Morningstar

30

The sheriff placed an X through Tracy's picture and said, "Chimeras."

Stiles shrugged. "Well, yeah, two dead Chimeras."

"And new eight ones," Luci said. "That's ten now."

Sheriff Stilinski didn't turn around, focused on his board and tacked up another picture. "I'm thinking 11." Luci glanced at Stiles to see him tensing up as his mouth opened. "The station tech guys confirmed something for me." He turned around. "They said both the holding cell lock and cameras could have malfunctioned because of something electromagnetic. You said that, uh, these guys..."

"Dread Doctors," Luci interrupted.

The sheriff frowned, turning to her. "Are we really calling them that?"

Luci nodded. "I rather like it. You're thinking they broke Donovan out?"

"It's how they got into Eichen, isn't it?"

"Donovan's a Chimera," Stiles said.

"Yeah. But is he a failure like Lucas and Tracy?"

"If he is, he's probably dead."

"Not until I've seen a body," Sheriff Stilinski replied as he studied his son. "You're uncharacteristically quiet."

Stiles locked eyes with his dad. "Yeah. Sorry... I'm, uh, I'm just trying to think about it. Uh... these are are all strangers, right? So, now shouldn't we be trying to figure out why these teenagers? If the Dread Doctors, if they went through all that... burying them, killing them, breaking one of them out of jail..."

"They couldn't have been chosen at random."

Luci shook her head and stood. She walked towards the board and looked at it. "There's something in common with them. There was something that made them right for this experiment."

They made their way to Scott's and Luci let out a sigh. "This will be quite the bore."

Lydia ignored her. "My mom's book club usually has more wine."

Luci smirked lightly. "I could get some libations to make this more enjoyable."

"I think we'll be okay."

Stiles let out a sarcastic chuckle. "Well, they also probably didn't read books that caused violent hallucinations."

"That's why Malia's here," Scott told him.

Kira frowned. "So none of us go running into traffic?"

"Or worse."

"Like what happened to Judy," Malia said. She noticed their confused looks. "Chapter 14."

Lydia grabbed the only actual book and looked at it. "Maybe I should have my mother read it. She might remember a girl with a tail leaping off the ceiling and attacking everyone."

Luci was handed a stack of papers and leafed through them.

Stiles muttered, "Yeah, if it works."

"It has to," Lydia replied.

"What does that mean?" Scott asked the strawberry blonde.

Lydia met his eyes. "I think I saw them during surgery. When I look at the cover of the book, it's almost like..."

"A memory trying to surface," Theo finished.

Stiles tensed up and Luci tilted her head as she looked at Stiles.

Lydia glanced at Theo and nodded. "Yeah."

"Isn't that what Valack wanted when he wrote it?" Kira questioned.

"If they did something to me, I want to know what it is."

Each of them, excluding Lydia, grabbed a stack of papers and scattered across the room. Malia, Luci and Stiles were on the couch. Scott and Kira were across from them, on the other couch. Theo and Lydia were both in a chair.

They started reading and after a few minutes, Luci yawned and studied everyone's expressions. Each person there seemed to look bored.

"Anyone feel anything yet?" Scott asked.

"I despise this book," Luci said. "It's such a bore."

"Tired," Kira replied, trying to keep her eyes open.

"Hungry," Lydia answered.

Theo gave a small smile. "I think he meant the book."

Luci tried reading again, but the book seemed to drone on even more.

Scott looked between Luci and Kira. "You two aren't giving up, are you?"

"Just resting my eyes," Kira told him.

Luci put her papers down and nodded. "Yes, I am."

Everyone eventually dispersed and Stiles remained a moment longer.

---

The next day at school, Scott looked between his friends. "We keep an eye out for each other today, okay?"

Stiles glanced at him. "Yes, and keep an eye out for eight other potentially homicidal Chimeras."

"And keep an eye out for the Dread Doctors," Kira added.

They separated and made their way to class.

In the midst of class, Scott began panicking.

Luci, who was keeping an eye on the teens, ran to Scott's side and tried calming him, but nothing she did worked.

Scott was sitting against the teacher's desk.

Luci shook Scott's shoulder a few times, but he still wasn't responding.

Liam appeared and showed his werewolf eyes and growled Scott's name.

Scott shook his inhaler and took a puff. "Thanks, Luci. Thanks, Liam."