CHAPTER ONE: Blood and Guts... Black Blood

Strange. One adjective to describe Beacon Hills is strange.

The eccentric events happening in this freak show town doesn't seem to faze the police. It's like, every murder, one-half part of a dead human body… or even a bloodied hospital room won't ever shock them if you count all the moments they've seen blood, guts and all those anatomical crap won't surprise them anymore.

But I was wrong.

These past few weeks, things have become way more strange than anyone can ever imagine that even the police seemed freaked out about it, wondering what was causing this and why it was happening, and in one of those moments, my adventurous, risk-taking—yet idiotic in a weird way—twin brother just had to pry into our father's work (yes, my father's the sheriff).

Stiles and his best friend, Scott McCall, just had to venture out into the woods to find some dead body sliced in half because of reasons I will never be able to understand—it's a Stiles-and-Scott kind of logic, if you didn't get the gist.

The point is, their adventurous attitudes are getting way out of hand. Besides, it's not like they could take home one-half of a—probably decaying—lifeless human body and place it in a glass box for every living creature to see and take pictures of like it was some sort of museum display of dinosaur bones that was excavated by archaeologists.

But then, after that night, nothing has ever been the same.

My twin brother and his best friend seemed too… secretive for me. Being an introvert, I am quite observant of the things and events that surround me.

I could hear Stiles sneaking out at night plenty of times—and lucky for him, our dad isn't at home when that happens. Then there are times when they would stop conversing about something when I enter the room, or when I'm sitting with them on their lunch table, then once I'm not around, they would continue where they left off.

I feel really left out now. I mean, sure, when we were younger, I always felt like I was the third wheel in their friendship but they lured me into their antics sometimes so how was I supposed to know that I wasn't that tight to be in their group. Heck, they let the new girl, Allison Argent, into their group (probably because Scott's dating her).

Usually, Stiles would let me in on their best friend secret stuff, but at the moment, nothing—not even the teensiest information—was given to me, despite me knowing that something actually happened in the woods at that night that changed both of their lives.

But anyways, you might be wondering who I am.

Well, I'm Bethany Jace Stilinski, but you can call me Beth. Born on the 8th of April, five minutes after my fraternal twin brother, Stiles, I am sixteen and currently a high school sophomore in Beacon Hills High School. As an academically excellent—yet a total klutz in the field of sports and athletics—student here in high school, I make sure I don't fail any subject because in high school, the only thing I am actually proud of are my grades.

I've never had a true best friend—well, if you consider befriending Jackson Whittlemore in kindergarten, then I guess I have one friend… who basically doesn't remember me anymore. Or even just an acquaintance then yes, I did have a friend—and I'm quite the introvert, having only Scott and Stiles as my companions in school. The closest I have to a friend that isn't Scott and Stiles is definitely Danny Mahealani.

Though Scott and Stiles get bullied, I don't seem to be bullied by Jackson's little crew of jocks. Weirdly enough, he seems to tolerate my presence more than my brother and Scott, combined.

But yeah, other than those, that's all there is to know about my life and a portion of Beacon Hills.

Or so I thought.

xXx

"Stiles," I mumbled, slightly annoyed at my brother. "Give my phone back."

"Come on, Beth," he pouted slightly. "I just need to call Scott, alright? Just a sec."

"Use your phone," I complained, grabbing my clothes for school. "I still need to prepare for school and I'm waiting for Danny to call since he's my partner in a pair project for English. Please, go."

"He doesn't want to answer," he groaned.

"He must be with Allison Argent, then?" I asked. He sighed and nodded.

"Just… just one call, Beth," he said. "One, and I'll leave you to your… girl thing."

I rolled my eyes and nodded, shooing him away.

After washing my face and using dry shampoo on my hair—just because I take night showers, I slipped on my undergarments and my plum colored, three quarter sleeve skater dress. I wrapped a thin, black belt around my waist and slipped on black tights. I slipped on my shiny, black flat brogues and my black beanie, applying some light pink lip gloss and shouldering my backpack.

I grabbed my silver chain bracelet and slipped it on as well, walking downstairs to make toast. Fortunately, Stiles was dressed and finished using my phone.

"Thanks Beth," he grinned, handing me my phone. I flashed him a small smile, nodding and walking to the back of the jeep. I positioned my headphones and drowned all the noise around me as I listened to The Script.

Knowing that Scott would be riding with Stiles and, being the secretive bunch they are, I decided to stay away from whatever business they have to make life easier for them.

Once we arrived in school, I didn't bother saying goodbye, slamming the door as loud as possible. I smirked when I heard Scott groan because of the sound when I lowered the volume of my iPod.

I walked to my locker, grabbing my Chemistry book and my History book.

"Hey," a voice said beside me. I turned and saw Danny—and Jackson.

Not surprising since they are best friends.

"Hey Danny," I smiled, closing my locker. "What's up?"

"It's your free period later, right?" Danny asked.

"Yeah, why?"

"Could you watch the lacrosse practice today?" he asked. "I need someone to cheer for me because someone just had to make a bet with someone that a girl can cheer for me, too."

I chuckled when he glowered at Jackson, who merely rolled his eyes and shrugged.

"Alright," I said. "I'll see you in free period."

"Thank you so much, Bethany," he smiled. "I'll give you the fifty dollars that I'll earn in this bet later."

I laughed. "I'll be looking forward to the fifty dollars… and call me Beth, please?"

He smiled and nodded. "Beth."

I waved a goodbye and walked to my first period, History.

I made my way beside Erica Reyes, who didn't notice me sit beside her.

"Hey Erica," I greeted softly. Said girl turned to me and smiled.

"H-Hey," she stuttered a bit.

Ever since we became seatmates in History class, I tried to talk to Erica Reyes. She's epileptic and quite lonely in school. When I saw her all alone in her lunch table once, I walked to her and sat beside her to keep her company. At first, she thought it was because I pitied her. I simply shook my head, saying I know how loneliness felt like, and I don't like seeing people lonely because it's not a nice feeling.

Since then, we were friends… though not that close.

History passed quickly, and the next thing I knew, I was heading to my next class, Chemistry—and unfortunately, with Scott, Stiles and Allison.

I walked into class, sitting beside Isaac Lahey.

I have three words to describe him.

Sweet, sincere, and annoyingly cute (by cute, I mean handsome).

"Hi Beth," Isaac greeted, flashing me a small smile. I returned the gesture and brought out my Chemistry book.

"How was your weekend?" he asked.

I shrugged. "Normal, I guess. I didn't really do anything."

"Oh, I see." Awkward silence.

"So," he began again, fiddling with the zipper of his jacket slightly—insert fangirl squeal here because he looked so adorable! "Would you like to study in the local library tomorrow, after school? I need a bit of help in Trigonometry."

I smiled and nodded. "Sure," I said, turning my head back to the chalk board when Mr. Harris walked into the classroom.

Oh my goodness.

Did Isaac just…

Did he just ask me out?

I managed to push away my attempted pig-like squeal and the huge grin that wanted to creep along the sides of my mouth.

Best Chemistry class ever.

xXx

Walking to the washroom with a big book was hard.

I mean seriously, why is it that our Trigonometry book should have to be that big? These pages can last me two years, damn it!

I was about to open the door to the female restroom, when I heard a bit of shouting in the male restroom.

Being the curious girl I am, I slowly placed my ear by the door, making sure no one saw me as I tried to make out the voices inside.

"…what's happening?" a muffled voice asked. It sounded like… Jackson?

"Body's fighting the bite," a different voice asked. This one, I don't know who it is.

"Why?" Jackson questioned, sounding a bit panicked.

"I… don't know."

"W-What does it mean?" he asked, even more panicked. Whatever's happening there, it sounds serious. And what bite are they talking about? A bug bite?

"What does it mean?!" Jackson yelled, making me jump. Alright, that's it, I'm going inside.

Sucking up all my pride, I barged into the male restroom, gasping when I saw Jackson's state.

He was bleeding. Bleeding on both ears and his nose.

And it was black, not red. Black blood.

Oh my God.

"J-Jackson,' I whimpered slightly. "What happened? I… I heard shouting and—"

"Nothing happened," he said all too quickly. "Go away."

I bit my lip, swiftly grabbing a lot of tissue and walking straight up to him, wiping his ears and nose gently.

"What the heck—"

"Hold still," I said softly. "Relax."

I never noticed how tense he really was until his shoulders slumped down and he closed his eyes.

Soon enough, all the blood was gone and he stood awkwardly as I threw the bloodied pieces of tissue paper to the nearest trash bin.

"Better?" I asked.

He nodded slightly. "Uh… thanks," he mumbled.

"You're welcome," I said softly, giving him a small smile. "If that happens again, you can call for me… or whatever."

"Yeah," he said, shuffling his feet awkwardly. "You… might want to, you know, get out of here before someone comes and sees you in the male restroom."

I flushed and nodded, scrambling away and hearing a slight chuckle from behind me.

Whoa.

Did Jackson and I just… did we just have a normal conversation there?

This day is getting weirder and weirder every hour.

The rest of the subjects flew by until it was free period. I sat on the bleachers by the center, getting a clear view of the field.

I grinned when I saw the person I was looking for.

"Danny!" I yelled. Said person turned and smiled, waving. I saw Jackson flash someone an I-told-you-so kind of look, accompanied with his signature smirk. I rolled my eyes mentally and smiled.

As I watched them practice—with a bit of cheering for Danny, courtesy of yours truly—I saw someone I never knew was in the lacrosse team.

"Isaac!" I yelled as coach announced a ten minute break. Isaac turned to my direction and grinned, waving frantically. I giggled and waved back in a more subtle manner.

"Hi," he breathed out after running towards me from across the field.

"Hi," I smiled.

He tilted his head to the side, suddenly poking the area near the corners of my mouth.

"I never noticed that you had dimples before," he mumbled.

I chuckled and shrugged. "I don't like showing my dimples when I smile. Makes me feel like I have abnormal craters on my cheeks or something."

"No way," he said softly. "I like them. It looks adorable with your pretty face."

I felt the heat slowly creeping to my cheeks. I gulped, trying to push it away.

He grinned slightly. "And it looks even more adorable with that flushed face of yours."

And I now resemble a tomato.

"S-Shut up," I mumbled, pushing him playfully.

"Get back on the field!" I heard Coach Finstock shout.

I smiled at Isaac. "Good luck… and have fun," I said.

"I will," he smiled. "Cheer loud… for Danny, I mean."

I shrugged. "I'll cheer for you, too."

He blinked. "You will?"

"Yeah, I'll be your number one fan," I grinned. "Don't let me down, alright? I'll be cheering for you."

"Don't worry," he said, shaking his head vigorously. "I won't let you down."

I watched as Jackson passed the ball to another player, passing it to another player while dodging someone who was about to tackle him. The ball went to Scott, then went to Isaac.

"Oh shoot," I heard coach mumble from below.

I raised an eyebrow. What's wrong with giving the ball to Isaac?

Isaac looked at me for a second, and shot the ball to the net, gaining one goal.

"Hm," I heard coach again. "Not bad. Not bad, at all."

Once they ended practice—and Danny handed me fifty bucks, I ran to Isaac, nearly toppling him over.

"That was a great score," I grinned. "You didn't let me down."

"That was because for the first time, someone was cheering me on," he smiled, shouldering his bag.

"Like I said," I shrugged, grinning. "I'm your number one fan."

"Exactly why that goal I made was for you, Beth."

xXx

"No, you will not."

"Stiles!"

"There's actually nothing wrong with what Beth will be doing tomorrow."

"Shut up, Scott!"

"See? Scott's okay with it!"

"That's because his sister isn't going on a date tomorrow."

"It's not a date!"

Okay, so telling your overly protective, fraternal twin brother, who is five minutes older than you isn't actually the brightest idea I ever did, but I had to tell him or he'll call dad if he didn't know where I was at dismissal time tomorrow and, knowing our father, he could send a whole team of police to look for me.

"Beth," Stiles groaned. "You dating—"

"It's not a date, alright?!" I yelled. "And so what if I go out with a guy? Do you want me to grow old alone or something?"

"If possible," he mumbled, loud enough for me to hear.

"Stiles!"

"Alright, I'm sorry, okay?!" he yelled. "I'm just… I'm just looking out for you. I don't want you to get hurt."

"Stiles," I said, my eyes softening ever so slightly. "I'll be fine… and it's not like he likes me or I like him, no way, it's impossible, absolutely not going to happen because we're not even close, heck we don't even hang out. I mean, seriously, why do you think we'll be dating after this study session, I mean, he could like another girl—"

"Beth…"

"—and pretty much, I don't think I'm the girlfriend material and I've never even had a boyfriend, and I'm not that pretty. I mean, sure, I'm not ugly but it doesn't mean I'm really pretty or something, it just means I don't look bad but then Isaac called me pretty a while ago which was really nice of him—"

"Beth?"

"—but then again, he might be saying that just to be nice because he pities me that no one compliments me or no one likes me, but then I don't know, it just sounded so sincere and did you just see the way his eyes sparkle? Oh my goodness, he is so perfect I can't even contain the happiness I felt when he asked me out. This is like, the highlight of my day! But then what if he just really needs help in Trigonometry and then after that he won't talk to me anymore? Oh my gosh, Stiles, what am I going to do—"

"Beth!"

"What?!" I yelled, breathing heavily.

"You're rambling," Stiles pointed out.

"I'm sorry," I groaned. "I just… I don't know…"

"Beth?"

"Yeah Scott?"

"You'll be fine," he assured, like the big brother figure he is. "I saw you guys in the field a while ago. He really does like you, trust me."

"You think so?"

"Yeah, I do," he smiled. "But if he hurts you, you can call me or your brother. We'll kick his stupid ass for you, alright?"

I smiled. "Thanks Scott. You're awesome," I said, hugging him in a sisterly way.

"Yeah, sure," Stiles grumbled. "My best friend gets to be hugged by my sister. Fine by me."

I giggled and pulled away from Scott, wrapping my arms around my twin.

"Love you, Stiles."

"Same here, Beth," he smiled, hugging me back.

I slumped back to my seat, looking at the window. Rolling the window down, I narrowed my eyes as the cold wind stung them slightly.

I suddenly saw a flash of movement in the woods, like a huge creature. I raised an eyebrow, telling Stiles to stop the car.

"Why?" he asked, suddenly alert. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I mumbled. "It's just…"

"Did you see anything?" Scott asked.

"A movement…" I mumbled. "Let me go check it out."

"Wait, Beth—"

I ran into the woods, suddenly intrigued by whatever that was.

My sprint turned to walking as I plunged deeper into the heart of the woods. I thought I was going to find some sort of cool thing—wow, I'm turning into Stiles and Scott—but I was horribly mistaken.

Horribly, frighteningly, and terribly mistaken.

Right in front of me, was Gerard Argent, the new principal of Beacon Hills High School, holding a long and sharp object, together with who I know was Allison's father, Chris Argent.

But that wasn't the terrible part.

In front of them was a person, his hair disheveled and his clothes messy. His body was limply hanging, but only his upper limb. The lower half of his body was on the ground, mixed with blood and guts that spilled from his upper body.

I did what any sane and normal person would do.

I let out a bloodcurdling scream.