The Innkeeper

Chapter six

Sam quickly rolled his body away from the flame then watched as it snaked its way along the gasoline trail and knew soon the entire house would be burning. He also knew that the innkeeper's spirit was now also in the house and it wouldn't be easy to destroy. He began reciting the exorcism prayer in Latin as he reached for the cross. Just as he was about to touch it he was picked up and thrown violently against the wall. He screamed in pain as he felt his arm snap. Even in pain he kept repeating the prayer over and over and was once more picked up and thrown against the opposite wall his broken arm taking the force of the hit.

"Oh God!" He screamed as tears of pain burned his eyes.

The pain in his arm caused him to momentarily block out the burning in his leg as it landed in the gasoline fed fire. But soon it too became unbearable.

"Arrrgggghhhhh!" He threw his head back and screamed in agony as he began swatting at his leg to put out the fire.

He had just put out the fire on his leg when his head was snapped back by a hard blow to his face. He fought to stay conscious; knowing if he passed out, he was dead.

Marge's car

They were just turning down the back lane that led toward the house when Dean spotted his car parked in the clearing. A sharp little pain shot through his heart as he realized that Sam, even in his pain, had still protected his brother's prized possession.

Damn it Sammy you better be alright or I'll kill you he thought as they neared the house. Then he smelled it…smoke!

"Damn it Marge he already set it on fire!" Dean said as they pulled up. He jumped out of the car and looked around frantically for Sam. "Sam!" He shouted looking in all directions. "Sammy!"

Marge got out of the car and looked at the house which was slowly going up in flames. The flames had spread from the gasoline to the furniture and curtains. Soon the framework would go up.

"He's still in there Dean." She looked over at him fear on her face. "And it's trapped in there with him. He must have lured it out of the vortex then started the fire."

Dean ran toward the front door.

"Sam!" He tried to open it but could only open it so far before a force slammed it shut again. "Sammy!" He screamed as he tried to kick the door in.

"It's keeping you out. It can't leave, but it's determined to take Sam with it." Marge looked at Dean. "If you go in there it will try to kill you also."

"Marge is Sam still alive? Can you sense him?"

Marge shut her eyes for a few seconds then looked at the house.

"He's hurt but still alive. The innkeeper's spirit is slowly growing weaker but he is still much stronger then Sam.

"I got to get in there!"

The house

Sam knew he was dying. The smoke was getting thicker and making it hard to breathe as the innkeeper's spirit continued to beat him, throwing his body throughout the room. Bruises and blood covered his face. He looked up and winced in pain as he watched the spirit began to materialize in front of him. He knew it was only a matter of time, but he was at peace, at least he'd be taking the spirit with him and by doing that he'd be getting revenge on it for making him hurt his brother. He knew Dean was going to be pissed at him for trying this alone. Well one good thing he thought, he wouldn't be around for Dean to yell at. You take care of your self bro he thought to himself right before he shut his eyes and waited to die.

Outside

Dean threw himself against the door but it wouldn't budge. He could feel the panic building inside him as he watched the flames start to lick through the roof, Sam was going to burn to death if he was even still alive. He went over to Marge and led her away from the house.

"Stay here." He said, and then ran full force toward a window.

"Dean no!" Marge screamed realizing what he was going to do.

He ignored her, put his arms over his head and dived through the window. The smoke immediately began to choke him.

"Sam! Sam where are you!" He shouted. All ready it was hard to see in the thickening smoke. "Sam!" He tried to stand up but then cried out in pain. He reached down and touched his bandage. Even in the darkness he could tell it was saturated with blood. His wound had reopened. He didn't have time to worry about himself; his only concern was his brother. "Sam!"

Sam could hear someone calling him off in the distance. He fought his way back to consciousness. Then he heard it again.

"Dean?" Oh God no, what's he doing here? He weakly looked up at the Innkeeper who now stood in front of him fully materialized. Sam tried to push himself up but as he did he put pressure on his broken arm and screamed in pain.

"Sam!" Dean had heard the agonized scream and started crawling toward the sound. "Sammy!" He called as he crawled into the room his brother was in and could barely see him lying on the floor near the wall. He watched as the spirit picked Sam up and began choking him.

"Get away from him you bastard!" Dean screamed as he continued crawling forward. He knew he had to stay low to the ground to avoid passing out from the smoke. "Leave him alone!"

The spirit left go of Sam who crumbled to the ground. It then turned and looked at Dean.

"Dean …get out!" Sam gasped as he tried to catch his breath.

"Not without you!"

"He'll kill… both of us….Please…just get out of here."

Dean ignored Sam and continued crawling toward him. He was halfway there when he could see that the spirit had moved in front of him. He slowly looked up into its face.

TBC