Not So Ordinary~ Dunbar [2]

Chapter 10: Gabriel Valack

Anna makes the mistake of looking in one of the cells in Eichen House. She gulps, seeing a woman in a straight jacket. The woman runs up to the glass wall between them and Anna sees she has no mouth.

Anna grabs onto Lydia's arm and Lydia gives her a small, reassuring squeeze. Anna takes a deep breath and looks down at the end of the hall. She sees a man sitting in his cell.

When the teens reach his cell, the man looks up. "Tell me what you just saw." He demands.

"Me?" Stiles asks.


"The creature in the previous cell."V alack clarifies. "The Sluagh. The myth is that they can take on the appearance of the lost souls that have become inextricably bound to it. Happen to have seen any lost souls, Mr. Stilinski?" Anna and Lydia glance at Stiles.

"Everyone down here." Stiles mutters.

"Don't give up on us yet. We're all works-in-progress." Valack tells him.

"Where did you hear that from?" Lydia asks, knowing that Peter Hale used to say the same saying.

"Wise words from a former cellmate." Valack stands and walks towards the glass barrier. "Did you bring the book?" Stiles takes out the book and shows it to Valack. "Very nice. First edition. Of course, there was only one printing."

"There is no T.R. McCammon, is there?" Anna asks.

"No." Valack shakes his head, eye looking at Anna.

"You wrote the book." Anna realizes.

"That's right, Anna. Maybe you've already guessed that it's not just a book."

"What is it?" Lydia questions.

"A tool. Designed to open your eyes." Valack answers.

"To what?" Stiles asks

"To them. The Dread Doctors." Valack announces.

"Why did you use a pseudonym?" Lydia inquires.

"I had a professional reputation once. I wasn't interested in ruining it by putting my name on a second-rate piece of trash." Valack spits.

"Then why write the book in the first place?" Stiles asks.

"You haven't even read it yet, have you? I wrote it because no one believed me. Because no one listened." Stiles glances at the girls. "They're here, aren't they? In Beacon Hills."

"What are they?" Lydia asks.

"Not entirely human. At least, not anymore. They were scientists once. Scientists who worshipped the supernatural. Tesla said, 'If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.' They found their secrets in electromagnetic forces. Ways to prolong their lives, give them power, and most importantly, making you forget you ever saw them." Valack tells them.

"What do they want?" Anna asks, trying to keep the fear out of her voice.

"Good question, Anna. Everybody wants something, don't they?" He glances between the girls.

"Okay, so what do you want?" Stiles groans.

Valack takes out a recorder and places it in a compartment. He closes the door on his side as Lydia glances at it.

"Hit record."

"What do you want me to say?" Lydia asks.

"I don't want you to say anything. I want you to scream."

Lydia hesitantly takes the recorder in her hand but Stiles rips it from her grasp. "No way. Not happening. Sorry."

"He's the only one that knows anything." Lydia argues.