Chapter 3

Sam looked over at Dean as he paused at the entrance to the Haunted House and caught his eye. They gave each other a nod before stepping into their respective attractions. He tried to hurry past the first mirrors that gave the illusion of being fat or thin or mis portioned, not finding it interesting. He walked down the darken hall that opened into a room full of mirrors that reflected his image from each one.

He slowly looked around trying to find the exit from the room. He began to walk around the room letting his fingers trail over the mirrors, feeling how cold and smooth the surface felt. Little tingles ran up his arm like a static charge. Sam looked up at his reflection staring back at him and startled when the next mirror seemed to shimmer and darken. He quickly looked at the other mirrors but didn't see a change in them.

Almost against his will, Sam stumbled toward the odd mirror and arms suddenly grabbed him jerking him into the shimmering liquid of the surface. Blackness engulfed his mind sending him into the abyss of unconsciousness. The mirror glowed and shimmered before turning back to solid form as other visitors entered the room not seeing anything out of the ordinary or what happened to Sam.

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Sam wrinkled his nose and coughed stirring dust from the floor he was laying on. He tried to move but it felt like his body weighed a ton. He was finally able roll to his back so he could breathe better and got his hand to his eyes to wipe them. He squinted his eyes and rapidly blinked them to clear his vision so he could see. Sam's mind was muddled and seemed full of cotton where he couldn't think.

After drawing in some long breaths and letting his head clear, Sam was finally able to determine his situation. He pushed up on his elbows and looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings trying to figure out what had happened to him. His last memory was being in the House of Mirrors and the strange mirror he ran across. He sucked in a sharp breath when he remembered the arms coming from the mirror and latching onto him to drag him through the shimmering surface. Sam looked around quickly to see if there was anyone else around him and saw he was alone.

Once Sam got to his feet, he took time to survey his surroundings. Everything seemed bleak, colorless, dull, and lifeless. He tried to keep panic from setting in and crippling him with fear. He was a Winchester and on his way to becoming a hunter; he had to remain clear-headed so he could get out of this place.

The air smelled odd and felt heavy, but it was breathable. He seemed to be in a structure of some kind that had no windows or doors. He walked to a section of the wall that looked different than the rest and could barely make out the outline of a mirror, thinking this had to be where he was pulled into this place. He raised his hand to touch the spot but stopped before he did, deciding it wouldn't be a good idea.

Knowing he needed to mark this spot, Sam pulled a small knife from his pocket and moved a short distance where he carved his initials into the wall at eye level. Once he was done, he stepped back to be sure it was noticeable. He turned and looked one way and then the other trying to decide which way to go. He needed to see if there was another way out of this place or if there was anyone else trapped in here with him. He kept the knife gripped tightly in his hand for protection since he didn't know who or what had kidnapped him.

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Dean pushed past the other visitors to the House of Mirrors and started searching for his brother. He swore when he ran into a mirror blocking his way and felt his way around until he found the opening to continue through it. He made sure there were no trap doors anywhere and growled in anger when he stepped from the exit with no little brother by his side.

"Hey kid," Dean called to several kids who were standing nearby. He noticed the stuffed animals they were pulling from a bag and recognized it. "Where did you get that bag?" he demanded thinking they did something to Sammy.

"Bug off dude," the older of the two snapped at him hiding the bag behind his back.

Dean didn't have time to reason with him and quickly got into his personal space, making them back up until their backs were against a wall.

"That's my little brother's and if you have hurt him…." Dean snarled at them grabbing each of the teenagers with a hand and slamming them against the wall hard. "You won't be walking out of here."

"Hey man," one whined trying to break Dean's hold on his shirt. "We found the bag."

"Where?"

"In there," the other replied pointing to the House of Mirrors.

"Where, in there? Be a little more specific."

"I don't know, it all looks the same. It was toward the middle, a room full of mirrors, I think."

"Get out of here assholes," Dean ordered shoving the kids away. He picked up the bag and put the stuffed animals back into it and looked back toward the House of Mirrors. This was not sounding good, and Dean was going into full blown hunter mode and big brother mode at the same time.

He marched back to the entrance of the House of Mirrors, shoved the last of his tickets that he had planned on using for a funnel cake, but Sammy was more important than anything else, and paid before stalking in again taking it slower this time. He pulled out a small light so he could search each room, nook, and corner for any sign of his brother. He was not giving up looking for him.

When he finally stepped out again, Dean headed for the parking area to see if Sam had gone back to the Impala. He scanned the carnival as he went, looking for his brother. When he didn't find Sam at the Impala or anywhere in the parking area, he turned slowly around as fear crept into his mind. His brother was missing, and he didn't know if Sammy had been taken by a human or something supernatural.

Dean knew he needed help and unlocked the Impala to get in. He needed to find the nearest phone and call their father. He stopped at a gas station a few miles from the carnival with a pay phone and went inside to get change. He fed the coins into the slot and waited for a dial tone and called their father. It rang and rang until going to voicemail.

"Dad, it's Dean. Something's happened to Sammy," Dean quickly spoke in a shaky voice. "We went to a carnival, and he disappeared. I need you to come back, we've got to find him…" he trailed off when a beeping sounded that he was out of time. He didn't know when John would get the voicemail or where he was and knew he couldn't wait days for him to get back.

Dean slammed the receiver back onto the phone base and swore out loud, knowing he had to get help here now. He grabbed the receiver again and fed more coins into the black box calling someone else that he knew would help.

"Hello," a gruff male voice growled from the phone. "You better have a good reason to call this late."

"Bobby, it's Dean Winchester, John Winchester's son. Remember me?" Dean greeted him.

"Dean, yeah I remember you. It's been a while. What's going on, you sound upset."

"It's Sammy, he's gone missing, and I can't get in touch with Dad. I know you and Dad are not exactly on speaking terms, but I could use your help. He went on a hunt and left Sammy and me in this small town so he could finish the school year out. Please Bobby, can you help me find Sammy?" Dean begged.

"Calm down son and tell me where you are," Bobby spoke in a soothing tone since he could hear the panic in the boy's voice. He knew how close the brothers were and if one was in trouble, it was not going to be good for the other one.

"Marion, Iowa," Dean told him. "It's north of Cedar Rapids. We're staying in a rented house on the outskirts of town."

"Alright, give me the address and I'll pack and head your way. Do you know where Sam went missing from?" Bobby wrote down the address Dean rattled off.

"It's my fault," Dean replied in a painful voice. "He didn't want to come to the carnival, but I made him."

"Don't go blaming yourself boy. You need to keep it together for your brother's sake. I'll be there as soon as I can."

"I'm heading back into the carnival to keep looking for him."

"Alright, but when it shuts down, you head to your house and wait on me. You hear me son?" He headed for his office to use the computer and see how far Marion, Iowa was from Sioux Falls.

"Yes sir."

"I'll be there as soon as I can. It'll probably take me five hours or so to get there. I'll push it and try to get there sooner."

"Okay Bobby," Dean sighed with relief since help was on the way. He knew when he was in over his head and needed help.

Dean hung up the phone and went back to the Impala to head back to the carnival hoping he'd find Sammy looking for him and be pissed at him for leaving. He couldn't keep the growing fear from invading his mind knowing deep down in his soul that something had happened to his brother. His mind was laced with guilt because he was supposed to keep his little brother safe and take care of him. He was beating himself up for being such a bad big brother.

A/N: Sammy goes missing and Dean can't get in touch with their father. He calls the only other person he knows that could help. With help on the way, Dean continues his search. Thank you to any guests who left reviews. Thank you for coming on this journey with me. I do like reviews/comments. NC