ROAD UNTRAVELLED

Dedication: To all of my regular readers, you guys rock and to Carikube, you inspire me.

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Disclaimer: Sigh I thought I managed to gain ownership of Supernatural and the cast and crew but then I woke up and realised that I was only dreaming.

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Author's note 1: I have been doing some research for something else and came across something interesting that got me thinking about why Erik Kripke chose Lawrence Kansas. Then I stumbled across a possible explanation which as per usual got my wicked imagination working over time.

Author's Note 2: If you want to find out anything about Stull Cemetery, Google has heaps of links, also Wikipedia has some interesting stuff.

Author's Note 3: Promise no Supernatural Characters will be permanently maimed or killed in the course of this story, they will all recover I promise.

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CHAPTER 6

Missouri held her tongue in check when she heard the silent cussing and fretting coming from Dean, he was like a beacon of helplessness and it broke her heart. 'Come on Dean Winchester get it together we've got two psychics to find.'

'I really don't need you lady.' Dean pushed her away and staggered back to where he saw Sam vanish.

'Uhhuh and I am the Queen of England.' Missouri shot back limping heavily she followed him, 'Dean what is it?'

'Blood.' Dean said simply running his fingertips through the still moist puddle. 'Sam's blood.'

'Dean he's not...'

'Don't say it and don't even think it lady coz I aint listening.' Dean growled, 'can you feel them?'

'Not exactly.'

'What is that supposed to mean.'

'It means that I don't feel them individually but I do feel an energy coming from down there.' Missouri pointed to the spot where Dean crouched, 'it is very strong here.'

'So we gonna just stand here and twiddle our thumbs?'

'Stop the sniping and start searching there should be an entrance around here somewhere.' Missouri glared at Dean, 'over there a bit more, it's very strong there.'

Dean grumbled under his breath knowing full well that Missouri could hear him clearly, cautiously holding his arm close to his chest he made his way along the ground searching for any signs of a trip switch. 'Missouri over here.'

Just as Missouri reached, his side the ground below them began to shake, 'oh fuck.' Dean breathed, 'hold on.'

'To what exactly?' Missouri asked and then clung to Dean tightly, jarring his broken limb but before, he could react the ground beneath them moved and they were tumbling down a long tunnel.

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Sam tried to yank at the ropes holding him prisoner on the chair but the more he fought the tighter they became. He struggled to yell but the metal gag fastened around his mouth prevented any sound only allowed enough air to keep him breathing comfortably.

'Ah I see that you are awake again.' That voice came back just behind him, Sam grunted and tried again with new vigour but the only thing he succeeded in doing was to rip into the skin of his wrists.

'Now, now child that is no way to act, you're hurting yourself.' The voice chided him. Straining Sam tried to listen to for any sound to indicate where his captor was but all he could hear was the sounds of breathing, how many of them were there?

'So my children I think it is time to raise the curtain so to speak,' the voice said with a dramatic flair, Sam felt a white fire pulsate into life behind his eyes, he screamed silently against the gag as his eyes felt like they were about to explode. Unable to hold back the sobs or the tears he squeezed his eyes closed until the sensations passed. Cautiously he opened them and blinked rapidly as his sight finally righted itself. He found himself tied to a large chair, one of a dozen placed in a circle all facing the centre, with his head fixed in a vice Sam was unable to see everything but as far as he could tell, a young person occupied each chair, all the same as himself. Tied down and their heads in vices with the metal gag fastened tightly.

'Ah perfect, my circle is complete.' The voice sighed happily, 'children these are your new brother and sister, Sam and Tracey, now the cast is complete and the second act can begin.'

Breathing heavily against the gag, Sam strained to see where the voice came from but with every movement, the vice tightened the pressure around his skull.

'And so the director gives his cast, his children their staring roles. I have searched far and wide to bring you all here for this production. Now for our newest arrivals I will once again explain for all of you to understand. First up I want to congratulate on winning your roles in this the greatest show ever, at midnight you will perform a feat no other has ever succeeded.' The mists wove its way around the chairs as it spoke until it stopped in front of Sam slowly the mists coalesced into the form of a large man. With shining black eyes and long black hair tied back in a loose plait, handsome without being pretty he exuded a timeless age. Tall and willowy he gave the appearance of a great showman.

'Ah Sam, Sam, Sam, you have no idea on how long I have waited for this moment, I have followed you throughout your life waiting for this moment. Such consternation my son, do not fear all is as it was foretold. Each of your new siblings seated around us are like you Sam, all have strong gifts some natural some given but psychic well and true. With your combined gifts we shall unlock the gates of hell and let the true Lord and Master rule his dominion. The usurper will be crushed and the true God will sit on his throne. At midnight your powers will be focused to the centre where it will be channelled directly to the church in Stull cemetery where the gates of hell wait to be unlocked.'

Sam started to hyperventilate as he heard the maniacs plans, struggling against his bonds he made his wrists bleed again, his right one became slick enough to slide out of the ropes. He had to concentrate and to get out before the maniac can kill them all.

'Ah, ah no you don't Sam, not that easily,' his captor tormented him, 'oh by the way the name is Judas.' Leaning close to Sam, Judas locked stares with him the sneer spreading across the darkly handsome face as he saw the unbridled fear reflected from Sam's eyes. Pulling a sharp dagger from his belt, he brandished it in front of Sam's face a few times and then he plunged it directly into Sam's wrist pinning him to the arm of the chair. Sam screamed against the gag as the pain exploded in his arm sending tentacles spiralling upwards towards his neck and nerves. Tears fell unheeded down his face as he fought to remain conscious.

'I only need your gifts Sam, your body is nothing to me except something to play with.' Judas jeered at him, before turning to stare at the other horrified prisoners all sharing in Sam's agony. 'That goes for all of you, now rest my children and prepare yourselves for the greatest roles of your short pathetic lives.'

Judas winked down at Sam and then swept out of the chamber leaving his captives terrified and silent.

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Dean rolled Missouri from him after four attempts and slowly pulled himself up to a seated position, leaning against the cool wall he caught his breath and swallowed down on the pain blossoming through his momentarily numb body.

'Dean boy was that you I landed on?' Missouri asked her voice sounding hoarse.

'Yeah it was.' Dean replied too exhausted to think of a quick comeback, 'you okay?'

'Yeah I think so, oh my dear boy you look like...'

'Don't say it Missouri please.' Dean wheezed he could feel the pressure of broken ribs on his lungs, coughing he let out a gasp of pain and felt as though his head was detached from the rest of him.

'Breath Dean, nice and slowly.' Missouri counselled him, making sure that he could see her face, they breathed in unison until Dean's spasm ended and he looked less like he was going to pass out.

'Okay, I'm okay.' He rasped out, 'man could I use a drink about now.'

'Water okay?' Missouri asked pulling out a small flask from her coat pocket, 'holy water but...'

'Better than nothing,' Dean managed a small grin as he sipped the cool fluid and then he passed it to Missouri before resting his head against the cool rocks again. 'So where are we?'

'Dunno but Dean honey is that Sam's shoe over there?' Missouri asked blinking at the object half-hidden beneath the debris.

'Yeah it is I guess where on the right track.' Dean said as he managed to haul himself up and then offered a hand to Missouri, squinting hard he looked down at the soft soil ahead of him, 'looks like Sam crawled outta here.'

'So what we doing here?' Missouri asked arching an eyebrow at Dean, 'and don't cuss at me boy.'

'I – I just try and keep up.' Dean took the lead and slowly followed Sam's smudged tracks stopping when they reached the next small chamber, 'okay by the look of it he stopped here, there's more hand and footprints over here and what looks like footprints in the entrance.'

'Dean I can feel them ... this way.' Missouri limped ahead of him heedless of his warnings, 'they were dragged down here.'

'Missouri damn it will you wait for me.' Dean said but then stopped suddenly when he saw the dark droplets glittering in the dull lighting, 'more blood.' He whispered he could feel his rage building conquering his pain and anxiety, he was now in full hunter mode, his face devoid of emotion, his eyes glittered coldly, and Missouri turned to look at him and felt shivers go down her spine.

'Let's go get Sammy.' Dean said in a low-pitched voice taking the lead again.

Missouri shook her head and sensibly, remained silent as she limped after Dean, grateful for his presence to keep her grounded the energy growing exponentially with each step forward. 'They're close,' she whispered hoping that Dean would keep a clear head with what lay ahead.

Coming to a stop Dean crouched behind a large cropping of rocks and signalled for Missouri to drop down behind him, silently he pointed into the large chamber just ahead of them.

'Oh my sweet Lord.' Missouri muttered breathlessly as she took in the sight, she could feel the tenseness radiating from Dean.

'Sammy?' came a strangled whisper the only indication that he was still aware of where they were.

In the chamber they saw the large high-backed chairs circling the podium, each holding prisoner young men and women alternating in their positions, Tracey and Sam were directly opposite them, Tracey's face filled with fear and a strange blankness but when Dean looked at his younger brother his heart stopped. The pain etched on Sam's face was evidence enough but then Dean's gaze travelled down to where the knife protruded from Sam's arm. The blood pooling on the floor at his feet, fine tremors passed through Sam's body and his eyes looked glazed and unfocused.

'Damn it he's bleeding out.' Dean whispered fiercely glaring at Missouri when she laid a hand on his arm preventing from jumping up and barrelling into the chamber.

'Dean think about it, we don't know who took them or why ... or where he is.'

'I gotta get to Sammy, he's losing blood.'

'I know but I have a bad feeling, Dean there's something evil down here, lurking we have to be careful.'

'What? Tell me what it is Missouri.' Dean demanded, 'see you can't tell me its all just hocus pocus, I aint buying it sister I am going to get my brother back.'

'Dean!' Missouri pointed to the man who had just returned to the chamber, ducking down again Dean watched carefully as the stranger went around to each of his prisoners adjusting the vices on their heads or other various devices finally stopping in front of Tracey.

'Oh such a beautiful angel, perfect for my leading lady.' Judas sighed running his finger down Tracey's face, 'and you my hero, I don't mind your fighting me it shows spirit, much more than the others here have shown.' Judas squatted down in front of Sam and almost caressingly wiped the sweat from Sam's face, 'I see that you have learnt your lesson.' With one hard pull he dislodged the knife and watched with satisfaction as Sam's eyes focused on his face, the set of his jaw told Judas everything he needed to know. 'Yes you are the perfect hero.' He muttered, wiping a tear from Sam's eye with the pad of his thumb. Clearing his throat he span around to look at his silent captives, 'soon my children, soon your roles will go down in history.'

'Man is freaking nuts.' Dean whispered sliding back away from the rock for a moment, his broken arm now so swollen it felt numb and heavy. He raked a quick gaze over Missouri assessing her injuries, neither one of them are in any state to do much good until they knew exactly who and what they are up against.

'Missouri what is it?'

'Sam's pain, I – I can feel it, oh that sweet boy, so much pain and anguish.' Missouri moaned squeezing her eyes shut, 'I can feel their fear all of them.'

'Ah shit.' Dean risked another gaze over the rocks to check the chamber, the crazy guy was gone before he carefully edged closer to get a clearer look holding his hand up for Missouri to stay put as he crept stealthily into the chamber.

'Sammy?' Dean whispered as loudly as he could crouching down next to his brother, 'Sammy hey can you hear me dude?'

Sam blinked and rolled his eyes to the direction of Dean's voice but he gave up deciding it was a trick of his mind. Cussing under his breath Dean moved around until he was in Sam's line of sight, 'hey Sammy look at me.'

The recognition and relief in Sam's eyes made Dean catch his breath and force back the rising lump of tears, 'hang on dude I'm gonna get you outta there.'

Awkwardly with one hand Dean finally snapped the metal gag open allowing Sam to take deep breaths and clear his throat, 'Dean get outta here, Judas will be back any second.' Sam rasped 'please don't let him get you too.'

'Sammy you can see?' Dean sighed with relief, 'what's going on?'

'He wants ... to raise ... to use us to open the gates to hell in Stull cemetery.'

'How?'

'We're all psychics.' Sam managed to get out, 'something about using our combined powers to create the energy needed to raise the devil himself.'

'Oh fuck that's all we need.'

'Dean you have to get out of here before he comes back.'

'Not leaving you behind Sammy.' Dean said adamantly once again attempting to undo the restraints with one hand.

'Dean he's coming I can feel him.' Sam whispered urgently, 'please put the gag back and hide.'

Dean opened his mouth to argue but relented and with an apologetic smile he replaced the gag but left it unlocked giving the illusion instead. With a wink Dean hurried back to his hiding spot next to Missouri, Judas stood in the entranceway and stared around suspiciously something felt different to him. shrugging his shoulders, he went back to Tracey.

'I need a small offering to begin with and what better is one from my leading lady,' Judas grinned moving quickly he dragged his dagger across Tracey's forearm only deep enough for the blood to run free capturing it in a silver bowl. Satisfied he wrapped a makeshift bandage around the cut and moved to squat in front of Sam, 'now for my hero, what better offering than one from a true hero.' Smiling brightly he pressed hard onto Sam's already injured wrist, eliciting blood flowing from it once again.

Sam screamed against the gag and started finally to blackout ignoring the pain he craved the emptiness of the darkness.

Judas finished gathering his offering and splashed the centre area with the mixed blood of Sam and Tracey, his gagged prisoners all stared wide-eyed at his antics all except Sam, a soft moan fell from behind his gag as he slipped further into oblivion.

'Hero?' Judas turned hearing the soft sound, 'what is it my hero?' Rushing back to Sam's side he felt for his pulse and then checked his wrist before undoing the restraints and sliding his fingers over the gag, frowning when it swung open with no effort. 'Hero are you in there?' he asked tapping Sam's face lightly trying to rouse him.

'This is not supposed to happen.' Angrily he slapped Sam hard splitting his lip and spraying blood with the force. Sam's head dropped to his chest as unconsciousness took control of his senses. Snarling Judas stormed out of the chamber only to return seconds later with a filled syringe the mists hovering around the backs of the chairs splitting into twelve small clouds of mist one for each chair. Grabbing Sam by his hair, he forced his head back and exposed a clean line of neck. 'You are not going to do this to me hero.' Plunging the syringe directly into Sam's artery emptying it he threw it to one side and then he slapped Sam's face harder than before, slowly Sam's eyes opened and he blinked sluggishly up at his tormentor. He could feel the blood dripping down his face and mouth, 'why?' he whispered his voice so soft Judas had to lean close to hear him.

Missouri held onto Dean's good arm tightly preventing him from pouncing there and then, 'sit boy now.'

'I aint a dog Missouri and he aint gonna hurt my brother like that.'

'And what good will you do Sam if ya'll end up dead? Think about it Dean Winchester you've got one good arm and that is just the start.'

'So what do I do sit here and watch him beat Sam to death?'

'No but we have to be smart about this.' Missouri chewed her lower lip, but just then, Judas started to chant the beginning of the ritual, as he redid Sam's bonds, fastened the gag tightly and repositioned the vice forcing Sam to remain still with his head rigid. The drugs coursing through his system made his muscles and nerves jump and his breathing quicken to the point of hyperventilating.

'Time is approaching we must begin.' Judas waved his hands and the mists enshrouded the head of each of his prisoners, silently they writhed in pain as they are forced to use their dominate psychic ability.

The power pulsated through the room, sending Missouri flying across the passage where she hid with Dean crashing her into the wall. Dean cussed and pulled his gun ready to storm in, broken arm or not.

Just as he made his move, a mist shot towards him, engulfing him in a terrifying mass of past supernatural kills, monsters, ghosts, poltergeists, vampires and werewolves they all attacked his senses and his mind.

Sobbing aloud he dropped to his knees and curled into a ball trying to protect himself from the paranormal attack. Missouri pulled herself up and crawled slowly over to where Dean huddled. 'Oh my poor boy, what is happening to you?' she whispered.

TBC