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Chapter Text

The sheer second the familiar tingle dancing up her spine made itself known, Wednesday felt deep resignation. Once the contents of the vision flashed before her mind’s eye, it morphed in to a tired kind of dread.

Wednesday’s acceptance of her raven abilities fluctuated constantly. In the beginning, the ability to potentially change the outcome of a stranger or other’s cruel fate felt like a blessing. Admittedly, that was largely because the power she felt warding off death and violence made her feel like something of a god, rather than just pure goodwill, but nonetheless, she was grateful for it.

However, as Wednesday matured, her powers did with her. Over the summer at home, and continuing as she returned to Nevermore, her visions were occurring almost every other physical touch. And serving to irritate her even more, they were largely nonsensical and discardable.

But what was considerably worse than useless visions, were inevitable ones. Wherein Wednesday knew she wouldn’t be able to change the outcome, often because she simply wouldn’t make it in time. Those visions were always accompanied by a tantalizing existential dread, but the dread Wednesday felt after being unintentionally brushed by the principal’s wrist wasn’t because she wouldn’t be able to change the outcome of her newest premonition, it was because she knew she would.

She saw four bright flashes pass through her mind, fleetingly.

The statuesque principal elegantly passing through a crowd of casual-wear clad adolescents.

Weems opening the passenger door to her parked car, retrieving something from her bag that apparently wasn’t vital information, as Wednesday’s view of it was blocked by the grey door.

Whilst sauntering through the empty parking lot to return to the festivities, one hand trying to stuff the purse she’d apparently foolishly left behind in to her too small coat pocket, it dropped to the gravel with a smack.

Bending down with a tut to dutifully retrieve it, upon returning to her full six foot three stance, she was promptly connected with the bonnet of an electric car, the sound of the wheels maneuvering along the gravel having been drowned out by the distant yet loud teenagers chattering at the festival.

Wednesday’s eyes snapped open, the vision being so short her neck hadn’t even had a chance to sharply crane backwards, and certainly not long enough for any of her overexcited peers to notice anything was amiss. Enid had cruelly abandoned her to accompany a lonely, stag Divina to the porta potties, since Yoko had some strain of a vampire cold and wasn’t in attendance, but had Enid been there, Wednesday imagined she would’ve clocked her brief episode instantly.

The raven took a grand total of three seconds to process, before abruptly tearing through the crowd, feeling anticipatory annoyance at all the disgustingly saccharine gratitude the English principal was bound to unleash open her in a few minutes when she saved her stupid life.

Feeling a slight tinge of hesitation as she took in the two parking lots before her, Wednesday elected to trust her gut, scampering off to the one on her left, which looked more like the same one from her vision, although the differences between them were scarily minute.

Jogging past an array of cars, on the prowl for Weems, Wednesday almost let herself dissolve in to an undignified touch of panic, before she mercifully heard a car door slam ahead of her, and broke out in to a sprint.

A beige figure soon came in to view, becoming larger and larger as she ran towards it, unfortunately, the same was true of the red car behind the unassuming figure, which was apparently being operated by a blind person. Wednesday didn’t trust Weems would move out the way in time if she yelled, but shouted her name instinctively, nonetheless.

Her head whipped towards her student, her features contorting in confusion, as she appeared to be charging at her.

“Ms Adda—?“ Was all the educator managed to get out, before Wednesday utterly launched herself at her. Flying through the air almost in slow motion with the principal in tow, Wednesday had to admit, violently throwing herself at Weems was something she’d been more than a little tempted to do on multiple occasions last term, and it felt as satisfyingly cathartic as it did all the times she’d fantasized about it when being reamed out for her completely justifiable behavior.

Slamming down on the gravel with her right side taking the brunt of her weight was less fun, but she suspected she had much more torture to endure in her future than some slight physical pain, in the form of obligated kindness.

Pushing herself up with her dominant hand, Wednesday felt a sharp wave of pain spread throughout her wrist, almost startling her. As she quickly considered the position in which she’d landed in, and the moderate agony coursing through the limb, she sighed at the inconvenience of her obviously broken arm, that could’ve been so easily avoided if she’d been in a more logical state of mind and landed correctly.

Glancing to her right, she saw the principal shakily dusting herself off, obviously in more shock than her small savior.

Wednesday was shot a look that was much too soft and emotional, and she quickly pulled her eyes away from it, having to a blink away some feelings; mostly a searing pain reminiscent of how it felt when she’d looked straight at the sun. Weems was about to express her gratitude with words instead of her gaze, when the sound of a car door redirected her focus, much to her student’s relief.

The next five minutes passed in a blur of pain and arguing. Wednesday didn’t participate in the argument herself, but once Weems had gathered herself, a rather heated debate took place with the clearly incapacitated driver, who at least had the decency to exit his vehicle after almost committing manslaughter.

Wednesday was unusually quiet. She’d wanted to leave the festival hours ago, she hadn’t wanted to attend it in the first place, and she couldn’t help but feel a pang of self loathing. The harvest festival wasn’t even mandatory this year, but in an all too common (as of late) moment of weakness, she’d made an unfortunate promise to her roommate in order for her to stop interrupting her writing time with her unruly begging.

The aforementioned werewolf made an appearance after literally sniffing Wednesday down, something she was becoming growingly capable of doing after wolfing out last term. Wednesday hated it.

Divina was following in suit, both of the girls asking what had happened, observing Wednesday stood in silence as Weems had it out with a swaying mustached man.

“I had a vision.” Wednesday stated, unhelpfully, her eyes locked on Weems, finding it a little strange not to be on the receiving end of her wrath.

“Of wha—? Oh.. my shit.. your arm.” Enid interrupted herself in shock, jaw dropping as she paled at the sight of her bestie’s un-straight arm dangling at her side that Weems had miraculously failed to notice.

“I believe I’ve displaced my radius.”

“Wow.” Divina remarked, vaguely horrified.

“That’s— ok, you need— you’re gonna, that’s—“ Enid cut herself off with a whimper, breathing heavily. Wednesday half expected her to pass out, although, after the events of last term, Enid was becoming pretty desensitized to gore.

“Principal Weems!” Enid yelled for help, earning her heated gaze, although it was intended for the drunken man. “Wednesday-arm-wrong way-help!”

Enid begged, swallowing to will her nausea away, having lost the ability to speak in full sentences. It did the job, however, and the principal quickly returned to her hero’s side, now aware she’d injured herself in the process of saving her, and rather disgustingly at that.

“Oh, my.”

Weems remarked, weakly, biting back her initial instinct to scream, desperately clinging on to her rapidly depleting source of professionalism.

Wednesday was mildly amused at the horror she was causing everyone. Enid couldn’t look, Divina couldn’t stop looking, and Weems was obviously trying to decide what to do next.

“I’m going to call emergency services.” She managed to say, the cadence of her voice sounding slightly askew.

“I don’t need an ambulance.” Wednesday naturally declined.

“Yes, you do.” All three women said at the same time: Her roommate almost in tears, the siren almost amused at the ridiculous notion of denial, and the principal sounding understandably strict.

“I need to phone the sheriff, anyway, he reeks of alcohol.” Weems said, with a withering glance at the drunken man, who was now sat on the floor by his car, clearly not exactly a criminal mastermind, and appeared to be feeling a little guilty now.

“Do not move, Ms Addams.” Weems ordered, taking her phone out her pocket and stepping away, doing some kind of hand signal to Enid and Divina, then unsubtly directing it at Wednesday, clearly emphasizing her point: Don’t let her go anywhere.

“Did you get hit by a car?!” Enid asked, in a manner which Wednesday personally deemed was overly dramatic.

“No. I was stopping Weems getting hit. I landed incorrectly. It was foolish, I knew better.” Wednesday finally explained, genuinely frustrated at herself for her perceived failure.

“Yeah, shame on you, saving the principal’s life.” Divina said in jest, though the look on her face didn’t exactly convey amusement.

“Do you want to sit down?” Enid asked, concerned about her friend, and wanting to do something useful.

“I didn’t break my legs, Enid.”

“Yeah, I—“ She sighed, deciding to go about it a different way; a tried and tested technique she’d developed for getting Wednesday to listen to her when she was being short sighted. “Well, I need to sit down, before I fall down, and Weems has to call another ambulance.”

Enid didn’t tell Wednesday to follow her, she just walked between two cars to the nearby bench, leaving Divina and Wednesday in each other’s uncomfortable company.

The seer decided to quickly follow Enid, being trailed herself, by the siren, who elected to hover by the bench instead of sitting, for whatever reason.

Wednesday rolled down her jacket sleeve, slightly, peeking at her arm with a curiosity that Enid clearly didn’t share.

“Oh my god, please don’t touch it, Wednesday.”

“I’m looking.” She defended herself to her distressed friend, doing just that. “I could touch it, anyway. It would be easy to reduce, I hardly need an ambulance. It’s an extravagance.”

“You’re not a doctor, Wednesday. What if it needs, like, surgery or something?”

“That’s not likely.”

“Oh, well, as long as it’s unlikely!” Enid exclaimed, this time in a fashion that just about anybody would agree was dramatic, however, it was likely justifiable.

“It’s so floppy.” Divina remarked.

Enid leant her head back in exacerbation, sure she was in hell.

Once the paramedics arrived, Wednesday shared that sentiment. She was forced to lay on the gurney like an invalid, being handled with kid gloves by the overly sweet EMTs.

They had originally wanted to bring the gurney out and wheel her in on it, but she drew the line at that demeaning notion, bypassing the nervous paramedics and climbing in to the ambulance herself, much to everyone’s chagrin.

She lay in relative peace on the way to the hospital. The sirens blared annoyingly above her head, but with her arm splinted and immobilized, she was at least grateful she wasn’t currently being doted on.

She was much more relaxed now that she was alone. Free to let her mind wander. It wandered to Enid, who had begged the paramedics to allow her to accompany her friend in the ambulance, and been politely denied, leaving her upset.

Wednesday was genuinely happy to be alone, but knowing Enid was also alone, she would’ve preferred to be unhappy with her.

It wasn’t that she had a problem with Enid’s company. Enid’s company was exceedingly tolerable. But there were certain instances, typically wherein she was feeling particularly vulnerable, where being alone was preferable. This was unequivocally one of them, and regardless, she’d reached her social interaction limit hours before her arm had been snapped in half.

Her thoughts were slowly growing fuzzy as the unnamed drug injected in to her good arm minutes ago seemed to be kicking in. Wednesday adamantly didn’t want painkillers, she wanted to remain in control of her faculties, but apparently, nobody cared what she wanted today.

If she was being honest with herself, it felt like she was wrapped up in a warm cloud of euphoria, and she’d never felt anything like it. But Wednesday was seldomly honest with herself, so she stubbornly kept up her sullen exterior.

Her arm didn’t remotely hurt anymore, she wasn’t entirely sure it was even there, and was suddenly too tired to ever turn her head to look, deciding it didn’t matter.

She felt like a cadaver as she was being wheeled in to the ER, everybody talking over her and doing whatever they pleased. She vaguely recalled being concerned in the ambulance that Weems and Enid were following in the car, and would see her doped up. In her current state, she truly couldn’t have cared less.

The following hours passed by in flashes, much like the vision that had caused all of this. Annoying people in scrubs touching her far too much, a large machine hovering over her arm, she recalled seeing Enid, hearing Weems, a mask held over her face, then sleep.

Upon waking, Wednesday was immediately and immensely confused. She initially thought she was coming to from a vision, as the sensation was very similar, but whatever was happening to her in the present was apparently much longer lasting. The world was too bright, the room was too cold, and she found herself grieving her missing cloud of euphoria.

The door opened, a short blonde woman coming in and approaching, cheerfully. “Oh, look who’s awake. Your friend’s gonna be happy, she was very worried.” The nurse murmured, jotting down her vitals from the annoying, beeping machines on a clipboard. “Do you want some water?”

“What di’ you do to my arm?” Wednesday asked, suspiciously, though her voice came out much weaker than she intended or expected, embarrassingly so; at least to her.

The nurse chuckled slightly, pouring some water for her despite her non-answer. “Well, I didn’t do anything. But the surgeon very kindly realigned your radius, which will be good as new in about six weeks.”

The nurse bravely held the cup of water in front of her grumpy patient’s face. Wednesday eyed the straw with contempt, but her thirst was undeniable. She drew her glare up to the nurse as she sucked the straw, who remained annoyingly unbothered as she met Wednesday’s temporarily massive pupils.

“Don’t go too crazy.” The nurse teased, pulling the water away as she drank almost all of it. “Are you ready for your friend to come in?”

“Enid… was right.” Wednesday proclaimed, oddly, the words feeling strange on her tongue, which felt like it didn’t fit properly in her mouth.

“What was Enid right about?” The nurse inquired, sounding slightly patronizing, more than used to patients coming off of anesthesia.

“She…” Wednesday sighed, trying to speak her mind, which felt muddled and wrong. “I would say I told you so, but she won’t.” She slurred, pretty extensively. 

“Right. So, is that a yes?”

“Call in the hounds.” She mumbled, staring forwards vacantly.

The nurse left with a smirk, soon returning with her favourite person. And Weems.

“Wednesday.” Enid spoke her name, softly, approaching apprehensively, despite being violently desperate to see her bestie just a few minutes ago. Weems and the nurse spoke out of earshot.

“I told you so.” Wednesday said slowly, sounding unlike herself.

“What did you tell me?” Enid asked, gently, confused.

“No. No, you told me.”

Enid’s face softened slightly, becoming aware that Wednesday was clearly not all there, and trying very hard not to find it funny. “Okay. What did I tell you?”

“Arm…” She mumbled, moving her heavily casted arm slightly. “They… sur…gered.”

“Oh. Yeah. I mean, I didn’t really know. Just figured it probably wasn’t a good idea for you to go all mad scientist and pop it back yourself. Even though it sounds very on brand. They said they had to do the surgery because your bone was too far out of place, and like, unstable, or something.” Enid explained, although she wasn’t sure how much Wednesday would understand or remember, and she didn’t understand much of the medical jargon herself.

“Radius.”

Enid folded her lips together, not wanting to confuse Wednesday further with her unsanctioned amusement. “That’s the one.”

“There’s two.” Wednesday mumbled by way of correcting her, appearing nearly concerned.

Before Enid could even begin to formulate a response to placate this peculiar version of Wednesday, Weems blessedly approached, distracting Wednesday from her spiral. “Oh, no.” She expressed, the loudest she’d managed to speak yet, staring undeniably straight at the principal as she did, succeeding in mortifying her roommate.

“Good to have you back with us, Ms Addams.” Weems said, struggling to take anything she said to heart. After having her life saved by her, words felt trivial.

“Can I be in my dorm?”

“Provided you don’t take a turn for the worse, you’re going to be discharged in an hour.” She explained, parroting what the nurse had told her. “But I think it might be wise for you to rest in the infirmary until you’ve come off of the anesthesia.”

Wednesday face visibly contorted in indignation. “That’s preposterous. I will not stand for it. You will allow me to return to my dorm, or you will rue this moment.” The threat was ever so slightly diminished by the fact she could barely move and slurred the entire way through.

“Wednesday.” Enid chided, disapprovingly.

Before Weems could respond to the empty threat from her stoned student, Wednesday tried a different approach, clearly having zero shame playing this card: “I saved your life. My only request is to be returned to my room.” Weems scoffed slightly, a knowing look on her face. “I saved the school last year.” Wednesday brought up, for good measure.

“I’d keep an eye on her.” Enid added, meekly, selfishly not wanting Wednesday away from her any longer. Waiting for her to get out of surgery was the longest hour of her life, despite repeated reassurances from various nurses and her principal that it was a very standard and safe operation.

Weems sighed at her exhausting students.  “I’ll see how coherent you are when we arrive, and make my decision. But I make neither of you any promises.”

“Sounds fair.” Enid grinned, hopefully.

“No, it doesn’t, I should get what I want.” Wednesday mumbled, a little whiningly.

“Wednesday!” Enid whisper-yelled.

Arriving back at Nevermore, Weems could clearly see, Wednesday was hardly any more sober than she had been at the hospital, aside from regaining her ability to walk and generally operate her limbs. The entire drive back she’d been staring out the window as if she’d never sent the outside world before. It was a little jarring to see her typically deadpan student this way, but Enid seemed to handle her well.

The rational part of her knew she should probably drop her off at the infirmary, but she was slightly blinded (or, at the very least, biased) by the fact the sullen raven had saved her life, and it seemed to be trumping her professional responsibilities. However, as she deliberated in her head, Weems reasoned that Wednesday would likely just sleep off the high wherever she was, and it’s not like she’d be alone. So, in an act of mercy, the principal reluctantly allowed her student to return to her dormitory as she so clearly created, giving Enid strict instructions to keep a close eye on her, and to come knocking if she felt she was in over her head.

“Ok, home sweet home.” Enid announced, sweetly, opening the door for Wednesday, following suit after she shuffled in, shutting the door with a click.

Enid tentatively planted a seed, hoping Wednesday was feeling rational enough to understand what was good for her. “So… You probably wanna go straight to bed?” Although really, she should’ve known better.

“Of course. After my writing hour.” Wednesday said, immediately heading to her desk, her emphasis still sounding utterly jumbled.

“Oh.” Enid approached, cautiously, fidgeting behind her compromised roommate as she typed with one hand. “Are you sure you don’t wanna… maybe just go to sleep? You could do two hours of writing tomorrow to make up for it? It can’t be easy with only one arm.”

“My arm will still be in encased in fiberglass tomorrow, Enid. I will be forced to adapt regardless, it doesn’t ma’er when I do it.” She replied, wrinkling her nose then scratching it with her cast.

The wolf knew this was likely a losing battle, so she decided to just take what she could get, which was sometimes all she could do with Wednesday. She was sat down, and somewhere Enid could clearly see her, that was something. Especially since Wednesday was a bolter. Regretfully, Yoko once made a joke, the contents of which suggested Enid should purchase one of those leashes for wandering toddlers to reign in her roomie, which resulted in Wednesday refusing to join the group in the cafeteria for any meals for three days.

“Ok. Do you, like, need… anything?” Enid pondered, unsurely.

“Silence and solitude.”

“Right. I’ll just… be over here then.” Enid told her, retreating to her bed to begin her own nightly routine of social media and homework; mostly the former.

The hour was flying by, the night seeming almost typical, aside from the pace of the clicking and clacking of the typewriter sounding lazier than usual.

Giggling quietly at one of her favourite Fur influencer’s skit TikTok, Enid blinked as her phone buzzed from a text from Divina, realizing she hadn’t given her an update for a while.

Urchin 🧜‍♀️: Yo, how’s your emo? You guys back yet?

Enid sent a photo of Wednesday’s back where she sat hunched over her typewriter, instead of an explanation with words.

Urchin 🧜‍♀️: Correct me if I’m wrong, but r u not supposed to like idk rest after surgery?

Sure R 👍 how’s ur vampire?

Urchin 🧜‍♀️: Dramatic as hell, ur lucky yk, if Yoko ever broke a bone i think id have to carry her everywhere and hand feed her grapes or wtvr

End smiled, sadly, typing a sincere response.

Idk about lucky, at least Yoko lets you help her

Urchin 🧜‍♀️: we need to combine them

About to respond and state her agreement with that notion, Enid saw her roommate sloppily standing from her chair and heading to the door, and quickly scrambled off her bed to meet her, sending a half hearted farewell to Divina as she flew over.

“Where are you going?” The fur inquired, a little breathlessly.

“To the bathroom.” The psychic said with an uncharacteristically defensive sass in her tone and narrowed eyes.

“Oh.” Enid hastily opened the door for her, standing to the side of the doorway humbly as her irritated bestie scampered through, stiffly.

Completing their nightly bathroom routine at the same time was not unheard of, but rare, as they usually winded down at slightly different times, that never seemed to completely coincide.

They walked side by side. For once, Enid didn’t have to consciously adjust her walking speed to keep up with her unnecessarily fast friend.

After removing her makeup, Enid found herself subtly observing Wednesday brush her teeth with her left hand, noticing it seemed to be miffing her much more than typing with the wrong hand did, for some reason, based on her somehow more unhappy than usual face.

“Oh, you’ve got a little something there.” Enid gently pointed out, nodding at Wednesday’s black and white striped shirt which had toothpaste accumulating on it.

Wednesday looked down, furrowing her brow, grumbling her displeasure. However, when she didn’t actually do anything other than stare at the mess, Enid took some initiative, and handed her a wet paper towel.

Watching Wednesday uselessly dab at it, Enid felt a wave of pity, and desperately wanted to take over, but knew, even in her unfortunate current state, it would not be well received by her friend.

“Did I get it?” She muttered in question, despite staring at the obviously still-there stain.

“…Yeah. You got it. All gone.” Enid gave up. A small stain on one of the trillion monochrome tops Wednesday owned was not a calamity worthy of all this effort.

Blindly believing her fib, Wednesday allowed Enid to lead her back to their room, fortunately not running in to anyone at the late hour.

Standing aside from the doorway in her usual fashion for this evening, Enid filed in after Wednesday, before abruptly halting in realization as she put her hand in her empty left pocket. “Crap, I left my phone on the sink.”

“That’s very unlike you, Enid.” Wednesday said, sitting on her bed, trying and failing to take off her shoes with one arm, her words sounding equally slurred and accusatory.

“Yeah. Almost like I was distracted by something.” Enid mumbled, heading back to the door, before turning back to her roommate, who was still fumbling with her boots. “I’ll just be a minute.”

She only got an offhand grumble from her distracted roommate, but boldly assumed she couldn’t possibly cause any trouble in what would be a two minute max absence on her part. When she returned from the communal dorm bathroom to a still and silent dorm room, boy, did she eat her words.

“Wednesday?”

Slumping down on a beanbag to begin a well earned break from babying her equally endearing and annoying vampire, Divina felt her finger tips vibrate suddenly.

Alpha 🐺: SOSOSOSOSOSOSOS

What is it?

Alpha 🐺: DIVINA I NEED YOUR HELP I NEEED EVERYOMES HELP SHES GONE

Divina sat up slightly, clarifying the situation with her seemingly panicked friend.

who, Wednesday?

Alpha 🐺:  NO THE PRESIDENT OF SWEDEN WNO DO YOU THINK?

Alpha 🐺: I LEFT FIR A SECOND CUZ I FROGOT MY PHONE FOR THE FIRST EVER AND SHES GONE AND THE DOORS OPEN

Lmao, kinda actin like the dog got out

Divina replied, torn between levity and seriousness.

She not just in the hall or smth?

Alpha 🐺: IM LITERALLY STORMING THE HALLS LIKE A PYSCHO RN SHES NOT HERE SHE COULD BE ANYWHERRE THIS IS AN SOS CODE RED EMERGENCY YOU NEED TO TEXT YOR STUPID NIGHTSHADES AND HELP LOOK WE NEED MANPOWER

Yoko glanced up from her blanket cocoon at the sound of her girlfriend’s delightful chuckle. Divina immediately noticed the rustling, and explained. “Wednesday’s loose somewhere in the school off her face on anesthesia and Enid’s freaking out.”

“I live for this.”

Nightshades Inc.

Divina: SOS, whoever’s awake, converge on the wolf’s den ASAP

Soon enough, five Nightshades were stood in formation before the anxiously pacing wolf.

“Why is my soap opera hour being interrupted?” Bianca directed her inquiry at Divina, who had formally gathered everybody here, but Enid answered, in her antsy frenzy.

“Wednesday broke her arm at the festival, they operated on her, only, like, two hours ago, she’s completely high, and I was supposed to be watching her, and now she’s gone!” She exclaimed with flair, before glancing at Yoko, still a little breathless. “Aren’t you sick?”

Yoko bit her lip to stifle a smirk, correctly anticipating her girlfriend’s coming outburst. “Oh, don’t even talk to me about it, Enid, I swear. She refuses to go to the festival, but when I told her your goth was running riot on copious amounts of anesthesia, of course, Dracula was more than happy to rise from her coffin.”

“It’s High Wednesday! That’s, like, literally on my bucket list of stupid shit I wanna see.” Yoko defended, shamelessly. “Plus, you know, I feel better now.”

“Uh, huh.” Divina deadpanned.

“Ok, nobody is allowed to enjoy this.” Enid stated nervously to the group, as a ground rule. “And we need to hurry, she could be getting further and further.”

“Can’t you just, like, pick up her scent, or whatever?” Kent chimed in.

“I wish, but I’m not even that good at it.” Enid complained. “Sometimes I can in public, but her scent is everywhere here.”

“Should we, like, split up?” Ajax suggested, very reasonably, but still sounded unsure of himself.

There was a chorus of agreement from the small group, except Bianca, who was busy pulling out her phone and quickly typing something on it. Enid’s phone suddenly pinged.

“I added you to the Nightshades group, we should all give updates on where we’ve searched.”

Enid nodded, eager to begin the manhunt. “We need to keep a low profile. Weems already wasn’t sure about letting Wednesday come back to the dorm so soon.”

“If we’re doing a buddy system can I not go with Divina?” Kent requested, sharing his familial love, earning a scowl from his sister.

“Obviously I’d go with her, buddy boy.” Yoko defended her, sassily. “Nobody wants you.”

“I’ll go with Kent.” The nonchalant gorgon supplied, innocently.

“We’d cover more ground alone.” Bianca reasoned, and had Enid’s immediate support, as she headed towards the door: “Yeah, everyone split up, text when you find her. Oh, and thanks for helping!” Enid’s manic voice faded as she speed-walked away, more focused on her missing roommate than social niceties.

“I was always great at Where’s Waldo. I’m totally winning this.” Kent bragged, as the entire group headed off as well, though considerably slower than the distressed wolf, about to split up.

"Not a competition, Kent.” Divina rolled her eyes.

“Yeah, it’s not even a competition, because we’re obviously gonna win.” Yoko purposefully misinterpreted.

“That’s not—“

“Who’s we?” Kent interrupted his twin, to sass her girlfriend. “We’re not even supposed to be in pairs.”

“We’re a packaged deal, we’re PB and J, bitch.” Divina just sighed and dragged her sassy girlfriend down the hall, the opposite way Enid went, seeing Bianca up ahead, who apparently didn’t feel like sticking around for the juvenile arguing between the supposedly Elite Nightshades.

Ajax calmly walked off, also, behind Kent who was running ahead, apparently serious about winning a non existent competition.

Chapter Text

Ajax began to stroll down the Ophelia Hall staircase, hearing Kent’s needlessly loud thumping up ahead of him, then watching him veer right.

Sliding on his right heel like it was a dance move, Ajax swung left, humming to himself as he sauntered through the quad, on his way to a hallway of classrooms.

He slowly craned his neck, poking his head around the wall, biting his lip. Once he’d deemed it clear from patrolling faculty, he began descending the hall, scatting a made up song beneath his breath.

Diligently leaning through each doorway and checking the rooms were empty, he arrived on the last room of the long hallway. About to turn the handle, he cursed and felt his snakes tense when he was sure he heard movement in the Poetry classroom.

Psyching himself up to open the door and potentially have to pacify a terrifying inebriated goth, he adjusted his beanie, and burst in the room, probably a touch too dramatically. Peculiarly enough, not spotting anyone, he turned back around, only to butt heads with a charging siren with a painful thump.

“Aww, Kent! You could’ve hurt my snakes!”

“At least you had a beanie to protect you!” He defended, reeling, despite it clearly being his fault. “Not my fault you’re so quiet.”

“I thought you went the other way.” The gorgon expressed, cradling his forehead.

“Yeah, I checked it already.” He exclaimed, jogging off again.

“Wh- you’re supposed to give an update!” Ajax yelled, indignantly, at his careless fellow Nightshade, before taking out his own phone with a sigh, to do it for him.

Nightshades Inc.

Ajax: Walked through the quad and checkked the hall with Mr Zefer’s class and Ms Nelly’s class and Kent checked by the school gates. ALL CLEAR.

Chapter Text

No rational person would ever consider fencing with a broken arm. But since that description didn’t exactly fit Wednesday, Bianca’s first target was the Fencing Hall, trying to be strategic and get in to the mind of their missing person, instead of searching willy nilly.

It certainly wouldn’t have been the first time Bianca has caught Wednesday practicing after hours. Although, lecturing her would’ve been hypocritical, as Bianca was likewise prone to releasing some demons after dark on a poor, unsuspecting training mannequin.

Opening the large double doors to the fencing hall with a struggle, Bianca wondered if Wednesday even could’ve accessed this room without two arms handy, taking in to account her small stature.

She checked nonetheless, but by all accounts, the hall appeared vacant and unnaturally silent. Quickly walking to the changing rooms in an abundance of caution, Bianca tutted in disappointment, pulling out her pristine phone to give an update, reading Ajax’s too.

Nightshades Inc.

Bianca: Classes on West side leading up to the fencing hall are all clear, likewise for the hall itself.

Chapter Text

“Do you know what keeping a low profile means?” Divina asked her girlfriend, whom she loved dearly, but had severely tapped out her supply of patience.

“I’m not even being loud!”

“That itself was too loud.” The siren mumbled with a sigh, opening the door leading to the steps for Iago Tower, and stepping aside.

“Such a gentleman.” Yoko remarked, with a saucy raise of her eyebrows, waiting for her girlfriend to shut the door before ascending the staircase. “I think we should get a prize when find her.”

“Yeah, the prize will be Enid not losing her mind.”

“Mmm, I don’t know, that’s not doing much for me.” Yoko jested, squinting, continuing up the stairs with a theatrical sigh. “You really think Wednesday could’ve made it up here on drugs? Cause, despite my almost lethal cold, I’m a prime physical specimen. But this is a little ridiculous, even for someone with my pristine physical prowess.”

“I mean, it’s Wednesday.” Divina answered with few words, not bothering to comment on the blatantly false babbling, but Yoko understood. Simply put: Wednesday was Wednesday. There often weren’t any apt adjectives for her.

“We should’ve just,” Yoko panted, dramatically. “Shouted… from the bottom.”

“Probably wouldn’t have come down if she knew you were there.” The siren teased her girlfriend, although it was potentially a true statement.

Yoko gasped, unserious, a hand slapped over her heart. “I don’t know where all this animosity comes from, babe.”

Finally reaching the peak, Divina let out a sigh, worn out herself.

“Oh, Wednesday?” Yoko called out, in a sing songy tone, aiming to piss her off if she was up here. “Where are you?”

Divina looked directly upwards at the platform above them, then located the spiral staircase, which was mercifully smaller than the one the couple had just defeated.

The siren and the vampire went up together, unfortunately not locating their target. About to pull out her phone, Divina was stopped by her girlfriend’s stammering.

“No, no, no, no. Let me. This is gonna be totally awesome, get ready for this.”

“Oh, god.”

Nightshades Inc.

Yoko: IAGO TOWER CLEAR, I REPEAT, IAGO TOWER CLEAR. RAVEN STILL AWOL, I REPEAT, RAVEN STILL AWOL. CONTINUE SEARCH PARTY.

Chapter Text

Enid scrambled her phone out of her pocket with desperate hands as soon as the felt the buzz on her thigh, then stuffed it back in with a groan that was nearly a growl as soon as she read the useless message.

Opening the door to the as of yet unsearched Bradbury Tower, Enid ran up the stairs, immensely grateful for her werewolf stamina.

She wasn’t surprised when Wednesday wasn’t there, since she didn’t even get a tiny whiff of her on the way up, but was disheartened, nonetheless.

“Come on, Wednesday.”

Nightshades Inc.

Enid: She’s not in bradbury tower either, where else hasn’t been looked?

Kent: I’ve been running round the whole school I swear, maybe she left

Enid whimpered at the terrifying thought, before being slightly reassured by Bianca.

Bianca: She might be on drugs, but she’s not stupid.

Yoko : …

Divina: Im taking your phone

Yoko: I’d like to see you trjjrjrnrnrjrnrjsisidi

Enid sighed, fiddling with her jacket zip nervously, descending the staircase to continue her search.

Chapter Text

1 Hour Earlier

Wednesday couldn’t take her shoes off.

She fumbled with the black laces, trying to loosen them, but only grew more irritated at this fruitless endeavor.

Obviously, she couldn’t go to sleep with her shoes on. She instead considered that this would be a perfect time to sneak in to the Nightshade’s library and read some of their poetry books she had her eye on last time she was there.

Exiting the room without a second thought and traversing the campus, Wednesday clumsily snapped twice with her left hand.

She descended the staircase, already relishing the peace and quiet she’d finally found. Approaching the staircase, she rubbed her fingertips along the spine of many old books, appreciating the collection.

“Very impressive.” She mumbled, finding too many that piqued her interested, and making several round trips from the bookshelf to the corner, eventually slumping down in it, surrounded by a load of vintage hardcovers.

The seer spent the better part of an hour reading. She’d read at least a page from every book, before losing her focus or interest, and picking up another.

After an unexpected gurgle from her stomach, Wednesday narrowed her eyes.

“Useless body.”

She was confused as to why her extremely consistent body was sending her hunger cues when it wasn’t a meal time.

Ungracefully emerging from her book pile to silence her treacherous intestines, a few falling off her legs and sliding to the tile floor in the process, Wednesday climbed the stairs out and passed through the quad, headed for the cafeteria.

Not anticipating it would be locked at 12AM, and inordinately irritated by it, Wednesday pulled an emergency nail file out from her pocket, which she definitely didn’t keep on her person for its intended purpose.

Picking the lock with considerable less of the efficiency that she usually prided herself with, she opened the large door by basically crashing in to it.

Five minutes later, after having to pick yet another door to access the kitchen, she opened one of the fridges.

Searching with only her eyes, her body stock-still, Wednesday made her choice, selecting a plastic box of dark purple grapes and retrieving it.

Returning to the library after blatantly forgetting to lock up the doors she’d picked, she continued her calming delve in to the tales of Poe, occasionally popping a grape in her mouth.

After an hour and a half of tirelessly searching, a scared Enid sent a desperate text message to the search and rescue squad.

Enid: Guys, I’m really freaking out, she’s not anywhere, maybe she did leave school

Divina: tbf maybe she’s just somewhere we haven’t looked yet, it’s not like we were really strategic about this

Yoko: Yah she’s small she’s hard to spot

Kent: I’ve lapped the school twice I haven’t found her anywhere

Bianca: Ok, well maybe we should all meet in person again and see if there’s anywhere nobody’s looked

The siren suggested, maturely.

Ajax: I concker

Yoko: Oh lord

Bianca: Wolf’s Den, ASAP

Enid: You guys seriously have codenames?

She sighed, tucking her phone anyway, after deciphering the code rather easily, not nearly in the mood to find it amusing right now, and not waiting for a response.

Arriving at her dorm, feeling like she had only just been there, Enid was met with half the Nightshades. A very sweaty Kent, and a couple that seemed disgusted with him.

Bianca and Ajax entered in sync less than a minute later, and the group got to talking.

“I mean, I swear I’ve checked, like, everywhere.” Kent proclaimed, dropping his hands with a slap to his thighs. “It doesn’t help that this school is a giant maze.”

“Yeah, it’s kind of ironic, I mean, Wednesday probably knows her way ‘round this school better than any of us.” Yoko chimed in. “She found the Nightshades Library on, like, her third day or something.”

“Wait, did anyone check in there?” Enid inquired, feebly, hoping they were having a break in the case.

“Yeah, like half an hour ago. Empty. Except one of you losers left a bunch of books on the floor.” Kent mentioned. “Probably you.” He nodded at Ajax.

“I don’t read!”

“Wednesday reads.” Enid mumbles, staring off in to space like she was in a trance.

“Yeah, but she wasn’t in there.” Kent promised.

“You sure you checked properly?”  The siren questioned her twin.

“How am I gonna miss a whole-ass person?”

“Wouldn’t put it past you.” She muttered.

“Hey, I’m the only one who’s running everywhere! I’m trying the hardest here, don’t come after me!”

Divina scoffed at her twin. “Oh my god, Kent, we’re all trying, it’s not—“

“Come on, let’s not do this, we’ve gotta find her.” Bianca interrupted, apparently the adjudicator.

“Maybe we should just tell Weems.” The wolf suggested, her voice quiet. She certainly didn’t value getting in to a bit of trouble over Wednesday’s safety, and it was all getting a bit out of hand.

“You’d get your ass handed to you, Enid.” Ajax pointed out, sympathetically.

“Probably, but she could be hurt or something. Maybe I should’ve just told Weems straight away.” Enid said, feeling guilty that something could have happened to her bestie because of her. “No offense.”

“None taken, we’re pretty useless.” Yoko accepted, however, Kent did not, and mumbled something.

“Speak for yourself.” Was what came out of his mouth, promptly earning himself an elbow from the vampire.

“Who did leave those books in the library then?” Bianca tried to clarify.

“Not me.” Divina defended, her girlfriend following suit, sincerely.

“Wasn’t me, I swear.” Ajax said, holding his hands in surrender. “I mean, maybe Wednesday was in there before and left?” He guessed, inadvertently hitting the nail on the head.

“Maybe we should check again?” Divina suggested, shooting a side eye at her stupid brother, clearly insinuating he couldn’t be trusted, and could’ve missed her.

“I didn’t miss her! She wasn’t in there!”

“Well, then, for… Enid’s… peace of mind.” Divina scrambled, as an excuse.

“Ok, we can check quickly. If she’s not there, I’ll go tell Weems everything.” Enid said, sounding defeated. She didn’t exactly think Kent was the sharpest tool in the shed, but the Nightshades Library was just an open space, really. Surely, he couldn’t have missed her.

They traveled through the quad like a group of gazelles, making sure to stay quiet as to not alert any teachers who happened to be up late. Kent snapped twice, after running ahead to make sure he could be the one to do it, earning an eye roll from his sister and his unofficial sister in law.

Descending the stairs, Kent was completely certain he was right, and that Wednesday wouldn’t be there. Instantly laying eyes on a black figure huddled in the corner, his jaw dropped in the sheer ridiculousness of this situation, positive the doped up little fiend was messing with him somehow.

“Oh, come on!”

As Kent’s mood flipped one way, Enid’s did a 360° the other way, an instantaneous smile spreading on her face at the sight of her friend. She lapped the Nightshades and ran down the stairs, towards her bestie, who fortunately appeared unharmed.

“Wednesday! We were looking everywhere for you!” Enid was sure she intended her words to be scolding, but they were undercut by the pure relief radiating from her.

“I’ve been here. In the Nightshades Library.” She replied, monotonously, not bothering to glance up from her book, her slur appearing worse than before.

The others approached. Yoko desperately wanting to see Wednesday up close, and Kent desperately wanting to clarify he wasn’t insane.

“You weren’t here before though, right?”

Wednesday slowly looked up at him, wordless, her mouth slightly parted, pupils blown like a cat on a hunt.

“Tell them. You left before, right? You must’ve. You haven’t been here the whole time.”

Wednesday thought for a long beat, before answering with a completely false statement that she adamantly believed was true. “I din’ go anywhere.”

Kent huffed, trying to stammer out some words, looking distraught and baffled, before getting dragged out the way by Enid, who was, in turn, interrupted by Yoko.

“Whatcha readin’?”

Wednesday indulged her, since she enjoyed talking about her interests, and didn’t currently have the brain capacity to suss out the fact that the mischievous vampire was trying to take advantage of her silly state.

“Tamerlane and Other Poems. One of only twelve copies in existence. Dubbed as the ‘black tulip of U.S. literature’.” She ranted, her words spat out clumsily, her eyes blinking slowly. “I found it to be mildly underwhelming.”

The vampire was thoroughly amused, more by the cadence of her drunken sounding tone than the statement, that likely could’ve easily come out a sober Wednesday’s mouth quite easily, too.

“Well, it’s pretty late.” Enid managed to get in, before Yoko could try and encourage Wednesday to say anything else. “Why don’t you come back down here tomorrow?”

“Gentle parenting.” Yoko snarked, immaturely, earning a glare from Enid that could rival that of her roommate’s. Thankfully, Wednesday either didn’t hear the remark, didn’t understand it, or simply didn’t care.

“I must finish what I’ve started, Enid.”

“Well, you can finish it. Just maybe… not right now?” Enid tried, although she should’ve known coaxing her roommate  back would be a challenging feat.

"Why don’t you take the book back up to your dorm and finish it there?” Bianca suggested, making Enid immediately grateful and hopeful.

Wednesday pulled her eyes away from the poem, glancing upwards, considering for a long time if this was something she could accept. “Someone… must carry my grapes. I broke my radius.” She announced, as if none of them knew, scrambling to her unsteady feet, then bending down to pick up the rather expensive book.

Enid beamed, gladly indulging her friend’s random request, bending down too, to grab them. “Did you steal these?”

“Yes.” Wednesday confirmed, simply, staring directly at Bianca for no apparent reason.

“…Hi?”

“When Pugsley was five, he had head lice and father shaved his head.” She shared, without missing a beat, causing Yoko to snort, glancing from Bianca’s head to Wednesday’s glassy gaze.

“Are you insinuating something?” The vampire teased, but Wednesday answered with sincerity.

“No, of course not.” Then after a moment of consideration, directed another statement to the shell shocked siren. “But if there were ever to be a school wide infestation, you and Mr Cleaver would be the only ones with immunity.”

“Ok, come on, Wednesday.” Enid advised, timidly, leading her friend away before she could say anything else implicating in her state.

Bianca smirked, surprised, sharing a look with Divina, whose girlfriend was hunched over, simply dying.

The werewolf put a gentle hand on her friend’s back, guiding her to the stairs, quickly looking back at her friends. “Thanks guys. Seriously. I owe you all one.”

There was an echo of humble voices waving her off, and a kind wave from Ajax. Kent, however, was not having any of it, rolling his eyes, leaning against the wall.

“Send videos!” Yoko yelled to her leaving friends. Enid flipped her off.

“Ok, take two.” Enid mumbled, a sense of Deja Vu permeating through her as she followed Wednesday in to the dorm yet again.

Wednesday turned slowly and stared at her. “What?”

“Oh, nothing, don’t- worry.” Enid waved her off, not having intended to confuse her.

“You’re so strange, Enid.”

She chuckled at that, fondly, placing her roommate’s grapes on her desk for her. “The feeling is incredibly mutual.” She mumbled, quietly. She pulled back, groaning, as the events of the day caught up with her. “Are you not tired? I’m exhausted.”

“You’ve had a long day, Enid. You have my permission to go to sleep.” Wednesday mumbled, fumbling with her shoes like she did hours ago.

Enid couldn’t resist a slight giggle at that. “Well, I appreciate that. But, you know, you’ve kinda had a long day yourself?”

Wednesday grumbled, placing her foot back on the floor. “I’ve had longer.” She replied, before standing up and heading back to the door without a word.

“Wh-Wednesday?!” Enid exclaimed, running up to her before she could reach the door, and blocking it with her body. “Where are you going now? Why do you keep leaving?”

The room was still as Wednesday tried to interpret the unequivocally straightforward question.

“What?”

Enid leaned her head back on the door, exacerbated at the goth. “You left before, you’re trying to leave again now. Where are you trying to go?” Enid asked, slowly, not without any angst, trying to get her to understand.

Wednesday blinked. “My shoes.”

“Wh-what about your shoes?”

Wednesday looked down at them, staring. “They won’t get off.”

“Well, I-I can help you.” Enid offered, easily.” Gladly, if you’ll let me. But why did you leave?”

“My shoes. I just told you.” Wednesday said, almost sadly. Her betrayal quickly morphed in to anger. “Ignorant lycan.”

The aforementioned lycan didn’t know whether to be amused or vaguely insulted. Her brain selected both. “You left because of your shoes?”

“I don’t know what’s… what you… why you’re...” Wednesday trailed off with a huff, fully incapable of explaining herself right now. “Yes.”

“But why?”

“I told you already!” Wednesday all but whined at her, sounding almost as dramatic as Enid often did.

Enid did a double take at Wednesdays rare attitude. “Wh- no, you didn’t!”

“They wouldn’t come off!”

“But-but how’s that a reason?” Enid asked incredulously, truly trying to understand what her roommate was trying so hard to express. Apparently, she just gave up, walking back to her bed to try again.

“Can I help you then?”

Wednesday hummed, irked. “I don’t know.”

Enid hovered, unsure exactly how to convince her stubborn friend. “Well, it’s… up to you. I don’t have to.”

The pigtailed goth glanced to the side, eyes landing near her roommate. “I will let you know. Get away from me.”

The wolf rolled her eyes, stepping away, mumbling. “Since you asked so nicely.” Alas, she was relieved she wasn’t straight up denied. Last term, she likely would’ve been.

All Enid wanted to do was go to sleep. She was sure her roommate must’ve been in the same boat. Wednesday woke up earlier than her, Wednesday almost got hit by a car, Wednesday had surgery, then went missing for two hours. And after all that, she was still struggling to accept that she might need a tiny bit of help.

Enid sighed, watching Wednesday with pity and resignation. She couldn’t even focus on her TikTok, having to scroll up then back down to restart it after zoning out for half of it.

When Wednesday’s dark gaze flicked over to her after twenty minutes of failure, Enid had to rush to flick her eyes away, pretending she wasn’t watching her. In her dull state, Wednesday either didn’t notice or pretended not to.

“Enid. I would appreciate your assistance.”

After beaming at the ceiling, she rolled off her bed on to her shoeless feet, strolling over to help Wednesday reach the same state, trying not to appear too ecstatic that Wednesday had asked for help. Obviously, she’d done so with zero manners, but Enid decided that would be her next Wednesday improvement project.

“No problem.” She said, casually, gracefully dropping to her knees after crossing to Wednesday’s half of the room, then sitting with her legs crossed by Wednesday’s bed. “I’m super bad with laces, though, so don’t be expecting me to do it as quick as you do. Or… usually do.”

Wednesday stared at the top of Enid’s head, her bottom lip hanging low, lazily. “Why did you dye your hair?”

Enid looked up from where she sat, retracting her tongue that she was chewing on in focus, face softening in a shy kind of smile. “Like, you mean, before the new term?” Enid clarified, assuming her friend was referencing the new, slightly different look.

“No. Originally.”

“Oh, uh…” Enid looked back at the laces, working on them while thinking back. “Well, my favourite YouTuber had dyed hair, and I always thought it was really cool, and I begged my mom for years. She never actually said yes, but, I mean, I didn’t see why it was such a big deal. So eventually, I guess, I just sorta said ‘screw it’, and did it anyway.” Enid began, Wednesday having accidentally got her going off on a tangent.

“I totally get why parents say ‘no’ when kids wanna do something dangerous or stupid, but it’s hair dye.” She said, raising her hands from Wednesday’s laces, for the sole purpose of dropping them, theatrically. “It’s completely reversible, and it’s just, like, I don’t know; how I express myself… Moms.” She mumbled, with disdain, then finally successfully undid one of the dark shoes, flipping her mood like magic. “Yes! We are getting there, Wednesday!”

The girl sat stationary on the bed, continuing to observe her expressive roommate. “If I was born with blonde, I would’ve dyed it black.” Wednesday muttered her own addition, sloppily. “Like it’s supposed to be.”

"Exactly! It just feels right this way! My mom totally doesn’t get it.” She smiled, sincerely. “I’m glad you do.”

“Self expression is extremely important. Especially in adolescence, when you’re discovering crucial tenets of your personality.” Wednesday spoke with the intellect of a much older woman, but with the slurring mumble of a much younger one. “Your mother is…” She trailed off, forgetting she was even speaking.

“She sure is.” Enid mumbled, managing to undo the other boot, smiling and patting her own knees. “All done. Happy?”

“Never.”

“Satisfied?” She tried, playfully.

Wednesday grumbled a little. “I would’ve done it better.”

“I’m sure you woul— O.M.G. Wednesday!” She exclaimed, aghast, getting up to chase her down once again. “Where are you going now? I thought your shoes were the problem or something?”

“I have to brush my teeth. It’s basic hygiene, Enid. You should know, once a month you have more teeth than most.”

“You already brushed them before, Wednesday.” She reminded, trying with everything she had not to sound frustrated, hands on her hips.

“No, I didn’t.” Wednesday claimed, stagnant and staring in return.

“Yeah, you did. I promise.” The wolf assured her. “Then we came back and you disappeared.”

“I didn’t disappear.”

“So you do remember?”

“Of course I remember, Enid. I am not an amnesiac.” She defended her memory, despite stating seconds ago that she hadn’t brushed her teeth yet, and then subsequently forgetting she’d even made that statement, too. “But on my journey I ate seventeen grapes, I have to rebrush.”

She told Enid, for some reason fully capable of remembering the exact amount of grapes she ate, despite apparently remembering little else of her evening.

Enid sighed, deeply, so done with this night. “You can’t just let it go?”

Wednesday fixed her with a telling glare.

Enid gave in, opening the door. “So not taking my eyes off of you this time.”