Chapter 62

Tires screeched as the powder blue jeep drove over corners and almost into a street sign. The fire nearly engulfed the entire house and garage. The front door was gone. The paint bubbled from the wood and blackened under burning licks. Flames were beginning to envelop the second floor. All of them were met with a wave of heat that blinded them. Stiles waved his arms, trying to bat it away. Black smoke billowed up into the starry night, smothering its beauty away.

Danny was already at the scene. He was covered in soot and his left arm suffered a first degree burn. He held his stomach as he coughed up smoke.

"Isaac!" Allison screamed. The flames glimmered in her tear filled eyes.

"There were these hunters. They pulled me out, but he's still in there," Danny said between cough fits.

Scott grabbed Allison as she darted toward the burning building intent on going in after their friend.

"You can't go in there," he exclaimed. "I'll go."

Danny shook his head. His face was void of any expression. Lydia soothed Danny as he knelt over and sucked in harsh breaths, filling his lungs with clean air.

"Scott, you can't go in there," Stiles said gravely. "It's suicide."

Scott didn't acknowledge him and continued to stare up at the house, searching for an entry point. The only one he could see was to climb up the gutter and bust through the second story window Sirens bleeped and whooped in the distance. There wasn't much time.

Scott moved to the gutter. The metal seared his palms, peeling back the first layer of skin. Hissing, he kept going. He took a step upward, sticking his feet on the metal parts that kept the gutter tacked to the house. The second story windows right then burst and flames exploded from the both floors, causing Scott to fly back across the lawn. Glass rained down making the grass glitter under the orange flames that licked the sky.

"Scott!" Allison screamed. Stiles and Danny held her back and then ushered her and Lydia across the street.

Scott sat up on his elbows. His chest heaved from being out of breath. Pink and red second degree burns splotched his arm up along the side of his face to his temple. Another burst came from one of the second story windows. A blackened shape flew through the charcoaled window and landed with a crack and thud twenty or so feet away from Scott. Smoke rolled off of the groaning body that was Isaac. His clothing was singed in some place as he sat up and looked at the house and then the garage.

"No," he wheezed.

He ran toward the garage, tearing up grass in his trail. Scott tackled him to the ground before he could get too close.

"Let me go!" Isaac yelled.

"You will burn alive," Scott grunted as he held him back.

"The car!"

"Isaac, no!" Scott's grip was slipping as Isaac dug his elongated claws into his arms, trying to pry him off.

The roof of the garage blew off in chunks with a loud explosion. Isaac's mouth hung open and he sunk to his knees. The car flew up through the roof and landed on his side.

"It's all gone," he gasped, trying to breathe.

He was tackled from behind by Allison who hugged him tightly as she wept. He shook and winced under her hold from the heavy burns over his shoulders, back and legs. The agonizing pain pulsed to his head. His chest ached. It quickly surpassed that of his burns. He curled forward.

"Isaac?" Allison said.

"We have to go! The sirens are getting closer!" Stiles called. He hurried Lydia and Danny to the jeep.

Isaac groaned, keeling forward.

"No, no no no no," Scott said. "You can't do this right now."

He and Allison grunted as they pulled Isaac up from the ground. They hauled him into the jeep. Scott looked at the house one last time. The second floor collapsed in the heap of hellish flames. People were coming out of their houses and looking at the sight in petrified awe. He sighed sadly at seeing place die; a place that was once safe.

"We have to go Scott," Stiles urged. He was also staring up at the place. His hands held the thin steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles were white. Scott got in and they drove to the hospital.

Isaac and Danny were taken to the ER immediately. Scott followed behind the nurses and doctor that were taking care of Isaac. They asked him various questions about his allergies and what happened. All of it was a blur that Scott couldn't keep up with. Isaac was blackened with scorch marks and reddened with burns.

Lydia stayed with Danny. He stayed in the ER while Isaac was move to ICU.

Scott saw that Isaac's fist was clenched. How long did you have it clenched, he wondered.

He opened his friend's hand. His palm was entirely unburnt and in the center was a crumpled photo. He straightened it out the best he could. Isaac had Melanie sitting back in his arms. It looked sunny. He was kissing her cheek.

"Sir?"

Scott jerked up to look at the doctor.

"You have to stay in the waiting area, alright? We can't have you here while we take care of your friend."

Scott managed and empty nod. The doctor walked off, but Scott was stuck in the white-out hallway as Isaac was wheeled through double doors. He looked back down at the photo.

"Derek," Cora called.

Derek came from his room. Cora shook with a vacant look, holding her phone in a tight grasp. Her lips quivered as she spoke. Something was wrong, really wrong.

"There was a fire over at Isaac's. The entire place is gone. Isaac is at the hospital. He's hurt pretty bad," she said.

"We're going," he said unblinkingly.

They sped to the hospital. The others were already in the waiting room. Scott looked up at him angrily and then back down at a photo he held. Allison passed him, holding two cups of coffee and handed one to Lydia. Her nose wrinkled as she took a sip. The caffeinated beverage smelled like crude oil and tasted no better. She continued to drink it anyway.

"What is the news," Derek asked.

"He's in the ICU right now. The doctor is hoping that he will come out of his coma since his burns aren't too bad. There was a bit of smoke in his lungs. Danny is doing better. They have him on oxygen until the smoke is out of his lungs," Stiles said.

He pulled Cora into a hug. Derek looked away. He wasn't angry, but he still didn't approve at this point in time. By the way Scott's, stare hardened over the edge of the photo, he didn't either. Stiles didn't pay any mind and held her closer when she laid her head on his shoulder.

"You don't have to be here," Scott said.

The bright fluorescent lights overhead made his eyes redder than they actually were. Derek couldn't tell if it was from lack of sleep, which all of them were suffering from, or if he'd been crying. There was no puffiness so it must've been the latter.

Each of them was unable to remain still or retain focus. Lydia's knee bounced, though she looked calm. Allison had this thousand mile stare that was trying to break through the opposite wall.

"You are all still here?"

Everyone turned to the man in the white coat. He looked at each of them surprised that there were so many waiting for news on Isaac.

"Isaac is going to be fine. He's pulled out of his coma and is just resting now. I can only allow family right now," he said, drawing out that last word and searching each of them to see which ones were possible relatives.

"We're all his family," Derek piped up.

He stood tall and defiantly. The doctor shifted uncomfortably and his mouth gaped as he looked down at the chart in his hands.

"I s-see," he stammered. "Well, uh, only two at a time then."

"I'll go," Scott said. His voice was scratchy.

Awkwardness filled the room as they all looked at Derek.

"I'll come with," Derek said.

Scott gave a small nod, stood and then walked out of the waiting room. Cora was okay in the comfort of Stile's arms so Derek left the room as well. The stressed and tired looks on their faces were etched into the back of his mind. They couldn't handle much more.

Isaac was lying in bed asleep. His burns were mere red spots that passed for a rash now. The beep of the heart monitor was a little quicker than a steady beat. His fingers twitched here and there. Scott placed the photo he held on the nightstand and made sure that it was propped up just right so that Isaac would see it when he awoke.

"Don't give up yet." Scott said.

Derek watched him closely. Isaac deserved an alpha like Scott; somebody who was reliable. Derek knew that he hadn't been stable lately. Recent events rocked everybody hard, especially him and Isaac. It wasn't easy trying to lead when you couldn't defend your own pack.

Scott touched Isaac's forearm. Isaac's veins bulged up his arm and down to his knuckles as Scott took away the remainder of his beta's pain. He tensed, his chest rising as he took a deep intake of breath. Scott's eyebrows pressed in on each other and he let go after a moment, struggling a little to catch his breath. Isaac relaxed.

"You don't have to be here," Scott said.

"I know," Derek replied.

He didn't leave until dawn. Isaac still hadn't awoken but the lunar eclipse was only 48 hours away. Cora was asleep on Stiles's shoulder when he came back into the waiting room. Danny was eating McDonalds. He let out a small fit of coughs and winced, but otherwise looked able to walk.

"We're going," Derek told him.

Danny brushed the crumbs off his shirt then stood. Allison shifted, watching them eagerly, though she remained in her chair. Derek left the waiting room. Danny shook Cora gently. She sat up quickly, sucking in a groggy breath at the same time. He nodded toward the door. She kissed Stiles on the cheek, careful not to wake him and then followed him.

Allison's heart sank. Though the circumstances were terrible, it felt good to be reunited with them. They were still their friends. It wasn't fair that they were apart. She looked over at Stiles. He shifted uncomfortably. Allison felt the worst for him. He wasn't letting his relationship go because of it. It couldn't be easy. She remembered when her dad tried to stand between her and Scott.

Isaac stirred and opened his eyes as the beeping of the machine beside him penetrated his ears. He blinked a few times, allowing himself to adjust to the room's lighting. There were no lights on except for the bright ass one above him. Whoever thought that putting a bright fluorescent light over a patient's head was, and probably still is, a moron.

Isaac could feel a headache cranking its way to the center of his forehead while it already pulsed at his temples. He turned his head left and right but it made no difference. The light was still ridiculously bright, but he stopped at the picture that sat awkwardly on the rolling stands beside him. His eyes grew dewy. He blinked rapidly and flung the stiff covers back. The tile floor was cool under his feet as he stood. His legs felt stiffer than driftwood, he stretched out his long limbs and then moved to the folded clothes on the chair: his old lacrosse hoodie and a pair of jeans.

Red splotches covered his pale skin. They stung to the touch, much like jellyfish stings. The skin was growing back though. He got dressed and tucked his picture in his front pocket. The house had gone up in flames so quickly. It was the only thing he could grab and he nearly burned with the house. Once again he had nothing. He couldn't help thinking: maybe I should've gone down with it.

Isaac made it out of the hospital without any questions. He looked like nothing more than a visitor. He kept his hood up just in case. He caught a glimpse of Allison and Scott in the waiting room. Their hands were clasped together. They met him out at Allison's car also avoiding attention.

Isaac waited until they were at least a mile away before talking.

"They were hunters," he said first. His throat still burned from all of the smoke. "Danny had come over and we were ambushed. There were five of them. They were looking for Chris. They assumed that I knew where he was because they'd been watching all of us."

He leaned back and stared up at the roof.

"Calavera," he said.

The name wasn't familiar. Scott and Allison didn't say anything.

"Allison, do you know them?" Isaac asked.

"No," she replied, shaking her head. "My dad never said anything."

"Be careful. They might come find you next," Isaac said to Scott.

As they turned a corner, Isaac's head turned to the side and he watched the scenery pass out the window. He watched the neighborhood, wondering how many of these people had any idea of what kind of people lived near them. Regret deadened is mind. A lot of it was directed at becoming a werewolf. The decision had only put him in even more danger than he had originally been in. The perks weren't worth it, not that he could do anything about it now.

They stopped at Scott's house. The three of them sat in the living room. Isaac sat in the chair by the couch where Scott sat with Allison. Allison bit her lower lip, trying to think of anything to say.

"Isaac-" Allison started.

"Let's not talk about how I just lost my home, okay? I can't," Isaac said, cutting her off.

She nodded, but the grief she had for him didn't leave her face. She looked at Scott for help. His face was creased, deep in thought.

Isaac sat forward, hunching forward and resting his elbows on his legs. A constant look of fury embedded itself onto his face.

"I want them dead. All of them," Isaac said after a few uncomfortable minutes.

"Jennifer will pay for what she's done," Scott assured him.

"No." The firmness of the word shocked him as much as it did them. "All of them. The Calaveras, Jennifer, the alpha pack…Derek. All of them."

His hands clenched tightly into fists. All of this dread. There was no end to it. It was one thing right after the other. Isaac huffed angrily. His chest ached dully. He rubbed it even though the ache wasn't going away. The throbbing pulse hadn't gone away since the day Melanie died.

"Think about it Scott," he continued. "Derek, made our life hell because he wanted us to join his pack. People are dead because of him."

Scott didn't reply. There wasn't anything he could say. He looked at the opposite wall where several pictures were hung up and sat on a small table. Each of them was a moment, frozen in time. The times were good. He was smiling so much, making his cheeks puff out. His mom glowed in a way that she hadn't in a long time.

Isaac's fist now trembled. He wasn't wrong, but he wasn't right either. Scott thought back to the dream he had months ago. The horrific moments that had taken and were completely made up were still vivid and alive for him. It was just a dream though. Nothing about the sleep induced adventure was real. However, it was possible. In the logical sense, if the event that triggered all of those other events then life would be no better than what was actually going on.

"After the alpha pack helps us deal with Jennifer, it will all be over. All of it," Scott said.

Isaac didn't reply. The tension in his shoulders extending down his back and arms didn't loosen up. Allison sniffled and then swallowed hard, trying to keep how upset she truly was hidden. It was truly a shock that none of them had their own room at Eichen House. Isaac went upstairs to his old room and slammed the door.

Isaac wouldn't hold back when the big fight came. Odds were, he would get himself killed when trying to kill one or all of them, like a rabid dog unable to see friend from foe. He'd be okay with getting killed too. He'd relinquish his place in the world happily and be able to find some sort of peace from the pain that nobody understood.

The longer he was alone the easier it was to see the broken parts that used to be whole. He was fighting and trying to make things the way they were before. His deep ingrained frustrations toward every other problem proved that nothing would ever be the same again.

"I can't let him go with us when we meet with Jennifer," Scott said.

Meet. They all knew that word meant "to kill her". Why couldn't he say it?

"I can't let Lydia go either." Allison said.

Both sides coveted the idea of having Lydia because of her special skill. They'd kill for her. The torture she would be put through if they got their hands on her would be relentless.

Allison met Scott's thought driven look. He had an idea. Allison caught the look and quirked her eyebrows curiously.

Scott sighed heavily, clearly disliking the situation just as much as everyone else. Having just got back his first love, he didn't want to lose her again. There wasn't any other choice this time. This was it. This was the solution. Other solutions could result in more dead people and catastrophes that would result in irreparable damage. He stared at the portraits again. Those days would come back soon. This darkness wasn't going to last forever. There had to be a regression to the mean and it was coming soon…real soon.