CHAPTER 27

Awakening

Deputy Marks unlocked the holding cell door.

"Tests came back negative. Except THC, but we can't prove it was in the last 48 hours so, you're free of public intoxication charges and free to go." He looked impressed, but still arrogant. "Sheriff Stilinski is waiting for you in his office."

Mars snatched her things from his hands and did her best not to spit in his face. It would be a miracle if they didn't send her over to a nut house after last night.

"Tell Sheriff I won't be home tonight." She walked out the front door, with the knowledge Sheriff would take care of anything that needed to be taken care of. She pulled out her phone and dialed Stiles' number.

Last night was hell, waiting to hear he was okay, to hear he wasn't. No one would tell her anything, no one would speak to her at all. She didn't know if they'd found Derek's body, or if they found evidence of the Alpha. But she knew it was real. It had to be real. And Stiles had to be okay.

They couldn't be so cruel to not tell her if he was gone.

The line picked up and she heard mumbling on the other end. "Stiles? Stiles is that you?"

"Mars? Mars, are you okay?" His voice perked up at the sound of hers.

Her eyes burned. He's alive, he's okay. The tightness in her chest lifted, it was the first time she'd been able to truly breath since last night. She held her stomach, hardly able to bear the release of tension. "Are you home? Is Scott there? Is Scott okay?" She deliberately avoided answering his question and wiped the tears from her cheek.

"Yes I'm home, Scott's not here, and he's okay physically, but Allison kind of... Dumped him."

"You're kidding." She hadn't expected that, when was there even time for him to see Allison?

"Nope."

"Shit."

"Yeah."

"Should I go check on him?"

"No, he said he wants to be alone. I'm giving him a day before we go in," He explained. "Where are you, you weren't home or at your parents? I'll come get you."

"Sheriff didn't tell you?"

"Uh, no? Was he supposed to?"

"I'm at the Station." She hung up the phone, unwilling to answer questions, and sat on the curb. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sheriff walking to her. She pulled her knees into her chest, averting any eye contact. Sheriff stood a small distance away with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

"You know I didn't want to do that, don't you?" Mars remained silent. "I really hope this is a wakeup call." Though she was shaking in anger, Mars managed to hide it well enough that he didn't notice. He went to sit beside her- "Don't." She spat.

He sat anyways. "Mars. I need you to understand."

"I understand just fine," she sneered. Oh, she understood alright. He'd betrayed her in the worst possible way, and now he thought he was 'helping' her. Seriously? Fuck that.

"I don't think you do," He sighed. "You don't have to say anything, just listen."

"Talk if you want, I won't be listening."

Sheriff leaned forward and held his head in his hands. He forgot how young she was sometimes. She always seemed so adult, but her pain brought out her immaturity, reminding him she was just sixteen. She was just a kid. "It's not on your record. No charges."

"Well I'd fucking hope so, because I didn't do anything wrong."

"I know that." He knew he wasn't going to get through to her so he stood up, sighing. "Just stay safe. Hale is still out there,"

Mars' head snapped up, eyes wide. Derek was alive? What did he mean? What happened at the school?

"Derek?" she repeated. Sheriff looked down at her.

"Yeah, and I'm so sorry I didn't believe you. You were right, Mars. He locked the kids in the school. All the murders were his doing."

But that's a lie, he's dead, she thought. Unless Scott and Stiles needed him to be a scapegoat.

"Uh. Yeah." She agreed. If they'd said it, they needed it to stay that way. She'd stay silent for now.