Through the Dark // S.S. [Book One]

Chapter 13

"Actually, clique sounds about right to me." Scott answers.

Mr. Argent nods. "I hope so. Cause I know she's a friend of Allison's, and one special circumstance, such as yourself--one, I can handle. Not two."

"No."

"Scott, do you know what a hemicorporectomy is?"

I can't even spell that, let alone, know what it is.

Scott purses his lips. "I have a feeling I don't want to."

Mr. Argent ignores Scott's statement and continues. "A medical term for amputating somebody at the waist. Cutting them in half. Takes a tremendous amount of strength to cut through tissue and bone like that. Let's hope a demonstration never becomes necessary."

"You okay?" Allison nods, looking at Scott.

Scott shrugs. "It's just another life-threatening conversation with your dad."

"Stiles, help me with this." Allison says.

Scott shakes his head. "Thanks. But I think I got it."

"Yeah." Stiles says.

Scott gets himself out and Allison gives an awkward laugh. Scott turns and smiles at us. "Comin'?"

Shortly before Chemistry the next day, I rush to my locker and run into someone. He helps me help and smiles awkwardly. "I am so sorry. Are--are you okay?"

"I'm fine. My name is Megara."

The boy nods. "I know. I'm Isaac."

"Nice to meet you, Isaac. I'll catch you later, okay?"

He gives me a soft smile. "You have Chemistry, right? I'll walk with you."

Together, the two of us walk to Chemistry and we take our normal seats.

In Chemistry Stiles looks at Scott. "What if the next body part she steals is from someone who's still alive?"

"Who, Lydia?" I ask as Stiles nods.

Mr. Harris frowns. "This is a pop quiz Mr. Stilinski, Miss Parker. If I hear your voices again, I may be tempted to give you detention for the rest of your high school career."

"Can you do that?" Stiles and I ask.

"Well, there it is again. Your voices. Triggering the only impulse I've ever had to strike a student repeatedly and violently. I'll see the two of you at 3:00 for detention. You too, Mr. McCall?*

"No, sir." Scott replies.

After Chemistry, I open my locker, which is next to Alison's. A guy smiles at her. "Nice dress."

"Nice camera." Allison returns.

I hear a couple girls talking. "Not her sister, her aunt. The one who murdered all those people."

The second girl says, "You mean the crazy bitch who killed all those people?"

The first girl nods. "Yeah, the fire, all those animal attacks--It was her aunt."

"Are you kidding? I sit next to her in English."

"Find a new seat." The first girl retorts.

Allison ducks her head and I stalk over to the girls. "Excuse me, it's not nice to gossip about people. See, Allison is a friend of mine, and she's a wonderful person. You barely know her. You have no right to talk smack about her. So, back off and leave her alone, otherwise you will regret it. I'm someone you should be worried about it if I ever hear you talking smack about her again."

The girls glare at me and nod. Allison turns to me. "Thank you, Megara."

She runs off and heads to a random classroom and I head to Mr. Harris's room for detention. I sit in silence for an hour; the hardest hour of my life. Finally, an hour passes, and Stiles stands up. "Sit." Mr. Harris orders.

"What, but it's been an hour." Stiles protests.

"My detention's an hour and a half."

"You can't do that." I argue.

Mr. Harris smirks. "Oh--but I can. You see, Stiles, since your father was so judicious in his dealings with me, I've decided to make you my personal project for the rest of the semester. You are going to benefit from all the best that strict discipline has to offer. Miss Parker, you could do with some discipline too, I gather. Now--sit down, before I decide to keep you here all night."

The half-hour passes and we finally are released. We head to the graveyard and hide behind a statue. "Yo." Stiles whispers.

I point to the old man. "Who is that?"

Scott shrugs. "He's definitely an Argent."

Stiles turns to Scott. "Hey, you know, maybe they're just here for the funeral. I mean--what if they're the non-hunting side of the family? There could be non-hunting Argents. It's possible, right?"

From the way the older man is glowering at everything, he's definitely got a suspicion about him. Scott confirms my suspicion. "I know what they are. They're reinforcements."

"Ah." The sheriff suddenly says, pulling up the two boys by their shirts. "The two of you. Unbelievable. I'm hoping you dragged Megara into this. Pick up my tie."

Stiles nods. "Got it. Sorry. I know, I'm supposed to ask."

We pile into the back of a cop car and an officer says over the radio, "4-1-5 Adam."

Sheriff Stilinski says, "I didn't copy that. Did you say 4-1-5 Adam?"

"Disturbance in a car." Stiles says quietly.

"They were taking a heart attack victim--D.O.A. But on the way to the hospital, something hit 'em."

"What--hit the ambulance?"

"Copy that. I'm standing in front of it right now. Something got in the back. There's blood everywhere. And I mean everywhere."

I see Sheriff Stilinski nod. "Alright, Unit 4, what's your 20?"

"Route 5 and post. I swear, I've never seen anything like this."

"Alright, take it easy. I'm on my way. Now, as for you three--"

I rub my eyes as Stiles asks, "What the hell is Lydia doing?"

Scott shakes his head. "I don't know."

We sneak out of the squad car and hide behind a small hill, watching the police and paramedics deal with the D.O.A. victim.

Stiles stretches to look at the dead person. "What kept you from doing that, was it Allison?"

"I hope so."

"Do you need to get closer?"

"No, I got it."

As Scott stands up, I grab his arm. "Scott, you need to find her. I need to know she's okay."

Scott nods and gives me a soft smile. "I will."

He runs off and I wrap my long, thin fleece sweater around myself. While I'm not cold, I do get a little chilly, especially when the temperature drops at night. A familiar strawberry blonde head appears.

I run up to her, pulling off my sweater. I wrap it around her, covering everything necessary as I call her name. "Lydia? Lydia? Lydia!"

She blinks repeatedly and focuses on me. I take a moment to look at her. Her hair is a rat's nest, covered with dirt and feathers. Her skin is dusty, but none of it matters. She's alive. I throw my arms around her and Lydia does the same. "You're alive." I whisper.

"It's so good to feel safe again." Lydia sobs. "How long have I been out here?"

"Two days, Lyds. We've all been worried sick."

Her breath stops for a second as she looks at me in shock. "Two days?"

"Don't worry. You're okay now."

She nods as she tightens her grip on me.