Morningstar

12

Argent walked up to Luci. "You have to tell them someone jumped you and that you think one of them had a knife."

Luci frowned. "That's lying, and I'm not a liar. I'll figure something out. I'm good at that."

"I've noticed."

---

At the sheriff station, Parrish looked at Luci and asked, "What happened?"

Luci met his eyes. "We were attacked, and my father let an innocent girl die."

"Anything else you can tell me?"

"I doubt you would believe me, Deputy."

"I'll take that as a no. Thank you."

Luci left the station and made her way to the Animal Clinic.

She stumbled, feeling a strange rush, and ran to the clinic.

When she got there, she noticed that Stiles had arrived and ran to help him.

Kira and Luci walked in, both supporting Stiles, and Lydia stumbled slightly, so Scott rushed to support her.

Lydia looked up at them. "Something's happening. I had this sudden rushing feeling, like we're running out of time."

Luci nodded. "I got that same feeling."

They made their way into the operating room and Stiles said, "Yeah. Yeah, I kind of got that feeling, too."

After a moment of trying to catch her breath, Luci asked, "Where to?"

"The school," Scott answered.

Once again, they climbed into the Jeep and drove to the school. Stiles climbed out and stumbled to a railing and Lydia ran towards him. Stiles turned slowly to face his friends and Luci and said, "Scott, hold on. I know what you're all thinking. If this works, it might kill me too. But even if it does, you have to go through with it. Stick with the plan, okay?"

Luci shrugged. "I've had plans smarter than yours that have failed, so I say we try to make this one succeed."

Scott nodded. "The plan is to save you. That's the plan I'm going with."

They walked to the front door and Scott opened it. Luci exhaled, preparing to see the lockers and instead, saw snow. "What in Dad's name?"

Scott frowned. "Oh, this is definitely not part of the plan."

They stood near each other as they observed their surroundings. A bandaged soldier wearing an old bomber jacket appeared. Luci moved to stand in front of Stiles and Lydia.

The Oni materialized before them and Luci stared daggers at them.

One Oni came close to Luci and she kicked at it, causing it to stumble. The Nogitsune stepped closer to them. "Like I promised, Stiles, we're going to kill all of them. One by one."

Scott's voice took on an angry tone. "What the hell is this? Where are we?"

"Between life and death."

"Bardo," Lydia stated.

Luci's eyes narrowed further as the Nogitsune continued. "But there are no peaceful deities here, Lydia. You're dying, Stiles. And now everyone you care about is dying, too." He looked at Luci. "It seems one isn't."

Stiles frowned. "What? What do you mean?"

A smirk grew on the Nogitsune's face. "I've captured almost all the territories on the board, Stiles. The hospital. The sheriff's station. And now the Animal Clinic."