CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE:
IT'S MATT, RIGHT?

    "SO, THIS KIDS THE REAL killer?" Noah Stilinski questioned. The three teenagers were standing in Stiles' room with Stiles' dad standing in front of them, trying to explain to the man that it was Matt that was the killer. They had a yearbook open with Matt's face circled in red.

     "Yes." Stiles nodded.

     "No."

     "Yes!"

     "No." Noah argued.

     Stiles sighed in annoyance. "Dad, come on! Everybody knows that the police look for ways to connect victims in a murder, okay? So, all he had to do is, like, look through their transcripts and figure out which class they all had in common."

     "Yeah, except for the fact that the rave promoter, Kara, wasn't in Harris' class." Noah pointed out.

     "All right. Okay, you're right. Sorry. Then, I guess they dropped the charges against him?" Stiles questioned with raised eyebrows.

     "No, you know what? They're not dropping the charges. But, that doesn't prove anything." Noah shook his head, his arms crossed over his chest. Stiles opened his mouth, but his father was quick to cut him off, looking at the two McCall siblings. "Scott, Elaine, do you believe this?"

     "It's really hard to explain how we know this, but you just gotta trust us. We know it's Matt."  Elaine told the man, Scott nodding his head in agreement.

     "Yeah, he took Harris' car, okay? Look, he knew that if a cop found tire tracks at one of the murders, and that if enough of the victims were in Harris' class, that they'd arrest him." Stiles explained.

     The man sighed. "All right, fine. I'll allow the remote possibility. But give me a motive. I mean, why would this kid want most of the 2006 swim team and its coach dead?"

     "Isn't it obvious? Our swim team sucks! They haven't won in, like, six years!" Stiles exclaimed, earning a look from his father. "Okay, we don't have a motive yet. I mean, come on, does Harris?"

     "What do you want me to do?" Noah asked.

     "We need to look at the evidence." Scott told him.

     "Yeah, that would be in the station, where I no longer work."

     "Trust me, they'll let you in." Stiles assured him.

     "Trust you?" Noah asked, raising his eyebrows.

     "Trust. . . Trust Elaine?"

     "Now Elaine, Elaine I trust." Noah nodded before the group were quick to leave the home and make it to the Sheriff's station. They arrived at the Deputy at the front desk looked at Noah in question.

     "It's two in the morning." She told them.

     "Believe me, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't extremely important." Noah told her.

     "We look at the hospital stuff first, okay?" Stiles told the duo.

     "Why?" Scott questioned.

     "Because all the murders were committed by Jackson, except for one. You remember?" Stiles answered, looking between the two.

     "The pregnant girl, Jessica." Elaine nodded.

     "Yeah, since Matt had to kill her himself, somebody from the hospital could've seen him." Stiles told them.

     "Thank you." Noah spoke, grabbing their attention once more. The three teenagers were quick to follow after him, going into the office and pulling up the hospital surveillance. They watched the footage, Matt not having passed by yet.

     "I don't know, guys. I mean, look at this―︎there was a six-car pile-up that night. The hospital was jammed."

     "All right, just keep going." Stiles urged. They were trying to prove to Noah that Matt was the killer, and not Mr. Harris. "Look, he had to have passed one of the cameras on that floor to get to Jessica, okay? He's gotta be on the footage somewhere."

     The four continued to watch the screen before Scott quickly said, "Oh, hold on! Stop! Did you see that? Scroll back." Noah did as he was told, and it showed Matt walking down the hall, though all they could see was the back of his head, immediately they knew it was him.

     "That's him! That's Matt!" Stiles nodded his head.

     "All I can see is the back of someone's head." Noah told them.

     "Matt's head, yeah! I sit behind him in history. He's got a very distinct cranium! It's weird." Stiles spoke, making Elaine slowly turn her head to look at the boy, cocking an eyebrow at him.

     "Are you crazy?" Noah asked his son.

     "Stiles has always been crazy." Elaine shrugged, earning a blank look from the boy before he turned back to his father.

     Stiles huffed. "All right, fine. Then look at his jacket, huh? How many people do you know who wear black leather jackets?"

     "Millions! Literally!" Noah argued.

      "Okay, can we scroll forward? There's gotta be a shot of him coming at one of the cameras." Scott interrupted the duo's banter, trying to stay on task.

     "Right there! Stop, stop! See, there he is again." Stiles pointed to the screen.

     "You mean there's the back of his head again. . ." Noah sighed.

     "He's talking to someone." Stiles pointed.

     "He's talking to my mom." Scott told them.

     "Call her." Elaine immediately said.

     "Scott, you know how many people I deal with in a day?" Melissa asked, the woman on speaker so the others could hear her.

     "This one's sixteen, he's got dark hair, looks like a normal teenager. . ." Scott tried to describe.

     "Yeah, he looks evil!" Stiles yelled, making elaine raise an eyebrow at him.

     "Scott, I already talked to the police about this." She sighed.

     "Okay, Mom, I'm gonna take a picture and send it to you." He took a picture of Matt from the yearbook, sending it to her. "Did you get it?"

     "Yeah." Melissa responded.

      "Do you recognize him? Do you remember him?" Scott asked.

     "Yeah, I did. I mean, I remember I stopped him because he was tracking mud in the hall. . . Scott, what's going on?"

     "It's-it's nothing, Mom. I'll explain later. I gotta go." With that, Scott hung up. Stilinski was quick to grab a file, opening it up.

     "We've got shoe prints alongside the tire tracks at the trailer site." He informed the teenagers.

     "And, if they match, that puts Matt at the scene of three murders―︎the trailer, the hospital, and the rave." Stiles told them.

     "Actually, four." Noah corrected. "A credit card receipt for an oil change was signed by Matt at the garage where the mechanic was killed."

     "When?" Stiles asked.

     He stood up before he looked towards his son saying, "A couple hours before you got there."

     Stiles paused for a moment before looking at his father. "All right, Dad―︎if one's an incident, two's a coincidence, and three's a pattern, what's four?"

     "Fours enough for a warrant." Stiles did a silent fist bump. "Scott, call your mom back. See how quick she can get here. If I can get an official ID, I can get a search warrant. Stiles, go to the front desk. Tell them to let Scott's mom in when she gets here."

Scott was quick to call their mom, glancing towards Elaine as he spoke to her before hanging up and nodding his head, telling Noah and Elaine that their mom would be there soon. However, Noah didn't seem to acknowledge it, his attention turned towards the door. Elaine frowned slightly, she and Scott exchanging looks.

     "Sheriff?" Elaine questioned. That's when her attention turned towards the door, her heart stopping in her chest upon seeing Stiles enter with Matt right behind him, a gun pointing at Stiles. Elaine wanted to throw the gun from his hands, but with Noah standing right there, there was nothing she couldn't do without exposing herself.

  "Matt? It's Matt, right?" Noah asked, glancing between the gun and Stiles before Stiles had been shoved over towards the desk. Elaine grabbed the boys hand, giving him a look to which he just gave a slight nod. "Matt, whatever's going on, I guarantee you there's a solution that doesn't involve a gun."

     Matt looked at him for a moment before saying, "You know, it's funny you say that, because I don't think you're aware of just how right you are."

     "I know you don't wanna hurt people."

     "Actually, I wanna hurt a lot of people. You four weren't on my list, but I could be persuaded. And, one way is to try dialing somebody on your cell phone, like McCall is doing." They looked towards Scott who was quick to pull his hand out of his pocket. "That? That could definitely get someone hurt. Everyone." When none of them moved, he quickly yelled, "Now!"

     "Come on." Noah calmly told the teenagers. The trio did as told, placing their phones on the desk before looking at the boy. After that, Matt forced them all into the room where the jail cells were placed, Matt forcing Stiles to lock up his father with handcuffs.

     "Tighter." Matt ordered.

     "Do what he says, Stiles." Noah calmly told him. Reluctantly, Stiles did so and then the three were forced out of the room and down the hall. However, Scott stopped upon noticing the three bodies laying in the floor, blood covering the walls. Elaine's stomach twisted at the sight, images of the hallucination from Lydia's party flashing in her brain.

     "What, are you gonna kill everyone in here?" Scott asked in disbelief.

     "No, that's what Jackson's for. I just think about killing them, and he does it." He said with a smile before forcing the three to continue forward. They reentered the Sheriff's office, Matt sitting down and holding a gun to them whilst forcing the three to shred all of the evidence.

     "Deleted. And we're done." Stiles said, getting rid of the evidence that was on the computer. "All right? So, Matt, since all the people you brutally murdered deserved it because they killed you first―︎whatever that means―︎I think we're good here, right? So, I'll just get my dad, and we'll go, you know? You continue on the whole vengeance thing. Enjoy the Kanima." That's when their attention turned towards headlights flashing through the window.

     Matt smirked, looking at the two siblings. "Sounds like your mom's here, McCall."

     "Matt, don't do this. When she comes to the door, I'll just tell her to leave. I'll tell her we didn't find anything. Please, Matt―︎" However, he stopped when the sound of door opening could be heard.

     "If you don't move, now, I'm gonna kill Stiles first, and then your sister, and then your mom." Matt sternly told him. And reluctantly, they did as the boy told, moving towards the door and stopping in front of it. "Open it."

     "Please. . ." Elaine begged, a tear falling down her cheek. She couldn't let her mother get hurt. She refused to let her.

     "Open. The. Door." Matt snarled, looking at Scott.

     With a sigh, Scott did so. The two siblings quickly let out a breath of relief when they saw it was only Derek. "Oh, thank God." However, that's when Derek fell to the floor, making them all look down at him before looking back up only to see Jackson standing there with half of his face covered in scales. He took a step forward, looking at them before his eyes changed into those of reptiles before going back to normal.

     "This is the one controlling him? This kid?" Derek mumbled in disbelief, though loud enough for all of them to hear.

     "Well, Derek, not everyone's lucky enough to be a big, bad Werewolf." This made the three teenagers share looks with one another. "Oh, yeah! That's right. I've learned a few things lately. Werewolves, Hunters, Kanima's, even witches. It's like a frickin' Halloween party every full moon. Except you, Stiles. What do you turn into?"

     "Abominable Snowman. But, uh, it's more of, like, a wintertime thing, you know? Seasonal." Stiles sarcastically answered. With the simple nod of Matt's head, Jackson was quick to cut the back of Stiles' neck.

     "Hey!" Elaine snarled, but Stiles fell to the floor on top of Derek. Elaine went to go forward only for Jackson to stop her, waving a finger in front of their faces. Scott grabbed onto his sister, forcing her to stand behind him so that if any harm came, he would get it first.

     "You bitch." Stiles muttered.

     "Get him off of me." Derek growled.

     "Oh, I don't know, Derek―︎I think you two make a pretty good pair!" Matt smiled before leaning down towards him. "It must kind of suck, though, to have all that power taken away from you with just a little cut to the back of the neck. I bet you're not used to feeling this helpless."

     "Still got some teeth." Derek snarled. "Why don't you get down here a little closer, huh? We'll see how helpless I am."

     "Yeah, bitch." Stiles replied, his voice cracking slightly from where half of his face was muffled by Derek's shirt. Their attention turned when the sound of another car pulling in could be heard.

     "Is that her?" Matt asked, standing up. He turned towards the two. "Do what I tell you to, and I won't hurt her. I won't even let Jackson near her."

     "Scott, El, don't trust him!" Stiles snapped. Matt quickly grabbed onto the back of Stiles, pulling him off Derek and placing him on his back before he put his foot against Stiles' chest.

     "Stop it!" Elaine yelled, her jaw clenching as she looked at the boy.

     "Then do what I tell you to!" Matt snapped at the girl. She glared at him.

     "Okay. All right. Stop!" Scott urged. Matt removed his foot from Stiles chest making the boy cough and breathe once more.

     "You take him in there." Matt ordered Jackson before turning towards the two. "You two, with me."

     They stood in the hallway, with Matt pointing a gun at the back of the two teenager's heads. That's when Melissa walked in.

     "Mom." Scott calmly spoke.

     "You scared me! Where is every―︎" However she stopped upon noticing the gun that was being pointed at both of her children.

     "Mom, just do what he says. He promised he wouldn't hurt you." Elaine carefully spoke, trying to keep the shakiness from her words.

     "She's right." Matt nodded. The two turned to face him and Matt quickly shot both Elaine and Scott, sending them to the floor. Melissa let out a scream, covering her mouth.

     "Scott! Stiles! Elaine! What happened?" Noah yelled from where he was locked up. Elaine placed a hand over the wound, blood covering her shirt as she looked at Scott, swallowing thickly. She couldn't heal like he could. And where he had shot her, she would die soon.

     "But, I didn't say I wouldn't hurt you." Matt told the two. Melissa took a step towards them, but Matt quickly pointed the gun at her. "Back! Back!"

     "Mom. Mom! Stop, Mom!" Scott begged.

     Melissa shook her head. "I said get back," Matt harshly whispered towards her.

     "Elaine, Scott. . ." Melissa spoke, glancing between the two of them.

     "Mom, do it. Please, Mom." Elaine begged.

     "Get up, McCall." Matt hissed, looking at Scott.

     "Matt? Matt, listen to me―︎" Noah shouted from the other room.

     "Shut up! Everybody shut the hell up!" Matt yelled. "Now, get up, or I shoot her next." Matt forced Melissa and Scott into the other room, leaving Elaine in the hallway. The girl swallowed thickly, already feeling the metallic taste at the back of her throat. Everyone was really out to get her, weren't they? Elaine glanced up when Scott and Matt came down the hallway, blood starting to fall from Elaine's mouth. Scott went to go to her, but Matt grabbed onto him, pushing him forward.

     "I'm okay." Elaine whispered, only loud enough for her brother to hear. "Don't worry about me." Elaine coughed, blood falling from her lips making her tightly close her eyes, leaning her head against the door. She carefully glanced down the hallway, making sure Matt wasn't paying attention to her before she allowed her eyes to start glowing.

     "Tardus pulsatio." The girl forced her heart to slow down, hoping it would slow down the blood flow from the gun shot wound. The healing spell she knew of needed ingredients, none of which she would have. So, she was having to do everything she could in order to keep herself alive. "Asinta Mulaf Hinto, Sho Bala." She let her shoulders relax, feeling the pain die down. She glanced towards Matt and Scott who were still talking, Matt seeming to have just finished telling what it was that had happened to him. Elaine closed her eyes before muttering the same spell she had used that night to hide herself and Scott from Gerard and Argent at the animal clinic. "Nullum visa laris" When she was sure that she could no longer be seen, the girl stood up, keeping her balance as she leaned against the wall.

     "Where did she go?" Matt suddenly snapped, making Scott turn his attention towards the place his sister had once been. "Where did she go!"  Suddenly, the lights went out making Elaine glance up in confusion. Matt immediately grew frustrated. "What is this?" An alarm started blaring. "What is this? What is this? What's happening? What's going on?"

     "I don't know." Scott answered him. That's when a light from outside was pointed at the two boys and almost immediately gun shots starting to go off.