"Layla, sweetie, where are you?" Claudia Stilinski called out for her five year old daughter.

Claudia checked every room in the house, but couldn't find her anywhere. They were playing hide and seek, but Claudia was getting worried.

"Layla." She shouted, standing in the hallway.

"I win mommy." A melodic voice laughed from behind Claudia.

Claudia swivelled round, a smile on her face. But it dropped as soon as she saw her daughter.

Five year old Layla's white sundress was now red.

She was covered in blood.

It pooled at her feet, dripped down her arms and legs.

"Layla, what happened?" Claudia cried, staring at her daughter.

"They just wanted to play with us mommy. They said they had a good hiding spot for me." Layla replied, innocently.

"Who, Layla?"

Layla laughed.

"Why the doctors of course."

--

"There's no scent." Layla cried in frustration.

They were searching for Liam and Hayden, but there was no scent to follow. Layla wanted to curl up and cry. She needed to find them. She needed to make sure they were safe.

"We can't track Liam or Hayden." Scott said softly.

"But Liam can howl back, right?" Maria asked.

Scott and Layla looked at each other.

"Only if he can hear us." Scott said softly.

--

Layla chewed on her lip nervously as she waited for Scott. Malia and Stiles were in the other room, giving them some time alone. Though Stiles left very begrudgingly. Theo wrapped her arms around her waist and she lay her head against his chest, sighing.

"It's going to be okay." He told her.

"Is it though Theo. Is it really?" Layla asked. She honestly felt like she was going crazy.

Theo stepped back and looked Layla in the eyes. "Honestly? I don't know. But whatever happens I'm going to be here. I promise."

Layla smiled softly. "You always know just the right thing to say."

"Well can I say something else?" He asked.

Layla tilted her head to the side. "Yeah."

"I love you Layla." He whispered.

Layla was shocked. Did Theo really just confess his love for her? Apparently. But he wasn't finished.

"I've loved you from the first day I met you. I remember it so clearly. Your hair was braided and you wore a baby pink sundress. You walked into the class, latching onto Stiles in a fit of nervousness. And I knew right then that I was in love with you. You've been there for me for so many years, and I am so sorry that I left. But I'm not leaving this time, I'm going to stay. I'm going to protect you, keep you safe. Because I love you."

Layla broke out into a grin. "I love you too Theo." she replied and kissed him.

The kiss was like they were telling each other all over again. That they were saying those three words. I love you.

They broke the kiss when they heard commotion in the next room. Layla grabbed Theo's wrist and tugged him next door. They stood beside Stiles and Malia, who were looking at Scott.

"Is Kira okay?" Layla asked, anxiously. She felt slightly guilty. There she was being happy, when she had more important and life threatening matters to attend to. She had to stay focused.

"Scott?" Theo asked in confusion as Scott walked past them, ignoring them.

They followed him upstairs and found him looming over Corey, who was reading the dread doctors.

"No Scott don't!" Layla heard Lydia shout.

Coming round the corner, entering the room, Layla watched at Scott plunged his claws into the back of Corey's neck.

"Don't get too close." Lydia said.

"What's he doing?" Theo asked from beside Layla.

"He's tapping into Corey's memories." Layla explained. "It's usually only something Alphas do."

"Is it as dangerous as it looks?" Theo asked.

"Yep. I've had it done before. It's pretty dangerous." Layla retorted.

Theo looked at her in shock, his eyes wide. It was true, it had happened once before. Back when the Alpha pack came to Beacon Hills, Layla was kidnapped by Deucalion. He believed that she had information about Scott, which he needed at the time. So he tapped into her memories. It was painful and very dangerous. If it wasn't for the fact that Layla was a werewolf and healed quickly, she would have died.

"Does anyone know if it's even working?" Mason asked.

----

Scott watched as two of the dread doctors dragged Corey through the hospital, and underground. There were many twists and turns. He felt Corey's emotions. He was scared. No, he was petrified. Scott watched as the doctors dragged him to a table, shackling him to it. He saw the horrendous things that were there, things that would make you hurl.

Scott watched as Corey looked around him and he caught sight of another table. Scott concentrated, trying to see who was on it. And then Scott saw through Corey's eyes who was lying there, shackled to the table, covered in her own blood.

Layla.

--

Scott pulled himself out of Corey's memories and he gasped for air. He stumbled backwards, and fell into Layla's arms.

"Hey, Scott you okay?" She asked him softly.

"You." He gasped so quietly that not even Malia or Theo could hear. "You were there."

Layla panicked. Scott had seen her. He had confirmed her worst fears. Stiles made his way over to them and Layla looked at Scott pleadingly.

"You can't tell them. Please Scott, don't tell them."

Stiles reached them and helped Layla steady Scott until he was standing on his own. Scott opened his mouth to speak and Layla knew that he was going to tell. But he never got the chance to speak.

"What the hell did you do to me?" Cried Corey from the other end of the room.

"You'll be alright." Scott told him, leaning against the dresser.

"There's blood."

"You'll heal." Scott replied.

"Scott -" Stiles began.

"He'll be fine." Scott yelled, grabbing a notepad and a pen. "Listen, I think it worked. I saw something. There were tunnels, pipes in the walls. There were these two huge blue pipes at the entrance. Two on both sides."

"Wait a minute. I know this, I've seen this." Stiles said looking at what Scott had drawn.

Layla stood the other side of Scott, gazing at the drawing. She knew this place too. But she was positive that Stiles hadn't been there for the same reasons she had. She was also sure that he had gone off his own free will, while Layla on the other hand had no choice. Not that she could remember much. Mere flashes, like when you see a person and you know you've met them, but you can't remember their name.

"It's one of the tunnels I used to skateboard in. Remember dad caught me one time, told me never to go back?" Stiles said.

Layla nodded. Skateboarding was one of Stiles' many phases and it didn't last long. She remembered all of his phases, from wanting to do wrestling right down to him wanting to be batman. Although she wasn't quite sure if he was past the batman phase. The more she thought about it, the more she came to the conclusion that he would most probably never be over it.

"It's the water treatment plant." Layla whispered and everyone noticed the distance, blank look in her eyes as she spoke.

"That's where they are." Scott said. "That's where we'll find Liam and Hayden."

Scott ran out of the room and downstairs, everyone following him.

"Scott." Layla called.

"Scott, just thing about this for a second, okay?" Her twin spoke. "Mason shouldn't be going and neither should Layla."

"Liam's my best friend. I'm going." Mason said determined, pushing past Stiles.

"And so am I." Layla said and shoved her twin brother out of her way.

"Okay so you just suddenly got super wolf powers? I wasn't aware of that development." Stiles said sarcastically. "And Layla there's no way you're going."

"Okay let's play guess who. Out of you and I who is the werewolf and who is the older twin. Oh wait, I'm both. Shut it Stiles I'm going." Layla retorted.

"Layla -"

"Stiles." She said, her voice softer. "I made a promise to Hayden that I would keep her safe, and I made the same promise to Liam last year. I'm not breaking it. I'm going to find them and I'm going to bring them home. Even if it kills me."

Stiles looked at his sister, worry written across his face. Layla knew what he was afraid of. He was afraid that he would lose her, just like they had lost their mother.

"Well, if you're not going I could use the extra help." Scott pointed out, awkwardly.

"No, I'm coming. Just as soon as I talk to my dad. They're moving the body and he wants me to make sure no one steals it." Stiles replied.

"And how are you going to do that?" Malia asked.

"I don't know. But whatever it was, it was strong enough to flip my jeep." Stiles said, with a hint of underlining sadness. Layla knew how much Stiles loved that jeep. She wouldn't be surprised if he loved it more than he loved her.

"Rest in peace, Roscoe." Layla mumbled and Stiles smiled at her.

"We can bring Theo." Malia said.

Layla eyed Malia as she noticed that her stare lingered a little too long on her boyfriend. Layla didn't like that at all. If Malia hurt Stiles or went anywhere near Theo, well let's just say she should sleep with one eye open.

"Maybe I should stay here." They replied.

Layla made a 'hum' noise and folded her arms. "Times a ticking." She remarked.

"You know in case the doctors decide to make a house call for Corey." He added.

"That would be a lot nicer if it was one of those really hot, human doctors." Layla sighed, causing Corey to giggle.

"Scott, Stiles is right. We need to slow down and think." Lydia piped in.

"I am thinking." Scott retorted. "About how Liam and Hayden could already be dead."

Layla flinched.

"You could have hurt him Scott. Really hurt him." Lydia replied.

"Look Corey, Scott is sorry. But we need to find Liam and Hayden. I need to find Liam and Hayden. You can all do as you wish." Layla said and left without another word,  Scott, Mason and Malia following.

--

"How many more failures are there going to be?" Liam asked, getting annoying.

"Who knows." Zach replied shrugging. "But doesn't it make you wonder what the success is going to look like? I mean what are we turning into? Something with claws and fangs?"

"Something with wings?" Liam offered.

"You know the doctors have a favourite." Zach spoke.

"Don't you actually have to have emotions, to have preferences?" Liam remarked.

"I've talked to her a few times. But they experiment on her so much that she gets confused a lot. But she has more control than any of them. They wipe her memory every time. I hear them talking about her, the doctors. How she is the key to their success, that she's what they've been waiting for." Zach continued, ignoring Liam's remark.

"Do you know her name?" Hayden asked softly.

Zach looked at her and nodded.

"She told me her name was Layla."

--

Layla slammed the car door shut and walked into the building with Scott, Malia and Mason. They climbed down flights of stairs and Layla felt a strong sense of déjà vu.

"I've been here." She whispered. Only Scott heard her.

"I know." Scott replied harshly.

Layla flinched. She never asked for any of this. So why was Scott taking it out in her? He should try taking a look from her perspective sometime. Because the view was not so pretty.

"Liam." Malia shouted.

"Can you catch his scent?" Mason whispered to Scott.

"There's too many chemicals." Scott murmured.

"This might take a while." Mason sighed.

"Hayden." Scott shouted.

"Liam." Layla roared as they ran along the twists and turns of all the pipes.

"Hayden." She shouted and turned the corner.

"Scott, sorry." She apologised as she collided with his chest.

"We have to find a different way." He murmured.

---

"I remember them taking me out of the room. I remember the hospital. Nothing else." Corey told Theo and Lydia as he tried to leave.

"Nothing after that?" Theo asked, arching an eyebrow.

"No." Corey said firmly, reaching for the door handle.

"There has to be more Corey. Think. Just for a minute, think." Theo said, raising his voice.

Corey sighed. "There's a basement."

"Where, like in a building?" Lydia asked.

"A house." Corey corrected.

"It was old. Covered in dust, and there was a broken stone wall with a hole in it, like a bomb had gone off. And there was a girl. The doctors were dragging her somewhere. They were taking her away." Corey said.

"Who was the girl Corey?" Lydia asked softly.

"I - I don't know." Corey stammered trying to remember.

"Who was the girl?" Lydia repeated, her voice getting louder.

"I don't know." Corey roared.

"Think Corey." Theo screamed in anger and frustration. "Who was the girl."

"Layla." Corey shouted. "The girl was Layla."

--

"I'm telling you guys. We've been down this one before." Mason said, panting.

"What the hell are we doing?" Layla groaned in frustration.

"We're running up and down this place. Up and down tunnels and there's no way we're going to find them." Scott groaned.

"Scott, you're inhaler. Use you're inhaler." Layla shouted.

Scott fell to his hands and knees gasping for air. Layla shoved her hand into his pocket, taking out his inhaler. She pressed it into the palm of his hand and he used it, his breath gradually reaching a normal pace.

"We're never going to find them." Scott said, sitting.

Layla wrapped her arm around his shoulders. "We're never going to find them and it's my fault." Scott stated.

"It's not your fault Scott. If it's anyone's fault it's mine. I made a promise." Layla said softly.

"So did I." Scott mumbled.

Layla stood up and held out her hand to Scott. "Well then, let's keep our promises. Come on. When has Scott McCall ever given up?"

Scott smiled at Layla and took her hand as she helped him up.

"We've got to keep looking." Mason said softly. "We've got to keep trying."

--

Layla opened the door and walked in. Liam and Hayden were asleep on the couch. Layla burst into tears and knelt beside the two sleeping figures. She pulled a blanket over them and kissed them lightly on their foreheads.

They were her family and they were safe.

She turned to Theo and ran into his open arms. "Thank you." She whispered. She kept her arms wrapped firmly around him, glad that he was okay.

"I love you." She told him.

"I love you too." Theo replied smiling and kissed her.

And in that small moment, that little snippet of time, they were happy. Even if it was only for a small amount of time, they had a spark of happiness.

But like all sparks, they burn out.

Quickly.

--

A/N

Okay, first things first (I'm a realist) I don't really like the cover of this story. If any of you could make me one I would really appreciate it and I would give you credits in the description. It would just have to have a photo of Halsey, the name of the story and my account name.

Second of all, could you please check out my two new stories? The first one is a Derek Hale one and the other is an Oliver Queen one.

So now the gang knows that Layla has something to do with the doctors and you'll be finding out more about that soon.
This chapter is dedicated to @ashanti231 for giving me the idea for Layla to say to Stiles. Thank you :)