Thanks the reviews, glad to see I've still got some readers left lol How is everyone liking the last season so far? Who else is ready to see Derek again?! I know I am. I wish Isaac was coming back too, but I'll hold out hope until the last scene of the last episode lol You never know. I hate that we never got a real ending to his story. He just disappeared like Danny and so many others before them. Anywho, hope you all like the new chapter. I do not own anything in this chapter, besides my oc, everything else belongs to their rightful owners.
Chapter 7
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Laci shot up with a gasp, the sound of Stiles own screams echoing in her ears. That image had been too real. She could feel his fear coursing through her body as if it was her own. He was being attacked by something not human. Something with teeth, a lot of teeth. She needed to warn him, tell him to be careful. She had to tell Scott to go find him. She had to find him before the creature, boy, found him.
The alarms to her machines sounded more like white noise as she tried to detach herself from them. She just kept hearing Stiles' screams, the sound of him calling for help. Despite the pain, she pushed herself out of bed. The floor was cold beneath her feet, but she did her best to ignore it. Holding her side, she used the wall as support.
At this rate, she'd never make it to him. She didn't even know where he was, let alone how she'd get there. She wasn't like Scott, she couldn't just sniff him out. Scott came through the doorway first, their mom coming through a few seconds behind him. Both looked like they'd run all the way here. She wouldn't be surprised if they had. "Laci, wha . . . you're gonna reopen your stitches." She said, relief mixed with concern in her tone as she hurried to help her back to the bed.
"Mom, no. I-I need to go. Stiles is in trouble. He needs help." She pleaded, pushing against her hold.
Confusion crossed her mother's face, but she didn't let her go. Her eyes flickered to Scott, silently asking him something she didn't know. There was something she didn't know, but she wasn't concerned about that right now. She was more concerned about her nightmare of Stiles being attacked by that-that thing.
"Stiles is fine, Laci. You won't be if you reopen your stitches. You have to get back in bed." Scott said, helping his mom move her back to her bed.
Laci refused, shaking her head as she fought to stand up. Her friend needed her and she had to get to him before it was too late. It wasn't just a dream. She'd seen Lydia hurt, just as she had been, and she'd stopped it from happening. She didn't understand it, she wasn't sure she wanted to, but if this was like before Stiles was really in danger.
"Mom, Scott, please. Please, he's not fine. Don't ask me how I know, just please go find him, Scott. He needs help. He's in trouble, mom. Stiles is in trouble." She pleaded, tears running down her face.
Melissa shared a worried look with her son and both were conflicted. She didn't know how Laci could know what she was saying she did, and from the look of it, neither did Scott. She wasn't like her brother or the others. She was normal, human. Like Stiles. Like her. The pain and fear on her daughter's face was real though, and she had to do something. "Alright, Scott will call him. I'll get someone to check on Stiles." She said, brushing back her hair.
Her thumb wiped away Laci's tears before she motioned Scott to the bedside table. Melissa sat with her as Scott grabbed the syring hidden away. He passed it to their mother before Laci even noticed. As much as Melissa hated to do this, she was hoping this would calm her down.
Exhaustion suddenly hit her, her eyes widening when she felt the pinch of the needle. "Mom,"
The look in her eyes was one of betrayal. She didn't want to go back to sleep. She wanted to help Stiles, make sure he was really okay. When she closed her eyes, the nightmares would return. She didn't want to go back into the darkness. The empty void of nothing.
Melissa felt her heart break as Scott helped Laci get back into the bed. The drugs were already setting in, her body turning against her. She fought against the heaviness of her eyes. Her limbs felt heavier, she couldn't even lift her hand. Scott lifted her legs, getting her settled comfortably. Melissa noticed the red stain coming through her gown and knew she had popped a stitch. They'd have to restitch her wound. "Mom . . . please, no." She cried, silent tears running down her cheeks as her mother called for a doctor to help her.
Before she could say another word, the world went black as her eyes shut.
##$ # #$
Laci still felt like she was in a fog when she came to again. It was morning, or afternoon by the sunlight shining through her window. Her body was sore and she couldn't remember why for a minute. She shouldn't be this sore, she thought. She lifted up the blanket with a small amount of strain. Her arms still felt too heavy. Pulling aside the hospital gown, she noticed right away that her stitches had been replaced. She'd reopened the wound.
How though?
Stiles, the screaming, the image of him being attacked. He was in trouble. She remembered her trying to leave, then her mom and Scott finding her. She'd given her a sedative. Looking around in a panic, she noticed her cell phone sitting on the bedside table. A shot of pain went through her side as she shifted so she could reach it.
Her fingers trembled as she pulled up Stiles' number and pressed call. Holding the phone to her ear, her heart raced. By the time he picked up, she could feel her heart beating against her rib cage.
"Hey, you've reached Stiles. Leave a message and I'll try and get back to you." His voice said over the line.
It was his answering machine. He didn't pick up.
Wincing, she pulled herself up and moved her legs over the side of the bed. She'd just have to go find him the old fashioned way. Shutting off her machines, a mistake she shouldn't have made the night before, she took the wires off before climbing to her feet. Grabbing her sweats, she pulled them on before leaving her room. She had no idea how bad off she looked, but she didn't case. She just had to get to Stiles.
Looking at her phone, she knew everyone would be at school, but she had feeling if Stiles was attacked that was the last place he'd want to be today. So instead, she headed to his home and was relieved to see his jeep parked in the drive way when she finally got there.
She wasn't surprised when no one answered, so she grabbed the hidden key she knew they hid under the welcome mat and let herself in. "Stiles? Stiles!" She called out.
Wincing, she held her side as she limped down the hallway. Her body was screaming at her to just sit, but she had to find him before she could do that. Coming around the corner, she stopped at his door and pushed the door open. "Stiles," She said, relieved at the sight of him.
He jumped up, startled, at the movement. His eyes were wide, frightened. More frightened then he should have been. "Lace?" He asked, confused as to why she was there. She swayed as she moved to come inside, her exhaustion finally catching up with her. "Whoa, Laci! Hey," He shot foward, catching her as her knees gave out. "Come on, you should sit down." He said, adjusting his hold on her as he led her over to the bed.
It felt like the room was spinning as she sat on his bed. Holding her head, she pushed his worried hands away from her. She hated feeling so weak. That wasn't her anymore. She didn't want to be the damsel anymore. "I just need to sit. I-I'll be fine. Y-you didn't answer your phone." She said, her eyes lifting to meet his.
"I had a rough night."
His body was tense, like he was holding back something he wanted to tell her. His hands were shaking and she had a feeling it was because of whatever happened to him. Besides a few scrapes, he didn't look too bad. "I think I saw how bad. Something's wrong with me, Stiles. It-it doesn't make sense, but I-I had this dream, nightmare really, of you getting attacked. Your screams, I-I can't get the sound of it out of my head." She said, knowing she didn't need to bead around the bush with it.
His eyes widened in surprise, not having expected for her to say that. Did that mean she knew what he did to Donavon? Was she like Lydia, or something different? Did this have to do with how she was brought back to the dead? Was she the one who took the bodies last night? No, no, he couldn't accuse her of that. Not until he knew more. One thing he did know, was that this Laci that came back isn't the same Laci they lost.
He was about to ask her one of the million questions he had, when Lydia appeared in the doorway to his room. Her eyes flickered between them curiously before they settled on Stiles. "I'm going to see Valack at Eiken house tonight. He's connected to these things. The dread doctors. Malia found this in Tracy's room. Someone wrote about what they are. The book just happened to be dedicated to Valack." She explained, looking between them as she showed Laci the book Malia had found.
"Lydia, I'm coming with you." Stiles said, grabbing his sweatshirt from the bed beside Laci.
Lydia could tell something was wrong. Laci wouldn't escape the hospital just to visit Stiles. He wasn't one to miss school either, not unless it was to stay with Laci. Only, his excuse had been that he was too sick to come. Something didn't add up here. "I thought you said you were sick." She said, her eyes shifting between them again.
Stiles' eyes shifted to Laci again, wondering just how much she knew of what happened to him last night. He knew she wouldn't call his bluff, not before she had all the details. He didn't plan on telling her what he did any time soon either. "I'm slightly under the weather." He lied, moving his gaze away from the girl watching him with just as much curiousness as Lydia was. Neither believed him.
"You don't have to come. Malia's not going either."
"Malia's not going because she knows that that place is a nightmare asylum of insanity and death, okay? Let's go." He said, pulling on his jacket she huffed and crossed her arms. Laci winced as she tried to get back on her feet. "You're not going either. We'll drop you off with Malia or at the hospital. Don't fight me on this, alright? Either of you."
Laci looked surprised before she rolled her eyes and nodded. Lydia hesitated before moving to help her stand. She was hurt because of her. Helping her out was the least she could do. Stiles watched them a second. It was hard to believe only a few years ago the two girls hated each other. They only put up with the other for Allison's sake and now that she's gone they're actually friends.
Lydia looked up in time to see Stiles wince as he shrugged on his jacket. Laci noticed it too and she knew Stiles was hurt. He had been attacked last night, and she wasn't sure what worried her more. What her friend wasn't telling her, or that she had a dream of the attack in the first place. "What was that?" Lydia asked, knowing tere was something he wasn't saying.
"What was what?"
"You winced." Laci spoke up, shooting him a look that told him she knew he was keeping something from them.
"I have a bad elbow." He lied again.
"It was your shoulder." Lydia pointed out.
"Pain raditates, it does that." Stiles tried to deflect. "You know, I miss when you two hated each other sometimes didn't gang up on me."
"Stiles!" Laci scolded him, shooting a look to cut it out.
"You are not going with me." He said, his eyes shifting from Laci to Lydia. "You remember what happened to Deaton when he talked to Valack?"
"Scott and Kira are going to be there." She said, shrugging her shoulder as if it wasn't a big deal.
Stiles didn't like the idea of her going anymore than Laci liked either of them going. He wanted to protect them both. The thought of either of them getting hurt, anymore than they have been already, it terrified him. "Okay, I'm not letting you go to a place where one of the orderlies almost killed you." He said, wishing she'd just drop it.
"He almost killed you too." Lydia scoffed.
Laci's eyes widened at the news of them being almost killed. It had to have happened while she was, well, dead. None the less, she didn't like hearing that they had been in danger like that. "Excuse me? Why is this the f-first time I'm hearing of this?" She said, looking between them with worried eyes.
"And we're both still alive. See? Teamwork." Stiles said quickly, moving around them as he led the way out before either of them could question his decision. Lydia and Laci shared a look before sighing and following after him.
Tonight was going to be a long night.
#$^%&^%*%&
Only a half hour had passed and Laci was starting to regret her decision not to have Stiles and Lydia bring her back to the hospital. Laci was a reader, she loved reading all kinds of books, but a book about the guys creating the chimaras wasn't one she was looking forward to reading. Scott, Kira, Lydia, and Stiles had gone to ask the guy who the book was dedicated to questions about the book. It was safe to say they had questions.
Laci was completely okay with sitting this one out. As much as she wanted to go to support Stiles and Lydia, knowing both of them had had bad experiences in that place, she wasn't looking forward to visiting it. Especially given her current state. Malia had the right idea in sitting it out too. Unfortunately, that meant they were stuck together reading the book.
Malia was highlighting everything left in right, in three different colors. It was something she'd seen Stiles do with his erase board with the strings. It bugged her that Malia was copying him with her stupid high lighters. This girl just irked her, and she didn't really have a reason as to why. If she was like Isaac, as Stiles had said, then they should get along fine. So why did she get on her nerves so badly? It made no sense. "That a page turner?" A voice said out, catching both of their attentions.
The girls looked up to see Theo. Laci smiled, happy to have the interruption. As 'fun' as this book was, she wouldn't mind a welcomed break. She hadn't been able to really talk to Theo since he found her in the woods. "I wouldn't say that." She teased, smiling when he chuckled.
Holding up his math book, he motioned to the seat. Laci quickly nodded, motioning for him to take it. If it meant she wasn't alone with Malia, she was all for it. He took the seat across from them, his eyes flickering to Malia. She didn't trust him, probably just because Stiles didn't trust him. He just grinned at her, completely innocent.
Malia didn't understand the feeling of butterflies going on in her stomach. Clearing her throat, she broke the stare and went back to reading her book. Laci looked between them curiously before going back to her book.
The three sat in silence before it got to Malia. She wasn't good with awkward silence. She couldn't focus on what she was reading, and she knew she wasn't wanted. At least by Laci anyway. Theo just made her uncomfortable. Getting up, she said nothing as she started to pack up. "Need a ride?" Theo asked out, glancing between them. He was assuming Malia and Laci would be leaving together.
"I can take the bus." Malia said, shrugging off his offer.
"As much as I liked listening to that crazy blanket lady the last time I rode the bus, I'll pass. Is that offer open to both of us?" Laci asked, looking between them.
She knew Stiles didn't trust Theo, and while he saved her that night in the woods, she wasn't completely open to trusting him either. If he was a threat to Scott, she wanted to know. What better way to do that than get close to him? She must have learned that trick from Derek. "Yeah, of course." He said, giving her a grin before looking back at Malia. "Especially since the last one left an hour ago."
"I'll walk."
Malia was making it obvious she wanted to be nowhere near Theo. Maybe Laci was blinded by the memories of the kid she use to know, but something about Theo was off. She wasn't sure what, but she didn't like it. He made her feel strange. "You know, I've seen you coming out of driver's ed." He said out, glancing between the two girls.
"I hope not."
At her answer, Laci was curious about what she meant. She took driver's ed as soon as she could. It'd been a rough couple of weeks, but she'd passed. She wanted to have it just in case Stiles couldn't drive for some reason or another. "Pretty sure I saw you destroy a couple traffic cones the other day, and nearly take out a sophomore." Theo said, smirking when he saw the blush on her cheeks.
"The sophomore shouldn't have been standing there." Was all Malia had to say.
Laci choked on her laughter, trying to hide it. It hurt to laugh. She would pay to see that chaotic sight though. She'd heard from Lydia and Kira that Malia wasn't the best, but she hadn't realized just how bad she was. "Some how I doubt he was standing in the middle of the street." She teased the were-coyote, earning herself a glare from the taller girl.
"Sounds like you could, uh, still use some practice." Theo said, holding up his keys.
Laci's eyes widened, hoping he wasn't doing what she thought he was doing. She watched as he tossed Malia the keys. When Theo packed up, she knew they were leaving with or without her, so she packed up and hurried to follow behind them as fast as her wounded body would let her. "I've survived death twice, and it's gonna be Malia's driving that kills me." She muttered, knowing both of them could hear her.
Theo glanced back, chuckling as he took her bag for her. She was taken back by the motion, but said nothing as she followed him. "You'll be fine." He said back, glancing at Malia to see she was nervous. "You're gonna be fine. It's easy once you get a hang of it." He said, trying to be reassuring as he led the way out of the library.
Laci sat in the back seat as Theo sat up front with Malia. Her fingers clutched the handle of the door as hard as Malia was holding onto the steering wheel. They were barely going that fast, but it didn't ease her nerves seeing how tense their driver was. Given Malia's track records with driving so far, she felt as she had a reason to worry.
Theo just chuckled at how nervous Malia was, rolling his eyes. His eyes caught Laci's worried ones in the mirror. He wanted them both to trust him. He knew he already had a foot in with Laci after finding her in the woods. It helped him gain Scott's trust as well. Scott was forever in his debt for bringing his sister home to him. That could work in his favor later on.
"We can go a little faster, if you want." He spoke up.
"I'm doing the speed limit." Malia said, trying to keep her focus on the road.
Theo chuckled, rolling his eyes. "Nobody does the speed limit."
Laci shook her head, her grip tightening on the door. "I'm totally okay with her staying at the speed limit."
"You also don't have to hold the wheel like that." Theo went on, motioning to her death grip on the steering wheel.
Malia looked hesitant to move. She was terrified. Sighing, Theo leaned over, reaching for her."Put your hand here." He instructed, just barely touching her hand to direct her where to move. "Like this." He said, his thumb stroking hers.
Laci bit her up, her eyes flickering between them and the road. She was too worried about crashing to make note of how Theo shouldn't be touching Stiles' girlfriend. Malia seemed to relax a little as she looked at Theo surprised. "Better?" He asked, grinning when he saw her expression.
Laci let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding as Malia relaxed in her seat. It wasn't long before she realized something new was wrong. Malia had moved her hands back up on the wheel, her body tense again as she seemed to zone out. They'd started picking up speed. She was panicking. Malia was having a panic attack, and at the worst time possible.
From Theo's expression of nervousness, she knew this wasn't the speed he was talking about earlier. "Okay, I said a little fast. Not mach five." Malia didn't seem to hear him. "Malia, you okay?"
Laci tried to think about to what she knew about Malia. When they'd been looking for her, they knew she'd been a car crash with her mom and sister. They'd assumed Malia had been killed as well until they realized what she was. She'd caused the car crash. "Theo, her mom and sister died in a car crash. She's having a panic attack." Laci said, wincing as she leaned forward in the seat. She was pushed back when Malia pushed further down on the gas pedal, causing them to speed up
"Hey, slow down." Theo said, reaching over to try and get control over his truck.
The tired screeched as they moved into the other lane. Instead of slowing down, they sped up more. "Malia, stop! Stop the car!" He called, his eyes shifting between the girls.
"Malia, please. I know you can hear me. Slow down. Stop!" Laci begged her, touching her arm to try and snap her out of it.
"Stop the car!" Theo shouted.
Malia snapped out of it, letting go of the gas pedal and pressing the break instead. The tires screeched again as they came to a sharp stop. All three winced as they rocked in their seats. Laci held her side as she felt her stitches pull. Lifting up her shirt, she was relieved to find she hadn't popped them again. "I'm okay." She said, meeting Theo's worried gaze.
Malia didn't say anything as she climbed out of the car, gripping the door as she stumbled forward onto the pavement. "Malia!" Theo and Laci both called out, but she ignored them as she got as far away from the truck as she could before collapsing.
Theo gave Laci one last look before following the taller brunette out and coming around the truck to check on her. "Malia!" He called again, but she still didn't seem to hear him. Laci winced as she tried to climb out, but Theo just held up his hand. "Stop. I can handle this. Stay in the truck." He said over, his eyes never leaving Malia's kneeling form on the ground.
Malia's body shook as she seemed to be stuck in her memories. Laci winced as she climbed into the front seat, watching from the open driver's side door. Theo approached her as if she was a spooked animal. "Malia?" No answer. "Malia. Malia." He kept calling to her, trying to get her to snap out of her nightmare. Laci and Theo both tensed at the sight of a car coming, heading right to the spot Malia had stopped. "Come on, Malia. Get up." Nothing. "Malia, come on, get up. We gotta get up. Come on!" Theo yelled, tugging on her arms.
The horn blared as it kept coming toward them, not even slowing down. Laci let out a small scream as Theo pulled himself and Malia out of the way just seconds before the car hit them. She covered her mouth in shock as she watched them hit the ground. They weren't hit. They'd be okay. She tensed up as she watched Theo hold Malia, both of them whispering. She wasn't sure if Malia was more talking to herself than to Theo, but she was coming out of it.
"It was her." Malia said out, panting as she caught her breath.
"Who?" Theo asked confused, his eyes shifting up to Laci.
"Desert wolf."