Chapter 12: In Which a Peculiar Letter is Received.

It was buried at the very bottom, a package wrapped in thick brown paper and fastened with a hemp string and closed up with an old-fashioned red wax seal. An envelope was tucked under the hemp.

"Stiles," Derek called out, turning the package in his hands. Stiles just curled further into himself.

"Hey, Stiles," Derek nudged his shoulder. "Wake up."

"Nah, dude, Florida's that way," Stiles argued, swatting at Derek's hand. Derek shook him harder, raising his voice:

"Stiles, wake up!"

Stiles flailed a bit, almost falling off the couch.

"Huh? What?" he looked around, rubbing at his eyes. Derek sat on the couch.

"I found something," Hale showed him the package. "It has your name on it," he dropped it in Stiles' lap.

The boy just stared at it for a bit. The envelope rustled pleasantly under his touch as he opened it with shaking fingers – he already recognized his mother's handwriting on it. When the letter was out Stiles' eyes ran over it several times before he looked at Derek, who eyed the package suspiciously. Stiles cleared his throat before reading the letter out loud

May 7th. 1999*

Dear Stiles,

If you are reading this than I am no longer with you and, therefore, cannot tell you all of this in person. You must know, however, that there might come a day in your life – perhaps it has already come – where you will be met with some rather extraordinary hardships; hardships that go far beyond the usual teenage angst and growing-up struggle. Therefore, I present to you this journal. This book is worth a life-time full of research from multiple people, beside myself. In it, you should find all or, at least, most of what you may be looking for. Use it with great care and don't ever let it get into the wrong hands. You must keep it safe, love, or there might be consequence with which no one is prepared to deal.

My child, please, remain careful. No matter how much time we had, I know it was not nearly enough for which I dearly apologize. Stiles, you are the best thing that ever happened to me, the best thing I ever brought into this world. I am infinitely proud of you and I will forever love you, so very much.

With great love,

You Mother.

Stiles stared at the letter some more before Derek finally called to him.

"What do you think this means?" Stiles asked, shakily.

"I don't know," Derek said, feeling uncertain.

Stiles broke the seal.


*Assuming that Stiles is graduating in 2012, he was born around 1994 (give or take, a year). That would make him about 5 years-old when the letter was composed.


Just another tidbit because it took me so long to update.