14 March 2006
Anna pulled the trigger on the shotgun and salt exploded from it, causing the ghost to vanish into thin air. She breathed slowly, calmly, and waited for it to appear once more whilst guarding the victim - a young girl of about 16, Sarah Winham.
"There - there!" she shrieked, pointing simultaneously at the faint figure, finger trembling. Anna fired automatically. The only way to get rid of the ghost was to cremate it - she already knew which graveyard he was buried in, but she couldn't get there without somehow getting Sarah into the ghost's clutches. Instead, she withdrew her mobile with her free hand from her pocket, and dialled the number of one of her colleagues, Bobby Singer.
"Hello?" his voice answered as he picked up.
"Hi! Bobby, I need your help!" Anna fired again. "I need you to go to the Green Valley graveyard, and cremate Samuel Parton!" Bobby didn't hesitate and replied, "Right away!"
"Thanks." She hung up and stuffed the phone back into her pocket and resumed her fight with the ghost.
Finally, the ghost shrivelled into flames - just in the nick of time cause Anna was running out of ammunition. She lowered her shotgun, relieved. Sarah clambered up beside her, clutching her arm.
"I-Is it gone..?" Anna nodded.
"Yes. Oh, thank you Bobby Singer!"
Anna drove Sarah home from the library (where they'd been attacked) in her red Viper. Sarah almost instantly sprung out of the car when they reached her stop and sprinted home.
"You're welcome!!" Anna called to her. She rolled her eyes when the door slammed shut, and drove away. Anna dialled Bobby's number again as she drove.
"Hey, thanks Bobby," she greeted.
"It's not me you should be thanking."
"What?"
"I asked my friends if they'd do it, since they were already there -"
"Great…" Anna sighed. "Still, thanks." She hung up once more and sighed.
A week later - sipping her coffee, Anna scanned the newspaper for any other murder victims - it was her new case, and she needed to find the link between them. The paper showed that a few townsfolk were been killed, and all in the same way - a clean cut across their throats and a stab through the head. She knew that there was only one person who'd ever performed their crimes like that, and that was Tom Rine, but it wasn't him - he'd been cremated at his funeral.
She'd found four victims so far - including one that had been murdered just yesterday - Lucas Bolton. Aged 25, married, three children, and also became a friend of Anna's.
A sudden headache attacked her mind, and Anna thought that was enough. She drank the remaining drops of coffee and rested her head in her hands, massaging her temples.
"Excuse me Miss?" Anna looked up. There stood two men, one was taller than the other. Both possessed handsome and similar features - amazing smiles, deep and thoughtful eyes, and you could see their muscles through their suits.
"Yes?"
"FBI. I am Agent Scully, and this is Agent Scott," the taller one informed, both flashing their badge's.
"I'm Taylor, Taylor Cortez (it was the name she was using for this case so she was un-identifiable) - um, sit down," she offered. They sat, and ordered coffee's also. When they'd received theirs, it was Scott who spoke first, "Miss Cortez, we understand that Lucas Bolton was a friend of yours."
"Yeah, he was… but I didn't really know him that well since I came here like, 2, 3 days ago…"
"Any other way, did you notice anything strange about him at first? Or his actions?" Scully asked. Anna raised an eyebrow. That question was something she'd ask when she was investigating. And their outfit's… Anna almost laughed at the obvious - they were hunters, just like she was (they hunt the supernatural).
The guys could see she was trying to hide the smile on her face. They didn't react so they were used to it by now.
"No. He was just an ordinary guy, with an ordinary family, with an ordinary job, in other words - with an ordinary life. Nothing strange about him - "she leaned in. They copied. "But..." If Anna could guess their profession's, then she should let them guess hers. "… All those people are linked with Jeremy Stint… who's dead," she added 's and Scully's (if they were even their real names) eyes widened. Anna simply smiled, gathered her belongings and left, leaving the so-called FBI agents stunned.
"D'you think she's..?"
"Either that or…"
Anna lay forward on the bed of her motel, typing up the names of the dead on the laptop, hoping that she'd be able to Google the link between them all. First up was Heather Winfield.
"Stanford University Heather Co-… No. Catheri- Definitely not..!… Heather Winfield… Harvard College… here!" She bit her lip, hoping this was it - and it was. She scrolled down the page, reading the information about her. There didn't seem anything wrong about her - good grades, ambitious, kind-hearted. She scrolled up and clicked on the students link… Well surprise, surprise.
Kevin West, Lucas Bolton, Mary Solder and Heather Winfield, were all on that page. So was Jeremy Stint… and another Jeremy Stint. 2 Jeremy Stint's? Anna frowned - there was a knock on the door. Her frown softened and she sighed. Rolling off the bed, Anna wondered who it was, and she opened the door.
"Oh, hello," she greeted Scott and Scully.
"Hey," they chorused. Anna stood aside to let them in.
"Can I get you anything? Coffee? Tea?"
"No thank you," Scully replied before his partner could.
"Okay… Well, fire away."
"Fire away?" He frowned.
"Aren't you here to ask questions? About Lucas?"
"Um… no - we are here to ask a question, but not about Lucas…"
"You're a hunter aren't you?"
"Well done!" Anna beamed and clapped. "You two are hunters also! Ask those questions to a hunter, believe me their going to think 'hunter' of you's - so what're your real names?"
"I'm Dean Winchester, the adorable one -" He seemed to be relieved that the curiosity had lifted from him, "And he's my geeky brother Sam."
"Pleasure." She smiled at them both shortly before turning to the laptop. "Anyway, there were 2 Jeremy Stint's. Brothers. They were in the same class with a bunch of other students - which are our 4 victims - and I want you guys to come with me, and interview her…" She pointed to a blonde girl on the page - Lisa Hartwright.
"Who're you?" Lisa frowned slightly. She looked surprised.
"Taylor Cortez, FBI. And these are my colleagues, Agent Scully and Agent Scott. We'd like a word with you, please?"
"Um- sure," she smiled politely and stood aside for them to enter. Anna couldn't help but smile at the marvellous housekeeping and decoration - everywhere, each surface, was so clean, Anna could see her reflection. Everything was in it's place. Portrait's were neatly placed above the fireplace, and frame's were on the fireplace. There were comfortable armchairs and sofa before it. The kitchen was every housewife's dream too.
"You keep well," Anna complimented. Lisa only smiled proudly and replied, "Thank you. Why don't you take a seat?" They accepted, and that's when the interrogation began. They asked many question's, all to do with the victim's, who she thinks might've done it, and Jeremy Stint. She seemed particularly shaken up by the subject, and reluctantly answered. "Jeremy… well… he was quite… popular in college… but not in a good way." Her eyes flickered towards the window - Anna guessed that she was hiding something. Lisa refused to make eye contact - guilt.
"What happened? To Jeremy…" Sam questioned - his voice made her eyes meet them again.
"We had a study club every evening… once, Jeremy had to go home alone, since his brother - "
" - Jeremy - "
" - Yes, Jeremy… was too ill to come to college on that day… as he was walking, a few of my colleagues had then began picking on him - somehow it had become a fight… and then…" A sob had escaped Lisa.
"Go on…."
"He was dead…" Anna felt awkward, and she knew the others too, for they slightly stiffened.
"We're sorry…" Dean said, whilst Sam patted her hand comfortingly.
"Were you one of them? Or a witness?" This triggered Lisa's anger button - she began glaring at Anna, so fiercely.
"I loved him," she snapped.
"You're lying…" Anna looked up - behind Lisa, was a man - pale, sickingly, distorted face, tall… She knew who it was - Jeremy. Though of course, she was the only one who could see him. It was her gift - she had the ability to see the spirits of the dead. "You're lying…" he repeated. He was too obsessed with saying that than noticing that she could see him.
"You're lying," Anna told her - this had caught Jeremy's attention. He stared at Anna, incredulously.
"Y-You can see me…" Anna gave a quick, short smile as her response. Lisa looked shocked.
"How dare -!?"
"Quite, how dare I? A man had died, and you are hear, telling us, you had nothing to do with it, that you had feelings for him. But you don't. Your voice is trembling, and right now you're refusing to look me in the eye, because you know, that I know." Gaping, Lisa trembled. Evidently she hadn't expected something like this. She'd probably managed to lie to everyone else.
"G-Get out." The guys turned to look at Anna, who'd now stood to fulfil Lisa's request, and then exchanged glances. Anna strolled off casually to the door, followed by Sam and Dean.
"One of you, stay with her - the other, come with me." They frowned at her.
"What do you mean?" Sam asked. Anna sighed.
"I mean that Jeremy's going to attack again - I need someone to give me time, and I need someone to help me with the cremating…" Her eyes wandered to stare behind the guys, to Jeremy Stint. He was different from when she'd seen him inside: he now looked menacing, mad. He was laughing. Anna shuddered.
"Taylor…?"
"Hmm?" Anna switched her gaze to Sam, whom had a worried expression on his face.
"Nothing - you were just… are you alright?"
"I'm fine," she reassured with a smile. "So - who's coming with..?"
"Tell me one thing," Dean began. He chose to help Anna with the cremating, and besides, he wouldn't let his brother drive his 'baby', the Impala.
"Shoot," Anna replied. She was watching the trees blurring by, her head leaning against the window.
"Do I know you?" Anna turned to look at him and raised an eyebrow. There was something about his face that was familiar…
"Well, do I?"
"I'm thinking…" Dean waited patiently. He was as curious as she was. "Wait… no… or…"
"Hmm?"
Anna's eyes widened massively.
"What..?" Anna had once seen a toddler - 1 and a half years old. The toddler's name was Dean. She knew his father, John Winchester. Something disturbed her train of thought.
" - Ah!" Jeremy Stint! What was he doing here?! "Don't you dare…" she warned.
"Do what?" Dean asked.
"Not you."
"Huh? - " The car had gotten off the road and was now riding into the trees.
"Stop it! I SAID STOP IT!!"
"I'M TRYING!" Dean yelled angrily. She wasn't talking to him, but she couldn't let him know her secret.
She glared at the ghost, who was grinning wildly. "Your brother would be so disappointed if he knew what you've become…." she whispered, only for Jeremy to hear. His face had fallen - an ashamed look crossed his face and he disappeared. The car had stopped just in the nick of time - the car was parked a few inches from a tree. Anna couldn't get his depressed face off her mind. Both released relieved sighs.
Anna and Dean were back on track, driving as fast as they could. Dean had been dialling Sam's number, but so far, no luck.
"Damn it, Sammy!" he yelled after another failed attempt. He looked annoyed, and who could blame him? His brother was in danger, and he didn't know whether he was alright or not.
"How long?"
"Hm?"
"To the graveyard?"
"A few minutes," he answered gruffly. Anna sighed.
"Let me try?" Dean shot her a glance.
"He's not picking up."
"Let me try," she repeated. Dean ignored her. Anna rolled her eyes and rolled over to snatch his phone and called Sam's number.
"Hey - !"
"Hello?… Hey." Dean, understanding, slammed the wheel, causing the car to go out of control for a second.
"Dean!… Oh no, don't worry, everything's fine… your brother's just annoyed that you haven't picked up after his calls… okay - anyway, is everything fine?… Good - good. We'll call you later, yeah? Okay… see you." Anna shut Dean's phone and handed it to him.
"What'd he say..?"
"Everything's fine - no sign of Jeremy though… I've a bad feeling he's waiting for us…"
"Why d'you think?"
"Because we're the ones who're trying to vaporise him maybe?" she said in an, 'isn't-it obvious?' tone.
"Oh…"
"We're here…" she almost whispered. The car stopped. They jumped out - Anna felt an invisible force tighten around her throat, and another throwing her back against a tree. Alert, Dean ran to her, and quickly threw salt at her, weakening the force. Anna spluttered - stupid salt - and looked around, and finally spotted Jeremy.
"You go…" she whispered.
"What?!"
"Go. I'll be fine."
"We'll both go -"
" - I'll buy you time!" Dean gave her a worried look. "I'll be fine," she repeated and poured some salt into her hand, and nodded him off. He raced into the cemetery to find Jeremy's grave - leaving Anna to fight.
Anna stared right into his eyes, and thought of what to say - she didn't want to get hurt. Spirits liked to inflict serious damage on Anna, such as breaking her bones, ripping out an organ… But she'd still be alive. Any of those would've made anyone faint, or die. But it wouldn't happen to Anna.
"Okay, Jeremy, I know we've not started out as friends… but you've no reason to kill anyone…"
"I have reasons." Anna spun around to face him - he looked a little better. He's face was slightly less distorted. When spirit's felt better, they also looked better - Anna guessed he felt better because now he was no longer alone.
"And what are they?" Anna asked, tilting her head slightly, but still cautious.
"They killed me."
"And you want to be just like them?" Jeremy was taken aback.
"Course not. I just wanted to show them how it feels, to die…"
"Well then, they don't feel it anymore." Anna couldn't help but glare at him - innocent lives lost, all for revenge. Stupid. As always. Suddenly the ghost twitched.
"You've lived for so long… why aren't you dead?" Anna frowned.
"Pardon?"
"146?"
"That is..?" Anna frowned harder, faking confusion and hiding fear. The ghost could sense it. He smiled wickedly.
"I know who you are…"
"Great, all supernatural creatures do," she smiled sarcastically.
"No. I know who you are."
"Well then gladly no one can hear y -"
"Your mother asked to deliver a message." Anna laughed once. Her mother? She was long gone…
"When?"
"Just now."
"Just now?"
"A candle loses nothing but lighting another candle." At this, she felt numb. Almost completely.
"A candle loses nothing but lighting another candle?" Shock ran through her.
"Mm-hm."
"How?" By now, Anna had only noticed his face moulding back into his original looks - he looked more like an innocent puppy than a murderer. "How?!" Anna repeated, anger tinting her voice. He merely smirked. "Right, that's not funny…" She stared at his cocky smile. Realizing he wouldn't tell her, Anna buried her face in her salt-less hand momentarily.
"So what happened?" He looked puzzled. "On that night… your death?"
"I was walking." He now stood behind her, breathing on her neck - Anna was also the only one, thanks to her abilities, who could touch ghosts and vice versa the way the living could. "They approached me…"
"Lucas, Lisa, Heather, Kevin, Mary and Heather?"
"Yes, but not Lisa… They were drunk, sickly… I tried to walk away…" His hands were resting on Anna's waist.
"Go on," Anna urged, blanking out that fact.
"They raced after me quickly after that, and you know the rest…"
"Quite short uh?" He nodded, but still Anna could feel the negativity from him.
"What has Lisa got to do with it then?"
"She's the one who planned -"
"- You said they were drunk -"
"You think they would've finished me off easier, sober?"
"Ah… ahem…" Anna coughed as his hands had slowly started to go through her skin. This was a way a ghost could kill a human - put a hand through the chest and rip the heart out. "Stop it." She had to make him stop - she'd still live but if Dean saw, he and his brother would see her as an enemy. He still continued. "I said stop." Still… "I said -" A scream erupted from the ghost as he ignited. Anna stepped away from harm and watched him burn. At that moment Dean stepped out from the entrance and nodded, also with a quick smile. Anna sighed in relief, and walked to him, and hugged him. She could tell he didn't expect it - it took him just a bit longer to hug her back. It was strange… she'd only known him for about 2 days, and yet, she felt remarkably close to him already. But she always left before she got too close... Or maybe it was to feel the warmth - she felt cold, about what Jeremy had said… it was her mother's quote. She'd always said it. But behind it all; what was that supposed to mean? She knew she didn't want to find out. She pulled back.
"So he's gone?"
"Should be." Anna smiled, and they both walked back to the car.
"Woah, Sammy!" Dean winked at his brother as he told them - reluctantly - about his night. He'd slept with Lisa. Lisa looked particularly happy, but only because she didn't know what Anna had done.
"Say your goodbye's," Anna told her.
"I'm sorry? Are you going?" She looked disappointed. Of course.
"Yes. And so are you." Dean frowned at her.
"I've called the cops." Lisa became pale. Sam did too, and also upset. Anna looked away to not add anymore to her guilt pile.
"Why..?" she asked, throat dry.
"I think you know." Anna held an unfathomable expression, and simply walked away. It was Dean who stepped up.
"You called the cops?!" Anna stood in her tracks. "Do you realize something? You don't what she did -"
"I know perfectly well what she did!" Anna had turned and was now making eye contact with Dean.
"What did she do?"
"Would you like me to start from the beginning?"
"Please do." Though he regretted it as soon as he'd said it.
"She sold drugs in college and secondary school, ordered murder on Jeremy Stint for refusing to sleep with her, killed a poor old man whom she simply didn't like because he'd insulted her, and finally, became a prostitute. How the police never found her, I have no idea!" She did her homework - she was also done here. She walked out of the door and headed down the street. Half of her wanted to avoid them, since she knew she'd get too close, but the other hoped for the opposite.