chapter seventy-one
❝ be my mirror, my sword and shield ❞
the last chimera

━━━━༺❀༻━━━━

Dear Diary,

Bruce Lee once said, "The truth I have been seeking, the truth is Death. Yet Death is also a seeker. Forever seeking me. So, we have met at last. And I am prepared. I am at peace."

I don't know much about Bruce Lee, but I know a lot about death. And I know Death has been waiting for me since the day I was born. It waits for everyone. Everyone has a specific path and a specific timer. When their timer runs out, Death comes knocking.

I guess I always knew I'd die in some strange way. When I was a kid, I always assumed I'd be killed by hunters. Left for dead like so many members of my family. Like Talia, or Ben's wife, Amanda.

Or maybe I'd taken away in a tornado like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. My heart taken to a land where the impossible is the norm, and forever I'd go on a trip down the yellow brick road. Sometimes I still wish it would happen. The clouds would take me in its grasp like a hug and stow me away to a world filled with beauty and strange things all at once. Or maybe I'd fall down a rabbit hole and enter Wonderland. Often times I wonder if I had done that as a child after all, considering the things I can do and the people I met.

But none of these things happened. As Death stood on the side of the road, I was murdered by Theo Raeken. A Chimera who was chosen because he was True Evil. He was never shaped into the person he was. He was already evil when the Dread Doctors found him. He was just a tool, the perfect tool. So, Death came knocking on my door, waiting for me to answer. I stood on the other side of the red wood, staring at the handle when I knew one thing, and one thing only.

My timer wasn't out yet.

Kennedy Hale's eyes sprung open. She sat up straight, breathing heavily. Stiles Stilinski, Mason Hewitt, and Melissa McCall all jumped back at the sudden movement. Kennedy looked around. The sky was now a ceiling. The asphalt was now a mattress. The girl looked around as she realized exactly where she was. The hospital.

Stiles stepped closer, "Ken, hey," He whispered as he grabbed Kennedy's hand. His chocolate brown eyes met his girlfriend's hazel ones. His voice was soft, calm, but shaky when he spoke. After all, he just had his father get attacked and his girlfriend die in his arms. "We just sent Malia home, but she'll be excited to see you."

Kennedy looked over. Her mind couldn't get past the last moments she remembered. Theo Raeken had killed her. And Stiles found her. She remembered staring up at him as she took her last breath. "I died." That was all she could say.

"For a good few minutes, actually," Melissa said. Kennedy looked over in confusion. "The EMT's had to use the defibrillator." The Hale girl looked down at the hospital gown. She placed her free hand on her side, feeling the bandages wrapped around her torso. "They'll heal."

She said nothing. Kennedy nodded as she looked over at Mason. "What about Hayden?" She asked. Everyone fell silent in the room. Kennedy's lips parted in realization. Hayden was dead. Kennedy looked at her lap sadly. She just wanted things to be okay. But how could they be? With Hayden gone, Scott and herself out of commission, everyone was fighting. Would things be okay? Or did Theo Raeken get what he wanted? The pack destroyed.

Time passed. Melissa briefly left to get everyone some snacks. Stiles declined but Mason and Kennedy definitely didn't. Kennedy was on her fourth bag of chips when Mason spoke, "So let me get this straight; you killed Donovan, which your mom and the Dread Doctors somehow used to steal your Alpha powers away from you?"

Kennedy ate another chip as she nodded. "Yeah, it's pretty confusing," Kennedy said blandly. Stiles sat on her bed with her, and she leaned on him as she ate her food. Mason nodded in agreement, both of them looking back at the muted TV. It was a kid's show on Nickelodeon.

Mason slowly looked over. "None of this is your fault, you know. It's Theo's." He told her. Kennedy shrugged slightly. "It's not. You didn't do this."

Stiles looked at Mason for a moment, being quiet. Kennedy turned her head, looking at the human boy. "I could've done something different. I could have found a way to take down Donovan without killing him," Her voice was just above a whisper. She sounded so defeated. Stiles's arm that wrapped around her shoulder tightened slightly, his hand rubbing up and down her upper arm. Kennedy flinched at his touch, she hadn't forgotten what he said.

"Maybe," Mason said as he shrugged his shoulders. "But that's not what matters now. What matters is figuring out what to do next." Mason watched Kennedy nod, "Like how we're going to find Liam."

Kennedy held up a hand. "I can find him," She offered. "Or where he'll be,"

Stiles shook his head. "Ken, shouldn't you wait for you to heal?" He asked with concern.

She shook her head, "It won't hurt me. Plus, you need to go check on your dad," She said softly. Stiles's arm peeled off her shoulder as she turned towards him. "It won't take me more than two minutes. Go see Noah," Kennedy softly smiled as she urged Stiles off the bed. He looked back at Mason and Kennedy as the girl smiled again, waving him off.

Mason sat on the bed, "What do we do?" He asked in confusion.

Kennedy sighed. "According to Deaton's books, I'd need something related to Liam with an emotional connection." She explained. Mason's shoulders slouched, realizing he didn't have that. The Hale tilted her head, "But you're his best friend. So, all you have to do is hold my hands."

The human boy looked at her with an exciting look. She held her hands out, which Mason took. Kennedy closed her eyes as she let out a deep exhale. Mason looked down at their hands. He watched black veins connecting their hands like cords wrapping around them, tying them together. Mason's eyes flickered back towards Kennedy. Her eyes remained closed as she used some outside supernatural force.

Suddenly, her eyes quickly opened, shifting from white to their normal hazel. "He's at the Sheriffs Station," Kennedy deadpanned. Mason seemed confused. Kennedy slowly looked over, giving a sad closed-mouth smile. "He's going to find Hayden's sister," She explained. Mason nodded, slowly pulling away from Kennedy as the veins faded.

Mason approached the door, looking back at the werewolf. "I'm glad you're okay, Kennedy." He told her honestly. "Liam needs you."

The Hale girl furrowed her brows in confusion. "I'm not his alpha," She said with a frown. Mason shrugged, knowing she was right.

"No, but he knows you get him and Hayden better than anyone else. You helped him start to learn control," Mason explained, "And as his best friend, I think he sees you as a big sister,"

Kennedy softly grinned, shaking her head. "He's like my little brother," She said as Mason smiled back. With that, Mason slipped out the door.

She sighed as she leaned back against the hospital bed. So much happened to them. Scott died, Kennedy died, Noah Stilinski almost died, Hayden died. Theo betrayed them. Kennedy closed her eyes, praying maybe this was all a dream. She opened her eyes again. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Theo's staring back at her. She could feel his claws taking her life away once again. Her breath staggered as she looked around.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Kennedy looked over at the sound of Stiles's voice. He sounded angry.

"Two hours ago, he was fine. Now it looks like somebody took a baseball bat to his neck." She could hear Dr. Geyer explain. Kennedy slipped out of her bed, staggering to the door. "There could've been some minor internal."

Stiles shook his head, "Did you say, minor internal?" He asked, "Since when is anything internal minor?"  Kennedy slowly opened her door. She hadn't realized her room was next to Noah's, and they were all standing outside of the hallway in the waiting room. "I need to know what's going on with him, okay?" Stiles said, looking at everyone. "Dr. Geyer, somebody needs to tell me what's happening. Somebody needs to tell me what's happening to him!"

Melissa looked at the ground, slouching her shoulders. "We don't know." She confessed.

Kennedy turned her head towards the elevator, where she saw Scott walking out. His eyes met hers. He came as soon as he heard what happened to Noah and Kennedy. The girl stayed still, unsure what to do. She remembered what he said. She couldn't get over the fight.

Stiles looked over Melissa's shoulder, Scott McCall standing in front of Kennedy and Noah's rooms. Anger flooded through him. Scott trusted Theo. None of this was Scott's fault per say, but Stiles was just so angry. Kennedy snapped her head towards the sound of pounding steps. Stiles came storming through the doors, charging right at Scott. Kennedy gasped as Stiles shoved the McCall into the wall, tackling him to the ground. Kennedy ran over. "Stiles, stop!"

"Where were you? You trusted him. You believed him. Right, huh?" Stiles rambled as Kennedy tried to pull him off. "So, where were you?"

"Stiles, stop it!" She shouted again as Melissa, Dr. Geyer, and a cop came over. Melissa pulled Kennedy away, seeing blood seeping through the girl's hospital gown.

"Where the hell were you?"

Melissa held Kennedy as Dr. Geyer and a nurse pried Stiles back and another nurse grabbed Scott. Melissa stepped closer, pushing Stiles back. "Stop it!" Melissa scolded. Kennedy looked between Scott and Stiles in disbelief. Stiles didn't look at Kennedy, he didn't want to see her eyes.

Scott breathed heavily, "Your dad's not the only one who got hurt," He said to the Stilinski.

"Oh, you'll heal." Stiles bitterly said. Kennedy looked over at Scott, frowning in worry.

"I'm not talking about me. Or Kennedy."

Everyone was silent as their eyes shifted towards the Auburn haired girl leaning on Melissa. Kennedy's eyes slowly lifted from the ground, meeting Scott's. "Lydia,"

༺❀༻

Theo Raeken fell to the floor, blood spewing out of his mouth. His new pack of Chimeras huddled back in fear as they watched the furious werewolf slash and punch Theo. Sloane Valet's glowing red eyes widened in rage as she slashed her claws into Theo's back. He screamed out in pain, trying to pull himself away with the concrete.

"You killed her!" Sloane screamed again as she slashed her claws into his back. "You killed my daughter!"

"She's not dead!" Gasped out Theo as he scrambled away. "She's alive!"

Sloane grabbed Theo's shirt, pulling him up before shoving him into the wall. Theo grunted, his head hitting the brick. "And for that, you are lucky. Because if my little girl was dead, you'd be matching her fate." She snarled into his ear. Theo breathed heavily as Sloane stepped back, pushing her hair over her shoulder. Sloane's eyes studied each and every pack member. Josh Diaz, Tracy Stewart, Corey Bryant, and Hayden Romero. They were weak. Sure, some of them, like Tracy, were cocky. But they didn't dare to step foot towards the Alpha as she looked at them. She hummed, walking towards the exit. Theo leaned against the wall, looking at his pack as he thought about Kennedy Hale.

Meanwhile, in Beacon Hills Hospital, "You shouldn't go in there, you're still healing," Melissa told the girl. Kennedy wasn't in her hospital gown anymore. She had changed into sweatpants and one of Stiles's sweatshirts.

"I have to," Kennedy told her with a sad smile. The truth was, Kennedy didn't care if she was on her deathbed or perfectly fine. She needed to see Lydia. After all, Lydia was her best friend and she quite literally died for the strawberry blond.

With that, Kennedy rushed to the hospital room where Lydia was. "Oh my god, Lydia," She whispered.

Natalie Martin looked over. "No, you don't." Natalie stood up, storming towards the Hale. "You're not coming in here. Get out!"

"Natalie, I know who did this to Lydia. I just need to look at the back of her neck." She said worriedly.

"I know who did this." Natalie snarled. "You. All of you!" Natalie shoved Kennedy backwards. "Get out!"

The Hale glared as she grabbed Natalie's wrist. "Listen and listen closely, Wicked Witch of the East," She glared as she looked at the Martin. "I have been through a lot today, and I am not in the mood." Kennedy said with a frown. "The worst type of parenting is trying to protect people from themselves, it only makes things worse." Natalie frowned slowly, wincing at the grip Kennedy had. "So either you're going to let me look at the back of my best friends neck, or I'm going to drag your poorly dressed ass out of here myself."

Natalie stumbled as Kennedy shoved her backwards. Kennedy moved around the side of the bed, pulling Lydia's hair back. Surely enough, Kennedy saw four marks where Theo dug through Lydia's mind. "Oh, Lydia, I'm so sorry," She whispered as she leaned forward. Kennedy kissed Lydia's forehead, standing up and looking at Natalie. "Good to see you again, Mrs. Martin." Kennedy chimed with a smile, she walked past, coming to a stop. "Oh wait, it's Ms. Martin now, isn't it?" Lydia's mother scowled as Kennedy walked calmly out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

The Hale girl met up with Scott, Stiles, Melissa, and Jordan, "It could be a side effect of shock." Jordan suggested.

"She's catatonic." Kennedy blurted, shaking her head. "It was Theo digging his way through her mind."

Melissa looked over at Kennedy. "Why would he do that? What is he looking for?"

Scott spoke up from the other side of Melissa, "The same thing he's always looking for. An advantage."

"So what did he gain by trying to kill Stilinski?"

"It left me alone with Liam." Scott answered. "Theo wanted to make sure no one would be there to stop him from killing me."

Kennedy speaks up, "It gave my mom and I the time to have a final word. Trying to get me to join them," She added, standing in between Jordan and Melissa. "And it gave him the time to kill me, but that's nothing."

"Okay, so he gutted my dad as a distraction." Stiles croaked, disturbed, angry, upset, and probably more. Kennedy felt bad for Stiles, she wished she could have saved Noah. She averted her eyes from him, glancing at the rest of the group.

"We need to find this kid." Said Jordan Parrish.

"Isn't that a little dangerous? Especially since he almost killed my kid?" Melissa said bitterly.

Stiles shook his head in thought. "Yeah, but he said he didn't want my dad to die."

Jordan looked at the Stilinski. "And you believe him?"

"He told me where to find him. So, maybe he also knows how to save him." Stiles suggested. Kennedy looks down in thought, knowing her mom might know as well.

"What do you want to do? Talk to him?" Melissa asked sarcastically.

"If it saves my dad, then yeah." Stiles mumbled.

Kennedy nods as she looks down. "My mom might know someting too. We can figure out a plan B if Theo doesn't work out." She added as she glanced at her boyfriend. There was obvious awkwardness between the two of them, but there was so much going on it had yet to give them the time to figure it out.

"I'll come with you," Scott said, causing Kennedy and Stiles to look at him. "He doesn't know that I'm alive. Maybe that gives us an advantage."

Stiles shook his head. "He'll know you're there." He said lowly. "We just need to talk to him. Not fight him."

Kennedy began following her boyfriend. "Stiles, you two can't go alone," Melissa told the boy as she shook her head.

"Does anyone even know how to find him?" Jordan asked.

"We don't have to find him," Stiles said, looking around the room. "He'll come to me."

༺❀༻

The sun rose, and Kennedy stood in the living room of the McCall house. "Remember," Stiles said to his girlfriend, pointing his finger. He sat on the stairs, waiting for the Raeken fellow to come.

"No fighting," Kennedy said slowly with an annoyed glare. "And bring out my best acting skills,"

"Well, you've never had to been told that," Stiles mumbled, causing Kennedy to chuckle. Scott listened to the couple from upstairs. They were still finding small moments to be themselves, which they wouldn't ever have been able to without each other. It was beautiful, really.

Kennedy's head snapped at the front door, a low growl escaping her lips. Stiles looked over, seeing Theo standing just outside the door. He looked down at the mountain ash, which lined the house. He smirked, stepping over it with ease. Kennedy rose a brow, unsurprised. She was able to do it (with a lot more struggle), her mother probably could as well.

"I guess we're all telling the truth now," Theo said lowly. He looked over at Kennedy, who's eyes were already glossy with hatred and disgust.

Stiles threw a shirt at Theo. "You killed my best friend? You tried to kill my girlfriend?" He breathed out.

Theo smirked, "Let's be honest, Stiles. Was Scott still really your best friend?" Kennedy clenched her jaw as she looked at the ground. "Kennedy, you're alive,"

"And angry,"

Stiles sent Kennedy a warning look. "Are you going to let my father die?" He asked the chimera.

"If I wanted him to die I wouldn't have told you where you can find him."

Kennedy kept quiet, watching Theo throw Scott's shirt to her feet. Stiles stood up. "Then why are they saying his body is shutting down? That some toxin's poisoning him and they don't know how to stop it."

"I'm not the bad guy, Stiles." He said. Theo looked at Kennedy. "And neither is your mom." Kennedy inhaled sharply. Stiles rose a brow in annoyance. "I'm just a realist. I'm a survivor. If you knew the things that I know-"

The Hale cut him off. "Yeah, but what do you know?" Kennedy stepped forwards, pushing herself between Theo and Stiles.

Theo's eyes locked on Kennedy. "I know what's coming," Theo told her. "I know what the Dread Doctors created. And I know what Parrish is."

Kennedy sucked in a heavy breath. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Lydia figured it out. I saw it in her memories."

"Right after you drove her out of her mind," Kennedy's acting was no longer there. She felt nothing but pure rage and the need to rip Theo Raeken apart.

Theo tilted his head, "Collateral damage." He hummed. "But if she's right about Parrish, then things around here are gonna get a lot worse. "

"News flash, knockoff Eddie Munster, I don't care-"

"You should. Because if your boyfriend's dad does survive he's not gonna be sheriff of anything much longer."

Stiles spoke up, "What's happening to him?" He asked quietly. Theo shook his head, moving to the door. "Hey, tell me!"

Theo spun around, pushing Stiles back. Kennedy's eyes widen in horror as Stiles falls onto the stairs, knocking him out cold. She whipped her head back at Theo, her eyes flickering blue.

"I wouldn't do that."

Scott froze his movements at the sound of an unfamiliar voice. Kennedy watched as her mother stepped into view. Sloane Valet, in all of her glory. Theo used his foot, breaking the barrier of mountain ash as Sloane stepped inside. "Kennedy, darling, I'm so glad you're alright."

"You have five seconds to move out of my way or I'm going to rip you to shreds and then dissect Theo like a pig." Kennedy's senses heard Theo's heart jump. He was scared of her.

Sloane tilted her head. "I'm not worried about you hurting me, Kennedy," She said with a chuckle. "I'm worried about you hurting your friends,"

"Your five seconds are up," Kennedy roared as she charged at her mom. Sloane grabbed Kennedy by the throat shoving her into the wall. Kennedy choked on air as her mother pushed her hands into Kennedy's side. Scott jumped at the sound of Kennedy screaming out in pain. The sound was heart-shattering, and Scott closed his eyes tightly. Kennedy's eyes flickered between their colors as Sloane cocked her head.

Sloane sighed, patting her daughter's hair. "I love you, so much, my sweet sweet girl. One day, you'll understand." Pain shot through Kennedy's body as her mother pulled her hand away from the wound on Kennedy's left side. Kennedy grabbed at her stomach as she slid to the floor. She seethed through her teeth as both Sloane and Theo made their exit.

Moments later, Scott came barrelling down the stairs, rushing to his friend's aid. "Ken, hey," Scott whispered, looking her over. "Give me your hand,"

Kennedy slowly shook her head, "I'll be fine-"

"Give me your hand, Kennedy," Scott demanded. Kennedy raised her hand, letting her fingers intertwine with Scott's. Black veins shot through the two of them, the pain feeling as if it lifted off of Kennedy for just a moment. Scott hissed as he took at least some of her pain, giving Kennedy a head start on her healing process.

When they dropped hands, Kennedy breathed heavily as she held her hand to her wound again. "Thanks," She quietly whispered. Scott turned towards Stiles, still unconscious on the stairs.

"Stiles." Scott repeatedly shook the human boy in an attempt to wake him up, "Stiles." Kennedy slowly pulled herself up when Stiles's eyes shot open. Stiles sat up, pulling himself off the stairs. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine."

Scott shrugged, "You blacked out." He pointed out.

"I'm okay," Stiles said as he turned his head towards his girlfriend. "What the hell happened?"

"My mom paid a visit," Kennedy said, "But I'm fine. I'm healing."

Stiles shook his head, trying to organize his thoughts. "Did you get anything from him?" He asked both werewolves.

"Nothing. He was calm the entire time." Scott answered. Kennedy leaned onto the dresser, giving herself a few more minutes to heal.

"What about his heart?"

Scott thought back to everything he heard. "I heard it jump, but only once, and only for a second."

"That doesn't mean he was lying." Stiles pointed out. Kennedy rose a brow, looking over at the McCall.

Scott shrugged, "Not really. The rest of the time it was steady." He explained.

"When did it jump? What was I talking about?"

The True Alpha thought for a moment. "It was when you said that your dad was poisoned," Scott answered. Kennedy frowned.

Stiles looked over Scott's shoulder as he thought about everything that could mean. "That could be something. A jump could mean surprise, right?" He asked.

"Yeah, yeah, I think so."

"Alright, so why would he be surprised that my dad's still dying?" Stiles asked. Kennedy stood up, finally walking closer to the duo.

Scott looked over at Stiles, "Oh, wait. He didn't say that he was the one who attacked your dad, did he?" He asked.

"No," Stiles said as he shook his head. "Well, then this means it was probably someone else."

Kennedy nods, "And my mom was waiting for me, there's no way it was her. Which means-"

"Another Chimera." Scott cut in, looking over at the girl.

Stiles looked between the two in thought. His mind was racing with ideas. Kennedy and Scott both looked over in confusion when Stiles went racing out the door. "Stiles!" Kennedy called out.

Scott lead Kennedy to the car Stiles had been renting. Stiles slid into the drivers side, locking the doors just before the werewolves got to it. "Stiles?"

"Yeah, I can do the rest myself."

Kennedy scoffed in disbelief. "You don't even know where to start. All we know that it's another Chimera." She told her boyfriend. "And why the hell are you locking me out? We have a lot more to talk about than just Chimeras."

"Because I'm not letting you get hurt again, Ken,"

"Do you even know where you're headed?" Scott asked. Stiles didn't answer him. Instead, he started the engine to the car. "Come on. Let us help. I can find the clues that you can't." Stiles sighed, stepping on the gas. Kennedy glared as she cooly stepped in front of the moving vehicle. Of course, Stiles steps on the brake, rolling his eyes as Scott stumbles to Kennedy's side. "You can't do this alone, okay. You need us. You need all of us." Scott explained to the human boy. "I can get more help. I can text Liam."

"Liam just tried to kill you"

Kennedy rolled her eyes, "He was manipulated by Theo. You tried to kill me when you were possessed by a demon. See? You two can bond over trying to kill people you care about." She said bitterly. Stiles looked at her in shock. Kennedy had been hanging out with him too much.

"At least let us help," Scott said, trying to get the conversation back on track.

Stiles glanced at the wheel for a moment. "You believed him?"

Scott tilted his head. "You trusted him, too," He told Stiles.

Kennedy sighed, "As much as I hate to admit it, Theo got to all of us." She told her boyfriend.

Stiles pressed his lips together as he looked at Scott, "You know, you don't even know the real story. About what Kennedy did."

"I don't need to," Scott told the Stilinski. Kennedy looked over, her expression softening for a moment. "All that matters right now is your dad." Stiles sunk in his seat a little. "Come on, Stiles. We survived an Alpha pack, a Dark Druid, professional assassins." Scott listed off.

Kennedy nods, "Peter, Jackson, and freaking Nogitsune's." She followed with a gentle smile.

"We can survive Dread Doctors and Chimeras, too," Scott said confidently.

Stiles looked between Scott and Kennedy. He thinks back to the ninth grade when Scott was so in love with Kennedy that he could barely form a coherent sentence around her. Now, the two of them were werewolves standing in front of Stiles's rental car. Even now, when so much had happened, they came together right now to fight for both himself and his dad. They were still the same co-alphas as before.

"We're not looking for a missing Chimera." Stiles finally said. Scott and Kennedy both looked at him in curiosity. "We're looking for a missing teenager."

༺❀༻

༺❀༻

Kennedy sat on Stiles's desk, a red lollipop in her mouth as she watched Scott and Stiles investigated. Her wounds were finally healing. She looked over at Stiles's phone, until he walked towards his murder board where Scott is standing. "There was a call a few hours ago about a sophomore from Beacon High who never came home last night."

"What's his name?" Scott asked, looking at the paper with a list of names.

"Noah Patrick."

Shortly after, the three teens are at the high school. Kennedy leans on the lockers as Scott pulls Noah's open. He grabs the guy's extra sweatshirt, inhaling the scent. "Now we can catch his scent."

Kennedy goes to grab the sweatshirt, but it is tossed over her head. Kennedy turns around to see her half-sister catching it. Stiles looked over, remembering when Malia picked him up and they had a minor argument regarding Kennedy. "You called her?"

"We need all the help that we can get," Scott said to the human boy. "I should be calling everyone."

"And I know what this kid looks like," Malia added, sending a disapproving glare towards Stiles. Oblivious, Kennedy looks between the trio with a cheeky grin.

༺❀༻

They ended up at a train station, of sorts. Malia and Scott went off in one direction while Stiles and Kennedy went in another. "What happened between you and Malia?" Kennedy asked, looking over.

"What?"

The Hale girl rose a brow. "I'm not stupid, Stiles. Something obviously happened. So what was it?"

Stiles looked away, "She picked me up after the Jeep broke down. We got into an argument, kind of. About you,"

"About me?" Kennedy frowned in confusion. She never thought she would be the cause of a fight outside of maybe Peter's world. In his mind, Kennedy was a good reason to go to war.

"She knew, or guessed, about you killing Donovan," Stiles told her. Kennedy sucked in a heavy breath, looking at the walls around them. "She said she didn't care, but I think she was mad we didn't tell her."

Kennedy shrugged, "I would've, but I was so scared-"

Stiles stopped her, "I know. I explained it to her." Stiles looked back at Malia and Scott. "And then she got mad I lied to you about London." He followed. Kennedy fell silent, nodding slowly.

Kennedy sighed, "Well, she's not the only one." She mumbled. Both of them watched as Malia suddenly crawled into a small space under what would be the floor of the train stop. Kennedy and Stiles walked closer, following Scott inside.

It was tunnels. Kennedy looked around. "Maybe it's nerves, but I really hate it down here." She said earnestly. They looked around, following Malia who claimed she got the teenage boy, Noah's, scent.

Malia approached a pipe with blood on it. "This is Noah's. He was here." Malia said as she looked over at her sister. "I think he's close."

Scott's voice catches their attention. "Guys, I think we've been down tunnels like this before like when we were trying to find Liam and Hayden."

"Okay, so what?" Asked Stiles.

The Alpha looked down the hall with pipes. Kennedy slowly looked down the paths, noticing how similar it looked to Corey's memories. "Maybe, it means we're closer than we think. Maybe there's something else down here." Scott looked back at the others. "Something that we haven't found yet."

Stiles looked between the hall and Scott. "Yeah, nothing that helps my dad." He said bitterly. Kennedy paused, a scent waving over her. "Look, we can't just be standing around here waiting for something to-" A figure comes out of nowhere. Stiles falls backward and hits his head on the stone wall.

"Stiles!" Kennedy gasped, looking over. It was Noah. Malia roared as she charged the teenage boy. Kennedy and Scott kneeled down toward the teenage boy.

Scott called out to his friend. Stiles groaned, his brain becoming fuzzy as he reached his hand out. Scott took it, the boy regaining consciousness as he looked up. Scott and Kennedy pulled him off the ground, turning to see Malia holding down Noah. Kennedy snarled lowly, taking a few quick strides before using her foot to pin his hand away from Malia.

He wriggled under their strength. "Let me go, please! Please!" Stiles and Scott looked over in disbelief. "They're coming."

Malia looked back at the two boys. Kennedy stared at the Chimera. "What did you do to him?" Everyone looked at Kennedy. The crackling noise of the Dread Doctors was heard by all of them. Kennedy pushed her foot harder on the boy's arm, causing him to scream in pain. "The Sheriff. He's dying cause of something you did. What was it?"

"I don't remember! Please!" The boy cried. Kennedy paused, the memory of Deucalion and her mother forcing her to kill someone crossed her mind. Everything Stiles said. She hated it. She hated the idea of being anything like Sloane. This boy, this child, was telling the truth. Malia and Kennedy both pulled away, letting the boy scramble to his feet.

Stiles wasn't done. The human boy grabbed Noah, pinning him to the wall. "You're not going anywhere." He snapped.

"I said I don't remember."

"You don't remember anything?"

Noah shook his head. "No. Not when it happens. Not when I change." He tried to explain.

"You clawed my dad half to death, okay, and now it's poisoning him. You're gonna start remembering every detail right now."

Malia waved towards Scott, "Scott, I hear them." She said worriedly.

"Yeah, I do, too," Scott said as Kennedy stepped forwards. "Hey, Stiles, get him out of here. Go to the hospital. Figure out a way to save your dad."

"We're not gonna be able to stop them," Malia said with wide eyes.

Kennedy nods, "Maybe, but we can slow them down." She said, following Scott's lead. She turned toward her boyfriend. "Stiles, go." Stiles turned back, looking at Scott. The Alpha nodded, and so did Kennedy. So, Stiles forcefully grabs the chimera, pulling him towards the nearest exit.

Scott winced in pain, causing the Hale sisters to look over. Blood stained his shirt, and both girls shared unsure looks. Why hadn't he healed? Kennedy had, for the most part.

Clicking and clattering caused Kennedy to look ahead. Three Dread Doctors. Three of them. Kennedy sucked in a heavy breath as she tried to think of some way to fight them. Scott looked over at the girls, noticing their worried faces. "We're gonna be okay,"

"Scott, we're gonna die down here." Malia deadpanned.

The McCall smirked, "No, we're not."

Kennedy looked at her friend. "I love the enthusiasm, but how can you be so sure?" She asked with wide eyes as she looked at the approaching dread doctors.

"Because you're not the only ones that I called."

"Get down."

The voice. Kennedy slowly turned her head to see Chris Argent stepping out with his gun. A big, powerful, and deadly gun. Kennedy smiled as she grabbed Malia, the two girls kneeling towards the ground quickly. The bullet shot through the air, and while the Dread Doctors blocked it, Chris still noticed the stumble. Kennedy turned her head to watch Chris beginning to shoot over and over again. She held onto Malia as they watched the Dread Doctors continue to fall back.

Chris looked over at Kennedy. He remembers the time he and Peter spoke of Kennedy. How maybe one day Chris would be the father Kennedy needed. He meant it. He would've stayed for the young Hale if not for the Calaveras. But here he was, back in Beacon Hills.

"Run."

Malia grabbed Kennedy, pulling her to her feet. The four of them begin to fall back, Scott grabbing Malia's arm and pulling her along.

Kennedy turned back to Chris as she looked at the silver arrow bracelet on her wrist. She grabbed Chris, pulling him along as he continued to shoot. Chris took a glance at the girl again, his eyes giving her the smallest hello.

༺❀༻

Chris climbed out of his car as Kennedy and the others climbed out of hers. Kennedy rushed over, wrapping her arms around Chris tightly. "What a crappy way to say welcome home,"

"I expect nothing less," Chris joked as he hugged the girl back. Scott smiled softly, Malia stood there impatiently.

The Tate shrugged now. "Can we go see if Stiles's dad is okay now?" She asked bluntly. Kennedy pulled away from Chris, nodding urgently.

Scott pushed open the doors first. The place was still dark and empty, but Melissa McCall now sat at the front desk. Kennedy and Malia were side by side as they watched Melissa slowly stand. Nobody said anything, but they waited for Melissa's response. It was light the darkness looming over the hospital lifted as Melissa's shoulders relaxed. She placed her hands on the desk as she slowly smiled, nodding her head to tell them it worked. The thing poisoning Noah Stilinski was Noah Patrick's bone marrow from being a Berserker Chimera. It was ironic, Noah poisoning Noah.

Scott sighed in relief as he leaned against the wall. Kennedy turned and wrapped her arms around Malia. The Tate girl looked at the ground as she thought about the fact that they had, kind of, saved Noah's life. Chris smiled, nodding towards Melissa. She smiled back.

༺❀༻

"So your mom knows we've been looking for her?"

Kennedy and Malia were now in the Tate girl's room. They decided to spend the night together, catch up on what they've missed in the other's lives. Malia sat on her bed, nodding slowly. "Braeden's helping me, actually," She explained. "But I guess she's on her way here."

"You know, maybe we should tell my mom. She'd probably help us." Kennedy said awkwardly.

Malia knitted her brows together. "Isn't your mom with the Dread Doctors?" She asked in confusion.

The Hale nods. "Yeah, but imagine what she'd do when she realizes not only my dad cheated on her, but had a baby with the other woman and that other woman is back in town." She said with a raised brow. Malia thinks about it for a moment.

"Yeah, maybe we should tell Sloane."

Kennedy fell silent. The sisters sat in the quiet room, unsure what to say next. Kennedy inhaled deeply, sitting up straight. "I'm sorry for not being there more. I promised you when we found out you were my sister I'd be there every step of the way. And I haven't been."

Malia shrugged, "You had a lot on your plate," She deadpanned.

"That doesn't matter. You're my family and you're way more important to me than Dread Doctors or Chimeras." Kennedy explained to her sister. She tilted her head, "Though, they are a close second."

The pair giggled as Malia looked down. She swallowed down the lump in her throat. "When I saw you, you know, on the ground," She began. Kennedy looked up, quieting down. "I always thought the worst day of my life was the day of the accident, but then I realized losing the one person who's ever understood me was just as horrible."

"Are you saying me dying is tied for most traumatic moment with your adopted mom and sister dying?"

"Kind of, yeah," Malia confessed, causing them both to snicker. "But seriously, if you ever try and die on me again I will kill you." Kennedy narrowed her eyes with a grin, but didn't say anything. Instead, she leaned forwards hugging Malia tightly. This time, Malia reciprocated, and this time she had a small grin on her face.