t." Nick was plastered to the wall, wide eyed, shaking.

Sam pulled a large knife out of his shoe and steadied himself, but before he could even think to use it Willows was pushing him back.

"Get out of here!" Willows pulled out his brass knuckled knife and swung, aiming for the monster's abdomen. He dodged, ripping out a chunk out of Brent's shoulder with his teeth. Brent howled and fell to his knees, gripping his shoulder.

Sam didn't leave. Willows was abnormally calm and fierce, that was all the more reason for Sam to stay. This guy was way too at home fighting. Maybe…maybe he was a hunter.

The rabid monster chewed on the rest of Brent's severed flesh, smacking and then swallowing loudly. He grinned and rubbed the blood from the corners of his mouth. He was tall and young with slightly grown out buzz cut, he probably wasn't much older than Dean. He crouched predatorily and his eyes locked on Sam's.

They were black. Sam tensed.

"You two should run. I'm tempted to eat all of you, and I don't want to do that. My stomach hurts when I overeat."

Rabid lunged for Sam. He dived below his outstretched arm and stabbed his knife into Rabid's upper thigh, then rolled away from his grasp.

Rabid just grinned and pulled it out, then dangled it in the air tauntingly. "Want it?"

He didn't even flinch.

Willows moved beside Sam and handed him another knife. "Hold onto that one."

Willows could to hold his own. All the better. Sam leaned into his ear, "We've got to get him away from Nick and Brent. Will you distract him while I move them out?"

Willows grinned mischievously and twirled his knife, "Distractions are my specialty." He moved towards Rabid.

"I'm tired of you disrupting my meals. Can't I just enjoy my entrees?"

"Sorry bro this particular area doesn't serve humans. Maybe you should mix things up and try eating something a little less alive." Willows hurled himself at the demon, swinging his knife furiously. Rabid met the attack swiftly.

Sam took the opportunity and grabbed Brent, who was laid out on his side, blood pooling around his shoulder and head, and hefted him up by his armpits. He groaned, and when Sam tried to get him on his feet his legs wobbled and gave out. Sam changed tactics and started dragging him to Nick, who was still shaking against the wall.

"Nick. Nick, look at me." He stared blankly at the machinery that was set out not far from them. Sam pulled one of his arms away from Brent and slapped him. His eyes widened as his hand flew to his cheek and finally registered Sam's presence.

"Take him with you and run."

Sam handed Brent off as he groaned from his shoulder being jostled. Nick dragged Brent's bulky frame into the stairwell.

Rabid heard it. He dodged another right-handed jab of Willow's and spun around, sweeping his leg around and knocking out Willow's legs. He fell backwards, arms reeling, and smacked his head on a rusted pipe sticking out of a random machine. He slumped over, fighting unconsciousness.

"Willows!"

"You trying to take my food away, kid?" Rabid made a grab for Nick's sleeve as he retreated, but Sam drew his knife and cut across his cheek.

He inhaled sharply, and before Sam could move he'd snaked his hand around his arm and hit his elbow joint. A loud pop echoed and Sam screamed.

Rabid pushed him to the ground, still holding his arm. He yanked it to the side and Sam cried out again. Rabid laughed for a moment but stopped abruptly.

"You shouldn't play with your food." Willows said, clutching his head. He drew back his knife from its sheath in Rabid's chest. He fell in a heap.
Sam cradled his arm, breathing hard. "Thanks." He began to stand when a thought hit him.

He squatted back down beside Rabid and tried to peek into his slightly open mouth. Sure enough, there it was. Another marking on his tongue, a circle with three vertical dots inside just like the demon's that had attacked them in Bobby's truck. What did it mean?

"What are you looking for?"

Sam stood up slowly. He didn't think he should tell this guy about his query, not yet. He'd just met him, after all. Best to be cautious. Besides, he still didn't know…

"How'd you learn to do all that?"

"I should be asking you the same thing. You're obviously not just another run-of-the-mill fighter. Why're you carrying a huge freakin' knife in your shoe?"

"So I don't lose it, obviously. I keep my money there, too. Safest place for it." Sam grinned shyly. That probably sounded dumb. Dean was always the better liar.

"Uh-huh." Willows drew it out sarcastically and folded his arms over his chest. "What's your name?"

"It's Sam…Winchester. You?"

"Jase Willows, short for Jasper. " He stuck his hand out. Sam shook it with his non-injured one. His grip was firm. "You're a hunter, aren't you?"

Sam dropped his hand. "I'm guessing that means you're one too."

"Yeah. You're kinda small to be doing this kind of work."

This guy wasn't very subtle, was he? Sam bristled. "I can take care of myself. Most people who are in it didn't choose to be."

Will…Jase studied him for a moment, his blue eyes softening. "You hate it?"

"Don't tell me you don't. No one really loves it."

"I've just learned to accept it, look on the bright side. At least I'm not of them. You know, those oblivious saps who get killed jacking off in their morning shower."

Sam laughed. "Doesn't really matter if you're oblivious or not. You could die anywhere."

"True." He observed Sam's arm, which he was still cradling gently. A lump had started to swell and protrude around his elbow joint. "Hey, I'll make ya a deal. Help me get rid of this guy and I'll take you to someone who can fix up your arm."

Jase seemed nice enough now, but still.

"Alright. You let me hang onto your knives and I'll go."

"I understand, it's cool." He handed him his switchblade. Sam tucked it into his jeans pocket. "If you're de-weaponing me then I trust you won't be secretly plotting to stab me."

"Sure", Sam said.

It took Dean a very long time to find it. An exceptionally long period of time. He must've driven past it a dozen times. Driving back and forth along the road into Sioux Falls had left him frustrated and seriously questioning if he hadn't just imagined the whole thing. Then he remembered how uncreative his brain was, and decided to look one more time.

It suddenly appeared, in a place he'd seen empty every other time he'd looked in its direction. Maybe it had risen from the ground like a secret rocket or government base. Either way, it was here, the same as he'd seen it on the drive in. It was a mammoth rock covered in Kudzu and missing a chunk off the right side, like someone had tried to break it with explosives and failed epically.

On the left corner was the mark, almost invisible behind all the weeds. A tear drop split down the middle by something he couldn't make out. The whole thing looked like it was carved into the rock, and maybe painted over by something long-lasting. It looked old, though. The paint was a similar shade of grey, only a tiny bit darker than the rock itself.

The whole thing gave him a weird vibe. But it seemed more important than a normal rock. It bewildered him.

He pulled his leather coat tighter around him when the cool October breeze came through. He walked towards it, reaching his hand out to feel its texture, but before his fingers grazed its surface something looped around his ankle. Tight.

His breath was whisked out of him and he found himself dangling like a piñata from one of the many tall oaks next to the rock. He flung his arms and yelled, the rope digging into his ankle, the friction cutting his skin.

He flung his hands down in frustration. This was great.

Sh*t.

Crunching leaves broke through the woods silence. Dean jerked his head and saw a cloaked figure approach from behind the rock. The guy's face was hidden but he recognized him.

It was the cloaked man that killed the blonde demon.

"Hey, would you mind getting me down from here? Heights make me nauseous."

The cloaked figure stood unmoving. Okay…new tactic.

"Man, I know you must be disappointed that you didn't catch yourself a wabbit, and I understand it's the right season and all, but if you'll let me down–". He lost his words when he saw the dagger fly from the cloaked figure's hand directly towards him.

Dean swung to the side trying to evade fatal harm and heard the sharp snapping of the rope. He felt a moment of weightlessness then came plummeting to ground. His back slammed into a thick tree root snaking along the ground and he groaned.

The cloaked man charged him. He jumped back to stand but felt blood rush from his head, slowing his movements. Before he could dodge, he was shoved to the ground on his stomach, his arms jerked behind him and the cool metal of another dagger was pressed into his jugular. A knee dug into his spine and hot breath flooded over his ear.

"Why are you sneaking around here?" The voice was light yet steady.

"Why do you have a trap set?"

"I asked you first. It's in your best interest to give me an answer." The dagger pressed deeper into his skin.

"Okay, okay, look, I was just walking around."

His arms were pulled tighter. He clenched his teeth.

"Bull. They sent you here, am I right?" Dean turned his head and strained his eyes to see the guy's face but only saw a blur of brown.

"What? No, I don't work for anyone but myself. Can you please get off now?"

"Stick out your tongue."

"What–" Fingers dug into his jaw and pulled it open. The dude's face came into eyesight. His eyes were shaded by the large hood of the cloak but Dean could see the fullness of his lips and tan skin. The pressure on his throat lessened. His chance had come.

He yanked his right arm free and shoved his elbow into the man's ribs, then knocked the blade from his palm. The man pulled his captive arm tighter, but Dean bucked his hips and kicked his leg up, making impact with the man's head.

The tension on his arm let up and he felt the man fall back. Dean jumped and switched places, pushing the man's shoulders into the cold dirt and straddled his waist.

Only the man was slack. His body wasn't tense and his navy hood fell back, revealing…

A woman.

Dean didn't usually get bashful around girls anymore, but he felt his cheeks redden immediately when he saw her. Her black hair fanned out around her slender and tan face, accented with high cheekbones, large doe-eyes that were closed now and plump lips that were slightly parted. She looked about his age, her body…was mature.

He moved his hands away from her shoulders and, without a shred of guilt, ogled her chest. It was covered with a loose navy T shirt, matching her cloak, but he could tell it was full. His conscious suddenly screamed at him

Do not touch. Do not touch. Dean, you horny womanizer, get away from her.

His hand hovered over her left breast like an alien spaceship; foreign, unwanted, and curious.

That sounded a lot weirder than he thought it would.

He looked to her face and saw her brown eyes were wide open and feral. She slapped him, hard.

"You pervert! Get off me!" She drew her arm back for another hit but Dean grabbed her wrist.

"Tell me why you're setting traps and lurking around here in a wannabe super hero outfit." Dean was now very conscious of their bodies. Don't think about it.

"I don't have to tell you anything."

"Why did you help me when I was fighting those demons?"

She yanked her arm back, but her scowl lost a tiny bit of its edge. "So you're a hunter?"

"As if you hadn't guessed that before."

"Whoever helped you, it wasn't me. And if you want me to listen to anything else you say you'll show me your tongue."

Dean huffed and stuck his tongue out, then wiggled it and said, "There, you happy?"

"I'd feel even better if you'd get your bony a** off me."

He rolled off her and willed down every bad thought that danced around the front of his mind. Look at him, getting all excited about a girl when John was still in the hospital. He was terrible for letting it happen, but he was despicable for daring to forget about it.

"My a** is not bony."

"If you say so, bony-butt." She let a tiny smirk show but then hid it away again.

Dean worked the remainder of the rope off his ankle. "You know about hunters, and you're out here hunting…" he thought about saying wabbits again but decided against it. "Are you one, too, then?"

"You could say that. I don't travel but my family and I take care of things around here." She sat up and dusted the dirt from her clothes.

"Your family?"

Her stance became guarded. "You're trying to get me to tell you my life story? First tell me why you came out here."

Dean grinned. "You're persistent, aren't you?" She was unamused. He pressed on. "I came into town a few days ago and saw this on the drive in. I got a weird feeling about it, and my brother and uncle somehow missed the huge thing. My uncle's lived here a long time and when I told him about it he said he'd never seen it before. So I thought I'd check it out."

The girl gave him an odd look. "You're looking for something."

He thought of John again. "Yeah, how'd you guess?"

"This rock is …well, come here." She stood up and walked around to the backside of the rock/boulder, Dean following behind. This side was coated in Kudzu and she moved a large wad of it aside, displaying an ornate carving of a young woman. Half her face was normal, her features soft and her expression content, but the other side showed her features dissipating and floating away like burning embers from a fire. The afternoon sun made the hue of the carving vibrant, almost lifelike. It was beautiful.

"Wow," Dean said, in genuine awe.

"Yeah, there are more carvings all over this thing, but this is one of my favorites." She brushed her thin fingers over the carving and looked lost in thought.

"Why?"

She tensed and pulled her hand away. "No reason. Anyway, if you're looking for something maybe you should look at more of the carvings. A lot of people come here and when they're in need of something. It's served as a sort of North Star for lost things, lost people."

He furrowed his brows. "If it's such a tourist locale then why did you have a huge trap set out back there?"

She pulled away another patch of kudzu a few feet away, revealing more pictures, but a few had been crudely carved over with another shape. A circle with three vertical dots inside. Dean's eyes widened.

"A couple weeks ago some people started coming here just so they could ruin the designs on this rock. This thing is hundreds of years old. It's special, to me and to the people who have come here and found help. I'm not going to sit back and watch them do it." Her brown eyes looked ablaze.

He didn't really believe in whatever mumbo-jumbo she claimed the rock had, but that circle symbol was all he needed to see. This girl seemed determined. Maybe she could help hm.

"Those symbols right there, the ones they carved over the pictures, they might be connected to some demons I'm after. If they're the same as the people trashing this thing, then maybe we can help each other."

"How?"

He tapped the ankle that had been strung up. "Easy. We set a trap."

Her face brightened a bit but she still didn't smile. "Okay, but you better not try anymore funny business or you're gonna wake up one morning without a testicle."

Dean threw his hands up and slightly cringed internally. "Hey, consider these the hands of an angel."

She scoffed. "Hardly. I suggest we meet back here in three days, Thursday around six. I think they're coming here around a little after dusk. I'll have my traps ready by then. What can you do?"

"A lot of things. But shooting is one of my specialties. Thursday, then?" It was starting to get dark so he wanted to get back before Bobby knew he'd skipped school.

"Yeah."

He turned and began to trek back to the Impala, waving his hand out as farewell.

"Hey!"

He paused and glanced back and she said, as she pulled her hood back over her head, "Raven―I mean, Ray. Ray Willows.

He grinned big and said. "Dean Winchester. Glad to meet ya, Ray."