chapter iv.

the disappearance

𝐈𝐓 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐀𝐋𝐌𝐎𝐒𝐓 been a week from then, and the camp's thanksgiving play was on a roll.

Amanda spent most of her time expressing her joy to be cast as Sarah Miller to anyone who would listen. She sprung around the camp as if she had a bag of bumblebees in her stomach.

Wednesday despised this, of course. She was determined to leave this place better than she found it, and Amanda was foiling her plans.

"She hasn't a clue what role the pilgrims actually had in the story." You were sitting together on the benches, watching Amanda practicing her lines loud enough for everyone to hear. "The colonisation of the Wampanoag peoples' land isn't mentioned once in the script."

"I hope her dress gets caught in the campfire." You scowled, watching her dance around.

Wednesday's eyes couldn't help but look over in curiosity. There wasn't a trace of disagreement, it would be much more entertaining than English colonisers, but she wasn't expecting such a statement to leave your mouth.

That's when you burst out laughing.

You gasped for breath and wiped your eyes as you doubled over in hysteria. Wednesday was left puzzled, and seeing her so taken aback only made you cackle harder.

"Oh my god." You tumbled out between strangled heaves. "You should've seen your face!"

A scoff left Wednesday's side of the seat, you couldn't see her as your eyes were squeezed shut, but you could tell she was surely looking daggers at you.

"I'm sorry! I couldn't help it!" You started to explain, turning to Wednesday who was shaking her head, disgruntled.

You couldn't believe your eyes when you saw her mouth curl up into the tiniest smile, letting out a muffled sound of what was perhaps laughter.

It was only quick though, and her face soon returned to its sunken look of discontent.

Yet you felt quite pleased with yourself knowing you had seen a wisp of Wednesday's smile, and it was because of you.

"Campers!" A horribly familiar voice shrilled. All the kids who weren't cast as pilgrims remained on the benches. You looked around and noticed they all seemed to be kids who were deemed ostracised by the others, including Wednesday's brother Pugsley, and the miserable, giraffe limbed boy from the lifesaving lesson.

"Now, we have got a very special role for you guys!" Becky pointed, flashing her teeth. "You are all going to be our Chippewa Natives! Yeah!" No response left the group, they all instead looked up the the pair of counsellors, unimpressed.

"Well that's just delightful." Mumbled the giraffe boy with heavy sarcasm.

"And we need a turkey too!" Gary grabbed Pugsley's shoulder and shook it with encouragement.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓 past rather quickly as everyone rehearsed for the show. A lot of them were eager to show their parents that $20k wasn't wasted sending them to summer camp.

You knew your mother was certainly not attending, but you wouldn't wish for anyone to experience something so ridiculous.

"I am turkey! Kill me!" Pugsley waved the big fabric feathers of his costume around, attempting to possibly hit Amanda in the face with one of his wings.

You couldn't deny that Wednesday looked good in the costume. It was the most colour you had ever seen her in. Of course, on the multiple occasions you told her this, Wednesday looked about ready to slice your throat open.

However, the two of you had become somewhat friends. The giraffe limbed boy, who you soon learned was named Joel Glicker, joined the two of you when hiding from the counsellors.

After another run-through of the script, Wednesday was able to finally drop her fake smile and give her now very sore jaw a break.

"Y/n, never in my life will I ever smile so much again." You admired how well she had manage to adjust so much smiling.

"You're doing great though!" You chuckled, playing with the prop spear. "You managed to fool these guys into letting you out of the harmony hut."

"Never mention that again." Wednesday deadpanned with the upmost seriousness.

You were about to reply when you were stopped by a sharp tap your your shoulder. Turning, you saw Becky holding out what looked to be a letter.

"Here, this is for you. It's recommended you read it privately." Her voice lacked the chipper quality that normally rung from it, and her hands were quick in shoving the envelope towards you.

"Um, thank you...?" Your mutter wasn't heard by Becky who was already marching away, seemly faster that normal.

"What is that?" You jumped slightly, forgetting that Wednesday was even there. She was focusing the wax seal that was firmly melded onto the paper.

You looked up at her with equal confusion. "I'm not sure."

𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐎𝐋𝐃 anyone what was in that letter.

When interrogated by Wednesday, you were vague and dismissing. When you started to pack up your things, she got more pushy.

"Why do you have to leave? We still have the play to do." She stood next to your suitcase, the clasps snapping shut.

"Since when did you care about the play?" You laughed at Wednesday's sudden commitment as you made your way out the door.

She followed you as you made your way to the wire gate that separated the camp from the dusty, dirt road outside the camp. She was intent on her questioning.

"I know you'll make a great Pocahontas without me." You smiled. She knew she would, but that didn't matter. Wednesday was getting increasingly frustrated with your new, strange attitude.

"That's not the point. There's a reason you're leaving in the middle of camp and you're not telling me."

She was firm, you'll give her that. But you still couldn't tell her.

"It was really nice meeting you Wednesday."

"No, don't brush me off. Why are you leaving?" You could see her frown deepened, trying to hold back any emotion that could've escaped through the cracks that were slowly forming.

"I hope you get out of here soon Wednesday. I would take you with me but... y'know."

"No I don't know and that's the thing. Why won't you tell me?!" She hated the fact that you were bringing out a side to her.

A car pulled up, sending clouds of tan-coloured dust up into the golden sunset. Wednesday simply stood there was you loading your suitcase into the trunk. There was no point in trying to stop you.

You knew she detested hugs so you didn't go for one. She didn't look like she was in the mood anyways.

"Bye Wednesday. Have a nice summer."

Those were the last words you said to her before you clambered into the car.

As the car's engine rumbled, you looked back through the window and sent Wednesday a final wave. She didn't wave back.

The car have a growl as it began to move down the hill. You wanted to look back, but you figured Wednesday had already gone back to her cabin by now.

She stayed there by the wire gate. It was only when your car had disappeared out of sight that the tears that had been bubbling in the corner of her eyes fell down her cheeks.

You hand held the letter you have read at least a thousand times since you received it. Your fingers glided over the glossy wax label with a crest stamped in the middle. The dark ink spelt out something you couldn't even believe.

The Laurencia Family.

(end of act one.)

(un-edited chapter)