The moon is almost full and shines a spooky yet peaceful light upon the lake. Rippling water reflects the shimmer, playfully and without a sound. Silhouettes of trees mark the horizon, slightly hilly and in dark contrast with the clear dark blue sky. Silence is the only thing that remains in this calm area just out of town. Everyone is sleeping, except for a owl, which calls out in the distance. But them who observe closely, spot movement on one of the docks by the Reynolds Park Lake. Three figures are doing what they do best in the still of the night.
"I could be hunting wolf in Texas right now", Dean complains as he drops a bag on the end of the dock, staring up at the moon.
"Could you stop whining? If we hurry it up a bit, you can still make it in time for your heart-removing-beasty", Zoë kneels down on one knee next to the bag and starts rummaging through the stuff inside.
She feels the wooden planks of the dock vibrate and looks up; Sam is walking towards them.
"The Shire family locked their selves in the house, all the windows and doors are salted. There's no way Laura will be able to enter", he informs on the situation.
"Good, enough have died over this", without further consultation she takes out a pair goggles and a snorkel and fits them.
"Wow, what do you think you're doing?", Sam questions a little surprised.
"That body isn't gonna come floating up to the surface by herself, is she?", she returns smartly while she takes them off again and adjusts the rubber band.
"You're not going down there", Dean states as he grabs the goggles from her.
"Yes, I am", she insists stern, taking them back.
"You're hurt", Sam brings in as an argument.
"Oh, would you stop that already? I'm fine!", Zoë cries out as she takes of her jacket.
"Shhh!", Sam hushes annoyed.
"Don't 'shhh' me. I have to go down there, don't you see? And so do you".
That last comment was aimed at Dean, who points his finger at himself with a puzzled face on his face.
"Me?", he questions surprised.
"Sam said it himself", she hints at the tallest of the two brothers. "You and I have to stick together, or we're dead meat. If Sam goes down by himself, we'll be sure he doesn't come up alive, so unless either of you knuckleheads has a damn good second option…"
Awaiting a reaction from either one of the boys, she glares at them one by one with her hands placed in her side. Of course they both keep quiet, there simply isn't a second option.
"That's what I thought", she huffs victoriously and glances at Dean. "Get into your Hawaii shorts".
"Ha, wouldn't you like to see that", Dean smirks.
She tilts her head and nods slightly, imagining that for a brief moment; she can't help it but to grin. Then she turns to Sam as the seriousness returns to the conversation.
"Make sure that you're ready to torch whatever we bring to the surface. Laura might have a change of tactics now that it's coming down to this", she looks deep into his eyes to make sure he gets her point.
"Fuel and fire are standing by", he shows her the jerry can and his lighter, which he just got out of his backpack.
"Good, now lets get this over with", she tosses Dean another pair of goggles and snorkel.
"Ah come on, do I have to?", he dangles the equipment in front of him as if he's disgusted by it.
"If you don't use them, you'll be up at the surface more than you are down searching the bottom", she puts hers on and looks him in the eye. "We don't have much time".
"No, you don't have much time. Charming by the way", he hints at the goggles, smirking like a child up to no good.
"Coming? or are you afraid to get wet?", with a daring look upon her face she walks over to the edge and jumps in.
With a sigh he puts his equipment on and glances over his shoulder at his brother for a moment, who can't help to chortle as soon as he does. Immediately his initially gentle gaze turns to a irritated glare.
"Dude, not funny", he makes clear.
"It's kind of funny", Sam has to admit.
"Lets see if you still have that smile on your face when you have to burn the smelly swamp kid", Dean brings to mind.
With those words he dives into the water and surfaces next to Zoë. The water feels pleasantly warm, but it makes his movements slow and heavy. He doesn't like it, never did, he's out if his element. Zoë on the other hand, seems to feel like a fish in the water. Completely at ease she floats around.
"Here, you'll need this", Sam tosses them two flashlights.
Skillfully they both catches the torches and Zoë puts her snorkel on her mouth. Sam looks down on them from the dock, he seems worried.
"Be careful, okay? Stay together…", he presses on them.
"Yeah yeah yeah, and be home before five", Dean intervenes bored.
"Awlnd dowln't tawlk two stwangers", Zoë fills in with difficulty because of the snorkel.
She's unable to smirk, but Sam can see her sparkling eyes even with the lack of light. He huffs smiling and shakes his head.
"I'm serious", he takes a rope out of the bag as well and throws it in. "Tie yourself together so that you don't lose each other, this water is turbid".
With reluctance Dean ties the rope around waist as Zoë does the same. Then she glares up at Dean's brother on the dock again.
"Sadisfied?", she questions.
"I feel bonded already", Dean comments sarcastically. "Let's get this over with".
He puts the snorkel on his mouth and gives them a last look. Then he takes a deep breath and disappears in the dark waters, followed by Zoë. Concerned Sam slowly paces up and down the dock while he keeps a sharp eye on his surroundings. Everything seems quiet. Lights are on in several houses which surround the lake, but no one notices them during these dark hours. It feels like ages before his brother and Zoë surface again, but when they do, they're further away from the dock than where they started out. Almost instantly they disappear again, continuing their search. This routine repeats several times. Sometimes they are so far off that Sam doesn't even see them, he just hears the swell of the water in the distance. Impatiently he plays with his lighter as he scans the surface. Then both come up again, but this time they don't dive under. The sound of splashes carries over the flawless water and soon he sees the two figures swimming towards the dock, dragging something behind them.
"One smelly swamp kid comin' right up", Dean comments after he removes the snorkel from his mouth.
Sam is relieved to see that Laura's remains are still packed in the black body bag. Skillfully Zoë lifts herself out of the water and parks her well formed bum on the dock, facing Dean who's still in the water. With a sigh she removes her goggles and snorkels as the water runs down face. Even though her cheek has started turning blue and the left side of her lower lip swelled to the size of a small balloon, she still looks smokin' and Dean can't help to notice that.
"What?", she comments when she sees his gaze.
"Nothin'", he recovers quickly. "Let's fire it up, I thought you were in a hurry".
"I am. Pass me the bag", she reaches out.
Dean swims to the dock and grabs the edge while he hold up the body bag, which Zoë pulls ashore. Even through the fabric, she can smell death. She gets up as Sam helps her drag Laura's body further on the dock, as Dean hoists himself on dry land. He slowly approaches them, walking like a bow legged cat who just got home after a heavy rainstorm, while the look on his face can be compared like the one of a baby who just ate a slice of lemon.
"You're pathetic, know that?", Zoë comments as she drops the body on the wooden floor.
"What can I say. I adjust to my company", he returns smartly.
Sam shakes his head and doesn't bother to comment; those two won't ever stop fighting. He unscrews the cap of the jerry can when suddenly the goose who were bobbing fast asleep on the water a minute ago, fly up, crying out a warning. The warm night turns cold, Zoë is surprised when she sees the little clouds in front of her face which she just breathed out. You don't need to be a hunter to realize that Laura is on her way, if not already here. Alert she scans the area and then turns to Sam.
"Step to it", she whispers, as if she doesn't want anyone else to hear it.
Just as Sam is about to pour the gasoline over the body bag, the jerry can is blown out of his hand by an unknown force. It flies through the air and lands in the water, several yards from the dock.
"What the hell?", he comments.
Quickly Zoë looks over at Dean, but it's something in the water behind him that catches her attention. Two piercing dark eyes stare straight into hers, just over the edge of the dock, right behind where Dean is standing. It's Laura.
"Dean WATCH OUT!", she shouts.
But it's too late. As soon as Zoë lets out those words, a pale child hand which in human form would never had to strength to do what she's about to, grabs Dean's ankle and pulls. With a loud bang he slams on the dock face first. Unpleasantly surprised by the ambush he does his best to get a grip on the planks.
"Son of a BITCH!", he curses.
"DEAN!", Sam roars.
Instinctively Sam rushes towards his brother as Zoë tightens the rope that still connects her to Dean. Deep down she realizes she can't outrun the spirit's strength, but it's not like she has another option here. As fast as she can she tries to enforce herself by wrapping the rope around an iron bollard, which is normally used to tie boats to. At the mean time Sam reaches the end of the dock and slides over the wood as dives towards his brother. Desperately he grabs both Dean's arms; he is barely able to keep a grip. The eldest looks up into his brothers eyes as he grinds his teeth, using every bit of strength he hold on.
"Don't let go", Sam presses as he tries to pull his brother out of the water.
"Outstanding advise, Sammy!", Dean comments frustrated.
The incredible force that's trying to haul him into the water seems to build. Sam's grip slips from Dean's lower arm to his wrist and it only takes seconds before all that eldest of the two brothers is hanging from is Sam's fingers. Unlike others in this situation, Dean doesn't seem scared what so ever. His piercing green eyes stare up into his brother's before he lets go.
"Burn her", he orders with lowered voice.
It's the last thing Dean can say before he slips completely and is dragged into the depths of Reynolds Park Lake.
"DEAN!", Sam cries out desperately.
The rope still rolled up on the dock rolls off and shoots down after Dean. For a very short period of time Zoë stares at it and realizes that he's gonna drag her right down with him.
"Crap", she curses.
Then the rope tightens and with one single blow the bollard is broken free from the dock. Both the pollard and Zo are pulled to the edge of the dock. Zoë has to act quick to save her own ass and draws a knife from her belt. In one quick streak she cuts herself loose and comes to a stop right before the edge. There's not much time to be relieved, because Sam is about to dive in after his brother.
"Sam don't!", she warns.
"Burn Laura, NOW!", he orders.
Stammered she watches him dive in after his brother. In a split second she stares aside at the jerry can still floating on the surface. She needs to find gas, right now. As fast as she can she gets up and takes a run for land. Her footsteps echo under the wooden planks of the quay until she reaches the solid ground. She slips on the dusty road as she halts by the back the Impala. Frustrated she tries to open the trunk, but the stupid son of a bitch who is drowning at this very moment, closed it.
"Damn it!", she curses, looking around her for something to open it with.
Then she spots a shovel, leaning against the boathouse. Quickly she runs back, grabs the shovel, goes back for the Impala and sets the iron plate right on the small opening where the lock is positioned. With one skillful move she turns the shovel and the trunk breaks open.
"Dead or alive, he's gonna haunt me for this", Zoë states as she searches the trunk.
It contains an entire arsenal of weaponry, enough for a small army, but she has to dig deep until she finally finds a jerry can. As fast as her legs can carry her, she heads back for Laura's remains on the dock and pours the gasoline and salt over the body bag. As a last ingredient to the ritual she hastily picks up her leather jacket, takes out her lighter, flips it and throws it on the body bag. Within moments the entire bag catches fire, as the body inside. Out of breath she watches the flames for a moment, listening to the rustling sound. Then she slowly turns around and stares at the surface, waiting for a sign of life from either one of the boys. But all she hears is her own respiration and the thumping of her own heart. For the first time in quite a while a certain fear comes to her; is she too late?
"Come on…", she whispers apprehensively.
Restless her eyes scan the surface, but nothing comes up. Just as she's about to dive in herself, Sam appears and luckily, he isn't alone. Dean surfaces and gasps for air while Sam supports him, making sure he doesn't disappear in the water again. Quickly Zoë crawls over the edge of the dock and grabs Dean's arm.
"Show off", Zoë comments as she drags him further onto the quay. "You just had to hold your breath longer than I, didn't you".
"Shut up", Dean hoists himself on the dock, falls down and coughs his lungs out.
Sam whips back his hair as he climbs out of the water, out of breath he gets up and looks down at his brother.
"You okay, man?", he asks his brother.
"Sure, piece of cake", he clears his throat and rolls on his back.
"Piece of cake? You know how hard it was to get some decent fuel to fire up that little brad? Next time, DON'T lock up your car, moron", she huffs.
"Don't go bitching on me. Why didn't you moonwalk back and forth? One minute more or less wouldn't have mattered", he exaggerates hoarse.
"Hey, Laura might have broken my nose, but I don't do Michael Jackson", she comments smartly, looking down at him with her hands placed in her slender waist.
He grins with his eyes closed, but then he sits up. Sam reaches out and helps Dean on his feet. All of them feel as if they just ran the marathon, tired but satisfied they stare at the fire. Flames flicker in their eyes and shimmer an orange glow on their skin.
"Rest in peace, Laura Shire", Zoë comments with soft voice.
Although the little girl tried to kill her, she never felt that the ten year old was an evil spirit. All she was, was a angry and frustrated ghost, longing to get the truth out about her death, longing for rest and redemption. It's strange how this case isn't just about good and evil. It wasn't black and white, it was one grey mess. What Robert Shire did was wrong, what everyone involved didn't do was wrong, but did they deserve to die for it? Some may think that they got what they deserved, some may think differently. Zoë's certain about one thing though; Laura was just a victim of her own environment.