UP IN FLAMES ➳ S. STILINSKI [02]

[18]

Sneaking Deaton inside the School was easier now that the day was over - I mean, he didn't exactly look High School age but this was an emergency, if there was any way we could save this teacher then we needed all the help we could get.

"Why is it that they always disappear in some creepy sort of way?" My head fell into my hands as Deaton listened to a recording on the teachers phone. Loud and incoherent chants sounded from the speaker and I winced with anxiety. "That doesn't sound good"

"It's not" Deaton shook his head and handed the phone back to Lydia.

"So do we have any information that might help us?" Raiding through the Teacher's drawers, Stiles turned to look at Deaton. He was right, if the three-fold death meant that all of the sacrifices were in groups of three, then this was different to virgins. This one and the guy who was taken outside the Vet must have something in common.

"Yeah, maybe then we would be able to stop any future sacrifices from happening, if we knew what was being taken" My head nodded to him, hoping for some answers.

"Each grouping of three has it's own individual purposes, it's own type of power. Virgins, Healers, Philosopher's, Warriors..."

Lydia pulled her lips together. "We've already had Virgins, so what does this fit into?"

Scanning around the desk, I shuffled the papers with my hands beside Stiles as we tried to find out what category this Human Sacrifice fitted into - then we would know what to look for next time. "I can't see anything important"

"Hold on" He opened the desk and pulled out a picture. "Could a warrior also mean a Soldier?"

"Yes, absolutely"

Showing us the picture, I nodded my head. It was of him and his wife on their wedding day, she looked beautiful - he was dressed to the nines in his military uniform.

"Oh god" He continued as he placed the picture back down on the desk. "Kyle was in the ROTC with Boyd"

"Warriors" I breathed out. "What - do you think Boyd is next?"

Grabbing his phone out of his pocket, Stiles nodded and dialled a number. "Maybe, I mean - there's not very many people we know with a Military connection"

"Wait" Lydia said.

"Something wrong?" Deaton turned to her and Stiles clicked his phone shut and walked over. "Lydia, what are you thinking?"

"It's nothing" Her head shook. "I mean, I was thinking that there's somebody else with a Military connection here, at the School"

"Who?"

"Mr Harris" She pulled her lip between her teeth anxiously. "He was a Cadet - that's Military, right?"

"Okay" I said to myself. "You all go and make sure Boyd is safe, I'll go see if Harris is here - it's after school hours, he could be at home already. But make sure Boyd is safe"

Stiles nodded at me before walking over and kissing me gently. "Be safe alright?"

"Always" I placed my hand on his face and nodded. "For you"

"I..." He muttered, shaking his head and stifling a smile. "..I will be back soon - I promise"

"And I will be right where you left me - I promise" Kissing him again, I pulled away and grabbed my backpack from the classroom desk and nodded towards the door. "Now go, we don't have much time"

My feet sped down the school hallways faster than they ever had before, which was saying something considering the amount of times I've been late to class. Swinging around the door of the Chemistry department, my eyes scanned back and forth over the doors to find the one stated Mr Harris.

"Finally!" I bolted into the classroom and instantly sighed out in disappointment. It was completely empty, not any sign of life anywhere - he must have went home for the day.

Running a hand through my hair, I turned to walk out of the classroom and hoped Lydia and Stiles hadn't left yet. I stepped into the hallway and stood for a moment, then taking a step backwards into the class - my heart gently sinking into my stomach. The lights were still on.

Why would the lights be still on?

"Mr Harris?" I called out and walked over to his desk, standing around beside the chair and inspecting further. His bag and jacket came into view instantly and my hand flew to my face, kneeling down beside them and thinking for a moment.

Perhaps he was just in the toilet?

Rising slowly, my eyes scanned his desk - he was grading papers. There didn't seem to be any kind of a struggle here, so maybe he was just away and would come back soon. My fingers grazed over the essays on the table.

'The Act of Altruism' My mouth quoted the paper in front of me and as I read the titles my finger froze on the end paper. Speaking aloud, I shook my head slowly.

"Not yet, Girl on Fire" The paper itself was about Chemistry Theorems - it didn't seem like the most fitting title but instead spoke directly to me, it seemed.

Before I could think any further, a loud roar echoed down the hall making my head snap up and into action - it sounded supernatural, and scary. Tearing away from the desk and down the hall, I quickly located where the sound was coming from.

My feet powered me down the stairs and I was met by Scott and Isaac who looked terrified, Scott turned to me to speak but was shoved out the way by a giant monstrosity and straight into a locker. Isaac stepped towards me but was grabbed by his neck and flown back, sliding straight down the hallway.

"What the.." I muttered out before charging towards the beast, landing a good punch on it's stomach before it grabbed me by the throat and shoved me to the ground beside Isaac. He quickly pulled me behind him and took a defensive stance before it could attack again.

Click, click, click, click 

We all turned in the direction of the unfamiliar noise and I squinted at the man walking towards us, wielding a walking cane and blacked out glasses - he was blind.

Silently, we stood and watched as he carefully made his way over to the monster and stood as it convulsed itself and I gawked as Ethan and Aiden appeared from either side. Gently taking off the top of his cane and revealing a small blade, he swiped the side of their face with it as some sort of punishment it seemed. And then, without turning back, they all walked towards the exit and left.

Waiting for a moment, I shook my head. "What the hell?"

"Who was that?" Isaac spoke from in front of me.

"It's Deucalion - it has to be, he's the leader of the pack" Scott nodded in disbelief.

"Right" I said, sort of still in a daze. "He's blind"

"He is"

"Well then.." I pulled my lips together. "Taking him down should be easy"