Alright, I have to admit, this chapter was the best chapter I've written so far. Hope you like it. Enjoyyy!
I woke up wrapped in a warm blanket, but the surface beneath me was cold and unyielding. My entire body trembled uncontrollably. As I opened my eyes, a chilling sight awaited me—the Nogitsune. Panic set in, and I began to squirm, but strong hands held me down. The Nogitsune approached, wielding a syringe, and gently pierced my arm with it. Surprisingly, it had a calming effect, and as the fog of fear lifted, I realized it wasn't the Nogitsune at all, but a person trying to help me.
Glancing to my left, I saw Stiles lying on a table. The two individuals who had restrained me were Malia, the girl from group therapy, and another person with brown hair and an uneven jaw.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice quivering. "What's happening?" My teeth chattered uncontrollably as I clutched the blanket tightly around me, finding only slight relief from the cold.
"Here, let me help," the brown-haired boy said, extending his hand. I took it, and as he touched me, black streaks appeared on his arms. After a moment, he breathed heavily but left me feeling warm. Keeping the blanket close, I sat up.
That certainly wasn't normal. Then again, it could be my brain playing tricks on me, or perhaps attempting some psychological warm-up exercise.
"Thanks, but, respectfully, you still haven't answered my question," I said, eyeing the three of them.
"I'm Dr. Deaton. That's Malia, Scott, and Stiles," he introduced.
"Where am I? It's obviously not Eichen House. Too clean for a nurse's room. Too bright, and too small."
"This is the animal clinic. I mostly treat animals, but occasionally, I help people like you," Dr. Deaton explained.
"What do you mean 'people like you'?" I retorted, my annoyance growing.
"Isn't it obvious? You're a Banshee. You practically blew out my eardrums before passing out. It was a challenge to get you here. I suggested leaving you at the Eichen House, but Stiles insisted on bringing you to Deaton," Malia chimed in.
"No, no, no, no. I've seen some crazy stuff, but there's no such thing as a Banshee. They aren't real. Same with vampires, dragons, and all the other mythical creatures in movies and shows," I asserted.
"Actually, it's possible that vampires and dragons exist, but there are definitely creatures like were-coyotes," Malia said, her eye color shifting. "Alpha werewolves," she continued, and Scott transformed briefly, showcasing sharp teeth, red eyes, and facial hair on the sides of his face before returning to his normal appearance. Malia and Scott reverted to their human forms.
I stood up from the table, feeling a surge of mixed emotions. "I appreciate your help, but I was in the Eichen House for a reason. Now that I know I'm a Banshee, I probably need to stay there longer. Wait, were my parents also Banshees? Am I adopted? My brother and I look a bit different. Or is my brother adopted?" I muttered the last few sentences to myself, feeling overwhelmed by the revelations.
"Why didn't I have a nightmare while being passed out? Is this a nightmare?" I muttered to myself, taking a few steps back from everyone and edging closer to the exit.
"You're not real, are you? This is my nightmare. Of course it is. I can't sleep one day without a nightmare, can I? So, what is it this time? Me getting stabbed? Are my Mum and Father going to appear out of nowhere and make me feel more guilty?" I rambled on, my fear and confusion mounting.
Dr. Deaton approached me slowly, his hands held out in a calming gesture.
"Elanor, this isn't a dream. I can assure you," he reassured me. But feeling threatened, I screamed once more, and everyone instinctively covered their ears. Without another word, I bolted through the door, walking through a small gate before leaving the building. I glanced back to find no one following me and continued running until I reached the forest.
As I ventured deeper into the woods, I came across a hollowed-out tree with a spacious opening. It seemed like a safe hiding spot. I settled inside, making sure I was concealed. Desperately tired, I grabbed some dirt from the ground and began rubbing it onto my skin to mask my scent. Exhausted, I finally got comfortable in the hollowed-out tree and drifted into a restless sleep.