CHAPTER SEVEN:
SECRETS WILL SPILL
▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

After Elena quickly shuts her car door, she slowly brought her phone back up to her ear as her brother continued his question, "How are you feeling?" He asked, genuinely concerned about the physical and mental health of his twin sister.

The brunette sighed through her phone, "I've been better." She states while memories of how her grandmother told her brother and her how disappointed she was in the both of them for still not catching Kate yet, flooding through her head. "Is she still at the apartment?" Elena questions, walking up the steps to the school's front doors.

Marcos slowly shakes his head, stuffing a pancake into his mouth before replying, "No, she went back home after you left for school. Pretty sure she's just trying to intimidate us into finding Kate sooner rather than later."

The huntress nodded to herself as she made her way over to where the rest of the McCall pack was stood, "Listen I have to go, just stay out of trouble while I'm taking this test, alright?"

"Will do," Marcos replies as the two hung up, carrying on with their day. The huntress finally caught up with the group, each of them greeting her with a soft smile.

"Where's Lydia?" Kira asked, taking the attention away from the brunette and putting it towards the missing strawberry blonde.

"She took it her freshman year," Stiles answers, looking away from the group and towards his other classmates.

Malia stares at her boyfriend dead in the eyes, "Does that mean I could have taken it some other time?"

Scott faces the were coyote, "Malia, you studied harder for this than any of us." He reassures her as Elena offers her a slight smile.

"Doesn't mean I'm gonna do good," She argues, shaking her head at the alpha's statement.

"Well," The Stilinski says, tilting his head slightly.

Malia looks over at Stiles, "Well, what?" She questions, unsure about why he paused mid-sentence.

"It's do well, not good," Stiles corrected.

"Oh, God!" She emphasized as she throws her hands up in the air due to the frustration that was riding on her shoulders.

"Oh, God!" The human copies, causing Elena to offer the Tate a reassuring smile as she places her hand onto her shoulder while the alpha begins to speak.

"You're doing this because while we're trying not to die, we still need to live," He pauses, looking between his pack before finishing. "If I survive high school, I'd like to go to college. A good college."

"It's only three hours. We can survive three hours," The kitsune stated, causing Elena to smile slightly, hoping that the fox was right.

The group of teens walk into the classroom as Scott leads the way while he grabs a few pencils and presses his thumb onto a black ink pad in which he earned his test booklet from the man who was standing across from him, "Cell phone in the envelope, Scott. You'll get it back after the test." Ms. Martin instructed as she held up an envelope for his property. The true alpha nodded while carefully placing his phone into the envelope. The rest of the pack followed his actions one at a time, gathering their items and making their way to their assigned seats.

Once everyone was seated, the man who was named, Simon, spoke, "Please do not open the test booklet until you are instructed to do so. This test is two hours and 10 minutes. There will be two 25-minute critical reading sections, two 25-minute math sections, and an essay writing portion that will last 30 minutes." He finished, causing the huntress to take a deep breath before catching a small smile from Scott in which she returned. Snapping Elena back into reality was Simon talking towards Natalie, "There are supposed to be two teachers monitoring this exam."

"I know. It's Coach. He's not exactly punctual. Um, let me just try him again." She answered, grabbing her phone and walking outside the room. A few minutes go by as the whole classroom falls into complete silence. Finally, a noise sends looks towards the door which reveals Ms.Martin alone, "I can't find him, but Mr. Yukimura is upstairs grading papers. Do you want me to try him?"

Simon shakes his head, "We have to start. We can ask for his assistance during the first break." Natalie nods slowly in response as Simon clicks a button on his watch, "You may now open your test booklets and begin."

Hearing those words made Elena's stomach churn uneasily, afraid of failing the test that was placed on her desk. She slowly opens her booklet and begins working on the first problem. As time goes on, the huntress begins to ease into it easier than she thought she would. The brunette picks up her head, checking on her friends to see how they were doing.

A small laugh escapes her lips as she watches Stiles work on his booklet with a pencil shoved in his mouth and two others in his hands. A movement in the corner of her eye takes Elena's attention away from the Stilinski boy, and instead towards a student, stumbling out of their seat. "Sydney! Are you all right?" Natalie calls out, rushing over towards her desk.

The brunette slowly stands up with the help of Ms. Martin, "I'm okay. I just got kind of dizzy." Sydney answers, placing a hand onto her head in which causes Natalie to see something weird on the girl's wrist.

"Sydney, how long have you had this?" She asks, checking out the strange marking placed on her wrist, causing Elena to look over at the alpha who was looking intensely at the scene.

Sydney shook her head with worry written all over her face, "I don't know."

"Ms. Martin, do I need to stop the test?" Simon asks.

Natalie shakes her head slightly, "No, um, it's fine." She states while helping Sydney sit back into her seat. Her heels click as she walks back over to the desk, "Everybody stay in your seats. I'll, um, be back in a minute." She tells the students, picking up her phone after she finishes her sentence. "Nobody leaves the room." She instructs Simon as she leaves the classroom, causing Elena and Scott to look back over to Sydney who was starring directly down at her new markings.

The huntress takes her eyes away from Sydney, looking over towards Malia who was already staring back at her with a confused look written onto her face. Elena shrugged, unsure of what was going on.

"Get back! No! Do not come in here! Get back outside!" Ms. Martin shouted, causing everyone to pile outside of the classroom to see what was going on. "Back to your seats. Now. Please." Natalie demands, making a small gulp form in the back of Elena's throat in which she swallowed and followed her instructions by heading back into the classroom.

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

The school was now flooded with teams of people in yellow hazmat suits along with briefcases with the logo C.D.C on them. Classrooms were now made into quarantined spaces, allowing sickly students to be monitored. Elena sits with Stiles, Malia, and Kira as they wait for Scott to come back with Ms. Martin, "Bet they're thinking smallpox." The Stilinski boy confidently states as he rubs his forehead.

"Not likely," Simon speaks out, causing each of their heads to turn over at him. "Smallpox was eradicated worldwide in 1979. We've only managed to completely eradicate two viruses in history. The other was rinderpest. It killed cows."

"So we should be comforted by that, right?" The human boy asks.

Simon pauses before giving a blunt answer, "Unless it's something worse."

The group falls silent while Elena rubs her forehead, feeling a bit warmer than usual. However, she shakes it off and looks towards Malia who looked as if she was trying to listen closely to something or someone, "Whatever it is, they're taking it pretty seriously. They're a lot of cars and trucks out there. Your dad's with them along with Brett and Marcos."

Elena slides off the desk, making her way over to where the envelope of phones was placed, "We should probably call them."

"Don't bother," Simon says, causing her to stop in her tracks while lifting her head, "They would have shut off any access to all outside communication by now. No cell service, no WiFi. No one starting a panic. Looks like we're all just going to have to wait here and see what happens."

As time goes by, the three girls are moved into the hallway as they wait to get their blood drawn, "Kira?" Malia asks, causing the kitsune and huntress to both turns around. "Do you ever get the feeling that Scott and Stiles aren't telling you everything?"

"What do you mean?" She nervously stutters out.

Malia offers a comforting smile in hopes it would get her to tell her the truth, "Like they hide stuff."

Elena shrugs, "So what if they hide stuff?" She asks, causing both girls to look at her. "Hiding stuff is practically human nature, just think how messy relationships and friendships would be if everyone just told the truth."

Malia rolls her eyes, "Of course you would say that, I mean you still haven't told Brett you're a werewolf hunter yet."

"I'm working on it, okay?" The huntress replies, turning back towards where she was originally facing. "Besides, I have to now since my grandmother came to visit yesterday."

"Scary gun lady?" The were coyote questions.

Elena nods her head slowly, "Yeah. Anyways, enough talk about me. Kira, do you think Scott and Stiles are hiding something?"

"I think if they were, they'd probably have a pretty good reason," She finally answers, causing Elena to furrow her brows suspiciously.

Malia tilts her head towards the side before bluntly asking, "Do you know what they're hiding in the bag under Scott's bed?"

The kitsune shakes her head while answering, "What? No, I've never been under Scott's bed. Or in it. Just on it ... wearing clothes." She finishes, causing Elena's hand to slap over her mouth, stopping a laugh that was on its way.

"Kira Yukimura," The C.D.C doctor announces, making the fox turn around as Malia and Elena share a look.

"What do you think they're hiding?" The huntress asks as curiosity consumes her.

The blonde shakes her head, "I don't know. I was hoping either you or Kira would know."

The brunette shrugs, "Beats me."

Suddenly, an electric shock appears on Kira's skin as the doctor tries injecting it into her upper arm. Elena jumps back while Malia and Kira watch as other doctors surround her, "Guys." Malia says, trying to pull the two away from the scene. "Guys!" She demands only this time much louder than before.

The three girls end up finding the boys along with Mr. Yukimura in the boys' locker room, watching as Scott's eyes flash red, causing a sigh to escape from Mr. Yukimura's lips, "It's still happening."

Malia holds up her hands in which reveal her claws, "I can't make them go back."

"Obviously the virus is affecting the two of you in a way it won't hit any human being," Mr. Yukimura states, causing Stiles to begin to form a plan.

"You guys have to stay out of sight. We have to quarantine you from the quarantine." He tells his girlfriend and best friend, looking at Scott with worry in his eyes.

Kira looks over at the human before speaking, "Yeah, but where? I mean, what if they get violent? Like on a full moon."

The alpha slowly shakes his head, "We shouldn't stay in here. Not in the locker room."

"A classroom is not going to hold us," The were coyote added.

"What about the basement?" Kira suggested, looking at her boyfriend who was sitting on a bench in the locker room.

Scott's breathing increases heavily, "Too many ways out. We need something secure. Somewhere nobody can find us."

Elena begins to think, "What about the Hale vault?"

The alpha looks up, impressed with the girl's suggestion, "The Hales always have an escape route. Like their house. There has to be another way in."

Mr. Yukimura leads the group into Coach's office, pulling out a blueprint of the school and laying it flat on the desk. Stiles points down, "This is where the school sign is, so the vault's got to be right about here."

"I suppose if there's a second entrance, it would probably be accessible from the basement," Mr. Yukimura explains as Elena begins to shift slightly in her stance, causing Scott to put his hand on her shoulder and catching her before falling.

Stiles points back down to the map, "It's probably somewhere in this hallway. West corridor." He states as he falls over onto Mr.Yukimura while Malia places an arm gently onto his arm. "Woah." The human says, looking at his surroundings while Mr.Yukimura inspects his and Elena's wrist.

"It's happening to you too. You're getting sick. You all are," He announces, looking at the pack before starring hard at his daughter.

Kira shakes her head, "I don't feel sick."

"I think it's affecting you differently, neurologically." He tells her as he pulls something out from his pocket, "I found your test answers here in a pile with the others." The kitsune looks down at the paper, seeing the bubbles she meant to circle weren't the ones she did.

Elena looks at the fox before speaking, "I think it's time we go find that second entrance."

The pack rushes down to the basement, inspecting the walls and doors for any possible entrance. Elena searches alongside Malia both of them desperately trying to find anything. "Hey, guys. Over here." Stiles calls out, causing the group to head over towards the Stilinski. "Look at the cracks in the wall. It's like the entrance outside, it only opens with claws." He explains, pointing at the patterns. "Anyone's claws, right?"

The group grows silent as Elena notices the two boys exchange obvious glances between the two, "Um ... Malia, can you try?" The alpha asks while turning back to face the were coyote.

"Why me?" She asks, unsure of why they asked her when Scott was right there.

"I don't have control," The McCall answers, holding up his hands.

Malia looks between the boys, "Okay. I'll do it." She states as the boys nod in response. "But first tell me what you've been hiding from me." Elena looks at the boys, their faces changing as if they had just seen a ghost. "I know you think you're trying to protect me, but I can handle it." She continues, motioning with her hands to lay it on her. "I know I'm on the list."

Stiles turns towards Scott before answering, "Yes."

Malia nods, "So how much?"

"How much what?" The Stilinski questions, not understanding what the blonde was asking.

"How much am I worth?" She rephrases.

Scott looks at Malia, "Four million." He answers bluntly, causing the were coyotes face to a dropdown.

Stiles steps forward, "Are you okay?"

Malia picks her head back up, "Yeah. Scott's worth 25, Kira, six. They'll take you guys out way before me." She replies, walking forward towards the opening way.

Elena smiles slightly at her friends' bluntness as Stiles whispers to Scott, "That's progress. That's progress."

The pack stands back as Malia reaches her claws in, causing colors to change as she moves her hand around before she pushed in, allowing the vault to slowly open. Everyone slowly shuffles in, checking out their new surroundings.

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

The day goes on as the three supernatural beings grow sicker with every minute. Malia laid in Stiles's lap as he ran his hands through her hair in an attempt to comfort her while the huntress sat right beside the couple, watching over the were coyote. Stiles picks his head up to look at his best friend, "You know, this is where it all started. That's where the money was. 117 million in bearer bonds."

Kira turns slightly, studying the objects that were placed onto the shelves of the vault, "How do you even change bearer bonds into cash?"

"Bank, I guess." The Stilinski sighs before following with, "They just let it sit here the whole time collecting dust. You know bearer bonds are basically extinct?"

The kitsune shrugs, "Why does it matter?"

Stiles slowly shakes his head before answering, "You know how many problems that money could solve?"

"For you?" Elena asks, jumping into the conversation between the two.

He nods, "Me. My dad." The answer makes the huntress look at him softly, unaware of the boy's family's financial problems. "The Eichen House and MRI bills are crushing him."

"Mom does this thing, she writes down all the items in our budget, and how much they cost, then she adds them all up and figures out how long we have until ... we lose the house," Scott adds, causing another round of silence amongst the group.

As more time passes, the two boys had formed a plan in which involved both humans going out and making themselves known to the rest of the staff. Stiles sighs as he walks over towards his girlfriend who was curled up in a ball, "Malia ... Malia." The were coyote slowly opens her eyes, groaning in discomfort from whatever was happening to her. "We gotta leave for a few, okay?" The Stilinski tells her as he points towards himself and Elena.

"Where are you guys going?" She questions.

Elena sighs before kneeling next to Stiles as he speaks, "Whatever's happening, it's worse for you guys. That means it's not just people getting sick, it's another assassin. "Here," He says, taking off his jacket and putting it around the cold were coyote.

"You're coming back, right?" The blonde asks while the human tucks a hair behind her ear, causing a small smile to form on the huntress's face from their cute interaction.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'd never leave you behind." He tells her, making a slow smile appeared on Malia's face. The boy kisses her forehead and locks eyes with the were coyote before standing up along with Elena as the two exit the vault, hoping this won't be the last time they see their friends

Once the vault has closed, the huntress looks over towards Stiles, making eye contact with the boy before asking, "They're gonna be okay, right?"

The Stilinski smiles softly while slinging his arm over her shoulders, "Yeah, they'll be okay."

Elena nods, causing the two to head up the stairs and back into the quarantine. Stiles quickly rushes over as soon as he sees Ms.Martin, "Stiles and Elena, you two are not looking so good, maybe you ought to lie down."

"It's okay, have you seen Mr. Yukimura?" Stiles questions back, looking for the previous teacher who had helped the group get down to the basement.

Ms. Martin nods her head, "Yeah, he's fine, he's helping the other students."

"Okay," The Stilinski says as he begins to walk off with Elena right on his tail.

However, she comes to a halt whenever she notices the coach lying down, "Is Coach the only adult who got sick today?"

"As far as I know," Natalie replies.

Elena begins to mumble something to herself, "Why is he the only one?"

"Elena? I think you should lie down," Ms. Martin tells her as she gently grabs ahold of her arm.

Elena sighs before looking to where Stiles was previously standing, "Yeah, no, it's okay." She tells her, pulling her arm back and out of her grasp, trying to find the other human she came up with.

The huntress walks throughout the school in search of the Stilinski boy, but instead, she finds Mr. McCall wandering amongst the hallways, "Have you seen Scott?" He questions, not even bothering to say hello. Before she can answer, the two overhear some chatter coming from the boys' locker room. Mr. McCall signals towards Elena to allow him to go first to which she nods.

The two freeze in horror as they see Simon standing there with a gun in Stiles's face. Elena could sense that Stiles felt hopeless as he stood in front of the gun, waiting for his whole life to come to an end. However, once a gunshot rang throughout the air, he was taken back as blood splattered all over his face. The brunette looked up to reveal who had saved him, standing before him were the huntress and Scott's father, "You okay?" Elena asks, wiping the blood off his eyes and mouth.

"Where the hell did you guys come from?" The Stilinski stutters, still taken back from the previous situation.

Elena shakes her head, "Don't worry about that, are you okay?" She questions in which he gives her a silent nod.

"Guys, listen. I got a call from Melissa. I don't know what it means. She said there's an antidote. It's in a vault, reishi mushrooms." Scott's dad tells the two, causing both of them to immediately look at him.

"Wait, what in a vault?" Stiles questions.

"It's in a jar on one of the shelves. She said to tell Scott, it's in the vault." Mr. McCall finishes, sending both humans rushing back down towards the basement that held their friends.

"Hey, Scott? Scott, it's in the vault, in there with you. It's called reishi mushrooms." Stiles begins to yell as the two approaches the doors to the vault.

"Scott?" Elena calls out while Stiles bangs amongst the concrete walls.

Stiles jams his hands harder and harder, hoping his best friend could hear his pleas, "Scott, open the door! It's in there with you. It's in a jar, it's on one of the shelves. "Scott! Scott, can you hear us?"

The two use all of their strength in pounding on the door, but finally, they give up. Elena backs away from the wall as she brings her hand up to her forehead, moving her hair out of her face while Stiles looks up at the girl with tears brimming his eyes. She immediately hugs the Stilinski boy, wrapping him tightly with her arms. The two sit in silence, taking in the fact they were too late.

However, Stiles pulls away from the hug once he feels the back of the vault opening back up. The huntress smiles with joy and races over to hug the kitsune as the human reunites with his best friend. After the reunion with Kira, she moves on to embrace Scott in a big old hug. But taking the attention away from the happy moment was the were coyote who silently walked out of the vault.

Elena shakes her head while looking towards the rest of the group in confusion before running after her, "Hey, what's wrong?"

The were coyote harshly turns back around to face the huntress, "Did you know?"

The brunette is taken back by her actions, "Know what?" She questions, still completely unaware of what was wrong.

Malia scoffs, "Of course you knew. I mean, you even said earlier hiding things is human nature, and you still haven't even told Brett the truth about how you're a werewolf hunter."

"Oh, shit." A voice from behind the two girls announces, causing Elena to turn right around, but only to be met with Marcos and Brett.

Brett steps forward, "Is that true?" He asks, looking the brunette he had become so fond over right in the eyes.

The huntress begins to nod slowly, "I was going to tell you-." However, before she could continue, the both of them stormed away, neither of them saying a single word to the huntress, leaving her standing there.

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

AUTHORS NOTE

Hello everyone, I am again so incredibly sorry for not updating in about a month. However, I finally finished all of my school work for this semester, so expect more updates on all of my stories. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and I did look over it before publishing, but if there are any mistakes I should know about please let me know.

Also, thank you guys so much for 14k reads, and get ready for more Brett and Elena angst along with a little Malia and Elena angst as well. Anyways, please don't forget to vote and comment too, it helps me a lot <33

— Brooke

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃