Chapter Text
The feeling of her entire body burning like fire woke her up.
Her mouth was dry, her muscles were stiff, her head was throbbing, and she felt slightly dizzy.
Wednesday opened her eyes and found herself in a room covered in white tiles. She sat up, ignoring the thump to her head, and saw a row of sinks with dirty mirrors above them, a series of cubicles, and a bench with coat hooks at the far end.
Hell was different from what she expected.
But then she realized she could also feel a slightly damp cloth on her head trying to ease the pain.
"Enid?" she called out.
"I'm here," came the reply after a few seconds through a large metal door that seemed to be the only way out.
Wednesday got up and limped to the door. Her leg was burning.
“Enid, what-?”
"Say your name and count to ten", she asked. "Please," she added softly.
Wednesday sighed and did as she asked.
“I’ve left you water and food, and there’s a first-aid kit by the sinks so you can disinfect your wound,” Enid said. “I didn’t want to touch it, just in case, sorry”.
Wednesday understood. It wasn’t entirely clear how the virus worked, and it was best to stay away from wounds and the blood of infected people. Even though Wednesday wasn’t technically one herself.
"Thank you," she said. "Is it safe out there?"
"Yes," Enid sighed. "The infected haven't left the building. It's as if it's gone back to sleep".
"I would have locked myself in voluntarily," Wednesday added.
"I'm sorry I hit you", Enid said quickly. "I panicked and didn't know what to do. I'm sorry I did this to you, I just want to make sure-I don't want, I don't want you to-", she stammered in panic but stopped herself and sighed. "I, huh, I'll stay here if you need anything or get bored or- Well, I understand if you're mad at me".
“Enid”, Wednesday interrupted. “I understand. I'm just... going to treat my wound, maybe I can't hear you from that side of the locker room, okay?”
“Okay”, Enid said quietly.
Wednesday limped towards the sinks. There was a small first-aid kit cabinet there, which, although dusty, seemed complete. Wednesday took off her trousers and carefully washed the wound with the water bottle. The wound was deep red, although it looked better after cleaning it, it was still very swollen. She applied disinfectant and let it dry before skillfully bandaging it.
Unlike the blow to her head, which had been a dull ache, the bite wound burned and itched. The last time she'd been bitten, she'd been worried about her brother, feeling a different, much deeper pain, and hadn't stopped to listen to her body's changes.
She probably had a fever, and she felt generally unwell, as if her whole body were fighting a battle against itself, which it actually was. She also knew she'd been immune to the first bite, but she couldn't tell what would happen with the next one.
She didn't like that thought at all, with Enid waiting for her out there.
Returning to the corner where Enid had left her the water, granola bars, and nuts, she spotted a piece of paper. She picked it up curiously and saw it was a blender instruction manual in several languages.
She went back to the door and knocked a couple of times. "What's this?" Wednesday asked. "The manual," she clarified, realizing Enid couldn't see it.
"It's the only thing I could find to entertain you," Enid replied. "It was at the pool bar."
"Smoothie mixer model TC-28, ice crushing mode not included. A classic of modern literature", Wednesday hummed, which made Enid chuckle softly.
"I can read all the languages it has", she continued. "So I'll have enough entertainment until it gets dark."
"Of course you do," she heard Enid clearly roll her eyes. "Could you, uhm… could you read aloud?", she added later in a softer voice.
"Are you planning on making a ranking of which language you like best?", Wednesday asked.
She thought Enid would take it as a joke and laugh like she usually did. But she just stayed silent before answering quietly.
"I just need to hear you."
Wednesday didn't quite know what to answer, so she just sat with her back against the door and started reading.
“Are you sleeping?”
Wednesday had sat down with her back against the door. After finishing the pamphlet, she felt too drowsy and dizzy to do anything but doze there.
"I can't," Enid replied from behind her. "Not until I'm sure you're okay".
Enid was in the same position on the other side of the door. Wednesday counted to ten out loud.
"Does it hurt?" Enid asked after a while.
"Yes".
"How is it?"
Wednesday heard Enid move to the other side, perhaps to lean sideways against the door and hear her better. She did the same.
"Have you ever been stung by a wasp?" Wednesday said. "It's similar, but ten times worse, much bigger. My leg is burning and itchy. I also have flu-like symptoms: a slight fever, malaise, and a headache. Although that last one might be your fault," she added.
"I already said I was sorry!" the blonde whined.
"I was just kidding, Enid." Wednesday deadpanned. "I'm fine, given the circumstances".
"Aren't there any other languages you can read?" Enid asked.
"We've already gone through them all twice," the brunette said. "Besides, is pitch black in here".
"I should have shoved a flashlight in there or something, sorry."
A beat of silence.
Wednesday looked around. She could barely make out the shapes of things. The floor was cold and smelled damp.
"My brother was afraid of the dark," she said.
Enid moved to the other side of the door.
"I'm sorry about your little brother," she said, and her voice came closer.
"Me too," Wednesday confessed, feeling a lump in her throat. "I think about him every day. Regret haunts me every second. I couldn't either if you… I'm glad I was the one who got bitten this time".
"I wouldn't have blamed you", Enid replied. "Neither would your brother. Will you tell me about him?" she asked.
Wednesday swallowed hard. Talking about Pugsley, her family, her life before, was still too painful. Even that small comment had made her want to scream and her whole body trembled.
But she knew they didn't deserve to be kept silent. They would want her to tell them about all the adventures they had shared, what her house was like, how much her parents loved each other, and the potential her brother had.
She had never had anyone to listen to all the love and pain she carried inside, but now she had Enid.
“Someday”, Wednesday promised.
“Tell me your name and count to ten”.
"Has it been twenty-four hours already?" Wednesday asked hoarsely after blinking a couple of times.
"Almost twenty-five," Enid replied from the other side of the door. "I wanted to be sure."
Light streamed in through the crack in the door, except for the shadow cast by Enid's standing.
“Wednesday Friday Addams. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten”.
The door creaked as Enid turned the handle. For a moment, Wednesday could only see the light shining directly into her, circling Enid's silhouette. She shielded her face from the glare and slowly stepped outside.
She welcomed the fresh air and breeze with relief and closed her eyes as she took a deep breath, feeling the sun through her eyelids.
When she opened her eyes again, she turned to Enid. The blonde's hair was disheveled and her eyes were red. Traces of tears were visible on her cheeks, and her face clearly showed she hadn't slept.
Before Wednesday could say a word, Enid wrapped her arms around her and pulled her close. Wednesday's first impulse was to push her away, but by the time she could finally react, she buried her face in Enid’s neck and wrapped her arms around her waist.
Enid smelled of vanilla and sweat and fear, and something familiar that had unconsciously become something safe for Wednesday.
She let herself be swayed for the duration of the hug, while Enid held her tightly against her chest.
Enid seemed to compose herself after a while and let Wednesday pull back to within arm's reach.
"I, uhm, I'm glad you're okay", she said. "Can you walk?"
Wednesday nodded and started walking.
"Come on, we're almost there".