The next day, after dealing with the Chemist, Scott and his pack were sitting in the school cafeteria, having lunch.
Stiles looked up from his tray and said. "Hey guys, since we can't find the Benefactor, how about we try something different—maybe look for a banshee in Beacon Hills?"
Malia frowned. "Don't we already have a banshee? Why are you looking for another one?"
Stiles replied. "Yeah, we do. But I'm talking about another banshee, maybe we can get lucky and find the one Peter mentioned—the banshee working for the Benefactor."
Isaac nodded thoughtfully. "That's a good idea. But how exactly are we supposed to find a random banshee in Beacon Hills?"
Stiles shrugged. "I don't know. I did my part and came up with a plan to find the Benefactor, so you guys should figure out a way to find the banshee by yourselves. Sometimes I feel that I'm way too smart to be friends with you all."
Boyd raised an eyebrow. "So you think we're dumb?"
Stiles glanced around and noticed everyone giving him slow, evil grins. He quickly backtracked. "No! I didn't call anyone dumb. That was a joke!"
Lydia smirked. "Well, I have a plan to find the banshee. Want to help me, Stiles?"
Stiles said nervously. "Let me hear the plan first."
Lydia said. "It's simple. Banshees are drawn to death, right? So we just need to kill someone and use the body as bait. Then we wait for the banshee to show up. All we need now is a dead body. So, Stiles, how about you sacrifice yourself for the greater good?"
Stiles immediately clung to Malia. "Protect me! They're trying to kill me!"
Malia ignored him, and said. "Actually, Lydia's plan kind of makes sense. But we can't kill Stiles—we should find someone else to kill."
Everyone turned to stare at her in disbelief.
Malia looked confused. "Why are you all looking at me like that?"
Allison said gently. "Malia… you know Lydia was just joking, right?"
Malia tilted her head. "Was she? Either way, I still think it's a good plan. The real question is: who are we going to kill?"
"Malia!" Stiles said, eyes wide. "We're not killing anyone! Lydia was joking! Besides, even if we killed someone, the banshee may not show up."
Lydia sighed. "Okay, let's stop talking about murder. Our best shot is to talk to Uncle Noah. Maybe he has old case files about a woman showing up at different crime scenes, or maybe a case involving someone screaming and hurting people with her voice."
Scott thought to himself. 'Although I know that the banshee is probably Meredith and I know where to find her, I can't tell them that. Besides, things have changed now, and I doubt she is still in Eichen House.'
Out loud, he said. "Okay, let's do that. Lydia, Allison, Stiles, and I will go to the sheriff's station after school and talk to Uncle Noah."
With the plan settled, they finished their lunch and headed back to class.
---
After school, Scott, Stiles, Lydia, and Allison drove to the sheriff's station.
As soon as they arrived, they headed straight to Noah's office—Stiles barging in without even knocking.
Noah looked up. "What's going on, kids? Why are you here?"
Lydia quickly explained the reason for their visit, and Noah started searching through old case files on his computer—looking for anything that might be connected to a banshee. After a moment, he called out. "Parrish! Can you bring me the physical files for these cases?"
Parrish, who had just walked in, nodded and disappeared to fetch them. A few minutes later, he returned with a thick folder and handed it to Noah.
Noah opened the file, scanned the pages, and said. "This is the only person I think might be a banshee. Her name is Meredith Walker. 10 years ago, she was found near three different dead bodies—different locations, all unexplained. She also showed up at the scene of three fatal car accidents. We questioned her each time, but she never had a clear answer. Eventually, we determined she had nothing to do with the deaths, so we just notified her family and sent her home."
Lydia nodded. "I think there's a 90% chance she's a banshee."
Noah said. "She's definitely a banshee. One day during her chemistry class, she had a complete breakdown. Witnesses said she was muttering to herself, gripping her desk like her life depended on it, reacting to things no one else could see or hear."
Stiles leaned forward. "Did she scream?"
"Oh, she screamed." Noah said grimly. "She slammed her hands on the desk and let out this piercing wail. Every window in the classroom shattered. The kids sitting closest to her ended up with ruptured eardrums and had to be rushed to the ER. Meredith collapsed right after that—unconscious but unharmed. The school called it an 'unexplained structural failure.'"
Allison asked quietly. "What happened to her afterward?"
"She was taken to Beacon Hills Memorial." Noah said. "Doctors noted her catatonic state and the things she kept saying—about voices and people who weren't there. When no medical explanation could be found, she was diagnosed with 'acute psychotic dissociation' and transferred to Eichen House for long-term psychiatric care."
Stiles asked. "Is she still there?"
Noah shrugged. "I don't know."
Scott stood up. "Then we should go find out."
Noah frowned. "Alright, but they might not even let you see her. They may not even tell you if she's there."
Scott smiled. "Deaton's sister works there. She'll help us."
Allison said. "You mean Morrell?"
"Yeah." Scott said. "My mom told me she works as a therapist at Eichen House. I'll ask Deaton to contact her and let her know we need her help."
After leaving the station, the four of them drove to Eichen House. On the way, Scott used his mental link to speak to Deaton, explaining the situation with Meredith and their need for Morrell's help. Deaton agreed and called his sister immediately.
When they arrived at Eichen House, the group approached the front doors—only to be stopped by an orderly named Brunski.
He stepped in front of them, arms crossed. "What do you want?"
Stiles started. "We're here to visit..."
Brunski cut him off. "Visiting hours are over, kid. You can't get in."
Scott stared at him with a knowing smirk.
'Oh.' He thought. 'It's the serial killer guy. I bet he knows something—maybe I should read his memories. But even if he doesn't know anything about Meredith, I should still kill the bastard tonight. Or maybe I'll let Lydia do it—after all, he did kill her grandmother.'
Just then, Morrell stepped out of Eichen House and called out. "Let them through, Brunski. They're here to see me."
Stiles grinned smugly, winked at Brunski, and strolled past him, followed by Allison and Lydia. But Scott remained where he was, staring at Brunski.
Brunski scowled. "What are you looking at, you stupid kid?"
Scott didn't respond. His eyes glowed a burning red as he locked eyes with Brunski. He silently activated the compulsion ability he'd absorbed from the ancient vampire.
Brunski's pupils dilated. His scowl faded into a blank, dazed stare.
Morrell, Allison, and the others noticed and walked back toward Scott. Morrell frowned. "Scott, what are you doing? Brunski's a jerk, but that doesn't mean you can mess with his head. He was just doing his job."
Scott shook his head. "Something about this guy feels off. I just want to ask him a few questions."
Turning to Brunski, Scott asked. "Do you know Meredith Walker?"
Under compulsion, Brunski replied flatly. "Yes. She was a banshee staying here for treatment."
"Where is she now?"
"Some people came looking for her a few weeks ago. Gave me twenty grand to let them talk to her. After they spoke with her, they gave me another thirty thousand to let them take her… and keep quiet."
Scott's eyes narrowed. "Do you know who they were? Where they came from?"
Brunski said. "No. I don't know who they were. But the woman leading them had glowing red eyes. The five men with her were trained soldiers—in full tactical gear. Armed to the teeth."
Morrell stepped closer. "Okay, Scott. You got your answers. Let him go. He's corrupt, sure, but now we know what happened to Meredith."
"Be patient." Scott said.
He turned back to Brunski. "What's the worst thing you've ever done?"
Brunski blinked slowly. "I used to kill cats when I was a kid. I also like to drink… and I drove drunk."
Allison flinched. "You sick bastard."
Scott pressed further. "What is the best thing you like to do? And what is the greatest thing you did?"
Brunski answered with eerie calm. "I like sedating, tasing, and punishing the mentally ill patients I care for. As for the greatest thing I did? It is the fact that I was lucky enough to relieve the suffering of a few of my patients."
Stiles, Lydia, Morrell and Allison stared in horror.
Scott asked darkly. "How did you relieve them?"
Brunski replied. "By giving them a high dose of sedatives and making them fall into a painless, eternal sleep."
Scott's tone turned sharp. "So you're a sociopath serial killer who killed a lot of his patients. What do they call people like you again?"
Stiles muttered. "They call them angels of mercy."
Even under compulsion, Brunski's face contorted in denial. "No! I'm not a killer! I'm a good man. I helped them. I... I gave them peace."
Lydia's voice was cold. "He thinks the greatest thing he's done… is killing patients."
Allison crossed her arms. "He is under compulsion, so he can't lie. That means he really believes he is a good person and what he does is mercy."
Stiles turned to Morrell. "Doesn't this place check if the people they hire are not mentally ill themselves before hiring them to care for the mentally ill?"
Morrell sighed. "That should be the case, but this is not a normal mental hospital. It's a supernatural asylum and prison at the same time. They don't have the luxury of being picky."
Scott stepped closer to Brunski and drove his claws into the back of his neck. He closed his eyes, reading Brunski's memories. When he pulled back, his face was grim.
"Damn, this monster has killed a lot of people." He muttered.
Morrell looked uneasy. "Should we call the Sheriff?"
"No." Scott said flatly. "This is personal. He won't live past tonight."
Stiles frowned. "What do you mean… personal?"
Scott didn't answer. "I'll tell you later."
He turned back to Brunski. "Do you know the old Hale house in the woods?"
"Yes." Brunski replied.
"Drive your car there and wait for me."
Brunski nodded and went to do as Scott ordered.
Allison asked. "Does he have anything to do with the Hale fire?"
Scott glanced at her, then said. "I'll tell you all later." He turned to Morrell. "Did you see the people who took Meredith?"
Morrell shook her head. "No. I wasn't here when she left Eichen House."
"Are there any cameras in her room? Maybe they recorded her conversation with them?"
"Unfortunately, no." Morrell replied.
Scott sighed. "Alright, thanks. If she comes back, or if those people return, let us know immediately. Let's go guys."
The four of them got in their cars and drove to the old Hale house. When they arrived, Brunski was already there, waiting by his car.
Scott stepped out and turned to Lydia. "Lydia, you need to read his memories. But… prepare yourself. It's about your grandmother—and it's not going to be pleasant."
Lydia froze. "My grandma? Did he… did he kill her?"
Scott nodded grimly. "She didn't take her own life. He murdered her."
A storm of emotion crossed Lydia's face—sadness, but more than anything, rage. Without a word, she walked to Brunski, her eyes glowing red. She drove her talons into the back of his neck, reading his memories.
Moments later, she yanked her hand back and slapped him—hard. The blow knocked out several of his teeth and sent him crashing to the ground.
Tears streamed down Lydia's cheeks. She looked at Scott and said. "Release him from your control. I want this beast to feel what's coming."
Scott nodded and dropped his compulsion.
Brunski blinked rapidly, dazed and in pain. He looked up at Lydia. "Where am I? What are you tying to do?"
Lydia stepped forward, voice cold. "Do you remember Lorraine Martin?"
Brunski's lips twisted. "No."
"You're lying. I can hear your heartbeat." Lydia's voice trembled with fury. "You killed her. Just like all the other patients you relieved. And now… you're going to pay."
She stomped her foot on the ground, and the air shifted. The earth cracked open—and ten ghastly, stinking gray ghouls emerged, crawling out of the soil with twisted snarls.
Brunski screamed in terror. "Wait—please! I only wanted to ease her pain! I'm a good man! Please don't...!"
Lydia's voice rang out with finality. "Eat him alive."
Scott, Allison, and Stiles stood beside Lydia, unwavering despite the ghouls' horrible stench. Allison gently took Lydia's hand. Together, the four of them watched in silence as the ghouls tore Brunski apart—limb by limb—while he screamed and begged.
It didn't last long.
Soon, all that remained were bloodstained clothes and a pair of shoes. Lydia raised her hand, and sent her ghouls back to wherever world they came from.
Scott stepped forward and ignited the pile of clothes with his fire ability, burning them to ash. Then he walked to Brunski's car and burned it too, until it turned into molten metal.
As they turned to walk back to their cars, Lydia said softly. "You guys can go. I want to be alone for a little while."
Scott looked at her with sympathy. "I'm sorry about your grandmother, but now you know that she didn't take her own life, and you just took revenge for her, so don't be too sad."
He stepped forward and hugged her. Then he winked at Allison and Stiles, who both joined the embrace, squeezing her between the three of them.
After a while, Lydia let out a small, shaky laugh. "Okay, okay, you can let me go now. I'm fine."
They let go of her, and Scott gave his Camaro's keys to Allison and said. "Take her for a drive."
Allison took the keys and kissed him. "Okay. See you later."
Scott and Stiles got into the Jeep and headed back to the ranch.
---
Back at the ranch, the pack gathered around as Scott and Stiles recounted everything—what happened to Meredith, Brunski's crimes, and the truth about Lydia's grandmother.
Melissa folded her arms. "Honestly? I'm glad Lydia killed that bastard."
Scott said. "Uncle Noah, see if you can find Meredith. She is our only way to find the Benefactor for now."
Noah nodded. "I'll look for her with Parrish and Rafael. But I'm not involving my other deputies. That banshee is dangerous—and she's got shapeshifters and heavily armed people with her. If my deputies found her and tried to arrest her… they'd just end up dead."
To Be Continued... 😊