Chapter Four:
Who knew waiting for thousand-year-old un-dead creatures could be so boring?
All of them were staked out, hiding in separate places around the Cemetery, crouching, waiting. Stiles was paired up with Scott because they'd nagged and nagged until Derek had given in, which didn't take long given Stiles' amazing skills at being annoying.
It was midnight and Stiles couldn't see shit- a problem he was alone with since all of his companions had freaky were-night vision and saw perfectly in the dark.
He didn't know exactly where the others were positioned, but he was with Scott behind this big-ass tree that covered most of the northern entrance to the cemetery, a boring big ass tree.
"Scoooooott! When is something going to happen Scoooooott!?" Stiles whined, poking his friend in the back of the head repeatedly.
"Derek says to shut up." Scott whispered at him, but Stiles could see the smirk on his face.
"Yeah right shugarlips. I bet you're just as bored as I am." Stiles directed at Derek, knowing he wouldn't have said that if Derek was actually nearby enough to hurt him- but with the Alpha a safe distance away, he could afford it.
"Oh my God, Stiles." Scott muttered under his breath, desperately hiding a snicker. Success! Boredom would not prevail, not today… or tonight, whatever.
Stiles kept at it for a while, muttering under his breath and trying to get away with saying all he could while Derek was at a safe distance. Scott relayed the Alpha's threats back to Stiles, but he himself looked as if he was trying to keep his laughter at bay.
Stiles was just starting another round of dog jokes, when Scott held up his hand for silence.
"Shhh- I hear something." He whispered, peering avidly into the dark of the cemetery. FINALLY! Something exciting was happening. They'd only been there for hours.
Scott tilted his head to the side, not unlike a dog would do when listening to a far-off car.
"They're here." He announced, turning towards Stiles, "Derek says you need to stay here- he can see two of them over by the crypts and we're going to go handle it." Oh Hell no.
"What? No! I'm coming with you!" Stiles protested grapping the back of Scott's arm as he started to walk away.
"Stiles, either you stay here or Derek will come over and break your legs so you do." Scott whispered hurriedly, awkwardly wincing at his own words. It was pretty damn obvious he was just repeating something Derek had said.
"Fiiiiiine." Stiles moaned. He seated himself cross-legged under the tree and crossed his arms angrily, adding a pout for effect.
It wasn't like he was going to see anything with this light anyway- so what was the point in arguing?
Scott nodded at him, seemingly content and ran off to go help the others.
The stupid fight would probably be over before Stiles even got a good look- not that he could see anything in that damned darkness anyway.
Stupid werewolves and their stupid hero-complexes. All he wanted to do was see a freaking Ghoul...was that too much to ask for? God Damn.
So he sat, cross-legged under the huge ass tree and stared into the pitch-black of the cemetery surrounding him. Stiles didn't have to wait for long, though, before he heard the tell-tale noises of a fight. Growling- that was definitely the wolves and….was that gurgling…no it was screaming…or groaning? Jesus whatever that noise was that didn't have a name, it sent shivers up Stiles' spine. He sat in the dark all his senses screaming at him to be afraid.
It wasn't the first time Stiles' instincts had told him something was to be feared. Every time he'd heard a howl, or when he heard the 'klack-klack' of Kali's feet, he'd always felt the danger.
This time was no different. 'Whatever the fuck' that sound was…it made Stiles feel like prey, like scared, weak, human prey that should run.
But it was all okay, it was fine in fact. From the sounds of the fight, and from what Scott had told him before- the Ghouls were over at the crypts. That was at the other end of the cemetery to where Stiles was. Nothing to worry about.
But still…that sound. Something about it sent shivers up Stiles' spine and made him almost quake in primal fear.
He could still hear it. Deadly, horrible…sad even. It was ringing in Stiles' ear like a constant that just wouldn't go…in fact it almost seemed as if the sound was getting closer.
Nope, that's- yep it was definitely getting closer, and from what Stiles could tell, definitely not from the direction the crypts were.
Holy shit. How far away was it? Could the others get there in time? Shit.
"Guys!" Stiles rasped out shakily, begging for someone to hear him. On second thought- it probably wasn't good if the ghoul currently approaching heard him.
"Guys!...There's another one!" Stiles called out, fear lacing his voice.
At that moment Stiles cursed his stupid human eyesight- all he could see was darkness and hints of outlines, nothing to indicate any- Wait!
Stiles could see something…a shadow. Roughly the size of a child? It moved fast though, seemingly on all fours and Stiles found it almost impossible to track in the darkness of night.
He could smell something too. Distinctly the smell of roadkill and death. The pungent odour was clogging up Stiles' nose, getting stronger and stronger with the horrid sounds.
He tried. He strained his eyes- looking this way and that- fear and panic taking over his basic functions. He couldn't see anything! And all he could hear was that horrible noise! All he could smell was death.
His senses, the same ones flooding fear throughout his system, they were telling him that this thing- it was close. Impossibly close- the smell and the sounds making up his entire world.
And finally, finally his eyes caught something in the darkness. A flicker- a shadow so incredibly close- growing closer and then…he lost it again, his eyes finding it hard to keep up.
He was alone, in the dark- that thing getting nearer. And he was helpless.
And suddenly, pressure and pain. All he could feel was the sharp, burning pain encompassing his left thigh- worse than any pain he'd ever felt. The now unbearable stench was clogging his nose, the sounds dulled to growls and the familiar squelch of flesh giving way.
Stiles looked down at his leg- the source of all this pain…, he saw a single, dark, black eye and screamed.