xxxv
( 𝖽𝗋 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝖼𝗁 )
𝖼𝗈𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗎𝖾 𝗈𝖿 1𝗑18 - 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱
▬▬▬ IN THE MOTEL ROOM, Sam looks up to Dean from his laptop, "Well, you were right. It wasn't very easy to find but you were right. Shtriga is a kind of witch. They're Albanian, but legends about them trace back to Ancient Rome. They feed off spiritus vitae."
"Spiri-what?"
"Vitae. It's Latin, translates to 'breath of life'. Kind of 'like your life force or essence.'"
Elena thinks for a moment, "Didn't the doctor say the kids' bodies were wearing out?" She asked.
"It's a thought. You know she takes your vitality maybe your immunity goes to hell, pneumonia takes hold. Anyway, shtrigas can feed off anyone but they prefer..."
"Children." Dean adds.
"Yeah. Probably because they have a stronger life force. And get this. Shtrigas are '...invulnerable to all weapons devised by God and man.'"
"God?" Elena inquires.
"No, that's not right. She's vulnerable when she feeds." Dean stated.
"What?"
"If you catch her when she's eating you can blast her with consecrated wrought iron. Uh... buckshots or rounds I think." Dean states.
"How do you know that?" Sam asks.
"Dad told me. I remember."
"Oh. Huh. So uh, anything else Dad might have mentioned?"
"Nope, that's it."
Sam keeps staring at Dean.
"What?"
"Nothing. Okay. So, assuming we can kill it when it eats we still gotta find the thing first, which ain't gonna be a cakewalk. Shtrigas take on a human disguise when they're not hunting."
"So like a shapeshifter?" Elena questioned.
"Kind of but not really."
"So what kind of human disguise?" Dean asked.
"Historically, something innocuous. Could be anything, but it's usually a feeble old woman, which might be how the witches as old crones legend got started."
Dean crosses the room, "Hang on."
"What?"
Dean grabbed a map, "Check this out. I marked down all the addresses of the victims. Now, these are the houses that have been hit so far and dead center?"
"The hospital." Sam remarks.
"The hospital. Now when we were there I saw a patient, an old woman."
"An old person huh?" Sam grins.
"Yeah."
"In a hospital? Phew." Sam shakes his head and snickers. "Better call the Coast Guard."
"Well listen, smart-ass, she had an inverted cross hanging on her wall!" Dean exclaimed.
Sam quickly looks up, serious. Dean raises an eyebrow at him. Elena looked at both brothers with a confused look on her face trying to figure out what could kill this witch.
"I have a plan."
✫☆✫
Sam, Dean, and Elena snuck in the hospital, they came down a hallway, quickly ducking back when they see Dr. Hydecker
"Good night Dr. Hydecker." A nurse says.
"See you tomorrow Betty."
"Try to get some sleep."
The three hid until Hydecker passes, then continue on to the old woman's room. They open the door and sneak in, Dean taking the front, Sam hanging back with Elena, guns were drawn. The woman is in her wheelchair facing toward the corner. She seems to be sleeping. Dean slowly leans in closer and closer to her face.
The old woman turns her head at, "Who the hell are you?!"
Dean freaks, leaping back against a wall cabinet, pulling his gun up.
"Who's there? You trying to steal my stuff?" The old woman grumbles herself. "They're always stealing around here."
Elena turns the lights on. The old woman has cataracts. "No ma'am, we're maintenance. We're sorry. We thought you were sleeping."
"Ah, nonsense. I was sleeping with my peepers open." The old woman laughs, then gestures at the wall, "And fix that crucifix, would you? I've asked about four damn times already!"
Dean, still looking slightly freaked out, jogs the crucifix and it swings the right way up. Sam smiles at the old woman. Elena sighs knowing Sam and Dean were wrong about this poor old woman.
✫☆✫
The impala pulls up to the motel parking lot and the three get out.
Sam laughs at the old woman's comment, " 'I was sleeping with my peepers open?' haha."
"I almost smoked that old girl, I swear. It's not funny!"
Elena shakes her head, "If you guys would've done more research then we wouldn't have gone to that poor woman's room."
Sam smirks, "Oh man, you should have seen your face."
"Yeah, laugh it off. Now we're back to square one." Dean exclaimed.
In the corner of Dean's eyes, he sees the owner's son sitting behind the office looking forlorn, "Hang on."
Dean went up to the boy. "Hey what's wrong?"
"My brother's sick." The boy responded.
"The little guy?"
The boy nods, "Pneumonia. He's in the hospital. It's my fault."
Sam and Elena went up to the boy as well.
"Ah c'mon, how?"
"I should've made sure the window was latched. He wouldn't've got pneumonia if the window was latched." The boy says.
Dean looks away for a moment. Sam and Elena were frowning thoughtfully. How could the boy's brother gotten sick in a day?
"Listen to me. I can promise you that this is not your fault. Okay?"
"It's my job to look after him."
Sam and Elena looked back and forth from Dean to the kid. Sam and Elena felt for the boy, Sam knew Dean was like the boy once, always taking care of him when their dad were hunting.
As for Elena, she always wanted her brother to have a good life. After their parents died, Elena wanted to make sure Jeremy was okay and not hurting himself in any way.
The boy's mother hurries out of the motel toward her car. "Michael, I want you to turn on the no vacancy sign while I'm gone. I've got Denise covering room service so don't bother with any of the rooms."
"I'm going with you." The boy insisted.
"Not now, Michael."
"But I got to see Asher!"
"Hey Michael. Hey. I know how you feel. I'm a big brother too, but you got to go easy on your Mom right now, ok?" Dean says.
The mother dropped her handbag in her haste, "Dammit!"
"I got it." Sam said as he picks up her handbag.
"Thank you."
"Listen, you're in no condition to drive, why don't you let me give you a lift to the hospital." Dean suggested to the mother.
"No, I couldn't possibly..."
"No, it's no trouble. I insist."
Dean takes her keys.
"Thanks." The mother turns to Michael. "Be good."
Dean helps her into her seat then turns to Sam and Elena.
"We're gonna kill this thing. I want it dead, you guys hear me?"
✫☆✫
Sam and Elena are in a library. Sam sits at a microfiche machine with Elena.
Elena sighs as she looked up to Sam. "So there's no stopping in hunting?"
Sam looked up at Elena. "Nope. Never. You either fight or you die." He replies.
"Wow."
"But in your situation, you left from killing monsters at home just to go kill more monsters out in different states." Sam says.
"As you put it that way... I guess. It's just everything back home was weird. I was always the cause of everything." Elena stammers.
Sam gave Elena a heartfelt look. He was about to say something else until the phone rang. Dean was on the other line.
"Hey." Dean whispers through the phone.
"Hey. How's the kid?"
"He's not good. Where you guys at?"
"We are at the library. We've been trying to find out as much as we can about this Shtriga."
"Yeah? What have you guys got?"
"Well, bad news. I started with Fort Douglas around the time you said Dad was there?"
"Yeah?"
"Same deal. Before that, there was, uh, Ogdenville, before that North Haverbrook, and Brockway. Every 15 to 20 years it hits a new town. Dean, this thing is just getting started in Fitzburgh. In all these other places it goes on for months. Dozens of kids before the shtriga finally moves on. The kids just languish in comas and then they die."
"How far back's this thing go?"
"Uh, I don't know. The earliest mention I could find is this place called "Black River Falls" back in the 1890s. Talk about a horror show... Whoa."
"Sam?"
"Hold on, I'm looking at a photograph right now of a bunch of doctors standing around a kid's bed. One of the Doctors is Hydecker."
Elena looked at Sam with confusion.
"And?"
"And this picture was taken in 1893."
"You sure?"
"Yeah. Yeah absolutely."
Dean hangs up and turns to watch Hydecker sitting on Asher's bed.
Hydecker turns to Asher's Mom. "Don't worry. Your son's in good hands. I'm going to take care of him."
Hydecker moves toward Dean where he is standing at the doorway. Dean looks ready to slit his throat and call it a day.
"So what's the CDC come up with so far?"
"Well, we're still working on a few theories. You'll know something as soon as we do." Dean says.
"Well, nothing's more important to me than these kids. Just let me know if I can help."
Dean faked smiles. "I'll do that."
✫☆✫
Everyone arrived back at the motel.
"We should have thought of this before. A doctor's a perfect disguise. You're trusted, you can control the whole thing." Sam says to Dean.
Dean throws off his jacket, pacing agitatedly. "That son of a bitch."
"I'm surprised you didn't draw on him right there." Elena mutters loud enough.
"Yeah well, first of all, I'm not going to open fire in a freaking pediatrics ward."
"Good call." Sam sneered.
"Second, wouldn't have done any good, because the bastard's bulletproof unless he's chowing down on something. And third, I wasn't packing, which is probably a really good thing cause I probably would have just burned a clip in him on principle alone." Dean adds.
"You're getting wise in your old age Dean." Sam grins.
"Damn right. Cause now I know how we're going to get it."
"What do you mean?" Elena asked.
"Shtriga, works through siblings right?"
"Right." Sam answers.
"Well last night...."
"It went after Asher." Sam finishes Dean's sentence.
"So I'm thinking tonight it's probably gonna come after Michael." Dean suggested.
"Well, we gotta get him out of here."
"No. No, that would blow the whole deal."
"What?"
Elena instantly knew where this was going, she did not like the idea one bit.
"Yeah."
The younger Winchester looked at his brother as if he was really out of his mind. "You wanna use the kid as bait? Are you nuts? No! Forget it. That's out of the question."
"It's not out of the question Sam it's the only way. If this thing disappears it could be years before we get another chance." Dean says as he is trying to change his brother's mind.
"Michael's a kid. And I'm not going to dangle him in front of that thing like a worm on a hook."
"Dad did not send me here to walk away."
"Send you here? He didn't send you here, he sent us here."
"This isn't about you, Sam. I'm the one who screwed up, all right. It's my fault. There's no telling how many kids have gotten hurt because of me." Dean averted his eyes away from Sam's eyes.
"What are you saying, Dean? How is it your fault?" Sam asks.
There was a long pause. Elena looked at the brothers with a sympathetic face.
Sam sighs. "Dean. You've been hiding something from the get-go. Since when does Dad bail on a hunt? Since when does he let something get away? Now talk to me, man. Tell me what's going on."
"Fort Douglas, Wisconsin. It was our third night in this crap room and I was climbing the walls. Man, I needed to get some air."
✫☆✫
flashback
motel room
A young Dean sits watching TV. He turns it off and goes to the front door, looking back at Sam asleep in the other room before he leaves, locking the door behind him. He plays arcade games in reception until the owner tells him they're closing for the night.
Returning to the room Dean sees a strange light coming from Sam's room. He moves closer and sees the shtriga leaning over Sam. Dean reaches for the rifle by the door but the shtriga hears him cock it and rears up, hissing.
Dean hesitates, terrified. As he does John bursts through the front door, gun raised.
John shouts at Dean. "Get out of the way!"
Dean ducks and John shoots the shtriga multiple times with his handgun. The shtriga jumps through the bedroom window, glass shattering. John rushes to Sam's bed and pulls him close, cradling him.
"Sammy. Sammy. Sammy. You ok?"
Sam look confused and sleepy. "Yeah Dad, what's going on?"
"You alright?"
John holds Sam close while turning to glare at Dean.
"What happened?"
Dean hesitates, "I,uh, just went out."
"What!"
"Just for a second. I'm sorry."
"I told you not to leave this room. I told you not to let him out of your sight!" John exclaimed.
Dean watches sadly as John cradles Sam.
end of flashback
✫☆✫
"Dad just grabbed us and booked. Dropped us off at Pastor Jim's about three hours away, but by the time he got back to Fort Douglas the shtriga had disappeared, it was just gone. It never surfaced until now. You know, Dad never spoke about it again, I didn't ask. But he looked at me differently, you know? Which was worse. Not that I blame him. He gave me an order and I didn't listen, I almost got you killed." Dean says.
"You were just a kid." Sam softly says.
Dean closes his eyes for a minute. "Don't. Don't. Dad knew this was unfinished business for me. He sent me here to finish it."
"But using Michael, I don't know Dean. I mean, how about one of us hides under the covers, you know, we'll be the bait." Sam suggested.
"No, it won't work. It's gotta get close enough to feed it'll see us. Believe me, I don't like it, but it's gotta be the kid." Dean explains.
✫☆✫
At the motel reception, the three are talking to Michael to go along with the plan.
Michael holds the phone up. "You're crazy! Just go away or I'm calling the cops."
"Now hang on a second. Just listen to me. You have to believe me, ok? This thing came through the window and it attacked your brother. I've seen it. I know what it looks like. Cause it attacked my brother once too." Dean said in a serious tone.
Michael slowly hanging up the phone. "This thing...is it...like....it has this long black robe?"
"You saw it last night didn't you?" Elena asked.
"I thought I was having a nightmare." Michael answered.
"I'd give anything not to tell you this, but sometimes nightmares are real." Dean says
"So, why are you telling me?"
"Because we need your help."
"My help?"
"We can kill it. Me, him, and her, that's what we do. But we can't do it without you." Dean explains.
"What? No!"
"Michael, listen to me. This thing hurt Asher. And it's gonna keep hurting kids unless we stop it, understand me?"
Michael stares at Dean, horrified. Sam and Elena felt bad but this is the only way to defeat the monster.
✫☆✫
Back at the motel room, the three are talking about the plan.
"Well, that went crappy. Now what?" Dean asks.
"What did you expect? You can't ask an adult to do something like that, much less a kid." Sam responds.
There's a knock at the door. Elena opens it to see Michael.
"Oh-"
"If you kill it, will Asher get better?"
"Honestly? We don't know." Elena answers.
Michael looked at Dean. "You said you were a big brother."
Dean nods. "Yeah."
"You'd take care of your little brother? You'd do anything for him?"
"Yeah I would."
"Me too. I'll help."
✫☆✫
In Michael's room, Dean completes hooking up a security camera in the corner of the room, staring into the lens. Michael is behind him in bed. Sam and Elena are watching the security feed in the other room.
Dean turns to Michael, "This camera has night vision on it so we'll be able to see clear as day."
Dean then talks to Sam. "Are we good?"
"A hair to the right."
Dean adjusts the camera
"There, there."
"What do I do?" Michael asks.
Dean moves to sit on his bed. "Just stay under the covers."
"And if it shows up?"
"We'll be right in the next room. We're gonna come in with guns. So, as soon as we do you roll off this bed and you crawl under it."
"What if you shoot me?"
"We won't shoot you. We're good shots. We're not going to fire until you're clear ok?" Michael nods tentatively.
"Have you heard a gunshot before?" Dean asks.
"Like in the movies?"
"It's gonna be a lot louder than in the movies. So I want you to stay under the bed, cover your ears, do not come out until we say so. Do you understand?"
Michael nods slowly, looking scared.
"Michael, you sure you wanna do this?"
Michael doesn't answer for a long moment.
"You don't have to, it's ok, I won't be mad."
"No I'm ok. Just don't shoot me."
Dean slightly smiled. "We're not going to let anything happen to you. I promise."
✫☆✫
Sam, Elena, and Dean sit watching the security camera feed.
"What time is it?" Dean asks.
"Three. You sure these iron rounds are gonna work?" Elena questioned.
"Consecrated iron rounds, and yeah it's what our Dad used last time."
"Hey, Dean, I'm sorry." Sam apologizes.
"For what?"
"You know, I've really given you a lot of crap, for always following Dad's orders. But I know why you do it."
"Oh, god, kill me now." Dean snickers.
Sam laughs softly. They all sit in silence for a moment.
"Wait, look." Elena points out. There is movement outside the window. It slides open. The three pick up their guns. The shtriga is inside Michael's room.
"Now?" Sam asks.
"Not yet."
The shtriga moves closer and leans over the bed, Michael is terrified but frozen, unable to move. The shtriga leans closer and opens his mouth, starting to draw Michael's energy. Dean, Sam, and Elena burst in.
"Hey!" Sam shouter.
"Michael, down!" Dean ordered.
Michael rolls off and under the bed and Sam, Dean, and Elena open fire, shooting the shtriga multiple times each. It falls to the ground.
"Michael , you all right?" Dean asks.
"Yeah."
"Just sit tight."
Dean approaches the shtriga, gun ready. There is no movement. He relaxes slightly and glances at Sam and Elena. The shtriga suddenly rises, grabs Dean by the throat and throws him against the wall.
"Dean!"
The shtriga moves and throws Sam to the wall; he hits the ground, and the shtriga comes on him and forces his mouth open. Sam struggles to reach his gun. The shtriga begins drawing his energy and Sam stills and starts going grey.
As Elena was the only one unharmed, she had to act fast.
"Hey!" Elena shouts.
The shtriga looks up and Elena shoots it between the eyes. He falls backward and Sam lies gasping for breath.
Dean looked at Elena if she was the most bad ass person ever. He then turns his attention to his brother.
"Are you okay?"
Sam nods and unsteadily holds up two thumbs-up. They both pull themselves to their feet and look to the shtriga. The energy the shtriga stole begins to escape from its mouth. Elena raises her gun, shooting it three more times at point-blank range. More energy escapes. The shtriga falls in on itself, disintegrating.
Elena stares blankly knowing she has killed this monster.
Michael peeks from the side of the bed.
"It's ok, Michael, you can come on out." Dean softly says.
Michael comes to stand beside them, smiling tentatively. Dean places his hand on Michael's shoulder and smiles.
✫☆✫
The three are packing the impala ready to head out. Michael's Mom comes out of the back of reception.
"Hey, Joanna. How's Asher doing?" Dean asked.
"Have you seen Michael?" Joanna questioned in a worried tone.
Michael runs up to his Mom. "Mom! Mom!"
Joanna hugs him. "Hey!"
"How's Ash?"
"Got some good news. Your brother's gonna be fine."
Michael grins. "Really?"
"Yeah. Really. No one can explain, it's a miracle. They're going to keep him in overnight for observation and then he's coming home."
"That's great." Dean says.
"How are all the other kids doing?" Sam asks.
"Good. Real good. A bunch of them should be checking out in a few days. Dr. Travis says the ward's going to be like a ghost town."
"Dr. Travis? What about Dr. Hydecker?" Elena questioned.
"Oh he wasn't in today. Must have been sick or something."
"Yeah. Yeah must have." Dean agrees.
Joanna turns to Michael. "So, did anything happen while I was gone?"
Michael glances at Dean, "Nah, same old stuff."
"Ok. You can go see Ash."
Michael eyes went wide. "Now?"
Michael looks to Dean who nods slightly.
"Only if you want to."
Michael runs to the car.
Joanna laughs, "I, uh, I'd better get going before he hotwires the car and drives himself."
Smiling goodbye, she leaves. Sam, Dean, and Elena turn back to the impala.
"It's too bad." Sam says.
"Oh, they'll be fine." Dean reassures.
"That's not what I meant. I meant Michael. He'll always know there are things out there in the dark he'll never be the same, you know?" Sam took a long pause. "Sometimes I wish that..."
"What?"
"I wish I could have that kinda innocence."
They watch Joanna and Michael drive away.
"If it means anything, sometimes I wish you could too."
They all exchange a look. Dean climbs in the car and starts the engine. Sam and Elena follows and they pull out of the motel car park and back onto the freeway.
Elena took a deep breath.
It's time. It's time to tell the whole truth. No take backs. No lying. No missing parts.
"Alright. If you guys really want to know about me here it goes."
Elena tells the brothers when she first met Stefan, she tells them how she figured out that Stefan is a vampire. Damon. Witches. Her friends. She tells them everything.