Disclaimer- I do not own Supernatural or any of its characters.

Well, here it is! Is there anyone else who updates as fast as I do?

It's no excuse, but I'm exhausted today, so the chapter might be a bit…..choppy, I guess.

Home is right after this! *squeal*

Thanks to everyone who reviewed! (Welcome back, Garideth!)

On with it, shall we?

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE- HOOKED TO DEATH

"'Aren't you glad you didn't turn on the light'? That's right out of the legend," Sam peered at the message written in blood over Taylor's lifeless body.

"Yeah, that's classic Hook Man all right," Dean tapped his nose. "Definitely a spirit."

I tried not to tremble seeing Taylor's ravaged body.

"Yeah, I've never smelled ozone this strong before."

Dean moved over to the window.

"We should get out of here. The cops'll be coming any minute."

Sam did not answer as he stared at the wall. "Hey, come here."

He pointed to the cross symbol. " Does that look familiar to you?"

~Supernatural~

"It's the same symbol. Seems like it is the spirit of Jacob Karns."

"All right, let's find the dude's grave and put him down." Dean flexed his hands on the steering wheel.

I decided to interrupt. "'After execution, Jacob Karns was laid to rest in an Old North Cemetery. In an unmarked grave.'"

"Super," Dean griped.

"We know its Jacob Karns, but we don't know where he'll manifest next. Or why." Sam looked annoyed.

"I think your little friend Lori might have something to do with this."

Dean grinned. "This means partying, Sammy!"

~Supernatural~

Dean had been in a good mood ever since he'd returned with Sam from the college party they'd attended.

"Man, you've been holding out on me," he told Sam. "This college thing is awesome!"

I fought a smile.

"This wasn't really my experience," Sam replied.

Dean held up a hand. "Let me guess. Libraries, studying, straight A's?"

Sam nodded.

He let out a disappointed sigh. "What a geek. Alright, you do your homework?"

"Yeah, it was bugging me, right? Like, how's the Hook Man tied up with Lori? I think I came up with something."

Sam unraveled a piece of paper.

"1932. Clergyman arrested for murder. 1967. Seminarian held in hippie rampage." Dean read.

"There's a pattern here," Sam said. "In both cases, the suspect was a man of religion who openly preached against immorality. And then found himself wanted for killings he claimed were the work of an invisible force. Killings carried out-get this-with a sharp instrument."

"What's the connection to Lori?" Dean asked.

Sam tapped his foot impatiently. "Her father, Dean. The reverend."

"You think he's summoning the spirit?"

"Maybe. Or you know how a poltergeist can haunt a person instead of a place?"

Dean nodded. "The spirit latches onto the Rev's repressed emotions, feeds off them, yeah, okay."

"Without him ever knowing it," Sam spun the car keys around his finger.

"Keep an eye on Lori tonight," Dean ordered.

"What about you?"

"I'm gonna go see if I can find that unmarked grave. And you," Dean turned his eyes on me. I resisted the urge to squeak in alarm.

"Will be coming with me," he finished.

I followed him reluctantly.

~Supernatural~

"Here we go," Dean spotted a headstone engraved with a cross symbol.

He picked up his shovel and started digging, while I held the flashlight.

He had been working on the grave a while when he grunted. "That's it. Next time, I get to watch the cute girl's house."

"Hey, keep the flashlight steady, wouldja?" Dean snapped.

"Sorry," I gripped it tightly.

He broke through the wooden floor of the grave, revealing Karn's remains. I gagged at the smell.

Dean threw his shovel aside. "Helloooo, preacher," he drawled.

He pulled out his bag.

Dean poured salt and lighter fluid on Jacob's yellow-starched bones, and I paled.

He lit the match. "Buh-bye, preacher boy."

He threw the match into the coffin, watching the bones burn.

I tried not to cough at the acrid smell.

Dean's smirk told me I had failed.

~Supernatural~

Reverend Sorensen had been attacked. Sam and Lori were both at the hospital with him.

"No, it's alright, we're with him. He's our brother." The two sheriffs looked at our green eyes and brown hair.

"Hey, brother!" Dean waved at Sam.

Sam and the sheriff next to him turned around.

"Let him through," the cop said.

"Thanks," Dean smiled.

Once the sheriffs' left, Sam started talking.

"Why didn't you torch the bones?"

"What are you talking about?" Dean stared at him in amazement. "You sure it's the spirit of Jacob Karns?"

"It sure as hell looked like him. And that's not all. I don't think the spirit is latching on to the reverend."

Dean snorted. "Well, yeah, the guy wouldn't send the Hook Man after himself."

"I think its latching onto Lori," Sam furrowed his brow. "Last night she found out her father is having an affair with a married woman."

Dean raised an eyebrow. "So?"

"So she's upset about it. She told me she was raised to believe that if you do wrong, you get punished."

"Right. Rich comes on too strong. Taylor tries to make her a party girl. Dad has an affair."

Dean whistled. "Remind me not to piss this girl off."

"You must have missed something," Sam insisted.

"I burned everything in that coffin, Samsquatch."

"Did you get the hook?" Sam crossed his arms.

"The hook?" I echoed, speaking for the first time.

"Well, it was the murder weapon," Sam reflected. "In a way, it was part of him."

"So like the bones, the hook is the source of his power."

"If we find the hook…."

"We stop the Hook Man," they said in unison.

~Supernatural~

I stared at the tan wall of my room. It reminded me of Castiel's trenchcoat.

The very next minute, the angel himself appeared.

This time, I managed to stay on my bed.

It didn't stop my squeak of alarm, though.

"Hey, Castiel." I smiled tiredly at him.

"Hello. The Hook Man is going to kill again."

I blinked, nonplussed. "Can you tell us where it is, please?" I looked up at him.

"We could use your help."

He moved his head to one side. "The hook has been reforged. Look in the girl's house- and the church for silver."

His expression turned disapproving. "If it were up to me, I'd teach the reverend a lesson in immorality."

His voice turned stony. "We do not like deceit."

I shivered at the barely-hidden threat in his voice.

"Go."

~Supernatural~

Dean threw the last of the silver into the fire. Sam added his own bundle to the mix.

"I took everything that even looked silver," Sam informed him.

Suddenly, we heard footsteps above us.

"Move, move," Dean hissed, pushing me forward.

"Take out your gun," he told me.

I hated it, but I did as I was ordered.

We stealthily ascended the stairs, looking at the deserted church.

Lori was sitting alone in the pew, tears rolling off her nose.

Dean lowered the gun and moved back down.

"Lori?" Sam walked cautiously towards her.

"What are you doing here?" She wiped her face hastily.

"I could ask you the same question," Sam said.

She sniffed. "This is my fault. I killed Rich and Taylor. I hurt my dad."

"I wanted them to be punished, but not like this."

She sobbed, banging her head against the aged wood of the pew.

"Lori…." Sam gently patted her shoulder.

The candles at the altar blew out. We could hear a noise from the back of the church.

"Come on, we gotta go," Sam pulled Lori to her feet and dragged me along.

We opened the door to the basement, but the Hook Man was waiting behind it.

Lori screamed.

I was inches away from joining her.

We fled down the aisle to the back room, but he was already there.

The Hook Man swiped at Sam, who ducked, jerking us forward. My gun clattered to the floor.

We ran in opposite directions, hoping to confuse the spirit.

It didn't work.

He finally pierced Sam's shoulder. Sam's roar of pain made me wince.

"DEAN!" I called vainly.

Lori was pulled onto the floor, and I was sent hurtling back.

The Hook Man's hands closed around Sam's throat. I struggled against the ghost's influence.

"Get DOWN!" Dean yelled.

I ran across the room, tackling Sam to the floor as Dean shot it.

The Hook Man disappeared.

I panted as Sam helped me up.

"I thought we got all the silver." Sam was careful not to move his shoulder.

My gaze fell on Lori.

I tugged Sam's uninjured arm.

He looked down at me.

"Her necklace," I pointed at Lori's neck.

It was a silver cross.

Dean ripped it off of her in a flash.

He threw Sam the rifle and rock salt.

In the hallway, something was gouging into the wall.

Lori whimpered, and I grabbed her hand.

Sam shot at the scratch, and Dean dashed down to the basement.

The quiet snick-snick told me Sam was reloading the gun.

The Hook Man appeared in a second, knocking the rifle out of his hands.

We were backed up against the wall.

It raised its hook, and I flinched, waiting.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw it melt, and the rest of its body vaporize, dispersing slowly in the stagnant air.

Just as fast as he'd come, the Hook Man disappeared.