Once in a Lifetime

28

Stiles frowned at Theo. "I thought you had her scent."

"I lost it."

Stiles' eyes narrowed. "So find it again."

"What do you smell down here?"

"Chemicals and fecal matter. Although, I'm pretty sure the fecal matter is you."

Robin frowned. "Boys, enough. Theo, where is she? Stiles, no more rude remarks from you."

Stiles nodded. "Yes, ma'am."

Theo rolled his eyes at Stiles' insult. "I smell it, too. It's all that I can smell. Which is why I'm trying something else. So can you shut up and let me concentrate?"

"I'm gonna find her. With Deputy Young's help."

Theo shook his head. "You know you won't, Stiles. You're going to have to trust me."

"Trust you? The guy who murdered his own sister when he was nine?"

"Yeah, I was nine years old. I also believed a guy in a red suit came down the chimney to deliver presents. So when three people in leather masks showed up and said that my sister wanted me to have her heart, I believed them, too."

"So then together you gutted and killed her. That's a beautiful story."

Theo's expression hardened. "I watched her fall into the water and freeze to death in minutes. Do you think I had any idea what was going on?"

Stiles narrowed his eyes. "I think you pushed her. And I think you liked it."

"Boys!" Robin yelled. "That is enough! We have a seriously injured teenage girl to find. So quit the bickering and find that girl!"

In that moment, they heard a very distinct scream. Stiles whipped his head in the direction he thought the scream was coming from. "What direction was that? Where is it coming from?"

"Everywhere," Theo answered.

---

Lydia was strapped down to a chair, hearing a plethora of screaming in her head. Dr. Valack said to her, "Just hold on a little longer, Lydia. You can make it. I want you to focus on this, Lydia. And what other sounds you hear now, push them aside." Lydia attempted to do so as Dr Valack turned on a device emitting an electronic hum.

"Focus on this sound. That's it. Focus on this sound and my voice. All right, Lydia." Lydia gasped, seeing Nurse Cross. "Don't worry, Lydia. Nurse Cross wasn't nearly as strong as you are." Electricity began crackling and Lydia continued to whimper.

Scott and Liam found Deputy Parrish lying in a stairwell. "Parrish? Parrish," Scott called. "Parrish. Parrish, hey. Can you hear me?"

Parrish looked up at Scott. "How did I get here?"

Scott shook his head. "We don't know. We just followed the burning smell. Parrish, listen. Eichen's in lockdown. There's no way for us to get out unless Plan B works."

"Plan B? What's Plan B?"

"Don't worry about it. Right now, we need you to find Lydia."

"Me?"

"Actually, not completely you," Liam admitted. "We kind of need the other you."

Scott nodded. "The Hellhound."

Meanwhile, Malia and Kira nursed Josh and Corey, who wasn't healing. "Why isn't he healing?" Josh asked.

Malia shrugged. "Maybe he can't. Maybe it's too much."

"Or maybe it's the pain," Josh guessed as Corey groaned. "He's going to die, isn't he?"

"His heartbeat's getting slower."