"Scott!" I gasped, rushing over to my brother as he slumped against the wall, letting out a pained groan.  My eyes were wide as I stared at the pike protruding out of his stomach.

Malia arrived at Scott's other side. "We have to get it out." she announced, looking up to meet eyes with Scott.

He gave her a small nod, and I turned to Liam. "Help me hold him." I ordered, already securing my arms against my brother's chest. Liam nodded, rushing over to ensure Scott didn't move.

I looked back to Lori and Malia before looking down at Scott, "You ready?" I asked quietly. He let out another grunt before nodding.

Malia wasted no time in grabbing the pike, beginning to pull it out of my brother. Scott continued letting out pained gasps. I felt myself wince as I tightened my grip on him,  I hated when he was in pain.

"Got it!" Malia called. Seconds later the pike was pull completely from Scott's torso. The second it was out, Scott's legs gave out from under him, and Liam and I had to rush to slowly lower him to the ground.

"They knew we were coming." Scott grunted as Malia pressed some sort of rag to the wound. I watched on with worried eyes as my brother withered in pain.

"Don't talk," Malia ordered, "Just heal, and let us figure it out."

Scott ignored her order, letting out another groan, "They've been a step ahead of us the whole time." he observed.

"I'm sorry," Lori announced, her eyes travelling down the tunnels, "But I can't wait around, we have to go."

I glanced over to her, and then back at my brother. There was no way he was going anywhere anytime soon.

Liam looked up from where he had been watching Scott, "We still have the numbers, four to two." he exclaimed, "We're faster, stronger."

Scott looked over at his beta through pained eyes, "They're smarter." he retorted.

"I don't care who's smarter or faster or whatever, my brother's going to die!" Lori argued.

My brother shook his head, "Something's not right," he whispered, "That arrow, the trip wire, the poison...these aren't amateurs."

"But they've never fought us before." Liam challenged.

"And you've never fought hunters, Liam." Scott shot back, "Neither has Sydney and all she has is a baseball bat." I glanced down at the bat in my hand before looking up to my brother. "We need to stick together." he confirmed.

"I need to go!" Lori yelled, desperation in her voice.

"You're not going alone," Liam argued, "I-I'll go with you."

I looked to my brother with sad eyes before looking up at them, "You don't have the numbers if only two of you go,"  I announced, "I'll go too."

"Sydney," Scott snapped, "You don't know who they are or what they're capable of. A baseball bat isn't going to protect you."

I was about to speak when Liam cut me off, kneeling beside my brother. "Look, I know who we are. We never give up, especially when it's someone innocent, when it's someone alone, when it's one of our friends."

Scott looked back at him with pained eyes before nodding ever so slightly. "Okay go," he whispered, "All of you go, I'll catch up."

That was all Lori and Liam needed to hear, the were gone before the last word even left Scott's mouth. However Malia and I stayed back, both of us watching my brother with worried eyes.

"Go!" Scott ordered, looking up at me, "Just be careful."

I looked to Malia briefly, "Maybe I shouldn't leave you," I whispered, realizing that my own brother came first over anyone.

Scott shook his head, "I'm fine," he promised, "I just need a minute. Go get Brett."

I nervously bit down on my lip as I looked between Scott and where Liam and Lori had just disappeared to.

"I've got him." Malia promised, "Go."

With one final look between the two, I gave a small nod before taking off after Liam and Lori. My breathing was panicked as I rounded one of the corners.

A small sigh of relief flew from my lips at the sight of Liam and Lori, I had been afraid I had lost them in the winding tunnels. As I approached, I could hear Liam trying to comfort Lori, his hand placed on her arm in comfort.

I stopped beside them, letting out a deep breath. Liam turned to me, his eyes determined. "Where's Malia?"

I shook my head, looking over my shoulder. "She's staying with Scott." I explained, then looking to Lori, "Have you guys found anything."

She shook her head. However, suddenly, her and Liam both perked up, turning their heads down the tunnels. "Do you smell that?" Liam questioned. "It smells...sour?"

Lori nodded, "It smells like something's rotting."

I looked over to Liam, "What does that mean?" I wondered.

Liam turned back around to look at Lori and I, "I think's it's poison."

A hopeful smile spread across Lori's face, "That's how we'll find him."

---

"Are you sure we're going the right way?" Lori questioned as we turned yet another corner.

Liam nodded, not breaking his stride, "Positive." he assured, "Syd and I have gotten lost down here, more times than once. Just follow the scent."

I shook my head slightly at the thought of the numerous times we had been down here- too many if you ask me.

Lori let out a grunt, "I hate that scent."

"Wait!" Liam called, causing us to stop, "I hear something, it sounds like a-"

Lori took a step forward, "A heartbeat." she confirmed.

"What way?" I asked, my eyes scanning the tunnels as my own heartbeat began to speed up.

"This way!" Lori called, already taking off toward the sound.

Liam gave me a reassuring look, placing his hand on my back as he steered me in the correct direction. We broke into a run, following Lori. As we emerged into one of the open areas, Lori stopped, her eyes searching for her brother.

"Brett!" she yelled, rushing forward. I followed her gaze to see Brett slumped against one of the walls, his skin pale and his face stained with black ooze that seemed to be seeping from his eyes, nose, mouth and ears.

He looked up at his sister as she knelt beside him, a small smile playing on his lips. "You found the rocks?" he whispered, his voice weak.

Lori nodded, tears of joy springing to her eyes, "Yeah, I found the rocks." she confirmed.

Brett smile once again before his eyes travelled to Liam and I, a look of shock now covering his features. "Liam? Sydney?"

Liam stuck his hand out, "We're going to get you out of here." he promised.

"You're a dumbass-" Brett grunted as Liam pulled him from the ground "-For doing this." he then turned to look at me, "And bringing your girlfriend along."

I gave him a small smile, "I invited myself."

Brett let out a small chuckle as Liam released his grip on him, letting Brett lean into Lori. "Is that your way of thanking me?" Liam questioned.

"No," Brett breathed, "That's my way of calling you a dumbass....But, thanks."

Before Liam had a chance to respond, he slowly turned back toward the way we came, his eyes wide.

I followed his gaze, seeing nothing. "Liam, what-"

I was cut off as a bright explosion went off from one of the tunnels we had just come from. Liam jumped back ever so slightly. My eyes widened as smoke began to flood the corridors, rushing toward us.

"They're coming!" Lori cried.

"Go!" Liam screamed, turning to look at the other three of us, "I'll hold them off!"

Brett and Lori gave him a hesitant look, as did I. "Liam!" I argued, "I can't just leave you!"

He turned to look at me, giving me a nod, "You have to," he instructed, "Help Brett. Go, Syd!"

With a conflicted look, I turned from my boyfriend and rushed to Brett and Lori, allowing Brett to throw his arm over my shoulder and lean into me. I felt sick over leaving Liam, it was bad enough I had already left my brother.

As we began to make our way through the tunnels in front of us, noise beacons began to sound off through the corridors. Brett and Lori winced as the sound met their ears. "Come on!" I instructed, not being affected in the same way they were, "This way!"

As we rounded one of the corners, I spotted one of the sound beacons on the wall. Brett cringed as he brought one of his hands up to cover his ear. I released my grip on him, making my way toward the noise. I gripped onto the baseball bat, not wasting any time before swinging it and sending the beacon into the far wall, stopping to noise.

Lori gave me a small nod before turning back to her brother, "Just a little further," she promised, "We're almost out of here."

I rejoined the siblings, wrapping my arm around Brett once again in order to help him move as fast as possible.

As we rounded one of the corners, our eyes fell on a ladder. I let out a sigh of relief, we were going to get out of here.

"Hurry!" I called, pushing the siblings toward the ladder.

Brett grabbed on first, slowly pulling himself up as Lori followed. I glanced behind me nervously, expecting to see a group of hunters marching toward us, but instead I saw nothing.

"Sydney, come on!" Lori called, already at the top of the ladder.

I nodded, turning as I gripped onto the ladder, beginning to pull myself up. I was only a few rungs from the top when a voice called out from behind me. "Sydney, no!"

Before I even had chance to turn around, a hand grabbed onto my ankle, yanking me from the ladder. I went tumbling to the ground, landing harshly on my back.

I looked up with wild eyes to see Liam mounting the ladder. "Liam!" I shrieked, "What the hell are you doing?" I demanded, under the impression that he was leaving me down here for the hunters.

But as I pushed myself to my feet, watching as he disappeared up above, I realized I was wrong, Liam wasn't sacrificing me...he was saving me.

Tires screeching from up above ripped through the night air. I pushed away the pain coursing through my body as I remounted the ladder, rushing back to the top with my heart in my stomach.

A growl followed the sound of the tires, and I instantly knew it was Liam...and he was upset.

I pulled myself from the ladder, landing on the wet pavement outside. I instantly shielded my eyes from the several headlights that were pointed in our direction. However as my eyes adjusted, I saw what Liam had been trying to prevent, what had him so upset.

Laying in the middle of the road were two bodies. It was Brett and Lori. My heart plummeted to my stomach as tears pooled in my eyes. "No!" I screamed, my eyes landing on the bloodied truck that sat in front of them.

I then turned to Liam, who stood in the middle of the road, his chest rising and falling rapidly. But, that wasn't the only way I could tell he was upset. His eyes were no longer blue, but rather gold. His teeth replaced by fangs and his fingers nails now taking the form of claws.

I felt myself gasp at the realization that everyone who had witnessed the accident, was now witnessing this. "Liam!" I yelled, rushing toward him.

He turned away from me, looking toward the crowd before letting our a loud roar. I grabbed a hold of his face, "Liam!" I snapped again, forcing him to look at me.

His angry eyes met my teary ones, and his face soon softened.

"You have to calm down." I demanded, keeping my hands on his face, "People are watching." I whispered.

He tore his eyes from me, taking in the terrified looks that everyone wore, "They did this." he snapped, "The hunters."

I nodded, letting out a small sob, "I know." I whispered, "But you have to calm down, please."

He looked back at me, his breathing slowing as he morphed back to normal, tears now filling his eyes. "I couldn't save them." he whispered.

I pulled him into a hug, tears streaming from my face, "It's not your fault." I promised, "None of this is your fault."

As we stood in the middle of the road, Liam sobbing into my chest, and as onlookers watched in horror at what they had just witnessed, I couldn't help but feel fear rip through my body. Things were changing in Beacons Hills...and not for the better.