Summary: Lydia and the pack return to Eichen House while Jordan investigates his dreams about his supernatural side.

Based on episode 5x05

Music: Drift by Galimatias & Alina Baraz

Chapter 36: Drift

Lydia hopped out of Stiles' Jeep, along with Scott and Kira, before walking up to the front gate of Eichen House. She stepped forward and pressed the button beside the intercom. "Hello?" she said. "Anyone there?"

No one answered. "Maybe we just need to give them a minute?" Kira suggested. Lydia nodded and leaned up against the wall beside the intercom. Stiles and Scott were talking amongst themselves, still standing right beside the Jeep.

"Is there something going on with you two?" Kira asked suddenly.

"What?" Lydia muttered, pretending to be ignorant. "What are you talking about?"

"I mean you and Stiles. Did something happen? You've been keeping your distance."

Lydia glanced nervously in Stiles' direction before responding. "Kind of, but you can't tell anyone…especially not Malia."

"I won't," Kira said, shaking her head.

"Promise me." Lydia reached out and grabbed Kira's arm. "I can't hurt her like that."

Kira nodded slowly. "I promise."

Lydia stole a glance in Scott and Stiles' direction again to make sure they weren't listening. "Stiles, told me something in the hospital on Friday, right before you and Scott came in." She paused. "He told me that he loves me."

"You know…" Kira furrowed her brows. "Part of me is surprised, but part of me somehow already knew that was true."

"But Malia?"

"Yes," Kira replied. "I think he loves her too."

Before Lydia could respond, the gate suddenly opened up without warning. She walked up the front steps with the others, but stopped when she heard a loud clanging sound behind them. Turning around, she could see that the gate had closed back already.

Well, it looks like there's no backing out now…

Jordan stepped out of his SUV at the border of the Wildlife Preserve. I have to know if my dreams are at all real. Is this where the bodies are ending up? Am I taking them?

He grabbed a flashlight to help him see since the sun had just set and started walking through the woods. At one point, after hiking for hours without finding anything, he reached an empty clearing in the woods. He decided to sit down to take a break and drink some water before searching again.

He took several deep breaths and leaned his head back against a tree. A faint light in front of him caught his attention. "Hello?"

No reply.

The light grew brighter and he realized it was a flashlight beam. As the bouncing light came closer, he recognized the figure holding it.

Lydia?

"Hello, Jordan," she said with a smile.

"Lydia?" he asked. "What are you doing out here?"

She furrowed her brows and shifted on her feet, causing him to notice she was wearing high heels. That's strange…she had to have walked several miles to get out here. But in those shoes?...

"Well, I was looking for you."

Jordan stood up and looked her in the eyes. "What's wrong? What happened?"

"It's not what happened," she said, taking a shaky breath. "It's what's going to happen…what could happen if no one stops it."

"What?" Jordan cried out, his eyes anxiously searching hers.

"I'll give you a hint," Lydia said. She moved closer to be able to whisper into his ear. "Eichen House."

Jordan sat bolt upright in the driver's seat of his SUV. He was drenched in sweat and, upon looking down, noticed the mud and grass caked on the bottom of his boots. He took a minute to slow down his breathing before remembering.

Lydia. She's in trouble.

Lydia followed silently as Scott led the way to the Patient Registration counter. An orderly named Schrader stood behind the glass window staring at them, and said, "Please empty your pockets into the container."

"We're here to see-" Scott started.

"Please empty your pockets into the container."

Reluctantly they all complied. Lydia slipped her purse off her shoulder and placed it in the container.

Schrader gave a sick smile and looked at Kira. "Please remove your belt and place it into the container."

"I kind of need the belt," Kira stuttered. "I mean, it's crucial to the outfit."

Schrader was unmoved. "Please remove your belt which patients will attempt to take from you and use to strangle either themselves or others."

Kira's hands shot to her belt buckle. "Right, got it."

Oh gosh…well, that's a problem we didn't anticipate. What's she going to do now without a weapon?

Schrader moved his attention to Lydia, staring at her for an uncomfortably long amount of time. Lydia looked away, suddenly realizing that Stiles was giving Schrader a disgusted and confused look.

A door off to the left opened, revealing one of the doctors, Dr. Conrad Fenris, whom Lydia had met before. I remember him! He took me to see Deaton after what happened when he tried to talk to Valack.

"I'll remind you," Dr. Fenris said as he led them down a tall staircase. "that I'm only doing this as a favor to Deaton. And I'm doing it against my better judgment."

Stiles spoke up for the first time since arriving. "Hey, what's the etiquette for talking to this guy? I mean, do you ever look at the other eye?"

Really Stiles? You couldn't answer that question for yourself? Now isn't exactly the time for sarcasm.

"I wouldn't," Dr. Fenris said. "In fact, while you're down here, try not to make eye contact with anyone or anything."

They were walking down a long hallway when Lydia realized Scott and Kira were no longer right behind her. She stopped and turned around once they reached a gate at the end of the hall. Scott and Kira were a ways back, looking up and down at the walls around them.

"You didn't think you were all going, did you?" Dr. Fenris asked.

"It's mountain ash, isn't it?" Scott asked.

"Everywhere, but heavily concentrated down here."

Dr. Fenris scanned his ID on the gate and opened it for Stiles and Lydia. "Valack's cell is the last one at the end of the hall."

Lydia looked back at Scott nervously. Scott smiled at her and nodded with confidence. "We'll be right here."

She started to walk towards the gate when Stiles put his hand on her shoulders and slid it down to the crook of her back, gently leading her through the doorway and into the hall.

What do you think you're doing? You shouldn't be touching me like this when you have a girlfriend. You're lucky Scott and Kira won't tell Malia about this.

Just as Lydia was about to say something, he removed his hand. As they walked down the hall, Lydia noticed Stiles staring into one of the cells with a concerned look on his face. She looked into the cell and saw a strange supernatural creature. Not that that is normal or anything, but I don't think it warrants that expression. What were you making that face for?

When they approached Valack's cell, he looked up at them and said, "Tell me what you just saw."

Stiles glanced at Lydia before answering. "Me?"

"The creature in the previous cell: the Sluagh. The myth is that they can take on the appearance of the lost souls that have become inextricably bound to it. Happened to have seen any lost souls, Mr. Stilinski?"

"Everyone down here," Stiles replied.

"Don't give up on us yet. We're all works-in-progress."

"Where did you hear that from?" Lydia asked.

Valack smiled at her. "Wise words from a former cellmate." He stood up and moved closer to the glass cell door. "Did you bring the book?"

Stiles pulled the small paperback out of his pocket and held it up in front of him. "Very nice," Valack said. "First edition. Of course, there was only one printing."

Lydia glared at his smirking face. "There is no T.R. McCammon, is there?"

"No," Valack grinned.

"You wrote the book," Lydia stated.

"That's right, Lydia. Maybe you've already guessed that it's not just a book."

"What is it?" she asked.

"A tool," Valack replied. "Designed to open your eyes."

"To what?" Stiles asked.

"To them: the Dread Doctors."

Lydia stepped closer to the glass. "Why did you use a pseudonym?"

"I had a professional reputation once. I wasn't interested in ruining it by putting my name on a second-rate piece of trash."

Stiles furrowed his brows. "Then why write the book in the first place?"

"You haven't even read it yet, have you? I wrote it because no one believed me. Because no one listened." He paused suddenly. "They're here, aren't they? In Beacon Hills."

"What are they?"

"Not entirely human. At least, not anymore. They were scientists once. Scientists who worshipped the supernatural. Tesla said, 'If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration.' They found their secrets in electromagnetic forces. Ways to prolong their lives, give them power, and most importantly, making you forget you ever saw them."

"What do they want?" Lydia asked.

"Good question, Lydia. Everybody wants something, don't they?"

Stiles rolled his eyes. "Okay, so what do you want?"

Valack held up a tiny tape recorder and placed it inside a panel in the door. "Hit record."

Lydia looked at him curiously. "What do you want me to say?"

"I don't want you to say anything. I want you to scream."