Outcasts [Book 1]

Twenty Two

Void whistles a tune as he circles the room. He keeps his hands behind his back with the knife in his left. "You answer one of my riddles, I don't kill one of your friends. Answer it wrong, and I do." He explains, watching the squirming pack. 

She frowns. He's simply playing with his food. 

Lydia finds it easy to separate Void from Stiles. Though they have the same body, they use it differently. Stiles loves people, wears his heart on his sleeve and moves like an actual human being. Void feeds off of chaos, strife, and pain, and he doesn't love anyone. 

Lydia nods in agreement. "Okay, but, like, don't fail. 'Cause then we die." Isaac pipes up awkwardly. "No pressure though." Malia adds, looking up at Stiles who's playing with the knife between his fingers. 

"With pointed fangs I sit and wait; with piercing force I crunch out fate; grabbing victims, proclaiming might; physically joining with a single bite. What am I?" He questions, holding up the knife to Scott's neck. 

Scott gives her a pleading, desperate look, one she's never seen in his eyes before. Fear. Scott never shows fear, and the whimper he gives doesn't make her feel better, no matter how simple the riddle is. "A stapler." Lydia responds. 

Void grins and takes the knife away. He walks over to Isaac, holding him in the same position. "What kind of coat is always wet when you put it on?" 

"A coat of paint." 

The knife goes to Malia. "What has 13 hearts, but no other organs?"

"A deck of cards." 

More riddles pass until a knife has been put to each one of their necks. Void plays fair, for now at least, until he confuses her by holding out the knife to her. He turns it so the handle is facing her and waves it, willing Lydia to take it. 

Lydia takes the knife from him cautiously. Handing her the only weapon in the room is a stupid idea for him, and would give her the advantage, but Lydia knows not to trust a fox. "What do you call a girl without a heart?" Void asks. 

She stares at him for a moment. "Thats not a riddle." Lydia tells him. He turns away from her, grabbing the chair Allison was tied to and pulling her closer. "Looks like the hunter gets it." Void says in a sing-song voice, holding her out like a sacrifice. 

He wants her to be just like him. Sure, he could just kill all of them himself, but having leaving Lydia with the pain of killing her best friend is better. Void could use a partner in crime anyways, and she's already on the brink of madness. 

The logical thing to do right now would be to stab Void, but right now, Void is part of Stiles. And Lydia could never hurt Stiles, like he could never hurt her. Void's right. Love makes people weak. She grips the knife harder. Lydia stabs herself in the stomach, falling to the floor with an alarming thump. 

--- 

Allison shakes her head at her friend, patching up the wound. Lydia sits with a small smile on her face. She looks like she just won the lottery, even though she stabbed herself in the stomach a few hours ago. Allison glances up at her. 

"Why are you smiling?" Allison questions. The pack thinks she's crazy, randomly stabbing herself like that. After she hit the floor, Void pulled out the knife and disappeared into mid air. Scott and Allison broke out of their chairs and took her to the hospital. 

"He cares." Lydia nods to herself, her plan had worked perfectly. Well, it wasn't really a plan. Okay, it was a horrible plan. If she was wrong she would've died, but she's still breathing, and for now, everything is okay. 

"What?" Her best friend still doesn't get it. "Void could've stayed and made sure I bled out, or twisted the knife, or something else evil. But he left. He knew you'd be able to get out once he left. Stiles is still alive inside, he didn't want me to die." 

Allison sighs. She puts more tape on. "I say this in a very caring best friend way, your fucking insane." Lydia then laughs but winces at the pain. The brunette stands up to go put the supplies back in the bathroom. She points at Lydia. "Stay." 

Not listening to Allison, Lydia hobbles into the bathroom after her. "You have my car keys. I have to see Deaton." She explains. Allison scoffs, closing the drug cabinet. "You just stabbed yourself. I'd recommend some painkillers." She holds up the small bottle. 

Lydia shakes her head. "Oh no, I refuse to take those again. Last time that happened you spent the day asking me animal questions. Which was rude, by the way." Allison laughs, remembering Lydia saying everything was a mountain lion over and over again. 

It was kind of funny. Allison leads her back to the bed and sits her down. "Get some sleep, okay?" She more demands it rather than suggests it. The strawberry blonde girl groans and lies on the bed. "Can we go to the mascaraed ball?" 

She receives a questioning look for her words. No way did she actually want to go to some stupid ball if Stiles, the Stiles she knows, isn't going to be there. But she hopes the other one will be. "What are you planning?"

"What if I just want to spend a nice night out?" Lydia suggests, fidgeting with her fingers. Her mom still had that dress waiting for her if she wanted it. "You hate dances, ever since Peter." 

Lydia pouts. Allison knows her so well its annoying sometimes. She yawns and curls into her pillow that faintly smells of Stiles and lavender. "I'll tell you in the morning." Lydia decides that postponing the plan for one night can't do any harm. 

Allison nods and goes to sit in her desk chair, watching over her. 

A/N

I miss Lydia/Allison's friendship. Anyone else?