Pressing his foot on the gas and hissing in angry concern as he felt the tires slipping on the icy road, Dean frowned and peered into the bright road lit by the headlights. Beyond the twin beams the night was pitch black and the forest beside them glowing eerily in the light reflected off the snowy roadside.
"Really?" Sam listened to the phone pressed to his ear and closed his eyes. Combing a hand through his hair, he let his fist rest at the nape of his neck and sighed heavily. "Yeah. I know, Bobby. I've met this thing before."
"What?" Dean chanced a quick glance at his brother and his concern grew as he saw the tight emotion on Sam's face. "Sam?"
"Yeah. We will. See you later." Sam concluded quietly, "Thanks, Bobby." He let the phone drop into his lap and groaned loudly.
"What is it?"
"Bobby's identified a possible suspect." Sam answered in a quiet, almost frightened voice. "It sounds like an Acheri demon."
"A-cherry-what?"
"A demon that takes the form of a small child."
"Holy crap."
"It fits pattern." Sam agreed, letting his head fall back and letting out a moan of dismay. "Indian folklore says the Acheri come down from the mountains and make the children sick."
"Dude …" Dean shook his head slowly and then felt the grief emanating from his brother. He glanced at Sam and his frown grew. "And what else? Sammy … ?"
"I've met one." Sam explained, his voice strained. "It's what killed Andy."
Dean's heart slammed into his chest and he turned to stare at Sam in horror. The car jerked, threatening to lose grip on the slippery snow-covered asphalt, and he cursed under his breath as he turned out of the skid. Finding even ground and now not daring to again look away from their course, Dean shook his head slowly. "You sure?"
"I saw the damned thing, Dean! And I was there when Andy died." Sam insisted, his anger bubbling through, "His insides scattered around the room and - "
"Okay, okay!" Dean urged worriedly, "Shit! I'm sorry, okay!"
Sam's chest was heaving with noisy, angered breaths. He rolled down the window and shoved his face into the icy wind that thundered into the car.
Shivering in the sudden cold, Dean gripped the steering wheel and his vision misted for a moment as he heard his brother choke on a quiet sob. Neither of them relished the memory of Cold Oak and the atmosphere inside the car was filled with sudden dread.
Closing the window and sinking down in the seat, Sam rested his head back onto the soft leather and covered his flushed face with his hands. "I'm sorry."
"No need." Dean shrugged. He peered out into the darkness around them and swallowed back the lump in his throat. "But. Hey." Aware of his brother rolling his head towards him, Dean gave a slight shrug. "At least you've got the chance to take out some revenge on the evil son-of-a-bitch."
Sam managed a small smile and mumbled in agreement.
The noise of rubber crunching over iced slush and snow was ominous. Knowing that driving in such conditions was not in the least bit sensible but desperate to get some distance between them and the house, Lena gripped the steering wheel and continued on.
"But where are we going?"
Lena glanced in the rear-view mirror and sighed in dismay. "Aunt Emma's house." She replied and peered back out into the darkness.
"Don't like Aunt Emma." Morgan whined miserably. "She smells funny."
Lena could not help but smile. "That's the medicine she makes, honey."
"Why can't we go to Nana's?"
"Nana won't understand." Lena replied honestly, sudden tears gathering. She had called her mother-in-law in a complete panic and been greeted with unsympathetic suggestions that she should simply calm down.
Maggie had offered to call Lena a doctor or even come over and talk to her. And then she had joined in the 'you've been through a lot' society chorus and Lena had completely lost it. She cringed now as she remembered the angry words she had shouted at Maggie.
"Don't wanna go to Aunt Emma's." Morgan insisted tearfully.
"I know." Lena managed, her throat tight, "But she can help us."
"And my friend doesn't wanna go."
"What?" Lena looked into the rear-view mirror and yelped as she saw the same blurred image of the ghost-like girl now sitting next to her daughter. Spinning round, she peered into the back of the SUV and frowned in confusion as she took in the empty rear seat beside Morgan.
Breathing hard, Lena turned back to look out at the road ahead and gasped as she saw she had veered off course. She hit the brakes and felt the sudden skid. Pumping the brakes and holding the steering steady, she could not bring the SUV out of the slide and saw the trees before her approaching fast.
"Morgan! Brace, baby!" Lena cried out in alarm and covered her face as the vehicle sank down the bank and crunched into the tree-line.
The wide tires and heavy weight of the classic car were a bad combination in the thickening blizzard. As the wheels lost grip and spun across the curve in the road, the rear of the car swinging wildly, Dean quickly corrected the skid and cursed under his breath. "This is a bad idea."
Sam peered out at the enclosing weather and frowned in concern. "The motel shouldn't be much further."
"I don't see how stranding ourselves out here will help."
"Well …" Sam shrugged, "I dunno … I just thing maybe if we can get ahead of this thing, try and predict the next victim …"
"Weak, dude."
"I know." Sam sighed. He then gasped and braced his arms against the dash as the car skidded once more. Their course adjusted and his brother hissing angrily, Sam sank against the door in relief and closed his eyes.
"Oh thank god!"
Sam looked back up quickly and squinted as he looked out through the curtains of swirling snow. Gentle light greeted them from somewhere amid the trees and he smiled thinly.
"Not far, baby." Dean muttered softly, chancing releasing his vice-like grip on the steering wheel for a second and patting the dash.
His smile growing with fondness, Sam relaxed against the seat and watched the motel grow steadily closer.
The small complex was almost hidden in the thick blizzard, the group of buildings coated in a thick layer of ice and snow. Slight tracks remained in the fresh fall and Dean followed them cautiously, guiding the Impala across what seemed to be the parking lot. Pulling to a stop in front of the reception area and sighing in relief, he applied the brake and switched off the engine.
"Maybe we ought to rethink the 4x4 idea." Sam offered lightly, grinning as he was shot an instant glare of refusal and warning. "Or at least snow-chains."
"On these rims?" Dean gasped in horror, "You even touch the tires and - "
"I'm joking!" Sam defended quickly, his grin spreading as he raised his hands. "It's okay. I'm sure Bobby will arrive with something more suitable to drive in." He saw the anger that filled his brother's face and Sam laughed in mischievous delight as he quickly scrambled from the car.
Hurrying carefully through the drifted snow in front of the motel, Sam tugged his coat close around him and ducked down against the wind. Sighing gratefully for the warmth that met him inside the reception, he shuddered and shook snow from his hair as he crossed to the front desk.
"Hey." Having heard the door entry alarm, a short stocky man wandered from the office behind the desk. "Please tell me you've pulled over to wait it out."
Sam frowned slightly, "Erm … yeah."
The man smiled in friendly relief and opened the reservation diary before him. "Good. I've had a few folk stopping for coffee and some hurrying in for directions." He shook his head and sighed in dismay. "Some people just don't listen. When the police say stay inside, it's usually for good reason."
Sam smiled and nodded in agreement. "It's pretty nasty out there."
"I'll say. I've not seen it like this for a few years." The man continued, "Global warming, they say."
"Yeah." Sam laughed softly.
"Just you?"
Sam took the pen offered to him and shook his head. "Two adults. A twin please."
"Sure." The man turned and selected a large key fob from the shelf behind the desk. "Have 2. It's right next door and has it's own kitchenette." He spun back and placed the key on the counter. "Just in case you're caught here for a while."
"Thanks." Having filled out the check-in slip and diary, Sam reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of notes.
"The bar was stocked a few days back and business has been quiet."
Sam nodded slowly.
"We've got basic provisions in the diner but deliveries aren't gonna get through. I'm gonna go pick up supplies from town in the morning, if there's stuff you want." The man nodded past Sam and smiled warmly. "In my truck."
Sam understood his meaning and laughed merrily, "My brother's pride and joy."
"She's a beauty alright. But better suited for California, I feel."
"Yeah!" Sam smiled and picked up the room key. "Thanks - …" He paused openly.
"Jeff." The older man smiled and nodded in greeting. "Call if you need anything."
"Thanks, Jeff." Sam acknowledged and headed back out into the snow.
Sitting in stunned silence behind the wheel, Lena slowly opened her eyes and chanced letting out the breath she had been holding. Lifting her head cautiously, she blinked in confusion and took a moment to take in her surroundings.
She had shunted forward, the seat belt pulled tight across her hips and chest. Her arms, crossed in instinctive protection, were lying on what remained of the now deflated airbag and her neck ached ominously.
It was a few seconds before the terrified wailing behind her registered beyond the ringing in her ears and Lena gasped in horror. Turning in her seat and seeing her frightened daughter desperately reaching out towards her, Lena choked on a sob and quickly unbuckled her seat belt.
Clambering from the front seat and stepping out of the vehicle, Lena's boots sank into the deep snow. Tears blinding what little she could see amid the blizzard, she moved to the rear door and yanked it open.
"It's okay, baby!" Lena husked, climbing into the rear of the 4x4. Quickly unfastening Morgan from the child seat and gathering her into her arms, she sobbed quietly and held her daughter close. "I'm sorry, baby. It's okay. We're okay."
Snow and icy wind blew into the open van and Lena pulled her daughter further into her embrace, burying her face into Morgan's hair.
"Wanna go home."
"I know, honey. I know." Lena pressed a kiss into the top of Morgan's head and sniffed back further tears. "But it's not safe, baby."
"Cold."
"I know." Lena lifted her head and peered out into the snow-filled night, frowning in thought. She then prized her daughter back from her slightly and took a deep breath. "Let mommy just see if the car starts. Okay?"
Morgan nodded bravely and slid off of her mother's lap.
Climbing back outside and closing the rear door, Lena trudged back along to the open driver's door and reached inside. Grabbing the key and giving it a sharp turn, Lena heard a soft clunk and then nothing more.
"Shit!" Morgan hissed, trying the ignition a few more times and getting the same lack of response. She leaned against the door frame and groaned in dismay.
"Mommy?"
"It's okay, baby." Lena offered quickly, looking up and smiling thinly. "Just let mommy think for a second."
Climbing back into the drivers seat and shutting out the storm, Lena leaned across to grab her handbag. Flung from the passenger seat and upturned, she lifted the bag and groaned as she stretched out her arm to collect the scattered contents.
Her phone had a signal and she stared at the glowing screen for a moment. Thinking back over the reaction she had received from friends and family at her decision to flee, Lena knew how they would respond to her current situation and she just could not bring herself to call them.
Fresh tears gathered as she realized the predicament she was in and then a sudden memory of the reason why she had fled out here made her heart slam into her chest. Dropping her phone back into her bag and wiping her eyes, Lena looked out into the blizzard.
"Mommy?"
Lena frowned and peered out through the snow, her pulse racing as she tried to make out the light coming from between the trees.
"Mommy!"
With a gasp, Lena turned and smiled warmly at her daughter. "It's okay, baby." She gathered her bag and its contents and climbed back out into the snow.
Zipping up Morgan's coat and ensuring her daughter's hat was pulled snug over her ears, Lena lifted her down from the back seat. "Come on, baby." Gripping her daughter's clinging form with one arm, Lena closed the passenger door and locked the car.
The soft chirp of the activated car alarm was lost in the noise of the wind and her daughter's worried sobbing. Lena swung her bag over her free shoulder and gathered Morgan close to her as she headed across the road and towards the light beyond the trees.
- tbc -