"I don't get why no one's calling the police."
"They're gonna make an announcement over the P.A."
"That's not gonna do anything! I told you, he's gone. Like the others, taken."
"Okay. Look, we're just trying to understand, okay? All we know is that Mr. Westover didn't show up for class."
" And the last time that happened was Mr. Harris. Anyone heard from him lately? He's gone. And he's going to be the second murder."
"But, Lydia, you wrote that number."
"Okay, fine. I'm psychic."
"You're psychic?"
"I'm something!"
Leila shoved through the classroom door at the sound of Lydia's distressed cries. She looked around the bright room to find her English teacher with Lydia. Relief crossed the redhead's face as the wolf stalked towards her.
She intended to grab Lydia and leave for Allison's as the girl had discovered more information from her father, and began to think it may be him. They'd also have to find the newest victim.
Leila checked off one of the two things, before Peter called.
Cora had collapsed and gone unconscious. Cole would be coming to pick her up and meet them at the hospital.
Cora had stabilised. For now.
Derek hadn't moved from her side since they'd arrived two hours ago.
She had awakened briefly, her eyes fluttering. She asked what was happening. Mara told her to rest and heal. Cora's eyes stopped opening and she fell back once more. No sense stressing her further.
They knew she couldn't heal on her own.
The druid had made its move. Now it was their turn.
Since they'd been in the hospital, Allison and Isaac had found the missing teacher. The previous victim had been an elementary teacher before a cop. The monster would undoubtedly be at the school to grab its final philosopher. Then only guardians would be left.
Peter remained firm that they should go to the recital, if not moreso. Mara wasn't happy about it, but she knew when he was past reason. Derek would call if anything happened. They would catch the asshole once and for all.
They caught much less attention than Leila would have thought, being who they were. She supposed Peter was near unrecognisable these days, and Derek was the most known for his brushes with the law, so none of them seemed strange at first glance.
Argent had certainly noticed them.
Allison stood beside her father in the hall, chatting with Lydia's mom. She gave Leila a small nod as they passed, which she returned, both ignoring her father's lingering stare.
Leila walked with her sister behind Mara and Peter as they made their way towards the auditorium. They'd almost made it, when Cole stopped dead outside the doors. They all stopped in quick succession. They could hear it now too.
"Lydia!"
"Lydia?!"
Cole moved first, walking briskly so as not to raise any alarms. The pack followed after her, opposite the way they'd come. The calling got louder as they got closer. As they came around the corner, Scott and Stiles ran directly into Cole, stumbling back in shock. Leila made her way up as Cole crossed her arms over her chest with an annoyed expression.
"Where is she?"
Stiles and Scott looked between each other with an expression nobody liked.
"Shit." Cole muttered. The boys looked up with fear ridden eyes.
"She's not answering anything. What do we do?"
Mara looked at Scott as he spoke.
"Where did you see her…."
Mara was cut off. A piercing shriek sounded through the building, shaking them each to the core.
Cole felt chills run rampant through her body as she doubled over, hands clamping down to shield her ears from the excruciating pain. It didn't help. It peirced straight through her brain. The cry was like nothing she'd ever heard. It seemed to revertibrate in her bones. It made her feel sick to her stomach, and…sad. Almost sorrowful.
What felt like hours, was only seconds. It took a second for Cole to risk raising her head. At that moment, Peter looked at Mara, in pain but much less affected than the rest if his upright position was any indication. His tone was sure.
"Lydia."
He ran after the sound, leaving them to scramble after him, still recovering from the scream. Even though it revirtibrated inside their brain, it also seemed to have emitted from the opposite side of the school. Peter didn't make it far before transfering onto all fours, leaving them in the dust.
Peter was thrown into the back of the classroom as they finally found it. Their English teacher stood on the furthest side by the chalkboards, Lydia on the floor beside her, looking terrified.
Somehow, though he refused to believe Stiles' explanation about the supernatural, the Sheriff had found his way to the scene first once more. He continued to unload his gun into the witch, though she was unfazed. The sheriff seemed unfazed as well. Perhaps he'd come around.
Leila moved to help Peter up, as Mara bolted towards the front. Cole settled for the middle, aiming to grab Lydia and get her away.
Scott came bolting through the door, stopping himself before he hit a desk. He barely had a momentum to duck as a chair came flying at him. Mara had already dodged it, throwing one of her own at the bitch.
Peter had risen, Leila already off to help her sisters. He moved to help, before the other man in the room stopped him.
" Years ago, we found a girl in the woods, her face and body slashed apart. Birds flew in to the hospital windows by the dozens. It was her."
Peter noticed now, the older man had a blade embedded in his shoulder. His expression was pained, and tired, but his tone was sure. He clearly believed the information was pertinent. Peter gave the Sherriff an appreciative nod, before running after his wife and children.
The teacher had thrown Mara and Leila aside, but her eyes went wide as Cole pushed forward. She disappeared SECONDS before her claws would have slashed through the pale bitchs face and Cole swung around with a snarl. Peter had come to a skidding stop behind her, whipping around as well. He look back and forth wildly, his eyes bright.
There was no one.
Scott was by the girls, helping them to their feet. Typical, he thought. They were still towards the right of the front, Leila being the last to rise to her feet. There was no sign of the darach.
Suddenly, a puffing, sweaty little anxious figure came stumbling into the class yelling for Scott.
Peter suddenly realised there was no more Sheriff either.
Mara left it to Scott and Cole to break the news to Stiles after Peter had told her. Leila remained inside with a very shaken Lydia. Herself and Peter had stepped outside to talk. Cole was always listening, but the others seemed distracted enough.
"We lost her, and a civillian."
Mara scowled at Peter's irritated tone. She was well aware they'd screwed up. Cora's life hung in the balance, reliant on them catching the witch. Now Stiles' father did too.
"At least her identity has been exposed. We'll just have to regroup and try again."
She could tell he was resisting the urge to roll his eyes, which only stoked her annoyance.
"I'll call Derek. He should know who to watch out for."
"Of course. Leave me to answer all the questions." She griped, only half joking. He couldn't stop the roll of his eyes this time. She gave him a sarcastic smile before turning back towards the classroom. Mara only hoped they were too distracted to ask about Lydia. She didn't know where to start in that department.
"What's the plan?"
Mara barely made it in the room before Leila was upon her, verbally. Physically she still sat with Lydia on the floor, a comforting arm around the distraught girl. There was a fierce look in her eyes.
When Mara looked around, she found herself surrounded by teens sharing the same expression. Cole looked especially dark. Having the Darach under their noses the whole time on top of her almost killing Lydia and taking the sheriff had them all out for her head.
Mara couldn't blame them. She only hoped she was the one who got the pleasure.
"We'll find her. Tell me everything you know…"
She was cut off as Peter re-entered the room behind her.
"That won't be necessary."
Mara whipped around when he spoke, squinting at him with her brows furrowed. She recognised the look of irritation written across his face.
"Derek knows where she is?"
Peter chuckled darkly, leaving them further confused. He didn't make them wait long.
"He doesn't know right now, but she called him to meet her at his loft in thirty minutes."
When they stared at him longer, he continued.
"He's been sleeping with the enemy."
