Chapter 28

"They've been in there a long time." Bryce mused anxiously, his eyes glued to the boathouse across the campground.

"Yeah, I wonder why?" Jamie asked from the next window over.

"They're not out yet? Dean said they were only gonna be a second, it's been way longer." Andrew spoke from the nearest table.

"No, they're not out yet." Jamie stated.

"What's that funny light?" Lyndon asked, pointing to a pulsing glow coming from inside the boathouse.

"Dunno." Bryce answered.

The light vanished slowly, leaving the boys curious. Five minutes of no action happened and the boys shifted uncomfortably from their positions.

"Wait, what's that?" Brandon pointed.

"Someone's coming out of the water!" Erik replied.

"Who is it?" Andrew wondered.

"I can't tell, it's too dark, but it looks like something's wrong, see they're bent funny." Steven replied, pointing.

A shift in the moonlight and Steven's statement was confirmed. The person who had pulled himself out of the water was clutching his chest and was doubled over in what looked like a breathy fight to regain himself and push the pain away.

"I think it's Dean!" Lyndon exclaimed.

"He might be hurt, let's go see!" Bryce replied.

"But he told us to stay here." Andrew said.

"But he might need help." Bryce said.

"But..." Andrew said.

"I'm going, who's coming?" Lyndon said, shoving the dining hall door open and taking off at a run across the grounds, followed closely by all of the boys.


Dean's hands touched the shore and he dug his fingers into the mud to help pull himself out. He struggled for breath and placed a hand on his chest where the boat had struck him and knocked the little air that he had had in him out. He staggered to his feet, the darkness swooping around him as he drug himself out of the river. He coughed and spat some muddy water out on the ground then looked around in almost panic.

"Sam!" Dean yelled and his voice was scratchy and forced. He coughed again and worked harder to regain his breath.

His eyes searched the shoreline desperately and saw a figure a little further up dragging himself from the water.

"Sammy?" Dean called and staggered toward the shape.

"Dean!" Came a small voice.

Dean looked up sharply.

"Go back to the dining hall guys, it's not safe out here." Dean spoke firmly, but gently all at the same time.

"We thought you might be hurt!" Timothy replied.

"No, I'm okay." Dean spoke softly, careful not to upset the children.

"Sam!" Jamie called and ran to where Sam was pulling himself to his feet.

"Sam, you okay?" Dean asked as Sam came towards him.

The youngest brother nodded and ran a hand through his wet hair, pushing it back from his face.

"Those are some psycho little bitches." Dean said, turning his eyes back to the boathouse.

"Where's Ben?" Bryce asked curiously and frightened all at the same time.

"Damn it, he's still in there!" Dean stated and ran to where the lock had closed on the door.

"Ben?" Dean called and was greeted by silence.

The oldest Winchester pulled frantically on the lock and when it wouldn't budge, he waded into the water and grabbed the largest rock he could handle. Without a thought he lifted it and slammed it down on the lock which fell away after the third hit. He kicked the door open.

"Ben?" Dean asked.

A gust of wind, followed by shrieking laughter.

"Ben's not here." Came a chorus of two voices.

"What did you two do with him?" Dean asked sharply.

"We didn't do anything, he's the one that fell off the floor."

"Damn it!" Dean hissed and searched the dark water frantically. He saw Ben floating face down in the middle of the exposed water and without thought he jumped in after him and was soon surrounded by the howling laughter of the girls once again.

Dean grabbed the camp director by the back of the shirt and pulled him over, but there was no sign of awareness on the man's face. Instead, Ben's lips had a distinct blue tinge and his skin was ashy. Dean hauled the man, who was a bit larger than himself, out of the water as best as he could while the girls shrieked around him. He pulled Ben outside to where Sam and the boys from his cabin were watching worriedly. Sam stepped forward and looked at Dean with an unspoken question to which Dean promptly shook his head in the negative. Sam's face fell and he cast an anxious glance back to the frightened boys who also heard the screaming laughter of Jill and Jenna.

"Guys, go back to the dining hall and close the door, now." Sam replied sternly.

"But..." One of the boys started.

"Just go!" Sam hissed and the boys left in a group all at once. When the boys had turned away Sam dropped to his knees and started CPR on the unresponsive camp director.

"I'm going back in for the doll." Dean said.

"Dean, you can't go back in there." Sam said between compressions.

"It might stop all of the hauntings if Olivia gets her doll back."

"But you don't know that!"

"It's the only option we've got." Dean said and plunged back into the boathouse.

Sam continued CPR.

"Sam! Sam, something happened to Bryce!" Timothy shouted, stumbling back over the wet ground after his counselor.