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(12.3) ─ That Cryptic Cross

𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫:
‧⁺˚*‧☾ 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐦𝐞, 𝐤𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐝☽‧*˚⁺‧

"You really think it's the Grim Reaper? Like, angel of death, collect your soul, the whole deal?"

"No, Sammy, we think it's the Pink Panther."

"No, not the Grim Reaper, A reaper. There's reaper lore in pretty much every culture on earth. It goes by 100 different names, it's possible that there's more than one of them." Dean informed smirking at his sister's remark.

"But you said you saw a dude in a suit,"

"What, you think the whole black robe thing?" Dean asked with a heavy sarcastic tone. "You said it yourself that the clock stopped right? Reapers stop time. And you can only see 'em when they're coming at you which is why I could see it and you couldn't."

"Maybe,"

"There's nothing else it could be, Sam. The question is how is Roy controlling the damn thing?" Dean stated now all three of them were now on the same card.

"The cross," Carmen muttered causing both her brother's turn towards her in confusion. "When we were in Lawrence, Missouri gave me a deck of tarot cards. And that's the cross!" She exclaimed, finally happy that she figured out where she had seen the cross before. "I'll ask again, what cross?" Dean asked, watching as she pulled out a deck from her backpack. "There was this cross," She trailed off flipping through each of the drawn cards. "I saw the exact same one on the table behind Roy." She flipped the card and showed it to the two. "A tarot?" Dean asked taking the card from her. "Makes the most sense. These cards date back to the early christian era, right? When some priests were still using magic? And a few of them veered into dark magic. Necromancy and how to push death away, how to cause it." She explained, tarot was something her mother was very fawn of.

"So, Roy's using black magic to bind the reaper?" Dean questioned handing the card towards Sam. "if he is, he's riding the whirlwind." Sam suggested.

"It's like putting a dog leash on a great white," The oldest remarked, now placing his coffee mug into the sink before leaning his back against it. "Okay then we stop Roy."

"And just how do you say we do it Tweety?" She remarked. Placing the card back in the deck, putting the card back into its place in her bag.

"You know how."

"Wait, what the hell are you talking about Dean, we can't kill Roy!"

"Sam, the guy's playing god, he's deciding who lives and who dies. That's a monster in my book." Dean argued. "We're not going to kill a human being, Dean!" Sam protested. "But Dean, he has a reaper for a guard dog. Even if we do kill him, how do we get past the dog?" Carmen asked, stating the obvious point that both were currently overlooking.

"Okay, we can't kill Roy. We can't kill death. Any bright ideas, smart asses?" Dean remarked.

"First off language. Secondly, if Roy is using some kind of black magic or spell on the reaper, we should figure out what it is and how to break it." She told them. It was a bit concerning how excited she had become about this type of stuff. But anything related to strong magic made her remember how passionate her mother was about it.

💾

"If Roy's using a spell, there might be a spell book." Sam stated as the three were now parked outside the church tent and standing besides the Impala. "See if you guys can find it." Dean said looking down at his watch, "Hurry up too, the service starts in 15 minutes. I'll try to stall Roy."

"I'll come with, two loud people are better than just one annoying one." Carmen remarked with a small smile.

The same protester that had been escorted off the other day, held out a pamphlet to Dean, "Roy LeGrange is a fraud! He's no healer!" Dean took the paper, "Amen Brother!" He agreed. Sam patted the man on his shoulders, "You keep up the good work," The man looked between the three beaming, "Thank you,"

Sam walked off as the oldest and youngest walked towards the tent. Standing near the back and scanning the crowd once inside. Seeing the same groups of people talking amongst one another. It was honestly fascinating how much trust and belief they put into this old man.

"What do you got?" Dean asked, answering his phone. "The guy in the parking lot?" Carmen's head tilted, but it quickly made sense to her. You couldn't have someone shouting about how you are fraud. "Alright, you need any help?" He paused waiting for their brother's response. "'K be careful." He hung up the phone looking over towards Carmen. "Reaper's going after the protesters. So we can't let Roy heal anyone." She gave a small smirk, "Tackle anyone on sight, gotta cha. Does Sam need any help?"

"Said if we hear yelling, then yes."

Now the two stood closer towards the front. Carmen shifted her weight from one side to the other, clearly uncomfortable. "Being back here leaves a bad taste in my mouth." She muttered, causing her brother to look down and give her an empathic look.

Roy came onto the stage, causing an uproar of cheering, stopping as soon as the man opened his mouth. "Layla. Layla Rourke. Come up here, child." The cheers and clapping had come back louder. Layla stood up, smiling at her mother followed by hugging her. She closed her eyes and said something to her mom. Which caused her to respond before the two pulled apart. "Aw, man." Dean muttered watching her walk towards the stage. He grabbed her arm light, "Layla, listen to me. You can't go up there."

"Why not? We've waited for months."

"You can't let Roy heal you."

"I don't understand. Roy healed you, didn't he? Why can't you let him try?" She questioned. "Cause if you do, something bad is going to happen." He answered. "I can't explain. I just need you to believe me." The two looked at each other for a moment. Sue Ann stood on the side of the stage where the stairs were, waiting holding her hand out. "Layla."

"Please,"

She looked at the hand Sue Ann offered. Then turned towards her mother who nodded for Layla to follow. She then looked at Dean with a sad look shaking her head softly. "I'm sorry." She walked up to the stage as Dean repeated her name twice, hoping she would hear the desperation in his voice and turn back to them. Sue Ann smiled as she put her arm around Layla, leading her towards Roy. "Dear child, you deserve this." He took her hand. "I knew the Lord was planning. I knew it was just a matter of time." The two walked back, seeing Mrs. Rourke clearly expressed frustration and anger at them. Roy looked over the crowd, "Pray with me, friends." He then looked over towards Layla, "I hope you're ready." She smiled softly, "I am." All Carmen could do was watch, as if in slow motion Roy's hand slowly made its way on top of Layla's head. Desperately looking around for anything, even a fire alarm to pull. But they were in a tent not a building so there wouldn't be an alarm to pull. So, she thought about the next best thing, "Fire! There's a fire! Everyone move it, let's go!"

Dean gave a confused look before understanding what she was getting at. Also mentioning for people to evacuate the tent. Layla's eyes shot open, looking out towards the crowd. That starts to slowly start to disperse. Mrs. Rourke walked towards the stage, "No! No, please. Please don't stop. Reverend, please, please! Please don't stop, please!" She pleaded desperately.

"Friends, if you'd all just leave the tent in an orderly fashion, and we'll, uh, and we'll figure out what's going on out there and we'll come back." Roy announced.

Dean pulled his phone out and called Sam, "We did it. We stopped Roy," Carmen leaned in to hear the conversation, but got no luck. "Then who the hell is?" Her brows knotted in confusion, if Roy had stopped but the protester was still under attack. Looking around her eyes fell on Sue Ann. Who was on the side of the stage, facing the corner. She ran over towards her, pulling her so she had to face her. The older woman gasped, her mumbling stopping and dropping the cross on the chain from her neck. It was the same cross from the table. The same one from the tarot. She looked at her, quickly tucking the cross into her blouse, "Help! Help me!" Carmen slowly started to back away knowing how she was trying to paint this situation. But two deputies grabbed either side of her roughly, pulling her away.

The two older man lead the Winchester outside as Sue Ann followed, "I just don't understand. After everything we've done for you, after Roy healed your brother." Carmen rolled her eyes at the woman. 'Really bitch?' She thought to herself knowing exactly how this was playing out. "We're just very, very disappointed, Carmen. You can let her go. I'm not gonna press charges. The Lord will deal with her as he sees fit." Her last few words sent a cold chill down her spin.

"Tell the Lord, he can kiss my ass!" She shouted back as the old woman started walking back towards the tent.

"If we catch you around here again, kid, we'll put the fear of god in you, understand?" One of the deputies asked, staring down at her. "Yup, fear of god. Got it. Now get your hands off of me," She responded as they did such. Giving the two a sarcastic smile before walking back towards where the Impala was.

The drive back to the motel was filled with Carmen ranting and raving about her separate adventure. Causing both her brothers to clench their jaws, both lived on how their little sister was treated. Sam was more vocal about it than Dean. Ranting about how wrong and unlawful it was to do something like that to a minor. And what type of charges she would press with nothing as evidence to back her clams up.

"So, Roy really believes," Sam sighed out sitting down on the bed. Clearly trying to calm himself down from the rant he had been on in the car.

"Yup, don't think he knows what Mrs. Clause is doing," Carmen remarked.

"Well, I found this," Sam announced, pulling out a little book. "Hidden in their library."

"I'll give them that, they have a unique library for sure." She remarked, crossing her arms.

"It's ancient. Written by a priest who went to the dark side. There's a binding spell in here for trapping a reaper." Sam explained, handing the book to Carmen first. "Must be one hell of a spell," She said with a raise of her brows flipping through the pages. "Yeah," Sam added, watching her eyes widen slightly, when she reached the marked page. "You gotta build a black altar with seriously dark stuff. Bones, human blood. To cross a line like this, a preacher's wife. Black magic, murder, evil."

"Desperate," Dean added finishing her sentence.

"Her husband was dying, she didn't have anything to save him. She was using the binding spell to keep the reaper away from Roy." Sam explained. Carmen let out a small sigh, "Cheating death." She hated the thought that appeared in the back of her mind. If it came down to it she knew she would try to do the same thing. Rather it being her own brothers, father, Bobby, or even if she could've done it with her own mother she would.

"Yeah, but Roy's alive, so why is she still using the spell?" Dean asked. "Right, to force the reaper to kill people she thinks are immoral." Sam answered causing Dean to shake his head, "May god save us from half the people who think they're doing god's work." He insisted.

"We gotta break that binding spell, guys."

Carmen looked over towards the drawing picture of the cross in the book. "You know, Sue Ann had a wired cross necklace like this. When she dropped it the guard dog backed off." She announced. "So, you think we gotta find the cross or destroy the altar?" Sam questioned. "Maybe both," Dean suggested making her smile lightly knowing it meant she was gunna have to get up to trouble. "Whatever we do we better do it soon, or he's healing Layla tonight."

💾

The Impala parked outside the church tent, but quickly noticed Layla's car was already there. Sam was the one who spoke up about the car, which clearly got to Dean, "You know if Roy picked Layla instead of me she'd be healed right now."

"Dean-"

"And if she's not healed tonight she's gonna die in a coupla months."

"What's happening to her is horrible, but what are you gonna do? Let somebody else die to save her? You said it yourself Dean, you can't play god." Sam reasoned. Dean got out, causing the two younger ones to look at each other before following.

Walking up to the tent and peeking inside. Roy was speaking to a small group, including Layla and her mother. "Where's Sue Ann?" Carmen asked. "Must be in the house," Sam said and the three quietly went towards the house. Her eyes spotted the two cops that had walked her out before. "Go find Sue Ann, I'll catch up." Before either brother could say anything, she was already standing up right, "Hey!" Sam and Dean quickly hid in the bushes. "Y'all gonna put the fear of god in me or what?!" She shouted, earning the two cops' attention before running off.

Weaving her way through the area. Hiding behind different cars or trees allowing herself to catch her breath before running again. Ending up on the side of a camper, panting trying to quickly catch her breath once again. "You see her?" She heard one of the asked.

"Nah,"

She slowly stood up from being crouched down on the ground. Creeping towards the passenger door. Checking over her shoulder as she heard the footsteps move away from her. Turning back towards the window and jumping back. A large dog jumped at the glass, barking wildly. She quickly went to the back side of the camper remembering seeing a ladder that led to the roof. Climbing up it and laying as flat as she could on the very dirty roof. Hearing the loud pounding footsteps run their way back towards her. "Psycho mutt," One of the deputies told the other after a moment. She carefully peered over the edge of the camper roof. Letting out a deep and heavy breath once they were far enough away.

💾

Walking towards the tent, she made sure to keep her eyes all around her . Making sure she saw the cops before they saw her. The street lights above her started to flicker. And then the ones around her started to flicker as well. "Oh, this is not good," She sighed to herself.

Her stomach suddenly dropped, causing her to stop in her tracks. The hair at the base of her neck stood on ends. She could swear someone was standing right behind her...or something.

Turning around as fast as she could, wanting to see what it was before she would take off running. The line of lights that lit the path on the path out each started going out one by one. The lights didn't pop, it was like each bulb had a switch and was being flipped off. Before they went out she could see a shadow creature at the end of the path. And it was making its way closer and closer towards her. It came into one of the lights before it went out above it, and she saw it. A Reaper.

Her feet were faster than her thoughts. Currently running, running where she hadn't had a single clue. But was still able to pull her phone out, dialing the first number she could. "Carmen, we haven't found Sue Ann," Dean answered the phone.

"Hurry up! Guard dog is after me!" She shouted over the phone hearing him panic on the other end, "What?" She stopped trying to keep her balance at the sudden stop of motion. In front of her stood the Reaper she had been running from. Reaching out and placing its ice cold boney hand onto the side of her head. All she could do was pant, feeling her heartbeat in her eardrums. Her mind was racing trying to find what memory it wanted to remember before the lights went out.

But nothing happened.

She didn't feel anything. Not a single ounce of pain that she hadn't already felt before from running. The Reaper tilted its head to the side its expression read confusion as if it didn't know what was happening. "Carmen?" She didn't say anything, instead all she could do was drop the phone. Feeling wave after wave of pain. The Reaper frowned what was supposed to be its brows at her, using more of its strength. Sinking to her knees feeling her throat tighten and start to close. Her head was light and cloudy, feeling as if she was about to pass out at any given moment. She couldn't tell how long it had been going on for, hours, days, months, years. Everything just blurred into one big mess of pain.

Until it stopped.

The Reaper stopped, allowing Carmen's body to completely fall to the ground. Gasping and coughing in pain as she tried to ball herself up. She wanted Dean, she wanted Sam, her mother. Someone, anyone of importance to her life to cradle her into their arms and tell her everything was okay. Even if the pain was gone it still left echo like effects on her.

"Carmen? You're okay, You're okay." Her eyes opened at the sounds of her older brother soothing her.

She reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face into it. He pulled her closer towards him. The two were still on the ground, "It's over Carm, it's okay now." She looked up at the sounds of new foot steps, and saw Sam rushing to the side of them. "Are you okay?" He asked, placing his hand on her shoulder looking over her to make sure she was okay. "Yeah, yeah I-I'm fine,"

The two helped her to her feet, keeping each an arm around her as they walked to the Impala. "Hell of a week," Dean remarked, opening her car door.

"Understatement of the century," She muttered laying down across the back seat.

"You're sure, you're okay?" Sam asked after the two of them had climbed into the car as well. "Yeah, I'm just tired." She assured, her hand not leaving her necklace. She brought her knees up to her chest.

💾

It was the next day, and the three were packing up the motel room. Carmen glanced over towards Dean, who was currently sitting on one of the beds staring at nothing. "What's on your mind Tweety?" She asked sitting down next to her, snapping him out of his thoughts, "Nothing."

Sam and her looked over at each other, "Bull," The two said in unison looking at the oldest. "What is it?" Sam asked, with a more gentle tone.

"We did the right thing here, didn't we?" He asked after a moment.

"Of course we did," Sam replied, leaning his hand on the back of one of the chairs.

"It doesn't feel like it,"

Before anyone could say anything there was three soft knocks on the door. "I got it," She said walking towards the door. Opening it to see Layla, smiling at her. She smiled back and stepped to the side. "Hey, Layla. Come on in,"

"Hey," She said sweetly walking inside making Dean quickly stand up, "Hi. How did you know we were here?"

"Carmen called. She said you wanted to say goodbye?" Dean glanced over to her with a death glare. She simply shrugged, acting as if she hadn't done anything, but she definitely did call her. "Sam," She said walking over towards her brother, hooking her arm through his. "Let's raid the vending machine before we have to leave." He nodded, smiling softly as he caught onto what she was doing. She gave Layla one last smile before her and Sam left. The two stood by the machine filling a backpack full of different things. "You okay?" Sam asked, poking her cheek making her smile.

"Yeah, I guess my mom must've put some type of protection thing on my necklace because the Reaper didn't–what it did, didn't hurt at first. It confused both of us," She shrugged softly.

Sam brows knitted, stopping what he was doing and leaned against the glass. "I guess your mom was more powerful than we thought." He suggested putting on a front that acted like it was a bother. But in actuality it was a huge deal that neither one could figure out. Yes, Carmen's mother was a powerful witch, but no one had heard about that power of protection.