AN: A supernatural (and Supernatural) mystery is taking place in Arizona.
There is an OC in this story; she is also in Watering the Flowers and Uncanny Valley, but you don't have to read those before this one.
Takes place right after season 12, episode 5, The One You've Been Waiting For.
I cannot get PMs, so if you comment as the story is ongoing, I will respond at the end of the next chapter, right after I explain any references in the chapter that may not be common knowledge. I appreciate any and all comments!
I do not own Supernatural, its characters, or anything recognizable to it. I make no money from my fics. Bummer.
JaniceC678 betas and metaphorically holds my hand when I write, but I change things after her fixes, too, so all errors are my own fault.
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Barb had always been intuitive. And though practical, she was more open to the idea that there were other things out there than most.
She always had been, even before she'd had a few experiences that proved there were monsters and ghosts and who knows what else in the dark. Barb accepted this with her typical equanimity and moved on, living her life as if nothing had changed -- but keeping her eyes open.
Nothing on this trip had set off her ooky spooky radar, not even the rumors that a few of the people working in and around the new condo development where they were staying had been murdered. It had sounded like idle talk. Besides, they were on vacation.
It wasn't until Barb was walking to the nearest pool to their condo under the light of the stars (because it was too damn hot during the day even for swimming) and she heard screaming that she believed that something was wrong.
Some people ran away from screams or froze in panic, but she was never one of those. Barb dropped her (very cute and brand new) tote and did her best approximation of running toward the freestanding locker room cum bathhouse the scream had originated from.
Inside and down a short hallway, a young woman in a cleaning crew uniform was shaking and crying, and it wasn't hard to see why. The building had five sides and sections. In the very center was a large, round room surrounded by glass. A sliding window, similar to the kind you'd find at a ticket window, faced each direction.
An attendant was inside at all times, able to help you whether you came from the pool, locker room, sauna, hot tub, or exercise areas.
But the pretty blonde attendant would never help anyone again. She had brutal slashes across her face and torso, so violent that it seemed the entire "fishbowl" was splattered with her blood. Even the towels on the towel racks were splashed with bright red.
The screamer was babbling hysterically. It was hard to make out what she was saying, but the gist was that the dead woman's wounds were exactly the same as someone else's.
But perhaps most disturbing of all was that there was no sign that anyone else had been in the room, not one void in the blood, not one smear, not even where the door would have to slide across the floor for someone to exit.
"Shhh, shhhhh, I know, honey. Turn around and don't look any more," Barb used her most soothing tone, putting an arm around the shoulders of the trembling girl. "Now, you need to contact your supervisor. Have them call security and 911."
As shaken as she was by the horrific sight, Barb forced herself to look back at the murder scene and note the details. She shook her head sadly.
"Well, shit. Looks like it's time to call the Winchesters."