Chapter Text
Eichen house is just as menacing from the outside as it is in the inside, Stiles concludes, staring at the dark building as rain starts to pour down. He glances to Scott, who only gives him a small, sad look, then shrugs. Stiles sighs as he exits the jeep.
Malia and Scott follow him up to the gate. It's unlocked, the locking system not yet fixed from the last plan attempt. That Parrish is strong. Stiles only has to push the tall black gate, and it opens with a terrible screech.
The walk up to the doors is tense and filled with an unspoken fear. This night could go two ways. Freedom. Or disaster.
Scott's the one who steps foward and opens the double doors. Inside the cold building they're greeted with the sight of two chimeras at the front desk, eyes glowing unnatural colors. "Stiles?" The one with blonde hair says, "what're you doing here alone?" She looks to Scott and Malia and says, "who're they?"
Obviously she knows they're not a chimeras, but she must have become a chimera after Scott left and Malia became a full time coyote. Stiles swallows and says, "uh- Theo sent us. To see Lydia Martin."
The girl looks confused. The guy with light brown hair says, "why would he do that?"
Stiles shrugs. "I don't know. Do you want to go and ask him? Cause I'm sure he'd love being bothered at 6 am by two very low ranking chimeras. Or should I just go see Lydia?"
The girl looks to the guy and they exchange a look of fear, then she says, "fine, go on up," she throws a pair of keys that Scott catches, "just make it quick."
Stiles nods, and they walk out of the front lobby to the decaying staircase. "That was really easy," Malia says. "Yeah, well it won't be as easy to get past them with Lydia." "Does every chimera know who you are?" Scott asks as they start their walk up the unstable steps. Stiles sighs. Yes. Of course they do. Because he's Theo's, so they have to be sure to never mess with him. Or Theo would probably kill them. Stiles just shrugs. "Kinda."
As they walk down the hall, Stiles can't help but think about the first time they tried this plan. Everyone had this overwhelming sense of hope that it would work. Now.. not so much.
"Okay," Malia says as they walk, "so after you get Lydia, what do we do? Just find Theo and kill him?"
Stiles nods slowly. They're going to kill him. It's strange to think about. A world without Theo. Sure, he's a psychopathic monster and definetly deserves it, but it's still weird to think about. How will things play out after that? What about all the chimeras still running around? All the dead people? Stiles just shakes it from his mind, because Lydia's the priority right now.
Once they reach the mountain ash barrier, Scott pats Stiles' back and says, "just go get Lydia, alright? And then we'll figure out everything else."
Stiles nods, and then walks through the broken gate into the supernatural ward. And just like last time, he's afraid this won't work. That Lydia won't want to come. And this time around he has even less hope if that's even possible.
The walk down the hall is uncomfortable. All the supernatural creatures locked in their cells are quiet. Way too quiet. Some of them are dead, Stiles can tell by the terrible smell filling his nose. The others are thin and starving because no one really takes care of this place, the chimeras hardly give any of the patients food or water.
When Stiles reaches the final room, he cautiously opens the door. Lydia is lying on the bed, blanket on the floor, hair a curly mess, and hands drawn together resting on the top of her chest. She doesn't move as Stiles walks in.
"L-Lydia?" He says gently. Lydia sits up abruptly. And then Stiles is drawn back to that night several months ago.
"Lydia?" Stiles says, crouching down next to the bed. Lydia doesn't look at him, eyes bloodshot, mouth drawn forcefully shut. "Lydia, hey, I'm here to get you out of here, okay?" He says again, unlatching the leather straps restraining her to the bed.
"You need to leave," she says in a distant, broken voice. When Stiles looks back to her, she's staring at him with wide eyes. "Wha-" he starts, but is interupted by her saying, "You're going to die if you stay."
"No, Lydia, you're going to die if you stay here," he says, undoing the straps on her wrists then starting on the ones on her ankles, "If Theo stays this powerful he'll kill everybody."
"Stiles, please, leave," she says, as Stiles gets the final strap off of her. He helps her sit up in bed, but she's weak and shaky. Then suddenly her head shoots to the door.
"He's here."
"Who's here?"
"Theo."
"Stiles what are you doing here?" Lydia asks, confused.
"Scotts back," Stiles says quickly, "and Theo took over the entire town. We need your help."
Lydia narrows her eyes. She leans her back against the beds frame and says, "and what good could I do? I can't stop Theo. The last time I tried, I ended up hurting you."
Stiles sighs. "But we can't just give up!" He says, "he's killing people. He killed Liam, and Hayden, and he's turning people into chimeras. If we don't stop him everyone in this town will die. Or worse."
"I can't control my powers," Lydia says, "not well enough to kill Theo."
"You don't need to kill him, you just need to weaken him, so Scott or Malia could," he crouches down next to the bed, "please, Lydia. You're the only one who can stop him. Please."
Lydia glances at his hearing aids. "I burst your eardrums, Stiles. I put you in the hospital for brain trauma."
"Yeah and just imagine how much worse you could do to Theo if you concentrate."
Lydia sighs. ".. I'll try but I'm not making any promises."
Stiles smiles.
-
"Why is it so quiet?" Scott asks as they walk down the creeking stairs. Stiles looks around the empty, dark hall as they step off of the stairs.
"I don't know," Stiles whispers. He turns to his friends and says, "but this is the hard part. The only way out is the front door, so we have to take out those two chimeras. Malia you should-"
"Wait," Malia says, looking up. Stiles tilts his head. She looks back to him and says, "I don't think they're there anymore. I can't smell them."
Scott sniffs the air, then agrees, "me neither. Maybe they.. left?"
Lydia looks unconvinced. Stiles shrugs. "Okay," he says cautiously, turning back around, "then maybe this was way easier than I thought it would be."
Way too easy. Almost painfully easy. So easy that Stiles could've done this by himself months ago. But last time it was nearly impossible to even get in to Eichen house, let alone get to Lydias room and get her out. Everyone had ended up hurt or wounded. Something's not right here, but Stiles can't put his finger on it.
Stiles walks out of the hall and into the main room silently, the others following behind him. When they step into the dimly lit room, they're greeted with the sight of Theo and Tracey standing against the front desk, two dead bodies beneath them, waiting for them.
And there it is. Stiles' mouth drops open in surprise. He knew this was way too easy to be true. Before Stiles can form a sentence- or even a coherent thought- Scotts eyes glow red and he growls. Then suddenly they're all being pushed down onto his knees by chimeras. Stiles tries to struggle out of the grip, but the chimera is way stronger than him.
"Welcome back Scott," Theo says casually, still leaning against the desk, "long time no see. I wish it was under.. better circumstances."
"Theo," Stiles says, finally finding his words, "Just wait-"
"Shut up," Theo snaps, going from casual to angry in a second. He straightens himself out and walks a few steps closer to the group.
"Let us go!" Malia yells, violently struggling in the chimeras grip.
"Why?" Theo asks, "so you can all plot to kill me?"
"Theo, we weren't-" Stiles behind but it cut off by a sharp look from Theo. Stiles bites his bottom lip and desperately tries to think of the right thing to say. Scott beats him to the punch, though, and says, "We weren't going to kill you."
Theo's head snaps over to him. "Really?" He asks, calm again, coy almost, "you came all the way back here- for what, then? A nice little reunion?"
Scott swallows. Stiles looks to him, and he looks worried. Then Theo's eyes turn to Lydia. His face fills with realization. "Oh." He says, "I think I understand. You thought a scream could stop me."
Theo nods to the chimeras holding Lydia down. Stiles' eyes widen. "Theo don't-" a small scream cuts him off. When he looks to Lydia, her neck is bleeding way too much.
"Oh my god!" Scott yells, struggling in the chimeras grip, "Lydia!"
Stiles looks back to Theo with shocked eyes. He doesn't look smug, he looks disappointed. Disappointed that it had to come to this. "Fuck," Theo mutters, annoyed, "take her to the hospital."
The chimera picks up the injured banshee and quickly brings her outside, dripping blood on the white tiled floor. Theo shakes his head, and runs a hand through his hair. "You fucking monster!" Malia growls out, really struggling now.
"Of course this all happens when you come back," he snarls at Scott, then unintelligibly mutters under his breath, "you fuck up everything."
"What're you going to do?" Stiles asks, wanting to get on with it. He can't stand the waiting.
"I should kill you all," he says, then looks to Stiles and says, "especially you. This is the second time you've pulled this. If you were anybody else.." he trails off and shakes his head.
Tracey straightens herself and crosses her arms over her chest. "So what are we going to do?" The kanima asks, glancing at Stiles and Scott with contempt. Stiles can't help but wondering how she got out of the shed. And why she couldn't stay there.
Theo seems to ponder this for a moment. "Well, I'm in a pretty good mood," he says, "so I'll let you two off with a warning," he turns to the two chimeras holding them down, "take them to Stiles' house and surround it with mountain ash."
The chimeras begin to drag the pair of werewolves away. Stiles and Scott exchange an uneasy- if a little confused- look before Scott is pulled out of sight. A hand forcefully tilts his chin up and he's looking into Theos cruel blue eyes. "I'm very upset with you, Stiles. That makes five times you've tried to leave me."
And he still hasn't gotten the hint. Stiles swallows. "Then why don't you seem angry?" He asks, curiously.
"Because if I get too angry I might do something I regret," Theo says ominously. His grip on Stiles' chin tightens slightly. "I didn't want to hurt Lydia, you know that. And that's why I'm not hurting Malia."
"And Scott?" He asks simply.
Theo's face turns momentarily dark. Then he says, "you're lucky I like you," he says simply, "because I would've killed him." He leans in far too close and says, "and if he becomes a problem, then I will."
A shiver runs through Stiles' body as Theo stands. "Let him go," he instructs the chimera holding him. Stiles' nearly falls to the ground after being released, but just catches himself before his face hits the tile.
"So what're you going to do to me?" He asks, standing, legs a bit shaky. Theo hums, as if thinking, then says, "I'm not sure yet. But you're not going back to your house, if that's what you think."
Stiles figured.
"I forgive you," Theo says, zipping his jacket, "not that you apologized. But I can't stay mad at you," he ends the sentence with a smirk. Stiles stares at him with disbelief.
This is why no one tries to leave.