Chapter 10: Playthings
Bella's P.O.V.
We spent the next week around Peoria looking for any sign of Ava Wilson. We came up with absolutely nothing. I sat up on the bed in the motel room listening to my bed listening to my IPod. Sam was on the phone with someone and Dean had left to look one last time
When Dean came back I turned my IPod off seeing how Sam hung up the phone. "I've found absolutely nothing, man." Dean said. "Okay, Ellen called." Sam said. "Oh, what did she have to say?" I asked. "She found a case in Connecticut. In the past month there have been two deaths. A lady drowned in her own bathtub and another fell down the stairs. His head did a complete 180." Sam said. "That's a horrible way to die." I said. I got completely ignored per usual when my brothers were about to fight.
"So what did you tell her?" Dean asked. "I said that we would take it." Sam said. "Really?" Dean asked. "Yeah, why?" Sam asked. "Because normally you would be staring out the window, listening to angsty music." Dean said. Before I could stop myself I nodded in agreement.
"I'm not giving up on Ava, it's just we have to save other people as well." Sam said. "Okay Sam, we'll go to Connecticut." I said. "Thanks Izzy." he said. With that we packed up the car and headed out.
I absently rubbed at the now stitch free shoulder, it always feels weird right after taking them out. "Stop rubbing it Iz." Sam said. "Sorry," I said. Even though the stitched from the mauling were out I still had the stitches from being stabbed. To keep myself occupied I pulled out my newest romance novel.
"Seriously Iz, another cheesy porn book?" Dean asked. "Yep, now shush. This one is about Zarek, the crazy Dark-Hunter." I said. "Crazy Dark-Hunter?" Sam asked. "Yeah, Zarek was a slave in ancient Rome, but the thing was that he was a slave to his own family." I said. "Geesh, that sucks." Sam said. "Anyway back to the case please." Dean said. Sam and I smiled but I went back to reading as we drove.
We arrived at the inn the next day. I actually liked it. It was like investigating The Stanley while staying there. Only this place was like a mansion instead of a hotel. I put my book in my backpack and slung it over my shoulders. All of the guns in there had the safety on, so I was safe. I followed my brothers to the entrance only to stop when Sam spotted something.
"That's odd." he said. Dean and I went to the vase that Sam was looking at. "Is that a five point?" I asked. "Yeah, it is." Sam said. "Hoodoo? Does this place seem a little too white chocolate to you?" Dean asked. "Yeah. Wait, this place is closing right? Well what if whoever is doing the hoodoo is trying to keep this place from closing?" Sam asked. "That makes sense; the victims so far have been a re al estate agent and the moving guy. Everybody that has died was involved in closing this place down." Dean said.
We entered the building knowing what we were up against. I even like the inside of the building. It felt like home. A couple of young girls raced down the stairs, when they passed me the older girl smiled at me. Smiling, I shook my head and went to the desk were my brothers were talking to a woman.
"One king or two queens?" she asked. "Two queens." Dean replied. She gave Sam and Dean a weird look before my brothers caught on. "Um, we're brothers." Sam said. "God, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to misjudge. Your room is 112. Sherwin can help you help your bags." she said. I had to suppress my laugh for when we were safely to the room.
Sherwin was talking about how he grew up here and that he was going to miss this place. When we arrived at the room he wouldn't leave until Dean gave him some money. Once the door was finally closed I burst out laughing.
"What's so funny, Iz?" Dean asked. "That she thought you two were gay." I laughed out. "That's another thing, why does everyone assume that were gay?" Dean asked. "Well, you do seem like a Butch." Sam said. "Hey, Iz, I dare you to wear that." Dean said pointing at the wedding dress that was pinned to the wall. "No way in hell Dean." I said. "Why not? You've worn a dress before." he said. "Yeah and if I remember correctly you wanted to lock me in the bathroom before my prom date would get there." I said.
Once we got our stuff settled we set out searching for any more hoodoo. We did, by the door of the owners. So we knocked, when Susan opened I was surprised by the number of dolls staring at us.
Dean's P.O.V.
"Are you guys finding things okay?" Susan asked. "Yeah, thanks. Susan, do you happen to know where you got the pots out front?" Sam asked. "No, they've been there before I was born." she said. "Are those antique dolls?" I asked. "Yes, why do you ask?" Susan asked. "Cause my sister here has a huge doll collection back home." I said. Izzy glared at me before giving Susan a sheepish smile and nodded.
"Yeah, it started when I was six." Iz admitted. "It would really make her day if she could take a look." I said. "Um, sure. Come right in." Susan said. Susan than stepped aside and let us into her room.
"That sure is a lot of dolls. Not creepy at all." I said staring at the numerous dolls. "Yeah, I guess they are kinda creepy." Susan admitted. I looked over and saw Sam looking at a giant doll house.
"Is this the hotel?" he asked. "Yeah, exact replica actually." Susan said. I spotted Izzy talking to a little girl and the girl smiled and grabbed Iz's hand and started dragging her away.
"Tyler, what are you doing?" Susan asked. "Maggie wants to play with Bella too." Tyler said. "Hey Tyler, did you break your doll?" Sam asked. "No," she said. "Did Maggie?" he asked. "She didn't do it either, I found it like that. Grandma doesn't like it when we break her toys." Tyler said. "Can we talk to her about her doll collection?" Sam asked. "No, I'm sorry. My mother isn't feeling well. Tyler, why don't you play with Bella. I'm sure it'll keep her out of her brothers' way for a while." Susan said. Tyler smiled and grabbed Bell's hand again and dragged her away.
"Keep your phone on!" I yelled. "No worries!" Izzy yelled back. "I take it you guys are close?" Susan asked. "Yeah, about a year ago she was taken and was hurt really bad. We are the only family we have left." I said. Sam and I left the room full of creepy dolls.
Sam went back to the room and I went to search the rest of the hotel. I saw that Tyler made Izzy play jacks and tea parties. This was a side of my sister that I've never seen before. 'She would make a great mom.' I thought to myself.
I continued my search for five-points or any other sign of hoodoo. I didn't notice that night had fallen until I walked by the front door. I saw some medics wheel a body bag out. Susan was standing off to the side clutching Tyler.
"Did you know him?" I asked. "Kinda, he was the guy who brought the place." she said. "Really? How did he die?" I asked. "He hung himself. Maria found him." Susan said. With that I left to check the hotel some more.
An hour later I got back to the room to see Iz staring out the window and Sam sat slumped in a chair. "They got another one." I said. "I saw," Sam said. "In the morning, we'll go talk to the grandma." I said. "You're bossy….. and short, not as short as Bella though." he said. "Are you drunk?" I asked. "Yeah, so?" he asked. "Dude, you know better when we're working a case. Why didn't you stop him Iz?" I asked. "By the time I got here he was already half way drunk and I couldn't keep it away from him." she said. Sam then stood up and went to the window.
"I couldn't save him." he said. "We can't save everyone Sam." Iz said. "You don't understand. I can change my destiny by saving as many people as I can." Sam said. "Okay Sam, bedtime. Iz help me out." I said. "You guys got to promise me something." Sam said slurring as we led him to a bed. "Sure, Sammy anything." Iz and I said at the same time. "Promise me that if you guys can't save me that you do what Dad said." Sammy said. "We can't, Sammy." Izzy said. "But Dad said you might have to." he said. "Well Dad was a dick for saying that." I said. "Please, De, Iz. You have to promise me this." Sam begged. "Okay Sam." I said. "Yeah, okay." Iz said. Sam flopped on his stomach and fell fast asleep.
"I am not sharing with him." Iz stated. "I don't blame ya. Just don't take all the blankets." I said. She smiled and went to change. Soon we were all at the mercy of our sub consciousness.
I woke up to the sound of someone puking in the bathroom. I got up to see Sam leaning over the toilet. "I guess mixing whiskey and rum wasn't a smart idea, huh Sammy? You probably don't remember a thing from last night." I said. "Ugh, I can still taste the tequila." he said. "You know what really helps with hangovers? A big greasy breakfast served in an ashtray." I said. "I hate you." Sam groaned into the toilet.
"Dean, be nice. What's the plan of attack for today." Izzy asked. "Well I already searched the room. I got EMF. But I think we should go talk to Susan's mom. Last night I found out that Rose's nanny was probably teaching Rose some hoodoo." I said. I smiled and we got ready to leave to start searching too.
Sam's P.O.V.
When we got to Susan's door Iz picked the lock and we got inside. Iz and Dean followed me to the left and we climbed a couple flights of stairs. At the top we saw Rose sitting in a wheel chair facing away from us.
"Rose, we're not here to hurt you. We just want to ask you a few questions." I said. Rose didn't answer, so I walked around and looked at her. That's when I noticed that she suffered from a stroke; I turned back to my siblings.
"That woman has suffered from a stroke." I said. "Hoodoo is pretty hands on, right?" Iz asked. "Yeah, so Rose isn't doing it." I said. "We can poke her with a stick, just to make sure that she isn't faking it." Dean said. "Dude, you're not gonna poke her with a stick her with a stick." I said. "Why, why do I have to be related to an idiot like you De?"Iz asked. "You're just lucky Bells." he said. That's when we heard a shriek from behind as I slowly turned around to see Susan standing there.
"What are you guys doing here?" Susan asked. "We just wanted to talk to Rose, is all." I said. "Mom, it's okay. Look at her, she's terrified. Get out of here before I call the cops." she said. Without arguing we left the hotel. We didn't actually leave the place entirely, we were watching from the trees.
We watched from the trees as Susan stepped away from the moving playground. Behind her, her car started and it was gunning right at her. I dashed towards her and got her out of the way in time before she became road kill. We got her inside and went to the bar where Susan poured herself a glass of whiskey.
"What the hell happened back there?" Susan asked. "A spirit. A ghost is killing off anyone who is involved with the selling of the hotel." Dean said. "What do I have to do?" she asked. "Take your daughters and get as far away from here as possible." I said. "I only have one daughter." Susan said. "Then who is Maggie, 'cause she and Tyler definitely look like sisters?" Izzy asked. "You can see her?" Susan asked. "Yeah, she's about 12 with long curly blonde hair. I wondered why I got this strange feeling around her." Izzy said. "Susan, anyone die here with that description?" Dean asked. Susan then got up and ran up the stairs but came back down.
"Tyler's gone!" she cried. "Susan focus, who is Maggie?" I asked. "She was my mom's older sister. She died in the pool." Susan said. And just like that Iz and Susan ran off and Dean and I followed. We got to the swimming pool and the door was locked. Inside we saw Tyler at the other side of railing Dean and Susan went to the other door.
"Sam, lift me up." Iz said. "Is Maggie standing with her?" I asked. "Yes, come on, help me up." Bells said. With that I supported my sister as she climbed into an open window.
I watched as Bella walked over to Tyler just as Maggie pushed Tyler and then I saw Maggie. Bella caught her but didn't see Maggie come up behind Bells and pushed her over. I picked up a vase and broke the window and climbed through the window. I raced to the edge and saw Tyler safely out but Bella was still under.
I jumped in and swam to my sister hoping that she was still alive. Then I saw her struggling as if someone was holding her under. I got up to her as she stopped struggling. I pulled her out as Dean and Susan got there.
"Bella! Sam is she okay?" Dean asked. "I don't know." I said as Dean pulled her out. I pulled myself out as Bella started coughing. "I…..hate…..ghosts." Bella coughed. "Me too sis, me too." I said. "Bella, don't do that again." Dean said. "I'll try not to." she said. We left the swimming pool and headed back to the hotel.
We waited downstairs until we heard a scream from upstairs. We ran up only to see that Rose was dead. Minutes later the police showed up and Iz and Tyler confirmed that Maggie was gone. We said goodbye to Susan and Tyler and we walked back to the car.
"You know, I remember everything about last night." I said. "You were drunk out your ass Sam." Dean pointed out. "But you two weren't. So please keep that promise Dean, Izzy." I begged. "Sure, I guess Sammy." Izzy said. "Whatever, Sam." Dean said as we climbed in the car.