WBY NGE Part 4
San Antonio was a huge city but the donkey lady bridge was actually just outside of the city limits. That was a beautiful thing as far as River was concerned. He didn't like crowds and big cities, he never had. He blamed it on Sunshine and her bare minimal existence but really it could be more than that. Maybe it was just that Winchesters preferred to be off the beaten path and that their job required that more often than not, they found themselves on dark highways and deserted graveyards.
Jamie though? He was a bit different. He loved the nightlife of any place other than his own town. River knew keeping his cousin focused on the job might be a little tough, especially if he thought they could gank the donkey and then head into San Antonio for a little R & R.
Apparently though, Jamie was all business as they drove into the outskirts of town.
"Everybody understand what their part is here tonight?" Jamie asked
JR grinned from the driver seat. "Yeah, Jamie…we've been over it for the past two hours. You guys go in and stab or shoot the bitch. I watch your back. We've been through every scenario that could happen. We are armed with rock salt, silver and cross-hatched bullets. I'm packing more heat than SWAT and more holy water than a priest. I got it."
Even from the back seat, River could see Jamie narrow his eyes at his best friend. "This isn't a joke JR. This is a possible ghost, possible witch, possible witch turned ghost which really? I'm not even sure is possible."
"That's a lot of possibilities, dude." JR flicked a glance at the back seat and River.
"There's no use in getting him to chill, JR. He's in Winchester hunting mode. "
"Yeah, well you two jerk offs can bitch about it, but I'm running this show so you need to follow my orders."
River leaned over the seat. "This is my hunt, Jamie. Not yours."
Jamie lowered is voice in a passable imitation of his father, "No, this is your first independent hunt but I'm the senior on this one. I'm not counting that damn crazy ass pie-throwing ghost. Being clobbered by cobbler doesn't count. So you follow my orders and do what I say. I'm the one calling the shots. If I tell you it's off, it's off. Got it."
River saluted. "Yes, sir. – But you know, Jamie, this is your first real hunt without the Trio too. I mean we are both hanging our asses out on this one. "
Jamie turned his head forward. "Yeah, I know. Which is why this has to go off without a hitch. Which is also why I should be shaking in my shoes. And not from some donkey witch either."
JR nodded from the driver seat. "You know boys, no matter how this hunt ends we are in terrible, terrible shit. Like from head to toe and there is nothing- no way- no how that we are gonna not get our asses kicked."
"I know." Jamie said grimly. "But- and this is an important but - if we managed to pull this off, well River said it before – we are gonna suffer but in the end, it will be golden. Because we will have proved to them all that we can do it."
River caught JR's eyes again through the rear view. JR spoke seriously now, "Yeah, well that might be true, and you know, I've wanted this a long time but I have to tell ya, I'm not looking forward to my dad beating my ass. Not to mention, I wouldn't be all that sure your dads wouldn't beat my ass too."
Jamie laughed a little, "Well, that would end once in for all, that bet we've had going, who's dad's got the meanest swing."
River lay his head back on the seat. "Not really. If you get nailed twice, the second ass kicking is always gonna hurt worse than the first, I mean a blistered ass on top of a blistered ass? The dad who gets sloppy seconds is gonna win."
"Maybe," Jamie started, "But knowing our dads they will pull straws to see who gets to do what in whatever order they want and then keep the butt kicking up for weeks. Alternating, Dad, Gramps, Uncle Sam and Mr. Jeff. – That would be like them, you know."
"A month of weekly tannings? No one would do that." JR sounded pretty resolute when he said it.
"I dunno, JR – we've never done something this dumb before." Jamie muttered.
River decided to end this conversation here and now. He'd heard enough of butt smacking possibilities to last a lifetime.
"Look you two, this is my hunt, my decision and yeah, I'm deferring to Jamie 'cause he has the most experience. But if either one of you want out, just say so. I won't hold it against you and I won't blame you. I just don't wanna hear about what a bad idea this is and how red my ass is gonna be when they find out."
That seemed to settle both Jamie and JR down.
Then JR laughed again. "What about ass ass kickings? Don't want to hear anymore? How can we continue our briefing if we don't talk about asses? We are going after a donkey right?"
XXX
JR turned off the ignition to the Jeep. All three boys looked at the innocuous bridge that stood over a rather rolling river. They could hear the water without even seeing it, the rush as it plashed and hit rocks in its way. It was dark. Of course it was dark. The best time to find witches and ghosts. Shadows danced along the arc of the Jeeps headlights.
"Okay, boys. Here we go." Jamie opened the passenger door, JR opened the driver side and River slid out of the back.
XXX
River glanced over at Jamie who was just a hair's breadth ahead of him. Jamie carried his shotgun like it was a natural extension of his own arm. River had to admit, he wasn't quite as comfortable with as his cousin was. JR was probably more at ease with firearms than River. But it didn't matter. River was a good shot. Plus he held the silver Bowie easily in his right hand. JR followed discreetly behind them, the perfect back up. River could see the sandy haired boy blending into the shadows, keeping up with them, but not losing sight of where the Jeep was and any possible escape routes. They felt good together. They moved well together and despite the fact that JR wasn't a Winchester he moved with the grace of a boy born and raised in and around woodlands.
River and Jamie stopped before the bridge.
"The lore just focuses on the bridge right? Nothing else?" Jamie nodded and River continued, "So summon her or just scout it out?"
Jamie looked at the bridge, the river below and calculated the benefits and risks. "I think a summoning spell might be too much…there might more than a ghost down there. " He nodded toward the river.
"So what? Call her out? What are we gonna do – yell, donkey burgers or something?" River asked quietly.
Jamie shrugged. "Maybe, let's see what happens."
Jamie and River started up over the bridge – it was an old one, just one lane and on a road rarely traveled. There were no lights any where, even JR had cut the lights to the Jeep. It was easier to see in the dark if there was nothing but moon and stars. It would have been a romantic place, River figured, if he was in a romantic mood. Some place to take a girl and make out maybe. Well, except for the creepiness that the place reeked of.
"The bridge doesn't look too high – I guess if someone gets thrown off they'd be okay." River's voice shook just a bit.
"Don't even think about it, no one is going swimming tonight." Jamie said. They walked up together quiet now, except for the soft pad of sneaker on macadam. Then Jamie's voice smoothed a bit like he was gentling a nervous colt, "Take it easy, Riv. JR's behind us, we got this."
They walked up carefully, on alert but purposeful. This was a hunt, they were the hunters. At the apex of the bridge they stopped. River listened hard for anything…tippity tip of hooves on pavement or cackle of an old woman. He could tell Jamie was listening too but there was nothing. Nothing but the raging river under the bridge. They stood in the dark side by side. Quiet. Listening.
"This is going no where fast." River said quietly.
"Ain't that the truth," Jamie agreed. Then he suddenly yelled, "Hey, Donkey Lady….come out, come out wherever you are!"
River slapped his cousin on the head and spoke low, "What the fuck is your problem?"
"We talked about calling her out, I'm calling her out."
"We also talked about taking it easy. This is not taking it easy."
Jamie shook off the slap. "Listen up," he said softly, "This donkey bitch is out here and I want her. You want her. So let's get her."
"Yeah, well if she's really here. If she's a real thing. You know sometimes an urban legend is just an urban legend."
"Not this time Riv. She's here. I know it. You feel it?"
River tried to feel it. Whatever it might be. Did it feel creepy here? Yup. Was he jittery? Yup. Did that mean there was a donkey lady here? Maybe? Maybe not.
They stood for a bit longer at the top of the bridge and then started moving down the other side. Just as quiet – well except for the thundering river. Which grew ever louder as they approached the other side of the bridge. They stopped there listening but again. Heard nothing. They could see JR at the apex of the bridge keeping them in his sights but hugging the side of the bridge. If River didn't know that was where he was, he wouldn't have been able to see him.
"So it's a bust? All of this shit…for nothing?" River asked.
"I dunno." Jamie answered.
From up at the top of the bridge, JR motioned and both boys started back up. They met JR at the top.
"Nothin' boys. No where. Not a damn thing."
River followed JR's gaze over what passed for a guardrail on this bridge. It wasn't of course, it was just a low narrow stone ledge. They walked three abreast to the same side of the bridge where the Jeep was parked.
"So…what next?" JR asked.
River looked at Jamie. As if Jamie knew the answer to the question. Jamie headed toward the Jeep grumbling about donkeys. They were safely away from the bridge when suddenly there was a yowl – not a bray – far more terrifying than any sound any living donkey could produce. Both Jamie and JR went for their guns, Jamie a half second ahead of JR. They weren't fast enough though as an enraged donkey charged River from the wood. River already had knife out and in a defensive posture.
Donkey was as misnomer.
The animal's eyes were red, a blazing red that contrasted sharply with yellowed teeth. Its fur was gray and matted, covered in slimy algae and something that River couldn't even discern. River slashed, an upward gouge that should have met flesh but instead met only smoky vapor. And yet the donkey rematerialized again instantly, rearing and it's teeth grabbed River's right shoulder with a shudder. River howled with the pain of it but he figured if it was solid enough to bite him, it was solid enough for him to kill and despite the fire in his right shoulder he transferred the knife to his left and drove the silver blade into the donkey's chest. He could feel the beast's hooves almost over his shoulders and for a moment he expected he looked like he was dancing with a donkey.
That just sounded wrong.
He also knew that donkey dancing meant that the shotguns were worthless so he drove with all the strength he had with his left hand, finding the slot in the breast bone of the beast and thrusting deeper still - then up. His arm shook with the effort of holding the knife deeply in the screaming donkey. The blade's thrust was true though and River could feel the donkey staggering toward him, the weight of it actually pushing the knife in deeper. The donkey's teeth were locked in his right shoulder and it started to collapse onto River.
Then it was over.
River was under the weight of the donkey, it's fetid breath had stopped and it's thrashing stilled but it's teeth were still clenched on his right shoulder.
"JESUS, RIVER!" Jamie was at his right side and JR at his right.
"JR – quick, go get your crowbar."
JR sprinted away and followed Jamie's command instantly. River tried to breathe but the weight of the donkey's body and the crush of his teeth on his shoulder made every breath an agony. Jamie was using his own weight to push the dead donkey off of River but he couldn't do much - pushing the donkey off of River, while making him feel less choking only caused the vise like hold on his shoulder to increase. It only took a moment for JR to get back and together, he and Jamie carefully wedged the crowbar in the jaundiced teeth and pried them from River's shoulder.
Once free from the crushing jaws, River pushed up and away and Jamie and JR pushed with him. The donkey's body rolled off of River and tumbled down the bank on the side of the river. River heard it splash but realized even then it wasn't completely in the river.
It was dead River was sure but they needed to salt and burn it.
"Jamie, get it out…make sure it doesn't get washed away."
Jamie stood shook himself and instead of following River's advice grabbed the first aid kit that JR had grabbed with the crow bar.
"First this, Riv….Jesus." Jamie threw a wad 4x4s on River's jagged shoulder. "We gotta stop this bleeding."
River turned to look at his shoulder. Yeah, that was probably a good idea. "Look," River grabbed his left arm and put pressure on his right shoulder. "Applying pressure…first aide one oh one. Just get the fucking donkey and salt and burn it. If I gotta have my shoulder ripped open by the damn thing you and JR better make sure it's dead for good."
Jamie nodded River heard more than saw his cousin and friend pull the donkey from the river. There was the shake of salt and the smell of gasoline and then a blaze from the river bed and the stench of burning flesh and fur.
He sat up shakily and slowly peeled the gauze from his shoulder, the blood was down to a sluggish river. Jamie was back at his side in no time. "Pressure remember?"
"Yeah." River mumbled.
"We're gonna have to disinfect it Riv. First holy water than first aid disinfectant. I'm not sure but I'm betting the holy water's gonna burn like a bitch. Especially if it was a demon donkey instead of a ghost donkey."
"For Christ sake, Jamie….Demon donkey, ghost donkey whatever just do it."
Jamie was right about the holy water. It burned like a fire down his shoulder sluicing a pink waterfall over River's shoulder and down his arm and chest. Steam rose from the wound and it frothed like peroxide had been poured on it. River wasn't sure if he screamed like a girl or yelled in a manly fashion but neither Jamie nor JR made a comment. Jamie poured until the bubbling stopped. It was blessedly cool for a moment, just water pouring over his shoulder. Then Jamie reached for the first aid disinfectant and re-engaged the fire in his shoulder in a new way.
Finally, Jamie came to the conclusion that there was no more funk in River's shoulder and he re-dressed the wound carefully.
Jamie and JR put their arms around River and half carried have walked the shaking boy up to the Jeep.
"So, do you think we need to go to the hospital?" River looked at Jamie.
"Don't think so. It doesn't feel broken and it's too jagged to suture. I think we just need to keep it clean."
River nodded. "I just wanna go home."
"Yeah, me too."
"Me three." JR added.
XXX
The drive home was relatively quiet. But about an hour from the farm River spoke up.
"I'm thinking we shouldn't mention this to anyone."
Jamie looked back at River." I don't see how we can avoid it."
"Listen Jamie, the beat down we were going to get was going to be negated by a victorious hunt. This was not victorious. I mean, we killed it. But it was just dumb luck man."
"It wasn't luck, Riv. You killed it – it was a good kill."
"Who the fuck are you kidding, Jamie? Where you there at the same hunt I was at? It was a clusterfuck. The damn thing wasn't on the bridge or even the river, it came out of the woods. I thought the fucker haunted just the bridge? At worst I was figuring the river but the woods? We didn't see a donkey lady it was a fucking donkey and really? We don't know what it was and if that donkey lady is still there. Maybe there is a donkey lady still waiting for her demon donkey."
JR spoke quietly, " I hadn't thought of that."
Jamie sighed, "I had actually. What if we only killed half of it? I think we gotta tell them. We gotta let them go back and check it out, make sure that every thing is done. "
River straightened himself up as best as we can.
"No, I gotta tell them."
"River – we all did this, " JR spoke.
River was amazed at the gruffness in his voice, the absolute resoluteness, "True, but it was my idea. I'm telling them. I'm taking the blame. I know y'all are gonna get your asses whipped but I want them to realize that it's my fault. They are gonna hear it from me first."
"Well, how about you first and me and JR behind you. It's only right. You may have been the one who initiated this hunt, but we backed you. I sure as hell am not letting you take all the blame."
"Me neither," JR voice sounded a little rough but then, River expected he sounded like that too.
River lay back on the of his seat. His shoulder throbbed, his head hurt and he'd fucked up his chance to ever really be a hunter.
Oddly enough the spanking he expected seemed to see the least of his concerns.
He'd failed his family.
He didn't deserve to have the last name of Winchester.
XXX