Chapter Text
~Enid Sinclair~
It's always easiest during the first week of a new semester at Nevermore! I mean, teachers don't bother dishing out homework, friends and classmates are desperate to hang out and catch up after so much time apart, plus It's always a great opportunity for me to redecorate my dorm when I unpack!
But when I arrived back at Nevermore this time around, everything was already there. My desk, my bed, my blankets, my teddies were exactly where I'd left them before I... disappeared. I figured my family hadn't come for any of my things.
So, after a week of that mess, I do what any girl would and pack everything away into cardboard boxes so I can begin redecorating the proper way! Starting by envisioning how that chilly old corner of the tower can look It's coziest and unpacking each of my possessions that same afternoon!
I just have to keep moving forward, but not everything has to change! Because even though I really can't afford to have any ghosts, I know there's one I won't ever mind being haunted by.
I've barely caught a glimpse of my roommate, Wednesday Addams, during my first week back in normality, not before she got the chance to busy herself with whatever ominous prophecy or depraved serial killer she's managed to dig up anyway. When I'm walking with Yoko and Divina, or having lunch with Bianca and Ajax, I see her zip past. A dark, hazy figure in the corner of my eye like I'm having a migraine or forgot to sleep.
Wednesday's side of our dorm also looks identical, but I think that could be down to her neuroticism more than anything. That low bed, her little writing desk, and what could be considered a lamp collection at this point.
She's slid back into her Nevermore routine mechanically. My roommate has a well documented want for solitude, but after all she did, I can't help but let myself believe it mightn't be her preference. At least, not anymore.
...
I might need to talk to Wednesday...
Half my dresser is splayed out across my bed before I find the lively yellow sweater I want before heading out to our balcony. A piece with rhinestones--that I totally need to ditch--catches my attention, reminding me of how Weds found the idea fascinating until she saw the colourful fake rocks weren't sharp or heavy enough to cause lasting damage.
I crack our window open and wince at the January chill, but push through and sneak out to our icy balcony anyway. I go on my tip-toes, thoroughly scanning the quad under the cloudy afternoon light and failing to get a visual on the ball of spikes I share a living space with. Instead, I spot Divina and Yoko loving it up by their spot on the fountain, then Bianca and Ajax chattering about something off to the side, taking a tunnel out of the courtyard and strolling away together. That's not the first time this week now that I think about it...
''No way!''
My blog! Maybe I'm a little too excited, but I don't think I've updated since I got back from...
-I'll probably have to run it over with Bianca, but It'd make a great piece to start the new year with! Though, my history with Ajax could make things a little awkward. Hmm, maybe-
But before I get to finish that thought something on the other end of the quad catches my attention.
Maybe I was just so lost in thought, or maybe I'm going blind, because I have no idea how on earth I missed Morticia Addams!? And if students are backing away as she seemingly glides through the cloisters, they're practically running and diving away from who stomps after her. Wednesday looks furious as she approaches her Mom, halting suddenly when the dark tower of a woman finally turns to face her. I lean over the wall like a gargoyle, but even as I zero in on the two with my lupine hearing, I can't hear a word either of them are saying. The air around my roommate seems to flinch as she dismissively waves her Mom away before storming off.
When Wednesday talks to her Mom, a lengthy rant afterward is practically guaranteed.
The taller woman catches my attention again as she gracefully crouches to let a certain sentient hand leap into her palm.
They seem so worried, but I can't help but find her family's efforts endearing, even if Wednesday claims It's entirely misplaced. I guess I'm not used to anything like that from my relatives.
Thing appears to tap something out for the woman on her hand and she smiles, tilting her head up to face our dorm and giving me a big wave. OMG, that little tattletale!
I practically dive behind the wall and manage to crawl back in through our dorm's window as Weds struts up that rickety stair case and take my place on my mattress as inconspicuously as I can before she impatiently slams our door open. She fails to notice me and she struts over to her own dresser.
Hmm, maybe a little too inconspicuous, and she's pulling out those damn hiking boots again! ''Ehem! Hi Weds!''
She peaks her head round the door of her dresser in surprise, or, at least as much surprise as she's capable of expressing. ''You are supposed to be on an outing with the vampire in Jericho.'' She announces dryly.
''Nah, I had some Botanical Sciences homework to catch up on.''
''The term has just begun, Enid, not even I'm that dedicated.'' She tells me, slipping her huge boots on and striding over to the colourful side of our room.
''Uh... It's some stuff I missed last year?'' I leap up from my bed so we're a foot apart now. ''Well, whatever, it doesn't matter, I've finished it all now!'' I eagerly take her hands in my own. ''So, we should totally hang out! I bet you have loads to talk about.''
She doesn't pull away; she doesn't even tense up like she would've such a short while ago, but her eyes do dart past me for a moment. ''You have redecorated.''
''Yeah, I didn't touch any of your stuff if that's what you're worried about!'' I assure her, but she doesn't seem to mind anyway. ''OMG, did you hear about the new Jalecciño at the food truck? It's supposed to be hella spicey, but I know you'll probably just get your-''
''-Enid,'' She cuts me off with a frustrated expression, but the sympathy I hear in her next words lets me know that all the frustration is for herself. ''I have a prior engagement.'' That's nearly every day this week...
''I've barely seen you so far, what's got you so busy?'' I pout.
''It's a little difficult to explain...''
''Oh God, is it anything to do with-?''
''-No,'' She tightens her grip on me, ''he hasn't reared that beastly head of his from whatever crevasse he's hidden himself in, at least not yet anyway.'' Her jaw clenches in unease, but she tries to give me her most reassuring look. I believe her.
Wednesday Addams is the strongest person I know, there's no contest there, but that strength--despite It's seemingly supernatural supply--is not unlimited. I hate to see her afraid, but I'm willing to take any vulnerability she gives me, so I'm going to be strong for her. ''When Tyler comes, I'll be right there with you.''
Slowly, her expression calms. Indestructible as ever. ''Thank you, Enid.''
But just as I think to ask about Mrs Addams, her head perks to the side suspiciously. Her expression darkens again as she gives my hands back to me and raises her arm to the wall near our door accusingly. ''I'm not above glue traps, Agnes.''
The redhead slowly materialises with a cheeky smirk. ''Nice to know you haven't lost your edge, Wednesday.''
Agnes doesn't seem to be emulating the darker themes of my roommate anymore. She's wearing dark brown cargo pants and a thick burgundy sweater that really brings out her ginger hair; She lets it flow down past her shoulders rather than having it in braids now. I think it looks way nicer!
''Glue traps? Wednesday, that's just not ethical!'' I joke, but she's already on her way back to the dresser. ''Though, Agnes, you should really knock instead of stalking around, alright? I'm not gonna stop her is she starts booby-trapping our dorm.''
''I'm not sure glue traps work on people anyway.'' She says snarkily.
''Tell that to Pugsley.'' Wednesday quips as she slides into a large, glossy, black coat before stopping by her bedframe and hauling out a huge bag pack seemingly from thin air. It makes an ominous, metallic clinking noise as she throws it over her shoulders.
''Wednesday-''
Suddenly, Agnes turns and crouches to lift something off the floor. ''Speaking of the Addams family.'' She presents thing on her palm and I give him a salty glare.
I step back, gesturing toward my desk. ''Ugh, wait, bring him here.'' Agnes skips up and sets him on top of a the scattered papers along my desk.
''I'll be back before evening, Enid.'' She declares as she struts out the door with her equipment.
''Wednesday-!'' I beckon for her, but she's gone.
Now that's just strange, I've never known her to miss an opportunity to complain about her Mom. Where is she hiking off to in the dead of winter anyway? She claims it has nothing to do with the Hyde, and I really do want to believe her. What if It's something to do with her raven abilities? Maybe that's why her Mom's here... I haven't had the chance to ask if she's still having issues with her powers, in fact, I haven't had the chance to ask her about anything!
Before I realise it, I'm growling at the shut door.
''Trouble in paradise?'' Agnes remarks.
I groan, focusing my attention toward Thing on my desk behind me instead ''Wednesday's Mom is here!?'' I squeak. We both lean over my worktop expectantly.
''Is she that tall woman I saw earlier?''
Things sits up, tapping out on the desk: 'Yes, and yes'.
''Does it have anything to do with why Weds has been sneaking off so often?''
'No,' I pick up on some hesitation, 'It has something to do with the new principle.'
We stand back up, looking at each other a little dumbfounded ''I would have thought that any new principles might have learned to stay well clear of Nevermore at this point, given It's reputation and all.''
''Who is it?'' I ask eagerly.
'...can't say yet.' He taps.
''Well, do you know what Wednesday's been up to...?''
He pauses, contemplating, before finally signing: 'Can't say either.'
I have had just about enough of this appendage for today!
''Why do those two bother with you?'' Agnes giggles, teasing him.
'I can tell you what I've been working on!' He taps delightedly. We watch him jump down, smacking against the bug-eaten floorboard with a squeak and rushing behind one of my drawers. He pulls out a desk of cards he had hidden away and begins his ascent back up the leg of my desk.
I gasp. ''Oh, Thing, You've been practicing!''
''Practicing what?'' This seems to have caught her attention.
''Well, Thing has become a magic hand!''
''...I thought he already was a magic hand.'' He draws a card from the pack and signals for our attention, ''Cards?'' He wiggles his fingers mysteriously, ''Card magic?''
He raises the playing card--the 8 of spades--and places it between his fingers, tapping with his free digits: 'As you can see, I'm not wearing any sleeves' This manages to make me chuckle, but Agnes looks between the two of us confusedly. He waves it about, and with a flick of his wrist manages to make the card completely vanish.
''I loved it Thing!'' I give a small clap for his performance.
''I agree, that was very impressive, Thing, and that's coming from an expert in vanishing.''
He does a bashful bow for us across my desk when I can't help noticing the skin pulled tight along his joints as he bends forward ''Oh, Thing! They didn't follow your skincare routine while I was away?'' I groan. This reminds me, I'm behind on my skincare routine, too. ''Ugh, this winter air is horrible! We'll do it right now if you'd like, let me grab my cleanser and my exfoliator and-''
He raises his hand to stop me, wiggling his finger no: 'Sorry, Enid, maybe later, I came to ask where Pugsley would be about now, I have to have a word with him.'
''Oh...'' I thought that since Thing hadn't joined Weds on her mystery project...
''Uhm, he's usually down in the Hummer's shed with Eugene on Saturdays. I'm not sure there's an awful lot to do this time of year, so they're probably just hanging out.''
He shoots me a thumbs up before hopping down. ''Can I tag along?'' Agnes asks. He stops by her foot and she lifts him into her palm before heading for the door. Thing taps something out and she gasps, stopping to turn back around. ''How ignorant of me! Enid, would you like to come along as well?''
She's being so sincere, in fact, everyone seems to have come such a long way while I was gone. ''Nah, I have some... Botanical Science homework I really need to chug through.''
''And dance rehearsal?''
''W-What?''
''Well, I thought I might as well sign up after all the practice I've had, but I haven't seen you down there yet.'' She looks between me and Thing, concern creeping over her face.
''Y-Yeah. I'll head down tomorrow, just... settling back in is all.'' My lie seems to satisfy her as she gives me a smiley nod before slipping out of the room with Thing.
It's quiet again. The creaking noise of my bed circles the room as I slump back down, feeling a little defeated, but not sure why.
Between the Furs, Nightshades, Hummer's, and heck, even a few cool normies down in Jericho, I don't really have an excuse for feeling so... on my own all the time. So left behind.
If I reach out for help, I know there's tons of people who'd drop what they were doing, just to be there for me. And of course, I'd do the same for them. The thing is, there's only one person who was there when the worst came, then clung tighter to weather the storm rather than run for cover.
No one else would of lasted one tenth as long as Wednesday Addams.
But...
What if I end up back in that place again? Stuck, and alone, needing to be rescued. I'm not sure it could ever get worse, but what if it does?
After everything she's done for me, I still need more! I didn't think it was possible for a person to be as selfish as I'm being.
I don't think I can stand the thought of putting her through anything more, imagining she'd tend to my every need like I'm some... well, like I'm some animal.
I let out an exhausted chuckle through the tears as I push myself to my feet. My senses are overwhelming me again, and I'm not sure if I can do this on my own, but I guess I'm going to have to find out, won't I?
Voices from the quad below me are chittering like they're right in my ear. My nose perks up and I'm suddenly with Agnes and Thing, walking down that mulch path to the apiary with It's mildewed walls and little honeybees huddling up for winter.
It's... too much. I try to relax and shut it all out, but it isn't working.
Suddenly, I'm feeling something in my palm, too, and my eyes flick back open to see what has appeared in my hand.
My desk! I've torn the edge of my desk off!
It's been getting harder to get my powers under control since arriving back. What was handy--or even fun--before is too much for me to handle with the Alpha boost.
It's okay! I just need to sit and breath until my muscles untense themselves; until I can tune it all back out, but I stare down at the wood board and my hand begins to shake as I imagine walking alongside Wednesday, feeling overwhelmed again, and accidentally grabbing her arm instead.
The tears are flowing again and I feel the material dissolve into fibres as my hand curls into a quivering fist.
There's still one last thing I can do. Something I can still try. I rush to our bathroom and open the door of the cabinet over the sink, careful not to tear it off It's hinges. Next to Wednesday's home-brewed colour allergy meds is a brighter bottle with a glittery wolf sticker I tacked on. I gently twist the cap off and shake out one of the small, bitter, purple-ish pills into my palm.
My wolf is squirming, I can tell.
The strength, the instinct, the horror.
I am grateful for what she brings out in me, especially when I needed it against the Hyde; when I needed it against Isaac Night after that, even if it meant spending Christmas in a cave.
My identity. My power. My burden.
She is a lot, in fact, she is far too much, and until I can handle her on my own, I'm allowed to take a break. Though I've been practicing as hard as i can, and it doesn't seem to be working, I just know I can feel like my old self again in no time! If only I could find the strength to be alone.
That's why... I take the Wolfsbane.