AN: Back again with another chapter! I know things are running a little slow, but it's working up to more action. This is all important to the story!

Stiles flew. How high and where to, he didn't know. To tell the truth, he didn't even know how he was flying, but for some reason he couldn't seem to care enough to consider how any of this was possible. He was far too overwhelmed by the glorious view surrounding him to experience any level of sound thinking at all. The fluffy white tops of the clouds beneath him were all he could see stretching out for miles all around. They seemed to glow almost golden as they reflected the rays of the sun which sank ever so slowly closer to where the earth was surely hidden somewhere under the surface of the clouds.

He sucked in a deep breath as he felt the cool air flowing past him and rippling through his clothes. He'd never felt anything quite like this before, and quite frankly he didn't want it to stop.

"Stiles," came a voice echoing through the clouds to meet his ears. Stiles could've sworn it sounded familiar, but he just couldn't put his finger on it.

"Stiles," it said again, only this time louder. The clouds around him seemed just as disturbed by this mysterious voice as Stiles was. A moment ago, they had been so white and pure, but now they began to darken and sink slowly towards the earth.

"Stiles, wake up."

The breeze, previously so still, also started to act out. Stiles' steady, peaceful flight was interrupted as he was shaken by the winds and tossed around like a minnow at the mercy of violent currents.

"Stiles!"

All at once, whatever invisible wings Stiles had were torn away, and he fell. An icy coolness engulfed him as he plunged through the darkening clouds toward the earth. All he could do now was close his eyes and wait for his body to meet cold, hard dirt.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

"Stiles?" Scott watched his friend's face contort in a way that seemed to convey discomfort.

A moment later, Stiles' eyes were opening, and he sat bolt upright. "Huh? W-where…?" His gaze flicked first to Scott, then to the curious students who had come upon the interesting scene.

"We're in the hallway," Scott reminded his friend. "You passed out or something. Are you okay?"

As he said it, Scott looked Stiles over for injuries. The only one visible was a small bump on the teen's temple, likely sustained from the fall after he'd fainted. The fact that he couldn't smell any blood was also a comfort to Scott.

"Uh, yeah," Stiles said, sounding pretty out of it. But that was to be expected from someone who just regained consciousness. "I'm fine."

Scott noticed how his friend eyed the small crowd that had gathered to watch this pan out. Stiles normally wasn't one to mind an audience, but Scott knew how he hated to draw one under circumstances like this. He never liked to see anyone concerned about him. Of course, Stiles would have to suck it up and let Scott worry over him a bit, but Scott could at least help the guy out a little.

"He's okay, everyone," he said as he waved the teens away. "I'll help him to the nurse's office."

A few of the students shrugged and left; a few others hesitated and watched Stiles a moment longer, but a quick look from Scott soon sent them on their way as well.

"There," Scott remarked once they were alone – well, as alone as they could be in a high school hallway between classes. He carefully helped Stiles to his feet, watching him to make sure he was steady enough to stand on his own. "Now, you want to tell me what this is all about? What happened?"

Stiles was quiet. That alone was enough to tell Scott something was very wrong here. His friend's face twisted in a thoughtful expression, and while his eyes were open and focused on Scott, Scott could tell that Stiles wasn't actually seeing him.

Scott could smell the growing fear on his friend before Stiles even opened his mouth. It started out small and seemed to carry a hint of confusion with it, but within seconds it amounted to a full-on panic. The sound of Stiles' rapidly beating heart rang in Scott's ears like a relentlessly beating drum. So intense was it, Scott was starting to feel the same emotions rising in himself.

"I saw her, Scott," Stiles said after what felt like hours, though Scott knew it only could've been a few extended seconds.

"Saw who?" From the look on Stiles' face, Scott wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer.

"The girl." Stiles' eyes blinked, and his brow furrowed as if he were trying to recall details. "The one from the attack."

The body? Was Stiles having flashbacks from the animal attack scene from the day before? It would certainly make sense. Scott wasn't sure anyone could walk away from that without being haunted for months or years after. And Stiles in particular was prone to night terrors and vivid dreams.

"You dreamt about her?" Scott asked, trying to assess the situation.

Stiles' head shook slowly from side to side. "No, Scott. I saw her."

Now Stiles was really not making any sense. "I know, Stiles. We went to the scene yesterday. You went and took pictures of the body."

Finally, Stiles met Scott's line of sight, and Scott could've sworn he detected a hint of annoyance or frustration in his friend's eyes. "No, Scott. I mean I saw her. I saw her right before I passed out. She was here in the hallway."

A frown met Scott's lips as confusion took over his expression. "That's not possible. Stiles, there was barely anything left of her."

"I know that, Scott," Stiles grumbled, definitely sounding pretty annoyed by now. "I remember very clearly. It was her though. I'd remember that face – those eyes – anywhere. She looked just as whole as you or I, and she was just… standing there."

"In the hallway? Did she say anything to you?"

Stiles shook his head. "She didn't say anything at all. She just stood there, then turned and looked at me, and…"

"And then what?" Scott asked, his heart beating almost as fast as Stiles' by now.

"Uh, and then nothing." Stiles seemed almost as surprised by that twist as Scott was. "That's the last thing I remember before… well, before waking up a moment ago."

"That's it?" Scott didn't mean to sound critical of his friend – Stiles had just regained consciousness, after all, and his memory was bound to be foggy – the words just kind of slipped out before he could stop them.

"Yes, Scott, that's it," Stiles grumbled. "I know it sounds crazy, but I'm not making this up."

Scott had never thought Stiles was making it up. He didn't need to hear Stiles' heartbeat to know his friend wasn't lying. But what he was claiming wasn't exactly possible either.

"I know. I know you're not. It's just that-" Scott had to bite his tongue to keep from finishing his sentence. Apparently, he didn't need to, however, because those few words alone were enough to tell Stiles exactly what was going through his mind. That best friend "mind-reading" trick was a blessing most of the time, but right about then, Scott was wishing it didn't exist.

"It's not possible? You think I don't know that?" Stiles drew one hand over his face – something Scott knew him to do when he was feeling overwhelmed. "I know it's not possible, but I'm telling you I know what I saw."

"Are you sure it wasn't just a dream?" Scott hated to question his own best friend like this, but he was starting to worry. He knew Stiles wasn't sleeping properly since what happened with the Darach. There was no telling the things his mind could trick him into seeing or believing. "I mean, it wouldn't be the first time…"

An expression mixed of disbelief and hurt overtook Stiles' face, and one would've thought Scott punched him right in the gut with how betrayed he looked. "Scott, you don't believe me?"

Scott's throat grew tight at the accusation. "Of course, I believe you. It's just…" How could he explain without pushing Stiles further away? "You've been through a lot lately." And as far as wild imaginations went, Scott knew his friend had one of the wildest.

"So, you think my mind is playing tricks on me?"

"I don't know what to think, Stiles." Scott took a deep breath in an attempt to slow himself down and approach again with a little more grace. "Maybe you should go home and take the rest of the day off. You could use the break." He offered Stiles a sympathetic smile. "We can meet up tomorrow and talk again when we're both a little more rested. Maybe then we'll have a better of an idea about what we're dealing with."

Stiles eyed Scott, seeming to study him and perhaps even trying to analyze his intentions. A moment later though, the teen frowned, and Scott could tell his friend was really considering his words and taking a look at himself – something that was hard to get Stiles to do.

After another moment or two of thoughtful contemplation, Stiles finally nodded. "Okay. Good idea."

Whether or not Stiles really agreed with him and his concerns, Scott didn't know, but for now he supposed it didn't really matter so long as Stiles would be getting the rest he needed as well as some time to recoup. He just hoped that when they met back up tomorrow, Stiles would be feeling better and things would be a little less tense between the two of them.

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