『Act I • Side A』

CHAPTER SIX

✨🌙🔮🌙✨

June Tanaka has always been someone who only believes something if it's right there in front of her. Baseless fairy tales that surrounded most of her childhood? June always knew they were bullshit. Stiles hated that. He was the most childish person the girl had come across and still, June would keep up with him. That's what best friends were for right? June has always been thankful for their  friendship and although their distance kept her dull, at least now June knows the truth. The sheriff's son only ever wanted to keep June safe. But now with everything around her, June can't help but believe that she was fated to eventually land up here-- in the center of mythology, unreal things. A place she never asked to be in in the first place.

A wounded Scott lingers on Allison's shoulder for support. June watches wordlessly as the colour in his face has gone, making him look paler than she would ever admit. Looks like Allison did the stitches, and with the fresh t-shirt over him, Scott seems to be in a little bit of relief. He meets her eyes, her heart stings. She looks away from him, swallowing her saliva as she feels overwhelmed, a feeling that came over her whenever their eyes ever met. But the moment June shifts her gaze away from him, she regrets it. Because sitting right there in front of her with poise, a posture straighter than she can ever imagine, the stark white cat-- her stalker-- stormed its flaxen eyes into her brown eyes. And June has always been someone who only believes what she sees with her own eyes.

The cat. It's more than just that, than a stalker. The cat, it is a sign, another proof that myths aren't myths. 

She turns back to meet Scott's sunken face, long with fear. June immediately realises how his eyes are firm on the cat as well, his eyebrows raised  with realisation and shock. He knows it too . . .

He looks back at her, his own face shaped into fear. Why does it feel like he is afraid of her?

June can see the cat still perched on the pavement from the corner of her eyes and she wants nothing more than for it to just disappear.

The students are urged to get into the bus. The cross-country meet has apparently gotten cancelled, so they are going to stop at a nearby motel for the night. Having no other choice but to get in as well ( since Allison's car ran out of petrol ), June prays for no more sudden bombs for the rest of the night. As she seats herself next to Allison near the window, June tries her best to avoid the clear white figure still sitting still on the pavement like it is waiting for June to look back. June wouldn't.

After fifteen minutes, the school bus pulls up at the Glen Capri Motel that doesn't look very homey. The sign on its billboard shimmers in neon, bringing bright colours into the otherwise dark night. The students get down one by one as June examines the area, an eerie chill at the sight causing her neck hair to stand. It's gonna be alright, just stay close to Stiles and Lydia.

Coach Finstock hands out the keys to everyone, his behavior as energetic as ever. He screams in his everlasting loud voice, his hazel eyes wide and almost eyelash-less, "Restrict any kinds of sexual perversions and keep your dirty little hands to your dirty little selves! If any of you falls pregnant today, I will not be held responsible!" 

Lydia and Allison are right behind her. June turns around and waits for the girls to join her as well, but the pretty redhead behind the witch is frozen in one place, eyes glassy at the empty lobby a few meters away. June furrows her eyebrows worriedly, "Lydia?"

"I don't like this place." Lydia says distantly, to no one in particular.

Allison shrugs her shoulders, "I don't think the people who own this place like this place but it's just for a night."

Lydia is still motionless as she replies in a whisper, "A lot can happen in one night."

From in front of them June groans, "Don't jinx it."

━━☆⌒.⌒☆━━

June shares the room with Allison and Lydia, but the room isn't pleasing to say the least. The dull beige paint on the wall is scraped almost everywhere and June would encounter a pile of dust in every corner. The single bed is equivalent to a stone, June would rather sleep on the floor.

As Lydia goes down to visit the reception, Allison announces that she is going for a shower, leaving June alone with only her thoughts. The cat, her dream and the fact that she is a witch-- it is more overwhelming than she lets on. She buries her face in her palms, her bottom almost hurting by the hardness of the bed she sits on. June tries to breathe. You're a witch, so what? So everything has changed.

When the old door creaks open, June lifts her head from her hands hurriedly, looking towards the old wooden door. Her eyebrows crease when she realises that it is Scott near the door and as always, her heart begins to race. Knowing about his superhearing ability, June understands by the way he looks that he is listening to it. But that's not what scares June.

The comfort that comes along with Scott's endearing presence is now gone-- he looks almost possessed. His eyes are hooded evilly, a devilish smirk creeping up his mouth. June hesitantly moves away in fear as Scott comes closer, her dreams once again reigniting her brain. Scott walks slowly towards, his eyes fiddling behind a devil. 

"S-scott?" June tries, fanning her hands in front of her in hopes to get him to stop. That only helps in widening Scott's evil smirk. The witch realises the boy in front of her is not Scott McCall.

Her first instinct is to run, and she heeds her own command, sprinting towards the door, praying that she can get past Scott safely. She holds her breath in desperation, trying to keep her own fears on hold, but before anything else could happen, a strong hand latches itself on her wrist and the next thing she knows, she's being pinned against the grazed wall. She lets herself breathe again, cautiously looking from the corner of her eye, her wrist feeling like pulp.

"You're trying to run?" Scott's voice is heavy, unfamiliar. Will his eyes turn red too? "You should know I'm stronger than that."

June glues her mouth shut, clenching her jaw. She feels Scott's hot breath on her shoulder, it makes her skin burn. "I know you feel it too." Scott whispers into her ears, travelling chills up and down her spine. "I can hear your heart pounding. You can't hear it, but mine is too."

"I can't hear it," June doesn't recognise her own voice as she speaks. "but I feel it."

It's true. Scott's chest is touching her back as he still holds her wrist, one side of June's face hopelessly attaches to the wall. She can feel Scott's heart beat faster on her admission, and it only causes June's heart to fasten as well. The werewolf's steady breath now hitches. Unexpectedly, he leaves his grip on June's hand, rendering the girl free. When she feels the pain leave her wrist, June turns around to face him-- eyes sharp but discreet. Scott's face is only inches away from hers but he doesn't move. Neither does she. Run. Her mind screams, why can't she move?

The possessed human wolf takes another step forward as though they aren't close enough already. His dark eyes are firm on her lips. She feels her skin crawl under his gaze. Run.

Both of them are heavily breathing, Scott's eyes lingers on Juniper's lips. "Whenever I'm close to you I feel like I can't stop myself." The werewolf admits. A realisation dawns upon June as he says those words, his usual gentle eyes missing. This becomes a reminder for her that he isn't Scott McCall, at least not the Scott she knows. Ignoring her heart that wanted to admit what he did too, June looks for another way of escape. She furrows her eyebrows in worry, she had always been afraid of Scott ever since the recurring nightmares. This is no different, only this time she knows this isn't him. This is not Scott McCall, she has to try and save him, at least.

"Scott." Her voice is firm, but shaking. "Snap out of it."

His eyes finally move away from her lips, glaring at her menacingly. "Snap out of what? This is the real me, June."

He steps closer. June tries to get behind but there's no room to escape. Run.  "Scott."

"Lydia? Did you get the new towels?" 

Allison's sweet voice poses as a remedy for the ongoing tension between the witch and the werewolf. June still looks at Scott cautiously, her eyebrows furrowed as Scott blinks profusely, apparently awakened from whatever he was on. He looks at her with wide eyes, its softness returning, but they look guilty. He immediately steps away when he realises the close distance between them, apologising. June doesn't reply, mainly because she doesn't know what to tell him. She desperately wants to ask him if he remembers what he told her, because ultimately it was the truth. June always finds her feelings on overdrive whenever he's around and she wants nothing more than to know why. She wants to understand the feeling she gets when he's around, especially now that he admitted his feelings too.

Scott leaves the room without another word, his head in his hands. June's gaze lingers on him until he leaves, her heart turns back to normal. She recalls how her stomach suddenly felt like it has been stabbed, how the pain gnawed on her skin even though there was no visible on it. It was on the same spot Scott was wounded and now she can't help but feel like this is all connected somehow.

"Lydia?" Allison calls again, snapping June away from her thoughts. Releasing a long breath, she walks into the bathroom slowly, making sure Allison's body isn't exposed. Allison covers herself with the shower curtain, her hair and face drenched. The brunette furrows her eyebrows when she sees June. "June, is Lydia here?"

June raises her shoulders, shaking her head. "She hasn't returned yet, no." 

"How long will she take?" Allison groans, "All the towels smell of nicotine here." She complains, frowning at June. The girl in front of seems to be adrift, causing Allison to bend her brows. "June?" She calls out, the witch looks at her, face crunched in thought. "Is everything alright?"

Slowly, June shakes her head. "Something is very wrong with this place."

Allison smirks teasingly, raising one eyebrow. "I thought you were the one who said not to jinx it."

"But I'm serious!" June retorts, biting her lips nervously. Allison frowns then, nudging her to elaborate. 

The newborn witch closes her eyes, inhaling a deep breath. When she opened them again, Allison sees right through the fear in eyes. "Scott was here before you called for Lydia."

Allison grows alert the moment she hears her old lover's name, her body uncomfortably stiffening. "Scott? Did he need something?"

June shakes her head profusely, "No, he wasn't even himself. He seemed . . . possessed, almost."

"Possessed?" Allison repeats incredulously, "Possessed, how?"

"--it's not just Scott." A new voice answered instead of June, an oddly familiar one at that. Allison brings the curtain closer to her body as June looks around confusedly, watching as a golden blonde girl walks into the bathroom, tossing over the towel to a flustered Allison. June's face drops when she realises who the girl is, rolling her eyes with irritation.

"You don't have to be like that, it's not a good look on you." The girl comments, causing June to furrow her eyebrows annoyingly at her. "Eliza." June groans, rolling her eyes yet again. 

"Hello, Juniper." Eliza Fawkes mocks at the annoyed girl, folding her hands as a smirk curls on her pink lips. "Or should I say Lunar witch?"

June widens her eyes at her childhood nemesis, who seems to know way too much. Eliza knows about June what she doesn't know herself, apparently. "Lunar witch? That's not even a thing."

Eliza widens her mouth into an oh. "Yes it is, but apparently you don't know that."

June points at her accusingly. "Are you even supposed to know about this?" Allison peers out of the shower curtain as June questions the snarky blonde in front of her, now dried and fully clothed. She too looks at Eliza with suspicious eyes, she was never a part of their group.

"I've known about the supernatural longer than any of you," Eliza announces, frustrated by June's complaints. "Didn't Deaton tell you about the Agni witch you'll be meeting?"

"Agni?" Allison asks what June wanted to. Eliza furrows her eyebrows even further. "The fire coven?" The blonde tries to elaborate, unsure whether it worked or not.

June gasps, looking at Eliza with wide eyes. "That's you?"

The blonde fancily bows down, "The one and only."

The sound of another pair of footsteps greets the trio. Lydia stands next to Eliza, looking out of breath.  A few stray strands of her ginger hair stick to the sweat on her face. "This motel. . . there's something morbid about it." She announces without a break, looking at all the faces. Unlike Allison and June, Lydia doesn't seem surprised to see Eliza as well.

"She's not wrong about that." The blonde continues for Lydia, although Eliza's blue eyes look only at June. "There have been one ninety-eight suicides so far."

June raises her brows anxiously, "In this hotel alone?" 

The redhead nods, "And we're talking forty years. On average, that's four-point-five a year which . . . is actually expected. But who commemorates that with a framed number? Who does that? Who?"

"All of them are suicides?" Allison asks Lydia who makes her way to the bed. She nods in agreement as she sits on it, staring blankly at the wall in front of her.

The redhead suddenly furrows her eyebrows, tilting her head towards the side. "Do you hear that?"

The rest of the girls look at each other confusedly, an eerie feeling crawling upon all of them. "Hear what?"

Lydia doesn't respond to them, instead, she turns around to face the bed only to climb on it. None of them question her in fear of what might happen and wordlessly watched as Lydia reaches the air vent on the degraded wall, peering her ear toward it. 

"Oh my god." They hear Lydia whisper timidly. Before anyone can check whether Lydia is okay, she shrieks, covering her mouth morbidly. She hops down the be hurriedly, tears rolling down her eyes. "Lydia?" Allison walks towards the ginger, holding her shoulders for support, "What happened?"

"They were in love," Lydia whispers bewitchingly, sobbing between words. "But they killed each other." Allison widens her eyes at her friend as she worries for her, but Lydia ignores it, tugging away the brunette's hands as she rushes out of the room.

Eliza and Allison don't waste time to follow Lydia but June hesitantly stands in the room, watching the scene in shock. You're a witch, you can try and help. But somehow even that seemed like an impossible task. She finally finds the strength in her to follow them in the next room, holding her breath precariously. Eliza stands by the door, watching whatever is happening while Allison is trying to calm down an anxious Lydia, who seems to be searching for something in every corner of the room. "Hello?" The redhead calls out to no one in particular.

"Lydia, there's no one here." Allison tries again, holding her friend's shoulder. But Lydia doesn't listen. She still glances around the room, staring neck deep into the wall as if the people she talked about would come out of it.

"We need to get out of here," Eliza whispers to June, staring at Lydia sympathetically. "It's gonna make us crazy next."

June furrows her eyebrows, "What do you mean?"

The blonde witch meets her eyes, "We're supernaturals too, June." She says, sighing at the end. "We may be the next victims, but we're also witches."

"So what if we are?"

Eliza chuckles, "Did you not know? The witches are the strongest supernatural creatures, we can't be controlled."

June raises her eyebrows at the new information that she gathered. "But we're still new to this right? We aren't as strong."

"You aren't as strong. I've been practising magic since I was four." Eliza says smartly, causing June to frown. She definitely does not want to be controlled by whatever this is.

"Right." June nods stiffly, trying to hide her detriment. Eliza nudges her, "As much as I don't like you, I'm here to help, so don't worry a lot."

June doesn't respond as she still looks at Lydia's frantic state in agony. She wants nothing more than the night to get over. She just wants to sleep and wake up only for all this to be a dream. 

But she knows that no matter how much she tries, whenever she falls asleep, she will be greeted by Scott's red eyes and be reminded that he is more than what others say. And now along with this nightmare, she would remember all that he admitted and once again her heart races, but by now she's used to this.

A/N:

apparently im the ceo of abrupt endings 👺  why am i not surprised👺. in all honesty this chapter was supposed to be wayy more longer, like 6k words long but then i started getting a headache 👺  and my obsession with anime is not helping lol. next chapter will be the last part of this painful subplot and you will meet badass eliza aka the love of stiles's life😻!! it also means you'll see angst and emotional things like peak sciles, but thats all imma say for now huehue. and a reminder for y'all to remember the conversation between ethan and june last chapter! its imp and will also be mentioned a few chaps later ☺

PLEASE let me know what you thought of this, writing it was a disaster!!! love u all