Lone Ranger (Teen Wolf)

5 - Lightning

"I want to go back to the topic of guilt today." Mrs. Morrell speaks up from her seat in the circle of chairs. 

I barely lift my gaze away from Stiles, who sits directly across from me. My staring is completely obvious, considering that I haven't looked away from him ever since he sat down in the chair for the counsel meeting. Malia sits on my right side. Her attention wavers from Stiles to myself, still annoyed about being locked up for punching him.

Stiles shifts in his seat, eyes trained on me, yet quickly glances away when he realizes that I'm not going to look away anytime soon. My mind is so confused on the fact that nothing comes to me when I look at him. He intrigues me.

"It might surprise you to hear me say that guilt is a good thing. It's a rather mature emotion." Mrs. Morrell continues with her binder in her lap. Her head positions towards my best friend. "Malia, you said something about guilt the other day. You said it came with a visceral reaction."

Malia half nods, "I said it made me feel sick to my stomach."

Oliver coughs into his hand. I pull my gaze away from Stiles at the sound, slightly concerned. Oliver has always been kind of off. There was always something in the back of my mind telling me not to trust him and I could never figure out why. Lately, that urge has grown stronger. 

"Guilt often becomes physicl. You feel it in your gut. It's not just psychological. How does guilt make you feel, Stiles?" Mrs. Morrell directs the question to the boy, who sits across from me.

I look back towards Stiles, awaiting his answer.

"I'm sorry, what?" Stiles blinks, startled to hear his own name.

"Guilt. What does it make you feel?" Mrs. Morrell repeats herself. 

Stiles leans forward, resting his arms on his knees. "Nervous." He suddenly looks panicky. 

"Like a sense of urgency?" 

Stiles nods. 

"You feel an urgent need to make up for something you've done."

I watch as Stiles slyly glances out of the corner of his eye. I tilt my head to the side, trying to figure out what he is looking at. Nothing's there. What has him so spooked all of a sudden?

"To apologize. These are healthy responses." Mrs. Morrell faces the rest of the patients in the circle. "Does anyone know what we call someone who doesn't experience guilt?"

Oliver half raises his hand in the air. "Sociopath."

Mrs. Morrell smiles, "That's right, Oliver." 

Stiles rubs the back of his neck before removing his hand. I lean forward in my seat, noticing red marks covering the back of his neck. 

Mrs. Morrell noticed them as well, quickly shutting her binder. "I'm sorry, everyone, but we need to take a break. Come with me, Stiles." She stands up and motions with her head. "I'd like to talk to you for a minute."

Before the two of them can get too far, I jump up from my seat to follow them to her office. Malia shoots me a confused look as I walk off. I hover out in the hallway outside of her office door, listening to the conversation going on inside.

"- it's called a Lichtenberg figure. They appear on lightning strike victims. The fact that they're appearing on you after a shot of Wolf Lichen is both significant and strange."

I press one hand against the wooden door to push it open a little further. Their voices become a little louder.

"By significant and strange, do you mean hopeful and optimistic?" Stiles questions.

"When the marks fade, the Nogistune's grip over you will return." 

The sound of a cabinet door shutting earns my attention. Nogistune? Something about that sounds familiar, like I've heard it before. A memory triggers in the back of my mind, but only flickers for a second. The Nogistune is an evil spirit, but I can't remember why exactly. This whole not seeing any visions about Stiles is throwing me off. 

"What are these? Sleeping pills?"

"Amphetamines. Sleeping is exactly what you don't want to do." 

I make my appearance known by stepping into the office. Their heads snap in my direction; Stiles completely surprised and Mrs. Morrell almost looks amused. "You're most vulnerable when you're asleep."

"How-" Stiles points at me, confused. He shakes his head, deciding not to press on the fact that I followed them. "So, all I have to do is stay awake?"

"For now." Mrs. Morrell glances in my direction before looking back at Stiles. "If your friends haven't figured out something by the time those marks are gone, I'll come find you."

"To tell me what to do?"

"No, to give you an injection." Mrs. Morrell holds up a small, medical bottle between her forefinger and thumb.

I recognize the bottle immediately. "Pancuronium bromide." I state. "It cause respiratory paralysis."

Stiles peers at the two of us. "That sounds a lot like death."

"It's used for a lethal injection, yes." I bounce on my toes twice. A smile tugs at the corner of my lips when a small burst of a vision hits me. 

Stiles frowns at how happy I seem. "So, when the Nogistune takes over, you're going to kill me?"

I hold up my hand to correct him, "Oh, no. That's not what Mrs. Morrell does. She's going to do what she always does, maintain the balance." I cross my arms over my chest, smiling. 

Mrs. Morrell nods her head. "That's correct, Corie. You're getting stronger."

I flick my eyes over to her. She's the only one that has really believed that I have some kind of gift. She believes in the supernatural. I mean, how could you not when you work in a place like Eichen House?

"Okay then." Stiles blows hot air out of his mouth. "I've missed our talks. Thanks for the illicit drugs." He waves a pill bottle in the air before heading for the door.

"Stiles." Mrs. Morrell calls out, stopping him. "Stay awake."

I watch him walk out of the office, feeling the urge to follow him. Something's off with him. I just can't figure out what it is. Part of me feels like I already know him, but I couldn't imagine how. I've never seen him before.

"Keep an eye on him." Mrs. Morrell's quiet voice speaks up, reminding me that I'm not the only one in this room. "In both ways."

I half turn towards her with an eyebrow raised. Does she actually know what I am capable of? I open my mouth to question what she means, but shut it when she shakes her head.

"He's an important pawn in this game, Corie. You have the ability to see how it turns out before it even happens. The ability to change something if needed."

I shake my head this time. "Changing the future just makes things worse."

"Not if you changing something is part of the future already." Mrs. Morrell responds, calmly. Her back turns towards me and she walks to her desk. 

XXXXX

Wow so it's been a really long time since I've updated this story. I'm sorry about that. I feel like I'm constantly traveling lately and writing has gotten a bit harder. I'm going to make it up to you guys, I promise. 

Not much really happened in this chapter. Then again, not much really will happen until she leaves Eichen. That's when the real fun begins. 

Corie is such a unique character to write about. 

Question: Do you think Corie will figure out why she hasn't had any visions about Stiles?

So, yeah!