I got there on time.
Barely.
"Allison," I said as she opened the door.
"Hey," she smiled. "You made it."
"Yeah."
"Come on."
Chris Argent was already in the living room.
"Scott."
"Sir."
We shook hands.
Firm and measured.
He didn't say anything else.
Didn't need to.
Dinner started almost immediately.
No buildup.
No easing into it.
Just—
questions.
"So," Kate said, leaning back slightly. "Allison tells us you're on the lacrosse team."
"Yeah."
"How do you play?"
"It's like hockey," I said. "Just on grass."
Chris didn't react.
Kate smirked. "Hockey on grass is called field hockey."
Allison jumped in. "It's like field hockey, except the sticks have nets."
"Exactly," I said.
"And can you hit like in hockey?" Kate asked.
"Yeah. Gloves and sticks," I added "Tackles are also allowed."
"Sounds violent," she said. "I like it."
"You work at a vet clinic?" Victoria asked.
"Yeah."
"Allison said you helped a dog she brought in."
"I did."
Chris leaned back slightly.
"What does your boss think about the animal attacks?"
There it was.
"Most people think it's a mountain lion," I said.
Kate scoffed. "It'd have to be a pretty big one."
I shrugged slightly. "We don't really get anything like that at the clinic."
Chris didn't look away.
"Ever dealt with a rabid animal?"
"Not directly."
He nodded.
Then started talking.
"People think rabies makes an animal go mad instantly," he said. "It doesn't. First, it's subtle. Behavioral changes. Restlessness. Then comes the violent stage."
Silence.
Everyone was listening.
But he was watching me.
"After that," he continued, "they attack anything that moves."
I didn't react.
Didn't need to.
"Do you drink, Scott?" Chris asked suddenly.
"No."
[Control +0.02]
"Beer?"
"No."
"Shot of tequila?"
"Dad," Allison said.
"I'm not old enough to," I said.
Victoria tilted her head. "That doesn't seem to stop many teenagers."
"No," I said, meeting her gaze. "But it should."
Kate chuckled. "Good answer. Total lie—but a good answer."
I didn't respond.
"You ever smoke?" Chris asked.
Kate sighed. "Okay, we're changing the channel."
She leaned forward slightly.
"So, Scott… what else do you do besides lacrosse and saving injured dogs?"
"School," I said.
She smiled faintly. "Safe answer."
"I should get going," I said after a moment.
Timing mattered.
Kate didn't hesitate.
"No, you're staying for dessert."
Not a suggestion.
A few minutes later—
"Scott."
I looked up.
Kate was watching me.
"What did you take from my bag?"
[Perception +0.03]
Silence.
Immediate.
"I didn't take anything."
"You don't mind proving that?" she asked.
Allison frowned. "Are you serious?"
Kate didn't look at her.
"Show me what's in your pockets."
Chris spoke this time. "Kate—"
"Something was taken," she said calmly. "And he's the only one who went upstairs."
"I didn't take anything," I repeated.
"Allison?" Chris asked.
She stepped in immediately.
"It was me."
Kate finally looked at her.
"You?"
"Yeah."
She reached into her pocket and pulled it out.
A condom.
A pause.
Kate studied her.
Then looked back at me.
Still smiling.
Still not convinced.
But she let it go.
Dinner ended soon after.
"I'm really sorry," Allison said once we were outside.
"For what?"
"For that being the worst dinner ever."
"It wasn't the worst," I said.
She raised an eyebrow.
"There was one where my parents told me they were getting a divorce," I added. "This comes in second."
She smiled slightly.
"…your dad's watching," I said.
She glanced back.
Then stepped closer anyway.
"Good."
*Kiss*
"Scott."
Kate.
She stepped out, arms crossed.
Watching me.
"You ever feel like something's watching you?" she asked.
I held her gaze.
"Sometimes."
She smiled.
Not friendly.
Interested.
I left after that.
Derek was already waiting.
"You took your time."
"Not really."
He looked at me.
"You went."
"Yeah."
"How was it?"
"Exactly what you'd expect."
A pause.
"They asked questions," Derek said.
"Yeah."
A pause.
"They were testing you."
I didn't deny it.
"And?"
"I passed."
He didn't look convinced.
"Come on," he said.
"Where?"
"You wanted answers."
Fair.
The drive didn't take long.
But it wasn't somewhere I expected.
"This is a hospital," I said.
Derek didn't answer.
He just walked inside.
"Who are we here to see?" I asked.
"My uncle."
The room smelled sterile.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
"That's him," Derek said.
"My uncle."
"…Peter Hale."
I looked.
Peter Hale didn't look alive.
But he wasn't dead.
"He was the only survivor," Derek said.
"Of the fire."
I nodded, knowing the truth.
"You think the hunters did it," I said.
"I know they did."
"Because they knew about you."
"They were the only ones who did."
I thought about that.
Then—
"They don't just kill randomly," I said.
Derek scoffed.
"They burned my family alive."
"Yeah," I said. "Which means something doesn't add up."
That made him pause.
A nurse's voice cut in.
"What are you doing here?"
"We were just leaving," Derek said.
Outside—
Derek looked at me.
"You know more than you should."
I didn't deny it.
"And you still trust them?"
"They're not all the same."
"That's how you get killed."
"Maybe."
A pause.
Then—
"Training still on?" I asked.
He nodded.
"Yeah."
I turned to leave.
Hunters.
Werewolves.
Fire.
And something missing in the middle.
Peter Hale wasn't just a survivor.
And whatever he was—
it hadn't shown itself yet.
To be continued…