【─── Chapter Four 】
Fearless Leader
They all decided to take turns carefully entering the old abandoned railway tunnel, but to do so they each would have to climb a rickety old ladder that was embedded into the walls.
Choosing to lead the way, Serafina opted to go first. Dean, perhaps accustomed to asserting himself, attempted to stake his claim to be the first to descend and she shot him a look.
She raised a brow and after a moment, opted for a quick rock-paper-scissors duel as Sam watched their exchange with humorous warmth in his eyes.
She beat him once and Dean was quick to follow up, "Best out of three,"
She nodded with narrowed calculation and held out her fist again as they went for another round. This time, Dean bested her with scissors as she had chosen paper, his grin growing apparent on his face from the momentary victory.
"One for one. Not bad, Casanova.."
Sam sighed heavily, growing slightly impatient.
On the third round, she stuck with rock and he foolishly chose scissors again, which she had intuitively expected him to do. Serafina imitated crushing his scissors before a triumphant grin adorned her face as she declared, "I win again,"
Dean conceded with a roll of his eyes and a whispered curse word.
She quickly recognized Dean's A-type tendencies and his subconscious desire to lead and take charge, which was like adding fire to gasoline because she was a domineering kind of woman herself.
"You're on flashlight duty first," She shoved the light into Dean's hand before shoving back some loose strands of dark hair out of the way of her eyes.
Serafina gracefully maneuvered down the rickety ladder, the antiquated rungs echoing with each careful step. The light from above cascaded down, allowing her to see each step she took as she descended the ladder.
As she hopped off the last rung, her boots landed with a thud, a cloud of dust exploding around them. Serafina immediately pulled her backpack off and searched around for her small flashlight, flicking it on as she raised her free arm over her face, coughing from the dust flurries as the grimy interior took shape.
Dean's mocking tone reverberated through the tunnel as he called down, "Any monsters?"
"Not yet," She paused as she turned in a circle, "Just a whole lot of dust bunnies," Serafina retorted, her voice echoing through the tunnel with a hint of amusement.
The tunnel stretched on into oblivion.
Faint streaks of light filter through occasional gaps in the tunnel's ceiling, creating a dramatic contrast with the darkness that enveloped most of the space.
There was an air of abandonment that was palpable.
Serafina shined the light all around the tunnel and was instantly met with a dampness that carried a musty smell from when the tracks were still in service.
The boys descended the ladder one after the other, finally meeting her in the quaint, eerie darkness that enveloped them all with an air of mystery.
"This reminds me of an old horror movie I once saw. Miner goes crazy, and kills everyone with a pickax.." Dean mentioned casually as he flicked the industrial flashlight around the walls, taking it in the graffiti-covered walls as his light cast dancing shadows around the tunnel. His eyebrows knitted with a mix of fascination and caution.
Sam raised his brows at Dean's morbid comment before rolling his eyes with a sigh, "Let me just add that to the list of things we need to be on the lookout for," His voice echoed throughout the tunnel as he inspected a few symbols were spray-painted boldly in red on the walls.
Serafina's light then illuminated the tracks that were embedded in the tunnel, creating a roadmap for them to follow. She nodded toward the tracks, signifying their route forward.
"These tracks are going to be our map. We need to start walking," Serafina declared, clearly taking the lead to venture deeper. The two brothers caught up to her one on each side. She turned to acknowledge Dean with a mocking smile, "I'll be sure to keep an eye out for any miners wielding a pickax,"
He made a face as she pursed her lips and continued, the tunnels creating a haunted ambiance that pulled all three of them deeper inside.
Filtered light cascaded in thin slits from above, the moon obscured by their presence underground, but its light was still bright enough to ensure they weren't in complete darkness.
As they proceeded, the dampness seemed to intensify. The tunnel stretched out endlessly, and soon, Serafina could scarcely discern the entrance from which they had started.
"Getting cold feet?" Dean observed with a teasing tone as Serafina faced the front again after shining her light behind them.
"Hardly," Serafina scoffed before pushing forward, "Just trying to gauge how far we've walked in this creepy labyrinth." She let out a half-smile, the playfulness not lost on her.
Sam remarked casually, "No turning back now."
The air became more saturated with the musty scent the further they pressed on, the rhythmic echo of their footsteps creating an eerie melody that followed them as they continued.
After what felt like forever, they finally came to a split in the tunnel, one veering to the right and the other veering to the left. It reminded her of the split in the trail coming up here.
They all slowed to a stop, pausing in their tracks as their beams of light searched each corridor for answers on which way to go.
"Any suggestions, fearless leader?" Dean quipped, lazily turning his face to her as he unveiled a lop-sized smirk. His tone was a mixture of sarcasm and genuine curiosity.
Serafina bit her lower lip, her hunter's eyes narrowed to slits as she stared into the depths of each one. Straightening up, she met Dean's lopsided smirk with a determined one of her own. "I've got an idea,"
She started walking towards the left pathway and paused to bend down, her jeans sinking into the cold gravel of the tracks. Carefully, she pressed her ear to the embedded tracks, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes.
Dean puzzled, furrowed his eyebrows. "What are you doing?" he asked, his curiosity evident in his voice.
Sam, understanding Serafina's methods, glanced at Dean before explaining, "She's listening for vibrations on the tracks."
Serafina, facing them with her ear against the cold steel, smirked. "I learned it from a movie," she said, her voice carrying a hint of amusement. She closed her eyes again and instructed, "Now both of you shut up for a few seconds so I can concentrate."
Dean and Sam exchanged a tight-lipped glance at each other, a mixture of curiosity and respect for the legendary hunter that was in their presence. A hushed silence fell over the brothers as they waited for her to listen.
Serafina easily fell back into a state of instincts, predatory senses, and concentration as her ears attuned to the vibration of the tracks that trailed down the left pathway. Her senses were always unparalleled to anything the Lockharts had seen before.
She had to hone in on these gifts, but over time and with a lot of training, she had come to learn how to use her senses to her advantage out on the field.
It was the subtle shifts that had made her an extraordinary hunter.
The way her hair stood on end when she knew she was on the right track to finding a hidden monster in the shadows, the way her body urged her forward without understanding why but just trusting, or the way she could block the blow from an assailant as if she already knew what move they were going try next.
The vibrations on the track to the left seemed to speak to her in eerie vibrational whispers.
Serafina quietly got up moved to the right pathway and proceeded to do the same thing she had with the other tracks. She leaned the shell of her ear over the tracks and listened intently for a good ten seconds but on the right track, she was met with complete silence.
No vibrations or whispers.
Serafina stood up, brushed off the gravel on her jeans, and pointed her flashlight towards the left pathway in the split, "We need to go to the left," A determined glint flashed in her eyes.
"If we split up we could cover more ground faster," Dean simply suggested with a small shrug.
Serafina started walking into the left tunnel but whipped around quickly to face him with an exasperated expression, "Says every victim in every horror movie ever. We go left," The finality of her decision became clear in her tone.
Sam, ever the reasonable one, said again, "Dean, we have no idea how far these tunnels run. I say we stick together,"
Dean grunted in agreement, "Fair enough. Left it is."
Sam added quickly with an encouraging smile, "Strength in numbers, right?"
Serafina brightened at Sam as she playfully nudged her shoulder against Sam's, "See? He gets it!" She turned around only to hear their footfalls closing in behind her, catching up on both sides as they fell into a palpable silence together.
Their flashlights continued to cut through the shadows, revealing the graffiti-covered walls and the rusty tracks that guided their way.
Serafina couldn't help but sense the occasional side glances from Dean, positioned on her left. She focused on the path ahead, refusing to give him the satisfaction of acknowledging the unspoken curiosity.
Nevertheless, a silent wonder lingered within her—what thoughts were crossing his mind in those unspoken moments?
As they ventured further, she could see up ahead what looked to be ambient lighting, akin to that of a candle flame - but not just one candle flame, but a bunch of candle flames, creating an eerie glow that bounced off the walls of the tunnels and creating a soft glow.
The tunnel stretched on, but there was a clear opening to the left where the eerie light came from.
It was at this moment they all paused in their steps. Serafina glanced at Dean, then at Sam, and their measured and determined gazes met with equal understanding: caution ahead.
The light became more pronounced, lighting their way for them, so she quickly shut her flashlight off just as Dean switched his off.
Each of them seamlessly slipped into the role of a hunter, extracting weapons from concealed pockets. Sam wielded a silver-plated handgun, while Dean unveiled a sharp silver knife from his jacket's inner pocket—an elegant weapon with a long, pointed blade
Serafina retrieved her silver dagger, feeling the cool metal in her hand. She turned it around skillfully, preparing herself for whatever might lie ahead. The atmosphere crackled with tension as the trio silently vibrated with the anticipation of the hunt.
If they were dealing with a Vetala it was likely they were working in pairs.
In the shadows, Serafina whispered, "Aim for the heart,"
"Don't forget to twist the knife once," Dean followed up in a gravelly whisper.
"I see you do your homework," Serafina whispered back with playful amusement.
Dean shot her a childish look and mimicked her silently.
Sam shot them a look, urging them to focus.
The intense moment hung in the air, thick with the weight of the imminent danger they were prepared to face.
But when Serafina, taking the lead, gazed around the corner where the tunnel branched off, she was met with an odd scene of an old abandoned room littered with candles. She squinted, but couldn't see any shadows or movement, it was empty.
One by one, they entered the cavernous room and were met with old remnants of the mining tunnel strewn around as clumsily. Dilapidated crates, old storage boxes, rusted-over shelves that held handheld tools, and piles of mining equipment could be seen in the right corner.
Some of the crates were opened, and packing paper was thrown on the floor.
They cleared the cavern in a few minutes, tucking their weapons back up, but still on high alert.
As they examined the old artifacts in the room, Dean wiped a single finger over the thick resin of dust on one of the crates, "Looks like this place hasn't seen activity in decades,"
He then reached into the packing paper, pulled out an aged bottle of amber-colored whiskey, and whistled lowly, "And they left good stuff," He flashed the bottle's label over at Sam.
"Well, someone's been here. The candles are still burning," Sam looked around warily as if waiting for something to pounce from the shadows. He looked at the whiskey and rolled his eyes as Dean placed it in the crate.
"If we're dealing with the Vetala it adds up. Wouldn't put it past them to nest in a damp and dark place like the tunnels," Serafina remarked as she walked past the two brothers.
Serafina became lost in the artifacts, her eyes roaming over every little piece, looking at the pile of crates before glancing toward the back of the cavern. She wandered over silently, her eyes darting from wall to wall, inspecting every inch of what was in that back area.
They had just been here.
She could feel their presence as if they were still in the room.
Her boot hit something hard jutting up from the ground and she paused.
It sounded like metal.
Serafina glanced down at what appeared to be a thick wool blanket that lay neatly rectangular over a not-so-random area of the floor. She bent down and removed the blanket to reveal what appeared to be a secret door embedded into the floor.
Its edges were seamlessly integrated into the surrounding surface, creating a near-perfect camouflage
A heavy metal ring was attached to a link and from the looks of it was rusted and worn.
That must have been what her boot knocked against.
"Hey guys, I found something.." Serafina called out as her heart quickened with anticipation.
The boys appeared from around the corner, their gazes fixed on the unexpected find.
"If I were looking to hide someone in an old mining tunnel, this is exactly where I'd do it," Dean whispered, casting a meaningful look in Sam's direction.
There was an intensity that permeated the air.
She felt sick with dread at the notion that they might be too late, or maybe the kid wasn't even in there at all. She hated these moments of inner turmoil - the moments where she couldn't control the outcome of what was about to happen.
There seemed to be a shared sense of anticipation between the three.
Serafina shimmed to the right and nodded to the heavy metal ring with a determined glint in her eyes, "Help me pull it open,"
Dean swiftly covered the distance, bending down to offer his assistance. Their muscles tensed in unison as they gritted their teeth, the combined strength of their efforts gradually loosening the door's jaws from the embedded seal that had snugly held it in place. The heavy resistance gave way to a slow, deliberate motion as the concealed door reluctantly lifted open.
"Was it really that heavy?" Sam asked innocently, flashlight now in hand.
Simultaneously, Serafina and Dean retorted with a breathy, "Yes!"
Serafina locked eyes with Dean and smirked coyly.
"Give us some light," Dean remarked waving his hand over at Sam.
They all got bombarded with a horrid smell that hit them with a force that nearly took all their breath away. Dean coughed, covering his mouth against the crook of his elbow, while Sam audibly gagged, swearing to himself lowly.
She had smelled that before because it was something you never forgot....
The telltale smell of a dead body.
Sam inched closer and illuminated the dimly lit secret passage below.
There, pressed against the far side of the small passage wall, arms curled around his knees and his eyes wide as if expecting monsters to be opening the hatch, was Harper.
A wave of relief flooded her in a way that she hadn't expected, muscles loosening their tension from bracing for the worst.
Something in that little passage had died, but it wasn't Harper.
He was dirty, his hair tousled, and his right cheek coated in what looked like dirt or grime. The boy appeared a lighter shade of pale than he should have been, and the dark circles under his eyes suggested he had barely slept a wink since his abduction.
Comparing him to the photos she had seen at the house, Harper seemed smaller, and where he once had rosy-colored cheeks, they now looked sullen and worn.
Caked beneath the collar of his little blue polo, Serafina glimpsed the marred flesh on his neck—freshly healed over puncture wounds and the red stain of old blood that had been smeared. They had been feeding from the boy...slowly...
Her blood started to boil with a desperate need for revenge.
"Harper? Are you okay?" Serafina whispered in what she hoped was her most reassuring voice.
Upon realizing that the three strangers were not monsters, the little boy unwound his hands from his knees and peered up curiously, his brows furrowed as if not expecting saviors.
"Are you here to save me?" His voice cracked at the end as if he could barely muster the energy to talk.
The hope that radiated in his eyes elicited a lump in her throat.
Serafina and Dean shared a look and she nodded down at him, "Yes, we are. I'm Serafina. These are my friends, Dean and Sam," She paused and watched Harper's slide from Dean to Sam and then back to her as she shot him an encouraging smile, "Your mom sent us to find you,"
At the mention of his mother, his eyes brightened considerably.
Serafina knew it was crucial to alleviate his worry, reassure him that they were the good guys, and hopefully not scare him into screaming or hysterics. Drawing attention to their arrival inside the Vetala's lair was the last thing they needed.
If they could get in and out without notice, all the better.
She'd come back for the monsters later and expel brutal justice in her way.
A shadow passed over Harper's face as he pointed towards the opposite side of the passage, his finger trembling as he whispered with petrified eyes, "You have to hurry, or they'll come back."
Sam followed the path of his hand, the flashlight stretching over the small space before stopping on what looked to be a dusty green blanket with a lump underneath. Sticking out beneath the blanket's edge was a small shoe—a kid's size.
The missing Myers boy.
Serafina felt her blood grow cold as she shared a grim look with the Winchesters.
Sam's face blanched and she saw the heartbreak in his eyes.
Oh God.
These monsters had left Harper in this dark cramped space with the dead body of another child.
She couldn't imagine the horror Harper had endured being locked up with an unmoving body near him for what must have felt like an eternity.
A muscle ticked in Deans's jaw before he went into swift action, no longer waiting around after seeing the other missing child's body. "We're gonna get you outta there, buddy."
He surprised Serafina when he didn't hesitate to lower himself down into the passage, crawling slowly in the cramped space toward Harper.
Sam kept the light shining on them both, illuminating the darkness for Dean
Serafina raised a curious brow as Dean interacted with Harper, talking to him lowly before Harper reached out his arms, full of trust in the new strangers who were here to save him and wrapped them around Dean's neck.
Dean gently scooped him up, wrapping his arms around the kid as he gained his footing in the small passage, standing up and walking back towards the opening.
"I'm going to pass you over to Serafina, okay?" His voice was low and reassuring, a stark contrast from his usual bravado and sarcasm.
Harper clung to Dean so tightly she didn't know if he was going to let go.
He hefted him up towards her, she leaned down reaching for Harper in the exchange, and the moment Harper landed in her arms he curled his head into the nape of her neck and sniffled a small cry of what she could only think was relief at being saved.
She soothed him, whispering lowly in his ear that he was safe now and they were going to get him home to his family. She stood awkwardly, getting her bearings with the child now clinging tight around her as if she were a lifeline.
Dean jumped up, grabbing the lip of the passage. Sam set the flashlight down and hauled Dean up and over the edge, pulling him back up and helping him to his feet. He wiped his hands on his knees, clearing away debris from the dingy passage.
Serafina was already making her way back towards the front of the room, weaving around crates as the brothers followed her trail, hot on her heels.
"Your brother has been worried about you," Serafina rubbed a small hand on Harper's back, a soothing gesture as he trembled against her.
"I was scared they got him too," Harper muttered miserably with a deep sniffle.
"No, no. He's safe," She pulled back slightly as she looked at the boy, his baby blue eyes glistening from the tears, "He's going to be proud to hear how brave you've been,"
"We need to get him out of here before they come back," Sam looked over at Dean, flashlight still in hand as they neared the opening that would take them back to the railroad tracks.
Serafina's senses went into overdrive.
Footsteps.
Right outside.
Too late.
Two women appeared right before the opening of the passage, barring their exit as their arms simultaneously crossed against their chest, their smiles revealing a wicket set of fangs that looked like something from a really bad horror movie.
But it wasn't.
It was real life.
And those ravenous white fangs were about as real as you could get.
The mystery woman was just as he had depicted her — curly hair cascading to her shoulders, a green top paired with blue jeans. Oddly attractive, but in a menacing way.
However, she was no human; she was a Vetala.
The woman to her left, her partner in crime, was a red-headed beauty with full red lips. She wore a thin black long-sleeve blouse that revealed two mounds of breasts. Her blue jeans flared out at the end like retro bellbottoms. Her eyes were almond-shaped and so dark they looked like the cavernous pits of hell.
Those eyes narrowed to dangerous slits when she noticed Harper safely tucked around Serafina's protective arms.
Harper twisted his head around, his eyes widened to petrified saucers upon seeing the two women who had kidnapped and tortured him. He trembled against her, and against her chest, she felt his heartbeat thrumming faster and faster.
"Too late," the curly blonde-haired woman sneered deviously at Sam. Her voice, hard and grating, seemed to emanate from a chain-smoker's lips. She cocked her head, assessing the three hunters with a widening smile, as if they were an unexpected treasure.
She glanced at the other woman, sharing a devious smile with the red-head, "Looks like we're having ourselves a feast tonight, Ramona,"
With that, the two Vetala inched closer, pressing the three hunters backward into the room.
Serafina shared a measured look with Dean, then her eyes flickered to Sam.
Without saying a word, they all knew what was about to happen next.
With that, the two Vetala inched closer, pressing the three hunters backward into the room.
Serafina shared a measured look with Dean, then her eyes flickered to Sam.
Without uttering a word, they all knew what was about to happen next.
The tension in the room reached its peak as the three hunters braced for battle, Serafina quietly reassuring Harper it would be okay, but that he needed to go hide and stay hidden until she came for him.
He protested at first, fear evident in his eyes, but Serafina interrupted him. A surprising firmness infused her words, a motherly strength she hadn't known she possessed. "Harper, you've been brave, but I need you to be brave for a moment longer."
Reluctantly, he released his grip on her, and the moment his little shoes hit the floor, he was running deeper into the room, disappearing behind the mountains of crates and boxes.
The moment he vanished, the air crackled with anticipation.
She squared a lethal look to the curly blonde monster, her eyes hardened as an antagonizing smile curved her lips, "C'mon you scale-faced bloodsucker. Let's dance,"
Her hand now gripped firmly on her silver dagger, the point glinting dangerously in the candlelight as the hunters braced for the showdown.
Author's Note:
Thank you all for your patience in this story! I know I left it at the cliffhanger, but alas...this chapter was getting a bit long and I wanted to save the action for the next chapter. ;)
I love the banter between the three, and even more...the banter between her and Dean is so perfect. I feel like she fits in seamlessly, which hasn't been the easiest to write because I know the characters of Supernatural are complex and have many layers.
As does Serafina. ;)
I'm also so relieved they found Harper and crossing my fingers that they can make it out to this unscathed and get Harper back to his family! Guess we will have to wait until the next chapter to find out...and I'm looking forward to seeing how the three work together to fight these nasty Vetala. I'm so ready for them to be gone, they give the creeps! LOL :P
As always, I appreciate the likes and comments, it really does help with motivation. :p