"I don't know...This…" She chews her bottom lip.
"Is our best choice Mel," Simon whispers, which is a bit silly considering they are hiding inside his office's bathroom. However, it is better to take precaution, both can go to jail if anyone overhears.
"I can't leave you go on yourself" She balls her hands and stares at him straight in the eye.
Simon lets out a half-grin half-grimace. It is hard to look at her in this state of desperation. He is feeling it too, he knows he would protest too if the case were the opposite. He almost forget how her nose creases when she is angry.
"I'll be back in a minute"
"And what are you going to do? Do you really think she is going to tell you anything?" She says angrily.
That is a good question. Even when Simon is almost sure that Julie will cooperate, he has to believe she will. He can imagine other way to ease their concerns. "I'll tell her that as a doctor, I have the right to manifest the concern about this virus and would like her to share her findings"
Melissa snorts. "Are you kidding? That's your excuse?" She rolls her eyes.
Simon glares at her. "Yeah? You got a better idea?"
Melissa nods. "I'll tell her I have strict orders from the sheriff to get as much information as possible about this virus she is researching to plan the best strategy to prevent a biological emergency"
When she finishes Simon tries to keep himself together but maybe he is just too uneasy with this whole situation, but he giggles and now is Mellissa who glares at him.
"What so funny?" She demands in a chuckle.
"It seems like you planned it hours ago" He chuckles.
Mellissa holds her breath and looks away blushing. "I just…"
Simon takes her by the chin to make her look at him straight in the eye. "Mel, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but you're just a cop. You saw how she treated us the other day. I am sure she is above the sheriff and everyone in the town, I don't think she won't give any kind of information if it is demanded"
Mellissa sighs hurt. "What if they hurt you? Seriously Simon….There…"
There it is again. Something in her eyes, a brief flicker of fear, but also…Almost knowledge, as if she knows something, but if she…Why she doesn't share it? He must be mistaken. "Sorry. What did you say?"
Mellissa chugs. "That there is a lot we don't know about this people, what if they aren't who they say they are?"
"Who else are they going to be?" Simon asks a bit amused. "Terrorist? Do you still believe Julie provoked this?"
Mellissa shakes her head. "I'm…I'm not saying that she released the virus or anything, I'm just….Can't shake off my head that maybe there is not a virus at all"
"Then how…" He starts but she cuts him off.
"How am I going to know? But even, if there is a virus you can get infected when you get into that room!"
Simon knows this. He is scared, anything can happen. Considering that a scientist needs bodywards in every hallway of the hospital just to check blood samples from people long dead.
"I know Mel, but what are you going to do? Shoot to the virus? You need to understand one of us must stay here in case the other doesn't come back, and that one is you. I need someone to take care of Stiles if anything happens to me"
He knows she feels powerless. She is a cop after all, and she never liked to be left behind, but she needs to understand that he has to keep her safe.
Melissa swallows and chugs. "Promise me you will be careful," She says softly with sad eyes as she approaches him and presses her forehead against his chest.
Simon nods. "I promise"
"You could go to jail for this"
"I know, Mel"
"If anything happens, call me. I'll try to be as close the door as possible"
"Alright. Let's go" Simon swallows and his heartbeat quickens. He is not sure why, but something isn't right here, and he must find out the truth before it is too late.
….
"So…Is this going to hurt me?" She asks looking at the Nagnitia mushrooms with more curiosity than fear.
Chris shakes his head. "It is harmless, just put it in your clothes and it will suck your scent away"
"That's amazing," She says puzzled as she keeps starting at it marveled while her nose reaches closer trying to find any kind of odor in it.
"It is one of the first things I learned in the academy," He says as if it wasn't a big deal.
She rises a brow and grins. "I heard you weren't that good at school," She points out.
"Who told you that?" He says impressed.
"Damian really has a thing for you," She explains.
"It is half true. I used to cheat in class when I could, but…On the field. There was no one who could beat me"
"Wow. It's true!" She replies looking at him shocked.
He arches a brow as he puts the last knife in his pocket. "What thing?"
"That you got an epic ego" She cracks in laughs.
Chris rolls his eyes. "You know? I think I liked it better when I thought you wanted to kill me"
"Take it easy. I'm… Just….I talk too much when I'm nervous"
Chris looks up amused and she blushes and looks away. "There is nothing to be afraid of. I can do this"
"I…Wasn't talking about it" She bits her lip and points to the pool at Chris' back.
"Oh" He lets out realizing her concerns. "There is nothing to worry about. We are not that far of the shore"
She sighs. "I guess, but…It is deep, you know we can't swim"
"I'll make sure you won't drown"
"I'll be extremely heavy once we're down there"
"I'm strong. I got you here once. Didn't I?"
"I was unconscious"
"I could smack you again if you want" He offers with a grin.
She punches him in the arm as she snorts.
"You could stay here, until I'm back if you want," He offers more serious this time.
She shakes her head. "I don't think so. I'm not fond to extremely short caves and less when there is no way out"
"Then just trust me. I'll make sure you get out safely," He affirms as he makes her signs to follow him into the water.
She gaps and her bottom lip wobbles, but she does as he bids.
"Ready?" He says sitting in the edge of the rock to dive in.
She nods with a frightened look.
Chris chuckles in his insides and throws himself in, but she catches him before his face gets into the water. "Wait"
He blinks. "What? Do you…"
"Thanks" She blurs out embarrassed.
He snorts. "It is not a big deal. Really, I can take…"
"I don't mean just this, but for helping us" She mutters and without warning throws herself inside, proving that she blindly trusts in him.
Taken aback Chris hurries to dive after her. Now he realizes that there is people that have faith in him, and he can't let them down. Specially his daughter.
Even when it was a short track, it felt as if Chris swum leagues, taking Alice to safety. When he breaks out of the water to get to the other side of the cave, he hauls as much air in his lungs as possible. For a minute, he thought they wouldn't make it.
Alice coughs when she gets into the cold hard stone and starts giggling frantically, as if she can't believe she is Alive.
Chris lets himself lay down for a minute while he catches his breath and stares how she quickly hurries to squish her hair with her hands to dry it. Some drops fall on his forehead and he realizes that they are hot. He is impressed by how quickly they can warm up.
She takes off her jacket, and even when she is not naked below he looks away embarrassed.
She throws it at his face. "Take it. It will warm you up a bit"
Chris shivers and sits. "Thanks, but I don't need it"
"Of course you do. It is bitter cold here"
"I'll warm up while I run out of the woods"
She rolls her eyes. "Do you ever let anyone do something nice for you?"
He frowns. "Victoria used to…"
"Someone who hasn't been dead in the past twelve years"
He snorts and then shakes his head.
"You need to chill a bit. You are as wary as a wolf"
"It have kept me alive all this years" He points out with a grin.
She squints at him lading her head to the side as if trying to understand his words and then she speaks again. "Yeah, it kept you alive. But also cold too"
Chris blinks, feels an odd uneasiness in the pit of his stomach and kneels. "It's time to move"
They start crawling out of the cave as the small dot of moonlight stretches more and more until it baths them.
Once outside Chris breaths in the cold air and now can feel the jacket over his shoulders colder than when Alice gave it to him, but also completely dry. She is like living fire. He finds himself thinking.
He looks around to make sure they are alone but the blow comes too fast.
"Chris!" He hear her cry from behind as she comes out of the cave.
Chris falls on his back holding his jaw as he looks up. There is a werewolf standing before them. He has orange hair and sharp green eyes.
"Who thought it would be so easy to find you?" He says with a mocking grin. He turns left and finds Alice getting out of the cave.
"Alice! You found him. Are you okay?" The wolf says looking at her concerned.
Chris steps back. Who is that wolf? He hadn't see him in the past days. Could it be he was hiding? It was all a trap from Alice! Can it be? But, it doesn't make sense.
"Yeah! I just caught him," She says cracking in laughs.
Chris curses in his insides as his heartbeat chokes him. He should have known…
"How did you get here?" She asks confused.
"Someone lifted the line. The others went straight to Damian to tell him that Argent escaped and that the winding killed half of the party. I came here to get the bodies when I saw him getting out of the cave"
"How lucky, I've been looking for him for days" She laughs.
"I'll call Damian," He says casually while he tugs out a cellphone from his jogging pants, as if the idea of delivering Chris isn't a big deal for him.
Chris looks at him, maybe if he manages to take one of his knives at time he will be able to slash their throats before it is too late.
He slowly moves his hand and the werewolf steps on it. "Easy. It will be over soon"
Chris sucks a breath and moves his head to the side feeling the muddy ground on his cheek. He would have rather to die at the hands of the Wendigo.
"Damian! Are you still in the woods? You won't believe who…."
His blood sprays Chris' face as the body stumps right next to him. Chris jerks up quickly to stare at Alice's bloody hands.
"Shit! I didn't want to kill him but he almost gave you off! You need to get out of here!"
What? "Wait but…"
"Chris…Haven't you heard? Damian is here! He may not feel our scents but he will definitely follow the track of his blood. You need to get out of her before it is too late!"
"What about you?" Chris asks with concern.
She bits her lip. "I…I'll figure out something"
"I can get you back in the cave," He offers.
She shakes her head. "There is no time. You need to go before it is too late. I'll hide the body to buy some time and then…"
"If he finds out it was you…"
Her mortified expression gets still. "I know. Now go"
Chris balls his hands with frustration and starts his way out of the woods. Was that…The last he saw of her?
….
When they hear her steps, they hurry to get out of the bathroom. Simons throws a quick glance at Melissa and both stare at their previously synchronized watches.
"It's time," He mumbles and she nods.
Melissa opens the door with her concerned eyes fixed on Simon and parts her lips. "Thank you Simon. It doesn't matter how much I ask him to take care of his health. You know how teenagers…"
There is a short but loud bump and them a shriek of pain and another of stuntmen.
"I'm so sorry," Melissa says desperately and that is Simon's call to get out.
He slides the door open and finds Melissa holding Christine's arms as a small cloud of steam fumes out before them and the scent of coffee fills the air.
"I'm really; really sorry…I didn't…" Melissa keeps saying embarrassed, and even when Simon feels a bit guilty, he can't help smiling in his insides for noticing what a good actress she is.
He looks down and spots Christine staring at her burned hands. It isn't a big deal. She will be fine in a couple of days, and she knows it because she just shakes her head with tears in her eyes and a painful grimace "It's alright"
However, Simon must make something bigger out of it, so he tugs out his inner overprotective doctor and addresses her. "You're not alright. You need first aid at once or…"
"I'm fine Simon" Christine assures. "I'll find more coffee and then…"
"Let me take care of it" Melissa hurries to say. "Please, it's the least I can do after what I've done"
"But…"
"I'll see your hands while she takes care of it," Simon affirms. "I just want to make sure it doesn't leaves any marks"
"I…Can…Take…Care…Of them, Simon" Christine says holding her breath with each word.
"No, you can't. I ran out of antiseptic, so let's go downstairs and take care of them before they get worse. Melissa will take the coffee for you. There is nothing to worry about"
Christine nods and lets Simon takes her by the arm and leads her to the ground floor to do the first aids to her hands. He sits her in an empty consult and starts cleaning up her wounds.
He is a bit stressed. He can't help feeling concerned about what they are doing. By now, Melissa must have delivered the coffee to Julie's guards and that's what concerns Simon. He knows that maybe they are being paranoid about the whole virus issue, but he must admit that Melissa has a point. Why would Julie need bodyguards when she is working with blood samples? There has to be something else in all this, also…She strictly ordered that Christine and only her would take care of her meals and needs. That is the reason she was so concerned ten minutes ago when Melissa offered to do her job. Something isn't right in all this.
He is being a bit clumsy, after five minutes, banding Christine's left arm and noticing how much he exceeded his measures she speaks.
"Are you alright?" She asks a bit more relaxed now.
He nods, and hurries to cut the cloth to continue with the other hand, making sure to last as long as he can so it can give time to the guards to slumber to the sleeping serum.
He wasn't sure of how much they would need of it, considering how muscular and strong they look. He might have overtopped the dose by many ounces, but they can't play with their changes now.
Julie hadn't leave the hospital since she arrived, until an hour ago, and he doesn't know how much longer she will stay outside. It has to be tonight. They have to discover what really is going on with the deaths and the strange behavior of the victims of this so-called virus.
"Done," He says to Christine with his eyes fixed in the clock behind her.
He thinks he has made enough time for the serum to drowse the guards. They hadn't sleep much the last days after all, so it is now or never.
He walks out of the consult feeling his hands shaking harder with every step he takes as he approaches the basement.
Julie settled her research laboratory in abandoned alley of the basement at the right of the morgue.
He never liked coming down here, it brings him too much painful memories, but right now he can't help it. He passes by some nurses as they walk out of the double doors and he nods at them.
He balls his hands to steady them and lets the cold air sweep him. Because of the storm, the air fills especially chilly tonight, or maybe it is just his mind playing tricks to him, but suddenly he feels the urge to get back on his steps and forget the whole issue, but he can't do that. He must find out the truth. Right now, he feels a bit mad at Melissa for getting him in all this. She always did that when they were kids he can't believe she hadn't change at all after all this years, though at the same time he must admit that he is happy she didn't.
After turning left, he finds the door in a dark corridor. There is Julie's office and his heart gives a lurch when he spots the two shapes leaning on each other in the floor. He is still very far, but there aren't doubts they are asleep, or at least he hopes they aren't dead.
He hushes his steps and swallows repeatedly to steady his heartbeat. He stealthy passes over the fainted men making sure to not step of them and without hesitating much longer, he opens the door of the room.
This isn't what he expected to find.
….
This doesn't feels right. He should have stayed. He should helped her. She did it for him so many times now that he has literally lost count. He knows she did it because she needs his help, but still…
The old Chris before Victoria, would have let her die because she was a half-wit after all.
The Chris that fell for Victoria, would have stayed and fought to protect that kind and brave she-wolf.
The Chris that lost Victoria, doesn't hesitates to abandon her. His first instinct is to save his own life and keep his daughter safe, but…He isn't that Chris anymore, which is scary, because if he isn't him then who is he becoming now?
He has to keep running. Even if he comes back. There is nothing he can do for Alice, if Damian finds him she will try to protect him and she will die. She got better odds if she isn't found near Chris, or at least that's what he wants to believe.
Focus Argent. He says to himself in his mind. He must be brave and fight for his way out of the woods before Damian notices he is gone.
His eyes adjust quickly to the darkness and he has spent so much time in this place, that now that the storm has faded away he can find his way out without any issues. Twigs, logs, holes, he gets to avoid them successfully to finally find the lights of the highway that take to the limits of the city.
Damn it. He thinks. He is too far away from the hospital and he is so tired he doesn't think he might get there at time, and Melissa's home isn't near either. He wants to avoid to her or Allison getting involved in his business.
When he finally leaves the woods behind, stares at the clear sky and frowns. The storm was definitely a binding, a strong one. There is something concerning about it, he can't help feeling uneasy about Allison. If it was hers, this might mean two things, either she starting to control her will or she has lost control and he isn't sure which one scares him the most, because both can make her a target.
He starts jogging in the walkways toward the east of the city to get to the hospital when a pair of lights blind him. He listen to breaks screeching in the wet pavement and his pulse quickens.
"Hey! Are you alright?" A concerned woman's voice says from behind the lights.
Chris hesitates. What he should do?
"Do you need help? Can you hear me?"
Chris nods.
"What happened to you?"
After hearing those words, Chris snaps. He almost forgets that he has been living in the woods and that he must look ratty by now, not to mention the blood on the side on his face, his shredded clothes and the mud on his hair.
"I…."
"You got the virus!" The woman cries aloud as if searching for help.
At this point, he is sure she isn't one of them, which he thanks because he doesn't want to walk anymore.
"I felt from my bike down the hill," He says pointing at his back.
"Oh dear!" She chokes a gasp. "I can take you to the hospital if you want"
Chris nods and slowly approaches the car to don't scare the woman.
Once inside, he notices that she got many suitcases and appliances inside.
"Did you find a way out through the hill? I heard they blocked them," The woman says casually as she pulls off.
"Who?" Chris frowns.
"The government" She says a bit sternly. "They told me there is a shift change in two hours, but I want to be there earlier to make sure I don't miss my chance"
"The chance to leave?" Chris asks causally.
"Weren't you trying it too?" She frowns. "I really wanted to stay optimistic, but after I heard about the uprising, I gotta admit that I'm scared, nothing good can come out of it"
Uprising? He thinks confused, though he keeps the question for himself. He is about to become too suspicious if he keeps asking about things that suddenly might sound obvious for most of the people in the town.
That's how he slightly induced her to tell him what was going on in the town by the time he has been hiding in the woods without letting her notice that he knew nothing about. But regardless the failure of the communications, electrical service and the town being put in quarantine because of the virus made up by Damian and his lackeys, what really gets Chris shocked, is the uprising the citizens are planning for tomorrow afternoon. The Major is expecting to announce the town when they plan to lift the quarantine, but unofficial sources has already leaked that he is going to say that it might happen in a day or two to buy time, but there isn't a real date and it might take months.
The town will rise against him. Chris needs to find Allison and tell her to leave before it is too late, he is tempted to ask the woman to drop him near the McCall's house, but there is no time to lose, they are just a street away from the hospital and he must hurry up and find the experiments and shut them down before they get any further, then he will find his daughter and disappear before the bloodbath starts. He knows he promised to help Alice with her other plan, but if the uprising success, Damian and his wolves will get out of control and sweep the town as soon as they find their scientist is dead.
"Thank you so much" Chris grins at the woman. "I really hope you get out"
She drives off and Chris looks at his back. Alice told him there is a secret door in the parking lot below the hospital from which they have been introducing what remains of the Wendigos without calling attention, so happy for saving some time he runs and climbs down the stairs that take to the basement and the doors of the morgues.
….
"What the hell you think you are doing?" He asks sternly and Melissa Jolts and lets out a small shriek.
"I'm really sorry, I…I had to see" She says embarrassed. "I had to make sure you didn't run into a trap or something like it"
"A trap? What is wrong with you Mel? Do you know something I don't?"
He can see hesitation in her eyes, but then she shakes her head. "I'm really sorry; I guess I've been a bit paranoid. Either way there is nothing to worry about" She swims her arm as if showing the place to Simon, but there is nothing to look at.
The room is empty. Not completely empty though, here is a desk in the far corner with a computer displaying a DNA sequence, but other than that, it is clean.
"I guess we lost our time. We better get out before someone finds out what we did," He says stirring. He is so mad! He can't believe he followed her in this madness, he should have known that there wasn't anything wrong with Julie's research.
"I'm really sorry Simon" She bits her lip and presses her eyes shut. "It is just that…There is something really strange with all this. This can't be a common virus"
"I know," He admits. "But we should be helping this woman, not getting in her way"
She nods. "Let's go"
Simon turns on his heels grabs the handle of the door and then he stops short.
"What?" She asks.
"This room" He points out as he spins again and takes a closer look at the walls. "It is mostly empty, but…"
"But, what?" She squints following his eyes with hers as if trying to look something invisible.
"It looks…Way shorter than it should"
"What do you mean?" She frowns.
"The morgue is considerably larger than this place and they are supposed to be the same size"
"So…You think" She starts.
Simon runs at the desk and stares at the plain white walls with its spotless paint, which is weird considering how old this room is, and then he feels it.
A hum.
He presses his ear to the wall and the buzzing increases its strength.
"What is it?" She asks thrilled.
"There is something at the other side"
He presses his ear tighter, the wall slides to the left, too quickly for him to react, and before he notices his head knocks the floor.
"Simon" Mel says concern as she helps him stand and both of them stare at the new room they just discovered.
"What…Is this place?" She asks squinting at the darkness.
Simon's heart lurches. "It should be the former morgue," He explains holding his breath to avoid breathing the foul air. What can stink so badly?
Melissa takes the gun on her belt and looks around. "I can't see anything"
He nods. "I'll try to find the switch"
He shuffles on the floor sweeping the walls with his hands trying to find a way to illuminate the room, as he keeps hearing even puffs and blows that make him feel uneasy. He is not sure why, but the extreme cold, the eyes-watering stench and unsettling quietness are making him lose his head
"I think I found it," Mel whispers at the other side of the room, yet loud enough for him to listen and everything lights up.
The struck blinds him, so he has to close his eyes until they can adjust. He blinks twice while everything clouds out bit a bit and then he chokes a cry.
"What…What is that?" He stutters looking at the cages. Rows and rows of them piled in three lines.
"Oh my god!" He hears Melissa say horrified.
Simon covers his mouth with his hand. There are creatures…Humans?
Limbs, scarred and bloody come out of the bars as if trying to catch something out of it, all of them stiff, which means that they are long dead.
Blood comes out of many of them along with pus. Those are hands without any doubts, but they look different. Some large, others dark furred. But the scariest thing of all is the breathing. Many are still alive. Simon can only see some noses, the gleaming of rings and some teeth from his position, but they definitely human.
He has to get out of here. This isn't right. What is wrong with that woman? How can she lock human beings in cages and make experiments to them? Mel…He has to get Mel and runway. She was right. She knew that something was wrong in here and he would listen.
He looks at his right and finds her standing still with her eyes wide open. He jogs at her and takes her by the arm. She staring at big and steaming machine he hasn't seen before.
"We need to get out of here," He mutters.
She nods.
What are they going to do? Tell the police? Call the government? If she truly works for them, they already know. There are no communication in the city. There are no internet connection or phone calls out of the limits. They isolated them from the rest of the world, and this is the reason. Stiles, Scott. They need to get back home and try the way to get their sons out of this hell.
"I'm really sorry Mel. You were right all this time" He swallows but she doesn't respond. She is near shock, so he pulls of her arm to force her to walk and she follows him, but just a couple of steps away from the rectangle from which they came in she stops. "Si…Simon"
His pulse quickens and turns at his left to see what she is staring at.
Fastened with huge screws is another cage, eight feet tall, which contains a matt of brown fur. The longer Simon stares, the harder his heart beats. He knows it is alive, but his mind hasn't yet convinced the idea, so he stays calm, but is just matter of seconds before he loses it.
It is a monster.
It has the body of a bear, the snout of a boar, ears-like bat wings and nails sharp and almost as thick as the bars that encage it.
It is asleep.
Whatever it is has been dozed. There is long tube that comes from one of its arms and its administrating a yellow liquid right it is veins. There are more at its left. In a counter, other five syringes prepared with the same liquid as if in case it wakes up and comes out of control.
"Simon…" Mel holds his hand to steady her body. But Simon isn't sure he can offer her the comfort she is looking for. H is beyond terrified, if it wasn't because of his preservation instincts he would stay there frozen by fear, but something inside him pulls him, yells at him to run before it is too late.
He tightens his grip on Mel's hand and turns to run and never look back, but Julie is already waiting for them.
Melissa cries, Simon swims his arms, the world spin and a horrible croak escapes his mouth. He doesn't know where Mel is. He can't think or react, he knows he is trying to break free but he can't find her. Julie is on top of him yelling things as crazy.
Mel jumps on her they both fall on their sides, the creatures wake up and now it is a mayhem. There are shouts and cries, and then Simon finds a pair of green eyes staring at him from one of the cages and a teenager shows through the bars.
"Please kill me," He begs.
The last thought Simon has before fainting with a gash in the side of his head is, how much longer he will live until he starts begging for the same thing?
….
The door is behind an emergency staircase that takes to the ground level.
Chris has to hide for at least ten minutes when a couple of cars come in and some doctors climb down of them to take the stairs.
He can listen to a humming not so far and he isn't sure it is a generator or something else, considering that it seems to come from the room he is about to get in.
A part of him is still hesitant about this. He should have waited a couple of days to get a better plan or at least get a gun to kill this she-wolf. But Alice is right, the longer they last in killing her, the closer Damian will be to finally extend the life of Wendigos indefinably, or even worse, to get the missing piece in his puzzle to awaken that all mighty and indestructible creature Chris never heard of.
It has to be tonight, or this morning since the first streaks of light are already coming from above. That's it. In a couple of hours, the town will rise and things can get pretty badly. If he could only get to talk to Allison, or at least Scott and order him to get her out.
When the last doctor is gone, Chris comes out from behind the car he was hiding and approaches the door. It is stained and looks pretty heavy, mostly for the years of supposed disuse, but Alice told him they have been using it in the last days.
How is she? Is she okay? Did Damian find her?
He shakes his head and gets the handle of the door.
It is closed. Of course it would be.
He looks around trying to find something that might help him but there isn't anything there.
Damn it! He is running out of time, he needs to get there before it is…
Cries, yells, curses and pleads. All of them come to his ears at once overwhelming him. Something is going on inside.
Chris kicks the door frustrated as their echo grows louder and one of the hinges clatters. Chris' chest flutter with hope, with all that noise she won't be able to listen to him, if he keeps banging the door.
He tries again, and again, and again, and bit a bit the hinge gets looser and looser as the one above follows its track, when the first drops to the floor the door swings its right a light comes out followed by more shouts of terror, a woman is crying. Chris' heart lurches, he knows that that she-wolf has been doing experiments with humans but…
He kicks stronger this time, it is almost loose. He kicks again and the door bursts in. He hops over it and gets inside being swept by the intense cold, the blinding light and the deafening cries, shouts, curses, begs and growls.
There she is, dragging a woman on the floor.
"Hey!" He roars.
She jolts taken by surprise, her senses clearly clouded by the confusing scene. It is his chance. Chris tugs out his knife and lungs after her.
"Argent!" She roars in a half-mock half-cry.
Chris swims his knife and she dodges rolls on the floor and kick him in the ankle making him lose his balance as the pain overwhelms him for a second and gets to the side to avoid her nails.
He stands trying not to use his right leg too much.
"A knife? That's what you're planning to use against him?" She laughs and throws a punch Chris ducks, and there is a metallic noise behind him.
Something breaks free shrilling uncontrollably, and the woman cries in pain as the creature attacks her.
Chris spins and see them now, rows and rows of cages containing the results of her experiments. It is disgusting and saddening. He should later finish them as last give of mercy.
He looks right now at the woman on the floor who is trembling in the arms of a man as she looks at them horrified and a lump climbs to his throat.
"Melissa?" Chris says shocked.
"Christopher!" Says the man and Chris' heart starts throbbing.
"Simon! What are you doing here?"
Simon has a bloody lip and utterly frightened expression; however, he still can get the hold of himself to take Melissa in his arms who is clearly in shock.
"Get out of here!" Chris orders immediately.
Simon looks at him and then at the she-wolf. "But…You were dead! I thought you were dead"
"Get out of here Simon and take Melissa with you!"
Simon stands with his eyes fixed still on them.
"Chris…" Melissa mutters. "She is trying to do something! You have to stop her!"
"Please tell me that Allison is okay," Chris asks fearing the answer.
Melissa nods. "They don't know about this"
"Who? About what?"
Chris listens to the struggle at his back. It won't last much longer.
"Get out of here; we will talk when this is over" He demands.
Melissa and Simon nod and hurry to get out of there from the door Chris opened.
"You're not going anywhere," The She-wolf roars, Chris' guts squirms, and a chill runs down his spine as he turns to find the half-human half-Wendigo being letting out its last shriek of pain as she splits it in half and sprays herself with blood. A cream-like coat starts covering her body as it stretches and her clothes shred in pieces.
"Run!" Chris comands at the startled Simon and Melissa.
It is too late. She gets in their way in a blink and rises a paw.
"If you do anything to them I'll kill myself" Chris warms taking his knife to his own neck.
The wolf cranes its neck with interest as it slowly reduces its size and the features of the face turn back to be human to later reveal a naked woman in the middle of Simon and Melissa. "What do I care if you die? You would be saving time"
"What's going on here?" Simon demands with eyes like crazy staring at Chris at then at the woman seconds away from fainting.
"Simon, shut up" Replies a calmer Melissa.
"I know what you're planning on doing doctor, and it won't work"
Her eyes snap. "You're lying"
"You think so? It would be a tragedy for Damian to lose the only person who knows how to finish it," He says, careful of his word choosing to make her believe he knows what they are up to after all.
"Even if you know you wouldn't help"
"I could if you meet my demands"
"Wait a second…" The she wolf looks at Chris and then at Melissa and Simon. "You sent them here to distract me! You ruined the communications so we can't contact the others in the outside! It has always been you isn't it?"
He doesn't know what she is talking about but he nods. "Always a step ahead. I'm a legend after all"
Her bottom lip wobbles and she steps back scared.
"A knife, that's all I need to get rid of you, or…We can work together on pleasing Damian's twisted whish for a…"
He can't finish his sentence. Simon is faster and before he realizes he takes the spare gun from Melissa's belt and shoots, once, twice.
The she-wolf falls on her back.
Simon sights and then holds the gun toward Chris. "Now you're going to tell me…"
Who rises his hands staring at his friends shaking ones.
"Simon!" Chris roars but it is too late.
She is on her feet again.
Simon and Melissa fall unconscious in a blink.
Chris tries to reach them, but it is now his turn to faint when a strong hit stamps his head against the floor.
….
He feels like floating in a cloud or like being stuffed into a box several inches shorter than he is. A metal box with nails that come through his skin.
He can feel her too, there with him. She is lost and scared. They have done horrible things. No, it is just her, she feels that way. He…Isn't sure how he is feeling apart from the aching in his chest.
He opens his eyes a bit confused.
He is inside his room. It is mostly dark with some gray streaks of light filtering from the window behind him. What did he do last night?
He can't remember well.
His whole body is sore as if he ran for hours. Did he party last night? Where in the hell Scott took him.
No, he couldn't have been out with Scott. Scott doesn't want anything to do with him anymore.
He tries to sit, but a sharp and breathtaking pain in his chest pin him to his bed and he groans while holds his tears back.
"You're awake," A soft and deep voice says from his right.
Stiles' heart stirs with a mix of pain and awkwardness as his memories of his dream, or was it real? Sweep him.
"De…Derek" He mumbles. "What are you doing here?"
Derek stares at him for a second without speaking a word, then he licks his lips and Stiles makes an effort to don't pay attention to it. "I wanted to make sure you are okay"
"Why? What happened to me?" He asks confused.
Derek frowns and then his face contorts with realization and a bit of dread. "You…You don't remember"
Stiles isn't sure if that was a statement or a question.
He has briefs and confusing memories right now. Because of his dream, he isn't sure of what is real and what isn't.
"I…I got hurt. Right?"
Derek nods.
"Someone shoved me in a box, but I can't remember his face, it was a bearded old man"
Derek chortles. "That didn't happen. I think it was just a nightmare"
Stiles arches a brow. "You're laughing" he points out startled. "I think I never saw you do it before"
Derek arches a brow amused. "What? I always laugh with your jokes"
Stiles looks at him as if he is crazy. "Are you kidding? You said my jokes sucked"
Derek snorts. "Didn't I tell you that I think you're funny?"
"You think I'm funny?" Stiles half-snort half-shrieks as a disturbing heat lands on his cheeks.
"Yes" Derek mutters.
A chill runs down Stile's spine and before he notices, Derek is on top of him, his body carefully placed so he is right on him without actually being it. It is amazing how gracefully he can move sometimes.
He is so close Stiles can actually feel the extreme and almost scorching warmness of his body. Something he is feeling jealous about in this chilly morning.
"If I could only…" Derek whispers slowly licking his lips again.
Stiles feels a force pulling him upward. Toward his face, his fiery blue eyes, to his squared and fuzzy jaw, to his fleshy eager lips and his intoxicating breath. He is a trap masked in a human face. Derek is right, if they could only…
But they can't. He recalls it now.
If Derek lowers just half an inch, they will hurt each other, in some many ways it is too painful to even think about it.
Stiles moves his face to his left, to avoid Derek's lips and hide the frustration in his eyes from him.
"It was Allison," He says more to himself than to Derek.
Derek stands quickly turning so Stiles can't see his face. "She was going after me"
Stiles swallows. "I remember….I…Should"
"We're not having this conversation again Stiles," Derek warns him.
Why? Why he can't understand that everything, everyone would be better if he…Is he selfish enough to sacrifice the possibility of stop the war and save his friends just…Just because of…
"Aren't you still able to remember the fight?" Derek asks with concern.
The fight…It is like a blank spot in his mind.
He shakes his head. "You think I'm going crazy?"
Derek turns and his features soften a little until they turn into an amused smile.
Stiles can't help noticing with some guilt how attractive he looks as he keeps noticing the way his lips curve upward and the dimples draw his attention.
He has to look away again.
"You're not going crazy. You're just…I don't know, too strong and your powers maybe just need control"
"Too strong? Really?" Stiles laughs.
"Yeah. Actually you're kind…Of scaring in that state"
Stiles cracks in laughs and then pants as the aching in his chest chokes him.
"I can't believe the big bad wolf just said I'm scary"
"Don't get enthusiastic, I said a little bit" Derek looks at him with concern but he laughs too. "I can't explain it with words, but it is like you…."
A phone rings.
Derek shoves his hands in his pocket. "Sorry" He turns and picks up the call.
"Where is he?" Derek asks with his usual stern voice and Stiles gaps noticing that he has just been talking with a completely different person.
Whom is he talking to anyway?
"Did you tell him he is alive?"
Derek listens a couple of minutes in silence and then curses. "Alright, I'm coming"
He hangs up.
"What…What happened?" Stiles tries to sit and the pain comes again clouding his mind.
"Stay in bed" Derek orders. "Last night, after…You know, Scott went after Allison and we thought he was going to kill her"
"She is not dead. I can feel her" Stiles hurries to reply, yet taken aback for what he just heard.
"How does that work?" Derek frowns.
Stiles sighs. "Wish I know"
"Never mind. Scott is okay, but it is sunrise and Jackson and he are naked in the woods, so…I'm going over to get them clothes and…Well, he doesn't want to come back. I should talk to him"
"Oh…" Stiles simply says.
"We'll be here in thirty minutes, please stay in bed"
Stiles chuckles. "Ain't like I can move much, am I?"
Derek looks at him thoughtfully and then nods. He goes to the bottom of the bed and grabs an old rope Scott and he used to play when they were kids.
"Derek…"
"Yeah, I don't trust you" Derek says with a grin.
"But…What if I have to pee"
"Hold yourself, I'll be back soon"
"Derek!" Stiles protests as the wolf quick but gently tights his arms and legs to the bed.
"You can't leave me like this! What if those wolves come after me again?"
"Are you serious?" Derek arches a brow amused. "They are more scared of you than you of them. Either way, they won't attack in the day. It is too risky"
"Derek please…"
"Try to get some sleep"
"But…"
Derek finishes tying the last knot in his left ankle and rises.
"I won't take long. I promise" He assures as he briefly brushes Stile's forehead with his lips and vanishes in the window.
Stiles fights the feelings in his chest and sights, maybe he should get some sleep. It would be very awkward and hard to explain if his dad comes in a finds him tied to…
His dad…He should be at home.
He should have woke him an hour ago.
What…What happened to him?
….
As surprising as it looks. She could sleep that night. Probably because of the pill Lydia gave her, or maybe because being surrounded by her friend's hands made her feel some kind of safety to avoid all the things that haunted her.
However, her dreams weren't pleasant at all. She is half-awake now, but there are still traces of them in her mind. She has to hold her breath and wait at least two minutes to process the mix of thoughts and stories in her head to keep everything in mind.
Just a minute ago, she thought she murdered Scott. Now she knows it wasn't he but Stiles. There is something disturbing about this; the realization of her real victim brings her some hope to her chest. It is awful and she hates herself because of it, but at least Scott is alive. At least it wasn't he who received her arrow, though that doesn't matter anymore.
He wants her dead.
You have to mess things up pretty badly for the boy who once loved you so naïve and yet deeply, someone with a heart as gentle as Scott's now wants you dead. And it is even harder to bear, to think that, it is through this pain that she realizes that her feelings for him never faded. Even when he lied and is on Derek's side, she loves him. The scarce months they spent together made her feel safe in many ways; as if she have found the place, she belonged.
"Allison" Lydia mumbles softly as she brushes her arm slightly.
Allison opens her eyes faintly, being blinded by the sun. Being awake is even worse than her nightmares. Because it brings to her mind, what she fears the most.
Reality.
"We better hurry up and get school before it gets late"
Allison nods without moving.
"Are you fine? Or would you rather me to take you with Dr. Fintshood?"
Allison is tempted to stay silent, but it will only make Lydia freak out and call an ambulance or something to lock her for good.
Instead, she has to keep pretending that everything is alright so she can talk to Uncle Jeremy today after class. It is better to act as if everything she lived last night was just a nightmare and that Stiles isn't ….Feeling…Awkward.
Allison jerks up with her eyes wide open and her heartbeat in her ears.
"Allison! Is...Are you okay?"
He is inside her. She can't read well, because it is just a slight and weak feeling inside her. But there is no doubts, those feelings she is experiencing aren't hers.
That arousal, that sexual thirst…Is he…?
No spark though. Or better said, she can't feel their former spark in her hand as it used to work. Now…It has spread, and it isn't pulsating, almost as if it lost its state. She isn't sure of how to put words on it, but it feels as if it is everywhere inside her, almost as if a part of him truly lives inside her and not just a wisp in the wind as if it used.
She can scarcely feel him, but somehow she feels more connected to him than before, and right now…She feels a bit uncomfortable with the vibes he is giving her. She almost feels as if she is spying on him. But in other hands….
He is alive! Stiles lives. He is pain, in an awful one, she can almost feel the throbbing sensation in her heart as if the arrow came through her too, but he is breathing and more importantly he isn't wounded in his inside. She can feel his presence, he is the same quirky, dumb boy she once knew and he is happy and scared and confused and aroused.
"Allison…You're scaring me"
Allison chuckles and covers her mouth feeling embarrassed as she tries to take Stiles' feelings outside her even when she is so happy for having them.
She shakes her herd. "Sorry, it is just that. I just recalled I have no clothes to get to school today"
Lydia stares at her with a crested brow for half a minute, then she purses her lips and gives her a sidelong look. "Just that? You really scared me! I thought you were having an episode. You can have whatever you want from my closet"
"Really?" Allison pretends to be excited, though the idea of fitting Lydia's wide-chested blouses didn't encourage her at all. But she was happy, she can't explain with words how wonderful this awkwardness feels inside her, is like waking from an awful nightmare. As if werewolves or lies never existed and she is just enjoining the aftermath of a sleep over with her friend after they spent the whole night chatting about boys. "Thanks"
"No worries" Lydia winks at her. "Now get dress, I'll check my mail while you bath"
Allison nods and prepares to get to the bathroom while Lydia sits in her bed with her laptop in her lap. "Lydia"
"Yeah?" Asks her friend with some frustration in her eyes.
"Thanks for helping me last night"
"It's okay, you would do the same for me" Her friend affirms with a smirk and then frowns again at the laptop.
Allison takes a quick bath to get ready for school. When she comes out of the bathroom she finds Lydia sighing with her eyes still in the screen.
"I don't understand. How did you do to send that mail last night?" The girl asks in frustration.
Allison thinks she knows the answer, but of course she can't just tell her about her weird powers and get her involved again in this mess, all she can do is lie.
"I don't know. I just sat there and clicked on…" She says as she clutches the towel in her chest and moves closer.
"Wait!" Says Lydia excited. "I loaded!"
"See?" Allison smiles thought she is a bit concerned and steps back to get to the dresser.
"No! It lost the connection again"
Allison sighs and takes a pair of pants. "Maybe you should try at the school's network"
"The whole town is unplugged Allison. Well, not literally unplugged"
"What do you mean?" Allison frowns as she goes to the dresser next to her friend to take a look at her face.
"Hey! Is up again!" Lydia lets out happily.
"See? Maybe it has something to do with the storm" Allison affirms as she cleans the wound in her head and gets to the other side of the room to put on her shoes.
"No! Oh god I just…Wait a minute… Allison come here" Lydia asks frowning harder.
Allison hesitates and obeys, and with every step she takes her friend's gaping mouth widens larger.
"How…How…" Lydia stands up and takes her phone. "I've been trying to call my dad for days. We have no news of him" She explains.
"What that's…"
Lydia picks her phone and dials a number while she turns on the speaker. It instantly sends her to the voicemail.
"Maybe…"
"Think fast" Her friend says and before she realizes her cellphone is flying right at her head.
Allison grabs it by instinct, and stares at Lydia's furious, as a voice fills the room.
"Lydia? Honey? Is that you?"
The phone slips from Allison's hands and falls as an openmouthed Lydia looks at her with a crazy gleaming and hurries to catch the phone before it hits the floor.
"Hey dad" The girl starts casually.
Allison panics and looks at the door, but before she has a chance to get out, Lydia is already blocking her way.
….
At some point he fell asleep again. He knows this because…Because he lost count of how many times Derek has showed up in his window to force his lips against him, but every time he opens his eyes there is no one there, and the tiredness and the pain make him drowse again.
He doesn't want to think about it. It is something so sudden and at the same time so relieving. He always kept his feeling for Derek well stocked in the back on his mind because he has always known it wouldn't be safe or wise to approach to him that way.
Derek must die.
He promised Scott he would relieve him from his curse when everything was over, and to do so. He has to die on Scott's hands, but now that he has shown this new side of him to Stiles, he isn't sure if the alpha will keep his promise, or even worse.
He isn't sure if he will be able to let him.
That is why he has to keep Derek out of his mind and more importantly of his heart, but it is hard. Every time he recalls what happened last night his heart lurches, his mouth gets dry and a warmness spreads all around his body. He needs it, that bittersweet feeling that swept him and took his breath the night before, the butterflies, the lump on his throat and shaking.
Just a small kiss was enough to make him addict to them, though…In other hand.
They can't touch each other.
That's another reason why they must stay away from the other. The idea of hurting Derek every time they touch, it is much of what he can bear. He is mad at Allison right now for shooting that arrow that condemned him to be unable to touch Derek now when they have shown a bit of honesty of much they want it.
They will never be able to…
He seriously has to keep those thoughts out of his mind. They aren't just awkward and dangerous, but also keep his mind busy from the things that really matter to him right now.
It is so unfair. Why Derek didn't tell him anything before? Why he had to wait for everything to be so mess up to the point of not coming back to be honest?
It is better this way. They are both adults and they know they are playing with fire. They can't be together even if they want to. All the odds are against them. And maybe it isn't real anyway, maybe Derek just feels guilt for what happened to Stiles and he is trying to pay him somehow.
What he doesn't know is that he is hurting him deeper than any arrow, for showing the promise of something they both now can't have a future.
Where are you dad? He thinks with sadness when he finally gets in control of his thoughts.
Dylan.
What happened to him? Did the wolves took him? Derek said the wolves ran away from him and there is another question.
Did he really beat them? Did he really do all the things Derek said he did?
It is hard to imagine himself fighting werewolves, when he scarcely could look at Scott shift in the first times months ago without passing away.
But if Derek is right, he saved Dylan, but if he is…Where is him?
"Finally" His tired voice says suddenly and Stiles yelps.
His shadow finds his way in through the window at his back and then Derek is already releasing his knots. "What? Did I scare you?"
Stiles glares at him and then hears more voices.
When Derek is done Stiles makes an effort and rolls on his side to stand up.
"Wait…What are you doing?"
"I have to go to the bathroom" Stiles replies with clenched teeth. "An asshole had me here waiting for hours and I can't hold myself anymore"
Derek rolls his eyes. "I had to. You get in trouble too easily"
Stiles chugs holding his chest as he tries to stand "Ain't like I'm planning on showing at the Fenrir's home and ask him to kill me"
Derek takes him by the arm and pants as he fights the pain he is struggling with.
Stiles blinks and yanks his arm furiously.
"Yeah, you're right. You're not going to do it. You don't know where the Fenrir lives"
Stiles trudges to the bathroom followed by Derek as Jackson and Isaac's voice grow louder.
"Why can't you trust me?" Stiles grunts.
"Because I know you" Derek replies bitterly and opens the door.
Stiles balls his hands angrily and gets inside.
While he brushes his teeth and washes his face, he can hear that Isaac and Jackson are laughing about of tight Scott's clothes fit Jackson and Stiles shudders. He can only hear three voices in his room, but was expecting that.
When he is done, he opens the door and finds them grinning in his bed.
"He is the man!" Jackson lets out loudly. "I'm glad to see you are okay"
Stiles smiles and steps ahead holding back his pain. "Thanks"
"You really scared us monkey" Isaac points out with a wobbling lip.
Stiles is taken back. He know Isaac have always cared about him, though he always suspected it was all pretended since he betrayed them once, but now that he can see his concern in his eyes…
"Hey" He hears a soft mutter.
His heartbeat quickens and he gaps. Now he notices Scott sitting right next Derek with his eyes fixed on him, red and swollen by the tiredness. A hurtful expression in his eyes spiced by a glistening look.
"I think we should wait outside" Derek says making signs to Isaac and Jackson with his eyes.
They both nod and follow him out without saying anything else.
"I…" Both of them say at once but stop at once.
Stiles looks away but still can feel Scott's eyes on him.
"I…I thought you died" Scott's voice cracked in the last word and before Stiles has time to look at him, his best friend throws his arms at his neck and he gasps his body stirs.
"Scott!" Stiles says with tears in his eyes. "Let me go…I…I can't touch you anymore"
"I know" Scott pants at his ear. "I don't care, if it hurt, but I need my best friend now"
Stiles wants to cry and kick and curse. He feels the need to yell at him. They were supposed to be mad at each other, and now he just shows up as if nothing happened! After all the awful things he said. He wants to punch Derek and tell him he is an idiot for bring him here, for making him feel things he shouldn't be feeling, and he is mad at Deaton for saving his life when he first told him he should die.
They broke apart. Scott's face has turned pale and he won't stop shaking. They stare at each for what feels like hours, until Scott's hesitating hand rises and slow unbuttons Stiles pajama's top and a memory flashes his mind.
When he woke up in Deaton's basement last night he got a shredded shirt, but now…
Oh my god he dressed me! He thinks blushing as he looks down and notices that he is also wearing the matching pants of that pajama.
"What?" Scott asks frowning at him.
Stiles jerks up and shakes his head.
Scott's hot fingers now take off his top and reveal Stile's chest.
His friend grimaces and Stiles holds back his tears.
"I can't believe she did this" Scott whispers with shaking voice.
Stiles glances down and his eyes meet the wound. It is just a short gash in the middle of the place where is heart is, surrounded by a large and scaring deep purple tone.
"Me too" Stiles admits nodding as he puts his top again and slowly sits on his bed.
"I should have killed her" Scott says with despise.
"Yes! You should have!" Isaac's voice says from the other side of the door.
"Are you eavesdropping?" Stiles asks shocked. "I can't believe you"
The door swings open and Isaac comes inside followed by Derek and Jackson.
"You should have, she deserves it" Isaac affirms.
"No!" Stiles replies before leaving any chance to Jackson to reply and is even more frightened for what Derek might say. "Look guys, I know you don't understand, but something seriously bad happened last night"
"We know. We saw it" Jackson affirms.
"Is not that…I…I should have died. I had to happen that way"
"You tried to kill yourself?" Scott asks taken aback.
"I can't even remember half of last day, but I guess so…Deaton told me that I had…"
"He told you to kill yourself?" Scott asks furious. "And you listened to him?"
Stiles chugs. "Is not that simple okay? I'll explain it to you. Everything, but first I need to ask you something" He looks directly to Scott.
"What?"
"I want you to bring Allison here"
"What? No! What if she…"
"She won't do anything to me Scott! She didn't want to hurt me!"
"How do you know?"
"I just know, okay? She feeling awful right now. I can feel it"
"You can feel it?" Jackson says confused. "Since when you can feel her feelings?"
"Since I know her, or maybe I've always felt, I'm not sure, I just know she needs help. She is really lost and scared, she now knows I'm alive. I can feel she is feeling hope right now, but we need to sit and talk things once and for all and you guys will have your answers"
"I don't know…"
I'm mad at her too. I want to yell at her for making me unable to touch you, to touch De… "Please Scott, I need you to do this for me"
"I don't know Stiles I don't think it is a good idea, you should ask Isaac, or Jackson"
"I could go" Jackson offers.
Stiles shakes his head. "I have another job for you, and I don't trust Isaac. Sorry"
"Ouch" Isaac replies with sadness.
"Okay, I'll try to talk to her, but I don't think she will like to come considering that…I almost killed her last night"
"She almost kill me last night, so…I guess she knows how you feel"
Scott glares at him for his joke. "I'll be back soon"
Stiles nods and Scott vanishes through the window.
Stiles now turns toward Derek, Isaac and Jackson.
"What do you need?" Jackson frowns.
"First Derek. Do you think you can go to the hospital and check that my dad is okay? This should be his day off. I know this is stupid but…"
"Is okay, I understand" Derek replies without protesting.
"Thanks"
"Isaac, you will stay here, taking care of Stiles just in case" Derek orders.
"It will be a pleasure" Isaac grins.
Stiles can notice how Derek's eyes suddenly shine and a knot ties in his stomach.
When he is sure Derek is gone he looks at the boys in front of him. "I can take care of myself Isaac, I need you and Jackson to please get in the town looking for someone"
"Who?" Jackson asks intrigued.
"A boy called Dylan"
….
"I don't understand why you were so scared, ain't like I was going to dissect you" Lydia giggles as they enter the classroom.
Allison's eyes run across the room quickly scare of finding Scott or Stiles in there. When she confirms that they aren't there she feels even more frightened now.
"I'm sorry I just…"
"You must be electrically charged or something" Lydia points out bored. "Though it is kind of interesting"
"I don't think there is anything interesting in being a freak show" Allison says listlessly as they get into their places and wait for Harris to show up in front of the class.
Around her Allison can listen to her classmates talk about rumors and conspiracies. Virus, government, shut down, no internet, no phone calls. All the conversations lead to those topics.
"You're not a freak Allison, you helped me realize what they were doing" Lydia says with a smirk.
"What do you mean?"
"After I left my dad and you calmed down, I went to my computer. Somehow something in you reestablished the communication long enough for me to dig into the local network. The gateways have been rewritten to feedback the system"
Allison scratches the wound on her head confused though a bit happy Lydia doesn't suspect anything about her and her scary powers, and at the same time helps her keep her mind busy from thinking about Stiles and Scott.
"They made a loop in the system, when someone tries to contact the outer world, the system automatically connects them to themselves, that is why it looks like there is internet connection when actually isn't"
"So…It wasn't me" Allison whispers hopeful.
"You? How could it be you?" Lydia chortles. "It is the government, they locked us in the town, probably to prevent those rumors about a virus to spread"
Allison sighs with relief. "But…What's the point to close the city if they are only rumors?"
Lydia's expression darkens. "That's the thing, maybe they aren't fake"
Allison holds her breath, of course they can't be fake. It has something to do with the wolves. She is sure of it.
"What concerns me, is the food shortage. My mom went to the grocery yesterday and it was closed, but through the windows she could see it was completely empty. With the town shut, it will be only matter of days for everyone to went nuts and start killing each other"
"For food?" Allison arches a brow.
"It's the mob Allison, there are three things large populations will always be afraid of. The unknown, the food shortage and equal rights"
Allison snorts. "I think you're wrong. I mean, yeah things are weird lately around here, but everyone is continuing with their lives as if nothing is happening. Just look around" He swings her arm to show her friend they are the proof of it. Even when their classmates are scared, everyone is quiet.
Then comes explosion. People shrills not far from their classroom.
"What was that?" Rhonda asked behind them.
"It sounds like someone just blew the chemistry lab" Someone joked.
"It's not funny asshole. This is serious. My dad heard rumors about an uprising"
"Uprising?" Lydia asks.
"Maybe we should get out of here" Amanda suggested.
"Are you crazy? What if it is one of those psycho school murderers?" Rhonda grunts.
"I'm serious guys. I'm scared"
Allison and Lydia stand slowly. She can feel her guts squirming and the see wobbling lip of her friend.
"Lydia, maybe Amanda is right"
Lydia nods taking Allison by the arm.
The door swings open and a sweaty Harris comes in quickly. "I need everyone to sit down, please"
Please? Allison thinks frightened, since when Harris asks someone anything kindly?
"Mr. Harris?" Amanda asks in a sob.
"Everyone please sit down and stay calm"
Rhonda started crying too.
"There is nothing to worry about, just sit!" The man grumbles losing his patience.
When everyone finally takes sit in silence the man clears his throat.
"There have been an explosion three streets away from here" He explains.
"Three streets? Are you kidding? It feel right inside here" Amanda shrieks.
"It was a big explosion. The police has been informed and the fire department is on its way to evacuate the school, until them I suggests…"
"Oh my god! I live just three streets away from here! My mom! My little sister" Jena starts crying loudly and then more people starts sobbing. "I need to go… My mom Mr. Harris, please"
"I can't let you…"
Jena jumps of her seat and runs at the door. Mr. Harris tries to get in her way, but Brandon and Greg make him to the side. There are cries and groans. A struggle starts between the two boys and the teacher until this last one falls on his back cursing and calling after them, but maybe they can't hear him, because of the stampede of people that hurries to get out.
"Let's get out of here two" Lydia says taking Allison by the arm.
Allison can notice how stressed her friend is, but she can't do anything to calm her. All this situation caught her by surprised, and after what she lived last night, she just wants to run and cry and kick. She is feeling so frightened of everything. The town isn't safe anymore in any way.
They stride through corridors after corridors, their class defiance encourages more and more classrooms' doors to fly open. In matter of minutes Allison finds herself breathing heavily in a sea of panicking teenagers fighting to break free.
"Allison!" She hears Lydia's terrified voice over the crowd and now she notices her friend is missing.
"Lydia! Where are you?"
Her friend replies, but Allison can't get anything because of the noisy thong they are in. The sea of people is drawing them to the parking lot regardless of the muffled orders of teachers and the principal through the speakers. No one is paying attention.
The situation got out of control.
"Allison!"
A fresh draft of air and the grey morning finally greet her, and she breaths with some relief.
The students are already on their way to cars, others are running toward the streets to get to their homes. Allison keeps looking for Lydia with her eyes, but she can't find her. There are too much people around.
More and more teachers keep showing up, dragging people inside. Allison tries to make sense of all this mayhem, but it is too late. Once they hear their gunshots everything becomes even crazier.