Chapter 23: 23. The hunt begins
The next morning, James woke up and got ready quickly. After brushing his teeth and changing into fresh clothes, he grabbed the survival books Caleb had given him, glancing over a few pages as he prepared for the day ahead. He felt a sense of responsibility growing in him. Today would be his first proper case, and he wanted to be ready.
Once he was done, James headed out to meet Ash, who was already waiting for him by the car, laptop in hand as usual. The two walked into the Roadhouse together. Inside, Ellen was behind the counter, cleaning a few glasses. Jo was also there, but something about her expression seemed off—her face was set in a scowl, and she was scrubbing the counter harder than necessary.
James walked up to Ellen and started talking. "We're heading to St. Helena today to check out that case," he said, explaining the details of the haunted manor Ash had told him about the previous day. Ash chimed in with additional information, making sure Ellen was up to speed.
Jo stopped scrubbing and looked up. "Wait, you're going on a hunt?" she asked, her voice sharp.
James hesitated, glancing at Ellen before answering. "Yeah, we're leaving soon. It's a haunted manor case. Ash found some info on it."
Jo crossed her arms, glaring at Ellen. "And you're just letting them go? Without me?"
Ellen sighed, clearly expecting this reaction. "Jo, we've been through this. You're not going. It's too dangerous."
Jo slammed the rag she was holding onto the counter. "Too dangerous? You let him go, and he's new! I've been training for this my whole life, Mom. I'm not some kid you can keep locking up here."
Ellen's expression hardened. "You're staying, Jo. That's final."
Jo took a step closer, her voice rising. "You can't keep doing this! I'm part of this family. I have just as much right to go as anyone else. If anything happens to them, it'll be on you."
Ellen set the glass she was holding down carefully, but her tone was firm. "And if something happens to you, it'll be on me. I'm not putting you in harm's way. Not until I'm sure you're ready."
Jo looked at Ash for support, but he just shrugged, clearly wanting to stay out of it. She then turned to James. "What about you? Don't you think I should come?"
James shifted uncomfortably. "I'm not really sure—it's not my call. But if Ellen thinks it's better for you to stay—"
Jo cut him off. "Of course, you'd say that. You don't even know what you're walking into."
"Jo, enough!" Ellen snapped, her voice echoing in the bar. "You're staying here, and that's the end of it."
Jo glared at her mother but didn't argue further. She stormed off, muttering under her breath, and disappeared into the back room.
The tension lingered as Ellen turned back to James and Ash. "Don't let her get to you," she said, her tone softer now. "She just doesn't understand yet."
James nodded, still feeling awkward about the whole situation. Ash grabbed his laptop and motioned for James to follow him to the car. "Let's get going before this gets any messier," he muttered.
They loaded up the Camero with the supplies Caleb had given them the day before—salt rounds, iron knives, holy water, and the books James had borrowed. Soon, they were on the road, the engine humming as they left the Roadhouse behind.
The drive was quiet at first, with only the sound of Ash tapping on his laptop as he double-checked the details of the case. James stared out the window, watching the scenery change from open fields to dense forests as they got closer to St. Helena.
After a while, Ash spoke up. "Alright, so here's the plan. When we get there, we'll check out the manor first. See if there are any signs of activity—strange symbols, cold spots, stuff like that. If we're lucky, we'll find some clues that point to what's causing all this."
James nodded. "And if we're not lucky?"
Ash smirked. "Then we improvise. Welcome to hunting."
It was late afternoon by the time they arrived in St. Helena. The town was small, just as Ash had described, with a single main street lined with shops and diners. They drove past it and headed toward the outskirts, where the manor stood.
When they finally reached the property, James and Ash felt a chill run down their spine. The house was massive, with peeling paint and overgrown vines crawling up its walls. It looked exactly like the picture Ash had shown him, but seeing it in person was something else entirely. The air felt heavy, as if the house itself was watching them.
Ash parked the car a few yards away, and the two of them got out. "Alright," Ash said, grabbing a flashlight, EMF and a shotgun from the backseat. "Let's see what we're dealing with."
James grabbed his own gear—a smaller flashlight, an iron knife, and a flask of holy water. He felt the weight of the weapons in his hands, a reminder of how real this was.
As they approached the manor, the wind picked up, rustling the trees around them. The front door creaked on its hinges, swaying slightly as if inviting them in.
James glanced at Ash. "You sure about this?"
Ash grinned, his confidence unshaken. "Not even a little. Let's go."
They stepped inside, their flashlights cutting through the darkness. The interior was just as eerie as the outside—dust-covered furniture, cobwebs in every corner, and the faint smell of mildew in the air. Every creak of the floorboards seemed to echo, making the place feel even more ominous.
Ash led the way, his flashlight sweeping across the room. "Keep an eye out for anything unusual—symbols, markings, anything that doesn't belong."
James nodded, scanning the walls and floor as they moved deeper into the house. His heart was pounding, but he tried to focus on the task at hand. This was his first real hunt, and he couldn't afford to mess up.
In the living room, they found a large mirror with strange symbols etched into the glass. Ash crouched down to examine it, his expression serious. "Looks like some kind of warding spell," he muttered. "But it's old—probably hasn't been active in years."
James frowned. "Does that mean someone tried to protect the house before?"
"Maybe," Ash replied, standing up. "Or maybe they were trying to keep something in."
As they turned away from the mirror, a sudden cracking sound echoed through the room. James spun back just in time to see multiple fractures spreading rapidly across the glass surface, like veins crawling outward. Before he could react, the mirror shattered completely, sending shards of glass flying toward them.
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