"Please, leave Lydia out of this-"

"I can't leave her out of this," Deucalion snarls to me over his shoulder. I was trying everything in my power to get him to leave her alone, but he wasn't budging. "We need her. I need her."

I yell this time. "She didn't do anything to deserve any of this! I can do this on my own; I don't need her!"

Deucalion yells back, face turning red. "I make the calls in this pack; not you! I'm the one who makes the decisions, not you! Whatever you have to say to me about anything will never change my mind. I don't listen to people like you. I could snap your neck in a mere few seconds, so try and yell at me one more time. I dare you."

I bite my tongue. I knew that he wasn't kidding, but being the smart ass that I was, I couldn't hold back. "You won't kill me. You need me, remember? So if I were you, I'd listen to what I have to say, because if you don't, I don't have to help you. I can just as easily change sides."

Deucalion laughs at me, making my blood run cold. I had thought that what I said got my point across, but I guess not. "Corey, you seem to easily forget that you're the one who has people in your life that you love and care about. I can just as easily take their lives away, rather than yours. Right now you're a sheep in a pack of wolves; you're worthless. So think about that next time you try and threaten me."

"He has a valid point," Jade speaks up finally, reminding me that she was even there. Deucalion's head snaps towards her direction, clearly annoyed with her for speaking against him. "You heard what the girl said; Corey and Lydia are an unstoppable duo. You really want to bring those two together?"

Deucalion straightens up, fixing his cane. "They'll only be unstoppable once they figure out how to be. He didn't even know what she was; I highly doubt they'll be of any threat to me yet."

Jade starts to speak once again, but I spoke first. "Deucalion, please. Just leave Lydia out of this. She doesn't know how to use her powers either. She doesn't deserve this-"

"I don't care," Deucalion says sternly. "I'm getting her; even if that means I have to pull every single one of her strawberry blonde strands out of her head."

-----------

Using my phone that they made me give up, Deucalion texted Lydia to figure out where she was. She answered him quickly, asking how I was, but Deucalion didn't answer that part. She had given up her location, which was on the road headed to the Vet Clinic. She was meeting up with the rest of her friends to discuss something I was unaware of, but I guess that didn't matter.

Kali and the twins sat on the opposite side of the road as Deucalion, Jade, and I sat on the other, waiting for Lydia's car to come flying around the curb. I knew that what they had planned had the potential to get her killed, and I wanted to retaliate. I didn't want to see Lydia's car swerve off the road before they snatched her, but I couldn't move. Jade had her hand over my mouth and held me in place, as she was instructed to do.

"She should be here any minute," Deucalion says lowly, making me scream behind Jade's hand. I wanted to kill Deucalion for this; he was going after someone I cared about, someone that I didn't want to see hurt. Hell, she just about got strangled the other night. And now she was about to wreck her car.

I see headlights start to shine through the trees, making my heart race. I tried to get up off of my feet to warn Lydia to stop, but Jade pulled me back down, growling lowly at me to stay hidden. I understood why Jade had to do what Deucalion told her, but I hated her for it. She was the reason my friend was about to get hurt.

Suddenly though, just before Kali and the twins started to head towards the road to get her to stop, an image flashes through my head. It wasn't the same thing that I've always had before, no, but it was the present. I saw Lydia's point of view driving in the car down the road, turning the curb before getting to us. Her face wrinkles up in confusion then before she slams on the breaks, just before Kali and the twins were about to make her wreck.

The image is gone then as I look up onto the road, watching her step out of her car. She was wearing a light blue shirtdress that went down to her knees, her hair in a loose fishtail that swept over her left shoulder. Her eyes are huge as she stares at where we were hiding, along with the others across the road.

"She knows," Deucalion snarls lowly before nodding towards the twins and Kali across the road, telling them to move. I screamed once again behind Jade's hand, only this time the words were audible.

"Run, Lydia! Run!"

Lydia's eyes flick towards my voice before Kali steps out from the tree line, eyes glowing in the darkness. The twins run in front of her as Lydia turns and grabs the car door handle, but she was already too late. The twins grab her and hold her hands behind her back, pushing her up against the car door. I wanted to strangle them for hurting her; for treating her like that.

She squeals as Aiden, basically her boyfriend, holds her in place. Lydia begs for Aiden to let her go, but he stayed put. I wondered what was running through her mind as he treated her like that, but on the other hand, I didn't want to know her pain. I knew that Ethan and Deucalion were the ones who made Aiden do this, but that didn't excuse him for his actions.

"Lydia Martin," Deucalion says in his formal voice as he steps out onto the road, Jade pushing me out to follow him. She kept me on a leash though as I stared at Lydia, her eyes on me as well. They were filled with such pain. "I guess you can't run that fast in high heels, can you?"

"What do you want with me?" she snaps back, staying strong. I was surprised by her tone.

Deucalion folds up his cane. "I want your powers. I want your banshee ability."

Lydia looks between Deucalion and I. "Find another damn banshee."

"You see, just like Corey, your type is a rare species," Deucalion says in a matter of fact tone. I wanted to scream at them to let Lydia go, but I also wanted to hear out Deucalion. "Your scream amplifies Corey's abilities, which is what I need to destroy Jennifer Blake. All I'm asking of you, Lydia, is to scream for me. You do want to save your friends, right? Your parents?"

Lydia was contemplating his deal, I could tell. "Why should I trust you?"

"Because I am a man of my word," he says. "I want your scream, that's all. Then you can go on your way."

Lydia looks back to me. "What about Corey?"

I hold my breath as Deucalion glances over at me, humming to himself. "Ah, well Corey is a different story. We'll talk about that after Jennifer Blake is dead."

Lydia holds her ground. "I'm not helping you until you give me an answer. What happens to Corey?"

Deucalion groans. "Teenagers. I'll let him go after she's dead, end of story. Now do we have a deal?"

"Not quite," Lydia groans as she tries to push herself off of the car, but the twins hold her there. She rolls her eyes at them, a trait that was so much like Lydia. "In order to find our parents, we have to find the nemeton. That includes three sacrifices that are connected to them in some way or the other. We have Scott and Stiles, but Allison can't go under again, since she has already to save Corey. We need him to find her father."

"Jennifer took Chris?" I breathe, not knowing about this. Lydia nods her head slowly, tears in her eyes. I could tell that she felt the same about it as I did.

Deucalion raises his eyebrows. "What are you proposing?"

"Let him go to do this, please," Lydia breathes, begging for her friends father's life. "Let him go under and then you can have him back."

Kali speaks then, eyes still red. "What if it changes his abilities?"

"It won't," Lydia snaps back, looking over at her. "He'll be the same Corey you always knew, only a darkness will be around his heart. It won't affect his seer abilities."

Deucalion sighs, thinking for a moment before deciding what to do. I found it funny that they didn't ask me how I felt about all of this, because I had plenty of questions. I did honor the fact that Lydia knew that I'd do anything to save Allison's father, and going under a bucket of ice water was simple. Allison did it once to save me, I could surely return the favor by saving her father.

"Alright," he says, causing the twins to release their grip on Lydia. She rubs the side of her face that was pressing up against the car door as she glares over at Aiden, her face telling him what she thought about that. "Know that I'm not allowing this out of the kindness of my heart; I just need you two to stop Jennifer, the one who's killing innocent people. I'm not the bad guy here. She is."

Kali looks furious. "You're just going to let them go like that?"

"We'll come back," I argue. I just didn't want them to hurt anyone else that I cared about. "We promise, okay? We want to stop Jennifer just as much as you do."

Deucalion nods his head towards Kali then, telling her to stand down. Jade lets my hands go as she lets me run over to Lydia's car, getting into the passenger seat. Lydia gets into the drivers side as we both slam the doors shut, knowing that time was running out fast. I was more than glad to get out of Deucalion's control for a little while at the very least, but then again, I was terrified to essentially die again.

"Corey," Lydia says to me as she starts to drive down the road, racing as fast as she could.

I look at her, speaking before I could stop myself. "I'm sorry about that. I tried to get them to stop-"

"I don't care about that," she nods, and I knew that she truly didn't. "You're the one that saved me."

I furrow my eyebrows. "What are you talking about?"

"You told me that they were there," she breathes, her eyes never leaving the road. "You gave me the image in my mind. That's why I stopped; I knew what they were planning because of you. You saved me."

----------

I ran so fast into the Vet Clinic, I almost forgot that I was here to find Allison's father and to go in a bucket of ice, not to reunite with Allison herself. Lydia followed close behind me as I pressed my hands on the cold glass door, the bell dinging above me. Time felt as if it was standing still as I turned the corner, stopping in my tracks when I saw Allison.

I swear, every time I see her, a new part of me ignites with joy. Seeing her standing there next to Stiles made my heart race, and when she smiled after seeing me, I couldn't help but smile back. She breathes my name before running around the tub, throwing her arms around me as her breath trickles on my ear and down my neck.

"Don't leave me ever again," she says, sounding like she was about to cry. I didn't want her to cry, so I pulled her close before pulling away, staring into her brown eyes. They were dark yet joyful, a combination that was odd on any person at the same time.

I smile at her faintly, knowing that I'd have to go back, but I couldn't tell her. Not yet. "I won't."

"How are you here?" she smiles, looking back at Lydia who was behind me. "Did he let you go just like that?"

"Not exactly," Lydia breathes, her eyes searching the floor. "It's too complicated to talk about now."

Deaton steps forwards. "She's right; we need to get started. We're running out of time. Did you all bring an object?"

I wasn't sure what they were meaning, but I watched as Scott held up a watch and Stiles a crushed badge. It was then that I realized that they brought something to tie them to their parents, but I didn't have anything. I couldn't even think of anything that I could use.

"I brought this," Allison says, reaching into her pocket to pull out a silver bullet. "It's the first one he ever made."

Stiles looks up from the floor. "Wait, so is Corey going under?"

"Allison can't do it again," Deaton explains. "She can't handle being sacrificed again. The closest thing we have left to finding Chris is Corey. He has to go under."

Allison looks up at me, eyes teary. "You don't have to do this."

"Of course I'm going to do this," I nod. "You risked your life saving my life once, the least I can do is try to save your father's."

A single tear falls down her face then, but I brush it away. She stares up at me for a long moment before placing the bullet into my hands, giving me a weird sense. I knew that I wasn't tied to this bullet and it was a risky shot at using it to find Chris, but something about it told me that it was going to work. Either the past or the future to this bullet made me know that it was going to work, but I wasn't sure what that past or future was.

"Alright, so here's how this is going to work," Deaton starts, pressed on time. "Each of you three are going to get in and three of us are going to hold you under until you are, well...dead. But it's not just someone to hold you under; it's someone to bring you back as well. Someone that has a strong connection to you; kind of like an emotional tether."

We all look around at one another, but I already knew that Allison was going to be the one to hold me under. Lydia isn't sure who to go to before Deaton speaks up, making me faintly smile at what he had to say. "Lydia, you go with Stiles."

It was decided after that. I was with Allison, Stiles was with Lydia, and Scott was with Deaton. I could tell by Scott's face that he was a little upset about Allison going with me, but I didn't care. He should be getting used to now that we were together, not him and her.

We all three step up to the tubs, staring down into the icy cold water below. Ice and mistletoe sit perfectly still in the icy water, waiting to take our lives. I lick my lips slowly before looking back at Allison, seeing her nod her head with tears in her eyes. I could tell that it pained her to watch me die again, but this is what had to happen. I had to save her father.

I turn back to the water before lifting my foot, sticking it into the water as needles of cold prick at my skin. I hiss from the cold, wanting to jump away from it and run until I was far away. But I clasped my hands around the side of the tub, silver bullet in hand, and slowly sank my way into the water.

It was strange to think that just a few months ago, this was Allison in this position. She was the one who was essentially dying, saving my life. I never realized how cold the water had really been until now, and I silently thanked her again in the back of my mind for bringing me back all those months ago.

I look over at Stiles then, seeing his cheeks puff outwards as he tried to breathe through the cold. It was no use though; once you were in, there was no going back. The ice swims around my shoulders as I go deeper, the water reminding me of my death back on the bridge. I was going to drown again; I was going to die again.

I start to shiver then, and I knew that I needed to get my last words out, just in case I didn't come back this time around. "I don't know how you did this to bring me back, Allison. You should have let me stay dead."

She laughs from behind me before walking around the side of the tub, leaning down towards my face. Tears pricked her eyes as I stared at her, wanting to lean forwards and kiss her, but the cold permitted me from doing so. The more I moved, the colder the water got.

"I love you, Corey." She kisses me then for me, her lips bringing me warmth. The kiss made me wonder if it really would be the last time I'd get to press my lips to hers, but then I reminded myself how lucky I was to even have been able to kiss her in the first place. All of what happened to me after I died went back to Allison, and I found it ironic that it could be ending with her as well in this moment.

I didn't need to tell her I loved her, because she knew it already, but I did anyways. "I love you, Allison. I love you more than you'll ever know."

Her nose wrinkles up then from the tears, but she composed herself. She pulls away from me then, going back to her place behind the tub. Her hands slowly grip my shoulders as I hiss from the cold, but I knew that I had to do this. I had to do this for her. Everything I ever did was for her.

"If I don't make it back and you do, Stiles," I say then, knowing that I had to get this off of my chest. "Please, just take care of her."

I wasn't sure if I was talking about Allison or Lydia, but Stiles just nods his head in return. I could tell in his eyes that he wanted to say something too, but couldn't. I just nodded my head in return, understanding fully what he meant. I looked back to the front of the tub, my heart racing out of control now. Funny since it won't be beating at all in a few moments.

I let go of the side of the tub as I try to relax myself, but how were you supposed to relax yourself when you knew you were going to die? The next thing I know, I feel Allison push me downwards, seeing out of the corner of my eyes as well that Scott and Stiles were going under as well.

I must say, drowning a second time was different than the first time. This time, I knew what it felt like and when to let the water in. Under the water, I saw images of my truck driving over the bridge and Jade's hair floating around her behind my eyelids. I couldn't decide if reliving those memories was more painful, or if the not breathing was.

I do know one thing for sure; when I opened my eyes and saw nothing but darkness, I screamed Allison's name until I couldn't hear myself scream anymore.

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I am so emotional like wtf why do I do this to myself

This story is also coming to a close and I'm really freaking sad about that. I am however excited for 3b, which should be interesting for Corey *hint hint* but I don't want this to end. I'll miss writing for 3a, that's for sure.

Quick question: which book are you liking the best so far? Afterlife or Return? Just wondering (:

Vote and comment amigos!