Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Wolf. Any similarities in dialogue or storyline originated with the show. I only own Adeline.
Summary: When Stiles is committed to Eichen House, he meets a girl with a bizarre case of schizophrenia that stems from her supernatural abilities. He soon finds out that her touch is the only thing that soothes the Nogitsune brewing inside of him.
A/N: Hey, everyone, thanks for coming to read this rewrite! I've been working on it for a little while now and I hope you all enjoy it. Adeline's faceclaim is Maia Mitchell (The Fosters). Also, I want to give a special thanks to thechosenpen, Maddie Rose, and WildRecklessYouthInMe for being supportive friends and putting up with me bugging them all the time. Please follow or favorite if you want to continue reading this story and please leave a review with your thoughts so far! Reviews are how fic writers get paid and I do appreciate them a lot. Also, check out my tumblr (rhaenystargaryen411) for Adeline edits or if you just want to chat. Thanks for reading!
INSANITY
"Insanity is relative. It depends on who has who locked in what cage."
- Ray Bradbury -
"Hey, Addie." Adeline looked up from the bare cement floor to see Oliver, one of the many residents of Eichen House, walking past her with an unfamiliar boy at his side. She gave them a weak, closed-lip smile and Oliver returned it before he looked back at his new friend.
"That's Adeline. She's one of the more normal ones here," Oliver told his companion. Somehow, his words managed to cut through the roaring behind her and settled in her mind. She glanced over her shoulder at the dark-haired teen walking beside Oliver. He was a few inches taller than Adeline and seemed to be more stable than the people that typically got admitted to the mental hospital. The boy walked with short, fluid strides alongside Oliver as they made their way towards the other side of the old brick building. Adeline scoffed at the notion that she could ever be considered normal. It was only because of her level of control and awareness of her own illness that everyone at the hospital assumed she wasn't as sick as the other residents. They had no idea how chaotic the storm was that constantly stirred in her mind.
Adeline broke her focus from the newest resident and turned towards the yard that surrounded the back of the hospital. She started towards her favorite spot on the patio; the old wooden porch swing where one of her friends, Lena, was already sitting. Incoherent thoughts tumbled from the blonde's mouth, hidden under her breath, as she rocked back and forth on the elevated seat. She didn't want anyone to hear her secrets, which was something that Adeline could relate to.
The teenager shut down her thoughts before they could wander to her past. She forced the pain bubbling up in her chest to the darkest corner of her mind where it could dwell without breaking her. The horrific images that often haunted her dreams were permanently seared into her memory. Adeline had learned that there was no drug strong enough to stop their nightly visits, but in order to live with the trauma she had survived she purposefully locked the ghosts of her past behind a door hidden deep in her mind. Unfortunately, that didn't stop the darkness from scratching at the door like wolves begging to be freed. Adeline could never again open that door, though. There was no one left to save her and she was too weak to fight against it on her own. If that darkness was released, it would consume her entirely. So, she slammed the door shut and turned the key.
Adeline pulled herself together and buried her troubles behind the endless roaring that raged on in the kingdom of her mind. This was one of the times she was glad that the Voices were there to drown out her own thoughts. She sat next to the older girl without uttering a word and followed Lena's intense gaze to an empty spot over the expansive grass yard. She didn't hesitate to place a delicate hand on Lena's bare arm and forced her eyes shut until she felt a surge of heat shoot up her arm. When she opened her brown eyes again, she saw a man dressed in an obsidian tuxedo standing in the spot that had been empty mere seconds beforehand. Addie didn't need an introduction, though. He was the man who had murdered Lena's mother, leaving Lena with nothing to cling to except her resulted delusions.
"Can you still see him?" Adeline asked, looking down at Lena. The blonde let out a quiet whimper as she shook her head slowly. The teen held out her free hand and her friend took it without hesitation. Lena had committed the routine to memory. "Come here."
Adeline pulled the petite girl into her arms, allowing Lena to lean against her as they looked out over the large yard in silence. The brunette kept a firm hold on her older friend, even as the man-in-black started shouting endless threats at her. If she were normal, she would have been terrified of the screaming stranger that no one else could see, but she had been through this more times than she could count. The hallucination was there to torment Lena. It was only because of the blonde's physical contact with Adeline that the delusion transferred onto the younger girl. Her body and mind absorbed Lena's illness and carried that burden until the man began to fade from her vision.
"Your medicine is kicking in," the brunette whispered into the blonde's disheveled hair.
The older girl nodded faintly. "I'm tired."
"Go to sleep, Lena. I'm here." Adeline squeezed one of her hands reassuringly.
"Thank you, Addie," Lena murmured and her grip on Adeline's hand started to relax slowly.
It was only once Adeline heard the screaming come to an abrupt end that her brown eyes searched the yard for the man-in-black. The tall, shadowy figure had disappeared, though. She sighed quietly and lowered her voice to a soft murmur. "You're welcome."
Adeline waited to call for an orderly until she was certain that Lena's medicine had forced her into a peaceful sleep. The man effortlessly lifted the petite blonde into his arms and carried her into the building behind them.
"You stupid, crazy girl!"
"Lena's just using you to curb her delusions..."
"She doesn't have any problem watching you suffer..."
"She doesn't care about you!"
"No one cares about you!"
"So stop caring about them..."
"It's useless..."
"Pathetic!"
"You're never going to find what you desire from people here..."
"Only we can give it to you..."
"Only we can love you..."
"Unconditionally..."
"For the monster you are..."
Adeline clenched her jaw tightly as she quickly swiped a hand under her eyes to hide the tears that were trying to break lose. She pulled her knees close to her chest and started to rock back and forth, causing the swing to move slowly beneath her. She desperately wanted to hate the Voices, but her attachment to them ran too deep. Yet, that only deepened her desire to hate them.
She rested her forehead on her knees and let the Voices drone on. Sometimes, her invisible companions would funnel distinct whispers into her ears, speaking quietly enough to be ignored. Other times, they'd roar relentlessly in her head, deafening her to the world as their cruel curses pummeled her from every direction. She never knew when or which version of her sickness would attempt to consume her, but they were the only company she had and no amount of medication could fix that.
The young girl lifted her head, looking over her shoulder when a fight broke out on the patio between her friend, Malia Tate, and the newest patient. Those kind of incidents never lasted long in Eichen House and this time was no different. The orderlies that worked in the facility were hyper-vigilant of their surroundings, prepared to throw any of the crazy residents into a private room if necessary. Several attendants on duty rushed to pull the still-thrashing Malia away, but the new kid was given a harsher treatment. Despite the fact that he wasn't the instigator, a strong orderly held him down on the floor, his cheek pressed firmly against the metal grate below him.
The Voices stopped Adeline in her tracks when she stood with the intention of helping the boy.
"Bad idea..."
"You'll just get sent to the quiet room again..."
"Then we'll have plenty of time to talk..."
"I don't care," Adeline said aloud, knowing that everyone in her vicinity was too distracted to worry about a schizophrenic girl talking to herself. When she returned her attention to the boy, she learned her help was no longer needed. The counselor that Adeline had come to know as Ms. Morrell had stepped in and put a quick end to the punishment.
Once the situation was seemingly resolved, Adeline faced the creaking swing that she had spent countless hours sitting on. She wanted to go back to her room, but there was a group session scheduled in an hour. It turned out to be much easier for her to listen to other people talk about their problems rather than pretending to understand her own.
"Maybe Oliver will be up for playing a game of Chinese chess..."
The Voices were often cruel towards everyone, including Adeline, but they were a part of her. They knew every thought that ran through her head and every emotion she felt, and occasionally, they would take mercy on her and show a little bit of compassion towards the girl they loved to torment.
"Good idea," Adeline murmured before she started towards the main building to find Oliver in hopes that he'd help her kill some time before the group session.
"It might surprise you to hear me say that guilt is a good thing." Ms. Morrell smiled warmly at everyone in the circle. Most of the patients who were present were stable enough to concentrate on the topics that were put up for discussion. Adeline was trying to focus on the words that tumbled from the counselor's mouth, but the Voices were constantly vying for her attention. She bit into her lip when the screaming in her head died down suddenly and two distinct whispers filled the void.
"Guilt is nothing more than a figment of your imagination..."
"We carry all of your guilt..."
"Not all of it," Adeline muttered a little louder than she meant to.
"What was that, Adeline?" Ms. Morrell tuned to Adeline, curiosity crossing over her soft facial features. Several other pairs of eyes landed on the teenager, but she ignored the unwelcomed attention and cleared her throat.
"I said that not all guilt is good," she answered, twisting the meaning of her statement to make it relevant to their discussion.
"And what do you mean when you say that?"
Adeline shrugged weakly as she desperately clawed through her mind for an explanation that made sense to the people awaiting her answer. "Some guilt can destroy a person."
"Can you clarify?"
"She won't understand you..."
"Not like we do..."
Adeline pursed her lips into a thin line as she failed to tune out the whispers echoing in her mind. "I know that, for some people, guilt can make them a better person or cause a change in them, but sometimes it just builds and builds until it breaks you in half."
"Do you think that some guilt can change a person for the better?" Ms. Morrell leaned forward in her seat and tucked a strand of her long, dark hair behind her ear.
"Guilt kills..."
"It festers and destroys..."
"We give you the strength to ignore it..."
"On your own, you'd be nothing..."
"You'd be nothing without us..."
"Nothing!"
She winced noticeably at the thought. The Voices had been a part of her for so long that she had forgotten what it was like to live without them... if it was even possible to live without them. Maybe they were the only ones who could truly understand all of the things that she had done. Maybe they were the glue that held her broken mind, body, and soul together.
"Adeline?"
The girl met the counselor's dark eyes and forced a nod as she dug herself out of her thoughts. "I do."
"And how does guilt make you feel?" Ms. Morrell prodded after a short pause. She scooted to the edge of her chair, disregarding the clipboard in her lap for the first time since the session began.
"Exhilarated?"
"Terrified?"
"Go on, tell her the truth..."
"See how they react..."
"You'll be the laughing stock of the group..."
"You'll always be a freak!"
"But not to us..."
"We're your only family..."
"The only ones that can love you..."
"You're lying."
"Excuse me?" Adeline looked up at the counselor, quickly remembering it was the Voices who were mocking her, not Ms. Morrell. She held the woman's gaze and gave a light shake of the head, hoping to clarify the situation silently.
"What about you, Stiles? How does guilt make you feel?" The counselor turned to the boy sitting next to Adeline. She was grateful that Ms. Morrell didn't push her. Her breaking point was always exceptionally low lately.
"Nervous," Stiles responded quietly, causing Adeline to give him a sidelong glance.
"He's seeing things..."
"Touch him..."
"See it for yourself..."
"Give him a break..."
"We know you want to..."
"It gives you a sense of urgency," Ms. Morrell told him, breaking Adeline's concentration on the young man. "You feel an urgent need to make up for something you've done. To apologize."
She continued to spare hesitant glances at the boy, who was unfortunate enough to be named Stiles, while Ms. Morrell continued her little monologue about guilt. Even at a young age, Adeline had dealt with many different types of emotional, physical, and mental disabilities or diseases. She had willingly accepted and experienced that pain for years, but the boy sitting next to her looked genuinely terrified. His deep brown eyes kept darting around the room as he wrung his hands shakily in his lap, most likely finding parts of his subconscious scattered here and there. Adeline looked to Ms. Morrell for confirmation and when the counselor gave her a curt nod, she knew.
"He's sick..."
"You help the sick..."
"Why can't you help yourself..."
"Always thinking of others..."
"Never yourself..."
"Sick, foolish girl!"
The teenage girl took a steady breath and held out her hand towards Stiles. He stared at her extended arm for a moment before meeting her gaze. She tried to encourage him with a nod of her head, but he was understandably hesitant. Stiles glanced up at Ms. Morrell and it was only after she gave him a firm nod of approval that he gave Adeline his hand. The moment their skin touched, she felt it. She experienced everything that Stiles was: the urgency, the fear, and the darkness that stemmed from the sickness.
Stiles stared back at her when she met his gaze again, disbelief blanketing his expression. He was probably experiencing the first bit of relief since the sickness latched onto him. As long as she maintained the physical contact between them, he would continue to feel it. Adeline attempted to give him a reassuring smile, but it came off hesitant at best. She tore her brown eyes from him and gave the sparsely decorated dayroom a sweeping glance. It only took a second for Adeline to spot the mummy-like hallucination in the corner. She couldn't hold back a shudder as another wave of emotions crashed over her like a wave. No matter how many times she absorbed other's illnesses, she never grew accustomed to how jarring it was. These emotions didn't belong to her. She was never meant to feel them, but she didn't have the strength to care anymore. Adeline would continue to do it despite what effect it had on her.
"I'm sorry everyone, but we need to take a break," Ms. Morrell announced as she stood from her seat quickly and walked through the middle of the circle. She stared down at the two teenagers sitting in front of her. "Stiles, Adeline, come with me, please. I'd like to talk to you two for a minute in private."
Adeline released Stiles' hand as he stood up to follow the counselor, but the younger girl didn't move. When Ms. Morrell noticed that she was hesitant to abandon her seat, she gave the brunette a kind smile. "Come with me, Adeline. We need your help. Stiles needs your help."
"But I—"
"Don't want to?"
"Are you scared?"
"She's scared..."
Ms. Morrell knelt in front of Adeline, her expression full of compassion. "You know that I wouldn't ask you to do this if it wasn't dire."
Adeline swallowed the lump in her throat and turned her head to look up at Stiles. Even though she had only touched him for a minute, she had felt enough of his pain to know that Ms. Morrell was telling the truth. The boy was suffering and he was in dire need of relief.
"—and you are the only one who can give it to him..."
"Say no, for once, girl..."
"We dare you!"
She exhaled slowly as she stood up, unsuccessfully trying to push the Voices to the back of her mind. Adeline followed Ms. Morrell and Stiles deeper into the mental health facility, weary of what she would have to do. Sure, she was strong enough to subdue people's illnesses, but she had never been able to cure anyone of their source of suffering and that's what Stiles truly needed from her. She wanted to give that to him. She wanted to give that to every sick person she met, but she was too broken.
"You have lines running up your neck," Ms. Morrell told Stiles as they entered the room. Adeline lingered by the door, arms folded over her chest, as she watched the counselor examined the older boy's neck.
"Lift up your shirt, please," she instructed and Adeline dropped her eyes to the floor, pretending to be suddenly interested in her slippers. Most people who met her would describe her as shy. Spending the last couple of years on the run hadn't exactly helped her social skills. That never really mattered to her, though. She never allowed herself to stay in one place long enough to develop any kind of real relationship with anyone.
"It's called a Lichtenberg Figure," the young counselor revealed. "They appear on lightning strike victims. The fact that they're appearing on you after a shot of Wolf Lichen is both significant and strange."
Adeline looked up as Stiles pulled his shirt down over his torso. He turned on his heels to face Ms. Morrell. "By significant and strange do you mean hopeful and optimistic?"
Adeline laughed to herself and Ms. Morrell went to the medicine cabinet that stood behind her. She started to sort through the rows of glass bottles that sat inside as she answered Stiles. "When the marks fade, the Nogitsune's grip on you... will return."
The woman walked back to the teenage boy and handed him a single prescription vial. Adeline took a couple of steps closer to get a better look at his new meds and Stiles raised an eyebrow at the counselor. "What are these? Sleeping pills?"
"Amphetamines." Mrs. Morrell paused as she glanced at Adeline for a split second. She didn't miss the meaningful look in the counselor's eyes. "Sleeping is exactly what you don't want to do. You're vulnerable when your asleep."
"So, all I have to do is stay awake?" Stiles asked calmly. Adeline shook her head. For the sick, it was hard to find sleep. For the healthy, it was difficult to stay awake. Stiles was sick, but this Nogitsune wasn't like anything Adeline had ever experienced before. Most illnesses latched onto a person's body or mind, but when Adeline touched Stiles, she realized that it feeding off his soul. Getting rid of something that could achieve the kind of hold that the Nogitsune had on Stiles was going to be harder than she originally thought.
"For now. If your friends haven't figured anything out by the time those marks are gone, Adeline will find you."
"To tell me what to do?" Stiles glanced at the younger girl standing behind him. She gave him a weak shrug of her shoulders to tell him that she didn't know the answer to his question.
"No. To give you an injection." Ms. Morrell held up a small glass bottle once Stiles turned his attention back to her. The name written on the side was too small for Adeline to read from where she stood. "Pancuronium Bromide. It causes respiratory paralysis."
"That sounds a lot like death," Stiles stated suspiciously as he stared at the counselor. Adeline inhaled silently when she recognized the name of the drug.
"It's used for lethal injection, yes."
"So, when the Nogitsune takes over you're going to kill me?" Stiles paused and pointed over his shoulder, his eyes widening. "Or better yet, she's going to kill me."
"If it gets to that point, yes. I have to do my job of maintaining the balance, but until then, Adeline is going to help you." Ms. Morrell gestured for Adeline to join them, which she did hesitantly. "I'm guessing you realized that when she touched you during the group therapy that you could no longer see the Nogitsune."
"Yeah, but I didn't—" Stiles began as his eyes landed on Adeline. She squirmed under the weight of his gaze. She had lived an isolated life for years and interacting with people didn't come as easily as it used to.
"Adeline is a shapeshifter. One of the most diverse I've ever met, but she also has a set of gifts that could prove very useful to you in the condition you're in," Ms. Morrell explained and placed a seemingly reassuring hand on Adeline's shoulder, but the girl knew the counselor was simply keeping her from bolting out the door. "She's an Aerona."
"Wait a second. She's a shapeshifter? Like a werewolf... or something?" Stiles asked, glancing between the young woman and the teenage girl. Adeline wasn't expecting him to know anything about the supernatural world, but he seemed to be well aware of what lurked deep in the shadows.
"No. She can shift into any animal at any time. She's not restrained by the full moon or just one possible species."
Stiles stared at Adeline for a moment before looking back at Ms. Morell. It took all the strength Adeline had to stop herself from running whenever his brown eyes landed on her. "And what's an Aerona?"
"It's someone who's born with the ability to see and understand all forms of illness—physical or mental," Adeline explained quietly, diverting her gaze from Stiles' face the second she finished her sentence.
"She's sensitive to the pain of those around her." Ms. Morrell paused to give the young girl a calming smile. "Another part of her gift is biokinesis."
Stiles furrowed his eyebrows. Adeline folded her arms over her chest as she pursed her lips into a thin line. It was weird, having to explain her healing abilities to someone. Most of the patients at Eichen House were too sick to question her ability to ease their suffering. They simply accepted her help and moved on, forgetting all about it the moment their illnesses returned.
"Don't worry, child..."
"He already thinks you're crazy..."
"Might as well make him fear you, too..."
"She can control organ tissue or flush out an illness if need be." Ms. Morrell pointed to Stiles. "Or in your case, the Nogitsune."
"But it's temporary," Adeline added quickly. She pushed a lock of hair behind her ear when Stiles threw her an inquiring look. "It's only through physical contact that I can suppress the illnesses and it returns shortly after I break physical contact."
"She hasn't yet figured out how to make it a permanent," their counselor said.
"It's because I'm not strong enough." Adeline squared her shoulders as she looked at the older woman. Everyone that she had talked to had come up with a similar answer. They would tell her that she was too weak to do any real good. She was too damaged by her past. Too broken.
"You're strong enough..."
"You just don't want to be..."
"You're afraid..."
"You know that if you keep helping people..."
"You'll eventually lose yourself..."
"Even worse, you'll die..."
"Just like your—"
"Stop it!" Adeline demanded as she clamped her hands over her ears. It never stopped the Voices from taking over her mind, but it was the sanest way to react to them.
Her knees gave out from under her and she dropped to the floor, still clutching her head in her hands. Ms. Morrell lowered herself to her knees in front of the girl and grabbed onto her shoulders. When the Voices spoke again, they were louder. Crueler.
"You're only killing yourself, child!"
"They would be so disappointed..."
"If they were still alive..."
"Just give it up, girl!"
"And maybe…"
"Just maybe…"
"You'll live..."
"You'll thrive!"
"For the first time since—"
"Leave me alone!" Adeline begged as she dug her fingers into her scalp. She pressed her palms against her temples, foolishly hoping she could somehow flush out her own illness.
"You're sick!"
"You're a healer..."
"But you can't even fix yourself!"
"How pitiful..."
"How pathetic!"
"Adeline." Ms. Morrell shook the younger girl lightly in an attempt to draw her back to reality. "They aren't real. They're just a part of your subconscious, a part that you can ignore."
"If you love me, you'll stop. Please," Adeline pleaded with the Voices that hit her from every direction. They were nearly shouting when they continued.
"You're just killing yourself!
"Slowly, but surely..."
"Stop healing others!"
"Start healing yourself..."
"I can't!" Adeline growled. She needed it all to stop. The Voices. The guilt. The memories. That's the only thing she had ever asked for.
"We can't stop..."
"Adeline, focus on me. Focus on my voice." Ms. Morrell tilted Adeline's chin up so she could look into her brown eyes.
"We're a part of you..."
"Breathe in. Breathe out. Focus on me. I'm real. They aren't," Ms. Morrell instructed the girl calmly.
"We'll always be here..."
"Your necklace," Ms. Morrell whispered as she reached forward and grabbed the small golden cross that hung around the girl's neck. She pulled on it lightly and Adeline grasped it in her hand. "Remember, Adeline. Focus on the necklace. Remember the words."
Adeline nodded, allowing her past to catch up to her for only a moment. "Earth below me... sky above me... fire within me."
"You can never get rid of us..."
"Come on. Say it again, Adeline."
"Earth below me... sky above me... fire within me."
"We are you..."
"They don't have any real power over you. Let them fade away," Ms. Morrell told Adeline as she started to breathe in and out shakily. She repeated the mantra one last time under her breath, allowing the words to anchor her to reality.
"You are us..."
Adeline sucked in an abrupt breath when the Voices unexpectedly stopped. She looked up at her counselor again as she tried to steady her breathing.
"You're okay," she murmured and pulled the young girl into her arms. Usually, she would never hug a patient, but Adeline wasn't just another patient. "You're okay."
"No, I'm not." Adeline shook her head weakly. "I'm sick."
"Everyone is a little sick. Everyone has to fight some type of inner battle. Yours is just a little more palpable."
Adeline sat back and raked her fingers through her hair, sliding the brown waves behind her ears. She looked up, half expecting Stiles to be standing over her, only to find the room empty.
"I sent him outside," Ms. Morrell informed Adeline as she stood up. "I didn't think you'd want him to see you like this."
Adeline pushed herself to her feet and glanced over her shoulder at the door. "Is he waiting for me?"
"Yes. You're going to have to keep an eye on him."
"And kill him if those lines fade?"
"I'll do it if I happen to be there but just in case…" Ms. Morrell held up the glass bottle that she had shown Stiles minutes before.
Adeline didn't need to argue with Ms. Morrell before she grabbed the drug out of her hand. The girl had learned to trust the young woman after everything she had done to help keep her and her secrets hidden from the world outside the wrought iron gates of Eichen House.
"What am I supposed to do until then?" Adeline questioned the older woman.
"Show him around. Keep him out of trouble." Ms. Morrell glanced at the door. "Keep him awake."
Adeline stared at the bottle and pursed her lips into a thin line. She nodded after a moment and started towards the door slowly.
"Adeline?"
She looked back over her shoulder at Ms. Morell. "Yes?"
"What were they saying this time?"
"The truth..."
"The ugly truth..."
Adeline licked her dry lips and shrugged. "Nothing that mattered."
It was a flat out lie and Adeline knew Ms. Morrell didn't believe it, but she didn't question her further. The brunette walked out of the office after giving her ally a feeble smile.
Stiles was sitting on the floor across from the door when she exited the office. He stood as Adeline closed the door behind her. She realized that she was still holding the Pancuronium Bromide in her hand when she looked up to see Stiles staring down at the bottle.
He kept his gaze locked on the fatal drug. "Looks like we'll be staying up late tonight."
"I don't sleep anyways," Adeline said. A short silence fell over the duo with only the sound of a clock ticking away nearby to keep them company.
"Are you okay?" Stiles looked up and met her gaze.
Adeline nodded too quickly and forced a smile that no sane person would believe. "Of course. I'm fine."
Stiles narrowed her eyes, but silently fell into step beside her when she started down the hallway. She closed her fingers around the bottle, letting her arm hang at her side.
"I'm fine, really." Adeline shrugged, sensing his doubt. "It's just… I'm sick and no medicine they give me helps and to top it off I haven't shifted in over a year, which makes me a little more vulnerable to… myself."
"How long have you been—"
"Sick?"
"I was going to say a shapeshifter. How long have you been a shapeshifter?" Stiles asked with a small smile.
"All my life. The first memory I have was of me running through the woods." Adeline returned Stiles' smile. "I was a wolf, I was free, and I wasn't sick."
"How many animals can you shift into?"
"A dozen, maybe, but my favorite is a wolf."
"A wolf?" Stiles laughed lightly as he slid a glance in her direction.
Adeline nodded enthusiastically, a smirk working it's way onto her lips. "Yeah. I like anything that's fast; cheetah, falcon, horse."
"You haven't shifted while you've been here?" Stiles continued a moment later.
"Not even once."
"Why?"
"Shifting takes strength and control. I need a way to anchor myself and being in here, as sick as I am makes it hard for me to do that."
"Do you think you could help me with something?" Stiles stopped walking suddenly and faced her quickly.
Adeline raised an eyebrow. "Depends on what it is..."
"I need to get down to the basement." Stiles looked hopeful as he revealed his intentions.
Adeline let out an unfiltered scoff and gave him a swift shake of her head. "Ha. No, Sorry. I don't see that happening anytime soon. There are only two ways to the basement; a door on this floor and a door in the closed ward, which is where they keep the real psychos."
"Can we get down there from the door here?"
"It's locked twenty-four seven and Brunski, the head orderly, is the only person with a key." Adeline paused as she checked the hall to make sure they're alone. "If you want to get down there, you're going to have to find a way to get his keys without him noticing and that's easier said than done."
"I think I have an idea, but I'm definitely going to need your help." Stiles gestured to her.
"Do you know what's going to happen if you get caught?" Adeline sighed when Stiles shook his head. "Brunski will most likely pump you full of Haldol and throw you in one of the quiet rooms."
"What's Haldol?" Stiles tilted his head slightly.
"It's a antipsychotic drug. In other words, it will put you right to sleep." Adeline held up the glass bottle in her hand, giving it a firm shake. "And we both know what will happen if you wake up and those marks on your neck are gone."
Stiles stared at the Pancuronium Bromide for a moment before shrugging, a look of resolution settling on his face. "Then we can't get caught."
"I feel like I should be trying to talk you out of this, but somehow I know that it wouldn't work." Adeline shook her head before tucking the glass bottle she was holding in her hand into her bra.
"Have a little faith," Stiles told her with a smirk as they started down the hallway again.
"Do you?" Adeline looked up at him. "Do you honestly think you'll be able to pull one over on Brunski?"
"We. I think we can pull one over on Brunski," Stiles corrected her quickly, his smirk widening.
"You better be sure because if not, we'll both be screwed." Adeline pushed a lock of brown hair behind her ear.
"If I don't figure this out, I'll be screwed anyways." Stiles rubbed the lines on the back of his neck as they shared a look. The two teenagers continued down the hall in silence.
Adeline knew it wouldn't last, her friendship with this temporary patient. Eventually, he would get better and, if he was smart, he would leave Echo House and Adeline in his past.
I'll do whatever I can to help him get out of this place unscathed, Adeline thought to herself. She knew she could never be an ordinary girl, but she could do her best to pretend.
"Good luck, child..."
Adeline sighed when she remembered she was never truly alone. Not even in her own mind.
"You can't escape us."..
"We'll always be here..."
"Waiting..."
Adeline sucked in a shaky breath and she forced herself to keep pace with Stiles as they continued down the hall. She found herself hoping that ignoring the Voices would be the hardest part of the day.
