𝙳𝙾𝙻𝙻 𝙿𝙰𝚁𝚃𝚂⠀⠀⠀⠀⁷
𝗩𝗢𝗟𝗨𝗠𝗘 𝗜. Cry Wolf

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍
▏𝗦𝟬𝟭𝗘𝟬𝟱︰𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹▕

❛ WE'LL STAY WITH YOU. ❜

ORGANIZING ALL THE ROMANCE DVDS, Brietta began to hum softly to herself, her earbuds snugly in place, playing Neon Trees' Animal at a low volume.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Feeling a tap on her shoulder, Brietta slightly jumped in her crouched position. She quickly removed her earbuds and turned to her co-worker, Felix Madden, who was looking down at her with a smile.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Sorry, Madden, were you trying to get my attention?" Brietta pursed her lips awkwardly, her tone hesitant.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Yeah, I was just wondering if you could restock the horror films while I fix the lights. They've been flickering like crazy," Felix suggested with a concerned tone as he glanced back at the flickering light. She let out a sigh of relief before nodding, getting up, and making her way toward the backroom.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Huffing as she placed her phone and earbuds in her pocket, she began to unwrap the horror film boxes. Her mind, however, wandered to the memory of Peter Hale in the residential home. Her heart ached at the thought of what had happened to the Hale family.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀It wasn't fair that they had been killed simply for being Werewolves. It wasn't fair that their lives had been taken away because of something beyond their control.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀It wasn't as if there was a cure, at least, not one that Brietta had ever known.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀However, her train of thought came to an abrupt halt as she heard a faint thud emanate from outside the backroom.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Madden?" She called out, her voice tinged with worry.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Waiting for a response, Brietta lifted the open crate of horror DVDs and ventured out of the room. As she emerged, she spotted the ladder positioned beneath the malfunctioning beam but found no sign of Felix Madden.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Just as she was about to investigate the scene, a masculine voice sounded behind her, "Can somebody help me find The Notebook?" Brietta jumped in surprise at the unexpected noise, dropping the crate of DVDs onto the carpeted floor and instinctively placing a hand on her chest.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Once she managed to will her rapidly beating heart to slow down, Brietta turned around to see Jackson wandering around the store until he heard the noise she'd made when dropping the crate.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Jesus, Jackson," she grumbled under her breath before kneeling down to pick up the fallen DVDs, "you can't just sneak up on people like that."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Jackson tilted his head, narrowing his eyes, and remarked, "Maybe if you had a bit more of a backbone, you wouldn't startle so easily."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta shot a sharp glare at Jackson as she stood back up with the crate. "Tell me, how much did it hurt when Scott broke your arm?" she inquired with a pointed tone and a snarky smile.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Jackson's jaw clenched, and he rolled his eyes. "Just...help me find The Notebook," he pleaded with a softer tone, motioning behind him. "Lydia's waiting in the car."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta peered past him and spotted Lydia taking pictures in the car. With a tired sigh, she set the DVD crate back on the ground and gestured for Jackson to follow her.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Where are dumb and dumber?" Jackson teased as they moved into an aisle, causing Brietta to bite her bottom lip. She struggled to hold back a more offensive comment and instead went with a milder version. She glanced over her shoulder at him and said, "You make it really hard for people to like you."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scanning the romance films, she grinned before grabbing The Notebook and passing it to the boy behind her. The corners of his mouth lifted into a sparse smile, making Brietta tilt her head.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Where's my 'thank you'?" she teased, lightly chuckling as she wore a small grin on her rosy lips. "Don't push it, Chastener," Jackson muttered under his breath, a ghost of a smile on his lips.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As they walked toward the register, Jackson placed a hand on Brietta's shoulder, causing her to look between him and his hand with a quirked eyebrow and an expression that read, Are you seriously touching me?

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Jackson rolled his eyes at her expression and pointed at a pair of feet on the ground. Her expression fell and she called out softly, "Felix?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀They began to advance slowly toward the pair of feet. Brietta kept trying to convince herself that he had simply passed out, but after knowing Felix Madden for roughly a year, she knew he never passed out. He always bragged about that.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Once they approached the pair of feet, their breaths caught in their throats at the scene.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Glancing down at the floor, Brietta froze in pure shell-shock fear as a familiar deep red substance seeped into the fabric underneath her.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Felix's throat had been slashed, wine-red blood trickling from his deathly wound and staining his work attire.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta could hear her heart pounding in her chest as she fought to suppress a scream that threatened to claw its way up her throat. Her veins surged with a wave of panic and terror, overwhelming her senses.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The two snapped out of their stupor and staggered back. Completely forgetting about the ladder behind them, they tripped over it, causing the ladder to tumble, and setting off a chain reaction.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Soon, all the lights began to flicker before the lights completely shut off, plunging them into darkness, and causing Brietta's heart to pound rapidly against her ribcage.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Jackson was the first to get up, gently pulling Brietta with him. "We need to leave. Now," he urged urgently.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Jackson dragged the teary-eyed girl toward the entrance, but they soon skidded to a halt when they heard a low growling sound. Their hearts raced as they were soon faced with a pair of red glowing eyes.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Jackson quickly ducked behind a DVD shelf, pulling Brietta down with him. As they crouched there, her heart pounding, Brietta recognized the glowing red eyes of the Alpha.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀In the darkness, her mind raced with fear, and she couldn't help but think that the Alpha was after her, that it wanted to punish Scott by killing one of his friends.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Jackson glanced at Brietta and slowly put a finger to his lips, urging her to stay calm. He peered over his shoulder and looked down the aisles. As soon as he heard a growl, he quickly moved back to his original spot with clenched eyes.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta peered over Jackson's shoulder to catch a glimpse of her dead co-worker's body. She closed her eyes in horror, but when she opened them, she found herself no longer in the video store.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Instead, she was surrounded by the dense woods of the Beacon Hills' Preserve.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She felt shorter than she was. She felt colder than she was. And above all, she felt more terrified than she had ever felt before.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She blinked rapidly, and suddenly, she noticed a body below her. It was Felix Madden's body—lifeless and motionless.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Then, she felt a large, warm hand on her shoulder. Oddly, she should have been frightened, but instead, she felt an overwhelming sense of safety.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀It was as if nothing in the world could harm her as long as that hand remained on her shoulder.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀A masculine voice followed, "This isn't your fault, Ettie. You did what you had to do."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta tried to turn around, attempting to see the source of her comfort, but as she blinked, she found herself back in the video store.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀A rumbling noise sounded, and a few DVDs fell onto the pair, prompting them to squeeze their eyes shut.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀All Brietta wished for was that this was all a nightmare, that she would wake up to her grandmother's humming, her brother's snarky comments, Stiles or Scott telling her that she was late for school again, or even Lydia and Allison calling her for an emergency shopping spree.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀But that never happened because this was real.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta jumped in her spot as she heard shelves tumbling down, and then everything happened so fast. She felt hands on her body, propelling her forward. Then a loud crash followed as Brietta banged her head against the ground.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The world spun for Brietta, and her ears rang for a moment before she shook her head, trying to anchor herself back to reality.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta glanced back at Jackson with an open-mouthed surprise, realizing that he had thrown her forward, saving her from the collision.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She then noticed that Jackson's lower torso was trapped under one of the shelves. Jackson shook his head, knowing what she was going to do. "No, Brie. Run. Just run!" he urged desperately.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Despite all of Jackson's awful and degrading comments he had given her, Lydia, Stiles, and Scott over the years, she couldn't bring herself to just leave him. She couldn't live with herself if she did.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She shook her head, tears streaming from her eyes. Brietta began to grab Jackson's arms, pulling with all her might despite her cloudy vision. She planted her legs on the sides of the fallen aisles, using them as leverage to exert more force.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Jackson struggled to shimmy his way out, but the pressure from the shelves was overwhelming for the two teenagers.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Suddenly, a massive shadow loomed above Jackson, and Brietta slowly gazed up, gasping, and letting go of Jackson's arms as she crawled back in shock, uncertain of what to do.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Her blood ran cold, and she found herself unable to move; she could only watch in terror.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The Alpha trailed its claw along Jackson's neck, and the only sound in the DVD store was the ragged breaths of the three of them.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta locked eyes with the Alpha's merciless red gaze, and for a moment, they flickered with a brown shade. But she couldn't dwell on it for long.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The Alpha lunged toward her, grabbing her neck. She felt white-hot pain in her neck and chest, and as everything went black for Brietta Chastener, she heard a blood-curdling scream echoing in the distance.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Lydia Martin's scream.

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THINGS CAME AND WENT IN FLASHES: a paramedic aiming a flashlight in Brietta's eyes, his mouth moving as he asked her questions she couldn't hear, him cleaning up her neck for a reason she didn't know, him putting on an oxygen mask when black dots appeared around her vision, and him taking the mask off when red and blue lights flashed in her eyes.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She knew she was experiencing post-traumatic brain fog; she had taken enough Psychology classes to recognize it. She had studied numerous case studies involving post-traumatic brain fog. What she hadn't known was that she would become one of those case studies.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀After a moment, with the sudden rush of noise filling her ears, she winced, her senses overwhelmed. Amidst the cacophony, Jackson's voice rang out, filled with anger and frustration, as he shouted at a paramedic.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She turned her head in his direction, her eyes locking onto him as she tried to make sense of the situation. Lydia, sitting in the ambulance nearby, appeared lost and unresponsive, as if teetering on the edge of a comatose state.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As the paramedic turned his attention back to her, his eyes widened slightly in surprise and relief. He had been focused on the chaotic situation with Jackson, and her movement had caught him off guard. He quickly moved closer to her, concern etched on his face.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Hey there," he said gently, his voice a soothing contrast to the surrounding chaos. "Are you okay? Can you hear me? It's important that you stay still and calm. I'm here to help you."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She nodded weakly, her head still swimming from the shock of the situation and the flood of noises and emotions.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The paramedic, after rechecking her pupils with his flashlight to assess her neurological status, proceeded to tap gently on the skin near her collarbone.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Can you feel that?" he asked, his tone still reassuring as he awaited her response.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀He continued to pat at the skin, and after a moment, a whimper escaped her as pain ricocheted through her body when he patted the skin once more. His eyes softened as he ceased the examination and expressed a small, heartfelt apology.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"I'm so sorry," he said sincerely. "Is there anyone you need right now?" he asked, his voice filled with concern. "Your phone isn't on you or in the store. Do you remember any phone numbers? We can help you reach out to a friend or family member if you'd like."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Scott and Stiles," She muttered, the tears in her eyes cascading down her pale cheeks, "I need them."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"We'll do our best to get in touch with Stiles and Scott," he reassured her gently. "Can you tell me their full names, or any other information that might help us locate them?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As Brietta was about to provide the paramedic with the last names of her friends, her lips parted in response to a soft voice that called her nickname, "Brie?" She turned her head, her eyes searching for the source of the voice, and there, standing nearby, was someone familiar.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Stiles?" she managed to say, her voice filled with relief and sadness. "Stiles," She said with more conviction before she moved faster than she could think, throwing her arms around Stiles, who didn't waste a second to hug her back.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Nuzzling her head in the crook of Stiles' neck, Brietta felt safe. Safer than she had that entire night.

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BRIETTA'S HEART RACED AS SHE STOOD IN THE DIMLY LIT HALLWAY OF BEACON HILLS HIGH SCHOOL, now a place that felt strangely familiar yet utterly foreign to her.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She couldn't remember how she had ended up here, and the sense of disorientation washed over her like a tidal wave. It wasn't the first time this had happened, but each occurrence left her feeling more bewildered than the last.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She glanced down at her clothing, noticing that she was dressed as if she were attending school. Her attire was far from her usual nightgown, adding another layer of confusion to the situation.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta had a penchant for vivid dreams and a mind that often wandered into the realms of the surreal, but this felt different.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀It felt real, unsettlingly so.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As she cautiously began to explore the school's darkened corridors, her thoughts raced. How did I end up here? What is happening to me?

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Brietta..." Brietta's heart pounded in her chest as the disembodied voice called her name, sending shivers down her spine. She turned to peer over her shoulder, her eyes wide with fear, and caught a glimpse of a blurry figure dashing past her into the English classroom. The sight was surreal, and her instincts urged her to follow, despite the unease that gripped her.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As she cautiously stepped toward the classroom, she saw another blurry figure, one she could only assume was the Alpha, chasing after the first figure.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀A sudden cry echoed through the halls, a mixture of terror and aggression that sent chills down her spine. It was like a scene from a nightmare playing out before her eyes.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Driven by a sense of urgency, Brietta rushed into the classroom, but as soon as she crossed the threshold, the world around her shifted once again.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀In an instant, she found herself surrounded by dense woods, the dim moonlight filtering through the trees above. The transition was disorienting, and she couldn't help but wonder if she was still within the confines of her own mind.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The sudden shift in her surroundings left Brietta breathless, and as she felt the icy cold breeze sweep past her, a shiver ran down her spine. She instinctively glanced down at her clothing once more, only to find herself back in her familiar black nightgown.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Confused and disoriented, Brietta stood in the midst of the darkened woods, trying to make sense of the bizarre series of events that had unfolded. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was caught in a surreal and ever-shifting dream, yet the sensations were all too real.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Stiles! Scott!" Brietta's voice was strained as she called out for her best friends, desperately hoping for some familiar faces to anchor her. However, her calls seemed to go unanswered, and she soon realized that they might not be here to help her.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Then, from her right, she heard a blood-curdling scream that sent a jolt of terror through her. Without a second thought, she turned and ran towards the source of the scream, her heart pounding in her chest.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As she reached the location of the scream, her breath caught in her throat, and her eyes widened in shock. Brietta's mind raced as she tried to process the gruesome sight before her, wondering how this could be happening.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta stood frozen in shock and disbelief as she saw herself, her doppelgänger, lying on the damp forest floor, screaming in agony. Smoke surrounded the screaming girl, and Brietta struggled to comprehend what was happening.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Before she could fully process this strange spectacle, her attention was drawn to a large wolf approaching the screaming Brietta. As it drew nearer, the figure transformed from the monstrous Alpha into a human form.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Summoning all her courage, Brietta reached out and grabbed the person's shoulder, her fingers trembling with a mixture of fear and determination.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀From the back, the build looked muscular and masculine, but she wanted—no, needed—to know who the Alpha was. Or who her subconscious thought the Alpha was.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The piercing screams from the woods grew louder and more overwhelming with each passing second, drowning out all other thoughts and sensations. Brietta's attempt to force the person to turn around was in vain, as the noise of anguish and terror consumed her senses.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀In a desperate attempt to regain her focus, she shut her eyes tightly, trying to block out the nightmarish sounds. She took deep breaths, willing herself to concentrate. However, when she opened her eyes once again, she found herself back in her room, the eerie forest and its horrors seemingly a distant memory.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀That's when she realized.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She was the one who was screaming, not the dream version of her.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta's body was drenched in sweat, her heart still pounding from the harrowing ordeal she had just experienced. Her bedsheets clung to her trembling form, evidence of the intensity of her fear and confusion.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She didn't even realize she was still screaming until her brother and grandmother burst into the room, concern etched on their faces.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀They rushed to her side, holding her close as she continued to scream, her terror unabated. Brietta clung to them, seeking solace and comfort in their presence, as her mind struggled to process what she had just endured.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She couldn't help but feel that her subconscious was aware of something she wasn't.

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UNDER THE WARM GAZE OF THE MORNING SUN, the dark circles under Brietta's eyes became more pronounced, like shadows cast by the weight of her exhaustion. Her limbs remained heavy, and she couldn't shake off the persistent yawns that seemed to crawl out of her throat, one after another.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Despite the gentle breeze and the comfort of her bed, Brietta hadn't slept after her nightmare. The memories of the unsettling dreams still haunted her, leaving her wide awake and anxious.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As Monday rolled around, and the obligation to attend school loomed, Brietta found herself clinging to her sheets.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The residual fear and unease from her nightmare had left her feeling vulnerable and drained. The mere thought of the Alpha still being out there sent shivers down Brietta's spine and intensified her fear.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀With a groggy determination, Brietta reluctantly climbed out of bed. She stumbled over to her window and shut it, putting an end to the gentle breeze that filled her bedroom. Her room grew darker as she covered the window with her curtains, shielding her sensitive eyes from the harsh morning sun.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Feeling somewhat shielded from the outside world, she then made her way to the bathroom. The cool tile floor under her feet provided a welcome contrast to the warmth of her bed, and she hoped that a refreshing shower would help wash away some of the lingering unease from her restless night and nightmares.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀With a sense of urgency, Brietta swiftly brushed her hair and teeth, hoping to complete her morning routine as quickly as possible. The hunger in her stomach tugged at her, tempting her to head to the kitchen for breakfast, but the overwhelming desire for rest weighed heavily on her mind.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta quickly finished her morning routine of brushing her teeth and rinsing her mouth, then hurried downstairs. There, she found a note on the kitchen counter with a simple set of instructions: Cookies in the microwave, shower, and get dressed first. She crumpled the note in her hand and made her way to the microwave.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Inside the microwave, another note awaited her, reinforcing the message: Shower, Brietta.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Grumbling under her breath, Brietta jogged back upstairs, frustration evident in her movements. She began to shed her clothing as she entered her bathroom, letting the discarded garments fall in a haphazard pile at the door.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stepping into the shower bare-skinned, Brietta turned the shower knob, and a cascade of water splattered out of the shower head, instantly soaking her body.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The warmth of the water against her skin offered a brief moment of comfort, helping to ease the tension that had built up in her muscles.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As Brietta grabbed the soap from the container attached to the wall, she suddenly looked down at the floor of the shower, and a sharp gasp escaped her lips.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She couldn't believe her eyes as she saw blood splashing onto the tub's flooring. Her heart raced, and fear surged through her.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She looked up, and her gaze met the horrifying sight of blood splattering out of the shower head, mixing with the water.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Panic took hold, and she scrambled back, her back pressing against the icy walls of the shower. Her eyes clamped shut, and her trembling lips released whimpers of terror as she struggled to make sense of what was happening.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Brietta," A voice called out, causing her to shoot her eyes open. However, when she did, there was no trace of blood, and nobody was in the bathroom with her. The room appeared just as it should be, with no sign of the terrifying vision she had witnessed moments ago.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Confusion and fear continued to grip her, and she couldn't help but wonder if her mind was playing tricks on her. The voice had sounded so real, yet there was no one there. She clung to the shower wall, trying to regain her composure and make sense of the inexplicable experience.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Startled and still shaken by the eerie voice and the disturbing hallucination, Brietta hastily hopped out of the shower. She wrapped a towel around her torso, not daring to stay in the bathroom any longer.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She reached out a hand to wipe the foggy mirror, leaving a damp spot in the middle of the glass, allowing her to only see her face and some parts of her torso.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀With her wet hair pushed away from her face, Brietta examined her tired eyes in the foggy mirror, the dark circles a testament to her sleepless night and the unsettling events of the morning.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She quickly reached for her phone on the counter, eager to check her messages. As she scrolled through her notifications, she found a flurry of messages from her friends: Stiles, Scott, Allison, and Isaac. Their concerns were evident in their texts. She also saw a few messages from Lydia, which had many typos.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta turned off her phone and set it on the sink counter. She wanted to disconnect from the outside world for a moment and focus on herself. But as she looked back up at her reflection in the misty mirror, her heart skipped a beat.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Instead of seeing her own face, she saw the horrifying visage of the beast. Her blue eyes, usually so familiar, now held a wild, menacing glint. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks, and panic surged through her once more. She stumbled back from the mirror, her towel-clad form trembling and blue eyes closing.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀What the hell is happening to me? Her voice screamed in her own head.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta falteringly cracked open her eyes, blinking away the terrifying image of the beast. Her reflection in the mirror showed her trembling, towel-clad appearance once again.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She had never felt so weak before.

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BRIETTA QUICKLY GOT DRESSED IN HER OVERSIZED BLONDIE T-SHIRT AND GRAY BOXERS, her slightly damp hair falling around her as she exited the bathroom and entered her bedroom. Her morning routine included taking pills that she didn't particularly like due to their side effects, which left her feeling groggy and with a fuzzy mind.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She made her way back to the bathroom, disposing of the empty pill bottle in the trash can beside her toilet. As she did so, she was startled by a voice calling her name, causing her to jump. She turned to the door to see Stiles and Scott walking into her room through the open bathroom door.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott slapped Stiles on the shoulder for causing the fright in her eyes. Stiles, looking concerned, opened his mouth to speak, but before he could say anything, Brietta rushed over to her best friends and wrapped her arms around them tightly. The comfort of their presence overwhelmed her, and tears welled up in her eyes as she nuzzled her head against Scott's shoulder.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀After a moment of finding solace in their embrace, she pulled away slightly, and both Scott and Stiles immediately noticed the dark circles under her eyes. "Brie," Scott began, his voice soft and filled with concern, "did you sleep last night?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Tears filled Brietta's eyes once more, this time out of distress. She sniffled and tried to explain, "I tried to sleep, but I had a nightmare. I saw him, the Alpha, in the store and in my nightmares." Her voice quivered as she recalled the terrifying visions.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott and Stiles exchanged worried glances, deepening her unease. Scott then spoke, revealing the urgency of their situation, "The full moon is in a week. Derek and I have a week to find the Alpha. If we don't...Derek thinks the Alpha might try to kill me."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta's eyes widened as she processed this alarming information. Her reaction prompted Stiles to slap Scott in the stomach with the back of his hand, giving him a pointed look.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stiles looked genuinely concerned as he spoke, his voice gentle, "You should get some sleep, Brie." His eyes remained fixed on her dark circles, clearly worried about her well-being.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀However, Brietta vehemently shook her head, her hair slapping against her face as she did so. Her voice trembled as she replied, "I don't...no, I don't feel safe." The fear of the Alpha, combined with her recent unsettling experiences, had left her too anxious to even contemplate sleep.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stiles and Scott shared a look before Stiles turned his attention back to Brietta. "We'll stay with you," he assured her, holding her shoulders gently. "You need sleep, okay?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀After a moment of contemplation, Brietta nodded, a tear escaping her left eye. Stiles quickly wiped it away before guiding her over to her bed. She slid under the blankets, and Scott moved closer to the window, making sure the curtains were securely in place.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stiles tucked her in, and she offered him a grateful smile. However, despite their presence and comforting words, she still struggled to drift into sleep, aware that Stiles and Scott were just standing nearby. She opened one eye and motioned to her bed, suggesting, "Why don't...?" Her mind briefly flashed to the sex dream she had a week ago, and she winced before continuing, "Why don't you guys just get in?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stiles and Scott exchanged a glance but then nodded. They shuffled over to her bed, one on either side of her. Brietta shifted towards the middle of the bed as their warmth enveloped her.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀With her best friends beside her, watching over her, Brietta finally succumbed to a peaceful slumber, free from the nightmares that had plagued her.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Then she dreamt of the two boys she loved the most.

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KNOCKING ON THE MARTINS HOUSEHOLD'S FRONT DOOR, Brietta balanced the glass baking dish against her hip, making sure it fits snugly in the curve of her body. The door swung open, revealing Natalie Martin, who removed her reading glasses and greeted the teenager with a warm smile.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Hi, Mrs. Martin," Brietta began, a hint of shyness in her smile. She continued, "I was wondering if Lydia was awake. If she isn't, I just wanted to drop off—."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Before she could finish her sentence, Natalie waved her off with a knowing smile. "I practically had to tie Lydia to her bed," she explained, "She tried to leave to see you earlier. She took a little something to ease her nerves; it makes her drowsy, but you can come in."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Natalie stepped aside to allow Brietta to enter the house, and Brietta couldn't help but chuckle softly at Lydia's determination to see her despite her condition. She followed Natalie inside, the glass baking dish still cradled carefully in her hands.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Just before Natalie shut the front door behind them both, Brietta peered over her shoulder, waving at Stiles and Scott as they sat in the former's Jeep. They both waved back as they sat tight, keeping the promise they'd made. The promise to not leave her.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Smiling at Natalie, Brietta entered the Martin house, walking down the hallway that led to Lydia's bedroom. Lydia's Papillon dog, Prada, rubbed against Brietta's leg, causing a giggle to escape her lips. "C'mon, Prada."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Opening Lydia's bedroom door, Brietta peeked her head into the room while Prada went inside the room and rested on the edge of Lydia's sheets.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Lydia's attention turned over from her fresh manicure to her best friend; the movement allowed Brietta to see the redhead's blue satin pajamas. Brietta closed the door behind her, taking off her shoes with her feet before sitting on Lydia's bed, and placing the dish on the Martin girl's lavender sheets. "Stiles, Scott, and I made brownies for you."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Lydia nodded, pursing her lips before furrowing her eyebrows, "What the hell is a Stiles?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta shrugged as a small smile tugged at her lips, "I'm not completely sure yet."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Shrugging at Brietta's tease, Lydia leaned up, sitting on her bed before opening the dish, grabbing the fork that was laid on top of the brownie before taking a bite while Brietta sat up, walking over to Lydia's lavender record player. "Can I put on some music?" Lydia simply hummed at Brietta's question, taking another forkful of the brownie.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Crouching down, Brietta rummaged through Lydia's vinyl records before grabbing the vinyl Lydia had bought for both her and Brietta. She stood up, plopping the vinyl on the player's platter, turning on the player before moving the stylus onto the moving vinyl, earning some static before Apocalypse by Cigarettes After Sex started echoing in the room.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Lyds, you don't have to answer, but have you been having hallucinations? Maybe the mountain lion?" Brietta hinted, knowing the officers had told her that she'd been attacked by a mountain lion. Brietta thought the excuse was ridiculous but she went with it.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Mountain lion..." Lydia repeated slowly as if she was recalling a suppressed memory while Brietta sat next to her.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Lydia?" Brietta looked into Lydia's hazel eyes, which started to water, causing Brietta's eyes to soften.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"I saw..." Lydia began but Brietta noticed that Lydia's breathing started to get more abundant. Panic flooded her system and she anxiously gnawed at the inside of her cheek, blurting out the only words she could, "A mountain lion, right?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta felt her heart ache at Lydia's answer. However, she couldn't just tell Lydia about what went bump in the night, especially when she didn't even fully comprehend the whole supernatural thing herself. "A mountain lion," Brietta assured, the words tasting like acid on her tongue.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Lydia nodded, taking another bite of her brownie, causing Brietta to let out a sigh of relief. Brietta felt her phone buzz and she shuffled it out of her pocket, looking down at a text from Allison, who thanked her and Lydia for their birthday surprise.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Before Brietta went to work, Lydia and she had snuck into school and shoved balloons into Allison's locker.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Sitting up, Brietta went over to her shoes, going to put them on when Lydia grasped her wrist, shaking her head. "Stay?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta smiled softly before nodding, putting the lid back onto the dish. She put the dish and fork on Lydia's vanity before walking back to Lydia.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Lydia turned over, leaning on Brietta's shoulder as the Chastener teenager sat next to her. Brietta looked at Lydia's nightstand that was right next to her, examining the pill bottle. Hearing a buzz come from Lydia's phone, Brietta looked down to see the strawberry-blonde sleeping in her arms.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Shifting a bit, Brietta grabbed Lydia's phone, seeing a reminder from her photos app to back up her new videos and photos. She clicked on the app and saw a popup alert to view and accept a video that hadn't gotten uploaded to her iCloud.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Praying that it wasn't a sex tape or anything weird, Brietta clicked the ACCEPT option. Brietta watched the video and soon gasped as it paused on the figure. No, not a figure. The Alpha.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta felt her eyes water as she shakily sent the text message to herself before deleting the video from Lydia's phone, but seeing the Alpha wasn't what scared her.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀What truly unsettled her was the nagging feeling of familiarity she had when she saw the Alpha's face.

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BRIETTA EMBRACED THE COMFORTABLE SILENCE, her thoughts swirling as she chewed on her lower lip. She leaned against Stiles' shoulder, finding solace in his presence as they sat together on his bed with Scott in front of them.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stiles had taken the initiative to drive Brietta and Scott to his house, where they planned to research every available fact about the Hale fire. He had compiled a substantial amount of information for their investigation, including stolen reports from his dad's office, newspaper clippings, and comments from locals.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta lifted her head off of Stiles' shoulder and directed her attention to the stack of reports and papers spread out before them. Her curiosity piqued, she asked, "Why are we looking at these reports?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stiles met Brietta's gaze with a pointed look before explaining, "To get your mind off of you-know-what," Clearly referring to the Alpha attack yesterday. He then continued, gesturing towards the papers, "And because something's off about the Hale fire, I can feel it."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Well, I can't," Scott spoke up, climbing off of Stiles' bed, "and I have to get to the Parent-Teacher conference."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Stiles was about to object, his arms starting to raise in protest, but Brietta intervened. She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder and gave Scott a reassuring look. "Go," she encouraged him, her voice soft and understanding. "We'll call you if anything new pops up."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Scott expressed his gratitude with a thankful look towards Brietta before swiftly grabbing his backpack and coat. He made a quick exit from Stiles' bedroom, leaving Brietta and Stiles to continue their research. Brietta picked up one of the papers that had caught Scott's attention, ready to delve deeper into the investigation.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Brietta's eyes trailed over the paper, and she came across a small section titled CAUSE OF FIRE. There, she found two disturbing words: "Electrical Malfunction" and "Arson Suspected."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The word 'Arson' struck Brietta like a dagger to her heart. The thought that someone could intentionally set fire to a family's home filled her with a sense of horror and grief.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀How could the Argents do that?

𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄

This chapter is an entire episode because Scott was basically with Allison the entire time and Stiles didn't have much screen time...

Also, I may have forgotten to write that Brietta has a scar on her neck from where the Alpha scratched her...I'll bring it up in the next chapter because I fear I might get burnout if I add it in now, so I'll add in a flashback and y'all will all pretend that it was in this chapter :) [ill add it in after]

▍PUBLISHED . . 10/01/23 — ♡︎ ୫
© POETICLULLS,                    2023