The Roosevelt Asylum – Part 4

Welcome new readers! Happy Halloween Everyone!

Please note: I did not write Kat and Gavin (the teenage couple) in this part of story, partly because it would just prolong the chapter to an extent that I felt was unnecessary (impatient to get to other ideas I have planned lol). Also, I did change some things around to fit with my version of the story with Ellie in it, but it essentially still follows the same plot line – but with a few add ins and tampering.

I did edit this rather fast so please forgive the errors you may come across. Hopefully it turned out alright.

Warnings: This chapter contains descriptions of disturbing supernatural entities and swearing.

Please review. I'd love to get some feedback!

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy!


It was ten o'clock at night and the sun had long passed behind the horizon when they arrived back and the haunted asylum. The dark blanket of the night covered the asylum in a dreary ominous way that made the large old building appeared exceedingly more daunting and far more sinister than it did during the day. And, now, being briefed that the criminally insane and psychotics were housed in the West Wing made Ellie's hair stand on end feeling pins and needles prickle her anxious nerves vigorously.

As they entered through the double doors of the entrance, there was a closeness about the air as an unnerving weight began to press against her muscles giving her a sense of an eerie heaviness making her body's instincts alert her with learned caution. Despite the warm lined brown jacket she wore, the crisp frigid air of the Asylum sent a warning shiver down her spin as her muscles tensed in preparation for the serious danger of rageful spirits.

Dean pushed a palm against one of the heavy doors of the South Wing which swung open slowly and eerily, almost invitingly, as the old hinges squeaked unpleasantly. Sam turned his eyes over to Dean, a look of eager apprehension on his firm features as if to say 'let's do this'. Dean waved his hand towards the open doorway in an 'after you' gesture. With jittery readiness, Sam walked pass the threshold into the dark hall of the South Wing, Dean following right after with Ellie quickly in tow.

Stopping only a few steps in, wasting no time, Sam pulled out his camcorder from his large Carhartt jacket pocket. With his large palm cupped around the device, he pulled the small screen out and powered it on before switching on the large black flashlight in his other hand illuminating the bright stream of light down the dark narrow hallway. Dean pulled out the EMF reader from his inner jacket pocket turning it on at the ready in his hands seeing the lights on top of the makeshift device immediately start flashing.

With jittery anxiety racing through Ellie's veins a sudden and dreaded realization came over that she was walking into a hunted Asylum completely unarmed.

"Dean, can I have a shotgun?" Ellie whispered eagerly behind them forcing her voice into a far more level tone than she felt staring intently at Dean's army green duffle bag full of gear over his right shoulder.

"No." Dean's deep voice graveled out in a serious tone, that seemed to change significantly now that they were on a Hunt, keeping his sharp eyes focused ahead.

Ellie's heart dropped in disappointment noting dreadfully that she was going to have to rely on them completely for her safety. While she thought they were very capable Hunters, she still couldn't help, but feel an uneasiness come over her as she was taught her entire life to be independent and take the incitive to watch her own back when family was not around.

Thoughts raced through her head tampered by her heightened fears. Ellie scrunched up her face into a worried grimace. Did he think of her incapable of defending herself? Or worse, that she was a complete moron who would accidently shoot them? Granted, she did pull a knife on him once, which made her wince in embarrassment at the memory, not one of her finest moments, but that was besides the point.

Dean looked over his left shoulder at her giving her grave and potent look that all, but told her this was no time to be messing around, not an ounce of humor in his hard expression. "You stay close, Ellie." Dean warned in deep tone aware that spirits had an uncanny attraction and draw towards kids and he wanted her in close proximity to them at all times.

Ellie nodded her understanding respectfully, mindfully aware of the serious dangers that could await them with unrestful spirits. Convinced Ellie understood, he turned his attention forward his body alert and ready as they commenced down the cold dark hallway of the tormented South Wing.

"Getting any readings?" Sam asked turning his head toward Dean for a split second before turning his attention back to the screen of his camcorder that he had pointed in front of him.

"Yeah, big time." Dean noted gravely as the needle of the meter was waving over the red zone of the makeshift EMF device never deviating from it as the green and red lights on top continued to flash and buzz in warning.

"This place is orbing like crazy." Sam observed in disbelief at just how many spirits were scattered about the place observing multiple orbs flashing and pulsing on the tiny screen of the camcorder as he pointed down the dark narrow hallway.

"There's probably multiple spirits out and about." Dean agreed in a collected manner, far too relaxed for the circumstances, Ellie thought.

"And if these unrecovered bodies are causing the haunting…" Sam added nodding his head in gave agreeance.

"We got to find them and burn them." Dean stated firmly finishing Sam's thought like this was as simple and straightforward as taking out the trash. It was obvious Sam and Dean have been on multiple spirit Hunts before and Ellie knew salting and burning the bodies of the deceased spirits was just something that had to be done. Although she often wondered if it hurt the spirits in some way when they salted and burned their bones and if they were really okay after they disappeared from this world. However, questions like that, sadly, often went unanswered. 'That's just the way it is, Ellie', her uncle would often tell her or Pastor Jim told her once if they were believers and repented their souls would transcend into Heaven. She wished the latter was true.

"Just be careful though." Dean expressed in a grave tone of warning to his brother. "The only thing that makes me more nervous than a pissed off spirit…is a pissed off spirit of a psycho killer." Dean noted in dread making Ellie scrunch up her face into a worried frown at the grim observation.

Suddenly, all three of them felt movement rush behind them like a gust of wind making them turn around swiftly to investigate, only to see nothing, but the dark and desolate hallway behind them. Sam and Dean turned back around to continue down the hallway, but Ellie, who had a strange feeling come over her, found her feet walking in the opposite direction feeling a compelling draw towards the side hallway sensing there was something around the dark corner. In a distracted daze of complete and uncanny curiosity, Ellie allowed herself to be mindlessly lured as she carefully treaded her heavy feet towards the dark side hallway and daringly peer around the corner.

Air surged from her lungs as a frozen scream clogged in her throat making her muscles tense and freeze in a petrified state of alarm. Her brown eyes bugged out of their sockets as her terror-stricken face drained of all color. There before her in the dark was a bold middle-aged man sitting crunched under an old medical cart in a dirty old straitjacket. The man was sickly and unnaturally pale with wide red blood shot eyes that appeared aloof and drained of life. The poor man's ghostly white expression held one of dreadful torment as his head convulsed at an unnatural speed, blurring and distorting his grieved face before jerkily slowing down and doing it again in a continual disturbing cycle.

Ellie's mouth was parted in pure shocked horror as she stood there frozen in fear unable to will her muscles to move or even look away.

"Ellie." Sam bit out in a gruff terse tone gravely annoyed that she had carelessly strayed behind especially after she was explicitly ordered to stay close. Ellie quickly cut her gaze from the spirit towards Sam who was marching determinedly toward her. Ellie immediately turned back to look at the tormented man, but when she did the man had completely vanished without a trace, like he had never been there in the first place.

"Why did you leave our side?" Sam accused sharply as he settled his boots next to the young girl who never took her eyes off the bottom of the now vacant cart, looking exactly like one who had seen a ghost.

Sam irritated scowl fell instantly being replaced with a worried frown.

"Did you see something?" Sam pressed in earnest as his eyes followed Ellie's gaze to the bottom of an old rusted metical cart in the hallway.

"He disappeared." Ellie responded, her voice just above a whisper as she continued to blink at the space where the pale man once was, still recovering from the disturbing entity she just witnessed. Ellie felt a heaviness sadden her young heart thinking the poor man's life had to be one of torment and misery carrying on into the afterlife.

Sam sighed out a brief huff of air through his nose as he turned to look at Ellie suppressing a growing anger that was building up in his chest once again. This heaviness of this torment place seemed to pray upon anger forcing it to the surface and feeding it in an uncanny and troubling way. Being heedfully aware of it now, the astute man suppressed the impulse to lay into her for getting distracted and wondering off.

"Do not leave our side." Sam scolded tightly grabbing ahold of her shoulder and steering her with his large palm in front of him down the hallway curbing his urge to give her bottom a smarting smack. It was dangerous and she knew better than that to carelessly stray behind.

"I'm sorry." Ellie apologized softly in a contrite tone feeling her cheeks blush slightly in shame as she allowed Sam to march her down the hall. She didn't truly know what compelled her to foolishly look around the corner. Ellie knew the dangers and was aware of the importance of not wondering off, but, in the moment, she seemed to be in a mindless trance that was luring her towards it. It was like her rational mind was not in control and decided to take a little mini vacation for those few short moments. It was a weird and eerie feeling, downright unnatural, and Ellie found herself dreadfully and justifiably frightened by it. Ellie chewed on her bottom lip as she thought about mentioning the strange experience to Sam, but she didn't rightly understand it herself and didn't really know how to explain it. She renationalized that it was perhaps just her scared mind playing tricks on her and there wasn't anything supernatural about it and she just got stupidly distracted for a few moments. Besides, if she mentioned it, Sam and Dean might force her to leave and stay in the Impala and that was something Ellie wanted to avoid at all cost. Despite the rightful fear of the disturbed place, the need to ensure they were safe greatly outweighed the trepidation she was experiencing. Knowing the dreadful pain of being left to wait and worry all too well, Ellie was not willing to risk it. Fearing for her uncle was enough, she did not need the added burden and stress of fearing for Sam and Dean as well. Furthermore, the pressing need to be brave and useful was exceptionally strong in the gusty little girl's mind and had every desire to see this through till the end like any good Hunter would.

They entered one of the larger examination rooms scoping out the place and its contents. Ellie's eyes caught onto a metal operation chair identical to the one she saw yesterday in another room which looked far more sinister as the streams of moonlight cast over it through the barred windows. Ellie backed away from it finding herself instinctually repelled by the menacing looking chair.

Ellie turned to look at Sam's broad back as he pointed the camcorder slowly and intently around the room in an attempt to capture something. Fear still gripping onto her bones from the first frightening entity she saw, Ellie stayed heedfully close to Sam, not wanting to find herself mindlessly lured away again. It spooked Ellie deep into her core as it has never happened to her before and while her instincts were telling her to open up and say something to the Hunters, her fear of being benched or worse pinned as a freak, kept her stubbornly silent.

A sudden odd and eerie feeling began to press against Ellie's muscles sensing there was a set of heavy eyes weighing into the back of her head. The young teenager limbs froze instantly in unnerved concern, her dark eyebrows furrowing with uneased bafflement as she slowly turned her head over her shoulder to glance behind her. What she saw, had the young girl's heart shoot up into her throat making her limbs surged in terror as she whirled her body around to face the entity. The elderly woman had long greasy grey locks that hung down past her shoulders onto a dirty hospital gown that draped over her frail frame loosely disturbingly stained in fresh blood. However, the most frightening aspect of the woman's appearance was a large circular object impeded into her forehead right above her eye with fresh blood pouring out of her gaping wound covering the wrinkles along her torture-ridden face in stream lined trails of red appearing like it had just recently been smashed into the poor woman's skull.

"Sam!" Ellie screeched in terror as the woman walked towards her in an ominously slow and purposefully manner making Ellie's shaking legs retreat backwards. The elderly woman's wrinkled bare arms stretched out almost in a beckoning and compelling way as if to be begging for comfort or relief.

Hearing the sheer panic in the young girl's voice had Sam jerked his body around sharply in alarm. His wide green eyes flashing in horrified startlement as his dilated pupils honed in on the frightening entity that was advancing on Ellie making his body surge with a painful anxiety. In an instant, Sam took a large leaping stride towards her, snatching a hold of her small bicep firmly and pulling her towards him with a forceful yank away from the approaching spirit.

"Dean! Shotgun!" Sam's voice boomed urgently feeling his heart beat wildly against his rib cage as a powerful protective adrenaline shot through his veins like a jolt of lighting enhancing his senses and refluxes tenfold.

Dean, who had been on the other side of the room, had already immediately set his feet into motion dashing towards the spirit in swift efficient strides as soon as he heard Ellie's frighten scream.

"Sam, Ellie, get down!" Dean commanded sharply in haste, his deep voice booming against the walls of the examination room.

With swift and agile reflexes, Sam enclosed his large toned arms around Ellie's small frame tightly, bringing her into his solid chest as he rapidly turned on the soles of his feet and crouched his body down. Sam's muscles bulged and tensed rigidly as he encircled his large frame over the young teenager in a protective and shielding manner.

Within a moment Dean held the shotgun to the woman's head and pulled the trigger sending a salt round through her skull making her disappearing into a cloud of dust that dispersed and vanished without a trace like she wasn't even there.

Still keeping Ellie securely against his chest in his crouched position, Sam craned his neck over his shoulder ensuring the entity was gone before slackening his tight grip around the young girl. Sam rose from his crouched position guiding Ellie up under her forearms supporting her as she straightened her posture onto her shaky legs.

"You okay?" Sam asked in concern dipping his head down to trying to get a good look at her face and ensure she was alright from that frightening encounter, but Ellie's ballcap kept her face in the shadows.

"Yes, sir. I'm fine." Ellie reassured, feeling her heart beating harshly in her chest as she took in short labored breaths through her nose trying to gain control of breathing.

Sam nodded his head once feeling his raised chest fall in a brisk sigh of relief as the tenseness in his muscles slackened.

"That was weird." Sam expressed sounding out of breath as he was coming down from his adrenaline high. His expression scrunched up into a puzzled frown, his eyes darting back and forth as his sound mind analyzed the bizarre encounter attempting to make sense of what just occurred.

"Yeah, you're telling me." Dean agreed gravely, not thinking much else expect the strangeness of the ghost appearing so abruptly and the disturbing nature of its appearance.

Thinking it was best to move onto another room, Dean swiftly turned and started to walk out of the room at a brisk pace forcing Ellie and Sam to swiftly follow. Ellie stuck close by Sam's left flank not deviating her steps away from him more than a few feet fearing another spirit might show itself to her at any moment. Her eyes darting around in a nervous and alert manner as she hurried her feet along feeling her body's defenses heighten as blood pumped through her veins at a rapid rate expanding and tensing her muscles.

"No, Dean, I mean, it was weird she didn't attack Ellie." Sam explained walking swiftly to his brother's side, finding it excessively strange that the spirit didn't appear to be the least bit rageful. It didn't even take the opportunity to do any harm when it had the chance.

"It looked pretty aggro from where I was standing." Dean countered unconvinced as his perception was witnessing the older woman's arms stretched out moving toward Ellie appearing like she was going to grab her and that was enough for the man to see it as a nothing more than a threat pushing a protective mindset to the forefront of his instincts.

"She didn't even try to hurt Ellie." Sam explained in bafflement, if not a little relief, his stiff brows lined in thoughtful expression. "If she didn't want to hurt Ellie, then what did she want?" He questioned more to himself trying to understand what motivate the spirit had to show itself. If its motive wasn't to harm or exact revenge than what was its purpose.

As they continued to investigate the dark and desolate halls, Ellie was ordered quite firmly to stay in between the two men at all times which the young teenager had no objection to as the last encounter still had her limbs shaking with jittery fright. She had no desire to meet any more terrifying spirits nor experience the strange and alarming lure her body had towards the man in the straitjacket as it was downright chilling that she didn't seem to have sound control over her actions. However, Ellie kept her fears internal and unspoken hiding the terror that was gripping onto her bones fiercely like she always did. Although she has been on a several Hunts before gaining valuable experience, and seen some terrifying things that would haunt grown men's nightmares, let alone a thirteen-year-old girl's, it never took away the horrifying traumas and fears the supernatural could inflict on a person. She was almost always afraid. She, honestly, couldn't remember a time where she was not afraid to some extent or another, never feeling truly safe or at peace anywhere. Just knowing the evil that was out there and the harm it could inflict on people was devastating and damaging to one's psyche, especially to a young teenager whose vulnerable mind was still developing.

However, Ellie, in all her desire to prevail, knew just because things were terrifying and difficult in this hard and scary life, did not mean you backed down with your tail between your legs and give into despair. Despite the risks and terror Hunting brought, Ellie was determined to overcome and succeed becoming the best Hunter she could be. Perhaps it was a misguided and foolish pursuit for a young girl going through puberty, but she found honorable purpose and duty in it. Saving lives, protecting, and being useful, was her noble ambition. This is what the young teenager knew and it was molded and instilled into her conscience for as long as she could remember.

Dean who was taking the lead was pointing his flashlight down the dark hallway, his keen hazel eyes alert and focused ahead finding his senses heightened as he vigilantly kept his guard up for anymore spirits that wanted to make their presence known. A grave fear that Ellie was going to be the target again, sat heavy in Dean's chest as it seemed these spirits were gravitating towards her at a startling rate. Although Dean was aware spirits were typically attracted to youth, these spirits pull towards Ellie seemed unusually intense and excessive leaving him with an innate unsettling feeling.

The illuminating bright stream of light emanating from the flashlight started to blink making Dean halt his steps giving the black-plated flashlight a brisk shake in an attempt to keep the light from extinguishing. But his efforts proved useless as the blinking light abruptly cut off completely leaving them in the disquieting darkness of the cold damp hall. The only source of light was the streams of moonlight that shined dimly through the cracks of the barred windows onto them.

"You son of a bitch." Dean cursed at the flashlight in irked frustration.

Ellie inhaled a sharp frightened breath through her nose feeling her fear elevate with alarm as their source of light was gone impairing her ability to see clearly. In Ellie's mind, nothing was worse than not being able to see the danger coming at you.

"It's alright, I got a lighter." Dean assured Ellie behind him an edge of frustration in his tone at his flashlight dying on him at the worst possible time on a Hunt. He swore he put new batteries in the damn thing just last week.

Ellie turned her tense frame half way around to look behind her seeing the shadowed outline of Sam's tall frame looking down the opposite end of the hallway seeming to be vigilantly watching their backs for possible dangers sneaking up on them.

Suddenly, Ellie's muscles tensed as she felt an excessively strong vice grip constrict around her bicep. The firm rough fingers digging and pressing deep into her muscles painfully as the fabric of her sturdy jacket provided little protection against the intensely harsh grip.

"Ow." Ellie hissed wincing at the sudden pain shocked that Dean was gripping her so damn hard. "Let go, you're hurting my arm." Ellie protested earnestly wanting Dean to ease his hold as she began to move her free hand up to his bruising grip to pry his digging fingers off her.

"What are you talking about?" Dean questioned in alarmed confusion, a grave unsettling concern growing deep within his gut as he turned around to look at her directly.

Ellie limbs froze immediately halting her hands advance towards the vice grip feeling utter dread crash over her like a bucket of ice-cold water.

Dean's brows frowned in unnerved concern. He was nowhere near her arm and he certainly was not holding onto it. Dean swiftly brought his lighter down towards her arm to investigate, the flickering flame illuminating a constricted fist wrapped around Ellie's small bicep that was neither Sam's nor Dean's. The fist had blueish grey veins bulging under its dirty tightened skin as it gripped her slim arm fiercely.

Dean's anxious wide eyes snapped up to Ellie's, only having a chance to glimpse at the utter terror that laid upon the young teen's features before she was abruptly and violently yanked from his sight with such excessive force that it lifted the poor girl's feet off the ground. The rushing air swooshed back her two braids as she was viciously jerked through the open door of the examination room directly across from where she once stood feeling a sharp straining pain encompass around her bicep. A screech of terror and pain emanated from Ellie's mouth that echoed through the desolate hall traveling into the confining room. The large heavy metal door of the examination room slammed swiftly shut behind her with an ominous clang locking the petrified teen inside.

Only a millisecond behind, Dean ran to pull on the large white rusted handle yanking his weight back forcefully, but the heavy door didn't budge an inch against the strong man's pull feeling as if the door was bolted shut in cement.

Once inside, the vice grip on her bicep released instantly. Without pause, Ellie darted towards white metal door thinking of nothing else, but escaping the room where a vengeful spirit had forcefully dragged her. Having full knowledge that if the entity got a hold of her, it could do some serious bodily harm to her or, worse, end her life, made Ellie's body surge with raw and potent panicking fear. She needed to get out of the room immediately or her chances of survival were slim to none.

"Dean! Sam!" Ellie wailed in earnest terror, feeling her body rush wildly with desperate panic.

"Ellie!" Dean's voice boomed in fearful concern banging a frustrated palm on the door feeling a horrid and painful helplessness come over him knowing she was in immediate danger and he was on the wrong side of the sealed door unable to get to her.

Ellie gripped onto the door handle with both hands firmly pushing against it with all her might before resorting to ramming her shoulder against the rusted metal leaning her entire weight and strength into it as she desperately attempted to push it open, but to no avail. It was bolted shut. She might as well having been pushing against a cemented wall.

The terrified girl began to mindlessly pound her small fist onto the metal door in helpless panic her arm feeling weighted from the harsh ache that enclosed around the spot where the spirit had gripped her reminding her of the savage power the entity possessed.

"Let me out! Please! Open the door! I'm unarmed, I'm unarmed!" Ellie wailed frantically terror coursing through her veins as she dreadfully recalled she had absolutely nothing to defend herself with. No salt rounds, no iron, nothing, but the excruciating horror of being completely trapped.

Terrible and nightmare inducing thoughts whirled through her young panicked mind wondering if she would endure horrific pain or if she was simply going to die quickly.

Dean leaned all his weight back as he pulled the handle with everything he had, straining his strong muscles to the limit.

Sam swiftly realizing the door wasn't going to budge on raw strength alone rushed over to the duffle bag on the floor where Dean had dropped it. Forcing a collected breath from his lungs, Sam crouched down and rapidly sifted through the gear grabbing a hold of a thick black crowbar. Dean jerked his head back for a split second to see his brother approaching with the prying tool feeling a rush of determination set in his muscles.

"Ellie, hang on!" Dean called on the other side of the door as he hastily stepped out of the way of his brother who immediately jammed the chiseled edge of the thick sturdy crowbar in between frame and door forcefully as he began vigorously attempting to pry loose the lock by sheer force.

A frustrating helplessness and grave urgency set in between the two men grimly aware that the little girl's survival depended upon their ability to bust through the impenetrable door and provide dire aid to the vulnerable girl. However, it seemed the well contracted metal door had not even bent an inch in their favor.

If anything were to happen to that young teenager, the blame fell entirely on their shoulders. If they failed her, they would have to live with the blood of a young thirteen-year-old girl on their hands and the weight of that dreadful guilt would be slow and torturous, unbearably tormenting them from the inside out like an infectious disease that they would never recover from. To Dean, his failure to keep her safe would be equivalent to pulling the trigger himself and that was something he could not and would not accept. Failure was not an option.

Ellie's heart was beating wildly in her chest, the muscular organ vigorously pumping blood through her veins tensing and bugling her muscles in fearful preparation to fight to stay alive. Dreadfully aware that the solid door wasn't going to move on her efforts, Ellie turned around fretfully darting her wide fearful eyes to every corner of the dark and empty square room. Moonlight streamed through the barred window onto the eroding and tarnished walls that seemed to be closing in on her dauntingly. The empty room left her with little space to run and absolutely nowhere to hide, giving her the horrific feeling of being utterly exposed and vulnerable. Her dire situation was disturbingly and tragically ill-fated as she was essentially a sitting duck, easy and defenseless prey for the angry spirits wrath. It seemed like her fate was sealed as soon as that heavy door slammed behind her trapping her inside leaving her not an ounce of hope to escape.

Ellie's wide alert eyes swept around the empty space, hastily searching for the spirit that dragged her in the room so violently. Despite, her heedful eyes rationally telling her the room was empty, her gut instincts were screaming something different entirely as the cold crisp air within the room seemed to ice over with a recognizable biting and heavy chill making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up in frightful alarm. Her innate senses warning her that she was not alone.

The slamming of the crowbar being vigorously pounded into the door frame echoed muffled against the inner walls of the empty room drifting to the back of her mind as Ellie took a few cautious steps back towards the corner to the right of the door. Her watchful rounded eyes seeking to capture any uncanny movement within the room as she backpedaled to the corner attempting to give herself a full view of the impending danger from all directions and keep her back protected. However, her attempts were in vain as the sound of a faint raspy breath caught her ear, halting her retreating step instantly. Feeling her limbs tense harshly with horrendous unease, Ellie turned her head to look over her shoulder, her neck muscles strained in resistance as her wide eyes captured a glimpse of the tall stature of a grisly man standing only a foot behind her. Ellie let out a shrieked of terror as she jerked her body around, instinctually taking several hurried retreating steps away, only to find the man had completely vanish leaving her wide frantic eyes only to view the emptiness of the room yet again. With her heart in her throat, Ellie whipped her head to the right then to the left wildly looking for the man before a chilling icy breath wafted on the back of her neck. The terrified teenager jumped out of her skin as she whirled her body around to see the tall man standing ominously before her.

"Help! Oh God." Ellie called her voice laced in desperate and distressed panic as she dashed over to the opposite wall pressing her back against the eroded concrete, her arms splayed out wide on either side of her as she helplessly wanted to camouflage herself into the concrete and disappear.

Hearing the young girl's desperate cry to them made Sam's heart ache feeling a distressing urgency ramp up in him forcing his sharp mind to race for a sound solution knowing, with horrid dismay, that the impenetrable metal door was not going to budge. Repeatedly amping up his confidence that his logic was sound and accurate, Sam abruptly halted throwing the crowbar on the floor decidedly as he pressed his large palms onto the metal door.

"Ellie, it's not going to hurt you." Sam assured making Dean snap his attention towards his brother, his hazel eyes wide in agitated disbelief.

"Listen to me, Ellie, you got to face it. You have to calm down." Sam encouraged forcing his voice into a confident level tone as he attempted to ease Ellie's panic enough for her to listen to his instructions.

"She's gotta what?" Dean demanded completely astounded by what his brother was saying. Did he miss something here? Had his brother lost his damn mind?

"No! It's a vengeful spirit! It's gonna hurt me!" Ellie screamed back feeling terror grip every muscle tendent in her body harshly as the man approached her in a slow eerie manner. Ellie turned her head to the side pressing her cheek against the rough concrete keeping her eyes averted from the frightening spirit.

"No, it's not." Sam reassured forcefully in a compelling tone of certainty. "These spirits are just trying to communicate. You gotta listen to it. You gotta face it." Sam pushed urgently, his tone carrying a level of encouragement and heartening faith in the young teenager.

"You face it!" Ellie countered in an extremely reluctant tone, potent fear projecting in her panicked voice finding it immensely difficult to believe and trust Sam as she knew what angry spirits were capable of and if he was wrong, she would just be giving the entity a personal invitation to harm her.

Sam felt the muscles around his heart constrict painfully at the raw fear in her young voice. If he could trade places with her, he would, but the fact remained he couldn't. Ellie, regrettably, had to face this alone. All he could do was encourage her on the other side of the door to be brave and follow through with his orders.

"It pulled you in there for a reason. It wants to talk to you. It's the only way you're gonna get out of there. You got to trust me on this." Sam urged swiftly a level of desperate concern in his voice as he compelled her to trust him and rely on his knowledge. If the sprit pulled her in there with the intent of communicating, like Sam believed, and she didn't corporate, she might provoke the spirit into desperation and antagonize it to become aggressive, like it did when it pulled her in their so violently.

"Oh, God." Ellie expressed with adversity not wanting to go through with the frightening experience of what was asked of her. What if Sam was wrong? The horrid fear of the unknown left her swelling with dire hesitancy, but the truth was, she did not have a choice. No matter how forceful her instincts were fighting against it, she had to comply as there was no other alternative to be had, but to overcome her fear and put her trust in Sam.

"Look at it. That's all. Come on, Ellie, you can do it." Sam pressed urgently, his compelling voice lined with reassurance and encouragement displaying his faith in her bravery and ability to overcome. She was tough and smart kid and he had confidence in her ability to do what had to be done.

With every ounce of courage the young girl could muster up in her trembling body, Ellie slowly and shakily removed her cheek from the rough concrete wall feeling her muscles strain with unwillingness as she battled against her frightened instincts and turned her head to look at the spirit that stood before her. Ellie's face was paled in aghast horror as her wide brown eyes took in the man's unsavory and frightening appearance feeling the back of her head press into the concrete as her innate fears pushed her away. The tall man towered over her dauntingly casting an ominous shadow over her petite frame like dark imposing cloud. His long greasy black hair hung around his sickly greyed face in loose ringlets. The stream of moonlight shining through the barred window casted a stream of dim light onto the blisters and boils that riddled his careworn face. His left eye was swollen shut with the skin around it inflamed and puffy while the other deeply set eye was hooded in shadow.

The man slowly and purposefully turned his head to the side and leaned towards Ellie making her squeeze her eyes shut as all of her limbs locked and froze tensely in terrified anticipation. If Sam was wrong, she was essentially dead. Cold icy breath wafted across her ear sending a surge of chilling goose bumps across her skin.

"137." Came an eerily low raspy whisper.

The silence on the other end of the door was agonizing to the two Hunters who waited with dreadful anticipation, each slow second that ticked by amplified their rising worry.

"You better be right about this." Dean expressed gravely in a deep tone as he turned his head to the side to look at his brother giving him a serious and rather daunting scowl that all, but told Sam her life road on him being right and if he was wrong forgiveness would not come so easily from him.

"I am right." Sam expressed in a hard adamant tone as he turned his head towards his brother. The outlines of his expression rigid in a look of certainty showing not an ounce of doubt to his older brother before turning back to look at the door. However, once Dean's hard eyes turned away from him, Sam's face fell slightly in concern as the stakes were too damn high not feel the apprehensive burden of worry. However, he knew he was right as he was too scared to think otherwise. Perhaps there was a bit of overconfidence in his abilities to analyze situations, but something had to be done and a decision had to be made. He confident he was right. He had to be.

Suddenly, the sound of a heavy bolt clanged sharply in their ears as the large white metal door began creaking open. A shot of anxious elation and relief swept over them as the door swung all the way open revealing a very pale and drained Ellie standing at the threshold.

A rapture of intense relief washed over the young teenager at seeing the two men at the door. And that was all it took for Ellie to give into her needs and immediately rush at Dean knocking herself into his firm chest and wrapping her arms around his waist desperate for comfort. Without a second thought, Dean wrapped his strong arms around her in a protective embrace placing his large palm at the base of her head and the other on her mid back pressing her into him tightly in a shielding and tender manner. Dean closed his hazel eyes slightly giving into the feeling of grave relief that she was back by his side where she could be protected. A slight ping of self-reproach crept into his burdened heart at not being unable to protect her from that frightful encounter. Although, there is no way he could not have foreseen the uncanny determination and attraction the spirits had towards Ellie nor the spirits desire to communicate rather than harm, he couldn't help, but feel he had failed her, feeling responsible for her enduring the terror that was inflicted on her. He should have been able to protect her from that. He should have been more vigilant, more mindful, more attentive. His incompetence was unacceptable and it was no excuse; she was a child and she was his responsibility. It all fell on him if anything were to happen to her and the thought of the outcome being much worse if the spirts were vengeful had him stressing in fear and blame.

"Hey, you're okay, kiddo. It's over. I got you." Dean soothed in a smooth low voice revealing not one ounce of his troubled pain and fear as he kept his voice level and confident for Ellie's sake.

Ellie pressed her cheek into his hard warm chest savoring the powerful comfort it brought her to be out of that confining room and into his protective arms. The faint musk of gun oil and worn leather, layered with notes of a warm woodsy-like smell, filled the young girl's nose soothingly calming her distress slightly. Ellie felt her throat constrict painfully as she felt the natural and very fitting desire to cry out the suffering she endured, but, immediately, found herself shallowing hard forcing the tears that were threatening to appear in her eyes down her throat. She was okay – she tried to convince herself despite the suffering her heart was enduring as she attempted to downplay and shrug off the trauma, like she always did; a coping tactic she often used to bury the pain and spare herself the unwanted distress. By keeping everything inward and private, the young teenager was completely unaware of profound damage and turmoil she was inflicting on her young heart, but her strong will and stubborn nature to overcome and survive prevailed thumbing herself into a stoic shell.

The spirit never intended to harm her and she had to show Sam and Dean she was capable of continuing. She had to prove she was not a hinderance to them, but help and crying never did her any good nor did it solve anything. There would be time to cry later in private when this was all over, but for now she had to keep a level head and build a strong front if she wanted to get through this.

Sam's raised chest visibly dopped into a relieved sigh feeling the weighty tension of worry ease from his strained muscles.

After a moment, Dean released her from his warm embrace making Ellie's chest fill with an unexpected disappointment and longing as her young heart couldn't help, but crave the warmth and reassurance it brought her. The man immediately turned his attention downwards and grabbed a hold of her narrow wrist.

"Let me see that arm." Dean's baritone voice rumbled evenly as he began to tug up the sleeve of her slate brown jacket wondering if any damage had been done to her arm knowing that yank was unquestionably violent and he doubted very much that she was unscathed by it.

"It's fine." Ellie assured automatically despite the dreadful ache that encircled around her bicep. She did not want to be a bother, or worse, seen as weak kid who couldn't tolerate a bit of discomfort who needed to be coddled and doted over. She, sadly, had endured much worse over the years and found something as trivial as a bruised arm something to simply shrug off.

But she might as well not have said anything at all because Dean completely ignored her and continued to tug up her loose sleeve past her elbow. Ellie scrunched up her face into a wincing grimace silencing a hiss as the fabric of her black long sleeve shirt and jacket scraped tautly across her injured arm.

Dean grabbed a hold of her elbow and twisted her arm slightly towards the stream of moonlight that was casting through the window across from them. With his brows frowning deep, Dean's eyes honed in on the deep red bruise that freshly enclosed around her small bicep. Lines of distinct finger marks where the spirit had pressed harshly into her skin were clearly visible.

"Yeah, you got a nice size bruise there, kiddo." Dean commented forcing his tone into a stoic and relaxed manner, not wanting to alarm her and have her fret over it or elevate her distress. The kid certainly didn't need any more reason to stress. However, Dean noted that the bruise was deep and undoubtable ached like hell and would be tender for good while, but it wasn't permanent and she would heal. It could have been a hell of a lot worse and Dean found himself grateful for such a minor injury. They were damn lucky. Although, he was sure she, regrettably, endured more serious injuries in her young life as a Hunter's kid, knowing that was the unfortunate nature of the gig, it still pained him to see the young kid get hurt to any extent nevertheless.

Dean was, honestly, a bit taken back, if not a little impressed and concerned at the teenager's stoicism as she did not shed a single tear over the frightening encounter nor her injury. He's seen grown men ball at less than half the trauma little Ellie underwent. Although, he knew she was aware and familiar with the supernatural, that did not mean it wasn't scary as hell facing a grisly spirit that had the power to end her life if it chose to. This kind of stuff had grown adults running with their tail between their legs and he wondered if she was simply practiced at hiding her fears unusually well or if she was numb or hardened in a way by what she had seen and endured in the past. He wasn't certain how much of the supernatural world she had really seen or how many 'Hunts' she had participated in and he was not going to take her bragging as proof of her experience, but he sure as hell hoped it was limited. However, in light of her commendable composure for a thirteen-year-old little girl, something told him her pervious involvement in Hunts with Caleb, or her parents perhaps, wasn't as restricted as it should be and he felt an unexpected annoyance rile his dander over it. Even though he and Sam were raised like 'worriers', that did not mean it was right for a little girl of thirteen to face more than she should and it saddened and hurt Dean to wonder just what her young eyes had seen to force her to cope into a numbing stoic mask. He found himself not liking it, not one bit.

By rights he should have left her in the motel, but the damn kid was proven to be untrustworthy and reckless as hell and the truth was, he simply did not trust her not take off on them again. Plus, with demons apparently on the prowl and Caleb's dire desperation on the phone, Dean simply didn't want her out of his sight. He wanted the kid by their side so he could ensure she was safe at all times, although, he wasn't doing a bang-up job of it at the moment he noted shamefully.

"137." Ellie muttered evenly through a forced steady breath making Dean snap his head up to look at Ellie, his eyes wide with intrigue.

"Sorry?" Dean pressed as he blinked his hazel eyes at her.

"It whispered in my ear, 137." Ellie explained commendably calm, although on the inside she felt her jittery nerves shaking her like a leaf as the built-up adrenaline was still fizzling in her bloodstream from the frightening encounter.

Sam and Dean both turned to look at each other, an insightful awareness shinning upon their features as they expressed simultaneously in unison – 'Room Number'. Sam was undoubtably right, the spirits were trying to comminate with them.

As soon as Dean let go of Ellie's wrist, the young teenager immediately pulled her sleeve down hiding her bruise from sight feeling an odd relief that the attention of her trivial injury was lifted.

"Alright, you take Ellie back to the Impala…" Dean began to instruct his brother before Ellie swiftly interrupted.

"No, wait." Ellie implored an edge of urgency in her tone making both the Hunters snap their attention towards the teenager.

"I can stay. It's just a bruise. I'm fine, really." Ellie attempted swiftly to reassure, hiding the tremble that wanted to shake her voice, desperate not to be put on the bench. If the spirits were attracted to her and wanted to communicate with her than she could be a big help in bringing this case to a close. A bruise wasn't going to stop her determination to see this through and now that she knew they weren't trying to inflict harm, she felt braver and more assured. She could really help on this one, if they would just let her.

Dean's sharp hazel eyes discreetly caught quick sight to her hands witnessing her attempt to hid the fact that they were visibly trembling as she gripped and fidgeted with her slim fingers.

"Not a chance. These spirits are gravitating towards you like a freaking magnet." Dean declared strongly, honestly shocked at Ellie's insistence on staying, if not a little annoyed. A spirit just dragged her into a room bruising her arm terribly and she wanted to stay? There was not a chance in hell he was going to risk any further harm on her as she was lucky to walk away with just a bruise. He had no choice, but to force an ounce of trust in her to stay in the damn car as the alternative to her staying with them was no longer on the table. These ghosts were excessively and uncannily drawn to her specifically and that was disturbing enough for him to want her ass planted in the Impala's back seat where she was secure and safe.

"I want you in the Impala resting. You had enough excitement for one night, young lady." Dean expressed firmly in a tone that suggested he was adamant in his decision and no amount of begging or reasoning would get him to change his mind. Even if she would be of significant use, it simply wasn't going to happen as far as the determined Hunter was concerned.

Ellie felt her body deflate in potent disappointment feeling her chest sink in harshly at his declaration. She found herself straining with a great desire to argue and push the issue, thinking she had a very convincing and rational reason for continuing with them. However, despite it, she surprised herself and forced herself, with great difficultly, not to push it knowing full well Dean's decision was not up for dispute or debate as it was clear his decision was final and no matter how valid her reasoning for staying was, the reality was the Hunter was not going budge. And furthermore, her arguing could lead to pissing Dean off and landing her back in hot water with the testy man. She already was pushing it with her mouth as of late and she was desperately trying to gain their approval back. Like it or not, she cared about these men and did not want to make herself into more of pain in the ass then she already was to them. Besides, she could end up getting punished for her troubles if things escalated, which she was coming to find out happened more often than not, and she was in no hurry to have a sore ass. Call her a coward, but the Hunter's calloused palm hurt and she was rightly certain things could go south remarkably quickly if she tested him. Not that she thought they'd stop a Hunt just to punish her as that was just ludicrous, in her opinion, but a promise after, was a grave and unfortunate possibility.

"Yes, sir." Ellie complied politely with a reluctant sigh as she attempted to be 'good' and, boy, was it proving to be a strenuous task for the independent teenager.

"Good." Dean expressed nodding his head once towards the teenager showing his approval undoubtably pleased with her compliance, if not a little surprised at the immediate obedience without one word of protest, but nevertheless was grateful as that is how it should be at all times in his mind.

"I'm gonna go find room 137." Dean declared in a determined tone before immediately turning and trudging down the hall in long bisk strides without looking back.


TBC

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Already began writing the next chapter. So pleased stay tuned! More to come!

Thank you for reading!