There is a deathly silence over the train car. Everyone is occupied by their own activities, but occasionally glance at each other in suspicion. Dean and Jolene stand at opposite ends of the car, ensuring nobody escapes. Daisy and May are playing cards by the window, while Graham and Sam talk together over the refreshments trolley.
"So you're both hunters, you and your brother?" Graham asks, glancing at Dean over his shoulder.
"Have been since birth." Sam nods, checking the coffee flask is filled with water. "Do your stuff, Graham."
"I'll need to borrow a crucifix. Mine was flushed down the toilet."
Sam offers him a necklace from his pocket. Graham submerges it into the water and mutters the incantation. Once it is finished, he removes the crucifix and hands it back to Sam.
"Who taught you how to be a hunter?" he asks.
"Our dad."
"Was he a good hunter?"
"He was a professional." Sam says, with a hint of pride. "He'd fight demons day and night. But that didn't stop him from getting killed."
"Oh..." Graham murmurs sorrowfully. "Well my dad left my mum when I was young. At first I thought it was because he and mum argued a lot, but now I think it's 'cause he couldn't cope with the demon-stuff. At least your dad died a hero, right?
Sam considers the assumption carefully. He recalls the car crash, the hospital, the deal, the reaper... He eventually responds: "Right."
Meanwhile, a student sitting beside his girlfriend is growing gradually more impatient by the minute.
"They won't tell us anything, Kate. They won't tell us what's happened, or what's gonna happen. They're just keeping us here."
"They're probably trying to protect us, Ryan." she assures him. "Maybe a pylon has fallen on the line or something."
"And what about Miss Gardener?" Ryan says. "Where's she?"
"She's with the driver! They already told us that!"
"Do you honestly believe those guys, Kate?"
Kate says nothing.
"How do we know they're not terrorists holding us hostage here?"
"Ryan, don't be so ridiculous-"
"I'm gonna ask them what the hell is going on."
The boy stands up and advances towards Dean, with his shoulders spread wide. Standing opposite each other, the two are almost identical in height. Dean observes the boy's posture and stares up into his face. "Can I help you?"
"I wanna know when we're getting off this train."
"You won't be getting off this train at all on my watch." Dean replies. "It's for your own protection."
"Protection from what?"
"Death, that's what." Dean snaps. "Now go and sit back down."
"No!" Ryan retorts. "I wanna know what there is out there that's so dangerous!"
Dean narrows his eyes, refusing to remove his gaze from the boy's face. Every passenger is watching them, eager for an answer.
"Sam." Dean says calmly, still fixated on Ryan. "I think our friend here would like a drink."
"Coming up." Sam nods.
He pours the water from the flask into a paper cup, and hands it to Dean. Dean presents it to the student, who stares down in disbelief.
"Is this supposed to make me calm?"
"It's supposed to make you less of a dick." Dean answers.
Sam, Dean and Graham all watch carefully, holding their breath as he places the rim of the cup to his lips. Aware of the audience about him, Ryan takes a sip.
"Delicious." he says sarcastically, slamming the cup back into Dean's hands.
Sam and Graham release their breath, relieved. Suddenly, the train starts to shake violently. The passengers panic, gripping their seats for support. The windows cloud over with black smoke, so that no light can protect them.
"Everyone get back, away from the windows!" Sam orders. The passengers obey without question, and retreat into the aisles. Sam and Dean open the lids of their toolboxes and grab a gun each, loaded with silver bullets. The hyperventilated breathing of every passenger echoes around the compact walls of the car. Gradually, the smoke fades away, and the sky is once again visible through the windows.
"What the hell was that?" Kate shudders.
"That's what you have to be afraid of." Dean says, humourlessly.
"This is just like that Harry Potter movie when the death-eaters attack the Hogwart's Express." Daisy whispers to May.
"Except this is all too real." Graham reminds her.
"Why didn't they attack?" Sam asks Dean, lowering his weapon.
"They're trying to induce fear." Dean says, still holding the gun to his chest.
"I want the truth." Ryan says firmly. "I want to know what's out there."
Sam looks to Dean. Dean struggles to find a suitable explanation, and instead resorts to the truth: "Demons."
"Demons?" the coffee-stained suit cackles. "Did I get on board the crazy train?"
"You saw them." Sam exclaims. "They've surrounded us. We're trapped."
"I-I believe you." the businesswoman stutters timidly.
"So how do we stop them?" Graham asks.
"Protection symbols." Sam suggests. "Here, let me show you."
He retrieves a notepad from the pocket of his overalls and proceeds to draw sketches for Graham to see. Dean watches, impressed by Sam's patient teaching, combined with Graham's attentive learning.
"Right, I want all of you to relax." Dean addresses the passengers. "We have this under control. As long as you all stay here, in this car, you should stay safe."
"What about Miss Gardener?" Kate asks, concerned.
"Your teacher's dead," Dean says bluntly. "And so is the driver. So all you have is me and Sam to rely on to get you home safe."
"And me." Jolene adds.
"And me." Graham pipes.
"A-And me." the woman stammers. "I'm H-Heather."
The passengers all eye her sceptically. Dean smiles. "And those guys."
