"Clive Barker?" Sam asked, a wry smirk on his lips, "As in the guy who wrote the book that the entire franchise was based on?"

"Looks like it, yeah."

Dean stood up from the table, his hands held up. "This is nuts. I mean really nuts."

Sam gave a small laugh "Bobby, I know we've taken on a lot of weird cases before, but this can't be right. Are you sure it's the same guy?"

"Of course I'm sure, ya idjits!" He shot back, mild annoyance in his voice, "According to his journal, this 'Pinhead' that's lookin' for you two is a damn powerful demon, a High Priest of Hell."

Dean's mouth set into a hard line as he leaned on the table, closer to the phone. "Does it say how to stop him?" He looked up at his brother, ignoring the curious look on his face.

"Not much," Bobby replied, "it only mentions something called 'Lemarchand's box,' saying that it can send him back to Hell."

"That doesn't help us a whole lot Bobby."

"Well it's a start, at least. I'm willing to bet the knife-" A loud shriek cut Bobby off. "Dammit!" The call ended abruptly.

"Bobby? Bobby!" Dean snatched his cellphone up, throwing his leather jacket on. "Sam, move your ass, let's go!"

Sam rushed to stuff his laptop back into his backpack, hurrying out the door after his brother. He barely had time to leap into the passenger seat of the Impala before Dean sped off.

"You don't think this demon got to them, do you?" Sam asked, concern thick in his voice.

"I don't friggin' know!" Dean's knuckles were white on the wheel as they roared down the highway, covering the distance as quickly as possible.

Dean leaned against Bobby's door, silently motioning Sam over into position. His brother squared his shoulders, gently pulling the hammer back on his handgun. Dean reached for the knob of the door, his other hand gripping his Colt 1911.

Suddenly the door ripped open, Bobby giving the two an incredulous look. "It's about time you two idjits showed up!" The Winchesters traded looks, equally surprised and relieved. "Get in here and give me a hand."

Dean tucked his gun into the back of his waistband as he followed Bobby inside. "What the hell happened, Bobby? It sounded like you were being attacked."

Bobby shook his head, motioning to Caroline. "I wasn't, but she might have been." She looked up as they walked in, growing visibly tense as she saw the brothers.

"This is them? The Winchesters"

Bobby gave the girl a nod. "Yep. They're here to help, though, you've got nothing to worry about. Go on and tell them what you told me-after you woke up."

Carol exhaled slowly. "Well, I was dreaming. It started off normal, real peaceful. But then that demon showed up."

Dean gave a small smirk, leaning over to mutter to Sam. "Dude, just like Hellraiser 3."

Sam elbowed him slightly, giving the girl an encouraging look. "Did he say anything specific?"

She nodded. "He wanted me to take you to the old steel mill on the edge of town. Tonight. Somehow he knew you would be here."

Dean scoffed. "A steel mill? Really? Come on man, that's like right out of a horror flick!"

Sam gave an embarrassed look to Carol before stifling his brother. "Dean, most of our lives have been right out of horror films."

"I know, but a steel mill? Not even Yellow-Eyes tried to lure us to one of those."

Carol looked between the brothers. "You don't believe me, do you?"

"No no, we absolutely do," Sam reassured her, "it's just that sometimes demons like to play twisted games."

Carol's brow furrowed. "Why on earth would they do that?"

Sam gave a small shrug. "It unnerves people, usually. Gets them to lower their guard, which opens them up to possession."

Dean cut his brother off, rubbing his brow in frustration. "Look, can we save the Demonology 101 until morning? I just drove all frickin' night, everyone's fine – thanks for the scare Bobby, really." He added, giving the old hunter a sarcastic grin. "We'll make a plan for what to do with Pinhead when I can think straight."

Hours later, the whole house was asleep but Dean. Sleep couldn't come easy to him, not when Hell followed shortly after. He leaned on the kitchen counter, a glass of whiskey in one hand; not even that was helping to dull the anxiety.

"Dean."

He spun around with a start, almost spilling his drink. Castiel stood close to him—uncomfortably close. "Christ… Don't you guys knock?"

"A single strike would reduce you to a molecular level. You are only human." The angel caught none of Dean's sarcasm. "Besides, you are asleep."

Dean looked from the glass in his hand to the angel. "Pretty sure I'm drinking, Cass."

The angel didn't bother to explain. "Heaven is concerned regarding the Hell Priest that is searching for you. He is amassing an army, seeking to drag you back to the pit. That cannot happen."

"Yeah, thanks for the update." Dean said. "And, you know, the reminder that I'm wanted dead or dead." He set the glass down on the counter. "Any tips for us? How do we beat this thing - will the knife even work?"

Castiel gave a mildly annoyed look. "You know that it will not." The angel's eyes narrowed. "Dean, you know very well what this demon is—who this demon is. Your brother may be easy to fool, but you seem to forget I was the one who pulled you from his grasp."

Dean gave a hard swallow. "So what the hell do we do?"

"You follow the orders that are given to you." The angel turned away from him. "The steel mill is an obvious trap, but you must meet the demon there. We will provide as much protection as we can."

Dean scoffed. "About time."

"This demon will not remain for long. The longer you wait, the more danger you put yourself and all those around you in. If you do not stop this demon, everything will be at risk."

He woke with a start, knocking his empty glass from the dining room table. It broke on the floor, though the noise didn't wake anyone in the house. The Winchester ran a hand through his hair with a sigh, thinking over what Castiel had said.

"Everything's always at risk." He muttered, getting up to wake Sam.