It felt like I had been asleep for only minutes, but it was clear it had to be more. My eyes fluttered open, slowly revealing the room around me. I was lying on a cement floor in what seemed like an abandon warehouse. It was dark and musty and I had no idea where I was. I pushed myself off the ground and stood up. My legs were a little stiff, but other than that I was okay. I tried to get a feel for my surroundings, but it was too dark to see anything. I had to get out of here and find Derek. That was probably the first place Kate went. Distract me and then steal Derek, it was a good tactic, but the minute I got out of here I was going to my father and start rallying reinforcement's.
"Hello Stiles."
I turned toward the voice, locking my thoughts up in my mind. I was not alone in here. My eyes connected with Kate's. "I'm not going to give Derek up. I hope you know that," I stated. My confidence stayed for a few seconds until Kate smirked.
She took a step closer to me. "Oh Stiles. You've got it all wrong. We're not here to beat you into complying," she mumbled and stopped right in front of me. "Your stubbornness is something we just couldn't get around. We had to find a different tactic. So no Stiles we're not going to convince you...we're sending a message. Unfortunately we're inflicting that message upon you," she taunted, her voice dancing over the threat. She pulled her fist back and aimed at my face.
I was able to block her attack, while internally thanking my years in the field.
She looked surprised, but she came back with another punch with her other fist. Her fist slammed right against my temple.
I grunted, pain lighting up my face. My head throbbed as I stumbled backwards, the attack catching me off guard. That was all Kate needed to gain the upper hand.
She landed another punch to my jaw knocking me off my feet. I hit the rough floor and Kate was immediately on top of me. Another punch knocked my head back against the floor. I could feel her pin me against the ground as a metallic taste assaulted my mouth.
She yanked a weapon out of her belt as she pinned my hands to the ground with her knees. I saw the glimmer of steel just before she swung the blade she held through my stomach, slashing through my flesh like butter.
I winced, trying to hold myself together. I kicked my legs and yanked my arms fiercely. After a few attempts I was able to pull my arms from under her, but not before she sliced my arm with her knife. I grabbed her hand on the the next blow, stopping her advance on me. I pressed my thumb deep into her wrist, digging my nail into the skin.
She let out a scream before she dropped the knife.
I reached for it, but before I could grab it Kate kicked it out of reach.
She stood up off of me and took a step back.
I leaned over to the side and spit out the red liquid that had gathered in my mouth. I looked back up at Kate, my eyes narrowing at her.
She stared down at me for a brief second before she smiled a sadistic smirk, that chilled me straight to the core. She flared her nostrils and lifted her leg. She let out a sharp breath just before she slammed her boot down on my shin.
A blinding pain curled up through my leg. I let out scream that didn't sound entirely human. The pain tugged and pulled, like my leg was literally being pulled from my body. Fire lapped at my nerves, scorching my veins in agonizing pain. The unbearable pain sucked the air out of my lungs. I threw my head back, my hands clenching into fists. I tried desperately to get the pain to go away, but it was throbbing. With every shot of pain came an intense wave of fire. I inhaled short, raspy breaths, trying to ease the pain. I looked up at Kate.
Right when my pain had just started to ease, she once again slammed her boot into the same spot as before.
I heard my cry of pain, my scream of agony, for a brief second before I was engulfed in darkness. Taking from consciousness by the pain that overtook my leg.
I woke from a small movement that knocked my head into something hard. My eyes flickered open, taking in my surroundings. I was in a car, one that I assumed was Kate's. I could see her and another person sitting in the front seat, talking about something. I could hear my name and Derek's being said.
Everything that I gathered from her plan made sense. Beat the crap out of me, a human that couldn't heal, to make a statement. A statement meant for Derek. It was a smart move, but it wasn't going to come without a price and I was going to make sure she paid that price.
"Do you really think this is far enough?" The man in the front stated.
"He needs to be somewhere that Derek can find him easily. We are not hiding a body...we're sending a message. This is all apart of my plan," Kate mumbled, her fingers tapping against the wheel.
"How do you know Derek will fall for the bait?"
"Did you see the look on his face when I pressed the shotgun to Stiles' temple?...He will fall for it."
Before I could see or hear anything else, my eyes shut once again. I don't remember anything else from that car ride.
I do remember waking up shivering and surrounded by darkness. I lifted my head and looked around. I was in the woods surrounded by dark trees that loomed over me. I had no idea where I was or where I needed to go. I was freezing, my whole body convulsing from the cold. I had to get up and try to find my house, or somewhere that had heat and friendly faces.
I placed my hands beneath me and started to get up. The second I moved my right leg a drilling ache shot up my leg, a nauseating pain that gnawed at my bones like a hungry carnivore. I screamed out, the cry of pain coming from me involuntary. I stilled and inhaled a shaky breath. I could feel tears rolling down my cheeks.
That was probably worse than the physical pain. The fact that Kate was actually able to pull this off. The fact that she had beaten me so badly that I was lying on the forest floor crying out in the hopes that someone would hear me. It was a crushing feeling, feeling as though you are helpless. I didn't even know how I was going to make it out of this forest alive.
"Stiles?...Stiles?"
I could hear someone calling my name before I heard a rustle of brush nearby. I felt someone touch my arm lightly.
I jumped slightly and turned toward the touch. "Derek," I breathed out.
"Stiles, you're freezing," he mumbled and grabbed me.
I winced, my leg burning with the small movement. I could feel his warmth surround me, warming my body up. I shivered and leaned into the warm embrace. I tried to say something, but all that came out was incoherent gibberish. I felt something warm grab my arm, shaking it lightly.
"Stiles?...Stiles? Wake up."
I opened my eyes and looked up at Derek, who was staring down at me. I watched his green eyes flicker over my body nervously. I could feel him tighten his grip on me as he stood up. With the movement came a sharp pain in my leg. I grunted, my leg throbbing intensely. I remember watching Derek's face. The determination that was carved into his features and the random flicks of despair and rage. I looked up at his jawline. The last thought I had before I blacked out once more was about how freaking straight Derek's stubble line was. It was the most stupidest last thought. Nothing poetic, which I guess my brain never is. I at least expected some sarcasm or something, but nope. My brain thought that his jawline was the most important thing at that moment.
