My eyes shut tightly from the painfully vivid flashbacks. They never seem to go away. If I closed my eyes, I saw red. If I left them open, it gave my mind the power to replay what I have done. Trust me, I wish I could put a bullet in my brain. I know that it wouldn't work though, I've tried. My name is Hyland Buchanan Barnes, friends call me Bucky. I have done so many things in my life, that I wish I could take back. Oh, how I wish I could take it back. That's just not possible. It's to painful to talk about now, and I'm pretty sure you would all hate me. I know I do, everyday my head screams monster. The part I can tell you about my life, isn't much better than everything else in my life.
I grew up in Dublin, Ireland. With two very loving parents, James and Emily Barnes. They were the sweetest people you will ever meet in your entire life. I also had an older brother and younger sister. Matthew, whose older than me by two years. And little Mackenzie, whose four years younger than me. I would always call her Kenzie, while she called me Hyie. Yeah, stupid I know, but we were little at the time so it's okay. Sadly, I never got to truly know my parents or Kenzie. They died when I was seven years old.
That day, Matt and I spent the entire day with an old family friend. When we came home, everything was broken, and there they were. Cold and bloody. I swore on that day, I would find the person who did, and now I know. It was a cross-road demon. My parents were incredible hunters, but I'll get more into that later.
Anyway, after they died, we stayed with different family members throughout the years. Who were also hunters as well. Matt was always there for me though. He played the roll of dad, mom, brother, and best friend for me. I thought nothing was ever going to separate us. But, like every single person I've loved, I lost him. I was fifteen, and he was seventeen. We went on any normal hunt. Like usual, we split up to help speed up the hunt. There was one crucial point of information that we didn't know though. There were two werewolves that we were hunting. All that we knew, that there was one. He was trapped, and couldn't make it out. By the time I got there, it was too late. He had to suffer through that pain alone. That night, I drove alone for the first time in a long time. I hated every moment of it.
One thing that Matt always reminded me, was to never give up. No matter how hard life gets. You fall seven times, and you stand up eight. So, with his words of wisdom, I was able to graduate early from high school at sixteen. A week or two later, I enlisted in the marines. Which was always a dream of mine. I got in, and went to boot camp in Galway for a month. I "graduated at the top of the class", and got my letters a week later and ticket straight to Iraq.
I spent nine years in the marines, but that's all I can say for now. Now, in present day, I'm in America for the first time. It's amazing how different Americans are from Irish people. It's a nice different though. I've never been here, and the first thing I realized is, Americans have exotic accents.
It was close to midnight, when I pulled my 1964 Chevy Impala into a small lite up pub. Hopefully, I was somewhere in South Dakota. As I walked into the pub, it was mostly empty. Except for a couple booths, but as long as it wasn't full I would be fine. I sat at the counter, and waited for the waitress to come back around. As I waited, I pulled the jacket sleeve down as far as it could go.
"What can I get for you sweetie?" She asked, she had a hard southern accent I believe is what you call it.
"Just a bud light please." I requested. She was thrown off by my accent for a moment, but smiled and reached under the counter for my drink.
"Of course. That's some accent you got there hun. Where are you from?" She asked, pulling the cap off the drink.
"Dublin, Ireland. I have a family friend here in America that I need to see." I answered, taking a swig of the drink.
"That's pretty cool...oh hey there sir. What can I get you?" The waitress asked, when a tall muscular man stood next to me.
"Hardest shot you got. And make that two." He requested, nodding his head to another man to get him to come over here. His eyes fell on me, and a smile grew. "What's a pretty girl like you, doing alone at a bar like this? Creeps are all over the place."
"Thanks, but I think I can take care of myself. Before you say anything, no I did not fall from heaven. And I'm fully aware of my accent buddy." I partly sassed, I could just tell this guy hits on every single girl he sees. I was sorta made to read people.
The waitress cracked up, and gave me a high-five. She poured their drinks smirking, and a low laugh made its way to my ears. It was the other man who was sitting at the booth. He sat next to the man I sassed, and smiled at me.
"Shut it Sammy. I see where I stand though." He fake pouted, trying to make me feel bad. Yeah, that was not gonna happen.
"Yep, right over there. Oh, look at the time. Beannacht." The man just sat there, not understanding the word I spoke.
"Dean, learn a couple languages would you. She told you goodbye in Irish." The man who had the low laugh earlier explained.
"Yep, wow someone who knows what I'm saying. Go raibh maith agat as tuscint." I smiled slightly, and paid for my drink.
I smiled at him one last time, and smirked smugly at the man who I knew would hit on me. I saluted him, and straightened out my jacket. I was about to push open the door, but I turned towards the waitress one last time.
"Hey, you wouldn't know how to get to Sioux Falls from here? Would you?" I asked.
"Yeah. It's sixty miles west of here. Pretty much just a straight shot. There will be a sign a couple miles down the road for the turn. Other than that, it's flat county roads."
"Hey, we're going to Sioux Falls too. Maybe we could give you a ride there." The flirty man pointed out.
"Thanks, but I'm perfectly fine. I've got my own car. But good try buddy." I pushed open the door, and walked back to my car.
From inside, I saw the mans' jaw drop to the ground when he saw my car. He turned towards the other taller man and pouted, pointing at me and my car. I chuckled, and let the engine roar. I took a sharp left, and took off down the country road. It was a clear night, my favorite. The windows were rolled down. And my favorite band in the entire world, Mumford And Sons, were playing 'Below my feet.'
Even though it was late at night, I was wide awake. I was too nervous to sleep. Hopefully, when I got to Sioux Falls, my friend would still be awake and home. He was my last hope. If he didn't want anything to do with me, I would be absolutely screwed. I highly doubted that he would remember me. The last time I saw him, I was seven.
~
I pulled into a dusty driveway at a little less than two in the morning. Bobby Singer's salvage yard, yep that was him. My dad's brothers best friend since forever. My breath hitched in my throat, as I walked the unfamiliar squeaky steps leading to the door. I knocked on the hard oak door, and waited. What felt like five minutes, ended up only being thirty seconds. The door eased open, and there stood an older man with hard brown eyes, and short brown hair. My gaze stayed on our feet, afraid to look him in the eye.
"What can I do for you?" He asked sincerely, but I saw the handle of a gun behind his back.
"I don't think you remember me, but my name is Hyland Buchanan Barnes. I'm the daughter to James and Emily Barnes. My dads brother, Jeff barnes, was your best friend." I told him quietly, still only looking at our shoes.
"Bucky?" He asked, not believing the words that came from his mouth.
I nodded, and I saw a huge smile grow on his face. He stepped aside to let me into his home.
"Well I'll be a son of an Idjit. How did you even get here Bucky? He asked, offering me a seat on the couch. "Where's your brother?"
"Matt passed away when I was fifteen. It was a werewolf attack that we were not prepared for. And I got here by a copter. You see Bobby, I was a marine for a long time. And I wanted to come home. Well not home home, but just somewhere else." I answered, looking into his brown eyes for the first time.
"I'm sorry to hear about Matthew, Buck. He was a good man, and an amazing hunter like your uncle and daddy. Wait one moment girl, did you say you were a marine?"
"Yeah. It was always a dream of mine, well ever since I knew my dad was one. For nine years, I was in Iraq and Afghanistan. I didn't have anybody except for my military brothers, so there was no harm in trying. Besides, Matt wanted to join too. But he wasn't gonna join, until he knew I was safe, and I would finish my education. I did it for him and my dad." I answered.
"I understand, I do. Something is bothering you though. Tell me Hyland, I could read you since you were a baby. It's okay." His voice was soft, telling me I could trust him with anything. But what if he hated me for what I did. And threw me out, killed me, or worse, gave me back to that place. I've never told anyone, so if I don't try, I'll never know.
"Well...it's a long story. You might want to get cozy." I took a deep breath. Well here goes nothing.