Love's Spiral

Yesterday had taken a lot out of Spencer. So much had happened in such a short time span. Multiple fights with Scott, a fight with Derek, a fight with her mom, a fight with Stiles. Spencer wasn’t a big fan of all this drama she had going on in her life. Some of the ties she broke yesterday needed to be mended and she knew that much. This reason alone was the main reason why she didn’t want to go to school the next day. Spencer knew the first friendships that needed mending were the most important ones: Scott and Stiles. However, sitting in the same classrooms as them all day without a single word wouldn’t be much help.

Spencer had waited until the end of the school day to park her truck in the parking lot. She knew what class they had last so she knew about where Scott and Stiles would be in the school. Spencer went straight to their lockers first, hoping to just find them there. She walked slowly down the steps just in front of the lockers when she heard their voices. Spencer turned the corner to the second flight of stairs to see the two of them sitting just at the bottom.

“We need that book.” They’d said at the same time.

Stiles grabbed his backpack and pushed himself off of the floor. He nodded to Scott and turned to walk up the stairs.

Now or never. Spencer thought, hurrying down the stairs to stop him. She stood directly in front of him so he couldn’t finish his climb.

Stiles gasped. “Oh… God.”

“Hey, Stiles.” Spencer said with a smile.

Scott noticed Spencer’s arrival and stopped himself from leaving to watch the conversation between the two.

“Spencer… Hey.” Stiles smiled nervously. “You’re looking rather…scholarly. You know, for someone who didn’t come to school.”

“I’m here now.” Spencer pointed out.

“It’s the end of the day?”

“Oh, well. I tried.” She joked. “Listen, can we, uh, can we talk?”

Stiles looked from Spencer to Scott and quickly back again. “Why? You want to find out what we know?” He paused. “If we know anything… Which we don’t.”

“No. I wanna help.” Spencer shrugged.

“How do I know that you’re not just saying that?”

Spencer sighed. She grabbed Stiles’ hand, and pushed his first two fingers against the pulse spot on her own neck. Then Spencer looked to Scott, wanting to make sure that Scott would also listen for her pulse.

Scott nodded, knowing what she wanted.

Spencer took a deep breath. “Stiles, I would really like to help you track down whatever this thing is. And, I’m really sorry that I didn’t tell you about what I was planning on doing before I did it. You deserve more than that from me.”

“Are you gonna run and tell Derek about what we find?”

“Probably not.” Spencer said.

Stiles raised an eyebrow to her.

“No, I’m not. He scared the daylights out of the other betas yesterday. I’m not exactly happy with him right now.”

Stiles knew that he wanted to have Spencer’s help. However, he had to look to Scott for confirmation about it being okay.

Scott nodded.

Stiles pulled his hand from Spencer’s grasp and lowered it. “Okay.” He said finally, earning a smile from Spencer. “Stick with Scott. Get out your phone. I’m playing messenger boy and I don’t want to run a mile between him and Allison this time.”

Spencer saluted lamely at her friend. “Aye, aye.” She said, stepping down the stairs to join Scott.

“Why the change in heart?” Scott asked. The two of them made their way over to the side of the hallway in front of the lockers.

“There’s not really a change. I’m just trying to mend a couple of damaged friendships.” Spencer admitted. “I’m kind of hoping that you guys are going to be okay with me being in Derek’s pack and being friends with you. I want you to trust me again.”

“It’s not so fun when no one trusts you, huh?” Scott asked with a smile.

“Not really.” Spencer laughed. “I mean, the way that Stiles just brushed me off last night really bugged me. We’ve been friends since almost preschool and it would suck to have something as stupid as all this crap come between us.” Spencer’s phone rang from in her pocket. She pulled it out quickly and answered it, not bothering to put it on speaker, knowing Scott could hear. “Go ahead, caller. You’re on the air.”

“Hey, I found Allison.” Stiles said.

“Hi, Spencer.” Allison greeted. “Scott.”

“Alright, business first, love later.” Stiles pushed. “Have you ever seen anyone in your family with a bestiary?”

Allison snickered. “I think you mean - ”

“No, I mean bestiary. And the two of you, I don’t want to know what’s going on in your heads.”

Spencer furrowed her brow and looked to Scott. “Did you think he meant beastiality?”

Scott turned the corner of his mouth up and shrugged.

Spencer groaned. “You two are perfect for each other.” she pointed out.

“Like, bound in leather?” Allison said, catching Spencer’s attention.

“So you’ve heard of it?” The redhead asked.

“Yeah, I mean, Gerard dropped it in front of me and said something about how he would be lost without it.”

“Where does she think he keeps it?” Scott asked Spencer, who relayed the question over the phone to Allison.

“It’s gotta be in his office.” Allison guessed. “Somewhere he knows he wouldn’t lose it.”

“You know drug dealers have been using disposable cell phones pretty successfully for years.” Stiles joked. “I mean, what do you really need us for?” He asked, referring to him and Spencer.

“My parents check every call, email, and text message I send. Trust me, they’ll find it.”

“That all doesn’t matter.” Spencer insisted. “Can we get the book?”

“Not without his keys.” Allison responded.

Spencer smiled with a plan forming in her mind. “Easy peasy. Allison, you have to go find Gerard. Convince him to go to the game tonight. And, make sure he brings his keys.”

!@#$#@!

Spencer sat with Stiles on the lacrosse bench during the game. She kept picking at her nails nervously and jumped with a sharp intake of breath every time a giant player from the other team, “The Abomination,” checked someone. Spencer was thankful that Stiles wasn’t playing. She was also thankful Isaac couldn’t, even though he wouldn’t get seriously hurt anymore. Coach sat on the other side of Stiles talking to him about the overgrown kid.

Spencer noticed Jackson walk up to Scott.

“McCall. What the hell are you waiting for?” Jackson asked, grabbing Scott’s arm. “This is semi-finals. Bring that roid-head into the ground.”

“Me?” Scott questioned. “You’re the one who said that I was a cheater.”

“And that freak of nature being on the field is fair?” Jackson counted. “Do something.”

“I can’t. Not while Allison’s grandfather is here.”

Spencer’s eyes shot behind her to see that Allison and her grandfather had arrived. Spencer hadn’t seen them come up. She locked eyes with Allison and nods.

Allison put the plan into action, trying to get Gerard’s jacket from him.

Spencer turned back to Stiles. She gave him a small push. “Go.” She said to him.

Stiles looked to her quickly. “What, now?”

“Yes, now.” Spencer said, glancing towards Allison. “She’s got the jacket. And the keys. Go.” With Spencer’s push, Stiles was off of the bench and headed around to the set of bleachers Allison was on. Spencer turned her attention back to the violent game in front of her.

“Pass complete.” Stiles said aloud, knowing Spencer would hear him. “Onto phase two.” Stiles took off towards the school.

Spencer keeps her focus on him, following him in her mind into the school. Something made Stiles stop in his pursuit into the school building. There was a crying girl.

“Hey, Lydia, what’s wrong?” She heard Stiles ask.

Spencer groaned internally. “Stiles, no. We don’t have time for this.” She cursed the hyperactive boy out loud.

“Where’s Stilinski?” the Coach called, taking Spencer from her thoughts. Coach leaned down and looked at her. “Where’s Stilinski?” He repeated.

Spencer shrugged, not sure what to say. “I, uh…. Bathroom?” She lied.

Coach groaned and looked back at the field. “Kid picks now, of all times, to take a piss.” Coach turned to face the stands, looking over everyone. He picks out Boyd. “You!” Coach called, pointing at him. “You! You play lacrosse?”

Spencer turned, looking to the beta. “Boyd.” She said, warningly. “Don’t.”

Boyd looked to Erica like he was thinking about it. He made his decision. Boyd was about to push himself out of his seat, but Erica grabbed his arm.

“Derek won’t like this.” Erica told him.

“She’s right, Boyd. Don’t do it.” Spencer affirmed.

Boyd had made his choice. “Yeah, but I will.” He stood up and shed his jacket.

The coach cheered. “Yeah! We got ourselves a player!”

“Everyone really sucks at listening to me lately.” Spencer complained to herself. She pulled out her phone and sent a text message to Stiles asking him what he was doing. Spencer paid close attention, listening for the chime of Stiles’ phone signalling that he got her text message.

“Can you just give me five minutes?” He asked Lydia.

Spencer sighed, thankful he was getting back on track. She sat on the bench, making sure that Boyd didn’t get too carried away in the game. Five minutes later, she had received a text message from Stiles. He couldn’t find anything.

The redhead’s attention was turned back to the game just in time to find that Boyd had checked “The Abomination,” and he was out of the game. “Alright, Boyd, he’s out of the game. Take it easy now. I’ve got to take care of something.” Spencer stood up and turned facing the crowd, looking for Erica. She couldn’t find the blonde. Spencer dialed Stiles number quickly, waiting for him to answer the phone. When he didn’t, Spencer ran towards the school.

As Spencer made her way towards the building, she noticed Lydia’s car with her still in it, crying. He hadn’t come back outside to comfort her. Spencer furrowed her brow and tried calling him again, receiving no answer. She groaned and rushed into the school, following his scent. Spencer followed the smell to the pools. She opened the double doors and saw Stiles in the room with Erica and Derek. She scoffed. “Of course you would, Derek.”

Derek raised his eyebrows. “You weren’t getting anything out of him. I had to do something.”

“Get something out of me?” Stiles questioned Spencer. “You were trying to trick us.” He accused.

“I wasn’t.” Spencer said, honestly. “Not this time. You felt my heartbeat.” She pointed out, moving to stand to the left of Stiles, between him and Derek.

That statement angered Derek. He channeled his wolf, growing his claws to pop the basketball in his hands, the air hissing out of it.

“Holy God.” Stiles whimpered.

“Let’s try this again.” Derek threatened. “What did you see?”

“Alright.” Stiles consented. “The thing was pretty slick looking.” His eyes darted around the room, pulling out the memory. “Skin was dark. Kind of patterned. I think I actually saw scales. Is that enough?”

Derek stood unimpressed.

“Okay? ‘Cause I have somebody I really need to talk to.”

“Stiles, we need more specific details. Scales and patterns aren’t enough to build off of. Tell us everything and then you can go back out to Lydia.” Spencer said, regretting every word.

“How do you - ?”

“I have super hearing, remember?”

“Right.” Stiles said, grunting, almost hating himself for not realizing she was probably listening in to his conversation with Lydia. “Alright, fine. Eyes. Eyes are yellowish and slitted.” Stiles gulped. “It has a lot of teeth. Oh, and it’s got a tail, too.”

Spencer looked to Derek, wondering if that could be enough information. Only Derek was looking up over Stiles’ head. She followed his line of sight, seeing the creature climb onto the railings on the second floor of the area.

“Are we good?” Stiles asked.

Erica breathed deeply, afraid when she looked up to see the creature.

“What?” Stiles questioned, confused by their looks. “What, have you seen it? You have this look on your faces like you know exactly what I’m talking about.” Stiles pointed out.

“That’s ‘cause we do.” Spencer said, pointing up and behind him.

The creature hissed.

Stiles looked up, finally seeing what they saw. “Whoa!” Both he and Spencer back up away from the door, moving to stand behind Derek.

“Stiles,” Spencer called. “Get out of here, now!”

The creature jumped down from the second floor and crouched in front of the four of them.

“Doesn’t looked much like an option.”

The three wolves shift, baring their canines and growling at the figure.

Erica didn’t get very far. She was closest to the animal. Erica was knocked off her feet and thrown against a wall. She hit the ground with a thud, and didn’t get up.

Derek turned around and pushed Stiles in his chest. “Run!” he shouted. “Go!”

As Derek’s back is turned, the creature slashes at Derek. All too late, Derek turns back around to attack back.

“Derek, your neck!” Stiles shouts at him.

Spencer squints, trying to get a better look. “What is that?” Spencer asks as Derek reaches around to feel for the cut.

“I think I know.” Stiles said, rushing forward, and grabbing Derek, wrapping the older wolf’s arm around his own shoulder. “Come on! Come here!” Stiles said, forcing Derek to comply with the help. Stiles turns them around and they hurry away from the animal.

“Stiles, get him out of here!” Spencer shouts in his direction.

“What about you?” Stiles called over his shoulder.

“I’m going after him.”

“No, Red! Don’t!” Derek shouted, wishing he had the ability to run back for her and grab her to take her away.

Only it’s too late.

As Spencer approaches the creature, she’s grabbed by her hoodie and thrown against one of the diving platforms. Her head hits the corner of it hard, knocking her out.

!@#$#@!

“Stiles!”

Spencer groaned, hearing her friend’s name being shouted. She rolled over onto her side, nearly falling into the water. She was at the edge when she realized where she was. Spencer looked around, seeing Stiles swim to the edge towards his phone. She called out to him. “Stiles, where’s Derek?”

“At the bottom.” He said, simply, some words being drowned out by the water.

“You let him drown!?”

“He’s not dead yet! It’s been an hour, Spence! You try swimming for that long.” Stiles quickly reaches out to get his phone.

Spencer groaned and dove into the water. She swam to the bottom, grabbing Derek by his shirt and quickly pulling him up to the surface. As she cleared the top of the water, she saw Stiles drop his phone into the water and grab onto Derek. “What was that?” Spencer asked him. “Was that Scott?”

“Yeah, he freaking hung up on me.” Stiles grumbled.

“So what the hell are we supposed to do?”

“Keep waiting.” Derek said.

“I’ve been out for an hour!” Spencer pointed out.

“Little over an hour.” Stiles corrected.

“Seriously, Stiles! You’re gonna be a smart ass now?” Spencer groaned. “I knew I shouldn’t have stopped swimming.” She felt extremely out of shape. There were a few moments of silence before someone spoke.

“I can’t stay up any longer. I need something to hold onto.” Stiles complained.

“You’re holding onto me, you spaz.” Spencer snapped. “I feel like I’m doing all the work.”

“Well, then we need to get to the edge.” Stiles clarified. He looked around, not seeing the creature near where Spencer was passed out. “Alright, that jump point?” He pointed out. “Ready?”

Spencer nodded, and tightened her grip on Derek as they started swimming.

Stiles took the lead holding onto Spencer with one arm and swimming with his other. He tried to grab at the handle underneath, but it was too slippery. He couldn’t get a good grip on it.

Spencer couldn’t reach the handle or she’d try to hold them up herself. She stretched as much as she could, but with both Derek and stiles, holding onto her, she was starting to lose her strength.

Stiles’ strength was already lost. He wasn’t swimming anymore and he’d started to go under, pulling Spencer with him.

The redhead took her last breath. As she did, she heard someone enter the room. She tried to call out for help, but her mouth had quickly filled with water, muffling the scream. A couple seconds later, she felt a hand on her shoulders. Whoever had entered the room, grabbed a handful of her sweatshirt and pulled her out of the water and then reached back in for Stiles and Derek. Spencer coughed up the water that had gone down her throat and then looked up.

It was Scott. He was crouched down, wolfed out, and roaring at the creature.

Spencer watched as Scott fought the animal. It had pushed him off of the diving platform, but Scott pushed himself to his feet. The animal wrapped its tail around Scott’s ankle and threw him across the room, making Scott slam into a mirror, breaking it. Scott picked up a piece of the mirror as the creature approached him.

The scaly creature looked closely at the reflecting piece Scott held in his hand. It looked at itself for a second out of curiosity. It hissed at the reflection and jumped up, grabbing onto the wall and climbing himself out of the pool area.

Spencer sighed in relief and looked over at Derek who had tried to climb himself up onto the diving platform. She quickly moved over to his side, wrapping one of his arms around her shoulder. “Are you okay?” Spencer asked.

Derek nodded. “Yeah. I’ve got some feeling back. Finally.” He groaned, both were still breathing heavily from their two hour long swim.

Spencer pulled him up the rest of the way with all of her strength. “Can you walk?”

“Yeah, but stay close.” Derek said, looking down at her, tightening his hold on her shoulder.
Spencer laughed and smirked. “Of course.” She looked around the room, in search of Erica. She found her and made her way over, pulling Derek along. Derek leaned against the wall as Spencer crouched down to wake Erica up. “You okay?” Spencer asked Erica when she came to.

“Yeah.” Erica groaned, holding her head. “My head hurts.”

“Good. Get up.” She ordered. Spencer turned around, noticing Scott and Stiles were gone. “Where’d they go?”

“Doesn’t matter.” Derek pointed out, pushing himself away from the wall. “Let’s get out of here.”

“You got it from here?” Spencer made sure.

“Yeah.” Derek said, but walked close to her anyway.

As the group exited the side door of the pools, Spencer looked towards the front entrance, seeing Scott and Stiles huddled around Scott’s car with a laptop. “Derek.” She said, gaining his attention and walking towards her friends.

“How’re we supposed to figure out what this thing is?” Scott asked aloud.

“It’s called the Kanima.” Derek answered, hearing Scott’s question, earning confused glances from everyone around him.

“You knew the whole time.” Stiles snarked.

“No.” Derek responded. “Only when it was confused by its own reflection.”

“It doesn’t know what it is.” Scott realized.

“Or who.”

“Well, what else do you know?” Stiles asked.

“Just stories.” Derek shook his head. “Rumors.”

“But it’s like us?” Scott asked.

“It’s a shape-shifter, yes. But it’s not right. It’s like a…” Derek trailed off, looking for the right word.

“An abomination.” Spencer said at the same time as Stiles. The two looked at each other and quickly looked away.

Derek looked between the two of them and nodded, before taking a hold on Spencer’s arm and turning to leave.

“Derek!” Scott called, stopping them. “We need to work together on this. Maybe even tell the Argents.”

“I’m all for working together.” Spencer piped up. “Just not with the Argents.”

“You still trust them?” Derek asked Scott.

“Nobody trusts anyone. That’s the problem.”

Spencer looked up to Stiles, seeing him looking right back.

“While we’re here, arguing about who’s on what side, there’s something scarier, stronger, and faster than any of us, and it’s killing people!” Scott shouted. “And we still don’t know anything about it!”

“I know one thing.” Derek grumbled. “When I find it,” He turned and walked towards his car. “I’m gonna kill it.”

“Sorry, guys.” Spencer said quickly to her friends, before ushering Erica away. “Go home, Erica. Get some rest. It’s gonna be rough until this thing is down.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, I’ll come up with something.”

Erica nods and took off towards her own vehicle.

Spencer took a deep breath, preparing herself for what was to come.