Chapter 4

Sam and Dean were quiet as they left the parking lot. Dean moved his hand to his chest. He couldn't believe his pain was gone. He lifted his shirt. There were no scars on his chest. It was as if the car accident had never happened. Sam watched his brother's actions. He did the same, with the same result. No scars. He shook his head and stared out the window, unsure what to do and unsure what to think.

Sam and Dean again pulled into the parking lot of the diner. Dean opened his door to go in and Sam grabbed his arm.

"What are we doing here?" Sam asked.

"It's a diner. They serve food." Dean said. "And I'm hungry."

"Stop being an ass. You know what I'm talking about."

"I'm hungry, Sam." Dean explained. "The food was good, and I'm hungry."

Sam didn't quite believe it. But he let it go. He followed Dean in.

A waitress came over to their table. She asked for drink orders. She then gave them both menus. She came back moments later with their drinks.

"What part of 'leave town' do you two NOT understand?"

Both Sam and Dean looked at the waitress. She didn't look like Cindy, but she did sound like her.

"Cindy? How did you…?" Sam asked.

"Unfortunately humans are very predictable. You tell them NOT to do something and that is the first thing they want to do." Cindy shook her head.

"Look, we're eating, then we're getting out of town." Dean stated.

Cindy and Sam just looked at him. The scrutiny was making Dean uncomfortable, so he got up and went to the bathroom.

Cindy waited until Dean left before she spoke. "I don't know what it is, but there's something about that song. There is something pulling Dean back. I…If he goes back, he won't make it out alive."

Sam stared at Cindy. He started to speak, but Dean returned. They ordered and ate their food in relative silence. Sam got up to go to the restroom as Dean paid the bill. Sam threw a tip on the table and then headed towards the back to the restrooms. He hadn't wanted to leave Dean alone. But nature was calling. He finished his bathroom visit as quickly as he could. And, in fact, he was only in the restroom for a couple minutes. He hurried out, looking for Dean across the dining area of the restaurant. He then went outside.

Cindy was outside by this point also. "I was with a customer. He sneaked out on me."

Sam was frantic as he looked around. "Well, he didn't take the car. That means I can catch up with him."

"No," Cindy said removing her apron. "…we can catch up with him." She got in on the passenger side of the car.

Sam just looked at her when he got in. He started the engine.

"You don't know where he went, and you're gonna need my help." Cindy said as she settled back against the seat.

"Cindy, why…?" Sam shook his head.

"They wanted you, but Dean's easier. My guess is that they are a little afraid of you, your powers." Cindy replied. "Without Dean, they hope losing him will break your spirit enough you will quit hunting." Cindy paused. "But probably, and most important, we have hunters out there killing innocents. That is not in the Father's plan. You two save the innocents. Those other hunters…they try to justify it by saying that, at least, they got the bad guy. The Father wants it done right. The scales need to be balanced for right and justice to prevail. That means ONLY the guilty parish. These creatures just want to get rid of all humans. That's their ultimate goal."

Sam nodded. His mind trying to absorb it all as his eyes scanned the sides of the road for any signs of Dean.

"We're here." Cindy said after they had traveled a couple of miles.

Sam stopped the car and got out. He was still looking for Dean. "Good, we beat him. I don't see him anywhere."

Cindy was looking around also. She shook her head. "Dean's already here."

Sam stared at her. "That is not humanly possible."

"We're not dealing with anything human here, Sam." Cindy said, simply.

Cindy stood in front of Sam. She put her hands to both sides of his head. Sam immediately fell to his knees. He groaned in pain.

"I don't want to do this, Sam. But you really do need to know what I know." Cindy explained.

Cindy kept her hands to the sides of Sam's head as images of blood and torture assaulted his senses. She let go of Sam's head. He relieved himself of what he had just eaten. Sam wiped his mouth and tried to stand up. He then realized that he was too weak to do so.

Sam stayed conscious for only a few seconds longer before he collapsed to the ground. Cindy put her hands to the sides of Sam's head again. He opened his eyes.

"Stand up, Sam." Cindy commanded. She removed her hands. "Come on, get up. We need to save Dean, before it's too late."

"What you showed me…?" Sam started.

"…is what we're saving Dean from." Cindy replied. "They are going to torture him to get answers. Till he tells them what he knows."

"Dean doesn't know anything." Sam replied, having no idea what information Dean might have that these things, these demons might want to know.

Cindy nodded. "Oh, he knows plenty, probably more than anyone else on the subject."

"The subject…what are you talking about?" Sam asked.

Cindy sighed. "You, Sam!" It's you!" She paused. "You know the part about the knives and the feast?"

"What?"

"In the song, "And in the master's chambers, they gathered for the feast. They stab it with their steely knives, but they just can't kill the beast." Cindy explained, hurriedly. "They want you, the beast. But they are afraid of you, Sam. So…so they took Dean. The knives represent torture. They would have a hard time killing you…Dean, not so much."

Sam felt as if he would throw up again. He stared at her. "Just tell me what I need to do."

Cindy nodded. She began to walk. Sam followed.

Sam looked around him. There were no buildings, just a lot of open fields. But then something flickered. It was like a sputter. A huge Spanish-style building was suddenly there. It looked new and it looked completely out of place for its current surroundings. Sam hesitated for just a moment.

Cindy commented without turning around. "It's real, Sam. We are about to enter a parallel dimension. The worm hole will close in three short hours. You two need to get out by that time, or you're not coming out. The last two lines of the song, Sam. "Relax," said the night man, "We are programmed to receive. You can check out any time you like but, you can never leave." There is a short window of time this place is 'available' for lack of a better word. We get in, we find Dean, we leave, nothing more, nothing less."

Sam nodded. He followed Cindy into a building that was not really there.

TBC