UP IN FLAMES ➳ S. STILINSKI [02]

[21]

The sound of kindling wood made my eyes prise open in shock, smoke filled the air around me and as I scanned my surroundings it was apparent I was in the Beacon Hills Reserve, not the abandoned Mall I was in only a few seconds ago. Or what felt like seconds.

It was Dusk, I thought.

Sitting up and trying to catch my baring, my gaze wandered down to my stomach, expecting to see a large gash where the wood had went through me, but instead there was no trace of it at all, almost as if it had never happened.

Fire.

I could smell it before I saw the amber hazes flickering off nearby trees and as I slowly stood to my feet the scent of burning flesh fell over me like a ton of bricks. Stepping towards the roaring fire, my hand flew to my mouth when I saw it was indeed a body

An arrow was lodged deep into her chest, but that wasn't her cause of death. The flames that soared out of her was what finished her off, her red hair blending in with the scene and green eyes open in shock, staring back at me.

Like looking in a mirror.

And as the mirror smashed and my view became distorted, I closed my eyes and fell backwards, suddenly blinded by the light.

"Ashylnn!!"

Landing on hard, cold metal brought me back to earth and my eyes snapped open. Deaton stood over me yelling my name, he was alone.

"You're awake" He stood back as I pulled my heavy hand up to my face and wiped my forehead, bringing it back and holding it up to my face - it was covered in soot and ash.

"What.." My lips were moving but I couldn't hear what was coming out, I attempted to sit up but Deaton had to gran my arms and help me, my body felt so heavy, too heavy.

"You're alright, you're safe" His eyes cast down to my body, my gaze following his own.

My clothes were completely charred and there was no traces of the gash that almost killed me, absolutely none at all.

I snapped back up. "What happened? Where's Isaac and Scott? Are they okay?"

"Yes" He leant against the metal trays that were in his clinic. "They are alright"

"Well where are they?" I was still feeling slightly woozy, otherwise I would have jumped off the table and went looking for them. "Do they know where I am?"

"What do you remember?"

"Um" I started. "We were all there fighting the alpha's, it was hard, they're strong. Isaac was unconscious I think. He was going to be stabbed and then.." My head shook as I remembered what happened. "I got in the way and was stabbed instead, right? He wasn't stabbed, was he?"

Deaton stood for a moment before shifting awkwardly and walking over to his table, grabbing a book and bringing it beside me, flipping the pages.

"Ashylnn, I want you to prepare yourself"

"Oh god" My head fell into my hands. "Someone died didn't they? It was Scott, or Isaac. Heck, even if it was Derek I would still be sad" I looked up at him and nodded. "Tell me"

His face fell flat. "You were seriously hurt, I had to take you here and heal you myself. They think that you went home and are safe. I texted Scott from your phone because I didn't think you'd want him to see you"

"Okay, that's not so bad. Is everyone else safe?"

He hesitated for a moment before answering. "Yes"

"Lying isn't a good look on you Deaton" My head shook. "Just tell me Isaac and Scott are safe"

"They're safe. They are on the way home from the Cross Country Trip with your School I believe"

"What?" I scrunched my eyebrows together, there was no way he was telling the truth. "That trip is tomorrow morning"

"You've been out for some time Ashylnn"

"How long?"

"Perhaps just shy of two days, it's almost dark now. I'll be honest I was afraid for your life at a few points but I'm glad you're okay now"

I jumped off the bench and turned to him. "Why didn't you tell them that I was here? What if I had died?!"

He remained calm. "You sacrificed yourself for Isaac, if it wasn't for you then he would probably be dead by now. But you didn't die, which is why I brought you here rather than home. I think that what happened to you was somewhat extraordinary"

I raised my eyebrows. "Extraordinary?"

"Supernatural" He confirmed. "I have my suspicions"

"Care to explain?"

"I can't, not yet. I need to take a few days out of town and meet with an old friend, and then I can give you all the answers you desire. But for now I think it's best if we keep this ordeal to ourselves, until we can explain what happened" My brain was whirring at a hundred miles an hour, I honestly didn't believe him.

"Okay" I breathed out. "But I'll be alright? I'm not going to suddenly die or anything?"

"No" He chuckled. "Quite the opposite"

"Comforting"

"But for now you should go home and change, get some proper rest. I'll contact you when I return and then we will have a chat, I promise. I'll try and give you all the answers you're looking for"

"Right" My lips pressed together, this was surreal. "Anything else?"

"Just one question. Did you see anything, or anyone whilst you were out?"

"Um" I shook my head before remembering the dream that felt so real, but it couldn't have been. "I was in the reserve, there was a huge fire. Someone was on fire"

His eyes narrowed. "Who?"

A shaky breath escaped my lips. "Me. It was me on fire, I think"

"Is that all?"

He seemed more unfazed than I was comfortable with.

"I think so, I didn't see anything else. But it felt so incredibly real like I was actually there, and I could feel the heat from the flames and smell the charred flesh. It couldn't have been real"

"If there's one thing I've learned about living here is to never get comfortable. Always expect the unexpected. This time is no different"

I nodded slowly, not quite understanding what he meant. My hand held onto what was left of my shirt, hugging the blanket I had been given closer around my shoulders. "My clothes, they're burned"

"That would make sense" He spoke calmly and softly.

I cocked my head. "And why would that be?"

"Well" He paused. "When I found you, you were on fire"

And in that very moment, my world was set alight.