Chapter 4

The dog stood still and looked around. He had his head raised to the wind and his tail extended. He didn't move. He sniffed the air trying to catch a scent. The dog had not seen the shooter but it stopped in midstep. It was startled by his masters collapse, frozen by confusion.

Directly across the yard from the woods, Sam was still on the ground on his knee's as if he were paralyzed. The kidnapper ended the call, but Sam still held the phone to his ear.

If he was superstitious, and he was, he would believe that as long as the place stayed still, and nobody moved, the violence would be turned around. Time would go back and the bullet would be reclaimed to the gun.

Both Brad and Jack looked to where the victim lay and then back at Sam. "I'll go," said Brad and Jack nodded.

Brad crossed the yard and ran to where the dogwalker lay. Bryan came around to Sam just as Jack knelt down, and Tony ran inside to make some phone calls.

"Sam," said Jack gently. He carefully placed his hands on his shoulders. Sam just sat there, not moving, phone still at his ear. Jack cautiously took the phone from Sam and placed it back inside his pocket until it rang again.

Brad knelt down at the side of the victim. He was going to call for the paramedics but it was no use. The man couldn't be saved. Half of his face had been blown away. The guy didn't have a chance. Brad looked at the dog, who waged it's tail. He petted the animal and felt it tremble.

Brad looked back across the yard at Jack who was trying to talk to Sam. He could see that Sam was still on the ground in the same position. More than fear, shock immobilized the young hunter. Brad turned back to the victim, careful not to disturb the crime scene. The dog laid down beside it's master and whimpered.

"Sam," said Jack again, but he wasn't listening. He sensed that somebody was watching him, studying him, keeping tabs on him. Jack shook his head, still not able to get Sam's attention. Sam's heart was beating rapidly. He looked around but didn't see the shooter.

He felt like he was being watched but not from the shooter. He didn't feel like they were far away, but very close and they were watching everything he did. He felt like he was under a microscope, being studied, which unnerved him even more. He felt like somebody was hovering over him. Barely 5 minutes had passed before the dog walker had been killed.

"Sam," said Jack once again. "Let me help. Come on." Sam finally looked up into Jack's worried face, then chilled, turned from the corpse and let Jack lead him in the opposite direction.

Sam pulled out his cell phone and stared at in in dread.

"If you go to the cops, we'll cut off his fingers one by one,..."

"They've got Dean," said Sam. Bryan walked up and took Sam by the other arm.

"I know Sam," he said and led him to the house.

"I'll be there in a minute Bryan," said Jack. Bryan nodded and led Sam on into the house. Jack ran over to his brother.

"Half his skull is gone," relayed Brad. Jack nodded and looked at the body, but didn't speak. Brad took a deep breath and looked back at the house.

"How is he," asked Brad, meaning Sam.

"Not good," replied Jack. "It's to soon Brad. It's too soon for them to go through something like this again. It's only been a month. Sam's still having trouble with fear and with being touched."

"Yeah I know," said Brad. Jack shook his head. Brad looked at his little brother. "You okay?"

"No I'm not. It's going to be real hard to hold Sam together and God only knows what's happening to Dean right now. Jesus Brad, Dean's his whole life."

"I know," said Brad again.

"Bryan no," said Sam. "He can't."

"We've got to report this Sam. We've got to call the police," said Bryan.

"You are the police," Sam pleaded. "Please."

"Sam they need to get a coroners wagon out here. They have to investigate."

"They're watching me!" cried Sam. "They're going to kill Dean!"

"Sam they expect you or someone to call the police. They just told you not to mention Dean or the kidnapping, or the fact that the dogwalker was murdered as an example to you." Sam shook his head.

"We won't mention it Sam," said Tony. "This could just be a test to see if you'll keep quiet no matter what. We won't say anything to our supervisors. We'll handle this ourselves, but we have to report the murder."

"You're going to get my brother killed!" said Sam fearfully.

"Sam we won't mention the kidnapping okay. We'll handle that ourselves, but we have got to report this. A man's been killed and Bryan and me are cops. It's our job."

Sam looked up at Tony and Bryan and finally, but reluctantly nodded. he heared the sirens in the distance and closed his eyes. He hoped they were doing the right thing.

"Wake him up," said Nemesis. One of the kidnappers walked over and slapped Dean in the face. He opened his eyes but they were so heavy and he was having a hard time keeping them open.

"Wake up Dean," said Nemesis. "I'm going to need you to talk to your brother pretty soon and I want you to be coherent when you do. "WAKE UP!"

Nemesis grabbed Dean's face in his hand and squeezed his cheeks forcing Dean to look at him. He looked up into the leader's eyes.

"That's better. Now, if you behave yourself, we'll hold off doing anything else to you for awhile."

"Wha...What do...you want?" asked Dean.

"You will know soon." replied Nemesis as he checked the straps on Dean's arms and legs as well as the one across his head. He was going to make sure that Dean didn't go anywhere. He had plans for that boy and Dean didn't have a clue what those plans were, but he would. Nemesis placed a hand on Dean's head. It made his skin crawl.

"Who...are...you?" asked Dean.

"That you will also know soon," answered Nemesis.

"Are...you...human?" asked Dean. Nemesis grinned. "You ask too many questions son. You need to shut your mouth now." Dean did as he was told.