New chapter :) Sorry it took so long to get this written and posted. But I hope you like it! Please review, favorite, etc. Also, follow me on Tumblr (scottspierce). I'll be working on the next gifset and, when it's posted, I'll let you know by posting an update chapter on here. I also have this idea to start posting picture sets of my new idea on Instagram. Gifsets take a while (which I'll still be doing) but this way I'll be able to post more.
Anyway, enjoy the chapter. Please remember to review! I love hearing from you guys.
It was a terrible feeling to expect someone to be there when they was no longer around. Hollis experienced that feeling after her parents' accident. There had been days when she believed she would find her mom reading in the living room or her step dad doing the morning crossword puzzle at the kitchen table. But then she would walk into an empty room and, it was like a punch to the stomach: disappointing and suffocating.
To this day, that feeling remained and lingered just beneath the surface.
As Hollis sat in her car watching the dozens of students walk with their friends, that feeling returned. This time, it had nothing to do with her parents but with Lydia. Without her best friend by her side, the school felt wrong. Empty.
It took all of her willpower to get out of the car. The last thing Hollis wanted was to sit in a classroom and learn while Lydia was missing. The temptation to get in her car and drive away was strong. Go somewhere, anywhere other than here but she fought against that urge. That need to run away until all was better.
Her steps were sluggish, almost mechanical as she started towards the school. She looked around, expecting Lydia to stroll up to her with that confident smile of hers. But it wasn't likely to happen and, the only familiar person she spotted was Jackson.
"Here's a dollar. Go find another parking lot to die in," Jackson said, putting his wallet away. "Security!" He turned away from the homeless man, a satisfied smirk stretched out on his face. A trademark of his personality.
Hollis rolled her eyes at the typical Jackson move.
"What?" Jackson asked with an exasperated sigh.
"Nothing."
"It's never nothing with you, Hollis. So, what?" He asked again.
The books weighed her bag down, causing the strap to painfully dig into her skin. She used the seconds it took to readjust the strap to gather her thoughts. "Nothing. You just didn't have to be such a jerk," she said, looking past him.
Jackson followed her line of sight and scoffed. "Really? This is about the tweaker?" Without waiting for a response, he rolled his eyes then walked past her.
"Hey. Jackson, wait," Hollis said and, he turned with a look of annoyance. "Have you heard anything? About Lydia, I mean. I was hoping someone would know -"
"I don't know anything," Jackson interrupted, his answer so casual they could've been talking about the weather.
Hollis frowned, more from his answer than the way he said it. "We tried looking for her last night. But Scott - he couldn't track her," she said, sounding as defeated as she felt. "Do you have any idea where she could be? Where else would she go?"
Jackson shrugged, shaking his head as if being asked a complex question. "How should I know? I don't keep track of her anymore."
"Look, I know you guys broke up but you can't tell me you're not worried." Hollis searched his face for any semblance of emotion but his scowl only deepened. "Come on, Jackson. I know you still care for her. You don't have to act tough. Not with me. Not after everything we've been through. So if you know anything, just tell me. Please."
He sighed in annoyance and, Hollis held her breath as she waited for another Jackson-esque response. But none came. "I don't know where she is, okay? Other than the mall and your house, there aren't many places she'd go. But the cops will find her. Don't worry." With that, he walked past her and towards the school.
Despite being unsatisfied with his answer, Hollis had no choice but to accept it. She turned and followed his retreating form towards the main entrance of the school. Before she could get far, she heard her name and looked towards the source. Scott and Stiles stood off to the side, waving her over.
"Any news on Lydia?" Hollis asked when she stopped beside them. She looked from Scott to Stiles, her hope deflating at their sullen expressions. "Nothing? Seriously?"
"We still don't know where she is," Scott said.
"But we know where she was. The graveyard," Stiles added. "Apparently there was a grave robbery last night. My dad questioned Mr. Lahey and Isaac about it this morning."
"Okay, but what does that have to do with Lydia?" Hollis asked.
"Because of what was stolen," Scott answered.
"A liver. She stole it. Well, we think she ate it," Stiles said.
Hollis wrinkled her nose at the information.
"What? It's the most nutritious part of the body," Stiles said in response to her reaction.
"Still. It's gross," Hollis said. "Is there any way to track her down?"
Scott shook his head. "But we were going over everything I did when I first turned. What I did, where I went. I mean, I didn't eat anyone's liver but I was drawn to Allison. She kept me in control. So we know the night Lydia was bit, she was at the dance with Carter but -"
"She went looking for Jackson," Stiles finished. "So, we're thinking -"
"He doesn't know anything," Hollis interrupted. "I just talked to him. Either he's a great liar or he's telling the truth and doesn't know anything." She believed the latter, knowing not even Jackson would risk Lydia's safety.
Scott and Stiles shared a look, an identical frown on their faces.
"Don't worry. We'll find her," Scott said.
Hollis nodded to his words but it wasn't a matter of 'if' but 'when' that bothered her.
"After school, we'll -" Scott trailed off. His attention elsewhere, a smile lit up his face while he looked past them.
They waited a moment to give Scott a chance to finish his sentence but it was apparent that he wouldn't.
"After school we'll what, Scott?" Hollis asked but didn't get a response.
Stiles nudged him then, forcing Scott out of his thoughts.
"What?" Scott looked from one to the other as if seeing them for the first time. "Oh, right. We'll," he glanced past them again, "I-I'll, uhm, I'll catch up with you guys later... in class, okay?" Without waiting for a response, he left their side.
Bemused, she looked over her shoulder. Scott disappeared into a crowd of students and, when the crowd parted, he stood with Allison.
"Did we get ditched?" Hollis asked.
"Yep, looks that way." Stiles nodded.
"Hmm," she mused, smiling at her two friends.
"We should probably get to class, too" Stiles spoke up. "You know, before we're late," he added, laughing at the face she made.
"Yeah, I guess," Hollis said with a sigh, though it was the last thing she wanted to do.
[- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -]
Hollis stood in the doorway of the Chemistry room. Dread spread through her while she stared at the board covered in complex equations and other alien writing. Class had yet to begin and already she felt confused. For a second, she debated skipping to save herself the headache of trying to understand something that didn't want to be understood. But a shove behind pushed her into the room. With no other option, she grudgingly moved towards her seat.
She pulled out her notebook, flipping through the note-ridden pages until she reached a clean page. "This is impossible," she muttered, sighing.
"What is?" Stiles asked.
Hollis turned in her seat, blinking in surprise at finding him and Scott already seated. "Oh, uhm, that." She gestured towards the board, wrinkling her nose at the complexity of it. "I'll never understand it."
"Tell me about it," Scott muttered to which Hollis smiled sympathetically.
"I can help you, you know," Stiles said. "Like I did with math."
"Thanks but I doubt I'll be able to catch up now."
"Just how behind are you?" Stiles asked.
With narrowed eyes, Hollis tilted her head. "Probably since like the second or third week," she answered, stealing a glance at them.
"Wh-What?! Why didn't you tell me? You could've told me," Stiles exclaimed.
"I…," Hollis trailed off, shrugging. "I don't know. You were already helping me with math and, I guess I thought I'd be able to catch up on my own."
Stiles stared at her with wide eyes before shaking his head. "You're an idiot, Hollis. I love you but you're an idiot."
She rolled her eyes, a smile tugging at her lips.
"I'm still going to help you," he added with a nod.
She smiled her thanks though she dreaded spending any extra time on Chemistry.
The door opened and let in the noise from the hallway. A couple students entered, each looking more glum than the next as they took their seats. Hollis couldn't blame them because her expression mirrored theirs to a tee. Jackson walked past her desk, chatting with Danny as they made their way towards the back of the room.
"Hey," Hollis said, turning to face Stiles and Scott once more. "Did you get a chance to talk to Jackson?"
They shared a look before Scott spoke up. "Like you said, he didn't know anything. He wasn't exactly helpful either."
"The jackass acted like he didn't know what we were talking about," Stiles muttered, shooting a glare at an oblivious Jackson.
Hollis frowned though she had expected the lack of information and help from Jackson. She opened her mouth to reply but Mr. Harris entered just then and she changed her mind.
Without so much as a greeting, Mr. Harris began the class by handing out a pop quiz. Everyone groaned, including Hollis, who was much worse off than the rest of them.
Minutes ticked by in silence while Hollis struggled with the multiple choice questions. For each question she answered, she erased at least two answers, second guessing herself. At this rate, the entire quiz would remain blank by the time she handed it in. She lifted her eyes to notice that each student worked diligently.
Come on, Hollis, focus. You can do this, she thought. Taking a deep breath, she let it out and returned to the questions.
"It causes me severe mental anguish to say this, but he's right," Stiles whispered.
"I know," Scott agreed, though he didn't sound at all happy about it.
Her concentration broken, Hollis glanced over her shoulder. "Right about what?"
Scott threw a cautious look towards Mr. Harris before speaking. "Lydia. Jackson thinks she could hurt someone."
Hollis looked to Stiles for confirmation. "You actually believe Jackson?"
"Unfortunately, yeah. I mean,what if the next body part she steals is from someone who's still alive?"
"You mean murder?" Hollis was careful not to draw Mr. Harris' unwanted attention. "You guys can't be serious. Lydia wouldn't hurt anyone."
"She's turning, Hollis. It's possible," Scott said.
"No. She - She wouldn't do that," she said, refusing to believe the ugly lie.
"You don't know that," Stiles whispered. "I hate thinking it but -"
"This is a pop quiz, Mr. Stilinski." Mr. Harris looked up from his desk, a cold look in his eyes as he surveyed the trio. "If I hear your voice again I may be tempted to give you detention for the rest of your high school career."
Stiles blinked. "Can you do that?"
Mr. Harris sighed at the lack of silence. "There it is again. Your voice. Triggering the only impulse I've ever had to strike a student. Repeatedly and violently. I'll see you at three for detention."
Hollis narrowed her eyes. "Are you serious?"
With a close-lipped smile, Mr. Harris turned towards her. "You know, Miss. Griffin, I would think that with your bad grades, you would stay quiet on the matter. But, since you insist on talking just as much as your...friend," he said this word with a sneer, "you can join him after school."
Scott opened his mouth in shock.
"You, too, Mr. McCall?" Mr. Harris asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No, sir," Scott muttered, lowering his eyes to the paper.
The quiz resumed and a heavy silence settled over the class, predominantly over the three of them while Mr. Harris watched them. Hollis couldn't help but fidget in her seat, all too aware of his presence. It was obvious he wanted them to slip up, to say something or make a sound that would give him more ammunition to use against them. She wouldn't give him that satisfaction, though.
When the bell signaled the end of class, Hollis couldn't get out of the room fast enough. It was a relief to stand out in the hall, away from Mr. Harris's prying eyes and smug grin.
"This sucks," Hollis complained, shifting the books in her hand.
"I know," Stiles agreed.
"No, I mean this really sucks." She looked from Stiles to Scott. "We were supposed to look for Lydia after school, and now we're stuck with Harris all afternoon," Hollis said, her nose wrinkling with dissatisfaction.
"We can still look for her later. Don't worry," Stiles reassured her, pulling her to his side.
"Yeah, and I'll try to see if I can find anything out," Scott promised. "You know, while you two are in detention," he added, unable to keep the smile off his face.
"You're enjoying this way too much," Hollis commented to which he nodded happily.
"And thanks for sticking up for us. Some friend you are." Stiles shoved Scott gently. "What happened to our friend code? 'All for one, and one for all'?"
"Since when has that been our code?" Scott asked, amusement playing on his face. "Besides, that's from the Three Musketeers."
Stiles frowned. "Great. So we're not Batman and Robin or the Three Musketeers. That's just great."
Despite the grim circumstance of their detention, Hollis laughed. "You guys are idiots."
[- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -]
Detention loomed over her as the final bell rung. The hallways grew more packed by the minute and students rushed to their lockers, eager to be finished with classes for the day. Hollis wished she could be amongst them but, unfortunately for her, the only place she was headed was the Chemistry room. The one place she dreaded more than anything else. If that wasn't bad enough, it meant a whole nother hour with Mr. Harris.
Frustrated, she slammed the locker door harder than intended. A few glanced in her direction but Hollis brushed off their inquisitive looks.
Books in hand, she moved against the crowd though it proved to be difficult. Every so often, she got jostled and had to regain her balance to keep from tripping or dropping her books. Somehow, she made it to the end of the hallway. Her steps became slower, all urgency leaving her body. The only thing making detention with Harris bearable was that Stiles would be there, too. They wouldn't be able to talk but it was a relief she wouldn't be alone.
Just as she forced her steps to quicken, a figure rounded the corner. Isaac Lahey walked in her direction, oblivious to her stopping in the middle of the hall. She remembered Stiles mentioning Isaac that morning and, a shred of hope filled her at the possibility of him knowing something. It was possible Isaac knew nothing, that he had just noticed the robbed grave and nothing else. Undeterred, she wanted to know for sure. If she couldn't go out looking for Lydia, she might as well question the only person who was there that night.
"Isaac," Hollis said, blocking his path.
He stared down at her, seeming to just notice her there. "What?"
"I-" she trailed off, unsure of how to bring up the subject.
The seconds wasted added to Isaac's impatience. He side-stepped her when it was apparent that Hollis wouldn't say anything else.
"Okay, wait." She panicked that she might have missed her chance at questioning him. Isaac turned to face her. Impatience and curiosity crossed his face as, once again, she remained quiet. The bruise under his eye caught her attention and, she frowned at the sight of it. There had been rumors of Isaac not having the best home life, although the bruise easily could have been due to a fight at school or lacrosse. She hoped it was because of the latter.
"Are you going to say something or just stand there?" Isaac asked, drawing her out of her thoughts.
"Sorry," she said, offering him a small smile. "I just…. I heard you were working the night shift last night."
Isaac shrugged. "Maybe. Why?"
"Because Lydia's missing. She's out there somewhere and, I think she might have gone to the cemetery last night, so -"
"I told the cops everything this morning. I didn't see anything."
"But maybe you did," Hollis pressed, desperation filling her. "I'm not saying you lied but maybe she was there. Maybe she…," she trailed off once more, biting her lower lip.
"Look," Isaac said with a sigh. "All I saw was a dead guy with a missing liver. So, unless you're suggesting that Lydia did some grave night shopping, I can't help you."
Hollis bit her lower lip, struggling to find another way to broach the topic without sounding insane. Or giving away that werewolves were real and Lydia was possibly turning into one. "No, of course not," she said with an awkward laugh. "There's just reason to believe she was there last night. So anything you can remember, no matter how weird or unbelievable, please tell me. She's my best friend."
A flicker of something, recognition perhaps, crossed his face but it disappeared just as quickly. Isaac remained quiet and studied her as if half expecting her to grow wings and fly away. "Sorry. Other than a weird grave robbery, nothing else happened." He turned to walk away then looked over his shoulder. "But I hope she turns up."
Hollis had learned nothing new but she couldn't deny that Isaac had held back. There was something he hadn't told her. It was all she could think about on the way to detention.
"Nice of you to join us, Miss. Griffin," Mr. Harris said dryly. "Detention started ten minutes ago."
"I-I know, sorry," she said.
Mr. Harris discarded her apology. "Did I not specify the time and place for detention earlier?"
"No, you did."
"And you chose to be late anyway." Hollis opened her mouth to apologize but Mr. Harris waved his hand, stopping her. "Take a seat."
With a sigh, she nodded and took in the room. It was empty, save for one desk occupied by Stiles. She glanced over her shoulder before she walked to where Stiles sat, looking over her shoulder as she did so. Mr. Harris didn't seem to object so she quickened her pace and sat down before she could get reprimanded.
"Where were you?" Stiles whispered.
"Talking to Isaac," Hollis replied, casting a look towards Harris. "He doesn't know where Lydia is but...I think he knows something."
"Like what?" Stiles asked.
"I don't know. I just felt like he was holding back on -"
"No. Talking," Mr. Harris interrupted.
The two of them faced forward. Harris continued to watch them for a few uncomfortable seconds before diving back into grading papers.
The minutes slowed down as there was nothing to do but sit and stare. Hollis rested her head on her hand, the events of the last few days taking effect on her. Her eyes drooped but she forced herself to stay awake. It was possible that Harris had a no sleeping rule and would be sure to call her out on it.
With sleeping not an option, her mind kept busy by reeling in all the facts she had pushed away. From her dad's involvement in the fire to Peter's fiery death to Lydia's disappearance danced an ugly dance in her mind. As the minutes went by, her mind ached from the information overload. Of having to be reminded of everything she had tried to put out of her mind.
The minute hand ticked closer to four and, Hollis became restless when Stiles nudged her with a smile. At a minute to four, both of them stood up. Chairs scraped the tiled floor, getting Mr. Harris's attention who looked at them.
"Sit," he instructed.
"But it's been an hour," Stiles argued.
"Yeah, it's four," Hollis chimed in, gesturing towards the clock.
He made a point of looking at his watch, a sneer twisting up his face. "It's a minute to four. And my detention runs an hour and a half."
"Are you serious?" Hollis asked with a sigh.
"You can't do that," Stiles told him.
"Oh, but I can. You see, Stiles…" Harris said his name with disdain and stood up, approaching their desk. "Since your father was so judicious in his dealings with me, I've decided to make you my personal project for the rest of the semester. You're going to benefit from all the best that strict discipline has to offer."
Hollis and Stiles exchanged a bitter look.
"Now, both of you, sit down before I decide to keep you here all night." As they slumped back in their seats, Harris turned his attention towards Hollis. "And, Miss. Griffin, you'll remain an extra ten minutes for being late."
She rolled her eyes but said nothing though there was plenty she wanted to say. Biting her tongue, she sat back in the seat and tried not to stare too hard at the clock. It wouldn't make time go by any faster. Still, every now and then, her eyes flickered to the minutes hand as it slowly ticked towards the six.
Four-thirty came and went. Stiles left, which left Hollis alone in utter silence for another ten minutes. She stared longingly at the door. Just another ten minutes, she told herself. The anxiousness made her jittery and unable to sit still. The minutes felt unbearably long as if on purpose.
"You may go." Harris dismissed her with a wave of his hand when the ten minutes were up.
Without waiting for him to say more, Hollis grabbed her bag and raced towards the door. She wrenched the door open, happy to be free. She turned and collided with Stiles who stood just outside the room.
He steadied her with a laugh.
"What are you doing here?" Hollis asked.
"I had detention. You know, with Harris. And you," he answered, nodding towards the room she had just left.
Hollis tilted her head. "No, I know that. But I thought you'd be long gone by now."
"And leave you behind? Yeah, no way." He shook his head.
She smiled and planted a quick kiss on his lips. "You didn't have to but, thanks." They moved towards the exit, through the almost empty hallway. "Any news from Scott about Lydia?"
"Not about Lydia but Scott texted me. He wants me to meet up with him at the cemetery. It's Kate's funeral and, I think he wants to be there for Allison. I mean, he's not attending the funeral but he's going to just be there. You know, for moral support or something," Stiles stammered, nodding the entire time.
"And you're going because…?"
"Moral support for Scott, I guess," Stiles answered with a shrug. "I don't know. But I think it has something do with 'the other's' that Allison was talking about the other night. He wants to figure out who they are."
Hollis had forgotten about that. With her mind preoccupied with Lydia and then detention, the information or lack-thereof Allison provided them had left her mind. "So are we going there now?"
Stiles nodded. "We can take my Jeep."
They made it to the double doors and pushed their way out of the school. The parking lot was still surprisingly full. Stiles' Jeep came into view but a text from Hollis's phone interrupted the silence.
Hollis looked down at her phone, a frown making it's way onto her face.
"What's wrong?" Stiles asked.
"Nothing," Hollis said, shoving the phone into her bag. "My dad wants me home. Now. He says we need to talk," she said, making a face. After everything that happened these past few days, she avoided her dad as much as possible, using every excuse in the book to postpone the inevitable. But there were only so many excuses she could use before she would have to face him and everything he did.
"You'll be okay?"
Hollis nodded with a sigh, forcing a smile. "Yeah. I should be used to these talks by now," she joked. "Just let me know what you and Scott find, okay?"
[- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -]
The smell of dinner greeted Hollis when she entered the house. Her stomach growled in response, reminding her of the pitiful lunch she had eaten. Too wound up from the events of the past few days left her with little to no appetite. But now that the scents wrapped themselves around her, she realized just how hungry she was.
"I'm home!" Hollis called, dropping her bag off in the living room before turning towards the kitchen.
Like countless other times this past year, Grant stood at the stove. He looked over at her, the worry dissipating as a smile stretched across his face. "Hey," he said, returning to his cooking. "How was school?"
Hollis sat down at the counter. "It was okay," she replied with a shrug though he didn't see it. Resting her head in her hands, she watched as her dad took extra care with his food, his "creation" as he so often called it. "How was your day?" She asked.
A conversation was brewing in the air, had been brewing for quite some time. The few minimal words that they exchanged were a clear path to a full out conversation that Hollis wasn't interested in having. Yet she couldn't bear the awkward silence that filled the space, weighing down on everything around them.
"Not bad," Grant said. "Your mom's classes are going well. I have a lot to grade but, I guess that's my own fault for assigning so much," he added with a chuckle.
Hollis smiled softly.
"So," Grant started as he took a seat opposite her, placing a plate of food in front of her. "Detention, huh?"
Hollis made a face and nodded. She played with the food, taking small bites though it was still too hot to eat. But from what little she tried, she liked. Her dad's cooking had improved considerably from the days of burning food and ordering take out. His food was now edible, which continued to surprise her despite having grown accustomed to his meals.
"I swear, Harris has it in for us or something. He just, I don't know, hates us," she said with a frown and took a few bites of food, letting it mask the hunger.
"Us?" Grant asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Me, Stiles and Scott," she explained. "But Scott avoided detention today, which was weird."
Grant looked like he wanted to say something but decided against it at the last moment. The subject changed a dozen times over the course of the meal, which was surprisingly pleasant. The air was still heavy with a discussion; a calm before the storm of sorts. But Hollis wouldn't be the first to bring the tension up. She preferred to lead the conversation away from the inevitable topic rather than towards it.
Dinner finished up and, the two of them cleared the table in silence.
"I think," Grant started and paused, throwing a cautious look towards Hollis. He took the last plate from her and set it down in the sink before he turned towards her. He wiped his hands on a dish towel while he gathered his thoughts.
Hollis held her breath as a panicky wave spread through her.
"I think," he said again, "it's time you make some new friends."
The breath was knocked out of her and, she stood in shock. This was not the conversation she had expected to have. Not again. The last time her dad asked her to cut all ties with her friends had been at the hospital Friday night. "What? Dad, no." She shook her head, unable to wrap her mind around what her dad was asking, telling, her to do.
"I don't like that your friends are involved in this. I told you that already." There was no need to ask what 'this' was because there was no use hiding it. He knew of their involvement in the supernatural.
"They didn't choose to be involved in this. Scott didn't choose to get bitten by Peter and have his entire life turned upside down," she said defiantly, crossing her arms.
"I know," he said, holding his hands up. "But it happened. And I need to protect you but I can't do my job if they keep dragging you into this. I allowed it that one time but...this needs to stop, Hollis."
She shook her head in disbelief. "They didn't drag me into anything, dad," Hollis argued. "I figured it out on my own." It wasn't the entire truth considering Jackson had helped put the pieces together but she wouldn't go into that conversation. Not now. "Stiles didn't want me involved in this either. When he found out that I knew...we had a fight. But now-"
"He's letting you put yourself in danger."
"No, it's not like that. He's letting me help my friends. Make my own choices. Of all people, I thought you would understand."
"I do." Grant sighed and ran a hand over his face. "But it doesn't mean that I have to like it. Or allow it."
A long, silent moment stretched out before them. This conversation was worse than what Hollis had expected. She felt herself losing control over her life, over her choices.
"So, what?" Hollis asked, looking towards him for answers. "Are you telling me I can't see my friends? And Stiles?"
He looked at her, the decision turning over in his mind. "It's for the best." He frowned at the disappointed look on her face. "Don't make me out to be the bad guy here, Hollis."
"Well stop acting like one," she said. "You're not exactly innocent in all of this, you know."
Grant's expression hardened. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing. Forget it," she said, biting her tongue from saying what was on her mind.
"No, tell me. I'm curious," he said, though he sounded anything but.
It was a trap and, Hollis knew it though she found it hard to keep quiet. The quiet moment stretched while he waited for her to talk. "It means that everything that's happened these last couple months is because of you. You stabbed Peter in the back when you trusted Kate. If you hadn't betrayed him, he would've have come back from...the dead, or whatever, and hurt everyone. Scott never would've gotten bitten and no one would be involved in this."
"You already know that wasn't the whole story. That's not fair, Hollis."
She shook her head. "No, it's not. So even if I wasn't friends with Stiles and Scott, I would've gotten pulled into this either way. Because of you and all of your secrets. So, maybe the person I really need to stay away from is you." She ignored the shocked and hurt look on his face and turned towards the living room.
"Hollis!" Grant took a step forward, following her into the room. "That's enough. I know you're angry -"
"Yeah, I am," she interrupted, grabbing her bag. "Because you're telling me to abandon my friends! Maybe you're okay with turning your back on people but I'm not, okay? I'm not you. I can't just walk away." She rummaged around in the bag, at last finding the keys and pulling them out.
"Where you you going?" Grant asked, eyeing the keys in her hand.
"To find Lydia. Like I was supposed to before you summoned me for dinner."
He took another step forward. "We're not done with this conversation. You can't just walk out on me."
"Why not? I learned it from you. I guess we have something in common after all." Hollis didn't bother waiting for a reply. She pulled the door open, closing it harder than she intended. Not wasting a second, she got into her car and pulled out just as the front door opened.
Grant stood there in shock, watching her drive away.
When she turned down the street, tears welled up in her eyes. They obscured her vision and, the world around her turned blurry. She blinked them back but the few tears that escaped were just the beginning. Angrily, Hollis wiped them away though they continued to spill down her cheeks. The adrenaline from the fight coursed through her veins as the two emotions battled each other.
The silence broke when her phone rang. A sharp, piercing sound shocked her out of her thoughts. Hollis glanced down at the caller ID, frowning to see her dad's name displayed across the screen. She ignored the call but, a moment later, the phone rang again. Not wanting to partake in part two of the conversation, she turned her phone off and let the calls go to voicemail. The blank screen stared up at her as silence filled the car once more.
For at least a half hour, Hollis drove around town. Her head cleared but a bitter taste remained behind as the aftermath of the fight faded into the background. She was still upset but had calmed down enough to focus and begin her search for Lydia, though she didn't know where to start.
Hollis parked on a side street to get a plan together. She remembered Stiles telling her he would be at the cemetery with Scott but that had been almost two hours ago. The chances of them still being there seemed slim; just as unlikely would it be for Lydia to be there. There was only one place that Hollis was positive would be a good starting point, despite the failure of the night before. Perhaps this time she could get the help she had wanted to get.
[- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -]
Hollis arrived at the Beacon Hills Preserve just as the sun went down. If she had to guess, she would say she had about a half hour left until it disappeared from the sky. The cool air greeted her when she exited the warm confines of her car. With a shiver, she zipped her jacket up and started her trek into the woods. She retraced her steps or so she hoped. It was difficult to tell which direction was the right one with the lack of markers or a good memory for directions. Hollis often relied on her GPS but she doubted it would lead her to the Hale House.
On pure instinct alone, she pushed her way through and hoped to be going the right way. As the sun dipped lower in the sky and darkness crept in, panic set in around her. The confidence she had arrived with faded.
You're almost there, she told herself but with a lack of certainty.
Just as the nerves dug their claws into her, the Hale House came into view. The brittle structure stood tall against the sky and again, Hollis felt a pang of guilt at what her dad had done.
"What are you doing here?" Derek pushed his way out of the house. Arms crossed over his chest, he stood on the porch. "This is private property."
"I-I know. Sorry." Hollis stumbled over her words and took an uncertain step forward. "I'm just looking for Lydia. Scott tracked her here last night and -"
"She's not here," Derek interrupted. "Which you should already know since you broke in last night."
Wide-eyed, Hollis stared at him. "I...How…."
"I caught your scent," Derek answered to her expected question.
"Oh."
He waited a moment but she remained quiet, almost stunned. "So, why are you here if you know she's not?"
Hollis forced herself out of the stupor. "Because I need your help finding her."
Derek looked at her with curiosity, bemused at her answer. "You need my help?"
"Yeah, I do," she said with a nod.
He stepped off the porch and, in just a few strides, closed the distance between them. "Why should I help you? All of this," he gestured behind him to the ruined remains of his home, "was because of your family. You did this."
She looked past him at the burned skeleton of the home. A haunted expression on her face. "I'm sorry," she whispered, turning her attention back to him. "But this was my dad. You can't blame me for something he did. Just like I can't blame you for Peter's actions."
He kept quiet, studying her as if to determine if she meant what she said. "Really?"
"Really." Hollis bit her lower lip and, her eyes darted towards the darkening woods. The sun was barely visible now, the night colder. Frustration built up inside her as the seconds ticked by, wasting precious time that could be spent searching. "So, are you going to help me or not?"
Derek smiled, shaking his head. "You're not going to give up, are you?"
"My best friend's out there because of Peter. So, no, I'm not going to give up."
Derek talked but a howl filled the air, cutting off his words. The sound carried through the air, wrapping them up in it.
Hollis whipped her head around, trying to determine where the sound had come from. Surrounded by woods, it was impossible to pinpoint the exact location. "Was that Scott?"
"I-"
Hollis didn't wait for an answer. She took off in the direction she believed the sound had come from.
"Hollis!" Derek yelled, surprised at her taking off. "Damn it," he whispered, following her seconds later.
Branches, rocks and roots created an obstacle that was near impossible to get through. The darkness that blanketed the woods added onto it. With only the glow from the moon as her light source, Hollis struggled to keep her balance but the adrenaline kept her going.
"Wait! Stop!" A voice broke through the stillness of the night. A voice that sounded like Scott's.
Hollis entered a clearing, slowing down enough to get her bearings and give Derek the chance to catch up. Before she could move towards the voice, he grabbed her arm and pulled her back. Her breath was knocked from her lungs as she hit the tree.
"Are you insane?" Derek hissed, glaring down at her. "You can't just run into the woods at the first sound you hear."
Hollis matched his glare. "I was looking for Scott. Besides, why do you even care? Just a few minutes ago you weren't even going to help me."
Derek ignored her. Instead, he looked out from behind the tree to scan the area. "Scott's not the only one out here," he whispered then motioned for her to look.
Hollis he followed his gaze to see a figure emerge on the hill. Whoever it was didn't get far before a tripwire activated and, they went flying into the air.
"Someone's coming. Stay Here," Derek instructed.
With a sigh, she nodded and, Derek disappeared from sight. She waited, counting down the wasted seconds. Her counting ended when something flew past her, missing her by mere inches. Someone hit the tree with force before crumbling to the ground. Before they could react, Derek pulled him to his feet and it was then that Hollis realized it was Scott.
Scott noticed her, too and blinked in surprise. "Hollis? Wh-what are you doing here?" He then looked from one to the other. "What's going on?"
"I - It's a long story."
Derek gave a nod of agreement, not looking eager to go into it.
Hollis peeked out from behind their cover, a frown gracing her face as the figure struggled against its' restraints. "We have to help him."
Scott agreed but Derek pushed him back. "What are you doing? I can help him."
"You can't," Derek said, sounding sure.
Hollis turned to Derek, tilting her head in annoyance. "Seriously? We can help him. If you don't want to -"
"It's not that," Derek interrupted. "They're already here."
"Who is?" Hollis stepped forward but Derek held her back.
"I can help him," Scott said again, determination coating his words.
"Quiet," Derek said, silencing the both of them.
The sound of boots crunching on leaves filled the air as a group of hunters arrived. Argent was in the frontline, followed by an older man. They stopped beside their prey, who hung helplessly by the wire.
"Who's that with Allison's dad?" Hollis asked, receiving an annoyed look from Derek.
"Gerard. Allison's grandfather. He was at the funeral today," Scott whispered back.
They turned their attention towards the hunters, Argent in particular. He stepped towards his prey, his demeanor threatening as he extended a baton. The electrified tip touched the werewolf. His cries of pain met with the electricity coursing through his body.
Hollis looked away, not only from the brilliant blue flash but from the torture that was taking place. Only when the cries died down did she risk looking back. The wolf that hung from the wire was now a man, one that looked familiar. Her mind flashed back to earlier that morning. "I know him," she whispered in horror, meeting Scott's gaze that told her he did, too.
"Who are you?" Argent asked but the homeless man only stuttered an incoherent response. "What are you doing here?"
"Nothing - Nothing, I swear," he said, finding his voice.
Despite the fear that laced his voice, Argent was unperturbed. "You're not from here, are you? Are you?"
The homeless man shook his head. "No. No, I came - I came looking for the Alpha."
Hollis glanced towards Derek, whose gaze didn't waver from the scene.
"I heard rumors, I heard there was - I heard he was here. That's all. I didn't do anything. I didn't hurt anyone. No one living. He wasn't alive in the ambulance. He wasn't, I swear," the homeless man continued, stumbling over his words as fear weaved its way deeper into his voice.
Gerard turned to the other hunters and gestured for them to come forward as if he was a teacher, addressing his class.
Hollis immediately disliked him.
"Gentlemen," Gerard stated, "come a little closer and have a look at a rare sight." He looked pleased as everyone gathered and looked towards Argent. "Want to tell them what we've caught?"
"An Omega," Argent answered.
"The lone wolf," Gerard added.
"Is he seriously turning this into some kind of lesson?" Hollis asked in disgust. With a shake of her head, she watched as Gerard approached a hunter and pulled something long and thin from a backpack.
Gerard continued with his speech, his voice reaching them all. "Possibly kicked out of his own pack. Or the survivor of a pack that was hunted down. Maybe even murdered. Possibly alone by his own choice. Certainly not a wise choice." As he said this, he unsheathed the sharp blade and admired it for a moment.
Her breath hitched in her throat at the sight of the sword. "What the hell is he going to do with that?" She turned to Scott to see despair on his face. "Please tell me he's not going to…," she trailed off, leaving the end of that sentence unfinished. The thought alone made her lightheaded.
Foreboding and panic hung in the air. There was no question about what would take place next, which only added to the fear felt by everyone but the hunters.
"Guys, we have to do something. We can't just - We can't stand here and do nothing." Her heart beat quickly as fear inched it's way around her, suffocating her. "Please."
Scott nodded once but the moment he moved, Derek's grip on him tightened.
"Don't," Derek said.
While Scott struggled with Derek, Gerard's voice rang over theirs. "Because, as I'm about to demonstrate…" He lifted the blade with both hands, the sharp metal glistening against the moonlight.
"Derek, we have to stop him," Hollis pleaded, the panic rising in her voice.
The look Derek threw her let her know no help would be given.
"An Omega rarely survives on its own," Gerard finished icily.
"Please, we have to," Hollis begged.
"It's too late, Hollis," Derek said.
Hollis stared at Derek, willing him to change his mind but knew he wouldn't. Wordlessly, she turned back to the horror show as Gerard swung the blade with a quick and powerful movement across the man's torso. The sickening sound of sword tearing through flesh rang throughout the night.
Hand over her mouth, she shook her head. "No," Hollis whispered, her voice breaking. Scott staggered forward, struggling against Derek, but she stood frozen to the spot. Unable to move or do anything other than stare, her eyes glued to the gruesome scene.
As if in slow motion, the lower half of the man fell to the ground while the top half continued to swing, dripping blood and entrails onto the ground.
Hollis felt her mouth go dry and everything before her swayed. It all felt surreal but it had happened. She had seen it happen. Stumbling backwards, her back hit the tree and she sunk down onto the ground. The shock and disgust at what she had witnessed dominated all other emotions, shaking her to the core. Her heart raced, threatening to jump out of her chest while the rest of her shook.
She withdrew into herself as everything around her blurred. The voices and sounds became muted, distant. Still she sat, fighting off the panic that pulled at her from all sides. But the battle was already lost and, she gave into it. Her lungs felt like half their normal size, constricting with each breath she tried and failed to take in.
One in, one out, Hollis repeated in her mind. "One in, one out," she whispered but saying it aloud didn't make the mantra work any better. She still struggled, fighting for just one small breath of air. Lost in the panic attack, she didn't notice Scott by her side.
His words sounded far away, barely breaking through the panic. "What's wrong with her?" Scott asked, looking over his shoulder at Derek.
Derek frowned. "She's having a panic attack."
"Can you help her?" Scott asked, begged almost. "I-I don't know what to do."
Derek knelt beside her and spoke to her, his voice low and urgent but comforting at the same time.
After a couple minutes, his voice broke through and, Hollis gulped down a lungful of air. It hurt, burning her lungs as they inflated. She struggled to get a few more breaths in before she looked towards them.
"You okay?" Derek asked.
With a nod, she stood up and braced herself against the tree, averting her gaze from Scott and Derek. A cool breeze came in, bringing with it the copper smell of blood and, her stomach roiled from the smell of it. She closed her eyes, willing it to pass.
"Hollis," Scott said.
Taking a deep breath, she let it out. "I'm okay," she said with a nod, as if needing to convince herself, too. Hollis looked out from behind the tree, surprised to find the hunters gone. The top half of the man still swung, being the only indication that the nightmare had happened. "We could've helped him."
"There wasn't anything we could've done," Derek said.
Hollis tore her eyes away, directing her attention at him. "You don't know that," she said, shaking her head. "You didn't even try."
"Going out there would've been suicide, Hollis. The hunters shoot first, ask questions later. They would've killed us."
"Not if we tried before they got here," she argued.
Derek let out a long sigh.
"We had time, Derek. Minutes. It would've been enough to save him before they ki-…," she trailed off, shaking her head. "He died because we didn't try."
"It wouldn't have made a difference," Derek said, his tone implying that was the end of the conversation. He turned his back to her and moved past Scott.
"He was looking for you, you know," Hollis said, stopping Derek mid-step. "For an alpha, for someone to protect him. Maybe he even wanted to join your pack. I mean, that's why you wanted to be an alpha, right? That's why you killed Peter and betrayed Scott in the first place? To have a pack and be stronger?"
Derek looked over his shoulder at her with narrowed eyes.
"No offence, but you're doing a really crappy job as an alpha. You let an innocent person die, someone who needed you and -"
"Shut up." His jaw clenched at her words. In a couple strides, he closed the distance between them. His eyes glowed red, matching the anger that coursed through him while he glared down at her. "Last time I checked, I saved both your lives tonight. Your recklessness would've gotten you killed."
"Or maybe it would've saved someone." His presence intimidated her, the glow of his eyes reminding her what he was but she stood her ground.
Derek opened his mouth to comment but Scott stepped between them. "Guys, stop. This isn't helping anyone." He looked from one to the other, almost pleading with them to stop fighting.
The air felt hostile. Hollis and Derek continued to glare at each other, the unfinished fight hanging between them. Long seconds ticked by before Scott's words broke through to them.
With a sigh, Hollis broke eye contact with Derek. "Fine. You're right," she said and, Scott visibly relaxed. "Sorry," she added though it wasn't directed at anyone in particular.
Derek grunted in response, his eyes now back to their original color. Hostility remained on his face though the conversation ended. "You two should get home," he said before he left them alone, disappearing into the dark forest.
Hollis rolled her eyes at his sudden retreat, the anger she felt towards the situation displayed on her face.
"So," Scott said, breaking the heavy silence, "are you going home?"
She turned towards him with disbelief. "Of course not," she said, shaking her head. "I came here to find Lydia and, I'm not going home until I do."
"Hollis, you should - It's not safe out here. Derek's right about that." He frowned at her expression, continuing before she interrupted. "Look, I-I'll find her. I promise. And I'll call you when I do but -"
"I'm not changing my mind." To prove her point, she turned on her heel and headed into the dark depths of the forest. The branches overhead hid the moon, stealing the minimal light it provided. She reached into her pocket for her phone only to find it empty. She let out an aggravated sigh then remembered why she left it behind. Turned off. Brushing off the fact that she couldn't see well, she continued on but didn't get far before Scott's voice rang out behind her. She didn't want to stop and be reminded of the dangers that lurked in the woods but his persistency forced her to, if only to shut him up.
Scott nearly collided with her.. "Oh, you stopped. I uhm…." He glanced down at his phone, the light illuminating his face as his eyes scanned something.
Her patience thinned and, she crossed her arms. "What?" She asked when he continued to be immersed in his phone. "Scott!"
He brought his attention back to her. "Sorry, I was just -"
"If you're here to tell me to turn around and go home then you're wasting your time. I'm not giving up, not again so -"
Scott shook his head, brushing her theory aside. "No, it's not…. Hold on." He looked down at his phone, typing something. "Stiles found Lydia. Just now."
[- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -]
The roadblock up ahead stopped the scarce traffic and forced the cars to turn around to find an alternate route. Hollis saw the cordoned off area but continued on, stopping just before the first barrier. She stepped out of the car, squinting against the glaring red and blue lights that flashed. Her eyes took in the scene before her as if in slow motion, her rapidly beating heart being the only indication that time had not slowed down.
Scott joined her and, the two walked towards the first barricade but were stopped by a police officer.
"I'm sorry but you two can't be here," the officer said, striding towards them. He took in their dumbfounded expressions and pointed behind them. "There's a detour set up a block away so -"
"It's okay. Let them through," Sheriff Stilinski said, motioning them forward.
Hollis and Scott pushed through the barricade, quickening their pace towards where the Sheriff stood.
"Let me guess, Stiles called you," the Sheriff stated with a nod.
Upon hearing his name, Stiles appeared from around the car. "What? I-I didn't do anything, I swear," he said then noticed Hollis and Scott. "Oh, hey. You're here," he added, confirming his dad's theory.
"Yeah, we-"
"Is Lydia okay?" Hollis interrupted, her heart hammering in her chest. It beat so quickly, so loudly that she believed everyone could hear it.
"She's okay," Stiles told her. "But -"
"But what?" Hollis asked, her heart in her throat as she looked from Stiles to the Sheriff.
"She's just a little shaken up but she's fine," the Sheriff said, shooting an irritated look at Stiles. "The paramedics are taking a look at her right now."
Hollis looked towards the ambulance. "Can I…?"
The Sheriff nodded. "Just don't be too long, okay? They're getting ready to take her to the hospital." He noticed the panic settle over her face and continued, hoping to ease her fears. "It's protocol. She's been out here for what, two days? She needs to be monitored for a while."
Hollis let out a shaky breath and started towards the ambulance. Her legs felt like lead, stiff and heavy but she reached the ambulance. The hammering of her heart slowed some upon the conversation that reached her ears and, a small smile tugged at her lips.
"I already told you," Lydia said with an exasperated sigh. "I don't know why I went on a naked run through the woods for two days, okay? You're the paramedic, you figure it out."
Hollis looked around the doors to see Lydia sitting on a stretcher, a coat draped over her thin frame. "Lydia?"
Lydia and the paramedic both turned to her.
"Is it okay if I talk to her?" Hollis asked.
"I'll give you two some time," the paramedic said, relieved at the interruption.
Hollis stepped into the ambulance and pulled Lydia into a hug. The panic from earlier faded at seeing her in one piece. "You're okay."
"Of course," Lydia said, returning the hug. Leaves and twigs stuck up in odd angles from her hair and, Hollis reached over to take a few out.
"What happened, Lyd? You were in the hospital and then…."
"I don't know," Lydia said with a shrug. A vacant look entered her eyes but disappeared a moment later. "One minute I was in the shower and the next I'm walking out of the woods. Naked."
"We spent the last two days looking for you," Hollis said, relief washing over her at knowing it was in the past now. Though there was still the mystery of why Lydia disappeared, she was just glad to have her friend back. Alive.
"We?" Lydia asked, arching a brow.
"Me, Ali, Stiles and Scott." Hollis rolled her eyes at Lydia's reaction. "They care about you, Lydia. Whether you like it or not, they're your friends."
Lydia sighed loudly but a hint of a smile played on her face. "Fine. Just as long as they know I'm going back to ignoring them the second I go back to school."
Hollis smiled at the typical Lydia response, pulling her in for another hug.
The paramedic appeared albeit reluctantly and cleared his throat. "Sorry, but I need to get her to the hospital."
Hollis nodded and pulled out of the hug. "I'll visit soon, okay?" No sooner had she stepped out of the ambulance than the doors closed. The ambulance pull away with its sirens blaring into the dark night. With her best friend safely behind those doors, a weight had lifted from her shoulders.
"Hey." Stiles stopped beside her.
She turned towards him with a smile. "Thanks for finding her."
"She kind of found me, to be honest," Stiles admitted then threw a worried look her way. "But I was close to giving up and going to look for you."
She tilted her head. "What? Why?"
"Because you weren't answering your phone. You didn't answer my texts and your phone kept going to voicemail. I was freaking out. I-I thought something happened to you."
Hollis closed her eyes with a soft sigh. "Sorry. I had my phone turned off." He looked at her but she waved aside the obvious question. "It's a long story. But the short version is that I had a fight with my dad. I turned my phone off because I didn't want to talk to him."
Stiles nodded though the question remained behind his eyes. "Where did you go?"
Hollis hesitated for a moment. "I went to find Derek."
"What?" Stiles asked. Several people looked their way and, he lowered his voice. "Why?"
"Because I thought he was still our best bet in finding Lydia. But…," she trailed off, shrugging. "Now I don't know. Maybe he really is the monster you think he is."
Stiles frowned. "What changed?"
Her mind flashed to earlier that evening, filling with images she wanted to erase. She shook her head to rid herself of it but the memory remained, engraved in stone. "He let him die, Stiles."
"Let who die? What are you talking about?" Stiles took hold of her arms, steering her attention towards him.
"Remember that homeless guy at the school this morning? The one Jackson was an ass to?" Stiles nodded and, she continued. "Turns out he was a werewolf. He got stuck in the tripwire that caught Scott the other night."
Stiles smiled at the memory but the smile evaporated at the look on her face.
"Derek didn't think we had time to help him but we did." Hollis looked past him, transfixed at the empty space. "But before me and Scott could do anything, the hunters showed up and…"
"They killed him," Stiles finished.
Hollis nodded once, biting her lip as her eyes grew blurry. She angrily blinked back the tears.
"I'm sorry you saw that," he said and pulled her towards him, wrapping her up in a hug. "Are you okay?"
"Not really, no," she said with a sigh. "I just keep…. Everytime I close my eyes I see him die. They - They cut him in half."
Stiles balked at the image her words created and smoothed down her hair in an attempt to soothe her. "All of this is getting too crazy."
Hollis agreed silently. When Peter had been defeated, she believed it would be the end but now it felt like they were back at the start. Like it was beginning all over again. The arrival of the other Argent hunters only proved her theory.
"So, don't hate me or anything but maybe you…. I-I mean, maybe it would be a good idea if you took a step back. From all this," Stiles said slowly, cautiously. "At least until everything calms down and stops being so dangerous."
Hollis pulled back in confusion, staring up at him. "And what if it never does? Then what, Stiles? You can't expect me to just walk away and pretend I'm not involved."
"I just don't want to see you get hurt," he told her.
"And I love that you care but I can't do that," she said, interrupting him when he started to talk. "Sorry, but I'm not going anywhere. You're stuck with me."
