Chapter 4
Long, agonizing minutes passed until Tyler struck a match and shone it around the clearing. There wasn't much to see in the little light the swaying flame provided. Dean could just make out the woods surrounding him with dark shadowy trees and faint rustling of the branches in the breeze. The forest was filled with various creaks coming from tree tops bending in the wind, but nothing else.
A trail drifted through the forest and led to an unseen area, shrouded by dark. As he surveyed the grounds, he realized that he was actually standing on the twisting path. Grey shadows slithered across his forehead and fell over his eyes to merge with the surrounding dark. It gave him an oddly malicious appearance as his hazel eyes flashed from within the depths of the shadows.
On the ground, next to Sam, Gray gave a shuddering breath and grabbed the young man's attention. Sam placed timid fingers to the man's neck and sighed in relief when he felt the pulse beating steadily beneath his touch.
"Is he…" Tyler's voice trailed as his eyes wandered to rest on the man.
"He's fine." Sam replied.
The match went out and Tyler cursed as the flame had singed his fingertips.
Dean grabbed a handful of grass from the side of the trail and a few nearby sticks. He walked carefully to the dark figures of the others. He knelt and set the objects down.
"Give me a match." Dean spoke.
A matchbook was placed cautiously in his hand. He fumbled inside, with only the moonlight to guide him and struck one of the tiny wooden sticks. It ignited in flame and lit up the grounds again. Dean hovered the flaming match above the haphazard fire pit he'd created and waited for it to catch the heat.
Moments later a small fire began and orange light fled from it to brighten the area. Dean quickly got up and gathered a few more sticks to add to the hungry flame until the fire built up tolerance to the breeze. The dancing light ghosted across the faces of those who had gathered around.
Sam had lifted Gray's head to rest on his thigh and gently moved closer to the fire to keep the older man warm. He cast anxious eyes into the brush surrounding the trail and chewed on his lower lip thoughtfully. The wind whispered through the air and passed chilled fingers across each man's cheek.
A flash of movement glimmered in the trail ahead and Dean's eyes instantly went to it. A dark, shapeless form was moving softly and silently toward them, slithering through the night and drifting flawlessly over pebbles and slight hills. Dean's heart picked up pace as his eyes remained locked on the approaching figure.
A cold exhale of air struck Dean's face and made his eyes water. He blinked, and when he opened his eyes again, the figure was gone. He turned his head from left to right in search of the thing, but saw nothing. He turned around and his eyes swept across the fire and three men, two of whom were watching Dean curiously. Sam's face was pale, and Dean knew that he knew. Sam nodded stiffly when Dean's gaze rested on him.
Cold, hard fingers touched the back of Dean's neck and traveled around until they rested beneath his chin. He shuddered as goosebumps began to break out in patches all over his body. His eyes searched the empty area in front of him, but found nothing. The fingers vanished and Dean felt a whispering breath linger on his cheek, coating his chilled skin in a sick and uncomfortable layer. He shook himself to banish the feeling and saw Sam's eyes boring deep into him.
"It's here, isn't it?" Tyler asked uncertainly.
"It is, move closer to the fire." Dean instructed and began to create a protective circle around the men inside.
"What are you doing?" Tyler asked.
"Protection. Stay inside it." Dean instructed. Tyler only nodded anxiously.
Footsteps ran up the trail toward them and Dean turned, aiming his weapon at the noise. Ron's breathless form stepped into the firelight and his eyes widened when he saw the gun Dean had pointed at him.
"It's only me!" Ron spoke eagerly.
A shapeless form hovered maliciously behind the man and Dean's eyes widened. He lunged toward Ron and roughly shoved him out of the way when the dark shape raised an arm. Dean felt a chill slice through him as he just missed the arm himself. He fell in a heap on the ground and watched Tyler reach outside of the circle and pull Ron in just as he was getting to his feet.
Dean rolled to his back and saw the shadow floating above him. Pinpoints of green glittered in the firelight and drilled into the core of Dean's very soul. He slammed his eyes shut against them and rolled, hoping he'd be able to make it behind the protective ring.
When he opened his eyes again, he saw the shapeless shadow a slight distance away, drifting back and forth anxiously. Dean breathed in relief and clambered to his feet.
The shadow screamed out the song of the Whooper and it rang painfully in all ears that listened. Dean grimaced and brought his hands up to cover his ailing ears and watched the shadow through squinted eyes. The shape vanished and the forest was once again plunged into a deadly silence.
"What the hell was that?" Ron asked.
"Ron, meet the Whooper. It looks like he does exist after all." Dean said simply, his eyes still locked on the empty spot where the thing had been.
Ron was stunned into silence and cast wide, dark eyes around the small area that was protected.
"Did you find help?" Tyler asked. His voice was shaken, but not hysterical.
"Yeah, an old pick up truck. He was a bit nervous at the sight of the rifle in my hands, but said he'd get help as soon as possible."
"He didn't come in?" Tyler questioned.
"No, he refused, said he wasn't stupid enough to wander Whooper Woods at night." Ron replied.
"Smart man." Dean muttered.
"How long do you think it'll take to get help in here?" Sam wondered.
"A while. Like I said, it's a couple hours drive back to town, and that's when you're speeding. After that, the hospital is about five or ten minutes away. It'll likely be close to four in the morning by the time that help makes its way out here." Ron said.
Dean looked at his watch.
"So five hours then." Dean replied. He looked to Sam. "Will he last that long?" Dean asked, motioning to the still man Sam was supporting.
Sam shrugged. "Maybe."
"But maybe not." Dean finished.
Sam only shrugged. "It depends."
"Even if help does come, who's to say the Whooper won't get them?" Tyler asked tightly.
"We'll have to be sure that doesn't happen." Dean said and cast his eyes down the trail.
"How far is Whooper spring from here?" Dean wondered. His eyes were deadly serious.
"You've got to be kidding!" Ron exclaimed.
"I'm not. How far?"
"Probably a half hour walk. Why?"
"Sam and I have to go there." Dean finalized. Sam's face was impassive, he knew they had to go.
"You'll never make it with the Whooper wondering about." Tyler said.
"Yes we will. We have to." Dean locked eyes with Sam who nodded.
Sam turned to Tyler. "Do you know CPR?" Sam asked.
"Yeah, I took a first aid course, why?"
"Someone has to keep an eye on Gray. To be here if something happens."
"You're actually going along with this? Are you crazy?"
"Maybe." Sam replied. His voice was completely serious.
"But…" Tyler began. Sam cut him off with a wave of his hand.
"I need someone to watch Gray, can you do it?"
"Yes."
"Good, come over here. Keep his head elevated, keep him close to the fire, and keep him warm." Sam instructed, motioning for Tyler to take his place.
He gently lifted Gray's head and moved out from under it. Tyler took his place and Gray's head was laid to rest on his thigh. Sam shrugged out of his jacket and draped it over the silent man.
"Okay?" Sam asked.
Tyler nodded and tucked the jacket around Gray.
Sam turned to Dean. "I'm ready."
"Stay in the circle, don't move out of it for anything! Do you understand? It's crucially important for you to stay inside it." Dean instructed.
Tyler nodded.
"But, you don't even know the way!" Ron exclaimed.
"We'll find it. It can't be that hard to find." Dean said.
"Do you want me to come along?" Ron asked.
"No!" Both Dean and Sam cried in unison. Ron looked taken aback.
"No, Ron. You have to stay here. Shoot anything that moves, unless it's help, or Sam, or myself." Dean replied quickly.
"Okay, fine. Just remember that the first spring you come to is Dead Boy's spring. You'll get there in about twenty minutes. Keep walking and the next spring you reach will be Whooper's. Be careful." Ron said.
"Thanks. Let's go, Sam." Dean replied and with a deep breath he stepped outside of the circle.
