Worlds Apart (Teen Wolf)

36 - Goodbye

Derek is leaning back against a broken down piece of concrete that must have fallen apart when this whole town did. A huge gash is visible through his t-shirt and blood covers most of his chest. Stiles and I slow down until we come to a stop behind Peter and Braeden. Stiles' arm wraps around my shoulders afraid to let me get out of his sight.

"How bad is it?"  

Braeden checks the wound on his chest, grimacing. I think all of us knew that what we were doing was dangerous, but the reality of the situation just truly hit us. Derek hasn't been himself lately. Scott told us that whatever Kate did to him, is still affecting him. Derek doesn't heal or have the same strength as he used to.

"I'm fine, I'm fine." Derek tells all of us, pretending like the wound in his chest is nothing major. "Just get to Scott. Just find him. We'll be right behind you." 

My sneakers feel as if they are glued to the sandy ground of the desert. I can't bring myself to walk away from Derek or tear my eyes off of him. That feeling from before has returned and it's stronger than ever. I watch as Derek struggles to catch his breath. 

"Go..." Derek gasps with a hand to the wound. 

No one moves. 

There's something bubbling up in my throat. I know what it is. Lydia has described what it's like when this happens. She's told me what to expect if the banshee part inside of me is the strongest. Scott, Lydia, Malia, and Stiles are the only ones that know about these feelings that I get in the pit of my stomach. I haven't told anyone else. 

"Go!" Derek shouts.

Peter is the first to run towards the Church. Liam takes after him next. I know I should follow them and try to find Scott, but, right now, there is a feeling of dread and sadness in my body. I knew what was coming. From the look on Derek's face when he locks eyes with me, I can tell that he knows what's next. 

"Lydia..." I breathe, remembering that she had found out that Derek would end up dying. His name was used as a code for the dead pool. 

"Hey, hey," Derek gasps with a slight cough. "Save him." 

Stiles grabs my hand in his and tries to pull me towards the Church. My feet begin to move backwards, but my eyes remain on Derek. I don't know how much longer he has, but Derek won't be alive for much longer. It's soon.

"Carter, come on. We have to find Scott." Stiles urges me to spin around and jog towards the Church.

I take a deep breath and follow him inside. The inside of the Church is dark and only illuminated by the moon through the holes in the ceiling. I keep a tight hold on Stiles' hand, too scared to lose him in this destroyed building. The Beserker from outside disappeared, but I'm sure there's more around here somewhere. 

Peter leads the way towards some hallway with all of us racing behind him. I've never been inside of the Church before. I have no idea how to get around this place. Stiles follows behind Peter with his fingers tightly intertwined with mine. Neither of us want to let go of each other.

Peter abruptly comes to a stop, holding his arms up to stop everyone from running any further. "Okay, everyone stop! Stop, stop, stop, stop!" 

I slam into Stiles' back which makes Liam collide into mine. Both of us mutter apologies to each other. 

"We gotta figure out where we are then we gotta figure out how to find Scott and Kira." Peter announces. He peers down the hallway for any signs of someone in here. 

A familiar ringtone goes off in the hallway. Stiles drops my hand to fish out his cell phone from his pocket, mystified at how his father was calling him in here. "How do I even have service?" He mutters before accepting the call and walking down the hallway a little bit in front of Peter.