Old Scars, Future Hearts

44

Scott and Marika rode on his motorcycle to Eichen House and took off their helmets.

"Why didn't you tell me, Dmitri or Marika?" Scott asked.

Sheriff Stilinski sighed. "Because I wanted to avoid something like this."

Stiles looked between his friends. "It's only 72 hours."

Marika pointed aggressively at the building. "72 hours. In that place. Where Barrow came from. He had a tumor that exploded flies." She made an exploding motion with her hands and turned to the sheriff. "There's a lot you don't know yet."

Sheriff Stilinski glanced at them, mostly focused on Marika. "I know enough. Nogitsunes, kitsunes, Oni, or whatever they're called."

Stiles turned to his dad and said proudly, "Wow. That was actually all surprisingly correct."

"Scott, Marika, I saw an MRI that looked exactly like my wife's. And it terrifies me. I'm headed over to L.A. tomorrow to talk to a specialist."

Scott frowned. "Then why are you putting him in here?"

Stiles turned to his friend. "He's not. It was my decision."

Marika crossed her arms. "Yeah, well, it's a horribly stupid decision. You're really going to the place that a guy whose brain exploded flies came from?"

Scott glanced at his friend before turning back to their mutual friend. "Stiles, we can't help you if you're in there."

Stiles sighed. "And I can't hurt either of you."

Marika looked up at him. "We'll find something. Deaton's got some ideas, and Argent is calling people. We're gonna figure something out."

"If we can't-" Scott began.

Stiles shook his head, cutting his friend off. "If you can't... If you can't, then you have to do something for me, okay? Make sure I never get out. I know Marika can defend herself with her abilities, but watch out for her. Please. If I hear that even one hair on her head gets hurt, I will murder you. Then I'll bring you back and murder you again."

Stiles turned to Marika. "I know you're gonna figure out a way."

Marika nodded. "You can count on that. Dima, everyone else and I'll do our best."

He nodded and waved goodbye to her and Scott before he walked into Eichen House with his dad.

Marika let out a sigh and turned to Scott. "We need to get to the clinic. Deaton may have some ideas."

Scott handed her the other helmet and she placed it on her head. He revved the engine and Maggie wrapped her arms around his waist. He raced towards the Animal Clinic. When they got there, they saw that Deaton was on the phone with Argent, Dmitri and Allison waiting for them.

Allison noticed Marika's expression and asked, "Are you okay?"

Marika ignored the question. "What have you found?"

Deaton mentioned a scroll and Marika frowned. "Scroll?"

"A Shugendo scroll," Deaton replied. "The Shugendo were the ascetic mystics of Japan. The scroll had information on how to exorcise a Nogitsune."

"Where is it? Did someone buy it?"

Deaton nodded. "The man who last purchased it was named Kincaid."

Allison moved back next to Dmitri. "He was with Katashi. He's the guy who met with Isaac to buy the gun."

"Sounds like Katashi wanted the scroll for himself."

The group soon made their way to the Argent penthouse to meet with Ethan and Aiden. As soon as they were all inside, Allison said, "My father said all of Katashi's evidence is being moved to a Federal Lockup by armored car tonight. Probably within the next few hours."