[h2]Esme[/h2]
Esme knew Duke was right about Bobby being able to fix the damage in no time. She could too if she had what she needed on hand. She also knew she probably cared about her car a little too much but when it’s become a home and has sentimental value, it’s not hard to develop a slightly unhealthy attachment, and even though she couldn’t see it, she felt like something else was wrong. She then watched Duke as he waved his hand and shook his head after she thanked him for bringing her here. She listened as he spoke, visibly wincing when he brought up Cason, saying he wasn’t going to be much help. Which was true after what had happened back at the motel earlier. “What do you mean, don’t thank you for this? If not for you, I would have had to walk or hitchhike my way here.” she told him. “And with the way things are going, that wouldn’t have been the best thing to do since it seems demons are out for my head.”

Resting one arm against the top of the car, she dropped her head, resting her forehead on her arm. Closing her eyes briefly, Esme released a silent and heavy sigh. “I feel like I have a bright neon sign above my head saying, ‘Here she is. The last Stirling and demon nuke. Get her before she gets you.’ or maybe that sign is just a giant target on my back.” Since she was a kid, she always felt like she was a magnet for trouble when it came to the supernatural, especially demons or the ones that sought out power. Who wouldn’t want someone that could control the emotions of others on their team, willing or forced? But in the back of her mind, was a  thought she didn’t like to dwell on. What if there was more to it? What if they were drawn to her for some other reason other than to put fear into others or make them compilable?

Tilting her head, so her cheek was now resting on her arm, she looked over at Duke once more, watching him inspect her car.  “Anyway, the important thing is that we got her back in one piece.” she told him as she lifted her head from her arm. “Let’s get out of here and go stuff our faces with something good. I’m starving and I’m sure you are too. We could go to that little diner we passed on the way here. If you want. ” Esme was trying her best to lift the mood and keep herself from dwelling on the scratches on her car and finding the leather jacket on the ground. Pushing herself away from her car, she tucked her keys in her pocket as she went over to one of the barriers and started to pull it off the road and into the ditch. Sarah took this opportunity to jump out of the truck and walk over to help her with the barrier. 

Once it was off the road, Sarah went over and took care of the other barrier, pulling it across the road and putting it with the other. “Thanks, Sarah.” she told the Hellhound after she had made it to her side. “You’re such a big help.” Esme whispered as she scratched Sarah’s head fondly. Sarah gently nuzzled Esme, then they walked back over to her car. “Alright, let’s blow this place.” she said, pulling her keys from her pocket. Sarah barked before running off and jumping into the back of Duke’s truck again. Esme then got into her car and pulled the door shut. She was ready to leave this place before a demon or something else popped up, which she wasn’t looking forward to dealing with on an empty stomach. She looked around to make sure nothing was out of place or missing, everything was where it was supposed to be. Pulling down the visor, she made sure the photo of her parents was still there, it was. She gave a small smile to the photo before putting the visor back in its original position.

Placing the key into the ignition, she turned the key but nothing happened. The radio didn’t come on and her beloved car didn’t roar to life. Confused, Esme turned the key back and then forward again, and again nothing happened. She could already feel her anger rising. “What else did those bastards do to you?” she asked through gritted teeth. After pulling her key from the ignition, she reached over the seat, opened the glovebox and pulled out her spare flashlight, and then closed it back. Holding the flashlight firmly in one hand, she shoved her keys into her pocket with the other, pulled the lever to pop the hood, then opened the car door and got out. Esme stormed to the front of her car and opened the hood. Turning on the flashlight, she illuminated everything under the hood and immediately saw red. Everything of importance was destroyed and beyond repair, it would have to be replaced. It was clear the ones that escaped from Duke’s rescue had come back and did this to keep her here. They were planning on trying again at some point after trying to strand her here in this town. 

Esme stared at the damage in disbelief. They really went the route of destroying parts of her car rather than hiding it somewhere. “Dammit to hell!” she hissed. Placing her hands down on the car to sturdy herself, she clenched her fists and closed her eyes, breathing deeply. Her anger was rising and getting the better of her. She could feel the ache in her chest and her body heating up as it had back at Bobby’s the night she became a nuke. Esme opened her eyes after a moment, which were now glowing a lavender color, and lost it as soon as she saw the damage again. “I’m going to kill them! I’m going to kill every last one of them!” she growled as she stood straight. She then chunked the flashlight as hard as she could, it hit the underside of the hood with a loud bang, then landed on the damaged engine. “Those…… Bidh aithreachas air na bastards sin a-riamh a bhith ag obair còmhla ris a’ chàr agam agus mise! Tha mi a’ dol a losgadh na feòla bho chnàmhan nan soithichean aca agus dèanamh cinnteach nach fhaic iad solas an latha tuilleadh!” In her rage, she had slipped into Gaelic without realizing it.

While Esme was losing control, Sarah had jumped out of Duke’s truck again and was watching Esme, too nervous to get too close to her. She then ran over to Duke and barked at him to get his attention and to get him to look over in Esme’s direction. Sarah ran back over to Esme and whined seeing just how close she was to losing it entirely and becoming a nuke all over again. At least this time she didn’t have to throw herself on anyone to protect them from the blast.