Because there's a monster living under my bed
Whispering in my ear there's an angel with a hand on my head
She said I got nothing to fear
There's a darkness living deep in my soul
Still got a purpose to serve
So let your light shine…don't let me lose my nerve
Everlast ~ Let Your Light Shine
It's All In The Name ( a different point of view)
I found myself sitting here in front of my computer mulling over the English assignment I had been given. I'm not a writer and have no imagination. The story I was to write could be fact or fiction. What I ended up writing was factual, but I had to present it as fiction because nobody would believe the truth.
My name is Amy Morris and it is January of 2012 and I am a senior in high school. I had lived an ordinary life, in a fairly ordinary town and went to an ordinary school with ordinary friends. But one day all that changed.
It was right after Christmas in 2005, when I was sitting in my apartment bored out of my mind. My mom worked 7:00 pm to 7:00 am four to five nights a week at the local hospital and that left me alone in the evening. It had been fairly mild for Massachusetts in winter, so I was sitting outside trying to figure out the new cell phone I had gotten for Christmas. I was totally engrossed when I heard an unfamiliar rumble come down the street. I looked up in time to see two men and a boy step out of an ominous looking black car. My heart started to pound but I was rooted where I sat. They looked my way and nodded and the younger boy I later learned was named Sean, waved and smiled. They entered the apartment next door and disappeared. What was left behind was an air of mystery, one I found I was rather drawn to.
The next day, I went outside while my mother slept hoping to find Sean. I sat for a while and had nearly given up but as I stood to go back inside he came out and went to the car. I am normally a shy person but this boy was already affecting me in ways that I will never understand. I remained on the porch trying to look casual, hoping that I wouldn't sound like a fool. I swallowed hard and as he headed back toward the apartment, I spoke.
"What kind of car is that?"
"It's a '67 Chevy Impala. It was my Dad's but he gave to my brother," the boy told me.
"My name is Amy, what's yours?" I asked, my voice shaking.
"Sean, and my brothers are Sam and Dean, we're visiting for a little while. Are you from around here?"
"Yeah, born and raised," I responded feeling more relaxed.
"How come you're outside all the time? Tough home life?" he asked.
"No, it's not bad at all, my mom is sleeping. She works nights and I try and keep things quiet," I told him. It was then that he invited me to his place. Normally I am a very safety oriented person, and would never go anywhere with someone I didn't know, but I found myself right on his heels without a care in the world. It was then that my life would be forever altered.
We walked through the door and Sean introduced me to Sam who reached out to shake my hand and smiled, saying he was pleased to meet me. Dean was on the phone but gave me a quick smile and nod. I sat on the couch while Sean gave Sam the book he had retrieved from the car. Dean wrapped up his phone call and turned to me.
"Hey, Amy, is it? Have you lived here long, so you know anything about local lore?"
"Jeez, Dean, give her a second." Sam told him.
Remember when I said I lived in a 'fairly' ordinary town? Well the town I live in is Salem, Massachusetts. We get a lot of tourism through the summer and October is absolute chaos, but other than that it is usually quiet. There are legends and lore galore, almost too much to take in. So I only shrugged in Dean's direction.
"Why don't you go get a board game or something and we can play over here and you won't have to worry about waking up your mother," Sean told me while glaring at his brother.
I left but could hear Sean admonishing his brother behind the closed door. It made me curious, but a little afraid, too. I returned with three games and found Dean on a laptop and Sam reading the book that Sean had brought in from the car. Sean was eating an apple and waiting for me.
We played Sorry and Clue and then watched some TV. I felt safe and on the edge of a mystery all at the same time. Over the next several days Sean and I spent a lot of time with each other and when Christmas break was over we hooked up at school, spending lunch and study hall together. I never quite figured out what Sam or Dean worked on during the day but they seemed harmless. Time marched on and all was ordinary, just like before. Until one day when it wasn't.
I had been preoccupied in school and Sean keyed right in on it and wouldn't leave me alone until I told him my dilemma.
"It's my cousin, Justin; he is going into the cemetery on a dare. But that isn't the worst part; he is 17 so if he wants to do this fine, but he has manipulated his brother into going with him and Jimmy is only 10. Jimmy really doesn't want to go, but he knows he will be teased if he refuses. Anyway, Jimmy begged me to go and keep him company so I told him I would. I'm stuck, I really don't want to go, but I made a promise that I need to keep."
"What is so bad about the cemetery?" Sean asked.
"Well first of all it's a cemetery. But there is also a legend that the mayor from a very long time ago had made some serious enemies including a few in the funeral home business. Anyway it was said that he dropped dead one day from unknown causes and was buried the next day. The rumor was that he was buried alive and his screams were heard the very next night. It was also said that his coffin was unearthed and there were scratch marks all over the inside. Now he comes back to looking for revenge on those who buried him alive and for those who ignored his screams," I explained.
"How often does this happen?" Sean asked.
"Every night after a new burial. Old Mr. Hariston was buried today so the dare has to happen tonight. There aren't too many plots left so there haven't been many funerals lately."
"What if I go with you? Would that make you feel any better?" he asked me with sympathetic eyes.
"Actually, it would. My aunt and uncle go to bed around 11:00 so Justin is supposed to pick me up at the corner around 11:30."
"I'll be there. I promise."
It was 11:25 and still no Sean. I was a nervous wreck. He seemed so genuine I couldn't believe he was going to stand me up. I was scared and angry and wondering if I should run home. I felt a tear slip down my cheek when Sean came running up to me full of apologies.
"I'm sorry, Sam wouldn't leave the living room and the back door makes a ton of noise. I had to wait until he got in the shower. I'm here, don't worry."
"Where's Dean?'
"He went out around 10:00; I imagine he'll be out for a while. I think this might be Justin coming around the corner," he said pointing as my cousin was slowly coming around to the curb.
We climbed in and I made my introductions; besides Justin and Jimmy, there was another boy, Eric who was the instigator of this whole fiasco. It only took a few minutes to get to the cemetery and we all piled out. We trudged into the graveyard and began to scout out the alleged haunted tombstone.
The boys were up ahead and Sean and I just followed at a slower pace. "Is this is a ghost, poltergeist or spirit?" Sean asked Justin.
"I have no idea, kid. What's the difference?"
"A ghost is the physical appearance of person who is dead or no longer part of the physical realm. For whatever reason they continue to manifest themselves as they looked when they were alive. A spirit is the soul of a person who can be dead or alive. A poltergeist is more complicated, it can be a spirit that has not walked the earth as a human or it can simply be a mischievous ghost."
"If they haven't walked the earth as a person, what was it?" Jimmy asked.
"A demon," Sean simply stated.
The three boys just looked at Sean like he had two heads and continued to walk.
We walked on and eventually lost sight of my cousins and their friend. I felt so safe with Sean that I actually had forgotten that I was in a cemetery. We were laughing and enjoying each other's company when we heard some shrieks from up ahead. Sean began to jog that way and I followed behind him. We caught glimpses of the boys but in the dark we couldn't make much out. I kept jogging behind Sean who seemed very comfortable moving around the dead, until he stopped in his tracks and turned around grabbing my arm and we began to run back the way we had come. I made the mistake of looking back and saw what we had all come to witness; a very angry looking spirit coming our way. Our lead was diminishing when all of sudden Sean seemed to trip over his own two feet. We fell right in front of a tombstone. I braced myself for the impending doom that I was sure was coming, but Sean just stared at inscription in front of him, moving his flashlight over the text.
"What is it?" I wondered aloud.
I looked at the engraving in front of me, but had no idea what had Sean in such distress.
Sarah E. MacGregor
March 3, 1969 – September 1, 1994
My greatest gift I left to this world
Spirit
Earth
Air
Nemamiah
"What's wrong? I think the spirit has left us alone, I guess it was a good thing you tripped. Do you know who this is?"
"My mother, this is my mother's grave," he said with a hysterical ring to his voice.
"I didn't you know you were from here."
"I'm not, we visited a couple of years ago and my father never said a word."
"Maybe it's not her. Are you sure of her birthday and everything?"
"Her birthday is right, her date of death is right and that is her name and look:
Spirit
Earth
Air
Nemamiah.
If you read down that's my name. Plus I can feel her, I think she saved us."
"How old were you when she died?"
"Three minutes," he told me.
"Three minutes? Like 180 seconds? Wow, I'm so sorry."
He then took a knife out of his pocket and dug at some dirt and then scooped it up and put it in his pocket. I looked around for my idiot cousin, but feared he had taken off and left us.
"Okay, spirit, earth and air, but what is Nemamiah?" I wondered aloud.
"Spirit, earth, air are points on the pentagram, but the Nemamiah or however you say it, means nothing to me," he told me.
"Pentagram, like the sign of the devil?" I asked.
We stood up and started walking to where we left the car and sure enough Justin had taken off without us. Sean explained to me about the pentagram and what it truly was. I planned on getting one as soon as I could.
"Just great," I said as I kicked at a stump. Bad idea as I slipped and turned my ankle.
"Ow, I twisted my ankle," I cried.
"It looks like it's swelling already," Sean said as he scooped up some nearby snow and slapped it on my growing ankle. "This will help. I guess I better call Dean to come get us, there is no way you can walk back on that foot."
He stepped away to make the call and came back with a tight smile on his face.
"Is he mad?" I asked.
"Here are my voice mail messages," he said while pushing buttons.
The speaker phone crackled to life.
"Where the hell are you?"
"You better pick up!"
"You better hope whatever it is kills you because if it doesn't I will."
"You'll never leave my sight again I swear to God."
"I thought I could trust you!"
"Sean,damn it, where are you!?"
"Brace yourself; he'll be here in a few minutes," Sean said with nervousness.
And it was just a few short minutes later that he pulled up. Dean gently picked me up and placed me in the backseat of the warm car.
"Just relax and warm up while I have a few words with my brother," he told me as he reached back for the door.
I tried to tell him it was my fault but the door was already closed and he was in Sean's face.
With conversation at full volume, I could hear without straining.
"What the hell were you thinking? How could you sneak out? Winchester rule number one, we know where each other are at all times or we answer the phone and explain ourselves. You are a kid, a child that I am responsible for and you cannot take off and put yourself in danger," Dean yelled.
"You're just afraid what Dad would do if you lost me. Well don't worry because he won't be around for a long time. I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but it's not like you really care," Sean yelled back.
Dean just stood there for a second and I sharply inhaled as his right hand came across Sean's face. "Don't you dare say that, don't you ever say that I don't care. I have been with you for most of your life and worried about you as much or more as Dad ever has. I've bandaged your wounds, helped with your homework, driven you everywhere and back, protected you from Dad's wrath and dried your tears; so don't you say that I don't care, that I don't love you. You are my baby brother and you know I will die for you."
"My mom is buried over there and nobody has had the decency to ever tell me. I thought I was born in Springfield, Illinois; what is the connection to this place? We were just here two years ago and nobody thought to tell me she was here. What are you all hiding? I just want the truth," Sean said with tears streaming down his face. "I'm sorry, I know you care and I was wrong to go without you, but I had to. You're the only one that hasn't left me and I do need your help, please help me," he said, crumpling into Dean's arms.
They stayed that way for a moment and finally climbed into the car with me. Dean asked if I was okay and carried me into their apartment when we got back. We explained our adventure as Sam hooked me up with some ice and put my foot up on pillows on the couch.
Sam whipped out his laptop as Sean told him about the epitaph on his mother's grave.
"It says Nemamiah is the angel of just causes, the protector and defender of the defenseless. Seems appropriate to me," Sam said.
"Why didn't anybody tell me?" Sean demanded.
"Dad told me to keep my mouth shut when we were here before, especially after your encounter with that William character and the note from your mom. He was afraid it would put you on overload. You and your mom and Elizabeth lived here before you were born and this is where Sarah gave birth and died. I'm not sure why Elizabeth left, but you do have a strong connection with this place."
"Maybe that's why she left; it was time to break the connection," I offered.
"That damn number three again. My mom was born on 3/3 she died when I was 3 minutes old she was the third family member to die here," Sean said.
"Who were the other two?" I questioned.
"Great, great something or others. They were killed during the Salem Witch Trials," Sean explained wearily.
"As witches?" I said in shock.
"Yes, they were hung, but I believe nobody was found to be a witch, it was just hysteria," he said back.
"Yeah, right. I'm sorry. Wow that is quite a claim to fame around here."
Sam was still typing away and reading his laptop results. "Here is information on the Archangel Michael; it means he who is as God. He gives courage to face truth and overcome obstacles and fears about the future. He wants us to become our true selves. His virtues are health and power, along with organization. He is known as the prince of light, the angel of protection, strength, truth and ruler of the sun. He represents body and spirit and brings rescue in the form of his sword. He is the angel of miracles," Sam read.
"Just stop for a second," Sean asked. I hadn't noticed this whole time that he was holding a knife a different one than he had at the cemetery, it had the letters SMW on it, was this sword perhaps? "On the grave stone it said S for spirit, E for earth, A for air and then the angel, no fire or water."
"Well there is no f or w in your name," Dean said.
"There is a w in Winchester," I pointed out.
"And Michael's element is fire," Sam stated.
"What does Michael have to do with anything?" I asked.
"It's my middle name, I was named after the Archangel Michael, and I guess my mom had her reasons for that too," Sean explained.
I cocked my head questioningly and he went on to explain his first name. "S is from Sam, ean is from Dean and it is a Celtic form of John. I'm named for the three men in my family, then Michael for the previous reasons."
"Wow, that is quite a moniker," I told him.
"So all the points are covered, S, E, A, F and W," Dean said.
"Hey, there is a W for Winchester but take the n of off Sean and you have sea, lots of water in the sea. What does it all mean?" I asked completely caught up in this mystery.
"I don't think we know," Sam answered.
The snow and then ice on my foot kept the swelling at a minimum and it wasn't too painful the next day. All the information I had spinning in my head from the night before was giving me a headache. Sean had turned out be a true adventure wrapped in mystery. I had asked about his earlier trip to the area but he didn't want to talk about it. He told me he had explained the vengeful spirit experience to his brothers and they would be around until the next burial. He seemed to close down around me and things had changed now that I knew his secrets. I finally cornered him in study hall one day.
"Hey, don't you like me anymore? I haven't told anyone about what happened. I'm sorry your life isn't normal, but you are something special. I felt safe with you in the cemetery and that was before I knew anything," I explained.
"You did?" he asked.
"Yeah, like when I was with you, I couldn't be harmed. I mean I ran with you and all and I was afraid, but it was like I knew that it would all be okay."
"My life story is long and complicated. I hate my life, then I feel bad that I hate it. I'm sorry I've been avoiding you. I'm just in a funk. Seeing my mother's grave hit me hard and then I was mad at my dad for not telling me of our past here."
"Where is your dad?"
"I have no idea."
It was nearly two weeks later when Mrs. Oberly died and was to be buried. Sean had warmed back up to me and things were back as they were.
"Are you guys going out tonight? What is it that you can do to stop the haunting?" I asked.
"We'll take care of it. We just need to salt and burn the bones. Sam thought it best to do it while the spirit was active, to be 100% sure." He told me and then finished with the explanation of the salt and burning.
I heard the Impala roar down the street that night and hopped on my bike. I pedaled my heart out while balancing the flowers I had bought earlier in the day. My scarf kept slipping and my face was freezing by the time I arrived at the graveyard. I left my bike and trudged towards Sarah Macgregor's stone. I was arranging the flowers when I looked up to see Sean standing there.
"I thought I might see you tonight," I told him.
"What are you doing here?" he said as he came around to my side.
"I wanted to put these here for your mom. I can do it again in your honor, like on your birthday. I wouldn't mind at all, really."
"That would be nice. I would like that…to know someone cared enough to remember her." He said as he sat down on the cold ground and reached out tracing the inscription on the grave marker.
"You are the greatest gift, you know that right?" I asked.
"Yeah, I figured as much."
"I'll leave you alone for a little while," I said as I walked away. I headed in the general direction of the voices of Sam and Dean.
They were already 4-5 feet down into the mayor's grave as I peered in to say hi. They were surprised to see me and told me it would be best if I waited in the car. I told him I was fine and I would check back in a bit.
I walked around and checked out some of the other historical graves and circled back around to see how Sean was doing. He was still sitting where I left him, holding a flower in one hand and holding his other hand against the stone. He wasn't crying, but looked distraught.
I headed back towards the guys and this time when I peered into the hole, Dean was breaking through the coffin. A stench that I had never before experienced nearly knocked me off my feet.
"That is awful!" I exclaimed.
I took a step back to get some fresh air when I was shoved into the open pit. I fell forward and Sam reached out trying to break my fall. Both looked shocked at my sudden arrival and then their faces registered alarm. Dirt began to fall on us from above, it wasn't much at first but then it really started to pile up. Sam was trying to protect me by standing over me and Dean was trying to pull his cell phone out. The dirt was really flying and I realized that this was where I was going to die, a slow horrible death. Dirt was in my mouth, in my eyes. Tears were streaming caking the dirt to my face. I was coughing and gagging, I just wanted it to be over. Then I thought of my mom that she would never know what happened to me. I would be lost forever. Then I remembered Sean, he couldn't save us but he would know where we were. My mom could have some closure. I mentally prepared myself for the inevitable when the dirt stopped pelting me. We were all coughing and I was too terrified to look up, but the dirt had definitely stopped falling.
"What the hell?" Dean inquired and Sam just shrugged his shoulders.
Then we heard an unknown voice.
"And what do you think you are going to do, little boy?"
"Save my brothers and my friend," we heard Sean respond.
"Oh and how do you think you can possibly stop me?" was the arrogant reply.
"I can and will stop you and it won't even be a problem," Sean snapped back.
We heard only silence and we were all too afraid to speak. It seemed like an eternity before we heard a deafening shriek. We were unsure what emotion to feel, we had no idea what the scene was above. I was shaking from fear, was Sean hurt, dead, was the dirt going to start falling again? We all stood in shock when we heard a whoosh and felt warmth and heard the crackle of flames.
Dean screamed out for his brother but there was no response from above. We were back in full panic mode when Sean's head popped over the edge and gave us the most beautiful smile I had ever seen. Dean looked down and saw that the bones that they were about to burn were already ashes.
Sam climbed out of the hole and he pulled while Dean pushed and I was up on solid ground again. I was trying to get the dirt out of my eyes and was spitting like a major leaguer to clear my mouth. There were no signs that there had been a fire only moments ago.
"What happened?" Dean demanded.
"I heard a yell so I headed this way and when I got here there was the entity just heaving dirt into the hole. I knew it was up to me to win the battle," Sean explained.
"How did you do it?" Sam asked.
"Dirt, I used his method."
"What?" we all said in unison.
"Dean, you remember when we were here a couple of years ago?" Dean nodded that he did. "I found the graves of my ancestors and for whatever reason, I was compelled to take some dirt from their gravesite."
"Oh yeah, I remember. You came unglued when dad found that dirt in your pocket and nearly threw it out," Dean said.
"Right, I had no idea why at the time, but I knew I had to keep it. Now, Amy you remember when I first found my mothers grave that I dug some dirt from in front of the headstone?" I nodded, the memory still very vivid in my mind. "Well, I mixed the three small piles of dirt together and had it in my pocket tonight," he finished.
"Okay, I love ya man, but what does that have to do with anything," Sam wondered aloud.
"I wasn't sure until I was standing next to the vengeful spirit. I needed to use his weapon which was also his weakness, dirt or earth. It was what killed him and what he killed with."
"But he caught fire?" I questioned.
"Dirt, you killed him with soil? How?" Dean demanded.
"I threw the dirt on him," Sean said.
"And what happened?" Sam asked.
"Nothing," Sean responded.
"So it didn't help?" Dean asked.
"It did, it had to have. I threw the dirt and nothing happened; I felt like there was more, but I didn't know what. The entity just laughed, teased me and that's when it happened."
"What happened?" we all asked breathlessly.
"I got mad and just placed that anger on him, gave the evil eye so to speak and then poof, the spots where the dirt hit him started to flame. Before I knew it he was an inferno." Sean finished. "I think the dirt was like the incendiary and I was the lighter both were needed to get the job done."
"Your name," I said.
"Enough with my name, already," he shot back.
"No listen, S for spirit, your spirit, the spirit of bravery or whatever, e for the earth that you used, a for air for fuel of oxygen and Michael's element of fire to extinguish the evil. Plus the number 3." I was really on a roll now. "The dirt from 3 different graves, to save 3 people," I said with pride.
Sean only looked at me and said, "You've been hanging around us for far too long."
We got cleaned up and in Sean's last days, we didn't mention our ordeal. After the last day of school I went next door one last time.
"I meant what I said about taking flowers to your mother's grave. You pick a day and I will be there," I promised.
"August, August 31, that's her day." He looked up with such emotion I was nearly in tears. "You know how they say time heals all wounds?" I nodded. "It's not true," he said as one tear slipped down his cheek.
I never saw Sean again, but he is always close to my heart and knowing that he out in the world protecting those who cannot protect themselves helps me sleep at night. Sean Michael Winchester, the world's greatest gift.
That is my story. You decide whether it is fact or fiction. Most would look at all the elements and quickly decide that it is fiction. But for any of you that have ever had the pleasure of meeting the Winchester brothers would have no doubt that the story is anything other than fact.