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Liam’s morning started out like any other, he woke up, brushed his teeth and jogged down stairs. Except now he was a werewolf and still coming to terms with his new life, the new energy being one of the downsides. He couldn’t outrun it, constantly feeling fuelled up and on edge, it was causing him irritability past his imagination. Yesterday, he jogged not once, not twice but three times. Only to come home and still be energetic, Scott assured him this would settle down as he learnt how to cope with it.
Mason: jog before school?
Liam replied quickly, tapping his fingers against the screen.
Liam: yea wanna pick me up?
Mason: ofc
Liam thanked the fact that one of them had a car and a license, fuck knows when Liam would get his. After the incident at Devenford Prep, it was certain he wouldn’t be granted that level of trust from his parents yet, especially his mother. Not that he could blame her, he understood her distrust for him, but he was willing to make it up to her.
He got changed, black shorts and a white tank top before grabbing his joggers. He was out the door in time for Mason’s arrival, the benefit of them not living far apart and Mason recently obtaining his driver’s license, it all was beneficial. “Hey Li,” he was greeted as soon as he got to the window.
“Hey Mase,” he replied. His tone was still a little shaky, hating himself for lying to his best friend but still unable to come to terms with what was happening to him. He didn't even understand it, how could he expect Mason too? Once they got to the park all Liam could think about was sprinting, getting as far from these thoughts as he possibly could. “Try to keep up.”
“Oh, come on.” Mason locked the car and started to jog, “let’s at least start slow.” Liam silently agreed, waiting for Mason to catch up to him before matching the boy’s pace. “You don't think it's weird?”
“What?”
“Dude,” Mason gave him that look and Liam knew what he was referring to. “You don’t think it’s weird that we were friends with them? That they probably used us as their cover story? That our friends were professional killers.” If only Mason knew how bad it all really was. “How are you not freaking out about that?
“Trust me, I’m freaking out about a lot.” Liam picked up the pace until Mason called out to him, he just kept going. While Mason paused to catch his breath, Liam had managed to jog to the other side of the park, only now realising just how far he had gone and thinking that he should probably go back. He turned his head and before he could make a decision, his body was thrown back and sent tumbling down the path.
Liam clutched his side and felt the blood running down his nose, what the fuck just happened? He looked up to see Garrett slowly approaching him, a small dagger in hand. “Hey Liam.” The beta tried to scoot back but he wasn't fully healed and had just been hit by a car, he could feel the throbbing in his side, most likely a broke rib or two. “Sorry about missing movie night, but don’t worry.” He raised his hand and smirked, “I got something else planned.”
Liam raised his arm in a pathetic attempt of blocking the older boy, but he failed. The dagger stabbed right into Liam’s chest, piercing the beta. Liam screamed but it came out hoarse and strained. Garrett removed the dagger and placed it into his back pocket. “Get up, Liam.”
Liam spat to the side, a mixture of blood and saliva. “What do you want?” Liam knew he had to be on that list, Garrett was doing this for money. “Gonna kill your friends for money?”
Garrett laughed, “I just want Violet back.”
“Killing me won’t get her back.”
Garrett rolled his eyes, “you don’t know anything, get up.”
When Liam didn’t move Garrett stepped into action, grabbing Liam’s arm and hoisting him up. The beta grumbled in pain, his body trying to heal but the new stab wound only delayed this further. Liam didn’t quite understand why he had to stab him, was hitting him with a car not enough?
Garrett popped open the car boot and Liam only fought harder, thrashing and tugging at Garrett’s grip but struggling to pull free. He felt weak and helpless, his body working against him as Garrett pushed him back. The orphan was quick in shutting the door, leaving Liam scared and injured, wondering where he was being taken and if anybody would find him.
He tried to stay awake, hearing his step dads voice in his head every time he got hurt. ‘Don't fall asleep, it might be a concussion.’ His eyes felt heavy and his body slumped against the walls of the trunk. He felt every time the car stopped, his body would shift with it. He could try and kick out the brake lights, he wasn’t sure how well that would work, but it was worth a shot.
Liam’s foot kicked forward, unable to see well in the dark but still managing to find it. Cheap car, the light began to shift and Liam shifted his body, rotating around until his face was at the other end and he could push the rest of it out with his hand. The light fell to the side, still connected to the car, he could only hope Garrett didn’t notice.
He began waving his hand out the car, praying to catch somebody–anybody’s attention, only pulling back to look outside. It was deserted, not a person to be seen and no other cars on the road. He threw his head back, nobody was going to know where he was. People were most likely at school and work, Mason had probably just assumed he jogged all the way to school, again.
Liam mentally cursed himself, he should have stayed with Mason. But then there was the chance that Mason could have gotten hurt too and Liam didn’t like that idea, at least Liam had advanced healing, even if it was taking longer than usual. His thoughts were paused when he felt the car stop and heard the door open, “really?”
Liam sighed before the trunk door opened. He was met with an unimpressed expression from Garrett, “you tried to break my car?”
“You probably broke my ribs,” Liam spat back.
“You’re a werewolf, you’ll be fine.” Garrett grabbed Liam’s arm and began tugging him through the woods, “stop struggling!”
“No,” Liam hissed back, digging his heels into the ground and trying to pry out of Garrett’s grip as best he could. “You don’t have to do this–whatever you’re trying to do, we can get Violet back.”
Garrett stopped at the sight of a well and pushed the lid back effortlessly, “you’re a bad liar, consider yourself collateral damage.”
Liam frowned and before he could ask questions or talk his way out of anything, Garrett pushed him backwards. Liam went silent, unable to even process a scream before his back connected harshly with water, a loud splash echoing around him as his head went under. By the time he came up for air and could fully grasp what had happened, he looked up and Garrett was gone. He couldn’t hear anyone around, no footsteps or heartbeats, only the thumping sound of his own heart beating in his chest.
His hand flew to the stab wound, noticing it wasn’t healing, only leaking a yellow substance that burned his skin. He winced before looking back up, “Help! Scott! Is anyone there?” He tried to yell as loud as he could, “Somebody help me, please !” He didn’t care how pathetic he sounded, he was scared and in a well. The drop was long and he wasn’t sure how he was going to get out of this on his own. “Help! Scott! Help me, please !”
His voice cracked and after a while, he stopped. Nobody was coming and nobody could hear him. He tried to take a deep breath and remember what his father had once said to him, “you can only stop yourself. Don’t rely on other people to fix your problems.” Sure, it was a bit harsh to tell an eight year old, but he had a point. Liam had to get himself out of this himself, Garrett clearly wanted him dead, he wasn’t coming back and nobody else knew where he was.
Liam inspected the walls, rough rocks with gaps, he was reminded of the time his step dad had taken him rock climbing. He had been terrified but David had shown him how to do it safely. Of course, this case was different, he didn’t have a harness for starters and this wasn’t an actual rock climbing wall.
Liam knew this wasn’t going to be easy, but he had to try. His fingers reached up and he gripped his fingertips into the crevices of the rock. Starting slow, he began to pull himself up, his grip slipping the further up he got. “No, no–”
Gravity took over and Liam felt himself falling backwards, colliding against the water. “Come on!” he yelled, his fist slamming against the wall. He winced in pain while cradling his wounded knuckles, seeing the blood over them. He tried to focus on his goal, getting out of here.
He could only try again.
Looking up he could see it getting darker, the air growing colder around him. He continued to hoist himself up, feeling his muscles grow weaker with every move. Without focusing on it, he knew this would be his last attempt. His chest ached and burned, he knew it was from the stab wound, it had yet to heal. Surrounding the wound was a yellow substance, he could see it along his knuckles too.
He managed to make it a little further than before, but still just out of reach. None of the rocks had enough space for him to put his shoe into it, he felt stuck– forced to stop. Liam took a shaky breath only for it to result in him coughing, yellow liquid slid down his chin as he looked up. The moon’s glowing above him triggered something in his brain, almost calling to him.
He didn’t know how to control his abilities yet and in this moment, it seemed like he didn’t need to either, his body took over. Feeling the moon’s pull over him, Liam screamed. Almost animalistic but not quite a roar, more like a cry for help. He felt his body deflate afterwards with nowhere to rest. His only options were to hold on or let go, but he knew if he let go, he wasn’t getting back up.
Looking down to the water he felt his grip loosen and braced himself with closed eyes, but it never came. He felt a strong grip around his wrist and whipped his head around, relieved when he saw Scott half leaning into the well, slowly pulling Liam up.
They didn't say anything as Scott pulled him, not stopping until Liam was on the ground. His legs felt like jelly as he lost his footing and fell to his knees, but Scott was quick in grabbing him. He helped Liam sit down on the edge of the well, rubbing his arm and looking at him. His own worries melted away when he heard him scream, being able to find Liam lifted a weight off his chest.
“You’re okay, Liam.” Scott said, firm but reassuringly. He could see Liam’s eyes starting to water and he didn’t hesitate to pull him close. “You’re okay.”
Liam let out a small whimper as he felt Scott’s arm wrap around him. He felt small, like a child, but safe. He didn’t stop the tears from falling, only pulling away to cough. “He stabbed me,” he managed to gasp.
Scott moved Liam’s arm and only now could see the wound, dark yellow and infected. “We need to get you to Deaton’s,” Scott replied. Helping Liam up, they shuffled to his bike, the only transportation he had on hand. It wasn’t ideal, but it was the best they had. “You need to hold on, okay?”
Liam nodded. He was weak and running low on energy, his breathing rattled but he couldn’t give up now. Not when they were this close to fixing him, “okay.”
Scott didn’t waste anymore time, knowing that’s exactly what could cost Liam his life. Once the beta was situated on the back of the bike, he felt Liam rest against his back. “Put your arms around me,” Scott said, waiting until he felt Liam’s arms around his waist. “Hold on.”
The ride to Deaton’s was fast, probably faster than the legal speed limit, but who’s really keeping track. “Come on,” Scott ushered for him to follow behind as they entered the Vet’s clinic much to Liam’s confusion, having never met this man before. “Deaton?”
“In here,” the man replied before entering the back room, seeing Scott and a frightened younger boy. “This is Liam?"
Before either could reply, Liam felt his chest pound. He could feel his head swim with dizziness as he lost consciousness, Scott managed to catch him before he hit the ground. “Yellow wolfsbane,” Scott grumbled, placing Liam gently onto the metal bench. “Can you help?”
“Of course,” Deaton replied, grabbing his tools and placing a firm hand along Liam’s chest after cutting away his tank top. “Probably a good thing he is unconscious.”
Scott nodded, knowing how scary it can be to see a scalpel coming towards you while being awake. “He’s just a kid.”
“You were once too,” Deaton replied. “You’re still a teenager, Scott.”
“I don’t want to keep watching people die.”
“I’m not sure you have much choice about that,” Argent replied, entering through the door after Scott let him know that he had found Liam.
“Maybe I do.”
“That’s a lot of burden to carry, Scott.” Deaton reminded him while cleaning off his tools and putting the non reusable ones into the bin.
“I don’t care. No one else dies.” Scott declared. “Everyone on that list– everyone on that Deadpool, it doesn’t matter if they’re Wendigos or werewolves– or whatever. I’m gonna save everyone .”