Into a Cornfield Crimson
Chapter Seven
Prey
The little girl huddled against the cold basement wall. She was scratched raw and trembling like a starving rat. Each sob strung from her body took with it a chunk of her remaining energy. Yet, the figure before her continued its menacing stride.
"Help! Someone help!"she cried, hoarsely.
The flickering apparition fizzled and faded like a bad photograph. If only the little girl had been safely tucked in her bed she would have laughed at the silly spirit.
But there was nothing funny about the multiple knives protruding from its flesh.
Nothing funny about it's hungry blue eyes glued to her image.
And definitely nothing funny about the glint of the kitchen knife in its hand.
She clawed uselessly at the sturdy wall of a basement and gathered the last bit of energy for another cry for help when the basement door suddenly slammed open.
The spirit whirled around hissing at the intrusion.
"Duck down, Amanda!"
The commanding voice was like a jolt to the little girl who swiftly laid flat on the icy floor.
A loud barrage of popping pierced the phantom which howled and seemingly dissipated.
The grizzled, middle aged man with the rifle in hand stepped carefully down the stair and pocketed a small notebook into his jacket as he reached the bottom.
He immediately started to chant what seemed like gibberish to Amanda. She closed her eyes as the phantom howled many times till it's cries seeped into silence.
She did not move again until a heavy hand touched her trembling shoulder.
"It's okay. You're gonna be fine, honey."
His voice was gentle. Thus, she opened her eyes and raised her arms to him.
He hefted her up into his arms. Amanda breathed a mixture of powder, rust and a hint of what might be ginger.
She carefully wrapped her pale arms around his neck as he carried her up the stairs. Her brown hair tickled his ear ans she softly whispered:
"Mommy, said there was no such things as monsters."
He was silent for a bit but once he closed the basement door behind them he answered rather bluntly:
"Well, now you know better. You know you should be afraid of the dark."
Once Amanda was safely returned to her grateful but hysterical mother the man headed out to his pick up truck.
The back of the truck folded out and he fitted the gun into its proper place. As it closed, his cell rang.
"John Winchester, speaking," he answered, brusquely.
He opened the truck door and got in as his joints ached in relief. The voice that answered on the other end of the phone was quite a surprise.
"Jonathan Kent. It's been quite awhile. How have—"
He was cut off by Jonathan's rather anxious words. And the more John Winchester heard, the more cold he grew.
"Martha's all right? Good. Who the hell woke the bastard up, Jonathan?"
John searched under his seat with squinting eyes for a can of Cocoa Cola. It was pitch black outside already and he rummaged around his truck a bit till he found it.
"No, listen you stubborn—"
John sighed and took a swig from his soda can. The carbonated bubbles did little to help his shaking nerves.
"Of course, I don't know what's really going to happen. I barely remember the last time. Most likely, nothing. Don't worry. I'll check it out."
"Yeah, you take care too."
Damn.
John tossed the can to the back and leaned back in his seat. He placed a hand over his face in exhaustion.
It was amazing how slick he had become in telling lies. He frankly believed the situation was going to get a lot worse before it got better.
He dialed his eldest son's number on his cell phone. "Pick up, Dean," John mumbled.
The only thing got he got was a busy signal. The second time, the third time and the fourth time.
Damn, damn damn!
John started up his truck and swerved out the on to the street as fear gripped his heart. All his five senses were wired and going crazy.
He knew one thing for certain: his son was in danger. And he might not get there in time.
John gripped the wheel as his knuckles turned white.
Sammy, I'm coming. Please, hold on.
- - - - - - -
Meanwhile with Sam and Chloe . . .
"You know it's gonna be a really long time before I eat corn again," Chloe whispered, as she and Sam trudged through the field looking for any sign of her cousin.
"Never much a fan of corn myself," Sam said, smiling a little.
"What about Dean? He into the yellow veggie?" Chloe asked.
Sam shrugged. "Dean consumes things other people would consider inedible. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't be opposed to it."
Chloe laughed and Sam regarded her speculatively. "So are you subtly trying find out more about my brother due to personal interest?"
Chloe colored just a bit under Sam's gaze. "Uh, no. I was actually trying to dig a bit into you."
Sam turned away at that comment and mumbled "Nothing much to share."
Ouch, Chloe thought. Did I just get slammed by an invisible wall or what?
But she couldn't help herself from trying. When Chloe looked into Sam's eyes she felt something intense. A feeling usually reserved for a certain resident alien.
"You know I'm gonna try and see if I can get a signal on my cell again. If I can reach Lois on her cell that would definitely lessen our chances of getting eaten by the Thing in the Cornfield," she said, breaking the awkward silence.
Sam was about to agree when he suddenly heard something strange in the wind.
"You hear that?"
"The unsettling buzz of gnats attracted to my Passion Fruit shampoo?"
"Yeah, I hear that. But this is a different sound. . ."
The wind changed direction and suddenly Chloe could hear it also. The wind was murmuring. Softly. Coldly.
"I'm an idiot," Sam commented, quietly.
"What?" Chloe mouthed, anxiously.
"We're surrounded," Sam said, drawing his gun.
Chloe took a deep breath and in that second they lurched from the stalks in a frightening large number.
They appeared to be simple town residents but on second glance they fitted the text book picture of a zombie: Blood hungry and ghastly. Their eyes burned with insatiable hunger and crimson stained their teeth and fingers.
"I am starting to wish I grabbed a gun from your arsenal," Chloe whispered, out of the corner of her mouth.
"Yeah, well I'm more scared that if I survive this my brother's going to kick my ass for being so careless," Sam said.
Chloe felt warmed that Sam was trying to keep her optimistic. Of course, it didn't stop the horrible feeling in her stomach.
Any further thoughts between them were put on hold as the people completely wiped the idea of zombies from their minds. These people . . . no these monsters moved like quick footed predators instead of groaning and slumping idiots.
They barreled in between Sam and Chloe too fast for them to initially react.
The fist blow sent Chloe reeling in to the crisp grass. The front of her teeth smashed into her lower lip which practically transformed her mouth into a bloody fertilizer as blood spewed on the ground in a spotty manner.
A second blow by sharp heel to Chloe's lower back caused her to curl and scream out in ragged pain. Thankfully, the monsters seemed content with that brief attack on her and moved on.
Sam fired his gun in half circle on the converging monsters. Several bullets pierced vulnerable flesh but it did not deter them but for a frightening small bit.
Chloe managed to lift her pounding head and nearly cried out.
They had circled Sam like lions on a lone antelope. Sam swung his gun side to side at a show of keeping them at bay. But it was a fruitless endeavor.
Chloe dragged herself closer and noticed the blood poring from bullet holes on the monsters.
Not good. She had glimpsed the effervescent green that could only come from kryptonite.
Chloe squeezed her eyes shut and though frantically. What can I do? I can't call Clark here! What the hell can I do?!
She opened her eyes as Sam suddenly cried out. One of the monsters had gripped his neck from behind and with its other hand grasped his windpipe.
The sudden cut from breath caused Sam's gun to slip from his hands. Another monster kicked him viciously and Sam fell to the ground.
Blood rushed to Chloe's head. Oh my god. Was Lois ripped apart by these things?!
Chloe dragged herself up with the sudden adrenaline shooting up her body. She wrenched a cornstalk from its root and walked determined to Sam's aid.
Unfortunately, one of the monster's glimpsed her sudden action and shot toward her.
But Chloe was ready this time. She balanced the stalk and swung with all the might that her petite frame could muster.
It collided into the guy's head with a satisfying snap. The other monsters turned toward their hurt comrade with definite anger.
Sam took advantage of the distraction to roll out of their circle and grab his gun.
"Chloe, get down!"
Chloe dropped and Sam shot wildly at the group who took the bullets as very bad bee stings.
The monsters converged on Sam once more if more vicious. The amount of fists propelled into Sam quickly lead him to lose consciousness. They grabbed his feet and began to drag the hunter away.
"Sam!"
Chloe struggled off the ground and held her stalk firm. Yet, the monster who suddenly shot before her was stopped by a most unexpected thing:
A slender fist was plowed through its rib cage.
Chloe watched briefly interested as a small green pebble popped from its gaping stomach cavity and the monster collapsed.
Chloe's jaw dropped at the person who held the bloody fist.
"Lois?"
Finally, some action in this story lol. Next chapter will be up tomorrow.