Tether ⌲ Stiles Stilinski [2]

twenty-three

CW: Void Stiles' behaviour is definitely non consensual at the end of this chapter, including some sexualized physical contact. There is no graphic detail or nudity, but it should be known that this behaviour still counts as SA. If you would like to skip past that, please carry on to the next chapter after Eleanor leaves Lydia in the art room.

I gave my statement about seeing Stiles' Jeep drive out of the lot to the young deputy who had escorted us home from Eichen House. The Sheriff called him Parrish when asking about the information, and after telling the exact same witness account to Stiles' father I gave them space. I called and updated both my father and Lydia. I exchanged parting words with Derek and Scott, who told me about what they found on the roof: evidence of someone purposefully tampering with the electrical supply.

Since the power surge, I had been running around the hospital with the same scattered ferocity as the cut powerline. Trying to stay on top of the mounting surge of panic and hysteria about what had transpired in a matter of hours. The first time I finally found a minute of rest was after enough hours had passed for the hospital to settle, leaving me alone in two waiting room chairs with my twin sister.

Allison had outright refused to leave Isaac's side since he had been wheeled into emergency care. He was still unresponsive, but Melissa had confirmed his status as stable before moving on to other electrocution patients. If it hadn't been for a confrontation with a doctor where she was one wrong move away from turning violent - which resulted in being locked out of visitation due to not being related to the patient - Allison would probably be lying with Isaac right now. Instead, she was resting her head on my shoulder.

Everything that had happened with Stiles made me feel helpless and hollow. I only started to feel a little whole again with her by my side. Leaning my own head down to rest gently on top of hers, we fell asleep.

I woke up later to a soft tap on my arm.

Blinking away the blurriness from my eyes, I stared up at Scott and his mom. I straightened up, the sudden movement causing Allison to rouse awake as well.

Immediately, I locked eyes with Scott and opened my mouth to speak. But he read the question on my lips before I even got the chance to ask. He was one step ahead of me and answered by solemnly shaking his head.

No Stiles. It had been nearly 12 hours.

"Have you been in to see him?" Melissa asked the two of us, nodding towards Isaac's hospital room.

"No," Allison muttered, sitting up with frustration.

Scott raised his eyebrows. "But you've been here all night."

"Yeah," she shrugged. "They won't let us see him because we're not family. I told them he doesn't have any."

"He's got us," Scott said with certainty. The two boys were definitely nowhere near as close as him and Stiles. But ever since they became a pack, they had formed their own sort of brotherly bond together.

Melissa ushered for us to get up, flashing a small white badge from the pocket of her scrubs. "And I've got a key card."

This seemed to bring a smile to Allison's face. But that same smile vanished the minute Melissa opened the doors for us.

Isaac was lying reclined on his hospital bed, hooked up to a breathing machine. Evidence of the accident was etched into his skin. Large, blackened patches of electrical burns stretched up the visible sections of his arm and neck. It scarred everywhere the water had made contact with him when he collapsed.

I had to blink hard again in order to stay steady. Stiles would've had no idea the damage he had caused, the pain he had inflicted. Two of the other electrocution patients had already succumbed to their injuries last night. By controlling the power surge and sending the wires loose, the Nogitsune had made Stiles responsible for murder. I clung to the fact that it wasn't a direct cause and effect. No one could have predicted the ambulance crashing into a fire hydrant and causing the hazard in the first place. But the mere possibility that Stiles had anything to do with it would destroy him. And the beast possessing him would enjoy it.