June 3 1988
10:47 A.M

It started out like every other night. Mom and I were waiting for Dad to come home. He had called earlier and told mom that he had a major surprise for our annual camping trip. I was beyond excited. It was the one trip a year that I wait for in almost tears. And the fact that this camping trip landed on a very special weekend. The weekend of my birthday. I would be turning eight, mom would bake her legendary double chocolate cake, dad would dance by the fire with me, and nan would be anxiously awaiting for us to return with a bundle of gifts for me.

The door opened and I was up in a second, running towards the entrance to greet my father. Gazing up at him, I took in his features. I didn't know why, but I felt as if I needed to remember what he looked like. He was very lean, unlike a lot of of my friends Dad's. But he managed to snag mom. Every man would look back when she passed by, surprise in their features when they saw her wrapped around my Dad's finger. She was in love with the blond man. He wore thick square glasses because he couldn't see well at all. His nose was a little crooked, but he was the best guy out there to make sure I didn't feel weird, because my super dad made sure to be weird with me.

"Honey, what's the surprise?" My mother called out softly, stepping into the entrance area as my Dad lifted me up, pressing a tight kiss to my cheek. I looked over at her, taking in her appearance as well. She had black hair as dark as midnight, and her eyes were the color of emeralds that adorned most crowns and tiaras. She always wore red lipstick and did her makeup so well. She stayed at home most of the time to take care of it and myself when I came back from school.

"We got an opportunity to camp up in the mountains, like you wanted." He said breathlessly, smiling shyly at my mom, pressing a kiss to her cheek as she gaped.

And by then, I was overwhelmed with a sense of fear from the moment they set me down. My parents chalked it down to the fear of flying. But flying didn't scare me anymore. Something was going to happen, but my eight year old mind didn't know how to phrase it. So off we went, flying up to the mountains of Montana. Near the Indian Reservations. And that night, everything went real bad....

~***~

The sound of scratching at the window had me sit up in a hurry, a gasp of fear leaving my lips. The fire crackled besides me as I stood slowly, gazing towards the open door. The door wasn't supposed to be open. The wind was blowing in, the chill of the mountains freezing my toes. I pushed the door closed, rubbing my freezing arms as I looked around, going to the kitchen to get some water. A low growl had me drop my small glass, turning around slowly to gaze upwards. A pale creature stood in the kitchen entryway, carting two large objects in it's claws. I backed up, taking in sharp breaths as fear took over and panic flooding my heart. Red goop dripped down it's face, spattering the floor and it's legs as it took steps forwards. I bolted, running for the living room, screaming loudly. The creature screamed, following after with incredible speed.

My world tipped as I hit the floor, my breath leaving my chest with a gasp as a cold grip latched around my ankle. I gazed at the soulless eyes of the pale creature in front of me. Its mouth opened and a hiss escaped it's throat. I started inhaling sharply again, eyes widening. In a flurry, a high pitched scream escaped the lump in the kitchen entry way, the being charging forward and stabbing a knife though the creatures shoulder blades. I fell to the floor, yelping in pain as my head hit hard. Gazing up, I see my mother in the grasp of the creature, her grunts leaving her lips as she squirmed around. "M-Mommy!" I call out to her, reaching forward.

Snap

I felt the room go cold as I gazed up at her still form. The life drained from her eyes, the beautiful emerald color dimmed to nothing but a glassy look. Her body dropped in front of me, her features completely stuck in a terrified expression. I started backing up on my bottom, tears falling down my cheeks while terrified whimpers left my lips. The creature stalked forward, raising it's claws to end me. I lifted my hands and clenched my eyes shut, screaming at the top of my lungs.

.....

The smell of something burning invaded my senses. The creatures shriek echoed through the house, shaking the windows and walls. My skin crawled at the awful sound, my heart pounded aggressively as I awaited for death to come. After a while, everything died down, and I finally opened my eyes. The creature was no where in sight, but where it stood, was a pile of smoldering ash. The fire behind me crackled in the silence that I had been bathed in.

Hours had passed while I sat with my knees to my chin, staring at the lifeless corpse in front me, the fire flickering against her still features. A light cast through the cabin window, the sound of squealing brakes breaking the silence. My skin jumped as I backed up, hiding behind the armchair that had been turned over. The door creaked open after a second, the light of a flash light glimmering over the floor besides the ash pile. I hear a soft voice call out behind the larger person coming in. "Dad, you said there'd be someone left alive." It was a boy.

"That's what I was told.... But you never know." The older one snapped, taking a step in. "Careful. I don't know if the Wendigo is still here or not."

"Yes sir."

I kept myself hidden, scared they may be robbers. The boy appeared in front of me, facing away from me. He stared at the fire, looking at everything on the fireplace mantle. He stooped down, lifting up my stuffed bunny, smirking and chuckling at it. "Dean, I'm going to build a pyre for the parents, you find that little girl."

"Yes sir!" Dean called back, dropping the bunny. He stepped away, giving me time to leap forward and grab my bunny. The footsteps echoed out of the room and I let out a collective sigh of relief, pressing myself further into the fabric of the arm chair.

After about thirty minutes, they walked back into the living room. "You find her yet?"

"No sir, I haven't-" He stopped, his feet squeaking against the wood.

"What's the matter?"

"There.... There was a stuffed animal by the fire when I left." He said calmly.

"Stay there." He hummed, stepping forward. He stopped at the fire, looking at the mantle like Dean did. He looking around, turning to his right, finally spotting me. I squeaked in fear, pushing the chair back with my body and threw myself over it, tears springing in my eyes. The boy blocked my exit, holding his arms up. I tried to run a different way, but the man stopped me.

"Please!" I plead, backing up, backing into a corner, hiccuping in fear. "Don't.... Don't hurt me...." I sobbed, curling myself tighter to myself.

"We're not going to hurt you...." The man said gently, kneeling down in front of me, holding up his empty hands. "Where's the monster?"

I gazed at him through my teary eyes, rubbing at them. "H-H-How did you know i-it was a m-monster?" He smiles, pulling out a fairly worn journal, flipping it open to the middle of the page.

"That doesn't matter, I need to know where it is." He urged.

My hand raised, my finger pointed to the pile of ash in the middle of the room. "I-I.... I closed my eyes.... and it caught on fire..... I... I don't... I don't know.... How...." I rubbed at my leg, feeling the wetness on my ankle. I winced in pain, holding up my hand. Red blood coated my palm. "T-The monster hurt me..."

"That's okay, that's okay. We have medical supplies. Do you want to get out of here? Get somewhere safe?" The older man asked, holding his hand out. I was hesitant, but something compelled me to grasp onto his hand. My palm slipped onto his, being pulled up slowly. I dropped my stuffed animal, limping towards the man as the boy looked at the older man in confusion. "Dean, get the supplies from the Impala, let's get her tended while I continue the pyre, alright?"

He was silent for a second as he stared at me. He shook his head and pocketed his flash light. "Yes sir." He complied, holding his hand out for me. I limped towards him, grasping onto it, feeling the warmth spread through my palm. He tenderly wrapped his arm around my shoulders and led me out into the cold. I hissed as the wind pelted my skin and toes, but I needed my ankle wrapped. He lead me to a sleek black car and set me in the passenger seat, pulling out a big box and kneeling down in front of me, lifting my leg gently. "What's your name?" He asked after a second of silence. I just stared, wincing as he disinfects the torn skin. "I'm Dean." He added, looking up at me while wrapping my ankle.

"I... I'm Carlotta...." He smiles for a second before finishing tying the bandages. He stands up and wipes his hands on his jeans before holding his hand out to me. I grasp onto it again and stand, shivering roughly.

"Hold on." He hums, tugging off his jacket and wraps it around me. The warmth seeps through my bones and I'm feeling much better, save my freezing feet. "My dad is building a pyre to have a funeral for you parents. I'm sorry that this happened."

"Wh-What.... What kind of... monster... was that...." I ask nervously, fiddling with my fingers.

"Wendigo. They're actually not supposed to be out now, because they hibernate." He explained, leaning against the car. I leaned on it besides him.

"Are.... Are there any other... types of m-monsters?"

"Yeah, actually, but my dad is the expert... So I think you should ask him."

I nod, looking up as Dean's father walked over to us, holding up a pair of shoes that I recognized. "These yours?"

"Yessir...." I nod, grabbing them gratefully and slipping them on. Warmth seeped into my toes finally and I looked back up. "Are..... Are my parents gonna have.... a funeral?" I ask, the tears coming back full force.

His eyes softened. "Yes ma'am. This is what we call a hunters funeral." He knelt down to me, smiling at me. "It means nothing can ever hurt them ever again. Even in the afterlife."

I started to sob, bracing my hands on my eyes. "Y-You p-promise?"

"I do." He let me hug him, his body tensing. He slowly accepted the hug and let me sob into his shoulder. "Nothing will ever hurt them ever again. You can count on that, okay?"

~***~

The fire crackled and embers rose into the sky, blowing away with the wind as my parents burned to ash on the pyre. I stared into the orange flames, tears still oozing down my cheeks. "Carlotta. You ready?" I hear John ask, placing his hand on my shoulder. I look up at him, sniffling once before nodding. His eyebrows raised in surprise as he looked into my eyes. "What's up?"

"Can you teach me?" I ask, determination flowing through my body. "I don't want something like this to ever happen to anyone else ever again...." His eyebrows furrowed as he knelt down.

"You have a family back home. Don't you?"

I thought for a second. I knew I'd be hurting Nan by leaving, but I had to do this. My mind was set, for the first time in my short life, I wanted to help destroy these creatures. I couldn't let this happen to Nan. Even if it meant I'd never see her again. "No sir.... My mom and dad only had each other. Everyone is gone." I lied smoothly, looking down. "So.... please...."

"This life isn't going to be easy. You'll learn how to melt your own silver bullets. You won't have any freedom while you're with me. You'll go to school, come home and learn, you'll train till you bleed. We never stay in one city too long, and we only get the nessessities." He said, his voice growing cold.

"I understand." I stared directly into his eyes, my lower lip trembling. "I'll devote my life to this, sir. I won't complain."

"Then we start when we get my other son. Dean, go help her get anything she wants to take, because tomorrow, she won't have anything else." John ordered his son, stalking towards the car. Dean nodded and lead me into the house.

"You should've went to your home." Dean muttered as we entered the room mom put my stuff in. I picked up my bag. I cocked my head, gazing at him curiously. "This isn't the life you need to be in. You had a choice...."

"I don't want this to happen again.... I want to help as much as I can."

He gazes at me, frowning lightly. I smile the best smile I can manage, brushing past him. John and I are sitting in the car as Dean finally comes out, holding something behind his back. John quirks his eyebrow, looking back at me for a second. I shrug as Dean gets in. He holds out the stuffed rabbit to me. "Don't leave behind something your parents got you." He says softly, turning to the front after I grasp the soft bunny. I sniffle and bury my nose into the bunny, inhaling the scent that coated it. How my parents smelt. I started to cry again, and for once, I had resolve to never cry ever again....

~***~

The drive was long, and I wanted to complain about half way through, but I knew I had to stay strong. I pushed through it, a brave smile on my face. "We're here." John hummed, nudging his son asleep in the passenger seat. I yawned lightly. We'd been driving for a few days, my birthday had passed and I was eight. Eight years old with no parents to speak of. John stepped out of the car, turning to see me stumble out. I stretched my legs out, grunting lightly.

"Dad!" I hear a younger voice call out. John turns around and smiles. A young blonde boy bounds of the church in front of us, jumping into his fathers arms. His gaze travels to me, tugging on his fathers hand.

"Sam, this is Carlotta. She's going to stay with us from now on." He says, ruffling his blonde hair. Sam takes a step towards me, holding his hand out with a big goofy grin.

"Hi! I'm Sam." I fell in love immediately. He was so cute. "You're almost as tall as Dean. How old are you? I'm six!"

I giggled, feeling tears brim my eyes as I leaned down to him. "Hi Sam! It's nice to meet you.... I'm eight... And Y-You're probably the coolest looking kid I've ever met." Sam giggles, grabbing my hand as I start to cry a little.

"Promise you'll play with me later, okay?" Sam asks, looking up at me. "You have to promise!"

"I promise." I reply breathlessly, letting him run back into the church after Dean.

"Today we can just relax, but tomorrow, bright and early, I'm going to start teaching you everything I know." John said, grasping my shoulder. "Welcome to the family, Lottie."

I look up at him in confusion.

"Lottie sounds civilized. Carlotta's too long for us." John said, making me laugh.

"No problem, John. Thank you..... For saving me."

~***~

Days turned into months, months turned into years. Everyday since that horrible night, I've trained until my knuckles split, until the burns on my hands no longer hurt, until I no longer felt fear for the things that went bump in the night.

I was Twenty-Four now, and Dean and I we're currently sitting around at the motel, waiting for John to get back. "Somethings wrong, Lottie. I can feel it." Dean urged as I dug into the Chinese take out we ordered. "He usually never waits this long to come back. Or even call."

"Let's not forget when he went to that Devils Gate." I'll admit I was worried about the old fart, but he's always came back.

"Its different this time." He sighs, gazing up at me. I swallow lightly, palming my head gently. "We need help with this one."

"I know." I sigh, setting down my food. "I'll start packing the Impala. You try John again and if he doesn't answer, we go get him." I'm quick to get up as Dean agrees, pulling out his burner and dialing up John again. As I step outside into the dark night, I gaze upwards at the stars, wondering where the old man could've disappeared to. Dean steps out, holding his duffel with a grim expression. "This feels like it's going to spiral into a shit storm." Dean nods his head to me and we pile into the Impala.