Through the Dark // S.S. [Book One]

Chapter 17

At school the next day, Stiles turns to me and Scott. "I just talked to my dad, who just talked to Jackson, and I've got really terrible, horrible, very, very bad news."

Scott looks up at Stiles. "I think I already know."

Stiles frowns slightly. "Alright, I only found one thing online called a kanima. It's a werejaguar from South America that goes after murderers."

"That thing was most certainly not a jaguar." I scoff.

Stiles shoots me a look. "Yeah, and I'm not exactly a murderer."

"What do you mean by--"

Scott rolls his eyes and interrupts me. "Yeah, but you two did see it kill somebody, which is probably why it tried to kill you two. And it's still trying to kill you two, and it probably won't stop until the two of you are dead."

"Great. I come from monsters attacking me to monsters attacking me."

Stiles chuckles at my comment before turning to Scott. "You know, sometimes I really begin to question this friendship."

In Economics, I sit behind Stiles, and Jackson takes the empty seat behind Scott. "Hey, testicle left and right. Side chick. What the hell is a kanima?"

Coach walks into the room. "Alright, listen up. A quick warning before we begin our review. Some of you, like McCall and Parker, might want to start their own study groups, because tomorrow's midterm is so profoundly difficult--I'm not even too sure I could pass it. Okay, I need a volunteer at the board to answer the first question. Who's got it, huh? Come on, let's go, buddy."

"Paralyzed from the neck down." Jackson says. "Do you have any idea what that feels like?"

"Megara and I are familiar with the sensation." Stiles replies.

Scott frowns. "Wait--why would Derek test you? Why would he think that it's you?"

Jackson shrugs. "How should I know?"

My gaze turns to Lydia as she writes something down. "Are they thinking it might be Lydia?"

Jackson glances at me. "I don't know, all I heard was her name and something about Chemistry."

"Jackson!" Coach yells. "Do you have something you want to share with the rest of the class?"

"Um--just an undying admiration for my coach."

Coach smiles. "That's really kind of you, Now shut up! Shut it! Anybody else?"

"How do we know it's not her?" Scott asks in a quieter tone.

Stiles sighs. "Because I looked into the eyes of that thing, okay? And what I saw was pure evil. And when I look into Lydia's eyes, I only see 50% evil. Alright, maybe 60. You know, but no more than 40 on a good day."

I frown as Scott says, "Stiles, that's not a very good argument."

Stiles shoots Scott a look. "I'm aware of that, but I swear it's not her. It can't be, alright? Lydia's fine."

"Lydia." Coach says, calling her up to the board.

She turns around, tears filling her eyes. I can't quite make out what Lydia has written, apparently, neither can Coach. "Okay then, anybody else want to try answering? This time in English?"

"What is that, Greek?" Scott asks with a frown.

I stare at Scott blankly. "No, it's not Greek. I can tell you that much."

"No, actually, I think it is English." Stiles adds as he holds his phone up to reveal SOMCBODY HELP ME or maybe it's SOMEBODY HELP ME.

I'm thinking the latter, and I struggled hardcore. Scott shakes his head. "Derek is not gonna kill her without proof."