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(15.2) ─ Salem

𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫:
‧⁺˚*‧☾ 𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐭, 𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐬 ☽‧*˚⁺‧

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"What's your name's, again?" Jenkins asked looking between the two. "It's Sam," He answered, still trying to pull the metal coil from the beam. "Carmen," She added, looking at the cage, hoping to find a weak point.

"Why don't you give it up, Sammy, there's no way out." He suggested, causing the two of them to be taken aback. Only his sister and brother were allowed to call him that. "Don't. Call me. Sammy!" He shouted, finally tearing the coil down. A small piece of metal falls to the ground with it. "What is it?" Jenkins asked, watching as Sam picked it up and looking at it, "It's a bracket." He answered.

"Well, thank God, a bracket. Now we've got 'em, huh, sweetheart?" He remarked, his tone laced heavy with sarcasm. Suddenly his cage unlocked itself and opened. "Must've been short." He suggested as he climbed out of the cage. "Maybe you knocked somethin' loose."

Carmen looked over at Sam, both feeling very off about this. It shouldn't be this easy for any of them to escape. Let alone one little wire getting yanked on. "I really suggest you should get back in there, Jenkins." Sam spoke as Carmen nodded in agreement.

"What?"

"This isn't right,"

"Don't you wanna get out of here?"

"Yeah, but don't you think it was too easy?"

"Look, I'm gonna get out of here, and I'm gonna send help, okay, don't worry,"

"No, I'm serious. Jenkins this might be a trap," Sam protested, growing angry with each passing argument, needing him to understand how bad this looks. "Bye, Sammy, Sweetheart." He said before pushing the door open and leaving the building. The two shouted his name, hoping that the desperation in their voices would get him to come back. But the door to his cage slammed shut. Followed by Jenkins' screams that echoed through the countryside. Carmen could only plug her ears and bawl herself into the corner trying to drown out the sounds.

💾

Dean and Kathleen were now walking back to the patrol car, coffees in hand, "Hey, Officer? Look, I don't mean to press my luck."

"Your luck is so pressed,"

"Right," Dean agreed and they stood beside the car. "I was wondering-why are you helping me out, anyway? Why don't you just lock me up?"

"My brother, Riley, disappeared 3 years ago. A lot like Carmen and Sam. We searched for him, but-nothing. I know what's it's like to feel responsible for someone, and for them-" Kathleen said, as her voice slightly broke at the thought. She looked away from him, "Come on. Let's keep at it." She got into the driver side, as Dean followed.

💾

Driving all the way right to the edge of the forest. "Wait, wait, wait–pull over here. Pull over." Dean repeated as she did such. Following him as they got out, they started walking towards the forest. "It's the first turn-off I've seen so far."

"You stay here, I'll check it out," Kathleen ordered as she got out, but Dean wasn't just sit put. "Hey!" She stopped the two of them, "You're a civilian, and a felon, I think. I'm not taking you with me." Dean glanced at the forest and then back at her, shaking his head. "You're not goin' without me."

She let out a sigh, looking around before locking eyes with him, "Alright, you promise you won't get involved? You'll let me handle it?"

"Yeah, I promise."

"Shake on it." She instead, holding her hand out for him, which he took with a smile, trying to show he was going to listen to her, until he could follow after without her realizing. Within that she placed a set of handcuffs on Dean's wrist, 'Oh, come on," He groaned, watching as the other cuff was put on the car's door handle and she started walking away. "This is ridiculous, Kathleen, I really think you're gonna need my help!"

"I'll manage, thanks!" She shouted back, locking the car and walking away.

"I gotta start carrying paper clips," He muttered to himself, looking around for anything he could to escape. The hairs on the back of his neck stood and his stomach dropped when it felt like someone was standing right by him. Snapping his head and letting out a deep breath of relief, "Fucking hell, Carmen. I've been looking for you forever. Where's Sam?"

She stood in front of him, emotionless, completely clean. No scratches, no scrapes, no cuts, no bruises. She was even wearing different clothes then what he last saw her in. Originally wearing her off-white tanktop and using one of their flannels to try and hide the mystery stains that the cheap laundry mat detergent caused. And her stained baggy blue jeans that she found at a thrift store. But now she was in a simple back tank top and black jeans. Not a single spec of dirt on them.

"You gunna help me or keep staring at me? It's starting to freak me out."

She handed him a paperclip, still not saying a single word, or even changing of expression. Right before he could put the metal into the hole the sound of an old puttering van started to make its way down towards the house. He quickly dropped to the ground, trying to get as close as he could with his hand still stuck to the side of the cop car. Looking over to check on his sister, only for her to not be anywhere. He thought maybe he imagined it but not for the cold metal still in his fingers.

Watching the two guys park the van, walking past him without seeing the oldest. Now making their way to the house, but stopped. "Hey you shouldn't be outside!" One of them shouted as the other added, "We got a runner!" Dean watched as his sister, who was just next to him banged on the side of the house before running to the other side, and out of his view.

💾

Sam and Carmen were sitting in their cages in silence. Looking around her cage, and the area around she was desperate for anything. Which is probably why despite her better judgment she call out to the only things could think of. "I really need your help, kitty. I don't care if you're just a figment of my imagination." She whispered to herself looking around not seeing a single sign of him. "I'm sorry for being an ass."

"Apologize accepted," The deep voice spoke as a pair of yellow cat eyes shone from the shadows.

Smiling at the sight, but then her eyes slowly drifted to the dirty ground, "Why are you helping me now, if you are from my mother?"

"Because you needed more comfort in the past then protection. You never questioned why your 'stuffed cat' never aged? Never broke a stitch?" Her eyes softened at the realization, her mother didn't leave her with only the Winchesters to look after her. Instead she made sure that her daughter was protected in a way she knew would stick. She was always being watched over, even if she didn't realize it.

Two men busted through the doors dragging a woman with them, throwing her into one of the cages before leaving. Letting out a groan as she sat up, rubbing the side of her head. "Hey, you okay?" Carmen asked softly, moving closer to the women.

The blonde looked between the two siblings, before speaking, "Are you Sam and Carmen Winchester?" They nodded giving their own 'yeahs'. "Your, uh, your cousin's looking for you two."

"Thank God, where is he?" Sam asked after letting out a sigh of relief.

"I, uh, I cuffed him to my car."

"He's not there anymore." Carmen's head looked over to the cat's direction with a small frown in confusion. "I gave him a hand before being a distraction and coming in here."

The doors opened once more but neither one of them could see who it was, until they heard its voice. "Sam? Carmen?" The two quickly reached the front of the bars smiling at the figure in front of them. "Are you two hurt?"

"Nothing we can't handle, just get us the hell out." Carmen said watching as his brows frown looking up and down at her clothes, almost studying her dirty top and pants. "It's good to see you. I swear, I thought I saw you, a whole different change of clothes and everything."

"I'll explain later, just don't freak out." She mouthed to the cat 'okay', but her face was now matching her brothers, all scrunched up in confusion.

"How did you get out of the cuffs?" The woman asked now on her feet. Dean looked over at Carmen, who shrugged her shoulders confused on why he was looking at her, before turning back at the blonde woman. "Oh, I know a trick or two." He smirked before turning back to his siblings. "Alright," He started, moving to the door of Sam's cage and looking over the locks. "Oh," he muttered and moved to his sister's cage, seeing the same set of locks. "These locks look like they're gonna be a bitch.

She pointed over to the control panel, "There's some kind of automatic control right there."

"Have you seen 'em?" Dean asked, looking around each of the cages. "Yeah, dude, they're just people." Sam commented in almost disbelief as if he was waiting for them to transform and prove him wrong. "And they jumped you?" He teased glancing over to her, "Seriously? On both of you? Must be gettin' a little rusty there, kids."

"Come on, man, they jumped us. Grabbed us by the ankles and then napped us." Carmen tried to explain with his shaking head while walking over to the control panel and starting to try different buttons." What do they want?"

"We don't know. They let Jenkins go, but that was some sort of trap. It doesn't make any sense to me." Sam explained watching him.

"Well, that's the point, you know." Kathleen started, looking at them confused on why they were so shocked and surprised by that fact.

"With our usual playmates, there's rules, there's patterns, but with people they're just crazy." He walked over to her cage. "Seen anything else out there?" Carmen asked, looking between both her brother and the cat still in the corner. "Uh, he has about a dozen junked cars hidden outback. Plates from all over, so I'm thinkin' when they take someone, they take their car, too." He replied, happy that he left the Impala far enough away.

"Did you see a black Mustang out there? About 10 years old?" Kathleen asked with a tone that was clearly she was unsure if she wanted the answer. "Yeah, actually, I did." she looked down when hearing his answer. "Your brother's?" She slowly nodded her head, causing him to give her an empathic look, "I'm sorry. Let's get you guys out of here, then we'll take care of those bastards. This thing takes a key?" He asked, pointing to the control panel.

"We don't know." Sam answered with a small shrug."

"Try the house," Carmen nodded her head, "The house," repeating the words the cat suggested. "Alright, I better go find them." Dean announced walking to the door, looking back at them once before walking back outside, and theming the three alone once again.

What felt like a million years, in reality, was just a few minutes before the doors opened once more. The two men came walking back in. Walking over to the control panel, inserting the key and twisting it. "What are you doing?" Sam asked as both his and Carmen's cages unlocked. The two of the men separated and went into the two cages. The man in Carmen's cage stalked his way to her. All she could do was back herself into the cage hoping that her bawled up fist was enough to take this Hill's Have Eyes dipshit down. Before she could swing her fist up, the black cat jumped in front with a hiss, leaping and attaching his nails into the man's face.

Kathleen yelled trying to get their attention, but could only watch the scene.

Sam threw the bracket at the man just as he shot causing the shot to miss. The two stumbled their way out of the cage, the mess of limbs became clear when they reached the ground. Sam grabbed a hold of the rifle and hit the man in the face. The guy collapsed on the floor and Sam tried to fire the rifle, but it didn't work. "Damn," he cursed, tossing the rifle off to the side.

Grabbing a hold of the keys the now unconscious man had, using them the open Kathleen's cage. Sam dragged the man into Carmen's cage, where a man was also unconscious, scratch marks covering the man's face. Once her brother was out she shut the cage door and locked it. "Alright, you go find, Dean."

She nodded her head handing him the keys, tapping her hip and motioning her head for the cat to follow her. The two watched as she walked out the front doors with a black cat following after her. Spotting the house in question a few feet across and running up to it. Until the cat let out a warning, "Hide." Without thinking, or questioning, she threw herself behind a pile of scrap metal and wood. The cat followed, staying in a small space between her legs.

Seeing a couple running out of the house, waiting till they were fully out of sight before running inside the house. Passing the door frame just to see Dean was tackled to the ground by a 12 year old girl. Opening her mouth to say something smart-ass, she saw the open closet to her left. Instead she shut her mouth and whistled, getting the little girl's attention. When her eyes laid on the Winchester she stood up and ran towards her. Carmen grabbed the girl's arms, twisting them over each other before turning her and shoving her into the closet. The door shut swiftly after by the car, "Nice work, Mr. Whiskers."

"Damn." Dean sighed out slowly getting back onto his feet.

"So, you got your ass kicked by a little girl? I shouldn't be surprised, I kick you ass all the time growing up." She remarked, smirking widely, "Shut up, I wasn't gettin' beaten up by a girl." He protested picking out the leaves in his hair. "You absolutely did." Carmen let out little laugh but Dean looked between her and the cat, who to him just meow in response, "Where did the cat come from?"

Sam ran inside the house, out of breath, "You guys okay?"

"Yeah, other than Carmen talking to a car."

Carmen rolled her eyes, "Where's the cop?"

"She's in the barn with the dad." he replied just as if it was a response a gunshot rang out. The three went outside to be met with Kathleen walking out of the barn. "Where's the girl?" She asked, causing both Dean and Carmen to overlap each other, "Locked her in a closet." Carmen looked at her, and then to the rifle in her hands, "What about the dad?" She watched the blonde women take a deep breath, "Shot, trying to escape." She replied, but they knew what she did and why did it.

With the tension thick and uncomfortable, Dean quickly broke it, "I think the car's at the police station." He announced as both he, Sam, Carmen, and Kathleen walked away from the house. About to look at the house, but quickly found the answer when she felt the feeling of fur brushing against her. Seeing that her cat was with her.

Kathleen, though, stopped causing the trio to also do so with her, "So, state police and the FBI are gonna be here within the house. They're gonna wanna talk to you...I suggest that you're both long gone by then."

Carmen and Sam smiled kindly at her, while Dean of course had to push their luck, "Thanks. Hey, listen, I don't mean to press our luck, but we're kind of in the middle of nowhere. Think we could catch a ride?"

"Start walking. Duck if you see a squad car." She spoke before nodding us off.  "Listen, uh...I'm sorry about your brother," Dean said softly. "Thank you," She said, her voice breaking slightly. She looked away as she teared up and looked at them, "It was really hard not knowing what happened to him. I thought it would be easier once I knew the truth-but it isn't really. Anyway, you should go,"

The three took a few steps before Carmen let out small gasp, "I think Mr. Whiskers here have been on his little feet for too long." She reached down and picked him up, "Salem, you've been calling that name for a decade. My name's Salem," She nodded her head, before turning to, "Can we keep him?" She looked between both of them and watched as they looked at each other, "Please?" She begged as Salem let out a small meow to add to it.

"Aren't you allergic to cats?" Dean asked as Sam looked taken aback, almost like he had forgotten, "Usually, I'm a sneezing mess, but I haven't sneezed once."

"Then we keep him, right? He did help save you from getting beaten up by a 12 year-"

"He can come. Count it as your birthday present." Dean said quickly changing the topic as Carmen's face scrunched up looking towards his watch, "It's midnight already?" She asked not realizing it had in fact changed days and she was officially 15. "Huh? I think we should find a 24 hour dinner, after a very long hot shower." She looked between both her brothers who nodded their heads in agreement.

A bit of silence took over as they continued to walk down the dirt path. "Never do that again.' the two looked at him, not fully getting what he meant, "Go missin' like that." Sam let out a laugh, "You were worried about us."

"All I'm sayin' is, you vanish like that again, I'm not lookin' for ya." Dean stated, causing her to roll her eyes, "Yeah sure, 'Sam? Carmen? Are you two hurt? I don't know what I would do without you both?'" She made her voice an exaggerated version of Dean's voice.

"So you got sidelined by a 12 year old girl, huh?" Sam teased as Dean's head turned to his sister, "You told him?" She shook her head with a small smile, "No, the cat did."

"It's true."

Sam let out a laugh, "Oh, shut up,' Dean remarked.

"Just sayin', gettin' rusty there, kiddo."