Highway to Hell: Episode One: "Hell's Belle"
Episode 1 : Hell’s Belle
Chapter 5: Personal Armageddon
Chapter Wordcount: 2502
When they got back to the hotel Sam immediately pulled out his laptop, and Dean grabbed the first-aid kit from the back of his car. Monte was reluctant but allowed Dean to doctor her busted hand. She winced as he pulled the wrap tight but bit her lip and forced herself not to make any noise. Dean glanced at her as he secured the bandage.
“Found something.” Sam said as he pointed to the laptop’s screen. “Only problem is there has to be at least 20 different cults here.” He shook his head in disgust.
Monte walked over and leaned over his shoulder and Dean packed up the kit before joining them. Sam was scrolling through pages and pages of old drawings and descriptions.
Finally she saw it. ‘The Clan.’
“Wait…go back.”
Sam stopped and hit the back button.
She stared at the picture in silence; Dean looking at her from the side.
“Monte?”
She licked her lip. “That’s them.” She whispered.
“You gotta be kidding me?” Sam asked.
“What?” Dean jumped in.
“’The Clan’?” They’re basically the worst one on this list, the closet to Lucifer himself.” Sam offered.
“What the hell is ‘The Clan’?” Dean asked.
“Well for starters they’re one of the oldest Satanic cults. There are rumors and accounts of the members becoming more than human. Gaining strengths and mental abilities. They’re cannibalistic. They not only sacrifice humans but some of their rituals include eating certain parts. And let me tell ya, some of the shit the head honcho’s gotta do to gain his power is pretty gruesome.”
Monte paced the small room before heading back outside.
Dean grabbed his jacket and followed her.
She was leaning against her car, watching the sky turn from the blue of day into the oranges and pinks of dusk. He walked over and leaned against the fender next to her.
“Listen…Dean…” She sighed. “It might be better if you and Sam just take off.”
“Now why would we do that?”
She shook her head. “Something’s going to happen Dean…I can feel it. This…something’s not right. You and Sam…you help people. You save people…everyday. I don’t want one or both of you walking into that cave and not coming back out.”
“But we’re going to let you do that?”
She looked down the road. “It’s not the same.”
“How?!”
“You have Sam! You have your Dad! You have this thing to settle with whatever killed your Mom. I have nothing left. Kevin’s already gone. If I don’t make it out of this it’s not going to matter.”
“It matters to me.”
She stood in silence. “Dean…I gotta do this. I gotta finish this. But…something’s going to happen…I can’t shake this feeling. And I don’t want you or Sam getting hurt in the process.”
“We won’t.”
“How can you be so damn sure?”
He shrugged. “’Cause I rock.”
She scoffed. “You know sometimes that attitude can get annoying.”
He smiled.
She stared at the ground before finally checking her clock on her cell phone and sighing deeply.
“You ready?” Dean asked.
She just nodded and he went in to get Sam…and once again they hit the dusty road.
This time was different. They made sure they were loaded down with ammunition and amulets. Sam was a little freaked now that he had a little more information about what they were facing, but Dean was more focused on Monte.
She had become cold the moment they left the hotel. All business. She had armed herself and refused to think about anything else. Short responses were all she would give when asked any questions and Dean could find no trace of the spark she used to possess. She had changed.
She had had to. She had to steel herself for whatever might happen. She hated being such a bitch to Dean and Sam. But the situation called for it.
They entered the cave in stealth; extra careful not to make any unneeded noise or use any unneeded light.
Monte led the way despite Dean’s insistence.
There was no playing this time; she headed straight for the back section of the cave they had visited earlier. That weird feeling in the pit of her stomach gnawing at her more and more…something was going to happen. And it scared the shit out of her.
She reached the small opening that led to the room and stopped, staring in disbelief, Dean and Sam coming up behind her and watching the scene that unfolded.
What looked to be the leader of the group was standing in front of the stone table with deep gashes down both of his arms and legs, the blood running out freely, and to the trio’s disgust, was being lapped up by about six other members.
“Oh my god…” Sam whispered almost gagging.
Dean didn’t look too hot either.
Monte stared. “I’m all for biting…but damn.”
Dean looked at her in surprise.
“What?”
He just laughed, and she finally broke down and offered a small smile, not telling them what was ripping at her heart.
She sighed deep and pulled her Magnum and .38.
“You don’t start small do you?” Dean asked, eyeing the weaponry she held in her bandaged hands.
“If you go out…do it in a blaze of glory.” She whispered.
Sam and Dean exchanged looks before finally pulling their own weapons.
Monte burst through the opening first firing two shots at either wall, drawing the attention of all the blood-covered faces.
Dean and Sam were right behind her.
The Clan’s members rushed them, snarling and growling like animals.
Dean and Sam got drawn into their own fights, Sam having to shoot one of the members before he could stab Dean. Dean then twisted around taking a twelve-inch blade and slashed another’s throat.
Before they knew what happened two shots rang out and Monte stood stock still in the middle of the room staring down the leader. The leader held the torn out throats of two of followers that had been closest to him and the other two lay dead at his feet; bullet holes through their skulls.
“You were always a better shot than me Tabrina.” The leader ground out in an unearthly voice, licking his blood stained teeth, the canines of which were too long to be human.
“Kevin.”
Dean and Sam stood in silence.
“Oh hell no…” Dean whispered.
Kevin shook his head slightly. “Kevin is dead human. The name’s Jackal.”
“Try Fucker.”
He laughed dryly.
He dropped the throats that he was holding and walked right up to her, standing less than a foot away from her.
Dean went to make a move but she holstered her guns and held her hand out in a gesture to stop him.
“You finally tracked me down, did you?”
The sheer coldness in the voice made Sam shiver.
He smiled evilly and ran the tip of his tongue over his canine, drawing a small bead of blood.
She stared him down. No emotion on her face.
“Why?”
“Why?” He scoffed. “You know I had to get out of this town…I needed something…better.” He stated, cocking his head and raising his hands to gesture to the current surroundings. “I’m so much more now.” He squinted.
She still stood in silence.
“I trusted you.”
“Your mistake.”
He took another step closer to her, getting right in her face…she didn’t move an inch.
“You trust me now?”
She wasn’t about to honor him with an answer.
“What are you gonna do?” He mocked, cocking his head. “I could always beat you in a fist fight.”
Still no response.
“You think you can kill the Jackal?…You’re sorely mistaken.”
“Sam…Dean…get out.”
“Monte…”
“Out.”
“No.”
She turned her head to face them, the Jackal never taking his gaze from her face.
“Now.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Dean…please.” She begged through clenched teeth.
He glanced between the Jackal and her before finally…reluctantly agreeing and following Sam out of the cave, but not before looking over his shoulder one last time.
When they had disappeared from view she again turned to look at what use to be her brother. Kevin was gone. There didn’t seem to be anything left of him buried within the shell that stood in front of her now…not that that made what she had to do any easier.
She tossed her guns to the side, the metal clattering on the stone floor, before shrugging off her jacket.
She took a fighting stance and locked eyes with the beast in front of her.
He laughed. “You think you can beat me? Damn, Tabrina, I always knew you got the short end of the stick.”
“I’m not the one that keeps talking.”
He nodded. “Alright then.”
They danced. Nothing but an intricate dance of kicks and punches. She had a busted lip and a bloody nose, the Jackal underestimated her enough to have a black eye and bruised jaw.
“You’ve trained I see.”
She cocked her head and raised her eyebrow.
He grinned evilly. He rushed her slamming into her and forcing her back and head against the stone wall.
“You son of a bitch!” She screamed.
He held her there. Despite her obvious physical strength and training, he easily over powered her.
He stood there, staring her down, pinning her against the wall.
And then in slow motion she watched as her leaned his head down and bit a chunk out of her left arm.
“FUCK!!!!!”
She was panting now as she watched the mother fucker chew and swallow her flesh. She gagged.
He smiled.
“Asshole!” She screamed, bringing her knee up with enough force to feel the reassuring crunch as it made contact.
He howled like a demon and pulled back; it was his turn to pant now.
She stared him down. Warm blood running down her arm and soaking her t-shirt and jeans. Her mind barely registering the tingling that had started at the bite and was slowly taking over her bicep. The shock was dulling the pain.
He finally gained his breath and walked right back up to her, nose to nose.
“I did it you know.”
Her eyebrows creased.
“Killed them…lemme tell ya, hearing their screams…smelling their flesh burn in Dad’s beloved car…beautiful.” He growled, winking at her.
Her jaw clenched so tight she was sure she felt a tooth crack before screaming at the top of her lungs and bringing her switchblade up from her side with such force that she buried it to the hilt in the side of his head.
Dean heard the scream erupt from the depths of the cave and turned to run back in before Sam grabbed him.
“Dean…wait!”
“No!”
“Dean!”
Despite himself he knew Sam was right. He had left Monte to deal with this herself…that’s what she had wanted.
She stood over the blood-covered body, a knife handle sticking out of the side of its head.
“Please…” It choked.
Tears stared to fall from her eyes.
The voice was different. The coldness was gone, the unearthliness. It was Kevin again.
She choked back a sob before raising the shotgun and aiming right for its head.
She collapsed in a heap, leaning against the wall, the shotgun at her side.
And she cried.
*Live’s “Lightning Crashes” playing in the background*
Dean again startled as the blast from the gun echoed from the cave and rushed head long into the darkness, Sam on his heels.
They found her sitting up against the wall, clutching her knees to her chest, sobbing uncontrollably. They saw the gruesome remains of the thing they had left her with.
Dean walked over to her slowly, crouching down beside her and laying a hand on her arm.
“Monte?” He whispered.
She met his eyes, but did not see him. She wasn’t there.
His face etched itself with concern as he shot a look at Sam, which didn’t look much different. He then noticed the chunk of flesh that was missing from her arm and he quickly took his belt off and wrapped it around her arm above the wound to slow the bleeding.
“What the hell happened?” Sam whispered, making his way over. He gathered her discarded weapons and Dean carefully lifted her limp body and carried her out of the death-ridden area.
“I dunno.” Was all Dean replied as he studied Monte’s unresponsive face.
When they made it to the mouth of the cave, he crouched down on the ground still holding her motionless form and tossed the keys to the Impala to Sam, ordering him to bring it up to the cave.
While Sam disappeared through the trees, Dean tried to no avail to get some kind of response from Monte.
“Hey…Monte…come on…talk to me………please.” He choked, brushing the hair out of her face and rubbing some of the blood off of her cheek and chin. He was only met with silence.
She was awake, well, close to it. Her blue eyes were open, but they stared into an abyss that no others could see. Tears fell, but no sounds came from her lips, even the wracked breathing was missing. An eerie calm.
Sam maneuvered the black beast through the trees before pulling up to the entrance of the cave and getting out to help Dean into the other side of the car, where he continued to cradle Monte until they got back to the hotel room.
Dean carried her into her hotel room and refused to relinquish his hold on her as he sat down on the bed with her.
Monte had passed out right before they made it back to the Full Moon Motel, so Dean held her sleepy body in his lap.
Sam walked into the small bathroom and ran some hot water, bringing a wet rag back out and handing it to Dean who proceeded to wipe the remaining blood off of her face.
Sam then quickly got out the first aid kit from the other room and they tried to patch the ripped flesh of her arm.
“Look’s like the son of a bitch bit her.” Sam whispered, sitting at the end of the bed.
“Yea it does.” Dean said absent mindedly as he wrapped tape around her bicep, holding the gauze in place.
Sam watched the concern that wracked Dean’s face; Dean was unaware was he watched Monte’s sleeping form.
When they finished with her wounds Dean leaned back against the headboard, clutching Monte to his chest as she sat in his lap.
Five…ten…fifteen minutes ticked by in agonizing slowness. Neither of them saying a word and Monte never waking from her slumber.
“You going to stay with her?” Sam finally asked, breaking the silence.
Dean nodded.
Sam bit the inside of his lip. “Alright, I’ll see you in the morning.” He said, turning and walking out the door.
As he held the doorknob, the door wide open, he added, “Dean…she’ll be okay.”
Dean turned to look at him and nodded. “Thanks Sammy.” He whispered, his voice scratchy and strained.
Sam smiled before leaving them in silence.
Previous: Chapter Four | Next: Chapter Six
Highway to Hell Master Post
Chapter 5: Personal Armageddon
Chapter Wordcount: 2502
When they got back to the hotel Sam immediately pulled out his laptop, and Dean grabbed the first-aid kit from the back of his car. Monte was reluctant but allowed Dean to doctor her busted hand. She winced as he pulled the wrap tight but bit her lip and forced herself not to make any noise. Dean glanced at her as he secured the bandage.
“Found something.” Sam said as he pointed to the laptop’s screen. “Only problem is there has to be at least 20 different cults here.” He shook his head in disgust.
Monte walked over and leaned over his shoulder and Dean packed up the kit before joining them. Sam was scrolling through pages and pages of old drawings and descriptions.
Finally she saw it. ‘The Clan.’
“Wait…go back.”
Sam stopped and hit the back button.
She stared at the picture in silence; Dean looking at her from the side.
“Monte?”
She licked her lip. “That’s them.” She whispered.
“You gotta be kidding me?” Sam asked.
“What?” Dean jumped in.
“’The Clan’?” They’re basically the worst one on this list, the closet to Lucifer himself.” Sam offered.
“What the hell is ‘The Clan’?” Dean asked.
“Well for starters they’re one of the oldest Satanic cults. There are rumors and accounts of the members becoming more than human. Gaining strengths and mental abilities. They’re cannibalistic. They not only sacrifice humans but some of their rituals include eating certain parts. And let me tell ya, some of the shit the head honcho’s gotta do to gain his power is pretty gruesome.”
Monte paced the small room before heading back outside.
Dean grabbed his jacket and followed her.
She was leaning against her car, watching the sky turn from the blue of day into the oranges and pinks of dusk. He walked over and leaned against the fender next to her.
“Listen…Dean…” She sighed. “It might be better if you and Sam just take off.”
“Now why would we do that?”
She shook her head. “Something’s going to happen Dean…I can feel it. This…something’s not right. You and Sam…you help people. You save people…everyday. I don’t want one or both of you walking into that cave and not coming back out.”
“But we’re going to let you do that?”
She looked down the road. “It’s not the same.”
“How?!”
“You have Sam! You have your Dad! You have this thing to settle with whatever killed your Mom. I have nothing left. Kevin’s already gone. If I don’t make it out of this it’s not going to matter.”
“It matters to me.”
She stood in silence. “Dean…I gotta do this. I gotta finish this. But…something’s going to happen…I can’t shake this feeling. And I don’t want you or Sam getting hurt in the process.”
“We won’t.”
“How can you be so damn sure?”
He shrugged. “’Cause I rock.”
She scoffed. “You know sometimes that attitude can get annoying.”
He smiled.
She stared at the ground before finally checking her clock on her cell phone and sighing deeply.
“You ready?” Dean asked.
She just nodded and he went in to get Sam…and once again they hit the dusty road.
This time was different. They made sure they were loaded down with ammunition and amulets. Sam was a little freaked now that he had a little more information about what they were facing, but Dean was more focused on Monte.
She had become cold the moment they left the hotel. All business. She had armed herself and refused to think about anything else. Short responses were all she would give when asked any questions and Dean could find no trace of the spark she used to possess. She had changed.
She had had to. She had to steel herself for whatever might happen. She hated being such a bitch to Dean and Sam. But the situation called for it.
They entered the cave in stealth; extra careful not to make any unneeded noise or use any unneeded light.
Monte led the way despite Dean’s insistence.
There was no playing this time; she headed straight for the back section of the cave they had visited earlier. That weird feeling in the pit of her stomach gnawing at her more and more…something was going to happen. And it scared the shit out of her.
She reached the small opening that led to the room and stopped, staring in disbelief, Dean and Sam coming up behind her and watching the scene that unfolded.
What looked to be the leader of the group was standing in front of the stone table with deep gashes down both of his arms and legs, the blood running out freely, and to the trio’s disgust, was being lapped up by about six other members.
“Oh my god…” Sam whispered almost gagging.
Dean didn’t look too hot either.
Monte stared. “I’m all for biting…but damn.”
Dean looked at her in surprise.
“What?”
He just laughed, and she finally broke down and offered a small smile, not telling them what was ripping at her heart.
She sighed deep and pulled her Magnum and .38.
“You don’t start small do you?” Dean asked, eyeing the weaponry she held in her bandaged hands.
“If you go out…do it in a blaze of glory.” She whispered.
Sam and Dean exchanged looks before finally pulling their own weapons.
Monte burst through the opening first firing two shots at either wall, drawing the attention of all the blood-covered faces.
Dean and Sam were right behind her.
The Clan’s members rushed them, snarling and growling like animals.
Dean and Sam got drawn into their own fights, Sam having to shoot one of the members before he could stab Dean. Dean then twisted around taking a twelve-inch blade and slashed another’s throat.
Before they knew what happened two shots rang out and Monte stood stock still in the middle of the room staring down the leader. The leader held the torn out throats of two of followers that had been closest to him and the other two lay dead at his feet; bullet holes through their skulls.
“You were always a better shot than me Tabrina.” The leader ground out in an unearthly voice, licking his blood stained teeth, the canines of which were too long to be human.
“Kevin.”
Dean and Sam stood in silence.
“Oh hell no…” Dean whispered.
Kevin shook his head slightly. “Kevin is dead human. The name’s Jackal.”
“Try Fucker.”
He laughed dryly.
He dropped the throats that he was holding and walked right up to her, standing less than a foot away from her.
Dean went to make a move but she holstered her guns and held her hand out in a gesture to stop him.
“You finally tracked me down, did you?”
The sheer coldness in the voice made Sam shiver.
He smiled evilly and ran the tip of his tongue over his canine, drawing a small bead of blood.
She stared him down. No emotion on her face.
“Why?”
“Why?” He scoffed. “You know I had to get out of this town…I needed something…better.” He stated, cocking his head and raising his hands to gesture to the current surroundings. “I’m so much more now.” He squinted.
She still stood in silence.
“I trusted you.”
“Your mistake.”
He took another step closer to her, getting right in her face…she didn’t move an inch.
“You trust me now?”
She wasn’t about to honor him with an answer.
“What are you gonna do?” He mocked, cocking his head. “I could always beat you in a fist fight.”
Still no response.
“You think you can kill the Jackal?…You’re sorely mistaken.”
“Sam…Dean…get out.”
“Monte…”
“Out.”
“No.”
She turned her head to face them, the Jackal never taking his gaze from her face.
“Now.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Dean…please.” She begged through clenched teeth.
He glanced between the Jackal and her before finally…reluctantly agreeing and following Sam out of the cave, but not before looking over his shoulder one last time.
When they had disappeared from view she again turned to look at what use to be her brother. Kevin was gone. There didn’t seem to be anything left of him buried within the shell that stood in front of her now…not that that made what she had to do any easier.
She tossed her guns to the side, the metal clattering on the stone floor, before shrugging off her jacket.
She took a fighting stance and locked eyes with the beast in front of her.
He laughed. “You think you can beat me? Damn, Tabrina, I always knew you got the short end of the stick.”
“I’m not the one that keeps talking.”
He nodded. “Alright then.”
They danced. Nothing but an intricate dance of kicks and punches. She had a busted lip and a bloody nose, the Jackal underestimated her enough to have a black eye and bruised jaw.
“You’ve trained I see.”
She cocked her head and raised her eyebrow.
He grinned evilly. He rushed her slamming into her and forcing her back and head against the stone wall.
“You son of a bitch!” She screamed.
He held her there. Despite her obvious physical strength and training, he easily over powered her.
He stood there, staring her down, pinning her against the wall.
And then in slow motion she watched as her leaned his head down and bit a chunk out of her left arm.
“FUCK!!!!!”
She was panting now as she watched the mother fucker chew and swallow her flesh. She gagged.
He smiled.
“Asshole!” She screamed, bringing her knee up with enough force to feel the reassuring crunch as it made contact.
He howled like a demon and pulled back; it was his turn to pant now.
She stared him down. Warm blood running down her arm and soaking her t-shirt and jeans. Her mind barely registering the tingling that had started at the bite and was slowly taking over her bicep. The shock was dulling the pain.
He finally gained his breath and walked right back up to her, nose to nose.
“I did it you know.”
Her eyebrows creased.
“Killed them…lemme tell ya, hearing their screams…smelling their flesh burn in Dad’s beloved car…beautiful.” He growled, winking at her.
Her jaw clenched so tight she was sure she felt a tooth crack before screaming at the top of her lungs and bringing her switchblade up from her side with such force that she buried it to the hilt in the side of his head.
Dean heard the scream erupt from the depths of the cave and turned to run back in before Sam grabbed him.
“Dean…wait!”
“No!”
“Dean!”
Despite himself he knew Sam was right. He had left Monte to deal with this herself…that’s what she had wanted.
She stood over the blood-covered body, a knife handle sticking out of the side of its head.
“Please…” It choked.
Tears stared to fall from her eyes.
The voice was different. The coldness was gone, the unearthliness. It was Kevin again.
She choked back a sob before raising the shotgun and aiming right for its head.
She collapsed in a heap, leaning against the wall, the shotgun at her side.
And she cried.
*Live’s “Lightning Crashes” playing in the background*
Dean again startled as the blast from the gun echoed from the cave and rushed head long into the darkness, Sam on his heels.
They found her sitting up against the wall, clutching her knees to her chest, sobbing uncontrollably. They saw the gruesome remains of the thing they had left her with.
Dean walked over to her slowly, crouching down beside her and laying a hand on her arm.
“Monte?” He whispered.
She met his eyes, but did not see him. She wasn’t there.
His face etched itself with concern as he shot a look at Sam, which didn’t look much different. He then noticed the chunk of flesh that was missing from her arm and he quickly took his belt off and wrapped it around her arm above the wound to slow the bleeding.
“What the hell happened?” Sam whispered, making his way over. He gathered her discarded weapons and Dean carefully lifted her limp body and carried her out of the death-ridden area.
“I dunno.” Was all Dean replied as he studied Monte’s unresponsive face.
When they made it to the mouth of the cave, he crouched down on the ground still holding her motionless form and tossed the keys to the Impala to Sam, ordering him to bring it up to the cave.
While Sam disappeared through the trees, Dean tried to no avail to get some kind of response from Monte.
“Hey…Monte…come on…talk to me………please.” He choked, brushing the hair out of her face and rubbing some of the blood off of her cheek and chin. He was only met with silence.
She was awake, well, close to it. Her blue eyes were open, but they stared into an abyss that no others could see. Tears fell, but no sounds came from her lips, even the wracked breathing was missing. An eerie calm.
Sam maneuvered the black beast through the trees before pulling up to the entrance of the cave and getting out to help Dean into the other side of the car, where he continued to cradle Monte until they got back to the hotel room.
Dean carried her into her hotel room and refused to relinquish his hold on her as he sat down on the bed with her.
Monte had passed out right before they made it back to the Full Moon Motel, so Dean held her sleepy body in his lap.
Sam walked into the small bathroom and ran some hot water, bringing a wet rag back out and handing it to Dean who proceeded to wipe the remaining blood off of her face.
Sam then quickly got out the first aid kit from the other room and they tried to patch the ripped flesh of her arm.
“Look’s like the son of a bitch bit her.” Sam whispered, sitting at the end of the bed.
“Yea it does.” Dean said absent mindedly as he wrapped tape around her bicep, holding the gauze in place.
Sam watched the concern that wracked Dean’s face; Dean was unaware was he watched Monte’s sleeping form.
When they finished with her wounds Dean leaned back against the headboard, clutching Monte to his chest as she sat in his lap.
Five…ten…fifteen minutes ticked by in agonizing slowness. Neither of them saying a word and Monte never waking from her slumber.
“You going to stay with her?” Sam finally asked, breaking the silence.
Dean nodded.
Sam bit the inside of his lip. “Alright, I’ll see you in the morning.” He said, turning and walking out the door.
As he held the doorknob, the door wide open, he added, “Dean…she’ll be okay.”
Dean turned to look at him and nodded. “Thanks Sammy.” He whispered, his voice scratchy and strained.
Sam smiled before leaving them in silence.
Previous: Chapter Four | Next: Chapter Six
Highway to Hell Master Post