𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧

Chapter 192-Figuring Out What This Thing Is

After going back to the motel to get some rest, we woke up early to a police call. There was another victim that disappeared the same way.
Dean decided that we would get some more rest, and they would go talk to the victim's wife in a couple hours. So, when they got up to leave, I decided to stay and sleep in since I wouldn't be able to do anything productive while they were meeting with the wife. I woke up to a phone ringing on the nightstand, and I reached over and answered.

"Hello?" I asked groggily while wiping the sleep from my eyes "you're still asleep? It's almost 10AM." Sam said from the other end "yeah? So?" I asked "not everyone's a morning person Sammy." Dean said in the background "uh...okay. Well, can you do us a favor?" He asked "yeah, what do you need?" I asked "well, the latest victim was also taken out of the house through the chimney. And I noticed that both victims had the same exact wreath on their door-." Sam sighed "so, you think there's a connection?" I asked him "yeah, that's all we really have going for us right now. Do you think you could get a head start on research while we finish up here? My laptop's in my bag." Sam asked.

"Yeah, no problem. I'II see what I can find." I said "all right. Thanks, Addie." Sam said "you're welcome." I smiled, even though I knew he couldn't see me then the phone clicked off, and I got to work. After almost an hour of searching and coming up short, I got bored and decided to start drawing. I thought that because it was almost Christmas, I would make Sam and Dean presents, even though we never really celebrated it. I could tell that Dean really wanted to this year, and I felt like it was because he was worried it would be his last chance. So I wanted to at least do something nice for him.

Although I had gotten bored of researching, I realized that I had told Sam I would work on it, so I decided to give Bobby a call to see if he had any suggestions "hello?" He answered "hi, Bobby. It's Addie." I said "hey, sweet pea. Everything okay?" He asked me "yeah, everything's fine. We're actually working on a case right now. I'm not having any luck with research, and I was wondering if I could borrow some of your experience." I said "let's hear it then." Bobby chuckled "whatever this creature is has been taking it's victims out of their houses through their chimneys, and the victims have the same wreaths on their front doors." I explained.

"Okay..." Bobby said "okay, hear me out. Sam suggested an...anti-Claus and-." I sighed "a what?!" Bobby asked "uh....a...an anti-Claus." I said "to suggest that means he thinks there is a Santa Claus." Bobby said "I don't-." I sighed "and Dean went along with this?" Bobby asked "I mean-." I said "idjits." Bobby said "okay, but-." I said "that wreath is probably made of meadowsweet." Bobby said "meadowsweet?" I asked him as the door unlocked, and I turned in my chair to see Sam and Dean walk in and close the door behind them.

"It's a rare and powerful plant in pagan lore. It's used to draw their gods to human sacrifices. Most likely, whoever is doing this is leaving the sacrifices to Hold Nikar, the God of the Winter Solstice." Bobby explained "oh wow, that makes a lot of sense. Thanks, Bobby." I said "a lot more sense than Santa and his deranged cousin walking around...tell your brothers they're morons." Bobby said "will do." I smirked "I'll try to figure out how to kill this thing. Talk to you soon, sweet pea." He said and then hung up "what did Bobby have to say?" Sam asked.

"Well, it's not the anti-Claus, and he wanted you to know that you're morons." I smirked "you were all gung-ho for that idea, too." Dean said as he sat down at the table with me "I didn't really get the chance to tell him that, and then I realized that he was making fun of you guys and keeping me out of it...so, why ruin a good thing?" I said "cute." Dean said sarcastically "did he say anything else?" Sam asked "he said that the wreaths are probably made of meadowsweet." I said "wow! Amazing. What the hell is meadowsweet?" Dean asked "he said it's a rare and powerful plant in pagan lore." I said "pagan lore?" Dean asked "it's used to lure gods to human sacrifices." I said.

"Why would somebody be using that for Christmas wreaths?" Dean asked "it's not as crazy as it sounds, Dean. I mean, pretty much every Christmas tradition is pagan." Sam said as I nodded in agreement "Christmas is Jesus's birthday." Dean said "technically, that's not true." I said as Dean furrowed his brow "Jesus's birthday was probably in the fall. It was actually the winter solstice festival that was co-opted by the church and renamed Christmas. But there's other signs of paganism too...I mean, the tree..." Sam said.

"The Yule log.." I said "even Santa's red suit...that's all remnants of pagan worship." Sam said "how do you guys know that? What are you gonna tell me next? Easter bunny's Jewish?" Dean said "well-." I shrugged as Dean's eyes widened in disbelief "just kidding." | smirked "so, you think we're dealing with a pagan god?" Dean asked "Bobby said, Hold Nickar. God of the winter solstice." I said as Sam sat down and started typing furiously on his laptop "and all these Martha Stewart wannabes, buying these fancy wreaths..." Dean said.

"Yeah, it sounds like it's pretty much like putting a neon sign on your front door saying, 'come kill us." Sam said "great." Dean groaned as he rolled his eyes "huh...when you sacrifice to Hold Nickar, guess what he gives you in return." Sam said as I shrugged "lap dances, hopefully." Dean said "mild weather." Sam said "like no snow in the middle of December in the middle of Michigan." Dean replied "for instance." Sam shrugged "do we know how to kill it yet?" Dean asked "no, Bobby's working on that right now." I replied.

"We got to figure out where they're selling those wreaths." Sam said "you think they're selling them on purpose? Feeding the victims to this thing?" Dean asked "let's find out." Sam said.