Chapter Fourteen
SOS
Sam felt the throbbing pain in his back and head when his eyes slowly opened. The apartment seemed foggy to him. He gritted his teeth as Sam was trying to fully wake up. There was so much pain in his head and back, Sam wasn't sure if he'd ever be able to get up.
Amy…
He groaned as Sam slowly tried to use his arms to push himself off the carpet. Sam had apparently fallen on his stomach.
There was a stinging pain on the side of his temple – Sam knew he had been wounded – drops of blood slowly crawled down the side of Sam's face.
"Dean…" Sam grumbled weakly. Falling into the street had been bad. This was so much worse.
"Dean…" Sam moaned again. The younger sibling was finally on his knees. He turned slowly – movement made his heard hurt even more.
He moved across the floor and came to Dean's side. His brother was on his back, his arm over his chest with the other sprawled out beside him.
Sam gently tapped the side of Dean's head. "Dean…" Sam tried again. He continued to tab his brother's head and shoulder.
His hazel eyes slowly fluttered opened. Dean felt a rush of pain in his back too. "Gah…" Dean moaned painfully. "Dammit…"
Sam helped his brother sit up and Dean rubbed his sore neck.
"Dean, Amy's gone…" Sam informed sadly.
Dean, more alert now, met his brother's worried gaze. He forced himself up and Sam helped him. The two young men wobbled at first, adjusting to consciousness, and as Sam went to go check on Michael, Dean weakly ran across the apartment and out the door.
O.O.O.O.O.
In the main hallway of the top floor, Dean ran to the window that showed the parking lot. He weakly grabbed hold of the windowsill and studied the parking lot.
The white mini cooper was gone.
O.O.O.O.O.
Michael sat up slowly with Sam's help. The doctor touched the back of his head and groaned.
"Amy…" Michael breathed slowly. He took exhaled and muttered again, "Amy…"
"She's gone…" Sam said dryly.
Dean rushed back inside the apartment.
"She took Amy…her car too…" Dean gave the details.
Sam looked up and his nose flared. "How are we going to find her? We have to get her back…Natiskawa is going to kill her."
Michael, looked at each brother, and quickly got to his feet.
Dean looked at Michael and snapped, "You believe now?"
There was a melancholy expression on his face. Michael knew it was all real now. It was so unbelievable. He kept silent and Michael looked down at the carpet sadly.
"It's almost ten-thirty…" Sam gestured. "I don't know how much time we have – we don't know where to look…"
There was a silent buzz. Michael and the others heard it. Reaching into his pocket, Michael pulled out his vibrating cell phone.
"It's the hospital…" Michael whispered. He answered. "Hello…I'm sorry yes…wait-what…HOW!" Michael boomed into the cell phone. "How many…eight…oh my God…okay…thank you…"
He quickly hung up and Michael turned to the brothers. "Eight children were taken from the cancer ward earlier this evening."
O.O.O.O.O.
Chlorine. The smell, including blood, crawled into her nose in the harshest way. Her face was sore. Amy's cheek had apparently been stuck to the ground for hours.
Her wrists were bound. She felt the tight, thin rope wrapped around her hands, wrists, and ankles. Her head hurt so much. Her back and side too.
Amy gulped down the dry air and tried to open her eyes.
It was dark, but there was some light for her to see. Amy rolled to her painless side and saw that a few inches away from her was a swimming pool.
Her eyes gazed more around her scenery. There were two pools. The stadium-sized place had a gym enclosed in a glass room at the end of the natatorium.
She painfully rolled onto her back and took in a deep breath. Her bound wrists went up to her head and Amy felt and touched blood across her forehead.
Her mouth could taste the chlorine. It was sickening. Amy could see that one of the pools had a pale green diving board.
She turned to her side again. The pool was obviously closed. The only light came in through the bottom of the two pools. Amy's eyes slowly gazed at the clear blue water. The surface was completely flat and untouched.
There was a noise. A small, quiet cry. Amy rolled onto her side again and arched her head to the second pool that was several feet away from her.
In the aisle between the two pools, Amy found a group of children huddled and tied together with the same type of white rope that contained Amy.
The eight children were all wearing the same type of white nightgowns. Amy finally recognized them as hospital attire. Most of them were girls – there were three boys. Half of the children were bald while the others just had short hair. The girls and boys kept close together. They couldn't be older than nine. The children were crying and sobbing. Amy came to the conclusion the children had been patients at the hospital – children with cancer.
"They shall make a great feast once I have come back to full power," a voice harshly spoke.
Amy turned her head and saw Natiskawa standing above her.
The man was smiling down at her, the entire front of his shirt was stained in blood.
"They're sick…" Amy begged. Her voice cracked. "Let them go…"
Natiskawa smiled. "They may be sick…but they're pure…they're young…after they witness my return…they shall suffice my hunger for life. And this way is better…they are dying anyway…"
"Zoë…Carolina…what about the others!" Amy screamed. "They didn't deserve to die…these children don't deserve the same fate…"
The bloodied body bent down toward Amy. She tried to move away but found she was in too much pain to back away.
Natiskawa placed a hand on Amy's forehead and stroked her hair. "I can not complete myself until the day changes...at midnight…I shall reign in this world and come down on it like rain."
Amy's nose flared in anger.
Just smiling, Natiskawa responded, "Too bad you won't be around to see it."
O.O.O.O.O
Michael had a First-Aid kit out. He attached a white, square bandage on the side of Sam's head. The bandage was hidden away by Sam's shaggy hair once it was finished.
"Thanks," Sam muttered.
He turned to Dean who was sitting on the couch with his face in his hands.
"Dean, are you hurt at all?" Michael asked weakly.
Dean looked up and shook his head. "We have to find her…I just don't know how…"
Michael turned to Sam and asked, "Can't you find her…with your mind or…power?"
Sam didn't respond. Instead, he leaned his head back on the couch and closed his eyes.
He looked at the two of them and Michael tried, "We have to contact the police…"
"So what…" Dean snapped sarcastically. "They can come…we can tell them Amy was just randomly kidnapped…they'll find it odd when they find out we were the ones who brought in Zoë Brooks' body earlier today…and how are they going to find her in time…huh?"
"He…well, she…she took Amy's car!" Michael shouted back. "This, Natiskawa or whoever, we can give the license place ID to the authorities-"
"And when they find her…it'll be too late…" Dean muttered.
"Dean," Sam pleaded. "We can't just sit around; we have to do something…"
"Like what!" Dean shouted angrily. He slammed his fist on the black center table.
"Natiskawa has Amy…and the children…and for all we know she's performing her coming-back-to-life party right now…"
Sam got up from the couch and left the living room. He went into the hallway and Dean heard Sam go into the guestroom.
Minutes later, Sam came back into the living room with a photo in his hand.
He sat down in the large, cushion chair. Sam stared down at the picture and showed it to Dean.
The image showed Sam and Jessica. Sam was wearing a brown hoodie and Jessica wore a long, pink trench coat. The young woman was on Sam's back and her legs dangled around his waist. The young couple was smiling.
Sam looked down at the picture and rubbed the image with his thumb.
"Please Jessica…" Sam begged softly. "Help us."
Sam closed his eyes and brought the picture to his lips.
Sam tried to picture Amy. He remembered first seeing her in her class – wearing the black skirt and pinkish-red dress shirt. He imagined her hair and the color of her eyes. Her smile. Her voice.
"Please baby…Jessica…help us…" Sam pleaded again. He focused hard on Amy. His hand was trembling as he held the photo close to his lips.
Dean watched his brother sadly and felt a pang of agony in his heart. He couldn't help but look at Michael…his lips were trembling but he was trying to stop it.
We lost our mom. Sam lost his girl. And now we're about to lose a friend…and Michael is about to lose his girl too…Dean thought sadly. Jessica…please…help us…
Dean suddenly felt angry with his father. Why couldn't you warn us…why couldn't you warn Amy…Amy was the "key" you left behind, wasn't she Dad?
O.O.O.O.O.
Dean…Sam…Michael…
Amy could see a small black-and-white clock against the greenish-brick walls.
Eleven-ten…
The children's sobs were agonizing. She wanted to get up and help but her body was still in so much pain. She started to remember when her body was brought to the pool…Natiskawa had dropped by the side of the pool…she had woken up at the new pain…and then the wind came down at her and Amy was knocked unconscious again.
So much pain.
And I'm going to die…and these children…
O.O.O.O.O.
Sam was still in the praying-position. He continued to grip the photo tight in his hands.
Dean was out on the balcony with Michael.
Both men were looking into the night. They knew it would be about fifty minutes until the new day came…and Amy might not live to see it.
She has to be alive…Dean thought. Sam would know if she was dead…and he hasn't gotten a vision or anything of her death…Amy has to be alive…
Michael had his hands gripped on the metal banister.
"She's alive…I know it…Amy's a fighter…" Michael thought hopefully.
Dean nodded and said, "She can kick major ass. Of course she's alive. Sam will get something soon and we'll find out where she is. And we'll find her, save her, and destroy that Egyptian princess-bitch."
Michael nodded and he turned sadly to Dean.
"Amy told me you two were best friends in high school…you avoided a real future for all this…?" Michael asked.
Dean shook his head. "This is my future. It was my past…present…and it is my future. There are things in this world that shouldn't exist…and my family is the one protecting people from those things."
Michael slowly nodded. "Will Amy be different after all this is over…"
He didn't look at the doctor. Dean kept his gaze up at the sky and stars.
"Let's focus on saving Amy first."
O.O.O.O.O.
Eleven-thirty…
Strength. She felt it coming back to her. Amy tried not to show her joy that her legs and arms were now properly functioning.
Amy's head turned when she heard the squeals of the children.
Natiskawa was near the children. They were screaming at the sight of the bloody shirt.
"Get away from them!" Amy screamed. Natiskawa didn't turn around. "You pathetic little bitch! Get away from them NOW! I swear to God, if you hurt them-"
The wind pushed Amy across the floor and she hit the bottom of the bleachers that were set up against the wall.
The contact with the metal bleachers didn't help matters.
"Oooh," Amy crooned weakly, feeling the pain in her back grow. "You have your stupid, spooky wind doing all the work for you? Wow, that's pathetic…even when you're in a man's body…you're still shit!"
She rarely cursed. She barely ever used words like that. But it was catching the attention of Natiskawa fast.
Amy smiled weakly when she saw Natiskawa turned and looked at her angrily.
"You were shit then…" Amy shouted loud enough for her to hear. "And you're still shit now."
The wind came back again. Amy felt her body rise from the wet floor and Amy flew across to the side of the pool. She didn't land in the cold water but right by the pool's edge.
"Aghhh," Amy cried out painfully, feeling pain growing in her arm now.
Natiskawa smiled.
O.O.O.O.O.
Sam still had his eyes closed when Dean and Michael came back into the apartment. Dean closed the glass balcony doors.
Michael came to Sam's side and asked desperately, "Have you found anything yet?"
He opened his eyes slowly and shook his head. "I'm sorry," Sam whispered. "I'm not getting anything."
Sam dropped the photo on the table and stood up.
The men stood in a triangular shape and stared at one another.
"It's eleven-thirty…at midnight…we'll contact the authorities…maybe then it won't be too late…" Dean offered.
O.O.O.O.O.
Sam was in the bathroom with the door opened just a few centimeters. He splashed water against his face and cheeks.
His head hung low in the sink.
Amy, geez, please be okay…
Sam looked into the mirror and stared at his dismayed reflection. He had this power…why couldn't he use it?
The water was running slowly against his hands. Sam looked down and splashed more water into his face.
He turned the water off and kept his head down as he reached for the towel beside him. Sam cleaned his face quickly and straightened his posture in front of the mirror.
His mouth dropped.
Behind him, standing in front of the tub, Sam saw the reflection of Jessica.
He turned wildly around and found no one was in the bathroom with him.
Sam turned back to the bathroom mirror.
"Jessica…" Sam whispered.
She didn't look like the ghostly figure he saw in his dreams. Jessica was standing there, being beautiful, looking alive…
"Sam…" her ghostly voice echoed.
"Jessica, please help…we have to find Amy…" Sam pleaded.
Jessica placed her hand on Sam's shoulder. Sam looked down but saw no hand there. He felt no hand there. His eyes went back to the mirror.
She smiled wonderfully at him. "Sam…" she whispered. "Go to the Evanston Natatorium."
O.O.O.O.O.
Natiskawa was dragging Amy across the wet floor of the pool area by her bound wrists. Amy grunted in the pain through her arms.
Her boots' heels were scraping across the floor.
Amy's body dropped in the aisle in-between the two pools. She could see the children were more terrified now.
O.O.O.O.O.
Dean, Sam, and Michael were in the guestroom quickly taking weapons with them. Dean and Sam held onto their handguns while Michael carefully held onto a shotgun.
"Let's go," Sam ordered.
O.O.O.O.O.
The three young men ran down the many steps of the apartment and finally came out in the parking lot. Dean jumped in the driver seat and Sam got into the front. Michael followed and quickly jumped into the back seat.
The black Impala took off out of the parking lot and into the main road.
O.O.O.O.O.
The two poles that stuck out at the two pools' corners had rope tied to them that was now bound to Amy's wrists and ankles.
There was no way she could move around now.
Eleven-forty-five…
"LET ME GO!" Amy screamed.
Natiskawa was standing by the pool. She reached into the pockets of the black dress pants and instead of pulling out the small Swiss army knife, Natiskawa pulled out a large kitchen knife.
O.O.O.O.O.
Dean sped into the parking lot of the Evanston Natatorium.
The three young men got out of the car and quickly ran to the front entrance.
The glass doors were locked.
"We need to find another way in…we break the glass…an alarm might go off…" Sam informed quickly.
Michael tapped Sam's arm and pointed the end of the shotgun at what he was looking at.
The side door of the pool was opened a crack.
O.O.O.O.O.
"My dear Magi…" Natiskawa whispered gently. She was advancing on Amy slowly.
"You gave me the chance to live again…your spirits have protected me for so long…" she said slowly. "Seven have died…they have given me power and life…and now with the final one…blood shall spill and I shall be flesh and blood once more…"
She turned to the children. Natiskawa continued, "May these young lives witness the power within…"
Natiskawa was now right beside Amy's body.
She flinched at the sight of the clean blade and Amy started to scream. "God! HELP ME! SOMEONE HELP!"
She held the blade in the air with both hands. Natiskawa smiled down at Amy and muttered, "Anhuh taka setwi ronya giy dalynubis…"
"NO!" Amy screamed as she saw Natiskawa ready herself to plunge the blade into Amy's stomach.
There was a loud boom! and Amy shielded her eyes as Natiskawa's body was suddenly flying back and it fell into the second pool.
Amy turned her heard and cried out, "HEY! SOS! SOS!"
Michael, holding the shotgun tight in his grip, took in a deep breath after taking the shot at Natiskawa.
Dean, Sam and Michael came to Amy's side and quickly started to untie her.
"Are you okay?" Dean asked worriedly.
Amy nodded and said, "Sort of. Is she dead?"
Sam turned to the pool…the top part of the water's surface was red.
"Hopefully…let's move fast…" Sam inquired.
Dean took a small knife from the inside of his jacket and started to cut at the rope around Amy's wrists and ankles.
"Good to see you guys are okay…" Amy sighed happily. She was so happy to see the three young men at her aid…but there was no time to show her excitement.
Dean cocked his head and said, "A couple of bruises and scratches."
"LOOK!" Michael shouted.
The four looked and saw Natiskawa's bloody body crawling up the side of the pool.
Sam took out the gun from his inside pocket and pointed it at Natiskawa.
Suddenly, Sam's gun…Dean's gun…and Michael's shot gun were ripped from their hand by the evil wind.
"Well that's not good…" Dean muttered.
Natiskawa, the man's body drenched in blood, stared angrily at the four people.
The children were screaming and crying.
Michael took the initiative and ran toward the children.
Natiskawa simply waved her hand and suddenly Michael slipped while running to the children. The loud crack was the sound of Michael's knee snapping in the wrong place.
"Michael!" Amy cried out worriedly.
Amy, now untied, got up with Dean and Sam.
Michael, groaning in pain, used his arms to pull himself to the children.
"It's okay…" he muttered to them, his hand clutching his broken knee. "It's okay…"
Some of the children began to cling to the doctor.
Something began to happen…
The man's body started to have what looked like a seizure while standing up.
Dean and Sam looked oddly at what was happening while Amy narrowed her eyes.
The man's body, after having its episode, fell limp to the floor.
It would have been amazing to think that Natiskawa was dead, but instead Dean, Sam and Amy looked at the transparent figure standing next to the dead body.
The woman wore brownish rags across her lower body like a skirt; she had the same material draped across her shoulders and over her breasts. She had dark, tanned skin and small brown eyes. The woman had thick, black hair that reached down to her back.
They stared at the ghost of the Egyptian princess.
"We're not done…" she whispered, her voice echoing throughout the building. "You destroyed my vessel…I shall return the favor…"
Amy stuck her hand into her pocket and felt the artifact at her fingertips.
"Now I am just spirit. All I have to do is kill the girl and I shall live again…you can't kill someone who is already dead…" Natiskawa hissed.
Amy pulled the artifact out of her pocket and kept the folded piece of papyrus tight in her grip. She understood now…
"You're worthless…" Amy whispered.
"Amy…" Dean and Sam warned.
Amy took a step forward, standing in front of the guys.
"You weren't loved when you were alive…the people of the twenty-first century are going to hate you like you were hated back then…you're absolutely nothing…"
"Amy…" Sam warned again.
Natiskawa, her ghostly figure grinned, waved her see-through hand and Dean and Sam flew backward and landed on their backs.
"KILL ME!" Amy screamed. "You stupid hag! No wonder the pharaoh denied you so much. You're as pretty as the wicked witch of the west…and obviously you lack the intelligence to live in our world…"
"Amy!" Dean cried out.
Amy's body was now lifted into the air like a rocket. Her body flew all the way to the ceiling, and to Sam and Dean's horror, watched as her small body hit the metal ceiling hard.
"AMY!" Dean shouted. "NO!"
The image was frightening. The children were screaming and crying. Michael was staring at the ceiling horrified. Sam's eyes were watering – no words or yells could escape his dry mouth.
Amy's body came back down.
"AMY!" Dean shouted again. "NO!"
Her body fell onto the wet floor.
Dean and Sam scrambled across the floor and went to Amy.
No no no no no no no…Dean thought as he held Amy's limp body in his arms. He cradled her like a child and rested his hand underneath her neck and head.
Her beautiful brown eyes were wide opened. Sam took Amy's hand and found the artifact still in her grip.
No no no no no…she's just knocked out…she'll be okay…Sam thought.
"AMY!" Dean screamed wildly. "Come back please…"
"Amy…" Sam whispered. "Christ…no…"
Dean continued to hold onto Amy's lifeless body. Sam clutched to her arm and he put her hand into his.
"Amy…" Sam repeated. His voice was sore and hoarse. "Amy…no…"
"Amy…" Dean begged. Come back…come back…dammit come back! "Amy…" Dean repeated. "Amy…Amy…Amy…"
O.O.O.O.O.
A/N: two chapters left