The Symphony Between Us

by Kalon_Isle

Summary:

The melody softens exponentially. It takes shape and resembles closely the way the original song is played, but with a careful dose of softness and light that Enid can’t help but pour into everything she does.

While Wednesday prefers the dark rendition that filled her ears only seconds ago, she finds that she isn’t displeased with the brighter form the music takes shape in. She quickly wonders if she's suffering a stroke.

Or

Wednesday learns that Enid can play the piano, and it’s all been downhill from there.

Chapter 1: Paint It Black

Notes:

This one story won’t leave me alone till I write it, so I made an account to appease it!

Enjoy!

 

 

Without any warning, the halls swell with the unmistakable sound of music.

She should be furious. They were on a mission after all. Even the most infantile of creatures understand the concept of self-preservation. Playing a piano in the midst of a house you were breaking into defied every bit of self-preservation law there was. Yet for reasons unbeknownst to her, this was not the initial reaction that had overcome her.

She had experienced this emotion before. In fact, it could be considered a constant companion. It was what cemented her stay at Nevermore itself after all. It was the drive and thrill to her cold, dead heart.
It both gripped and propelled her into the welcoming throes of death constantly just to satiate this base desire in her. Curiosity.

And how very curious indeed.

That same curiosity glued her to the floor, only to listen intently. She dared not make a sound herself. She wasn’t even sure she was breathing. Similar to hunting the beasts often caught in the sights of her crossbow, her entire being gave pause. If not, her prey would certainly flee.

It's soft, at least at first. Even though the sound is resonating from the floor below, Wednesday can tell from this distance that it's quiet and unsure. There were frequent pauses, almost as if the player was forcefully having to draw out the memory of each note before fingers struck the keys.

The way it was played sounded inexperienced to Wednesday’s experienced ear. The hands plucked out a mere sketch of the piece itself, whatever it was. Only playing a repeat of the individual notes that make up the main melody.

Void of the harmony or any kind of richness that comes from playing full chords, Wednesday readily assumes that Enid is a beginner. The simple picking of the keys reminded her of her own brother.

Seemingly out of a desire to match her own prowess at playing the cello, Pugsley had a small stint of time where he toyed with the grand piano at home. Hidden away only to collect dust and cobwebs in the depths of the Addams manor, the piano had once seen minor use from the boy as he learned to hesitantly carve out the beginnings of a rather dreadful piece.

Probably from realizing the time and effort it would take to rise to his older sister’s level, he quickly gave it up. The piano was sealed to its fate of collecting cobwebs once more.

Wednesday wondered when Enid began to learn the piano, and also wondered if she would fall to the same fate as her own brother. If she did, it was probably for the best. Even now, the plucking of each note made up the makings of the revolting major key. Far too happy for her tastes, and prolonged exposure would surely cause her eardrums to rupture. As much as Wednesday loved the violent thought, it would be a rather unpleasant way for them to go.

While Wednesday was caught up in her thoughts, she failed to realize the shift. Once she did, however, she immediately felt a deep shiver, cold as ice, run down her spine.

The simplistic motions of plucking the keys had completely transformed. Now filled with more confidence that only increases as each second passes by. Not only were the keys being handled with far more grace and elegance than before, but the presence of chords made themselves known as well. The lower bass chords being played resounded around the house, seemingly resonating off the walls with their richness. They gave off a warmth of their own in a terribly dreadful way.

Beyond it all, Wednesday was shocked to find herself in a vice grip of the acutest kind. Every prideful fiber of her being was screaming not to acknowledge this, but she was wrong. She was so utterly wrong it acted as a slap in the face that left her cheeks stinging from the realization.

Two things presented themselves before her so clearly now. It was horrifying to her how quickly she was to originally dismiss them. The smaller of the two realizations was a tricky one. The song being played was not a happy one, at least not directly. The rich notes filling the air gave off this unique and complicated mix of longing and somberness. Even if not falling into a category of music Wednesday would play herself, she could not help but feel an air of respect for this song that transformed before her and managed to subconsciously pull the wool over her eyes.

However much the former realization was greatly disturbing and off putting in itself, the latter realization shook her nearly to her very core. There was no possible way Enid was a novice at playing the piano. Years of honing her own craft taught her this much at least.

Each key, each chord was played with such an acute precision. Each note was handled with the utmost grace. Wednesday had realized too late that each note being played might as well have been a flurry of well-timed arrows. The shock of it all had pierced her very heart and left a spray of her blood to splatter and paint the walls behind her.

It was curious.

That same curiosity that had cemented her feet to the floor had now made them light as a feather. It tugged at her, drawing her closer to the origin of the sound. It was almost as if a rope had found itself embedded into her stomach, and pulled at her to move forward. No matter how hard she clawed at it, she was helpless to its whims.

Not unlike the horrid song of a siren, Wednesday found herself stalking closer and closer to the sound. Down the staircase, through the halls, around the corner. Each step closer was filled with the practiced gait of a huntress. Even if Enid wasn’t engrossed in the piano, there was no possible way for her to pick up on the footsteps. Even with her heightened ear.

Wednesday leaned her shoulder against the doorframe. Without looking inside, she just waited. Now close to the sound, it began to send small vibrations into her shoulder through the paneled wood. She decided to let the rest of the song run its course and reach its natural conclusion, which she accurately deduced was near.

Enid began to slow her pace, and the rich sound was now filled with the soft chords that announced the end of the piece. Only then, did the music give way to the stillness of the air. The quiet, even though short lived, was deafening. Time itself seemed to stand still, only resuming when Enid’s pleased sigh rang its own note from the inside of the dark living room.

Moments later, Enid must have then been broken from her own spell, for she blinked rapidly and tensed the muscles throughout her body in realization of where she was and what she was doing. ‘Wednesday was actually going to kill her this time’ were all the thoughts that frantically flooded her head. She whipped around in a panic, intent on running away from the piano as fast as she could in the vain and frankly laughable hopes that maybe Wednesday would believe it was a ghost that haunted the keys of the instrument.

At least, that’s what story Enid planned to give her darkly dressed friend if she didn’t practically run into her the second she stood from the bench. Wednesday hovered over her right shoulder, appearing out of thin air as she so frequently does. She bore not a hint of emotion on her face, but blankly stared at Enid as said girl squeaked in terror and fell backwards into the piano. Hard.

A loud series of dissonant chords rang out as Enid hit the keys on her fall, and she did her best to save face and quickly scramble back upright from her very disgraceful tumble. She bounced back up and looked upon the smaller girl with wide eyes, clearly filled to the brim with fear. Wednesday inwardly got a kick out of that. She shifted her eyes back and forth into Enid’s own, leaving the blonde in dreaded suspense.

Wednesday knew that Enid was regarding her as a ticking time-bomb, not sure when the hammer would drop and that deep seated fury Enid felt she deserved for doing something so dumb as playing the piano while in the middle of a heist would rise to the surface. The color drained from Enid’s face and Wednesday realized that the girl was holding her breath in suspense.

“You never told me you could play the piano.” Wednesday’s whisper still comes in the form of a deadpanned response.

A rush of air fills Enid’s lungs and color fills back into her face at the disbelief of Wednesday’s statement. It shocks her so much that she begins coughing uncontrollably, and tears fill her eyes from the strain.

“That’s your response?!” Enid manages to choke out in a unique form of a shout and a whisper between coughing fits.

“Jeez Wends, you nearly gave me a heart attack!” the blonde rolls her eyes in exasperation.

“Ah, I’m sorry I couldn’t complete the job then.” Is Wednesday’s natural macabre humor rising to the surface.

Wednesday glides past her coughing comrade and neatly brushes her pants as to not wrinkle them as she sits down on the piano bench, turning her head to the side to focus an eye on Enid.
The blonde looks down at her friend in disbelief and wonder as to why Wednesdays is not angry at her, but instead seems to invite the girl to sit back down beside her.

Enid hesitantly lowers herself to where she was sitting before, never letting her eyes leave the curious gaze of Wednesday’s own. Wednesday’s eyes break away first to then train their gaze into the keys of the piano. She opens her mouth, that natural curiosity getting the better of her again.

“You would think after a semester of living with you, my carefully honed deduction skills would discover this… interesting skill that lies buried beneath your surface. Yet, with all the grotesque noise that you call music filling our room frequently, I would have never guessed this lies dormant within you.” Wednesday collects her thoughts and presents them to Enid.

Enid squints her eyes oddly, not sure to take that as a compliment or not.

“Thanks? I guess..” is all that Enid could muster. She's still reeling from the fact that Wednesday isn’t mad, but in fact overcome with curiosity at now knowing that her friend is capable of playing the piano with great skill.

“How long have you been playing?”

“Umm.. it's just a thing I picked up when I was little. Growing up, my aunt had a piano in her spare room. When I would walk home from school I always passed by her house on the way home. In exchange for lessons and a chance to get out from under my mother’s judgy look, I would sorta help out my aunt with some of the cleaning around her house. I think it was a fair trade.” Enid started rambling off.

“A skill of this level desires to be honed. At least in your case, I’m genuinely surprised you haven’t used it to show off to your peers. Why have I not heard you play before?” Wednesday lightly teases as she continues to interrogate the wolf.

A shadow passes over Enid’s face that prompts Wednesday to re-evaluate what part of what she had just said that caused this level of hurt to appear on her face. While the statement stands, she did not mean to cause her friend any real distress, especially since unshed tears are now glistening in her eyes.

Enid tears her eyes away and angrily stares at the keys of the piano, fighting the wave of unexpected emotion that suddenly hit her.

“I..” Wednesday trails off, unsure of what to say. How disgusting. Wednesday’s eyes snap to attention when Enid’s horse whisper suddenly fills the air between them.

“My brothers never had to fight to get my mother’s love and attention, but I did.” She seethed through clenched teeth in a dark whisper.

“I tried everything. The reason I even began playing in the first place was to hope she would find something worthwhile in me outside of my failure to wolf out.” The rawness of her voice became increasingly more apparent.

“Playing the piano is a constant reminder of yet another way I’ve failed to actually get her to see me.” Enid’s voice waves a bit towards the end of the sentence. Filled with the bitterness of years of pent up pain threatening to break the surface. Wednesday watches with a fierce gaze into Enid as the girl looks anywhere but into the eyes staring into her very soul.

“Enid, look at me.” Wednesday’s voice is fierce and unwavering.

It takes her a minute, but Enid’s watery ones finally meet the intense, unyielding gaze of the girl beside her.

In an increasingly not so rare and utterly horrible display of protectiveness, Wednesday whispers darkly.

“Your vile excuse for a mother has a myriad of problems. That has been established. But don’t you believe for a second that your worth and value is tied up in her twisted sense of being. She wouldn’t know worth and value if it put her in a choke hold, tore into her neck and then proceeded to gut her from the inside out.”

Surprisingly, That lightened the tension a bit as Enid let out a sigh and rolled her eyes at a typical threatening phrase uttered by Wednesday Addams. Her eyes returned to the girl dressed in black with a warm fondness. She then proceeded to lightly bump her shoulder and breathe out a small ‘thanks’ for the very Wednesday-like way to comfort her friend when she's feeling low.

The sad pang at the bottom of her stomach when talking about her mother almost completely evaporated when looking at Wednesday’s face. Some unknown, complex, minute expression now reveals itself on its features. Although Enid is completely unsure of what is going through her friend’s mind, she waits with deep intrigue for Wednesday to hopefully reveal more of what is warring in her head.

“Why play now then? If it causes you so much pain?”

Enid isn’t sure why herself. She supposes maybe it has something to do with the quality of the piano. This is a prestigious brand that any respectable piano enthusiast would never pass up the opportunity to play. Maybe because of the way the room is set up. With the piano sitting in the corner of the room in this way, it reminds her greatly of her aunt’s spare room. It gives her almost a nostalgic longing for simpler times. Or, maybe it's simply because while playing the piano, she can drown out the rest of the world and listen only to the songs that pull at her heart in the most pleasing ways. She might even now have an added reason. She’s not sure if she's ever going to surprise her friend in this way again. The look of absolute intrigue coloring Wednesday's pale face sends a wave of thrill and pride down her system like almost nothing comes even close to.

“Not sure, I guess I forgot how much I genuinely enjoy playing.” is the answer she finally settles on, not fully encapsulating that original desire that overcame her to sit down and play in the first place.

Wednesday regards this answer and mulls it over in her mind. She’s clearly deep in thought. Enid wonders what it is she's holding back. Something is warring in her mind, and it had to be a fierce battle in there. Enid can tell that she wants to ask her another question. However, if her eyes are not deceiving her, she would almost, but never aloud, wonder if the look on Wednesday’s face right now resembles a hint of shyness and hesitance. The need to know was almost crushing Enid.

“What are yo-”

“Would you play something? For me?”

The pure joy on Enid’s face made Wednesday want to run for the hills. Damn that insatiable curiosity of hers. Wednesday almost shut down completely. Even if she was genuinely curious and desired to hear Enid play more, it wasn’t worth the unsettling taste of that vulnerable-sounding question to escape her throat. This was a mistake. She needed to-

“What would you like me to play? I could probably do ‘Paint It Black’ pretty well, considering how often I hear you practicing that on the terrace.” She asked with controlled measure, seeing the panic written all over Wednesday’s face. She hoped giving this enticing offer in a level manner would pull her friend off the ledge. Thankfully, she seemed successful.

“Off the top of your head?” Wednesday asked again, with a hint of surprise and disbelief. The previous desire to run was curiously forgotten.

Wednesday honestly wasn’t sure what kind of song she would have asked Enid to play. She just wanted to hear more. What she wasn’t expecting was for her to choose a song obviously tailored to her own personal tastes. Something felt off in her gut, and hoped she was just infected with parasites. She didn’t want to dwell on the thought any longer.

Enid gently laughed at Wednesday’s genuine question. She must have shocked her good, Wednesday seemingly regards her fully capable of surprising her now.

“Probs not, silly. Here-” Enid reaches for the phone in her back pocket and does a quick cursory search for sheet music in a piano rendition of ‘Paint it Black’ by the Rolling Stones. Once finding something to her satisfaction, she then places the device into her friend's hand.

“You know how to read sheet music. Scroll downwards when I need to see more of the song to keep playing, ‘kay?” Enid passes off this task to her friend with a simple, warm regard.

Wednesday simply nods once in understanding and places the device in the piano’s naturally ingrained stand.

Enid only takes a moment to study ahead of her before gently placing her hands in a very practiced position on the keys. Wednesday watches closely and lets that curiosity sit front and center once again. Enid peeks a small glance in Wednesday’s direction before focusing back quickly upon the sheet music. She exhales the nerves with a deep sigh and a new resolve. If she doesn’t start playing quickly, she might lose her nerve. And while she doesn’t care to play the piano to ‘impress her peers’ as Wednesday suggests, she does find herself wanting to impress one person in particular.

With that, she presses upon the keys in deep concentration.

The rich sound of the piano comes to life once again. Enid drums her fingers on the lower end of the keyboard in quick succession, easily recognizable as the opening to the song. Her right hand a quick study of the sheet music in front of her, quickly carving out the melody. Wednesday’s brows quirk upwards as Enid’s hands reset to play the same loop once again, but this time adding a quick flair before doing so, that reminds Wednesday so much of her own take of the intro to the song. She follows the motion of her fingers. If she didn’t have a reputation to uphold, she would almost regard herself as entranced.

The spell that only had just begun to take seed quickly and abruptly halted. Wednesday fought to hide the offense threatening to color her features as Enid pulled her hands off the keys. Wednesday looked up from where her fingers were once playing up to Enid’s face to guess at the reason for this regretful pause. What she was not expecting was a clear smirk emanating off of Enid’s features.
Wednesday quickly moved from her shock and furrowed her brows in confusion. An unspoken request of Wednesday to fill her in on why that infuriating look is smeared on her face.

“Um, Wends. Did you already forget what I asked of you?” Enid teases, but Wednesday is horrified.

The cause of Enid’s stop was her own fault. On top of that, she couldn’t exactly hide how engrossed she was in Enid’s playing. Maybe this was not such a great idea.

Enid could feel Wednesday start to squirm uncomfortably, probably not wanting to appear weak in any way, shape, or form. Apparently being enchanted by music counted towards that. Enid quickly rectified the situation.

“Hey, no worries. I’ve actually got a solution.”

Enid reaches back out to the phone and cups it in her hands for a quick moment as she fiddles with something on the screen. Before Wednesday can start guessing at what she's doing, the device is back in its spot on the piano.

“There, the music should start automatically scrolling on its own now.”

“Then why didn’t you do that in the first place?” Wednesday huffs in irritation.

“What? I just wanted to make you feel like you were helping.” Enid replies with feigned innocence while that same insufferable smirk curls back into her features.

Wednesday is about to respond with a biting remark, but it falls deaf when Enid quickly begins the song from the top once more. She then lets the remark die and leans back to watch Enid play without interruptions.

The opening plays out similar to before, but Enid’s confidence has grown now. Wednesday notices that she already is hardly making reference to the sheet music scrolling before her.
The way Enid taps on the keys is an unmistakable comparison to the quick plucking of her own cello strings. So soon, her brows raise again to hint at her surprise.

Continuing to play past the pause from before, Enid moves from the quick drumming of the keys to incorporating these rich chords into the fold. They hold the beat of the song like some dark bleeding heart beating in Wednesday’s palm, and she’s not sure if she could ever tear her eyes away now.

The dark lilt of the keys in Enid’s professional playing seemed to paint Wednesday’s very heart black. The juxtaposition of this multi-colored werewolf commanding the keys as if she was a practiced witch controlling the dark forces that make up her spell set ablaze the inside of her stomach in a very concerning way.

Suddenly, the tone switches. Enid’s playing the same notes, but they seem to swing and are played far looser than before. Caught up in a new wave of surprise, Wednesday can feel the shock on her features growing by a fraction of an amount. How horrid.

The music quickly snaps back to the style it was being played in before, and Wednesday can’t help but be impressed by the complexity of it all. The abundance of chords fall away to reveal the initial structure of the song introduced in its first few notes, but quickly starts to swell with a dark force that hints at a full conclusion. Wednesday prepares herself, but it's not enough when she hears the rich, deep, and terrible notes played slowly and forcefully by the jarringly colorful nails of the werewolf. Wednesday, for the first time in maybe ever, has to think very hard about controlling her breathing.

The music falls away again, and terror clutches at Wednesday’s heart as she upsettingly finds herself hoping that this isn’t the end. It came far too quickly. Her fears are soothed by the gentle padding of the keys shaping the music once more. This time, Enid moves up higher on the keyboard. She inadvertently presses up to Wednesday’s side as she does so. Wednesday finds herself doing a curious thing. Normally, she would flinch at the slight contact, but this does not happen at this moment. She apparently finds herself caring far more about the music’s progression than her own personal boundaries.

She’s almost irritated about how far her walls have come down since she pulled Enid back into that hug last semester, but quickly brushes the thought aside for another time. She doesn’t know how often she will get to hear Enid play like this, and she can’t afford any annoying distractions now.

The melody softens exponentially. It takes shape and resembles closely the way the original song is played, but with a careful dose of softness and light that Enid can’t help but pour into everything she does. While Wednesday prefers the dark rendition that filled her ears only seconds ago, she finds that she isn’t displeased with the brighter form the music takes shape in. She quickly wonders if she's suffering a stroke.

She feels Enid sway more than she has before and Wednesday chances a glance up to her face. Enid has her eyes closed with a full and bright smile covering just about every inch of her. Every ounce of pain from earlier has left her. She seems to truly revel in the joy of playing this song so much so that she has to close her eyes to let the music seep into her soul. The upbeat rhythm brings Enid to start bouncing in her seat. The motion reminds Wednesday of all the times she dances to her repulsive so-called music on her side of the room. Wednesday feels a dreaded chill run down her spine and her breath is definitely close to catching.

Yes, she definitely is suffering a stroke.

Without warning, Enid uniquely and masterfully folds this brighter rendition back into the dark and somber version so easily and gracefully. That Wednesday’s breath really does catch this time. And something new and unexpected happens.

It’s small, nothing more than a seedling, but something significant clicks deep within Wednesday. Experiencing something similar once before when hugging the wolf for the first time, one would think she’d figure out what bothers her. She has not the faintest idea as to what it could be, but it’s there. Something dwelling within her is indicating that this has the potential to turn everything on its head.

It’s almost as if the two renditions fit so well, so brilliantly together. They shouldn’t, but they work.

Wednesday is reminded of the phrase Enid had once presented to her. She grows so warm she swears she's suddenly overcome with illness.

Wednesday’s familiar rendition of the song fills her ears once more. The quick plucking falls way to a robust sound putting a full orchestra to shame. Enid’s eyes softly open as she seemingly puts every ounce of her being into completing this song. The following final swell of the music leaves its inevitable indelible impression upon her. The gates of hell itself will freeze over before this piece releases its mark on Wednesday's soul, much like the girl playing the music herself.

The final notes wrap up the song in stunning completion. Enid pulls away from the keyboard with the widest grin. Her entire face now colored a bright red from the apparent exercise of pouring her soul onto the keys themselves. She turns to Wednesday quickly.

“So, what did you think?” She pants with clear elation on her face.

It's all Wednesday can do to stare at the place Enid played her final notes. Her face thankfully did not seem to betray the raging storm brewing deep inside her soul. Enid seems to squint closer in inspection of her, and maybe her initial analysis was incorrect. She then realized that she was breathing almost as hard as Enid was herself, and all she did was listen.

A dreadful, horrible, unfathomable something was forming in the depths of her stomach. How she wished with every fiber of her being she could push it back down. However, the cold and tenacious crawl started bubbling up into her throat in the most unpleasant way possible. It’s icy grip now choking the very life out of her. Her chest tightened and felt like it was on the brink of seizing up. Her grip closed into a ball to hide the tremor of her fingers.

What is wrong with her?

She nearly chokes on a gulp since her throat is as dry as the deepest desert. The fear was clawing at her from the inside out, and she found herself wishing that this particular sensation was real. It would be a lovely and gruesome way to die. Anything to avoid this nightmare her body is putting her through. Do normal people experience this onslaught of emotions?

Her thoughts are only increasingly becoming more worrisome. And the pain in her chest steadily grows. She feels like she’s drowning. Oh how she wished she was.

The worry on Enid’s face grew quickly, and Wednesday wondered if the internal pain was starting to seep through.

However, the world came crashing down around them when a steady third voice chimed in behind them.

“As lovely as the music was, why the hell are you two in my living room playing my piano in the middle of the night. Not only that, but I discovered the lock to my side door picked open.”

Now that same cold fear plaguing Wednesday moments ago now inflicted Enid so violently. Wednesday breathed a quick sigh, genuinely thankful for the distraction from the terrifying grip of her thoughts. They both fully regarded the new school counselor as she reemed them both for breaking and entering into her house only to play the piano of all things.

“You both better have a good explanation of this, otherwise your stay at Nevermore this semester may be cut incredibly short. I will discuss this matter with the headmaster tomorrow. For now, see yourselves back to your dorm.” She warns, doing her best to sound as threatening as possible.

If anything, Wednesday is calming back down. This was a welcome distraction. She decided to let this incident take precedence, and let the thoughts that truly worried her be a problem for tomorrow. She leaps up and begins the trek back to the room with Enid at her tail. With any luck, the world itself will swallow her whole while she enters into what she knows will be a restless sleep.

Notes:

Thank you for reading!

This originally was supposed to be a one shot, but I found a way to extend it. I’ve got a few more chapters in the works, so I hope you look forward to more!

I listened to this on the way home from work and wondered how Wednesday would react if Enid played this for her. Then my mind went brrr..

https://youtu.be/HSUZoq-V2FY

If anyone is wondering what Enid is playing first in my mind then here you go.

https://youtu.be/V9yaIubu59M

If you can’t tell already, she’s a wonderful pianist and go give her thumbs up if you can!

Chapter 2: The Space Between Us

Notes:

Hello again! Enjoy the read and see you at the end of the chapter!

Thump.

The dull noise echoed around the walls of Enid and Wednesday’s dorm room.

The pale girl raised her head off of the desk to rub circles on her temple. Her bleary eyes opened to regain focus on the blank page sitting in her typewriter.

She then rolled her head to the right, squinting to look at the gothic-style clock ticking on the wall.

10 minutes to 10pm.

A deep sigh escaped her throat when glancing down at the filled waste basket nearly overflowing with crumpled sheets of paper.

Her writing time technically ended a few hours ago. Nothing fruitful came from the first hour, nor the second. She hoped in vain the third would prove differently, yet it was another waste.

In truth, her writing time only should last an hour. If needed, that time can be extended to two. Sitting here with a blank page into her third hour was downright embarrassing, but Wednesday was determined to make use of the time that would normally be filled with an hour of careful study and practice of her cello.

Yet the instrument remains in its case for another night, just as every night has been for the last week and a half.

Wednesday can feel the irritation rise in the pit of her stomach now that her thoughts are turned to her cello. She tries to push down that memory of picking through her version of ‘Paint It Black’ the day after being caught breaking and entering.

The dark-haired girl has been practicing her instrument of choice nearly every day for the last 8 years like clock-work. The dark magic she produces on the strings has been a consistent source of satisfaction for her. It has never once wavered in this area. At least, until a week and a half ago.

The worst part about it was that nothing had changed. She played the strings with excellence and fervor, maybe even more so than she had before. The strings that were dyed the color of rich ink were completely under her command. She never missed a note. Her cadence was amazing, perfect even.

Why then, did she feel like something was missing? Where did that utterly horrible hint of wrongness come from and how could she stab it into submission?

Eight years. Eight years of satisfactory playing went from great to empty and hollow overnight.

She was now overcome with the desire to shoot something.

Wednesday, not wanting to be left to dwell in these thoughts any longer, pushes herself out of the chair. Seven minutes till ten written on the clock should compel her to stick it out, but Wednesday decided not to waste any more of her time.

She yanks the chest from underneath her bed and unclicks the latches holding it shut. A well-worn crossbow greets her when she throws back the hatch. She clips the holster across her chest and settles the weapon into its familiar place between her shoulder blades. She makes some minor adjustments to the straps as she walks closer to the door.

Reaching for the handle, she watches with wide eyes as she witnesses the knob turning before her hand can reach it. She quickly leans backwards so as to not get hit by the door that swings open and reveals her roommate. Once she realizes how close Wednesday is to her, Enid stops cold and stares back at the girl with eyes as wide as Wednesday’s own.

—-

“I-I, oh Wednesday! I’m sorry! I thought you’d already-”

“What do you have to be sorry for? This is obviously your room too.” Wednesday cut her off. Her tone wasn’t harsh, but the lack of any emotion was maybe concerning as well.

“Oh, yes. Of course, I meant-”

But Wednesday already had slipped past her and was halfway down the stairs.

Enid stood in the doorframe, still looking at the staircase. She tried not to let her mild exasperation come through. But it was getting harder.

She pushes herself inside and shuts the door, letting her backpack slide off of her shoulder and drop it at the foot of her bed. She plops herself beside Thing, who is occupied with doodling pictures on a pastel colored notepad on top of her multicolored comforter.

She takes in a deep breath, letting the stress of the day roll out with the exhale. Enid then observes her surroundings and spots the overflowing basket beside Wednesday’s desk yet again. Seeing this, her eyes then naturally glance over to the cello case in the corner. The thin layer of dust still present is revealed by the streak of light from the moon pouring in from the window.

Thing seems to be tracking Enid’s silent observation. She can hear him flip the notepad to a blank page and scribble faster. She watches as the words form on the page.

‘3 hours. New record.’ is spelt in Thing’s signature chicken scratch.

A huff of disbelief escaped Enid’s lips.

“This is not my fault. I don’t even know what the problem is.” Enid automatically gets defensive, even though Thing wasn’t implying anything of the sort.

He just drums his fingers lightly on the pad. Enid understood that he saw through her haste.

‘Have u talked?’ She watched him scratch out in the space just below.

“Thing, you hear us talk all the-”

She was interrupted by her smiley-face covered pencil tapping knowingly on her thigh. She can practically hear Things thoughts aloud in her head.

“You know that's not what I mean.”

She sighed at the hand’s perceptiveness.

“No. Not really. Not seriously, anyways. Not since I got us caught.”

Enid had trailed off, looking guilty. Even without eyes, Thing could tell she inwardly blamed herself for her friend’s increasingly odd behavior. At least, odd for Wednesday.

The hand hit her harder with the pencil, and Enid whipped her head around to attention.

“OW. Can you not?!” She shouted aloud. Thing picked back up the pencil, and was etching the graphite into the paper furiously.

‘She didn’t notice either.’

Enid thought about that one. The hand was right, and not just trying to make her feel better. Wednesday is never caught off guard by others. She’s always on the opposite end. Nearly giving everyone a heart attack on the frequent. Hardly ever on the receiving end though.

“I guess you’re right. She normally would have noticed.”

The hand rolled to its side and flashed her a quick ‘thumbs up’ as if to assure her that she correctly understood his point.

“I- I just don’t get it, Thing. She’s acting so freaking weird. I mean, more so than she already is. That’s saying a whole freaking lot. Ya know?” Enid began to sort through her thoughts with the hand.

“She hasn’t touched her cello in weeks, and she apparently isn’t writing either. While she hasn’t exactly been avoiding me, I still feel like in a way she is…or at least holding something back.” Enid began to wring her hands.

“God, I wish I just never played that piano in the first place.” She throws the rest of her body on the bed in clear frustration.

Thing, not really knowing how to comfort his friend, just patted her leg as they sat there in silence for a while.

---

Wednesday dropped the squirrel into a small pile, a growing collection of kills that will make fine specimens for her taxidermy kit. She also managed a few raccoons, a fox, and two hobgoblins. Quite the haul. Whatever she didn’t get around to stuffing, she would offer to the schools new guard hellhounds. Might as well start training them to recognize and obey her. Never know if there would be an occasion she’d need them on her side.

Even though the rush of her arrows piercing fur and skin never got old, it didn’t help to get her mind off this prick she could feel under her own.

Normally the shrill, dying gasp of a hobgoblin is more than enough to shake her from her deepest thoughts. This was particularly concerning.

She's still bothered, and Wednesday can’t figure out for the death of her why that is.

All of this traces back that night Enid played the piano. Of course it did. She wasn’t an imbecile. What she can’t figure out is what was so jarring about it. Because it was. Clearly. Otherwise she would have continued to play cello, write, and continue on with her routines.

She also understands that Enid didn’t do anything wrong.

Outside of the fact that she played the piano in the middle of a break-in, but that wasn’t the point.

It was Wednesday who asked her to keep playing after all. It’s not her fault Wednesday is acting this way, at least not intentionally.

While normally it doesn’t bother her to stop talking to someone, that’s her ideal situation after all. She still finds herself annoyed at the dejected look on Enid’s face. It’s been as consistent as the lack of inspiration coming from her hobbies as well.

She knows the girl can see through her. She isn’t as foolish as she once believed. She knows something is off, Wednesday knows that too. The ‘what’ to her problem is the variable that is escaping her.

Her emotions feel hijacked. While they went haywire for an odd reason at the house. The emotions are not as pronounced now as they were in the moment. However, they still find ways to bother her.

Like when she plays the cello, and she can’t shake the feeling that it's wrong. She also can’t write, because it requires her to have a focused and clear head. This has not been the case for nearly two weeks now. And, it's only getting worse.

She needs a good murder. Something mysterious and riveting she can solve. That would keep the incessant thoughts at bay.

If only some new information would unearth itself about this mystery stalker. The one who texted her at the end of last semester.

It’s pretty much been radio silence ever since. Now that she exhausted every dead end when she and Enid scoped out counselor Cromwell’s home for any sign of a student’s hidden animosity towards herself.

However, it all proved to be for naught. Nothing more than the common concern for her threats. And, she only plagued the nightmares of 5 students. Which was, in itself, a huge disappointment.

That trail is cold for the moment.

She knows she needs to clear her head, she can’t keep up this unfortunate pattern for much longer.

That tiresome hand can only suggest talking about this whole situation with Enid herself, but that’s out of the question.

She’s debated on asking her to play the piano once more, but that too, seems out of the question.

Similar to how any good investigation begins at the scene of the crime, she could once again re-evaluate the source for this maddening state she finds herself in.

Yet, that would surely cause far more problems than it would solve.

Firstly, she can’t risk the possibility of the onslaught of emotions getting worse, even if she could possibly find a cure within hearing Enid play the piano again.

Secondly, that would require Wednesday to verbally admit that something is wrong. That’s a strong no.

Thirdly, she isn’t sure how approaching the subject of playing the piano would be taken by the werewolf. She already admitted to her complicated past with the instrument. She may still harbor some lingering resentment and possibly refuse any request to play outright.

Besides, she’s already seemed to cause her enough hurt. Not that she’d admit it out loud, but Wednesday knows her own issues are the cause of a growing tension between the two. Normally, she wouldn’t care to add to someone else’s pain, but not Enid’s. Never Enid’s. Not if she could help it.

She’s done her best to not shut the girl out. This tactic has only made things worse in the past, but extending kindness is not exactly her forté. Especially when she is in a special kind of hell herself.

Anyways, these reasons collectively are why the incident of the piano remains an unspoken event between the two girls.

The wind starts picking up around her, causing her braids to whip against her face. Snow already began to pile on top of her prey.

It's getting late, and it seems a bit too cold out for her to remain here much longer, even for someone as accustomed to the chill as she is.

Besides, Enid is surely asleep at this hour. She can’t deal with any of this right now. She also knows she can’t keep putting it off, but no other solution seems viable.

Bagging up her haul, she hikes back to the room from the forest, the crunch of her feet in the snow and the wind whipping at her ear are the only noises present.

Unfortunately the solution will have to be found another night.

Notes:

Oof, sorry for adding a little angst in the mix, but I’ve got a fun plan for this series! I’m hoping it will be worth it in the end!

Thank you everyone who read this, left comments and kudos. Definitely honored by everyone’s responses and kind desires for a continuation of this series.

I’ve got a near solid plan in mind and a fun direction to take this. I’ve also pumped out enough rough sketches of the next 3 or so chapters, so I hope to post this near the end of the week in a semi-consistent basis.

I wanted to wait till Friday to post this, but I decided that I wanted to release it a bit early. You guys have been fun, and figured none of you would complain to have it a bit earlier!

Enjoy, and thanks again you all! See you next time!

Chapter 3: Something Else Entirely

Notes:

I'm so incredibly impatient. Hope you guys enjoy!

The noise of the common area, while loud and boisterous this time of day, seemed to be tamed to a dull roar. It was decent conditions to work on their collective project.

Scribbling away at a very adorable sketch of a yeti, Enid carefully added fur around the torso, balancing the sketching with some bright colored pencils to bring some pop to the yeti who most definitely didn’t consist of so many pastel colors in real life.

Across the table, Yoko chewed on her pencil held in one hand and lazily traced the words lined in a thick, dust ridden book found in the depths of the school’s library. Her eyes carefully scan the words from under her sunglasses.
The chewing stopped only when some important information was found on the history and forgone extinction of the yeti species made itself known from the pages.

Divina, leaning closely to Yoko, examined her own book. One of the two literary sources depicting Yetis at all. She skimmed through the book, flipping through each page rather quickly. This was all in an attempt to help the research process, now encroaching upon four hours, go by a little faster.

“Hey, did you know that apparently the average yeti was only 6 feet tall? Most depictions would indicate that they were around 8-9 feet tall, but apparently those were the outliers.”

Divina prattled off, firmly grabbing the pages in excitement to find anything useful at all. Yoko quickly jotted down the information.

“Well, that’s a start, but at the pace we are going it’s gonna be the end of the semester by the time we gather enough information to compile a half-way decent report.”

Yoko sighed and resigned herself from the work. She put down the gnawed pencil and placed more pressure into her lean against Divina. She lazily watched Enid fill in a tie she had given their yeti with a light purple color.

“They only went extinct in the 1950s. You’d think there would be more documentation on them, but the Nevermore library is very thin on their Yeti related literature.” Yoko continued.

“We’re definitely gonna be here a while. In the meantime, I’ll go grab us some snacks.” Divina stretches as she rises from the bench. She glances between the two girls, waiting for them to put in an order.

“Ooh! Some gummy bears would be nice!” Enid pops up her head and the loose curls framing her face bounce upwards from the sudden movement.

Divina turns her head to the vampire who is nursing her headache from the frustration of sorting through a pile of useless information for the last four hours.

“Can you grab my favorite fruit, please?” Yoko's reply sounded rather strained.

“Nectarines? Got it.”

A muffled thank you could be heard from the vampire as Divina made her way out of the courtyard and into the halls of the school. Memory guided her around the corners to find a small convenience store nestled in the depths of the castle walls.

She began to let her hand trace the various options set before her. She gathered the brightest colored gummies in one hand, and flipped around to the chill of the produce section behind her and grabbed the fruit along with snack-sized veggies for herself.

Beyond the array of various food and beverages lined up on the shelves, she spotted something else of interest. A girl with dark braids was wrinkling her nose in slight disgust with the black coffee held in her hands.

“What’s that face for? Is it poisoned?” Divina tested, drawing the almost surprised gaze of the psychic up to her face. She clearly didn’t expect to engage in conversation, but replied nevertheless.

“If only, that might add a little bit of flavor to this pathetic excuse for coffee at the very least.”

Wednesday rolled her eyes, but decided to sip her coffee anyway. Clearly, she preferred to have a terrible cup than to have no caffeine in her system at all.

“Hmm. I would ask if that’s a joke, but I wouldn’t be surprised if you have a tolerance to poison.”

Wednesday watched the siren carefully and straightened her posture. She also microscopically quirks an eyebrow in a very matter-of-fact way.

Divina understands that this girl is known for her lack of facial expressions, but she clearly doesn’t need them. Pride is so clearly emanating from her entire being.

“Your analysis would be correct. Very adept of you, siren. The majority of poisons, yes. Still working on building a tolerance to a small handful now at least.”

“Ha. Why am I not surprised, Addams.” Divina laughs.

The siren continues the conversation out of intrigue. She’s never had an exchange with the psychic outside of a simple glance in the other’s direction. Maybe it wasn’t the greatest idea to puff up the girl’s already large ego, but Divina’s curiosity got the best of her.

“You know, I would imagine it would be much harder to kill you than it would be a Yeti. After all, your family line has lasted much longer than the existence of Yetis anyways. At least, according to what Enid says.”

Seemingly unnoticed by the siren, Wednesday softens her posture ever so slightly when Enid’s name is mentioned. That doesn’t stop Wednesday from replying, however.

“Hm. Unfortunately this analysis of yours is incorrect. There are far more ways to kill an Addams than your common species of Yeti. However, their downfall came as a matter of intelligence, which has obviously persevered in my family line far longer than the now extinct species.”

Divina was fairly interested in their conversation before, but that interest spiked at Wednesday’s response in concern to Yetis

“You speak like you’re an expert on the matter.” Fascination colored the siren’s voice.

“That’s because I am. My family’s library is littered with books about the species. I seem to have known far more about them at the age of six than the supposed experts found at this very sorry excuse for an institution claiming to be the face of all things supernatural and strange.”

Divina’s mind races as it begins to hatch a plan.

“Is that so?”

 

——

 

“I mean, don’t get me wrong, it’s really adorable. I just think that the presentation picture should be more accurate to the species.”

“It looks plenty like a yeti to me.” The blonde keeps scribbling upon the paper set before her. It crinkles as she swipes the pencil from side to side.

“Enid, it has pink fur and a top hat!” She laughed, causing a chain reaction in the wolf and her soft giggles filled the air as well.

Yoko glances up to gaze at the figures coming into focus found at the entrance of the courtyard. Her eyebrows jump upwards and she quickly waves her hand in front of Enid’s nose in order to grab her attention. The blonde’s loud giggling dimmed. Enid’s eyes flutter open in confusion, but it doesn’t take her long to spin around in order to follow the vampire’s line of sight. A wave of apprehension now washed over her upon recognition of the two figures drawing closer. This effectively snuffed out that sense of levity she had moments before.

“And your family is fine to part with it as well?”

“Yes, Wednesday. Our aquarium can make do with one less angler fish in its ranks.”

Divina practically crossed her eyes in exasperation. Yes, she did trade one terrifying fish found in the aquarium her father managed in exchange for the plethora of knowledge this girl held about Yetis, but can she be a little less persistent about it?

“Just so you’re aware, I am now invested. The consequences of not following through on this would be rather unfortunate indeed.” The psychic warned. Her dark eyes trained upon the siren in hopes to convey the seriousness of the matter to her.

“Trust me, I would almost pay to get rid of that thing.”

Divina watched as Wednesday paused suddenly in her cadence.

Confused at the odd action from the girl in black, she followed her line of sight to their table. Yoko raised a hand to wave in the air, a welcoming motion to encourage the girls to draw closer to the table. Enid’s wide eyes peeked over her shoulder momentarily. It didn’t last long, for she tore away her gaze and focused back upon her drawing.

Divina swung her head back to where she expected Wednesday to be. She wanted to have another look at her face, to see if she could decipher what was going on in her head. However, the girl pushed herself forward, closer to the table. Divina nearly tripped over her feet in an effort to catch back up.

“I brought an expert on the history of Yetis as well as snacks. You both owe me and you’re welcome.”

Yoko couldn’t help the big smile that crossed her face, relieved that Divina came through once again. The girl has a strong track record in that area.

“If that’s the case, happy to have you Wednesday. Join the fun.” Her fangs glistened as she talked.

Divina made her way around the table back beside Yoko. She let the snacks, cradled in her arms, fall unceremoniously onto the books lying scattered around. She plopped herself back down on the bench and both the siren and vampire greedily snatched up their respective treats and began to tear into them.

Their focus now on food, they failed to notice the scene unfolding in front of their eyes. Enid was far too aware of the presence behind her, and made no motion to munch on her gummies. Instead, her attention was focused on her doodle. The scribbling becomes more mechanical, a way for her to act invested in anything other than the girl dressed in black.

After what seemed like a millenia, The corner of Enid’s vision to her left goes black. The figure settled down in the only spot available to her. Of course the small bench only offered an extremely small amount of space, and Enid had to practically nestle the psychic into her side.

The blonde tries to sneak in a look at Wednesday’s face as she's settling in. She does her best to be subtle, hoping to not get caught. She really wasn’t expecting to catch the psychic herself sneak her own glances at Enid’s doodle, then her face. When she unexpectedly locked eyes with Enid for just a fraction of a moment, both girls tore their gazes away immediately.

Yoko and Divina were giving odd looks at the two of them now. This seems to snap Wednesday back into place.

“Alright, now to follow through with my side of the deal. What would you three like to know about the history of Yetis?”

With how loud her emotions felt, Wednesday’s monologue drowned out into dull noise. She didn’t really pay attention to anything she was saying. Instead, Enid focused on the cacophony of emotions coursing through her at the moment.

What was she feeling?

There was a lot there, but it was difficult to decipher what specifically. She knew that hurt was a prominent one, maybe even a bit of sadness or longing thrown in the mix somewhere, but why?
It wasn’t like Wednesday hadn't ever kept some kind of distance with her before. In fact, that was kind of a hallmark of their friendship. Enid kept showing up, kept being present in spite of the distance Wednesday kept with everyone. This was nothing new.

So, why did Wednesday’s recently established barriers bother her so much?

As she was talking, Wednesday shifted in her seat ever so slightly, and it was almost as if Enid’s side had caught on fire. A flash of lightning had struck Enid in the form of a realization and provided her with a clear and resounding answer.

The hug. That first real moment Wednesday had let down her walls in a significant way was with the werewolf herself. While on the surface, maybe nothing had changed much from that day. They haven’t hugged since. Extremely small motions of physical contact may be permitted now, every once in a while, but nothing super major. At least on the surface.

Maybe Enid hasn’t admitted it to herself yet, but in truth, the topography of their entire friendship has changed. At least in Enid’s mind.

There is this unbreakable bond that silently ties the two girls together, a bond of trust and understanding. A bond that reassures the other of their mutual care and compassion.

Wednesday never has to tell Enid of any of this, Enid just knows inherently that the psychic has her back and is beginning to show signs of looking out for her in various subtle ways. In many aspects, it reminds her of the breeze lightly tossing her hair around her head. She can’t physically see the wind, but knows it's there because of the things the wind affects.

Just like how Wednesday has thoroughly affected nearly every part of Enid. How could she not? This was her best friend. She was the first person she wanted to share significant news with. She always valued her opinion, no matter how dark or sarcastic it could turn out. She looked forward to seeing her face as she walked through their dorm room door. She reveled in the horror plastered on her face when she showed off the newest colorful outfit she found thrifting in Jericho.

That bond between them grew so strong she could practically use it as jump rope. It was always present and provided a great sense of warmth and comfort for Enid. With Wednesday, she knew she could also be unapologetically herself.

The psychic may gripe and complain every now and again about the harsh variety of color thrown into her very monochrome life, but Wednesday never made her feel less than for it. In fact, she might even see some ways Wednesday holds respect for her standing true to the kind of person she wants to be. No matter how much they differ, that bond has held them close.

Lately, it's like that warm and comforting bond has grown cold and unsure. They both have been guilty of tiptoeing around the other as of recent. Not really sure of what had changed, and how to fix it.

Enid would give up just about anything to fix it. If only-

The werewolf, using her left arm to prop her face as she drew, let it slip in the midst of sorting out her inner thoughts. Her head dropped and jolted ever so slightly, which caused her hand to reflexively snap back and bump firmly onto Wednesday’s own.

The rather small and inconsequential motion Enid made caused a major reaction out of Wednesday that shocked all four girls sitting at the table.

The darkly-dressed girl pulled her hand away, as if it was touching a lit stove. She balled it into her other hand and pulled her body back so far she was standing.

Enid, now having a solid reason to look the girl straight in the face, noticed how startled she was by her own actions. Almost as if her body decided to react and take over for her without her knowledge.

Wednesday then proceeds to do one of the things she's best at. In a moment of weakness, the girl has a talent for pretending and convincing everyone involved that nothing of the sort had ever happened.

The psychic’s face quickly snapped back to its emotionless constant, and she proceeded to brush at her pants before she sat back down and picked back up where her monologuing left off with astonishing grace, as if the last few seconds never existed. This may have caused Enid and Divina to blink in wonder and let the moment pass by, but Yoko was a different story altogether.

Enid could tell, even from behind her sunglasses that Yoko stared at Wednesday almost as if she was a ghost. Something must have really caught her off guard for her to react in such a way. It was almost unsettling.

The blonde tried once again to drift away from the present, back into her thoughts and far away from this scenario she found herself a part of, but the exhaustion was catching up to her. She couldn’t keep pretending that none of this was eating away at her, at least not without visible indicators that would draw attention to herself. More than anything else, she didn’t want anyone asking questions right now. She just wanted to sleep all of this off and deal with it another time.

Enid began to gather her stuff and sluggishly pulled herself up from the bench and away from Wednesday’s side. She hated how she already missed its warmth.

“Hey, my lack of sleep is catching up with me. I don’t feel all that great, so I figure I probably should go. Yoko, I’ll meet up with you tomorrow and help organize what we’ve got, but I’m gonna excuse myself for now.”

The wolf scratched at her head as she talked, avoiding eye contact with everyone. Without really waiting for a response, she spun on her heels and began to head back to the dorm.

What Enid missed in her brief absence was Wednesday wrapping up the information dump quickly once the blonde’s presence had disappeared. She promptly made an excuse to leave herself with little formality only mere minutes after Enid left.

Divina and Yoko just sat there in stunned silence. The courtyard was finally empty besides the two of them now. Not really comprehending anything that just transpired, they didn’t say anything and just did their best to process everything.

“Was every bit of that odd to you or-?”

“Yes, absolutely. Glad I’m not the only one who noticed.”

Yoko sighed deeply and ran a hand through her dark hair. The tension between the roommates could be cut with a knife, and was felt by all who were present. Watching those two avoid interacting with each other filled the vampire and siren with some unforeseen anxiety. Yoko and Divina, now past the awkward occurrence, let the strain roll off of their backs.

“What do you think that was about? Are Wednesday and Enid fighting again?” Divina theorized, her face scrunched up while she analyzed the last hour.

“Hmm.. no, I don’t think so. There’s something very different from the last time they fought.” Yoko suggested.

“This feels like something else entirely.” The vampire continues. She then looks directly at Divina, giving her a look that is completely understood by the siren without a word spoken between them.

Divina can’t help the giggle caught in her throat. What Yoko was wordlessly implying to her sounded absolutely absurd. It had to be a joke.

When Yoko face never budged, completely confident and serious in her theory was understood by the siren,
Divina’s eyes go wide and jaw lightly goes slack in disbelief.

“You’re serious.”

“Of course I am. Wouldn’t dare joke about something like this. Never once did I think Wednesday's heart rate could get that high. I assumed she was a vampire when I met her. Her heart-rate is normally almost nonexistent.”

“Well, if that’s the case, Enid’s gonna need you. Actually, they are both clueless. They are gonna need all the help they can get.” Divina’s laugh broke into the air once more and caused Yoko’s to chime in laughter herself.

The vampire and siren gathered their books and notes and finally left the now dark courtyard themselves walking arm in arm still in the throes of laughter under a sky full of stars.

Notes:

- Writing voices for Yoko and Divina was so rewarding and challenging at the same time. Never did I intend at first to play into these two characters as heavily as I did, but boy did it turn out to be so much fun. I may be wrong, but Yoko only has one or two lines in the whole show while Divina has none. So, I have to take a lot creative liberty here. I think thats what made it such a joy, and the reason why I pressed into those characters more as the chapter went along.

-I really wanted Enid to get more of the spotlight here. This originally was going to be more of Wednesday's perspective. However, I wanted to showcase more of where Enid's head and heart are with this whole ordeal. I feel like she may be the most confused and conflicted character at the moment. She has a lot to deal with between Wednesday, her love for the piano, and family issues. You can look forward to more of that unpacking in the next chapter.

-I promise there is a relief from all of this angst soon. The payoff will be all that much sweeter because of it hopefully!

-Also, more pianist Enid coming soon. Don't you worry.

Again, thanks for the read and the comments. You guys are amazing!

Also, I want to place a special shoutout to Mysticallilac for creating this amazing work of art based on the fic! Please go send all the love for it! So honored to see art based on this little fanfic of mine.

https://at.tumblr.com/mysticallilac/wenclair-fanart-based-on-an-amazing-fanfic-i-found/mv5em48tv6ud

Chapter 4: Golden Hour

Notes:

So you know those chapters that are one of the big reasons the fic was created? Yeah, this is it. Enjoy! Been waiting to get this one out to you for a while!

“Spill it.” Yoko piped up. She had enough.

The blonde sat on her armchair with her knees tucked into her chest. Her focus was divided between picking at her nails with an absentminded look on her face or giving these infuriatingly thin responses to Yoko’s questions about the project they were working on. The girl who was the textbook definition of ‘full of life’ seemed so lifeless right at this moment.

Ever since their encounter with the psychic in the courtyard a couple of days ago, Yoko’s been aware of this state Enid’s found herself in, and it’s only progressively gotten worse. The vampire cares about Enid, and can sympathize with the overwhelming amount of emotions she’s experiencing.

What she’s been hoping for, is that the wolf would come to her when she’s ready. She’s got a pretty good idea as to what’s bothering her, and normally it would be better if Enid initiated for any help or advice. Yet, this wolf seemed to be so frustratingly stubborn. She’s been suffering in silence, letting her emotional state tear her apart from the inside. Leaving her nothing left to give for the world outside her head.

Yoko, her longtime friend, sees that Enid would rather suffer in silence until the weight crushes her before admitting something is wrong.

It seems that she and the psychic are very similar in this aspect.

However, Yoko’s done watching her pup put herself through this. She’s going to talk about it, one way or another.

“Spill what? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Enid deflected, not bothering to look up from her deep concentration as she picked at her thumbnail.

“Girl, you better stop insulting my intelligence. You’re the worst liar in the world, and you’ve been acting like a kicked puppy all week.” Yoko had managed to grab Enid’s gaze.

“So, you have two choices. you’re gonna either tell me what’s wrong or I’m personally walking you back to your room to face Wednesday. I suggest you don’t test me.”

Enid quickly sat upright and began to stutter, the words falling from her mouth like water from a faucet.

“Yoko, please don’t, I-“

Her brain managed to catch up and it gave her pause.

“Wait…how did you know it has anything to do with Wednesday at all?” The quizzical look setting itself on Enid’s features was very prominent now.

“Enid, what did I just say? You’ve been hiding out in my room, and you’re like, half as chatty as you normally are. It’s freaking me out actually.” Yoko rolled her eyes.

“I can put two and two together. You and Wednesday used to be thick as thieves. However, according to our little encounter with her in the courtyard, you can’t even look her in the eye. It doesn’t exactly take a genius to notice this, E.”

Enid looks away with a hint of guilt on her face. Yoko supposed the girl didn’t realize how obvious she was being. With a deep sigh, Yoko put her laptop away from her lap and faced her whole body towards her friend.

She crossed her legs then leaned her elbows against her knees in a way to let the werewolf know that she had her undivided attention. Enid was not getting away from this conversation. That much was clear. According to the resignation clear on her face, Enid understood this too.
That didn’t exactly get her talking though.

Yoko’s eyes rolled when she realized that she’s still gonna have to pull this conversation out of her.

“So, I’m right? You had some kind of a fight with Wednesday.” Yoko suggested, even though she herself knew that wasn’t the whole story.

“No… I mean, not exactly.”

“Not exactly? What does that mean? She’s just mad at you for no reason?”

“I- um.” Enid began to wave her hands in circles, trying to grasp how to explain to her friend the complicated situation she and Wednesday find themselves in.

“E. come on now. It’s me.” Yoko soothes, Enid seemed to find her footing after her friend’s reassurance.

Enid recounts the night to the vampire, placing in every detail that seemed to matter to the situation. Yoko’s eyes grew as Enid described a Wednesday she couldn’t even fathom experiencing. Enid’s recount of that night seemed to confirm all of Yoko’s suspicions. Of course, the vampire still had to play a little dumb for her friend’s sake.

I mean, Yoko knew that Wednesday had a soft spot for the wolf, anyone with eyes could see that. However, she inwardly gave herself a high five for figuring out this puzzle before she even had all of the pieces.

“Enid, are you sure that it wasn’t something else that caused her to act like this?” A mischievous tone laced Yoko’s sentence

The colorful girl regarded Yoko and scrunched up her nose, she almost looked like she was in pain.

“Like what? I don’t understand what you mean.” Enid began with a worried look on her face as Yoko worked to repress a smile.

“I mean, you didn’t do anything like..oh, I don’t know.. sneeze into a pile of glitter that dusted the entirety of her bed again, did you?” The vampire’s teasing laugh rang into the air almost before she could finish asking.

Thankfully vampires have wicked reflexes. Yoko almost didn’t miss the pillow Enid chunked at her head. In spite of the werewolves best efforts to shut the girl up, Yoko seemed to laugh harder watching the object whiz by her face. The once lifeless girl sprung upward, blood rushing to her cheeks.

“YOKO! That was one time! You’re not even helping, you're just teasing me now.” Enid whined.

She jumped up from the armchair and made a beeline for the door. Irritation radiating off of her. That didn’t last long. Yoko quickly scrambled over to the side of her bed in enough time to dart out her hand and latch onto the end of Enid’s fuzzy orange sweater. Enid tugged away from the hand, but stopped when hearing Yoko roll out apologies.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’ll be serious. Please sit back down, wolfie.”

Enid brought her face to a slightly irritated pout. Yoko knowingly regarded her friend with one of her favorite nicknames to calm her down, and it worked like a charm. Yoko released her hold on the sweater as Enid softened her posture and resigned herself back into the red velvet chair.

“You’ve got to admit, that had to be the funniest look Wednesday had ever given when you did that.” Yoko snickered at the memory. It was a lot funnier in retrospect. At the time, Yoko wasn’t entirely sure if she was going to be killed by association or for just bearing witness to a look of pure shock and offense emitting from the psychic.

“I don’t recall. I was too busy watching my life flash before my eyes, Yoko.” Enid attempted to put venom behind her words, but it came off more as an annoyed whine.

“I do remember how pretty the fire looked when she made me burn her sheets though. It was like a mini firework show.” Enid’s mood shifted when she recalled this moment herself. She snorted and let the memory envelop her with its warmth.

“Listen, E, I just don’t understand how Wednesday could react like this when all you did was play her the piano, and she was the one who asked you to play.” Yoko shrugged, deciding to veer the conversation back in order to help out her pup.

“Then again, does anyone actually ever understand how that girl’s mind works?” Yoko scoffed at her own question. Enid seemed to be lost in thought.

“Besides, I’m more interested in the fact that you never let me in on your hidden piano talent.” The vampire teased, but was met with a similar reaction back when Wednesday herself asked Enid something similar. Yoko was not unaware of the hint of pain clouding Enid’s eyes.

“I guess you could say I had my reasons.” Yoko understood exactly what that dejected tone meant. She’s been a frequent shoulder to cry on when it came to this hallmark weight Enid unfortunately carried with her.

“Oh I get it. Mommy issues?”

“Like always.”

Enid drew up her knees back into her chest. She looked like a frightened child, curling on into herself for any grasp at comfort.

It was Yoko’s turn to scrunch up her face. If there was one thing she detested, it was the way that this girl’s mother made her feel, and how much she wished she could do something about it.

“If that’s the case, why do you play in the first place?” The vampire’s voice was soft, full of care for her friend.

The wolf thought about this for a moment, drawing small circles into her knees as she did so. She decided that what she told Wednesday when she asked the same thing was the only answer that felt accurate.

“I don’t know. I told Wednesday that I didn’t realize how much I missed it. The piano seemed to call out to me. It kinda made the world around me just…melt away. Like it did when I was a little girl. Plus, I can’t deny how fun it was learning that I can still play as well as I did before.”

Yoko watched as the blonde’s hurt features softened when recalling how playing the piano made her feel. A new sense of determination stirred itself within her. Yoko was extremely protective of her pup, and only wished to bring back that sunshine she always radiated off of herself.

“Isn’t that good though?”

“I mean, not if it’s the cause of this -thing- between me and Wednesday. Honestly, I shouldn’t have ever picked it back up again. Between my mother and Wednesday, it just doesn’t seem worth all of the emotions I’m sifting through.” Enid’s voice wavered when her emotions became too overwhelming as they frequently threaten to do.

Yoko, once again, had enough.

“Listen, Enid. From the sound of it, we’ve got bigger fish to fry than to worry about Addams.”

Yoko was dead serious, and it caused Enid to snap her attention to her friend’s face.

“You played the piano and enjoyed it, yes?”

“Yoko, what-”

“Yes or no, Sinclair. Answer the question.”

“Yes.”

“If it didn’t put you through the emotional ringer, would you still play it?”

“Yes.”

Yoko was surprised at how clear and confident that recent ‘yes’ was. It only furthered her resolve to give the wolf a piece of her mind.

“You've apparently been hiding this amazing and wonderful gift because your mother can be a real piece of work. There is not a doubt in my mind you’ve been harboring a secret desire to play the piano, even after all of these years.. Your mother has already ruined so many things for you. Don’t you dare let her take this one too. One of these days I’m gonna come after her, I swear…”

Yoko’s protective streak began to take over and she started rambling off. Only a couple seconds passed before she stopped herself to focus back on her point.

“I know you, and I know how much you like to guilt trip yourself. Skip the heartache and focus on the one thing you can control, which is your love for playing the piano.”

In a swift movement, Yoko leaped off of her bed and padded her way in front of the girl’s face in order to convey the seriousness of what she was about to utter.

“I do not care if you associate it with your mother. I do not care if Wednesday actually is mad about it in some bizarro world. I want you to not care about it either. If this is something that you love and you enjoy, then play your damn heart out.”

Enid pulled away from the ball she wrapped herself up in, and grabbed tightly to the vampire in a motion to enclose her into a deep hug.

“Thanks for your help.” Enid whispered into the chocolate hair spilling over Yoko’s shoulders. Yoko softens at the sweet motion and gently pats her colorful blonde hair.

“I better take that as a promise to play me a song sometime, wolfie.” Yoko chuckled as she returned the hug with as much fervor as Enid did herself.

“Oh, and one more thing, pup.” Yoko pushed at Enid’s shoulders to draw her back into a conversation.

“I have a theory after our conversation. I don’t actually think Wednesday is mad at you, but only time will tell if I’m right.” The vampire smirked at her friend. Putting Enid at an absolute loss.

“What’s that supp-“

“Ah ah ah. No spoilers. What do you take me for?” Yoko laughed, and the stunned look grew on Enid’s face. Genuinely not having an idea as to what Yoko was referring to.

“Yoko-“

The vampire gave a hearty laugh as she jumped up to leave the wolf in suspense.

Enid furrowed her brows in light irritation, knowing that’s all she’s gonna get from her blood sucking friend.

 

——-

 

“Wednesday, did you write that down?”

“There is no need. My mind is a steel trap. An essay summarizing the various discoveries of pixie blood for medicinal use over the course of the last century. A six page minimum is due on the second. I heard you the first time.”

Wednesday snaps out of her thoughts. There was just enough attention given to her surroundings to answer the question, but not much else.

“It could have been conveyed with a little less sass, but I’ll let that slide.” The professor offers a tired and disapproving look.

“Alright class, that’s all I have for you today. You are dismissed.”

The world around her filled with the noises of chairs scraping against the floor, the soft conversations of the students around her, and schoolbooks being zipped back into their bags.

She was mildly aware of the lingering watch of the history professor studying her dazed state. If there was any thought of walking over to talk to Wednesday about her lack of participation, it never was brought to fruition. She was left alone to dwell on her worrisome mind.

The halls soon grow quiet and she’s realized she’s sat in her chair with her thoughts for a while.

How long had she just sat there? The sun hung so low. 20 minutes, 30?

The golden sunlight of late afternoon spills into the classroom, giving everything a soft glow. She can feel the warmth of the sun on her back, and it reminds her of Enid. Who’s she kidding, everything reminds her of Enid.

Wednesday sighs at this notion. If she was doing her best to not seem like she was avoiding the wolf, she was receiving a failing grade.

She can’t even remember the last conversation they’ve had, and they live in the same room. Albeit, they function at odd hours. Wednesday now has frequented returning to the room almost in the early hours of the morning, while Enid is already gone by the time she wakes.

This pattern is taking a toll, on the both of them it seems. It’s just not sustainable for much longer.

She would never admit this aloud, but she longs for a day where Enid would hum to herself as she painted Things nails while Wednesday would pretend to be engrossed in writing her novel. She desired to see the horror engraved on her face when Wednesday proudly paraded her kills to be used for her taxidermy hobby. She even wanted Enid to annoy her with the millions of incessant questions she would ask on a daily basis if only to hear her voice again.

Wednesday quickly shakes her head and proceeds to force herself from the chair then opens her satchel. She grabs a handful of her books and begins to organize them into the main compartment.

A small book then slips out of her hand when she hears the unmistakable sound of music.

It’s distant, the soft clicks of the piano keys sound like they are coming from the end of the hall, but each note played grips her all the same.

An untrained ear wouldn’t have any idea who would be playing. Especially from this distance. It was also the music hall, so theoretically it could be anyone in that room after hours.

Wednesday knew better.

After all, that piano and its player consumed the majority of her thoughts for the past two weeks.

“Enid.” Wednesday whispered unto herself.

She made a motion to follow the sound, find the wolf. She quickly discovered that her feet were cemented to the floor.

Not this again. Something deep began to claw at her insides once more and it seemed to almost speak with a clear voice this time.

Run. Get away.

The voice was horribly demanding, and based on the way she felt, terribly convincing. Almost as if her body placed itself on auto-pilot, she grabbed her bag and spun away from the sound. She began to move away, down the hall, around the corner, and the faint strokes of the keys were becoming almost inaudible.

She kept moving. However, something else, another voice maybe, seemed to grow as the piano slowly faded away. Then suddenly, this feeling got its own voice.

Enough.

The small burst of willpower was enough to ground her feet to a halt and override the auto-pilot for just a moment.

She was responding in fear. She knew she was. Even if Wednesday had never responded to fear in her life. And now she was letting it call the shots?

The real question was. Was she going to keep giving fear its way?

…

Yoko was right. Like always. This made her feel better. In spite of her mother, in spite of Wednesday.

This moment was hers alone. This was something she could control. She couldn’t force her mother to be different, she couldn’t make Wednesday talk to her, but she sure as hell could play this piano.

Golden sunlight was pouring itself across the room, providing warmth and comfort. She found that playing the piano felt the same. Now that she had opened her heart up to it once more, she didn’t want to give it up.

She closed her eyes. Letting the raw emotions flowing inside her be poured out on the keys. The transfer was successful. Each note played was filled to the brim with heart. Enid carefully pressed on the keys as if it was made of the most precious material in the world.
Any average person would shed a tear if they were in the vicinity.

Enid could feel the weight of the last few weeks drain from her fingers. Her soul was as light as the chords she was creating. If only she had played sooner. The piano quickly became the best therapist she ever had.

The soft notes filled up her drained spirit, and left a warm smile on her face. The first one she’s had in a couple of days.

Her eyes began to mist over when recalling the first time she had played the piano since she was a little girl. The awe on Wednesday’s face had filled her heart to the brim with delight. Boy, had she missed it. Even if there wasn’t a hint of any emotion on her face ever again, even if all she had staring back was cold and lifeless eyes, what she wouldn’t give to have Wednesday look upon her again.

Enid felt a small shiver run through her, the cold on her features emanating from the cool shadow cast over her.

Wait. Wasn’t Enid just being warmed by the sun not long ago?

Enid followed the long shadow casting its form on the ground that had replaced the golden sunlight. She angled her head to squint at a figure holding onto the doorframe, the shadow had pointed her directly to its owner. The sunlight lit the figure from behind, masking its features. Nevertheless, Enid would recognize that silhouette anywhere. She jumped out of her chair at an astonishing speed.

“Wednesday.” She whispered before thinking, now praying that the figure wouldn’t evaporate into thin air.

Upon hearing her name, Wednesday clenched tightly to the doorframe, but then used it to push herself forward. Heels clicked on the wooden floor, each one synchronized with Enid’s heartbeat. Her breath caught as she watched the girl draw closer until she was standing right beside her.

They wordlessly just looked at each other for a moment. Probably a little afraid the other would disappear, but more because it had been far too long since they could look the other in the eye.

Like a flower that finds itself flourishing when it turns its face towards the sun, the heartache and hurt that came with their distance seemed to melt away when their gazes met, as if the mere act of drawing up the courage to finally face each other in spite of their growing distance seemed to heal.

Wednesday fought to swallow a gulp as she made a new motion, her whole body still fighting to stay here, stay present, instead of allowing her distancing nature to have its way.

She adjusted the bench back to where it was before Enid’s quick movements threw it to the side.
Without a word, the girl with dark hair sat down and tapped on the other side gently with two fingers, wordlessly asking her friend to sit back down beside her.

Enid did as Wednesday silently asked. The blonde had a million things she wanted to ask the girl, and they all seemed to fight to be the first question. Enid gaped her mouth open and closed as if to say something, but changed her mind, only to almost ask something again. Wednesday put up a hesitant hand to end this torturous cycle Enid was putting herself through, and her own soft voice cut through the silence first.

“Just. Just let me get this out, okay? Before I cannot.”

Enid’s eyes never left her own as she lightly nodded her head in understanding.

Wednesday hesitated another small bit of time. Her eyes darted between Enid’s own, and she saw no frustration and no pressure. Just that patient, warm gaze thawing the nerves from her muscles. She closed her eyes, and willed more courage to fill her veins.

“If I could tell you what’s wrong with me, I would. I have yet to figure that out myself.” She began, opening her eyes back up to look deep into Enid’s own, implying how seriously she regarded what she was saying to the blonde.

“All the while I’ve been causing you pain. Know that this is unintentional.” Enid opens her mouth to insert something, but Wednesday beats her to the punch.

“Don’t even try to hide it, Enid. I can see it all over your face right now. It's been evident even while I’ve been sorting out my own issues.” Her voice is direct, eyes unwavering. Until, she suddenly looks away from Enid for the first time since entering the room.

“I’ve - I’ve not been very fair to you, while you continue to be patient with me. And, for that I am sorry.” Enid’s heart absolutely stopped.

“This whole friend thing may be new to me, but even I know I have been a terrible one as of late.”

Wednesday’s tone grew soft, almost as gentle as a whisper. Enid had never heard what regret sounded like on the psychic’s vocal cords. And the fact that it laced her voice in regards to herself almost put her on the floor.

“I am also fully aware that you and I need to have a longer conversation about this at some point. That seems to be what the societal code of having friends dictates at least.” Wednesday reflexively balls her hand into a fist then lets it go slack, as if spurring herself to continue.

“While I don’t relish the thought of being open, as it is contrary to my very nature, I promise you that I will try. I refuse to run any longer.” Wednesday looks back into Enid’s eyes when she finishes, looking for something that will reassure her she's doing something right by the girl with all of this.

She doesn’t have to look long. Enid’s eyes began to mist over, and the gentle warmth emanating off of her could rival the afternoon sun basking them in all of its glory. The blonde has to look up and blink to prevent the tears from falling.

More than almost anyone, Enid understood the sheer immensity of what Wednesday had just done, for her of all people.

Has the girl ever apologized to anyone ever in her life?

It's all Enid could do to hold back her overwhelming desire to hold tight to Wednesday and never let the girl go.

Wednesday brought up her hands to chest level and let one harshly massage the other, preparing herself to continue on.

“Enid, I know I do not have the right to ask, but if I may. I would like to request something of you.” Wednesday’s voice cut through Enid’s thoughts like a knife.

“Anything.” She breathed.

Wednesday fought her nature to ask a simple question. It sounded too weak for her liking, yet the question rang out in the air despite that feeling.

“Would you allow me to listen to you continue to play?”

The world around Enid paused for just a moment.

“You- you want me to play the piano?”

Disbelief and shock painted Enid’s voice and features.

Even though emotions and facial expressions were definitely not Wednesday’s strong suit, she felt in her gut for this reaction to be odd.

“Yes?” The dark-haired girl responded, doing her best to imply her confusion into her response. She hoped Enid would be able to spot it, she wasn’t sure anyone else would have been able to.

Thankfully, the blonde did understand, and proceeded to iron out her thoughts before her friend.

“It’s just..” Enid stopped for a moment to sort out what she was going to say. She pulled the corner of her lower lip into her teeth, a sign she was deep in her thoughts.

Wednesday waited ever so patiently, and it encouraged Enid to press on.

“I was under the impression that you hated it when I played the piano.”

One of the strongest displays of emotion Wednesday had ever given was written over every inch of her face. Never did she expect Enid to say something like that. The shock resonated as clear as day from every fiber of her being.

“W-why?” Wednesday asked, not understanding how the girl could have ever come to that conclusion.

“You don’t talk to me for two weeks after I play the piano for the first time in literal years. It just seemed like the obvious conclusion to why you’ve been acting so weird, Wednesday.”

The dark-haired girl is at a loss as to what to say to that.

In truth, she’s not entirely wrong. The reason she’s been avoiding her is tied to the piano. But for Enid to believe that she hated to listen to her play was absolutely preposterous. It could not be further from the truth.

She had never before felt so entranced as when Enid’s colorful hands graced the keys of a piano. She would have given up grave-digging for the rest of her days if only to listen to the wolf play a dark ballad.

This terrified the psychic to her very core, and she isn’t sure what to make of it. She debates on letting the wolf believe this idea she’s concocted in her head. Her nature begs her to avoid digging into this too much. It was raw and vulnerable. Her pride couldn’t allow this to stand.

Wednesday then looks into the eyes of her friend, and sees that same rawness she feels. She recognizes that same vulnerability it took to even present her inner thoughts that have been eating away at her for the past two weeks to Wednesday herself.

That vulnerability Enid carried didn’t cause Wednesday to look at her and see weakness and fragility, something to be pitied and scorned.

Instead, Wednesday was filled with a sense of respect and awe for the clear courage it took for Enid to do something Wednesday was afraid of doing herself.

She bit her tongue until it tasted of copper.

She promised. If anything else, she promised Enid she would try to be open. She would rather die a thousand boring deaths than to break her word.

Wednesday outwardly sighed in resignation to her inner turmoil.

“That’s-“ Her voice came out tight.

Oof. This was going to be more difficult than she thought.

“I wasn’t avoiding you because I hated to listen to you play.”

The intensity with which Enid was paying attention to the psychic knotted some of the frayed nerves in her stomach. It was as if what Wednesday was saying was a life or death matter. She wasn’t making this any easier to get out. That was for sure.

“I was avoiding you because I loved listening to you play.”

The features on the wolf’s face collectively spasm. None of that computed, and Enid was not fully understanding where Wednesday was going with this. Her mouth was already beginning to form a question, but the braided girl continued on in an attempt to explain her dizzying rationalization.

“I’m not great with emotions. You, of all people, understand this.”

“Weeks later, I’m still trying to decipher the onslaught of emotions that coursed through me when listening to you play. The fact alone that you were able to bring out this side of me just from simply playing the piano proves that you have an incredible talent and gift that deserves protecting. If anything, I regret making you think otherwise.”

At this, Enid couldn’t help the singular tear that rolled quickly down her cheek. She made a quick motion to wipe the trail of salty water away before Wednesday could catch it. She quickly let a large smile settle on her face.

“So, I ask again. May I listen to you play?” The question came in the form of a hushed whisper full of want and hope.

“Of course, I’m not sure anything would make me happier.” She responded in honesty, because Enid felt that statement to be true to her very core.

“Would you like me to play something darker for you?”

There it was. That scratching inside her gut. She really needed to get that checked.

“Maybe another time, what you were playing before would be more than sufficient.”

Wednesday’s voice was so soft that Enid almost didn’t discern what she said. She did understand, and did everything in her power not to move, not to gush, not to scream out of sheer elation. The corners of her mouth twisted upwards impossibly more than they already did, but thankfully it wasn’t enough to frighten the girl away.

Did Wednesday Addams ask Enid to continue to play a song in the major key?!

Enid’s response came in the form of twisting her body back towards the piano. She closed her eyes and reset her hands, letting them hover in anticipation over the keys. The amount of control she had over the features of her face was an olympic effort.

Enid began the song from the top. Partly so Wednesday could hear it all. Mostly to also have the girl remain by her side for as long as possible. The music was cascading now, filling the room with its sound. Enid closed her eyes taking in every bit of this moment.

Wednesday kneaded her hands lightly. It felt as if there was electricity generating within her fingertips. It wasn’t as torturous though as the squeezing grip felt on her heart, almost as if someone was trying to wring every drop of blood from the organ.

Her theory was correct then, and the onslaught of emotions came back in full force. Just as prevalent as the day she first heard the girl play. Part of her wanted to run, of course. To feel this rush of emotions was uncharted territory, and it was almost too great for the psychic.

However, a growing, curiously stronger part of her implored her to stay. Like a moth to a flame, perhaps. Wednesday was drawing closer to the very thing that was tearing her apart. She just knew that at some point she was going to burn alive as these flames consumed every bit of her.

But they didn’t. As Enid progressed through the piece, Wednesday did indeed continue to feel that raging inferno course its way through her icy veins. But, the pain was lessening, no, more like transforming.

Wednesday curiously picked up one of her hands and let it roll around in the dimming glow of the sun. This fire that was expanding inside of her was far more welcoming, more warm than even the very sun itself pooling its light onto the back of her hand.

The inferno, it was generous and soft.

No, this was not at all like being burned at the stake. It was more like being trapped in a winter storm only to finally stumble across the welcoming glow of a hearth preparing a life sustaining meal.

It was like coming home.

Wednesday curled her hands back into her lap and sat in silence as she watched Enid continue to play.

The girl dressed in dark clothes had not a clue as to what to do with this information.

If Wednesday thought about it too long, she was going to overwhelm herself again, so she decided just to be present in this moment, ignoring the ache growing in her heart.
Whatever persistent force that was steadily growing inside of her needed to be dealt with at another point in time.

For now, this was enough. This moment she found herself in was more than enough.

Wednesday closed her eyes, getting lost in the vast array of chords forming a rich melody before her. The music itself epitomized what it meant to bask in the sunlight. Which was exactly how Wednesday felt back in Enid’s presence.

Honestly, it didn’t really matter all that much she hadn't quite sorted through everything. In this moment, all she really cared for was the long-sought levity of her soul now that she's reconciled with Enid. Everything else could wait.

She didn’t take this moment for granted, more than anything, she just wanted to be fully present in this moment. And, she did just that, with a ghost of a smile that graced her features.

Notes:

The girls are finally reconciled and it feels so good!

-The song Enid is playing is this one https://youtu.be/-W7mA1-XcMg

-I spent a week warring in my own head whether to make this a long chapter or two shorter ones. Couldn’t have these two separated any longer, so here we are.

-Our friendly meddling Yoko is back again, and boy did I have so much fun writing her. She cares a lot for our Enid, and it was a joy to write two characters who already have an established friendship.

-We’re finally out of the woods for most of the angsty stuff, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. There will be more in bits and pieces in the future, I’m sure. Navigating Wednesday and Enid’s relationship now is going to be so much more fun when they aren’t avoiding each other at every turn!

-hope you all enjoyed, and look forward to more soon. Thanks for reading as always!

Chapter 5: A Gift for You is a Gift for Me

“But my birthday isn’t until February..”

Considering they were only a week away from going home for fall break, the shock was justified.

The braided girl let her eyes roll when she heard the blonde voice her surprise upon witnessing the wrapped object sinking its weight into her mattress, leaving a deep impression.

The present was long, spanning nearly the length of her bed. It was crudely wrapped as well. Bits of uneven tape were arrayed over the surface at random, pulling and pushing the paper it held together in odd ways.

She laughed when she recognized the paper. How could she not? She was the one who purchased it after all. One look at the wildly vivid pop of the orange daisies that were set against a green and pink backdrop had sold her. It embodied every bit of the flower power retro 70s vibe she was so fascinated by. She even bought it online, so there was no way it wasn’t hers.

Enid edged closer to the object, analyzing every aspect of it from all the angles it offered for her to look at. In her mind, this was clearly Thing’s handiwork. The kind hand has always offered to help out the wolf with all of the various arts and crafts projects she finds herself creating.

However pure his intentions were, the objects he had a hand in creating always turned out looking like some kind of wild amalgamation. Enid wondered if this was a side effect of not actually possessing eyes.

“I highly doubt it's going to blow up or unveil some kind of horrific nightmare if that is what is concerning you. If it did, it would be wrapped in black paper and be addressed to me.”

Wednesday spun around in her chair. She leaned back into the seat to properly watch the wolf with intrigue, letting her hands lace themselves together and rest upon her lap. Her dark eyes flickered between her friend and the box sinking deeper into her fluffy mattress.

A realization dawned upon the blonde. Her lips parted ever so slightly to hint at her surprise and her eyes trained upon the subtle pride woven into the depth of Wednesday’s own.

This was a present from Wednesday to Enid.

The wolf whipped her head back around in order to really study the present now. Wednesday had undoubtedly recruited Thing to wrap this gift she intended for herself. She could have used black paper if she wanted, Enid knew she had some stored away somewhere. She would have happily accepted the present all the same.

There was a growing blossom of warmth spreading across her chest when she imagined Wednesday planning to wrap the object and then decided she also couldn’t leave out the presentation part. Wanting for the wolf to enjoy not just the present itself, but indulge her in the whole experience as well.

Her breathing became uneven as she attempted to hide the growing smile that was threatening to burst across her face.

She couldn’t beli-

“Sometime today would be nice.”

Enid blinked rapidly as she was torn from her thoughts and placed her mind back on earth. A smaller grin quickly burst through the surface of her face as she beheld that impatient nature of Wednesday’s.

Her fingers lightly graced the jagged edges and wadded tape that loosely held the present intact. They settled into a notch of wrapping paper that began to curl upwards. She began to tug ever so slightly. Pieces of the paper immediately gave way. Other areas, however, tended not to budge due to the excessive amount of tape found on them. Nothing had revealed itself just yet.

She then took her other hand and gave it a task as well, picking the tape with one hand and tugging away at the underside with the other seemed to work fine enough. She was beginning to rip holes at the very least. Before anything had fully revealed itself, Enid decided to use an open palm as leverage against the object as she pried off the rest of the stubborn tape around the corners.
Her hand pressed gently against the paper, and she was surprised to see the object underneath the wrapping give way.

Wait, that felt familiar.

She tested the object’s reaction to the pressure of her palm once more and noticed that it seemed to be exactly what she thought it was.

Picking up the pace, she looked for holes to poke and tear into, but the present in front of her was growing more and more blurry by the second. Even through her watery eyes, Enid could recognize the familiar pattern of white and black keys arranged upwards as some of the paper was successfully being torn away.

Enid pursed her lips tightly and contorted her face. She let her fingers trail gently against her new keyboard, admiring it glistening in the moonlight that poured through their half stained glass window. It didn’t take long for her vision to be completely clouded, and warm rivers of salt ran down her face.

She tucked her cheek into her shoulder, letting the droplets meld and dampen the cloth around it. Her nose was glistening, and loud sniffling noises couldn’t be held back. In an effort to hide her overwhelming elation, she missed the concern growing on Wednesday’s face.

“You don’t like it.”

“No-no! I d-do!” The blonde and pastel hair on her head whipped around and bounced back into place, framing Enid’s reddening face. There was no hiding the tears now. Why was she anyways?

“Wednesday, I’m happy. I’m so incredibly happy right now. You gave me this?” Enid had managed to semi-coherently ask in between an array of sniffles and hiccups. The braided girl was lost in thought, seemingly not hearing anything her friend said.

“But, you’re crying.” The psychic leveled her eyes into Enid’s own with a disbelieving squint. She was doing her best to navigate this overwhelming amount of emotion Enid was displaying at the moment. Honestly, so was Enid.

The wolf raised herself off the mattress and drew closer to her friend. She decided to settle herself and lean against the lower frame of Wednesday’s bed which allowed her roommate to further study her face. Tears still poured from her eyes, but Enid seemed to have a better grasp on controlling the pitch of her voice at least.

“People can cry when they feel a lot of one emotion, or too many emotions at one time. For me, I’ve got so much happiness inside that it's literally coming out in tears.” Enid began to laugh.

Wednesday almost looked horrified to see her signature smile amidst the tears pooling under her chin and leaving dark streaks on her baby-blue long sleeve shirt.

“Hmm.. how dreadful. Didn’t realize that could happen. I’ll be sure to store this information aside for the next time you experience this rather concerning occurrence.”

Enid burst out a wet laugh at Wednesday’s reaction as she began to use her sleeve to dry her face. Her thoughts finally settled enough to form a coherent response to the gift.

“So, Wednesday Addams bought me a piano, huh?”

“What makes you think I had anything to do with that?” Wednesday was incredulous that Enid saw through her ruse so easily. She really must have been rubbing off on the girl.

“Considering Yoko is the only other person in this place who knows I even play, I’m willing to go out on a limb here.”

“I also know for a fact that Yoko has her own wrapping paper and wouldn’t break into my room to use my own.” The wolfish grin easily spread across her features.

Wednesday blinks just once, then proceeds to search around for a moment until she zeroes in on a disembodied hand. The rather relaxed creature can feel her glare, and he quickly splays out his fingers in a manner that indicates his shock and terror, ready to run at a moment's notice. Wednesday enunciated her sentence slowly and clearly in a rather intimidating way.

“I told you she would realize that it was hers. What part of ‘take the money and buy something hideously colorful’ did you not understand?”

Thing was already hiding under Enid’s bed before Wednesday could even finish her sentence. The psychic was ready to pounce after him, but a soft voice tethered her to her chair.

“Seriously, Wednesday. Thank you. I really can’t express how much this means to me. I’m so thankful to have you in my life.”

A rush of blood threatens to fill in a deep shade of scarlet to the psychic’s face. She fights it with every fiber of her being. She tore her eyes away from the wolf, unable to properly fight the edging heat creeping upon her cheeks when looking into those still watery blue eyes of hers.

“Don’t be thanking me just yet. There are stipulations I have in place before you accept the gift.”

A bright curiosity emanated from the blonde. Eager to hear what her roommate would ask of her.

“Is that so? Do tell.”

Wednesday settles deeper into the leather of her chair, readying herself for a long explanation of her demands. She separates her conjoined hands to raise one to face level. She curls two of her fingers into her palm, leaving three of them suspended in the air.

“Three conditions.” The psychic begins. Enid remains hung on her every word.

“One. A part of the reason for this gift is to aid both you and me. As you are well aware, I’ve been inflicted with a truly abhorrent case of writer’s block. Music, especially songs of the classical nature, are proven to aid with concentration and studying. I deduce that all of the time I’ve lost during this ‘writer’s block’ can be gained back in fruitful productivity if you practice consistently.”

“You are not required to play every night, but do consider using that practice time in tandem with my writing time.”

Wednesday frames this as a demand, but Enid can read in-between the lines. While the ‘music helps people study’ part is technically true, she knows deep down that Wednesday really wants to be around to hear her play.

“Two. You told me once that you found my late night cello sessions an annoying habit. Perhaps you would find it less reprehensible if you participated yourself in a useful expenditure of your energy.”

Enid has an idea of what the girl is asking of her, but Wednesday has this habit of arranging her sentences to dance around what she is really asking. As if even the act of requesting something of another is a sign of weakness.
The wolf fully understands this. All the same, she is not letting her friend get away with this one without ruffling a few of the Raven’s feathers.

“Elaborate for me, Wednesday. You are asking of me to participate in my own late night piano sessions. However, these sessions of mine are not to coincide with the days you’ve set aside for your own cello practice. I wouldn’t want to be a bother to your routine.” Enid fails to repress her mischievous smirk. She’s got her.

Wednesday can see exactly what Enid is trying to do. The psychic locks her jaw out of irritation. Honestly, she’s more frustrated with herself. She hoped the wolf wouldn’t be able to decipher what she was really asking, but Enid was far more intelligent than she gave her credit for. Most of the time.

Wednesday had set herself up for this one.

“Not necessarily.” A dark tone had colored Wednesday’s voice

“Oh, I think I understand. I’m allowed to play my piano on the same days you play your cello. However, I’ll be playing inside while you play on the terrace. Otherwise, I would be disturbing your practice time. Am I wrong?” The girl responded with an air of playfulness now.

“Enid.”

Wednesday’s tone filled itself with warning, but apparently the wolf took little heed. She was either extremely foolhardy or a bit of a masochist.

“Hmm… That wasn’t right either? Oh boy, I’m not sure I fully understand what you’re saying, Wednesday.”

The teasing is in full effect now. Enid seemingly possessed nerves of steel.

“Oh, I’m fairly certain you do.”

“Nope, I haven't a clue! I guess you’re just going to have to spell it out for me.”

Normally, anyone else reaching this level of teasing would have already incurred the entirety of Wednesday’s wrath. Instead, Enid seemed to get bolder and more confident with each new ribbing she inflicted upon the psychic. It’s like she knew she was semi-immune to Wednesday’s threats.

Wednesday shouldn’t have stood for this, her pride normally wouldn’t have allowed her to. However, that deep clawing has resurfaced in her gut again. The one that made her feel like parasites were eating her from the inside out. It’s become such a constant companion at this point when interacting with the blonde, she comes to find the feeling is more pleasant than painful. And she isn’t quite sure what to make of that.

Whatever it did, it usually gave Enid a free pass for her increasingly bold behavior. All the while getting the braided girl to step a fraction more out of her comfort zone in order to subtly bridge this closing gap between the two polar opposite girls.

Wednesday tries, she really does. But, she can’t see an easier solution to this problem than to just concede this one to the blonde. Not if she’s going to get what she really wants out of this exchange. She braces herself to be humbled a bit. Something she isn’t at all used to doing, nor a position she would ever find herself in with anyone else other than the wolf.

“Enid.” The tone coming from the monochromatic girl is a great deal softer this time around. The blonde’s eyes widened a bit in surprise and elation, knowing this means she’s actually won this round.

“I am asking you if you will play duets with me, every once in a while.”

Wednesday can’t even gather up the energy to be mad. Especially when Enid’s very warm and genuine smile gets impossibly wider, reaching up into her very eyes. The psychic likened looking upon her to witnessing a train wreck. It was absolutely impossible to look away, and she wasn’t sure if she ever wanted to convince herself to do that.

“Of course I would, Wednesday. I am so glad you asked.”

“Don’t make me regret this.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

Wednesday rolls her eyes and presses on.

“Third. If you insist upon playing the abysmal music you love to listen to, at least try to play it on the piano instead. It’s less grating against my ears.”

“Is that all?”

“You can count to three, yes?” Wednesday questioned with a smug expression. Enid responded with a small pout that quickly rolled into a giggle.

“That actually sounds pretty easy to me. I agree to all of the above. Now, I’m gonna need your help setting this up.” Enid stretches as she pulls herself up from Wednesday’s bed. The soft clicking of her shoes on wooden boards rings out as she makes her way back to the gift.

“Thing, help her set up the piano.”

Enid whips back in her roommate’s direction upon hearing the demand. Another rush of boldness washes over her.

“No ma’am, I’m sending Thing to go find me some sheet music to start practicing with.”

The wolf catches a glimpse of the hand in the corner of her eye and winks at the creature. He gets the message and scampers off before Wednesday recovers from the shock of Enid handing out orders and shooting hers down.

“Can’t wiggle your way out of this one, Wends. As the purchaser of the present, I am requesting you to do the honors. Besides, I was gonna have you be the first to request a song once I set it up.” Enid sweetens the pot, now knowing her friend wouldn’t ever pass up an opportunity to hear her play. Especially when she’s the one who dictates the song choice.

The girl stretches out her hand for Wednesday to take.

Wednesday blankly stares at the hand extended before her for a second in contemplation. Enid postures herself to offer physical touch, but provides enough space to give Wednesday an out with no hard feelings, like she always does. The kind and caring gesture never goes unnoticed from the monochromatic girl.

Wednesday surprises herself, and ends up grabbing the hand and lacing it with her cold one. Enid lifts her up and away from the chair as if she was as light as a feather.

The psychic began to wonder if she may have inherited any of her uncle’s electricity ability. The tingling sensation felt throughout her hand after Enid’s own slips away from her grasp couldn’t be anything else other than pure static electricity.

The two then get to work. Enid decides to hand Wednesday the set up instructions, leaving the wolf to take on most of the manual labor herself. A kind of apology for pushing her friend more out of her comfort zone than she’s used to in one go.

Of course the psychic enjoyed bossing around the wolf a bit, but ended up on the floor herself pretty quickly. She sat shoulder to shoulder with the girl, providing whatever support Enid needed to finish setting up the gift.

“Alright, I believe that it should be good to go. Any requests off the top-“

“Play ‘Paint It Black’ again for me.”

Before the wolf can even finish her sentence, Wednesday already has her mind made up.

“You know there are way more songs than that one-“

“Just play. It’s my request, no?”

Wednesday interjects once more. She’s thought about this moment for a while now. If she’s going to get to the bottom of the largest question plaguing her life at the moment, ‘why is Wednesday in a tailspin when Enid plays piano?’, then recreating the circumstances that initiated the original reaction is her best shot at an answer.

Enid accepts the request without any more ribbing and prepares the placement of her hands to lightly hover above the keyboard. She begins from the top.

Wednesday should be surprised, but finds that it doesn’t come as a shock to see Enid play without sheet music. she’s apparently been practicing this one in particular. Enough to know it by heart.

A dark lilt of the keys floods into their shared space. Each note that is drummed out is deeply familiar to the psychic. Having practiced this particular piece for years. She knows each note as if they were members of her own family. Deep dark chords ring out, Enid once again arranges the music to closely resemble how Wednesday’s own practiced hands preform the song. A rock feels oddly lodged in her throat. When did that appear?

The music swells around in a familiar way, a creciendo that is deeply foreboding gains traction as the very walls seem to vibrate with its dark power. Like a fish hooked on a line, the memory and emotion surface from black waters as Wednesday recalls the first time she hears Enid play.

A shiver cascades itself throughout the psychic’s body. A deeply concerning experience altogether she concludes as the chords spiral upwards to their apex. She does remember how deeply this song affected her for the first time. However, it’s like an entirely new experience when directly hit by the music flowing around them.

The song is reaching a transition point, Wednesday distinctly remembers. That flawless gradation between the light and the dark sections eviscerated her the first time she heard it. It had the psychic in such a stranglehold, the next two weeks were needed to even begin to recover from its backlash.

Honestly, this very section of the piece was the key to solving her mystery. She knew this to her core. Her pride wouldn’t allow her to recognize the steep cliff of fear she had to overcome to even request Enid to play this song once more for her, but she overcame it all the same. With or without placing a name to the struggle.

Edging closer now, Wednesday braced every muscle she had in her body to remain still. As if an avalanche was rapidly encroaching upon her, and all she could do was prepare for her inevitable demise.

But it never came.

Enid, with practiced precision, continued the song without even a hint of a pause evident in her playing.

It was as if the wolf ripped the song straight from the strings of her own cello, because this is exactly how Wednesday would have played it. This is exactly how Wednesday has been playing this song for years. This is exactly how she’s been rehearsing the song on her instrument since that first encounter in the counselor’s house.

And that was exactly what was wrong.

A relentless and gnawing realization creeped into her mind. Wrong. This was wrong. Enid wasn’t playing it right. It was like her mind caught on fire.

But, what was right? What was missing?

As clear as the stars that scattered their light in the sky, Wednesday knew what was missing.

There was no ‘lighter section’. Just the dark and foreboding notes that resembled closely to Wednesday’s own personal interpretation were all that could be found. Wasn’t that what she wanted? The pure darkness that enveloped the entirety of her existence was all that was present in Enid’s playing. Darkness was all Wednesday had ever known. The Addams family’s ways were wrapped in the blackest of colors. Her life was so wonderfully bleak, she might as well have never known what the sun even looked like.

It was so satisfactory before. Wasn’t it?

And that was the problem.

Everything was fine until Wednesday encountered a new way to perform this song. Enid’s own personal spin. The upbeat rhythms, the bright notes, the way she bounced in her seat to act as her own little metronome were non-existent this time around. That longing to hear the softer melody etched with Enid’s signature light burns a hole in Wednesday’s heart.

Away from the dark coffins she was raised in, Wednesday had truly ventured out on her own since coming to Nevermore. Whether or not fate had laughed at her, placing her in the same room as Enid Sinclair, Wednesday’s way of life was crudely uprooted. To think, a twisted creature of the dark forced to live its days under the rays of the sun. Each girl separated by a vast ocean of differences. Yet, the very thing that contrasted the entirety of Wednesday’s nature, of the nature of her lineage before her, was the missing piece she’s come to covet.

The girl absolutely cannot believe that this is what has been plaguing her for the past weeks. However, there is no doubt in her mind that this is it.

While Enid playing such a dark and rich melody is something to behold, Wednesday can’t escape this all-encompassing desire to not only watch the girl play something in her own element, but to marry the dark and the light together.

Wednesday draws back to her own experiences since the moment her parents presented her with her own instrument. The members of the Addams family had all been musically inclined. It might as well have been an inherited trait, passed down since the origin of music itself.

She had been enraptured by ‘Come, Sweet Death’ performed by Johann Sebastian Bach. She recalled incessantly asking her mother to play this for her on her violin. So much so that Morticia, who always enjoyed accommodating the wild and dark fantasies of her offspring, grew weary of the ask and knew it was time for the woeful child to imprint her own dark ballads in the halls of the Addams family manor.

Picking the cello as her defining instrument was easy. Already the instrument was prone and designed to encapsulate the darker end of the musical spectrum.
It was all she had ever known, it was all she had ever played. Honing her craft to perfection. She thought that would forever be enough.

Simple, perfect melodies were no longer good enough in Wednesday’s eyes, not that she now knows what a symphony sounds like.

Listening to Enid here now, she realized that she’s been mistaken about the light. Once a thing to be shunned and avoided at all costs, Wednesday now found beauty and value in the lighter notes she had passed over before. As much as she forever would love the dark, she realized that she also wanted the sun to shine upon her as well.

“Wednesday?” A gentle voice stirred the girl out of her own mind.

“Where’d you go? You’ve been staring into space. I finished your song.” Enid’s soft reply resonated between them. Concern etching into the blonde’s features, sensing something was off with her friend.

‘Your song’.

Enid’s voice repeats in her head, and causes Wednesday to pale more than she already was. Enid did play her song, in her way. How could she tell her?

“You left it out.”

“Left it..out? Left what out? I thought I played it exactly as you do.” Enid eyes shift between the darker ones staring back.

“You did. You played it exactly as I do, and perfectly, I may add.”

The psychic trails off, not knowing how to bring herself to voice what she’s really looking for, or gain the courage to ask for it.

“But, I left something out.” Enid searches for anything the psychic is willing to give away.

A pause. Enid realizes that Wednesday is hesitant, she can see the gears turning behind her brilliantly dark orbs. So, she waits patiently, knowing it’s taking Wednesday just about all she has to sift through what she’s feeling.

“Can you.. can you play the song exactly like you did that night I first heard you play?” Wednesday finally breaks the silence.

Enid understands now.

She knows what she has left out. It was intentional after all. Knowing that her friend would ask her to play this song again at some point, she had practiced it to perfection. She had no idea it would be so soon, but it was ready nevertheless. She was adamantly sure that Wednesday would enjoy the song more if it was played in her style.

Enid often does this. She looks for ways to accommodate Wednesday's peculiar tastes. She wraps presents in black paper. She knits a black snood. She finds the deepest shade of black polish in hopes she will allow her to paint her nails one day.

She knows of Wednesday’s love of the dark, deeply so. Enid takes painstakingly strong measures to make her friend feel seen and cared for in her own odd ways. The way she played the song tonight was not an oversight in the least.

Which is why it struck a chord inside of Enid.

Enid intentionally left out the part that was most like herself, and that part that was missing was what Wednesday had wanted all along.

It didn’t seem like much, but every part of her felt tangled up in knots, and she felt warm, even by werewolf standards. The thought had messed her up a bit, but she couldn’t quite decipher it’s meaning.

Enid let the thoughts and feelings settle into the background for the moment. An idea formed itself in her mind, and now it was not letting go. She didn’t know how Wednesday would take this, but she would regret it if she didn’t ask.

“Yes. I’ll play the song as well as what was missing. I only have one condition.”

Her eyes drew back upwards to stare back into Wednesday’s own. The girl seemed hung on her every word.

The dark haired girl nodded her head in understanding, not able to figure out where Enid was going with this.

“Play it with me.”

Her voice was so soft Wednesday wasn’t sure if she had made those words up. She never would have fathomed Enid suggest that, so she took that as an indication this was very much real.

If Wednesday didn’t land herself in trouble before, she certainly did now. Play it? It was difficult enough to ask to hear this song once more. To ask to hear that lighter section that was missing, even more so. But, could Wednesday play that section herself?

In order to gather the courage, Wednesday had to remind herself that this was all just an experiment. She needed to know why she’s been acting this way, and sought her answers with a valiant effort. She’s made strides towards that, but playing the song herself with Enid would be an entirely different animal.

If she was fighting to see this through, then she was at least going out swinging.

Enid finally saw movement in the girl after being lost to her mind once more. She spun on her heels and crept towards a very dusty case left nearly forgotten in the corner of their room.

With a burst of air expelled from her lungs and a quick swipe against the top with her palm, the dust swirled around her as if a snow globe exploded.
The latches clicked and Wednesday let the case pull back with a squeaking noise expelled from the hinges. Obviously an indication of disuse.

She lifted the instrument from its case and let her hands envelop the familiar object. She let her head trail back to her friend, only to see that Enid has already pulled a chair up beside herself for the dark haired girl to use.

No turning back now.

After taking a moment to settle herself in and tune the instrument, Wednesday looks upon her friend to signal that she’s as ready as she’ll ever be. Enid nodded her head to count them off silently.

Wednesday closed her eyes, and let the music take over.

A familiar vibration sprung to life from under the pads of Wednesday’s fingers, and nothing could have prepared her upon hearing the melding of her instrument with Enid’s own.

Maybe this is a testimony to the expertise demonstrated by both artists, but never before having danced in a duet, they fall into step as if they’ve practiced this every day of their lives.

Wednesday begins first, taking the lead. She strikes up that familiar melody, the same as every time before. However, it’s like she’s lived in a dark cave for the entirety of her life. Blind to her surroundings. Sure, she knows the crevices and bends of the walls with just a touch of her hand. When suddenly given access to a match, however, the dark abyss called home changes forever. Her whole life spent in that cave spent walking blind in the dark was given a new shape, new form. Something familiar becomes changed forevermore.

Enid takes the accompanying part initially. This was Wednesday’s territory. If she created magic with her piano, Wednesday conjured the deepest and wildest forms of sorcery with her cello. The dark energy swirled around the girl as if the very air bent to her will. The psychic was such a tempest, there wasn’t anything she could do but take lead. Enid admired this quality in her friend with all of her being. She desired nothing more than to stand there with her, shoulder to shoulder, and be that steady bedrock that Wednesday could launch to great heights by relying on her unyielding tenacity and strength.

Wednesday played those dark chords powerfully and beautifully, there was no room for doubt. But with Enid by her side, the very world seemed to pause, as just to listen to them play.

The song continues to build. That deep creciendo accentuated by Enid’s powerful harmony, and the room shook with its power. The plucking of Wednesday’s strings matched perfectly with the drumming of Enid’s piano. The song roared in their tandem, like fireworks rising into the darkness until they exploded into a wide array of colors. Illuminating everything around them.

Then the burst of fire and light gave way to a deep silence.

That pause shook the wildly confident Wednesday to her core. For now she found herself lost in uncharted waters, trusting upon Enid’s gentle and patient hands to guide her.

She opens her eyes, no longer able to lean on her own understanding, she turns to her wolf, letting the deep copper of her eyes melt into Enid’s own, blue as the sky. An unspoken moment passes between them.

A moment of deep trust occurs on Wednesday’s part. Enid is not unaware. Even though Wednesday asked to chart these waters, that doesn’t mean she knows how to swim through them. Especially on her own.

In a way, she extends her hand and grabs the wolf's own, trusting that no matter what happens, her best friend won’t let her drown.

Their dance shifts, and now Enid is the one to take the lead.

The first stanza is Enid’s own. She walks forward and plays those first few notes of this lighter section by herself. A practiced hand. Enid then looks upon Wednesday, asking for her to walk forward herself and join her.

Wednesday had genuinely never played so high on the fretboard before, she wasn’t sure if her darkness inclined cello would be up to the task. The instrument proved her wrong.

Softly at first, Wednesday matched Enid’s call as they played a repeat of the first stanza, together this time. The cello seemed like it was singing, its own harmonizing voice created a backbone to Enid’s melody.

That gentle ray of light Enid poured into the music was back. Wednesday might as well have been struck by lightning. Enid took her hands and led them through a waltz. The music rolled around like the tides of the ocean, and Enid guided them through it with mastery and grace.

The wolf pulled them through a wild dance, shifting the two left and right. It was all Wednesday could do to hold tightly to this boundlessly energetic wolf and enjoy the ride.

Out of the corner of Wednesday’s eye, she could see the lids of Enid’s fall over her own. and begin to bounce herself to the beat of the music once more. Letting the music take her over. Boy, had she missed that sight.

Enid’s light was infectious. For Wednesday let the girl’s confidence seep into her own black soul. The fervor and zeal with which Enid used to structure her chords and melodies began to wash over Wednesday.

The confidence with which she played her strings grew. Her cello began to echo around the room in a warm and bright way, letting the strings and their music swirl around Enid and allowed the wolf to soar into the sun.

If it was ever suggested that one day Wednesday would be playing her cello in this manner, such beautiful and light chords bounding off of her cello’s strings. She would have used said strings to end the life of the person who suggested it.

However, at this moment, Wednesday finally felt right. This is the music she had been searching for since that fateful day. The blending of Wednesday’s penchant for darkness paired with Enid’s embodiment of light created a symphony Wednesday wanted imprinted upon her soul for the rest of her life, and forever into her death.

The song resonated deeply into its final notes, until the stillness of the air greeted them once more.

Enid felt as if she completed a marathon. Sweat was beading upon her brow, and a light panting for air filled her immediate space. She opened her eyes and let them search out her companion. She discovered that Wednesday mirrored herself a bit. The psychic was also panting for air and her face looked a bit flushed.

The dark haired girl drew away from her thoughts and into the present. She began to search for Enid’s eyes as well. For a moment, the two just watched each other, letting the memory of the last few minutes imprint itself upon them forever. Almost in disbelief that the rich and impossibly beautiful music had sprung from the instruments of the two girls.

Enid then heard a new noise chime its own magnificent note into the air between them. And then she witnessed something she never believed she would be lucky enough to see.

Wednesday giggled and let the corners of her mouth spread into one of the most genuine and heartwarming smiles Enid had ever beheld. The dimples on her face were deep and the smile was so wide, Wednesday had to close her eyes to give it more room to grow. Her laugh chimed out and set Enid’s heart ablaze.

It was at that moment Enid knew she would happily spend the rest of her days trying to recreate that same smile on Wednesday’s face.

Enid couldn’t help but to match the bright smile Wednesday had allowed her to see. But tears began to pool in Enid’s own. Her pure elation overflowing into the form of rivers of salt lined down her face. A wet laugh overcame her, and she joined her companion. The girls reveled in the moment as they both let their laughter ring out into the night.

“You’re doing it again. That odd crying-laughing thing.”
Wednesday managed to get out in between her now quieting giggles.

“Do you blame me, Wends? I didn’t even know you could smile. Then you hit me with the prettiest one I’ve ever seen.”

The wolf keeps laughing, her words roll easily off of her tongue and she doesn’t think much of it. She just continues to wipe away the tears distorting her vision. Wednesday’s giggle and smile evaporate off of her, the wolf’s words leaving a distinct squeezing sensation choking out the beat of her heart. Huh, that’s odd.

“Yeah, well don’t get used to it.”

“I dunno Wends, I wasn’t quite sure if what I saw was real or not. It caught me off guard. You may have to smile again just to prove you can.” The wolf teases, weakly hoping for another grin in spite of the lame attempt to grab it once more.

“I could show you, but then I’d have to kill you.” The psychic jokes, now having to put conscious effort into hiding the grin that so desperately wants to reappear on her face.

Notes:

What I’ve learned writing this chapter: A summary.

-Wednesday may or may not be the most dramatic person ever. Honestly, when I try to sit inside her dark little mind for a bit to see what is going through her head, all that I end up writing feels over the top extra. I laugh when I read it back because it seems so accurate to me. I absolutely love this about her. I can’t help thinking that Wednesday would constantly compare simple emotions with a life or death experience.

 

-Enid teasing Wednesday and throwing it back to her is something I love about their relationship. Even in the show, she has been able to easily hold her own with Wednesday, and I believe Wednesday herself, while mildly annoyed by it for sure, can’t help but respect this girl for doing so.

 

-This one was by far the most fun to write, and I had a lot of fun writing the others. I love the way these two interact with each other, and having them finally in a place where they can unapologetically be themselves with the other was so worth the wait.

Thanks for having the patience to read this behemoth of a chapter!

So, this chapter wraps up this particular arc. I’ve got a generic end-game in mind, but it's going to have a lot of moving pieces to set it up, and I haven’t yet started a draft. However, The story is just getting started.

Chapter 6: Achilles Heel

Notes:

Quick warning of blood later on in the chapter.

And this is a long one! Enjoy!

“What is that supposed to mean? Not in service?”

Wednesday could have torn her braids out.

“I’m not sure how they’re managing it, but the phone your stalker is texting you from isn’t working, or at least your phone provider cannot connect the call to an actual working number.”

Wednesday worked her mind harder than she ever cared to admit just to keep with what Eugene was explaining to her. He made it all sound so effortlessly simple. She detested technology.

No longer was it just Wednesday who struggled solo in the pursuit of this mystery stalker. She woefully lacked the necessary technological skills needed to continue their little game of cat and mouse. Determined not to let this anonymous thorn in her side get the better of her, she finally relented enough to enlist the help of the only tech guru she knew and trusted enough to have this mystery remain a secret.

“The device is clearly still serving them though. They’ve been managing to reach me with it.”

Wednesday rambled in frustration, Eugene and his timid, yet kind-hearted nature didn’t have the gumption to inform Wednesday of how hilariously goofy she sounded when she didn’t understand anything she was talking about. This was an exceedingly rare occurrence, since she was practically a genius at almost everything she attempted. Eugene would settle for the little wins.

On the other hand, he valued his life and wasn’t entirely sure how long it would last if she knew he was inwardly laughing at her exclamation.

“Here, look.”
Eugene pointed to the various ominous text messages Wednesday has received.

“They are all stemming from random numbers. The stalker could have an array of burner devices to mask their presence or they could be using a system or application to mask the device they are trying to reach you from.”

“Eugene, can you speak English for once? Try perhaps Latin or Spanish. For the last time, I do not understand geek.”

Wednesday buried her face in her hands from pure frustration. She loves a good mystery, but abhors anything to do with understanding technology.

There was a reason she never succumbed to becoming enslaved to technology. Now that a stalker has been dropping more hints into Wednesday’s text messages, she doesn’t have much of a choice. She can’t just toss the infernal object aside, not when it was her only tie to solving this new mystery that so graciously fell into her lap.

What started out as a simple few pictures in a weak attempt to disturb her, letting the raven know someone has been watching her, someone who desires to see her embrace death, or at least suffer in pitiful agony.

What the stalker apparently doesn’t understand is that you can’t threaten an Addams, not when all of them are fully obsessed with the idea of dying themselves. Threatening this with death is akin to warning them of a good time.

So, Wednesday just bides her time. She knows they’re bound to slip up eventually. And when they do, she’ll be ready. If only technology was on her side, this mystery might already have been solved. If anything, she could be patient.

At least, that’s what Wednesday believed.

Not long after Eugene attempted to aid Wednesday in every way he knew how with her stalker situation, she received a new text.

Normally, she’d look forward to them. Another clue, another picture, another hint that helped her narrow down a fairly large pool of suspects. Especially since every harrowing text received was harmless in Wednesday’s eyes.

This new text wasn’t of Wednesday at all this time. Instead, a solo picture of Enid. She was sitting in the quad with Yoko and Divina, absentmindedly working on a project, chewing on a necklace as she scribbled away on the sheet of paper.

Another one appeared soon after the first , Enid playing piano in the music room alone. The picture was taken from behind.

The words of a text message soon followed.

“It’s intriguing to me how someone the exact opposite of you has become the light of your dark and twisted life. I wonder how you’d feel if that light was snuffed out?”

-Beep, Beep-

“I’m sorry, the number you are trying to reach is not in service.”

-Ring Ring-

“Hey Wends! What’s up? I-“

“Enid, where are you?”

“I’m hanging out in the quad with Yoko and Divina. Why?”

“Don’t move. Tell Yoko and Divina not to leave.”

“Wednesday, what’s this about?”

“Just do it. I’ll be there in five.”

“Wednesday-“

Click.

….

By the time Wednesday had reached the quad, she was kneeling over herself. Inhaling as much oxygen as her small body would permit. Gasping for air, she searched wildly for the werewolf and her friends. It didn’t take long before the three of them spotted her. They swarmed around the psychic rather quickly. All sporting rather disturbed and concerned features on their collective faces as they waited for Wednesday to catch her breath enough to explain what was going on.

Once the red color softened enough away from Wednesday’s features to indicate she recovered enough from a burst of physical exercise she probably needed to devote more time working on, Wednesday had chosen to scour the grounds instead of letting the three into the situation.

She circled around the area looking for clues. She lingered longer at the sight of where she believed one of the pictures was taken. Combing for any detail that would reveal itself under her fierce gaze. All of this was done with the three girls nipping at her heels and incessantly pleading with her to “Stop acting spooky” and “explain yourself, Addams”.

Only when Wednesday was positive of no hidden clues or left evidence a stalker might have revealed did Wednesday pull her attention back to the flabbergasted girls.

“Listen, I know you enjoy being cryptic for the fun of it, but you better have a good explanation for this one.” Yoko pipped off initially.

“What’s going on, Wednesday?” Enid softly pleaded for her friend to be open and honest with her.

For a moment gazing into Enid’s eyes, begging for the truth, Wednesday planned to let them all in. However, she quickly thought better of it.

The stalker was playing a game with her. Toying with her, testing her ability and prowess as a detective. The first rule of catching a stalker is to keep the circle of information tight. If she lets a small pool of people into the circle, that pool inevitably will get larger. Wednesday might as well give up the ghost if she were to spill word about her stalker to anyone who wasn’t necessary to the investigation.

No, she has to think up an excuse and work to gain the upperhand before the stalker has a chance to do anything.

“You may be wondering why I have asked you all here at this moment.” Wednesday hesitantly began, hoping an excuse will pop into her head in enough time.

“More like freaking us out and ordering us to stay put.” Divina clarified.

“Yes, well it was recently brought to my attention that a…poisonous snake I’ve been training has escaped. It was last spotted in this area.” An array of quizzical brows shot up at this revelation.

“I grew..*tsk* -concerned- for the party at hand. So as to make sure none of you were stupid and careless enough to step on the creature, I had ordered you all to stay put until I arrived to survey the area.”

“Now it seems the snake isn’t residing here. I must be off to scour other potential hiding places. So, if you all will excuse me-”

“This is the first I’ve heard of you taking care of a poisonous snake before.” Enid interjects with suspicion in her tone.

Wednesday inwardly seethes. How she wished the girl chose another time to be so inquisitive.

“Well, I’m not exactly allowed to care for this creature on the grounds of Nevermore. It's a potential hazard. So, I hid him in a discreet area to tend to his training.” Wednesday pressed harder into her lie.

“Hah. Potential hazard. Any guesses as to why stuff like that is forbidden here, Wednesday? Or are you above every rule?” Yoko began, irritation bubbling under the surface for how reckless the girl was.

“Listen, Yoko. I understand the gravity of the situation, so skip the lecture and leave me to clean up my mistake.”

As Wednesday turns to leave, Enid wraps around, blocking her intended exit out of the quad.

“Hey, now that I’m a full-fledged werewolf, I’ll help you sniff out this snake before it could get you into any more trouble.” Enid poses this in a polite way, but Wednesday knows she is offering her services out of suspicion. It won’t do for Enid to follow her around looking for a snake that doesn’t exist.

“I’d prefer it if you didn’t.”

“I insist.”

“What part of no do you not understand, Sinclair? Can’t you just leave me be for one moment and get it through your thick skull that I don’t always want you nipping at my heels.”

All three girls surrounding Wednesday looked shocked when hearing the heat behind Wednesday’s words. She never takes a tone like that when it comes to Enid.

Wednesday was careful to make her words sting just enough. Enid’s face falls and she dawns a particular hurt expression. The plan worked, her suspicions were left behind a cloud of emotion and pain the psychic instilled in her. However, Wednesday couldn’t help feeling a small twinge of guilt for putting her friend down in this manner.

‘She couldn’t let her in if she wanted her alive’ was the verse she began to repeat in her head.

“Fine, if you really detest my presence so much.” The wolf bit back out of pain. She sidestepped and let the smaller girl fly out of the quad like a bat out of hell.

Thankfully, Wednesday had a dead rattlesnake set aside for her taxidermy collection. She hoped showing it off to Enid later would soften the blow and keep the girl off her trail. She had to start chasing any lead she had with this stalker. She had a bad feeling she was quickly running out of time.

…

“You okay, pup?” Yoko’s soft voice reached Enid’s ears. She stood there stewing in her emotions.

As angry and hurt she was at Wednesday at this moment, she couldn’t shake that gnawing burst of fear she heard in her voice over the phone. Something wasn’t right here.

——

 

Was it hot in here?

Enid wondered to herself as she chewed on the metal of her necklace. She felt beads of sweat dot her forehead. When was the last time she got that warm? Surely it is fine. She probably was just nervous. After all, she was up next.

“Hey Enid, mask up. It’s you and me this round.” Bianca lightheartedly called for the blonde. Her wide grin and saber pointed at Xavier. He was sitting on the floor nursing his pride after an entertaining round with the siren that quickly resulted in his loss.

The training hall devoted to fencing was quiet at this time of day. Later in the evening when both classes and clubs had wrapped up all activities for the day. The wide stretch of the room was only occupied by four people.

Enid sat crossed-legged on the ground, observing as much as she could of Bianca’s movements and grace with the fencing saber. She weakly hoped some of her incredible talent would develop within herself through osmosis, but she knew learning was bound to be far more tiresome.

Ajax had his face buried in his hands. He came to cheer on both Xavier and Enid, but neither of them could hold a candle up against the queen of fencing. His role ended up being closer to moral support when they were inevitably tossed to the ground.

If Enid was going to get any better at fencing, she might as well practice with the best, and Bianca was always willing to help out when it came to her favorite sport.

“You getting worked up over here just watching me kick Xavier’s ass?” Bianca laughed after noticing herself the beads of sweat now rolling down the side of Enid’s temples. Enid couldn’t help but giggle as both girls turned to watch Ajax extend an arm to lift Xavier off the ground. Both of them offered wary looks towards the pair as they listened in to the girl’s conversation.

Bianca extended a hand of her own to the blonde and lifted her off the ground with relative ease. Enid took this as cue to start double checking the security of all the protective gear clinging onto her. Once she was satisfied with the gear’s soundness, she then adjusted the mask to sit atop her head and nestle in as she yanked the collar down to her chest, the mask falling into place. She could feel the stifling heat of her own breath bounce off the mask and back into her face.

Enid shifted her stance at her end of the mat in a ready position, indicating to Bianca to prepare herself to mirror the movement.

Without delay, Bianca made an advance.

The flurry of swipes rushing around the wolf’s head sent her blood pumping and her senses, as well as reflexes, through the roof.

Bianca was a fierce opponent, and aggression was her defense. Enid had brilliant reflexes, but even she fought to keep up with the siren’s rapid movement.

Enid let herself smile from under her mask at managing to guard or dodge against every one of Bianca’s initial attacks. Not even Xavier could boast of that.

Her smile tightened from fear as she registered a long swipe aimed for her head. She dropped her weight quickly to let the saber graze the air above her head. Her muscles tensed back up and shot her upwards into her own parry that quickly molded into her own series of strikes.

What a rush it was for Enid to watch as Bianca fought to dodge and defend against her attacks. It made her head feel light.

Bianca quickly recovered and burst back with her own attacks, but was quickly startled by a dramatic shift in Enid’s movements and cadence.

The wolf, who Bianca begrudgingly admitted was difficult to match in speed, although easy to parry and find openings for, was exhibiting some extreme sluggishness to her movements that were tight and rapid only moments ago.

This caused the siren to hang back and observe as Enid wobbled to recover from her backwards motion. Her knees now tremble like a baby deer with her weight.

Even from under Bianca’s mask, she could identify the concerned posture of Xavier and Ajax, who were now standing from the bench they sat to watch the match on.

Bianca let the saber slip through her fingers to let gravity take the object from her hand. All three parties now ran to grab Enid as she collapsed in on herself and crumpled to the ground.

Bianca made it to the girl’s side first and ripped the mask off her head. She was greeted by wild and sweaty hair that flew in every direction. Most of it clumped against the dripping sweat now pouring off of her cheeks. Her face was beat-red and now gasping for air that she surely didn’t get enough of from under the mask and the strain of battle.

“Enid, hey Enid! Can you hear me? What’s wrong?” Bianca’s worried tone took a higher pitch than normal. She brushed the fly-aways from around her face and attempted for a response, but it was all Enid could do to recover lost oxygen.

Xavier and Ajax slid to their side and overwhelmed her with questions she didn’t have the answer to.

“Bianca, what happened to Enid?!”

“Is she gonna be okay? Why is her face so red? She’s breathing awfully hard!”

The siren’s voice took a booming effect to startle them out of their flailing.

“Boys, shut up and help me take her to the infirmary! I don’t know what’s wrong with her any more than you. She fainted before my eyes, the same as yours. If we want to help our friend then I suggest someone pick her up!”

Xavier easily lifted the wolf into his arms. He was attempting to hide his anxiety when he felt how limp she had become in a matter of seconds. Without any more delay, the three made a sprint out the door and to the infirmary.

In spite of the halls of Nevermore being relatively quiet and void of life this time of day, the few students roaming the halls all devoted their full attention to the wild scene in front of them. The bright white of their fencing uniforms would have drawn eyes regardless of standing out against the deep plum of the regulated uniforms. Not to mention the three students were sprinting down the corridors and up flights of stairs as fast as they could, wind whipping at their faces, causing their eyes to sting with its chill.

A loud clanging of items collapsing to the floor caught Bianca’s particular attention. She turned to locate the source of the noise and let her gaze fall upon the owner of the only black uniform to be found on campus. The siren couldn’t help but notice the stunned terror on her face. Wide eyes doing their best to analyze the horrific situation unfolding before her. It would have normally shocked her to see this level of emotion displayed on the psychic’s face, but this was all because it was Enid. And that didn’t shock Bianca in the least.

Bianca had sympathy for the girl and slowed her pace to let Wednesday catch up, leaving all dropped items forgotten in the rush, and the boys to sweep past them.

The queen bee was just as adept and aware of the gossip surrounding Nevermore and its plethora of students as Enid herself, if not more so. She was not unaware of the spat her and Enid apparently had in the quad a couple of days ago. While the girls haven’t been on speaking terms, their bond has never wavered. That is abundantly evident. Even now, Wednesday is displaying a frightening amount of emotion about her. All for the sake of a bubbly and incandescent wolf she calls roommate.

While everyone else has been concerned about the two, Bianca knows better. She is vaguely familiar with the way the girls look at each other when they think no one is watching. After all, she used to look at Xavier the same way.

The siren now matches pace with Wednesday, who is practically ordering from her a full play-by-play of the moment they realized something was wrong with her wolf.

“Is she stabbed? Is she bleeding? What’s her injury? Can Xavier run any faster?”

“Wednesday! She just fainted. Breathe, girl.” Bianca raised her hands in defense and a vain attempt to get the braided girl to calm down.

“Bianca, I need you to tell me exactly what happened. What caused this? Did you notice anything or anyone suspicious?” Wednesday refused to take the girl up on her suggestion. Letting the danger of the situation get her worked up.

Bianca reeled at that one.

“Suspicious? What do you know that you’re not saying right now?” That sharp and intuitive eye is now boring into Wednesday. Something was wrong here.

“I don’t know, Bianca. That's what I’ve been trying to-”

“No. I think I understand clearly now. The whole reason you’ve been acting funny and pushing away your best friend is because You know something about what is happening to Enid, don’t you.”

Wednesday let the taller girl poke her finger against her jacket without breaking any digits. A clear sign of distress.

“She’s in danger. I can’t give you any more than that.”

“How am I supposed to believe you don’t have something to do with this unless you give me something to work off of?”

“Believe whatever the hell you want. If it will save her life I won’t reveal anything to you.” Wednesday practically snarled, leaning into the prodding finger Bianca left digging into her school jacket.

The siren huffed. Letting the tension release from her body and allowing the harsh stance she presented against Wednesday soften.

“I believe you.”

“I didn’t ask for you to, I asked, What. The. Hell. Happened.”

Simultaneously, Bianca and Wednesday pushed open the door to the infirmary to bear witness to an Enid who was now wide awake.

…

A Nurse and the boys flocked around her, not leaving much room for her not to feel claustrophobic. Her hair still sweaty and matted, jutting around her at odd angles. The nurse apparently gave her a headband to pull at least some of it away from her flushed face.

Ajax and Xavier were practically fighting over each other to ask various questions to Enid and the nurse. The only response they received back was a nurse who was threatening to send them outside if they didn't behave themselves and Enid who just rolled her eyes at their dramatic display, reassuring them the whole time she was fine. This was the practiced response of a girl who experienced this same treatment with her four older brothers.

Enid’s heightened sense of smell tuned in to a particular combination of pine needles and parchment paper and sea-salt. She let her hesitant eyes glance in the smell’s direction to find Bianca and Wednesday watching her every move, as if looking upon glass that was tipping on the edge of the counter.

Bianca watched as Wednesday broke away from their formation and towards the group surrounding the wolf. Effectively silencing the entire bunch from the wave of threatening aura the psychic was radiating off of herself.

“Someone explain. Now.”

“I’m fine, Wednesday.” Enid snipped, still bitter about the remark made from the dark headed girl a couple of days ago. She wasn’t going to let it go so easily, even though her concern was as noticeable on her face as the clouds in the sky.

“Fine? you don’t look fine. You look like you’ve been hit by a truck and you’re sitting in a hospital bed. So let’s try this again. What happened?”

The tension growing between the two could be cut with a knife. The Nurse decided to break this threatening silence.

“Seems your friend here has something akin to the flu. The overexertion knocked her out cold when she was practicing fencing. She should be fine now that she's been given some strong instructions for bed rest over the next couple of days, isn’t that right, Enid.”

“But I said I feel fi-” Enid began to fight back to prove a point.

“I’m sure your threatening and concerned friend here will see to it that my instructions are seen through. Is this right, Wednesday?”

The nurse piped up over the sound of Enid’s retort, drowning out her reply. Wednesday gave a solemn answer, akin to making a pact for a blood oath in order to protect and watch over her sickly friend.

“Correct.”

“I do have one concern though I need an explanation for. Werewolves don’t get the flu. They barely can even get colds. Their immune system is too resilient and overactive for them to actually retain any serious sickness for long periods of time. That’s part of the werewolves infamous healing capabilities, is it not, nurse?”

“You are correct, Wednesday. It’s not common, but it is well documented amongst werewolf communities of members falling ill from time to time. They always seem to bounce back rather quickly. I don’t find any reason why Enid shouldn’t as well, given the proper time and rest to recover.”

“So, Enid, you are free to go only back to your dorm. I will check in on you periodically. Wednesday-”

“I’ll be sure to make her stay there.”

Enid didn’t respond. She had turned her face away to hide the irritation growing on her features.

__

 

True to her word, Wednesday meticulously forced Enid to remain in their room. The blonde had made a couple of escape attempts since the nurse’s ruling, but they’ve all managed to backfire in one way or another.

Even if she did manage to escape the clever hand guarding over her like a dragon protecting a sickly princess in her tower, she had the blood-hounds to deal with.

Honestly, Yoko and Divina were supposed to be on her side. However, when anyone from their friend group managed to spot Enid weakly tiptoeing her way across the grounds, the lesser demons summoned the greater one, who always spawned out of seemingly nowhere to force the blonde back into her prison.

This was an absolute nightmare for the blonde.

All the while, Wednesday grew steadily more concerned with each passing day.

The raven allowed Enid some freedoms within the walls of their shared prison. Enid of course could practice the piano as long as it didn’t fatigue her. While Wednesday noticed that she hasn’t been quite tired from playing yet, she has missed a few notes here and there.

The occurrence is rare, but since she’s never heard Enid play a wrong note until now, the difference is jarring.

Enid was definitely sick, and to Wednesday’s dismay, it was in fact -not- getting better.

The wolf has finally relented to her various escape attempts, but only because she is frequently fighting these waves of muscle aching and chills, too weak to make it out of bed at times.

Every now and again, she finds herself in these random coughing fits, as if the air around her was poison. Wednesday rapidly makes her way over to the wolf in these moments to discern the cause of the problem, but they disappear as rapidly as they appear.

In the middle of the night, Wednesday even stalks over to Enid’s bed to check on her breathing. While the soft rise and fall of her chest is still present, the abnormally hot temperature she runs, even by a wolf’s standards, is giving Wednesday this unsettling feeling inside.

 

____

 

The fog from her dream state was slowly lifted. She felt the chill of the air graze the tips of her fingers that hovered slightly above the bedding, the dark comforter swaddling her like the bandaging encasing a mummy.

Her grasp on reality was beginning to sink in as a distinct barking noise drew her head to the mass that was her roommate bunched under the nauseatingly colorful sheets.

The coughing fit was back and worse than before.

From under furrowed brows, Wednesday carefully analyzed the figure hidden under the blankets in the darkness of their room. Her body tremored violently with each new cough. The noise was so deep it seemed to be expelled from her very soul, and became more frequent for each new second that passed. It was quickly becoming difficult to figure out when exactly Enid was coming up for air.

Wednesday felt acid in her throat and uncrossed her arms in haste, flipping the dark blankets that wrapped around her off into the floor, quickly forgotten. She crossed the median of the dorm in a flash, dark socks padded over the series of wooden boards that were discolored from a long stretch of tape once separating the halves of the room some time ago.

The light of the nearly full moon framed the silhouette of the blankets piled on top of Enid, but did little to aid Wednesday in figuring out where the girl actually was in this heap. Wednesday edged herself closer and settled into the small bit of space between the mass of blankets and the end of the mattress. She began to peel back the layers of blankets with her right hand. She let the left sink its weight into a portion of her pillow, and felt something that stole all of the air filling Wednesday’s lungs.

The pillow was sticky and sickly warm. Wednesday knew exactly what was now seeping around her fingers. She didn’t need the help of her vision to tell her that Enid’s blood was speckled all over her tie-dye pillowcase. She also didn’t need to peer into the mirror to know how terrified she looked at this moment when Enid began that horrible coughing once more. the deep crimson liquid began to splatter across her fingertips.

She tore the blankets off of the wolf as if they were searing into her very flesh.

“ENID! AWAKEN NOW!”

The tone that colored her voice was one she didn’t recognize. Laced and dripping with fear and distress. Her memory drew her hand to the chain of Enid’s nightstand lamp. Her hand trembled as she wrapped her fingers around the metal to give it a tug. Light jumped from the shade, giving form to Wednesday’s horror.

A small portion of Enid’s face could be seen from under the pile of blankets. Her eyes squinting in pain from the burn of the sudden light cast upon her. A trail of scarlet pooled around the corners of her mouth and dotted the bedding before her.

Only a deep cough sounded out in response to Wednesday’s outcry.

The psychic frantically continued her dig, yanking off the blankets until Enid’s form was all that remained. The body spasmed from the sudden exposure to the chill of the air around them, shivering so deeply that her tremors shook the bed. Enid’s face was damp and feverish. Her normally neatly brushed hair was matted and sweaty strands framed and stuck to her face.

Wednesday raised her trembling fingers and let her cold knuckles gently press against Enid’s searing hot forehead. She rolled her hand to sweep against the side of her face and grazed her thumb around her temple, shifting the hairs away from her eyes. As Wednesday studied her roommate and attempted to stir her from her slumber in an effort to run her to the infirmary before her condition worsened, she noticed something that arrested her full attention.

Now in close proximity, Wednesday was able to analyze the necklace Enid had been playing with all week, as well as the harrowing discoloration the chain had apparently left on her skin.

Wednesday clasped the metal chain enveloping her friend’s neck and shifted it away from the flesh in order to get a closer look. She noticed this inflamed line that consisted of an uneven mixture of deep red, violet, and ashy gray. This trail of seared-looking skin was what remained from where the chain frequently rested upon her throat.

She tested the skin and let her thumb roll over the line and felt this horrid sensation of decay encompassing a vital and vulnerable part of her friend. The red-rimmed line seemed to create this subsurface bruising and extensive network of dark veins that dug into her neck that sent a shiver of fear into Wednesday’s spine.

Wednesday let her eyes follow the trail of darkness that burned its way over her collarbone to seemingly grow in size and pool at her sternum located just under the collar of her pajamas. Wednesday pulled the fabric down until the wound revealed itself. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt this sick.

A gaping splotch of decaying flesh was being eaten away as if acid was blossoming its grotesque effects upon her very chest. All of this damage was seemingly caused from the simple trinket dangling on the end of her necklace.

Without a second thought, the grasp the psychic has on the chain tightened, and she yanked the necklace hard until it snapped like a twig and freed Enid from its malevolent curse. The sudden pressure inflicted and just as quickly removed snapped Enid out of her state of sleeping.

“The hell Wends..” her groggy voice tore through the silence, the rawness and pain of her vocal chords reverberating inside her throat brought tears to sting at the corners of her eyes.

“Where did you get this?” She didn’t even bother to mask the urgency and terror dripping over her clipped words.

“Is this some kind of a joke-“

“WHERE DID YOU GET THIS?” The forceful nature with which she repeated her question shook both girls.

“You, you idiot! You gave me the stupid thing!” Enid replied in a frantic manner, startled by the ferocity with which Wednesday posed her question. The rawness of her throat after hours of coughing had altered it enough to sound like a prepubescent boy, the tones shifting rapidly up and down.

Wednesday had not been sure of the name she was expecting to hear. Regardless, she was fully prepared to disembowel slowly and painfully the party responsible for the state Enid found herself in. However, she was not expecting to hear herself thrown back in her face, especially when it wasn’t even remotely true.

“Ex-excuse me?” Enid was surprised to see the shock encapsulating her friend’s features.

“You left this for me. My mattress. You had Thing wrap it, same as the piano.” The wolf gestures around herself, trying to explain with as little words as possible, the pain still edging around the inside of her throat.

The pale psychic only grew paler when a cold realization slapped her in the face. She knew for a fact it wasn’t Thing. The hand would rather let himself be stabbed once more before ever endangering his favorite person. A text she received before warning her of this moment sprung into its nightmarish form before her very eyes.

Enid felt her own breath catch when she realized herself that Wednesday had not given her this particular present. If it wasn’t Wednesday, which all signs pointed to, then who?

In response to this revelation, Wednesday pulled herself up off the bed and turned to hide her face from the wolf. This action didn’t hide the trembling Enid noticed emitting from her silhouette. The blonde wondered if it was caused by an overabundance of anger or fear, but settled on a steady mixture of both. Either way, Wednesday was keeping something from her, and this was a poor attempt at hiding it.

“Wednesday, who actually gave me this necklace?”

“Get up. I’m taking you to the infirmary.”

“Wednesday, I-“

“Now, Enid.”

The psychic left no room for discussion, and Enid couldn’t muster the energy necessary to press the issue at this moment. It was almost all she could do to force herself into a sitting state and wiggle her body to the side of the bed. She felt weak. So incredibly weak.

She did have enough awareness to watch as Wednesday quickly shifted around both sides of the room collecting various items. A change of clothes for both, a knitted blanket on Wednesday’s side, not covered in blood or sweat, shoes. Enid couldn’t see it all, but she did notice her friend stuffed it all in a satchel.

The wolf heard bits of a whispered conversation between Wednesday and a now awake hand. The psychic informed him to scurry on ahead to the infirmary with a quickly scribbled note attached by a hair band wrapped around the palm. Surely to help avoid any confusion on the nurse’s part as to the situation they found themselves in.

Enid did her best to roll herself upwards into a stand, but just as quickly collapsed her weight back into the mattress, now focused on fighting a wave of nausea and fatigue. A rush of physical awareness now landing upon her. She realized that her neck felt as if it was on fire. In the corner of her vision, Wednesday had grabbed these fuzzy slippers in the shape of cat paws Enid loves and laid them at her feet. Urging her to slip them on.

The wolf wobbled at the end of her bed, trying to aim her feet into the opening of her slippers, yet failing miserably. She felt firm hands steady her shoulder, giving her that needed stability to accomplish this relatively simple task.

One of the hands gripping her shoulder had glided across her shoulder blades and down her waist to settle into the notch found between her waist and her hip. The other had pulled Enid’s arm to settle around her shoulders and grasp tighter to its clench on her shoulder. Wednesday was preparing herself to carry the brunt of the blonde’s weight.

Wednesday then squeezed both hands into Enid, to indicate that she was ready for the girl to attempt standing once more. The blonde did as she was told.

The moment her feet were under her, carrying the weight, a sudden lightness of her head caused her to drop the entirety of her body, but Wednesday, surprisingly strong and stable, was ready to catch her.

Enid let her own hand cradle the one stabilizing her shoulder and then let her other hand snake around Wednesday’s waist and envelop into a tight grip. In response Wednesday pulled the wolf closer to her side, as if they were attached at the hip. Enid would have normally cheered at their physical proximity, but was doing everything in her power to remain aloft.

The girls began to make their way out of their room and down the immediate stairs to find their way to the infirmary. With Wednesday carrying the brunt of Enid’s weight, this freed enough energy in Enid’s mind to pry once more.

“Wednesday, would you please just explain what’s happening to me?”

“That’s enough, Enid.” Warning colored her voice.

“No. I’m tired of you hiding something from me again. I’m not going to just let you shut me-“

A loud coughing fit overcame the wolf from the frantic manner she spilled out her thoughts. Emotion overwhelmed her and backlashes badly upon the girl, shaking both of their bodies and spraying a mist of red into the air before them.

Wednesday seemed to snap. Her tone seethed and became dangerous and more emotion-filled than Enid has heard maybe ever. Her grip tightens into a vice-like grasp to convey the seriousness of what she is about to say.

“Save it! This is not the time. I’ll discuss this with you when you’re not about to die in my arms. Do you understand me?

Enid weakly nodded her head as she rode out the wave of coughs that burst out of her throat until they died down enough for silence to settle between the pair once more.

Wednesday’s voice unexpectedly appeared again. Much, much softer than before. It was almost in the form of a whisper. Doing her best to mask the hint of pleading Enid swore she detected within her tone.

“Listen to me. I promise you, I will explain later. Just not now. Please save whatever energy you have left for me. Okay?”

As the pair continued on their trek down the hall, Enid could already feel her grasp on reality slipping away from her. Dark spots began to splotch away her vision, and she let the back of her eyelids cover whatever vision she had left. One of the last things she heard was the familiar padding of fingertips scurrying their way closer to the place they hovered at in the hall. Matching in pace, Enid also distinguished the clicking of various heels, attempting to catch up to the hand.

Enid felt her weight distributed amongst a variety of arms that lifted her off the ground in tandem. She opened her eyes once more to see a familiar braided silhouette cradle her upper body and nestle her head securely into her arms.

Darkness washed away what little consciousness she had to give.

---------

When Enid finally came to, she was greeted by a warm and restful sight. A stark contrast to the whirlwind that was earlier this morning.

Soft, pale white walls glowed with the early morning light pouring in from a window somewhere. The curtain that surrounded the bed she lay upon flowed gently in a light breeze. She couldn’t help but notice a dark figure curled upon itself into an armchair beside her bed. The girl was such a wild contrast from the light colors that envelop them, Wednesday had fallen asleep, situated like a guard dog at her side. Dark circles could be spotted below her eyes, indicating the toll the night took out of her. The fact she was sleeping now was probably a small miracle unto itself.

Enid took a moment to survey herself and her surroundings. A bandage had been wrapped around her neck, the bulk of it swaddling her chest. She still noticed pricks of pain, but that was surely dampened by painkillers dulling the rest of her senses. She was hooked up to an IV drip, resupplying her body with whatever amount of blood she lost in the middle of the night.

A warmth spread across her chest when she realized a dark knit blanket was covering the length of her body. She nuzzled into the soft black wool and let the aroma of pine and black tea overwhelm her senses.

As if her psychic friend had been subconsciously aware of Enid’s waking state, she opened her own eyes herself on cue.

Wednesday blinked away the bleariness shrouding her vision and focused in a quick
study of the girl before her, making sure the wolf is all right. When she was reassured that Enid had finally been stabilized, she let the distress and edge to her face soften in relief.

Enid watched in wonder as Wednesday reached forward to let her knuckles settle on her forehead, testing her temperature. She didn’t give anything away, so she must have been fine with the information gathered. The cool fingers were pulled back into Wednesday’s lap and Enid found herself missing the soothing chill against her damp forehead.

“Your fever broke a few hours ago. Apparently your werewolf recovery abilities are back in full swing. The nurses were quite impressed by your resilience.” Wednesday’s groggy voice filled the morning air.

“Back?” Enid tested her voice. The inside of her throat was still sore, but it was miles better than the condition it was in the last time she spoke.

“Does that mean they were gone?”

Wednesday let a shadow fall upon the features of her face. She dug around in the pockets of her dark jacket for a moment to find something and raised her hand. She let the object dangle from her grasp, revealing something familiar to the wolf.

Her necklace.

At least, that’s what she assumed it was. The chain had been snapped and the white tear that formed the pendant of the piece of jewelry had been shattered, revealing a tiny piece of rock hidden inside.

“Silver. Whoever gave you this necklace had embedded a chunk of silver within. It was eating away at you slowly. If left on you for much longer it would have killed you.”

Wednesday’s voice sounded distant and hollow, as if Wednesday was fighting any hint at emotion, lest she be overcome with it. She watched the growing horror fill the entirety of Enid’s features.

“Why? Who would do this? Who could be out to kill me?”

“They were trying to get to me.” The dark-haired girl intercepted the spiral Enid was about to slide into. Wide blue eyes bore into copper, urging for more information.

Wednesday settled into a silent contemplation. She let her gaze fall to the ground, lost in thought. She worked to piece together how to explain the situation to Enid, who now found herself directly in the crosshairs of something the psychic desperately wished the blonde would have been spared from. Couldn’t be helped now.

“Do you remember when Xavier gave me that phone before we all left Nevermore for the remainder of the semester?”

Enid gently nodded, not a clue as to where Wednesday was going with this, but ever so relieved the girl was finally, at long last, letting her in.

“Mere minutes passed by before I received one of my first texts. The number wasn’t programmed into my phone. I still have no idea who it is, but someone has been stalking me. Threatening me. Looking for ways to unravel me.”

“Normally, I couldn’t care less. Threats don’t exactly work against an Addams. I believe the person behind this began to realize the futility of their efforts. I grew closer to finding them with each new picture or text, yet the stalker failed to reap a reward for reaching out. Not upsetting me with anything sent. This seemed to damage their vanity. I could have cared less what they threatened me with next.”

“At least, until they started threatening you.”

Wednesday wouldn’t look Enid in the eye anymore and the wolf realized it was in an effort to steady herself so she could press on.

“I wasn’t sure if they were just blowing smoke at first, but for once I aired on the side of caution. I believed my plan to work at first, but then you started to actually fall sick. I didn’t-“

Wednesday stopped abruptly in the middle of her sentence. Not trusting in a continued unwavering of her voice for the first time. Simple breathing from both girls was the only noise that filled the space around them for a few moments. Enid took this pause and used it to interject with her own questions.

“Why did you hide this from me? Why didn’t you talk to me sooner?”

“I thought I was protecting you, keeping you out of harm’s way. If I avoided you, I figured they would leave you out of this. Now look at how wrong I turned out to be.”

The wolf was speechless.

Enid’s thoughts were abruptly whisked back to that night long ago when she moved into Yoko’s room. The words she used to cut into Wednesday, while at the time true, sprung into her mind.

-You’ll use anyone to get what you want, even if it means putting them in danger. -

The amount of quiet change Wednesday had undergone in the last half-year was on full display before the werewolf in this moment. Not only did it take a great deal for Wednesday to admit her true intention and feeling in the matter aloud, but went out of her way to protect her as much as she knew how. Enid’s heart couldn’t swell anymore than it already had upon this realization if it tried.

“Wednesday, look at me.”

The blonde was patient. The dark-haired girl had registered this request, but the response was extremely delayed. It took a moment of gathering courage to face the girl once again. It was almost as if Enid was performing open-heart surgery on the raven, and curiously had peeled back the skin, nothing left to hide. The blonde could gaze into her very core, and for some reason that both terrified her and comforted her at the same time.

Copper finally melted into the ocean blue.

“I don’t know what’s going on, and I haven’t a clue as to what to do about this mystery we’ve got to solve yet again. However, there is something I do know without a shadow of a doubt.”

“In the future we are in this together. Do you understand? No more hiding. No more separation. We are a team, you and I. No amount of threats or danger is gonna change the fact that I’m here to stay whether you like it or not Wednesday Addams. I’m never going to leave you to face your demons alone.”

Wednesday let her gaze fall upon the scars still prevalent upon her face. The marks that had remained from a feat of strength and courage, facing the demon in the form of a hyde only moments away from ripping into the psychic until she was nothing but ribbons. She then let her eyes trail down to the bandages wrapped around a still raw and bleeding sternum, the prize awarded to the blonde for the world now becoming aware of just how much this girl truly mattered to Wednesday.

The raven might as well have inflicted these wounds upon her friend herself. It was only because she fought and continues to fight for Wednesday she finds herself in harm's way. Yet, wonder of all wonders, Enid is here proclaiming that she would happily endure it all again because that friendship she shared with Wednesday was far too precious for her to ever lose.

Wednesday was drowning. The ferocity with which these long pent up emotions threatened to overwhelm her now seemed almost too great to bear. In a world hard fought on her end to be an island, To exist in pure isolation. To live solely for herself and be vainly content.

How lucky was she to encounter someone who challenged her in every way possible, and set ablaze a desire to question the lens she had always peered upon the world from and perhaps see things from a new perspective. Now curiously wondering if there was a different or better way to live than the lonely one she had chosen.

Wednesday had noticed the shift in Enid. Something cataclysmic had occurred. It was written on every inch of the werewolf’s face. Enid’s mouth formed a perfectly round shape in pure shock and had placed her fingers to rest gently upon her cheek.

Wednesday had curiously felt the need to mirror this hand movement and let her fingers rest upon her own damp cheek.

Wait.

Warm rivers of salt wildly escaped her notice until now.

Maybe it was a delayed reaction from the events of the night, maybe it was the fact that she recognized and valued her and Enid’s friendship. Regardless, the fact that Enid brought this out of her spoke volumes. She quickly began to wipe the tears away, but not turning her head to attempt to hide the fact that they existed. Enid had already seen. What was the point in doing that?

The wolf took every bit of strength within her to reel herself in. Wednesday had shed tears. Actual tears had fallen from her eyes. For her sake nonetheless.
The pure cascading emotion almost overwhelmed Enid herself. However, she fought to let the purest of moments roll by quietly. She wouldn’t dare make her friend uncomfortable by pointing this out. So, she basked in this moment quietly. Content just to bear witness to undeniable proof of how much Wednesday cared for her too.

“If that is how you truly feel, then I promise not to shut you out again.”

Enid let a soft look adorn her face, content that her world was set right once more.

“On that note, there was something else pressing that I needed to speak to you about.”

The wolf nodded in understanding, simultaneously representing a notice to continue with her train of thought.

“As you know, Fall break is upon us next week. Soon we will all make our way home for the duration of it.”

“In light of this recent attempt on your life, as well as the fact the identity of the stalker remains a mystery. I refuse to leave your side and let the bastard get the better of us again.”

Enid wasn’t sure what she was expecting, but it surely wasn’t this. She listened with enraptured attention, surely failing at disguising the pure elation bubbling just beneath her surface.

“So, I’m leaving you with one of two options. Either I follow you all the way to San Francisco, surely to end only in the death of your mother which I all but find inevitable at this point.
Or, come spend the break with me at the Addams Family Manor.”

“While probably not the tempting option since the entirety of my family haunts the grounds, I must insist that the latter is the preferred option in my opinion. I’m positive your mother would not find it acceptable to invite myself at the last minute. I also know for a fact you would be graciously welcomed-“

“YES!”

“I’m sorry?” confusion embedded Wednesday’s voice.

“Yes yes yes yes yes a thousand times yes! I want to spend my break with you. More than anything. I want to see the life you lived before I met you. I wanna see what your room looks like. I wanna meet your brothe-”

“Alright, alright!” Wednesday quickly interrupted.

“It's settled. Once you are discharged, we’ll pack the bags and I’ll inform my parents of your extended stay.”

Enid practically vibrated in her bed. The excitement began to get the better of her. She was actually going to spend a holiday with her favorite person, meet her family, explore the halls, run around the-

“Enid. You understand that we can’t actually enact these plans until you’ve started seriously making headway to a recovery. I suggest you calm it down and get some sleep.”

Wednesday had settled deeper into the armchair, focused on finally obtaining some rest for herself, and let her eyelids close. All the while Enid snuggled into the sheets and knit blanket, letting dreams filled with the misadventures the two girls would surely find themselves getting into over the extended break. She couldn’t wait.

Notes:

Wow, what a chapter.

-I couldn't find any proper way to break this up without losing the tension of the ending section. I wanted that raw fear Wednesday feels to be felt by you guys as well! Hope I delivered there!

-I rushed bits of this because I'm beyond excited for the girls to spend fall break together at the Addams family manor. Can't imagine Esther will be too pleased, but whatever.

-Enid's has cat slippers and no one can convince me otherwise.

-I spent so long trying to weigh in on how vague or how present I wanted the stalker to be in this story. While I definitely used them as a vehicle to get to my ultimate goal in a really dramatic and event-filled way, I ultimately still want this story to focus around the misadventures of Wednesday and Enid, so not going to probably be a main focus moving on, but had fun writing this ominous threat!

-I felt my heart-rate elevate so many times during the making of this story.

-Bianca, Eugene, Xavier, and Ajax make a temporary appearance! Had so much fun writing these new characters and their personalities into the story! Hope to bring them back sometime!

Chapter 7: Update for "The Symphony Between Us"

Hello there all you wonderful people who take the time to read this simple little fic of mine, and for all of those who are loyal to the story and are finding themselves in a much needed update for the future of this work! It really has been a minute since I last posted a chapter, and I apologize for leaving you all in the dark!

To go ahead and soothe any fears, I have more to come, and am definitely not abandoning this work! Quite the opposite!

Where I left off seemed like a great kind of transition point, and I kind of consider all of Act 1. From here I plan to dive more into adventures with the rest of the Addams family as well! At the time I published the last chapter, I realized I only had superficial knowledge of the rest of the family. Before watching the Netflix show, I had only ever seen the musical on Broadway, and that seemed like a lifetime ago.

Along with having tons of minor life changes, I spent a lot of time watching the original show from the 60s and the movies from the 90s in order to do justice to the characters and get a better sense of who they were. I wanted to make sure that everything the various characters said felt authentic, at least to a degree. I knew I’d enjoy writing them more if they were true to their source material.

With all that being said, I have finished the research stage and have a clear end goal in mind for this work. I have also almost fully written the next two chapters. Hopefully soon I’ll be able to release them, but I want to make sure the path I’m taking to the end goal flows well with how I’m setting up Act 2.

I appreciate each and everyone of you who has taken time to read and follow this story, and want to see how this adventure turns out for our two girls. With that, I’ll be sure to catch you soon and cannot wait to hear your thoughts as you follow this journey along with!

Kalon-Isle

Chapter 8: Homecoming

Notes:

I'm baaack!

The moment she pushed herself out of the hearse, she inhaled that signature smell of fresh ozone. The very pressure of the atmosphere had changed. A soft breeze rustled the needles on some nearby pines as well as caused the heavy leaves of an oak to dance wildly. The air around her face felt damp and heavy. It was a clear indication of an oncoming storm. The quiet was quickly becoming louder. Where there should have been the noise of crickets and cicadas normally in any other part of the New Jerseyan wilderness during the early evening, there was a distinct silence that Enid was sure went on for miles. It was eerie, but not in an off putting way.

She felt the gravel of the expansive driveway shift under her feet as she settled herself into the ground and leaned backwards to take in the sheer size of the Addams Family Manor.

Her breath caught from the surprise.

She knew that Wednesday came from a family that was very well off financially, but this wasn’t what she had in mind when it came to imagining her friend’s home. This was practically a gothic castle. Just as impressive as the fortresses that dot the Scottish highlands and seemingly as decorated as the regular French chateaux.

The dark clouds swept around the silhouette of the manor, lit only by the dimming light peeking through the heavy clouds and soft light from the near full moon. This had created a scene that looked similar to something brushed carefully by Blake or Van Der Neer.

Enid’s art history professor would be proud she managed to retain those names in her head. She smiled lightly when she realized that Wednesday would have been too.

“Penny for your thoughts.”

A soft voice appeared at Enid’s side. The dark-haired girl slipped the last of the luggage into Lurch’s arms. Thing had launched himself from his perch on Wednesday’s shoulder into the pile of luggage in the butler’s hands. The girls let the giant and the hand pass them by as Wednesday had remained by Enid’s side and matched her pace as they slowly sauntered towards the towering home, now enveloping the two into its gaping shadow.

“You grew up..here?”

Enid spoke up finally, still in disbelief that the sight in front of her was real.

“Everyday of my life before Nevermore was spent under this roof. Besides the occasional family trip to Alcatraz. I know every crevice, cobweb, and trap-door like the back of my hand.”

Enid could hear the wistfulness in her voice. She prides herself on being able to start differentiating the minute changes in her friend’s expression. Though extremely subtle, if you were paying attention and knew what to look for, Wednesday surprisingly had many of her subdued emotions frequently on display.

Enid was sure that there was a part of Wednesday that felt relieved to be home, even in spite of her talking down upon it whenever she had the chance. This place was brimming with memories and echoes of the signature Addams family personality that made her friend so weird and wonderfully unique.

Honestly, Enid couldn’t wait to see more.

Wednesday seemed a bit surprised to see Enid pick up the pace of their mutual cadence towards the manor. In retrospect, it really shouldn’t have. What other people find strange and peculiar, something to be avoided at all costs, Enid has a habit of running headlong towards something entirely outside of herself and welcomes it with open arms.

That fluttering in Wednesday’s chest was acting up again, and at the strangest times too.

Shaking herself out of the feeling, Wednesday pressed forward with Enid to the yawning steps leading to one of the side door entrances per Wednesday's command to Lurch. This was in hopes to remain undetected from her family for a time. It was embellished with such stunning carvings and ornate gothic imagery that it put a cathedral entrance to shame. The warm light found itself spilling into the dark air from the crack in the door where Lurch had apparently left it open for the girls to slip between. From their place on the front steps, Wednesday could make out each individual voice of her family inside, giving the impression that it was a very lively night ahead of them in spite of a home normally being known to house a variety of the living, dead, and undecided.

Wednesday could feel a twinge of anxiety bubble up in her throat. Yes, she was reluctantly admitting to herself that she was happy to be home and to enjoy slipping back into her macabre laced routines and hobbies in full since this new semester started at Nevermore. And to share this all with her friend. But, how would Enid take to it all, and how would her family take to Enid?

The closer they inched to the door, the more Wednesday felt like she was standing on the edge of a cliff. Almost as if one wrong move could cause something catastrophic.

Normally this was an enthralling feeling for Wednesday, but there was too much riding on this for her to glean any excitement from this ache pressing into her heart. Was this a mistake? Was it too early for Enid to meet her family? There was so much that could go wrong. Her family was important to her, but so was Enid. And now Wednesday could feel a slight tremor in her hands as she balled them up in hopes to get them to stop acting so disgracefully.

She was about to open her dry mouth in an attempt to pull Enid out of this situation before this terrible idea Wednesday originally put into motion could progress any further. Hopefully she could be patient enough to not kill Enid’s mother and instead haunt San Francisco for a week rather than to go through with it all.

However, Wednesday witnessed Enid peer her head closer to the gap in the door, a thin strip of light from the inside poured down her curious face. She leaned closer to hear the cacophony of sounds that rung from inside. She then whipped her head back to Wednesday to reveal a wide and eager grin paired with bright, enchanted eyes that caused Wednesday’s objection to die before it even had a chance to be voiced. That wonder Enid carried with her washed over Wednesday like the summer rain and effectively killed the anxiety bubbling up within her core.

It was now or never she supposed, and Enid had spared her just enough bravery to nod her head towards the blonde, indicating that it was okay to enter the house.

And with that, the light enveloped Enid and Wednesday as they pressed into the manor and the house closed the door with a gentle latch clicking behind them.

--------------------

Enid’s excitement bubbled to the surface, and Wednesday pulled her attention towards her just in time. Before she could make any sound, the raven let a finger hover over her own mouth, to indicate that she wanted Enid and herself to remain undetected by her family for just a moment longer. When the blonde nodded in understanding, she hung close behind Wednesday as the dark-haired girl took the lead and snuck the two of them deeper into the belly of the manor.

Enid took this time to really notice her surroundings as the two girls crept through the winding hallways. It was hauntingly beautiful. It reminded her of a cathedral tour her family took her on when she was a little girl. The walls were lined with ornate paintings, each one more beautiful and more crooked than the last. Gothic columns and arches detailed with a myriad of gargoyles, magical creatures, and family history had given the home a really regal appeal. The rug that was currently dampening their footsteps was lined with a thin layer of dust that had slightly obscured this really lovely design woven into it. Enid could feel the warmth of the flickering flame from the candelabras hanging from the walls. Each one was an intricately carved masterpiece carefully crafted from this onyx metal that looked rare and exceedingly expensive. In fact, that’s how pretty much everything looked in this house. Yes, it was dark and maybe a bit unkempt on the surface, but everything was rife with the brilliance and craft of works of art that could rival the Notre-Dame if it really wanted to.

Enid also noticed another peculiar sight, The flames only seemed to exist in the space around them to provide just enough lighting for the girls to move forward, but remain undetected as the flames in the path behind them went out, one by one. She reminded herself to ask Wednesday about this strange phenomenon later.

As the two edged closer to the main foyer, this caused the mumbled conversations of the members of the Addams family to become distinct and decipherable. Enid listened intently with rapt attention.

“Mama, I thought you had already started brewing the Henbane soup and Belladonna tea for Saturday! What are you doing carting your brew station around?” A mature sounding woman voiced aloud with a timbre like silk.

“How many times do I have to wave this thing in front of you all before you people realize that half of the ingredients I need are missing? That little demon boy of yours decided a new set of fishing bombs was more important than feeding an entire clan!” A shrill voice bounced back in defense, clearly pitched a bit higher from a life of experience and age, Enid gathered.

The younger of the two women produced an audible sigh. Probably from either exhaustion or realization, but most likely a bit of both.

“That’s right, Mama. You did mention that a couple of days ago. You know, you might try to tell me important information like that when I’m not in the middle of a conversation with my daughter. There was no way that was not going to slip my mind. Especially when I heard that she plans on bringing a guest to the most important time of the year for the Addams clan.”

Most important time of year? That gave the wolf pause.

Enid was led to believe it was just a simple Halloween party. At least, that's the impression she got from Wednesday and how she made the event out to be. Almost as soon as Enid’s joy bubbled back to the surface and threatened to burst upon hearing Wednesday’s mother’s words, Wednesday whipped her head back to peer the wolf in the face. She apparently was able to detect the growing excitement. She warns her to remain quiet, or else. Enid managed to marginally contain her elation in spite of a threatening look from the raven. Wednesday just rolled her eyes in exasperation and continued to lead them closer.

“That still doesn’t change the fact that I need you bums to grab a few critters needed for the food and drink. In fact, all the more reason to make it a priority since we want to impress such an honored guest.” The wheels on the elderly woman’s cart began to squeak once more, indicating movement. However, they just as quickly stopped as soon as they started.

“Hey Morticia, did little Wednesday mention if this was a guest of honor or the honored dish? I didn’t quite catch that. If so, I’ll have to re-work the menu a bit.”

Enid’s blood went cold and her hands shot out to grab Wednesday’s forearm in a moment of panic. Enid found herself a little irritated when she felt the raven shake a bit from stifling a laugh.

“Mama, come now. I’m sure Wednesday would have given us the advanced notice if we needed extra time to prepare a dish that requires more effort to be served properly. I would think I raised her better than that.” Morticia replied with a vexed tone.

“Whatever you say. Don’t come crying to me when you have to blood-let a beast the size of this house before half the clan arrives. And, one more thing. when you see Pugsley, tell him that if he steals from my cart again, I’ll show him how the fish feel when he tosses in those water bombs of his.” the woman retorts as the squeaky wheels ring out in the halls once more, and grow quieter as the elderly woman retreats into the depths of the house.

Wednesday draws her head closer to the corner of the hall, just before it opens up into the great foyer where the grand entrance of the manor is held. She discreetly cranes her head around to grab a peek of the scene before her while still remaining unnoticed from any member of her family. Enid lets go of her vice-grip on her forearm to crouch closer to the ground and mimic her movement. Wednesday swats her hand in the air above Enid’s head in the hopes the wolf will remain behind and stay out of sight. The blonde’s curiosity held her in place. Wednesday let her be for the moment, not wanting to accidentally draw any attention to themselves.

From the hidden vantage point, Enid witnessed Wednesday’s mother now fully engrossed with her task at hand, now that the raven’s grandmother had been on her merry way. Enid had met her mother before, but failed to notice the myriad of ways that Wednesday was the spitting image of her. From the soft palor of their ivory skin that seemed to rival the very glow of the moon to the soft, dark velvet that composed their hair. Enid wondered if it would fall the same way if Wednesday took her hair out of her braids.

Her mother was focused on tying a section of garland embellished with skulls and jack-o-lanterns around the banister of the grand staircase. Festive and detailed, clearly a lot of time and effort was put forth to create an atmosphere for a rather large event.

She failed to pry out of Wednesday what sort of occasion she needed an evening gown for in the first place. Back when she was packing for the holiday, it surprised her greatly when Wednesday asked if she owned one. The fact that she needed such a lovely dress initially seemed a bit much for a simple Halloween party, but now she was wondering if that would be dressy enough for this elaborate occasion the family seemed to be prepping for.

She ended up bringing the same white dress with the fluffy collar and trim she had worn to the Rave’n. Now she was greatly doubting that decision. She initially wanted to spend the money on something else, but glad she was convinced not to, now that she knows whatever she purchased wouldn’t have probably been elegant enough.

Wednesday had reassuringly told her in the long drive over that if nothing classy enough could be found in the next town over, then Enid was roughly the same height and size as her mother was in high school. Wednesday apparently also knew as a fact that her mother kept all of her clothes from that part of her life. She was too vain and proud to throw anything away, so she could borrow something of Morticia’s as long as she was okay with wearing something black.

Thankfully Enid doesn’t have the same adversity to a lack of color as her darkness-inclined companion is opposed to all things bright and vibrant.

A loud clanging sound pulled Enid from her thoughts. She tuned into her surroundings just long enough to witness pieces of a suit of armor scatter noisily as soon as they hit the marble flooring below. A man with dark, slicked back hair and a pin-striped suit shared a stunned look with a younger boy who favored him greatly. Enid watched with intrigue as both men remained in the same positions as when they were carrying this suit of armor to display in the foyer. She made out the shock and puzzlement on their features as the gears in their head turned rapidly to work out the cause of the suit exploding out of their hands and letting metal fly in every direction.

A bright giggle emerged from what sounded like the top of the stairs.

As all members of the Addams family before Enid turned to focus on the origin of the sound, Enid cautiously craned her head further down to get a glimpse herself at what everyone was now staring at.

Was that a toddler, with a mustache, holding a crossbow?

Enid wasn’t sure if she imagined it, but she heard Wednesday click her tongue in a way that indicates annoyance.

“Pubert, please practice with the targets we set up for you outside. We can’t keep reassembling everything and finish decorating for the ball on Saturday with you taking everything down before we even get the chance to put it up.” Morticia’s exhaustion was apparent in her voice.

“Mi hijo, this is the third time your mother and I have discussed this with you. There is a time and a place for using a crossbow, and right now it's not in the house. Go outside or I’ll lock it up until after the ball.” Wednesday’s father warned the toddler with a tone that conveyed his seriousness.

That was enough to grab the toddler’s attention, for he straightened his spine and defensively tucked the crossbow almost as large as he was tighter to his chest. With a string of quick apologies, the energetic child bounded his way down the stairs and into the same corridor the grandmother disappeared into with all the force of a whirlwind.

“Gomez, where in the world did he get all of that energy from? Pugsley, I don’t remember you or your sister having a fraction of the boundless energy that little hurricane has when you two were his age combined.” Morticia laughs at the contrast between her children.

“You know mi querida, I remember Fester bouncing around like that a bit when he was about Bert’s age. However, I think that had more to do with the fact that Fester was the perfect shape of a ball from when he was born till about age five.”

“Man, those dodgeball games with the cousins were the best around that time. Fester, the natural favorite he was, became the perfect projectile. What a life of popularity he’s led since.” Gomez continued on a long tangent he usually runs when discussing his favorite and only sibling. It probably would have continued for a while if Pugsley didn’t happen to loudly clear his throat and command his own attention.

“As interesting as all that happens to be, father… I just wanted to bring up that I noticed the crossbow that Bert is using happens to be Wednesday’s instead of his own. I suggest we make him put it back before Wednesday gets here and finds out he broke into her room to get it. Otherwise we won’t have a rambunctious toddler to worry about anymore.”

It was about now that Enid felt a distinct tug on her sleeve, pulling her upwards and into the foyer before she could register what was happening.

“Too late. The kid won’t live to see tomorrow.”

Wednesday had pulled Enid and herself out of the shadows into the flickering light of the candles of the foyer. The blonde watched with wide eyes the clear surprise etched upon the faces of Wednesday’s family that quickly morphed into pure elation.

“WEDNESDAY!” The family cheered in tandem.

Wednesday let go of her hold on Enid’s sleeve when her younger brother crashed into her, enveloping her into a tight hug that sent the psychic shuffling back. Per her normal anti-social self, the raven remained stiff as a board while the boy practically melted into her arms. She did release an arm to gently pat the boy’s fluffy dark hair in a gentle display of affection, indicating that she actually did care for her sibling.

“Mi pequeña tormenta, when did you arrive? We had no idea you were here! We would of-“ The father trailed off when he became aware of the girl attempting to hide behind Wednesday’s petite frame

The room fell into silence as all eyes fell upon Enid. The blonde could feel the nerves knot in her chest.

“Wait a minute. I know you from somewhere… you are Inés, yes? Wednesday’s roommate from Nevermore. I could never forget such a.. vivid personality as yourself, my dear.” Morticia notes from her position on the stairs as she starts to click her heels on the marble flooring as she makes her way down.

“Enid, and yes. I’m a friend of Wednesday’s. It’s nice to formally meet you ma’am. And you too sir.” Enid takes a little curtsy before Wednesday’s family. When she levels her head, she is surprised to see shock on the faces of her parents and brother as they all stare back with wonder and disbelief coloring their expressions.

If her eyes weren’t tricking her in this light, she would have wondered if the back of Wednesday’s ears grew a deep shade of crimson.

“A friend? Wednesday didn’t men-“

The Raven cleared her throat rather loudly and spoke in a tone that obscured her mother’s.

“What my mother means to say is welcome to the Addams family home. Enid, this is my mother, Morticia. This is also my father and brother, Gomez and Pugsley. Family, this is Enid Sinclair, my roommate and…friend.”

“Anyways, Enid and I will leave you be to-“

It was Gomez and Morticia’s turn to quickly interrupt their daughter before she had a chance to whisk them away and didn’t re-appear till dinner.

“Whoa, whoa, Wednesday! What’s the rush?” the pair voiced in a dissonant tandem.

Morticia drew closer to Enid and bowed before her guest herself, throwing the blonde off her guard from such a kind gesture.

“Enid, what an honor it is to have you in our home. We are all thrilled you are here.” Morticia remarked with such a warm smile. Gomez had taken up a place beside his wife’s side and eagerly took one of Enid’s hands and cupped it into his own, shaking her hand in a friendly gesture.

“Yes, if you need anything at all please do not hesitate to ask. Think of yourself as one of the family while you stay here. Please make yourself absolutely at home. My little storm cloud has told us so much-”

“Padre.” Wednesday warned.

“But Wednesday, your father was only trying to thank Enid for saving your life. You talked so graciously about her heroics that-“

“Mother!” Wednesday snapped. A mischievous grin settled on Morticia’s face. She was clearly enjoying this.

“Oh, I just did what any good friend would do. I’m just forever glad I made it in time. I don’t think I could have lived with myself if I didn’t make it.” Enid piped up, tone strained near the end of her sentence.

“Well. Wednesday is very lucky to find a friend in you, Enid.”

Just as Wednesday was tensing up more than she already was from how uncomfortable she was feeling at this moment, Morticia clasped her hands together and changed the tone.

“Anyways, before you two disappear, how about we finish the decorations in the foyer together. After that, I would love to help show Enid around the house.”

“But mother-”

“Enid, could you help me finish decorating the banisters? Wednesday, I’m sure your father and brother could use your help reassembling the suit of armor.” Morticia barreled over Wednesday’s irritated interjection.

Wednesday looked incredulous at the audacity of her mother to rearrange her plans so effortlessly. She wanted to tell her how it was going to be and even opened her mouth to continue to argue her point, but her father and brother quickly dragged her by the arms to help collect the scattered pieces of armor that were now rolling around in various rooms almost as if they had a mind of their own.

Enid watched in wonder as Morticia pressed the tips of her fingers against her mouth to stifle her giggles as Wednesday was dragged away practically throwing a tantrum. Eyes still on her daughter as Wednesday starts to shout something at the boys and they begin to laugh and mumble some half-hearted apologies her way, Morticia speaks softly. It is just loud enough for Enid to pick up her words.

“I know she’s doing well at school and enjoying being out of the house for a change, but her presence is sorely missed around here.”

Enid is rendered breathless at the sincerity of her words and her heart feels warm.

Enid observed Morticia carefully as she sauntered back to the staircase to continue in her effort to tie the garland around in this intricate criss crossed pattern, flaring up the ribbon and revealing the bones as she secured it into place.

Without hesitation, Enid moves to the other side of the wide staircase to mimic her lead. Morticia periodically eyes the wolf from the side and later raises a brow, intrigued.

“Look at that, you picked that up rather quickly. I didn’t even need to explain.” Morticia smiled at the blonde. Enid responded back with a small thanks, not really used to being praised by any kind of mother before.

“Listen Enid, I really did want to thank you. From what I gathered from the little conversation I can draw out of my daughter, you shifted into a wolf to protect her from a Hyde last semester?”

The girl pursed her lips in a thin line and leveled her eyes to the ground.

“I did. However, I almost didn’t make it. Maybe not even a full second later he would have done away with her.. and I-”

Morticia watched as Enid became lost in the memory, and she grew quiet and solemn when thinking back upon that moment. Morticia sensed an uneasiness about the girl, and the motherly instincts ingrained in her bones spilled out into words.

“But he didn’t, all because of you. I also heard it was your first time turning?”

“It- it was.”

Morticia hummed softly, deep in thought.

“You know, there was a time I wasn’t ever sure if she would open up to another. As a mother, I’m proud of the fiercely independent soul that she is, but even someone as independent as Wednesday needs to rely on people every now and again. She's matured and grown this past year more than I can express with mere words. I think I have you to thank for a great deal of that, Enid.”

The blonde hesitantly ventured her eyes back up into Morticia’s own warm ones.

“We as a family owe you our daughter’s life. Possibly owe you for far more, I suspect. Wednesday’s communication is not a strength of hers, but believe me when I speak for all of us. You will always have a place here.”

Enid couldn’t help the tears glistening in her eyes and the slight tremor in her hands. Has she ever been welcomed anywhere so warmly? She couldn’t recall.

“So tell me, what was it like?”

The blonde drew a blank.

“What was ‘what’ like?”

A grin grew across Morticia’s face, curiosity and eagerness evident in her features.

“The rush of turning into a werewolf for the first time, of course. I want every bone-chilling and gruesome detail, my dear.”

The blonde’s eyebrows shot up and a gentle laugh from the surprise of being asked a question like that escaped her throat.

“Well, it’s as much terrifying as it was exhilarating.” Enid chuckled.

“That’s what I’m counting on.” Morticia giggled in return.

As Enid began to detail out the experience, Wednesday and the boys loudly scuffled and wrestled a now almost complete suit of armor back into the foyer, drawing full attention to the endeavor. The piece was still clattering like it was in an earthquake.

Wednesday stepped back and grabbed the sword attached to its scabbard to whip the hilt against the metal of the breastplate as if she was beating it into submission. Surprisingly, the noise and tremors died immediately.

“Father, I told you to stop coddling it. It's getting an attitude.” Wednesday lamented as she aggressively settled the sword back into the scabbard, as if she was making a point.

“You know, I just want it to feel the pride and joy from besting a master swordsman like myself every now and again. It builds one’s confidence.” Gomez responded, insinuating that he regularly participated in dueling matches with an empty suit of armor.

“No, not just confidence. Obstinance.” Wednesday pointedly turned her gaze on her younger brother, Pugsley, running around in an attempt to collect the helmet that greatly resembled a game of cat and mouse.

Morticia admired the scene around her. The decorations in the foyer were finally complete, giving this haunting charm and lovely gothic atmosphere. Soon, the rest of their family will begin to haunt the halls of the manor as the early week edges closer to Saturday.

She doesn’t repress the growing smile on her face watching the antics of her immediate family, finally all back under one roof again. And the pleasant and wonderful surprise to see Wednesday not only make a dear friend, something she had almost given up on, but to see how much this girl obviously values their mutual friendship as well. Truly, she couldn’t wait to introduce Enid fully into the Addams’ family home and way of life.

“Masterful job, ma famille et Enid. Truly this will be a Ball that the members of the Addams family will talk about for centuries to come. Now that the work in this room is complete, it's time for a more formal introduction. Enid, how would you like a family tour of our grand home?”

Everyone’s face brightened at the motion. Everyone except Wednesday, that was.

“Mother, I had it handled.” Wednesday pipes up with annoyance directed at Morticia.

“Nonsense, my pet. To think your father and I would be terrible hosts to such an honored guest as your friend. I’d rather die in my sleep than to be subject to that humiliation. What's say you, Enid?”

Wednesday and Enid locked eyes. The raven tiredly looked upon her grinning friend, already knowing what option she would choose.

“I would love a tour. Thank you Ma’am.”

“Oh no, it's just Morticia, dear. Ma’am was Grandmama’s mother. What a dreadfully strict woman she was. I hope you don’t have the unfortunate occurrence of meeting her spirit at the ball this year. She’ll just gripe and complain about my choice in drapes or the overwhelming taste in hors d’oeuvre.”

Gomez, unable to restrain himself any longer, runs up to meet his wife on the stairs. He rapidly grabs her hand and sets a row of kisses upon her arm.

“Morticia, my love. You keep speaking in French and it sets my soul ablaze, mi querida.”

Pugsley and Wednesday make disgusted faces as Enid looks away uncomfortably. The siblings then press onto the conservatory, the known first stop for any tours. As the raven passed by the wolf, she lightly pulled the cloth on Enid’s clothes to direct her to follow along, leaving the parents to catch up.

As the evening descends to night, the moonlight pools into the stretch of hall leading to these large glass doors. The light obscures enough of the inside to leave Enid in wonder of what she will discover on the other side. She doesn’t have to wait long. Pugsley runs ahead and yanks upon the doors with eagerness. A wave of incredibly fresh air and the soothing aroma of fresh soil leave Enid’s heart racing with joy. She can’t help it when her feet skip her forward with an eagerness of her own to be enveloped in a room that reminds her of the great outdoors.

“Wow.” The wolf breathed in wonder.

If Enid wasn’t aware of the looming glass ceiling, she would have believed she was dropped in the heart of a jungle. Trees and exotic plants of all varieties towered over her and shaded her from the bright moonlight that glistened off of the well watered and manicured leaves.

She recalled visiting the Chicago wolf pack with her family when she was younger. One of the places they visited on the journey was a conservatory called Garfield, like the cat. Never did she think an indoor conservatory could be more beautiful, more vast, than that. Today she was proven wrong, and could not be more happy about it.

“Wednesday, this place is incredible! Come look at the size of this plant!”

Enid made a motion to run forward and get a closer look, but a quick hand snapped and grasped her own. It’s unyielding resolve kept Enid from propelling herself forward, but instead yanked her back closer to the smaller girl.

“Do not leave my side. Half of these plants are poisonous, and the other half could eat you alive. I plan on keeping you well and breathing at least until this week is over.” Wednesday noted with a concerned look at all the various plants before her, as if one of them was ready to snatch the wolf from her tight grasp.

Enid was far more invested in the fact that Wednesday and herself were now holding hands. At least until Wednesday’s words registered in her mind.

“Just until the week is over? Plan on killing me yourself and dumping my body in a lake on the way back?” Enid couldn’t suppress a burst of laughter and the sarcasm that escaped from the odd choice of phrasing on how she planned on keeping Enid alive under her care.

“Don’t tempt me.” Wednesday’s eyes gravitated back into Enid’s from surveying their surroundings.

“Wednesday, your friend just started the tour, I’m sure she wouldn’t appreciate a broken hand!” Gomez notes as Morticia and himself make their way into the room.

The raven yanks her hand away from Enid’s as if she was touching a burning stove. The sudden movement away from her friend and family caught her mother’s eye as the older psychic stilled in her thoughts, watching Wednesday hasten her steps away, leaving Enid in a daze.

How curious.

“Not that the unusual strength of an Addams can compare to the monstrous strength of a bonafide werewolf, but I digress.” The father continued on without a spare thought.

Gomez spun on his heels and spread his arms to indicate the pride he felt when presenting this room for their honored guest.

“Welcome to the conservatory, Enid! My wife’s blood, sweat, and tears went into fostering these plants from tiny saplings to some of the world’s most exotic and dangerous species of flora known to mankind.” The man couldn’t help but bolster his wife. With a wide smile, Morticia took over and carried on the tour of the room.

“Yes, all true. Enid, tell me. Do you see this little plant here?” Morticia made her way over to a smaller planter settled in the middle of a table. A long, leafy vine coiled around the pot. Enid noticed a small, beanstalk looking plant spiraling upwards out of the soil. Though tiny, it stood upright with pride. Enid couldn’t help a warm chuckle when eyeing the plant.

“This is the newest addition to the greenhouse. A beautiful African Strangler, one of my personal favorites. I’ve been raising her mother since Gomez and I entered our first year of marriage. They live long lives and are difficult to keep happy, but you’ll never find a more loyal plant.”

Enid listened with intrigue, but something Morticia said sounded a bit off to her.

“Loyal?”

A sudden movement in the corner of the wolf’s eye caused her to jump back in alarm. The colorful nails sharpened and extended from her fingertips, leaving Enid looking a bit wild and unsettled.

The coiled vine that looped the smaller pot began to slither around the table and raise itself into the air before them. It was as if the girl was staring face to face with a serpent ready to strike, just with far more leaves as opposed to scales.

The plant cocked its head to the side when looking upon Enid as if it was indicating curiosity. Enid didn’t realize that she copied the movement herself.

“Cleopatra, say hello to our guest, Enid. This is Wednesday’s friend, so do present your best manners my dear.” Morticia soothingly posed to the plant.

A broad noise, like a deep hum, filled the empty space in the air as a response. Enid was almost positive that the vine was producing this awe-inspiring sound. The tone evolved into this happy trill. Was the vine..purring?

Enid went stiff as a board as the plant lowered its head to sniff her, something the wolf once believed was a mammalian or reptilian trait, not an act she ever believed would be instigated by something with leaves.

“Here, try feeding her this.”

Morticia spins to a fridge hidden in the corner to grab something from the inside. She then pulls out a container and clicks the latch open to then rest a meatball skewer into Enid’s open palm. The wolf doesn’t respond verbally, but looks at the food with a quizzical brow. Trying not to put too much thought into this, Enid does what she's asked and lifts the skewer to settle between herself and the vine.

Enid watches with awe as the head splits in half to reveal a couple of rows inside of razor sharp teeth that hook onto the first meatball and slide it off the skewer and inhale it whole without a single bite. However, the plant makes a series of small coughing-like sounds only moments later.

“Cleo, chew! How many times do I have to tell you to slow down? You have a myriad of teeth for a reason, you stubborn vine.”

Enid’s eyes widen when she hears a noise emanate from the plant as the coughing fit calms down. It sounds an awful lot like sulking.

“Lovely *uh*, l-lovely plants you’ve got here. Cleopatra is..something else.” Enid manages to stumble out.

Enid’s eyes snapped to the plant when it began that trilling noise once more. As much as she’s trying to hide it, the wolf is on edge. She feels a familiar twinge of fear rising in her throat, but refuses to show a hint of it. This family is already far too kind, and she wouldn’t want to offend them in any way.

A smaller boy eagerly bounces his way in front of Enid upon hearing her words, effectively pulling the wolf from her inner thoughts..

“If you think Cleo is cool, wait till you see Aristotle!”

Without warning, Pugsley snatches Enid’s hand and dashes off with the wolf in tow. Enid had to jog to keep up with the boy guiding them towards a set of stairs that lead them below their current floor. They blew past Wednesday quietly observing the whole situation near the end of the room to loudly clack their shoes against the marble staircase as they descended rapidly into the basement.

The trek wasn’t long. Turning the corner, the pair burst into a rather large room filled with a wide variety of contraptions. The cold metal appearing on most of them reflects the flickering candle light that illuminated their vicinity.

As Enid noted the distant clicks of shoes tapping their way down the marble staircase, she observed her surroundings.

The muscles in her throat grew taut as she began to recognize the objects before her.

All manner of torture devices from seemingly every era covered the entirety of the room. Enid let her fingers slip away from Pugsley’s grasp as the boy pressed forward into the maze of them. She could feel her heart-rate elevate greatly in her chest, but the kid was offering the wolf such a kind smile that she didn’t have the heart to show her anxiety visibly on her face. She instead offered a smile to the boy in return. This seemed to spur him on.

Enid willed herself to press forward, ignoring the pin-pricks of fear blossoming in her chest when she heard Wednesday’s familiar footsteps enter the room to follow the pair from a distance. The blonde trailed through the maze of machines. She knew some of these by name. Guillotine, Stockade, Iron chair. An array of proudly displayed weapons and smaller torture devices Enid didn’t know the names of and really didn’t want to know how they worked had lined the walls.

Pugsley steadied his pace to let the wolf catch up. As they wove through the packed room, he eagerly rolled into noting the names and history of them with ease, as if he was her tour guide through the Smithsonian.

“If you look to your left, you will see an iron maiden. What is interesting about these devices is that there is no evidence of the contraptions existing before the 19th century, in spite of pop culture depicting them as a middle ages torture device. They were heavily inspired by Spartan devices that were similar in nature and used for the same purposes though.” Pugsley rattled off the top of his head.

Enid observed the device closely as the boy spoke. The rust colored nails jutted out strangely from the human shaped cavern on the inside. She couldn’t be sure, but it seems like the object was set up for a display rather than for actual use. She took comfort in whatever little bit she could find.

The boy darted forward and spun on his heels, clearly enjoying his role and sharing a passion of his with someone who hasn’t heard his practiced speeches a million times already. He waited for Enid to draw close enough for him to dive into yet another description as they pressed closer to the back of the room. Enid began to wonder what this ‘Aristotle’ thing was that the boy was so eager to have her see. A larger part of her figured that it was best to not ask, in case she took off running in the other direction.

‘Be brave, Enid. You’re fine.’ The wolf began repeating silently to herself.

“This here is a rack, but not just any rack. This one was dated back to the reign of Alexander the Great and was a part of his own personal collection for interrogations! Some of the earliest recordings of use for these devices are way back in 335 BC! The Greeks did have some of the earliest recordings, but the Romans and other cultures used them as well, so no one quite knows which culture had some of the first iterations of them. Cool, right?”

Enid pulled up her gaze from the device to respond to Pugsley.

“Oh, way cool. Do you know the history of all of the stuff in here by heart?” Enid pondered aloud.

She watched the boy’s smile widen.

“Yeah, I’ve been studying the history behind this stuff for as long as I can remember. I’ve always been the history buff in the family. Wednesday thinks it's kinda geeky though.” The kid shrugs off some of the excitement he carries in his shoulders, trying to play down how much he cares about all of this when talking to Enid. This doesn’t escape the wolf’s keen notice.

“Well, I think it's pretty impressive. Here you are rattling off the history of these.. objects… by heart when I can barely remember what my history exam was even covering last week.” The blonde giggled.

Enid’s heart warmed when she noticed a deep excitement that filled Pugsley’s eyes upon hearing her words to him. He shyly muttered thanks as he barely reigned in his enthusiasm.

It was then that it struck Enid. No wonder why Wednesday and Eugene were fast friends. Not only did the kids look alike, but that face he gave was similar to the way Eugene appeared when explaining the history of honey to Enid last semester. How intriguing.

“Hey, I haven’t even shown you the best part yet. Follow me!”

The boy whipped around the corner towards the back of the room, prompting Enid to follow. Enid took a moment to look behind her and found Wednesday back a ways, already meeting her glance.

Enid furrowed her brow and continued to analyze Wednesday with interest as she tried to decipher this new expression she found her friend sporting after watching Enid interact with her brother.

Clearly Wednesday could see that Enid was scrutinizing her features and this made her snap her expression back into its usual deadpan. Wednesday tore her gaze away and disappeared into the maze of torture devices and out of Enid’s view. The wolf wanted to chase after the girl, but Pugsley was prompting Enid to come and see what he was standing beside. She didn’t want to disappoint him, so she drew closer to a barrier Pugsley was standing beside and met him by the wall.

To her surprise, the barrier hid and separated a pool of black water, smooth as ice, towards the very back of the room from the expansive museum of torture devices that occupied the rest.

Enid pressed her body against the barrier and leaned her face over the water, her own reflection greeting her as she peered down into its dark depths. The smell of salt permeated in her nose and a chill in the air from being close to freezing waters hit Enid’s senses. Just how deep did this pool run?

Startled by a sudden and loud whistle from Pugsley, she nearly jumped out of her own skin. Enid closed her eyes and took a few breaths to calm her nerves a bit. Upon reopening them, she noticed the surface of the water before her being broken up by a series of ripples that seemed to grow in size. Her wolf ears picked up on a strange, but deep and resonating noise from its depths to reveal two things to a rapidly paleing Enid.

One, the waters below must go down at least 50 or more feet below. Two, she is confident in this because she can sense something rather large rising to the surface. Enid slowly shuffled backwards and away from the wall, not daring to tear her eyes from the surface of the waters.

The cold hand of terror finally squeezed at her heart and overwhelmed her as the creature finally broke the surface. A large red tentacle spiraled upwards into the air and curled into itself, revealing an array of suction cups the size of Enid’s own head trailing back into the water.

Enid strained her vision to watch as two more tentacles, just like the first, rose towards her. She grabbed the edge of the barrier she stood at before beginning to back up.

The red on the creature began to meld into the other darker colors around it. The sharpness of its lines began to haze and grow fuzzy. All of the movement before her began to merge together into a series of flickering shadows as her brain seemed not able to keep up with the tracking anymore.

She closed her eyes to concentrate and a cold sweat began to run its way down her spine and a distinct tingling sensation was all she could focus on occurring over her extremities.

She probably should open her eyes to figure out what that thing was, but her brain felt a bit sluggish. It took her a second for her to will her eyes back open.

When her eyes began to adjust, she realized that a few things felt different than before. She felt her body pressing on something cool, all but her head. That was laying on something soft. She blinked a few times to help the readjustment of her eyes.

She felt a hand brush away the hair strands that were matted to her face and a gentle tapping sensation hit her cheek. Her eyes focused until she could recognize the dark ones peering down over her.

“You back with us?” a familiar voice rung out just above her. The tone was mostly even, but Enid thought she detected a hint of concern near the end of the question.

The details of Wednesday’s face began to sharpen as Enid finally started to come to. The girl’s face was upside down, staring at Enid intently and looking for a response. Enid tried to give an answer, but her words fell flat when she realized that her head was currently being cradled on Wednesday’s lap and her soft hands rested against the sides of her face.

A rush of heat blossomed over Enid’s face as she shot upwards from the realization, effectively crashing her forehead into Wednesday’s own.

A muffled shout escaped Wednesday as she buried her face in her hands. At the same time, Enid had multiple shots of pain shooting through her head both from the sudden elevation shift after passing out, compiled with the knot she was sure began forming on her temple. Enid let out a yelp of her own.

“Gah! Do you make a habit out of attacking people who catch you as you’re passing out?” Wednesday snipped at Enid, still applying pressure to her forehead.

“I passed out!? What caused me to-”

Enid whipped her head around wildly to survey her surroundings. Behind her she saw Pugsley looking at her with concern. He was petting a rather large and slimy tentacle beside him that curled over the barrier. Enid’s eyes followed the origin of the tentacle to a mass of them holding up the body of a giant octopus mere feet away from her. Its freakishly large and aware eyes were trained directly on Enid. The wolf felt the muscles in her body turn instantly to jelly.

“Oh no you don’t!”

Enid doesn’t pass out, but begins to fall backwards into the floor once more, at least until Wednesday catches her again and settles the wolf back into her embrace before her head could hit the floor. Enid tried to mutter a thank you, but Wednesday’s voice overcast her own.

“Stop moving!”

A deep and guttural noise permeated the air around them, almost shaking the ground with its intensity. Wednesday and Enid’s full attention is now drawn to the Octopus creating this somber chord. The braided girl exhales sharply through her nose.

“No Aris, she didn’t faint because she thought you were hideous. She just got spooked. That’s all.”

“Spooked!? By Aristotle? He wouldn’t hurt a fly.” Pugsley piped up.

“She’s got a weak constitution.”

“Thanks for that.” Enid huffed under her breath and Wednesday lightly flicked her on the forehead as if she was telling her to shut up.

“Besides, She doesn’t know him like we do. Give her some slack.”

She focuses back on the creature and points a strong finger towards its general direction.

“And Aris, don’t take everything so personally. One girl fainting at the sight of you should not render you to pick apart your appearance so easily. If anything you should be proud you invoke a strong reaction to your presence. I know you are an invertebrate and all, but you really need to grow a spine.”

Enid internalizes this speech of Wednesday’s to the octopus. The wolf chose to brush past the fact that she carried on a normal conversation to a sea creature as easily as she would a human, but that's besides the point. Enid didn’t miss how Wednesday went out of her way to comfort the creature in her own brash way. After all, Enid has begun to pick up on the moments Wednesday subtly does the same for herself. This stirs the wolf into an action of her own.

“She’s not wrong. I faint at pretty much everything. I am getting better about not fainting at the sight of blood though.” Enid begins. This admission elicits a snicker from Pugsley who is quickly rendered back into silence when his sister bores her sharp eyes into his skull.

“Anyways, forget that I fainted and let's start over. Aristotle, was it? Pleasure to make your acquaintance. Pugsley over here couldn’t wait to introduce me to you, and I can see why.”

Enid extends a proverbial olive branch and stretches out an open palm into the air between them paired with her signature toothy grin. The octopus seemed intelligent enough to gather the intent of the gesture and slithers out a large tentacle to then coil around Enid’s hand and forearm and give a strong shake, just as any human would do.

The grin remained on her face throughout the exchange, but the chill of the creature and the slimy residue it left dripping off of Enid’s arm sent a deep shiver throughout the wolf. She seemed to successfully hide her fear from the boy and his octopus, thankfully.

Wednesday tightened her grip on Enid’s shoulders as if to steady her, and the blonde felt a twinge of embarrassment run through her when she realized that her internal reaction didn’t escape her friend’s notice.

A watery trill fills the space around them and Enid watches with pure awe as waves of color pulsate over the entirety of his being. Pugsley forms a bright smile of his own and begins to laugh at the reaction as the creature slowly descends into the depths once more.

“Aris, are you blushing!?”

Just before fully submerging under the black water, the creature whips a tentacle around Pugsley’s face, leaving slime that sends the boy’s hair in wild directions. This caused the boy to only laugh harder and cause Enid to join in as well.

The wolf ventures up a glance at her friend above her and curiously finds that same strange expression from before gracing Wednesday’s features. Enid is mesmerized. She looks so- so soft.

Enid’s on a bravery streak at the moment, and decides to keep pressing her luck.

“What’s that look about?”

Wednesday snapped back into reality and Enid realized with a sinking feeling her luck just ran out.

The cold edges of Wednesday’s face were back in an instant. The psychic pushed Enid up and away from her so she could put some distance between them.

“Don’t know what you’re referring to.” Wednesday mutters with her back turned, pressing deeper through the room and quickly out of sight. The dimming smile then fell from Enid’s facefully as she propped herself up, still sitting on the ground.

She noticed a hand appear in her peripheral, and followed it to see Pugsley offering to help her on her feet. She flashed a weak grin at him as a thank you for the kind gesture and let him help lift her off the ground.

“Don’t mind her. She’s been acting a little off lately.”

This caught Enid’s attention.

“In what way?”

“Hmm..she's normally grumpier, but it’s not been as intense since she came home last semester. I guess Nevermore really does change a person.”

Enid let herself fall deep into thought, still not entirely sure what to make of everything.

“I suppose it does.” the wolf trailed off.

“Well, in any case, you still need to see the rest of the house. So we should probably make our way back upstairs.”

“Seems like the rest of us will have to catch up to Wednesday. She got out of here in a hurry.”

Enid and Pugsley swiveled to Gomez who finally made his emergence alongside Morticia.

“And where have you two been this whole time?” Pugsley asks as Morticia notes his haggard appearance and rushes over to try and tame his wild and slime filled hair.

“Did you really not hear the crystal ball summon us, Pugs? You seemed like you had this room handled, so we went to answer the call while you guys went on ahead.” Morticia pursed her lips that hinted she was restraining a giggle from the pair’s appearance. Enid realized that she must have looked just as ragged as the boy. Honestly, that shouldn’t have come as a surprise to her. She felt every bit of it.

“You guys look like you barely survived this room.”

“That’s an understatement.” Enid replied with a laugh.

“So you gonna tell me who was on the call, or are we just going to ignore that part?” Pugsley voiced.

“Ah! It’s a great surprise that won’t take long to reveal itself. I think we might keep you and Wednesday in dreaded suspense for a time longer.” Gomez playfully answered.

“Now that we are together once again, the show must continue on! Come, honored guest and boyish imp, we must hurry along now. I thought I heard Kitty playing with the toddler!” He carried on with all pomp and circumstance present in his voice.

“You guys have a cat? Now this I’ve got to see!”

A soft smile re-emerged on Enid’s features as they made their way upstairs.

---------------

Pale moonlight now filtered in through the array of windows near the back of the mansion. The group had made their way back upstairs to continue on with the tour. In the blonde’s excitement, she scurried up a little faster than the others. She couldn’t really help it, one mention of the word ‘Kitty’ had enthralled her. She began to scan around for the little furball.

For a wolf, cats should have been her natural enemy. None of the other werewolves she had known ever had a positive interaction with a cat. Most of them saw little more than a chew toy or something to chase. Enid wasn’t your typical werewolf though. There was almost nothing she loved more than kittens in this world, and she could really use a kitten snuggle right about now. She silently hoped that this one didn’t take after Wednesday and be opposed to a simple hug.

Enid let her hand reach out to graze the wall as she continued to take everything in. The lovely and haunting decor didn’t cease to impress her. She inwardly noted how fitting of a home this was for Wednesday. It was dark and brooding for sure. One couldn’t deny the eerie and unsettling feeling being within its walls. However, she couldn’t remember a time where she felt this…alive.

The irony didn’t elude her. These people celebrated the dead more on your typical Tuesday than everyone in the world celebrating ‘Dia de los Muertos’ combined.

She snickered to herself, but was quickly silenced when hearing the bright laughter of a toddler somewhere nearby. Enid hastened her pace and drew closer to the sounds.

Following the cheerful giggle had led her through a set of large glass doors into the expansive courtyard nestled behind the house. It reminded her greatly of a palace’s gardens, spun in a more haunting way.

Large trimmed hedges greeted her to yet another maze, filled with looming statues made with carefully crafted marble depicting everything from a range of terror-invoking mythical creatures or the spare statues showcasing gruesome battle imagery. It was like a gothic version of the queen’s palace in Alice and wonderland. As unsettling as that was, she couldn’t deny how much she loved that gentle breeze and refreshing outdoor air that greeted her senses.

As she closed her eyes to take in a deep breath, her heightened senses easily pinpointed that bright giggle that must have been the youngest member of the Addams clan. She took a page out of Alice’s book and dove right into the maze, as if she was chasing after that white rabbit and hoping to find her own Cheshire cat along with it.

It didn’t take long to weave through the maze in spite of never walking this path before. She wondered if it was a wolf thing. Excitement brimmed in her as the boy was clearly around the corner with the cat, and she eagerly peered around the last leafy barrier. She definitely wasn’t prepared for what she saw.

Enid froze for a fraction of a second as she registered the scene in front of her. A child the size of a bookbag was shoulder deep into the gaping mouth of a lion. And yes, this lion was most certainly not a statue.

Terror washed over Enid as her instincts took control of her body. She felt every hair on her stand on end. Her body dropped instantly into a pouncing position, ready to strike. The brightly colored claws rapidly unsheathed and the girl tore through the space between like a whirlwind until she barreled into the child at full speed, tucking him in close like he was a football.

Once Enid had secured the boy in her arms, the pair tumbled far out of the lion’s reach until their rapid momentum was stopped by another hedge on the far end of the courtyard. Enid’s body protected the boy’s and took the brunt of the force when crashing into the leafy bushes with a surprisingly loud thump. Enid unwrapped herself from the protective ball around the child and started pushing back his jet black hair to get a better look at his face to assess if there was any damage done.

“Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohnonono!” Enid gasped deep breaths in between broken words and hurried phrases.

“Please be okay. Please be okay!” Her tone strained and forced as she rotated around a once giggling child that was now in the throes of deep laughter.

This caused Enid to stop in pure confusion and scrunch her face at the happy toddler before her.

“Again! Do it again!” The boy squealed and clapped his hands in pure elation. Enid’s jaw dropped.

Looking past the boy, she realized that the lion had not moved an inch from its original location. Instead, it looked rather bored as it spread its jaws for a full yawn, not even bothering to look their way.

“What form, what grace! You are quite the werewolf young lady!”

Enid squinted and noted Gomez’s thrilled shout as three members of the Addams family made their way deep in the heart of the maze clearing themselves. Enid blinked a couple of times to once again adjust to the bizarre situation before her for what seemed the millionth time that night. She was starting to get a bit of whiplash.

“Pwetty girl go fast! Do it again!” The boy giggled, clinging tight to Enid’s bright pink sweater. She raised a brow at this and the blonde lifted them both from the ground and she settled the child on her hip.

“I suppose you must be the infamous Pubert.”

Enid walked them both back to meet up with the rest of his family. She eyes the lion warily the entire walk back.

“Goodness, what happened that made you act that fast?” Morticia wondered aloud as she drew closer to Enid and her child. The boy pulled his body away from Enid and made a grasping motion towards his mother. Enid traded off the kid and let him settle into his mother’s arms.

“Um.. nearly half of his body was inside the mouth of that lion. I would normally say that I find it to be a bit concerning, but I have a feeling you’re gonna tell me that this is a regular occurrence, and the lion just casually hanging out only a few feet away is actually named Kitty.”

“I think she’s starting to catch on, darling!” Gomez laughed. This didn’t do much to alleve Enid of her concerns towards the lion.

“No need to be scared of him, dear. He’s harmless.” Morticia attempted to soothe Enid’s clear stress.

“Yeah, he hasn’t eaten anyone since that zookeeper. He got a real bad stomach ache and refused to eat another person since.” Pugsley noted aloud so casually.

“And we all just trust that he won’t change his mind?” Enid’s voice grew strained from fear that once again was getting the best of her. Every Addams before her could detect the shakiness of her voice, each one softening their own composure in turn.

“Pretty much, he is part of the family after all. Terrifying things need a home to belong to as well.” Gomez makes his way over to the lethargic animal and starts jostling its hair. Enid furrowed her brows and settled on her heels quietly for a moment, deep in thought at his words.

“Mama, can I have a snack?” Pubert’s soft toddler voice cut through the heavy silence and brought a needed air of levity.

Everyone couldn’t help but grin at such an innocent request from the child. Enid’s stomach suddenly made a loud growl of its own, almost as if it was responding to the reminder of needing to eat herself.

“Of course you can. Enid, dear, I’m sure you're starved! Come come. I’ll have mama cook up whatever you’d like.”

“Haha, that sounds wonderful about now. Thank you.”

Enid followed the family back out of the maze as they began to weave their way back inside. She turned to let her gaze fall back upon the lion before it left her line of vision and watched it with curiosity as it settled itself into a slumber. A deep purring resonated into the cold air of the courtyard.

Notes:

-After a long and arduous wait from you all, the beginning of Arc 2 is finally here. Thank you for your patience!

-As an apology, I wrote an extremely long chapter. Originally, this was supposed to be longer, but since it became breathtakingly long, I decided to try and break it into two. Good thing I did. The next chapter is a doozy as well! I think the document I'm writing on ended up being about 46 pages for just the first two chapters. To be fair, It also outlines notes for the rest of the chapters as well, but that's like 11 pages of extra notes max.

-As I detailed in the notes before, I dove into a long research stage that was very much needed. I learned so much from the 60s show, and plan to hold tight to many aspects of their family and life from both that and the 90s movies. Without it, the direction of this second arc would have been drastically different, and not nearly as entertaining in my opinion. I’m a fan of building a believable world, so that is my intent moving forward. However, that does involve more groundwork and research, but better overall results!

-Cleopatra, Aristotle, and Kitty were staples to the 60s show! It was fun to bring them to life!

-Pubert is here! I knew for a while when writing for the family, I wanted a kind of wildcard character that throws in an element of surprise into scenes. This boy was the perfect answer. All of the other members have very strong and established backgrounds and behaviors I can follow. Pubert only ever shows up in the 90s sequel, and I enjoyed every scene he was in! Have some fun plans for this one.

-Writing Enid as a welcome outsider looking in and learning more about Wednesday and her family is one of the most fun things I could have ever written. So much potential and comedy gold as well!

-Now that I have a solid plan moving forward, the updates shouldn't be that far in between. Thank you again for the patience and read! Let me know if you enjoyed the chapter, and see you all soon!

Chapter 9: A Place To Rest

Notes:

Edit: Changed the name of Wednesday's cousin in this chapter (Too close to another name and may or may not show back up in the story).

Before the glass door was fully opened, a savory aroma wafted into Enid’s astute wolf senses. It sent her salivary glands on overdrive as she detected something gamey and wild being seared just down the hall. Was that venison she detected? She analyzed the faces of Wednesday’s parents to find that they were surprised to notice dinner already being made.

A warm light and the strength of the fragrant tenderloin invited the rest of the family into a lively kitchen scene. Leaning her shoulder against the doorframe, Enid found herself endlessly fascinated when she discovered Wednesday ordering her grandmother around the kitchen as they worked in tandem to prepare one of Enid’s favorite dishes.

“Thinner, grandmama. No seriously, thinner. We're preparing strips of venison, not steaks.”

“This IS a strip of venison, child. No wonder you’re only skin and bones if you think this is enough.”

“Maybe that portion would be fine if that’s the only thing we’re serving, but this is a stir-fry. We’re adding way more ingredients than this. It's gonna be too much. There’s only us plus Enid. It’s not like we are preparing this for the clan on Saturday.”

“Exactly, I’m making this with the girl in mind you fool! Have you ever seen a wolf eat? Or are you trying to starve her too?”

Enid carefully snuck herself around and quickly slid into a seat at the bar, directly across Wednesday’s line of vision and catching her a bit off guard as she settled into the seat and nestled her head on her propped elbows, offering a wide grin at her psychic friend.

“I’m with your grandma, Wednesday. I won’t say no to more steak.”

“You will, however, say no to vegetables if there’s too much of it though.” Wednesday dryly responded, seeing through Enid’s ruse. She rocked the knife to continue to separate the peppers into smaller portions as if she was making a point.

“No fun. Can’t fool you anymore.” Enid lets her eyes roam around the room to take in her surroundings for the first time. It intrigued her to find that the space looked closer to a chemistry lab than a typical kitchen.

A cacophony of bubbling noises in various vials, flasks, and pots surround them in a series of tubes that wrap around the room. They paired alongside the searing and frying of some vegetables and venison strips adding to the chaos.

As she surveyed the area, a disembodied hand gave an enthusiastic wave towards Enid’s direction. She eagerly returned the gesture to her friend, happy to see him once more. He then returned to his task of frying up the food at the stove.

While she’s paying attention, she watches with interest as each member of the Addams family dove into a wordless routine, each one helping out in some way to prepare dinner. Gomez had taken up helping Lurch set the plates and silverware on a long table in the dining room. Morticia carried Pubert over to the sink and began washing both of their hands. Pugsley set out cups and poured drinks from the fridge. Wednesday and Grandmama continued to engross themselves in chopping ingredients for Thing to cook.

A strange feeling settled into Enid upon observing this family. While it warmed her heart to see each member working together and share this unique bond, she couldn’t help but also feel a bit jealous. It was a rarity for her family to prepare and eat dinner together, even when herself and her brothers were all under the same roof.

On the rare occasion they did, they were constantly bickering or prodding each other about the shallowest of things. That was the reason why everyone tended to eat out or in their own rooms.

Enid never had the ability to disguise her emotions. Everything was always evident as soon as you looked at her face. As Wednesday continued to prepare the food, she watched as Enid seemed to lose herself in her thoughts and wring her hands lightly. The psychic knows this to be a clear sign of her inner turmoil and attempts to pull her from those circling thoughts.

“How was the rest of the tour?”

Enid’s full attention rests on her face, not expecting the question.

“Ah, pretty straightforward. Just exploring the gardens, observing the intricacies of the sculptures, saving a toddler from the jaws of a massive lion. Nothing too wild.”

Maybe Wednesday was influencing Enid a bit too much. The sarcasm was laid on fairly strong there.

“Is that so? I see you’ve met Kitty then.”

“Ya know Wednesday, when I hear the name ‘Kitty’ I don’t exactly envision Mufasa hanging out in the courtyard out there.” She snickers.

“That’s what I said!” Gomez pipes up from the far end of the table, laying down the utensils by the plate.

“Originally, I had wanted to name him Cyrus. We have a habit of naming our pets after prominent figures and leaders of empires. The once-ruler of Persia seemed like a brilliant choice for our proud lion. Wednesday wouldn’t have it though.”

Enid’s jaw dropped into a wide, open-mouth smile at what Gomez had suggested. The wolf could hear the girl beside her break her cadence with chopping upon also hearing her father’s words. Enid snapped her head back in enough time to watch a dark dusting of color form on the girl’s features.

“Are you saying that it was Wednesday’s idea to give the lion such an adorable name?”

Wednesday gave Enid a dangerous look, as if warning her to stop pressing, but Enid wasn’t phased in the slightest.

“Why yes! You see, Enid, Being the first born and my little girl, I couldn’t say no to anything she asked of me back then.”

“Back then?” Morticia and Grandmama whispered in unison.

“I couldn’t understand why she was so fixated on that name, but what’s a father to do when his little tormenta begs with that pouting face of-“

“Father!” Wednesday loudly interjects, but the damage is done. Enid is already looking at her with a face that makes her want to set everything on fire.

“That might be the most precious thing I’ve ever heard.”

“That is a bold statement to make to someone who is preparing your food.” Wednesday seethed from under furrowed eyebrows. She turned to her father and extended the arm that still grasped the knife at him to catch his eye.

“And you. Enough with the regalements of my childhood unless you want to end up like these peppers.”

Grandmama, pulling herself away from her own task, drifted over to her granddaughter’s side in order to grab the vegetables from her cutting board to give to Thing. As she made this motion, she let her pale eyes fall upon Enid for the first time still sitting across from the psychic. Enid watched as her face morphed into one filled with puzzlement, shifting disbelieving eyes between the wolf and her own flesh and blood.

“My child, you’re quite the..vibrant one, aren't you.”

Enid’s smug face faltered with a hint of concern, and the grandmother seemed to pick up on this, thankfully.

“You’ve got a lot of spunk to tease Wednesday like that. She needs someone around who can knock that ego of hers down a peg or two.”

Enid couldn’t help the soft smile that returned as Wednesday whipped back her head over her shoulder to confront the second direct assault on her pride within a 30 second span. Must have been some kind of a record.

“Don’t think the threat excludes you.”

“Enid dear, could you set these on the table for me?” Completely unfazed from her granddaughter’s warning.

The wolf looked down at what she supposed was an appetizer, but the offputting color and sharp aroma didn’t make it seem all that appetizing if she was honest. As she padded towards the table and away from the conversation, she didn’t fail to pick up a hushed whisper from the elder to the younger that had her stifling a giggle.

“Whatever happened to that color allergy of yours?”

“Shut up, Grandmama.”

The rest of the family began to settle into their chairs. From Enid’s limited perspective, the quickness with which they determined their places seemed to suggest that this was their typical set-up. They must have had family dinners together every night. How Enid wished she knew what that was like.

Morticia snapped her fingers at Pugsley as she set the toddler down in a booster seat beside her own. The boy gaped with wide eyes and already a mouthful of grandmama’s surprise appetizer stuffed in his mouth. She passed on a look that the boy apparently understood even though not a word passed between them. He then pushed away from his chair and wrapped himself around the table to then settle into a spare one beside his younger brother. He seemed only mildly annoyed as the toddler began to make use of those grabby hands of his to tug at the middle child’s dark locks.

“Enid, why don’t you sit across from myself.” Morticia waved a hand towards the seat Pugsley previously occupied. The wolf kindly nodded and took the matriarch up on her offer as she sat near the head of the table. Enid soon realized that her best friend most likely sat frequently to her right.

The others began to fall into place as all manner of food and drink arrayed before them. The still bubbling drink that tasted suspiciously like tea. The unappetizing-looking dip that probably was an odd version of a seafood dip did end up tasting surprisingly good. The ornate bowls and dishes that held the sizzling venison stir-fry. The savory air filled with the saltiness of the tenderloin paired with a fresh and earthy note of peppers and onions and a manner of other vegetables, all seemingly prepared fresh. It was a sight to behold. Maybe over the top for a simple family dinner.

Enid clenched the cutlery underneath her palm and noted something strange. It was wooden. Not only that, but it seemed a bit out of place when compared to the rest of the dinnerware.

Wednesday took her place beside the wolf and watched as she rolled the wooden utensil around in her hand as if she was trying to figure out what it was.

“It's called a fork, and I know you understand how to use one. What’s with the analyzing?” Wednesday whispered in a hushed tone.

“I’ve just never seen a wooden one. That’s all.” Enid peered over at Wednesday’s face.

“Well, we couldn’t use the silver ones. Now could we?” The psychic noted to her friend with a dark shadow that was etched on her face. She clearly still wasn’t over the whole event with the necklace. Enid had only remembered small portions of it, but she did remember the abject terror Wednesday held in that moment of time.

The raven’s look faltered when she met the gaze of the blonde’s who was overwhelmed by the thoughtful gesture and it was evident based on her expression.

“Don’t look at me like that. I wasn’t gonna let you tear into the meal hands first like you do at Nevermore. That would be embarrassing for everyone.” Wednesday teased with no real heat, trying to distract herself from that incessant gnawing in the pit of her stomach.

“It’s a lot easier to eat that way. Don’t knock it until you try it.” Enid bumped her shoulder lightly into Wednesday’s own, who ended up just rolling her eyes at the thought.

A loud series of noises, a clanging glass and a clearing of the throat, cut through the light chatter that previously filled the table.

“Mi familia, we are gathered here tonight for a very special occasion. The magnificent feast set before us today provided by a most handy companion, my dearest mother still wonderfully clinging with her stubborn talons onto life above ground.

He pauses only long enough to drop his head in enough time to dodge a knife thrown directly at his head. The utensil embeds itself into the wall behind him still wobbling with the force of which it was thrown.

“And, my own little storm cloud who crafted the meal we share today in honor of her newfound companion. We Addams, celebrate the miracle of her friendship to an actual living being, and the fact that Enid herself also claims this friendship. Enid, may all your enemies meet their end under the force of your bright and colorful claws, and may there never be a full moon that passes where you don’t strike fear into the hearts of children with your bone-chilling roar. To Enid!”

“To Enid!” The rest of the clan clings together their glasses, leaving the wolf still a bit stunned from the toast. In spite of the contents of it, the sentiment left a warmth imprinted upon her heart from the gesture.

“Your dad sure has a way with words. Am I seriously the first friend you’ve ever invited over here? I never imagined being on the receiving end of the red carpet treatment I was given by your family today. ” Enid giggled as she scooped up a mouthful of the delectable meal and began inhaling it, not fully realizing until now how hungry she actually was.

“Don’t talk while chewing your food.” Wednesday responded.

“And I’m pleased you feel welcome. If there is anything my family is good at is suffocating each other with their excessive love. At least it can be useful every now and again, even if I find it altogether overbearing.”

Enid thinks upon this for a moment.

“Heh, that's a typical Wednesday response if I’ve ever heard of one. Adverse to the dreaded emotions us mere mortals have to deal with.”

A huff of amusement escaped the girl beside her.

“Just promise me that you won’t take what you have for granted. I would have given anything to have the family you did growing up.” Enid’s previous light tone finished on a slightly more serious note. It drew Wednesday’s full attention back upon the wolf’s sky blue eyes. A tiny nod conveyed that the psychic understood the weight of her friend’s words.

“Oh, and for the record, you’re not.”

A hum left Enid and her furrowed brow in deep confusion.

“What?”

“You’re not the first friend I’ve brought over to the house.”

Still processing what she just heard, Enid stumbled through a few disbelieving blinks.

“Excuse me, wha-”

A loud and shrill voice interrupted Enid’s response.

“While we are all gathered together in one place, I’m gonna need you lazy lot to help out with food prep for Saturday, otherwise Cousin Cringe might actually try to eat us this time rather than the scraps he’ll be left with.” Grandmama begins loud enough for everyone at the table to hear.
“And you can all thank Pugsley for deciding to snatch the rest of the needed ingredients for the various meals in favor of bait and ammunition for his obsessive hobby. If no one is in objection, I plan to tie him on the roof in his sleep so the birds can come and peck his eyes out.” Pugsley progressively sank lower in his seat in a futile effort to avoid his grandmother’s wrath.

Enid decided to confront Wednesday about that little revelation a bit later. A need to help out the kid took over her thoughts, especially when no one responded immediately to Pugsley’s plight.

“No need for that, I’m sure we can help you find what you’re looking for!” Enid stuttered aloud.

“Um, what exactly do you need?”

Grandmama leaned an elbow on the table, propping her face while tilting it in thought. She mentally tallied all the damages Pugsley inflicted upon her stock.

“Well, the poco leaves, wool of the bat, and fizzing firesnaps are easy enough for me to restock myself. The most dire and complicated would be the Wolpertinger.”

Something familiar resonates within Enid, but she can’t place her finger upon it. She instead focuses on the exasperation evident in her friend and her parent’s expressions. A loud mutual groan sounded from all ends of the room.

“We don’t have that kind of time. Can’t the family just settle for some regular rabbit stew for once?” The braided girl dug the heel of her palm into her eye, attempting to push back the growing annoyance.

“You know as well as I why we can’t do that. Also, It’s not a matter of time, Wednesday. The gate is fixed, so travel won’t be an issue anymore. I’m more concerned about how difficult they are to catch.”

Morticia turned to her husband. Looking for his input into this apparent situation.

“They wouldn’t be so difficult to catch if the local Feuerbär didn’t guard them like it was protecting its own children.”

“That’s it!”

Grandmama yelped aloud as if lightning struck an idea directly into her brain. She stood abruptly from her chair and pounded her open palms upon the tabletop as she commanded the room’s attention.

Across from her, Pubert gave a loud giggle and slapped his tiny hands upon the table as well, clearly entertained by the way his grandmother commanded the room.

“The main dish. Roasted Feuerbär would be perfect!”

“You just had to mention the beast, Gomez.” Morticia rolls her eyes as Gomez realizes his mistake and sinks a bit in his chair.

“It has to best cousin Kazimir’s over-the-top Greater Komodo Dragon entree from last Halloween. That insufferable brat won’t shut up about being the greatest hunter this family has seen in a generation.”

“I’d love for him to say that directly to my face.” Wednesday got a bit heated, seeing it as an affront to herself.

“We wouldn’t be in this situation if you hadn't decided to skip last year’s gathering.” A previously quiet Pugsley had inserted his voice into the current family conversation.

Though his voice wasn’t as loud as the others around him. The conversation stilled to a halt when the slight unsteadiness in his voice was evident.

Enid heard Wednesday snap her mouth shut and grind her teeth ever so slightly.

A bit of mental math courses it’s way through Enid’s head. Wednesday was a transfer student and only became her roommate in November of last year. While last year’s Halloween was a time she wasn’t even aware of the girl’s existence, she could easily conclude from all of the various escape attempts early on that Wednesday wanted to be anywhere but here at that point in time.

Enid knew more than most as to what dejection looked like, being a constant with herself and her mother in particular over the course of her life.

So it surprised her when she realized the rest of the family was trying to mask it. The wolf saw that Wednesday’s family still carried a bit of hurt from that time in their lives. It made sense. Wednesday let Enid on the idea she had gathered earlier on that her parents were trying to turn her into a clone copy of themselves.

Having now met her family, she felt like it was less like a plot to turn her into one of them rather than helping their daughter find a place she could belong, where she could connect. They cared for her, and didn’t ask her to change who she was for them. This was something the wolf’s own family couldn’t boast of.

“Then I’ll make up for that this year.”

Enid was pulled from her thoughts hearing her friend’s voice.

“We’ll plan a hunt for tomorrow. If you think both the Feuerbär and Wolpertinger will be enough to shut Kazimir up then I’ll get them.”

“I hope you don’t plan to go alone.” Morticia’s concern is evident in her tone.

“Of course not. I’ll need some bait after all.” an iconic snarky response from the psychic rippled an air of levity within the family. Each member now ribbing the girl about her overconfidence. It was a sweet moment with the family, and Enid was happy to just bear witness to it.

She did feel a question rise within her during this whole exchange, and the need to know was pressing upon her uncomfortably.

“So, what exactly is a Feuerbär and Wolpertinger?”

“Wolpertingers are kinda like jackalopes with wings. That's one of the most annoying things about them.” The younger psychic gestured her hands as she described one of Saturday’s dinner options.

A revelation struck Enid suddenly.

“Wait, I know what that is! They are an exotic species of rabbit that my brother loves. My parents have them imported from Germany for his birthday each year.”

“However, they are exceedingly rare. My brother said once that they are only native to southern Germany. How exactly do you guys plan on hunting one?”

Subtle glances and looks were exchanged between the family, and none of this was lost on Enid.

“Oh, so she already knows that. Who’s gonna tell her then?” Pugsley teased, only heightening Enid’s suspicion.

“Tell me what? Wednesday?”

Enid's voice reached that high-pitched whine that dug into the psychic. Normally it only hit that frequency whenever the blonde was stressed, and Wednesday found it less and less tolerable to hear from her these days.

She lasers in on her brother to deal with the root of irritation.

“Pugsley, it really is not that big of a deal. So we’re spending a day of fall break in Germany tomorrow. I’m told most people prefer to travel for holidays anyways.”

“Hold the phone, You’re going halfway across the globe for a flying rabbit? Is there no such thing as express shipping around here?” The utter confusion resonated deep within the wolf.

“One, our family doesn’t communicate with phones, only crystal balls. Two, it's much faster for us to go by ourselves. Three, an Addams does their own hunting. Plus, it's a big family bonding thing we do and I expressly remember you asking to participate in those kinds of things on the drive over.”

The Addams quietly watched Wednesday and Enid with rapt attention. Why wouldn’t they? Never before witnessing Wednesday sit and rationalize things for someone else. Normally the raven would find ways to stress another out more, and not the other way around.

“Wait, you want me to join in on a family hunting trip?” Enid’s voice rasped, disbelieving of what she just heard.

“No, I want you to watch.” Wednesday’s signature sarcasm laid on thick. She leaned back and crossed her arms with a quirked brow.

The blonde remained in silence, still skeptical. This evoked a verbal reassurance from Wednesday.

“Of course I do, Enid. Did you really think I’m gonna drag you all the way here to just lock you up in the basement all break?” The psychic fought a teasing smile threatening to break across her face.

“I’m not gonna tell you what to do or force you to join, but I assumed you’d want to partner up with me.”

A sudden interjection from the head of the table resounded across the room

“You can’t just call dibs. Maybe Enid would want to be my teammate.” Gomez coughed loudly, still half-chewing his steak and attempting not to choke from the outburst.

“She is my friend, Father. You seem to be just bitter that we’re gonna overpower your team. You and Mother don’t stand a chance against the both of us.”

“I won’t be joining in, Ophelia and I haven’t caught up in forever and I’ve decided to spend the day with her while you all have fun hunting.” Morticia informed as she pointed a fork full of vegetables at a toddler now clawing at an escape from his chair.

Wednesday’s eyes were drawn to Pugsley in a questioning glare.

“Don’t look at me. I’ll blow things up no problem, but I’m not the subtle hunting type. Count me out.” Pugsley picked up the fork and began stabbing the untouched broccoli on his plate.

The glare rolled onto the older woman by her side.

“And who do you think is gonna watch after the house and keep the spirits from trashing this place when you guys leave? Nah, Lurch and I are gonna stay behind and let you lackeys do the work.”

A deep groan that was echoing off the walls from the butler sent a chill running down Enid’s spine.

A headache was forming between Wednesday’s eyes. She pressed upon the bridge of her nose to relieve some of the pressure building up.

“What, so no hunting competition? So much for the only exciting Addams Family bonding crap that we do consistently.” A bitter tone filled Wednesday’s mouth.

“Nobody said it was off, Wednesday.” Gomez began to form his own sly smile from the position he held at the head of the table, only to be met with the exasperated gaze of his daughter.

“Hate to break it to you, dad. Not going to be much of a competition if you’re on your own.”

“Who said he’s gonna be alone?”

Enid’s ears twitched from registering a new voice, bright and tinny. It’s one she hasn’t heard of before. The wisps of hair on her arms raised slightly in response to an odd change to the atmosphere of the room, almost as if it was charged with static electricity.

The curls around her head bounced as her head whipped to the source. Her blue eyes widened from the surprise.

A barrel-shaped man emerged from the corridor. He pulls the fedora from his head and lets the arm holding it wrap around him as he bows to the family in an enthusiastic greeting. As he dips his head low, Enid couldn’t help but notice the light bounce brilliantly off of his hairless skull. He pulled himself upright which allowed the wolf to analyze his face. The surprise was probably etched on her features to find that the man didn’t possess eyebrows, and had dark circles wrapped around sunken eyes that gave the impression that he hadn’t found a restful night in a decade.

He closed those dark eyes of his to allow space for a wide grin that emerged quickly on his face as he greeted the room.

The shock of observing this man couldn’t hold a candle to what Enid caught from the corner of her eyes.

The wolf’s wide gaze got impossibly bigger and her jaw slacked in disbelief as she pressed herself deeper against the grain of the table in order to obtain a better vantage point from the rare occurrence displayed by her friend.

Wednesday has matched the man’s grin with a genuine and brilliant smile of her own.

“Uncle Fester!” Wednesday breathed in pure elation and rose to a stand, open palms pressing upon the table. The blonde heard the sentiment echoed with an equal fondness by her brother, Pugsley, across the table.

Enid couldn’t tear her eyes away from that toothy grin and deep dimples found in Wednesday’s cheeks. She was so entranced that she almost missed a burning sensation building deep in her chest that threw her for a loop.

She dug one of those colorful nails of hers into the palm of her hand and bit the inside of her cheek. Her eyes danced between her friend and the uncle she clearly loved very much and wondered what she could do to get Wednesday to smile like that at her when she walked in a room.

“I thought that cult was holding you for ransom till Friday. Did they decide they couldn’t put up with you for that long?” Wednesday noted her clear surprise. Enid’s jaw dropped further. The man before them just shrugged in response and scratched the base of his head.

“You know, I’m convinced there is no more human decency in the world. I just wanna get paid for a job installing electricity in their base of operations. So what if I give the head honcho some constructive criticism when it comes to properly running a cult. The guy took it personally and decided to take me hostage and put a hefty price point on my safe return. Well… I showed him. I know I’m not worth that much in monetary value. So, I gave them all quite the shock and decided to spend the rest of the week helping out for Saturday.”

By this point, Gomez had darted around the dinner table in order to crush Fester in a vice-grip like hug, shaking the both of them violently.

“My brother! I’m so thrilled to see you this early. There is a lot to be done, and we are grateful for the extra hands.”

At this, a distinct slapping noise pounded the table in order to draw attention.

“I’m helping out, not replacing you, Thing. Jeez, as dramatic as always.” a laugh escaped Fester as the hand rolled backwards in order to flick him off.

“Helping out is a strong word for someone like you. The more likely scenario is that we’ll be cleaning up after you when you inevitably blow something sky-high.” A good natured grin emerged from the elderly woman at Wednesday’s side.

“Good to see you too, mother. And it seems like I’ve passed on the torch. Pugsley is more the explosive expert in the house now. Everyone knows the student eventually surpasses the master!” Fester leans over to ruffle the boy’s feathery black locks. Grandmama’s smile grew taut.

“Yeah, the student also took over your penchant for getting us into these messes.” The woman barked an amused laugh as Pugsley pulled his attention back to her with annoyance laced in his features.

“Come and sit, Fester. Make yourself a plate. Wednesday, Grandmama, and Thing made plenty.” Morticia gestures to an empty seat with her free hand, the other one occupied with holding back a squirming toddler from launching himself out of his chair.

Fester wrinkles the bridge of his nose and leans himself over the table to scope out the food options set before them. Letting his eyes rock back and forth over the dinner and appetizers, he settles a look upon his niece with an intrigued quirk of his hairless brow.

“Wednesday actually helped make dinner? Are we sure it's not poisoned?”

“Only yours.” The raven let a mischievous smirk settle on her face.

“How incredibly thoughtful of you.” Sarcasm definitely ran in the family.

The man’s curious gaze then flickered over naturally to Enid, tucked away by Wednesday’s side. He seemed genuinely surprised by her presence. Enid supposed she must have done a decent job hiding in the raven’s shadow as she observed the newcomer, for he didn’t seem to notice her at all until this moment.

“Hey, You’re new! The name’s Fester!”

The man extended a hand and offered a warm greeting. Enid was constantly amazed by the consistent welcome she’s received since walking through the doors.

The blonde motioned her own hand forward to be met with a solid handshake that caused her locks to frizz outwards ever so slightly. Concern must have been an evident enough emotion on her face to witness her hair acting so strangely, for the uncle rolls out a quick apology and notes how his electric personality has that effect on people. Grandmama’s snicker could be heard from her end of the table.

“Pleasure to meet you, Fester. I’m Enid, Wednesday’s friend and roommate at Nevermore.”

Fester blinked in surprise and recognition.

“Oh, You’re the ‘spark of warmth’ girl!”

A wave of confusion resonated around the entire room.

“I'm the what?” Enid whispered half to Fester and half to Wednesday, as if her friend had an explanation for such an odd remark. She locked eyes with the raven only to find that she was just as lost as Enid was.

Fester caught her eye and made a pointed face to Wednesday as if the girl should understand his reference, but her confused gaze only morphed into an annoyed glare as she waited for an explanation herself.

“You know, what that red-headed woman with the giant glasses told you when I was hiding in your dorm. She noticed that your roommate managed to bring out a spark of warmth out of you.” Fester shrugged, as if he was commenting on something as simple as the weather.

Enid’s heart leaped in her throat at this new revelation that was not lost on anyone but Fester, apparently. The wolf’s body cased up like stone. Wednesday’s family looked as if they were attempting not to react, instead frozen with wide eyes hinting at an influx of thoughts coursing through their minds.

She was brave enough, finally, to roam her gaze up to Wednesday herself. Bianca would have been impressed by the immense splash of color that cascaded over her cheeks and down her neck. A horrified expression flashed across her face and wordless stutters was all the girl responded with. It was a rare form when Wednesday was rendered speechless.

“Enid, I’ve got to say, I admire that extensive collection of stuffed animals you have in that room you share. That must have taken years to amass it all.”

It was now Enid’s turn to feel heat rising to her face.

“That little elephant ball shaped one really resonated with me. Reminded me of my own childhood. I saw a lot of resemblance between us, and felt like we connected on a personal level.”

Enid could hear a clicking sound inside her own head when she connected some stray puzzle pieces.

“You?! You’re the one who took Duke Oliphant?!”

Not expecting this turn of events, the rest of the family sat in utter confusion. A couple of members wordlessly mouthing the word ‘Oliphant’ as if the motion of saying the word would help bridge the widening gap in knowledge.

Wednesday had since buried her face in her hands and the grip she had on her skull seemed to tighten when she learned her uncle stole one of Enid’s stuffed animals.

“Oh! What a fancy name. I was more partial to ‘Buster’ myself, but l suppose we could compromise with just ‘Duke’ or even ‘Ollie’. Those seem more fitting.”

Grandmama had chucked the glass she was holding at her son’s head. The object staggered him back a ways and it bounced off and shattered on the floor.

“What the hell do you think is going on here, Fester? Do you think you two are sharing custody of a stuffed elephant? It’s not even taxidermied. Give the damn thing back to her, you fool.”

Fester blinked away the stars in his vision and made an apologetic motion towards the blonde.

“Sorry, Enid. You’ll have to forgive me. I’ll return Buster back to you. It’s difficult to shake the kleptomaniac in me sometimes.”

“Just pure maniac will do.” Wednesday’s muffled response came from behind her hands pressing ever deeper into her face.

Wednesday’s parents had erupted into a bout of laughter. The odd tension from a strange series of events now evaporated like the morning dew. The family now fell into a cadence of teasing Fester for his antics paired with questioning him about his experience with this mysterious cult.

Enid couldn’t help but giggle herself. Her time so far with the Addams has been so strange, yet so fun. She knew this family was a special case, but couldn’t help wondering if any normal and loving family wouldn’t echo the recurring themes found within their mutual bond. After all, she didn’t remember the last time she felt this seen and cared for.

She picked up and rolled the wooden fork in her hands once more. Not just by Wednesday, but every member of this clan. Enid sat silently in her chair and ruminated on this for a moment.

“I meant to ask you, were the gardens the only location in the house you saw after I left?”

Pulled from her thoughts, Enid settled her gaze on Wednesday. The psychic whispered the question so only Enid would be wrapped up in their conversation. The wolf felt her heartbeat pulsate in her throat witnessing the braided girl give her a gentle look from behind her now singular hand propping her face up.

Enid didn’t trust her voice not to waver, so she looked away and focused on leveling her tone when she acknowledged the girl with a simple ‘yes’.

Wednesday only hummed in response. A bit of a pause before Enid followed up with a whispered question of her own.

“Why?”

That soft and almost sleepy look of Wednesday’s morphed into something more alive. Enid observed carefully as Wednesday surveyed their surroundings with a series of darted glances, checking if any member of the family was paying the two girls any attention. When Wednesday seemed satisfied that all of the family’s focus was completely invested upon Fester, Enid felt a shiver waterfall down her back when her friend’s free hand slipped into her own.

Wednesday pulled her propped hand away from her face in order to make a quiet signal to Enid, with a singular finger pressed upon her lips. Enid nodded in understanding and obedience.

Like thieves in the night, the two snuck away from the lively kitchen scene without a passing glance from the other members of the family. Wednesday, hand firmly guiding Enid down a dim hallway, focused on the path to their destination.

“Where are we goin-”

“I’m not going to spoil the surprise, Enid.”

The wolf’s heart may as well have been a Timpani. She was almost afraid that Wednesday could feel her heartbeat through touch alone. Maybe it was also a symptom of pure exhaustion. Her head spun and skin tingled, but the light-headedness gave voice to thoughts a less exhausted Enid might have stifled.

“First you make my favorite meal, then you’ve got a surprise waiting for me? I could get used to this version of Wednesday.” Enid chimed as she was pulled forward by her friend. Wednesday’s hands tensed ever so slightly around Enid’s own.

“Don’t even, I felt like I had to apologize for forcing you to spend your break with clan psycho.” Wednesday’s response matched Enid’s previous levity, but the sentence rendered the wolf into a halt, yanking the psychic back a bit with the force of her stop.

“Why? Your family has been more welcoming, more kind than my own has been to me or any friend of mine.”

Wednesday, only half joking with her response, didn’t expect a completely serious Enid staring her down. She let her gaze wrap back to look at the opening of a room ahead of them. She exhaled a resigned sigh and spun her whole body to face Enid, fully knowing the wolf had something to get off of her chest. She silently gave the wolf her undivided attention.

“I’m the very definition of ‘weird as shit’ to your family. I dress in brighter colors than your average Barbie for crying out loud. Not once has anyone in your family disregarded me or made me feel lesser for it.”

“I mean, I’m sure it's an adjustment on both sides. Your family has been so patient with me as I try not to freak out over plants with teeth and giant octopuses. However, that doesn’t change the fact that I am way happier here than I ever would have been had I went to San Fran for the break. I really wish you would stop putting your family down, Wednesday. You seriously have the best, and I need you to know that.”

Her stupid voice gave away how deeply she felt about this. She really should have brought this up later, but her impulsive nature compounded with how exhausted she was decided that now was a great time to dig into Wednesday’s personal life. Great going, Enid. Now Wednesday and her were going to have a fight about it, forget the surprise. She was too tired to-

“You’re right.”

Enid had to analyze Wednesday’s simple expression. There was no way the girl was going to acknowledge that her friend was right without a fight, but only was met with mere honesty.

“I’ve..I..I’m learning that. I mean.” Wednesday stumbled through her sentence, trying to verbally sort out something she’s still processing through.

Enid visibly softened at this. She knows there is a lot this girl is still probably working through and sorting out in regards to family. If there is anything Enid understands, it is that families are messy. In spite of how Wednesday paints her relationship with her family, it is evident to Enid that they all deeply care for one another, and she has been so grateful to feel even the tiniest bit apart of something she’s sorely missed.

Enid squeezed Wednesday’s hand, still wrapped around her own, to draw her from her deep thoughts and change the tone.

“Hey, so what’s this surprise you’ve got for me?” A snarky grin appeared on Enid that practically drew out a laugh from her braided friend.

“We are practically here, so you’ve got to close your eyes before we go any further.” Two could play at this game.

“What? Why do I have to close my eyes, It's right around the-”

“Just do it, Enid.”

Enid closes her eyes, but not before she dramatically rolls them around in a teasing motion.

Their movement is slow, and Enid finds herself impatient.

Enid carefully opens an eye to hopefully get a peek. Wednesday is currently peering around the corner of a room and levels her face back at Enid’s in enough time to catch her cheating.

Although Enid is now caught, she doesn’t find herself feeling guilty at all, especially when bearing witness to a small grin Wednesday apparently felt safe enough to free when the wolf’s eyes were closed. That grin quickly spread into a playful glare that indicated to Enid the girl was now in for it.

“Hey, you little sneak!”

Wednesday yanked Enid closer and made a swift motion to catch her face into the palm of her free hand as she fell forward from the force. She angled the hand to wrap around both of her eyes, forcing Enid into keeping them closed.

The wolf might as well have been malfunctioning at that point. Her thoughts and emotions were consumed by the fact that Wednesday was so close. Each place the psychic’s hands met against Enid felt like wildfire. She bit her tongue until she tasted copper, so afraid a series of senseless noises would escape from her and give away what was hiding inside.

The hand against her face held tight as the psychic led them both forward into the room, the overwhelming sense of black tea and old parchment wondrously dousing her senses as Wednesday’s wrist pressed against her nose. The hand cradling her face slips away, but Enid’s eyes remain closed, waiting for her friend to give a verbal confirmation.

“Now you can open your eyes. Was that really so hard?” The dark haired girl laughed.

Enid let her eyes flicker open to slowly let her eyes adjust to the object before her. When recognition hit her, she practically dropped to the floor.

The most pristine and luxurious grand piano she’s positive she will ever bear witness to is set artistically before her. The gleam of the dancing flames lighting up the room are mirrored perfectly as they bounce off the onyx surface, replicating sheer black ice. The object looked both brand new, untouched as well as classic and vintage. How it managed that Enid will never know.

Each key was as dark as the midnight sky, a detail that was custom made, and hinted at a growing expense that would probably make the wolf pass out if she knew what this piano was valued at.

Beyond the piano, Enid noticed the room itself, shaped uniquely and doing a perfect job at displaying the piano attractively. The pale, partial moon greeted the girls as Enid noticed a brilliant skylight shaped from the domed ceiling above them. It made this extravagant room appear all that more impressive, which was now quite a feat.

Only stunned noises escaped the wolf and Wednesday stifled a laugh watching her friend’s wild expression, clearly pleased at rendering the girl speechless.

“I knew you’d like it. Feel free to play whenever you’d like. The room was built with this piano in mind, so the acoustics are perfect. I’ve been dying to see a professional put this piano and room to good use.”

“Are you sure it’s okay for me to play it? What if I break it or mess it up in some way? This piano is literal perfection, Wednesday. I can’t just-”

After rolling her eyes in annoyance, the raven wraps around her friend and shoves her forward to settle on the bench. Wednesday finds her own place beside Enid that makes the wolf’s throat dry from the surprising proximity.

“Shut up and just play.” Wednesday commands, and Enid does just that.

Settling her graceful fingers upon the keys, she lightly taps upon the makings of a song filled with the same warm emotion that persisted within her since walking through the doors of this manor.

Mere notes into the song, she’s overwhelmed. She knew Wednesday said that the acoustics were perfect, but the notes rang out and she wasn’t at all prepared. Her heart melted and puddled beneath her feet and tears stung at her eyes.

Her hands, suspended and hovering over the last chord, were trembling ever so slightly.

“You okay?” Wednesday hummed softly by her side. Enid swiped at her face, suddenly flustered that her friend might notice that she’s already crying.

“Yeah, yeah. I just… wasn’t prepared for how amazing this actually sounds.” her raspy voice gave her away. She bit her cheek in annoyance with herself, a weak chuckle escaping her.

Wednesday sat patiently, quietly by her friend’s side. She looked upwards at the moon greeting them both and casting a luminous glow upon them.

“It’s okay if you’re not feeling up to it. You’ve had a long night already, and we probably should go ahead and get you to bed. Long day tomorrow.”

Wednesday began to shift upwards from the bench, but Enid rapidly pulled her back down at her side.

“No, I wanna play.”

Without a second thought between them, Enid pressed onward.

Simple, bright chords rang out into the room that gently immersed the two into the music. As if she’s practiced this next part for years, Enid masterfully rolls her fingers around the keys in a manner that grew more complex and more precise by the moment. That familiar wave of awe washed over Wednesday. It was a never ceasing emotion she could reliably count on experiencing when witnessing the wolf tame the instrument.

The complex series of notes punctuated the loud silence that followed closely after, giving room for the listener to digest the powerful impact of the revealed melody.

It was gentle and tender. Full of this raw emotion that felt like an exposed heart beating in the cavity of an opened chest. Even Wednesday was floored by the intensity of this bleeding melody.

Every now and again, Enid would hover her precise hands over the top of the fret board and play an echo of the melody she wrote just moments ago into the electric charged air. Only now the echo was light and airy, as if she hit the keys with the pressure of a feather. Yet, the residual impact of these graceful notes carved deep rivets into Wednesday’s soul. The effect of it all made her chest contract almost painfully, rendering it more difficult to gather a deep breath.

Enid softened her form exponentially in anticipation of the oncoming bridge. She shifted along with the music, becoming more confident and sound when unfolding this brilliant new structure and unveiling an unseen form of poetry into the atmosphere.

Wrapping up the striatic and complex chords that would gently lead them back into the recurring melody, Enid places a whimsical air on the repeating notes they listened to just a moment before. The corners of the raven’s mouth twitch in fighting a smile. That may as well have been the equivalent of Enid showing off her brilliant talent. Masterfully evolving something already fantastic into something greater still unceasingly impressed the girl, and knew she could honestly sit and listen to her friend show off forever, and enjoy every second of it.

Turning her face towards the moon and letting her eyes close in concentration, she let a warmth overcome her. Extracting every precious moment as Enid spilled pure beauty into the air around them.

Since she was in deep concentration mode, Wednesday caught on quickly when the cadence of the keys began to slow. It was too slow to be any actual part of the song, so Wednesday stirred in enough time to watch as Enid’s head bobbed in a goofy manner. She was valiantly fighting off sleep while still never actually playing a wrong note. An amused scoff escaped the raven at witnessing this, and Enid’s head began to rock at an increasing frequency.

Just before the wolf’s head crashed into the sheet note stand embedded into the piano, Wednesday grabbed her head and wrapped an arm around her temple to let the wolf nestle into the crevice between her shoulder and neck. Her soft blonde hair tickled her nose and filled her senses with bergamot and eucalyptus paired with fresh air rolling off a tropical sea. Her own eyes grew heavy and her body wanted to collapse as well.

“Enid, Enid are you awake?” Gentle, prodding fingers tapped lightly on her forehead to elicit a response that only was met with a gentle snore.

“Heh, suppose it was a miracle she stayed awake this long.” Wednesday whispered in amusement to no one in particular. Her body adjusted to let the wolf’s completely limp form roll into her arms as the psychic finally called it a night to give the both of them some much needed rest.

Notes:

-Another novel of a chapter! It's just the gift that keeps on giving!

-Honest, this was the condensed version. I'm not even joking right now. There was a whole extra dinner game I had planned I may toss in come a later chapter, but if this thing got any longer it would have become its own book, Haha!

-I did my best with the timeline. It's definitely fall time when the show starts, and I feel personally that Halloween has passed by the time Wednesday shows up on campus. However, beyond that we don’t see much in the way of timelines with this show. I could be wrong, but that works for my story, so I’m just rolling with it.

-Fester is here!! I've been dying to write him in so bad! He's such an amazing comedic relief that is so unique and quirky. Now that I've seen a great deal of the major Addams Family content, I've got to say that I adore the goofy nature of Jackie Coogan's 1960s version. He's so odd and lovable at the same time, and it is such a joy to write and flesh out a character like that. No diss on Christopher Lloyd's at all, that Fester was so iconic, but I'm happy to see a lot of similarities with Fred Armisen's Fester and Coogan's.

-Piano Enid is also back! That scene between the two was a major section that I knew I would want a great deal of this chapter to revolve around, but setting up Fester as well as the hunting arc was going to take a lot of leg work as well. I think that's why this chapter ended up so dense. Don't regret a thing though, its been so much fun to write!

-The song Enid is playing at the end can be found in the link below! I'm not even going to lie, I'm a huge video game nerd. I've been following this artist forever to find the most amazing piano renditions from some of my favorite video games, and she is beyond brilliant. This is my story, and I'm gonna happily introduce you all to this wonderful music so I hope you enjoy and give the artist a follow and maybe dive into one of the games I cherish the most!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hezFbG6nPXY

-If you know the setting with which you hear this song play in game then I hope you enjoy the implications!

-Thank you all and I can't wait to start writing more!

Chapter 10: Heart of the Forest

“Mmm.. Five more minutes.”

Enid felt a gentle prodding on the square of her back, her fuzzy mind managed to comprehend. She only nestled deeper into the comforter. The warmth from her body trapped in the bedding cradled her in a pleasant little cocoon she wouldn’t mind remaining in for the rest of her days.

She dug her face deeper into the cool, feathery pillow and tightened her grip on the sheets surrounding her. The faint pinpricks of her mind recalled the most delightful dream regarding Wednesday and a piano she wanted to etch in her mind before the fog of morning could wipe clean its memory.

Was it morning, though?

Enid blinked open and peered through squinting and burning eyes still begging to be shut. The world around her was pitch black. Her bleary eyes managed to focus on a window in front of her, curtains rustling in the gentle and cool air of the room. It was still dark outside with not a hint of light. She let the heaviness of her eyes win and closed them once again now paired with furrowed brows in confusion.

That light prodding returned now between her shoulder blades she desperately wanted to ignore.

“Tiisnotevenmorning.” The wolf’s groggy voice mumbled deeply and finished with a tone that sounded more like a whine. Her limbs subconsciously stretched forward to shake off the slumber.

An open palm rapt more frequently upon Enid now that they seemed to register she was at least partially awake. Enid couldn’t ignore the motion for much longer, lest she begin to lash out in annoyance. The wolf audibly groans and rolls to the other side in order to face the disturber of her lovely slumber.

Where Enid expected to see a person at the edge of her bed, she only found a blank wall staring back. That was until a tiny hand reached up over the side to blindly wave around in hopes of hitting its target.

Enid opens her eyes a bit more and pops the top of her face over the side of the mattress.

A grinning toddler registered the motion and placed his head skyward to smile up at the blonde.

“Wolfie, wakey.” He whispered up at her in such a sweet way that Enid’s heart practically melted.

“Ohh..You’re so precious, but I really don’t want to wake up. It's too early.” Enid matched the boy’s volume. She closed her eyes and settled her head back on the pillow, hoping that the dark haired kid would wander away on his own.

A pair of slightly heavier footsteps could be heard entering the room.

“Did you get her to wake up?” Wednesday whispered to the boy.

“Nope.” Comes Enid’s slightly muffled response from her head digging back into the pillow.

Wednesday’s mouth grows taut in response. She turns to her tiny brother and tells him to go wait with their parents and that she can take it over from here.

“Enid, we’ve got to go. I promise you can sleep a bit when we get there, but we’re gonna miss breakfast if we don’t leave soon.” She dropped a duffle bag and opened a zippered compartment to ruffle through and reassure herself that everything needed was inside.

“But the sun isn’t awake, so I’m not awake.” The wolf mumbled.

“Enid.” Wednesday hisses as she forcefully re-zips the duffle bag.

“I’ve already packed our gear, all I need you to do is walk upstairs and then you can sleep some more.” Wednesday tried to make it sound more like an order and not like she was begging.

“Whattimeevenisit.” Enid’s voice weakened as she clearly was close to losing consciousness.

“Almost three in the morning.”

“What!?” The wolf’s voice came back stronger than before.

“Time difference. We have to be set up and ready before noon in Germany’s time, otherwise the hunt is just going to get that much more difficult.”

The psychic was met with silence, and she could feel her annoyance growing.

“Fine then. You clearly need your sleep, so I’ll just leave you be and head out. See you tomorrow.” The raven’s light footsteps began to make their way to the door to pick up and shoulder the duffle bag. Enid shot her torso up in a panic.

“Nononono..iwannago, iwannago” More mumbling. Wednesday clicked her tongue and let the bag slide off her shoulders.

She reared around the room to settle in front of her friend. She eyed the wolf up and down to find that she didn’t even have the strength to open her eyes, she had a wild bed-head going on, and she could barely keep her body upright as she teetered back and forth from her spot on the mattress.

“Come on then, stand up.” Wednesday ordered.

There was a three second delay between the demand and Enid jumping into action. Clearly a result of her mind barely functioning at this hour in the morning. Her eyes still remained tightly shut as she blindly grasped for the edge of the bed. Once found, she angled herself to push off, but ended up just dramatically sliding down as her jelly-like legs gave way under her weight and she crumpled unceremoniously into the floor.

Wednesday pressed her hand quickly over her mouth to stifle a snort of laughter that if Enid had been aware enough to register, she surely wouldn’t have ever let her live down.

The wave of laughter had passed enough for Wednesday to gather her bearings and give Enid another command.

“Climb back on the bed, Enid.” A deep whine escaped the wolf.

“Butiwannagowithyou.” The girl mumbled into the wooden boards making up the floor.

“Dammit! Sit on the bed!” A light and mirthy demand revealed that Wednesday clearly found her friend’s display at least a bit amusing.

“Mmkay.” That sad whine almost made Wednesday crack up once more. The wolf still thought she was leaving her behind. Wednesday had to help shoulder half her weight as the two girls fought to settle Enid back on the edge of the bedding.

Wednesday stood up and went to grab the duffle bag. She fidgeted with the straps as she padded back to the bed and slung the moderately light object over onto Enid’s back and began securing it so the girl didn’t have to focus much on keeping it in place.

Once the task was complete, she then turned away from a deeply pouting Enid who still had not once opened her eyes throughout this whole endeavor.

“Okay, hop on.”

Enid’s confusion had her pulling her burning eyes slightly ajar that widened in surprise when she saw Wednesday kneeling with a single shin propping her up from the ground. She had her back facing the wolf and turned her head just enough to observe the blonde from the corner of her eye.

“what’reyou-”

“Are you coming or not!?” Wednesday’s voice grew strained. Enid was definitely testing her patience.

If Enid was any less sleep deprived at this moment, she would have been riveted. Probably teasing the psychic a bit through the shock and awe of the fact that THE Wednesday Addams was offering her a piggyback ride.

However, Enid was plenty sleep deprived. With only enough brain functionality to merely obey the simple commands her friend gave her. The wolf had once again pushed herself off the bed and ungracefully collapsed onto Wednesday.

Enid instinctively let her arms wrap tightly around her shoulders as she felt the weight of her legs being lifted and held securely against her hips. A wave of old library books and pine needles lulled the wolf back into a slumbering state. Without much thought or awareness of what she was actually doing, the wolf found her new favorite place to rest her head and began to nuzzle her face into the place where Wednesday’s shoulder and neck joined. She almost swore it was getting warmer.

The last of Enid’s awareness purely fell into a sensory observation. Being on the cusp of falling back into REM sleep, the world around her melded into muffled and far-away noises. Her tight embrace on Wednesday being the only thing tying her to reality. Even then, it still felt like a dream.

Bright flashes of light.

A weird shift in gravity.

All the moments Enid recalled last before finally giving way to deep sleep.

------------------------------------

It was the cacophony of birds chirping that initially nudged her away from the silent recesses of her mind. They were so bright and vivid. It was a wonder that the Addams family put up with that cheery noise every morning. It was like being in the heart of the forest.

There was a chill to the air around her face, but she was snug under layers of knitted blankets. The fuzziness creeping on the edges of her mind seemed to retreat and her focus sharpened when that astute wolfish nose of hers began to pick out a distinct mix of fir needles, rich earth, cinnamon, and syrup. After the realization she internally laughed at how quickly she heard her stomach rumble. Hunger pangs soon followed suit.

Soft murmurs of human voices could be picked out. They were distant and low, definitely in another room. Enid was torn between keeping her eyes shut and obeying the incessant groan of her stomach. A faint scuffling noise to her left caught her immediate attention, and she finally allowed the soft light to filter through her irises.

Green. There was a lot of it. From the faded sage of the floral patterned wallpaper to the abundance of house plants, vines, and moss she found scattered over nearly every crevice of the room. Flowers of every shape and size seemed to be planted all over.

No wonder it smelled like a forest floor. Large window panes revealed a vast expanse of trees shrouded by the mist of the morning close enough to touch.

This wasn’t Wednesday’s house. There was no way. Not even a hidden section of the conservatory. Then that left her with a question.

If this wasn’t that gothic manor in New Jersey, then where in the world was she?

Enid rolled onto her side. The knit blankets hiding the lower half of her face. She realized she was in a living room of sorts. It was a homey room with a tall wooden panel ceiling and a large stone hearth grounding it all with all sorts of rustic decorations adorning the room. Looking around, She realized that she was settled on an antique emerald sofa. How did she get here again? She couldn’t remember anything at all.

A sudden movement in the corner of her eyes pulled them away and settled on a blonde boy in the center of the room, crossed-legged on a mossy-looking round rug. Paper folded like origami was encircling him. Enid was startled to realize that she never even noticed he was there.

He was too engrossed in his task to realize the girl beside him had awoken from her slumber, and instead continued to fold the paper in his hands with purposeful intent. Quietly, she watched in wonder as she did her best to figure out what this kid was working on.

Deft, tiny fingers laced around each other to fold the piece several times. Once he seemed satisfied with his work, he began to pick the completed origami triangles up one by one and stick them on the ends of his fingers, creating something akin to claws.

The blonde-haired child with bouncy ringlets smiled brightly, and he began to flex his fingers, admiring his work. He jumped up suddenly to Enid’s surprise, and placed himself in a crouch as if he was stalking his prey. The sweetest sounding roar emanating from his childish voice.

It was then his eyes, blue as ice, caught Enid’s. His soft little smile widened impossibly, and his roar, now aimed at Enid, got louder. It was like he was trying to impress her. The wolf covered a soft giggle in her warm hand watching the curious child.

“Now I’m just like you, Ennie.”

The smile dropped from her face and she blinked several times instead. That voice was so familiar, and how did this child know her name? She’s never before seen this kid in her life. She pushed the upper half of her body from its settled place on the sofa.

Blonde curly hair, blue eyes, rosy cheeks. No. She had no idea who this child was. Startled, she began to further analyze the place, trying to remember how she got there and how she was going to get out.

“Winnie told me when wolfie wakes to tell you to go get bweakfast.” That childish voice rung out softly.

“Winnie? Wolfie-” Enid voiced softly as she tried to work out what was going on.

Enid’s face grew in shock when the puzzle pieces in her brain started to click.

“P-Pubert?! Is that you” She whispered, stuttering in a strained tone.

“It’s waffles and cimmaninon rolls.” He whispered back eagerly without pause. The toddler did his best to pronounce ‘cinnamon’.

“But..But-” Enid mumbled in pure confusion. The boy only responded by making air grabbing motions that indicated he wanted to be picked up. Enid rose from her sunken spot on the sofa and scooped the child up in her arms. She ran a hand through his hair, trying to figure out if he found a bottle of bleach somewhere and stuck his head in it.

She didn’t even want to know what happened to his eyes. Although it calmed her to see the child with a fully shaven face for once.

“Please tell me I wasn’t supposed to be watching you and fell asleep! How did your hair turn blonde..and grow overnight? Oh, I’m so dead.” She tousled his hair further, hoping it was something like powder and the color would just fall out.

“Bweakfast!” He demanded with a clawed finger that pointed Enid to where she was supposed to go.

“Ooohh..” She admitted defeat nervously and carried the boy closer to the muted voices coming from around the corridor.

As she padded down the hall with Pubert now playing with her hair with his ‘claws’ she began to wonder if she was thrown into some weird alternate universe, especially when she turned the corner and squinted through the natural morning light spilling into the cottage to see another familiar looking face looking significantly different than before.

Enid paused further down the corridor to escape notice. She took her time to analyze Mortica pouring cups of orange juice at the kitchen bar visible from the other end. It wouldn’t have seemed too out of place for her except for the bright blonde hair, white flowy dress, and the daisy crown she adorned on her head. It was just weird enough for Enid to be almost positive she was in some wacky universe where the Addams Family were all blonde hair and blue eyed hippies. If that was the case, she was dying to find where Wednesday was and see if her theory held.

As she cautiously worked her way down the hall, Morticia registered the movement and set her crystal blue eyes upon Enid with a surprised smile to find her guest finally awake.

“Ahh, well look who finally shows her face! If it isn’t our own sleeping beauty! I wasn’t sure if you were going to awaken in time for breakfast, but it looks like our Bertie helped you out there. We saved some waffles and cinnamon rolls for you dear. Help yourself!”

The voice was so much more colorful and energetic than Enid remembers it, but this was some weird upside down world she found herself in after all. She felt a pressing need to ask her, though.

“Um, Morticia? Am I imagining things, or is everyone turning into a blonde?” Enid tightened her grip on the boy to rub the sleep out of her eye with her other hand.

“Unfortunately, that seems to be the case. You’ve nearly outnumbered us already.”

A voice further into the room sent a wave of surprise through the wolf as she finally walked through the arch to find the rest of the family all gathered at the large kitchen table. Somehow, it was almost more odd to see this gothic family before her settled down around a homey little cottage in the middle of the woods with piles of waffles, cinnamon rolls, and greenery covering every inch of the oaken table than it would have been to wake in a universe where it was permanently opposite day.

Wednesday caught her eye first, motioning with a flick of her head to an open chair left beside her. Sitting on her opposite was Morticia finishing up the rest of her-

Wait.

Enid snapped her head back to the blonde version of Morticia. After all, there were two of her here. One looked normal, at least for an Addams, and the other looked like she belonged inside of a Disney movie.

She must have made some kind of confused stutter, for the blonde woman laughed as she recognized the reason for that wild-eyed look she was giving her. With a hand extended gracefully into the space between them as a gesture of goodwill, she offered up an explanation.

“Ophelia Frump. I’m Morticia’s older twin sister. I’ve already heard so much about you, and I’m thrilled to finally meet you.”

Enid took the hand offered to her and gave it a solid shake. Relief flooded her veins. At least she knew she wasn’t seeing things.

“Oh, That makes so much more sense! It’s nice to meet you too, Ma’am.”

“You’re so polite, but it’s just Ophelia, dear. I’ve never in my life met a more horrid woman than Ma’am. She comes from their side of the family.” Ophelia gave the two men stuffing their faces with authentic Herzwaffeln waffles a teasing glance.

“Hey, I resent that.” Gomez managed to say with his mouth completely stuffed.

“But, we don’t disagree.” Fester piped up himself, confirming that this woman was actually the stuff of nightmares.

A distinct tugging on her blonde curls reminded her that she needed a couple more questions sorted out before she would be satisfied.

“Wait. Before we start going off on tangents, can someone explain to me, first, where are we? Second, How did we get here? And finally, is this actually Pubert?”

With an eager look on her face, Morticia spins around in her chair to face Enid in all of her confusion, ready to provide an answer.

“Don’t worry Enid, it took all of us a while to figure out what was actually going on with Bert. There’s a funny story that goes with that, actually.”

“Mother, if you tell the story it's going to take ages, and Enid still has to eat and get ready for the hunt.” Wednesday interjects, then taking a long sip from her pitch black coffee.

“The hunt. What the.. You guys were serious? We’re actually in Germany right now?!”

Ophelia claps her hands eagerly in rapid succession, gathering the room’s attention.

“In the most idyllic part of the country. The heart of Black Forest, Germany. It’s such a wonderful time of year here. We get this lovely nip in the air, but don’t lose any greenery. Evergreens are every-”

“HOW? How is that remotely possible? Wednesday, didn’t you wake me up at three in the morning at the house? What even is the time here?”

“10:30am” Pugsley announced.

A silent beat.

“Um.. that’s…What time is it over there again when it’s 10:30am here?” Enid asked aloud, not knowing the time difference off the top of her head.

Wednesday releases a long sigh, knowing that providing an answer won’t help Enid’s nerves.

“4:30am”

“THAT! How did you do that!? Black magic?” Enid’s voice is strained from the surprise.

“She’s not that far off.” Pugsley noted.

“Shut up, you’re not helping.” Wednesday reprimanded him, trying to avoid hyping her friend up more.

Ophelia jumped in to give the girl a sound answer.

“What Pugsley means to say, Enid, is that every person that has any direct ties to the Addams Family clan has access to a teleporting gate within their own house. The manor in New Jersey is kind of the hub connecting them all. Since my sister and Gomez are the heads of the family, we’ve set up a gate so the family at large has access to each other at a moment’s notice.”

“Oh! That’s actually pretty cool!” Enid’s intrigue shines.

“This makes our frequent gatherings more manageable.” Gomez burst out.

“And couch-surfing has never been easier!” Fester added.

Enid ponders on this for a moment, digesting this new bit of information about her friend’s family. A lot of obscure information Wednesday gave about her family over the last year began to make more sense given the context. How her family was spread across the globe, but could gather for events at a moment’s notice like time wasn’t a factor for them. It definitely made sense now.

Still, there was one more question that lingered in her mind.

“And Bert?”

Morticia opens her mouth, finger pointed upward as if she was eager to take point in answering this question. Yet, before Morticia can spend more of their precious time explaining, Wednesday, knowing her mother’s long-winded tendencies, butts in.

“We used to think it was an illness, but he’s actually just a shapeshifter. He changes his look to mimic people he likes, and right now it seems that he likes you and Aunt Ophelia more than the rest of us.” Morticia spins towards her daughter all aghast, as if she was offended that Wednesday took her moment to shine. The goth just stares her down as she takes another swig of coffee.

The mother spins back toward Enid as she rounds off Wednesday’s answer with a complete explanation.

“There hasn’t been a shapeshifter in the family since Great-Great Uncle Salamander!” Morticia proudly notes as Pubert claps his hands in response to his mother’s doting.

He looses a few makeshift origami claws in the process as they clatter on the floor. Wednesday bristles a bit. It seems no one but her understands the time pressure they face, so she decides to hurry things along.

“Happy now? All of your questions have an answer. Now, give him to Aunt Ophelia and sit down. You need to eat while I’m going over plans. This needs to be quick though. You still need to get dressed and we need to be out of here in an hour.”

“Good morning to you too, Winnie.” Enid says with a sarcastic flair and knowing smirk, understanding the nickname will get under her skin.

Wednesday genuinely is shocked, and left speechless for a moment. Her family poorly attempted to hide snickers and giggles, amazed at Enid’s fearlessness and audacity.

How did she know that nickname?

…unless.

Wednesday shouts Pubert’s name in irritation. He was the only one who called her that, and she couldn’t threaten him enough to stop it yet. The boy jumped down from Enid’s arms in fear, and wobbles his way behind Ophelia to grab her calves and hide behind her dress.

She then glares down the wolf, who is rendered smirk-less when the psychic trained a steely gaze towards her.

“Enid, I don’t think you understand your situation enough, so let me spell it out for you. I didn’t have to bring you along, nor so generously let you sleep in another hour while we made breakfast. I still don’t have to take you.”

Enid feels her mouth go dry.

“So, you either do as you’re told or I’ll send you back home myself.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll be good.” Enid quickly responds to the reprimand. The rest of the family doing their absolute best to pretend to busy themselves as Wednesday gave Enid a verbal lashing.

“Better. Now eat.”

Wednesday prods a finger on the table to motion to Enid to take a seat beside her, and the wolf beelines to the chair and starts grabbing for everything in front of her to fill her plate and prevent any further scolding from the young psychic.

(Note to self, don’t poke the bear so early in the morning. Especially when she’s had no sleep herself.)

Soon, the pile is full of waffles, cinnamon rolls, strawberries, and blueberries. Lots of syrup. The previously ignored pangs of hunger she felt in her gut began to subside quickly as she takes her first few mouthfuls.

As she bites into a strawberry and dabs a napkin on her cheek as the overflow of juice runs quickly off her chin, she notices the scene in front of her.

There is a map on the table. Weathered and curling at the edges. Lots of markings and scribbles already arrayed over the largest sections. Enid is sitting there trying to decipher it. Red and blue ink lines dashed around the page in wide, sweeping movements.

Wednesday, blue pen in one hand and red curled into her other palm, uses the blue as a pointer around the map to convey the information to Enid as best as she can.

“Okay, Enid. Since this is a competition, the plan is that we split up the common nesting grounds for the Wolpertinger. Dad and Uncle Fester will take the brush to the north. That leaves you and I heading south to the flower field. We have roughly 30 min to an hour to collect as many as we can. More than the opposing team.”

“Why is there not that much time to hunt them?” Enid asks.

“Well, Around early afternoon, the Feuerbär is going to start making the rounds. The rabbits and the beast have a symbiotic relationship. One protects the grounds where the rabbits nest, and the rabbits tend to draw in some of the Feuerbär’s favorite meals to their grounds with hunters frequently testing their luck and timing trying to gather a taste of the exotic and richly flavored rabbit.”

“Since the beast makes frequent laps between various caverns it resides in around the territory, we have to be stealthy. The second the Feuerbär catch sight of a hunter, they send the rabbits a signal roar and the creatures into hiding deep underground. We won’t be able to catch any more of them for a while when that happens.”

Enid slowly nods,
“Ah, I see why, now.”

“When the beast shows, we all should work our way to the center path and work together to take it down, is that understood by all?”

Each member of the collective hunting party gives a resounding yes.

Wednesday looks Enid in the eyes to convey this next part to her specifically.

“Enid, when the beast shows and we make our move on it, I want you to use the transport sleigh and bring everything we’ve collected back here while we take him down. Come back once you have dropped everything off and we should have enough time to eliminate it. Then we can collect him and then we’ll be done.”

“Whoa, whoa. Wait, Wednesday. Don’t forget that still have two sleighs in the shed. You don’t have to send a runner back, You know.”
Ophelia interrupted.

“I know that.” Wednesday stood firm.

“Okay, so why’s Enid coming back?” Pugsley laughed at Wednesday’s seeming gap in logic. Not knowing the choice was intentional on the psychic’s part.

“Because I said so.”

The relatively quiet room began to bustle with noise and interjection with Wednesday’s odd declaration. All were quickly coming to the wolf’s defense.

“And deny Enid the chance to help out on the best part of the hunt? Some friend you are.” Morticia notes, sipping her own coffee, eyes downcast upon her child.

“Yeah, Wends. If I can help out, I don’t want to leave the heavy lifting to just you three. That doesn’t seem very fair.” Enid places her own stake in the argument.

“Your mother’s right. Enid deserves to complete the hunt with the rest of us. Start to finish.” Her father points his fork full of waffle at the younger psychic.

In spite of adverse opinions surrounding her, the Raven remains stubbornly unyielding in her stance. Instead, she takes a differing approach.

“Enid, Do you even know what a Feuerbär is?” Wednesday turns to the blonde.

“Um no, but what does that matter?”

“Fire bear. They are extremely dangerous and territorial, especially this time of year.” The psychic fills her friend in.

“Okay, what’s your point? Isn’t that all the more reason for me to stay? You guys sound like you need all hands on deck to take this down.” Enid was quickly becoming just as stubborn as her counterpart.

“Actually, we could definitely use Enid’s help. Your claws would be a welcome addition.” Fester lightly interrupted while pouring down the bowl of blueberries in the middle of the table down his throat.

“She’s coming back with the sleigh. That’s final.” A clear line was drawn by Wednesday. That didn’t stop the wolf from continuing to argue her point.

“Um, hello? Do I get a say in this?” Enid fired back.

“No. You don’t. Listen, it's far too dangerous to let you near that thing. You have to fight close range and that is where it thrives. Plus, you may have some lingering effects from your silver poisoning that could hinder your fighting. Either way, you come back or don’t go at all.”

The line of tension grew taut between the two girls. A strong bout of sudden laughter drew away their mutual glare and pulled their attention to it.

“Wednesday, come now. I’m sure she’s more experienced than all of us combined. She is and was raised by werewolves after all.”

Gomez began wiping away tears from the corners of his eyes, as if his daughter was pulling some elaborate prank on them all.

“Right. It’s not like this is her first hunt. That would be absurd.” Pugsley joined alongside his father’s bout of laughter, and the rest of the family joined in.

Enid felt her gut suddenly sink low. She pulls the corner of her lip into her teeth. Hesitant to give away the truth to the crowd. A kind of embarrassment settles deep inside her.

She knows at least one person already knows, and she looks towards her direction.

Where there was previously a stern and stony expression, she was almost surprised to find an uncommon emotion for her. It’s softer, and almost apologetic looking. She remains silent herself, letting Enid decided on her next move.

No need to extend the inevitable.

“Actually, that part is true.” Enid relays quietly.

The mutual laughter quickly subsides, revealing the groups’s confusion and concern. All except for Wednesday, whose resolve is just strengthened.

Enid, disliking the uncomfortable silence that followed the confession offers a lighthearted statement.

“It’s really not that big a deal. I didn't have my first shift until earlier this year anyways.”

“But I was under the impression that all wolf children train and hunt in family packs starting when they first show extended fangs and claws. That’s well before they start their first shifts. Is that not right?” Ophelia ventures with hesitation, not wanting to offend her guest.

Enid can only look down in shame. She began picking at her her claws. They’ve extended ever so slightly in response to the internal duress that often comes on when talking about her family.

“That’s how it should work. Yes. Not every family is great about adhering to that, though.” Enid says with a clear note of bitterness ringing from her darkened tone.

The family remained quiet, easily being able to read between the lines. The silence persisted on for a moment or two. Wednesday spoke up first.

“Alright then. Dad, Fester, go get the sleigh ready. I’ll go with Enid to get her outfitted and we will meet you outside when we are done.”

As she rises and pushes in her chair, Wednesday tugs on Enid’s shirt as she passes by to indicate that she needs her to follow along.

Enid repeats her initial motion and walks quietly behind Wednesday till they reach a spare room the psychic clearly had set aside for herself. The duffle bag on the bed with Enid’s gear set out and ready to go.

“The suit is fire resistant, light, and easy to move in. Just hop in and strap it over your regular clothes.” Wednesday informs with her back turned and kneeling over a bag containing a crossbow. She was double checking its contents to make sure everything needed is inside.

Enid wants to snap at her, ask her why she needs to wear this if she isn’t even going to be around for the part where this article of clothing would come in handy. However, she realized that would get her nowhere.

In spite of her base emotions, she really didn’t want to start a fight with her friend, but truly just desired to enjoy the time with her she was going to be present.

So instead, she just bites her tongue and grabs the fabric.

She pulls the suit over each leg and each arm through the respective sleeves. Then came time for her to strap the suit shut. Instead of a zipper, she finds a row of straps she has to weave and latch the front together.

Normally this wouldn’t be a problem, but as Enid begins to fumble with the straps, her grip gets clumsy. The claws are still extended enough to keep her from being able to even grip the strap properly. After a couple of seconds of messing with them, she’s about ready to explode.

“Dammit, dammit!” She hisses under her breath. The words came out more watery than she realized.

This immediately catches the psychic’s attention as she flips around to figure out what’s wrong.

Enid is practically about to rip through the suit with her claws when Wednesday darts forward to grab her wrists and pull them away. She then grabs a good look at Enid’s watery eyes and reacts instinctively.

“Hey, hey. Look at me, Enid. I’m sorry. I never meant for them to find out you’ve not been on a hunt before. That was never my intention.”

“Then what was your intention?” Enid blurts without realizing. Anger laced through her tone.

She honestly was more mad at her parents for never taking the time to allow her on hunts, or teach her the basics of being a wolf, and for putting her in a position of embarrassment.

She’s the daughter of a prominent werewolf line who has shown claws and fangs since she was a child. However, her parents didn’t bother to teach her what they should have until she could prove to them she was worthwhile of receiving that proper werewolf education and experiences. They actually didn’t do that for any of her siblings until they each turned, and that’s honestly so screwed up. Even now, she’s yet to receive that from them, even though she’s a fully fledged wolf.

The anger derived from that realization was too much to bear.

But, unfortunately, Wednesday was just there and Enid couldn’t hold back anymore.

“If you didn’t want me to come along then just say so. I didn’t realize I’d slow you down so much that you felt it necessary to drop me from half of the hunt in front of your whole family. Thanks for that, by the way.”

Wednesday had the audacity to look surprised, as if that wasn’t her intention at all. She began to plead with the wolf.

“That’s not it, Enid. I-“

“You what? Just wanted to give everyone a show? Prove you can win two against one by impressively dropping a werewolf from your team to show your family how great of a huntress you are?”

“Enough, Enid. That wasn’t-“

But the wolf kept pressing, digging.

“No. You know what, this was a mistake. I shouldn’t have come. Forget the hunt, forget anything else about this trip. Just send me back to San Francisco whenever the moment pleases you, because I clearly don’t matter-“

“I’M AFRAID, YOU IDIOT!”

Every ounce of the rage that was bubbling up inside of her had evaporated in a moment. The anger contorted face Enid sported had been replaced by one of sheer surprise.

Wednesday was brimming with raw emotion that outshined anything Enid has ever seen from her before. The grip on her wrists tightened and trembled in tandem with the girl who held them.

“Dammit, Enid. I’m not strong enough to watch you get maimed again.”

Enid just gaped her mouth open and closed without words. She didn’t know what to say. She leveled her hand to hover over her sternum, where she knew a permanent, flowering scar was left from the silver necklace.

“Do you even realize how much it terrified me to watch you slowly deteriorate when you were poisoned? To know that if you had died from its effects it would have been all my fault?”

It was Enid’s turn to be confused.

“But we’ve been over this, Wednesday. That wasn’t at all your doing. The stalker was just-“

“Just trying to hit me where it hurts in the most efficient way possible. Enid, I know my family and I are all about violence and death and finding the poetic beauty in it all. But if anything actually happened to you I would lose my mind.”

Enid is rendered speechless.

“I asked you to come along for the hunt because I want you there. I want to spend time with you. I want to share this experience with you. I’m not playing some game with you there like you seem to think.”

As Wednesday reveals her inner struggles to the wolf, she begins to take up the task of strapping her into the suit, knotting and securing each strap with deft fingers capable of securing her in this protective suit when Enid wasn’t currently capable.

“However, I am realistic about the danger we are facing. You’ve never been on a hunt before, and fighting this beast is like pushing you into the deep end. I told you already that I’m not about to recklessly endanger your life. Especially when the three of us can take it down just fine.”

“Wednesday.”

Enid settled her hands over the psychic’s own as she was pulling tight the last strap. Her voice void of anything but softness now that she understood her reasoning. How in the world could she ever be upset at her now?

“I didn’t realize..Why didn’t you say anything before?”

A dark shadow passed over Wednesday’s face. She scoffed, hinting at her derision when it came to being vulnerable.

“Are you kidding? It’s downright pathetic. I shouldn’t be afraid to let you near danger. If anything I should be pushing everyone headfirst into it, but I am. No matter what I do I can’t shake this overwhelming urge to protect those I care about. That inherently puts me in a weak position.”

A deep blossom of warmth spread across her chest when Wednesday vocalizes how much she actually cares. These deeply repressed feelings and emotions must be strong if she’s willing to share them. She puts that aside and focuses on what would actually help rather than have her friend shell up further.

“It’s not weak to want to protect your people. It’s not weakness to care. It takes a lot of courage and strength to open yourself up to others and risk being hurt.”

“Agree to disagree.” The blunt comment indicated that she was over discussing this further.

Enid squeezed the cold hands she held onto.

“Okay, Wednesday. If you want me to step back on this hunt, I will. But I need you to stop blaming yourself for the silver incident. And, I need you to trust that I’m tougher than I look. If you truly want me to be safe, I’m going to have to learn how to swim at some point.”

Wednesday quietly ponders this with her eyes leveling the ground, a sign of her internalizing Enid’s words.

“Also, I told you once before that we are a team. I don’t want you shouldering all of this burden alone. You’re not the only one who would be upset if their best friend was hurt or maimed. Just saying.”

Silence settled between them once more, and as if lightning struck them both, they realized the position they found themselves in. In close proximity with hands clasped for far longer than even Enid would have felt comfortable with. And just as quickly, they pulled apart and pretended nothing happened.

Enid cleared her throat and spoke up first.

“Alright, it’s probably about time we met up with your dad and uncle out front. Everyone is probably wondering what’s taking us so long.”

“Right.”

Enid watches and follows as Wednesday slings and secured a crossbow in a satchel across her back and pushes herself out of the room and to the front porch where everyone now seemed to be gathered.

Eyes fall upon the duo as they finally made their way outside, the group perched in various locations around the porch, ready to send off the hunting party.

Wednesday rolled quickly down the stairs while announcing that she needed to grab her crossbow bolts out back, then they could leave.

Once she disappears around the side, Pugsley snickered as he smoked on a cigar, leaning on the cabin railing. Enid was a bit surprised.

“Typical. Stressed out about making good time and now the group has to wait on her.”

Almost as if he was in agreement, Bert clapped his tiny hands and giggled at his brother, who returned the gesture with a wide smirk.

“Did you two get lost in this tiny cabin?” Ophelia laughed as she sipped on a herbal tea looking drink.

Her and Morticia were settled into a pair of rocking chairs on the porch. Each with a warm cup in hand. It was a good vantage point to take in the beautiful forest around them.

“Hehe, not really. I had a little trouble putting on my hunting gear, that’s all.” Enid raised her palms to reveal the still extended nails, showing the group what was the source of the hold-up.

Gomez, in the middle of cleaning his own crossbow, eyed Enid as she did so.

“Hey, Enid. Listen, we didn’t mean to make you feel awkward about not having been on a hunt before, you know. We were just surprised.”

“Yeah, it’s not everyday you get to teach a werewolf how to hunt though!” Fester blurted with pure joy. Unaware of how the comment came across. Gomez smacks him upside the head. Apparently he thought it was in poor taste.

“No, no, Gomez. Fester may have the right idea.”

Morticia leaned back in her chair to angle her face near the wolf. A bright sparkle in her eye.

“Enid, we could give you some pointers while waiting for Wednesday. For example, it would probably benefit you to snatch a few rabbits from the air after Wednesday’s downed a couple. They tend to group in clusters of around 5. She’s good, but I know she can’t snatch them all, so you could probably use that unique athleticism you werewolves have to pull the rest.”

The rest of the family quickly piled in their advice for the wolf. One after the other.

“Always stay downwind! They have great noses!” Ophelia chimed.

“Make zig-zagging patterns as you stalk closer to the rabbits!” Fester mimicked his own words as he displayed a hilarious example of himself shifting side to side.

“Don’t make loud noises” Pugsley puffed a ring of smoke. Clearly this one came from personal experience.

“And always move with confidence. You’ll get the hang of it, my dear! This skill is quite literally in your DNA.” Gomez finished.

They didn’t have to do this, but they chose to cheer her up by offering their best words of advice to bolster her confidence. Enid can’t help but feel warm with thankfulness. She’s really starting to love this family.

Around this moment, a distinct scratching sound drew closer to the group. The source of the noise made itself known when Wednesday appeared around the corner of the cabin once more. Only this time, she was carrying both an extra barrel of arrows for her crossbow as well as a sled.

The family was intrigued. Enid sharing a look with her friend while raising a brow out of curiosity.

“I thought you didn’t need an extra sled, since you told Enid she had to be the runner and all.” Pugsley was the first to comment.

Without breaking eye contact with Enid, she voiced aloud her change of heart.

“It’s probably best to learn how to swim when you have a good teacher.”

Enid’s heart fluttered in her chest. Wednesday actually listened to what she had to say on the matter and had a change of heart.

“Hah! That confident in your ability to teach, are you?” Enid beamed behind a wide, toothy grin.

The current levity didn’t change Wednesday’s concerned expression. It clearly still bothered her to let Enid take part in the entirety of the hunt, but she was willing to put that fear aside. A small miracle in itself.

“Swear to me now. Swear that you will heed everything I tell you, even if you feel differently on the matter.” Wednesday was dead serious.

All eyes fell upon the wolf for her answer.

“I swear it.”

Wednesday nods, pleased with the answer.

“M’kay. Let’s get this show on the road.”

Notes:

-I don’t know how I do it, but this chapter was only supposed to be a few paragraphs long! I actually wanted to put the entirety of the hunt in this chapter as well, but it grew beyond measure! I’m sure no one will be complaining if I add on another chapter or two in the grand scheme of this story though.

-This one took a little longer because I had a lot of moving pieces to set up with this one, but I’m pretty pleased with how it turned out!

-Ophelia!!! I don’t know how many of you know who she is, but one of my favorite bits of my research stage was learning about Morticia’s sister from the 60s show! All of my inspiration for her character in this is from that version. Honestly, I’ve been dying to have her show up! I very much feel like she shares a number of similarities to how Enid relates to the family as well!

-Little Pubert reference to the 90s movies! That was a fun one to write!

-Don’t worry, this isn’t the last I’ll feature of Ophelia by the way.

-Also, I’ve personally never been to Germany before, and I don’t know German, so if I make any errors with this section regarding that, just know I did my best!

-Sleep deprived Enid is best Enid! I literally had so much fun writing this initial opening. She’s such a goof!

-Thanks for reading! Let me know what you all think and how the hunt will go! Until next time!

-Kalon

Chapter 11: Where Flowers Bloom

This place was pure magic.

The soft morning light filtered gentle bows of sun through the vast pine needles of the evergreens. The gentle, yet chilly breeze pushed an array of particles through the beams. Giving the forest floor an ethereal look to it.

The oaks and birch trees scattered between the fir really stood out. Amidst a sea of eternal green there were pockets of golden fire that seemed to flicker amidst the morning dew. A sure sign that fall was here in full force. Others were gentler in hue, shielded by the haze of the fog that encircled the trees in long ribbons.

The noise of the gentle crunch of needles and pines under their feet were offset by the abundance of rich, green moss and foliage that was soft enough to dampen their steps and disguise their presence from most of the fauna that existed here. Only the chirping of various birds really stood out as a prominent sound. Even the noise of the rails gliding the sleigh across the ground wasn’t that loud.

Enid tightened her grip around the slightly frayed rope arch that tugged along the vessel. She took a deep inhale.

The air here was cleaner, richer than anything she was used to. Even though she had access to some deeply forested area around the San Francisco Bay. But, even the magic of Muir Woods couldn’t quite compare to this forest. It was almost as if it was void of anything to do with humanity.

Light bouncing off of the compass Wednesday held and inadvertently into Enid’s eyes brought her train of thought back to the surface. A steady needle and experienced guide consistently directed their hunting party of two closer to the southern reaches of the Black Forest.

Enid stared at Wednesday and watched with wonder as she noticed that she seemed so in her element. She would let her gaze flicker to the device in her hand every once in a while, but didn’t seem to need it all that much. She was too busy surveying the undergrowth for signs of life, animal tracks, and trails. There was probably far more that she should know about.

No better time to learn than the present.

“So.” Enid whispers, leaning to hover her head closer into Wednesday’s space.

The raven pivots her shoulders to offer a glance at Enid to indicate that she’s listening. She quickly spins her head back around to proceed with surveying the area as the wolf continues on.

“What all should I be looking out for? When making our way to the site, I mean.”

“Are you asking me how I remain undetected and aware of where we are?” Wednesday’s volume matched her companion’s.

“Yes, whatever works. I figured I better start learning how a pro does it so I won’t accidentally get us caught in a trap or sneeze too loud and scare everything away, you know.”

The comment earns a steady gaze from the brunette, a curious smirk growing on her face.

“As long as you don’t have any glitter to sneeze all over their nests, you should be fine.”

A disbelieving pause preemptively hung before Enid’s gut reaction overtook her awareness of where she was.

“OH, THAT WAS ONE-“

Wednesday snaps around and claps her hand over Enid’s mouth. Her braids whipping around her head with the speed of her reaction.

“Lesson one. Shut up.” She voiced low.

Wednesday quirked a brow as she eyed her friend, silently asking her to seriously remain quiet before she removed her palm pressing into her face. Enid gently nodded, admitting she knew her mistake and wouldn’t repeat it.

Wednesday let her arm hang back by her side. A light scoff accompanied the motion.

“You know, I really don’t know how you manage to be both fairly intelligent as well as incredibly dense at the same time. It’s impressive, I’ll give you that much.”

Enid smiles brightly with an air of playfulness in her cheeky response.

“You think I’m intelligent?”

“I also called you an idiot in the same breath.” Wednesday spins again to face forward, hiding a growing smile from her companion.

That persistent optimism that was once so incredibly annoying was quickly becoming more endearing than Wednesday cared to admit.

The light crunch of the undergrowth started back up again. The pair fell into a comfortable silence for a time. Their arms bumping against one another every few steps as they made their way down the mountain.

“I’m looking for signs of life. If I spook one animal up north, it could easily panic and run south. Its clear distress would be a warning sign to the life around it that they need to be on guard, or possibly flee the area entirely.”

“Gosh, that’s a lot of pressure.”

“Exactly. That’s why it’s so important to be aware of what’s around you and how you react to your friend when she’s only teasing you.” A gentle jab to the earlier reaction Enid displayed.

“Uh huh, I get it. Don’t need your sass, Addams.”

“You’re the one who chose to be friends with me. You should know what you’ve signed up for.”

Enid wanted to argue this point, but found that it was extremely accurate. So she gave in with a snicker.

“That’s more than fair.”

The girls pressed on. Only the persistent echo of a woodpecker drilling into a pine could be heard for a while. Enid noticed that Wednesday seemed to be in deep thought. Surely mulling around how to ruffle her fur next in that mischievous brain of hers. It wasn’t long before something else caught her attention and drew her out of the recesses of her mind so easily.

While scanning the forest’s canopy in tandem with the floor, she raised a hand to cause Enid to pause in her tracks. Then offered her a questioning glance.

“What do you hear, Enid?”

Enid furrowed her brow in thought herself, she wasn’t expecting that question. So, she answered quickly and honestly, being caught off guard.

“Um, a woodpecker. Maybe some tiny birds chirping. Our footsteps aren’t as loud, but-”

“No, I mean.. Yes, I can hear that too. But, that wasn’t what I was referring to. Listen closer.”

Enid racked her brain. She gave it her all as she attempted. Her brain almost hurt from attempting to pick out sounds she didn’t even pick apart normally. However, the extra focus didn’t pay off. Her patience with herself shortened when she felt as if this particular exercise wasn’t helping.

The woodpecker and birds seemed too prominent in her mind. Yet, Wednesday was still waiting for an answer.

“I don’t.. I’m not sure what you’re hearing, Wednesday. I can only hear the woodpecker.” Enid sighed in exasperation, seeing as this wasn’t going anywhere.

The raven raised a disbelieving brow at her companion and continued to press.

“This joke you’re playing is tiresome. You are a wolf. Your hearing is twice mine.”

“Maybe it's tiresome because it’s not a joke.” She fired back quickly. Voice still low.

Wednesday sported a concerned look on her face at the outburst. Eyes flicking between Enid’s own to determine from her stern expression that she was telling the truth.

“You really don’t..” A softer tone that Enid wasn’t expecting to hear.

The wolf suddenly felt bad for being snippy as they sat in silence while Wednesday thought about the implications of her comment for a moment. She rubbed her hand on the back of her neck as she mulled over which angle she wanted to take. Her eyes lit up when something seemed to resonate in her mind.

“Hmm.. Lesson number two, okay?”

The blonde gave a singular nod.

“I want you to close your eyes and clear your mind. Drown everything out but the sound of my voice and slow your breathing.”

The wolf did as she was told.

“Push the bird noises to the back of your mind and..deepen your awareness.”

“Deepen my awareness?” Enid broke her silence with a confused response.

“Figured you wouldn't get that one. Okay. Pretend your mind is a big fishing net. Make the fishing net as wide as you can, then cast.”

“But I’ve never been fishing.” Her eyes darted behind closed lids.

“Quiet, Enid. Just try and pretend. Humor me.”

Enid doesn’t think it's going to help, but she falls back deep into her subconscious, determined to figure this one out on her own. She places herself on the deck of a sea-faring vessel, rocking steadily against the waves that beat and crash against the hull. Her stomach dips with the pull of the ocean. The thick canvas of the sails flapping in the wind. She lets her face hover over the glistening waters.

A net wraps around her ankles, and she reaches down to untangle it, eventually holding it ready to cast against the wooden railing. She visualizes her net being tossed off the dock. Its surprising weight dipping deep into the waters until the ocean swallows it from sight. As the net sinks to the ocean floor, she almost feels a shift in her chest. It's like her mind is sinking along with it. The birds get softer.

A slow breath escapes her lips as the muscles on her face relax from a previously tight expression. Her once active mind ebbs and flows with the ocean, with the net. The deepening waters was the only thing encapsulating her mind. Her focus dimmed and sharpened at the same time.

Enid still feels the weight of the water pulling her to the deep, yet she comes to find her consciousness isn’t on an ocean floor anymore, but a forest floor.

Time has come to a complete halt. The faintest hint of a variety of sounds dotted her subconscious and invited her from all directions. She was aware of the noise and sound just as before, but this time was different. It's like she can pick and choose now which one to focus on.

She moves her mind closer to a particular clicking noise that seems to call her name.

As she allows her mind to hover and draw closer to her particular interest, it's like she can pinpoint its exact location. What once was like searching for a needle in a haystack, she now has a greater hold on her situation. When she opens her mind to focus, it becomes as easy as finding a fox among chickens.

Her eyes flutter open. Enid finds herself surprised to find that she is peering directly at a pair of russet colored squirrels that danced in the far distance. Normally they would have been mere specks on her peripherals. Yet with a deeper concentration, they drew her attention like beacons in the night.

A beautiful sparrow hawk located in a far distant tree dipped its head low. The dappled chest it proudly wore gave it away, paired with its brilliant yellow eyes. It remained steady, honing in its movements to aim true for the pair of red squirrels caught in its paralyzing gaze.

Almost beyond her comprehension, the hawk propels its body into the air. It tucks each wing tightly into itself as it arches its body, talons extended, for an unsuspecting squirrel. Unfortunately the red creature was too busy scratching at a pinecone to find its treasure hidden within.

Terror gripped at her insides. Yes, she was thrilled she managed to unlock her power sleeping dormant. However, the squirrel was too cute and the hawk had plans to turn it into ribbons. That was something she didn’t want embedded into her mind for her first instance of wolf-like focus.

So, Enid reacts by whipping around in a craze and burrowing her face into her hands as she leans the majority of her body weight into the girl by her side. Thankfully, Wednesday catches and supports the unexpected weight thrown into her. Her grip tight on her arms as Enid’s panic threatened to heighten Wednesday’s own. The wolf mutters into her hands, hoping to drown out the cry of the squirrel in its last moments.

“No, Mr. Squirrelly, run!”

A hand shook her shoulder violently. Fingers digging into her deeper.

“Enid. Enid? What's wrong?”

She gazes up her friend’s face with her hands acting as blinders from the world around her peripherals. She didn’t want to accidentally witness any more squirrels becoming hawk snacks.

“Did he eat him? He’s dead, isn’t he.” Enid groans.

“Who?

“I didn’t want to watch Mr. Hawk eat Mr. Squirrelly.”

A pause from the raven as she attempted to piece together what was going through Enid’s mind.

“Oh! You did it!?”

“I did something?” Enid’s surprise evident in her tone.

“You heard it, the squirrel? That’s how you found the hawk and the squirrel, right?”

Enid was now sure that enough time had passed that the other squirrel surely was out of their general vicinity. She let her hands fall at her sides. She took in her surroundings and then raised a finger towards where exactly the creatures were to show Wednesday.

“Yes, He was way up in that tree, scouting. The squirrels were just below.”

The raven’s jaw dropped ever so slightly.

“You heard him from that distance on the first try? Color me impressed.” Wednesday’s hands settled on her hips as she squinted her eyes. Apparently she had a difficult time discerning what was located off in the distant brush Enid had pointed to.

The blonde furrowed her brows, still not fully understanding.

“Wait, how did you hear it then?”

“I didn’t. That’s not possible for me from this distance.” The psychic noted without missing a beat. A smirk on her features from Enid believing she had some kind of hearing superpower of her own.

“Then how did you know there was something there?”

“I use other methods to try and keep up with your natural affinity to hunt. For example-”

Wednesday crouches down and picks up some stray pines and points to tiny claw marks digging into a light patch of dirt gathering at the base of their boots.

“I’m observant. Pines usually don’t fall without the help of an outside force here. That typically means there is a squirrel around scavenging for food. That also means that other animals that hunt them, like hawks, could be present.”

Enid’s fingers graze the dirt surrounding the tracks.

“Way cool. Hey, how did you know to do that? You know, the mind trick to help me hear it?”

Wednesday blinks.

“It’s not a trick per say, its-”

The psychic pulls herself up out of the dirt, and Enid copies the motion. Her head tilts as she forcefully draws a memory out of her mind.

“My cousin, Eiba, married a werewolf. Whenever she and her husband would come over for the holidays I would ask him incessant questions about what it was like to be a werewolf when I was little, and how he learned the various skills a wolf has when he was growing up. His dad taught him how to unlock their honed scent using the same analogy, since they fished together a great deal growing up. I know you don’t go fishing, but it's a good analogy nevertheless.” Wednesday brushed her hands together. Specks of dust from the ground powdered into the air and off her hands.

Enid smiled a little lopsided due to the mix of feelings.

A wave of sadness pricked at her chest. That came first. She couldn't help but feel a little hurt. Yet another thing that her parents were supposed to teach her to do, but left her in the dark on. She wanted to push that out of her mind since her irritation with her parents had no place being here on such a lovely outing with her best friend.

Besides, she had a more pressing question to ask.

“Incessant questions, huh? Sounds like you thought werewolves were pretty cool growing up.” Enid teases her with a growing smirk she doesn’t attempt to hide.

“Extended claws and fangs? The ability to naturally be better, apparently immediately, at every hunting skill I’ve honed for the better part of a decade? So what if I did?”

It amazed Enid that Wednesday, rather than be embarrassed at a rather cute vocal adoration of werewolves, she seemed rather proud to show that she admired a part of who Enid was.

“So what I’m hearing is that little Wednesday would have thought I was the coolest thing ever.”

“You’re too full of yourself.” Wednesday rolled her eyes.

“And you’re not denying it, so I’ll take that as a yes.”

Enid took her win, and surprisingly, Wednesday let her and redirected the conversation.

“Hey, if you can’t watch a hawk swoop a squirrel out the air, how, exactly, do you expect to hunt today?”

“Oh, I’m not worried about that. I’ll take down the rabbits and bear with you no problem.”

A wild look in Wednesday’s eyes met Enid’s sincere gaze.

“…Then what was?-”

“He wasn’t my target, so I didn’t want to see him get carried off and not be able to get back home to Mrs. Squirrelly and their 12 babies who are waiting for him at home.”

Wednesday, not expecting such an outlandish answer, sputtered a small, unexpected laugh that made Enid’s heart soar being able to witness and know she was the cause. Wednesday tries to hide it behind her hand, but it's too late.

“Too bad he’s bird food now. Being a single mother with 12 kids has got to bite.” Enid lightly mumbles, only to try and get Wednesday to laugh longer. Thankfully it works.

“And they think I’m the crazy one.”

They were small, but the wolf spotted visible tears welling at the corners of the psychic’s eyes.

Enid’s eyes widened. “Are you?!-“

Wednesday blinked and rubbed her palm furiously against her face.

“No, I’m not!” She did her best to hide her face, slapping both palms over her eyes in a hurry. The tiny smile plastered on it was stuck. She couldn’t get it to stop. And now tears pricked her eyes as she fought yet another wave of laughter watching Enid dance around her trying to get a good look through the spaces in between her fingers.

“Yes! You are! You’re crying and laughing at the same time!” Enid’s elation is as high as the clouds.

Wednesday leveled her hands away to see Enid with a wild expression on her face

“You should have told me that your condition was infectious. Should I now be concerned that one day I'm going to wake up with an urge to listen to SEVENTEEN and wear a psychedelic crop top?” Wednesday teased. Enid quirked a brow.

“Putting aside the fact that you know the name of my favorite band.. impressive, by the way… You don’t have to worry about that at all, Willa. That stuff isn’t an intrinsic part of you. I’m just bringing out a natural extension of yourself.”

“Willa? Really?... And what makes you think that laughter, in any form, is intrinsic to me?”

That earned a hearty chuckle from the wolf.

“Well, You are human, after all. At least, I’m fairly certain you are. Regardless, even you are capable of the entire range of emotions when put in the right circumstance. ” Enid finished. The raven twitched at that.

She wasn’t sure if Enid intended it, but the warmth of her comment gave the braided girl pause. How many people regarded her as anything but human. She even finds herself attempting to distance herself from the moniker, typically seeing it as another form of weakness.

It never ceased to be refreshing to Wednesday that Enid could look at her and see right through every single wall she's ever put up to the world and make it look effortless.

Her throat felt as if it was closing up.

“I must be the funniest girl on the planet if I can get you to laugh like that. Who knew?” Enid tossed her hair over her shoulder, ribbing Wednesday playfully. She pulled the girl from her thoughts with a simple, goofy comment.

“Like I said- you’re full of yourself, Sinclair.” Wednesday ribbed back, tossing her bag back over her shoulder to indicate that they needed to press onwards. Enid giggled as they matched stride and continued on the trail. The two fell into a comfortable silence once more.

The raven arched her head to look upwards into the canopy.

“He got away. Your squirrel.”

“He did?!” She whispered happily. The joy in her voice caused the corners of Wednesday’s mouth to twitch upwards once more.

“Unfortunately. I’m not sure he’s too happy about it though. Especially coming home to 12 mouths to feed.”

They both laughed at that.

--------------

“So you’re saying that he won’t use his fire powers if he’s not near his den?”

“I didn’t say he wouldn’t use them at all, only if it is a dire situation. Otherwise this forest would have burned down long ago. Turn.”

Enid held her breath as Wednesday sprayed another layer of scent control spray on her front. Her arms were already conveniently raised as she tied her hair up in a half up half down look. It keeps the abundance of blonde curls from falling in her face and distracting her.

Now that they were drawing near the hunting site, they both took the extra time to get themselves fully prepared for it.

“So the plan is to draw it towards a densely forested area with lots of tinder to keep it from using its trump card.”

“In theory, yes. The beast looks and acts like any normal brown bear, larger maybe, but if you put pressure on him, his claws and certain areas of his pelt can catch fire without causing him harm. He also can breathe fire as well. Every part of him, fire or not, is extremely dangerous.”

Wednesday finished spraying down Enid and passed the can to the blonde who now misted the psychic’s back in the spray.

“How will we tell him apart from regular bears then?”

“There are no ‘regular bears’ here. All of the native bears not of the mythical fire variety went extinct a while back. If you see any bear at all, it's him.”

“Got it. Turn.”

Wednesday spun to face the wolf with a serious expression on her face that looked as if she had something important to say, so she paused on the spray for a moment.

“Look, Enid. I’m still not thrilled you’re fighting this thing, but I need you to be well prepared, so listen closely.”

“Again, any large stilled pools or rushing creeks of water, stay far away from. He will use his fire if he feels like it won’t damage the forest, and that’s the worst case scenario. So, stick close to me at all times. Only go for an opening when he is staggered or recovering. Don’t get greedy with blows. Back off the second you make contact or you won’t get another chance at one. And do not play the hero. It’s only going to get you killed, and I’d rather avoid that at all costs. Understood?”

“Understood.”

“And you will listen to me when I tell you to do something. Yes?”

“Yes.”

Wednesday held her breath as Enid finished up with the spray. She handed it back to the raven so she could tuck it safely back inside her hunting bag.

They made it to the lower end of the forest. So far south that the southern flower fields are to their north. This is to give them a wind advantage, better to disguise their scent. Every little bit helps.

The air around them felt colder, maybe a hint damp. Enid looked to the sky, and amidst the bristling leaves and glowing sun, there were gray clouds that hung low in the skyline. It might rain later, so best they get to where they are going before the rain drives away their prey.

Wednesday orders Enid to leave the sleigh here. Once they start collecting the rabbits they can run them down to it rather than the thing making noise on the trek north and scare them away.

Wednesday handed the hunting bag to Enid and asked her if she would slot her crossbow arrows into the barrels for her to gain easy access to it. Her hands were already full, setting up her compact crossbow. Adjusting the scope and tightening its string. Enid began placing the arrows in the quiver, but she noticed that each arrow seemed to differ greatly from the last in various ways. How curious. The second barrel ended up with a whole bunch of more normal looking arrows.

“Alright. The flower field is just northbound from us. Let’s get a gameplan going before we head any closer in that direction.” Wednesday drew Enid’s rapt attention.

“Now, you already know that wolpertingers are essentially just like any other rabbit. Yes, they fly. Yes, they have fangs and horns. In spite of it all, they are terribly skittish creatures with next to no desire to fight back. If you spook one, you’ve spooked the whole pack.”

“They group in packs of 4 to 5. It’s meant as an alarming system, but we can use that to our advantage. So, in terms of our approach. I suggest that-

Enid eagerly interjects. “You snipe them first, and I’ll charge the rest in the group trying to down whatever you don’t shoot.”

The surprise was noticeable on the psychic.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I was going to say- How did you know?”

“Your mother gave me a few pointers while we were waiting for you. Actually, everyone did.”

Wednesday didn’t miss the softness with which she relayed that information. She gives a slight nod to her head, thankful at least her family showed great care over the fledgling wolf.

“Sounds about right coming from them.”

Wednesday leans closer to Enid to provide clear instructions. Enid leans closer in tandem. She watched as Wednesday’s fingers naturally splayed as she explained something to her. It amazed her to watch the girl in front of her become naturally more expressive and less ridged over the course of their friendship.

“I’m going to need you to sniff out their locations for me. It is more difficult for me to spot their groupings right off the bat, and even now I can’t always find them before scaring them off. I know you just learned your scent honing ability, but do you think you can do it?”

Pride surges in her chest to know she is able to be useful for Wednesday on this hunt.

“I’ll give it everything I’ve got.”

That same pride seemed to be reflected from Wednesday to Enid upon hearing this.

“Okay, we’ll begin our trek northbound. After every successful pocket we’ve rooted up, I’ll string them and hide them so we don’t draw a crowd. While I do this, you work on finding the next round.”

Enid smiled bright, a wild glint in her eyes.

“This is thrilling”

“Haha, Wait till we actually get started.”

From under the shade of the trees that sheltered and hid them, Wednesday draws out a trio of the normal looking arrows from her quiver and loads them onto the slottings. There was room enough for three to be loaded at any given time. The complex machinery and multi-notched trigger seemed to imply that she could choose which arrow to let loose at any given moment.

Enid realized that the psychic catches her mesmerized by the machine and nods her head and points her eyes to the clearing before them. A silent indication that Enid needs to start working on rooting out their first batch.

She closes her eyes and deepens her awareness…or casts the net like Wednesday taught her. The world giving way to silence. She opens her eyes immediately and connects them with Wednesdays, eager to show her that she’s learned so quickly.

“Six of them. 11 o'clock. Roughly about 90 meters in that direction. Enid breathed out in unbridled joy.

Wednesday’s own eyes brighten. She is deeply impressed by the clarity and the precision of the skill Enid has in such a short amount of time. Her natural affinity is surely to rival the greatest of werewolves with enough time and training one day.

“Understood. I’ll hang about 50 meters back behind it, ready to shoot. On my signal, start trailing far to the left of our mark. Stay under the cover of that series of tall grass and out of sight. Move steady, slow, and confident. When I fire, they all are going to scatter and fly away. I’ll down the first one, but the second you hear me fire.. that’s your cue to rush them and snatch any you can out of the air. There are still six of them, so don’t expect to get them all. I’ll only shoot again when they are far out of your range so I don’t accidentally pierce you. Got that?”

A shiver ran down Enid’s back. She didn’t even think about that.

“Thanks for thinking of that and not accidentally piercing me.”

“You’re welcome. Okay, ready when you are.” She clicks her arrows into place with her triple shot crossbow.

Enid nods and turns to make her way to the tall grass dancing in the wind. The long brush grazing against her face and tickling her cheeks and nose. She took great care to hold in any accidental sneezes.

In between the pulsing of her blood pumping in her ears, she recalls and implements the family’s advice to her. One by one.

She softened her steps and veered a different direction every two or three of them she would make, mimicking Uncle Fester’s motion of zig-zagging through the undergrowth. Each padding of her feet had thought behind it, no evidence of delay. She had to be confident, like Gomez and Wednesday had noted. Each motion was careful and quiet, surely the opposite of what Pugsley would have done, she smiled to herself.

She draws close enough to rush them, finally. It’s actually a little nerve wracking now since they sound so extremely loud to her at this proximity. Can they hear her just as well? Surely not, they would have run by now. Right?

Enid blinks rapidly, pulling away her thoughts and silently realigning her concentration. Adrenaline is edging its way through her system, drowning out any stray thoughts that could make her lose her focus or cool.

She feels that familiar tingling at the tips of her fingers she gets when her claws fully extend. Her canines began to dig into her lower lip, extending from the abundance of adrenaline and the weight of anticipation. Her head is clear and her eyes feel sharper than before. It’s hard to explain, but within sight of her known target, her entire posture and being feels more..wolfish. She wonders if this is the new effect her wolf side of her takes over now that she's officially turned.

The sound of an arrow piercing the air sends every cell inside of Enid on fire. Even before the arrow could be heard embedding its target, Enid reacts without thinking.

The rabbits are fast. Freakishly fast. They are already 6-7 feet in the air just a mere moment after the shot, but Enid can feel the adrenaline take over and send her spiraling towards a few that flew in the same direction.

She propels her body in the air, and the intensity of the initial force she uses to catapult herself into the sky sends her up like a rocket, faster than the speed of the flying creatures. At this moment, she is the very definition of unimaginable force and breathtaking grace.

Because of that she manages to down three of them. All in one sweep.

The third nearly escaped her reach, but that final flap of its wings proved to be a fatal mistake. Enid snapped her jaws shut on the wing extended far enough to allow her to grab it.

Enid’s body finally gave way to the effects of gravity, curving with the pull, and dragging them down from the heavens with the precision and flurry of teeth and claws.

Upon collapsing over them when hitting the ground, Her teeth made quick work of the rabbits. She instinctively nipped hard at the most vulnerable part as she held them against the grass. They were limp before she tossed her head back in enough time to watch Wednesday let loose the final pair of arrows. The sound of the wind being cut by its trajectory was unmistakable. She downed from the air the final two from far above her head with pure mastery of the weapon.

What a rush.

Enid scurries around quickly, practically on all fours collecting the rabbits to bring back to Wednesday who was staring back at Enid with the biggest grin on her face. Hand pushing up the corner of her fringe. A motion filled with awe and excitement.

“Every. Single. One. I can’t believe it. We got them all!” Wednesday’s excitement shined through.

Dropping the rabbits at the raven’s feet, Enid bounded up in a display of her own excitement, reminiscent of a puppy. Her curls bounced along with her.

“We did good!?”

“Like a dream. Most I’ve personally collected is four in a group, even with another teammate. You and I, we got all six. In the first round I may add.” A brilliant chuckle escaped the girl.

This is the most Enid’s heard of Wednesday outwardly gushing, and she's soaking up every bit of her brilliant moonlight.

“Quite the dream team we are!” Enid wiped at her cherry colored mouth, carefully grazing over her fangs still digging deep into her lip.

“I can’t believe you caught all three of them. I was so sure that the last one got away. I’m positive even senior werewolves would be envious of you and your immense skill. Are you sure you’ve never done this before?”

A deep, indescribable warmth blossomed in her chest. Wednesday in awe of what she could do had nearly brought her to tears.

“Never, but as much fun as I’m having, I think I’ll become a regular.”

“Heh, be careful what you wish for. If that’s how you feel, then I may just bring you along to every hunt from now on. “

The pricking at her eyes was getting harder to hold back.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

-------

They repeat the same pattern with each new group. Their success as a team even surprised themselves. Although in retrospect, it shouldn’t have. They’ve worked well together since the beginning.

Wednesday eagerly waited on Enid to pick out the next batch. 40 meters at 4 o’clock. 60 meters at 9. The rush of adrenaline between the two only grew.

One after the other, the rabbits were nearly helpless to the pair. Wednesday finally got accustomed to Enid’s reach. Once a rabbit exited her boundary it was gone in a moment. Always careful never to never let an arrow fly too close to her, even though her precision is near perfect.

Enid’s wolf sense kept surprising her in new ways. She could pick out the sound in her vicinity that matched Wednesday almost effortlessly now. Before the raven would strike, she would give a long exhale before pulling the trigger. Always steadying her aim. Enid’s timing was good before, but her capacity for it grew. It became a rarity when a rabbit escaped their collective abilities.

Not to mention that both girls were having an absolute blast. They could easily dance this tango for hours.

While Enid was currently scanning for the next batch, Wednesday tightened the knot holding together their latest grouping. She hadn’t been able to finish gathering them all before Enid found the next pocket this whole time, until now. She knew there probably wasn’t much more to offer in this area, and if she wanted her dad and uncle to have a shred of dignity left in them, they better start wrapping it up soon. Even still, the immense amount of fun she was having with her best friend made it to where she was very much reluctant to speak up.

“Hey Enid, I hate to cut our fun short, but lets go ahead and gather what we have in the sleigh. It will make it easier when we have to start focusing-”

Enid scrunched her face when the raven made a sudden pause in the middle of her sentence.

A glance in her direction had told her that Wednesday was focusing intensely on her face. And for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out why.

“Wednesday? You good?”

The girl never blinked, and it was almost as unsettling whenever she did. After the third slow blink, Enid could feel herself squirm under the weight of those onyx black irises. She analyzed Enid’s face deeply for the first time since they started hunting.

She opened her mouth to repeat the question, voicing her concern. However, Wednesday beat her to the punch.

“Did you?... You look- different.”

What was Enid supposed to say to that?

“I- what?”

Wednesday drew her face closer, and Enid could feel the heat rushing under her skin. She knew that her friend was merely surveying whatever tiny variables that would affirm her theory as she could, but it didn’t stop Enid’s gut from knotting into an absolute mess.

“You do. I can’t place it, but there is something about your face that seems..”

Her eyes suddenly dart a little to the left when something else pulls her gaze.

“You have something in your hair. I-”

Enid could have turned into a bear ignited by its own flames herself when the girl reached out and brushed at the loose curls falling at the side of her face. The half of her hair that currently fell over her ears was pulled backwards like a curtain. Wednesday’s cool fingers accidentally brushed against her burning ears and it reminded the wolf of the sensation of putting aloe vera on a sunburn. Enid had to manually shut down her brain for a moment. Focus on breathing in and out in slow, even tides.

She watches with rapt attention as Wednesday’s dark lips form a little ‘o’ shape to hint at her surprise.

Her breathing trick seemed to be working enough to put her mind on a normal train of thought. It was enough to register in her brain that the visible shock on Wednesday’s face couldn’t possibly be good.

Her hand remains hovering over her ear for a moment. She merely just stared. Words had yet to form with the raven. She never was one to struggle forming a coherent thing to say, and this was yet another concerning sign Enid mentally noted.

Finally the wolf, nearly overcome with anticipation, threatened to burst out a question pointed at the raven. Before that could happen, Wednesday must have remembered that she had a voice.

“They’re pointy.”

“They- huh?!”

Wednesday moves her hand away, hovering in the air, when Enid frantically reaches up to cling to the ear herself. Fingers tracing an angled curve rather than a rounded one. A small set of panic takes words from her mouth.

“My ears are pointy! Why are they pointy?”

“You know, now that you say that, actually your whole face looks just a smidge more...uh.” She used her hand to gesture in concentric circles around her own face. She must have been attempting for a better word than the one that came out, but nothing immediately came to mind.

“-Pointy.”

“Excuse me?”

Wednesday surprisingly must have realized how that sounded. Something she was slowly getting better at. Not wanting to offend Enid, she immediately held her hands up in a defensive gesture and tried to explain herself once more, partially hoping Enid would calm at the apologetic hands.

“It’s not a bad thing at all. You still look very much like, well, you. I suppose you could say all of your features seem to be a bit more.. I don’t know.. Wolfish?”

Still not fully understanding, Enid scratched a hand at the nape of her neck.

“Explain.”

Another blink.

“Well, your ears are like an elf’s for one. Your cheekbones seem to settle higher on your face, and your eyes are sharper. Are they glowing?”

Wednesday leaned close to inspect further, lost herself in the intrigue of Enid’s current state and the fascination she held when bearing witness to her friend’s miniscule changes. However, it proved almost too much for poor Enid, who leaned back ever so slightly. She only just gathered herself back together and didn’t want to fall back into.. Whatever had nearly overtaken her once more.

Wednesday, ever the observant one, caught on immediately and fully pulled herself back. Not used to being the one who drew too close. She seemed surprised at herself, but quickly let that train of thought go in favor of their current dilemma. She coughed lightly into her enclosed palm, if only to distract from the prickle of embarrassment for allowing herself to get lost in her friend’s face.

“Sorry, I was-.. I think you may be undergoing a partial turn.”

Enid was shell-shocked by this new revelation.

“Hah, there is absolutely no way. We are not that close to the next full moon, and you know as well as I do that only the most disciplined and experienced werewolves can turn without the full moon helping them out.” She rubbed her ears absentmindedly, still kinda toasty to the touch.

I didn’t say you were full on turning, I’m just saying that I don’t know how else to explain why your ears are now sticking past your hair.” Wednesday tugged at her own ears with a sly smile, half expecting Enid to laugh at the motion.

Enid loosened her fingers to trail along the outline of her ear. It's unmistakable how stark the difference is from how it's always felt. That natural curve now replaced by a harsh point that unexpectedly brought up old wounds in a new light.

Like the rise of acid burning her throat. Her gut twisted in a different way this time. Harsh and gnawing. She wondered what the other ‘pointy’ features of her face felt like. She let her other hand trace the outline on her face and found that Wednesday was right. It wasn’t a significant change, but her face did indeed feel different.

Pads of her fingers grazed her minutely heightened cheekbones that happened to also hold a long, winding scar that curved its way back into the other ear. Feeling both differences at the same time hit harder than she realized. Her eyes grew distant as she succumbed to the inner thoughts she mostly succeeded in fighting. Because of this she failed to notice the concern growing on Wednesday’s face as she watched Enid mentally retreat.

You really should dye your hair back to just blonde. Most people would probably find the color a bit much. Don’t you think dear?

I wouldn’t snack too much on that. Don’t want to create any new problems for yourself. We’ve got enough to handle trying to figure out ways to get you to wolf out.

Stop making that face at your brother. Scrunching your face like that may leave wrinkles and we don’t want that, now do we?

Hey, Enid. I grabbed you something at the store that may help your little breakout problem. It's been pretty aggressive lately and your face can get so red and splotchy. I suggest using it before it causes any permanent damage or scaring on your face. I can barely think of anything worse than that.

Have you not been waxing?

You’re looking a touch anemic.

Her teeth grit and chest hurt, yet she was well practiced in her next motions. She un-balls her hands, color pooling back into the skin that had been stark white around the knuckles. She exhales long and hard, letting the hurt drain away. She loosens the tense muscles on her face and puts on a smile for Wednesday to convince her that everything is fine within, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Huh. I wonder if I’m gonna be stuck like this? That would be just my luck.” Enid flexes her claws, opening and closing them in a rhythmic pattern.

Wednesday watched as Enid focused on her multi-colored claws. She smiled, but it was hollow. It was the first time the raven had seen anything that was forced coming from her. Something wasn’t right here.

“Where did that come from?”

Enid was drawn to the words. Her eyes lazily trailed over to her friend. A jolt of lightning struck her spine and straightened it when she recognized the intensity that was painted on her face. It prompted an internal conversation to figure out the origin of the feelings herself.

In truth, Enid hasn’t fretted over something like her appearance in a long time. It helped, getting out of the house she grew up in and away from the constant nagging of her mother.

So why now?

Shouldn’t she be happy that she looks more like a wolf? It's what she has always wanted. Or what her mother always wanted for her. It signifies she belongs to a pack; won't die alone. Yet, she knows.

She’s always known deep down that if she turns and triumphantly shows her mother that she finally made it, finally became a true wolf…she would still find something new to poke at, to prod, to dig at. Never be…never-

Enid bites into her cheek, copper welds into her senses.

“My new freakish look will at least give mother something new to rag on other than the scars on my face.” Enid said half jokingly. A larger smile spread across her features, yet still couldn’t reach her eyes.

The air of humor she did her best to lace into the sentence was an attempt to convince her friend that she was fine. There was no need to grow concerned over something as simple as perceived image.

Yet it lands upon the girl and causes a reaction exactly the opposite as she intended. Wednesday immediately gets defensive.

“What’s wrong with the scars on your face?” She nearly spat. Fury builds within her whenever Enid’s mother is mentioned.

A tired chuckle escapes Enid. Every emotion is forced from her system to mask the digging pain that refuses to relent.

“You know, my mother said-”

Wednesday cuts her off sharply.

“Enid, I don’t give a damn about what your mother says about you. I give a damn about you.”

The wolf’s mouth goes dry.

“Your scars, the form you are revealing at this moment, all of this is bothering you, when I’ve never known you to care about that. At least not that I’ve noticed until now. I want to know why. What do -you- think of your scars?”

That intensity flickers in her eyes, like the glow of fire in a forge with all of the sharpness of the steel blades it hones and melds under its force. Enid is consumed by the flames.

Her claws dig into her palm as she forces herself to think, to come up with a proper response to that. Enid turns her head away to give herself space to think. Yet, she can still feel Wednesday’s piercing gaze on her skin, waiting for an answer.

What does she think?

These brilliant red, angry tears into her skin seem to flare up in an adverse reaction to the scrutiny. They take over half her face, displaying maybe forever Tyler’s ferocity in their battle. Reminding her that she won by the skin of her teeth. If she had been a mere breath too late, she would have never found herself in this moment now. Wednesday’s ebony eyes are prying into her own, digging for anything that might reveal what is so carefully hidden beneath. She could barely live with that thought, and it is almost like the scars are a reminder of how close to losing something so vastly important to her came to pass.

Maybe that bothered her a bit more than the ever persistent idea that was finally starting to cling. She didn’t originally believe that these stupid blemishes on her face would scare away people. Her mother had always been so worried over the smallest of imperfections. It seemed so silly, so vain. It was funny the first time she heard it, but now she can’t help but wonder if there is some truth to what she’s talking about.

Honestly, what reason do I have to care for them?

That last part must have been accidentally spoken aloud, because Wednesday’s face betrays a hint of sadness now that she sees a bit of the truth hidden so thoroughly by the wolf.

“I can think of a few.”

Startled by the passion behind the crackle of her voice, Enid grew curious, and ventured her question.

“Like what?

Wednesday, let her mind wander back to that day. She steeled herself, and fought for the words that came next.

“I would have been shredded beyond recognition if you hadn’t taken on those scars in my stead. They are a testament to the kind of person you are within. Exceedingly brave, immensely loyal.”

“Incredibly full of dumb luck. A constant reminder of how much more powerful Tyler was than me. But hey, at least it serves as a glaring outward warning sign to anyone else of the plenty of other scars I’ve got tucked away inside.” A bitter and barking laugh escaped her that fell silent quickly.

“Is that truly how you see yourself?”

Visible pain could be registered on her face. Enid wasn’t sure if she'd ever seen that before, and it broke her heart to know that her own internal problems caused her to reveal that.

Enid visibly deflated, she wished she could take back her sharp reaction, especially when seeing the surprise embedded on the raven’s face to find out just how low she could think of herself sometimes.

“Not usually. Normally it wouldn’t bother me, none of this. But it's sometimes hard to ignore what’s staring me in the face everytime I wake up and look in a mirror. It's getting difficult to fight the thought that because of these scars I’m a little harder to look at now. I try my best not to care what my mother thinks of when it comes to me, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t at all. She is my own damn mother after all.”

Enid watched as Wednesday bit hard into her lip. She clearly wanted to say more, but forced herself into silence so her friend could let everything out. Those deep eyes asked her to continue. So she did.

“I remind her so much of how she used to be, I think. How she wanted to be. All of that was ripped away from her, and now I think she says these things because she’s bitter that she didn’t have the strength to fight for what she wanted.”

“Even my brothers, who I know are merely teasing me because that's what they do to bond, don’t realize how few uplifting words are said in our household. They say so much harsher stuff to each other and try to top it for fun. I know they don’t actually mean it. But, after being told I remind them of a box of discount crayons, or a wolf in a china shop, or an elf because I’m so much shorter than them. Yeah, it's funny at the time, but I let it bother me in my worst moments.

“So it was something I said.” Wednesday noted aloud.

“What? No. You didn’t-”

“I mentioned your ears look like an elf’s, and that parallels something that bothers you to be compared to. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up any negative feelings. Not to you, anyways. If you were someone else, that’s a different story, but I digress.”

Enid’s eyes grew soft as she watched Wednesday apologize. She didn’t even need to. There was no way she could have known, yet here she was. She was honored to see this side of Wednesday, fully knowing that she may be among a truly small number of people who is allowed to witness how truly kind and sweet she could sometimes be.

That previous pain that dug like a thorn in her side ebbed away and was replaced by a new feeling. One that caused her heart to feel like it was melting.

“If it makes any difference, none of that comes to mind when I think of your appearance.” Wednesday was suddenly so interested in picking at her nails.

That did it. The knotting in her stomach is back. For some reason, it's stronger. All consuming, like knowing the answer to that response is the only thing that matters to her.

She wants to ask, but she's almost afraid of how much she wants to know.

“What do I remind you of, then?” she braved, her curiosity getting the better of her.

“Oh don’t get me wrong. You still wear more color than you would find in the largest pack of crayons on any given day, and are sometimes less than subtle. Your brothers were onto something there, but that doesn’t even come close to giving the whole picture.”

Enid smiles into the hand supporting her head.

Wednesday furrows her brows, thinking long and hard about this. She lets her eyes roam the area, hoping something she sees will place an answer in her mind.

In a moment, surprise floods over her. An answer must be clicking her brain and she laughs at the irony.

The wolf is on the edge of her seat. A storm swirling in her heart. It’s like rolling thunder that causes her hair to nearly stand on end. The blood in her ears, pumping. Her being a raging tempest that threatens to tear her apart.

She isn’t sure as to what to make of the sudden burst of laughter, and almost regrets asking, knowing the answer, good or bad, is already going to hold a lot of power over her image. She inhales a shaky breath, not realizing she has held it for this long.

“I wish it was summer.” She voiced after a long pause.

“Then you could see for yourself the field of flowers that you pretty much embody in just about every aspect I can think of.”

That raging storm fell into a deep and echoing silence in a moment. A quiet only found in the heart of winter. A clear focus is given to Enid. The warmth of a hearth, deep, steady, secure, is found now in the core of her being.

“I remind you of a flower?” Her voice was raspy, filled with disbelief as well as an abundance of emotion that is on the cusp of overwhelming her.

Wednesday giggled again and Enid thought it sounded like bells chiming.

“Not just any flower. The irony is not lost on me, either.”

“I… remember staying at my aunt’s home when I was younger. She would teach me how to track, and our path always ended up in this field, to my dismay.”

Wednesday gestured with an open hand to the field. Dry and orange grass jostled in the wind. Enid turned her head to scan the field, and imagined little Wednesday shooting down rabbits and birds with a crossbow as big as she was.

“You see, the creatures would flock to this place in the summer. They were attracted to the bright and colorful Lupine flowers that cover the ground almost as far as the eye can see.”

“L-lupine?” Enid stuttered the word out of surprise. Her head snapped back front and center.

The raven watched Enid with amusement. “I told you that it’s ironic.”

Wednesday clicked her tongue as she thought before continuing on. She let her fingers get tangled up in the long grass before her, tugging on it lightly.

“You know there’s a story I recall about the flower. Did you know that people once believed it to be poisonous?”

“I didn’t even know it was a flower.” Enid quickly remarked.

A small eye roll was given in response.

“Shh, E. That was rhetorical. Anyways-“

Wednesday stopped tangling the grass before her and let it slip through her fingers, which were now working to help express the emotion that Wednesday’s face doesn’t always hold. The wolf listened, fully enraptured.

“The flower was believed to be poisonous. Robbing the soil of its nutrients and given the name to compare to the thieving animals. It was the only flower that grew in its vicinity. So, people shunned the flower for a long time, seeing only what they wanted to see. Yet they were surprised to find out later that isn’t remotely true.”

A somber feeling struck Enid. She replayed her earlier rant to Wednesday about her mother in her head, lacing the underlying connections from her previous grievances. Because of her current train of thought she was unprepared for what her companion said next.

“The flower does the opposite.” Wednesday began, softly. “ It adds nitrogen to the soil, and has an ability to heal even the most barren, damaged, and scorched earth. Not only that, but it seems to provide healing and life in many other aspects. Being good for human and animal consumption and for healing and nourishing one’s skin.”

A ghost of a smile flashed across her face. Her inky eyes locked with Enid’s own crystalline ones.

“It stands tall, being a hardy plant that comes in a wide variety of colors. Gold, pink, blue. And overwhelmingly sweet… saccharine, even. Smelling like the honey it aids the bees in creating. The intensity of the aroma nearly gave me a headache just being in any kind of proximity.” she intentionally inserts. Enid quirked an eyebrow at the incredibly direct comparison and slight dig from her testy friend.

Wednesday pursed her lips after a brief moment’s pause. She let her gaze fall away and turned her head to face the field. Far from Enid’s steady gaze.

“People have also come to associate the plant with symbolic meaning. It stands for a zeal for life, immense inner strength, and they inspire admiration. Finally, perhaps the most fitting, they ultimately inflict the world with happiness.”

Enid was kind of glad their eyes were not locked anymore. She felt that familiar sting at the corner of her eyes. The hearth inside evolved into a raging inferno.

“Even upon the subjects who never wished for it, yet curiously find the world would be lesser without them in it.”

Wednesday’s final sentence was such a whisper that Enid had to strain with her strengthened hearing to grasp each word that now found itself etched permanently into her bleeding heart.

Enid clenched her chest as the pain from the knotting grew around her heart. Full blown tears poured down her face in rivers. The drops are padding on her knees and darkening her suit. She couldn’t breathe through either nostril, so she audibly sniffled now and again.

“I-..Thank you, Wednesday. That means..more than I can say.” Her grip tightened on her clothes. The words came out so soft.

The raven continued to watch the wind dance with the grass for a time, not responding right away. Enid, too, let her gaze fall upon the blades that ebbed and flowed. She felt more at peace internally now than she had in a long time, and decided to just bask in this moment. The gentle smile that appeared on her face had crinkled the corners of her salty and tear filled eyes. A question filled her chest and she ventured to let it out.

“Can we come back here, in the summer? I would like to see them with my own eyes.”

Wednesday finally turned back to look at Enid. There was something that glinted in her eyes she couldn’t quite recognize.

“You want me to bring you to the most colorful place I can imagine?” Humor and amusement enveloped her words, yet it didn’t deter the warmth and seriousness that Enid responded with.

“I want to see them with you. Please?”

The depth of the sincerity of the wolf’s plea must have stirred something in Wednesday. The raven had rocked herself to a stand. She made her way over to where Enid sat, and extended a hand to help her up. Enid took the cool palm into her own and watched as Wednesday matched that earnestness given to her without hesitation.

“Sure. It’s a promise.”

Enid leveled to her feet and continued to hold onto Wednesday’s hand as long as she was allowed and found herself wishing she could imprint upon her memory the feeling of their hand entwined for all her days.

The moment was shattered in an instant when a blood curdling scream pierced the air.

Panic flooded the two and sent them both into adrenaline filled states, ripping apart to survey their surroundings. Wednesday spun violently towards the sound and ice filled Enid’s veins.

“Uncle Fester.” The raven whispered with a note of horror.

The girl spun back and tugged on Enid’s forearm with all the seriousness she could muster.

“We need to go, now! Enid-”

The wolf could feel what she was about to say. Knowing this, she beat her to the punch. Her hand fell over the other in a motion of reassurance.

“I’m with you. I won’t leave your side, Wednesday. Let’s go save your family.” She nodded as she shook with a sound resolve the arm that was holding her own.

With that, the pair sprinted towards the north. The roar of a beast echoed in the distance.

Notes:

It’s done!! Finally!

Oh my.. this chapter, man.

I have never in my life struggled building a chapter more than this one, yet it finally came together in ways I didn't even suspect, and it was totally worth the immense amount of effort it has been asking of me.

I have rewritten pieces of this thing like 5 times, I think. I had a general idea of what I wanted, but this chapter took on a life of its own and turned out like 80% different than I planned it, and I’m so excited it did.

So, clearly this is a vastly important chapter in terms of building and developing that trust and bond between our girls. I wanted this chapter to do a lot of different things, and I think that’s why it took so long to try and get it right. I really couldn’t be more pleased with how it decided to grow on its own, and I hope you guys enjoy reading it as much as I’ve enjoyed seeing it take shape.

- fun fact: the flower comparison was totally just wild luck that fit better than a puzzle piece. I had originally had a dramatically different approach to their final conversation in the chapter, yet I kept finding myself in a place that left Enid and Wednesday on different wavelengths before the battle with the fire-bear. So, I considered different ways to work around that. I remember thinking of ways I could use the flower field in conversations, but I don’t live in Germany, so I had to google what kind of flowers grow in the Black Forest. Lo and behold the first thing that pops up, no joke, is a lupine flower. I’m pretty sure my jaw hit the floor. Not only is it called that, but everything Wednesday says about it is seemingly accurate.. (as far as multiple google searches go, that is).

- I wanted to expand upon Enid’s werewolf power a bit, and kinda created something unique that is beginning to differ and stray from a traditional idea of how werewolves function. I’m just gonna chalk it up to creativity liberty, so I hope you guys aren’t that bothered by it, because I’m having a blast with it!

- Baby steps, but that bond between Enid and Wednesday is strengthening, and let me tell you.. writing a slow burn is so rewarding as a writer. These two just make me want to melt! I adore their relationship, and in spite of the immense effort, it’s a joy to write about these two idiots falling in love.

- Wednesday telling Enid she compares her to a flower in order for her to see herself the way she does has changed Enid’s brain chemistry forever.

- Wednesday being way overprotective with Enid is giving me life. That girl is so terrified of losing her that it can’t help but start to overflow in her words and actions. It’s a fun and difficult line to walk when you know Wednesday would try to do everything to respect Enid’s agency in making her own decisions, yet desperately wanting to keep her out of harm's way.

- You just know that these two are the perfect hunting duo, and I had been waiting a really long time to write out what that would look like. Definitely worth the wait. That section was so much fun.

- Enid is such a well written character, and honestly, my favorite to write for. I feel like there is a great deal of depth and nuance to her character that is hidden in the details of the show. I gave the show a quick rewatch to put this ending section as hopefully in-character for her as I could. What is interesting to me is the confidence about many different things she carries with her. She isn’t afraid to be herself, and I feel like a great deal of her dialogue and actions indicate that. Yet at the same time, her family is introduced and some of the first bits of dialogue her mother has to offer her is focused on pointing out concerns she has with her appearance. Without a doubt she has to learn to carry that weight and burden her mother gives to her, and I can easily see this digging into Enid at her lowest moments.

- Yet again, I became overly ambitious with a chapter. I was almost positive I could fit the fight into the end portion, but this was already getting extremely lengthy, and I don’t want to go that much longer without an update to this fic, so here we are!

- Please prepare yourselves, because we are finally pitting the girls against the terror of the forest in the next chapter, and I for one, cannot wait.

Kalon

Chapter 12: Into the Inferno

Notes:

I'm losing so much sleep, so I'm going to come back and finish off the notes section after work tomorrow. However, the update to the story couldn't wait a moment longer. I've kept you guys waiting for so long, and I can't wait to share the culmination of the hunting arc with you all! I do hope you enjoy!

I hope you all came prepared! It's an intense one!

Without giving away too much, warning of fire and blood.

The wind cut at her cheek and whipped her colorful curls wildly. The chill of the air pooled deeply into her gasping lungs and bit into her clawed fingertips. Her boots tore into the ground, kicking up a flurry of dirt and grass in their wake as the pair raced up the mountain.

Enid swiped at the nearby trees. Her motion left deep rivets into the bark as she used them to propel herself further upward at their breakneck pace. Even she had a difficult time tailing Wednesday, who spiraled up the mountain like a bat out of hell.

The motion of her braids suddenly whipping to the side had drawn her attention to the girl. Her dark eyes scanned the landscape furiously, now that much of it lay below them. Enid helped, tearing her own eyes away. She surveyed opposite of the area where Wednesday was focused on to cover more territory. She could only pray they would find her dad and uncle below, or at least the bear, before it finds them.

Enid heard a couple of rocks tumble down the ravine to their right and eyed the land around them warily. The need for a clear vantage point had driven them to make their way to the highest point of elevation they could find. Even still, Enid couldn’t help but feel her stomach drop as she rushed upwards, avoiding the edge that was just a mere bad step away.

“FATHER! UNCLE!” Wednesday cups her hands and echoes over the land for what must have been the tenth time. Apart from the sudden flapping of wings, birds scared of the sudden shouting, silence was their answer once more.

Enid leaned on her knees and attempted to catch her breath. She panted heavily before pulling herself back upright to reach out her hand once more at Wednesday.

“Let me smell it again. Maybe it will click up here.” The cool air cut her voice and turned it broken and raspy.

Wednesday lowered her cupped hands and leveled her gaze upon the wolf as she let a hand reach around into her bag to pull out an ebony rag, used to clean her crossbow, apparently. It was her father’s, and still bore traces of his musky cologne paired with a fine layer of expensive scotch and Cuban cigars.

In spite of the raven placing the cloth into Enid’s claws, something in her eyes told her that this wasn’t working.

Enid recognized that herself, and realized well before trying this for the third time. She found that the stress of their situation rendered her honed scent ability severely weakened. But what else was she supposed to do? Not try? She had to do this. Do something, at least.

Enid parted her mouth ever so slightly, fangs poking over her lips, and breathed the scent in deeply. She let her hands fall, placing the rag back into Wednesday’s own. Her eyes squeezed shut in an attempt at concentration. She tried to visualize the net sinking once more, yet she couldn’t break the waves. Chaotic black waters crashed against her mind and occupied her thoughts. Instead of focusing on the smell, she could only feel like the salt water was pooling into her lungs as she coughed and sputtered. She fought every sensation that was now overwhelming her, threatening her, and causing her to drown.

“Hey, stop.”

She felt a strong tug on her shoulder that drew her out of her panicked mind. An elevated heart rate and her blood pumped in her ears. Wednesday must have caught her mid-spiral, for she held fast and sported a rather concerned look.

“Breathe. Don’t push yourself. We are going to find them.”

Enid nodded and held back a quivering lip. She let out a shaky breath, attempting to drain the panic out of her system and level her emotions.

As they pressed onwards, Enid cupped her own hands to help carry her voice.

“MR. ADDAMS! UNCLE FESTER!”

Yet silence met them once more.

The rush of the moment left a distinct pounding in the side of Enid’s head. A sharp pain blossomed at her temple that persisted as they carried on. She thought that it must have been from the stress, but she hasn’t ever experienced an acute headache from a bit of apprehension before. Dealing with her mother would have given her every opportunity for it to be noticed, and that is what gave her pause.

The wolf let her eyes roam the land frantically as Wednesday could be heard shouting for her family just beside her. Her claws dug into her palm. She strained to keep focus through the panic, the headache, and that stupid bitter taste in her mouth that was starting to taste a whole lot like-

Something clicked within the blonde and she let out an audible gasp.

Smoke?

“Wednesday, Enid!”

Instant relief flooded in at the sound of Gomez’s voice, however faint, calling at them from a distance. Enid abandoned her previous thought and reached out to hold tight onto Wednesday’s arm and shoulder in her joy. A bright smile replaced the anxiety that previously dominated her features. Wednesday held tight to Enid, indicating the feeling was shared.

It was easy to find their figures now. Both of the men waved their arms frantically, signaling their exact location. They were still quite far down the ridge of the mountain, and it rendered them quite small through the distance between the pairs.

Enid and Wednesday both began to rush forward to their location, tearing back down the mountain to finally meet up with the men. A shout caused them to suddenly stop, rocks and dirt sliding them down to a halt.

“Away!”

Enid and Wednesday squinted at the figures as they made wide, sweeping motions over their heads. They realized that the motion was signaling them to start running in the opposite direction.

“Get away from the ledge!”

Wednesday’s breath hitched when she recognized their intention.

A dark shadow engulfed Enid’s vision to her right and seemed to momentarily slow the world around her. It swallowed the very sky and every sound around it. Before any more thoughts could pass through her mind, it overtook everything. By then, it was already too late.

The earth she stood on exploded into a storm of dirt and rock. Grass and soil pelted her face and filled her mouth.The ground beneath her feet crumbled into dust, and was suddenly gone.

Enid finally found her voice and yelped as the world spun violently. Her shout didn’t last long, for the wind was knocked out of her as her body hit the dirt. It must have been on an incline, for gravity yanked her downwards at a terrifying speed. She stumbled and rolled over layers of rocks and cliff edges that attempted, but failed, to stop her downward descent. Already, she could feel bruises forming on every inch of her body, but the pain was muffled and felt like little more than static fuzz.

The tingle of her fingers and the darkening and blurring world pulled at her consciousness.

She fought at that feeling. She fought to stay awake, to not let the world slip through her grasp. Everything felt so heavy. Why was it heavy?

The static grew stronger and her muscles began to lose their strength. Her lungs felt like they were on fire.

She fought hard to try to breathe and found that she couldn’t.

Her lungs burned, then her chest, then the ache spread to her whole body.

It terrified her how quickly the pain was slipping away into..into-

Breathe, dammit, breathe!

She willed this with every fiber of her being. Mind working in overdrive to fight for her life that was quickly working against her and slipping away into oblivion.

Breathe, Enid! Please, just breathe!

Water began to flood her nose and fill her lungs.

Enid’s body reflexively jolted upwards as she violently spasmed and retched. A ton of water expelled from her lungs as she attempted to work it all out of her system while gasping for any amount of air to desperately keep herself from falling back into an unconscious state.

Deep, earth-shattering coughs wrecked her body, forcing out the last of the water and finally providing enough oxygen for some latent neurons to start firing once more.

She stared at her reflection through the thin layer of murky water. It was clouded by a mix of grass, bile, and blood tainting the water lapping around her wrists and rippling over her knees.

She watched the fear in her own eyes through the reflection grow to overtake her once more when she realized she fell from the heavens into exactly the type of place Wednesday told her to stay far away from.

She needed to move, to get as far away from here as possible. Her body screamed at her as she attempted to lift herself upright. She only momentarily stood before teetering on unstable footing like a baby deer before collapsing back into the shallow water.

“Come on. Get up.” She whispered to herself under a shaky breath.

As she began once more in her fight to stay upright, she watched as ripples and waves emanated from her frantic movement and spiraled outwards from her, choppy and sharp.

Somewhere in the midst of her struggle, another ring of ripples entered her vision. Smooth, clear, and large rhythmic waves crashed over her knuckles. Enid’s heart sank when she realized that this new set didn’t originate from her, but somewhere just north of her current location.

Pain shot up her neck as she craned it upwards.

Still within the brush of trees and shrubs, it remained mostly hidden. However, the momentary glance was enough. Enid registered the lumbering stride, the looming shadows. The ground shook when it pressed a paw into the earth. Another ring of water rushing towards her.

The massive teeth glinted and were the first part of the creature revealed by a small beam of light that filtered through the trees.

The fear within herself was so visceral she could taste it. Its overwhelming power had rendered her muscles to jelly, and cemented her to the spot. She was now helpless to do much more than wish she was still passed out, rather than watch this nightmare draw ever closer in order to tear her limb from limb.

“Enid, get up! Please get up!”

A scream filled her ears from behind, and she had just enough in her to pull backwards and draw her being towards the origin of the voice.

Her eyes took a moment to adjust, but she found Wednesday clawing at the edge of the cliff as she raced down it as fast as she could without falling herself. Not far from where the girl hung off the face, veins of black soil ripped the mountain open like a fresh wound. It had spiraled upwards and caught Enid’s attention. Her eyes followed their jagged and unnatural path moving closer to the top.

A sharp gasp of surprise left her as she witnessed the state of the mountain. A gnarled trunk of a tree was jutting out in misshapen splinters across the very edge she had been standing on only moments before falling out of the sky.

The ground reverberated from underneath her, drawing her attention back towards the beast that edged closer and finally emerged from the shadows. One clear look at the terror’s immense stature and the undisputable power held within layers of pure muscle left Enid with little doubt that this beast actually had the ability to launch an entire tree trunk at her previous location. The evidence was now embedded in the mountain.

The sight of it told her that even though she survived the fall, it clearly wouldn’t matter for much longer.

The little wolf tensed up, a desire to find a place to run to filled her being. Unfortunately, the mammoth sized bear was practically already on her.

She watches with helpless terror as the features on its face become more discernible with the rapidly closing distance. The fire in its eyes and a demonic look set upon its features spelled a gruesome and terrible demise waiting for her at the end of its claws.

A desperate attempt at an escape had caused Enid’s muscles to explode in a burst of speed as she shot herself to the right.

The attempt came too late, as the beast was already far too close to allow its prey to slip away so easily.

With speed Enid felt like shouldn’t be possible for a creature of this weight and size, a powerful and thundering paw nearly the size of her whole body sweeps her into the air and rockets her backwards. Electricity jolts her veins and bile rises in her throat. All of the air left her lungs once more as she was slammed back into her watery grave, hard.

A paw sunk into her chest, caging her to the ground and holding her in place. She gaped for air that wouldn’t fill her empty lungs. The beast toyed with her, only pressing hard enough upon her to keep her from darting once more. Black claws extended and grazed against her neck, pinpricks of blood beaded out from the divots made in her flesh. The beast almost looked as if it was smiling with a horrific grin plastered on its nightmarish face.

Enid squirmed and wiggled in desperation to escape, but to no avail. Terror pooled in her gut as wisps of fire began to whip at the sides of its razor sharp teeth. The row of fangs became backlit. Indicating a growing fire being built up from its core. She could feel the burning heat already searing into her face.

Enid closed her eyes, a small tear running down the side of her cheek could be felt as she waited for the end to come.

“Run under its legs and get as far away as you can! Don’t stop for anything!”

Enid’s eyes shot open upon hearing the strength and desperation booming from her best friend’s voice.

Two arrows suddenly are found embedded in the chest of the bear. Without surprise, it seemed like a mere annoyance to the creature rather than doing any real damage. Though he was startled by the sudden sensation, and because of it, had paused. The fire behind his teeth flickered out into smoke.

A hissing sound came from the arrows, Enid realized a little late.

Without much warning, the world burst into a cloud of white.

The reaction caused the bear to loosen its hold upon Enid ever so slightly, but it was enough.

The wolf tore her body out from under the weight of its paw. Completely blind, she launched herself forward with brilliant speed. Avoiding where she remembered its body to be, she tore forward in a flash through the mud and water. The pain in her body was overridden, adrenaline had taken her over.

The trees. Get to the trees.

Fire in her veins, Enid burst through the underbrush and found sanctuary in the embrace of the forest that kept her hidden from the creature for the moment. She reached out an arm and dug her claws into the bark. The force of momentum swung her body around it, and she grappled the other hand into the base to secure her to the trunk and keep her in place. Hidden, and momentarily safe enough to catch her breath. Her body pressed into the bark like it was a lifeline.

Smoke bomb arrows, Enid thought as her chest heaved, inhaling an immense amount of air and pouring it back into her deprived lungs. She knew those extra arrows of hers were special.

The thick layer of smoke still clung around desperately, though it seemed already to be thinning out. Not much longer, and the cover of the low hanging cloud would evaporate, and she’d be caught again like a fish out of water.

With enough oxygen now that returned to her body, Enid began to pivot her torso away from the trunk and disappear out of the area for good. Yet, her claws only dug into the tree deeper.

Though still fairly weak, Enid’s ears could make out the sound of human footsteps now padding around in the shallow water. A few pairs of them now. They ran in circles, avoiding the thundering cadence of the beast that shook the earth and water under his feet, even at this distance.

An ominous and petrifying roar suddenly reverberated through the air, one that sounded like the very call of death itself. The wolf’s claws crushed the now splintering bark from underneath. Distressed shouting and panicked voices could be heard from the Addams trio as they engaged with the bear.

Water crashing and earth shaking had sent whatever birds and creatures left around her spiraling away at a blinding speed to find safety. Enid’s body remained clinging on that tree despite it all.

Run. She told you to run. You promised her.

She let out a shaky breath as she attempted to pry herself out of the tree, but her claws wouldn’t yield an inch.

An immense amount of energy suddenly pulsed the ground, and sent Enid back onto the earth as a rain of water, pine needles, and mud pelted her from all sides.

Enid didn’t have enough time to even right herself before she picked up on a loud pair of shouting. Gomez and Fester screeched out Wednesday’s name in abject terror.

That was more than enough to make up her indecisive mind.

Enid ripped into the ground as she tore onto her feet with fire in her eyes and ice in her veins. One thought persisted through her blinding rage.

Save her.

Branches snapped and the underlying brush destroyed upon her wake as something deep and primal clenched at her chest. Moments before she found her way back to the beginning of the forest and at the edge of a battle, she zeroed in on the dark-furred demon currently overwhelming the party of three. The bear was towering over a fallen Wednesday, and reminded Enid so much of when Tyler nearly ripped her apart. Enid’s lips snarled into a deep and focused rage, revealing her own set of steel-shredding teeth.

The wolf exploded out of the forest and launched herself in a blind fury into the air and directly in the path of the bear. She flew with incredible speed across its back. Her body spun with precision and grace in the air as she flipped herself enough to let those colorful nails of hers catch into a mound of fur and flesh across its shoulders. The initial momentum carried her across the length of its back as she carved her claws deeper and ripped open several long and angry tears along the body of the beast.

She continued her flight until her arc led her spiraling back towards earth. She tucked her body close and rolled backwards. She unfolded to catch the dirt with her bloodied claws as she slowed the momentum to a halt as she skid over sliding rocks and mud. Finishing the incredible move by whipping her hair back behind her to keep her icy eyes stuck on the roaring beast flailing in both pain and shock.

Waves of relieved cheering and awestruck gasps were exclaimed by the men on her left.

“Atta girl, Enid! What a move!” Gomez shouted over the pained roars of the beast. He removed the crossbow set upon his back and let a few of his own arrows fly into the beast’s pelt to help keep him down a few more seconds while he recovered.

“What tha- Why was she hiding back there?” Fester added in his own awestruck remark as he ran a hand over his bald head.

Enid darted her blue eyes around to scan for Wednesday, checking to see if any damage was done, only to catch the girl to her right already glaring her down. Fear, concern, panic, betrayal and immense rage collected in those obsidian eyes of hers and bore directly into Enid’s heart.

The blonde ignored the ache from causing such a flurry of emotions within the raven, and focused on analyzing the rest of her. Thankfully, no visible damage could be registered.

She opened her mouth to say something to her. What that was, she didn’t quite know. She was cut off before she even really began to voice anything. Gomez and Wednesday lept into action at the same time. He had darted forward to yank the wolf by the collar of her suit, pulling her to her feet and dragging her alongside himself and out of the path of a now charging bear who was primed to retaliate. At the same moment, Wednesday rapidly swung around her crossbow to fire.

Enid watched as an extremely large arrow launched from the machine and embedded itself into the shoulder of the beast. Enid realized that it was tied with a rope that remained caught onto the crossbow. Wednesday worked with great precision and speed to tug and manipulate some levers and aim the weapon towards the ground before the rope grew taut. She fired once more, but now the anchor to the rope was embedded into the earth rather than inside her crossbow.

The result was enough force from the rope to yank the bear off its feet and send it tumbling back into the shallow water, causing another earthquake. The rope snapped, only strong enough to stun the bear for a moment while Gomez and Enid rushed out of its immediate vicinity.

“Stay by my side. We’ll stay mostly out of range and I’ll teach you when to strike, my girl.”

Enid gave a solid nod in understanding. She then followed Gomez’s stride and kept his pace. The two encircled the rising beast in a brisk jog, waiting for an opening once more. The man unsheathed a saber previously held in its scabbard and swung it around to point at his brother.

“Fester, It's your turn to set an opening!” Gomez shouted at his brother, glee and excitement were laced through the order.

“Yeah, yeah. I know how this works, Gomez.”

The wolf watched with intrigue as Fester began to unlace a giant whip previously wrapped neatly within a side satchel, careful to avoid the cluster of barbs collected at the end. A couple of practiced motions, and it unfurled like a fruit roll-up.

A quick spin of the wrist and the whip responded with a sharp crack. After a couple of warm ups, Fester courageously darted closer to the bear, still honed in on herself.

The beast still payed the bald man little regard, that clearly proved to be a mistake.

Fester fell to his knees and slid forward, much akin to how a baseball player would steal home. A simple flick of the wrist had snaked the whip to coil around the bear’s foot. While the barbs alone wouldn’t have done much damage, Enid was startled out of her skin when a blinding flash of light and a thundering noise cracked the air around them.

The wolf’s eyes didn’t even have time to adjust before feeling a sharp tug on her sleeve. Gomez leveled his sword as he flew towards the bear. Enid followed suit blindly grappling her way forward until color and form pooled back into her vision. She was amazed to find the bear momentarily spasming, like he was struck by lightning.

“Deal one stellar blow and back off! Make it count!” Gomez laughed as used the saber to dig into its exposed flesh and vault himself to the other side, landing into their jogging stride once again.

With all the grace of an acrobat, Enid attempted something similar. She flips her palms backwards in order to have them flush against the fur when spinning over its still spasming form. She once again flew over the colossal being and created new rips to match the ones along its spine, yet as she dug in her claws, the bear fought to override the electricity holding him in place, and won.

Caught in mid-air, Enid didn’t have time to make a quick maneuver away from the massive paw it managed to break free, now aiming to swat her from the sky. Enid winced and readied herself for a collision that would surely shatter into her side, yet it never hit. Instead, two arrows whizzed past her face and into the pad of the paw.

Having prepared herself for the impact, she wasn’t prepared to hit the ground, and ended up tumbling through the mud. She was on the ground for only a moment until splashing sounds could be heard racing her way towards her. A hard pull on her arm yanked Enid back upright and she was running beside Wednesday. The girl grabbed a fistful of her blonde hair and tugged down on it hard, nearly causing her to lose her footing and throw her back into the mud. Before Enid could yelp, an immense wave of heat flashed right above their backs as they darted out of the fire’s range.

“Wednesday, load the tearblast arrows! We’ve got point” Gomez and Fester moved up to distract the bear.

“It’s going to take some time for them to energize. Hold it off as long as you can!”

Stride matched and creating a larger arc around the bear to get some distance, Wednesday and Enid back away while Wednesday works at her crossbow to load some rather mechanical looking arrows into the slottings.

“Can I hel-”

“How badly are you hurt? Dammit, Enid. You better be honest with me.” Wednesday practically growled as she cut the blonde off completely.

“What? I’m not-”

If looks could kill, Enid would have dropped dead in this exact moment. A deep shiver ran down her spine.

“Significant bruising from the fall, not enough to affect any kind of mobility. Nothing feels or seems to be broken. The bear nicked me when he held me down, but that’s it, I swear.”

“Like you swore to me that you’d listen when I ask something of you?” Wednesday seethed from under clenched teeth.

Enid bit her tongue. She deserved that one.

“Your head? You passed out when you fell.”

“I-I feel pretty aware right now, but it’s probably the adrenaline. Listen, Wends-”

“Shut it. I’m infuriated with you at the moment, but if you insist on staying then focus on the bear and keep your pace and distance. I’m not the one currently threatening your life. Now, go!”

The raven shoved Enid forward with a hard press between her shoulderblades to indicate to the wolf she needed to pick up the pace. Wednesday herself slows as she begins to line up a shot. Once satisfied, she whipped around the crossbow to dig into her shoulder for support. With a tilt of her head and closing an eye, she clicks the trigger that slices three whirring arrows to dig neatly into its midsection.

“Downed!”

Flashing purple lights were blinking on the ends of the arrows dug into the fur, and a deep mechanical hum whirred louder until Enid wanted to cover her ears. A loud thud and popping of the latent power of the mechanical arrows sent enough force through the bear to actually lift the behemoth off the ground and fly backwards with the immense force.

Enid’s throat went dry. She honestly didn’t know which she was more terrified of right now, the bear or Wednesday.

“Enid, swipe at its heels! Let’s work on weakening its mobility!” Gomez swiped his own saber against the flesh making up its hind leg. The wolf quickly followed suit, making sure to provide enough time to back off before it recovered. She was getting better at the timing of it all.

“Haha, Great show, my little viper! That’s how it’s done!” Gomez shouted at Wednesday as they began to circle the bear once more.

“Uncle, are you planning on keeping him busy or are you letting me do all of the work again?” Wednesday shouts at Fester with some snark.

“I faint one time, and you just can’t seem to let it go. Can you?”

Fester roundhouses and snaps a series of lightning cracks on some of the already exposed wounds she and Gomez caused on its back legs.

“She’s not wrong, my brother. You’re getting a bit sloppy there!” Gomez chuckled as he and Enid continued their pacing around the bear, letting Wednesday and Fester figure out who plans to take down the beast next before they have an opportunity to get close.

“I’d like to see you down a bear that weighs a couple thousand pounds yourself.” Fester continued his pursuit while dancing around strong handed swipes.

“Wednesday could down that thing in her sleep, and I’m pretty sure she could fit in your pocket.”

“Hey! I’m not that small!” the raven snapped aloud, finding the small offense in the larger compliment.

Enid laughs at the familial ribbing.

“Don’t compare me to her! That is an unrealistic expectation and you know it.”

“Don’t worry, Uncle. You might compare to my skill one day. Give it a couple lifetimes though.” Wednesday’s signature sarcasm shines.

Fester lets out a loud groan. A creeping snarky smile makes its way onto Wednesday’s face.

After a couple more swipes from Fester, the beast collapses on its stomach, and Enid prepares to leap at the opportunity to strike.

“Dad, it's a fake out! Grab her!” Wednesday screams at her father with dripping urgency.

Enid is scooped out of the air by Gomez before the bear spins hard and snaps its jaws right in front of her face, not before spinning his body and smacking him in the face with the hilt of his sword.

“Whoopsie! You okay there, Enid?” Gomez says with a lighthearted air. Fester coils the whip around its face and sends a shockwave. The bear rolls back in pain.

“Who’s the sloppy one now?” Fester’s grin gets wiped off his face when looking at how angry Wednesday is.

“If you’d use your signals, then she wouldn’t have jumped!” Wednesday bit at Fester, the close call Enid had sent Wednesday into a tear against her uncle.

Gomez and Enid took the opportunity to back off for a bit while Wednesday and Fester worked to stun the bear again in spite of the verbal lashing Wednesday gave him.

After the pair caught their breaths, Gomez spoke up.

“You know, Enid. I’ve never seen her this stressed out before.”

She assumes this is bad, and quickly makes to apologize.

“Sorry. I know this is my fault.”

He connects his eyes with Enid, seeing shame laced in them. He then realizes that he needs to reframe what he's trying to say to the girl.

“Don’t be. It’s comforting as her father to see her so human. She obviously cares for you a great deal.”

Gomez smiles when he recognizes the gentle surprise she emits from hearing those words. He then lowers his voice in a whisper, as if telling a friend a secret.

“Just try not to get into any more close calls. I fear she may come for all of our heads and truthfully, I’m more scared of her than the bear.”

Enid can’t help the bright laugh that breaks free from her throat.

“That makes two of us, then. It's a good thing she’s with us, right?”

Gomez chuckles, reaching over to ruffle Enid’s blonde and colorful hair.

“You’re alright, kid.”

The pair snapped back into focus when they heard Fester’s distinct yelling in their vicinity.

“Down!”

“See, was that so hard?” Wednesday quickly followed up.

Gomez nodded at the wolf keeping pace by his side.

“That’s our cue!”

Like a perfect storm, Enid and Gomez tear back into the fray. The confidence they now possess with knowing that their teammates wiped the bear into the ground, even if for a moment, was invigorating. Like Gomez taught, Enid made sure to make every swipe, every dig, every motion count.

The four patterned themselves into a wild dance, matching the bear’s overwhelming strength with a peerless unity of their own. The waves passed by the same way, Wednesday and Fester chipped away at its strength until they overwhelmed it. The second is successfully downed, Gomez and Enid strike quick and hard. Enough of these, and the bear has to end its reign eventually, right?

The dance picked up pace. The bear should have started slowing by this point, staying down for longer moments. Enid swore that the demon was only getting faster with each passing second.

It’s Wednesday’s turn to down it. With incredible accuracy only she is capable of, she hits some key areas and it's floored once more. It’s just a feeling, but the raven feels that something is different about this downing. She always trusts her gut instinct.

“Enid, Dad, back off.”

The two listen and hang backwards. It's a good thing, because the bear immediately explodes with an array of heat that comes off of him in waves. The force of it all blasts everyone to stagger backwards. The incredible strength of the fire that now ripples off in harsh lines around its body sent everyone to protect their searing faces.

“He's getting desperate. We need to work to take him down quickly because that monster is gaining strength every moment that passes!” Wednesday shouts over the crackling flames now extruding from along its spine.

Unspoken words die on Enid’s lips as she grapples with something, anything that would be useful for a plan or strategy of some kind. Instead, she is filled with a newfound fear as she watches the beast whip around its body as if nothing they had inflicted upon him mattered at all.

A new wave of energy fills his massive form and he moves faster, wilder. The bear only takes a moment to single out the weak link in the pack.

Enid’s icy eyes lock with the fire in his own.

Wednesday must have recognized the bear’s intention before he acted upon it, because she shouts her desperation into the smokey air around them.

“No, no, no! Enid move!” The wolf barely registers over the pounding of blood in her ears.

The bear charges, practically nipping at her heels. Enid scrambled around, barely outrunning the snaps of steel vices and weaving from the blasts of fire that the bear shot out of his mouth. As well as she is currently managing, Enid still isn’t able to avoid them forever.

Gomez pulls his crossbow out and aims the sight at the charging bear. Every Addams present worked together to hold the behemoth down. In spite of the myriad of arrows that poke out from his body or the burns left from the cracks of the thunder whip, nothing seems to do anything more than anger him further.

Wednesday went to load a series of those rather large ropecast arrows into her slottings, and Gomez caught his daughter’s eye with growing concern.

“You can’t fire those now! He’s charging too fast and will toss you into the air, mija!”

Dark eyes filled with a growing irritation peered back at her father from under furrowed brows.

“Then what would you have me do?! We’re running out of options and Enid is losing speed!”

Gomez knows that this move is risky, but she is right. They need to act now, even if it's reckless.

“Toss me a few and we will fire them at the same time. Maybe that will work!”

She doesn’t hesitate to grab a handful of heavy arrows tied to their own mini anchors and throw them at her father. The two load the arrows and tandem and concentrate through their sights together.

“On three!”

“Three!” Wednesday immediately screams, forgoing the previous two numbers completely.

Thankfully Gomez is aware and they manage to stay in sync. Before their collective ropes pull taut, they aim at the dirt and fire the anchor into the ground. They only just made it by a fraction of a second, but it was enough.

The bear staggers and Enid practically collapses into the mud as she falls back, out of his reach for the moment.

No one celebrates victory just yet, especially when the fragments of the ropes can already be heard straining. The group doesn’t even have time to catch their breath before the individual strands of the ropes start snapping, one by one.

Enid moves to get back on her feet and run, but her burning muscles won’t respond to her like she's commanding them to. It's soon all too clear to everyone that she’s not going to be fast enough.

Wednesday moves like a machine, rapidly loading more ropecast arrows in the small hopes that she might manage to load him down with enough to hold him for longer than a couple of seconds.

As one rope snaps on the bear, another takes its place as Wednesday’s aim finds its mark. The other snaps and one more becomes embedded into its shoulder. Then another.

The raven is painfully aware that she’s only got one more round of ropes left, and decides that it's now or never. She loads the last round into the three chambers as the bear begins the task of snapping the ropes anew.

Gomez and Fester manage a couple of really solid hits on the beast as Wednesday gives them one last opportunity to strike using this method, yet nothing seems to be working on him even still. At least Enid made it back on her feet.

As the last of the twine began to give way, Wednesday fired one through the ribs, the second into his shoulder. The third-

Wednesday saw the pure malice in the bear’s eyes as her finger clicked the trigger. By then, it was already too late.

The beast let the arrow graze past his teeth as he carefully aimed his jaw and snapped down hard as he caught the rope mid-flight. The psychic made to drop the crossbow as the bear yanked with the intention of pulling the girl to collide with itself.

Only a sliver of the weapon still remained in her grasp. Even though she managed to avoid the brunt of the pull, Wednesday still was thrown off balance. With a newfound strength, the hunter didn’t waste his chance.

In a stunning motion that could barely be perceived by the eye, the beast violently spun. The remaining ropes remained embedded, yet their anchors were uprooted from their previous firm hold in the earth. The fire-bear was free.

All it took was one solid leap as his massive paws collided against the ground once more and sent him vaulting towards Wednesday as she remained unbalanced. She was completely helpless as the behemoth scooped her up into the air as the vice of his steel shredding teeth closed in over her leg.

Her dad and uncle were shouting her name in terror as Enid clambered forward to reach for her.

She managed to pound him in the face twice with a weak fist before the trap bolted shut. The sound of a snapping bone echoed into the silence a moment before Wednesday’s own piercing scream cut through the air.

A guttural roar of visceral rage expelled out of Enid as she shot herself at the beast still holding her best friend in the sky. The claws dug into fur and flesh as she ripped her way upwards. The second she got to his face she swiped long gashes into his eyes and ears in quick succession. Each new tear covered the girls in a spray of dark blood until the creature released his hold on Wednesday from a release of his own pained cry. A hard rearing of his head sent the girls flying.

Enid grappled for Wednesday in the air and crushed her against her chest. She spun her own body in a very acrobatic way to angle herself to take the brunt of the fall as they crashed back to earth.

“Enid, take her and get out of here!” Gomez shouted as he and his brother fought to keep their target at a distance, giving the wolf a clean break to vanish into the cover of the woods. After carefully cradling the girl in her arms, she didn’t hesitate to disappear.

The wolf tore back into the woods, slicing apart stray branches and bushes that stood in their way. Her other arm was starting to ache with the weight, but it alone held Wednesday close, so it stood firm.

Enid glanced at her face every chance she got to make sure she was still awake. Beads of sweat were pooling on her forehead. The girl didn’t cry, didn’t scream. She didn’t really make a noise. Enid did notice the labored breathing and glazed over eyes that indicated she was in a great deal of agony.

‘Please hold on, just a little further.’ Enid thought.

“Stop, Enid.” She suddenly breathed out sharply.

The blonde stilled immediately and lowered them both closer to the ground. She kept Wednesday in her grasp while adjusting their positions. She needed to take a look at the damage, yet she wasn’t prepared for what she saw. It brought tears to sting at her eyes.

Her leg was a bloody mess. Enid used a claw to slice away whatever fabric was left around the damage. Rivers of blood and char encircled the leg that webbed upwards in a painful looking way. She should have been bleeding much more than she was, but the fangs of the bear must have been searingly hot. All of the divots in her leg that indicated a fang tore into the flesh were charcoal black. The wounds were cauterized instantly. As much relief as Enid found in knowing her best friend wasn’t going to bleed out in her arms, bile still rose in her throat upon realizing that Wednesday was holding back an ocean of pain behind her unyielding eyes. Enid could have grown sick with the anger that coursed through her veins.

The angle of the leg without a doubt looked slightly off. It was a clear indication that the bone underneath was broken. How Wednesday was holding it together, even the fact that she was conscious, was beyond Enid.

The wolf managed to choke out through her wavering voice. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry, Wednesday. This is my fault. I should’ve-”

Wednesday just watches her through the pain in her eyes. Enid swipes at a stray tear before it can roll down her face.

“I’m gonna get us to safety. We’ll need to-”

“We need to go back.” The dark and raspy voice cut Enid off. The wolf let wild eyes meet the obsidian.

“Go back? Are you joking? It crushed your leg, and I’m not going to watch it finish you off. Your dad told us to run and that’s what I plan to do.”

Enid felt the wave of irritation that flashed through her friend upon her words. She bit her cheek when she realized how it must have looked to the girl when she would listen to her dad’s order yet deliberately break the promise she made with her. The heat from Wednesday was gone as quickly as it arrived. Worry took its place.

“Listen to me, Dad and Uncle can’t fight that thing off. Not on their own. That thing is tougher than any Feuerbär I have ever seen. As much as I’d like to get us out of here, we cannot leave until it's dead.”

Enid’s heart sank knowing that she left the two men alone to face down that evil. It struck fear deep into her soul, and because of that she needed to find a compromise. One where Wednesday was safe.

“Then I’ll go back and hide you here.”

“No.” Her voice rang clear. “You’re not going in alone. I need to come with you.”

“And just how do you think you’re going to help in your state?” Enid let the fear and stress overcome her.

“You’re gonna carry me on your back.”

Enid felt her insides knot.

“Like hell I am! I can’t take you back there! I’m going to get you killed if I do!” She leveraged whatever she could to get the psychic to change her mind.

Frustration rose in Wednesday’s voice. She was as adamant as ever.

“Trust me. If there was another option, I would take it. I’m not thrilled about you going back either. However, you are the one who decided to stay. My leg is broken. We have no other choice.”

The blonde made to argue again, but Wednesday cut her off

“Enid, there is no time and no other way. I need you to do this. Please.”

The ‘please’ caught her off guard. Distant howling and shouting could be heard as the roar of fire blasting the air continued to grow louder. The girls let their gazes trail to the noise. Flashes of light pulsed in the distance. Enid knew that she really didn’t have a choice.

She resigned with a heavy sigh. “What are we gonna do?”

“I’ve already got a plan.”

Enid spun to allow Wednesday to climb and settle in on her back. She adjusted her slightly to make sure she had a strong grip while ensuring her broken leg wasn’t going to be jostled too much. The psychic tightens her hold by folding her arms to wrap around her neck.

“Of course you do. That’s what I was afraid of.” She replied with snark.

All of a sudden, Wednesday’s body goes rigid. It’s as if she’s been struck by lightning. She then falls completely limp as her head crashes at the base of Enid’s neck. The wolf can feel her muscles frantically twitching and spasming. Her blood turns to ice in her panic.

“Wednesday?! Wednesday, what's wrong?!” She cried out as she attempted to wake her from the stupor.

The state she was in lasted a mere couple of seconds before the psychic snapped out of it. It was as if she was drowning and had risen to the surface for air.

“Left! Run left!” Wednesday screamed as she rapped against Enid's shoulder to indicate the dire urgency of their situation.

Enid, thankfully, didn’t question before making the move to rush them in that direction. A blast of fire licked the trees and the massive body of the bear combusted his way into the area she had been standing in just moments before. Pines and branches came crashing down in a spiral of flames around them. Embers and burning wood chips fell around them like snow.

If not for Wednesdays vision, that move might have killed them.

Holding tight to Wednesday, the wolf sped back out of the woods as fast as her legs could carry the pair as the bear dove in head first after them.

“What was that about a plan again?!” Enid attempted to scream louder than the crashing of the trees around them.

Though no longer spasming, she felt Wednesday’s breathing patterns even through the thick fabric of the suit. It was choppy and shallow, and dangerously close to hyperventilation. She supposed that Wednesday was still seemingly trapped by the vision that had danced behind her eyes moments before. Her hands shook around Enid’s collarbone, and that terrified the wolf.

“Wednesday, breathe! Let me in, now is not the time to be keeping your thoughts to yourself!”

“Bow.” She gasped, nearly breathless. “We need to find my crossbow.”

She didn’t forget, but she put aside the unsettling feeling she had knowing of Wednesday’s obvious fear brought on by her psychic vision. The forest was burning around them and they currently had fireballs being launched at them, it could wait.

“Got it. I can work with that.”

Thunder echoed in the ever darkening sky and Enid prayed that it would rain. They could really use a miracle right about now.

In spite of the whipping of branches and the blood pumping in her ear, Enid still could pick up the distinct rustling of trees and bushes before them. Something was pushing its way in their direction. A wave of anxiety hit her like a brick. Was she going to have to run from two creatures? How was she going to escape? Where-

A busted up and bruised Gomez followed closely by a heavily scraped up Fester burst into the girl’s vicinity as they give the beast chase. Confusion outlines their face when they recognize that, One, The girls haven’t left the forest. Two, The fire bear is now barreling towards them all.

The latter realization takes priority, so the group backtracks out of the trees and fans out into the flooded clearing to face the beast one last time.

“Enid, I thought I told you two to get out of here!” Gomez swipes at the bear as they all surround him once more. Pulling his focus off of the girls. He dodges the wildfire that is expelled from his claws. There is no way he can bridge that distance and get close enough to damage him.

A horse voice called out over her shoulder.

“Don’t blame her, this was my doing. I forced her to come back.”

“Why would you come back? You can’t even walk by yourself. What did you think you were going to do, sing him a lullaby?” Fester shouts over the crackling whip. The immense heat pouring off of the bear renders even him unable to make a solid hit due to the space he needed to keep.

“Like you boys could last a second without me, even in the state I’m in.” Wednesday quipped. Enid shifted in annoyance from underneath her.

“Hey, am I chopped liver? I’m the one carrying you around.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be looking for my bow?” She flicked her forehead. Gomez chimed in as he tumbled backwards to avoid a strong side swipe.

“Your crossbow? I tossed it back near the cliff so old lumber-legs here wouldn’t destroy your mother’s work of art.”

Relief flooded the girls as Enid spun on her heels, wasting no time to make their way to the site near where she originally fell. Wednesday called over her shoulder before they left earshot.

“You two line me up a good shot. I’ve got three tearblast arrows left, and that may be the last clear chance we have of ending this here and now. Enid-”

“Already on it.”

There was a glint of the little bit of light filtering through a darkening sky that caught the metal etched around the handle. Enid knew exactly where the weapon was even at this distance.

With her free hand, Enid strained her muscles to extend into its reach. The crossbow hung by its strap on the branch of a tree just out of her reach. Wednesday, with the help of her extra height, arched herself to yank the piece of machinery back into her grasp. She seethed out air from the corners of her clenched jaw from the motion, probably jostling her bad leg in the process.

“Would it kill you to be careful?”

“We don’t have time for that.” She strained. “I’ve got it. Hurry and get us back.”

Crossbow acquired, Enid jumped the pair back into the fray just as the tides of battle were worsening for the men. It took nearly everything that Gomez and Fester could manage to merely keep the demon at bay.

With a series of clicks and levers pulled, Wednesday loads the bolts into the slottings from her vantage point. Enid’s head spun from the mechanical whirring that expelled from the points as their latent power charged up. The psychic closed an eye and lined up the shot that may as well have been their only hope.

“Downed!”

Wednesday ordered Enid to stabilize her form to prepare for a strong kickback that nearly set the girls off balance. The trio of arrows flew to find their marks embedded in the now flaming pelt, just as they had done before. Ears strained as that mechanical whirring grew in strength until that pop sent the bear flying with all of the stored kinetic force located inside.

Only this time, the bear was only momentarily stunned. Every single paw stayed rooted in the earth. That massive power beheld before was now rendered to nothing more than a cute party trick under the shadow of the behemoth’s newfound strength. Barely a blink and he was back on his tear.

That little bit of hope the group held onto had now cratered back to earth upon watching their trump card vanish into smoke. They don’t even have a pause to think before the party is dancing around the beast once more. Each one knows that this isn’t going to last much longer.

“What do we do? Do we run?” Enid’s lost hope is tangible in her voice.

“It's too late for that now. He’s too far gone to care. The whole forest will burn if we try.” Gomez calls out in defeat.

“It's looking like we need someone to stay while the rest try to make a break for it. We don’t have another-”

Gomez is cut off by his daughter. There is a deep rage in her voice.

“Shut up! I’m thinking. There’s another way. There-”

The bear roars and the cry thundered over Wednesday’s own. Enid could have jumped out of her own skin when an actual clap of thunder suddenly overpowers the strength of the demon’s roar.

Something cold hit Enid’s nose, then ear, then hair.

Rain.

The rhythmic beats of each drop of water swelled quickly as the bottom quite literally began to fall out of the sky. Like an act of Deus ex Machina, Enid’s earlier prayer was answered. The weight of the water pulled at the fabric of her clothes and left rivers running down her face until not an inch of her was left dry in the blink of an eye.

A miracle in true form, Enid could feel the hope swell back into her soul as the downpour had quieted the raging fire eating away at the forest into nothing more than smoldering embers. A wall of water had obscured her previously clear vision of the beast. Even still, she saw that the raging inferno that the bear wore as armor had now died to simple flickering flames too weak to matter.

Enid heard the breath catch in her friend’s throat. She craned her head to watch as Wednesday stared at the sky with a small smile etched on her features. She snapped her head level at the bear with determination rooted in her glare. She looked positively insane. Enid knew that look. She’s found a surefire way to get them out of this mess. Of that, she was certain.

“Uncle, do you still have those power cell canisters you bring on hunts?” She shouted over the now deafening roar of the rain around them.

“Sure, but they’re not charged.”

“Charge them fast. I need six! Enid, get the cord out of my pack.”

Enid swears that she saw Fester throw a handful of these battery looking devices into his mouth. It's hard to tell with the torrential downpour.

She shifts a hand around the pack dangling at her hip now until she finds a cord and hands it to Wednesday who is measuring the perfect length. The wolf isn’t sure what to make of it when the raven lowers the cord in front of her face.

“Bite.”

Enid does so and sections off the cord now ready for use with her razor-sharp canines. They repeat this cycle until each of the arrows has a cord to pair.

“Dad, give Enid your sword!”

As he dodges the bear’s charging, Enid can make out a disgruntled face thrown back at his offspring after eyeing their little cycle of sectioning the cords.

“You’re not going to have her break it or anything, are you?”

A loud groan rumbled over her shoulder. “Just do it!”

Gomez tosses the sword in the air while dodging with all the grace he could muster. Enid plucks it nervously out of the sky. She fastened it to the opening on the bag meant for the crossbow so she could continue to have a free hand.

“Dwofne!” Fester’s shout is distorted through a mouthful of machine batteries as he spits them out one by one and tosses them at Enid to catch and give to Wednesday who is now knotting them at the end of her arrows.

As she catches them in the air. Enid makes a disgusted face. She hoped it was a trick of the eye, but Fester really did put these in his mouth. That was a question for later though.

Three for her, three for Gomez. She tosses the completed arrows at her father, and finally loops the party in on what she's concocted in her mind.

“On my count, we down this demon with all the strength of an actual lightning bolt.” Fester could be heard giggling with glee over the rain.

“Without a doubt, the strength of the six arrows will knock him off of his feet.”

Wednesday leans closer to Enid’s ear to relay her specific instructions.

“When he is stunned, use all of the wolf strength you can muster and throw that sword straight into the bastard’s heart.”

Enid made sure her friend felt the assurance by nodding enthusiastically in response.

“On my mark!” The group danced around the bear into their final positions.

“Don’t skip one and two this time!” Gomez shouted.

“One.” Wednesday’s voice echoed like another clap of thunder.

“Two.” Fester and Gomez called back in tandem.

“Three!” Enid roars as bright flashes of electric power sail through the air on her final count.

The darkness is expelled as the arrows find their mark, a large radius of electrical energy pulses to life and arrests the beast with its sheer power. Every terrifying muscle packed within the bear collectively seized. Any lesser beast would have been eviscerated on impact.

Enid wastes no time the second she sees an opening. A pause as he stands on his hind legs, shocked and stuttering from the high voltage flowing through the fibers of his being. Time seemed to slow as she honed in on the center of his chest.

Every ounce of energy coursing through her veins is honed and collected for one singular purpose. Arching her whole body, she uses the force every muscle can give her to launch the sword. She rotates quickly on her heels to add momentum and nearly yanks her arm out of her socket from the sheer force of the throw. The sword is launched at blinding speed as the after-shock nearly unbalanced herself. She fought to hold steady so she and Wednesday didn't fall into the mud.

The sword aims true. The arm motion adds a rapid spin on the weapon launched, turning the thin weapon effectively into a thin drill. Hitting exactly where she aimed, the sword embed itself deeper into the chest cavity as it spiraled into the flesh.

Enid supposed she didn’t realize her own strength, she counted on the sword barely managing to dig its way into the flesh. Never did she expect to see the sword drill into the bear and shot out of the other side like a bullet.

A gaping crater tore straight through and left the group speechless.

With one final breath, the beast expels a weakening roar, staggers, and crumples to the ground. The life that was held inside his violent eyes finally seeping out slowly. The malevolent being could no longer pose a threat to the group's life, in spite of giving it his all trying to do just that. The collective weight of the world fell off the party’s shoulders. With the threat gone, the will to even remain standing had left each of them. Enid sank until she fell to her knees. Ringlets of water spiraled outwards from where she remained. Even Wednesday’s tension could be felt leaving her body as she rendered herself near limp as she still hung upon Enid’s back.

It was finally over.

A brief glance around, and the wolf saw that Gomez and Fester mirrored their movements. Their strength was completely expended, and it was all they could do to catch their breaths.

They all just lay there, for what seemed like could have been hours. Reality wasn’t near that long.

Even still, the adrenaline left Enid a while ago. She had no idea until now just how spent her body really was. It truly was a miracle they were all still alive.

After a bit of time had passed. Enid could feel Wednesday’s voice pick up. It was humming from between her shoulder blades. Grip tightened on the fabric of her singed suit.

“You swore to me.”

Enid deeply sighed. She didn’t have the strength.

“Please, Can we not do this now? We need to get you out of here.” Enid’s strained voice called back.

She attempts to shut down the conversation before it even begins. She settled the girl down carefully so as to not hurt her leg. She made to try and start cleaning the wound, but Wednesday indicated that she refuses to let this go by slapping that helping hand away.

Enid’s own dangerous eyes finally meet Wednesday’s.

“I asked one thing of you. One. I told you to run, Enid. I can’t even tell you how many times you had a close call.”

“Says the girl with a broken leg.” Enid’s voice got low. Heat formed in her chest and behind her eyes.

“Because I was trying to make sure you didn’t. We had it handled.”

Enid could have snapped. There was a fire in the tone she shot back with. Wednesday rose to match it.

“Did you?! Did you, really? Because from where I was, it looked like the bear threw you to the ground and would have ripped you apart if I didn’t come back.”

“I would have been fine. That wasn’t your priority. Your priority was to get the hell out of here.”

Enid turned her head to break the conversation. She inhaled, like she was measuring her response. “We’re not doing this now, Wednesday. You’re injured, and I’m getting you out of here.”

The raven ignored her and kept pressing.

“What, so you can weasel your way out of this and pretend like you didn’t do something incredibly stupid that left your life at risk? That left everyone else’s life at risk as well?”

That did it, her attention snapped back. Glare met glare.

“Did we even fight the same monster?! The four of us barely managed to take it down. What would have happened to you or anyone else if I didn’t come back? Would you even have been alive to yell at me like you're doing now?”

“It doesn’t matter, Enid! I know what I’m doing! My family knows what we’re doing.”

“And I can learn, I think I’ve proven at least that by now. I’m not nearly as helpless as you seem to think!”

The rage could be felt emanating off of Wednesday in waves. She jut a finger into Enid’s chest as she seethed through her next words.

“This isn’t a game that has no consequences. I can’t even tell you how many times you were a wrong step away from losing your life, and that would have been on my head. Do you think I want to live with that guilt hanging over me?”

“Did you think it any easier for me to just run away when that thing could have shredded you apart if I didn’t stop it? You think I want to live with that hanging over me?”

“Why couldn’t you just listen to me? Why did you come back?”

Enid felt a snap in her soul, and her chest ignited with fire and plasma that would rival the greatest temperature that the Feuerbär could have ever managed to reach.

“BECAUSE YOU DON’T GET TO BE THE ONLY ONE WHO IS TERRIFIED, YOU IDIOT!”

Wednesday’s unbridled rage lost every ounce of its heat upon hearing something close to her own words echoed back into her face. Enid didn’t stop to notice.

“You’re not the only one who would lose their mind if I lost you. I thought you- I thought-”

The wolf was losing all sense of composure as she let the depths of this fear overcome her.

With a desperate need to touch her, to hold her and feel her slow, rhythmic heartbeat against her chest… to know that she is alive. Enid presses her whole body into Wednesday and wraps her shivering, clinging arms into a hug so tight it's like Enid was trying to meld her body into Wednesday’s own.

The second she presses her nose into her cold neck, pushing past the acrid smell of blood and burning that was washing away with the rain, she finds that familiar note of old parchment and fresh ink mixed with that soothing hint of earth and pine. Enid lets go.

Deep and heavy sobs wreck her whole body, and leaves her shivering like a leaf into Wednesday’s form. She keeps waiting for Wednesday to push back upon her and shove her back into an upright position, only so they could continue to argue.

But it never comes.

Enid can’t help it, and she holds tighter. It's almost as if she were to loosen her grip, Wednesday would just evaporate through her fingers.

“I didn’t want to lose you. I couldn’t- I can’t-” Enid said between pitiful, broken sobs.

Upon voicing this, Enid felt a cool hand cradle the back of her head. Another had wrapped around to press upon the square of her back, ever deepening the hug.

She then felt Wednesday settle her cheek upon her crown and just- melts.

It's not unlike the very first time they hugged. In fact, it's pretty much exactly how Enid remembers it. Because of this, Enid cries so much harder than before. Barely able to breathe through her overwhelming sobs.

She can’t quite put into words to explain how much she has missed this- enveloped in Wednesday’s arms. She often wondered if she would ever be allowed another one.

Wednesday’s hands hold Enid secure, and she begins to rub small concentric circles on her back that soothed her. Her loud sobs begin to become quiet. Wednesday, grounded her and allowed her to gracefully come back to reality.

Enid could have laughed. All it took was a simple hug from Wednesday to set her right again.

As much as she realized how much she needed this, Enid hated herself for falling back into her embrace. For allowing herself to crave something she may never be lucky enough to have again. She quickly pushed the thought away, for it hurt more than she cared to admit.

Wednesday pulls back a hand to brush through her hair. It was to indicate that she wants her to sit upright, so she does. It took a monumental effort to let her go, though.

Wednesday’s copper eyes had softened exponentially since they last locked with Enid’s own. She doesn’t quite say anything yet. She only just takes a moment to flick between her watery irises like she’s staring into her soul.

Finally, after a long pause, she whispers. It isn’t cold with anger like she imagined it would be.
Instead, there was a touch of warmth to her voice.

“Dammit Enid. I’m supposed to be mad at you. I want to be mad at you, and you can’t even allow me to have that.”

Enid makes a face that encourages her to explain.

Instead, Wednesday just rolled her eyes and all the tension she held previously in her face had drifted away. With a slight shake to her head, almost an amusement, she softly voiced aloud with a small smirk visible on her features.

“You’re going to be the death of me, you know.”

After a series of disbelieving blinks, Enid then mirrors the soft smirk that grows on her features.

“I’m not sure about that one. As much trouble as you get yourself into, I highly doubt it’s gonna be me that does you in.”

Wednesday's tone suddenly lost its playfulness. She spoke her next with an intrigued and serious air.

“No, I’m sure. It’s you. Of little else am I more certain of than this.”

The way Wednesday said that was oddly cryptic. Something inside made her wonder if they were still talking about the same thing, but she let it go and didn’t think much of it beyond that.

“You girls okay? Clear the air between you?” Gomez’s voice picked up from nearby. He and Fester were back on their feet and working to load the bear on their sleigh. Enid realized with horror had been watching their exchange as they worked this entire time.

She bit back a strong wave of embarrassment. For a moment, she had forgotten that the men remained close, and just watched as Enid lost all sense of composure.

“Y-yeah. I’m okay. W-we are okay. We’re- We’re good.” Wednesday watched with an amused, yet pained expression as Enid fumbled her way through that reply. A huff of laughter escaped her when Enid let her face fall into her palms from the accumulated embarrassment.

“That’s good to know. It would be a shame to have such a cherished friendship tarnished by the likes of that beast. He’s taken enough of our time and energy, and doesn’t need to claim anything else.”

The man leans close and speaks directly to his daughter.

“Wednesday, We need to get Grandmama to look at you soon. I’m not liking the look of your leg right now. Want me to carry you back?”

Enid takes this as her cue to leave. She begins to make her way to stand, Fester is struggling with tying the bear onto the sleigh and she better help before he hurts himself any more.

“Enid can carry me.”

She pauses before she can fully stand upright.

She gave Wednesday a curious look which echoed on her father’s face as well. In spite of it all, the psychic doesn’t waver or change her tune.

“She owes me for breaking her promise anyway. If she has the strength, I’m sure she wouldn’t mind carrying me a little further, would you?” She finishes by asking Enid a question. The wolf offers a simple ‘of course’ in return without much else to add or to think.

Father and daughter lock eyes. There is a whole world of understanding beneath their gazes that is completely lost by the wolf that piqued her curiosity. The moment didn’t last long, but Gomez broke the stare with a different light that colored his eyes. A happy, mirthy grin settled ear to ear on his face.

“Heh, you never cease to be full of surprises, my little scorpion.” Wednesday met the sentence with confusion.

He smiled brightly at Enid, and she couldn’t help but grow a little concerned since it seemed to come out of nowhere.

“Enid, she’s all yours. Be sure to take the utmost care of her. Though I’m positive she couldn’t be in better hands.”

Enid forced a smile, She didn’t quite know what to make of the way he was now acting. It seemed a little weird. Was it weird, or was that just her?

“Dad, you’re acting strange. What is the matter with you?” Wednesday voiced her thoughts aloud. At least she knew she wasn’t just imagining it in her head.

“I’d be happy to take her back, but I don’t- If you wanted to take her back that’s fine too.” Enid muttered out awkwardly, not sure of what she should say or do.

Gomez couldn't help the laughed that escaped him.

“No no, don’t worry about me. Fester and I can manage to find and take back both sleighs and the hunt on our own. Both of you need to hurry back and get some needed rest and repair.”

By the time Gomez had finished talking, Enid had settled Wednesday securely against her back once more, the pair ready to make their way to the cabin.

With a simple nod and exchange of ‘see you laters’, the girls began their journey back in comfortable silence. Wednesday holding fast to her friend as the pair weaved back into the trees.

Notes:

-The culmination of the Hunting Arc is here!! Boy oh boy have I toiled over this one twice as long as the others! Since this chapter was pure action from pretty much start to finish, I felt like the work was a bit extra to make sure that it seemed believable and realistic in terms of the fight choreography and everything that happens in between!

-One of you have already noticed, so kudos to Daelin_91 for figuring out that my fight was pretty much completely drawing inspiration from the Horizon games! Not only am I a big fan of the series, but I’ve been playing it so much earlier this year, that it was the obvious choice to use to help plan a fight where crossbows would be a prominent weapon. The game also has firebears, which was a direct pull for the Feuerbär.

-Poor Wednesday! She’s really been through the wringer in this fight. This bear was so much more than they originally bargained for!

-All Wednesday and Enid want to do is make sure the other is safe! Hmm…I wonder what new thoughts and feelings could surface when you realize that they could have lost each other in this battle? Only time will tell!

-The original reason for this arc was to give Enid a chance to sift through her feelings as Wednesday was in danger to balance out the silver incident that happened before! This organically grew into something I never imagined it becoming, but I couldn’t be happier with the way it all turned out!

-It’s busy season with my job, and that’s partially the reason why this took forever to write, so the next update will probably be a minute before it hits, but I’m enthusiastic and eager to move into the next portion of the story. The next chapter I have planned out is so much fun! You guys are gonna love the break after all of the angst!

-I have a feeling that it won’t be too much longer before our girls get some sense into their thick skulls. 😂

-Thank you all for reading this fic of mine! It brings such joy to see new readers as well as all of my regular commenters show up! You guys keep pressing me onwards! Please let me know what was some of your favorite parts of this chapter!

Until next time,
Kalon

Chapter 13: After the Rain

Notes:

I feel like I always say.. "I'm back!!" After disappearing for a long period of time.
It still funny every time I say it too.

See you at the end for the notes! Hope you all enjoy!

It took Enid a while to realize that the rain had let up. She finally began to smell the fresh ozone and petrichor that accompanied the now quiet pattering of spare droplets as they fell to the forest floor. It’s a nice change from that acrid sting of smoke that began to finally work its way out of her acute sense of smell.

The adrenaline has evaporated out of her system completely. Even the smallest of movements caused her muscles to ache terribly. Damp ringlets fell around her face and clung annoyingly to her cheeks and lashes. She wanted to brush them to the side, but her arms firmly held Wednesday’s smaller body upon her back. In spite of the light burning sensation she felt spiraling its ache upon her muscles, she wouldn’t dream of letting her friend down. 

She told herself it was because she wanted to get back as soon as possible to have her leg checked out. But the wolf didn’t even adjust their position in the slightest during their trek back. She didn’t admit it stemmed out of fear Wednesday would find a different way to travel once she was readjusted. So instead, Enid just continued to ache.

The only sound that seemingly could be heard for miles was the sound of Enid’s feet crunching. The leaves underfoot that had recently begun to dry. Neither one of them broke this pattern of silence they had going. Normally, Enid would be itching to fill the void with whatever her brain could conjure up first. Yet, the silence between them persisted. Neither girl felt like the absence of conversation was uncomfortable between them. Instead, they relished the peace that came after the nightmare they just encountered.

While she wasn’t looking at the ground, Enid had accidentally stumbled over a tree root that had knotted upwards from the soil. She managed to catch and restabilize her footing before causing the pair to tumble into the dirt themselves. However, the sudden movement had caused Wednesday to inhale sharply beside Enid’s ear. It was subtle and repressed, but Enid couldn’t miss the unmistakable sound of pain escaping her throat as the warm air whisked past her ear.

“I’m so sorry! Are you okay? I didn’t mean to-”

“I’m fine, Enid. I’m accustomed to much worse.” Wednesday interrupted before Enid could finish.

Enid didn’t glance at her leg again until this moment. It was significantly bruised. A melding of purple and black discoloration spiraled up her calf and thigh. The distance between her hip and her knee had jutted out at a slightly strange angle, and Enid could feel a wave of nausea pass over her once more. This is why she didn’t look again until now.

“The most painful bone they say you can break in your body is broken, and you’re telling me that you’ve dealt with worse?” Enid’s voice strained with barely withheld emotion.

“I’ve been stabbed and on the cusp of death before. Besides, what my brothers and I did to each other growing up makes this look insignificant at best.” She tried a lazy sounding tone to double down on her stance. Enid could still hear the labored breathing in her throat as her body did its best to mitigate the pain she so clearly was experiencing.

“Why do you do that?” She questioned honestly.

“I don’t know what you’re referring to.”

“I can literally hear how much pain you’re in, Wednesday. Why do you feel the need to hide that?”

Wednesday’s breathing promptly softens when she realizes what gave her away. She doesn’t immediately respond back, much to Enid’s increasing discomfort.

“Listen, I don’t want to start another argument or anything about it. I just wish you didn’t feel the need to try and hide it from me.” She spoke with gentle candor. Her peace was said. She decided to not push the issue further.

Enid, instead, had decided to focus on the new pattern of smells that became available to her when she focused deeply. She began to lose herself in the task of navigation. Identifying where they were became surprisingly easy now that this new ability had been unlocked to her. It didn’t take long to discover that her aunt’s cabin wasn’t all that much further, much to her relief.

She was so enveloped in her task, she barely heard Wednesday speak again after some time had passed. The warm breath that happened to graze past her ear had sent a shiver down her spine and ultimately drew her out of focus.

“I know that you’ll only get upset at yourself if I react to the pain. I’d rather you fall into a pit of despair over something not so trivial as this.”

There was a brief flicker in her mind about how surprisingly kind of Wednesday it was to hold back her reaction for Enid’s own peace of mind. However, like Wednesday knew it would, a much larger wave of concern and guilt washed over the wolf anyways.

“Trivial? If I wasn’t so careless, you wouldn’t be in this position.” She bit harder than intended. It was enough to catch the raven’s attention, at least.

“Hmm.. that’s a different tone than that overconfident declaration you took when you decided to come back and help fight.”

Enid clicked her tongue as she waded through her conflicted mind.

“Don’t get me wrong, I don’t regret my decision to break my promise. The way I went about it, I will admit, was careless. Yes, you’re alive, but now I can’t even look at your leg without feeling-” 

She couldn’t even finish the sentence, so she switched tracks quickly.

“You might suffer some permanent mobility issues because of me. That’s not exactly easy to take in.”

Wednesday responded quickly to that quiet wavering of her voice as she tapered off.

“Enid, It’s not-”

The wolf felt the guilt causing her skin to itch, so she cut the raven off and continued to barrel through. 

“Because of me, you may never be able to run properly, and the next time you go hunting may be your last. You can forget being able to outrun the cops, that’s going to severely limit your future. You know, I was even looking forward to you doing that cute little dance you did at the Rave’n during your family’s Halloween party. I’m so sorry that I-”

Wednesday flicked her temple to get her to shut up for a mere moment in an attempt to get a word in edgewise.

“Enough! See what I mean? Stop overreacting and let me finish.”

Enid raised a finger and rubbed her temple in stunned silence.

“I’ll be able to walk, run, and even dance just fine in about a day or so. Though I do resent you calling it cute.”

Enid made a point to look at her femur in disbelief once more, but instantly regretted the choice as soon as another wave of nausea hit her again.

“Are we looking at the same injury? Because there is no way that’s possible, even for you.”

Wednesday audibly sighed.

“You’d be correct. However, my grandmother is the most experienced witch I know. Mending a broken bone comes about as easy to her as getting on everyone’s last nerve.” she finished with a bit of amusement at her jab towards said grandmother.

Enid had difficulty trying to wrap her mind around what that could possibly imply. She didn’t hesitate to voice that same confusion.

“You’re saying she can just mend your femur.. with what, a wave of a wand?”

“No..” She drew out the word. 

“It’s a little more complicated than that. She can concoct an elixir that causes the natural regenerative properties found in any person to accelerate to a drastic degree. What normally would take half a year to heal can be completed by the end of the day.”

A simple huff of wonder escaped the blonde’s throat. “That easy? No side effects? No second head that happens to grow during this process?”

Enid missed the exaggerated eye-roll from behind her.

“I mean, not entirely. I’ll be extraordinarily exhausted by the time dinner rolls around, but nothing so dramatic.”

Enid fell into a wistful silence for a moment as she thought about this. Just as Wednesday found herself enjoying their comfortable silence once more, believing that to be the end of the conversation, Enid picked it back up with an intrusive thought.

“So I won’t be able to draw on your cast?”

“My what?”

The emphasis of utter confusion Wednesday had unintendedly placed upon her question had caused a mirthy laugh to erupt from within Enid.

“Your cast.. you know. The hard shell the doctors put around a broken bone to ensure it can remain still enough to properly heal. Everyone writes sweet notes and cute doodles that make you feel better as you…”

She trails off when she sees Wednesday’s confused and disgusted face out of the corner of her eyes.

“Never mind. It makes way more sense that you have no idea what that is.” She continued to giggle.

Enid wasn’t prepared for Wednesday to cling onto this. She laughed harder when the psychic began to ask serious follow-up questions about this relatively normal human experience.

“No, no. You’re going to have to explain that one to me. A shell you write on? The hell? And you people think I’m the weird one.” She halfheartedly grumbled as her companion’s laughter rang out like a bell.

------------------

“Listen, the least you can do is add more bombflowers. That’s all I’m trying to say.”

The autumn midday sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm, golden glow on the pale individuals meticulously tending to the well manicured flora that wrapped around Ophelia’s home. The once richly green hues of the forest began to meld into a mosaic of red, orange, and gold amidst the evergreens that stubbornly clung onto their green. A gentle chill filled the air brought in from the previous rain, and tossed some spare leaves into the rich soil the sisters found their hands digging into.

The twin sisters shared a deep passion for gardening, and worked in unison to carefully prepare Ophelia’s collection of giant flytraps, corpse flowers, and nightshades for their impending hibernation and survival during the rapidly incoming winter months.

Pugsley puffed a cloud of cigar smoke into the air as he watched his mother and aunt tend the garden from his perch against the railing on the porch. His mild interest in their activities had caused him to start complaining about the lack of his favorite flower. Pubert, who Pugsley was supposed to be supervising, could barely be seen halfway hanging off the roof not too far behind him.

“And what I’m trying to say, Pugs, is that they can’t have any sunlight. Why do you feel the need to critique the way your aunt has set up her garden? You don’t even like hanging out in the greenhouse at home.” Morticia grumbled at her son as he lazily propped his face upon the railing in a sign of boredom.

“I was hoping to pick a few and test them out. They’re a useful plant to have around, that's all I meant by it.” 

“Well then, why don’t you plant some in the sub-level gardens we have at home? You can bring them over the next time we visit.” Morticia eagerly attempted to wrap up the conversation. Her boy was becoming very vocal with his boredom and it was beginning to fray at her nerves.

“Sure..” he grumbled under his breath. “That’s really going to help me out right now.”

“What was that?” Morticia’s voice grew taut with the rapidly building frustration. 

Ophelia calmed her digging and let her eyes bounce between the two as the tension in the air around them began to build.

“Nothing..nothing.” Pugsley waved off as he rolled his eyes. Ophelia was just waiting for the metaphorical bomb to go off between them at this point.

Morticia turned back to continue her task of imbuing fertilizer along the base of the nightshades. 

“What about mandrakes? You got any of those laying around?”

“Pugsley!” Morticia snapped, throwing the soil in her hands harshly to the ground. “Don’t you have anything better to do right now?”

"No! That’s my point! It’s just so boring waiting around for them to come back from the hunt.” The kid declared with equal ferocity.

A cold shiver ran down Pugsley’s spine when he realized his mistake only after his declaration. Morticia rose from the garden bed to glare daggers of ice into her offspring. The boy attempted to make himself scarce, but the action came too late.

“Bored, are you? In the heart of some of the most beautiful countryside during your break and you have the audacity to say that you’re bored? If that’s the case I’ll have you work your tail off until we fix that little problem of yours. And where is your brother?!”

Ophelia held a hand over her face to hide her amusement at watching her sister and nephew get under each other's skin. The blonde had to turn her face away to hide growing snickers that were threatening to burst when she recalled Morticia and their own mother getting into arguments about the exact same issues when they were younger. Like mother, like son she supposed.

The light and airy humor within her grew quiet as she watched two figures in the distance top the ridge and make their way closer to the cabin. It only took a second for the woman to recognize them as her niece and the friend she brought along for the ride.

A gnawing edge of concern settled uncomfortably in her chest as the pair drew closer and she could register the condition they were in. Not only did it look like they actually went to hell and back, but she hasn’t seen Wednesday be carried around like that since she was practically a toddler.

“Morticia.”

The seriousness with which Ophelia spoke had pulled her sister’s attention completely away from her son. She let loose the vice grip she held over his ear and let her eyes follow her sister’s gaze. A shadow of fear passed over her features as she whisked herself off the porch. 

Ophelia followed her lead as the younger twin bounded closer to the girls, dress pulled back by a tight grip to ensure that she didn’t stumble on the sprint over. 

Enid’s expression softened as the women drew closer, like the weight she carried in her heart was being relieved with each step that they took.

“What in the-”

Enid’s eyes bounced between Morticia and Ophelia as they began to hover around them. The women sported the same concerned look on their faces. It really highlighted that they were indeed twin sisters, in spite of the myriad of contrasts between them.

“I want an explanation, now.” Morticia finally got close enough to run a quick hand over Enid’s tangled hair and thumbed over the wolf’s cheek. The warm, motherly gesture surprised her, and the threat of tears suddenly began to sting at the back of her eyes. 

It wasn’t until the hand pulled away that Enid realized what made the women so upset.

A coating of a black, tar-like substance blotted her pale colored palm. Finally having some sense of self-awareness, she didn’t put much realization upon the fact that herself and Wednesday were covered in filth from head to toe. What probably was a mixture of blood, sweat, mud, and soot had permeated every inch of them. No wonder the women look more pale than usual.

“Your father!? Your uncle? Where-”

Wednesday raised a hand to pause her mother’s fanaticism before it took off.

“Alive. They sent us on while they stayed back to gather everything we’ve successfully hunted. They are okay.”

“That’s good to hear, because by the look of it you’re not doing too great yourself.” Ophelia began at her side, voice laced with concern. She had the perfect vantage point of Wednesday’s bruising. Her eyes were glued to it, analyzing all the intense marring that was on display. 

Morticia’s eyes follow her sister’s gaze and molded into a similar look of shock and awe. Deft fingers gently peeled away the tatters that loosely hung around the area. 

“Oh, Wednesday…” Her mother’s tone sounded pained as she analyzed the wound, as if she could feel herself how much it hurt.

“It’s broken.” Enid filled in the blanks. “Wednesday desperately needs some help getting it fixed, so I rushed her back as quickly as I could.”

“Don’t use desperate and me in the same sentence.” The other three repress a grimace in response to that very typical comment uttered from the raven.

“Well, I see that the pain you’re clearly experiencing has not dampened that lovely sense of humor you possess.” Ophelia chimed in a soft, sarcastic tone.

“What the hell did you do to cause this much damage, Wednesday? Fall off a cliff?” her mother’s eyes spiraled up with the black bruising covering the entirety of her leg.

Wednesday actually snorted a bit, which caught everyone off guard.

“Believe it or not, the one who actually fell off a cliff is having to cart me around.” She patted the blonde’s dirty head for emphasis. “I only had my leg snapped in half from a Feuerbär bite. I got off easy compared to this one.”

Enid’s face paled before the women, who’s shocked looks now fell upon herself.

“Y-yes, I did fall off a cliff, but I-I’m fine! Promise. Being a werewolf has its perks. She’s really the one we need to be concerned about.” Enid timidly responds. 

Morticia closes her eyes, pressing a hand into the bridge of her nose. An act made probably to will herself into gathering more patience as well as formulate a plan given the scenario they now find themselves in. 

“Either way, we’re going to have to summon your grandmother to look at the both of you. Ophelia-”

“I’ve got a spare room in the back where we can set up a table for her. Any spare ingredients we’d need for the potion I’ll most likely have stored in the pantry as well.”

Morticia nods to this and yanks her head in an implied gesture for the group to follow her lead back into the house.

“Perfect. Once we bring grandmama over, we can have her deal with Wednesday first. Enid-” The matriarch finds the wolf’s gaze as she looks over a shoulder. “I want her to look over you as well. Werewolf or not, I’d rather be safe than sorry.”

There was a distinct warmth blossoming in her chest.

“Oh, sure thing.”

An odd sight greeted them as they made tracks in the dirt path before the porch. Pugsley could be found relaxing on the edge of the roof. On his left, the youngest Addams was flailing, pinned down at his side. From just under the roof’s eave, Morticia raises her arms into the air as Pugsley gathers the smaller boy in his hands. They exchanged possession of the toddler, and the child cradled himself into his mother’s arms for a moment before being sent ahead into the cabin.

“Jeez, what happened to you, sis? Get hit by a truck?” Pugsley prods his already irritated sister with a smug smile. Enid watches with amusement as Wednesday’s arm wraps around her face to flip her brother off.

“Pugsley, I’m going to need you to travel back to the house and bring grandmama back here. Let her know that she needs to bring with her ingredients that can concoct a potion strong enough to mend a femur.” This causes the boy to immediately begin to flounder.

“Me?! Why do I have to go? She’s still mad at me for borrowing her stuff to make my fishing bombs. Who knows what she’s going to do to me when I’m cornered!” He whined. Enid could hear a small snicker from behind her ear.

“I don’t know what to tell you. Should have thought about that before taking her stuff, Pugs.” His mother shrugs at him as he slides down the porch post, shoes thumped against the wooden baseboard as he landed.

“How about I send Pubert and we can pin a note on him explaining whatever idiotic thing Wednesday happened to get herself into?”

The wolf felt the air around them turn bitterly cold, and the frustration that emanated off of the matriarch became so intense it was almost tangible.

“Pugsley, you have two choices. Either deal with your grandmother’s wrath or deal with mine.” Her tone got eerily quiet that struck fear into Enid’s own heart upon hearing it.

Pugsley looked as if witnessing a ghost. He immediately spun on his heels and burst through the front door, practically leaving a dust trail in his wake. Enid could hear the boy skipping steps as he made his way to the attic, clearly trying to place as much distance between himself and his mother as possible.

The frustration dissipated just as fast as it appeared. It was always the kindest individuals that became the most terrifying when you pushed a little too far. Enid made a mental note not to make Morticia mad for any reason at all. Ever.

She practically got whiplash as the matriarch waved them into the house, all with a soft smile and her normal, cheerful personality.

Once inside, Enid quickly finds a nook out of the way. Tucking the both of them in a position to watch, with intrigue, as the two dance around the house. They worked with haste, pushing together tables, adding sheets, padding, grabbing bandages and cleaning supplies. 

The wolf always had a curious interest in the idea of a form of subtle telepathy between twins. She became even more convinced of the concept after watching these two silently work together without any hint of verbal or visual communication.

She gave a side glance to Wednesday, wanting to voice her little theory out loud. She half hoped raven would make fun of the thought, she really wanted to make her laugh. Instead, her tongue stilled upon analyzing her face. 

The quiet girl gave a piercing gaze honed squarely at the center of the wall. It was almost as if she wasn’t aware of anything happening in the room at all. Enid’s heart ached terribly. The pain was eating at her more than she was sharing. Of that, Enid was positive.

Her voice found its way into the open air once more.

“Wednesday. Hey, look at me.”

Dark and sullen eyes, half glazed over, trailed slowly over into Enid’s trembling blues. 

“You’re scaring me. Are you really going to be okay? Can I do anything to help?”

As Enid voiced her feelings aloud, the subtle dread that was laced in her question caused her voice to quiver. Moment by moment, Wednesday’s eyes began to shed that half-aware look and focus deeper into her friend’s when she recognized the fear in them.

A gritty and cracking voice emanated from her chest tinged with an air of arrogance and humor. 

“Did I ever tell you about the time that I fell off the roof of our mansion?”

The terror present in Enid’s eyes got impossibly stronger. The wolf, not knowing how to react to the strange turn that Wednesday took with the question, only could balk at what was said.

“Why did I even ask? Of course I didn’t. I’d be admitting that Pugsley got one over me for a change.” In a motion that seemed more herself, her eyebrows twitched in feigned irritation.

“What the hell, Wednesday.” Enid hissed. “That wasn’t what I asked you.” She called out her diversion.

“But it’s related, nevertheless.”

Enid let her silence persist, prompting the raven to continue.

“I don’t believe that I snapped all of them, but I damn near might as well have shattered every bone in my body with how broken it was. I really should have died that day. I was mortified that my brother got the upper hand in his fencing technique. I’m more surprised I didn’t die of shame.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Enid’s voice was stern and almost cold in spite of the humor Wednesday’s voice carried when retelling her memory.

“Because I see that fear eating away at you again. I already told you to stop worrying. I’ve been through much worse and came out of the other side just fine. This time will be no different.”

Enid doesn’t immediately reply. Instead, Wednesday watches her lean her head to the side, deep in thought. The dirty blonde hair rolled off of her shoulders from the movement.

Enid hummed and spun her head away, not looking at her friend as she uttered these next words. 

“That may be the case, but that’s not going to stop me from hurting when I watch you suffer. I care about you far too much for me to pretend that this doesn’t bother me. Please stop asking me to drop it and just let me try to take care of you the best I can.”  

Wednesday’s breath caught in her throat. Echoes of the clattering that Morticia and Ophelia made while assembling a treatment area bounced off the walls in some other room. It was all that could be heard for a moment. Both girls remained silent as the older women continued to work, letting time end their conversation.

The wolf knew that she was deflecting. Doing her best to retain this veneer that she was beyond pain, beyond suffering. The likes of her didn’t need anyone fretting over her state, no matter how much pain she actually was in. 

She scrunched her nose out of frustration.

Her pride wouldn’t allow it. It annoyed the hell out of Enid. It also hurt to feel as if Wednesday couldn’t trust her enough to be honest with her, and that is what she really wanted. She trusted Wednesday enough to share the vulnerable sides of herself. If only she was entrusted with the same.

Instead, Enid always found herself butting her head against another wall that Wednesday had put up. It was really-

In the middle of her thoughts, It surprised the wolf to suddenly feel the weight of Wednesday’s head find a resting place upon her shoulder, settled in the nook. It was enough to shock her out of her spiraling thoughts.

“W-Wednesday?”

The raven flinched. Enid was afraid she’d pull away like nothing happened, but she remained.

“…You’re the one who said you wanted to help me out the best you knew how. I’m tired, and…I just want to rest my head… while we wait.”

That hardness that was building in her heart was completely shattered. Her voice was so small when she talked, almost as if the volume would hide the vulnerability Enid found within it. 

An incredible softness had already taken its place, expanding by the second.

“Is that okay?” 

“Of course it is. Rest as long as you need.”

She could feel Wednesday’s breathing become even. Her eyelashes closed and brushed lightly against her skin. Enid held her fast and secure upon her back.

With perfect timing, Ophelia appeared at her side. She gently pressed a palm against her shoulder to draw the wolf out of her own thoughts. She let her know that the makeshift clinic was ready for use. 

She was about to spin on her heels, leading the way. Her eye caught a visual of her sleeping niece upon Enid’s shoulder. A look of disbelief washed over her, then a lopsided grin took its place as she led Enid to the back.

------------------

As it turns out, Enid’s arms completely fell asleep, in spite of Wednesday being practically as light as a feather. The wolf had refused to move or shift for the better part of an hour. Paired with the immense exhaustion she felt, she couldn’t move her arms, no matter how much she willed them to shift. She was almost glad Wednesday didn’t seem aware enough to witness her mother and aunt having to pry the two apart.

As Enid sat and waited to recover feeling back in her arms, Ophelia disappeared into the corridors. In her stead, a parade of people began to file into the room, making it feel much smaller than it was before.

Wednesday‘s grandmother walks in after Pugsley. It took a second for Enid to register that it was him. He looked like one of those old Looney Tune characters after a bomb blew up in their face. One glance at the grandmother’s smug face, she didn’t have to work hard to figure that she got whatever her due was from the boy.

Enid watches Grandmama survey the situation for herself. The smirk that was so evident before now disappears when the grandmother’s eyes land upon her own face, and then her granddaughter’s leg.

“Is she-?”

“She’s merely just resting. According to the story we were told, it’s surprising that Enid isn’t also.” Morticia said, hovering over her daughter’s sleeping state.

The grandmother’s eyes cut over to the wolf. She let out a laugh.

“Wow, Pugs. You weren’t kidding. These two really do look like shit.”

Enid expels an air of laughter herself, feeling every bit of the grandmother’s statement in her soul. 

“Grandmama..” Morticia breathed with exasperation, pinching the bridge of her nose.

“Not that it’s anything I won’t be able to fix, but damn. I thought the four of you were only fighting a Feuerbär.”

“I suppose this one was more than anyone bargained for.” Enid’s tired voice rang out.

“No kidding. Normally, they shouldn’t be an issue. However, if you four had serious trouble.. well. I’m just glad you all made it out of there alive. Being alive helps me out far more than being dead.”

Enid nods in relief, she’s glad that this is over as well.

Ophelia approached the doorway with a towel and duffle bag the wolf recognized as her own. She settled the items beside her as she softly began speaking, brushing a strand of long blonde hair out of her face as she leaned down.

“I figured that you’d feel much better after taking a shower. It’s going to take Grandmama a while to work on the potion if you want to take care of yourself in the meantime, dear.”

A subtle relief filled her, she was so focused on Wednesday that she completely ignored how gritty and unkept her own state was. It warmed her heart to find that someone else was aware of her own needs. She wasn’t really used to that.

“If I look half as gross as I feel, then I really need it.” The wolf jokes.

“It’s less the look than the smell, my dear.”

“Grandmama!!” Morticia and Ophelia cried in unison.

Enid couldn’t help but break out into full blown laughter.

------------------

Enid pushes the door closed with the towel firmly held in her palm. A simple way to ensure the grime she sees on her fingers doesn’t touch the white panel and leave a clear blemish.

For a moment, she just paused. The sound of voices were distant and muffled from within the bathroom. Her uneven breathing nearly overshadowed them. The relative silence left room for the gnawing voices in her head to grow louder. 

Her body refused to move, beyond the tremor she found in her fingers. Flashes of the fight scanned behind her eyes like a nightmarish movie.

Each motion, each dodge and swipe vividly danced in her vision. The intense heat flared against her face. She choked on a sob as Wednesday’s scream of pain pierced her skull. Even now, she couldn’t seem to break herself of that visceral fear that haunted her as they worked to bring the monster down.

Her teeth ground in her head. How close they came. How close it was to all of them losing their lives. Repeatedly. It was truly a miracle that the only major injuries sustained was Wednesday’s leg. 

Exhaling a shaky breath, Enid’s mind flashed a glimpse of the moment the bear towered over Wednesday as she was hiding in the forest. The unmistakable signs of panic and terror laced throughout her features, like an animal caught in a trap. Another flash of the pained look on her face as Tyler crushed her into the trunk of a splintered tree. 

She bit into her lip. Wednesday’s panic and anger upon seeing her jump onto the bear bothered her more than it should. There wasn’t any other choice. She wasn’t going to run and leave them.

Yet, flashes of Wednesday rapid firing into the bear to slow it down to…stop it from catching herself had burned into her eyelids. The desperation move happened only moments before the bear tried to devour her whole. 

Overwhelming guilt waterfalled over her shoulders.

The bloodied and darkened fingers that wrapped around the pale white towel and stained the fabric the same shade of rust had become the focal point of her vision. Her trembling fingers dug deeper into the cloth as a slithering voice dug into her ear.

This was her fault. Wasn’t it?

Wednesday wouldn’t have been so desperate, and so careless with her fighting if Enid wasn’t around. That’s the whole reason she got injured in the first place.

Enid quietly wondered if Wednesday was right. Maybe she shouldn’t have intervened. Maybe her leg wouldn’t have been broken after all. Would things have gone better if Enid didn’t decide to break her promise? Would Wednesday have thrived if she didn’t carelessly assume she was needed?

Enid’s grip on the pale fabric grew tighter. She tosses the towel on a nearby rack and reaches in past the shower curtains to spin the dial. The shower head spurts as it comes to life. 

Ice cold water sprays onto her arms and Enid spins away until the water significantly warms. She is met with her reflection in the mirror. With wide, red-rimmed eyes, she hardly recognizes her own face. She lets a couple of fingers trace the side of her cheek. 

It cleared away the mire in two lines that revealed her pink skin underneath. Beyond that, not an inch of her face could be seen under the caking of filth that cracked on her face or obscured the blonde and color from her hair.

‘No wonder those two looked at us like that.’ Enid thought.

Steam began to obscure her features in the mirror, and Enid took that as her cue to hop in. She didn’t make any changes to the dial, in spite of the fact that it couldn’t be any hotter than it already was. Enid let the super-heated water wash over her shoulders and face. 

She stared hard at the drain in the center of the floor. Ribbons of rust colored water fell off of her body in rivers. Leaves and pine needles need to be detangled from her hair. It’s like a bird's nest. New pricks of pain shoot through her as shampoo bites into still fresh cuts and wounds. She pulls her hands away to find that they are shaking even worse.

Even if leaving Wednesday and her dad, her uncle, alone was something she should have done, there was no way she thought she could have actually gone through with it. That didn’t stop the guilt that crawled around in her gut, somehow believing that this was her fault. It was, wasn’t it?

The water from her form began to run clear, she felt like a new person as she stepped out of the shower. She begins to shake out the water from her hair like a pup while staring at the myriad of new cuts and bruises that had formed in the mirror.

From the place in the bathroom, her ears practically twitched upon recognizing the new pair of voices that melded with Wednesday’s own. Enid realized that her friend must have woken with practically her whole family piled into a room while fretting over her.

Enid’s face molded into a grimace when she realized that wasn’t probably a great idea to let her deal with that all by herself, even if they were all family.

The muffled voices that prattled on about something to do with stubborn recklessness and Wednesday’s annoyed reply called back with something related to ‘having it handled’.

Enid shook the rest of the water out of her hair and threw over her over sized tie-dye pink shirt and matching sweatpants to go help. Surely it was needed. 

------------------

“That’s why I’m saying I should open up that thick skull of yours and check your brain while I’m at it, you’re not normally so reckless.” Grandmama pours the potion brew into a drinkable vial. She flicks the glass and the liquid inside jostles. She seems satisfied with the reaction.

Pubert clapped his hands in humor as Pugsley held him, encouraging his Grandmother to crack open his sister’s skull. The raven rolls her eyes in a dramatic fashion.

“I didn’t have a lot of options. What’s so hard to believe about the fact that it was just stronger than others. It nearly overwhelmed us all.” Wednesday bit back.

“Yeah, Wednesday. I’m tracking with that. It’s the fact that you shot a series of ropecasts one after the other, and didn’t expect him to become intelligent enough to use that against you. I mean, come on. I trained you better than that. What the hell did you think that would accomplish?”

“Plenty. I wasn’t exactly focused on myself. There were… other factors I was prioritizing.”

“Factor. Singular.” Ophelia chimed in with a grin while Morticia slapped her sister on the arm before too much was said.

“Is that so? Must have been some factor, that reaction oozes of desperation you know, child. I’m curious as to what made your normally cool and collected self out the damn window.” Grandmama laughs.

“Her idiot friend tried to play the hero.. I guess.”

All eyes collected to the wolf as she re-enters the room. She let the damp locks hang around her face as she settled back into the chair she claimed before. Without realizing it, her dejected tone had hung around the room like a dark cloud, sending the lighthearted conversation into stunned silence.

“How is she?” Enid looked at the floor as she continued.

“She’s fine. Thanks.” Wednesday hummed a quippy response before her grandmother smacked her upside the head. A half-hearted ‘ow’ escaped into the air.

“Don’t mind this one, Enid. Her brain damage is going to be a more difficult problem to solve. However, her leg is very fixable. Should be completely healed by tomorrow morning.” 

“That’s a relief, then.”

Even the boys remained quiet, honing in on the clear sadness evident in the blonde’s voice. The sisters gave each other a shared look, attempting to work out what was bothering her. Grandmama watched as her granddaughter’s eyes never once strayed from observing her friend. Concern was never one of Wednesday’s strong suits. But then again, she has been noticing a lot of growth and maturity within her grandspawn as of late, and she wouldn’t be surprised if their friendship had anything to do with it.

“Enid, can you come here for a moment?”

The wolf tore away her stare at the floor to follow the voice. Grandmama was eyeing the girl too, and she tilted her head in a gesture that wordlessly implied a repeat to the question.

After a couple of blinks, the wolf nodded and began to rise. Grandmama caught her before she took a step closer.

“Bring your chair too. You’re too tall.”

The wolf lifted the chair and settled beside Wednesday’s makeshift bed. The grandmother began to draw close to her face in analysis that Enid naturally began to recoil from. 

“I’d say you look well put together for someone who fell off a massive cliff, my dear.” 

Understanding flooded Enid’s face as she turned to share a gaze with Wednesday, who was already staring at her.

“Oh. So you heard about that?”

“A little.. this one wouldn’t shut up about making sure you get checked out as well.”

An annoyed ‘tch’ escaped her friend.

“Well, regardless of how put together you look, That’s not to say it left you completely unscathed. How is your head feeling?” The woman lightly pressed upon some pressure points around her temple, supposing she was doing some analysis of her own.

“My mind is pretty clear. I feel like I’m talking in coherent sentences, and I don’t feel any swelling or pain.”

“Good good.. you’ve got significant cuts and bruises, though. Anything you’re particularly worried about there?” Her hands level to her lap. She’s just listening now.

Enid pushes back a fistful of damp hair that fell in her face as she talks. “Um. I wouldn’t say I’m too concerned about it. Most of the scrapes were much worse an hour ago. Werewolves can heal pretty fast. The cuts should close completely and the bruises disappear within another hour or two.”

“Uh huh. All checks out. How’s your heart?”

Enid paused, not knowing what to say about that.

“My.. huh? It doesn’t.. it’s operating fine?”

“Oh no, I’m asking how you’re doing emotionally. I can’t imagine going through a near death experience leaves one unscathed in that area.”

Enid clenched the fabric at her chest and couldn’t hold eye contact.

“I-I’m fine. It- it was... So you said Wednesday’s leg should heal completely by tomorrow morning?”

“Quit deflecting.”

“You’re one to talk.” Enid snipped back at the raven.

Grandmama held up her hands in a peace offering.

“I’m not trying to pry, dear. I just want you to know that allowing yourself to heal the unseen wounds can be just as important as the visible ones. Take it from someone who used to heal others for a living.”

Enid nodded and her heart ached. She could feel  Wednesday stare even though she wasn’t looking.

Pugsley raised his hand. Which caught people’s attention.

“I was under the impression you earned most of your money from robbing banks.”

The older woman sighed deeply as she rose from her own chair opposite of the wolf.

“My true untapped calling was sewing annoying littles brats mouths shut. I would have made a killing if I pursued that field.”

Pubert laughed at his other brother balking now.

“Anyways, I’m glad you walked away relatively unharmed, Enid. Now.. let’s get this brat catching up to you, shall we?”

Enid watched with intrigue as Wednesday’s grandmother rounded the table and hovered a shriveled hand over her friend’s leg. She made a face as if she was subtly implying something to her granddaughter.

However, the girl made no motion of understanding what was attempting to be implied, so the woman resorted to her words.

“Hmm.. You’re not going to say anything before I get started? You already know what I’ve got to do, girl.”

“Then just do it already.” Wednesday’s annoyance rang out.

“I’m saying it for your friend’s sake, you brat. Not everyone wants to watch their friend’s leg break for a second time.”

Enid goes pale. 

“What?! Wh-why do you have to do that again?” It's almost as if you can hear Enid’s heart break at that moment. 

The grandmother’s tone softens when speaking to the blonde. “I’m not exactly breaking her bone again, Even though the potion will end up doing the majority of the work for her, the femur still isn’t set. If I give it to her now, this gremlin will look even more stupid than she already does when she walks.”

Through clenched teeth, Wednesday forces out a, “What’s wrong with the way I walk?”

“Have you looked in a mirror lately? You’re so stiff it looks more like hovering than walking. Almost puts John Cleese to shame.”

The raven slaps her hand over her eyes in frustration, pulling at her face as the hand slid down her features.

“For the last time, Grandmama, I don’t understand your references.”

Ignoring the raven’s side commentary, Enid asks her next question with a haunted tinge to her voice. “What’s going to happen when you set her bone?”

“Nothing. I’ll be fine.”

Grandmama rolled her eyes.

“This one is a tough cookie, sure. Arrogant is more like it. She’s still going to be in a lot of pain, and-”

Gaze falling downcast upon her lap, that was all Enid needed to hear before checking out. She begins to awkwardly raise herself up and out of the chair.

“Yeah- um. I’ll just.. I’m gonna-”

Enid doesn’t look anyone in the eye and quickly pushes herself out of the room, not trusting her emotions to be kept solely to herself for much longer. She misses the concerned looks from everyone as she leaves. She doesn’t miss Wednesday calling after her when she pushes through the door.

------------------

She steps out of the room and blazes a path straight to the front porch. She needed to get out of the house. To not be in the vicinity if Wednesday happens to cry out in pain again. It was enough to nearly break her when the bear snapped her leg initially. She didn’t trust herself to react well if she heard that broken cry escape her best friend again. She’s already fairly certain it's going to haunt her in her sleep. 

Overwhelmed by her emotions. She sits on the steps, and tries to hold back shivers. The fall breeze nips at her skin and turns her damp curls into a curtain of ice that causes goosebumps to rise on the back of her neck. She wants to fidget and knot her hands, but the cold is getting to her, so she wraps her arms around her shoulders tightly. They are helping to steady herself almost as much as they are shielding her from the cool breeze.

Not much time had passed before Enid could feel a presence appear behind her. The figure had decided to settle by her side. Enid’s eyes cut to the individual. She watched the fabric of the black dress pool at her feet. 

A gentle hand brushes aside the hair that fell on her shoulder. The damp hair was now curled around her ear and not shrouding her face. Now Enid couldn’t exactly hide the watery sting creeping into her vision from the woman who remained patient by her side.

To Enid’s surprise, she doesn’t say anything. She just remains beside her, like a tether that is keeping her frantic mind from spiraling away into the open air.

Enid is expecting her to get angry. And she should, it's what she deserves after all.

“I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.” Enid finally whispers, fear and defeat in her tone.

Even from this vantage, the blonde can see from the mother’s features that this was clearly not what she expected Enid to say. There was a sadness to her gaze when she watched closely. It took her another few moments to collect her thoughts. 

“I highly doubt that, but I do want to know why you feel that way.” Morticia’s soothing timbre gently responds back. It was patient, and genuine.

Enid breathes a sigh. She pulls at her blonde curls, pushing them out of her reddening face. “I was too slow, was too in over my head.” She spoke in a low tone, a tinge of…anger could be found there as well. “The three of them were constantly having to fix my mistakes in the heat of battle in spite of the fact that I came back to help.”

She barked a dry laugh, incredulous at herself. “I almost left, you know. I was mere moments away, but my body reacted without much of a thought. Yet, now..I’m not so sure I made the right choice anymore.”

“What do you mean?” Morticia tilted her head, prompting Enid to continue to think.

“I dunno…Would they have fared better without me there? Would Wednesday’s leg have been broken if I wasn’t there for her to try and save? I don’t- I..”

Enid didn’t even realize that tears had spilled over her cheeks. The cold air stung more at the invisible trail of water. She wanted to bury her face into her knees, to not deal with that gnawing ache in her heart.

“Do you really believe that you made things worse by deciding to help my family?” The woman prompted, her expression not losing an inch of calm. In contrast, Enid’s face contorted as she was forced to dig a little deeper.

“I wasn’t able to protect her from being hurt. In fact, it was because of the choice I made that she’s in there suffering right now. The guilt is..crushing.”

“Oh..Enid.” 

The wolf didn’t expect the tone of her voice to come across so..sad. There was a ghost of something she was deprived of from her own mother, something she longed to find in that simple comment.

Enid watched as her fingers laced together while she worked to design her next question.

“Let me try a different direction. What was it that stopped you from heading to safety in the first place?”

“Huh?”

“I was there when you made the promise to my daughter. I haven’t known you long, I will admit. However, you are not the type to strike me as one who breaks something so weighted with frivolity. Especially given how much importance Wednesday placed upon it.”

“I don’t know.” Enid lied.

“Hmm..I think you do.” Morticia saw straight through it. She backed off, giving Enid space to ponder.

Enid picked at her fingers, the turmoil from reliving that moment in her head spilling out into a nervous fidget. She allowed that moment she made the decision to play again in her head, and dug a little deeper this time. The same urgency filled her from that moment in time.

“I just.. I- I couldn’t watch her die. I couldn’t just leave. Maybe there was something in me that wasn’t sure- Wasn’t sure if I would be of any help at all. Maybe even just someone who got in the way.” Enid laid bare a choppy and scattered response.

“I don’t think I could have ever lived with myself if something happened to her and I just..left. Any potential of me helping far outweighed the cost of breaking that promise, and I think I felt that in the moment before I turned back. I still feel that way even now.” 

Lost in the thought, Enid was completely unprepared for Morticia pulling her into a hug. With it being exactly what the wolf needed to help process the wild day she went through, the wolf was helpless to the soft sobs that followed the very motherly action.

“Regardless of whether you ‘should’ have jumped back into the fray, You put your own life at risk to save my family. Twice now. And I can never thank you enough.”

“I just want you to know that even if my daughter didn’t say it, she too is thankful to have a loyal friend who cares so much. She just.. she’s worried about you too.”

“I know you’re blaming yourself for what happened. Enid, hear me now. Please don’t, even for a second, believe that you’re at fault for ‘any’ of this. Okay? No one, not even Wednesday, is blaming you for what happened. I don’t want to see you walking around with a weight that so clearly does not belong to you.”

Enid can only limply nod, afraid of the squeaks she’d make between the tears. The hug loosened as the wolf began to use both hands to wipe away the water from her eyes.

“You know…Wednesday is lucky to have a mother like you. She.. definitely doesn’t admit to it, but I know she realizes it too.”

Morticia raises a humorous brow at the statement, knowing her daughter all too well. 

“I mean.. deep, deep down.” A snarky grin presents itself on her features. “under all of the layers of sass and angst she’s got piled on sky high.” The wolf barks a wet laugh that Morticia can’t help but join in as well.

“Ehh.. teenagers. What is a parent to do?!” The pair shared a deep laughter, more healing than the both of them could realize.

Morticia brushes aside the loose curls that hung at Enid’s cheek and swept them behind her ear, lost in thought. A sharp gasp emanated from the older woman without a hint of notice. The action startled Enid completely, her head on a swivel as she watched a wild glint and a sly smile grow rapidly on the mother’s face.

“Hey, That reminds me. I did have a surprise for you. We need to wait until Wednesday isn’t in the vicinity, though.” A wave of excitement emanated off of the woman as she pressed her fingertips together, an outward display of the scheming thoughts behind those dark eyes.

Enid couldn’t be any more curious if she tried.

------------------

Enid and Morticia spend another bit of time out on the porch steps as the girl finishes wiping away her tears and the redness around her eyes softens. The two found themselves engrossed in a conversation about the plants Ophelia kept, and various ways to keep these various species happy and healthy. 

In reality, to pass the time, Enid asked one question about a plant that looked oddly similar to the chomping plants from that mario game. Morticia took it and ran with a conversation that centered around some of her favorite passions. Enid was happy to just listen to the enthusiasm with which Morticia spoke. She could learn a thing or two from the older woman. She never had been able to keep a plant alive for more than a couple of weeks herself, and was surprised with how much they needed to be tended to. That was probably the reason she couldn’t grow anything herself.

Almost as if she could hear their conversation, Ophelia swings open the front door as if on cue.

“Hey you two. Wednesday is all good to go and is now getting her own shower if you both wanted to get out of the cold and warm back up. Enid, I’ve also made some soup for lunch if you wanted me to put it back on the stove for you.”

Enid was happy to know she wasn’t the only one shocked when witnessing that sly smile reappear on Morticia’s face. The blonde eyed her sister as if she had two heads.

“Yes, yes. All good. I’ll even grab Enid a bowl. But-”

“But?” Ophelia said with hesitation. 

“The surprise. We need Enid to see it, and that needs to happen before Wednesday reappears.”

Now Ophelia looked as if Morticia grew a third head right before her eyes.

“The. Surprise. Ophelia.” Her sister enunciated each word, heavy with implication behind it.

“OH!” Ophelia lost all of the confusion and dawned a wicked grin of her own, much to Enid’s amazement.

“Yes! Oh, how could I forget?! You’re absolutely right! Come! Hurry, Enid!”

The wolf was up before Ophelia could even finish. The raw curiosity was definitely getting the better of her now. What in the world could it be? Whatever it was, it must have been good, especially since Wednesday was to be avoided at all costs. 

The pure excitement had overshadowed the grief, and Enid let it flow away like a river. The two women pushed Enid through the door and immediately got to work.

Ophelia lightly pats Enid’s shoulder. Enid is intrigued when she spins around to find that Ophelia was holding a finger to her lips to signal that she must not say a word. With a wave of her hand she signals for Enid to follow her quietly into the main room. 

“What? Are we playing detective now? So bored we’re making up shit to do?”

Loud shushing noises materialized from the twins as Morticia forced her mother-in-law, watching the scene unfold before her with her typical annoyance, to quietly find a seat on the sofa. At the same time waving towards the boys to quietly find a seat as well.

Once the present party could confirm the distant running of water from the shower was still present, the women continued with their scheme. Ophelia, who now mentions that she is off to find the box or stack of the rest of them, had disappeared down a hall. Morticia had gently spun Enid by her shoulders to face a wooden cabinet, tucked in the corner of the room.

“The surprise is in there. Hurry, before she gets done.” 

And with that gleeful command spoken, Morticia herself finds a spot on the sofa beside her boys in eager anticipation.

Enid has known about this ‘surprise’ for all of five minutes, but the bar has been set. The weight of anticipation upon her own chest blossomed like a tree and embedded deep roots within her. 

With the added pressure of time, Enid decides not to dawdle her time in thought, but draws to the cabinet doors with haste.

A gentle tug was enough for the latch to click open from the inside. Enough light pours within the dusty interior for her to recognize one of those old CRT televisions. Between coughing at the stirred up dust, she thought to herself that she hasn’t seen one of those since her childhood. A simple, gray model from the 90s it looked like. It has one of those old VHS players embedded into the set.

The blonde lets a finger press against the flap to find a cassette already in the player, tape stretched over the side that labeled this particular edition. Her blue eyes nearly fell out of her head upon reading the label. 

Wednesday teaches Lurch to dance. 2010

Her head is spinning. 2010?! Wednesday must have been, what? Five? Six?

“Is- is this for real?” The words escaped her lips before she could stop them.

Confused, she spins around to Morticia to find that she is offering a simple nod paired with that sly grin.

“You want to find out?”

Without any more prompting, Enid releases the cassette flap and presses the on button, followed immediately by the play. The family collectively watches the tv turn into a static haze before snapping to a fuzzy scene.

Enid’s eyes never leaving the screen, the wolf fumbled backwards until she tumbled into her own spot on the emerald sofa. Tucking herself in comfortably. The family watches for a moment before they can realize what's going on. The screen is mostly dark and shaky. At least at first. 

What is clearly Gomez’s voice rings out in frustration. He questions Morticia as to how to work this thing. She begs him to go easy on the device before it breaks. She also suggests that he should take off the lens cap before filming. That might help solve some problems.

Suddenly, the screen jolts and is now flooded with light before the camera can readjust to a setting that can properly capture its surroundings.

The bright light dissipated to materialize what is unmistakably, Wednesday. Except she must be around 5 or 6 years old. Enid doesn’t fight the tugging on her cheeks that quickly turns into this rather large and goofy grin. The wolf didn’t fail to realize that Morticia and Ophelia have given her a rather unique, yet irreplaceable gift. Her heartstrings strummed a wholesome note. She’d have to find a way to pay them back. 

“How do the mortals use this thing?” 

Tiny Wednesday’s voice rings out, and causes Enid to immediately squeal with brimming elation. There really was no helping  it. The young voice was so high pitched and, dare she say it, cute. 

Her smile gets impossibly brighter when watching only half of Wednesday’s face appear on the screen. She attempts to hold the camera far too close. The curiosity found within those dark irises, the goofy little gap between her baby teeth that gave her a slight lisp. Mere seconds in and Enid was sold. Wednesday was a downright adorable child, and Enid will forever be unable to fathom how lucky she was to see this. 

“Hon’ you’re a mortal too…” Morticia sighs. She seems to grab the camera and set it upon her daughter properly. Enid bunches the fabric of her shirt at her chest as she works hard to restrain a silly giggle that was bubbling up in her chest.

Appearing as a little gothic ballerina, Wednesday had apparently taken this job seriously enough to dress up for the role. Tutu, slippers, and everything. Of course, it wouldn’t have been right without being an entirely black garb. Even at such a young age, her love for the dark held steadfast, and Enid wouldn’t have it any other way.

“M’kay! How do I look? Grandmama said that every dancer should look the part, so I asked her to make me the best outfit she could.” The little dancer gave a twirl, her braids adorably tailed her as she spun with grace.

The older woman paused her action of pulling a ragged blanket tight around her form to speak up when she was mentioned by name from the past. “Huh. I almost forgot that little gremlin used to be so sweet. What happened?”

“I know it's not great, but she did her best.” Wednesday sweetly noted as she grabbed the tulle in her tiny fingers.

“There she is.” Grandmama barked a laugh as the group followed in tandem. 

“Well, I think you look splendid. The only thing missing is Lurch, and I haven't seen him since lunch. Have you seen him, Darling?”

The camera jostled around to weakly focus on Gomez’s arm flailing around the cigar he held firm in his grasp as he talked.

“Hiding again? Does he not realize by now how much fun he is going to have at the ball? The whole room is going to line up for the devilishly handsome fellow. He’ll be a knockout, and that’s before Wednesday can teach him the skills to back it up.” Gomez cheered on his butler and his friend with immense pride.

“Lurch gone?” Pubert angled his shoulders to question his mother from his place upon her lap.

Without her eyes leaving the screen, she replied to her son. “Yes, sweetheart. Lurch didn’t want to dance, so he hid in a sarcophagus, if I recall correctly.” She brushed the blonde curls out of his face.

“But Lurch right there.”

“Bertie, see the screen? Your sister is looking for him right now. On the TV.”

“But I found him first.”

Before the odd statement from the child could draw the family’s invested, collective stares away from the old video, a loud groan echoed from directly behind Enid’s ear. Each person present nearly shot out of their seats. The aforementioned blonde tumbled forward and directly into the floor, back slamming into the rug. From her vantage point, the Addams family butler looked like a skyscraper. A familiar hand dropped from his shoulder to both greet and help his friend off of the ground.

“Well, well. What do we have here?” 

A pair of men sauntered their way into the room, around the giant of a butler, dripping with water and forgotten suds. Each brother was wrapped in a towel that didn’t seem to do much in the way of preventing the water from dripping on the floor.

“Gomez!! Fester!” The family cried in a symphony.

Morticia made to hug her husband, but thought better of it. Choosing to affectionately pat his damp face instead. The home movie was paused momentarily so the men could assimilate back into the group. Ophelia seemed to drop a heavy object from another room to now grab towels they could sit on. Pugsley went to help Morticia heat the hunting party back up some leftover soup from lunch since the screen was paused anyways. 

The remaining group discovered that the men had arrived a while ago and headed back through the gate from the outside entrance to get their showers from the manor. Apparently Lurch and Thing were tired of being cooped up, so they hopped along for the ride.

“Mom, the Feuerbär and Wolpertinger have made it safely to the storage in the back. Got any more deadly errands you want to send us on before the ball?” Gomez joked as he wrapped himself within more towels. The dripping of water was starting to cease.

“Oh.. I’m sure I’ll think of something. Next one better finish you off, though. You’re getting too quippy for my taste.” She joked back. Enid was really starting to understand where Wednesday’s macabre sense of humor developed from.

“I’m glad to see you guys made it back safely.” Enid smiled from her spot on the sofa. Gomez ruffled Pubert’s blonde hair in greeting, and unexpectedly did the same for Enid as he passed by her. Enid silently felt honored by the kind gesture.

“Us too. We couldn’t have done it without you, little wolf.” Gomez spoke as he settled on a pile of towels that practically wrapped him in a burrito. Fester looked even more so like a burrito as he settled by his brother’s side and shivered from the cold. 

The unexpected compliment sent a serious look upon Enid’s face.

“But all I did was get in the way.”

Fester piped up from his little cocoon, still shivering. “Are you kidding? I’ve never seen a fighter so seasoned right off the bat. Maybe Wednesday has you beat, but not by much.”

His eyes widened in terror and the man began to look around frantically. “She’s not nearby.. is she?”

“I’m not joking, Enid. That forest would have been burnt to a crisp had you not jumped back in the fray.” Gomez spoke with sincerity. Enid couldn’t hold eye contact, and instead shyly picked at her nails, instead.

“Thanks. That means a lot.” was what Enid could muster without getting too sappy again.

After surveying his surroundings, his focus pulled back to Enid after seeing his elbow paused on the screen, a bit of confusion settled on his face. “So, tell me Enid. What is going on here? What did we miss?”

A wide grin appeared on the wolf’s face as her voice naturally lowered, pulling the men into a shared secret.

“It seems like Morticia and Ophelia have found a secret stash of old home movies you guys made when Wednesday was little. We’re trying to watch them in secret before Wednesday shows back up and kills us all for it.” She even laughed quietly as she spoke in hushed tones.

That was all it took for joyous looks of surprise to appear on their faces. Excited to have arrived in enough time to take part.

“No kidding? Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant timing. Haha!” The father clasped his hands together in delight. “We’d better get started then. You think you may know my daughter, but get ready to see what is hidden under a wall of snark she’s built over the years.”

Ophelia reappears from around the corner with another heavy box of vhs players covered in a thick layer of dust. Enid’s eyes get impossibly bigger when landing on the enormity of the stash.

“Found these in the attic! Morticia completely forgot she left them over here years ago when I helped her with that massive cleaning project you had in 16’. We have.. What? 50 or so here. You guys really went through that home video craze, didn’t you? Although I think most people had DVDs by this point. This would have been a lot lighter if you guys had any clue about technology.” She drops the box with a loud thump and a heavy huff. The box did look pretty heavy, even by Enid’s standards.

“Thankfully she’s the other half of my brain! I thought I threw these gems out years ago. We found them just in time to show Enid. Isn’t that just something? Like it was meant to be!” Morticia spoke as she, herself reappeared from the kitchen and passed out a rather hearty looking soup to everyone along with Pugsley tailing right behind.

Tipping half her body over the sofa to peer at the contents of the box and grab her soup from Morticia’s grasp in the same motion, Enid begins in a breathless tone. 

“You guys can’t just show me that there’s possibly a full day's worth of footage of Wednesday when she was little just floating around! We’re already scrambling around just trying to watch one! It’s going to torture me knowing I’ll never be able to watch them all before she discovers them and sets them on fire.”

“Cool. Torture and fire.” Enid shoots a glare over at Pugsley’s direction.

“Hey, This might be a great opportunity to try out that new coma potion I was working on. There’s no way even that girl would wake up from that anytime soon.” Grandmama cheered at her plan, soup spoon raised in amusement.

“Grandmama, there is a fine line between coma and death. I really don’t think you’ve mastered that yet.” Morticia voiced

“Wait.. I didn’t mean-” Enid began to panic.

“Nah mom, that’ll take too long to make. I can probably just shock her into one in a fraction of the time it would take to gather all of those ingredients.” Fester’s muffled voice called out from under the pile of towels. Enid was surprised to find that there was somehow twice the amount wrapped around him now. She could barely even see his face.

Lurch began to groan, and the entire family at present responded, as if understanding a language not apparent to Enid in the least. The chorus of voices called back in various ways, all hinting that whatever was said by the butler was a step too far and it wasn’t realistic. Everyone except Thing, that was. He just gave a simple thumbs up. Enid probably didn’t want to know anyways.

“Can we all just shut up and get back to making fun of Wednesday in a tutu and dancing before it's too late? I never get a good chance to torture her anymore.” Pugsley’s annoyed tone grew tinny towards the end of the complaint.

“The hell is going on in here?!”

A heavy silence settled over the room and echoed across the cabin, punctuating the gravity of the moment. The air seemed charged, each individual was frozen in the stillness when they realized who just uttered the question filled with barely bridled anger.

Enid watched as Gomez and Fester arched their heads around the butler, a motion repeated in utter silence by every individual in the room, except herself, had revealed the very person they worked so hard to keep in the dark. 

Apparently, they’ve been so caught up in chatting and arguing that everyone failed to notice that the shower stopped running a while ago and certainly gave her enough time to catch at least a part of their collective conversation. They were most definitely screwed.

Enid grabbed a blanket hanging off the back of the sofa and began to entirely bury herself under it. Maybe Wednesday wouldn’t notice she was there if she could wrap it around pretty tight.

“Too late. Great going you guys.” The boy deeply sighed, as if watching his hopes and dreams go up in flames.

From underneath the blanket, Enid could hear her footsteps draw closer, socks padding on hardwood, then on the rug. Clearly, she was investigating the scene of the crime. Rather than focus on her impending death, the wolf was at least happy to hear that she could walk on both legs again.

“Seriously. Who here is going to start telling me what nefarious thing you guys are so clearly up to before I turn someone else, beyond myself, into a cripple for the day?”

Grandmama spoke up pretty nonchalantly. Enid will forever be amazed at the bravery she possessed. Or lack of caring.. One of the two for sure.

“A bunch of old videos were found by your mom and aunt in the attic while you guys were out getting your asses kicked into tomorrow. The plan was to show Enid a bunch of footage of you back when you used to be cute so we could bribe her into staying your friend. Good on ya’ for throwing a wrench into that plan, kiddo.” Enid could feel the sofa shake from the laughter by the time the old woman finished.

There was an uncomfortable beat of silence, and Enid could just feel Wednesday reeling from the shock. She wondered if the emotion would have been strong enough to be displayed on her face. 

Actually scratch that. Enid can also feel her shock from here, so she was pretty sure it was covered on her face too.

“I’m going to murder every single one of you. Slowly and painfully.” Wednesday threatened once she found her footing again. 

Enid began to sink lower into the sofa and under the dark of the blanket as the light padding of her footsteps drew near to her own position. Her heartbeat practically shot out of her own chest as the tiny sound drew closer and closer. Enid could now directly relate to that one scene out of Jurassic Park, where the velociraptors were hunting those kids in the kitchen.  

There was a small gap of light pointed towards the floor where Enid could see out from underneath her cocoon. She saw Wednesday’s dark socks slowly appear into view and pause right before her. If only she had a giant talon on her toe like an actual velociraptor, the parallel would be uncanny. She pressed her hands over her grinning mouth as if it was her breathing that was giving her away. 

“Starting with you.”

Enid squeaked as light flooded into her senses and blinded her for a mere moment. The blanket was torn away to be tossed to the side in one fell sweep. She instinctively held up her hands in a defensive motion, ready to spew all manner of apologies and pardons, anything to hopefully appease her friend enough to start ribbing someone else, anyone else, before herself. 

Every prepared word had so ungracefully died on her tongue the second she actually looked upon Wednesday, who was glaring at her from above. Instead, a series of gibberish sounding words and exceedingly embarrassing stutters were the only noises that left her mouth. 

Wednesday’s irritated glare molded quickly into pure confusion, taken aback at witnessing this rather odd scene unfolding just before her. Enid was pretty sure everyone else had a similar look upon their features before long. Though she couldn’t really think about that right now. She couldn’t much think of anything else, really.

For the first time, Enid beheld what Wednesday’s hair looked like when it was down and out of her twin braids. Apparently it was enough to practically shock her into a coma of her own.

The wolf supposed that in the rush of trying to figure out what all of the fuss was about, she skipped the rather important step in favor of catching everyone red-handed. The dark locks were still a hint damp, not given enough time to fully dry. As the air worked at evaporating the remaining water left within, each strand began recoiling into these perfect, loose curls that only formed tightly towards the bottom of her hair. She didn’t even know her friend's hair was wavy at all.

Enid’s darkened eyes slowly follow the trail of abundant curls as they spiral upwards. The cascade of silk frames her face like a veil that reminds her of how a waterfall would glimmer in the middle of the night, moonlight bouncing off the water in mesmerizing patterns.

There is a wildness to the way her hair plummets over her shoulders, and Enid knows in her heart for this to be the reason she opts to hide it in braids. Little else could manage to tame the chaos. The Wednesday she knows works tirelessly to design the enormity of her life to organize the abundant disorder into a willful submission. 

Who knew that hiding just beneath the surface of her collected veneer, was a girl that would so intrinsically carry and capture the wild of storms and tempests, as if she were the very embodiment of an untamed cosmic force.

The very natural act of breathing became extremely difficult, and her tongue felt like lead. She was beginning to slur the already incoherent garble she spewed out of her mouth. Her face was lit aflame and her heart felt as if it sprung a leak, bleeding out into her chest. 

It would be a less painful way to go than whatever was currently killing her slowly from the inside out. Instead, she was going to die from the shame of being a babbling idiot. Wonderful.

“Enid? What is the matter with you?”

Oh great. The question she keeps asking herself over and over internally is now thrown in her face. Why did she ask? It’s not like she herself had any clue as to the curious way her body was breaking down on itself.

“Dammit, I knew you had a head injury from that fall.”

Her words were failing her, but she needed to get the point across before it was too late. Enid begins to shake her head violently, to somehow indicate that in spite of her current stupefied state, it wasn’t a result of a latent brain injury. At least, she was fairly certain that wasn’t the cause. 

However, the action makes her look even more like an idiot.

She curls her fingers into her own hair and gives it a light tug, as if miming would help, but the concern only grew on Wednesday’s face. 

She looked around desperately for a life-line, and of course it was Morticia who caught her silent plea for help with a soft look that was suspiciously too understanding.

“Darling, I think she’s just surprised. You never leave your hair out of your braids, after all, and I don’t think she expected to see you with it down.”

Wednesday’s eyes re-lock with her own, and Enid takes this moment to offer a simple and gentle nod of affirmation. Locking in Morticia’s statement to be true. That seems to do the trick, because Enid can watch the concern melt away.

“Oh, I suppose that could explain it.” Wednesday grabs a fist-full of her hair. She rolled it around in observation as if it was a foreign object to her. “I do admit that it is a little jarring. I’ll go braid it back up before I start maiming you all.”

“NO!” The single word rang out so clear and concise that Enid couldn’t help but throw her increasingly reddened face into her palms the second it left her throat. Of course that’s the word she’s able to get out. What an idiot. Grandmama was back to snickering beside her.

“I mean..I’m just trying to say...Oooh..” Enid is back to flailing, Wednesday is once again looking at her with alarm, and Morticia, once again, comes to her rescue.

“Wednesday, why don’t you just let your hair air dry out of braids for once? It’s probably not healthy for your hair to do it up in braids all the time. That’s probably what Enid is implying. Right, Enid?”

“Mhmm.” She doesn’t trust her voice, so she weakly nods and hums a response back before she does anything else entirely too stupid.

It takes Wednesday a second of thought before she inevitably will turn tail and knot her hair up once more. Enid greedily took in the sight of her hair down before it was gone forever. However, she never once expected Wednesday to nod to her mother, a single ‘fine’ left her lips and the matter was resolved, simple as that. The raven had moved on, but Enid was still left reeling at the second gift reality had unexpectedly dropped in her lap today.

“I’m still pissed you all orchestrated this embarrassment behind my back. I hope you all know you’re not getting away with this.” Wednesday snapped back to her usual, cheerful self. Definitely on the hunt for a way to get everyone back.

“Heh, I don’t think anyone expected to completely get away with it,” Pugsley began, “But boy, was it sure worth it watching how much Enid geeked out over it.”

The wolf really wished she could just implode right about now. Thankfully, the raven seemed to be ignoring her at the least. She was honing a newfound anger towards her brother. It was the little things.

“Fine. Well, I’m sure none of you will complain if I use that box as ‘tender’ for a bonfire. It's been rather cold as of late, and I’m sure our bones could use some real heat to warm them back up.” Her tone became dripping with sarcasm. “Maybe we can even do fun little ‘family’ things and make s’mores! Perhaps Pugsley will even want to dress up as a marshmallow for Halloween. What do you say?”

After a rather dramatic monologue from Wednesday, the girl makes a move and goes straight for the box of tapes.

A cacophony of voices spring up from all over the room, some annoyed, some pleading. All were failing and would continue to fail at drawing away the raven from her set goal. Destroying the precious tapes, and having them forever lost to time.

Enid could only helplessly watch as her body moved on its own accord. Her hand darted out and reached for Wednesday’s own completely without her say. The action of intertwining their hands had stopped the girl completely in her tracks. If Wednesday was ignoring her a moment ago, she definitely wasn’t anymore. The wolf blinked at the link between them, and then hesitantly let her eyes trail upwards. A collective of absolutely zero emotion was present on Wednesday’s face. Her hauntingly blank eyes were studying Enid’s own, waiting for an explanation. The blonde wasn’t unaware of the immensity of the silence that blanketed the rest of the room.

A cold chill iced down her spine and set it a little straighter than it was before. She really didn’t know where these unexpected bursts of courage came from. If only she could control them at will. For now, it would do that it held firm for her in this crucial moment. Determination set her tone as cold, honest, and deadly as a well-timed arrow.

“Can you please just calm down, sit with us, and watch? All I really want right now is for you to be right here beside me. Grab a bowl of soup and just allow me to be happy and to enjoy my evening seeing a version of my best friend that I never had the privilege of being able to see while I was growing up as she sits by my side. Is that really too much to ask?”

Silence. Dead silence was the only response from all corners of the room. As they all waited with baited breath for the impending explosion, even Enid herself felt like that was the only natural response for Wednesday to give. 

Those blank eyes deepened with some heavy expression held within them that was foreign to Enid. The caramel gaze of hers darted around Enid’s unyielding stare to search for something herself. The raven then tore her hand from her own and pressed forward without a word. She gravitated toward the box…

then past the box, then down the hallway and into the kitchen.

Out of sight, all that could be heard throughout the cabin was the clattering of cabinets being opened, dishes clanking against utensils, and the shifting of socks against the wooden flooring as she padded back towards the living room. 

Wednesday emerged out of the hall, bowl of soup in hand. She quietly ate a spoonful as she curbed around the sofa to stand before Enid once more.

“Move the blanket.” her flat tone rang out. 

The wolf gathered the fabric upon her lap, and Wednesday spun on her heel to settle right beside her, arms brushing.

Wednesday finished another spoonful before irritatingly asking 

“Is someone going to push play on the damn TV or not?”

Thing was the first to move. He scurried closer to the set and launched himself high enough to catch the button before gravity yanked him back down. Static fuzz scratched at the television set, and then the old footage picked back up from where it left off.

“Why did you sign Lurch up for the ball again? You know he doesn’t really care for these social gatherings? The Morticia from the television asks her husband.

“Simply because he has been so down and out lately. I want him to jump at every chance to find someone he can really be happy with and whom he can bring happiness to in return, you know?”

Enid couldn’t breathe. Her heart was beating so incredibly fast. Did that really just happen? Did she really just allow her to have her way? Just like that? If Enid played the lottery right now there would be no doubt in her mind that she’d have the winning numbers with how her streak of luck is running at this moment. For now, she continued to watch, doing everything in her power to have a calm response to an action that made her want to howl with joy at the moon.

“I found him! Hiding away in the sarcophagus is an old trick by now!” The smiling girl sweetly bounded around the corner with a rather stressed out Butler tailing behind groaning every step of the way.

Enid could feel Wednesday tense up against her shoulder.

“Oh come on, Lurch. It will be fun!” The girl quieted her bouncing as she walked up to her butler and friend.

A distinct groan echoed on the set before the butler made a response. “But I like being miserable.”

“But what if you find a nice girl to be miserable with?”

Lurch groans louder.

“Listen. I’ll have you dancing in no time. No one will be able to resist you. Then maybe one day you can find a way to repay me. How does that sound?”

Upon thinking of the offer with the child for a moment, Lurch nods, satisfied with the terms the girl set before him. The tiny little raven chick got to work. Bouncing upon her ballet slippers, she slowly worked to teach the giant of a man the proper form and grace needed to pull off an impressive little number. 

The child was filled with that patience she typically is known to master. Lurch is about as graceful as a bull in a china shop. He constantly is tripping over his own feet, bumping his head into the tops of door frames, and stumbling backwards into chairs that snap the second he falls into one. After every stumble, Wednesday is there to kindly encourage him to keep going.

“Who taught you to dance like that?” Enid leaned and whispered, the first to brave actual words since Wednesday’s sudden change of heart.

“Grandmama. One would never have guessed, but she used to be an exotic dancer.. among other questionable career pursuits.” Wednesday whispered back. 

“Brat, I heard that.” Grandmama snipped by her granddaughter’s side.

Enid settles into a comfortable smile. 

“It doesn’t surprise me that you’ve been that good from such a young age. You have a unique habit of picking up skills pretty quickly.”

Wednesday doesn’t respond, but the tense shoulder Enid is leaning against loosens a bit in response. 

The pair continue to dance. Wednesday stepped on his toes to elevate her height. Lurch finally became stable enough to start practicing the more difficult moves. As she is teaching, Wednesday jumps into a lift where the butler practically tosses her into the ceiling. The move caused Enid to jolt a bit in her seat from the surprise. What she wasn’t ready for is this small child angle herself in a way so that the giant butler could jump in her arms in an attempt to be lifted to the ceiling himself.

Before Enid realizes it, she is shouting along with the parents in the TV set to stop the butler before the girl is crushed under the weight. The scene was so comedic practically the entire room burst into roars of laughter as Lurch sauntered away in confusion.

“What in the world made you think you could pick Lurch up as easily as he lifted you?” Enid about spilled the soup in her lap from laughing so hard.

Lurch, from his position in the back of the room had overheard Enid, and gave a hearty laugh of his own that shook the room by the stilts. The rest of the room laughed in response.

Enid was afraid that Wednesday would take the question as offensive. That they were laughing at some weakness or ineptitude of hers.

Instead, the raven just rolled her eyes and shook her head, a hidden smile ghosted her features much to the wolf’s pleasant surprise. 

“Listen, Enid. I was very strong for my age and brimming with overconfidence. What do you think?”

Enid wiped her bleary eyes from the laughter that only grew, and in turn, shared a small smile with her best friend. who finally managed to crack a repressed smile at Enid’s antics.

 

Notes:

-I both can and cannot believe that it's been almost two full months since I posted an update for this fic! I’ve been working pretty tirelessly lately to get this chapter done as of recently, but work has absolutely been kicking my ass for the last couple of months. Thankfully, it’s slowed for the season, and I’ll be able to focus more time into this!

-Thank you all for being so incredibly patient. I always feel a bit bad about disappearing into thin air, but life happens.
Just know that no matter what, I'll 100% finish this fic. That is something I won’t compromise on, so rest assured that these girls will have their story I’m writing wrapped up one way or another.

-In other news, Happy 1 year anniversary to the show, Wednesday! It released just over a year ago as of this week! Without the fun characters and show as well as all the incredible hard work in its creation by every member of the team, we all wouldn’t be here today!

-For my long time fans, we have all finished and moved past the hunting arc together, and this chapter here is going to be the beginning of the story’s final arc. (Don't worry. It's a looong one.)

-Now..I can’t exactly tell you the name of the arc yet. That’s a bit spoilery. Plus it would truly make no sense if I told you now. However, I’ll reveal it in the next chapter.

-This chapter was supposed to be twice as long, but I (Character growth), decided to shorten it to get the update out to you faster. The next chapter will actually pick back up directly where we left off.

-A small part of the reason it took so long to write was the fact that it felt kind of difficult for me to get into Enid’s headspace after the battle of the bear. Back in the show, she had a pretty dramatic and intense fight with the Hyde, but we don’t get much in the way with how she deals with being relatively new to these high intensity battles and what kind of toll it takes on her.

-I also wanted to kind of give her space to fall and have Morticia be a kind of mother figure that Enid’s always sought after for comfort, especially when there is a war being raged in her own head against her actions. I hope I’ve done this believably.

-By far, this was one of the most fun chapters to write Enid in. I’m sure you’ve all noticed by now, but I’ve defaulted to pretty much telling this story from her view and perspective for.. Many, many reasons. She has grown so much recently, and I felt that because of this she is a bit more free in her thoughts and feelings, now allowing ‘deeper’ emotions in and starting to figure out just what exactly do they mean? She is also bolder and more confident in what she wants and how to get it. It’s so rewarding as a writer, let me tell you. The best is yet to come.

-I’ve been planning for a long, long time now the whole “home movie” aspect. I felt like that was a perfect way to strengthen a ‘family bonding’ scene and really open some extra doors that our main characters need to explore and walk through before making some headway. I’ll be picking up with some new ‘scenes’ of this for the next chapter, so let me know if you have any fun ideas for what Enid could see of Wednesday’s past! I’ve got a few already planned that are going to be really fun to write, but if any stand out and fit my story then I’ll be more than happy to write it in!

-Fun fact: Type in "Wednesday teaches lurch to dance" in on youtube. There is a scene from the 60s show that I took near direct reference from. One of the best things that came out of my "Research era" I swear!

-Also wanted to give a quick shout-out to a previous comment from the last chapter by a user named SpookyAnxiety. The comment about wanting to see Enid take care of Wednesday in a cast was the catalyst for some of the first things I ended up writing for this chapter and you really helped set the initial pace. I also highly doubt it would have been released today, but instead much later if not for the comment, so thanks for such a cute idea! Also, everyone please give me ideas! You never may know if your idea may jump in the story or help it arrive faster!

-Thank you all, both new and recurring readers for your lovely comments and reads. You have all blown me away with my first story, and made me really excited for the future, both in and out of this story. I want everyone to know that I truly thank you for reading this simple little one shot that grew into a full blown novel before I realized it. You guys are awesome, and I’m thankful I get to share this story with you all.

Until next time,

Kalon

Chapter 14: Forget-Me-Not

Notes:

I'm Alive! Told you guys I wouldn't give up on this thing!

“Wormwood, Mugwort, and Histcarp. Drop them in at 4 minute intervals, only adding a small portion of each until the ingredients are gone. Then, stir consistently in a counterclockwise direction at a temperature of 350 degrees until the brew turns russet in color. ”

“That’s..incorrect. I’d empty the pot quickly in the case of an adverse reaction, then you can try again.”

“What?! But that can’t be-”

The child’s even-paced stirring stilled quickly while the shock settled in. Her grip tightened around the wooden stir spoon in her possession. Her eyes wrenched tightly shut, almost as if she was in physical pain. Even her jaw clenched as her teeth ground inside her head. An immense flood of irritation as well as a shout of exasperation bubbled to the surface from deep within as rapidly as a flash of lightning.

Enid’s breath grabbed in her throat, she was completely caught off guard. The whole scene instilled within her a sense of wonder and awe. In spite of all that, she fought not to tear her eyes away. The feeling as if she was sneaking a glance at something she shouldn’t have resonated deep within herself.

Even through the heavily pixelated screen, it was blatant. There was strong disappointment on the child’s face, Wednesday’s face. Everyone saw it, plain as day. An immense amount of frustration erupted from her. It was easily visible and readily given.

She has, of course, seen Wednesday display emotions before.

There was always the subtle way her eyes widened when she was fearful, the quiver of the corner of her lip when she fought a smile, the miniscule relaxing of strained facial muscles when she was content. Even the impossible moment where a single tear streaked down her face not all that long ago.

When someone says that Wednesday is emotionless, Enid immediately writes them off. That sentence couldn’t be more wrong. She’s positive Wednesday feels emotions as strongly as the rest of humanity, possibly more. However, every emotion that passes through her is thoroughly suppressed, all merely hinting at what is really hiding beneath the surface.

She still isn’t sure if she is just getting better at naturally reading her, or if Wednesday has loosened the stranglehold she wrangles over her reactions. Honestly, it could be a bit of both.

Any way you look at it, one thing is for certain.. Enid has never quite seen her like this before.

Her eyes stole over to Wednesday’s face, the one who was older, present, and beside her. Even now, there isn’t much of a reaction to be gleaned from the lack of expression upon her features. In spite of that, Enid could almost feel a wave of…something that Wednesday was hiding underneath the surface as she watched her younger self display such an overabundance of emotion.

Before she could be found out, the wolf turned her gaze back to the television, still silently observing the scene unfolding before her.

It was Pugsley’s choice of tape now. The family had been taking turns picking out home movies that intrigued and fascinated them for the past hour. Each one spurred on a series of laughter and conversation from nearly everyone. The family found a lot of shared joy in remembering their collective history.

Enid was just thrilled to get to witness it all.

It was sweet though, the way the family spent extra time giving her context and were all so open to just sharing their lives with her. She found that it was ridiculously easy to love this family.

Now that it was the boy’s turn, he decided upon an older memory he apparently couldn’t recall. Which landed everyone in what must have been their grandmama’s study.

Wednesday and her brother, Pugsley, had every appearance of being students in a Nevermore potions class.

Supposedly tucked away somewhere in the loft, the entirety of the room looked as if it belonged to a seasoned witch. It was easy to tell that literal years were spent amassing a collection of herbs and remedies that now dried in sporadic locations. An array of organized racks that held an abundance of potions ready for a moment’s notice. She could practically smell the acidic aroma that boiled in the collective pots through the screen.

Truly it was what she imagined when it came to a master alchemist’s chosen dwelling.

The family created their own informal class session, one held within the halls of their own home. Each of them hovering over a large duo of cauldrons, bubbling over with what Enid assumed was some concoction to learn the basics of alchemy.

“She’s gonna blow us all up. Isn’t she.” Pugsley said dryly as his older sister snapped her head in his direction, murder written all over her face.

“Not everyone, just you.” She seethed at her brother through clenched teeth.

“Calm down, Wednesday. It’s not going to blow, but that’s not the right recipe either. Retrace your steps and figure out why that isn’t correct.” Grandmama laughed heartily as she helped drain the failed brew from the pot. That sullen expression clung steadfast to the girl’s face.

“If I had some actual peace and quiet to think, I might be able to manage that.” The girl twisted her mouth, pulling her lip between her teeth. She jerked her head back to note the chaos that ensued around her.

The camera suddenly panned backwards, her comment prompting the change in perspective. The field of vision offered to the spectators became larger, and the trio previously in focus are now revealed to be just a smaller portion of all the individuals in the room.

Little Wednesday wasn’t lying, chaos actually did ensue.

Ophelia’s long blonde hair, dozens of flowers and vines tangled within, identified her. Though her back was turned away from the camera it was easy enough to see that she was encumbered with an armful of potions in her grasp. She continued to work her way around the room and swipe any potion with a label that intrigued her. She made vain promises that she’d only just borrow them and eventually replace what was used.

Gomez could be seen, well, at least part of his iconic pinstripe suit was visible. His legs shot skyward, poking out from behind Pugsley. The man was upside down, standing on his head with incredible balance. As for why, Enid was sure that if he gave a reason for that act himself she’d still be confused.

Fester was watching with intrigue over Pugsley's cauldron. He dipped his sausage-like fingers in the concoction every now and again while nodding or shaking his head as the only form of communication. Enid wondered if anyone else noticed or if they were so used to the man’s peculiar antics. It still felt as if she was the only one who thought that this was odd behavior.

Morticia was between commenting on the alchemy class happenings and warning her husband to not tip his balance over too far or he’d fall in his son’s cauldron. She chided her sister for not putting back the potions when she mentioned the last time she ‘borrowed’ grandmama’s brews, and kept asking Lurch to get a good angle of the inside of the cauldron as he filmed the chaos around him. Essentially, she did her best to reign everything in, but completely failed to realize she was being a rather big distraction herself.

The whole scene just ended up being extremely comical.

Enid pressed her fingers against her mouth to keep from bursting into laughter. Now that she’s getting to know Wednesday's family, quirks and all, she adores how unabashed they can be. Each person in this family is funny and strange in their own unique way, and loved fully and deeply in spite of it, maybe even because of it. Moments like this between them really put it on display.

Snickers of laughter couldn’t help but to escape out of the corner of her mouth. They died down quick enough when Enid noticed the way Wednesday’s grip she had on the sleeve of her shirt got marginally tighter, her entire posture looked slightly more rigid than it was before. Enid’s heart lurched uncomfortably in her chest at the sight.

Before Enid could pinpoint the source of Wednesday’s subtle reaction, Ophelia commented on the scene, unable to stop herself from asking the obvious and rather burning question.

“Gomez, why are you upside down?”

“Zen Yogi, an ancient form of meditation that strives to ensure levels of balance and peace within. I used to practice it daily, and fell out of the habit. Maybe I should incorporate it more into my-”

“Yes, yes…but while your children learn alchemy from your mother doesn’t strike you as odd timing for a practice session in the middle of the floor? Not even a teensy bit?” She began to poke fun at her brother-in-law.

“Knowing your mother, I’m honestly surprised she didn’t just throw you in the pot to get some peace and quiet.”

Gomez scoffs in a light offense. “I figured that I could practice it at that time to help calm my children so they could learn more from their chosen fields of study and intrigue.”

“Isn’t it more distracting though since you just kept falling?” Fester piped up, eager to join Ophelia in ribbing his sibling.

“Says the man ready to dive headfirst into his nephew’s cauldron. I couldn’t have been more distracting than you were, brother.” The man grumbled.

“Ophelia has a point. I constantly have to practice my restraint from throttling the both of you. No wonder my grandchildren couldn’t learn a thing from me, I was too busy scolding my idiotic sons.”

“Don’t lump me in with Wednesday. I was doing just fine.” Pugsley mumbled under his breath, still caught by his grandmother who quickly rolled her eyes.

“Fine is what I’d say if we were making dinner. Your uncle thought you were making soup and was practically ready to inhale your basic health potion…which is supposed to be bitter as hell. I’m not even sure how you managed to do that to this day.”

“At least my health potion wasn’t actually poisonous, and apparently tasted good as well.” The boy snickered.
In between the teasing and the banter, a light and airy sound escaped into the air. Enid’s attention snapped to Morticia, who was now barely able to contain her laughter.

“It only took almost a decade for me to see your point, but Wednesday.. You were completely right, We all were such a distraction!”

Trickles of giggling patered around the room like singular droplets, and not unlike the light drizzle that precedes the rain, Laughter soon erupted from all corners of the room, and hardly a dry eye left from the immensity of the shared hysterics.

As much as Enid wanted to let loose and give into the convulsion of laughter like the rest of the Addams, she couldn’t. Not when her best friend didn’t seem to share in the moment.

She shifts once more to sneakily get a better vantage of Wednesday. The raven’s gaze is locked, staring at the screen as if she is forcing herself to endure. Her muscles are tense and posture is rigid. It is enough to reveal that something hidden is digging under her skin, even though her expression lacks any emotion to help the wolf understand what is going on behind those dark eyes of hers.

Enid bites at her lip, a soft sorrow fills her at how her family is relishing in the collective memory, a funny and sweet time they all shared. However, it's become increasingly evident to the blonde that something is holding Wednesday hostage in her own mind.

But what could it be? She hadn’t been this adverse to the previous four films they watched. In fact, there were enough hidden smirks at her own wit and flashes of pride in her vain antics as a child that the blonde even wondered if she was secretly enjoying them.

She imagined that it was the steadfast and unyielding nature of her pride that rendered her unwilling to admit that she might actually be having fun after the scene she made when the box of memories was first revealed.

Enid wrecked her mind to figure out what was so different about this one in particular, because there was little doubt in her mind that something was bothering her.

She thinks hard about it all…lost in thought until she wills an idea to form in the recesses of her mind.

In a quiet sort of way, Enid turned to Wednesday and spoke in hushed tones to draw her into a conversation.

“Hey, Wends” Dark chocolate eyes moved to find her own. Enid continued with a sly smile adorning her face.

“How long did your grandmother and Pugsley have to poke and prod at you to get you to join a potions class with them?”

Enid must not have been talking as quietly as she assumed. Grandmama chimed in quickly to her own astonishment.

“Poke and prod? Honey, it was Wednesday’s incessant begging that made me dust off those ol’ training cauldrons. Little snot bothered me day and night about being taught to be a proper alchemist. I knew I’d never know peace until I did.”

As Enid’s face widened in genuine surprise, Wednesday might as well have turned into stone on the spot. The blonde shifted around on the sofa, angling herself to now ask grandmama a question that was now burning in her throat.

“Wait, Wednesday actually asked for a potions lesson? Herself? No blackmail?” Bewildered looks began to pool in her direction.

“Are you.. Are you pulling my leg?” Enid practically gasped.

Someone paused the tape, leaves could be heard rustling the trees just beyond the windows. The room went silent. Enid wanted to shirk at the confused glances and stares now collected upon herself, but she’d happily endure the uncomfortable in favor of answers.

“Why is that so surprising, Enid? Wednesday dreamed of becoming a master alchemist since grandmama made that homebrew fireworks show all from leftover firedrake scales when she was little more than a toddler.” Morticia seemed to be the one to voice what everyone else was thinking.

“Heh, proud little thing said she’d even improve upon her craft.” Ophelia snickered as she recalled the memory.

“Said that grandmama was too conservative with her applications and recipes. If things were going to improve in the field of alchemy, she’d be the one to-”

“Can you all just shut up.” Wednesday cuts her father off, finally finding her voice. It was low, laced with warning in her tone aimed at the now concerned faces of her family.

Enid’s fingers lightly pressed against her arm, just enough to draw her attention back to herself. Wednesday’s face snapped back to her own and the blonde made a point to connect their eyes, searching for an answer she felt she was on the cusp of finding.

“If that’s really how you feel, then why do you scoff every time we pass the alchemy studio? You’ve not let up on complaining that it shouldn’t be a required class for next year, and are always plotting on how to get the class dropped or replaced. You always say that attending it would only be a waste of your time.”

Her best friend didn’t respond in the verbal sense, but it wasn’t lost on Enid the way that Wednesday sported a look of defeat as her jaw clenched in anticipation. It was as if a storm was on the horizon that she knew she couldn’t avoid.

Grandmama shot up in her seat, she seemed to take personal offense to that.

“Waste of time, huh? Maybe next time I’ll let your gimpy leg heal without the help of an elixir. It’d be a good laugh to see you figure out how crutches work for once.”

Wednesday took a measured response. Weighing her words. “Listen, I’m not obligated to hold onto every insignificant whim I felt as a child. I can occupy my precious time with better things.”

“Wednesday-” Her mother began, quickly trailing off when she was unsure of what to say. Sadness imbued her voice.

“Whim? I’d as soon call your passion a whim the moment pigs can fly. My child, you’d regale us for hours about the endless dreams you’d be able to accomplish when your successful alchemy studio took off the ground.” Her father attempted to remind her of the joy and passion she once held, all in vain though.

“Yeah, well. It was bound to die at some point anyways.”

“Pray tell, why was that such an inevitability?” Grandmama challenged the girl as she continued to resign to that defeat.

Enid’s heart almost couldn’t take it. Defeat? It shouldn’t even be in Wednesday’s vocabulary, yet there was a stubborn cling to the idea that settled in her tone, and it wouldn’t be shaken.

“Just look at me. Isn’t it obvious?” Wednesday dramatically waves to the child, paused on the screen.

‘Evidently not’, Enid stayed her tongue, but couldn’t help the thought that darted across her forehead as she realized with baited breath that she wasn’t the only one waiting for light to be shed on the situation.

“I failed at it, completely. I never once made a successful potion and never will.”

And there it was. The waiver in her voice as she trudged through her explanation. The uncomfortable way she postured herself throughout this particular video all suddenly clicked.

The way Wednesday wrung her hands or completely shut down indicated the inner struggle she felt when watching herself fail at something. She’s apparently carried the weight of that all these years later.

A softness tugged deep in Enid’s heart. She couldn’t stand to watch the way Wednesday tore into herself over this. Almost as if it hurt the wolf as well. She fought an itch to just grab those hands of hers, pass on the warmth that emanated from her own. Anything to help erase that pained look in her eyes.

“Hells alive, you’re so dramatic.”

As if a bolt of lightning struck at her spine, Enid could only blink away at her shock with grandmama’s cold response, a complete 180 from the direction she herself would have taken.

“Of course you sucked at it, and may I say, it’s about damn time.”

“What?” The raven’s response was terse.

“You also completely stopped trying after that second one failed, Wednesday.”

Enid didn’t miss the way that she had risen to match the steely glare given to her from her grandmother. That depression had drained from her body when she let the sharp words kindle her spirit and light her aflame.

It didn’t take long before she realized that it wasn’t coddling that Wednesday needed at that moment.

“Correct. I reiterate, I wasn’t any good. End of story.”

A dismissive scoff from the aged woman. “End of story? Really? Failing twice is hardly a defining sentence, my girl.”

“Then what would you all have me do?”

“Try again?” Fester’s soft advice stood out against the seriousness of the moment.

“And risk failing a third time?”

“Yes, Wens. H-how else do you think someone gets better?” Enid was surprised to hear the sound of her own voice.

“There isn’t such a thing. You’re either good or you’re not.” Wednesday’s steely gaze stood firm.

“You really believe that. Don’t you?” Her mother was shocked.

“Of course I do. Can’t argue with fact.” The defeat settled in her voice once more as she slumped back against the sofa, arms crossed.

No one knew what to say to that, at least, not immediately. So, the room shifted into an uncomfortable silence for a time.

Grandmama sighed from her corner of the sofa.

“You know Wednesday, I’m not much in the business of inflating your already oversized ego. So I’m only gonna say this once.”

“You’re kind of a marvel when it comes to the Addams family, but I imagine that is also the case with the general population as well. At least, I know for certain that you were and never will be kicked out from school because of your grades.”

Having seen her roommate’s stellar grades she’s left on her desk before, Enid inwardly giggles in agreement.

“It’s undeniable. You’re naturally gifted. And gifted in so many varying things as well.”

Enid felt Wednesday shift a bit from what surely was uncommon praise coming from her grandmother.

“But that’s not the norm, kiddo. You don’t see this because you haven’t really worked for much of anything, but the majority of us spend years honing and striving to improve upon their craft, even if they had a talent for it to begin with.”

“She’s right, you know.” That makes twice now Enid surprised herself by speaking her thoughts aloud.

Wednesday’s probing gaze prompted Enid to continue.

“For as long as I’ve known you, I’ve been jealous of your ability to pick things up super easily. I suppose that’s also a double edge sword if you always end up giving up whatever doesn’t come naturally to you because you haven’t learned how to master it.”

The corner of the wolf’s mouth twitched up at the affirming nod that grandmama gave her.

“Wednesday, you may have constantly mixed up your wormwood with your choke weed, but I have no doubt that with enough time and patience, you’d eventually become a genius at that too.”

“But how? How could you possibly know I had the ability to get any better?” Her inner denial challenged their belief. Much like the girl it was stemming from, it wasn’t going down without a fight.

“Hey, Wednesday.” Ophelia ended her silence to draw her niece’s attention.

“Did you know that for years I killed every plant that I ever owned within the first week of planting it?”

The raven furrowed her brows in disbelief, but her mother affirmed her sister’s tale.

“All true. We used to say that even though she didn’t inherit the family’s black hair, her nickname as a kid was ‘Ophe the Black’ due to her infamous black thumb. Mother would padlock the greenhouse as we were growing up and told me to never give her the passcode.” Morticia laughed at the memory, and at her sister’s sour face.

“Ever heard me talk about how your mother used to be a terrible dancer? Look at her now. When she was little, she had two left feet that sent her first tango partner to the hospital with a broken collarbone. Gomez spent a year having to wear a helmet as he taught her how to dance.” It was Ophelia’s turn to laugh when she managed to turn the tables.

“Gomez’s hands used to be so sweaty. He always lost to me during all those childhood sword fights because it would always slip out of his grasp. You know, he is the reason that great uncle Void wears an eyepatch.” Fester chimed in, more out of the opportunity to poke fun at his younger brother, who eagerly made to snap back.

“And Fester never could-”

“Okay, okay! We get it!” Grandmama shouted over Gomez before it could end in a squabble.

Just as the older woman began to speak again, her youngest son practically exploded as he tumbled quickly through his next words, wanting to get them out before he was cut off again.

“Fester never could sing! Our neighbors called la policía every morning because they thought we were torturing a-”

Grandmama tossed the ceramic potted cactus from the end table beside her at Gomez’s head that ended up bursting into pieces. The dirt exploded backwards and could be seen pelting and scattering against the wall and the floor. The shock did end up rendering the man silent.

“You mind not destroying the plants that I’ve managed to learn how to keep alive?” Ophelia’s dead tone rang out on deaf ears.

“You see, Wednesday. Even these idiots can learn how to master talents all their own as well. They had to work for them, sure. But anything worth learning is going to require a bit of grit and suffering. But, if they can overcome their shortcomings and flaws, I’m positive you can as well.”

“Listen, kid. I’ll even do you a solid. I believe that I still have those training cauldrons stored away in the house somewhere. I’ll dig them up before that required class and we’ll start with the basics again. What do you say?”

“I can’t..” Wednesday sounded unsure and on guard, yet grandmama pressed into her granddaughter all the more.

“Can’t? Can’t what?”

If Enid didn’t know any better, she’d say that Wednesday’s cheeks were red.

“It's..embarrassing.” She forced out of her clenched teeth.

“What is?”

The raven clicked her tongue. She clearly wasn’t thrilled to continue, but she was backed into a corner of her own making at this point. She spoke so softly, you'd have to strain to hear it.

“Admitting that I have flaws.”

Wednesday never ceased to be a marvel to Enid.

“Welcome to the human race, kiddo. We’ve all got them.” Grandmama just good naturedly rolled her eyes at her granddaughter’s stubborn personality.

And for a moment, it seriously appeared as if something said seemed to stick within her. Wednesday thinks upon her grandmother’s words and becomes lost in her thoughts.

“What then was the formula?”

Not expecting those to be her next words, Grandmama founders at the question directed at herself. “Excuse me, what formula?”

Wednesday nods towards the television. The simple motion reminded everyone of the home movie that was currently paused.

Once it clicked as to what Wednesday was asking, Grandmama couldn't help the roaring laughter that surged its way out of her.

“If you’d have an ounce of patience in your body for once, you would have had your answer in the next five minutes.”

Wednesday’s dark eyes seemed to study her grandmother as the words were spoken. Swirling thoughts seemed to manifest from behind them.

Apparently full of surprises, Wednesday does something completely unexpected. She rises in order to unpause the movie.

True to her word, the Grandmama encased in the television set ends up correcting Pugsley over his failed potion only after Wednesday had stormed somewhere far off screen, abandoning the craft unbeknownst to her for at least another 10 years.

With wonder, Enid studied her friend as she settled back down on the sofa, leaning forward to listen closely. That same girl, a decade later, now scrutinized the recipe she missed all that time ago. Hanging on every ingredient, every method, every word vocalized by her teacher. The action she started surely began with the intent of confronting the flaws and mistakes within herself she was set on hiding just moments before.

Not caring that she feels like a broken record at this point, but it will always remain true that Wednesday will never cease to be a marvel to herself.

Curiosity surged within her, and now with a better control of her volume level, Enid leaned close to Wednesday. She angled her voice to only reach who her question was intended for this time.

“Hey,” The wolf whispered low, poking her arm with her index.

Her dark eyes remained glued to the set, but Wednesday hummed low to indicate that she was listening nevertheless.

“Your dad said earlier you wanted to open your own alchemy studio when you were a kid, right? What did you want to make? What exactly did you dream of perfecting?”

Wednesday’s face scrunched a bit from the effort of remembering, and Enid fought the giggle that threatened to break free upon witnessing such a cute reaction.

“Beyond having a selection of fairly general brews and potions that were of a superior quality to the common rabble that were your typical witches outlets, mom-and-pop shops, and freelancers, I had a few ideas in the works.”

Wednesday’s eyes left the screen. They searched around for a bit until her gaze was leveled at her brother, who was now ribbing Fester for drinking his potion all those years ago when he wasn’t looking.

“Pugsley always wanted a bottled liquid bomb, one that ideally makes no noise upon explosion. The purpose was mostly so he could go on hunts with us without scaring everything away. Stealth is a trait he’ll never obtain naturally, so I theorized a few possible means to manufacture that stealth. Though I also suspected that he had other nefarious purposes he could set the brew to as well, and I looked forward to seeing what havoc I indirectly managed to create. ”

Wednesday nodded towards the small sofa, drawing Enid’s focus to the girl’s mother and aunt currently caught in a fit of laughter, each squabbling over who was being more obnoxious at the time.

“I figured that if I created a brew that rapidly healed unfertilized land, those two would each have a dense forest worth of plants under their command. It would be a valuable resource to have an unlimited stock of ingredients to be used in an endless stream of experiments.”

“Smart way to solidify your supply chain.”

The wolf teased her with that signature toothy grin.
The way Wednesday spoke about each idea was very intentionally crafted. Honing on the singular way that the two ideas clearly benefited herself.

However, a sneaking suspicion began to form her gut. So, she put it to the test.

“What else?”

Wednesday blinked as she processed this question directed at herself and formulated an answer.

“I’m sure you’ve realized by now that Fester is able to conduct electricity, though it takes him forever to recharge the little supply he’s actually able to retain. It's a useful ability he gained in a freak accident, and it could be better. I’ve managed to craft a few ideas as to how to both increase his capacity for electricity retention as well as the speed with which he’s able to recharge.”

“Heh, Now that you say that, I can see it. The powers he has fits his ‘electric’ personality.” Wednesday grimaced as Enid’s attempt at a joke fell flat upon her friend’s ears.

“Aww, come on, Wends. That was a good one!” Enid’s giggle didn’t stop as she continued to speak. It was encouraged by that grimace deepening by the moment.

“All right, all right.” The blonde relented. “Jokes aside, I’m impressed you’ve already come up with ideas as to how to overcome those obstacles.” Enid smiled warmly, but Wednesday huffed an explanation.

“The theorizing is actually the easy part for me. Implementing those ideas and actually crafting them,” Wednesday hesitated for a second before continuing. “That is a rather unique skill set that I wholly lack.”

Enid pursed her lips tight at the defeat creeping back into her friend’s tone, so she continued her line of questions.

“That silent liquid bomb thingy actually sounds pretty wicked. I bet that for sure would be the most difficult to make. How in the world could you eliminate the noise from a bomb?”

“Not at all. By far, that was the easiest to come up with a practical application and solution. Acid, most likely. Kinetically energized adhesive material would be fairly easy to replicate and also is more adaptable. In all my early studying, the most difficult to craft would have to be the perfect forget-me-not potion.”

“Forget-me-not?” Enid quirked a brow. “Who’s that one for?”

Wednesday eyed Enid incredulously. With suspicion, she quirked a brow of her own.

“Why do you assume it's for anyone specific at all?”

“Oh. Is it not?” The wolf sported a simple grin. She tried at an innocent sounding tone to her question.

Wednesday didn’t look like she fell for it, those knowing copper eyes locked with her own told her as much. Yet, interestingly enough, Enid got the answer she wanted anyways.

“My great aunt, Iris.”

Wednesday absentmindedly twirled her loose locks with her fingers as she began. The somber tone caught the wolf off guard.

“She’s had severe memory loss for the majority of her life, and even grandmama, as adept as she is at the craft, can’t figure out a brew to unlock her hidden memories.”

Enid knit her brows. “Um, I could be entirely wrong about this, but I thought a forget-me-not potion would have been easy. From what I understand, that’s one of the very few potions with one ingredient - the flower.”

“If only it were that simple.” A ghost of a grin flashed upon her features. It left as quickly as it arrived. “That would be the case if her situation was normal, but her case is far from normal.”

Her curiosity was definitely peeked.

“Why’s that?”

“Well, for one, it was by her own hand that her memories are lost. One would have to reverse engineer the specific method she used in order to lock away her memories in the first place. The tricky part is identifying which of the overwhelming number of methods she could have possibly used. Otherwise, there is great risk that they could be permanently erased from where they remain locked deep within her.” Wednesday bit at her thumb.

“I’m sorry, did you say that she volunteered to take her own memories away?” She realized that her voice became carried away when Pubert spun around to watch them with wide, curious eyes. She leveled her volume down low before she continued. “What in the world could have possessed her to do that?”

“To make a long story short, she is the only one left that knows the location of an underground fortress that has been in our family longer than anyone can recall. Decades of secrets and treasures are amassed inside from the years her side of the family had been pirates.”

“Not even remotely surprised that you have pirates in your family.”

Wednesday merely blinked in response at the side comment. Enid quickly scrambled a “Sorry, go on.”

“Everyone who ever claimed to know the location of the fortress had been hunted down and tortured to the grave for their information, until all who was left was Iris. Knowing this too would be her fate, she locked away her memories and held them permanently hostage. The fact that she is the only one left with this information is the only reason she’s still breathing.”

“Whoa. I’m assuming that you’d like to find that treasure for yourself then, if you want to be the one to unlock her memories.” Wednesday tilts her head in thought and gives a hesitant nod in response to this.

“Partially. Yes, it would be a terrible shame if she were never able to unlock her memories and they were lost to us forever. That fortress belongs to my family, and the secrets and treasures belong to our collective history. I’d, of course, like to be the one to uncover that history.” She paused like she was done talking, yet Enid knew there was more there.

“But that’s not the only reason?”

It intrigued Enid about the way Wednesday had to take that deep breath before she continued. Her hands, folded neatly in her lap, tensed ever so slightly.

“As her memories about the fortress were locked, every other important detail about her life was locked as well. Her friends and family might as well be strangers.”

“She was in love, once. " Wednesday recalled. "My family says it must have been an all-encompassing love. She can only cook one specific meal because she felt that someone once thought it was the best. She’s an amazing artist, but no matter who she tries to draw, they all look eerily similar in the face. She cries herself to sleep every night because she feels like she’s forgotten something important, but can’t remember what.”

“For over half a century, we’ve all watched her live in this endless agony, all because her entire being is trying to recall something that is locked away in her brain. The irony of it all is that she’s the one who threw away the key.”

Wednesday locked onto her hands still folded in her lap. “If it’s at all possible, I’d like to free her from that pain.”

Enid had mirrored Wednesday a bit. She pulled herself close and grasped her palms together and wrung them tight. She had an overwhelming urge to hold the raven’s hands and tell her what a beautiful dream that is. Her fingers twitched, itching to brush her hair back and promise that she’d help see that dream come true.

Instead of acting out these strange and sudden urges of hers, she settled on sporting a soft smile and pulled back that lock of blonde hair behind her ear.

“You know, some might say that’s uncharacteristically kind of you. Wanting to build up a skill for the purpose of benefiting the people who are close to you.”

The raven visually bristled a bit, pulling herself up to straighten her spine. “Kind? Help? You’ve got the wrong idea, Sinclair. Each one of those efforts benefits me, and serves to further my purposes."

“Do I? If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that you want to use that power to make the world a little better for the people you care about.” Enid wasn’t going to give in.

“Then, I’d say you don’t know any better.” Neither was Wednesday. The mischievous grin growing on Enid’s face indicated that this didn’t bother her in the slightest.

“What if I went around telling everybody how sweet of a person you actually are.”

"It’s not as if anyone would ever believe you.”

“Yeah, that’s true.” The wolf snorted a laugh and rolled her eyes. “Well, I know. and there’s nothing you can do to convince me otherwise.”

Wednesday sighed through her nose.

“Hmm. If it’s just you, and only you. Then, I suppose I can live with that.”

If the sun swallowed her up whole, it might come close to the heat she felt ignite and spiral throughout her in this moment.

“Just try not to be insufferable about it.” Wednesday said with knit brows after a moment of watching Enid gape like a fish out of water. The words were enough to douse her out of the spell for a moment.

“H-Hey. I have an idea.” She began breathlessly. “What if you and I set up a time for an alchemy study session every week. I’ll be right there to fail along with you.” Those furrowed brows shot up.

“Between myself and your grandmama helping you learn, you’re gonna be surpassing us in no time flat!”

Wednesday actually considers this. Booming laughter soon draws the girls attention and the family is commenting on the unfolding scene

“Oh, this is much more difficult than it looks.” a younger Ophelia hovers over the cauldron in the television. Since Wednesday had left, the twins decided to take their hand at crafting a potion of their own.

“Hey I don’t think It's supposed to look like tha-”

Morticia was cut off by a deep rumbling followed soon by the rapid accumulation of liquid that resulted in an explosion. The black smoke now flooded the room and everyone’s senses. Hardly anyone managed to get a word in edgewise over the collective coughing fit.

“I told you that was too much fire salts, but do you ever listen to me? Nooo..” Morticia mocks.

“You think that was my fault?!” The older twin scoffs and presses an accusing finger at her younger sister’s shoulder.

The smokescreen finally wanes, and the camera reveals Fester, who remained so completely unfazed one might question if he noticed the explosion at all.

“Hey, Ma! If we’re all putting in orders, can I request that creamy base to that pasta you made the other night? I’ve been wondering if it would go well with fried lizard tongue.”

“For the last time, son! We’re not cooking food you moron, we're brewing potions!”

Everyone howls with laughter at that. Even Wednesday can’t help herself but to smile at her family’s antics.

“Whose idea was this?” Wednesday asks with a trace of laughter suppressed.

“If it managed to create this much chaos, it can only be yours, kiddo.” Her grandmother wiped away tears from the corners of her eyes as she fought through her laughter.

The laughter caught in Enid’s throat when she felt Wednesday lean closer, words toned low enough for only herself to hear.

“Fine. I’ll study with you. Only if you promise that it won’t interfere with your piano lessons. I hear that the person who put you up to that is a slave driver.”

A large and toothy grin spread wide across her face as she nodded in agreement. “You have no idea.”

----------

Enid could hardly believe it.

Never in a million years did she think that she’d get away with being able to witness with her own eyes old family tapes filled with Wednesday when she was so young.

If she ever managed it, she thought the swift death that Wednesday would dish out would be more than a fair trade for getting away with something so wild.

Yet, of all possible things that could have happened, sitting here on the couch with her best friend, cracking her own jokes and laughing along with everyone else, was another one of those far-fetched dreams that sounded stranger than fiction.
Even her body language has changed. She’s far less tense, hints of a smile ghost here and there. She’s initiating conversations and opening up about the past. The ribbing of her family and siblings has always come easy to her, but the way she goes about it seems fonder, less like she’s pushing them away and more like she’s finding ways to tie them back together.

The raven asks questions to her grandmother about the specifics of caldron temperature and the duration of allowing dragon’s tongue to steep in a fortification potion. As she did so, her posture had relaxed enough to allow herself to recline. Her legs now crossed at the ankles as she settled in, feet digging into the ottoman.

It’s barely noticeable, just a sliver, but the color contrast catches her eyes all the same. Enid notices something odd, something whitish poking out of the bottom of her dark sweatpants.

What was that? The cloth settled oddly, and seemed out of place. Her curiosity was practically burning in her chest at this point.

An idea formed in her mind, and a poor one at that. Enid bit at her lip till pain blossomed, hoping the errant thought would just disappear. Seeing as that has never once happened before, she didn’t have high hopes that her curiosity would wane even the slightest bit now.

She props her own leg up on the ottoman herself, prepping for her terribly flawed plan.

Her impulse control really, really needed some work. Otherwise, Wednesday might wisen up at some point and she’d find herself six feet under before long.

Ah well, not much she could do about that at this point. She’s positive that the healthy fear of Wednesday that everyone else seemed to have won’t ever form if it hasn’t by now.

Only when she’s positive that Wednesday and the rest of the family is distracted does she inch her foot closer and closer to Wednesday’s sweatpants until their legs practically brush. She scans the room one more time for good measure.

Like a little monkey’s foot, she uses her toes to grab the dark fabric without raising suspicion. Once she’s got a grip, she begins to slowly pull back the fabric until that white sliver is revealed to be a bandage wrapping molded around her foot and clearly spiraling up the rest of her leg.

Enid couldn’t help it. A rush of fear and adrenaline had surged through her and made stealth a far fetched concept. Her face drew close in order to analyze the wrap at her ankle. Word spilled out of her mouth faster than her brain could process.

“What the hell is this?! Did your leg not actually heal? Why do you have this? Weds- I”

Wednesday immediately snatched her leg back and curled it under her. She now fully sat on top of her legs, hiding away the bandaging from Enid. Though, it was a little too late for that.

“It's nothing. Forget about it.”

Enid was about to give the girl another earful, fear hijacking her brain. To her shock she ate those words the second she realized how red her face had become. It didn’t help the pale girl that it was spreading like wildfire, pooling now in both her ears and her neck.

“Wends?” Her tone shifts from deadly serious back to just plain curiosity almost as fast as Wednesday turned into a tomato.

“Do you want to live to see tomorrow? Stop. Asking.” She threatened as she threw the blanket over her leg to hide the bandaging, as if the act would make Enid forget it’s there.

Yep, she’s definitely going to wake up six feet under one of these days. Still won’t stop that gnawing curiosity.

“I’m sorry, the number you have dialed isn’t responding to any more threats at the moment. Please try again tomorrow.” The wolf flashes a toothy grin.

“The hell does that even mean? I’m serious, Enid.”

“Will you two stop squabbling? I can’t have a moment of peace in this house. Can I?”

Grandmama’s shrill voice drowned out the threats Wednesday began making.

“Wednesday, what’s the problem? You said the bandage..”She trailed off in thought. “A…No, that’s not what you called it. A cast iron? Anyways, you’re the one who wanted to try it. Why are you getting so worked up?”

Wednesday makes a sneer at grandmama in order to get her to shut up, but Enid had already realized what was going on by then.

“A cast?! You made yourself a cast? W-why would you? What?!”

The tomato turns a deep scarlet, and the raven can’t seem to hold eye contact anymore.

“I- uh. You made such a big deal about the stupid thing being a ‘normal human experience’ that I-” She hesitated. Blinked.

“I - requested that grandmama try to replicate one.”

“Yeah, she said that you wanted to draw on her leg or some odd ritual that one does while wearing a.. What was it? A cast?”

The exhaustion seemed to hit, and Wednesday stared at her grandmother. A look that seemed less threatening and a little closer to pleading.

Enid bit her lip, hiding a smile and remained fully pleased with herself. Maybe she has grown a bit.

Under normal circumstances, she’d want nothing more than to geek out. Display every ounce of excitement that flooded her veins. Yet, she can imagine how squirmy Wednesday must feel under her family’s curious gaze. A little mercy can surely go a long way.

“Well, don’t leave me hanging. What’s the verdict now that you’ve tested out our silly, mortal rituals? Is it as stupid as you’ve feared?” The wolf offers her own kind of olive branch.

Wednesday’s distant eyes lock with Enid’s once more. The action leaves the wolf breathless. There is a hidden..something behind those copper orbs. A strange emotion that she can’t quite decipher, yet is mesmerized by all the same.

Wednesday deeply sighs and surprises everyone as she pulls a black sharpie out from her pocket and offers the thing to Enid with an open palm.

“I’ll reserve my judgment after I’ve experienced the entirety of the ritual. It’s only fair.”

Enid was so surprised that she could only watch as Wednesday grabbed her wrist and shoved the marker into her palm. This must be what out of body experiences feel like.

“Wait, does this mean that you’re gonna let Enid draw on your cast? Can I draw something too?” Pugsley inserted, excitement spilled over. Pubert clapped along, eager to add to the building excitement.

“Brilliant idea, son! What a novel idea. What should we draw? Perhaps a depiction of your favorite witch being burned at the stake. Or even the words to summon a lesser demon, just in case you forget a phrase or two.”

“I only have one marker. One at a time.” The raven chides her family. Her gaze levels at Enid once more.

“No one can know about this outside of this room. Not Yoko, Not Divina. I might actually kill you if you breathe a word of this to Bianca.” Wednesday’s eyes were oddly warm as she outlined her threat. Enid held up a hand as if to solemnly swear.

“Not a soul. Promise.”

The corner of Wednesday’s mouth twitches upwards. She rolls up her sweatpants until the entirety of the makeshift ‘cast’ was revealed. She tossed the leg over Enid’s lap and ordered her brothers to unpause the video.

Enid had already begun to outline little wolf paws that dotted her calf as Wednesday pointed an accusing finger at Thing, who was now cowering from his little corner of the room from the sudden attention.

“That means you as well you conniving sneak.”

------------

“So am I gonna have any idea what to expect on Saturday for the ball, or am I going to have to be caught by surprise when the family greeting is putting spiders in my pocket or challenging me to a fight?”

“Spiders? I like it, I might have to adopt that as a greeting. Thanks for the brilliant idea, Enid” Grandmama laughs at an increasingly worried Enid.

Enid looked with concern, like she’s not being proven wrong. She looked at Wednesday, and instead of a direct response, Enid watched with intrigue as gears spun behind those copper eyes of hers.

The thought led her to resume a dig for a tape.

It was Wednesday’s turn to pick a family tape. Plastic rustled loudly in the box as she swiped a hand back and forth. Grabbing at new tapes to peer at the sides, quickly discarding the ones that didn’t satisfy. She was on the hunt for a specific moment, evidently.

The search doesn’t last long. She’s already claimed a confident hold of one and quirked her eyebrows upward in a pleased motion upon reading the label stretched tightly upon the edge. She spins the object with acute deftness in those lithe little fingers of hers and presses the thing away from herself in a silent gesture for Enid to take it off her hands.

“It would be much easier to just show you.”

With a furrowed brow, Enid tilted the object in her hands and read ‘Addams Family Halloween Ball 2012’ written in faded marker upon the discolored tape. Her eyes widened in surprise and found Wednesday’s own.

She almost felt as if she needed to ask permission to watch it even though Wednesday placed the thing into her hands with the intent that it be played. A nod, barely noticeable, prompted her to take action.

Upon setting the tape in motion within its hold in the television, a static noise vibrated into the air and the aged pixels of the TV burst to life. Enid is immediately transported and immersed into a truly grand event.

People, and a sea of them. They cover the entirety of the screen, and seem to just fill the halls to the brim. Who knew Wednesday’s family was so massive?

Laughter and bubbling conversation blast out of the now crackling speakers. Pubert has to run forward to manually click the volume down.

Only having the familiar architecture to serve as a marker, she realized that this must have been the interior of the ballroom. Never having the opportunity to see it during the tour, this is the first time she technically is laying eyes on the room.

‘Ballroom…’

The word felt wrong in her mind. As if the name didn’t quite do the place justice. She swears this room alone is larger than her house.

Regardless, It’s absurdly beautiful. Silk banners the color of fresh blood weave their way around the marble columns. Regal oak-panel relief carvings adorn nearly every wall. Even though heavily pixelated, Enid can tell that they depict the long history and ancestry of the family. In perfect unison, every detail is carefully and artistically placed in order to direct the eye, spiraling their way up towards the crystal chandelier centerpiece. One that sparkled and glittered almost as bright as the moon that hung in the sky.

This regal-gothic style is unique. There is something distinctly..Addams about it all. Enid has found it easy to adore, and with a twitch of a smile gracing her face, she thought ‘much like the family themselves’.

Nevertheless, the grandiose of it all gives the wolf a clear impression that this isn’t a simple Halloween party amongst family, like Wednesday once led her to believe. Instead, she imagines this is more like a gathering of a land of old’s greatest nobles. Images of princesses, barons, dukes, and earls dancing and conversing and celebrating into the depths of the night. All attending this grand celebration to herald an era of peace and prosperity between kingdoms.

The camera panned to the buffet table, so long that it snaked its way out of view.

Speaking of snakes, a massive serpentine beast-like creature (a dragon?!) had been hoisted upon the serving tables that looked quite ready to buckle under the immense weight. The creature served as both a trophy, and apparently, a delectable meal. Even with its enormous size, Enid wasn’t quite sure if even a dragon would be enough to serve every person in the room.

Something interesting then caught Enid’s eye.

At the mouth of the dragon, a group had taken up a small spot. Almost entirely missable with how many people were bustling around on the screen.

As each member of the family made their way up to grab their own portion of the evening’s meal, all had taken the time to converse and shake hands with each member of the group.

Enid quirked her brows in surprise when she realized that they were the hunters that had managed to take the beast down.

The wolf finds herself enchanted. Her blue eyes shone. She sits a little straighter on the sofa. She’s never seen anything like this before, and was positive she’d never see anything like this ever again.

What amazed her wasn’t just the pure astonishment of an elite group of hunters managing to take down a fully grown dragon, but the hunters themselves.

Enid watched as this overflowing pride and immense joy radiated on the hunter’s faces, all being congratulated by every person who passed them by. Each laugh was paired with a story of how they survived, the rush of the fight, each smile joined with the tales of how they relied upon each other in the heat of battle. It was then that Enid’s own heart swelled with joy.

The excitement that buzzed under her own skin tingled with an eager anticipation in knowing that she’d be able to share in this moment herself. That she’d be introducing herself to this giant family by telling them tales of how she herself had many close calls. But, in the end, managing to overcome them all by working together as a team.

Every part of her was now itching to experience it all in the flesh, and truly, she couldn’t wait for Saturday.

“Goodness, Gomez. Is that cousin Daphne? Why does she look so..so tall?”

Enid gets pulled back out of her own mind to listen to Morticia. Gomez simply responds without missing a beat, much to the amusement of the rest of the family.

“Daphne? She lost a whole foot in 15’, remember?”

“Nooo..” She let the word linger in the air to emphasize her confusion. “I seem to recall her having both her feet at last year's dance, my love. She couldn’t have landed that backflip during that lovely Romanian dirge without them.”

“No, that’s not- She didn’t lose an appendage, darling.” Gomez laughs upon realizing the error in their communication. “That giant boulder tossed at her head folded her spine like an accordion. Her vertebrae flattened like this morning’s pancakes, and lost more than 12 inches to her height.”

“And someone survived that?! While still able to do backflips?” Enid gaped in her disbelief.

“Daphne’s built like a rock herself, and honestly has the brains of one too. She should have known that’s what happens when you wake a mountain troll from hibernation. Honestly, I wouldn’t put it past myself to knock someone down a couple of inches if I lose out on a bit of slumber.” The old woman chuckled to herself.

Enid caught a mischievous glint in Fester’s eye as he sat in his seat a little straighter than before.

“Did Wednesday ever accidentally wake you from a nap then? I’ve been stuck theorizing on a reason as to why she’s half everyone’s size.” Fester bravely piped up. The rush of bravery didn’t last long, for he hid his face behind a pillow the moment his niece threw daggers in his direction.

“Speak again and I’ll personally volunteer to do a little aesthetic surgery to cut down on your own height.” Wednesday warned. Fester was still hiding as much of himself as he could behind this tiny little pillow, as if it was the only thing protecting him from his niece’s wrath.

“I like the short hair on you, Ophelia. That’s a cute hairstyle.”

Enid mused aloud. She was one of the few to still be paying attention to the screen.

Ophelia’s distracted gaze now tore back to the screen now replaced with a bewildered look in order to figure out who Enid was talking about.

“Short? I’ve never had short hair a day in my life. Who are you talking about, dear?”

The family’s collective focus pooled back upon the television, scanning around in order to help solve this mystery.

“The blonde. See her in the bottom left corner?” Enid directed. “I had assumed you were the only one in the family who was one.”

Gomez deeply sighed, and ran a hand through his slicked back hair. “Normally, Enid, you’d be correct, but that particular blonde is not our Ophelia. Only one other in the family’s recent history had blonde hair as pale as a ghost like that.”

“Don’t look now, Fester. I think I spot someone you’re not gonna be thrilled to see.” Mortica bites her lip.

Enid watches this mysterious woman spin around. In spite of the lack of clarity the old tape can provide, her profile is enough to see that she clearly is not Ophelia, but someone else entirely.

The Fester in the tape had latched himself to the woman’s side, pride and adoration emanating off him. It became abundantly clear to Enid that the two were a pair. And quite the pair they were.

The woman looked like she jumped straight out of a magazine that highlighted the world’s most notable heiresses. She must have been used to publicizing her appearance, because her body language practically dripped with the idea that she’s come from old-money and accustomed to her high class status. From the delicately powdered nose, the designer gown made of silk and lace flowing gracefully over her Prada, satin wrapped heels, and the poise of someone who sees themselves standing far above the rabble.

Her ice-cold veneer was a stark juxtaposition to the kindhearted, goofy Fester Enid had the pleasure of coming to know.

He looked akin to a lovesick puppy, lapping at her heels that seemed all too eager to be put to work, distancing herself from the man who attended to her every move.

Enid felt an unsettling knot fix itself in her stomach at the sight. She hoped it wouldn’t be discernible on her face. However, one look around the room, and she recognized a similar sadness mirrored on every other face around her.

“I- I’m sorry, Uncle. I forgot that Deborah would have been around during this time.”

Enid’s eyes widened at the ease and sincerity of the apology that left Wednesday’s throat. An awkward silence pressed uncomfortably into the air, an entire family attempting to find the right words to say, but falling short. The immensity of it leaves Enid in awe.

Just who was this woman? Clearly she had to be significant in some rather unfortunate way.

Never taking his eyes from the screen, Fester released an amused huff.

“What do you have to be sorry for, Kiddo? It’s not like we can erase her from my life, from our lives.”

“Not that I’d ever want to anyways.” He said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes for the first time since Enid’s known him.

Wednesday looked bewildered at his response, and she wasn’t the only one.

“Even now, you still have feelings for her? After everything she did to you?” Morticia asked with hesitation that gripped at her vocal cords.

“Fester, she tried to kill you on multiple occasions, and not in the good kind of way.” Ophelia chimed in.

“She just wanted your money. She never cared about you, about any of us.” Pugsley’s disdain for the woman was evident. “I just- don’t want to see you sad again.” When he finished, the sentiment seemed to echo around the room.

Right before he attempted to say something, jaw left agape, Fester paused, deep in thought.

While leaving the room in suspense, he mulled over his words and, very carefully, chose his next.

“I admit, it took me a while to face reality.” He smoothed a hand over his head. “If it wasn’t for the support of you all, I’d probably still be locking myself away in the iron maiden.” He released a dry laugh. “

“I shed so many tears, Aristotle would have most certainly had a new watery trench to live in by now.”

And she knows he meant it to be lighthearted, but Enid felt a wave of heat flash behind her eyes at the image of Fester utterly heartbroken nevertheless.

“I do know now that she never loved me. I was always just a means to an end for her.”

“But, that doesn’t negate the fact that I loved her, and what I felt for her was very much real.”

The wolf was surprised at his level tone, one filled with acceptance and understanding in spite of how broken he must have been at one point. It was something Enid admired deeply, and didn’t know until now it was possible to be so at peace after such heartbreak.

Fester watched himself bow before the woman he loved, hand extended to request a dance. She had already disappeared into the crowd the second his eyes left her.

“Now.. I could choose to be bitter, be angry that our relationship didn’t exactly turn out the way that I wanted it to. But what would be the point of that?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to just avoid that pain altogether, and never have loved her at all?”

Enid is intrigued. Something must have deeply moved Wednesday to ask such a question. Echoes of the memory of that girl on their balcony, the lone wolf, bubbled to the surface.

As much as it seemed at the time she was making fun of her pain, it wasn’t until later that Enid realized that it was just her way of reaching out..of trying to understand something so foreign to herself.

If Enid was honest, she didn’t quite understand either. Just as much as anyone else, she needed to know what gave him the strength to say that with such clarity. So she settled deeper in the chair and joined in with the rapt attention given to the man as he continued.

With a patient and confident smile, he directed at his niece with a simple shake of his head.

“Personally, I don’t believe so, Wednesday.”

“See, relationships are inherently a risk. Love is always a gamble. The other person isn't guaranteed to love me back, and that will never be the case. However, that doesn’t mean I go and avoid something potentially great because of the ever present chance that it could be painful.”

The movement on the TV set drew Enid’s attention for a brief moment. She saw a closeup of Fester and Gomez dancing. Dozens of knives tossed between them as the dance floor cleared and clapped for the two brothers. Bright smiles adorned both faces in spite of the rejection faced moments before.

“I’m of the mindset that love is always worth the risk. And I will forever be a better man because I loved and I lost, rather than to never have opened up this ole’ creaky heart at all.”

Something deep resonated with Enid upon hearing the man talk like this. Claws pin pricked at her chest as her thoughts caught her captive. She wished she had half of the confidence of this man, and wished she could say the same.

Not that she herself had ever been truly in love. The simple crush she had for Ajax probably wouldn’t count by most people’s standards, and she never really counted it herself.

Besides, she hesitated when thinking upon the fling they once had as something that made her a better person. Sure, they are still friends and ended things on good terms, but Enid felt that her reasoning for wanting to be with Ajax was shallow, even selfish. Born out of a desire to fit in with other people her age at least to some degree, to find someone agreeable enough to have as a failsafe, just so she wouldn’t be alone.

A bitter taste coated her mouth. Ajax didn’t deserve to be someone’s failsafe. He deserved to find someone who cared about him as deeply as Fester cared about this woman. And as unfair as she’s been to him, to others.. She hoped that one day she might be worthy of that too.

Part of her wondered if she’d ever know the feeling. What Fester was describing seemed all encompassing, and overwhelming. Maybe even a little bit terrifying.

In spite of that, she was inclined to believe Fester when he said it was all worth it. She may have not had the best examples of love when growing up, but seeing how Gomez and Morticia treat each other, even the abundance of love that this family clearly has for each and every member, she knows without a doubt that the depth of love that she’s always secretly hoped to find is out there..somewhere.

That’s enough for her.

“My brother, no truer words were ever spoken.” Gomez pulled out the handkerchief from his dress coat pocket and began to dab at his watery eyes. Thing patted at his shoulder.

“Besides, we are Addams. Love and affection, pain and suffering. Both are two sides of the same coin. Both are practically what we live for.”

Enid, in the spirit of lightning the mood, turned to face Wednesday upon healing this with a snarky grin.

“Think someone added a double dose of pain and suffering and forgot to add affection to your recipe?” the wolf hoping her clever joke would earn a laugh from her best friend.

The grin faltered when the wolf realized that Wednesday hadn’t heard a thing.

With the most intense look on her face, the raven had been deep in the recesses of her own mind with zero acknowledgement of the outside world.

And it was all Enid could do but just wonder what exactly was going on behind those dark eyes of hers, because she hadn’t a clue.

“But enough about me, we’re missing the best part of the night!”

Pulling back down to a hum that quickly began to build, Enid focused back on the screen to see that the orchestra had controlled the masses. Like the ocean tide, pulling away from the beach, swaths of people began to recede off the dance floor when ordered by the music.

Wednesday and Pugsley, as fast as their little legs can carry them, began to sprint towards the center. They were quickly followed by pairs of other members of their clan. The orchestra swells to a crescendo.

In tandem, the people visible on the floor unsheathe the swords that previously lay dormant upon their hips until the metal of the weapon clangs upon their opposition. Faces lit up like the night sky as each pair crossed their weapons in an iconic ‘x’ shape, fighting stance at the ready.

“Are fencing competitions a norm for every ball or just on Halloween?” Enid kept her eyes glued to the television as she spoke, not wanting to miss a moment.

Gomez jumped at the chance to answer first.

“Enid, this is not just ‘any’ fencing competition. Please! This is one of the most cherished and longest standing traditions of the Addams family’s history. This tradition has been documented to trail back to the days where Bartoli de Andres, an Addams before an Addams, had challenged Reina del Rosario, of noble line, to a duel. They say that it was such a scene, even the wind and the rain stopped to watch the two duel. It was a battle for th-”

“Is it possible for you to answer a simple question in one sentence or less?” Wednesday quickly interjected while she rolled her eyes.

“I’m just trying to give proper history, set the scene if you will.”

“That’s fine and all, but can you at least try and finish the story before the ball itself? Not sure you’re gonna have enough time to finish it all before this weekend.” Pugsley chimed in after his sister’s quip with a knowing smile.

“Forget it. Art and tradition might as well be lost upon my own flesh and blood.” The man sighs as the twin sisters begin to chuckle audibly.

”Wait. Just how long have you guys been doing this?” Enid questioned.

“Hmm.. Since my grandfather was a spring chicken I suppose. He and Bartoli were thick as thieves way back in the day.” Grandmama recalls.

“At least Enid has a sense of curiosity.” The man could be heard pouting.

“Wow, almost 200 years. It's impressive that this tradition has held up for so long.”

“200 years? Please. Kid, my grandfather knew Leonardo da Vinci personally. In fact, he’s the reason the man lived to be almost 70. Tested out his flight machine sketches to see if man could actually fly. Good thing he proved us all wrong. Only a dumbass could think a person actually could fly in one of those death traps.” The older woman laughed out loud to a quiet room.

Wednesday ran an exasperated hand down her face while the rest of the family were stunned into silence.

“Gosh, I have so many questions, and I’m not sure what to ask first.” The wolf hesitantly began.

“Of all the idiotic things to say…Ignore her.” Wednesday breezed past her grandmother’s antics, and encouraged Enid to do the same.

“Well, Enid. To answer your original question, I believe that our family has faithfully seen this tradition out for over half a millennium now.” Ophelia looked to grandmama’s direction as she spoke. “And if you haven’t realized it yet.. Our family is a bit eccentric, so each and every year is documented fairly well.”

“And that’s not the only one.” Morticia interjected.

“You know, sis. From my own recollection, I think that the only tradition that has been around longer than this one is the coming of age ceremony.”

“Not true, the Mamushka has been passed down since well before the 1400s by our Cossack cousins. According to great great uncle Gonzalo, he is about 95% sure it is a faithful rendition of the original dance that felled the thousand man army. Can’t get much older than that!” Gomez smiled as he recalled one of his personal favorite family traditions.

“Really..It's almost as if no one remembers that our family was the origin of Dia de los Muertos..” Enid heard Wednesday whisper under her breath.

“My favorite is the escape room. We’ve been doing that one since the house first held us hostage! How long ago was that now?”

“Oh! That’s when I built my first bomb! I started my own tradition of building a better one each and every year until I’m not just able to blow the foyer sky high, but the entire house too!” Pugsley responded to his uncle.

Enid leans closer to Wednesday, question forming on her tongue.

“So, um..How many of these traditions do you guys have?

“Too many to count, or care.” Wednesday attempts to remove herself from the goofy family antics, but her mother catches this.

“You seem to care plenty about that annual archery competition you’re currently title-holding for. And you know what, you never complain about our hunting trips either.” Morticia might as well have caught her daughter hook, line, and sinker.

“Well that’s because you people need to be cultured on what a master hunter actually looks like. That, and I’ll be damned if Kazimir tries to usurp me again.”

Like a low hum, the family’s many intricate stories and funny quips continue for a while into the fading of the light. Each one fondly reminiscing about the ties that bind them all, and sharing in the comfort and joy that thread of family brings. That the ties of family should bring.

Enid’s mind begins to wander.

A wave of emotions began to wash over her, without her knowledge, without her permission. All familiar, and also unwelcome.

Soon, that goofy grin and silly laugh Enid had carried through most of the night begins to falter.

All of a sudden, she feels a bit of pressure on her shoulder.

She turns and realizes that Wednesday must have asked her question. The look on her face implied that she was waiting for an answer, but had since grown a little concerned at the lack of any response from herself. How long had she spaced out?

“I’m sorry, what was that?”

Wednesday scrutinized her at first, analyzing, assessing.

“Are you alright?”

Can’t let her believe any different. Enid put on her best fake smile.

“Oh yeah! Totally. Why would I not be?”

Her voice strained a bit. Wednesday didn’t look convinced.

But, to her surprise, she settled back into the sofa and didn’t press the matter any further.

She should feel relieved, but that inner turmoil is gnawing away at her insides, so she doesn’t. The low hum begins acting as an irritant the longer that she lets her feelings fester. She wants to shove them away, wants to tear at herself for feeling this way in the middle of such a sweet moment for this family.

Her teeth grind in her head from the force of swallowing down this pain that is bubbling up in her chest. She silently is pleading with herself to stop, but to no avail. Should she excuse herself? What should she do? What can-

“Hey Enid, I’m kind of thirsty. Would you mind pouring me a glass of that orange soda?” The blonde’s inner dialogue is ripped from her head. “The glasses are in the cupboard closest to the fridge.”

The shock of what she just heard is enough to stun her. Soda? Wednesday wants..Orange soda? If she wasn’t so sad, she’d probably burst out in laughter at how absurd the request sounded coming out of Wednesday’s mouth.

“Excuse me? Did she really just say that?” Apparently she wasn’t the only one who was surprised.

“You have legs. I did not raise you to treat your guests this way.” Morticia chastises.

“Brat.” Grandmama chimes

Another moment she normally would have burst out laughing. Wednesday’s family is so freaking offended that Wednesday doesn’t do this herself. Yet, true to her nature, she ignores them all. She stands firm in her request. In spite of this, she does throw them a bone and even adds another shocker through that now strained look upon her features.

“Ugh. Please?”

Enid, actually grateful for the opportunity to step away for a second, immediately suggests that she’d be happy to and that it's no big deal.

Before anyone could stop her, Enid leaped off the sofa and practically ran into the kitchen.

---------------

The floor was cool against her feet. She could feel the chill even through her socks.

It helped, more than she realized. To have that to focus on rather than her erratic breathing.

With ease, Enid reaches upwards to grab a glass from the cupboard she opened. Cradled in her palm, the dimming sunlight peeking through the window filtered in a pretty way through the glass, turning the object an orange color momentarily.

She lets the object roll around in her palm for a while to recapture that instance. Another distraction.

Some time passes, more than she’s counting. Her focus is enveloped in evening her breath. The flare up of unwelcome emotions dimmed as she lost herself in her makeshift trance. It was what she needed.

Only a moment of burying her head in the sand once more and she could show her face before the family again.

‘Even breathing, Enid. Nothing is wrong. Don’t allow yourself to shatter such a sweet moment for them, for Wednesday.’ She mentally soothed herself.

The sunlight shifted away enough to prevent her from catching the color in the glass anymore. She better get that orange soda before someone realizes she’s been gone too long.

Enid nearly jumps when she catches sight of the silent observer from the doorframe of the kitchen as she shifts around. She didn’t expect to see Wednesday leaning against the panel.

A couple of blinks to wane off the bleariness within them, and Enid could recognize the seriousness with which the raven peered at her with, sharp as a blade. A sinking feeling settled in the pit of Enid’s stomach. It was painfully obvious that she had been standing there for a while.

Shit.

“Oh Wends! I-“ she bumbled, stuttering through the surprise. She began to shake her head to snap out of it.

“Sorry. I can’t seem to pull my head out of the clouds. I’ve got your soda, sorry you had to wait on me.”

The peer unbelievably got stronger.

“That disgusting thing isn’t for me. I’m surprised you hadn’t figured that out by now, but I suppose that means this is pretty serious. I had you pour yourself something. I figured you could drink it while I make you sit down and tell me what’s wrong.”

Lightning shot through her veins.

“What-“

“Don’t bother denying it. You’ve grown quiet for a while now, you have this look on your face like you’re miles away, and now I’ve just watched you stare at that glass for longer than a couple of minutes.”

Enid knows she is caught and isn’t going to wiggle her way out of this one. In spite of the nerves fraying at her, a twinge of pride blossoms in her chest leaving it rather warm inside.

Wednesday has never been great at reading other people, but she was spot on with herself. A sure sign of the strength of their friendship.

A steady voice rings out. “I want to know where you go. That’s why I asked you to come in here.”

It only just now dawns upon Enid that Wednesday used that tactic to isolate her so she could ask without the audience of her family. Smart girl.

The curtain is pulled away, and it's her turn to respond, yet Enid hasn’t a clue as to where she can begin. Again, she just gets quiet and levels a shameful gaze at the floor.

Wednesday, observing the beginning of a retreat, takes charge and moves forward, grabbing the sleeve of Enid’s shirt and gently guiding her to the nearby chairs. She takes the glass from Enid’s hands and moves towards the fridge. Upon its opening, she scans around for a moment. Her eyes settle on something at the top shelf. The smaller girl struggles to balance on her toes in order to grab the object nearly out of her reach.

She pulls back with an orange colored can and snaps open the thing till the air around it clicks and sizzles. As she tosses the can she hits the heel of her foot against the fridge in passing to seal it closed once more. She wanders back with the bright orange liquid dancing around alongside the ice clinking against the glass.

Enid hears the cup shift against the wood panels of the table as the raven pushes the object close to herself and settles directly opposite. Enid doesn’t want to look up, but couldn’t help the way her eyes were drawn instantly to the raven as she jostled her loose hair as she sat.

Small dark strands fell in her face and Wednesday brushes the loose ebony hair behind her ears so Enid can get a clear vantage of those copper orbs staring directly into her soul, prompting her to talk.

Dammit, what a dirty trick.

She takes a sip of the sweet beverage that her friend so kindly made for her.

The blonde debated on making something up, of brushing off her feelings once more. She wondered if she could get away with it, now genuinely surprised at the unexpected accuracy with which Wednesday now apparently recognized the inner turmoil that was brewing within her.

But it was something about the way Wednesday was so incredibly sincere, going well out of her way to make her feel comfortable enough to open up. Enid also accounted for the fact that she simply was too tired to make something up Wednesday might actually see past.

She just decided that she’d be honest.

“I’m jealous.”

Wednesday’s brows ever so slightly furrowed. Enid supposed she wasn’t expecting that answer.

“Of what?”

“Your family.”

Enid watches as Wednesday’s already obsidian eyes darken. She knows. She is already well aware of the tumultuous relationship between herself and her own family, and something flashes behind her eyes as she looks down at her laced fingers. Her voice rings out in a low growl.

“Then just tell me to shut down watching those videos if it bothers you so much. I’ll get everyone to scatter to the winds and we’ll do something non-family related-”

Enid hurriedly interjects. “No-no-no, please. That’s exactly what I don’t want.”

Wednesday squints ever so slightly, tilting her head like she can’t quite comprehend.

“I’m confused. Does being around my family bother you or not?”

“Not at all, I-”

Enid stutters. She doesn’t know how to gather her thoughts, but does her best. Wednesday is looking at her so earnestly, so patiently after all. Enid takes another sip of the chilled soda.

“I can’t tell you how much I’ve so enjoyed getting the chance to be around your family. From the moment I arrived, I felt so, so welcome.”

“To talk and interact with such a meaningful part of your life. I feel so incredibly lucky, to see you when you were little, and all of the crazy shenanigans you and the rest of your family got up to. I swear I’d never tire of it, and I want to selfishly soak up as much as I can.”

Enid released her hold on the glass to pick at her budding claws.

“Your family is so wonderful to each other, to outsiders, to everyone. For a pack of wolves, mine is an oddly solitary family.”

“These family traditions and celebrations are such a foreign concept for me. You guys have so many, and the bond between even your most distant cousins is probably stronger than the bond I have with my own parents.”

Enid takes another sip when her tone becomes scratchy from holding back unshed tears. The liquid trembles visibly in the glass.

“My family can’t be bothered fostering anything outside of their image and pride. Obsessed with whether each of us help or hinder that very image, to our pack, to the rest of the world. Concepts like family bonding and genuine love and care don’t have a place, so are forgotten.”

Enid releases the glass, her grip so tight she’s afraid it might shatter.

“It’s all been like a dream, if I’m being honest. I didn’t know what a healthy family dynamic looked like until I met yours. Now that I know, I can’t help but long for something I’ve never known and will never have for myself. That’s all.”

 

The two girls continue to sit quietly at the table for some time. Enid almost desires to look up at Wednesday, to try and decipher what is going through her head. She can’t find it in herself to muster up the courage to look, so she just stares at the melting ice instead.

“Thank you, for being honest with me.”

The undisguised warmth was like a balm on Enid’s soul that washed over the pricks of pain that were eating away at her insides until now. It surprises her, and she gathers the courage to look up. The warmth of her voice matches the strength of her gaze. It doesn’t yield, doesn’t buckle, but conveys to Enid that she’s not running, but here to stay in a moment of pain and just listen.

Enid wipes the blurriness away from her eyes as Wednesday pushes herself up and out of her chair.

“Hey, If you truly still wanted to watch those videos, we better get back in there then. The rest of this break is now going to be absolutely exhausting and I’m already barely keeping my eyes open between the hunt and the amplified cellular regeneration. We probably should retire early to get some rest.”

There was something hidden in her tone that intrigued the wolf. “What? Why?”

“Because I now plan to pack the rest of our time here so immensely full of Addams family traditions for you to take part in that you’ll find yourself sick of being here and quite possibly never wish to return.” She spoke so simply, almost as if she was commenting on the weather.

“Why would you do that?” The whisper barely could be heard aloud, yet Wednesday’s response struck clear in a strong contrast.

“Because if there’s anyone who deserves to be smothered with every detestable ounce of love and adoration from my grossly affectionate family…it’s you, Enid.”

Her heart must have stopped beating in her chest at that moment.

"I plan to make it my personal mission for you to get so much of it that you’ll soon understand why I grow tired of it like I do.” The raven began to make her way to the doorframe.

The wolf made to say something in response, but there was a knot in her throat. If she spoke right away, she knew she’d start sobbing.

Breathe in, breathe out.

“You would do that, for me?” She still couldn’t help the way her voice began to crack.

Wednesday spun around with a quizzical look upon her brow.

“Of course, we are friends aren’t we?”

A silent prayer of thanks echoed in her head for the fact she was sitting. She felt immensely weak from the experience of her heart utterly melting.

“You don’t have to..you know. Go out of your way to do something kind when you’ve already done more than enough for my sake. I don’t ever want to ask too much of you.”

Wednesday pondered this a moment, a hint of satisfaction edged on her face before speaking again.

“I recall having been told by someone before that you don’t need to be asked. That’s just what friends do.”

Something immense washed over every inch of Enid, and if she thought about it too long, it would threaten to end her.

“I-”

Her voice began to quiver and Wednesday lightly tugged at her sleeve, pulling her from drowning in emotion in favor of returning.

"Come on, Enid. Don’t just sit there and mope the rest of the night. That’s my job.”

They begin the walk back once Enid pulls herself together.

“Besides, you’ll have every chance to sulk during your intensive sword fighting training that begins at dawn. From what I notice, your skills could use a great deal of polishing.”

A wet laugh croaks out of Enid’s throat.

“Polishing?! Hah! Since training with Bianca, I’ve become top five in the class. Thank you very much.”

“M’kay, that’s great and all and don’t misinterpret me, I am very proud of your growth. However, a rank five versus the top in the class is still a fairly large gap.” She tossed her abundance of hair over her shoulder.

“What? Since when are we dueling? And wouldn’t that mean I’d also have to face Bianca too since you’re both tied for first?”

“First off, I just said that we were friends, do you want me to take it back?” Enid snickered at Wednesday’s quick response to the light jab.

“Secondly, keep up, E. I just said that you’re going to be drowning in participating in these traditions you seem to revere so highly.” She tilted her head as she responded.

Before they get too close to the living room, Enid tugs on Wednesday’s shoulder to have her spin around.

“Hey, it doesn’t look like I’ve been crying, right? Do I look okay?”

Wednesday blinks a couple of times, then spinning away before she can say “You obviously look just fine.”

Before it registered how many times Wednesday just blinked, the raven tore back into the family room.

Over the static of the television and the gentle laughter of family, Wednesday spoke with clarity and precision. She immediately started making demands of her family.

“Father, give me a status update on everyone’s plans in preparing for the ball tomorrow, beginning at dawn and concluding at dusk.”

Pugsley paused the running tape so there would at least be silence as the Addams family stared awkwardly at the raven who uncharacteristically began commanding the room.

“I- uh. The hunt was at least the last of the preparations as far as I’m aware. Just resting up until the ball was-”

“None? Tell the house to prepare for that ancient family Halloween tradition of lockdown.” Wednesday immediately interrupted his response before he could make it.

“While I’m talking specifically to you, do you have some spare time to practice fencing with Enid before sun-up?

“Yes, what for-”

“Good. Grandmama, Mother, Ophelia. I’m tasking you three to get the forge set up.”

“Uh, sure but darling-”

“Fester, Pugsley. Open the passage to the under dark. If I’m not mistaken, the route that would be most optimal would be in the family crypt. I need that open before the forge is set up.”

“What the hell, Wends-”

“Perfect. Tomorrow, we’re setting out on an expedition in the under dark of the crypts before noon. Any comments, questions, or concerns?”

“I’ve got a few questions, but mostly concerns.”

“Nothing? Then I expect everyone to retire at a respectable time in order to comply with the ridged schedule you all are now subject to.”

“If you’re gonna be like that, can we at least finish watching what you so rudely interrupted? I just pushed cousin Matilda from hogging the piano all night so everyone can at least listen to someone halfway decent play.” Pugsley snarked.

Enid piped up at this

“You- you can play the piano, Pugsley? I had no idea!”

Pugsley’s eyes went wide. He hesitated a bit at the question offered to him.

“Yeah, Lurch taught me a long time ago.”

“Let me know if you ever want to play a duet.” The wolf smiled warmly.

“Hey, I have a piano in one of the spare rooms upstairs if you want to take her up on that, Pugs” Ophelia notes with intrigue.

“Sure, are you decent at it or something?”

It never occurred to Pugsley the can of worms he had inadvertently just opened.

“Decent? Is she merely just decent?” Enid smiles at the rising tension in Wednesday’s voice. She clearly is ready to give her brother an earful, but Enid hurriedly stops her from doing so before revealing more than she intends.

“Yes, yes. I’d say that I’m pretty decent at this point. Want me to prove it?" Enid tested. The collective stares filled with wonder and intrigue from the rest of the Addams family had stirred deep excitement from within herself.

“Sure, what do you have in mind?”

Notes:

If I thought the ‘Into the Inferno’ chapter was challenging to write, oh boy. Did I have another thing coming with this one.

Hey guys! It has officially been *checks notes*.. Like over four months. Haha! Time sure does fly.

Also also, Can you guys believe that we’ve already passed Symphony’s first birthday! WOW! I can’t believe it's been that long since I listened to someone play ‘Paint it Black’ on the piano as I was driving home from work and wondered what it would be like if it was Enid who was playing. This little one-shot has really come a long way, and I’m so proud of it.

I really tried my best to finish the chapter to post on my fic’s birthday (January). However, I wanted to only ensure it was truly ready before posting it even more. So with that being said, happy belated birthday, buddy!

Since this was the start of a brand new arc, and our final one by the way, I really, really needed to make sure my ducks were in a row so I could get all the pieces set up for the ending that I want, and I want to talk about that process with you guys for a moment.

Once I finished ‘After the rain’, beyond my final chapter plan and one other major chapter written (Coming up real soon by the way), I really only had bits and pieces of short scenes that I had to expand upon and connect the dots for.
It took forever to figure out how to get the pieces to connect, as well as set up future scenes. On top of that, get everyone screen time and proper development to believably and realistically say the things I wanted them to say.

Who knew writing was so complicated, haha!

By the end of this chapter, I felt like I was directing this massive orchestra or putting together a 3000 piece puzzle rather than just singularly writing, and now that I’m on the other side, I’ve gotta' say how incredibly fun and challenging this has become.

I’ve never written - anything - that is as large of an endeavor as this before. It amazes me how the process evolves from just simple writing to the immense depth and tactics you have to employ once you cross the threshold of practically writing a novel.

As you can also see, It’s been fairly time consuming and exhausting as well. Definitely worth it though, in my book.

Alright! Let’s talk about the chapter!

The final clock in was 40 pages, and it was supposed to actually be much longer.
I finally decided to split this and the next chapter only about a month ago, so the next is a direct continuation of this one.

So many moving pieces! So much character development! Gosh, I feel like Wednesday has grown so freaking much since I first got my hands on her. Don’t get me wrong, she’s got a ways to go yet, but imagining how chapter one Wednesday would react is so vastly different than how’d she react to what’s happening to her now.
She’s definitely got this idea that failure is a bad thing and is to be avoided at all cost as she was growing up. It opened up some sweet moments between our two girls as well as the rest of the fam.
Enid getting some much needed time to find out what healthy family dynamics are, and how much she's craved them. Gosh, I hate putting her emotions through the wringer, but we've got to if she's gonna grow. Glad Wednesday has become someone she can depend upon.

Alright guys, I promised a name for the new arc in the last chapter now that the hunting arc has finished up. Seeing as we are far enough along for you guys to understand the context, I hereby dub this arc ‘The Swordsmith Arc’. I’ve got such a cool plan for this one, and I can’t wait to show you guys why!
(Also, the name is so affectionately stolen. Bonus points for you if you know the small reference.)

Debby reference! Yes, I made her a thing in this story too! I really feel like her existence gives Fester much more depth as a character, so the old home movies felt like a perfect time to toss her in. Had a lot of fun with that whole scene.
Honestly, I had a lot of fun with all the characters. I felt like I really had to sit and wonder how all of their unique dynamics and personalities would roll. Hope it came off as believable because I did the best I possibly could!

One last thing to leave you guys off on. Since this was technically the first part to what was just a really, really long chapter, you’re getting the next chapter in about a week or so. It’s about 80% done, and all that’s left is to bridge a couple of events.

The chapter after that…I’ve had it fully written since last summer, and I’ve been working towards it for almost a year now. That’s all I’m gonna say about that.

Thanks again as always for coming back to read! Thank you to all my first time readers. You guys are the reason this is able to go on this long, and provide motivation to write this and write this well. Love y'all and see you guys real soon!

Kalon

Chapter 15: And I'll Always Remember You

Notes:

Just incase it gets lost at the bottom, the link to the Duet is gonna be here as well. Enjoy the ride and see you at the end!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td7uUVlB9bQ

“How about ‘The Cure’? ‘Joy Division’?” Enid practically pleaded at this point.

“Now you’re just making up names.” Pugsley complained, running a frustrated hand through his tousled, charcoal colored hair

“And ‘Neutral Milk Hotel’ doesn’t sound made up to you?” The wolf tosses up her hands in disbelief.

“While we’re at it, what the hell even is Freak Folk?” She clicks her tongue.

Enid was nearing the end of her rope. The idea sounded great in theory, playing a duet with Wednesday’s kid brother. After all, from what she could tell, he was a little wizard at the piano. She’s been itching for a while to play a duet with someone who could give her a run for her money.

She adores the duets she and Wednesday get to play, of course. Hardly anything could ever compare. However, she’s never actually played a duet with someone else who also knows how to play piano.

It would be a cool experience she was eager to cross off her list, but was proving to be a bit difficult.

One, in a rather strange turn of events, Ophelia has revealed that never once in her life has she ever played a piano. So, when Enid asked if there was any sheet music around after realizing that she and Pugsley might not find any crossover of interests, the older blonde only offered a sympathetic apology and a simple shrug.

Two, Enid would have normally picked a song and the sheet music to pair somewhere on the internet. However, a rather large wrench was also thrown in that plan seeing that the group was located in the heart of a forest in Germany. The location wasn’t ideal for obtaining decent cell coverage, if any at all.

After fifteen minutes of trying to find one artist, one genre, just one single song that they have some kind of shared commonality on.. She was pretty sure this was never going to happen.

“If you must ask, ‘Freak Folk’ is a musical genre that is pretty crystal clear as to what it means, actually. More descriptive than K-pop, at least. The ‘pop’ portion is really misleading. Nothing explosive at all in the music or the lyrics.” The boy tailed off with disappointment in his tone.

“Are you sure, are you positive you’ve never heard anything by Nine Inch Nails?” Enid waved her hands as she spoke, trying to jog a memory that probably isn’t there. “I feel like you’d love them.”

“Regardless if he knows them, he clearly wouldn’t know what to play.” Gomez sighed as he handed a unique-looking tool to Lurch. The giant looked rather comical. Half of his body was buried in the mouth of the piano as he meticulously tuned each key. Thing was balancing on the wooden panel on the inside, giving a thumbs up or thumbs down based on how well each key was tuned. Oddly enough, the hand was pretty spot on from her fairly attuned ears.

Lurch, the poor guy, was still coughing a bit. The second the lid had been opened, over 40 years of dust had exploded in everyone’s faces. It rendered the entire family into practically hacking up a lung. Ophelia had sheepishly apologized as she informed the room between hacks that she’s never even touched the thing. It supposedly came with the house and she could never figure out how someone managed to get it inside in the first place, so she never really bothered trying to get it out.

“I’ve got an idea, name your top five favorite artists from the hauntology genre.”

The wolf’s eye began to twitch. “Excuse me, but what the fu-”

“What did I say?” Wednesday’s voice oozes with exasperation, ready for her headache to subside. The squabbling pair spun towards the girl.

“Neither of you are going to find common ground with your atrocious music tastes, I promise you. And if anyone should know this, it's me. I’ve had to suffer through them both.” The raven harshly jabs an index in her own sternum as she emphasizes her growing annoyance.

“She’s right…” Enid trails off but quickly corrects herself “-About this not working! But, she is totally wrong about the music tastes. At least on my end.” She playfully quips at Pugsley who just rolls his eyes. He looks exactly like Wednesday when he does that.

“Come on, Enid- Ideas!” She taps her forehead with her fingers, as if the motion was able to draw them fourth.

*Gasp* “Let’s try movies!”

‘Finally, a brain-blast’, she internally mused. Pugsley made a face that indicated he needed clarification.

“Listen, Pugsley. There are plenty of great films with iconic orchestral music. Ever heard of Indiana Jones, Star Wars? You’d be a sucker for Jurassic Park.” She wiggles her eyebrows.

Pugsley only responds with a blank expression, indicating that none of those arrows seemed to hit the mark.

“Really? Reallllly?!” She begins to whine. “How is this even possible?” The wolf slaps her forehead practically knocking herself off balance. Exhaustion renders her severely dramatic.

Taking offense, the boy immediately snaps back. “Well I’ve bet you’ve never heard of Schindler’s List or The Dark Knight.”

Enid pales.

“Oh no.” She whispers. Lightning struck her spine as she bounced upwards in realization, her colorful blonde curls bouncing on her shoulders with the rapid movement.

That same phrase echoed multiple times throughout the small room as each member of the present Addams clan hung around in the (now waning) hopes that they’d eventually hear something, anything played.

“What do you mean, ‘oh no’?” Wednesday strains.

“They’re on my ‘to watch’ list.” Enid even sounds disappointed with herself. Covering her eyes with a palm from the embarrassment.

“So close.” Wednesday pinches the bridge of her nose in exasperation.

“Well, at least I know what I’m going to make you suffer through at the next movie night.”

Enid crosses her arms, she sticks out her tongue at Wednesday, the girl adamantly intending on not reacting to that.

“What do you normally watch anyways, Pugs? What are some of the ones with the best music, in your opinion?” Enid prayed that something on his list would also ring a bell.

“Uhh.. well. My favorites are from the 1920s, Nosferatu and The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are peak cinematic experiences.”

The wolf’s face goes blank, then slowly slips into despair. She had an overwhelming urge to just give up and walk out. Good thing she wasn’t a quitter.

The family collectively snickers, understanding the irony of Pugsley's choices.

Enid visibly collects herself, slowly inhaling evenly. She folds her hands before her face, honestly trying not to lose her cool with her next response.

“Pugsley, you do know that we are trying to find similar music interests, right?”

“Yes, I know that. What’s your point?” The boy’s tone is clearly annoyed, completely missing the point that was trying to be made.

“You don’t see the issue with that when you’re picking movies from the literal ‘Silent Era’?” Enid continues the thought, tilting her head in question.

Guilty surprise and understanding quickly replaced his annoyance.

“M’kay, I see your point.”

“Though-,” the boy interjected, a quick draw finger held upwards.

“‘Silent’ is a bit misleading. These old movies typically did have live orchestras playing during the showing.”

Enid blinked, unfazed. “Do you think I’d know any of them?”

“No. No I don’t.” Pugsley made a sour face, crossing his arms as his own defeat settled in.

“This is hopeless. Ophelia, are you sure there isn’t sheet music lying around somewhere?” Wednesday’s exasperation has reached a boiling point. She asks her aunt for the second time.

“Nope. just the piano.”

Lurch soon pats the piano, a low groan vibrates the small room and the giant of a man emerges from the inside of it. Thing pops out himself and scurries to Gomez’s shoulder. A simple thumbs up from the hand let everyone in on what they already suspected.

The giant settles down on the bench, fingers the size of boulders arch and hover over the keys.

The room listens as he tries not to break the keys he just spent a great deal of time and energy meticulously tuning. Each key was pressed, trailing up the keyboard until the man shook the room with laughter, slow as molasses. Seemed he was rather pleased with his handiwork.

Enid watches his hands as they reset. He was repeating that same initial gesture as they hover over the frame. With intention this time, he pulls out this surprising grace for a man of his stature in order to carve out the tune of a simple melody.

The wolf can tell it must have been years since he played. He's a bit rusty, hesitant, and unsure of what move to make next. His fingers fumble here and there as they etch out the makings of some song. Yet, it’s beautiful all the same. Clearly he’s got the ear and skill for it as well. Enid just supposes it's been years since he has sat down to practice.

The wolf smiled at the man’s patience with himself, correcting what lessening errors he made and growing more confident with every key that was played. Instead of the simple plucking and tapping from the start of his song, he evolved the passage by introducing chords.

Once he began producing the chords with his left hand and forming the main melody with his right, Enid’s heart instantaneously caught in her throat and her heart pulsed in her chest. Even throughout some of the notes he missed here and there, the piece was still recognizable.

She blinked a couple of times as electricity hummed through her fingers, and the music took control. Each hand had taken to the piece and moved on their own accord, listening to the instructions that the music passed on. Each finger danced in the air by her frozen side as she predicted what notes he was going to play next.

What in the?! She knew this song.

Her curious blue eyes follow Pugsley’s sudden movement. The boy takes the seat to the giant’s left. With a gentle smile etched upon his features, he model’s the man’s hand position. He pairs and accompanies him with the harmony as Lurch crafts the rest of the melody.

Upon completion of the song, Pugsley folds his hands back into his lap. A satisfied look settled upon him.

“I really need to sit down and re-teach you how to play this, Lurch. It sounds so ominous when you master it.”

Enid’s voice rings out, pieces finally snapping into place.

“Um, excuse me. Is that ‘Vogel Im Käfig’ you two are playing?”

The family around, scattered throughout the room, lifted their faces, one by one. A quiet hopefulness that their once eager wait would not be left in vain. The feeling solidified when Pugsley arched back to stare at the colorful blonde while recognition dripped slowly over his features.

“You know what that is, huh?” He playfully arched a brow. “Didn’t expect you to have any quality taste in shows, though I suppose even a broken clock is also right twice a day.”

“I see now that being sassy runs in the family.” She teased back.

Enid’s attention routed to Lurch as the giant made to rise himself off the bench.

“Hey, Lurch. Do you want to play with us?” The wolf warmly offered to the man as he waved his hands in a gesture that indicated a denial to her request, though a satisfaction persisted within himself as he offered the bench to her. Enid bows her head in thanks and quickly points at the man before he could join the rest of the audience in their anticipated wait.

“Okay, but you owe me a duet yourself, mister.” She smirked as the giant’s hum rattled the floorboards in agreement.

Settling down on the bench, Pugsley waited for her lead. She tossed her hair over her shoulder and brushed at her tie-dye sweatpants, dust clung to everyone after the piano was cleaned and tuned. A deep sigh escaped her nostrils as she recalled this song from the depths of her memory.

She warily looks at Pugsley, a single index pointed upwards from her raised hand.

“Alright, I know how to play just one, and only one song from this show. I hope you know this as well. Otherwise, we may be out of options.”

“No, we will most definitely be out of options.” He giggled, easing any lingering anticipation.

And with that, Enid arches her hands, eagerness already causing them to twitch. She begins to breathe in, breathe out. She settles in, ready to play.

-----------------

Pressing gently on the keys. Both hands are leveled close to her chest. The melody begins slowly and in such a simple manner. It was reminiscent of a child learning how to play. That wasn’t to say the notes weren’t masterfully played, the weight and distribution of the keys leaving a clear and precise flow, but it's deceiving.

The memory of when Wednesday first heard Enid play flickers in her mind. She remembers believing her friend was a novice for this very reason. She could almost laugh. How wrong that idea proved to be in a matter of mere moments.

Wednesday’s dark eyes are drawn instantly to her friend when she sees a smirk trembling upon Enid’s lips, greatly restrained. In her peripherals, the figures of her family around the piano lean closer, almost as if Enid has a gravitational field all her own. A wave of pride and awe bubbled up in her chest.

‘That sly pup’ echoes in Wednesday’s brain as she is now fighting a growing smirk herself. The little actress knows exactly what she's doing.

Pugsley recognizes the song almost instantly. He hovers his hand, deep in thought and concentration, as he works out how to play supporting notes that will pair with Enid’s rising melody.

Wednesday has never heard this one before, so she’s in for as much of a surprise as everyone else. The simple tune repeats itself almost instantly. It dances in this tiny loop. Though small and relatively simple, the tone is set. It amazes Wednesday that such a haunting and rich melody can be portrayed by such a simple series of notes. The hook is powerful.

Like a siren calling out to a sailor at sea, one can’t help but be caught in this snare instantly, drawing one in, craving the resolution to this dissonant tone.

After a couple more loops, Enid’s hand floats lower on the board, introducing a new addition to the song. It’s evident that this is a part of the song that is originally spoken. The cadence falls to the forefront. Repeating notes flare out that mimic the human timbre. Yet, in a very Enid fashion, they have a power unique to them that only the wolf can bring out. Adding quick flares and extra notes that liven the experience as the song is building, growing in power.

Like a taut spider web, the wolf frays her hands, expanding their reach. Tugging on the lower keys and adding in these rich chords. Impossibly so, the haunting feeling deepens. An ominous cloud builds in strength and urgency, and Enid is the one commanding the storm.

Wednesday is no wolf, but even she can notice the shallow breathing coming from all sides of the room, everyone completely lost in Enid’s spell.

A wave of light embarrassment washes over her when she realizes how similar she must have looked to her family’s doe eyes and slack jaws when first hearing Enid play.

With a light shake of her head, she quickly perishes the thought. She does hate any form of distraction while listening to Enid play the piano, after all.

The raw emotion that was being wrenched from each key was astounding, the keyboard was practically bleeding, immense sorrow dripping from the piano and pooling at their feet, lapping at their ankles. Without words, the piano painted a picture of a tragedy that shook one to the core. A thin line of humanity sung an undertone of steady hope amidst the growing fear. The raven was irrevocably intrigued.

Each dark chord echoed in the halls. One would believe that they have the ability to crack the very walls the sound bounces off of. That growing power in the song was tangible enough to squeeze out every ounce of breath you held in your lungs. And just as you think you know where the song is headed, Enid unexpectedly twists her fingers and turns everything upon its head.

Out of, quite literally, nowhere, the most melodic and enchanting cry of hope rings out from the keys. It cuts through the oppressing fear and darkness, and sends a well aimed arrow into every heart in the room as collective jaws gaped at the sudden shift in tone.

If a piano could cry, Enid had managed to render it weeping.

Like the moment dawn breaks upon the coldest winter’s night, light pours so clearly into the melody. Turning the series of haunting notes into an anthem of hope once believed to be lost. A breaking of a cycle that seemed to place you ascending into the open air after being imprisoned in a world void of freedom. The melody was astoundingly beautiful. The underpinnings of the weight of loss and tragedy were not lost upon this flickering ray of hope, and it gave off this unique complexity that held so much more meaning than if not introduced with such a lost and overwhelmed beginning.

Goosebumps crawled all over her arms, the hair at the nape of her neck stood on end. The shock of the immense beauty of the song beaded an extra layer of water at her eyes. She leveled her gaze upon her knuckles gripping the hem of her sweater, stark white from their contraction.

The pace picked up and the heart of the song appeared. With the grace of a master tactician, Enid pulled out the stops. The wolf began to roll her hands across the keyboard with such ferocity and accuracy. The hallmark of a genius at work. In spite of jumping around the board like a wild creature, the piano sang like it descended from the heavens.

Out of the corner of her watery eyes, Wednesday could see that sneaky smile of hers change into something new, and the raven felt with every fiber of her being that she needed to watch it take shape.

They say eyes are the windows into one’s soul, but that’s not exactly the case with the wolf. Wednesday has learned by now that she pours the weight of her soul into every miniscule action she can make. That smile of joyful anticipation lost that humor and became something so brilliant, so pure.

Enid’s hands soften upon the piano, thin lines form under her eyes as she scrunches them in deep concentration. It is evident that she is lost in the world she is building. Wednesday wants to say that she looks distant, faraway. Yet, that’s not the case.

Wednesday blinked a couple of times to clear the watery gaze so she could fully take in what was happening before her very eyes, and because she was now paying attention, she realized something new.

Enid was present. So incredibly present. Wednesday could see it when she attempted to hide that smile practically plastered all over face. She would steal glances when she thought no one was watching, learning how to adjust on the fly so that bewildered look struck on her family’s faces would remain.

She made it look so natural, so easy.

Wednesday was wrong, the power of the song wasn’t some abstract beauty that was collected from thin air and harnessed by Enid. All of it, every ounce of power this ballad had originated from within Enid herself.

Her whole heart and soul was really just overflowing and spilling out into the keys, creating something that really was just a reflection of what was going on within her core. It was written all over that brilliant smile the girl couldn’t help but display when she was etching the outline of her soul onto the keys for the world around her to bear witness to.

If her music was an extension of herself, now it suddenly made sense to Wednesday as to why she often took people’s breath away when they listened to her play.

The familiar softening of the weight of her fingers upon the keys had signaled to Wednesday that the song was coming to a close. She always finds herself at the end of Enid’s songs filled with this tinge of sadness and longing.

It was much like parting with a long lost friend. She really could listen to her play forever.

Before that feeling of sorrow could really settle, it dispelled quickly into a wave of repressed humor that took nearly her whole being to not shatter into laughter.

One glance around had introduced Wednesday to a sight she couldn’t recall if she had ever seen before, especially not on this scale.

Every member of her family was in complete shock, struck by the awe of listening to Enid produce what can only be considered pure sorcery upon the piano.

Jaws were left hanging agape, Uncle Fester had let his glass fall and shatter on the floor at some point. Large shards of glass littered the floorboards. The experience left them all overwhelmed and unable to do anything but display their absolute surprise. They had no idea they were in the presence of someone with such immense talent, and their shock had been amplified after hearing the simplicity with which the wolf played at the start.

Wednesday’s gaze darted to her father’s outline when restrained sniffles escaped his throat. He then proceeded to pull out a handkerchief from his breast pocket and dab at his watery eyes between the light sobs.

Morticia and Ophelia had the same expression, fingers pressed against their lips as tears pooled in their eyes. Fester ungracefully excused himself from the room to go blow his nose. Glass cracked from under his shoes. Lurch smiled wide with slow claps to follow the joy and Thing gleefully tapped his fingers upon Lurch’s shoulder. Pugsley apparently had stopped playing a while ago, his stunned fingers still hovering over the keys. Even Pubert was silent, and what a feat that was nowadays.

And like the silly, humble girl that she was, a soft smile graced her features as she turned to address the shellshocked family with a simple shrug and a light giggle.

“Haha! See, I told you we’d find one we both knew and could play together! You did great!”

Pugsley breathed in through his nose, heart pounding in his chest as his eyes widened as the compliment was offered to him, even though he abandoned the keys less than halfway through the song.

“Great?” He trailed off, still resurfacing from the depths of his shock. “Enid, what was that?”

The sentiment wasn’t his alone. As the family waded out of their afflicted states, each drew close to the piano, with eager tones and stars glinting in their eyes.

“I’ve never in my life heard someone play that instrument more gracefully, my dear.” Ophelia breathed airily.

“Is that what you’re learning in school?” Gomez asks, wondering why the music department wasn’t this effective while he roamed the halls of Nevermore himself.

“Oh, this? It’s honestly nothing much.” She’s shy and shakes her head, a light blush darkens her cheeks.

“I learned this in whatever free time I had growing up. Never took any formal lessons or anything.” She shrugged.

Enid never really had an audience growing up. Her aunt and uncle were usually too engaged in their own lives to come listen to her play. Wednesday might as well have been the first to hear what she can do.

“Well I’ll be- I must plead and insist that I be next in what is surely a long line of people who want to play a duet with you, Enid.” Morticia chimes. “That was nothing short of magical, and you should be immensely proud of yourself.”

Enid felt that heat rush in behind her eyes again. This extra attention and adoration, her heart feels like it's going to burst. She was honestly just hoping she’d get a simple ‘wow’ or ‘that’s nice’, but this is far greater than she’d imagined.

Not that she ever thought Wednesday lied or would ever bother to prop her up if it wasn’t in the realm of possibility, but she supposed that the girl really meant it when she said that she’s the greatest piano player she’s ever personally known.

Her eyes caught the girl’s caramel coated irises, and that smug expression remained strong, even well after the song had ended. She could just hear that snarky tone echo in her own skull, cheekily mentioning that ‘she told her so’. How could that not make her smile as bright as the moon that hung in the sky.

“Hey, what if Enid played the piano in our family’s orchestra on Saturday?”

Surprise and glee filled her as she turned to Morticia to respond. Before she could fully spin away, she almost swore that she could see Wednesday marginally tense up.

“I know it’s last minute, but you very much appear to be the type able to pick things up easily. I know for certain that the rest of our family would adore listening to you play, that was absolutely otherworldly.”

Enid pressed an open palm on her chest as she registered what exactly Morticia was offering to her. “Me?” She pressed those palms deeper against her sternum from disbelief.

“Wait, that orchestra in the video wasn’t hired for the event? Just all Addams family members?” Enid gushed “Gosh, you guys are so freaking talented yourselves.”

It was as if Morticia’s suggestion were the embers that ignited a fire. The present members of the family clung to the idea with fervor, thrilled at the prospect of hearing this amazingly talented girl grace the family with her skill once more.

“Brilliant idea! You’re gonna love it, Enid. It’s quite the experience. I can see you getting along with.. Well, everyone! Uncle Tuchi and Cousin Uma are the brain behind the-”

“Only the most talented among us get to play.” Pugsley cut his dad off before he could spiral down the entire history of the orchestra and name every member, past and present.

“It’s one of the most exclusive and fun events. You’re gonna have a blast, sweetheart.” Ophelia chimed in warmly.

Enid, getting swept up in the moment, felt the excitement and anticipation seep into her being. She leaned on the edge of her bench seat, pressing her being into the conversation at hand.

“Wow. I’m- I’m so honored! What all would I have to do?” She curled a stray hair around her ear.

“You are? Brilliant. So, just imagine-”

“She can’t do it.”

What was spoken confidently from the raven seemed to wane a bit at the end, especially since she couldn’t retain eye contact with anything other than the floor after the words escaped her mouth. The rest of the girl’s clan pooled their focus upon herself.

Each family member seemed quite ready to interject with a rebuttal of their own, all proving that Enid can choose to do whatever she pleases. However, everyone already just knew that isn’t the raven’s full story. So instead, they each wait patiently for Wednesday to wrangle her focus back and away from the floor and finish the thought.

Enid didn’t know what to make of this, but it took her a moment of re-composure. She closed her eyes, knitted her brows. She arches back upwards. Squaring her shoulders and leveling her steely gaze, a blank expression crafted upon her stone-like features.

“Not if she’s already participating in the duel.”

“Oh, do those two things interfere?” Enid piped up from behind the crowd, a pouty little frown appeared on her face. A soft sigh escaped her lips.

“I suppose I can’t play in the orchestra then since I promised to duel with Wednesday. Though I’m greatly honored by the offer.” Enid smiled cheerily and shrugged simply as she rocked on the piano bench. As if it was all a goofy miscalculation that couldn’t be helped.

And just like that, the tone in the room drastically shifted, and hit her harder than the bear she just fought. A chill wandered its way down her spine and her focus danced around, spending a moment of time upon each person here, and to say she was unnerved would be a huge understatement, seeing the exact same expression upon everyone’s face.

As much as the confusion rattled around in her skull, she had no clue what was going on. Were they confused? They didn’t entirely look it. Surprised? No. Cold? What?

The rest of the Addams family had a more goofy persona about them all, Wednesday really was her own kind of black sheep in her family. So when even glances, steely gazes, and calm stares were passed around the room, a shared affliction fell upon them all, Enid couldn’t help but think.

Weirdly enough, It was like everyone just suddenly turned into Wednesday herself. Now, as much as she personally adored the girl, she’s not sure she’s seen anything more terrifying in her life, and it was freaking her the hell out.

Whatever it was, Enid was helpless but just to watch with her stormy blue and ever observant eyes. The sheer depth of mutual understanding had passed over this family like a fog settling over a mountain forest in the unlit hours of the morning.

Morticia was the first to break this uneasy silence.

“Did you?”

“Yes.”

Wednesday’s response was curt, simple, much like the question that preceded it.

Enid’s nose wrinkled. Something really, really odd was going on here.

“Is that why you asked for the forge?”

“Yes. Why else would I ask for the forge?”

“I don’t know, I figured you’d want to repair the damage to the iron workings on your crossbow you practically shattered from the hunt.” Grandmama’s snarky tease was in high contrast to the quiet tones the rest of the family held.

“Adequate guess but no.” Wednesday blinked slowly. It relieved Enid just a bit to see that she was disguising annoyance under her current veneer from her grandmother’s playful jab.

“I’m supposing that’s why you also asked for the crypt.”

God, even goofy Uncle Fester is managing to keep a straight face for once! What the actual hell?

“The best materials are under there? Why else?”

“You haven’t communicated with the undead in a while.” Pugsley shrugged.

Wednesday’s lips purse ever so slightly. “That’s actually a reasonable guess, but no.”

Morticia took the helm of the conversation once again. She takes a deep breath. Folding her hands neatly, daintily in her lap, her eyes are deadlocked with the younger version of herself directly across. She is speaking with minced words, yet the understanding between everyone but herself never seems to lack.

“I see. Does everyone here fully-?”

“No.”

“Are you?“

“No.”

“Blueberries?” Fester whispers.

“What?” Wednesday whispers back. Her steely gaze suddenly broke into wild surprise.

Enid couldn’t help but the airy giggle that escaped her throat, a lot of odd tension she carried in her shoulders released along with the laugh. Upon comprehending his words and watching the cold shake from the room, from her friend’s face for a second.

“I just wanted to whisper too, and I’m hungry.” The Uncle confessed.

“Hehe, I don’t know about blueberries, but I could go for more soup myself.” Enid giggles, more than ready for this strange spell to break.

The raven rolled her eyes as she looked upon Enid. Her amber eyes didn’t leave her own, nor did they harden again.

“What do you want from us?” Gomez finalized as he twirled his mustache between his thumb and index.

Wednesday blinked. “Your best work.”

“That goes without saying.” The smile that he and his daughter shared warmed Enid’s calming heart. Whatever the hell that was, at least it seemed to be over. Her stomach grumbled, and Enid realized too late and with full embarrassment, that everyone else could hear it too.

“Haha! Guess that’s our cue to go raid the fridge, Enid!” Fester leaped up, as if he intended to race the wolf for food that was plentiful enough for everyone to have more of whatever they pleased.

“That better be everyone’s last stop before we all retire. I’m serious about that schedule tomorrow, Uncle.” His niece practically scolded him, Enid was sure that was probably their norm, though.

“Are you kidding me?! I wait patiently, all night for my turn and you trip me at the finish line?! Why I outta-”

“Your turn?” The confused stares are shared as everyone attempts to decode Fester’s sudden tantrum.

“Yes! Each one of you got a turn at choosing the movie, and just when it’s my go, you want to leave. No, I’m putting my foot down. One more.” The man is adamant, and clearly not backing down.

Wednesday’s patience thinned quick, just as she clearly is about to tell Fester to suck it up, Enid presses a warm hand against her ice-cold shoulder.

“Hey, I’m with Fester, one more wouldn’t hurt.” She gently offered. There was something really funny about Wednesday’s conflicted expression.

“You’re gonna need your sleep too, Enid. Can’t exactly do that when everyone’s watching old films where you’re supposed to sleep. I know for a fact you won’t even bother with sleep if you feel like you’re missing out on something.” Wednesday didn’t lose that annoyance in her tone, though.

“It’s fine, Wens. I’m not quite that tired yet.” Enid chimed brightly.

“Speak for yourself.” Wednesday’s voice was low. Enid was probably the only one who heard that. She knew that the girl must have been beyond exhausted. The bone healing potion plus the energy they expended on the hunt would send any normal person into practically a coma.

She probably shouldn’t have used that to her advantage, but what the hell. She’ll just chalk it up to Wednesday’s bad influence.

“Hey, if you’re not up to watching more, there is no shame in needing to call it quits early.” Her voice went overly saccharine. Wednesday is already starting to pick up on the fact that it’s Enid’s own kind of version of mal-intended tone.

“It’s got to be really tough keeping up with everyone when it's always past your bed-time. I’m so proud of how great you’ve been doing though.” Enid beams with bright satisfaction as the faces of Wednesday’s family plunge straight into terror. Maybe a hint of admiration thrown in.

It was a bit touch and go for a second, Enid wasn’t going to lie. She wasn’t sure she’d continue to live for much longer after seeing Wednesday’s eye twitch violently in response, but she’s still breathing. She’s taking that as a win.

“Fine.” She grit out through clenched teeth. “One more. If one of you defies that, I’m out for blood.” She outlined the rules, laced with warning.

“What did you have in mind, Uncle?” She feigned anger, but Enid could make out the exasperation.

“Oh nothing much, just a snippet of the greatest vacation we’ve ever taken.”

To everyone’s surprise, the man had already picked out a film, but had been hiding the thing in his giant pocket the whole time. He held the plastic object to the sky as one would display a trophy. The word ‘Alcatraz” was penned on the side in barely-legible ink.

A ripple of joy shot throughout the room. It seems that everyone was in agreement, and Enid looked forward to seeing what exactly this little tape had in store.

 

--------------------

 

Enid smiled brightly in the digital light. The late evening was calm, serene, and so incredibly peaceful. She’d hardly believe that to be the case after spending the latest hour of their dimming evening watching the Addams family run around a famous federal penitentiary. Yet, that is honestly how she feels at this moment, wildly enough.

The passion for the dark and eerie rocky island prison that was a shared thread between everyone was incredibly endearing. Pugsley zipped around, spitting out fact upon fact of the famous prisoners, their crimes, their status, and even which cell they famously occupied as fast as his poor lungs could manage to keep up.

Wednesday and her father studied the structure, the craftsmanship of the practically rotting building as if they were gazing at the sheer beauty of a Roman Cathedral, discussing their own thoughts about it all along the way.

It remained to be thoroughly entertaining as much as it was educational for Enid as well. She had no idea that the island stood for basically the Spanish word for Pelicans. Such a cute little name for a devilish little island.

It’s amazing how much of a perspective you can gather from the eyes of a tourist. The island has practically been in her backyard for as long as she can remember, yet she really knew next to nothing about it.

Enid brings up a few questions about the place as the film ran its course, and now she found herself in a full blown discussion about the history of Al Capone and ‘Machine Gun’ Kelly, the real life gangster who Enid discovered existed, and definitely not the rapper who most likely was inspired by the criminal enough to pay homage to his name.

The group began to wrap up the night, cleaning their areas as light conversation from the film could be heard as it began to conclude as well.

“Mother, do you think they’ll have bomb pops here?”

“Bomb pops? The junk food industry is finally branching into some quality territory. Here’s some cash. Can you tell your father to purchase one for myself as well, Pugs?” Morticia ruffled her younger child’s head before he bounded off after his father, who ran laps around the pier to collect as much junk food as he could manage.

Little Wednesday folds her arms and offers a disapproving look up to her apologetic looking mother.

"I apologize, Wednesday. Did you want one? I’ll go catch up to your father-"

“You do know that’s not made with actual bombs.. right?”

“Seriously? Then what’s the point? Someone’s going to be rather upset at the false advertising.” Morticia quips, actually kinda pissed to find out the popsicle wasn’t what she believed it to be.

“Not that it’s going to be any good, but there’s a coffee shop. I’ll just have some black coffee.” The tiny raven began to walk away from her stunned mother and her Uncle, who was currently operating the camera.

“No one asked if I wanted a bomb pop.” Fester whined as he watched the film.

Enid snickers at the man’s comment as she is rifling through the tapes on the floor. Herself and Wednesday are focused on organizing the stray film and ensuring they make their way back into the box in an organized manner.

“How insulting! Just because I am unfortunately classified as a child, does not mean I want a cookie. Not all of us are slaves to that disgusting vitriol you moronic imbecile. You can keep the damn thing.” Wednesday snarled from over her shoulder as her mother spun them both away from the coffee shop window and towards the camera before the child had a chance to chunk the treat back through the window counter.

“Wednesday, they hand those out to everyone who purchases a coffee here, not just kids.” Morticia sighs as she settles back on the bench. Her daughter sliding off her shoulders while balancing the hot coffee in hand. Carefully balanced her coffee so as to not spill it.

With a look of absolute disgust, she rolls around the packaged cookie in her hands in analysis. “What do you expect me to do with this? I don’t want my teeth rotting out of my head till I’m at least 30.”

“Seriously, you’ve hated sweets even at such a young age?” Enid practically snorts, teasing the dark haired girl.

“My refined taste buds can only tolerate superior flavors.” Wednesday responds without having to look up from her task. The blonde just shakes her head.

“Why am I not surprised?”

“Maybe they were suggesting that your personality could use some extra flavor, and that’s why they didn’t take it back.” Fester’s roaring laughter shook the camera he was holding.

A glint of fury flashes in the tiny girl’s eye at the cameraman. Her arm snaps back to wind-up her pitch, clearly aiming to toss the packaged treat directly at her uncle’s head.

A sudden and piercing wail had cut through the television set, that had caused the cookie to slide out of her grasp and into her lap from the shock.

Both audiences, past and present, were startled by the sudden cry. Wednesday and Enid abandoned the box of tapes they were rifling through to join the rest of the family, now glued to the tv, to discern where the noise originated from.

“You’re drawing a crowd. Please stop crying, and get up off the dirty ground. I’ll buy you two ice cream cones next time, just not tonight, mummy is tired.”

“B-but you..you pro-omised me. *hic*” the voice of a small child sobbed and stuttered just off screen, becoming more broken and distressed as she fought through her sentence. The Wednesday and Morticia from the past were rendered silent, watching the display with quiet concern from their places on the bench.

“Not tonight, Enid. Now get up.”

The cassette tape she was holding slid from her hands and clattered back into the box. The wolf could barely hear the next words that came over the blood roaring and heart pounding in her ears.

“Declan, get that out of your mouth, that’s not yours! Boys, come help mom with the food. We’re leaving as soon as your sister decides to stop making a scene.” The older woman voiced off screen, her footsteps decreasing in volume implied that she wandered away from the girl and towards her other offspring.

The camera jostled in Fester’s hands, and a small, blonde girl entered into view.

“Umm. I’m not the only one seeing this, right?” Pugsley whispered into the air.

Not a soul responded. Everyone’s collective gaze was too preoccupied in the bewildered sight of what was now unmistakably Enid Sinclair, no older than 7, hunching her shoulders tight.

She was slightly shaking from the depths of her heartbreaking sobs. A curtain of blonde curls tumbled over most of her face. She soon cradled her cheeks into her small hands as she crumpled deeper into herself on the ground. The small body unable to stand with the immense weight of the depths of her grief.

“P-promis-sed. *hic* But you..y-you promised. All I wanted was some i-ice cream, m-mama.” Muffled cries rendered most of the following words unintelligible. Deep sobs broken by a scattering of hiccups could soon only be heard over the TV’s speakers as the small girl continued to break down into her palms.

Enid released a shaky breath. She clutched the fabric of her shirt and lightly pricked herself with those colorful claws of hers that had extended from the pain she felt now gnawing deep wounds against her chest. She fought against the urge to look away.

She wasn’t looking at her best friend, but she could practically feel the anger emanating off of her in waves from beside her.

The wolf watched behind watery eyes as the moment unfolded.

Morticia had leaned against her knees and covered her mouth, unsure how to do anything else but watch the crying child as a pained expression grew evident upon her face. All the while, her own child sitting beside her had become laser- focused on the package in her lap, looking away from the scene unfolding before herself.

The dark shadow and furrowed brow cast upon her face indicated that though her gaze fell elsewhere, her mind clearly hadn’t veered away from the child close by.

Without a word, without a warning.. Wednesday pushed her coffee onto her mother’s lap and slid off the bench.

Slow and careful steps were made to mask her presence, the dark haired girl drew near to the cradled blonde from behind. Enid was practically melting into a weeping puddle on the ground. It was evident that she hadn’t the faintest clue of the presence that had appeared.

In a simple motion that wouldn’t have registered if you weren’t already paying attention, the tiny raven had crouched close, pulled open the main pouch to the colorful backpack, and let the cookie she held in her petite fingers slip from her hands and fall into the central compartment.

The silence that had persisted until now had been so weighted and prevalent that the choked sob of the present Enid Sinclair had practically echoed off the walls.

As if the whole action was something rather unsubstantial, Wednesday pulled herself upright and quietly retreated to the bench. Pressing her arms against the boards, she climbed back into her original position.

Once she pulled her coffee back into her lap from her mother’s refuge, the girl almost looked as if she had never moved in the first place.

It didn’t take long for the blonde’s mother to come collect her child after Wednesday’s action. An arm had appeared from off-screen and intertwined hands with the smaller girl, pulling her into an upright and walking position that had whisked the girl away from the camera almost as quickly as she originally appeared.

Not another word was exchanged between the trio after the blonde had left. The weight of the girl’s heartbreak had apparently left a lasting mark that remained upon the Addams that was present for the rest of the video.

Morticia leaned over to give her daughter a side hug and a gentle kiss on the top of her head, actions the smaller Addams didn’t fight off for once.

Fester jostled with the camera, probably just now realizing that it was still recording.

The screen quickly transitioned to static fuzz. The tv clicked and spat out the tape, ready to be replaced before a single person in that room moved an inch.

“That was..you?” Enid’s scratchy voice was the first to break the ongoing silence, filled with a mix of awe, disbelief, and wonder.

The weight of a mystery that unspokenly followed the wolf for years had finally revealed itself in the dimming autumn night. She rubbed the upside of her palm against her eye before another tear could fall.

Her gaze turned to lock with Wednesday’s own. Enid recognized the pain swimming in those caramel eyes that reflected back into her own.

“It's not as if I was going to eat that anyways. What is the saying? One person’s trash is another’s treasure? It’s really not that big of a deal.” Wednesday whispered back, the hushed volume echoed.

The girl was set on downplaying her simple, yet kind action as much as she possibly could.

Silence persisted for a time. Enid had torn her eyes away to watch her thumb pick subconsciously against her nails. It seemed like an age had passed before Enid piped back up again, eyes still mesmerized by her finicky hands.

“One hour before we went to pick up dinner at the Pier, I overheard my mother talking on the phone to dad.”

Enid didn’t need to look up to feel the weight of everyone’s gaze fall upon herself as she began her story.

“At this point, I spent most afternoons practicing piano at my aunt and uncle’s house after school. That day, my aunt called me and said that they were off to have dinner with a friend. The house was already locked up.”

She took a deep inhale and nervously ran her fingers through the colorful blonde locks of hers before continuing.

“Mom didn’t know I was already home, so I suppose she didn’t feel the need to hide her conversation. She kept asking him what they did differently in parenting me, and if it was something they did to cause me to be such a-..a failure.” She paused before uttering the last word.

“I remember her saying that she was growing tired of making up these crazy excuses to the rest of the family as to why I haven’t wolfed out yet. She wondered why she was cursed…’burdened with the responsibility of the family disappointment’ is how she put it.” Enid attempted a mocking tone to mimic her mother’s cutting words, yet the angry snark gave way to a choked sob only partially muffled by the wolf.

Wednesday’s fist balled so tight her knuckles popped.

“That day was the very first time I heard from her own mouth what she truly thought of me. My own mother.”

Morticia tore her gaze away, blinking up at the ceiling.

“That was one of the worst days of my entire life. I had sobbed so much I vomited.”

Enid paused for a moment to gather the courage to continue. The silence in between her story was painful.

“My dad was working overtime, so she took me and my brothers along to go pick up dinner at the Pier. She couldn’t be bothered to cook, and mentioned something about her nerves being so frayed.”

“All I remember wanting was some ice cream, or just something sweet. It was all I felt like I could stomach. Of course, mom didn’t want to waste any more time in lines and crowds than was necessary, so of course I couldn’t even have that, even though she had promised me we’d pick some up.” She shrugged.

“I immediately locked myself in my room by the time we got back home, knowing I’d just probably get sick again if I ate dinner.”

Enid wrung her hands as she remembered the intense emotions, as if this all just happened yesterday.

“I was so angry, so hurt, that I destroyed at least half the stuff in my room. I chunked that bookbag on the opposite wall. The zipper was loose and that cookie came flying out, much to my surprise. It shocked me so much to see it that I stopped crying entirely, and I forgot my hurt for a time so I could sit there and puzzle out where in the world it could have come from.”

Wednesday seemed to get smaller as she curled her arms around herself.

“For hours, I had worn myself down, sobbing uncontrollably. I was heartbroken. It was never really about the ice-cream, even though that moment was the nick that broke the dam.”

Enid breathed in, breathed out. She bravely pushed back the colorful curls that had fallen into her face. A clear fight was evident upon her face, holding back a flood of anguish as she soldiered on.

“I was hurt over how cruel this world was for denying me the ability to turn into a wolf. To ever obtain my mother’s love and affection.”

“I mostly calmed after I ate that cookie. I remember finally being able to fall asleep after something was on my stomach, enough to keep it from hurting anyways. I drifted off into a slumber, and the last thoughts I remember being on my mind was that maybe not everything in this world was cruel.”

Enid finally had the courage to look for her best friend again. She was surprised to find that the girl opposite her had a layer of unshed tears in those dark eyes. It rendered her next sentence almost breathless and airy.

“Wednesday, you have no idea how much that little cookie meant to me.”

Wednesday’s face contorted, as if she was fighting off a massive wave of pain. Before Enid realized what was happening, the raven had reached out and clasped her hand onto her shirt in an iron grip, tugging with the entirety of her might. Enid was helpless to do anything but fall into her best friend’s arms, already set to catch her.

Breathing that eternally calming scent of pine, of black tea, of everything that embodied Wednesday, Enid just let the dam break once again. She lost herself to time, to the world, to anything…everything except for herself and Wednesday.

She could only manage to sob the weight of that grief she’s carried since childhood into Wednesday’s shoulder as the girl held her so incredibly tight, hands splayed across her shaking back and deepening the hug. An unspoken promise to hold together those fractured pieces so she doesn’t shatter into dust.

Enid’s heart swelled. It was then she began to allow herself to heal just a little more than she did before. And it was all because she knew that her closest, dearest friend had apparently always been, and always will be there to comfort her at her lowest point.

Enid’s sobs quickly began to soften. From there they changed form, molding and shifting until they didn’t sound like crying, but curiously closer to laughter.

Enid shifted around as Wednesday loosened her hold, pressed her friend back quickly to study her face, observing what it was that was breaking, planning on how she could move in order to fix it. The wolf and the raven came face to face once more.

The latter looked on with wild concern as the former began to cackle with pure laughter.

“Hey, are you?-“

“Seriously though, I want to know what are the odds that we crossed paths all that time ago and had no clue?!” A toothy grin formed on Enid’s face as she began to wipe the tears from her eyes.

The concern never left, but Wednesday managed a quirk of a brow and a quick blink. “Astronomical, I would venture to guess.”

“And what’s worse is that if you hung around for maybe another minute, I could have given you actual ice cream. My bomb pop was disgusting. It wasn’t even made with real bombs.” Pugsley rolled his eyes.

And just like that, the world is full of levity again as they all burst into a symphony of laughter.

Wednesday, breaking her own promise then finds another tape, pressing the plastic into the wolf’s hands with a roll of her eyes, same as once before. Enid can’t help but giggle at the title, and Wednesday seemed satisfied at that.

Now with Wednesday’s blessing, the family continues on watching, all unknowingly helping in the process of mending the little wolf back together.

Enid feels full, and a little more whole than she was before.

Notes:

I’ve been waiting so freaking long for this one to appear!! Ahhh! I’m just as excited as hopefully you all are as well. Been working tirelessly to get this out in a manageable time while still doing my best to keep up the quality.

First off, the song Enid and Pugsley Duets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td7uUVlB9bQ

(I’ll talk more about that choice down below)

Oh boy. Do we have to chat about this one.

-Wednesday hasn’t had a perspective since before they showed up to the Addams Family Manor, if I’m not mistaken. She needed to be the one to narrate us
through Enid’s and Pugsley’s Duet. My goodness, I’m so freaking giddy about this one.

-Also, Enid playing piano is largely overdue for a fic that revolves around that as being its core. While I want to flesh them out as people beyond her amazing talent and skill as a masterful pianist, I’ve made you guys wait for this one! Haha!

-Pugsley and Enid was like the first thing I wrote down as something Enid could potentially do if she ever happened to make her way to the Addams abode. I vaguely remembered that I established in the very first chapter that Pugsley could also play piano, and I remembered it by random chance and made it a core element. Glad I could finally make it here, and it was as fun to craft as I imagined it would be.

-The song, Akuma no Ko is from my favorite anime, Attack on Titan. A large part of me honestly just put this in for a couple of selfish reasons. One, It just happened to be the song I played the most while writing this section and it seemed easy to craft. Two, I personally adore this song, and the show was ending at the time, so I wanted to honor it in some way. Three, wanted to showcase another favorite pianist youtuber of mine.

-Incidentally, after crafting the beginning, I actually firmly believe that this could easily be one of the few commonalities of interests they could potentially have.

-Crafting sections of a character’s personal interests are always incredibly challenging to me. I want to be as realistic to the character as possible, but I feel like that is kinda hard to do when I personally have such naturally niche interests, so I have to basically do a bunch of research for a few random lines.
I always struggle to find the balance of not taxing myself so hard when I do stuff like that, but I feel like those small lines can sometimes provide some of the strongest character development or insights, so I don’t really bother to ever change from that!

-Humming past the ominous middle section because there is a lot to unpack there that has to do with this next arc, but I'm bad at spoiling things, so I want to, but can't.

Okay, that ending though.

-My gosh, was that so satisfying to finally publish.
I’ve had the idea that Wednesday and Enid crossed paths as kids in my mind as soon as I started crafting the ‘film sections’.

-I’m a big fan of the Broadway musical, and took a lot of inspiration from some of their throwaway lines in the songs.

-At some point, Gomez mentions weeklong trips to Alcatraz, which of course, makes total sense for them.
You guys, when I suddenly remembered that Alcatraz is in San Francisco, where Enid establishes as her home. I went so freaking feral as I wrote that passage, you have no idea.

-I’ve been to the Pier 39 before in San Fran. I attempted to create the experience as true to real life as possible. The coffee shop is 100% real. It's called Biscoff Coffee Corner, and they actually do hand out complimentary cookies along with their coffee. This passage really wrote itself.

Alright guys. Please please let me know what you’ve thought of this chapter. I’ve been dying to get it out to you guys, and I hope it has been worth the wait.
The next chapter is complete and will be released on Friday, and I promise you that none of you are prepared.

As always, thank you for reading and following this story and the kudos you leave. I’m incredibly lucky to have the readers that I do, and I cherish you all dearly.

Kalon

Chapter 16: When the Clock Strikes Midnight

Under the dark cover of night, Enid stirred.

The pleasant abyss she was waking from rendered herself dozy and content. Yet as time progressed, the soft lulls of slumber began to fall away to an array of various hints of pokes and prods that rose her from her sleeping state.

Her body, ‘not so nicely’, letting her know of a small little list of demands it held before the ransom of her slumber, that she so desperately needed, was released.

It was a little warm, and the muscles in her body ached from the lack of movement. She was pretty sure her leg was asleep, and she needed a glass of water.

Her body, still barely aware from having been stirred from the depths of slumber, had angled itself, ready to rise off the couch. She was startled to find that something was holding her down.

Enid blinked rapidly, adjusting her eyes to the lowlight as quickly as possible in order to figure out just what exactly was going on.

Once they adjusted, the wolf starred in complete and utter disbelief. She hesitated to believe even her own eyes.

Soft rays cast of dim moonlight shadows outline Wednesday’s sleeping form.

Every ounce of breath she had in her chest was stolen. Every need, every once incessant urge Enid’s body had desired and woke her up for was shut down immediately. All in favor of remaining so incredibly still, just she could gaze with wonder at the sight before her.

Wednesday was curled upon her chest, head nestled into the curve of her neck. She clutched the fabric of Enid’s shirt lightly. An almost nonexistent humming sound escaped her as she breathed in and out. She was certain she wouldn’t have been able to hear it if not for the fact that she was a werewolf. Until this moment, Enid didn’t even realize she was embraced with the raven’s sleeping form this entire time.

Her hair was still let down and the obsidian waves fell in inky rivers around her face. Her breathing was so gentle, anyone who didn’t know her would’ve assumed she wasn’t breathing at all. Enid knew better. She was just relaxed, and truly in a deep slumber. The harsh lines of her waking face were gone, and the stillness of sleep gave her this ethereal look. Never had she seemed so incredibly soft before and fully at peace.

‘How did?-’

Enid squinted. Just barely managing to make out the direction of the clock hands at the distant corner of the room. Both were pointed directly north. It’s still the middle of the night. They must have fallen asleep amidst watching the rest of those old family videos.

Enid pressed a warm pair of fingers upon her temple, the motion was used in order to draw out a memory. From what little she could recall, One by one, each Addams decided to call it quits during the rest of the movies.

Though the two of them were beyond exhausted, they managed to soldier through each family film until, Enid finally recalled, they were the last ones left.

Confusion still coursed through her, not understanding how Wednesday allowed herself to collapse here, of all possible places to slumber.

It should have been impossible, this reality they now find themselves in shouldn't be real. Yet, Enid finally recalled Wednesday noting the only real side effect of taking the bone healing potion. She must have been so incredibly tired that her body decided to just shut down for her. There wasn’t any other rational explanation of why she has found herself in this once-in-a-lifetime scenario.

Enid’s loosened the grip her mind had on the night before. Her attention quickly made its way back to the girl rising and falling with the motion of her own breathing. It hasn’t quite escaped her awareness that her attention has been drawn to her a lot more as of late.

An overwhelming urge nearly subjugated her own will as she extended a hand to tremble and hover around her outline. Pausing the motion just moments before it was too late to stop it.

Her mind finally snapped completely awake, and it now ran into overdrive. A significant portion of her was terrified to move the hand closer, for all this to be a cruel dream that tortured her endlessly upon her waking moments. To shatter this illusion might actually threaten to break her heart.

However, if this is real.. she will never get to experience this moment again. And that weight..

Well, it was far heavier.

Enid breathed in, breathed out. Wednesday rose and fell with the rhythm.

All it took was a brief moment of courage, of curiosity, to close the gap. And as she did, Enid ghosted a gentle thumb to trace over the array of the (very real) freckles that dotted in mesmerizing patterns across her face.

They reminded the wolf of stars that hung intentionally across the night sky, lending travelers for generations the ability to chart a course without ever losing their way.

The pad of her thumb followed the trail of them that led her to find her fingers tangled up in the loose, ebony hair that cascaded around her face like a dark halo. Her heart swelled to a crescendo as she marveled at the softness of the locks that now enveloped her skin.

All the while, a single sentence repeated in her head, over and over and over again. Until the wolf realized, with a strong familiarity, that this sentence had been echoing in her heart for a really long time now, getting stronger under each repetition.

Wednesday is so incredibly and hauntingly beautiful.

Enid was helpless to the tears that quickly blotted her vision.

Her mind raced faster than her beating heart. Under the cover of the darkness of the night, Enid knew she shouldn’t have. She knew that nothing good could come from abandoning what little control she had left, but too little, too late, she supposed.

Enid had momentarily allowed her mind to dream.

Within this dream, she watched as Wednesday’s bleary eyes blink open upon her touch. A rare smile etched upon her face that, funnily enough, wasn’t so rare anymore…at least not for her.

She imagined that the first words of the morning would be snarky, teasing. The raven would mutter something about her being all creepy as she watched her sleep. There was no heat, never any real bite to the comment, but something much softer. Fonder, even.

Enid felt the very real blush rise upon her neck and settle warmly on her cheeks. Even at the idea of being caught staring in a dream, she couldn’t help but squirm. She imagined this would make Wednesday’s smile grow brighter.

The light teasing would only continue as Wednesday’s hand found its way out of the covers that wrapped around them both. It rose with purpose, and made its way to settle flat upon her now scorching cheek. Enid could feel her heart soar as the psychic used that same hand to draw her close. The raven and the wolf, a mere breath apart.

That lazy smile of hers would chime a small giggle and turn lopsided as she leaned her forehead against Enid’s and held it fast. Their noses grazed as their breathing matched. Wednesday had closed her eyes, seemingly drinking up as much of the moment as Enid was.

The colors that danced in Enid’s ever watering eyes grew. This image, this deeply intimate gesture they shared had awoken something that held fast within the strongholds of her heart. There was a vice on her that was getting stronger by the second, rapidly overpowering any shred of will she had left to give.

It wouldn’t be long before it would be too much, before it would be too late. The tangled mess of her heart was facing something deeper than she realized, and already, it was threatening to never let go.

Enid watched helplessly and hopelessly as Wednesday leaned upwards in order to kiss her temple with such ease. It was as if she’s done this a thousand times before. Her lips linger on her skin long enough for Enid to tell the exact moment her kiss breaks into a smile. It nearly destroys Enid when she feels Wednesday begin to pull back, but only enough to readjust.

The raven lets their cheeks brush as she now makes to whisper something in her ear, her lips so close they tickle. Enid can’t help but erupt into a fit of giggles.

Enid wishes with everything in her that she can hear what words Wednesday whispers within that dream, but alas, she’s robbed of that secret exchange.

Whatever it was, the Enid of her dream had shifted in response to what was said. She wraps her arms around the raven’s torso and spins them on the sofa till Enid is on top, her own laughter so wild, it’s etched permanently in her mind. The wolf hugs Wednesday tightly and nuzzles her face deep into her neck that now causes the raven to let out a resounding laugh of her own.

Enid had never heard her laugh like that before. A snicker here and there by now. But this was so open, so full, and free. An orchestra would pale in comparison. A symphony of their laughter echoed in tandem. A sound so beautiful, the wolf could listen to its chime for all eternity.

It was in that instance that the dam she's been holding back for, God knows how long, finally broke. Her willpower was lost, and Enid felt an entire ocean of hot tears flood her eyes and roll down her face.

Enid, gently and carefully, untangled her fingers out of Wednesday’s hair. The girl was still deep in her slumber. She never left it, even for a moment. The second her hand was free, she pressed the palm directly against her eye.

It was a futile attempt, she knew, all to clear her vision. If Enid was honest, she understood that she was now crying too much for it to matter.

Enid breathed out through these silent sobs, desperately trying to even her violent breathing so as not to wake her sleeping friend.

It hurt. God, it hurt. Everything hurt so damn much.

The tears stung her eyes, so she wrenched them shut. It was all she could do, to focus on holding everything inside under the darkness of night.

The attempt was futile. Now that the floodgates of her heart were open, there was no stopping Enid from drowning in her own emotions.

An onslaught of dreams flickered in and out of her mind’s vision, making it that much harder to breathe.

Wednesday taught her how to dance, and snipped at her lightly when Enid accidentally stepped on her feet. The smaller girl stood on her toes to kiss her cheek as an apology.

Enid proudly holding an armful of downed birds the pair caught on a hunt. Wednesday boasted about her skills for weeks to anyone who would pay half a second to listen.

Enid sneaking heartfelt notes on scraps of paper into a book Wednesday was currently reading that always managed to darken her pale cheeks when she wasn’t expecting.

Wednesday sheepishly handing her a bouquet of Lupine flowers she quietly built as the two wandered around the flower field in the heart of summer.

Enid learning how Wednesday braids her hair, and the raven allowing extended morning cuddles while Enid carefully brushed her silky smooth hair. She cheered when Wednesday smiled at Enid upon making a perfect braid.

Wednesday burying her face in Enid’s chest from the embarrassment of having the wolf watch adorable scenes of her when she was younger. She relished in their proximity, and lightly kissed the top of her hair as a dark blush rose on her own face.

Wednesday falling asleep, cradled on Enid’s lap, after whispering the lyrics into her ear as she played her song after song into the depths of a winter’s night.

Nearly choking on her own tears, Enid snapped her eyes awake, not trusting herself to close them a moment more. She let them fall upon Wednesday’s still sleeping form.

The irony was not lost upon Enid. Her best friend was entirely at peace. Not a worry or shadow was cast upon her sleeping face as she lay so incredibly still upon her chest. In the same moment, Enid’s whole world crumbled around her. Nothing was left but the ash of her aching heart.

What was a girl to do when she was falling in love with her best friend, but was cursed to never let the words leave her lips? Lest she lose a friendship that mattered more to her than life itself.

That was a question for tomorrow. For now, she knew this was all she’d ever have.

The wolf stole away this small moment that was graced upon her. She allowed herself only a mere moment to cradle the girl she loved in her arms.

Only when she was positive of the immense depth of her slumber, Enid braved forward one last time.

She brushed back the loose fringe upon her head and placed one gentle kiss upon her cool temple.

One kiss filled to the brim with an overabundance of dreams and desires of a far-fetched life built by them both. A life that would never lack of longing or love for the rest of their days.

She knows that she is trying to say goodbye to a dream that never would get the chance to grow.

Enid heard her own heart shatter into dust as she severed their connection. Her once warm lips grew cold far too quickly.

She wanted and wished, so very desperately, and with everything in her…that she could let this go-

To go back to the way things were before-

She wished that more than anything.

Enid silently prayed that this single moment would be enough to last her a lifetime, but one tearful look upon Wednesday’s sleeping face…she knew.

Deep in her heart, she already knew-

It was too late.

Far, far too late.

Notes:

I am so sorry.

Chapter 17: that evening horizon sky

The depth of the darkness at merely mid-evening was just a little bit depressing to him. Though it wasn’t quite raining yet, he knew it would be soon. The warm humidity that clung to his skin and the low rumbling of oncoming thunder looming in the distance couldn’t be mistaken for anything else.

He let his eyes trail the line that made up the distant horizon.

With a rejected sigh that escaped his throat, he supposed that the dark clouds that hung low in the sky all week didn’t hear his silent plea that they’d part for him, just one last time.

If he were a superstitious kind of guy, he’d take it as a bad omen.

Unfortunately, he knew too many people who would’ve. Too many of those who would turn their tail and abandon their course for something as insignificant as this.

Thankfully, he knew that nothing, not even this streak of bad luck, could shake that ever persistent optimistic view of his. He was all the more glad for it..now more than ever.

If anything, this particularly dark week seemed to prepare him for his new home. He was warned that it tended to rain there more often than not. The warning was supposed to be a serious one, knowing just how much he loved the feeling of sunshine to stave off the cold and warm his face.

He also knew that the warning was disguising another question.

‘Are you sure?’

He could almost hear it echo behind the question that she actually asked him. He was never more sure of anything in his life than this.

In spite of the fact that he wasn’t ever going to waver from the course he chose before him now, he still looked up at the somber looking sky, nearly dark as full night.

There was still a hint of sadness as his stormy blue eyes trailed along the clouds that hung low on the horizon. The ones that blocked out any of that beautiful west-coast sunset he was secretly hoping to see one final time.

The young man breathes a deep sigh as he sits in silence and entirely in solitude, as he waits for the last train of the evening at the station.

----------

There is still quite some time before the train is supposed to arrive. He’s finally stopped wringing nervously at the handle of the suitcase. Instead, he fixated on unclasping his watch, bouncing the shiny object from palm to palm in order to pass the time.

It’s a nice distraction, and helps him forget that no one is coming to see him off. No one sees it fit anymore to even tell him goodbye.

He broke their rules and now has to live with those consequences.

He closes his eyes and knits his brow for just a moment. Pressing the heel of his hands into his temple to stave off the pulsating ache that had formed between his eyes.

a flash of pain gone as quick as it arrived. His expression loosens until there isn’t one distinguishable on his face anymore.

‘It is what it is.’

He repeated that same phrase to himself more times than he can recall. Besides, it isn’t as if he had the chance to go back, he’d actually do anything differently. This was his life now, and he had to be okay with that.

And, to a degree, he was more than okay with that. Their rules were harsh, unfair, unforgiving, and more than anything, unloving. It’s a world of difference from the person and the place he’s headed to.

The young man felt a stray tear fall on his balled palm. He quickly swiped at the watery trail it left on his cheek. He acted on instinct, moving quickly to hide the visual evidence of his heartbreak to a non-existent audience. His fingers twitched as he realized how silly that must have looked.

He dared to look at the tear still stubbornly clinging to his thumb. As it rolled off his nail and splashed to the ground, he allowed his emotions to take shape into words. In the quiet lull of the evening, he supposed he could be honest with at least himself.

No, he wouldn’t have altered a thing.

Nothing he could have said that would have bridged this chasm. There was nothing he could have done that would have changed the events that found him sitting on this bench, waiting for the passage into a new life… nothing that would have been a reflection of what the honorable thing was to do, anyways.

You can’t fix what didn’t want to be repaired.

In spite of it all, it didn’t change the fact that he was still sad to go. Sad that this is the way everything had to end between them all. Sad that things couldn’t be different, and no matter how much pleading he’d ever do, nothing was ever going to change with them.

The young man was weary. He ran a hand through his salted caramel hair and wiped the remaining tears that threatened to fall. He couldn’t dwell on that anymore. Besides, he had the rest of his life ahead of him. One filled with the kind of love he’s sought after his whole life. He couldn’t greet it, still clinging onto this sorrow.

So distracted by his thoughts, the young man failed to hear a cadence of footsteps that had wandered their way up on the wooden platform. Each small step drew the figure closer and closer, boards barely creaking underfoot. It grew in volume the closer it drew.

The padding of the footsteps were practically in front of him before his subconscious registers the new sound.

Yanked from his thoughts, he blinked and spun around his shoulder in order to lock gazes with the child.

Even partially obscured, the boy felt his breath catch in his throat as he immediately recognized who stepped into the light of the overhanging lamps of the station. Her tiny frame was now clearly visible.

For a moment, she merely blinked, as if she couldn’t believe that the young man actually appeared before her eyes. She moved after a time, and hesitantly wandered to his side.

His breath hitched in his throat, and the warm tears that stung his eyes mirrored the same watery blues that stared up at him.

Shallow breathing could be heard from the girl as she put her tiny hand on his knee. Rosy cheeks and ever-wild, windswept hair. Without a doubt, she ran here, and with everything she had. Those unshed tears of his weren’t going to stay that way for long.

He picked her up, enveloping her in a deep hug as she threw everything she had into it. Her small arms wrapped tightly around his neck. He tried his best to hold it together, but he was dangerously close to those chest-heaving sobs he’s been holding in since he got here.

Instead, he pulls her back to see that tiny lip of hers quiver. She must also be on the verge of tears herself, and seeing her pain gave him the surge of strength he needed.

To calm her, he dawns his signature smile, the one she’s so very used to. The one that gave her the confidence to use that temporary chalk to color her hair he can still see traces of, even now, knowing full well her mother would lose her mind. The one that encouraged her to keep practicing when she’d slip up on playing the piano and promise that if she’d keep at it, she’d get better.

The young man has always told her that things are going to be okay. She’s always looked up to him as if the world itself couldn’t shake his firm foundation.

He wouldn’t dare make her feel anything different now, not when he’s not sure if he’d ever see her again.

Instead, he just pushes back her untameable, golden hair. A question finally ready and waiting in his thoughts.

“Enid! What are you doing here? Did you walk all this way?” The young man tries to even his worried tone.

“I’m positive that your parents said you weren’t allowed to see me.”

She rubs her whole arm over her face, only managing to smear the tears around and momentarily stop the glisten that was now budding in her nostrils.

“I’m not.” Enid hiccups. “I’m probably gonna get in trouble again.”

He pauses, assessing the reason she was even here at all.

“Then why-”

Enid burst out, interrupting his question with panic in her throat.

“Mama said you did something bad. Something really, really bad.”

The young man gulped deeply, though not entirely surprised to hear this.

“She said that you have to leave us forever. Papa said you already left, but I told him you wouldn’t leave me until you said goodbye.”

Enid’s lip quivered once more. She’s always talked with her arms, always been this expressive little girl, he thought.

This time, he could see that she was waving them around to release the anxiety knotting up inside. The young man noticed that her hands were shaking before he broke their eye contact.

“Were you really gonna leave me without saying goodbye?”

The boy grit his teeth within his skull, measuring his response before he spoke again.

“I don’t have a choice. I wasn’t given a choice, Enid. I-I never wanted to leave you, or anyone else, but it’s already too late, half-pint.”

He softened his voice and shook his head in disbelief before he spoke, wishing with everything in him that his next sentence wasn’t true.

“They’re right. I can’t ever come back.”

He watches her tiny hands shake harder, until she balls them into a tight fist, willing the emotion that is bubbling over to stop.

Just before too much anguish presses deeper into her tiny features, realization dawns in Enid’s eyes, causing them to unexpectedly sparkle. For a moment, she recklessly abandons her sadness, hope flooding into its place.

True to her childish, naive nature, she offers a simple solution, believing fully that her next sentence would simply halt her world from crashing.

“Didn’t you listen to auntie, though?” She breathlessly offers. Tilting her head as she asks the question. “She told mama, told us that you don’t have to go.”

The young man knit his brow tightly. He knew his mother. Knew her schemes and her iron will. He knew that she wasn’t budging an inch over what she wanted for him and the overarching designs of his life she had plotted out for him since before he was born. He suspected he knew exactly what Enid was hinting at.

However, as he analyzes her innocent and kind face. The hope in her eyes coupled with his overwhelming desire for things to be different allows him to hear the girl out anyways.

“What did- what did she say?” He asked with defeat already laced in his vocal chords.

“There’s still time. She said that if you changed, if you decided to be good, and did what auntie and uncle said you were supposed to, you wouldn’t have to leave!”

He’s not surprised, but scrunched his face up from the pain, anyways.

“You don’t have to go, Henri!” Enid curled her fingers into his shirt. She shook him by the shoulders lightly, trying with every shred of her will to get her point across.

“Listen, you can stay with me and everyone else forever! It’s not too late.”

The girl crashed her head against his shoulder, unsuccessfully fighting a wave of tears as she fought through her next words.

"Please, Henri..please. You just have to be a good wolf.”

Two warm drops of water soaked into the fabric of his shirt. Enid pushed herself back up to stare at his face. The trail of tears made a stark line that shined on her face.

“We’re not so bad, right? I mean..” Enid trails off, hardly a breath to spare as she frantically grasps at straws, finding any reason that could make her older cousin change his mind.

“What would Alistar do without you to spar with? He really looks up and respects you, you know. Bran and Conor listen to your stories for hours on end. It’s honestly the only thing that gets them to sit still and stop fighting each other for half a second. And Declan.. he hasn’t stopped crying since mama told us.”

“And I-“ she hesitated, the emotions already choking her up and preventing her from walking down that line of thinking.

She stops herself, eyes squinting from the ocean of pain she held behind her eyes. Henri felt the pinpricks of her tiny claws poke into the skin of his shoulders.

Can’t you just do what the pack wants so you can stay with us, to stay with me?” Her voice was shivering towards the end, pleading, begging him not to go.

“Oh, Enid.” Henri could hear the cracks and the fractures form, the sure sound of heartbreak from within his chest.

“Don’t you remember, Henri? Everyone knows that you can’t be truly happy if you can’t be with the pack. The only life worth living is with your blood, with your family.”

Henri felt a copper taste begin to coat the inside of his mouth. The phrase was all too familiar to him. The unofficial motto of their clan, their pack. The lies he’s been waterboarded with since the moment he could understand how to listen.

Of course his mother would say that, his aunt, practically their whole family would spout anything to preserve their way of life.

No, he’s not the least bit surprised at that.

But to hear his sweet, kind hearted, favorite baby cousin believe it so wholeheartedly nearly makes him want to change his quiet exit from the family into an all out brawl.

He shakes his head as he attempts to find the words. It kills him to know that she doesn’t understand and because of that, he can’t help but break her heart.

“I’m so sorry, kiddo. I-I can’t stay.”

Like watching glass shatter oh so suddenly, the hope on her face drains in an instant, hearing the sentence she was trying so desperately to avoid. The true flood of tears she’s been bravely holding back until now starts freely flowing down her puffy, red cheeks.

“But, why?” Her voice stutters as she fights to speak through the sobs.

Henri brushes a thumb across her cheek, wiping away the tears he can’t stand to see fall from her eyes.

“Because I love Ebbi, with everything I have. She’s the one for me, E. You love her too, don’t you?”

Enid blinked once, and let her eyes scan around as she tore through the thoughts he could practically see swirl through her head. The boy was taken-aback. He watched as confliction warred in her eyes. Those blues of hers eventually turned downcast, as if she was ashamed to look upon her cousin’s face as she uttered her next words.

“…Yes, but-”

Henri wasn’t sure what to make of this revelation. Never did he expect her hesitation in the least, not with how much he knows his little cousin and his fiancée love each other, not with how much Enid wore her heart on her sleeve, open and kind to literally every soul she meets.

“But?”

She gapes a bit, that mind of hers trying to figure out the right words to say, so she leans on what she feels to be right, the banner under which the two were raised.

“Auntie… said you have to let her go. You’re hurting the family, and she says you’re going to hurt Ebbi too one day. You’re breaking everyone’s hearts. Henri.”

Enid nods, her confidence beginning to brim as she now holds onto a new foundation, the words that have surrounded her and have been uttered into her ears since the moment she was born.

She nods as if to assure herself that what she is saying is the right way, the only true way forward.

“You have to be good. You have to make the right decision and come back to us. Nothing will be right anymore if you leave us.” The child held tightly onto her over-simplistic logic.

“It’s not that simple, Enid.” Henri stays his course while challenging his little cousin. He tilted his head to the side, not sure just how he was going to help her understand what he meant.

Her crystal eyes suddenly turned stormy, and Henri couldn’t help this gnawing seed of fear that was stirring in his gut as he watched her face level, and saw the color harden in her eyes.

Something was brewing from underneath her surface, and the first real traces of it were starting to work their way out of her.

“But it is! If you would just listen to me, you’d understand!”

He was startled by her stronger volume, she nearly snapped. Steel cutting her gaze. Enid began to grow frustrated. Her stance was adamant, unyielding, and practically cold as she pleaded with him.

Henri watched her with unsure eyes. What was he witnessing here? He wanted to wonder who he was even talking to, because he’s never seen Enid talk and act like this before.

His growing concern, possibly even fear, had stayed his response and softened his line of questioning. Feeling now like he was walking on eggshells, he had this suspicion that if he dug at this, he wasn’t going to be thrilled at what he’d find.

But he had to find it, he had to press through. Enid deserved that much at least, someone who cared enough to listen, to hear her out.

“…What is it you think I’m not understanding, Enid?” The boy asked nervously, hesitantly. He wasn’t sure what to expect from her.

Enid loosens the grip she has at the fabric of his shirt and vaults herself off his lap. She squares her frame before him, racking her mind to figure out how to get her point across.

“You have a responsibility, Henri.”

She flexes her hands. He’s noticed that they’ve stopped shaking.

“Mama and Auntie say it, Grandpapa too. You’re the best wolf in the whole pack.”

Henri blinks and fights against his urge to tear his face away when she mentions their grandfather.

“Grandpapa respects you, and wants you to take his place as the one who’s going to be leading us all one day.”

Henri could feel his own claws begin to dig into the heel of his hand.

“Everyone has a responsibility to put the pack first, Our parents, my brothers, our cousins, our friends and their families too. Every other wolf pack is strong because they put family first, they put the entire pack first.”

The steely and determined gaze she gave him could cut through stone.

“We all have to be the best wolves in the pack we can be. So when we make mistakes, it’s also our responsibility to fix them, so we can be loved again.”

Thunder rolled off in the distance, forming a type of ominous finality to her words. The sky slowly turned darker, but it seemed like it was her words that caused the shift.

He was genuinely afraid to ask her, terrified of what he’d find when he asked her to clarify. In spite of the fear, Henri asked through scrutinizing eyes. She’s starting to sound exactly like his mother, exactly like her own.

“What in the world are you talking about?”

“That’s what I’m trying to tell you. You have to make the right decision for everyone. You have to be good to prove you’re worthy and earn their love back.”

The young man felt a looming dread forming deep in his gut. Disbelief dripped in his vocal cords.

“Earn? What do you mean ‘earn’? You don’t earn someone’s love, Enid.” His tone was dangerous, but so was the stuff Enid was spouting.

As if she were explaining that the ocean is blue or the sun is warm. Enid straightened her back, an air of certainty in what she is about to say gives the impression that this belief is embedded deep in her core, and little could shake it from its stranglehold it has upon her.

“Yes you do. You have to be good, you have to do as you're told, you have to fit in, and you have to be responsible. That’s what it means to be a wolf in our pack, and that is the only way you can be loved.“

Enid spoke her next words with a heartbreaking amount of certainty.

“Nobody will ever love you by just being your plain old self.”

The breath caught in his throat. Henri blinked in horror. His fingers instinctively twitched as the wildfire scorched through his veins. He was itching to fight the whole world.

They poisoned her. Lava pooled in his gut. They fed their stupid, heartless lies to his baby cousin, and here she is, spouting them as if they were the only thing in the world that she could trust and rely upon.

His favorite little sidekick, his buddy..

And now, he gazes with horror to watch her assurance innocently through her tears, as if she found a solution to the world’s problems. She has absolutely no idea of the pure evil that was embedded in what she just said.

Henri slid off the bench and drew close to his little cousin, meeting her eye to eye, doing everything he could to convey how utterly wrong that was.

“No, Enid. Dont- Don’t you dare say that.”

“That’s not true. Not in the slightest.”

Her small face was emotionless, cold, foreign.

It horrified him.

“You’re the most perfect person I know, and that’s why Ebbi loves you. That’s why auntie and uncle and mom and dad love you, why grandpapa loves you. It’s why all our family and friends and the whole pack loves you. That is why you are supposed to be the next pack leader. You just forgot that you need to be good.”

He watched her recite those words, he watched that once child-like innocence drain from her face.

“And that’s why I came. I wanted to remind you, so you can come back and everything will be normal again.”

She was slipping away, and so nearly gone. He had to find a way to reach her, do something, anything.

“That’s not how love works, Enid.” He was pleading with her at this point.

And as if the world turned on its head, the cold and vacant expression suddenly snapped out of this tiny girl. Her features now are shattering.. revealing an emotion that is far beyond her years.

“Then why does it work that way for mama? For papa?”

Henri gulps, and his teeth grit in his head.

“Why does it work that way with auntie and uncle and grandpapa? They said you did a bad thing and broke their hearts. That’s why you have to leave.”

Henri knows. He lived her life experience for heaven's sake. If anyone knows that lie the Sinclair family is living and spreading, it’s him. His current life choices have rendered him free from this curse, but what hope is there for Enid? She’s in it too deep.

A momentary beacon cut through the dark of night and shone its light onto a path forward, an idea that rang out in his head.

It was sudden and risky, but he wouldn’t leave her here, not if he could help it. Not in this all-consuming darkness. He’d be damned if he watched it eat her alive and he had the chance to do something about it.

It was now or never.

“Enid, come with me. You can live with us. I promise that Ebbi and I will take care of you.”

Surely the last thing she expected to hear, the girl stumbled backwards ever so slightly.

She blinked as her eyes widened in surprise. It jostled the anger and cold steel out of her eyes for a second. Her humanity rose to the surface for just a moment.

“What? I can’t.”

Don’t give in, Enid.

“But you love Ebbi, right? You love me, don’t you?”

Enid takes another step back. “I do, but-”

Henri knows that this is probably too much for her to handle. He can see it on her face, the fear and betrayal she allows to course through her from even allowing herself to entertain this. Damn, their family’s lies have already wormed their way so deep into her heart.

He needed to choose his words carefully to help her understand.

“Did we do anything to make you love us?”

Enid, his little sidekick, his buddy, finally broke through in order to look back at him with a question in her vulnerable blue eyes.

“What?” She hesitated.

“Did Ebbi force you to love her? Did I ever expect you to be perfect? Did either of us have to earn your love?”

Enid thought about that for a moment, but had to tear he watery blues away. She leveled her gaze to the wooden panel of the station.

Just before Henri breathed a sigh of relief from helping her question their family’s status quo, she retorted.

“I love you, but you don’t love us. You don’t love me.”

No.

Panic began to bubble up from within him.

“What? Of course I love you, Enid. I’ll always love you. You may just be my little cousin, but you’re like my favorite little sister.”

“If you loved me, you wouldn’t leave.” Her head snapped back up, those cold walls of hers were rising by the second, and almost shrouded her completely. His time was running out.

One last chance.

“Enid, Please come with us. If you stay here, your parents, my parents, our pack will just-”

Henri watches helplessly as Enid takes one more step back, and it is final. She’s already made her decision.

“I can’t. I can’t be around you anymore. Then I’d be bad too.”

Before she can run, Henri dashes forward to ensnare her in one last bear hug before he never sees her again. She rises her arms to instinctively and habitually offer her own hug back. As soon as she realizes what she is doing, she drops her arms, leaving them to hang limp at her sides.

It was his turn to quietly sob into her shoulder.

"Enid, I wish there was something I can say to convince you, to show you.”

He planted his palms on each shoulder of hers, pulling her away enough to speak to her, face to face. She says nothing, but he watches her eyes turn in surprise as she sees the tears now streaming down his face. She’s never seen him cry before now.

The pause allows him to say one last thing to her, probably the most important he’ll ever say to her.

“Enid.”

And she meets his eyes, allowing herself to fully listen.

“Someday, it may be a bunch of people, even if it's just one person who can show you, prove it to you, and can allow you to see... I hope you one day come to realize that love isn’t something you earn, and it’s not something you have to change yourself to find. Just plain old Enid, the way that you are now, is already worthy of being loved.”

And with this deep sadness, he watches her blink as she quietly looks away, pulls away. He does nothing to stop her this time as she turns her back on him.

Two steps.

“I can’t explain it to you now, Enid.. but I hope you’ll understand when you’re older.”

Three steps, off the platform, out of earshot.

Henri stretches back up and wipes away his tears as he watches his little cousin run away, run back to the pack until her figure melds into the darkness of the horizon.

He doesn’t even look away as he hears the whistle of the train as it pulls into the station.

Notes:

Wanted to split the next chapter into two in order to give you guys something faster. I might have only just made things worse for you all by deciding to do that.
Promise to come back and attach some notes later on though!

//Notes!

Alright! wow, it's been a minute! Hello!

I've been all over the place these last couple of months, and got some much needed time to relax and chill. It's honestly been a really, really long time since I've gotten the chance to have a lot of time to rest. I can't tell you how beneficial that was on both my health and this story. I felt as if almost any spare moment I had, I was writing in my phone's little note section all kinds of new scenes, snippets of dialogue, and new ideas galore! I've got so much fun stuff for you guys in the future that I literally cannot wait to share!

So, I hope this encourages you all moving forward with the story and that you all forgive me after giving you all two heartbreaking chapters in a row. I'm really sorry for that.

Like I've mentioned in the previous chapter and throughout some comments we've had here, Enid has one more big hurdle to work through, and this chapter was meant to clarify what exactly happened to Enid and her thought process in the last chapter.

Growing up in that home and family environment, Enid's developed this underlying belief that she isn't worthy of being loved as she is. Spending her whole childhood seeking to please her family, all for her late-blooming werewolf abilities to keep her from finding the love she deserved all along from them. Her story and the irony of it all is so tragic to me.

Having to prove herself worthy to her family and please them, fit in their box and fall in her family's line in order to gain any semblance of affection from them has left deep scars in her psyche that still are affecting her.

Enid's grown so much over this story, yet still has some ways to go.

Thankfully, she has Wednesday and the whole Addams family to help her heal and show her the love she's been searching for her whole life, and I'm eager to continue us on that journey starting in the next chapter.

Until then, much love to you all and wildly eager to hear your thoughts after this one.

Kalon

Chapter 18: Paradigm Shift (1)

Notes:

It's like two in the morning here and I have work tomorrow bright and early..
I've got a lot of exciting things to say, so come back and check the end notes later! Really wanted to give you guys a chance to read through the newest chapter though, I've made y'all suffer long enough.

[EDIT: Go check the notes at the end! My thoughts are up!]

Without further ado...

Enid wakes in a cold sweat.

Pained and discombobulated, she jostled from her sleeping to her waking state in a rather unpleasant way.

As if she were struck with an icepick to her brain, she instantly cradles half of her head in her momentarily quivering palm. Reeling from the sudden elevation as she catapults her torso upwards and then a low groan soon after escapes from the agonizing pain of the sudden movement and shift in elevation.

Ugh. What in the-?

She can’t recall a time, if ever, that she awoke as harshly as this.

Every part of her body felt fatigued. Muscles she didn’t even know she had ached terribly. Did she even get any sleep at all?

What was with this grueling headache? Had she smashed her head against a wall? She could barely tell where she was, let alone think.

She sat there for a moment, letting the pain slowly subside given just a little bit of time to soothe the suddenness of it all.

Eyes still closed, that once sharp pain is now quickly receding, allowing space for some latent thoughts to begin flooding inside.

She wanted to focus on her elusive dream. She thinks that Henri might have been in it. She hasn’t dreamed about him in months, and even now, as painful as it is, she desperately wants to dive back into sleep and find him still pleading against her frozen over heart.

After all, it's the only way she ever gets to see his face.

Her heart aches at his memory, and it's excruciating to admit that one of the most important people who was ever in her life seems little more than a ghost now. All traces of him were gone the moment he boarded that train. No letters, no calls. No signs of life or any stone she could frantically upturn to discover where he was, or if he was still out there, somewhere.

Her fingers weave through the strands of her hair as she grips tighter to her throbbing head. She instinctively curls her knees into her chest, cradling herself as if she were still that lost little child. She will forever regret the way she ran away at that station. Even now, the pain and desperation on his face as he pleaded with all that he had in him was permanently burned into the back of her eyes. She wished with everything in her that she could take her words, her actions back. To get the chance to see him again, just one more time. She needed to make her egregious wrong into a right. She needed to hug him back and tell him that she does love him, that she was just hurt and confused. She needs him to hear that she’s sorry, from the depths of her heart.

But no. She chose her path, stuck with a mother that forever will be disappointed in her and a clan full of leadership who threatened to abandon her when she needed care and support the most. That choice she made on that station platform…she’s suffered greatly for it ever since. And now she’s certain that her last memory of Henri will always be the one that brings her to tears.

She sometimes wondered what life would have been like if she chose differently that day. Where would she have grown up? Would she have been any different than how she was now?

She can only hope and pray that Henri found the kind of life and love he was certain that giving up everything about his old life was worth doing for. If only one of them had a chance to find happiness and love, she’d hope it was him, everytime.

She tucked herself close, trying to grasp at a semblance of solace by hoping for the best for her beloved cousin, rather than mulling on mistakes that were made, the heavy heartache that she carried with her like a constant companion. Maybe she should direct her mind elsewhere.

Suddenly, her fingers tremble strangely against her frame.

Something else gnawed at her insides, and it was soon roaring with a ferocity that seemed to shatter into her very core.

The slight tremble of her fingers turned rapidly into tremors that spread to her hands. Her physical body seemed to be recalling something her mind has yet to process.

Enid wanted to shut her brain off. She wished she was tired enough to fall back into slumber, no matter how unrestful it was.

Yet, the longer she is awake the more her memory comes back to her and the dream fades away. Her hand is now practically shaking against the curve of her rapidly warming cheek. She squeezes her already shut eyes tight.

Last night..

Did she-

“Wolfie?”

Enid blinks open her eyes, taking a long time to readjust. The brilliant light streaming through the translucent curtains weren’t kind to her red-rimmed eyes. A long night of crying had rendered them rather tender to external forces.

A blurry, fair haired child gently pressed a tiny hand into her thigh. Even Enid, though terribly distraught as more and more memories darkened her mind, couldn’t help but offer the boy a smile.

The sweet child had taken it upon himself to apparently be her personal alarm clock. Really though, who wouldn’t soften at that?

“Good morning, Bertie.” Enid offered a kind of half smile, as deep as she could muster. She reached out to ruffle the boy’s feathery hair, still as golden as starlight. She took it as the cutest little compliment.

His nose scrunched in acute observation. A soft sense of worry colored his face.

“Is wolfie..sad?”

Enid’s eyes burned a bit through the rapid fire blinks. Her mouth gaped open and closed like a fish.

He could tell?! Shit!

In a bit of a blind panic, Enid began to unfurl herself from the blanket, from that emerald couch. A quick cursory scan around the room revealed that no one else occupied the immediate space other than Bertie and herself.

Good, good. Coast is clear for the moment at least.

Maybe she should concentrate a bit, figure out where everyone else was so she didn’t accidentally run into anyone.

She closed her eyes, grounding herself. She took a deep breath in, a gentle exhale out. Lower the net, deepen your awareness, just as she was taught. Pick up on the stray sounds. Breathing, footsteps, shifting, movement, something..anything?

Really? Nothing?

Enid scrunched her nose as her still-burning eyes fluttered back open.

Wait, what? Surely that wasn’t right. Where did everyone go?

Her newly trained ears, still in the depths of concentration, finally picked up on a sound. An odd sense of relief blended with a tinge of trepidation settled strangely upon her chest.

She could hear a distant conversation, bright and tinny with good natured sarcasm in the overtones. Familiarity settled into Enid’s gut. The distant conversation was probably between Ophelia and Morticia from what sounded like the attic.

Attic, okay, good. She could deal. She still had some time to fix herself. Now to just find the nearest..

Her still slightly blurred eyes scan around for the nearest bathroom and.. ah! There!

The door was half swung open in the hall with a dimmed light. The coast was obviously clear enough to make a break for it.

Before leaping over the couch, she attempted to deepen her smile, make it as warm and reassuring to the boy as possible as she reached out again, running a gentle hand over his bleached hair before responding.

“All okey-dokey over here, Bubs! It’s just allergies! No need to worry about me.”

And with that, she waves at the boy as she leaves him in the dust.

She makes a beeline for that bathroom before Bertie reveals he has lie-detecting powers on top of every other odd thing he’s got going for him.

Swinging into the room, she swivels the door shut, locking the handle, and then backs away from the door until she catches her portrait from the glint of the mirror.

Oh. That’s why.

She knew she must’ve looked rough for the toddler to comment on it, but she wasn’t quite prepared to witness this. She hesitantly drew her figure closer to the mirror for further and deeper analysis.

Her eyes.. puffy, swollen, and red-rimmed, watched her from the vantage of the reflection. Dark circles brushed under her eyelids. A worried frown remained jagged on her face.

God, she was a mess.

A deep sigh escaped her as she leaned against the sink, drawing even closer to the frightening reflection to assess the damage and then work to fix it.

She tested the skin under her eyes. They felt like balloons.

No wonder even a mere child like Pubert could tell something was wrong.

She spins the head on the faucet, ice cold water sputtered into the bowl. She grabs a fresh rag, dousing it in the tundric liquid before gently applying it to her face.

She seethed when it touched her, the cold was painful at first. Her expression softened as it quickly evolved into a relieving balm to her overheated face.

A small routine surfaced. Douse the rag in water, apply it to the face, check the condition of the swelling and massage the darkness from the subsurface tissue, then repeat if necessary.

Her heart rate had calmed, an effect of the monotony of the routine she circled through a few times by now. The initial panic had ebbed away with every glance in the mirror as the swelling slowly began to noticeably recede. She realized she was starting to look relatively human again.

She almost wished her panic would continue, to drive away those memories that began creeping into the front of her mind. With nothing stopping them, they were unable to be shaken this time.

A strong part of her shot into denial, immediately. Maybe this was a strange dream of hers before the one with Henri appeared.

She almost burst out a laugh born out of pure delirium.

Denial added not an ounce of comfort or even a moment's reprieve, instead, making her stomach churn acid. For what is the purpose of this illusion of denial when she already knows it wasn’t a dream. It couldn’t have been.

How could she forget the way her skin felt from under her touch? To feel her hands tangled up in the silk of her ebony hair.

To feel her entire being ignite as Wednesday shifted ever so slightly in her sleep, deepening the snuggle as she continued to bury her head deeper into the crevice of her neck.

Enid began to shake again.

The evidence is held fast in her wild memories, all over her swollen from sobbing face, and written in permanent ink upon her rapidly beating heart.

It was real. It was entirely too real. No matter how much everything screams within her to run, to hide, to deny, to shift away, to bury every confused and scattered emotion that is bursting within her, she can’t.

She can’t because she already knows that she-

She-

She’s in love.

In love with her very best friend.

With Wednesday Addams.

Reeling from the shock, she absentmindedly bunched her golden hair up on her head.

Enid tried. She really, really did.

This had to be some kind of exaggeration on her part. Right? It just had to be.

Was she really just extremely thankful for their blossoming friendship? They have come such a long way in such a relatively short amount of time. That alone could bring upon herself a flurry of emotions. Maybe she just confused love for a sense of overwhelming gratitude?

Was she merely just overreacting? She did have a tendency to jump in too deep far too quickly. That could be an easy way to explain this insanity away.

Enid pressed both hands upon the porcelain of the sink to hold her balance. The shaking began to spread beyond her hands.

She tried to brush this away, in any way that she possibly could.

She imagined that Wednesday never had to struggle with this kind of onslaught of emotion, and for once, wished deeply that she had the ability to repress them like she does.

But, the second that the raven graced her thoughts and appeared into her mind, none of her excuses, none of her shifting thoughts mattered.

If she wasn’t holding onto the sink, she would have suddenly dropped to the floor.

In this very moment, Enid felt overwhelmingly and irrevocably weak.

Weak from fighting this, weak from hiding. Weak from the heartache, and weak from the lying.

It was as if her chest was an open wound. She clutched at her sternum, as if she physically needed to hold herself together. The longing that she felt for this girl was like a tidal wave, drowning her more and more with each moment spent with her, every word and look exchanged, pounding into her until she’s just a bloody pulp.

The need to hug her, to envelop her body into and around her frame, to feel her cool skin against her own. To hold her hand, to make her smile…

…to wonder what that smile would feel like when pressed up against her own.

Enid violently ripped her mind away from the thought. She tore into herself for having those thoughts.

Enid felt as if she was bleeding out on the floor. She wanted to cry again. Her whole being flashed hot.

No, it was certain. As much as she wanted to, desperately, she couldn’t talk her way out of this one. As sure as the sun that rises in the morning and sets in the evening.

Enid..wanted Wednesday.

It was as if every fiber of her being was in agreement. Every accidental brush, every subtle stare, every time they held hands a little too long, every secretly kind word that Wednesday spoke to her had set her soul ablaze in a way that could only possibly mean one thing.

She wanted her in a way that was far beyond mere friendship. To be able to offer every ounce of love she had to give, and to be given the gift of having it reciprocated.

She would have given anything to be hers and to have her in return.

In a way that she just..couldn’t.

Enid stares at her haggard self in the mirror.

Since when?

Just how long?

“Enid, you all right?”

The wolf nearly jumped out of her skin and yelped as she tumbled, the small soap dispenser and hand towels ended up clattering against the tiled floor alongside herself. They dropped quickly when she flailed around wildly, clumsily. The voice of Morticia Addams suddenly appeared from behind the door, and Enid could feel her heartbeat pulsating against her throat. The mother rasps a knuckle against the wood of the door frame lightly. A soft and worried tone rang out like the chime of a bell.

“Is everything okay in there?”

She scrambles back up, assessing the remaining damage in the mirror. The blonde breathes a small whisper of thanks to find that her face looks nearly back to normal. Maybe a little extra sleep deprived, but the overwhelming swelling under her eyes had mostly dissipated. She should escape any questions that would have arisen from just the mere sight of herself.

She clears her throat, puts on a giant smile, a fake, happy note dousing her vocal chords. One deep breath to will any ounce of courage to surge through her body. She unlocks the door and swings it open to find the matriarch holding her youngest at the hip and her sister hovered close to her opposite side.

“Good morning!! You lovely ladies look positively radiant today, I must say!!” Enid shined a bright and toothy grin as Morticia studied her face, startled immediately and even jumping a bit from hearing the overly saccharine laced voice while Ophelia quirked a brow as she noted all of the fallen towels and objects scattered haphazardly on the floor just behind the crazed younger blonde.

“You know, that’s so sweet of you to ask. Have I ever told you how kind you are? I’m just so overwhelmed by it all the time. It’s quite a refreshing change of pace from my own mom and how I grew up. And, I should probably stop talking about bitter feelings before I start reacting poorly to them, shouldn’t I? Don’t want to turn this bright and shining day into a sad one from a silly little off-handed comment, would I? Good grief, I can be quite chatty in the mornings. Sorry about that! Oh, and to answer your question, I’m fantastic! Though I slept a bit harder than I have in years, and am still trying to wake up a bit.”

Enid sheepishly notes the chaos behind her and offers that last bit as a kind of apology and explanation. When she turns back, she notices that the twins are barely restraining a wild concern as the wolf can’t help but word vomit from the overwhelming nervousness she is failing to wrestle within herself. It is sweet of them to even try and hide it from her though. She couldn’t be more of a trainwreck if she tried.

She had an unsettling feeling that she’s gonna eat those words in just a moment though.

“However, I feel great! Ready to have another wonderful day as the guest to you awesome people, am I right?” Her voice squeaked with the force she placed upon it. “Anyways, enough about me. How about yourselves? Sleep well?”

One blink. Two blinks.

“Enid, is your face.. swollen?”

Shit, shit, shit, shit..

“I- uh..”

“Wolfie said she has the allergies.” Pubert exclaimed from his mother’s hip with pure confidence.

All three women merely blinked. Enid could have melted into a puddle right then and there. She internally groaned as she was forced to hear her stupid, stupid excuse out loud, thrown back at her miserable face at the perfectly wrong time only to complicate things even further.

“Allergies? Do werewolves struggle with allergies?” Ophelia trailed off, more so recollecting her internal knowledge of Werewolf physiology rather than the question directed to anyone in particular. Morticia looked even more concerned than she already did. It was impressive for sure.

No. no they don’t, the wolf moaned as she internally answered Ophelia’s question.

Enid has never once ever heard of a werewolf struggling with allergies, not with their hyper healing abilities and affinity for being pretty much one with nature..outside of the typical silver allergy, of course. To add salt to the wound, it was relatively common knowledge that was the case with pretty much every wolf. Ever.

Nice going, Enid. She fought the urge to facepalm herself, only stopping when she realized it would incriminate her further.

No matter how stupid the excuse was, she couldn’t hint anything, not a damn thing, about her internal war that was raging within herself to her crush’s…

Wait.

Crush?!

No. nononono.. Best friend. Friend. Not a crush. You can’t think like that, E.

…aunt and mother of all people.

The wolf watched helplessly as their faces only continued to grow more and more concerned by the second as they watched her spiral in real-time.

God, she was an absolute dumpster fire.

Alas, She couldn’t relent now. She had to play with the unfortunate hand she dealt to herself.

“Um, not normally, but…” She racked her mind for some excuse. Something. Anything.

“Buuuut, I’ve never been to Germany before. Maybe there is something in the woods that I’m not used to. Dry grass, maybe? I had a friend I knew once who had an allergy like that.”

The twins merely looked between each other, an unspoken conversation between the two.

Enid could have died of embarrassment.

You idiot. Dry grass? Really, Enid?

You’re a werewolf. A creature, quite literally, built for the outdoors with a dry grass allergy? Might as well have a large tattoo of the word ‘liar’ across your forehead. It wouldn’t be as obvious, she inwardly seethed at herself.

She watched as the women turned their gaze back upon herself. She hoped that whatever was said next would be merciful.

“Right. Of course. Silly of me.” Ophelia waved off her concern unexpectedly.

“There’s all kinds of funky things growing around my sister's cottage. Who knows what number of things could be affecting you.” Morticia smirked at her sister’s face, which dropped into annoyance from the underhanded sarcastic comment.

She felt a rush of relief wash over her. So merciful.

“Probably for the best that we make sure you and your allergies can’t be aggravated any further, my dear. Everyone, outside of our little group here, has already made their way through the portal, setting up for our long day ahead.”

The wolf blinked in remembrance of the massive schedule overhaul Wednesday put into motion, just for her sake. That gnawing, yet familiar ache she now realized were her heartstrings tugging in love and adoration for the raven all along, had plagued her once more. Unfortunately, it probably wouldn’t be stopping anytime soon.

Reality snapped upon her fast as Enid suddenly blanched.

“Oh. Oh no! I’m so sorry for sleeping in! I accidentally left my phone back at the manor, so I didn’t set an alarm, and I-“

Morticia reacted to the panic she saw rising on Enid’s face and through her incessant rambling. She quickly worked to soothe her thoughts.

“No, no, my dear. Not to worry. It was actually Wednesday who requested that you get some extra sleep.”

Enid blanched impossibly more.

The older blonde snorted loudly.

“I’m honestly surprised she didn’t sleep in herself, what with your adventure from yesterday in tandem with a healing leg, yet she was the first one up. Waking everyone by barking orders left and right, per usual.” Ophelia laughed at her niece’s antics.

Enid gulped at the thought.

So she was.. the first one up.

Her mind further spiraled at the thought of Wednesday waking up first- to..to.

She had to have seen, then. She knew.

Gratefully, both of the twins and Pubert seemed wholly unaware of her’s and Wednesday’s unexpected sleeping arrangement last night. She breathed a thankful sigh of relief. She doesn’t think her chaotic heart could handle that conversation with anyone just yet.

Though.. If no one else knows, then it's just her and Wednesday who realize..

What, then were her thoughts.. when she woke up to see the same sight she did? Is that why she disappeared in a hurry? Was she upset? Was she angry? Is that why she ran around barking orders at everyone?

She halted her train of thought. She absolutely had to if she wanted to stay even the least bit sane.

“Enid..”

The wolf looked up at Morticia’s gentle eyes, filled with equal parts concern and a softness that intrigued her. The woman was so incredibly wise, almost always walking around with an air that she understood far more than she ever let on. The wolf wondered what actually filled her thoughts at this moment.

“This..allergy of yours.” The matriarch extended a hand to lovingly brush a lock of hair behind her ears as she spoke. “Are you sure you’re alright? Is it bothering you more than you’re letting on?”

Her frantic heart calmed and swelled at the same time. Enid adored Morticia.

The sweetness with which she spoke gave Enid the confidence to respond, and genuinely too, in turn with-

“I promise.. I’ll be okay, but thank you for asking.”

The matriarch pulled back. She stood up straighter and settled a smiling Pubert and nodded warmly. Accepting that answer and offering back another very motherly response that warmed Enid’s heart even more, reaching out to brush a gentle thumb that grazed the leftover swelling from underneath her eyes.

“Well, before we say goodbye to Germany, Let me help you with that, dear. I’ve got something that can calm the swelling on your face and hopefully relieve you a bit with your allergies.”

Ophelia chimed in with a kind laugh of her own. Working to alleviate the weight on Enid’s heart. “It will be like you never had any in the first place, kiddo. Don’t worry, your wolf allergy secret is safe with us.”

Enid flashed a warm smile. She really, really adored this whole family.

 

---------------------------------------

 

How she didn’t violently wake up during that trip through the portal the first time through, she’ll never know.

She didn’t have to worry anymore about her..’allergies’, thankfully. Morticia’s face cream and wash worked wonders with the nightmare it was faced up against. Yet now, that wild shifting gravity left her more than a bit queasy, especially on an empty stomach.

Perhaps she’ll feel a bit more clear headed after eating breakfast.

At least, that’s what Morticia and Ophelia suggested to her after proceeding to watch her scramble to stay on her feet from the overwhelming dizziness of her first conscious trip through a portal that instantaneously shot her from one side of the planet to the other.

At least she didn’t actually spill her guts all over the attic floor, though she got dangerously close. If Ophelia, Morticia, and even Bert didn’t rub circles on her back to quell the nausea, she probably would have.

She already had enough to worry about and work through today, she didn’t need to add anything else to the list.

The last of the group to arrive back from Germany made their way down the stairs and through the familiar winding halls of the Addams family manor. The ornate decor and stunning craftsmanship and elegance of the gothic era architecture was surprisingly comforting, in spite of the admittedly little time she’s been a guest of the family.

Though Enid didn’t grow up here, she already felt a wave of relief walking through the halls.

The feeling struck her as odd. Maybe she was just happy to be back in a familiar environment. She wondered if that was all it was.

Spinning around the corner with the twins and toddler, she finds Lurch and Grandmama lost in their particular task of working together to clean the kitchen after the first wave’s breakfast.

As Enid watched them tackle stacks of plates, discarding leftover food, and hand washing the dishes, she more readily admitted her relief to find that no one else occupied the space at the moment. She still had a bit of time to sort herself out before facing..well, a particular someone, as well as anyone else before she felt that she could handle it.

“Good morning, Lurch, Grandmama. Did Enid’s breakfast plate-?” Morticia began to ask, but the eldest Addams responded before she finished.

“Got the first round of her breakfast right here.” Grandmama opens the fridge and grabs for a plate on the middle rack, enveloped carefully in saran wrap to allow it to remain fresh.

Enid was about to question the interesting use of words the elderly woman used to describe her breakfast, but the question died in her throat as she saw the contents of the plate, understanding the intent and secretly thankful this wasn’t all there was. She settled herself into the chair against the bar as she peered into the plastic with a grimace on her face.

“Sorry kid, I know how much you don’t care for fruits and veggies, and, trust me, I can’t say I blame you when I’ve spent the last 80 years avoiding eating anything that grows directly from the ground.” The grandmother reigned in a laugh as she watched Enid fight that look of disgust and disappointment on her face.

“I tried my best to get you a better deal, but the boss was stubbornly adamant. Per usual.”

Enid shifted uncomfortably in her seat, knowing exactly who the woman was referring to. She didn’t want to think about her at the moment. Definitely not ready to start tackling that yet.

“However, she did promise that the second round would be enough to make you forget all about round one. I just have to make sure you eat all of what’s in front of you first.”

“Is that so? Not sure anything is worth forcing me to ingest even just a bite of this.” Enid deadpanned as she eyed the mountain of a disgustingly healthy array of tomatoes, mushrooms, bell peppers, oranges, apples, grapefruit..was that cantaloupe? Gross. She childishly stuck out her tongue that rippled a laugh throughout the room.

Ophelia ruffled her hair apologetically before reminding Grandmama that she’d be needed in the forge to help with their part of Wednesday’s plans in just a bit, and they’re going to go ahead and start making their way there in order to get things properly set up. After a simple nod and quick ‘see you laters’, Enid was left to the quiet of the kitchen. Only the background noise of the sink running and dishes clanking accompanied her soft munching noises as she regretfully began to work her way through the first round of breakfast.

Enid took a moment to glance around as she ate. A small table nestled in a small nook by the yawning bayside-style windows that stretched floor to ceiling had practically seemed to call her name.

She arose from the kitchen bar to quietly tuck herself in the cozy little spot that had a perfect vantage to the sprawling courtyard that seemed to endlessly spiral into the far distant treeline. Enid would forever be stunned that this practically functional castle and impressive grounds was the mere home of the Addams family. She was positive that actual royalty would feel a twinge of jealousy at the impressiveness of it all.

As Enid settled in, she absentmindedly gazed at the expansive courtyard in-between bites, Enid’s peripherals were captured by small flashes of light that flickered brilliantly in the distance.

Squinting her eyes, allowing them to adjust to the view outside, the sky still barely darkened in the final sprawl of time before dawn. She peered through the panes of glass she sat beside. After a couple of soft blinks, she was able to get a clear vantage of the flurry of movement in the field she quickly became mesmerized by.

She caught sight of a wild dance of clashing swords, highlighted by the shimmer of the half-moon that hung high in the sky. The soft light captured momentarily on the flat of their blades that cut around their frames. and her steady gaze couldn’t help but become fully drawn toward the motion.

Nearly finishing the entirety of her plate, scarfing pretty much everything whole so she didn’t have to taste all that much of it, she settled into her chair and cradled her face into a propped up hand, quietly observing the father and daughter duo from afar.

Just before she really started to pay attention to their practice duel, Grandmama quietly sided up to her and switched out her empty plate with a rather delicious looking breakfast sandwich.

The delectable aroma wafted upwards that smelled amazing, and seemed kinda familiar. Something about it reminded her of-

Of..

Enid rapidly blinked at the sandwich as Grandmama walked back behind the bar.

“What the..N-no way.” She stuttered, picking up the sandwich and peeling back the croissant bread, analyzing the various layers hidden inside.

“Something wrong, kid?” Grandmama watched the wolf with curious eyes.

“Um, odd question, but does this thing have moose meat in it?” Her brows knit to help her control the emotion brimming just under her surface.

“Huh, you really do have a good nose on ya, wolfie. That’s indeed what the brat said it was. What gave it away?” The woman spoke with light intrigue.

Enid took a moment to let reality settle in before she softly replied, still in disbelief.

“I’d know the smell of my favorite food from anywhere.”

Never once looking away from the sandwich nestled gently in her hands, she asked another question that rose to the surface of her mind.

“It’s um, really difficult to get a hold of. Did she say where she got it from?”

“Hmm..” Grandmama took a moment to contemplate. Lurch groaned low, as if to remind her what the raven had mentioned about it.

“Not that I, nor Lurch, recall, no. She didn’t really say much about it. Just to hide it from you and that crazy attuned nose of yours till you ate everything from the first plate.” Grandmama replied absentmindedly as she dove back into her routine task of cleaning and reorganizing the kitchen, handing things to Lurch as he placed everything in its place rather delicately.

The morning sunlight was, just now, peaking its beams over the crest of the forest in the distance. Gentle rays of sunshine started to pour into the courtyard. The soft illumination rendered the emerald grass to shimmer with the dew drops that have yet to evaporate.

With the dawning of the morning light, that bounced off of Enid’s eyes, igniting a cool mist into brilliant sapphire. She let her gaze, her mind drift back to the outside scene, back to Wednesday. She couldn’t think anymore about the sandwich. The raven probably didn’t know, had not a clue on how it made her feel.

And why would she? Enid might have mentioned it around her maybe once. A passing comment that vanished like smoke. There’s no way she’d remember something like that.

Surely she just lucked out. Getting the chance to taste her absolute favorite food for the first time in actual years. She wiped the single silent tear from her eye as she took a bite. She quelled that brimming emotion quickly. She didn’t need another reason to fall in love with the girl more than she already was.

Though she was thankful no one was actively watching her. She didn’t reign in the warm smile that clung to her. The sandwich.. it was even better than she remembered.

She ate slowly, savoring each and every bite as she quietly focused on the practice duel in the distance.

She could see the flecks of water glisten as they splash upward when Wednesday dropped her stance into a low, crescent kick followed by a clean upward swipe. All an attempt to sweep Gomez back enough for her to build a quick combo.

Enid sat up a little straighter in her chair as she watched. To her surprise, each well calculated assault from the combo Wednesday had built was effortlessly blocked, almost as if Gomez could read her actions before she even decided to make them.

In spite of the family poking at the man, reminding him that his fencing skills originated from very humble beginnings only just the night before, he truly was a genius at the craft. She didn’t have the time or capacity to appreciate his skill enough during their fight with the fire bear.

Lack of any pressing external threats paired with facing against Wednesday now, it made Enid realize why the girl herself was in a tie for top in the class. Her mother being captain of the fencing club back in her day paired with what Enid was witnessing from Gomez now, genius might as well have been woven into her blood.

She flashed a smile as unexpected and eager anticipation flooded her veins. She let the feeling wash over her. It was a welcome change of pace to the panic she's been in all morning. And if she was honest, she really couldn’t wait for their own duel, their first ever duel.

It was refreshingly exciting, especially after all of that training and time she put in with Bianca after all this time to try and approach her level and mastery. Secretly, she was hoping all of that effort would finally be able to pay off.

Enid watches as Wednesday narrowly carved out an escape from a series of frontal assaults with a graceful back handspring. The way she dodges each oncoming series of jabs - a simple droop of her shoulder here, a flick of her head as the saber almost grazes her cheek there. Each minute movement she made was brimming with her own unique brand of personality. She accomplishes what looks like it should be impossible to do and completes it all with this impression that she’s practically bored.

It sent shivers of awe and excitement down Enid’s spine.

Light on her toes and never once losing that iron grip she had on her perfect balance. Fully aware of exactly where her center of gravity remained at every movement, she moved and danced her body as if she was made of liquid. Darted around faster than a shooting star.

After a while of paying close attention, Enid realized in a bout of wonder that Wednesday and Grandmama were both right. Her leg proved to be strong and reliable once again, almost as if the break in her bone never happened. Even at the moments where she shifted the greatest of her weight to that leg, not once did it tremble, not once did it fail her. Enid felt the quiet pressure that had been crushing her chest disappear at the sight.

Overhead swipe, Back parry. A swift feint followed up quickly by a compound attack.

The two fought with such grace and fervor that Enid could hardly keep up.

She almost forgot what a tempest Wednesday was when she was fencing. No, this wasn’t exactly fencing she was well accustomed with. This was an entirely different class of sword fighting.

Even from this distant vantage, Enid could tell that the weapons were stronger, different from the thin needles that were the foils and epees that were typical for fencing blades. They had real power and weight behind them, even though their pair seemed tailored for practice.

It looked like it took more energy to toss them around, that was for sure. Enid only could hope that her practice and dedication to the craft could translate.

She watched with sparkling eyes as Wednesday turned a forward press that her father had made into this masterful pivot, forcing his move to flip his own weight against himself. Her small frame shifted around so elegantly. Spinning and twisting before the weapon could strike.

She was a force of nature all her own. She seemed to command the very wind around her when she snapped her wrist down. The swipe of her sword grazed the blades of grass and the pressure of the air forced a wave of them to bow before her presence and into the ground from which they sprouted.

She burst her arm upward in a blink, flipping the flat of her blade at the perfect angle over her head in enough time to catch the overhead rebound, pressing her stance deeper into the earth. Wednesday’s surprisingly powerful and toned muscles that spanned across her lithe form had been carefully crafted and honed by their wielder to weather some truly terrible storms.

She remained planted through the weight and power thrown at her, and that alone would have been a wonder to witness. But Enid remembers that she always, always surprises you when you least expect it.

The muscles in her legs seemed to give way, and Enid’s terror suddenly flashed like static across her face. Her heart suddenly started once more when she realized only a moment later that it was a ploy.

The tension that Wednesday held in her elbows sharply erupted to the left. It caused the force that her father used to bear down on her stance, digging her into the earth until she finally gave way, to shift.

Metal slid against metal as gravity and external force rocketed Gomez to stumble as he recouped his stance from a near fall as his sword suddenly hurtled down, almost embedding itself within the dirt.

The fuse had been lit and snapped oh so suddenly as Wednesday exploded to the opposite side, twin braids curving along with the arc she made and feet tearing up a flurry of grass and soil as she confidently dug into her new stance. Enid almost jumped up as she watched Gomez spin to recover faster than she was expecting. The angle of his sword catapulted towards his daughter at a speed she couldn’t dart around this time.

Enraptured by the fullest extent of her concentration, she doesn’t hesitate to vault her hips upward. She catapults and tucks her knees close to her face, practically turning into a ball in mid-air. The tactic worked in her favor as Gomez swiped cleanly at the air from just an inch beneath her feet.

Unable to stop his current trajectory, He’s helpless to the simple tap that Wednesday whips the flat of her sword against his back, winning her the match in one of the most intense sword fighting matches she’s ever seen.

Thankfully, the remaining portion of the breakfast sandwich muffles a sudden urge to cry out in her friend’s victory.

It was breathtaking. The way she was able to control each and every muscle to bend to her will. The confidence with which she blazed and carved a path and an opening forward, as daunting and intense as a wall of fire. It was so juxtaposed to the way her body responded to her, like she was made of water, as lithe as a stream and as strong as a hurricane.

Wednesday was breathtaking. Wild as a force of nature coupled with a deeply complex and stunning mind that she possessed. The combination worked in tandem to afford this smaller girl the ability to shatter mountains and shake the very ground beneath her feet.

Enid watched as she leveled her stance, a brilliant smirk unabashedly prevalent on her sun-kissed and sweat glistened face. She reached down to offer her father a hand up as she beamed with this bright light that radiated from her being, one full of life and thrill that burst through from the exhilaration of a hard-earned victory.

That bright light she so often hid away deep within her had softened her features into this moon-touched glow. A unique, other-worldly light that shaped her to actually be so soft and gentle at times. It set Enid’s heart aflame with how fully and easily it rendered her to be the most beautiful creature to walk-

Whoa-whoa.

What!?

Enid began to choke, cough, and sputter on the last bite of her breakfast sandwich out of nowhere. Quickly gulping the last of it down. She totally missed Grandmama’s wildly concerned face as she did so.

A furious blush flashed hot against her face as she snapped back into herself.

Wha-Wait! No! Stop!

Enid’s mind spasmed as she dawned out of her auto-pilot set mind, apparently one that railed her headfirst into swooning over her best friend!

Stop it, Enid! Stop it right now- what the hell?!

Gah! Where the hell did these thoughts keep coming from?!

Dammit!! No no!

Get out, get out, get out, get out, get out!

She shook her head furiously, as if the thoughts would just pour out of her brain like trapped ocean water that pooled behind her eardrums.

“Did the veggies take root in your head, you absolutely mad little thing? What the hell is the matter with you?”

The wolf snapped out of her spiral for a second. Lurch and Grandmama stared at her as if she grew another head before their very eyes. She totally forgot they were there to bear witness to the rapid decline of her mental state.

Oh Enid, you absolute idiot.

“No, uh..yes! The veggies!” Enid started out with a simple head shake that turned confusingly into a fervent nod as an idea popped into her head mid-sentence.

Lurch and Grandmama spared each other a confused glance between Enid’s sudden psychotic behavior.

“So bad. The-the aftertaste.” She moaned in a rather fake sounding tone.

“The aftertaste?” Grandmama and Lurch said at the same time, hooked on the story Enid was weaving..(though Lurch’s version of it sounded a great deal muddier than the older woman’s).

“Yes!” She emphatically continued to weave her lie, surprised that it was working. “No matter what I do, the bad taste of the vegetables is just gonna..gonna mess with my tastebuds.. ya know?” She leaned into it with a full range of acting, throwing her arms into it and everything.

Every word of it was utter garbage. She pretty much forgot about the veggies and fruit after eating the greatest breakfast sandwich on the planet.

A thought flashed behind grandmama’s eyes. Her lips twitched into a twisted smile before saying her next words.

“Wild thought. Have you considered mouthwash?”

Lurch gave the grandmother a very incredulous look, one that seemed to just shout, ‘you’re one to talk.’

Grandmama herself even seemed to understand, and was entirely miffed at his implication.

And like that, the tension Enid held in her shoulders all morning was finally released. Levity graced her heart once again as she fought a genuine giggle of laughter at the antics of these two goofballs before her.

God, she needed that moment of levity so badly. She realized as she rubbed two fingers against her temple. It helped to continue to tether her emotions to the ground.

Good. Finally, some ounce of good was working its magic this morning. One, at least there is one crisis averted. That could have turned out so much worse, Enid inwardly smiled to herself, finally feeling confident and hopeful for the first time this whole morning.

Maybe she could do this.

“I see that the sandwich is gone.”

And just like that, Enid could hear that momentary peace of hers shatter like glass into utter dust as Wednesday’s voice appeared from the door that led from the courtyard.

Every alarm bell that resided in her head all went off at once. Panic flooded her being as her as her eyes snapped to Wednesday and just kept getting wider.

Keep your cool, Enid. Please, for the love of all that is good.. Keep. It. Cool. Enid begged and pleaded to herself.

She adjusted herself quickly. Fix your face. Slow and even breaths. Don’t be so rigid. Softer movements. Blink, but not too much.

Enid mentally ran through a checklist of everything she recalled a human needed to do in order to appear cool, calm, and collected.

She was on her third round of the checklist as she watched Wednesday reach out for a water glass and rag set aside on the counter. Beads of sweat lightly trailed down her face and jawline to disappear back under the cloth of her jet black fencing gear. Her face warmed from watching the raven take a rag to whisk away the thin layer of sweat that glistened over her face and behind her neck. She watched as her throat bobbed up and down from drinking the water.

Enid stop.

She flinched and looked back up at her face. Little beads of water pooled at the corner of her lips as she downed the glass. Her lips seemed super soft to the-

ENID, STOP!!

She blinked her eyes away. There was a chip on the corner of the table that became super interesting right about now.

Even breaths. Slow your heart rate.

Shit. She really wasn’t going to survive and power through this, was she?

It was just- just…

Wednesday.

Wednesday Addams and everything about her.

God, she’s just been so..so all consuming in her own mind for a while now, and even more so ever since she had the unfortunate luck to (quite literally) wake up and realize the truth.

Why was this happening now, of all the times she possibly could have realized?

She reached out and absentmindedly traced a finger over that chip in that table.

It’s not like she could just hide her head like she could have at school and practically disappear into the ether..

She was stuck in this situation that was actively blowing up in her face, and she couldn’t run, she couldn’t hide. Where would she go without this sweet family coming to find her and dig away until they find her center. Pulling away each and everyone of these masks and layers until they realize the unfortunate truth.

Why was this happening now? Why couldn’t she realize all of this much later? What can she do to hang on? At least until this all blows over or becomes easier to manage.

She just couldn’t have been a stupid and oblivious idiot for another few days at least? Things were fine until she finally decided to grow a brain.

What’s worse, is that Enid knows.. she knows that there is absolutely no way Wednesday didn’t see them tangled up in one another as she woke up.

Enid had eventually cried herself back to sleep, but it’s not like she was able to do anything about it. She told herself at the time that she’d deal with it in the morning, and now she’s silently cursing that selfish idiot who decided to leave her in this precarious position now.

It was curious enough to Enid that nothing had been burned down overnight..no one passed away from an unexpected stab wound. Both of these things she was certain would happen together if Wednesday ever woke up to something..like that.

She’d take the small victories where she could.

Even still, this was uncharted territory.

What..what would she say to her after that? What could she possibly say? Would she get mad and blame her for it, somehow? Would she be freaked out? Never want to offer her any physical contact ever again because that one instance crossed enough of her personal boundaries to last a lifetime? And then some?

Not that Enid felt like she could survive another one of their hugs right about now…but still.

Wednesday saw it. She saw everything Enid did, and there was no hiding or escaping from that. Believe it, she tried.

Enid just knows that she’s on the verge of something terrible, something awful.

Enid braced herself, steeled away her heart for the worst that could possibly be thrown at her.

She’d be ready.

What other choice did she have?

Enid watched with trepidation as Wednesday finished the whole cup, watching her own hand slowly set the glass into the sink before the raven asked her a question, obsidian eyes still trained on the glass.

“I assume that your allotted portion of vegetables and fruit has already been consumed then?”

Not expecting that at all, Enid could only blink and gape half a word in response.

“Wha-?”

Wednesday furrows her brows at the flabbergasted response of Enid’s. Suddenly shifting her focus away, snapping at Grandmama.

“You made sure she ate them first, right?” Her tone was a little more tense. She pointed her sharp words to her grandmother in an accusing type of way.

Enid watched with wild eyes as Wednesday dug into her grandmother so suddenly.

She didn’t get it. Were the veggies poisoned? Seemed both entirely unlikely and a rather poorly designed plan since she hated them so much, though.

“She’s got her own quirks, sure. But she’s not some toddler that needs to be watched over, brat.” Grandmama huffed as she continued to help Lurch put away the various clean dishes.

“Did she or did she not eat them?” Her tone was laced with warning.

“Yeah yeah. She ate it all. The girl is properly nutritionized.”

The spark of irritation that bristled over her soothed at hearing this. Her shoulders released their tension, signaling a type of de-escalation. She took off her fencing gloves before reaching back for the glass.

The girl rolled her eyes and began to reach for the sponge, cleaning her water glass before rinsing and drying it off. Helping the two of them put everything away.

“I just told you less than an hour ago that ‘nutritionized’ is not an actual word, Grandmama.” Wednesday sighed, as if she’s fought this type of battle with her grandmother a thousand times. She began to dry her own hands with the cloth now.

“Nor are there words that can explain this strange obsession you have with making Enid eat stuff she hates to eat. You little weirdo.”

Enid watched Wednesday bristle right back up, like a scorned kitten with its hackles raised. She grips the cloth tightly in hand.

“If everyone just enables her to eat whatever junk she pleases, Who else is gonna make sure she..” Wednesday bites back, but trails off before she can finish the thought.

And before Enid realizes it, Wednesday tosses a light side eye in her direction, but blinks it away as soon as Enid recognizes it was there.

Enid would have normally assumed that she was mad at her too. It was common knowledge that any and every side eye from Wednesday is filled with a thick layer of sass or blatant annoyance.

Curiously, that wasn’t at all what Enid felt like the look she gave her had embedded within it.

But, what else could it have-

*Tch*

Wednesday throws the cleaning cloth back down on the counter, crossing her arms as she loudly clicks her tongue in frustration.

“Whatever. Forget it.”

Wednesday grabs her gloves, makes a beeline to head back through the door she just entered from, pausing only moments before her hand reaches the handle.

She hesitates, though. Twitching her fingers mid-air as something else dawns over her mind.

She balls the suspended hand into a fist and brings it up to her face, clearing out her throat.

The raven spins on her heels. She unexpectedly turns to face and to fully address Enid for the first time this morning. Enid tenses up straight from the stress that rippled down her spine.

Wednesday opens her mouth to greet her, but in a curious way..the words fall short, and she stops.

Whatever she was going to begin a conversation with, it was gone now. Instead, she purses her mouth quickly with a flash of concern that only lived for a mere breath.

Blinking once, she collected her thoughts and focused on Enid’s observant face once again, settling easier into a more natural rhythm of hers, directing and orchestrating orders.

“I’ve taken the liberty to set aside your fencing gear in the spare room. Down the hall and first door to your left.” She glanced in the direction of the room. Enid followed her trail of vision.

“Meet myself and father out in the courtyard when you’re dressed.” Wednesday awkwardly nods.

And just like that, she’s gone as quick as she arrived.

Enid’s just standing there, lost and utterly confused. Not knowing at all what to make of that interaction.

And then all of a sudden she realizes that she’s been holding in her breath as she coughs for air a few moments after the door closes shut.

“See, this is why I don’t eat vegetables. Might be good for your health, makes one properly ‘nutritionized’, as some like to put it. However, you grass munchers all seem a little too touched in the head.”

Grandmama laughs at her own joke like it was the funniest one ever made.

The laugh was so surprisingly infectious and the joke so terribly silly that Enid can’t help but laugh along with her. Partially to release the knot in her stomach, but mostly because the old lady figured she’d lighten the room along with getting a laugh out of Enid.

And, she was right. The wolf was pretty thankful for that.

The older woman finished drying a set of silverware, stashing them back in their rightful places as her voice picked up once more.

“Listen kid, the brat’s schedule seemed pretty rigid for all of us today, and even I wouldn’t want to keep her waiting too long. I’m positive you already know how the girl is with her own schedules.” Grandmama nods towards the room Wednesday mentioned earlier.

A gentle, and warm smile suddenly blossomed upon Enid’s face at the gentle reminder that Wednesday did indeed vastly change her schedule today to accommodate her own feelings and wishes. How could she ever forget?

“I do. I’m all too well acquainted with the structure she keeps with her interests.” Enid couldn’t help but smile at all of the times that mentally aligned in her head of Wednesday's eternal and relentless pursuit of keeping up her writing hour, her music hour, which had quickly turned into ‘their’ music hour.

“Mkay, then I’d hop to it if I were you, ya’know… before she finds more vegetables for you to eat as punishment for making her late.” Grandmama laughed to herself, still stuck on the veggie strand of humor.

Enid looks ahead to the direction of the spare room.

In spite of all of the confusion and the heartache. In spite of all of the delirium and the pain of the last few hours. The subtle reminder that Grandmama offered her, helping the wolf remember that Wednesday has bent over backwards, absolutely jumped out of character to do this really goliath kind of act, all for her dumb feelings.

Wednesday is growing and changing and stretching herself in so many ways, all to be an absolutely amazing friend to herself in a time of need.

That reminder alone was enough to draw fourth courage from and cut through the haze of her tumultuous emotions.

The fact that no matter what, Wednesday was indeed the greatest friend she could ever ask for, couldn’t help but bring a bit of light and hope that maybe all wasn’t lost as of yet. Maybe what she needed was time.

Time to give herself the ability to mitigate these feelings. To try and give it time to sort things out enough where she could remain Wednesday’s friend without this worrisome little thing called love overshadow the more important thing in her life, to do everything in her power to keep Wednesday in her life.

The only way she’d be able to do that is if she gave herself grace and time to learn to manage her love. She couldn’t ever get rid of it entirely, that she was certain of. However, she was hopeful that she could learn to restrain it, to keep it in check.

Determination cut through her steely blue eyes.

One thing at a time, E. You’ll sort this mess out..eventually.

Collecting her dishes and thanking the pair for breakfast, she braved forward into that spare room, getting truly ready for the storm that was surely coming her way. She intended to face it, head on.

Notes:

Hi, hi, hi! I can’t believe it's been another two or so months since my last chapter post! Where does the time go?

I’ve been really tailoring this one for a while now, and there’s a second half of the chapter that directly follows this one that, honestly, isn’t even remotely close to being done.

On a quick read-through last night, I suddenly had a rare flash of genius as to how to break and separate this section into its own chapter (without it seeming overly forced) to give you guys something in-between everything I’ve yet to write for the next chapter. (You might not have seen this for another month or so if I didn’t realize that last night).

I’ve missed you guys far too much and I’ve hated leaving you guys in the heartache of the last two chapters for so freaking long, so I was thrilled enough to stay up well past my bedtime to iron out any last minute details!

Though, we do find ourselves (and Enid) still in the throes of a heartache and chaotic zone with this chapter being almost all of Enid still realizing and sorting through a lot of baggage and feelings, even more than I thought since I broke the original chapter into two sections. (Sorry about that!)

I know I keep saying this, but we’re moving into more fun and lighthearted territory soon, I promise you. I still can’t wait to hear what you think about this one! I had a lot of fun writing her panic moments, and hope they’ve made you laugh as much as they’ve made me.

Alright, I did promise some very exciting updates for you guys this morning.

One of the reasons this chapter (and the next few chapters) have and will take a bit of time to get out to you guys is for a few important reasons.

One, and less interestingly, I’ve entered back into the peak busy season with my job. So for the next little while, I’m going to have to really dig for time to sit and write where I can. That should help explain why the chapters are so far apart, and help soothe any fears that I’d ever abandon this work. (Never, not as long as I have anything to say about it.)

Two, the plot is quickly becoming more complex and intricate by the second. I’m finding (to my joy) that new and brilliant ideas for this story are literally flooding inside my brain all the time. In the last couple months alone, I might have added enough scenes to build two whole new chapters out of thin air. Now, as exciting as that prospect is, this story is already the size of a full-length novel. As someone who is writing a story this big for the very first time, I couldn’t have foreseen how uniquely challenging it is to slot in new scenes in a believable manner while checking with everything you’ve written so far to make sure no glaring and gaping plot holes form because of the new additions. There is no getting around how much of an enormous task that is. I’m more than happy to do it, but it's just going to take up a lot of time to make sure I’m giving you and me the best possible story I can write.

Three, and most excitingly… I’m really happy to announce that I’ve fully written the very last chapter of this story in its entirety. I’m more than positive I’ll add some tweaks here and there to it over time, but it's at a level I’d be okay with posting it online in the state that it's currently in.

Now, you guys won’t see it for a long while yet. I’ve got a great deal of chapters I’ve not even begun writing on some of the in-between. Plus, it would only be hella confusing because there is literally so much that happens to get us to that moment, nothing would probably make any sense to you guys anyways..

So don’t think that this thing is going to come to a close anytime soon.

I just needed more than anything to see how I wanted to end this myself, how I would wrap up almost two full years of writing this silly little one-shot that turned into a novel before my eyes.

And guys.. I LONG for the day you all get to see it. I literally cannot wait to continue building the winding road that will lead us there. I just needed you guys to hear that it's there, I’m in love with it, and it's coming, one way or another.

In the meantime, I relish in hearing your comments, thoughts, concerns, hopes, fears, joys, and everything in-between. Again, this story would not have found its end if not for you guys encouraging this to be the best it can be at every step of the way. I’m truly the luckiest author in the world, and I mean it. You guys are the best, and I look forward to hearing everything you’ve got to say.

Until the next one, much love to you all.

Kalon

Chapter 19: Paradigm Shift (2)

Notes:

Chapter notes coming later! Was waaayy to excited to be close to finishing this one, and I just stayed up well past my bedtime to post it! Have fun and enjoy!

As she trailed her now damp shoes, one after the other, through the dew laden courtyard, Enid felt the crisp morning air nip lightly at her struggling fingertips and the cool breeze jostle strands of hair annoyingly into her eyes. She grappled half-blindly with the front zipper of her fencing jacket, Attempting, but mostly failing, at wrestling the stupid metal free as it remained stubbornly jammed just past the halfway point, and refused to move another inch.

So much for starting today off on a good foot, she flared her nose and clicked her tongue in annoyance.

It wasn’t even the fault of her stress-induced claws. At least not this time. Just her own personal brand of luck she assumed.

Another couple of tugs and the wolf groaned.

In the throes of frustration, paired with a small pout on her face, she wretched her hands away from the fabric before she almost ripped this one apart as well. The front flap, still unzipped, was left to hang loosely against her chest. It bounced awkwardly as she swept her arms upward, using those colorful claws of hers to gather and detangle her knotted, golden hair out of and away from her eyes.

She needed to tie up her hair as well, she couldn’t fight with it in her eyes. She figured that she could deal with the stupid zipper in a second. Even her ratty and stubborn curls wouldn’t give her this much trouble at the moment.

The wolf tilted her head to the side as she swooped up the top layer of curls and twisted the hair tie around the bunch to keep it in place. This style proved efficient for the fight with the bear, surely this would be fine for a practice duel as well.

As she twisted another ring to pull a layer of hair through, Enid’s ocean-flecked eyes caught the subtle movement of the father and daughter pair as she drew near. Enid squinted a bit, her eyes darting between them in curiosity as the two seem preoccupied in a rather serious conversation.

Granted, Enid hasn’t known the man for all that long, but still. She already found that it was extremely rare that you’d find anything but a goofy grin plastered over the man’s consistently jolly face.

The man tempered a soft smile, one as serious as it was sincere. Though it should feel out of place knowing his character, it interestingly wasn’t that way at all.

It was oddly comforting and curiously full of wisdom all the same. A gentle hand of his fell atop Wednesday’s shoulder. The raven’s dark eyes danced in deep concentration as her father imparted words upon her attentive mind, fully enveloped in whatever was barely out of Enid’s earshot.

Just what were they talking about?

She let it go rather quickly as the conversation evaporated faster than the morning dew. The pair became aware, now fully tracking that she was drawing fairly close towards their location.

Now that Enid was in an observational view, Wednesday’s once serious expression flashed away, almost faster than the mind can comprehend, upon witnessing the wolf draw near.

In a rather adorable way, (Enid, please stop doing that), Wednesday almost couldn’t help it as she quirked a rather inquisitive brow, no doubt, aimed at Enid’s half-zipped uniform. Her head cocked at a slight angle as she silently questioned Enid’s choice in her state of dress.

Those copper imbued eyes of hers flicked up to greet Enid’s own blues as a subtle spark of amusement and intrigue danced behind them.

Enid paused in her cadence, for only a breath. She hadn’t realized until now that this was exactly what she needed. That familiar, yet subtle sass Wednesday carried in her features worked to ease her trembling and anxiety filled heart that had been persistently worming into her since she realized the truth.

The wolf felt warm, Wednesday’s eyes finally met her own after all. Yet, the fire ablaze in her soul, the one she was secretly afraid would painfully engulf her until there was nothing left, curiously wasn’t eating her alive.

Yes, she was in love with Wednesday, that unfortunately couldn’t be helped at this point, nor something she wanted to linger on for more than a moment.

But, first and foremost, Wednesday was her friend.

Those teasing eyes of hers in this moment, something so subtle, so commonly found and offered from within the raven, was giving Enid this highly needed sense of calm, of ordinary.

That reaction, in turn, gave Enid the ability, the courage to realize that.. Maybe she could navigate this. Maybe she could just talk to Wednesday like a friend, like nothing ever really changed.

Looking into Wednesday’s eyes, there was an undisturbed sense of repose that hardly ever seemed to be shaken. Nothing really seemed to ever change for her. So why couldn’t Enid find it within herself to pretend the same.

Enid let her eyes roll a bit in exasperation and huffed at her friend’s slightly judgy look. She bit back a smile at the all too familiar sass that managed to soothe Enid’s wildly beating heart from the rather ‘normal’ Wednesday interaction.

She decided to brave forward a bit on her own.

“Listen, you. The zipper is stuck. I don’t need any of that judgment I can see written all over your smug little face.”

And to Enid’s relief, It worked. The warm retort seemed to surprise her in a good kinda way. Enid could tell that her friend was biting down a smirk.

She perhaps spoke too soon about her heart as she listened to the blood suddenly rush in her ears.

Wednesday reacted to the words by darting forward. She took it upon herself to draw close enough to open the flap, hiding the zipper. With lithe and dainty fingers, she began twisting the metal in her hands, aiming for a perfect and calculated angle.

Without warning, the raven shot the latch upwards until the jacket was fully zipped before she could even blink.

Wednesday released her hold on the jacket and took a full step back, admiring her handiwork as her hands settled on her hips in an observational stance.

“You’re correct, the zipper seemed practically immobile from my perspective.” She chimed with a strong dose of sarcasm dripping each and every word that left her mouth. Her brow twitched upwards as she fought a deep amusement from the words she spoke.

Enid felt her jaw slack from the surprise, and her heartbeat pound erratically. Her brain had a moment to short circuit as Wednesday danced in and out of her personal space. She began to wildly grasp at her jacket, hands splayed as they floundered around the light fabric in disbelief that any of that just actually happened.

“What’s the deal with this antagonistic relationship you have with protective suits?” Wednesday hinted at the fact this is the second time she’s had to secure her clothing in a relatively short amount of time.

“It really was stuck, how’d you do that?!”

Another hint of satisfaction escaped her in the form of an amused huff.

“Hmm.. I’m sure you’ve already learned by now that I’m pretty adept at almost anything I do. Naturally, that innate ability would extend to fixing mere zippers.” She tilted her head, playfully pretending she was bored, she lightly brushed her fingers across her sweeping fringe to reinforce this idea.

Enid almost couldn’t help the wide, toothy smile that threatened to burst upon her features as she realized just how smug Wednesday was with herself at this very moment. The wolf playfully
swiped her tongue across her teeth as she fought the grin tugging hard at her cheeks as she gave Wednesday a sarcastic nod.

“Right, of course. Don’t forget about how fantastic you are about bolstering your own ego. You’re a natural at that too.” She raised her brows in an amusement of her own which was mirrored by Wednesday immediately.

“I’ve been told once or twice that it appears to be my greatest talent.”

“Sounds like whoever told you that is full of wisdom.” Gomez smiled brightly, chiming his own two cents into the conversation as he teases his own daughter and ironically boosts his own ego as he insinuates that he’s voiced those very words to her on numerous occasions.

Narrow eyes cut over to her father, though the levity emanating off of her never once waned.

“If you’re referring to yourself, then I’m not sure wisdom is the right word to describe you, Padre.”

“Ah! You wound me, child. Your mother compliments my wisdom all the time.”

Enid watches with interest as Wednesday’s obsidian eyes unexpectedly widen in this almost theatrical way when she feigns surprise.

“So it is true.”

“What is?” The man blinked in confusion, completely blinded by what came out of left-field. He was thrown off the scent from watching his daughter communicate her facial expression in an over the top way, at least for her standards.

“Love really does make one blind.” She quipped as her voice deadpanned.

Enid couldn’t help but laugh out loud at the exchange. Gomez looks dumbstruck as Wednesday expertly nails her joke. That alone leaves Gomez shocked and the psychic looking like a cat that ate the canary.

Her mind went into a spiral that possessed her with this sinking feeling. One that threatened to darken her cheeks again. When did Wednesday become so playful?

And why did this have to be so wildly attractive on her?

Enid inwardly groaned at the incessant and unwanted inner dialogue constantly rearing its head. She practically felt nauseated from the summersaults her stomach was doing. She supposed she’d better get used to this uncomfortable feeling now, she had a horrible suspicion that it wasn’t ever going to just ‘go away’.

“Alright..”

Wednesday swept a braid over her shoulder as she honed in on her practice sword, still upright, the tip of the blade shallowly buried in the ground. She made her way to its position as she vocalized her plans.

“I can’t linger here much longer. I need to check in on the progress Aunt Ophelia and Mother have made on setting up the forge. I believe that Grandmama should have met up with them by now. After that, I’ve got to see to my armament and finalize a couple of designs before I head back up this way.”

Wednesday pulled the sword from its rooted location. She ran a careful hand over the flat of the blade to clean the spare dirt that had clung loosely to the glistening metal. Gomez made a motion that affirmed her statement. Enid supposed her confusion wouldn’t immediately find an answer, then.

Both girl’s attention spun to Gomez when he suddenly became ecstatic.

“That’s right! I heard from your mother this morning that you requested to handle the crypt this year. That’s quite the update.”

Wednesday tilted her head as she listened to her fathers words, weighing how she would answer that emphatic response.

“Yes, I figured it would be most beneficial for myself to head that up. There’s a great deal of logistics to handle now with the myriad of schedule additions, and I factored them in to make sure everything runs rather seamlessly. Besides, I don’t believe anyone would take issue with running a bit ahead compared to previous years.”

The man twirled his mustache as he beamed at his eldest child. “No, I don’t believe anyone would complain about that at all. I’m just rather thrilled to see you take it over again. It’s been a rather long time since you really took charge of this stuff, Mija. Makes this old man proud.”

Wednesday’s copper eyes flashed bright as she made her way over to Enid, the sword now held out, offering the blade for her friend to grab. Enid took the sword as Wednesday let the blade gracefully fall into her grasp. The wolf lightly glanced down at the intentionally dulled weapon. Though it was tailored specifically for practice, it interestingly enough remained much sturdier and heavier than what she was used to fencing with. Yet another question piled up in her brain as she glazed over the object. She internally noted that the list of questions was getting extensive.

“You’re right. I can’t remember the last time I visited them, myself. It’s been so long that I might just shock them into a second death.” she offered a playful smirk. “I’m hopeful that will be the case for at least a few.”

Enid blinked out of her stray thoughts in confusion from a severe lack of context.

“Excuse me? You’ll be doing what? Shocking who?”

Wednesday glanced up at Enid as the wolf pulled the weapon close to her chest, She stared intently as she regarded the utter perplexity written on the creases upon her friend’s brow.

“One thing at a time, Enid. I need all of your energy focused on winning this match.” She then nodded to her father who took his queue to ready his own weapon and prepare for the match himself.

“But-”

“You’ll find out soon enough.” Wednesday made a face that implied she wasn’t going to let this conversation go further, in spite of giving her own kind of reassurance to the wolf.

Even still, Enid found that she couldn’t help this childish pout that appeared quickly on her face, her confusion brushed aside for the time being in favor of keeping her in the dark. The feeling really did appear out of nowhere, and it bothered her more than it should, knowing that Wednesday probably didn’t have the time to explain, seeing as the schedule seemed to be running slightly behind as it was.

Still, it’d be nice to know what’s going on for once.

“Besides, you’ve got more important things to worry about, like how you’re ever going to manage to best a genius at his own craft.” The man smiled brightly at Enid, his words as comforting as they were teasing as he backed up his daughter’s stance.

Enid’s petulant eyes focused back upon Wednesday. The raven studied the expression with curiosity as she spoke again.

“I think he means a genius at ‘her’ own craft…” She sighed.

She suddenly broke their eye contact and tossed an annoyed glare towards her father. “Don’t forget that you’re supposed to be emulating ‘my’ fighting style as closely as possible. Otherwise, what’s the point? She’s not going to be dueling you, after all.”

“Not to worry, my little storm cloud. I’ll have Enid up to par with you in no time. If her talents facing the bear translate to dueling, then I suspect there will be little need for me to teach her much of anything of real import.” He shrugged.

Already retreating as she nods to that, Wednesday takes backward steps towards the house before disengaging herself fully from the conversation.

“Alright, it seems like you’ll be able to handle the rest here, father.” He lightly bows to signal his affirmation.

“Enid, I’ll collect you after a while. Until then, give this duel everything you’ve got, understood?” She waited for a response from the wolf.

Enid tempered her frown to be a bit softer as she wordlessly nodded her own agreement before Wednesday spins away as disappears like a vapor back through the side door and into the house.

Blonde hair curtained to gravity as she tilted her head, just staring at the door, even well after it swung closed. She was utterly lost in these fractured thoughts of hers that seemed to become increasingly scattered and splintered by the second.

Pressing a gloved hand at her temple, she found that she was torn between her deep desire to talk to Wednesday, to ask and know every detail of what was going on, what was being planned and the equally ferocious need to distance herself from her, and to always keep her at least at arms length knowing what she knows now.

Her fingers dug deeper into her forehead as the thoughts of hers continued their spiral.

“Does your head hurt? I never did ask if you’ve fully recovered from the fight.” Gomez offered sympathetically.

It startled Enid enough to snap her back into reality.

“Oh! Not at all.” She sheepishly removed her hand from cradling her head. “I’m back up to one hundred percent. It doesn’t take long for werewolves to heal.” She shrugged good naturedly.

“That’s what I figured. You werewolf types are an absolute marvel. You alone proved that with the Feuerbär. Even still, you seem a bit distracted. As amazing as you are, you’re not immune to harm, so I thought I’d check.” He kindly consoled her.

Her tense posture softened. She smiled warmly, genuinely at the sweet words of the kind man. She worked harder to shake off most of those wandering thoughts of hers to face him fully before responding.

“Sorry, my head’s kinda up in the clouds a bit, but I’m all good.”

Enid smirked as she voiced a sassy thought in the back of her mind.

“Good enough to kick some ass and take names.” She teased the man as she spun the sword in a couple of circles to her side, testing its weight. She then settled the sword to lean upon her shoulder, settling naturally in her own battle-ready stance.

The man bellowed his laughter into the open air.

“Oh is that so? I’m glad to hear it. Bring every bit of that spark of yours into this fight and the next and we’re sure to have the duel of a century upon us come Hallows Eve.” He fondly beamed.

At the mention of the duel, she finally allowed that curiosity to get the best of her.

“So, speaking of...Wednesday’s off to see to what, again?” She let her eyes flicker to the door she disappeared into.

Gomez settles his battle-ready stance into a more relaxed posture as he scrunches his face up in confusion.

“Her armament for the duel?” He shifts his back a little straighter as he responds with an answer that sounds more like a question.

“Armament” she trails off, scanning through her mental vocabulary words until she realizes she comes up with nothing.

“ I..don’t know what that means.”

“Ah, She didn’t tell you about that part?” He sympathized.

Enid wordlessly shook her head, her small frown reappearing.

“Hmm… see the blade you’ll be dueling with? That's what we like to call an ‘armament’.”

Enid does so. She tilts the weapon in her hand, truly analyzing it for the first time. It’s rather large. Daunting, even. The edges are intentionally dulled, but wielded with enough force, this thing can do some serious damage by weight alone. It was iconic, something that she’d imagined would have been donned by knights of old, forged and tempered steel that fought magnificent beasts and defended castles from endless hordes. It was intriguing enough to summon a new array of questions that danced eagerly on her tongue.

“I’ve been meaning to ask, why are we dueling with these types of swords? Isn’t it more normal to fence with sabres or foils?” She twisted the blade in her grasp, the weight causing the movement to be a bit sluggish.

“Yes, Sabres and foils are far more normal. But I’m sure you’ve realized by now that our family is a little bit of anything but normal.” She mirrored the smile that appeared upon his face.

“These swords, this particular style and the many elements that lead up to it are for the sake of tradition, paying homage to honor and replicate a duel of vast importance to our family. The very first duel of this kind was set upon the very same Hallows Eve we now celebrate today, only set around 600ish years ago.”

Enid looks blankly as she connects some stray dots.

“Oh, the duel that’s been going on for over half a millenia? Now, how did that story go again?” She attempted to ensnare him, now that she’s a better judge of his personality quirks.

“...She didn’t tell you about that part either, I suppose?”

Enid narrowed her eyes in confusion, she took her time before she shook her head in response.

“Though I'm grateful to see such trust within my little cobra for her own familia, I’m immensely surprised she left that up to us.” He voiced aloud, though it was evident that the thought was more to himself than to Enid.

“Left what up to ‘us’?” The wolf tilted her head, reiterating her confusion.

Gomez smiled.

“Not to worry, you’ll find out.” He offered warmly, her face fell as her subtle trap snapped back in her face.

“Great. I wonder what else she’s keeping from me.” Enid whispered coolly, not entirely meaning for Gomez to hear.

“Try not to take it personally.” He soothed. “It truly is our tradition to let these things unfold with time rather than an explanation. For once, Wednesday is opting to keep to the spirit of the traditions we have. I gather that she’s seeking for you to experience our traditions like any typical member. Everyone walks in blind. I promise that is by design for your enjoyment as well as ours.”

Enid let her head fall, shaking it in defeat, but with a helpless grin plastered on her face all the same.

“Does everything have to be this big surprise?” She shrugged. “Plus, I thought you loved to talk at length about family traditions? I’m not exactly going anywhere, so you can speak your heart out for hours, Gomez. Full permission from me.” She pressed her splayed fingertips into her sternum for emphasis.

“As flattered as I am at the offer, Enid, I’m the keeper of the family traditions as much as I am a fanatic about sharing them. When it is family tradition to let the family traditions unravel to newcomers in their own time-frame, who am I to let anything but tradition have the last say?”

She blinked and scratched at the back of her head.

“I’m confused, was that a maybe?”

Gomez rung out a deep laugh that shook him to his core.

“How about this, Bear-killer,” He adjusted his stance accordingly. He swung his own practice sword around to test its weight as he prepared for the duel.

“Bring that sword to the ready and let me teach you this opening, and we can talk at length about pretty much anything you want. I’ve been told I’m quite the chatterbox.”

“Bear-killer?” Enid quirked a brow at the moniker.

“Brilliant nickname, no? I came up with it on the spot.”

“Heh, you know what. I kinda like it. Sounds a little badass.”

“Then it must fit you like a glove, kiddo.” Gomez’s smile shines brighter.

Gomez focuses on the task at hand. Strangely, like he forgot an important piece of the puzzle, he drops out of the stance to draw weird circles in the ground with his sword. One large circle, and just begins to outline two opposing rings before Enid is prompted into another flurry of questions.

“If I may ask, what are you doing?” She watches the final ring become etched into the grass

“Preparing for the duel, of course.” He responds with an answer that didn’t actually answer anything at all.

“Right, I understand that.” She hums in exasperation. “But what's with the rings?” Her eyes trail along with his motions to carve into the grass beneath their feet.

He opens his mouth to answer, but Enid swoops in with another question before he can answer the first.

“And while I’m at it, why all of the preparation from everyone? Would it not be okay for Wednesday and I to just wing it and duel at the ball?”

Gomez tilts his head as he weighs how to answer.

“The rings are for help with visualizing the proper stance and placement for the opening ritual. The preparation though, ‘tis another bit of a tradition of ours. Besides, it would hardly be of any entertainment for the rest of the family if the two of you were on vastly different fencing levels. This is to ensure that the gap of skill between you two is closed as much as possible.”

“Wouldn’t it make more sense if Wednesday practiced against me though, if that’s the case?”

“The real question is, would it be as fun?”

“Huh?”

“Foreknowledge cannot be gotten from ghosts and spirits, cannot be had by analogy, cannot be found out by calculation. It must be obtained through people, people who know the conditions of the enemy.”

“I’m sorry. What?”

“Sun Tzu, Art of War.”

Enid’s face suddenly wrenches up in abject shock.

“...Is this fight some kind of ritual for a declaration of war?!”

Gomez snorts suddenly at the impressive leaps Enid is making.

“Nono, my girl. Not at all! Think about it. Stakes are higher and more thrilling when you actually put your knowledge and skills to the test by sailing the open seas for the first time rather than just studying a map or learning how to unfurl sails. See me as a kind of preparation for a more thrilling and exciting ‘final test’ if you will.”

“Um. I…suppose that makes sense.” She began rubbing her face as if she had to physically wipe away the shock. She relented just enough, much to Gomez’s relief.

“So then, what is everyone else off doing?”

“Working on setting up another tradition of ours.”

Enid scoffs a barking laugh into the air as she presses fingers into her temple for patience.

“It is very normal to be confused. You’ll come to understand that we Addams have a method behind our madness. Most of it stems from tradition, but there is meticulous reasoning behind our traditions as well.” He sympathized.

“I think after participating in a few of our family traditions, you’ll start to make sense of things, and realize that half the fun is learning about them along the way.”

“Speaking of traditions, this is lesson number one.”

“Les-“

Gomez suddenly strikes out at Enid, which she barely catches above her head, crossing their blades in an X fashion. Her automatic reflexes come in clutch to save her from the blade, though it was a little too close for comfort.

“Perfect reflexes, sharp as a tack, you are.”

“Whoa! You wanna warn me next time?!” Enid flailed as she eyed the opposing sword mere inches from her face.

“Not if you’re dueling against my daughter. That’s why we’re here, to make sure you and her are on equal footing for this duel. Remember the quote, ‘the people who know the conditions of the enemy’, and I know for a fact that she’s not going to go easy on you. Wouldn’t want to lose to her in the first couple seconds, would you?”

Enid grounds herself to leverage the weight, using it to push Gomez away from her and jumping back to garner some space between them,

“I’d hope that wouldn’t happen. I’ve been training far too hard these last few months to lose to her that easily.” She swipes at the air to practice handling the strange new weight once more.

“You’ve been preparing yourself?” There was surprise evident in his tone as he asked.

“Actually yeah, I’ve been wanting to challenge her to a duel for a while now, and this seems to be a perfect opportunity.”

Gomez smiles widely, something knowing in his smile.

“You’re brilliant, Enid Sinclair. Absolutely brilliant.”

Enid just smiled brightly at that.

“Alright, let’s see how far your lessons have taken you. Lesson one. Note the stance our swords were in when I pressed forward into an attack.”

Enid settled herself into a learning mode, absorbing anything he taught. She recalled back to when their swords crossed, finding her answer with ease.

“It was this perpendicular shape, our swords crossed in a shape that resembles an ‘X’.”

“You are correct. The first roughly minute or so of the fight is completely choreographed. The two swords always begin the duel in this stance, so, again, make note.”

“It is? Why?”

She really doesn’t know why she asked. The moment the question leaves her mouth, she already knows the answer.

Enid and Gomez say “tradition” at the exact same time.

The man laughs heartily as Enid facepalms.

“I’d say you catch on rather quickly.”

“Or you’re becoming rather predictable.”

“Oh, those are fighting words, my child.”

She craned her neck to stretch the muscle, tensing for the fight ahead.

“Bring it on then.”

“Haha! I like your spunk.” He swung his sword at his side.

“Alright then,” Gomez guided the opening to begin the duel.

“Take your place opposite of me, feet touching the ring. Walk a full circle, mirroring your opponent until you end the walk where you began.” He captioned as they followed his words to the letter.

“Hand upon the hilt of the sword, ready to draw it into that ‘X’ stance we discussed earlier, but don’t move, don’t reveal the sword until the orchestra stops playing. That is your cue to unsheathe your sword and cross blades with your opponent.”

Gomez gives a cue, and the two cross swords in that same ‘X’ pattern.

“After the swords cross and are revealed, from there, you clash swords three times.” He spoke and their motions followed suit.

“Only after the crossing of the blades will you back up and reposition into an opposing stance, feet fully back upon the circle. Facing each other, you bow once, and from there, does the battle truly begin.”

Enid could feel the anticipation in the air during the small walk back to the edge of the circle, as if it was electricity jolting in her bones. If he was now emulating Wednesday, she had to be ready.

Spinning on her heels, she faced Gomez. That lighthearted expression always evident upon his face evaporated. An air of deep concentration and seriousness formed over him like a deep mist surrounding a mountain.

There was this theatrical side to Gomez, like he was an actor on the stage of life. It was a role that usually rendered him with a goofy levity about him. Enid also understood that with a proponent for that nature, he must have been equally as good at channeling the personality of whoever he was emulating. She knew she couldn’t let her guard down for a second.

Enid’s hand twitched over her blade as she began to bow, feeling like this moment was eerily similar to a western quick draw. She closed her eyes, trusting in her inner wolf to hear the moment the tense cord snapped before her more human side, and thankfully she did.

She might have been tossed on the other side of the courtyard if that wasn’t the case.

Gomez had launched himself forward.

The force behind his strike stunned Enid, and she barely felt like she fended that first blow off.

Another two strikes, one overhead she caught, but the metal was caught at an angle. Gomez intelligently used it as an opening and let his own sword rappel down the metal it opposed to aim for Enid’s side in a rapid-fire swipe.

She let her own blade follow the path of his own, using her weapon as a shield. Because of that, she barely managed to fend off an attack to the opposing side as a quick twist of his wrist vaulted his own weapon into an entirely different trajectory that would have crashed into her shoulder, knocking her out cold.

She dipped her body low enough for it to graze over her ponytail, but felt the reverberations that her next overhead block sent as tremors shook through both her arms, as she needed to hold it double handed to stand a chance of fighting it off.

She pressed forward, using his force as leverage to leap backwards, creating that distance once more.

Gomez continued to advance, closing that distance she created almost as soon as she created it. He swung his sword with calculated abandon, focusing on her weak spots with startlingly good aim.

Enid still wasn’t used to the weight of this sword. It was so vastly different than anything she was used to, so it flailed around rather awkwardly, nothing like the ease with which Gomez wielded his own weapon.

In spite of that, she persevered. Each new strike was a chance to learn how to properly wield her weapon, how to guard when she barely has time to think.

It was far too slow of a learning process, by her own standards. Gomez landed far more hits than she managed to block. An elbow strike, a startling graze against her calf as she attempted to escape a combo that nearly sent her into the ground.

The adrenaline pushed the pain of the blows that connected into the recess of her mind. She didn’t have time to dwell on that. She focused more, learned the patterns, understood the train of thought behind the strikes.

That adrenaline surged through her veins, shooting that desperation of will through the entirety of her body. Because of that focus of her will, she became faster, stronger.

Her eyes caught more, seeing a wider array of frames within the smallest movements.

Finally, she was starting to get the hang of this.

Her grip tightened over the handle of the sword, almost making the weapon creak with the force. She could feel her fangs dig harshly into her lower lip.

There.

Enid watched carefully as Gomez twisted his shoulders and tightened his footwork to prepare for a series of combos that was meant to unbalance her own stance. Though as he rose to lead with another press, it left him open for a split second. Enid had already set her body to press forward and respond herself before he had a chance to properly hit the ground.

Gomez saw the intent just a hair late. Enid struck through his quick attempt at a block to dig the dulled weapon into his side. Strong enough to sting, light enough to charge into her next series of attacks. Finally, Gomez himself was on the retreat.

His blocks became more graceful as he quickly adapted to the shifting to defense rather than the typical offense he’s hung onto since the match began. Though Enid still held the upper hand.

Her strikes were clean, relatively simple compared to the complicated way that Gomez approached combos, but they did the job almost effortlessly now.

Enid dug deeper into her wolf side, realizing that intense surge of adrenaline was the key to unlocking it. Her strength and precision now reminded her of the last time she felt like this, hunting flying rabbits with Wednesday and taking down fire-breathing bears with the group.

This was highly useful information to know, especially seeing how she finally has the upperhand she needed to potentially win this fight.

“I’m impressed Enid, I know that Wednesday finds it rather difficult to find someone willing to oppose her in a match, let alone someone who could call herself an equal.” He panted through blocking Enid’s heavy handed forward strikes

“The way you realize your own strengths is actually quite a marvel to witness.”

The two collide in a way that sends heavy shockwaves up both of their arms. They retreat back to recover from the strike, continuing the conversation.

“How so?” Enid questioned breathlessly.

“I’m sure you’ve realized by now that I’m using a great deal of technical moves. She’s quite adept at modeling her fencing to mirror playing a game that requires great strategy.”

“Heh.” Enid nodded strongly in response. “She mentioned something like that while we were on our way to hunt those flying rabbits. She said something along those lines when she taught me how to use my wolf senses. She has to learn to compensate by using everything else to her advantage.”

Gomez bows his head deeply in agreement. “Correct! Thus she becomes something akin to a master tactician. She’s quite skilled at reading a situation and calculating within a fraction of a second and coming up with a series of ways one could possibly react.”

“The real trick is that she needs to hone her body to respond properly to her, and while she’s amazing at it, there are weak spots to exploit. You’ve seemed to grasp that concept just within the short while since we began the duel.”

Enid watches as Gomez begins to encircle her once more, recovered from the blow, she mirrors the action and opposes him at every turn.

“Like our friend Bianca told me, use your ability to outlast and overpower her when you see openings. There are very few, but there will be more the longer you're able to hold out. She’s going to want to exploit my weaknesses in a timely manner, because I’ll have more stamina.”

“Brilliant, great answer. The longer you’ll fight her, the more of a sense you’ll obtain to understand how she moves and operates.”

“Now, let’s put your theory to the test.”

Gomez darts forward one final time.

A blinding series of combos serves to confuse and send Enid off balance, placing Enid in a position that Gomez designed for her to fall into.

As Enid realizes her heel placement has thrown her upper body off kilter, Gomez manages to find a hold for the end of his own sword to cling tightly to the hilt of Enid’s own, pressing sideward in a way that literally sweeps Enid off her feet. His sudden shoulder crash into her both knocks the wind out of her lungs and tosses her far as she lands harshly on the flat of her back, leaving Gomez to win the match.

Enid groans in pain loudly as her opponent smiles as she rolls around on the grass trying to pool oxygen back into her lungs, coughing and sputtering the whole time.

“All and all, I think you’ll be more than just fine. You are uniquely equipped to counter her strengths and weaknesses, and, dare I say, one of the few who could truly rival her, and perhaps even be her true equal.”

“I’m” *cough* “I’m not so sure. You just managed to knock the wind out of me, maybe even knock out my soul.” Enid barely manages to wheeze.

“I’m positive. No family member, no old acquaintance of hers or friend could ever have kept her on her toes the way that you manage so easily, my child. If you managed to keep your footing and patience in check, you would have won. There were points where I genuinely wasn’t sure if you would or not.”

“No kidding?” Enid wanted to believe that sincerity that shined through, though something pierced directly into her mind after Gomez spoke, reminding her of something she actually was quite desperate to know.

“I swear it on Grandmama’s grave.”

Enid’s side eye was impressive.

“...but she’s not dead.”

“Doesn’t matter. She’s had one picked out for years, and it doesn’t change the fact that you almost won.”

“Gomez walks over to where Enid had just sat up, breath finally settled back into her chest. He offered her a hand to her feet. She took the offer and was launched back upright. She dusted off the dirt from her protective layer of clothes.

Before they engaged in another duel, something had arisen and gnawed at the back of Enid’s brain. The second Gomez offered to talk to her about anything she wanted to, she wasn’t sure what she’d want to ask. Something that he said a moment ago reminded her of something she wanted to ask, and for a while now too.

There was something she wanted to know, something she didn’t have the strength or capacity to ask Wednesday herself. Though, she wondered, perhaps Gomez would be a good source of information as well.

“Hey Gomez..” Enid trailed off, suddenly unsure, now questioning why she ever opened her mouth to ask this.

His attentive features and soft expression when she asked so timidly had given Enid the courage to continue.

“Y-you mentioned before that I’d be able to ask you anything I wanted while we duel, after we duel?” Enid stuttered through her question, shifting from leaning on one foot to the other uncomfortably. Gomez was studying her posture before he spoke.

“Of course, lobita, I am a man of my word. I can’t promise that I’ll have a proper answer for you, but I’ll do my best. What is it that you wanted to ask?”

Enid blinked rapidly as she fought for the words to ask her question.

“Wednesday..” Her stare cut a line into the ground. “You mentioned something just now that reminded me, but she told me some time ago that I’m not the first friend to visit this place? Is that true?”

Enid feels a unique distaste in her throat for even asking.

She knew why it bothered her now. Especially now.

Even still, admitting that she’s a little jealous bites more than just a bit.

Until this morning, she hasn’t been able to see clearly, as to why that thought has been silently nagging at the back of her head, and nagging pretty hard since Wednesday hinted at it at all, a couple of nights ago.

But no, she’s honestly just simply jealous. A stupid desire to be the center of Wednesday’s attention, now and forever. She wants to tear at herself for thinking that way. Even if they were dating, she had no right to ever think that way. It was so petty, so childish. Of course Wednesday was allowed to have friends, and Enid knew that. She’d want her to have friends. It’s just- ugh.

She can’t allow herself to think that way anyways.

Gomez makes a knowing face, while Enid is still boring her gaze into the ground. One that she doesn’t see. It takes a moment for him to reply, but Enid somehow manages to hold his curious gaze once he begins to speak.

“Hmm..” Gomez pauses and scrapes a hand across his jaw. It almost seemed exaggerated, almost like he was making a show of trying to remember.

“Goodness, Enid. You know, It’s been many, many years ago. My memory is admittedly not the greatest, but to answer your question simply, yes. I vaguely recall there to have been two others who stalked the halls of our home as guests and friends of Wednesday at various points of her life.”

“Oh..” Enid’s tone drifted off.

She knew this was probably the answer, yet she felt her stupid heart sink anyways. Why did she even ask? Clearly she can’t handle this answer. It wasn’t really her place to know this or ask this anyways - so why?

She is almost mad she asks, she doesn’t want to know this answer as much as she says she does, but oh no-

Gomez is now looking at her with a curious look in his eye. Shift your attitude, E. Play it off. Be casual.

“T-that’s awesome! Good for her, little miss socialite!” Enid forced a bubbly tone and cute smile to attempt to do just that.

“Do you, um, remember anything about what they were like? I’m not going to lie, I’m a little curious now. What kind of people would Wednesday want to invite to see this side of her life, you know? It’s..intriguing.” The wolf tilted her head in genuine intrigue, prying for reasons she wasn’t thrilled about that were taking over just now.

Gomez entertained that curiosity with a couple of answers.

“There was one, a delightful skeleton of a boy, Joel, I believe his name was.” Gomez nodded as he seemed to recall more the more he talked.

“He and Wednesday met at a camp when she was barely taller than a grasshopper. The boy, poor thing, was terrified of absolutely everything. He rattled around more than an actual skeleton, and was far more fragile than a flower. I believe he was even allergic to the sun, and… fabric softener, I believe.”

Enid wrinkled her nose in surprise at the last part.

“The other, a poet. Lucas, a friend of Wednesday’s at…ohh, one of the two schools Wednesday was transferred to before her first year at Nevermore.”

Oh yeah, Enid almost completely forgot she transferred schools a lot before Nevermore.

“I remember that he was constantly using these vivid and flowery words to describe the world around him. It brought many to believe he was this soft, and sensitive soul. Yet, he weaved these brilliant poems about darkness and the beauty of death. I could have seen him and cousin Diana, the huntress, our family’s own renowned poet, talk for hours in that fantastical language of theirs.”

Gomez drifted off, chuckling to himself in recollection as he finished.

“Now that you mention, I seem to recall that both of these boys were quite shy and timid when I first shook their meek little hands. That’s rather funny looking back at it.”

“Why? What is?”

A small smile formed on Gomez’s lips as he began walking that line he carved into the ground as he recounted a memory.

“You know, Enid, both of these two individuals managed to change personalities almost completely while they remained under the influence of my little stormcloud. Both began as rather timid, quiet, and shy individuals, not that there's anything wrong with that.”

“What is rather intriguing to me, is that both of them managed to unearth this admirable streak for causing havoc and destruction over the course of their friendship with Wednesday. The last I saw them, they were practically unrecognizable from their previous selves when I first met them.”

“They both changed that much? Why?” Enid pondered his words with strange curiosity.

“Who knows. It could be that they just merely became comfortable, showing their true selves. Want to know what I think?”

“What?”

“That they saw something in Wednesday they were drawn to. A lot of people see our family, our inclination to the gloomier, grittier, darker side of life and are repelled immediately, but others are curiously drawn like moths to a flame. They tend to mistake the simple inclination towards darkness for something else that resonates with people, something I believe everyone desires, but doesn’t always have the courage to obtain. This is why I believed both of them changed so drastically.”

“And what would that be?” Enid was hooked.

“A kind of peace and happiness that comes from accepting the unnatural part of yourself, and to walk through this confusing life and move with confidence and grace. Being at ease with who you are and what you enjoy, not worrying about how others perceive you.”

Enid listened as she thought about that. Gomez sighed deeply before continuing.

“You maybe wouldn’t know this, but a father can see and understand a lot of things without anything having to be said.”

Her attention was keenly attuned to what he said next. She didn’t know where he was going with this.

“Both of these boys, though they remained good friends of Wednesday’s, it was rather obvious to me that there was something more there on their part. You can see it in their eyes, they say eyes are like the windows of the soul. Both of them dreamed and hoped of something greater than friendship with her.”

Enid went stone cold, ice cracked down her veins and creeped into her spine.

She makes a face like she’s afraid he already knows, that he can see right through her.

“Haha, it did seem a common theme of her close friends to eventually think this way. Though I’d never insinuate anything with you, of course.” Gomez carefully dodges, watching closely when he thought Enid wasn’t focused on him.

And Enid doesn’t focus on the man at all. She lets her gaze fall upon the grass at her feet, overwhelmed by the new information as her heart sinks lower in her chest.

Enid wrangled at her spiraling thoughts. She blanched at the fact that the man is far more right than he realizes, and that little does he know, does anyone know, she is already another mark on that trend.

She balled her fist lightly, Gomez revealed to her exactly what she was afraid to find out.

These boys both admired and fell in love with Wednesday. Just like she did herself. Yet, she couldn’t help but compare herself from the short excerpt that Gomez included about them both.

They both had these proclivities that reminded Enid of the Addams family. She wondered abjectly about how well they must have fit into this world, her world…

Those proclivities towards the darkness and fascination with death. A penchant for chaos and havoc, inclined towards the darker side of life.

Something that she wholly lacked.

Just another reason why Enid had to find a way to bury these feelings for good.

The truth was, she looked nothing like this family, and if she was honest, she never would. Her adoration for colorful and bright things stuck out like a sore thumb. Not to mention that it was paired with her immense fear of death… Really, of dying alone.

She wasn’t meant to be

She was never meant to be.

Put all of this out of your mind.

Wednesday deserves the world, she deserves someone who can truly understand her, who thinks like her, looks like her, can share in the things she enjoys the most.

That person isn’t you. It will never be you.

Enid painfully swallowed through a dry and harsh throat. She evened her face, asking another question to Gomez, imbuing it with as much indifference as she could muster.

“So, um. How did those boys cope and fare with all of this when they each were here?”

Gomez made a face filled to the brim with confusion.

“How do you mean?” he asked the wolf to clarify.

“Oh you know, the hunt, the family films, the duel.” A simple shrug, playing down her still present curiosity. It was a lot easier to do when you’re hurting, she realized.

A small sparkle gleamed in his eyes. Gomez lightly shakes his head and knowingly smiles.

“Oh that?” He chuckles to himself. “They never had the privilege. Besides dueling with her brother, Wednesday barely participated in the duel herself.”

“Huh? They never did any of this fun family bonding stuff with you all?” The genuine surprise flooded her, strangely evaporating that pain she placed upon herself.

“Nope.” He intentionally popped the ‘p’ with a smirk as he continued. “That honor is exclusively yours, my dear.”

She doesn’t want to admit how nice that feels, how immensely relieving it is to be the only one who gets to experience them in this way. She quickly becomes torn again, a strong mix of pride, yet blended in with the bitter taste of having these thoughts, of feeling this way at all.

“You know Enid, the way that some people are drawn to us, I imagine that you yourself garner a lot of similar attention.” The man continues.

Enid, not expecting the comment, nor knew what to say, merely just questioned the intent.

“What do you mean?”

“That confidence that we have in our family. You know, you have a confidence all your own that is quite stunning to watch. No wonder you were able to make very quick friends with our little storm cloud, faster than all of the others, I might add.”

“How so, what do you mean?” It’s her turn to ask him to clarify.

“Like I said, a father knows. It is very evident to me that Wednesday immensely respects your confidence in who you are. You make no apologies or changes to who you are to fit in. You don’t flit away at something the world only has one of…and very much needs.”

“Needs? What exactly do I have that the world needs?” She found that she needed to know the answer, she painfully realized that she didn’t know what it was herself.

He laughed like the answer was obvious.

“You. Enid. The world needs someone exactly as you are in it. You’ve been such a joy for me and my family, and I know that Wednesday values your friendship highly.”

Her breath caught in her throat. Tears began to sting into her eyes. Of all the things she expected, it wasn’t that. Yet-

“Please, lobita, destroyer of bears, and living embodiment of the brightness of the sun… Please never change who you are.”

It was the thing she needed to hear the most.
She dropped her sword without thinking, and just ran into the man without much thought, causing him to stumble backwards with the force. She hugged him tightly, conveying how grateful she was to hear those words, how grateful she was to know a man so kind. He returned the strength of the hug with equal measure.

“I- you have no idea how much that means to me.. How much I needed to hear that, Gomez.” She spoke muffled into his own fencing gear. He offers her a sweet pat on the head.

“Thank you.” She spoke softly.

“Of course, lobita. I mean every word of it. Not me, not anyone else in this family, especially Wednesday, does not want to see you be anything else but confident in who you are.”

With every word, Enid’s jealousy and pain melted away. She knows she won’t be perfect at it, but she’ll try to remember and hang onto those words in her low moments.

Gomez pulls her back by the shoulders and offers her another signature grin of his.

“Now that I’ve seen your strengths firsthand, there’s a couple of cool tricks I want to teach you. I think that they might really give you a stronger foothold against Wednesday in your duel. Are you ready for round two?

Wiping away the glassy look from her eyes, she smiled warmly back and nodded eagerly.

“Ready when you are.”

---------------

Wednesday expects to still see the pair dueling when she makes her way back from checking in at the Forge.

So, when she draws closer, watching both her father and Enid actually rolling around on the ground in a deep laughter, she’s obviously a bit confused, and equal parts intrigued, and entirely annoyed.

“Hope I’m not interrupting anything important.” She offers in a deadpan as she draws close enough to be heard, crossing her arms in expectation.

It took a while for either of them to respond. Their laughter had to start giving way before they could manage that.

Enid sat up, giggling intermittently as she tried her hardest to actually manage to get words out between the immense wave of laughter.

“No, of course not! You’re not interrupting anything at all! Here, sit.” Enid pat the ground, inviting her friend and teeing up her next sentence.

“Won’t you come break bread with us, Pocahontas?” Enid sputtered out another laugh, barely holding it in as she spoke.

Wednesday’s eyes widened significantly, blinking at the stretch of underused muscles to get them that wide. Her head snapped to Gomez, who only laughed even harder after Enid’s last sentence, both of them were rolling at this point.

“Why the hell did you tell her about that?! What even-” She seethed.

“Oh come on Wednesday, the gods of your tribe have spoken to me. They said to give Enid your favorite ‘infamous Wednesday monologue moment’ when she asked. Forgive me, Mija, I couldn’t resist.”

Wednesday practically growls in irritation and embarrassment, now wondering what else Enid happened to pick up from her buffoon of a father.

“Really. You’re out here goofing off about that? Did you two even practice at all?” She offers a strong side eye to her father, still giggling with tears in his eyes. She hoped for once he’d be the responsible one. Too much to ask a tiger to change his stripes, she supposed.

“Of course we did! I learned all your little tricks.” Enid feigned this incredulous look on her face, pretending why she couldn’t believe Wednesday would ask them such a thing.

Wednesday let that side eye roll over to the smiling blonde, choosing not to believe a word of it.

“Alright, prove it. Get up and fight again. Show me what you’ve learned.” Wednesday practically barks her orders. Gomez wasn’t phased though.

“Oh no you don’t. Not even close to being fair. You won’t see her fight until the duel.” Gomez smiled wide, winking at the still giggling wolf across from him.

“What do you mean ‘not fair’? She watched me fight against you. I just want to see the progress she’s made.” Wednesday was a bit stunned by the push back she didn’t expect.

“No, Mija. You’ll just have to take my word for it. She’s more than ready for your duel.”

Enid’s giggles die down as she preens a bit with pride at his words, knowing them to be sincere.

“Father-“

“Nope.” He cuts her off before she really gets into her argument.

“I’ll have you know that Enid’s been preparing for this a long time. I’ll let her show you what she’s so rightfully earned not a second earlier than when it’s due.” Gomez nodded to the wolf, watching the blonde smile warmly at that.

“A long time? What does he mean?” Wednesday turns to Enid suddenly.

Instead of arguing again, Wednesday seems to hone in on something else entirely, dropping the insistence to watch them duel in favor of asking a question that Enid realized with strangeness that looked like it was burning into her.

“It means I’ve been training in my free time.” Enid drew out the sentence, not knowing why that was suddenly so strange.

“You- You have? This is news to me. When?” The wolf watched with intrigue as Wednesday kept digging, startled eyes waiting impatiently for an answer.

“I’ve, uh. I’ve been asking Bianca for help.” Enid scratched at her head, eyes suddenly shifting to Gomez, hoping but failing on gleaning an answer from him as to why Wednesday is acting strange with this. He merely looks like he's just listening to her tell a simple story.

Wednesday is still waiting for an answer, and it is very evident upon her face.

“Our class that Bianca and I have in geography doesn’t end at 3 like I think you’ve just assumed. It actually ends at 2. We train during that gap hour everyday. Have been for months.”

“Why were you hiding this from me?” Wednesday jumped to conclusions immediately. Enid jumped at her own answer to this.

“I- I wasn’t. Promise.” Enid raises both palms up in a sign of honesty. “I just never really saw any reason to bring it up, not till I was ready, you know. ”

“Ready? Ready for what?” Wednesday’s obsidian eyes were giving Enid absolutely nothing besides a deep desire to just know.

“So I could do something like this.” Enid gestures widely to everything in front of her, to Wednesday, to Gomez, to the swords in between.

“I’ve wanted to challenge you to a duel for a while, but my skills were far too weak. I needed to get on your level first.”

“And all that training has done Enid absolute wonders.” Gomez added with a simple grin, seemingly oblivious to the panic on Enid’s and Wednesday’s faces.

“Oh.” Is all Wednesday offers at hearing that.

Oh? Oh?! What the hell does that mean? Oh?

Enid stared wide eyed at Wednesday as the raven seemed to retreat in her own thoughts.

“Is that- so?”

The raven is silent for a moment. Enid has all kinds of weird bells going off in her head. This is so strange, but she has no idea what any of whatever the hell that was means. Did she do something wrong? Did she-

“Father, they need you in the forge.” Wednesday spun away to fully face her father. Enid let her facial expression shift into fully displaying her utter confusion now that Wednesday wasn’t looking at her anymore. It got worse at the sudden conversation switch.

Gomez was of no help, looking like he wasn’t aware of anything going on at all.

“Of course, I’ll go ahead and pack things up here. I suppose you’re headed to the Crypt now that your errands seem taken care of?” He asked in turn.

“Yes, everything else is taken care of. Not much left to do now than to set it all into motion.”

The wolf huffed loudly, audibly to the two people in front of her.

“So, are you going to dodge my question again if I happen to ask what you’re up to?” Enid poked at Wednesday with her question, partially because she wanted to be included in the conversation, more so to see what kind of excuse Wednesday would come up with this time.

Wednesday looks to the family crypt off in the distance, and then back to Enid. With a smirk.

“Yes. I did plan to dodge that question if you brought it up.”

“Figures.” Enid smiled and rolled her eyes at the predictability of her answer.

Wednesday quirks a brow at her sass-filled comment with intrigue. She slowly draws close to Enid’s place on the ground, earning a strange look from the wolf as she towered right above her.

She hunched down, leaned on her knees to draw nearly eye to eye with the wolf who was working hard at not revealing another pout to her opposite.

“I’m not going to tell you what I’m up to. I’d much rather let you find out on your own.”

Wednesday leans her weight onto one arm as she raises and extends the other to Enid, offering her a hand to help her back on her feet as well as symbolizing that she was finally going to start pulling her into whatever was happening around her.

Enid blinked at the hand once, and immediately took it before it disappeared.

Wednesday leaned backwards, helping her friend into her feet. Enid felt her hand burn at the physical contact. She now was acutely and painfully aware that it took Wednesday a bit longer than normal to drop the hold, spinning around to Gomez before she gently and slowly let her fingers loosen their hold and slip away from Enid’s own.

“Will you let them know I’ll bring Enid to them once we’re done. Hope they don’t mind waiting a bit longer.” Wednesday asked her dad, who nodded simply in response, that wide grin practically always plastered on his face.

“Of course! They won’t mind at all. Have fun Enid! Can’t wait to hear all about it!”

He offered the girls a wave before he turned to retreat back inside the manor, and Enid spun back to Wednesday as the raven yanked on her sleeve, subtly asking Enid to follow her lead as they began to hike the grounds and head northward.

“So what are we doing?”

“Well, with all of the new schedule add-ins at the last minute. I figured I’d knock out a few birds with one stone and enlist a great deal of extra ‘help’ a little earlier than usual.”

“Help? From where?”

Wednesday just spins a bit behind her to smirk playfully at Enid, who was growing more concerned by the second.

“Wednesday, from where?”

“Patience, Enid. You’ll see. That’s half the fun.”

Chapter 20: The Threads that Bind Us

Notes:

There's no way I have another chapter out this early. Don't ask me how. I'm in shock just as much as you guys.

“This totally isn’t a crypt.”

Enid hangs by the doorframe as she observes the inside of the structure. Her hand curled tightly around the cool sandstone of the doorframe. Crystal eyes darting around, soaking in everything that they can. She spoke with a little bit of breathiness. She actually was out of breath, for it was surely stolen from her chest.

“This is a freaking cathedral.”

The stained glass windows that towered towards the skies filtered in this gentle light, giving the crypt this ethereal glow. Leaving a kaleidoscope of these daker, closer to monochromatic, colors that painted the stone and marble these stunningly haunting rich hues of ripe plum, dark ocean, and blood red that hung across the walls and spilled over the floors like streams and banners you’d find at a major event, like a kingdom-wide festival.

The stonework was impeccable. Intricate carvings and raised etchings of gothic symbols and imagery that must have been of some significant import to the rich history of the family lay hidden in nearly every crevice of the temple-like structure. Iconic scenes of witches being bound and burned, celebrations accompanied by dancing and merriment, reliefs of almost heroic looking figures, and quieter scenes of family members being one with the nature scenes around them. These individuals were forever remembered on every inch of the walls and columns that surrounded them..

Enid looked upwards as she began to timidly follow Wednesday’s lead, the clopping of her shoes echoing into the air, thick with silence besides their footsteps and her heavy breathing. 

The crypt looked much larger on the inside than it did on the outside, and most likely was. She noted the arched door frames mirrored on each side of the back of the crypt, leading down into a dark staircase that spiraled surely underground, leading to deeper catacombs that lay beneath their feet. She transcended down this small row of stairs before her to find herself in the heart of it all, the center of the structure. Her face and hair painted with those solemn hues and colors as her gaze trailed upwards to the heavens, studying the hand etched paintings that adorned the ceiling with a myriad of different scenes, that precursored the towering spires that seemed to high that they pierced the clouds that hang low in the atmosphere.

Every corner, every inch of this place was imbued rich with history, and immense gothic beauty. Her chest clenched tightly with the lack of air that she still felt was being stolen from her lungs. The sacredness and wonder of this place filled her with a unique kind of reverence, where time itself seemed to pause, and made her immensely thankful that she was one of the few that uniquely got to experience something so grand, something that set her soul alight with immense wonder.

Her gaze, analyzing every nook, every wondrous instance of this magical place, finally landed on Wednesday before her, who was watching her with these curious eyes as she observed her friend from afar taking everything in.

Wednesday was painted with those rich plum and ocean depth colors, cast in long shadows across her form from the darkened light through the thick stained glass windows. Enid felt her face darken terribly when a prominent thought flickered around in her mind, thinking upon how immensely beautiful this place was, but the beauty here could hardly rival Wednesday’s own.

She shook the thought out of her head and watched her hands as she willed them to stop shaking, thankful the blood red color through the window was cast upon herself, giving herself the ability to hide the furious blush of hers in plain sight. 

“You’re awfully quiet.” Wednesday’s hushed tones rang out in question to the wolf at the other end of the crypt, a small sign of her own reverence towards the place. It made Enid realize just how long she had been observing this place in quiet study, if Wednesday herself was noting it.

“How could I not be? This is probably the most beautiful crypt that has ever existed.” Enid softly gulped. She clutched at her chest, as if the motion could still her rapidly beating heart.

“True.” Her head tilted, those obsidian eyes scanning around the structure in her own kind of acute observation. “I don’t imagine many others putting this much effort into a home for decayed and empty eye sockets to only observe.”

“No, I wouldn’t think so either, but thankfully you and your family do things a little differently than most.” Enid continues to observe the crypt and all of its intricacies, missing the way that Wednesday’s gaze locked back upon her when hearing that.

Though the clopping of Wednesday’s own shoes as she worked her way to the back of the structure did catch Enid’s attention. She followed the raven’s lead, and began to make her way to the back of the structure as well.

If this really was a cathedral, this particular area would have been the place where they set the main altar, possibly an organ or the chairs of the clergy or something. Enid drew closer to the back, where Wednesday was already kneeling and hovering over something embedded in the floor. She had to climb a small set of stairs to get a proper view of it though. 

But when she did- 

“What in the-” Enid chimes at Wednesday as she makes her way over to the far side. The raven was now motioning Enid to draw closer in.

What was intriguing to Enid was not the fact that a crypt had a section like this, but the fact that instead of anything normal to have in this area, there was rather a giant pit of sand. One that had this rather ornate trim around it, and a smooth layer at the top, almost as smooth and pristine as glass itself.

And for the life of her, Enid couldn’t figure out why something that peculiar was set in the floor so purposefully, almost as if the crypt had been built around the thing itself.

“So um, why the sand pit? As strangely large as this is, I don’t think it's big enough for the long jump.” Enid flatly jokes.

“What? Why would you jump in it?” Wednesday creased her brows in confusion as she hovered a hand over the surface, engrossed in her own analysis of the object. Enid wondered what exactly she was looking for.

“I wouldn’t. I’m just making a joke about how it looks like the sand pits at the stadium used by the track team to practice and perform the..”

Enid tried to explain her joke, but the small attempt at humor had already fallen flat. Wednesday had deepend that crease in her brow as she momentarily paused her analysis of the pit to look upon Enid with even more confusion.

“Oh never mind.”

Enid hunched down close to Wednesday, where she was crouched over the sand. 

It was then that Wednesday dug a finger into the array of particles and began to carve out interesting shapes and lines, disturbing the once pristine layer of sand. Instead, the surface turned into her own personal writing tablet. 

She quickly scribes odd symbols that Enid had never once seen in her life, and somehow made the pretty pool of sand into something far more interesting and mesmerizing at the same time.

“What do you guys use this for?” Enid whispered as she watched Wednesday work. The raven regarded her question without stopping her concentration placed upon her task at hand.

“This, Enid, is what my family likes to call, the Soulbinding Slate.”

Enid blinks in curiosity and intrigue as she eagerly awaits Wednesday to continue on, as Enid’s learned that she will eventually do, on her own, if you just give her time.

The wolf, to her own amusement, finds that she has this interesting habit of dramatically pausing for effect before continuing on. 

It was easy to tell that was what was happening if one was patient enough to wait for it.

It was actually rather adorable, especially since Wednesday intentionally holds onto the suspense, knowing how much Enid was hanging onto every word she spoke now.

Momentarily, Enid was proven right once more.

“If one knows the right words to speak, the correct ancient text to write, and etches a binding contract of their own making into the sand, one has the ability to summon the spirits of those who’ve already departed.”

“You’re raising the dead?!” Enid breathed in disbelief.

“No, that is the art of resurrection. A specific focus in the, rather extensive, field of Necromancy. That is a far more complicated and risky endeavor. As long as I’ve sought to learn the art for myself, I am not particularly keen on pursuing anything like that, at least not in the near future and not without sufficient preparation and research. We could end up with another Crackstone situation after all.” Wednesday finished with a bad taste in her mouth from recollecting that unfortunate series of events even she was not eager to relive in any capacity, not even in memory.

“Right, that would really suck to have another situation like that happen again.” Enid’s own fear and unpleasant memories of searching desperately for Wednesday rose to the surface. The idea of not knowing if she would even be breathing if she found her twisted her heart within her chest tightly and painfully, just like every other time she absentmindedly let her mind wander back to that day.

“Not that any of my own ancestors would ever strive to eradicate any and every outcast or normie, or really ever harm even a fly. They’re a rather.. Well, I suppose you’ll see for yourself.” Wednesday paused her etching for a moment while speaking, but promptly continued her work soon after.

“No, what I’m doing is just binding their spirits to a contract. I’m summoning their apparitions for a specific length of time and under certain conditions elaborated within the contract I’m writing into the Soulbinding Slate. It allows them to be present and make contact with the corporeal plane from the ethereal plane without ever technically leaving it.”

“So as the resident Necromancy expert, explain to me the difference. I don’t really see one.”

“When you resurrect someone, they are pulled entirely out of the ethereal plane and placed back into the Material world. Breaking a whole host of universal laws in the process. They have the ability to live in and interact with what is around them, the same as how you or I can affect the things around us in a large capacity. Spirits are unable to interact with the corporeal plane in the same way because they are not tied to this world, but another one entirely.”

“Um.”

Wednesday stopped etching to look Enid in the face, knowing exactly what that little confused ‘um’ meant, and now worked to craft an explanation in Enid’s own language.

“It is as if you invited me to come visit San Francisco, and I arrive at that location in person rather than ‘Visually Connecting’ your mutual technological devices in order to show me around.”

Enid tried really hard not to say ‘um’ again. Going over each and every word in her head trying to make sense of what was just explained to her. Visually connecting, what could that-

“....Do you mean ‘FaceTime’?”

“Whatever abhorrent name the technological savants choose to refer to the regrettable action as.” Wednesday hummed low as she continued to sketch weird glyphs into the sand.

“I don’t think someone would have to be an expert at technology to know the word ‘FaceTime’.” Enid teased, a huff of mirth escaped her throat.

“So, now that I’ve finally got you talking-” 

The levity of the joke had opened another door, allowing Enid to express her deeper interest in the moment, pressing through and learning to balance being relatively normal with the constant weight of her feelings pressing into her. 

“You have to tell me everything.”

“Meaning?” She spoke with a small tilt of her head.

How did you learn to do this? This is clearly magic, right? How does the magic work? Does it feel as amazing as it looks? Do you have to be an Addams to do stuff like this or can anyone? Why sand? Who was the first of your family to-”

“What in the? Enid, slow down. Are you not-” Wednesday trailed off, utterly confused, snapping her attention fully to Enid as she waterfalled her questions.

It was odd, but Enid felt like her face was being studied by Wednesday, looking for any evidence of something she might have thought was present there.

“Not what?” She finally accompanied the thought in her head with vocal words.

“I. Well, I wasn’t entirely sure how well you’d react to all of this, to be honest with you.” Wednesday’s intense studying relented, as she conveyed some of her inner thoughts to Enid now. 

The wolf just leaned close with a wide grin.

“What, you didn’t think I’d find all of this to be incredibly cool? You and your family never cease to awe and amaze me with the wild things you’ve all got up your sleeves.”

Wednesday focused deeply upon her words.

“It’s kinda an honor just to witness it all, if I’m being real myself.”

And then Wednesday’s face did something curious. It widened in surprise, her studious expression that was analytical and unsure replaced with something softer.

“Hmm.”

“You okay, Addams? You’re looking a little, pale.” She playfully echoed the words of their very first meeting. Hoping for another playful jab from the raven at her side.

Instead, Wednesday leveled her gaze back upon the sand, though makinging no movement to pick her task up again. She bore a hole into the grit with her steady gaze before taking her time to respond again.

“Looking back, it was absurd of me to ever wonder if you’d feel otherwise. You’ve always had a rather curious mind and open heart that I find…immensely respectable.”

Enid couldn’t help the deep gulp stuck in her throat at the genuine and somewhat rare direct compliment from Wednesday. 

Don’t blush, don’t blush, don’t blush.

Her heart, she learned, is just an ever ticking time bomb. If she lingered on her overwhelming feelings for too long, she was sure to explode one of these days. That day wasn’t today though. She forced herself to redirect. 

“So, um. You haven’t answered any of my questions.” The attempt seemed alright to Enid, at least, her voice wasn’t shaking near as much as she’d imagine it would have.

Wednesday seriously contemplated this statement of Enid’s.

“I can answer one in particular in a rather unique way.” She spoke while deeply in thought, and then suddenly yanked herself out of the state to relay an instruction to the wolf at her side.

“Move directly across from me, to the opposite side of the Soulbinding Slate.”

Enid did as she asked with a rather confused face. 

It twisted up in shock and deeper confusion when watching What Wednesday did next.

Hand flat across the top layer of sand, Wednesday suddenly swiped against the surface, effectively erasing every bit of etching she had been making, and resetting it back to its original state.

“What the?! All that hard work. Why would you do that?” Enid yelped, mortified she had done such a thing.

“Because I’m going to let you try your hand at this.”

Those confused eyes of Enid’s searched her counterpart’s, finding only firm confidence reflecting back into her own.

The wolf cleared her throat, taking a moment to lick her lips anxiously. Her brow quirked in question.

“You’re gonna..what now?”

Wednesday blinked at having to explain, as if it was obvious what her intentions were.

“You wanted to know what the ancestral magic felt like. You also asked if the ability was able to be harnessed by someone who was not related to us by blood. I intend to show you by having you perform the ritual yourself.” 

“R-really?” She began in disbelief. “You’d trust me with something as important as this? You don’t think I’d mess it all up somehow?”

“Do you doubt my teaching skills, Sinclair?” Wednesday was entirely serious with her intention, even as she ribbed her opposite.

“Nah, not at all. Just doubting my ability to learn.” Enid shrugged, entirely serious with her own.

What started out as playful, turns sour instantaneously. Wednesday peered deeply at her counterpart. Suddenly overcome with clear irritation that seeped into her features and posture, her voice dropped low, like a warning.

“You’re far more capable than you realize, or give yourself credit for. Do not put yourself down, ever. Especially when I’m in the vicinity to hear it.”

The pure surprise from the significant tonal shift had rendered Enid helpless to her inability to respond.

“Is this understood?” Wednesday is set on a verbal answer.

“Y-yes.” Enid manages to squeak out.

Wednesday’s irritated snap evened out back to her usual even expression and she began to relay instructions to Enid.

“Okay then, start with a circle, one for each palm.”

It takes a moment for the wolf to process that directive. Her whiplash still sent her mind spinning. A couple more blinks to snap out of the daze was enough to get her moving though.

Enid begins the circles under Wednesday’s guidance.

The etching. Wednesday made this look so effortless, so graceful. Then again, doesn’t that happen with almost anything she attempts? Nevertheless, this process is entirely complex. Even under the concise instructions that Wednesday provides, Enid still finds the etching a little difficult to grasp. 

Once the circles were established, it was really the text that gave Enid the most trouble.

Sketching out the symbols of a language all but lost to the sands of time, by verbal instructions Wednesday gave, in spite of her clarity to Enid, was really challenging.

She had no idea a text could be this complicated. No wonder this text was almost lost to time. It was freaking absurd, who would ever have written with this stupid language in the first place? Not a bit of practicality found within it at all. It was as if each glyph was its own painting. Each one seemed more complicated than the last, and that led to a great deal of mistakes on her part.

She kept apologizing for each little mistake Wednesday had to go behind her and erase, further elaborating and changing up her method of instruction as the wolf sketched out the symbols at an excruciatingly glacial pace. 

Self-conscious, Enid begins to have second thoughts about her ability to do this after the 20th time Wednesday pauses her and swipes a portion of the sand clean to re-instruct her after making a wrong turn a few too many times.

Though Wednesday never once seemed to lose patience with her, only acting annoyed when she’d apologize repeatedly, imploring that there was no need to apologize each and every time the blonde did. Enid still can’t shake the uneasiness that she allows to fester inside herself. So, she decides she’ll just give up and let Wednesday do it. Enid begins to pull her hands back.

“Ugh. Forget about it. I don’t think that I’m getting this thing, so-” she clicks her tongue against her cheek in annoyance as she begins to retreat, hands lifting from the sand to pull away before Wednesday ever had the chance to grow annoyed at the many corrections she continuously and surely had to endure guiding Enid through.

So, it surprises her completely when Wednesday suddenly and unexpectedly sweeps forward. Her ice cold fingers gracefully enveloped Enid’s toasty ones. With a soft precision that sent shivers down Enid’s spine in order to keep them suspended above the sand. 

Enid watches her best friend’s face with immense intrigue. Wednesday might not even realize that her current expression betrays her, as it completely reveals her own surprise at her action of darting forward to grab Enid’s hands before she could fully retreat away.

Wednesday’s fingers quiver in her own internal discordance. Enid could tell that she’s, interestingly enough, fighting against her instinct to yank her hands back into herself, shy away from the very touch she herself had initiated.

Yet, she doesn’t move them away, not even by an inch. 

It’s impressive to watch this sudden resolve of hers, and because of it, Enid doesn’t dare move her hands away from the continuous contact, as much as she is internally screaming at herself to do just that.

The raven finally finds her voice, after letting reality settle into the reaction she just made.

“No.. come here.” Wednesday steals her courage and, with a soft precision that sent another wave of shivers down Enid’s spine, she angled her hands, cupping them gently over Enid’s own. 

The wolf watched observing the quick way she swiped a hand over the sand, resetting the slate into its original state one more time. 

Enid suddenly recognized her intention, and immediately felt light headed at the thought.

Like the aligning of puzzle pieces that clicked so perfectly together, she directed her hands over Enid’s, acting as a guide, and patiently teaching Enid how to draw the summoning circle, as her own hands never once left her own. 

All the while, the raven completely ignored her distaste for touch in order to share a valued interest of hers with her best friend. It’s curious and doesn’t escape Enid’s notice that this is well outside of her comfort zone, yet she watches her deal with it. 

The wolf finds herself continually fighting a serious wave of emotion that threatens to crash over her. She almost resigns to it, as she can feel herself beginning to fall impossibly more in love with this girl at the most unexpected of times.

As if her hand was made from porcelain, Wednesday’s hands gently cup Enid’s own and intentionally unfurls a finger for Enid to dig into the sand with. Her soft nails and cool skin graze over the back of Enid’s hand and it's like a series of electric bolts that course through her skin and resonate shockwaves through the rest of her body. 

Enid swallows that emotion to the best of her ability. She watches as if she’s having an out of body experience and lets her hand be led by Wednesday’s patiently guiding direction. 

What once was choppy and irregular strokes dug into the sand by her own efforts, gracefully turned into mesmerizing patterns that were almost hypnotic to the sight. Wednesday clearly had practiced this etching, this spell, for probably most of her life, and it beautifully showed from the artistic handiwork that turned even Enid’s hesitant and trembling finger into a brush that, she too, could paint that stunningly beautiful script now currently etched into the grain of the sand.

As the raven used Enid’s hand to detail out the final step, drawing two near perfectly shaped circles towards the edge, she voiced absentmindedly what Enid needed to do next as she carefully noted the way she guided Enid’s hand to help her finish the job. Once all of the linework was complete, she loosened her hold, letting her hands slip away from Enid’s.

The wolf felt her heart sink at the loss of their physical contact.

Enid’s heart jumped in her throat as she yelped. Wednesday pulled out a knife from her shoe and sliced superficially at her own non-dominant palm.

“Stop it! What’re you?!-“

“It’s okay, Enid. I’m all right. The contract requires my blood.”

Enid made an irritated pout, like she’s mad Wednesday did that at all.

Wednesday spread open her palm before Enid when she noticed that the expression present on her friend's face wasn’t going away. 

“See, all superficial. You know that this will heal quickly.” 

The wolf glanced down at the small wound. It didn’t shake the pout from its hold though.

“Still don't like that you have to do that at all..” Enid voiced low as Wednesday got to work. 

She squeezed her palm over the center of each circle, a small stream of her blood trickled down to pool into the reddening sand. It blossomed outwards like dark veins branching out.

“Okay, now I want you to place your palms down, one in each ring, and repeat carefully after me.”

Wednesday’s hands gently reach back out to guide Enid’s hands in this position, and curl loosely around the back on her hands. She squeezes once, almost like a mini hug and confirmation of a job well done before finally lifting her hands away. Enid didn’t say a word. She didn’t have any breath left in her chest.

“Do- oh wait.”

Wednesday began to speak, teaching her the words that would finalize the spell they weaved together. However, she must have forgotten something important. Enid watches with intrigue as Wednesday quickly etched another ring of words. 

They were smaller, and off to the side, like a little footnote. Still woven with that stunningly beautiful lost text into another set of directives Enid was positive that she just ingrained into the sand.

As she watched the raven carve the remaining words, a sudden and rather silly impulse clicked into Enid, and she let it roll off her tongue unexpectedly, not really putting any effort into fighting it.

“Do- oh wait.” Enid felt the corners of her mouth twitch upwards in goofy amusement at her joke, imitating the words that she already knew Wednesday hadn’t actually meant for her to repeat.

A snort of laughter actually burst out of her chest as her bright, sapphire gaze flicked upwards to watch Wednesday’s face fall into this rather hilarious looking blank and vacant expression from enduring the rather childish joke.

Totally worth it.

Wednesday softly watches, and doesn’t interrupt, her sudden wave of giggles until they naturally die down enough for her to take the moment seriously again.

“You done?”

“Hehe. I think so.”

Wednesday good naturedly rolls her eyes before descending back into her original task.

“Doll lîn vi esgal i nedha anírar-”

“Doll le vi what? Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Enid’s frantic words implored Wednesday to stop oddly mid-chant with a quirked a brow as if she didn’t see what Enid’s problem was.

“What the- what language are you speaking? What is that?”

“It’s ancient, not one you’d know of, or anyone outside of the family at this point. We only really recite it for times like this. Now concentrate, Enid.” The wolf eagerly nodded.

“Yes ma’am, and please go slow and break it down for me, I need all the help I can get.”

Wednesday fought her own amusement at Enid’s raw honesty. She did exactly as the blonde had requested.

“Doll lîn vi esgal i nedha anírar i guinar gwaith ben lûg a bereth, pedin sui cordof i dorthar men.” 

Wednesday locks her eyes on Enid’s, waiting for the response to her call.

“Doll-lee vou francsay ee naranjas-”

Enid trails off when Wednesday quickly snaps her head into her shoulder and snorts a laugh.

“What? Was that not it?” Enid should have been offended, but she couldn’t help that large grin now plastered on her face at watching how hard Wednesday was fighting off her own laughter. It felt like she won the lottery. It took the girl a second to collect herself enough to say something at all.

“No. Not even close.” The raven bit her lip as she continued to fight that deep seated humor. Enid suddenly grew flush at the sight and couldn’t look away.

“Come on, Are you sure that wasn’t it?”

“It would be correct if you were asking a basket of oranges if they spoke French.”

Enid deeply giggled, now understanding why Wednesday was struggling to keep a straight face.

“Well, I don’t know what to tell you, because that sounded the exact same to me.” Enid surprised herself that she could coherently respond at all. She tried to shrug nonchalantly, but her shoulders shook with her own giggling.

Wednesday nodded slowly, understandingly. It was like she was sympathizing with a child who was asked to spell a complex word when they couldn’t even read.

“Of course it did. Okay, here’s what we’re going to do instead.”

Enid’s fingers dug deeper into the sand from shock. 

Wednesday had settled her own palms on top of Enid’s. The raven closed her eyes and began the chant from the top as if she didn’t do something earth-shattering.

“Doll lîn vi esgal i nedha anírar i guinar gwaith ben lûg a bereth, pedin sui cordof i dorthar men.”

Enid closes her own eyes, but more so to fight that furious blush she felt creeping up her neck as Wednesday presses her hands into hers while switching to this ancient language that sounds so incredibly attractive coming from her.

“Gwador vinui sui iagor a gwaedh en amar. Bo chwest Anor a dû fuin vi sui gilwen en in Edain.”

If Enid was chanting herself, she’s positive that the words would be lost to her here. Something odd was happening, really odd. There was a pull on her palm, on her fingers. Her eyes snapped open suddenly and she watched the sand start to pull their hands into the dark, bloodstained grains.

“Lasta i thiaw nin a lasto i gwest nin, an barthon senedh an len.” 

The very air around them seemed to tighten with a tense pressure. It stirred and moved in strange ways, like something ominous was shifting and building around them.

“Geleth tîr, sui estannen. A gwanweg lín mír, nedhannad lín laithor a ruitho." 

Wednesday opened her eyes as her final words were spoken. She looked upon Enid the second this dramatic stirring of the air seemed to suddenly come to a stop. It was like the world went eerily quiet for one second. 

Two..

Enid yelped out loud as the crypt around them began to shake and the sand under their palms shifted. She flipped her palms suddenly, yanking their hands out of the sinking sand. She gripped tightly to Wednesday’s hands. The raven held tightly back, though she seemed exhilarated rather than terrified.

Enid watched with fascinated horror as the blood within the sand began to curl and weave like snakes before her very eyes. That dark red suddenly began to glow into this brilliant ruby color that made Enid have to squint from the pain of the sudden light streaming in this dark crypt.

Wednesday continued to hover both of their hands to linger above the sand, which was now strangely turning into stone with the words of the contract still carved within.

The words began to glow brightly, it was entirely fascinating to Enid to watch the now mesmerizing colors flicker interestingly. Enid leaned her face in closer to observe and study the changes.

She felt Wednesday’s grasp upon her hands tighten as she watched the wolf lean in closer.

“Um, wait. Enid, don’t! I would lean back if I were-“

Without much more of a warning, that blood ruby color twists into an ethereal blue and does the very last thing Enid expects. With all the intensity of water spewing upwards from a geyser, giant glowing specters erupt from the words that the pair etched into the sand now in the form of a stone to Enid’s absolute horror.

Right into and through her face.

In fact, the wolf is so terrified that she doesn’t even think twice as she dives forward and tackles into Wednesday, barreling them across the room and crashing against the crypt wall while releasing a bloodcurdling scream.

“Whatthehellwhatthehellwhatthehell.” The wolf now mutters incessantly. She buries herself deeper into the psychic, hiding herself from whatever terrifying thing was happening around her.

Wednesday chuckled a little bit manically from the rush of it all as she rested a hand protectively between Enid’s shaking shoulders.

Enid remained curled and buried in the darkness of Wednesday’s shoulder, drowning out the world to the best of her ability as she recognized the immense change of their immediate surroundings from the sound alone. The previous quietness of the crypt was gone, replaced by a low hum of voices, and a lot of them. 

A cacophony of voices, if you will, rang around every single inch of space around them. Pleasant greetings to friendly banter, even a couple of low groans and cheerful acknowledgements echoed around the room. 

The empty space positively came alive, well, so to speak.

“Well, well. Would you look at who it is? Didn’t expect to even see you around this year, let alone you be the one to summon us from the grave. To what do we owe for this genuine surprise?” An amused gruff voice bellowed out, the hollow voice rang out against the others, sending the room into a focused attention.

“You make it sound like I defected from the family.” Enid felt the amused words leave Wednesday’s chest.

“Some of us had a bet going that you would. Lorenzo, looks like you lost out big time on that.” A woman cackles hollowly from the far side of the room. A loud groan follows soon after.

“Oh, so we’ve got bets going against me now? Didn’t know anyone around here wanted to get buried for a second time.” Enid was surprised to hear a breathy laugh escape the psychic she clung to. It was followed closely by a ripple of laughter that echoed around the crypt. 

“I’ve honestly missed that foul mouth of yours, you little goblin. You’ve always been one of the only arrogant little curs willing to threaten someone who’s already got nothing to lose. You get that spunk from your mother’s side of the family.” 

“Excuse me?! And what does that say about her father’s side? Huh?” A shrill voice called out from the far side of the crypt.

“Oh don’t get me started, Yolanda. You already know your sides full of a bunch of soft hearted chicken shits.” An equally miffed voice equaled the hostility thrown at it. 

“Oh shut up, Esperanza! If I could punch you, then I’d show you who’s the soft one you arrogant toad!”

The squabble was soon interrupted by a curious and stray voice, it sounded like it originated where that loud groan erupted from.

“Hey, uh. We all just going to ignore the shakin’ little leaf clinging on our resident psychopath or what?” 

Enid tensed up further when she realized that she was being acknowledged. She didn’t move, hoping that maybe if she was still enough, whatever was speaking would soon forget about her.

Wednesday had other plans for her though. She grabbed her shoulders and twisted in order to get her to sit up and off of her, but Enid childishly plastered a hand over her eyes and spun around in order to bury her back against Wednesday’s front, still clinging close to the girl in fear before she had a chance to grab a hold. 

Thankfully the psychic just exhaled a defeated sigh before giving up, letting Enid do as she pleased.

“Family, this is Enid Sinclair. Enid, these are my decrepit and deceased ancestors in their spectral forms.”

With the hand still splayed over her face, Enid slowly spread her fingers and glanced through them timidly. Looks like her guess was right, the entire room was covered from corner to corner with about as many ghosts as you could possibly fit inside the room.. If that was even a thing.

“Thank you, Wednesday. You always had quite the way with words.” A male ghost chimed out sarcastically.

“Alejandro, don’t get her started. Besides, I wanna know more about our little mystery guest. Hello, sweetie!” an older woman looking ghost greeted kindly from her own little corner, offering Enid a welcome.

Enid realized after an awkward pause and an elongated silence in the room that they were all waiting for her to respond, so she quickly squeaked out a small and timid,

“Hello..”

Apparently most of them thought it was adorable, because the room grew quite lively with pleased laughs and happy sounding chatter. The unexpected noise startled Enid though, and she snapped her fingers back shut over her eyes shyly.

“They’re not going to hurt you, you know.” Wednesday voiced warmly, starting a low toned conversation for only Enid to hear. The wolf shifted her fingers away to look up at the girl’s hovering over her.

“I know, I’m just..startled. That’s all. And they’re all looking at me.” Enid voiced with childish concern.

“They're just curious. Wondering what kind of person my best friend would be like.” This tiny revelation surprised the wolf.

“They know we’re best friends? How?”

Wednesday scoffed. “Enid, they’re dead, not dumb. Why else would I bring you here?”

“You could be sacrificing me to appease the wrath of your bloodline for all I know.” Enid giggled teasingly. Wednesday huffed in amusement and gestured up to the sea of specters before them with the palm still covered in her own dried blood.

“Hmm. Caught me red-handed.” She hummed her response.

Enid’s blood ran ice cold, her muscles went tense.

“What?”

“Enid, please.” Wednesday fought off a wave of laughter with exasperation when she realized Enid didn’t realize she made a joke for a split second. 

“Just look at them. Do these idiots look very ‘wrathful or bloodthirsty’ to you?”

Enid watches with curious eyes the scene unfolding before them. Rather joyful looking ghosts are engaged in conversations, laughing at jokes, catching up with one another, some are dancing and twirling around. For a room full of ghosts, the crypt was just bursting with life. Besides the fact that the crypt was literally as chilly as a glacier, the atmosphere that the specters gave was one that was rather warm.

A lot of them were still staring at her, though, and now starting to hover over her a little too close for comfort in their observation. Enid continued to look around, still a little shyly, sinking deeper into Wednesday to indicate her slight uncomfortability.

“Alright, alright give her some space.” Wednesday swatted at the air, her curious family members leaned back in apology, they must have not realized they were making the newcomer uncomfortable, for they immediately changed their behavior. “She’s got a weak constitution.”

“Why do you always say that?” Enid hummed in annoyance. “My constitution is fine…whatever that is.”

The raven began her explanation, matter-of-factly. “You’ve thrown us against the crypt wall and entirely collapsed into me, now sinking into me. My leg is now asleep. You’ve a penchant to overreact, Enid.”

“Though to your friend’s defense, Wednesday, It’s not everyday one is greeted by a room full of dead people.” The older and gruffer ghost who first spoke chimed back up again, who was watching their display with amusement.

“Yes, Wends, did you hear what your wise ancestor said about me? You really should listen.” Enid took the defense offered and ran.

Wednesday rolled her eyes.

A mirthy laughter was bellowed out from the ghost man, clearly being thoroughly entertained by her response.

“Enid, I speak for everyone here when I say that it's nice to meet you and we’re happy to have you.” The man kindly nodded as warm tones of agreement sprang up from all over the room. 

Enid smiled in thanks. That small bit of uncomfortability she held rapidly began to evaporate.

“As for you,” The gruff ghost focuses his attention on Wednesday now. Enid looks back up to watch the raven as she's being addressed.

“I assume there's a reason you called us here at the time you did? There’s still a couple of days before the ball. I’m sure you didn’t summon us this early to watch us all haunt around the grounds for the fun of it.”

Wednesday furrowed her brows unexpectedly.

“I didn’t think you'd all been dead so long that you’d forget how to read.”

“Nah, we read the contract. We’re just wondering if it was actually you who wrote it.” The older woman ghost noted with a tone of amusement.

“Of course I was the one who wrote it. You don’t see Pugsley or Grandmama in here summoning you ungrateful lot, do you?” Wednesday responded to the amusement dryly.

“No, but the Wednesday Addams we all know wouldn’t have written anything like that either.” Enid looked on with curiosity as all of the ghosts seemed to nod in agreement to that statement.

What in the world were they all talking about?

*Tch *

Wednesday clicks her tongue loudly in irritation.

“Listen, if you can actually read, then you already know what I’m asking of you all. Will you help me or not? It’s a simple yes or no answer. Nothing more.” The wolf could tell that Wednesday imbued the sentence with as much annoyance as she could muster.

In spite of that, these bright, ethereal smiles popped up all around the room.

“Of course. What, like we would say no? Especially to a job as thrilling as this? Think we’ve got anything better to do than to sleep our eternities away?” A series of laughter erupts from the ghosts.

“Some of you lazy bums would take that over being put to work.” Wednesday snarked with a mirthy huff, earning a few good natured scoffs in derision.

The gruff ghost began corralling his unruly family. Enid’s attention was immediately drawn to him as his booming voice practically shook the walls of the crypt. 

“Alright you sodden lot. You all hear what this psychotic little pipsqueak thinks of her beloved family? A bunch of lazy and slothful fools?” The man purposefully riled them up, Wednesday watched on with a smile as she realized what the gruff ghost was trying to do.

A bunch of unified shouting from the ghosts echoed off the walls, rivaling in volume the singular voice that led them.

“Do you think we ought to take that blatant slander, the utter disrespect from the arrogance of youth, even if she is our own?” The voice bellowed. 

Another resounding shout from the ghastly crowd. It was like watching William Wallace spur on the Scots for battle, Enid noted in the back of her shivering mind.

“Are you all ready to make her eat those words of hers and put her and the rest of our descendants through absolute hell?”

The shout that rang out next was intense, much, much stronger than the ones that preceded it. Enid was positive that the stone walls that surrounded them would give way with the force.

“Wait, what did he say?” Enid paled at the ghost man’s words, at the entire wild scene before her, really.

“Then I want to see everyone pulling their weight to make this the most thrilling lockdown our family has ever seen. We’ve got a reputation to uphold.”

The man, taking a kind of leadership role. He begins to list names and places for them to go and set up. In the meantime, Enid starts up a question for only Wednesday to hear that was burning in her gut.

“What in the world did you ask them to do?”

Wednesday glanced down over Enid. 

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

“This again?” Enid clicked her tongue in frustration. “Great, more secrets.” The wolf dramatically rolled her eyes.

Wednesday seemed mildly amused at Enid’s sass, which only further riled the wolf up.

“You’re the one who wanted to take part in all of these traditions. Can’t be picky when this is just part of the deal.”

“Oh sure, uh-huh. You totally walked in blind to your family’s traditions too. Not even a hint to know anything that’s happening. Totally fair to leave me in the dark.” Enid laced as much sarcasm as she could muster.

“No, you’re right. I had a pretty good idea of what I was up against. I’m sure you won’t blame me though for being a bit secretive, especially if I’m sure you’d just collapse in terror much like you’re practically doing now.” Wednesday spoke as if she merely stated the weather.

“I don’t collapse in terror.” Enid quipped with a petulant tone, ignoring the current irony of that comment as she leans against Wednesday.

“Nooo, of course not.” Wednesday laced her own sarcasm in. “You just consistently collapse into me for fun.”

“Okay, then.” Enid conceded that one point. “What then makes you think that I want to do something that would make me be in terror at all?”

Wednesday sighed deeply. 

“Because you forget that I know you. I am your best friend as you are mine. I understand what it is that you dislike and the little things you thoroughly enjoy. Having already factored that in, I know implicitly that you’ll forget all about being a little scared here and there because you’ll be too busy having a ridiculous amount of fun. So much so that I promise you that you’ll thank me for keeping you in the dark later.”

“Now that’s something I’d actually bet on, unlike Lorenzo and his bad habit for baseless gambling.” Wednesday commented with amusement on the bet against her from earlier.

It was evident that, for Wednesday, that was that. She had seemed to move on from the conversation at hand. 

Though Enid just couldn’t help herself but to press the matter one more time.

“Come on Wends, I don’t see why you won’t just tell me.” She whined, voicing her displeasure with being left in the dark.

Wednesday had actually been rather playful until that last sentence of Enid’s. With an unexpected sharp sting, like she’s actually offended that her friend continues to press, she snips a bit harder in response.

“And I don’t see why you won’t just trust me.” 

The bristly response seemed imbued with a kind of tense emotion, almost like she was hurt that Enid had kept asking. Either way, the tone very clearly indicates that she was entirely done talking about this.

It succeeded to render Enid into silence as the wolf bit her tongue. She sheepishly analyzed Wednesday’s suddenly stonier face, suddenly wishing with everything in her that she could take back her childish and petulant whining.

Enid groaned internally at her actions, now realizing how it sounded only after the words were already spoken. She is actually rather annoyed at herself and embarrassed that she did that. 

Not once did she even consider that her whining made her sound entirely ungrateful as Wednesday had apparently been working rather hard to build up to some kind of surprise, just for her. And one that the raven was certain she’d enjoy.

She sighed. Good going, E.

“Sorry to break up, whatever bickering I see going on over here, but I see that you’ve commissioned a special request of my talents, dear niece.” It was the gruff ghost who appeared before them. He was seemingly done with most of his directing and ordering. He was a welcome distraction from Enid’s white hot embarrassment.

“You’d be correct.” Wednesday passed over the ghost’s aside. 

“Enid, this is my great, great, great, great uncle Thorin. He’s well known in both our family and in the annals of history as one of the most impressive blacksmiths who’ve ever honed their craft.”

“Hello sir. It’s an honor.” Enid nodded politely.

Now that he hovered just before them, Enid took a moment to gather a closer look. The ghost very clearly looked like someone who needed a ‘Thor’ in his name. He evidently was a giant of a man in his past life, he towered over them, making the two of them look incredibly small. His thick, tree-trunk like arms leaned over his knees as he crouched to their level. They looked larger than the fire bear’s. In fact, if he stood up, he might have come rather close.

Even though he glowed a ghostly and ethereal blue, Enid could easily tell he was a red-head in a past life. His Irish sounding accent still clung hard to his voice even unto death mostly gave that away. Pairing that with his flowing and braided beard and entirely full mustache alongside with the long and loose curls atop his head only left a sliver of his actual face to be seen from underneath the scruff. These warm and piercing eyes lay under some rather bushy eyebrows. 

They looked wise, like he was aware of a lot more than he ever let on, despite his rather Herculean look he had going for him.

“I’ve requested that Thorin help you with creating your armament for the duel.” Wednesday spoke evenly to Enid.

“Huh? Create my armament?” Enid suddenly wondered why that word sounded familiar, immediately recalling her earlier discussion with Gomez regarding the once foreign word. 

“Wait, I’m building a sword?” Surprise was embedded in her tone. 

“Yes. It’s a tradition of ours for everyone participating in the duel to have a weapon crafted specifically for it. Uncle Thorin and the rest of my family will give you a fuller explanation once you actually start working on it.” Enid gently nodded against Wednesday’s stomach, not daring to put up another question more.

Wednesday directed her attention to the giant across from them, watching the scene before him with intrigue. 

“Thank you for getting them fired up, by the way. I should be able to take over and direct them from here.”

“You know,” He leaned his face against his hand. The way his facial hair now shifted, Enid imagined there was a wide grin from under all that hair. “I’d be worried about that if it was anyone else but you. They'll listen to you, no hesitation. You’ve got a real gift for leadership. I’m glad you’re finally finding it within yourself to exercise it.”

“I’m only a natural because I’ve always said that fear is a powerful motivator.” Wednesday noted simply.

“Haha! Said like a true Addams!” He bellowed his laughter loudly into the stale air of the crypt.

“Though if you want my opinion,” He suddenly shifted his boisterous tone, one more soft, serious, even. 

“I think it was you that suddenly found some motivation of your own.”

Wednesday just stares up at Thorin with a quirked brow.

“Ah, but what do I know? I’m just an old and decrepit spector.” The man stretches upwards to his full height, preparing to move a bit. Enid was right, he was almost the size of the massive bear.

“I assume you don’t need help with your own armament? You always were an eager student. When it was your time I’d figured you’d be able to handle it entirely on your own.” The ghost offered her a compliment, one that Wednesday didn’t shrug off for once.

Enid suddenly felt a prompting to stand pressed upon her back. The wolf teetered up to her feet unsteadily as the two girls arose themselves, their full height barely above the man’s navel. Enid silently wondered if his previous diet consisted of something large, like a whole Bison a day. She’d doubt anything else would be filling for the man. 

“If you want to check the final design, I’d welcome your expertise. There’s a great deal of materials I still need to gather for it, but I figured I could head further down momentarily with a few others left here in order to fetch the rest. It seems like you did the heavy lifting in regards to preparing the lot of them to gear up for lockdown.”

“Heh, your constant badmouthing did all the work, I was just using a perfectly good situation as a launching point. They should be extra fired up this year. You can thank yourself for that one.”

Enid bit her tongue until she tasted copper. Sitting in the dark wasn’t something she was at all accustomed to, but she’d learn to be patient, knowing that her answers will indeed eventually come. She’d work to avoid making another mistake she’d regret.

“Alright Wednesday, I’ve got the girl. We’ll be on our way. You just focus on getting your ‘many, many materials.’” He shifts his gaze directly over to Enid.

“You’re surely gonna need a lot of em’.”

Enid frowned at the direct eye contact, shifting her gaze around in confusion. 

That felt pointed at her for some reason.

“Believe me, I know.” Wednesday ghosted her own mild amusement that flickered momentarily before she started to snap her fingers around for some lingering ancestors of hers to start drawing themselves to her in order to follow her deeper down into the crypt.

“While you’re at it, collect as much obsidian for me as you can carry.”

Enid watched Wednesday make a face like that was a rather odd thing for him to say.

“Why? It’s not like I’m going to need any.”

“You won’t, but I surely will.” The ghost bellowed loudly, practically shaking the crypt again.

The raven rolled her eyes as she barely fought off a grin. She nodded once, understanding his implication.

“Hah. you’re hilarious, Uncle.” She deadpanned her actual humor.

She turned around and made to descend deeper into the crypt with the handful of her lingering ancestors by her side. But Enid felt lightning shoot at her spine as Wednesday made to disappear once more. 

She needed to speak to her again. She didn’t want her to leave, not on this note at least.

Enid felt her body move before she could process the thought.

She ran forward and grabbed at the raven’s sleeve, tugging once and letting go quickly, just to grab her attention.

Wednesday spun back around to face Enid in surprise, already expecting her to be out the front door by now.

“Wednesday, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to imply that I’m ungrateful about any of this at all, and I know that’s how I sound. I’m just- I was being childish. I don’t really like being left in the dark, but I knowingly pushed you too far, and that was wrong of me. Will you forgive me?”

Wednesday listened to her with that warmth Enid so intensely craved to see fill her eyes again when she looked upon her. 

An immense sigh of relief filled her at seeing that sight again had fought hard against the scratch in her belly that concerned her deeper feelings she just wanted to absolutely bury.

“There’s nothing to forgive, Enid.” Those pretty brown eyes that looked at her with understanding had enveloped Enid’s heart. 

“Listen, I know that you’re frustrated. I do. And, I get it. Everything would indeed be a lot easier if I just explained what was going on. However, I’m asking you to please just trust me, okay? I promise you that you won’t regret it.”

Enid could have melted right then and there. Wednesday was looking at her so sincerely, so earnestly. Knowing and voicing that she sees the uncomfortable position that Enid’s sitting in, but pleads to her that it will all be worth it.

God, she’s in love. So stupidly and fully in love with this girl.

The wolf agrees, feeling rather lightheaded. “Okay, Wends. I will. I need you to know that I do trust you, entirely.”

Wednesday nods, strongly. 

“I know you do. I wouldn’t dream of ever abusing it again.”

Enid can’t move, can’t breathe. She just stands there, staring at Wednesday for who knows how long. She can’t-

Thorin loudly clears his throat from behind her, thankfully snapping her out of her love-struck trance and implying that it was probably time for them to get a move on.

Wednesday’s gaze flickers to the gruff ghost before parting with Enid.

“Do as Thorin and the rest of them ask, even if it isn’t always clear as to what they’re doing, okay? I’ll find my way back to you soon enough.”

Enid nods, and with that, the dark haired girl disappears down the stairs and into the depths. Leaving Enid to make her way back to the house with a giant ghost leading the way.

------------------

Treading back through the long courtyard, Thorin takes it upon himself to get to know Enid a little bit more, drawing the blonde who was utterly lost in her thoughts. He went on to ask her an impulsive question that’s been lingering in his mind.

“Enid, I’ve got to know.” She can tell with intrigue that he already is holding back laughter behind all of that scruff.

“Am I the first ghost you’ve ever seen?” 

It’s so funny, so innocently asked. She laughs herself, bright and clear. It echoes as it rings out like a bell. 

“Hah. No.” She shakes her curls with a knowing smile upon her face.

“No?” He shouted in pure surprise, not expecting that to be her answer. “Are you positive? The way you hid in terror at first into Wednesday suggested otherwise.”

Enid feigned thinking upon her answer now

“Well, now that you say that..I’m not actually all that positive.”

The man raises a brow, not knowing where she was going with her answer and she playfully strung out her response.

“I mean, there must have been hundreds of you that popped out of the ground at once. It's kinda hard to tell which one of you I actually saw first.” She snickered fully before she even finished her final sentence.

The blacksmith laughs loudly, shaking the ground, the forest around them, seemingly the very sky above, thoroughly entertained by that rather clever joke and response from the little blonde walking at his side.

“I like your spunk, kid. You’re alright. Glad our little Wednesday found a friend in someone who can clearly throw all that sass right back at her. She needs it.”

Enid beams rather proudly at the resounding and vocal approval. She’s honored, and already really liking the man and his hilarious sense of humor already. 

As they make it back to the house, she opens the door for him, already being a bit ahead. She flips around to ask him to lead the rest of the way, not exactly knowing where she’s going from here.

In the midst of it, she fails to realize that he’s already gone through the wall, surprising the wolf to run after him through the kitchen and the corridor as he calls for her to keep up.

Notes:

I just realized that I never added notes to the last chapter, but I figured that a newer chapter out much, much faster would be a sufficient enough apology! Hehe!

Oh emm gee, guys! With all of the Wenclair news going around about the novel and the teaser for the behind the scenes that was just dropped, I think it's safe to say that the hype is back, and I could not be any more excited than I already am. So so so much good stuff floating around, you guys. This is gonna be an awesome season 2, I can just feel it.

Either way, it's sent this crazy energy into me to work hard into crafting more of this story every single chance I get. I swear that I think about this story a really unhealthy amount, but after reading this past chapter, do you blame me?

Okay, for your planning and awareness, we've got one more 'Set up' type chapter to go before I tell you to hop on a literal rollercoaster. And, that ride will take us on a crazy trip that will last until pretty much the very end of this story. At the rate I'm progressing with these chapters, I can't exactly promise consistent timing with these releases, (just knowing myself and my overall schedule), but just know that I'm in literal shock and awe that this chapter and the last were released before the start of October. So gear up, because I'm dying to get you guys on this ride with me.

One last thing, The second anniversary of "The Symphony Between Us" is going to be on January 20th of 2025. I know that's many months away, but I intend on doing my absolute best to wrap up this story before the end of this year. Because I really like the idea of releasing my final chapter on that date, just make sure to mark your calendars for that one for me.
Oh yeah, before I forget, the translation to Wednesday's ancestor summoning chant is here. I highly doubt it would work if you reverse translate it, but bonus points if you know what 'ancient language' I used as a base!

"Shrouded through the veil that separates the living from the dead, I call upon the threads that binds us. Bonded by blood and contracted by honor, with this invocation, I summon thee, members of the Addams family clan, with a bind of our sigil. Tethered to the light of the sun and the darkness of the night for three rotations of the planet from which we sprang. Hear the words I have etched and listen to my plea, for I've contracted a task for thee. Manifest now, as I decree. Until thy undertaking be complete, thou shall not break free."

Alright! Please please please let me know what you thought of this chapter, dying to hear your thoughts after this one. I can't wait to see you for the next one!

Kalon

Chapter 21: Forged by the Fires of the Heart

“Would it kill you to slow down?! I-” Enid stuttered when she realized the irony of the words she just accidentally spoke.

Enid skips down the stairs quickly, holding onto and letting her fingers graze the walls to keep herself steady and maintain balance at the not-so-casual level pace she’s been trotting through this maze of a house at, trying merely to keep up.

“I mean- Sorry! I know that doesn’t matter to you now, I just- would you-? Can you please just stop phasing through the walls and floors?! I’m barely able to keep up with you as it is without me trying to figure out where you-”

Clunking down the steps at a breakneck pace and spinning around the corner, she accidentally inhales a rather large tuft of acrid tasting smoke, not realizing the haze that clung thickly around the room she practically fell into.

She stumbled backwards against the wall for support as her knees suddenly buckled from underneath her, and the smoke trapped within her rendered her into a small coughing fit, trying suddenly to get the unexpected poison out of her lungs.

Her entire being had shot to survival mode, dropping into a deadly serious frame of mind to figure out just what the hell was going on, and how she needed to make her next move.

Through her squinting and watery eyes, she could barely mark out the numerous figures running around frantically through the smoke below. It was evident to Enid that this wasn’t supposed to be happening here.

Though, to be honest, it was always really hard to tell what was and what wasn't with this place.

“Pugsley, I told you to open the second ventilation shaft! You want us to asphyxiate? Did I not teach you that there’s more exciting ways to die?” Morticia hoarsely chastised her son while she and her sister and mother-in-law worked to fan out the present smoke through the first ventilation shaft, everyone else had seemed already occupied by various things they needed to help keep themselves from passing out.

“It’s not my fault the stupid door prop broke. Whose idea was it to have a metal door used for ventilation needing to be propped open in the first place?!” He yelled in annoyance, though it made his coughing fit all the worse for it.

“Admittedly, it’s an old and outdated design flaw. Don’t concern yourself with that right now, we’ll get it replaced once we ensure we’re not going to pass out and die, son.” Gomez snips between deep coughs.

He was focused on wrenching tight some bolts and analyzing the forge as a whole to see if he could prevent the excess pouring of smoke that was now billowing out of the contraption. Lurch, Thing, and Fester were preoccupied with helping him with the machine.

“I just don’t want you all to blame me for our deaths when it is so clearly not my fault.” The middle child crossed his arms in annoyance, as he coughed out a response..still not having budged an inch.

“Pugsley, just open it!” Everyone collectively shouted at once.

Relax! I got it, I got it! Give me a second!” The boy scoffed through his coughing fit. “This thing is rusted and stupidly heavy, and-” The wolf was just barely able to make out that his fingers were slipping against the metal. His grasp against it was rendered weak from the abundance of smoke that was now pooling into his, and everyone else’s, lungs.

Without another thought more, Enid leaps down the last flight of stairs, rushing to the boy’s side as she clasps the other half of the heavy metal latch that sealed the shaft shut. Her fingers curled underneath, readying her stance. The boy blinks rapidly, not expecting the blonde to appear at his side, yet it melted pretty quickly into pure relief, knowing that she charged in to help.

“On my count, Pugs.” The boy wiped his sweat from his palms and readjusted his grip to hoist the shaft open on the blonde’s say so.

“One, two, three-“ she felt the adrenaline rushing through her veins cause her muscles to shift and contort.

Her werewolf strength gave her the extra edge to be the final push needed to overhaul the dense metal that stubbornly wanted to remain shut. She levered herself under the door to hold it open by the prop of her shoulder. She nodded and groaned, turning to Pugsley at her side as she winced against the weight.

“Find some kind of support. I can hold it on my own for a while.” She nodded through gritted teeth, cheek squished against Cold metal. Her voice strained under the pressure.

Pugsley gently backed away, softly lowering the metal hatch until he was positive that Enid could hold the rest of the weight he himself had carried without it collapsing onto her. Once he was assured that she could indeed handle it herself, Thorin had already positioned himself to reveal to Pugsley a good substitute for the rusted and broken metal prop, he hurriedly corralled his great nephew over to speed the process up.

All it took was himself and Gomez to install the makeshift prop. His sudden help from his father who was now available and had just wrapped up dealing with the forge itself, stopping the excessive overflow of smoke that filled the room to nearly cease at this point after dealing with its source.

“Okay Enid, gently lower the weight onto the beam. It should be sufficient enough to hold.” Gomez watched the beam like a hawk, checking over every inch to catch another mishap before it took shape as Enid did as she was told.

As the metal was installed, she could feel the immense weight of the hatch slowly being relieved from her shoulder as it began to support its own weight through the support beam. The rest of the family worked quickly in various ways to expel the rest of the poisonous air.

Pugsley lifted a lever and twisted a few knobs embedded in the wall. A loud suctioning sound had whirred into existence, yanking out the bulk of the smoke almost immediately from the room through that very shaft they had worked together to open.

The contraption was left to suction out the bulk of the poisoned air before he set it to a different setting that constantly did just that, but at a lower power and speed.

Morticia passed a piece of fabric to Enid and she helped fan out the air that lingered for the last of the efforts to finally clear the rest of the room free of smoke.

When the job was sufficient enough to relax, one by one, they each slid down on the floor, taking a moment to catch their breaths and expel the last of the poisonous air from their lungs as the sound of deep gasps for air and light scatterings of coughing were drowning out the hum of the ventilation shafts and the gentle cracking of the fire from within the forge.

As the family and Enid catch their collective breaths now that the threat has passed, Thorin crosses his legs in mid-air, leaning on his knee as he settles his palm against his head, rubbing his temple as his features were strained from stress.

“I die, and you all nearly let my forge explode and get yourselves killed in the process.” He begins, collecting the room's attention.

“Do you all really not listen to me when I’m going over basic safety protocols and procedures every year? I seriously come back from the grave once a year, not necessarily for the ball, nor much of anything other than to just ensure you lot don’t destroy my crowning jewel from this life.” The ghost reprimands his family before him, receiving a bunch of rather unamused glares between deep gasps for air as they just watch on with exhaustion ridden faces.

“Well, we can be glad of your perfect timing, at least. It was like the forge knew you were coming to fix it.” Gomez shifted his brows up and down as he noted in a light-hearted manner, always the one to find a silver lining.

Thorin merely responded to the poorly timed joke with a distinct press against his stress induced temple.

“Give me strength.” The specter whispered under his breath.

“What then, was the issue? Everything seemed to be running rather smoothly until just before you and Enid arrived.” Ophelia conferred with her brother-in-law’s sentiment, which was emphasized by nods and confused glances around, as if no one expected the forge to mishap in this way.

“From a glance, I’m not entirely sure without knowing what was done before, but I’ll give it a look and get back to you on that.” The specter continued on with his response before phasing his head to look inside the kiln, analyzing the reason for the sudden burst of smoke that flooded the room.

The room quieted back down to deep breathing now slowly evening out. The scatters of coughing began to lessen. All eyes were trained on observing Thorin, who was now half sticking out of the forge.

And without much of any kind of a warning, Enid begins to laugh, fully and with complete abandon.

Wild eyes and strange stares focus on the young blonde who nearly doubled over in her laughter. Even Thorin had phased his head back out of the kiln to watch with intrigue.

“There is seriously never a dull moment in this family, is there?” She manages to get out in between strong giggles, the weight of the stress in the room fading away with each giggle that escapes Enid.

And, if there is one thing that Enid is best at, it is creating and spreading such immense joy that no matter what is happening around her or no matter where she goes, everyone in her vicinity is entirely helpless to the way her light-hearted spirit imbues itself in the people around her too.

So, the room, like falling dominoes, one by one, joins in her bell-like laughter that has spread across the room.

“How is it when things start falling apart, Enid always swoops in to save the day like a knight in shining armor?” Morticia chimes in warmly.

“You think we should smelt you a suit of armor alongside your sword to capture the likeness, Miss Hero?” Ophelia riffs off her sister’s sentiment.

The doting attention rose a distinct blush to Enid’s face, quickly letting her humility take the lead.

“Nono. It’s no biggie, really. I just help when I see where I can be useful.” She waves her hands frantically, trying to dissuade them of the idea that she’s doing anything beyond what any regular person would do.

Morticia curls a stray lock of hair behind her ear and leans gracefully upon her knees.

“Do be careful, dear. We’re starting to get really attached to the way we find we can rely on you. Any more acts of heroism may lead to inadvertent side effects. You never know, you might just wake up to find that you’ve been locked away for all eternity, us hiding you away from the rest of the world.” Enid knows the mother is only joking, but she can’t help but imagine how kind and doting they would all be to her, even if she was their prisoner. Enid’s heart is warm.

“Haha! Honestly, it would be too easy to let that happen. I wonder if I might already have a bit of Stockholm Syndrome if I find that to be the case.” Enid jokes back, and it lands expertly, another wave of laughter informs her of that as she sees all the family’s faces light up around the room.

”I..” Enid was about to continue the joke, but it was suddenly cut short as her eyes bounced around the room.

”—What in the-”

Enid looks around, really paying attention to her surroundings for the first time since the smoke has cleared. She’s pretty sure the whole family outside of Wednesday is all crammed in this tiny forge. At least, all the clan members she has been introduced to thus far.

Thing, perched atop Lurch’s shoulder, waved his fingers at her in a ripple-like pattern. The giant of a man offers her a smile as he watches the young blonde wave back at the hand. It would have been more heartwarming, but the smile looked terrifying, way more like a grimace, though she returned the gesture in thanks.

She had already expected Morticia and Ophelia here, but they’re joined by Grandmama, who seemed thrilled to be settled between her two sons as the older kept swatting away at the younger, fighting the way Fester became easily amused silently pestering his older brother.

Enid found to her amusement that a reflection of the two men could be found sitting adjacent. Pubert seemed set on sitting as close to his older brother as possible, only to have to close the gap as Pugsley constantly shifted away or pushed his younger brother off of him.

“Speaking of hiding, is this where you’ve all been hunkered down at?”

The sisters shared a look, glancing around to see what Enid was talking about.

“Well, it was just Ophelia and myself for a bit. Everyone else slowly showed up over time.”

Enid smirks, “How many people does it take to operate a forge?”

Gomez raised a finger to offer an answer. A booming voice from the inside of the forge got to the question first.

“Apparently we need more than the group already here to keep this place running smoothly.” Thorin yanks his head out of the fiery contraption as he jokes.

“Listen here, Thorin Addams“ The eldest of the living snapped unexpectedly. “This place has been running fine, and will continue to run fine. There was nothing out of the ordinary wrong with the forge until you deigned to show up. Naturally, it was then and only then did the whole place decide to practically implode.”

Enid feels her back straighten at the grandmother’s sharp tone, yet it didn’t faze the recipient at all. He bellows a laugh instead.

“Haha! No need to bite my head off! I am already dead after all!” He rang out with deep rooted humor.

“Actually,“ The ghost soundlessly pats a hand against the metal covering of the forge

“You’re right. The forge itself as well as the blade are doing just fine. I don’t see any problems here.” He conferred with the elderly woman across from himself.

“If everything is fine, then what was all of that smoke for?” Gomez raises a questioning hand.

“Great question, Gomez. Pay attention, everyone. This will be on the next recertification exam. And yes, not one of you is going to be exempt from having to retake it.”

Enid held her breath and felt the corners of her mouth wiggle and shake, only to just narrowly avoid a snort of laughter after hearing the room fall into synchronized groans, the ghost and family being entirely serious about this.

“Was it Wednesday herself who set the forge temperature and normalizing time?”

“Yes.” Morticia and Ophelia nodded together.

“I see. I suppose Wednesday chose to heat treat her blade at a lower temperature.“

Thorin floats around the room as he continues, not unlike a professor lecturing the students they preside over.

“Now, can anyone explain to me the reason Wednesday chose a lower temperature heat treatment over a higher one?”

Quiet. No one jumped at an answer to Thorin’s question. That is, everyone except-

Fester raises his hand.

“Yes, Fester? Please don’t make me regret this.” The ghost scratches at his temple, apparently knowing his audience well.

“A higher temperature would burn the roast.”

All at once, concerned and confused faces magnetically pulled to all give Fester an extremely strange look.

He must have received this type of attention a lot, because he wasn’t fazed in the slightest.

“The what now?” In spite of being the one to ask, Thorin acted like he really didn’t want to know the answer. Fester continued on so casually, it was like he was commenting on the weather.

“The roast. A lower temperature would allow Wednesday to both heat treat her sword as well as make another treat for herself. A higher temperature would just turn a roast into charcoal. No one likes burnt snacks.”

Thorin buried his whole face into both palms.

“Fester.”

“Yes, captain.” He held a salute upon his nonexistent brow.

“You are hereby forever forbidden from touching this Forge.”

“Aye aye captain.” Fester releases his salute with vigor.

Thorin sighs deeply as he rubs at his temple.

“Before I become disappointed in any anyone else, I want you all to note that there are significant benefits for the longer treatment time, introducing the added benefit of stabilization and the overall lessening risk of having the blade snap.“

“Because you’re going with the lower temperature method to heat treat the blade, what is naturally going to happen as an outcome to this decision?”

“Take longer,” Pugsley offered immediately.

“I just said that it would. Pay attention. Not the answer I’m looking for.” Thorin bit his tongue.

“Not burn the house down,” Grandmama waved a hand in a dismissive kind of way.

“Smoke.” The ghost said with extreme strain upon his ghostly vocal cords.

“Lower temperatures naturally produce more smoke.”

The specter looked extremely pained as simple nods popped up around the room, everyone having the answer just now click in.

“Truly, It’s a miracle I let you people touch my forge at all.”

“Listen up. The process naturally is going to produce more smoke. This shouldn’t have been a problem if both vents were running fine, but who could predict the prop to the vent would snap?”

Thorin rolls his head over to look directly at Pugsley.

In fact, so did everyone else in the room. The boy merely offers a noncommittal shrug.

“You’re so right, Uncle Thorin. Totally unpredictable.”

Gomez blinked wearily at the boy across from him.

”So, when I asked you what that crackling sound was after you opened the vent and propped it up, you couldn’t have seen, nor predicted, that the vent prop was so rusted that it might even possibly snap, son?” Gomez eyed his mini-me who finally seemed to squirm a bit under the excess of attention upon himself.

”Fine, fine. I’ll admit that I could have probably seen the issue. My bad. I’ll pay better attention next time.” The boy crossed an x shape over his heart, swearing his intention to get them off his back. Thorin watched the motion with amusement before carrying onwards.

“Anyways, both her blade and the forge are fine. As long as you check the ventilation vents and get this one replaced before they're about to rust to oblivion, you shouldn’t deal with this issue again.”

Grandmama picks up Enid’s almost forgotten question after a few amused nods are passed around.

“To answer your question from earlier, not many are needed to run this place. In fact, most of us are actually gathered here for a bit of social hour before the big event. It’s gonna be a while before we all-“ Gomez bumps shoulders with his mother, cutting her off at the pass. Surprised by his action, she begins to grumble something about how rude that was.

“Before we all do what?” Enid caught on that Gomez intentionally intercepted Grandmama’s sentence before she revealed too much. She pressed, hoping against hope that she’d get some kind of straight answer from someone.

Couldn’t help but try, at least.

“Before we get to crush and speedrun this year's lockdown now that we also have a wolf on our team.” Pugsley waves a hand before his younger brother who seemed trained to give him a high-five back.

“Wolf? What wolf?” Thorin questions.

“Enid here. She’s a werewolf.” Grandmama notes nonchalantly.

The ghost's eyes fell upon her in analysis, Enid then offered the specter a simple wave, unfurling a hand with extended claws in every shade and color in Thorin's direction to prove the point being made. His expression raised a great deal, and Enid didn’t realize how big his eyes were until now, most of them being hidden under those thick eyebrows.

“Ahh, yet another reason why I see that you and Wednesday became fast friends. She’s always been obsessed with werewolves.” Enid softly smiles at hearing this. She recalls the time they treaded through the forest together. She was honestly still surprised that Wednesday offered up that sweet little factoid about herself on her own.

“Also explains the etching..” He trails off in absentminded thought.

Enid’s grin fades slowly into a scrunched-nose look of confusion, delayed squinting of her eyes. She makes a face at the last part, not understanding what he meant by that at all. However, she doesn’t have time to ask as the ghost continues to barrel on without a second thought.

“So it would seem that a wolf has dragged me here, Wednesday Addams herself has taken the mantle to summon me and the rest of the ancestors.” He combs through his long beard with mammoth sized hands.

“Looks like this is shaping up to be a rather interesting series of events we’ve got to precursor our annual Hallows Eve ball.”

“Speaking of the summon, how’d she do?” Morticia steers the conversation towards her absent daughter, gathering information about her while she isn’t present to object to the action.

“Natural born leader, and I told her as much. She’s got the rest of them completely handled. They’ve all seemed set to follow her lead as they work together to set the initial stages before lockdown commences. They’ll be underway here after a small bit of time has passed. She needed to grab some extra materials for her sword.”

Enid watches as Thorin glances over in her direction yet again when he says that. She could absolutely feel her insides burst with this itching that dug into her skin. She felt with every fiber of her being that he kept secretly implying something with that statement.

Yet, she couldn’t exactly prove it. And what did it imply, exactly?

Thorin spun around to Lurch, offering him a silent pat on the back… it looked more like phasing through him, but the friendly gesture was easily understood anyways.

“Hello again, my good lad! It seems that you and I are going to be business partners again this year, are we not, my terrifying friend!” Lurch groans loudly with that same unsettling smile. Enid supposed he was happy, but that had to be inferred.

Before Enid was fully aware of it, Morticia apparently had risen from her spot, drawing close to and lowering herself back down with grace, settling herself right beside the young blonde.

“Well, Enid. Don’t leave us in the dark. I want to know what you thought of the summoning process?” The mother has gently bumped her shoulder against Enid’s own.

Without much of a second thought, the dove reached out her soft hands to absentmindedly run her fingers through those blonde and colorful locks of Enid’s, separating the strands into sections and focusing on threading the upper row of her crown into small braids. She moved and worked like it was second nature to her, like she did this little action every single day.

Enid is stunned, turning enough to watch Morticia’s focused and dedicated face as she deftly organizes the strands. The mother’s dark eyes caught the blue ones intently studying her movements, and dropped the hair, like she got caught doing something she wasn’t supposed to.

“Oh! My apologies, Enid. I used to do this to Wednesday all the time when she was little. Something in me was drawn to-”

“Nevermind.” Morticia cut herself off, but Enid immediately dove into her next exclamation.

“Please don’t stop. I..You can play with my hair anytime you want to.” She offered a sincere grin as she bursted with eagerness at the very motherly gesture that she always longed for, and selfishly wanted to soak up every instance of it.

She felt herself leaned backwards a bit, after shifting her body forward to make it easier for Morticia to mess with her hair. Her head was magnetically drawn back to the touch and it signaled a non-verbal gesture that pleaded for Morticia to continue.

And with that, Morticia warmly smiles at Enid and picks right back up where she left off, resorting the strands that fell into Enid’s face, looking over her with a warmness that could only be described as a mother doting over her own child.

“Umm.. first off..” Enid worked to answer Morticia as the mother wove her fingers around new braids. “That crypt is absurdly beautiful. Makes me wonder why people around the world aren’t commissioning you guys to build their homes or perhaps even castles. Office buildings would be so much cooler with an Addams family makeover.”

The wolf felt a light hum of delight appear from behind her.

“I don’t think everyone would appreciate our particular brand of macabre architecture designs as you so clearly do. Not everyone has the gift of appreciating the finer things in life. Besides, it's like having a best kept secret. It makes it all the more special knowing that not just anyone can gain access to see it. Only the special ones.” Morticia reaches over to bop Enid on the nose which earns her a warm giggle.

“From my point of view, all things considered, I find that Enid held her own fairly well. Especially when one considers she’s never once seen a ghost. Wednesday sure likes to throw people in the deep end, apparently her friends are no exception to this.” Thorin adds.

“Only if Wednesday thinks they can handle it.” Ophelia chimes in, adding her own glowing compliments to Enid, who currently felt almost lightheaded from it all. She wasn’t at all used to so many positive words of reinforcement. The feeling reminded her of a moment that made her giggle.

“Which is frankly pretty awesome to hear, not gonna lie. However, I just wished she didn’t trust me only enough to not let me draw as close as I did to the Summoning Slate. Or, at least remember to tell me to lean back in enough time before the ghosts popped out of it. My head is still spinning from hundreds of specters phasing through my brain.” Enid goofily tilted her head, spinning a finger around to imply the scrambling that happened within.

“Haha! Oh man! If only I could have traded places with you! No one will let me draw close enough to try it! What did it feel like? Huh, huh?!” Fester eagerly bounced around like a toddler, oddly fascinated with the idea of his brain scattering.

“Oooh! A brain freeze! But, multiply it by ten!” Enid couldn’t help but indulge Fester’s constant strange behavior, it was infectious in its own right after all. She matched his energy easily.

“Also,” Morticia continued the conversation with a glint of pride in her voice while weaving strands of pink and blue together in mesmerizing patterns. “Gomez was telling us all about how much of a genius you are at fencing and dueling already.”

“Like I keep telling you, She’s got a real shot at taking on the win against our little scorpion. I don’t remember the last time she’s even lost to anyone within these walls.” Gomez pulled out a cigar and a lighter from his jacket pocket, working to light aflame the object in his hands.

Grandmama watched this action with a strong side eye and suddenly yanked the objects out of his hands while whispering almost under her breath.

“What? Nearly asphyxiating on forge smoke wasn’t enough for you? You don’t really need any more of it.”

Gomez was goofily locked in the same position from the moment his mother tore the cigar from his hand, the same hand was left suspended in air.

He watched with deep annoyance as the old woman lit the cigar and took it for herself. Expertly puffing a few perfect rings into the air.

“She invoked a military challenge on one of the first days of her enrollment. She lost against our friend Bianca, but they’ve been trading the crown ever since. I’ve been taking lessons with Bianca to try and better my chances if I ever happen to get caught up in something like this. While I couldn’t plan for this scenario exactly, I’m glad that I arrived at least somewhat prepared.” Enid continued along the trail Gomez had started down before.

“Ah! You’ve even been training! Gomez, you didn’t tell me that she’s been training.” Morticia let the braids fall as she clasped her hands together eagerly. A twinkle seemed to sparkle in her eyes.

“Ah, I look so forward to the moment you two will duel, it will be an event to speak of for centuries.”

With a resounding series of hollow rings as Lurch knocked a wrench against the metallic table, Thorin, acting as a kind of leader figure, seemingly had asked Lurch to corral the family. The goal of getting the unruly bunch to calm down enough to gather the notes created and get started on the actual forging process.

“Alright then, if we’re going to get to that point in time, then someone show me the design for Enid’s sword and I’ll get to work. Or…” Thorin nodded to his smithing partner. “More like I supervise while Lurch does all of the hard work.”

“Actually, Thorin..” Ophelia laces her fingers together, looking shy and almost apologetic as she continues on.

“That’s kinda why we all requested your expertise here.”

“Oh?” He raised a curious brow, the series of nervous smiles grew around the room.

“She doesn’t quite have one yet.”

The room gets a bit quiet as Thorin looks upon the group, one by one, studying their expressions. Enid does the same.

“Oh. You’re serious. No? Wednesday’s own weapon seems practically finished.” Thorin notes with an odd tone, noting that this is completely out of the blue.

“Wednesday’s had her design complete for a while now.” Fester pats the forge and jumps back in pain from the searing heat of the metal, not quite realizing he wasn’t helping.

Enid looked at the forge, her mind being drawn to Wednesday’s sword being smelted on the inside, a bit of curiosity ran through her. She didn’t have long to dwell on it before-

“Enid here- she..” Morticia trails off, not knowing how to explain. She looks around for someone to tap in and help her.

Enid understands enough from the silent pauses and confused stares that it seems perhaps an really odd thing that she doesn’t have a sword design yet.

And honestly, she doesn’t feel bad at all.

“Um, No one told me that building a sword was a part of my homework assignment, so don’t get mad at me if I receive a failing grade” Enid shrugs.

The giant of a specter leans back, settling into his new position as he crosses his arms and quirks his ghostly brow up a notch. Enid notes with curiosity as an intrigued huff echoes out from underneath all of that mustache and beard hair, ruffling them with the sudden expelling of air.

“Huh, getting caught up in the duel and never having heard of the tradition before, now that’s a-“

The ghost pauses. That action would have been strange enough if not for the way his gaze momentarily flicks just above Enid’s head. The movement was fairly subtle and rather brief. It wouldn’t have been all that noticeable had she not already been paying close attention. However, she caught the motion before the ghostly eyes fell back upon herself as if they never moved at all.

It was strange, and the hair at the back of her neck prickled up. The motion needed investigation. So, she whipped her head around and found Gomez and Morticia looking away, both of them so intently looking in opposing directions at the walls that surround them all.

If Enid didn’t know any better, it was almost like they were very actively trying not to look at her. Her own gaze flicked between them both, darting from one face to the other, trying to glean anything from their rather even looking faces. The way their expressions gave nothing away really reminded Enid very much of Wednesday. It fascinated her, the way it was now so evident that she gained that ability from the both of them.

Even though she garnered nothing from their lack of expression, her under eye twitched in suspicion all the same.

“-Perfectly normal way to go about this tradition. Happens all the time.” Thorin’s tone shifted oddly as he jumped right back into his sentence like nothing ever happened. Enid had whipped back around to listen to the man, the ghost, command the room again once more with his bellowing voice.

Something was off here, but Enid couldn’t quite place why.

She dove into her mind trying to dig a bit into the feeling, but didn’t stay there for long as the ghost began to directly address the girl before him, pushing the subtle feeling to be addressed at a later time.

“Though it will be a bit of a challenge. Seems like Wednesday thinks you’re up for it. Now, the real question is..do you think you’re up for the challenge yourself?”

Enid felt the collective eyes of the room fall upon her, waiting with baited breath and tempered patience for her to give her answer.

A challenge. Something that Wednesday thinks she’s up for…

It was then that it clicked for Enid, her stormy gray eyes lighting up to a glimmering sapphire.

All of the secrecy, the lack of information. How did she not see it before?

Of course! This was some kind of challenge, some test that she couldn’t be privy to. Otherwise, what was the point of it being a challenge?

That’s what all this was. It had to be.

And it made so much sense, honestly. This seemed exactly like the kind of family bonding, aging, rite-of-passage event thing that this family would hold. And now it all made an overwhelming amount of sense.

Enid recalled their conversation over that glass of Orange Soda. Wednesday‘s whole point of even running these traditions and making her apart Of them was a response from Enid revealing to her that she was jealous of her family.

So this was obviously the way that she could most help Enid to pretend like she’s just another part of the family, giving her a chance to see what it was like to have one as connected and unified as Wednesday’s own family was.

And, if Enid was right, then this series of events was merely the means to get the rest of the clan so heavily involved as well.

Through Enid’s own blindness, she witnessed with an overwhelming warmth in her heart, the whole family come together to guide her and walk alongside her through everything.

Enid released a relieved huff, a thankful sigh.

She brushed back the blonde and colorful locks that fell in her face with a tempered smile upon her lips.

Honestly, Enid has no idea what she’s in for. She’d be lying if she said she wasn’t dying to know the answer to that question for a while now, denied at every turn, much to her own annoyance.

Though, she endured the incessant desire to know all because she’s come to realize that Wednesday has got something up her sleeve, and needs Enid to trust her with the knowledge of it.

So Enid will continue to wait with better patience until everything is revealed in due time.

Tilted heads and intrigued stances indicated to Enid that there was a kind of weight placed upon her response, she noticed as her eyes soaked up the state of the room.

Enid’s line of sight then falls to her lap, watching with keen eyes as her thumbs spin around each other, she mulls over everything in her mind.

Enid already knows her answer to Thorin’s question.

She already knows that she does, in fact, trust in Wednesday.

But she realizes even more so now.. that the raven has already shown an incredible amount of trust in herself the moment she decided to bring her here, and now she is seeing it all so clearly.

Now that she’s been graced by the presence of the Addams family for almost a week now, there is something she’s come to realize fully, where she’s only been guessing at before.

Wednesday loves her family, deeply. Maybe even to a degree that can feel frightening to a girl who wishes to suppress her emotions to the greatest degree possible.

But that love is there, ever-present nevertheless.

She sees it in the way she glimmers with pride after fencing with her father, the way she rolls her eyes good-naturedly at his overwhelming enthusiasm with life and love of long-winded speeches. She watches the way Wednesday marginally softens at the way Morticia and Ophelia have doted over herself the moment she met them both. The way they love the boys and, of course, Wednesday herself (even if she does bristle when that warmth is aimed towards her general direction).

Enid sees it in the full blown smile and the incredibly beautiful dimples that appear upon her face when Fester appears, or has managed to land a particularly hilarious joke that managed to catch her by surprise. The way she can be so easily and humorously humbled by her own grandmother consistently, yet takes it with a kind of grace all her own and gives her a kind of respect reserved just for her. She watches it hidden in the annoyance she holds for her brothers, never fully dismissing them or shrugging completely away as they find new ways to bother her, to find new ways to get her to notice them, to pay attention to them as they merely just crave their sister’s gaze.

Even the way that she lit up when summoning her ancestors, and the ease with which they talked and joked with each other, signaling a really strong bond with even those of her family who are already gone.

So when Wednesday extended a hand of invitation to her home, knowing full well she could have just forced her way to San Francisco if her only goal was to ensure Enid’s continued safety, Enid knew that it was also a hand that was also quietly extending trust.

She trusts Enid to handle with care the life and the family she keeps so heavily guarded with everyone else, pretending that she doesn’t love them to the immense degree that she does, maybe even to the point that she’s fooled herself.

But, she hasn’t fooled Enid. The wolf sees just how much this side of her life means to her, maybe more than she can say or knows how to deal with, so she just avoids it when she’s at school. She acts like they are an annoyance or a burden when in fact, Enid can see that they mean the whole entire world to Wednesday.

This whole time, Wednesday has been trusting her by allowing her to see this side of herself, to draw close to the family she loves dearly, to let her even pretend to be one of them, even if it is just for a week.

To pretend she has a mother who loves her, a father who is present. Siblings and cousins that she desperately wishes she were closer to, as much as they all used to be when they were younger.

To pretend that she has a vast array of aunts and uncles and grandparents who didn’t put a standard, a price to their love, forever dangling the prospect of receiving it ever just out of her reach.

Wednesday has that love here. The very love that Enid has always sought, always wished for her own. It is freely given and freely offered to her, always.

And to think, she’s shared it all with Enid. The greatest act of friendship that Enid could have possibly imagined.

Just another reason why she can’t spoil and ruin their friendship with her budding feelings.

She honestly didn’t know what she’d do if Wednesday wasn’t ever in her life at all. And she didn’t ever care to entertain the horrifying thought.

All that she cares about now is that Wednesday has been placing an overwhelming amount of trust into her hands, knowing just how much Enid has craved to see this her whole life, knowing how unnatural and out of her comfort zone that must have pushed Wednesday…

Enid is determined now to reciprocate that same trust that Wednesday has with her.

If Wednesday trusts that she can do this, that she has the ability to figure things out as she goes, that whatever lies ahead, Enid will make things work.

She wanted to honor that trust more than anything.

Enid locks eyes with the ghost, a confidence and twinkle glistened brightly within those sapphire orbs of hers. Eyes around the room watched with intrigue and wonder as Enid nodded strongly with the fullest swell of confidence placed in the motion.

“If Wednesday trusts me with this challenge, I’m sure I’ll be just fine. Just let me know what I need to do to prepare, I’m getting used to figuring it out as I go.” The wolf felt a twitch of a smile that settled upon her face.

As proud as she was in her own answer, the same feeling had mirrored and manifested itself into proud and confident smiles all around. Enid didn’t miss them for anything.

“Heh. I can clearly see why Wednesday has much confidence in you, little wolf.“ Thorin nodded in deep approval.

“Sounds like Enid’s up for the challenge, and I’ve never backed down from one myself, so let’s get to it.” Thorin begins to laugh straight from his belly.

“Isn’t that how you died? Running headfirst into a challenge you were unprepared for, though?” Pugsley gestures to Thorin’s whole being, all 8 feet of the bluish ghostly specter floating before him.

“But the point is, I never backed down, even into death, so why would I start now?” The dead man challenged his great nephew’s point.

“Fair. That’s a fair point.” The boy conceded.

“Alright, then. How are we wanting to go about this? I’m gonna need a design before getting to the actual blacksmithing work.” Thorin notes

“Well, we’ve been discussing that all morning. I do think we’ve arrived at a somewhat genius idea if I do say so myself.” Morticia responded.

“Lay it on me.” He nodded to the mother.

Well, we figured that we could all work together to help Enid build a design. Right here and right now.”

A bluish brow raised in interest.

“We could even make a little game out of it. Every question we ask should provide enough insight to help-”

“-Build a concept based on the answers she provides. I see now.” Thorin completes the thought alongside Morticia who smiles as the ghost nods with deepened interest.

He thinks while absentmindedly scratching his ethereal blue beard, he floats in the air as he crosses his legs.

“Brilliant idea, I like it.” Relief spreads around the room to Enid’s amusement at the fact that the ghost is approving of whatever idea they’ve concocted.

“I believe that should be sufficient enough to work, and it cuts out the extra step of myself having to revise the sword design after the fact, which was always one of the more tedious parts.” He jokes at the end, leaning over to half whisper the latter part for comedic effect.

“Alright! I approve. I’m going to need a draftsman then, putting my ideas to paper.” The man thinks for a second.

“Eudora!”

Eudora? Did he mean to say, Eureka? Enid absently wonders.

“Eudora, if I recall correctly, you were an artist back in your day.“ Thorin quirks his head in a direction somewhere behind the wolf.

Enid realized with genuine surprise that Thorin was using this strange word to reference a person. She arched her body around to follow his eye line to someone behind her, and blinked a bit when she watched as Grandmama had responded, slowly nodding her head. It was almost like she was shocked herself that anyone recalled that part of her life, or her actual name, Enid finally realized that was what the strange word meant.

Enid knew it was rather silly, but she was kinda astonished upon realizing that grandmama’s name wasn’t in fact, grandmama.

The name did suit her instantly, though. Interestingly enough.

“Really? Didn’t think anyone paid any mind to my little doodles way back in the day.” Her face had pulled a bit from huffing a bit of an amused laugh.

“How could I possibly forget all of those dreadfully graphic and gruesome little pieces you created way back when. They are permanently seared into my brain. Believe me, I’ve desperately tried.”

“Haha, you flatter me.” She laughed. Enid knit her brows.

Was that supposed to be flattery?

“How many careers have you had, old woman? I feel like I don’t even know you.” Pugsley grumbles, hilariously reiterating something he hinted at in the past.

Fester jumped in “Oh jeez, kid- you don’t even know the half of it. Did you know that she also-” Grandmama cut them both off.

“You don’t have to know me, you just have to fear me.” The old woman rolled her eyes.

“Anyways, I’ll do the job. Not like anyone else here could draw anything that didn’t look like it was penned by a stroke victim.” She muttered under her breath as she accepted.

Hobbling over to take place at a workbench, a giant sheet of paper was rolled and torn from a spool under the metal table. Like airing out a blanket, the draft sheet covered nearly the entire top of it. She grabs a charcoal pencil, twisting a couple of dials at the side to angle the workspace, it apparently doubled as a draft table, adjustable angles made it easier for her to work (and automatically prevented anyone else from seeing the work from a glance).

The old woman readies herself for work.

“I think we’ve got everything ready. Ask her the questions, and I’ll elaborate if needed.” Eudora nods, confirming she’s good to go.

The stage is set.

“So, Enid..” Gomez begins, spinning towards the younger blonde.

“There is this little tradition we hold for our Hallowed Eve Duel.” Gomez begins like he’s about to weave a story.

Enid is entirely rapt in her attention. She is beyond ready to start figuring out at least a little about all of these traditions actively being withheld from her.

If one is to enter the duel, then to honor their sparring partner, they brandish a weapon that is equal to the opponent’s likeness. A natural extension of their persona, encompassed in weapon form.” The man wove his fingers into the open air as he explained.

Enid paused, blinked a couple of times in her confusion.

“What do you.. I don’t understand.” She scrunched her nose, needing clarification.

“You build a weapon that reminds you, both symbolically and in actual design, of your dueling partner.” Morticia hums.

“I’m…supposed to make a sword..that both looks like and reminds me of Wednesday?”

“Correct! You get it!” Gomez and company nodded eagerly.

“Huh… that’s an interesting tradition. What is the purpose behind that?” Enid let her intrigue form the question, not really expecting anyone to answer it.

To her genuine surprise, Morticia actually offered her a response.

“It’s a long and complicated story, but the original two duelists, the ones that this tradition of ours was inspired by, attempted to kill and gut each other with the other’s sword. Their initial intention was to scatter the ground with the other’s entrails- though the act not required as an outcome of our own version of the duel- it would signal-” Morticia’s dark eyes beamed brightly at recounting the gruesome origins of the tradition.

She aimed to continue on, but Enid stuttered over her rather quickly after hearing the initial details.

“O-Oh. Okay! Wow. Thank you- That’s…lovely.” Enid pales, cutting Morticia off from continuing on, suddenly not wanting any more elaboration.

Enid felt just a tad queasy from the beginning of the story. It was just enough for her to not really question why Morticia looked like she expected Enid to cut her off like that.

“Without going into too much background-“ Ophelia picks up where her sister left off, seeing the way Enid reacted to the response and glossed over the messy bits for her sake.

“All you really need to know is that the idea behind it all is to both honor them in observing their nature to embody in a weapon. It may also add to the unique challenge of fighting with the weight and stance of a weapon that may not be natural to yourself, but learning and overcoming that through the fires of dueling.” The older blonde notes the overall idea to the curious wolf.

“Plus, it’s fun and rather challenging to oppose them with a weapon of their own making.” Gomez adds his own two cents into the conversation at hand.

Enid then nods as she is soaking up all of this new information, taking every bit of it in.

And from there, a new question quickly took shape.

“Okay, alright. I think I’m starting to understand. However, I’ve never made a sword before.” Enid’s small twinge of worry forced her to look around, hoping that wouldn’t be some kind of disqualifier.

“I honestly wouldn’t even know where to begin.”

Thorin smiled at her in a reassuring kind of way. “Not to worry, Enid. That’s what I’m here for, and seemingly everyone else too.” The ghost quickly worked to relieve her of any forming concerns about needing any prior experience.

“He’s right. Our goal is to help translate the design, if you will, based on questions we ask you about how you perceive Wednesday.” Morticia chimes warmly at Enid.

The girl now regarded her with widening eyes, dripping with newfound concern.

“You- you want me to play twenty questions about my friendship with Wednesday?”

It was now that Enid was feeling way more than a little nervous, suddenly afraid that through this type of exercise, she might accidentally give too much away or possibly even fully reveal her true feelings about Wednesday to practically her entire family.

The wolf bit hard at the inside of her cheek.

What was she to do then? Say no? Though talking about her friendship could reveal that she’s hopelessly in love with Wednesday to her family, she didn’t see any other way out of this without drawing some kind of suspicion.

Was she willing to take this risk?

She felt her heart clench tightly in her chest, a smidge lightheaded. She’s suddenly not sure if she could do this.

“We won’t need to ask you twenty questions. five or six at the most will do.” Morticia seemed thrown off by the rather large number that Enid had offered initially, completely oblivious to Enid’s reference.

“No.. Twenty questions is a game… Nevermind.” Enid halted her explanation as she shook her head, Still a literal bundle of nerves. She knew that trying to explain it would further confuse them anyways.

She took a deep breath as she glanced around the room. Each person there waiting on her approval to continue on.

Enid forced herself to take a moment.

It’s okay, E. Breathe. You can do this. Take it one question at a time. It’ll be fine.

You have to practice hiding your feelings anyways, everything will work out fine. They won’t figure it out.

She inwardly chanted to herself, working to convince herself of that very thing.

One more round of deep breaths.

“Okay. Alright. I’ll answer to the best of my ability if that’s what you guys need to make the sword.” Enid mustered every ounce of courage she could will of herself to say out loud.

She also worked desperately to make the response she gave not seem like it was all that terrifying to say.

Without a skipped beat, Morticia chimed with a bright smile, clasping her hands in joy and spinning around to offer the floor to someone with a question.

“Perfect, anyone want to go fir-”

“Mee! Oh! Choose me! I’ve got one.” Ophelia nearly jumped out of her seat, eager to be the first with a question for Enid.

The older blonde was then offered the floor, she formed the first of the line of questions with an eager clasp of her hands that hovered before her face, mirroring her sister’s motion. She leaned in closer to the wide-eyed girl before her.

”Tell me, Enid. What was your very first impression of Wednesday the moment you two first met?”

The question surprised Enid in its simplicity, its innocence. She already knew her answer, and found, with a small spark of hope and relief, that maybe her initial worry might have been unfounded.

Enid knows that she can answer this one rather plainly, honestly. There was no need to be afraid.

Enid thinks back to their very first meeting. She couldn’t help the light giggle that escapes her lips as she traveled back in time.

“Honestly? More than anything, I remember my very first thought of her was wondering if she had been afflicted with the flu or something like it.” Enid noted between the light chuckles, face now revealing her own amusement at her own silly thoughts.

“I didn’t think anyone could get that pale without being stricken with some kind of terrible illness.” The wolf smiled brighter, tempered with bits of laughter that was shared around the room, echoing back in deep amusement.

She was pleased to find that the brightest laughter was shared with both of Wednesday’s parents, who also happened to remember that day.

“Haha! True, all true. I even remember explaining to you about how she always looks half-dead.” Gomez found his own laughter deepening.

“You know, Enid. I don’t know if I ever shared with you how impressed I was with your immediate warmth and kindness towards Wednesday. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone so incredibly open and accepting, especially given the echoes of rumors about her sprouting throughout the halls even as we walked her up.” Morticia shared as her laughter calmed enough for her to speak.

”Were you not bothered with the prospect of being placed with a roommate who could have been a potential murderer?” Morticia naturally formed the second question directed her way, clearly overhearing the rumors that indeed floated around during Wednesday’s enrollment to the school.

This one required more thought, and Enid just sat there a moment, working to place a truthful answer.

“As..someone who is used to sifting through the abundance of rumors that end up floating around campus, I know far better than to treat any of them at face value. Besides, I‘m the type of person who likes to make my own judgment.“ Enid shrugged.

“At first, I honestly wasn’t sure what she was capable of, nor a hint of anything about her past beyond just a bunch of rumors created by people eager to spread any hint of slander they could find, now that they were finally in a place where they weren’t on the receiving end of it anymore.”

“I didn’t really focus on any of that when we first met. Instead, what stuck out to me the most was that she felt…” Enid worked for a moment to find the right word that encompassed their first meeting properly. Once she did, it felt obvious.

”Guarded.” Enid nods, affirming her own statement.

“She’s been acting like a scorned kitten since the day we met” A hint of amusement rings out in her tone. “But, I just assumed she hadn’t put her guard down for a long time.”

“I think I wondered first if maybe she acted guarded, acted standoffish, was because she needed to find a place to belong and had grown used to fighting it by avoiding any kind of attachment to anyone or anything. If that was the case, then someone needed to offer her that place to fit in.”

“Besides, we’re all freaks and outcasts, and I was her new roommate. Why wouldn’t it be me who first offers her that option?” Enid trailed off, a more serious tone wrapped up her answer to the mother’s question.

“Just when I thought I couldn’t be any more impressed with you, Enid, you always seem to find new ways to surprise me.” Enid let her own surprise shine through at Morticia’s genuine response to her answer.

Grandmama’s furious sketches cut through the momentary silence as Enid suddenly remembers the point to all of these questions. She wondered with a sudden and rather deep intrigue what exactly she was sketching in that moment as she watched Thorin lean over the sketch to direct and guide the grandmother in hushed tones. Blue fingers trailing across the paper.

All the while, the family worked to figure out who was next to ask a question to Enid. Gomez clears his throat, indicating that he would go next. However, a loud and sudden interjection from his brother echoed into the quiet as Fester beat him to the punch.

“I’m going next, Gomez! Wait your turn!” The uncle shouted rather clumsily.

He then suddenly pointed a finger directly at the rapidly blinking wolf before him, gaining her (and everyone else’s) surprised attention.

“Don’t think, kiddo! First thing that comes to your mind! What is your favorite quirk about Wednesday?” Fester throws his question at her quickly, expecting the same rapidness with her own response.

She was so surprised that she did exactly as he hoped, blurting out the first thing that dawned her thoughts as she bumbled through being rather startled by his interjection.

”She’s got this really funny habit of giving you compliments or saying nice things in a really roundabout way!“ She said at a louder volume with a stiff-straightened back, unexpectedly matching Fester’s energy.

The room’s surprise melted into another wave of laughter and amusement. Enid wasn’t sure if they were expecting an answer like that at all.

Honestly, neither was Enid. She supposed she now had to dissect why she jumped to say that.

”I don’t even know if she always realizes that she does this, but everyone knows that it’s rather rare when she offers anyone anything remotely close to a compliment. So much so that she usually feels like she has to pair it with some kind of critique to keep things in balance.“ Enid tilts her head as she thinks on the fly.

“After being her best friend and roomie for so long now, I like to think I’ve at least partially decoded her own unique kind of language.“ She begins to talk using her hands, trying to find the right words to say.

“You see.. She often builds compliments into phrases and layerings that are so convoluted, that most people don’t even realize that she is offering them a compliment at all.”

“-Like when she tells me my subterfuge is impressive, not directly admitting I pulled one over on her.” Enid giggles at the memory.

”Oooh! You’re right, like the time when she tells me that I have the potential to rival her skill, though I may need a few lifetimes to achieve it-“ Fester echoed her sentiment as he recalled Wednesday’s indirect compliment to him as they fought together to take down the Fire-Bear.

”Or when she tells me that if I keep working at crafting the perfect bomb, I might even create one strong enough to one day clear away the grotesque dump that I call ‘my room’ from its incessant blight it places upon our world for merely just existing.”

Pugsley sighs as sputters of laughter ring out around the room in response.

“As you can see-“ Enid wipes her own tears from her eyes. “I find all of the layering to be incredibly creative and rather funny and really endearing. It’s like her own unique brand of niceness.”

She trails on absentmindedly, a distinct and sudden fondness lacing her tone as she reaches up to twirl a few pink locks framed against her face.

“And you know what? It makes the times when she is direct even more meaningful, because you know that normally she fights it at every step. So when she offers a compliment in a simple form, she really wants you to know how she feels, and you know she means every word of it too.”

”Seems like your title of being her closest friend is well deserved. I didn’t think a single soul gathered that she does this and can note the quirk with such fondness outside of us.” Morticia hummed as she shared a look with her sister at her side.

Gomez suddenly released a sigh he looked as if he was holding for a while until now.

“There is no need to rush, little brother. Anyone can ask her a question. She’s not going anywhere.” The father revealed his annoyance at his brother’s previous interjection, overshadowing his own question.

“I didn’t want you to steal my question..” Fester admitted as he leaned backwards, not seemingly apologetic in the least. Gomez rolled his eyes and took the stage next, asking Enid the question he had been apparently waiting to ask.

“When was the moment you first realized that our little scorpion considered you a friend?”

Enid thinks upon that one, humming as she works to figure out the exact moment. The father wore a gentle smile as he watched the wolf become lost in thought once more, dropping the pink locks she was twirling to wrap her arms around her knees.

The quiet lingered on longer than the earlier questions. She seemed torn between what she wanted to say.

The girl moved marginally after a while, still seeming to process her answer as she began to finally speak.

“...Normally, I think I would have originally said something much later. Maybe about the time she threatened to nail-gun the heart of someone I was interested in if he breaks mine. Or even the time I moved back into our room, working to separate our spaces once more with a roll of tape to appease her desire for boundaries when she surprised me by telling me to skip it. Those seem like the more obvious answers to me.”

”If I’m being honest, though. I think it might have been earlier. I think I first noticed a shift the moment Yoko was sent to the infirmary and I was out of a co-pilot for the Poe Cup.”

”You’re the one who managed to get Wednesday to join the Poe Cup?” Morticia asks, knowing her daughter participated, but couldn’t imagine until now how in the world she was convinced to join.

Her face softened, like she fit together some stray puzzle pieces floating in her head.

”Yes and no.” Enid frowned through her explanation. “I wanted the reason she joined the team was because we were friends, her offering to help me in a time of need. Though I’m positive she only accepted the role because she wanted revenge on Bianca at the time.”

”I was really desperate, willing to take any reason at that point, even if I felt like the alliance we formed was merely a means to an end for her.”

”If you felt that to be the case, what is it that changed your mind about that time then?” Ophelia quirked her head, her long blonde hair fell off her shoulders and pooled into her lap with the motion.

Enid honestly wasn’t sure why. She felt that this was the answer in her gut. So, she was left to search her heart, grasping to find the words that matched how strangely strong she felt this answer of hers to be the right one.

”Looking back…I think what I saw first wasn’t friendship in so many words. Not then, but there was something drastic that changed with her.“ Enid nodded her head, feeling closer to the answer.

“Which was?” Gomez prompted Enid on.

Enid blinked, once. Twice.

“Respect.“

She wasn’t sure what prompted her to say the word, it wasn’t placed on her tongue nor lodged in her mind. Yet, she realized that it was the right thing to say, exactly. She found her answer with assurance felt all the way down to her bones.

“Yeah.. it was a newfound respect. I saw it pretty clearly in almost every instance of our interactions moving forward from that point on. It was in the way she talked to me, regarded what I said with deeper attention. She always seemed to take what I said into consideration, even if she didn’t outright say it. She let me further into what kinds of twists and turns were always spinning around in her head. The things I asked and even down to the silly whims I’d randomly say. She regarded it all with a unique kind of seriousness. I wasn’t merely just that odd roomie of hers anymore, who couldn’t be more different than her if I tried. About as different as the sun is to the moon.”

Enid continues, “But though that fact has never really changed, how different we are, that is. Yet, I noticed that I was all of a sudden her equal. It’s strange, but I think that by suddenly gaining her respect, that was really the first step of friendship, at least in Wednesday’s eyes.”

Gomez swiped at his chin in abject thought, leaning into the hand as he thought through his words.

“Wednesday always has to respect you as a person first before she lets you draw anywhere close. Though, I must say, I’m impressed at the speed with which you gained it. Most people, even members of her own family, have to work a long time for her to regard them long enough to obtain it.” Gomez nods with a knowing smile upon his face.

“Come on, darling. Are you really all that surprised? This is Enid we are talking about after all. I can’t imagine anyone more instantly worthy of that respect. I’m just glad my daughter had enough sense to see it in you pretty quickly.” Enid nearly tears up at Morticia’s kind words, always overwhelmed by her love given so freely. The feeling multiplied when Gomez nodded eagerly, agreeing with his wife’s statement wholeheartedly.

“I suppose I can go next.” Pugsley suddenly offered, shifting in his seat at the anticipation. “I’ve gotta know, Enid,” The boy trails off like he's about to ask something revolutionary.

“What is Wednesday’s most embarrassing moment ever?” He eagerly burst out, using the current scene they all find themselves in as a means to dig for any kind of dirt he could find on her.

“Pugsley.” Morticia’s tone darted out soon after, laced with annoyance and warning.

“What? can’t blame me for trying.” The boy motioned defensively.

“Winnie and Wolfie are the best of besties.” Pubert clapped out from his place upon his brother’s lap, wanting to offer his own input. The child gained soft awws and gentle coos from around the room at his natural sweetness.

While the child soaked up the attention, Pugsley groaned from just behind him, already done with his brother’s antics.

The middle child formed his question again, opting now to craft it by riffing off his younger brother’s comment instead of asking what he really wanted to know again. He knew he’d possibly risk his life if he braved it again while his mother was around.

“Fine then.. My question is the opposite. You, Enid. I want to know when you first considered Wednesday as your friend?” Pugsley gestured to Enid with a nod.

The room seemed to lean towards Enid with eager eyes as they awaited an anticipated response. Enid sat a little straighter from the rapt attention she received.

“Me? Well… it was around the same time, I suppose. Maybe even earlier. I- We talked once on the balcony after I heard her play the cello for the first time.” Her fingers danced in the air as she used them to speak.

“It was her first week at Nevermore, and I was having a rough time. She asked why I wasn’t running with the pack of Furs, and I decided to be honest, vulnerable. I opened up to her about my inability to wolf out at the time.” Enid shrugged as she pulled her hands back into her lap, clasping them tightly together.

The boy lightly laughed with a smile upon his lips.

“She make you feel even worse?”

Enid half smiled at both the memory and the idea that Pugsley obviously knew his sister well.

She teased alongside him.

“How’d you guess?”

“Is that seriously even a question?” Pugsley quirked a brow at her as he continued to giggle at his sister’s expense.

“You’re right, you’re right. It’s obvious now, but I only knew her for less than a week at the time.” Enid waved a hand in humor.

“I remember distinctly that she, did indeed, kept saying things that made it worse. That being a lone wolf was the perfect outcome for my situation, she kept wondering why I was crying, like I could control my tears at that moment.”

“And this is the moment you found that she first became your friend?” Ophelia’s tone rose in concern, only slightly questioning Enid’s judgment in what kind of people she considers a friend.

“Well, it’s what she did next that changed my mind about her.” The wolf soothed Ophelia’s concern.

“I lashed out at her in irritation, asked if she was above crying too. Though, instead of biting back, she offered me a story. One that I could see was hard to recount for her. It was about Nero.”

“Nero. Hells below, that was so hard to watch as a parent.” Morticia winced her eyes in pain from the sharp memory. “The sweet thing cried every tear she had to give over that wonderful creature who met such a cruel and undeserved end.”

“She hasn’t shed a single tear since, Wednesday loved that scorpion with everything she had.” Gomez commiserated alongside his wife.

Enid, along with Fester and Thing, all sat up a little straighter. Each one of them quietly recounting their own experiences with Wednesday. Each one decided not to say anything. Each one knew Gomez’s statement not to be true. At least not anymore.

“She didn’t have to tell me that story. Didn’t have to even try to attempt to comfort me. I could tell it was entirely unnatural at first to even make the effort. But that was why it mattered more, meant more to me.” Enid continues with her answer.

“She had her own thing going on, her own plans to escape and leave. I thought I was just a pure nuisance to her up until that point, and figured she couldn’t wait to be rid of me too.”

“She surprised me, and proved me wrong in the same swoop. She had everything pretty much lined up to leave, so she didn’t have to waste her time or effort to say a single thing to make me feel better..”

“But she did.” Enid’s tone was scratchy, warm. “And that simple action meant more than I could express at the time.”

“It was my first real glimpse at the kind of person Wednesday truly is, the one she works hard to hide. She likes to pretend that she doesn’t have all of these amazing qualities buried below the surface. Though, they’re not as deeply buried as one would imagine.”

“And what qualities of Wednesday’s are those, Enid?” Morticia asks, merely following the line of thought the wolf had laid out before her.

“She is so incredibly sincere, and immensely loyal. If she’s your friend, you will feel so seen, so known and genuinely cared for. It was incredibly apparent to me after our friend, Eugene, was hospitalized. She frequently visited him in the hospital while he was in a coma. I watched her diligently taking great care of his bees, and always brought him the honey he worked hard to produce.”

“People say that she’s cold, heartless. That she doesn’t care about anyone around her. Even when I said that in anger and hurt and frustration, I knew it was probably the greatest lie I ever told. Wednesday feels emotions. If my suspicions are right, she feels them a great deal more than any of us know or realize, yet she’s incredible about keeping them under wraps. She feels things deeply, and cares about her people a vast amount. Underneath this persona she’s built, this veneer. I don’t think I’ve met anyone who could rival the absolute heart of gold she tries so hard to hide away from the world.”

“I am.. beyond lucky to call her my best friend.” Enid whispers. She feels Morticia place her cold hand upon her own.

“Take it from her family, Enid. She feels the same.”

Eudora’s scribbles amplify in the stillness of the air, the pause felt weighted after such a heartfelt response. Enid scratched at an orange nail, wondering if she’s bearing too much of her heart.

“Almost done, Enid. You’ve been positively brilliant so far.” Thorin’s bellow cuts through her bubbling anxiety.

“Alright, Enid. I have one final question for you. After that, I should have everything I need to craft you the perfect weapon for the duel.” The specter glances over the sketch again, like he was assessing any final markups that needed to be made before focusing on Enid, his fingers soundlessly tapping in a rhythm upon the draftsman table.

“Give me something you compare Wednesday often to. Some imagery, if you will.” Thorin’s final question drummed in the confined space of the room they all shared.

The answer came easy to her, though she decided to take her time in getting there. She picked at her sheathed claws in her lap, her attention drawn to the motion as she spoke.

“You know, Every single person we know compares her to a black cat, especially after I forced her to dress up as one for the Poe Cup.”

Tilting her head in amusement, she continued.

“And to be fair, it’s kinda hard to miss. She acts like a scorned kitten, she is very independent, opinionated, and acts impulsively. It would be harder to not compare her to one.” The wolf shrugged, trailing off as she continued to pick.

“You sound as if that’s not the answer you want to give though.” The older blonde draws Enid to continue on. The younger blonde smiled at the way she was seen straight through, as if she were glass.

A slow nod of hers indicated that this was indeed the case.

“I remember asking her once, about her psychic visions. I wondered why they looked so painful and harsh when she was caught up in one. She told me that it was the burden of those who saw the future, the past from a darker lens. ‘The Ravens’ of the psychic persuasion had more powerful visions, but it was paired with greater side effects.”

“I know now that a ‘Raven’ is just the category of Seer that she falls into, but after learning more about the type of creatures that these birds are, I can’t imagine a more perfect thing to compare her to.”

“What about them fits her so well, would you say?” Gomez questioned with a small laugh, intrigue coloring his words.

Enid bit her lip, every bit of research she made into the creatures instantly flooding into the front of her mind.

“Ravens are so intelligent, and actually quite kindhearted when they want to be. Did you know they can remember human faces and might even bring gifts to the ones they know? They are adaptable, and naturally talented at a lot of amazing things. They show empathy for their friends, but are also quite capable of holding a grudge.”

Soft and humored scoffs rung around the room.

“Yeah, I thought that one was funny too.” Enid shared the sentiment and the laugh before pressing forward.

“They are seen by many as an ill-omen of death, embodying the darkness itself, so people are fearful, and tend to stay far away. I just think that they’re misunderstood, and no one realizes that they carry so much light within them, though you might not guess it by judging them on looks alone.”

“They are capable of showing care and affection in their own ways. They can also prove to be able to have fun and show themselves to be quite playful. I especially love the irony that they get along amazingly with wolves. So much so that they are known to have a symbiotic relationship.”

“Huh, you don’t say. Is that so?” Grandmama asks between the soft scribbling sketches that she’s been working on.

“I’ve heard of this too. Some cultures even call ravens, ‘Wolf-Birds’,” Morticia angles her head to confirm this to her mother-in-law, who looks back at her in genuine surprise.

“It’s true, and actually pretty well documented. Ravens can also help wolves find and catch their prey, often sharing the meal between them. The raven likes to tease and annoy their wolf friends, getting them to chase and initiate playing together.” Enid adds to the mother’s words.

“The wolf and the raven.” Enid lets the sentence ring out and linger in the air, as if what she said was something sacred.

“It honestly reminds me so much of our own kind of friendship, and I think that is kinda special.”

Her final words were soft. So incredibly gentle.

It allowed her to notice the muffled sniffs that scattered strangely before her. She yanked up her gaze to watch with a stunned expression as Gomez was openly fighting tears, back being rubbed to soothe his brimming emotion by his wife, who looked like she was fighting a strong wave of emotion all her own. The two of them share a loving gaze and warm smile.

If that wasn’t strange enough, Fester grossly blew his nose into his long, black trench coat. The action dirtied up the grimey fabric even more. The peculiar action causes Pugsley and Pubert to scoot away from their uncle with a hint of annoyance, or maybe disgust was a better word for it.

Enid herself had completely dropped that soft and far-away expression to watch with a strong grimace contorting her features of the odd scene that was unraveling before her eyes.

Thorin wraps up his low-tone discussion with Grandmama, outlining and gesturing to various places on the draft, hidden from Enid’s view. Strong nods and deep, booming hums of affirmation accompany the final scribbles that scratched into the air around them.

One single belt of victory and joy echoed loudly off the walls, ringing in everyone’s ears and arresting their full attention.

“Alright, I do believe we’ve got ourselves a final product.” The man clasped his ghostly hands together and spun up and away from the board, looking to lock eyes with the young blonde his newest masterpiece was meant for.

“Enid, do you want to come here and approve the design before we get started?” Thorin offered, gesturing for her to draw near.

The wolf, along with everyone else, eagerly jumped out of her sitting position to rush her way to the draft. Eager anticipation flooded her body with adrenaline and she felt the rush of excitement jolt through her like a shockwave.

Enid swings around to the table and a strong gasp of intense awe overcomes her. Those sapphire eyes roamed the page furiously, taking in every inch of this stunning work that her answers helped build.

The sentiment was shared by everyone. She felt a mass of bodies lean over and around her, crowding the space all in order to get a good look as they signaled their amazement with a strong wave of ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’.

“Based on what Enid has offered in the way of answers so far, I’m thinking of a twisted damascus style sword as the initial base.” The ghost gestures to the body of the drawn sword blade.

Enid couldn’t wrap her head around how it was possible to build a sword this cool. The main bulk of the sword was a series of twisting coils, spiraling their way up to the tip of the blade. White and black were in equal measure, fighting for dominance in mesmerizing patterns.

“That marbled pattern, as you can see, would clearly be the bulk of the blade’s design. This is achieved by using two varied instances of steel. I’m thinking of a 1080 plain carbon steel blended with a 15N20, which has that high nickel content within the steel. It would provide a significant amount of tensile strength to the blade, which also embodies my great niece’s natural demeanor and personality.”

Enid spins to watch him speak in his natural element, completely confused by all of the terminology that is flying right over her head. She watches him point to the center of the blade, right at where it connects with the hilt.

The section that just happens to be the first piece of the illustration that drew her attention.

“Beyond the initial steel stacked on the outer layer of the billet, I plan on introducing another series of materials to the overall design that, as you can see, converges brilliantly at the spine.” He shifts his finger down the ridge of the blade design for emphasis.

To Enid’s amazement, she watches a stunning ray of light, white and gold, appear from under his finger as he reveals the blade’s spine, and the colors ripple their way down the blade, all the way to the hilt.

“The material centerpiece of this design, and I think this is rather brilliant, is gold.”

“Gold?” Enid absentmindedly echoed his words, lost in the sword’s design.

“Yes, real gold, symbolizing that ‘heart of gold’ you see within her. And the best part is, we have plenty of it, so taking enough for two sheet layers should be more than feasible for this piece.”

The very core of the weapon though, is going to be cold-steel. When finalized, that steel will offer the sword a strong and sheer, obsidian-like, black edge that will offer a strong gradient as you draw your eyes to the tip of the blade. Because of the strong incline of the edge of the blade to the spine, that gold layer will also reveal itself in this stunning border, separating the black and white marbling from the white spine.”

'The guard of the sword, along with the hilt-"

Enid watched his hand wave in gesture to the handle of the sword, amazed at the ingenious creativity of the design.

"A crescent moon will be the crux that holds the blade to the handle, symbolizing how you compare your differences, the 'moon' in contrast to your 'sun'."

His finger stops at the center of the blade, the heart of it all, and taps a soundless finger upon the page.

“The real masterpiece, if you ask for my opinion, will be the engraved art upon the center.”

Enid studied the pattern in awe. There was this stunning depiction of a scene. It told a story of a raven in flight, a wolf mid-dance. Each creature encircled a moon that tethered them, much like yin and yang.

Enid couldn’t help but agree, with the ghost. That center, she thought, was the heart of the sword. She wanted to cry. She could barely believe how beautiful a sword could actually be.

And it was hers.

Designed by her view of Wednesday.

She didn’t want to think too hard about it. She felt an invisible claw raking across her chest at comparing the sword to Wednesday, and felt a stark blend of pride alongside being an absolute mess of a bundle of nerves when knowing that this derived from the depths of her heart.

Yet, as near perfect as this design was, something told her that there should be one more thing etched at the center.. but what?

One more thing-

One more-

A flash of lightning wove like static across the ripples of her brain.

Enid asks for the pencil from grandmama, who rolls the tool into her palm. She starts by picturing the symbolic object to the last detail in her mind before she begins to sketch out the object, down to the smallest little detail.

She sticks her tongue out as she sketches, a sign of her deep concentration. The family around her leans in closer, trying to figure out what Enid wanted to add before she can finish.

”There. Now I fully approve.”

Curious eyes scan around the center, trying to figure out the meaning of the pattern that Enid had just added to the gothic archway etched design. It took a moment before someone recognized what exactly it was, but the excitement shown did not disappoint.

Morticia glazes a finger gently across the design.

“Isn’t that the window from your’s and Wednesday’s dorm?”

Indeed it was. It was the window, their window.

Enid strongly nods, not really trusting her voice at the moment to not give anything away.

”Beautiful work, Enid, everyone. I think we’ve all worked to create something really special here.” Thorin begins.

”I, for one, cannot wait to get to work upon this masterpiece, and see it come to life on the field of battle.”

“Lurch?” The giant groans loudly in response to Thorin’s call.

”Looks like we will have to take a trip over to the Catacombs ourselves to gather the material needed for this sword. We won’t bother much with that until lockdown gets underway though, so take a rest while you can. I expect another couple of all nighters ahead of us, my behemoth of a friend.” Thorin smiles to Lurch, who seems to groan at the idea of the sleepless nights ahead of them.

Enid feels the heat of the Kiln behind her.

Before she knew, she didn’t put much thought into this before, but now that the process of smithing her sword is done, she realizes with a strong wave of curiosity that Wednesday’s own sword is ‘normalizing’ just within it.

If Enid’s sword was built in the image of her view of Wednesday, then the logic follows that the sword inside is made in Wednesday’s own personal view of herself.

Her breath quickened. Desperate curiosity filled every ounce of her being.

She wondered what it would possibly look like, and half wished she was a ghost herself so she could just stick her head in the flames, merely just to get a good look.

Without any warning, without really any sound, the room around them suddenly shakes.

Just a tiny amount.. Enough to wonder if it was her own imagination running rampant.

But based on the raised heads of the Addams family, looking around at the ceiling above them, she figured it probably wasn’t a figment of her own mind.

As Enid gapes up at the ceiling, another small shake, though stronger this time, loosened bits of rubble and dust that fell from the height.

Her instincts go into action as she moves rapidly to a stand.

“Alright people, don’t panic! This is like a normal day where I’m from.“ The wolf leaped into action as adrenaline flooded her body.

“Cover- We’re going to need something stable, something durable for a large group of people or a large number of durable objects for everyone to take cover under.” Everyone stares at Enid taking charge, but to her puzzlement, they seemed unfazed.

Not a hint of stress within them, or even a single person had moved an inch.

Instead, Lurch groans and says a bunch of nonsensical mutterings.

To Enid’s surprise, she thinks the giant is trying to talk to her.

After watching Enid freeze up, several blinks silently indicated a silent plea for help here, didn’t want to offend the man who seemed like he was trying to explain something important to her.

Thing sees the distress, and leaps off the giant’s shoulders, crawling his way to the palm of her now extended hand.

She scoops him up off the floor as she watches with keen eyes at the rapid-fire taps and signals he begins to make at her.

“Oh goodness. Apologies Enid, Lurch and Thing are just trying to explain to you that-“

“Oh, Lurch was just telling me not to worry? That this is a normal precursor to Lockdown? Um, do you people normally get earthquakes in New Jersey? I didn’t think they’d be common over here.”

The family watches the wolf with wild and surprised eyes.

“You..understood him?” The clan looked between Enid and the family disembodied hand, trying to figure out how she knew Thing’s own unique adaptation of sign-language.

“Of course. We’re besties. We give each other mani pedis all the time. That bonds people like you wouldn’t believe.” Enid smiles as she pets the hand, who seemed thrilled to be close to the wolf-girl who just called him a close-friend of hers.

Thing offers a thumbs up in confirmation to a bewildered family.

“Fascinating. I’ve been wondering why his skin and cuticles look so immaculate as of recent. I just assumed he actually developed some skill at taking care of himself.” Gomez laughed at the hand, who just flicked the man off in return.

“So, to answer your question. No, we don’t often get earthquakes, unfortunately. That would add such a fun element to the day to day, wouldn’t it. Besides, that wasn’t an earthquake.” Gomez Spoke after his laughter quieted down.

“Then what was it?”

“That was the house preparing itself for Lockdown, which according to my watch.. Should start here in ten minutes.” Ophelia twisted her arm to look at the face of her thin watch at the underside of her wrist.

“Ten..what?! That’s so soon! Do we have to get anything for it? Should we start making our way somewhere?” Enid panicked, not entirely sure what that meant or entailed. At the very least, she was positive that they were cutting it close.

“Nah, that will all be taken care of in…nine minutes anyways.” Gomez adjusted the time as he looked at his own wrist watch, completely unbothered.

Enid pinches her nose bridge, panicking about being the only one who had no idea what was going on. She had to do something, maybe she could wiggle out more info from someone before the uh..(’event’?) started.

“So, what is this ‘lockdown’ tradition consist of? Its got an ominous name for sure.” She worked to control the volume of her voice, kneading out the pure panic.

“What did Wednesday tell you about it?” Morticia smiled at Enid as she leaned towards the wolf.

“Heh, if you think Wednesday hints at anything she intends to surprise me with, you got another thing coming.” Enid rolled her eyes with a full dose of sass poured into the action.

“Wednesday obviously thinks you can handle it. Everyone who ever participated in this tradition always had such a brilliant time. Plus, it’s way more fun when you don’t know what’s coming. That experience can only be lived once. Who are we to spoil Enid’s fun?” Morticia defined her final stance so sweetly.

‘Enid was not getting anything out of them if she could help it’ was the sentence that the wolf read between the lines. She held in a groan.

“Okay, but what if we have another repeat of the lockdown from 82’, that won’t be fun for anyone.” Grandmama shrugged.

”What happened in 82’?” Enid worked the small opening that had been presented before her.

“One, that’s only happened once in the entirety of the tradition’s history. You know that was a rare fluke, Grandmama“ Pugsley backed up his mother’s stance.

“Plus, no one who participated that year was halfway decent at solving puzzles or riddles. Besides, Wednesday herself is working with our ancestors directly with this iteration to get things set up smoothly before we get dropped in. If you think those ghosts don’t have anything still to fear, then you’d be wrong. Some of them are bloody terrified of her. If anything went drastically wrong, they’d have hell to pay with her, or probably be sent on the express train there by the little scorpion herself.” Morticia added.

“Enid’s a smart girl. Plus, she has a unique advantage for an outsider. She’ll be more than fine, she even got a tour of the whole house when she got here” Morticia blossomed with confidence for the girl that Enid entirely lacked within herself at the moment,

“Like that helps at all. Remember when it all got rearranged in 96’ and 15’ with no rhyme or reason?” Grandmama was determined to play devil’s advocate.

“That doesn’t happen often.” Ophelia added her own input.

“Still happens, though” Grandmama stood firm.

”But you alway tell us that it adds to the fun, and you know it. You even constantly say that you wish we’d have another 96’ on our hands.” Pugsley notes.

“…Rearranged? What got rearranged?” Enid threw out there, though it seemed like they were either actively ignoring her or didn’t hear her panicked pleas.

“You’re awfully quiet. That’s not like you, my love. Are you alright?” Morticia realizes all of a sudden. She turns to a quiet Gomez while grazing the back of her hand against his face. He grabs it and kisses the back of her hand.

“Of course, I’m thrilled for another brilliant lockdown with everything we’ve got going on this year.. Even still, I don’t look forward to being separated from you for any period of time.” Gomez continues to trail kisses up her palm and wrist.

“Separated?!”

“Hey! What in the world is happening!?” Enid grows more drastic, Raising her voice to make sure that attention is drawn to her growing panic.

The family shares some glances between them. Enid figured they silently had a conversation about what they could and couldn’t tell her.

“Listen Enid, in about three minutes, lockdown will begin. Per tradition, we are forbidden to explain too much, only a few basic rules.” Morticia sees the frantic expression on Enid’s face, offering what she could in the way of sympathy.

“Rules..Okay, Lockdown is obviously some kind of game.” Enid parsed out any bit of information she could extract from them.

“The girl is a genius!” Gomez exclaimed with enthusiasm. It would sound sarcastic from any other person, but Enid knows he’s being sincere.

Morticia leans over and grabs Enid’s now near shaking hands before she continues.

“When Lockdown begins, there are three things I want you to remember. One, no matter how dire the situation may seem, you are not actually in any real mortal danger. Things are not always as they seem.”

Danger?! No- she said that there was no danger. Calm down, E.

She gulped as she nodded for Morticia to keep going.

“Two, Be wise. Use your surroundings to your advantage and know that you always have the ability to alter your situation."

"and three?" Enid felt her muscles ball up tightly when she felt the room start to shake again under her feet, starting small and slowly getting stronger.

And this time, the shaking didn’t stop.

"Our greatest strength is always together. If all else fails, hold fast and you will be found." Morticia smiles at the wolf in a failed attempt to calm her down.

"Found? Are you guys going somewhere?!"

The room begins to shake to a much stronger degree, sending Enid and many others to the floor. Lights are flickering, small bursts of flames are sputtering out of the forge, and the dust from the walls is beginning to cloud the room.

"Ohhh!! Here we go again!” Pugsley begins to bounce alongside his brother who clapped with the purest of glee.

“Lurch and I wish you all well. Here's to another successful year of lockdown I’ll surely never hear the end of once it's all over.” Thorin bellowed from the depths of his belly.

They cheers each other, riding out the tremors that only seemed to increase their unified glee.

"I'm not sure now's the time for that! There's an actual earthquake happening!" Enid balled up tight, giving up on being able to stand back up on her feet.

"Good luck, Enid. Have fun, and hopefully we will see you soon!" The family collectively waved at her and each other as the entire room seemed to be collapsing in on itself.

"Wait! No! What do you mean?!" Enid yelped over the deafening noise of the tremors.

The lights flicker to a terrifying degree, Enid feels like she’s losing her ability to even see her hand before her, the very world seems to spin out of control.

Her breathing is erratic, hyperventilating until a high pitched whir and her own gasping for air was all she could hear anymore.

Enid realizes a little too late that she’s passing..

passing..

——

The world seems to stop spinning, just enough for her to start contemplating opening her eyes again.

She longed for the coolness of the floor to seep into her overheated brain, allow some thoughts to form and pass through.

She can register touch again, she thinks.

She isn’t sure if its working though. Instead of a cool, hard floor she knows she should be laying on, she feels the texture of carpet under the pads of her fingers, knitting into her extending claws.

Should she open her eyes?

She’s tempted to keep them shut forever. She has a really, really bad feeling about opening them up.

She gulps, the saliva scrapes against a desert dry throat.

She builds her courage. She knows she needs to open her eyes, and maybe she can if she collects enough of it.

Maybe she should count.

One, two.

Two…

....

She opens her eyes, and she knew that it was a bad idea.

She's freaked out by the sight.

Snapping her body upwards, her brain felt scrambled from the suddenness of the action. She holds a hand to cradle her temple against the sharp pain.

No longer is she in the basement forge with all of the family, but in a room.

A room she’s never seen before.

Passed out on the floor.

Entirely alone.

"..What the hell?"

Enid looks around, she finds some solace that this room still looks like its somewhere in the house. The extremely large house, the castle-like house.

Somewhere.

Honestly, she had no idea where she was. She didn't remember this room, though if she saw it before, she wasn't sure she'd remember it.

She needed to go orient herself first. She'd go through the door and hopefully things would start coming back to her. Maybe she could find someone and give them an earful for leaving her in a room passed out alone.

Enid pulls herself up and off the grey carpeted floor.

Brushing off some stray dust still settled upon her clothes.. was that from the earthquake?

Anyways, she goes to open the door. A simple twist of the knob should do it. Find her way back to someone, or at least a place that looked remotely familiar.

Instead, her heart leaps into her throat when she attempts to twist the knob.

Locked.

Not just that, but the door handle wouldn’t even twist, like it didn’t even have that function to be able to.

In a burst of fear and frustration, she jostled the knob, not bothering to withhold her supernatural strength.

Nothing. The stupid door didn’t even budge an inch.

She tries every which way to open it. The handle isn't even turning. Is this someone’s sick idea of a joke? She beats against the unmovable door before her.

”HEEYY!! Can you not lock me in here?! I’m really done with this joke already!” She shouts.

Nothing. Silence.

Enid notices a unsettling feeling creeping back up into her throat and tightening her chest. Almost losing herself to panic, she honestly doesn’t care about much anything other than getting out of this room.

An idea passes over her. She didn’t think twice about it. She’s apologize for breaking the house later if she needed to. Though she felt entirely justified in doing so.

Completely unsheathing her claws, she swipes at the door, tearing into the wood paneling and felt a rush of relief as she watched the door form deep rivets from practically destroying the thing.

Enid jumps back after a flurry of swipes, breathing hard and wiping the sweat that formed upon her brow. She needed a moment to breathe after digging through about half of the panel. She could hardly believe how strong the door was, but another round should send it packing.

Wiping her face, her eyes from the budding sweat around them.. she only closed her eyes for just a second.

Yet when they opened back up, she could have dropped from what happened next.

The door began to heal. Blue light molded into the deep gashes she left in the door and glowed until it dissipated, leaving nothing but a perfect door behind, like it was never touched at all.

Enid felt her whole body begin to shake, nothing stopping her from entirely freaking out now.

A distinct scratching sound dug into the wall from behind her, and she spun around with wild eyes and extended claws, ready to fight or to at least figure out what the hell was going on.

To her absolute horror, words began to carve themselves into the blank panel of the wall. A black ooze poured from the gashes and dribbled long lines that were pulled by gravity to sink into the floor, almost like the house was bleeding.

Enid barely registers what the etching in the wall says before her eyes blink back and roll into her head as she collapses in terror, blacking out once more.

‘Hello, Enid! Welcome to Lockdown.’

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Notes:

And now the real fun can begin!

Oh man, I was really hoping I could get this update out way before the end of October, but that’s life I suppose.

I knew my job entered into its busy season, but I guess I keep forgetting that October is absolutely something else. Boy, did I take a baseball bat to the face for the last few weeks, but I’m here and alive and getting well!

Regardless of life and job circumstances, this fic and you guys have stayed in my mind throughout it all, and I do love the little and small bright spots of my day working on this fic. Even if I can only write a few sentences at most or do a bit of research to gather new ideas.

As you guys can tell, this one was an absolute beast to write.

Not only is it super dialogue heavy, but it is absolutely monumental in setting up every major piece we need to move forward into the final chapters of the fic. Also, the amount of research that I needed to make this chapter passable in my eyes was insane! Haha!

I felt like I needed to rewatch most of the show to make sure I got little details of Enid recounting crucial moments of her and Wednesday’s budding friendship over the course of the show as well as what I think Enid’s inner dialogue of those moments would be. (I think I’ve technically watched the show five times by now. Three for research.)
The Blacksmithing element. Goodness, I knew nothing, absolutely nothing about blacksmithing before this chapter. I knew it was going to eventually be a heavy element to this story for a while, and I was determined to make it as close to real life as possible. (That’s just who I am and what I want out of the stories I read, so I have to hold myself to the same standard.)

Listen, the amount of videos I watched on youtube to learn about the proper terms, watching the process from beginning to end, and seeing a strong variance of creators do the same thing and talk their way through the process to make sure that what is being said is consistent throughout that sphere. Researching my own concept designs of the girl’s swords, and seeing if it was possible to make something out of so and so material in real life was a whole job in and of itself.

And, you know what? I loved every second of it! Not only do I feel confident in what I wrote about this section, even if it's probably not perfect, but I gained a huge admiration for that hobby and trade as well, and kinda want to make my own sword one day if I ever get the chance. Literally so freaking cool.

I think you guys will be happy to hear that the rest of the fic (all the way to the very, very end) is written with rather large, broad brush strokes. All the major heartbeats are there and mostly well established. (Some of them are way more polished than others). Either way, I needed to double check that pretty much everything major that happens in the future is going to have some kind of tie in around this, and the last couple of chapters I’ve already published.

So in conclusion, This chapter was just not getting out fast at all, no matter which way you look at it. I am super grateful for the slower working pace with this one. I honestly wasn’t happy with it for a while, and I couldn’t really place why. Over time, I think what I needed was just a greater amount of those small moments where each character in the scene had a fun moment to shine and fall into their personalities. I wanted the dialogue to feel like something they would actually say and not a bunch of dry words that only pull the plot forward. I hope I struck that balance with you all as well, because I’m finally happy with how it wrapped up.

We’ve only really just begun lockdown, but all you need to know right now is that all of the best scenes that are the most insane, goofy, intense, wild, wacky, heartwarming, jump-out-of-your chair from excitement and laugh-out-loud moments I had stored up over the last year and a half.. I’ve saved exclusively for this moment in time. I know I’m probably over-hyping this final arc, but I think you guys are gonna be super pleased with it.

So, please adequately prepare yourselves, because we are all in for a wild ride.

Until then, please let me know your thoughts, your theories, your hopes and dreams. I can’t wait to read and respond to them all.

With much love,

Kalon

EDIT::

Beyond a few error corrections and small needed additions..Sorry I couldn't post it at the time because I didn't have the file on hand, but I had intended on also showing you guys the concept art I built of Enid's sword design! (Thank you for reminding me, Daelin_91)! When Wednesday's sword becomes revealed much later on, I'll post that one too! Until then, enjoy!

Chapter 22: when the world used to be a little more simple

The light was low. That blue sky above them grew darker by the minute as the pink sherbert horizon melded into the sea painted in those same mesmerizing colors, shimmering off the distant waves that kept the horizon from being a perfectly straight line.

In between the parcels of conversation at hand, birds could be heard chirping and seagulls cawing in between spurts of a distant jackhammer. Something was always being built or repaired around here, it seemed.

The low hum of constant traffic was barely distinguishable from the far off roar of the ocean. Only when the familiar clack of cable car down Hyde St. passing by on the rails, or the intermittent bellowing of a cargo ship's horn upon the waves breaks up the pattern, can she tell the difference between the two.

In the last stretch of the offered skylight, more people seemed to be out and about. People shutting doors that rung with a little bell, car doors slamming as people climb in, the groups hopping on and off the cable cars, heading back home to make dinner with their families.

Enid dug her hands into the grass, the dirt underneath her rainbow colored nails. She always easily found herself lost in the noises whenever she got a chance to rest back here, in their tiny backyard in the heart of San Francisco.

A chorus of loud groans, all rising into the air in unison drew her mind completely out of the clouds. She blinked, now rapidly working out what was said for everyone to make such a fuss.

“But you’re about to leave for a week, how’s that fair?”

A boy with a mousey brown afro of tightly curled and unkempt ringlets mumbled into his palm that settled against his cheek. He kept brushing back the hair that easily fell into his eyelashes that only served to add to his annoyance.

Enid watched him huff loudly and cross his arms. Even though he was barely a year older than her, she felt and acted like the older one. Declan was always a bit of a baby, anyways.

“Little baby Deca’s got a point, for once.” The older boy took a subtle jab at his younger brother as he made his point. This didn’t go unnoticed, and Declan stuck his tongue out at him in return, reaching up at the same time to mess up Conor’s expertly styled curls, textured in a perfect fade, knowing how vain the boy is about his stunningly blonde hair.

He expertly dodged the attempt and merely continued his line of thought after sticking his tongue out at his younger brother himself.. in just as much of a childish manner as it was received.

“We’re already missing out on a week's worth of good stories. You can’t just tell us to limit it to only one for tonight.” Conor hummed in annoyance.

“Can’t you just spend the night and tell us stories until we fall asleep? Like you always do?”

The second oldest boy pleaded as he ruffled his darker, reddish hair in this messy, uncurly, tapered fringe in an almost aggressive way. Enid could always tell that Bran was upset and really disappointed. He always did that when he felt that way on the inside.

“Pwetty, pwetty please? With a cherry on top?” It was Enid’s turn to try and change his mind. She had pleaded in her soft little baby voice.

As the actual baby of the family, this usually worked as a kind of trump card her brothers often used to their collective advantage when they all went places. Her cute, childish charm often worked to the group’s benefit. Whether that’s netting them all free ice cream when Enid smiled brightly at the cashier, or convincing the officer not to send them down to the station for trespassing and call their parents.

“Were you all not paying attention when Gramps called on the phone? They’re leaving at midnight.” A low growl cut into the air aggressively after Enid’s soft pleading, snapping heads towards his direction.

“Your complaining and your baby voice aren’t gonna work on him this time.” The oldest child of Murray and Esther Sinclair snipped at his siblings, hard.

Enid would have normally been a bit taken back by his tone, but something in his voice told her that Alistair was hurting in his own way too.

“You know, guys..If it were up to me, I’d skip this whole thing.” Henri spoke between bites of a giant cream puff, one almost seemed as big as his head he grabbed after dinner wrapped up. One bite managed to get the powder all over his nose that made it twitch.

“Imagine… we could take that camping trip at Mt. Tamalpais we’ve been trying to plan for forever. Just think, we’d pack only the best junk food money can buy. We could stay up all night telling as many stories as we could manage. No one telling you just how much soda you can and can’t drink. We’d hike a little in Muir Woods, sleep und-”

“You- you’d rather hang out with us over partaking in the Alpha Rites? Are you making some kind of joke?” Alistair cut him off, staring at him in deep shock and disbelief.

In fact, they all did. It would have been dead silent if it were not for the ambiance of the city in the background, or the distorted and distant voices of their parents, as well as their aunt and uncle, talking inside.

Henri took another bite and chewed the pastry slowly. The treat muffled his voice a bit.

“Course. It’s not even a contest for me.”

Alistair expelled a huff of disbelief, shaking his head. The abundance of soft curls the color of freshly brewed coffee bounced with the motion. His piercing green eyes flicked up to hone in on his older cousin. He now felt the need to explain the gravity of the situation that is laying at his older cousin’s feet.

“Gramps chose you. He’s so impressed by you that he wants you to take over the whole pack one day. He chose you over all of our cousins, all of our more distant relatives. You. The rites are your chance to prove that you’re the top dog amongst everyone. There’s literally nothing cooler or more important you could do as a werewolf. ”

Enid knows he’s referring to a kind of trial for werewolves. Not really just a trial..’The Trial’. Probably the most important one they'll see in their lifetime. At least, until the next Alpha was ready to retire and pass the baton to the next generation. She felt a surge of pride for Henri, knowing that this trial was going to be a big deal in terms of whether or not he was going to lead the pack in the future. She, and everyone else had every confidence in the world that he would.

‘So, why was everyone but him taking this so seriously?’ She wondered, deep in thought.

“Sure sure, nothing cooler at all…Except go camping and tell spooky stories under the stars.” Henri laughed, wiggling his eyebrows in his own goofy levity, which was not shared by even the youngest of them there.

“Henri.. This is a really big deal, you do know that. Right?” Alistair still was reeling in his shock, thinking his older cousin may not understand the implications if he was so casual about all of this.

Henri’s goofy smile faltered. He sighed as he looked around at a bunch of really serious faces around him.

He flopped back on his hands and sighed deeply, throwing off his goofy persona for a moment to trade with a more weighty one.

“Man, you kids are more serious than the grown-ups discussing family dynamics, pack politics, and hierarchical structures of all the other San Francisco Bay Area Werewolf packs inside. Can you people please start acting your age and arm wrestle me for dibs on another snack or something?” Henri rolled his eyes, the child-like and bubbly personality of his evaporated like morning mist.

The group didn't really know how to respond to that, hardly ever being allowed or given permission to ‘act like a kid’, that it might as well have been a foreign concept to them. So, they just shared bizarre looks in between them until someone spoke up.

Enid raises her hand.

“I don’t think I’d win at arm wrestling.” She shrugged her tiny little frame. “But I’ve got a really, really good idea for the story we could listen to tonight. Plus, we’ve never even heard of this one before.”

The twinkle in Henri’s eyes was back. Not only that, but the attention of her brothers was upon her as well, intrigued and showing a clear desire to hear her suggestion.

She felt a surge of warmth in her chest for being able to bring back a little joy to them all.

“Atta girl, Enid! That’s the spirit! What’ll it be then? What would you like to hear?” Henri bounced back upright, and leaned forward on his knees as he sat, eager to listen to her.

“Um. We’ve never heard the story about how you and Ebbi got together.. I wanna hear it.” Enid twirls her hair in her hand, staring at the section she recently stained with pink chalk, though it was now barely visible, faded with too many forced scrubs.

Her brothers collectively groan, startling Enid out of her thoughts and causing the girl to snap back at the response.

“Oh what, like you dummies have a better suggestion? We argued about a story for an hour last time and we missed hearing one completely!” Enid bit back and her brothers that only served to rile them up.

“Really though? A love story?” Bran scrunched his nose up at his baby sister’s suggestion. She cut her steely blue eyes up at him to show her annoyance.

“I’m not hearing any other suggestions though, Bran.” Alistair meant to snip more at his brother, just happening to also defend his sister inadvertently at the same time.

“Oooh! I know!” Conor perked up.

“How about the one where you put those bitchy Bradley Pack brothers in the dirt with nothing but your stone-cold fists and a dinosaur pool inflatable for talking shit about us? You might as well be the real-life, mutherfuckin’, James Bond.” Conor bounced on his knees eagerly, pumped his fists in mock battle, rushing with adrenaline at the absolute carnage Henri dished out when it came to defending and protecting the honor of those he loved, comparing him constantly to his favorite character.

“I swear, I’m gonna hold you down to wash your mouth with soap one of these days, Connie.” Henri rolled his eyes at the typical foul-mouthed blonde who was always a little too much to handle when he got like this.

“Gotta catch me first, Hen-Hen!” The mischievous blonde laughed and mocked, tossing back his own affectionate, yet insulting sounding nickname, when he heard his own.

“We literally just heard that one, Con. Besides, if you want a real action packed story, that time he single-handedly whipped and owned every other Bay Area pack at the annual wolf games after those Malone pack jackasses tried to sabotage him and managed to break three of his ribs before the big event.”

“Yet in spite of that, he demolished every single game and category. The underdog story of the century. With no less than three fuckin’ broken ribs. Now there’s a story worthy of being compared to James Bond.” Bran held up a hand with three fingers extended, to make his point extra clear. Conor and Bran’s mutual admiration and respect for the character was one of the very few things they shared in common.

“Just because Conor’s worse, doesn’t mean I’m not coming for you next, Brandon Sinclair.” Henri snapped in annoyance at Bran’s own foul language.

“And uh, My story is better than yours anyways, so we should go with mine.” Bran shrugged lightly, acting like he never heard Henri and continued to barrel right on through.

“Nuh-uh” Connor childishly shot back at his older twin.

“Yeah-huh.” Bran remained cool when he retorted, which only made the blonde even more mad.

“Shut up Brainiac! You always-” Conor got all up in Bran’s face, brilliant blue eyes flashing with anger.

Enid let her eyes bounce from one annoying brother to the other as they argued. She was suddenly reminded of just how opposite these two always have been and she found it kinda funny.

Anything she read or saw on TV that depicted twins seemed so vastly different from what she knew of her brothers. She didn’t think two people could be more opposite in both personality and appearance. It was strange, she always choked a laugh when she realized that she looked and sometimes acted just as hot-headed as Conor did more than his own, redheaded, hazel-eyed, and rather confident and calm-natured twin.

“Maybe we shouldn’t fight. Isn’t this how we missed out on a story last time?” Declan’s voice rang out stronger than before. The group calmed their fighting a little bit, and it always seemed to be due to his influence to bring out some reason.

Enid watched him with wonder, clear and concise. She wrinkled her nose at the fact that she literally just said that before he did, yet he was able to calm them down where she only managed to make her brothers bristle.

Enid and Conor think of him as the baby, but that wasn’t entirely true. More than anything, he was the peacekeeper, managing to always find some sense or reason that unified this chaotic little bundle of furs. No easy feat, but if anyone could manage it, and manage it consistently, it was Declan.

He also was apparently annoyed that it looked like that was going to be the same outcome this night as it was the last, and he was going to do whatever he could to make sure that didn’t happen again.

“Dekko’s right. We’re wasting time.” Alistair backed his youngest brother, who had softened at the eldest's approval.

“I say that we narrow down the choices and vote on it.” Declan outlined an incredibly reasonable plan.

“Brilliant suggestion, Deca!” Henri reached out to ruffle his afro. Declan practically blushed at all of the positive affirmation from the two people he respected the most.

“Fine. Sure. Whatevs. But, you throw Joe’s suggestion out or I’m not voting.” Conor crossed his arms like a child throwing a tantrum. Enid could be heard growling low in the background.

“I cannot believe I’m in agreement with someone as idiotic as you, but same.” Bran waved a hand, the twins staring each other down in anger, even though they were in complete agreement. The growling in between Conor and Henri got louder.

“Now wait, what is wrong with Enid’s pick? She also suggested one first, and to top it off.. It's brand new. I think it would be much better than hearing about me breaking my ribs or bashing people’s faces in, no matter how well deserved some of them might have been.” Henri rubbed absentmindedly at his torso, the phantom pain of three broken ribs still haunted his dreams from time to time.

“But that’s such a girly thing to suggest.” Bran stuck out his tongue in mock disgust, and Enid could feel that hot-headed nature rise to the surface that she distinctly shared with Conor.

“Of course it’s a girly thing to suggest. She’s our little sister, you idiot.” Alistair clicked his tongue in annoyance at Bran’s statement.

“Yeah you stupid idiot, if you haven’t noticed, I like girly things!” Enid snapped and shouted at his calm and collected face, annoyed that she couldn’t crawl under his skin like he could do with her and everyone else.

“Really, Joey? I couldn’t tell a bit. Maybe if you remove that mountain of unicorn plushies and cotton-candy colored ribbons and streamers you’ve tied to every corner of your room, we could actually see the inside and figure out what you actually like.” Conor laughed at his own sarcasm. It was typical of him to not take sides and get on everyone’s last nerve.

“Real mature, Connie.” Alistair groaned.

Though he was the oldest, and always worked to try and reign in his chaotic siblings. Even Enid could see that it exhausted him. He was always most comfortable when off reading to himself or training with Henri, getting to feel like he was a younger sibling for once, not having to be the model child and the weight of expectation placed heavy on his shoulders.

“Oh what, you’re the model standard of maturity now, Alice?” Conor bit back at his older brother. True to his combative nature, he has effectively insulted each one of his siblings and his cousin in the last few minutes. He’s managed a faster time though, so no records broken here today.

Enid was much younger, and hadn't lived as long to have his ability to easily come up with a witty reply, so instead of a retort, she just reached out and beat a fist against his arm over and over, which only made him laugh even harder.

“Whoa, whoa. Calm down you two.” Henri grabs Enid and easily just lifts and moves her completely away from Conor, and in between himself and Alistair. Leaving Conor out of the range of her little fists and kicks she is now launching in the air. This most definitely is not the first time he’s broken up a fight of theirs.

“And what makes it so girly? Am I not in the relationship too?” Henri questioned their logic.

“Yeah, but..” Bran blinked, not really expecting that to so easily cut away at his argument.

“Do you boys want to die alone? Be a bunch of lonely bachelors until you keel over in your old age?”

Henri tempered his growing smile when he saw that he easily managed to render all of the chaos and the noise of his little cousins into complete and utter silence, each one now thinking hard at his question with actual seriousness.

“N-No, but-” Bran began, being the one who objected the most.

“Besides, aren’t romance stories loved universally? ” Henri expertly kept chipping away at their opposition, one by one.

“Sure, but-” Conor added.

“And didn’t James Bond always get the girl in the end too?” Henri added the final nail in the coffin with a strong smile, seeing the eyes widen in realization upon both Bran’s and Conor’s faces.

“Honestly, Enid’s landed on a good suggestion. I kinda want to hear it too.” Alistair admitted with a shrug, looking over at his youngest sibling who beamed up at him, thrilled to hear him to verbally offer her praise, being kinda rare from him to offer up to anyone other than Henri.

He let his face soften marginally at watching her beam up one of those goofy little grins up at him. He suddenly found he was working hard to hide his smile, and realized now why she was able to use that charm to get them out of so many sticky situations. How utterly difficult it was for people to say no to a sunshine-faced child missing four of her baby teeth, smiling up at you like you were the light of her life.

“Don’t look at me like that.” Alistair grabbed her whole face with his hand and affectionately pushed her backwards to roly-poly into the ground. He muffled his own mouth with the other hand to stifle his laughs when he heard her goofy little squeak when he did so.

“That’s what I’m voting for too. I’ve heard one too many stories about something that’ll just pop up in my nightmares..” Declan raised his hand for effect.

“Four to two. It seems you guys are outvoted.” Henri nodded with a rather large and goofy smile upon his face.

Bran and Conor stared at each other, honestly more surprised that they happened to be on the same side of an issue for once in their lives than upset about the fact that they’ve been outvoted.

“Fine.” They echoed each other, relenting to what the larger group wanted in order to get to actually have enough time to listen to a story, no matter what kind it was before being without for a whole week.

“Besides, I think this is the story all of you need to hear the most.” Henri hummed in thought, his tone suddenly weighted by heavier emotions.

“What is that supposed to mean? Do you actually think we’re all gonna die alone? What would be the statistical odds of that?” Alistair went all analytical on them, rather than seeing the heart behind what Henri had said.

Henri looks at each of them, taking time to study each and every one of his little cousins intentionally. It was one of the many reasons why this oddball collection of siblings all loved Henri so much. Not only was he their glue, someone who always seemed to bring them all together and be able to appreciate just being together..the Sinclair siblings.

Henri saw each of them as individuals. Took time to get to know their quirks, to listen to their ramblings and complaints, but also their hopes and dreams. He inspired them all to live for more, to question everything, especially the status quo. And to know that he’s always there to have their back whenever they need someone to fall back upon.

Henri scratched at his head, still in thought as he continued to look at each one of them. Finally landing upon Enid with a deep thought in his mind.

“Actually, no. I’m way more terrified of the high likelihood of you all finding mates…”

They all scrunched up their faces in mutual confusion.

“Um.. what the-”

“-For so many other reasons than actually being in love.” Henri softly finished.

The siblings were rendered into abject silence. That same weight they saw in Henri’s eyes now had spread itself to nestle into each of their chests, feeling like this was something super serious they needed to regard as such.

“What do you mean?” Enid breaks the silence, speaking for them all.

Henri begins to look at his hands, rub at his palm, curl his fingers. He sighed deeply.

“You know.. Sometimes, most of the time. The world of grown-ups can be really, really stupid.”

“The world from the eyes of a kid, where everything is so much simpler.. That gets lost in translation somewhere along the line. And people make things so much more complicated than they need to be..For no good reason at all. It’s..It’s frustrating, you know.” He rubs at the back of his head, in clear frustration.

The kids all blink, not really understanding where Henri is going with all of this, and he sees that. Trying to now be more clear for their sake.

“Listen. Sometimes people mate with others because the other person has a lot of money, and they seek to tie themselves down with someone they don’t like to claim it as their own.”

“Sometimes they will mate with someone of influence, to gain more power or exploit it for their own means.”

“Sometimes they’ll mate with people only because their family wants them to, or hasn’t given them any other choice.”

“Or, because they’re afraid they have no other choice, they attach themselves to the first person to say yes..Not wanting to live life alone. Terrified to be alone.”

Enid felt her hands tighten into little fists.

“Now, I’m not saying that it’s impossible to have something good come from these circumstances, but I don’t want to see you all attach yourselves to anyone other than someone who you love with your whole heart, and feels the same about you.”

“I’d actually much rather see you all enjoy a fulfilling and joyful life alone rather than be with someone who didn’t make you happy.”

“But you just said-” Bran started up.

“I was trying to get your attention. I didn’t actually mean that you can’t be happy being alone.”

Henri watched the confusion on their faces only grow. Another sigh escapes his lips.

“Listen, I’m trying to make a point. It shouldn’t be this way, but it’s become pretty rare for someone to be with someone else because they actually love them.”

“If possible, I want each of you to be as ridiculously happy as I am, as Ebbi is.”

“As your big cousin, and honorary oldest brother, it is my job to make sure that each one of you knows what real love looks like, and give you a better chance at knowing what to look for and find exactly that.”

Henri watches their expressions soften, his message and desire for each of them starting to finally shine through a bit.

Trying to lighten the mood, grabs both Brandon and Connor at the same time and knuckles their heads at the same time as the smaller boys work to fend him off, laughing the whole time.

“Because if there’s anything I want for each of you, it is for each of you to fall in love and mate with someone because you want to be with them… not because you feel like you have to.”

It’s not missed upon the siblings when they watch Henri look inside the house and see the silhouettes of their parents, and his as well.

Enid and her brothers follow his gaze, watching the forms of those inside with a sudden and hollow kind of sadness. They all know what they’re discussing. They hear it practically everyday.

Their shortcomings and how they could improve upon them, the constant comparison to others in the pack. Are they growing like they should? Are they meeting the proper milestones? Are they exceeding them? What can we do to up their standing in the pack? Are there any potential mates in the Holland pack? I’m sure that would increase our standing and make the pack stronger. Don’t you agree?

Henri spoke softly, breaking that loop each one of the siblings had echoed in their own heads.

“I want you to know that it's okay if the person you love isn’t a werewolf, or even if they don’t look or speak or think like our pack, like our family wants.”

“I want you to know, I need you to know, that at least one person in this family has your back if you seek out what you really want.” He said somberly, like his heart was on the verge of breaking.

For they all knew he was speaking from his own experience.

“How do you know?”

Their collective gazes hover towards Enid again.

“What do you-”

“How do you know if you’ve fallen in love? What does that look like?”

Henri watches the grass blades just below his coupled hands. He smiles warmly for the first time in a few minutes, lost in his warm thoughts of someone he wished was here by his side, speaking wise words and loving his little cousins as if they were her own.

“Well, it means finding someone that you trust, someone who is strong and reliable. Someone you can lean on when things get hard.” He nods as his thoughts form into words much easier the more he continues on.

“Someone who is at peace with themselves, has confidence in who they are. Someone who loves who you are, but never stops wanting you to be the best version of yourself you can be.. Someone you can laugh with and who makes life a joy to live.”

“Someone, in spite of all of the differences between you two, still loves you, and you love them.”

“When you all find someone you love, I want you to know what that’s like, I want you to look for that, and I want you to fight for it.”

They all absorb every word as if it was his last, really starting to think heavily on what Henri is saying

“Okay? Make it a promise?”

“Promise.” The siblings echo in unison, maybe for the first time.

Surprisingly, Bran is the one to pipe up first.

“Alright, if you’re gonna tell a story about you and your girlfriend, start from the beginning. Half-pint over here isn’t going to be satisfied unless you give us every last fucki-” Henri gave him a look.

“Freaking detail.” The redhead reluctantly switched words. “I can already tell she’s gonna be a pain about this if you don’t, and I don’t wanna live with that for a week.” The boy looked at his younger sister who was gearing up to shove him too. That was, until he offered her a rather warm roll of his eyes at her, and then a smile. He was lovingly teasing her in his own kind of way.

“Try to make the boring parts more exciting, please. I can already feel my eyes start to close.” Conor fell backwards on the grass like he was about to make a snow angel, offering the loudest fake snore he knew would dig under everyone’s skin.

“Boring? You guys have no idea how exciting it is to fall in love.”

“Exciting? How so?” Declan curled himself into an attentive sitting position.

“Do you know the first time that we met? She shot me?” Henri laughed with the warmness of the fondest of memories.

There was a small delay for his words to process in their minds. It didn’t take all that long for everybody to absolutely lose their mind.

“WHAT?!” Everyone practically jumps in Henri’s personal space. Conor could be seen floundering like a fish out of water to sit back upright.

“Yeah! You know that scar I have on my shoulder?” Henri’s energy easily matched the sudden explosion coming from his little cousins.

“That wasn’t from a werewolf fight, but a gunshot wound?!” Bran abandoned that cool and collected demeanor for a moment.

“Wait, serious? Can I see?” Declan pushed his way into the fold further.

“Did it hurt?” Enid balked.

“Whoa! Bitchin’!” Conor exploded into laughter.

“Shut up! Shut up! He’s trying to tell the story!” Alistair shouted above the crowd of his siblings.

As Henri begins from the top, offering up every detail just as Bran had asked of him, his words become a low hum in the distance. The colors of the bubblegum sky turn dark and the world starts to fade away, becoming blurry.

When Enid realizes what is happening to her, she wants to stay in this world for just a little longer, feeling the dream slip away from her grasp. She misses those days, sometimes. It was like what Henri said, when things between them all, and the world, was a little more simple.

Notes:

Okay people, Enid has blacked out, so you know the drill by now.

Time for some hidden lore from the childhood of our favorite cotton-candy colored werewolf!

Also, I know I said that Lockdown is truly beginning in this chapter, and while that’s still ‘technically’ true since Enid has just passed out.. This is an important little aside that I suppose needed to be its own chapter since it’s so freaking long. Honestly, if I had a nickel for everytime this has happened, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice.

I always do this, but I’m kinda thrilled that this just kinda happens. It was just supposed to be the opener of a longer chapter, (so was the last flashback), but this thing got super out of hand, and there are too many brothers that I felt needed their own descriptions and give their personalities room to breathe and shine for a second. So, here we are with the flashback being its own separate chapter..yet again. Good grief.

Anyways. If it’s not already clear by this chapter.. I really, really adore the idea of Enid, at one point in her life, being really close to her brothers, and all of them being super close to Henri as well. While Enid probably had it harder than the rest of them in a lot of ways, (Mother’s focus being the only girl and disappointment in her being unable to wolf out paired with the frustrations that come with her strong-willed personality), I have this idea that they all struggled with the weight of expectation and following the pack’s wants and ideals first…not their own. Not really being allowed to be their own people, and only kinda being given permission to do that with each other. That mutual sibling experience bonds people like nothing else does. It’s amazing.

I wanted to explore that relationship here a little bit, because you never know if we’ll all cross paths again at some other point in time.. Ya know? 😉

Besides, I wanted to get something out to you guys much faster, rather than something another week or two from now.. so here you go! Please let me know what you think, and I actually do promise that we’ll get into the heart of lockdown the literal next chapter.

Kalon

Chapter 23: Welcome to Lockdown

Enid felt the low groan in the back of her throat before she heard it.

Time must have been passing, She was able to collect more of her bearings as it continued to roll by.

The grass under her palms shifted into a scratchy carpet. The fresh, San Francisco ocean breeze that was jostling her hair had stilled, become stale, even.

She was in that middle ground, somewhere in between waking and sleeping. 

All of her brother's laughter had become distant and quiet, echoing into silence. Henri’s stories faded into merely a memory.

“I suppose Wednesday was onto something after all.” Enid suddenly decided to hoarsely test her voice as her consciousness increasingly became tethered to reality. 

It was more so dry and rough sounding as she groaned again from stretching her muscles out of their prolonged inactive state, back sprawled out against the floor. The light had prickled against her closed lashes. She began to blink and rub at her eyes. Casting away a world of sleep and dreams and memories of simpler times.

She allowed herself to open her eyes, now staring at the paneled wood ceiling above her head, still stuck in that same room.

“I really do have a weak constitution.” She pressed a warm hand on her equally warm temple, almost laughing at herself. She really did faint constantly.

Her memory slowly crept back to her, and she arched her head and back to analyze the wall behind her.

While upside down, she scans her soft blues back and forth, looking over every inch of the rather normal, boring looking wall. 

She found herself searching for some leftover scratch, perhaps a dribble of black ink on the floor. 

Something, anything, to indicate that what she had witnessed, the etching of her own name carved by an invisible hand while the house itself bled black ink, that entire, bone chilling scene that made her fall over and black out had been real, and not a figment of her stress-addled mind.

Instead, what she found, or lack thereof, seemed to indicate the opposite.

She found that the wall was clear, boring, and gray. Nothing, not a hint of the etching, the black ooze, not even a splash of it, had been left behind, or perhaps even existed.

Was her mind playing tricks on her? She quirked her head against the gray carpet as another thought entered her mind. 

Did the house heal that up too?

She wondered if that was the case, seeing the door she carved into heal eerily faster than she could rip it apart. She still felt the tension carried in her claws from the effort of trying to rip that door to shreds. Curious, she lifted up a hand above her head. 

There. She could even see the way that tearing the door had chipped some of the colorpop paint off her nails. Evidence that she’s not just dreaming things..right?

Enid blinks. Not sure what to make of it.

Her muscles ache a bit from the inactivity as she collects her frame and hauls herself to a stand. 

Cautiously, she tethers forward and bravely puts a hand upon the wall, feeling for something, anything.

Evidence of scratches, evidence of blood, of ooze, but her eyes from earlier were telling the same story her hands were now. It really did feel like a normal wall.

She pressed upon it, testing its weight, seeing if it was real..

It was.

She sighed, spun around and closed her eyes, leaned her body into the wall, letting her shoulder blades press into it as she focused and honed her thoughts as she recounted what she knew, what she remembered.

As her eyes scanned all those fuzzy little knots of the gray carpet before her, she then recalled Morticia’s words, since they were literally the only thing she had to go on. 

This was a game, she knew at least that much. Games had rules. All she had to do was figure out what the parameters were. 

She remembered some stray words from the family's conversation beforehand. There was something about being separated and something about things being…rearranged in the past.

What did that have to do with what was going on with her now? Speaking of, where was everybody else? Was this happening to them too? Were they the ones pulling the strings?

She felt Morticia's voice echo in the back of her mind, calling for her to remember.  What did she need to remember again?

Oh yeah, that's right. She needed to remember three things, they began to flood into her mind quickly, one following suit after another.

    1. No matter how dire things appeared, she wasn’t in any mortal danger. Things were not always as they seemed. 

Okay, so what.. She was locked in a room with walls that bleed and doors that heal. That was terrifying, but not exactly dangerous. Were things gonna somehow get worse? 

She took a breath to calm herself. It's fine, Enid. It had to be. She trusted them, she trusted Wednesday. If they said she wasn’t in any actual danger, then that surely was the case. She knew that their words to her rung true.

Though she wasn’t sure she wanted to know what Morticia meant when she used the word ‘dire’, though.

She shook the thoughts from her head. Okay, okay. She can worry about that later. What else?

   2. She said to be wise. Use my surroundings to my advantage. She wanted me to know that I always have the ability to alter my situation.

Okay, if this was a game, then there was a way to win, right?

Someone said something about riddles and puzzles. Was that how she won the game? Was she in a puzzle right now? How was she supposed to work with absolutely nothing to go off of? Was that just another part of the game?

And then the third thing… 

Just what was that third thing again?

She lifted herself up and off the wall, walking towards the center. She let her eyes touch the four walls of this room. taking it in in earnest for the first time since she passed out, since she was too panicked before too really take anything in.

The first thing she noticed was a bed cot in the corner she had somehow glazed over before.

She eyes it carefully now. Someone slept here. Was.. this supposed to be someone's bedroom?

Her eyes took in the frame of the cot. The disheveled sheets and the haphazard way they were strewn about. All of the signs did indicate that someone slept here and recently at that. 

Her face pulled in concentration as she analyzed closely. Now that she thought about it, the bed looked permanent but at the same time it really didn't.

It was like someone often slept here, but the cot could easily be put up whenever the need arose. Her eyes flickered down to the floor below the cot. Solely judging based on the scratches into the paneled wood flooring beyond the gray rug area, it seemed like that need to put it up frequently happened a lot. 

Odd.

She kept looking around. She realized that this analysis was really starting to help. She noticed that there were dressers and cabinets, shelves and even a bookcase and a fireplace. All pretty normal things to have in a room, in all honesty.

Though the things that line the walls, hung from the shelves. The objects that lined and decorated the bookshelf.. Now that was anything but normal. 

Electrical engineering schematics were framed on the walls, framed blueprints of the floorplan to a bank or museum with footnotes and scribbles about various methods of entry were hung up like one would proudly display a certificate or diploma.

Pictures of rather interesting looking people she’s never met being framed on the bookshelf. Keepsakes of objects in the pictures could be seen around it. These people, they seem to be a part of a circus. Colorfully decorated tents, streamers, and banners were blurred out in the background. Pictures of these same people could be seen in other places around the room. 

Some of the ones hung up on the wall had depicted these individuals looking like they were robbing a bank blind.

She tilted her head in intrigue. Whoever took the picture, she realized that the camera work was a bit shaky and unfocused. It reminded her of some of the home videos they just watched and some of the unstable camera work found in most of them as well.

Her eyes kept searching.

Instead of little lamps to provide light, she noticed a circular object with a switch had been placed in various locations. One on a table top, another on the bookshelf. There were at least three she could see around her. Edging close, she tested the waters and decided to press the switch. 

A small laugh nearly overcame her when the object powered on, flooding the room with a neon blue light. It was a child’s science toy. One of those cool little plasma balls is what the object turned out to be. She smiled at the goofy discovery and touched the sphere acting as a model to a tesla coil with a gentle press of her fingers upon the glass, watching a tendril of neon colored blue light dance just under the pads of her fingertips.

Her eyes caught the edge of a box below the plasma ball, her brows furrowed in question. She honed in at the corner that was open and saw that the box was full of the same object. Simply put, there was a box of light bulbs. just.. a whole, giant box full of them. No explanation as to why.

There were other rather odd things in here that should be noted. Weird machinery she had no idea what their function or purpose was seemed to be littered in all corners and spare spaces within the room. All of them look highly electrical in nature, like whoever lived here had been either collecting them or trying to fix them. 

There was even an electrical chair in here, but seemingly not actually functional as one. It actually seemed to be repurposed to be a little reading nook. She noticed it was located rather close to the bookshelf.

She caught a glimpse of a little journal that was draped over one of the arms of the electrical chair, just above a black knit blanket. She made out to grab it, flipping the pages between her fingers to where a little ribbon had indicated where someone had left off. Glossing over words and sentences, there was nothing too detailed or exciting. It was full of relatively simple, straightforward sentences like ‘Today I found the perfect way to electrify my morning coffee’, and such.

She giggles lightly as she closes the journal to place it back upon the arm before something incredibly familiar and very circular had jutted out in the corner of her eye, from just underneath the blanket.

“D-Duke Oliphant?! Hey, this is mine!” She gasped before snatching up her stolen stuffed animal of a ball shaped version of an elephant and cradled the once lost object of hers to her chest in a tight hug. She couldn’t help the laughter that now had cascaded out of her throat in complete understanding and amusement now. 

Uncle Fester. Without a doubt in her mind now, she knows that this room belongs to him.

Okay, now she has some context, some understanding of where she was at least.

But why was she here, of all places?

And why was she trapped in here? 

It struck her as odd. Any normal person would have looked around and seen the electrical chairs and strange devices and would have been worried that they were being locked up and soon to be experimented on or tortured to near or actual death.

She rolled her elephant around in her hands. Probably found it a bit more strange that she wasn't actually worried about that at all. She honestly trusted Fester, knowing that he wouldn’t hurt much of anything, at least not intentionally. She truly trusted all of them and knew that whatever was happening…

She really was safe here.

She tilted her head in thought. Blonde hair cascading over her shoulders. Whatever was going on it was just a part of some game. She just wishes she knew what the game entailed. She had no idea what was going on right now besides the fact that she was locked in here. Was she supposed to wait for something? 

What was that third thing that Morticia mentioned to her again?

Enid worked hard at remembering, digging around in the recesses of her memories to try and figure out what exactly she was forgetting.

It was pretty hard to concentrate when something was scratching from behind the door that worked to catch her attention.

Enid suddenly stopped breathing the moment she realized why that seemed strange.

That distant, scratching sound from behind the locked door, that led far into the hallway.

Enid now glued her eyes and stared at the door with rapt attention. Because of that, she realized, for the first time, that there was a peculiar looking circle, a ring more like, etched in the floor. It was prominent and important looking, settled just in front of the door.

What was that about?

The scratching sound got louder and drew closer.  There was a peculiar cadence of footsteps and the quick series of them paired with the lightness of the steps struck her as bizarre.

Something was just out there, inches now, away from the door that separated Enid from whatever it was. Currently, she was utterly helpless to just wait and try to figure out what it could possibly be.

She moved away from the door the closer it drew, she could feel her back press against the wardrobe now.

The strip of space under the door was too thin to do anything with or try to pry anything through that might possibly help her get out. Though, whoever was near the door now had casted these long shadows that danced from the small strip of light pooling in from the outside hallways' flickering candles that lined the expanse around them.

Whoever was out there, they were just behind that door.

“Hello?! Who’s there?!” Enid shouted, voice strained.

No response, instead a small pause, a strange shuffle, and a unique breathing pattern instead.

Enid looked stunned, burning a hole into the door with her gaze, trying hard to figure out why that sounded familiar.

As soon as she realized that the thing behind the door might not have been a someone, but a something.. a small, red envelope slid under the crack of the door and into the room. 

Before Enid could even try to hone her focus to try and smell the being, attempting to figure out what it could be, The shadows danced away, the being behind the door was gone as quickly as it arrived. 

The only smell she managed to grab was a small tinge of.. Of sulfur? 

Was that what that was?

That sound, Enid thought.. Why did that sound seem so familiar to her? The footsteps, the breathing. More like panting.

Wait-

Was that a dog?

Enid blinked out of her thoughts. Even if it was, how would that be strange? The Addams family keep pets like lions and octopi. A dog would be the most normal thing in this house by a mile.

Anyways, she rushed to the envelope now that the mystery being behind the door was gone, leaning into a squat to look it over. She focused on analyzing it first, poking and prodding the bundled paper before picking it up. 

She didn’t know what to expect. It could be a bomb for all she knew, or worse, a howler.

Enid blinked. Howlers don’t exist. 

She braves forward to snatch the red envelope and flip it around her hand. It was sealed with wax that had a cursive ‘A’ on it. She exhaled a small sigh, clearly meaning or standing for Addams.

She opens the letter and unfolds it to reveal a message addressed to her in a rather bold, messy scrawl that consists of this chaotic looking handwriting.

----------

Dear Enid,

Our sincerest and most heartfelt apologies. We didn’t realize that writing the instructions on the wall would cause you to pass out from terror. This has never seemed to be an issue before from any of our previous players, but we will take this new factor into consideration nevertheless for the way we reveal ourselves or any new information to you in the future. 

So, while you dozed, we opted for Pugsley to write this letter of introduction for us in our stead. Thank you for your patience with us as we worked to find a way to convey your particular instructions in a manner that would not be as terrifying to you.

‘(It took a lot of bribes and stuff, but sure).’ was scribbled into the margins. 

It took a moment for Enid to realize that this seemed to be Pugsley speaking in his own voice here, and not from the senders.

Without further ado, welcome to the game of Lockdown. This is a timeless Addams family tradition of old. Since this is your first time playing this game with us, let us explain some initial rules to help catch you up to speed with the rest of the family.

In case you were unsure, Let us aleve your concerns. You are currently locked away in one of the many rooms located in the Addams Family Manor, at random.

You are not the only one, though. 

Throughout the vast array of rooms located throughout the manor, each member of the family participating in the game has also been sent to a room at random, completely isolated from the others, and also locked within.

It also seems as if you’ve discovered that you are indeed locked inside by supernatural means. Fret not, Enid, for you are not locked within forever. 

For the entire duration of the game, there are only three ways to successfully leave each room. Any other attempts outside of these parameters will only result in the house continuing to heal itself before it can be taken apart. 

One, the most consistent way to leave the locked room is for you to solve the riddle designated and calibrated specifically to you. 

Each and every room in this house is set up to trigger a lockdown and a puzzle for you to solve the moment you enter the room. Once the room is successfully ‘solved’, the supernatural lock placed upon the door will permanently be released for the rest of the game, allowing you full access to the rest of the house and the other rooms within without having to worry about being locked back inside.

This leads us to scenario number two. The doors are only locked from the inside. 

If another player in this game happens to stumble across your door and open it from the outside, then it will successfully open to release you, allowing you to escape the room even if the puzzle has not been solved.

Though a word of warning to you, if you, or anyone else, happens to enter this room again when the puzzle has not been solved, a new puzzle and new lock will trigger.

The only way to ensure this doesn’t happen again is to solve the puzzle assigned to the room. That way, any other player, as well as yourself, doesn’t have to remain trapped inside if anyone happens to enter the room again.

Even if throughout the duration of the game, you are unable to solve your riddle, nor chance upon someone opening your particular door from the outside, note this. All doors in the house will unlock the moment the game is won. Which is only achievable when someone uses a hidden key, whereabouts being unknown to anyone but the game masters, to unlock the front door of the manor.

It is possible to wait for someone to win the game on your behalf, but what would be the fun in that?

Your greatest chance at success is to work together. 

Though there will be many obstacles in your way to attempt to keep you all apart, know that coming together in unison is the true path to winning the game. 

Find each other and work together as a team, for at the heart of Lockdown is the ability to stay together, to lean upon each other's strengths, and to be wise, cunning, and strong enough as a group to carve a way to victory.

Upon reading that line, Enid finally recalls the third thing that Morticia said to her before they all disappeared.

   3. Our greatest strength is always together. If all else fails, hold fast as you will be found.

That.. makes so much more sense now, she actually smiles before she nods to herself, continuing to read on.

In return for helping us write this letter, since we cannot hold objects of this world, Pugsley has requested two things that we agreed to aid him with. 

One, was help for his own riddle. Two, he requested that you have assistance with your riddle as well.

As for your assistance, simply make progress on solving your riddle, and help will come in a form you least expect it to.

Now, let us begin.

Solve the riddle designed for you below, and place the answer upon the ring engraved in the floor before the door. Do this, and certainly you’ll be able to traverse freely throughout the house once more.

'The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?'

Good luck, Enid. Though for the duration of this game we remain on opposing sides, we do want to wish you good fortune and fond memories of the exciting times ahead.

- Addams Family Ancestors 

(and Pugsley! Good luck, E! You got this. Just know that you owe me one if we run into each other at some point! If you can’t get out then try not to freak and pass out again. One of us will come find you eventually.)

----------

She flips the letter in her hand looking again over the front as well as the back. She tilts her head and just sighs, shaking her head. The corners of her mouth fighting a grin.

She almost hates to admit it, but she totally gets why they kind of kept this a secret from her, beyond the whims of the tradition that dictated their actions. 

Now that she's here, now that she’s in the middle of this and learning as she goes, she understands how this can be a little fun. Not just a little…Maybe a lot of fun. 

In fact, now she’s pretty excited to be a part of this with everyone else. What a cool experience she’s about to be in for.

But she knows herself. She would have been a ball of questions and nerves and anticipation right up until the very moment the game started, second guessing her ability to do this and be here at every turn.

She popped herself up from her squat, fanning the letter into the air before folding it back into the envelope and stashing it away in her back pocket. Hands now upon her hips.

All right, she’s in this thing now. And, there seemed to be no backing out until all was said and done. Might as well get started on that riddle. 

And who knows, she might be one of the first to unlock her door. After that, it seemed that she could simply just go run around figuring out where everyone else got locked away at. 

Simple, right?

Enid scrunches up her face in thought. 

What did her riddle say again?

She quickly unfurls the letter and scans the paper to re-read the riddle, genuinely trying to make sense of everything that is going on. 

“Hmm.. the more you take, the more you leave behind..What am I?” She hums in thought, absentmindedly. She lowers the letter in her hands to scan around the room once more. 

What in the hell could that possibly mean? Solve the riddle below, and place the answer upon-

It dawns on her. She blinks in surprise.

‘Place the answer.’

The answer to the riddle is something that can be placed on the ring etched into the ground, and whatever it is, it has to be something physical, something you can pick up and place.. right?

Huh. Look at her go! She’s doing it! Figuring things out, and making sense of it all. A blossom of pride warmed her chest. This was going to be a piece of cake. She couldn’t help her eager smile growing wider on her face by the second, catching her lip in her teeth.

So, she decides to get to work.

She looks around for something physical. She looks at all of the objects in the room but this time it's with strong intentionality.

Her eyes roam over different objects in the room testing them against the riddle. 

It had to be small enough to move. Things like the fireplace and wardrobe seemed out of the question. Maybe something on the shelves, or in them? There was a lot of machinery in here. Could something like that be the answer.

‘The more you take the more you leave behind?’ 

What fits that answer though? 

Books? No. You can take those with you without having to leave it, both in physical copies and in knowledge. Didn’t seem to make sense there. Machinery? Didn’t seem like it. Why would you be forced to leave it the more you took? She had a feeling that the Plasma ball science toy wasn’t the answer either.

She looked around, mentally ticking off all the objects in her view. Nothing seemed to be ringing any bells for her.

Her eyes landed on the picture frames with the thieving circus gang. Some of Fester’s stray memories. She scrunched her face up in suspicion.

Hmm. She shrugged. It would be worth a shot, she thought to herself.

She grabbed one of the frames and took it over to the door, kneeling down and gently placing the frame in the heart of the circle. She was then caught off guard by what happened next, raising her palms in the air when the etching in the ground suddenly glowed red for just a mere moment. 

Then nothing. No dramatic unlocking of the door, no noise. Just a simple red pulse she figured was some indication that her answer was wrong.

“I suppose pictures or ‘moments in time’ was not the answer then. Maybe you take moments with you in your memories.” She groaned aloud, scratching the back of her head.

Maybe this wasn’t going to be as simple as she originally thought.

She rose back up again, looking around, shoulders sagging a bit.

‘If all else fails, I could just put objects on the ring one at a time until the door unlocks.’

She frowned, giving that ring in the flooring a side eye. 

That.. kind of felt like cheating. Plus, it would be pretty time consuming and boring, the more she thought about it.

‘Just solve the riddle, E.’ she huffed before getting back to work.

She hated to go snooping, since this was someone else's room and not hers. It always left her feeling a little weird, even after all the times she’s snooped around people’s houses with Wednesday. You’d think she’d be used to it by now.

Enid let her eyes follow the grain of the flooring, trailing out in spirals until they ran under the gray, boring area rug that covered most of the floor. 

She wondered what Wednesday was doing at this very moment.

That familiar bubbling and fluttering feeling warmed her, and swirled around every part of her when her thoughts trailed to her, like they always and forever would.

She was smart. So incredibly intelligent. Would she have already figured out the answer to the riddle? Surely. Not a doubt in Enid’s mind about it.

Enid now wonders if Wednesday was trapped in one of the rooms too, working on her own puzzle, figuring a way out. 

Surely she’d already be done by now, searching up and down the long hallways to open doors one by one until she found everyone. Or, more likely, just went ahead and won the game without a second thought to grab anyone else. 

Miss competitive, Enid warmly scoffed, makes complete sense that she'd work to prove to everyone she could manage a game based on teamwork all by herself.

That definitely sounds like something she would do. Enid laughed to herself at the hilarious antics of her best friend.

A sudden and worried feeling rapidly shadowed her thoughts.

‘She was playing this game, right?’ 

She left with the ancestors, so they’ve been separated for a time. Not that she knew how any of this worked, but she was here, wasn’t she?

Even if she was certain that Wednesday was somewhere in this house, playing this game too. There was no guarantee that she’d run into her at all during the game. After all, this place was larger than your typical castle.

Even Pugsley mentioned something in the letter about ’if’ they managed to run into each other. She readily believed that was a pretty big ‘if’, knowing just how freaking big this place was. Plus whatever obstacles that happened to work to keep them all apart.

Anxiety prickled at her chest uncomfortably at the thought of being separated from Wednesday even longer than she already had been. Her thoughts went back to Gomez before the game started, lamenting how he’d be separated from Morticia for a time.

Enid rolled her eyes at herself.

Don’t, Enid. Don’t be stupid.

Because it was. It was entirely stupid to compare the desire to be around Wednesday like the magnetic pull of her parents, who she learned, had apparently not really been separated for more than a few hours for the entirety of their marriage.

Even still, Enid couldn’t help but just.. desperately miss her. She wanted to be around her and watch her mind work to solve these puzzles with ease. She wanted to help out and bounce ideas off each other. She wanted to see her try and hide that smirk she’d inevitably be fighting when solving a particularly difficult puzzle. She wanted to be there to celebrate with her. Watch her be tested, watch her inevitably overcome every challenge thrown her way.

...Just never really wanting to be apart from her. 

Enid groaned, slapping her reddening cheeks, goofily, like she was trying to wake up after a long slumber. She did what she could in the laughable attempt to shake the thoughts of the girl she had the world’s biggest crush on out of her head.

Dammit. What was she doing? She pressed a hand against her head.

Snap out of it and get back to solving the riddle.

At least then, she’d have a greater chance of finding her if she was running around the house rather than sulking about being separated and being stuck in here.

Enid blinked, slumped her shoulders, really wanting nothing more than to be incredibly annoyed at herself when she realized how motivating of a thought that was. 

She sighed at her own antics, figuring that she might as well use the feeling and put it to good use for once.

Without further delay, she spun herself back into action, working her mind into overdrive to find an answer quickly so she could get out of here and search for Wednesday.

So, she began to open some spare cabinet doors now without hesitation. Searching for everything in the room that could possibly be an answer to her riddle.

The surprise from the inside of the first cabinet she opened nearly sent her back on the floor, nearly jumping out of her skin as she yelped aloud when she registers a whole lot of blank and empty stares peering back out at her from the dark void of the cabinets they were locked in.

In a tight clutching to the fabric of her shirt, she felt the rapid beating of her heart from just under her balled-up palm. 

If every cabinet was going to be like opening a Jack-In-The-Box, she bemoaned, finding the answer would take far more time than she initially realized. 

She stood back upright and peered into the cabinet, analyzing its contents to see if that could be her answer.

‘Goofy-ass looking taxidermy animals does NOT seem like an answer that would fit the riddle.” She clicked her tongue against her cheek as she spoke aloud in a really sassy tone.

Raccoons and squirrels with funny expressions peered back at her with their creepy, lifeless little eyes. They were all created in such a haphazard looking manner. It was almost like a 5 year old was doing this for the first time, doing their absolute best, but still only succeeding at making something kinda terrifying at best, nothing like Wednesday’s immaculate detail she placed on everything she did.

They were labeled with equally goofy names, like Pepper the Raccoon and Houdini the Squirrel. She wondered if this is where Wednesday got her affinity for the hobby, her uncle.

She opens another drawer, This time much more slowly, and with a hesitant wince on her face, waiting for something to pop out at her.

A string of doors and drawers, one after another, had led to a series of disappointments in finding an answer. A box of firecrackers, a dusty board game that looked repurposed from a series of smaller torture devices, a simple first-aid kit that seemed to have some potions of Grandmama’s added to the box, a toy that says ‘toddler’s first electrical engineering kit, jars of pickled organs and several that contained actual pickles right beside them, seemingly like midnight snacks. She barely held in a strong retch, not really understanding why anyone liked to eat those disgusting things.

She has a terrible thought, and hopes that she wouldn’t be locked in here long enough to be desperate enough to need to eat them herself.

Enid nearly choked on another retch at the horrid thought.

She opened another simple cabinet to find a single, disheveled, and long brown wig coiled into a mass heap on the base of the storage unit. She quirks a brow and quickly pressed a hand upon her face to mask a sudden snort of laughter.

Visual images of Fester flooded her mind. Her imagination saw him attempting to try on all these various wigs of assorted colors and styles. It had her practically keeling over in her laughter. 

She really couldn’t help but to imagine him wearing a large curly afro, singed on the ends from a stray explosion that caught a little too close..  or a long brown wig that would seem to go well past his shoulders. 

Another snort of laughter rang out in the empty room around her. 

She smiled brightly as she reached out for the wig in the compartment, giggling the whole time. She had to put the upper half of her inside the cabinet to be able to reach it. The need couldn’t be helped. She was dying to see just exactly how long it was for herself. Her fingers loosely curl around the mass of hair in order to yank it out of the shelving unit.

Her silly smile suddenly dropped, she quickly swallowed her giggles and fell into utter confusion when her mind finally registered her touch and found something she didn’t anticipate.

The last thing she expected to feel was the outline of some kind of creature underneath all that hair, paired with watching the mass of hair squirm away from her touch, deeper into the cabinet.

Two tiny little eyes, filled with an actual life inside of them, had suddenly peered out from underneath all of that hair to stare at her in terror for reaching out to touch it.

“OH FUCK!”

Both her hand and the back of her head banged so hard against the top of the compartment from tossing herself backward that she immediately saw stars. She howled in pain from the blossoming crater that must have been the knot she just knew was forming on the back of her head and her hand before she more carefully flung herself screaming back into the center of the room, tripping over her own two feet to crumple to the floor.

She now watches the creature flipping around violently inside the cabinet. It tosses itself back and forth, causing the shelving unit to tetter back and forth, she watches the whole scene she inadvertently caused with wild eyes. 

“Fuck! -The fuck is that thing?!” She used her propped elbows to frantically crawl further back.

The little hairball screeched loudly, causing Enid to wince in pain from both the noise and the pain of hitting her head as she watched it now catapult itself like a rocket from inside the cabinet, trying desperately to get out.

The creature finally made its way out of the cabinets and scattered around the whole room wildly creating chaos in its wake with everything it bumped against and touched. 

Enid scurried herself upwards and clawed her way forward, doing her best to avoid the flailing creature’s warpath. She ran for the elevation that the electric chair would provide and began to climb on top of it, screaming all the while.

She spun around for a moment in horror, realizing that the creature was now jumping around like a little bean, and would easily be able to reach her where she was. She continued her climb, clawing her way to the highest elevation in the room, the top of the bookshelf.

The creature flailed into the shelves twice now, causing herself and the books to teeter dangerously. She slid down slightly after each hit. Her claws left these hilariously large rips into the side of the wood panel. 

She didn't really think before just grabbing some stray books off the shelves as she climbed higher, taking a moment to toss a few at the creature in hopes to get it to stop or perhaps hit it so it would be knocked out.

She only realized once she had secured herself up safely in her high vantage, staring down at the chaos below like a cat curled up on high. 

Tossing those books, that seemed to be the wrong move. For it only made things so much worse.

The little creature itself begins screaming in this high pitched squeak and begins repeating these odd, mumbling noises she couldn’t quite decipher back at her in this almost childlike tone.

“Fuckdafuck. dafuckfuckdafuck.” It screeched like a pterodactyl as it ran into any and every object it could find. 

Causing more damage to the electric machines Fester seemed to be working on. Objects and picture frames catapulted to the floor, glass shattering on impact, everything it did caused absolute carnage in its wake. Enid called out for the creature to stop before it could cause more damage.

“H-hey! Don’t run into-” She stuttered, quietly at first, filled still with absolute terror. She attempted to stop the creature before he ran into the box of lightbulbs. To no avail. 

A loud shattering noise could be heard on impact from the inside that had her wincing just to watch.

The creature flew away from the noise as quickly as it could, now trying to climb up one of the shelving units, much to Enid’s horror.

“W-Whoa! Wait! Would you stop climbing th-” She flinched as she watched a jar of pickles that had teetered too close to the edge of the shelf soon had proceeded to fall in an arc over its head. The jar had exploded behind the hairball, who was now scampering away in even more panic from hearing the glass shatter behind it. 

Now the contents of the pickle jar was leaking into a pool of this gross, green mess now soaking into the far corner of the area rug. She felt her under eyelid twitch violently as the hairball screeched away, leaving a string of these unintelligible, mumbling noises behind it everywhere it went.

“Stop! No! Don’t do that-” She pushed her bangs back as she warned much louder, but already far too late as she watched the creature now jump against one of the walls that held the frames of the friends and schematics that were soon dislodged from the nails on the wall and shattered to the ground. 

She facepalmed at the chaos, continuously failing at stopping the creature from destroying more things.

If Fester saw this room he might actually work up the courage to actually kill something, that something being herself.

Her lid finally blew at the thought.

“Shit! Would you stop breaking everything?! What the hell is wrong with you?!”

Her voice boomed startlingly loud in her boiling frustration, practically cracking the walls with the intensity. Her claws suddenly popped completely out, her fangs extended to the point they nearly dug into her lip, and her eyes sparking in a sapphire blaze in the stress. She inadvertently dug her massive claws into the top of the bookshelf. She didn't hear the wood begin to twist and warp and crack and snap in this terrifyingly horrible scene under her immense surge of strength. She was far too focused on trying desperately to get the thing to stop.

Truly, all she wanted was to gain the creature’s attention, and hopefully stop it from causing any more damage. Yet, the moment the words left her lips, she wanted to take it back almost immediately.

She felt pretty guilty now, watching the little thing completely collapse from fear. It was heaving its whole body in a panic, crumpled in a corner and seemingly staring up at her. Although it was hard to tell from underneath all of that hair.

Then it broke out into a rather strange wail.

Enid blinked in her own bewilderment at recognizing what noise that was exactly.

“Ohmygod!...”

“Ohmygod, are you crying?!” She breathed in disbelief.

And then, it began to cry even harder upon hearing that.

Enid was stunned, she flailed around from atop the bookshelf to do something, anything to make some kind of amends.

“No! Don’t cry! Shit. It’s okay!” She was far more panicked than soothing, and it registered as so.

The creature hopped back up to scutter itself backwards into a corner that it realized it couldn’t sink into. It watched as Enid hung precariously on top of the bookshelf. She began to look around her, plotting a path for her to make her way back down. Realizing this, the creature began to scuttle away once more.

“Fuckfuck. Shit. The hell.” It could be heard mumbling as it ran around, though this time with more annunciation than before. Enid realized it could speak words, and had apparently been copying the expletives she herself had been screaming this whole time.

“What the- those are words! It can speak? Are you mocking me?” She spoke accusingly at the creature as she tottered on the top from the newest shock to her system.

The creature shudders as it sputters out in circles, not knowing where to go and hide from the scary lady on top of the bookshelf.

The creature addresses her again as it scampers against the opposite wall, hiding in the corner.

“Whatt whatt.” It shakes its head in terror.

Enid has to force herself to calm down. Deep inhale, deep exhale. 

She lowers her guard almost completely when she sees the way it shuttered in terror, tremors racking up over its whole..body?

Anyways, whatever this thing was, this little creature was obviously way, waaaaay more terrified of her than she is of it. 

And knowing herself, that’s really saying something.

She spoke now in soothing tones.

“Just…What in the world are you? She hummed softly, now working to try her absolute best to calm it down. Honestly, herself too.

It nods in terror. 

“Whatt.”

“....I uh.” Her eyes shifted from right to left.

“I asked what you were, little dude.” Enid continues to speak slowly, softly. Even in spite of the fact that she is wholly and entirely confused.

“Whatt.” It nods again.

“..Okay, this is clearly not helping.” She clicked her tongue in frustration, getting nowhere.

Enid sighs as she pinches the bridge of her nose. She looks at the floor and then looks up at the creature, now trying to find a way down without startling the thing again.

“Listen little..buddy. I promise you that everything is gonna be okay. Please don’t freak again, alright? I’m not gonna hurt you.” She looked at it with soft eyes and an even softer voice had followed.

“..don’tfreak. gonnabeokayalright.” It copied her words in a shivering voice.

“That’s right. Yes. Please be a calm little dude while I work my way down from here.”

She raises her hands to show the creature her intent before working her way down the bookshelf. Hopefully it understands that she's trying her best to de-escalate, trying to surrender to it.

She slowly and carefully makes her way down the bookshelf, one rack at a time. She can now hear a different noise emanating from it, whimpering in anticipation.

Feet now finally on the ground, she doesn’t turn fully. 

Instead, she carefully looks over her shoulder to eye the shivering little hairball. It actually saddens her to hear the pathetic little bleating noise coming from it. Like she’s this big, bad monster coming to eat it, and it's trying so hard to accept its fate.

It really broke her already fragile little heart that bled eternally for soft little beings like this one.

She didn't see until now, but she looked up and saw the splintered mess that was the top of the bookshelf she had just climbed down, and worked to hold in a gasp at the sight. She looked upon it with heartbroken eyes, only now realizing how incredibly terrifying she must have looked to this little thing for the bookcase to be in this state of disarray caused by her own hand.

Jeez, she may have been scared too, but she felt horrible right now, like she really was that big, bad monster the creature surely thought of her as. 

She glanced softly back at the bleating creature, knowing that she really needed to fix her mistake. 

“Nonono. Please don’t cry, you sweet thing.” She soothed, suddenly abandoning every ounce of her own fear in favor of this comforting, motherly demeanor that easily took her over.

She moved slowly, getting down low. All the way down on her knees and moving to a stop a fair distance away from it, working now incredibly hard to try and calm it.

“You’re just scared. That’s what all this is about, isn’t it. I’m so sorry for scaring you. That was wrong of me to explode like that. It’s okay, you’re alright. I promise that I won’t hurt you.”

After a decently long period of time in complete stillness and silence, Enid worked hard to remain so utterly patient. She avoided eye contact, knowing that it would only find that more stressful. She picked at the carpet, looked around at the chaos of the room and she wasn’t quite sure how she was gonna break it to Fester. She chalked that up as a problem for later though. 

Every now and again, she eyed the little creature and watched it shiver less and less, until it just sat in the corner with an even looking breathing pattern, seemingly just simply staring back at her.

“Good. You’re doing so good. I think we’re making some progress here little buddy.” She whispered in hushed tones, hyper aware of her motions and tone to try not to startle it again.

She watches as the creature just stares at her. Her heart is torn. She doesn’t really know what to do now or how to approach it without scaring it away. So, she just sits there until either an idea pops in her head or the creature decides to move closer.

She crosses her legs slowly and settles into a seated position, intending to be here at a standstill for a while.

She props a hand behind her to help her down off her knees, but totally forgets about the pickle juice that had seeped into the carpet until she felt it squelch from beneath her hand.

The sound alone would have made her freak, but to feel that under her palm made her retch on the spot, her whole skin crawling. She absolutely lost her cool for a split second before shouting in frustration from how utterly disgusting that was, she inadvertently startled the creature once more.

“That’s so fuCKIN’ GROSSS! UGH!” She abandoned all sense of control and composure for just a split second, but that was all it took.

The unexpected and dramatic movement of course had sent the creature back into a tizzy, and of course it began darting around the room once more as Enid flew around, trying to grab it before it could shatter anything else.

“No!! Dammit! We were so close!” Enid had jumped out comically to grab it, but it leapt over her grasp and tumbled directly into the fireplace.

A large puff of black smoke had suddenly been expelled into the room from the little creature’s tumble, collapsing onto a bunch of ashes that had never been cleaned out.

The action had sent Enid into a coughing fit, who got the brunt of the smoke cloud. Yet, while she was trying to get her bearings, the little creature ran out of the fireplace and slipped past her once more before she could grab it, she now noticed that it was covered in an intense layer of black soot.

“Shit! You’re a real life soot sprite, aren’t you?”

The creature mumbled all sorts of nonsense as it bounced off every wall and leapt off of every object, leaving a layer of black soot on, quite literally, everything. Enid watched in a desperate horror.

“Please stop running. I'm not a threat to you, I've already accepted my fate. I won’t drag you down with me, I promise! Just come here!” She comically pleaded as the creature just kept hopping along, avoiding every attempt she had at grabbing it.

Soon enough, these little black footprints are all over the floor, all over the walls, inside of cabinets, on cabinets, up the bookshelf, on the books, smeared across the bed, and.. Oh no.

Like anticipating an oncoming train wreck and being helpless to do anything else but watch it unfold, Enid called out for it to watch out, but already knew she'd be helpless to stop the fanatical creature from tumbling into, and across, some of the stray pieces of glass that had shattered into the floor. 

She watched the creature quickly crumple in its tear, seemingly in a great deal of pain as it cried out like a hurt animal. It was breathing heavily and whimpering as it attempted to get back up to keep running, but collapsed swiftly into a heap.

Enid quickly leapt into action.

Without an ounce of hesitation, thought, or delay, she picked herself up  to dart forward and scoop up the little creature into a cradle. She worked quickly, trying to sift through layers of hair to figure out where exactly it got hurt, not regarding herself at all with the newfound layer of grime and soot that now coated herself from drawing the creature close to her.

In spite of it all, the creature was still in this desperate fear of Enid,  and momentarily forgot about its pain to toss out a bunch of absent-minded kicks and punches, doing everything in its power to get Enid to drop it.

“Hey, stop. Stop hitting me.” Her voice was calm but entirely serious. She didn't let the weak little punches stop her from trying to help the flailing creature in her arms.

And precisely because she doesn't stop, the stray punches and kicks get stronger under its increasing duress from being trapped in her arms, unable to escape. It cried out in pain the more it tried to pry Enid off it, apparently too scared to realize it was hurting itself more by doing that.

“Enough. You’re only hurting yourself more. Would you just let-“

A stray kick hits her in the jaw. The action causes her to yelp in pain and shock, tossing her head to the side in order to recover.

The creature pauses from fear, knowing it went too far this time, and expects the worst. It froze, shivering, waiting for the inevitable explosion, for whatever fallout that is obviously coming.

Instead of an act of retribution, like it expects, Enid uses the moment of calm to envelop the creature into an all encompassing hug. 

The action works wonders at also effectively cutting off any ability to continue its flailing.

“Please. Just calm down, please.” She answers its desperation with kindness. She pets its long brown hair softly. She continues to soothe, rocking her and the creature in a gentle motion that stuns it completely from treatment it never expected to get from her.

Finally, finally… the creature relented. 

Its little taloned hand gripped tightly on her shirt, not only allowing Enid to continue hugging it, but it soon was actually hugging her back.

As soon as the creature began to calm, Enid could feel the tension leave its body, soon to go limp in her arms from all the exhaustion. Only then, when she was absolutely positive that it wouldn’t leap from her arms, did she work her hand to adjust her now aching jaw.

“Good grief. You’ve really got a kicker on you, little buddy. When we find Grandmama, I might have to have her look at my jaw. Ooof.” She playfully joked at the being.

“Notmad?” The creature hummed, still unsure, from underneath all that hair that spun its voice a bit muffled. Enid worked hard at deciphering what it was trying to say.

“Nomad? Not..Not mad? Are you asking if I’m mad at you? Is that what you’re trying to say?”

It nodded fervently.

She sighed in understanding the timid little creature.

“No. Not mad at all. I’m actually a bit sad.”

“Sad?” She’s fairly certain she heard it echo back to her.

She points to it.

“You’re hurt, and that makes me really sad.”

She couldn’t see its eyes, but she very evidently saw in its body posture and demeanor that it knew she was telling the truth. It finally begins to trust her, lowering its guard.

“Do you think you can show me where you’re hurt?” She softly pleaded.

The creature extends a small, child-sized arm from underneath the long hair, covered in a thin layer of soft, brown fur and four, cute and tiny, little monster fingers that each poked out these tiny little claws. A shard of glass was still embedded in the arm. It looked rather painful.

“Here’s what we’re gonna do, we’re gonna fix the owchie, okay? But it’s gonna sting, and I need you to know that.” She spoke in hushed tones as it became enraptured by what she was saying.

Enid, now focused with a goal in mind, had placed the kid on her hip and wandered around the room. She searched up and down, practically swearing she saw something earlier that would be able to help. 

The sixth door she opened had that first aid kit she knew she saw that Fester thankfully had stored away. She breathed a sigh of relief at the discovery and their incredible luck.

Settling the both of them down in a more comfortable position, Enid found a pair of tweezers and worked to clean out any spare glass she could find in the wound.

She didn’t know this about herself until now, but apparently her fear of blood could be placed to the side when the situation proved to be desperate enough. Though she should have guessed that back when she was covered head to toe in buckets of it when seeking desperately to save Wednesday.

She used a little cleaning wipe provided in the kit to both clean her hands and then a new one in order to clean the kid’s wound before she analyzed an out of place jar that grandmama had clearly added to the kit herself. It was written in her handwriting and everything.

“Rapid healing potion, huh? Think we’re brave enough to give this a try?” She asked the creature its permission to use the solution on the wound before she tested the concoction out.

It really shouldn’t have surprised her, but the creature clearly knew something about the potion in her hand and extended out its arm and fervently nodded a fervent ‘yes’ as a response to her question.

Even still, Enid scanned her whole body first until she found a small scrape of her own near her elbow, a scrape that hadn’t yet been closed entirely by her own werewolf, rapid healing powers.

Juggling her hold on the kid and the bottle, She tilted the bottle on a rag that sealed the opening, dousing that part of the rag in the supposed healing liquid. She placed the rag upon her own scrape first to test her own reaction to it before she dared put it on the kid's wound.

She was immediately impressed when she could even visibly see the skin of hers begin to knit itself back together. Really soon, maybe even in the next five to ten minutes, It would be like it never existed, especially working in tandem with her own rapid healing. It didn’t even sting all that much.

Now satisfied with her body’s response to the mystery concoction, she turns to the kid.

“This is gonna sting just a little bit, okay?”

The creature stuck out its arm and understanding, followed by a strong nod.

Enid had an idea, and acted on it before continuing forward.

“Hold onto this little guy. He’ll help you out like he’s done so much for me.”

She reaches over and finds her elephant, taking the stuffed animal and settling it into the creature’s little hold. She soon softened into this fawning smile, the creature looked so cute, holding onto her stuffed elephant for comfort and reassurance.

Now assured that this was the best course of action for it, she gently dabbed the rag now on the creature’s arm, it quickly tugged at her heart strings as she heard the creature seethe slightly, gasping at the small surge of pain that evaporated as quickly as it came.

Once the flash of pain was over, it leaned over and grabbed the bandage wrapping in the box to hand off to Enid. She smiled at the way it was being so incredibly brave.

After gently and carefully wrapping the wound properly and giving its clawed hand a simple pat once she was finished, she had been shocked to near tears when the creature leapt back around her and enveloped her in another hug as a thank you, to which she happily returned.

She looked around the room as she snuggled tight with the creature, unable to do anything but help laughing at the utter disaster around them.

“You know, kid. I don’t mind taking the fall for the state of this room, but I think I’m gonna have the hardest time explaining to Fester how all these little footprints, half the size of my own were left all over-“

Enid gasped loudly as she spoke the last sentence aloud. The creature leaned back to stare at her, trying to figure out what was the matter.

“That’s it!!”

She was so excited that she had suddenly kicked off her own shoe. She tucked the kid back upon her hip to work them into a stand and moved quickly over to the fireplace to stick her own foot into ash with a bright smile, covering her whole sock, white as snow, and rolled it around until it was completely black.

She couldn’t see it’s eyes, but the creature had watched her actions with intense surprise.

Enid padded her way over to the ring in a hysterical manner, one shoe on, one off and doused in ash that left her own little foot markings behind.

Proudly and confidently moving forward, she placed her foot in the center of the ring, which had miraculously stayed clear of the mess and debris throughout the duration of the chaos.

She watched the ring carefully, with sure and eager eyes, not moving an inch until the ring glowed a brilliant emerald green and the latch to the door before them could be heard clicking, a sure sign that they had just been freed.

The wolf screamed in victory. Holding the kid close on her hip as she bounced them around the room in a little dance to celebrate their newfound freedom.

“Ohmygosh!! We did it! We solved the puzzle!! Ahh!” She squealed brilliantly in her own effervescent joy, tapping her feet rapidly with intense happiness.

“Wednesday was so freaking right!! This is the most fun I’ve had in ages! Augh, I can’t wait to find her and tell her!”

She turned to the little creature currently nestled into her and smiled brightly, who had just been stunned into silence, seemingly just content to watch her lose her mind.

“Footprints,” she said. She didn’t see its eyes blink in confusion.

“The more steps you take, the more footprints you leave behind. The answer to the riddle.”

From underneath all of that hair, the kid made a noise that sounded like its own version of an ‘oh!’, for it seemed to completely understand her now.

“Thank you, little buddy, I’m not sure I’d be able to figure it out without your help, so thank you. Seems like you were my little helper all along and I had no idea!” A small squeak of approval echoed out from beside her, bouncing on her hip as it pointed to the door, which had Enid eagerly leaning forward to twist the knob.

The pair had watched as the knob twist properly in response. Enid released a breath she didn't even realize she was holding. The action caused the door to swing open, finally allowing them access to the rest of the house. It made her smile persist even brighter at the sight.

“You ready to go crush this game?” She leaned close to whisper to it in complete and utter joy.

The creature nodded strongly in response.

And once she had gone back only to put her stray shoe back on, she jogged forward and down the hallway, leaving the first room and first challenge successfully solved and far behind them without even a glance back behind her. She was so ready to find Wednesday, now filled with this newfound and overwhelming sense of confidence that she was here, playing this game too, just waiting to be found, along with the rest of the family. 

Enid smiled as brightly as the sun and laughed while trotting down the hallway. She was so eager for the challenges and experiences that lay before them.

Notes:

First off, I am so sorry for the late response on all of your amazing comments from the last chapter. Work has unexpectedly been way more intense this season, and I've been left kinda in fumes really until my winter break hits. I was really, really hoping it would calm enough for me to get more chapters out by now, but life is what it is. I appreciate you all bearing with me though! Sorry to leave you all in the dark! Hopefully a brand new and shiny chapter would be a sufficient enough apology! 😂💕

Now that that's out of the way... Welcome to Lockdown!!

You guys have no freaking idea how excited I am to post this chapter and really start diving into some of the most intensely fun writing I'll probably ever have the absolute pleasure of creating. I've been in stitches detailing about half this chapter, and a huge freaking smile has been on my face since the start. I hope and pray that half of my utter joy comes through and infects you guys too, because I'm having an absolute blast getting into all of this!!

Anyways, if you haven't figured out by now, Lockdown is a huge game I've kinda concocted based off of a mix of several different things. Escape rooms were kinda the first big piece of inspiration. But somehow, this upcoming series of chapters has kinda spiraled into a fun little epic with the goal of just tossing Enid and Wednesday, (with the bonus of the rest of the family) into a whole bunch of wild scenarios with the intent of them working together and growing immensely closer through the experience, so I hope you look forward to it, because this is just the very beginning!

Also, I know that this will be the third chapter that Wednesday has been MIA, which is sucky for me because I really miss writing for her and I just know it's probably torturous for you all. Just know that I very much miss seeing her around as much as you guys, and I'm writing as fast as I can to work towards the point where we will see her again. Just hang on for me, please! It's coming, I swear it.

One more thing! Shout out to the person (I'm so sorry! I can't remember where the comment was or who it was unfortunately), but someone mentioned a really long time ago that they hoped Cousin Itt would show up in the story! I had just planned out the beginnings of this arc all that while ago and smiled when they said that, knowing I had his kid, cousin Whatt, show up to be a more prominent character in this arc, so I hope that person enjoys this goofy little chapter and knows I was thinking about them specifically!

Anyways, thank you all for reading and commenting! I'll try to be a little more on top of it now that I've gotten some much needed rest. Until next time!

Kalon

Chapter 24: Hunters in the Dark

“Don't be sassy, I'll let you hold on to him. Just, grab hold of my shirt first.”

Enid lifted up Duke Oliphant, suspended with a hand, just out of the creature’s reach.

The kid was determined to grab and snuggle with the toy first, though. Little annoyed grunts and needy sounding chatterings made that very evident. Apparently it completely fell in love with the object and was entranced by it the moment Enid let it be comforted by the little elephant ball.

Fester even somehow managed to fix its soundbox, she realized. One big squeeze from the creature had made the cutest little elephant sound. She hadn’t heard it make a sound since she watched it roll off the third floor balcony and shatter heartbreakingly to the floor when she was moving all of her stuffed animals into the dorm initially.

She’d have to remember to thank Fester at least for allowing the Duke to be allowed to roar again with that adorable little trumpet noise it made when you snuggled it close and tightly.

The creature was grasping at the air trying to lean upwards to grab hold of the elephant. She smiled at the goofy sight before her. The toy was about as big as the kid was, and that seemed what it liked most about the object. Fingers barely touched each other as it wrapped the stuffed animal in a full body hug, and it would offer the cutest little sigh as it danced on its tippy toes in glee.

Between this little dude and Fester, She was pretty sure that the elephant wasn't really hers anymore.

Honestly, she was completely fine with letting the kid have it, the object being away from her possession for a while, and the toy clearly meant way more to it than to her anyways. It's not like she didn’t have a mountain of them waiting back in the dorm for her. She didn’t mind passing on one of them to this adorable little fuzz.

Truly though, she really just wanted it to settle down first and stop crawling all over her like the little spider monkey it was. Carrying the hairball around on her hip and walking in a straight line was harder than it looked. Pair that with its apparent restless nature and fantastic ability to climb.

As funny as watching this kid’s natural athletic ability, it’s kind of hard to navigate where to go next, or even really think properly while a little monkey is swinging off your arm one moment and leaping to the other in the next.

She was genuinely amazed at how far they’ve come in such a short amount of time. She was sure that less than an hour has passed since they met, and the creature is now completely comfortable with her. So much so that it's been using her as his own personal jungle gym with zero fear of retribution, sensing that she was way more friend than she’d ever be its foe.

It sized her up pretty well once they both had a chance to calm down, she thought as she kept watching bounce upwards for the toy.

“Here. Grab at my shoulders. I’ll hold you on my back like this, see?” She modeled the idea with the elephant, cradling the stuffed animal upon her back as she held onto its stubby little feet at her clavicle while the creature observed the action as it clung to her pant leg.

At least, she imagined that's what it was doing. It was rather hard to figure out what was going on under all that hair. She kept wondering how the creature even managed to see. The kid never ran into anything, nor did it seem to bother it at all.

Not her. She always tended to complain when her newer-ish bangs were growing too long and fell in her face. Maybe she should have thought about that before getting her hair cut like that. She tostled the fringe that hovered just above her eyebrows with a swipe of her fingers and swept her hair back over her shoulders.

Oh well, at least she looked pretty cute with them, even if she had to sacrifice a bit of her vision every now and again.

The creature seemed to finally understand what she was trying to get it to understand, a cute little head tilt as it focused on climbing. Once it mimicked the toy upon her back, Enid let the elephant nestle into its grasp as it clung tight to her upper back as she bounced upwards on the balls of her feet to secure the creature, the toy, and finally prepared to continue moving forward after a bit of forced rearranging.

She wondered how much time had passed as she walked down the dim and candlelit hallways that lay sprawled out before her like a maze. She wasn’t really sure anymore after passing out.

Was it a while? How would she be able to check? How long did a game like this run, anyways? Surely it wouldn’t take forever, would it?

It’s kinda hard to imagine it would take a long time with a family like this. After years of playing, they had to be pretty efficient at it by now, right?

The gist of the game, at least to her current understanding, was to solve the puzzles located in various rooms, navigate the seemingly endless rooms and hallways to locate the others, apparently there was also something about a key. That seemed rather important too.

Honestly, the game didn’t seem all that hard when it came down to it.

All she had to do now was focus on finding the others. As long as she didn’t accidentally lock herself back in a room, she should be able to just open up every door she comes across till all the others were found. Like a weird version of hide and seek that had a bit of puzzle solving thrown in there.

There also were supposedly some obstacles that would appear in her way at some point or another, but everything seemed pretty empty and smooth sailing in the hallways so far. She hasn’t seen anything that stuck out to her that she'd consider any kind of obstacle.

She scratched at the side of her head as she stared down the long and empty hallway. She spun halfway to look behind her. Nothing there either.

Still, she’s gotta figure out how much time has passed since she nodded off. What if it’s been hours and they’re already done and waiting for her at the front? Something would let her know when the game is over..right?

She bit at her bottom lip. A soft hum filled her ears. She thinks that the creature might be taking a little nap on her warm back and a light snore is what that sound is.

Fester’s room had no windows to see what the outside looked like. She knew she wouldn’t find any throughout these corridors either, especially given what little she understood about the layout of the house from the little bit of a tour she received when she first got here. She didn’t see very many of them originally, and she supposed she definitely wouldn’t see one now.

A thought crossed her mind, wondering what would happen if she were to find a window, would she be able to escape out of it? Would the house have prepared for that instance?

The family has been playing this game apparently for years, she’s positive that the ancestors, the house itself has prepared for every possible contingency. She even remembers Wednesday saying something during the tour that the house itself isn’t a normal one.

What were her words again? ‘It isn’t exactly alive, but again, it's technically not an inanimate object either.’ Something to that effect, she was sure of it.

Apparently it was able to affect their surroundings in some ways. She was intrigued to find out more, at the very least. She wondered if it ever helped anyone out during a game like this. She wondered if it would oppose her and the rest of the family instead.

She padded down at the end of one long corridor, only to turn into yet another. A verified maze of them for sure. This time she turned the corner, however, she finally started to see a collection of rooms scattered throughout before her.

“Jackpot!” she picked up the pace, bouncing herself and the hairball, who was jostled back awake at the eager cadence of hers towards the nearest door, swinging it open with exuberant force and being extra careful to not cross the threshold of the door and hold tight to the frame, just in case of any surprises.

The room swings open to a dark and empty spare room, something more generic and clean.

Maybe currently unoccupied was a better way to phrase that. She supposed a room like this would be used for occasions when friends or family were invited over for events and such. She remembered that seemed to be the case with a large number of rooms in this house. Their entire extended family was apparently massive from stories she heard and the bits of home video she managed to watch.

It didn’t seem like a soul was inside, but she’d rather be safe than sorry, figuring she’d go ahead and dot all of her ‘i’s and cross her ‘t’s while she’s at it.

She grasped firmly at the door frame, careful not to step even a foot inside. Enid inhaled a bunch of air in her lungs before bellowing out loudly into the room before her.

“HELLO!! HEY! ENID HERE! IF ANYONE’S IN THERE, YOU CAN COME OUTSIDE NOW!”

She felt the furball tighten its little grip into the fabric of her shirt, apparently startled by the loudness of her voice and not expecting her actions in the least.

Enid hung by the frame, waiting patiently in the now silence with a little frown upon her face, scanning for any small movement from inside.

Nothing.

Hmm. Maybe she should try one more time, just in case.

She was about to shout another hello, sucking in another gulp of air into her lungs to prepare for the yelling. What she didn’t expect was a tiny little clawed hand suddenly and crudely clasped over her face, effectively covering her mouth and cutting her off from her shout completely.

She tried to ask what gives, but it was all muffled from her mouth being forced shut.

The little creature scrambled higher on her shoulders to get a better grip over her mouth, focusing now all of its energy just trying to keep her from shouting out loud like that again.

“Sshhh! Nosadothespeaklikaathat. Loudooloudtooloud!” The creature mutters, but in a way Enid can’t quite decipher much beyond the initial shushing she had just received from the tiny little hairball.

She feels the weight on her shoulders loosen and slip downwards to stumble its way down and land on the ground in the space behind her. She whips around to watch it teeter carefully around them, elephant toy in one hand being drug just behind it.

Enid watches with curious eyes as it begins to run up a little bit in the hallways to look one way.

The wolf chose to watch it with careful attention. She realized that was looking for something, after a time of observation. It didn’t move much, just trying to observe the nothingness and soundlessness of the corridors to their left and to their right.

She kept flicking her eyes up and around, waiting for something, anything to pop out at them, like they were in some cheap horror film.

Still nothing.

After another minute passed like this, she decided to test her voice.

“Hey there, you alright little buddy? You look a little out of it if I’m being honest.”

She almost expected another shushing from it, but the creature kept looking around, almost like it didn’t hear her speak at all.

“Whatcha lookin’ for? We about to expect some company? You’ve gotta warn me about this kinda stuff. I’m the newbie here, okay?”

It was still quietly looking and waiting for something. The kid was kinda freaking her out a bit now. She circled around it to kneel closer, have her face closer to speaking level and raise her volume a touch more in hopes to gain its full attention once more.

“Hello!! Earth to spider monkey! Can we get the show on the- *mmphh*”

The kid shoved both palms against her mouth again. The curtain of brown hair that cascaded over it had jostled with the motion. The action seemed more frantic this time, almost like it was pleading with her not to raise her voice again.

“Shhh!! Doggies.”

The response from the child greatly surprised her, especially since she understood what it was saying this time around.

“… doggies?” She blinked. Her question vibrated its palms the child had pressed upon her face.

The creature kept looking around as if trying to find them, apparently knowing they were around here somewhere.

“Are there some doggies around here?” Enid asked the kid.

She thought that’s what that thing was in front of her door, the thing that dropped off her letter from the ancestors. The footsteps, the cadence, the panting. It all added up to that in her head.

She somehow just knew she heard some kind of a dog.

Huh, a dog, she absentmindedly wonders.

By now, she’s seen people eating plants, a massive pet lion, and an actual living sea creature of the deep being claimed by various members of this family as mere ‘pets’.

If there actually were dogs in this house..Why hadn’t the family started with them and had introduced her to their more normal pets, she couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

It certainly would have been a less terrifying introduction than watching Pubert stick his head inside the giant ‘Kitty’ cat’s mouth for crying out loud.

The kid never responded to her question, so she asked once more at a slightly louder volume.

“SHHHH!” It seemed rather annoyed now that she kept doing that.

“Okay, okay. I’m sorry.” Enid worked to calm it down as she whispered in an apology, raising up her hands in surrender.

“...Are we playing hide and go seek with the doggies? Do you wanna go find them?” She asked genuinely, wondering why it kept trying to listen and look for them instead of running for the hills at the mention of them.

Honestly, she was kinda intrigued about the dogs herself, and kinda wanted to at least give them a look. If they were cute and sweet enough, maybe a couple pets too.

Oooh, now that she’s thinking about it, maybe they could even enlist the dogs for help if they were some kind of bloodhound. Their senses seemed better than her honed ones most of the time. Granted, she was still new at the whole honing thing. And-

“Nononono.” The kid’s voice cut through her thoughts and rang out clearly. It was enough to startle Enid.

She paid more attention this time to the way it slightly shook, seemingly looking kind of scared at the idea of the dogs coming around them both.

“Noseek. Onlyhide.”

Enid blinked again at its words, feeling a distinct shiver down her spine. The kid had enunciated them just enough for her to understand their meaning and feel the weight the kid placed behind them as well. She started to take their uncertain and precarious position with far greater urgency than she did before. She looked up at the empty hall that sprawled before them.

What was the matter with her?

This position was one she hadn’t really been in before. Herself being the careless one who pressed forward without much of a thought being stopped by someone who clearly had a healthier sense of fear embedded within them.

She had been so excited about solving the puzzle that she didn’t even really take time to think about other parts of the letter, nor act with the normal sense of desperate fear and trepidation she’d normally have while walking up and down the unknown halls of the manor in a game with unexpected surprises and hurdles that had actually been promised to be in her path.

Inside the letter, she recalled that the obstacles they would face would be specifically tailored in its efforts to keep them all apart.

She wondered if these ‘dogs’ had anything to do with that.

Enid had this deep, unsettling feeling in the pit of her stomach and had to keep reminding herself that nothing here was going to actually be able to hurt them. The family had given their solemn vow, and she trusted them implicitly.

She looked down the hall, and then back at the shivering ball of hair, Knowing that she was going to have to start taking some serious action with great care moving forward, for the both of them.

Either way, the kid was scared of whatever these things were, and she needed to be far more careful apparently than she had been.

The way it seemed to be super observant in this moment had raised some warning bells up in her head, and figured that there actually was something she could currently do about it.

If there were dogs around here, they should be pretty easy to sniff out. They usually have the most potent smell to them. She almost wondered if being a werewolf had something to do with that.

She closed her eyes and honed her focus, searching for something around them, be it dogs or people or anything else. Enid leaned against the wall, slowly sliding down until one hand felt the wall and the other felt the floor, searching for the smallest little vibrations that would be found within.

This should be pretty simple. If there were dogs nearby, not only would she be able to smell them from practically a mile away, but she’d also be able to feel their footsteps upon the ground or the wall shaking with its pace.

Even with her best efforts to keep her focus honed sharp, she still couldn’t pick up on anything in the vicinity.

No footsteps, no shakes.

What was really strange about it though, was the fact that she couldn’t smell it. Like it was the cleanest, or the least ‘dog’ smelling dog in existence.

Instead, she kept on sensing a whole bunch of nothing. She almost wondered if something about this game rigged her senses in a way.

In the middle of her thoughts, she spun back around to watch the kid, who seemed to be observing her actions closely. She extended a hand its way.

“Climb back on and stay close to me, okay?” The creature perked up in understanding, already pacing its way back to climb up upon her.

“I promise to be a lot more careful from now on.” She had whispered as both an example to the creature of how she’d carefully soften her tone as well as a promise to it so it would feel safe with her.

“Though, no matter what happens, or whatever we may happen to find. I think we need to make sure to stay together, alright?”

The little creature eagerly nodded from the vantage point of her back as Enid continued in their current trajectory. Searching out each room they came across with great care, with open eyes and attentive ears.

Enid and the kid pressed onwards.

------

Eight different hallways. Eight.

Six of those hallways had rooms upon them. Two halls were just a series of portraits. Though Enid swore that no matter where she moved, the eyes of the people within moved with her.

Thirty-Three doors in total so far that led them to seven bathrooms and sixteen spare bedrooms that surprisingly each had their own unique style. One actual torture device collection room that was supposed to be three, but she thinks that one of those was a gym of sorts with torture devices repurposed to gym equipment and the other was just filled with rows of these nail beds and those movable trays of medical equipment. She didn’t care to stay long to figure out what that was about.

One room was completely empty besides the center, which had a built-in whirlpool in the middle of the floor, and not the hot-tub kind but the ‘there is some kinda sea-creature in here’ kind. She didn’t stay long enough to ask herself more questions about that.

Another room looked like a mini museum of dolls on a multitude of shelves, but each doll was tagged with a warning label that said ‘DO NOT TOUCH’ written in bold, black ink. She also left that room rather quickly.

The last room she checked had nothing in there..or so she thought at first.

She noticed after a while of staring at the paneled wood that she saw these weird shadows cast upon the floor. So she looked upwards to find the ceiling covered in a thick layer of spiders.

Just.. like a whole ceiling full of them.

She did say that there were another four rooms they found after that, but she kinda lost her mind after the whole spider ceiling fiasco, and had chickened out in opening the last four doors they found. Instead, she softly knocked at the door, careful not to be too overly loud, and whispered that it was herself at the door and to knock back in a certain pattern she initiated.

Each time, the patterned knock was repeated back at her from behind the door.

She quit getting excited about it when she realized after the fourth door that it was the house or the ancestors playing tricks on her, for each of those times the kid had opened the door instead to a whole bunch of weird rooms that had nobody in them.

Eight hallways, Thirty-Three rooms.

Zero new family members found so far.

She was about to toss away any sense she had left within her.

“I swear kid, if we don't find somebody soon, I’m gonna lose it.” The little hairball sighed upon her back as it prepared to listen to her third manic rambling since leaving their puzzle room.

“You know what, I don't think there actually is anybody here.” She aggressively whispered. “No ghosts, no ancestors, no dogs, no family. I’ve not seen a literal soul, living or dead, besides you for the last few actual hours… OooH, but of course, there are plenty of spiders to hang out with or nightmare of the living dolls to play with if we get really bored walking around here for long enough.”

Enid turns the corner to come across yet another hallway, one, this time, that leads directly to the front foyer.. and the ballroom as well.

Wait.

She snapped her mouth unexpectedly shut and stumbled slightly forward to a haphazard stop, one that startled the kid now clinging tighter upon her back.

How did she know that?

She looks around the hall in a sudden snap of deeper analysis and realizes that all of the paintings are rather familiar to her, as well as the arrangement of sconces holding decorated candles, and a series of potted plants that she had helped Morticia decorate the very first day she was here.

A surge of excitement flooded her body.

She knows this place, she recognizes this area.

Not only that, but she's actually pleasantly surprised to find that she's rather close to the front door, the literal entrance to his house is down the grand staircase, the very one that Morticia and herself decorated as well, right around the corner, as you turn at the end of this hall.

Everything Enid had remembered about the game had fled her mind in this singular moment of overwhelming excitement. Freedom was near. Freedom was so close that she could practically taste it.

Down the grand staircase, across the great marble floor that lay before the enormous front entrance that enshrines the magnificent front door, just begging to be opened.

Enid could almost hear it, pleading for herself to run and open it. To end her current semi-isolated purgatory for herself, the kid, and apparently everyone else that was dispersed who knows where throughout the rest of the house.

The blonde was mere moments away from shouting with the utmost joy, leaping forward, running and laying claim to her destiny and winning the game for them all by leaving the front door that would break the spell over the house.

Though one little, out of place, noise she happens to barely catch stops her cold in her tracks.

Panting.

She’s sure of it now, she hears panting.

The breathing through the mouth noise.

Just like the noise that would come from a dog.

Her breath catches in her throat. It shutters with a rushing of overwhelming trepidation. She works at controlling her own breathing before daring to even attempt to look.

A small hand shakes at her shoulders, trying to garner her attention. She knows that the creature upon her back knows what lies before them as well, warning her to be careful.

On edge, she presses the creature, alongside herself, against the wall. Shifting and sliding ever closer to the edge, careful not to make a sound, not even a misplaced breath.

Close enough now, she leaned against the corner of the end of the hallway and rolled the tip of her nose and just enough of her face around to see without getting caught, peering ever so carefully down the grand staircase.

She’s not prepared for what she sees though.

She wasn’t prepared to see a whole pack of them. Two, four, eight of them, so far as she saw. All of them were either pacing the ground floor, some of them sitting, some of them looking around. All of them guarding that front door.

Staring intently at the guardians that were stationed in the main foyer of the house, she realized something wildly earth shattering.

Those… those aren’t dogs.

No. They’re about as big as wolves, and look pretty darn close to what a wolf would look like as well. Massive statue, paws as big as her head, razor sharp teeth that glistened as white as moonlight.

Even still, in spite of looking rather close to one. Enid knew without a shadow of a doubt that they weren’t exactly ‘wolves’ either. Not at all.

Honestly, now that she’s looking at them, she’s not even sure if they’re alive.

She swears she’d be able to hear footsteps with creatures as massive and heavy as these beasts, but she realizes that when the ‘wolves’ pace around, their footsteps are near soundless. Lighter than a feather, almost as if these creatures didn’t have any of the immense weight that they looked like they should be bearing upon their shoulders. Incredible, like the perfect hunters.

Dogs and wolves make a lot of noise, and they are easy to locate, easy to smell.

In any other scenario, they’d actually be really easy to find.

These creatures have no scent that she’s ever quite come across. If they even have a scent at all, it's faint, otherworldly, and unimposing.

Their fur coats are darker than the night sky, and somehow even more devoid of color than even the deepest pitch of black one could possibly find. They were staggering to look at, as if they were shadows given life and form, for they walked around like they were sucking up every bit of the light around them.

Now that she mentioned that, she realized that the light from the array of candelabras around them wasn’t acting upon them in the same way it would with any actual living creature, giving her theory about them being unalive some real weight.

It was almost as if these things were a void, completely sucking up the light around it, and yet, never casting a shadow either.

Her horrified eyes darted from one beast to another. Each one seemed more terrifying than the last. It was very obvious that something was very wrong here, and she was really starting to understand why the kid seemed so frightened of these things before.

The only bit of color one could find upon them was the void-less expanse of their eye sockets.

Truly, It didn’t seem like they had any eyes. Only these deep, glowing expenses of green where their eyes should be. They had shimmered like emeralds, practically glowing in the dark.

These things look straight out of some kind of horror movie, and it was pretty obvious that she really didn’t want to grab their attention in any way shape or form.

She couldn’t even imagine what they would do to her or the kid.

She tried to remember that these creatures couldn’t hurt them, that they shouldn’t be able to.

Though, she was beginning to seriously have her doubts.

Feeling a soft tug at the sleeve of her shirt, Enid curls back behind the wall and sits there with the kid, staring up at her like it's trying to ask what she wants to do next. She’s not sure what their options are at this point.

They just spend probably the last hour trying to even get to this point of the house. If they backtrack now, they would lose a lot of progress, Heading back into a maze of hallways they already knew were empty.

Or worse, run into a different pack of those..things, if there happened to be more of them throughout the halls than the grouping before them. Something told her that this group would most definitely not be the only ones they’d find here.

She looks at the rest of the hallway on the other side of the grand staircase. It was completely out in the open. Pressing forward to the other side of the hall made the most sense in terms of their current goals, but they would be immediately and easily spotted. Several of the ‘wolves’ had been sitting to watch that area of the staircase anyways.

She leaned back to curl ever so slightly around the wall.

It was a suicide attempt if they went for the doors. Not only did the pack sit right at the feet of them, but now that she had her bearings with her, finally, she’d remembered that they’d need some kind of a key to leave this place anyways. Not only did the letter mention it, but she can even see a giant golden lock and chain swinging upon the handles and barring access to the outside completely.

Their options were limited, and they might as well have been stuck. Not to mention that they were sitting ducks here. The pack was patrolling the foyer, it was only a matter of time before one of them wandered up here to find them.

She really, really didn’t want to see how that would play out. She might be able to protect her and the kid from one, but eight?

She continued to remain seated by the creature, eyes turned closed to try and think of a way out of this, anything that could possibly help them, but nothing seemed like it would work.

Another tug at her sleeve had allowed her eyes to open and fall upon the child at her side once more, watching it point towards the other side of the staircase, like it was telling her that was where it wanted to go.

“Are you crazy?” She mouthed, not even vocalizing any of the words she was speaking to it, trying so hard to keep any attention away from them. It kept jabbing its finger forward, apparently seeing her opposition to its idea and kept prodding her with its suggestion in spite of it.

She slowly shook her head, apparently solidifying a decision she also didn’t really like, but felt deeply that no other option was available to them. Not without the literal hounds of hell finding them and shredding them apart first.

She sighed and motioned for the creature to climb back upon her so she can start the grueling effort of backtracking. If that was the direction they were headed, might as well get started on it now.

The creature shook its head and kept pointing its finger in the direction of where she was now determined not to go. She flicked a disapproving eyebrow upwards at it. The little thing was incredibly obstinate when it wanted to be.

Doesn’t matter, she’s not about to needlessly endanger them, even if it is now apparently against the creature's wishes. All she could hope for now is not to cross paths with another pack of these beasts on the return journey.

The kid scooted backwards, like it knew what she was gonna try to do.

Too bad. Good thing she was bigger.

Enid carefully stood back up, and reached down to grab the kid and the toy elephant that lay between them, trying to force it back upon her back as she worked on their backtracking journey through the mansion.

Though she was not expecting the creature to try and pull her in the opposite direction against her will and actually almost have the initial strength to do so.

The action surprised her greatly, so she yanked back harder than she intended, afraid that the kid’s pull would go too far and get them seen by the wolves.

Instead, she knocked them both off balance to tumble into the carpeted part of the floor.

Horror stricken, Enid yanked the kid into her and waited for the end to come for them, just knowing that the beasts on the lower floor must have heard them tumble.

The kid and herself held each other tightly, their frantic breathing trying so hard to even itself out. Beyond their breathing, no other noises came close to them, strangely enough.

Enid uncurled herself while still holding tightly onto the child on the floor. She leaned herself in a position where she could just barely see the floor below them, and their tumble had miraculously not been noticed by the pack below.

How? She might never know. Maybe the carpet muffled their fall? Either way, they were incredibly lucky and she wasn’t going to offer them another chance to hear her do something stupid. She needed to get them up and out of here, she needed to-

Enid pressed a hand on the ground to lift them back up, but didn’t realize her hand hovered a little too close to the stuffed elephant.

The same one whose voice box was now completely fixed by Uncle Fester.

The same toy that had been accidentally pressed upon by Enid’s hand and was currently booming with this loud, trumpet-like sound that was now bouncing and echoing off the walls. Inevitably drawing full attention to them.

Enid slapped a hand over her mouth to try and mask a sharp gasp of horror, but she figured it was already too late for that.

Enid snapped her head up in spite of the terrible fear that engulfed her now, looking back down on the floor below.

Sixteen emerald green voids stared directly back at her in their own kind of shock to hear the noise and find someone staring back at them.

“Fuckohfuckfuck.” The little creature yelped as it wiggled its way out of her grasp and began spiraling down the very hallway she told it not to go down, not that it matters now. It moves at its full speed, not daring to look behind it to see if she was gonna catch up.

The pack of dogs suddenly realized what they were meant to do and snap their fangs and roar in this horrible cacophony of barks and howls as they begin to tear after Enid, who is ripping her own claws into the hardwood flooring and carpet rug to launch herself upwards and forward down the hall.

Digging her feet in hard, her shoes pounded into the floor and she began pushing her muscles to their limits in order to gain speed quickly, to catch up to the little creature whose screams were only being drowned out by her own.

She catches up with the kid in a couple of strides and easily scoops it up on her back. The creature, already used to the motion, huddles in on itself. It nestles tight between her shoulders to help give her a smoother, more aerodynamic form as they flee down the hall, continuing to make gains at a rather intense speed.

Fear and adrenaline flooded her system and began to cause this distinct pull at her muscles, one that was becoming increasingly familiar with each and every new iteration. Her eyes sharpen, her ears ring, and she’s able to push easily beyond her previous limits. Her half-wolf form comes easily to her in times of great need and desperation.

The hound’s series of barks only get louder as they hone in on their prey, the pack of them fully locked in on Enid’s heels.

Pressing more, muscles pumping harder, mind and body moving faster, until she begins to burst down the hall like the rocket she now was. Colorful blonde hair whipping wildly around her face as she moved at a speed almost more than she was able to handle or control. The creature nestled tighter into her, afraid that one wrong move would send it flying. She winced lightly as its claws dug into her a bit more than before.

Doors and paintings flash by her in a blur. She's far too focused and entirely too fast to think about anything other than the desperate need to escape.

The end of the hall appears upon her quickly, the wall she’s headed straight for grows larger with each leaping step.

Her eyes practically glow as an idea statics across her mind instantaneously. She doesn’t give it a second thought before preparing to try it out.

Turning a corner she had anticipated, she lasered in at the precise spot, unsheathed her claws, and immediately dug them into the walls in the perfect moment. She winced as wallpaper and wood crackled and burst under her colorful claws as she shredded it apart in this long series of rips, feeling bits of wood and paper to fly towards her and pelt her lightly in the face and arms as she subconsciously shift her weight to the sides of her feet, sliding in a calculated way and retracting her claws in a timed manner.

Creating a perfect arc with her incredibly athletic form, the action worked easy to help her drift and shift her streamlined momentum to catapult her and the kid into a completely new direction, following the flow of the series of hallways before them without losing precious speed.

Unable to imitate the action, she heard the beasts with a wicked grin on her face. The hounds that were once right upon their heels, now crowding each other and crash into the far wall into a heap, yelping, and now scrambling over each other to be the first to catch back up and tear her apart.

Enid can feel the creature cling tightly to the fabric and skin around her collar. Though the kid’s body is twisted backwards to watch the dogs attempt to catch them, it made a pleased squeak as she realized it was a reaction to the fact that the dogs haven’t quite managed to close that gap Enid’s currently got on them.

She’s beyond thankful she has more stamina, more speed, and more endurance than your typical human, being actually able to keep up and maintain that distance between them and their hunters for a longer stretch of time.

The inability of the dogs to clear the corners the same way that Enid does cost them a couple of seconds, but it doesn’t make much of a difference in the long run. She’s only really able to maintain the distance between them, not widen it.

She felt her breath quicken, working harder to help recover her oxygen. She knows there is only so long she’s able to keep this up too.

Enid can hear the creature whimper behind her ear, her own kind of warning without having to lose control by looking back at the scene herself. She knows without having to look that the dogs are pressing harder to catch back up to her.

It’s clear that these animals are relentless, she’s going to have to come up with something quick to shake them off.

She attempts to track the objects and paintings speeding by her as she darts right through. She’s just blindly running here. She’ll run them into another obstacle or perhaps even another pack if she doesn’t come up with a plan soon.

Aiming once more, she twisted out her right arm this time, jetting it into the wall and quickly speeding down the right corridor as she rotated her momentum as easily as before. She sees another series of doors, barely. Currently blurred by quick speed vision as she maintains her missile-like trajectory down the hallway.

Enid fights the overwhelming urge to catapult them in the nearest one she can find.

Her instincts for survival fight hard, alongside her rapidly oncoming exhaustion, but she’s got to be smart about this.

If she jumped course now, not only would she be trapping herself in a new room that she’s already aware will lock upon her entry, she knows without a doubt that there’s something wrong with these wolves, and she can’t anticipate what they’re gonna be able to do.

She doesn’t know what they’re capable of. If she just happens to jump in the nearest room, not only would they know exactly where she went, potentially guarding the entrance from anyone being able to save her and the kid, but these things seem a lot closer to demons or ghosts than related to actual dogs.

She wouldn’t put it past them to have some freak ability that lets them open a door, if not already possessing an ability to phase right through it.

No, she had to be smart about this. If they caught up with her in a room she wasn’t able to exit from in a moment, then she’d really be out of options. She needed to keep moving, Enid felt her heart beat harder than before from underneath her throbbing chest. She needed to keep pressing, as much as it was starting to physically pain her.

Enid rolls her eyes above her in an arch. Besides, this was Wednesday’s house after all. She knows for a fact there’s a series of trap doors and hideaways located in nearly every crevice and wall that she’s not even remotely aware of.

If she could just buy herself some time, find something like that, something that even these dogs wouldn’t be expecting, maybe then she’d have a chance of getting her and the kid out of this alive.

She twisted her feet to propel herself down the seventh long hallway in her high-speed dog chase. Her lungs are on fire and her breath is quick, sharp, and each new gasp for air was beginning to be rather painful.

Adrenaline masked it, but her clawed fingertips already tingle from the force of constantly jamming them into the wall. She can notice her fingers starting to ache. She lifts one up to analyze it. It looks pretty gnarly, already pretty cracked and starting to bleed. The skin is riddled with thick and dark splinters from the old paneled wood.

It will heal quickly, she’s already well aware of this. Even still, she knows it’s gonna hurt like a bitch when she’s out of this overdrive state of hers. She closes her hand into a slightly bloody fist and continues to pump both arms to help propel her down the hall at breakneck speed.

She’s only able to maintain this state for so long and she knows that she is already starting to slip in some ways.

The kid leaned upwards, closer to her face. She fought the urge to push it back down. This was so not the time for it to start crawling around her again.

Instead, it seemed determined to make sure that Enid saw it pointing forwards. It babbled some nonsense upon its vantage at her shoulder and then emphasized the motion, repeating the point forward once more, but with more fervor behind the action.

It was like it was emphatic that it wanted her to keep going on her current course, and was desperate to convey this thought to her before huddling back into a ball between her shoulder blades again.

She couldn’t help but scoff. As if she’d be doing anything else right now.

Her foot landed at a strange angle, nearly causing her to stumble. She managed to remain upright, but her heart beat even more wildly inside her chest and the dogs sounded closer than before, losing a precious second from the near slip.

Focus, Enid.

Her electric blue eyes dart around erratically. She looks around frantically at the hallway, looking for something, anything that could indicate a trap door was nearby. She fought being immediately discouraged. She didn’t have the first clue what to even search for though.

The creature upon her shoulders unexpectedly lifted itself upwards, its current grip had yanked itself to be able to press its little feet into the area between her shoulder blades, positioning itself in a really familiar position and began bouncing its knees, preparing to-

Her eyes shot fully open in fear as she realized what it was doing with that motion.

Terrified now that the kid was going to lose its footing as it seemed to try to leap off of her, to only then proceed to slip and fall off of her, only to become an easy snack, she slowed a bit and tried to spin in order to grab the kid and pull it into her arms. She’d carry it like a football if she had to. She wasn’t gonna lose it.

However, in the blink of an eye and before she could grab it, the kid had already leveraged itself upon her shoulders and used her taller stance to launch itself towards the vent that hung high on the wall, edging close to the ceiling.

It successfully grabbed the grating and fumbled with the bottom part which opened for it rather easily. It then proceeded to quickly position itself to enter and scramble right on through.

Enid skidded crudely to a complete stop.

She could only watch, jaw agape, as the kid she was trying so desperately to save now, alongside herself, had now found itself its own personal escape, and decided to abandon her without a second thought.

The child even had the utter gall to point, one more time, down the hallway as if to tell her that if she wants to stay alive herself, she better keep on going.

The kid had now completely disappeared from sight as the grate snapped back shut.

A second later, she could see out of her peripherals that the dogs had turned down into her current hallway and were closing in on her fast.

Anger had surpassed her fear as the most prominent emotion she had on retainer, spurring her forward, back up to her terrifying speed down the halls. She had no choice. She wasn’t given any.

She grit her sharpened teeth inside her head as she pounded down the corridor. She couldn’t do anything but to leave the little hairball behind and keep running forward as fast as she could. She did exactly that, but not before screaming into the air as loud as she could muster, hoping the kid could hear her from its safe vantage from within the walls.

“Dammit! I said stick together, not leave me for dead!” She hoarsely screamed over the series of dog howling and barks behind her.

“I know you understood me too, you little rat.” She spat at a lower volume, more towards herself, born out of the rage that bubbled under her skin from being left behind so casually.

She shut her mouth after that, already seeing spots from losing too much air and not being able to recover it properly. Dammit. She wasn’t going to last much longer like this.

She turns another corner. The dogs continue to bark at her, and it only seems to be getting louder.

She couldn’t risk turning around to look, but she swears they are getting closer. And the worst part is that she knows she’s about to drop speed dramatically real soon.

Down another hallway, Gritting her teeth in pain as she barely manages to dig her now shaking fingers into the wall from the strong onset of pain she’s already starting to feel.

This hallway one doesn’t have any rooms, only these really tall floor-to-ceiling portraits.

Enid gasps in another wave of fear and dread. She’s got another maybe two hallways in her before she's sure she’ll be caught. Her fingers ache deeply. The blonde is not even sure that's the case anymore since she doesn’t know if her claws and hands can handle another drift.

Shit. She’s cooked.

Enid knows it’s a big gamble, but she has to hop in another room before it’s too late. She just prays she can find one before the dogs manage to catch her.

Even if that stupid little monkey had abandoned her, she at least won’t have to watch it get eaten if these hounds happen to possess abilities that allow them to phase through the walls. She’s thankful for that, at least.

Her legs ache terribly. Her cheek burns from the blood rushing out to her face. Her head starts to spin wildly, and the spots behind her eyes start to grow.

She pushes forward, harder, faster. The final burst she can muster before she’s done.

Keep pushing, she tells herself. Please, Enid.

Just hold on, just keep holding on until you can find a-

She nearly screams as one of these random floor-to-ceiling portraits swing on its supposed hinges until it’s set completely perpendicular with the flow of the hallway. A terrifying picture of a really old and creepy looking man seems to charge her as it swung directly at her.

She harshly manages to stop before she runs straight into the frame, staring at the giant man with wide and frightened eyes.

The little monkey that had left her behind was now crawling over the picture, onto the top as it seemed to focus directly on her.

It screeched and babbled a series of unintelligible words rapidly to gain her attention, even though it already clearly had it.

It waves an arm at her, asking her to wrap around to the other side of the picture until she is close enough for it to leap back upon her shoulders.

She gasped at the once hidden sight. The kid bounced upon her as it pointed to a secret corridor that was suddenly revealed hiding just behind the old man’s picture frame, now begging her to go inside and hide them both away before they got caught.

Wasting no time, Enid leapt into the space behind the portrait, grasping onto a hidden handle from the backside, and rapidly shutting the picture back to where it was before the dogs could even turn the corner.

She and the creature jumped in and both pressed hard against the far wall and slid down into the floor.

Enid was trying desperately to mask her breath, but it was incredibly hard with her lungs burning so badly.

The creature noticed this immediately and jumped into action, quickly wrapping its fur and hair around her face in a little hug that doubled as a way to muffle her deep breathing patterns.

They hang close to each other and listen closely to the main hallway just outside of the hidden alcove. They waited for the still soft and padding footsteps of the dogs to barrel right past them and continue down the hallway until they were completely out of earshot.

The wolves were now gone. They miraculously managed to be fooled by the kids' plan and just kept on running down the seemingly never-ending series of hallways that spiraled before them.

After another minute of waiting, it became increasingly apparent that these dogs were actually fooled, and were not coming back to find them.

Thanks to the kid’s quick thinking, they successfully managed to get away this time.

Unable to hold her breath any longer, she burst out into these deep, heaving breaths and sputtering coughs, choking on the air around her, trying desperately to fill her lungs back up with it. The kid jumped back and sat sadly as it watched her work to recover.

She just sat there breathing crudely until the pain subsided in her lungs, her legs. At least until her heartbeat slowed into a more normal pace

The kid continued to watch her closely and seemingly with worry as it twiddled its little clawed thumbs together until she recovered enough to speak to it once more.

“Okee?Yousanotgonnadieonmeme?”

She squinted hard at the kid, trying really hard to break apart its odd pattern of speech to work at figuring out what it was trying to communicate with her.

“No, I’ll be okay. I promise not to die on you, kid.”

“Whattadidagoodjobdid?”

“Hah!” She couldn’t help but cough out a sharp laugh at that.

“Did you do a good job? I thought you left me for dead, you know.” She smiled in a warm way at the creature in spite of her words to it.

“Big.toobigyouyou. Don’tfityou. Wasttoosmallsmall.”

She rolled her eyes at it, playfully.

“You know, you really shouldn’t comment on a girl’s size, but I’m gonna let it slide this once since you did indeed come back to save me.”

She ruffled the kids' hair, proudly. It preened at the caring action of hers.

“Seriously though, little monkey. I can’t thank you enough for saving me. I really and truly thought I was a goner.”

“Together.Sticcatogether.Promise.YoupromiseWhattapromisetoo. “

“Good,” She nodded with confidence. “Because I feel the same way. We’re gonna stick together till we win this thing.” She struck out a hand of hers, and the creature copied her motion to shake her hand back, a promise made between them.

“Awesome now that we got away with our lives… Where the heck are we?”

----

She looked around to figure out where the kid had led them to. She pressed a bloodied and shivering hand against the wall around them, already starting to slowly heal and push out the myriad of dark splinters underneath her skin to clatter lightly against the floor.

Dark paneled wood covers the entirety of the area, from floor to ceiling. There was pretty much no light to speak of. Even with her supernatural vision spurred on by her currently active, overdrive state, she can still barely make out the outline of her own hand in front of her face.

This must have been one of those many hidden alcoves and passageways that Wednesday continuously spoke so proudly of taking advantage of as she was growing up. Apparently, in addition to the already confusing design of the house, Enid was well aware that there was a whole set of labyrinthine designed tunnels that ran through the entire length of the inner house as well.

These built tunnels seem to just be designed as another kind of hallway. One that runs parallel to the hallway she was just in. Obviously a lot more hidden though.

She tried to take stock of where they were with the little light that was offered to them. The already dimly lit hallway outside was seeping some marginal light rays through the corners and edges of the painting. Thankfully her honed senses could take in more light than normal. Otherwise, she’d be completely in the dark, both figuratively and literally.

Looking through the small rays of light and floating specks of dust around them, it seemed there were more passageways offered to them than just what was parallel to the hallway. Another two entrances seem to lead even deeper into the heart of the house. Not to mention the tunnels that seem to lead to higher floors they'd have to use her claws to climb up, though the state of her bloody and splinter ridden hands suggested that was not currently an optimal route to move towards.

She even thought she saw a glint of a metal handle that would open a passageway into the lower floors of the house in the distance.

It seems like they managed to stumble upon the locational jackpot of hidden passageways. She easily imagined that this hidden tunnel could take her anywhere in the house that she wanted to go.

If only she knew where to begin, she'd actually be able to truly take advantage of what miracle they happened to stumble upon here.

After a moment of looking around her and assessing where she was, the little creature at her side tugged at her sleeve in what was beginning to become a rather routine way of communicating with her.

Relief flooded her as she realized that she was already with an insider. Someone who is already probably really familiar with the hidden passageways and tunnel system of the house.

It seems as if she didn't really need to know where to go next because she already has a guide, and apparently all she needs to do is follow the expert around wherever the kid clearly wants to go.

The kid reached upwards, silently asking for her hand to be tucked into its own. After she nestled her hand into its own, she watched it consider each route that resided before them in a long bout of deliberation.

After carefully weighing each of the options and directions offered to them, the kid chose a route that would take them seemingly deeper into the heart of the house. Honestly, she couldn't help but trust the kid implicitly at this moment. It wasn't as if she had any better plans to offer.

Besides, she's really just grateful the kid didn't ask her to climb them both to greater heights, nor to descend even lower into the bowels of the house.

Hand in hand, they walked down the long and intensely dark hallway, following the little creature to wherever it wanted to go.

The kid, admittedly, was not the easiest for Enid to understand. However, she couldn’t deny that this was the perfect time to try and figure out what the hell was going on around them.

She spoke aloud softly, always fearful of something new popping out of the dark to attack them both.

“Hey um..” She feels the kid turn to listen closely to her oncoming question.

“What happens if those doggies get you?” She desperately needed to know, though she was honestly terrified of the answer.

“Oh! Um.. Bye-Bye.” It enunciated stronger this time.

Enid went wide eyed, voice shaking.

“Buh-bye?! What do you mean, Buh-bye?!” Her voice came out strained.

“Bye-Bye.” The child mimicked a wave with its other hand.

She began to panic.

“I thought we were in no danger here?! What the hell?” She scratched the back of her head as they continued down the corridor.

Her mind was intensely conflicted right about now. It's not like she didn't trust what the Addams Family told her before, about not being in any mortal peril in this game. But, she couldn't reason out any other meaning from what the kid said about these dogs other than what it obviously suggested.

If those dogs managed to catch them, apparently they could kiss this life bye-bye.

As they continued down the hallway, Enid noticed that the path forward was quickly narrowing and tightening on them, seemingly getting smaller with each progressive step that they made.

——————

At some point, the two of them begin crawling around through the hidden passageways as the tunnel gets narrower and tighter over time as they continue their hidden trek to what seems like the heart of the house.

They've been crawling around for what seems like forever.

Eventually the two of them turn a corner and a filtered stream of light greets them at the end of the crawl space. The light had filtered through some kind of vent, one that had separated this hidden passageway from another, rather large looking room in the house, from what little she could see outside the slats of the vent.

The creature crawled towards it estatically, seemingly really confident that this was the right direction to go in. Enid though, was a little hesitant.

Not really sure if they were going to trigger another puzzle upon entering back into the main section of the house, or something worse. Running into those dogs again would be probably the worst thing that could happen to them at this moment.

Either way, Enid knew that they couldn't hide in these tunnels forever. Knowing she had to take a risk somewhere, she decided to put her trust in this little dude. Surely this exit was as good as any of the others. Maybe it would even bring them closer to finding someone else.

That would most definitely be worth the inherent risk. They had to keep pushing forward.

The creature got closer to the vent and waited for Enid to use her strength to push it open from the inside.

Once she and the creature successfully crawled out of the vent and into the main room, she couldn’t help but make some quick observations about where they happened to land.

This clearly was the family library. That was easy enough to see.

But, not just that.

This might have been the most grandiose and stunningly beautiful library that she will ever have the privilege to witness.

She has to put a hand over her face to hide a gasp and mask her overwhelming shock at the sight she is currently taking in.

She's fairly certain that even the most decorated and dedicated libraries in the world. Those renowned ones found in top-level universities, or the ones that happened to be recognized as national treasures, decorated and furnished to honor one’s country in an impressive display, would easily pale in comparison to the type of library she is currently witnessing now.

Five stories high. Books covered every wall, every corner, every crevice. Freestanding bookshelves that towered over them, tall enough to climb them and grab onto the railing of the next floor up, seem to series themselves throughout the entirety of the floor, on all five levels.

She's fairly certain that every book known to man, probably even every published edition, every manuscript, written in every possible language offered, resided somewhere in this Library. It was overwhelming in its greatness and vastness. It left her in utter shock and awe. Gaping jaw left completely slack and wide open as she continued to take it all in.

The kid had to shake her out of her stupor. She nearly forgot they were in a precarious position, still currently hiding from sight and playing a game, apparently for their very lives.

The pair of them coiled through the library carefully, hiding behind every freestanding bookshelf, and searching the vast room thoroughly before pressing forward.

She’d be damned if she was gonna be caught off guard again by any other creatures or surprises that might have awaited them.

Eventually, they arrive at what seemed to be the very heart of the library, which actually seemed to double as a mini art museum. As if this place couldn’t be any more impressive, she was quickly proven wrong at pretty much every corner.

A great fountain lay at the center. No water seems to reside inside of it currently, though it still seemed to retain that function if it wanted to. A series of gothic statues dotted the marble section of the flooring before them.

Not only that, but there were many benches, armchairs, and tucked away little places to read at. Several desks meant for a cozy place to write at covered the entirety of the area.

This place was wild, unreal. She looked forward at the far end of the room, way off in the distance. This place was as seemingly vast as the Grand Central Terminal in New York City.

Enid couldn't help but stare around and study the area around her, overwhelmed with the immense beauty and the immense depths of knowledge that covered the entirety of each of the floors, both current and above, as well as each and every one of the walls.

No wonder Wednesday ragged on the Nevermore library all the time. Quite possibly the world’s greatest library resided in her own freaking house. Of course anyone would think that literally anything would be much lesser if you owned this magnificent collection.

What really began to catch Enid’s eye were these enchanting and beautiful dancing shadows upon the marbled floor before them. It kinda reminded her of those little ocean floor light machines every now and again. Twinkles of light cast in these really beautiful rays that continued to appear and disappeared in these really mesmerizing patterns.

It took Enid a second, far longer than she cared to admit, to realize that the streams of light she was witnessing was actually natural light.

It must have already turned into nighttime, Enid realized. Those were most certainly moonlight rays that were being bent and cast inside through a glass ceiling.

This whole time, in this five story, bewitching library, she hadn't even thought to look directly above her.

Realizing that there was a glass domed ceiling in the heart of the library, several stories above her head that she realized she might be able to utilize as an escape path, she looked directly upwards for the first time since entering the library.

Her face dropped instantly in horror.

Even more baffling than the dogs, the game, or perhaps anything she's ever come across before. She now witnesses a sight so wholly and utterly terrifying, that it leaves her completely speechless, shivering in terror on the floor far below.

Yes, there was indeed a giant, glass-domed, ceiling above their heads.

And yes, she could see bits and pieces of that glass and the gentle rays of moonlight that filtered through every now and again.

Though mostly, the soft, pale light was shrouded by the largest cloud of shadow and haze she’s ever seen. It nearly choked out a massive stream of light that should be beaming directly through.

This dark and thick cloud of haze reminded her of a dark cloud that signaled the oncoming rain storm that engulfed the earth’s horizon. Except this one was different. This cloud had pulsed and moved in the most unnatural way, and the tips of the smoke flickered and danced, as if something had lit it on fire.

A giant, shrouded cloud of black flames had to cover the entirety of the glass ceiling, choking out nearly every bit of moonlight and access to see the outside that the dome should have provided.

And that wasn't even the worst part.

It would be different if this thing was just an evil, hazy cloud that someone set aflame.

But no.

This haze had eyes.

As white as snow, and as vast as a full moon that hung in the sky.

There was some kind of colossal sized creature underneath the mountain of smoke that engulfed the sky. Those enormous eyes slowly opened and peered down to figure out what was making that noise.

Instinctually, and out of pure and unfiltered terror and fear that flooded her veins, she bit her tongue until it bled. Doing everything in her physical power not to scream. Even the kid held onto her hand tightly.

Whatever this thing was, it was the stuff of your deepest and darkest nightmares.

She moved faster than lightning that rippled across the ground. She grabbed the creature and hid behind one of the bookshelves, doing everything in her power to hide from the creature that had now begun moving and writhing from the tallest part of the room and descending into the lowest levels, surely to find them.

Pressing her back into one of the walled bookshelves, hidden in between some freestanding ones, she grabbed tightly to the kid and pressed it closer, deeper into her chest. It was all she could do to hide from her worst nightmare given life and shape and pray that she never be found.

The cloud set aflame, now had fully descended and was currently on a warpath. It began weaving between the main aisles of the bookshelves to look for her, and figure out where its prey had wandered off to.

Enid watched its movements and studied the cloud of black shadow and flames as it worked its way through the grand hall.

This thing was truly massive, and she wasn’t the least bit exaggerating this time. That malevolent being might have been larger than an actual house.

Crawling and weaving between the aisles, though completely shrouded in the shadow that had clung to it and had wisped around it, completely obscuring its real body from being seen. She felt like it moved around like a lizard would. Sauntering back and forth in a rather serpentine kind of way.

Even though it was completely obscured, she could tell it had some kind of legs that had propped it up underneath the cloud. She could see the outline of it press out of the cloud of smoke everytime it moved forward.

And its head, at least by what she could notice from the only visible part of it, those glassy, white eyes… the creature jittered its head in this really mechanical-like pattern. Sharp and stuttered movements had the eyes darting around in every possible direction as it continued its hunt.

The most fucking terrifying thing ever was looking for her.

Seriously, what the actual fuck was that?!

Enid held her breath, as the creature was just a single freestanding bookshelf over, drawing dangerously too close. She could only plead with anything that would listen for the monster to just merely pass them both by. It was already far too late to make a break for it now.

She was reminded of that car scene in Jurassic Park in her final moments. The T-Rex pressing its face right up against the vehicle with the kids inside, eyes trained directly upon them before all hell broke loose.

The setup was identical. The great shadow crept beyond the last bookshelf that was currently keeping them out of its direct line of sight.

Enid could feel the kid shiver into her. Her own back pressed deeper into the books that were now digging into her spine as she tried desperately to do what little she could to get away.

It was already far too late for that, though.

Those horrific, milky white eyes passed the only bookshelf left to hide them…and paused.

It was completely undeniable now, those terrible eyes were trained directly on her.

There was nowhere else left to turn, nowhere else left to hide. She was dead. They were dead. She almost began to hyperventilate, waiting for their end to come and hoping against hope that it was quick and painless.

What she never expected in her wildest dreams, though, was for the creature to continue in its scan, eyes searching around and continuing to look around her, away from her and the kid.

She watched as the mountain-like shroud cranked its head right first, and then left.

Once more, she witnessed it look directly upon her..

and then all of a sudden it didn't anymore.

Miracle above miracles, the mammoth dark shroud continued on its search, pressing forward and down the passageway that the bookshelves created between them, and the continued array of bookshelves that line the rest of the hall.

She fought hard to keep her breathing even, quiet.

What the hell.

What the actual hell.

She didn’t imagine it. She knew. Those horrifying eyes looked directly at them.

Those horrifying, milky-white..

Some soft noise, maybe a book or something, fell in the far distance. All the way back to where they entered the hall. Somewhere on the complete other end of this vast library. So quiet it could barely even be registered as noise, even for Enid’s highly sensitive ears.

The creature screeched a thunderous roar that had the power to actually shake the room. Enid and the kid lifted their hands to cover their ears from the pain of its ear-splitting howl.

It spun around on a dime. It honed in directly on wherever that sound was, wherever it was and charged forward like a bat out of hell.

Crashing into a series of bookshelves that toppled over like a house of cards, books flew upwards, left and right. Paper flung up and fluttered down like snowflakes. It screeched again in this earsplitting howl with this reverberation in its chest that didn’t sound of this world.

As soon as the creature crashed into the next series of bookshelves with what looked to be some kind of freakishly long tail that spanned something like ten rows of bookcases, the haphazard action had revealed a treacherous path to the main doorway but apparently was the entrance to the library from the hallway.

That was it. Enid’s crystal eyes locked onto the double doors in the distance. That was their one path of escape.

Right under the body and the tail of this giant monster.

The shrouded behemoth that had honed directly upon the sound of the smallest little noise.

And then, all of a sudden, something immense clicked within Enid's mind. Something that she felt in her very bones made wild, but complete and utter sense.

Those milky white eyes that stared directly at her soul..

It didn’t make sense until now.

She should have already been dead. Those eyes might as well have been staring directly at her soul within her.

She didn’t connect the dots until now, but even though the creature looked directly at her, she realized that it couldn't actually see her.

The very quiet way that book fell, and the immediacy with which the creature focused and honed in on its exact location.

If she were to make a crazy gamble right now, she’d bet that this thing couldn’t see hardly anything at all, but could manage to hear sounds beyond a normal capacity.

Fear pooled into her gut. She gathered the courage she needed in spite of that.

Enid begins to softly slip out of her shoes, quiet as a mouse. She began tying a knot of the laces and securing them on her hip. She lifts the freaked out creature onto her back.

She knows what she needs to do.

Even in spite of the courage she was able to muster to even initiate this action, her fingers still trembled terribly as they reached out for the closest book she could find.

Fearful blue eyes still trained upon the beast, She doesn't even look to see which book she's tilting currently off the shelf behind her.

The kid starts to get a clue and begins to freak out upon her shoulders in the quietest way possible as it watches her wind up her arm with the book firmly in her clutch, practically begging her not to do this.

She has to time this right, she has to aim this perfectly.

She knows that she'll only get one shot at this. No do-overs.

Enid breathes in a quiet and shuddering breath in horrible anticipation. Her focused eyes trained intently upon the second story balcony at the very far end of the room, completely opposite to where the entrance to the library was located.

The distance was vast. Enid imagined this toss being something akin to a full court shot in basketball. Not only did she have to perfectly clear the beast with an ignited dark cloud currently obscuring her intended trajectory, but she needed to land it on the second floor across the room so it would rush and climb for the noise upon the book landing.

She needed every second she could manage to get them out of the doors of the front safely, and that trick shot might be just enough time for her to manage getting out in just the nick of time.

Because even with her softer footsteps with her shoes now off her feet, she just knows that the second she starts running, it will rush her with a speed she can’t possibly ever hope to match, even with her overdrive state currently running.

One more deep breath.

She aims.

Two shuffles back to begin the wind up.

Three long and torturous seconds before she pulls her arm back and locks on to where she wants this book to land.

She uses her whole upper body to launch the book with every punch of force she’s got within her, letting the book fly when she feels the exact moment she needed to let go click within her very soul.

She quickly rights herself and the kid back up to watch the book sail in the air in this stunningly beautiful arc that Enid watches with wide eyes.

Until the moment the book lands on the far end of the second story balcony, exactly where she wanted it to go.

Another force of adrenaline rushes through her, and she wants to scream in victory, but she uses the energy for their benefit instead.

Exactly as she suspected, and exactly as she planned, she hardly looks as the monster chases the noise with such ferocity that every bookshelf and book upon it crumples and flies away in it's warpath, behemoth seeking out the far end of the second story balcony to climb onto itself.

Enid doesn't waste a moment of this single, miraculous chance to escape that she had created for them both. Spinning quickly on the heels of her socks, she runs towards those double doors with everything she has in her.

And just as she suspected, the wolf felt practically the entire world under her feet shake as the monster came to finally realize that it had been fooled.

Enid really shouldn't have spun her head around her shoulder to watch the beast charge towards them.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have seen the horrific way that it decided to climb up the side wall towards her anyways, getting some great height upon its prey below.

In the corner of her eyes before she spun back around to rush for the doors that were quickly coming up on her, she witnessed something she didn’t expect, nor could ever properly fathom what exactly happened next.

Two massive growths of shadow had popped out of the great cloud’s sides, The ignited cloud of smoke still clung tightly to the growths, shrouding the true form it hid underneath. Even still, the shroud couldn’t quite keep up with the rapid way that the growths suddenly managed to beat in preparation for use, back and forth.

Those were wings. Great, bat-like, leathery wings that were visible from underneath the great cloud for just a fraction of a second.

Enid didn’t look anymore, she somehow managed to run faster than even her top speed.

Even as she didn’t spin around to look behind her, she could feel the massive vibrations throughout the whole room the moment that the beast used those wings to take flight and glide, crossing a vast distance in just a heartbeat before it was practically on top of them.

That book she tossed did, in fact, give her just enough time.

Enid rushed with her full force of her whole body into the doors that she thankfully didn’t need to pull open.

And with that one motion, she did it.

She had managed to escape the library doors, and the great monster that resided inside as well.

Horrific screeches and a giant thud catapulted her and the kid upwards and off her feet and the beast crashed into the smaller door frame and the walls of the library it had been trapped in. The creature was far, far too large to be able to chase after them now.

Enid barrels out of that room as fast as she could, finally working up the courage to stare back at that little doorway, the creature was attempting, unsuccessfully, to claw through trying desperately to get her.

Even as a witness to the terrifying sight, she knew that there was no way a creature of that immense size could fit through a door like that, and thankfully she was right.

Even still, she could not tear her eyes away from the dark shroud that was screaming and screeching at watching its prey disappear down the corridor and completely vanish away from its clutches.

The kid on her back was now squeaking and shaking the fabric it gripped upon her shoulders.

She was just about to attempt to tear her eyes away from the door and look up at the hairball who seemed really distressed about something, in an attempt to figure out what exactly got the kid all worked up.

Instead, the child used both hands to grab her cheeks and press her head forward to look in front of them for the first time since leaving the library.

She gasped at the sight and her immensely horrible luck, but by then it was already far too late.

She didn’t realize she was running the two of them straight into a pack of those dogs, all five of them currently rushing her as quickly as they could.

The frontrunner pack leader was charging straight at her with its fangs fully bare, white teeth glinting in the dimly lit hallway.

There was no escape from them this time.

She was helpless to do anything but to try her best to protect the kid at her back. She raised her arm, fully wincing, bracing for its teeth to sink into her skin.

Two opposing forces collide with this immense impact. Enid was completely and immediately knocked off her feet.

Enid’s arm fell cleanly into the agape mouth of the wolf-like creature, she watched as it snapped its jaw shut over her forearm, sinking its razor sharp teeth directly into the meat of her arm.

Using its new and ideal grip upon her, the black beast yanked her neatly to crash directly on the floor from the immense force of it using every muscle in its body to knock her down. She was stunned, opening her eyes to train upon her arm in utter shock.

Even though she can clearly see the bite it had upon her arm, teeth sinking straight through her skin, she found with surprise that there wasn’t any pain, no blood drawn

Honestly, the skin didn’t even look broken. Just phased through.

She didn’t stop to think anymore. Instinct took over. Unfurling her claws as fast as lightning , she instinctively tore right at its throat, expecting to see the dark wolf be shredded to ribbons, streams of blood to spray her down and curl down into the floor in several thick and viscous rivulets.

Even though the creature biting into her kind of looked like it had a solid body, she realized with a start that she might as well have swiped through air.

The fur on its neck had curled into smoke around her fingertips.

She watched with wide eyes, as her trembling fingers were suspended in air with nothing but small clouds of curling smoke and coiling tendrils evaporating around her.

The other beasts around the pack leader hadn’t moved a muscle. They all stood in a circle around her, keeping guard in the case of her managing to somehow escape this wolf’s iron-clad grasp it currently had on her.

Her eyes snapped back upon the wolf who had her in its grasp. Something terrible was happening to it.

The ‘fur’ upon its spine and haunches began to wisp around wildly and grow larger, the black flames upon its back whipped erratically, building up to something she was sure she wasn’t gonna like.

She watched with wild, horrified, and near disbelieving eyes as the creature had both somehow melted, evaporated, and ignited itself in a frenzy of flames… all at the exact same time.

She pierced a scream that cut through her vocal cords as what happened to once be the feet and legs of the dog had rapidly melted into liquid, almost as if it was made of this hot wax that was now spreading across the floor like a fresh pile of blood. Cascading like a waterfall to pool on the floor, curling into this immensely dark void that begins to creep under Enid herself.

The fur upon the wolf's haunches and down its spine and face, had stretched into this nightmarish grin of blazing green eyes and then exploded into an inferno. Black fire was blazing upwards to engulf her, turning into less like a wolf and more like a firestorm as black as night.

Erratic flames spun around her in a vortex, and she was in the center of it.

The wisps of black flames begin to wrap around her throat, to choke her, to surely kill her in a horrible death of setting her whole body into an inferno that would melt her flesh off her very bones.

But instead of the searing pain of actual fire, the wisps and tendrils of embers and smoke had been ice cold to the touch, almost soothing, like a healing balm pressed upon a burn.

The black flames spun around her faster and faster, they began to snuff out the light around her.

The wall of wind and fire around her left her little choice but to do anything but to try and protect herself and the kid who was tucked at her torso. She huddled in on herself and the kid to protect them both.

The wind seemed to be acting much like a force field. She couldn’t get out, and it was pressing her into the ground, and into the pool of darkness curling around her feet.

Barely able to see her feet anymore. She watched, horrified, as the liquid at her feet began to engulf more of her, and started to coil up her legs in this alien-like manner.

It began to curl up her socks, upon her ankles, now spiraling upon her calves.

She couldn’t believe this, but the liquid was pulling her into it like quicksand.

Her knee stumbled into the pool, trying to keep her balance, but now she couldn’t pry it free. It was stuck and currently sinking.

The darkness soon had pulled her fully into it. Up her legs, tendrils like snakes coiled around her arms, the webbing spiraled up on her neck, the kid already engulfed entirely in the darkness.

she was positive it was going to smother her in another second.

The darkness curled over her face, and now, having a full grip on her, had yanked her into the ground completely.

Darkness took over until there was nothing left.

She wasn’t sure if she was even still alive, but the only thing that made her question it was that she could sense the kid, still clinging tightly onto her torso.

To honestly do nothing but to offer her the smallest bit of comfort, she curled in on herself as best as she could, offering the creature a tight hug.

She felt a weird shifting gravity, as if for a second, she had superseded its laws.

That familiar tug to the Earth had disappeared, as she was left in an endless void.

At least, that was what she’d thought. The feeling didn’t last long.

The sensation of gravity pulled back upon her once again, unexpectedly. It tugged on her feet first, then spiraled its way up her entire body until she could feel herself falling through the air once more.

It was like she was hurtling back towards earth, except there was nothing to see but the endless darkness she was still inside of.

Until all of a sudden there was light that pierced through the darkness.

As quick as a blink, she didn’t realize that she had fallen back to earth and out of the endless dark void until having already collapsed into a pile of boxes.

She groaned and shifted at the ache of falling into the crates of paneled wood that dug into her sides. She opened her eyes, stinging lightly at the force of the light now acting upon them. Not that the room was overly bright, but having just been sucked into a darkness that was entirely void of any light, the flickering flames and dull bulbs overhead still pierced her eyes and caused them to wince in pain.

Even still, she managed to realize that she had just fallen through a ceiling, her back to the floor and facing upwards to watch that same pool of darkness that had just swallowed her up, only to spiral into itself until it disappeared in the ceiling.

A mountain of boxes were scattered around her and it was all she could now focus on and work towards right now to get out of this mess. She desperately needed to figure out what happened to the kid who was just recently clinging tightly to her.

She felt the kid’s grip tighten on her shoulder, which it had now shifted and clung onto had initiated a sigh of relief, realizing that the two of them weren’t separated and endured whatever the fucking hell that was together.

She heard something around her, shifting and moving the boxes to toss around. She braced for another fight, though she wasn’t entirely sure if it was even possible to win against those horrific, dog-like monsters made of smoke and shadow and flames, apparently.

A human-like hand had moved a box away from her face.

She blinked a couple of times, still to gather her bearings, still ready to fight, at least until the silhouette before her she finally and fully recognized as human.

A hand reached out at her, grabbing her own and forcing her to an unstable stand.

Once she had gotten a grip, she focused on blinking until the blurrier figure before her molded into someone more recognizable.

“Took you long enough to show up, I’ve been waiting for my supposed ‘help’ for freaking ages.”

“Pugsley? Is that you?” She hoarsely whispered into the still air around her.

“What up, E? Have a nice fall?” The boy laughed warmly.

Notes:

As promised, I’m back to talk about this chapter!!!

Good grief! I’m normally super busy on the reg, but the holiday season is nearly as busy as the work seasons for me, but in the best way possible! Hope you all have had a Merry Christmas and series of holidays during the winter season! I know I have! Thanks for bearing with me to get this chapter out, as always!

Alright, we’re finally getting to some of that crazy I’ve been hinting at for a long while! This arc is really gonna be something else, and I’m thrilled to finally start sharing what’s been in my head on loop for the last year!

This chapter was incredibly tense throughout the entirety, and I’ve had it planned out in detail for the longest time, but it also took a long time to edit and iron out everything so I was positive that it was both high quality enough for you guys, and that the action played out to where you all could see how it panned out in my head. I hope it came across well. From what you guys have already been saying, it really seems like that’s been the case! It thrills me to hear how intense this chapter felt for you guys.

Though, I promise that they won’t all be just straight intensity the whole time. This was the only chapter that seemed heavy-handed with it for this arc. I really needed to set up the stakes and the threats before we get into all of the fun and bring Wednesday back into the story. (Who’s gonna show up real soon, I promise!)

I’ve also loved all of your theories as to what the demon dogs and the Library ‘Spook’ is! I don’t want to steal Pugsley’s thunder for the next chapter, but you guys (and Enid) will get a full rundown and explanation pretty soon! Poor Enid’s endured so much to get that explanation, and she’s not the most thrilled at the moment, having to endure all of that terror to get here. 😂😂

As always, thank you all for reading, and I look forward to sharing the next one! Happy Holidays, and I wish you all the best!

Until next time,
Kalon

Chapter 25: When the Dog Bites, When the Bee Stings

Notes:

The possession this story has on me is back. I cannot believe that I actually managed to write this whole thing today after not being able to get more than a few words out for months, but I'll take advantage of it when I can..Especially after making you all wait for so long.

With a firm tug, the humanoid figure that reached out for her in the fuzziness of the blooming light on her tender eyes, Enid finally recognizes as Pugsley.

He carefully reaches for her palm and lifts her to an unsteady stand, up and away from the collection of boxes she had been sinking further into. They clattered to the floor as she had been lifted out of them.

Her feet rocked precariously. Ankle-high and bubblegum pink socks planted on the wooden floorboards gave her some initial stability, yet her knees continued to shake, still visibly weak.

Pugsley unexpectedly used the other hand to stabilize her shoulder. She didn’t realize before he did that she was about to tip back over to fall right back into the boxes she was just lifted out of. Thankfully he caught her before she stumbled once more.

She squeezed his hand, a testing motion, still in half disbelief that he was real, standing before her to steady her and keep her from falling.

It would have been real easy to fall too, still fully shaking with a soft and ever persistent quiver she guessed wasn’t going away anytime soon if the rapid beating of her heart was any indication to go by.

She lifted a hand subconsciously to cradle and press against her throbbing temple. She wasn’t sure if it was actual pain or just the consistent pull of anxiety that was pulsing in those veins under her skin.

Blinking a couple of times to gather her bearings, she worked to allow some time for the dim bulbs and candlelight to soften against her still tender and bleary eyes. As she did so, her gaze naturally hovered back onto the unmarred and unmarked wooden panels of the ceiling.

She studied the groves in the panels seriously, crystalline blue eyes darting back and forth, trying to figure out where the moving and pulsing black void she just fell out of had disappeared to. Or, even trying to attempt to see if they had existed at all.

A small adjustment of movement caught her peripherals across from her. A curious face with a dark head of hair had angled his face upwards to copy her motion, attempting to figure out what she was thinking by replicating the action.

“You won’t find any more traces of it. That portal always disappears as quickly as it appears.”

Portal. The seemingly straightforward word hit her like a brick to the face.

Enid snapped back at the boy to study him with a cold steel hiding behind her darkening eyes. He quirked a brow at her in gentle confusion, sensing the immense change in atmosphere she had caused by the simple action.

She wrangled that strong emotion that fell across her like a shadow, settling into something more tired, yet somehow still filled with an abundance of lightly masked attitude in spite of it.

Her soft swallow echoed into the quiet before she spoke again, regarding him with a gentle frown that was quite the contrast to her normally effervescent expression.

“Pugsley?” She questioned the boy gently, though it sounded more like a curt statement than a question as it echoed off the walls.

It must have not only sounded that way to her own ears, for Pugsley studied her face for a second, before almost wincing at her tone, responding with an air of hesitation.

“Um..yes, Enid?”

“...Are you dead?”

Pugsley twisted up his face, darting his eyes around like he was fumbling around his head for any kind of proper response.. not quite sure what to make of her strange words, nor could make out where she was going with them. He weighed them carefully before he replied.

“Umm.. No, Enid. Not the last time I checked, no.” He decided to just answer in full honesty, opting to leave behind a more sarcastic reply when he couldn’t quite figure out how it would be received.

“Hm. I see.” She clicked her tongue in fake contemplation, pausing her words for effect. The vagueness and sharp point of her words worked easily to unnerve Pugsley, the boy quietly thought to himself.

You know, it really did. Almost as much as talking to his sister did sometimes.

Interesting.

“If that’s the case, then how about me? Am I dead?”

“..What?” He hesitated, now completely and utterly perplexed. She saw an opportunity arise and pressed into his confusion with a stronger bout of sarcasm of her own.

“Oh, goodness, sorry. Is my question confusing?” Her lower lids narrowed ever so slightly as her saccharine tone rang like a warning bell as she feigned an apology.

“I would have imagined it would be easy for someone like you to be able to tell if I was indeed.. dead.”

There was a slight pause, he studied her, trying really hard to assess her.

“Are you going somewhere with this line of questioning? You’re kinda freaking me out, if I’m being honest.”

“I’m freaking you out?” She scoffed a fake laugh and suppressed a shudder.

“Right. Apologies, Pugsley. You’ll have to forgive me for being a little tense. You see, I’ve obviously either experienced death, or found myself in the middle of some horrendous nightmare. I’m doing my best to figure out which one it is.” She cut to the heart of her heightened emotions immediately.

To Enid, this was no joking matter. All of the fear and adrenaline was still fresh, like an open wound. It should have been obvious to see. At least, Enid felt like it should have.

Unfortunately for him, Pugsley didn’t seem to catch that important little distinction.

“Oh, sure, E! No worries. You’re not dead or dreaming. Pretty hardcore your first time through, isn’t it.” He broke into a smile after a bout of relief washed over him.

Her tone and her face remained completely even as she spoke, so Pugsley mistakenly assumed it was finally okay to crack a joke.

“Oh,” Her voice wavered slightly, a subtle warning sign blinking a little too late to matter now.

“So you do know a little something about what I just experienced?”

“Of course, I do. I-“

Her ocean eyes suddenly flash bright and wide as if lightning struck water and rippled across the surface. She grounds her stance and rushes the boy before he has time to process or even prepare.

Digging her budding clawed fingers in his black sweater vest, the adrenaline state had never truly left her from the absolute insanity she just experienced. Enid doesn’t hesitate as she easily yanks upwards at the fabric that held him inside it, and lifted the boy into the air. His eyes shot wide as his feet dangled slightly off the ground and she began to shake him like a maraca, his head limply tossing and turning with the violent motion.

“Then do you miND EXPLAINING WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK JUST HAPPENED TO ME??!” She progressively got louder with each syllable she uttered. Her volume and hystericism peaked as she nearly screamed the question at the very end of it.

“WhoaWhoaWhoa, H-Hey, Enid! Hey! Let’s just be calm about this.” His head snapped back to focus on his attacker. Apparently, attempting to plead and soothe her was the absolute wrong thing for him to do.

Her grip on him tightened to iron. “Calm? Do you want me to be fucking CALM?! How can I be calm after being chased by the actual hounds of hell, that sENT ME TO THE FIFTH FucKING DIMENSION, AND haD ThE AUDACITY TO SPIT ME BAck oUT?!” Her voice squeaked and broke at odd times during her utter distress.

He opens his mouth to speak, but not quickly enough for her taste. So she begins to shake him more than before, if that was even possible.

“E--enID! Enid please stahhp! I’m gonna be even more stupid than I a-already am if y-you don’t staahp iitt!” He yelped and squealed and kicked his little legs midair as he gripped for dear life against her wrists. His brain became blended inside his cranium with each fervent jolt.

“IF ONLY I COULD OPEN THIS DOOR AND TOSS YOU OUT JUST TO SEE YOU BECOME THEIR SNACK I-”

“YOu’rE NoT D-deAD! They diDn’T eat y-y-you! You’re Alliive, shOuld- CaN wE pleaSe focus oN THe poSItive?! Aren’T you RelieVed?! AreN’T yOu Happ-y-y to be Alive riGht noWW?!” Pugsley’s voice followed suit of the intensity with which he was shaken.

“I LITERALLY HAD TO ASK YOU IF I WAS!” She bellowed sharply.

“BuT-“

“No. No, I'm not. Not if I’m gonna have NIGHTMARES PLAGUING ME FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.” Enid screeched as she paused for just a moment. Eyes cutting into Pugsley’s like a laser, giving him one more chance to say something, anything, that would quell her continued outburst of violence.

Unfortunately for Pugsley, his brain was already too far scrambled to realize the opportunity she presented to him just one final time.

“I know. Isn’t it great?” His head lulled to the side as his eyes spun, surely seeing nothing but stars. He laughed dumbly at the thought of being plagued with horrific nightmares.

Her anger built into this one point. A singular phrase echoed loudly inside her head as she watched the boy’s head roll near limp at this point.

Typical Addams.

She roared in frustration as she continued to violently shake Pugsley. His spinning eyes were beginning to roll into the back of his head.

An unexpected brush of something against her leg caused her to jolt, still incredibly tense and fearful after the wild experience she had just been through. Her grip on Pugsley loosened and she felt his sweater vest graze against her palms as he unceremoniously crumpled into a limp heap into the same boxes he had pulled her from just minutes earlier. The loud crash and scattered boxes that now flung in the air caused her to stumble backwards, nearly losing footing herself.

She caught herself and spun on her heels, claws springing to life and canines digging sharper into her inner lip. She whipped around to face the danger that had managed to draw so close without her noticing and fight it off to the best of her ability.

But nothing was there.

She lowered her gaze to the floor to find her little monkey friend jumping back as her gaze locked into the creature’s fuzzy form. It was quiet, hesitant even. And her heart sank a bit when she realized that the kid was scared of her reaction, and had bravely reached out for her in spite of the fear, pleading for the wolf to calm herself.

Enid, suddenly appalled by her actions, does her best to reign herself in. She realizes that she's only scaring the kid more by acting this way. She soon lowers herself to the floor, knee hitting a wooden board at her feet. She has a need to become eye-level with the creature, focusing on the intent of hers to soothe its shaking little body.

Hey kid, no no it's okay.” She cooed, palms facing outward as a surrendering gesture to the kid.

“Please don't cry. I'll calm myself down. I just needed a moment to freak out for the both of us.”

The wolf was intent on avoiding another scene much like the one that transpired when they first met. She took a few deep breaths to work that pent up adrenaline out of her system before that can happen again.

Pugsley manages to rouse himself from the stupor Enid threw him so violently into. The shuffling boxes fall to the side as he manages to clamber his way out of them. The scrambled state the crazed wolf left him in was completely forgotten as he pressed forward in the newfound curiosity and sudden eagerness at the sound of Enid’s voice projected to someone outside of himself.

“Heyyy! Is my brain actually blended right now or is that really you, bud?”

Enid’s surprise is fully evident upon her face when the creature pads excitedly, dancing cutely around on his little feet before jumping onto Pugsley, chirping excitedly as the boy brought him in for a bear hug.

“I had no idea you and your fam were even here! Lucky for you it seems you guys have arrived at just the right time. I know your dad hated missing lockdown last year.”

The kid seemed to trill in agreement to Pugsley’s statement.

“Wait a moment.. Pugs, do you know it?” The wolf continues to watch the two interact amidst the throes of her own confusion.

“Enid, this is clearly Whatt, not Itt.” he proclaimed with a simple eye roll, as if she had any idea as to what he was talking about.

Enid pauses, blinks hard. Her eyes dart around wildly, then squints before she asks.

“….What?”

The furball chirped gleefully when Enid spoke.

“Correct, his dad is Itt.”

Enid squinted again. Harder this time, as if she was in pain. Eye twitching and pressed a few fingers to her temple.

“Umm. I'm sorry, when did we start playing tag and who is his father?”

Pugsley looked at her rather strangely. Whatt unexpectedly leaps into Enid’s arms from Pugsley’s own. The blonde, somehow prepared for that, caught him absentmindedly, still focused on Pugsley as the kid begins crawling all over her like a little monkey.

“His father is Itt, and you’ve apparently become pretty good friends with Whatt. What are you not understanding?” Pugsley notes, waiving a hand at the scene before him as he watches the two interact with already strong familiarity.

“Are you speaking English? The hell you talking about?”

A stray hand of hers gently grazed and combed her fingernails through the little monkey’s abundance of fur and hair. He preened at the action as Enid’s frustration towards Wednesday’s little brother only grew the more he spoke.

“The hell toutalkinbou.”

“Oh! Jeez, no! Listen, kid..” she nearly drops him in surprise.

“Don’t pick up my bad habits. You’re just a toddler. I didn’t mean to influence your speech so much! I was just freaked out with everything that happened..And ohhhh…now it’s copying me and I’m gonna get in SOOOO much trouble since this is all so clearly my fault!” She began to pace in circles, her body not reacting well to the bounds of stress that just keep piling on.

“ohhhshiit” the child hummed in surprise at Enid’s panic, not realizing he was proving her point.

“PLEASE! Stop it!” She freaked out more, pleading with the now giggling child.

“Stop ‘Whatt’, you mean..” Pugsley again attempting, but failing, at correcting her.

“That! Stop that!”

“You’re not speaking to cousin “Thatt”, That is whatt!” He points expressively with his hands as if that would help. It really just seems to make things worse.

“Pugsley, can you please just shut up!? You’re not helping!” Enid huffed deeply in pure exasperation.

“Oh fuck.” The creature hummed so clearly.

“Stop saying that, dammit!” Enid bunched up her golden hair atop her head and squealed in frustration.

Stoppa dammit!” Whatt shouts in glee.

Enid groans and sinks slowly, crumpling to the floor in a full on facepalm.

“Wow.” The boy chuckled. “This is the most entertainment I’ve had in months to just keep watching you dig yourself into deeper holes.”

Enid just groans louder into her palm.

“Alright, Enid. I can kinda get why you’re so confused, so let’s try one more time. Look at me.”

She does with a look of pure frustration, eyes glaring that could practically cut steel.

“Enid, meet my little cousin, Whatt Addams. His literal first name is the word ‘What’. This is where I think you’re getting confused.”

Enid said nothing, but her face though.., looking in between Pugsley and the creature, her face of insane utter disbelief had honestly said everything.

“His father is my other cousin, Cousin ‘Itt Addams’. Also probably a little confusing as well since his name is the literal word.. ‘it’.”

“..Are you serious?” Enid stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

“Nope! I’m Pugsley.”

Again, wrong time to joke.

“If I find out you’re setting me up for a stupid joke, you’re really .. really gonna be in for a bad time.” Her voice reaches that fever pitch once again that immediately spikes Pugsley’s blood pressure.

“Wait! Sorry. Shouldn’t have made a joke. I am being serious though about his name.”

“Whatt. Me Whatt.” The creature puffed up proudly to confirm his name to Enid once and for all.

“Oh sure, makes perfect sense.” She sputters in exasperation. “And let me guess. His mother’s name is ‘Thatt’ Addams. The only logical conclusion left.”

“No, his mother’s name is Margaret.”

Enid looked like she could punch through a wall.

Pugsley winced his stance and shifted his shoulders as if to protect his face.

Enid rubs her face firmly with her hands as she scoffed a wild laugh.

“Wednesday once told me that nearly a fourth of every Addams family member who has ever lived, has died from insanity related causes. That statistic never made sense to me until this very moment..”

“Her name is Margaret. I am being serious.”

“The fact that that statistic isn’t higher than it is, is really surprising to me.” She continues on as if she didn’t hear him. He merely just squints at the wolf and her antics as he rubs the back of his neck.

“M’kay. Well, since you’re well on your way to going insane yourself, I’ll just leave you to it and get back to my puzzle so we can leave this room, seeing as you’re clearly not gonna act like you’re the help I asked for.” Pugsley lives himself upward, away and towards the door.

“Oh no you don’t. You can’t go out there!” Enid scutters in apprehension when she hears Pugsley’s intention to throw them back into the fresh hell she just escaped from.

“…you seriously want to just hide in here for the rest of the game?”

Enid looked at the door really for the first time since she arrived. She was caught off guard, not really expecting to see these giant stone rings embedded, each with their own unique symbol, upon the door.

She softened her gaze in quick analysis for a few seconds before looking back at Pugsley.

Enid was done being in the dark. She needed answers, and Pugsley was going to provide every single one she could think of.

“Listen, I seriously need some straight answers from you. I’ll make the decision to help only after you properly explain every single little detail.”

“Damn, our hounds really did a number on you didn’t they?”

Enid scoffed in wild disbelief.

“They melted, Pugsley. Melted. They also ignited themselves, evaporated-”

“But did they hurt you?” He questioned her so simply, as if the answer to this would be enough to make up for it all.

“Physically or Psychologically?”

The boy shook his head at her funny little quip.

“When we told you that you were entirely safe, we weren’t lying to you… at least on a physical aspect.” the kid shrugged. “I clearly can’t guarantee it’ll be fine psychologically for you from here on out, but you’re Wednesday’s best friend. I think we all just assumed that you'd already be well tempered to handle whatever this house can throw at you because you've probably already dealt with worse from her.”

“Well um.. Actually, that’s a fair assumption to make. I can't really fault you guys for that one.” Enid’s mood really couldn’t help but lighten at that funny statement of his.

“Alright,” She began to lock in at this moment. “How about we just start here? What the hell were those things, because they sure as shit we’re not dogs.”

He watched as the wolf’s spine straightened, ready to mirror the response and the seriousness.

“Black Hounds, straight out of European folklore.”

“Hounds?”

The kid nodded. “These hounds have been loyal and close with our family for generations. A lot of my ancestors have developed these unbreakable bonds with them, even beyond death have some of these amazing beasts stayed. They are really loyal and intelligent creatures.”

“Creatures? These things are alive?” Enid really questions that one. For what all she’s seen of them so far, she wouldn’t have guessed that at all.

“No. They’re technically spectors. Maybe apparitions are a better word, but no. They are not alive..however they’re not exactly dead either. They exist somewhere in between.” You can really see the strain on his face from trying to decipher what words to use when describing these rather abstract beings.

“And the melting?”

“Teleportation. Remember, Black Hounds are an entity that is a kind of a gateway between the living and the dead. They have these really unique powers that kind of reflect that as well. Plus, they really are the reason we can have this game work as well as it does at all.”

“You're telling me that when the dog melted, I was being sent through some portal in between time and space? How the hell are you people able to just so easily break the laws of the universe?” She muttered that last part under her breath in genuine astonishment as Pugsley just muffled a genuine laugh at the shock on her face.

“And wait, why are these dogs so important to the game again?”

“It’s what makes the game loop a lot more fun and far more challenging, for sure.”

“Seriously? Being locked in a puzzle room alone wasn’t enough for you guys?”

“Just think about it, Enid…You complete a puzzle and are unlocked from the room at that point. However, if that is all there was to it, the game would be way too easy. All you'd really have to do is just walk around the house, avoid accidentally shutting yourself in another puzzle room until you either find everybody else or just stumble into the key that unlocks the front door. Pretty boring if you ask me.”

“We really need to work on your family’s definition of boring.” Enid lightly quipped once more.

“However,” The boy merely barreled through, as though she didn’t say anything at all. “If you’re caught by a hound, they just teleport you to another locked room, starting you back to square one. Thus the hounds are perfect for keeping the game loop intact.”

“Okay, fine. Say that the hounds make this game more exciting. Terrifying is the word I’d use, but I’m sure I’ll get used to them eventually. If the goal is to avoid them and not get yeeted into another dimension by some ghost dogs, how do you guys outrun them then? I barely managed to get out of their grasp on my own.”

Complete and total disbelief was reflected from Pugsley's face into Enid's own at hearing this.

“You can outrun them?! Hell’s alive, Enid. How fast can you move?

“I mean.. pretty fast, but-“ She shrugs, not expecting the shock and awe from the boy.

“We sneak around them, Enid. We don't exactly have the option to beat a missile in a footrace, but apparently you can.” He tilted his head in amusement.

“Okay. What happens, then, if you never find the key? Or, wait.. What if no one is able to solve the puzzles? How do you lose the game? Is it even possible to lose?

“You weren't kidding. You really do have a lot of questions.” The kid scratched at his eyebrow.

“And I have far more. So, get to answering them.”

He huffed a laugh. “Understood. Well, the game has only ever been lost once in its entire run if that makes you feel any bit better. And, we play at least once a year…So odds of that happening to us are slim to none. If anything, it might just take a little while for us to get to the end point, but the game will be won eventually.”

“How long is a little while? And what happened in the year that was lost?”

“Well that's the thing, our longest running game was in 1982 apparently. That was the one that had to be given up on because no one could beat the challenges before them. They had to surrender since they ran out of food and were all beginning to starve.”

“Wait, starve?! How long was this game, Pugsley?!” Enid’s voice raised a bit under the anticipation, Cousin Whatt had crawled on her shoulders within this time and leaned his head atop Enid’s own. It was his own little quiet way to try and calm her down once more.

“It can range anywhere from a couple hours, which is super rare mind you, to uh… three months is the longest recorded time. Though, a day or two is way, way more typical-”

“MONTHS?!” She jolted with her whole body, Whatt was nearly tossed off her shoulders if it wasn’t for his tight grip on her.

“Listen, E. That was the one in 82. And the family, as a group, can tap out whenever you want, it just has to be unanimous. It only lasted that long because we're just a really stubborn family.”

“At least you’re self aware…Months, though?”

“There is no way that this one would last months. No one would let that happen. Besides, some of the fastest times in the games run have been set in just the last decade.”

“Really? Why’s that?”

He flicks a brow upwards, trying his best not to smile as he crosses his arms at his front.

“I'll give you three guesses. And, the first two don't count.”

Pfft.. Enid scoffs in amusement at the obvious answer Pugsley was setting up. Between his slightly bitter tone and subdued awe, there was only one answer it could be.”

“Wednesday?”

“Bingo. Though don’t let the fact that she's playing this game too make you feel like we have this in the bag. Our ancestors, the hounds, and even the house are all really intelligent opponents. Don’t underestimate them. They calibrate this game constantly.”

“Calibrate?”

The boy nods simply at her question. “Almost all the fastest times in this game’s history have been because she’s on the team. Though the game has gotten harder each year because of it. One of these days, not even she’s going to be able to beat the game.”

“Just thank your lucky stars that she’s not with us right now.”

Enid’s surprise rung out in her tone. “Why? I thought one of the best things we can do is to seek each other out.”

“Yes. Absolutely. Anyone but her.”

“Anyone but her?”

“My sister is a freaking genius, though don’t tell her I told you so. I’ll just deny it. All of our puzzles will, for the most part, get stupidly hard because she’s with us. Better to meet up with her at the very end than to have her in our little squad and skew the puzzles to make them even more challenging than they already are.”

Enid tries not to giggle at the look she can practically see on the face of Wednesday her head has conjured up for her. A look of utter disdain and annoyance for her brother upon hearing that, all while hiding the pride of knowing that her brother admired her in that light.

Pugsley stood up and brushed his pants as he rose. Enid didn't miss the way that he looked towards the door. Her eyes naturally followed suit. He was scoping it out and assessing something rather complicated looking at the far end of the room as he exhaled a sigh at the sight in clear frustration.

“It’s not like I need any extra challenge. I’ve already been working on my puzzle for hours and have made no progress. Think of how bad it would be if Wednesday happened to show up.”

“The door rings?” Enid nodded to the door’s strange lock, taking them in full for the first time since she so crudely landed in this room.

“Yeah. I figured this claw I found has something to do with it.” Once hooked onto his back belt loop, Pugsley retrieved this interesting and ancient looking artifact. It was in the shape of a claw, made seemingly out of pure gold, judging by the way it flickered and shined in the lowlight of the candles arrayed around the room.

Pugsley held the object firmly in both hands, twisting it as he analyzed the object once more.

“But, you have to spin the rings so the symbols match up in some specific order. I haven't been able to crack the code yet. Can’t find anything in this room to give me a much needed hint.”

He clicked his tongue after a few seconds to let his next sentence settle into Enid a bit.

“After all, I most definitely was promised some kind of hint, possibly even help. But nothing has been all that helpful thus far, in spite of me being super helpful and answering all of these endless questions.” He spoke very, very pointedly.

Enid sighs and reaches out a hand to the golden claw object in Pugsley’s own.

“Fine. You win. Let me try.”

He smiles brighter as he tosses the claw to her. She quickly begins to spin the thing in her hands in analysis as she continues to speak, still deep in the study of the object.

“This is so much more complicated than I originally thought. There is a lot of effort put into this game, it's kinda astounding, if it wasn’t so terrifying.”

“The best part is that it can easily be both.” He smirked as he watched Enid continue to mess with the artifact as well as look around the room for more clues as time continued to pass.

“By the way, how did you and Cousin Whatt meet up for the first time?”

Enid thought back to the mess of Fester’s room. A wave of embarrassment passed over her at the thought of anyone looking at the state of the room after this was all over.

“God, that’s another story. But, he was hiding in the wardrobe of Fester’s room. The room I was tossed into first. The kid really did appear out of nowhere, it seemed.”

Whatt hums from his position atop Enid’s shoulders. No one could see his eyes through all that hair, but it was still fairly evident that he was watching Enid mess with the claw in abject curiosity.

“Doggies.”

Enid eyes the little monkey with a spin of her neck.

“Just so you know, you’re welcome for that little meetup by the way. I set that up. Both for you and for me.”

She spins to face the boy again.

“For help with the letter, I’m assuming?”

“Yeah. Don’t expect anyone else to appear out of thin air like that again. If the hounds catch you, then you are most certainly not being tossed in a room that has another person already inside. We just lucked out this time.”

Enid nods in response, but she’s still working her own angles with the puzzle. She flips the claw in her hands as she rises from her seated position on the floor. She continues to burn through her many, many questions as she looks for anything that could help out with the puzzle before them.

“Okay…well that explains the dogs at least. Seems like it's best to just find ways to steer clear of them when we get out of this room. The secret tunnels and passageways within the house really helped Whatt and myself out of a big bind earlier. I feel like that should be our angle as we navigate around, though you’ll come in handy when we get to that part again.”

“Solid plan. Gotta finish the puzzle first to get back to the hallways.”

“Right. While I’m thinking about it, when we get back out there, avoid the library at all costs, Pugs. I’d rather die than run into that big spook in the library again. The sooner we finish this game, the sooner I can start trying to phase that thing out of my nightmares.”

Pugsley opened his mouth, but quickly gaped it like a fish, not understanding her.

“Um ..what spook in the library?”

“Really, Pugs. Stop messing with me. There is no way you don’t know about that thing. It was about as big as the library itself. You say that nothing could kill us, but I probably could easily be crushed by that thing’s hand alone.”

Pugsley, startled in utter disbelief, picked up his own questioning again.

“This spook wasn’t covered in a full body coating of smoke and haze and darkness, was it?”

Enid stops rolling the object in her hand to stare Pugsley dead in the face.

“Are you telling me that you didn’t already know about that thing?”

“There’s absolutely no way you lucked out this much already, Enid.” Pugsley whispered in awe, while that seemed to put the wolf even more on edge.

“Lucked out?! You call almost being obliterated lucky?”

“If you found what I think you did, Enid, you practically just gave us the final piece of the puzzle to win the game so early into it.”

“Wait, finding the guardian to hell itself was a good thing?” Her head tilted as she asked.

“If what you say is true..which why would it not be, you’re new to this game after all.. then you had to have found the Shade!”

“A what? Shade? Please tell me that's a joke.”

“Not joking. The creature is one of our many pets that roam the grounds. The Shade is this fluid little lizard thing that changes and imitates some other mythical creature it has met at some point in its life.”

“And the name?”

Pugsley gets fully excited at the prospect of knowing Enid has met the creature already. That is evident with the way he begins to talk fully with his hands waving around wildly.

“It’s called that because it’s a shapeshifter creature that can cloak itself in a thick layer of darkness. The idea behind that is so that no one knows what creature it’s imitating from underneath the cloak of darkness until the dark mist is dispelled. It changes the mythical creature from year to year, so no one has any idea what it is. It has different powers and ways to top the group challenging it. The creature is almost like its own riddle. The Shade is the final guardian of the skeleton key. You know, the one that unlocks the main door and every other lock in this house that wins us the game? This thing is the final boss, if you will.”

“Final boss?!” Enid’s fear always seems to find its way back into her throat.

“Yeah! Kinda like the one you faced a couple of days ago, the Firebear!”

“Oh no.” She breathed low. “Nononono. I’ve had enough of these ‘Final Bosses’ on this trip to last a lifetime.”

“He’s super powerful and wicked cool. He can imitate up to two creatures at once. He always chooses the powers of a Black Hound as his second power during Lockdown. One wrong move, and the Shade can teleport you to wherever he wants to isolate you, just like the Hounds can.”

“Please tell me you’re not saying that I’m going to have to face that thing again at some point?!”

Pugsley shrugged at Enid’s reaction. “I suppose you could always hide in a room till someone beats the game for you, but what's the fun in that? Plus, seeing as you’re probably the only one who has faced the Shade thus far and managed to get away. We’re gonna really need you to help if we’re gonna face this thing and win in a relatively timely manner.”

“Great. That is just great.” Though Enid somehow managed to escape that thing earlier, she feels like she just can’t get a win.

“Don’t worry, Enid. You’ll have fun.”

“Don’t worry, Enid..you’ll have funnn.” Enid takes a mocking tone with Pugsley in a rather silly and childish way.

Pugs pinches the bridge of his nose in a really similar way to his mother.

“Real mature, E. And, for the record. I’m being genuine. After all, Wednesday seems to know you super well, and she really thinks you’d find this whole experience rather enjoyable.”

“Wednesday and I are going to have words the next time I see her.” Enid clicks her tongue.

“That's fine and all, but we have to get out of here first. Or, did you just decide to officially give up and hide in here for the rest of the game?”

Enid frowns at Pugsley as she paces slowly around the room.

Wordlessly, and with a rather animated huff, she makes her way over to the door. She holds the claw up to Whatt, silently asking the child to hold the artifact for a moment while she focuses on the rings.

She begins to reach for them, touching and testing them with her hands to discover that she can easily spin and rotate the discs so that the symbol upon the arc changes. It only takes her a few moments of spinning until she seems fully satisfied.

The blonde takes a step back and analyzes the door before wordlessly asking the child for the claw once more, taking the artifact and gently pressing it into the engraving that seemed to fit the object so perfectly upon the door.

Then, she began twisting to the right.

The door makes a distinct clicking sound, the rings soon then spin automatically on their own until the space between the stone rings and the door become backlit with a brilliant green for just a moment.

The series of events clearly indicates that the puzzle has now been solved and the three of them are free to traverse the hallways once more.

From atop his perch on her shoulders, Cousin Whatt spins around to (seemingly) face Pugsley, merely staring at each other in their surprise and shock at the fact that Enid was able to solve this puzzle so easily on her own.

“What in the-”

Enid takes the claw out of its engraved, three-pronged slotting into the door and spins around so she's facing Pugsley. Raising the hand that was not holding the artifact in demonstration, she pressed her fingers into the palm of the claw. The motion had revealed that the palm was actually a hidden panel. Moving the panel out of the way revealed the correct order of the ring symbols on the inside.

Pugsley’s shoulders sag.

“Great.. Now there's two of you.” Pugsley should have been thrilled to finally be free, but the ease with which Enid had just solved his puzzle left him with this really uneasy feeling that all of his puzzles were going to get a hell of a lot harder with the wolf in tow. None of that seemed to matter to Whatt, though, who was just trilling eagerly at Enid solving the puzzle for them all.

“All right Pugs, I did my job. Now it's time for you to do yours.” The wolf huffs at the boy, arms crossed at the front.

“Actually decide to fully play this game instead of hide?” He quirked a brow in playfulness.

She pursed her lips as she thought aloud. “Ehh.. what would be the fun in that?” Pugsley couldn’t help the laughter that rang out fully at hearing her admit that. Enid too, couldn’t hold in her smirk.

“Though, I swear if we run into another pack of those dogs and you let me get eaten, I’ll skin you alive.” She had to add at the end.

“You’ve really been hanging out with us for too long, Enid. You really are starting to sound like one of us, you know.” The boy smiled brighter.

“Let those dogs near me again and I’ll start acting like one of you too.” She playfully warned, though couldn’t help the fuller smile at the comparison.

“Haha! Sure thing, E.” Pugsley nodded back as the trio made their way to open the unlocked door before them, ready to finally make some real progress and start navigating the halls before them.

----------------------

Loud footsteps thudded against the wooden flooring.

Their current speed had caused wind to whip their hair around wildly.

High pitch screaming at the top of each of their lungs rang out, seemingly echoing through the whole house.

“HURRY! OPEN THE DAMN DOOR!”

“THE ONE ON THE RIGHT OR THE LE-”

“IT DOESN’T MATTER, JUST CHOOSE ONE!”

Completely out of breath, the trio barrels down the hall as fast as their legs can carry them. Pugsley launches himself into the air and dives for the door handle to the nearest room at the group’s right, swinging on the hinges as himself and Enid stumble into this room.

As Enid spins on her heels, she pushes Pugsley off the handle and deeper into the now open room rather crudely. She worked quickly to make the area clear enough for her to be able to slam the door shut.

As she finally does so, pressing the weight of her whole body into the effort of sealing the door shut, she hears a loud thud against the panel of the door as she hits the hound in the face that had been tailing them to the point of being right at Enid’s literal heels.

After that, an equally loud click had echoed and bounced around in the walls of the new room that had them trapped inside.

Enid, gasping for air, had spun her body around and pressed her spine into the door. She began the motion of sliding down as she managed to let out a really strong groan in pure frustration that seemed louder than it actually was because it was timed really well with Pugsley's own groan of frustration.

The only one who didn't groan was Whatt. He was focused on patting Enid on the head from atop his perch still upon her shoulders. His own little way of thanking her for moving quickly, and not getting them caught like last time.

Both Enid and Pugsley closed their eyes for a time, merely just focused on catching their breath.

“How could you get the tile wrong?” Enid winced out through harsh breaths after the ability to speak had only just appeared again.

They both knew she was referencing a tile embedded into the wall of the hallway a couple of passageways back when they originally left their puzzle room. Pressing the right one would apparently have revealed passage to a hidden staircase in the hallway to the floor below them.

However, there were a lot of fake tiles around the real one, and Pugsley wasn’t able to find the correct one in enough time for them to use it.

“We were in the middle of running for our lives, Enid. Sorry for getting the tile wrong under all of that pressure.” The boy snapped back at her through equally pained breaths, heels of his palms and knees digging into the floor.

“Two halls. We knocked quietly and looked into six doors. Found literally no one. That's it. That is all we managed to get accomplished.” Enid breathed slightly more evenly, though still through clenched teeth.

“We are playing a game after all. This is supposed to be challenging, not a walk in the park.” Pugsley wheezed.

“If every freaking hallway experience is gonna be like that- then it might as well be three months before we finish this game with how many flippin rooms are in this whole house. I-”

As Enid spoke she let one of her eyes slowly open as she gathered more of her bearings as time passed and she recovered her breath. Though, she did have to say, the sight had surprised her enough to cut her sentence off at the pass.

“Pugsley- was that there when we arrived?!”

The boy opened his own eyes upon hearing this and snapped towards Enid’s face. Her icy eyes were locked with whatever was behind him. He cautiously put his head on a swivel as he made the motion to look behind him at the far wall, directly opposite of the door they entered into.
He's never quite sure what to expect when the wolf always reacts as dramatically as she does at any given time.

However, he too is intrigued by the mirror that had suddenly appeared and taken up the entirety of the back wall to the room. The boy watched his reflection with curious eyes as he pressed his palms upward, lifting himself back to sit upright on the floor and stare at the reflection of the trio as they all could be seen analyzing the giant mirror, knowing it most likely has some big part to play with the puzzle they just locked themselves into.

Thud, Thud.

The reflections all shot their gaze upwards at once to match their real counterparts who suddenly had turned their stares at the ceiling above their heads when a rather loud thumping noise could be heard from the space beyond the room’s ceiling. Little specks of dust had been shaken loose from the ceiling, falling like snow to the floor below.

“What the hell was that?” Enid asked as she studied the ceiling, practically acting as if she was waiting for something to burst through and attack them on the spot.

“Calm down, E. it's probably just the Hounds.” Pugsley rubbed at his strained eyes.

“Nope. It can’t be the Hounds. They don’t make sounds like that. Honestly, those demon dogs hardly make any noise at all, let alone practically shatter through the ceiling.” Enid never let her gaze wander from above.

Pugsley rolled his eyes childishly.

“Oh what, you're already an expert on hound sounds now?”

“I'm no expert but I clearly know a lot more than you when it comes to this. Don't you at least know what the room above us is?”

Pugsley sat and thought for a minute, adjusting himself to cross his legs and his arms while he thoroughly considered what all was around them. What all he could remember while running with everything in him, at least.

Pugsley just merely ended up shrugging at Enid’s question. Nothing really comes to mind as to where they could possibly be located within the house.

“I dunno, Father’s cigar room maybe?” He hummed, unsure. Enid scoffed in disbelief.

“Maybe? What do you mean, maybe? Do you not know your own house?” The wolf whined incredulously. Pugsley got defensive real quick at her accusing tone.

“It's a big house, Enid! And, I know all the rooms I need to- thank you very much.”

“Well isn't this a fantastic surprise. Of course I get stuck with the only directionally challenged Addams in this whole family.”

“Hey!” his tone fully implying he resented her accusation.

“I’ll have you know that I’m not the only one. Fester's way worse than I am when it comes to directions about this house.”

She huffs loudly. “He doesn't even live here most of the year. You do.”

“I- um.. Fair point.” He clicked his tongue in annoyance when he found that he couldn’t exactly argue against that.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Enid leaps herself upwards and away from her position on the floor, throwing herself and a dazed Whatt into motion as she found that she just couldn't sit still any longer. She began to pace close to the walls of the smallish room. Anxiety making her fingertips dance and claws prickle as she continued to eye the ceiling above.

“Are you sure it's not the library that’s above us? Tell me that at least.”

She had forced herself to walk all the way to the back of the room pressing a hand against the cold glass of the mirror. Her sudden uneasiness brought on by the loud and booming sounds above them had stirred her insides up so much that she was ready to solve the puzzle immediately. All so she could get the hell out of here. She didn’t even care if they had to run into another puzzle room just to get away.

She was not ready to meet that spook again just yet, not so soon after she had escaped it.

“The library is not even close to here, Enid. I can promise you that the noise above us isn't your spook at the very least.” The boy continued to sit, merely watching the wolf pace around with uncanny calm on his features.

“I mean yeah it's too big to leave the library but what if it changed shape again? What if it's looking for us? Hunting us? What if it's already memorized my scent and found where we are?”

Pugsley shook his head as he watched Enid’s head make all these leaps and bounds in assumption.

“The shade's not allowed to change shape once he's already decided what he's going to be for the game. He's not going to break the rules, Enid. Calm down.”

Thud. Thud. THUD.

More dust falls. The banging above their heads only gets louder.

“Calm down?! How am I supposed to calm down when I can barely hear myself think over the house practically falling apart?! Help me solve this puzzle NOW, Pugs!” Her palm slapped the mirror behind her as she began to pace towards him, both from being unable to stand still as well as move towards the intention to lift him into a stand to get his butt in gear.

Pugsley's face remained stoic in spite of Enid's building apprehension. He had originally planned something to say to calm her down, or at least attempt to.

However, any words he was going to try to offer in comfort had died in his throat as the group all watched in awe and horror as a giant crack had, all of a sudden, just nearly split the ceiling in two in a matter of milliseconds.

The largest instance of fallen dust and broken fragments of ceiling had poured directly onto Enid’s shoulders and head, who was now right in the center of the room, directly under the enormous rip in the ceiling.

Whatt had reacted quickly where Enid momentarily froze in terror. The child immediately leaps off of Enid’s shoulders and right into Pugsley’s arms set to snatch him from his bound. The wolf only managed a sharp gasp that echoed into the room.

“Move it, Enid! The ceilings gonna-”

Too late.

Pugsley watched in horror as Enid became obscured completely by a huge cloud of dust that swallowed the room whole after the entire thing collapsed right on top of the girl.

He had only managed to see her crouch in an attempt to try and leap herself out of the way. Though, the action came far too late, as he watched the brunt of the ceiling collapse directly onto her head.

“E-Enid! ENID NO!” The boy shouted between deep and wheezing coughs. The dust quickly made its way into his lungs. He could barely get a word out, let alone a sentence.

In spite of his coughs that were so deep his head was starting to spin, Both himself and Whatt quickly leapt into action.

The room was covered in a thick dust of pure white smoke. He couldn't even see his hand in front of his face. Yet he trailed back to where he remembered the middle of the room to be. All the while, tripping over bits of ceiling to get there.

Wait.. what?

In spite of the fact that he couldn't see he could still feel. He used his hands to grapple at the floor in front of him trying to figure out what exactly it was he tripped over.

Because it didn't really feel like bits of ceiling, more like a whole bunch of nets, and wires, and cords. All knotted and tangled up in a giant heap.

Relief hit Pugsley like a tidal wave when he heard a distinct series of deep fits of coughing in front of him that didn't originate from himself, nor his little cousin.

Pugsley dug forward, trying to yank some of these wires and knotted nets out of the way. However, the action seemed to only make things worse, at the very least he wasn’t helping at all. The netting all seemed too tangled to be moved at this moment.

He stopped digging in a newfound panic and deep confusion when another echoing of coughs rang out into the room from just before him. It was different sounding from the one before, and it was too deep to be Whatt’s coughs.

An idea hitting him, Pugsley rapidly grappled for the fabric at his back.

He yanked off the sweater above his shirt and began to whip the fabric around frantically.

His actions caused the smoke to flurry around wildly, making his and everyone else's coughing in the room so much worse for a moment.

Though through his quick thinking, the thick smoke was dissipating so much faster as a result.

Blinking his blurry eyes, he began to make out the form of a body just before him.

He got a little panicked before he could really see. There were arms and legs splayed out everywhere, and all at really odd angles.

For a second there he thought Enid had broken her bones, but then he realized that those appendages didn't even belong to her but to the form that was directly on top of her.

It was then that a really odd mix of relief, astonishment, curiosity, slight annoyance, and overwhelming hilarity hit him like a ton of bricks. All at once.

“Really?! The ceiling?” Pugsley barked a deep laugh. One that was as much a coughing fit as it was laughter.

Pugsley could see Whatt at his side. The kid stopped digging from the fear of what happened to Enid from underneath the mass of coils and netting that had apparently fallen with the ceiling.

He perked up once he recognized that Enid wasn’t actually in danger right now and was taking in the wild scene before him.

“You just can’t enter the stupid room through the front door like a normal person. Can you, sis?”

Pugsley continued to laugh as he watched Wednesday with entirely amused eyes.

She tried to turn her head so she can throw some sass back at her little brother. However, that wasn't exactly possible at the moment…seeing as she was rendered completely immobile from finding herself extremely tangled up in a whole bunch of nets and wires that had fallen into this room alongside herself.

The raven tried to move, but the motion only made the poor wolf below her groan. The braided girl looked below her with wide eyes, completely startled.

It was only just now that Wednesday realized that her actions had caused her to land directly on Enid, who was just as tangled up and stuck to her as she was.

“You see that, Enid? I told you it wasn’t your terrifying spook up there making all that noise. It actually was something much, much worse.” Pugsley laughed in between his and everyone else’s coughs.

Notes:

And after making you guys wait for freaking ever, our girls are finally reunited and it feels soooooo good!

Lockdown is gonna be so much fun now that Wednesday's in the mix. I've been dying to get her here!

Apologies that it took forever for this chapter. If you haven't seen the notes for my one shot I had posted recently, I mentioned in there that my job has kind of taken over my life. I've been pretty stressed with work and haven't had much free time to myself honestly to do much of anything but focus on work. Though the super busy season of my job is finally winding down, my biggest priority is finding a new job right now.

Ever since the Wednesday trailer dropped for season two the bug has bitten me hard and I'm so eager to pick this back up as well as enjoy all the hype for the new season.

I can't promise super timely updates until I've ironed out a lot of details in my life first. But, hopefully I'll find more patches at least in the near future to press forward with this story.
I'm so ready to get you guys closer to some of the best parts!

Until then, enjoy the new chapter and let me know what you thought of it!

Kalon

Chapter 26: Seeing Double

Lockdown has been kinda insane thus far. She’s not gonna lie.

Meeting Whatt, finding Pugsley, solving puzzles. Though, it hasn’t all been insane.

She has been having a little fun here and there, she will admit. Even if she knows that the constant outbursts of stress, the continuous dancing between her full human form and her partial wolf form that is brought on by heightened emotions, and the rather chaotic last few hours would indicate completely otherwise.

Though..

As terrifying as the hounds were..

As downright petrifying as this ‘Shade’ was..

As much as she’s been really freaking out about the idea of running into either of those spooks again.

She could honestly say that she’d take facing both of the monsters, at the same time, right now, over the position she currently found herself to be in.

And it was all because she’s finally, finally found Wednesday Addams.

Enid should have been thrilled, overjoyed, or at least relieved to, at last, be reunited with her best friend after all hell managed to break loose throughout the locked and mysterious halls within the manor.

And a small part of her was certainly all of those things. They always would be, when it came to her.

Yet, if she was being honest, the bigger side of her…seeing Wednesday again, especially like this, scares her more than everything else she’s seen thus far, combined.

And of course…

Of course the universe would laugh at her current plight.

How was she supposed to manage to continue the war against her own burning heart that flared dangerously at every fleeting gaze she spared now towards the psychic? How was she to continue to keep her deepest secret in the dark under these radically unfair conditions?

How was she to continue to pretend that she wasn’t desperately in love with her best friend? Especially, when the universe so clearly loved to laugh at her agony.

Truly, it was as if her life was like some big cosmic joke.

She just couldn’t shake the feeling that something up there was just laughing at her, directly to her face, no less. Especially when doing something as insane as having said crush fall from the sky, a mess of limbs and cords and ropes that had fallen upon her head and entangled
the pair, deeply intertwining the two.

Oh yeah, did she mention that on top of that, there was absolutely no immediate way to escape.

Nothing else to do, not even the ability to really be able to turn their heads away. No choice but to practically stare deeply into each other’s eyes.

Fuck.

Enid stares fully at Wednesday’s face. Like she mentioned, it’s not like either of them has much of a choice, after all. The netting and wires that fell along with the raven have caused them to be so thoroughly woven together, bodies pressed and conjoined, rather tightly at that, after they both tumbled together into the ground, only after it all collapsed right on top of her head.

What’s worse is that their faces are a mere breath apart, neither of them able to really turn and look away either. Nowhere to run or hide from locking deep into the Raven’s eyes.

Wednesday was directly leaning over her. Braids falling beside hers and Enid’s faces, neck craned back as far as it could go. She was studying the girl below her with those dark, doe-like eyes that held the depths of the universe within them and the deepest mysteries in existence hidden away just underneath those golden flecks of hers. Given enough time, Enid knew that she could count and memorize every constellation-like freckle upon her cheeks, doting so carefully and intentionally over her nose.

She could feel her warm breath gently expelled upon her own features. The soft tickle of her breath running over her cheeks and quiet notes of her morning black coffee had immediately sent shivers to run down her spine at each and every exhale that now felt like static pulses running over her face.

Enid could feel her heart race within her chest, pounding erratically at their proximity. She can already feel the searing heat of her neck. It was only a matter of time before it would work its way over every inch of her to become a full body blush.

With the little motion her head would allow, she tossed her head backwards to thump lightly against the floor she was already pressed into, shifting her gaze ever so slightly past the raven’s face to stare at the giant hole that Wednesday created in the ceiling.

What a joke.

“Um…”

Enid’s gaze snapped back to lock in with Wednesday’s own when she saw that the raven was fumbling for words to speak.

The girl who always has some kind of sassy quip to throw out, now rendered completely speechless.

She watched as those dark eyes now darted around everywhere else but on herself. Which was kinda impressive because that was rather hard to do in their position.

Her normally calm and subdued face was now anything but- the clear stress upon her furrowed brows was plenty expressive, especially for Wednesday’s standards.

She noticed a small routine of movement at her jaw that caused her to hone in on the motion. The light pulsing from underneath the skin indicated that she was probably grounding her teeth a bit in her head.

Enid imagined that she was probably aghast at the fact that she was being forced into an extended hug against her will. Quietly infuriated that she was currently trapped in a position she couldn’t easily escape from.

After all, they haven’t been in a situation like this since she had passed out completely. Probably helpless to the effects of the potion drag that left her unable to do much else but drift to sleep, collapsing her whole body on Enid somewhere in the night.

And it was on that same night Enid realized for herself that she was in love with the same girl entangled with her now…

Enid almost groaned out loud.

Boy, did she need to get that thought out of her mind before she became any worse than she already was.

She, at least, would extend some pity on the girl, even if the universe wouldn’t extend that same offer to herself.

Just a small moment to collect whatever sanity in her head she had left, she opened her mouth to speak first.

“You know…when I thought to myself, ‘Jeez, I haven’t seen Wednesday for a while now, I wonder when she’ll drop back in’, this really wasn’t what I had in mind.” She really surprised herself as she hummed her voice low. She continued to assess and gauge Wednesday’s reaction.

She wouldn’t have imagined or believed that she would have been able to control her tone from the inner panic threatening to bubble over, but she’ll take whatever little win she could get.

To Enid’s astonishment, the building tension on Wednesday’s face dissolved for a moment to study Enid once again after she spoke.

“Then what did you have in mind? Something more predictable?” It was only because Enid was so close that she could see Wednesday quirk a brow and tilt and angle her head a little in curiosity. Like a little cat.

Enid breathed a small sigh of relief that the interaction between them already is starting to feel more normal for them, in spite of the rather non-normal circumstances they find themselves in.

Enid had to keep this ball rolling if she was going to keep herself from combusting.

“You? Predictable? The only thing predictable about you is that I never know what to expect next.”

“Is that meant to be spoken with disdain?” There was no accusation on her tone. Just plain curiosity.

“Nah. Not at all. Though I will blame you for getting me too used to it. I’ve come to realize that just experiencing such terrifying, mind-boggling things on the regular has made a normal life seem downright boring in comparison.”

Stupid, Enid. Stupid.

If she wasn’t in for it before, she was now.

It was then that Wednesday couldn’t help a really small, but pleased huff, almost a laugh, in response. Enid is completely helpless to watch Wednesday smile ever so slightly like that, paired with the fact that she was as close as she was… the whole of her body pressed upon her, the two of them pulled together so perfectly, like two puzzle pieces that locked so snuggly, so easily into place suddenly makes the oncoming storm of her emotions all that much worse.

“Is that so?” Wednesday hums warmly, with deep intrigue while Enid nearly chokes on a whimper.

“Ain’t that the truth” Pugsley’s laugh shatters into the conversation as violently as Wednesday had entered the room.

The girls can’t move their heads much, but they both manage to cut their eyes to the boy as he continues.

“If Enid, or anyone else, could have figured you’d bust your way through the ceiling, maybe you two could have avoided looking like how our parents would if they were only just reunited after being separated for weeks on end.” The boy snickered lightly, absentmindedly.

Both girl’s eyes shot wide, jaws dropped as they could merely just stare at the kid.

The way he said it was so carefree, too. Almost like he didn’t realize how easily he blew up the tension between them like he just dropped a fucking bomb.

Deep and horribly uncomfortable silence permeates the air for only a split second as they both become as rigid as a skeleton.

And then, the girls accidentally lock eyes on each other at the same time, the metaphorical thread between them fraying in real time, ready to snap.

A look of abject horror on Wednesday’s face could be visibly seen. Enid was fairly certain the same look was reflected upon her own face, though she felt it might have been twice as strong.

After all the tension and the weight placed upon it, it just couldn’t hold anymore.

The thread snaps.

Wednesday breaks first. She suddenly tries to pull back, arching back so suddenly in an attempt to strongarm an escape. However, the cords around them both crudely tighten and coil, and are now beginning to quickly press deeper into Enid’s own back.

“Owowowow-the wire, Wednesday!! The wire is digging into me-“ Enid yelped frantically and whimpered loudly in pain. Wednesday immediately stopped when she realized that trying to yank herself free was hurting Enid.

“Hey. I’m sorry I- Nghh” Wednesday’s own pained gasp cuts her sentence off sharply as Enid tries to shift free from under Wednesday herself, the raven’s teeth gritting hard as she winced through her own pain of coils that tightened around her like a Boa Constrictor.

The wolf’s movements only seemed to somehow tighten the wire that was wrapped around both of their waists, nearly cutting off Wednesday’s air completely.

Wednesday winces further as Enid tries to wiggle away, sucking in whatever air she could get rather sharply.

“Don’t move, Enid! The wires are tightening-“ The psychic gritted through a great deal of strain.

“Owowowowow!” The wolf continues to mewl and cry out, drowning out over Wednesday’s own words. The wolf is clearly panicking at a level where the words spoken to her don’t even register in her near hysterical brain. The blonde’s own face was wincing from all of the jostling and sharp pinch of pain as the wires continued to tighten between them.

Which, unfortunately for them both, instinctually makes her desperate to escape. As a result, Enid inadvertently wiggles around even more.

Pretty soon, the wires either will cut into flesh or cut off air, and neither prospect was looking great.

“Enid! Enid stop! I can’t breathe.” Wednesday grunts out, but to no avail. The blonde was too desperate to escape the wires.

Wednesday knew she had to do something now or she was gonna have a really hard time breathing at all in a second. But Wednesday is losing air, and her pleas, however desperate, are not working.

So, she does the only thing she can think of at this point-

Enid gasps as deep shock reverberates through her whole body. She completely freezes and halts every bit of her movement as Wednesday somehow dives even deeper into Enid.

The psychic was curling into her as if she was melding with the wolf herself. Whatever space was between them was absolutely gone now as the Raven had crushed her body fully into Enid’s own.

Wednesday’s arms tightened around her torso and over the wolf’s arms to stop the flailing. Enid’s scalding cheek was pressed right up against Wednesday’s mildly cooler one. The action forces Enid to stop her flailing, both out of pure shock as well as having absolutely nowhere
to move at all, the raven enveloping pretty much every part of her at this point.

Wednesday took a moment to gather enough air back into her deprived lungs to then speak to Enid, softly. The wolf was paralyzed, partially from the deep rise and fall of her chest that pressed fully into Enid’s front. The raven inadvertently nestled and nuzzled her head to dig into the curve of Enid’s neck, really in an attempt to maneuver her own face close to speak words to the blonde that only Enid could hear.

“Stop. Please just stop.” Wednesday whispers softly and directly into Enid’s ear.

The blonde can even feel her lips grazing ever so slightly against the skin of her earlobe, and Enid feels like she could just die.

However, she relents, and does the very thing she feels like is the last thing she should allow herself to be doing.

Finally shut down enough to actually listen to her opposite, the wolf hesitantly allows herself to curl into the Raven’s tight embrace. There was very little space she could actually move her arms. In spite of that, she lifted them ever so slightly upwards so that her hands could delicately and tenderly grip the fabric of Wednesday’s shirt.

The action was followed by her hands now softly and carefully digging into the girl’s sides and melting into the embrace that felt like she should be running for the hills from. Yet, at the same time, the wolf wanted this exact thing literally more than anything she’s ever wanted in her whole life.

And because of that very reason, Enid knows that this moment is going to make her heart and her emotions practically unbearable from this point on. She let her mind dig into her cruelly, spiraling in near frustration for allowing herself to even remotely enjoy the way that they now held each other, the way their bodies fit together like jigsaw pieces. The way Enid wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of her days curled against Wednesday in this way. No matter how small the moment will last in the long run, it would torture her forever.

Enid dug her own chin lightly into the curve of Wednesday’s neck and actively fought back the burning that was quietly building behind her eyes with every fiber of her being. She knew that this moment would be so much worse if she actually allowed tears to fall onto Wednesday’s skin, prompting questions she couldn’t find answers for that would end well for either of them.

As if her tumultuous emotions weren’t already hard enough to shove down already.

Knowing that she’s now dealt with, and successfully calmed Enid down, Wednesday soon then leans her head away slightly, being very conscious and now actively trying not to shout directly into Enid’s ear. The calming and rather soft tone she took with Enid to calm her down had evaporated faster than the morning dew. A cold and cutting steel in her voice had taken its place as soon as she turned her focus to the rest of their company.

“Thing!! I don’t give a damn about your fear of heights! Get down here and cut us free! Pugsley, stop standing there like an idiot and make yourself useful for once!” Wednesday snapped rather loudly.

A loud and familiar chirping sound twirled out past Pugsley’s sigh.

“Oh. Whatt..is that you? Good, an actual helpful set of hands. Could you help your moronic cousin get us out of here?” Wednesday’s harsh tone dampened greatly again when addressing her younger cousin. Pugsley clicked his tongue in annoyance against his sister.

Now that Wednesday’s face was directly beside her own, Enid had a clear view of the hole that the girl made in the ceiling.

She blinked, fully distracted by the sight. Thankfully, it made the tears much, much easier to hold at bay.

It truly was amazing to watch, but she could already see that the house was beginning to heal itself again, slowly. It was sewing itself back up with that soft blue glow at the fringes of the breakage until the hole was completely mended, much like her own experience with her first puzzle room with the door.

Knowing how the final result would pan out once the glow had a chance to work its magic, the destruction would soon be as if it never existed in the first place.

She watched her friend, Thing, soon carefully lean over the edges of the floor above them revealing that he had been with Wednesday in her previous room.

The hand hesitated. It was almost like he was afraid to jump. Though Enid could tell his slight shiver, even from her position on the ground. As terrified as he was of the jump, she could tell that he was terrified of what Wednesday would do to him even more if he didn’t.

“Jeez, would you lighten up, sis. I was only joking.” Pugsley grumbled at the snap his sister made at him. Enid could see him lean down to grab at two knives within his boot out of the corner of her eye. He passed one to Whatt, the little monkey bounding, knife in hand, taking one end of the netting while Pugsley, the other.

Both boys began to hack and saw at the top layer of nets wrapping around them.

“This is all your fault, you know.” Wednesday seethed at her brother. “You just have to be such a slob and leave all of your fishing gear lying around everywhere. Why were you building your fishing bombs in father’s cigar room anyways?”

“So it was dad’s cigar room above us! Huh, I was right. Told you that it was, Enid!” The boy boasted with pride, completely ignoring everything else Wednesday had mentioned as he worked hard to shear through the nets with an incredibly dull knife.

“That is some really useful information to us now. Thank you, Pugs.” Enid deadpanned. She almost couldn't help but lay on the sarcasm really thick.

She continued to eye the hole in the ceiling. Thing has retreated for a moment back into the upper room. Over the pulsing of the rushing blood in her ears, Enid could barely hear that the hand now seemed to be scooting itself across the floor above with something heavier in tow, dragging it across the wooden boards.

“You couldn’t find a duller knife than that, Pugsley? The rest of the family will finish the game before you can shear through the first layer of netting.” Wednesday grumbled as she watched his glacial progress.

“I left my hunting knife in my room. My dull one meant for interrogation is the only one I have on me.”

“And there’s your problem.” She cut him off. “You already know you should always carry far more than that.”

“Oh what, like the whole arsenal that you always carry on hand? Remind me again, just how often do you actually use your flail?” Pugsley sasses.

Though it took a while, the top layer of netting was severed. He and Whatt worked on the mess of cords and wires and ropes now, snapping one at a time, slowly.

Enid cocked her head ever so slightly in curiosity as Thing had reappeared over the side of the hole that was shrinking by the second, a backpack quite literally in his hand…his body?

“Keep sassing me and I’ll show you my next use for it.” Wednesday bites.

“Thing!” Wednesday finds her next victim to snap at.

Enid watches as the hand jolts to attention.

“If you don’t get down here and help cut us out in the next three seconds, I’ll tie you up and have you watch as I burn every single one of your nail-care products!”

Enid watches the hand as he disappears for a moment once again.

“One!”

The backpack then slowly shifts to teeter precariously over the edge of the hole, Enid’s eyes go wide at the realization of what is about to transpire. Her voice barely has enough time to stutter out-

“W-Wait, Wends- don’t rush him!”

“Two!”

A dull thud echoed around the room as the backpack landed square on the small of Wednesday’s back, causing both Enid and Wednesday to groan loudly in pain as the surprisingly heavy pack hit them both, Enid spurred into a small coughing fit again from the wind being knocked out of her, being crushed by both the pack and Wednesday herself.

The pack soon then rolled off to the side, Thing holding on tight to the top of the object as he rode the backpack down and used it as his own personal cushion.

“I’ll kill him myself.” Wednesday seethed through a low, breathless, and pained groan into Enid’s ear.

In spite of literally fighting for more air in her lungs, a large part of her felt like she was going to die by combustion first, especially with Wednesday whispering in her ear like that before she would have a chance to prevent Wednesday from flaying her appendage-like family member on sight.

It doesn’t take long for Thing to go rooting around inside of the bag to find a knife of his own inside of its sheath. The hand then shifted around, knife, in tow, and began to also hack at the wiring. This knife was far sharper than the rest, he was able to catch up fairly easily.

Fairly soon, only a handful of wires were left. One by one, the cords that entangled them began to snap, slowly allowing them more room to breathe.

As they are helpless to do much of anything else but merely wait to be freed, Enid can feel Wednesday’s face turn back closer to her ear at some point during this whole process. A surprisingly soft press of her nose into the fabric at Enid’s neck had made the wolf entirely weak once again. This is becoming a stupidly common occurrence, Enid thought in irritation.

“Enid?”

The blonde focused, working extremely hard to keep her voice level, even.

“Uh-huh.” Mildly successful. She should be okay.

Wednesday tentatively roots her face into the fabric again. That doesn’t shock Enid as much as the soft inhalation she could hear Wednesday make at her neck.

Before she could even squeak out a response to that wild action of Wednesday's, the girl curiously asked a question into her ear.

“Why do you smell like a bonfire?”

And then Enid can’t help the sharp gasp that is suddenly elicited from herself at the realization that dawned over her.

She is stunned, suddenly remembering something incredibly and deeply important.

“Enid?” Wednesday most have registered the overwhelming shock that radiated from her in this moment. Her voice aired on the side of being concerned.

It was pretty insane that she forgot, but I suppose the situation she found herself in would most certainly derail even the most basic of thoughts.

She totally remembers.

Remembers.. that she’s supposed to be completely and absolutely furious with her.

“Why? You want to know WHY?!”

Wednesday's eyebrows raise ever so slightly from the surprise of Enid’s wildly shifted tone.

Finally, that very last cord that is holding them together snaps.

And, when it does, Enid is overwhelmingly completely blinded by her emotions.

She immediately charged forward, as if the last snap of the cord was the gunshot at a derby.

Enid digs in. She pulls her feet to plant under herself, flipping her position and grounding her stance before anyone could think. She reaches to grab ahold of the girl before her, quickly lifting the raven by the torso, tackling her forward.

Wednesday hardly recognized she was being lifted upwards before the blonde then slams the psychic hard into the wooden floor. So much so, that she releases a loud grunt at the sudden impact. At the same moment, all three of the boys leapt backwards from the two in complete shock.

Before Wednesday can register what the hell just happened to her, Enid’s hands fly to pin the Raven’s wrists into the floor, shifting them to where Enid can then presses her full weight upon her restrained body and leans threateningly over the girl’s slightly wincing face, their positions fully reversed.

“Enid! What the f-“

Once fully pinned, Enid did something no one expected.

She hovered her face close to Wednesday’s own, practically nose to nose, and actually snarled into her best friend’s face, loudly.

The surprising action both cut Wednesday off and shutting her completely up at the same time.

Silence permeated the entirety of the room, allowing Enid the space to speak with the fullest attention upon her.

The wolfling’s teeth glinted, fully bared, and just now started to poke into her lips again as her emotions became heightened at the adrenaline the action of hers coursed through her body.

Wednesday is now utterly helpless to do anything but fully stare up at Enid with the most expressive look of shock that the blonde has ever witnessed on her best friend’s face.

“I’ll tell you why.” The wolf growls low. Wednesday can only blink rapidly.

“From the moment I woke up in this madhouse, it’s been one thing after another. I’ve endured earthquakes that shake your whole house, I’ve passed out from watching the walls bleed black ink, I root around to find answers only to be spooked by an animated hairball-“

“Iiiii” Cousin Whatt grunts in the corner out of mock offense.

“-Whom I quickly try and calm down and soon befriend, but only after the kid forces me to chase him into a fireplace, which is why I smell like a fucking bonfire.”

“You-“ Wednesday hesitantly begins.

“OH, I’m not done with you!” Enid growled again in Wednesday’s face to immediately cut off her response. Wednesday visibly gulps, Enid didn’t hear the girl’s breath shutter.

“After we escaped, I thought that would be the end of my terror, but no. Little did I know, it was just the beginning.”

Wednesday’s startled gaze flickered around to study the wolf’s face, and then focus to hone into Enid’s own glowing electric blue eyes.

“Me and the kid were hunted by the literal hounds of hell! These fucking dogs don’t even have eyeballs, Wednesday. They have little green fucking flames flickering in their eye sockets. They hunted us down over half the house, they trapped us in the walls, forcing us to hide away
into vents.”

Enid felt her teeth dig deeper into her lips, claws digging deeper into the wood flooring below where she has Wednesday pinned at the terrifying thoughts she’s reliving. The motion was so small, the wolf didn’t notice, but Wednesday tensed from the pressure applied to her wrists
and body. Her breathing became choppy and uneven, eyes darkened into the color of rich black ink as Enid continued her story.

“And then if that weren’t bad enough, the fucking spook in the library is gonna give me nightmares to last for the rest of my fucking life! I barely escaped with my sanity in tact, only then to be tossed into the twilight zone and spat back out by dogs who can melt, evaporate, and explode into flames all at the same fucking time!”

Enid paused for a few seconds, just breathing hard as she continued her blind rage over a stunned Wednesday, who was completely rendered to silence over this whole experience.

“And you just let me experience all of that in the dark?” The wolf shrugged playfully in an obviously fake way.

Wednesday hesitated before speaking again, but the pause was long enough after that to warrant saying something. It was obvious enough, even to her, that Enid was now waiting on an answer.

“E-Enid-“ the raven gulped softly, she surprised even herself with that strong waver in her vocal cords.

“IN THE DARK?!” The wolf yelled back into her face, and then pushed herself completely off of the psychic, letting her go in favor of pacing around the room.

She takes a lap, one side to the other before looking back on the raven. Though the second she turns her face in her direction, Wednesday, now sitting up, fully angles away from her.

She apparently then does everything to avoid looking directly at Enid, even to the point of covering her face with a stray hand.

Pugsley, now happening to have a fuller vantage of his sister’s face, can’t help but stare at Wednesday with wild surprise coloring his own features, apparently not expecting to find that reaction out of his sister at all.

He soon then hovers a hand to cover his mouth. Enid didn’t quite hear the chuckle behind his hand over the blood rushing in her own ears.

“Well?!” Enid raised an impatient hand quickly into the air, only to slam it back into her side in frustration. Wednesday’s head shifted at the noise, but not fully turning to look directly at Enid.

“Well, what?” Wednesday hummed low, dangerous. A warning was clear in her tone, though it was slightly muffled by the positioning of her hand.

“You got anything to say for yourself? Anything at all?”

A dark scoff escaped Wednesday’s lips. She slapped her hand on the floor in a vivid display of anger.

“What the hell, Enid? What do you want from me?” she seethed.

“An apology would be nice for starters.” Enid didn’t back down, practically growling as she bared her glinting white teeth at the raven’s back.

Wednesday visibly bristled at that. Enid watched her shoulder arch from the vantage point of her back, almost like a cat with its hackles raised.

“Hell, you are so fucking confusing. It’s infuriating.” She spat into her hand still splayed over her mouth.

“Me?! Me, confusing?!”

Wednesday then turns to fully face Enid at the words she spoke with the audacity she did. And Enid never once expected to be caught off guard like that… to see Wednesday look like that.

The girl was so freaking red. Like a full on scarlet. The blonde couldn’t believe it, in spite of the evidence being right before her eyes. She didn’t know the girl was capable of having this much actual color on her. Though, she already knew she could get this incredibly mad from personal experience alone.

“YES. Yes you. Do you, or do you not want me to trust you?! Tell me in straightforward words, Enid.” Wednesday blasted back at her, the rage was pouring out of her at this point.

The blonde was caught off guard in a mere moment. “What?! What do you-“

Wednesday cuts her off, only to throw the blonde’s own words back in her face.

“I need you to trust that I’m tougher than I look. If you truly want me to be safe, I’m going to have to learn how to swim at some point.”

Enid couldn’t help but render her own self silent at that. She dropped her jaw as she recognized that little speech. They were her own words after all. She recalled asking Wednesday to trust her, allowing her space to rise to the challenge just before their fight with the firebear.

“These are your words, Enid, not mine. Do you not see that I’m trying to do exactly that? To have full faith that you can handle this? Not only handle it, but absolutely obliterate this challenge and have fun while doing it. Did you not want me to even try and have faith that you’re stronger than you look?”

Enid opened her mouth in a vain attempt to speak, but nothing came out. She was too busy grappling with the shock of what Wednesday was telling her, how much the raven actually was paying attention to her own wants and asks. What’s even wilder is that this was something that she herself didn’t catch in the slightest.

“Because you are, Enid. You are far tougher than even you give yourself credit for. Now act like it.” Wednesday wasn’t a wolf, but she snarled out those words in her own way.

It was Enid now, who was at a loss for words.

Wednesday let herself breathe out her building anger, trying hard to dissipate it without a further explosion of words. She watched the guilt build in her best friend’s eyes, she released a sigh. It prompted the raven to take a slightly softer tone with her next sentences.

“Enid, not knowing is a part of the tradition, it’s a crucial piece of how this game works. The threats shift and the challenges we face vary from year to year. Not even I have a full picture of what we’re up against.” Her gaze fell to the floor, hand balled into a tight fist that dug into those floorboards below.

“I do know that this is a big deal for you to deal with in the dark, and I’m sorry for making you think that I’m completely heartless to that. Believe me, I am not. And I’m here to walk with you every step of the way forward now, no matter how utterly terrifying it may be for you.”
She breathed out slowly.

Though, Wednesday’s soft tone punctuated this next sentence a little sharper than the last few.

“But I will not apologize for putting my faith in you.”

Enid’s soft eyes glanced over Wednesday’s silhouette before having to look away, look anywhere else, really. She was filled with a quiet shame and guilt over her overreaction.. again.

The blonde shuffled her form uncomfortably, she accidently locked onto Wednesday’s dark eyes as she panned around the room. Though the copper eyes held a little exasperation in them, clear as day… she noticed that they were also not filled with any kind of real anger or malice, something much softer, instead. Something that she couldn’t quite place.

Wednesday thought of her next words carefully before she spoke them. The way she dropped their mutual gaze and began to chew on the inside of her cheek told Enid that it was taking a lot out of her to even contemplate speaking her next sentences aloud.

The raven decided to indeed speak those thoughts aloud in spite of her hesitations anyways.

“I’ve since learned from the Feuerbär, the silver incident, hell even through Crackstone, Gates and Tyler that there is nothing I can do to keep you, or anyone else, out of harm's way.” She seemed to count the number of boards that made up the floor, staring anywhere else but directly at anyone.

“Though, I’ll admit that those words of yours have entirely changed my perspective, Enid. If I can prepare you, and anyone else, to face that kind of danger, to grow and be sharpened by those experiences, no matter how terrifying they may be… I’ll be giving you every possible chance I can for you to walk away unscathed.”

Enid reached upwards to grab ahold of the fabric of her shirt at her sternum. The way her heart was melting in this moment made her feel like she needed to hold a hand close, in case it just happened to spill straight out of her chest.

The raven closed her eyes and took a breath before finding Enid again.

“Now, you either handle your fear and show me that my faith in you was well placed, or I’ll call this whole thing off if you’re too scared to continue. You choose.” The raven’s voice snapped back to a warning tone, with a full and deadly seriousness of her own.

“Dammit, Wends.” Enid felt the guilt eat at her gut again.

“Choose.”

At this point, was it even really a choice at all?

“Gah! You can bet your ass that we’re going to crush this year's Lockdown!!!” Enid screamed out, stomping her foot into the boards below her feet for effect. The reverberation of the sound had indicated to everyone in the room that she had made her final decision, loud and clear.

“Good. Stick by that then.” Wednesday huffed with a kind of finality, indicating that she was well over baring more of her heart in this manner, ready to end the conversation and move onto the next.

Wednesday then lifts herself to a stand, brushing the bits of ceiling and dust off her own clothes, which were more of a smokey gray at the moment from all the dust that was obscuring most of the black fabric of her clothing. Enid deflates a bit, quiet, and in her own thoughts as
she contemplates what all just transpired and how to act moving forward.

Thing and cousin Whatt are huddled together near where Pugsley’s sitting out of slight fear from the girl’s bright explosion. The boy was still covering his mouth, watching Wednesday carefully.

Once she shook the initial dust off of her, Wednesday spun, turning away from Enid and towards the nearest wall to obscure her face once more.

“One more thing, do not pin me like that again.” The raven huffs. The words are simple, straightforward even, but her voice seems so much smaller when she says that.

Pugsley can’t help it now. He breaks into full blown laughter after she says that.

The girls snap to him, and they see that the Thing and Whatt seem to just stare at them in full on startlement.

Pugsley clearly isn’t startled by them at all, and just continues to laugh.

“What is so amusing to you, idiot?” The raven bites.

“You two clear the air? Finish your little spat? Can we get back to the game now, or would you like to argue about anything else as a reason to tackle each other to the ground?” He countered so cooly, so mischievously.

Wednesday bristled up again at that.

“You want to say that again?”

Pugsley’s smile becomes even more fox-like than it already was.

“No need, sis. Your face says enough.”

Enid softly interrupts the pure bloodlust Wednesday had honed into her brother with, at that last little comment. There was a concern coloring her own features as she raised her voice quietly to question something that had lingered in the back of her mind.

“Speaking of, Wednesday, why is your face so red?”

Wednesday’s wide eyes jump immediately back to Enid.

“…my what?”

Her eyes get marginally wider as a hand jumps to her cheek as if to test the skin. The girl had supposedly not realized that she was as full of color as she was.

“Your face.. it’s-“

“Allergic reaction.” She cuts the blonde off at the pass before she can really think it through. All hints of emotion fell quickly from her face, and her expression soon looked kinda unbothered. It was such a startling contrast to the red face she continued to sport.

“Aller- wait, what?!” Enid, without a single hesitation, took the bait.

“Color allergy. Your stupid, psychedelic claws cut into my wrist.” Wednesday looked away as she pulled up her wrist by her face, twisting it for Enid to see that there was indeed a slight nic in her slightly reddened skin around her wrist. A rather small, thin line of blood was curling
down her forearm, already starting to dry. Pugsley watched the scene in awe, rolling his eyes at the words his sister spoke to her friend.

Enid’s heart jumped in her throat at the sight before her.

“Wait.. there is no way! How?! You..you actually were serious about that?! I thought Morticia made that up!”

Wednesday and Pugsley shared a knowing sibling look as Enid spiraled in her shock and panic. Wednesday scrunched her face ever so slightly, seeming goading Pugsley to say something.

The boy then turns to Enid and merely smiles sweetly. She kept the thought to herself, but it was wholly unsettling when he smiled like that.

“Her color allergy is no joke, Enid. It really messes her up, as you can so clearly see. She’s really suffering from an affliction of the most acute kind. One that will torture her for the rest of her miserable life, so it seems.”

The boy sputtered a laugh again at his sister as she walked past him with a deep look of infuriation upon her face as she grabbed a fistful of his hair and pushed down on his head violently in order to make him nearly topple over.

Of course, in line with the unique Addams Family sense of humor, she supposed…The action only caused him to laugh even harder.

Enid hadn’t the faintest clue as to what quiet thing the siblings were silently communicating to each other was.. She probably didn’t want to know anyways. Nevertheless, the full concern for Wednesday at her own actions didn’t falter once.

“Gosh, Wednesday I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to- I just was so-“

Wednesday raised a quick hand in the air to quell her best friend’s alarm.

“Forget it, Enid. The…allergic reaction will calm down after some time.” Wednesday never met her eyes, but leaned down to grab that backpack that had fallen from the ceiling, alongside Thing.

Enid’s guilt at her rather violent outburst on Wednesday didn’t quiet at that though, so she pressed again.

“Seriously though, I’m sorry. I’ll be way more careful with how I handle myself around you in the future.” She shrugged, guilt weighing down her shoulders and evident in her stance.

Pugsley practically wheezed in a sudden fit of snickering before managing to rasp out-

“Or maybe…don’t be careful with how you handle her, since Wednesday so clearly enj-“

Wednesday slings the backpack on her shoulder in a way that it smacks Pugsley in the face, hard.

It sends him flying into the floor, tumbling off the crate he was sitting on with a hard thud. He groaned in pain as he hit the floor rather ungracefully. Thing and Whatt rushed to the boy's side in an attempt to check on him to see if he was still breathing.

“WEDNESDAY!” Enid yelped in shock, her eyes shot wide and accusingly now at the psychic.

“He’ll live. Unfortunately.” The raven’s face didn’t hold an ounce of remorse.

She clicked her tongue as she sat down on the same crate Pugsley had been sitting on until now, taking his place, dropping the heavy pack she had just used as a weapon at her feet.

“In fact, I perhaps might have done him a favor, though entirely not deserved. Maybe now, he’ll have a bit of sense knocked into his moronic brain.”

“You say that, but I nearly shook the lights out of him earlier. He may not have any sense or brains left at all after being abused by you and me in this way.” Enid bit her lips as she watched Thing fan himself before Pugsley’s face, though that didn’t seem to help at all.

“Well,” She shrugs, completely unbothered. “At least he’s exempt from helping out until he wakes. I’m sure that he’d argue that we did him a favor there, not that this is any real loss to us. He’s never liked, not been much help in solving puzzles in the first place.”

Wednesday lightly huffs as she falls into an observational kind of silence. She takes in their surroundings, noting the state of this room, really for the first time since she fell into it. Enid quickly followed suit.

They were still stuck in this room after all. Though, Enid was once hopeful that some kind of hint or guidance or possible direction would pop up like her first room. The wolf sighed. If they haven’t received guidance by now, they probably wouldn’t as they move forward.

Enid watched herself and Wednesday’s reflections in the mirror, both of the girls could be seen observing and contemplating what its significance could be. The blonde just knew that it had to be related to the answer to escape. Enid squinted in her suspicion. She was pretty much
certain that this object wasn’t here when they arrived.

Though, she was really hoping that she wasn’t just imagining that.

Enid let her eyes comb through the rest of the room in observation from the vantage of the mirror. Her focus had only meant to graze over Wednesday’s form, but stopped in its tracks when she found that the raven was already looking straight at her through the mirror.

“I assume you three didn’t have a proper chance to figure out how to solve this room’s puzzle before I caved in?” Wednesday spoke at Enid’s reflection.

The wolf turned to the actual girl across from her when voicing a response, causing the raven to angle herself to the real Enid to listen.

“Yeah, we got here only a few…wait. How could you possibly know that?” she blinked.

“Same reason I caved in the ceiling.” Wednesday tilted her chin skywards. “I could recognize your panicked screaming from a mile away. Your shrill voice has been my constant companion as long as I’ve known you, Enid. So naturally, I heard the second you all entered the room from all the way up there.” She pointed a finger upwards, turning to speak to the non-mirror Enid.

Haha, very funny Wends.” The wolf clicked her tongue at Wednesday’s light teasing before continuing.

“But no, you’re right. We haven’t much of a chance to even give the puzzle a serious thought. Though I’m fairly certain that this mirror popped up the second we closed the door.”

Wednesday looked closely at the mirror, humming in observation alongside Enid’s similar stare at it. There was a distinct release of air from her nostrils in a satisfied way. Paired with the slight nod she gave to her reflection in the mirror. The action was a strange one for Wednesday. Enid couldn’t help but wonder what that little motion of hers implied.

“Though, if I’m being honest, I’m far more interested in how you managed to do that.” Enid pointed towards the ceiling, dark copper eyes followed the reference. The blue light was nearly gone and the ceiling nearly whole once more.

“Especially when my claws couldn’t even make a dent through my first door.” Enid’s tone almost sounded jealous, she realized only after she said it.

“You tried to claw your way out? Impressive, though unfortunately a futile endeavor.” Wednesday raised a brow in her intrigue.

“I know, so how’d you manage it?”

Enid watches closely as Wednesday contemplates this. She begins to dig around in her black denim jean’s pocket, fishing around for something small and specific. As she revealed her hand once more, there was a small sheet of paper that lay between the hold of her index and her middle finger. Her thumb presses into the folded sheet of paper, pulling it apart so she can read to Enid what words lie inside it.

“Breakthrough this false world to set yourself free.

Not all walls that bind us are ones you can see.”

Wednesday curls her fingers around the sheet of paper to crumple it into a ball. She then chunks the object onto the far side of the room against the wall, using it as a backboard before the ball falls so cleanly into the trash can just below it.

“Unlike your attempt at an escape, I didn’t try to force my way through. I was just creative with my answer.” The raven shrugged simply at her best friend.

“What the hell kind of answer to that riddle allowed you to shatter through the floor like that ?” Enid eyes the last of the blue light warily before the ceiling sealed shut completely.

Wednesday tilted her head in thought as she recounted the events that led her here.

“When you're locked into a room, under typical circumstances, significant things change around you the second you’re locked into them. Much like how the mirror works in this room. That’s just the nature of the puzzles.” Wednesday nods to the trash can from across the room.

“That little piece of paper was all I had to go on since the spare room initially appeared exactly the same as it always looks. Even still, the answer to solving my riddle was almost painfully obvious. I’m just at least thankful it was adaptable, otherwise, it would be a lot longer before we’d all be able to group up, I assume.”

“Then what made it so obvious?” Genuine curiosity sparked the words from Enid's mouth. Wednesday pursed her lips in thought before she spoke again.

“Not only was there a copy of the book ‘Calculating Space’ placed to sit upon a spare table, rather glaringly left in the open, but there were replacement pictures of various members of our family that were hanging up on every wall that had not been the original pictures that were hanging there before I entered the room.”

“What was up with the pictures?” Enid focused on that detail since she had no idea about the reference to the book.

“That was the real giveaway,” Wednesday nodded. “The context of the book out in the open just made the answer click. Get this..each picture had one additional family member than the last, beginning with a self-portrait painting of my great, great-uncle Rodrigo.” Wednesday focused on Enid, seemingly watching for her reaction, the blonde realized only after blankly blinking for a few seconds.

“And the significance of the number of people in the photos meant..what?” The wolf dragged on her words slowly, trying to softly indicate she had absolutely zero idea what any of Wednesday’s words meant.

Wednesday blinked just once. The raven seemed confused.. clearly thinking that the answer to her riddle would be obvious to her at this point.

“Really? The overt reference to Simulation Theory?”

“Simulation Theory?” Enid couldn't help but just repeat the words offered to her in a questioning way because she had absolutely nothing else to go on. Wednesday squinted her eyes only marginally. Enid realized that it was probably out of disbelief.

“Yes. The ‘Calculating Space’ book was the overt reference to it. Essentially, that book is one of the first documented modern versions of the simulation hypothesis, which essentially states that reality is a construct. And once I realized that the answer was actually pretty simple.”

Wednesday just watched Enid’s face contort in deep and profound confusion as she dug her lower lip into her mouth, completely at a loss.

“Is it truly not obvious? The numbered pictures, the reality is a construct theory? Breaking through this false world?”

Wednesday was looking at her with such disbelief that the wolf couldn't help but kind of look away and around the room in a blank daze. She vocalized a really small stuttering noise out of the back of her throat that indicated she couldn't even think of a proper response to offer back, though she settled on a small little shake of her head, indicating that it was really not obvious to her in the slightest.

The raven just hummed softly at that before offering the answer.

“Well, the solution required me to break through the wall that had the hanging picture of the individuals of my family that totaled to the number four. It was a subtle reference to the book, since the act of me breaking through that wall would symbolize someone who realizes that they are living in a simulation.”

It took a moment for what Wednesday was saying to completely sink in, but once it did…

“You- You broke through the Fourth Wall?!! That was your puzzle?!” Enid’s voice erupts in shock when she finally, finally connects the dots.

“Oh, so you do understand the reference.” Wednesday spoke with a slightly pleased tone. Enid would have smiled at that had she not realized something that frightened her all the more.

“T-That..That was easy for you?!” The blonde’s jaw completely drops, tone squeaking out in shock and awe, maybe even a little bit in fear as she waves a defeated hand away and up in the air.

“Yes. Is that not supposed to be the case?” Wednesday’s slightly softened face curled into a small and concerned frown.

“I warned you, Enid. We should’ve pushed her back up in that room when we still had the chance. Now we’re gonna face stupid puzzles as intense as that one.” Pugsley moaned rather loudly as he held a palm over his face. Both Thing and Whatt patted his shoulder in an apologetic manner. The boy had apparently become conscious again sometime between being smacked into tomorrow and when his sister began recounting her puzzle per Enid’s curiosity.

Enid and Wednesday chose to ignore his little sidebar.

“Simulation Theory? That sounds an awful lot like that has something to do with computers. I thought you didn’t like technology. Why the hell would you even read a book like that?” The blonde continued to dig in her overall confusion while Wednesday remained seemingly not unamused by it all.

“There is not an insignificant portion of our populace that is terrified of reality just being a construct. The popularity of all of this ridiculous media feeding into that idea.. such as 'The Matrix’ or ‘Black Mirror’, are playing into those fears. I read a wide range of books to help me hone skills I’m actually rather passionate about…such as retaining the ability to terrify and torture someone using their deepest fears. If their greatest fear is the idea that reality is just a simulation, then I want to be prepared to exploit that insecurity of theirs to the fullest extent I’m capable.” She notes with an air of pride blended into her tone.

“How do you even know about shows like ‘The Matrix’ or ‘Black Mirror’? Last I checked, I didn’t see a single TV in this whole house, and I’ve been running around this place for hours now.” Enid only seemed to get more confused by the second.

“I’m not as technologically illiterate as you make me out to be, Enid.” Wednesday somehow chose to take that as some kind of insult.

Pugsley sighs and raises his hand from his position, body still knocked flat on the floor.

“Don’t let her lie to you like that, E. She only gets those references because of me. I can watch shows on my own phone and I have shown her a bit of both at one point or another. She wouldn’t even know how to find them or even know what the hell they are if it wasn’t for me.” The boy knew that statement probably wasn’t entirely true, Wednesday might be able to learn how to navigate using tech eventually… but he could hear the rare note of defensiveness in her voice.

And, like a typical Addams, chose to exploit that to the best of his ability.

“I don’t think people watch The Matrix because they are scared of a simulation, but okay…” Enid trailed off to no one in particular since Wednesday was too busy grabbing her bag to chunk at Pugsley again, who had darted up and ran around the room to dodge the attack. Whatt and Thing seemed content to just watch, thoroughly entertained enough by just observing as everyone took turns losing their mind.

“Okay but none of that explained how you were able to break through the floor.” Enid crosses her arms as she spoke up again when she realized that her original question to Wednesday never got answered.

Pugsley let his relief show as he slid down a wall, a calm exhale leaving his body as his sister chose to drop her bag to the floor again, to focus her energy on Enid’s newest question now.

“Right, well…one of the best parts about that riddle of mine was that the answer was adaptable. I would have to break through the wall with the picture of the four individuals anyways. All I had to do was move the picture to lay on the floor instead of hanging on the wall so I could break through that instead, thus solving the answer and getting to exploit its parameters to my benefit since even the floor is technically just another barrier that can be broken and can essentially convey the same message.” Wednesday smugly shrugged, clearly pleased with her own ingenuity, since it so clearly worked.

Enid and Pugsley share a look. The blonde was still contemplating on whether or not to be impressed or terrified of her best friend’s riddle solving abilities. Though Pugsley clearly seemed to already make up his mind. It was obvious that he was already done with this when utter annoyance and a look of abject surrender had shone like a dejected beacon back towards Enid.

He lifted an accusatory finger towards his sister.

“As long as she's here, I am not lifting another finger to solve a puzzle if they're all going to be as ridiculous as that.” The boy scoffed aloud, Wednesday’s darkened gaze settled back upon her brother.

“Wait a minute Pugsley, what about this one?” Enid questioned the boy.

“What about this one?” He dumbly repeated right back at her. She huffed in annoyance.

“The puzzle we have right now was established right before Wednesday even showed up. You seriously are not even going to help right now? Based on what you told me, this puzzle was calibrated with you in mind too.” Enid tried to guilt the boy into leaping up and helping out. It was an effort made in vain though.

“What's the point? I bet you that Wednesday's already figured this one out.” He deadpanned, angling his head at his sister as he stuck out his tongue at her. She hovered her face over him and watched the whole charade without much reaction at all.

Enid was gonna shoot something back at Pugsley, something that would really get him moving. Though what that was, she wasn’t entirely sure. However, the words died on her tongue when the raven spoke first.

“Must be your only well placed bet in your whole life.” She only just then decided to speak back at him.

The wolf blinked in the sudden confusion that stopped her in her tracks.

“Wait, Wends… Do you already know the answer?” She turned to the raven who paused before responding.

“Yes. I do.”

The wolf huffed out a small nickering noise at the disbelief she held within her.

“Then why didn’t you just start with that, Wends.” She squinted at the raven, offering a simple shrug at everyone’s current strange attitude. This whole puzzle room could be solved in mere seconds, it turns out. “Go ahead and solve the puzzle so we can try and get out of here and figure out where everyone else is.”

The raven listens and waits for Enid to fully finish speaking. Not bothering to move a muscle before she herself began to respond.

“Well, that would hardly be fair.” The words were spoken low and soft.

“What?” Enid is fully confused by the response the raven gave back to her.

Pugsley merely groans in his rising frustration towards his sister. “Like you’ve ever cared about fairness a single day in your whole life.”

Wednesday nodded, slight amusement somehow bleeding through.

“Apologies, I misspoke. I suppose I meant ‘would hardly be as fun’.”

“Fun? What the hell are you talking about Wends? Just give us the answer already.” Enid was still so utterly lost.

“Don’t you get it, E? She’s not going to. My stupid jerk of a sister is going to let us sit here and suffer until one of us figures out the damn answer to our own stupid puzzle.” His head thumps back onto the wooden floor he was still splayed upon.

“Idiot is gonna make every stupid room ten times harder than it needs to be, and yet she can’t even help with the one she didn’t even screw up. Typical.” Pugsley mumbled aloud cutting his unamused eyes towards his older sis.

Enid shot her gaze back towards Wednesday and knew her brother was right from the clearly smug looking expression upon her best friend’s face.

“You brat. You’re seriously not gonna help, even though you can indeed get us out of here right here and now?!”

“Not my puzzle.” She answered simply, merely shrugging in response to Enid’s accusatory tone.

“Don’t you want to get out of here?” Enid continued to press, shock and frustration only building.

“I’d much, much rather watch and see what you can do.” The raven crosses her arms, she leaned backwards against the wall behind her, apparently settling in to watch her own kind of entertainment unfold.

Enid knows Wednesday’s penchant for torture personally, yet still can’t reconcile her current attitude with the fact that she could easily get them out of here if she really wanted to.

“Are you being for real right now? What is this some kind of game-”

Wednesday raised a finger to speak but Enid immediately continued to barrel through and cut her off completely.

“Yes I know this whole thing is a game!” The wolf blurted out in rapid-fire succession before she could be mocked for misspeaking.

You know what? Fine. I don’t need your help.” Enid pointed a sharp and clawed finger straight at Wednesday’s form. A curious, yet clearly amused brow only raised in return.

“And I clearly don’t need your help, either.” Enid sputtered angrily at the boy upon the floor.

“My real friends…Thing and Whatt will help me.” She placed her hands upon her hips as she exclaimed her contingency plan to the momentarily useless siblings.

Though, Thing nervously tapped his fingers on the floor in response to being called out by the wolf, knowing he didn’t have a clue as to how to help find the answer they sought.

Poor Whatt didn’t even seem to be paying attention to anything beyond munching on the snack bar he somehow found in Wednesday’s bag amidst all of the manic commotion.

Enid couldn’t hide the sigh of deep frustration even if she wanted to.

“...FINE. I don’t need anyone’s help. I clearly can’t entrust anyone but myself to do this properly anyways.” She bit in an abject hope that someone would eventually be guilted enough to help. Though she knew it was kind of pointless in the end. She wasn’t getting that help, she finally discerned.

Enid soon then studies the mirror, icy eyes glaring intensely at her reflection at first.

Her eyes trail along to take notice of anything that may be even the smallest bit curious to her. Nothing popped up initially.

A couple of bookshelves hung in the middle of the wall to her left, and to her reflection’s right. This wasn’t the main Library, thank God. She couldn’t handle that in any kind of near future. Though, it lacked the vast amount of books to its counterpart.. The room still seemed to be a unique kind of reading nook of a room all on its own. Small little chairs in the corners, a table full of a stack of books upon its surface, and a few scattered lamps around had made that fact obvious enough.

Her eyes continue in their observation, trailing along the length of the floor. She sees Pugsley look at the ceiling, much like he's already given up.

She flicks upwards, focusing in full frustration at Wednesday, not even trying to hide the deep irritation at the thoroughly entertained girl, who continued to watch her actions closely this entire time, and with full curiosity too.

“Not even a freaking hint..I can’t believe you.” Enid mutters nearly under her breath at the girl’s reflection that is staring directly at her, scrunching her nose at the wolf’s words.

“Why? You should already know that you don’t actually need one.” Wednesday almost laughs in her own light amusement, but Enid can only stare right at her, shocked. That irritation faded away immediately. She didn’t expect those words in the least.

Enid somehow was only now reading between the lines of what that statement implied.

Wednesday believes that Enid is smart enough to figure this out, and is giving her a full and unaided opportunity to solve this riddle out on her own. Perhaps she might even gain the confidence which Wednesday so clearly had in her.

Her heart fluttered dangerously in her chest again. She grabbed that colorful fabric at her collar to beg the unwanted action to cut it out.

The blonde switches between looking at the mirror and looking at the room. She needed to be patient with herself if she was going to figure this thing out like Wednesday believed she could.

With a newfound determination that blossomed warmly upon her chest, Enid crosses her legs and sits down, staring at her reflection and the surroundings before her in deep thought. She did this quietly and remained fully to herself for a time.

She almost speaks again, to say what, she couldn’t remember, but her words cut short before her loud and overwhelming gasp that echoed loudly into the small room they all shared.

Pugsley turns his head to the side in order to scrunch his face at Enid. Wednesday leans her body forward and onto her knees in her sudden intrigue.

Enid keeps flipping back and forth from her observation.

”No way. No freaking way.” She gets up and walks towards their locked door, staring at its handle, then looking around the room, clearly searching for something specific.

“What’s wrong?” Pugsley finally took the bait.

“Where is it?” Enid spins on her heels from her position by the door. She glanced wide eyed at Wednesday, ignoring Pugsley completely as she searched for her best friend’s words.

Wednesday almost smirks back as Enid leaned towards her, desperate for her to respond with some kind of indication that she was on the right track.

“Getting warmer.” The raven spoke softly, and with her own kind of tempered excitement.

Enid blinks, holding back a small smile. She wanted to be sure that she wasn’t seeing things before she let it loose. Enid then stares at the mirror again in a deep focus, padding close to the walled mirror, one step after another until she stands only a single step before it.

“Where is what, Enid?” The boy mutters louder, his curiosity piqued now. Thing and Whatt had quietly observed her motions from Pugsley’s side themselves.

Enid is far too busy studying. Far, far too engrossed in finding the answer on her own to even hear his words to her.

She reaches out, pressing the pad of her finger upon the mirror. She scans the objects in the reflection, one after another, noting with utter seriousness the state that the room was in.

It doesn’t take all that long before it finally clicks for her.

“Wait. It's not ‘here’...is it?” Enid looks once more at Wednesday for a needed confirmation.

It's only for a moment, almost like it wasn’t there at all, but it was. They all saw it.

For a single second. For a full moment, Wednesday, for once, doesn’t try to mask or hide the full smile she beams back upon Enid’s hopeful face.

“Told you that you didn’t need that hint.”

The boys drop their faces as if they just were stunned by a sudden flash of blinding light that pierced their gaze and rendered them silent. The reaction was nearly entirely different for Enid, as the wolf turned deliriously gleeful, knowing she now near completely understood and can indeed figure this puzzle out on her own, just as Wednesday believed. She pushed up her hair in excitement.

“Okay! Okay. Not here, but somehow it's over-- over…”

“Think it all the way through.” Wednesday encourages her thoughts softly.

“There! The books!”

“Very good, Enid.” Wednesday verbally praises Enid, and with no masking it, none of that normal hidden way she would go about it. The boys didn’t know what the hell they were bearing witness to at this moment, but they stayed silent in their own deep curiosity.

“What next, you think?” Wednesday presses the wolf onwards.

Enid turns to Wednesday in her excitement and smiles, wide.

“Bookshelf! They’ve got to be there!” Enid begins to tear the bookshelf apart, grabbing onto certain books carefully and thoughtfully plucked. All the while, she held each one up, staring at its reflection in the mirror before either putting it back or holding onto it, shifting the kept ones to a snug position under her arm.

“Enid, what the hell are you doing?”

“What Pugs, I thought you weren’t gonna help…” Enid finally responded, but didn’t even spare a glance Pugsley’s way, still utterly focused on the task at hand.

“Well, I’m curious now.. So you want to catch me up to speed so I can help? Enid has everyone’s full and undivided attention.

“Not like she needs your help now. She’s pretty much solved it.” Wednesday tilted a chin at her brother. He was gonna sass her back, but Enid then decided that she wanted his help after all.

“Pugsley, can you stack these books on that table please? Make sure they’re in order too.”

He catches two books she suddenly tossed at his face.

“Order?! What the hell. Like… do you mean chronologically, by title, size.. what?”

“By the order in the mirror, Pugs.” She continued to sift through the shelf. He blinked a few times before even attempting a response at that.

“By the mirror? You wanna try making some actual sense? I- aaugh!” Whatt soon tapped on his arm and pointed to the mirror. What he saw reflected back, or lack thereof had actually startled him enough to voice it aloud.

Pugsley gazed deeply into the mirror, and neither one of the books he was holding in his hands were present in the mirror. It was almost like they didn’t exist at all. He could only gape as he twisted the books in his hands that were visible in his peripherals. Yet, the reflection depicted something entirely different. Empty palms curled in a claw-like grip had waved back at him.

“What the hell?”

Enid was holding two books up in her hands, Pugsley noticed. The unfazed wolf had nodded towards her reflection in the mirror, indicating that Pugsley should analyze her mirror counterpart. Same deal had made his jaw nearly drop from surprise.

One book was being reflected, one was not.

“What the actual hell?!”

“Look at the table in the mirror, Pugsley.” Wednesday sighed at her younger brother, guiding his understanding further before he popped that vein that seemed to be throbbing painfully in his head at his own deep and profound confusion.

He did as suggested and noticed that the table was stacked high with books. Probably a neat little tower of about eight of them.

“Now look at the table behind you.” Enid followed the next step in logic Wednesday placed before him.

His eyes widened over his shoulder. It seemed that not a single one of those books he saw resided on the table in their own room.

“How’d you notice that? Neat trick, Enid.”

“Hey Pugs. Look at the door, both in the mirror and for real.” She prompted next.

As he does so…

“The one in the mirror…” He trails off.

He notices a really antique looking padlock on the door in the mirror, but the second he looks behind him, he realizes that the same padlock didn’t exist upon the door in their own reality. The doors in real life and the mirror world are somehow different.

“The only things that are different in the mirror world compared to ours are the padlock, the stack of books, and the key hanging on that little string by the door.” Pugsley noted the string only after Enid mentioned that little tidbit.

“If we are able to match our world with the one in the mirror,”

“The reflection will become real!” He finally connected those stray dots that Enid and Wednesday had to both walk him through to piece it all together.

Enid walks over to place the final book on the top of the pile.

Everyone looks by the door in the mirror, and the key and padlock are suddenly gone from the door’s reflection

Knowing what should, in theory, happen next…They all spin behind them to the door in the real world. Sighs of relief flood around the room.

“There it is- the padlock and the key.” Enid smiles, knowing this was something she managed to solve on her own.

“Why’d I have to get stuck with two geniuses instead of one.” Pugsley pressed a thumb and index finger upon the bridge of his nose.

“You should be grateful we’re here at all. Otherwise, I doubt you’d have made it very far.” Wednesday cuts her eyes to him, crossing her arms disapprovingly as Enid presses forward from their sides to their door and away from the reflection.

With a soft scooping motion of her arm, she reached for the key that hung on the drawstring, cradling her hard-earned victory in her cupped hands, staring at the key with a smile.

“Okay, not to downplay your victory, Enid, for that was excellently done indeed.” Wednesday nods towards the warmly smiling wolf, carefully bringing up a concern of hers while also trying not to downplay Enid’s victory. The wolf could only just marvel at the quiet character growth that small moment held before Wednesday pressed on.

“Before we leave, I’m going to need you to explain something more fully to me you only really referenced earlier.” Thing bounded himself upwards to grab onto Wednesday, clinging onto her shoulder and ready for their inevitable move throughout the corridors in the near future.

“This can’t wait till we find the next room?” Enid asks, really just wanting to press forward.

Cousin Whatt acts out a similar motion, and leaps onto Enid’s back. He hung tight upon her shoulders like a little monkey. The wolf thought literally nothing of it as he did so, shoulders already adjusting to him and accustomed to the position he held upon her.

Though, Wednesday stared at the scene for a second with a wild and surprised look. She even noted that Pugsley didn’t seem even a bit curious at the action. She lets herself be shocked by the action for only a split second before shaking it off and pressing forward with her
questions.

“No, it can’t. Not if it happens to be a crucial piece of game-changing information.”

“You said something about a giant spook in the library when you were yelling at… Anyways, What did this ‘spook’ look like?”

“She said spook, but she actually meant the Shade.” Pugsley jumped up and adjusted Wednesday’s backpack on his shoulders. He grabbed for the pack earlier since he didn’t trust Wednesday not to use it as a weapon towards him at any given time. Bearing the weight was worth
the guarantee of safety…at least there.

Clearly, Wednesday had expected at least something important from the little aside of Enid’s earlier. Even still, with her suspicions confirmed, she stared at Pugsley with wide eyes at the small little cutoff.

“There’s no- …Wait, you already found the Shade?!” Wednesday pressed into Enid with a new and surprised line of questioning, a little more animated than she normally was. This creature, unfortunately for Enid’s nerves, was indeed a rather big deal for this game, her fears were
confirmed.

“Yeah…Yeah, I did. Really, really unfortunately.” Enid began to pout a little, her incredibly good mood already beginning to sour a bit at even the mention of the monster again. Wednesday knew Enid enough to notice that.

“Enid, this is rather incredible, you know. We’ll be able to win this game a lot faster thanks to your rather obvious run of good luck.” Wednesday couldn’t help but make the comparison, though Enid really didn’t quite see it that way.

“Good luck!? Not even remotely a word I’d use when running into that thing, Wends.” Enid pouts again.

“But it is, all the same. Listen, we need to come up with a strategy first before moving anywhere in this house. We have too large of a group now to just wander around aimlessly. The off-chance we will run into another person or group isn’t worth the risk of making sure that we
are retaining the sizable one we already have. This is a game of numbers, ultimately, and if we start to get separated, we can go ahead and give up on winning this game anytime soon.”

“Aren’t you an expert at this game, though? According to your broth- ooof” Enid began, but forgot that Pugsley didn’t want that little tidbit about his admiration for his sister’s proficiency known by her. She was soon reminded of that when he lightly elbowed her in the ribs,
cutting her off from finishing that.

“As careful and knowledgeable as I am about the layout of this house, even down to the smallest detail, there is always the chance that the luck will run out and we get separated. We have to be prepared to know what we’re up against in the Shade’s form for this year.”

“So, I’m gonna need you to tell us everything you know about this ‘spook’ in the library, Enid.”

“Before we leave?!” She whined.

“Of course, before we leave.” The raven didn’t even allow room for discussion.

Enid’s shoulders sagged, really not wanting to think about it again. But, based on the intense look Wednesday is currently giving her, it's not like she was being given much of a choice.

“Look, just the basics, Enid. Give us something to work with in-case we get separated and have to face that thing with a differing group or even on our own.”

Enid’s sudden panic rose to be evident on her face at the thought of running around alone again.

“You think we’re going to be separated?” The wolf grew worried, fear coloring her face so evidently that it was so clear, even to Wednesday.

The wolf turned her head away in her blossoming panic, but Wednesday shifted her whole body to maintain their direct and held gaze, not leaving her opposite’s fearful eyes for a second.

“Hey, listen to me, Enid.” Wednesday soothed at the wolf in a serious, but calming tone. Pugsley’s observing gaze stuck on Wednesday’s face now, same as Enid’s.

“We won’t. Not if I have anything to say about it. I’ll do everything I can to keep that from happening, okay?” Enid merely blinks back, unsure.

“Okay?” Wednesday repeats, intending for Enid to repeat it back to her.

“Yeah. Okay.” Even Pugsley turns to watch the wolf nod, already much calmer.

“Alright then, just the basics.” Wednesday softly reiterates to the wolf, who nods in thought.

“Like I said to Pugsley earlier, this..Shade.. It was enormous. Practically the size of almost half the library, I think. It was hard to gauge when the thing was covered in black smoke.”

“Most certainly the Shade then, obscuring its features like that. How did it walk? Was it bipedal or quadrupedal?” Wednesday lifted a hand to her chin to rub it as she thought aloud.

“It was like some giant lizard, It walked on four legs.”

“Might be classed as something draconic, I’d wager a guess.” Wednesday noted to her brother, who merely just nodded in his own agreement.

“Do you recall any strange features it had, maybe sounds it made, even down to its gait?”

“Do I? I think I’ve got some kind of answer for all of that.” Enid trailed off before she recounted them all.

“The most startling distinction was its eyes.”

“What about them?” Pugsley prompted the question, now curious about the details of the creature he didn’t probe at much before now.

“They were horrifically pale and murky. I almost thought I could see straight into my soul, but it turns out I was really wrong about that, otherwise the encounter would turn out so very differently.”

“How so?” Wednesday asked for clarification.

“Well, I hid from it, keeping quiet as it hunted for me. I thought I was a complete goner, even practically saw my life flash before my eyes when it found me. It even looked straight at me, I couldn’t deny that in the least. Yet, I realized pretty quickly that something was completely
wrong about it when it decided to pass me over, yet still seemingly trying to hunt Whatt and I down.”

“And that was?”

“It's blind.” Enid recounted in absolute certainty.

“Blind?!” The siblings exclaimed at the same time. “Are you certain?” the Raven pressed, intrigue coloring her features.

“With absolute certainty. It saw straight through me, Wends. Plus, I outsmarted it by making a noise focused distraction. Though, I’m telling you now that what it lacks in vision, it more than makes up for in sound. I tossed a book to the other end of the library, and it picked up on
even the smallest sounds. You have to be ‘dead’ silent to outsmart it.”

“A blind-”

“Oh! It has wings too, I forgot.” Enid cut off Wednesday to insert that last major detail.

“How the hell do you forget something like that?” Pugsley muttered lightly in spite of Enid’s strong side eye.

“A blind draconian-like being with a greater honed sound.”

“Any ideas as to what that could be?”

“A few. That has narrowed our focus down greatly. We’ll be able to work a lot with that. Thank you, Enid, for that.” Wednesday nodded towards her best friend, noting how difficult she realized it was for her to recount it all.

“Oh yeah, sure thing.” Enid shrugged in a nonchalant kind of way, trying to hide a rising blush from becoming too obvious upon her face.

“So sis, what’s the plan, then?” Pugsley jumped upwards to adjust the bag again, clearly ready to start working their way to the next place so he could drop the semi-heavy pack.

“Enid, if you’ll do the honors-”

Spinning the key in her hand, the wolf angled it to fit into the padlock that had appeared alongside its counterpart in thin air. With a small twist of her fingers, the padlock had released, dropping with a simple thud to the floor below, a small green glow within its keyhole to
indicate that they solved the puzzle.

“When I open this door, you all stay behind me, stay deadly silent, and do everything I say, understood?”

Four distinct nods reflected back towards Wednesday’s observant eyes.

“Alright then. Here's the plan." Wednesday began, ready to start laying out a framework to begin their game in earnest.

Notes:

Promise to come back and add notes at the end! Excited to give you guys this chapter even though its like 3am here. So, please let me know all the thoughts! :)

Chapter 27: That Long and Winding Road (1)

Notes:

Has it really been since May when I last posted a chapter for this poor little fic? My apologies for the long and excruciating wait! My life is sadly just crazy busy and always super complicated, but just know that I solemnly swear to finish this work at some point in the future, so you’ll at least never have to worry that I’m giving up on it.

Alright! I’ve got a couple of important announcements to make before the read, so I thank you all for your ever patient and undivided attention!

I’ve gotten to become really good friends with one of my readers since I last posted a chapter, and they’ve since become a new and awesome addition to the team I never knew I needed until now.

I’d love for everyone to give a warm welcome to SerpentKing260 as my new Editor, and thank them for the work they’re doing in making this work a more readable and legible version that is gonna be much more enjoyable to read than the 2am posted, sleep deprived scribblings I usually churn out. Excited to have help in making this fic be the best version of itself it can possibly be.

(Also, they’re working on their own Wenclair focused fic soon, so please go check it out wherever it posts!)

Secondly, for the first time in..ever. I’ve actually pretty much completed the following chapter, before posting this one. So, the next update will be a lot closer than another three months' time. I can’t always promise scheduled updates, but I’m looking forward to being a little more consistent with this fic in the future.

Without further ado, I’ve made you guys wait long enough. Please enjoy!

Still on a unique kind of rush after solving the room’s puzzle and eager to take this show on the road, Enid drapes her hand on the cool metal knob.

As the ice curls around her fingers, she can’t help but feel that there is a little prickle of fear and anticipation that presses against the back of her neck. Of course there is. She doesn’t know what lies behind the door after all. The prospect of running into the hounds, especially knowing she eventually has to face that Shade at some point. Those are still some incredibly terrifying things.

Yet this time, she’s itching to open the door.

It's not just the fear she feels anymore, she realizes. She can feel the pulse of excitement twitching at the ends of her fingers, too.

To search every nook, cranny, and crevice for the rest of the family. The thrill of Pubert’s face as they burst into the kid’s room, as much enthusiasm and excitement to see her as when she yanked him from the jaws of a lion. The awe of Grandmama and Ophelia as they watched the way they worked together to solve the puzzles. A goofy quip of Fester’s to somehow make Enid feel like she could solve anything thrown at her. The relief and pride on Gomez and Morticia’s faces when they burst through to their puzzle room to find a way out.

Her hands start to warm the cold metal under her palm.

She’s still scared, sure, and there were a lot of things she still needed to sort out within her.

Yet, she felt the light bouncing of the anticipation from Cousin Whatt against her shoulders. The steady presence of Thing and Pugsley behind her, offering their lighter and slightly calmer dispositions for her to lean on and borrow to help stave off the nerves.

And then there was Wednesday.

Always Wednesday.

For the first time since she got thrown into this mess, the eager anticipation of hers might outweigh the fears, even for just a moment.

Enough just to see what lies in store next for them.

As she began to twist the knob of the door, the receding sound of footsteps stuck out in her mind first. Upon looking at the source of the noise, she can’t help the little double-take she happens to make when Wednesday instead backs away from their group, from the door, and retreats further back into the room.

After a couple of disbelieving blinks at an action she didn’t expect, she pipes up.

“Um…Wens. The door is this way.” Enid chimed sarcastically as she watched the girl begin to lock in to whatever ideas she was concocting within her head.

A slight pause in her cadence, a soft look of intrigue focused on the wolf. She turned around and continued to press further back.

“After that intensely dramatic display of yours earlier, I wouldn’t have supposed that you, of all people, truly wish to depart without a fully formed plan.” The raven tossed the rather amused-sounding question over her shoulder as she remained focused on a particular task she had yet to share with the rest of the group, leaving Pugsley and Enid lightly stunned as they both simply watched the girl’s movements from behind her.

The werewolf felt the warm prickle of a small bout of embarrassment climb up her neck at the thought of herself not even considering that idea of Wednesday’s in the first place, especially since she got so worked up not all that long ago.

“Right. Yeah, that probably makes more sense to not just barrel right in.” The boy sighs at himself for not thinking of that before his sister. He scratched at the back of his head as he and Enid beside him shared this unspoken look at one another.

One that easily recollected the way the pair of them, including cousin Whatt, had rather quickly found themselves facing off with a pack of spectral hounds that landed them both here in a matter of minutes after their initial bout of freedom.

Wednesday draws closer to the bookshelf in the back of the room. Her eyes were scanning the shelves, her hand hovering as it lightly grazed against the spines of various books. Leafing around the shelves at eye level, she focuses intently on her task at hand with an observant expression, clearly ready to pluck whatever she was looking for at a moment’s notice.

Enid realized that she was engrossed, looking for something specific.

“As permanently tempting as the idea of charging headfirst into pure chaos and odds that are stacked against us sounds, I surmised that I made my intention clear to you earlier, Enid.”

Another blink, this time filled with confusion.

“Intention? What was your intention again?” Enid hesitated for a moment, truly not knowing what Wednesday was referring to.

Wednesday paused again, surprise lightly on display within her.

“When I told you that I was going to do everything within my power to remain by your side as we play this game and overcome it all, together.”

Enid stills as if she were a statue. She tries everything now in her power to keep her eyes from shooting wide. Oh god, here comes the blush creeping up her neck once more. She turtle tucks into her sweater, hiding any sign of it as she feels Pugsley lightly pass a glance her way.

“I need you to understand that I don’t plan to depart from you again. That requires a level of preparation and intentionality within our actions that necessitates careful consideration of every move we make from here on out.” She says, never letting her eyes leave the books she was still scanning on the shelf.

The words are spoken with such a casual note to them, as if she were commenting on the weather or an interesting factoid she came across while studying. It made Enid almost laugh and wish to roll her eyes at the way her stomach was currently somersaulting at Wednesday’s vocalized intentions to stay with her no matter what, which easily sent her emotions into a tailspin.

“All of this to say, we need to come up with a solid plan before we open that door.”

Enid, not trusting her voice here, can only manage a simple hum of agreement. Crossing her arms in front of her and nodding along, she slightly folds into herself. Altogether, just simply waiting for Wednesday to find whatever it is that she was looking for and hoping the blush upon her neck doesn’t climb up any further.

“Pugsley.” The kid stood a little straighter as his sister addressed him.

“Do you remember some of the personal projects you mentioned to me that you’d be working on before I left for Nevermore?” Having now scanned the first two shelves that were within her line of sight, she gently drops into a squat, finger now grazing the spines against the books on the lowest shelves.

Enid watches as the boy scratches at his jaw in contemplation.

“Which one are we talking about here? I’m always coming up with some new projects to work on in my free time, and that was kinda a long while ago.”

“Your bombs.”

“I’m sorry, did you just say bombs?” Enid’s sudden shock pulled her out of the lovesick stupor of hers for a time, yet the cry of hers seemed to fall upon deaf ears.

“Oh, those! Yeah, of course I have. I’ve been perfecting a few!” Pugsley proceeds to count the ideas with his fingers.

“‘The Jolly Chimp’ bomb is nearly complete. I’m just working on a few minor kinks. That one induces both actual and psychological harm before exploding on its victims in a slow cymbal countdown to detonation. Always gonna find a use for that one.”

He adds an index finger to the count. “The Fishing Bomb Mark II, perhaps? I’ve been working on the netting system that would release after the explosion and grab all the fish for me without making me go through all of the effort to pluck them out myself. Though I’m having a little trouble picking out the proper netting material, everything gets ripped to shreds before it even has a chance to release.”

Enid doesn't realize that her jaw has dropped, and her under-eyelid begins to twitch slightly as she's listening to him speak everything with such a nonchalant manner as if he's listing off a bunch of groceries he needs to pick up or something.

“No, no, not those. Were you ever able to craft those bombs of yours that inflicted a loud series of ear-splitting auditory noises?”

Pugsley claps his hands loudly in his excitement, and Enid can’t help but flinch a little after all the talk about explosions. Whatt even had to shift his hold upon her.

”Oh! The ‘Sonic Boom Blaster Bombs’? Sure did! Which ones are you specifically referring to, though? The ones with or without an actual blast attached to them?”

The psychic fell into serious contemplation before speaking again.

”Either would be acceptable. In fact, I’d prefer to have both at our disposal. However, the one without an explosion induced afterwards might be more useful within our current situation.”

“Bombs?! Are we seriously talking about bombs right now?” She fights against the growing shrill note in her vocal cords.

“They’re my specialty.” Pugsley’s smirk widened with immense pride as he watched Enid pale at the thought.

“Oh, of course they are. Why does that not surprise me?” The wolf pinches the bridge of her nose to stave off the pressure building behind her eyes.

“Pugsley, do you have any that are finished?”

“Yeah, a few in my workshop.” He shrugs as his sister nods in approval. “I’ve got enough materials to potentially make a few more of whatever ones we need the most.”

“Excellent, Pugsley. We’ll need as many as you can manage to create for us at our disposal.”

Recognition soon flared bright across Wednesday’s expression, almost immediately after speaking. Blue eyes locked onto the girl across from her as she realized that she had finally found whatever it was that she was looking for. Plucking a folded and rather worn-looking square sheet that was surprisingly found somehow tucked pretty tightly in between two incredibly thick novels, the raven moved forward without having to look towards the nearest table.

As she walked, she began unfolding the paper, which quickly quadrupled in size. Wednesday carefully unraveled the sheet within her grasp, pulling the others around her, as if she had her own center of gravity tugging everyone closer to get a good look.

Before it was fully unraveled, Enid could make out a series of detailed lines, a cluster of precise-looking geometric shapes, and a lighter-toned array of background grid lines that covered the entire surface of the top.

Wednesday doesn’t have to motion for Thing and Whatt to come to her aid. The pair have already leapt into action, hopping onto the tabletop and helping the girl carefully place the sheet upon the flat surface without tearing or wrinkling it. It allowed the rest of the class to gather around her to see what the big deal was.

Enid smooths a flat palm around a stray and curling corner of the paper, studying the intricate blueprint that now covered the entire expanse of the table, jaw ever so slightly going slack at the realization of what exactly she was staring at.

“Don’t tell me…is this supposed to be your house? Looks more like the blueprint of a highly guarded fortress, or a mad-scientist’s secret lair.” Enid teases, but it is encased within her impressed tone. She began to trace an awe-struck finger over a detailed grouping of lines that was labeled in such a tight script.

She squinted hard at the series of lines, since it was difficult to discern what exactly anything was. She lifted her fingers and wiggled them in surprise the moment they touched the lines. She didn’t expect the texture to be as waxy as it was.

Wednesday didn’t fail to observe her astonishment, and in response, she curled her thumb at the edge of the bottom of the paper only after whispering her name to gain her best friend’s attention. Enid watched that black-nailed thumb raise and lift the top layer, revealing that this map was actually several layers thick, each one imprinted upon this waxy, tracing paper that allowed you to see all the way through, much to Enid’s brilliant shock.

The map quickly gets more legible as Wednesday continues to flip through. Enid notices that each layer had detailed out its individually unique form of information about the mansion in some way. Wednesday intentionally shifted the layers she didn’t need out of the main frame, leaving only one left that sat atop the base layer, which only had the simple structural information about the building they all found themselves in.

And that singular layer, the wolfling couldn’t help but notice the label hovering close to her hand that dictated this particular series of lines and notes as all of the hidden alcoves, levers, triggers, and passageways found throughout the entirety of the building coiled within like a series of pipelines running throughout a city.

“This was what I wanted to find first before we dare to leave that door,” Wednesday spoke in hushed tones as she already dove into a mode of deep analysis. She then reaches around Enid to yank on the bag holding fast against Pugsley’s back, twisting a hand under the top flap and rooting around inside until she wrapped her fingers around what she wanted and yanked out a notepad and pen to flip open to a fresh page ready to be marked up with her notes.

“How did you know this map was going to be in here?” An amazed whisper exhaled from the wolf as she leaned over the map herself, staring at the loose script, spiraling notes, and sketches of the layout with profound awe in her sparkling eyes.

“It was Wednesday’s idea.” Enid angled her head to listen to Pugsley at her opposite side. “We have maps of the house hidden in almost every room. It was specifically set up and meant to be used in this game.” He continues, but his sentence goes quiet towards the end as he watches Enid fully face him now with a unique kind of building intensity upon her face.

“You’re joking. In every room?!” The wolf’s tone strengthens after learning that the shrinking boy before her was well aware of this fact the entire time.

“N-not every room, E.” He failingly attempts to soothe the blonde. His apologetic hands hover in front of his face in case she decides to lash out at him.

“Did Pugsley not show you the one in the room you two were last in? He knows where most of them are since he aided me and the rest of the family to place them in various locations throughout the house.”

The bright scoff of disbelief had Pugsley dashing around to the other side of the table, putting as much space between himself and the sharp-clawed wolf girl with a glare that could strike enough electric energy to knock one straight into the floor.

Wednesday simply watched the exchange between the two with an almost bored-looking expression.

“I’ll take that as a no, then.”

“Pugsley?! Are you serious right now?” Enid slapped her palms on the table, shaking the legs with her strength. The shrillness in her voice made the siblings wince.

“They’re not the easiest thing to read. These maps have so many layers of information that I forget what they’re all meaning to say, ya know?"

“They all have labels.” The wolf plucked a stray sheet of paper from Thing’s hand for display, pointing at the corner to emphasize her point. “How hard is it to read a label!?”

“If the two of you don’t shut up, I’ll stab first and ask questions later. Can’t you two see that I’m trying to focus?” Wednesday’s tongue clicked loudly, enough to nip the growing argument in the bud as she continued to furiously scribble in her neat, calligraphic scrawl already halfway down through the next page.

“That workshop of yours, Pugsley. It’s on the third floor, over here.” She tapped the backside of her pen twice against the far side of the map, entirely on the other side of the dark ring that Wednesday had already circled to indicate the room they were currently holed up in.

If that wasn’t enough, Enid watched, eyebrows shooting straight up, as Wednesday flipped to another page entirely. One that indicated a different floor of the house.

“Two floors above us, on the far opposite side of the house.” Another dark ring was struck into the paper with a quick flick of her wrist. “That’s our goal.”

“What the hell, Wends?” Enid huffed in light humor and tilted her head in disbelief, “Pugs and I could barely make it to the opposite side of the hall. How do you plan to get us all that way without a bunch of ghost dogs hunting us down and tearing our little group apart?”

Wednesday studies the disbelief on the blonde’s face. It was subtle at first, but Enid almost visibly gulped as she watched those copper orbs change before her. The switch was mesmerizing, Enid realized. They began to glow with a kind of fire held within them.

“Do you trust me?”

Enid’s humor and disbelief melted away almost immediately from holding her warm gaze, ready to take on the wolf’s challenge.

“Of course I trust you.” Her tone went entirely serious, matching Wednesday’s own.

“Alright then. We may have to take a detour once or twice, but I swear to you that I’ll find a way to take us all to where we need to go, without losing each other in the process.”

The blonde stood a little straighter at hearing those words from her best friend. She also did everything within her to will that shiver down her spine to remain unseen by the party that surrounds her.

And with that, Wednesday dove into finalizing her notes, making stray markings upon the wax paper, outlining various routes, and organizing the underlined scrawl of the map into carefully planned inscriptions upon the lined paper.

“This is her kind of specialty. As frustrating as it is to be paired with her and have her screw up the difficulty of the puzzles,” Pugsley begins to whisper to Enid, earning a sharp glare from his sister in between her bouts of writing. “Truly, no one knows the ins and outs of this house like my sister does.”

Enid already figured that was the case, but now she was especially looking forward to seeing it in action if Pugsley offered his sister such high praise within earshot.

As the group waits for Wednesday to finalize her plans, Enid takes a moment to observe the paper more closely. She’s stunned at the script and the amount of hidden passageways and trapdoors, switches and levers that all lead to various changes throughout the manor. She can’t help but find herself rather impressed with it all.

She once thought it was pure luck that she and Whatt had stumbled into a hidden passage through the kid’s previous knowledge of the layout of the house; now she realized that there were so many of them that it was almost inevitable that they stumbled across at least one or two of them on an initial pass.

“Pugsley.“

Wednesday cuts off her train of thought as she indicates a particular series of notes to her brother.

“What do you think of prioritizing the lower levels initially in favor of utilizing some of the systems we have in place down there to get us to a higher elevation quickly without running into levels that notoriously have more of the packs patrolling the halls?”

The wolf found herself thankful to be pulled out of her thoughts; she discovered that watching the two siblings come together to formulate a plan without jumping down one another's throats was far more fascinating to watch unfold.

“This passageway you’ve marked here still has that collapsed statue structure from when Dad and I needed to buy some more time.” Pugsley pointed at a particular section of the map that they must have been discussing.

Wednesday sighed. “Right. Can’t use that path then. That tunnel system is a centralized passage that connects to numerous branching paths. We’d block too many options our group might need to adjust to on a moment’s notice if we head in that direction.” Pursing her lips at her brother in slight disapproval. “It’s fine to collapse a route when you need to, but we have to start marking off which ones need repair after the fact.” The kid shrugged, since he didn’t have a valid argument against that.

Their back-and-forth conversation went on like this for another few minutes. Though it didn't take long for Wednesday to finally tear the papers she’d marked out of her notebook, only to carefully fold them and place the series of them in her back pocket for a quick reference if she needed it.

She suddenly stood up and away from the table, only to then grab her brother by the shoulders, spinning him around so she had the backpack he was carrying facing directly towards her.

Rooting around inside the pack once more, the raven pulled out this black cylindrical object that easily fit within a two-handed grasp. Deft hands pulled at the tie that was holding the roll together and carefully let the object unfurl on top of the table and over the map she had just drawn.

Enid doesn't know why she keeps being surprised like she is right now, but she can't help the way that her eyebrows shoot up in her intrigue as she watches the roll unfurl to reveal a series of small daggers tucked away across the length of the canvas. Wednesday plucks one dagger after another and starts to tuck them all away into various parts of her outfit. At a casual glance, you wouldn't have realized that the dark, yet casual-looking monochrome outfit could carry as many knives as it did.

Enid had watched her tuck each one away into its unique place upon her person, yet couldn’t detect them with her rather keen eyes after they were each placed.

“What the hell do you need those for?” Enid can’t help the slight smirk growing against her cheeks amidst the crease upon her brow as she watched Wednesday adeptly twirl the last of the thin knives between the fingers of a single hand of hers. She then nestles the weapon into a hidden hold somewhere upon her ribcage.

“An Addams always has a few on hand for any occasion.” Wednesday tilted her head as she offered a roundabout answer with her twist of singular amusement attached to it.

“That’s her way of saying-“

“You’ll see…I know.” She says with feigned exasperation as she shakes her head and rolls her eyes, finishing Pugsley’s sentence for him. He released an amused scoff as he adjusted the pack to fall into a more comfortable position upon his back.

After all that, Wednesday snaps her fingers twice. Thing leapt up upon her shoulder, as he had before when they had only just solved the room’s puzzle. Enid felt her shoulders soon after bear the light weight of her little monkey. The kid took that as his cue to be prepared for the trek that the group was now fully ready to embark on.

Wednesday lifted an open palm to gesture Enid towards the doorknob she had held earlier, letting her friend do the honors.

“Like I said before, when this door opens, I’m leading our pack. Stay behind me, stay silent, and do everything exactly as I say.”

Four distinct nods responded to Wednesday’s order in turn.

“Let’s get this show on the road, then.”

 

-----------------

Even breaths, quiet feet? Check.

Steady pacing, honed senses? Check.

Not that the last one was gonna help much with the hounds, Enid realized with a start. She remembered how close she had to draw to the pack of them guarding the entrance before she even realized they were there.

Carefully padding one tender step after another, she shifted her feet quietly along the carpet runner that spanned the maze-like hallways in a train with the rest of her pack. She found herself in the center of the group, nestled between Wednesday, who was just before her, guiding their every move with pointed looks and silent and snapping signals of her hand. There was Pugsley at her back, shifting his feet to match where Enid placed her own, who heard even the slightest hint of a creak in the floorboard below before the sound could even entirely be made.

She could also hear the soft flicker of the fires sustained in the mounted candelabras, and the stifled air throughout the house had a unique movement against her skin. It was almost as if she could feel the very vibrations in the air now, pulsing against her like her own kind of ‘spidey sense’. If only any of that could help her figure out where the hounds resided, this game might be a breeze.

It was amazing to her how quickly she’s adapted to her wolf-born edge. She’s heard stories of some wolf kids seemingly taking years to get their bearings. She only became fully aware of it a few days ago at Wednesday’s unique little teaching in the depths of the Black Forest, just before the hunt. Gosh, was that only a couple of days ago? It felt like ages at this point.

Although she couldn't fully utilize her skill against the hounds, those things evidently fell into a category between the living and the dead. She still found that her general awareness had increased dramatically. She’s already at a level where it feels so natural to turn on; to tell the truth, she didn’t know how she ever managed to live without it.

Wednesday moves in a way that catches Enid’s eye, quieting her inner thoughts. The girl softens her steps till she comes to a gentle pause. Her palm flares to her side, motioning for her party to halt to a complete stop. The psychic angles her head, giving room for Thing to leap over her neck and into the floor.

Enid let her eyes trail around the raven’s dark braids before her to find that they were already coming up to the end of the hall, which was dangerous territory.

After his graceful landing, the hand scattered towards the looming corner before them, each of his digits carefully placed to not draw any unwanted attention towards himself. Propped just at the edge now, he began curling his fingers around the corner to spy on what lies just ahead of them all.

The group waited with baited breath. They almost expected Thing to sign for aid, to run, for them all to watch helplessly as a hunter spun the corner and grabbed him up first.

Instead of any of that unfolding before their eyes, Thing curled back around to offer a simple thumbs up, indicating they were in the clear for at least another length of a hallway. Enid let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding.

Another moment passed them by to allow Thing to regain his place, for Wednesday to offer a curl of her fingers, the quiet signal indicating that they all begin to move forward once more.

As they continued down the passage, past the corner, her right hand hovered away from her hip, making it hard to miss for everyone behind her. Those black nailed fingers shifted around quickly in mid-air. Enid wanted to raise her brow at this motion of hers, but she blinked instead. A thought had shot like static across her mind.

Staircase at the end. Up ahead. To the left.

Brilliant blue eyes widened in surprise when she realized that she could understand what was being communicated by Wednesday, using Thing’s personal brand of sign language. She then shifted her head to capture a glance behind her, catching the eye of Pugsley doing precisely what she suspected he was, paying close attention to Wednesday’s hand as she continued to sign.

Her hair bounced around her face as her head snapped forward. Wends must be using the language to convey her instructions to Pugsley and Whatt. It’s amazing to her how the entire Addams family can use the hands' language as their way to communicate. She found herself incredibly thankful that she took a lot of time that first semester to make friends with Thing and learn how he speaks.

It's been instrumental now in several cases. She’ll have to eventually let Wednesday know that she can understand most of what is being said the next time they get a chance to speak aloud without the potential danger of separation lurking around every corner.

Before she lowered it back down to her side, Wednesday picked up on a new series of hand motions.

Wolf. Have *furball?* Check stairs. Wait until close.

Furball? What in the world was she trying to say? Was she referring to Whatt?

Wait a minute. Wolf…? That looks an awful lot like the hand motion Thing uses to refer to herself-

Whoa whoa, was Wednesday using sign language to speak to her?!

Enid suddenly fought a hidden smile budding on her cheeks, born of pure surprise. Wednesday had already picked up that she could understand that entirely on her own. She was amazed. They never once talked about it. She always assumed that Wednesday was still under the impression that Thing and her just kept writing letters to one another like they did for months on end to communicate, somewhat earlier on in their friendship.

She never remembered Wednesday being around to see Thing talking to her using sign language, and she didn’t recall catching her signing to Thing. So, she wondered how Wednesday knew she could understand?

Wednesday shifted her head to look directly at Enid out of the corner of her eyes while they all pressed forward—another soft set of hand movements.

Do you understand, Wolf?

Enid’s blues shifted from her hand to those rich copper eyes, clearly waiting for a response.

Oh! Um. Although she could mostly understand it, it doesn’t mean she knew how to speak that way herself, only a few of the basics. She was still learning after all.

Enid nodded frantically, offering a simple thumbs up, trying to make it evident to everyone that she could indeed understand what was being quietly shared. She completely forgot how to sign ‘yes’ at this moment. Dang, and that was one of the first ones she learned, too.

Wednesday stared at the thumbs up Enid offered her for a beat longer than necessary, making the wolf wonder if she understood what she meant by that. Only after those dark eyes snapped back up to Enid’s did the blonde realize that there was an air of amusement there at Enid’s chosen response to her question.

Shaking her head lightly as she turned back to face forward, only then did Enid let her smile pull at her cheeks. It was clear that the raven took that positive response for what it was and seemed satisfied with it in her sarcastic way.

Once they got close enough to the stairs, Enid lightly jostled her shoulder. A quiet indication to Whatt that it was time to make their move.

Enid quietly shifted to the left side of the hall, placing a flat palm on the dark, two-toned striped wallpaper, creating a bridge between Whatt’s hold on her back and the area he needed to start moving to.

The soft prickle of budding baby monster claws in the area around her wrist could be felt even underneath her sweater. The kid used those claws to latch onto the wall without any kind of issue, holding fast and scurrying towards the edge to survey the area before them like Thing did just before.

Three pairs of eyes stayed glued to the kid, never letting him out of their collective sight. Enid felt her heart race in her chest, her claws quivering in her nailbeds. She curiously found herself ready to leap up the wall and rip the kid away at the first sign of anything else being present close to them.

A soft gulp down her dry throat, a repressed noise she had to swallow that was born of concern.

It only took a second for Whatt to curl carefully around the corner, and then bounce back, fur preening in a cute way as he jutted out a tiny little hand from the mound of fluff that covered every inch of his body, offering his little thumbs up that he hovered in the air imitating the one Enid did moments before.

Enid fought an enormous sigh of relief that wanted to burst from her chest. She lifted her hands into the air, curling her fingers into her palm in a way that invited the kid to come back to her. He silently leaped in the air, causing Wednesday to have to slightly duck her head as he softly landed in Enid’s outstretched arms, ready to catch him.

Only once he was secure once more, Wednesday led the way to begin climbing the spiral staircase that would take them to the second, then hopefully the third floor, soon after, without any issues presented to them.

The group moved so much more slowly up the stairs, attempting to be very careful with each step. Wednesday curled her right hand around her back, offering some simple instructions on their next steps once they arrived on the third floor. According to the Raven’s signs, she indicated that Pugsley’s workshop wasn’t all that much further of a trek—only a handful of rooms down past the landing of the stairs.

Enid was waiting for Wednesday to finish her series of signs, indicating the number of rooms down the workshop and which side of the hall the room would be on, left or right.

Enid noticed that she stopped signing in an odd place, letting her hand just hover and splay out strangely against the small of her back.

She had softened her quiet steps to a complete stop, freezing in place for a few seconds too long for Enid’s taste. The wolf carefully shifted her body around so she could peek in between the little gap beside Wednesday’s left, since the girl was currently blocking most of her view.

Enid was helpless to the loud gasp ripped straight out of her throat, watching Wednesday now stare face to face with a massive body made of void-like black fur, green flickering flames dancing from within the empty and expansive eye sockets of a black hound that was currently standing off with the Raven, as if daring her to make the first move. It looked upon them in a taunting-like way, straight at them from its vantage point at the landing of the second floor, merely ten steps above their heads.

“Oh shit.” Pugsley broke their tense silence as he breathed out in his shock from behind Enid, angled himself in a small gap to Wednesday and Enid’s right, looking at the scene unfolding before them in his kind of horror.

The noise caused the hound to stir, cocking a terrifying head to the side, pressing one massive black paw at the edge of the landing, all slow and careful. A soft growl was building in the back of his throat. Enid knew precisely what that motion of the dog’s meant.

One beast to another. He was taking his sweet time to play with his prey a little before finally hunting them all down. This surely wasn't going to end well, Enid felt the thought shiver down her spine.