Fifteen
Allison's POV:
"What?" My dad asked in disbelief at my revelation.
"Why did neither of you say anything?" Lydia exclaimed. "Especially to me!"
I quickly shook my head. "It wasn't my secret to tell."
"But it would've been a good heads up to not send her in a potential situation where she could die!"
"Do you honestly believe she would have stayed with us instead of helping Scott and Malia?"
"Guys?" Scott rasped, causing the three of us to glance down at the screen.
"I'm here." Malia wheezed, adjusting her posture against Scott's chest before she kicked Olivia's ankle. "Can you get us out of here?"
Olivia blinked a few times and she lifted her head from the crate beside her, showing that she was still fighting to stay awake. "Hold on." She drowsily replied and held her hand out, shaking it a few times but nothing sparked out of her hands. "I can't...I feel myself getting weaker."
"We found Anderson unconscious with his walkie-talkie melted." Another voice spoke up and I look over to the other monitor, seeing six-armed hunters cautiously approach closer to their door. "We're moving in."
"How many are inside?" One of them asked.
The first hunter shook their head. "I don't know."
"What else can anybody see?"
"We have to do something." Lydia worriedly asked.
"Shoot to kill."
I clench my fists before I grab the duffle bag from the ground and take out the bo staff, detaching the pieces to hold the two batons. "We are." I state, snatching the smoke grenades out of the bag as well and placing them in Lydia's hand. "We're gonna get them out."
My dad nodded and grabbed his shotgun leaned against the desk and walked out of the room first with us following close behind to the other hallway.
Lydia pulled the pin out of the smoke grenades and tossed them into the hall, causing the smoke to immediately shoot out and envelop our surroundings.
Coughs erupt from the hunters and my dad steps into the hall, releasing bullet after bullet into the lights above them which shot out crackles of electricity.
Since the hall darkened, I hold onto the buttons of my batons which causes weapons to electrify and I sprint towards the closest hunter. I press the electrified baton against their neck, leaving the man to let out a pained cry before I strike the other baton against his head which knocks him unconscious.
My dad slammed his shotgun against the hunter sprinting towards me, forcing him to continue sprinting through the smoke.
I worriedly glance behind me for Lydia but to my surprise, she chucked the packed duffle bag against another hunter which causes him to stumble. She lifted her foot and kicked down at his chest, sending him to collapse on his back with a groan.
I connect the batons and continue to sprint down the hall, twirling the weapon in my hands as the hunter reloaded his rifle. "Let's see what you got."
Olivia's POV:
"Scott?" I hear Malia breathe out. "Olivia?"
"Try not to talk." Scott urged.
I tiredly lift my head from the crate I used for support but the action alone made it harder to breathe in the room. The gas or whatever had been sprayed into the room, terribly made my eyes water and it felt like someone had reached into my chest and held a firm grip on my heart.
I shakily hold out my hand and place it on Malia's arm, feeling some of my energy trickle across my hand and onto hers.
I feel her posture stiffen as she sat up a bit straighter. "Liv," She whispered but I wave my hand dismissively. "Your energy..."
"Say what you have to say." I weakly say, letting my hand drop to my lap.
"It's just...I don't wanna die like this." Malia whispered. "Not like this."
"The more you talk, the more oxygen that you--" Scott tried to warn but Malia shook her head.
"I don't care. I'm not dying here." She cleared her throat as tears formed in her eyes. "I was supposed to go to France. I'm eighteen...I haven't been anywhere. There are still so many things I want to do."
My heart sinks. "If we're revealing things..." I pant, wiping the sweat trickling down the side of my cheek. "Before Lydia had her premonition, I secretly hoped something made us stay longer. I'm..." I trail off, my surroundings beginning to blur in front of me.
"Liv?" I feel someone nudge my leg and I blink a few times. "Conserve your oxygen."
I slowly shake my head, letting it lay flat against the crate. "I'm scared that if I leave Beacon Hills...it feels like I'm abandoning what made me...me. I'm scared of leaving the people I love and I don't want to hurt Allison's feelings if I tell her that."
"From the amount of time I've known Allison," Scott weakly spoke up. "she'd understand if you told her the truth."
I feel someone place their hand over mine and I tilt my head, seeing as Malia held a weak smile as she squeezed my hand.
"I don't wanna die here." She whispered before looking back up at Scott. "Not here. Not like this."
"I'm so tired." I mumble, my eyelids beginning to feel heavier and heavier. "I don't know if...I can..."
"Guys--Guys!" I hear Scott faintly say but I couldn't stay awake anymore. "Just hold on. Okay, just hold on."
Suddenly, something slams into the floor which causes me to snap open my eyes, feeling a gush of air rush through. I gasp in relief, feeling the oxygen course through my lungs once more.
I look up towards the warped steel door that knocked over, my eyes widening in surprise at Lydia holding her hands out with tired breaths escaping from her lips.
An unconscious hunter's body plops to the ground and Allison steps from behind Lydia with a scoff. "Can't believe that hunter had the nerve to try to use a gun against me." She remarked before her eyes met mine in relief. "Liv."
She quickly rushed to my side and I smile, leaning my head against her hand since she cupped my face. "Hi..."
She shakes her head in amusement, brushing her thumb across my cheekbone. "I thought I told you not to do anything stupid."
"If we're being technical," I clear my throat. "you only said to be safe. The padlock tripped the sensor."
She playfully rolled her eyes and wrapped my arm around her shoulder to stand as Chris and Lydia went to help the others up.
Phoebe's POV:
"I've thought a lot about what you said." I break the silence of Theo driving the three of us back home. "About the crutch thing."
His neutral expression didn't waver, still keeping his eyes on the road. "What about it?"
"I thought that confronting you about what happened would put an end to how I've been feeling for the past few months." I sadly look down at my hands. "I think it's time to realize that I can't go back to the way things were for me. I'll never be the same."
"Phoebe, neither of us are the same as before. I absorbed a ton of abilities by killing my pack of chimeras and now I'm just a werewolf helping out a pack I'm not even a part of. You are a part of a pack that accepted your mistakes, trained you to properly defend yourself, and could eventually become the next Phoenix. You have the power but you choose to hold yourself down." My eyes widen in surprise at his words but he shrugged. "You're not the only one who heard what Gerard said to Monroe."
I quickly shake my head. "I'm not holding myself down. It's just...it drains so much out of my energy to the point of exhaustion."
"You're wrong." He raised a brow, briefly meeting my eyes. "You should've been dead the moment I was sent to hell. I don't exactly know how Olivia brought you back, but her powers are limitless and yours can be too."
"I don't know why I'm listening to you." I mutter, rolling my eyes in annoyance. "All you cared about was the power and you killed whoever stood in your way. Because of you, the Dread Doctors summoned the Beast and now we have a twisted guidance counselor leading a ton of hunters who want revenge."
He inhaled through his teeth. "That's a bit of a stretch to blame the whole thing on me but I'll admit I feel...partly responsible." He said before giving a small shrug. "Monroe thinks that now that she has Gerard by her side, they can easily wipe us out. She needs to be stopped."
"Easier said than done." I cross my arms. "Maybe my fear is messing up my abilities."
"Phoebe, I'll say this in the nicest way possible but you got to get over it." He scoffed. "All those people that died? There's nothing you could have done and if you continue to blame yourself, you'll never get over that fear so it's time to accept what happened. Accept what happened to you and stop fearing what might have been so it won't control you."
I slowly start to nod. "Is that how you've been keeping your fear in check with the Anuk-ite?"
He shrugged. "I had nightmares of being stuck in hell with my sister for the longest time and it took me a while to control it. If I continued to let it control me, it would've been way worse."
The sounds of groans cause me to glance behind, seeing as Liam finally stirred from his unconsciousness. He rubbed the side of his cheek with a pained expression which earned a chuckle to escape from Theo. "I had to knock you out."
"Yeah? How many times?" Liam muttered, resting his head against the backseat window.
"Five." I answer before holding up the stun baton. "Six if you include me electrocuting you."
He winced. "I almost killed him, didn't I?
"Almost. You broke your hands trying not to then Theo pulled you out of the way before you could."
Liam held up his now-healed fists enough for us to see before placing them back in his lap. "I guess that's something."
"Next time you come up with a plan like this," Theo glanced behind with a brow raised. "pick a place that doesn't trigger a murderous rage."
"I didn't know this was gonna happen." He grumbled.
"Whether you meant it or not, you picked the spot." He countered. "You made the plan. You wanted me to help."
"If I needed your help for anything, it'll be so I get angry enough to kill you myself." Liam harshly remarked.
Theo's expression didn't waver at his harsh tone. "You brought me here because that thing that came out of the Wild Hunt is affecting you, too. You need to figure this out before you completely lose it."
"But the Anuk-ite doesn't cause anger. It causes fear." I point out but Theo shook his head.
"People only feel one emotion at a time," He emphasized. "In Liam's case, it's why he gets angry when he's afraid. That's why he almost tore Nolan's head off."
"If the Anuk-ite can do this to me..." Liam hesitantly trailed off. "what do you think it's doing to everyone else?"
Olivia's POV:
"Hey, kiddo." I jolt at the voice and look away from Scott's front yard tree to glance behind, seeing my mom wear a warm smile as she took a seat next to me. "Little birdie told me you were out here."
"I thought you had a late shift?" I ask.
Her smile faltered. "I did but...something felt off when I was working at the hospital so Melissa and I called out early to come back here to her house." She explained and scooted closer to me. "But from what I heard from Allison's father, you almost died from being trapped in an armory?"
I nervously laugh. "It's a long story."
"Is it part of the reason why you're out here alone?" She raised a brow and I look down at my hands in discomfort. "I see I'm on the right track."
"Sort of."
"Then enlighten me." She bumped my shoulder with a small smile. "You know I'm always here to listen. No matter what it is, you can tell me."
I worriedly look behind, making sure the others were still inside and I look forward. "Is it weird to say that I'm afraid of my future?"
"You mean moving in with Allison?"
I shake my head. "Everything. I'm scared of the change. I've been so used to running around with Scott and Stiles in Beacon Hills, stopping whatever is threatening our town for so long that I practically considered it a daily routine. As soon as I step foot out of Beacon Hills...it feels like I'm abandoning home. That I'm abandoning Phoebe, Dad,...you." I fiddle with my fingers. "I didn't understand why Phoebe felt alone before but hearing how much it hurt to see that everyone's splitting off after high school...I don't know if I'm ready to handle not seeing everyone every day anymore. It's a big change."
I didn't even realize I had been crying from my rambles but after I finished, my mom wrapped her arms around me to pull me into a tight hug. "I can't say that I kept in touch with all of my friends from high school but I will tell you that after everything you guys went through together, you'll always keep that connection. It's what kept you and Allison together, right?"
I smile at the mention of her name and nod. "I met people I'm now close friends with because of her...and how I accidentally stumbled into the supernatural world."
"And because of that, hunters want to kill all of you." My mom chuckled, pulling away from the embrace to pat my back. "It's not their fault, though. They only see what Gerard is forcing them to see by manipulating their humanity."
I lean my head against her shoulder, observing the clear night sky. "Do you think we have a chance to stop them?" I worriedly ask. "That we have enough power?"
"It doesn't matter what I think, Liv. It comes down to whether or not you still have the strength to get back on your feet when you get knocked down." She tucks in some of my hair behind my ear and I glance over, meeting her encouraging smile. "But I will say that I always have faith in my daughter and her friends that they'll do the right thing. All you have to do is to show people that you are not the enemy they fear."
I nod, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Thank you for never giving up on me."
"Always."
"Sorry for cutting in," We both pull away, meeting my dad's look of concern as he held the front door open. "but they need you to see something."
I help my mom stand to her feet as we quickly follow behind my dad to Scott's kitchen, seeing as everyone else, except for Scott and Malia, stood around the dining table where the map we stole from the warehouse was displayed for us to see.
Allison approached me in concern but I give a small nod with a smile. "I'm okay."
She nodded before pointing to the red circles on the map. "They're Nemetons."
"I thought there was only one Nemeton?" My dad curiously asked but Chris shook his head.
"Beacon Hills isn't the only spot to find supernaturals."
Melissa frowned. "What does Gerard want with them?"
"If they're like the one here," Mason's eyes widened. "they're beacons for supernaturals."
"So does that mean if he wanted to kill every supernatural creature across the countries," I hesitantly trail off and look towards Chris. "these are where he would start looking?" He nods at the question, causing my heart to sink and I wipe my hands on my pants out of nerves.
"So I was right." My mom nervously held her hands close to her chest. "Even if you guys had run away, Gerard was never going to stop with Beacon Hills."
"He wants the whole world."
Suddenly, the front door slammed open and the sound alone caused me to jump but to my relief, it was only Agent McCall entering through the backdoor.
"Where's Scott?" He immediately asked, shutting the door behind him.
Melissa sighed. "Upstairs. Why?"
"He can't leave." He stated, causing my eyes to widen in surprise at the sudden change. "No one can."
"Nice to see that you changed your mind, but I'm afraid to ask why."
"It's Gerard's weapons." He announced.
"They couldn't find them." Allison answered as she gestured to me. "We were assuming they got transported to another facility."
"Dad?" Scott voiced from behind us as he and Malia walked into the kitchen in confusion.
"The guns, they've all been distributed legally to the citizens of Beacon Hills." Agent McCall emphasized with his voice laced in panic. "All of them, and at no charge."
"What, he just gave them away?" Scott asked in disbelief.
"No." Chris muttered in discomfort. "He's arming his army."
"Is that even possible?" My dad worriedly asked. "How did one old man manage to turn the whole town against them?"
"All he needed was fear." I whisper as I glance down at my hands, watching as they shook in place.
Maybe my dad was right. We should've left when Allison and I had the chance.
"Get down!" Lydia suddenly screamed, snapping me out of my thoughts and the sounds of the window smashing causes me to quickly pull Allison to the ground.
Arrows came flying through but in a matter of seconds, a bright light flashed which was soon followed by the sounds of gunshots.
I cover Allison's body as much as I could and shut my eyes, hearing only the sounds of glass shattering from what felt like all around us. I squint, barely catching glimpses of everyone trying to avoid the red lasers that flew across the room and the shards of glass flying and I crane my head down to avoid the glass.
A few moments chaotically pass by and once the gunshots ceased, I cautiously look around just as the red lasers disappeared.
I worriedly look down at Allison, checking for any sort of wounds but thankfully there were only small glass shards in her hair.
However, my relief was soon cut short at the sight of the large puddle of blood beginning to stain the kitchen floor.
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A/N:
>:)
~Cimbello
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