Chapter 6

The Escape

Dean searched the officer's key ring that he had stolen for the right one to unlock Johnny's handcuffs. He felt pressured, knowing that there could potentially be more police on their way to the room.

"Why do I have to come with you?" Johnny asked while looking around at Dean to see what he was up to.

Dean finally found a key that seemed similar to the design of the handcuffs and stuck it in the metal hole. The key fit like a glove. He gave the key a simple twist and they snapped off without hesitation.

"Because I need your help tracking and killing that demon. And if this is the demon I'm thinking of, then we've got a lot of work to do that I can't do alone."

Johnny rubbed his free wrists clear of the sweat that had formed from the tightness of the metal bracelets.

"Can't your brother help you?"

"It's still too much for the both of us. I'm wondering if it will be too much for the three of us."

"Not a chance", Johnny bragged. "But tell me this: why should I help you?"

"Because it's the right thing to do. And besides, you might enjoy wasting the son of a bitch."

"Hey, that's my line", Johnny claimed.

"Sorry, but I already bought the rights. I also bet that I use it more times in a day than you have in your entire life", Dean tested.

"I guess I owe you big bucks then."

"You can pay me later" Dean joked. "Right now we've got to get out of here, fast."

"And what do you propose we do, captain?"

Dean gave the non-stop comedian a deathly serious glare and began out the door. The hallway ran both ways out of the room and neither of them could remember which way they had come in. He looked at Johnny.

"Right or left?" he asked.

"So now I'm in charge?"

"Do you want to make a decision or not?"

"Not really, because then I can say it was all your fault when you land both of us right back here in jail."

"Thanks."

Dean had now decided their path, whether it was correct or not, he was going to take it. He directed Johnny to the left hallway. The two began to sprint in the direction they were heading. Then a voice called out behind them.

"Hey! Come back here!"

They peered over their shoulders to see at least a dozen officers in navy blue uniforms armed with handguns heading their direction.

"Holy…"

They sped up and turned the corner, sliding under the freshly waxed corridor floors. Around the bend was a longer hall with metal bars for walls. Behind the bars were criminals with deathly stares, eyeing the two as they ran down the hall of shame. Johnny slowed to a halt, his head in his hands. Dean turned to see his partner in crime seeming as if giving up. The men in the prison cells booed and hissed, laughed and jeered at this so called tough guy thinking he could escape.

"Johnny, come on!"

Johnny scrunched up his eyes and moved his hands to the top of his head, clenching tufts of his messy brown hair.

"No. You go on without me. I'll catch up…. argh!"

"What's wrong?" Dean asked with concern.

"The Rider… it's taking over. The evil… all around me… I can feel it."

Dean didn't know what to say to him. He didn't know what to do for him. The only thought on his mind was that the cops would catch up and they would both be thrown in the cell. Johnny's hands began to glow bright red and he belted out insane laughter, from what, Dean could not say. His closed eyes billowed clouds of smoke from beneath his eyelids. The exposed flesh peeled away from his bone. The police officers had now reached the end of the hallway, but stopped their pursuit when Johnny's transformation came into view. They all wore looks of shock and awe, even Dean. The laughter continued, drowning out all of the comments and noises of the prisoners.

Slowly Johnny retracted his bony fingers and clenched them into fists. Flames burst out of the top of his skull and blazed brightly, showing its warm colours of glory. Johnny's already deep voice became deeper in a hissed cackle like that of an amused snake. He inhaled crisp, stinging cold air that to everyone else was normal temperature, as he settled into his new form.

"You're pissing me off!" hissed the skeleton man in his deep, gravely voice.

The officers trembled with fear just at his appearance. The Ghost Rider took one powerful stride forward, making the officers jump as their lives flashed before them. Two officers from the rear of the group fled from the scene. The monster continued to march toward the frightened men - more of them retreating - and some now having the courage to fight back. They fired their supposed weapons of force and authority at the gaunt creature as Dean sprung out of the bullets' way. Johnny took the silver pellets with a jolt backwards.

His eyes frowned.

They seemed to have no impact on him at all. He roared loudly as he raised his thin arms. A crack immediately formed in the floors, splitting the sides of the room in which prisoners stood, gaping at the power of the invisible force that was separating the room. Fire shot up from the canyon growing larger in the center of the room and trailed its way to where the officers were now running back through the hall in which they came - Johnny standing at the foot of the progressing damage with a laugh presented on his face.

Dean and the prisoners propped themselves up against the walls; steadying their balance as the ground quaked once more, teetering them from side to side. Johnny released a growl as he turned toward the remaining evil. The cell captives shouted in sheer terror at the devil creature's haunting stare. Dean knew instantly what he was preparing to do. The rider stepped toward the metal cages boxing in the criminals that shook as much if not more than the ground had moments ago. Before he reached them Dean grabbed him by the arm to catch his attention.

"Johnny, don't. They may have done bad things before, but they aren't hurting anyone now. Just leave them. We need to get out of here."

The skeleton sneered at the men behind Dean and protested,

"Their souls are stained by the blood of the innocent. They must feel their pain!"

"No! There's time for that later, but now our lives are at stake. Let them live a little longer. Give them time to set things right. I mean, think of what we've done. Are we really all that different?"

Johnny snarled again and turned harshly, brushing off Dean. The two began for the door, but before Johnny disappeared behind the wall leaving the criminals in relief he shot them a warning glance and hissed,

"Your souls are no longer safe! Be warned: The Ghost Rider comes for you!"

Finally they exited the building with Johnny's last words echoing through the heads of the remaining. No one even dared to approach the two while the rider was still in flames, making their escape easier than planned. Parked right out in front of the station was Dean's dirty black Impala. He pulled out his car keys and rushed over to the driver's side, yanking open the rusty door.

"You coming?" he called back to Johnny who stood at the curb looking out at the empty road.

"Not without my bike" he hissed back.

He brought his milky white bony thumb and forefinger to his bared teeth and made a loud whistle through them. A bright light flew down the dark alleyway and swerved to a halt by the Impala. The light turned out to be his motorcycle that, like him, was engulfed in flames. It seemed to be midnight black with hints of silvery metal. A fairly well put-together bike made even cooler – or hotter – with the burning flames as if the paintjob had sprung to life. Other extra features were added such as the chains that wrapped around thin bars and rods as well as the handle bars that were similar to the one decorating the rider's jacket, and bony finger-like straws that clung to the fuel tank.

"Nice bike", Dean murmured.

Johnny set himself on the Hell Cycle and flicked the handles revving up the engine. Dean got in the Impala and started up his own engine. The rider glanced back at Dean, waiting for his queue. As soon as Dean looked back Johnny shouted,

"Let's ride!"

They sped down the city streets pushing traffic out of their way in fear of the hot flames that trailed behind.