North Starr

45

As soon as Melanie entered the sheriff's station, she saw Derek and Argent. "Sheriff? You asked to see me?"

The sheriff nodded. "As you know, I saw the specialist in L.A. He told me the same thing every doctor says when they're trying to avoid a lawsuit. "We can't say for sure." Then, I spoke with Melissa. These are the brain scans. My wife's and Stiles'. I knew they were similar. But these are the same. Exactly the same."

Argent showed her the papers and as the sheriff said, they were identical. Derek met the sheriff's eyes. "And I'm guessing this isn't possible?"

Sheriff Stilinski shook his head. "Not even remotely."

Melanie frowned. "Okay, so clearly the trickster is still toying with us. But why this one?"

The sheriff sighed and met her eyes. "When I was in the Army, an officer told me, "If you want to defeat your enemy, you don't take away their courage. You take away their hope.""

Argent studied Sheriff Stilinski a moment. "You don't look like a man who gives up hope easily."

"But Stiles might. If this thing inside him, if it's using his mother's disease as some kind of psychological trick, then this isn't just a fight for his body. It's also a fight for his mind. Right?"

Argent frowned. "You know, he's left people severely injured."

"And several others dead," Derek stated bluntly.

Sheriff Stilinski looked to each of them. "That's why I need each and every one of you. I need people who are experienced in this kind of thing I need you to help me stop him."

"And by stop him, we're gonna trap him," Sheriff Stilinski said.

They made their way to the Argent penthouse so they could gather weapons. Once Allison had picked up a reasonable amount, she said, "This is everything non-lethal I could find."

"Take all of it. What's the plan here?"

Argent thought for a moment. "Our best shot right now is for Derek to try to pick up Stiles' scent at Eichen House. Especially if he went through something stressful there."

"Should all six of us be going to the same place?"

Argent turned to his daughter. "Where else has Stiles been showing up?"

"School, the hospital."

Derek frowned. "Okay, hold on. We did this already. He disappeared. We started looking for him. Then walked right into a trap at the hospital. He's getting us to repeat the same moves."

Allison let out a sigh. "So, what do we do? Wait for him to come to us?"

Melanie frowned and shook her head. "No. That's not going to work. We don't have time for that. There's a high risk that the Oni will find him when the sun goes down."

Sheriff Stilinski glanced at her. "Scott's working on them, the Oni, right now, with Kira."

Argent looked at each of them. "That's the problem. We're all trying to outfox the fox."

"Listen. I'll understand if anyone wants to back out."

Derek grabbed a weapon from the table. "I wouldn't be the first wolf to run from a fox."

Argent picked up a stun baton. "Apparently I'm carrying the lightsaber."

Melanie nodded. "We're taking this fox down. I'm getting my Stiles back."

Allison said to her father, "Dad, you and Derek hit Eichen House. Sheriff, you, me and Melanie will hit the hospital. We all meet in the school."

Allison, Melanie and the sheriff headed to the hospital and in the elevator, the sheriff turned to them and sighed. "You know what, I don't know how you guys do it. You're all so strong. You're fearless. Hell, you even manage to keep your grades up."

"I am failing Econ," Allison replied.

Melanie sighed. "My focus has been... basically nonexistent."

Sheriff Stilinski let out a soft sigh. "Isn't that Coach's class?" Allison nodded and he continued. "Well, I'll have a talk with him."

A breath escaped Allison's lips and Melanie turned to her. "What?"

As though the sheriff sensed something was wrong, he stopped the elevator. Allison began tearing up. "I'm not... Fearless." She began sobbing. "I'm always terrified. I... I act like I know what I'm doing, but I don't. I don't know if Isaac is dying right now. I don't know if I made a mistake with Scott. I don't know what my dad is thinking. I don't know if we should trust Derek. I don't know how Melanie stays so strong. I don't know... I don't know anything."

She sniffled and the sheriff hugged her. "You know what's funny? You sound just like a cop."

Melanie sighed. "Look. You know I'm not your biggest fan. But I'm afraid as well. It's okay to be scared."

She smiled and nodded. "Thanks, Melanie."

Sheriff Stilinski's phone caught their attention and Melanie asked, "What is it?"

His phone beeped and he looked at it. "Someone's breaking into my house. After Stiles started sleepwalking, I had some security precautions put in. Motion sensors. Cameras."

He clicked the camera and a room Melanie knew well appeared. "Is that his room?" Allison asked, glancing to see Melanie's nod.

Void was sitting on Stiles' bed looking directly into the camera and was waving.

"Oh no," Melanie muttered.

They made their way to his room as quickly as they could, and Argent looked at the sticky noted chess pieces. "What is all this? What are these sticky notes for?"

Sheriff gestured to the chessboard. "This is what Stiles used to try and explain to me about all of you."

"Cool. Maybe it's a message from Stiles. The real Stiles."

Derek noticed a particular chess piece. "You think there's any reason my name's on the king?"

Sheriff looked at the king Derek was holding. "Well, you're heavily guarded. Though, I guess the alarming detail is that you're one move from being in checkmate."

Melanie studied the board and came to a realization. "Wait a minute. This isn't Stiles' doing. This is a threat from the Nogitsune."

Allison nodded at what she was seeing. "She's right. He's at the loft. That's what he's trying to tell us. And he wants us to come there."

"Night's falling," Derek warned.

Melanie let out a frustrated sigh. "This seems like a trap."

Sheriff Stilinski glanced at her. "I don't think it is."

Argent turned to the sheriff. "I think your opinion might be slightly biased, Sheriff."

"Hear me out. What we're dealing with is basically someone who lacks motive. No rhyme, no reason, right?"

Melanie glanced at the sheriff. "Meaning?"

"It's a trickster," the sheriff answered. "The killing is just a by-product."

Derek took a moment to think. "If you're trying to say it won't kill us, I'm not feeling too confident about that."

"It won't. It wants irony. It wants to play a trick. It wants a joke. All we need to do is come up with a new punch line."

Melanie looked out the window. "We don't have much time. The sun's already setting. We need a plan. Like right now."

They made their way to the loft and Melanie stood next to the sheriff. Void turned and smiled sarcastically. "Hi, Dad."