Scott McCall's Arc

Chapter 24 of 30

Malik sat at the long table in Derek's loft, chest and right arm wrapped in white gauze. He looked smaller like that. Scott stood across from him. Stiles, Lydia, and Isaac filled the gaps between them. Nobody spoke. The only sound was rain starting again against the tall windows. Derek pointed the remote at the TV. The forecast filled the screen. A wide band of storm clouds rolled toward town. The news woman said flood warning. She said shelter in place. Derek muted her. "Water makes them stronger," he said. "Every drop." Lydia crossed her arms. "Then we don't have hours. We have until the first heavy band hits." Isaac leaned against the brick wall. "School's the highest ground. Sheriff's already moving people there." Malik's gold eyes flickered, weak but awake. "You split," he said. "Or you lose both fights." Scott's phone buzzed in his pocket. Deaton. Three words. I have an idea. Scott read it twice and set the phone face up on the table so the others could see. "Okay," he said. "We split." He pointed as he spoke. "Kira, Derek, Malik — you come with me to Deaton. He thinks he has something." He turned to the others. "Stiles, Lydia, Isaac — get to the school. Lock down the shelter. Coordinate with the Sheriff. Whatever the water brings, it doesn't get inside those walls." Stiles nodded once. Lydia was already pulling her coat on. Thunder rolled low over the loft. Derek helped Malik to his feet. The plan was set, the groups were moving — but Scott felt the floor tilt under him. Two roads now, in a storm that fed the thing hunting them. Whatever Deaton had better be enough.