Out of The Shadows (Shadow Series #3)

12 - Chess

        "This is everything non-lethal I could find." Allison leads the way into the study in their apartment.

        All sorts of non-lethal weapons lay on top of the desk. My eyes trail over them, checking to see what they are giving us to work with. I decided to bring my bow with me, but instead of my usual arrowheads, these have a tranquilzer dart embedded in them. I'm looking for to kill the Nogistune, but I have enough to knock him out.

        "Take all of it." Dad orders.

        Mr. Stilinski watches Allison begin to shove things in a black duffel bag. "What's the plan here?"

        "Our best shot right now is for Derek to try to pick up Stiles' scent at Eichen House." Dad begins to explain the plan. "Especially if he went through something stressful there."

        "Wouldn't it be stupid for all four of us to go to the same place?" I cross my arms over my chest. "We don't know for sure where the Nogistune may be. We need to cover more ground."

        Dad angles his head towards me. "Where else has Stiles been showing up?"

        "School. The hospital." Allison says.

        Derek immediately cuts her off. "Okay, hold on. We did this already. He disappeared. We started looking for him. Then walked right into a trap at the hospital."

        "He's getting us to repeat the same moves." I realize. 

        Allison makes a confused face. "So, what do we do? Wait for him to come to us?"

        I lean forward on the desk. "We can't. Not if the Oni find him when the sun goes down." I glance at everyone in the room. "And Scott's working on them right now with Kira."

        "That's the problem." Dad says. "We're all trying to outfox the fox."

        Mr. Stilinski holds his head down for a second. "Listen, I'll understand if anyone wants to back out."        

        I straigten back up and roll my shoulders. "This is my best friend we are talking about. I'm going to help save him."

        Derek nods. "I'm not going to be the first wolf to run from a fox." He grabs a taser from the table.

        "Apparently, I'm carrying a lightsaber." Dad adds.

        Allison zips up the duffel bag. "Dad, you and Derek hit Eichen House. Sheriff, it's you, me, and Clara in the hospital. We all meet in the school."

                

X

        The elevator doors in the hospital slide shut, shutting the three of us in the small, confined square. Our reflections shine back at us in the shiny, silver elevator doors. I stare back at my reflection, eyes glimpsing at my twin. Her head is held up high like my own, but they soon dart down to the floor. Oddly enough, both of us exhale at the exact same time. Our eyes flicker to each other's in the reflection and we look away quickly. 

         "You know what?" Mr. Stilinski breaks the awkward silence that has settled upon us since we left the Argent household. His head bows down as he shakes it from side to side. "I don't know how you guys do it. You're all so strong. You're fearless. Hell, you even manage to keep your grades up."

        Allison tucks a hair behind her ear. "I am failing econ."

        Mr. Stilinski angles his head towards her. "Is that Coach's class?" He waits to see her nod her head. "Well, I'll have a talk with him."