are we falling together, void? - void stiles ²

21

"Okay. So she's lost it," Malia says as we leave Mere for a second, and she rocks back and forth in her chair.

"I think she's just overstimulated, she's probably freaking the fuck out," I mutter, watching her. "She was like this in Eichen too, Lia," I say and Malia sighs.

"I guess this is next-level kooky, even for Mere." She mumbles.

"How-How did she hear us?" Lydia says, her voice choked. "I don't understand-" She cuts herself off as her voice fills with emotion.

"I'm not sure, maybe we acted as a beacon of sorts when we unleashed our grief. I saw it happen whilst you were in the tunnel. You heard my scream and knew immediately what happened and screamed also. It could be some deeper thing we don't quite comprehend yet." I offer and Lydia shakes her head.

"I don't know, but we need more information." She says, watching Meredith still. "Come." She says grabbing my hand and pulling us back into the room.

Parish, Noah's newest onboard rookie, is keenly in front of Mere. "Meredith, can I ask you a question?" He looks over his shoulder to where we stand. "When you need help, when you need to find something-" He pauses. "Is there someone you reach out to? Maybe someone you call?"

His voice is soft, and Meredith is broken from her trance. She smiles a little at the voice he used with her.

"It depends..." She says seriously. "Different people for different things." Her answer is solemn as she maintains eye contact with Parrish.

He smiles, trying to coax more information from her. "So, maybe there's a number that can help us? Someone that we could call, yes?" He asks and Meredith nods, still glued to his gaze.

"Yes." She says and Lydia squeezes my hand.

We're both thinking the same thing. This could be the breakthrough we both need.

"Hey," he says, trying to redirect Meredith, who was distracted by the phone on the wall. "Would you be okay telling us?" he asks gently.

She smiles eagerly at him. "It's two...four..." Parrish starts to write down the numbers before nodding to continue him. "...three...six...." She pauses.

Malia and I share a look before I smile at her. "Mer, we um, we need a few more numbers," I say, and she doesn't look at me. 

"No. That's the number." She reaffirms. 

"Phone numbers are ten digits," Malia says, and Mere glares at Malia. 

"That's the number." She insists. 

"Meredith." Lydia says, frantic, "What's the number?"

Mere is staring into the distance now, not acknowledging any of us.

Noah walks into the room. "Lydia? Malena? Come here." I walk over and drag Lydia with me. "I think this is the best we will get from her." He says quietly. 

"No!" I hiss. "There has to be more." I insist. 

Lydia moves towards Meredith and crouches in front of her. "What's the rest of it, Meredith? Hmm? Just fucking concentrate!" She yells. 

Meredith looks frightened, by us both. "But- that's...that's the number..." She mutters. 

"Concentrate!" Lydia yells.