Sirens (Theo Raeken) [1]

They're Coming

"I'm telling you, he just dropped right then and there."

This is the fifth time tonight I am having to tell Parrish that because for some reason, he is beyond comprehending that I didn't kill the checkout guy.

Or at least didn't try to.

He scrawls something onto his notebook. I have no idea what he could be writing other than that sentence over and over again.

"The security footage showed you got angry at him just before he died," he says. Ah, finally a new question.

I lean over the table, squinting my eyes at him. "And what else did the footage show, deputy? Did I even lay a finger on that boy before he started bleeding?"

He coughs. "You were the only one there."

I let a chuckle escape out my lips. "And how're you going to tell the judge that I'm guilty? Are you going to say I killed him with my voice? Good luck." The deputy has nothing to say. I'm drunk on my own advantage. "So how about you let me go, and leave it as a mystery death, which is the true story." I can feel my vocal chords evolving into that dreamy voice, and for a second I'm scared that the deputy will be killed as well.

But he doesn't die.

"You have my permission to leave," he says. "You'll need to assist the police with further investigation so you might receive a call from the station. Thank you for answering our questions. You are free to go."

I furrow my eyebrows. What just happened? "So I'm not a suspect anymore?"

The deputy shakes his head. "Go get some rest before school tomorrow."

I raise my eyebrows but don't question it.

My mom is waiting outside, her face weary and her eyes bloodshot. I run to embrace her and I can feel her crying into my hair. The sound of my mother crying tugs at my heart, making it feel like an endless void. I start crying then, as well.

We don't say anything on the way home, but as I'm walking up to my room for the night, my mom says quietly, "I know you didn't do it."

My chest feels hollow as I fall into bed that night.

The next morning my phone is filled with missed calls and texts.

Missed Call - Lydia 4:35 am.

Missed Call - Lydia 5.45 am.

"Donovan just killed his lawyer and wounded police officers. There's claw marks." From Lydia - 6:02 am.

"It wasn't Donovan. It was Tracy." From Lydia - 6:05 am.

Because I have no idea what this is all about and why Lydia doesn't seem to sleep, I have no choice but to get to the school early to talk about it. I call Lydia and tell her to meet me at the school in fifteen.

I pull down my brand new high-waisted jeans and do the most exercise I'll do for the month trying to get them on. After putting on my top and jacket, I quickly do my make up and head out the door, still finishing my toast as I drive to school.

Everyone is already at the school and I give them an apology that I really don't mean since they woke me up half an hour earlier than usual.

"Tracy wasn't just having trouble sleeping," Lydia begins. "It was a real disorder. It was night terrors."

"Well, now she's the night terror, now that nobody can find her," Stiles says.

"Look, I know we're all tired and miserable," Scott looks over at Mason. Liam's best friend has a smile from ear to ear and looks like this is the best conversation he's ever been in. "Except for you."