>BLOODLUST<

"The murder investigation is ongoing, and that's all that I can share with the press at this time." The gruff looking Sheriff with a mustache so big that you could barely see his lip was telling the four from the other side of his desk.

"I know, but just fact checking here, you found the first head Wednesday..." the rest of Alayna's sentence was lost to Dean as he found his gaze drifting to Karoline who sat in the chair next to him. She was leant forward slightly, with her chin resting on her palm.

Karoline's eyes didn't leave Deans as she pushed him back onto the bed, she flashed a sexy smirk as she crawled on top of him. Dean leant forward, connecting their lips eagerly as he reached a hand up to tangle into her blonde curls.

"The other was a, uh, Christina Flannigan-" Sam began, clearing his throat bringing the Sheriff and Dean's attention to him.

"Two days ago," He interrupted Sam. There was a knock at the door, and they glanced back to see a young, blonde woman, who must've been his assistant, tapping her watch. "Oh, thank you," The Sheriff nodded to her before turning back to the four. "Sorry, time's up. We're done here."

"Wait, one last question," Sam cut in as the Sheriff rose from his chair.

"What about the cattle?" Alayna asked before Sam could finish his thought. The Sheriff fixed her with a hard and disbelieving look.

"Excuse me?" He questioned, raising his bushy eyebrows.

"You know, the cattle's found dead, split open, drained - over a dozen cases," Karoline tried to jog his memory, but the Sheriff still wore an incredulous look on his face. Dean snapped his gaze to her at the sound of her voice.

Dean was the one to break the kiss, moving his lips to her neck in search for that one spot. He found it at the start of her jaw, enticing a soft moan from the girl on top of him.

"Dean..."

"What about them?" The Sheriff inquired and Dean blinked back to reality.

"Well, don't you think it's possible that there is a connection between the two?" Alayna asked, shaking her head confused on why the thought never crossed his mind.

"Why would there be a connection?" Alayna rose her eyebrows in disbelief.

"Well, first cattle mutilations, now two murders. Kind of sounds like ritual stuff." Sam elaborated, and the Sheriff leant closer to the four.

"You know, like Satanic cult ritual stuff," Karoline added, hoping to get something out of the man.

Karoline tangled her fingers into his hair as she pressed a chaste kiss to his lips. Trailing her warm lips across his jaw and down his chest. His whole body twitched at her pleasurable touches, letting out a low groan as she dragged her tongue across the skin above his waist band.

"Kare..."

He blinked up at the Sheriff as he let out a loud laugh, and pointed at the four like one of them just told him the funniest joke he ever heard. Alayna glanced at Karoline uncertainly, who looked just as miffed by the man's amusement. "You're not kidding," the Sheriff realized, his laughter dying in his throat.

"No," Alayna shook her head deflated. The man's finger dropped onto the desk and his face grew serious.

"Those cows aren't being mutilated. You want to know how I know," Karoline raised an eyebrow at him, a signal for him to continue.

"How?"

"Because there's no such thing as cattle mutilation. Cow drops, leave it in the sun and within 48 hours the bloat will split open so clean it's just about surgical. The bodily fluids fall down into the ground, get soaked up, cause that's what gravity does, but, hey, it could be Satan."

She met his gaze again as she climbed back on top of him, tracing his muscles lightly with the tips of her fingers. Dean gripped her hips, flipping her over onto her back and used his body to press her down onto the mattress.

"What newspaper did you say you worked for?" The Sheriff's question caught Dean's attention.

"World Weekly News," Dean told him.

"Weekly World News," Karoline corrected him quickly a hand on his arm, Dean's gaze flickered from her to her hand then back again.

She threw her head back, her eyes screwing shut as Dean bit down onto her collar bone and she dragged her nails down his back.

"World... Weekly..." Dean stammered, shaking his head. "I'm new."

"Get out of my office," the Sheriff enunciated every syllable, and Sam and the girls stood quickly, Karoline dragging a slow Dean up with them.

"Yes sir," Alayna gave a tight smile before they left and headed out to the cars.

Karoline lagged behind with Dean and placed a hand on his arm, "Are you okay?" She asked quietly. Dean snapped his gaze to the touch and his eyebrows drew together.

Her hand tangled into his hair while the other gripped at his arm as she kissed down his neck and across his shoulder.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine," He shook his head clearing his throat as he looked up to see Sam and Alayna walk out the front doors. He came to a stop, making Karoline stop next to him. "We need to talk."

She frowned, turning to him, "What about?"

"About the other night." Dean finally met her gaze to see the realization dawn on her face. She sighed, shaking her head slightly.

"Listen, you should just forget about that," She said tiredly at the same time he said, "I can't get it out of my head." They both looked at each other startled, "What?" Dean opened his mouth to continue.

"No," Karoline cut in before Dean could continue. "You just need to forget about it, it was a mistake."

"Mistake?" Dean echoed incredulously, raising his eyebrows at her in disbelief.

"Yeah, it never should've happened." Dean didn't say anything, just stared at her silently causing a frown to pull at Karoline's lips. "Dean..."

"No, I got it," He cut her off, backing away from her. "It never happened." He nodded, turning and following his brother and Alayna out the door. Karoline sighed in frustration, running a hand through her hair, letting her arm fall back to her side she followed after them.

"Alright, well we should go to the morgue next." Sam was saying when Karoline reached them, she looked to see Dean already in the Impala and Sam standing by the passenger side.

"Right," Alayna agreed.

"Actually, I'm gonna go head up to the bar." Dean cut in, leaning over so they could see him through the open passenger window. Sam's eyebrows drew together in confusion but, before he could ask why Dean continued. "You don't mind riding with the girls, do you?"

"No, but Dean-"

"Awesome," Dean cut him off, and revved the engine to a start. Sam stared after the retreating car in disbelief then turned his gaze to the two girls.

"Well, okay," Karoline clapped her hands together awkwardly. "Let's hit the morgue." Alayna shrugged at Sam's look, just as clueless and got into the car with her sister. Sam sighed in defeat and trudged into the back of the Buick.

"So you gonna tell us what that was about?" Alayna spoke up after about five minutes of silent driving. Karoline didn't look at her just rose an eyebrow questioningly. "Why Dean was so quick to ditch us?"

"How would I know?" Karoline shot back, and Alayna copied Karoline in just raising an eyebrow at her. When she refused to fess up Alayna just sighed in defeat, slumping back into her seat. It took them all of forty-five minutes to get to the morgue. They managed to get their hands on three lab coats to wear over their current, formal attire. They walked into the morgue, seeing the man that was standing in the room, who was also in a white lab coat. "Hey... Jeremy," Karoline greeted the man, looking hesitantly at his name tag that read 'J. Manners'

"Jeff," He corrected, still grinning widely at the blonde as she and Alayna stepped forward with a welcoming smile.

"Right, Jeff. Sorry, she's just really out of it today," Alayna apologized and Karoline shook her head slightly for emphasis. "Dr. Dorkin is waiting for you in his office. He said it was urgent."

Jeff's eyebrows drew together in confusion, "But, Dr. Dorkin's on vacation."

"Well, he's in there yelling for you, so, clearly he's back." Karoline used a tone that told him that fact should've been obvious. "If I were you..." Karoline didn't even get a chance to finish her sentence before the man was bolting out the door, which Sam shut behind him.

"Didn't those Satanist in Florida mark their victims?" Alayna questioned as the three made their way over to the bodies.

"Yeah, the reverse pentacle on the forehead," Sam remembered as he handed the girls each a pair of latex gloves before slipping on his own.

"Florida's just full of psychos," Karoline commented more to herself as she pulled on her own gloves as Alayna pulled out the metal sheet that the body was laying on. Between it's feet sat a white box that she assumed held it's head. "Alright, open it." Karoline instructed when Alayna didn't make a move to do so.

"You open it." She shot back with a pointed look.

"Alayna~"

"Kari~"

"Fine," Karoline scowled at Alayna's triumphed smile and grabbed the box to move it to the table behind them. She removed the lid carefully, revealing grey skin and sunken eyes that made her shudder in disgust. "Well, no pentagram." Karoline noted, retracting her hands from the box.

"Wow. Poor girl," Sam muttered, clearly trying to hide his own disgust at the sight.

"Yeah," Alayna agreed softly before turning to Karoline. "Maybe you should check her mouth. Sometimes something's shoved down the throat."

Alayna barely finished the sentence before Karoline shoved herself away from the box, raising her hands in surrender. "Nope, that's where I draw the line. You do it."

"No, you do it." Alayna shot back.

Karoline looked at her in exasperation, "Alayna, put the lotion in the basket." Alayna shot a deflated look at the reference to which Karoline just gestured to the box again.

Alayna sighed and turned with a bright smile, resting a hand on Sam's arm, "Sammy. Baby. Sweetheart. My Love... would you mind?" Sam frowned at her but, Alayna's smile just widened.

He sighed, and rolled up his sleeve before sticking two fingers into the dead woman's mouth. "Can one of you get me a bucket."

"Why? What'd you find?" Alayna questioned curiously only to have Sam shake his head.

"Nothing. I'm gonna puke," Sam answered, looking away from the position he was in disgustedly.

Before Alayna could respond Karoline spoke up, "wait. Lift her lip again."

"What?" He asked incredulously. "You want me to throw up, is that it?"

"Stop being such a wuss," Karoline shot back using a pen she grabbed from the table to edge up her lip revealing a small hole above her canine tooth.

"What is that, a hole?" Alayna asked, edging closer. Karoline shook her head, pushing on her gums beside the hole, making a hooked tooth pop out.

"It's a tooth." Sam realized.

"No, it's a fang," Karoline stated, pulling away and tossing the pen aside.

"A vampire fang." Alayna specified and both girls straightened.

"Well, this changes things," Sam stated the obvious, making both girls turn and look at with a deflated expression.

"Thank you for your observation, it is duly noted." Karoline said sarcastically. Alayna rolled her eyes, cracking a smile at the deflated look Sam shot her.

"We should go find Dean." Alayna spoke up and Sam nodded in agreement and after a hesitant moment, Karoline did too.

***

As soon as they entered the bar it wasn't hard to find Dean. He was sitting at the bar talking with some girl, a drink in his hands -probably not his first of the night. He just so happened to look up as they entered his eyes flickering between the three of them before fixing his attention back on the girl in front of him.

"We should talk to the bartender." Karoline spoke up, forcing a bright smile onto her face, and ignoring the questioning looks the two sent her, led the way to the bar. Behind the counter was a gruff looking man, serving a couple women some drinks. He looked up expectantly as they approached him. "Hey, how's it going?" Karoline greeted cheerily.

"Living the dream," He replied sarcastically with a wink her way before returning to drying the glasses. "What can I get for you?"

"Bourbon. Neat. And, uh, two beers for my friends." Karoline answered, nodding her head at Sam and Alayna as they joined her. He nodded and grabbed two beers and a clean chaser from the wall behind him.

"So, we're looking for some people," Sam began, getting down to business as they sat down. The bartender shot him and incredulous look, his gaze flickering between the two girls on either side of him. "No, that's not what I meant." Sam shot down quickly.

"Look," Karoline leant forward, resting a hand on his wrist causing him to stop pouring her drink and to look at her. "I really need to find these people, and I would be so grateful if you could just help us out a little." Karoline batted her eyelashes, feeling Dean's gaze on her from down the bar.

"Uh, yeah. Sure, what can I do for you." He replied after a pause.

Karoline straightened with a bright smile, "Well, they'd have moved here about six months ago, probably a little rowdy, love to drink." Karoline explained, happily accepting the drink when he handed it to her.

"Yeah, probably only see them when it gets dark, you know?" Alayna continued for her sister. "Sleep all day, and party all night kind of people." She added, watching the man's reaction closely.

"Barker farm got leased out a couple months ago - real winners. They've been in here a lot - drinkers, noisy. I had to 86 them once or twice," Alayna shared a glace with Karoline knowing they had found their vampires.

"Thank you." Karoline nodded her head at him with a smile, he returned the gesture before moving down a ways to another customer.

"So," Karoline glanced up to see Dean sliding into the bar stool beside her, but he didn't look at her instead kept his attention on Sam and Alayna behind her. "What'd I miss."

"Vampires." Was all Alayna gave as an answer. Dean shot her an incredulous look before turning to his brother.

"Turns out the be-headings weren't victims, they were vampires.' Sam explained further.

"So what, we got another player in town?" Dean asked.

"Most likely," Karoline answered this time, and Dean turned his attention to her for the first time since he sat down. "We're going to go check out Barker Farm, we think that's where they're holed up."

"Well then," Dean gave a tight lipped smile finishing off the last sip of his beer. "Let's go." Alayna watched him walk away, baffled on how he could go from ditching them to such a 'team player' in two seconds. The three didn't say anything about it though, and made their way to the door.

"Sam," Alayna hissed, but didn't stop just took a step closer to him. "Someones following us. Don't look!" She added the last part harshly when Sam made a move to look over his shoulder.

"Follow me." Sam whispered. "Actually I think I know a short cut." Sam said casually catching Karoline and Dean's attention. 'Short Cut' was code for 'we got someone tailing us'.

"So, no driving?" Karoline asked a little sadly, looking down at her car.

"No, driving." Alayna gave her a pointed look and Karoline gave in with a sigh, stuffing her keys in her purse and the four made their way down the road. They turned down an alley before speeding up to a jog and rounding a second corner and Dean and Sam pressed themselves up against the wall while the girls continued ahead. The follower would follow the girls and the boys would pounce on 'em. Which is exactly what they did, when the man turned the corner, Dean and Sam grabbed him and slammed him up against the wall. While Alayna held a blade to his throat and Karoline stood a little ways back with a blade of her own just in case he tried to take off.

"Smile." Alayna ordered.

"What?" He questioned incredulously.

"Show us those pearly whites," Dean cleared up with a sarcastic grin.

"Oh, for the love of - you want to stick that thing someplace else. I'm not a vampire." He snapped, his eyes dropping to the blade that Alayna still had held to his neck. "Yeah, that's right. I heard you guys in there."

"What do you know about vampires?" Sam demanded.

"How to kill them," He answered curtly. "Now, seriously that knife's making me itch," he tried to move but, Sam slammed his shoulder harder into the wall and Alayna pressed the knife more firmly against his throat. "Whoa, easy there, Chachi." He held up a hand to show them he had no weapon there before lifting up his lip to reveal the lack of holes in his gums. "See? Fang-less. Happy?" Hesitantly Alayna pulled back her blade and took a step back with the boys, while Karoline stowed her own away stepping up next to them. "Now who the hell are you?" He asked and the four shared a look.

Thirty minutes later and the four hunters were standing in the parking lot again with the dark skinned man -whose name they found out was Gordon- as he fiddled with something in his car. "Sam and Dean Winchester," he mused. "And Karoline and Alayna Van Allen," He added, glancing at the girls interestedly as he slid out a metal sheet filled with hunters weapons. "I can't believe it. You know, I met both your Father's once -Hell of a duo, great hunters. I heard John passed. I'm sorry," He said the last part to the boys. "They're big shoes to fill, but, from what I hear, you guys fill them -great trackers, good in a tight spot-"

"You seem to know a lot about our family," Dean's voice was laced with mistrust as he studied the man in front of them.

"Word travels fast. You know how hunters talk," Karoline frowned at that.

"I'm sorry, is there some hunters newsletter we didn't apply for?" She quipped a hand on her hip.

"I guess there's a lot your Dads never told you, huh?" Karoline stiffened slighty but, managed to force herself to relax. No one ever got anywhere with being openly hostile towards another hunter.

"So, you killed the those Vamps, then?" Alayna checked, making sure they had the right guy.

"Yep, been here two weeks," Gordon told them proudly.

"Did you check out the Barker Farm?" Dean inquired, and Gordon nodded.

"It's a bust. Just a bunch of hippie freaks. Though they could kill someone with that Patchouli smell alone," Gordon mused and silence followed his joke.

"Did you find the nest?" Alayna asked, getting a little impatient with this man's arrogance.

He shot her a patronizing smile, "I got this one covered." He told them, pushing the metal sheet back into where it had been hidden in his car. "Look, don't get me wrong. It's a real pleasure meeting you four, but I've been on this thing for over a year. Killed a fang back in Austin, tracked the nest all the way up here. I'll finish it."

"We could help," Dean offered eagerly, desperate for a hunt.

"Thanks, but, uh, I'm kind of a go-it-alone type of guy," Gordon explained tightly.

"I've been itching for a hunt," Dean tried to convince him, but Gordon just shook his head.

"Sorry, but, hey, I hear there's a Chupacabra two states over. Go ahead and knock yourselves out," Karoline rolled her eyes as he got into his car and slammed the door behind him. "It was really good meeting you, though. I'll buy you a drink on the flip side," And with that, he drove off.

"So, I saw this hunt in Helena-" Karoline began hopefully.

"We're gonna follow him." Dean cut her off and she sighed.

They followed Gordon to an abandoned shipping dock, and snuck after him as he headed towards the water. They crept through the shadows and watched Gordon confront the vampire on the dock. There was a mechanical whirring sound and an Electric Saw was turned on. The Vamp punched Gordon several times before grabbing the saw and bringing it down on his neck. Before the Vamp could decapitate him Karoline and Alayna pulled Gordon to his feet while Sam yanked back the Vampire.

Dean swung the Harpoon he'd picked up into the man's face, making his head snap sideways. The Vampire fell onto the ground, and Dean raised the Harpoon, jamming it down into the Vampire's stomach and pinning him to the board. The creature howled in agony, and Karoline frowned slightly from her spot next to Gordon and Alayna. Dean punched it across the face twice before reaching up for the saw and beheading it. Blood splattered across Dean's face and the thunk of it's head being cut off filled the air and Alayna turned away in disgust. Finally, Dean pulled up the Saw, and Karoline focused on his grim features as he fixed his eyes on her.

"So, uh, I guess I got to buy you that drink," Karoline tore her eyes from Dean's to study Gordon, who was looking anything but repulsed by Dean's work.

***

Karoline let out a deep sigh as she set her drink down on the table after a few sips. She was on the far end of the table between Gordon and Alayna; Sam and then Dean on the other side of her. Dean set his down as well and started reaching for his pocket, but Gordon waved him off.

"No, no, I got it," he counted out the bills as Dean tried to protest.

"Come on," he argued, but Gordon held up a finger.

"I insist," He declared, leaving no room for argument. He set the money down on the waitress's tray. "Thank you sweetheart," He told her, barely even glancing at her. Karoline glanced at Alayna as Dean and Gordon raised their drinks in a toast to see her sitting back with her arms folded. Hesitantly, Karoline picked up her shot and held it up to Gordon and Dean's. "Another one bites the dust."

"That's right." Dean agreed and they all took the shot except Sam and Alayna.

"Dean," Gordon began with a slight chuckle. "You gave that big-ass fang one hell of a haircut, my friend. That was beautiful, absolutely beautiful."

"Yep," Dean agreed. Karoline glanced at Alayna silently who just rolled her eyes, looking almost as bored as Karoline felt. "You guys alright?" Dean regarded them with furrowed eyebrows.

"Yeah, great," Alayna managed to fake a convincing smile. "Sammy," she prompted.

"Yeah fine," He answered begrudgingly.

"Well, lighten up a little, Sammy," Sam and Alayna both stiffened at Gordon's use of his nickname.

Karoline cleared her throat, "So... let's talk about that amazing weather, guys." She went ignored.

"They're the only ones who get to call me that." Sam spoke stoically to him, which seemed to take Gordon by surprise.

"Okay," He agreed his eyes flickering to Dean uncertainly and then back to Sam. "No offense meant. Just celebrating a little - Job well done."

"Right, well, um, decapitations aren't really my idea of a good time, I guess." Sam old him stiffly, and Gordon looked down, nodding slightly.

"Oh, come on, man, it's not like it was human. You got to have more fun with your job," Gordon tried to reason with him.

"See, that's what I've been trying to tell him," Dean explained. "You could learn a thing or two from this guys," Sam's eyes flickered to Alayna who had her head tilted in disbelief at Dean.

"Yeah, well, I don't think Gordon's the best role model," She crossed her arms smiling sarcastically. "No offense." She added to Gordon, not really meaning it.

"None taken." Gordon gave a tight lipped smile.

"Well," Karoline clapped her hands drawing their attention to her and let out an awkward chuckle. "I could go for another beer." She went ignored, again.

"Look, I'm not gonna bring you guys down. I'm just gonna go back to the motel," Sam began to get up from his seat.

"You sure?" Dean asked.

"Yeah," Sam glanced at Alayna. "'Layna?" Her eyes flicked to Karoline then to Dean before she stood as well.

"Yeah, I'll go with you," Dean sighed heavily at her answer.

"Guys, come on..." Dean started, but Alayna was already collecting up her jacket. "Beat the buzzkill out of Sammy for me, would you?" Alayna rolled her eyes, her lips twitching into a smile as she turned and followed Sam out the door.

"So..." Karoline trailed off, tapping her hands onto the table top. "I'm gonna go with them." Dean didn't even glance at her as she said that. With a sigh she got up and shrugged on her jacket as she headed out the bar. "Hey, wait up!" She called to her little sister and Sam who had just reached the cars. With a smirk she pulled out on of her fake credit cards. "I'll buy pizza or... uh, Emily Worthington will." She checked the name before grinning at the two. They all piled into the Buick and drove to the motel they had checked in to the nearest hotel for the night and Karoline ordered pizza. One Hawaiian and one Supreme. Karoline grabbed her plate from the table Alayna and Sam were sitting at and a fresh beer before throwing herself onto the bed.

"I'm just saying, he gives me a bad feeling." Alayna continued. Karoline sighed as she opened her bottle, she couldn't deny that there was a part of her that didn't like Gordon either.

"What kind of feeling?" Sam asked, and Alayna paused -mid bite- as she tried to figure out the right words to say.

"When I look at him... it's like I'm looking at... a murderer," Alayna finished her sentence slowly, looking up to see both Karoline and Sam staring at her.

"Well, he's a hunter," Karoline tried to excuse. "Of course he's killed before, we all have."

"Yeah, but," Alayna sighed, shaking her head like she couldn't find the right words. "Yeah, maybe." She finally agreed.

"I'll call Ellen, see if she's ever heard of him." Sam spoke up already beginning to pull out his phone. Karoline set her plate aside and sat up as Sam put the phone on speaker and set it on the table.

"Harvelle's Roadhouse." Axel's voice rang through the phone and they all snapped their attention to the small device.

"Axel? Where's Ellen?" Karoline asked.

"Well, hello to you too, sweetheart." His voice was dripping with sarcasm and you could basically hear the smirk in his voice.

Karoline rolled her eyes, "put Ellen on the phone."

"Sorry, she's a little busy right now, can I take a message?"

"Listen, Axel," Sam spoke up before Karoline or Alayna could make a snarky comment. "You ever run across a guy named Gordon Walker?"

"Yeah, why?" The caution in his voice didn't go unnoticed. Alayna looked from Karoline to Sam then back down at the phone.

"We ran into him on a job, and we're kind of working it with him," Sam began to explain only to be cut off by Axel

"Oh, I wouldn't do that if I were you."

"Why?" Alayna asked, shaking her head confused.

"While he is a good hunter, he's dangerous to everyone and everything around him. You just let him handle this job and move on," Alayna met Karoline's gaze then Sam's. "Consider that one free, next time I'll have to charge you."

Karoline rolled her eyes, "Thanks, Axel."

"Anytime, Sweetheart." Then the line went dead. Sam let out a deep sigh and flipped his phone shut and stuffed it back into his jacket.

"Well..." Karoline began drawing the attention to her as she grabbed her slice of pizza off her plate. "I guess, no more team talk with Gordon, huh?" She asked, before taking a large bite. "Not that I care, I'm not that much of a fan of working with Non-Winchesters." She grinned.

Alayna laughed while Sam shook his head at her, "We'll warn Dean when he gets back. I'm gonna go get another pop, either of you want anything?" Alayna asked as she stood from her seat, grabbing her jacket off the back of her chair.

"I'm good." Karoline answered tilting the tip of her beer bottle at her.

"I'll come with you," Sam offered as Alayna shrugged on her brown jacket. With that they headed out the room, making their way up the walkway to the vending machine. Alayna pushed the button for a Pepsi, feeding the machine her money before Sam did the same, getting a coke.

"You traitor." She teased, narrowing her eyes at the can. He chuckled. There was a sharp crack to their right, and Alayna's head whipped around to allow her eyes to scan the trees. "Hurry up. Let's get out of here," Alayna hit Sam's shoulder lightly as she spoke, and he grabbed the coke before joining her in walking back to the motel room. They were about halfway there before Alayna heard another crackle behind them, and they stopped. Sam cracked the Pop open and drank some, but she knew he'd heard the noise too, despite his attempt to act otherwise.

"Come on, let's just go back to the room," He suggested, quickening his pace and leaving Alayna no choice but to follow him. Alayna scanned the area behind them as Sam knocked on the door. The door slowly creaked open and Sam looked over at Alayna, both confused and worried.

Wearing the same look, Alayna slowly pushed open the door, "Kari?" They had only taken a few steps inside the room when there was a crunch behind them, and Alayna turned just in time to grab the fist that had been directed at the back of her head, and she swung it sideways, causing her attacker to stumble. Taking advantage of the man's momentary instability, she rammed her knee into his gut, making the air rush out of him. As he turned his head to look up at her, trying it regain his balance, she slammed her elbow down on his face, sending him to the ground.

"Stop." Alayna whirled around to see a man holding an unconscious Karoline in a deadlock and she froze. Flicking her eyes to the side, she saw that Sam had stopped too. That was when she saw the figure behind him.

"Sam, behind you!" Her warning came too late, for even as Sam spun, the man was already bringing the rod down on the back of his head, knocking him out cold. "Sam!" The man yanked his limp body up, and Alayna started forward only to be hauled back by two burly men.

"Bring her too," The man holding Karoline ordered the ones restraining Alayna's arms. Normally, she would've fought tooth and nail to get out of their arms, but they had Karoline and Sam, which meant she needed to stay with them.