Chapter 37 Bates Homeless Shelter
"Who is he, Stephen?" Matt Murdock said slamming the door to the sanctum sanctorum.
"Most people knock." Doctor Strange said from a wing-backed chair by the fire. "But then again, you aren't most people." he continued standing up and turning to the blind vigilante.
"He didn't even know Fisk's name, so why did you lie to me?" Matt said angrily.
"Are you more surprised that I lied, or that he bested you so easily?" Strange said.
Matt recovered quickly from this. "I want to know everything, right now." he said.
"I can't do that Matthew." Strange said.
"Why not?" Matt said slamming a fist on a nearby display case. His muscles still ached from the shock, but he had to seem strong.
"What would you do if you did?" Strange asked.
"What is different about him? I didn't notice anything until the fight. He had a strange smell, almost like, like sulfur." Matt said.
"I won't tell you everything, but I can tell you this. The man you fought has been possessed by the actual devil." Strange said.
"You aren't lying." Matt remarked, surprised. "The devil is real?"
"You ought to know, Matthew, the religious man that you are." Strange said.
"I never really thought… but how is he free? Is he dangerous? How did he escape?" Matt asked.
"I just want you to keep an eye on him. He is a good man, but damaged. The effects he could cause could be dangerous unless he isn't in the right hands. Perhaps Stark or someone similar would have the resources to protect him, but as it stands, out in the open is a very dangerous place for him to be. Already the underground has begun to realize his presence. It is only a matter of time before he is discovered." Strange said.
"And the Devil?" Matt asked.
"I have banished him into the dark dimension." Strange said.
"Are you sure that's secure. Things have been breaking loose from that place for centuries." Daredevil said.
"I have worked hard to make it so." Strange said, smiling. "There is only one way out of there, and that key was lost ages ago."
"What if he breaks free?" Matt asked.
"If he does, I'll give you a fair shot at him. I assume you would want that given the name you call yourself." Strange said with a smile.
"I'm serious. I don't think even you could best the devil forever." Matt said.
"I won't have to." Strange said. "I have a friend in high places."
"What do you mean?" Matt asked.
"What do you know of angels?" Strange said.
"What, so angels are real too?" Matt asked.
"We will meet him at the right time." Strange said.
"An angel is going to beat the devil? Who?" Matt asked.
"I'd rather not say at the moment. We'll focus on the task at hand. We must find Sam Winchester. In order to get this right, we have to bring him into the light." Strange said.
"We could comb the city, but honestly, the guy is tough. Something tells me he won't be easy to find." Matt said.
"I have a few thoughts on where we can start." Strange said. "I know a number of his aliases. The next thing will be to check the first motel in the phone book."
"There aren't many of those in the city. What makes you so sure he will choose one?" Matt asked.
"There are other options, but the most rundown places are the safest bet. We should start with those." Strange continued.
"That's a lot of places. We had better get started." Matt said.
Sam Winchester found a local homeless shelter near Central Park to spend the night. The food was alright, and nobody asked him many questions. In fact not many of them seemed to want to look him in the eye.
It was unnerving. There was something wrong here. It was like he was attracting attention just by being here. There was no way anyone could know him here. Strange knew of course. It didn't help that he happened to be the most powerful witch he had ever seen. Their encounter made Sam rethink who he could trust, as the man was hell bent on seeing Sam create the future where an innocent girl died. He couldn't allow that.
He zipped up his leather jacket and tried to get warm. The heating was broken, but he had been knee-deep in worse places.
"Hey, buddy, what's that stench?" a red headed man asked him.
"What?" Sam asked.
"The stinky smell like rotten eggs. It just is coming from this corner, and I thought I would try to see if that could get situated. It smells enough in here without your scent." the man said.
"I don't know what you are talking about." Sam said covertly sniffing his own arm pit. It seemed fresh.
"Must be my mistake." the man said, smiling with every tooth visible.
"Right." Sam said trying to make it clear he wasn't interested in talking.
The man it seemed couldn't take a hint. He shoved his hand in Sam's air space and said, "The name's Cletus."
There was a hungry look in the man's eye that Sam didn't like. He had seen it on too many monsters faces. Not wanting to make a scene, he took the man's hand and shook it.
"Wedge." Sam said simply.
The man wouldn't let go. "Oh, you have strong hands." Cletus said smiling. "I could do a lot of things if I had these hands, oh, the fun I could get up to!"
"Look man," Sam said wrenching his hand out of his grip. "I'm flattered, but I just don't swing that way alright?"
"I'm not talking about your hands, Sonny." Cletus said. "I'm talking about your power. You just need the right kind of juice, am I right."
Sam was unnerved. "Right, I'm gonna go."
"Oh, if you say so…" Cletus said. "I'll come with you."
Sam put a hand on the guy's chest to stop his advance. The man was filthy. Sam knew the stench of blood on breath more than anyone should. This man was a monster. "I don't want to hurt you, but I am leaving, and you aren't following." Sam said.
"I'll just escort you out." Cletus said smiling.
"Not today." Sam said lifting a knife from his belt.
"Oh, you like the classics! I favor a blade myself!" Cletus said.
"Your a special kind of freak, you know that?" Sam said.
"You should speak for yourself Sulfur Boy!" Cletus said smiling.
"I will hurt you if you take another step. I mean it." Sam said, edging for the door.
"I wouldn't have it any other way." Cletus said.
The man stepped toward him. Sam acted swiftly and decisively. From behind his back he pulled a sawed off shotgun full of rock salt and shot him in the face.
The man's smile broke in pieces as he flew across the room and landed with a thud. A strange red liquid began to gather around him that didn't look quite like blood. Sam didn't stick around to find out what. He got out of there quick, wondering if he ever would get a good night's sleep.