UP IN FLAMES ➳ S. STILINSKI [02]

[11]

With my bow secured firmly on my back and my arrow sheath safely on my hip, I straightened myself up and looked at Scott and Derek. We were stood outside of the Bank, silence surrounded us and the alleyway we were standing in was creepier than I had imagined. "Any final thoughts before we do this thing?"

Turning to me and nodding, Scott pulled his lips together. "Nothing I want to voice out loud"

"Could we just get in and out without any speaking" Derek asked but it didn't sound as if it was a question. I could tell he was nervous about Erica and Boyd, a lot more than Scott and I were. "I've said it before and I'll say it again - if any of you want to back out, now is the time. I'm fine with risking my life for them, and if you're not - I won't judge"

Scott shook his head and I nodded, shrugging my shoulders. "I've risked my life many times before, all be it I'm usually on the killing side of the werewolves but how different can it be? We're both in Derek, we're ready and we will get them out alive"

Blowing out a breath, he nodded at us and made his way up the fire escape.

I went to follow him but Scott grabbed my hand, pulling me towards him and raising his eyebrows. "Was that real?"

"Was what real?" I whispered back.

"What you just said"

Thinking for a moment, I nodded. "Yes, it was - I didn't care for Boyd and Erica, they were awful to us. But, they were scared and probably are now too - it's only right that we do whatever we can to help them because I'm sure if it was the other way around then Derek and them would do the same for us" I paused, cocking my head to the side. "At least, I hope anyway"

A grin spread across his face and he squeezed my arm. "I'm proud of you"

"Proud of me for doing what? It's the right thing" I shook my head at him.

"A few months ago you would never have agreed to this, you would say to leave them or worse, kill them. Now look at you - risking your life for two werewolves, it's nice to see you grow, especially with Stiles, he's good for you"

A smile crept over my features, he was right. "You're all good for me"

"I know"

"Are you guys going to join me or are you gonna sit down there all night and talk about your feelings? This isn't a sleepover!" We both snapped up to see Derek staring down at us from the roof disapprovingly.

"Sorry" I mouthed, rolling my eyes and making my way up the steep ladders with Scott behind me. Standing up on the roof, something was different but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. It all looked the same as when Allison and I came up here but it was as if something had changed.

"Ashlynn?" Derek pulled me out of my daze.

"Yeah? Sorry" I shook my head and turned my attention to him.

"Where was the way in?"

"Oh, it was over here.." Trailing off, I walked over to where we had found it and pointed to the small grate in the floor that was now fully lit up. "That's the one"

"And it leads down into the Bank?" Scott kneeled down beside it, trying to listen for something, I think.

"That's what the plans say, I personally have no clue" My shoulders shrugged and I realised there was a lot more riding on me than I had realised.