Chapter 4 – Hunting
Dawn's light entered into the motel room through a crack in the curtains. Taylor stirred, opening her eyes and taking in her surroundings. Shaking her hair out of her face, her thought went to a hot shower. She tiptoed into the bathroom, careful not to wake Sam and Dean. Poor Dean ended up on the floor while Sam laid sprawled on the queen sized bed next to hers. Salt lined the doorway and windows.
The hot water felt like glory washing over her skin. She spent most of the hot water before getting out to dry. She looked at her clothes, brushing dust from them. She would have to ask for a hoodie to Sam or Dean. Because her t-shirt was all dirty with blood. She would have to somehow find more clothes, money and…suddenly Taylor realized she had lost everything. She couldn't go home now, it wasn't safe. She was lost. Her life as she knew it, was gone. Taylor felt a surge of hatred rising in her. The demons had taken everything from her. She put her t-shirt on, and hurried out of the bathroom. Taylor felt a new solution building up inside her. She went over to where Dean was sleeping on the floor. Feeling a little guilty, she shaked him slightly until he stirred. He sat up when he saw her, rubbing his eyes.
"How are you?" He asked. "Is something wrong?"
"I…I'm..." What was she exactly? "I'm just mad…" she trailed off, not knowing what to say next. "Those demons took everything from me. My life is over. I can never see my parents again, I would be putting them in danger. I can't go to college now. It's just, with all of this happening, demons, spirits. My life can never be normal again." She thinks he wouldn't like what she was about to say. She took a deep breath and stated, "I want to become a hunter, learn how to defend myself."
Deans' shocked face was what she was expecting. There was a pause. "I knew you were going to say that."
"How? You did?"
"Yeah, Sammy went through the same. After Jess died."
"Who is Jess?" she asked, not knowing who she was. Maybe a close friend.
"She was Sam's girlfriend."
"Oh, sorry to hear that. What happened?"
"Demons happened. Sam was going to become a lawyer, marry Jess, have a normal life…"
"But it always comes back to get you." She finished kind of asking. Dean nods.
"All I'm saying is, being a hunter is not easy, neither safe. You are always looking behind your back. Not knowing if you are returning home safe and sound. Once you get in, there's no going back." Dean concluded, trying to make her understand it's not going to be easy. She knew it wasn't going to be easy, either way she got nothing to go back to.
She nodded. "I can't go back. I have nothing left. I suppose my "parents" think I'm dead by now. All I have is this anger burning inside me that I can't hold forever."
"I know what you're going through." Dean said, as he took her small hand in his, and looked at her with those apple-green eyes.
"Will you teach me?" she asked. Dean hesitated. "At least show me how to defend myself." She added.
"Alright" Dean finally accepted. "Today we're going to a friend's house in Sioux Falls. We'll be safe there, we can explain all of what's happening, you can rest your wound and we can teach you how to….defend yourself."
She nodded. "Thank You" He gave her hand a squeeze and then he let go.
"When I was at the motel and those demons were attacking me. I felt so useless, and to think I couldn't do anything to stop it. And maybe one day something may happen to you two, and I won't be able to stop it." She said, sadness could be heard in her voice.
"I know the feeling. Don't worry though, Sam and I can take care of ourselves." He chuckled. "You have no idea what we've been through."
"Dean I don't think it's a good idea, she could get herself killed." Sam told Dean as they packed their bags in the black impala. He cast a glance at Taylor. "That anger she has is going to make her careless. I know she has been through a lot, but I know what's happening inside her head okay. I went through the same after Jess died. And she is going to become more careless once we tell her about her parents."
"Sam we'll cross that bridge when we get there. But about the hunting we can teach her, she's set on becoming a hunter. She's got nerve, you have to give her that."
Sam sighted. "Okay, either way Cas told us she has to be protected."
"After all, it is her choice. We can't do anything about it. We can either help her learn to defend herself or let her go on her own." Dean said. Sam just let out another sigh, climbing in the passenger's seat. Taylor joined them, climbing into the backseat meanwhile Dean turned up "Highway to Hell" by AC/DC.
"So" Taylor started, "tell me some stories about hunting."
Sam turned his eyes to Dean, casting him a warning glance. Dean ignored him. "Well, where do we begin?"
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
May 10, 2007
"Just hold it like this." Dean took the gun and helped me to position it correctly. "Then pull back on the trigger." I furrowed my brow in concentration and then I shot. The bullet hit the top of the target. "Really close, you´re picking up on this really fast." Dean encouraged her.
"I used to hunt with my dad. But it has been a few years."
Dean had spent the whole afternoon teaching me how to handle a gun, although it was really difficult, and I had failed to hit the middle of the target, I was improving, Dean said so.
"So, salt and holy water hurt demons?" I ask glancing up at Dean, as we entered Bobby´s house. We arrived yesterday at bobby's house only to find him away on a hunting job. I was really hoping to meet him.
"Yeah, But there´s also an exorcism that you can perform. Only way to kill them, with this knife." He showed me a small, jagged knife. "Well at least that´s what we know."
"And ghosts?"
"You salt and burn them." Dean grinned.
"Vampires, you cut their heads?" I grimaced at this.
"Yeah, But we don´t come across those too often. What you need to worry about the most is demons."
I nodded. "After what they did to me, I'm not afraid to kill them."
"Either way you have to be careful. Demons are very powerful."
I gave him a small smile. "You just don't want to see me get hurt." I surmised. "Thank you, but I'll be fine. I have to do this." She set her jaw.
"Yeah, I know." An awkward silence ensued, and I felt myself growing uncomfortable.
I raised the gun again, breaking the silence. This time my shot found its mark. "I think it's enough for now." I told Dean. "My ears are ringing." We walked to the house in complete silence, while I was practicing loading the gun with salt shots. "So how come we are safe here. Isn't it the same than being in a motel?"
"Demons shouldn't be able to get in here. There are these things called hex bags. Keeps demons away as well as symbols. This house is like on giant safe room."
"Right…" I bit my lip. Learning to be a hunter was really difficult. There was so much to remember, and although I was fueled with anger, I was still afraid.
As I entered the house, Dean behind me. I smelled the strong scent of fast food drifting into the front hall from the kitchen. Dean led me into the back of the house where Sam was waiting with three carryout bags from Zips. "Hope you like bacon cheeseburgers." He told me. He pulled a little box with green salad and started to eat.
"Sure."
