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(2.3) ─ The Mines

𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫:
‧⁺˚*‧☾ 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥, 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 ☽‧*˚⁺‧

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The next morning Carmen sat against one of the logs holding her Dad's journal and playing with the lanyard attached to it. Roy was dead; they never found his body, but knowing what they were against they knew he was dead. Even if he was a under and complete asshole, he didn't deserve to die. No one does.

"So this must be some article," Mason said suddenly sitting next to her.

"Yeah it, uh, is one article," She said looking up at him. "So, I'm going to take a wild guess and say your brother isn't a Ranger? And I'm guessing that Sam's your other brother."

"I can explain everything, just, uh let's get out of here first. How's Ben and Haley holding up?" She asked changing the subject. "They, uh, they just want to find Tommy and get the hell out of here," He said as they both looked at each other sinking into their own little world. "That's good...I guess,"

She shook her head going back to the book trying her best to stay focused, as he cleared his throat, "Are you okay? Because you seem to calm about this whole situation,"

"I don't get scared that easily," She said with a smirk as he nodded before getting up and walking back over to Haley and Ben.

"You okay?" Sam asked as he sat on the log. She nodded slowly not looking up at him, sighed heavily, "Funny, I should be asking you that," He smiled, "I'm fine, don't worry,"

"Sam I've been worried about you since I was 7," She said simply turning a page of the journal.

He let out a little laugh, "You were so weird about us whenever we came back from a hunt."

"You're my brother Sam. Of course I worry about you. I worry about you and Dean all the time. We take care of each other... Even after you left," She said glancing up at him.

"I dont...I mean, these types of things, they aren't supposed to real," Haley said to Dean as they both looked at them. "I wish I could tell you different,"

Sam walked over to them, as Carmen went back to the journal listening to them. "How do we know it's not out there watching us?" Haley asked. "We don't, but we're safe for now," Dean said reassuring her.

She paused before speaking, "Hou do you know all about this stuff?"

"It kinda runs in the family," Carmen answered from where she sat.

"So we've got half a chance in the daylight. And I for one want to kill the evil son of a bitch." Sam said looking over to see Carmen walking up next to him.

"Well, hell, you know I'm in," Dean said, as all eyes where now suddenly on her. What?" The youngest Winchester asked looking at everyone.

"Are you sure your okay?" Sam asked.

"Why is everyone asking me that?" She asked in a slight huff before walking away. "Carmen?!"

"Bathroom break, Dean." She said as they watched her slowly go out of their sight. "What the hell has gotten into her?" He muttered to Sam. Suddenly we started hearing her scream. "Carmen!" Both brothers yelled running towards the screaming.

Reaching a clearing as Sam saw something shiny on the ground. Dean," He called reaching down and picking up a necklace. Carmen's necklace. "The chain's broken,"

"Sounds about right. She nevers take that off," He replied trying not to panic as Sam placed the necklace in his pocket.

Taking a quick look around before walking back to the camp. Sam pulled out their Dad's journal, "Wendigo' is a Cree Indian word. It means 'evil that devours'," Sam explained as Dean continued, "They're hundreds of years old. Each one was once a man. Sometimes an Indian, or other times a frontiersman or a miner or hunter."

"How's a man turn into one of those things?" Haley asked standing in front of them.

"Well, it's always the same. During some harsh winter a guy finds himself starving, cut off from supplies or help. Becomes a cannibal to survive, eating other members of his tribe or camp," Sam explained as Ben spoke up, "Like the Donner Party,"

"Cultures all over the world believe that eating human flesh gives a person certain abilities. Speed, strength, immortality," He explained. "If you eat enough of it, over years, you become this less than human thing. You're always hungry," Dean continued."So if that's true, how can Tommy and your sister could still be alive?" Haley asked as the two Winchester's exchanged looks. "You're not gonna like it."

"Tell me,"

"More than anything, a wendigo knows how to last long winters without food. It hibernates for years at a time, but when it's awake it keeps its victims alive. It, uh, it stores them, so it can feed whenever it wants. If your brother's alive, it's keeping him somewhere dark, hidden, and safe. We gotta track it back there."

"And then how do we stop it?" She asked after a second. "Well, guns are useless, so are knives. Basically..." He trailed off holding up the can of lighter fluid, the beer bottle, and a white cloth, "We gotta torch the sucker."

💽

Dean lead the way through the woods as Haley, Mason, Ben, and Sam followed closely behind. Holding the Molotov Cocktail tightly passing past trees with claw marks and blood. But this wasn't normal. It wouldn't be found so easily. Dean quickly stopped walking, "Guys,"

Looking around at the trees, bloody claw marks and broken branches everywhere. "What is it?" Sam asked walking up to him looking around.

"Those claw prints, so clear and distinct. They were almost too easy to follow." He noted hearing sudden growling looking around seeing where it was coming from. Haley noticing blood dripping onto her shirt screaming and stumbling away, falling onto the ground. Roy's body falling to the ground, where they stood. Sam helped Haley up as Dean quickly examined Roy.

"His necks broken," He informed, suddenly hearing the same growling again. "Okay, run, run, run, run, go, go, go!" He ordered grabbing Haley's hand before taking off not realizing it just the two of them. Stopped short seeing the wendigo was in front of them Haley's screaming was the last thing that everyone heard.

The three ran over to the screaming to see both Dean and Haley gone. "Haley?" Mason and Ben called. As Sam spotted a broken bottle realizing it was the Molotov Cocktail that Dean had made earlier. Sam looked around with wide eyes, "Carmen!...Dean!"

💽

"If it keeps its victims alive, why would it kill Roy?" Ben asked.

Sam shrugged, "Honestly? I think because Roy shot at it, pissed it off," He stopped as Ben looked up ahead and find a trail of peanut M&Ms. "They went this way,"

Sam walked over to him as Ben handed over the M&Ms he had. Sam chuckled, "It's Better than bread crumbs," He smirked tossing them away.

The three of them followed the trail. Coming up to a old abandoned mine entrance marked with a sign that says 'WARNING! DANGER! DO NOT ENTER EXTREMELY TOXIC MATERIAL.' Sam looked at the two brother's. Shrugging going inside as they both followed close behind. Above the entrance is a larger sign that says 'KEEP OUT NO ADMITTANCE.'

They heard the same growling from before as Sam quickly shut off his flashlight as he pulled the two against the wall. The wendigo come towards them and Mason covered Ben's mouth before he could scream. Looking down a different tunnel at the crossing before walking down it pass the three.

Once it was gone they kept moving along. One of the floorboards creaked just as they all fell through the floor landing on a pile of bones. Ben saw there was another pile nearby full of skulls quickly leaping backwards. "Hey, look okay, it's okay," Mason said reassuring his brother.

Looking up to see Carmen, Dean, and Haley each hanging by their wrists. Sam ran over to Carmen and Dean "Carmen. Dean,"

Ben and Mason ran over to their sister, "Haley, wake up," Ben said lightly shaking her. "Come on Haley," Mason said checking for a pulse.

Sam grabbed both Carmen and Dean and shook them. "Dean. Carmen," Dean opened his eyes, but Carmen didn't. "Hey you okay?"

"Where's Carmen?"

"Right next to you, but she wont wake up," Sam said just as Carmen woke up coughing. There were scratches covering both of them. Carmen let out a whine, "Next time...i'll hold it,"

"You okay sis?" Dean asked.

"I'll.. get back to you.. on that." She said in a hushed tone, breathing heavily.

"Haley, Haley, wake up," Ben repeated. "Come on Haley, wake up, just please-" Mason said as Haley slowly woke up.

Sam cut Dean and Carmen down. Handing the knife to Mason who took care of Haley. Helping them over to an empty patch of flooring, each whining and groaning in pain. Carmen tried to sit herself up trying to block out how much pain she was in. "Carmen don't," Sam whispered softly pushing her back down.

"You sure you're all right?" Sam asked turning to Dean. "Yeah. Yep. Where is he?" He answered.

"He's gone for now,"

Haley slowly stood up and spotted Tommy who was still hanging and she started to cry. "Tommy..." She whispered touching his cheek. Tommy's head jerked up making her jump back and shrieked.

"Sammy,...cut..him...down," Carmen said in between breaths while Sam cut him down as the three siblings caught him. "We're gonna get you home," Haley reassured.

The stolen supplies were piled in the corner. Dean picked up flare guns, "Check it out,"

"Do they...work?" Carmen asked giving up on sitting herself up. Dean chuckled and twirls the guns. Sam and Carmen gave each other a grinned.

💽

They were headed down a tunnel, the three Winchester's lead with flare guns. Haley and Mason were supporting Tommy while Ben was trying to help with whatever he could. "You'll be okay, right?" Dean asked Carmen, she opened her mouth to speak but all came out were coughs. Bring her elbow out to see a little spotting of blood. Breathing getting more and more difficult as her coughs kept getting worse. Grabbing her older brother's shoulder for balance, "I think i'll live,"

"Carmen," Both brother's said grabbing her as Dean pulled her arm around his shoulder as his other wrapped around his waist. "We need to get out of her, now,"

Suddenly, they all heard growling again. "Looks like someone's home for supper," Dean comment. "We'll never outrun it," Haley said with a clear look of fear in her eyes. Dean looked at them and then to Carmen and Sam. "You two thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Yeah, I think so,"

"Light um up," Carmen said weakly.

He nodded at them before turning to the four siblings. "All right, listen to me. Stay with Sam and Carmen. They gonna get you out of here, Sam a little help." Dean ordered while carefully giving Carmen over to Sam.

"What are you gonna do?" Dean just winked at Haley and started walking away yelling, "Chow time, you freaky bastard! Yeah, that's right, bring it on, baby, I taste good."

Sam and Carmen, who was hanging onto his shoulder, waited until Dean was a safe distance away. "All right,come on, hurry," Sam said. The Collinses followed Sam and Carmen down the tunnel. As the growling started again alone closer. Sam looked at the Collinses and then at Carmen. "Get them outta here."

"I am seeing two of you, and am fighting the urge to go shut my eyes I can't I get them out,"

"Carmen go. Me and Dean are right behind you." He reassured.

"Let's go," Mason said stepping up and grabbing Carmen to keep her steady. Haley helped Tommy and Ben followed further down the mine tunnel.

There was a gunshot. "Sam!" Carmen yelled turning to see Sam running over. "Come on, hurry, hurry, hurry!"

That's when they saw the wendigo right behind them. "Dean!"

"Carmen, let's go,"

She was behind them but got separated when the wendigo leaped in front of her. It grabbed her and threw her against the wall. "Carmen!" Sam yelled after realizing his sister wasn't with him.

The wendigo turned around to face the group making Sam shove is way in front. Get behind me," Sam said to the Collinses. The wendigo slowly approached them taking its time. "Hey!" Dean yelled making the monster turned around and tackle him, before Dean could pull the trigger making him drop the gun. Holding him done by his neck.

Then two gunshots were heard and the wendigo let out a scream before it went up in flames. Dean coughed covering their faces looking up looked up. Seeing a heavy breathing Carmen holding two guns, "I need a milkshake," Sam and Dean smiled proudly.

💽

It was already evening when the ambulance loaded up Tommy. A paramedic was trying to take Carmen to the hospital, "Ma'am, you should really go to the hospital,"

"I'm good, but thank you." She said walking over to Haley and Dean.

As the paramedic followed turning to Haley. "You riding with your brother?"

"Yeah,"

The paramedic headed back to the ambulance and Haley turned to Ben, who was walking over to us with Sam, "Let's go, Mason's with Tommy." Sam and Ben nodded at each other. As Haley leaned over kissed Dean on the cheek. "I hope you find your father," She said smiling down at the youngest as she smiled back. Haley and Ben headed for the ambulance. "Thanks, Sam, Carmen," She said as her and Ben climbed in the ambulance with Mason and Tommy, who was shirtless and bandaged.

The three Winchester's leaned against the Impala's hood watching the paramedic close the ambulance doors. "Never again," She spoke up picking a twig from her hair. "Noted," Sam and Dean said at the same time.

"You guys know we're gonna find Dad, right?" Dean said.

"Yeah, we know," She sighed out crossing her arms. "But in the meantime?" I'm driving," Sam stated. Dean looked down and then tossed him the keys. He smirked catching them, "Good, wake me up when we get to a dinner," She announced opening the back door as her brothers chuckled.