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Light blue slippers shuffled across the hardwood floor, Enid immensely glad that the battery of the squeaky sound built into her wolf-claw slippers was long dead. She took extra care to walk as silently as possible, balancing on her tippy toes. The trip from Yoko’s room back to hers took merely three minutes as the vampire girls’ room was located just a floor under the werewolf’s, but walking around the halls after the curfew was quite challenging lately;
As a result of the Crackstone events, everything drastically changed. Despite the threat coming from their own kind, Jericho was more terrified than ever and the town requested that some changes had to be made. Rules were set more firmly. There was a new principal in place, while Weems recovered in hospital, along with other new staff members like a psychotherapist on campus, new nurses specialised in werewolves, vampires, plant poisoning and other dangerous fields that could be useful in the future. It took awhile for the students to get used to the new personnel, as most of them were either hateful normies or outcasts with spiteful personalities who openly showed their dislike towards the younger generation of outcasts.
Back when Marilyn Thornhill used to be their dorm mom, the list of dorm rules of Ophelia Hall was reasonable and very short. The set curfew of 11 pm served more as a reminder that the music and other evening activities outside the dorms should cease, otherwise it was very frowned upon, and you might get a warning before an actual punishment was established. She was a laid-back, understanding motherly type of a woman. Everyone loved Ms. Thornhill– well, at least until the revelation that she's been secretly trying to kill all of them, but during her stay the rules were hardly ever a problem. If a student was found wandering the halls or having a party that got a bit out of hand, the punishment was very mild. If they ever got caught in the first place. Nobody could really expect a bunch of teenage outcasts to follow rules like goody-two shoes, after all.
Their new dorm mother, Madame Bagthory, or how the students liked to call her: Bag the old Hag, was a story of her own. She was an old, punctual strict lady and rumours had it she was a three hundred-year-old vampire from an aristocratic family that cast her out for falling in love with a vampire hunter, who had only used her devotion to him and her naivety to get close to her obnoxious family and eventually murder the entire clan, sparring her life so she would forever suffer. Nobody knew, though, If this was just a silly but very horrible unrequited love tale or the actual truth, but it would most certainly explain the sour behaviour of the elderly lady. And the wailing sounds that could be often heard from her chamber she was residing in.
Despite her unknown, mysterious background, she was mostly known for the way she frequently roamed the halls in the middle of the night to make sure no student dared to trespass the threshold of their room, otherwise they’d get scolded so loudly anyone who lived on said floor would hear her screeching, croaking voice as it carried through the halls. Her punishments were overly exaggerated, and they ranged from multiple Saturday detentions to community work around Jericho, and no student wanted to endure that.
But of course, from time to time, the students of Nevermore Academy were keen for some mischief. They were problematic outcasts, after all. Sneaking out after the curfew was like an exciting ninja mission, midnight snack trips to the kitchen and secret dorm parties became opportunities to feed on some good old adrenaline as the teenagers felt that the forbidden things were just that more enjoyable. Many games of Truth or Dare included missions like sneaking out while not getting caught. It couldn’t be resisted. But the hype and adrenaline rush from not being caught was short-lived opposite to being punished. Especially now, during exam month, when school hours were long and tiring and exams difficult and awfully stressful.
And so Enid found herself climbing the many stairs up to her floor on tippy toes, holding her breath with Thing, his fingers digging into her shoulder nervously, trying to get to the safety of their room as quickly as possible. She did not want to spend her Saturdays digging in dirt around Jericho’s supermarket to plant and care for seedlings or worse, pick rubbish around the football field where local druggies and drunk teenagers from nearby high school threw their trash– just because she forgot to check the time.
Once she stood before her room, the hall clear upon the disembodied hand’s inspection, she quickly unlocked the heavy doors and stepped inside the dark room, Thing in tow. As relief washed over her, Enid grinned smugly and Thing gave her a high-five for their accomplishment, happily tapping his fingers. Now, the only mission that needed to be done was getting into bed as fast as possible.
Her tired muscles ached at the thought of finally laying down. She couldn’t wait to snuggle into warm, fluffy blankets and doze off to the calming smell of cinnamon, coffee and the intoxicating scent that was just so uniquely Wednesday.
Enid quickly stepped out of her sneakers, shrugged down her pink jacket and let it mindlessly fall to the ground, too unbothered to pick it up and hang it in her closet. She was sure Wednesday would scold her for it in the morning, the thought making a tiny smile appear on her lips.
As Enid’s eyes fully adjusted to the dim light in the room, her heart skipped a beat upon finding the room vacant. Their bed was empty, covers neatly made and untouched, just how the girls had left them this morning. A familiar pang of anxiety pooled in her stomach, an unwelcome guest that resurfaced whenever Wednesday wasn't immediately in sight. Her thoughts raced with worry, each possibility more concerning than the last, her mind screaming that something is horribly wrong. Did Tyler break loose out of the institution he was kept in and got to Wednesday to finish the job? Did the stalker strike again? This part of her, Enid knew, was the trauma response to all those scary events the pair has been through the past two semesters. A part of her that Enid was still trying to recover and heal in therapy.
"Wednesday?" Enid's voice wavered slightly, the room’s silence amplifying her unease. Her eyes darted around, scanning the shadows for the familiar silhouette.
As silence was the only thing that greeted her, Enid shook her head to clear it from any dark thoughts clouding her mind. Maybe Wednesday had changed her mind about going to bed, even though Enid knew Wednesday had not slept well in the last few days, if at all, and it was clearly noticeable in her posture and the way she carried herself. She was a victim of the sleepless monster that haunted the campus as much as the rest of the student body during exam month, though she would never admit it.
Enid ran her hand over her hoodie pocket in search of her phone, wanting to check for any new messages. Both girls, traumatised from past experiences, had established a healthy communication between each other when it came to the matter of each other's whereabouts, even Wednesday, surprisingly to everyone, fully used her phone to stay in touch with Enid and update her on her strolls in the woods with Thing. (If anyone asked Wednesday, she’d deny it has anything to do with her newly diagnosed separation anxiety, it was humiliating and just wrong to pin such a thing on her persona)
Enid thought the communication between them over the phone was endearing. The messages Wednesday usually sent always brought a smile and a blush on the blonde’s face, as the younger girl often found something that had reminded her of the blue-eyed girl and made sure to let her know by sending photos, especially of gorgeous flowers and interesting plants. Sometimes, she’d also send photos of rare species of bugs her, Pugsley, Eugene found on their walks or random snaps of the two boys in uncomfortable situations– something that Enid was sure Wednesday outwardly enjoyed– photo of oblivious Pugsley, standing in an ant nest as he led a conversation with Eugene. Another shot of Pugsley, this time screaming in panic as he tried to climb on an equally terrified Eugene, ants climbing along both of the boys' bodies.
This time though, there were no new messages.
Enid was suddenly all too aware of the urgent tugging at the cuff of her blue jeans– Thing, who was perched by her feet, made a few wild gestures, scurrying towards a shadowy corner. Enid followed with a mix of curiosity and concern. Her heart settled into a steadier rhythm as she finally caught sight of Wednesday, slumped over the ancient typewriter in the darkest corner of their room. The sight of her girlfriend was enough to chase away the ghosts that had momentarily gripped her. Wednesday had simply succumbed to exhaustion, her head resting awkwardly on the keys. Relief washed over Enid like a soothing tide.
“Willa,” Enid whispered, her voice gentle and filled with warmth as she approached the dark-haired girl, tears pricking her eyes at the previous whirlwind of emotions.
Thing quickly climbed the table, balancing on his fingertips as he hovered by the girl's fallen face. He started tapping his index and middle finger on the wooden desk loudly to get the seer's attention, but the girl hadn’t moved a muscle. He turned to face Enid, raising his pinky to give a small shrug before his attention was back on Wednesday, determined to wake his sleeping companion up by not so gentle taps on her forehead.
Enid let out a wet chuckle at the display, deciding that today is the day she might save Thing’s life by stopping his not so effective way of awaking the goth girl. Who knows, Wednesday might as well wake up to his antics and decide to put an end to the mysteriously persistent appendage once and for all. Enid loomed over the sleeping girl, her hands gently cradling the smaller girl’s head. With tender care, she brushed aside the dark strands of hair that veiled Wednesday’s face to assess the damage.
The blonde felt her heart clench at the sight of Wednesday’s cheek resting right on top of the typewriter keys, the werewolf wincing at the thought of them imprinted onto her lover's face. Just as she was about to gently lift Wednesday’s head away from the typewriter keys, Thing decided to take matters into his own... hand. With a decisive nudge, he shifted the typewriter, sending Wednesday’s head sliding down to meet the table with an unfortunate thud.
“Thing!” Enid shrieked.
Thing responded with a nonchalant lift of his fingers, as if offering a lazy apology. But the moment he caught Enid’s reproachful glare and the subtle growl, he quickly retreated behind the typewriter, hiding from the stern look cast his way.
Wednesday, startled by the unexpected pain in her head, let out a soft, involuntary grumble.
“Enid?” Wednesday murmured, her voice laced with sleep, blinking up at her paramour.
Enid chose to ignore Thing smugly tapping fingers against the desk, focusing instead on the dark haired girl, her fingers combing through the loose strands of Wednesday’s hair, a tender touch that seemed to have the opposite effect of waking her; instead, it coaxed her further into the soothing embrace of sleep.
“Hey babycakes, I just got back from Yoko's,'' Enid smiled, ,,Why aren't you in bed?’’
“'anted to write for a bit,'' Wednesday yawned, sitting up and stretching to fight off the sleep, her back popping loudly before she let herself slouch back into the uncomfortable chair, her head lolling back to look up at the girl. ,,I'm quite unsatisfied with the last few chapters I wrote.''
Enid chuckled softly, the unusual sleepiness of her lover putting a dopey smile on her face, her heart aching with affection. ,,Well it’s super late. Why don’t you let the novel rest for now, and go to bed?’’
"Don’t want to without you," Wednesday mumbled, her usual stoic demeanour giving way to a vulnerable undertone. It was rare for her to admit such things, but the quiet of the night and the comfort of Enid's presence seemed to coax the truth from her. "Can’t fall asleep alone anymore."
Enid knew these words carried the weight of a profound connection, a silent acknowledgment of how deeply intertwined their lives and souls had become. For Wednesday, who often prided herself on her independence and self-sufficiency, it was a significant admission. It revealed the depth of trust and reliance she had placed in Enid, a bond that transcended her usual guarded nature. To Enid, it meant everything.
Enid knelt beside her, fully taken by the soft, sleepy version of Wednesday only she got to see, brushing her thumb over the set of red letters temporarily etched onto Wednesday’s cheek, Wednesday leaning into the soft touch.
"I’m here now, and I’ll join you in bed in a bit," she promised, her voice steady and soothing.
Wednesday's face shifted into what she intended to be a scowl, but her tired eyes gave her away, unable to muster the severity she was aiming for.
"Why can you not join me right away?" she asked, her voice carrying a slight edge of impatience.
"I just need to take off my makeup and change into something comfortable,"
"But that will take so long," Wednesday protested, her voice dipping into the petulance that only surfaced in moments of true vulnerability. Enid chuckled, the sound warm and affectionate as she grabbed a hold of Wednesday’s hands.
"What are you talking about? It’ll take me five minutes, tops!"
"That’s too long," Wednesday grumbled, her words tinged with a childlike insistence that rarely escaped her guarded exterior. She sulked in the chair, her shoulders uncharacteristically dropped, long hair falling around her like a curtain. The fingers in her hand squeezed Enids.
Enid shook her head, a fond smile dancing on her lips. "You’re so cute when you’re sleepy."
Wednesday attempted a stern glare, but the effect was lost in the drowsiness that tugged at her eyelids. She huffed softly, finding her mind too clouded by sleep to conjure up any biting retort. Instead, she tugged her hands from Enid’s and accepted her defeat.
Enid chuckled at the display, her tone teasing but filled with warmth. "Now, let’s get you to bed before you get any cuter."
They shuffled across the room towards their bed, Thing rushing past their legs, scurrying across the floor with an agility that belied his tiny form. His nimble fingers untucked the neatly made covers, making a space for Wednesday with practised ease as he patted the black pillow to usher his companion to lay down. He was obviously trying to make up for the little stunt he made earlier, trying to show Enid his sincere apology. Enid couldn't help but chuckle, offering him a grateful smile.
"Thanks, Thing," she said, appreciating the hand's ever-loyal assistance. She waited patiently for the smaller girl to get comfortable on the soft mattress, pulling the dark covers up to Wednesday’s chin with a tenderness that spoke volumes of her care.
"There you go," Enid whispered, her fingers lingering for a moment to smooth back the stray strands of Wednesday's hair behind the seer’s ears. Wednesday nestled into the blankets and the tenderness of her wolf’s touch, her eyes already starting to close again.
"Don't be long," she mumbled, her voice a sleepy slur.
"I won't," Enid promised softly, brushing a quick kiss to Wednesday's forehead before stepping away.
With Wednesday settled, Enid brought her phone out of her pocket and collected Wednesday’s from the desk, plugging it into their charges for the both of them before she started her nightly routine. It was a ritual she had perfected over time to be both thorough and swift, her mind already anticipating the moment she could crawl into bed. She decided on wearing a Seventeen shirt with a pair of pink sleep shorts, emerging from the bathroom with a stifled yawn that turned into a giggle as her eyes fell upon the scene unfolding before her.
“Thing, stop poking her face, please.”
Thing froze mid-motion, his index finger suspended comically in the air, poised for another playful jab. For a moment, he seemed to hover in uncertainty, his stance slackening ever so slightly as if expressing a silent, exaggerated disappointment in being thwarted from his cheeky antics. Again.
Thing was obviously determined to cause as much chaos today as possible, but Enid couldn't even be mad at him as she shook her head and offered a small smile. She understood that Thing's cheekiness was his usual way of teasing the seer, their relationship akin to the rivalry of siblings, always finding ways to needle each other yet bound by an unspoken affection.
As Thing scurried off towards the plushies on the other side of the room, Enid paused to soak in the moment, wrapped in quietude and warmth. Her gaze travelled over their shared space.
The once separated single beds were now pushed together on Wednesday’s side, where, from the entrance of their dorm room, their bed remained hidden, only revealing itself as one approached the bathroom door. It gave Wednesday a luxury of time to untangle her snugly limbs from Enid when some unmindful, rude and mannerless people, read Yoko, bargained into their room totally unannounced. The new layout also freed up more space on Enid’s side of the room, transforming it into a spot for hanging out with their friends. With some help, she hung a white sheet from the beams to create a makeshift movie screen and had even managed to smuggle in a few bean bag chairs from the library, adding an extra layer of comfort to their impromptu hangout.
Enid was entirely smitten with their revamped dorm layout, going as far as hanging bat-shaped fairy lights above their bed and clipping all the little poems, doodles, and notes her and Wednesday made for each other on the back wall near their bed.
To Enid’s delight, Wednesday approved of the look, even permitting new sets of fluffy black and white blankets and pillows, and a few of Enid’s darker plushies to share their bed. Enid knew Wednesday secretly cherished the monochrome squishmallow that always seemed to end up chilling atop her pillow.
Looking at their little nest now, Wednesday, thank heaven, remained unmoving and totally unbothered by the family appendage sticking his calloused fingers into her face a few moments ago. Her usual rigid, mummy-like sleep posture had softened into that of a curled-up cat, limbs tucked closely and buried in layers of blankets. The fairy lights cast gentle shadows over her, her dark hair spread out wildly on the pillow, forming an untamed halo around her serene face.
The aloof, stern demeanour that most of their peers thought made up Wednesday's personality was gone, revealing the tender and guarded heart that Enid had always cherished and knew. In the moments of whenever Enid was near Wednesday, the seer’s heart lay open, a vast and profound expanse, and Enid felt a deep, resonating joy in the privilege of being able to love and be loved by her.
A soft rustle of blankets stirred Enid from her deep thoughts, her gaze drawn on Wednesday whose eyelids fluttered open, hands softly searching the expanse of mattress, eyes glazed with the haze of sleep.
“Enid?” she called.
“Right here with you, my love,” Enid replied, her words carrying warmth.
In her sleepiness, Wednesday reached out with tender, almost childlike hand motion—a silent invitation, a yearning for the closeness and comfort that only Enid could provide.
With a soft smile, Enid drew closer, her heart bleeding with love.