[twenty]
echo house

[TRIGGER WARNING]
—mentions of suicide

a/n:
skip the whole chapter if needed

ALEX BLEW OUT a breath, her, Stiles, and Noah getting out of Noah's car as they pulled up to the gates of Eichen House.

Stiles and Alex shared a glance, Stiles then sharing one with his father.

Scott pulled up on his motorcycle, getting off and approaching the three.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Scott asked, glancing between them.

"Because we wanted to avoid something like this." Noah spoke with a sigh.

"It's only seventy two hours." Stiles added.

"We'll be fine." Alex spoke, nodding.

"This is the same place where Barrow came from. The guy who had a tumour inside him filled with flies." Scott responded, frowning. He glanced at Noah. "You don't know everything yet."

"I know enough." Noah responded. "Nogitsunes, kitsunes, Oni, or whatever they're called."

"Wow, that was all actually surprisingly correct." Stiles spoke, raising his eyebrows.

"Scott, I saw an MRI that looked exactly like my wife's." Noah faced Scott, changing the subject. "And it terrifies me. I'm headed down to LA tomorrow to talk to a specialist."

"Then why are you putting him and Alex in here?" Scott asked with a frown.

"He's not." Alex responded. "It was mine and Stiles' collective decision."

"Stiles, Alex, I can't help you both if you're in here." Scott replied, glancing between the two.

"And we can't hurt you." Stiles spoke.

"Deaton's got some ideas, Argent's calling people." Scott replied, trying to convince the two not to go into Eichen House. "We're gonna find something. And if we can't..."

"If you can't, then you have to do something for me. For both of us, actually." Alex spoke, gesturing to Stiles as well. "Make sure we never get out."

"Come on..." Noah whispered, guiding Alex and Stiles inside the gates as they buzzed open.

••••

"For the first seventy two hours, there's no phone calls, no emails, no visitors." The nurse spoke as Noah circled the guardian option on Alex's form. He took Stiles' form, circling the parent option on it, however, he didn't sign his name on either of them as he hesitated.

"We will be taking you both from here to a brief physical." The nurse continued, glancing between Stiles and Alex, who both glanced at her. "In the morning, you'll be assessed by a staff psychologist, speak to a social worker, and attend group therapy."

"I feel like we're forgetting something." Noah spoke, putting down the pen.

"You will be wearing these, Stiles and Alex." The nurse added, placing two pairs of slippers on the table. "No laces allowed. None of you have a belt, do you?"

Alex shook her head as Stiles spoke. "No."

"Please empty your pockets in here." The nurse spoke, gesturing to a box.

Alex placed her phone, house keys, and her wallet in the box, Stiles untying his shoelaces.

"Your pillow, we forgot your pillow." Noah spoke, glancing at Stiles.

Alex glanced at Noah.

"Dad, it's okay." Stiles responded, glancing at him.

"No, you're never going to be able to fall asleep, we've gotta go back." Noah frowned. "Alex, you too, come on."

"It's fine, dad." Stiles imposed. "I don't need it."

"I can't believe I forgot it." Noah frowned. "I mean, every time that we've stayed in a hotel, the first thing you pack is your pillow."

"You can bring it tomorrow." Stiles replied as he placed his keys, wallet, and phone in the box. "It's alright."

"Okay, you know what? Stop, stop. Enough." Noah spoke, standing up. "Stiles, Alex, get your stuff. I'm not checking you in here if you're not gonna get one good nights sleep."

"Dad, we haven't had a good nights sleep in weeks." Stiles responded, engulfing his dad into a reassuring hug. After the two pulled away, the nurse guided Alex and Stiles down the hall.

••••

Alex stopped walking as she noticed Malia Tate further down the hall. She frowned. Stiles wondered why she stopped and glanced in the direction she was glancing in. He mirrored Alex's frown.

"Stiles, Alex?" The nurse asked. "This way, please."

The nurse continued to guide the teens up the stairs, Stiles noticing a guy about to hang himself. Alex frowned as she noticed the guy too. He was tying up rope to the stair ledge. The man began chanting two phrases repeatedly.

"Hey, do you see that?" Stiles asked the nurse as him and Alex began to walk faster up the stairs.

"Stiles, Alex, wait for me." The nurse frowned, however, the teenagers walked faster.

"That guy up there." Alex responded with a frown.

"Hey, hey, stop him!" Stiles yelled as the guy stood on the ledge.

"Stop! Somebody stop him!" Alex exclaimed.

Suddenly, the man walked off the ledge, the rope tightening around his neck and killing him instantly, the nurse gasping.

A crowd of people piled at the bottom of the stairs, Stiles and Alex frowning as they noticed the Nogitsune amongst it.

••••

"Alex, you're in this room." The nurse spoke as she approached a door. She unlocked it, revealing Malia sitting on one of the beds.

Alex and Stiles both frowned.

"Stiles, you are never allowed to come into the girls area again, okay?" The nurse spoke. "If you want to see each other, you do so in break times and group therapy."

Alex and Stiles shared a glance as the nurse spoke again. "Alex, go inside. You'll see Stiles tomorrow."

Alex slowly walked in, the nurse closing the door behind her and locking it, Alex blowing out a breath as she turned around to face Malia. The werecoyote was already looking at her.

Alex sat on the bed she was meant to be sleeping in. "Hey, Malia..." The girl started.

"You're one of the people that turned me back into a human, aren't you?" Malia asked immediately.

"It's good to see you're adjusting..." Alex mumbled.

"Answer my question." Malia responded bluntly.

Alex frowned. "Yes, I am. I'm Alex, by the way."

"I don't care." Malia spoke, Alex's frown deepening.

"Okay, I tried being friendly and that obviously didn't work. Look, I don't give a shit if you're not in the mood or if you're pissed off for some reason, because I've got my own fucked up issues to deal with, so if you could refrain from being a complete bitch, that would be lovely." Alex ranted, exhaling a breath. "And if we're going to share a room for seventy two hours, I would appreciate it if you could at least try to not get on my nerves."

Malia frowned. "Me get on your nerves? You were one of the people that ruined my life."

Alex raised her eyebrows. "Excuse me? Ruined your life? If anything, we saved your ass."

"Saved me? You turned me back into a human. You took me away from my home. And when you went into my den and got your scent everywhere, I couldn't go back there. That is not saving me." Malia responded, Alex crossing her arms.

Alex blew out a breath. "Look Malia, that was not our intention at all. We wanted to reunite you and your father. In fact, I'd love to even have a father at all. And a mother. Unfortunately, I have none. But you still have one of your parents. So when you get out of this loony bin, spend as much time with him as you can before it's too late."

Malia frowned in confusion.

"My parents died when I was little." Alex explained, resting her hands on her knees and fiddling with her fingers as she glanced at the ground. "Hunters killed them right in front of me."

Malia's eyes softened.

"Truthfully, I didn't spend as much time with them as I wanted. Or needed, for that matter." Alex continued quietly. "For awhile, I blamed myself."

Malia walked over to Alex, sitting down next to her, Alex glancing at Malia confusedly. "I know how it feels to feel like that. It's not a good feeling."

Alex blew out a breath. "Malia, I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Malia responded. "I forgive you. Your friends though, I don't forgive."

Alex chuckled. "So we're good?"

"We're good." Malia nodded, sending Alex a small smile.

Alex added. "Oh, uh, I'm a werewolf, by the way. Just thought I should let you know..."

Malia nodded. "I know you are. Your scent told me."

Alex raised her eyebrows but continued anyway.

"Also, I have insomnia and I can't sleep, so..." Alex sighed, Malia frowning. "Uh, feel free to sleep, though, I'll just stare at the ceiling..."

Malia nodded as she walked over to her bed, lying down and facing the wall, Alex releasing a breath as she lied down on her back, facing the ceiling.

••••

Alex noticed Stiles standing by the phone with a boy. Alex assumed the boy was Stiles' roommate.

She ran over to them. "Hey, Sti."

Stiles turned to face her in surprise, a small smile working its way onto his lips. "Hey, Lex. You have no idea how happy I am to see you."

"Believe me, so am I." Alex released a breath.

"Who's this?" She added as she glanced at Stiles' roommate.

"I'm Oliver." Stiles' roommate, Oliver, responded, sending Alex a small smile.

"Alex." Alex introduced.

Oliver turned to Stiles. "You'd be surprised how many Jesus' we have."

"Not really." Stiles responded. Alex frowned in confusion.

"Hey, how come you wanna use the phone already?" Oliver frowned.

"Cause after one night, I've changed my mind about this place being safe for me, or anyone ever, and I'm taking Alex too." Stiles responded, Alex raising her eyebrows but nodding anyway.

Suddenly, a girl began talking into the phone, catching Oliver, Stiles, and Alex's attention. "No, I think you're wrong. I really think I should tell them. They're going to want to know the story. The whole story. I really think they should know. Yes, I do. Two of them are standing right behind me." She whispered the last part, however, Alex and Stiles heard it, frowning.

The girl hung up the phone and walked past them quickly, her eyes set on the floor.

"Who was that?" Alex asked with a frown as she glanced at Oliver.

Stiles walked over to the phone, Alex and Oliver following.

"That's Meredith. She's a little weird." Oliver responded.

"You're a little weird, she's a lot weird." Stiles replied as he held the phone to his ear, realising it wasn't actually on at all.

"It's dead." Stiles frowned. Alex mirrored his frown.

"Yeah." Oliver spoke like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "They turn off all the phones for twenty four hours after a suicide."

"Why didn't you tell me that before?" Stiles asked as he noticed Malia, Alex noticing her too.

"Why didn't you ask?" Oliver frowned, Alex glaring at him in annoyance.

Stiles placed the phone back on the hook and began walking, Alex falling into step next to him.

"What are you guys gonna do now?" Oliver questioned as he began walking with them.

"We're getting out of this nuthouse." Stiles responded.

"That's not really the appropriate way to describe a facility like this." Oliver replied.

"Malia?" Stiles asked as he approached Malia, who turned to face him.

She sent Alex a small smile, Alex sending her one back.

"Hey. It's Stiles." Stiles spoke, catching Malia's attention. "You probably already know Alex, because you're roommates...uh, do you remember me? I'm also friends with Scott. Remember? We were the ones who helped you out with-"

Before he could finish his sentence, Malia punched him in the jaw, Alex's eyes going wide as she rushed to Stiles' side, Stiles falling to the ground.

"Hey! Malia!" The head nurse, Brunski, yelled as he grabbed Malia roughly, two other nurses grabbing Stiles and Alex, despite Alex doing nothing wrong.

"She hit me!" Stiles exclaimed as a nurse pinned him to the ground. "Alex didn't do anything, she had nothing to do with this!"

The nurse didn't pin Alex to the ground, only held her arms back roughly when she tried to get out of his grip and help Stiles.

She moved around in his arms, trying to escape, however the nurse pulled her arms back tighter, Alex wincing.

If Deaton hadn't injected her with the Nogitsune poison and temporarily stopped her from turning into a werewolf, she would've easily kicked his ass.

"A few more like this Malia, and your headed to the closed unit." Brunski spoke to Malia as he restrained her.

"Okay, wait, wait! Stop, Alex and I didn't do anything!" Stiles protested as the nurse didn't get off him. "Stop!"

He suddenly stopped moving, glancing down at the floor, which had a few holes in it that showed the basement. He recognised the room. It was where he saw him and Alex that night when the Nogitsune first spoke to him.

"Enough!" Morrell's voice exclaimed, ceasing the commotion. The nurses released Stiles and Alex, Alex shrugging him off her completely.

Alex helped Stiles up from the ground, Stiles still looking down at the basement.

"What? Stiles, what do you see?" Alex whispered. She glanced down at the basement. "Was that the place?" Stiles gently nodded, still glancing at the room.

"Stiles." Morrell spoke, catching Alex and Stiles' attention. "You saw something, didn't you?"

"That basement." Stiles started. "Alex and I have been down there before."

••••

"I want to go back to the topic of guilt today." Morrell started, glancing between Alex, Stiles, Oliver, Meredith, and Malia. Alex was seated next to Malia and Morrell, her arms crossed. "It might surprise you to hear me say that guilt is a good thing. It's a rather mature emotion."

"Malia. You said something about guilt the other day." Morrell continued. "You said it came with visceral reaction."

"I said it made me feel sick to my stomach." Malia corrected, Oliver beginning to cough.

Alex only realised now that Stiles had marks on the back of his neck. She touched her own neck, wondering if the marks were also on hers. She began to feel a dull ache in her forehead, the girl frowning.

"Guilt often becomes physical. You feel it in your gut." Morrell moved on, Alex and Stiles sharing a glance. "It's not just psychological. How does guilt make you feel, Alex?"

Alex glanced at Morrell, everyone glancing at Alex. "Uh...I guess like I'm suffocating."

Morrell frowned. "Do you mind elaborating?"

Alex blew out a breath as she continued.

"It makes me feel like I can't reach out or talk to anyone about it, but at the same time, I can't keep it to myself. I'm sort of...stuck in the middle." Alex frowned to herself.

Morrell nodded, glancing at Stiles. "How does guilt make you feel, Stiles?" She caught his attention.

"I'm sorry, what?" Stiles asked.

"Guilt. What does it make you feel?" Morrell questioned.

"Nervous." Stiles responded.

"Like a sense of urgency?" Morrell asked, Alex and Stiles sharing another glance. "You feel and urgent need to make up for something you've done. To apologise. These are healthy responses. Does anyone know what we call someone who doesn't experience guilt?"

"A sociopath?" Oliver asked.

"That's right, Oliver." Morrell nodded.

Stiles rubbed his neck, revealing red lines. Alex held her forehead as the ache got worse. Morrell glanced between them. "I'm sorry everyone, but we need to take a break. Come with me, Stiles and Alex. I'd like to talk to you for a minute."

Alex and Stiles frowned but stood up anyway, following Morrell.

••••

"It's called a Lichtenberg figure." Morrell started, lightly touching Stiles' shoulder, which had red and purple lines on it. "They appear on lightning strike victims."

Stiles turned to face her with a frown, Alex crossing her arms.

"The fact that they're appearing on you after a shot of wolf lichen is both significant and strange." Morrell continued with a frown.

"Wait, I got injected too, why don't I have the marks?" Alex frowned.

"It's affecting Stiles everywhere, whereas, it's only affecting you in the mind. You don't have the marks, but you'll continue to experience migraines and headaches." Morrell explained.

"Great." Alex released an annoyed breath. "Just perfect."

"And by significant and strange, do you mean hopeful and optimistic?" Stiles raised his eyebrows.

"When the marks fade, the Nogitsune's grip over both of you will return." Morrell ignored Stiles' comment, pulling out a small tub of pills and handed them only to Stiles.

"What are these, sleeping pills?" Stiles frowned.

"Amphetamines." Morrell responded. "Sleeping is exactly what you don't want to do. You're vulnerable when you're asleep."

"So if I fall asleep, it won't do anything to affect me or Stiles, correct?" Alex raised her eyebrows.

"Correct." Morrell nodded, glancing at her. "However, if Stiles falls asleep..."

She didn't finish her sentence, however, the teenagers knew what she meant.

"So all I have to do is stay awake?" Stiles asked with a frown.

"For now." Morrell responded. "If your friends haven't figured out something by the time those marks are gone...I'll come find you both."

"To tell us what to do?" Alex asked.

"No, to give you an injection." Morrell responded. "Pancuronium bromide."

"It causes respiratory paralysis." Alex frowned.

"That sounds a lot like death." Stiles narrowed his eyes.

"It's used for lethal injection, yes." Morrell nodded.

"So when the Nogitsune takes over, you're gonna kill us?" Stiles asked annoyedly.

"I'm gonna do what I've always done." Morrell corrected. "Maintain the balance."

"Okay then. I've missed our talks." Stiles released a breath as him and Alex began to walk away. "Thanks for the illicit drugs."

"Stiles." Morrell stopped them. "Stay awake."

••••

Alex walked into the boys shower room, only to find Malia in nothing but a towel, talking to Stiles.

"We did kinda save your life." Stiles spoke to Malia as Alex walked up to them and crossed her arms.

"You're right, Stiles." Malia responded sarcastically. "Thank you. Thanks for invading my home, for putting me on the run, for turning me back to a human so that I could look at my father everyday and try to figure out how to explain to him that the reason my sister and mother are dead is because I almost ate them on a full moon. Thank you so very much."

"We were just trying to help." Stiles responded.

"You want to help me? Find a way to change me back." Malia replied, Alex and Stiles frowning.

"You wanna go back? To being a werecoyote?" Stiles frowned. Alex mirrored his frown.

"What do you guys know?" Malia glanced between the two.

"We might know somebody who could teach you how to change." Alex responded.

"Okay, what do you want?" Malia asked.

"We need to get to the basement." Stiles spoke, Alex nodding. "Which means we need to get the keys off that orderly, the big one."

"Brunski." Malia spoke.

"You help us, we help you." Stiles responded.

••••

Oliver pinned Malia down to the ground, Alex and Stiles watching at the side.

"Get this nut job off me!" Malia exclaimed.

"No, she said that they drill holes in your head! She said they're gonna put a hole in my head!" Oliver yelled as a few nurses restrained him.

Malia quickly handed Stiles the keys secretly as Stiles and Alex helped Malia get up.

"You okay?" Alex questioned, Malia nodding. "Stiles, you know what to do, right?"

Stiles nodded as he walked off.

••••

"No, no, no, shhh! Stiles, it's okay!" Alex exclaimed in a whisper shout as she broke into the cell Stiles was locked in, Stiles yelling. Alex cupped her hand on Stiles' cheek, her other hand on his shoulder. "Shhh, it's okay."

Stiles panted, glancing between Alex's eyes. "How did you get in here?"

"I broke the lock. Obviously." Alex explained, Stiles huffing a chuckle. "I think I'm getting my werewolf powers back. Slowly, though, I'm still not as strong as I usually am yet. Get up." She helped Stiles stand up. "Apparently there's another way to the basement. Through the closed unit. Malia told me where to go."

••••

Alex and Stiles walked into the basement, looking around. "Do you know what we're supposed to be looking for?"

"Something to do with that." Stiles gestured to the backwards number five on the wall. The two walked up to it, Alex tracing her fingers along the marks.

"Self, right?" Alex glanced at Stiles, who nodded.

••••

The two teens were searching through papers they found.

"Wow, this place definitely used to be more fun." Alex sarcastically spoke. "Ooo, my favourite. Electroshock. Wait, even better, ice baths. Hmm, trepanation. That sounds exciting."

"That's what Oliver was talking about." Stiles frowned. "Trepanation is-"

"When they drill into your head, yeah, I know." Alex frowned, cutting him off. "No wonder they don't want anyone down here..."

Stiles blew out an annoyed breath. "There's nothing here. Could you do me a favour? Could you just check the lines on my back? Just tell me if they're fading?"

"Yeah, sure." Alex nodded, Stiles turning his back to her as he shifted his position on the couch.

Alex lifted up Stiles' shirt, revealing the fading marks. "Yeah, they're almost gone..." She frowned, Stiles hesitating. The two knew what that meant.

Stiles turned back around to face her, Alex glancing at the ground. "What?"

"I just...I'm scared, Stiles." Alex sighed, Stiles frowning. "I don't- I don't wanna die. Not like this."

Stiles then placed his hand on one of Alex's, intertwining their fingers together. Alex glanced at Stiles' hand in hers, her eyes then flickering between his eyes.

Stiles glanced at her, meeting her gaze. "We're not gonna die, okay? I won't let anything hurt you."

"We either kill ourselves, or the people we love. It's a lose lose, Sti." Alex sighed.

Alex knew if being in Eichen House didn't kill them, the Nogitsune would. And she didn't want to die anytime soon without doing the one thing she had wanted to do for years.

Alex leaned in, connecting her lips with Stiles' softly, the boy widening his eyes as he soon closed them, melting into the kiss.

He gently squeezed Alex's hand as he remembered the moment him and Alex first kissed in the locker room.

Only this time, he wouldn't make the mistake of not kissing her back.

The two slowly pulled away.

"What was that for?" Stiles asked softly, glancing between Alex's eyes.

"I'm gonna say something, and I don't want you to talk until I'm finished, okay?" Alex responded, Stiles nodding. "I know if we don't get out of here, we'll die. But I also know that if we do, the Nogitsune will force us to kill everyone we love, and then kill us afterwards, and- and I don't want to die without telling you something I've always wanted to tell you."

Stiles didn't say anything as he slightly frowned in question.

Alex gently squeezed his hand as she explained. "I like you, Stiles. I like you a lot. And I have ever since we met. I don't know why I didn't tell you earlier...I guess I was nervous..."

Stiles' frown faded as he glanced between Alex's eyes. Butterflies erupted in his stomach at her confession. "Nervous?" He asked softly.

"That you wouldn't like me back." Alex whispered.

Suddenly, Stiles surprised Alex this time as he leaned in, kissing the girl softly. Alex's eyes fluttered closed, Stiles' eyes already gently closed.

They pulled away again, Alex glancing between his eyes. "What was that for?" She asked the question Stiles asked her.

"My turn." Stiles replied quietly, Alex nodding. "I like you too. A lot. And I mean, a lot. Even ask Scott, I told him from the first day I met you, he'll remember, because I tell him how much I like you everyday-" Stiles cut himself off as Alex raised her eyebrows, a small smirk appearing on her face. "But...yeah...I like you too."

Alex huffed a chuckle as she smiled, Stiles glancing between her eyes in admiration. His eyes flickered from her eyes, down to her lips.

The two both leaned in, connecting their lips again, this time, Stiles removing his hand from Alex's to cup her cheek, deepening the kiss.

Alex's hand cupped his cheek, Stiles taking his hand off her cheek as he gently placed it on her knee.

Alex pulled away slowly, still a few centimetres away from Stiles' lips, Stiles leaning in to kiss her again, however, Alex gently placed her other hand on his chest, stopping him from doing so.

She gently rubbed circles on Stiles' cheek with her thumb as she glanced between his eyes.

"Can we do something else?" Alex whispered, Stiles' eyes flickering between her eyes and her lips.

"Something else?" Stiles asked quietly, his voice raspy and his breath fanning Alex's lips.

Alex nodded as she pulled away from Stiles to take off her shirt, revealing her black, lacy bra. Stiles' eyes travelled down to her chest and then back up to her face.

Stiles thought she was the most beautiful girl in the world.

He cupped her cheek and kissed her again, Alex cupping both his cheeks as the kiss deepened.

Stiles removed his hand from her cheek, as Alex leaned back so she was lying on the couch, the kiss breaking briefly.

The two connected their lips again, Stiles climbing over her body, his arms to the side of Alex, holding his body up.

The kiss broke again as Alex smiled, Stiles cupping her cheek, his lips just hovering over Alex's lips as he spoke softly, his hot breath fanning them. "You're the most amazing girl in the world, Alex."

Alex's admiring gaze flickered between Stiles' eyes, the girl raising her head up slightly and connecting their lips again, resting her head back down on the couch, the kiss not breaking until Stiles moved his lips to the side of Alex's neck.

He planted kisses along her neck, his lips slowly trailing down it, Alex releasing a breath and softly threading her hand through Stiles' hair, the girl closing her eyes.

Alex went to put her other hand on Stiles' shoulder, however, Stiles took it off gently and placed it on the couch next to her head, intertwining their fingers together and gently squeezing, Alex squeezing his hand too as Stiles' lips moved to kiss her chest.

Alex bit her lip as she smiled again, her eyes opening for a second, Stiles still kissing the girl's chest. Of course Alex had let Isaac do this to her before, but it didn't feel nearly as good as it did in this very moment.

Maybe it was because she was in love with Stiles Stilinski.

••••

Alex glanced up at Stiles, a grin spreading across her face as Stiles smiled back, Stiles' thumb gently rubbing Alex's hand as their fingers were still intertwined.

Stiles' arm was around Alex's torso, Alex's other hand around Stiles' arm.

Alex frowned as she thought of something. "Stiles." She spoke as she got out of Stiles' grip, Stiles glancing at her in question as he followed her.

Alex walked over to the backwards five drawn on the wall, and gently knocked on the wall. It was hollow. "Do you hear that?" The knocking echoed.

Stiles picked up a metal rod, Alex standing back as Stiles broke through the wall, hitting it aggressively with the rod.

He dropped it as him and Alex leaned over to look through the hole in the wall, only to find the decayed remains of a person, mummy wrappings strewn on and around it, and a katana sheath against it.

"This is him." Stiles spoke with a frown

"The Nogitsune." Alex breathed. She reached in and took a note from its pocket, handing it to Stiles. "We have to show this to Scott." Stiles nodded.

Suddenly Stiles got electrified by a stun gun, Alex frowning as she turned to face Oliver. Stiles fell to the floor as his body twitched form the electric shock.

"You took Brunski's keys." Oliver started. "I took his stun gun." Before Alex could attack him, Oliver electrocuted Alex, Alex wincing and sliding to the floor, Oliver crouching in front of her.

"I also took his Haldol." He then injected Alex with the needle he stole, Alex wincing again before her eyes closed, her body relaxing as she fell unconscious.

"Like I was saying, Stiles." Oliver started. "I heard they used to do trepanation here."

"Oliver." Stiles spoke weakly, speaking again between pants. "What are you doing?"

Oliver turned around to face Stiles with a nail gun. "I'm gonna let the evil spirits out."

••••

Stiles woke up hazily to find Oliver in front of him.

"I borrowed a few points from the five-point restraint." Oliver started as Stiles glanced at his body, only to find himself strapped up to a chair.

Stiles grunted as he tried to escape. "Oliver, stop this."

Oliver then coughed aggressively, coughing up blood, along with a firefly. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Oliver, listen to me." Stiles spoke as Oliver went closer to him with the nail gun, the gun whirring as Oliver turned it on. "Oliver, stop! Stop!"

"Start with her." The Nogitsune's menacing voice spoke, stopping Oliver from hurting Stiles.

Oliver walked over to Alex, the girl already strapped up to the chair and still unconscious.

"You did this." Stiles whispered to the Nogitsune, tears stinging his eyes. "You got into his head."

"Every Dracula needs a Renfield." The Nogitsune whispered.

Stiles' attention went to Alex. "Just let her go. You said you wouldn't hurt her. Just let her go."

"Let me in." The Nogitsune hissed.

Stiles grunted again as he tried to escape, the restraints stopping him from doing so.

"Stiles." The Nogitsune spoke. "Do you want her to leave here alive? She'd join us, Stiles. Do you want us to leave? We can walk out of this place. All of us." The Nogitsune glanced at Alex.

"Just let her go, please." Stiles replied, his voice wavering as tears stung his eyes.

"Let me in." The Nogitsune whispered. "She already did." It gestured to Alex, Stiles' eyes widening.

Oliver positioned the nail gun in front of Alex's head.

"Let me in, Stiles." The Nogitsune spoke again.

Stiles grunted as he tried moving, however, trying to escape was no use. "Just let her go, please!"

The nail gun whirred as Oliver turned it on again.

"Let me in." The Nogitsune demanded.

Stiles closed his eyes tightly, tears slipping down from them.

"Let me in, and I'll let her live. She's with us anyway, Stiles. She'll be safe." The Nogitsune persuaded.

Stiles' eyes and body relaxed as he fell asleep.

Before Oliver could drill through Alex's head, the girl woke up, breaking through the restraints and gripping the gun tightly.

She stood up, her werewolf eyes glowing briefly as she hit Oliver over the head violently with the gun, throwing it to the floor once Oliver fell unconscious.

Stiles broke out of his restraints, standing up and gently rubbing his wrists. "That's my girl." He smirked as he glanced at Alex.

••••

a/n:

holy shit dylan's so hot (as proven by the gif at the beginning and literally every scene, tv show, and movie he's ever been in).

can dylan actually marry me. please. I'm begging. dylan hmu bby 🤪🤪

also I love alex and malia's friendship already. they're gonna be great friends y'all, you just WAIT.

but oh my goddddd.

alex and stiles are finally together. stalex is finally rising. I love them so much.

also if you couldn't tell, stiles is supposed to be kissing alex in the gif, not malia. just thought I'd make that clear if it wasn't already...

that bring me to my next point. this chapter is officially dedicated to my amazing best friend kristy_nicolaou 🥰 you're the biggest stalex stan and have been since the beginning, so I fed you well this chapter hehe. I hope you enjoy it :))

also let me know what the rest of y'all think about this chapter, void stalex, and normal stalex. let's fangirl together.

as always, thank you for reading, voting, and commenting, I love you all 💚💚

—voidelmslie 💌✨