Old Scars, Future Hearts

01

Scott was getting ready for bed. As he laced up his lacrosse stick, he heard an odd sound. He grabbed a wooden bat and made his way outside.

Stiles Stilinski dangled from the roof, causing Scott to scream.

"Stiles, what the hell are you doing?!" Scott cried.

"You weren't answering your phone," Stiles replied. "Why do you have a bat?"

"I thought you were a predator."

"A pre -- I -- wha -- look, I know it's late, but you gotta hear this. I saw my dad leave 20 minutes ago. Dispatch called. They're bringing in every officer from the Beacon Department, and even State Police."

"For what?"

"Two joggers found a body in the woods."

"A dead body?"

"No, a body of water. Yes, dumbass, a dead body."

"You mean like murdered?"

"Nobody knows yes. Just that it was a girl, probably in her late 20s."

"Hold on, if they found the body, then what are they looking for?"

"That's the best part. They only found half. We're going."

---

Scott let out an annoyed sigh as they reached the Beacon Hills Preserve. "We're seriously doing this?"

"You're the one always bitching that nothing ever happens in this town," Stiles shot back.

"I was trying to get a good night's sleep before practice tomorrow," Scott said.

"Right, 'cause sitting on the bed is such a grueling effort," Stiles replied sarcastically.

"No, because I'm playing this year. In fact, I'm making first line."

"Hey, that's the spirit. Everyone should have a dream, even a pathetically unrealistic one."

"Just out of curiosity, which half of the body are we looking for?"

"Huh! I didn't even think about that."

"And, uh, what if whoever killed the body is still out there?"

"Also something I didn't think about."

"It's comforting to know you've planned this out with your usual attention to detail."

"I know." He turned to see a boy and a girl. "Who are you?"

"Dmitri and Marika Caldwell," Dmitri said.

"Oh, you're the two staying with me and my dad."

Marika nodded. "Yes. What's going on? Dima and I saw police cars flying past."

"Dima?" Scott said with a frown.

"Her nickname for me," Dmitri replied.

"Oh. Uh, apparently some joggers found half a body in the woods, and-"

"We're going to check it out," Stiles finished. "Do you guys want to come?"

Dmitri and Marika exchanged a look before the latter said, "Yeah, I guess."

"Maybe the severe asthmatic should be the one holding the flashlight, huh?" Scott suggested, pausing.

"Wait, come on!" Stiles cried.

"Stiles! Wait up! Stiles! Stiles!"

"Hold it right there!" a cop demanded.

"Hang on, hang on. This little delinquent belongs to me," Sheriff Stilinski said, grabbing Stiles' collar. "And you two must be Dmitri and Marika? I was told you'd be arriving today."