Blake's outfit
Chapter Twenty-Two
🦎 Battlefield 🦎
Fingers wrap through and around the worn threads in the net of a lacrosse stick. Backpack at his feet, an unusually pensive Stiles absentmindedly tightens the knots on the head of the stick. "You know, when you're drowning, you don't actually inhale until right before you black out. It's called "voluntary apnea." It's, like, no matter how much you're freaking out, the instinct to not let any water in is so strong that you won't open your mouth until you feel like your head's exploding. But then, when you finally do let it in... that's when it stops hurting. It's not scary anymore. It's-it's actually kind of peaceful."
"Are you saying you hope Matt felt some peace in his last moments?" Ms. Morrell asked, "I don't feel sorry for him."
"Can you feel sorry for the nine-year-old Matt who drowned?"
"Just because a couple of dumbasses dragged him into a pool when he couldn't swim, doesn't really give him the right to go off killing them one by one." Stiles scoffed and stopped working on his lacrosse stick to look at Morrell.
"And, by the way, my dad told me that they found a bunch of pictures of my girlfriend on Matt's computer. And not just of her, though. I mean, he Photoshopped himself into these pictures- stuff like them holding hands, and kissing... You know, like, he had built this whole fake relationship. So, yeah, maybe drowning when he was nine years old was what sent him off the rails, but the dude was definitely riding the crazy-train."
"One positive thing came out of this, though... Right?" Ms. Morrell said, hinting at the fact Stilinski got his job back. "Yeah. Yeah... but I still feel like there's something wrong between us. I don't know. It's just, like, tension when we talk. Same thing with Scott."
"Have you talked to him since that night?"
"No, not really... I mean, he's got his own problems to deal with, though... I don't think he's talked to Allison, either. But that might be more her choice, you know? But, I guess it brought her and her dad closer... Jackson hasn't really been himself lately...Actually, the funny thing is, as of right now, Lydia is the one who seems the most normal..."
"And Blake?" Morrell asked making Stiles sigh and look down, "Blake's... okay I guess. She's making it her mission to talk to everyone besides Allison and Jackson. Her and her brother aren't fighting anymore, they're closer then ever now. Actually I think he's the person she's been talking to the most."
"But..." Morrell said, sensing that Stiles wasn't telling her something. "But I can't help but feel that she's keeping something from all of us whenever we talk. She's a lot more quite now and it always seems like she has something on her mind but never says anything about it." He said shrugging.
"Have you tried asking her about it?" Morrell asked and he sighed and shook his head, "One thing I know about Blake is that she always speaks her mind. It's one of the things I like most about her. So when she's not telling us about something it means she really doesn't want to talk about it."
"And what about you, Stiles? Feeling some anxiety about that championship game tomorrow?" Morrell asked making Stiles looks up. He has one of the threads on the lacrosse stick clenched between his teeth, "Why would you ask me that?" He asked through his teeth.
Realizing what he's doing, he sets the lacrosse stick down, "Ah. Uh, no. I-I never actually play. But, hey, since one of my teammates is dead, and another one's missing, who knows, right?"
"You mean, Isaac- one of the three runaways. You haven't heard from any of them, have you?" Morrell asks but Stiles ignores the question, focusing on Morrell's desk. "How come you're not taking any notes on this?" He asked, "I do my notes after the session." She answered.
"Your memory's that good?"
🦎
Stiles walked out of Morrell's office and to his surprise he saw Blake sitting in one if the chairs, notebook in her hap and pencil in hand. "Hey..." He said making her look up, "What are you doing here?" He asked as she grabbed her bag and stood up.
"Your dad told me you were going to see Morrell today so I decided to wait for you." She said walking over to him, "You didn't have to do that." He said and she shrugged, "I wanted to."
Stiles started at her in thought as she looked away from, "Can we talk?" He asked making her look at him, "About what you're not telling us?" He asked and she sighed before grabbing his hand and pulling him into am empty classroom.
Blake leaned against the teacher's desk, pulling Stiles in front of her as she looked down at their intertwined hands before sighing. "Peter's alive." She whispered making his eyes widen, "What? How?" He asked and she looked up at him.
"He's been haunting Lydia since she was in the hospital. And he got in her head and on the night of her party, when I dissapeared, she used Derek and I to resurrect him." She said not looking at him. He sighed softly before gently grabbing her face making her look at him.
"Why didn't you tell us?" He asked and she shrugged, "I was hoping that if I didn't talk about it then it wouldn't be true. It was easier when he was dead." She said making him look at her confused. "What was?" He asked and she sighed.
"Not trusting him. It's like I know his a psychotic killer but every time I see him I cant help but see my uncle that I looked up to when I was a kid. And I don't want to see him like that, I dont want him using that as a way to get in my head." She said and he moved a piece of hair out of her face.
"He won't because I know you want let him. You're stronger and smarter than that." He said and she sighed and looked down messing with her flannel, that was actually his. "What else are you not telling me?" He asked making her sigh and look up.
"I hate how well you know me." She said and he chuckled, "I know everything about you. I probably know you better than your brother knows you." He said making her laugh and nod before sighing.
"If Peter was just a little more psychotic, I could have died." She whispered making him look at her almost fearfully, "The ritual that Lydia did, it's a siphoning ritual. For someone to come back to life they need to take some of your strength and power. I...I never got the kind if training I should have gotten when my magic came through." She said looking up at him.
"Because of that I'm not as powerful as I could be right now. If Lydia had only used me to do the ritual, it would have killed me." She said making him cup her face, "Why didn't you tell us?" He whispered and she shrugged and shook her head. "I don't know. I just wanted to stop thinking about it."
"I talked to Deaton and he said he'll train me over the summer like he was supposed when I got my magic. So then, me not being power enough won't be a risk anymore." She said and he nodded and pulled her into him. "Please tell me these thing, Blake." He said as she rested her head on his chest.
"I will."
🦎
"Hey Scott? Have you seen my-" Blake started to ask as she walked into Scott's room right as he was walking out of his bathroom. Both of then instantly noticed a pair of feet hanging several inches off the floor. Melissa stares down at them in terror, fingers grasping at the ta wrapped around her neck which holds her almost a foot off the floor. Perched in the corner between the ceiling and the walls above, the Kanima stares defiantly at Scott and Blake.
Only few a feet away, Gerard sits in the reclining chair, seeming perfectly at home. "As you can see, Blake, Scott, there's been some interesting developments lately... I think we should catch up."
Scott's fist snaps open to reveal his claws unsheathed, "Come on, Scott. Let's be realistic about who's got the upper hand, here." Gerard says. "Let her go." Scott demanded and Gerard just chuckled. "Can't do that...But, let her live? That's up to you two."
"What do you want?"
"I want to talk. You haven't been answering your phone." Gerard says, "Let her go, and we can talk about whatever you want." Scott said and Gerard stands and walks to Melissa who continues gasping for breath, hands clutching at the tail around her neck.
"I want the same thing that I have always wanted- I want Derek and his pack." Gerard said making Blake scoff. "You have them all in hiding. How am I supposed to know where they are?" Scott said and Gerard chuckled and looked at Blake. "I have a feeling she does." He said making her glare at him.
"What makes you think I would tell you were my brother is?" She asked and he chuckled, "I'll admit, I don't expect you to tell me. I know about you Hales and how important family is to you. Especially since you don't have much left." He said making her clench her hands in fists to minimize her anger so something doesn't explode.
"But." He said, looking back at Scott, "I think, with the proper motivation, you could draw them out. And, if you haven't noticed, I now have a fairly impressive means by which I can motivate people. Why do you think I'm able to control him?"
"This is about Kate?" Scott asked and Gerard turned to them, "I didn't just come here to bury my daughter. I came to avenge her."
The Kanima whips its tail free of Melissa's neck, letting her drop to the floor. Scott rushes to her side as she coughs for air. When he looks up again, he glimpses the Kanima's tail disappearing out the top of the doorway while Gerard stopped next to Blake.
"If you help bring Derek to me, I'll consider not killing you as well." Gerard said making Blake look at him with a dark glare as her nails dug into her palms. "Touch my brother and I'll do exactly what you're for Kate." Blake said, spitting Kate's name out with venom in her voice, "I'll avenge him. And I'll be worse than hoe my uncle was when he tore your daughter's throat out." She spat.
He looked at her darkly before walking away. She waited until he was no longer in sighed before running over to Scott and Melissa. "Oh, I don't know what's happening.. I don't know what that thing was, or even what you are... but whatever he wants, just give it to him."
"Mom, it's not that easy..."
"Do what he wants. Just give him what he wants."
"He can't." Blake said making them look at her, "If he does, it ends with my brother dying and then me dying."
🦎
"I assume you want to go talk to the boys?" Melissa asked as her and Blake walked over to the lacrosse field and Blake nodded, "Okay, I'll go find us a seat." Melissa said and squeezed Blake's shoulder before walking away.
Blake turned to go walk over to the benches but suddenly Stiles comes running over to her with his helmet and lacrosse stick before grabbing her arm. "I'm playing." He said making her eyes widen, "You're playing?!?" She asked and he nodded excitedly.
"I'm playing." He said and she let out a happy laugh, "Oh my god!" She said and he smiled widely at her. "You should probably get out there." She said and he nodded, "Yes! Right!" He said and went to run off but she grabbed his hand.
"Wait, wait." She said before hooking her hand behind his neck pulling him down into a kiss. He instantly dropped his gear as his hands went to her hips. A few seconds later she pulled away and smiled up at him, "Good luck." She said and he gave her a cheese smile before running off.
"Stiles!" She yelled as she picked up his gear making him run back over and grab them, "One more good luck." He said making her laugh. She quickly pulled him into a kiss before pulling away and pushing him towards the field. "Go!" She said and he smiled at her before running off.
She walked to were Melissa sat next to Stilinski and sat down in front of them. "Oh, no... Why is my son running out to the field?" Stilinski said making Blake chuckle, "Because he's on the team?" Melissa said slowly.
"He is?" Stilinski asked making Blake laugh and nod. "He's on the team... He's on the field. My son's on the feild!" fStilinski said proudly as he stood up. The crowd on the bleachers all look up at Stilinski. With a huge smile on his face, he quietly sits back down. Melissa and Blake look at each other laughing as Melissa wrapped her arms around Blake's shoulder while Blake leaned back against her legs.
A few minutes later Lydia comes over and sits down next to Blake, smiling nervously at her. They hadn't talked much since the night of Lydia's party, it was always awkward and neither of them knew what to say. And Lydia was afraid Blake hated her now. But none the less Blake smiled back and grabbed Lydia's hand, giving it a comforting squeeze, telling her that what happened was past her.
Blake gazes out on the field watching Stiles glance up in shock as the ball lands right in the pocket of his lacrosse stick. Before he can even turn around, a player rams into him. The sound of crunching pads brings audible groans from the crowd. "He's never played before. He just needs a little warning up." Blake said, trying to stay hopeful.
At the next whistle blow, Stiles races for the ball, slapping helplessly at it while opposing players converge on him. Another vicious crunch sets the crowd flinching back. "He's just a little nervous. Plenty of time to turn it around." Lydia said and Blake nodded in agreement.
Another whistle blow and Stiles tries to catch a pass, but the ball bounces right off his helmet. Blake and Lydia look at each other, neither able to come up with a new excuse. They turn to Stilinski, but he has his head buried in his hands.
Blake looked around for a moment before noticing Isaac sitting next to Scott making her sigh in relief. The Ref blows the whistle and Isaac races past to take his position. Lowered for the face-off, Jackson turns an icy gaze on him. But Isaac just winks back at him, eliciting a curious look from Jackson.
The whistle blows and the ball drops. In the crash of players, Isaac knocks a shoulder into a fellow Beacon Hills teammates and sends him crashing to the dirt. With another whistle blow and another brutal crash, a second teammate comes rolling toward Coach's feet. Bewildered, he turns back to the bench again.
"Murphy. You're in. Lahey, what the hell's your problem?!" Coach yelled and Isaac glances back at Coach and holds his hands up in apology. Blake laughs, thoroughly enjoying this. "It's official. Isaac's my friend now." She said making Lydia chuckle and shake her head. "Blake you are something else." Stilinski said making her glance back at him with a smile.
Bodies crash into each other on the field. Among several downed players, Isaac also hits the ground. Rolling to his feet, Jackson glances back, lips pulled
together in a devious smile. Because Isaac isn't getting up. Coach starts onto the field, but Scott hurries past, racing to Isaac's side.
"I'll be right back." Blake said before racing over to Isaac and Scott, "It's not broken... but I can't move it. I think Jackson nicked me, 'cause I can feel it spreading." Isaac said as Blake ran up to them. While other players crowd around, Scott glances back to the sidelines at Gerard whose voice comes whispering into his ear.
"You want to play chess, Scott? Then you better be willing to sacrifice your own pawns." Gerard says and Scott notices Jackson watching as Isaac is pulled onto a stretcher. "Should I go with him?" Blake asked and Scott turned to her shaking her head. "No, no. You say and watch the game and watch over Stiles, his dad, my mom and Lydia. Gerard is planning on doing something with the timer runs out." He said and she nodded and Coach called Scott's name.
"Stiles!" Blake yelled and waved him over to her since the game was still paused, "I-I'm panicking. I don't know why I thought I could ever play." Stiles said as he took his helmet off. "Hey." She said as she grabbed his arm, "You got this, okay? Just get your head in the game and play. I believe in you." She said and he stared at her for a moment before nodding.
"Score a shot for me." She said and then kissed his cheek before running back to the bleachers. "Everything okay?" Melissa said and Blake sighed and sat down, "I hope so."
Blake's leg bounces nervously as Scott glances from the ball in the pocket of his lacrosse net and then to the remarkably sized player known as the
abomination racing toward him. Eyes barely having a second to widen in fear, Scott's feet leave the ground. The ball bounces off into the grass as Scott goes down.
Grass and dirt kick up into the air as Stiles also tumbles painfully across the field, knocked down by an opposing player. Pushing himself up off the ground, Scott glances to the sidelines, and Blake instantly knows he's looking for Gerard making her glance around but doesn't see him anywhere in sight.
Vision blurred, Scott blinks, halos of light bouncing in front of his eyes while a pitiless Jackson gazes at him from across the field. Pulling himself to his feet, Scott looks about but he can't seem to find Gerard anywhere. Then his eyes land on the scoreboard. Ten minutes left. The clock continues to count down as Scott glances over at Blake.
Blake looked back at the field and connects eyes with Scott before nodding slightly. They both knew where Gerard was and one of them had to go stop him. Scott nods back before slipping away from the field, he'll save Isaac while Blake eyes an eye on their friends and family.
Minutes counting down on the clock, the ball flies loose from the opposing team. None of the players could seem to find it except one. With the star player nowhere to be found, another hurtles in toward the ball, Stiles. Snatching the ball from the ground, he spins back.
"Stilinski!" Coach yells and Stile glances about for someone to pass to while Coach screams at him from the sidelines, "Shoot it. Shoot the ball! Shoot it you idiot!" A terrified Stilinski Stilinski watches through his fingers, "Oh crap." He mutters as Blake slowly starts to rise, not taking her eyes off of Stiles.
Stiles glanced around nervously as opposing players run at him, until one voice stuck out from the rest. "Stiles shoot it!" Blake yelled from the bleachers. Then, with the crowd cheering, Coach screaming, and opposing players hurtling toward him, Stiles turns and fired the ball at the goal.
The world seems to go quiet. For a brief second, all that can be heard is the sound of a lacrosse ball hitting the net of a goal. And then the world explodes back to normal as the bleachers erupt with cheering. Stilinski launches to his feet in disbelief as Blake probably cheers louder than anyone.
Mouth hanging open, Stiles can't help but begin to smile, "I scored a goal? I scored a goal. I scored a goal!"
Clock ticking down, Stiles has the ball again, racing for the goal as Coach runs along the sidelines screaming in support. And incredibly, Stiles shoots and scores again. The crowd leaps up again, Stilinski hollering for his son in the bleachers as Lydia grabs Blake's arms as Blake laughs in excitement.
Blake cheers for Stiles as he gallantly scores another goal, sealing the win for Beacon Hills. World moving in a slow, dream-like quality, Stiles turns to find Blake watching him from the stands. Her proud, gentle and perfect smile reserved for him. Only, for him.
The scoreboard clock hits zero and the crowd goes ballistic. Stilinski jumps to his feet, yanking Melissa into a hug. Blake and Lydia had their arms wrapped around each other as they happily laughed. On the field, Stiles grins as his teammates rally around him, the hero of the game.
But then, one-by-one, the stadium light click off, plunging the entire field into darkness. And in that sudden darkness someone screams. "Blake?" Lydia asked in fear and Blake holds onto Lydia tightly as people ran past them, "Just stay with me you'll be okay." Blake said.
With an electric crackle, the stadium lights burst back on, blazing to life one-by-one. Field once again illuminated, Blake looks around and sees both the Beacon Hills team and their opponents are revealed gathered around a fallen player. The girls glance at each other before quickly running over.
Lydia and Blake hurtles past, pushing aside lacrosse players twice their size. "Jackson? What's happened to Jackson? Jackson! Jackson! Jackson, what's happening?" Lydia panicked as she grabbed onto Blake's arm with tears in her eyes.
"Can we get a medic over here? We're gonna need a medic!" Coach yelled and Melissa pushed past people and instantly dropped down next to Jackson. "He's not breathing. No pulse." Melissa said making Lydia let out a small whimper as she tightened her grip on Blake.
"Nothing?"
"Nothing."
"Oh, my God. There's blood. There's blood!" Lydia cried and Scott tapped Blake's arm. "Look." He said and her and Isaac follows Scott's eyes to see blood on the tips of Jackson's fingers, perfectly matching the puncture wounds. "He did it to himself?" Isaac said in a questioning tone as the three of them looked at each other.
Sirens rising in the distance, Melissa begins CPR chest compressions before glancing up at Lydia. "Get down here. Get down here and hold his head. Tilt it up." Lydia nods and gently puts her hands under Jackson's head. His mouth lies open, still not breathing as Melissa tries to get his heart started.
A few feet away, Sheriff Stilinski turns from the scene, glancing through the crowd. "Stiles. Where's Stiles?" Stilinski asked, instantly catching Blake attention as she spun around to look at him, "Where-Where's my son? Where's Stiles?"
Blake fearfully looked around, not being able to see Stiles anywhere. She let out a few panicked breaths, remembering that Gerard was planning to do something when the time ran out. "Oh god." She whispered bringing her hand up to cover her mouth as her eyes slightly glossed over in fear of something happening to her boyfriend.
Scott comfortingly grabbed Blake's hand making her turn to him and Isaac who was looking at her worriedly.
"Where's Stiles!? Where the hell is my son?!"