Ch 55
Dean and Sam's semi-hushed bickering pulled River from the depths of sleep. "No, Dean look at the map it's south on 89 then there's a turn off near mile marker 45. We would've been there by noon if you'd had the map pointing the right direction." Sam huffed jabbing his finger at a wrinkled map he held inches from Deans face. River sat up, stretched and pushed her hair out of her face and into a messy knot on top of her head.
"Yeah, well screw you Columbus." Dean grumbled back. "Evening, princess. Feel better?" He asked looking over his shoulder at her.
River nodded. "How long have I been out?"
"'bout ten hours." Dean told her, squinting at the map in the dim sunlight before looking back at the passing road markers.
"No wonder I have to pee so bad. Where are we?" She asked digging through the green cooler at her feet. She found a semi-cold bottle of water, cracked it open and quickly drank half of it.
"Couple miles outside of Pray." Sam told her. Pray, Montana had been the next stop on the list she had complied of possible demon activity. "Doesn't look good. Nothin' but static on the radio, our cell phones died suddenly, batteries completely drained- Roll down your window and take a whiff."
She barely cracked the window when the overpowering stench of sulfur and rot burned her nose making her gag. "Fuck me," she muttered. "How far are we from the lake?"
"Next turn off. Get your guns ready," Dean answered. The sun was quickly setting and they were heading into a potential demonic hot spot. Sam tucked the demon killing knife into his jacket and quickly checked his and Deans pistols. While River grabbed her trusty tactical shotgun from under the seat and snapped salt filled shells into place. She stuffed handfuls of extra shells into her jacket pockets, tucked a silver bullet loaded revolver behind her back and a dagger into her boot.
Dean found the turn off for the lake and parked the Impala at the edge of the water. The setting sun reflected grotesquely off bloated fish and decaying water fowl bobbing on the dark red surface of the polluted lake. The coppery tang of blood assaulted their senses with the shifting of the wind. The hunters shared a silent, worried look and piled back into the front seat of the car.
"It's really more of a glorified pond then a lake." River muttered as Dean followed the winding trail away from the lake until they hit the quaint little town of Pray.
The street lamps flicked on as the sun disappeared behind the pine trees. The only sound was the growl of the Impala's V8. Nothing moved as they coasted down Main Street. "Where the fuck is everyone?" River murmured.
Sam nodded to a pointed steeple raising a half story above the other buildings. "Good a place as any to start checking." Dean angled the car towards the church, the passing streets just as empty and dark as the one they left behind. The church parking lot, however, was over flowing; cars were double parked, crammed into every available space, a few were even parked on the once pristine lawn. Dean stopped the Impala at the curb and they looked at the church for several long moments. The Church was the only building in town with the lights on but as far as they could tell nothing moved inside.
"Maybe they're having a bake sale, you know? With one of those cake walks. Those things are lots of fun-" River piped up finally. The Brothers looked down at her and she shrugged her shoulders. "I worked a case once with Suki at a church like this. They had a 'Come-to-Jesus' fundraiser and I elbowed this old bitty outta my way so I could win an entire Hummingbird cake… I can't be the only one that takes baked goods that serious."
"Or it could be demons," Dean whispered harshly as they exited the car.
"It probably is demons. But maybe it isn't." River whispered back as they crept towards the giant red oak doors of the vestibule. A strong scent of burnt meat emanated from behind the churches doors. "Maybe it's a church barbecue ?" She said hopefully to Dean.
They silently counted to three, each brother grabbed a door and River took point as they entered the church. The majority of the town appeared to be crammed into the dark wood pews that ran in two equal rows down the length of the church. Dean took the left side, River continued down the middle between the rows and Sam took the right. Each man, woman and child sitting shoulder to shoulder with their neighbor was starring silently at the front of the church where the preacher stood with his back turned, chanting in a hissed, gurgled undertone, arms raised in praise at the horrific scene in front of him. Three charred bodies were tied to stakes that had been driven into the floor of the altar. The preacher's chants rose in intensity, his voice wavering hoarsely with each word, "In nomine Dei nostri Satanas Luciferi Excelsi." More Latin phrases were painted onto the walls and even the ceiling of the church in dark red streaks of blood.
A chill ran down River's spine and she looked across the aisle to Dean then opposite to Sam. "Not a bake sale." She said gritting her teeth. The minister turned towards them as did the face of each congregant. Their eyes all shining malevolent black, their throats slit into gapping, ragged wounds. The minister raised one finger, pointed at Sam and screamed. The sound that came out of the dark maw of his mouth was inhuman, filled with the fury of hell. The congregation joined the minister in the blasphemous choir of demonic noise.
"RUN!" Dean yelled over the demonic screams. River and Sam turned and fled back down the carpeted aisle towards the front doors. The sound of wooden pews scraped along the floor as a hundred demons scrambled up at once echoed behind them. The trio flew down the stairs back towards the waiting Impala only to be met in the parking lot by the town residents that couldn't fit in the church. All with black eyes and slit throats. The stench of cordite, the metallic tang of blood and the crunch of salt rounds blowing apart the wall of bodies in front of them erupted immediately. For every demon they felled two more popped into their place. "Get to the car or we are dead!" Dean commanded over the gun fire. River and Sam disappeared into the swirling mass of snarling bodies. They finally made their way to the Impala. Sam was clutching a furiously bleeding wound to his upper arm, River's cheek was covered in ragged fingernail scratches but they were breathing. Dean slid into the front seat while River pushed Sam into the back, jumping in after him as Dean stomped his foot on the gas. The Impala swung madly to the left, the backend threatening to fishtail as Dean desperately tried to get them away. River landed on Sam, who grunted in pain, blood seeping between his fingers and soaking his flannel shirt.
She reached back under the seat for her medical kit." Shirt off Samasaurus, I have to see the wound. They could've got your brachial artery." She told Sam as she tore the sleeve of his shirt and gingerly inspected the gash in his arm. Her blue eyes flicked between Sam's wound and the mass of bodies running after them. "They're still following us, D."
"I know. I know, god damn it. How bad is Sam?" Dean yelled.
"I'm fine. Just get us the hell out of here." Sam told him. River ripped the remains of Sam's plaid shirt into strips and tied them tightly around the wound in his arm then wrapped a few feet of silver duct tape around it for added pressure.
"It's not your artery. It's just deep as fuck. If we live through this I'll patch you up nice. Can you hold a gun?" River asked. Sam nodded and she loaded fresh rounds into his pistol. Several sets of headlights suddenly appeared behind them. "They got wheels now, hot stuff." She warned Dean.
Dean spared a glance in the rear view mirror before adding more pressure on the gas pedal murmuring, "Come on Baby. You can do it" as the speedometer edged higher. River clambered over the front seat and landed heavily next to Dean. Any other situation and she would have just had her ass chewed for putting her dirty boots on his Baby's upholstery but Dean didn't so much as grunt in annoyance. She reached back towards Sam grabbing her shotgun off the seat and ejecting the spent shells onto the floorboard.
"I've never seen so many in one place. Why? How'd they fucking know? How'd they know we would come." River asked checking the side mirror. A car was gaining on them exponentially faster than the others.
"Don't know. Don't care. We're gonna die if we don't get the fuck outta here," Dean told her. He spun the car toward a faded road sign that read, "Big Sky- 2 miles." River wiped her sweaty hands on her jeans and kept glancing in the side mirrors and over her shoulder. Dean barreled through a hairpin turn and slammed on the breaks, River was thrown forward and slammed her shoulder into the dash. "Son of a Bitch!" Dean roared. A big rig lay on its side engulfed in flames and completely blocking the road. Brakes squealed behind them as Dean shifted the car into reverse.
The window next to Rivers head exploded inwards as several pairs of hands appeared out of the darkness grabbing her hair and arms pulling her through the jagged hole. She screamed and fumbled for her shotgun jamming it into the growling mouth of the demon that had its fingers clawing at her scalp. The shotgun went off and River tumbled backwards out of the car as a thick cloud of black smoke swirled out of the ruined face of the demon. "River!" Dean yelled jumping out of the car. Sam clambered out of the backseat, hacking and slashing with the demon knife. Rivers shotgun blasted again, another demons face disappeared into a mist of blood and smoke. She scrambled to her feet, boots slipping on pebbles of broken glass. There were too many hands grabbing and pulling. Too many bodies with the overpowering stench of sulfur and rot. Sam, Dean and River were outnumbered and losing quickly. Dean grunted painfully as he was choke slammed onto the hood of Baby. Sam was surrounded by a half dozen demons. The demon knife knocked out of his hand and sent skidding across the asphalt.
River slammed fresh shells into her shotgun, pumped it and spun towards the demons surrounding Sam. "Sammy! Watch your ass!" she yelled before shooting into the mass surrounding him. He dove to the ground as the salt buckshot tore into the bodies in front of him. Two demons broke away and sprinted towards her, River skittered backwards reaching into her pockets for more shells only to come up empty handed. She turned the shotgun around and swung it like a club connecting with the jaw of the first demon. The second demon slammed into her an instant later, grabbing her around the throat and throwing her onto the hood next to Dean who was still struggling against his own adversary. The first demon reappeared clutching the demon knife.
"Time to die, bitch," he growled at her raising the blade over his head. A fresh wave of screeching tires broke through the sounds of their fight and the crackling fire behind them. Frigid water rained down on them a second later, the demons holding River and Dean flailed and screamed in pain as the water soaked them. They clutched at their burning skin and staggered blindly away. A man's voice blared over a bullhorn reciting a chant in a familiar ancient language. The demons stopped in their tracks as black smoke erupted instantly from their mouths and eyes disappearing into the night sky.
Dean rolled over to River who slowly sat up and looked down at the dozen dead bodies littering the ground. "You alright?" he asked.
She nodded and slid off the hood of the car. "Sam?" she yelled. They had lost track of him during the melee and she frantically scanned the darkness for him.
"I'm here!" His muffled voice came from beneath a pile of bodies. Before she and Dean could get to him, three men appeared from the darkness and began pulling the corpses off of Sam and helped the big man to his feet.
"Th-thank you," Sam said unsurely to the men.
"No need to thank us. You three be careful out here." The blond man at the front of the group told him as River and Dean came to Sam's side.
"Hey, Hoss wait a minute!" River yelled after the men. "What the hell?"
"Look, miss. I hate to break it to you but those were demons and this is the Apocalypse. So take route 3 back to the highway and buckle up. Things are gonna get pretty bumpy from here on out." The man said pointing to the darkness beyond the burning big rig. He and his two companions turned back towards the classic bright red fire truck behind them.
River gave Sam and Dean an incredulous look. "That was Enochian you were speaking." She said. The men turned back around. "I've never heard an exorcism that can blast those black eyed sons of bitches out so fast. Have you two?" She asked Sam and Dean. The brothers hook their heads. "And the holy water in the fire truck, that was fucking brilliant. You saved our asses. Who the Hell are you guys?"
The men shared a quick look. "Sacrament Lutheran Militia….you know about Demons?" The youngest person in the group asked, River guessed he was barely over seventeen. The hunters nodded.
"We're hunters…we deal with this kind of stuff a lot more than we'd like to." Dean answered, "We were over in Pray checking on some omens. We got overrun... Look, We're on the same team." The leader shuffled his feet and glanced back at his truck. Dean continued, " We know what's it like out here but my brothers hurt." He pointed to Sam's duct tape wrapped arm. "We just need somewhere safe we can hole up and lick our wounds. Maybe share some intel. Please." He added.
"Prove it. Show us what you know," The man in the back of the group piped up. The hunters limped back to Baby followed by the strangers.
Dean unlocked the trunk revealing the devils trap and Sigils that were painted on the interior along with their vast armory of weapons and gear. The de facto leader of the group nodded, "I'm Rob. This is my best friend Paul and my son Dylan." The group shook hands. "Follow us back to town. I think there's someone you should meet." The militia members climbed back into their fire truck as Dean started the Impala.
"Shirt off, Samsquatch." River ordered as Dean followed the fire truck down a nearly hidden dirt road. Sam complied as River put her glasses on and dug through their first aid kit for a needle and floss. She handed him her phone and aimed the light at the wound in his shoulder. "All I got left is hot pink and mint. What do you prefer?" She asked holding the plastic containers of floss out for him.
"Surprise me," Sam muttered.
"Hot pink it is," River said smiling. "First stitch on three. 1,2-" She dug the needle into his arm and Sam hissed in pain. "Who the hell are those guys? And that fucking spell...I've never heard anything like it." She asked adjusting the light in Sam's hand to better see the gash in his arm.
"We should call Cas." Sam said then cursed under his breath as the needle bit into his skin again.
River finished the stitches, wrapped his arm in clean bandages and told him, "Now show a little self respect and get your clothes back on." The fire truck stopped in front of them. They had arrived at a covered entrance blocked on either side by cement barriers covered in barbed wire. Men and women stood at the barriers. Rob had a quick conversation with the guards and pointed back at the Impala. "This a trap. They're gonna light us up." River said quietly.
"They aren't gonna shoot us...I don't think they're gonna shoot us." Dean muttered as he edged the car to the beckoning guard. "Just be cool." The guards surrounded the Impala and knocked on the windows.
"No sudden movements. Smile but don't be a weirdo," River whispered to herself rolling down her window. The hunters found themselves each starting down that barrel of a pistol. The guards pulled their triggers and the hunters flinched as cold water splashed into their faces."Holy water loaded squirt guns?" River asked her guard.
"Yep. Gotta check everyone. You're ok to continue on through," the guard told them. Dean continued through the barriers and crossed into the covered bridge. The headlights illuminated devils traps and sigils covering the interior of the bridge. They continued through the dark town until they reached another church. The outside of the building again protected with cement barriers, barbed wire, devil traps and guards every few feet.
Rob, Paul and Dylan led the Hunters into the church. "Ya'll stand in the back and be quiet. Looks like they're just about to take their vows." Rob whispered holding the church door open and ushering them inside. Dylan and Rob broke off from the group and quickly found a spot next to a red haired woman sitting on a pew in the middle of the church. She gave them both a tight hug before they sat down. The church was packed with people, not wearing their Sunday finest but instead denim, sturdy boots, thick jackets and hunting rifles. Six people, three couples River noted, stood at the front of the church with the minister. A ten-foot high wood cross standing proudly in front of a stained glass window depicting a very effeminate blonde Angel holding a golden trumpet made up the ornate centerpiece of the otherwise quaint, homey small town church.
River elbowed Sam and pointed at the window whispering, "Dude that's supposed to be Gabriel. He looks kind of like Meryl Streep...I don't know if he would be pissed or think that's awesome."
"Who thought the Apocalypse could be so romantic?" The minister said to his congregation. His eyes were soft and inviting, he casually ran them over the three strangers standing at the back. "None of us really know how much longer we have…but marriage, family, love is a blessing. Living in the light of the lord as he commands us, following his commandments and his word will never lead you astray. Ephesians 4:2 says-"
"No fucking way…" River muttered. Several people turned around and gave her a disgruntled look. "It's a wedding." She told the clueless brothers. Comprehension lit up their faces followed almost immediately by confusion. Why the hell would people be rushing to get married during the end of the world? The minister proclaimed the couples in front of him joined in holy matrimony and the church erupted into claps and whistles as the newly weds kissed.
The couples walked out of the church to more applause and a shower of flower petals. Paul shook his head and took a deep drink from a flask he pulled from the inside of his jacket. "Eighth one this week. Nothin says true love like a shotgun wedding at the end of the world." He muttered before walking away into the darkness. Dean looked down at River who stood next to him, black beanie pulled down low over her ears, nervously twisting the ring Cas had given her around her finger watching as the young couples drove away.
"We should ask if they can squeeze us in. Midnight special…" Dean said.
She looked away from the procession of well-wishers and into his green eyes. "Squeeze us into what?"
Dean looked down at his scuffed boots. "You know..end of the world." He said clearing his throat nervously and running his fingers along his jaw.
River sighed, "Its late. I'm tired. I think I have a minor concussion. Again… I have no fucking idea what you're mumbling about it."
"Rob tells me you three know hunt Demons," The Pastor said coming to stand next to Sam.
Sam nodded, "Yes, sir." Dean and River smiled. River nudged Dean and nodded at the pistol strapped to the pastors thigh. Dean had a nasty case of deja vu, remembering his future self and the holster he had around his own leg.
"You missed a few," he said reaching his hand out to shake each of theirs in turn. "I'm Pastor Walt Gideon. Welcome to Blue Sky. If you're not too tired, it's shift change down stairs and I'd like to show you around." Pastor Gideon led them back into the church. They walked past rows of pews and down a narrow stairway tucked behind the transept. The door at the bottom of the stairs opened and a young girl came bounding up, followed closely by two people who must have been her parents. "Hey Maddie! How's the Lords work coming?" Walt asked when the little girl stopped and threw her arms around his midsection.
"Great Pastor Walt! I won the shell contest!" Maddie said happily.
"That's your third win this week!" He said giving the young girl a high five. "You go home now and get some rest," Walt told her. He clapped her mother and father on their shoulders as they passed on the narrow stairs.
"Shell contest?" Sam asked as they entered the storm shelter turned war room. They ran into a flurry of activity, even though at this time it was close to midnight. Groups of people worked diligently at different stations. They passed a table where several people were filling water bottles, squirt guns and pesticide sprayers with holy water. Another table had three children packing salt into bullet shells while a fourth was keeping tally on an whiteboard.
"Are those twelve years olds packing salt rounds?" Dean asked.
Gideon nodded, "The shell contest. Leah came up with it to keep even the younger ones involved. Everyone here pitches in."
"A town full of hunters? I don't know if we should run or buy a condo," Dean said shaking his head.
"How do you know about all this? Salt, holy water, Enochian?" River asked looking around the crowded room.
Walt smiled, "Angels are watching over us."
River let out a sharp laugh before throwing her hand over her mouth, "Holy shit, you're fucking serious."
"The demons came. They were slaughtering us. We had to fight back-" The Pastor told them.
"So why not call the National Guard?" Sam asked.
Walt answered, "We were told not to."
"By who?" River demanded a steady knot of dread growing her belly that Gideon was going to tell them it was an Angel named Zachariah.
"Come on, Padre. You know we're on the level. You gotta share your intel with us," Dean told him. "We're out there scramblin' for scraps and you got over a hundred people here locked and loaded."
Gideon's mouth drew into a thin line, he shook his head slightly still debating whether to let the strangers in on all of the towns secrets, "Look, I'm sorry but I can't discuss it with you.'
"It's alright dad." A young woman appeared at Gideon's side. She lay a small, pale hand on his arm. Her long brown hair framed a delicate face, bright caramel eyes and a gentle smile. She was the stereotypical Sunday school teacher, demure and chaste; skirt two inches past her knees, high buttoned collar shirt and a sweater to hide any remaining feminine curves. "This is Sam and Dean Winchester. The Angels told me about them."
"Leah, I don't-" Gideon began.
Leah stepped in front of her father, "They're safe Daddy. And you're safe here." She said looking at the brothers. "The Angels can't see you because of the marks on your ribs."
River let out a long breath, "So the Angels told you about them and taught you that Exorcism spell?"
Leah smiled, "Yes, among other things. They tell me where the Demons are going to be, before it happens, how to fight back."
Pastor Gideon smiled putting his arm around her thin shoulders, "Leah's never been wrong. Not once since the visions started."
"Visions?" River nodded, "Let me you guess, you get headaches, maybe see bright flashes of light before a vision comes to you."
Lead nodded, "Yes. How did you know?"
River looked up to Dean and Sam, her eyebrows disappearing under her beanie. "Because you aren't the first Prophet we've run into." Dean answered.
"When did the visions start?" Sam asked Leah.
"A little over a week ago," she answered looking up at her father. "I saw a lake of blood. Men with black eyes. I saw the church in Pray with blood on the walls- I told my father and he went to check...he tried to warn Pastor Jay about what was coming but it was too late."
"I barely made it back to town... the demons there were so many of them." Pastor Gideon finished.
River let out a long breath, "Why? Why Pray? What happened there, did you see anything else?"
"It was a warning," Leah said quietly. "The Angels were warning us what would happen if we didn't heed Gods orders."
"Gods orders? Where was God when an entire town was murdered? Sacrificed." River said a little too loudly. Several people stopped their work to look at her. "We've seen it before. Something bad was risen in that town and who the fuck knows what it was or where it is now."
"It's getting late," Dean interjected before River's temper ignited any further. "Padre you got a place In town where three weary travelers can get some shut eye?" The hunters left the church shortly after being directed to the towns small motel. "You maybe wanna check the blasphemy a little, Princess?"
"Excuse me?" River said. "I'm pissed. I think I have a right to be pissed. The Angels are having these people do their dirty work for them and threatening them with..." she raised her hands at a loss for words. "This god damn town thinks the Angels are on their side, Dean. It's bullshit!"
"I'll call Cas and see if he's heard anything on Angel radio," Sam offered.
"And I'll get us a few drinks," Dean said as they pulled into the parking lot the motel shared with a bar. It seemed like every person that hadn't been a part of the mass wedding or was busy making demon proof weapons was packed into the small bar. River wound her way through the throng of people to a small table near a blaring jukebox while Dean patiently waited in line for beer. By the time he got to the front of the line he was surprised to see Paul behind the bar. "Hey man, is it always like this?" He asked as Paul slid three glasses of beer across the bar top to a waiting patron.
Paul shrugged, "No rest for the wicked I guess. Ever since we found out It's the end of the world its like one long last call." Dean nodded in understanding, doing what he did for a living he never knew when his last drink would be so enjoyed all of them. River watched as Sam found a quiet corner of the bar to try and call Castiel. He was less than surprised when the Angel didn't answer so he left a voicemail with their location so he could fly in when he felt like it.
The brothers eventually made their way back to the table River had commandeered for them to find she had several plates of hot, fried appetizers waiting. She contently noshed on a mozzarella stick and took a long sip of the beer Dean handed her.
"You alright? " Dean asked her after she quickly drank the rest of her beer.
River shook her head, "No. Another town gone. Wiped off the map. Innocent people, Dean. Children, all those little kids…" She trailed off closing her eyes against the images of the snarling black eyed kids that were imprinted on her memory. Sam joined them at the table tucking his phone back into pocket.
"Well if it makes you fell better all these people are going to die too. Everybody is going to die. Soon. Probably like in a month or two at tops." Dean told her. "This place seems like as good as any to rent that cabin we talked about-"
Sam stared at his brother, "Dean, come on you don't mean that. This is...we can't give up."
"I'm not sayin we give up. You wanna fight, I'll keep fighting until the bloody end. But maybe Pam was right and we don't gotta fight so hard. These people look like their down to keep fighting the good fight, who are we to stand in their way?"
"Well, on that light hearted note- I'm tired and I'd like to have sex before bed." River said looking pointedly at Dean and tossing a few dollars on their table to cover the tip.
"Yes ma'am," Dean said smiling. They made their way through the crowd and back outside into the crisp night air. The Green Valley motel office was a short walk across the parking lot after the hunters stopped at the car to grab their duffle bags. Sam made it a point to request a room at the opposite end the building from Dean and River.
The older woman behind the desk begrudgingly handed over the keys to the rooms but not before handing out some unrequested words of wisdom."The lord sees what you do behind closed doors." She said looking over her bifocals at Dean and River. Sam had the good sense to be embarrassed for them and looked down at his feet.
"Guess we'll have to put a good show on for him then." River told her smiling sweetly.
The hunters woke early the next morning to the sound of church bells. Dean and River dressed quickly and met Sam outside. The streets were crowded with people all flocking towards the church. When they arrived it was standing room only so they crammed into a space at the back. River standing on her toes trying to see over the heads of the people in front of her. Pastor Gideon stood at the front of the church nervously rubbing his hands together. Leah paced behind him one hand grasping the gold cross around her neck. "Thank you for all coming so quickly," the Pastor began. The church instantly fell silent waiting for Gideon to continue. "Leah had a vision this morning. Five miles outside of town-" Leah stepped forward and whispered something in her fathers ear. "Six, six miles outside of town is an empty house. There are fifteen to twenty demons hiding there, planning on attacking the town later tonight . We need to strike first. Who will join me?" He asked looking over his congregation. Paul, Rob, his wife and son Dylan raised their hands as did Dean.
"You can count the three of us in Padre," Dean told him.
After another prayer the group set out towards the demons hideout. Dean, Sam and River in the Impala. Gideon and his group in the towns firetruck.
The house was dark and quiet with boarded up windows on the first and second floor. "Rob, you, Catherine, Sam and Dean take the back. Paul, River, you're with me we'll go in through the front." The group broke apart and quietly crept towards the house. River positioned herself in front of the door with Walt and Paul to her left, weapons out. She silently counted to three before kicking the door in. The lock easily broke away from the moldy wood, the door slamming into the wall as the three charged in. A second later another door was kicked in as the other group entered the house from the back.
The demons stormed them appearing out of dark rooms and jumping over the banister from the second floor. One demon, possessing the body of someones grandma, landed on Rivers back crashing them both to the floor in a tangled, struggling mass of limbs and curses. River fought with the snarling demon that was trying to force its bony fingers into the spaces between her ribs, it's false teeth clacking together near her ear as the demon promised to rip her heart out. River got an elbow free and drove it into the demons nose knocking its grip on her ribcage loose. She shoved the barrel of her shotgun into it's chest and pulled the trigger. Grandma landed heavily on top of her, coughing up little puffs of black smoke. River forced the demon off of her and rolled out of the way. "Son of a bitch!" She yelled wiping at the trail of dark red blood the demon had smeared all over her Star Wars shirt, "I really liked that shirt, asshole!" She pumped two new shells into the shotgun and aimed at the demons head. The demon gave up and smoked out before she pulled the trigger. Dylan and Gideon started chanting the Enochian spell, instantly the demons closest to them began to shake and scream as they were forcefully exorcised. Thick clouds of black smoke exploded upwards, swirling through broken windows and out the chimney. Salt rounds, holy water and Sam's knife quickly dispatched the remaining demons.
"Sweetheart , I think you got something on you shirt." Dean said pointing at the bloody mess that used to be her favorite shirt.
She flipped him off and muttered , "Shaddup sugar lips." The group walked back to their waiting cars, exhausted but also elated at the win. Even Sam was smiling. "You alright, Stringbean. There's something wrong with your face. Do you have gas?" River waved her finger around his face.
"I'm just... this must be what it feels like," He said.
"Feels like what?" Dean asked.
Sam pointed to the group in front of them, "Having back up."
They made it back to the car and River used her spell to unlock the trunk. Catherine gasped in surprise causing River to look over her shoulder at the woman. "Relax, it's basically a party trick." She told her. In reality it had been a pretty complex spell to enchant the trunk so that only the three of them could unlock it. She dug around the contents searching for a spare shirt, finally finding a flannel button up that was suffice until they got back to their room. River peeled off the blood soaked Chewbacca shirt and tossed it aside. The low cut tank top she wore under her shirt revealed several of the tattoos on her back.
Catherine made another disapproving click of her tongue, "The Lord says in Leviticus 19:28 'do not put tattoos on your skin'."
River gave Dean a side ways glance as she buttoned up her shirt. He gave a indiscernible twitch of his head and mouthed, "Be nice."
"Leviticus…yeah thats a doozy of a book with all those rules and regulations. Don't eat leftovers after the third day, men can't shave, don't plant two kinds of seeds in one garden, oh and 'Do not wear clothing woven of two different kinds of material'. Pretty sure your mom jeans have spandex in them, Catherine." River closed the trunk and smiled her. The other woman turned away from her and trod angrily back to the red fire truck. Gideon, Rob, and Paul followed her. Dylan stared after them for several seconds before running to his fathers side. They held a quick whispered conversation, Rob looked between his sons face and to the angry face of his wife before nodding at Dylan. Dylan turned back towards the Impala where the three hunters stood idly enjoying the momentary silence. Sam grabbed the green cooler from the backseat and started handing out beers.
"Do you guys mind if I hitch a ride back with you?" Dylan asked as the fire truck pulled away.
"You gotta share the backseat with me," River told him. "And teach me that Exorcism spell."
"Yeah ok. You got it," he answered.
Dean tossed a can of beer at the younger man making him smiled wider. Dylan caught it and popped the tab. "Don't tell your mom." Dean told him.
"Hey, how old are you?" River asked him. Dylan took a few steps away from her worried she would take the drink away once he told her he was underage.
"Sixte-hunph." The boy was suddenly jerked down and yanked under the car. He let out a gurgled, wet scream an instant later. Sam dove to the ground and reached under the car, grabbing at a pair of ankles that shouldn't have been there. He pulled the snarling, black eyed woman out from her hiding place. She had a jagged piece of broken glass grasped in one bloody hand. Sam stabbed her in the heart with his knife, orange shocks of light flashing behind her eyes and in her mouth.
"NO! No, no, no, no, Dylan, Dylan! NO!" River's anguished scream broke through the blood roaring in Sam's ears. He jumped to his feet and ran around the back of the car. Dean and River sat on the ground cradling Dylan's unmoving body. His neck had been slit ear to ear by the hiding demon, his eyes dim and unseeing, his blood soaking into River's new shirt and jeans. Tears rolled down her face and landed on Dylan's chest. Sam and Dean gently picked up the young mans body and laid him in the back seat. The drive back to the church was silent, punctuated only with Rivers quiet sobs. Rob and Catherine were waiting outside the church with Pastor Gideon and Leah when Dean drove up. Dylan's parents looked expectantly at the car as the three hunters slid out of the car. Catherine paled , taking in Sam and Dean's dark eyes and the tears that still ran down River's face.
"There was….we didn't. I'm sorry," River choked out. Catherine pushed them out of the way and looked into the backseat where the body of her only child lay. The raw scream of pain that tore through the woman was terrifying and heart breaking. Rob appeared at her side and tried to pull her against his chest but she pushed him away.
"You!" She screamed turning towards River. River took a step back from the grieving woman. "This is your fault!" Catherine yelled. Her husband again tried to take her by the arm but she shook him off. "You flaunt your sins! Your blasphemy and immorality! You got my son killed!"
The earth dropped out from underneath River's feet, she stumbled back reaching out for something to hold onto. "I didn't…I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.." She stuttered looking between the grieving faces in front of her. Catherine continued to scream at her, voice breaking with each sob until Pastor Gideon was finally able to intervene.
"Catherine enough. Rob take her inside, Leah is waiting for you," Gideon told her. Catherine shook her head violently. "We will take care of Dylan, he's safe. Go inside." He said firmly. They staggered away into the church, Catherine's wails of sorrow echoing each step. "Dean, Sam help me with Dylan. We need get him ready for burial." The brothers nodded and River stepped forward also.
Dean turned towards her and placed his hands on her shoulder, "I think you should go back to our room. Give them some time…"
"Dean, I didn't….this isn't my fault," she said wiping the tears off her face.
"I know that, shit I know that sweetheart. Go back to the motel. Let us handle this-" Dean said placing a kiss on her forehead. River stepped past him and continued down the street. Word was passed quickly though town about what had happened to Dylan, his wake was to be held at sunset and most of the town was expected to be there.
After stripping off the clothes stained with Dylans blood and taking a scalding hot shower River sat on her bed flipping through the local TV channels. She was finally able to find a Spanish dubbed episode of Dr. Sexy, since the dialogue didn't really matter she settled on that. The moments after dusk brought about another set of ringing church bells which River ignored in favor of her TV show.
The church was filled to the brim with crying townspeople. Dylan lay in his handmade coffin in the middle of the church. Leah sat next to Catherine and Rob, her arms around the grieving the mother as Pastor Gideon started his sermon. Dean and Sam stood quietly against the back wall. "Dylan was a righteous young man who did his best to serve the Lord and walk in his light. Though he is gone from us, Rob, Catherine you will be reunited with him in Paradise. It has been promised to us." Gideon told them.
A strange choking, muttering sound broke over his sermon as Leah fell from her pew convulsing on the ground in front of Dylan's coffin. "Leah!" Walt knelt by his daughter trying to protect her head from slamming into the ground. Leah's convulsions stopped as suddenly they had started and she sat up shakily.
"Oh daddy," she cried into her hands. "Daddy, it's Dylan he spoke to me." Catherine let out a startled cry. Leah continued, "Dylan gave me a warning if we don't follow the Angels commandments we will not be allowed into the kingdom of Heaven." The congregation cried out as one, many demanding answers and guidance. The brothers shared a worried look as Leah tried to composed herself.
"No drinking, no gambling, no blasphemy, no profanity, no pre-marital sex…they basically just outlawed you and River," Sam muttered as they walked out of the church.
"Yeah, well when in Rome, " Dean answered. "I'm going to go talk to Home Skillet about her visions. Why don't you hit up Gideon and we'll see if their stories jive." Sam nodded and Dean made his way back inside the church to speak to Leah. He found her resting in her fathers study. "Leah, hey can we talk?" Dean gently asked after knocking on the door.
She sat up and nodded, "Yes of course." She straightened her skirt making sure her knees were covered and crossed her legs demurely as Dean sat next to her on the couch.
"I need to know what you know about Heaven, about what's coming." Dean asked.
"I know there is a big fight coming. And when we ,The Chosen, win and we will win; we will inherit the Kingdoms of heaven and earth." Leah told him.
"As long as you and everyone in this town follow directions and fall in line?" Dean said.
"It's not my place to question Gods plan," she answered.
"So we just follow blindly. Even if it means they're leading us right off a cliff?" Dean asked.
Leah tilted her head and gave Dean a sad, scrutinizing look, "It must be extremely difficult to be the vessel of Heaven and have no faith."