Chapter Six – Walker
SUMMER STREAM PARK was written across an old piece of wood. The park was mostly just a vast area of green grass and the woods were in the far back.
Yellow CAUTION tape was wrapped around several trees as Dean, Sam, and Amy ducked underneath them to get to the area.
In the center was a pile of wood – most likely used for a bonfire – dead and abandoned.
Amy bent down and touched the wood gently with her fingertips.
"This is where the other teens were…" Amy whispered slowly.
"Spidey sense?" Dean asked.
Amy nodded.
Dean, Sam and Amy continued along their walk. Dean carried a duffel bag around his shoulder while Sam was carefully carrying their father's journal underneath his arm.
It was already noon and freezing.
Sam took out a small map he had drawn on a piece of notebook paper.
The tall, young man looked into the woods and then pointed his body toward the right side of the woods.
"Okay…if we go straight this way…" He pointed "We should end up at that gazebo Philip talked about…"
"You sure you don't want to stay in the car?" Dean asked, more in a begging way.
Amy stuck her hands in her pockets and walked ahead of Dean and Sam.
The two followed her closely as they entered the woods.
O.O.O.O.O.
The smell of cold pine was actually refreshing. There were no birds chirping but a soft sound of icy leaves being crushed underneath their feet. The sun was out enough just to reveal light but not give off any type of warmth.
The trees around them were fifteen feet tall or higher. The ground didn't have much grass but mud and dead dirt.
Amy had her hands dug into her pockets as she carefully walked behind Dean and Sam.
Dean has his homemade EVP detector out. Amy watched as the device stayed on its single red light and it made no noise.
Sam was flipping through John's journal carefully as the three walked. So far nothing had come up about talking animals.
The three suddenly heard something in the distance – the small sound of a branch or a twig snapping.
Their heads all turned in different directions, trying to find where the sound had come from.
Amy let out a deep breath, the frosty breath visible in front of her like white smoke.
"Okay…" Amy breathed. "That wasn't creepy at all…"
"Well…" Dean murmured, looking at all directions and finding no movements within the trees. "Lets just keep moving."
"Philip said it's about a fifteen-twenty minute walk to the gazebo…" Sam said hopefully. "We'll be there soon."
They continued on the necessary path. Amy walked side by side with Sam, her arm draped around his – this helped Sam to read his dad's journal without worrying about falling and it helped Amy stay warm.
Dean continued to hold the EVP contraption in front of him.
Nothing. No noise and no blinking red lights.
O.O.O.O.O.
The three were now close together as they walked. The trees seemed to be closing in on them and the path had now grown narrower.
"There…" Sam whispered, trusting that feeling inside of him. They all looked in front of them and only saw a close group of trees several feet away.
Quickening their pace, the tree quickly trotted across leaves and branches before they came to the circle of trees.
The gazebo…
They had finally found it. Sam, Dean and Amy quickly came towards it but stopped short before reaching the steps.
Dean's EVP detector was slowly going off, three red lights were blinking and it made that crackle-type noise.
Amy stared at the white gazebo. It was a beautiful construction.
Her eyes slowly peered downward and she suddenly noticed the blood stains on the wood floor – the stains were also visible on the red carpet.
"Well, we're definitely picking up paranormal activity…" Dean noted, listening and seeing the effects of the EVP device.
"What does that mean? What do we do now?" Amy asked.
Sam stared at the gazebo oddly and then whispered to Amy, "Amy…touch it…maybe you'll pick up something…"
She took in a cold breath and walked forward. Her boots made a loud noise against the old wooden steps as she walked up.
Amy now stood in the center of the gazebo, her feet careful not to step over the blood stains.
Her hand reached up slowly to touch one of the wooden pillars. She balled her hand into a fist first, cracking her knuckles. Then, Amy's fingertips made a slow contact with the old wood…
Philip was on his back fighting with the animal. His hands were around the wolf's neck. He was yelling in pain and in warning for Lori to run away.
The wolf continued to tear into Philip's skin…
Her hand reacted back and Amy took a step back.
"What?" Sam asked.
Her lips were trembling and her hand was shaking.
"Amy?" Dean called her name loudly, hopefully trying to snap her out if it.
Amy closed her eyes for a moment and said, "I s-saw Philip's attack…it was…horrible…"
She turned to the guys and said, "I don't think anything's here…"
"Why?" Sam asked. "Dean's device is picking up on something-"
"Something that was here," Amy explained softly, "I saw the attack…I didn't see anything else…which means the source is not here…it's somewhere else…the cause of all this doesn't go along with the gazebo…it's more than that…"
"The wolf…" Dean whispered.
Amy nodded. "We have to find the source of the wolf. Touching the gazebo didn't give me anything…"
Sam stared around and then back at the gazebo. "I think we need to go see the Walker Manor…after all…this gazebo is on the property…"
"Okay, back to the car, we'll find an address of the relative," Dean sighed.
"Wait, isn't this usually one of the times where we break in without permission?" Sam asked.
"I already checked the place out online…security system…" Dean explained.
O.O.O.O.O.
Miranda Walker was a forty-year-old woman who lived in a neighborhood close by the Walker Manor. She was single and had a young child. Her profile was found with great difficulty online. The three found her information easily and located the address with a newly bought GPS system Dean had bought earlier in the month.
562 Edgewater Drive…
She lived in a grand Victorian home made of red and pink brick. It was an elegant establishment with a dozen windows on the front of the house and a chimney seen from the side of the home. The door was dark red and had a golden handle.
The black '69 Impala parked in front of the black and white mailbox reading the number: 562.
"She's the last known relative," Dean noted, turning the ignition off.
"So…what exactly are we saying?" Amy asked.
O.O.O.O.O.
"Hi, I'm Amy Winchester; I'm from an auction house in South Carolina. These are my partners and we were wondering if we could ask you some questions about the old Walker Manor," Amy smiled widely.
Miranda Walker was a very tall woman who didn't fit her age. She had curly, brunette hair that reached her shoulders. She wore a red sweater and beige pants. A cigarette was lit in her hands and she gave a warm smile to the visitors.
"C'mon in," she invited sweetly.
Dean and Sam followed Amy into the house as Miranda closed the door.
O.O.O.O.O.
"The manor has been in my family for many years…" Miranda explained as they sat in the green living room. She had old brown furniture and Amy and Sam took a seat while Dean leaned against the window.
The fireplace was lit and a grandfather clock was ticking quietly.
"So, South Carolina huh?" Miranda asked, taking another puff of the cigarette. "How'd you hear about the house?"
"Oh, we check the Internet from time to time, reading up on interesting establishments," Sam explained.
"Interesting, huh?" she blew out smoke easily. "Lemme guess…the whole Walker Wolf story, eh? Everyone loves that one…"
"Walker Wolf story?" Amy asked, her eyes meeting Dean's for a moment.
Miranda took a deep breath and exhaled more smoke. She leaned back in her cushioned arm chair and dropped the remaining cigarette in a nearby ashtray.
"Yeah, you've never heard that one? All of Wendy Falls is familiar with it."
"Guess we missed it…" Dean grinned.
"Well," Miranda explained, coughing slightly, "first…the Walker Manor was built in the 1920s…and during World War Two…my great great uncle or whatever, William Walker, was a soldier…he returned from Germany around 1936…apparently his eyes were exposed to chlorine and mustard gas…he suffered temporary blindness and was allowed to come back home…oh, he was a hero in the town…unfortunately, Billy (his nickname) Walker had never received news that his parents had died in a terrible automobile accident..
"He was absolutely hurt, of course. But…Billy inherited his father's house and all the money to go along with it. That year, Billy had a grand masquerade ball around Christmas time – December 23rd – not only a way to celebrate his return home but also to celebrate his engagement to Ana Maria Delacroix…he met her in France when he was first shipped off to war…anyway, Billy had Ana Maria sent to North Carolina and the two planned on getting married in the spring…but that night brought only pain…there was no celebrating…
"You see, Billy Walker had a soft side for animals…mostly, wolves…"
Sam and Dean exchanged a glance.
Miranda continued, "As a young teenager, he and his father had found these abandoned wolf pups by a nearby creek…Billy – not following his father's orders – brought the pups home and raised them. They were well trained and disciplined and never hurt a soul…
"Unfortunately…Billy didn't see it coming…the wolves were usually outside – chained – when guests were over…but one wolf somehow broke out of its leash and came in through an opened kitchen door. The animal ran into the main foray – where the party was taking place – and this wolf, can't you believe it, the first thing it did was attack poor Ana Maria…it tore her up before the men in the room got the animal off of her…Billy came into the foray with his shotgun…he shot the animal in the head right in front of the guests…well…Ana Maria died…my grandmother used to tell me how she always remembered how Billy held the dead woman in his arms…a week after Ana Maria died…dear William Walker killed himself…he hung himself in the attic…"
"That's a terrible story," Amy whispered sadly.
Miranda nodded sadly. She took a deep breath and said, "That was a story Wendy Falls would never forget. The whole Walker Wolf story is revolved around this legend the town created…every year…around Christmas time…a wolf is seen by the old Walker Manor…and that's basically the story…"
Dean sighed and stuck his hands into his pockets.
"Ms. Walker, if it's alright," Dean asked, "we'd like to check the place out. It would do very nicely for auction."
"Hmm, I'm not sure," Miranda whispered. "The house has been in my family for many years…the will of Billy Walker states that the house is to be left undisturbed…and since he was a World War Two veteran…I'm not sure if I want to sell it…"
"How about you think it over," Sam suggested. "If it's alright, we'd just like to look around. We understand that manor has a security system."
Miranda nodded. "People found the house very interesting and tried to sneak in. I can activate right here from my home…if you three would like to see it, you have my permission…"
Sam smiled warmly and nodded his head.
O.O.O.O.O.
"I still don't get it," Amy said as the three walked back to the car. "The guy shoots the wolf…hangs himself…is the wolf that attacked Philip the wolf that attacked Ana Maria-"
"Ghosts can come back, not dead animals…" Dean explained, taking his keys out.
"Okay…so…maybe it's Ana Maria," Sam guessed. "Spirits can come back in different forms. Maybe the wolf is a reincarnated form."
"Maybe…" Dean agreed. "Let's check out the manor. We'll see if the two of you can pick up anything and I have my handy dandy homemade EVP device."
Amy let out a cold breath and stared back at Miranda's house.
"Amy?" Sam asked as he and Dean were getting into the car.
"I feel like she left something out," Amy thought. "Of course if it's a story that's been in her family for years…you usually don't forget…but I think she left out a detail…"
"Whatever it is, if it's important, we'll come back and ask again," Dean offered. "C'mon, Miranda deactivated the security system for the rest of the day. For us. Let's get going."
O.O.O.O.O.
There was no need to go trailing through the woods again to find the manor. Miranda's directions led them on a narrow, desolated road with nothing in the surroundings except for more trees.
Amy sat in the back, staring out the window blankly.
Dean drove and Sam flipped through his father's journal for any type of information that would fit the case.
Sam leaned his head back and touched his chin as he thought.
Amy thought, "Maybe it's Ana Maria…maybe she's ticked off about the way she died…so she does it to others…"
"Maybe," Sam agreed. "But…something just doesn't feel right about it."
Sitting up, Amy took her laptop from underneath the seat.
"I'm going to check if there's ever been any other wolf attacks…" Amy noted.
She typed in WENDY FALLS – WOLF ATTACKS in the Search bar and waited patiently.
Dean turned along another windy road and sighed. "I hope it doesn't take long to get there."
"The Walkers did own a lot of land," Sam reminded.
"Find anything, Amy?" Dean asked.
"Hold on…" Amy scanned the search results on the computer screen.
Her eyes searched carefully for each link until she found one and clicked on it.
"Okay, here's one…" Amy said aloud to the guys. "There was a wolf attack in the sixties…an engaged couple…Martin Doud and Clara Fisher…wow…"
"What?" Sam asked, turning around slightly in his seat.
"Their car broke down on Olive Road…" Amy noted. "Isn't that the one we're on now?"
Dean answered, "Yeah."
"Well…their car broke down…and they waited for help…" Amy read the article further. "Apparently…Martin Doud was attacked by what seemed to be a vicious dog…later identified as a wolf…he suffered severe scarring and was in the hospital for three weeks…his eye was scratched out…"
"The males are being attacked…" Sam figured.
Amy saved the article in her Favorites documents and then moved on other articles.
Sam and Dean waited as Amy continued to click and type and find other results.
"'Kay, here's another one…" Amy narrowed her eyes at the screen. "Well, the males are being the ones attacked…in '91…another couple…well well…the articles say the couple was camping in the woods directly behind the Walker Manor…it used to be a part of Summer Stream Park…well…yyyyep…Alex Denver was attacked outside the cabin…loss of blood and his skin was clawed at by a wild animal…"
"So the guys are the only ones being attacked…but not killed…" Dean thought. "Why…why just attack them? If this is tied in with the whole Walker Wolf legend…and if it is Ana Maria…maybe she blames ol' Billy Walker for her death…but you'd think she'd be killing them."
"Right," Sam agreed.
Amy saved the article again.
"Amy, can I see the computer?" Sam asked.
She handed the contraption to the front and Sam took it.
"Well, we can save the research for later," Dean said.
"Why?" Amy asked.
"'Cause we're here…"
Sam and Amy both stared ahead.
They came onto a nicer road now, possibly an extended driveway.
The manor was incredibly elegant and had a dark beauty of its own.
The black car stopped in front of two sets of black gates.
It was three stories, not including the attic and basement, and was large enough to have an east and a west wing. It was made of dark, red brick and had two large cherry wood doors. The windows were white and the glass was slightly foggy.
Vines had grown along parts of the walls. There were shrubberies lining up all along the house.
"It's beautiful," Amy sighed.
Dean, leaning forward to see the house better, narrowed his eyes and said, "'Can't wait till we get inside."
He turned off the car's ignition and the three exited the vehicle.
Sam was the first to get to the gates and he pushed gently against the old black metal. The gates opened and there was no indication that an alarm was going off.
The three stopped to once again stare at the manor. If this place contained any type of evil, it did a wonderful job of masking it.
Dean, carrying a duffel bag by his side, was the first to step forward and make his way to the door. Sam and Amy followed closely.
As they continued to walk, the three did not notice they were being watched from afar.
O.O.O.O.O.
A/N: Well, obviously, the story will not be complete by Christmas. But it will be done before the New Year! Thanks for the reviews!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!