Cruising down the highway, with the radio cranked up playing a great song. Now this was the type of thing that Dean loved. Who cares if they were heading towards a secondary job? That was the life of a hunter after all. To live on the road, hunt, kill monsters and start the entire process over again. It was good. Something that he was good at and used to. He couldn't really imagine his life any other way, or at least until he met Annie. It was all well and good except…
"The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the following counties until 7:30pm. Cass, Walsh, Steele, Traill, Ramsey, Nelson, Cavalier, Pembina, and Grand Forks. The storm is traveling north at 30 miles per hour with the capability of producing tornados-"
"Son of a bitch. Every 10 minutes." Dean groaned underneath his breath. Shifting his weight, the hunter reached across, turning the radio off. Annie had fallen asleep in the back shortly after leaving Bismarck and had been out ever since. It didn't go unnoticed by either brothers. The clear lack of sleep, she was barely eating. When asked how she was doing. Dean would simply get a I'm fine in return. Bullshit she was fine. What concerned them was the lying. She was hiding something, something she felt she couldn't share. Something was about to break.
One hand held onto the steering wheel, as the other rubbed the scruff of his chin. Dean's green-eyes peered into the review mirror, watching the brunette curled up in the back seat. Taking a deep breath, he casually glanced over to Sam, pushing him softly in the shoulder to get his attention. The other hunter was nose deep in college brochures, and internet print offs on the University of North Dakota.
"…Yeah." Sam asked slowly, glancing up towards his brother.
His voice falling to a soft whisper not wanting to alert Annie "Has she… said anything to you?"
"About what?" Sam questioned. His stare never faltered, studying his brother for a moment until he realized what he was referring too. His eyes fell forward into his lap "Sorry man." He started "We barely have been in the same room together as it is."
"Yeah, no. I'm just—I'm just worried." Quickly the male glanced over his shoulder seeing Annie stirring. Clearing his throat, Dean changed the subject "So, how much longer until we get to Grand Forks." He asked.
"We just passed Fargo. So… another hour." Sam added. Leaning forward the younger male stole glances of the darkening prairie sky "I don't think we'll be able to do any scouting. That sky is getting nasty."
"I don't feel like it anyways. I'm hungry. I just want to chill tonight." Nodding his head. Dean motioned towards the papers resting in Sam's lap "Find anything worthwhile in there."
This seemed to peek Sam's interest. He suddenly found himself sitting up straight, shuffling through the paperwork "Yeah a lot actually!" Responding enthusiastically. Sam continued to turn one of the brochures over, flipping to the highlighted parts " The school was established in 1883 before North Dakota even became a state. They have the best Aerospace program in the country. They are known to be an NHL machine. You should see the list of names that have come from this school."
"That's all fascinating Sammy..." Dean interrupted. "How about anything related to ghost's, our case or all of the above."
"Yeah, right sorry." Taking a moment. Sam pulled up the information he was looking for as he ran his hands through his mop of hair "Turns out UND has a very long "haunted history". The student council even has a UND ghost tour. There are two campus locations that seemed to have the most activity. Our focus is Gustafson hall. Ghost reports have been coming in as recent as yesterday!" His brows narrowed as he looked up from the file in his hands to glance out the window of the 1967 Impala. Sam rested his elbow against the door handle using the fist of his hand as a pillow. The younger males' hazel eyes peered down onto his lap, scanning the print offs in his possession. He needed a minute to gather his thoughts. "Dude, you won't even believe the history of this place." Sam started. Picking his head up to glance at Dean "The hall was built in 1908, serving as the universities first fraternities. Now is the main office for the continuing education program."
He loved that Sam put the time into the research and his attention to detail was ridiculous but… "Ghost's Sammy. Tell me about the ghosts!"
If looks could kill. All the history was important, it builds for all the possible reasons for activity "… alright." Sam responded coldly. "Most of the reports from faculty and students date back more than thirty years. Nothing too serious. The feeling of a presence, noises, groans. Nothing to concerning. They even call this supposed ghost "Gus"-".
"Look, I'm gonna be honest. Sounds like we are going after Casper the friendly ghost. The building is old. They make weird noises you know that. We could be working on other shit right now." Dean protested.
"Don't be too sure because this is my concern. The report that came in yesterday and the week before states something completely different. Both victims recalled seeing full-body apparitions. Both claim the air grew cold to the point of seeing their breath right before the spirits appeared. When the spirits became aware, they attacked."
That was a game changer, now it was Dean's turn to have his interest peeked "Okay. Why?'"
"Sam hasn't mentioned the most interesting fact." Annie finally woke from her nap. A gentle smile slipped across her lips as Dean took a quick glance over his shoulder. She had taken him by surprise. The hunter wasn't expecting her to be awake. Sam slowly glanced into the back seat giving Annie a quizzical look before giving his brother a quick look.
"Which is?" Dean wondered.
Without skipping a beat… "In 1918 there was an influenza pandemic, infecting millions worldwide. More than 40 million people died of the flu. More than 5,100 North Dakotans were among them. The flu lasted for seven weeks. The campus was placed under quarantine. Gustafson was used as infirmary but lacked at the necessary needs to take care of the sick. A lot of people died… "
"Okay so—" Sam tried to interrupt.
"Shut up. I'm on a roll." Annie protested. "That's not all. In 1963 the body of 19-year-old private Dale A. Howes, of Devils Lake, was found in the cloakroom of Gustafson, then the Phi Delta Theta house. I don't know all the details, but he went out drinking with friends he was visiting. He got sick and they left him in their car to sleep. Later, they moved him to the cloakroom where they left him for the night. The next morning, he was found dead. The Grand Forks Herald reported that he died of acute alcohol poisoning."
There was confused silence. Sam looking at Dean. Dean look at Annie, both brothers looking at each other… "How do you know all this?" Samfinally asked. Dean had the same look of curiosity.
"I know lots of things Sam." Annie smirked. When she didn't get an immediate response. She rolled her eyes playfully while messing Sam's hair "That's because I went to UND!" she chuckled.
"You never told me that..." Dean chimed in.
"I told you I went to school."
"Yeah well you never said where." The hunter pouted "I think I'm offended." Dean continued to teased. Glancing into the review mirror "Is that why you wanted to come?"
A moment of panic swam through Annie. She should have told the truth right then and there but… "Yes" She lied with a smile.
Dean seemed to accept the response, his mind quickly switching to other pressing matters "I think I want pizza. What you guys think?"
Sam glanced over his shoulder ignoring Deans question "Did you experience anything weird or supernatural when you were there?"
"Honestly? No and nothing was reported either. I personally think those reports are fake." Annie shrugged. "But hey you guys are the experts, right?"
Suddenly out of nowhere "so… pizza or no?" Dean always asking the big questions.
Note: Thank you so much for being patient. I had to go on hiatus because I got busy. I'm back with the first chapter of the new decade. Enjoy!