CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX:
PHOSPHORS

SHE HAD BANDAGE WRAPPED AROUND her torso after being forced to go to the hospital by her brother, even though she could heal herself. But when she remembered the black veins, she had been quick to tell them she would wrap up her stomach and take pain medication. Now, they all―︎Scott, Elaine, Stiles, Lydia, and Kira―︎sat in the sheriff's office where Elaine and Scott's dad stood interrogating them with Noah sitting in his chair and watching.

     "So when did you get there?" Rafael asked.

     "At the same time." Stiles was the one to answer. Elaine held her boyfriend's hand, interlacing their fingers as she stared blankly at the ground.

     "At the same time as who?"

     "At the same time as us." Scott answered, nodding towards Elaine who barely glanced up at the mention of her name.

     "By coincidence?"

     Stiles frowned. "What do you mean coincidence?"

     "That's what I'm asking you. The three of you arrived at the same time. Was that coincidence?"

     "Are you asking me?" Scott frowned.

     "I think he's asking me." Stiles shook his head. Elaine couldn't help the amused smirk that made it's way onto her face.

     "I think he's asking both of you." Lydia piped up.

     "Okay, let me answer the questions." Rafael said.

     "Only if we get to ask them." Elaine finally said, her smirk growing wider as she looked at her father.

     "Let me ask the questions." Rafael corrected himself. Stiles pointed at him and winked whilst Elaine had to keep herself from laughing. "Just so I have this absolutely clear. Barrow was hiding in the chemistry closet at the school. Someone left him a coded message on the blackboard telling him to kill Kira. Then Barrow took Kira to a power substation and tied her up with the intent of electrocuting her, which blacked out the entire town."

     Stiles nodded his head. "Sounds about right."

     "How did you know he'd take her to a power station?"

     "Well, 'cause he was an electrical engineer. So where else would he take her?"

     "That's one hell of a deduction, Stiles." Rafael told him.

     Stiles smiled. "Yeah, what can I say? I take after my pops. He's in law enforcement." He smiled at his father who laughed, causing Rafael to look at him making Noah quickly cover it up with a cough.

     "Stiles, just, uh. . . just answer the man." Noah quickly covered up.

     "We made a good guess." Stiles shrugged.

     "What were the two of you doing?" Rafael questioned, looking at Kira and Scott.

     "Eating Sushi." Kira answered whilst at the same time Scott said, "Eating Pizza." They looked at each other before switching answers before sighing and saying at the same time, "Eating sushi and pizza." Elaine snorted, covering a hand with her mouth whilst Scott narrowed his eyes at her.

     "You believe this?" Rafael looked at Noah.

     Noah waved. "To be honest, I haven't believed a word Stiles has said since he learned how to speak." Stiles pursed his lips and nodded his head at this. "But I think these kids found themselves in the right place at the right time and that girl sitting there is very lucky for it."

     "Kira, is this how you remember it?" Rafael turned to look at the girl. Kira turned her head to look at them, causing the four to lean forward and look at her, silently telling her to save their asses.

     She nodded her head. "Yes. Could I get my phone back now?"

     Rafael shook his head. "Sorry, but no." He grabbed the phone before standing up and walking out the room with the teenagers following after him. He handed Kira's phone to a deputy before turning his head to look at the girl. "Kira, a deputy is going to take you home. But we'll need you to fill out some paperwork first." Kira turned to look at Elaine and Scott who both gave her a small smile before she was escorted away.

     Elaine and Scott went to walk away, only to stop when their father called their names. "Scott, Elaine." They stopped and turned to look at him. "I don't know why you guys are lying. Or why Stilinski is content to listen to this crap. But try and remember something. If half this story about Barrow is true, then not only did someone help set him loose, but he was a pawn in their little game. A mass murderer is bad enough. A mass murderer being controlled by someone? Far worse."

     Scott nodded. "Yeah, we get it."

     "Alright. Go home. It's a school night."

Elaine had to refrain herself from rolling her eyes as her brother grabbed her hand and dragged her away. The next day at school, coach was yelling down the hallways with a megaphone about how class started in five minutes. Claiming that just because there wasn't any power, that didn't mean they weren't going to have any school. Elaine grabbed her things before joining Stiles at his locker.

     "Hey, babe, did you put these in my locker?" Stiles asked, showing her a key.

     "Not that I recall." Elaine shook her head before they heard the doors to the school open only to find Scott standing there, looking at Kira who was quick to turn around and walk away. Scott went to go after her but Stiles was quick to grab onto him.

     "No. No. Stop. Stop." Stiles quickly told him.

     "What? I need to talk to her." Scott frowned, looking in the direction Kira was. She was standing at her locker, and Elaine and Stiles wasn't going to let the boy ruin this for himself.

     "No, you need to remember someone left a coded message telling Barrow to kill her."

     "Which is why I need to talk to her." Scott insisted.

     Stiles took an intake of breath. "Scott, no way. Until we figure out if she's just another psychotic monster that's going to start murdering everybody, I vote against any and all interaction." Elaine slapped Stiles on the arm, making him jump in surprise at the sudden stinging on his skin. She gave him a look.

     "What if she's like me?" Scott shot back.

     "That girl walked through 1.2 jigawatts of electricity. She's not like you or Elaine, because Elaine still managed to get burned." Stiles pointed out before looking towards Elaine. "How's that healing by the way?"

     "I haven't had the chance to heal it myself, so it hurts like a bitch." Elaine answered with a sarcastic smile. Stiles closed his locker before the two watched as Scott walked away. Stiles then took a second to look down at the key once more before putting it in his pocket and wrapping an arm around Elaine's shoulders as they went to class.

Later that night, they were pulling off a phone heist. Kira had to get her phone back for a reason unknown to Elaine and Stiles, but nonetheless the two offered to help, and now they sat in Stiles' jeep, watching as Scott pulled up with Kira on his bike. The two got off before making their way over towards the jeep. Stiles held three cards in his hands.

     "Okay, this one will get you into all the perimeter doors, this one into the evidence room, and this one's for my father's office." Stiles explained as he handed the cards to Scott.

     "You didn't steal these, did you?" Scott frowned.

     "No." Stiles shook his head. "El and I cloned them using the RFID emulator."

     Scott furrowed his eyebrows. "Is that worse than stealing?"

     Stiles hesitated for a moment. "It's smarter."

     "Scott, can I ask you something?" Kira asked, moving away from the jeep with Scott following suit.

     Stiles narrowed his eyes in disbelief before saying, "Okay, I'll just. . ." He trailed off and looked towards Elaine who was watching Scott and Kira with a gentle smile pulling at her lips. The two then walked back over to the jeep.

     "Okay." Kira breathed.

     Stiles nodded. "Okay. So, now almost everybody's out dealing with the blackout. But there's always somebody at the front desk. There's dispatch and usually a night shifter or two. You guys are gonna use the service door entrance by the dumpster. Alright? Nobody uses it. Now, El or I will text you if anyone comes out. But, Scott, if you get caught, I can't help you. My dad's under investigation for an impeachment because of your dad, so, if anything happens I will run and leave you both for dead."

     "I could knock a few people out if needed." Elaine shrugged. "But from being in pain, my magic has been a little wacky."

     "Got it." Scott nodded before looking at Stiles. "Thanks. Seriously, dude."

     "I'd ask my dad, but you know. . ."

     "No, I know. I get it."

     "Alright, just, uh, just hurry up." And then, the two were off. Elaine sat there, wincing as a pain shot through her stomach, causing Stiles to quickly glance at her. She clenched her jaw, waiting for the pain to pass before a softly sighing. "Those healing abilities in the woods not come back yet?"

     Elaine glanced at him before shaking her head. "Nope. I'll treat it when we get back. It's just uncomfortable, that's all." He offered her a small smile before grabbing her hand and giving it a squeeze whilst he used the other hand to flip his car keys. He stopped for a moment, looking at the key he had found in his locker earlier. Elaine suddenly slapped his arm, grabbing his attention. Her dad had just pulled up.

     "Ah, hell." Stiles muttered before pulling out his phone, quickly texting Scott. "Come on, Scott. Okay, I'm so going to regret this."

     "What are you doing?" Elaine quickly asked, watching as Stiles started getting out of the car.

     "Causing a distraction." Stiles answered. Elaine looked at him before letting out a huff and getting out of the car as well. They were quick to run inside after her dad. Stiles quickly ran in front of him. "Hey, hey, wow! Thank God you're here. Oh, boy! Thank the lord."

     "What do you want, Stiles?" Rafael questioned, glancing towards Elaine who stood there with raised eyebrows as she looked at her boyfriend.

     He stuttered before managing to form words. "I was just. . . I was thinking on the case. I was thinking I should clue you in on my thinking. Here's my thinking. I was thinking this. . ." He snapped his fingers. "I was thinking, that Barrow, right. . . Barrow received the information about who to kill at the school, right, you know that? So I was thinking maybe the person who gave him that information, check this out, might actually be someone at the school." He poked Rafael in the chest twice. "And that's, uh, that's my thinking."

     "Hmm." Rafael nodded. "You're right."

     This took them both by surprise. "I am?" Whilst at the same time Elaine said, "He is?"

     "Yep. We, uh, we started looking for links between Barrow, faculty and students last night." Rafael admitted.

     "So you already, then, know that stuff?"

     "Mhm." Rafael nodded again.

     "You already thought of that."

     "Your dad did." Rafael corrected.

     "Oh."

     "His one useful suggestion." He used his card to unlock the door, but Stiles moved in front of him again, this time with narrowed eyes.

     "You know, this attitude that you have towards my dad? You can dress it up to all the professional disapproval that you want. But I know the real reason why you don't like him."

     Rafael chuckles. "Is that so?"

     "Yeah. Because he knows something that you don't want him to know." Stiles answered, and Elaine couldn't help but frown slightly at this. Rafael went to move, but Stiles stopped him again. "And guess what. I know it too."

     "Go home, Stiles." Rafael told him. "There's a. . . there's a curfew." He clears his throat before using his card again and opening the door. Elaine looked at her boyfriend with a small frown, noticing his clenched jaw before she held out her hand and he walked forward, taking it and interlacing their fingers as they walked out. They stood outside of the jeep and Elaine looked at him for a moment.

     "I'm not going to ask you to talk about it, because it isn't any of my business." Elaine softly told him, before lifting a hand up to his cheek, making the boy turn his head to look at her. "But I'm here if you want to talk about it."

     "I know." He nodded before leaning forward and giving her a quick kiss. They turned their heads, watching as Kira and Scott quickly ran towards them.

     Scott had a smile of triumph on his face. "We did it. All the pics deleted."

     "That was awesome!" Kira laughed, earning an amused smirk from Elaine. "I mean, terrifying. Completely terrifying. . . but kind of awesome. I've never done anything like that before. Have you?" The three exchanged looks with one another.

     "Yeah, once or twice." Stiles nodded.

     Kira hummed in response. Scott stuffed his hands in his jacket pockets before looking at Kira and saying, "So, I guess I should take you home." Kira nodded, though she looked almost sad that their little adventure was over. Scott looked at Elaine. "See you tonight?"

     "We'll see." Elaine sighed before the group went their separate ways with Elaine and Stiles getting in the jeep and Kira and Scott getting on the motorcycle before both vehicles headed towards the direction of Derek's loft in which Danny's party was to take place.

      "I'm not a big fan of parties." Elaine told him.

     "We won't stay too long." Stiles promised her. Scott and Kira stood beside them, and Stiles started explain to Scott about the key he had found in his locker that morning. Elaine looked at the crowd in amazement, smiling at the colorful people that were happily dancing. She looked down and chuckled as her light purple shirt started glowing in the light.

     "Want to leave so we can figure out?" Scott had asked, looking at Stiles. Stiles then looked towards Elaine who met his eyes before shrugging, a smile on her lips.

     "It can wait." Stiles nodded before allowing Elaine to take his hand and pull him in the crowd. The two dance with one another, and Elaine had to admit that she felt almost free. Stiles couldn't help but smile himself at seeing the girl so happy. So they danced for what felt like hours until they both got tired and decided to sit down. Elaine held two drinks in her hand, handing one to Stiles.

     "Bottle opener?" Elaine requested, holding out her hand. Stiles pulled out his keys and handed it to her. Just as she was about to open the drink, her eyes fell on the unknown key once more. She frowned, holding it up in the UV. "Phosphors." She mumbled.

     "What?" Stiles asked, frowning.

     "The key has phosphors on it." Elaine answered him.

     "What does that mean?"

     Elaine thought for a minute before realization suddenly dawned on her. "Stiles, I think I know what this key is for." She stood up and Stiles didn't hesitate to follow her. She grabbed his hand so that she wouldn't lose him in the crowd, making her way out of the party and towards Stiles' jeep. "Go to the school." Stiles did as he was told. Morning started to crack as they pulled up at the school.

They made it inside and Elaine quickly ran down the halls with Stiles following her closely. They entered the biology room―︎the room in which they had discovered Kira's name on the board. She stood in front of the closet before looking at Stiles, swallowing thickly before taking the key and inserting it into the lock. It was a perfect fit. She twisted it, listening as the door unlocked before she pushed it open. The two stood there in shock.

     "Stiles. . . why do you have a key to the chemical room?" Elaine whispered. He didn't answer and instead he turned his attention towards the blackboard. He walked over to it, and Elaine followed him. She watched as she picked up a piece of chalk and wrote down the exact same numbers as before. And when he took a step back, they both realized that the handwriting was completely identical.