From Tracy:
I've tried calling you 5 times?

To Tracy:
Family stuff, I'll explain later I promise

Rowan locked her phone and looked up at the gate, shifting her weight nervously before pressing the buzzer.

"I uh, I'm here to visit a patient?" She wet her lips, clearing her throat. There was a loud buzzing noise before the gates creaked open, Rowan glancing over her shoulder before hurrying inside.

For some reason it was much colder inside the institution than out, making Rowan regret not grabbing her coat. She walked over to the counter, tapping on the granite.

"Who are you here to see?" The woman behind the counter asked, her voice monotone as she slid the sign in sheet over to her.

"Charlotte Gallagher." Rowan replied and reached for the pen, only to have the woman take it back.

"Charlotte isn't allowed visitors." She stared at her, Rowan taking a deep breath.

"What about family?" She countered, dropping her driver's license on the counter. "I'm sure you know enough about your patient to know who her daughter is."

"Of course, Rowan." The woman forced a smile upon her face, returning the pen to her and dropping a basket in front of her for her belongings. "I'll have someone escort you to her wing."

"Thank you." Rowan scrawled her name in the slot with a shaky hand, before depositing her phone and wallet in the basket.

"This is Brunski." Rowan turned around to see a tall man standing behind her, just the look of him creeping her out. As soon as they were out of ear reach the woman picked up the phone, dialing a number. "She's here."

● ● ●

"She's pretty drugged up, so she won't hurt you." Brunski unlocked the door, letting her walk in. "Hopefully."

"Wait, what?" Rowan turned around, but Brunski had already shut the door.

She took a deep breath and turned around to face the woman who sat on the bed, staring into space. The resemblance was uncanny, from the moles to the shape of her face.

"Are you going to just stand there or are you going to say hello?" Charlotte spoke, startling her.

"Uh, hi." Rowan rubbed her hands together, unsure of what to say. "You probably don't know me, but uh-"

"You think I don't know my own daughter when I see her?" She turned her head, raising an eyebrow at her. "I'm not as duped up as they all think."

Charlotte reached over for her lamp and turned it upside down, unscrewing the bottom. She pulled out a plastic bag full of pills, giving her daughter a wry smile before putting them back.

"I'm sure you have a lot of questions."

"Most of them have been answered." Rowan pushed her shoulders back, straightening up. "Except for one. Why? Why did you leave me there?"

"Have you ever felt out of place?" She asked, looking down at her wrists. It was that moment that Rowan saw they were decorated with scars, more scarring than skin. "Completely and utterly alone because you were an outcast compared to everyone else?"

Rowan stayed silent, dragging her teeth along her bottom lip.

"I wanted to fit in with my family, to stand out, so desperately-" Her mother laughed, shaking her head. "I would do anything. I realize now that it wasn't worth it."

"Do you know what I've had to deal with these past few months?" Rowan's voice cracked, a lump growing in her throat. "I was almost shot yesterday, because I have a price on my name. All because you wanted power, and left me in the woods to die."

Charlotte seemed to dismiss what she was saying, sitting up straighter looking over her shoulder. Rowan let out a yelp when she gripped her arm, squeezing it tightly.

"They're here." She breathed, her eyes going wide.

"What? Who's here?"

"Go." Her mother stood and started pushing towards the door, shoving her harshly. "Run."

Rowan had barely gotten the door open when the alarm started blaring, making her throat close up. Right outside the door was a knocked out Brunski, the girl feeling not one ounce of sorrow for the creep. She looked down the empty hall for a split second before making a run towards the lobby.

She made it to the front door, grabbing the handle and shaking, only to find it locked.

"Yeah, that's not a smart idea." A voice came from behind her, making her freeze. "It's called a lock down for a reason, Gallagher."

Rowan turned around slowly, her jaw clenching when she saw Reed, the boy she had turned down a number of times, standing there with a smirk.

"Glad I didn't go out with you." She muttered, her eyes darting around to see any place to escape.

"I'd quit while you're ahead, sweetheart." Reed chuckled, twisting his knife in his hands. "Let's just make this easy, alright? You don't put up too much of a fuss, and I get my money."

"Or," She breathed, swallowing hard and curling her hands into fists. "You don't."

Then, Rowan did one of the stupidest things she had ever done in her life.

She ran.

Or at least, she tried to, only succeeding in being slammed into a counter and get her arm but open by his blade in the process. She let out a moan of pain and fell to the floor, kicking him in the shin before starting to crawl away.

Rowan dragged herself across the floor, her breathing labored as a trail of blood from her arm followed. She let out a terrified shriek when he grabbed her ankle, pulling her back towards him.

"Stop fucking moving." He grunted, flipping her onto her back. Rowan didn't stop, kicking her legs and hitting him with her uninjured arm, screaming all the while.

His hands closed around her throat and blocked her air flow, her vision swimming with spots. She clawed helplessly at his grip before feeling around for something, finally finding a vase knocked down from when he slammed her into the counter.

With the remaining strength she had she slammed it over his head, the glass shattering against his skull.

This knocked her assailant out cold, Rowan gasping as air filled her lungs. Clutching her arm she scrambled up, looking around to make sure she didn't have any other unwanted guests.

The brunette's eyes landed on the office door and rushed over, jiggling the handle and letting out a frustrated cry when it was locked.

She reached for one of her bobby pins with shaking hands and pulled it out, stretching it out a bit before shoving it into the lock.

"C'mon." Rowan hissed, twisting it until it fit with a satisfying click. She quickly opened the door, slipping in and shutting it behind her.

She grabbed the basket she had left her phone in, biting down on her cheek when she saw how low the battery was as she dialed the first number that came to mind.

"Rowan?"

"Stiles, please you have to help me." She pleaded, keeping her voice low. "I-I'm at Eichen and there's an assassin and-"

There was a beeping noise in her ear, the girl pulling it away to see the battery flashing.

"Rowan, what's going on?"

"Just please, hurry. Get your dad, something-" Before she could fit in another word her phone died, the girl letting out a sob.

She slid down the wall, trying to hold back her tears as she hoped Stiles understood her.

All she could do now was wait.

● ● ●

Rowan jumped when there was banging outside the office, squeezing her eyes shut.

"Beacon Hills Police Department." Those four words could have made her cry, the girl pushing herself up and struggling the move the filing cabinet she had shoved in front of the door during her hiding.

As soon as she opened the door there was a number of guns pointed at her, her throat closing up as she put her hands in the air.

"This one's okay." Sheriff Stilinski spoke, lowering his gun. "Go check out the rest of the building."

Deputies just gave him nods in response before jogging down the halls, only one of them staying to cuff up Reed.

"You okay?" He asked, grabbing her shoudler gently. She nodded, her jaw trembling as she gripped her arm. "What happened there?"

"He cut me." Rowan whispered, pulling her hand way to reveal the blood soaked fabric.

"We'll get that check out, oka-"

"Rowan?" The two looked up to see a flannel clad boy stepping through the doors, a worried expression on his face.

"Stiles, I told you to stay home." Stilinski scolded, his features softening when he saw the way Stiles looked at Rowan when he realized she was okay.

Rowan didn't think twice before running forward and hugging him, almost tackling him in the process. He rubbed her back to comfort her and locked eyes with his dad, who just nodded in return.

"Thank you." She choked out, gripping the back of his shirt tightly.

"Anytime you're in trouble, I'll be here." Stiles breathed, closing his eyes. "I promise."

____________________________________________

NOT EDITED AT ALL

this is trash Brea wyd

No gif bc my laptop is being shitty

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