chapter viii.

knowledge is power

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓?

Avoid Wednesday like a plague.

She had information no one else had. Your origins. Your imperfections. Your real name.

She threatened your flawlessly composed reputation.

Seeing her around Enid, who managed to find out everything about anyone, made your stomach twist even more.

You liked Nevermore. The gates locked out any past that could've crept in.

Here you didn't have to worry about anyone getting too deep under your layers of Laurencia perfection, which you protected like a flame.

But now Wednesday invaded that space. She's the most direct person you've ever met, so theres a slim chance she would've thought to keep anything quiet.

No updates in years means she has no idea how important it is to you to preserve your identity in the public eye.

She doesn't know you as Y/N Laurencia. She knows you as Y/N L/N.

That's bad.

Really bad.

"𝐈 𝐊𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐈𝐓" Wednesday grabbed the disembodied hand that frantically twisted in her grasp.

Unfortunately, Thing's pattering fingers were heard over the melancholy static of the gramophone. She could even recognise the smell of luxurious hand lotion coming from her bed.

She shoved in down next to her typewriter and held the limb firmly in place.

Morticia and Gomez knew that if their daughter was to pull any new stunts, she would certainly not tell them her plans in ultimate teenage fashion.

The misty crystal ball, the only connection between Wednesday and her parents, was left ignored on her table.

She scowled at the symbol of their mistrust.

"Mother and father sent you here, didn't they?"

Thing struggled under the girl's strong grasp.

Wednesday let go of the wrist, allowing thing to wriggle its finger in rapid sign language.

"Oh Thing, you poor naive appendage. My parents aren't worried about me." She confirmed spitefully with a deep breath of frustration.

Thing was given two options: "I lock you in her for the rest of the semester," Wednesday pushed the hand slowly into an open drawer as it clawed on the wood, scuffing it's fingernails. "And you go crazy trying to claw your way out."

"Option 2," She pulled Thing away and placed the hand back on the desk. "You surrender your undying loyalty to me."

Thing's fingers melted downwards into a dejected bow of submission.

"Our first order of business is to escape this teenage purgatory." The desk was tapped by the questioning hand.

"Well, soon. I want to find something out first. There's someone here who could help us."

Thing wiggled it's pinky finger in curiosity.

"Of course I have a plan."

𝐉𝐎 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐃 𝐘𝐎𝐔 stomp into your dorm room and flop down onto your bed. You lifted her head up and signalled with it for her to close the door.

As soon is it was slammed shut, you stuffed your face into your pillow and yelled.

"Is she really threatening? She seems quite quiet." Jo watched you punch your mattress in frustration.

The appearance of Wednesday had set off a terrible bomb of emotion that could only explode in the safety of your room.

"She's not quiet!" You yelled. "She's calculated. And she doesn't know anything about how i got her work why! She's going to slip something out about me, I just know it." With a miserable huff, you sat up.

"Why is she here?" Jo sat down next to you as you continued to whine. "Why'd she have to come to my school!?"

"Hon, she's new. And strange. People here don't react well to her. No one's going to believe a thing she says."

"She's roommates with Enid. She'll believe anything she says, and then she'll put it on her blog."

"Wednesday doesn't seem like the type to overshare." Jo's ability meant she could read anyone. Great for an overthinker like yourself.

"Just show her who's boss."

𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐊 𝐓𝐎 𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐃, as getting information out of her should be the easiest.

Finding her proved to be no trouble either, as the dusty coloured streaks highlighted her pale bob that bounced down the corridor.

"Enid Sinclair." You stepped in front of her path with a smile. You could see her claws sharpen from instinct, but they dulled when she recognised you.

"Oh, uh, hey!" Enid grinned, wondering why you would be approaching her. She had only spoken to you once, but it was more of a one sided conversation.

She looked around for anyone else who might be in on this.

"I need to ask you something, but you have to promise not to tell anyone." You lowered your voice, and you could see Enid's attention snap back to you.

Your mouth was about to open, but the words caught in your throat as you noticed a familiar haunting presence appear between the two of you.

"Hey roomie!" Enid beamed at Wednesday, who was on her way to Principal Weems' for her dreaded therapy session. She had put her objective on hold when she noticed you.

"Y/N, this is my roommate Wedne-"

"Wednesday." You finished, pushing the word between your teeth. Enid could feel a sharp tension that shot between the two of you.

"Could you give us some privacy, Enid?" She backed off without protest.

Wednesday didn't say anything, but looked you up and down with her blank eyes.

"This certainly isn't where I thought I'd find you." She eventually muttered. That was the last thing you needed that snap the bands on your composure.

Out of the corner of your eye, a closet door creaked in invitation.

You grabbed Wednesday by her dark collar and shoved her in, shutting the door behind the two of you.

"Why are you here, Wednesday?" The bustle from outside the door became muffled, allowing your hisses to be heard

"I could ask you the same." Her calm voice responded. You hated how she was so unbothered, meanwhile your head had been spinning ever since she arrived.

"You seem different. I never knew you were an outcast."

"You don't know anything." Your finger stabbed the space between you, pointing in anger at her smug, bland expression.

"Your reaction says otherwise."

The darkness soon softened as your vision adjusted. You could see in her eyes that Wednesday had already started putting the pieces together.

"Are you blackmailing me?"

Wednesday scoffed in dry amusement. "It's pathetic that you'd assume that so quickly. Are you that terrified? Is your new life that important?"

"I am not scared of you Wednesday." You would not let your years of work crumble down in a janitor closet.

You pinched the bridge of your nose and sighed. "What do you want?"

"I don't want anything."

"Please!" Your voice cracked in desperation. "I need you to promise you won't do anything. My reputation is the only thing keeping me here."

You could see Wednesday's brows lift slightly. "You don't have an ability."

"That's not the point." You looked down in shame.

You had never felt so humiliated before, knowing you had fully surrendered.

"I need something." You glanced up from the floor, anticipating what she was going to ask.

"My whole family is watching me like a hawk, and they're making my plan of getting out of here very difficult."

"Get out of Nevermore?"

"Yes. I'm going to Jericho today. Get me a tip out of here, and your Laurencia title will remain unshattered."

You took a breath and glanced away from her. "Okay, fine. But you'll need to listen closely." Wednesday signalled for you to continue.

"I don't have car, but I know someone who does in Jericho. Make it to Weathervane cafe and ask for their worst barista. You might need to tip him."

Wednesday hummed in thought. You held your breath, waiting to see if she'll take your offer.

"It's a deal." Her plan had worked perfectly.

(un-edited chapter)