Disclaimer: Teen wolf does not belong to me in any way, shape or form, forever sad about that haha anyways, another quick chapter because I am on fire lately and want to make up for the time between chapters before, really hope you all enjoy :)
It wasn't long after she left Theo's pick up that she received a worried text from Stiles, asking if she was okay and where she was. She looked at the message, momentarily feeling guilty that she worried him and went to text back but within seconds his name flashed up on the screen, the ringtone blasting from her phone.
She sighed, swiping up on the green button and held the phone to her ear but Stiles' voice drowned out whatever she was going to say, his tone frantic and worried.
"Oh my god, where are you? What happened? Are you okay? Is this about last night because I am so so sorry-"
His rambling was making her head spin, his words becoming incoherent as she tried to follow what he was saying but it was just confusing her, unable to keep up with his boisterous, full on, long winded concerns and apologies.
"I-I'm at sc-school" she managed to get out as he stopped momentarily to catch a breath, "I'm f-f-fine"
She heard him sigh in relief, immediately calming down, "oh thank god" he exclaimed, "but-wait… how did you get there?"
She swallowed thickly, "I w-walked" she lied, not wanting to tell Stiles the whole truth especially as it involved Theo and she knew how Stiles felt about him, "j-just ne-needed some s-space"
He was silent for a few moments, something so unlike Stiles that she started to worry he was mad at her, that he would start shouting at her for being unresponsible and reckless but, to her surprise, when he replied he was calm and relieved, maybe even a little bit proud.
"I understand" he whispered, "and I'm sorry for being so smothering, I know it's wrong and intrusive but I just don't want anything to happen to you… it would kill me if anything did"
Her heart clenched, a tingling warm feeling seeping down her spine as she sensed the pure, raw, unwavering love in his tone, directed wholly at her.
"I... I k-know" she murmured, "b-but I'm fi-fine"
"I'll see you soon okay? I shouldn't be longer than ten minutes"
"O-Okay... see y-you so-soon"
She could tell he was wanting to say something else, hesitating at the other end of the line, not daring to hang up just yet and she frowned, on edge with the unspoken words.
"S-S-Stiles?" She wondered, "w-what is it?"
She heard him sigh heavily, in emotion she couldn't quite put a finger on then let out a breathless chuckle.
"Nothing, nothing. I just keep going to say I love you and then I realise I probably shouldn't be saying that"
Her heart ached at his sad voice, hating that she was making him feel like that, "I-It's okay" she whispered, "y-you can sa-say i-it if you w-w-want"
He was silent for several seconds, apparently shocked and taken aback by her statement.
"W-What?" He stuttered, "I can?"
She wondered if that was the wrong thing to say, immediately doubting her words, "Uh... d-do you n-not want to?"
He tripped over his tongue in his haste to reassure her that, yes, of course he wanted to say it - or at least that was what she understood, listening to his mad ramblings.
"U-Um... o-okay... uh..." she was beginning to feel a little hot and anxious, the tips of her ears burning, "um... I-I'll wait he-here"
They parted ways somewhat awkwardly, both a little overwhelmed and unexpected by the course of that phone call, tiptoeing around the very obvious fact that Stiles wanted Kayla, broken or not. It was like an iceberg, overwhelmingly apparent, despite how much they both tried to see past it.
It was beginning to get busy, masses of students occupying the parking lot so she side stepped under a little tree, partially trying to hide but mainly trying to have a moment to herself, gathering her thoughts.
'I can do this' she thought, repeating the mantra several times in her head, 'I am not my bad thoughts, I am not my bad thoughts, I am not my bad thou-'
"Kayla!" A feminine voice exclaimed and she jumped slightly, peeing open her eyes to see Lydia waving at her as she got out her car, her smile bright and unwavering.
She tried to return it but it came out slightly flat, watching Lydia totter across the parking lot and onto the grassy mound outside the front of the school, strawberry blonde hair perfectly bouncing around her shoulders.
"You're here early" Lydia commented, "and Stiles is never early"
"Oh... u-uh... I-I'm here my-myself"
Lydia's perfectly shaped lips parted slightly in shock, her eyebrow arching upwards with surprise, "oh... I thought he was supposed to be the one that picked you up?" She wondered and Kayla just swallowed nervously, her eyes flicking across the grass to see Theo hovering at the entrance to the school, chatting away to a couple of fellow students but he must have felt her gaze lingering on the back of his head because he turned around, meeting her stare and held up his hand into a wave, a smile tugging at his lips.
She dipped her head, breaking the stare and looked back at Lydia who, of course, had seen the exchange too and looked at Kayla suspiciously.
"I didn't know you knew Theo"
"I-I don't" she murmured, "h-he... he j-just keeps tu-turning up"
Lydia hummed in agreement, "yeah, he does. But he seems alright"
Kayla wasn't going to confirm or deny that, shrugging a shoulder, "S-Stiles do-doesn't like h-him"
Lydia chuckled, "Stiles never likes anyone. Is that why you don't want to say you got a ride with Theo?"
Kayla just frowned, "I-I was w-w-walking, he o-offered"
Lydia smiled, "it feels good to have a bit of independence back, doesn't it?"
For the first time in a while she felt listened to and understood. Without even conveying her fears and concerns, Lydia just knew that Kayla was desperate for some sort of freedom because she was feeling smothered and suffocated - but, she supposed, that's what best friends were for.
Kayla simply nodded, a warm feeling of recognition igniting in her chest because of course Lydia would understand - she always did.
"Come on" Lydia smiled, taking her arm, "we're having a meeting about what happened last night"
Kayla has no choice but to follow suit, frowning at her friend, "w-what happened l-last night?"
Lydia frowned, "no one told you? Not even Stiles?"
She sighed, "n-no one te-tells me a-a-anything"
Lydia glanced at her sympathetically, "it's about Tracy. You know... Tracy Stewart. She uh... looks to have been turned into a werewolf and has gone on a killing spree"
"O-Oh" was all she could muster up, half heartedly following Lydia as she dragged her towards the back of the buses, "a-at least it's n-n-not me th-this time"
Surprisingly, Lydia laughed, catching Kayla off guard as she looked at her best friend in concern, wondering why that one statement was so funny. She didn't recall it being funny at the time when she was murdering innocent people.
"No Kay, definitely not" Lydia was still chuckling to herself as they met their friends who were huddled around the front of a bus, Stiles huffing and puffing as he caught up with them; dramatically as ever as he gasped for breath, putting his hands on his knees and heaving back gulpfuls of air.
"Sorry. Late. Stupid jeep" he gasped out, small beads of sweat forming on his forehead, "ran out of... duct tape"
Everyone just stared at Stiles being, well... Stiles, giving him time to compose himself before they started discussing Tracy Stewart. The name rang a bell with Kayla but, despite how hard she tried, she couldn't place a face with the name. They obviously ran in different social circles, or maybe were just polar opposite people, but Kayla didn't have a Scooby who the hell they were on about.
"Tracy wasn't just having trouble sleeping. It was a real disorder. It was night terrors" Kayla refocused back on the conversation, cutting in midway through Lydia speaking.
"Well, now she's the night terror. Especially since no one can find her" Stiles exclaimed.
"Okay, I know we're all tired and miserable... uh..." Scott sent Mason, the boy she hadn't really met properly before, a bewildered look, "...Except for you"
"Oh. I'm sorry. This is all just mind-blowing" the poor boy looked overwhelmed and yet completely elated at the same time, "You're a kitsune. I don't even know what that is"
Kira smiled awkwardly, "I'm still learning"
"And you're a werecoyote" he glanced at Malia, "like, I didn't even know that could possibly be a thing"
Malia just huffed out a grunt, looking tired at his enthusiasm and before anyone could cut in, Mason had already turned to Stiles, his eyes wide and excited.
"And you were possessed by a Japanese spirit, like... whoa. That must've been... intense"
Stiles frowned, the subject still a little touchy, "uh, who told him that?"
"Like, this is all so crazy" Mason waved his arm out, nearly slapping Scott in the face who managed to duck, "you were dead, and now you're not" he finally looked at her, crouched in the sidelines, not involving herself in any form of conversation, "how is that even possible?"
Surprisingly, without missing a beat, she managed to form a reply in her brain, her mouth quickly following to shape the words "b-bad luck"
Her friends looked at her awkwardly, still tiptoeing around the very obvious negative side to her coming back and she sensed the atmosphere change, almost becoming darker and filling with tension.
"Heh" Mason murmured, his eyes flickering between their friends to understand if she was joking or not, "I mean... surely being not dead is a good thing right?"
No, she thought sadly, it really wasn't.
"Enough questions, we're not 'Alexa'" Stiles interrupted, ever so protective of her, "and for the love of god Liam, we said you could tell him - not invite him to the inner circle"
"Uh, I'm in the inner circle?"
"No"
Scott took the lead again, gaining everyone's attention effortlessly, "Guys, look, back to Tracy. She's just one lone wolf. We can find her"
"Yeah... one lone serial-killing wolf"
"Uh, she only killed one person, you know" Stiles carefully corrected Malia, his cautious eyes on Kayla the entire time to see if this situation and conversation were making her feel uncomfortable, especially at the talk of murder, "the other two were mauled"
Kayla felt an uncomfortable lump in the back of her throat, guilt resonating from every pore of her body. Maybe Stiles was right... maybe all of this was too soon for her.
"All right..." Stiles broke the silence, obviously sensing her discomfort as he looked like he wanted to finish this conversation as quickly as possible, "what do we do when we catch her?"
"I say we put her down"
Everyone's gazes, even Kayla's, turned to squint at Malia, still surprised by her blatant lack of grey.
"What?" She defended herself, "I said the same thing about you" nodding her head at Kayla, "if they had listened, maybe more people wouldn't have died"
Kayla remembered a time she used to be like that... unapologetically unfiltered. Just like how she knew Malia didn't mean it in a bad way, nor in a threatening way. It was just a simple statement from a perspective very few had. Blunt and black and white.
No one said anything, too taken aback by Malia's statement.
"Well obviously I'm glad we didn't. Kind of" she added, "stop looking at me like that, I was just saying"
"Whoa..." Mason looked about ready to faint, feeding off the drama of the last few seconds, "intense, part two"
"Guys, let's concentrate on catching her first" Scott interrupted, "We'll figure out the rest later... we always do"
Everyone mumbled in agreement with that plan, accepting Scott's lead and just as Stiles made his way over to her, wanting to check up on her, did his phone ring and when he looked at the caller ID he snorted in disgust.
"Oh great, that scarf wearing idiot" he grumbled under his breath, allowing himself a roll of the eyes before answering the call and holding it to his ear, "yeah yeah, this better be important"
Apparently, it was. Or so it seemed anyway as Stiles' face dropped, his brows furrowing in concentration.
It wasn't only her that caught on to Stiles' change in demeanour, everyone in their little group began watching him closely, on edge and on alert for any dangers or bad news they were about to receive.
"Uh huh... yeah... what? No way... that's insane... no... how can that even work? Hm..."
Kayla was watching him closely, her heart racing at the sight of him so displeased and worried, his caramel brown stare full of distress as he held her gaze, muttering away to Issac on the phone as he tried to keep his voice lowered.
Right now, in this moment, it felt like she was standing on the edge of a cliff, toes dangling off the edge, hovering over infinite nothing. Every inch of her body seizing up, bracing for impact in case her world imploded, forever ready for the ground to disappear from under her feet. This constant and unforgivable dread poisoning her mind as it pumped through her body, leaving her body numb yet equally on fire.
There was only one reason for Stiles to be acting like this... her.
She had seen that expression so many times on his face, so much so she knew every detail of it if she closed her eyes. Issac was delivering some sort of news about her... and Isaac was last helping Afonso... did that mean...?
She somehow managed to zone back in to the present without dissociating any further, watching Stiles swallow thickly, appearing to agree with Isaac as he reassured him 'they' would be there soon and hung up, not so much as a goodbye leaving his lips.
Maybe this was it, she thought. Maybe the news was she couldn't be fixed. Maybe, just maybe, it was finally set in stone - that she was a worthless cause. Could she ever be that lucky?
"Um... that was Isaac" Stiles murmured, slipping the phone back into his pocket, his face - somehow - much paler than usual, "he was up all night with Afonso and Deaton. They think they might know how to fix your soul"
That... that was not what she expected to hear. She had always thought, maybe always hoped, she was unfixable. Maybe wished that those she loved the most would put their energy into something worthwhile and not her. Never her. She didn't deserve to be fixed... not after everything, and everyone, she had broken. Even if, technically, all those bad things she had done wasn't really her, even if it was the fact she awakened with hells darkness tainting her mind and soul.
She didn't deserve to get better. Even if the universe, and fate, somehow thought she did.
"W-W-What?" She mumbled, "but h-how-"
Stiles seemed bewildered if not a little frightened, dazed and shakened by whatever Isaac had told him.
Everyone was now transfixed on Stiles, eager to hear and know how something that seemed impossible only a mere day ago, was now, miraculously, within their grasp.
"By uh... by..." He was cautious and careful, hating to hurt her with this statement, "by reopening a portal to hell"
And there it was... her descent off the cliff into infinite nothing. Oh, wasn't it funny how one sentence could cause so much pain and fear?
"Excuse me, what?" Lydia piped in, "no way in hell-" and if Kayla wasn't so unwell she might've laughed at the choice of words, "-that is too dangerous, nevermind trauamatising"
"Apparently there's a ritual" Stiles carried on as if Lydia hasn't spoken, speaking out of shock and worry rather than excitement at the prospect of her fixing her soul, "to reconnect a persons soul... to make it whole. But in doing so would mean hell would have to open... because... y'know, that's where your soul is..."
This seemed too dangerous. Too risky. Hell was never meant to be opened. She was living proof of that - look what happened to her when she returned. How the darkness of hell had tainted her... what if opening a rift meant some of hell leaked onto this earth? What if the consequences of this ritual were far too dangerous to even consider doing it?
She looked around each of her friends, wondering if she even had a choice in this decision. Would this choice be taken away from her like many other had? She, sadly, knew it would be. Her friends would move mountains for those they cared about and, unfortunately for them, they cared about her.
"What are the risks?" Scott finally asked, breaking the uncomfortable tension with his clearheaded questions, "what could go wrong?"
"Afonso thinks nothing, if done properly" Stiles explained, "and quickly. The longer hell stays open, the easier it is for things to get through"
"What kind of things?" Kira asked, her voice meek with fear.
"Uh... maybe for the best we don't know" Stiles added cautiously, nervously glancing at her, "I think we should do it. You can't keep living when there's pieces of you down there with him. I wouldn't forgive myself if I let that happen"
All eyes were on her; watching her tentatively for her to voice her opinion - whether they were going to listen to it was something completely different.
"I... I... I don't k-know" she muttered, "I... I don't-"
"Give her time to think about it" Lydia advised gently, sending her a soft look, "it's a big decision"
Stiles frowned, "it shouldn't be. It's about saving her soul alright? That to me is pretty black and white"
Lydia shot Stiles a seething glare, "give her a minute"
Stiles was exasperated, huffing out a sigh as he crossed his arms over his chest and stared at her expectantly, like Lydia was just being bonkers because, of course, why would she ever disagree with Stiles?
A part of her did want it... wanted to be normal, to be allowed another chance to fix her wrongs but she still felt like she had cheated at life. That she shouldn't be allowed this glorious second chance, or third chance, or fourth because it just wasn't right. It wasn't normal.
But... looking at Stiles, seeing the hope and love brimming in his eyes, she couldn't deny him the oppertunity. Her dying didn't just affect her; it ruined him sometimes even worse, she thought. Since she died in his arms he just wasn't the same and maybe, just maybe, by fixing herself she could fix him. She could help fix the broken parts of the one person that held every inch of her heart.
She swallowed, her throat painfully dry as she simply nodded, unable to speak any words.
This was the right thing to do... wasn't it? She wasn't being selfish?
Stiles visibly sighed, sending her a small smile, "this will work, I know it will"
She didn't think fixing her soul would fix her problems or her trauma, in fact she thought it may make them ever harder to deal with, but surely she owed it to herself, her friends, her family and everyone she had ruined to be a better person? No matter how hard it was.
"This is what we do" Stiles exclaimed, somewhat defensively as everyone looked a little worried, no doubt fretting over the possible consequences, "we save people and... and..." he looked her, not breaking eye contact as he reached forward to brush his bare knuckles across her tightly clenched fingers, his warm loving touch instantly soothing the terror seizing her gut, "... and someone we love needs help. We always - always - manage to deal with the consequences"
Everything about him just made her want to be a better person... yearning to be enough for him. She missed when things were simple and easy, when it was just him and her against the world. When they would just be happy with each other, enjoying the love they felt in their hearts.
Since she came back... since she was brought back to life wrong, things were difficult. They weren't happy. They weren't enjoying bathing in their love. They were hurt and bitter and toxic, their love turned to hate.
Could this be their do over? Another chance to fix their love?
Were they fated to grow together into better people?
She hoped so.
She knew she had been keeping Stiles almost at arms length, having him but not really having him. Acting as her friend and support system when she knew, deep down, that wasn't enough for her.
She wanted him so badly. She wanted to let herself love him with all her heart and more and maybe this... this was her chance to start over and let herself feel. She wanted to feel and enjoy his love but she couldn't with this guilt. It was suffocating and raw, killing her slowly from the inside out. Maybe she just had to fix herself to be able to move forward... to live a life that maybe wasn't meant to be, but was given to her.
"... You're right" Scott's voice penetrated the stifling silence, taking charge, "of course we're going to help. Whatever needs done"
She dipped her head as she felt everyone's stares on her, flushing with the attention that suddenly encased her.
Lydia nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly with Scott, "anything for you"
The others mumbled out agreements apart from Mason, the poor boy staring between everyone as if they were all speaking a foreign language he didn't know.
"Uh... what... a soul...?"
Kayla watched as Stiles rolled his eyes, "Liam, catch your little friend up here because, oh-" Stiles exclaimed, "-just in time"
The rev of a motorbike caught their attention, each turning their heads to see the bike skid to a stop, deliberately over throttling it a little to cause a deafening roar and Kayla immediately knew who it was.
Ethan... fulfilling his promise.
A small smile tugged at her lips, her heart filling with joy at the return of her old friend, something pure and safe before she came to Beacon Hills.
"Wait... is that Ethan?" Lydia exclaimed, her face twisting into shock.
"Uh huh" Stiles nodded, "like I was just going to let Theo get away with saying his alpha was the twins alpha without a little digging"
Malia frowned, "are you still on that?"
"Of course I'm still on that. He's fishy, and the sooner you's believe me the better"
Ethan finally caught sight of them, many with varying degrees of shock plastered across their faces as he lifted his hand into a wave and began gentle jogging towards them, surprisingly happy and eager.
"Oh wow... Ethan" Scott exclaimed, "long time no see"
"Yeah, you too" he grinned, shifting back and forth on his feet before taking Scott into a brief hug, "this place hasn't changed much"
"It never does" Lydia smiled, stepping forward and wrapping her arms around Ethan, "it's so good to see you. How are things?"
Ethans smile wavered slightly but to anyone that didn't know him, they wouldn't notice, but Kayla did. She knew being back here was hard for him, how could it not be? He lost his brother, his twin, his other half not far from this very spot... she knew his apprehension because she felt the exact same way in this school. She lost herself too.
"I've been... good" he hesitated, obviously not wanting to go into the depths of his despair since losing Aiden, "I've been travelling. Finally settled in London. It's nice... a fresh start"
Malia was frowning, looking confused, "who is this?"
Scott chuckled, "it's Ethan. Aidens brother"
"Oh" she nodded, eyeing him up and down, "hi"
"A few new faces I see" Ethan observed, "so what is everyone?"
"Werecoyote"
"Werewolf"
"Here" was the final statement exclaimed by Mason, almost awestruck by the turn of events, "I'm here"
Ethan snorted in amusement, "oh great, another Stiles"
Stiles rolled his eyes, "oh shut up, I'm way cooler than this dude"
"If you say so" Ethan responded with a playful tone, "so uh... where is this Theo guy anyway? Yknow... the whole reason I'm here in the first place"
"Uh... probably inside already, I saw his truck when I pulled up" Stiles said, "so off you pop, hurry up" he encouraged, "let us know if he's evil"
Ethan exhaled an amused breath, "you do know I'm most likely not going to know if he's telling the truth or not right? Like I said, we were never a bonded pack and-"
"Enough excuses" Stiles interrupted, "get in there before I send your ass back on a flight to London"
Kayla watched the effortless exchange, wishing communication and forming bonds came that easy to her. Despite their past differences, they welcomed Ethan back with open arms and he was receptive to their olive branch, slipping back into some sort of friendship.
"Yeah yeah" Ethan dismissed lightly, "and what are you going to do? This was your idea you know"
She felt his stare hovering on her, tracing every inch of her, trying to understand - no doubt - exactly what was going on inside her head but, as usual, she was closed off, on guard and stuck inside her own head.
"I..." she knew some part of him was desperate to tail Ethan and watch as he (hopefully) caught out Theo, wanting to feel smug and big headed as he watched Theo's web of lies crash down around him but, in this instance, he could let his obsession go - for her.
"I have to be somewhere" Stiles said, "it's important. Uh... if you figure anything out, text me"
Ethan grunted, "since when did you become the boss?"
"Since I have the brains" Stiles shot back plaufully, teaching forward to take her hand, "we should go"
"Uh... o-okay"
"Not without me" Lydia jumped in before Stiles could drag her away, sending Stiles a stubborn stare, "I want to help"
"Uh, yeah yeah of course" Stiles nodded, sensing that Lydia, right now, wasn't to be messed with. Not when it came to her best friend.
"And me" Scott said, "we're in this together so we do this together. Uh... maybe you guys should keep an eye out for Tracey" he directed towards Malia, Kira and Liam, "I don't know how long this will take and we need to be prepared for whatever she does next"
"Yeah, yeah that sounds like a plan" Kira nodded, "we can hold the fort here"
"But if we find her then-"
"-No killing" Scott reminded Malia gently, "just talk to her. Or catch her, but try not to hurt her"
Malia grumbled something under her breath until Kira nudged her, keeping the werecoyote on the straight and narrow.
They each parted ways, Stiles guiding Kayla back to his jeep with Scott and Lydia following, his hand hovering on the small of her back. A small gesture, but a gesture none the less of his love for her. Each passing day she felt more for Stiles, yearning for his touch, his presence, his love. Despite her... frustrations at his over protectiveness, she wanted him in her life so damn badly.
He opened the passenger side door for her as Lydia and Scott climbed in the back but before she could get inside he caught her waist, turning her around to face him, their chests nearly touching.
"I just want you to know..." he whispered, his head tilting down to meet her shy stare, "... I'll keep you safe. If anything does wrong with this ritual then I'll keep you safe. I promise"
"Do... d-do you think any-anything w-will?"
He shook his head, "no. I don't. I believe this will work because we have had shit luck lately and it has to turn around at some point right?"
A small smile tugged at her lips, bathing in the gentleness of his words, "h-hopefully"
Without missing a beat Stiles had swooped down to press his soft lips to her forehead, a reassuring touch in her darkness.
His cheeks were a little flushed, like a happy schoolboy after a kiss with his first crush, "we got this, we always do"
She couldn't help but feel positive at his, surprising, optimism. He wasn't normally like this... so hopeful and positive but she supposed they finally had a chance to fix her, to make her whole again and Stiles had been craving an oppertunity like that for months.
So she let him help her up into the jeep, his fingers delicately touching her waist as she settled herself into the seat, hopeful that now she was finally going to have a chance to be normal.
Coming back here was nauseating.
It was no exaggeration.
She felt the bitter bile seizing the back of her throat, her stomach twisting into painful knots as Stiles sensed her discomfort and stepped that little bit closer, their hips brushing together as he found her hand, encasing it in his and giving it a reassuring squeeze.
"It's okay" he murmured, "I won't let anything happen to you"
It wasn't that she was scared of what would happen, it was what had already happened she was traumatised from.
Looking down at her grave, the place she had pulled herself from before she suffocated after waking up, it brought back flashes of terror, her heart beginning to race.
The ground looked dead, grey and withered from the poison of the supernatural. Nothing grew there, not in the spot her body once rested. Forever tainted from the darkness that became her.
She forced her gaze away from the ground, shivers dancing down her spine as she met Isaac's stare who was standing next to Afonso and Deaton, his eyes hollow and tired.
He looked somewhat sick too... hating being back here just like Kayla.
"Hi" he smiled gently, a sympathetic glint shining in his baby blue orbs, his boyish looks softening as she arrived.
Stiles' hand tightened ever so slightly on her own, a sign he was still jealous and worried about Isaacs presence.
"H-Hi" she returned the pleasantries, pushing back the anxiety and terror welling up inside her as she stopped a couple feet away from her grave, "um... w-we have to d-do th-this here?"
Isaacs eyes started swimming with guilt as he swallowed thickly, dropping his stare as Afonso stepped forward, reaching his hands out as a form of apology.
"I apologise for the location. I understand it must be difficult being back here but this was where your resurrection took place... this is where the dimensional barriers are most weak"
Her stomach was churning, the bitterness reaching her mouth as she closed her eyes briefly, overcome with emotion and fear.
"I'm sorry" Stiles was fretting, hating seeing her so uncomfortable, "we don't have to do this now, if you're not ready-"
She shook her head, determined not to let fear win this time, "I-it's okay. I-I'm fine"
She had many good memories in this woods... playing with her cousins, climbing trees and taking long runs on the trail, happy memories in the Hale house that wasn't far from here... she couldn't let one bad experience ruin that could she?
Scott and Lydia were hovering next to her, shifting from foot to foot at the uncomfortableness of being back here, awkwardly trying not to look at the, now, empty grave.
"What if this goes wrong?" Lydia asked, determined to voice hers and everyone else's concerns, "what if we unleash hell...?"
Afonso's eyes darkened slightly, "it's a risk, albeit a small one, but there is no other way to fix your friends soul. The pieces are in hell... to get them we have to open it"
Lydia was paler than usual, a grey tinge to her perfect skin, "it won't... I mean, hell won't take her back will it?"
Kayla flinched slightly at that, the thought of going back there terrifying her.
"It's a two way portal" Afonso explained, "that means anything from either side can go through. Though I suspect no one will want to go through it"
Everyone nodded in agreement, too scared to speak.
"This is ancient magic" Afonso continued, "just as old as the resurrection spell that was used to bring you back. It is... unpredictable" he warned, "but it is the only way I know of to get your soul back. I'm not entirely sure how it works, but it gets intense. Powerful. The human soul has its own power, so reuniting those pieces will be something none of you have experienced before. Even I haven't in all my years of magic"
She wasn't going to let fear win. She wasn't going to let fear win. She wasn't going to let fear win. She wasn't going to let fe-
"Whatever the consequences we'll deal with it" Scott reassured, "if this is something you want to do Kayla, we have you back"
Of course he did... it was Scott McCall. Loyal loving Scott McCall.
Stiles' hand was sweaty in hers, nearly shaking from worry as he ran his other hand down his face, beginning to fidget from nerves and anxiety.
"She's going to be safe right? It won't hurt her?"
Afonso smiled lightly, "as I said, I've never performed such a ritual but if it gets too dangerous I will stop and retract"
Everyone's worry and second guessing was beginning to make her dizzy, instead choosing to make her own decision and take charge of her own life, her own fate to step forward, letting go of Stiles gentle hand, the tips of her trainers hovering over the edge of the poisoned ground.
"J-Just do it" she mumbled, "I-I need t-to be wh-whole a-again"
Alan seemed proud, bowing his head slightly in respect for her decision, Afonso too accepting her choice and nodding his head.
To her surprise, it was Stiles that leapt forward, panic seeping from every pore of his body.
"Okay maybe this isn't such a good idea, not yet, I mean maybe you should do some more research and stuff, find out for sure what-"
"No" this time her voice was strong and surprisingly unwavering, her mind made up, "I... I need t-to do th-this. Not f-for me but... but f-for ev-everyone I..." she got choked up, fighting back tears, "I d-dont ever wa-want to be t-that person ag-again. I h-hate that I hu-hurt people. I wa-want to f-fix it"
He looked like he was going to argue; to try and persuade her that she needed to keep herself safe but one look from Lydia made him snap his mouth shut, respecting her decision despite the worry that was coursing through him.
He just wanted her here and safe... and this just didn't seem safe.
"We're here" Lydia soothed, "we'll be here the entire time, I promise"
She smiled at Lydia, thankful for her love.
Stiles just sighed, fearing he was about to lose her all over again, "okay... okay just... just back out if it feels too dangerous okay. Please?" He practically begged, tucking some loose hair behind her ear, "I can't lose you again"
She didn't know what to say, lost for words at his vulnerability, blatantly loving her and not even trying to hide it.
This was the Kayla and Stiles she wanted to be. This, right here. Honest, open and truthful. Healthy and supportive. This was why she was doing it. She had to be whole if she ever felt enough to be with him.
Surprising even her, she leaned forward, tugging him down slowly so their lips brushed, Stiles' breath hitching at the feel of her breath tickling his mouth.
She didn't feel enough for him now, but she hoped one day she would.
Everyone watched, taken aback by the slow tender kiss she placed on him, Stiles' hands finding their way to her hips. Everyone but Isaac who had to dip his head, feeling a little uncomfortable and slightly hurt. She always was his soft spot... would that ever change? Isaac thought it had but seeing her with Stiles, seeing how much she still cared for him, hurt a little.
What an awful person he was.
She pulled back several seconds later, green clashing with brown as their stare intensified, "t-til the e-end of the ro-road... r-r-remember?"
Of course he remembered... his heart filling with love as he nodded, finally accepting her decision despite how much it pained him.
She turned away, facing Afonso and Deaton, "d-do it... w-whatever needs d-done... do i-it"
Afonso inclined his head into a nod, kneeling down next to the side of her grave and invited her to sit down opposite him, holding out his hands.
She did as he asked, somewhat nervously though as she left the safety of her friends - of Stiles' - presence and kneeled on the forest floor, getting closer to the darkness that had poisoned her.
"You're brave, young one" Afonso smiled, "thank you for trusting me"
She stayed quiet, too fearful she would be sick as Afonso picked up a small blade, muttering an apology as she flinched.
"I just need a little bit of blood... you're the only one that can safely open the gateway as you were the one that returned through it... I don't need much, just a few drops"
If it had to be done then it had to be done.
She swallowed, feeling Stiles' anxious and nervous energy behind her as he gnawed on his fingernails, holding out her palm to Afonso who accepted it gracefully, cupping her hand gently as he raised the blade and made a small insison, the cut immediately stinging and swelling with droplets of blood that dripped to the dead ground beneath them.
Without letting her clean up, he took her hands, squeezing them slightly as he began chanting in - what she assumed - was maybe Latin? She wasn't sure, the phrases unknown to her as she sat there, blood still dripping from between their clasped hands.
Several minutes in it felt like static electricity was in the air, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end as somewhere in the distance a rumble of thunder rippled across the sky, making her jump slightly as she looked towards the sky.
Huh... she could've sworn it wasn't this dark before, or so clouded over. The once blue sky was now dull and empty, no birds happily flying overhead, no butterflies or bees, just a hauntingly empty space that felt ready to smother her.
She knew the others felt the same, each huddling just that little bit closer to each other as Afonsos chants became louder, his voice deeper and more intense as suddenly the ground began shaking, vibrating from deep beneath as she jumped, grabbing her hands away from Afonsos but it seemed whatever magic he invoked; whatever ritual it was had already seized because her grave, the dead dirt and poisoned ground, suddenly exploded upwards like a tsunami wave, covering them all in dirt.
A sharp scream escaped her lips as she scuttled backwards, her heart ready to explore from her chest but before she could push herself to her feet and run there was a tight grasp around her ankle, a burning sensation erupting over her skin and she got violently pulled back - right towards her grave.
No, not towards she realised with a sickening jolt, but into, reaching out for something or someone to grab onto before it was too late.
She was terrified; unsure what was happening as her feet suddenly got yanked into the ground, a fearful scream escaping her lips as she dug her nails into the ground, trying desperately to stop herself from being pulled by something back into the lonely place she lay for two months.
Now, it wasn't just her ankles. Everything up to her knees were covered in dirt, buried in the ground she rotted in and as she started crying Stiles was suddenly in front of her, jumping forward onto his stomach to grab at her hands, trying to pull her back.
"S-Stiles" She wailed, her face matching his with tears and terror, "h-help... help"
Sweat beads were trickling down his forehead as he tugged and pulled, grunting in effort and exhaustion as he tried desperately to free her but another jolt pulled her down to her waist, too strong for just Stiles' grip.
Scott appeare, taking one of her hands from Stiles as they both pulled on her and she yelled in pain, feeling like a tug of war rope.
Whatever was down there... whatever force or whether thing was pulling her down was strong. Too strong, she finally realised.
Maybe the spell, the ritual, worked differently. Maybe to fix her soul, to reunite the pieces, meant she had to go to them. Maybe that meant she had to go back to hell.
Maybe it meant not living with them... but being dead with them.
Lydias screams tingled her ears but a strange calm overtook her, eerily accepting her fate just like she did that night in the school.
Maybe her fate was just to die... maybe this was how the natural order of things got fixed.
Her tearful gaze met Stiles' panicked one, full of terror and frantic worry as he was pulling at her, fighting for his one love. His person.
"L-let me g-go" she mumbled through the tears, the earth around her legs tight and constricting.
"No" Stiles wailed, "never"
Maybe they just weren't meant to be.
She tried for a smile; to convey just how much she loved him as the force around her legs became so violently tight the rest of her body got pulled under the ground, her hands slipping out of Scott and Stiles' as she disappeared from sight... the ground swallowing her whole.
A/N) dun dun dunnnn... long chapter yay, but it's like 4.15am in the morning now and I'm v tired and I have an essay due in like 12 hours that I haven't stated yet so I should probably get on that haha there may be small grammar mistakes in this and I'm sorry but I wanted to get it out before I sleep and then write my essay: if there is I'll correct it later on haha
As always please please leave your thoughts, I see so many people reading and it's a little disheartening to not get reviews :( so please review and I will keep my update scheldue regular :)
Active on my tumblr again - Fanficanatic-tw I post edits now and snippets and am happy to answer asks etc... hopefully get back to making videos too :)
Thanks for reading :)