After he finished drinking, he threw the can on the ground and crushed it with his feet, very hard, as if he was stepping on something that caused him pain. He opened the car door, got in, and started the car. Impala let out a low roar, like a wounded beast.
8:15 am, Pennsylvania State Harrisburg Police Department.
People were coming and going in the police station, and it was a busy scene. The ringing of phones, the sound of typing, and the sound of police officers talking and interrogating mixed together to form a unique noise. Dean was wearing a black leather jacket, a gray T-shirt underneath, and jeans stained with mud and blood. He walked to the front desk with a black notebook in his hand.
The police officer at the front desk was a middle-aged woman in her forties with short brown hair and a professional smile on her face. She raised her head and saw Dean, a trace of vigilance flashed in her eyes.
"Is there anything I can do for you?" she asked, her tone a little stiff.
Dean showed his signature smile, showing his white teeth. "Hello, I am Agent Williams from Federal Bureau of Investigation. I am here to investigate the recent disappearances of young girls." As he spoke, he skillfully took out a fake Federal Bureau of Investigation ID card and waved it in front of her.
The female police officer looked at the ID carefully, then nodded and pointed to the table next to her. "Please sit down. The person in charge of this case is Detective Anderson. He will be here soon."
Dean nodded and sat down on the chair next to him. He took out his notebook and pretended to write something on it, but his eyes were quietly observing the surrounding environment.
A few minutes later, a tall man wearing a blue police uniform came over. He was about fifty years old, with gray hair, wrinkles on his face, and bright eyes. He was Detective Anderson.
"Agent Williams?" He stretched out his hand and shook hands with Dean. "I'm Anderson. I'm glad you can come. This case has been bothering us for several days."
"You're welcome, detective." Dean said with a smile. "Can you introduce the case to me?"
Detective Anderson nodded, took out a few photos from the folder and placed them on the table. The photos showed three young girls, all around twenty years old, with bright smiles. "These are three victims. They were all attacked at night, and their bodies were found in different places. There were two obvious bite marks on their necks, and the blood was sucked dry. We found some strange bite marks on their bodies, which are not like those of any known animal."
Dean picked up the photo and looked at it carefully. The girl in the photo was pale, with clear bite marks on her neck and neat edges. "Typical vampire crime modus operandi." He nodded and wrote something in his notebook, the handwriting was sloppy and powerful. "They usually build nests in abandoned buildings and come out to look for food at night. They like to pick young girls because their blood is purer and tastes better."
Detective Anderson looked at him suspiciously and frowned. "Vampire? Detective Williams, this sounds so... supernatural. We thought it was some perverted serial killer who did it."
Dean raised his head and gave him a confident smile. "Believe me, detective. I've seen weirder things. Last month I met a werewolf in Ohio who bit the whole town to death. And last month in Kentucky, a witch turned a dozen men into frogs."
Anderson Detective's eyes widened with disbelief on his face. "Are you kidding me?"
Dean put away his smile and his expression became serious. "I never joke, detective. These vampires are very dangerous. They are extremely powerful, extremely fast, and difficult to kill. Ordinary bullets are useless against them. You'd better remind citizens not to go out at night and lock the doors and windows. We will deal with them as soon as possible."
Kentucky zhou Bowling Green City, Interstate 65. 5:48 in the morning.
The morning sun is slowly rising from the horizon, dyeing the sky into a canvas of orange, golden and lavender, like a huge oil painting, breathtakingly beautiful. The endless cornfields are undulating in the morning breeze, like a golden ocean, and the corn leaves make a "rustling" sound, like the whispers of nature. The wildflowers on the roadside are colorful and in full bloom, looking particularly delicate and beautiful under the moisture of the morning dew.
Bai Haorui was driving a black Ford F-150 off-road vehicle with all the windows rolled down. His short black hair was blown by the wind, and the broken hair on his forehead was messy by the wind. He was wearing a simple black T-shirt and a pair of military green overalls. "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash was playing on the radio, and the volume was turned down very low, just enough to cover up the noise of the engine.
His left hand is holding the steering wheel, and his right hand is holding a bucket of original fried chicken that he just bought from KFC on the roadside. The bucket has the smiling face of Grandpa KFC printed on it. He is chewing on a piece of crispy-skinned, juicy original chicken. The golden skin is shiny in the sun, and there is a little bread crumbs on the corner of his mouth.
"Sure enough, compared to most United States dishes, I am still more accustomed to KFC." Bai Haorui said to himself, chewing the fried chicken with satisfaction, his eyes narrowed into slits. "The outer skin is crispy, and the chicken inside is tender and juicy, with a little spice. It is much better than those dry and woody steaks."
He picked up the paper cup next to him and took a sip of bourbon mixed with coke. The ice cubes hit the wall of the cup and made a crisp sound. Bourbon is a specialty of Kentucky state. It has a mellow taste with a little vanilla and caramel flavor. When mixed with cola, it tastes great.
The mobile phone was placed on the passenger seat, with the screen on, showing the navigation interface. Next to it was a black backpack, which contained various props such as the Taomu Sword, Five Emperor Coins, Yellow Talisman, and Cinnabar.
The phone rang, and it was Bobby's exclusive ringtone - "Take Me Home, Country Roads". Bai Haorui pressed the hands-free button on the steering wheel.
"Haorui, are you here Kentucky?" Bobby's voice came from the other end of the phone, hoarse and tired, and in the background came the sound of flipping through books.
"Just arrived." Bai Haorui swallowed the chicken in his mouth and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Last night, we solved the ghoul lair in Green County and rescued three children who were kidnapped. The oldest is eight years old and the youngest is only five. They are all fine. They were just a little frightened and have been sent home to reunite with their parents."
Bobby's tone softened a little, with a hint of relief. "Nice job. I knew you could handle it. There is a new case now, which is quite urgent. The town of Lebanon outside Nashville, Tennessee. There is an old witch named Agnes Black, who is sacrificing human beings in exchange for youth. She has already killed five locals, all sixteen-year-old virgins. The two hunters over there can't handle it and are urgently requesting support. I sent her information to your mobile phone, including her photo, address and abilities."
Bai Haorui's eyes lit up and he licked his lips. "Nashville? Just right! I've wanted to try the authentic smoked barbecue over there for a long time. I heard that Jake's Bar-B-Que's ribs are the best in the state. They are smoked with hickory wood for twelve hours and brushed with secret barbecue sauce. They melt in your mouth. Their roasted corn and creamy mashed potatoes are also outstanding."
Bobby laughed helplessly and shook his head. "You kid, you can eat wherever you go. Let me tell you, that Agnes Black is difficult to deal with. She can curse with black magic and can control the dead. Three hunters went to kill her before, but they all died under her curse. The death was extremely miserable. Be careful and don't be careless."
"Don't worry, Bobby." Bai Haorui smiled nonchalantly, with a relaxed tone. "It's just a witch. It's not like I haven't killed anyone before. The curse has no effect on me. My True Gang can drive away all evil spirits. Just wait for my good news. By the way, how is Dean doing over there?"
Bobby's tone darkened and he sighed. "He's killing vampires at Pennsylvania. Just like you, he runs around and can't sit still for a moment. He just... doesn't talk much. Every time he calls, he hangs up after saying a few words, and he doesn't say anything when asked. I can tell that he feels sad."
Bai Haorui's eyes darkened. "I know. He is numbing himself with busyness. Give him some time. Time will heal everything. Where is Sam? Is there any news?"
Bobby sighed again, and his tone became heavier. "No. He didn't contact me, nor did he contact Dean. He probably found a remote place to hide. This kid, he feels that all the mistakes are his fault, and he feels that he does not deserve to be forgiven."
Bai Haorui was silent for a few seconds and said firmly, "Yeah. I've finished handling Tennessee's matter and I'll see if I can find him."
"That's fine." Bobby said. "If you find him, you can persuade him more. Don't let him get into trouble. Tell him that we don't blame him. We are a family, and a family should face difficulties together."
"I know." Bai Haorui said. "It's dead, Bobby. I'm going to have breakfast. I heard that the breakfast biscuits with gravy in Kentucky state are very delicious, I'm going to try it."
After hanging up the phone, Bai Haorui finished the last piece of fried chicken and Bones threw it into the trash can. He started the car and drove off the highway towards a nearby breakfast restaurant.
After breakfast, Bai Haorui got back on the road and drove in the direction of Nashville. The sun shone on his face through the car window, and his eyes were calm and firm.
: Dean is using busyness to avoid pain, Sam is using evasion to punish himself. Only I must stay awake. No matter how perfect God's script is, I will tear it up. If the sky falls, I will carry it. As long as I am still alive, I will save everyone I can save.
Oklahoma Garber, Great Plains Motel Room 307. 9:12 am.
Sam stood in the open space in the center of the room, with a pile of things in front of him. Fake ID cards, credit cards, demon hunting licenses, John·Winchester's notebooks, salt bullet guns, silver daggers, holy water... were all his belongings as a hunter. Each thing carried a memory, including laughter, tears, and moments of life and death.
He picked up the silver lighter, which was a gift given to him by Dean on his eighteenth birthday. The surface of the lighter had some wear and tear, but it was still as bright as new. It lit with a "click" and the flames licked the fake ID card on the top. The photo above showed what he looked like a few years ago, with a green smile and eyes full of longing for the future.
Watching the flames slowly devour the things that represented his past, Sam's eyes were indescribably complicated - there was relief, confusion, and a trace of imperceptible reluctance. The flames burned his fingers, and he suddenly came back to reality and threw the lighter on the pile of things.
The flames instantly surged and swallowed everything. The fake ID card curled up and deformed, and the credit card melted into a puddle. Sam stood there and watched quietly until everything was burned to ashes.
: Goodbye, Sam·Winchester. From today on, I am Keith. An ordinary bartender. I am just an ordinary person. I want to live an ordinary life.
10:30 AM, Oklahoma Garber, Hoyt's Bar.
Hoyt's Bar is the only bar in the town, and it is also the place where the town residents usually gather. The bar is small, and the decoration is simple and warm. It has wooden tables and chairs, and posters of various beer brands and old photos of the town are hung on the wall. There is an old-fashioned jukebox in the corner, playing country music.
Sam was wearing a simple white T-shirt and a pair of blue jeans, and was wiping glasses behind the bar. His movements were skillful and mechanical. There were not many people in the bar, only a few regulars were drinking and chatting, and the morning news was playing on the TV.
A young and beautiful waitress came over. She had long blond hair, tied into a high ponytail, which swayed gently as she moved. A pair of bright blue eyes, like clear lake water. There was a friendly smile on her face, with two small dimples at the corners of her mouth. She was wearing a black T-shirt and a pair of jeans, with a name tag pinned to her plump chest that read "Lindsay".
Lindsay handed Sam a plate with two glasses of beer and a plate of peanuts. "Hey, Keith, bring this to table 3. Those two are regular customers and like to sit by the window."
Sam nodded, took the plate, and said in a low voice, "Okay."
He carried the plate, walked to table 3, and put the beer and peanuts on the table. The two middle-aged men looked up at him, nodded, and continued their conversation. Sam did not speak, turned and walked back to the bar.
Lindsay looked at Sam's back, frowned thoughtfully, and whispered to himself, "This guy is really strange. He has been here for a week, and he never says unnecessary words or communicates with anyone. He always works alone in silence, and his eyes are full of sadness. What has he experienced?"
2:15 pm, Hoyt's Bar Kitchen.
Sam is washing the dishes. The sink is full of dirty dishes and cups. He moves slowly and is obviously absent-minded.
Lindsay walked in, holding a copy of the Saturday crossword puzzle for "The New York Times" in her hand. She placed the crossword puzzle on the table in front of Sam.
"Hey, you finished this?" she asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.
Sam raised his head, a little surprised, with a glint in his eyes. This was the first time since he came to this town that someone took the initiative to talk to him about things other than work. "Uh, I think so. What's the matter?"
Lindsay's eyes widened in disbelief. "The New York Times's Saturday crossword puzzle? This is the hardest one. No one I know can finish it. You just came to this town last week, don't talk to anyone, and are obviously highly educated. You're like... a riddle wrapped in a mystery with a burrito on the outside?"
Sam couldn't help but smile. This was the first time he smiled after leaving Dean and Bai Haorui. The smile was very light, but it softened his tense face a lot. "What do you want to play?"
Lindsay's eyes lit up and he said excitedly, "Let's play darts. If I win, you treat me to dinner and tell me your life story. If you win, I treat you to dinner and then I tell you my life story. How about that? Fair, right?"
Sam thought for a while, then nodded, with a faint smile on his face. "Sounds fair."
3:00 pm, Hoyt's Bar Darts Zone.
Sam and Lindsay stood in front of the dart target. Lindsay threw first. She threw three darts, and the results were pretty good, one with 8 rings, one with 7 rings, and one with 9 rings.
Lindsay smiled proudly and looked at Sam. "It's your turn. Be careful, I'm a darts expert."
Sam picked up the darts and looked at the target intently. His movements were smooth and skillful, and he obviously played darts often. He threw three darts in a row, and all of them hit the bullseye.
Lindsay opened his mouth in surprise with a look of disbelief. "Wow! You are so awesome! Were you a professional darts player before?"
Sam put down the darts, the smile on his face disappeared, and his eyes became hollow again. "I've played before."
A memory suddenly flashed through his mind. It was in a bar in a small town. He, Dean and Bai Haorui had just solved a werewolf case and were in a good mood. Dean proposed to play darts and the loser drank. As a result, Sam lost He was in such a mess that he couldn't even remember how much beer he drank. In the end, he was carried back to the motel by Dean and Bai Haorui. Dean also painted a big painted face on his face and took many photos, which are still stored in Dean's mobile phone.
Thinking of this, Sam felt a sting in his heart. Those beautiful days will never come back.
He turned and walked towards the TV, where the news was playing.
The news anchor's voice was serious and his expression solemn. "Tonight, a rare hail and lightning disaster occurred in Town of Holly, triggering a fire that has burned more than 20 acres of land, killing three people and injuring more than a dozen people. Local officials advised residents to prepare for forced evacuation. According to witnesses, the hail was as big as a baseball, and lightning struck a gas station in the town, causing an explosion."
Sam looked at the TV screen, his eyes became solemn
: Damn. This is definitely a sign of Apocalypse. Lucifer has already started taking action.
The bar owner Hoyt shook his head, sighed, and took a sip of beer. Hoyt is an old man in his sixties, with gray hair, a face full of wrinkles, and kind and wise eyes." Damn it. Is it just me, or is the end of the world really coming? There have been disasters everywhere recently, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, Pestilence. I think God must be crazy."
Sam said nothing, but was struggling fiercely in his heart
: I should help. Those people need help. I am a hunter, this is my responsibility. But... I can't go. I can't see blood anymore, and I can't let anyone die because of me. I am no longer a hunter, I am Keith, an ordinary bartender. I can't go back. Absolutely not.
Pennsylvania Harrisburg, motel room. 10:37 AM.
Dean had just finished taking a shower, and was standing in front of the mirror with a white towel around him to shave. The bathroom was filled with hot steam, and the mirror was covered with a layer of mist. There were many scars on his body, some scratched by demons, some bitten by vampires, and some shot by bullets. Each scar told a story, recording his years of hunting monsters.
He took a razor and shaved carefully. A figure appeared quietly behind him without any warning.
Dean was startled, and the razor in his hand fell to the ground with a clang. He turned around suddenly, patted his chest, gasped for air, and looked angry. "Damn it! Cass! We have talked about this! Private space! Can you knock on the door first and then come in?"
Castiel looked at him expressionlessly without any emotion. He was wearing that iconic windbreaker, his hair was messy, and he looked a little tired. "Sorry."
Dean picked up the razor on the ground, looked at him dissatisfied, and frowned. "How did you find me? I thought the Enochian Sigil you carved on my ribs would make me fly under the angel radar."
"You can." Castiel said. "Bobby tell me where you are."
Dean rolled his eyes. "That old bastard."
"Where are Sam and Bai?" Castiel asked, his tone still calm.
"Sam and I are temporarily separated for a while." Dean said, his tone a little low. "He needs some time to be alone. Haorui is playing the role of a firefighter all over the country, going wherever there is a disaster."
Dean raised his eyebrows with a curious look on his face. "Have you found God? More importantly, can I get my damn necklace back?"
"No, I haven't found him yet." Castiel said. "That's why I'm here. I need your help."
Dean looked at him suspiciously, crossed his arms, and sounded disdainful. "Help for what? Looking for God? I'm not interested. I'm very busy now, and there are many things to kill."
"It's not God." Castiel said. "It's another person."
"Who?" Dean asked.
"An archangel." Castiel said. "The one who killed me."
Dean's eyes widened in surprise. "What? What's his name?"
"Raphael." Castiel said.
Dean couldn't help laughing, laughing so hard. "You were killed by a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle archangel? Hahahaha, this is too funny. Raphael, Michelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo. Do you angels like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?"
Castiel ignored his joke, with a serious tone and cold eyes. "I heard rumors that he is walking on the earth. This is a rare opportunity."
"For what?" Dean asked, finally stopping laughing. "Revenge? Do you want to kill him to avenge yourself?"
"For information." Castiel said. "He is the archangel and knows many things. He must know where God is."
Dean sneered and shook his head. "So you think if you find this guy, he will tell you God's address? Are you crazy? You also said he is an archangel."
"Yes." Castiel said. "Because we want to catch him and interrogate him."
Dean looked at him in surprise, with a look of disbelief on his face. "Are you serious? Do you really want to catch Raphael and interrogate him? Are you out of your mind?"
"Yes." Castiel said, with a hint of despair in his eyes. "I have no other choice. Only God can stop Apocalypse and save the world. If I can't find God, everyone will die."
"So I am Goku, you are Bulma, and we are going to hold hands and find Dragon Balls?" Dean said. "Give me a good reason why I should do this."
"Because you are Michael's container, no angel dares to hurt you." Castiel said.
Dean frowned in dissatisfaction and sounded angry. "Oh, so I am your bulletproof shield? You are just using me?"
Castiel looked at him with sincere eyes and a pleading tone. "I need your help Dean... because you are the only one who will help me. Please. I have no other friends."
Dean looked at Castiel's sincere eyes and was silent for a while. He saw the loneliness and despair in Castiel's eyes, which was a feeling he was very familiar with. He sighed and nodded with a helpless tone. "Okay. Okay. Where is he?"
"Maine." Castiel said. "Let's go."