Written in Blood Ch 11
@percussiongirl2017 @mrswhozeewhatsis @idreamofplaid @impala-dreamer @spnfanficpond @winchester-reload @littlegreenplasticsoldier @because-imma-lady-assface
Chapter 11
The low rumble of the engine teased sleep into my body. The brothers hadn’t spoke much in the couple hours since we left the apartment. My mind replayed the EVP repeatedly. “I can never go home.” What did it mean that the spirit couldn’t go home? What had happened so bad that they couldn’t go home?
At some point I had fallen asleep as we had stopped at some two lane, small town four gas pump gas station when I woke. My body took a deep breath as I started to move, a little stiff from being in the back seat.
“Morning, Sleeping Beauty,” Dean greeted as I sat up. “Up for some breakfast?”
He held up some highly processed snack food. I was about to refuse when my stomach rumbled; disagreeing.
“Better than nothing,” I muttered while reaching for a couple bags of chips. I ate chip by chip while Sam got on Dean for running credit card scams and needing to update his classic rock cassette tapes.
“House rules, Sammy,” Dean said before turning AC/DC up.
“Sammy’s a pudgy twelve year old,” Sam countered, his voice louder to be heard over the music. “It’s Sam, okay?”
“I can’t hear you,” Dean said. “Music’s too loud.”
I swore he had a smile on his face when he drove away from the gas station. We eventually reached a bridge that was taped off with police tape and had more than enough police presence that my stomach started to twist.
“Stay here,” Dean shot back at me as he and Sam climbed out of the car, something in their hands.
“No way.” I clambered out of the back seat. “You wanted my help, you got it.”
“There’s no way... We don’t have a badge for you,” Dean stammered.
Sam dug through the glovebox.
“Then I’m a ride along,” I countered. “Say that it was planned before we got the call.”
“Aeryn, do you still have your nurse badge?” Sam asked as he emerged from the car.
“Why?”
He held up a badge. “I could fake a badge.”
“You’re not about...” Dean started.
“Aeryn’s not gonna sit here in the Impala while we do the leg work,” Sam countered.
I handed over my badge, knowing I was not going to be returning to that particular hospital even if I was done helping with the boys. Sam worked at crafting a FBI badge for me. He finished a few minutes later, handing it back to me.
“It’s not perfect, but it’ll hold up under a quick glance,” he said.
“Aright, let’s go,” Dean rushed, turning back to the badge.
I heard the officers talking about a kid named Troy and how Amy was doing. She was apparently not doing well as she was posting missing persons’ signs downtown. Dean caught the officers’ attention by asking about having a similar issue a month ago.
“And who are you?” one officer questioned, the tone in his voice ready to tell all three of us off for even daring to come into a crime scene. “A little young for federal marshals,” he continued when Dean flashed his fake badge.
“You’re too kind,” I jumped in, flashing a smile. Dean bristled at my side when I stepped forward, heading toward the abandoned car. “Now, you had another like this, right?”
“That’s right, about a half mile up the road,” the officer confirmed. “With more before that one.”
“Did you know him, the victim?” Sam asked, coming up beside me.
I watched Dean circle the car.
“In a town this small,” the officer answered, “everyone knows everyone.”
Dean came back around the car. “Any connections other than the victims are male?”
“Not as far as we can tell.”
Well, that was shit. There had to be some sort of connection. “What about a theory?” I asked.
The officer shook his head. “We’ve guessed a kidnapping ring or serial killer.”
I held back a scoff. Even a serial killer had a connecter between the victims.
“That’s exactly the kind of crack police work I’d expect out of you guys,” Dean quipped right before I caught a movement from Sam.
Dean shot Sam an angry look.
“Thank you for your time, gentlemen,” I said as Sam half pulled Dean away.
They were a few steps ahead of me, giving me an excellent view of Dean slapping Sam on the back of his head. They spoke low enough that I couldn’t catch what was said, yet their body language told me it was some sibling annoyance banter. I missed that banter with Tyler, which just set my resolve to find him.
Dean was driving before I fully settled in the back seat.
“I caught the sheriffs mention a woman putting up missing person’s notices,” I said. “Think we could go find her in town?”
Sam half shrugged when Dean looked at him. Dean didn’t argue as we drove off toward the town. The drive was quiet as we rolled into the small downtown area. My eyes scanned the crowd, looking for Amy. After a few moments, I caught sight of a young woman, maybe late teens, carrying a stack of papers and putting one on a pole.
“Dean, stop,” I said even as I was moving to get out of the back.
He slowed down enough I was able to climb out, and half closed the door before half chasing Amy.
“Excuse me, Amy?” I said as I approached her.
She stopped, startled at my approach. Her eyes went wide in fright.
“I’m sorry. I’m Aeryn, Troy’s cousin. He’s told me about you.”
“He’s never mentioned you.” Amy’s eyes flicked behind me.
A hand rested between my shoulder blades. “I’m sorry, is my sister bothering you?” Dean questioned.
“I was just telling Amy here that I was Troy’s cousin.”
“He’s never mentioned having cousins,” Amy said as she moved to walk around the three of us.
Dean pulled away as we turned to follow her. A young woman came up and touched Amy’s arm. The woman questioned Amy on her wellbeing while Sam asked if we could ask them some questions before Amy and her friend continued down the street to a small town restaurant.
“Can you tell us what happened that night?” Sam questioned as we settled.
Amy took a breath to settle herself. “I was on the phone with Troy while he drove home. Said he’d call me back. And … he never did.”
That was a little obvious since Amy was putting up missing person’s posters.
“He didn’t say or do anything out of the ordinary?” Sam pushed.
Amy shook her head while fingering the pentacle necklace.
“I like your necklace,” I complimented.
A small chuckle escaped Amy as she dropped the necklace. “Troy gave it to me. Mainly to scare my parents with all that … devil stuff.”
I caught Sam and Dean sharing a look before Sam turned back to Amy. They knew something. Sam laughed a little.
“Actually it’s the opposite,” he said. “A pentagram is protection against evil.” Sam shot a look at me. “If you believe in that sort of thing.”
Oh, so he didn’t believe that I believed in the supernatural world. I had evidence scarred in my left shoulder that I believed in it. The nightmares that kept me up for weeks after that night. How I would flinch at every unknown sound in my late-night walks home from class or work. Or all the supernatural beings that came through the hospital’s ER department. The werewolf that I killed with an air bubble in his vein. The djinn that tied me up and used me as a food source.
I leaned forward on the table. “Here’s the thing, ladies. How Troy disappeared doesn’t sit well with me. So, if there’s anything you know…”
Amy and Rachel shared an uneasy expression. As if they didn’t want to continue spreading what they had heard, but wouldn’t get answers if they didn’t.
“It’s just …” Rachel began. “With all these guys going missing, people talk.”
“What do they say?” I press, keeping her attention on me instead of either brother.
“It’s sort of back legend,” Rachel continues. “There’s this one girl, maybe your age. She got murdered out on Centennial, like decades ago.”
That didn’t bode well for me. Was it some sort of serial killer spree or just a bad hit and run that left her there, unable to go home?
“Supposedly she’s still out there,” Rachel finishes. “She hitch hikes, and whoever picks her up disappears.”
<<Chapter 10>> <<Chapter 12>>
