The next night the trio was back at the Hell House. They would've been long gone if it wasn't for the brothers picking up the news on their police scanner about another death/apparent suicide at the run down building.

"I guess the cops don't want anyone else screwing around in there", Sam remarked eyeing the police car parked outside with two officers hanging around it.

"Yeah but we still gotta get in there", Dean stated.

Lena heard whispers and frowned. Who on earth would by all the way out here, aside from themselves? She peeked out from their hiding place behind the bushes. "You've got to be kidding me", she complained "those idiots?"

Sam and Dean stood up a little to see the Hellhounds boys approaching the house, both wearing all sorts of gadgets, whispering and shh-ing each other.

"I got an idea", Dean said. He turned towards the two police officers and cups a hand to his mouth "Who ya gonna call!"

That was enough to startle Ed and Harry and get the attention of the two officers. The trio watched the police chase after the wannabe ghostbusters, quietly laughing to themselves.

Sam, Dean and Lena darted out from behind the bushes and hurried into the house. Once inside, Sam set down his duffle bag, took out a shotgun and handed to Dean. He also gave him a torch as well as giving one to Lena.

Dean turned his one on, pointing it at the strange question mark symbol "Where have I seen that before?" he asked "It's killing me!

"I'm sure it'll come to you", Lena assured him.

"Come on, we don't have much time", Sam said to them both, taking out a second shotgun from his bag.

The trio head down to the basement and look around, flashing their torches. The beam of Dean's torch landed on some dusty, cobwebby shelves where several jars sat. He went over to the shelves and picked up one of the jars. "Hey Sam. I dare you to take a swig of this", Dean said.

"What the hell would I do that for?" Sam asked.

"...I double dare you", Dean countered making Lena throw him a 'what the hell' look.

Sam just shakes his head, looking away. Dean grinned at his brother. Suddenly the three of them heard a noise which made the brothers and their friend stiffen. They move towards the cabinet and at Dean's nod, Sam opens the door. In the bottom of the cabinet were two rats. The rodents squeak and run from the torchlight.

"Argh, I hate rats", Dean grumbled, making a face.

"You and me both", Lena agreed.

"You'd rather it was a ghost?" Sam asked.

"Yes", Dean answered. Behind Lena, Mordechai appeared. She, Sam and Dean realise his presence at the same time and spun around to see the man raising an axe above his head. Dean grabbed Lena and pulled her away so Sam had a clear shot. He fired the shotgun at Mordechai twice but he didn't disappear. It took Dean shooting him as well for the man to vanish.

"What the hell kind of spirit is immune to rock salt?" Sam exclaimed.

"I dunno", Dean said "Come on!"

The three made a run for the stairs when Mordechai suddenly appeared, smashing his axe down, catching the shelves and bringing the jars crashing down on Dean and Lena. That left Sam to deal with Mordechai.

"Go! Get outta here!" he shouted to his brother and Lena as he grabbed hold of Mordechai's axe. Dean tugged the brunette to her feet and pulled her towards the stairs. Sam let go of the man's weapon and ran after his brother and friend.

They raced through the house and burst out of the front door. Due to their haste, they fell down the steps but thankfully they managed to get their feet quickly. "Get the hell out of here!" Lena shouted to Ed and Harry as they raced past them.

However, before Ed and Harry could move, Mordechai appeared at the doorway. "Sweet Lord..." Ed breathed.

"...of the rings", Harry finished "RUN! GO GO GO" they turn to flee...and run straight into the arms of the police officers.

Lena's eyes closed as the hot water rained down her body. As she'd been covered in mystery gloop from the jars at the Hell House, she headed straight for the shower in her motel room. She was going to take her sweet time making sure she got all the horrible stuff off of her.

~Sam and Dean's motel room~

Dean sat on the bed doodling the question mark symbol on a note pad while Sam sat at the desk doing research, flitting between a book and his laptop. "What the hell is this symbol?" Dean muttered, staring at it "It's buggin' the hell outta me. This whole damn job's buggin' me. I thought the legend said Mordechai only goes after chicks".

"It does", Sam confirmed.

"All right. Well I mean that explains why he went after you and Lena, but why me?" Dean asked.

"Hilarious", Sam said dryly "The legend also says he hung himself but did you see those slit wrists?"

"Yeah", Dean replied.

"What's up with that?" Sam asked, confused "And the axe too. I mean, ghosts are usually pretty strict, right? Following the same patterns over and over?"

"But this mook keeps changing", Dean pointed out.

"Exactly", Sam agreed "I'm telling ya, the way the story goes ..." he trailed off, seeing a new post was put on the Hellhound site "wait a minute".

"What?" Dean asked.

"Someone added a new post to the HellHound site. Listen to this", Sam said "'They say Mordechai Murdock was really a Satanist who chopped up his victims with an axe before slitting his own wrists. Now he's imprisoned in the house for eternity'" he read aloud. Dean suddenly sat straight up, staring at the symbol. He now knew where he'd seen it before. "Where the hell is this going?" Sam asked.

"I don't know", Dean replied "but I think I might have just figured out where it all started".

~Lena's motel room~

A now pj clad Lena, sat at the desk, looking at her small stack of books she'd brought with her. You'd think after the evening's excitement, her mind would be on Mordechai and not some 'tag' painted on the wall…but she couldn't get it out of her mind! She knew she'd seen it somewhere before. But where?

Lena took one of the books and started to look through it. Minutes ticked by as she paged through her volumes. She was about to take a break when she found the symbol.

Tulpas, also known as thoughtforms are frequently used in ceremonial or chaos magick.

A Tulpa is the given name to anything formed through the meditation (focusing) of an idea. The theory is that if you meditate hard enough on an idea, it will materialize. Tibetan monks practice this often, and teach it as part of their learning. Tulpa do not have to be live-creatures but can also be inanimate objects, animals, furniture, or creatures. There is a theory that the entire universe was made through Tulpa meditation.

A Tulpa is hard to define, as anything could possibly be a Tulpa. While the idea is still being focused on, the object or creature may change & morph into different forms as the idea itself changes. Tulpa can only be destroyed by eliminating the thought (if the Tulpa is not yet formed properly), or the diluting the concentration of the thought, then destroying the object or creature.

Lena sat back, taking in the information. It was interesting that particular symbol was painting on the wall of the Hell House. Then a crazy thought occurred to her. What if Mordechai wasn't a ghost but a Tulpa? It would explain why he didn't mist away when Sam shot him the first time. Plus Mordechai tried to attack her with an axe instead of trying to hang her.

A quick check on the Hellhounds site showed a new post about Mordechai being a Satanist and that he killed people with an axe. That just confirmed her thought on him being a Tulpa. Lena picked up her phone and dialled Sam.

"Hey Lena, what's up?" the younger Winchester said as he picked up.

"I think I know what Mordechai is", Lena said.

"That's great!" Sam said happily "can we stop by tomorrow morning to talk about it?"

"Of course", Lena said "how does 9 – 9.30 sound?"

"Sounds good to me. see you in the morning"

Around half 9 in the morning there was a knock at Lena's motel room door. She opened it to reveal Sam and Dean. "Hey guys", Lena greeted. She stepped back to allow the brothers in.

"Sam said you figured out what Mordechai is", Dean said.

"I did", Lena said. She went over to the desk, picked up a book and showed the pair the page on Tulpas.

"He's a Tulpa?" Dean asked raising his eyebrows.

"That actually would explain why he changed from hanging to using an axe", Sam said before he tried to discretely adjust his trousers.

"It would also explain why you could deter him with rock salt", Lena added.

"Because he's not a traditional spirit", Dean said.

"Yeah", Sam agreed, fidgeting on the spot. This time Lena noticed.

"You ok?" she asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine", Sam answered.

"So…if we get this sigil thingie off the wall and the website Mordechai will disappear", Dean guessed.

Lena shook her head "unfortunately its not that simple. Once Tulpas are created they take on a life of their own", she explained.

"Great", Dean grumbled "So if he really is a thought form how the hell are we supposed to kill an idea?"

"I don't know how you can 'kill' an idea but I do know it wont be an easy task. Especially with our wannabe ghost hunters 'helping'", Lena said "while I waited for you two, I checked the Hellhounds site to see if there was anything new" she went over to the desk again, brought up the site "they posted footage of last night" Lena moved aside so that Sam and Dean could take a look "because of this Mordechai has become more popular than he was a couple of days ago".

Dean looked at the video and an idea popped into his head. "I got an idea", he said "Come on". The older Winchester turned and walked towards the door.

"Where we going?" Sam asked.

"We gotta find a copy store", Dean answered. Lena powered down her laptop, pulled on her jacket and grabbed her purse. The trio then left the motel room.

"Man, I think I'm allergic to our soap or something", Sam remarked itching as he walked. Dean laughed and walked on ahead "You did this?" he asked. His brother continued laughing "You're a friggin jerk!" Sam exclaimed.

"Oh yeah", Dean agreed raising a fist into the air.

"You know what you have to say?" Dean asked Lena as he pulled into the trailer park where Ed and Harry lived.

"Yes Dean, I do", Lena answered "I hadn't forgotten since the last time you asked me two minutes ago". She got out of the Impala and walked towards the ghost hunter's trailer. The brunette knocked on the trailer door.

"Who is it?" Harry called.

"Its me. The pretty friend of the amateurs", Lena said. The door swung open.

"What brings you to our door uh…." Ed said trailing off as he didn't know her name.

"Lena", Lena supplied.

"What brings you to our door Lena?" Ed asked.

"Well, I have a favour to ask you fellas", Lena said.

"Oh really?" Harry asked, leaning against the door, folding his arms, trying to look cool but failing "what kind of favour?"

"I need you shut down your website", Lena answered.

"Sorry Lena but I'm afraid we can't do that, not even for you", Harry said.

"We have an obligation to our fans, to the truth", Ed added.

"The truth is going to put more people in danger", Lena countered "The more people go to the Hell House, the more likely someone will get hurt or worse…killed. Can you boys live with that?"

"She's got a point", Harry said "Maybe we should shut it down".

Ed shook his head "we can't shut it down", he said adamantly.

Lena sighed "that's a really shame because if you had agreed I would've told you the truth about Mordechai. Oh well" she turned and started to walk away when Harry called

"What's the truth about Mordechai?"

Lena turned back to the pair "it wasn't easy to dig up. I need your word you'll shut the site down", she said.

"Totally", Ed agreed.

"Ok" Lena took out the forged death certificate from her pocket and gave it to Harry "It's a death certificate. From the '30s. We got it at the library. Now according to the coroner, the actual cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound", she explained.

"He shot himself?" Ed said brows raised.

"Yep", Lena confirmed "With a .45 pistol. To this day they say he's terrified of them. In fact, I read that if you shoot him with special wrought-iron rounds, it'll kill him".

Harry spins and bolts back toward the trailer, Ed follows his friend more slowly. "Slow your roll buddy", Ed hissed to him "She's gonna know we're excited".

Lena watched them go with a smug smile on her face. They bought the story. It was only a matter of time before they posted it onto their website.

~café~

To kill some time, the trio stopped off at a café to grab a bit to eat. Dean reached up to the fisherman and pulled the cord. An annoying laugh sounded as the fisherman's mouth moved up and down.

Sam tugged on the cord to stop the noise "If you pull that string one more time I'm gonna kill you", he said.

With a deadpan look, Dean pulled the cord again. Sam immediately stops it, glaring at his brother. Lena just shook her head. At that moment she was glad that she was a single child.

"Come on man, you need more laughter in your life", Dean said "You know you're way too tense". Sam didn't say a word, just gave his brother another dirty look.

"Did they post that story yet?" Lena spoke up.

Sam turned his laptop around to show her and Dean the screen. "'We've learned from a reputable source that Mordechai Murdock has a fatal fear of firearms'", Lena read aloud.

"All right. How long do we wait?" Dean asked.

Sam slapped the lid of his laptop down "Long enough for the new story to spread, and the legend to change", he said "I figure by nightfall iron rounds will work on the sucker". He raised his bottle of beer to Dean and Lena. The older Winchester raised his own beer a tapped it against Sam's. Lena did the same with her own glass of water.

"Sweet", Dean said and took a long drink. Sam lifted his own bottle to his lips, barely suppressing a grin.

Lena didn't know what he was grinning about until Dean tried to put his beer bottle down but couldn't as it was stuck to his hand. Sam then started to crack up making his brother look at him. "You didn't", Dean said.

Still laughing, Sam held up a small tube of superglue "oh, I did!" he said.

Dean shakes his hand trying to get the bottle off his hand while Sam, pulls the string to set the fisherman laughing again. Lena shook her head with a smile of her own. These guys were something else weren't they?

Using the laughing fisherman as a distraction to draw the two policemen away from the Hell house so that the trio could get into it to deal with Mordechai. Lena held the torch tightly in her hand, flashing it around as she followed the brothers from room to room, Sam and Dean holding pistols.

"I barely have any skin left on my palm", Dean said snarky as he adjusted his grip on his weapon.

"I'm not touching that line with a ten foot pole", Sam muttered. They moved into the kitchen and over to the basement door.

"You think old Mordechai's home?" Lena asked.

"I don't know", Sam replied.

"Me either", Ed suddenly spoke up from behind the trio causing them to spin around, the brothers pointing their weapons at Ed and Harry.

"WHOA! WHOA!" the pair exclaimed.

"What are you trying to do, get yourself killed?" Sam demanded.

"We're just trying to get a book and movie deal, ok?" Ed said defensively. There was a sudden sound of knives being sharpened which brought Sam and Dean back on alert. They turned back to the door, Lena, Ed and Harry standing close behind them.

"Ah guys, you wanna ... you wanna open that door for us?" Ed asked.

"Why don't you?" Dean shot back without taking his eyes off the door. Before anyone could make a move, Mordechai bursts through the door, with his axe held high. Without hesitation, Sam and Dean empty their guns into the Tulpa. Mordechai wavers for a moment before he disappeared into a mist, almost like when the brothers shot him with rock salt.

"Does that mean it worked?" Lena asked.

"Most likely", Sam replied "Stay here". He walked out of the room with Dean to check the other rooms.

"Oh God. He's gone. He's gone", Ed breathed.

"Did you get him?" Harry asked.

"Yeah they got him", Ed answered.

"No, on camera, did you get him on camera", Harry corrected nodding to the device in Ed's hands.

"Ah, ah, I …" Ed said fumbling with the camera, trying to see if he did actually catch anything on film. Harry snatched it from him but before he could check, Mordechai suddenly appears, slams his axe through the camera, forcing Harry to the ground and disappears again.

Lena and Ed helped Harry up from the floor as Dean run in having heard the commotion. "Hey! Didn't you guys post that B.S. story Lena gave you?" he asked.

"Of course we did", Ed answered.

"But then our server crashed", Harry added as Sam appeared in a doorway, gun at the ready.

"Well that's bloody brilliant", Lena griped "we're in a house with weapons that do jack all towards Mordechai because you're server crashed".

"Sam, any ideas?" Dean asked and Sam shrugged.

"We are getting outta here", Harry said.

"Yeah", Ed agreed.

"Come on, Ed", Harry said grabbing hold of his friend. The pair ran past Dean into another room.

"Wait!" Lena called hurrying after them. She chased the pair to the front door only to find it was locked. The trio turn to see Mordechai appear.

"Jesus, Mary and Joseph", Harry muttered.

"The power of Christ compels you", Ed whimpered as Mordechai walked slowly towards them "the power of Christ compels you!" he said louder.

"He's not a demon, idiot", Lena all but snapped at him.

"HEY!" Sam shouted from behind Mordechai, gaining his attention "Come and get it you ugly son of a bitch". They fight it out before Mordechai pins Sam against the wall, axe across his throat. "Get out of here, now!" he shouted at Ed, Harry and Lena.

"We're out of here..." Ed said and he rushed past with Harry. Lena didn't run past, instead she struck Mordechai hard across the back with the torch she miraculously managed to keep hold of. She backed up when the Tulpa turned to her, releasing his grip on Sam.

"Dean!" Sam gasped rubbing his sore throat. The older Winchester appeared in the hallway holding a spray bottle.

"HEY!" he shouted, raising the bottle, lighting the gas and plume of fire appears. "Guys go!" he said to Sam and Lena. The pair hurry around Dean and out of the area. The older Winchester follows after them and together they ran through the house until they were safely outside.

"Mordechai can't leave the house, we can't kill him - We improvise" Dean holds up his lighter, flicks it to create a small flame and throws it back into the house.

"That's your solution? Burn the whole damn place to the ground?" Sam asked as the Hell house started to go up in flames.

"Well nobody will go in anymore", Dean answered "I mean look, Mordechai can't haunt a house if there's no house to haunt. It's fast and dirty but it works".

"But what if the legend changes again so that he can leave?" Lena questioned.

"Then we'll just have to come back", Dean replied.

"Kinda makes you wonder. Of all the thing we hunted, how many existed just cuz people believed in them", Sam remarked as they watched the place burn.

Sam, Dean and Lena watched the two wannabe ghost hunters drive off in their car stuffed full of their belongings, trailer towed to the back of the vehicle. Apparently some Hollywood producer called them about a potential 'movie' on the Hell House. Lena couldn't believe that any self-respecting person in the movie biz would be interested.

"I have a confession to make", Sam spoke up after a moment.

"What's that", Dean said.

"I, uh...I was the one that called them and told them I was a producer", Sam admitted.

Lena chuckled "I knew it had be a hoax. I mean they're nice guys an all but seriously? Who would really be interested".

Sam grinned "I know, right", he said.

"Yeah well I'm the one who put the dead fish in their back seat", Dean told them both. That had all three of them in fits of laughter.

When they finally managed to stop laughing, Sam took Lena to one side. "Lena I was wondering if you wanted to grab a drink with me like uh…now?" he asked.

"Sam…I can't. It's been a long day and I'm tired", Lena replied.

"Oh. Ok", Sam said trying not to let his disappointment show.

"But I would love to grab a drink with you sometime", Lena continued earning a glimmer of hope in the younger Winchester "next time you're down my way, stop by and we'll go out".

"Yeah, that sounds great", Sam said happily.