Chapter Forty-Nine

The next day rolls around for school and I'm sitting beside Stiles on the bench with Allison, Isaac, Lydia, and Scott. Scott sat next to Stiles' other side, while Allison, Lydia, and Isaac sat on the opposite side of us. We're currently in the school yard.

"Okay, so, what happens to a person who has a near-death experience and comes out of it seeing things?" Scott asked. 

"And is unable to tell whats real or not?" Stiles questioned.

"And is being haunted by demonic visions of dead relatives?" Allison added.

"They're all locked up because they're insane." Isaac quickly spoke, glancing up from his books. We were all suppose to be studying together, but I guess we had to talk about this topic at some point.

"Ha." Stiles sarcastically scoffed. "Can you at least ry to be helpful, please?"

"For half of my childhood, I was locked in a freezer." Isaac sent Stiles a glare. "So, being helpful is kind of a new thing for me."

"Okay, do we... Are you still milking that?" Stiles narrowed his eyes at him.

"Yeah, we are still milking that." Isaac smirked at him.

"Okay, guys, back to the topic, please?" I glanced between them. I then felt a presence close by and I looked to my right, seeing Kira standing there shyly.

"Hi." Kira pipes up, causing the six of us to look at her. We don't say anything. "Hi, sorry. I couldn't help overhearing what you guys were talking about." Lydia shoots everyone a concern look. "And I think I actually might know what you're talking about." No one said anything again, all shocked that she overheard us. "There's a Tibetan word for it. It's called 'Bardo'. It literally means between 'in-between state'. The state between life and death."

"And what do they call you?" Lydia cocked her head up towards Kira, pursing her lips together.

"Kira." Scott answered. Kira smiled and Allison shoots him a look. I could feel her jealously and weirdness towards it. I rolled my eyes slightly, she's one to talk. Isaac's sitting right next to her.  "She's in our history class."

"So are you talking Bardo in Tibetan Buddhism or Indian?" Lydia questioned her.

"Either, I guess." She sits next to me, squeezing in. It was alright tight with the three of us, but I guess one more couldn't hurt. I shuffled closer to Stiles, as Scott shuffled along, too. Stiles wrapped an arm around my waist. "But all the stuff you guys were just saying? All that happens in Bardo. There are different progressive states where you can have halluicantions. Some you see, some you just hear.  And you can be visited by peaceful and wrathful deities."

"Wrathful deities...?" Isaac frowned. "And... What are those?"

"Like demons." Kira offered.

"Demons." Stiles gave us a tight smile. He gives us a look. "Why not?"

"Hold on, if there are different progressive states, then whats the last one?" Allison asked.

"Death." Kira shrugged. "You die." Everyone gives her a bewilder look.

⇉

"It sounds like your subconscious is trying to communicate with you."

We followed Deaton through the Animal Clinic that Scott, Stiles, and I are currently at after school. Deaton had just put up the close sign, and we follow him to the back.

"Well, how do I tell my subconscious to use a language that I actually know?" Stiles questioned.

"Do you remember what the sign language looked like?" Deaton questioned him. "The placement and the movement of the hands?"

"You know sign language?" Scott asked, surprised.

"I know a little." Deaton nodded. He looks at Stiles. "Let me give it a shot."

"Okay, the first move was like this." He points his two index fingers on top of each other. With his top index finger, he moves it in a circle.

"Thats when." Deaton answers. 

"Theres this, twice." Stiles adds. With his fingers closed together and straight, he moves his left hand back and forward, connecting it with the other hand.

"That's door." Deaton nodded.

Then, he points a thumb towards himself. "Then there's this in between that."

"That's it?" Deaton questioned.

Stiles nods. "Yeah." He drops his hands.

"When is a door not a door." Deaton spoke the full sentence and I frowned.

"When is a door not a door?" Stiles repeated, his mouth slightly hung open after he repeats it.

"When it's ajar." Scott answers.

"You're kidding me." Stiles scoffed. "A riddle?" He glances at me and Scott. "My subconscious wants to give me a riddle?"

"You do have a weird mind." I piped up and Stiles gives me a look. I offered him a small, sheepish smile.

"Not necessarily." Deaton continues. "When the three of you went under the water, when you crossed from unconsciousness to a kind of super consciousness... You essentially opened a door in your minds."

"Okay, so what does that mean?" Scott asked. "The doors still open?"

"Ajar." I spoke and Deaton nodded in agreement.

"A door... Into our minds?" Stiles whispers.

"I did tell you it was risky." Deaton reminded them.

Scott looked at Deaton. "What do we do about it?"

"Well, thats... difficult to answer." Deaton answers.

"No, wait a sec." Stiles quickly spoke. "I know that look. Thats the 'we know exactly whats wrong with you and we have no idea how to fix' look."

"One thing I do know... Is that having an opening like that to your mind, it's not good." Deaton shakes his head. Stiles shoots Scott a look and my breath hitches.

"Great." I murmur, worried for them both.

"You each need to close that door." Deaton informs them. "And you need to do it as soon as possible." It grows silent between us.

"Okay." Scott agreed eventually. "We'll figure it out, right, guys?"

We nodded. "Yeah..." We murmur in agreement.

"Good. And I'll help you guys." Deaton added. "But for now, it's getting late, and I think you three need some sleep."

"Yeah." I nod in agreement. Even though I know I won't be getting sleep tonight. Thank God for makeup, am I right?

The three of us took that as our cue and we walked out in silences, exiting the Animal Clinic. Before either one of us could say a word, Noah Stilinski pulls up in front of us with my Dad. I smiled at him and he gives me a smile back. He looks tired.

"Dad, what are you doing here?" I asked.

"We're here because we could use some help." Dad informs, looking between me and Scott.

"Actually... Scott and Paige's." Noah gestured towards the both of us and Stiles looked mildly offended.

"Why us?" Scott asked softly.

"Because eight years ago, almost an entire family died in a car accident." Noah shares. "One of the bodies, a young girl named Malia, was never found. There's enough evidence to have me thinking that... That a werewolf could have caused that accident, and then dragged her body away. If you guys could somehow get a lock on her scent, if you guys could somehow help me find her body, it might provide the missing clue."

"And what if it was a werewolf?" Stiles asked.

"Well, there's somebody out there who murdered an entire family." Dad spoke. "Someone who still needs to be caught."

⇉

The next day, driving behind Noah and my Dad's vehicles in Stiles' Jeep, we drive down the Tate's driveway. Noah and my Dad parked in the car park and the idea was that Stiles, Scott, and I will sneak in through the back, so that me and Scott can try and find a scent on one of Malia's items.

The three of us stayed silent as we sneak around the back. We sneak through their porch, swiftly walking over a coyote trap. Stiles placed his hands on the back door, and opens the door with Scott and I behind him.

It squeaks momentarily and Stiles pauses, srunching up his face. The door creaks as he opens it some more, the three of us scrambling inside before Stiles quickly closes it. We all paused, giving each other looks and I could hear my Dad and Noah talking to Mr Tate inside.

I finally breathed, glancing around the old room. Quietly, Stiles began giving us stuff toys. Scott and I quickly sniff them and hand them back, neither of us catching a scent.

"All I'm getting is some animal smell." Scott tells us quietly.

I nodded in agreement. "Yeah, me too."

"What kind of animal smell?" Stiles asked. My eyes shoot to the hallway when I heard a low growl. There was a Rottwheeler.

"Dog." I whispered. Stiels finally looked after looking for more stuff to give us. The dog snarls at us, giving us an odd look. Please don't bark, please...

"Hi, puppy." Stiles whispered. "Get rid of it."

"Me?" Scott asked.

"Yes, you. Glow your eyes at it or something. Be the Alpha." Stiles hisses, the three of us freezing.

"I can't. I don't have control." Scot quickly said. "Paige has to do it." 

"Okay, Paige, you're gonna have to do it now before it—" Stiles was cut off with loud barking causing me to snap out of whatever fear I was feeling. "Jesus." He hisses under his breath. "Paige!"

"Apollo!" I heard someone call. He continues barking.

"Paige!" The boys tugged on my arm and I blinked rapidly as Apollo keeps barking.

"Sorry," I mumbled before glowing my bright, vibrate yellow eyes at it. Apollo whines in submission, tilting his head down. "Good boy." Apollo looks at me, a spark in his eye and he walks towards me, wagging his tail. "O—Okay..." I pet the dog.

"Apollo, come!" The owner, Mr Tate, snapped. Apollo happily runs off, its tail wagging. The boys give me an odd look.

"Could've done that sooner?" Stiles mumbled.

"I'm sorry, I froze." I spoke. "I've never done that before." Stiles then continues to look for things, going through drawers.

He hands Scott a book. "Here. Try that." Scott doesn't bother as Stiles looked away. "Anything?"

"All I'm getting is that dog." Scott admitted.

"Um, same." I mumbled.

Stiles sighed. He then looked at a picture of a young girl that looked like Malia. He pulls out his phone and takes a photo on his phone.

"Just go!" I heard Mr Tate yell and my eyes glow briefly, feeling rather protective.

"Hey, it's okay." Scott brushes his hand over my arm, giving me a calm look. "We should probably go."

With that, the three of us leave and met up with my Dad and Noah outside, a few miles down the road. We exit Stiles' Jeep, the three of us joining them.

"We're sorry." Scott apolgoises for both of us. "We tried as hard as we could. If it wasn't so long ago, we might have been able to do it."

"It's okay." Noah smiled softly. "It was a long shot. In fact, it was a pretty terrible idea. I think we just ripped a wound open in that poor man."

"We never should have brought you guys here." My Dad adds with a gloom look.

"I don't know what I was thinking." Noah finished with a frown on his face. "Thanks for trying, all right?"

"Yeah." Scott whispered and Noah placed a hand on his shoulder briefly, before giving me a quick side hug. My Dad quickly hugged me after Noah, placing a kiss on my head.

"See you at home." He whispered to me. I smiled, nodded. The two of them walked to their own vehicles, before driving off, leaving Scott, Stiles, and I alone.

"Aren't there a lot of cases that go unsolved?" Scott asked.

"Yeah, I just think this is one he..." Stiles trailed off slightly. "Felt like could've figured out right now."

"Why is it so important now?" Scott asked and I pursed my lips together, knowing Scott's not going to handle this well.

"Well, he wants to be able to solve one more while he's still Sheriff." Stiles continued to watch our father's vechiles drive down the road. Then, he looked at Scott.

"What do you mean, still Sheriff?"

⇉

"Man... This sucks." Stiles and I laid on his bed late at night, the two of us not having much to say after we told Scott the truth. About how his father is basically trying to get Stiles' Dad fired from his job. It weight heavy on my shoulders. I felt bad, like I should be able to do more. "I was really hoping we'd be able to get a scent, you know?"

"Yeah." I laid my head on Stiles' shoulder, one leg wrapped around his waist. With his hand around my shoulder, he lightly draws patterns, which were soothing to me. I felt like I could fall asleep, which was something rare. "But hey, you tried your best, okay? You didn't let anyone down."

I looked at him as he looked down at me, all of his double chins showing which I found adorable. "You have a cute double chin."

He shoots me a look. "What?"

I shrugged. "I'm just saying, I love it." He tilts his chin up slightly and I pouted. "No, don't tilt! It's adorable." He then looked down at me before giving me a loopy smile.

"I love yours, too." He decided to say and I let out a giggle before moving my whole body weight so I'm on top of him, straddling him. His hand reaches out and cups it around my jaw, his thumb brushing lightly against my cheek. He was in deep thought as he stared at me.

I lent down slowly brushes my lips against his, teasing him a little bit. He then kisses me, our lips moving in sync. I loved every single one of his kisses. His hands glide down my sides, slowly exploring under my t-shirt which I didn't mind.

Then, a knock at the door was heard and I was quick to pull apart, sitting and sitting next to him as he sits up, our eyes darting towards the door. My heart was pounding and the door flies open, revealing Scott.

"Hey." He greets us. He gives me and odd look, but doesn't ask why I was here. "I didn't interrupt anything, did I?"

I bite my lower lip, shaking my head. "No." He knew that was a lie.

"Hey, what's going on?" Stiles changed the topic quickly.

"You, me and Paige." He points to the three of us. "We're going to go out and find a body." He pulls out a flashlight. "A dead body."

⇉

In my opinion, when you knows things the things you know, Beacon Hills is a lot scarier at night. Despit eme being a werewolf myself, I still get scared. Terrified, even. Especially right now.

Scott, Stiles, and I are in the middle of woods, trying finding the car crash where Malia had been involved in. Sometimes, I don't know why I agree with the boys to drag me into their shit. But I do it anyways.

We walked through the misty night fall in the woods. We only had one flashlight which Scott holds. "You know, if my Dad's right, that means theres another werewolf in town that we haven't met yet." Stiles pointed out as we followed Scott.

"I know." Scott answers and I simply sigh.

"If it turns out to be something like triplets that form into, like, a three0headed hound of hell, I'm seriously not up for that." Stiles rants and I had to agree with him. In his other hand, Scott holds his phone with the google maps on.

"Yeah. Me either." Scott breaths out.

"If that ever happens, I'm definitely moving." I chimed in and the boys agreed.

"Espically since I can't even control my own transformation anymore." Scott added under his breath. We came up to some rocks and a little hill.

Suddenly, there was a howl and Stiles quickly grabbed onto Scott. While doing that, Scott had dropped his phone down the rocky hill, into a muddy puddle.

Scott looked at Stiles in bewilderment. Stiles gave him a sheepish look. "Sorry, buddy. I hatte coyotes so much. They always sound like they're mauling some tiny, helpless little animal."

Scott then effortlessly jumped down, bypassing all the rocks. I followed suit and Stiles had to steadily climb down the rocks. I caught him at the end as he slipped half way down. He gives me a look of appreciation.

Scott picks up his alone from the puddle, using his flashlight to examin the damadge after wiping it with his sleeve. It was still working.

"It still works." Scott smiled happily.

I looked down at the phone. "Huh, good for Samsung. Still prefer Apple, though." Scott gives me a look.

"Let me see the flashlight?" Stiles requested and Scott hands him it, Stiles taking it out of Scott's hand. He points the flashlight into the distances, the beam of it shining across what looked like to be a a wrecked car as Stiles rounded the corner of the rocks. "I think we found it."

He stepped closer, Scott and I trailing behind. "Uh... Why wouldn't they remove it? Isn't it evidence? Scott asked as we stepped closer. The car was tipped upside down with leaves scattered everywhere. It definitely looked like it'd been here for 8 years.

"Probably too much of a pain in the ass to tow out." Stiles informed. He shines the lights through it. The windows were gone. "Look at this." He moves closer and we followed suit. My eyes widen slightly as I see claws marks slashed on the old, broken door on the side of the car. "See those?" Scott dragged his hand across the claws. Definitely werewolf claws. "Animal claws would be much closer together, right? A lot closer."

"Then it was a werewolf." Scott decided and I agreed.

"It had to have been." I murmur, furrowing my eyebrows. Great, another werewolf we have to do deal with.

"So my Dad was right." Stiles mumbled. Stiles looked even closer, going towards the windows and looking inside, ducking his head in.

"What is that?" Scott asked and Stiles points his flashlight back. Scott and I were bent next to Stiles. There was an item hanging on in the car. Stiles carefully grabs it and pulled it out, revealing a doll. I shuddered at the sight of it. It was a creepy one, too.

He pulls it out and we all stood straighter, eyeing the doll. Man I hate dolls. "I'm hungry." It voiced out and my eyes widen. Stiles lets out a terrified scream, dropping it. I let out a gasp as we stepped back from it.

"I think I just had a minor heart attack." He states after letting out a sigh.

"Me too." My hand was placed on my beating heart. "I hate dolls. They're so creepy."

Suddenly, there was a close, low, growl. "Hey, guys..." Scott got our attention again. "Please tell me you see that." We turned our heads towards bright, glowing blue eyes.

"I see it." Stiles confirmed for the both of us as we all eyed it carefully. It was growling and snarling at us in the shadows. And as quick as we saw it, it disappears and Scott chases after it. "Wait, hey, Scott! Wait!"