Disclaimer: Stephen King and Warner brothers are the only geniuses here. I only hope that my misadventures using their characters and themes do not offend them. I am merely a poor student, who will remain poor. Everyone should read "Pet Sematary", it's a fantastic/terrifying book!
The initial screaming that greeted them upon entering the swamp had faded. But it didn't feel like it was gone, just like it was waiting. Eileen had said it was sounds carrying from a distance, just some loons. And every few minutes there'd be a crack or some squishy swamp sound somewhere off in the distance.
Dean was realizing what a bad idea this was. 'For one, swamps reek! No way am I going to smell ozone or monster funk over this. Two, I've slipped twice on these damn moss covered mounds sticking out of the swamp…and if I fall into that shit I'll freak! And three, we are a good 2 maybe 21/2 miles from the Pet Sematary, way deep into the turf of whatevers here, and I hate giving home field advantage…oops, home swamp advan-' slip-splash Dean's left foot sank into the swamp waters… 'MY BOOT! God damn swamp monster I'm going to kill you!'
"You okay there, Jack?" Sam asked from behind. "The ground fog is so opaque I can't see the tussocks either." Sam said. The light from the moon up ahead shone down onto the swamp. There was a ground fog covering the swamp like a thick white blanket, the moon light seemed to bounce off it and give the area a soft blue glow.
"Isn't it great?" Eileen sounded enthusiastic, "The Micmac's used to call it Little God Swamp. But it's always felt big to me."
"Yeah? When did you first come this way, Ellie?" Dean balanced himself again and continued on, grimacing at the wet squishy feeling in his left boot.
"Well that depends on what you mean? The first time I was here, or the first time I came here?"
'Ah crap, now she's getting all 'riddle me this Batman' ' "There's a difference?" Dean asked.
Eileen turned her head just enough so she could see them behind her. Yet was able to continue walking without problem, not even testing the area ahead of her for a tussock. "Do you believe in the unbelievable?"
"Seeing is believing." Dean repeated his earlier words. And really, it was true. It was just that Dean had seen a lot of shit.
"Why? What do you believe, Eileen?" Sam interrupted recognizing Dean's challenging tone. 'Dean's acting more edgy then normal since getting over the deadfall. I don't know if that's any better then being lulled.'
Dean's words seemed to jinx them. The screaming had come back. It started off in the distance far to the left of them. But then started getting closer, till it felt like it was screaming into their ears. Both Dean and Sam stopped and grimaced at the volume. Eileen stopped also, but she didn't make an indication that the screaming was bothering her. Hell, she just smiled.
THUD Came from the right, not far, and it sounded big
"Ah fuck this!" Dean yelled and pulled his rock salt gun out, aiming in the direction of the sound.
Sam pulled out his gun in response, but kept it pointing up, his eyes locked on Eileen. But she was staring out into the swamp. The screaming was changing now, it was still hanging in the air, but it was more like a sobbing. She seemed to be thinking, interpreting the situation. But she didn't show any signs of distress.
"This isn't a hunting trip. Let's keep moving." She said and turned back around. "It's not much further."
"To hell we are! You stay right there! Sam, get out the fireworks." 'To hell with the disguises. 10 bucks says something big that can conceal itself so well in a swamp is a Wendigo!'
"Sam?" Eileen turned her head around. She raised her eyebrow. "Guess you look more like a Sam then a Peter."
'Well, this has unraveled real nice.' Sam thought, as he pulled out the flare gun, loaded with homemade flammable fun."Dean, we need to get on dry ground. We can't fight on here." Sam grabbed Dean's elbow, trying not to interfere with his aim.
Then they saw it. The shape of it anyway. It was coming between the hanging trees. The shape was huge, the outline was human-ish. It towered above them, even from a distance it looked at least 13 maybe 14 feet tall. It has hard to tell because it was bent over, as if it had a hunch back. Its arms where stick like and disappeared into the fog before Sam could see the ends of them. It seemed to fill all the space in Sam's sight.
"Dean, that's not a Wendigo! It's more then twice the size! Let's move!" But Dean stayed firm, well, as firm as he could on the slippery surface. It seemed to turn towards them.
"Shit!" Dean took aim and fired. If it did any damage the only indication was that 'It' stopped. It didn't reel back, or cry out. It just stopped. The sobbing stopped too. Now there was silence. Until Dean grabbed the flare gun from Sam, cocked it and fired again. It still didn't move. The light from the burst as it hit the 'Swamp Thing' didn't even help illuminate It. It was like It absorbed the light burst.
cough The sound of Eileen clearing her throat caused them both to turned their head's towards her. "We really should keep moving…..Dean."
Dean didn't even bother telling her 'where she could go' as he turned back to his self titled 'Swamp Thing'. But it was gone. 'That bitch! She helped it get away! GAHH How stupid am I! ' He continued berated himself for the distraction. 'I am that off my game?'
"Get out some steel, Sam." Dean pulled out an axe. And then turned to Eileen. "I'm disappointed Ellie. I was hoping for a nice sane girl this time." She just laughed at them.
"Me? I'm not the one with a fake name, and a weapon arsenal. Are you two actually land surveyors?"
"Sure we are." Dean said flashing a grin.
'This is only going to get worse, I feel it. But I don't think that turning around will help us. No no-I have to put our lives ahead of my freak' in curiosity.' Sam argued himself in his mind. "Eileen," Sam came in, trying to sound as clam as possibly, "No one has to get hurt here. We can all go back. Act like this never happened."
"To hell with that Sam!" Dean jumped a few tussocks forward to get between Sam and Eileen. 'Damn hopping around don't improve my intimidation. "I want to know what that was? Now!"
Eileen only smiled and turned quickly, dashing ahead of them on the tussocks, far faster then either of them could manage. Dean attempted to grab her, but he slipped, and this time both feet went into the swamp.
Dean's facial expression and guttural response to his fall reminded Sam of Side-Show Bob on the Simpson's, when he had kept waking onto rakes that whacked him in the head. Sam reached over and looped an arm under Deans. Helping him pull himself out of the water. He was mud covered from the keens down. "Dean," Sam whispered in his ear, "We need to get out of here."
"How can you leave when you saw that thing out there? It's dangerous! What about people that come through hear after us, huh? We can't just leave a case open! Dad wouldn't-"
"Dad isn't here. I wish he was too Dean. But he's not. And I don't want to get close enough to something that big to try swords and axes!"
"We're not leaving till we bag that thing. We nail it and It won't be luring people here anymore. End of little zombie people burning down things. Swamp Thing just proved my theory; that must be the creature pulling the strings."
"Dean! The only thing It proved was that it's big and strong and fast."
"Little zombie people?" Eileen's voice broke out. She was more then 15 meters away, but her voice carried clearly other to them.
Both brothers cursed themselves for letting Eileen's presence slip. 'Damn this place really has taken a chunk out of my senses. Sam's too...''
"You know," Dean said walking determinedly over to Eileen, not noticing how he didn't slip once, despite the slime on his boots, not noticing how he wasn't even trying to find the tussocks through the thick ground fog, they just happened to be where his foot landed. "For a chick that just saw a guy firing guns at some huge ass creature –a creature you won't be seeing on the discovery channel- you're awfully clam! What was that? And what is It's connection to the burial ground? You know, don't you?" Dean stopped not a foot from Eileen. But he wasn't pointing a gun at her, just yet.
"I already told you about that."
"Bullshit, we've seen Wendigo's before. And that –" Dean waved his gun holding hand in the direction the creature had been for emphasis "- that was not a Wendigo."
"And you two are experts?"
"Look, we need to not be standing in a swamp arguing." Sam cut in.
After much resistance Sam got Dean moving. And Eileen was all too happy to bring them out of the swamp…though not back to the Pet Sematary. Once back on sold ground, Sam found a log to sit on and pulled out their Dad's journal. They had gone over the sections on Wendigo's thoroughly. But Eileen was insistent on that thing being one.
The air seemed to be crackling with energy around them. And the pull to keep moving forward was reasserting itself. Sam could feel his curiosity tugging at him. 'But is it my curiosity or that place's effect? That creature definitely wasn't emitting a lulling vibe! Damn there are still too many variables.' His mind kept filling with thoughts, 'Maybe the answers to our questions are at the burial ground.' Sam may not be a born hunter of the paranormal. But he was man who liked knowledge. One thing was certain, 'There's no way it's going to lure Dean or I into dropping our guard.' Sam looked up at Dean, who was standing particular on top of him. Dean had an axe in one hand, and the flare gun in the other. His eyes where rotating between glaring down Eileen and watching for the creature to make a comeback. Nothing pissed Dean off more then being bested by something. For Dean, innocence once lost was lost forever, even for a hot chick like Eileen. Dean wasn't understanding when it came to business.
"Anything?" Dean asked Sam, without looking down.
"Aside from that creature being moderately humanoid in shape…nothing. The size is wrong. The flare gun didn't hurt it. I can't imagine a human turning into something that huge, that powerful. If 'It' is a Wendigo, then it's a totally different kind."
"Or it's older then what you've seen." Eileen piped in.
Sam stood up fast, his mind putting it together, drawing comparisons. He turned to Dean. "Dean, what if it is really old? A huge creature that turns a man into a cannibal by touching him, and is incredible strong. And the Wendigo's we know of are men that turned to cannibalism and became creatures similar in shape but half the size and strength. Could that thing out there…could it be the first? The original Wendigo?"
"The first Wendigo? Dude, that's messed up." 'Damn it. The older they are, the more of a bitch they are to kill!'
"Why not? We know there was a first vampire, first werewolf. Why not that thing out there being the first Wendigo?" Sam turned to Eileen, "Do you know anything about its nature Eileen?"
Eileen just shrugged. "No."
"Has it ever attacked you? Or anyone you where with?" Sam asked Eileen.
"No, but I've seen it several times. I've just kept going. And we should keep going. We're not 15 minutes from the burial ground now. Plus, the bug spray only lasts so long you know."
Dean walked up to Eileen, and tapped her shoulder lightly with the axe handle. "You are some kind of freaky Elly. If you try anything-try to attack me or my brother-or communicate with Wendigo Sr. out there- you and this axe will get acquainted."
"That's no way to talk to a lady. Where's all your smooth talk now? I bring you on a hike at your own request and you threaten me?" Eileen said, not showing any fear or intimidation in the least.
"Hello! You lead us into a swamp where you knew a huge monster lives! What part of that doesn't scream psycho to you?" Dean could feel his angry bubbling up, it had started after they crossed over the deadfall. Before crossing he felt drawn in, pulled by an overzealous and what he now realized uncharacteristic curiosity. 'Can't believe I'm grateful for a ghost making an appearance! But Pascow did wonders for reminding me where we where going. About the risks, I can't get suckered in with Sam here. Gahhh! Maybe Jud can show up and help me calm down!'
"I suppose you've made a valid point. From your perspective that is. And not a very well informed one."
"Alright, let's share some information then." 'That's right Elly, insult the already pissed off person holding an axe.' "Let's talk about your bro-"
"-Let's get to the burial ground first, Dean. Maybe it will have some answers. We shouldn't be staying still, the Wendigo or swamp monster." Sam gave Dean a sharp looked, hoping that his interruption would keep Dean from such a risky move. He mental patted himself on the back for the quick interference when Dean nodded, and put some distance between himself and Eileen. 'Dean's getting too angry, he almost threw all our information on the table. We don't know what Eileen would do if we mentioned her 'alive again dead again' Brother Gage. I just wish I could think of something better then going to the burial ground. But it seems to make sense. If it's the place where everything is starting, then we need to investigate it. God I hope this is my own idea. What do you do when you doubt the source of your own thoughts?'
"Excuse us, sweetheart." Dean mocked. He grabbed Sam's shoulder and directed them both a short distance from Eileen. In a quite voice Dean raised his concerns. "I'm getting mixed messages here Sammy, first you want us to get out of here, now you want to go to the burial ground?"
"Yeah, well, I'm confusing myself more."
"If you think you may be under the influence, then we should get you out of here. I'll come back for the Swamp Thing."
"By yourself! And what about you? You were waving an axe at Eileen!"
"So?"
"SO! You can't kill someone Dean. Even if she turns out to be psycho. If it's trying to lure me in, then it's making you angry and impulsive!"
Dean pulled back and rubbed his jaw as he considered things. 'Okay, mild anger may be a concern. But aren't I justified being angry? Threatening people is a good way to get some cooperation.'
"Dean?"
"Alright, alright. I'll take some deep claming breaths, and you turn on the logic light bulb."
Crack the sound echoed all around them. But there was nothing in sight, yet.
Eileen started walking. "I'm going on guys. I strongly recommend coming with." She didn't turn to them as she spoke.
Dean and Sam exchanged looks. Weapons in hand Dean gestured for them to start walking. "Hey-ho, let's go."
"That's the second time you've said that."
"Is it? Damn. We're going to need therapy after this one."
Sam was more then a little disturbed that once they were moving again there were no signs of Wendigo Sr. "It's like it's herding us. Keeping us moving along." Sam whispered to Dean.
"Great."
Eileen stopped ahead of them. When they caught up they where looking up at an uphill slope. Through the pale moon light they could just barely make out steps. Steps that seemed to have been carved into the hill side.
"It's just up there? A burial ground on a hill?" Sam looked up the steps. The topped seemed like a horizon, the stars peaked behind it. Their twinkle was alluring.
Dean noticed Sam's dazed look. 'Damn this place is doing a number on him. I'm going to enjoy offing Swamp Thing!'
Eileen grabbed one of Sam's hands. "Come on. It gets better." Sam dislodged his hand from hers, but started following her up, the air got a little heavier with each step, but it wasn't unpleasant. 'This place has power. Dad would freak at a site emitting a vibe like this! How old most this place be?' Sam mentally counted 45 steps till he stood on the summit. The sight took his breath away. The hill was flat on the top, very uncharacteristic of New England hills. And it seemed to stretch forward, like a tongue sticking out from the forest. Only the oldest trees peaked above them. There were many dark shapes low to the ground. As Sam followed Eileen further along the plateau he recognized the shapes, they were cairns, grave markers.
Eileen noticed Sam's wide eyed expressions, "This was their burial ground, like I told you. Awe-inspiring isn't it?"
Sam only nodded; 'Did the MicMac's flatten this hill top themselves? Amazing! It feels so empty, but the kind of emptiness that vibrates. This is the source of the lulling vibe. It's independent of the Wendigo.' Sam looked up at the clear sky, the wind blew strong and loudly in his ears, but it was clean. "I win this one Dean." Sam turned to face the argument Dean would put forward, knowing that Dean would still be convinced that the Wendigo was the source. 'Maybe the Wendigo tainted it, but it's more than that now.' But when he turned around Dean wasn't behind him. Sam spun around, getting a 360 view of the place. He and Eileen where the only ones on the burial ground. Sam could feel the emerging sense of dread fighting back the lulling vibe. He remembering assuring himself not 15 minutes ago that 'There's no way it's going to lure Dean or I into dropping our guard.' Sam tightened his lose grip on the sword Dean had told him to pull out earlier.
"DEAN!"
Dean eyed Eileen when she grabbed Sam's free hand. "Come on. It gets better." And smiled in satisfaction when Sam dislodged his hand from hers. 'Aren't getting the better of us again sweetheart.' Then Dean caught movement to the right of them. It came from behind. He knew instantly that it wasn't Wendigo Sr.; his swamp monster. The trees there where thin, no where near wide enough to hide something that size. Even his own broad shoulders would stick out. But the law of Winchester probability told him that it wasn't a friendly woodland creature either. He pointed the gun towards the trees.
"Sam, something's coming." Dean brow frowned when Sam didn't respond. "Sam, to the right!" Dean didn't like tearing his eyes away from a potential spook, not after the last time. But when Sam wasn't responding or showing up beside him he had no choice. He was greeted with the sight of the empty stairs. Neither Sam nor Eileen was there. Alarm rose up in his throat like bile. "SAM!" he yelled. But he got no response. 'Sam wouldn't go up without me! gahhh unless he was lured by that thing. Great job Captain Wow.'
The hairs on the back of his neck rose. And Dean whipped back around to the right. He stopped when the side of his outstretched gun slammed against the neck of a man standing less then 3 feet from him. Dean stared numbly at the man before him. He was old looking. And not just with age. He looked to be in his 50's, his hair was stark white, and glowed with a pale blue from the moon. But his eyes made him look so much older. The man's head was tiled slightly to the left from the impact of Dean's gun hitting his neck. Two of Dean's knuckles were touching the skin of his neck. It felt like sandpaper. 'MOVE.' Dean yelled at himself. But he couldn't pull himself away, couldn't pull back to aim his gun in defense because his eyes were glued onto the man's eyes.
"Hey-Ho, let's go." The man said.