Stiles and Donovan are fighting. Donovan wounded Stiles in the shoulder with his hand-maw, and now Stiles is struggling to reach the wrench on the Jeep. Stiles manages to headbutt Donovan, knocking him loose. He grabs the wrench and beats him across the face with it. Stiles runs into the school with Donovan close on his heels. He decides against running up to the second floor and heads back outside again. Donovan turns to look for him, and a second maw opens on the side of his neck. Stiles crosses the campus to the library and has to use his keycard to get in.

 

The library is under construction. Stiles hides among the stacks. Donovan comes in and finds Stiles's phone on the floor. It's buzzing. "You dropped your phone. It's Malia. Should I text her back?" he asks, and pockets the phone.

 

Donovan launches into his villain's monologue. "You don't really know who I am, do you Stiles?" He asks him if he's heard about his father who used to be Sheriff Stilinkski's partner. A bullet shattered Donovan's father's T9 vertebra. "You know what that means? It means everything below his waist is useless. And not just his legs." Donovan suggests that the Sheriff told Stiles some of it but he didn't say that he was sitting in the car calling for backup while Donovan's dad went in alone.

 

Stiles gets angrier as he listens, but he stays quiet. "Did he tell you that he was too scared? Too much of a frightened little bitch to go in after him? Or do scared little bitches not tell their little bitch sons about their failures?" Stiles watches Donovan walk up the stairs to the upper floor, then he waits, listening for footsteps that suddenly stop falling. 

 

Donovan attacks through a bookcase, pulling Stiles back through it. Stiles drops the wrench, and Donovan throws him up against the scaffolding. Stiles elbows Donovan in the face, knocking him down, and then scurries up the scaffold. Donovan grabs hold of him. "Don't worry Stiles, I'm not going to kill you. I'm just going to eat your legs," he says, and his eyes glow white. Stilkes sees a pin in the scaffolding above him and struggles until he can reach it. He pulls the pin and pipes and construction materials fall.

 

When the sound settles, Stiles looks down to see Donovan impaled on a pole. Donovan is still alive, though. Stiles puts his hands on the pole as if he's going to pull it out, but Donovan growls at him, and Stiles stops and watches him die. Silver fluid pours out into Donovan's wounds. 

 

From the library phone, Stiles dials 911, but he can't bring himself to say anything. The police will send a unit to investigate a 911 call either way, which is what he wants. 

 

Stiles starts to run away, but when he opens the door, he realizes that the cops will need a way to get in. He uses a book to prop the door, then hears his phone ring in Donovan's pocket. He carefully picks it from his pocket and then runs. Stiles fixes his Jeep but he doesn't pull out of hte parking lot. Instead he breathes like he's having a panic attack, until he hears the approaching sirens. Then he moves the Jeep slightly further away so he can watch. 

 

An officer heads into the library, and Stiles is overwrought with worry and anxiety. It's clear he has no idea how to feel. He turns on his police scanner. "Dispatch, I'm 1097, and there's no one here. It's a 653." "Roger that. Prank call." Stiles can't believe what he's hearing. After the officer leaves, he goes back into the library. Donovan and the drop cloth that was on the floor under him are gone. 

 

It's 5:30am, and Scott and Kira are asleep in Scott's room. Kira is whispering the same Japanese phrase she shouted when she was going to kill Lucas. Scott wakes up, staring at her, and then gets a message on his phone that the alarm in Animal Clinic has been tripped.

 

Still upset, Stiles goes to his room and writes "Donovan Not Dead" on the case board. He lists walked out as an option. Then he writes Donovan Dead and underlines it, clearly upset with this option. Underneath he fills in, "someone took the body." About to cry, Stiles grabs the eraser and starts to remove the info about Donovan from his board. As he breaks down, he throws the eraser and then notices the pain in his shoulder from where Donovan's hand maw bit him. His phone rings, and he jumps in surprise.

 

"Hey, Scott," he says. "Stiles. Someone's taking the bodies." Stiles is stunned silent. Scott tells him that they're at the Animal Clinic and Tracy's body is gone. The lock was broken from the outside, and Lucas's body is missing from the morgue. 

 

Parrish unloads Donovan's body from his truck and walks into the woods. His eyes start to glow.

 

The next day at school, Malia shows Lydia The Dread Doctors book she found. Malia says that she's read it but she didn't understand any of it. Lydia tells her that they should probably all read it, and Malia says that Kira is working on that. Kira is in the library making photocopies. Malia also reports that Stiles can't find anything on the author and thinks it's a pen name.

 

The back cover of the book reads:

 

In a small New England town, teenagers are taken in the night and buried alive. Days later they emerge transformed, wreaking havoc and spreading terror, commanded by an ancient order of parascientists known only as the Dread Doctors.

 

Lydia asks Malia how it ends. "IT doesn't. This is supposed to be volume one." "Let me guess, there is no volume two." "I think we're living volume two." Lydia thinks the real question is whether the book is a novel or someone's prediction. She's thinking it could have been written by a banshee.

 

Meanwhile in the library, Scott tells Kira that he doesn't think the Dread Doctors are taking the bodies. When they've killed their experiments so far, they've just walked away and left them. Why come back later for them? Scott also points out that the chimeras are all failures. "If the chimeras are all failures, what's a success going to be?" Kira asks. "Bad. Probably really bad."

 

As they're leaving the library, Scott stops and turns. He smelled blood from Donovan. 

 

In the boys locker room, Scott shows Theo the copy of the book. Theo tells him that he's never even heard of a kanima until a few days ago. He asks if Scott wants him to read it. "Not yet. I'm only on chapter one." Theo asks him if they do this a lot. "Do what?" "Get involved." "Yeah. I guess." Theo asks him about the author. As he flips through the pages, Scott tells him that they tried but it's a dead end. Then Theo shows Scott something on the last page.

 

In math class, Malia turns around to give Lydia an annoyed look. "Why is your heart beating so fast?" Lydia shows her the About the Author page. "For providing scientific research and valuable insight, this book is dedicated to Dr. Gabriel Valack." Scott tells Theo that he knows where to find him.

 

Later, Theo bursts into the Dread Doctors' lab and tells them that the book worked and the pack is going to see Valack tonight. "To Eichen..." the Doctors say.

 

In Stiles's room, Stiles informs Lydia that he's going with them to Eichen House. She thought he was sick, which is why he stayed home from school. He admits to being slightly under the weather, and she says he dosen't have to come. "Malia's not going either." "Malia's not going because she knows that place is nightmare asylum of insanity and death. Okay? Let's go." As Stiles puts his hoodie on, he winces. Lydia notices and asks about it. Stiles tries to lie to her, but she knows something is wrong and blocks his path.

 

Stiles insists that she is not going without him. "Scott and Kira are going to be there." "Okay. I'm not letting you go to a place where one of the orderlies almost killed you." "He almost killed you too!" "And we're both still alive! See? Teamwork." Stiles rushes out of the room before she can come up with another argument. 

 

At Scott's house, he and Kira are searching his room for her belt. Kira says that when they got up, he reminded her not to forget it. Scott claims he doesn't remember saying that. "You don't remember saying a lot of things." Scott turns to her. "What's that supposed to mean?" "It means... nothing. Forget it." Scott crouches in front of her and asks her if she's okay. Kira asks him to look at her with his alpha vision. 

 

Scott agrees and steps back. He looks at her and sees her kitsune aura flaming. The aura points to her belt on the floor, indicating that it has knowledge that Kira herself does not. "What, did you see something?" she asks. Scott avoids telling her and instead points out the belt. "Everything else is fine," he says.

 

That night they all go to Eichen House. Lydia keeps buzzing to try to get in. Scott goes to talk to Stiles. "Are you gonna be okay in there?" "Yeah, why?" "You seem a little off." "I think we're all a little off." "Maybe some of us more than others," Scott says and turns to look at Kira. Stiles asks what happened. "Well when the other chimera, Lucas, when he came after us, I heard Kira say something in Japanese." "That doesn't sound too bad." "She doesn't know any Japanese." "Still not terrible." "I also think I might have stopped her from killing Lucas." Stiles takes that into consideration. "Wasn't he trying to kill you, though? I mean that just sounds like self-defense." Stiles rubs at the wound Donovan gave him on his shoulder. Scott says it was more than that. She nearly took off his head. "Maybe she had no choice," Stiles responds, clearly now thinking about his own situation. "There's gotta be a point where self-defense is justified. Tracy killed her own father. And Lucas would've killed you." Scott tells him, "They're not hte bad guys. They're the victims. We shouldn't be killing the people we're trying to save."

 

Eichen House finally opens up, and they all head inside. Schrader tells them all to empty their pockets. They comply. He asks Kira to remove her belt. "I kind of need the belt. I mena, it's crucial to the outfit." "Please remove belt, which patients will attempt to take from you and use to strangle either themselves or others." Kira removes her belt while Schrader leers at Lydia. Stiles notices that among the things he put in the box is the pin from the scaffolding that he pulled.

 

Dr. Fenris takes them downstairs and says he's only doing this as a favor to Deaton. Stiles asks about the etiquette for talking to Valack. Fenris suggests not making eye contact with anyone or anything while they're in the basement. 

 

Back at the school, Malia is studying in the library. Theo comes to sit with her, claiming that he has to study too. She doesn't stop him from sitting with her and keeps giving him looks and trying not to smile.

 

In the hallway in Eichen, Scott and Kira come to a stop while Lydia and Stiles continue on. There's a mountain ash barrier that they can't cross. Fenris opens the door and tells Lydia and Stiles that Valack's cell is the last one at the end of the hall. Scott offers reassurances while they head off. 

 

Stiles and Lydia peer at the captives. A woman without a mouth. A slaugh. And then Valack. Valack asks them what they just saw in the previous cell. "The slaugh. The myth is that they can take on the appearance of the lost souls that have become inextricably bound to it. Happened to see any lost souls, Mr. Stilinski?" "Yeah, everyone down here," Stiles responds. Valack tells him not to give up on them yet. "We're all works in progress." It's something Peter says. Lydia recognizes it and asks him where he heard it. "Wise words from a former cell mate." 

 

Valack asks if they brought the book, and Stiles shows him the copy. Lydia realizes there is no T.R. McCammon. Valack wrote the book. It's a tool designed to open their eyes. 

 

Malia gets up to leave, and Theo offers to give her a ride. She says she'll take the bus, but the last one left an hour ago. Then she says she'll walk. Theo tempts her with driving lessons. He tosses her his keys, and she catches them and smiles. 

 

Lydia asks VAlack why he used a psuedonym. He claims he had a professional reputation once and didn't want to ruin it by putting his name on a second rate piece of trash. "Then why write the book in the first place?" Stiles asks. Valack explains taht he wrote it because no one believed him, no one listened. He knows the Doctors are in Beacon Hills. "What are they?" Lydia asks. "Not entirely human. At least not anymore. They were scientists once. Scientists who worshipped the supernatural. Teska said, 'If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration.' They found their secrets in electromagnetic forces. Ways to prolong their lives. Give them power. And most importantly, making you forget you ever saw them."

 

Lydia asks what they want. Valack tells her it's a good question, because everyone wants something. Stiles realizes it's the start of his request and asks Valack what his price is. He wants a recording of Lydia's scream. 

 

Out in the hallway, Scott reports that he can't hear anything. He thinks the mountain ash is disrupting his abilities. Kira says she's feeling weak. Kira thinks this was a bad idea and sighs. Scott assures her that Stiles and Lydia will be okay without them. "Those two. They're pretty good together." "Yeah, they are." "No super strength or samurai swords, but they stay alive." "He still likes her, doesn't he?" "Yeah. Yeah, but it's different now. You should have seen the way he used to be around her." "Was it bad?" "It was kinda obsessive. But not all bad. You know Lydia used to pretend not to be smart?" Kira gives him a look. "Our Lydia?" "Yeah, Stiles was the only one who knew." "How?" "He paid attention. He listened to her. He remembered." 

 

The lights in the hallway suddenly flicker, and Scott looks around. While he's not looking, Kira begins to generate electricity. 

 

Stiles takes the recorder away from Lydia and declares that Valack is not getting his recording. Lydia doesn't agree and wants to do the trade. While they're talking, Valack asks them how many have died so far. He asks if they want to know how many died the first time the Doctors came to Beacon Hills, or how many will die if they succeed. 

 

"This did happen before," Lydia says. "And now they're back. All because a few teenagers who never even considered the consequences decided to reignite a supernatural force they barely understand." Lydia realizes he's talking about the nemeton and the sacrifices they performed in Season 3A. Stiles asks how he even knows about that, and Valack replies that he knows because he saw it. He removes the band from his head, and Lydia looks into his third eye.

 

In the hallway, Kira's powers start to go haywire. Valack sees the lights flicker and asks who they came with. When they don't answer, he knows they brought a kitsune. A light explodes. Kira is disrupting the building's defenses. "It's not just the mountain ash that keeps this building secure. It's the electromagnetic energy.Eichen is built on the convergence of telluric currents. Ley lines. IT's what allows it to keep certain supernatural creatures in and certain others out. They knew you were coming. They're here. And you unlocked the door for them." 

 

The Dread Doctors open the gate to Eichen House and walk inside.

 

Malie and Theo are in Theo's truck. Malia is driving just as Lydia instructed. "We can go a little faster. If you want," Theo says. Malia replies that she's doing the speed limit. He informs her that no one does the speed limit. He then touches her hand and moves it down on the wheel to a more natural grip. His touch lingers. 

 

As she's driving, Malia gets flashes of the day of her crash. She starts to speed. It freaks Theo out. Eventually she slams on the brakes with both feet and then gets out of the car. 

 

Kira shorts out all the lights. Scott tries to touch her and gets shocked back. Fenris shows up and asks scott if he's okay. He realizes that Kira is causing whatever is happening. Valack orders them to hit record and give him a scream, because it costs them nothing. Stiles replies that it's important to him so he's not getting it for free. Lydia asks what the book does. He explains that reading the book opens their minds to the memories that the Doctors repressed. The book was meant to trigger peoples' memories. And then those people would find their way to him. Lydia recalls having flashes of the doctors while she was on the operating table.

 

"If you've seen them, if they've done something to you, then the book will help you remember. Now give me what I want!" 

 

Lydia holds out her hand for the recorder.

 

In the hallway, the Doctors are right by the door. Scott doesn't know hwo to move Kira if he can't even touch her. 

 

Malia recalls being in her mother's car. They wre driving toward some headlights, a vehicle stopped in the middle of the road. A woman with two pistols is silhouetted there. She opens fire on the car, and they swerve into the woods. Theo pulls MAlia out of the way of an oncoming car. "It was her. She was there," Malia says. "The Desert Wolf."

 

Fenris advises Scott to run. He says he can't leave her. "I can," the doctor says, and takes off. Scott grabs Kira even though her electricity is electrocuting him. He gets out of the way of the doctors and keeps going.

 

Lydia asks Valack what the Doctors are trying to do. He just tells them all to read the book, anyone who has come in contact with them should read it. Stiles rushes to get out of there. 

 

Scott carries Kira out of the building.

 

The Doctors go to Valack's cell. They hold him down and pluck out his third eye.

 

Scott emerges from Eichen House with Kira and collapses on the ground, smoking and covered in burns. 
"At the club... at the club, you said..." Kira mutters. "I remember," Scott tells her. "And I meant it." She takes his hand.

 

Stiles and Lydia are hiding in the basement. "I think we're okay," Lydia says. "No, it's not okay. All this, it's on us. Everything that's happened. Everything that's gonna happen. It's our fault." Lydia corrects him. "It's our responsibility."

 

Valack crawls to the door of his cell and puts the recorder in a cup. He holds it against the glass and plays it back. Lydia's scream cracks the glass.