Mad World // Stiles Stilinksi [1/2]

20

Stiles frowned at her. "No. Absolutely not."

"Gods, Stiles. I can take care of myself. I can heal minor injuries with a shadow."

"Great. But what--what if you get hurt?"

Scott turned to his friend. "Stiles, we could use people who know how to fight. As long as she takes care of herself, she can come."

Lucy shot Scott a smile. "She will."

Scott nodded. "Then it's settled. She's coming."

Stiles groaned and sighed. "Ugh. Fine. Lu, if you're ever in danger, you get the hell out of there. And you can go on one condition. You have your ambrosia with you?"

"Got it. I almost always carry ambrosia with me."

Scott went to talk to Allison and returned to us. "We gotta head to the clinic."

Stiles drove the three of them to the Animal Clinic and as soon as they got inside, Deaton tells them about something called ketamine.

Scott frowned. "Ketamine?"

Deaton nodded. "It's the same stuff we use on the dogs, just a higher dosage. If you can get close enough to Jackson, it should slow him down enough to buy you some time. This is some of what you'll use to create the barrier. This part is for you, Stiles. Only you."

Stiles licked his lips nervously. "Uh, that sounds like a lot of pressure. Can we maybe find a slightly less pressure-filled task for me?"

Deaton smiled slightly. "It's from the Mountain Ash tree, which is believed by many cultures to protect against the supernatural. This office is lined with ashwood, making it difficult for someone like Scott to cause me any trouble. Lucy isn't affected as much, but it's still hard for her."

Stiles frowned. "Okay, so what? I just spread it around the whole building and then either Jackson or whoever's controlling him can't cross it?"

"They'll be trapped."

"Doesn't sound too hard."

"Not all there is. Think of it like gunpowder until a spark ignites it. You need to be that spark, Stiles."

Stiles glanced to Lucy before turning back to Deaton. "If you mean light myself on fire, I don't think I'm up for that."

Deaton let out a sigh. "Let me try a different analogy. I used to golf. I learned that the best golfers never swing before first imagining where they want the ball to go. They see it in their mind and their mind takes over. It can be pretty extraordinary what the force of your own will can accomplish."

"Force of will," Stiles repeated.

"If--If this is going to work, Stiles, you have to believe it."

"Mm-hmm."

They drove to his house because he needed to grab something. He tapped his steering wheel in frustration.

"Stiles, you're making me anxious. What is it?"

"Deaton. It's too much pressure."

Lucy thought for a moment, trying to jog a memory. "Well, uh, I vaguely remember Star Wars. Luke is a good guy, right? The Jedi or whatever it's called. He can use this magic that requires belief. Imagine you're using that when pouring out the dust."

Stiles' eyes widened. "I'm using the Force! I could kiss you right now!"

Lucy's cheeks reddened as Stiles suddenly said, "I'll be back."

He walked inside his house and Lucy tried not to think about what he'd said. Luckily, her brain decided to distract her with other stuff, like who the kanima master was.