Screaming.
Someone was screaming. Footsteps.
They were running. So fast. It was coming.
Grunting. Slamming against something. Panting, breathing unable to catch breathe. In, out, in out, in out.
Yelling, things falling to the floor.
A scramble.
Metal whacking against steel.
Falling.
Falling
Falling.
It pierced.
"911, what's your emergency?"
She opened her eyes. She was in the forest. The cold air blowing past her, making her short locks float, before settling back down.
It was so dark. The tress casting over her like large spiked shadows. A light glowed faintly in the distance. Sara slowly walking to it, the sticks and leaves pricking as she trended across.
The light suddenly vanished, plunging her into darkness. Sara sniffed, the hairs on the back of her neck standing up, looking down at the large shadow that cast over hers.
A growl from behind her, as a clawed hand gripping her shoulder so large it could rip it right off.
It lunged.
"No! No! No!" Sara screamed, thrashing around in Scott's arms. Kira holding her shoulders. "Sara! Sara! It's okay, it's okay, it's okay! It's us!"
"It's us." Kira mumbled, Sara feeling her hands, release her shoulders, rubbing them gently. Sara took a breath, relaxing in Scott's arm. "Oh…" Sara moaned, burying her head in Scott's shoulder. It was embarrassing enough, she had her brother and her mother come in and hold her after a nightmare. It was even worst when her brother's girlfriend, was there to bear witness.
"I'm sorry." Sara breathed out. Scott's warm self, calming her down instantly. "I didn't mean to wake you up."
"It's okay, we were already up." Scott said, Sara looking up slowly realizing they were dressed. "The alarm in the Animal Clinic went off. Kira and I were just gonna check it out."
"Okay." Sara said, getting up grabbing her jacket. "Let's go."
"Nothing." Sara said, walking around inspecting the windows. "No sign of anything taken or broken besides the half lizard girl."
"Tracy." Kira said standing up. "Is she? Do we even know if she's Tracy anymore?" Sara replied. Scott making a call on his phone. "Stiles, someone's taking the bodies." he said, Kira and Sara turning to him. "Stiles? You there?"
"I'm at the Animal Clinic with Kira and Sara. Tracy's body is gone. The lock on the door was broken from the outside. And my mom just told me Lucas's body went missing from the morgue. They've been searching the whole hospital for it."
"Someone's stealing the bodies."
"Evil metal men, crazy chimeras, bodies dropping and disappearing." Sara mumbled. "God, do we just live in a constant horror flick, or is it just me?"
"The Dread Doctors by T.R. McCammon." Lydia read, holding the book, Malia and Sara walking beside her on either end. "Nice name." Sara said dryly, the 'Dread Doctors' on the front cover a splitting image to the ones she saw the other night.
"What?" Malia asked, catching Lydia's thoughtful face. "I don't know. There's something about it. Has anyone actually read it yet?"
"Just me. And I didn't understand any of it." Malia said, Sara snorting.
"We should probably all read it." Lydia said, reaching their lockers. Sara opening hers tipping her books in fishing out the last for the day. Biology, and another study session with Theo.
Not that anyone else knew about that. Good thing her grade was getting up, or it probably wont have been worth it hiding the truth from Malia and Lydia who would tell Stiles. Which would end horrifically.
"Kira's working on that." Malia added. "Stiles says he can't find anything on the author. He thinks it's a pen name."
"Something that no one could trace back. Clever." Sara said, tucking the books in her arm. "That's what he said." Malia replied.
"In a small New England town, teenagers are taken in the night and buried alive. Days later they emerge transformed, wreaking havoc and spreading terror, commanded by an ancient order of parascientists known only as the Dread Doctors." Lydia read. "Sound vaguely familiar. How does it end?" she asked, glancing at Malia.
"It doesn't. This is supposed to be volume one."
"And volume two was never written." Sara guessed. "I think we're living volume two." Malia said, Sara frowning glaring at the book. "Great, just what we need, more things trying to kill us."
"Then maybe the real question is...Is this a novel or someone's prediction?" Lydia said, catching Sara's eye. "Know any psychics?" Sara joked, glancing between the older girls, whose faces were set.
"Nevermind." she mumbled.
~
"You alright?" Theo asked, looking up from his book. Sara nodded, shaking her head suppressing the other yawn that was itching to get out.
"Yeah. I'm-" Sara yawned loudly cutting herself off. "Okay."
"This is the ninth time you've yawned," Theo pointed out lightly, straightening up. "You get any sleep last night?"
"I don't sleep." Sara replied instantly, playing with her pen, hoping the movement would keep her awake. "I mean I do, but…it's a long story." she paused, turning around glancing at the building renovations.
The library was undergoing renovations, but Sara couldn't shake the strange feeling coming off the scaffolding.
Blinking, the library suddenly plunged into darkness. Sara staring directly a body. Donovan's body, blood dripping off him. A pole threw his heart.
Sara stood up, edging towards it. His eyes opened, blood pooling out off his eyes and mouth. Sara jumped back, her eyes locked onto his body.
"Sara?"
Sara blinked again, looking around wildly. The library was bright again, students walking, chatting. The place where Donovan's body was empty. The floor clean, his blood not staining anything, but her mind.
"Sara." Theo repeated, Sara looking up. He was gently holding her arm, following her gaze. "What's wrong? What happened?"
"I…" Sara paused, shutting her eyes, shaking her head. "Nothing. Nothing. I…I'm okay."
If Theo knew she was lying. He didn't say anything.
"For providing scientific perspective and invaluable insight...this book is dedicated to Dr. Gabriel Valack." Sara read. "You know him?" she asked, handing the book back to Scott.
"Yeah, he's in Eichen House."
"The nut house?" Sara blurted out. "You wanna go in the supernatural nut house? Have you lost your mind?" she said, walking to Scott's bike.
"It's the best way to figure out, what's going on." Scott replied. Sara sighed. "Okay, your right." she said, looking up at him. "Scott…I…I don't have to come right?" she asked shyly.
"No! No." Scott said quickly. "I don't want you too. I just, want you know. Just in case."
"So I can bust you out?"
Scott laughed. "Maybe."
"So, how's studying being?" Liam said making a face at the word. Sara turned around, quickly swallowing the Red Vine. "What?"
"Studying."
"Are you serious?"
"Uh, yeah."
Sara rolled her eyes, glancing back up at Grimm, where Nick had just beheaded another Wesen. "Studying Liam, it's books, papers and tiring so just watch Grimm?" she mumbled, making a face when one of the Wesen threw Nick into a wall.
"Why are we even watching this, our lives are basically a horror show." Liam grumbled, clearly still invested in Sara's study sessions.
"You talk about Theo so much, you should date him. Seriously." Sara said. "I'm getting more popcorn, you want anything?" she asked. Liam paused, popping a few M&M's into his mouth. "Juice…or soda!" he called out, Sara nodding walking out of the room.
Opening Mrs Dunbar's fridge, pulling out two sodas. Opening the microwaves, sticking in the other bag of popcorn. Typing in the numbers-
"Sara."
Sara jumped back, looking around the kitchen.
Nothing.
Sara turned around, closing the microwave door.
"Sara."
"Who's there?" Sara said sharply, lighting her hand with energy, walking around the kitchen into the lounge.
Standing into front of the TV. Inspecting the rest of the room. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. Even the air was cool, the breeze gently made the heat more bearable.
The TV lit up. The buzzing off the static being the only sound in the room.
Sara stared at it, quietly whispers of voices reaching her ears. Bending down, Sara slowly pressed her ear against the TV.
"Maybe you've already guessed that it's not just a book."
"What is it?"
"A tool. Designed to open your eyes."
"To what?"
"To them. The Dread Doctors."
Metal boots, effulgent her vision. Thick bronze helmets and armor, robotic gloves and gauntlets, dressed to the nines like something out a steampunk convention. Two males and one female, dressed in a way that made them look ancient and modern.
The Surgeon, the Pathologist and the Geneticist.
The Dread Doctors.
"Not entirely human. At least, not anymore. They were scientists once. Scientists who worshipped the supernatural. Tesla said, 'If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.'
They found their secrets in electromagnetic forces. Ways to prolong their lives, give them power, and most importantly, making you forget you ever saw them."
"What do they want?"
"Good question, Lydia. Everybody wants something, don't they?"
Valak in a simple T-shirt and pants. He almost looked normal, besides the large gaping hole in the centre of his head.
He turned his head, as if looking right at her and smiled.
"I wrote the book in an effort to find out if anyone else like me had ever seen them before. I thought I could circulate it, an effort to trigger someone...Anyone else's memory.
They'd see the cover, a hint of memory..."
Tracy the old Tracy, was in front of her. Holding out the book in an old ratty bookshop. She held it up to the light, squinting her eyes.
Strapped to a table, the Surgeon raising a hand in his grasp a scalpel. Tracy was struggling her necklace bouncing up and down against her skin as she wrestled against the restraints.
"Help! Help me! Pl-" the Pathologist covered her mouth. The Geneticist holding up a large needle filled with a colourless liquid.
In the corner of her eye, in the shadows a figure shifting uncomfortably, turning around walking away in the distant. Sara edged closer to, opening her mouth to call out.
"They pick up the book, read it.
The suppressed memories surface, and they'd find their way to me to discover more. Just like you did."
"Did it work with anyone else?"
"Hey! Sara!" Liam said, giving her a violent shake. Sara stumbled back, landing on her behind. Liam bending down, looking at her worriedly. "Are you-? What happened? Are you okay?" he said quickly, half on top of her in his panic.
What was he going on about?
Sara nodded, wordlessly. Feeling something thick and cold on her cheek. Picking up her hand, she slowly touched her cheek.
Drawing back, looking down at a bloodied fingers.
It always seemed to end at hospitals. The roars and screams were all around her and here she was, stumbling back, slamming into the wall. The Geneticist's staring down at her, as she edged closer. Her metal boots clunking against the floor, as if reading Sara's death sentence.
Know, I know what you're thinking. Why wasn't she blasting this thing to Kingdom Come?
She was wondering that too.
Throwing another energy blast at it, Sara watching it fizzling into nothing, before it even made contact.
Now being a witch while at times, was a trying experience. It was pretty good. Sara knew she was strong, far more powerful than any normal witch at her age.
And while being a witch was sometimes cool, it came with two drawbacks things: immense power that she couldn't control and that she was still human.
She had no superfast healing factor (healing was actually extremely difficult for her), or super strength.
If someone shot her, or electrocuted her it would hurt or kill her.
Because behind all that supernatural power, at her core Sara was beautifully disastrously human.
Meaning that if her powers didn't work on the Dread Doctors then she was fighting a large ancient robotic superhuman with an IQ higher than hers, powerless.
Not the conditions she liked.
Aiming a kick at her, the Geneticist's not even flinching. Sara tried again, with her other leg meeting the same result. "Oh, come on!" she grumbled.
The Geneticist robotic hand was wrapping around her throat, slamming her hard against the wall, making small cracks against the concrete.
Dark spots began to form in her vision, the Geneticist helmet blurring around the edges.
'We never should have read that book.'
Earlier…
Sara fidgeted in her seat, glancing between Liam and then behind at Mason every few seconds.
They were getting back there Biology Tests, the first Biology test since her tutoring with Theo began. "Chill out," Liam whispered into her ear. "You're going to give yourself a heart attack."
Sara rolled her eyes, twirling her pencil between her fingers. Liam gently put his hand on hers, stopping her fidgeting short. Sara made a noise of irritation, pouting at Liam.
"I'm sure you did great."
"Or terrible."
"Great."
"Oh my god, I failed." Sara breathed out in horror. "Are you even listening to me?" Liam mumbled. Mrs Ramsey finally getting up from her desk, handing out the papers.
Sara nearly jetting out of her seat, the only thing stopping her from flying out of the classroom, being Liam's light, but firm hold on her.
Mrs Ramsey seemed to walk slower than a turtle, as she handed out the papers commenting light on some of them.
After what seemed like a hundred years, she finally stopping in front of their desk, sliding the paper to Liam first, before y handing Sara hers.
Sara picked it up, the rush of dread entering her. She couldn't pick it up. Mrs Ramsey stood in front of their desk smiling at them. "Well done."
Sara and Liam shared a look, Sara grabbing her paper flipping it over.
81%
Good job! J
Sara smiled.
"Scott! Scott!" Sara half-shouted, running towards him half-tackling him to the floor. "Look, look, look." Sara said eagerly pulling out her paper, looking at him earnestly.
Scott took the paper, glancing down at it, a smile creeping onto his face. "Good?" Sara asked, playing with her fingers, a smile still on her lips.
"Great!" Scott said, pulling her into a hug her tightly. Glancing back down at the paper, a proud look on his face. "You did great." he mumbled into her hair.
"Thanks." Sara said shyly, tucking the paper back into her bag.
As silly as it sounded, Scott had always been there. Helping her with Math homework, even when he barely understood his own. Going to the soccer games when her mother couldn't, cooking supper even when if he burnt everything and they ended up buying take-out.
He was the constant. The one she could always count on.
Even when her father had been there, Scott had always been more of a father-figure, than a brother (positions that had been helpfully filled by Stiles and Liam). After her father left, he sort of just took over the responsibility.
When she was older she tried not to put that kind of pressure on him. She didn't need him to be her dad. But Scott…he never really was one to listen.
"What class you got next?" Sara asked, pulling the straps around her tighter. "Uh, Chemistry. Why?"
"No reason." Sara mumbled, catching Theo's eye who was standing up his locker, shooting her a grin. "Still planning on reading the book?" she asked. Not noticing Scott follow her gaze, looking back at here, eyebrows raised.
"Yeah," he mumbled, looking at her strangely. "What?" Sara asked, glancing over him, his look not going unnoticed.
"Nothing."
"Scott. Come on, what?"
Scott shrugged wordlessly walking towards Theo. Sara paused floundering the in hallway. "Scott…" she whined.
"So, basically, we're looking for abnormal behaviour?" Theo asked, leaning over the balcony. "Anyone acting a little off or a little weird." Scott answered, standing next to Sara, who was between the two. Looking down at the crowd of students, going to lunch and socializing.
"Isn't everyone a little weird in high school?"
"Yes." Sara said, watching as Josh and a few other boys' around him, mimicked mildly offensive hand gestures and laughed obnoxiously. Sara made a face, she was not a fan of Josh.
"Yeah, good point." Scott said. Sara glancing between the two, unable not to notice the height difference between them and her. She was surprising tiny next to them, god she missed Liam. Next to him, she at least looked normal sized.
"You remember Tracy went on a killing spree after reading that?" Theo said, following Scott down the steps. "Vividly." Sara said, she would never be able to get Tracy's fathers face out of her mind.
"You think it's a bad idea?" Scott asked. "I think Malia almost getting run down by a car could've been bad. Well, that's why you guys haven't finished it, right?" Theo replied, glancing at Sara.
Sara shrugged. "Don't look at me, I haven't even started." she said falling back into step between them. "We're going to." Scott said, though seeming to hear the logic behind Theo's words. It was a risky plan.
"Scott, I came here hoping to find a pack. I wasn't planning on watching one fall apart." Theo said worriedly. "You mean die?" Sara said apathetically. "Coz, death's definitely on the table. I'm not being pessimistic, but considering what they did last time. I don't think they'll leave us alive." she pointed out.
Scott giving her one of his 'stop' looks. Sara rolled her eyes, it wasn't her fault Stiles enjoyed the Addams family and watched it religiously with her since she was three. It had been a stepping stone to their morbid curiosity that continued strongly. RIP Charles Addams.
"The book's all we've got." Scott replied.
"Then I'll read it too." Theo said.
"Brave choice." Sara said smartly. "Considering the dead body track record."
Earning a glare from Scott.
"What?"
"My mom's book club usually has more wine." Lydia said, looking down at the books on the table. "Well, they also probably didn't read books that cause violent hallucinations." Stiles said dryly.
"Or have psychopaths from the book come into the real world, and try to kill us all." Sara added lightly. Earning disapproving looks from both Scott, Stiles, Lydia, Malia and Kira. And one mildly amused one from Theo.
"You are very unhelpful today." Stiles pointed out. Sara dismissively waving her hand, getting up from her chair, join the circle around the table. "That's why Sara and Malia's here." Scott said, smiling at the two of them.
"So none of us go running into traffic?" Kira asked worriedly. Sara tilted her head slightly, watching her. Something was wrong. "Or worse."
"Like what happened to Judy." Malia said, making them turn to her. "Chapter 14."
"Maybe I should have my mother read it. She might remember a girl with a tail leaping off the ceiling and attacking everyone." Lydia said picking up the book.
"Yeah, if it works." Stiles added, looking pointy at Sara. Sara shot him a weird look, not catching his message.
"But how do we know for sure?" she asked, looking down at the books. "I mean, Valack could have been lying, just to get want he wanted. How do we know the book caused Malia's resurfaced memory, I mean maybe because she was driving it just triggered it." Sara theorized.
"Which," Stiles said taking the book from Lydia's hand and handing it to Sara. "Is why we need to test it."
Sara glanced down at the book, in her hands. "Te-What do want me to do with this? Eat it?" she sassed, looking down at the book, her eyes widening in realization. "You can't be serious."
"We need to test it."
"You mean you need a gunine pig."
"Well, yeah."
"I can't believe I'm the gunine pig."
"Small enough to be one."
"Stinski-"
"Okay." Lydia said, cutting the two off from their impending argument. "Sara, you can read the book faster than any of us, and see if it works or not." Lydia said logically.
Sara sighed, opening the book. "This is a brilliant idea. Give a hallucinogenic book to the walking exploding time bomb." she grumbled, flicking though the first few pages, until she was at Chapter One.
"Wai-why's Sara the one who can read the book the fastest?" Theo asked quietly, leaning over to Scott.
"Sara can speed read," Kira said. Sara taking a deep breath, trying to tune out everything that was happening. Flipping through the book the pages, flying across quickly. Her eyes shining their purple, as she did so.
"Basically she can read anything really fast. If she concentrates." Kira finished. Sara slamming the book shut, tossing it onto the table. "Judy was done dirty." she mumbled making a face at the book.
It wasn't one she would be reading anytime soon.
"I know right?" Malia agreed.
"How do you feel?" Lydia asked.
Sara shrugged. "Fine. Disgusted and disturbed, but fine. Maybe it's takes some time to work." she added, seeing Lydia's worried face. "I'm sure it'll work."
"It has to." Lydia mumbled picking up the book. "What's that mean?" Scott asked, glancing at Sara, before back at Lydia. "I think I saw them during my surgery. When I look at the cover of the book... It's almost like..."
"A memory trying to surface." Theo said, making them turn to him.
"Yeah."
"Isn't that what Valack wanted when he wrote it?" Kira asked, Sara and Malia nodding.
"If they did something to me," Lydia said, walking into the lounge. "I want to know what it is."
Stiles bent down picking up a printed book. Scott, Theo and Kira doing the same as they went into the lounge. Leaving Malia and Sara at the dining table.
"Let book club begin." Sara joked lightly, sauntering into the lounge. Malia snorting from behind her.
30 minutes later…
Sara moaned, lifting her head, looking around the room. "How far you guys?"
"Not much different since the last time you asked." Lydia replied dryly, turning the page, not even bothering to look up.
"Seriously?" Sara groaned, falling back down onto her pile of pillows and blankets.
She had almost instantly taken refuge on the floor, in the space between Lydia and Theo. While there was space on the couch, she'd rather not sit with Kira and Scott or even worst Malia and Stiles who were as gross and kissy as a couple could get.
No, the floor was safest place for her.
"You guys are taking forever."
"Not all of us can speed read."
"It does not take half an hour for you to not to be done with Chapter One! You guys started two days ago." Sara pouted, lying back in her pillows.
Lydia sighed, turning the page. "Do some homework?"
"Done."
"Read a book."
"I really don't want to look at another one right now."
"Take a nap."
"No!" Stiles, Scott and Sara shouted, making Kira jump up. "That's a very, very, very bad idea."
"Why?" Theo asked, looking up from his book. Sara stiffened, Scott and Stiles looking at him.
"It's a long story."
"None of your business."
"Because it's nine 'o'clock, no one goes to bed at nine o'clock."
The three said at the same time. "And, that's why." Sara said scratching her ear, lying back down. The rest of them (Malia, Theo and Lydia still looking mildly weird out) relaxing back into their seats.
It was going to be a long night.
1 hour and 30 minutes later…
Anyone feel anything yet?" Scott asked, looking around the room.
"Tired."
"Hungry."
"I think he meant the book."
"Sara? Anything?" Scott tried. Sara not even bothering to move from her spot. "Bored."
Kira sighed again, folding a page laying her head down on some blankets.
"You're not giving up, are you?" Scott asked gently.
"I'm just resting my eyes." Kira said slowly, laying back down and switching off the light.
2 hour's later…
"You should get some sleep." Theo said, leaning against the kitchen counter, across from her. "I don't sleep, anymore." Sara mumbled, holding her head up, with her hand.
The other aimlessly twirling her fingers around rim of her mug; watching Theo with mild interest as he slowly began steering the coffee pot away from her with his fingers.
The liquid in the bottom of the mug, slowly swirling around, following her finger.
Kira had fallen asleep, Scott laying her down in his room. Lydia was still glued to her book, Malia taking a nap on Stiles shoulder and Stiles stretching his neck like an angry ostrich, trying to listen and see what they were walking about.
He actually looked quite funny, even though it was mildly annoying.
"Why not?" Theo asked, taking a sip of his coffee, his hazel eyes watching her carefully.
It was still something she was not quite used to yet. Theo always seemed to give her his complete attention, whether they were just talking or studying. It was strange…Almost unnerving, but something she noticed Malia do a few times.
Maybe it was a werewolf thing.
"You won't laugh?" Sara teased, raising an eyebrow. Theo snorted, nodding. "Promise."
Sara bit her lip, withdrawing her hand from the mug. "I'm…scared of the dark." Sara said slowly looking down at her mug. "It's stupid."
Theo blinked, shaking his head. "No, it's not." he said, a thoughtfully look on his face. "You know, there's an evolutionary-."
"Theo, I get you love it, but it is way too late to be taking about genetics." Sara said tiredly, a wisp of a smile on her face. Theo chuckled.
"Okay," he said sitting down, copying her slant. "You know…we're all here." he said glancing back at the lounge. "Lights on, you could take a small nap…if you want." Theo added quickly.
Sara paused, rubbing her eyes.
She hadn't slept in almost three days. Mostly running of coffee and inescapable stress.
"Nothing's gonna happen, Sara." Theo said gently. "Promise."
Sara licked her lip, glancing back in the living room. The couch looked so comfy and for some strange reason, she trusted his words.
"Five minutes. Just five minutes, then I'll…wake up." she mumbled to herself, deciding to bit her tongue when she saw his mild look of triumph.
"Okay."
"Just five minutes."
"Alright."
"Just five."
"I know."
"Okay. Five, five is good."
'It was strange, watching them sleep.' he thought, tucking the phone into his pocket. Lydia was sleeping upright, the book propped on the armchair, still open.
Stiles was sleeping against Malia's legs, his head propped up on a pillow, Malia curled up with Scott next to her, who like Lydia was also sleeping upright, his head against the top of the couch cushion.
Sara was cuddled into herself, sleeping in a curled ball on the armchair he had been sitting on, sleeping awkwardly in a place between the armrest and the chair.
She fallen asleep within seconds, her short wavy choppy hair, sprawled across her face. While she had been one of the first to fall asleep, she was also the one moving the most.
She shifted quite a few times, her eyelids occasionally tightening and her fingers moving, almost readying themselves.
Picking up one of her stray pillows, Theo gently lifted her head, quickly sliding the pillow between the space, setting her down before she woke up.
Sara moved again, leaning into the pillow, some of her hair falling back. Revealing a strange purple light, traveling from her neck into her head. Theo squinted, bending down looking at it.
It seemed to run though her veins, before traveling to the back of her neck, the second it vanished from his site. Sara took a sharp intake of breath, her heart racing, her hands were shaking.
Fear.
Theo straighten up, looking around the room, before sitting down on the floor next to her and falling asleep.
Thoughts?
Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
Till next time...