Dean had made it back to Emma's place just after 8pm that night. She'd been sitting on the steps of her porch waiting for him to pull up, that same anxious look from that morning plastering her ashen face. He'd followed her inside where he opened up his laptop and explained everything he'd discovered including his suspicions on the fashionably dressed Ashley.
"No. You've got it wrong. There's no way Ashley likes me that way." Emma had glared at Dean from across her dining table, her arms folded defiantly. Even after showing her the pictures and the label she still hadn't been sold on the idea that her friend could betray her and Arlo but she had, after a frustrating amount of encouragement, made an excuse for him to visit. As Dean had guessed, Ashley had jumped at the chance and they were currently awaiting his arrival.
Dean swallowed back two heavy duty pain killers with a glass of water before massaging at his temples. His head and eyes pulsed in rhythmic pain and his whole body was tense and sore from being hunched over books and screens all day. He knew the tablets would take the edge off but he wouldn't truly start to feel better until him and Sam were back at the bunker kicking back with a brandy or an El Sol commenting on the crap fest of a hunt this had turned out to be.
Emma paced, fiddling nervously with the sleeves of her cardigan. "You're just gonna talk to him right?" she checked for the third time as they heard a car splutter to a stop outside.
"Sure." Dean said standing up and automatically feeling for his 45 hiding in the waistband of his jeans.
He waited patiently as Emma went to greet Ashley at the door. "Hey Ash."
A male voice then came from the hallway. "Hey, are you okay? You sounded strange on the phone." Emma welcomed him into the living room where Dean waited with twitchy hands. "Yeah, I'll explain in a minute, there's someone I want you to meet."
Ashley walked in behind and was taken aback to see another man in Emma's house. He was tall but not quite reaching Deans height and he was wearing an embarrassingly tight t-shirt that showed off sculpted muscle and artificial tan. He had blonde hair styled in a quiff and it smelt like he was drenched in cologne.
Dean really had to stifle an eye roll as Ashley eyed him in suspicion.
Emma stood between them meekly. "This is Dean, he's helping with the investigation. He's got a few theories about what happened to Arlo. Dean this is Ashley."
Ashley grinned and held out a confident hand. "That's great. You a cop?" he asked and Dean noted he was trying to show dominance with what could only be described as a death grip handshake.
"PI of sorts. I just wanted to ask you some questions if that's okay." Dean replied massaging his hand.
"Fire away. We're desperate to get Arlo home and the local authorises seem to have completely given up haven't they Em?"
Emma just nodded and shuffled to make drinks. Dean could tell how uncomfortable she was with the situation but he was happy to do the dirty work. Hell, he enjoyed it. Ashley was not a likeable person and the fact that Dean had gotten to that conclusion after only a few seconds of speaking to him spoke volumes.
"You've known the happy couple a long time Ashley?" Dean asked feeling irked at the way the man just spread himself out on the sofa as if he lived there. Dean chose to remain standing and just leant against one of the only bare walls in the room.
"Yeah we go way back. I'm the third wheel of the relationship." he chuckled.
Dean fake laughed along with him. "Well that must feel pretty lonely I bet?"
Ashley shrugged. "Lonely? Nah. I'm here all the time. We're like a family." he leaned forward eagerly. "So tell me Dean. What theories have you got about Arlo?"
Dean ignored him and gestured to the mirror that he had carefully placed back on the wall. "Emma tells me it was you who gifted her that beautiful mirror there. You gotta tell me where you got it from man, my brother is such a nerd for antiques like that."
Dean didn't miss Ashley as he nonchalantly cleared his throat and shifted subtly where he sat. "Oh yeah, Em loves crap like that too. You know, I can't remember where I picked it up, just some store I think. So you were about to tell me what you-"
Dean cut him off. "You know it's the weirdest thing, I once heard a story about an old mirror that had the power to make people disappear. Stupid I know but considering how unusual this case it did make me wonder when I saw it."
Ashley frowned and Dean saw him swallow nervously. "That is pretty stupid." he muttered. He accepted a soda from Emma who had joined them and gave her a fond smile.
Dean went for the jugular, quickly convinced of Ashley's obvious guilt. "How long have you been in love with Emma?"
Ashley choked on his gulp of coke, some of it spewing out embarrassingly onto his horrible shirt much to Deans delight. Emma's face had turned the same shade as her hair as she fumbled for a towel to give to Ashley.
"What the hell are you talking about? Em, who is this guy?" Ashley asked eyes widening by the minute.
Emma stuttered in reply so Dean spoke over her. "You didn't answer my question." he commented calmly.
"I'm not- She's- I'd never-"
"You've been pining for her so long, was it the wedding that tipped you over the edge? You wanted to get Arlo out of the picture without directly doing something to him yourself is that it?"
Ashley looked bewildered. "You think I'm somehow to blame for Arlo vanishing into thin air? I wasn't even here that night. What kind of PI are you?"
"One that hunts down the stuff in your nightmares. I'm just trying to find out if you're one of them or just some sucker that got dragged into this world because you're an idiot."
Ashley just shook his head in offence, trying to catch Emma's eye but she wouldn't look at him.
"Ghosts, witches, cursed objects? Any of that sounding familiar?" Dean pressed.
Ashley didn't answer and instead stood up. "I'm out of here. I don't have to listen to this bullshit." he headed towards the door so Dean pulled his gun on him.
"Sit. Down." he growled.
"Dean!" squeaked Emma.
Ashley turned white and raised his hands. He slowly moved back tot he couch. "You're insane." he whispered before looking up at Emma and adding. "You've been manipulated because you're vulnerable right now Em. Don't listen to anything this lunatic says."
"Hey. You don't talk to her, you talk to me and believe me you better start talking or things are gonna get real bad real fast for you. That mirror takes people. You knew that when you bought it right? Where'd you get it?"
"I told you I don't remember. I don't even know what you're talking about. Emma call the police and get this guy locked up."
Emma spoke up softly. "Ash, the mirror took Deans brother right in front of us. We saw what it can do okay? I don't-" her voice faltered. "I don't care why you did it, alright, I just want to get Arlo back and Dean; he wants Sam. He's not gonna stop until he does so just- please tell us what you know."
"I- I didn't" Ashley stopped talking and just looked down at the rug between the sofas. His eyes filled up as he found he couldn't talk his way out of it. He scrubbed his hands over his face in defeat and Dean sensed a confession was on its way.
"I've loved you from the start Em. From way before Arlo. I assumed we'd get together you know, we got on so well and flirted with each other all the time…"
Emma leant back against the dresser with her eyes closed, a long exhale leaving her body.
"You and Arlo- I didn't think it'd last. I never imagined you'd get married. It hurt so much to see you together- to see him look at you and touch you. I felt so bad. I tried to move on Em, I really did but God it hurt so much. I got into some shady stuff online and I read some forums where people talked about weird stuff- really unbelievable stuff you know. I got chatting to this one guy and he said he was a dealer in one of a kind objects that can change lives. I was thinking Aladdin's lamp or Bilbo's ring you know? I didn't believe in any of it really Em, I was just curious. He sent me a picture of the mirror and I thought you and Arlo would really like it. You gotta believe that I didn't expect anything to happen. I thought it was a scam."
"But the guy you bought it off- he told you what it could do?" Emma asked slowly.
"Well, yeah. He claimed it had been cursed by a witch in the old days." he put his finger tips on his forehead as if trying to remember. "He said the mirror was supposed to call to good looking men and as long as they touched the glass they'd just disappear into some different place within the mirror that the witch had created a long time ago. Once Arlo went missing I tried to get in touch with the guy online again to see what I could do to reverse it all but he'd scrubbed all trace of himself. It was like he'd never been there in the first place. Em I'm so sorry."
Dean had lowered the gun as Ashley monologued but he still held it tightly in his hand. "Jealousy is a terrible thing." he muttered.
"I know alright! The guilt has been eating me up inside-" Ashley growled, a frown forming on his face.
Emma, who was still holding the dresser for support scoffed. "Good." she bit out and Ashley had the gall to look shocked at her sudden reaction. "How could you do something like this? To Arlo? To me?! Any normal person might've actually discussed how they were feeling instead of delving into the occult and buying heathen objects that can banish people to an alternate reality!" her voice got louder and louder as she ranted and Dean smirked. Emma wasn't turning out to be so plain Jane after all.
"I didn't know how. I thought you liked me. I started going to the gym and I bought clothes straight from the mannequins in the best stores. I even changed my hair so you'd notice but all you cared about was Arlo." Ashley all but whined like a teenager.
Emma looked furious now. "Don't you dare try and turn this around on me. I looked at you like a brother and you never gave me any reason to believe I wasn't like a little sister to you. Ever. You've boasted about all your conquests in the past and about how happy you are not having anyone to tie you down- what you're saying, it just makes no sense to me."
"I- I was trying to make you jealous." Ashley said in a small voice.
"Okay so we know the mirror is some sort of portal but how'd you know it wouldn't suck you in too?" Dean asked steering them back to the topic of the mirror.
"Before we met up, the guy told me I needed to carry something iron on me when handling the mirror. He said it would act as a shield in case it wanted me. I wasn't worried though, I know I'm not good looking…" Ashley replied with a quick glance to Emma.
"It's a bit late to be fishing for compliments after the stunt you've pulled don't you think?" Dean spat.
Ashley looked down sadly."Just tell me what I can do to fix this?"
"We're gonna go in and get them out." Dean said simply.
"You're going into the mirror? How? I thought you tried to get in and it wouldn't let you." Emma asked.
"I did and believe me I'm as shocked as you that the broad found my brother attractive and not me but now I know exactly what I'm dealing with, I've got all the stuff I need in the trunk to make an entrance into this place." Dean explained.
"Good. Lets do it." Emma said eagerly. She purposefully wasn't looking at Ashley.
Dean raised a hand preparing for an ill response on Emma's part. "I'm sorry but I'm going to need you to stay here."
Emma's mouth dropped open. "My husband is in there-"
"And we don't know what kind of state he'll be in, okay? Emma I know this is hard to hear but Arlo has been in this thing for almost two weeks with what I'm gonna assume is one bad ass mother. She won't have been kind to him. I need you here and ready to help as soon as we're back."
Emma's lip wobbled and she jerked her head to Ashley who was going white. "But you're taking him."
"I'm gonna need the help if Arlo or Sam are in bad shape and no offence but you're kinda small. And I'll be honest after what Ashley told us, I don't trust leaving him here with you. He wants you to himself and if I go into the mirror alone he could do something to the mirror so we can't get back."
"I wouldn't I swear-" Ashley began.
"Shut up. Time to put your big boy pants on now kid, you've got a hell of a lot of making up to do." Dean took some time to get the things he needed and set up all whilst keeping a close eye on Ashley. The spell was fairly straight forward and was usually used to create a temporary gateway to places that shouldn't exist. They'd picked it up from Rowena some time back and it had come in handy on a couple of hunts since but it was usually Sam that would do any spell work like this. His brother seemed to just get this side of the job but Dean still felt weird using magic at all, even if it was for the good. He supposed he was the last of the old fashioned, gruff generation like his father had been.
"Okay, once I say the incantation, we've got about ninety minutes until it wears off and we're stuck there. We get in, smoke the bitch, grab Sam and Arlo and haul ass back here." Dean explained as he shrugged on a bag of supplies onto his back and handed a similar one to Ashley.
"You make it sound so normal- so easy." Ashley said shaking his head in disbelief. He'd been grovelling constantly to Emma since his little confession but she was standing firm and had ignored his cringe worthy sobs and pathetic excuses. Dean had made him empty his pockets and throw out the piece of iron he had been grasping for protection. Ashley had protested then too but had quickly quietened at the sight of Deans gun.
"This is just an average Tuesday. Emma, I want you to grab all the first aid you've got and just prepare yourself for our arrival. Blankets, towels, water- stuff like that."
Emma's eyes were once again glassy leaving Dean to wonder how she was still producing tears. She stepped closer to Dean, her voice a whisper. "Please come back. All of you. I think if I were left alone again, I'd go mad."
Dean could understand her pain. He placed a brief hand of comfort on her shoulder but then said light heartedly. "Don't worry, I wouldn't abandon my car like that." Emma smiled at that.
He cleared his throat and read the words as clearly as he could from the journal he'd brought. As he finished the mirror glowed blue for a moment signalling that it was time to go. He grabbed Ashley's quivering arm and touched the mirror face feeling an instant pull in to darkness.
The eldest Winchester came to a few moments later with a fuzzy head and a dry mouth. The sound of Ashley emptying his stomach contents nearby wasn't very welcoming but at least they'd survived the trip. Dean got to his feet and armed himself as he took in the scenery with a grim feeling of familiarity. The almost colourless hue and the endless trees were dead ringers for Purgatory and boy wasn't that still a trigger for Dean. He exhaled deeply, eyes moving rapidly around the space to check for any sinister creatures heading his way.
The portal back was at least pretty distinguishable- an old and gnarled Oak with just a tinge of blue revealing it's magical properties. Dean beckoned to Ashley who was still rolling around on the floor. "Come on we gotta get moving. Keep close and stay alert." he ordered, his mind racing as he studied the ground and the branches for clues on which way to go.
Ashley whimpered but with a lot of effort managed to get to his feet.
Dean yelled for Sam every so often hoping to hear something in response but barring the sound of the trees and wind, it was so quiet. Dean was beginning to feel incredibly nervous after a good twenty minutes of nothingness when the pair heard a strangled sound. They both stopped in their tracks and stood still listening for more. The noise came again, louder and more desperate to the left of them. They hurried toward it, Ashley much more apprehensive than Dean.
"My God, Arlo!" Ashley exclaimed in shock when they found a man laying face down in the mud wearing dirty pyjamas and a suit jacket. Sam's jacket. They rolled him gently onto his back, noticing injuries littering his body. Dean saw how rigid he was and how we was able to move his eyes but nothing else. It was a body binding curse. He'd been on he receiving end of one a couple of times himself and whilst the paralysis wasn't fun, the effects usually wore off on their own after some time.
"It's okay buddy, the cavalry's here. Can you talk yet?" Dean asked crouching beside the incapacitated man.
Arlo didn't reply but stared intently at Dean who then suggested a blink twice for yes and once for no communication system. Arlo blinked twice in agreement.
"Is the freaky witch close by?"
Two blinks.
"Are there any other bad guys?"
One blink.
"Have you seen my brother Sam?"
Two blinks.
"Is he with the witch?"
Two blinks.
Dean knelt up warily as Ashley began rummaging in his pack for water and dressings to tend to Arlo. He looked a mixture of devastated and guilty and was talking gently to his friend. If Dean didn't know the full story he might have been touched y the scene.
"Arlo, the effects of the binding curse will start to wear off soon and then you'll be able to talk and move again. Ashley and I need to go and get my brother then we'll be back for you. Just stay put-"
"House."Arlo struggled hoarsely, his dry lips barely moving and the veins in his neck bulging like he was really trying his best to speak. "That. Way." he moved his eyes left.
"Atta boy." Dean grinned. With Ashley's help, they moved Arlo up into a sitting position against some rock and placed a blanket over him.
They moved left again and curved around some dense evergreen and large jagged boulders which revealed a pleasant stream and in the far distance, a small wooden house with smoke rising from its chimney. Shiny chimes tinkled and swayed with hanging feathers and hand made dolls dangling from trees all around them.
They got closer, thankful for the tree trunks giving them cover but as they did a foul stench seemed to envelope them. An odour Dean only knew too well.
He hissed instructions for Ashley to stop knowing he couldn't take the helpless civilian any closer. The guy might look tough but based on the couple of hours he'd spend with him, Dean wasn't even certain he'd be able to throw a punch let alone be back up for a mighty witch battle. That being said, he also couldn't be trusted not to run back to Arlo and put him out of his misery.
"This is as far as you go." Dean told him.
Ashley was visibly relieved. "Oh thank you." he breathed, leaning against some rough bark for emotional support.
"You're going to stay here and wait for me and my brother-"
A chilling high pitched snigger echoed around them, instantly spooking Ashley who bolted back the way they came.
Dean let out a frustrated cuss and was about to run after him when Maggie Banfield suddenly stepped into view before Ashley. She raised one hand, her eyes glowing purple before a bolt of light left her fingertips hitting Ashley and shooting him backwards 30ft and down into a shallow pit. Dean rushed over for a closer view to see that Ashley's fall had been broken by a number of dead and decomposing bodies. Ashley hadn't realised where he was yet but other than looking incredibly dazed, he seemed unhurt.
Maggie walked towards Dean. "I didn't call you here. Or him." she jolted her head in Ashley's direction.
"You took some people. We came to get them back." Dean replied his gun on her.
"They belong to me now. I don't want you. I didn't call you here." Maggie repeated angrily.
Dean let off three rounds into her chest and with a look of shock and confusion she fell back onto the ground in a heap. Blood began to pool underneath her as Dean waited to see if his witch killing bullets had done the trick. After half a minute, Maggie's body began to disappear until there was nothing there anymore.
Dean didn't know whether to feel relived or anxious.. His gut told him that Maggie wasn't gone yet but he took his opportunity to rush up the worn path to the stereotypical witches cabin in search of his kin.
Taking a quick glance at his watch his stomach churned when he saw they only had roughly half an hour to get out of this weird place or they'd be doomed to stay. The pressure was on as Dean juggled the safety of four lives, including his own.