Tethered // Teen Wolf // Isaac Lahey

FORTY-THREE

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KOREY

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[THE THIRD DOOR]

"So, where are you and Pais running today?" Archie sat beside me, his fingers tapping away on the table in time with an old Soul song.

"Uh," I stuffed my face with pancakes, the sugary goodness somehow light and perfect, so unlike anyone else's, "the lake probably."

"Always the lake with you two," Archie rolled his eyes, "why not head to the park—"

"Ah, yes, hello, unsuspecting humans, don't mind us running past you at a pace that is beyond humanly possible," I snorted, biting into a pancake.

"Alright, fair enough," Archie laughed easily, "what about one of the hiking trails—"

"Too high," my voice came out muffled by the amount of pancake in my mouth, "also, Paisley hates snakes and spiders."

"And hiking trails are full of those," Archie groaned, "fine, the lake it is— again!" He dipped his finger into my plate, taking a bit of syrup and sticking it in his mouth before he gagged playfully. "Still disgusting."

"Yeah, yeah," I rolled my eyes as my phone dinged, "that's Paisley's sound. She's probably already at the lake. I'll see you at lunch?"

"Of course," Archie rose with me, his eyes wrinkling at the sides as he smiled, "I'm making your favourite, chicken burgers, so you better be on time."

"Well, with that kind of bribery, I might just decide to stay here," I laughed, sticking my hands into my hoodie pocket.

"Wouldn't that just be a dream," Archie sighed wistfully, "Korey?" 

I looked back at Archie, my smile wide, "Yeah, what's up?"

His face, tender and soft, his eyes warm and his smile dimpled and oh, so familiar. He watched me with such a gentle sadness that it dared to seep through him and into my veins even though I had no idea why.

"What's wrong?" My smile fell into a frown, "Are you okay?"

"Korey," Archie whispered, "You're strong, you know that, right?"

My heart slammed against my ribs painfully, knocking some of the air out of me, "What?"

Archie nodded slowly as if confirming something to himself, "You're going to do amazing things one day. You're a smart kid, you're funny... you're tough. I'm so, so proud of you, alright?"

I swallowed the lump that formed in the back of my throat, confusion covering my head. He was acting so weird this morning. "Alright, sure." I tried to take a step towards him, but I couldn't seem to move, "What's going on?"

"Korey," Archie's smile weakened as his throat bobbed, his eyes bright and watery, "you have to go."

A sharp pain shot through my head, almost like an arrow had pierced through it, and I hissed, my hand flying up to my temple. "Huh? What are you talking about? Go where?"

"You have to go, Korey," Archie repeated himself, his arms rising up to wrap around himself, as if that was the only embrace he had available to him. "You need to go."