#CHAPTER 5#

So that means I need to get to the library - which is probably where Sam is. I decide to risk it.

Search on a computer for local disappearances. It comes up with Danielle Napier, a 23 year old who vanished from her bed at the camp, only sign was her blood smearing the walls in 1992.

Okay so it'll probably be a spirit then. I have salt, could use some iron. Where do I get it?

My stomach rumbles - time for lunch I think. At a nearby cafe I grab a couple of cajun chicken salad tortilla wraps, put them in my pack, then head back to the library.

Finding Sam huddled at a corner table with several stacks of newspapers, walk right up behind him so we can talk quietly. "Hey Sam, how's it going?"

He looks up in surprise. "Good, what you doing here?"

"Run out of things to do, left my book at camp and the library at home is like a safe haven for me. I got us some lunch if you need a break and feel like joining me." pointing my thumb at my back pack.

"Yeah?"

"Chicken salad wrap okay? I love them."

Sam grins. "Thanks. I'm just about done here."

"Need any help?"

"Help me return those?"

"Sure." Picking up the pile of papers he indicated. The top one has a headline from two years ago.

'SECOND BODY OF A MALE FOUND AT LOCAL CAMPSITE Tragedy strikes again as…'

Skimming the article while I walk, both the guys were age 23, like Danielle. Okay, so is he on the same track as me? "Come on you, let's eat." I demand quietly. He picks up his backpack, slings it over his shoulder and we sit down at a picnic table in the library courtyard; hand him one of the wraps and attack mine hungrily.

On the way back to camp we talk about some of the books we've read. "So what you gonna do this avo?" I ask him.

"See where they've gotten on Jamie's case and see where I can help. Are you going to be okay?"

Slowly I answer. "I think so, we'll see." This change of scene should help me adapt back at camp.

"Promise me something?"

Warily I look him in the eye. "What?"

"No dream root."

Roll my eyes "Guides honour." giving the sign once more. I smile at his laugh. "Alright." he says.

Back at camp I dump my pack and go back outside to find a group that I feel remotely comfortable around, ignoring some of the pity looks occasionally shot my way. A bunch of people decide to go up one of the trails through the forest. "Come with us Grace? A walk will do you good."

"Sure just let me grab my bag." Put most of my shopping from pack into my bag, fill up my water bottle and go to meet with the others. Some way along the track a voice chips in. "Anyone want to find the cave?"

"I don't mind," most agree with me. A little way into the cave I see something on the ground glint, it's a semi-buried earring. Random, I pocket it. We keep exploring until it's too dark, too far in to continue on without torches, and we have to turn back. Clean up for dinner, sit down with Carter who is sitting on her own in the mess.

She swallows before greeting me. "Hey Grace, how was your day?"

"Fine."

"What did you get up to?"

"Went to town with Sam for the morning, then went on the cave walk. We just got back. I'm starving."

"That's good. So dig in; are you feeling better today?" I take in a small mouthful.

"Hmm. So you on duty tonight?" I begin to shovel it in, talking in between bites.

"No, I'm not."

"Okay well you aren't planning on having me watched again are you?"

"No, but if you would like some I could keep you company, if you want?"

"Should be alright. I can text you if I need you?" She just gives me a skeptical look. "Come on Tapping, I haven't had alone time since yesterday morning." I beg of her.

"Okay. If you need anything at all, you'll be in touch?"

"I'll see you later." Get up to scrape my plate and go back to the dorm.

Sam is there, sitting in the chair, papers spread on his bed. "Productive afternoon?"

He sighs putting more papers down and scrubbing his hand down his face. "Not really."

"Have you had dinner?"

"Nope."

"You should while there's still plenty left." Flopping down on my bed. Just lie there looking at him for a few minutes before sitting back in my corner with my book. Look up when he sighs, rubbing his eyes. "What's up?"

"Nothing. Don't worry."

"Don't worry?" Swing to edge of my bunk. "You look like crap, you say you didn't get anything done this afternoon, you haven't eaten since lunch," ticking each thing off on my fingers. "I have no idea when you last slept, and I need to know what happened to Jamie but you and Tapping have been watching out for me. We aren't going to get answers if you're not taking care of yourself. Take. A. Break. Please?"

"I can't."

"Fine," getting up. "I'll go grab you a plate." Spot a picture on the bed, it's a photo of Danielle and something clicks, shove a hand in my pocket. I walk out, down to the bathroom and wash off the earring I found in the cave entrance - a gold circle with a stone in the middle that looks just like Danielle's!

Oh, bloody hell! Is she in the cave? The cogs are turning now. Is this why Sam is stuck? He doesn't know enough? This is getting ridiculous! How can I help him without spilling? The freaking headache is coming back too. I should just start with getting him fed and refill my bottle while I'm at it.

"Here. Put that down." Holding out the plate for him to take.

"Well aren't you bossy now," sniggering as he clears a space amongst the folders of research to eat.

"Payback," grinning back at him. Take a couple of ibuprofen. "There must be something else I can do to help you?"

"Nah, it's best if I do this on my own." He replies after watching me take the pills.

"Alright let me know if you change your mind." Damn he's being difficult. Friggin' stubborn Winchester! Grab some of my chocolate and lie down. This is going to be a long night.

How am I going to find out if she's in that cave? I need to get back up there. Can't pack the bag in front of Sam. Need to get him outta here for a few minutes.

"What's wrong?" he asks.

Look up at him. "Huh?"

"You look upset and didn't want you to flip if I asked whether you were okay again."

A total light bulb moment strikes me. "Just thinking too much, making me feel like shit. You wouldn't mind going to find Tapping for me would you? Might help you too, bit of fresh air, clear your head."

"Sure thing."

Give it a minute for him to get out of earshot before dragging my bags up to bed put all the salt etc back in my daypack. Place both bags back under my bed (carefully because of the bourbon whiskey bottles). Colonel Carter might be able to help me with the missing hunt items or at least a couple of torches.

"Knock, knock." She says just walking in.

"Hey."

Stands in front of me, showing concern. "Why didn't you just text me?"

"To be selfish and a saint." Breath out. She throws me a questioningly look. "You know I wanted some time to myself but he wouldn't leave and was getting frustrated with his work so I figured two birds one stone, ya know. Probly shouldn't keep him from his work long; reckon you could find me a torch please? I just wanna go for a walk."

She nods. "Be back soon then." I nod too.

A few minutes later Sam comes back, looking me up and down. "You good?" he asks.

"Yup." With a tiny smile. Sam's face still showing that he's concerned, but he settles back in his chair. Send a text to Carter: 'This is going to sound weird but got a spade and anything iron?' No response.

She comes back 10 minutes later, "here you go" handing me a torch. "Ta." Grab my pack and jacket and walk out the room, followed by her.

She closes the door behind her before speaking. "What's with that text?"

Look around the corridor. "In here," pointing to the busted lock room between mine and the blue bathroom. Might be a good idea if no one hears this conversation. Whisper staring at the wall that he sitting on the other side of hoping he can't hear us. "Please don't think I'm crazy, hear me out."

"Come on then."

"Shh," nodding towards my room. "I think Jamie was killed by a ghost." Obviously she wasn't expecting that.

"A ghost?" she whispers back, amused.

"Yeah the girl that disappeared here years ago. I think she's a spirit, that she was killed here and was hidden in that cave my group found on our walk this avo."

"Why?"

"This," extracting the earring from my pocket. "In Sam's research there's a picture of Danielle Napier wearing earrings exactly like this. I found it buried in the cave."

"And the iron? The spade?"

"Well you can fight them off with iron objects and salt is a spirit deterrent but to truly get rid of them you need to burn their bones. I might need to dig up her body which I think is in that cave." Take another breath, when she says nothing I blurt out. "You think I'm crazy, don't you?"

"I'm keeping an open mind. So how do you know all of this?"

Figeting, pick at my fingernails. "I'm a reader, have read a lot, ya tend to come across things."

"Okay. I'm coming with you."

"Righteo. So I have salt, what about a spade and iron?"

"Come on." We head outside to a truck and grab a couple of spades.

Passing her a tube of salt from my bag I warn her, "Go easy on this. Iron? Preferably long. But we need to get moving. The cave is at least an hour up the trail."

"Axes?"

"Fine."

Move as fast as possible silently up the trail. When we get to the cave pointing the torch at a spot on the floor. "I found the earring over there. So why are you doing this? On a ghost hunt with a crazy civilian?"

"With the stuff I've seen nothing is impossible."

"Oh yeah? Like what?" Shining my torch on her upper chest so I can see her face without blinding her.

She looks at me, smiles and bites her lip for a moment. "You wouldn't believe me and I can't."

"National security?" I ask curiously.

"That's one way to put it."

"You know, we are hunting something that shouldn't exist here. I might not find whatever you've seen so unbelievable." She just laughs and carries on silently. After a while, and several dark muddy brown 'rooms' later the temperature drops.

"Oh." See my breath by torchlight. "Crap."

"Grace?"

"She's here, be ready. Hurry we need to find her before she finds us. If you see her, swing the axe or throw some salt at her."

Next thing I know we are flying through the air.

Heavily breathing quickly assessing whether I have any injuries. "Sam?"

"I'm fine."

"Quick." I get up shining the torch around as does she. Okay don't panic.

"Think there's something over here," scraping at the dirt with her foot. I make a start to go to her when a glowy shapeless mass appears to my side, swing my axe through it, and it disappears.

Gasp "I think you're on the right track." Rushing to join her, picking my spade back up. Dig for a bit, it's not long before we find a bone. I can't believe I was right. At least I hope this is Danielle.

"Oh boy."

Heavy thud as Sam gets flung into the wall. "Here we go." No response. "Tapping?"

She groans. "Carter?"

"Keep going." Sam moans, moving to get up. I go back to shoveling when I find the other earring and pocket that too. "It's her, I've found the other one!" Start speeding up.

'Umph' as she gets flung again. "Sam use your axe." No reply. "Sam?" Still nothing. I wave my torch around and run to her. "Carter?" Crap she's unconscious. Pour a salt circle around her and get back to the bones, nearly there when I'm flung again too and I've lost both my spade and axe. Shit!

Grab the salt, my torch is lying a little far away, have to crawl for it. Danielle appears, I throw salt at her, "Damn what's this bitch's problem?" say aloud to myself as I spotlight search for my tools. Eventually think screw it need to get this job done, think I've dug enough with spade not much left, continue just using my hands. Hope that's enough, cover her in salt. Grab my pack from nearby, hunting for the lighter fluid. Danielle appears again. "NO!"

Holding the salt out in front of me, take a good look at her. She has the same wounds as the boys did. Suddenly she's rushing at me, slamming me hard into the ground.

"That's it bitch, you're roasted." OW! My arm hurts, but I have to finish this. Doing my best to ignore the pain I jam it back into my pack, grab the bottle and start squirting all over the bones; and search my pockets for the matches. Find them, strike one and drop it, stepping back.

Shield my face with my arm as the fluid lights up creating a small blazing hot blast wave. Pant heavily as I limp back to Carter rubbing my dirty hands on my top. I kneel beside her, lit by the firelight.

"Sam?" Grabbing her shoulder give her a little shake. "Come on!"

TBC