Stiles's Arc

Chapter 20 of 20

The gym floor was dry. Stiles stayed on his knees a moment longer, staring at the spot where the Acheron had collapsed. Then Scott climbed the bleachers two at a time and pulled him up by the arm. "You did it," Scott said. He didn't smile yet. He just held on. Derek carried Isaac out first. Malik shifted back, gold fading from his eyes, and followed without a word. Kira slid her blade into its sheath and let out a long breath. Lydia gathered the broken glass into a paper towel like it still mattered. Nobody spoke much. The storm outside had thinned to a steady drip from the roof. They walked across the wet grass to the library. The brick building stood lit up against the gray sky, windows glowing, people moving inside. Stiles's father met them at the steps. He looked at Stiles's empty hands, then at his face, and nodded once. That was all. It was enough. Inside, Melissa was already cleaning a cut on Isaac's forehead. Townspeople sat in clusters between the shelves, wrapped in blankets. Someone had made coffee. Kira found a corner near the windows and sat down. Lydia dropped into the chair beside her without a word and closed her eyes. Scott handed Stiles a paper cup. "Drink something." Stiles took it. His hands were still shaking, just a little. "We won," he said, testing the words. Scott nodded. "Yeah. We did." Isaac, awake now, lifted two fingers from across the room in a tired wave. Stiles waved back. For a long minute Stiles just stood there, watching his friends breathe. The board at home was still up. Six photos, six names, one wound pattern, one gap he had never explained. He realized the gap didn't scare him anymore. The case wasn't finished, but the killing was. He set the cup down and went to sit with the others.