Chapter Seven: Night School
We scrambled into the school and Scott yelled at Stiles to lock it.
"Do I look like I have a key?" Stiles snapped. Stiles paused for a moment then peered out the window. I did as well and saw the bolt cutters.
"No, Stiles, don't you dare," I growled. He was out the door before I could stop him. Scott and I watched fearfully as he crept for the bolt cutters. Movement caught my eyes. The alpha came out from behind the jeep.
"Stiles," I screamed. Scott pounded on the glass to get his attention. Stiles glanced up and saw it. With a yell he grabbed the bolt cutters. The alpha started for him but Stiles managed to get inside. He slammed the bolt cutters across the bars.
"That's not going to hold," I stated quietly. We looked at each other gravely.
"Come on, let's get somewhere else," I said. A howl rang through the air and we ran. We bolted into a classroom and I ran to the windows. I heard Scott and Stiles arguing. My head was starting to hurt and my breath was coming in short panicked bursts.
"Why is this happening?" I whimpered.
"Alright, we'll break a window and get out of here," I heard Scott say, "We'll run fast, really fast." I looked outside at the jeep. Something was wrong.
"Um, Stiles what's wrong with the hood of your jeep?" I asked nervously.
"Nothing's wrong," he replied getting a closer look.
"It's bent," I said. We stared at it for a moment.
"But, what…" Glass shattered above our heads. Stiles yanked me down as something crashed to the floor.
It was the jeep's battery.
"There goes that idea," I muttered.
"We have to move," Stiles hissed.
"Let me take a look," Scott retorted. He peeked out and then gave us the green light. We headed into the hall.
"We have to find a room without windows," Stiles said.
"Every room has windows," I retorted.
"The locker room doesn't have as many," Scott suggested. Stiles and I agreed and we ran down there. Once more Scott and Stiles argued. I heard them mention dad.
"We are not calling dad. That could get him killed," I snapped.
"Then we have to find a way out of here."
"No shit but there's nothing around here for miles," Stiles said with a groan.
"Derek's Camaro," I said. Stiles nodded.
"We could do that. We could run out, get the keys of Derek's body," we all shivered, "And then book it."
"We take him too," Scott said fiercely.
"Fine," Stiles sighed. We headed for the locker room door but Scott stopped us.
"I hear something," he whispered. We backed away from the door slowly trying not to panic. Stiles hid his flashlight in his jacket.
"Hide," Scott hissed. We looked around and Stiles climbed into a locker. He made a lot of noise. Scott and I glanced at each other then followed his lead.
The locker was dark. It creaked. I heard the door open and fear clenched at my insides. My headache was getting worse. There were footsteps and a figure passed my locker. I held my breath.
Suddenly I heard Stiles yell. I jumped out and saw the janitor. I breathed a quick sigh of relief that the alpha hadn't found us.
"Get out," the janitor yelled. He hauled us out of the locker room while we babbled trying to explain. Suddenly the janitor was yanked back. I screamed and we scrambled back. Blood spattered the window and we bolted. We ran for the doors leading out to the field. We tried to get them open but there was a dumpster in the way.
"He's blocked us in," I groaned. Stiles shoved at the doors harder.
"We have to get out of here. Help me," he yelled. Scott and I grabbed him and hauled him away.
"We have to find another way out," I said trying to calm down. We walked down a hall trying to think. Movement caught my eye out the window. The alpha was on the roof. It saw us and started to run.
"Let's go," I screamed. The three of us bolted. We heard the glass shatter as the alpha crashed through the window. We sprinted down the hall towards the stairs. We tumbled down the stairs and into the boiler room. The alpha followed and we heard his snarls. We kept moving but I lost Stiles and Scott in the maze of lockers. I didn't dare call out for them. I pressed myself against a row of lockers and listened. Scott and Stiles must have lost it because I could hear it rummaging around. I tried to calm my breathing and my heart beat. My skin was starting to buzz. Everything was quiet for a few minutes and then I heard creaking.
Scott and Stiles ran past me. Stiles grabbed my arm and I followed. We crashed through the door and continued running. We found a small nook and stopped to take a breath. Scott froze.
"Wait, I hear something, it's Allison's ringtone," he breathed, "She's here." Stiles grabbed his phone and called Allison. They spoke quickly and then we ran for the lobby.
We met up with Allison and they talked.
"Lydia and Jackson are here too," Scott suddenly yelped. Right on cue the two burst in.
"Can we go now?" Lydia said seeing us.
There was a creak above us and I grabbed Stiles' arm.
"Run," I whispered, "Run!" We sprinted down the hall. I heard the alpha crash through the panels. We skidded around a corner and into a classroom. My head was killing me. I collapsed in a chair. Sweat was sticking to my body. My head was pounding in time with my erratic heartbeat. I heard voices but they were dim. My skin was starting to tremble. I panted for breath trying to breathe through the tightness in my chest and throat. I clutched at sides of the desk feeling them bite into my palms.
I heard Derek's name but I couldn't pay attention. Everything was a confusing blend of colors and sounds. There was a punch and I heard Jackson's name.
Suddenly there was a crash. I jerked up right and Stiles grabbed me. We jerked back and started to run for the stairwell.
"It only goes up," Scott cried.
"Up is better than here," Stiles shot back. We ran up the steps and down another hall into the chemistry room. We all stopped taking a moment to breathe before we heard it. Footsteps. We all held our breath as a figure passed the window. It didn't hesitate. It just kept moving. I sagged against the desk and Stiles dragged me over to Scott.
"This door leads to the roof. We can get into the parking lot from the fire escape," Scott suggested.
"That's a dead bolt," Stiles replied shooting the idea down. We tried to think.
"The janitor has the keys," I blurted.
"You mean his body does," Stiles groaned.
"I can find it by scent."
"You're not going alone Scott. I'll go with you," I told him.
"I think I can protect myself better than you," Scott shot back.
"Scott, the alpha wants you. You can distract it while I get the keys," I said firmly, "I'm going with you." Scott gave in and went to explain the idea to the others. Stiles grabbed my arm.
"This is a bad idea," he whispered. I hugged him tightly.
"Take care of them Stiles," I murmured.
"Just be careful," he replied. I nodded.
Lydia, we discovered, knew how to make a Molotov cocktail. We figured it was good to have some sort of weapon other than a thin pointer.
She handed us the bottle and we moved the chair from the door. Allison began arguing with Scott. I got ready to open the door. Scott would still go, despite what Allison said. They kissed and then Scott and I slipped out into the hall.
"Ok which way?" I whispered.
"Down here." I followed Scott to the left and we moved slowly down the hall. I kept following Scott and looking around nervously. I let my fingers tangle in the back of his jacket.
We down some stairs and headed for the gym.
"Is he in there?" I asked. Scott nodded and we crept in slowly. The gym was dark and creepy. Every shadow made me flinch.
"Where?" I asked.
"I think he's under the bleachers," he replied.
"Ok, stay out here and keep watch. I'll go get the keys," I whispered. He nodded and I stepped under the stands. I walked through looking everywhere for the janitor.
I was halfway through when something hit my cheek. I rubbed it away and looked up. I barely contained a scream as I saw the janitor. I stumbled back hitting one of the poles. The janitor's arm dangled towards me. His face was bloody and misshapen. I took a deep breath and climbed onto the bars. I could see the keys dangling from the janitor's belt. I reached out for them but couldn't quite reach. My fingers brushed them and made them jangle.
The stands began to move, retracting in on themselves. My breath caught in my chest and I desperately reached for the keys. The creaking grew louder as the stands grew closer. My fingers finally closed around the cold metal and I yanked. I dropped down and jumped over the lower bars towards the end of the bleachers. The bleachers were getting closer. I couldn't breathe. My headache was blinding me.
I burst out from under the stands and tripped over the last bar. I was sent sprawling. I heard a roar and a shattering sound. I heard Scott running and yelling but everything was a blur. My heartbeat pounded in my ears and I threw the keys towards Scott's voice. I heard a jangle and then another roar, this one so loud the floor beneath me shook.
After that everything fell silent. All I could hear was my panting. My entire body was shaking. White light was bursting behind my eyes. My head hurt so badly.
Breath pooled across my neck. I froze and clenched my eyes shut. Every muscle in my body was tense. I felt a cold nose and the smoothness of teeth.
He was smelling me. I tried to squirm away but he growled. My breath was coming in panicked little bursts.
Pain bloomed across my neck. He had bit me.
I screamed and my eyes flicked open. I felt something rush through me. My whole body vibrated and light flooded my vision.
When it faded I was alone lying on the gym floor. My neck throbbed. I touched it but there was no blood. The alpha hadn't broken the skin. I stared at the gym ceiling feeling exhausted. My whole body felt heavy and I slid into unconsciousness.
I wasn't fully aware of things. I heard sirens and voices. I felt myself being picked up. I heard clattering.
I slipped back into the darkness.
Lights flashed across my face. I was in a car. I heard the sirens. An ambulance.
Everything blurred.
More lights. This time there were more voices. I was moving. I heard wheels. Everything shifted.
I finally woke up. I blinked away the grogginess. I was in a hospital room. My neck felt stiff and my throat was dry. Dad was sitting beside me.
"Morning sweetheart," he greeted. He handed me a glass of water. It was stale but I drank it anyway.
"What happened?" I asked setting the glass down. I had an IV in the back of my hand and a pulse monitor on my index finger.
"I got Stiles' message and got people to the school. We find Scott in the hallway. Lydia, Jackson, Allison and Stiles were in a classroom. We found you in the gym. You were unconscious," he explained.
"How long have I been out?" I asked.
"Two days," he replied. I sucked in a sharp breath. Two days. Stiles must be panicking.
"What happened sweetheart?" dad asked softly. I looked back at him and hesitated. I didn't know what to say.
"I…" I couldn't. I fell silent. Dad gave me an understanding look and patted my hand.
"It's alright. You don't have to speak right away," he told me. I nodded and he stood up.
"I'll get you some breakfast ok." I nodded again.
"By the way, what happened to your neck?" he asked.
"My neck?" He handed me a small mirror. I aimed it at my neck and my eyes widened.
There was a deep black bruise where the alpha had bitten me. He hadn't turned me into a werewolf like Scott.
He had marked me.