Departure ↠ Argent [3]

16. Little Talks

Allison's clock ticks beside me as it sits on her nightstand, never once missing a beat. Hearing it only reminded me how little of time I had left. There was hardly time for anything anymore.

My grades were suffering from that lack of time, but it wasn't like I cared about them right now. I barely even had time to think anymore, let alone sleep. Now I was starting to realize what it was like for Stiles when he couldn't, only I don't dream nightmares; I was living in one.

After what had happened at the clinic, I couldn't take it. Scott tried to help me, but he didn't really know how. I shut everyone out. I had to.

That next day I stayed home; I locked my door and didn't dare come out. It wasn't until I heard John knocking, bringing news, that I finally opened it. That news happened to be the real Stiles standing there in my doorway, a lazy half smile on his face.

I broke down. There were tears and hugging and I couldn't really tell you how I had felt in that moment. Most of it was joy for that small moment, but there was also a trickle of doubt and betrayal. I knew that before it wasn't the real Stiles, but he had tricked me either way. Who was to say that that was the real Stiles either?

I didn't know the answer to that one until Stiles proposed to be locked away in that mental institution. Eichen House is what they call it. I knew that the real Stiles was there when he said that, because I knew that's what Stiles would have wanted. He didn't want to hurt anyone, so he thought locking himself away would prevent that.

I hated the idea.

"This is insane!" I shout as I pace in the living room, glancing down at Stiles on the couch and John standing every now and again. "You're telling me that you are willing to put him in there? In the same place that Barrow was locked away at?"

John's eyes looked tired and worn. "I hate the idea as much as you."

"Then why are you on board with it?" I say, stopping and shaking my head.

John doesn't say a word as Stiles looks up at me. "Corey, I don't want to hurt anyone. Not again. I hurt Coach, I hurt Scott and Kira, I killed those officers, and I hurt you. Being locked away there will keep you guys safe, and that's all that I want."

"We can protect ourselves," I say too fast, that line of Allison's rubbing off on me. I correct myself. "I mean, Chris is calling everyone he knows to figure out how to fix this and everyone else is working towards a solution as well. Being in there is pointless, can't you see that? It's a madhouse; a place where someone like you doesn't belong."

Stiles stares up a me for a moment before standing, wrapping his arms around me. "Please understand that I have to do this; there is no option."

I knew by his tone that he meant it, but I wouldn't accept it. "I can't lose you, Stiles."

"You won't."

I couldn't go with him and John tonight to Eichen House. No way would I be able to sit there and watch Stiles go into that place. Furthermore, I couldn't be able to go inside and see what it was like. The less I knew the better. Instead, I ended up at Allison's front door, an emotional wreck as she comforted me, like she always did.

So now here I was: lying in Allison's bed with her at my side, tears brimming my eyes as I remembered the few past events of my life.

However, I jump when I hear something like a knock at Allison's window, causing my eyes to dart to the scene. At first I figured that it was maybe the wind or something involving the weather, but when the same sound happened again followed by a whisper, I knew that someone was out there. I couldn't make the voice out and Allison's window had curtains in front of it, so I had to get up to see who was there.