Disclaimer; I do not own teen wolf, plotlines, characters etc.

I only own my OC Alexis McCall

000

We were the ones who weren't afraid
We were the broken hearted
We were the scars that wouldn't fade away

How did we let go
How did we forget
That we don't have to hide
We won't believe the lies again
We won't be paralyzed

We can be who we are now we are alive
We can fight, they cannot contain us
It's who we are, we are not dying
We're us forever
We won't hide our faces from the light
Eliminate the space between us
It's who we are, we are forever
It's who we are

-Who we are; Red

000

It was ten o'clock on the last night of summer break my sophomore year of high school when life changed forever. I laid in bed, book in hand, ear buds plugged in, lounging in my black sweats and matching batman tee shirt, with my wavy brown curls pulled up in a bun. My head bobs to the music mind swirling in the world of The Fifth Wave before my bedroom door swings open.

I look up, my eyes finding my younger brother (by six minutes) Scott in my door way. He's in his gym shorts and maroon jacket holding mom's old baseball bat with a serious expression. My fingers tug the buds from my ears, book abandoned on my blanket as I sit forward worried.

"What's wrong?"

"Did you not hear that?" Scott questions a nervous tremor to his voice as I shrug hitting pause on my music.

"Hear wha-" I don't get to finish my sentence because before the word even leaves my lips a loud crash echoes from outside. My stomach drops, eyes widening in panic as Scott jumps jerking to look out the door.

I spring from my warm bed toward my brother and listen for another sound only to be greeted with a crash. Heart pounding I grab my aluminum bat from my bedside as Scott sends me a determined look.

"Stay here." he demands going to step out my door but I lunge grabbing his arm.

"What," I demand as he goes to move and my hand latches onto his arm. "Scott wait! We should just call the police."

He gives me a smile, dimples showing in his slightly pudgy cheeks, and for a moment I feel an ease of calmness. "It's probably just the raccoons again, I'm just going to check it out."

And just like that the panics back and I tighten my hold with a shake of my head. "No way Scott that's what that guy said before the axe murder chops him into tiny pieces on his front porch."

Scott rolls his dark eyes at my dramatics and after giving me a reassuring smile pulls from my grip and darts down the steps. I make a frustrated noise in the back of my throat and watch in disbelief as he pads down the steps. .

With a grumbled curse under my breath and determined set of my shoulders I head down the steps following Scott into the front room. He glances back at me as I come up behind him and I only raise my eye brows when he gives me a glare.

"I told you to stay there," he scolds his tone taking on his big brother tone making me roll my eyes.

"I'm older than you your not the boss of me," I shoot back in annoyance making him scowl down at me.

"So what I'm trying to protect you-"

" I don't need protecting besides I thought you said it was raccoons." I whisper bitterly

"Oh my god, can you just-"

Another crash echoes cutting the both of us off before Scott instantly tenses and slides in front of me protectively bat raised at the ready. My own fingers tighten around my own and I step up to his side the two of us slowly opening the front door.

The chilly night air hits first as we step onto the porch and the full moon in the sky is the only light source we have. The noises have stopped, the wind being the only sound and Scott steps forward in front of me motioning for me to stay back. I only roll my eyes at this and step forward to his side.

We move forward ready and when a shape falls from the roof upside down the night air is filled with screams. I shriek, Scott shrieks while I jerk my arm back instinctively ready to swing as my heart plummets down to my feet but that's when the moon light touches the intruder's eyes and I see the familiar honey golden orbs.

Realizing at the right time who it is, I launch myself between Scott and the idiot slamming a fist into his gut. The Stilinksi boy yelps as his hands reaching to block me as my much smaller ones pound into him while yelling, "Stiles-I'm gonna kill you!"

"Stiles," Scott questions in confusion before the anger explodes on his face like it had through me. "What the hell are you doing!"

"Neither of you were answering your phones!" Stiles defends and his honey colored orbs glance to the bat Scott's hand and mine on the ground. " Why do you have bats?"

"Because of idiots like you sneaking up to our roof in the middle of the night!"

Stiles sighs rolling his eyes before I punch him again making the boy yelp out an, "Ow Lexi!"

We glare at each other and I cross my arms snapping, "Oh I'm sorry did that hurt?"

"Yes!"

"Well you should 'a thought about that before scaring us half to death!" I yell hitting him again.

"Alright alright," Scott cuts in stepping between us and pushing me away from our idiotic friend. " What did you need to talk about so bad?"

Stiles glares at me but it falters after he meets my eyes though and sighs. "I saw my dad leave like twenty minutes ago,."

"Why?"

The gleam in Stiles eyes even gets past the irrtabilty and brings the excitement out in me as he grins devilishly. "Dispatch called, they're bringing in every one from the beacon department and even the state police."

"What for?" I ask as a ball of unease settles into my stomach.

"Two joggers found a body in the woods."

"What?" I question as said boy summer salts off the roof ungracefully and lands in the bushes by the porch. With a snort I bite back a remark and I roll my eyes at his curse of pain before he stumbles onto the porch as our brother looks at me mouth agap.

"What, a dead body?" Scott questions breathlessly as I look at him in exasperation.

"No Scott a body of water," I snap irritably. "Yes a dead body, you dumbass!"

Scott glares at me but looks at our friend asking, "So was it like murder?

"Nobody knows yet just that it was a girl probably in her twenties."

"Hold up a second if the jogger found the body then what are the police looking for?" I questions in confusion but from the sudden dark twisted excitement in his honey orbs I suddenly wished I'd never even asked.

"That's the best part, they only found half." Stiles says excitedly bouncing in place.

Scott's jaw immediately drops, my eyes widening and I suddenly wished I'd not gotten out of bed tonight.

000

The ride to beacon hills preserve is short and mostly included me sulking in the back seat of the car kicking myself for letting them bait me into this. Even when the car pulls up to the trail leading into the preserve I try to talk them out of it once more.

"Guys come on do we really have to do this?"

Neither boy answers though just climbs out of the car and into the night. I groan banging my seat against the head rest before shaking my head. When I exit the warm car into the chilly night air I shiver wrapping my arms around myself regretting not bringing my heavy coat.

Stiles seems to notice because he casts me a concerned look before digging in the back seat and tossing me his maroon and gray beacon hills high sweat shirt. I glare at him, annoyance bubbling but it was freezing so I slide the soft material over my long sleeves and roll the sleeves to fit. The thing by no means fits me, the bottom hanging to mid thigh but the warm feeling along with the familiar scent of Stiles gives my hyped nerves a sense of peace like always.

"You know I think we saw this horror film last week." I comment stuffing my hands into the pockets of the hoodie as Stiles rolls his eyes.

"I never thought I'd see the day Alexis wimped out on me," Stiles teases

"Keep talking Stilinski and you'll never see anything again."

Stiles laughs as we head toward the trail but not before Scott pauses asking "Are we really doing this?"

"Oh come on, guys you're the ones always bitching about nothing ever happening in this town."

"Bitching?" I snap making Stiles spin eyes wide.

He shakes his head rapidly arms waving in the air like a spazz stuttering out, "No-No I-I didn't mean it like that-"

I don't wait for him to finish instead click on my flash light and let the beam of light guard me through the dark forest. Stiles groans behind me hurrying to catch up but I ignore him as we walk only to stump my foot on a root.

"Ow! Damn it!"

Stiles turns, flash light ray blinding me as he asks, "You okay?"

"No stiles I'm tired, I just stumped my toe, it's freezing, and we're looking for a psycho path in the middle of the night!"

"Hey come on this is the most exciting thing to happen in years."

My eyes narrow, head shaking before I hop over a large rock landing at his side sarcastically snapping, "Yeah because murder is always exciting what would I do without you to drag us into these things."

He snorts and shines the flashlight beam around. "You love it and you know it."

I roll my eyes stumbling some and grab his arm to keep myself steady. "Yeah well it's your fault we're not getting a good night sleep tonight, Scott wanted to get rest for try outs, and I'd rather not have bags under my eyes the beginning of sophomore year."

"Yeah because sitting on a bench takes so much effort, and why do you care don't girls have make up for that."

"You just have all the answers don't you."

"Yep."

I roll my eyes shaking my head while muttering, "Jackass."

"Bitch." Stiles responds playfully before my fist slams into his shoulder. The boy yelps dropping his flash light as I smirk in victory and watch him rub his arm. He glares at me halfheartedly and shakes his head muttering under his breath.

"Hey I'm going to be playing this year," Scott snaps as he catches up to us and then squares his shoulders with confidence. " In fact I'm going to make first line."

The pride in my brother's voice makes me smile back at him before Stiles responds, "Hey that's the spirit. Everyone needs dreams even pathetically unrealistic ones."

"You mean like you actually getting laid before your thirty?" I ask innocently

"Or you actually graduating high school?" he shoots back.

"Very cute."

"I know." He gives me what I can only guess is suppose to be a sly grin, honey orbs shimmering from the flash light beam before stumbling over a root and eating the ground. I snort giggling into my hand as he mutters a string of curses and stumbles back up to his feet.

"Nice, Mr. Suave."

He stumbles cursing again before glaring back at me. "I meant to do that."

I roll my eyes letting him march ahead like he knew what he was doing as Scott and I share a grin muttering, "Uh Huh."

After grinning at my brother something dawns on me and I have to jog after Stiles to catch up with him. Scott complains behind me but it barely registers as I grab my best friends arm.

"Stiles, just out of curiosity but what part of the body are we looking for?"

Said boy suddenly tenses coming to a stop and I ram right into him. He instantly spins steadying me and tilts his head to the side. "Huh hadn't thought of that."

"And what if the killer is still out here?" Scott asks behind us

"Hadn't thought of that either."

"Great Stillinski glad to see you planned this with your usual attention to detail." I snap clutching at roots and twigs popping from the ground as we climb an incline.

"I know." Stiles groans and I shake my head pausing to check on Scott. He's pausing every now and then breathing heavily as he pulls himself up the hill.

"Stiles hold up."

The boy stops, turning his head back as we hear slight wheezing behind us. "You alright back there Scotty?"

He nods holding a thumbs up while I return a glare back at Stiles. "I swear to god Stiles if something happens to him out here I'm kicking your ass then his."

"Oh come on he's fine!" stiles laughs making it to the top before grabbing my hand and pulling me up. A voice behind us makes us pause though.

"Uh guys maybe the severe asthmatic should have the flashlight?" he wheezes and I turn tossing him mine as he takes a puff from his inhaler. He fumbles with it but catches it with a wheezy groan.

A giggle escapes as my brother mutters something before climbing unsteadily up the hill, slipping every now and then on the wet leaves. Suddenly though as he makes it to the top Stiles tackles us both to the ground. The sound of dogs is unmistakable in the distance as the glare of flash lights reflects toward us.

We all fumble with the lights clicking them off watching the light weave in and out of th trees. My heart thuds against my ribs, hands tightening in fists as I realize just how stupid this idea was. If we got caught we would so totally be grounded not to mention criminal charges if Stiles dad was around and if the person who killed the girl was still out here we are so totally screwed.

Everything becomes a blur though when Stiles suddenly springs up muttering "Come on lets go."

"Stiles!" I yelp stumbling up from the ground as Scott groans behind me.

We chase after him dodging roots and stones avoiding the beams of light whisper yelling to our best friend when suddenly a dog barking is closer than the others. I tense eyes finding Stiles when hearing him yelp before hitting the ground dog over him as Scott grabs me pulling us behind some nearby trees while covering my mouth with his hand.

"Stay right there!" the officer yells and I gesture wildly for Scott to move, do something other than stand behind this damn tree but when a new voice rings through the air I freeze.

"Hang on, hang on this little delinquent belongs to me."

Scott's hand stays firm over my mouth as we both look at each other wide eyed while shrinking back against the tree. Rain begins leaking through the leaves now falling onto our already moist clothing and making it even colder outside.

"Dad, how're you doing."

The sheriff is silent for a moment before asking, "So do you listen to all my phone calls?"

"No," Stiles denies then sighs in defeat adding "Well not the boring ones."

"Mhmm so where are your usual partners in crime?"

My eyes widen and Scott tenses beside me. We wait on baited breath for Stiles to speak and I pray he could t ell a good lie for once in his life.

"Who, Scott and Lexi? Are you kidding, them out here at this hour? No, Lexi's in bed resting that pretty little head of hers, and Scott wanted to sleep before school tomorrow." Stiles lies then adds quickly, "Just me...in the woods...alone."

Yeah real smooth stiles

"Scott, Lexi you out there!" the sheriff calls shinning his flash light into the trees. "Kids?"

Then the sheriff grabs stiles talking in a low voice as they begin walking away most likely back to Stiles car. Scott and I exchange a long look, waiting until the officer and his cadaver dog walked towards the rest of the search party before we slowly sneak away from the scene.

Once in the safety of darkness Scott flips on his flash light and I throw my hood over my head. A shiver crawls up my spin, watching the officers move further away by the second and a part of me wants to run after them and beg them to take us home. I wanted to scream because not only were we facing major criminal charges but now we were trapped in the preserve with no way home.

"If we live," I growl shivering despite the warmth of anger in my chest, "I'm going to kill him tomorrow."

"Come on let's see if we can make it to the car before them." Scott chuckles moving slowly forward as I whine walking after him.

Thunder claps in the distance and I mentally groan fallowing close at my brothers heels glancing over my shoulder as twigs crack in the distance. My head whips back fear clawing at my chest with its icy grips and I suddenly wish Stiles was here. Not that the boy would do much good against an axe murderer but there was always a safe feeling that associated with Stiles. And as much as I hated it, I did feel safer with him with us but now, the fear multiplied times a billion as I look at my brother.

Suddenly a eerie howl echoes in the distance and I freeze checking over my shoulder in alarm.

"Scott?" I call glancing over at my brother as he shines the flash light toward me.

"Yeah?"

"Did you hear that?"

"Just a wolf." he shrugs and moves forward. "Come on we need to get going."

I shake my head chasing after him while calling, "Scott there haven't been wolves in the preserve for like fifty years."

"Maybe it's a coyote."

Fear eats away inside because as reasonable as my brother was coyote and wolf howls where completely different. Besides the feel of the woods seemed to alert some sort of response inside me because the hair on my neck raises, chills wash down my spine and something kept screaming at me to get Scott the hell out of here. I glance around trying to hear over the rain pelting down and for a moment I would swear I could hear a heavey fast breathing behind us.

Glancing back I'm met by nothing but darkness before my body rams into something solid in front of me. "Ow, Scott what are you doing?"

My brother doesn't answer me just reaches back to steady me as he stares into the forest in front of us. I glance up at him, at the cautious look on his face, the protective stance he takes and my eyes snap back to the darkness in front of us.

"Scott? What's wrong?"

Again he doesn't answer and my hand slowly retreats toward my folding buck knife in my pocket when suddenly a mass of brown bodies come galloping toward us. I'm pretty sure we both scream, what the words are I'm not sure but we hit the ground curled in fetal positions with Scott draped over me protectively.

Hooves smash the ground around our heads, and each time my heart leaps fear eating at me as unwanted tears burn my eyes when they clench tightly together. It feels like forever before the thumping stops and our ears are only met by precious silence. Scott and I slowly uncurl ourselves my eyes immediately finding him and scanning over him.

"You okay?" he questions with a wince climbing to his feet.

The question burns me as I stand also, ignoring his out stretched hand before slamming it into his shoulder. He flinches turning on me with wide eyes yelping and I glare at him hands on my hips.

" Am I okay?" I sneer hitting him again. "You just protected me dumbass!"

He rolls his eyes and my gaze softens scanning over him for any injuries as I shake my head asking, "Are you okay?"

"Besides my arm I'm fine."

I nod, looking around before hearing Scott groan. Glancing over at him I see him patting his pockets before tilting his head back with an annoyed groan. "What?"

"I lost my inhaler. Can you help me see if I can find it?"

Sighing I click on the flash light the two of us scanning the leaves as I tease, "I can't believe you lost another."

"I was more worried about us being trampled to death," Scott defends making me snort.

"Mom's still going to kill you."

He mutters something under his breath kicking a pile of leaves using his phone to see. "Yeah well I'll just tell her you dragged me out here."

I snicker using the flash lights beam to search coming up with nothing but deer tracks, and dead leaves but stop when I see something red spotting the leaves. Scott's still talking behind me but I barely register as a sense of cold dead weight hits my stomach. It's like my movements are robotic as I slowly lift the light only to stop dead with a scream.

A girl, no more than late twenties lays there, dark brown matted hair, eyes open wide with fear and the bottom half of her body will haunt me for years. Entrails lined the ground, blood splashed on the dead leaves around her and everything from her waist down was gone.

I stumble backwards screaming as Scott races to me yelling my name asking what was wrong. His large hands rest on my shoulders, me still shrieking as he tries to talk. Finally he just shakes me, catching my attention enough for me to tear my gaze from her to him.

"What the hell is wrong," he snaps hands on my face.

"The g-girl." I stutter making my brothers face harden before he turns around to look behind him.

He steps forward but not before I latch onto his arm yelling hysterically, "No! No! Scott we have to get out of here we have to-"

My brother doesn't listen though only shakes me off and moves forward. I can see the beam of light from his phone and when he yelps jumping backwards I know he found her. He stumbles back a bit and before I can even react he falls backwards disappearing from view.

"Scott!" I yelp jumping to my feet running to the edge of the incline hearing him crashing through the brush. For a few moments it's silent, and for the briefest second I forget how to breathe. Fear reaches its claws into my chest gripping my lungs in an icy snare as I shine the flashlight around

"Scott!" I choke out and tears burn my eyes until i hear his groan of annoyance making a few tears fall for a whole new reason now.

"Scott are you okay?"

"Yeah," Scott grumbles "There's no way I can get back up there though."

"Okay I'm coming down there to get you."

"Just watch your step Lex."

I roll my eyes once again while saying, "Says the boy who just nearly broke his neck."

Scott groans saying something I don't catch before picking up my flash light, taking a deep breath and stumbling my way down the incline. My brother waits at the bottom, face illuminated by my flashlight beam as I get closer and the weight lifts from my chest all at once. I smile moving towards him and throw an arm around his neck for a long moment. Stepping back I look over him only to start giggling while shaking my head and begin plucking some twigs from his shaggy black hair.

"Nice hair accessories where can I get some?"

"Ha ha." Scott grumbles. " Come on we need to get out of here."

I nod grabbing the flash light as my brother starts looking for his phone he says he must have dropped. I roll my eyes wandering up the incline some searching for the blue light of the phones screen when a crack of twigs echoes behind me.

"Scott you find it?" I call moving leaves around. "Scott?"

"Lexi run!"

I spin body on autopilot and freeze when I see the blood red eyes glowing in the trees beside my brother. My eyes widen scream building in my throat and before I can react the monster lunges tackling my brother to the ground. I scream, Scott screams and before I realize what I'm doing I grab anything I can , which happens to be a dead thick branch, and slide the little ways down the hill slamming it into the giant wolfs head.

It doesn't even phase it only makes the wolf ducks it head before my brother's scream in pain fills the air. My body, as if reacting on some old instinct, manages to let me seize the knife from my pocket and jab it into the wolf's side three times.

The creature yelps, the sound barely surpassing the volumes of my brother screams of pain before it's back legs come back throwing me to the ground. I hit the earth breath flying from my chest and disoriented I watch terrified and paralyzed on the ground as the creature comes toward me. My body screams at me to move to raise the knife still locked in my fingers but I can't. There's a yell a rock slams into the creatures head and arms are around me.

"Come on." Scott wheezes and we run, racing through the forest as fast as we can away from the creature behind us.

We run, or stumble I guess is better, my hand clutching his, air trying to reach both our lungs and when the rain breaks through the trees I realize we're on a road a second too late. A car horn blares at us, rain sheeting down and Scott pushes me backward as the car swerves around us still speeding away.

"Hey wait!" I scream waving my arms at the car who only speeds up down the slick road. "Please we need help!"

Frustration roars inside me until I hear Scott's groan of pain and nothing else matters but my brother. I spin around seeing his hands pressed on his side and the blood soaking his hoodie. "Oh my god, Scott your bleeding."

"No, I'm okay." he denies and tries to shift away from me. I swat at him, moving the flash light to one hand and unzip his hoodie peeling the fabric away from his tee shirt. A moment of panic seizes me and I pull up his shirt ignoring his protests as I see the round crescent wound across his skin, a bite mark.

"Is it bad?"

My eyes find my brothers, hands drop his shirt, and I stand giving him a smile even though everything inside me is screaming. My brother was hurt, bit by some animal in the woods, it could be rabid, or god knows what else, he was bleeding, all because we came out here for a little excitement.

"We should get you home." I say voice a little too tight, trying to remain relaxed for his benefit, "You'll be fine."

He nods and I sling his arm around my shoulders, allowing him to lean his large body against my own. He groans us both shivering and soaked to the bone, moving as quick as possible down the slick road. When I glance behind us though I could swear I catch sight of a shimmering turquoise color in the trees before a howl echoes behind us.