Chapter Thirty-Four

Leah knew she wasn't strapped to a cold slab of metal in some dark, dank earthen basement, but when her vision cleared and she was finally able to see her surroundings, she was totally unprepared for the view that greeted her. The room she was being kept in was hardly a hell hole; in fact, she was shocked to see that it closely resembled the guestroom in her late grandmother's house! The 'slab' was a twin sized bed, complete with faded chenille bedspread, its worn wooden headboard pushed up against a wall of the timeworn room. Those walls were papered in a combination print - blue and yellow wildflowers on the top half, pinstripes in coordinating colors on the bottom - and pale yellow curtains topped with a frilly valance covered the room's only window. The remaining furniture, a large 6-drawer dresser, small nightstand and desk with chair, was made with the simple design and straight lines classic of the 1960's. The overall effect was disturbing, perhaps more so than if she'd actually been in a basement because this was the sort of place one associated with love and tenderness, not deviant criminal activities.

For what Leah assumed to be the better part of half an hour, the young man who was keeping her in that room had been bustling in and out, so she'd been using that time to study him. In case she managed to escape, she wanted his outward appearance committed to memory. He was a little taller than her, reaching maybe 5'10", and looked to weigh around 260 lbs., very little of which was muscle. His dark blond hair was short with a bit of wave and looked hacked up, as if he'd tried to cut it himself. His nose was long and slender with a small, dark mole just below the right nostril, his lips were narrow and his wide-set eyes were a very pale blue. Something about him was eerily familiar but she was certain she didn't know him.

She also attempted to draw him into conversation each time he entered the room and there were two reasons for that. One, it continually reminded the young man that she was a living, breathing human being and not some sort of inanimate object or lab rat. The more real she appeared in his eyes, the more difficult it might be for him to hurt her. And two, it helped her attain a better perspective of his strange behavior. Her captor was proving to be a true enigma. On one hand, he'd taken part in her kidnapping, was holding her against her will and was fully aware of what his partner had planned, while on the other his demeanor was that of a soft-spoken, somewhat shy man who seemed to be trying his best to distance himself from what was happening to her.

The conversations were terse and aloof, and had allowed only an infinitesimal amount of insight into his persona. Most of the information he'd begrudgingly offered up, i.e., his name - Nigel and his age - 22, would be extremely helpful AFTER her escape, but what she was working for was something that would assist in bringing her to that end.

Since he seemed more than willing to try and keep her as comfortable as possible considering, as he'd put it, "the circumstances", Leah had begun making one innocuous request after another, trying to see how much she could control him. The results thus far had given her more than a little hope, as Nigel had been happy to comply with each entreaty.

While she once again waited for his return, Leah tried tugging at her bindings. Her arms were stretched out above her head, attached to the woodens slats of the headboard, her ankles to the footboard. She hoped to loosen them a bit or at least ease the deep-seated ache that was beginning to form in the muscles of her arms and lower back, but the heavy straps weren't giving an inch. Despite a sharp twinge in her right shoulder, she did manage to lift her head and crank it sideways, which allowed her to view the door of the small, musty bedroom. To her surprise, it was partially open. Nigel must have failed to pull it closed properly after his last visit. She could see the end of a poorly lit hallway and the wooden railing that bordered the head of the stairway.

To see freedom so close was both heartening and dismaying. Temporarily losing focus, Leah began to yank on the bindings with renewed vigor until her wrists and ankles screamed out for clemency. The sudden pains shooting up her rapidly numbing limbs helped her regain her composure. Closing her eyes, she stilled, trying to relax and slow her breathing back down to a calmer pace. She had to hold it together just a bit longer as she'd already set a plan into motion. Saving her strength was what mattered in case it worked.

"Come on, Nigel." she whispered as she waited for his arrival.

She'd asked him for some lotion to help assuage the chafing on her wrists. This request was the one that could set her free. If he came through, she would try to convince him that the raw skin beneath the inflexible bindings was so bad, the only way to soothe it would be for him to uncuff one arm at a time and slather it with the lotion. After all, he would hardly believe her capable of doing any harm with just one arm undone. And that's where her need for strength came into play because once she was free, she would have to try and overpower him with quick hard punches to his face. In truth, one solid hit to the nose at the right angle could do serious damage, thus giving her enough time to free her other arm and try for a stranglehold...

A shadow fell along the hallway's faded brown carpet, signaling Nigel's return. Leah's breathing quickened as she anticipated the scene that would follow. Her escape was actually within reach. The stocky boy appeared in the doorway and she immediately noted a difference in his stature. He almost seemed taller and there was a definitive charge in the air that was practically tangible. An efflux of fear embraced her as he stepped into the room, hands tucked obliquely behind his back. Leah instinctively tried to pull away even though she knew the action was physically impossible. What the hell was going on? This was hardly the same timorous, insecure boy who had left the room mere minutes before.

Coming to stand beside the bed, Nigel peered down at her, his eyes shimmering with a soft glow. "Nice try, Leah. You're a smart girl so I fully expected you to do something like this. I warned Nigel to be careful. I told him you would try to outsmart him, but he's a worthless little fool who wouldn't heed my advice."

Multiple possibilities bombarded Leah's mind - demonic possession, dual personalities, schizophrenia? Her mouth moved as she tried to form a question, but not one word tumbled forth. She was literally stunned into silence.

"Not sure what's going on? I would have thought I'd made a bigger impression last time." He leaned over her and Leah's eyes dipped down to where his arms were still clasped behind his back. Seeing where her gaze fell, he laughed. "Oh yes, I have something for you. Though I don't think you'll like it as much as that lotion you sent my idiotic cousin in search of."

Bigger impression last time? Cousin? She was becoming more confused by the minute. He wasn't making any sense, but then, what did she expect from a guy who'd tased, kidnapped and planned to torture her? With her plan blown, and a much more deadly appearing Nigel to deal with, Leah decided to start asking questions and see how much this 'new' abductor was willing to share. "I'm sorry I don't recognize you. But then, you did pick a pretty damn good disguise, didn't you? You are...?"

"Direct line of questioning. Very nice. That's exactly what I expect from you, Leah. Especially now that you're a big bad hunter like your boyfriend." A nefarious smile touched his thin lips as he continued. "You never met Nigel so I can understand your confusion. The only things he and I have in common are the blond hair and blue eyes." He doubled over so that his face was poised just above hers. "Please don't let his pathetic excuse for a body turn you off. When we were intimate last year, it was my body that had the pleasure. Though not my mind. Funny, isn't it? This time it's my mind, so to speak, with another's body."

There was a sharp intake of breath as Leah realized just who she was dealing with. David Manning! This was unreal! She had stumbled onto a newspaper article about the man while visiting Amy nearly six months back. According to the report, Manning had been right there in Norman, Oklahoma visiting some family and had been involved in a fatal car crash.

She should have known the sick bastard would be a problem even after his death! Looks like she was going to have to deal with the man once again. Or rather, his spirit.

"What happened, Manning? Hell didn't want you either?" she quipped.

He found her comment amusing, his tinny laugh making her skin crawl. "Cute. It'll be interesting to see how long your false sense of bravado lasts." His left hand snaked out from behind his back so he could stroke his fingertips along her cheek. "But since you asked, I haven't had the pleasure of reaching hell yet. There's still unfinished business for me right here."

Leah recoiled at his touch. She was hit with graphic images of the sexual nightmare she'd endured the last time she'd encountered Manning and she nearly gagged on the bile that rose high in her throat. To go through that again would be a living hell, but then, that was what he wanted. After all, the bastard was dead and had refused to move on. And of course, a simple haunting wasn't enough for him. He'd figured out how to take over Nigel's body so he could get to her. So he could make her relive that nightmare over and over until he tired of the game. Then he would kill her and do what, she wondered? Was he planning to go after all the women he'd molested while he was possessed by the incubus? Or had he already gotten to them?

"Let me guess, you want a repeat of last year's disgusting behavior, right? Have you already done this to the others?"

"Repeat? It'll hardly feel like a repeat to me. I didn't truly get to experience you, Leah. I was plagued by only vague memories of what that demonic little shit did. But now I get to do it all!" His eyes were blazing as he sat down beside her, resting his right hand on the bed as he did. He had his fingers wrapped around the handle of a Woodcraft hunting knife. The dramatic sweep of its 4 1/2 inch blade looking every bit as ominous as it was intended to be. "As for the others, I'll get to them in time. You should be thrilled to know I came for you first. And you know what the best part is? No price to pay because I'm already dead. I can do whatever I want to you and if I get caught, I simply leave his body and sweet Nigel takes the fall."

He glanced down at the frumpy body he was borrowing. "I really would have preferred a body in better condition, but I suppose we can't always get everything we want, can we?"

Leah forced a smile, though her fear had reached an entirely new level. This was no longer a weak, uncertain mortal she might overtake. With David's spirit inside him, Nigel would cower leaving his cousin in full control of his body. The odds were now stacked highly against her. "No, but we do sometimes get what we deserve, David. Don't keep hell waiting too long."

He hovered over her and breathed in deeply, enjoying the smell of her fear. "You talk tough now, Leah, but you're scared. I promise you, it won't be that bad. In fact, you might even come to like what I do to you. Maybe the only talking you'll do will be in the form of begging." He held up the knife and briefly inspected it, then dragged the flat side of the blade lightly over her cheek in a macabre caress that imitated the gentle one his fingers had performed only moments before. "Begging me for more."

Leah's hands balled into fists as she grappled with her heightened emotions. Yes, she was scared. But she was also mad as hell. How dare he continue to try and afflict his demented will on others even in death? Herself. Nigel. And who knew how many others he planned to torment. Beg for more? She wanted to hear him beg, to be sent to hell where he belonged!

What she needed was Nigel's help. Maybe she could work on building his confidence. He was allowing his cousin to use him, but if he fought hard enough, he could regain control. He could force David out of his body and keep him out.

"Cold day in hell, Manning. And speaking of hell, you really should consider heading that way. Otherwise it'll be up to Nigel to send you there and I'm sure he'd be more than happy to. He's tougher than you think, David. Braver than you imagine."

"Forget it. I know what you're..." David stopped, his head turning toward the door. His mouth twisted into what looked like some sort of demonic smirk. "Yes." He stood up and reaching into his back pants pocket, pulled out a tattered blue handkerchief. Setting the knife down, he used the piece of cloth to gag Leah, tying it securely behind her head before retrieving the weapon. "Now the real fun is getting ready to begin." he said, and hurried from the room.

Now what the hell was happening? He'd looked at the door so he must have heard something. Maybe someone was coming. Was there another person involved or...

Her eyes flew to the door, but all she could do was watch and wait.

Dean guided the Impala along the narrow street of the quiet suburban neighborhood until he found the house number he was looking for. Bringing the car to a stop in front of the weathered, two-story building, he cut the engine. 1257 Park View Lane. Leah was in there. He grabbed the door handle and was about to hop out when his cell phone rang.

Snatching it from his pocket, Dean flipped the top, relieved that it was finally working. He'd been trying to reach his brother ever since speaking with Manning, but the damned thing hadn't been able to pick up a signal. "Sam? I found Leah." he said as he tucked the phone between his ear and shoulder. Pulling his pistol from behind his back, he checked it, then tucked it back in place before getting out of the car.

"Dean! Finally!" Sam said excitedly. "I've been trying to call you."

"Yeah, me too. D'you hear me? I'm going in after Leah now. You won't believe..."

"Dean? You there?"

Fantastic. Finally got a signal yet Sam couldn't hear him. "I'm here, Sammy. I'm at 1257 Park View Lane. David Manning's got Leah. Got that, Sam?"

"I don't know! I can barely hear him." Sam was saying. "Dean? Did you say..." Sam's voice faded out.

"Shit!" Dean headed for the house, hoping for better reception as he went. "Sam?" Nothing. What the hell, it wasn't like he couldn't handle this himself. A quick glance at the phone showed him the call hadn't ended, so just in case, he repeated the information to his brother one more time before hanging up.

Shoving the phone into the pocket of his leather jacket, he looked around and saw that the area was deserted, which didn't come as much of a surprise. By the look of the homes, the manicured lawns and the occasional sedan he'd almost bet the entire neighborhood was made up of either middle aged couples who were at their 9 to 5 jobs or retirees who were nestled in their recliners watching reruns of The Dick Van Dyke Show. That was just fine with him. He wouldn't have to worry about any of Manning's nosy neighbors causing problems.

Making his way to the garage door, Dean looked in one of the small square windows that covered its length and spotted a black 4 door Honda Civic parked inside. "Not bad, Amy." he said softly.

Looked like Manning hadn't been jerking him around. This was where the bastard had Leah. Moving to the front door, he glanced around once more, then reached out and tried the handle. It turned easily, the door swinging open with the slightest push. Dean slipped inside, his right hand automatically reaching behind his back to once again take hold of the pistol.

He was standing in the foyer, a staircase directly in front of him with a narrow hallway to the right and a small sitting room to the left. Initial guess was she was hidden away in the basement, so he started toward the hallway, but something didn't feel right. Dean's eyes were drawn to the stairway and after a slight pause, he followed his gut instinct and headed up instead.

When Dean reached the top, he immediately spied the open door to his right. There were two more doors on that side of the hall, but they were both closed. Same with the two doors on his left. Looks like I start with door number one, he thought. He could see a desk and a small bed near the back of the room and as he approached the door a movement from the bed caught his eye.

Leah! She was stretched out, arms and legs bound, head lifted and turned toward him. For the first time since she'd disappeared Dean felt like he could breathe. He couldn't tell for sure if Manning had hurt her, but the fact that she was alert was enough to ease a little of the tension in his body. Now he just had to get her the hell out of there.

Dean motioned that everything was going to be okay by giving her a thumbs up as he moved cautiously into the room. If Manning was in there, the only possible place he could be was in the closet so Dean went straight for it. He stood to the side and flung open the door, gun aimed, but the small space was empty.

He moved to the bed, his green eyes raking over her as he searched for signs of abuse. Nothing, thank God. He didn't know what the hell he would have done if she'd been beaten. "Baby, you okay?" he touched her face lightly before reaching for the strap at her wrist.

Leah vigorously shook her head and with muffled words she tried to warn Dean through the gag that David was a spirit. A blast of icy air hit them and Leah knew it was too late. Dean's eyes grew large as they briefly locked with hers, then he was sailing backwards across the room. He slammed into the wall, the gun flying from his hand as he crumbled to the floor, unconscious.

TBC