Whispered promises

Chapter 68

"You okay?" I asked, leaning against Scott's bedroom door, concern etched on my face. His recent brush with death had left us all on edge, and I wanted to check up on him.
"Yeah, actually, I have to go back to the hospital. They want to do a bunch of tests since I was kind of officially dead," Scott replied, his voice tinged with exhaustion. The events had taken a toll on him, physically and emotionally.

"I guess Liam's dad has a lot of questions," I said, understanding the gravity of the situation. The doctors would want to understand what had happened and how Scott had miraculously come back to life. "I just wish it all worked. It was a good plan," Scott murmured, his voice filled with a hint of disappointment. We had all put our efforts into stopping the Benefactor, but the results had left us with more questions than answers.

"That's actually why I came to talk to you, plus checking up on you," I began, trying to offer a glimmer of hope amidst the uncertainty. Scott looked at me curiously, waiting for me to continue. "I think maybe the plan did work," I explained, watching as Scott's brows furrowed in confusion. His mind was still fixated on the lack of visual confirmation and the unknown identity of the Benefactor.

"Why'd you say that? We don't know who the Benefactor is, and no one got visual confirmation," Scott pressed, his voice filled with skepticism. "That's why it might have worked. Think about it. Who has the power to know when someone's dead but doesn't need to see the body to know what happened?" I posed the question, watching as realization dawned on Scott's face.

"A banshee," he said, his voice filled with a mix of surprise and excitement. The pieces of the puzzle were slowly coming together, and we were beginning to uncover the true nature of the threat we faced.

••••••••••••••••••••••••

Jordan Parrish wakes up and finds himself tied to the steering wheel of a sheriff's cruiser with plastic handcuffs. Deputy Haigh is splashing gasoline all over the car. He explains to Parrish that he is worth $5 million to The Benefactor dead, and Haigh means to collect.

Parrish is quick to point out that he only makes $40 thousand a year but this seems to anger Haigh who says he only makes 36 thousand per year . He dumps gasoline not just on the car but through the open window onto Parrish's head.

Parrish begs for his life saying he can't believe that Haigh would just stand there and listen to a fellow deputy burn to death. Haigh puts in earbuds before lighting his zippo lighter and tossing it into the open window of the car. Which in result to the horrific act Parrish screams as the entire vehicle is consumed by fire.

Lydia and Stiles have brought the latest information to Sheriff Stilinski at his office. They explain that Lydia's grandmother, Lorraine Martin, may have faked her death and could be working with The Benefactor or might be The Benefactor.

Outside the sheriff's office, Haigh reports to the Benefactor via computer and requests his money wire transfer for Parrish's death.

Parrish is not dead. Covered in soot and dressed in the barest remains of his burned clothing, Parrish walks into the Sheriff's Station. He makes straight for Haigh who draws his service weapon. Parrish grabs him and slams him against the wall. He then throws him to the ground and punches him. The gun goes off, striking Sheriff Stilinski in the shoulder. Haigh keeps saying "but you're dead" and Parrish keeps punching him. On the computer screen the message "KILL NOT CONFIRMED" appears.

••••••••••••••••••••••••

"He covered you in gasoline?" Derek asked Parrish, his voice filled with a mix of disbelief and concern as we all stood in his loft .
"It's the hair and nails, isn't it? The parts of the body that are essentially dead," Lydia chimed in, her tone thoughtful as she tried to make sense of the situation.