The Other McCall

Chapter 1

Opening my window slightly, I breathed in the fresh air before jumping onto my bed. I flipped open my phone, going over my to-do list for tomorrow morning. The first day of sophomore year. I sigh looking towards my closet and then towards my backpack, which was hanging on my chair near my desk. I had mixed feelings about going to school. Pros: learning, friends, getting out of the house. Cons: teachers, homework and school lunch. I never really had a problem with waking up early; I prefer to sleep in but I don't mind waking up early.

My eyes started to shut when my door was thrown open. I groaned, sitting up and seeing my twin brother Scott standing in the doorway with a bat in his hands. "Really?" He looked at me and then towards my window, putting his finger to his lips, signalling for me to be quiet. He was just wearing basketball shorts and sweat was still on his forehead. I assumed he had just finished his nighttime workout for lacrosse. He wanted to be first line this year so he was putting in a lot of effort to make it. He went towards my window, looking and listening for anything that could be out there. I heard the rustling of leaves and what sounded like movement.

I looked at Scott and got off my bed, grabbing the bat. I heard him mumble a complaint as I walked - more like tumbled - down the stairs. I turned on all the downstairs lights and looked around but I saw no one. I heard the familiar rustle of leaves again and looked back at Scott, not really sure if we should check outside or not. I mean what's the probability that it's just a cat or something not dangerous and we're totally overreacting? I sigh and open the door peering out into the night before stepping outside with Scott right beside me. With my breath held tight, I raised the bat, ready to strike someone - if there was anyone really here. The sound of leaves rustling makes me stop cold. I hold still, looking in multiple directions to see if someone was there. I hate feeling like I'm in a horror movie. I scream as a body swings down from above, hanging upside down.

I'm about to swing the bat when I recognize the silhouette of the person. "Dammit Stiles." I yell at him, swatting his head with my hand in the process. I put the bat down and looked back at him. "You just about damn near gave me a heart attack." He smiles cheekily, making me roll my eyes.

"Stiles, what the hell are you doing here?" Scott asks him, clearly as annoyed as I am.

"You didn't answer your phone." The energetic 16 year old boy responded as he continued to hang by his feet, upside down. He continues talking upside down as if this was a perfectly normal thing for a 16 year old boy to do. "I know it's late, but you gotta hear this." Both Scott and I look at each other and sigh. "I saw my dad leave 20 minutes ago. Dispatch called. They're bringing in every officer from the Beacon department and even state police." I look at Scott, seeing his interest in the conversation and then I look back to Stiles.

"What for?" Scott asks him.

"Two joggers found a body in the woods." My eyes widen as I stare dumbfounded at Stiles.

"A dead body?" Scott stupidly asks.

"Obviously dumb-ass." I roll my eyes at my brother who glares at me. I stick my tongue out at him, making him roll his eyes at me in return. Stiles reaches up to pull himself free of the trellis, and lands on his feet in front of us.

"You mean murdered?" Scott sighs, asking him.

"Nobody knows yet. Just that it was a girl, probably in her twenties." Stiles replies. I look between both of the boys.

"Wait... hold on. If they found the body, what are they looking for?" I ask Stiles.

"That's the best part. They only found half." I looked between both of the boys, not wanting to know what they were thinking. "Well what are we waiting for? Let's go." Stiles says, grabbing both our arms and dragging us towards his baby blue jeep.