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[ chapter seventeen, hell house ]
THEN
Previously on Beasts and Strangers
22 years ago
-
From "Pilot" (1x01)
The Winchesters' suburban home.
Mary runs up the stairs and into Sam's nursery.
"Sammy! Ronnie!"
-
John shoved Sam and Veronica, forcing him to take the younger into his arms
"Take your brother and sister outside as fast as you can and don't look back! Go!" Dean ran downstairs with Them. John looked back.
Mary burns on the ceiling.
-
THEIR MOTHER MYSTERIOUSLY DIED
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From "Wendigo" (1x02)
Sam was having a nightmare in the Impala
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NOW FOUR HUNTERS
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From "Phantom Traveler" (1x04)
Sam, Dean, Rachel and Veronica stood in their formal clothing holding up their homeland security badges
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From "Pilot" (1x01)
In Sam's apartment, Dean spoke to Sam and Jess "Dad's on a hunting trip."
-
Outside the motel room, Dean and Veronica were outside, playing lookout, until Sam reached out of the room to grab one of each shoulder and yanked them inside
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In Sam's apartment, Dean spoke to Sam and Jess "And he hasn't been home in a few days."
-
ARE ON A QUEST FOR ANSWERS
In the Jericho county Sheriff's office, the Sheriff throws down John's journal.
-
From "Wendigo" (1x02)
Dean knelt in front of Veronica and Sam, holding Johns journey "This is Dad's single- -most valuable possession-everything he knows about every evil thing is in here. And he's passed it on to us... I think he wants us to pick up where he left off."
-
From "Dead in the Water" (1x03)
Peter's ghost grabbed Lucas and pulled him into the lake
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Dean: (voice over from Wendigo 1x02) "You know, Saving people"
-
From "Phantom Traveler" (1x04)
"Terribilis Deus de sanctuario suo."
Rachel continued the exorcism, her hair in her face as she looked worriedly at the boys
-
Dean: (voice over from Wendigo 1x02) "Hunting things"
-
From "Pilot" (1x01)
Veronica, Sam and Dean sprinted away from the Impala possessed by Constance, the woman in white
-
From "Wendigo" (1x02)
Dean looked at Veronica and Sam "The family business."
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From "Bloody Mary" (1x05)
Dean slammed his crowbar into the mirror
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From "Asylum" (1x10)
Veronica, Sam, Rachel and Dean were walking together in the Asylum
-
From "Wendigo" (1x02)
Dean looked at Veronica and Sam
"No." Sam told them "I gotta find Dad. It's the only thing I can think about."
-
From "Nightmare" (1x14)
The Impala sped down the road
-
NOW
-
Richardson, Texas - Two months ago - Night
Three guys, one holding a torch, and a girl, walk along a muddy path.
"Come on man, is it much further?" The first guy asked "I'm cold."
"It should be just up here." the first guy said "A deserted cabin came into focus through the mist."
"Whoa." the girl whispered
"There we go." the first guy explained
"How'd you find this place anyway Craig?" the second guy questioned
"My cousin told me about it." Craig said
"I am so not going in there." The girl refused
"Wuss'." Craig mocked "We came all the way out here may as well check it out."
"Let's just hurry this up and get back to the car all right?" the first guy said "It's friggin cold out her. He and moved ahead.
"You want me to hold your hand?" The second guy asked. she thought about it then took his hand. "Are there ... Any other parts I can hold?"
"Eww!" She smacked his arm "Shut up, you loser."
"Come on!" The guy laughed "What?!"
-
Inside
The teenagers were engulfed in darkness as they walked inside. The flashlight showed weird symbols on the walls.
"No way."Craig exclaimed "Look at this stuff.....Come on. It's this way."
-
The next room
"They say that it lives in the root cellar. It went after girls. Always girls. It just, strings 'em up."
"They say?" The first guy asked "Who's they? Where'd you hear this crap?"
"I told you" Craig said "my cousin."
"And where'd she hear it?" the first guy asked
"I don't know." Craig admitted "She just heard it."
"Whatever." The first guy smirked "Gimme that thing." he grabbed the flashlight. He opened the door to the basement and went downstairs. The others followed more slowly.
-
Basement
Craig was guiding them into the other room "Ooooh look. It's the evil root cellar."The first guy mocked "You know where Satan cans all his vegetables. Come on, get your candy ass down here and see for yourselves. It's just a basement full of skank-filled jars in some crap farmhouse. I don't see anything scary." he laughed "do you?" The others joined him and looked around. They froze, looking over his shoulder, terrified.
"What?" he asked "what? What is it?"
He slowly turned around. A girl was hanging from the rafters. He screamed.
-
~•~
SUPERNATURAL: Beast and Strangers
~•~
-
Present Day - Gas Station - Night
Dean approached the Impala, bags of food in hand.
"Hey, beautiful." Dean smiled and sat down beside Rachel in the drivers seat; she looked at at him oddly. Sam and Veronica were sleeping in the back.
"Hi." She replied, watching him curiously. She sighed and looked back at her laptop. Dean continued to admire her
"You look... amazing, you know that?" He said. She smiled
"You're joking" Dean shook his head "What?" Rachel questioned "Come on."
"You do!" Dean insisted. Rachel shook her head
"It's 2am, I've been in a car all day, I haven't showered since Chicago and I just ate a croissant crumb that I found in my bra." She explained, pointing at herself "I'm disgusting."
"Yeah, I saw you do that." Dean nodded "And it was super hot." Rachel smiled at him lovingly and leaned in to kiss him gently
"I love you" she told him, smiling. Dean gave her a goofy grin
"I love you" he replied before kissed her once more then starting up the car
-
Later - Interstate 35
[Song: Blue Öyster Cult - Fire of Unknown Origin]
-
Road - Day
The Impala cruised past a sign: Big Texas towing and salvage yard.
-
Impala
Dean was driving with Rachel next to him, fiddling with two plastic spoons. Veronica was asleep in the back and Sam next her, sleeping was with his mouth open. Rachel sighed boredly before smirking at the spoons. She undid her seatbelt and knelt on her seat. Dean glanced at her for a moment before looking back at the road
"What are you doing?" he asked
"Shhh. Shut up" Rachel whispered. She moved closer to Veronica and put one of the spoons in her mouth. She laughed and then gently placed the other plastic spoon in Sam's mouth. Grinning, Dean flipped open his phone handed it to Rachel, who took a photo of both Sam and Veronica, Rachel laughed at them. Dean then turned the music up loud.
"Fire... Of unknown origins... Took my baby away!" Rachel and Dean yelled to the music. Veronica woke up and slapped the spoon out of her mouth, confused. Sam jerked up, realised something was in mouth, panicked and waves his arms as he spat it out. Rachel laughed as Dean air drummed along to the song on the steering wheel then looked over, grinning as Sam wipes his mouth and turned down the music. Veronica rolled her eyes
"Ha ha, very funny." She said sarcastically. Dean chuckled
"Sorry, not a lot of scenery here in East Texas," Rachel confessed, looking back them as she put her seatbelt back on "kinda gotta make your own."
"You did this?" Sam asked, holding up his spoon. Rachel smirked "Man we're not kids anymore, Rachel. We're not going to start that crap up again."
"Start what up?" Dean questioned
"The never ending prank war. Me and Sam verses you and Rachel." Veronica continued for Sam, who nodded
"It's stupid, and it always escalates." he said
"Aw, what's the matter Sammy, scared you're going to get a little Nair in your shampoo again huh?" Dean mocked.
"Oh, you're one to talk, Dean" Sam retorted "I distinctly remember you not being too thrilled with our prank war when you ended up with pink hair for three weeks."
"Mmm, well if I remember correctly, you 'weren't too thrilled' when someone changed your laptop background to a jump-scare Pennywise every time you turned it on." Rachel responded. Sam looked at her then back at Veronica; they exchanged a look
"All right," he said "just remember you started it."
"Ah ha, bring it on baldy." Dean teased Sam rolled his eyes
"Bite me, Frenchy" Veronica retorted. Sam rolled his eyes
"Where are we anyway?" He asked as he looked out of the window
"A few hours outside of Richardson." Dean said. Veronica looked back at Rachel
"Gimme the lowdown again?" She asked
"All right, about a month or two ago this group of kids goes poking around in this local haunted house." Rachel read
"Haunted by what?" Dean questioned
"Apparently, a pretty misogynistic spirit. Legend goes, it takes girls and strings them up in the rafters." Rachel said "Anyway this group of kids see this dead girl hanging in the cellar."
"Anybody ID the corpse?" Veronica asked
"Well, that's the thing." Rachel began "By the time the cops got there the body was gone. So cops are saying the kids were just yanking chains."
"Maybe the cops are right." Sam suggested
"Maybe," Rachel repeated "but I read a couple of the kids firsthand accounts. They seemed pretty sincere."
"Where'd you read these accounts?" Dean asked. Rachel looked down, a little embarrassed
"Well, I knew we were going to be passing through texas. So, umm, last night, I surfed some local..." Rachel breathed in "paranormal websites" she said quickly "And I found one."
"And what's it called?" Dean asked. Rachel looked down
"Hellhoundslair.Com" she said
"Lemme guess, streaming live out of mom's basement." Sam commented. Veronica laughed
"Spend their days in their underwear because they don't need to go to work" Dean added
"Surprisingly muscular right arms" Veronica said, laughing
"Dude!" Rachel laughed
"Come on, Veronica!" Sam laughed too
"Oh, bite me, that was hilarious" Veronica smirked. Dean laughed
"Most of those websites wouldn't know a ghost if it bit 'em in the persqueeter." He said. Sam rolled his eyes and looked out the window
"Look. We let dad take off. Which was a mistake, by the way. And now we don't know where the hell he is, so meantime we gotta find ourselves something to hunt." Sam said "There's no harm checking this thing out."
"All right." Dean agreed "So where do we find these kids?" Rachel looked at Dean
"Same place you always find kids in a town like this." She said
-
Night - Fast food outlet 'Rodeo Drive'
The Impala pulled up.
-
[Snippets of the people that were at the hell house being interviewed.]
Guy 1 was seated at an outside table
"It was the scariest thing I ever saw in my life, I swear to god."
-
Service Hatch
Guy 2 spoke to them through through the serving hatch
"From the moment we walked in the walls were painted black."
-
Outside Table
"Red." Guy 1 told them
-
Inside table
The girl was sat at the inside table
"I think it was blood." She explained
-
Outside table
"All these freaky symbols." Guy 1 said
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Service Hatch
Guy 2 "crosses and stars and..."
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Outside Table
Guy 1 "Pentagons."
-
Service Hatch
Guy 2 "Pentacostals."
-
Inside table
The girl leaned forwards
"Whatever, I had my eyes closed the whole time."
-
Outside Table
Guy 1 "But I can damn sure tell you this much. No matter what anybody else says..."
-
Inside table
"That poor girl." The girl looked saddened
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Service Hatch
Guy 2 "With the black..."
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Outside Table
Guy 1 "Blonde..."
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Inside table
Girl "Red hair, just hanging there."
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Outside Table
Guy 1 "Kicking!"
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Service hatch
Guy 2 "Without even moving!"
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Inside table
Girl "She was real."
-
Outside Table
Guy 1 "One hundred percent."
-
Service Hatch
Guy 2 "And kinda hot. Well you know in a dead sort of way."
Dean and Rachel exchanged a look. Veronica looked Sam with her eyes raised
"Ok!" She said
"And.... How'd you find out about this place anyway?" Sam asked.
All three kids were sitting together now, talking to Rachel, Veronica, Sam and Dean.
"Craig."
"Craig."
"Craig took us." They said simultaneously
-
Music shop
Dean, Rachel, Sam and Veronica entered. Craig looked at them from behind counter
"Fellas, ladies." He nodded at them "Can I help you with anything?"
"Yeah, are you Craig Thurston?" Rachel asked
"I am." Craig told her
"Well we're reporters with the Dallas morning news." Dean said "I'm Dean, this is Sam, that's Veronica and this is Rachel." He put a hand on her shoulder
"No way. Well I'm writer too." Craig told them "I write for my school's lit magazine."
"Well, good for you Morrissey." Rachel smiled at him
"Umm. We're doing an article on local hauntings and rumor has it you might know of one." Sam explained
"You mean the hell house?" Craig asked
"That's the one." Veronica nodded
"I didn't think there was anything to the story." Craig confessed
"Why don't you tell us the story?" Rachel asked. Craig nodded
"Well, supposedly back in the '30s this farmer, mordachai murdoch, used to live in this house with his six daughters." He said "It was during the depression, his crops were failing, he didn't have enough money to feed his own children. So I guess that's when he went off the deep end."
"How?" Sam asked
"Well, he figured it was best if his girls died quick, rather than starve to death." Craig explained "So he attacked them. They screamed, begged for him to stop but he just strung 'em up, one after the other. And when he was all finished he just turned around and hung himself. Now they say that his spirit is trapped in the house forever, stringing up any other girl that goes inside."
"Where'd you hear all this?" Dean asked
"My cousin Dana told me." Craig explained "I don't know where she heard it from. Ya gotta realize, I -- I didn't believe this for a second."
"But now you do." Veronica stated
"I don't know what the hell to think, man. You guys, I--I'll tell you exactly what I told the police, ok? That girl was real. And she was dead." Craig said with certainty "This was not a prank. I swear to god, I don't wanna go anywhere near that house ever again, okay?" Rachel nodded and smiled Dean
"Thanks." she said
-
Hell house - Day - Outside
Dean, Rachel, Sam and Veronica slushed up the muddy path to the house.
"Can't say I blame the kid." Sam confessed
"Yeah," Veronica agreed "so much for curb appeal." The four of them were looking around. Sam came back toward Dean who was holding the EMF, which was making sounds.
"You got something?" Veronica asked
"Ye-ah." he said, tapping the EMF "The EMF's no good."
"Why?" Sam questioned. Rachel gestured at overhead power lines
"I think that thing's still got a little juice in it." she suggested "It's screwing with all the readings."
"Yeah that'd do it." Sam nodded
"Yeah." Veronica agreed "Come on, let's go." They headed inside
-
Hell house - Inside
The four started looking around. Rachel walked up to the door and kicked it down. They walked into the grey living room and saw that the walls were covered in different symbols, some looking more recent than others, and surrounded with unlit candles.
Rachel looked around cautiously. She looked down and saw something moving. Rachel moved the box, revealing a rat; she squealed. Dean looked at her then walked past, laughing
"Bite me, asshat" Rachel glared as she continued walking "If this thing was goin' after guys you'd be peeing your pants"
"You mean like you just did?" Sam teased. Rachel looked back at him, glaring
"You two must think you're hilarious" she folded her arms and continued walking. Dean laughed and Rachel sighed and examined the room "Looks like Old Man Murdock was a bit of a tagger here in his time." She said, changing the subject
"And after his time too." Sam agreed "That reverse cross has been used by satanists for centuries but this sigil of sulfur didn't show up in San Francisco until the '60s." Rachel, Veronica and Dean stared at him
"That is exactly why you never get laid." Veronica told him. Sam gave her a look and Dean chuckled
"Wha- hey, I knew that and I get laid." Rachel argued
"Consistently" Dean finished, smirking. Rachel sighed and raised an eyebrow
"Yeah, I walked right into that one" she blamed herself. Dean chuckled before moving to the other wall
"Hey what about this one, you seen this one before?" He asked, gesturing at a symbol. It was a cross with a dot in the middle. The bottom stroke looked like an upside-down question mark.
"No." Sam confessed as the four of them gather around to examine the symbol. Rachel shook her head
"Me neither" she told them
"I have." Veronica pondered "Somewhere." Rachel reached her hand forwards and rubbed the symbol. She brought her fingers back to her and examined the substance on her hand
"It's paint." she said "Seems pretty fresh, too."
"I don't know, guys." Dean confessed "You know I hate to agree with authority figures of any kind, but ... The cops may be right about this one."
"Yeah, maybe." Sam agreed. They heard a sudden crash and quickly became alert. They took up positions either side of a door. Dean nodded
-
Second room
Veronica busted through the door. Sam, Dean and Rachel followed. Bright lights shone in their eyes, forcing them to look away. Two guys were standing before them, one with black hair and the other with red hair and glasses
"Oh, cut." the guy with glasses ordered "It's just a bunch of humans." he held a small electrical gadget; the guy with black hair a camera which he switches off.
"What are you guys doing here?" the guy with glasses questioned. Dean, Rachel, Veronica and Sam all shared the same confused look
"What they hell are you doing here?" Dean counter-asked
"Ah-ha-ha." the guy with glasses tutted "We belong here, we're professionals?"
"Professional what?" Rachel asked, raising her eyebrow
"Paranormal investigators." The guy with glasses retorted. He handed Sam and Dean business cards "there you go, take a look at that, boys." he then handed business cards to Rachel and Veronica "Ladies"
"Oh you gotta be kidding me." Dean sighed as Rachel looked at the card. She then looked back up at them
"Ed Zeddmore and Harry Spengler?" Rachel questioned. The guy with black hair pointed the other when she said 'Ed' and himself when she said 'Harry'. "Zeddemore and Spengler? Like the-"
"Ghostbusters" Ed finished. "That's why paranormal investigating is our destiny" he told her. Rachel gave them a look
"You're... destiny?" she repeated, clearly unconvinced. "And these are your.. business cards"
"Yeah." Ed looked at Rachel "Number and everything" he smiled and Rachel stared at him and gave him a false, unconvincing smile. Dean glared and put his hand on Rachel's shoulder
"Okay, nobody wants anyone's number." he said sternly. Ed swallowed and Sam cleared his thorat
"Hellhoundslair.Com." Sam read aloud, interrupting their conversation "You guys run that website."
"Yup" Harry noddded
"Oh yeah, yeah," Veronica nodded sarcastically "we're huge fans."
"And ahh, we know who you guys are too." Ed nodded. Dean, Rachel, Sam and Veronica all looked at him sharply.
"Oh yeah?" Veronica asked. Ed cleared his throat
"Amateurs." he replied. Rachel rolled her eyes; she and Dean immediately lost interest "looking for ghosts and cheap thrills."
"Yep." Harry agreed "So if you guys don't mind, we're trying to conduct a serious scientific investigation here."
"Yeah, what have you got so far?" Dean questioned, folding his arms. Ed looked over to his partner
"Harry, why doncha tell 'em about EMF?" he asked. Veronica and Sam exchanged a look
"Well..." Ed began. Rachel and Dean were trying not to laugh
"EMF?" Rachel asked, playing dumb and trying not to smile
"Electromagnetic field?" Spectral entities can cause energy fluctuations that can be read with an EMF detector. Like this bad boy right here." He turned it on.
Dean smirked at Sam.
Rachel smirked at Veronica
"Whoa." Harry exclaimed "Whoa. It's 2.8mg."
"2.8." Ed nodded "It's hot in here." Dean whistled in admiration.
"Wow." Sam told them
"Huh." Dean nodded "So you guys ever really seen a ghost before, or..."
"Once." Ed began. The four looked intrigued "We were, uh...We were investigating this old house and we saw a vase fall right off the table..."
"By itself." Harry finished. Rachel, Veronica, Sam and Dean exchanges the same look
"Well, we, we we we didn't actually see it, we heard it." Harry confessed "And something like that...It uh...It changes you." Rachel scoffed and Veronica cleared her throat, looking away as she tried not to chuckle
"Yeah." Dean nodded "I think I get the picture." he looked at the others "We should go, let them get back to work."
"Yeah, you should." Harry told them. Rachel smiled uncomfortably
"Girls." Dean nodded at them "Sam." The four of them walked out. Harry gave Ed a look
"I'm sorry." Ed confessed "That pot we smoked gave me the giggles."
-
Public library
Sam and Rachel left and came down the stairs as Veronica and Dean approached.
"Hey." Rachel smiled
"Hey." Dean replied
"What you got?" Veronica asked
"Well I couldn't find a Mordechai but I did find a Martin Murdock who lived in that house in the '30s." Sam nodded "He did have children but only two of them, both boys, and there's no evidence he ever killed anyone."
"Huh." Dean pondered
"What about you?" Rachel asked. The four had reached the Impala and stand talking over the top of it.
"Well those kids didn't really give us a clear description of that dead girl but I did hit up the police station."Dean explained "No matching missing persons. It's like she never existed. Dude, come on, we did our digging, man, this one's a bust all right. For all we know those hellhound boys made up the whole thing."
"Yeah all right." Sam told him
"Well, I say we find ourselves a bar and some beers and leave the legend to the locals." Rachel suggested. Dean and Rachel got into the car. Sam and Veronica leant down, smiling, to look in the window.
Dean turned the key in the ignition. Latino pop-dance music blasts from the speakers; Rachel squealed and when Dean tried to turn it off, the wipers turned on. Dean reared back.
"Whoa! What the..." He quickly reached to turn everything off. Sam and Veronica got in, laughing. Sam licked his finger and marks an imaginary '1' in the air then pointed to himself and Veronica.
"One point to Team Twins!" Veronica said. They high-fived and Dean and Rachel gave them a dirty looks
"That's all you got?" Dean asked
"Weak." Rachel commented "That is bush league." The Impala pulled away.
-
Hell house - Night
Two girls and a guy approached the house.
"This is it." the guy said "The point of no return."
"Why do I have to go in there?" Girl 1 asked
"Because, Jill, you chose dare." Girl 2 explained "You either have to grab a jar from Mordechai's cellar and bring it back or...."
"...Or you can make out with me." The guy finished
"I'll take the homicidal ghost, thanks." Jill commented, giving them both a dirty look. She turned on her torch and slowly approached the house, leaving the other two behind.
"Would you ever take that dare?" the guy asked. The girl scofffed
"Hell no!"
-
Inside
Jill cautiously moved inside. There was a noise like knives being sharpened.
"Hello?" She called "Hello? Is anybody there?" Jill walked by hanging chicken feet. Jill made her way to the cellar, looked around, and moves toward the jars. She takes one, but hears a sound, whirls, and drops the jar, panicked. "Ok." She said to herself "Ok ok ok ok." She turned and saw Mordechai. He threw a rope around her neck and she screams and keeps screaming as she was hoisted in the air. In the last shot it appeared that she was dead.
-
Hell house - Dawn
Emergency vehicles and men moved around. The girl's body was bought out on a stretcher.
Dean, Rachel, Sam and Veronica approached a man standing outside.
"What happened?" Dean asked
"A coupla cops say a girl hung herself in the house." A man told them
"Suicide?" Sam questioned
"Yeah." The man said "She was a straight a student, with a full ride to it too." He shook his head "It just don't make sense." He walked away. Rachel looked up at Dean
"Whaddaya think?" Veronica asked
"I think maybe we missed something." Dean suggested
"You think?" Rachel asked
-
Hell house - Night.
A police car was parked outside, two cops stand around. Dean, Rachel, Sam and Veronica crouch in the bushes.
"I guess the cops don't want anyone else screwing around in there." Rachel said
"Yeah but we still gotta get in there." Dean told her. Veronica heard whispers and peeked from their hiding place.
"I don't believe it." She sighed. The others spun to look. Ed and Harry were approaching: hunched over, wearing all sorts of gadgets, whispering and shh-ing each other.
"I got an idea." Rachel said. She looked at Dean "you thinking what I'm thinking?" She asked. Dean smirked and the two rose slightly, turning towards the cops and cupping a hand to their mouths.
"Who ya gonna call!?" They yelled
"Wha...Huh?" Harry and Ed questioned in unison
"Hey!" The cop yelled "You!"
There was a muddled mixture of voices.
"Freeze!"
"Run!" Ed yelled
"Come on!"
"Get back here. Hey!"
The cops chased Ed and Harry back down the path. Laughing, Dean, Rachel, Sam and Veronica made a break for the house.
-
Inside
Sam at Veronica broke out the rifles, handing one to Rachel and the one Dean. Dean turned on a flashlight.
"Where have I seen that symbol before?" He questioned "It's killing me!" Rachel stared at it for a moment, trying to figure it out.
"Come on, we don't have much time."
-
Basement
They go down to the basement and look around.
Veronica spied the jars and picked one up for a closer look. The pale red liquid sloshes around inside.
"Hey, Sam." He looked over at her "I dare you to take a swig of this."
"What the hell would I do that for?" He questioned. Veronica continued to look at him
"...I double dare you." Sam just shook his head, looking away. Veronica chuckled; Dean and Rachel grinned.
A loud crash had the four of them on alert and they moved toward the cabinet. At Dean's nod Veronica opened the door. Rats squeaked and ran from the torchlight. Rachel squealed and backed away, lifting her feet
"Arghh!" She yelled "I hate rats." Dean looked over at her and raised an eyebrow; she shrugged. Sam rolled his eyes
"You'd rather it was a ghost?" He asked. Rachel looked at him dead seriously
"Yes." She said. Behind her head, suddenly Mordechai has appeared. Dean, Rachel, Sam and Veronica realised at the same time and swung around to see Mordechai was raising an axe above his head. Sam shot him twice but he was still there. Dean, Rachel and Veronica shot at him again and he misted away.
"What the hell kind of spirit is immune to rock salt?!" Veronica asked
"I dunno." Dean shook his head
"Come on." Rachel gestured "Come on, come on!"
As they ran toward the stairs Mordechai smashed his axe down, catching the shelves and bringing the jars crashing down on Dean, Veronica and Sam.
Mordechai and Rachel began fighting.
"Go!" Rachel yelled "Get outta here!!" Mordechai smashed the electrical box and sparks flew everywhere.
Dean, Rachel, Sam and Veronica bolted for the door.
-
Outside
Ed and Harry crept back toward the house.
"Maybe we should just get out of here." Harry suggested, raising his night vision goggles
"No." Ed instructed "Would John Edward go? We've lost the cops, let's find our centre and get some work done. Ok? All right?"
As they approached the porch, camera raised, Dean, Rachel, Sam and Veronica burst out. They fell through the emergency tape and rolled down the steps, sprung immediately to their feet and continued running. Ed was holding a camera and Dean bumped into him
"Get that damn thing outta my face!" He yelled
"Go go go!" Sam sprinted past them
Ed and Harry were still facing the door and saw Mordechai lurk. Ed stared, horrified
"Sweet lord..."
"...Of the rings!" Harry finished "Run!!! Go go go!" They turned to flee.... And ran straight into the arms of the cops. "Look, there's a...Look. There's a man over there....I saw...." he pointed and looked back only to see he doorway empty "Where'd he go?" The Cops grabbed their collars
"Boys come on." They instructed
-
Motel room
Dean was sitting on the bed drawing the symbol, Rachel was next to him on her laptop. Sam and Veronica were researching, Sam on the computer and Veronica in books.
"What the hell is this symbol?" Dean asked "It's buggin' the hell outta me." Rachel nodded in agreement
"This whole damn job's buggin' me." She sad "I thought the legend said Mordechai only goes after chicks."
"It does." Veronica told her
"All right." Dean nodded "Well I mean that explains why he went after you guys, but why me?" Sam gave him a look
"Hilarious." he said sarcastically
"The legend also says he hung himself but did you see those slit wrists?" Rachel asked
"Yeah." Veronica nodded
"What's up with that?" Sam agreed "And the axe too. I mean, ghosts are usually pretty strict, right? Following the same patterns over and over?"
"But this mook keeps changing." Dean finished
"Exactly" Rachel said, clicking away on her laptop "I'm telling ya, the way the story goes-"l
"Hey, wait a minute." Sam interrupted
"What?" Dean questioned
"Someone added a new post to the hell hound site." Sam explained "Listen to this. 'they say Mordechai murdock was really a satanist who chopped up his victims with an axe before slitting his own wrists. Now he's imprisoned in the house for eternity." Still staring at the symbol he had drawn, Dean suddenly sat straight up. Rachel stared at him, waiting for an explanation
"What the hell is going on?" Veronica questioned, staring at Dean, confused
"I don't know" Dean said " but I think I might have just figured out where it all started."
-
Music store.
Craig was sitting at the counter looking depressed. Rachel, Veronica, Sam and Dean walked in; they looked at Craig suspiciously
"Hey Craig?" Dean called "Remember us?" Craig looked up to she the four staring at him
"Guys, look I'm really not in the mood to answer any of your questions ok?" He told them
"Oh don't worry." Rachel said sarcastically "We're just here to buy an album, that's all." Rachel watched as Dean flicked through and picked up an album.
"You know, I couldn't figure out what that symbol was and then I realized that it doesn't mean anything" he said to the others as they approached the counter "It's the logo for the Blue Oyster Cult."
"That's where I know it from!" Rachel whispered
"Duh" Dean looked at her. He then turned to Craig once they got to the counter "Tell me Craig, you, uh, you into boc? Or just scaring the hell outta people?" Dean questioned. Rachel nodded in agreement
"Now why don't you tell us about that house" she asked, looking Craig up and down "without lying through your ass this time." Craig sighed
"All right, um. My cousin Dana was on break from tcu. Ah, I guess we were just bored, looking for something to do. So I showed her this abandoned dump I found. We thought it would be funny if we made it look like it was haunted. So we painted symbols on the walls, some from some albums, some from some of Dana's theology textbooks. Then we found out this guy murdock used to live there so we ...We made up some story to go along with that. So they told people, who told other people. And then these two guys put it on their stupid website. Everything just took on a life of its own. I mean I, I thought it was funny at first but... Now that girl's dead! It was just a joke, you know. I mean, none of it was real, we made the whole thing up. I swear!"
"All right." Sam said softly. Dean, Rachel, Sam and Veronica turn to leave. Veronica looked up at Sam, confused
"If none of it was real how the hell do you explain Mordechai?" She asked
-
Motel room
Rachel was sitting at the table doing research; the shower was running.
Dean entered and walked over to Sam's bed, lifting a packet labelled 'itching powder".
"Dean's back!" Rachel yelled
"Hey" Sam yelled from the bathroom
"Hey," she walked over to Dean and kissed him quickly "where were you?"
"Oh, I went out." Dean said. He grinned and held up the itching powder. Rachel high-fived him and she took the second pack and headed over to Veronica's clothes. Dean picked up Sam's underwear from the bed and shook the content of the packet onto it.
"So, Rachel and I were talking, and I think we might have a theory about what's going on." Sam yelled said
"Oh yeah?" Dean asked
"What if Mordechai is a tulpa?" Rachel suggested
"Tulpa?" Dean asked
"Yeah, a tibetan thought form." She said
"Ah, yeah, I know what a tulpa is." Veronica entered the room and Rachel and Dean turned around quickly, hiding the powder
"Hey" she said "Sam in the shower?"
"Yeah" Rachel said
"Ugh" she groaned and walked into the bathroom
-
Bathroom
Veronica pulled the shower curtain open, staring at the ceiling to make sure she didn't see anything
"Hurry up we're gonna get food and I wanna shower before we leave!"
"Damn it Veronica!" Sam yelled, facing the other way and trying to pull the curtain shut
"I wanna shower so hurry up!" Veronica said
"Okay! Now get out!" Sam yelled
"Okay okay! Just hurry..." Veronica closed the curtain and grinned "I saw what you were doing"
"Get out!"
-
Main room
Veronica walked back in chuckling to herself. A few moments later Sam walked out wearing only a towel around his waist
"I just want some privacy for the small amount of time that I'm in the shower" Sam said. Veronica wiggled her eyebrows
"Yeah you do" Veronica teased. Sam glared at her before walking over to his clothes
"Hey why don't we leave you two to get showered and dressed, I wanna go grab something to eat." Dean said, looking at Rachel
"Oh me too" Rachel smiled "we'll meet you guys there, okay?"
"Uh, okay" Veronica said, watching the two of them suspiciously as she entered the bathroom. Dean and Rachel smiled at them as they walked out the motel and closed the door behind them. Sam and Veronica watched for a moment before Veronica closed the bathroom door and Sam turned to pick up his underwear.
-
Eating house
Rachel and Dean were already at a table when he server handed Veronica and Sam their coffee's
"There you go." He said
"Thanks" Veronica smiled, taking their two coffees. They made their way to Rachel and Dean's table, Both of them grimacing and adjusting their jeans. Dean and Rachel exchanged a smug look as they sat down
"What's your problem?" Dean asked both of them
"Nothing" Sam shook his head
"I'm fine." Veronica said over him
"Yeah?" Rachel asked
"Yeah." Sam nodded
"Yes" Veronica agreed. Rachel and Dean looked at each other, smiling slightly.
"So, ahhh, all right keep going." Dean smiled
"What about these tulpas?" Rachel asked
"Ok, so there was this incident in tibet in 1915." Sam explained "Group of monks visualised a golem in their head. The meditated on it so hard they bought the thing to life. Outta thin air."
"So?" Dean questioned
"That was 20 monks." Rachel looked at him "Imagine what 10,000 web surfers could do."
"Exactly" Veronica agreed "I mean Craig starts the story about Mordechai, then it spreads, goes online. Now there are countless people all believing in the bastard." She shifted uncomfortably because of the itching powder
"Now wait a second." Dean looked around at the others "Are you trying to tell me that just because people believe in Mordechai, he's real?"
"I dunno," Sam said, looking uncomfortable too "maybe."
"People believe in Santa Claus -- how come I'm not getting hooked up every Christmas?"
"Cuz you're a bad person." Rachel retorted. Dean gave her a look and she gave him a goofy smile. Sam rolled his eyes
"And because of this..." Sam turned his laptop, showing the others a photo of one of the hell house symbols.
"That's a tibetan spirit sigil." He told them "On the wall of the house. Craig said they were painting symbols from a theology textbook. I bet they painted this, not even knowing what it was."
"And now that sigil has been used for centuries, concentrating meditative thoughts like a magnifying glass." Rachel rated "So people are on the hellhounds website, staring at the symbol, thinking about Mordechai... I mean I don't know, but it might be enough to bring a tulpa to life."
"It would explain why he keeps changing." Dean agreed. Veronica and Sam were both grimacing and adjusting themselves again
"Right, as the legend changes, people think different things, so Mordechai himself changes." Veronica explained "Like a game of telephone. That would also explain why the rock salt didn't work."
"Yeah because he's not a traditional spirit." Dean stated
"Yeah." Sam agreed, continuing to fidget. Rachel looked down, trying not to laugh
"Ok." Dean said "So why don't we just...Uhh ... Get this spirit sigil thingie off the wall and off the website?"
"Well it's not that simple." Sam told him "You see, once tulpas are created they take on a life of their own."
"Great." Veronica sighed "So if he really is a thought form how the hell are we supposed to kill an idea?" Veronica had stopped but Sam was still itching and adjusting
"Well it's not gonna be easy with these guys helping us. Check out their home page." Sam showed Dean footage from the previous night. "Since they've posted the video their number of hits have quadrupled in the last day alone."
"Hmph." Dean nodded and looked at the others. Rachel looked up at the others before standing
"I got an idea. Come on." Dean stood up too
"Where we going?" Sam asked
"We gotta find a copy store." Rachel said. Veronica and Dean got up to go. Rachel and Dean smirked at each other as Veronica Sam continued itching and jiggling
"Man, I think I'm allergic to our soap or something." Sam nodded.
"Yeah, me too" Veronica agreed. Dean and Rachel laughed as they walked away. They fist bumped and Dean put his arm around her. "You two did this?" They continued laughing.
"You're friggin jerks!" Sam yelled after them
"Oh yeah." Dean chuckled
-
Trailer park
Ed and Harry were sat in a trailer with all their equipment.
"No, no, no, forget it. Forget it!" Harry yelled "I'm not going back in there again."
"Harry. Look at me." Harry did "Right here. Ok? You are a ghost hunter, ok?"
"I know but, Ed," Harry complained "I've never seen a real ghost before Ed, like a real ghost, an apparition!"
"This stuff here...This is our ticket to the big time right here." Ed said "Fame, money, sex. With girls. Ok? Be brave. Wwbd. What would buffy do. Huh?" Harry sighed
"What would buffy do." he whispered "But Ed, she's stronger than me."
"It's ok." Ed nodded. There was a sudden pounding on the door. Harry jumped a foot in the air and squeals.
"Who is it?" Harry asked
"Come on out here guys, we hear you in there!" Veronica yelled
"It's them!" Ed concluded. They stuck their heads out the door.
-
Outside - Motel Room
Dean and Rachel exchanged a look
"Ah, would you look at that!" Dean smiled "Action figures in their original packaging -- what a shock." Veronica and Sam nodded. Sam looked at Ed and Harry
"Guys, we need to talk." He said
"Yeah, um, sorry guys." Ed told them "We're ahhh, a little bit busy right now." Rachel raised her eyebrows
"Ok well we'll make it quick." She explained "We need you to shut down your website." Ed started laughing
"Man, you know, these guys got us busted last night, spent the night in a holding cell..." he said
"I had to pee in that cell urinal!" Harry exclaimed "In front of people. And I get stage fright."
"Why should we trust you guys?" Ex questioned
"Look guys." Veronica began "We all know what we saw last night, what's in the house. But now thanks to your website there are thousands of people hearing about Mordechai."
"That's right." Dean agreed "Which means people are gonna keep showing up at the hell house, running into him in person, somebody could get hurt."
"Yeah, yeah..." Ed said, clearly unconvinced
"Ed maybe he's got a point, maybe...." Harry explained
"Nope..." Ed shook his head
"No." Harry repeated
"We have an obligation to our fans, to the truth." Ed said sternly. Rachel folded her arms and glared at them
"Well I have an obligation to kick both your little asses right now if you don't--"
"Rach--Rachel, hey, hey, just, forget it, all right? These guys ..." Sam interrupted, He sighed "probably bitch slap them both, I could probably even tell them that thing about Mordechai ... But they're still not gonna help us." Veronica sighed and nodded
"Sam's right." She said "Let's just go."
"Whoa.. Whoa..." Ed and Harry said simultaneously
"Yeah, you're right." Rachel agreed. Dean, Rachel, Sam and Veronica started to walked away, Ed and Harry trailing behind.
"What you say about...?" Ed trailed off
"Hang on a second here." Harry called
"Wait...Wait." Ed began
"What thing about Mordechai you guys?" Harry asked
"Don't tell 'em Sam." Dean told him
"But if they agree to shut the website down, Dean." Veronica tried to explain
"They're not going to do it, you said so yourself." Rachel gestured to Sam
"No wait." Ed stopped them "Wait. Don't listen to him ok? We'll do it. We'll do it."
"It's a secret Sam." Dean warned. Veronica rolled her eyes and turned to Ed and Harry
"Look, it is a really big deal all right." She explained "And it wasn't easy to dig up. So only if we have your word that you'll shut everything down."
"Totally." Ed nodded. Veronica and Sam exchanged a look. Rachel and Dean watched them
"All right." Sam said. Dean handed them some paperwork and they read it.
"It's a death certificate." Rachel explained "From the '30s. We got it at the library. Now according to the coroner, the actual cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound."
"That's right" Dean said "he didn't hang or cut himself."
"He shot himself?" Ed asked, looking up from the paper work
"Yep." Sam nodded "With a .45 pistol. To this day they say he's terrified of them."
"Matter of fact they say if you shoot him with a .45, loaded with these special wrought-iron rounds -- it'll kill the son of a bitch." Dean explained. Ed and Harry snigger gleefully. Harry spun and bolted back toward the trailer, Ed followed more slowly.
"Harry." Ed called after him "Slow your roll buddy. They're gonna know we're excited."
Rachel and Dean exchanged a look.
-
Cafe
Dean, Rachel, Sam and Veronica sat in a booth, Dean and Rachel on one side and Sam and Veronica on the other; Sam was looking at his laptop. Dean reached up to the 3d artwork of a fisherman holding a big fish and pulls the cord. The fisherman's mouth moved up and down and an extremely annoying laugh plays and he and Rachel giggled. Sam glared at them, pulling the cord to stop it. Dean pulled it again, Veronica stopped it this time, glaring
"If you pull that string one more time I'm gonna kill you." He threatened. Dean rolled his eyes. Rachel, deadpan, stared at Sam. She slowly reached over and pulled the cord again. Veronica immediately stopped it, glaring at them.
"Come on!" She exclaimed. Rachel and Dean snickered
"Come on man, you need more laughter in your life." Rachel suggested "You know you're way too tense." Sam gave them another dirty look. Dean sighed.
"They post it yet?" He asked. Sam moved the laptop around so Dean and Rachel could see it and stabs at his salad angrily.
"We've learned from reputable sources that Mordechai Murdock has a fatal fear of firearms." Rachel read aloud
"All right." Dean smiled and nodded "How long do we wait?"
"Long enough for the new story to spread, and the legend to change." Veronica nodded "I figure by nightfall iron rounds will work on the sucker." Sam held his beer out to the others, who all lifted their own and tapped it.
"Sweet." Dean took a long drink and Sam and Veronica started grinning. Dean and Rachel went to put their bottles down but it was stuck to their hands. The two exchanged a look as Veronica and Sam cracked up. Rachel and Dean stared at it, confused. A look of realisation came upon Rachel's face. She looked up at Veronica and Sam
"You didn't." She said
"Oh" Sam laughed and held up super glue "we did." Rachel and Dean shook their hands while Veronica and Sam laughed. Veronica pulled the string to set the fisherman laughing again.
-
Hell house - Night.
The two cops were searching the surrounds with their torches.
"I'm telling ya, I heard something." The first cop said "Coming from over there." He pointed. The noise of the fisherman laughing could be heard. "See? See? There it is again."
"What is tha...." the second cop began. They find the fisherman stuck in a tree, laughing.
-
Hell house
Dean, Veronica, Rachel and then Sam entered the house on alert, guns drawn, and began a methodical search, staying back to back. Dean readjusted his gun hand.
"I barely have any skin left on my palm." Dean complained. Sam gave him a look
"I'm not touching that with a ten foot pole." he said. Rachel snickered
"The Sam Winchester story" she joked. Sam gave her a look and Dean laughed. Sam shone his flashlight in Rachel's face until she winced, then moved into the other room. Rachel, Veronica and Dean followed.
"So you think old Mordechai's home?" Dean asked
"I don't know." Rachel replied
"Me either." A voice from behind said. Dean, Rachel, Sam and Veronica jumped and spun, pointing their guns at Ed and Harry. "Whoa!! Whoa!!"
"Oh my god!" Veronica exclaimed
"What are you trying to do, get yourself killed?!" Sam questioned
"What's the matter with you?!" Rachel yelled
"We're just trying to get a book and movie deal, ok?" Ed explained
From the basement came the sound of knives being sharpened. Dean, Rachel, Sam and Veronica were immediately back on alert.
"Oh crap." Harry whispered. Ed and Harry crowd in close behind Dean, Rachel, Sam and Veronica with their camera.
"Ah guys, you wanna ... You wanna open that door for us?" Ed asked
"Why don't you?" Dean asked. Mordechai burst through the door holding an axe and screaming. Dean, Rachel, Sam and Veronica empty their gun chambers. He held on, then wavered and disappeared into mist. Dean, Rachel, Sam and Veronica waited a beat, then took off to ensure the other rooms were clear.
"Oh god. He's gone." Ed said "He's gone."
"Did you get him?" Harry asked
"Yeah they got him." Ed nodded
"No, on camera, did you get him on camera?" Harry repeated
"Ah, ah, I ..." Ed trailed off
"Let me see it, let me see it." Harry exclaimed. Harry took the camera and flips it open. Mordechai appeared, slammed his axe through the camera, forcing Harry to the ground and disappeared again. Rachel and Dean ran in.
"Hey!" Dean yelled "Didn't you guys post that B.S. Story we gave you?"
"Of course we did." Harry told him. Veronica and Sam appeared in the other door, guns at the ready.
"But then our server crashed." Harry explained
"Yeah." Ed nodded
"So it didn't take?" Veronica asked
"Uh...Mmm...." Ed and Harry fumbled
"So these, these guns don't work." Dean stared
"Yeah." Ed told him. Rachel sighed
"Perfect." She sighed
"Any ideas?" Dean asked
"We are getting outta here!" Harry exclaimed
"Yeah. Come on, Ed" Harry said, grabbing him. Harry and Ed ran past Dean to the other room, where Mordechai appeared again. Screaming, they ran to the front door but it was locked. Mordechai followed them.
"Jesus Mary and Joseph." Harry exclaimed
"The power of Christ compels you, the power of Christ compels you." Ed repeated "The power of Christ compels you!!!" Sam appeared behind them
"Hey!" He yelled "Come and get it you ugly son of a bitch." Sam attacked Mordechai but he fought him off, making him land against a book shelf where a bunch of books fell against him and he fell unconscious. Veronica spat and glared at Mordechai. The two fought until Mordechai pinned Veronica against the wall, axe across his throat.
"Get out of here!" Veronica yelled at Ed and Harry "Now!"
"We're out of here..." Ed said confidently
Dean and Rachel were in the other room splashing kerosene everywhere. Mordechai lifted Veronica off her feet with the pressure of the axe at his throat. Veronica gasped breathlessly as Sam slowly came to
"Dean!" She yelled. Dean appeared and saw their situation. Rachel appeared behind him.
"Hey!" Rachel yelled. She and Dean held up spray bottles and lights the gas, a plume of fire appeared.
"Go go go!" Veronica ran past him, Rachel followed, pulling Veronica as she stopped and leans over, holding her throat. Dean quickly headed over to Sam to help him up as he slowly woke up. Sam shook his head to try to get himself away and sighed putting a hand to his had as they approached Rachel and Veronica.
"Mordechai can't leave the house, we can't kill him -- we improvise." Dean held up his lighter, flicked it, and threw it back into the room. It burst into flame and the four hunters ran outside.
"That's your solution?!" Sam questioned "Burn the whole damn place to the ground?!"
"Well nobody will go in anymore!" Rachel defended Dean "I mean look, Mordechai can't haunt a house if there's no house to haunt. It's fast and dirty but it works."
"Well what if the legend changes again and Mordechai is allowed to leave the house?" Veronica asked
"Well..." Sam thought for a moment "well then we'll just have to come back." They watched the house burn.
"Kinda makes you wonder." Sam began "Of all the thing we hunted, how many existed just cuz people believed in them."
-
Trailer park
Dean, Rachel, Sam and Veronica are hanging out by a picnic table at the trailer park. Ed and Harry approached carrying grocery bags.
"I was thinking that Mordechai has a really super high attack bonus." Harry said
"Man I got the munchies right now." Ed looked at
Rachel and Veronica "Ladies." He looked at Dean and Sam "Gentlemen."
"Hey guys." Sam smiled
"Should we tell 'em." Harry asked Ed
"Hey, might as well," Ed said "you know, they're going to read about it in the trades."
"So this morning we got a phone call from a very important hollywood producer." Harry said
"Oh yeah, wrong number?" Rachel raised an eyebrow
"No, smart-ass." Ed mocked "she's read all about the hell house on our website and wants to option the motion picture rights. That's right. She. She's probably hot. Maybe she'll even have us write the motion picture." The place their grocery bags into a totally overloaded car.
"And create the rpg." Harry stared
"The what?" Dean questioned
"Role playing game." Ed explained
"Right." Veronica agreed sarcastic
"A little lingo for you." Ed explained "Anyhoo, ahhh, excuse us, we're off to la-la land."
"Well congratulations guys."
Sam put on a fake smile "That sounds really great."
"Yeah." Rachel agreed "That's awesome, best of luck to you."
"Oh yeah, luck." Ed said sarcastically "That has nothing to do with it. It's about talent. Sheer unabashed talent." They all nodded at each other. Ed made a hand gesture
"Later." They got in the car and started pulling off.
"See ya round..." Ed nodded. Dean watched them leave
"Wow." Dean chuckled a bit. Rachel sighed before looking at the others
"I have a confession to make." She admitted
"What's that?" Dean asked
"I, uh...I was the one that called them and told them I was a producer." Veronica laughed
"Yeah well I'm the one who put the second dead fish in their back seat." She said
"Who was first?" Rachel looked at Sam. He shrugged at laughed
"Don't look at me, mine was third" he shrugged. Rachel laughed
"You Winchester's play dirty" she said. The four of them laughed.
"Truce?" Sam asked them
"Yeah truce." Dean agreed. Veronica nodded at them before laughing
"At least for the next 100 miles." Rachel laughed
They four of them climbed into the Impala and take off.