CH8
Notes: Sorry for the delay, life has been intense! Hope you enjoy!
Stiles parked in the shade of a large tree, peering at the sunny house with its small flower garden. As his shoes crunched against the sandy walkway he saw Syd laying against a small maple tree, sketching contently while Geraldine, wearing a large sun hat watered a flower bed with a hose that was on such low pressure, the water flowed out in a trickle.
"Guess who's got an interview?" Stiles called out with a wave.
"This guy!"
"Well congratulations" Geraldine smiled, turning off the hose and giving Stiles a gentle hug. He walked to Syd and dropped to his knees so he could give him a fist bump.
"Sit over there with G so I can finish this sketch" Syd ushered, pointing to a sunny spot in front of the flower beds. Stiles obliged, plopping down in front of a flower bed filled with different colored marigolds as Geraldine slowly lowered herself onto the plush grass opposite him.
"So, you must be excited" Geraldine started, before turning to Syd at a glacial speed with "Sun hat on or off?"
"Off. " Syd responded quickly, fully invested in his sketch.
Geraldine gently removed the hat from her head and laid it next to her, her auburn hair falling in a cascade around her. Stiles was reminded by how fascinated he had been with Lydia's hair since he first saw her in the second grade, and how she twirled it like her own lion's mane, both ferocious and beautiful. Geraldine's was just as fascinating. Stiles' however, had realized quickly that he was way more into brunettes than red heads anyway.
"So what's the job?" Geraldine continued smiling at him from under her tresses.
"Junior Development Associate" Stiles preened.
"Wow that sounds interesting." Geraldine smiled.
"Yeah, it's kind of a big deal, I assist the company's software development group in testing and debugging their products before they hit the shelves. I also get the chance to write code myself for minor fixes and stuff." Stiles explained in a blur of words.
Geraldine nodded.
"I have no idea what that means."
Stiles smiled then responded with:
"So where is the next chapter G? I'm still waiting to read what happens to Mildred the bear."
Geraldine blushed
"I've been busy with the move and all. You know."
Syd and Geraldine had opted to move into their own place in the outskirts of Beacon Hills after finishing their respective contracts with the sanitarium, with plenty of Stiles' encouragement. Well Stiles had convinced them that, as two functioning adults with special considerations, they could still manage to live on their own and build a life together outside of padded walls and white linoleum floors. Syd had reluctantly agreed now that his new medication was working with him and not against him and Geraldine had jumped at the chance since she had always wanted to live on her own and away from the depressing white interiors of the sanitarium walls.
"So what have you two been up to?" Stiles asked with a dirty smirk.
"Well we've been getting people in to Syd and Geraldine proof the house" Geraldine responded missing Stiles' innuendo
Geraldine and Syd's families had helped the two put in easy open locks for the doors and a lowered bed so Syd didn't fall out at night and hurt himself. They had also added special items to the kitchen so Geraldine could use it, essentially keeping the two alive by cooking once in a while without overdosing on grease and salt from eating take out every other day.
"So have you two christened the new place?" Stiles prodded.
"Christened?" Geraldine replied with a confused look on her face.
"Well you know when a guy really likes a girl, or a guy really likes a guy, or a girl really likes a girl, there's usually a…"
"Oh my gosh!" Geraldine blushed finally catching his drift.
Stiles smirked and directed his gaze at her. She paused for a moment and then replied with.
"Well, we've done stuff." She stated evasively, chewing on her bottom lip.
Stiles started laughing and Geraldine followed.
"Hey, what's going on over there?" Syd inquired.
Geraldine stood slowly and smiled.
"I'm going inside to get the lemonade" She beckoned to Stiles to follow her.
Once inside the cozy house that was filled with light and decorated sparingly but warmly, Geraldine opened the kitchen fridge so Stiles could take a rather heavy pitcher of lemonade out of it. She spoke seriously.
"Stiles are you sure about this job?"
"Huh?" Stiles managed, immersed in placing the pitcher on a counter.
"I mean don't you want to stay in beacon hills, with your dad and your friends?"
"I guess so, but last time I checked there aren't any jobs out here for software engineers." Stiles replied with a shrug.
"That is true" Geraldine acquiesced.
"Why, is there something going on?" Stiles inquired slowly. "Some vision you're seeing?"
"I don't have visions silly. Just see things in dreams."
"Yeah, those are vision G. Did you see this house in a dream?" Stiles asked to which Geraldine nodded. Stiles nodded back, his eyebrows raised in awe.
Stiles' gaze fell upon a small vase filled with bright crimson flowers.
"Wow, those are pretty." He pointed.
"Aren't they? I picked them outside, behind the back of the house."
"Uh no. I've lived here all my life and flowers like that don't grow in beacon hills."
"Ah yes. I found them near the woods." Geraldine asserted gently.
"Well anyway, have you seen anything about me in the future?" Stiles ventured, taking a cup from Geraldine and pouring lemonade into it.
Geraldine frowned as she took the cup.
"What did you see?" Stiles asked quietly his own tone adjusting at the change in her visage.
"Nothing good. Darkness. And someone calling your name over and over again."
"Is that all?" Stiles insisted, suddenly very interested in her observations, a slight chill of panic running through his veins. His mind whirred as it tried to figure out whose voice it could be.
Geraldine nodded.
"I haven't seen anything else. I wake up before it gets any clearer."
"Are you sure you're not a witch?" Stiles asked slowly.
"Oh gosh, I hope not" Geraldine recused with a frown.
'Yeah, you might want to investigate your family tree. Your family name might pop up in the Salem witch trials." Stiles continued with an odd look.
"No thanks." Geraldine affirmed. "Anyway, do you want to stay for dinner?"
"I would love to, but dad wants me to have dinner with him tonight." Geraldine nodded. "It's just an interview G. Nothing serious."
Geraldine smiled
"You're totally right. Good luck, I know you'll be awesome Stiles."
"Ha thanks."
XXXXXXX
Stiles couldn't help tapping his thumbs against his laptop as he watched a silly action flick, nodding as the main character jumped out of a building before it exploded. He was almost done with it since he had fast forwarded all of the boring scenes with talking and romance, just watching it for all the bright colors. He turned to see the person sitting next to him, a middle aged man in a business suit who had his in-flight headphones tightly settled into his ears, afraid that Stiles would try and instigate another conversation with him on the changes in air travel and boarding protocols.
The flight from Beacon Hills to Seattle wasn't long, but it didn't stop Stiles' nerves from getting to him. He stared out the slit of window wondering what it would be like at TriForm Software. He tried to push the conversation with his father out of his mind, one where the Sherriff had subtly or not so subtly hinted at him finding work in Beacon Hills.
Stiles checked into his hotel room after a short cab ride later and called his dad. He tried Scott but it went to voicemail, which meant that he was with Allison or was busy doing pack stuff. Stiles called down to the concierge and asked for a wakeup call and a cab to take him to TriForm Software's headquarters the next morning. Alone in what seemed an eternity, he lay awake for hours trying not to think and stop his dad's words ringing in his ears, the not so subtle 'Derek seems like a nice guy' tossed out like a passing statement had crawled under his skin. He eventually dozed off a few hours before day break.
XXXXXXX
"Genim?" A secretary called out from behind the receptionist's desk.
"Here, and its Stiles." Stiles stood up wearing his interview suit and a tie patterned with tiny R2D2's.
"This way" the secretary beckoned with a professional smile.
Stiles was led to a plush conference room and sat in a chair near the entrance waiting for the process to start. He opened up his sleek leather binder where his resume and talking points were stored and began rehearsing his answers and looking over his experience when he heard the door knob clicking open. A blond haired man with a matching goatee that looked dapper as opposed to goofy entered with a smile.
"Morning. Lance Stelson, head of Development" the man introduced himself with a handshake.
"Stiles." He responded quickly.
Over the next forty or so minutes Stiles learned a lot more about the company and his role in the development department if he were to be hired. Stiles was asked some technical questions that he felt lucky to have reviewed prior to flying out and finally ended up with talking about what he liked to do in his spare time as well as general talking points from his resume.
"Well let me tell you, you've been the best candidate so far." Lance stated with an acknowledging smile. "We have a few more candidates to power through and you should have an answer by next week."
"Great! Thank you so much for meeting with me." Stiles beamed gratefully.
"No thank you. And I love the tie by the way." Lance pointed with a smile.
He led Stiles to the lobby and headed back to the fourth floor of the expansive compound.
Lance walked into a large office and closed the door. He clicked on a computer mouse and a large computer screen flickered on, throwing blue light onto his features. Lance watched a surveillance camera following Stiles as he talked on his cell phone outside.
A loud knock diverted him, he looked up to find a dark brown haired man step in carrying a stack of papers. A small band-aid above his right eyebrow looked out of place his otherwise immaculate appearance.
He placed them on the impressive looking desk and stood next to Lance as Stiles finally got into a cab and drove away.
"So what do you think?"
"He's actually pretty bright. Could become an asset with a little bit of professional experience."
The other man laughed roughly as he rubbed his shoulder and rolled his neck.
"Any other leads?" Lance inquired slowly, switching to a spreadsheet filled with numbers.
The man shook his head.
"Is it still tender?" Lance spoke, derision soaked into every word.
"I'll be fine" the other man gritted angrily. "The other scout will return soon."
"Let's hope he has better luck. He should be able to find one measly human." Lance finished, glaring at the man with no interest in continuing the conversation.
XXXXXXX
Stiles sipped a coffee as the phone connected. "Hey Daddy-o"
"How did it go son?" The sheriff's voice filtered through the phone as Stiles watched two grunge types drink java out of large coffee cups.
"It was awesome. I got a good feeling about this." Stiles spoke, swirling the black liquid in his cup.
"Well that's great." The Sherriff's voice stated in an elated manner. "When are you coming back? I'll make sure to pick you up from the airport."
"Tomorrow night" Stiles responded. "What do you want from Seattle? Some good coffee?"
"So what do they do out at Triform Software?" His father inquired patiently, trying to keep his son on topic.
"Oh it's awesome dad, they create surveillance systems and detection networks for large corporations and agricultural operations."
"In English?" The Sherriff retorted matter-of-factly.
"Basically security systems for companies and farming communities. They do all the software and programming for the systems. Tell them when to turn on and off and when to alarm."
"Ah I see." The Sherriff sounded satisfied.
"So what do you want, Java, Sumatran, or Americano?" Stiles continued with a smirk finishing off his cup.
XXXXXXX
Mark ran to his car, started it, and gunned the engine hard. The reflection in the rearview mirror showed him what he looked like now, bloodshot eyes with large bags and unkempt hair. One large scar ran across his forehead like an angry snake, but that was the least of his worries. He had on a thick hoodie like the ones Stiles always used to wear to class, which he hoped covered his appearance. He drove rapidly through the night without his head lights on. He had barely any time to survey the upturned hotel room he had been crashing in under a false name before immediately exited out of the window when he heard footsteps approaching. It had been going on for three months now. He was on the run from something bad. Someone or something wanted to hurt him.
Mark merged onto the freeway and relaxed slightly, pushing the old station wagon to 90 mph. He drove like a mad man, as far away as he could get the better.
Deep into the night Mark could feel his body relaxing even more, his foot slowly leaning off the accelerator pedal and bringing the car to a cruising speed of 70mph.
He blinked trying to keep himself awake, satisfied that he had survived another night on the run.
Suddenly, something landed on the roof of the station wagon with a loud bang as the metal gave way, causing the interior of the car to sag down. Adrenaline pumped through Mark's veins, making his heart jump in his chest. A moment later a brown figure leaped over the front of the vehicle causing Mark to swerve away in panic. The car toppled off the deserted freeway into the grassy embankment next to it.
Mark punched the door open and did his best to run.
He had made it a few feet from the wreckage before a large, clawed hand grabbed his shoulder and pinned him to the ground with a sickening thud.
"Please. I don't have anything. Don't kill me." Mark babbled feeling the hand push more pressure onto his back, knife like claws dipping into his skin, drawing up fresh blood.
"You've been pretty good at getting away." A voice growled behind his ear, sending chills down his spine.
"What do you want? I don't have any money." Mark asked weakly, fearing death.
"I'll ask the questions and you answer them." the voice behind him rasped.
XXXXXXX
Geraldine lay in bed with Syd's arms firmly holding her against him as the two slept. Her breathing hitched as she had the dream again. She was in a forest at night, the night sky lit only by a sliver of moon. As she moved forward she saw Stiles, lying face down on something, a large pool of some dark looking liquid surrounding him. As she moved forward to help him she heard a voice yell out Stiles' name, over, and over again.
Geraldine opened her eyes, realizing where she was. She pushed herself up and wiped the sweat off her brow.
"What's going on?" Syd inquired groggily.
"I don't know" Geraldine whispered slowly, peering through their bedroom window and out into the night.
TO BE CONTINUED…..
Thanks for all who read this! It's getting intense!