The Strawberry Blonde~~Lydia Martin

1.5.1

I pull the car up right next to Derek's. I climb out of the car as Derek and Scott get out as well. We're currently outside of Beacons Crossing Home. "What are we doing here?" Scott wonders but his question goes unanswered as Derek just walks towards the building. Scott and I give each other a look.

"Did you know about your family before this?" He whispers as we follow after Derek. "Dad just told us he sells guns to police men" I shrug and Scott nods. We follow him into a backroom. He quietly opens the door into the dark room. There was a catatonic man sat in a wheel chair, facing away from us.

Derek walks closer to the man as Scott and I send each other uneasy looks. "Is he alive?" I whisper. Derek sends me a look and I nod, keeping quiet. Derek stares down at the man as Scott keeps glancing between him, Derek and me. "Who is he?" Scott finally speaks up. "My uncle. Peter Hale" Derek informs us. "Is he...like you, a werewolf?" Scott asks carefully.

"He was." Derek nods. He glances over at me. "Now he's barely even human" He comments. "My family did this?" I ask sadly. "Six years ago, my sister and I were at school, and our house caught fire. 11 people were trapped inside. He was the only survivor." Derek explains. "But...what makes you so sure that they set the fire?" Scott asks.

"Cause they're the only ones who knew about us." Derek tells us. "Well, then...they had a reason." Scott shrugs. "Like what? You tell me what justifies this." Derek turns his uncle's chair and his head flops down to the side, showing off his burnt and scarred face. I gasp in horror. "They say they'll only kill an adult, and only with absolute proof, but there were people in my family that were perfectly ordinary in that fire. This is what they do. And it's what Allison and probably you too, will do." Derek says.

I felt sick to my stomach. "No, I wouldn't" I deny. "Maybe not yet, but when your father and your aunt get into your head, that's a whole different story" Derek says. "What are you doing?" We all turn towards the door where a nurse was stood. "How did you get in here?" she asks. "We were just leaving." Derek says. He pushes past me, dragging Scott with him. I stare at Peter a little longer before leaving the hospital. They were already pulling out of the parking lot.

I sit in my car, my hands shaking. My family were murderers. I can't turn out like them. I won't. How come they kept this from us? How long have they been doing this for? I didn't want to go back home. I wouldn't even be able to look them in the eyes. I quickly dig out my phone, tears in my eyes. "Alex!" "Danny..." I breathe out. "Hey, are you okay?" He asks worriedly.

"Can I stay at your place tonight?" I ask shakily. "Of course" He says worriedly. "I'll be there in 10" I tell him, hanging up. I take a few deep breaths, pulling myself together before driving towards his house. Maybe Danny will be able to cheer me up. But the thought of my family killing innocent people...it made me sick.

~~~

I managed to tell my parents I was staying over at Danny's. They weren't happy about it but I didn't really care. They were keeping secrets from me. I arrive at school with Danny and I head towards my locker. It was my birthday today and I had my date with Taylor later tonight. I thought it would be a perfect birthday dinner. Not that Taylor knew it was my birthday.

I stop in front of my locker to see Allison in the middle of unlocking hers. According to Allison, Scott didn't know about it either. "Happy birthday, sis" I whisper, giving her a tight hug. "You too" She smiles. I pull away and notice her new necklace. I examine it closely. It was a pendant with a wolf on it.

"Where'd you get this?" I asks suspiciously. "Aunt Kate gave it to me as an early birthday present. She was upset she didn't get to see this morning" Allison explains. Aunt Kate. Also, the one who shot Derek. I bite my lip, turning back to my locker.