Conjured
Scott continued to struggle against Steve as Malia lunged for Theo, tackling the chimera to the ground. Scott removed his hand from Steve's chest as Malia snarled and started to pummel Theo's face. Jay and Kaia sprinted over to stop Steve from rushing at the chimera. Scott paused, watching the two barely hold the alpha back, before hearing Theo's head bounce between Malia's fist and the floor.
"Do you even know why you're mad?" Jay grunted as he felt his feet slide back.
"He wanted to kill me," Steve growled as Malia's fist broke Theo's nose, causing the scent of blood to fill the room.
"Okay," Kaia grunted. "But he might be able to help us save the others."
"It's okay, you don't have to stop," Theo groaned when Malia paused.
"Trust me, I won't," Malia replied, brandishing her claws and preparing to strike him.
"Malia, enough," Scott said, grabbing her wrist before she could maul him. "Hey!" he shouted as she struggled against his grip. Liam joined Scott and pulled the werecoyote off Theo, pushing her back to where Steve was being held back. "Slow down, okay? He's going back in the ground."
"Damn right he is," Steve growled, trying to pull himself away from Jay and Kaia. Hayden joined the others in holding Steve back.
"You can't," Liam told them. Steve relented as he turned back to Liam, his eyes glowing red. "He remembers Stiles," the beta explained before turning to Jay. "I figured you would have explained that to him."
"Yeah, well the link's been broken between us, again," Jay muttered.
"Scott remembers Stiles. Lydia and I remember Stiles. All of them remember Stiles," Malia spat at Liam.
"The Dread Doctors knew all about the Wild Hunt," Liam continued, ignoring Malia. "He can help us."
"Or he could kill us," Scott said.
"He's my responsibility," Liam said.
"Technically, he's mine," Kaia reminded him. "Noshiko and my mother gave me the sword."
"It's so awkward when Mom and Dad fight," Theo grunted as he pulled himself into a sitting position against the refrigerator
"Shut up," Scott, Jay, and Liam said in unison.
"You're both right," Hayden told them. "If Theo tries anything, we'll send him back to the skinwalkers. But for right now—"
"He goes back now," Scott stated.
"And I'm sending him," Steve growled, turning back to Theo.
"Except she's the one with the sword," Theo said, nodding to Kaia.
"Shut up!" everyone but Steve and Malia shouted at the chimera. Scott nodded to the other room and Liam moved to follow.
"Let's just go talk about this," Kaia whispered to the other alpha, nodding after the Scott and Liam.
Steve shook his head and turned around when he heard Malia step forward. "Malia," Hayden warned, moving between her and Theo.
"Can you give me a second alone with Theo?"
"Why?"
"So I can kill him," Malia stated.
"You don't have to be alone for that," Steve added before turning back to Jay and Kaia. "Let me go," he ordered.
"No," Kaia said, defiantly.
"Okay, look. I know that there's mixed feeling all around. But I might be your only option to stop the Wild Hunt," Theo stated. Steve stopped pushing against the others when he heard Theo's words.
"Let's kill him," Malia said.
"Do what you have to do to stop him," Jay told Kaia before moving toward the other room with Liam and Scott.
"I don't trust him, do you?" Scott asked as Jay walked past Malia and Hayden.
"No, but I think we can use him," Liam replied.
"Remember who he is. He got into your head and you tried to kill me. And when that didn't work he did kill me. And Tracy, and Josh, and his sister."
"And when he still didn't get what he wanted he tried to kill Steve," Jay told him as he walked into the room. "No one is forgetting who Theo is."
"This might be our only way to get Stiles back," Liam added.
"Can't we just try to find somebody that we at least trust?" Scott asked.
"Theo might be able to fill in the pieces we are missing," Jay argued.
"And if he doesn't?" Scott asked.
"Then we made a mistake," Jay shrugged.
Scott shook his head and turned back to Liam. "You made mistakes when you were learning to be an alpha," Liam said before Scott could speak.
"Yeah, I made a lot. But we don't have time for mistakes," Scott told the beta. "I can't lose Stiles."
"You've lost one friend to The Hunt," Jay spat, causing the two werewolves to turn back to him. "I've lost three now and I don't plan on losing any more. So, I'm going to try everything I can to stop anyone else from getting hurt and to save my friends," Jay continued, closing the distance between him and Scott. "And I'm going to try three times harder than you. And if that means using that psychopath," he shouted, pointing back toward the other room. "to get any information I can, then I'm going to do it! And if you wanted to help Stiles, then you would do the same," Jay finished, a slight growl rumbled through his throat at the end of his words as spots started to form on his body. Scott stared at the werecheetah for a moment before nodding slowly. Jay gritted his teeth before heading out of the house and running down the street.
"No one is killing anyone," Kaia warned Steve and Malia once Jay stepped out of the room.
"Kaia," Steve warned. "If we don't take care of him now, he'll just come after me later on and I'll have to put him down then. We've got too much going on for me to have to look over my shoulder at every turn."
"Theo wouldn't want to be an ordinary alpha anyway," Hayden reminded Steve.
"Actually, I think one of the last things I told Theo was just how ordinary he is," Steve spat.
"Okay, I deserve that. I get it," Theo said.
"Then you'll get why we're going to kill you," Malia said.
"Look! I'm not trying to kill anyone," Theo told them, getting to his feet.
"Yeah, I don't believe you," Steve growled. Kaia and Hayden quickly moved in the alpha's way. "You can't stop both of us."
"Maybe you need to take a minute to think about what's going on," Kaia told the alpha.
Steve shook his head and reached out to move Kaia aside, but froze when he heard Jay shouting from the other room. "I've lost three now and I don't plan on losing any more. So, I'm going to try everything I can to stop anyone else from getting hurt and save my friends. And I'm going to try three times harder than you. And if that means using that psychopath to get any information I can, then I'm going to do it! And if you wanted to help Stiles, then you would do the same."
Steve stopped Malia as she pushed past Hayden. "I don't care what he wants to try," Malia spat, trying to push past Steve.
"Maybe you should care," Kaia stated as she watched Jay run out of the house.
"You're not killing Theo," Steve said holding Malia back while Scott and Liam stepped back into the room. "Not today at least." The two werewolves nodded at Kaia as Steve finished speaking.
"You're also not going back into the ground," Kaia said, turning to Theo and holding up Kira's katana. "Not today at least," she repeated with a smirk. "Just remember, I can put you back in the ground anytime I want."
Theo nodded, staring at the blade for a moment before turning to the rest of the room. "You need a transformer that can handle five billion joules of electricity. I know where to find one, and I can show you how it works. I'll tell you, if Malia promises not to kill me," Theo stated, looking back to the werewcoyote. Malia growled at the chimera but was still being held back by Steve.
"She promises," Liam said.
"No, I don't," Malia corrected him. "We're really gonna do this?" she asked, turning to Scott. "Trust him?"
"You got a better idea?" Hayden asked.
"I've got an idea. It may not be better, but at least it's not him," Malia spat before pushing away from Steve and walking out of the house.
"We've had a long day. You'll show us where the transformer is tomorrow," Scott told Theo.
"Where do I go in the meantime?" Theo asked.
"Still got those chains?" Liam whispered to Scott.
"No—" Theo started, but Kaia took the sword out and waved it in his face.
"There's another place we could store you overnight," the kitsune commented.
"Fine," Theo grunted.
"I'll stick around for a bit, go take care of Jay and Fiona," Kaia whispered to Steve as Scott and Liam headed up the stairs to retrieve the chains.
Steve nodded at the kitsune and headed out of the house.
"You beat me here?" Jay sighed as he stepped into what was left of Charlie and Fiona's room.
"Had to find out if it was real," the banshee replied, not turning away from the room. The drawers had been left open, half of each drawer was empty while the other half was still full of Fiona's clothes. Only one laptop sat on the desk, the second chair had vanished as well. Charlie's longsword that usually rested against the wall was also missing.
"He leave behind a relic?" Jay asked.
"This," Fiona whispered before holding up a picture frame. In the photo, Charlie's eyes were closed and his lips were pressed against the banshee's cheek. She took a long breath before setting the photo on the desk. "Blake's working with them," she muttered, still not turning to the werecheetah.
"What? Why?" Jay stammered. "I mean Blake's a monster, but why would he want to make sure that the Ghost Riders take everyone in town?"
"Because when we find a way to bring back August, he'll be gone."
"What? How do you know this?"
"It's a guess," Fiona admitted, turning to face Jay. The werecheetah tilted his head, causing her to sigh. "After the link was severed, we met the last remaining person in Canaan, Lenore. Once everyone else had been taken, the Ghost Riders brought back her dead son. I think they do it to prevent the people they leave behind from figuring out what's going on, prevent them from stopping the Wild Hunt. But if we stop it, then Blake should disappear, the Ghost Riders won't need him because he would have failed."
Jay scratched his head, attempting to understand what Fiona told him. "The link—" Jay started, his eyes widening as his hand froze. "It's not just blocked off like it was last time—"
"It's completely gone," Leonard stated from behind the werecheetah.
Jay jumped as he turned to face the werelion. "But how?"
"You were only brought into the link because Charlie figured out how to heal other through it. Before that, no one thought it was even possible to bring in someone who wasn't bitten by the alpha," Fiona explained. Jay turned back to her confused. "My mom explained it to me after I was connected with the pack. She and Yuki had a theory after seeing you added to the link. She said that our individual abilities would make the pack stronger than if Steve started to build his own pack—"
"And it gave them easier access to use us," Steve stated as walked up the stairs to join the pack. Fiona bit her lip and shook her head slightly. "They did that, I remember. Blake lied about the extent, but he built the lie off the truth. Why else would they risk your and Kaia's life?"
"He's got a point," Leonard told the banshee.
"Well, they're done with that now," Fiona replied.
"Yeah, the Republic was dissolved. They don't exactly need us to do their bidding as they are free to do it themselves," Leonard commented.
"That's fair," Fiona whispered.
"Sooooooo," Jay said, turning to Steve. "Let's rebuild that link?" Steve looked at the werecheetah and shook his head. Jay raised an eyebrow at the alpha. "This doesn't have to do with Blake making you think you can't trust us still does it?"
"No," Steve told him. "It has to do with the fact that the link isn't strong enough in me for anyone else to survive being added to it."
"Then you start with Leonard and I and—"
"Steve's right," Leonard said interrupting Jay. "It's like Charlie had the foundation of the link, but Steve built the frame. No foundation, no link."
"That doesn't make sense. Steve was meant to take on the role of alpha if Blake fell."
"Unless Blake did it intentionally," Leonard said. "He seemed to target Charlie specifically when he came back. Planting seeds in Steve's head that Charlie was trying to take his alpha status, threatening Fiona to draw him out."
"Blake built a lie on a truth, just like he did with the Republic," Fiona sighed.
"Meaning?" Jay asked.
"Mom told me that my dad and Blake both had essential pieces to the link," Fiona explained. "Each could become an alpha and start their own pack. If they stay together the pack gains more power."
"But, if there are differing ideals, they can challenge each other for alpha status without losing the link," Steve finished.
"And it's not an even split, one side has a heightened control over the link," Fiona added.
"And he probably Charlie had more control, and that we'd all be cut off from each other if he took him," Leonard added.
"But how?" Jay asked. "If Steve still has a part of the link he can create it again?"
"The link was created for a pack of werewolves. It needs another werewolf to form it and then it needs to be reopened to the rest of us," Fiona replied. "Maybe."
"Well, we have three others that we know," Jay told them
"Or we're wrong, and trying will kill them," Steve said.
"We don't know that," Fiona replied.
"I'll see what I can find from Desmond's notes before we test or dismiss the idea," Leonard told them.
"Then how do we communicate in the meantime?" Jay asked.
"Phones," Steve replied, holding up his cell.
Jay groaned before heading to his room. "How's Chris?" Fiona asked Leonard after Jay left.
"Significantly better, got a recipe for curing supernatural wounds as well," Leonard told her with a smirk.
"That's great," Steve stated.
"You sound less than enthused," Fiona mentioned.
"Theo's back," Steve told them.
"What?" the other two asked, their jaws dropping slightly.
"He remembers Stiles, knows a bit about the Ghost Riders, and is going to help us capture one," Steve explained. "Jay's willing to try anything to get the others back," Steve added when the other two didn't respond. "And I'm willing to try anything to keep this storm from leaving."
"When are we planning to capture the Ghost Rider?" Leonard asked.
"Tomorrow."
"Then, let's make sure we're ready for it," Leonard stated before heading to bed.
"You think it will work?" Fiona asked, turning back to the picture.
"Canaan didn't exactly give us much to go on in order to bring everyone back. I'm willing to try anything," Steve repeated.
"I just hope it works," Fiona whispered. Steve nodded before heading toward his room.
"This was a bad idea," Liam stated as they walked through the preserve.
"I wouldn't say it's—" Jay stated.
"It's a terrible idea," Theo interrupted. Liam yanked on the chain that was cuffed to the chimera, causing him to grunt in frustration. "I told you where the transformer is," Theo continued after a few steps. "I told you how it works. I don't need to be there when it all blows up."
"It's not going to blow up!" Hayden spat, turning to the chimera as the group came to a stop. "They ride the lightning. We can use that to catch one and keep him there until we figure out what they want. It's a good idea."
"You're trying to catch a Ghost Rider," Theo said. "A million things could go wrong. Terrible idea."
"Just in time," Jay muttered as Kaia ran up to join them. "Where's Leonard?"
"He called me and said he was needed at the hospital," Kaia explained.
"Not to mention, these idiots lost their link, again," Theo said. Jay glared at the chimera before turning back to Kaia. "This is worse than a terrible idea."
"The bad idea was bringing him back," Liam told Hayden. "Scott's right, this is a mistake."
"You took a risk. We took a risk," she stated, looking at the rest of the group. "But it was the right thing to do." The beta paused and stepped toward Liam. "I believe in you," she added before kissing Liam.
"You guys want me to leave you alone?" Theo asked. "Oh, that's right, I can't," he added, holding up his cuffed hands.
Thunder rolled through the air as Theo dropped his chained arms. "We better hurry," Hayden stated, looking to the sky. Liam pulled Theo forward as they continued toward the Dread Doctors' lab.
Steve held up the last piece of the cage as Scott screwed it in. The two alphas turned when the door opened and Hayden, Kaia, Liam, and Jay led Theo into the Dread Doctor's lab. "You did it," Hayden chuckled, staring at the cage made of chainlink fence.
"Of course, we did it," Mason commented from behind Steve as the alphas inspected the cage.
"Just remember, I'm faster," Jay whispered to Theo as Liam undid the cuffs on the chimera's wrists.
"I'm stronger," Theo replied, glaring at the werecheetah before pointing at and moving toward the transformer. The machine rumbled to life as Theo flipped the switch. "This thing can transmute the energy from a lightning bolt," Theo told them. "Even successive strikes."
"Mason are you sure this is going to work?" Scott asked, walking back toward the door and pointing at the cage.
"Well, whatever's inside this cage is shielded from any outside electrical current," Mason explained.
"And any electricity that comes from the inside will be contained as well," Kaia added.
"So, the Ghost Rider won't be able to use lightning to escape," Mason continued.
"And he won't be able to use his whip or his gun," Kaia finished.
"We put a lightning rod on the roof," Corey stated, pointing to the ceiling. "And connected it to that conduit cable. Drawing the Ghost Rider to that spot," he added, moving his finger down, following a large wire in the middle of the room that was bolted to the floor.
"We can't send him directly in because the cage neutralizes electromagnetism. Lightning will just bounce off," Mason stated, waving his hand around. "Which is the same reason it will hold him."
"Short story is, Leonard says Mason's plan will work, so that's good enough for me," Jay commented.
"If the Ghost Rider lands here," Scott mumbled, walking to the bolted cable. "How do we get him in the cage?"
"We have to lure him in," Corey said.
"Bait?" Scott asked.
"I'll do it," Hayden volunteered. Liam moved to protest but Hayden interrupted him. "It'll be okay, I'm faster than you."
"But, I'm faster than you," Jay told her, pushing her aside as he moved to the cage.
The others shrugged as Hayden scoffed. "As soon as Jay is out, Steve and Scott will close the gates, and I'll put down a barrier of mountain ash," Mason said, closing the doors on Jay and pulling out a large jar of mountain ash.
"What if he brings friends?" Steve asked, looking up at the ceiling.
"I'll be up on the roof to take down the rod," Corey stated.
"And we'll be on the lookout for any other Ghost Riders," Mason added, pointing to himself, Kaia, Jay, Corey and Hayden.
"What do you think?" Liam asked, turning to Scott.
"I think it's the best idea that we have right now," Scott replied.
"As long as everything goes perfectly and he doesn't escape and kill us all," Theo commented.
"And as long as someone doesn't try to sabotage what we're doing," Steve said, turning to the chimera.
"And your transformer works, and the whole place doesn't catch on fire," Hayden added.
"And there isn't a catastrophic solar flare," Mason sighed.
The room filled with silence as the group looked between each other. "Let's do it," Scott stated.
"Okay," Mason sighed before turning to a box and turning the dials. The group flinched slightly as electricity sparked along the outside of the fence before fading away. Jay looked at Steve with a half smirk on his face as the rest of the group nodded at the success. They froze when they heard thunder rumble overhead.
"He's got third degree burns over ninety percent of his body," Melissa explained to Malia. "I should be telling you to say your goodbyes.
"It's Peter. I don't need to say goodbyes," Malia stated. "I need you to fix him, so we could find out what he knows about the Wild Hunt."
"From what I've heard, he's a raging psychopath. Are you sure it's worth the risk?" Leonard asked.
"Leonard's right, your father is a ruthless con man who always has a devious plan to hurt everyone around him. What happens when he gets out of bed? Do you have a plan of your own?"
"I have a plan," Malia said quickly. "I don't know if it's devious."
"At least it's a plan," Melissa sighed. Malia smirked as Leonard followed the nurse to the pharmacy. "I don't know about this," Melissa muttered once the two were alone.
"My dad's not much better than Peter, but I'd probably still save him if I had the chance," Leonard told her as they started to gather supplies. "And he brought back Stiles's keys, maybe he does know something that could help us."
"Or he's just using Stiles to trick everyone into trusting him," she replied as she started to mix the ingredients together.
"But he would know that no one would remember Stiles. My pack and I were the only ones who truly do and we wouldn't even know about Peter's past if you didn't tell me."
"So, you don't think he has an ulterior motive?" Melissa scoffed as Leonard drew the mixture into a syringe.
"I'm sure he does, but if there's a chance he has more information about someone you lost and you were related to him, wouldn't you give him a chance?" the werelion asked as they headed back toward Malia.
Melissa paused for a moment before nodding. "This way," she said gesturing down the hall. The three moved past the other hospital staff before ducking into the burn unit. "I can't promise this will work," she told Malia as they stood outside of the plastic surrounding Peter's bed.
"You said he was dying anyway. What does he have to lose?" Malia asked.
"Dying in a less painful way," Leonard suggested.
"I can hear you. I'm not dead yet, and I'm already in pain," Peter muttered from his bed. Melissa and Malia pushed open the plastic barrier revealing Peter's blistering body and stepped inside with Leonard following behind them, holding the syringe behind his back. "I think they put that there to protect me. Glad to see you're obeying hospital protocols," he commented, staring at Melissa.
"Your daughter asked me to treat you," Melissa explained.
Peter paused for a moment, looking to Malia, before returning his focus to Melissa. "In exchange for what?"
Melissa turned to Malia. "Told ya you needed a plan."
"She helps you, you help me," Malia stated.
"That's a bit open-ended," Peter commented. "What if I don't agree to your conditions?"
"You die a painful and slow death," Leonard told him.
Peter sighed and stared at the ceiling. "So, what exactly do you know about our kind of medicine."
"A lot more than you think," Leonard said pulling out the syringe and jamming the needle into Peter's chest before pushing the green fluid into his body.
Peter's scream of pain became gurgled as a blue-green slime started to dribble out of his mouth. The werewolf thrashed in the bed, gripping the sheets as he struggled to breathe through the ooze. "Think it's working?" Malia asked.
"Should be. It looks painful enough," Melissa replied.
The blistered skin started to peel away, revealing fresh, healthy skin beneath as Peter continued to squirm in pain. After a few minutes, Peter's body relaxed, the blistered skin fully peeled away and laying on the bed next to the regurgitated slime. "I can still hear his heartbeat," Leonard stated as the three watched Peter's unmoving body.
The werewolf suddenly sat up in the bed, gasping for air. "If you ever do that to me again, I'll kill you," he threatened, looking to Leonard.
"I'll keep that in mind next time you're on your death bed," Leonard replied as Malia tossed him a pile of clothes and the three moved outside of the plastic barrier.
After a few minutes of Peter grunting and knocking over medical trays, the werewolf was fully dressed. Melissa and Malia supported him as Leonard poked his head out the door. "All clear," he whispered before leading them toward the elevator.
Malia kicked the lobby button as Peter looked to Melissa. "You know we never did have that second date," Peter mentioned. The two girls tossed him off their shoulders, allowing him to collapse as the doors started to close.
Fiona stepped out of the house as a car pulled up along the street. The howling wind blew against her as she made her way to the car. "Stilinski called me. He found Stiles's room," Lydia stated as Fiona sat in the passenger seat.
"That's great. But I don't think this conversation about Claudia is going to go how you expect it to," Fiona told her.
"I know," Lydia sighed, gripping the wheel. "That's what my mom said. But if Claudia is like Caleb, then she's stopping Stilinski from remembering Stiles."
"But Lenore didn't want to let go of Caleb even after she realized the truth."
"But there was nothing she could do to bring everyone back. The storm had already moved on."
Fiona paused for a moment and Lydia looked to the other banshee. "You think that if Stilinski remembers Stiles, it might help bring him back?"
Lydia nodded her head slowly. "It might."
"Then let's go." Lydia nodded before driving toward the sheriff's house.
Jay walked around the conduit wire as he listened to the thunder roar above him. He positioned himself between the wire and the cage when the wire started to spark after a loud bang shook the room. After a second, a Ghost Rider was standing right in front of him.
"Catch me if you can," Jay mocked before running toward the cage. The Ghost Rider followed behind him, reaching for his gun as he passed the middle of the cage. As soon as Jay had made it through the other side, Steve leapt up and slammed the gate closed, locking it in place. The alpha smirked at the Ghost Rider before turning back and nodding at Liam.
Scott ran toward the gate on the other side and pulled them closed. His hands slipped as the chain link fence got caught on one of the poles, just before the gate closed. Scott grabbed the gate again and tried to pull it free, but the Ghost Rider had made his way across the cage and started to push the gate back open before Scott could free it. Theo ran back into the building and started to push the gate closed from the other side. The Ghost Rider reached out and pulled Theo's arm into the cage with him.
"Keep closing it," Theo shouted as Steve and Liam ran to the other side to help the others. They heard Theo cry out in pain as his bones cracked between the two gate doors. Liam flung Theo out of the way as Steve took the chimera's place and started to push the door close. The two alphas shifted and roared at the Ghost Rider as they finally brought the gate together. Scott locked the gate and they leapt backward as Mason ran by, pouring a line of mountain ash on the ground.
"Go!" Scott shouted and Mason and Jay ran out of the building.
"We did it," Mason sighed as he closed the door. Jay watched as Corey pulled out the lightning rod and threw it to the ground.
"Alright, let's split up and patrol the area," Kaia ordered, shouting over the storm. The others nodded before running into the woods and searching for any signs of approaching Ghost Riders.
Steve watched as the Ghost Rider reached for his gun before realizing it was gone. Scott raised his hand, revealing that he had taken it during the struggle. The building shuddered against the storm as the two alphas, Theo, and Liam stared at the Ghost Rider, preparing to fight. The Ghost Rider raised his hand and electricity sparked off the conduit wire and to the cage. The electricity arced around the cage, but never made it to the Ghost Rider. He slowly lowered his hand as the sparks disappeared.
"It worked," Scott sighed as the group relaxed.
"We did it," Liam breathed.
"Yeah we did," Scott panted.
"We aren't in the clear yet," Steve muttered as the Ghost Rider raised both of his hands. Thunder roared overhead as a continuous stream of electricity flowed to the cage. They all turned as they heard the transformer groan.
Lydia knocked on the door and the two banshees waited as the storm's wind swirled around them. The sheriff opened the door and nodded for the two to come in. They stepped inside before Stilinski silently led them to the hallway. "This was where you peeled away the wallpaper," he muttered, stopping and staring at a closed door behind the partially destroyed wall. He opened the door and stepped in, holding the door open for them. The two stepped into the empty room and looked around. "You knew about it, didn't you?" the sheriff asked as they turned to him. Lydia nodded slowly at the man. "God, it was on the blueprints," he whispered, his voice cracking slightly. "It was here when we moved in. That was eighteen years ago."
Lydia turned and started walking toward a corner. Fiona tilted her head as Lydia's eyes became wide and she started to look around the room. "Lydia?" Fiona asked causing the other banshee to freeze. "What is it?"
Lydia whipped around before turning back to the other two. "Nothing," she whispered.
"I don't understand how you knew this was here," Stilinski said. "If you want to discuss the possibility that I had a son—I'm listening."
Lydia nodded before shutting the door and turning back the sheriff. "We have to tell you something first."
After a few minutes of electricity arcing around the cage, the Ghost Rider finally dropped his hands. The group let out a sigh, allowing their muscles to relax. "Now what do we do?" Theo asked.
"Try and talk to him," Scott replied.
"Mr. Ghost Rider?" Liam asked politely.
"How formal," Steve commented glancing to the beta.
"Mr. Rider," Liam said after clearing his throat. Scott tilted his head at Liam and Theo shared a look with Steve. "We'll let you out, if you tell us how to get our friends back."
"Everyone," Scott added. "We want everyone back."
"Tell us how to get 'em all back," Liam said, raising his voice as the Rider remained silent.
"This is the plan?" Theo asked when the Ghost Rider didn't respond.
"There wasn't a plan for this part of the plan," Liam told him.
"That's fine," Steve stated, stepping to the line of mountain ash and staring at the Ghost Rider. "We'll have plenty of time while he's stuck in the cage to make him talk," he growled, flashing his eyes at the Rider.
The Ghost Rider didn't react to the alpha's threat and continued to stare silently at them. "Maybe he can't hear us," Scott suggested.
"Maybe it speaks an ancient language," Liam said.
"Maybe it only responds to pain," Theo added.
"Or fear," Liam said.
"Nothing's gonna scare this thing. Look at him, he's a walking corpse," Theo said.
"I'm on board with torturing him until he talks," Steve stated.
"Wait, why'd he stop trying to get out?" Liam asked.
The Ghost Rider leaned back, his mouth, lacking a hole, seemed to open as a ghostly wail emitted from the Rider.
"Did he just call for backup?" Theo asked.
"When Corey made the Ghost Rider visible at the party, another one showed up," Liam stated.
"We have to figure out how to talk to him, or else get the hell out of here," Scott said, looking back to the Ghost Rider.
Steve whipped out his phone and held it to his ear after pushing a few buttons. "Leonard, we need to figure out how to communicate with the Ghost Riders, now."
"Leonard's trying to figure out how to communicate with the Ghost Riders. Did you notice anything when the Ghost Riders attacked at the party?" Kaia asked when she caught up to Jay, still on the phone with Leonard.
The werecheetah grabbed the phone from Kaia. "Are you still with Malia?"
"What? No, the Ghost Rider is calling for back up and—" Leonard stated before Jay gave the phone back to Kaia.
"Where are you going?" Kaia called out as Jay took off.
"I'm not leaving Malia alone with that psychopath," Jay shouted before disappearing into the woods.
"Jay?" Leonard's voice sounded over the phone.
"Yeah, he's gone," Kaia mumbled, putting the phone back to her ear before running toward the others.
"I wish we knew what was happening," Kaia heard Mason ask.
"We do, and it's not good," Kaia said as she ran up to Mason, Hayden, and Corey. "We need to figure out how to communicate with the Ghost Rider and fast."
Mason stared at her for a moment before his eyes widened. "They were communicating," he said.
"Who?" Corey asked.
"I was right about him. Actually, I was wrong about him, but I was right about the wrong thing," Mason rambled.
"Time's a factor," Kaia reminded the boy.
"Parrish," Mason told her. "Remember when I thought that the Ghost Riders were scared of him?" he asked turning to Hayden.
"At the party?"
"I think he was actually trying to communicate with him."
"You got that?" Kaia asked.
"Calling him now," Leonard replied before hanging up on Kaia.
The sheriff looked between the two banshees, waiting for them to speak.
"We went to another town the Ghost Riders had been to previously," Lydia started.
"There was a woman, Lenore, who was left behind because she was a banshee," Fiona continued. "In order to fill the void of her entire town being taken and her being left behind—"
"Her son, Caleb, came back from the dead, essentially. It was like he was a construct of her imagination, but he actually existed again and was able to interact with us."
"Then once August was taken from our pack, Steve's old alpha, Blake, came back from the dead in what seems like the same way," Fiona explained.
"Okay? What does this have to do with the possibility of me having a son?"
"Both Caleb and Blake prevented Lenore and Steve from remembering those who they lost. Blake actively tried to suppress Steve's memories," Fiona told him.
"We think that Claudia is preventing you from remembering Stiles," Lydia finished.
"So, wait a sec. So, this woman, Lenore, she conjured up her dead son?"
"She was the only one left," Lydia said.
"And Steve basically revived the alpha that he killed himself?"
"If August didn't exist then he would have never done it," Fiona replied.
"They had to fill a void," Lydia explained.
"And you've seen them, this kid and this alpha?"
"Yes," Fiona told him.
"We all did," Lydia added.
"They were real, and they were here."
"But—" Lydia started.
"But what?" Stilinski asked.
"They both saw it happen. They knew it was real, but they didn't want to believe it. Lenore wanted to believe in her son—"
"And Steve wanted to believe in Blake," Fiona interrupted.
"So, what're you trying to say? You think Claudia is not real?" he asked before scoffing. "You think I made up a phantom wife?"
"We aren't saying that you made her up—" Fiona started.
"You're afraid to remember him," Lydia stated before Fiona could finish.
"She's a flesh and blood woman," the sheriff shouted. "She's real. Everything else here is just—is just speculation. Conjecture. It's a theory, based on—on a ghost town."
Fiona sighed and looked over to Lydia. The other banshee was staring at the sheriff in disbelief until it seemed her eyes caught something. Her head moved to look behind the man. She walked past him, ignoring his stare. He looked back to Fiona as she paused in the middle of the room and the banshee shrugged before they turned back to Lydia.
Lydia slowly reached one hand out into the air, gasping as her hand stopped. Her other arm reached out and she carefully pinched her fingers together on the open air. She clutched the air she grabbed before, slowly bringing her hands to her face and sniffing the air between them.
She turned back to them still holding the invisible object, a tear rolling midway down her cheek, her smile faded when she saw the concerned looks on their face. "You don't see anything?"
Fiona shook her head. "What do you see?"
"I see a deeply disturbed young woman and an enabler," Stilinski stated.
"You're afraid to remember because you're afraid of what it means," Lydia told him.
"Why do you care so much if I remember him?" he asked, biting back his anger.
"Because you loved him," Lydia replied. She stood there for a moment, still clutching the air before she brought one of her arms back and flung it forward.
Stilinski instinctively reached out to stop the air she threw at him. Fiona gasped as Stiles's lacrosse jersey appeared as it touched his fingertips. Stilinski froze, looking down at the shirt that had magically appeared before staring at Lydia in shock.
Thunder continued to roar overhead as the four continued to stare down the Ghost Rider. They turned when they heard the door open and saw Parrish standing in the doorway, staring at the Ghost Rider for a moment before joining them.
Parrish stepped up to the line of mountain ash and the Ghost Rider stepped toward the front of the cage. "That's progress," Theo commented.
"Ask him how we get everyone back," Liam stated.
"Tell us how we get everyone back," Parrish said, his eyes not leaving the Ghost Rider.
A wail escaped from the Ghost Rider as his sealed mouth moved. "What was that?" Steve asked.
"Did he say something?" Scott asked.
"He said, 'Hellhound,'" Parrish replied, leaning closer to the Rider.
"Is that a good thing?" Theo asked.
Jay sprinted after Malia's scent, pausing when he came close, before sprinting off toward the sound of her car. "What're you doing here?" Malia asked as she stepped out of the car.
"Came to help," Jay panted as he came to a stop. Malia rolled her eyes before heading toward the woods.
"Y'know I was in pretty bad shape when you found me. I don't really have a clear picture of where I was," Peter told them as he got out of the car.
"I marked the territory," Malia said turning to the other two
"Ew," Jay grimaced.
"Visually. I marked it visually," she explained. "But we didn't see where you came out."
"It's a supernatural rift, Malia, it's not the Golden Gate Bridge. I doubt we can even see it, let alone get through it," Peter said as Malia continued on.
"It's worth a try," Jay shrugged, moving past Peter.
"Who the hell are you anyway?"
"Friends with the person who saved your life, which you still owe us for, so let's go," Jay ordered nodding toward Malia. Peter growled lightly as he followed behind the other two. "I can't believe you came out here by yourself," Jay whispered when he caught up to Malia.
"He's not going to hurt me," she told the werecheetah before glancing at him. "He'll probably hurt you though."
Jay scowled at her slightly. "He'd have to catch me first."
"This is a horrible waste of time," Peter shouted from behind them.
"You promised me. On your deathbed," Malia reminded him.
"I just saw a kid get burned alive trying to escape the Hunt. You try and save Stiles and August, they're going to die the same way. Humans can't get through"
"Unless we bring them into the pack link," Jay told him.
"Your link doesn't exist there," Peter told him.
"Hasn't your link been severed out here?" Malia asked.
"Well," Jay shrugged.
"Great plan."
"Then we'll find another way to get him out," Malia told Peter. "But first we have to get in."
"You have no self-preservation instincts. How are you my daughter?" Jay heard Peter mumble behind them.
"Ask him again," Scott said.
"What do you want from us?" Parrish asked.
The Ghost Rider turned to Parrish a wail coming through again before whispered words echoed in the room as if coming from different voices. "We are the Wild Hunt. We hunt forever. Those who hunt with us hunt forever."
"What does that mean?" Liam asked.
"Tell us what you want," Parrish said.
"We are the Wild Hunt. Those who hunt with us hunt forever."
"That clarifies things," Theo commented.
"We might need a different approach," Steve muttered, moving to step forward.
"No," Scott said, holding Steve back. "What do we have to do to get everyone back. Do you want something from us?"
The Ghost Rider turned to stare at Scott. "Why's he looking at Scott?" Liam asked.
Theo followed the Rider's gaze. "He figured out Scott's the alpha."
Steve looked back to the true alpha before stepping behind him. "There must be something you want," Scott said.
"There is only the Hunt. No one resists. No one escapes."
"If they can't be bargained with, then we're going to have to fight 'em," Scott whispered to the others.
Steve nodded before stepping around Scott. "Well, that's about to change. We're coming for you and your friends," Steve warned him. "And then we're going to save our friends." The Ghost Rider turned from Scott and stared at Steve. "Your hunt is over," the alpha growled.
The Ghost Rider slowly turned from Steve back to Parrish and the whispers from earlier returned. "Parrish?" Scott asked.
"What's happening?" Liam asked.
"Scott—" Theo muttered. Steve turned and saw flames burst out of Parrish's body as the Rider continued to speak to him. As the last of his clothes burned away he stepped forward, lighting the mountain ash barrier on fire. "What is he doing?" Theo asked.
"He's going to set him free," Scott gasped
Steve shifted and howled into the air before he and Scott rushed to stop Parrish.
"I think you have to admit that you have an unhealthy attachment to Stiles," Peter said as they continued through the woods. "You've got to let him go."
Malia growled before stomping ahead. "I hope you don't think my attachment to August is unhealthy, cause if so, boy do I have a surprise for you," Jay commented coming to a stop.
Peter rolled his eyes before pushing past Jay. "Would you at least try to behave like a human?"
"I need Stiles for that," Malia shouted. Jay stopped, tilting his head as he looked at Malia.
"Why? Is he your human crutch?" Peter asked.
"He's my anchor," Malia replied. Jay bit his lip, nodding slightly before he started to move to catch up to them.
"I'll get you a new anchor. He's not coming back. He was hunted. He got caught."
"So, did you," Jay stated, pushing past Peter. "And yet here we are."
Peter tilted his head at the werecheetah's demeanor change. "You risked your life to bring us his keys," Malia stated, turning back to Peter.
"I risked my life to escape the Hunt. Not to reunite sentimental teenagers."
"Then why even bother with the keys?" Jay asked before they continued on.
"You wanted us to know about Stiles and Canaan. You were warning us," Malia stated before coming to a stop again. "This is where we found you," she said, pointing to the ground.
Peter walked around the faint imprints that had remained from where he lay. "Like I said, there's nothing here."
"You're not even looking," Malia said.
"You can't just poke around and expect to find a supernatural train station." Peter chuckled, half smiling at the ridiculousness of the task.
"Why not?" Jay asked. Jay squinted as the werewolf's face dropped before he turned around. A horse whiny in the distance and Jay flicked out his claws.
"Did you hear that?" Peter muttered.
"Still nothing?" Kaia asked as she ran into Mason and Hayden.
"Nope," Hayden replied.
"Same here," Mason said. "How do you think it's going?"
"I bet it's working," Hayden replied with a smile. Her smile faded when Steve's howl echoed through the woods.
"You two stay here and keep watch," Kaia stated before sprinting back toward the Dread Doctor's old lair.
"Parrish, stop!" Scott shouted as he and Steve grabbed the Hellhound and pushed him back. Parrish growled and prepared to step toward them as Theo grabbed Parrish's shoulder. The smell of burned flesh filled the room as Theo gasped in pain before being shoved to the ground.
"All three of us, together," Steve said, nodding to Liam. The beta joined the two alphas as they worked to push against the hellhound.
"We need to do something," Liam shouted as the three of them felt their feet slide beneath them.
"Yeah, on three," Scott grunted nodding to the other two. "One, two, three!"
The three of them shoved Parrish, pushing him out the door and to the ground. They looked down at their burned hands as Parrish started to rise, still growling.
Steve saw Kaia run around the corner, stopping when she saw the embers still rising off Parrish. "I hope this works," Kaia muttered under her breath as she closed her eyes and raised her hands. The embers floated away from Parrish's body before being absorbed into Kaia's hands.
Steve turned back, when he thought he heard someone grunt behind him, but only saw the building they had pushed Parrish out of. He turned back as Parrish returned to his normal form, getting to his feet.
"It's them?" Malia asked.
"Yeah, and judging by the sound, we don't have a lot of time," Peter told her.
"For what?"
"For you to run."
"You're leaving me?"
"I'm saving you," Peter replied as he turned to face her.
"Malia, go," Jay told her.
"If we can hear them, then they must be close," Malia protested.
"There'll be another chance," Peter assured her, placing his hands on her shoulder.
"Why does he get to stay?" she asked pointing to Jay.
"Cause Peter doesn't care if I die, and I'm going to get any information I can out of his dying moments before running away."
"Go now," Peter told Malia. "Malia, run! Go!" Malia ran off as Peter moved to stand next to Jay. "You know you can't out run them," Peter snarled as he cracked his neck.
Jay leaned closer to Peter. "I don't have to out run them. I just have to outrun you," he whispered. "So, before I have to run off. Which direction do you think you came from?"
"You think this is some kind of game?" Peter growled as he shifted.
"No, I think I need to save my friends," Jay growled, spots forming along his body as two Ghost Riders galloped through the tree line. "So, start talking."
"Out of time," Peter muttered before roaring at the Riders as they aimed their guns at the two
The horses reared up before settling back to the ground, and the Riders turned and rode away.
"What the hell just happened?" Jay asked, turning to Peter.
The blue-eyed werewolf turned to Jay and shook his head, his eyes wide.
Parrish looked at Kaia before turning to the three werewolves. His shoulders heaved as he looked at their burned hands. "Don't follow me," he told them before turning and running past Kaia.
"Are you okay?" Kaia asked, running up to the others once Parrish was gone and looking at Steve's hands.
"They're not that bad," Steve told her. "We'll heal."
"What happened?" she asked.
"Parrish tried to free the Ghost Rider," Liam explained.
"It was like he was following the Rider's orders," Scott added.
"We pushed him out here—and left Theo alone," Steve realized. The three of them jumped to their feet. "Keep a look out with the others," Steve told the kitsune as they headed back to the building.
The three of them stepped into the door and found the gate wide open. The Ghost Rider was laying in the center of the cage, blood pooling beneath his head. "What the hell?" Hayden muttered as she and Mason walked through the door. They heard Theo cough from the corner and Hayden walked over to him.
Scott and Steve knelt down to examine the Ghost Rider's wound as Hayden slammed Theo into the wall. "What did you do?"
"It was Mr. Douglas," Theo stuttered. Scott stood and turned to the chimera. "He ate his brain."
"Scott was right. I was wrong," Liam stated as Steve dug his finger into the Ghost Rider's skull. "We're sending you back."
"It wasn't the brain. It was the pineal gland," Steve stated, removing his fingers and flicking away the blood.
"Mr. Douglas ate his pineal gland," Scott muttered, leaning back down by Steve.
"It couldn't have been Theo," Mason said. "These murders have been going on for weeks."
Steve looked over to Theo. "Looks like it's your lucky day."
"Guys," Liam whispered. "His whips gone."
"Mr. Douglas? What're you doing?" Corey said from deeper in the woods. Kaia jogged toward the sound of his voice to rendezvous.
"Something I have been waiting to do for a very long time," she heard a man say in a German accent.
Kaia slid to a stop when she saw a whip wrap around Corey's throat. The chimera cried out in pain before disappearing. She drew her katana and stepped out to face Mr. Douglas. His glowing, pale green eyes turned to her as she spun her blade in her hand.
"How the hell?" she asked as the two circled each other.
"It has always been my goal to control the Wild Hunt. An unstoppable force would have won us the Second World War," Mr. Douglas said in a thick German accent.
"You're insane," she hissed before running at him with her sword. Mr. Douglas swung his arm and the whip wrapped around her ankle before he pulled her foot out from beneath her.
She groaned as she slammed into the ground, her katana flying into the woods. "Although, I was surprised when I noticed the Ghost Riders are able to control the Hellhound," he added, kneeling next to Kaia. "But then I saw you take his flame and return him to normal," he paused, clicking his tongue. "Can't have that now." He smirked, pulling out a revolver. Kaia swung up her legs to kick Mr. Douglas, but, without flinching, he grabbed her ankle and spun her so she was facing the ground. She felt the metal barrel on the back of her head before she vanished in a cloud of smoke.