Summary: Lydia and the pack return to Eichen House while Jordan investigates his dreams about his supernatural side.
Based on episode 5x05
Music: Reap by BASECAMP
Chapter 37: Reap
Jordan pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed Lydia. It rang several times before beeping in his ear. He tried again, only to receive the same annoying tone.
"Damn it, Lydia. Pick up the phone!" He cried. Jordan typed out a quick text asking if she was okay and tossed the phone into the passenger seat.
Putting the car into drive, he sped off towards Eichen House. Okay, think, Jordan, think! I heard her say Eichen House in my – whatever you would call that. I'll check there first.
Jordan parked his car in front of Eichen House and jumped out. He ran over to the intercom and pressed the button. Before he could even say anything, the gate opened up at the sound of a buzzer. He rushed up the steps and burst in the front door.
As he was approaching the front desk, he saw one of the other orderlies coming over to the one posted at the front desk.
"You can't just let anyone with a badge in, especially not him. Man, what the hell!"
The orderly at the front desk dropped the magazine he was holding and held his hands up in front of him. "Sorry, Schrader, I didn't know. I figured we should at least see what he wants."
"Yes," Schrader replied. Then he turned to look at Jordan and said, "And we could have done that from outside the front gate."
Jordan held up a hand and apologized. "I'm just looking for Lydia Martin."
Schrader leaned over the desk and glared at Jordan. "And why should I tell you that? Don't come in here acting all innocent. I know about your history with this institution."
Folding his arms across his chest, Jordan said, "You mean like when I prevented one of your employees, a supervisor in fact, from murdering a couple of teenagers?"
Schrader was unfazed. "I mean how you feel entitled to enter and move about this facility on a whim. I will not be manipulated by a badge. Now unless you can provide me with a documented reason to be here, get the hell out."
Jordan clenched his jaw and turned around to leave without replying. He checked his phone once he was back in his car, but Lydia had not texted back.
Come on, Lydia. Where are you?
Lydia picked up the recorder, but Stiles snatched it out of her hand.
"No way! Not happening. Sorry," he said.
Lydia rolled her eyes and turned around so her back was facing Valack. Oh my gosh, Stiles. Could you chill for like two minutes? It's my decision, not yours. Besides, we need him to talk! And if this is the only way to make that happen…
"He's the only one that knows anything," she said to Stiles in a raised whisper.
"The guy is a nut job who drilled a hole into his head," Stiles replied. "He's probably lying his a** off."
Valack suddenly started shouting from behind them. "How many have died so far? All of them teenagers. Am I right? Want to know how many died the first time they came here? I wonder how many will die if they succeed?"
The lights began to flicker all around them.
"This did happen before," Lydia said.
"And now they're back," Valack said. "All because a few teenagers, who never even considered the consequences, decided to reignite a supernatural force they barely understand."
"The Nemeton?" Lydia asked.
"How do you even know about that?" Stiles asked.
"I know because I saw it."
Valack pulled the bandage off his head, revealing his third eye in the middle of his forehead. As the lights began to flicker more, Valack looked around anxiously. "Who did you come with?"
"Our friends," Lydia replied.
"What are they?"
Stiles put a hand on Lydia again and said, "Don't answer."
Lydia pulled away from him just as Valack said, "You've brought a kitsune."
A light behind them suddenly exploded, causing Lydia to shriek. "What's happening?"
"She's disrupting the building's defenses."
"What do you mean? How?" Lydia asked.
"It's not just the mountain ash that keeps this building secure," Valack replied. "It's the electromagnetic energy. Eichen is built on the convergence of Telluric currents. Ley lines. It's what allows it to keep certain supernatural creatures in, and certain others out." Valack paused before continuing. "They knew you were coming. They're here. And you unlocked the door for them."
Valack pressed his palms against the glass door and shouted at them. "Hit record. Do it now. It costs you nothing."
"But it's worth something to you," Stiles said. "So you're not getting it for free."
What is this? A hostage negotiation? Can I not negotiate for myself? It's my voice after all.
"What does the book do?" Lydia asked.
"Tell us," Stiles yelled.
"I told you," Valack replied with an even tone. "It opens your eyes."
"How?" Lydia asked.
"It triggers the memory centers of the brain, clearing the fog and bringing the images of the Dread Doctors into focus. I wrote the book in an effort to find out if anyone else like me had ever seen them before. I thought I could circulate it, an effort to trigger someone – anyone else's memory. They'd see the cover, a hint of memory…They pick up the book, read it. The suppressed memories surface, and then they'd find their way to me to discover more. Just like you did."
"Did it work with anyone else?" Stiles asked.
"You didn't see it on the New York Times Best Seller list, did you?" Valack replied.
Lydia stepped closer. "So all we have to do is read the book?"
Valack nodded and moved closer in response. "If you've seen them, if they've done something to you, then the book will help you remember. Now give me what I want!"
Lydia reached out her open hand to Stiles, waiting for him to hand over the recorder. He glanced back and forth between her and Valack several times before slapping the device into her hand. Lydia waited until Stiles covered his ears and then pressed record, letting out a soul-ripping scream.
An alarm suddenly started blaring overhead as Lydia slammed the recorder onto the shelf of the cell door. She was panting and out of breath as she turned her attention back to Valack.
"Tell us what they want."
Stiles came up beside her and placed a hand on her back. "Lydia, I think we need to get out of here."
She glared at him over her shoulder before looking back at Valack. "What are they trying to do?"
Valack shook his head. "Read the book. Anyone who's come into contact with them."
"Lydia, we gotta go. Now," Stiles said as he dragged her away from the cell by her arm.
"Read the book!" Valack yelled after them as they ran down the hallway.
As they turned down another hallway, Lydia cried out, "Stiles, I can hear them. They're close."
Stiles stopped suddenly and glanced around. "In here!" he shouted, and pulled Lydia into an examination room off the hall.
They ran around a far wall and Stiles wrapped his arms around Lydia, pulling her up against him as he pressed his back into the wall.
Stiles! What are you doing? I doubt this is just to protect me…If I was less terrified, I would slap you.
After several minutes the lights came back up and the room grew quiet. Lydia began to breathe normally once again.
"I think we're okay," she whispered. When Stiles didn't respond she said his name to make sure he was alright.
"No, it's not okay. All of this, it's on us. Everything that's happened, everything that's going to happen. It's our fault."
"It's our responsibility," Lydia replied.
She stepped away from Stiles and wrung her hands nervously. "We should go find the others, and get out of here."
Stiles nodded and moved away from the wall.
Lydia looked Stiles up and down as they retraced the hall towards the entrance. I really need to learn how to defend myself…because that's not going to cut it.
After recovering their belongings from the front desk, Stiles and Lydia slipped out of Eichen and rejoined Scott and Kira. Lydia's hand shot up to her mouth when she saw Scott lying on the ground covered in burns.
As Kira explained what happened, Lydia felt her phone going off in her purse. She pulled out the phone to see she had several missed calls and a text from Jordan. Oh no, this doesn't seem good. Lydia replied to his text saying.
I'm okay, will tell you the details later.