Hope you guys enjoy!

"He'll make it." Derek reassures his mother with a comforting smile as they watch the hovering screen in front of them, strategically placed behind a frozen Stiles.

The angles of the scene flicker constantly to keep Stiles on the screen, in all his frowning glory, despite the fact that real person is still in the room, staring off into space.

"I know..." Talia mumbles and presses her fingers to her lips as she watches her son stumble and trip over roots.


The echoes aren't getting any closer. They aren't getting any more distant either but...that isn't comforting in any way.

"Stupid branches." Stiles mutters when another whips forward knock his glasses down his nose.

"Careful with the rope."

"Oh my-" Stiles jumps and looks over to find the quiet kid staring at him a few feet ahead. "What is your problem?"

"Careful with the rope. That crazy chick sent it up like a machine, I barely had time to process it." the kid states before gesturing to a trail of cleared leaves.

"Shouldn't you be moving forward?" Stiles asks as he carefully walks around the camo rope on the floor.

"I heard you coming. Thought maybe we could go together."

"Yeah...sure." Stiles sighs as he looks down at his watch. "You have any idea how to work this thing?"

"Just...touch it." the kid shrugs.

"Touch it?" Stiles presses a finger to the square screen and watches for a second before a picture flickers on.

"Swipe."

"Canteen-"

"empty."

"Flare-"

"Pointless; no one's coming to get you out."

"Gun-"

"You know how to shoot?"

"I do, actually." Stiles mumbles after he gets to what he's looking for. "How do I get it?"

"Touch it." the kid mumbles before reaching forward and taping the screen quickly.

"Now-whoa." Stiles breathes when a heavy switchblade presses against his fingers in his closed fist.

"Not sure how the technology works...but it does. What are you gonna do with that, anyway?"

"Watch." Stiles sighs before kneeling and grabbing a small boulder.

"What are you-" the kid stumbles back when Stiles tosses the thing to the rope.

There's a whipping sound and a snap before a small noose is hanging from a tree branch.

"She's insane." Stiles grins before moving forward to cut the rope from the tree.

"It took you 'till now to notice?"

"Come on, let's get moving."

... . . ... . . ... . ...

"I thought this was supposed to be a test." Stiles mumbles as they walk through the leaves and roots.

"Everyone's different."

"I've never heard of something like this."

"It's a course. A maze."

"No, I mean the comas. The technology, the stakes, the risks. Why are they amping it up so much? And why haven't we been warned about how bad this test is."

"...I don't think this is just some ordinary test. I mean, I have friends that have come back. They never said anything-"

"You have friends that came back?" Stiles asks with a frown.

"Well, yeah. They get tested, they do their job, and eventually they get to come back."

"...where are you from?"

"Beams."

Beams. The slums on the outskirts of the outskirts of Beacon Hills.

"...you have a pack?"

"Not exactly. I mean, yeah. But...not like yours."

"Like mine?" Stiles looks at the other as they duck past a thick branch.

"We're just kids. Well...I'm just a kid. They're all wolves. They took me in after my sister was killed by one of theirs."

"And how did you get here? I thought humans like you weren't kept track of."

"Yeah." the guy scoffs. "I wish. We still got those stupid envelopes and the occasional visit whenever I wouldn't turn it in. I had to go through every test, every examination, every ritual. Nice ink, by the way."

"Oh, thanks. you too." Stiles nods at the intricate lines and shapes that seem to wrap around his wrist and hand like a vine. "But how do they know?"

"Beats me. We moved a lot but they still kept coming. And if I ever one didn't come in, there'd be a Fed at my door in a matter of weeks."

"Did you go to school?"

"No. I trained."

"Trained?"

"Beck, my Alpha, thought it was stupid to go to a place that wouldn't do me any actual good. So he trained me homeschooled me."

"So your pack, they were good to you?"

"Of course. I had a pretty okay life. You know, except for all the moving. Beck's been gone for a while on business. Couldn't be here today and...none of the others are really that close to me."

"How big?"

"Fifteen. Mostly just a rag tag group. We picked up a new stray every time we moved. What about you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Who are you? Where are you from?"

"My name's Stiles."

"Jamie."

"I don't know where I was born. But I've lived with my family since... I don't know when. There are eleven of us. My family and four friends that were turned. I went to Beacon Hills High. I didn't ever really have problems, everything was pretty perfect. I've lived in the same house my whole life."

"Listen." Jaime stops and tilts his head slightly.

Stiles obeys and feels a chill run down his spine when the echoing laughs start up again.

"That girl's out of her mind."

"You knew her?" Jaime asks as they start moving again.

"No idea who she is. I don't even know if we went to the same school."

"Supposedly, you four did."

"What?"

"They put you with people close and similar to you. We all live in Beacon Hills. We're all supposed to be attending Beacon High.

"Beacon Hills High." Stiles corrects before chuckling at the annoyed look Jaime sends him. "Never mind. How do you know that?"

"Come on, she's getting closer."

"You didn't answer my...okay, I guess we're moving."

.. . . ... . . . . ... . . ...

Stiles isn't sure what the hell is happening until he's laying on the floor, unable to move anything but his head.

His arms sprawled out awkwardly in front of him, and his stomach sinking slowly into a deep puddle of mud and leaves, he looks up in time to see a pair of hiking boots step out from behind a tree a few yards away.

"Stiles?" Jaime's voice is hoarse, but still calm.

"I'm here. Where are you?"

"...behind you. What the hell happened?"

"You two are idiots." Stiles looks up to find the insane girl walking towards them with a bounce in her step and a creepy smile on her face.

"You've got to be kidding me." Jaime groans. "What did you do?"

"Don't ask questions." she growls.

"Well that eliminates all my participation." Stiles growls and twists his neck to get a better look at the girl.

"Then shut up." she states and places a hand on her hip. "I imagined you to last a lot longer."

"That makes two of us. What are you even doing? The point is to get out, not to kill each other."

"Are you really that stupid? What do you think happens once we reach the door? They're looking for the best. And that's me."

"And what about that other guy?" Jamie asks suddenly. "He seemed like competition to me."

"I'll get to him soon enough."

"Who are you?"

"Oh, Stiles. Don't tell me you don't know." she mocks and crouches in front of him.

"Am I supposed to?"

"Klia White."

"Never heard of you." Stiles grits out.

"Of course not." she huffs.

"Let us go Killa."

"Klia."

"Whatever. Just let me go." Jaime growls.

"No. I have eight hours to find that door. And the side effects last for ten. I think I'll get going."

"What? No!" Stiles sees her smirk as she starts walking away.

"If you by some miracle get free, don't come near me. I won't hesitate to drive a dagger through your skin."

"Yeah? How's about you come closer?! Bitch." Jaime growls and Stiles hear him grunt and struggle before groaning.

"we can't move."

"No dip!" the other boy growls.

"What now?"

"I don't know. I'm not good with the body or...whatever she did."

"Do you smell that?"

"Yeah, it smells like marijuana." Jaime mumbles.

"Be serious!" Stiles growls.

"It smells like mint. What about it?"

"When did that happen?" Stiles looks around with a frown before sighing.

"I don't know. Why? Who cares."

"Will you just...help me look for clues."

"Clues. This isn't a cartoon, Stiles!" Jaime sighs.

"Mint. She used mint. How does that information help us?"

"Maybe she wanted whatever she used to taste good before she used it on us."

"Stop joking around!"

"It isn't a clue! It's just dumb information!"

"Do you have any better ideas?!"

"...no."

"Exactly." Stiles sighs.

"Dude..." Jaime suddenly laughs.

"What?"

"Gum. It's gum."

"What?"

"The smell. It was gum. I see the wrapper."

"Shut up." Stiles mutters when Jaime keeps laughing.

.. . . ... . . . .. . ...

"It's getting really dark."

"Help!" Stiles suddenly shouts.

"What are you doing?"

"There has to be someone near."

"Yeah, and I bet they're all as crazy as Killer."

"Don't compare me to that psychotic mess."

Stiles slumps in relief at the new voice.

"Oh thank god." Stiles looks up with a smile. "You have the best timing in the world."

"And you two have the most unfortunate luck." it's Soldier Boy.

He's covered in leaves and mud.

But he looks a lot better than the two of them.

"Yeah. How's about helping us?" Jaime mumbles, back to his calm exterior.

"Dude, be nice." Stiles huffs. "Please, help us."

"...how long have you two been there?"

"I don't know. How much time do we have left?" Jaime asks and grunts in a struggle to move.

"Little less than six hours."

"...two hours." Stiles sighs tiredly.

"She left you two to rot." Soldier boy chuckles as he moves closer and kneels beside Stiles.

"What are you doing?"

"Your pulse is perfectly normal. As is your temperature. No bumps, no bruises, no charms."

"What does that mean?" Jaime groans.

"It means this is easily fixable. Who are you two?"

Stiles feels calloused fingers sun up the side of his neck slowly.

"Stiles." he mumbles before he's pinched harshly. "Ow!"

"relax."

Stiles obeys and sighs in relief feeling floods back into his limbs.

"What did she do?" Jaime demands as the guy moves over to help him.

"My name's Ace."

"Ace?" Jaime scoffs as he moves onto his hands and knees.

"And yours?" Ace asks with a raised eyebrow.

"...Jaime."

"Stiles and Jaime?"

"Mm-hm." Stiles groans and struggles to his feet.

Ace grabs his arms and hauls him up easily, a concerned frown playing on his face.

"I'm good." Stiles sighs before he's released.

"I would have thought you two'd be farther ahead. Out even." Ace states seriously.

"Us? I thought you'd have made it to the door before an hour was up." Jaime state and rolls his eyes.

"It's harder than I thought. This course is big."

"Yeah, I kid of figured something like that was up." Stiles and looks down at the map. "I can't find an end. Just the doors."

"Are we close?"

"No way. We're miles from that place." Stiles states and looks up at the other two.

"Great." Jaime sighs.

"...We can get there."

"We?" Jaime asks and raises an eyebrow.

"I helped you."

"Yeah, I get that. I just thought you'd be the type to work alone. You know...solo."

"You don't leave anyone behind." Ace states seriously.

"...you were raised by a military wolf, weren't you?" Jaime asks before chuckling.

"War isn't funny."

"I'm not laughing at war. I'm laughing at you."

"What's funny about me?"

"...just relax."

"How can you tell me to relax at a time-"

"Alright, stop it. You're both very beautiful, now can we get going? Klia's probably far gone. We should be safe."

"What about the other one?" Ace asks as they move towards the door's according to the map.

"Relax, she's not a problem." Jaime states seriously.

"...you left her behind?"

"She didn't come. No one left you behind." Jaime states as Stiles move forward to lead them.

"Who was last with her? They should have-"

"She threatened with death, dude. Leave it."

"Leave it? It's a human life. Not some-"

"Seriously? Turn off the soldier bull shit and shut up. Worry about yourself." Jaime growls before moving to walk beside Stiles.

"...thanks." Stiles mumbles, his eyes still glued to the map."

"No problem."

"I've been here before." Ace states suddenly.

"...what?"

"I've passed this clearing before."

"That's impossible. We're moving forward." Stiles states, but stops to face the other teen.

"I left markers." Ace walks over to a tree and tugs on the neon orange flag hanging from a branch.

"Then how did you get back there?" Jaime demands and glares.

"I heard you two. You don't leave-"

"Forget I asked." Jaime holds up at hand.

"We're heading in the right way. The doors are that way." Stiles sighs and points straight ahead.

"...Stiles?" Jaime suddenly stops and looks up.

"What?"

"What is that?" Ace asks and frowns.

"What's what?"

"Listen." they both state seriously.

There's a soft 'shh' sound of water hitting water whispering around them.

"Does the map show any signs of water?" Ace asks as he pulls up the map on his own watch.

"...none." Stiles shakes his head.

"Then what is it?" Jaime demands. "It must not be close. Right?" Jaime looks at them both with a frown.

"...I don't know. But let's get going. We don't want to take any chances."


"He knows better."

Derek glances up to see the man to their right glaring at the screen in front of him.

"He should be worried about getting himself to safety. Instead, he's worried about your son." the man turns and glares at them.

"Ignore him." Laura mumbles to their father when he turns to return the glare.

"Excuse me, last I checked, my son's the one taking leadership and responsibility for your son."

"I see that. Ace is an idiot for even considering the idea. Stiles will get them all killed in minutes."

"Last I checked, they've been fine for the past two hours." Declan growls.

"It's only a matter of time before they find something wrong."

"It'll probably be due to your son's stupid comments and questions." Cora snarls at the man with a heated look.

"Watch your mouth, girl. Learn to respect your elders."

"Do not speak to my daughter." Talia turns and frowns at the man.

"Are we seriously doing this?" Laura demands and huffs when she's ignored.

"Guys...guys!" Derek snaps, not bothering to turn away from the scene on the screen.


"Be careful!" Ace warns as Stiles climbs up a tree easily.

"I'll be fine, stop worrying." Stiles huffs as he pulls himself higher and higher.

"Dude, you're really high up there." Jaime states.

"Still can't see anything."

"Maybe this isn't worth it. I think you should come down before you break your neck."

"I'm fine, Jaime." Stiles grabs a branch and carefully looks to his left. "...I don't see anything. Just a lot more woods. There's a stream up ahead, really small."

"Nothing?" Ace groans.

"Nothing." Stiles starts stepping down when he hears the first chirp.

He ignores it, at first. Thinking it's just his mind playing tricks on him.

But then he hears it again.

"Do you hear that?" Stiles asks and stops moving.

"What?"

"Crickets."

"Don't be stupid, we haven't heard anything in hours."

"...Jaime I'm serious. I can hear them."

"well I can't hear anything. So just hurry up and get down here so we can keep moving."

"Jaime-"

"Stiles, be careful!" Ace growls when Stiles misses a branch and slides down several feet.

"I'm good." Stiles gasps and clings to the trunk for dear life.

"Dude..." Jaime mumbles.

"I'm good." Stiles continues downward. "But I'm serious. There they are again."

"We can't hear anything, Stiles." Ace insists and takes a slow step forward.

"I swear that I can-ow!"

"What?" Jaime demands when Stiles starts swatting at his shoulder.

"Ants!" Stiles gasps before groaning in pain. "Fire ants!"

"Stiles, get down. Now!" Ace demands.

"Guys. Ah!"

Stiles is stupid enough to let go of the trunk when he feels an ant bite at the webbing between his fingers.

And that leads him to rush to his death, twenty feet off the floor.

"I've got you!" Ace assures right before Stiles feels himself slam into a body and two thick arms wrap around his shoulders and under his knees.

"Whoa...dude." Jaime gasps as Stiles swats away the ants crawling over his arms and T-shirt. "I thought you said crickets."

"I did."

"You're okay. They're gone." Ace assures and tightens his hold.

"...it's gone." Stiles mumbles.

"What is?"

"The noise. It's quiet again."

"Seriously? You were just attacked by ants, and that's what worries you?"

"Shut up, Jaime." Ace mumbles as he sets Stiles back on his feet.

"He's right." Stiles mumbles and rubs at the bites that litter his hands and arms.

"That looks seriously painful, Dude."

"It is." Stiles sighs and looks at the other two. "Seriously. I'm fine. Let's get going. We should head for the stream. Get some water."

"Are you sure you're okay? You fell from a tree." Ace grips Stiles' shoulder and turns him so that they face each other. "We can stop for a bit if we need to."

"We have four hours to get to the doors. We have to hurry."


"I see it!" Jaime rushes forward and collapses in front of the stream with a choked laugh. "Water!" he gasps before cupping his hands and brining some up to his mouth.

"Slow down." Ace mutters half heartedly before he too crouches and gulps in the liquid.

"Geez." Stiles sighs as he slips Scott's birthday present out of his shirt and over his head.

"what are you doing?" Jaime demands before drinking more water.

"I'm being smart." Stiles states bluntly and pops off the cap before brining the necklace to the water and grinning when it slowly fills.

"What is that?" Ace asks before turning to his watch and flipping through its contents.

"It was a birthday present."

"Pretty wicked." Jaime grins.

"Here." Ace grins and tosses each of them a foil wrapped bundle.

"What is this?" Jaime demands.

"Food." Stiles grins and rips open the protein bar.

"Sweet!"

"Slow down, Jaime." Stiles mumbles around a mouthful.

"No way, I'm starving."

"We should keep moving. I can see the doors on the map."

"Seriously?" Jaime asks with a grin.

"...seriously." Ace answers with a reluctant smile.

"Oh, sweet! I'm so ready to get out of this place."


"Here." Laura mumbles and hands Derek a Styrofoam cup with a grimace.

"Thanks."

"What'd I miss?"

"Fire ants, they're close."

"Is he okay?"

"He's fine." Derek takes a gulp of coffee and rubs his temples.

"You okay?"

"Laura, he needs to make it."

"...I know." whispers before they both turn to the family on their left.

Their daughter's still sitting against the bars, sobbing and begging to be let out.

"He'll make it." Cora mumbles as she sits beside Laura. "He has to."


"Jaime, be careful!" Ace growls and pulls the boy back from another one of Klia's traps.

"What. Is. That. Chick's. Problem?!" Jaime screams angrily.

Stiles feels himself go cold when his friend is answered by a low growl.

One that isn't made by a human.

"...what was that?" Stiles asks slowly.

"We have to get going. Now." Ace nods to himself before walking forward quickly.

"Wait for us, jerk!" Jaime hisses and rushes to catch up.

They're jogging at this point, desperately trying to reach the door before the last hour of time they have left is gone.

Things have started to change, quickly.

There's noise.

Streams, crickets, and the occasional growl buzz around them now.

"Stiles. Don't move." Ace whispers in front of him.

"Why?"

"Dude." Jaime wheezes, and that's when Stiles sees it.

A black shadow, unidentifiable, but obviously an animal.

"Jaime." Stiles whispers.

"I know."

"...start moving slowly.

"Do I have to?" Jaime whines as he takes the first slow side step.

"Be careful." Ace demands when the animal turns and growls at Jaime.

"...you've got to be kidding me."

"Jaime-"

"I'm going to take care of this. You two are going to run, as fast as you can, towards the doors. I'll catch up when I can. Do you understand?"

"Jaime you can't-"

"Don't do anything stupid, do you understand? Take care of it, and catch up." Ace instructs as he bends to grab a thick branch from the ground.

"Toss it to me, take Stiles, and run." Jaime sends Ace a look before nodding.

Stiles watches, frozen in complete shock, as Ace tosses the branch over before grabbing him by the hand and dragging him across the clearing.

"Run, you idiot!" Ace growls as him.

Stiles complies and takes one last look at Jaime before following Ace into the woods.

"We can't leave him behind!"

"He'll catch up."

"You don't believe that. You know that thing will tear him apart."

"Do you think he didn't know that?" Ace demands before speeding up.

"You let him do that!" Stiles follows and looks over his shoulder wearily.

He can hear the growls.

"He'll be fine." Ace growls.

Stiles doesn't respond, just runs as fast as he can, and tries to keep up.

And he only stumbles and trips when he hears the blood curling scream come from behind them.

"Come on."

"Jaime." Stiles gasps and turns.

"Come on, we have to go."

Stiles turns and stares at the other boy with glassy eyes.

"Ace-"

"We're close, and we only have forty five minutes. We have to go."

"...he's gone. He's on a coma."

"Stiles please. We have to keep going."

Stiles nods mutely and jogs forward with Ace.


"Mr. White?" Derek looks up when a woman in white walks into the room.

"I know." the man whispers as the woman moves to stand behind the girl.

"I'm very sorry." the woman whispers just before the girl collapses into her arms. "Please, follow me."

Derek watches them walk out with the girl and winces when he sees that their screen had gone to static.

"What happened?" Laura whispers.

"...I don't know." Derek mumbles back before turning to their own screen.

"Toss it to me, take Stiles, and run." Jaime states on the screen.

Derek turns and looks at the screen on the opposite end of the room.

Jaime's panicked face appears before he glares and moves forward.

"Alright you ugly monster, let's go."

The kid holds his own, Derek will give him that.

But a human's no match for something like that.

And it isn't long before a woman in white walks in and stands behind the boy still in the room.

The thing on the screen pins the kid down, growls at him, and rips into the flesh on his shoulder.

With a scream that shakes everyone in the room, Jaime's body collapses into the woman's arms and she drags him out of the room.

"Thank you, Jaime." Derek whispers.


"Why did you stop?" Stiles wheezes out.

"Ten o'clock."

Stiles frowns before turning his head to the left.

"Oh my-" Ace's gold glare makes him cut off his phrase, but it doesn't stop him from gagging and turning away from the sight.

"Shh." Ace whispers as Stiles looks up at the sight again.

Stiles can see familiar hiking boots connected to a body trapped beneath a pack of the shadow animals.

This time they're pure white, more like Light Animals.

And every single one of their muzzles is tainted a scarlet red.

Klia's laid out in the middle of field, her eyes blank and her intestines either ripped out from inside her or littering the floor around her body.

The animals are eating her without noise.

And the smush sound of their muzzles moving her insides makes Stiles want to puke.

"Come on." Ace takes his hands and slowly moves forward.

One step is all it takes for half of them to turn and growl at them.

"Great." Axe sighs.

"We have fifteen minutes left." Stiles states and looks at the other with a panicked look.

"Run."

"What? No. I'm not just going to leave you. I already lost one friend there's no way in hell-"

"I'm going to catch up, Stiles. You just run. I'll be right behind you, I'm not staying to fight them off."

"Then what-"

"Just run, okay?"

Stiles nods reluctantly and watches Ace step forward slowly.

With one swift move, Ace picks up a branch and swings it to hit one animal roughly.

"Now!" Stiles doesn't pause to ask questions. Just takes off and let's Ace hit the things again and again.

He can hear the growls and Ace shouting at him to keep going and that's he's fine.

Stiles runs as fast as he can.

And when he sees the gray concrete wall, he lets out a choked sob of happiness.

The 'doors' are cages. With bars ready to come down and keep them safe as soon as they enter.

Stiles doesn't hesitate, doesn't look back, just dives into a cage and lets out another choked sob when the bars slam shut behind him.

He can hear Ace still screaming at him to keep going. And he can hear his shouts coming closer.

"Hurry up!" he shouts back and sighs when Ace comes into view.

"Thank gaw-" Stiles watches a Light Animal tackle Ace down from behind.

"No!"

"Get off!" Ace growls back and struggles with his watch.

He's bloody, and his short's torn to shreds.

Stiles shakes the bars in desperate attempts to get out to no avail and lets out a scream when the rest of the animals attack his cage.

They growl, and snap, and claw at him through the bars.

Stiles cowers back into the wall and watches from a small available space as Ace struggles and fights against his attacker.

"Ace, hurry up!" he shouts and yelps when his jeans are clawed.

"I'm...trying!" Ace gasps.

And then it's over.

with a whine, every last animal rushes back into the woods.

"Ace. Ace, hurry. Get up, get in!"

Stiles watches him stumble to hit feet and clutch at the wound on his shoulder as he stumbles forward.

"This hurts...like hell." he wheezes before tripping onto his face.

"Ace, get up! Now! You have time, please. Get up!"

Stiles looks down at his watch and lets out a breath.

Forty eight seconds.

And at that moment, the noise stops.

The crickets, the streams, everything.

It all goes silent. And Ace's wheezing is all Stiles can hear.

"Ace, please."

"I...I got it." Ace stands and stumbles forward.

And then there's a long howl...before the first tree falls.

"Ace!" Stiles shouts when another follows, and another, and another.

Thirty two seconds.

"Stiles..." Ace groans and looks up when the tree to his right starts to sway.

"Ace!"


Derek holds his breathe when the tree starts to tilt.

"Oh no." Laura whispers.

"Yes." Cora sighs when Ace lunges forward and collapses in a cage.

The bars fall shut, the trees continue to fall, and a woman in white walks into the room.

"I'm very sorry." the woman mumbles to the family on their left before moving to stand behind the girl.

Derek looks at their screen in time to watch the girl look up at the falling tree before static fills the screen.

The girl collapses after a second and the father takes her from the woman before the family follows her out.

"It's over." Stiles whispers on their screen. "Please tell me it's over."

"It's over." Ace assures him weakly.

"Hale? Duke?

"Yes?" both Alphas turn to face two men in white.

"Congratulations. Your boys have survived. They will be taken and given orders. You will be informed and updated on their whereabouts every month. We ask you to return to your homes...and let the government do their job."

Derek turns to their screen in time to see Stiles smile weakly before their screen goes to static.