Chapter 26: Fury
Stiles, Scott, and Scarlett are sitting with Sheriff Stilinski - correction, Mr. Stilinski - until he gets his badge back. They have a yearbook open, explaining to him that Matt is the killer he's looking for. "Matthew Daehler?" Mr. Stilinski asks.
"Yes." Stiles confirms.
"This kid's the real killer?"
"Yes."
"No." Mr. Stilinski says, not believing his son.
"Yes."
"No."
"Dad, everyone knows the police look for ways to connect victims in a murder. All he had to do was go through their transcripts and find out which class they all attended."
"Except for the rave promoter, Kara. She wasn't in Harris's class."
"Oh yeah, that's right. So I guess they're dropping the charges against him?"
The two Stilinski's glare at each other before Mr. Stilinski replies, "No, they're not dropping the charges. Which doesn't prove anything. Scott, Scarlett, do you believe this?"
"It's not easy to explain how we know, but if you can just trust us. We know it's Matt." Scott says.
"Plus if you can't get him for murder, I think I have something else you can get him for." Scarlett hesitantly speaks up. All three heads turn to the girl with confusion. "I saw his camera." She pauses taking a breath. "He has pictures of me. Pictures I don't even know how he took. Like ones where I'm in my room. I'm pretty sure he's stalking me."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Scott asks, eyes wide.
Scarlett shrugs, "I thought I could handle it. But either way, can we get back to the murder thing. Since that's what we really want to get him arrested for. I mean murder is worse than stalking."
Mr. Stilinski looks like he wants to ask her more about the stalking but before he can Stiles speaks up, "Right, the murders. Matt took Harris's car. He knew if the cops found tire tracks at one of the murders and that if enough of the victims were in Harris's class, he'd be arrested."
"Fine. I'll allow the remote possibility. But give me a motive. Why would this kid want most of the 2006 swim team and its coach dead? And Scarlett, I want to talk to you about the stalking after." Mr. Stilinski says.
Scarlett nods, then Stiles speaks trying to give his dad a motive, "Isn't it obvious? Our swim team sucks! They haven't won in years." They all turn to Stiles with questioning looks, "Okay, we don't exactly have a motive yet. But then again, does Harris?"
The two boys and Scarlett watch Mr. Stilinski struggle over the question. Finally, he sighs, "What do you want me to do?"
"We need to look at the rest of the evidence."
"That's all back at the station. Where I no longer work."
"Trust me, they'll let you in."
"Trust you?"
"Trust... Scarlett? I mean she actually has some sort of proof that Matt is a whack job."
Mr. Stilinski nods and points at the teen girl, "Scarlett I trust."
*_*_*_*_*_*
Mr. Stilinski drives everyone to the station. When they get there it's two in the morning. He walks up to the front desk to speak with the officer as Stiles, Scott, and Scarlett stay behind. "We look at the hospital stuff first, okay?" Stiles whispers to the twins.
"Why?" Scott asks.
"Because all of the murders were committed by Jackson except for one, remember?"
"The pregnant girl. Jessica."
"Since Matt had to kill her himself, someone at the hospital could have seen him."
"Kids." Mr. Stilinski's voice breaks the trio from the whispered conversation. He waves them over as the officer buzzes them in. Once in the office, Mr. Stilinski brings up the security footage from the hospital. As he's clicking through it Stiles, Scott, and Scar stand behind him, looking over his shoulder.
"I don't know, guys. Look at this. There was a six car pile-up that night. The hospital was jammed." Mr. Stilinski speaks, uncertain that they will find anything.
"Just keep going. He'd have to pass one of the cameras on that floor to get to Jessica. He's got to be on the footage somewhere--" Stiles encourages his dad.
Scott cuts him off though, "Hold on, stop. Did you see that? Scroll back." Mr. Stilinski does as Scott says. He pauses on the image of a young man walking down the corridor.
"That's Matt." Scarlett says.
"All I see is the back of someone's head." Mr. Stilinski says.
Stiles agrees with Scarlett, "Matt's head. I sit behind him in History. He has a very distinct cranium."
Scarlett furrows her eyebrows as Mr. Stilinski asks his son, "Are you crazy?"
"Fine, then look at his jacket. How many people wear black leather jackets?"
"Millions. Literally."
"Can you scroll forward?" Scott asks, stopping an argument, "There has to be a shot of him coming at one of the cameras, right?"
So Mr. Stilinski presses a button to watch more of the video. "Stop! There he is again." Scarlett exclaims, pointing him out on the screen.
"You mean there's the back of his head again." Mr. Stilinski sighs.
"But look. He's talking to someone." Stiles says. They all lean slightly closer to try and get a better view.
"He's talking to our mom." Scott says.
*_*_*_*_*_*
Scott takes out his phone to call Melissa at the hospital. He's asking her about Matt, but she doesn't seem to recall if she spoke to him. The group decides to send her a picture of him to see if it jogs her memory.
"Did you get it?" Scott asks. There's a pause before Scott asks another question, "You recognize him? Did you see him?" Scott pulls the phone slightly away from his ear, bringing his attention to Scar, Stiles and Mr. Stilinski. "He was tracking mud through the hospital."
Mr. Stilinski replies, "We have shoe prints alongside the tire tracks at the trailer site."
Stiles then excitedly says, "If they match that puts Matt at the scene of three murders. The trailer, the hospital and the rave."
Mr. Stilinski then looked up from the computer, "Actually, four. A credit card receipt for an oil change was signed by Matt at the garage where the mechanic was killed."
"When?"
"A few hours before you two got there." Mr. Stilinski says looking between his son and Scarlett.
"Dad, if one's an incident, two's a coincidence, three's a pattern, what's four?"
"Enough to get a warrant. Scott, ask your mom how fast she can get here."
"Now?" My brother asks, eyebrows raised.
"Right now. An official ID will get me a search warrant. Stiles, tell the front desk to let their mom in when she gets here." Scott brings the phone to his ear again as Stiles moves to the door.
*_*_*_*_*_*
Mr. Stilinski and Scarlett are still behind his desk as they watch the door. Stiles walks in, behind him Matt has a gun pressed to the boys back. "She's on her way here. Sheriff? Scarlett?" Scott says, not noticing his best friend and Matt behind him. He finally turns to face the door, seeing what caught their attention.
Breaking the silence, Mr. Stilinski speaks calmly, "Matt, whatever's going on, I guarantee there's a solution that doesn't involve a gun."
"Funny you say that. Because I don't think you're aware of just how right you are." Matt answers.
"I know you don't want to hurt people."
"Actually, I want to hurt a lot of people. You four weren't on my list, especially you, Scarlett, but I could be persuaded. One way is to try calling someone with your phone in your pocket like McCall's doing. That could definitely get someone hurt."
Matt stares at Scott, waiting for him to set his phone down on the desk. "Everyone." He encourages the rest of the group to do the same. They all remove their phones, placing them on the desk beside Scott's. Matt takes the four of them into the cell block, making Stiles handcuff his dad to the wall outside of the holding cells. "Tighter." Matt snaps.
Stiles glares but his dad speaks up, trying to diffuse the situation, "Do what he says." Reluctantly, Stiles listens and tightens the cuffs around him. Matt then motions for the other the three teens to follow him once more. They make their way to the front of the station, Scott and Stiles in front and the gun trained on them. Matt has a tight grip on Scarlett's right arm.
Heavy breathing stops them from continuing. They glance down the adjacent hallway locking eyes with a paralyzed deputy being dragged into a room by a clawed hand. "Are you going to kill everyone in here?" Scott asks.
"No. That's what Jackson's for. All I have to do is think about killing them. He does the rest." Matt casually answers.
*_*_*_*_*_*
Back at the office Matt forces Scott and Stiles to shred all of the evidence they have against him. Finally Scott raises the empty folders to show him that there are no more papers left.
At the same time Stiles starts speaking, "And we're done. So, Matt, since all the people you brutally murdered deserved it because they killed you first - whatever that means - I think we're pretty much good here. Right? I'll get my dad and we'll go. You continue with the vengeance thing. Enjoy the Kanima."
The sound of an engine can be heard from outside. Matt holds still, listening to the sound, "Sounds like your mom's here." He says looking over at Scarlett and Scott.
"Please don't do anything to her, Matt." Scarlett begs.
"Matt, don't do this. When she comes to the door, I'll just tell her to leave, okay? I'll say we didn't find anything. Please." Scott says right after.
Matt shakes his head, waving them over to the door. Scott hesitates, making Matt say, "If you don't move right now, I'm going to kill Stiles first. Then your mom." They step outside the office and make their way through the building to the front desk. "Open it."
"Matt, please." Scott tries once more.
Matt responds by pressing the gun to the back of Stiles' head, "Open the door."
Scott turns the door knob, slowly opening the door. But instead of seeing their mom like they expected, Derek Hale is standing there. "Oh, thank God." Scott sighs. But before they can get too thankful Derek sinks to his knees, paralyzed. Jackson is right behind him.
*_*_*_*_*_*
Jackson drags a paralyzed Derek into the Sheriff's office. Scott, Stiles, and Scarlett following closely behind with Matt still keeping the gun on them. "This is the one in control? This kid?" Derek asks, laying on his back looking up at them.
"Well, Derek, not everyone's lucky enough to be a big bad werewolf." Matt then turns to the rest of the group, "Yeah, that's right. I've learned a few things lately. Werewolves, hunters, Kanimas. It's like a fricken' Halloween party every full moon. Except for Stiles. What the hell do you turn onto?"
"Abominable snowman. But it's mostly a winter time thing. Seasonal." Scarlett snaps her head in Stiles direction, glaring. Usually she finds his sarcastic remarks funny but now is really not the time.
Matt, clearly not amused, nods at Jackson. Not having a chance to protest, Jackson cuts Stiles neck. Stiles staggers, limbs going stiff and falls on top of Derek, "Bitch." Stiles mutters out.
"Get him off me." Derek speaks through clenched teeth. Matt kneels beside Derek's head as Derek once again spits out, "Get him off me."
"I don't know, Derek. I think you two make a pretty good pair. It must kind of suck, though, to have all that power taken away with one little cut to the back of your neck? I bet you're not used to feeling this helpless." Matt smugly says to the Alpha.
"I've still got teeth. Why don't you come a little closer and we find out how helpless I am."
Before Matt can respond, headlights fill the room. "Is that her?" He asks looking towards Scott.
Scott looks outside, his look of despair confirms that it is in fact Melissa. "Do what I say and I won't hurt her. I won't even let Jackson near her."
"Don't trust him." Stiles says.
With a look of rage that Scarlett has never seen, Matt brutally kicks Stiles off of Derek. He then places his foot on Stiles' throat. "This work better for you?" He questions.
"Stop! Matt just stop!" Scarlett screams out, tears threatening to spill.
He stops applying pressure but doesn't move his foot. He looks at Scarlett with a look she couldn't quite place. "You know, Scarlett. We could make one hell of a power couple but I noticed you have something going on with Isaac."
This statement causes Scott to look at his twin with raised eyebrows. She licks her lips, not taking her eyes off Matt. "I told you before that I wasn't the guy who would say something like if I can't have her, no one can? Well, it wasn't totally true. Because, Scarlett, if I can't have you, no one can."
Before either of the twins have the chance to react, Matt raises the gun and shoots. A gasp leaves Scarlett's mouth as she stumbles back in shock. Her hands raise to her abdomen, blood gushing through her fingertips. The minute the gun fires, the group hears Mr. Stilinski yelling from the other room.
"Scarlett!" Scott screams, trying to rush to his sister. Matt stops him, gun raising to level with Stiles head.
"She's not dead yet and if you don't do what I say, I'll kill your mom and Stiles too."
"Go, I'll be fine." Scarlett says through clenched teeth. Matt and Scott move out of the room. Jackson stays guarding Scarlett, Derek, and Stiles. With her adrenaline pumping, Scarlett slowly moved to the desk chair to sit down. One hand clutches the gunshot wound while the other uses the wall and desk as support, blood smearing wherever her hand was placed. Once she sits down she takes off her jacket, applying pressure to the wound.
*_*_*_*_*_*
Scarlett gasps out in pain as she applies pressure to the gunshot wound, "Scarlett! Are you okay? Please talk to me." Stiles speaks from the floor, voice trembling with worry.
"I'm fine, it's not like I'm bleeding out or anything." Scarlett replies.
"Do you have anything to try and stop the bleeding?"
Scarlett pauses taking a breath, "I'm one step ahead of you. I'm using my jacket."
"Good. Whatever you do, don't close your eyes or fall asleep."
"Damn, really? I thought now would be a great time for a nap."
"I'm going to ignore those sarcastic remarks solely because it means that you're alright."
"Yeah well, I hate to burst your optimistic bubble but I don't know how long I'm going to last without medical attention."
Rather than answering Stiles asks Derek, "You know what's happening to Matt?" Referring to the scales that are appearing on Matt's side, which he showed them a few minutes beforehand.
"I know the book isn't going to help him. You can't just break the rules. Not like this." Derek answers.
"What do you mean?"
"The universe balances things out. It always does."
"Because he's using Jackson to kill people who don't deserve it?"
"And killing people himself."
Scarlett keeps trying to focus on the conversation but she can tell her breathing is becoming shakier, "So if Matt breaks the rules of the Kanima, he becomes the Kanima?" Stiles asks the Alpha.
"Balance." Derek confirms.
"You think he'd believe us if we told him?"
"Not likely. You still alright Scarlett?" Derek asks, noticing her breathing become shallower.
"Peachy." She shakily replies.
"Scar? Your breathing is getting heavier. You have to stay awake. Keep talking." Stiles says, panic evident in his voice.
Scarlett replies. though her voice is now breathy and quieter, "I'm fine. I'll be fine. I-I don't know... I don't know how long I'll be okay though. If the paralysis wears off, your first goal has to be to help Scott and my mom."
There's silence, "Please, you both have to promise me. You'll help Scott and my mom as soon as you can." Tears start to fall down her face at the thought of Scott and her mom being hurt because the two people who could possibly help are too focused on her.
"Scarlett we can't make that promise." Stiles chokes out.
"You have to. Remember your dad is out there too."
"If we don't help you first, you'll die." Derek bluntly states.
"Then so be it." She gasps, "The only way I'll survive is if I make it to a hospital. By the time you guys will be able to move it will be too late for me anyway. So don't waste your time."
"I can give you the bite. You'll heal and be fine."
"No. I don't want to be a werewolf. Just-just leave me and help the others." Scarlett pauses for a minute, coughing, "Please." At this point her eyes keep flickering shut. Her breathing is raspy and she can't focus on the things around her, though she knows Derek and Stiles are talking. Suddenly all around Scarlett goes dark.
At first, she thinks she finally slipped into unconsciousness, but when she blinks she realizes that the power at the station has gone out. She can hear multiple gunshots but it sounds muffled. Slowly, Scarlett lets her eyes fall shut, the hands that were once pressing tightly to the gunshot wound, now lay gently across her stomach.
*_*_*_*_*_*
At the same time the gunfire stops, Derek and Stiles can feel the paralysis finally start to wear off. They both shakily get to their feet, with the Alpha helping the human. They make their way to Scarlett, ignoring her earlier protests.
Derek uses his hearing to see if she is still alive, "She was right. She's not going to make it to a hospital."
"Then bite her." Stiles glares.
"She said no, or do you not remember that?"
"I don't care what she said, we're running out of time. Bite her. Scott and Melissa can't lose her." Stiles eyes glisten with tears as he looks down at the unconscious girl. He doesn't say it aloud but he keeps thinking that he can't lose her either.
Derek looks at Stiles then glances at the teenager in front of him. Reluctantly Derek twists his head, now in his werewolf form he reaches down grabbing a hold of the girls arm. He bites down, leaving a bleeding bite mark.
"Get her out of here. Take her to Deaton. I'll cover you." Derek says as he reaches down picking the girl up and passing her to Stiles. Stiles nods, his shirt now coated in Scarlett's warm blood.
Making it out of the station and quickly placing the unconscious girl in the passenger seat. He drives as fast as he can to the vet clinic in search of Deaton. "What happened to her?" Deaton asks once he sees Scarlett in the boy's arms.
"She got shot. Derek had to bite her for her to survive."
Deaton nods, removing Scarlett's jean jacket and slightly moving her black crop top to clean and stitch the wound. "This will help the healing process go faster. She's going to need a lot of rest."
Stiles nods, "Scott doesn't know that Derek bit her. And Mrs. McCall doesn't even know that she was shot."
"She'll be alright. It looks like the wound may already be healing."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone