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( 𝘨𝘪𝘧: 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 )

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𝗔 𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗦𝗨𝗗𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗟𝗬 𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗗 𝗢𝗡, 𝗙𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗜𝗥 𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡.

Eden squinted, the lamp shining directly into her eyes. Instinctively, she raised her hand, shielding her face from the cracks of white beam that threatened to blind her. Once Allison had mentioned that Eden somehow knew Erica was dead, Scott insisted on holding a meeting with his pack and wouldn't allow the blonde to leave. 

Shifting uncomfortably under the attention of a group of people, two of whom she didn't recognise, Eden cleared her throat, pointing at the bright light directly in her eyes. "Is this really necessary?" 

"I agree." a dark-haired man added, arms crossed over his chest with a frown on his harsh features. Stiles had told her that was someone called Derek ─ why a group of teenagers were hanging around a twenty-five year old was beyond her knowledge, but Eden apparently wasn't doing the questioning here. "I have better things to do, like I don't know, catching Cora and Boyd, than questioning a completely wasted teenager."

Frowning, Eden threw him a cautious look. "Not sure whether I should take offence or not."

"Oh, you should." Derek muttered, glancing at her darkly for wasting his time. 

Scott nudged him, throwing him a glare. "She might know something, okay?"

"What if she's working with Deucalion?" a curly-haired blonde pipped up from the corner of the room, making the rest glance at him. Isaac shrugged under Stiles's glare, striking blue eyes darting around. "What? Just because she's attractive or whatever doesn't mean we can't address the elephant in the room."

Allison, adjusting her jacket, shifting on her spot. "He's got a point." 

"I'm right here, you know." Eden retorted irritably, pounding in her head as she just wished to get home and open her stash of alcohol. Rubbing her temples tiredly, she pushed the light away from her face. "Isn't Deucalion from a myth or something?"

"Greek." Lydia added, licking her lips as Eden glanced at her gratefully. "He's the equivalent of Noah from the Bible in Greek mythology." 

Eden raised her arms as if proving a point. "That's who you expect me to be working for?"

"That's not─" Stiles begun, rubbing his temples as he gave up mid-sentence. Instead, he tried another approach. "How did you know Erica was dead?"

This made the blonde hesitate, a troubling expression settling in her soft features. She wasn't sure what they expected her to say, everyone's eyes observing her. Slightly shaking her head, she looked down at her hands, trying not to make them shake. "You're going to think I'm crazy." 

Stiles gulped, glancing at the others. The frown had been erased, replaced by a softer look. Sitting down in front of her, Eden raised her gaze, her baby blue eyes crashing into his caramel ones, meeting understanding and warmth in them. "Eden, there's nothing you could say that would make us think you're crazy." while she still hesitated, he added "Trust me."

Sighing, Eden pulled down her skirt as she attempted to find the words, breaking out in sweat under everyone's curious attention. "After my dad died, I started hearing . . . voices. And sometimes I'd see people, things others couldn't see. It got really bad, so I started drinking and taking drugs. And for a while, it stopped. The more I drank, the less I heard. However, coming back to Beacon Hills, it's like it doesn't matter what I do, the voices persist. And before, I kept hearing this girl's voice . . . I don't know, I just knew she was dead."

Silence persisted once she had finished explaining, gaze trained on her hands as she avoided everyone's pitiful looks. Derek, with his attention now peaked, raised a curious eyebrow. "So, you can speak to the dead?"

Eden opened her mouth to speak, unable to say. She had never really explored the extent of the voices, only interested in how to make them stop. Fingers fiddling with the hem of her sleeves, she pressed her lips together. "I told you it was crazy."

"Then we're all crazy." glancing at the others for the go-ahead, Scott crouched down to Eden's height and began to explain everything. In a way to be understandable, Scott told her the way of the supernatural world, of how things worked in Beacon Hills. The girl listened to his every word, a blank slate on her face. Once he finished, he waited for a reaction, her reaction. As her baby blue eyes glanced around, she soon began laughing, making Scott frown slightly, glancing at Stiles for confirmation. "What?"

Chuckling slightly, Eden raised her eyebrows. "So, you're telling me, you three are werewolves," she pointed at Derek, Isaac and Scott, then turned towards Allison. "You're a hunter." glancing at the redhead, Eden added "You are?"

Lydia shifted her weight impatiently. "I'm not sure what I am."

"Right." Eden drawled sarcastically, her eyes finally falling on Stiles. "And you're the only one who's normal."

Tilting his head, Stiles pulled a face. "You could say so." 

Clearing her throat, Eden pushed her chair backwards, screeching across the white-tiled floor as she stood up, heading towards the exit. Sharing a look with Lydia, Allison frowned. "Where are you going?"

"What, you expected me to stay after being taken for an idiot?" Eden retorted, crossing her arms over her chest as she pushed her blonde waves away from her face. "I'm leaving. You can all continue playing soggy biscuit or whatever it is you actually do."

"Soggy biscui─ oh." realisation stumped Isaac before he managed to finish his question, his childish grin repressing his laughter at what the blonde implied, hiding his smile into the crook of his neck. 

Following the girl down the hallway, Scott grabbed her arm gently, stopping her in her tracks. "Eden, wait."

As Eden swivelled around, ready to yell at him, her eyes widened at the sight of red eyes staring into her, and claws growing out of his nails. Shrugging his grip off her, Eden took a step backwards. "Okay fine, I believe you! Don't kill me." 

"We're not here to hurt you, Eden." Scott said calmly, returning to his normal state. He was aware how out of this world it could all appear to be, but Eden was a part of this world now, or so it appeared to be. "We're like you ─ not exactly the same, but we're different. And I understand how frightening it can be, but you're not alone. Not anymore." as Derek cleared his throat impatiently, wanting to get outside, Scott gave her a soft smile. "We have to do something, but we'll talk about this tomorrow, okay?" 

Waiting until Eden nodded, Scott followed Derek outside with Allison as the blonde stared at them, gulping in disbelief. Isaac, who was standing near Stiles, swung his arms slightly as he popped his lips. "So, Eden . . . is she single?" when Stiles glanced at him annoyed, Isaac pressed his lips together. "Sorry, not the right time. I'll ask later." Stiles glared at him. "Or never." 

Lydia approached her friend, giving Eden a comforting squeeze on the shoulder. "You must be exhausted. Want a ride home?"

Eden hesitated. Her first day back at Beacon Hills was not what she expected it to be ─ and while it was confusing and out of this world, she was somewhat grateful to be kept busy, busy from thoughts of her dead father. She didn't want to be brought back to reality just yet. "Actually, can I go to yours? I don't want to home just yet." 

Agreeing immediately, Lydia linked her arm with Eden's, guiding her outside to where her car was. "Come on, let's go get some coffee." 

Being shotgun, Eden climbed into Lydia's car as the redhead began driving down the roads of Beacon Hills. Fiddling with her phone, Eden glanced at Lydia, who was concentrated on driving. If there was one person she trusted not to lie to her, it was Lydia. "Is what Scott said true?"

Lydia gave Eden a side-look, hands gripped tight around the wheel. "Unfortunately, it is. I was just as bewildered when I found out. I still don't quite fully believe it myself. But it's the truth, yeah." 

Eden nodded, getting the confirmation she needed. Realising Lydia had stopped driving, she turned her gaze to stare outside, frowning slightly. "Lydia . . . why are we in the public swimming pool?"

Looking as lost as the blonde, Lydia opened her mouth before shutting it again. "I . . . I don't know." 

A sudden wave of voices throbbed through Eden's mind, making her gasp in pain as she squeezed her head between her hands. Trying to catch her breath, she started to shake her head. "There's a dead person in there. A lifeguard." 

Groaning, Lydia leaned her head on the wheel of her car. "Why? Why must we find it?"

Eden narrowed her eyes at her. "You're the one who drove us here."

"Okay, let's get this over and done with." Lydia sighed resigned, taking her seatbelt off before jumping out of her car.

Bewildered, Eden closed the door behind her as she stared at the redhead with wide-eyes. "Where are you going?"

"To check the body and call the police." Lydia stated, as if obvious.

Licking her lips, Eden let out a nervous chuckle. "Okay. Well, I've already seen my body of the day, so I'll wait out here. Looking after the car."

Lydia stared at her in disbelief, shaking her head as she headed inside. "Fine. But call Stiles."

Scoffing, Eden was left alone, the night sky shining down on her as she pulled out her phone, muttering under her breath. "Why Stiles? Out of everyone, why him?"

It didn't take long for the dark-haired boy to arrive, his Jeep parking recklessly next to Lydia's car as he jumped out, nervous eyes darting around before he landed on Eden, rushing towards her. "Eden! You okay?" the blonde nodded silently, feeling the warmth of his hands on her arms. "Is the body near the pool?"

"Yeah. Lydia's inside with it. She already called the cops."

Stiles' eye slightly twitched as he stared at the blonde. "You called the cops before you called me?"

"Not sure how your little pack of werewolves do it, but yes, one tends to call the cops when one finds a dead freaking body!" Eden snapped, slightly freaking out on Stiles. Wincing at her outburst, she lowered her voice. "Sorry for shouting. This entire day has felt like The Shining. I wouldn't even be surprised if two twin girls came out of the woods and asked me to play with them."

Softening his frown, Stiles nodded, glancing behind.

"Come on, let's get you home."

•─────⋅☾ ☽⋅─────•

"𝗜 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗬𝗢𝗨'𝗩𝗘 𝗗𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗘."

Stiles broke the silence as he shuffled on his feet, looking around Eden's room as his head bobbed up and down. "The cardboard boxes feel very, uhm, like a garage sale vibe." 

Lydia glared at him, nudging him slightly as the blonde dug around one of the boxes looking for something. Lydia and Stiles had both followed Eden home, accompanying her back into her room to make sure she got home safe. The two had to pretend not to notice how Eden's mother was passed out on the couch surrounded by empty beer cans, instead walking upstairs into the blonde's room, mostly empty apart fro the bed and her belongings stashed away in a cardboard box.

"Aha!" Eden muttered, finally finding what she was looking for. Pulling out a vodka bottle, she unscrewed the top before taking a swig, voices in her head dissipating as she wiped her mouth clean. Remembering she had company, Eden put the bottle away before glancing at the duo who stood by her door. "Did you really have to follow me home? I had a police escort."

The redhead nodded, turning to Stiles. "Yeah, I'm wondering the same thing."

"I know the inner workings of the police force, okay? They're not as reliable as people think." Stiles defended his decision, digging his hands into his pockets as he glanced between the two girls. "Besides, we had to make sure you got home safe, Eden." 

The blonde rested on her bed, flipping her head upside down as she raised an eyebrow at him. "I wasn't aware the staircase from the front door to my bedroom was a health hazard."

"I . . ." Stiles trailed off, searching for an answer. "I don't have an answer for that. Is it so bad we wanted to make sure you got home safe? There is someone out there murdering people."

Eden sat up, feeling slightly guilty for teasing. "I'm sorry. It's actually kind of sweet." she smiled at Stiles, but aware of Lydia's knowing look, Eden cleared her throat. "Pathetic, but sweet."

"That's my niche ─ pathetic and sweet." 

Silence reigned between the three as Eden swung her legs back and forth, before sighing. "Is any of you going to actually ask me what you want to ask, or are we just going to stand here for the rest of the night?"

Lydia and Stiles glanced at each other, with the latter scratching the back of his head. "No questions from me. I think you're getting confused, I just have very interrogatory facial features."

"He's right." Lydia squeaked out, lips pressed together as she blatantly lied. When Eden raised an eyebrow in boredom, the redhead was the first to give in. "Okay, fine. But don't pretend like you don't want to ask me a question too."

Grabbing her nail filer, Eden began filing away. "Obviously I do. I actually have many, many questions, but to you specifically Lydia, is how did you know to drive us to the pool? I only sensed the dead person once we were actually there. You found it." 

"I don't know. I didn't even know I was driving in that direction until we got there." Lydia muttered, equally as lost as the blonde. "Besides, I'm not the one who actually hears the dead person's voice."

"I'm not the one who drove and found it." Eden retorted.

"Looks like you two make a great team!" Stiles interrupted, awkwardly clapping his hands together as the two girls stared at him. "Okay, look, me and Lydia are gonna go now, let you get some rest, we'll talk tomorrow, yeah?"

Steering Lydia by her shoulders, Stiles pushed her out of the room, saluting Eden as the two disappeared. The blonde sighed slightly. "Stiles!"

The boy's head immediately appeared, wishful eyes peering back at her. "Yeah?"

"Close my door please." Eden gave him a forced smile, as Stiles followed her order. Once the door shut behind him, Eden let out a groan before letting herself fall backwards onto her bed. 

Even then, she knew her life was about to completely change.