Sorry, it took a bit longer to get this out but I think this might be the longest chapter yet! Thanks for your patience, I hope you like it! Things are going to speed up in the next chapter.

I'm not sure how long this fic is going to be but it definitely has a lot more chapters to go.

I really hope you enjoy this and I didn't write OOC, comments are very much appreciated. Have a nice weekend :)

xxx

"Guys what did you find?" Scott asked as he entered the Stilinksi's living room.

"It was more a supernatural feeling than a solid fact" Stiles replied.

Scott raised his eyebrow, "Lydia? Did you see something?"

"There was the pond and the killer was there. I only saw its hand but it was coming out of the water."

"The 'water' here was blood by the way," Stiles commented

"What does that mean?"

"We don't know, but it's going to take more people and I'm not sure they're going to make it"

Scott ran his fingers through his hair.

Lydia hesitantly looked at Stiles. She hadn't told him about being brought to the edge unwillingly. She knew it was too much like mind control. It explained the victim not putting up a fight but she didn't want to freak him out. But what if something happened to him because she didn't tell them everything? She'd never forgive herself.

"Lydia are you okay?" Stiles asked.

"Yeah, could you maybe get me some water? I'm not feeling too good."

Stiles nodded and raced to the kitchen.

Scott knew there was something else Lydia didn't want Stiles to hear.

"What is it?" he asked, with the hopes that Lydia would tell him.

Her hands went up to her hair and she started twisting the ends. She looked at Scott with lines of worry stretching across her face.

"There's something else. When I saw the pond, something was pulling me to it. It was like something was in my head."

Scott knit his eyebrows, "Do you mean like," he didn't need to finish the sentence, Lydia was already nodding.

"Is he, you know, do you feel anything?" Scott whispered.

"I- I don't know what I feel but it isn't good. I don't know what we should do."

"He has a right to know. He's been exhausting himself to figure out what's going on. This-"

Scott stopped when Stiles came back with a big glass of water.

"Did something happen?" Stiles asked.

Neither of them said anything.

"Why are you looking at me like I got hit by a bus?"

Lydia looked at Scott and nodded but she couldn't help the dread building inside of her.

As Scott explained everything Stiles felt his anxiety starting to act up. Mind controlling people mauling monsters. It felt too much like the nogitsune. What if he was controlled again? These things only seemed to control people to draw them in the forest but who knew what happened after that?

He looked at his friends. They were expecting him to break down. Be weak. He wouldn't. He took a deep breath and swallowed.

"That's good."

That wasn't the response Scott was expecting at all, "What?"

"It's another clue, right? It could help us find what it is," he looked at the glass of water.

He remembered himself a year ago, talking to Ms. Morrel. He'd told her how painful drowning actually was. Regardless of Lydia's feelings, he was being unreasonable. Scott and the others would protect him if anything happened. He tried to reassure himself but the evil voice at the back of his head was too loud. They weren't able to protect him when the nogitsune first possessed him.

However calm Stiles looked, both the teens could read him.

"Yeah, I guess," Scott staggered, "are you okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

He couldn't say anything. Scott smelled the room filling with Stiles' frustration.

"We thought that maybe-"

Stiles interrupted her, "Maybe what?"

"I don't know, just that-" she looked down at her feet.

Stiles drew in a long breath. He said he'd keep calm but he wasn't sure he could keep that promise. He had to fix this.

"No this is exactly what I'm talking about! I'm sick of people treating me like this. I get it okay, I'm the human, I'm the weak one that has the most blood on his hands-"

"Stiles hold that's not what-" Scott tried to calm him.

"Not what you think? Do you think I don't notice people looking at me like I might slit my wrists at any moment?" he turned to Lydia, "that I don't notice you flinching every time I move too suddenly? That I don't notice you seeing the nogitsune in my eyes every time we talk?"

He stepped forward and Lydia reflexively took a step back. She was scared. Even if it was for a fraction of a second Stiles didn't miss it.

"See?" he exclaimed, "maybe instead of fussing over me, you should all deal with your own problems first." His words were full of spite and anger. He noticed how tightly he was gripping the glass but it was too later because the cheap Walmart glass broke, spilling water and blood all over the floor.

Stiles cried out as he held his hand and ran to the kitchen, leaving a trail of red behind him.

Scott ran to help him as Lydia stood in shock, looking at the broken glass.

"Dude are you okay?"

He was pressing down at his palm with paper towels. The blood wouldn't stop gushing out. Stiles threw the towels on the counter and grabbed new ones which were completely stained in a matter of seconds.

"Maybe we should go to the E.R. my mom is still working," Scott suggested.

"No no, it's fine" Stiles winced as he lifted the towels. Two deep cuts were spanning through his palm unevenly.

Scott reached out to take his pain but Stiles pulled away, "it's fine," he reached for more towels.

"Here, just let me help"

"I said it's fine," Stiles kept pressure on the cut but the bleeding persisted. The blood had run down his forearm, t-shirt, and was dripping on the floor.

Scott didn't raise his voice, he pushed down the panic and kept his voice as calm as he could, "Stiles."

Stiles sighed, "fine," he took more towel and started making his way to the door, "I'll drive myself, you should go."

"No way, I'll take you before you collapse on the wheel from blood loss."

"It's not that bad."

Scott ignored that and ran to the living room to get Lydia.

"I'm taking Stiles to the E.R., are you coming ?"

"I think I'm just gonna go home. I'll look through the bestiary again."

Scott knew that she wanted to come but he didn't push her. She probably needed some time alone

XXX

"Wanna explain how this happened?" Melissa asked as she prepped the needle.

"I broke a glass."

She sent him an unbelieving look, "I dropped it and it exploded when I picked it up."

Melissa had been a nurse longer than Stiles had been alive. She could tell that that wasn't what happened both from her son's face and from the cuts. She didn't push it.

She brought the needle to the cut, "you might wanna look away."

Stiles didn't break his gaze.

"How come you're not afraid of needles anymore?"

Stiles scoffed, "After everything I've seen, they just don't seem as scary anymore."

Melissa sighed, "you guys are pushing yourselves too hard. I mean you're just high schoolers. Nevermind that, none of you should have to see these things."

"We don't really have a choice. If we don't push then this whole town will be purged."

"I know, but there's nothing wrong in asking for help."

XXX

Stiles sighed when he saw his dad's car parked in the driveway. He was hoping he'd have time to clean the mess he made before the Sheriff came home but alas, luck wasn't on his side.

He nervously entered, half expecting his father to be waiting for him with his arms crossed but instead he was at the kitchen table going over files.

"Oh hey kid"

"Hey dad," he said while looking around. All of the bloodied towels had disappeared and the blood had been cleaned up.

"Do you know this kid?" he raised the headshot of a boy around his age.

"Yeah, Damon, I think he's in my econ class, why?"

"His dad's saying he didn't come home after school."

Stiles crossed his arms, "Do you think it's related to the murders?"

"I don't know. The previous victims were twice his age, it breaks the pattern."

He looked up at Stiles and his eyes widened when he saw his hand and bloodstained shirt, "What happened?"

"It's fine, I just broke a glass."

The Sheriff sighed, "Did you see Melisa?"

"Yeah it's not that bad, just a few stitches, and insurance covered it."

"Well, why didn't you call me?"

"It wasn't bad, I didn't wanna worry you."

Noah rubbed his forehead, "What did we say about being open?"

"I didn't think it was a big deal!"

"You're my son, of course, it's important!"

"Sorry."

As Stiles went to his room he pulled out his phone to text the others about Damon. Halfway through he wondered if he should be saying anything. He should apologize first, right?

He threw himself on the bed and put his head over his head. He had been such a drama queen! His friends were just trying to look out for him and he attacked them. What was wrong with him? He was so mean to Lydia, she must be feeling awful.

XXX

The sun rose like it did every morning.

The people of Beacon Hills went about their business as usual. Runners, taking the same route, employees waiting in line for their coffees. Students racing to school and going to their morning classes as if nothing had happened.

Only the pack knew, only they walked the corridors with their senses dialed up to eleven.

After Scott and the others returned from the forest empty-handed they'd met with the others to talk about Lydia's vision that night. However with the lack of information they hadn't come up with anything useful.

As Lydia walked through the gates of the school she felt her muscles tensing every time she walked by the spot where Aiden had fallen. Obviously, there wasn't any blood left but Lydia could see the dark stain.

She held her breath as she circled around that area and entered the school. Stiles was waiting by her locker.

"Hey."

"Hey," Lydia internally cringed at the tension between them. She wondered if Stiles could feel it too. Of course, she didn't blame hmi for what happened, how could she? He was right, she couldn't help but imagine the nogitsune wearing his face, holding her captive in the tunnels. If she hadn't been a smartass maybe the Oni could've killed it and Allison would be alive.

She looked at Stiles and the image of him collapsing on the tunnels passed her mind. She quickly turned back to her locker and tried distracting herself. She didn't ever want to see something like that happen and the argument they had last night wasn't exactly helping.

"I just wanted to apologize for last night. I'm really sorry, I shouldn't have I don't what I was thinking, I was stupid and I never should've said that stuff out loud, much less confront you like that-"

Lydia interrupted him, "Stiles it's fine. I get it, it's, you don't need to apologize."

"No, you're still human, you have a right to feel that way and it's normal, and I-"

"Stiles, seriously it's okay. I thought I was doing the right thing and I wasn't. You were right to be frustrated. We all have to deal with our problems."

Stiles didn't know what to say. He still hated himself for getting so angry. They were just trying to look out for him.

"Also thank you for cleaning up my mess. You might've saved my father from a heart attack"

Lydia smiled, "Is your hand okay?"

Stiles looked down at the bandages wrapped around his hand. 12 stitches.

"Yeah, it's fine. Now I'll have a conversation starter while meeting new people."

Lydia smiled more sincerely this time, "I'm gonna be late, see you in math?"

"Yeah."

When Stiles made it to the classroom he dropped his bag on the floor and took a seat behind Scott, "Hey."

"Hey, are you good?"

"Yeah, I'm sorry about yesterday, I was a major jerk."

Scott turned around to face him, "It's okay, I get it."

Stiles smiled and leaned closer, "You know that guy Damon from econ? Apparently, he didn't come home last night."

"Do you think he was taken?"

"Could be."

Kira came and sat next to Scott, "Hey."

Both the teens greeted her and updated her on the recent news.

XXX

Afterschool Malia and Scott broke into Damon's locker. It hadn't rained again and he'd just disappeared so they thought that they might be able to find his scent.

Fortunately for them, he'd left his jacket at school.

They met the others at the parking lot.

"We got it!" Malia exclaimed, "now what's the plan?"

"The three of us are gonna go to the station and convince Parrish to help us and you're gonna try to track down Damon," Kira explained.

"We'll call if we find something," said Scott.

Stiles gestured to his jeep, "ladies?"

XXX

It didn't take long for them to reach the sheriff's station. No one had talked and the whole trip the car was filled with awkwardness. As soon as Stiles parked everyone leaped out of the car.

A few of the deputies greeted them as they made their way to Parrish's desk. Everyone had gotten used to the teens here so often. Except for the next replacements no one even questioned it.

Parrish didn't notice them until Lydia spoke up.

"Hey, Parrish"

"Hey, guys what're you doing here?"

"We were wondering if you could help us out with something?"

He sighed, "I'm not giving you the case files."

"Not a problem!" Stiles moved closer to his desk, "we already know everything about that"

"What do you want then?"

"Can we see Damon Patterson's files?" Lydia pleaded.

"No why would I let you do that?" he scoffed.

"My dad approves."

Parrish shot an unbelieving look, "I distinctly remember him telling you not to get involved."

"Yes, that was before two murders and a missing person."

"The Sherrif's really okay with this?" he raised an eyebrow

"Yes! I'd tell you to ask right now but he's in a meeting"

Parrish longly looked at the office door. He'd heard about how convincing the teens would be. He wasn't sure if they were telling the truth or not. He observed them for a moment. They seemed genuine.

He remembered all the things they went through almost a month ago. He didn't know know how they were holding it together. They could use this as a distraction.

Though he sure wasn't sure what a great idea it was he printed out Damon's file and handed it to them.

The pack thanked him in unison and left the station before Parrish could change his mind.

XXX

Back in the reserve Scott and Malia had caught a trail of Damon's scent, barely hanging in the air.

It had started from the school's parking lot and lead into the forest.

"I think I lost him," Scott sighed.

Malia ignored him continued to search, "his scent disappears just above this line. It doesn't fade away or anything, it just disappears."

Scott came to the same conclusion a few moments later. He sighed again loudly.

"Why do you keep doing that?" Malia asked slightly annoyed.

"Doing what?"

"You keep sighing."

"I just hate that we still haven't found anything. Two people are dead and there's probably going to be a third one. We can't even find the bodies anymore."

Malia looked around awkwardly. In the short time she'd spent as a human, she hadn't really been trained to comfort people.

"Kira and I found that woman's body and Damon probably hasn't been killed yet."

"But he will be"

"How many deaths did it take you to figure out who was sacrificing those people?" She remembered Stiles telling her about this when filling her in on everything.

"What?"

"That teacher that was actually a dark druid. How many people did she kill?"

"Twelve"

"How many people would've died if you didn't stop her?"

Scott knew what she was trying to do. She wasn't right.

"A lot less! If we hadn't sacrificed ourselves then we never would've drawn all these supernaturals here. She would've killed the Deucalion and left. Whenever we try to help somehow everything gets worse."

Malia cringed. This wasn't where she hoped the question would lead.

"That's not true. You helped save a lot of people. The alpha and kanima would've killed everyone without you."

"I guess. I just wish we could do better. Maybe we wouldn't have lost the people we have."

"But they're dead. You can't bring them back. In the wild, we would grieve and forget about it. Sometimes we'd even eat them if hunting was bad that season."

Scott's feelings still hadn't changed but he appreciated Malia's tries. His feeling wouldn't change until they stopped whoever was doing this.

"Thanks," he smiled, "Come one we should meet the others."

XXX

Lydia, Kira, and Stiles flipped through Damon's records as they waited for the others.

"Did you know he took part in a B&E a year ago?" Stiles asked.

"He doesn't seem like the type," Kira answered.

"The charges were dropped"

Stiles spoke up again a few minutes later, "Woah unlucky guy."

"What?" Lydia asked.

Kira took the file, "His mom and boyfriend got killed in a car crash the same year."

"Wait, that's the third one," Lydia said.

"Third one of what?" Kira intrigued.

Stiles paced around the room, "The third victim with dead or m.i.a. family members."