Dark Side of the World // S.S. [Book Two]

Chapter 10

I lie in a hospital bed, crossing my arms, glaring at Melissa. Stiles protests, "I'm completely fine."

Melissa shakes her head. "Uh-uh-uh. You completely and totally have a concussion, Stiles. Lie back down. The doctor said you're not leaving without a CT scan. And you, Megara, you're not leaving without one either. I don't care if water heals you."

I continue glaring at her as Stiles says, "We still haven't paid for the last one."

"Oh, no, no, no. Meredith is at the station. Your dad said it could take some time, but he will get her to talk. Even if I let you go, let either of you go, what would you do?"

Stiles sighs. "Okay, fine." He sits back on the bed. "Can you do me one little favor?"

"Anything." Melissa says with a smile.

"Can you get me a tape player?"

"Like cassettes?"

He nods. "Yes. Tapes."

"Yeah, I'll see what I can do."

"Okay, tapes, though, please."

"Cassettes." Melissa corrects, leaving the room.

I slide off the bed and run into the bathroom, running my hands under the water. Instantly, my headache dissipates, and I rejoin Stiles.

He raises an eyebrow. "You'd rather run your hands under water than get a CT scan?"

"Yes. Especially when I know water can heal me faster than pricey hospital tech."

Melissa walks back in and Stiles asks, "You find a tape player?"

She shakes her head. "Megara, why are you out of bed?"

I smiles sweetly. "I needed to use the bathroom."

Melissa narrows her eyes, knowing I'm lying. "Megara, what were you doing?"

"I didn't want a CT scan when I knew water could heal me. So, I ran my hands under the sink water and felt better."

Melissa sighs. "I've said this before and I'll say it again. You're too stubborn for your own good."

We're finally released and head to Stiles' house. I sit him at his desk, rubbing my hands together, trying to get them warm. My hands always get cold, which really sucks in New York winters that get below zero. Stiles takes my hands and holds them in his, covering them almost entirely. He plays the tape and Lorraine's voice comes through. "Listen to me. Please listen. There's something I have to do, something I have to stop."

Brunski says, "I have to take you back to Eichen, Lorraine."

Stiles turns up the volume as Lorraine continues saying, "No. No. I don't think you're gonna be taking me anywhere. I can hear the recorder in your pocket. It's on now, isn't it? You're making a tape. Just like you taped the others."

Stiles frowns and turns to me. "This didn't happen at Eichen House."

"Then where'd she go?" I ask.

"That's what we need to find out."

He plays the tape again. "Get back to Eichen, Lorraine."

Lorraine protests. "No. No. I don't think you're gonna be taking me anywhere."

I hear a sound and point at the tape player. "That's it. That's where it is. Play it again and turn it up."

He rewinds the tape. We hear Lorraine say again, "No. No. I don't think you're gonna be taking me anywhere. I can hear the recorder in your pocket. It's on now, isn't it? You're making a tape. Just like you taped the others."