A Hunting We Will Go
John put the last of the bags down in the motel he had checked them all into. As he suspected the boys were none too happy about the move. At least they had their recent Christmas gifts to keep them busy for a day or two.
He sat both the boys down and made them look him in the eye.
"Now you have to listen to me. It is very important that you both stay in this room at all times. I have to go out but I will be back okay? We are going to do something new this time. I have something very special that will keep you very safe since you be alone." As John explained this he began pouring salt across the doorway and in front of the windows.
"Is that stuff like in my new book? Pippsy dust?" Sammy asked in earnest.
John couldn't help but smile. "Yes son, it is just like pixie dust and as long as it stays just like this and you stay inside you will be just fine."
"Okay," Sam responded happily.
Dean on the other hand had a look of contempt on his face. "It's just salt," he whispered to his father. "If this stuff is so great why don't I come with you, I can help a lot. Sam will be safe. I've had lots of training and can watch your back Dad; I know I can. I'm not a baby."
"I know you're not a baby Dean. But do you remember when I told you it would be a long time even with training before you could go on a hunt?"
The boy nodded.
"I wasn't kidding; you will be ready one day, just not yet. I need you to stay here with your brother; can you imagine what type of trouble he could find if you weren't here?"
Dean turned and looked at his little brother who was busy flipping through the television stations.
"Now listen to me Dean; don't even think about leaving this room. Don't go out for any reason am I clear?"
"Crystal."
"Okay, I'm not kidding if I find out you have disobeyed the punishment you received last time will hold no comparison to the one you will receive this time," John let his words hang in the air hoping the threat would suffice.
He gave each of his boys a kiss on the head and took off into the night carefully stepping over the salt line.
Dean collapsed in the chair weighing his options.
John met up with Bobby, Caleb and Jeff all old buddies in the same line of work as he was. They explained the situation.
"We think that something must have been unearthed. There was nothing out of the ordinary until two weeks ago and all of sudden spirits began popping up everywhere. The population has been held captive in their own homes," Bobby started.
"Could it be some kind of anniversary?" John inquired.
"Possibly, we just need to ask around and do some exploring. Where are the boy's?" Caleb asked.
"At a motel just outside town. I've got them salted in and threatened Dean within an inch of his life. They should be fine."
"They are growing up so fast. Before long Dean will be joining us," Jeff commented.
"He is already itching to," John said smile forming with pride.
"It was the same with my boy; he was ready for battle at the tender age of 12. It was never easy with him it was a constant fight to keep him safe. You want them to have the knowledge that will keep them safe, but once they know it they want to fight it just like their old man," Jeff reminisced.
"I am in that same boat," John said his smile widening.
"Paul had some rough years let me tell you," Jeff said with a chuckle as he tapped his belt.
John only nodded knowing full well that he would have to continue to use his for more than holding up his pants.
The men split up and canvassed the area to see what they could figure out about the pandemonium that had been unleashed in this town.
Dean sat his head bobbing back and forth with the music. He was totally in his own world until Sam pulled the headphones off his head.
"What?"
"It's dinner time," Sam said. "I'm hungry."
"Okay spaghetti-O what do you want?" Dean asked using his nickname for Sam. He began calling him that when Sam was 2. Spaghetti-O's had always been one of Sam's favorite meals and as a toddler whenever something bad happened he would always say "uh oh spaghetti-O."
"Peanut butter and banana sandwich please," the young one demanded.
Dean fixed them some grub and they both settled in front of the TV. As the time got later and later Dean's mind wondered as to what his dad was encountering. He knew he was ready to battle anything out there; he was almost 11 already for goodness sake. Sam began getting tired and Dean read him one of his new books. By the last page the 6 year old was out cold.
Dean watched some more TV and then wandered over taking a good look at the salt lines. This was crazy, why would Dad bring him if he couldn't be a part of the fight. Because there was no place to leave them was the answer, but Dean wanted to believe his own reasoning.
As the men gathered again they each had a story to share.
Bobby began, "this woman hasn't had a peaceful night in two weeks; says apparitions keep coming up from her basement. She has even gotten to the point where she has demanded that they tell her why they are there."
"Any answers?" Jeff asked.
"This town is theirs and by God they are going to live here once again," Bobby revealed what she had told him.
"I talked to a gentleman who said the area on the other side of the cemetery has been very active. It is where the town originally started. There was some kind of upheaval back in the day. Most of the activity takes place in the overnight hours but not all of it," Caleb shared.
"Why don't these people just leave?" Bobby asked.
"They don't have much; just their homes and they are not going let anybody drive them away. Besides many of them have no place to go," John said. "Apparently back in the 1800's it was a lawless community full of prostitutes; gun slingers and just plain bad people. Then the town found its own Wyatt Earp and the good folks around here got themselves a nice to place to raise a family. It stayed that way up until now. I couldn't find any dates that made any sense as to why there is this uprising; it must be something else and we need to figure out what that is and soon."
John arrived back at the motel late and was quite relieved to see both of his boys sleeping soundly. He undressed showered and slid Sammy over a bit and climbed in next to him.
"So what is happening?" Dean whispered loudly in John's ear.
"Dean shhhh, it's only 6:30 don't wake your brother," John admonished his son.
"But I did everything you said you have to tell me what's going on."
"First of all you should do everything I say no matter what, because I said so not because you get something out of it. We are dealing with some vengeful spirits and that's all you need to know," John finished.
"They don't like the salt right?"
"That's right, now can I have a few minutes and some coffee before your brother is up?"
"Sure, are you going back today?"
"Yep hopefully this won't take too long. The same rules apply today as yesterday Dean."
Dean nodded but his mind was whirring.
John once again met up with the rest of the gang. They had already been working on a plan as they didn't have to spend the morning finding clean underwear for their kids and breaking up fights over who got the first bowl of Lucky Charms.
"My source just told me that the activity by the cemetery started after they had started digging for a new swimming pool," Caleb announced.
"A swimming pool by a cemetery, how charming; how far did they dig?" Bobby asked.
"Not far the ground kind of collapsed apparently it is quite unstable over there; it may be over some old mining tunnels. I guess some were never mapped out that well," Caleb said.
"How long do they think the tunnels have been there?" John asked.
"A long time; there hasn't been mining around here for 150 years," Caleb responded.
"Right about the time our town was in full swing," John said. "The population was 350 after they cleaned house it was 295 so that means 55 people were run out of town or killed. Somehow if they were killed I doubt they were buried in the proper manner; and an old mine shaft would be a perfect dumping ground. Let's get over there and see what we can see."
The sun had been shining but the clouds were beginning to take over and a gloom began to take shape. The men were loaded with their supplies and very ready and knowledgeable to take on the entities that were hanging around. The men arrived at the site near the cemetery and the hole was large but not as deep as they had originally thought. The hooked up a couple ropes and John and Bobby worked their way down into the darkness while Caleb and Jeff stayed up top.
When they hit the dirt below them they looked to their left and right the flashlights picked up nothing but bones.
"How did they kill them all? Was it mass murder or did they wipe them out one by one?" Bobby asked.
"I don't know, but they seemed to dump all the bodies down here. They must have had quite a few on the law enforcement side and killed as many as they could. They didn't have to worry about them coming back and causing problems," John said. "Until now that is."
"Plus it is quite the deterrent for any other unsavory characters that might want to bed down," Bobby added.
"We need to start salting and burning before the entities discover our plans," John said as he thought of his two sons and how antsy Dean had been that morning.
John finished up salting all the bones as Bobby went topside to get the accelerant. The quiet that they were experiencing did not leave John with a good feeling.
Dean was angry and feeling more defiant as the day went on. Who cares if Dad hit him with the belt again; he was tougher than that. He wanted to see what a real ghost looked like up close. Sammy had been playing with some of his new matchbox cars as Dean spied some movement outside.
"I'll let you play with my new boats if you take a bath right now," Dean offered speaking of the battery powered boats he had gotten for Christmas.
"But can't I just play with 'em in the water?" Sammy asked.
"No, this way you can get your bath early so if Dad comes home early you'll be able to spend more time with him," Dean said.
"Okay," Sammy sighed.
Dean got the bathwater and boats all ready and made sure Sam was comfortable in the water before he began his plan.
Dean grabbed the bag of salt and looked out the window. He couldn't believe it there were ghosts everywhere. Well more like 3 or 4 but Dean was ready or so he thought.
John's unease was rising by the moment as he and Bobby poured the accelerant over the remains. They were nearly done or so they thought when John banged into the dirt wall and it seemed to disintegrate showing even more bodies. He and Bobby were forced to go back for more salt. Caleb and Jeff were busy making the hole at the top bigger to allow more oxygen below. John felt a real need to rush.
Dean stepped over the salt line and closed the door behind him as he heard Sam making sound effects for the boats. The spirits flew around him and were laughing and teasing Dean. He grabbed handfuls of salt and began to toss it at the apparitions. As the salt found its mark the spirit disappeared making Dean quite proud. But every time one vanished another formed; Dean wasn't able to keep up and all his confidence disappeared. He was trying to back up towards the door to the motel but was concerned for Sammy, what if one followed him in. The spirits were making him very cold and very scared. Dean was trying to remember an invocation that his dad had showed him but he didn't remember more than a couple of words. Finally with only a handful or two of salt left he decide to try and bluff his way through with threats; they were empty threats but they were all he had.
"My dad showed me how to make you go away forever and I can do it, I can. My dad will be here soon and then you will be in trouble," Dean shouted. His knees were practically shaking as he spouted these words; he would give anything to see his dad right about now. A spirit popped up right in front of him causing him to trip and fall backwards hitting his head on a concrete parking block. He forced himself to sit up but he was feeling very groggy. As his left hand reached to the back of his head he felt something sticky and his heart fluttered when he brought his hand back around and saw the blood coating his hand. He had to get back inside; Dad was not going to be happy. He managed to maneuver so his back was to the door of their room and with a last toss of the salt he quickly unlocked the door and hopped over the salt line. He ran to the window as Sam stood dripping on the floor.
"You went outside. Dad said you was 'posed to stay inside with me," Sam said his voice full of concern. "Why is there red stuff in your hair?"
"He doesn't have to know and he won't if you don't tell him. They're gone, I made them go away," Dean said excitedly forgetting momentarily about his injury.
"Who's gone away?" Sam wanted to know.
"Nothing," Dean recovered not wanting to scare his little brother.
Dean could hardly contain his excitement; he was the man and he took care of tons of spirits. He rinsed his hair out in the sink trying his best to ignore the pain. He found the aspirin in the first aid kit and swallowed two tablets. He held a washcloth to his cut and waited for bleeding to stop.
John and friends stood at the edge of the hole watching the entire thing go up in flames. It would probably smolder for quite a while, but it looks like they had a good burn. The mayor stood by with the group listening to the explanation.
"So when the hole was reopened it awoken them and let them back into our world?" Mayor Tildon asked.
"Pretty much, they came back and were unhappy about their untimely end. So they were taking it out on anyone they could; namely the current residents. Just make sure this burns completely; if you run into any other problems just salt and burn," Caleb explained.
John quickly made his way back to the car and headed back to the boys. His stomach was churning relentlessly.
He pulled up just in time to see Dean pull his head back in the door.
He threw the door open glaring at his eldest son who was sitting on the bed with the biggest grin ever. John was like a loaded gun waiting to go off.
"Dad, I gots to tell you sumpin," Sam said.
Dean pushed him away figuring he knew what was about to come out of his brothers mouth.
"I did it Dad, I'm ready to hunt," Dean declared.
Sam just sat there with a puzzled look on his face.
"Sam you stay right here and watch TV for a minute. Dean and I will be right back," John told the youngster.
John pulled Dean outside by his elbow. "You know better than to talk about hunting in front of your brother. He isn't ready for the truth yet and he has no reason to know it," John exclaimed. "What happened to your head? You're bleeding son, what did you do?"
"I got rid of the ghosts," Dean said with pride.
"You went outside? You went outside when I specifically told you not to?" John yelled.
"Well yes sir, they were everywhere and I had the salt and I just kept hitting them with the salt and they kept coming and I kept throwing it and I told them they better leave and they did," Dean said with satisfaction. He was just sure that his dad couldn't possibly be mad since Dean was so brave and successful.
"Was this perhaps around 3:00 or so?" John asked.
"I think so," Dean said trying to remember what was on TV.
"That's the time we salted and burned the bones; they went into flames right around 3:00 so yes they would've disappeared," John told his son.
"So it wasn't because of me?" Dean asked totally deflated.
"No son, it wasn't because of you. In fact you again put yourself in very perilous situation. This time I wasn't close by and you got hurt."
"But you saved me again," Dean said with a sheepish grin.
"Oh you're going to need saving." John said angrily.