'School is starting tomorrow' I thought excitedly as I set my history book on my bed. I had been ready for weeks but apparently teachers like to have vacation time which means they can't start school early just because some kids (probably only me) want to go back. All my AP homework for the summer was neatly put away in my brand new binder and my outfit had already been chosen. All I had to do was wait eight more hours….

Throwing myself down on my bed I let a sigh escape my lips. It was been another uneventful summer in Mayfield, California. Not that anything interesting ever happens here. I'd spent most of it hanging with friends and getting ready for school.

I heard a faint tap on my window and I shot up, clutching my heart which was frantically beating double time. Another tap sounded and I walked slowly to my window. Casually I peered outside and saw the familiar blue jeep in my driveway. I quickly opened up my window and poked my head outside.

"What in God's name are you doing, Stiles?" I called down. I heard two different, but familiar, laughs answered.

"S'up, Mase." Stiles replied. I could barely make out the boy next to him, but I knew it was my other best friend, Scott.

"S'up yourself. It's ten o'clock. We have school tomorrow. I'm going to bed." I said shortly, closing my window slowly. Nothing Stiles and Scott had to say this late at night, especially on a school night, was anything good.

"Wait, wait, wait!" Stiles shouted, receiving a thump and a 'shhh' from Scott. He grunted but kept talking, "Stop being such an overachiever and come down here! I was listening to my dad's police scanner – "

"Naturally—" I muttered.

"—And I heard they found a dead body in the forest! So we gotta go!" Stiles said, waving his hands beckoningly.

I stood there, not believing my ears. "Uh – first of all I'm not an overachiever; I just care about my education. Second your dad told you to stop listening to the scanner. Third, I'm not going to run around the forest at night looking for a body. And lastly, if they already found the body, what exactly are we looking for?" I finished, feeling exasperated. Sometimes it felt like I was the only one who thought things through.

"Oh, please, Mase. We know as well as you that this is the most exciting thing that happened here in forever so let's go!" Scott said.

"Go and do what?" I demanded.

"Find the other half of the body!" Stiles exclaimed.

"I'm sorry?" A chuckle escaped my lips. They had to be messing with me because they know how I get before school. "The other half of the body?"

"Yes," Stiles cried as if he was trying to teach a kid how to tie their shoes. "And we can't go without you!"

"And why is that?" I frowned, annoying Stiles and Scott further.

"Because you know all about death and bodies and stuff from your dumb advanced classes!"

Irked, yet flattered by this comment, I felt my resolve wavering and then fail. "Fine." I could hear them cheering over their victory as I grabbed my coat. I climbed out my window and jumped. Stiles and Scott caught me and we set off for the jeep.

"And for your information my advanced classes aren't dumb. If they were, you'd be allowed in them." I glared playfully at Stiles. Scott snorted and took his seat in the passenger seat.

"Yeah, yeah, you're a genius. We know." He rolled his eyes but opened the door for me anyway.

I took my seat in the back, biting back my comeback. "So what exactly is the plan?"

"I don't think Stiles has thought that far ahead yet." Scott said simply as Stiles got in.

"Of course I have a plan." He said defensively, "When don't I have a plan?

Catching Scott's eye, we said, "Only always."

"Whatevs." He shrugged and drove down the gravel road that led away from my house.

I watched the trees fly by as we hit the road. There has always been something beautiful about night time. I always just lay in bed staring up at the moon and the perfection of it.

I glanced at the moon, which was slightly obstructed by clouds. Between the dancing light of the moon and soft Jack Johnson music playing from Stiles' stereo, I felt myself dosing.

"Hey, don't fall asleep on us." Scott nudged me slightly, instantly I was awake.

"Right," I stifled a yawn. "So, Stiles, what is the plan?"

"Oh, ya know…." He said evasively.

"Oh, right. Good plan." Scott agreed mockingly. I snorted but hadn't really expected a solid answer form him.

We sat in silence for a few minutes until Stiles yelled "We're here!" unnecessarily loud. We all got out and set off into the dark, dense forest.

"So which half of the body are we looking for?" Scott asked after a couple minutes of walking.

"Dunno." Stiles grunted.

"And what are we going to do if the murderer is still here?" I whispered tauntingly. Scott stopped and shivered as Stiles glared at me again.

"I didn't think about that."

"'Course you didn't." I sighed. There was a menacing crack and we all turned with a singular gasp.

"What was that?" Scott whispered, his countenance frightened. His inhaler was out in a flash as he gasped for air.

Stiles shook his head rapidly. I glanced around, surveying the darkness that had suddenly turned unfriendly. I thought I saw something move in the distance, but instead of wanting to worry the others, I tried to convince myself it had just been the dark playing tricks on my eyes.

"Just the wind…." I muttered. Scott and Stiles seemed to accept this solution and we set off again, our ears alert to any sound this time. Scott kept his inhaler in hand, using it frequently.

"How are we supposed to find the body when everyone is out there looking for it?" I asked, crouching under a branch.

"It's about the adventure, not the logic." Stiles said a-matter-of-factly.

"Right. I can't believe I haven't seen that before. Get murdered in the dark now, think later." I said sarcastically. "That should be our motto."

Stiles chuckled, throwing an arm over my shoulders. "Loosen up, Mase. You'll have all the time in the world to be a grown up after high school." I leaned into him as we walked, falling silent. I've heard he and Scott tell me that so many times that I knew when this talk was coming and that was my cue to stop talking.

"Guys." Scott took another hit of his inhaler. "Maybe we should just head home."

"We can't go home until we find the body!"

"Let's just go up this ridge and if we don't see anything, we'll head back." I compromised.

Scott nodded with another breath from his inhaler and Stiles dropped his arm and mumbled nonchalantly, running up ahead.

Scott and I had almost met up with Stiles when he ducked down suddenly.

"Shit." He groaned. His eyes were shut in contemplation.

"What?" I questioned but as I looked over the edge I could see lights and police dogs.

"Awesome." Scott moaned (breathing through his inhaler).

"We're going to get arrested. This was such a good idea." I whispered sarcastically.

"Don't be stupid. My dad's not going to arrest us." Stiles said, peering at the lights. "But just in case…."

"Run?" Scott offered.

"Run." He confirmed and we set off, getting split up in the dark.

"Stiles?" I whispered urgently, "Scott?" I listened for any reply, or the sound of someone blowing on an inhaler, but neither came. I had always felt at ease in the forest, especially since Mayfield is practically one big sunny forest. I grew up spending all my time with Stiles and Scott or at my dad's coal mine (which was in the center of the forest). I'd walk home from my dad's work all the time before Stiles got his license so I never really thought twice about being alone in the dark in the forest.

Tonight, however, something was off. There were no animals, no chirping grasshoppers, and no warmth. It was like I was in some spooky forest that I had no claim to and for the first time, I was afraid. Every snapping twig sounded like some crazed murderer coming to kill me and every sway of a branch made me feel like I was stuck in a horror film. Something was in this forest and it was something that didn't belong.

"Stiles?" I tried again. No answer. "Scott?" Silence.

My breath sped up as terror engulfed me. Another twig snapped and I whipped around so fast I felt my neck kink. Rubbing it, I squinted to see if anything was there or if it was my mind playing terrible tricks on me. Another snap.

"Hello?" My voice broke. If this was some sick joke Stiles made up he was going to die. Painfully.

Then I heard a growl that made my heart freeze. I choked on my breath and held as still as I possibly could. In the looming darkness I could make out something like a dog in the mess of trees. Its yellow eyes beckoned me to come closer.

Just one step couldn't hurt…

I pushed three steps forward…

The dog was striding towards me…

One more and then I could go back and find the boys. Just one—

A hand grabbed me from behind, "Mason Mayfield, you better get home before your daddy finds out your gone." A stern, fatherly voice reprimanded me. I turned to see Sheriff Stilinski and Stiles. Stiles looked shaken but otherwise okay.

"Where's—" I started but Stiles quickly jerked his head, causing me to change my question. "You been?" I finished lamely.

"Take her home, Rupert." Sheriff Stilinski ordered Stiles (who cringed at the use of his real name). His gaze swept the outskirts of the trees and he headed back to the others.

"Where's Scott?" I asked once the Sheriff was out of earshot.

"I dunno. But he'll be alright." (Though Stiles didn't look too sure.) "Let's get you home."

He held out his hand.

I looked behind me, searching for the beast, but saw nothing. "I hope Scott gets home safe."