"I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence but it comes from within. It is there all the time."

♰ ♰ ♰

Isabel receives a message from Allison saying that Scott was late for their date. Immediately Isabel lets her older cousin know, and Lydia goes on a rampage. Lydia and Isabel quickly get dressed as Jackson waits in the car for the two cousins.

He picks up the phone and rings Allison's number. On the second ring, Isabel and Lydia get into the car, Isabel climbing into the back and Jackson starts driving to Allison's house. On the third ring, Allison picks up.

"Isabel says we're coming to get you," Jackson explains immediately, putting the Argent girl on loudspeaker.

"Please don't. Okay, I'm sure he's on his way. He's only-" Allison pauses. "26 minutes late." Allison sighs.

Lydia shakes her head as Isabel sits back in her seat, feeling claustrophobic in the back of the Porsche.

"You hear that? First, it's "He's only 26 minutes late," a month later it's "He only hits me when he's drunk." Slippery slope, Allison. Slippery slope." Lydia drawls and Isabel looks shocked at her cousin's remark.

"Wow, Lyd. A bit dark." Isabel breathes out.

"We're picking you up," Jackson demands and Isabel notices they are pulling up by the Argent girl's house, spotting the brunette girl standing outside waiting.

"No," Allison responds, but the Porsche pulls up beside her and Jackson rolls down the window, hanging up the phone.

"Too late. The Martin's get what the Martin's want. Come on, get in." Jackson tells Allison who is stiff with her arms crossed.

"We can stop by his place and see if he's there," Isabel suggests, sticking her head between Lydia and Jackson from the backseat.

Allison relaxes and gives a smile before her phone chimes with a notification.

"Is that him with the best explanation ever of why he's half a freaking hour late?" Lydia quizzes, leaning forward so she can see Allison past her cousin's head. Allison stares at the text confused.

"Not exactly." She breathes, moving towards the car, and Allison climbs into the backseat with Isabel.

The ginger girl gives her a big smile, and Allison shakes her head back, before laughing at the situation she had gotten herself into. Allison tells Jackson to drive to the school, and Jackson does as he is told.

"What're they doing here anyway?" Jackson asks, pulling up at the high school. The four teens stare at the dark school in confusion.

"All I got was this," Allison explains, showing the text message she received from Scott telling her to meet him at the school. Isabel furrows her brows, getting a bad feeling.

"They lock the doors at night, you know?" Lydia tells the Argent girl, but Isabel turns her head at looks at a set of doors that were slightly open.

"That one's open." Isabel points out, and the three others turn to see the doors. Jackson shakes his head before turning to Allison.

"You don't need me to state the obvious, right?" He questions. Allison shakes her head.

"That it looks like they broke into the school? No, pretty obvious." Allison answers, before sitting up in her seat getting ready to get out.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Jackson asks, and Isabel shakes her head.

"You stay here with Lyd. I'll go with Allison. It's okay." Isabel responds and Jackson gives a small nod, not looking 100% convinced. The two girls climb out of the car and Jackson watches the two for a moment.

"Hey, guys-" Jackson starts but Allison cuts him off.

"You have this look like you're about to say 'be careful.'" Allison gives a small laugh, and Isabel gives a smile.

"I am. What?" Jackson looks between the two girls confused.

"That concerned look on you, I've never seen it before," Allison responds, and Jackson shakes his head.

"Well, I am concerned," Jackson explains, causing the two girls to smile.

"Well, that's a good look on you" Allison gives a small laugh.

"Don't worry. We'll be right back." Isabel promises, before taking ahold of Allison's hand.

"Okay." Jackson agrees, watching the two walk off towards the open door. Jackson can't shake the horrible feeling he has.

♰ ♰ ♰

Allison and Isabel walk through the dark school halls, shouting for Scott to try and get a response. Isabel keeps checking behind them to make sure they weren't being followed. She had the feeling they were being watched.

The two jump at Allison's phone going off, and Allison quickly reaches to answer it. Isabel watches as a dark figure slinks behind them in the shadows, before disappearing. As Allison answers the phone, Isabel slowly walks off toward the shadow.

"Hey. We can't seem to find them. Okay, give us a second and we'll be right there." Allison responds and hangs up before Stiles' name appears on her phone as it rings again. "Stiles?" She asks, confused.

"No, it's me, where are you?" Allison hears Scott's voice through the phone's speaker, Allison feels a wave of relief wash over her as she hears his voice.

"I'm in the school looking for you, why weren't you at my place?" She questions.

"Where are you right now?" Scott quickly fires back, not answering her question.

"On the first floor," Allison responds, confused at his rush.

"Where? Where are you exactly?" Scott questions further.

"By the swimming pools." Allison answers.

"Get to the lobby. Go now." Scott tells the girl and without thinking to check that Isabel was still with her, she continues to the lobby. She sees Scott and Stiles standing in the lobby, and rushes forward to meet them. "Why did you come? What are you doing here?" Scott rushes out and Allison stares at him confused.

"Because you asked me to."

"I asked you to?" Scott asks confused.

"Why do I get the feeling you didn't send this message?" Allison slowly responds.

"Because I didn't." Scott shakes his head.

"Did you drive here?" Stiles questions, worried.

"Jackson did." Allison answers Scott's and Stiles' faces fall.

"Jackson's here too?"

"Yes, and Lydia is in the car with him. Me and Isabel came in to find you." Allison explains and Stiles takes a deep breath.

"Where is Isabel?" He asks, and Scott looks worried.

"What? She's right he-" Allison starts, before turning and seeing the ginger girl was no longer with her.

Her heart stops and sinks to her stomach. The three are interrupted as Jackson and Lydia approach from the hallway.

"Finally. Can we go now?" Lydia sighs, as she sees Allison with Scott and Stiles.

She looks around confused at the scared faces before a loud thump sounds from above them. The five jump at the sound, and Allison and Scott link hands in fear.

"Run!" Scott shouts, causing the five of them to sprint off, hearing the ceiling clatter to the floor and running sounds behind them. They run into the cafeteria, before barricading the doors with the chairs.

"Help me get this in front of the door." Scott calls out, and they all move together to form a barrier in front of the door.

"Scott, wait, not here." Stiles shouts but is ignored.

"What was that? Scott, what was that?" Allison asks, scared. Lydia moves over to stand by Allison.

"What came out of the ceiling?" She questions, tremble in her voice. She looks around and notices that her cousin is missing. "Wait, where is Izzy?" She continues, worried.

"Will you just help me? The chairs, stack the chairs."

"Guys - Can we just wait a second?" Stiles calls out, "You guys, listen to me, w - Can we wait a second? Guys? Stiles talking. Can we hang on one second, please?" He pauses and takes a breath. "Hello!" He shouts, and everyone turns to face him. "Okay, nice work. Really beautiful job, everyone. Now - what should we do about the 20-foot wall of windows?"

"Can somebody please explain to me what's going on, because I'm freaking out here? And I would like to know why. Scott?" Allison stammers out.

Scott takes a breath before moving away and placing his head in his hands. Everyone looks at Stiles expectantly.

"Somebody killed the janitor." Stiles caves.

"What?!" Lydia exclaims.

"Yeah, the janitor's dead." Stiles breathes out, turning to look at Scott.

"What's he talking about? Is this a joke?" Allison questions Scott.

"What, who killed him?" Jackson quizzes, confused.

"Isabel is still out there!" Allison shouts and the group shared worried looks.

Isabel was out there with a murderer?

"No, no, no, no. This was supposed to be over. The mountain lion killed-" Lydia babbles out, and Jackson shakes his head at his girlfriend.

"No, don't you get it? There wasn't a mountain lion." He snaps. Lydia gives a scared look.

"Who was it? What does he want? We need to find Isabel before he gets to her! What's happening? Scott!" Allison shouts.

"I-I don't know. I-I just- if we go out there, he's gonna kill us."

"Us? He's gonna kill us? Isabel is already out there with him!" Lydia shouts back at Scott's explanation.

"Who? Who is it?" Allison shrieks and Scott takes a breath.

He looks over at Stiles who paces back and forth with a worried look on his face, before making a decision.

"It's Derek. It's Derek Hale." Scott lies. Everyone looks at him shocked.

"Derek killed the janitor?" Jackson furrows his brows.

"Are you sure?" Allison asks.

"I saw him." Scott confirms.

"The mountain li-" Lydia starts, but Scott cuts her off.

"No, Derek killed them." Scott further lies.

"All of them?" Allison questions, shocked.

"Yeah, starting with his own sister."

"The bus driver?" Allison continues, Scott nods.

"And the guy in the video store - it's been Derek the whole time. He's in here with us. And if we don't get out now - if we don't find Isabel. He's going to kill all of us too." Scott finishes his lie.

"Call the cops." Jackson demands and Stiles shakes his head.

"No." Stiles responds. Lydia, Allison, and Jackson look at him confused.

"Wh-what do you mean 'No?'" Jackson continues.

"I mean no. You wanna hear it in Spanish? No. Look, Derek killed three people, okay? We don't know what he's armed with." Stiles lies.

"Your dad is armed with an entire sheriff's department. Call him." Jackson demands again.

"I'm calling. This is Isabel we are talking about." Lydia cries out, shaking her head at Stiles. She dials 911.

"No, Lydia, would you just hold on a sec-" Stiles tries but Lydia continues.

"Yes, we're at Beacon Hills high school. We're trapped, and we need you to - but - She hung up on me." Lydia gasps.

"The police hung up on you?" Allison cries back.

"She said they got a tip warning them that there are gonna be prank calls about a break-in at the high school. She said if I called again that they're gonna trace it and have me arrested." Lydia rambles out.

"Okay, then call again." Allison encourages.

"No, they won't trace a cell and they'll send a car to your house before they send anyone here." Stiles explains.

"What the- what - what is this? Why does Derek wanna kill us? Why is he killing anyone?" Allison cries out. Everyone turns to Scott.

"Why's everyone looking at me?"

"Is he the one that sent her the text?" Lydia asks.

"No. I mean, I don't know." Scott sighs.

"Is he the one that called the police?" Allison quizzes.

"I don't know!" Scott snaps.

"All right, why don't we ease back on the throttle here, yeah?" Stiles tries to calm the situation down. He pulls Scott off to the side. "Okay, first off, throwing Derek under the bus, nicely done."

"I didn't know what to say. I had to say something. And if he's dead then it doesn't matter, right? Except if he's not. Oh, god, I totally just bit her head off." Scott mumbles, Stiles shakes his head.

"And she'll totally get over it. Much bigger issues at hand here, like how do we get Isabel?" Stiles looks at Scott worried. "And how do we know if the Alpha hasn't already killed her?" He stammers out. Scott gives him a sad look but shakes his head.

"It could've killed us already. I don't think he would just kill her. It's like it's cornering us or something. He's trying to push us out to find her."

"So what, he wants to eat us all at the same time?"

"No! Derek said it wants revenge."

"Against who?"

"Allison's family?" Scott suggests, looking over to Allison.

"Maybe that's what the text was about. Someone had to send it." Stiles continues.

"Okay, assheads - new plan. Stiles calls his useless dad and tells him to send someone with a gun and decent aim. Are we good with that?" Jackson shouts. Scott gives Stiles an apologetic look.

"He's right. Tell him the truth if you have to, just - just call him." Scott quietly says to his best friend. There were too many lives at stake.

"I'm not watching my dad get eaten alive." Stiles shakes his head, feeling stuck between a rock and a hard place.

He takes a breath and puts his head in his hands before making his final decision. He grabs his phone, dialling his dad's number. He couldn't sit back and allow Isabel to be killed.

"Dad, hey, it's me." he starts before shutting his eyes in frustration. "And it's your voicemail." The group turns at the loud sound of banging on the doors, slowly edging back. "Look, I need you to call me back now. Like, right now. We're at the school. Dad, we're at the school." He shouts out, as everyone backs away and starts to run to the next set of doors.

"Oh my god." Lydia cries out.

"The kitchen, the door out of the kitchen leads to the stairwell." Stiles shouts out.

"Which only goes up." Scott shakes his head.

"Up is better than here." Stiles ushers everyone out the door and upwards. They hear the door break open and make their way up the stairwell.

The group stops in their tracks as they see Isabel's limp body on the ground, in a small puddle of blood. Lydia gasps out and grabs Allison's hand as the two feel tears cloud their eyes.

The three boys rush forward before Stiles gently turns the girl over onto her back and cradles her in his arms. Scott directs everyone into a nearby chemistry classroom as they hear the thudding get closer.

Stiles lays Isabel down on a table, stripping off his flannel and placing it on the first wound he spots. He sees blood seeping through her t-shirt and shakes his head, clenching his jaw tightly.

"Jackson, how many people can fit in your car?" Scott questions, locking the classroom door.

"I could probably fit all of us if two squeeze on laps." Jackson hopes. Allison shakes her head.

"Isabel and I barely fit in the back." Allison responds, standing near Stiles and Lydia takes her place on the other side of the table.

She finds herself holding Isabel's hand again, just like the night of the DVD, store and allows the tears to fall.

"It doesn't matter. There's no getting out without drawing attention. Especially if we are carrying Isabel out." Stiles shakes his head, willing the tears back.

"What about this? This leads to the roof. We can go down the fire escape to the parking lot in, like, seconds." Scott tries.

"That's a deadbolt." Stiles shakes his head.

"The janitor has a key." Scott realizes.

"You mean his body has it." Stiles corrects.

"I can get it. I can find him." Scott responds, his mind already made up as he looks at Isabel's unconscious body.

"Are you serious?" Allison questions.

"Well, it's the best plan. Someone has to get the key if we wanna get out of here to get Isabel help."

"You can't go out there unarmed." Allison shakes her head.

"Well, it's better than nothing." Scott shrugs.

"There's gotta be something else." Stiles looks around, still holding his flannel onto Isabel's wound.

"There is." Lydia perks up, looking up from Isabel. She gently lets go of Isabel's hand, before heading over to the chemical cupboard.

"What are we gonna do? Throw acid on him?" Stiles asks.

"No. A firebomb. In there is everything you need to make a self-igniting molotov cocktail." Lydia explains, before looking around at the confused faces. "What? I read it somewhere."

"We don't have a key for that either." Stiles sighs, looking at the cupboard. Jackson walks up and smashes the glass, as Lydia starts the process.

"Jackson, hand me the sulfuric acid." Lydia requests, Jackson turns to the cupboard before looking between two chemicals confused.

He makes a quick decision and passes Lydia the chemical. Scott approaches Stiles who stands with Isabel, as Allison watches Lydia make the Molotov cocktail.

"How bad is it?" Scott quietly asks. Stiles turns his head and shakes it.

"I haven't looked. I- I don't know how bad it is." He confesses.

Scott looks at Stiles for permission before beginning to lift Isabel's top. Scott and Stiles stare in shock at the bleeding bite mark on Isabel's side. They share a look of fear.

The Alpha has bitten Isabel.

♰ ♰ ♰

"No. No, this is insane, you can't do this. You cannot go out there." Allison cries out, as Lydia hands Scott the cocktail before taking her stand back by her cousin's side.

"We can't just sit here waiting for Stiles' dad to check his messages." Scott explains.

"You could die. Don't you get that? He's killed three people."

"Somebody has to do something. If we don't get Isabel help she will die." Scott breathes out.

"Scott, just stop. Do you remember - do you remember when you told me you knew whether or lying? That I had a tell. Well, so do you. You're a horrible liar. And you've been lying all night. Just - just please - please don't go. Please don't leave us. Please." Allison shakes her head, tears running down her face.

"Lock it behind me." Scott demands, before leaving and closing the door to find the janitor's body.

"I don't get this. I don't get why he's out there, and why he left us. And I can't - I can't stop my hands from shaking." Allison paces around the room.

"It's okay. It's okay, it's gonna be okay." Jackson calms Allison down, making her take a seat.

"Okay." Allison nods, taking deep breaths. Lydia looks up from Isabel, and eyes the chemical cupboard.

"Jackson, you handed me the sulfuric acid, right? It has to be sulfuric acid. It won't ignite if it's not." She questions, worried.

"I gave you exactly what you asked for tonight." Jackson scoffs. Lydia slowly nods, looking down at Isabel.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm sure you did." She quietly responds, unsure.

After a short while of waiting around for Scott, Jackson suddenly jolts forward in pain, clutching the back of his neck in pain. He falls to the floor, with Allison quickly helping. He lets out a groan of pain.

"No, I'm fine. Like, seriously, I'm okay." Jackson insists, standing back up and rubbing the back of his neck. The other three look at him concerned.