Invisible String ∴ Stiles Stilinski.

xlix. the whole universe

Finally, the guard showed what he had been hiding. In his hand, a large syringe was waiting. Before she could tell him to wait or to stop, the needle had already pierced her skin. She gasped at the feeling of numbness already starting.

"That's what you get for punching me, bitch."

I'd do it again, asshole— she thought, before darkness consumed her whole and a voice took her away.

When she opened her eyes, she was back in her room. White ceilings greeted her and her familiar chandelier. She was in her bed, and a familiar hand was caressing her hair softly.

"Time for bed, Ams," A voice whispered, and Amelie's eyes widened at the sight of her dad. This was a memory, one that had stuck with her all these years.

"Can you tell me that story again, dad?" She found herself asking quietly.

"But, I've already said it last night," Fin chuckled, "Don't you want to hear another one?"

"No," Amelie shook her head as she shuffled into a comfortable position. "I liked it a lot."

"Alright," He sighed, giving her a knowing look. "The Ghost Riders, as I said last night, are ancient history. They've been around since the start of this very universe. They've shifted history as we know it. Everything that has happened, you can imagine, ten times more events have happened, but we don't know them because they've been erased.

That's what they do, the Ghost Riders. They capture historical moments and erase them. Not just events— but people too. They capture them in the night and send them away, and within just moments, it's like they were never there. They're replaced by someone else, and every single trace of them is gone. Their room, their clothes, their fingerprints. It's all gone.

And people forget. Sometimes, they're hit with dejavu— you know what that is, right? They get this sudden feeling like they've seen this thing before, or they've been to this place before. And they probably have, but they just don't remember. And if you're ever close to remember, the Ghost Riders probably take you, too. If they don't take you, you can't see them, but you and I... we're special, we can see them, and they won't take us."

"But, I don't want to forget, dad," Amelie mumbled with wide eyes.

"You won't," Fin laughed, "The Ghost Riders haven't been seen in years."

"But what if they come back? What would Karly and I do?" Amelie whispered, placing her hand on his.

Fin frowned before whispering, "You know this universe is pretty big. It has all these planets and stars and stuff that we haven't even discovered... I still love you more than all of that. My love for you is bigger than the whole sky... and the whole universe."

"I love you too, dad."

"Come on, get some sleep," He smiled before kissing her forehead and heading out of her room, closing the lights and door.

For a few hours, Amelie slept until her door creaked open again. The sound made her flinch awake, opening one eye to look at the tiny intruder holding a teddy bear.

"Karly," Amelie whispered, "What is it?"

"Can I sleep here tonight?" Karly's small voice asked, eliciting a sigh out of Amelie, who made some room for her on her bed.

"Did you have a bad dream?" The older sister asked once the younger settled into the bed and they faced each other under the covers.

"Yeah," Karly nodded.