𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬, i. lahey

𝟎𝟎𝟒. your house is haunted

SIDELINES

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EMERY CROSSES HER arms over her chest, craning her neck upwards to watch Scott and Allison scale up the rock climbing equipment. They seem to be having a conversation as they climb, and Emery smiles at them.

Her hair is loosely tied into a ponytail at the back of her head, a few strands framing the sides of her face. Her gym clothes consist of a pair of black leggings and a white tank top, while her tennis shoes complete the dull outfit.

Emery has spent the last few days trying to find ways to distract herself from the events of the night at the police station. The night of the full moon, where she witnessed Isaac shift into a werewolf and viciously attack the hunter — then trying to target both her and Stiles. Emery hasn't seen Isaac since then.

The Sheriff has labeled Isaac a fugitive for breaking out of jail while being held as a suspect in his father's murder, practically giving the department more reason to believe that he's the culprit. Derek seems to be hiding him well, though, because Emery cannot find any traces of where he might be. His absence makes the weight in her chest unbearable.

Meanwhile, as Allison tries to beat Scott to the top of the structure, the werewolf is already ahead of her. The brunette pauses before swiftly swiping his foot out from the climbing hold, and Scott plummets to the mat. Laughs echo through the large gym as he gasps at the sudden drop.

Coach sits down beside the boy, a delighted grin on his lips. "McCall, I don't know why, but your pain brings me a special kind of joy." Allison leaps down to the ground and unlatches the harness from her lower waist, Scott following her actions. "All right, next two!" Coach announces. "Stilinski, Erica. Let's go— the wall."

Stiles looks to Erica — a girl with long, light blonde hair, and big brown eyes — with a crooked smile, giving an encouraging nod to her as he rushes to the structure. Erica, however, stares up at it for another moment before beginning the climb.

Emery watches as Stiles ascends with ease, reaching the top within seconds. The sound of Erica's grunts catches Emery's attention, her frame being frozen in place at the middle of the grey wall. Stiles plops back onto the ground level just before ragged pants start to leave Erica's mouth. "Oh, please," her voice shakes with terror.

Coach rushes forward, along with many other students, and stands below the young girl with a perplexed expression across his features. "Erica," he calls. "Dizzy? Is it vertigo?"

Lydia gives the man an unimpressed look. "Vertigo's a dysfunction of the vestibular system of the inner ear," she states, gesturing to Erica with her palm. "She's just freaking out."

"Hey," Emery narrows her gaze at her friend. "Leave her alone, Lyds. She can't help it."

"Erica—!"

"I'm fine," Erica responds to Coach in a strained manner. Her body says differently, though, as her legs and arms tremble violently when she attempts to hold on to the handles.

Allison peers up at the scene with concern. "Coach, maybe it's not safe. You know she's epileptic."

Apparently, the man was not aware of this fact until Allison pointed it out. "W—Why doesn't anybody tell me this stuff?" He stammers, struggling to find the words to convince the girl to lower herself. "E—Erica, y—you're fine. Just kick off from the wall. There's a mat to catch you."