oh my goodness, work has been killing me. two 65 hour weeks in a row! blak!!! anyone want a job as a bartender?? Once again, sorry for the wait, and thank you all again for the great reviews, they mean the world to me.
And well, everyone, there is only one more chapter left after this, and i will hopfully have it up in just a few days. lets all hope that my work slows down. because, my brain is about to turn to mush. hehe.
let me know what you all think. :)
TWILIGHT
Chapter 17
The watcher stood at the edge of the lake, fuming. How in the world could four children be causing her so many problems? She had expected the hunters to be the main obstacle, but getting rid of them had not been the easy fix she had been hoping for. If anything, it was making things more difficult. She needed time with the children she chose, time to break them, time to steal away their souls. She needed to do it slowly, because too much would kill her instantly, and too little would give her less years on this earth. No, everything had to be precise, exact, and now the little ones were screwing it all up.
She had been forced to chose the older two since she already had one and time was running out, but now the younger ones were involved and she didn't know what to do. She already had Dean and Kerri where she needed them, but they would require near constant attention. They were smart and resourceful, and the spirit knew that if they weren't watched then they would find a way out of her trap. But she was also certain that Sam and Evelyn would find a way in, and that would stop everything instantly. It had to be two, no more, no less.
And worst of all, was that she could feel her power draining with each passing moment. She had considered just killing Dean for what he had done to her, breaking his neck with the same ease the she broke a twig, but then Kerri stumbled into her hands and the watcher reluctantly decided to keep the older boy for her own needs. But, ever since he shot her, ever since her voice had been silenced, it had taken far more of her power to control the storms. And the watcher knew now, that she was living on borrowed time.
But maybe, she could follow the little ones, push them in the direction she needed them to go. In that case, even if the older two had managed to find a way out of their prison, the younger two would be there, ready to take their siblings' places.
'Yes.' The watcher thought, 'That would work.' But she knew that she would have to be subtle, have to keep the little ones out of the cave unless they were needed, and she knew that that wouldn't be easy.
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Dean felt along the walls of the cave, searching for some kind of exit, some sign of the outside world. But there was nothing save for the rivers of ice that had formed in the freezing chamber. And, on top of everything, he had still been unable to find the weapons he left the house with. There was no other way to put it, he was beyond screwed, and there was no one coming to help him. Hell, no one even knew that they were at the house alone. Yes, Sam and Evelyn knew what was happening, but they were only seven, and he wasn't sure that they would be able to handle the watcher if it came their way.
Dean sighed, finally admitting defeat, and moving carefully back to Kerri. She had yet to awaken, yet to move, other than the tremors that had taken over her small body. Dean knew she was sick, knew that she was running out of time, but he just didn't know what to do to help. He had no supplies, no food or water, and nothing other than his thin jacket to help keep her warm, and he could tell that that was doing next to nothing.
But he wasn't about to lay down and die. No, he was a Winchester, a fighter, and that spirit was going to wish it had never laid eyes on him. Because, even if he lost the battle in this life, he was sure as hell gonna come back and haunt the thing for the rest of its meager existence. His family had faced adversity before and they had come through, and now wasn't going to be any different. His dad was going to come home to find them all safe and sound in the house, and Dean refused to let his tired mind dwell on any other possible outcome. Yeah, he was currently beyond screwed, but well, he was still breathing, so that was one thing he had going for him.
His internal pep-talk was cut short when he felt Kerri begin to stir beside him, a whimper escaping her parched lips as she tried to find any bit of warmth that she could in Dean's jacket. He leaned in, gently brushing back her hair as he spoke.
"Hey, wakie, wakie."
"Dean?"
"Yeah, I'm here. Don't worry, everything's gonna be ok."
"Where are we?"
"A cave somewhere. How're you feeling."
"I'm freezing, and my ears hurt." She mumbled closing her eyes and pushing her hands against her ears.
Even in the darkness, Dean could see the tears slipping out beneath her lashes. He had never seen her so afraid in all the time he had known her, and that unsettled him greatly. She had always been so head strong, so resilient, so tough, and seeing her broken was almost too much for him to bare. After all, it was Kerri that had initially broken him out of his silent prison all those years ago.
"Kerri, I promise, I'm gonna get you home safe."
"How?"
"I don't know yet. But I'll do it."
"I don't wanna die, Dean."
"You're not gonna. I won't ever let that happen."
A sudden light filled the room and Dean couldn't help but shield Kerri from it. He knew that, in her current state, she couldn't defend herself and he wasn't about to go back on the promise he had just made. He would save her, no matter what. But, as suddenly as the light began, it flickered and went out, leaving the space a little bit brighter but still just as empty. Whatever it was, it wasn't the watcher.
It was as though someone had opened a door in a darkened room, the light shinning in was so subtle that it was almost like it was being filtered through something. Dean knew that this could be he and Kerri's only chance, but he also knew that it could be a trap set by the watcher. He sat for no more than a few seconds, afraid that his one chance may slip away, before pulling Kerri to her feet. It was now or never, and he knew it.
He propped the barely conscious girl against him as he ran his free arm over the rocky surface near the dim light. There had to be a way out, had to be something he missed, he just knew it. He slid his hand over the icy walls once more. He needed to find something, needed something to break, something to go his way, because he knew that every moment they stayed there, was another moment that the watcher could show up.
He wasn't at all prepared when he found what he was looking for though, the seemingly solid stone wall giving way beneath his weight, sending both he and Kerri tumbling to the muddy ground outside the cave. The entire south wall of the cave had been a type of illusion, and it was obvious that, whatever power was trying to keep them in, was waning. And, despite their current conditions, despite the driving rain pelting his face, Dean smiled. Maybe they weren't so screwed after all.
"Dean?"
Dean's heart began to pound against his chest when he heard the distant shout, heard the frantic voice calling out his name. Sammy! The elder Winchester quickly scrambled to his feet, pulling a half-conscious Kerri up with him. He wanted to yell back, wanted to tell Sam to run, to tell him that they were alright, but he also didn't want to give away his position, didn't want the watcher to know that he had gotten free.
So instead, he walked as fast as he could towards the voice of his little brother. He didn't know whether to be relieved or terrified. He knew he needed help carrying Kerri and he knew that Sammy had probably brought supplies and weapons with him, but he just didn't know what the demented spirit was up to. And he didn't want his little brother to be in harm's way.
However, just as he started to walk, the winds began to howl, a demonic laughter ringing throughout the trees as Sam's voice grew fainter. Dean could tell that his little brother wasn't far, most likely on the other side of the cave and he forced himself to move faster despite Kerri's protests. But, just as he neared the path, a horrible realization dawned on him. Maybe there wasn't just one way in or out of the cave? If one wall was cloaked who's to say that there weren't other entrances hidden in just the same fashion. And Sammy was probably heading directly towards one.
"Sammy!" Dean screamed into the wind, knowing that he had to stop his brother, had to keep him from going inside the cave.
"Dean?" The little voice answered back, hope and fear evident in that one word. "Dean, where are you?"
"Stop walking, Sammy! Just stay still I'm coming."
"I can see you, Dean."
"What?" Dean screamed, looking around him. Sam was nowhere in sight.
"I see you in the cave, I'm coming."
"NO! Stay still, Sammy, don't go in there!" But instead of hearing his little brother's voice, Dean's eager ears were met by Evelyn's scream, followed shortly after by the blast of a shotgun.
"Oh god, no." Kerri moaned, her head shooting up at the sound of her little sister's voice.
Dean raced forward, the sound of Evelyn's scream spurring both he and Kerri on at break-neck speed. All four of them could be lost right here, right now. Their fathers could return home to find nothing but an empty house, nothing but shattered memories. Sam and Evelyn needed to be safe, needed to be just around the bend, because, Dean knew that neither he nor Kerri would return home without them.
Dean's silent prayers were answered when he rounded the bend a moment later to find Sam hugging a crying and frightened Evelyn, a shotgun still held tightly in his small hands. The eleven year old had never been so happy to see the two before, had never been so relieved to find his little brother, terrified, but alive.
"Dean." Sam called out, each of the brothers shielding a sister from the gale raging around them. "I shot it, but I don't know how long it will stay away."
"That's good, Sammy." Dean smiled as he took the gun from his brother.
The second she laid eyes on her sister, Evelyn bolted into Kerri's arms, nearly knocking both her and Dean over as she held onto her sister. "Hey, sweetie." Kerri smiled weakly, wrapping trembling arms about the little girl.
"I was so scared, I thought you were gone forever." Evelyn sobbed, her face buried in her sister's shirt.
"Hey." Dean smiled, pulling her away. They needed to get back to the house, and fast. "I promised I'd bring her back. Didn't I?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I always keep my promises. Now, can you and Sammy help Kerri? We need to get home."
"Yeah." Both seven year old replied in unison as they moved to either side of the still shaking Kerri.
"Hey, Sammy." Dean began as the four made their way down the path, Dean's sharp eyes scanning ever shadow. "What else did you bring?"
"Some silver and iron and a bracelet that was on the work bench."
"You weren't supposed to touch that." Kerri scolded, though her voice was growing weaker by the moment.
"Why? What is it?" Dean asked, knowing that it was something of her father's.
"It was something my dad found on a hunt, he hadn't figured out what it was yet, but he said that a demon was doing all it could to get it."
"Let me see it, Sammy."
"Evelyn said I could take it." Sam began, instantly trying to defend his actions. "She said it was a protection amulet."
"I'm not mad, Sammy, just let me see it."
Sam relented, taking out an intricately carved silver bracelet and handing it to his brother. Dean studied the inconspicuous piece for a few minutes before putting it into his pocket. To the eleven year old, it looked like nothing more than an old piece of jewelry, but if a demon wanted it, then it was obviously too important to lose.
They continued one for about fifteen minutes before they heard it. It was almost imperceptible in the strong winds, but there was no denying that it was there. A spine numbing laughter was floating around them, driving into the children like stakes of ice. Dean spun on the spot, instantly on guard, knowing that the watcher had found them.
"I told you." A voice whispered in his ear, making Dean turn again. "You'll never leave here alive."
"Try and stop me."
"Well, Dean." The watcher smiled as it materialized inches in front of him. "If you insist."
Dean didn't have a second to react, the winds hitting him with such force that he was pushed back off the trail. He stumbled, trying desperately to regain his balance, to stand between the watcher and the other three, but it was no use. The forest had been so dark and dense, the driving rains so blinding, that he didn't know just how close to the lake they actually were, that is, until he felt the icy waters nearly stop his heart.
The freezing waters of the lake numbed every one of Dean's senses, paralyzing his body as he sank further and further into the black depths. His mind kept screaming to swim, but his body just didn't want to listen. Everything was harder than it should have been, even thinking, and he found himself beginning to give into the void. But then he thought of Sammy, thought of Evelyn and Kerri. They were all alone now, trapped on the surface with the spirit. No, Dean decided, his heavy legs finally moving, he would not let his father return to find them all gone. He would not force his dad to have to bury the rest of his family.
But, as he struggled towards the surface a strange current began to turn him, flipping him and crushing him like rapids. He fought the water with all the strength he had, his lungs burning as he finally broke the surface. He took in several chocked breaths, his mind gaining focus as the screams of the watcher pierced through the night. The water all around him was bubbling, the winds blowing stronger than he had ever felt before.
Dean watched in horror as bodies began to surface all around him, skeletons clawing their way out of the darkness, breaking the water with blood curdling howls. And all the while, the watcher screamed.
"Dean?" Sam's face peered over the embankment that Dean had fallen from mere moments before.
"Sammy, are you ok?"
"Yeah, the skeletons are attacking the watcher, they aren't coming anywhere near us."
"What?"
"They're killing her, Dean."
And in that instant, reality dawned on the elder Winchester. He still had the bracelet in his pocket, the silver trinket having broken the water's surface along with him. And who knew just how many people the watcher had drowned in that lake.
The Harrisons had moved into that house shortly after Elizabeth had died. It had been her dream home, a place she had been in love with since she was a small child, even though it had been abandoned for nearly twenty years. And this was why. The watcher had always been there, taking children, drowning them in the lake. And now, it had finally met its end.