Lydia.
I sit up quickly, wiping the tears from under my eyes. Without thinking I stand to my feet, but stumble slightly when it feels like the room pulsates for second around me. I shake my head and move forward, ripping open the door. I move quickly till I get to the landing of the stairway and then stop at sight before me. Scott stands a few feet in front of me and I notice the claws and fangs out first. then, I hesitate before taking a single step away...how do I know if this is him or something my mind is making up? "Scott?"
His head suddenly snaps up and within a second his face clears. His eyes snap to the book seat behind me, looking almost surprised to find it empty. He takes a deep inhale of air before looking back to and I notice the line of sweat covering his forehead. Something is very wrong.
One word leaves his lips before he turns to move down the stairs, "Lydia." I nod before moving to follow him just as quickly. With my mind feeling clearer by the second, we both push around people looking for her desperately. "Have you seen Lydia?" I sigh as another head shakes no, and then Scott and I land outside by the pool again. "Lydia! Where is she?"
We both stop to spin around, but I never find her face in the crowd of people.
I do see someone else that makes me freeze. I notice Stiles sitting on the ground, against one of the brick pillars by the pool. I tap Scott's arm before moving over to him. I notice Scott grab a water bottle on the way and by the telling sad and far away look on Stiles' face, I think it's needed.
I crouch down in front of Stiles and grasp his shoulder, "Hey, Stiles. Are you okay?" He doesn't answer me, instead just turns his head to look away from my gaze. Scott then moves closer, holding out the open water bottle towards him, but again nothing.
"Stiles, look at me. Drink the water," He continues to remain silent and just stares at the grass nearby with that heartbroken look on his face. Scott sighs deeper this time, still pushing the bottle in his direction, "Something's happening, and I need you to sober up right now. Come on, Stiles!"
I roll my eyes, tired of tonight, and tired of seeing this look on Stiles' face. I move closer and grab Stiles' shoulders tightly, "If we wanna sober him up fast, we're gonna have to do better than this." Scott looks at me with a mix of surprise and confusion. I don't say a word before turning him and dunking his head under the water for just a few seconds, then yank him back up.
He gasps loudly, wiping the water from his eyes, and sputters. I shake his shoulders lightly and his eyes meet mine, "How do you feel?"
He rolls his eyes and takes another deep breathe, "Like I am revisiting my policy on hitting girls." I roll my eyes before standing and pulling him up with me.
"We have to find Lydia. There's something wrong with those drinks she made, it's making everybody go crazy." His eyes meet mine for a second and I wonder by the emotion in them if he had a moment himself. We all then turn and decide to continue our search, but then suddenly I notice people being thrown into the pool and a loud yell coming from the crowd, "Wait, no! I can't swim, I can't swim!"
I take a step forward at the voice I've grown to somewhat know. My fingertips start buzzing and my hands form fist as if it's habit. I shake my head as I see two guys lift Matt in the air and toss him into the pool. Time seems to slow down as he begins splashing around and right before I grab Scott to help me yank him from the pool, someone else does. Jackson, without hesitation, steps forward and pulls Matt from the pool with one arm.
They both stand side by side and I watch as Jackson glares at anyone in sight. I take a deep inhale of air at the sight. As if he was Matt's guard dog. More like his Kanima. "What? What're you looking at?" I jump when Matt yells out before moving forward back into the house. I step slightly to the side out of the way, but he stops in front of the three of us. His clothes are literally dripping wet and if it weren't for the murderous look in his eyes, and what I've just figured out, I might feel bad for him.
He finishes the glare down with a curl of his lip before stomping off away from us into the house. Before I turn to either boy and tell what I've just pieced together the sound of sirens comes from out front. "The cops are here! Party's over!"
Someone from the crowd yells and it starts the mob. People start running in every direction, trying to get out before the cops get inside. I stand with Stiles and Scott before we all decide to leave as well. We make it out to front yard, but I stop when I see Matt standing in the street. I can tell even from this distance he is seething, and it is directed straight at us. I place a hand on an arm of each boy bringing them to halt beside me. They follow my gaze, but I hear Scott gasp lightly as suddenly Jackson, in full Kanima form, is on all fours next to Matt. He tail swings behind him in almost a protective way. In the blink of an eye they both disappear into the crowd of people swarming the streets.
I gasp and place a hand against my shoulder, a sudden burning sensation there. It's so strong it brings me to my knees, but both boys reach out and pull me back up before I hit the ground. I groan as it only intensifies and my eyes widen when they meet the sight of the full moon right above us. I feel something wash over me as the bright moonlight shines into me before I slowly blink, returning to the world around me.
I turn to look at Scott and his eyes show complete shock before his grip on my arm lightens slightly. I blink slowly and the burning dissipates, but something deeper twist inside me.
Something just changed and I have a very bad feeling it is not good. I look over my shoulder, feeling like the grim reaper just took a big step closer to our lives.
I look back to both Scott and Stiles, noticing they're both staring at me as if they had just seen a ghost. "What? I'm fine, I don't know what that was."
My words come out so fast they jumble together, but Scott just shakes his head. "No, your eyes..." I blink again before I lift my hand and place it under my eye. I look at Scott with worry and he inhales quickly.
Stiles throws his hands in front of him, looking at me like I've grown another eye all together, "Abby, your eyes turned fricking purple. Like glowing. Like...weird."
I feel my heart race as I shake my head, letting it fall into my hands. Before I can even process the words, I feel my phone vibrate against my back pocket and I rip it out thinking it's Derek. I hesitate when I see my it's my father instead. I hover my finger over the decline before realizing he hasn't called me in I couldn't tell you how long. Suddenly the sight of mahogany casket is flashing in my mind then I'm quickly hit the answer button.
"Hello?"
The next few words would change me for the rest of my life. Even if I somehow knew they were coming.
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I stand in the overly bright hallway, watching nurses and doctors walk past me in a frenzy. I'm not crying, or screaming, or angry, or anything. I've never felt such a moment of complete and utter nothingness. I've never been so scared than in this moment because I didn't know it was even possible to feel this way. Then I thought, what if one day, if people just keep dying around you, you just feel this way forever? Just walking around with not a shred of emotion.
But then it all comes rushing in. The confusion, the absolute desperate grief, and the completely unsatisfied anger. She was my mother, so when my father stands in front of me, shaking his head and I look at the outline of the blue blanket covering my mother's body behind him, my heart rips into shreds. I hear my sister fall into pieces and shatter against the floor as my father reaches out and catches her. She smacks his chest and tries to pull away, "No, dad! If this is some kind of sick training session, you better tell us right now!" She shoves him away, but his arms only reach out again. "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so-"
"No!" She finally collapse against his chest and her grief spills out in a loud sob. "What happened? What happened?" I want to reach out and comfort her, I want to be a normal family. One where I could run over and hug them both and we could just fall apart together. But we aren't. We are anything, but normal. My mother is dead and she tried to kill me. And as far as I know, that's last thing she ever did. So in this case, I stand and listen to my sister fall apart in the arms of our father as he profusely apologizes as if this is his fault.
It's all your fault.
I push away the thought. I can't-I can't right now. I shake my head as it all comes rushing in and a single tear drops from my eye to chin. It feels like its fire as it falls down my red hot cheek. Another follows and then suddenly I gasp, inhaling deeply, not even realizing I had holding my breath. Or for how long, but my lungs feel like a blaze is lit inside them. I sob as the air leaves me again. I curl my arms around my mid section before I feel like shriveling up until I was gone.
She was mother, who is dead and the last interaction we ever will have is her trying to kill me. I look back to her covered body again, the sight blurred by the tears building endlessly in my eyes. "I'm sorry, I can't-"
I shake my head and turn from her, from my sister, and father. I can't do this, not now. Maybe not ever. I walk to the elevator, but decide I don't want to risk either of them stopping me so I move till I find the stairwell door. I push against with so much force I fall onto the ground, feeling the concrete cut both of my palms. I turn so I'm sitting on the dirty floor, my cut palms open in front of me. I watch as they heal in seconds and then the skin is clear and untouched again.
I clench my fist and then let my head fall into my hands. I just need to get out of here. Anywhere else. I get to my feet and climb down the multiple flights of stairs, making my way to the exit of the building.
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I check my phone again, still not seeing any calls or texts from Derek. My eyes look up and catch the light of the full moon again before I send another text asking him if he's okay. I let my finger float over the call button before I groan and lock my screen, putting back into my pocket. I try to ignore the sick feeling in my gut and try to mark up his absence to dealing with three new betas on their first full moon. I close my eyes, thinking back to the way it felt to fall asleep next to someone like him. In this moment, I'm yearning for that safety and comfort.
Again I wipe away the evidence of tears, or at least most of them, I walked into the front door of the Stilinski house. I cross my brow in confusion, wondering where they all are when I hear Stiles' voice come from down the hall, "Yes!"
I walk into the room to see all three of them standing around the desk, a lamp shinning on the red circled photo of Matt in the yearbook. Stiles' dad looks at me not even slight surprised before turning back to Stiles, "No."
Stiles shakes his head before crossing his arms, "Dad, come on. Everybody knows that the police look for ways to connect victims in a murder, okay? So all he had to do is, like, look through their transcripts and figure out which class they all had in common."
I move over to look closer at the photo circled in the year book as they talk, "Yeah, except for the fact that the rave promoter Kara wasn't in Harris's class." Staring at his face now, I don't know how I missed all the signs. I think of all the times something was telling me there was something wrong about him, but I didn't listen.
You haven't been listening, Abigail.
I gasp lightly when Stiles' dad suddenly turns to me, "Abby, do you believe this?"
My eyes widen, not expecting to ask me or care if I did or not. I meet the boys' eyes before looking back to him. I nod my head slowly, "Listen, I know this probably sounds crazy and I can't really explain how we know this, but it's true. Please trust us, we know it's him."
He looks more thoughtful after this before Stiles nods slightly on the frantic side, "Yeah, he took Harris's car, okay? Look, he knew that if a cop found tire tracks at one of the murders, and that if enough of the victims were in Harris's class, that they'd arrest him.
Sheriff Stilinski sighs and rubs his eyes tiredly before nodding, "All right, fine. I'll allow the remote possibility, but give me a motive. I mean, why would this kid want most of the 2006 swim team and its coach dead?" That one I drew a blank on, but there has to be something that connects him to that class and that team.
"Isn't it obvious?" Stiles throws his arms up wildly as if he just had an epiphany, "Our swim team sucks! They haven't won in, like, six years....okay, we don't have a motive yet. I mean, come on, does Harris?"
His dad gives in with a heavy sigh, "What do you want me to do?"
Stiles looks at both me and Scott with surprise. Scott nods before taking a step forward, "We need to look at the evidence."
The Sheriff agrees, but gives Stiles a stern look, "Yeah, that would be in the station, where I no longer work."
"Trust me, they'll let you in." Stiles tries to give him a confident smile, but his dad just stares at him silently. I move forward and jerk my thumb over my shoulder at the other one of the boys, "Okay, how about trust Scott?"
Stiles' dad finally nods before turning to walk out the door, "Scott, I trust." Stiles rolls his eyes before we all follow him out.
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We step into the police station and my eyes are forced to squint from overly bright florescent lights for the second time tonight. I push that thought aside and move forward following the boys and Sheriff to the Deputy standing behind the counter.
She raises a brow, not even paying us mind as she looks to the Sheriff, "It's 2:00 in the morning."
He turns his head slightly sighing, "Believe me, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't extremely important."
I block out the rest of their conversation as Stiles leans towards both of us and whispers, "We look at the hospital stuff first, okay?"
Scott looks over confused like usual, "Why?"
I roll my eyes lightly, "Because the only murder that wasn't committed by Jackson was the pregnant girl in the hospital."
Stiles points to me like I just won five points before nodding, "Yeah. Since Matt had to kill her himself, somebody from the hospital could've seen him."
"C'mon guys," We all follow Stiles' dad as he nods to the deputy before turning down the hallway. He sits down at the desk inside the office before pulling up the hospital security feed on the computer in front of us, "I don't know, guys. I mean, look at this. There was a six-car pileup that night, the hospital was jammed."
Stiles throws his hand out towards the screen and just keeps watching intently, "All right, just keep going. Look, he had to have passed one of the cameras on that floor to get to Jessica, okay? He's gotta be on the footage somewhere."
I see someone walking down the hallway with a black leather jacket and brown hair, the tingling feeling surfacing in my fingers. I clench my fist and I point to the screen, "That's him." Scott looks over to me before nodding. "She's right."
The sheriff pauses the screen, but only shakes his head unsure, "All I see is the back of someone's head."
Stiles scoffs lightly at the screen, "Matt's head, yeah. I sit behind him in history. He's got a very distinct cranium, it's weird."
The Sheriff only looks at his own son like he might have to check him in somewhere to checked, "Are you crazy?"
Stiles rolls his eyes before gesturing back to Matt on the screen, "All right, fine, then look at his jacket, huh? How many people do you know who wear black leather jackets?"
I groan and throw my head back slightly, "Okay, that one doesn't really help because; Millions, literally." Stiles look over to me with a flat stare and I just give him an apologetic look. I mean, I'm not wrong. "Okay, let's just keep looking."
Again, the side of Matt's frame comes into view, but I know it isn't going to be clear enough to pass as a police identification. Stiles throws his arms up again at the sight, "Right there! Stop, stop! See, there he is again."
I squint and lean closer to the screen as someone in scrubs approaches Matt, "Wait, someone talking to him," I lean back with slightly wide eyes and turn to Scott, "Scott isn't that-"
Scott quickly pulls out his phone while nodding, "Yeah, he's talking to my mom." The call only rings for a few second before we all hear her on the other line. Scott quickly asked if she remembers seeing Matt, but she makes it pretty clear with amount of people she sees every day it's almost impossible for her to remember.
Scott then looks up with an idea before taking a picture of the screen in front of us and sends it to her. "Did you get the picture I just sent you? Do you recognize him? Do you remember him?"
A sigh comes over the phone before Melissa speaks again, "Yeah, I did. I mean, I remember I stopped him because he was tracking mud in the hall. Scott, what's going on?"
I nod with a triumphant smile, happy for once it's at least something positive. If she remembers seeing him and talking to him that night, we can prove Matt was in the hospital the night of the murders. Scott just shakes his head explaining he will tell her more later before he ends the call.
The Sheriff turns opening a file in front of him, "We've got shoe prints alongside the tire tracks at the trailer site."
Stiles' eyes brighten as he looks over to his dad, "And if they match, that puts Matt at the scene of three murders. The trailer, the hospital, and the rave."
I watch as Sheriff Stilinski grabs another folder off the table before opening, "Actually, four. A credit card receipt for an oil change was signed by Matt at the garage where the mechanic was killed. And four's enough for a warrant. Scott, call your mom back, see how quick she can get here. If I can get an official ID, I can get a search warrant. Stiles, go to the front desk. Tell them to let Scott's mom in when she gets here."
I watch as Stiles walks to the door to head to front desk before I feel chills run down my back and goosebumps raise on my arms. I take a step forward, grabbing Stiles' arm, "Wait, I'll go with you." Whatever I'm feeling felt different than the constant overwhelming dread surrounding me, but something tells me I shouldn't let Stiles leave the room alone.
Ignoring the feeling obviously wasn't helping, and as much as I hate to listen to anything from Peter Hale, I decide I do need to start listening to myself. I move quick and catch up with Stiles, but bump into his back slightly when he suddenly stops walking. "What?"
I mean to look passed his shoulder and don't see anything, but an empty chair at the desk. Suddenly the feeling prior comes back twice as fierce and I reach out gripping Stiles' shoulder. "Stiles, let's go."
He doesn't listen and instead takes a step forward before something on the floor catches his eyes. He takes a step back to where he previously was, "She's dead."
"Something's wrong-" I turn around to head back to the office when I freeze completely. My eyes first lock onto the circular shape of the barrel of the gun pointed directly at my forehead before I look passed it and see Matt's smirking face. I hear Stiles take a step forwards, but Matt shakes his head moving the gun an inch closer to me, "I wouldn't."
I feel my heart racing so fast I think you can physically see it, but the only emotion I can show is the utter look of hate on my face as I watch Matt. He just meets my gaze and his smile grows wider.