Chapter 4

The more Sam walked, the more discouraged he became. The place he was in seemed to go on forever with twists and turns and different rooms, but none leading to a way out. He didn't know how long he had been here or if it was even night or day. He swore under his breath when he spotted the SW he had carved into the wood and realized he somehow walked in a circle.

Sam's legs didn't want to support him as he slid down the wall to the floor and drew his knees to his chest to rest his arms on top of them. He let his head drop to his arms as tears filled his eyes and dripped down his face. He was scared that he would never see his family again. How was he going to get out of this place with no resources to help him. Dean wouldn't even know where to look for him.

A shuffling noise coming from the shadows below Sam got his attention. He raised his head and wiped his tearstained face as he tried to focus on it. He got to his feet and gripped the knife tightly to his side and he craned his neck to try and see.

"Hello," Sam called cautiously. "Is anyone there?" He took a step toward the sound when he heard it again. "I won't hurt you."

"I figure that," an unfamiliar male voice answered Sam as a figure stepped closer.

Sam took a step back as he eyed the large stranger. He was an older man dressed in rumpled clothes, jeans, flannel shirt, vest, trucker cap, and boots. He had a scraggly beard, weathered face, and walked with a slight limp. His appearance seemed faded and worn out, like he had aged drastically in a short period of time. His face was wrinkled and gaunt looking and he was hunched over. At first glance Sam thought he looked a lot like Bobby Singer.

"Who are you?" Sam questioned making sure to keep his distance from the man. "Do you know what happened to us?"

"Name's Jasper, and I don't mean to scare you kid, but we're trapped in here by a supernatural entity," Jasper told him.

"Are you a hunter?" Sam asked quickly as his interest peeked.

"What do you know about hunters?" Jasper asked warily looking at the young boy.

"My Dad and brother are hunters, and I am too. I was raised in the life and know about the supernatural."

"Aren't you a little young to be hunting?"

"I'm fourteen," Sam bristled as he stood his full height and glared angrily at him. "I'm not a kid."

"My apologies young man," Jasper said to him showing a little more respect. "What's your name?"

"Sam, Sam Winchester."

"Winchester…Hmmm…Seems I know that name. What's your father's name?"

"John Winchester."

"So, you're one of John's boys. I met your father on a hunt years back. I think he was just starting out. Our paths have crossed several other times over the years. He seems like a decent enough hunter."

"Really? Do you know where we are?"

"We're in a pocket dimension created by an entity, creature, monster, whatever you want to call it, that I was hunting several months ago. In this place time stands still, it has no meaning here. Have you noticed that you're not thirsty or hungry or sleepy?"

"That's true," Sam surmised now that he thought about it.

"I saw a pattern of disappearances wherever this carnival went and began tracking it trying to find out who was kidnapping people. I narrowed it down to the House of Mirrors and got taken before I could stop it."

"Do you know what the creature is?"

"From what I could find and with the research Singer did, I think it is related to a soul eater. I don't think it is one but maybe an offshoot of one. A soul eater usually moves into a house and sets up a nest to store its victims so it can feed off them."

"Bobby Singer?" Sam perked up with the name. "I know Bobby too. He helped train my brother and me and we stayed with him some when we were younger."

"Never met him personally but he's the best at research that I've found."

"What is this entity, creature, going to do to us?" Sam asked cautiously, not liking the sound of this.

"It drains a person's life force from them," Jasper told him. "It does it over a period of time, I think it enjoys tormenting them, so the victims linger here in this place until they are used up."

"Are there more people here?" Sam asked looking around them for others.

"Yeah, but you're new so you can't see them," Jasper noted sadly looking around them. "Once this thing starts draining you, you start dying and the others here can be seen."

"Any idea how we can get out of here?" Sam asked wanting to get out of this place even more now.

"I have been trying but there has to be someone on the outside to help."

"My brother is out there," said Sam excitedly. "He won't stop until he finds out what happened to me. He'll save us."

"I hope you're right, for your sake son."

"Is there any way to get a message to him? Anything we can do?"

"I'm not sure," Jasper replied. "I've never had anyone out there that came here to try and contact."

"We've got to try Jasper. I know Dean will tear this place apart when he figures out I'm here."

"We can try, but you need to stay away from this monster. He may not be interested in you yet, but you can't let it start draining you. Once it starts, it will make it harder for you to get away."

"I marked where I think I was pulled into this place," Sam told him showing him the initials and the outline of a frame. "I need to leave Dean a sign, so he knows I disappeared here."

"Good work Sam. It's a start," Jasper praised him. He stepped to the wall and slowly studied the spot as Sam stood beside him keeping quiet.

"I don't guess it can be broken," Sam suggested.

Jasper balled his fist and hit the wall, but nothing happened. He tried again but not even the pounding echoed out into the place they were in.

"No, it wouldn't be that easy. I've been roaming this place trying to find a weakness, but there's not one."

"We can't give up hope Jasper. I have faith in my big brother. He's going to get us out of here." Sam looked again at the outline of the mirror and pulled his knife out. He pressed the blade to the grayish back and began to scratch a W into it at shoulder level, hoping Dean would see it. It took some doing to break the material, but he finally was able to break through and leave the mark. "I hope this will work."

"Smart thinking son. You just keep that faith Sam, for the both of us. We should probably keep moving and not stay in one place too long."

"Alright," Sam nodded looking at the wall one more time before following Jasper down the hall hoping Dean was looking for him right now and would find the W. He couldn't lose hope, he knew his brother and knew Dean wouldn't stop until he found him. Sammy said a silent prayer that they would be rescued before this creature decided to start draining him too.

A/N: Sam finds an ally in another hunter and hopes Dean is searching for him. He has to have faith and be positive he will get out of that place. Thank you for coming along for the ride. Reviews/Comments would be great. NC