Chapter 3
"What has got you so engrossed?" Dean asked his brother as he glanced over at Sam who had not looked up from his cell since they had left the motel.
"Did you know that mazes first appeared in 13th century medieval Europe? They were constructed out of hedges that had an intricate, complex, network of winding pathways with numerous dead-end alleys," Sam spouted off to his brother as he scanned through the information.
"Really bro? This early in the morning? How can you be this nerdy when the sun is barely up?" Dean expressed his disbelief, rolling his eyes at him.
"Labyrinths are the same as mazes but have no blind alleys. They even date back to the Egyptians in like 1900 BC, King Amenemhet III. He built one that had a thousand rooms and dozens of mazelike courtyards build in for security of the Pharoah. You know the most famous labyrinth in Greek mythology was where the minotaur was trapped," Sam rattled on ignoring Dean's jab.
"Enough already dude! You're going to put me to sleep over here," he complained. Dean reached to turn the radio up to drown out Sam talking.
"You asked!" Sam yelled above the music and mumbled a few choice words as he reached to lower the volume enough that it wasn't going to blow out his eardrums. Sam slouched in the passenger seat with a bitchy look on his face, pinching his lips into a thin line. He turned slightly to stare out the window and ignore his brother. He had forgotten how annoying his big brother could be at times.
When Impala needed gas, Dean pulled off the highway at a truck stop, deciding they might as well eat since they were stopping. He looked over at his brother who hadn't spoken to him since their little spat hours ago. Sam had plugged a headset into his cell and had been listening to something. He was ignoring Dean all together being in one of his annoying, pissy moods.
"Hey," Dean spoke to Sam, tapping his arm. "My Baby needs gas, and we might as well eat."
Sam jerked slightly because he was engrossed in listening to a podcast about serial killers in America. He pulled an earbud out and looked puzzled at Dean not sure what he said.
"Gas and food," Dean grunted pulling up to the pumps first to fill his Baby.
Sam didn't say anything as he got out and headed for the front doors of the truck stop. He went in, glancing around for the sign for the restrooms and headed that way first. Once he was done, Sam wandered into the restaurant part and found a suitable booth for them. He took a menu and was looking at it when Dean finally dropped into the seat across from him.
"Is this how it's going to be asshole?" Dean growled at him as his temper flared for a moment.
"Good morning gentleman, I'm Tracy and will be your waitress. What can I get for you to drink?" a perky young waitress asked giving her best smile as she let her eyes roam over the two sexy hunks. Her day just got brighter.
"Well Tracy," Dean spoke, giving her a lopsided grin. "How 'bout sweet tea."
"And for you sir?" she asked noting it on her pad. She batted her eyes at Sam who wasn't paying attention to the flirtation.
"Same for me and could I have a Cobb salad with Ranch dressing on the side, and the fresh fruit platter," Sam told her as he put away the menu.
"Okay, guess I should order too," Dean started giving the menu a quick once over. "I'll have a bacon double cheeseburger, steak fries, and a slice of pecan pie. Oh, and could you have the cook sauté some onions and put on the burger?"
"Sure thing," the waitress replied as she quickly wrote their order up. "I'll get this right in and bring you a basket of rolls and your drinks."
"Thanks sweetheart," Dean smiled at Tracy, making her blush slightly as she hurried away. He put the menu back and looked over at Sam to see he was back on his cell doing something. Dean glared at his brother for a moment and quickly changed his expression when the waitress came with their drinks and rolls.
Sam sipped his tea and snagged a roll from the basket to butter and cut off pieces that he proceeded to eat. He was slow and methodical, taking his time while Dean devoured two without slowing down. He grimaced to himself at his brother's table manner as he licked a finger covered in butter.
"What?" Dean asked when he saw the look Sam gave him.
Sam just rolled his eyes and huffed his distaste but didn't say anything to his brother. He wiped his mouth on a napkin and sipped on his tea. He couldn't stop himself from glancing around the room at the other customers checking for any threats. It was hard to turn off the training that had been drilled into him for years by their father and his brother.
It wasn't long before Tracy was back carrying a large tray that she sat on a stand so she could divide the food between the brothers. She paid extra attention to Dean and made sure he had everything he needed, with a hint there could be something more if he wanted it. Dean thanked her but knew they needed to focus on the case. Maybe they would come back this way and he'd look Tracy up. He began to eat thinking the food was good.
"Man, I'm stuffed," Dean complained as he pulled bills out and left them on the table. He picked up the bill and saw a phone number printed at the bottom, looked into the room for Tracy, and saw her waiting on another table. "Maybe next time," he mumbled before making his way through the tables toward the exit.
Sam picked up his to go tea and followed him out of the restaurant and to the Impala. He didn't bother offering to drive since he knew how Dean felt about that. If the drive had been longer, he would have offered but with stopping to eat and rest, he knew Dean was okay.
spn
The town of Minooka, Illinois was busy as the brothers made their way down the main street. Traffic was moving slowly, and Dean had a sour look on his face wishing the drivers would get out of his way. He was still in a foul mood because his brother was giving him the cold shoulder.
"We need to find a place to change before finding the sheriff department," Dean told Sam. "I'll stop at the first gas station or convenience store. 'Sure Dean, fine with me'," Dean mocked Sam, changing his voice to imitate him when he didn't say anything.
Sam threw a bitch face his way but finally broke his silence.
"It's fine," Sam replied in a snooty voice. "There's a gas station at the end of the block."
"I see it," Dean nodded as he glanced around at the other traffic and signaled his intentions, slowing down to turn into the parking lot. "I'll fill my Baby, you go on and change."
"Alright." Sam waited for Dean to stop and got out to meet him at the back of the car so he could get his suit from the trunk before heading inside to change.
After filling the Impala, Dean moved it to a parking spot and grabbed his bag from the trunk to head inside. He saw the sign for the restrooms and went toward the back to wait for Sam to finish so he could use the restroom.
When Sam unlocked the door and stepped out, he found Dean leaning against the wall waiting. He caught the keys that were tossed at him and continued to the Impala to wait on Dean. He adjusted his tie and put his jacket in the back as he settled in the passenger seat.
When Dean came out, he walked around the Impala and dropped his bag into the backseat before opening the driver's door to get in. He saw Sam had put the keys into the ignition and cranked the Impala, letting her roar to life before settling into loud growl. He pulled from the station and got back on the road to head for the sheriff department.
Sam didn't question him thinking he must have asked for directions before leaving the gas station. Twenty minutes later, Dean pulled the Impala into a visitor's parking space and killed the engine. He got out and slipped on his jacket and adjusted his tie. Dean closed his eyes for a moment taking a deep breath as he put himself into FBI mode before striding to the front doors of the building.
As their normal routine, Sam fell in beside his brother, knowing he would take the lead on the case. He never questioned it, nor felt jealous about it, that had been how it always was since they started hunting together. He fell into the routine automatically.
They approached the counter where a deputy sat typing and waited for him to finish.
"Can I help you?" the deputy asked giving the brothers a once over and knew they must be some type of feds.
"Agents Smith and Wesson, FBI," Dean told him holding out a fake badge as Sam did the same. "We'd like to see whoever is in charge of the recent murders you've had around here."
"The ones from the corn maze," Sam added since it had been over a week since the killings. He knew they had not solved the cases from the last reports he had found.
"That would be Sheriff Stone. Have a seat and I'll let him know you're waiting."
The brothers looked behind them and saw the plastic chairs against one wall and walked over to sit down and wait. After a few minutes, Dean pressed a hand to Sam's leg to stop it from bouncing up and down. He made sure the deputy wasn't watching as he nodded a slight no to him. Sam straightened up and planted both feet on the floor to keep from doing it again.
Both looked toward a door that opened behind the deputy and an older man stepped out dressed in a uniform. He eyed the brothers for a moment before stepping through a swinging half door to greet them.
"Hello gentlemen," Sheriff Stone spoke to them. "How can I help the FBI?"
"Sheriff, we were sent to help on the murders you had at the corn maze about a week ago," Dean started. "It's similar to a case we've been working and wanted to see if this is the same killer."
"Well, I don't know if it is, but whoever did the killings is long gone now. We've exhausted every lead and resources available to us and have come up empty."
"Mind if we check out what you do have?" Sam asked. "It might help with our case."
"Never say I didn't help the FBI," Stone said thinking it was better to cooperate than being an asshole, hoping to win some brownie points with the feds. He never knew when he might need the feds' help and could call in the favor.
"If we can get copies of your files and see the bodies would be an immense help," Dean told him.
"I'll have copies made and the bodies are still at the morgue at the hospital."
"Thank you."
"If you do find any additional clues will you let me know?" Stone asked.
"Of course, Sheriff. I'd be happy to."
"I'll have those files brought out to you and agents, good luck." Stone turned and left the way he came leaving the brothers to sit back down and wait for the files.
"Deputy, could you tell us where the hospital is located?" Dean asked him.
"If you go right out of the parking lot, go three miles and turn right you'll see it sitting off to the left."
"Thanks," Dean replied glancing at his watch to check the time. He wanted to see the bodies and go over the files before deciding their next move. The sheriff may be right, and the killer has moved on since no other bodies had been found recently.
They had to wait fifteen minutes before another deputy stepped into the room and offered them the file folders. They thanked him, said their goodbyes, and headed out to find the hospital.
spn
The morgue was no different to any of the others they had visited over the years. They were white, cold, and smelled of death, no matter how much cleaner and disinfectant were used. The bright lights hurt their eyes at first as they walked deeper into the main room looking for the coroner.
"May I help you?" a technician asked when he stepped from another room seeing them.
"We're with the FBI and need to see the bodies of the murder victims from the corn maze," Dean told him.
"The coroner is not here right now, I don't know…"
"You can call Sheriff Stone if you like," Sam offered. "He sent us over here."
"Well, in that case, I guess it will be okay," he relented. The tech walked over to the far wall where the body drawers were located and checked the names, pulling out four drawers. "You're going to really think this is strange, we sure did," he offered.
"Could we get a copy of the autopsy reports?" Sam asked so they could check the bodies privately.
"Okay, no problem." The tech went to do as requested leaving them alone.
Dean grabbed gloves and tossed a pair to Sam. They slipped them on and moved to the first body, pulling down the sheet to the waist.
"The guy didn't lie," Dean commented when he saw the shriveled body lying there. The skin was drawn tight to the bones, and it looked dried and withered. "What did this?"
"I don't know," Sam mumbled scanning the body. "It's like all the bodily fluids were drained out of him."
"What could do that?"
"Your guess is as good as mine."
"What's that on the side of his neck?" Dean questioned as he leaned closer to look at some type of birthmark or brand.
"It looks like a brand of some kind," Sam mumbled taking out his cell to snap several photos of it.
"Check the other bodies and see if they all have the mark."
Sam moved to look at another one, while Dean checked the third.
"I've got one here too," Dean told him.
"Me too. If we can find out what it signifies, maybe that'll tell us who the killer is."
"Let's hope so. I don't think we're going to get anything else from these bodies."
"Agree, we know they were murdered by the same killer."
"Now all we have to do is figure out where the killer is now."
"Here you go, those reports you wanted," the tech told them holding out a file.
"Thanks for your help."
The brothers shook his hand and headed back out into the sunlight and warmth of the day. Dean shook his body as he acclimated to the difference in temperature. Now to decide their next move.
A/N: The brothers have the research and know what they are hunting for. Now, they have to find the demigod and stop him from taking any more sacrifices. Neither brother knows what to expect or how hard it will be. There is going to be a major twist coming that leaves one brother injured and the other frantically searching for a cure. Thank you for coming on this journey. I will be posting new chapters on Wednesday and Sundays. Reviews/Comments would be great. NC
