Chapter 46

Stiles stared at the crack in the wall. Crumbs rained down through it.

"Holy shit," he breathed.

The crack ran up the living room wall. The lights in the kitchen blinked a few times then stopped. Multiple picture frames had fallen as well. The house phone rang beside him. He jolted then scrambled for it.

"Yeah?" he answered.

"Stiles, are you okay?" Sheriff Stilinski asked. His voice was shaken.

"Yeah, Dad. I'm fine. Are you okay?"

"There's no damage here. The power went out, though. Call the others to makes sure they're alright, okay?"

"On it, Dad." Stiles could hear him get ready to hang up. "Hey, Dad?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

"Love you too."

The phone clicked, severing their connection. Stiles dialed Scott's number next. His fingers shook as he pressed the buttons. He was still shaking though the house wasn't anymore.

"Are you okay?"

Scott's hand rested on Allison's arm. It slowly moved down to her hand. She smiled, but it was clear that she was still shaken up by the way the corners of her mouth quivered.

"I'm alright. I need to call my Dad," she replied.

Her hand pulled free from underneath his, but the warmth of her skin didn't fade away. His lips still burned from hers. His shirt was twisted from where she had grabbed fistfuls of it.

His cell phone buzzed across the nightstand, Stiles's name appearing right under his phone number. He answered. Stiles was checking in on everyone. Almost everyone, actually. Isaac and Melanie weren't answering. He was panicked and Scott could picture him running around like his butt was on fire, trying to keep calm. He's one of the least calm people Scott knew.

Scott looked back at Allison. He should've been shaken up like everyone else, but he couldn't help but feel elated. He didn't intend for them to get so far. He didn't even expect it. They'd been doing research on the darach and then suddenly they weren't. They were sprawled across her bed, making out. His leg had pressed hers apart and she clenched his hips tighter than any girl would be able to normally, even more so than a varsity wrestler. That all faded when the earthquake rattled both of them.

The last time there had been an earthquake he was eight. He and Stiles had been playing and the house started to shake. Mom had shoved them in the doorway, telling them that they'd be okay. Pictures fell from the walls. Chairs fell over. Stiles started to cry. The event happened not long after his mom died. He stayed the night and the three of them built a fort and camped out in the living room.

Allison's voice pulled him from the memory.

"Dad?" She blushed, catching Scott staring. "Yeah, I'm okay."

Scott could hear Chris on the other line. He wasn't panicked, but concerned for her safety. She half smiled at Scott and he gave his usual lopsided grin then ran his hands through his mess of curls.

Getting off the phone, she made her way out of the room with determination. Scott quickly followed.

"We need to go."

Allison was rearranging her top and gone before he could speak. It had happened quickly, though they had been slowly falling back into one another. He smiled confidently to himself and followed after her. He waited like he promised. She was his first love and as far as he knew, his only.

Meeting her in the living room, she was setting up her mini crossbow, pulling the bolt back and locking it in place. The other bolts were in a pouch, strapped around her hips.

"I know this isn't the right time but-" his words were cut off by the loud click of her accidentally releasing a bolt, landing it into the wall. His lips pressed into a thin line. She looked at him nervously awaiting him to finish. He scratched the back of his head. "Nevermind."

"Are you sure?" she asked, her eyebrows rising. She bit her lower lip in that hopeful way and he knew that she wanted to hear it. She wanted him to say that he was still waiting because he was always in love with her and that feeling had never changed. There wasn't any pressure coming from her, but there was curiosity. He wanted to soothe both of their stupid qualms, but couldn't.

"Uh, yeah. Let's go." He said, kicking himself inwardly.

She grabbed her messenger bag and slung it over her head. Opening the front door, she stopped and spun around. Her mouth opened, but she paused like a gerbil getting struck by a camera flash. She chuckled softly, struggling for words. Scott looked at his feet briefly.

"I was wondering," she said, "do you have a date for prom yet?"

"No." he replied quickly.

"Okay."

She turned around, her cheeks flushing rose red and walked out. Scott grinned widely, making his cheeks perk up, ridiculously happy. For him, that was strange. A person shouldn't be so happy after a traumatic event, but he was.

Lydia peeked at the large folder tucked in with her notebook and folder. Her purse sat on top of them. She tapped her fingers on the table top, agitated. The clean, white envelope arrived two days ago, but she was too nervous to open it. Obviously she got in. You didn't get the big envelope if you didn't get in.

Melanie's eyes narrowed at her as she popped a fry into her mouth. Lydia's form was more rigid than usual. Melanie's head tilted to the side, a sly grin slithering across her face. Her fingers tapped on the table in an unnerving, steady rhythm, mocking the red head. Stiles was stuffing fry after fry in his mouth, going on about the upcoming game. Allison looked up from her book and took a drink from her Coke. She had a test at the end of the day. Scott pecked her cheek. She blushed and continued to study.

"Are you okay, ginger?" Melanie asked. "You seem distracted."

"I'm fine. The earthquake from last night just has me nervous. There are still aftershocks." Her voice reminded Melanie of cheeping of baby chicks all fuzzy and innocent. Lydia wasn't innocent. She was mischievous and vengeful in some cases. Seeing her like this was entertaining. Melanie grinned from ear to ear, thriving on her discomfort.

"So, it has nothing to do with," Melanie snatched Lydia's hidden package from her, "this?"

"Mel!?" Lydia yelped, shooting daggers with her glare. She reached for it, but Melanie leaned back, keeping it just out of reach. She huffed and sat back, angrily crossing her arms.

"What's going on?" Allison asked. She closed her textbook and pushed it aside.

"Oh ginger here has a special package and I'm nosy." Melanie said, turning the white folder in her hands, admiring the golden egg. It had some weight to it and a smell that she could only pinpoint as official.

In the corner, there was a college crest for Columbia. She looked up at Lydia with a quirked eyebrow.

"Why are you hiding this?" Melanie asked.

"I-I just wasn't sure."

"Sure? This is Ivy League. How are you not sure?" Melanie asked sardonically. She tore open the package, not bothering to rip it open cleanly. Lydia bit the nail of her ring, watching closely.

Melanie looked at the acceptance letter then at Lydia and back.

"Why aren't you excited?" Melanie asked.

The boys' conversation stopped and they were now listening intently.

"I don't even know if I want to go," Lydia replied, her hands flying up dramatically.

"It's a full ride," Melanie said, pulling out the booklet that came with the letter. She looked at the map of the campus spread across the first two pages. "A way out of this town."

"I know," she replied softly. Her shoulders sagged. "I thought about that most of all. I also thought about how this can't be the only town with…were-problems or any other kind of supernatural problems. I'm a banshee."

"She's not wrong," Isaac blurted, joining the conversation.

Every head slowly turned to scowl at him including Stiles. He shrank down a little with a nervous shrug. Melanie rolled her eyes and turned back to Lydia. That was more of something Stiles would've said. If Stiles wasn't between them she would've punched him in the shoulder.

"You'd be around those who are, according to your high standards, morons," she told Lydia.

"True, but-"

"But what?" Melanie snapped. Her eyebrows furrowed. She bubbled with annoyance, her cheeks tensing showing her bone structure prominently. What was there to think about? "You have a way out. This is it. Fucking take it."

Melanie threw the envelope down on the table and made a beeline for the exit, mumbling to herself incoherently.

"What is her problem?" Lydia asked. "It doesn't have anything to do with her?"

"Not all of us are getting out of here," Stiles said. He pushed his tray away and followed after her.

"I heard back from BHU." Scott said then. His face furrowed in deep concentration. He struggled trying comprehend the idea of life outside of high school. They were all struggling some. "I got accepted. They actually want me to go for the lacrosse team there. I haven't told anybody."

"That's great!" Alison said happily.

"Is it? I'm struggling to keep my grades up and stay on the lacrosse team again. How do I do it in college?" Scott said.

The idea of moving on, graduating from high school and going off to college was supposed to be exciting, not an anxiety attack. Each of them stayed quiet for the rest of lunch, dwelling in the stress of their futures. The impending countdown of graduation was becoming D-Day.

"Mel, wait!" Stiles called.

Melanie stopped, and he realized that she was getting into her locker as she yanked open the metal door. He scratched his head awkwardly, playing off the rash thought that she was storming off of school grounds.

"I need to grab my books," she said dully.

Stopping beside her, he watched her shift around some textbooks. Papers flew out and floated to the floor. Before she could catch them. Stiles hurried to help her pick them up, causing the two of them to nearly head-butt. Melanie tried to snatch them from him but he pulled away before she could grip them. She looked away, cringing on the inside.

"These are acceptance letters." He shot at her, still looking down at them in disbelief. "These are Stanford and UCLA and you could go to Italy!"

"I can't go, Stiles." Melanie leaned against the lockers. The schools were top of the line and it was thrilling to know that she had been accepted to them. However, there was the strained 'but'. There was always one. The word itself could hold a person back from their greatest opportunities which some would say could be life changing.

"What? Why?" he said with disbelief. The letters crumpled in his hands.

"I filled those out for Derek's sake. I don't even know how I got in. I got expelled from private school. I was only able to get one recommendation letter from my teachers. I don't know how I got in."

"Because…" he trailed off. He licked his lips, struggling to supply an answer. "Well because-"

"Look," Melanie closed her locker and took the letters from him, "I've been involved in this for so long. It's followed me everywhere."

"So you're not even going to try?"

"Not that long ago I asked myself when I would get the opportunity for normalcy."

"Well you can-"

"Stiles, I can't. I know that now. Any chance at a normal life was burned to the ground. You guys should get out. You still have a chance."

Her eyes softened, glimmering. Stiles didn't understand. He shook his head, strongly disagreeing. She wasn't mad about it. More than anything, she wished that she could find the right words to tell him that from the moment her house was burned to the ground and her parents were taken away there was no normal future. He was the arguing type so it was pointless. It's why she didn't say anything to begin with. There was no college. There was Peter Hale and finding a way to permanently remove him from this earth. And knowing Derek, that wouldn't be the only problem. They had a scape goat though, and she was jealous.

Stiles leaned against the lockers now as well. He opened his mouth to speak, but the bell rang before he could speak. She brushed past him, snatching her letters back. He watched her toss them in a nearby trashcan.

Melanie was her old self when he'd stepped into class. She and Danny were talking and laughing about some joke. Her split second of vulnerability was gone. She didn't acknowledge the subject again. Stiles tried to approach it, but she ignored it and him.

Melanie thought about what she'd told Stiles though she didn't allude to it. She didn't tell anybody else about her acceptances, not even Isaac. He got accepted into BHU. Melissa had made both boys apply so that they could have the opportunity to stay close to home.

"Are you okay?" Isaac asked, sitting down beside her on the couch. He pulled her Calculus book from her lap then took her feet and put them on his lap.

"Just tired."

She groaned pleasantly as he pressed his thumbs into the pads of her feet rubbing the aches out. Her toes curled as he pressed firmly in the center of them. Her head fell back and she nestled down into the couch.

"Have you heard anything?" he asked.

"About the mass murdering bitch who is out to kill us? No. Deaton and Derek are still working on it," Melanie replied.

"Scott asked Allison to prom."

Her head shot up, her eyes widened in surprise. She'd been wondering how long it would take for one of them to make a move. It was obvious that they wanted to get back together. Scott must be howling on the inside, Melanie thought.

"What did she say?" She grinned with intrigue and imagined several different replies at once. She hoped for the best one though.

"She did her usual sweet smile with a hint of blushing before saying yes."

"I'm glad." Her smile faded like a dimming light and she pulled her feet from his lap.

She scooted closer to him then straddled his lap. She nuzzled into his neck, resting there. Staying like that forever sounded so good. He rested his chin on top of her head and wrapped his arms around her. She liked these moments. Everything slowed down. The penultimate danger that was coming closer seemed imaginary. Melanie let out a long, steady breath. His heart thudded steadily against her ear. She found herself struggling to keep her eyes open.

"You're tired." Isaac said.

Melanie nodded against his chest as her eyelids were barely open. Her glasses laid lopsided on her face, making her vision blurry.

He stood easily, keeping her in his hold and went upstairs. He took off her jeans and shirt and put her in her sweats. After changing, he settled beside her, wrapping his arms around her, keeping her intertwined with him. His body plus the comforter made her feel like she broke out into a fever. That was a most pleasant feeling. Some people couldn't stand heat, but she loved it. Coldness was a different story. She drifted off quickly.

Melanie shook awake at the sound of a creek. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and sat up. The clock read 2:48am. The creak occurred again. Isaac stirred a little but didn't wake. I'm going to regret this, she thought as she got up and made her way out of the room. Checking out strange sounds always got somebody killed in horror movies. With all of the luck she had lately, maybe she could avoid one more near death experience.

The hallway was dark, giving her tunnel vision. Downstairs, the front door was open. Leaves were scattered about the floor as if the wind had blown them in. It was even darker outside, but she could make out the shape of a house. It was the Hale house. She knew it was. The sudden hollow feeling of being terrified wrenched her chest.

She stepped off the porch, making her way toward the house's charred remains.

"It's been a while."

Melanie's heart skipped at the sound of the confident female voice. Her eyes watered. Light and easy steps followed a silhouette onto the porch. Dark brown hair cascaded around the small shoulders, shrouded in a black leather jacket just like Derek.

"Laura." Melanie breathed. A light breeze whirled around them. Melanie clutched her arms around herself. "It can't be."

"It is…sort of." She came down the stairs, skipping the one that was broken.

Melanie rushed forward and hugged her tightly, almost knocking her over. Wet leaves stuck to the bottom of her feet but she didn't care.

"I've missed you so much!" Melanie exclaimed. Her voice shook just as heavily that her body now did.

Laura pulled back, holding her hands and took a good look at her. Melanie bit her lower lip and smiled brightly. This was a dream. Nonetheless, it was so good to see her.

"You have grown so much."

Melanie blushed at the compliment.

"I don't understand," Melanie said. "What's happening? I'm really cold."

"Do you remember the stories I used to tell you when you would come wandering into the woods?"

"The ones you said your mom told you. What about them?" Melanie's eyebrows pulled together. She followed Laura's gaze as the fem-wolf looked back into the house.

"They're very important. Okay?" Laura's voice quaked now. She took Melanie's face into her hands. "I'm so proud of the woman you're becoming. You have to know that."

Laura's head shot up and her hair fell down her back. Her eye gave a furious glow. Like a rattlesnake's rattle, it was her warning.

"Laura, what's wrong?"

Laura looked past her into the darkness of the woods.

"Oh no. It's here." Laura said, disregarding her question.

"What is here!?" Melanie spun and looked into the woods as well. She bent at the knees in a defensive stance and took hold of Laura's arm. I lost you once, she thought.

Laura howled up to the black sky. Not even the stars could break through the darkness. Melanie grabbed her ears. The sound echoed and she thought they'd bleed any moment. The illuminated a dark shade of red, making everything more visible. Melanie craned her head back and looked at the sky. The moon shaded red as the lunar eclipse came.

"No! It's not supposed to happen yet!" Melanie cried out.

A loud roar echoed through the darkness at them. Melanie's muscles tightened. She gulped painfully, swallowing the terrified lump in her throat. She didn't have any weapons to fight this thing with. Their best was to run.

"Melanie," Laura whimpered.

"It's okay." Melanie lied.

The darach was out there. What else could it be? Melanie took a step backward. Crunches of twigs and leaves followed the monstrous sound. Melanie gasped as it stepped out into the red of the moon. Its face didn't resemble a face but something grotesque and dead. It only had one eye which was pale like a cataract. The other was clawed over and mutilated from infection. Melanie felt a small bit of puke come up her esophagus and swallowed it back down.

"Laura, now would be a good time to get your wolf on," Melanie said.

There was no answer. Spinning around, Laura was gone.

"Laura?"

Melanie spun back around. The darach stood face to face with her. The smell of it rotting flesh protruded her nose. Melanie looked down as a hoarse laugh rumbled from the beast. Its hand was sunk into her side. She could feel its fingers move, making her groan and gasp for air. She grabbed its face in her hands. Her fingers lost feeling as blood trickled onto her toes.

"Melanie…" it said. The thing's distorted voice made her stomach churn.

They weren't going win this without consequences. The darach twisted its hand. Melanie screamed, tossing her hand back. She pushed and pushed but the monster didn't let go.

"Melanie!"

Melanie bolted upright, screaming. Her forehead was beaded in sweat. Isaac took her by the shoulders, holding her still and then pulling her against his chest and rocking her back and forth soothingly.

"It was just a dream," he said softly.

Melanie looked around the room. Her eyelids were heavy with exhaustion. The clock read 2:48am.