No Good Deed | Hale - TVD/TO/TW [3]

36 | Apologize

Five people find themselves in a dark room: two Hales, two brothers, and a banshee. They can hear water dripping from pipes and the distant sounds of electricity crackling through wires, perhaps the distinct echo of a nose breaking.

"Where are we?" Lydia asks. "I don't remember anything like this."

"It's Lexi's memory," Stiles replies. "But this isn't familiar to me either."

"Last time we saw her was at the sheriff's station," Scott says. "She went after Matt."

Derek shakes his head. "She must have done some sort of spell because I couldn't hear you when Matt took you both away."

"We are in the Argents' house," Peter says. "She went after Matt—was going to let him go when Gerard shot both of them. Killed her."

With a frown, Derek nods. "Yeah, you told me she was dead. I didn't believe you."

"Well, she's not dead." Peter sighs as he glances around the darkness. He can hear a heartbeat. "That much we know. A headshot doesn't kill her."

The door to the room opens to reveal the outline of Gerard. He feels against the wall, flicking on the light before he closes the door.

On the other end of the room, Lexi is chained to a metal fence with wires snaking over to a machine. Blood covers her body and hair as her head hangs between her shoulder blades. Cuts litter her skin—she looks like literal hell.

She picks her head up when Gerard walks in. A fabric gag is wrapped around her head. When he removes it, all Lexi does is lick her lips.

"You going to talk today?" Gerard asks as he leans against the machine. "Or do I get to have more fun?"

She does not respond.

"It has been a week, Alexis," Gerard says with annoyance coating his tongue. He clenches his jaw. "Just give up the pack, and tell me how to end your miserable life."

She blinks.

Gerard turns on the machine; she does not scream as sparks flicker on the metal fence, burning her skin. "Fine," he says as he turns the machine off. "How about I leave you here, alone, in nothing but darkness?"

She shifts against the fence. Gerard sighs and heads for the door.

"Let them go, and I'll tell you."

Pausing before his hand can touch the knob, a smirk spreads over Gerard's lips. "I don't think you're in any position to negotiate."

"Did beating up a human teenager make you dense?" She arches an eyebrow. "I'm in every position to negotiate."

"And how is that?"

She smirks. "You obviously haven't been paying attention," she chuckles. "I still have power over you. One little call to Elijah and you're dead."

Gerard shakes his head. "Elijah is stuck under a dagger."

"Elijah would save you from me," Lexi replies. "Does your little protégé know I'm down here? Does your son? What would they think of what you're doing? All I'd have to do is scream."

"You're an abomination," Gerard snaps. "They wouldn't care."

"Allison thinks I'm human," Lexi says. "and she still has some heart left in her or else those two betas out there would be dead, and Scott would be too. How is your little spy, by the way? Working out well?"

Gerard crosses his arms. "You knew."

"I knew you would use everyone around us to get to me," she says. "and who better than poor, lovesick Scott?" She pushes her back off the wall with a grin. "You don't think I'm stupid, do you? I know what you are doing. The board has become a little clearer, don't you think?"