Chapter 3

Sam kept glancing back at the Impala as he and Dean stood a couple feet away. Sam couldn't believe what Dean had told him. She looked like her. She was her. Or so Sam thought.

"Dean, are you sure?"

"Yes!" Dean answered for the hundredth time. "I called Jody and she said she's there. I even spoke to her, Sammy." He looked over his younger brother's shoulder towards the car. "That thing in the back of Baby…" His eyes shifted to his brother's. "… isn't Claire."

"Then what is it then? Another Shapeshifter?" Sam suggested. Dean chuckled, then cracked a smirk as he pulled out his gun.

"Let's go find out." Dean stormed past, heading back to the car. Sam mimicked his action- taking out his gun and followed his older brother. Dean stood on the driver's side, holding the handle as he waited for Sam to get into the same position on the other side. Sam mimicked Dean and nodded. Both men swung the car doors open and climbed in. They slammed the doors shut, causing Kelly to jolt awake. Her eyes were dazed for a moment, but quickly spotted the two-barrel ends of the hunters' guns. She jumped, sitting up in the car as she backed away as far as she could, pressing herself against the leather seats.

"I'm- I'm sorry!" She quickly apologized. "I promise I wasn't trying to steal your car."

"Course not." Dean joked. "You just thought she was a motel on wheels." Sam glanced at this brother before Dean spoke again, in a stern voice. "What are you? Uh? Demon? Shapeshifter?" Kelly stared at Dean, scared, and confused. Unfortunately, Kelly didn't know monsters like those existed. She thought they were just myths. Like the Loch Ness monster or slender man.

"I- I don't know what you're talking about. "She said, her lips quivering.

"Maybe this will make you talk." Dean announced. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a sliver knife. Kelly's eyes widen. Sam glanced at his older brother, then back at Kelly, sensing something was off. He could see true fear in her eyes, but how did she look like Claire?

Dean began moving the knife closer to Kelly when Sam stopped him, grabbing his arm. "Dean, wait." The older brother turned, and Sam leaned in. "I don't think she's lying." Sam whispered in his ear, quietly enough for Kelly not to hear. "Look at her. She's just a scared kid." Dean looked at Sam incredulously.

"Are you kidding me? She's a spitting image of Claire." Dean whispered back in the same way. "How do you explain that?"

"I don't know." San replied. "But I don't think she's anything supernatural." Sam paused briefly, glancing at Kelly again before turning back to Dean. "Let's just take her back to the motel room, where we have more privacy, and we'll figure something out." Dean's narrow eyes stared at Sam. He could see that Sam was serious. Dean trusted his brother. He always had.

"Fine." Dean finally agreed. Dean hesitated, looking at Kelly. He quickly put away his knife as Sam lowered his gun. Kelly let out a small sigh of relief. Both doors open and the brothers step out. For a spilt second, Kelly thought they were letting her go until Dean turns around and grabs Kelly's arm, pulling her out of the car. She stumbled as Dean dragged her along the pavement.

"What are you doing?"

She tried to free herself, but Dean's grip was too strong. He dragged around the car toward their motel room. She kept trying to pull herself out of his grip, but nothing worked. She looked at Sam, hoping for some mercy, but he just followed them with a serious expression.

The motel door flew open and Kelly was pulled inside. Dean shoved her away from the door as Sam followed him behind, closing the door behind them. Kelly's heart raced as she tried to catch her breath, panic setting in. The dim motel room provided little comfort. The heavy drapes were drawn, casting a gloomy shadow over worn-out furniture and an unmade bed. The low hum of the flickering fluorescent light overhead intensified the tense atmosphere.

"Listen," Sam began, his voice softer than before, trying to appear less threatening, "we're not here to hurt you."

Dean leaned against a dresser, arms crossed, his eyes fixed on Kelly. "We just want some answers. You can start by telling us your name."

"My name's Kelly," she replied hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Kelly Novak."