The 8-cylinder engine of the 1970 Plymouth Barracuda hummed as the jet black vehicle cut a swath down the lonely highway. Behind the wheel, Logan Adler turned his gaze from the road to give his younger brother Jacob "the look".
"You're doing it again," he said, peering through his Oakley sunglasses.
"Doing what?" asked Jacob, not returning his brothers stare.
"The sulking. Every time we leave an investigation, you just sit there staring out the window, doing your little pouty thing. Just like when you were a kid."
"I'm not sulking, Logan," Jacob said turning to look at his older sibling. "It's just..."
"Aw geez, this again? C'mon, how was I supposed to know the noises people were hearing in that old house was a bunch of tweakers squatting upstairs? You heard them. They did sound pretty horrible."
"Yeah, but they weren't ghosts, were they?" asked Jacob.
"No, but we helped the cops clear them out," defended his brother.
"And nearly got busted for trespassing on private property," said Jacob, his voice hitting a higher pitch.
"Settle down, bro. We didn't get busted. Why do you have to always look on the sour side of things?"
"My point is, we didn't find any evidence of the paranormal. Again." Jacob stared straight ahead, watching the yellow line of the two lane highway twist and curve with the road.
"Don't worry, Jakey wakey, there's always next time," said Logan, reaching out his hand to pinch his brother's cheek.
Jacob brushed his hand away. "Don't call me that. You know I don't like it."
"So what do you want me to do? Apologize? This is our job, our mission. This is what happens when you go exploring the unknown. You just don't know what's going to happen. That's why it's called 'the unknown'," Logan grinned.
"We've been doing this for a year and a half and we haven't found a shred of evidence to support your belief that the supernatural is real. How long are we going to keep this up?"
"Whoa, slow down there, chum. First of all, since when did this become my belief? I thought you were in this with me. I thought this was our dream." Logan's grin left his face.
"This was your dream. You're the one that has wanted this since we were kids. You and your X-Files and MIB posters. We're not the Winchesters. I never wanted this."
"How can you say that?" Logan looked wounded.
"Look Logan, you came to me and asked me to join you. I thought it would be a good way for us to try to repair our relationship. I figured this "project" of yours would last no more than six months and then you'd move on to something else, just like you always do. But here we are, eighteen months later with no end in sight. All of your leads have been crap."
"Well it worked didn't it? We're closer now than we've been in years. Two brothers, out on the road, chasing down evil spirits and monsters, keeping America safe!" Logan laughed.
"What evil spirits and monsters?" muttered Jacob.
"You know what you need, Jake? Responsibility. I think it's time you took some initiative. You say my leads haven't panned out? Fine. Why don't you find us something? You're the brains of the family anyway. Isn't that right Mr. Engineer?"
"Sure, fine," said Jacob. "Whatever."
"That's the spirit!" Logan's grin returned to his face. The black car streaked down the road.
