Faded // A Stiles Stilinski Story.

chapter eight.

Rain poured from the skies, the heavens opening. Raindrops soaked your clothes, your hair matted and dripping around your face. The rain was relentless, never stopping and mud squelched underfoot, leaves wrapping around your shoes as you wandered the preserve. Silence washed over you, eerie in it's stillness. You saw lightning crackle in the distance, the quiet roar of thunder following suit. It broke over you, reverberating deep within your bones, sending shivers down your spine. Whispers started to echo from patches of darkness between trunks and branches that seemed to have eyes. But still you wandered your feet moving of their own accord. You blinked, water dropping from your lashes and running down your cheek. You wandered deeper into the preserve, the trees getting closer together and the moon disappearing behind blanketing clouds that hung precariously low to the ground. Navigating without a second thought, you banked to your left, eyes flickering over vines that twisted over gnarled branches. In the depths of shadows, fireflies raced, leaving streams of light, illuminating black ooze over roots. Up ahead the path grew wider, revealing what you were drawn to. Fireflies congregated over cracks in the wood and over roots of the large stump. The nemeton. Your feet started to move faster, vines wrapping around your ankles dragging you back.

A boy, shrouded in darkness to the edge of the nemeton. His hair stood on end, static running from his fingertips. His face was hidden but you knew who he was, you'd seen him before. He'd taken your best friend. He'd terrorized your town and he'd hurt you in ways you'd never been hurt before. The Nogitsune. Your body trembled in anger and vines snaked up your legs, binding you to the ground beneath you. "Oh sweet, you think you can hurt me here?" His voice was raspy his head cocking to the side as a chuckle left his lips. Every hair on your body stood on end as he turned to look at you. "You see this is my domain. The mind, sure I can hurt your body but why would I do that? You're oh so pretty" You screwed your eyes shut, not wanting to see the face that you love in this way. Void had nearly killed Stiles and at a mere mention of his name Stiles would spiral, his fingers curing into fists as he dug his nails into his palms. "Don't worry little one, I wouldn't harm a hair on your pretty little head. I know how angry stiles can get" His finger trailed down your face, rough and covered in dirt. You felt sick to your stomach, his touch making bile creep up your throat. Thunder rolled and whispers grew louder till they were buzzing in your ears. "Open your eyes sweetheart" His voice came low, filled with menace. Unwillingly you obeyed, your eyes opening to see the nemeton, masses of fireflies flying off into the night sky. They left you stranded in darkness, your chest heaving.

Darkness is all you felt, cold sinking into your bones, a hollow feeling in your chest. As your eyes flickered close, you felt his hot breath on your neck. Frozen in place his words echoed through stagnant air, no hint of a breeze. "Wake up". Everything erupted, light spilling into the crevices between the two of you, the wind picking up and blowing leaves in its wake. You awoke, your legs tangled between Stiles' his arms wrapped around your chest. Everything was blurry, light spilling in from the curtains that lay over your window. Dust danced in streams above your head as you shook, still cold from your nightmare. Fingertips ran over your chest and his breath tickled your neck. You shied into him, your bodies almost melding into one. Fingers latched together as your breathing slowed to a steadier pace. You lay there, eyes barely open, listening to his heartbeat, the sun heating up the room. It felt like time had stopped, your bones started to warm, your heart beating in sync with his. "We should get out of bed. We have a lot to do today" Stiles' voice cracked, ladled with sleep. You nodded, begrudgingly pulling away from him.

Heading into the bathroom, you glanced in the mirror. You looked hollow and fragile not your normal self. Red marks still graced your neck, skin pulled tightly over your collarbones, the ditch darker and more prominent. Veins glared back under translucent skin. Your lips were chapped, all colour drained from your face. Turning on the shower, you stepped into the warm spray, the smell of your shampoo filling your senses. Steam enveloped the room, making everything foggy and blurred. You washed slowly, feeling the dread from your night terror sluicing away into the drain. Droplets clung to your nose, dripping onto your lips as you stepped out the shower, the water coming to a stop. You grabbed a towel from the rack, wrapping it tightly around your body. Standing in front of the mirror once more, you worked on covering your skin, bringing it to life with makeup and blow drying your hair. You opened the door to find Stiles sound asleep on the bed. You pulled a dress from your closet, yanking the material over your head. Shaking Stiles awake he pulled you to him once more, his nose finding the crook of your neck. "Wake up, come on. You're the one who said we have stuff to do today?"