Chapter 4
"Enough of this, I'll start the coffee, you tell me all you know about this boogeyman bastard," Dean stated turning the television off and getting up from the bed. It was not yet light outside, so he knew it was too early to head over to where Andy lived.
"Okay, I'll pull up my notes," Sam replied getting up too.
After Dean got the coffee going, he took a seat at the table and waited for Sam to start talking.
"Like I said before, the boogeyman first appeared in the 1500s and there are tales and legends about him from all over the world. Parents used the name to instill fear into naughty children telling them the boogeyman would get them if they didn't behave. It lurks in the shadows of the night and its main victims are disobedient children. Though some tales have it going after any children because their fears feed it and make it stronger," Sam explained stopping for a moment so Dean could pour them coffee and sit back down. "They have been described as having long nails or claws that they use to scratch on windowpanes during the night. Some say it is animal looking and others say it looks like a witch dressed in long flowing robe with a hood. Others are more sinister and will sneak into a child's room and carry them away never to be seen again. It is said they are eaten by the boogeyman. They are said to carry sacks over their shoulders to carry the children in."
"That's just disgusting and downright evil," Dean commented in disgust.
"They're a master manipulator and can take pleasant dreams and turn them into nightmares. They grow stronger off a person's fears. They like to torment their victims. They are nightmare masters and can create, shape, enter, manipulate another's nightmares modifying, suppressing, fabricating, influencing, sensing, observing nightmares, and turning dreams into nightmares. Overwhelming shock, fear, terror, anxiety, can prove too suffocating for the victim and can cause hearts to explode or brains to die." Sam looked at Dean thinking about what had happened to him earlier with the nightmare. He didn't express his thoughts before continuing. "They have power over darkness traversing great distances through shadows, literal darkness. Can't be touched or seen unless they make their presence known and become corporal and that is when they can be killed. It didn't really say what kills this monster, but I think something blessed and consecrated before God would work. Or maybe flare guns with phosphorous rounds that would destroy the darkness. In darkness it can appear in any shadow. It can determine an individual's fears which it uses to play mind games and breaks one spirit. It can create fear in any shape or size. The black sand that was used on you causes endless nightmares dredging up your worst fears. They can also use the black sand by morphing it into weapons like a scythe or bow and arrow. They are one nasty creature."
"Where would it take a kid?" Dean questioned.
"A cave would be my first guess, but any place dark and insolated would work. It would want to stay completely away from any source of light since it weakens it."
"Okay," Dean grunted. "I'm caught up. I'm going to get us some breakfast sandwiches before we head over to help with the search though I doubt it's going to do any good."
"We need to figure a way to trap it so we can kill it," Sam stated. "Before it takes another kid."
"I agree. Why don't you work on that, and I'll be back shortly." Dean grabbed the keys and headed out the door.
Sam sat back in his chair and rubbed his hands down his face as he thought about what they needed to do. He clasped his hands behind his head and started thinking of ways that the boogeyman could be trapped and killed. He frowned trying to figure out how to trap a spirit that could move around in the shadows. He knew the boogeyman wanted children and they needed to keep it from them so it couldn't gain more power. Sam leaned forward and dug his cell from his pocket and pulled up his contacts to dial a number, hoping it wasn't too early to call.
"Hello," a soft lyrical voice answered the call.
"Hello Missouri, it's Sam Winchester," Sam greeted her.
"Samuel, it's so good to hear from you. How have you been, and your brother, how is he?"
"We're okay and on a case. I hope you can help us out."
"Of course, what do you need?"
"We're on a case involving a boogeyman."
"Oh Samuel, that is one dangerous and nasty creature."
"It's after the children in the town we're in. One is already missing, and others are having night terrors and can't sleep at night. If it keeps up they're going to end up in the hospital and the doctors are not going to be able to help them. Is there any way we can trap the boogeyman in order to kill it."
"Let me do some research and consulting with some of my contacts and I'll get back to you," she told him.
"Thanks Missouri. I appreciate any help you can give us. We're going to help with the search for the missing kid, but I'll have my cell on me. If you don't get me, leave a message."
"Alright Samuel. Take care and be careful. A boogeyman is vicious, sly, and deadly; don't let your guard down."
"I know it used black sand on Dean and I think the nightmares would have killed him if I hadn't been here."
"That poor young man, you watch him Samuel. He's been marked by the creature and it may come after him again."
"We'll be careful, and I'll keep an eye on him. Bye Missouri." Sam hung up his cell and got up to go to the bathroom. He came out and met Dean coming in the door with food.
"Food is here. We need to fuel up, so we'll be ready to help with the search," Dean told him holding up the bag.
"I called Missouri for help," Sam told him. "I thought she might know a way to trap the boogeyman and destroy it."
"Now you're thinking. She's a good choice since she can communicate with spirits and since Bobby's not available to help."
The brothers ate and got ready to head over to the missing kid's house. They knew it was a lost cause, but couldn't tell the local cops that, they would never believe them and would probably lock them up as suspects or throw them in the mental hospital as being nuts.
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"Alright, we're going to search the woods behind the house for any signs of the missing boy," the sheriff announced to the volunteers that had gathered to help. "Keep about twenty feet between each other and if you find anything, call out, but don't pick it up. Let one of our deputies mark it."
The brothers milled around at the edge of the group listening to the sheriff's instructions.
"Did you check the area for any caves?" Dean asked his brother in a quiet voice.
"Yeah, there's not any caves, but there is an old silver mine that could be a possible location," Sam answered. "I figure we could break off from the group and check it out."
"Do you expect to find the kid there?"
"If we're lucky," Sam said sadly. "They're moving out; we better go join them."
"Lead the way," Dean huffed as he shouldered a small pack with waters, couple of power bars, flashlight, and first aid kit. He followed Sam to the edge of the woods and waded through the weeds until they were in the forest. At least it was cooler under the trees as they slowly hiked through the woods searching for any clues of the missing boy.
An hour later, Sam approached the sheriff and asked about the old mine. He offered for him and Dean to check it out since they were within a couple of miles of it. The sheriff agreed and gave Sam his cell number to call him if they found anything. Sam grabbed Dean and they broke off from the group to head for the mine.
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"Are you sure we're going in the right direction?" Dean complained as he panted hard. It seemed the couple of miles to the mine were almost all uphill.
"Yes, it's just ahead, the trees are thinning up ahead," Sam assured him. He led them past the last of the trees to a clearing that was choked with weeds, large rocks, and some broken down rusted equipment that didn't get hauled away. The opening for the mine was boarded up, but a couple of the boards hung loose.
"Finally," Dean grunted with relief as he wiped the sweat from his face. He took his pack off and pulled a bottle of water out to quench his thirst, tossing Sam one too. "Okay, let's go see if there's anything there," he said storing the bottles back in the pack.
They headed for the entrance and pulled down enough boards to let the light in and to be able to easily enter the mine. Dean took the lead and used his light to shine into the darkness of the cave. He carefully made his way down the tunnel, letting the light play off the walls and floor. He suddenly stopped making Sam bump into him.
"What is it?" Sam asked stumbling back after hitting Dean's back.
"Awe shit," Dean snapped as he let his light shine on the floor where a kid's bloody clothes, bones with small chunks of flesh still on them were scattered about. There was a dark area where blood had soaked into the dirt, and bits of hair and skin were recognizable.
"I was afraid of this," Sam sighed sadly letting his light play off what was left of the boy. "I need to let the sheriff know so they can recover what's left."
"Yeah, there's nothing we can do," Dean agreed closing his eyes to the sight and wanted to end the monster even more.
The brothers headed back out of the cave and Sam made the call to get the sheriff and coroner out there to the cave. Dean found a place to sit as he tried to get the image of what they had found from his mind. His anger and rage were building inside of him, and it wanted to be freed.
A/N: Things are not looking good for the affected kids. Can they stop the monster before another kid is taken? Will Missouri be able to help? I do like reviews/comments. NC
