In a room where the walls are a pastel purple, with white butterfly decorations and photo frames on the central wall, there was a light beige bed, matching cushions, and a scarlet red sheet and blanket that blended well with the room's ambiance.
On the floor beside the bed was a stack of advanced physics, philosophy, and even anthropology books, around which several cute stuffed animals of different colors were scattered, a rather strange combination.
There was also a desk with a lamp, a mirror, photos, and several makeup bags.
It was clearly a girl's room, confirmed by the young figure who slept peacefully on the bed, lying on her back, her red hair was flowing like a waterfall over the pillow where her head rested.
She had a relaxed face, her jaw was loose, and her entire body seemed at ease, as if she weren't sleeping but rather enjoying a warm, soothing bath—whatever she was dreaming about, it seemed very pleasant.
Her eyelids tremble for a few seconds before opening, revealing two light hazel eyes. The girl didn't react like a normal person who lazily lingers in bed but immediately sat up with the help of her arms, lost in thought.
'( again... )' she thought. Ever since her first vision of the blue flame in the woods a week ago, she had seen this azure flame every time she fell asleep.
The intensity of the vision in her dreams was much lower than during her first vision. The sensations, although less intense, were still incredibly pleasant.
'( Damn it, what does this mean... )' Lydia was confused by this blue fire. Her Banshee powers were limited to having visions of death, foreseeing doom, and glimpsing the otherworld. Her powers were her burden, nothing more.
Seeing and feeling things no one else could see or feel, decoding the clues, the fragments of her visions to find their meaning and where the danger would come from, who would lost his life, who will be mourned by his loved ones... Her mental health was constantly strained. After all, she was just a teenager.
None of her Banshee visions had ever been anything but terrifying. Each vision was worthy of the worst paranormal movies: the gloomy atmosphere, echoing whispers reaching her ears, and the people who made strange appearances in her vision were either dead or dying.
She was scared by this aspect of herself. She dreaded each new vision she would have. She just wanted to curl up during each vision, waiting for it to end, but she couldn't allow herself to do that, people were going to die, and her friends could be among them....
So, despite the fear, she persisted, she endured...
Lydia Martin was strong. Lydia Martin would not break.
She promised to herself.
And for the first time since she had received her powers, they weren't a nuisance. They were actually enjoyable, pleasant. This flame filled her with sensations, emotions of incredible purity.
This azure and golden fire opened her eyes, allowed her to see the world aroud her differently, she glimpse, feel the meaning of life.
Lydia had become moved by small things: the music she sometimes listened in her car resonated more deeply in her ears, the parks filled with youth and innocence she saw when going to and from school was a view of simple but moving sincerity, and even at the high school, the friendships, the experiences.
This blue-golden flame, carrying life within it, had infused Lydia.
After all, it takes little to be happy maybe just living is enough.
'( However, these vision won't last forever, I don't have much time if I want to know what that means... )'
'( Hmm, the period of respite will soon be over, and the nightmare visions will return. )' she thought with some amusement.
Lydia feel that her mind was feeling better and better these days, she lived these few days with less burden and pressure, she could relax just a little, free even if it may only be temporary. Lydia appreciating this moments of grace she having.
'( But... I need more, I need to find meaning and what is it, I need... )' she thought determinedly, clenching her fists, she wanted to feel just as good, free for even more time.
She closed her wet eyes, holding back the pain that hid there, and took a deep breath. Can anyone blame her for wanting to feel better forever ?
She got out of bed and headed to her desk. She pressed a key on her already-open computer, and the screen displayed internet pages with similar searches: Blue Fire, Blue flames...
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'( What's going on? )' thought Landon as he returned to the hospital. He was wearing another sweatshirt, his head covered by the hood, with his black cloth, which he now always kept with him in his pockets.
The place was buzzing with activity, but it wasn't like usual. The nurses were whispering to each other, looking worried. There were a few police officers talking to doctors, nurses, and patients, taking notes on a notepad, as if they were taking statements.
Landon moved to a corner and extended his senses and haki.
"The police might have found his trail..."
"He was supposed to be locked up for killing four teenagers with a bomb..."
"Strange things are happening in this hospital right now. Have you heard about the blind man in room 409? He supposedly regained..."
"You heard, apparently flies came out of his chest while they were operating on him..."
"I can't believe it, five victims, and the only one still alive is Dr. Chow, but in critical condition..."
Landon gathered information from all sides and began to understand the situation. It seemed that last night, a dangerous criminal named Barrow had been brought to the hospital for a heart problem.
This morning, about an hour ago, during the operation, he somehow got up despite the sedatives, managed to free his handcuffs, and then slit the throats of two nurses and Dr. Chow, stabbed two police officers who were standing by the door, and then left the hospital, disappearing without a trace. The police were at Beacon Hills High School, given Barrow's history, and were searching the premises.
The only survivor was Dr. Chow, but he was in critical condition.
Landon headed towards Dr. Chow's room. He had gathered the room number and also knew his condition: he had been treated, but he had lost too much blood, and the injury was too severe. His fellow doctors were not optimistic. If Chow had been injured elsewhere, he would have died within minutes, but because he was injured here, at the hospital, and Barrow had caused a commotion while escaping, the scene had been discovered quickly, and Chow was taken in for treatment.
Landon reached the second floor and walked toward the room, but he stopped in a corner.
The area was completely clear and deserted, except for the police officer standing in front of the door.
'( They've put him there in case Barrow wants to finish the job. )' thought Landon.
The police officer seemed to be taking his role very seriously, looking both ways down the hallway with vigilance, one hand on his holster. He was even standing, despite a chair being next to him.
The police had just been humiliated and had lost two brave men. They were also responsible for three deaths, soon to be four. The officer looked ready to confront anyone approaching the room who wasn't a doctor.
'( I could try the nurse act again, but this officer is so serious he might ask for my badge or ID. )' Landon wasn't sure what to do. Time was running out; he could sense with his haki that Chow was barely clinging to life.
'( No choice... )' Landon decided to go with the plan he had intended to use in the woods when he wanted to heal the strange boy who ended up healing himself. He walked back in his step, picked up a sturdy object he had noticed within his haki range, which seemed to be part of a breathing mask. It was sturdy but made of plastic.
Landon returned to the corner of the hallway and stopped against the wall. He focused on the guard and prepared his arm, assessing the power and speed needed, and where to target. With all the injuries he had seen and all the healings he had performed, Landon was starting to know human anatomy well.
He focused and decided to target the small hollow located behind, at the base of the skull.
When the officer turned his head to look the other way down the hall, he felt something strike the back of his head at high speed. He lost consciousness and collapsed on the hospital floor, a bit of blood beginning to trickle from his skull.
'( Damn, too much force... )' Landon muttered, running towards the officer, a bit panicked. Fortunately, it was a minor injury for now. He approached him, still panicked, and didn't waste time, creating a small flame that he placed on the wound.
'( I really need to find a better way... )' Landon shook his head.
After just a few seconds, the wound was healed, but there was a slight problem: the officer began to shake his head, and his eyelids started trembling. Landon had healed him so well that he had also awakened him from his unconsciousness.
The officer felt himself waking up, a bit groggy, and was about to open his eyes when he thought he heard a voice:
'( Really sorry... )' Just before taking a blow to the cheeks that immediately knocked him back into unconsciousness. A panicked Landon was on top of him, his fist raised.
'( I really, really need to find a better way... )' He lifted the officer and placed him on the chair.
'( I promise I'll heal your cheek on my way out, and I'll also take care of that slightly failing kidney of yours, promise... )' Landon softly said to the sleeping officer, who now had a red mark beginning to appear on his left cheek.
Landon felt bad for him but focused on the task at hand and entered the room.
------------------------
'( Phew... )' he sighed as he sat at the hospital entrance.
He had worked well this week, which meant that few hospital patient had serious or irreparable injuries, only minor or moderate ones that would heal on their own or with the help of a doctor. He was just here waiting for the emergency room to bring in new patients.
His senses picked up a conversation between two nurses who particularly enjoyed gossip :
"The police gave up searching the high school after finding nothing..."
"Yes, they're following another lead, he was seen near the shopping center..."
'( Hmmm, maybe I should go to the high school just to check... )' Landon didn't have anything to do at the moment, after all, and his haki and senses could easily detect this dangerous psychopath.
'( But what if there's an emergency, and they need me... )' Landon hesitated, knowing that he couldn't save everyone...
'( I'll be quick... )' Landon decided, left the hospital, got into his car, started driving, but soon stopped before getting out looking embarrassed and asking a passerby where Beacon Hills High School was...
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Ten minutes and a few kilometers later,
Landon arrived in front of Beacon Hills High School, a large red and white building. He parked his pickup truck, which he had extended the rental for a few days ago.
He got out of the car and walked towards the school, climbed the steps where the red and white plaque "Beacon Hills High School" was displayed.
The place was filled with young people chatting with each other, laughing, or studying, apparently not worried about the crazy killer lurking around.
'( I call them young, but technically, we're the same age... )' Landon thought.
Landon felt like he was being watched, just like at the mall. His haki detected curiosity, interest, but also disdain or envy.
Landon was a handsome guy, athletic, with incredibly defined muscles, and his curly hair, green-gray eyes, and strong jawline made him all the more attractive.
'( Pfff, high school... )' Landon pulled up the hood of his sweat-shirt and quickened his pace, wanting to quickly scout the place and leave.
He entered the building and saw the hallways bustling with activity.
'( It looks like it's break time, it's better to wait until classes resume. Then I can explore the place. )' Landon thought and decided to go to the men's restroom for more discretion while waiting for the classes to start again.
Landon went into one of the toilet, which looked quite clean, and sat down. Being at the high school, he couldn't help but let his thoughts wander.
'( Since I need medical knowledge to push my power to the next level, that means I need classes... )' Landon wasn't too keen on returning to high school, and he didn't even know if he could, and it's not in high school where you learn medicine.
'( I could learn from books, but it would be better with a teacher... )' Landon was wondering how to proceed for the future when the bell rang.
'( Finally... )' He waited a few minutes and left the restroom to find the hallways mostly empty, with only one or two students running late hurrying into their classrooms.
'( Much better. )' Landon walked through the hallways and released his haki.
A few minutes of walking, and the young man with green eyes still didn't sense anything malicious around him.
However, he did sense something curious: a familiar aura emitting strange fluctuations.
He approached but stayed out of sight. He looked and saw one of the nurses from the hospital, the same one who was with him in the elevator. She was still wearing her red nurse's uniform. Another aura approached her.
"Mom," a boy called as he descended the stairs. Landon recognized this boy as the one he had seen turning the young coyote girl back into a human with his howl.
He no longer had red eyes or fangs and claws, but was just a normal young boy, except for his aura that had a bestial and dominant touch.
He quickly approached the nurse and spoke.
"Mom, did you bring them?"
"Yes," she said, showing a plastic bag she was holding. She opened it.
"Barrow's last clothes," she said, handing the bag to the boy.
"Great, thanks, Mom." The boy was about to leave, but his mother grabbed him by the arm.
"Promise me you'll be careful, Scott. I looked into that man's eyes, and what I saw was terrifying..." she said, looking her son straight in the eyes.
Her son, named Scott, looked at her and saw real concern in his mother's eyes.
"Okay, Mom, I promise..." He kissed her on the forehead and ran off in another direction while his mother watched him go with worry.
'( Barrow's clothes... ?)' Landon waited a few seconds, and when the nurse turned to leave, he quietly went in the same direction as Scott.
Landon quickened his pace and caught up with Scott within his haki range, but stayed at least fifteen meters behind to avoid alerting the boy with unknown abilities.
He saw him join a group of three people, and Landon recognized one of them as the blond who had been caught in one of the traps in the woods. However, he was standing without any problem.
The two other people were two blonds with black eyes, almost identical: twins.
Landon sensed a strange aura, just like Scott's, but different. It had a bestial touch. The blond who had been hit by the trap seemed to share a particular bond with Scott.
Meanwhile, the twins also had a bestial aura, but it was solitary, abandoned. He sensed that the twins were trying to create a bond with Scott as well, but it was thin and blurry. Among them all, Scott had the most bestial yet the most human nature, and he had a touch of dominance over his aura.
"Okay, Lydia thinks Barrow is still in the school. The cops have gone off on another lead, but that doesn't matter because the cops don't have what we do..." Scott said, looking at them. He pulled one of Barrow's clothes out of the bag and said:
"The nose of a werewolf..."
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A few minutes later, in a classroom of the high school.
"Okay, Scott and the others are in the basement, in the boiler room, searching for Barrow..." Stiles began to say.
"Wait, what?" Lydia interrupted him, just having a hunch.
"What's wrong, Lydia?" the young boy asked, looking at the girl.
"You told me that Barrow started killing because he thought he saw the teenagers' eyes glow. We can assume he's hunting the supernatural, right?"
"Yeah, that's right," Stiles confirmed.
"And now you're telling me that all the werewolves, aka everyone whose eyes glow, are in the boiler room?" the girl asked.
Stiles' eyes widened, his sharp mind understanding where she was going with this.
"Barrow was an engineer, he wants to blow up the boiler room..." he realized. He didn't waste any time, rushed to the hallway, and pulled the fire alarm.
A few seconds later, the alarm rang throughout the high school, classrooms began to open, and students and teachers started evacuating the school.
The young Stiles was seen smiling at his good idea, winking confidently at his red-haired friend.
The girl in question smiled back at him, but looked to the left of the boy for a second. Lydia's smile immediately froze before she put on a totally innocent expression.
Stiles, confused, looked to his left and saw his coach glaring at him angrily. The cherry-haired girl acted as if it had nothing to do with her and watched Coach Finstock walk off, dragging Stiles by the ear.
She glanced around one last time before turning to leave herself, but she froze in her tracks.
The sound of the alarm quickly faded, people walking slowed down as if time, or rather its perception, was moving more slowly.
The sound of the alarm disappeared, replaced by the faint sound of flames burning. Lydia turned her head in the direction she had just looked, her eyes fixed directly on a figure walking in the distance, five meters from her.
When she saw this silhouette, she stopped breathing, her breath taken away. She had the impression, the sensation, that gradually, as she looked at this person, was turning into certainty.
This person, she feeling in him the same blue and golden flames she had been seeing in her visions since the beginning of the week,
Among the slowly moving silhouettes of other students walking, she could only see his back. The person was wearing a sweatshirt and had curly black hair.
She walked instinctively, pushing past the people in front of her, gradually getting closer to the person who was also walking. She saw that she was about to lose sight of him when he will turning at the corner.
She got as close as she could, but it wasn't an easy task, especially for a young girl.
The boy took more and more distance, the sound of the flames slowly receded, the sound of the bell came back, time gradually returned to normal, and she finally lost sight of him.
"No..." She accelerates faster, a feeling of loss and abandonment rising in her, She tried harder, not hesitating to push others aside to make her way through.
Lydia reached the corridor the unknown silhouette had taken. She looked everywhere, carefully, observing around frantically but apart from a crowd of students, she saw no one...