Chapter 34 - Frayed

Slowly starting to wake up, Scarlett shoves her face into the fabric that she's gripping. There is a movement under her head and the sound of paper crumpling. She shifts her body once more, trying to get comfortable again. Suddenly her brain registers that her head is not on a pillow. Her eyes snap open and she raises her head to figure out what she is laying on.Eyes wide, Scarlett's eyes meet Stiles. "Morning." He awkwardly says, face flushing red.Scarlett pulls her lips into an awkward smile, "Sorry." She pushes herself further away, moving papers so she doesn't crumple them anymore than they already are."It's fine. I don't mind being your pillow." Stiles replies, also sitting up.Scarlett lightly laughs, "Thanks." Stiles smiles back at her. They both quickly turn away, once more looking at all the papers they were looking through the night before. "So, I don't think we really have much to talk to Lydia about just yet. I don't want to tell her something that's not true and get her hopes up."Stiles nods, "I'll let you decide what and when you want to tell her. She's your best friend after all." The two teenagers start picking up the papers, once they're all collected, Stiles hands them to Scarlett so she can take them home and look through them more by herself. "I'll take you home. Let me know if you need anymore help.""I will. Thanks again for this."*_*_*_*_*_*Once Scarlett got home, she walked into the kitchen to see her mom drinking coffee. "Good morning. Where were you last night?""Sorry, Stiles was helping me with something. We accidently fell asleep."Melissa nods, "Next time, let me know where you are." Scarlett nods in response, starting to head up the stairs towards her room. "Scarlett, wait. I need to talk to you about something."Scarlett turns around, heading back into the kitchen, "What? Did something happen?"She holds up a finger, telling her daughter to wait, "ISAAC! Can you come here?"Scarlett knits her eyebrows together, "Isaac's here?"Just as the words leave her mouth, Isaac runs down the stairs. "Sit please. Both of you." The teenagers sit down as Scarlett glances at Isaac, confused about what he's doing at the house and why her mother wants to talk with them together. "Alright. So I already said that you can live with us, Isaac.""Wait what? Why? Weren't you living with Derek?" Scar asks."He kicked me out because Cora is there now." Isaac replies, looking at the brunette briefly then turning back towards Melissa.Scarlett turns back towards her mom too so she can continue talking, "I'm happy to help and to have you here. But I know that you two have a romantic relationship going on-""Oh God mom. Please don't tell me you're trying to have a sex talk with us." Scarlett interrupts, embarrassed."I want you two to be safe." Isaac starts blushing as Scarlett shoves her head into her hands, Melissa continues talking, "No having sex when your brother and I are here. Remember to wear a condom. You're on birth control Scarlett.""Mom. Mom. Please stop okay?" She stops talking but looks at the teens with a stern look. "We know all of this already. Can we please go? You're just making us uncomfortable.""If you're uncomfortable talking about sex then you shouldn't be having it.""Oh my God. I am not uncomfortable talking about it but it is a little awkward with my mom talking about it to me and the guy I'm having sex with." Melissa looks between the two then sighs, "Fine go.""Thank you." Scarlett quickly stands up, grabbing Isaac's hand and pulling him with her to her bedroom before her mom can change her mind. "I am so sorry about that."Isaac gently smiles, "It's fine. She's your mom, I'm not surprised that she was concerned about our relationship." His reply causes Scarlett to smile back at him. She then pulls his head down to give him a kiss.*_*_*_*_*_*A few nights later Scott, Isaac, and Scarlett head to meet with the Alpha pack. Scott thinks if he talks with Deucalion he can make a deal. But they need to do it fast because Derek wants to go after them and kill them. They arrive at the abandoned mall where Scott arranged the meeting. "We're going to talk to him. Try to reason with him. That's it." Scott says as they start heading inside.Once inside the trio stand together, Isaac and Scarlett slightly behind Scott. "You didn't come alone." Deucalion speaks."Yeah... This is Isaac and Scarlett.""I'm not talking about Isaac and Scarlett."A crunch of boots causes the three teenagers to turn their heads. Derek, Boyd, and Cora step out of the dark. "You knew I'd do this." Scott says to Derek."I need your help, Scott." Derek replies.Derek steps closer, shifting into a werewolf, Cora and Boyd following his lead. "Derek, don't. You can't do this and no one gets hurt. If someone dies-"Derek cuts off Scott's rant, "Him. Just him.""Just me? Now how's a blind man find his way into a place like this all on his own?" Deucalion asks. They all turn as they hear the other Alpha's join the room."This isn't good." Scarlett mumbles, sharing worried looks with Scott and Isaac. Before they can think much more about what is going to happen, Derek rushes for Deucalion. Kali blocks his attack though, Ennis going for Boyd and Cora at the same time.Not being given much of a choice, Isaac, Scott, and Scarlett all transform too. They start attacking the twins, who are now in their combined Alpha form. Out of the corner of Scarlett's eye, she sees Cora struggle against Kali. Moving like a blur, she joins the fight, trying to help Cora in any way.Scar takes Kali by surprise and gets a couple of good hits and scratches in before she gains the upper hand. She manages to get Cora on the ground, clawed foot held over her neck. Kali's hand is wrapped tightly around Scarlett's throat. Her feet struggle to touch the ground and her hands try to pry Kali off.Scarlett briefly looks around to see everyone else in a similar position. Everyone else except Boyd who is struggling to get up but doesn't have a Alpha holding him down and Derek, who looks around helplessly."Kill him. The others can go." Deucalion says to Derek. "You're beaten. Do it, Derek. Take the first step.""Are we serious with this? Look at him. He's an Alpha? To what? A couple of useless teenagers?" Kali asks. "Let him rise to the occasion then. What'll it be, Derek? Pack or family?" She pushes her foot down onto Cora's neck. Scarlett starts struggling once more but stops when Kali applies more pressure to her throat.In the quiet that follows the question, Scarlett makes out the sound of a bow. She immediately closes her eyes, knowing what is about to happen. A flashbolt shoots through the building, landing near the twins. Kali loosens her grip on Scarlett, who quickly uses her surprise to slip from her hold."Your eyes. Cover your eyes!" Deucalion yells. Kali covers her eyes but still doesn't back away from Cora. Seeing that the older werewolf isn't paying attention to Scarlett anymore, she forcefully shoves her away. allowing Cora the chance to get back up."Run!" Scott yells. Scar grabs Cora's hand forcing her to run away.She tries to argue though, "Derek-""He'll be fine. We need to get out of here while we have the chance." Scarlett interrupts. Seeing the look on her face Scar continues, "I'm the fastest out of everyone, I'll go back and make sure but you need to leave." The younger Hale hesitantly nods.Scarlett lets go of her hand, lightly shoving her towards the exit and turning around to make sure everyone made it out. As she heads back, she sees Isaac helping Boyd, "Go quick! I need to make sure Scott and Derek are alright."Isaac nods, trusting Scarlett, as they continue to head out of the building. Scarlett makes it back into the room to see Scott rushing forward, "Derek-" He calls.Scarlett rushes towards her twin, tugging on his shoulder. She looks down to see Ennis and Derek not moving, "Come on, Scott! We need to go."Once the group reconvenes, Cora looks at Scarlett, "Where's Derek?"Scarlett shakes her head, "I'm sorry. There was nothing we could do."Cora's gaze turns into a hard glare, "You told me he was fine! You're supposed to have a danger sense." She shoved the brunette back as she said the words."Hey, hey!" Scarlett grabs her wrists to stop Cora from pushing her again, "I'm sorry, okay? I'm still learning and I couldn't tell. If I could I wouldn't have said he would be fine." Both of their eyes glisten with unshed tears, both of them refusing to cry. Finally, she tears herself away from Scarlett and walks away without another word. "Cora!" Scarlett calls after her, concerned for the girl and feeling guilty that she gave her false hope."Leave her, she'll be alright." Isaac whispers, laying a gentle hand on Scarlett's shoulder.*_*_*_*_*_*The next day the boys had to go on a cross country meet. Allison and Scarlett asked Lydia to come with them to follow the bus, not wanting to let Scott out of their sights. "You think I'm getting too close? I'm getting too close, aren't I?" Allison's voice breaks Scarlett from her thoughts."That depends. Are you just following the bus? Or are you planning to mount it at some point?" Scar snorts at Lydia's words."So I should back off?" Allison questions, looking at her exes twin through the rearview mirror."That also depends. Do you mean the bus? Or the ex-boyfriend you're currently stalking?" Lydia asks the hunter.Not giving Allison the chance to answer Scarlett speaks up, "Neither of us want to let Scott out of our sight. Not after what happened. Plus something doesn't feel right. Scott's hurt. I don't think he's healed yet.""Do you know or is it just a feeling?" Allison asks."I guess just a feeling. But Deaton told me that I can connect with people in the pack. I mean usually it's in my wolf form but with Scott I can tell even when I'm human. I think it's because we're twins."The conversation stops for about an hour, each of the girls focused on their own thoughts. "So was not letting them out of your sight literal? Or more like a general rule?" Lydia asks, breaking the silence."Literal. Why?" Allison questions, glancing at the strawberry blonde."You're under a quarter of a tank."Allison groans as Scar answers, "Well that's not good considering the bus holds a lot more gas then the car.""What if we stop?" Allison asks."With the bus going at a steady sixty-five including time to pump gas? It would probably take about half an hour to catch up going at least a hundred and ten." Lydia replies."I love it when you show how smart you are. It's a major turn on." Scarlett says, smirking at her best friend.The strawberry blonde turns in her seat to smirk back at the brunette, "Maybe I should start showing off my smarts more.""Only if you wanna end up making out with me. I don't know if I'll be able to hold myself back much longer.""Girls. Focus." Allison cuts in."Sorry." Lydia and Scarlett say in unison.Lydia continues, "Is it that big a deal if we lose them for a little while? We know where they're headed.""You didn't see it happen." Allison responds."I know who started it." Lydia says."Is that what Aiden told you?" Allison asks as Scarlett throws Lydia a questioning glance."Aiden? Hold on a second. Is that why you wanted me on this little road trip? Are you keeping an eye on them and me?""Well, we are wondering if anything is going on between you two." Scar says."Nothing is going on between us." Lydia reaches into her purse and takes out her lipstick. She smiles as she applies it to her lips. Allison and Scarlett can both tell that she's lying. "What?" Lydia asks, noticing their looks.Before either of them can reply, Allison slams on the brakes. Lydia and Scar turn to look out the window and see that Allison suddenly stopped because they are stuck in traffic. Scarlett quickly pulls her phone out of her pocket as it starts ringing, "Hey Stiles. Lyds, Allison, and I are just about to go to the movies-"Stiles interrupts, "I know you're right behind us. Put me on speaker."Scarlett sighs but puts him on speaker, "Alright. What's up?""Scott's still hurt.""I knew it. Why didn't he tell us?""You knew?""Yeah, I sensed it. How bad is it?""Bad. I think it's getting worse. The blood's turning black.""Well, what's wrong with him?" Lydia questions."Do I have a Ph.D. in Lycanthropy? How should I know?""We have to get him off the bus." Allison pipes up."And take him where? A hospital?" Lydia asks."Yeah. If he's not healing." Scarlett says."Stiles, there's a rest area coming up in a mile. Tell Coach to pull over." Allison says."I've been trying." Stiles replies."Reason with him.""Reason? Have you met the guy?""Stiles, you have to do something. You're smart. You'll figure it out." Scarlett answers. She hangs up the phone as they wait to see if the bus pulls into the rest area. A few minutes later they follow the bus into the rest area. Lydia, Allison, and Scarlett quickly make their way to Scott and Stiles. Stiles has one of Scott's arms around his shoulder and Scarlett grabs his other.They rush Scott into the men's room and gently lower him to the ground. Allison kneels next to him and lifts his shirt. His torso is bloody, the wounds not healing. "Oh God. Why didn't you tell us?" Allison asks."Sorry." Scott replies with a weak smile."Okay, just give us a second." Lydia, Stiles, and Scar follow Allison as she steps away from Scott. "This shouldn't be happening. I've seen him heal from worse than this before.""Isaac, Boyd, and I are all healed. He should be too." Scar replies."You know, it could be psychological." Lydia says."You mean he's not letting himself heal?""Yeah, it's all in his head."Stiles starts talking, "Because of Derek. He's not letting himself heal because Derek died.""Then what do we do?" Allison asks.Lydia opens her purse and pulls out a travel size sewing kit, "Stitch him up." The others all look at her with raised eyebrows, "I'm serious. Maybe all he has to do is believe it's healing."They turn to look at Scott, who is now barely conscious. "We need to try." Scarlett says.Allison takes the sewing kit and starts preparing the needle and thread, "He's going to need another shirt. Where's his bag?""I'll get it. I can't deal with needles anyway." Stiles replies. "You know what you're doing, right?"Allison nods, "My father taught me.""How fast can you, I mean what if the bus, the bus could leave.""Make sure it doesn't.""Come on." Lydia says, pulling both Scar and Stiles out of the bathroom with her.They run out to the bus so Stiles can get Scott's bag. About a minute later Coach starts yelling at all the students, "Let's go! Back on the bus."Scarlett grabs the shirt from Stiles hands, "You two distract him. Don't let the bus leave."Scar rushes into the bathroom just as Scott is looking down at his now closed wound. "Hey, can you stand?" She asks, bringing the attention to her. Scott nods and Allison helps him up. "Put this on. The bus is about to leave."He shakily slips the shirt on, then Allison and Scarlett each grab one of his arms to help him walk towards the bus. Lydia darts toward the trio when she spots us, "Is he okay? Are you okay?"Scott nods, "Where's Stiles?""Trying to stall Coach." Lydia turns to Allison, "We still have no gas.""I'm not leaving him." Allison and Lydia say in unison.Lydia briefly glances between them, "Then we have to leave the car.""Good idea." Allison replies."What? That wasn't an actual suggestion." Allison and Scarlett don't wait for her to continue as they start to head to the bus once more.Outside the bus the students crowd around two people who are fighting. Stiles rushes over to us, "He went after him- I told him what was happening with you and he just went after him-""Boyd?" Scott asks, cutting Stiles off."No-"Once more Stiles is interrupted by a voice, "Isaac! Isaac back off!" Coach yells.Scarlett quickly steps in front of Scott, "Stay!" She says to Scott, who tries to rush after his twin. She then moves towards Isaac, "Isaac!" She scolds bringing his, and everyone else's attention to her, "Enough!"Isaac looks at his sorta-girlfriend, then over her shoulder to see Scott, now healed. He immediately lowers his fist and backs off. Now on the bus Lydia and Scar sit together talking to Stiles who sits in the seat next to them. "It's the sacrifices. Everything has to do with them and someone who thinks they're some kind of Dark Druid." Stiles whispers to the girls."Or actually is a Dark Druid." Lydia replies.Stiles nods, "A Darach.""You know, some ancient cultures sacrificed people in preparation for battle.""Oh that's great. Because a battle is just what we need." Scarlett says, rolling her eyes.They both ignore her as Stiles continues, "So Alpha werewolves against a Dark Druid. What nightmare parallel dimension did we get sucked into?"Scar snorts then adds, "It would be nice if the Darach and Alpha pack finished each other off.""Nothing ever happens like that though, Scar.""A girl can dream."