Being told to go tho the guidance counselor was bad enough but coach now has me playing with the team during practice so I have my own lacrosse equipment to maintain. Therefore I multi-tasked by fixing my lacrosse stick while talking to Miss Morrel.

"You know when you're drowning, you don't actually inhale until right before you black out. It's called voluntary apnea. It's liek no matter how much you're freaking out, the instinct to not let any water in is so strong that you won't open your mouth until you feel like your head's exploding. But then when you finally do let it in, that's when it stops hurting. It's not scary anymore. It's- it's actually kind of peaceful." I explained, pulling tightly at my stick. Anubis rubbed his back against my leg, trying to keep me from stressing.

"Are you saying you hope Matt felt some peace in his last moments?"

"I don't feel sorry for him." I said, pulling at the laces on my stick.

"Can you feel sorry for the nine year old Matt who drowned?"

I shook my head. "Just because a bunch of dumbasses dragged him into a pool when he couldn't swim doesn't give the right to go off killing them one by one. And by the way, my dad told me that they found a bunch of pictures of Allison on Matt's computer. And not just of her though. I mean, he photoshopped himself into these photos. Stuff like them holding hands and kissing. You know, like he had built this whole fake relationship. So yeah, maybe drowning when he was nine years old was what sent him off the rails, but that dude was definitely riding the crazy train."

"One positive thing came from this, though. Right?"

"Yeah, but I still feel like there's something wrong. I don't know. Like tension when we talk. Same thing with Scott."

"Have you talked to him since that night?"

"No, not really. I had some stuff to tell my dad and he's got his own problems to deal with. I don't think he's talked to Allison either. But that might be more her choice. Her mom dying hit her pretty hard. But I guess it brought her and her dad closer. Jackson? He hasn't really been himself lately. The funny thing is, as of right know, Lydia seems the most normal out of all of us."

"What about you Stiles? Feeling some anxiety about the championship game you are suddenly playing in?"

"Why would you ask me that?" I asked from around my stick. I looked down and answered her. "No but since one of my teammates is dead and another one's missing, who knows what will happen."

"You mean Issac. One of the three run aways. You haven't heard from any of them, have you?"

I looked at her desk. "How come you aren't taking any notes?"

"I do my notes after the session." She explained.

"Your memories that good?" I asked in disbelief.

"How about we get back to you?"

I sighed. "I'm fine aside from the not sleeping, the jumpiness. the constant, overwhelming fear that something terrible is going to happen." Anubis sat and put his head in my lap. I petted his head.

"It's called hyper-vigilance, the persistent feeling of being under threat." She explained.

"But it's not just a feeling, it's more. It's like a panic attack. Like I can't breathe."

"Like you're drowning?" I glanced at her and nodded.

"So if you're drowning, and you're trying to keep your mouth closed until that very last moment, what if you choose not to open your mouth? To not let the water in?"

I looked at her. "You do anyways. It's a reflex."

"But if you hold off until that reflex kicks in, you have more time, right?"

"Not much."

"But more time to fight towards the surface?"

"I guess."

"More time to be rescued?"

More time to be in agonizing pain. I mean, did you forget about the part where you feel like your head's exploding?"

"If it's about survival, isn't a little agony worth it?"

"What if it just gets worse? What if it's agony now and then it's just hell later on?"

"Then think about something Winston Churchill once said- "If you're going through hell, keep going." She advised.

At the game that night, I suited up in the girl's change room then went over to the guys. Jackson warned Danny away from him and Melissa came in, looking for Scott. "Good morning. In less that an hour, aircraft from here will be joining others from around the world and you will be launching the largest aerial battle in the history of mankind."

"What?" Melissa asked, confused beyond belief.

"Mankind-that word should have new meaning for all of us today." Coach continued.

"What the hell is he talking about?" She asked me.

I sighed. "He does this every year."

"Seriously?" I nodded.

"We are fighting for our right to live." Everyone cheered.

"Wait, is this?"

"It's the speech from Independence Day. It's Coach's favorite movie."

"But as the day the world declared in one voice we will not go quietly into the night!" Coach yelled.

"Does he know any sports speeches?"

"I don't think he cares." I deadpanned.

"Today we celebrate our independence day." Every boy in that locker room started cheering and Gerard stepped up as the new principal to give a speech.

"Well spoken coach. I might've chosen something with a little more historical value but there's no denying your passion. And while I haven't been here long there's no denying my pride in having a winning team for this school. I know you'll all be brilliant tonight even with only one co-captain leading you." Scott got a surprised look on his face and coach lost his smile. I may be a principal but I'm also a fan, so I won't be content with you beating this team. Get out there and murder them."

"You heard the man." Coach yelled and the team headed for the field. I headed for the bench and sat down. Anubis sat beside me on my right and Scott sat on my left.

"You're dad coming?" Scott asked. I looked over at him, who was talking to Melissa.

"He's already here."

"You seen Allison?"

"No. You seen Lydia?"

"Not yet." I looked at him.

"You know what's going on?"

Scott breathed out to release stress. "Not yet."

"It's going to be bad isn't it?" I asked, looking for a straight answer even though I already knew it. "I mean blood everywhere, maiming, killing, screaming people everywhere bad."

"Looks like it." Scott said and i reached for Anubis, reassuring myself that he was there.

"Scott, seeing my dad get hit over the head before I could do anything, it just... I wanna help, you know? But I can't seem to do the things you do."

"Stiles you did better than anyone that night. You can help." Scott reassured.

"Stilinski, get your helmet on. You're in for Greenburg." Coach said.

"What? What happened to Greenburg?" I looked around in panic.

"He sucks, you suck slightly less." Coach said, balancing our skills on his hands.

"I'm playing? On the field? With the team?" I asked.

"Unless you'd rather play with yourself."

"I already did that today, twice." Coach got a look of anger on his face as Scott smirked.

"Get out there." I took a little strength from Anubis for energy and got on the field.

"Oh no. Why is my daughter running onto the field?" I heard dad asked. I rolled my eyes as I got into position.

"Because she's on the team?" Melissa offered.

"She is. She is. My daughter's on the field." By the end, dad was standing and shouting and I smirked at his enthusiasm.

"Oh dear god." I muttered, looking at the other team. Scott smirked before Gerard started talking. I paid attention but focused more on the game plan and what I was about to do. The whistle went and the game began. I got the ball only to get get bowled over every time. "Anubis, more energy or eyesight?" I asked as I noticed Issac was here. I made a few easy passes but I didn't due much else. Issac was knocking everyone over and was getting yelled at. Jackson injured Issac and Scott got in the game. His mom said to help which I was going to. Anubis went looking for Issac. Anubis saw Gerard go after Issac and Scott saved him. I got the ball and ran for the goal. I used the energy and whipped the ball into the net, scoring a goal.

"I scored a goal." After that I was scoring one after another. I tied the game, cheering. I scored another goal again, getting us in the lead.The game ended and people were cheering until the lights went out.

I was pulled off of the field in the dark, Anubis staying because he didn't realize that I was gone.