Invisible String. Stiles Stilinski (1)

lxi. caleb the ghost

Just as he'd said that, a deafening scream filled their ears, making Amelie's eyes turn purple and energy surge through her body. "We've got to get out of here."

Stepping in front of them, Malia growled under her breath, "I know you're not gonna beat an eight-year-old's ass, but I will."

The were-coyote turned to Caleb, whose hair and shirt were soaked with water, and began to run towards him, but staggered and clutched her neck in shock as water began to dribble out of her mouth.

"You don't look so good. Maybe you should sit down..." Caleb said monotonously, staring at Malia as she fell to her knees, holding her throat. Amelie and Scott glanced at each other before turning to their friend to help her, but more and more water was coming out of her mouth and nose.

"Breathe, Malia. You have to breathe," Scott told Malia.

"Lydia!" Amelie screamed to the door as she patted on Malia's back softly.

Then, the nightmare continued. She slowly felt her own throat close up and water fell out of her mouth. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't catch a breath of air. Amelie fell to her knees and Scott followed, holding onto the steps to try and catch a breath, before turning to Caleb, "What are you doing to us?" She managed to choke out.

"You're drowning, just like me," He replied simply, as if it was the most normal answer. "Now we can be friends forever."

For a few moments, it was hell. Was this what it felt like to drown? To have your lungs fill up with water and try so hard to fight the urge to just let go? To let the water seep into every crevice of your lungs and just give in?

And then it was over. All the water cleared out of their system and Amelie gasped in relief, panting as she turned to her friends, who were fine now as well.  

"Mommy says you can go now," Caleb said as the door opened wide. Amelie didn't hesitate to run out of the room and out of the house, Malia and Scott on her tail. Lydia waited for them outside and sighed with relief when they walked outside.

"We're leaving," Scott ordered, "Now."

No one dared to object. Amelie would never dare to think about this place ever again, or having boys named Caleb. That name would only bring back this painful and traumatizing memory of almost being drowned by a dead ghost child.

Lydia turned around for a moment when Lenore and Caleb stood in their patio, causing the rest to turn to them as well. "You know, you can still come with us."

Lenore took in the words for a moment before wrapping an arm around Caleb's shoulder, "I couldn't leave Caleb."

"You know he's not real," Amelie pointed out softly, glancing at the boy, who had no reaction to the words.

Lenore just shook her head, "I couldn't leave Caleb."

🥰

Amelie had never been happier to get to Beacon Hills as she did in that moment. The further they got away from the ghost town, the more relieved Amelie became as she leaned her head against the window in the backseat, Scott doing the same on the other side.

The car ride was pretty much quiet, except for the quiet claims to skip a song or stop at a gas station for snacks. Amelie had appreciated the silence, she needed to get her thoughts in order.

So, the Ghost Riders invaded Canaan, leaving only Lenore, who was a Banshee. They didn't leave another person behind. Was that what was going to happen to Beacon Hills?

"You guys think Stiles sent us here to warn us?" Scott interrupted the silence, like he'd been reading Amelie's mind. "Maybe Beacon Hills is gonna be the next ghost town."

"If we don't stop it, yes," Malia nodded, glancing to Lydia, who sat in the passenger seat. "We need to get them to leave. Now."

"We can't," Lydia said plainly, "Not yet."

"Why can't we get rid of them?" Scott asked, staring at the back of Lydia's head.

"Because I saw what happens to the people they've taken when they leave."

"Do they all die?" Amelie asked with furrowed eyebrows.

"No... It's something worse than death. I felt it in Lenore's memory. It's like their soul's hollowed out," Lydia explained, "They became something else. I think they became Ghost Riders. And then... they were gone."

That was not comforting to hear. But, they didn't have much time to dwell on that as Malia drove into Scott's driveway. They all stepped out of the car and Amelie followed the Alpha into his house, mumbling a quiet 'hey' to Liam, who stared at her nervously.

"What did you do now?" She asked tiredly, patting his shoulder, not noticing the guest who stood across the kitchen counter. When she looked up at him, her blood ran cold.

"Amelie," Theo Raeken smirked, "You're not still mad about the whole... drug thing, right?"

Amelie's never beat anyone up before, but Theo Raeken has never looked more punchable.

author's note...!

theo is back!!!!!! i cant hate him no matter what lol