chapter four
❝ i know the feeling haunt you ❞
magic bullet

━━━━༺❀༻━━━━

Derek looks around the little girls room. His eyebrows furrowed as his hand grazed the furniture.  Kennedy felt drawn to this room, it triggered memories, memories she didn't know were hers. He wandered closer to the room, studying the stuffed animal collection his cousin used to have.

Or rather, the lack of stuffed animals.

Every single one, was gone. Derek's eyes glossed over as he slowly sits on the small bed, noticing the missing bunny that was once there. He knew, the alpha knew who she was.

The alpha knew Kennedy.

༺❀༻

༺❀༻

The three girls walk down the halls of Beacon Hills together. "Scott's coming over? Tonight?" Lydia asks the Argent, looking over in surprise.

"We're just studying together." Allison shrugs.

Lydia and Kennedy look at each other, before looking back at Allison. "Just studying never ends with just studying." Kennedy explains. Kennedy felt in her element as she looked at her two friends. Sure, she was friends with Scott and Stiles, but that never stopped her from being just as feminine as someone like Lydia. It was what made her different, in her other friend group. The two boys were always the nerdy, goofy pair, while Kennedy was the pretty popular athletic one. And with Lydia, the two rose to the top of Beacon Hill High's food pyramid. Though; Kennedy wasn't nearly as cocky about it as the strawberry blond. Thats why the two evened each other out. Lydia boosted Kennedy's confidence, while Kennedy made sure to keep Lydia somewhat humble.

Key word: somewhat.

"It's like, getting into a hot tub." Lydia begins, stopping at the bottom of the stairs. "Somebody eventually cops a feel." Lydia and Kennedy take a fews steps up the stairs.

Allison purses her lips, racing to follow them. "Well, so what are you saying?" Kennedy narrows her eyes, her and Lydia sharing another knowing look.

Lydia tilts her head side to side. "I'm just saying, you know, make sure he covers up." Allison frowns in confusion, causing Lydia to scoff. "Hello, snow white! Do it with him with a condom."

Allison scoffs, "Are you kidding? After one date?"

"Don't be a total prude." Lydia says.

Kennedy looks at Allison, "Give him a little taste." She winks flirtatiously.

Allison looks down in thought. "Well, I mean, how much is a little taste?" She asks, blush spreading across her cheeks.

Lydia looks over. "Oh, God. You really like him, don't you?" Kennedy hated to talk about Scott, especially when giving his girlfriend sexual advice, but, Allison was also her friend.

Allison sighs, "Well, he's just different. When I first moved here, I had a plan," Allison waves her hands up, "No boyfriends till college. I just move too much. But," Kennedy watches Allison smile softly, "Then I met him, and he was different." Blush creeps up the Argents cheeks. "I don't know. Can't explain it."

"I can. It's your brain flooding with phenylethylamine."Lydia chirps.

The two brunettes turn their heads to the Martin. "What?"

Lydia doesn't answer. "We'll tell you what to do." Lydia grabs Kennedy's hand, pulling her closer. "When's he coming over?"

"Right after school." Allison replies. Kennedy thinks over what Lydia said.

Kennedy sighs, "Come here," Grabbing Allison's hand, Kennedy pulls her back down the stairs, towards the side out of everyones way. Lydia follows, intrigued. "A little taste is kinda like a tease, like a trailer to a movie." She begins, placing her bag down.

Lydia smirks, "Kennedy Stallard, did you finally jump somebody's bones?" She gasps. Kennedy brings her lip between her teeth, and Lydia practically squeals, "Who was it!?" The Martin asks.

"It was some guy who was visiting Beacon Hills for the summer." Kennedy lied. "I needed a distraction after Jackson, and I decided it was time." She looks down in thought, remembering the night perfectly.

"Well? Was he cute?" Lydia asks.

Kennedy smiles, "Really cute," She adds. "Anywho," The two look back at Allison who stands still. "A little taste is like, you're so close to each other, and he has no idea how far you're going to go." Kennedy steps close to Allison, her breath grazing the Argent's cheek. Kennedy trails her hand up Allisons arm, before tracing her collar bone. "You're in control, even when you let him think he's in control." Allison sucks in a heavy breath as Kennedy leans close to her ear, her lips brushing against it. "You're the predator, playing with your prey,"

The bell rings, students erupting through the halls of Beacon Hills High. Allison pulls away from Kennedy, who nonchalantly grabs her bag. "Spicy." Lydia giggles, winking at Kennedy. "I'll text you," Kennedy and Lydia kiss eachothers cheeks, parting ways.

Stiles stands by the front door of the school, waiting for the brunette to walk out. When she does, he rushes to follow her. "What took you so long?" He asks.

"I was talking to Lydia and Allison," Kennedy shrugs, adjusting her bag. "So, are we studying english or econ?"

"What'd you get on the math test?" He asks her, sending a knowing look. Kennedy sends him a playful glare, "Exactly."

The two crawl into the Jeep, Kennedy groaning as she leans back in her seat. "So, I was talking to Danny, and he and I were talking about the winter formal-"

"That things not for another like, forever." Stiles mutters as he starts the engine.

"And? I'm going to need to plan my entire rest of the year accordingly so I look cute when I show up, single and independent." She replies. "Last year, I came with Jackson. If I'm not going to have a date, I need to look like I am my own date-"

"Oh my god!" Stiles cuts her off, slamming on his breaks, causing Kennedy to sling forwards slightly. "Is that Derek?" He asks, watching as the Hale suddenly falls to the ground. Kennedy groans, mentally cussing him out for not even asking if she was okay.

Kennedy opens her door. "That's definitely Derek." She says, getting out.

Stiles looks behind him as cars honk in annoyance. "Are you kidding me? This guys everywhere." He mumbles, crawling out of the car.

Scott runs over, kneeling in front of the Hale. "What are you doing here?"

"I was shot." Derek breathes.

"He's not looking so good, dude."

The McCall ignores Stiles completely. "Why aren't you healing?"

Derek breathes heavily, "I can't. It was," Kennedy places a comforting hand on his shoulder, "It was a different kind of bullet." The Stallard looks at him, confused. What could that even mean?

"A silver bullet?" The girl looks up, sending an annoyed glare at Stiles.

"No, you idiot." Derek snaps.

The Hale groans in pain, and Scott pauses in thought. "That's what she meant when she said you had 48 hours." He mutters.

Kennedy closes her eyes, "Scott, I don't know what that means but I'm going to punch you in the face." She says slowly.

"Who said 48 hours?" Derek breathes.

"The one who shot you." Scott says, as if that was obvious.Suddenly, Derek's eyes flash blue, and he groans in pain, trying to blink it away. "What are you doing? Stop that!" Scott scolds.

The cars behind Stiles's jeep honk as Derek snaps his head up. "I'm trying to tell you, I can't!" He glares.

"Derek, get up!" Scott demands. Derek groans in pain, and Kennedy looks at Scott for help. Scott curses under his breath, grabbing Derek. "Help me to put him in your car." He says to Stiles. Kennedy rushes to the passenger side, opening the door and crawling into the backseat.

Scott puts the Hale in the passenger seat, and Derek looks over. "I need you to find out what kind of bullet they used." He breathes.

"How the hell am I supposed to do that?"

Kennedy thinks for a moment. She remembers her dads address book"'Cause she's an Argent." She says, "Scott, I know who it is. She's with them." The brunette explains, leaning forwards.

Scott shrugs, "Why should we help you?" He asks the Hale.

"Because you need me." Derek replies. However, the three didn't know just how true that is.

Scott looks over, seeing Allison and other students getting out of their cars. "Fine. I'll try." Stiles crawls into the jeep, "Hey get him out of here."

"I hate you for this so much." Stiles glares, before pressing on the gas and speeding off.

Kennedy lets out a sigh, leaning back in her seat, buckling up. "Derek, how bad does it hurt?"

"Imagine getting shot and stung by a poisonous spider at the same time." He grimaces. Kennedy nods, understanding that he must hurt a lot. Stiles says nothing, thinking of the many ways he could murder Scott after tonight. "Ken, I want you to grab my jacket," Kennedy leans forward, helping the ill werewolf.

Stiles looks at his phone, cursing under his breath. "Hey, try not to bleed out on my seats, okay?" He retorts. "We're almost there."

"Almost where?"

"Your house."

Derek looks at him. "What? No, you can't take me there."

Stiles narrows his eyes, "I can't take you to your own house?" He asks sarcastically.

"Not when I can't protect myself."

Kennedy speaks up, "Plus, that place is so full of germs, that thing would get infected in .5 seconds!" She pauses, glancing at Derek, "Can it even get infected?"

Stiles stomps on the breaks, pulling the Jeep to the side. "All right. What happens if Scott doesn't find your little magic bullet?" He asks the Hale. "Are you dying?"

Derek closes his eyes, sighing as he tries to subside the pain. "Not yet. I have a last resort."

Stiles and Kennedy share confused looks. "What do you mean? What last resort?" Derek grimaces, pulling up his sleeve to reveal the bullet wound. "Oh, my God. What is that?" Stiles groans. Kennedy scrunches up her nose, smelling the blood from the back seat. "Oh, is that contagious? You know what, you should probably just get out." Stiles points his hand towards the door, looking away from Derek.

"Start the car. Now." Derek breathes, looking down.

"I don't think you should be barking orders with the way you look, okay?" Stiles retorts. Derek looks up at him, and Kennedy sighs, rubbing her temple with her thump and pointer finger. "In fact, I think if I wanted to, I could probably drag your little werewolf ass out into the middle of the road and leave you for dead."

Derek looks at the human boy. "Start the car, or I'm gonna rip your throat out." Stiles blinks foe a moment. "With my teeth." Stiles sends a side glance to Kennedy, who just sits there with wide eyes. Turning around, Stiles silently starts the car again.

༺❀༻

Kennedy crawls to the front, "Stiles, get out," She says as they're pulled up to a gas station.

"What? Why?" He asks, looking up from texting Scott.

"Because I don't want to crawl over the dying werewolf, and I really don't want to sit on your lap in a dress," She hisses. Stiles thinks of a snarky remark to reply with, but when he see's the look she's sending him, he stops himself. The boy opens up the car door, hopping out, and letting her do the same. "I'm gonna go to the bathroom. You guys want anything?"

"Alcohol," Derek groans from inside the Jeep.

Kennedy clicks her tongue, "Anything I can legally buy?" She replies, tossing her hands to her sides. She looks at Stiles. who leans against the open door.

"Maybe pain killers?"

"For you or for him?" The girl teases, looking up at the Stilinski.

Derek hears Stiles's heartbeat quicken, and he rolls his eyes. "Both," Stiles mutters. Kennedy chuckles as she walks by, heading into the gas station. The two boys are left alone, Stiles texting Scott once again.

The Hale looks up at the roof of the Jeep, "Something happened between you two, right?" He deadpanned.

Stiles looks up, completely caught off guard. "What?" He utters out, confused.

"Your heart beat speeds up when she gets closer than one foot to you." Derek begins, "I heard it at the party, and I definitely heard it now." The human boy furrows his brow. "It was really bad at the party, but hers has calmed down a bit."

Stiles looks at the steering wheel. "Well, she and I have a very complicated situation right now," Stiles replies, turning away from the werewolf.

"You two must've really done something," Stiles tenses up, "Scott doesn't know," The teenage boy looks over, not saying anything. "I don't really care what you two's issue is, but if you want my advice, Kennedy's a free spirit, asking her to do something isn't going to go well. She wants to do what she wants, at her own pace. Even if its not a good choice." Stiles frowns in confusion, not sure how Derek even had any opinion on the brunette. Before he can say a word, his phone begins to ring.

Inside the gas station, Kennedy washes her hands at the sink. A sinking feeling sits in her chest, and she looks in the mirror, studying it.

A woman looks at two teenagers. All of their faces were deformed, blurred so Kennedy couldn't identify them. The woman stood in a circle of black chalk, the two teens on the outside of it. "You've already tried this before." The woman says, a smirk on her face. "I don't remember you having much success."

The pair of friends share a look, and Kennedy could feel the hope, the power the two shared. The two joined hands, their fingers intertwining as they raise their hands, pushing against a force field that must have been created by the black chalk. They share a similar stern look as they push against it, their eyes glowing a bright gold.

They were werewolves.

The woman on the inside of the circle shifts her feet, unsure what was happening. Their bodies ached and screamed, but neither of them stopped. The girl lets out a loud scream, which was more of a roar as her and her friend continue to fight. And then, the boys hand breaks through the field. The womans smile falls as the girls arm breaks through as well. The woman looks at the boy, and she's shocked when she sees his golden eyes, turn into a bright red. Stepping back, she glances at the girl, and her mouth gapes open as the girls now golden eyes, fade into that same red. The two friends tighten their grips on each other, the girls foot stepping over the black line. The boys is next, and the two share a final smile, before both of them taking a final step.

Kennedy gasps, stumbling back, She breathes heavily as she looks around, unsure what she just saw. The brunette stumbles out of the bathroom, grabbing her bag of things she bought before rushing out of the gas station.

Stiles hops out of the car, frowning as he sees her facial expression. "Hey, everything okay?"

The girl looks up, clearing her throat. "Yeah." She nods. "Yeah, everythings fine." She moves past him, climbing into the vehicle.

༺❀༻

The two teens carry the injured werewolf into the animal clinic, Stiles checking his phone again. "Kennedy, are you okay?" Derek asks the teenage girl as she breathes heavily.

"Yeah, I think it's just the smell, giving me a headache." She says, "Deaton must've cleaned the place." Derek frowns, knowing she likely smells the wound. "I'm going to go to the bathroom," Stiles and Derek watch as she stumbles off, her entire body swaying side to side. When she reaches the bathroom, Kennedy falls to the floor, coughing up what felt like her entire soul. Stiles looks at Derek in confusion, hearing the girl hacking in the bathroom.

Kennedy groans as she crawls to the sink, slowly pulling herself up. Her blue eyes look at her for a moment, and she realizes its happening again.

"Divine move." The mans voice scoffs. Kennedy could feel her heart racing. "Divine move. You think you have any moves at all?" There was a new pair of two. It was the same brunette, that much Kennedy could tell. The boy wasn't the same one as before. In fact, he almost felt the same as the strange man storming towards them.  "You can kill the Oni. But me? Me?" The mans voice boomed in Kennedy's ears. "I'm a thousand years old. You can't kill me!"

"But we can change you." Another person says, standing off to the side.

The man with the dark aura tilts his head. "What?"

"You forgot about the scroll." The boy says, letting go of the brunette.

"The Shugendo scroll." The werewolf smirks, leaving the weak boy to lean against the wall.

The strange mans face falls, "Change the host."

"You can't be a fox and a wolf." The sick boy says. The strange man turns to see the brunettes eyes glow red, and someone from behind grabbing a hold of him. The man shouts as the boy from Kennedy's first vision bites his arm, and the brunette girl shoves her hand forward, her claws digging into his chest.

"Kennedy!" Stiles's voice booms in Kennedy's ears, catching her completely off guard. Kennedy snaps her head to the door, rushing out. Her shoes pat against the ground as she runs into the office, seeing a shirtless Derek. "You know, that really doesn't look like anything some echinacea and a good night of sleep couldn't take care of." Stiles says to the werewolf.

Derek doesn't look at him. "When the infection reaches my heart, it'll kill me." He deadpanned. Derek walked past the teenage boy, who throws his hands in the air.

"Positivity just isn't in his vocabulary, is it?" Stiles asks the girl, who shrugs in response.

"If he doesn't get here with the bullet in time," The wolf looks around, checking inside cabinets. "Last resort."

Kennedy shrugs, "Which is what?" She asks, trying to regain focus from whatever just happened to her.

Derek turns back, holding up a saw. "You're gonna cut off my arm."

"You're kidding, right?" Kennedy asks, watching Derek place the saw down. "This has to be a joke!"

"Kennedy, someones going to have to do it." Derek says, his voice low.

The brunette scrunches her nose. "If you think I like you enough to get my dress bloody, you are sadly mistaken!" She snaps.

Derek looks up, sliding the saw to Stiles. The teenage boy lifts it up, "Oh, my God. What if you bleed to death?" The boy rambles.

"It'll heal if it works." Derek replies.

"The keyword here is if." Kennedy points out.

Stiles shakes his head, "I don't know if I can do this."

"Why not?"

"Well, because of the cutting through the flesh, the sawing of the bone, and especially the blood!" Stiles shouts.

"You faint at the sight of blood?"

The boy shakes his head. "No, but I might at the sight of a chopped-off arm!" Kennedy nods, pointing at Stiles in agreement.

Derek groans, "All right, fine. How about this?" Derek stands up grabbing onto Kennedy by her hair. "Either you cut off my arm, or I'm gonna cut off her head."

Kennedy grimaces, trying not to curse in pain "I'm so not buying your threats any-" Derek tugs on her, and she stumbles to keep up.

"Oh, my God. Okay." Stiles cuts in, shaking his head. "All right, bought, sold. Totally. I'll do it. I'll do it." Derek suddenly pauses, letting go of Kennedy. "What? What are you doing?" The Hale leans over, throwing up a black like substance. "Holy God, what the hell is that?" Stiles groans.

Kennedy steps back, "It's my body," Derek breathes, looking ip. "Trying to heal itself. "

"Well, it's not doing a very good job of it." Stiles snaps sarcastically. Kennedy grabs goggles, putting them on her head as Derek places his arm on the metal table.

"Now. You gotta do it now."

Stiles shakes his head, "Look, honestly, I don't think I can." He mutters.

"Just do it!" Derek yells. Stiles and Kennedy share scared looks. Stiles begins to yell and shout in worry. Kennedy grabs a lab coat, trying to cover up her nice dress as much as possible.

"Here we go!"

Kennedy closes her eyes, not ready. "Stiles? Ken?" The door bursts open, Scott walking in. He frowns at the sight, a dying Derek leaning on a table, Stiles with a saw on his arm, and Kennedy at the other end of the table wearing a full outfit of lab coats, goggles, gloves, and even bags over her shoes. "What the hell are you doing!?"

Stiles sighs in relief. "Oh, you just prevented a lifetime of nightmares." He sets the blade down, looking at Scott in relief.

Derek looks up, "Did you get it?" Scott rushes over, handing the Hale the bullet.

"What are you gonna do with it?" Stiles asks.

"I'm gonna," Derek blinks a few times, his vision becoming blurred. "I'm gonna," Before he can do anything else, Derek falls to the ground, unconscious.

"No!" Scott shouts, watching the bullet fall into a vent.

Stiles and Kennedy approach the werewolf. "Derek. Derek, come on, wake up." Stiles pats the boys face. "Scott, what the hell are we gonna do?"

Scott, who's sticking his hand in the vent, shouts. "I don't know! I can't reach it."

"He's not waking up!" Stiles yells.

"I think he's dying." Kennedy says, "I think he's dead!" She groans, "Oh my god, I do not want to hide a body in these shoes!" She groans.

Stiles looks up at her with a confused look. "Just hold on!" Scott shouts. Kennedy looks at Derek, thinking of ways to wake him up. "I got it! I got it!" Scott shouts, standing up, bullet in hand.

Kennedy walks over, "Stiles, move," She says.

The teenage boy looks up, "What are you gonna do?" He asks her, confused.

"I'm gonna wake him up!" She shouts, waving him aside. Stiles stumbles to his feet, Kennedy standing over the Hale. "Please don't kill me for this." She purses her lips, before kicking her foot in between Derek's legs. The man shoots up, his eyes wide with alarm. "See? I woke him up!" Kennedy grins, feeling more than proud of herself. Derek glares at her, but reaches for the bullet from Scotts hand. Derek stands, and the four move to the table again.

Derek breaks open the bullet, setting the powder inside on fire. A blue flame emits from the said powder, and Derek quickly places it on the wound. Kennedy scrunches her face in disgust, but jumps back slightly when the Hale begins to yell in pain. Derek falls to the floor, screaming in dramatic pain.

The three teens watch as the wound finally begins to heal, and Stiles stands next to his two friends. "That , was, awesome!" Stiles shouts, "Yes!"

"Are you okay?" Scott asks.

Derek stands, "Well, except for the agonizing pain, and now the possible inability to have children." Kennedy smiles weakly, secretly feeling good about what she did.

"I'm guessing the ability to use sarcasm is a good sign of health." Stiles says, earning a glare from Derek.

Scott looks up. "Okay, we saved your life, which means you're gonna leave us alone, you got that? And if you don't, I'm gonna go back to Allison's dad, and I'm gonna tell him everything-"

"You're gonna trust them?" Derek asks. "You think they can help you?"

"Well, why not? They're a lot freaking nicer than you are." Scott snaps.

Derek scoffs, "I can show you exactly how nice they are."

Scott frowns. "What do you mean?" He asks, confused.

Derek looks at Stiles and Kennedy, "You, take her home," He orders.

"Okay, listen, you don't get to tell me-" Stiles stops, looking at the glare he's getting. "Come on, Kennedy, lets go." He whispers, pulling the girl by her hand.

༺❀༻

The streets of Beacon Hills were quiet and gray as the blue jeep sped down the road. Kennedy sat in the passenger seat, sloppily throwing the lab coat and bags on her feet to the ground. "Okay, that was the grossest thing I have ever done, and I kissed Danny in a game of Spin the Bottle." Blurts Kennedy, looking up at Stiles. The teenage boy doesn't say anything, just grips the steering wheel tightly. "Stiles, is everything okay?"

In fact, everything wasn't okay. Not for Stiles. He couldn't get what Derek said out of his head. "When are we going to tell Scott?" He blurts, looking over at her. Kennedy purses her lips, "You said we'd tell him-"

"And we will!" She retorts, looking over at him. "But we've been busy with serial killers and werewolves, so don't get upset about it." Stiles purses his lips.

"He deserves to know. He's been in love with you for as long as I can remember."

Kennedy looks over. "He had a crush on me. He's with Allison now, Stiles. Get that through your head." The Stilinski purses his lips, not expecting her to say that. Huffing, he looks down the road, stepping lightly on the gas.