Chapter 18

John and the rest of the team were seated at a table in a conference room as the sheriff went over the information that they had so far about the missing teenagers.

"There are four missing teenagers that were out camping in this area," the sheriff explained as he pointed to a place marked on the map. "They were not reported missing until one kid didn't check in with his Mom yesterday evening. She contacted the other parents, and no one had heard from their sons either. A couple of the fathers went to check on them and they were gone."

"Were there any clues of where they might have gone?" John questioned him as he studied the map. "This isn't some snatch and grab, is it?"

"No, we don't think they were taken by anyone. And we couldn't find any leads at the camp. The kids picked a remote campsite off the beaten path. It wasn't trashed or anything. It looks like they went on a hike and didn't come back. They had been there for two nights and was planning on staying another two before heading home."

"Now that it's light outside, I want to get search parties out there to start looking. It's rugged terrain and is going to take us longer to cover the area."

"Will you let us go first and see if our dogs can pick up their trail. We don't need people contaminating the scene. And we need something that the boys wore so the dogs can get their scent," Dean told the sheriff.

"Alright, I can hold our people back long enough for you to examine the scene. Maybe you can get us going in the right direction. Their tents are still there along with their clothes and sleeping bags. I'm sure you can find something there to use."

"We'll do that sheriff. Is there cell service in the area?" John asked as he stood, and the others stood around him.

"There is now. Didn't used to be, but towers went up nearby, though there are still dead zones."

"I'll contact you with any information we find. What the quickest directions to their camp site?"

"Let me show you," the sheriff said. He pulled a map of the surrounding area to him and marked the path so they could find it.

"Thanks, we'll be in touch," John told him shaking his hand and leading the others from the building. "I'll drive, Sam you navigate, Bobby, you follow us. Let's go do what we do best."

"Yes sir," they mumbled and nodded as they got in their vehicles and headed out of town. Sam gave directions to John as he studied the map and looked at the road signs.

It took the search crew nearly two hours to find the pull off where they would have to leave their vehicles and hike the rest of the way to the campsite. John and Bobby parked off the road near another SUV, that they figured was one of the lost teenagers and killed the engines. Everyone got out and went to the trailer to gear up before heading up a barely discernable trail into the forest.

"Do you know how far we need to hike?" Sam asked his father.

"I think only a couple of miles from what the sheriff showed me on the map. They set up camp in a clearing near a stream."

"I wonder what those kids found so interesting out here in the middle of nowhere?"

"There's no telling," Dean answered. "Teenagers can be stupid idiots."

"So, are you speaking from experience?" Sam snickered, dodging a head slap from Dean.

"I wouldn't talk," Dean snipped back. "You had your moments too."

"Boys," John cautioned them knowing how long his sons could banter and tease each other. "Save your breath for the search."

"Yes sir," they answered giving each other the evil eye.

spn

When the team stepped from the forest, they saw the campsite across the small meadow. Two tents were nestled under the bows of several trees and a stream ran along one side of the clearing. Yellow police tape was draped around the area where the tents were and at first glance, nothing seemed disturbed or suspicious looking.

"Alright, Dean check the tents and find some pieces of clothing the dogs can use," John instructed his son. "The rest span out and look around, see if you can find any tracks of where they went into the forest."

"Okay…Alright…On it," came replies from the others. They spread out from the tents and looked for any signs of the teenagers.

"These should do," Dean told John holding up a couple of T-shirts. He whistled to the dogs and let them sniff the clothing before giving the command to search.

The dogs quickly began to sniff around the tent and expanded their search before barking at the end of the forest and looking back at the others waiting for them to follow. John had Bobby stay at the camp in case any of the boys stumbled back to it. Bobby was armed with a handgun and was a crack shot if he ran into any problems.

"You boys take the lead," John told them as the dogs disappeared into the forest. "Stay in touch with the comms."

"On it Dad," Dean nodded as he jogged after the dogs with Sam close behind him.

The brothers hurried after the dogs, dodging trees and large stands of brush to keep up. They slowed as the dogs sniffed around in circles for a moment before picking the trail back up and continuing deeper into the forest. The undergrowth was getting denser and downed trees were making it harder to get through the area.

"We're still heading east," Dean spoke into the comm giving John directions. "The terrain is getting worse the deeper we go." They continued following the dogs for about twenty minutes until they stopped and yipped as they pranced around.

"Something's wrong," Sam surmised as he looked around.

"What is it guys?" Dean talked to Fred and Barney. "What's wrong?"

"Dean, Sam, is there trouble?" John called over comm. "Are you still moving?"

"No, the dogs are acting weird. We're just ahead of you Dad," Dean replied.

"I think the boys split up here for some reason," Sam told Dean as he looked at the ground and the dogs whining and one going one way and the other dog wanting to go another way.

Boys," John huffed as he caught his breath when they joined the brothers. "What have you got?"

"Man! That's some dense brush," Charlie commented as she drew along side Asa and stopping to catch her breath.

"Why the teenagers would want to come out here is beyond me," Asa added.

"We think they split up here. Sammy and I will take Fred and go this way, why don't you guys go with Barney."

"Alright son, be careful."

"We will Dad," Sam replied.

"Seek," Dean commanded Fred who headed into the woods.

"Seek," John commanded Barney who headed in a different direction.

The team split up following the dogs hoping to find the boys soon. They had to make their way along dried creek beds and up small hills until the trees thinned out making it easier to hike.

"Did you feel that?" Dean asked as the ground beneath his feet trembled slightly making him misstep and almost fall.

"Had to have been a seismic disturbance," Sam told him.

"You and your big words," Dean scoffed. "Why can't you just say earthquake."

"Because it might not be an 'earthquake' but a slight shifting of the earth's plates or some other underground activity."

"Whatever it was, I don't like it. It's like a bad omen."

"You and your superstitions," Sam huffed rolling his eyes skyward and shaking his head.

"Sammy, look," Dean got his attention as they stepped out of the forest and looked across the clearing. Fred was bouncing round and ran back and forth toward the cliffs wanting them to follow.

"Are those caves?" Sam asked seeing the random black spots in the cliff wall that made it seem spooky looking. It was like eyes were staring back at them.

"Let's go check them out. I bet that's where those dumb ass kids went," Dean grunted starting off toward the cliffs. Fred trotted ahead of them, leading the way.

"It's going to be dangerous going into any caves with these tremors happening," Sam cautioned him.

"I'll radio Dad to let him know what we found and that we're checking the caves out." Dean spoke quickly into his comm giving coordinates for their location as he walked beside his brother along the bottom of the cliff.

A/N: Thank you to any guests who left a review. Reviews/Comments would be great. NC