Rekindle The Flame || Stilinski || Book Four || WATTY's 2022

Forty-Three

THEO THOUGHT LIAM WAS INSANE.

After escaping the Wild Hunt at the police station, Liam gave him directions to the hospital. The mere mention of the institution sent Theo on a rant, knowing there weren't any good places to stay safe. Going to the hospital was practically a death sentence.

Liam, though, didn't see it that way. He told Theo his goal was to keep the Wild Hunt away from Scott and the others for as long as possible, because his alpha was putting faith in him. Liam wasn't about to let Scott down.

Not again.

The ghost riders would get to them all eventually and Liam would rather they take himself than Scott. So, when Theo wrestled to stop the ambulance sirens from blaring, Liam pushed him away.

"You!" the chimera shouted, his eyes narrowing in on Liam in anger. "You're going first! That's the only reason I'm with you. Because while they're busy wrapping a whip around your neck or shooting a hole in your head, I'll be running the other direction." Theo stepped forward into Liam's face, snapping, "I'm on your side as long as it helps me."

"Trust me," Liam glared daggers and paused his words to shove Theo back. "I know."

The senior had been around long enough that Liam knew how he functioned. Since his first day, Theo always valued his life over everyone else's. He didn't ever want to make the sacrifice play, to save anyone.

Liam had to prepare to fight the Wild Hunt on his own.

Theo scowled, but didn't try to fight the beta. Instead, he turned around and roughly pushed the hospital doors open.
He stalked inside, ignoring the dead leaves coating the floor. His only hesitation came when he reached the corner.

The dark hallway stretched on forever, and his body tensed. It was the perfect match to his nightmare; the never-ending loop he experienced when under ground.

"Theo," he swore he heard his sister hiss and his breath hitched. The hallway glitched, his sister glaring heavily while she crawled with a gaping wound in her chest.

"Theo?"

She'd grab his leg, pin him to the floor and the wrenching agony would return as she physically ripped his heart out.

"Theo," Liam's voice rang in his ears, and he blinked.

His sister disappeared, but he could slightly still feel the pain. "I'm fine," Theo assured Liam, swallowing hard. "Just, just thought I was somewhere else for a second."

Liam furrowed his brows. "Where?"

"In a bad dream."

A sudden gust of wind whipped their heads, where they saw the double doors continuing to open and close on their own.

"You said you knew where to hide," Theo got back on track.

"Follow me," Liam told him, and broke out to a sprint down the hallway. Theo followed him quickly, and soon, they ended up in the morgue in the basement.

"This is your brilliant idea?" Theo demanded as Liam started to barricade the entrance.

"The ghost riders go after the living," Liam reasoned, and walked over to the metal units along the wall. "So, we hide with the dead."

He swung open one door but immediately scrunched his nose. The smell of rotting flesh was overwhelming, and he almost threw up at the sight of yellow, bubbling skin.

Theo snidely commented, "I'm not getting in one of those."

"Me neither." Liam closed the door, and allowed himself to fill his lungs with clean air.