Chapter Text
Stiles' anxiety was like a swarm of angry bees. This constant buzzing underneath his skin. He could practically hear his heart beating in his ears as he leaned against the basement wall. The coolness settled the warmth of his skin. Tracy was carried out of the room and he watched as his father followed, his hands on his hips and mouth grinding into a frustrated frown. He hadn't moved from the wall to follow, silently hoping he could just have a moment to process what had happened. He could hear the ambulance on the way somewhere in the distance. Lydia.. God he hoped she was okay. His breathing started to pick up again, His fingers digging into the paint on the wall.
His father stopped following the others to turn towards him. His eyes were held firm to him. He had a squinted look of concern.
“Son? Are you gonna be okay?”
Stiles almost didn't hear him speak at first.
He let out a small sigh and spoke with a soft tremor to his voice.
“Auh, ya dad I will. Can .. Can you just give me a minute and ill be right up. I promise… I'll be fine, I just.. I just need a minute.”
His father hesitated for a few seconds as if he wasn't sure if he should get closer “ Okay.. Okay Stiles. Just don't be down here for much longer. I have to figure out what I'm going to do and I don't want you to be here still when I have to explain what happened . I'll be upstairs dealing with this.” He said with a tone of reassurance but the words were full of concern. The look on his face was tired and the small smile he gave him was not fully lived. Before Stiles could say anything back his father had moved to leave the room.
Stiles legs gave out a bit as he slid half way down the wall. He pushed his fingers through his hair and rubbed his hands down his face. The cut on his chest stung at the movement and he let out a small hiss. Stupid Kanimas and their tails. So gross. There was a trail of some kind of dark blood that led to a silvery pool where Tracy had laid. The liquid held an inky reflection of the room in front of him.
Something felt so off. A building sense of dread was pooling in his stomach. Why was it so quiet in here? He couldn't hear the voices upstairs anymore. No sirens. The ticking that was coming from the wall had stopped. The black goo in front of him shimmered and moved as if there was some kind of vibration coming from the floor. He lifted his eyes from the pool to look at the clock. The arms were moving strangely and somehow stuck. He was then hit with a sudden sense of vertigo. He gasped out loud and put his hands to his head.A loud creaking sound came from his left and he heard a slow pace of footsteps inching closer and closer.
He slowly looked up into the dark corners of the room. He didn't see anything at first. His vision felt blurred and nauseating. He saw them then. Three masked figures came slinking towards him. He felt paralyzed like he was still under the effects of the kanama venom. A cold unnatural feeling made the hairs on his skin stand up. They moved faster then he could blink and one of the creatures grabbed him by the shoulders and pushed him up against the wall. He wanted to scream but he couldn't seem to find his voice.
The one masked creature that looked like it was wearing a gas mask spoke to his left, clicking its throat. “This one looks promising.”
The one holding him seemed to be in agreement. “ Yes. Too bad it's going to waste.”
Stiles felt like his eyes were going to pop out of his head as he was gasping for air. “W..what?” His teeth were chattering.
“The boy has a plan. He may do his own experiment. For now.” The smaller and quiet masked creature to his right said.
Stiles gripped the gloves hands that held him firmly to the wall in a frantic panic.
“No. No wait please. Please stop!”
He was clawing at its hands. But the grip didn't budge.
The smaller one pushed his head to the side and took out a long needle. The liquid wasn't silver but a milky white. He didn't know what they were going to put in him.
He started thrashing his feet hoping to push them away but it was useless. The needle was plunged into his neck and he let out a whine of pain as the liquid was pushed into his skin. His vision blurred even more and a wave of sleep started to take over him. His vision was fading around the edges and he heard more croaks echoing in the room. He was mumbling to himself but the words felt like sandpaper of his tongue. The last thing he saw was the masked creatures tilting their heads to the side as someone was approaching. A small laugh was heard out of his field of view and the darkness took over.
The first thing he notices when he comes too was he couldn't move. He could feel cold leather around his wrists and legs. The straps held him down tightly as he pushed hard against them. He was held firmly in place against a silver table. He felt groggy and unnaturally heavy. He tried to get a good look around the room. If he could just move his head. He was breathing heavy, his chest rising and falling in an unnatural rhythm.
What is going on? Where the hell was he? What were those things and what were they going to do to him? He could hear echoes of dripping water to his left. The air felt damp and cold, it sending a shiver down his spine
He struggled to find his voice but managed to rasp out a cry. “Hello! Help me! Please…. Help.”
“Theres no one here Stiles. “
The voice made the boy nearly jump out of his skin. He couldn't see where the voice was coming from. His eyes were straining to look above his head but no matter how hard he tried he could move himself up. He knew that voice.
“Theo you son or a Bit-”
Before he could finish his sentence a strong hand grabbed at his chin forcing his mouth closed.
“Let's not get ahead of ourselves here. You are in a delicate position right now Stiles. I'd watch your tone.”
Theo let go with a flick, sharp nails digging into Stiles flesh.
“What do you want Theo! What the hell do you want from me? Are you working with those things? If you think I'm gonna let you turn me into whatever Tracy was, you're out of your God damn mind. Do you hear me!” Stiles said. He was panting. Whatever they put in him was still making him dizzy. Theo came into vision. Upside-down and seemingly in double.
The omega let out a small chuckle. “Stiles no. I have something better saved for you. I don't normally get this opportunity. But they agreed to let me play doctor this once. They have their own experiments. You see I have a plan and Stiles you don't really fit into it. At least not like this.”
What was he talking about? Experiments? Was he really about to get a super villain monologue right now? He knew Theo was lying from the start. And of course Scott Freaking true Alpha McCall and his too big heart refused to listen to him. Refused to trust him. Stiles' instincts were almost always right. Sometimes a little to right. God just once wished he was wrong.
“Theo get to the point.. Is your plan to torture me to death by monologging, because its working. If you're going to kill me at least you can be is a little less cliche about it.”
Theo hovers just a few inches above his face now. The corner of his lips rise slightly into a half grin.
“Oh don't worry Stiles, you're going to die. You know, I have a special gift for you. It took a while to get it but she was easy to convince. Stiles listen, It's obvious you're the brains of your little pack. Honestly without you who knows what would happen to Scott and your friends. You could easily be just as powerful. Why take orders from Scott when he never listens to you? I mean look at where your instincts lead you? Hmm?It's a shame your own best friend wouldn't be there to protect you.”
Stiles and his big mouth. He was so screwed. The panic in his chest must have been evident on his face because Theo let out another laugh.
“Don't be scared Stiles. I honestly think you're going to like my gift. The Doctors would never give me a gift if they didn't think it would work. And they were hard pressed to let some of this go. They aren't normally so nice but I think they trust me on this one.”
“Arnt I special…” Stiles grimaced. As much as he hoped Scott and his dad, anyone, noticed him gone, he knew no one was going to come for him. With Lydia hurt and Tracy dead there was too much going on to notice little old Stiles. He swallowed hard. The boy's throat was dry. He was craving a glass of water right about now.
Theo's form quickly moved out of view. He could hear him clanking something made of glass. Its chiming bouncing off the damp walls. Then suddenly he stopped and there was a loud pop.
That's when he saw the bottle of red liquid hovering over his face. Stiles began jerking his wrists against the restraints.
“Theo stop. This isn't how you're going to get in the pack. If Scott finds out what your doing he would never forgive yo-”
Theo's grip was even stronger on his jaw. His nails were claws now. He could feel the sharp sting as it cut into his flesh.
“Stiles. Shut up. Scott's never going to know. He's going to be too distracted to ever notice anything about you. Isn't it obvious he has other priorities to deal with right now. The last thing he's going to be doing is worrying about the paranoid human of the pack. Besides, you'll be a little preoccupied worrying about yourself. Some big changes are in store for you.”
The hand on his face forces his jaw to open. Stiles whines out in pain. thrashing harder but not able to push against the sudden force.
“Open up Stiles.”
Stiles muffled out a scream. The Straps on the table held him down, cutting into his skin as he tried to wiggle free.
“Stiles fighting isn't going to work. You are going to drink this. There's no point in trying.
The liquid looks thicker than water and the red stuck to the sides of the bottle. His eyes followed as he tilted it into his mouth. Tears were stinging his face where Theos' nails dug in.
Then he tasted copper. Something metallic. Like blood. He was gagging. He wanted to vomit. The blood was still coming. He tried to spit it out, some of it dripping down his chin and specks of it got onto Theo's face. The other boy' grip kept his mouth firmly open.
Theo grunted. “Drink Stiles. Let it go.”
He felt it pour down his throat. The liquid was thick and cold. Its metallic taste had a sweetness to it now. Like honey. No, that wasn't right. It was like the sweetest syrup he's ever had. Like a sweet wine that fizzed on his tongue. Then suddenly he wasn't fighting it anymore. A sense of adrenaline rushed through his body. He was euphoric. His vision was hazy. He was staring into Theo's eyes. They looked animalistic but still held his human color. He felt his anxiety fade, his stress and tension he was holding was missing from his shoulders. He was practically on cloud nine. His fingers and toes felt far away as a feeling of cold ice spread through him. He could feel his heart beating rapidly. Like he was some small rabbit caught in the teeth of a wild wolf. That's what he was: a rabbit that got caught with no one to protect him. He doesn't stand a chance. He can barely hear Theo's voice as he finishes the last of the bottle. He felt more tears fall down his face.
“You did good, Stiles… very good. That's it, let it all go. Things are about to get easier for you I promise. You just have to trust me. I'm here to help.”
The hand on his face caressed his chin gently. He shivered again. Trust him? Trust him.. The words kept echoing in his head. Why should he trust him? He blinked slowly. How was this helping him? His head was so fuzzy, foggy like any thought he tried to form was floating away from him. Stiles felt his eyes grow heavy. He struggled to keep them open. Theo's hand let go leaving a cold mark in its place.
“Close your eyes Stiles and when you wake up it will all just be a bad dream. You have nothing to worry about. Just go to sleep.”
Theo says. His voice moved farther and farther away. Sleep. Sleep did sound good. It was getting harder to fight the sudden pull of drowsiness. Why was he panicking before? He couldn't seem to focus. All he can hear is Theo's footsteps as he walks away. He blinked slowly once more. The lights of the room felt like they were burning his eyes. He should just close them, yes. He was so tired.
So…
There was something burning his eyes. Stiles hissed in pain. His head felt like it had been hit with a bowling ball. He's pretty sure he didn't go bowling last night. But it did feel like he had the world's worst hangover. He peeked open his eyes to find the sun beaming through the windows of his room. With a groan he slipped off his bed and pulled his curtains shut. Holy shit he thinks he might puke. God what time was it?
He looked at his clock as he threw himself onto his bed, grabbing the pillow and using it as a sad excuse for a hat.
“Oh shit I'm gonna be late.” He said out loud.
He groaned again. this time actually sliding out of bed to the ground. He quickly changed. God his head was killing him. With his bag in hand he stopped at the door way. He grabbed a pair of sunglasses that were on his desk and slipped them on. The sensitivity to the light lessened and he sighed in some relief. He's got to get the hell out of here.
When he got to school he just made it to his locker at the first bell. Great he's gonna be late. Not only did he oversleep but his stupid jeep was still acting up. He placed his bag on the hook and slammed the locker shut.
When he made it to his first period he could see the teacher through the window of the door. As he grabbed the handle they locked eyes.
“Mr Stlinski you're late! Please take a seat. You will need to ask a friend for notes as I will not be going back to catch you up. Please do not make this a habit, people.” Stiles didn't say anything back in return. He saw Malia in the back of the room and she smiled at him.
He quickly took a seat beside her.
“Stlinski, Sunglasses off please.”
Oh he forgot he was still wearing them. He sighed and slowly folded them away into his pocket. The brightness of the room hit his eyes all at once and he winced in pain. He put his fingers to the bridge of his nose and tried to massage the ache between his eyes. The drowsiness he was feeling was hitting him even harder.
“Stiles are you okay?” Malia whispered next to him. Stiles squinted his eyes through his fingers to look at her.
“Just a little sensitive, Got a killer migraine that won't go.” He rasped out.
She stares at him un blinking for a few seconds. She leans closer and sniffs his shoulder.
Stiles laughs nervously. “Um Malia.. hey what are you doing?”
He watches her eyebrows furrow in confusion.
“You smell weird, where were you? Are you sure you're okay?”
He moved his hand away from his face and placed it on his lap. Sure he wasn't feeling great. Has one killer migraine and a serious lack of sleep but he hopes he didn't look too bad.
“ I was home, why? I just didn't get any sleep is all.”
She gives him another questioning stare.
“You look like, really pale. More than you normally are. When did you get home? You didn't leave with your dad last night.”
Stiles was confused. What was she talking about?
“Yah I did?”
She shook her head. “No you didn't, everyone just assumed you left without saying.”
Stiles doesn't remember leaving now that he's thinking about it. How did he get home? He can't even remember driving back in his jeep. The more he tried to form the memory the more his head ached. A fuzziness invaded his mind. The only thing he can remember is being tired and cold. He was anxious about Lydia. He remembered his chest hurt. He remembers a smell, something like iron, metallic. But no matter how hard he tried he couldn't put together the time between the basement and waking up in his bed. He takes a moment and places a hand over where the cut was on his chest. He was expecting the sharp sting of a healing wound. It never came. He looks away from Malia's intense gaze and shakily places his hand back over his eyes. The sound of his teachers talking was fading from his ears. His body felt distant. A steady pounding rhythm was echoing off the walls of his head, reverberating through his whole body. More than one was invading his mind. Heartbeats. Multiple heartbeats that weren't his own. He was starting to panic. His breathing was picking up speed. A warm hand suddenly grabbed his wrist and the drumming quieted.
Thud.. Thud… Thud.. Thud..
He took a deep breath.
There was just one now.
He moved his hands away from his face and looked at his wrist. The grip was loosened slowly and she took his hand in hers and gave it a soft squeeze.
“Was that a panic attack?” She questioned softly.
“Yes.. I um… yes I'm good. Thank you.” He stuttered. At least he thinks that was. He doesn't even know what just happened. Was that real? Has his anxiety gotten that bad? That felt more than just a panic attack.
“Mr Stlinski do I need to give out a detention? Should I separate you both or can we please keep focused up front?”
Stiles lets go of Malia's hand and looks toward the front of the room. He quickly grabbed a pencil out of his pocket.
“Uh no ma'am, Paying attention. Nothing to worry about.”
She raised her eyebrow at the response but carried on with her lecture.
He can feel Malia's eyes staring at him before he can even look back. Her eyes were practically shooting a laser through his skull. Still not fully convinced by the way her eyes were squinted in confusion.
He just gives her a partial smile and opens up a book on his desk. He knows she is still looking. Things are not adding up he knows that. It's just another thing to be added to the long list of things that aren't adding up. It just needs to sit on the back burner until they know Lydia's alright and they figure out what the hell Tracy was. Another Stiles problem will have to just wait.