Stranger

Chapter 22

"So, what we thinkin'?" Nevaeh asks Sam, sitting down at their table and taking another sip from her bottle.

Sam takes a deep breath. "Well, the local police haven't ruled out foul play. Apparently there were signs of a struggle."

"You know, they could be right. Could just be a kidnapping," Dean says, throwing another dart. "Maybe this isn't our kind of gig."

Nevaeh rolls her eyes and leans into Sam. "Who asked him," she drawls and Sam chuckles, grabbing the bottle out of her hand and sitting it next to him.

She scoffs. "Dude, I can handle myself."

Sam ignores her. "How are you feeling?" He asks her. She gives him a lopsided grin. "Super," she says, and Sam purses his lips, shaking his head.

"Yeah, maybe not," Sam says shaking his head, turning his attention back to Dean. "Except for this. Dad marked the area, Dean. Possible hunting grounds of a phantom attacker."

"Why would he even do that?" Dean asks.

"Well, he found a lot of local folklore about a dark figure that comes out at night, grabs people, then vanishes. He found this too," Sam points to an old newspaper in John Winchester's journal. "This county has more missing persons per capita than anywhere in the state."

"That is weird," Dean says. "Don't phantom attackers usually snatch people from their beds? Jenkins was taken from a parking lot."

"Well, there are all kinds. Spring heeled Jacks, phantom gassers. They take people anywhere, anytime. Look, I don't know if this is our kind of gig either."

"Yeah, you're right. We should ask around more tomorrow."

"Right," Sam says. "I saw a motel about five miles back."

Dean throws another dart. "Yeah, alright. We need some shut-eye. Especially her," Dean gives Nevaeh a pointed look and she rolls her eyes. "You two sure do know how to have fun," she says sarcastically.

Dean grabs his jacket. "You two go ahead, I'll meet 'cha outside. I gotta take a leak."

Sam nods, and stands. Nevaeh gets up, fairly quickly, which causes her to get dizzy. Sam rests his hand on her back, steadying her, and pushes in her chair.

"You're gonna be pissed with your past self in the morning," Sam chuckles as they step outside of the bar, and stops when he hears Nevaeh sniffle.

He turns to her. "Hey, what's the matter?"

She frowns, and shakes her head, wiping at her tears. "I don't even know, man," she says, and lets out a half giggle, half sniffle. She looks down at her feet and kicks a rock. "It's just—" she starts, but stops when she hears rustling. She looks up at Sam, who is now alert, looking around with his flashlight.

They hear scratching under a car, and Sam bends to look underneath. He jumps back, and so does Nevaeh, but Sam chuckles when he sees that it's just an angry cat. "Come on," Sam shakes his head, still smiling, and they both walk to the car.

Nevaeh turns to face the bar, watching as more people walk out of the bar, still no Dean. She rolls her eyes, "how long does it take for a man to take a leak?" She turns back to the car, and pulls the handle. "Sam, you gotta unlock the door."

Nothing. She frowns. "Sam?" She walks to the other side of the car. The car keys are on the ground, and Sam is no where to be found. "What the hell?" She looks around, and she feels something grab at her ankle.

Dean leaves out of the bar, and walks a little faster when he realizes that no one is in the car. He sees the keys on the ground and he frowns, picking them up. He opens the car door, and looks in the car again.