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

Chapter 44

I insist on going with the sheriff and Stiles. I hold Stiles' hand as he rests his head on my shoulder.

Eichen House comes into view sooner than I'd like. "We're going to get you out of here, okay?"

Stiles presses a kiss to my forehead. "I know you will."

"Can they help?"

He bites his lip. "I hope so. I hope so."

A motorcycle pulls up and Scott takes his helmet off. I swallow back tears and Scott asks, "Why didn't you tell me?"

The sheriff sighs. "Because we wanted to avoid something like this. Did Megara text you?"

Scott nods and Stiles squeezes my hand. "It's only 72 hours."

I point at Eichen House. "This is where Barrow came from. The guy who's tumor exploded flies. Remember?" I turn to the sheriff. "You don't quite know everything yet."

Sheriff Stilinski looks to us, mostly me. "I know enough. Nogitsunes, kitsunes, Oni, or whatever they're called."

Stiles smiles at his dad proudly. "Wow, that was actually all surprisingly correct."

Sheriff glances to us, trying to stay strong. "Scott, Megara, I saw an MRI that looked exactly like my wife's. And it terrifies me. I'm headed over to L.A. tomorrow to talk to a specialist."

Scott frowns. "Then why are you putting him in here?"

Stiles looks at his friend. "He's not. It was my decision."

"A stupidly smart decision." I retort, crossing my arms.

Scott's eyes flick to me. "While her comment is rude, I agree. Stiles, we can't help you if you're in there."

Stiles sighs. "And I can't hurt either of you."

I caress Stiles' cheek. "Listen. Deaton's got a few ideas. Mr. Argent is calling people. We will find something."

"If we can't--" Scott begins.

Stiles cuts his friend off. "If you can't...If you can't, then you have to do something for me, okay? Make sure I never get out. Though Meg can most certainly take care of herself, protect her, okay? Watch out for her. And if one hair on her head gets hurt, I will hit you so hard, you'll be singing for a week."

Stiles shifts his gaze to me. "Meg, find a way to get me out, okay? I know you have a knack to think of things others don't think of. You're incredibly smart in your own way. I trust you to help get me out."

I nod. "I'll figure out some way. You just stay safe, okay?"

Stiles nods and presses a gentle kiss to my lips. He waves a small goodbye to me and Scott and walks off with his dad into Eichen House.

I let out a deep sigh and say, "Let's get to Deaton. I have the feeling that he'll know what to do."

Scott hands me a helmet and I place it on my head. He revs up the engine and I place my arms around his waist. We race off towards the Animal Clinic. Deaton is on the phone with Mr. Argent and Allison is waiting for us thanks to Scott texting her.

She turns to me. "Are you okay?"

"I want to get Stiles back. What have you guys found out?"

I hear Deaton say something about a scroll and I frown. "What scroll?"

"A Shugendo scroll." Deaton answers. "The Shugendo were the ascetic mystics of Japan. The scroll had information on how to exorcise a Nogitsune."

"Then let's find it! This is good news. Did someone buy it?"