Chapter 8
The autopsy of Denise did not provide any surprising details. It is clear that the girl drowned. How she drowned still remains a mystery. After the autopsy, Sam and Dean returned to the college campus to gather some more information about Denise's schedule and classes.
"Let's head back to the motel and get some shut eye. We'll be up most of the night watching the mermaid," Dean grunts as he walks out of the student records office towards the campus parking lot.
Sam nods his head in agreement. He opens his mouth to reply, but falls silent when two girls walk by.
"I heard it was him. He drowned her," a girl with short black hair whispers to her friend. The girl walking besides her shakes her head and laughs. Her wavy brown hair bounces as she giggles.
"Come on Melanie, that's ridiculous."
"It's just like the legend though."
Sam's feet immediately cement to the ground and his eyes widen. Dean's already a few steps ahead of him and he turns around when he notices Sam is no longer behind him.
"Dude, what are you doing?" Dean asks, his exasperation clearly showing.
Sam does not bother to answer. Instead he turns around and rushes to the girls. They are still arguing when he catches up to them.
"Hi, I'm sorry. FBI," Sam quickly says as he whips out his badge. The girls stare at the badge and then back at Sam in confusion. Before they have time to speak, Sam continues. At this point Dean has reached his side.
"I couldn't help but overhear your conversation about Denise. You said, 'He drowned her.' Who are you referring to?"
The brunette's face blushes crimson and she stutters a response.
"Oh no, no. We were just joking. It's just a story. Don't list–," the girl's words are cut short when her friend interrupts her.
"It's not a story," Melanie demands, "It's true."
"Could you please explain the story or legend you're referring too?" Sam asks as his interest peaks.
Melanie clears her throat and begins speaking in a low voice.
"Well legend has it that the founder of our school, Henry Peterson, was against women going to college. Until recently, two years ago to be exact, this was an all boys' school. In order to accommodate the female influx, they had to build more housing. The construction started last year due to a budgeting issue. That's when strange things started happening," she pauses and looks at both Sam and Dean, making sure they're still paying attention, and then continues, "It's said that strange occurrences happen in the girls' dormitories. Weird sounds fill the halls. Doors open and close. It's also said that there's a handprint in one of the rooms that keeps appearing no matter how many times they paint over it. It seems only logical to conclude that Peterson would drown one of the female students to enact his revenge."
"What room is the handprint in?" Dean asks.
Melanie's foreboding expression falters, but she quickly composes herself.
"Well I'm not sure, but it's real. I've seen it."
"Mhm," Dean nods is head, "Well thanks for the information girls. Nathaniel, let's go."
Dean grabs Sam's arm and drags him away. Once they reach the Impala, Dean faces him with an obvious expression on his face.
"That girl was full of it. I have no doubt that she made the whole thing up. All she was missing was a flashlight illuminating her face."
"It's still worth checking," Sam says quietly.
"Alright, you can check her phony story while I sleep."
With that Dean climbs into the Impala. Sam stares at the girls' backs for a moment and then joins his brother.