Here's the next chapter, guys! Please, please read and review! It's short, but a lot happens. Oh, and by the way...I know I promised in the last chapter that I would include some back story about the Winchester Mansion,. but I just realized that I barely scratched the surface of the mystery. I have to stop writing so much brotherly banter – it really delays the story, but I can't seem to resist some of that quality humor! I swear that the mystery will soon deepen.


Dean's eyes burned as he stared at the computer screen. In truth, his nostrils burned as well, but it was no doubt attributed to the acrid smell of the motel room. He sighed as he leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms behind his head and yawning hugely. Though he would never admit it to Sam, he was actually quite enjoying looking into the history of the Winchester Mystery House. It wasn't exactly difficult research, (as Dean had simply gone to 'Google' and typed in 'the Winchester Mansion'), and he found himself becoming entranced by the amazing history of the old building. He had printed out a number of pages on the topic that he was planning on showing Sam in the morning.

Dean glanced over at his younger brother, unable to resist a laugh. Sammy was sprawled on the ground, his long limbs spread in entirely different directions. He was snoring loudly. Taking solace in the fact that his brother was okay, Dean turned back to his research. There were only a few rare nights wherein Dean actually observed Sam sleeping soundly since he began having nightmares. He never really expressed to his brother the worry the newfound headaches and visions had caused him to feel-he always tried to keep a hard exterior. The truth was, however, that his biggest fear was something happening to his younger sibling. He sighed, re-reading through some of the excerpts he had already printed out.

The Winchester Mystery House is a unique mansion located at 525 South Winchester Boulevard in San Jose, California. Its construction began in 1884, and was financed and built by Sarah L. Winchester, the widow of gun magnate William Wirt Winchester. Construction continued 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, until her death 38 years later in 1922. The price tag for such constant building has been estimated at about $5.5 million.

Dean had considered that strange upon first reading it, but certainly not supernatural. It just meant, in his opinion, that some crazy old widow worked a huge number of construction workers to death for no apparent reason on some gigantic house. His opinion didn't change until he read a little more into the mystery.

With the death of her husband in 1881, Sarah inherited over $20 million. She also received 48.9 percent of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, giving her an income of roughly $1,000 per day, none of which was taxable until 1913. Sarah had lost her husband in 1881 and had also lost her only child, a daughter who died in infancy 15 years earlier. Deeply grieved and seeking solace, she consulted a spiritualist on the advice of a friend, who had become known colloquially as the "Boston Medium." According to legend of the medium, among other things, told her that there was a curse upon the Winchester family because the guns they made had taken so many lives. She told Sarah, "Thousands of persons have died because of it and their spirits are now seeking vengeance." Although this is disputed, many believe that the Boston Medium told her she needed to travel west, leaving her home in New Haven. The medium did tell her to leave, but it is unknown if he or she told her for certain that she had to go west. Regardless, there she would start a new life, "and build a home for yourself and for the spirits who have fallen from this terrible weapon, too. You can never stop building this house. If you continue building, you will live. Stop and you will die."

This is definitely freaky, thought Dean. The woman built a house for ghosts to live in on the advice of some crazy medium? That's up our alley.

The direction from the medium is the reason she built her house in such a haphazard fashion. Some believe it was to distract the spirits who she believed were hunting her. She was reported to have slept in a different room every night for some time.

Dean wondered after reading this particular bit why the house was described as "haphazard." What was haphazard about an obviously pre-conceived building plan? He got his answer as her read on.

Every night, Sarah would go to her Seance Room to receive messages from the spirits telling her what she should build. The orders from the spirits resulted in many strange constructions, such as doors that open into walls, stairs that go nowhere, a cupboard that has only a half-inch of storage space, and tiny doorways and hallways just big enough for Sarah (who was 4'10" and of slight build) to fit through. Some other interesting features of the house include its ten thousand windows (including some priceless Tiffany stained glass), forty-seven fireplaces, and a beautiful garden.

The eldest brother took in this information with confusion. If spirits were telling Sarah what to build, why in hell would they make such strange requests? Maybe this woman was just insane. Furrowing his brow, he read on.

Sarah had a fascination with the number thirteen. Many features in the house were built in sets of thirteen or multiples of thirteen. For instance, in the thirteenth bathroom (the only one with a shower), there are thirteen windows. One of the sinks has thirteen drainage holes. There are fifty-two skylights, and the grand staircase has thirteen steps. Thirteen palms line the driveway. As a final gesture, Sarah's will was divided into thirteen parts and signed thirteen times. Two other numbers favored by Sarah were seven and eleven. There is one stairway in the house which has seven steps down and then eleven steps up. Another, called the switchback staircase, turns seven times and has forty-four steps, but only goes up nine feet! Some speculate that stairs were built so low because Sarah had arthritis; others think she built them that way to confuse and/or slow down the spirits.

Dean let out a low whistle. This place was creepier than he thought. Maybe Sam's visions meant something after all. Continuing on, he found another piece of information that made his blood run cold.

The house had originally had seven stories. It now had four. The reason? There had been an earthquake-in 1906. Exactly, thought Dean, one-hundred years ago. What more of a perfect reason could there be for the woman to get revenge? She was obsessed with the number seven, which was also widely recognized as a significantly magical number, and some force she couldn't control destroyed her plan for the mansion. This Tommy guy, or whatever his name was, who had fallen out of the window, had been working on minor construction details.

Dean sat up with a jolt, now recognizing what had surely happened. The paper had mentioned that Tommy was an experienced carpenter – the trade having been passed down through generations. His great-grandfather must have been one of the original constructors! Dean smiled to himself. He had solved the mystery, and hadn't needed any of Sam's help. Sarah Winchester must still have a grudge against her workers for never replacing the three fallen levels, and maybe, thought Dean, even blamed them for her death. After all, she was under the impression that she would only die when construction ceased or was done improperly. Maybe she believed the spirits weren't satisfied! Nothing had happened to anyone before, but the hundredth-year anniversary since the earthquake had just passed. Spirits frequently began activity on specific days or anniversaries! Sure, the house was said to be haunted by the ghosts of those who died as the victims of a gunshot from a Winchester Rifle and the construction workers who worked on the house, and maybe even Sarah herself, but nothing had happened to the visitors because they weren't connected to the case. Tommy was, and Sarah had wanted revenge. That was it!

Unable to contain his excitement, Dean ran over to where Sam lay and shook him awake.

"I solved it, Sam! Give me that ten bucks of yours, you idiot."

"Wha...Dean, it's only, like, two in the morning! Leave me alone. Just tell me in the morning, okay?"

"You mean, in the morning on the way to the mansion, right? 'Cause I'm gonna have to tell you in the car."

"Why do we have to leave in the morning? I thought we were going do some more research tomorrow, and then head over to investigate later. You're the one who told me, Dean, that nothing there was supernatural except for maybe a few friendly ghosts."

"Dude, there's more than Casper in that mansion."

"Casper? Since when have you seen Casper?"

"I didn't enjoy it, dude, I saw like, one part and kept watching for Christina Ricci."

"She was only like thirteen in that movie, man. Now that's just creepy."

"Whatever! Why are we even talking about this? Sammy, Tommy didn't commit suicide. Sarah Winchester killed him."

"Sarah Winchester? You mean that lonely, four-foot widow without a friend in the world murdered some random construction worker decades after she died?"

"That's exactly what I mean, man."

"Fine...just," yawned Sam, "tell me the rest in the morning, I don't have the energy right now." With that, he rolled over and promptly went back to sleep.

Dean rolled his eyes, amazed at the thought that Sam was his brother. He was a complete jerk sometimes. He grabbed the nearest pillow on the floor, jokingly pressing it onto his younger brother's face.

Sam woke instantly, flailing his arms and pushing the pillow off of his head.

"What the hell, Dean!" he gasped.

"I told you I'd smother you in your sleep, dude, you just didn't believe me."

Sam didn't answer, but gave his brother a murderous glare.

"I think I know what your problem is, Sam," hypothesized Dean. "you just don't want to admit that I figured out that case way faster than you could've."

"Yeah, Dean, that must be it. Now go back to bed."

"Fine, Sammy." Dean grabbed the soiled comforter and lank pillow, walking over to the other side of the room. He threw both onto the carpet and flopped down, but was too exhilarated to sleep. They were going to the Winchester Mansion tomorrow.

TBC


I told you the mystery deepened! R&R, and I'll update sooner.