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Chapter Text

It was a beautiful September morning. The birds were chirping, kids were playing in the streets and the summer sun still shone as bright as it had for the past weeks—a delightful start to the day ahead. 

It was exactly these kinds of mornings that Wednesday loathed. 

As she walked up to the familiar glass door the Addams suppressed a yawn, embarrassing as it was, hoping the quad in her coffee cup would be enough to make her forget about those annoying visions that plagued her last night. 

Not even plagued her, that at least would be amusing, just the right amount of mentally scarring. But for once, her visions weren’t nearly as interesting, or as clear, as Wednesday had hoped. Which was saying something. 

It had been the same for the past week. A dark forest with dark vines enveloping her vision and all her senses, making it difficult to see her surroundings, or hear or even breath. The darkness consumes her ina way that’s alien and uninviting, and her chest tightens until she can’t feel air coming into her lungs. 

Then a gust of wind and a colorful blinding light startled her awake. 

And that was it. 

The same for the past week, eveyr night without exception. 

No faces or sounds to identify. No corpses or the taste of iron like her usual more dreadful visions. It was annoying and vague, and Wednesday did not know what to do about them.

A universal truth among Seers is that visions never lie. Wednesday merely wishes they weren't so vague. 

When her powers had just started to flare she would ask her mother or her grandma about what the meaning of such vision could be, but it had been years she she had needed assistance to translate a vision, and Wednesday has little time for that right now. It was just another Monday morning for all it concerned her, and she had to get to work. 

At least the smell of dew and herbs provided some comfort. 

The irony of working at a flower shop, of all places, never escaped Wednesday. But as fate would have it she had come to truly enjoy every aspect of it, even the days when she had no other choice than to sort fresh colorful roses on bespoke arrangements or whenever Eugene had a fresh batch of honey coming in that day. Like that morning. 

"Good morning, Wednesday!" Eugene greeted her cheerily as she stepped into the store. 

He was barely visible as he descended the stairs that led to the rooftop carrying three boxes of jars filled with honey. An impressive feat considering Eugene was only about six boxes tall himself. (Not that Wednesday was any better in the height department). 

The sweet smell coming from the jars was enough to give Wednesday a headache. 

But as usual, Wednesday regarded him with a polite nod as she went on to leave her things in the back office and wrap her black apron around her figure. 

A huge wall covered in black wallpaper and gruesome paintings looked back at her, something straight out of Goya's worst nightmares. It was amazing. 

The creepy portraits of a long line of menacingly looking women looked back at Wednesday. Some had shiny sharp teeth, maniacal smiles, or stern icy glares, but what they all had in common was the same dark brown eyes, just as dark and just as deep as night itself. 

This, as anyone would have guessed, wasn't your average flower shop. Wednesday prided herself in that. 

The shop technically belonged officially to her mother, who had inherited it from her mother, who had inherited it from her mother, and so on. So, although it was originally a Frump family affair, it had quickly become an Addams' affair the moment Morticia had inherited the shop. 

Gómez, who was deadly allergic to flowers and colorful things, could never spend more than a few minutes at the time in the shop without coming down with something, and so Morticia had taken it upon herself to assert the dominance of herbs, spices, and rare weeds at the shop, thus creating a more welcoming environment for her beloved and people with similar conditions, but also an ode to the beautifully macabre side of nature, to the silent killers of the wild and the ancient remedies and concoctions of witches. 

That was the sole identity of Ravenwood Wilted Florals, named after Wednesday's great-great-great-great grandmother, Ophelia Ravenwood-Frump. 

Years ago she would have never even entertained the idea to set foot at the shop unless threatened with her iron maiden being taken away, which at the time was the only way Morticia could get the girl to help her on particularly busy days. And although Wednesday regarded herself as a pretty consistent person, even she could admit her interests had changed a lot from when she was a broody teenager. 

Now, a broody young adult, she had come to realize the gruesome beauty of the infamous flower shop. 

A small display of colorful Cempasúchil flowers stood opposite to bushy walls of contrasting angel's trumpet, poison ivy, and oleander. Dried herbs hung from the ceiling and walls, airing the shop with their particular calming smells. The dark grey walls were lined with black mirrors, strange pots and vases, and an endless collection of bones (Most of which Morticia’s children foraged themselves). A small cold room had been placed in the back to maintain some stock of species without fear of them withering before their due time, cold and dark, easily Wednesday’s favorite place in the shop. 

“A bit early for Día de los Muertos, isn’t it?” Bianca, her coworker, said as Wednesday walked by the window display. 

She was right, but her mother had insisted. 

And oddly, Wednesday had not complained. That’s just how tired she was these days.

“You always talk about making more eye-catching displays. Wish granted.” Wednesday said plainly, monotone, almost annoyed. 

“Mommy’s orders, I see.” Bianca replied with a sly grin, earning a somber glare from Wednesday.

To the untrained eye it might have seemed like the two women were about to fight to the death right then and there, and maybe Wednesday would have stabbed Bianca for that 

comment a mere year ago, but no one could deny both of them enjoyed challenging each other. It mostly kept Wedneday’s wit sharp (sharper) and gave Bianca an excuse to let go of some pent up mean girl energy. 

Besides, Bianca was a diligent worker, even Wednesday could admit that. 

She had been responsible for taking Ravenwood into the 21st century, and consequently, had brought them a bunch of new clients. In silent agreement, Bianca cashed her paycheck every month and no one asked questions about her past. Or about her siren talents. 

Bianca had simply showed up in town one day. No money, no plan, and no explanations, but a whole lot of charm. 

She had stumbled upon the flower shop one day and weirdly made a connection with the Addams’, and after many many threatening exchanges and sarcasm, Wednesday offered Bianca a job at the shop. 

She had helped manage the shop ever since. 

“By the way, the list for the restock orders is on your desk.” Bianca said casually, argument long forgotten. “And we had another normie photographer lurking around this morning.”

It was said with the annoyance of someone who found raccoons on their trash cans regularly, but that was basically what you signed up for in a town like that. Many outcasts, many rumors, and many curious eyes from outside.

Rumors ran rampant about the town, and even more about the true nature of the odd flower shop on the South side. From ancient coven headquarters to a haunted murder house, and still, no one dared deny the beauty of the unusual arrangements that came out of it. 

Although Ravenwood Wilted Florals specialized in funerary arrangements and supplying herbs, they provided a wide array of services and even had a handful of faithful patrons who regularly shopped for personal pieces or seasonal gifts. 

Wednesday took pride in all that. 

It also did not hurt that the shop allowed her enough peace and quiet to work on her novels, Wednesday's true calling, or that it granted her access to some of the rarest poisons in the world. 

“We better get used to it. It’s almost tourist season.” Eugene said, who had finally managed to set down the huge boxes.

Eugene Ottinger, whom Wednesday had only recently come to regard as a friend, was a late addition to the shop. A passionate apiculturist two years or so younger than Bianca and she, but a kindred strange spirit, with his unusual passion for pollinators and their colonies. 

After some help on the young man's part to get Wednesday some particularly rare supplements for her plants, and Eugene's tireless insistence, their friendship grew, and Wednesday eventually allowed Eugene to keep some of his beehives on the roof and sell his artisanal honey and wax there at the shop. 

It was certainly better than having her brothers Pugsley and Pubert running around the shop and annoying her instead of making deliveries, as they were supposed to. 

The tap of a glass jar on the table snapped Wednesday back to reality, effectively taking her attention back to the long list of to-do’s in her hands. 

Thing, her trusty extra hand, stood next to the jar of golden honey, looking up at her (as well as he could look without eyes), and signed something about the mail.

That’s when Wedneday noticed the stack of mail next to him. 

Wednesday stared at the envelopes so intently that they might as well had set on fire. But alas, she had no such luck. She would try again with the next batch of bills. 

Grabbing the letters with a small sigh Wednesday readied to go back into the office and get ready for the day ahead. Until Eugene dropped yet another bomb on her. 

"By the way, did you already meet the new neighbors?" 

"The what?" Wednesday replied. The slight twitch of her brow on her schooled features gave away her surprise. 

She did not need a new addition to her list of nagging worries.

"Yeah, they already rented the space next door. No idea to whom, though, but they're scheduled to arrive today. Didn't you get the email?" Eugene just dropped that information on Wednesday with the casual disregard of a child with a slingshot. And Wednesday was but an unsuspecting bird on a branch.

"You know I don't check emails." She replied, disgusted with the idea of checking a single email from the Association of Store Owners. 

Bianca, who had anticipated the commotion, walked over from the front desk with the printed-out email in her hands.

“We know. That’s why I was waiting for you to get settled before showing you it.” Bianca said, giving Eugene a side glance.

“Oops.” He said with a guilty smile.  

Wednesday rushed as dignified as possible to the front windows, the only source of natural light in the shop, to try and get a glimpse of the practically abandoned spot next door.

This was unacceptable. That place had been closed for years, some people even believed the place was haunted, doomed to fail thanks to their "creepy" neighbors, and Wednesday liked that arrangement. No one to share her sidewalk or the storage space in the back alley, no one to take up her parking spaces, no one to disturb her precious peace. 

This was an insult. 

Then, before Wednesday could exteriorize her internal fuming, the phone rang. 

"Ravenwood Wilted Florals, how may I help you?" Bianca answered. They had all agreed it would be best if Eugene and Bianca handled the phones a long time ago. 

"Oh, sure Pugsley, what's up?" 

Wednesday tensed, something wasn't right. 

"What do you mean you can't park the truck?" 

A ruckus coming from the back alley took their attention away from the phone and towards the back door. An obnoxious beeping and then the sound of crashing metal.

Wednesday rushed past Eugene and Bianca towards the back door, their service door that led to the back alley, where they received their suppliers and Pugsley parked their delivery truck. Or he would if a huge bright red SUV and a moving truck weren’t obstructing the entire alleyway. 

"Oh." Eugene appeared next to her then, understanding dawning.

“Fuck.” And on Bianca.

Then, as if on cue, some guy stepped out of the SUV and rushed to the moving truck that had carelessly crashed against their trash containers. 

"Alright! Stop! You're good there!" The guy (who was wearing a beanie in 30°C weather) said. 

His goofy smile was already getting on Wednesday's nerves. 

And it showed, because Eugene took a few cautionary steps to place himself between Wednesday and her possible next victim. 

"Let me go talk to them. Maybe they're lost!" He said, forcing a smile.

“Hey! New neighbors!” The annoying guy waved at them from a distance, deepening Wednesday’s frown. 

Eugene offered her an apologetic smile. 

“The email said it was only supposed to be a few boxes…?” 

Wednesday didn't say anything but Eugene was already jogging down to meet the mystery guy next to the truck. They exchanged a few words that Wednesday couldn’t hear, her glare set on the poor idiot with the beanie, while her arms crossed defensively. Much too soon, Eugene came back with that unwavering pep to his every step. 

“Do not shoot the messenger.” Bianca said as Eugene approached. 

“I make no promises.”

"So…" He trailed off. “Those are our new neighbors.” Wednesday had already resolved her mind. 

"I'm setting their store on fire." With that, she turned around and walked back into the store to find her trusty matches and gasoline. 

Eugene ran behind her. 

"Wait! There's no need for another charge of arson. They seem nice." Eugene said, rushing to Wednesday as she looked around the office to essentially orbit her, but not daring to get entirely in her way. 

With those last three words, Wednesday turned her full attention towards Eugene, her dark eyes growing in size the slightest bit, which told Eugene that Wednesday was already at her wit's end. 

"They have been here all but 10 minutes and they are already a nuisance." 

"I know, I know! But I talked to the guy, they are just unloading a few boxes and the truck will be gone." 

"We have deliveries scheduled for today. Which are as of now already late. " 

"We can tell Pugsley to load the deliveries from the front door this time." 

Wednesday scoffed. 

"Hey, I know, I'm not thrilled about this either, but what can we do?" Eugene tried to reason.

Wednesday said nothing, her arms still crossed over her chest looking at the matchbox in her hands decidedly. 

"And the guy said they are setting up a tattoo shop. We won't have to worry about another bakery or a family restaurant clashing with Ravenwood." Eugene added excitedly.

“And, I’m sorry to say, but we have no say on who rents next to us.” Bianca added, casually going back to her daily tasks. 

And sadly it was true. Their options were limited, and all of which Wednesday could think about were also illegal.

"If they obstruct our alley again I'm setting their store on fire." She warned and Eugene smiled again in relief. 

"I'll inform them." 

"Please do." Bianca added. She was serious. 

And with that and a relieved sigh from Eugene, Wednesday was back inside the office, mentally preparing herself for the days to come. Movings were chaotic, and not the kind of chaos she liked. 

Just as Eugene had said, by lunchtime the truck was gone and peace reigned supreme again, until the front door swung open to reveal Pugsley and Pubert, her little brothers, eager and unbothered as always sauntering into her shop. 

"Hi, sister!" Pubert loudly cried. His overly excited phase had never placated, not even now as a twelve-year-old, and neither did his mustache, which matched their father’s perfectly. 

"I'm guessing you already met our new neighbors?" Pugsley asked with a small, sarcastic smile. 

Those brothers of hers held a soft spot on Wednesday's dark, icy heart. And to Wednesday's demise, they knew it. 

"Unofficially." She said without looking up from her notebook, feigning complete interest in finishing her supply order instead of burning down the establishment next door. 

"And have you seen their sign yet?" Pugsley asked, smile still unwavering. 

Wednesday's eyes darted to meet her brother’s, sharp like daggers. 

"I like it. It hurts my eyes!" Pubert added and Wednesday rushed to the front door. 

Just as her little brother had said, the most hideous multicolor decal was being placed on the display window of the shop. An obnoxious amalgamate of colors with the backdrop of a kaleidoscope of bright yellow, pink, and light blue hues, with the words "Kaleidoscope Tattoo Parlor" etched in white cursive on top of it. 

The decal wasn't even halfway done and it was already hurting Wednesday's soul with the wide contrast to her store, only accentuated by the fact that their display windows were right next to each other. 

Where once stood an elegant slick black brick building with a single dark iron window adorned with macabre foliage and cobwebs (all of them real and well cared for), now was all tarnished with an oversized prism and a neon sign on the glass door. 

And that's when Wednesday saw her. Her new neighbor. 

If you were to personify that same hideous window, this is exactly what it would look like. An overly excited girl, no older than Wednesday herself, dressed from head to toe with your average summer catalog in a vibrant striped blouse and denim pants, streaks of pink and blue on her hair, and colorful mismatched tattoos down her legs and upper arms. 

"O-M-G. It's gorgeous!"

Chapter Text

Finally, today was the day. 

The day Enid had been planning for her whole life. 

Or most of her life anyway. 

Because how many people could call themselves store owners by the age of 25? Ignoring the impending bills and overwhelming debt, it was a dream come true. 

She had finally signed the lease on her new tattoo shop merely a week ago, and today was the day they were officially moving into the new studio. 

Kaleidoscope Tattoo was finally becoming a reality, and Enid couldn’t be more proud. 

Or excited, judging by how she was bouncing around her apartment since way too early in the morning. 

"Enid, hon, it's 7 am. You're gonna have to calm down if you want to keep me as your roommate and your business partner." Yoko said, emerging from her room onto the small kitchen of their shared apartment. 

Enid, sadly, had been up since around 5 a.m., making last-minute arrangements, double-checking lists, pouring cup after cup of coffee and generally pacing around their living room. 

"Sorry, Yoko!” Enid apologized but kept running around with a huge smile as she detailed some items from her list to her friend. 

Yoko did not say anything, she just smiled a tired smile and went straight for the blood bags in the fridge. Today was going to be a long day, but she didn’t blame her friend.

Enid had been excited about anything and everything that involved the new store, and so was Yoko! Only to different extents. They were finally making this dream come true, after long years of apprenticeship and jumping from one shitty tattoo parlor to the other. Full creative control, a better workspace, working with her best friends, and no shitty bosses or misogynist coworkers.

“Oh, and do you think we should introduce ourselves before or after that? And should we bring cookies?” Enid asked, but before her first cup of coffee, Yoko had tuned out everything the girl had said.

Because that was another thing Enid was especially excited about, meeting their new mysterious neighbors. 

She was no stranger to the rumors surrounding Ravenwood Wilted Florals, and although the unusual name and aesthetic did not align with Enid's usual interests at all she had always found the aura of mystery around the flower shop interesting. It also did not hurt that their creepy reputation had landed Enid to find a 140 square meters studio for half the price of everywhere else. Rumors be damned, Enid was about to be the best neighbor those people at the creepy flower shop had ever seen.  

“Maybe just chill out and make sure Ajax doesn’t damage anything before we get there?” Yoko said.

She was also curious to finally have some information about the mysterious shop, considering its digital footprint was practically nonexistent, except for the shop’s online store and a couple of normie podcasts about supernatural activity around the town.

Now, standing in front of the store in question, it was safe to say their neighboring building was intimidating, and although it had the exact same facade layout as theirs, only mirrored, it looked imposing, tall, and ominous. Maybe it was all the black brick and cladding or the cast iron details, or maybe those creepy Halloween-esque arrangements from the window. 

Enid never thought flowers could be scary, until now. 

“You know what, pup? I think I’m going to help Ajax with those boxes after all.” Said Yoko, paying close attention to the spiderwebs on the corner that appeared to be…moving?

Before Enid could say anything her friend was already crossing the door into their own store, faster than she had ever seen Yoko move at all in all their years of friendship. And she might have a point. Enid had to steel her nerves to even dare touch the iron and dark glass door that stood before her.

From the outside, the store always creeped her out, but she had to admit it was also eerily beautiful, if only judging by the handful of times Enid had been able to see it before the very rushed (and maybe even impulsive) signing of the contract. 

Now, with some more natural light filtering into the shop and the smell of lavender filling her senses, it was a different story. 

It was mesmerizing, like stepping into the deep end of the woods on an autumn morning, although the summer sun shone mercilessly outside. It was honestly frightening but somehow alluring. 

Enid stepped further into the store, inspecting every other flower in front of her. She had never been happier about her heightened senses.

Unlike any other flower shop Enid had ever visited this one was mostly devoid of color, except for a few exceptions of flowers scattered here and there. She recognized hydrangeas, pansies, roses, and poppies, but that's about where her knowledge stopped. A small bush of white flowers hanging delicately from a branch caught her eye, soft-looking petals with blonde stems. They reminded Enid of little trumpets. 

"Welcome!" A voice snapped her out of her stupor, just before reaching for the white flower. 

It was a boy, not much younger than her. Short, with glasses and some pretty dirty gardening gloves. 

"I wouldn’t touch the angel's trumpet if I were you."

Enid immediately retracted her hand, eyeing the flowers and the boy’s dirty gloves cautiously with a disgusted look. 

“Why not?”

“Well, they’re very poisonous.” 

“Um…” Enid took another cautionary step back, as if the flower could prance at her and get her. Which, considering the look of the store, it might as well do.

Eugene let out a light-hearted laugh, the guy’s lack of worry about being surrounded by poison disturbing Enid just a little. 

“It would mostly give you a rash, don’t worry. But we prefer if clients abstain from touching the plants.” Enid relaxed at the new information, it made sense. “Also, it might give you hallucinations and a terrible fever if you ingest it.”

And all that relaxation was gone.

Eugene turned a corner towards a smaller display, where he put his dirty gardening gloves away. 

“What may I help you with today, mademoiselle ?” He asked, flashing that bright smile of his.

Had he not been so nice and had Enid not been too distracted wondering what other plant inside this store could kill her, she would have cringed at the words. 

“Um…” Instead, she took a second to collect her thoughts. These were her new neighbors, after all. “I just wanted to introduce myself, I’m Enid Sinclair, I just rented the place next door.”

She extended a friendly hand towards the boy who shook it animatedly, shaking Enid’s entire arm and making her a bit dizzy.

“Hey, Eugene! Wednesday is looking for you- Oh! Hi!” Another boy turned the corner, tall, burly, and pale. Incredibly menacing, had it not been for his sweet smile and soft eyes. 

A much smaller kid trailed behind him- He looked a lot like Enid’s youngest brother, except for the thick and well-groomed mustache this boy sported.

“This is our new neighbor! Enid, this is Pugsley. He does our deliveries. The little guy is Pubert.” Eugene announced. 

“I’m almost as tall as you, Eugene.” The boy said.

And then a voice interrupted their conversation. 

“Pugsley, Pubert! Why is the van still parked? You’re behind on deliveries.” 

As she turned the corner the sight of a young woman just barely took Enid’s breath away. 

Because, wow. She knew the store was very into the goth aesthetic, but this girl took it to the next level. Enid assured herself that it was merely this fact that caught her attention and not how gorgeous this woman was. Or how she smelled of lavender and dark coffee.

She was around her age, dressed in all black with a matching black apron and raven black hair, tied up on two perfectly done braids. Her cupid’s bow was perfectly lined with black lipstick. Unlike Eugene’s dirt-covered clothes, she was spotless, and a deadly scowl was aimed at the two boys in front of her.

Although Enid had a hard time finding that look intimidating with the sea of freckles that adorned the woman’s nose and cheeks. 

“Sorry, Wednesday!” The boys said in unison, picking their stuff up and scurrying out the door, avoiding Wednesday's deadly gaze like it was a familiar game to them. 

Wednesday.

“Goodbye, new neighbor!” Pubert called, disappearing behind Pugsley, and Enid couldn’t help but giggle and wave back. 

Until that same scowl was directed at her. 

Maybe it was a bit scary. 

“So it’s you.” The woman said. Definitely scary. 

Also very confusing, because Enid had barely even said a word. It usually took a bit more time for people to be annoyed at her. 

Just in time, a new customer entered the store, and judging by the way Wednesday did not move an inch, this one was for Eugene. 

He sighed and adjusted his apron, knowing full well that neither Enid nor Wednesday were paying any attention to anything else anymore. 

“Please don’t kill her.” Eugene whispered in Wednesday’s ear as he passed her by. Enid of course caught it. 

“No promises.” Wednesday replied, loud and clear. 

As mesmerized as she was, and as embarrassed she was about it, Enid managed to remember why she was there in the first place. 

“Um, H-howdy!” Enid mentally slapped herself, not because she chose “howdy” out of any other possible word, but also because of the way she stuttered. 

“My name is Enid, I’m your new neighbor!” 

Enid took a few steps forward, practically bouncing on her feet as she often did, and extended her hand for Wednesday to take. Only she never did, she just kept her arms crossed, staring daggers into her soul with those piercing dark brown eyes.  

“I already met your friend.” Wednesday said simply.

Enid put her hand back down.

“And his obnoxious red truck.”

“Oh, you mean Ajax?”

Enid cackled. It turned even more awkward when Wednesday didn't seem to smile even a little bit. 

“Yeah, it's a whole thing. But it did help with the moving.” 

Enid’s smile was usually unwavering, but against that scowl, it was just becoming painfully awkward.

Enid could feel her throat tightening with every second she spent under the scrutiny of those eyes, never blinking, effectively drawing a small whimper from her. She was normally very extroverted, and outgoing, Yoko might even say “a shameless flirt” if a pretty girl was involved, which Wednesday totally was, but there was something different about this woman, something that made Enid feel nervous, maybe even a little scared, and entirely too curious. 

“I think pertinent we set a few ground rules.” Wednesday said, finally redirecting that scowl from Enid’s hand to her eyes. 

Enid would have gotten completely ju lost in those dark brown eyes had it not been for the sheer confusion those words summoned. 

“Ground rules?”

“Yes. We will tragically be sharing common spaces such as the service alley and the parking spots. Since my store has been here longer, and your team has already proven themselves a menace, I think it’s best we set some rules to limit exasperating encounters.”

“I mean-”

Enid tried to get a few words in, because who does this woman think she is? But Wednesday beat her to it.

“We will split the parking spots evenly, and we procure the space of the service alley from 6 am to 2 pm on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays no exceptions. If your team could refrain from destroying the trash cans that would be ideal.”

“Ok, you know what-”

“And that decal on your window has to go. All that color hurts my eyes and will surely cause a traffic accident.”

Enid considered herself a pacifist, but Wednesday was definitely trying her patience. 

She stood a bit straighter and took a step towards Wednesday. She also tried not to focus on their height difference as she had to lower her eyes a bit to meet Wednesday’s.

“Oh yeah? Well, my decal isn’t going anywhere, but maybe you should clean up your display window before some of your bugs crawl into my store space.” 

“Those are rare Argiope spiders. Not “bugs”.” Wednesday replied, glare unwavering. 

Tension was rising fast as both women locked eyes, still as stone and rage-filled. Enid was practically bearing her fangs at the nerve of this woman. It was safe to say Wednesday had more than made up her mind about setting fire to the store next door. 

But just in time, Eugene was back.

“So! How’s it going over here?” He asked with an awkward laugh.

And just like that Enid turned around with a loud humph and stormed out of the store.

Wednesday did not wait for a second to do the same, disappearing back into her office. 

“I leave for 5 minutes…” Eugene muttered to himself, picking up his gardening gloves.  

“And then she just glared at me! Can you believe it? Who does she think she is?!” Enid had been fuming all afternoon about her first encounter with the new neighbors.

“I did say maybe we could have toned down all the color a little bit.” Yoko muttered as they both unboxed stuff for the store. 

“It’s a kaleidoscope!” Enid yelled, throwing shreds of bubble wrap around.

“I thought they were pretty nice. That guy Eugene was kind enough to help me put the trash cans back in place. I’m starting to doubt the rumors about them being a coven of cannibals.” Ajax added, with his signature oblivious smile. 

Enid groaned again, flopping down on a still-wrapped chair.

“Ok, let’s take a breather. Movings are stressful and you had an awful encounter with our new bitchy neighbor. Let’s just go get some lunch and forget about it. I bet you we will hardly see them once we open.” Yoko said.

A small mishap would not ruin her entire day, not the day she had been dreaming about for so long. 

Whatever Wednesday had to say about her shop, she did not care. 

Not one bit. 

“Out of all the neighbors we could have gotten. I can’t believe this.” Wednesday said as she furiously trimmed some roses, cutting the petals off with well-trained hands and fire in her dark eyes. 

Her mother, ever observant, had been listening about her daughter’s morning encounter with the new neighbors. Although Morticia was well aware her daughter did not get along with most people, it was certainly very few those who managed to raise any sort of emotion from her, including anger. 

“That does sound most unpleasant.” Morticia said calmly, removing petals from thorny stems. “Have you considered arson?”

“Eugene and Bianca are against the idea.” 

“That would be wise. The fire department is getting suspicious.”

Wednesday scoffed.

“Perhaps this is a good opportunity for you, my little storm cloud.” Morticia said, carefully arranging the thorns inside a dark purple vase. “And for the shop.”

Her knowing smirk gave away a certain hidden meaning to her words. Wednesday hated it when her mother did that.

“How could this be an opportunity?”

“Well, it could get you out of your comfort zone a little bit.” Morticia said, moving the vase from the work table near the display window. “Attract some new clients, even.”

Morticia had no ill intent to her words, but she had that knowing smirk on that annoyed Wednesday to no end, not to mention that the topic of the shop had become a bit of a sore subject.

In fact, Wednesday couldn’t stop thinking about it. What did that say about her, an Addams, that she was allowing her family’s legacy to become some empty pastime to entertain her and her brothers?

“I admit, I haven't seen you this worked up since the incident with that publisher.” Morticia commented. Wednesday stopped her angry trimming for a second before making it even more aggressive. 

“That publisher had it coming.” She said simply. “And I am not worked up.” 

“Of course you’re not, my little raven.” Morticia said simply, admiring the beautiful arrangement of thorns in front of her, and allowing her daughter a break from the conversation. That was actually much worse for Wednesday. 

She sighed, fixing nonexistent creases on her clothes, and made her way to the back alley with a nearly empty trash bag, leaving behind her dark apron. 

“I’ll figure out what to do about our neighbors soon enough.” She said, putting her tools away with haste, eager to get out of this conversation. 

“I know you will, my little viper. Just-” Morticia said, measuring her words carefully before her daughter disappeared again. That hesitation wasn't usual for Morticia. “Don’t worry so much. These things have a way of working themselves out.” 

Wednesday stopped short from slamming the metallic door shut, clinging to the trash bag in her hand tighter. Realization dawned on her then. Something in her mother’s tone, or maybe her choice of words, struck her as odd. Even for her. 

“You had a vision.” She said, rather accused. 

Morticia stilled, taking a second too long to answer the accusation, another unusual tell from her mother. 

“I did.” Morticia said. There was no point in lying, an Addams never lies, unless absolutely necessary. 

Wednesday let the trash bag fall to the ground, the discarded dried-up leaves and sticks crunching on the ground as she turned around. 

“And you never planned on telling me.” Wednesday said, crossing her arms defensively. 

Morticia turned around with a soft apologetic expression, taking a few steps towards her daughter. When the similitude in the way they stood became too apparent for Wednesday to bear, she uncrossed her arms. 

“The vision isn't clear yet. I don't know if it ever will be. I merely saw the new store next door, and-” She stopped at the last word, collecting her thoughts. 

“And?” Wednesday pushed. 

“And the little werewolf girl. I don't know how or why, and trust me, my raven, that storefront hurts my eyes just as badly as yours, but she’s special.”

Wednesday rolled her eyes at her mother’s words. 

It made sense, somehow. This was the reason her mother wasn't surprised or even a little shaken about the arrival of their new, obnoxious neighbors. 

But to call Enid of all people special? And special in what way, if anything? 

“Mother, if this is one of your little schemes, it's a terrible effort. Even for you.” Wednesday said, bitterness dripping from her voice. 

“You know it is not.” Morticia’s voice remained soft. “But I couldn’t come to you with the mere idea of the meaning of a vision I cannot see clearly.”

Wednesday felt her chest tighten and her blood boil. Years ago she would have snapped at her mother, maybe a few knives would have flown between them, but she had learned to remain calm in such situations, to tame her unruly emotions. And also all her knives sat in her office at the time. Shame. 

“Besides, I didn’t want to trouble you, my little raven. I know you’ve been very busy with the store, keeping everything afloat.” Her mother added, her tone soft as silk, but her words still hurt Wednesday like venom.

Again with the topic of the store. Again with the pity looks and banal concern. Doubting her capabilities.

It made Wednesday’s blood begin to boil once more, with no intention of receding.

But just as Wednesday was about to say something the door swung open to reveal her father. A delightfully creepy smile adorned his features as usual. 

“How are my little banshees on this dreadful day?” 

But just as he saw the scene before him his smile faltered, landing on his wife with a puzzled expression. Morticia simply rubbed her temple. 

In good fashion Wednesday took this opportunity to make her exit, stomping past her father and disappearing behind the doors before he could enquire about their conversation. 

So her mother knew. Unsurprising. 

But to be fair, it was merely a vision, and a very vague one at that. Wednesday could understand her mother’s reasons for keeping such to herself before having more information. That doesn't mean Wednesday liked her decision, or agreed with it. 

At least her mother didn’t know about her own visions, probably dismissing her recent tiredness as just a side effect of being “too preoccupied keeping the store afloat”. 

Still, something gnawed at the thought the more she entertained it. There was more to her vision, and to their new neighbors, than her mother was letting on. And perhaps it had something to do with that annoying vision of her own.

Although Wednesday had rarely been able to resist a good mystery, she couldn’t allow herself to be consumed by her investigations this time. She had many things to focus on. 

She would have to limit herself to keep an eye on her neighbors for the time being.

Chapter Text

The days passed and Enid had never wanted Yoko to be right more than now. 

They had not only seen their neighbors almost every other day since moving in, it had been practically a turf war. 

The parking spaces were limited and practically hogged by the flower shop clientele and the unnecessarily huge delivery truck, their cold room and display lights were causing short circuits all around their side of the building and noise complaints flooded Enid’s emails. 

Ajax insisted they should just ignore them, and after her first run in with Bianca regarding a mess they had left on the back alley, Yoko had decided that one scary neighbor was enough in the form of Wednesday Addams, and that she did not want to get on Bianca’s bad side,giving up entirely on the childish ruse. That, essentially, left Enid alone to “defend their territory”. 

“Pup, I know you're naturally territorial, but this might be becoming too much.” Yoko said one day as she sipped on her coffee. 

“They took three of our parking spaces all afternoon! Where are our clients going to park?” Enid replied, exasperated as she paced around the room. 

“We haven’t opened yet.” Yoko replied dryly, clearly done with this argument. 

At least her run-ins with the delivery boys Pugsley and Pubert were nice enough, but Enid had made a point of being ready for yet another battle of the wits whenever their sister was involved. Maybe even an actual battle if Wednesday followed through with her initial threats. 

“Sinclair, your employee’s obnoxious red truck is parked in our delivery space. Again.” Wednesday said bitterly, as she stood with her arms crossed on her own side of the sidewalk. 

Enid had come out to do some work on the facade when the goth interrupted her, drawing a red tint to her cheeks at the accusation. 

“Ajax is literally visible from the window. Why don't you go tell him to move it?” She asked, mirroring Wednesday's posture from her own side. 

The contrast between the pair was something to behold, never more apparent than at moments like these, only emphasized by the color, or absent of, on eachs storefront, which almost looked like they were backing their owner’s up in the argument. 

They held eye contact for a long moment. A true stand off. 

But when it became apparent that, once again, neither of them could win, Enid broke eye contact first, storming off to her own store. 

Wednesday did the same. 

“Do you think those two will ever get along?” Pugsley asked as he stood watching the argument next to Eugene and Bianca. 

“Maybe when hell freezes over.” Bianca replied. 

And she said that truthfully, but there was just something about their interactions. 

Every conversation between them was always entirely charged with static and witty comebacks. Even Wednesday could admit that Enid had as much bark as she had bite. Not to mention that the taller woman had a way to make her blood boil and her insides churn in a way she had rarely experienced. She wasn't even as sarcastic or cut-throat as Wednesday was, but she had something to her. How obstinate she could be, how willing she was to get her way in and her words out.  

Wednesday found herself thinking about them, and about the werewolf, much more than she thought necessary, much to her frustration. 

And it was the same for Enid. 

It was confusing even. 

She never thought of herself as a confrontational person. A bit short-tempered, maybe a bit effusive, maybe even a little bit territorial, as Yoko had said. But Wednesday just had a capacity to wake something in her. 

And even still, that first encounter of them had been replaying inside her head for way too long, gnawing at her mind every time Enid thought back to how she could have handled it better. 

More than once she thought about returning to Ravenwood to make things right. She didn’t really want to have a feud with the people she shared a wall with, especially not over something so silly, but the opportunity never presented itself. 

Or rather, she never put her pride aside to gather enough courage.

Time and time again Enid told herself that she was way too busy setting up stuff for the shop's grand opening, and that Wednesday was probably very busy. Caring for all those plants was no joke, after all.

Then one day, the opportunity presented itself. Or rather, it fell on Enid’s head. 

She was out in the back alley throwing some boxes out, and after she refused Yoko’s advice about making two round trips to the trash cans, she slipped on a puddle and all the boxes and trash bags came crashing down, one particularly heavy cardboard box hitting her square in the head as she landed on her butt. 

She groaned, equal parts of disgust, frustration, and pain mixing into a guttural and very unladylike sound.

And just her luck, Wednesday had seen the whole thing while standing by her own service door with a trash bag in hand. As always, her face was unreadable, but Enid didn’t need to read her features to know she looked pathetic. 

“Wednesday! Hey!” Enid said, forcing a smile to fight against the embarrassment.

Wednesday remained quiet and quirked her eyebrow the slightest bit, which right now felt louder than anything she could say to Enid. 

“You should be careful with those puddles.” She said simply, marching towards the trashcan as elegantly as ever. 

“Yeah, good call.” Enid muttered, finally standing back up. She would deal with her ruined jeans later. 

But just as she turned back towards the florist, she was opening her door again.

“Wait!” Enid said, without really thinking about what she would say next. 

Wednesday simply turned around, that little quirk of her eyebrow back to distract Enid and turn her stomach upside down.

“I… I just wanted to say that I’m sorry, for how things have played out between us these past days. You know, moving is stressful and all that, I think we got off on the wrong foot and, well, I wanted to apologize for that.” Enid said, gesticulating more than usual and with as little stammering as manageable. 

A second passed, and while Wednesday kept eyeing her without saying anything, Enid grew worried that the other girl might stab her right there. 

“I accept your apology.” She said, plain and cold as ever. 

Then she turned around to leave, just as Enid was processing what had just happened. 

“So, that’s it? You don’t have anything else to say?” Enid yelled, catching Wednesday’s attention again.

“Whatever would I have to say?” 

Enid’s cheeks were turning red with frustration by now.

“Uhm “I’m sorry” would be a good start!”

“I don’t think I have anything to feel sorry for.”

Enid let out a sarcastic laugh at the sheer absurdity of it all. 

“Oh my god, I can’t believe you.” She said, but Wednesday did not bulge, she even seemed a bit confused, under all that high and mighty facade. 

“I don’t see what’s so difficult to understand.”

“You know what? I wanted to be a good neighbor, I was even going to bring cookies later, but I don’t think I will anymore!”

“I don’t eat sugar.” Wednesday said plainly.

“It shows!” And with whatever that was supposed to mean, Enid disappeared back into her shop, slamming the metallic door behind her. 

“What was all that scandal?” 

Just as Wednesday returned to the store there was Bianca, arms crossed and arching a perfect eyebrow. 

As if on cue, Eugene appeared back from the cold room with Thing perched on his shoulder, both of them giving her a puzzled look. 

“Our neighbor wanted to apologize.” Wednesday said simply, returning to her chores for the day. 

That, as usual, did not deter her coworkers, much less Eugene who followed her around like a puppy. Bianca simply rolled her eyes. 

“Oh?” He said, searching for Wednesday’s eyes, effectively annoying her even more.  “About the other day?”

“Yes.”

“And what did you say?” 

Wednesday missed those days when Eugene was too terrified of her to bother her with questions.

She took her time to answer as she took her gardening tools out, but she caught the look Eugene shot Bianca on her periphery. 

“You didn’t stab them did you?” Bianca asked, only half joking. 

“I said that I accepted her apology. For the sake of keeping the peace in our shared space, as you said.”

“Okay, we did say that… “ Eugene said absentmindedly, searching for Wednesday's eyes still. 

Enid had clearly left the alley as mad as she could be, and he had reasons to believe his coworker had been behind that, at least partially. 

“And that's it?” Bianca pressed further. 

Finally, Wednesday turned around, directing her scowl at both of them. Thing cowered the slightest bit behind Eugene’s neck. 

“She wanted me to apologize as well.” She said simply, venom dripping from her words before she went on to busy herself with something else. 

Eugene, of course, followed her diligently while Bianca remained by the counter, waiting for more details on that catastrophe.

“And did you?” Eugene asked.

Maybe a bad call, because Wednesday had already grabbed her sharpest scissors to trim an overgrown plant, and only that if they were lucky. 

“I have nothing to apologize for.”

Eugene sighed. That explained it. 

“You did kind of insult their store… “ He trailed off. 

“Not kind of, you very much did insult their store.” Bianca clarified.

“Because it is an affront to any good pair of eyes.”

Wednesday's trimming had become more aggressive, and Thing tapped Eugene’s shoulder to advise him against pressing the matter further. 

But Eugene rarely managed to keep quiet. 

“Look, I get it, they aren't the most organized of neighbors and after spending years alone in the building it's hard to adjust to someone else sharing the space.” He said, before Thing scurried around to the work table, putting a healthy distance between himself and the two florists. 

That was an understatement. In less than a week, they had had their trash cans flipped over 4 separate times by Ajax’s truck, the back alley brimming with boxes and trash bags, and 3 separate incidents about insufficient parking spots, not to mention that brain-numbing noise her neighbors kept blasting from their store, which Wednesday refused to call music.  

“But maybe we all have to be more flexible for this to work. Get out of your comfort zone. This could be good for the business.” Eugene went on, but those words stirred something inside Wednesday, those same words her mother had used. 

“How could this be any good for the business?” Wednesday asked sourly. 

Eugene stammered for a second, trying to come up with a convincing answer. 

“Well, clients from the tattoo shop could come to browse here. Maybe order some arrangements or herbs or honey.”

Wednesday only scoffed at that. Bianca strolled closer to them, seeing as Eugene was struggling, and leaned against the counter. 

“Eugene has a point, Wednesday. I’m not crazy about them either but this could help us get recognized more. Attract some new clients.”

“We have plenty of clients.” The Addams insisted, ignoring both pairs of eyes. 

Eugene took a step closer, coming next to Wednesday as she worked.

“We have our usuals, but there are not enough monthly funerals in this town to make it sustainable.”

“You’re just twisting the knife now.”

“Wednesday, come on!” He said finally, making Wednesday put her tools down for once, and although it was scary as hell, Eugene kept talking. “You don’t have to apologize, but we could offer a truce. Bring over an arrangement or something, an olive branch. It could be a literal olive branch! I think we have those.”

Wednesday stared at Eugene, still rambling on about making amends with their annoying neighbors. She had a lot of reasons to refuse, and a knack for debating until she got her way, but for some reason, her mother’s words kept echoing inside her head. 

Words of her unresolved vision. 

Perhaps this is a good opportunity for you. For the shop.

This could also prove to be a good opportunity to conduct her investigation without investing so much time or effort into it. After all, they say keep your friends close and you enemies close, if Wednesday had enough respect for the trio to regard them as such.  

Eugene kept talking, Wednesday had no idea about what, and she did not care.

“Fine.” She said finally.

“What?” Eugene asked, confused. Even Bianca had been caught off guard by that response. 

“I said fine. We can give them an arrangement, offer a truce. Whatever you pick is fine.”

“Really?”

“Don’t make me reconsider.”

Eugene couldn’t believe his luck. He turned for a second to look at Bianca, who only nodded her head as if saying “Don’t push it.”

“Alright, you're right. Cool! I’ll get Thing to work on it right now! Thanks, Wednesday!”

And with that Eugene was finally gone, bouncing around like a little kid. Wednesday sighed. What had she gotten herself into?

Then, as if her day couldn’t get any worse, in waltzed an unwelcome visitor. 

Sheriff Galpin, and his usual side eye glare. 

Bianca and Wednesday stiffed at the sight, glaring daggers of their own. They could agree on some things. 

“Good morning, ladies.” The sheriff said, sauntering to the counter. 

“Sheriff.” Bianca said, monotone, but polite. 

“I have some noise complaint coming from here. Something about yelling and throwing metal around. Anything I should know?” Sheriff Galping leaned one hand on the counter, keeping his distance from the women. He always kept a measured distance from Outcasts. 

“Pardon us, Sheriff. My brothers seem to have suddenly forgotten how to drive and crashed against some trash cans. You can tell that to whoever complained.” Wednesday said, her dark eyes directed at Galpin, which proudly earned her a shudder from the sheriff.

Sheriff Galpin sighed. This wasn’t the first time he had come to a standoff with the Addams, and rare were the times when he actually won. 

“Just keep at peace like everybody else. It’s almost tourist season and we have a lot of people coming in.” He said finally, turning around to get to the door. Bianca rolled her eyes while Wednesday kept glaring. 

Just before he left though, he had to leave one last comment. 

“New neighbors, I see.” He said, looking to the next-door window. And they could just barely make out the words “more freaks” being whispered bitterly after that. 

“That guy is so annoying.” Bianca said before resuming her duties. 

Wednesday only hummed in agreement. 

Some hours later, right before closing time, Eugene and Thing came marching back to the front of the shop, proudly displaying a beautiful flower arrangement made with white tulips and purple hyacinth, with some basil leaves scattered around, freshly plucked. All symbols of apologies, new beginnings and whatnot. 

Wednesday, ever familiar with the symbolism of flowers from her many Victorian gardening books, understood the message. She did not agree with it of course, but if this is what took to get everyone off her back, then so be it. 

She occupied her time tying some fresh herbs to hang to dry, absent-mindedly working with practiced precision, muting the chatter around her. Once she was finished she placed the finished pieces to the corner of the table and went back to the cold room to get some more herbs.

The voices of Bianca and Eugene lingered from outside the room until they were unintelligible. 

Wednesday’s hands switched from Basil to Monkshood, and then her neck snapped up and her eyes went white.

Another vision. 

It was extremely rare to have a second vision only days after a first. Even worse when it was yet another unhelpful and vague sight.

Shards of glass on hardwood floor, both covered in blood. 

The feeling of her chest being impacted by an uncorporeal force brought Wednesday back to her senses, feeling like she had lost all air from her lungs for a second. She stabilized herself, placing her hand on a shelf. 

Wednesday’s thought ran rampant. Because apparently, just as she suspected, she was in danger. 

“Barclay.” Wednesday yelled as she emerged back from the cold room, no herbs in hand.

Eugene and Thing were gone by then.

“Addams?” Bianca turned on her stool to look at her from over her magazine, half confused about the outburst. 

“I need a favor.” Wednesday said sternly.

“And you start by calling me by my last name?” 

Wednesday sighed, a strange sigh to see the Addams so tense, almost nervous about something. Bianca had noticed Wednesday had been in an unusual mood lately, distracted, tired, less willing to continue their daily squabbles, but Bianca said nothing, perfectly aware that the store had been going through a rough patch that had officially extended over months. And even so, this was different. 

“I apologize. But I do need that favor urgently.” Wednesday said, calmer this time.

“Okay. Tell me.”

“I need you to accompany Eugene to our neighbor's store.” Wednesday said plainly, but serious enough to confuse Bianca.

“That’s it? Why?” Bianca shrugged and joked about how she was sure Eugene could find his way to the store all alone. When Wednesday glared at Bianca with all seriousness, she assumed this favor was probably important.  

“I need you to find out as much as you can about the shop, and about… Sinclair.” Wednesday answered, swallowing the last part like it hurt to say the name.

Bianca took a second to eye Wednesday.

“Why? And you’re the detective here, why don’t you go with Eugene?”

Wednesday rolled her eyes. More at Binaca’s unwillingness to cooperate without asking so many questions but also at the way she said “detective” with such irony. 

“If I go in there I’m sure the sheer amount of color from the display will melt my skin.” Wednesday said plainly. 

“You know, I’ve never seen any sign of this allergy of yo-”

“And they won’t tell me anything. Not after our previous encounters.” Wednesday said, crossing her arms. Bianca agreed on that at least. 

“So you want me to find everything I can about that Enid girl? From one visit to their store?”

“I wouldn’t ask you to extend the investigation into your personal time, unless you so desire. And hypnosis doesn’t work on you anyway.” Wednesday shrugged the question off as if it was obvious.

“That’s true.” Bianca conceded with a sigh. “And I suppose you won’t tell me why if I asked.” 

“You asume correctly.” 

Bianca sighed again, at least now Wednesday owed her one. 

Still, this entire ordeal was very much out of character for Wednesday. Thanks to her superior hearing she could even listen to Wednesday’s heart racing, just as it happened everytime the Addams laid eyes on Enid. At first Bianca assumed this was a normal rageful response from the rageful human she worked with, but Wednesday wasn’t the type to silently simmer in her anger. She acted on it. And the store next door was very much still in one piece, as were their owners. 

That led Bianca to a different conclusion, one she never expected.

Wednesday liked Enid. 

In her own unusual, creepy way, but still. It was the only thing that explained Wednesday's constant complaints and excuses for going next door to exchange some cutting words with the owner. Hell, that might even explain why Wednesday had been so distracted lately. 

And that’s how on her way out Bianca had an idea. 

The siren quickly grabbed a single pinkish gardenia from a random bouquet and ran to catch up with Eugene and Thing, who were already entering the shop next door.

Eugene said something jokingly about Bianca wanting to come with them, just as she skillfully placed the single gardenia at the center of the bouquet. 

Because, oddly enough, that was the only thing that made sense about this request anymore.

And of course Bianca knew exactly what to do to help Wednesday with that.

Chapter Text

Enid knew that getting a business into shape was no easy task, but she had been painting this wall the dullest shade of gray for what felt like hours now and was absolutely done with it. 

And there were still so many more things to do. The three of them were constantly moving boxes, unpacking equipment, painting, repairing stuff, and whatnot, and altohogh the trio knew what they were signing up for wouldn’t be easy, this place did not look any different from a government office. 

It was frustrating, but Enid reminded herself that it would all be worth it once Kaleidoscope Tattoo finally opened. 

“Hey, pup. The guy called about the flyers, what opening date should I give him?” Yoko asked her. 

Enid thought about it. Sho often thought about it. 

Ideally they would be open by next weekend, officially ten days from now and just in time for Halloween, but judging by the current state of the shop, it seemed more like a dream reather than a reality. 

“Tell him I'll get back to him on that.” Enid said; she had been saying that a lot lately. 

“You got it.”

Just at the right time, Ajax tried to plug his phone charger into an outlet on the wall, the outlet seemed to buzz and explode, making poor Ajax jump back as a spark got his finger. 

“Dammit.” He mumbled, holding his hand tightly in pain. 

“I'll add that to the list of shit we have to fix.” Yoko said, fairly annoyed. 

The list of shit they had to fix grew larger everyday, unlike their budget. 

Then, just in time for when Enid decided to take a break, the bell she had placed on top of the door rang. 

Enid had only seen the sheriff once, in passing, giving a poor idiot a parking ticket near the coffee shop. He was tall, around her dad’s age, and the five o’clock shadow on his face matched his scowl perfectly. 

“Good morning.” He said politely but slightly annoyed as he entered the shop. 

Yoko regarded him with a raised eyebrow, but Enid extended her hand. 

“Good morning, sir.” She said, forcing a sweet smile. “How can we help you?”

“We haven’t met yet. I’m Sheriff Galpin. I just received a noise complaint from here. Something about a truck.” The man said after shaking Enid’s hand. 

One of his hands rested on his belt displaying his badge as he eyed the store. 

“That would be my truck. The alarm got stuck for a few good minutes.” Ajax said politely, coming back from the back of the shop at the sound of the new guest. 

Galpin glared at him and his beanie. 

“-Sir.” He added, growing nervous.

“Sorry about that.” Enid added quickly, stepping between her friend and the sheriff. “I just emailed the SOA, it won’t happen again.” 

“We don’t respond to petty complaints from the SOA, little lady. You can figure those out yourselves.” He said, and the nickname almost made Enid bare her fangs. “This one came from neighbors at Pine Falls.” 

The gated community on the south side. Notorious in town for restricting access to Outcasts as a “safety” measure. 

“Well, you can assure them it won’t happen again, sir .” Enid said, her polite smile almost faltering, putting special emphasis on the last word. 

“It better not.” The man said simply, almost like a challenge. 

This was so not what Enid needed today. 

Then, just in time, the bell on the front door rang again. 

“Sheriff! What a surprise.” Eugene said as he entered the store, followed closely by Bianca.

“Good evening, Mr. Ottinger. Miss Barclay. Are you all friends already?” Sheriff Galpin asked, ever derisive.

Bianca suppressed the need to roll her eyes, choosing instead to flash him a sarcastic smile. 

Enid might have had no idea who the sheriff was but if that was his way of saying hello (and judging by Bianca’s demeanor) there was no room for doubt that this guy was an asshole.

“Let me guess. Noise complaints, Sheriff? Seems like an awful lot of work on your busy schedule.” Bianca said. She tried to bite her tongue, but she could only do so a handful of times per day. 

“You know that’s none of your business, Miss Barclay.” He said, barely looking at Bianca as he eyed around the half-done store. 

“We’re sorry about the noise.” Enid interjected before the situation could get worse. “We’ll keep it to a minimum.”

“Hope so.” Galpin said, turning to look at Enid this time before leaving. “Good evening.”

The atmosphere around the store was tense, like a fog had descended over them the second Sheriff Galpin had entered the store, and just as easily it had disappeared with him as soon as he hopped back on the police car parked up front. 

“Who was that guy?” Yoko asked, clearly annoyed. 

Eugene stepped in. 

“Sheriff Galpin, just some guy who likes to annoy people around the neighborhood.”

“Outcasts 90% of the time.” Bianca clarified. 

It wasn’t unusual to have to deal with people like that almost anywhere, Enid knew that well enough, but it wasn’t exactly what her already stressful enough day needed. 

“Hey, Gene!” Ajax said, fist-bumping the shorter man as if nothing had ever happened. “You guys brought flowers?”

That’s when they all noticed the arrangements in Eugene's hands, a beautiful collection of white lilies and orchids, neatly tied with a thin rope inside a dark blue glass vase, with a single pink gardenia at the center of it all. Eugene didn't notice it at first, but Thing did, even from his hiding place inside Eugene's jacket. He was the artist behind the arrangement after all.

Bianca saw him scurry and peak out from the back of Eugene's collar, as if asking her what the hell was that, but Bianca simply ignored him. After all, if the disembodied (and frankly offended) hand were to jump out of his hiding spot it might distract a bit from the apology.

“Just what we need.” Yoko said, her sarcastic streak scaping her, and earning her a nudge from Enid. 

Eugene handed the vase over to Enid.

“Just a small apology detail. We also saw the police car up front so we rushed here to make sure Sheriff Galpin wasn’t being too much of a headache.”

“That’s really considerate. Thank you, guys.” Enid said, admiring the bouquet in her hands. She turned a grateful smile towards Bianca and Eugene.  “And these are beautiful!”

“Don’t think too much of it. Galpin is just… like that.” Bianca offered a small smile, probably the first non-sacarastic smile they had all seen from her. 

“Would you like some water? That's pretty much all we have besides paint and cardboard boxes.” Ajax offered, but Eugene and Bianca politely refused, assuring them that they had to be back at the shop soon. 

At that exact second another outlet went off, a short circuit apparently, judging by the loud bang and the sparks that came from the back wall of the shop. 

“Oh my fucking god.” Enid muttered exasperatedly.

“Eugene, why don’t you go help them with that? You’re pretty handy.” Bianca said, eyeing the smoke coming out of the back as Yoko and Ajax ran to get that under control.

“Since when?” He said, effectively earning a nudge from Bianca. Then it clicked for him.

“Oh right, I can help!” He said, dashing for the fusebox. 

Bianca would make it up to both of them later, but right now she had the perfect opportunity to get to know her new neighbors. 

“We have a pretty good electrician if you need one.” Bianca spoke up, keeping up the conversation with Enid. “Wednesday's uncle. He’ll give you a good price.” 

Enid seemed to tense at the mention of Wednesday’s name, just like when Eugene handed her the bouquet, which of course Bianca noticed. 

“Uhm,” Enid thought about the offer for a second. “Yeah, that would be great. Thank you.”

“Word of advice: be patient. This building is ancient, not really up to code and I can’t 100% assure you it’s not haunted.”

That at least managed to get a laugh out of Enid. Bianca went back to take a look around the store. 

“Wait, but is it actually?” She asked, immediately back to worrying.

“No?” Bianca said, but it sounded more like a question, which did nothing to calm Enid down.

Bianca’s eyes landed on an open box filled with folders and sketchbooks, one of which lay open next to the box, exactly on a page with a beautiful illustration of a falling vine with flowers. 

“Did you make these? They're pretty good.” Bianca asked, eyeing the other loose illustrations.

Fantastic creatures, pets, a few bugs and several flowers. Lots of colorful flowers adorned most of the sheets that had been signed by Enid, some more stylized and others perfect near-photographic copies of species Bianca was sure she had sold at the shop. That’s when the siren noticed most of those same species adorned Enid’s arms and poked slightly from under her t-shirt collar. 

Enid went back to focusing on her neighbor and not the possible fire at the back of her store. 

“Oh yeah. Those are all our sketchbooks and flash sheets. Stuff we have available or have done in the past.” Endi said, almost absent mindedly whiel she moved some boxes around. 

Bianca skimmed through the laminated pages of the book as Enid explained their work. From Yoko’s elegant lines and peppery shadows to Ajax’s bold colors and love for traditional style. 

Enid’s was, well, just as she had said, a bit of everything. Still, the several drawings shared an expressive, colorful style that felt uniquely Enid’s. Most of them looked ike they belonged inside a storybook and not really on someone’s upper arm.  

Bianca couldn’t deny Enid had a lot of talent, even if all that color would most likely give Wednesday an aneurism. Odd choice for a crush, but Bianca assumed she couldn’t expect anything different from her friend. 

As Enid showed her around the store Bianca made sure to take in every detail and make enough questions to bring back some information to her friend, but she also made sure to look for anything suspicious, just in case. Still, the only vaguely suspicious thing was Ajax’s forgotten vape in the corner of his station and the many cracks on the walls, some of which seemed to be leaking a gross green fluid. 

She did get to confirm that none of them were locals, Enid herself hailed from San Francisco, and that it had been absolute hell to find an affordable work space that would be willing to rent to three 20-something-year-old tattooers. 

After a few minutes, the trio was out of the store. Mission accomplished, as far as Bianca thought. Until Eugene caught up with her long strides before they went back into Ravenwood. 

“You lied through your teeth back there.” Eugene said in a hushed tone, as if Wednesday could appear any minute.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Bianca said. A trained lie.  

“Right, ‘cause this was totally Wednesday’s idea.” Eugene mocked, crossing his arms defensively. Thing did the same with his fingers. 

Bianca sighed, stopping short by Ravenwoods’ display window to look down at Eugene. She remembered her small white lie now. 

-

“You know, this was all Wednesday’s idea.” Bianca had told Enid as she handed back the notebook.

“What?” Enid asked, fairly estranged about that fact and how suddenly Bianca said it.

Probably not Bianca’s finest work. 

“The bouquet. As an apology.” Bianca clarified, looking back at the flowers on the vase. “She’s big on flower symbolism.”

Enid still seemed confused, or simply unable to believe that Wednesday was so willing to apologize via bouquet, or that she was nerdy enough to be into flower symbolism. 

“I don’t want to seem rude, but I find that hard to believe.” Enid said. Continuing the tour.

Still, Bianca pressed on.

“I don’t blame you, it caught me by surprise too. Maybe she really is over this petty squabble.” Bianca said. “Or maybe someone made her have a change of heart.”

Bianca said the last part ever so casually, suddenly finding the lamps on the corner very interesting as she took a few steps away from Enid. Still, she caught the blush on the blonde’s face as it crept to her ears. 

-

“Look, I know it doesn't make sense right now, but I don't have to be a psychic to know that this is a good opportunity for all of us. Even for Wednesday.” Bianca said, omitting Wednesday’s request form earlier. 

“How so?” Thing signed from his spot on Eugene’s shoulder.

“Well, opposites attract after all.” Bianca said it ever so casually, a grin adorning her already beautiful face. “It might get her to finally relax and we might actually do something about getting some more clientele in the store. God knows she’ll never let us get involved otherwise.”

When the words settled, Eugene stopped in his tracks. 

“You’re not playing matchmaker, are you?” He asked, fairly confused. 

“Maybe, maybe not.” Bianca replied cryptically as they went through the door. 

“Bianca, be serious, this is Wednesday. And that's a girl that has color literally etched permanently onto her skin.”

Bianca rolled her eyes. 

“You don't really believe Wednesday is deathly allergic to color, do you?”

“Might as well be!”

“Call it exposure therapy, then.”

“Bianca…” Eugene groaned. 

“Why are you so opposed to this?”

“For one, Wednesday is my friend. And your friend too. This feels manipulative.”

Bianca crossed her arms and avoided Eugene's gaze at the use of the “m” word. It seemed to stir up something. 

Because of course Bianca was doing this for Wednesday, the girl rarely asked her for anything and sadly, she owed Wednesday a few favors. But there was the underlying truth that maybe Bianca was also doing this because it would keep Wednesday distracted enough to allow them to actually do something about the shop’s financial situation, without so much of the goths' protests and secrecy. 

“And second-” Eugene spoke up again, catching Bianca by surprise. “We already have a ton of work with the store to play matchmaker with our new neighbors. Who we aren't entirely sure Wednesday is not going to drive away.”

Bianca had already thought about that. If they hadn't left by now, they weren't leaving, no matter how many times Wednesday threatened to burn their store. But still, Eugene had a point. 

She already did what Wednesday had asked her to, kind of, there was no need to get involved beyond that.

“Fine, you're right.” Bianca sighed in defeat. “I won't get involved.”

“Great.” Eugene said, smile back in place. 

“Besides, we don’t even know if Enid is queer.” He said casually as he walked back upstairs. 

“Oh sweet child.” Bianca sighed as she went back to the counter. Eugene was simultaneously one of the smartest people she had ever met and one of the most oblivious. 

Eugene was about to say something, maybe ask what Bianca meant, when he suddenly stopped dead on his tracks. He returned to the front door, claiming he heard something outside. Bianca followed him. 

“Did you hear that?” Eugene asked. 

Bianca stopped too, looking around at the street and the alley next to their store. 

Eugene approached the alley first. It was mostly empty like most days, except for their the usual trash cans and a few cardboard boxes. Then someone jumped out of the mess of trash bags and boxes in a frenzy. Eugene yelled, almost losing his balance when the strange person came running back into the street, a professional camera clutched in his hands. 

“You won’t catch me, you freaks!” The guy yelled, disappearing down the street.

“Oh my god, Eugene, are you okay?” Bianca said, coming to check on Eugene as the man bolted around a street corner. 

“Yeah, it’s fine.” He said, dusting off his shirt. “Those podcasters are getting more and more daring each day.”

Bianca stared down the street towards where the guy had run off, silhouette lost after the busy traffic. 

“I’m suddenly not opposed to those booby traps Wednesday wanted to put up.” She said, anger dripping on every word. 

It wasn’t rare for them to have the usual occult aficionado or supernatural podcast wannabe lurking around the town and asking questions, but hiding in trash cans to take pictures was a whole different level of creepy.

“Should we call the police?” Eugene asked as they went back into the store.

“Please, Sheriff Galpin couldn’t give two shits about outcast stores, especially with tourist season coming up.” Bianca said, anger growing in her voice. Or rather frustration.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” 

Chapter Text

“Thanks a lot, Mister, uhm, Fester.” Enid was still getting used to his name, but the unusual handyman had been a blessing.

“Don't even mention it, kiddo. I helped renovate the other half of the building a long time ago, this is easy peasy newt eye squeezy.”  

“That’s great!”

By now, no amount of off-putting comments made Enid even flinch. Fester had done a great job on the shop for a very cheap price, so Enid was going to make it work. 

Every light worked perfectly, no outlets sparked or buzzed or exploded, and Fester had even helped them set up some of the equipment for the shop, with the off-hand comment that this equipment was “much fancier than what his usual tattoo artist had at the asylum”, which Enid and the others chose to ignore. 

Fester was also great company. Ajax had left early due to a prior commitment and Yoko had stayed with Enid for as long as her tiredness allowed, which wasn’t long. 

After that, Enid kept herself busy with paperwork, moving stuff around and occasionally lending Fester a helping hand. It came in handy to learn a few things about electricity. 

It also proved to be very interesting. Fester had amazing stories to tell, and whether they were true or not Enid did not care.

Especially that story about Wednesday’s first booby trap when she was just 8 years old, which caught her little brothers inside a had-made cage for hours. Fester assures her Wednesday had the biggest maniacal smile on her face for days, and Enid couldn’t help but find the idea of a toddler Wednesday so adorable. Not like she would say that out loud, though.

The afternoon passed them by, and by 9 pm Fester had put away all his tools.

“Sorry I had to keep you here so late. I don’t deal well with daylight. Not after the incident.” He said, cleaning his hands with an old rag. 

After many hours of conversation, those random comments did not faze Enid in the slightest. 

“That’s okay, I still have a lot to do around here.” Enid had said, admiring the freshly sealed and painted wall that had once been a mess of cables and gross ooze. 

“Welp, good luck with that. If you need anything else you have my card.” Fester handed her a card from his back pocket. A simple cardboard square that read: “Fester Addams, cops do not enquire.”

It made Enid giggle.

“Thanks again.” Enid said as the tall, pale man grabbed his tool box and walked to the front door.

“Anything for a friend of my favorite niece’s.” Fester said cheerily. 

It stirred something inside Enid to see the man talk about Wednesday with such adoration. Weird as the Addams could be, she couldn’t deny they were all very nice and obviously fond of each other. 

As Enid sat back down on her desk to battle another round of paperwork she couldn’t help but wonder if Wednesday was as capable of being so nice as the rest of the Addams, just like Fester and Bianca had assured. 

“Not the time to think about your neighbor, Sinclair.” She told herself, forcing the thoughts of the woman out of her mind. 

Over at Ravenwood, it was a slow day with only a handful of deliveries scheduled, so Pugsley and Pubert left early, as did Eugene after being done bottling a new batch of honey. 

After working on some orders during the morning Wednesday had gone back to her office, or her cave, as Bianca called it, and had not come out ever since. 

Bianca was preparing to close after a long day of scrolling through Instagram, when a young man around her own age entered the store. The light rain outside had soaked his hair and shirt. 

“Excuse me, are you guys still open?” He asked, running a hand through his damp hair.

“Sorry, we’re closing just now.” Bianca said, matching the man’s polite tone. She hated it when they had clients come over right at closing time.

“That’s okay. Could I maybe leave an order with you? To pick up whenever.” 

Bianca thought about it for a second. It was unusual to have any kind of young men at the shop who wasn’t looking for a last-minute anniversary gift or an apology bouquet, but those were usually in much more of a rush and had exactly zero knowledge of whatever they were ordering. 

This guy handed her a paper note with some words etched, an order for mostly herbs and potted flowers. 

“It’s for my aunt. She asked to come by but I left my shift later than I was expecting.” He said while Bianca eyed the list. 

A large order but nothing too unusual, most she was sure they had in stock. At the bottom of the paper a phone number and a name had been written down. “Tyler”.

“This is your contact number, right?” Bianca asked and the man nodded.

“Let me take a look at it tomorrow and I’ll call to let you know if we have everything available or if I need to make a special order.”

The boy smiled. An awkward you-saved-my-ass kind of smile.

“Thank you, that would be great.”

Bianca returned the smile with trained ease and after Tyler left she placed the list on the counter underneath the register and continued with her routine. 

When there was nothing else left to do she made a quick stop at Wednesday’s office. 

“You’re staying late again?” Bianca asked from the door of the back office, a dark raincoat on her hands and her bag on her shoulder.

“Yes. I’ll close.” Wednesday replied, not looking over the sea of papers on her desk. 

Bianca eyed the Addams for a second. Even considered saying something about the fact Wednesday had been staying after hours almost every day for the past month and how she really needed to prioritize getting some rest. 

Instead, she chose to tell the woman there was a fresh pot of coffee brewing and to remember to turn off the lights on her way out.

Wednesday only hummed in acknowledgment. 

“Make sure she gets some rest.” Bianca told Thing on her way out, to which the appendage gave a mock salute.

After a while Wednesday wasn’t sure how late she had stayed at the shop, she rarely did these days, but by now the only source of light around her was her black desk lamp and Thing had long ago fallen asleep on top of the folded aprons. Wednesday focused back on the papers in front of her and on ignoring the nagging voice inside her head telling her that she was neglecting her carefully crafted schedule and writing time, again. 

Outside the light rain had turned into a full-blown storm, the rumbling of thunder drowning out the sounds from the cars on the street, but not even that was enough to help Wednesday relax.

Frustration was bubbling inside her with every passing minute, with every red number etched on the page, with every passing thought just trying to figure out what to do next.

Finally, Wednesday let out an uncharacteristic frustrated groan as she let some of the sheets fall to the ground.

A second later she was enveloped by darkness. The power had gone out. 

It wasn’t such a rare occurrence, but it had been a while since it happened. By the time Wednesday found the flashlight that she kept in her office a new surprise hit her.

A scream. 

Not a scream of horror, but an even more frustrated growl and the sound of impact against metal coming from the service door. Wednesday muttered curses in Spanish as she grabbed a flashlight from her desk and marched over to the service alley. She had a good idea of who the person responsible for all this chaos might be.  

And just as she suspected, there in the dark, clutching a horribly colorful umbrella, stood Enid, chest heaving and a messed up circuit panel beside her. A mess of cables and ripped metal sparked when Enid’s expression shifted from furious to surprised.  

“Wednesday? What are you doing here so late?” Enid asked through the sound of the pouring rain. 

“Was this your doing?” Wednesday said, pointing at the destroyed panel.

Enid eyed the panel again and sighed, running a hand through her blonde hair in frustration. Her right hand remained behind her back.

“I know what it looks like. I was just trying to fix it.” She said.

Wednesday ignored her as she walked over to the panel. Enid did not move but she did roll her eyes at the timing of it all, because of course Wednesday had to be there when she fucked up.

The shorter girl inspected the panel with a curious look. Claw marks scratched across the metal a good few inches deep.

“You’re a werewolf.” She said simply, eyes fixed on the blonde with an unreadable look. “I should have known.” And then she looked Enid up and down, which Enid chose to ignore for the time being.

Enid stammered furiously for a second.

“You don'y know that!” Gesticulating with a long multicolor-clawed hand.

Wednesday only raised an eyebrow at her. 

“You have a problem with werewolves?” Enid asked then, still angry and slightly embarrassed.

Wednesday eyed her again and focused back on the circuit panel.

“On the contrary. Just never met one who was dumb enough to chew on electrical cables.” She said, mockingly. Or so Enid assumed since Wednesday rarely had any inflection in her voice besides anger or boredom. 

Enid stammered angrily again, looking for a good enough comeback. When she couldn’t find one she took a deep breath to calm down.

“Look, I got frustrated. I’ll fix it.” She said, turning back around to inspect what was left of the electrical panel.

Wednesday took a few steps forward, coming to a stop next to Enid and closing what was left of the panel. 

“I do not think it necessary to explain to you how you will not be able to fix an electrical panel full of livewires in the middle of a thunderstorm without electrocuting yourself to death. If so, at least allow me to watch the exploit.”

“You know what?-” Enid turned to her, angry as she could be, but her rambling was cut short. 

Thunder clashed and lightning struck almost immediately on a nearby roof, illuminating the alley for just a second before enveloping them back in darkness. Wednesday didn't flinch, she had always liked chasing thunderstorms with her brothers, but Enid was a completely different case. 

The werewolf flinched and Wednesday could hear the soft whimper coming from her, even through the sounds of the storm. Her claws were completely out by now, and the hair on her arms was standing as if the lightning had struck Enid herself. 

When Wednesday risked a look into Enid's blue eyes they were glossy. 

“You’re afraid.” Wednesday said simply, monotone. No venom laced in her voice, no mockery anywhere. Just an observation that might have escaped her lips. 

Enid took a deep, exasperated breath. 

“Look, I know we don’t like each other but please refrain from making fun of me right now. Storms make me really tense. And this isn’t the most relaxing of settings.” She said, gesticulating at the creepy back alley and the destroyed panel. “I’ll call someone to fix it in the morning.”

Wednesday didn't say anything as Enid marched back towards her own store. For the first time in a very long time Wednesday wasn't even sure about what to say. 

“Would you like to come to my shop? I have tea and some towels.” The Addams said before Enid could leave, unsure about what she was just proposing. 

“What?” Enid asked from her own door, barely turned around, as if concealing more tears from the other woman. 

“We have a small generator for the cold room. It should also be enough to keep the store warm until the rain recedes and you can go home.”

“Really?” Enid asked again, fully turned around this time, and Wednesday could see that she was, in fact, crying. 

“I won’t repeat myself.” Wednesday said simply. The familiarity of the tone almost made Enid smile as she cleaned her tears and hopped down to meet Wednesday at her own service door. 

Enid wasn't exactly sure what she was doing either, thunderstorms were terrible for her wolf hearing, and she assumed this was the perfect setting for Wednesday to finally murder her and put an end to their feud. 

Still, she’d rather not go back to her dark, depressing side of the building, and she was not about to risk going home in this storm. 

Wednesday entered the store first, not waiting for Enid to follow her in what Enid assumed was a last chance to change her mind. Still, she followed the woman inside. 

Ravenwood was naturally dark, more so towards to back of the store where the species that thrive in the shade were placed, but seeing it at night was a very different scene. 

With the storm outside even Enid with her night vision had a hard time making out the light from the street lamps outside. 

She knew this should have crept her out, that was probably the entire idea behind the store, but somehow it didn’t. Now, with the lush florals dimly illuminated by what little light entered from the display window it was even more beautiful, like a secret garden straight out of a fairy tale. Maybe a Grimm brother’s fairy tail, but a fairy tail nonetheless. 

Enid ran her hands on the leaves of a purple flower she did not recognize, taking in the citrusy smell. 

She walked along one of the bush-lined aisles to look at all the different plants that adorned the shelves, distracted by all the different smells around her, and for a second Enid forgot all about the storm raging outside. 

Sure, this was only the second time she had set foot inside the mysterious shop, but it never failed to amaze her. It was simply magical, as if the aisle could be illuminated by fireflies the second Enid turned around. She even swore she saw some of the bushes rustling out of the corner of her eye.

When she leaned into a handful of herbs again to smell them she was sure the rustling wasn’t just a figment of her imagination. 

She jumped back, hitting her back against a shelf and almost knocking off some of the flowers on display. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, she let out a curling scream at the sight in front of her.

A disembodied hand had jumped out of the bushes. 

And it was… talking to her in ASL?

Enid screamed again and took her claws out. Wednesday appeared at the other side of the aisle then, barely phased by the screams of horror.

“What the fuck is that?!” Enid asked, pointing at Thing as he scurried to Wednesday.

“That’s just Thing. I thought you two had met before.” She said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. The disembodied hand perched on her shoulder then, giving a small wave her way.

“Why is it moving?!” Enid shrieked, keeping her eyes on the appendage.

“Why are you?” Wednesday said simply, and Enid couldn’t answer that.

“That… That’s… I’m…” She stammered.

Thing apologized then, and weirdly enough, Enid understood him. 

Then she took a deep breath. This was definitely up there among the weirdest things Enid had ever seen, but all things considered, maybe it shouldn’t surprise her so much considering the nature of the store. 

“I guess I’m sorry too. I just didn’t think I’d find a sentient disembodied hand hiding behind a bush.”

Thing told her not to worry about it, it wasn’t the first time he startled someone like that. She believed him.

Wednesday disappeared again around the corner and Enid followed her, not daring to inspect the store on her own anymore.

The Addams stepped into a small back office with a coffee station in the corner. A single big desk to the other side and the single creepiest wall of portraits Enid had ever seen adorned the opposite wall. She would have run back to her store the second she saw the last portrait had a woman with sharp teeth and dark eyes in it had it not been for the smell of chamomile and ginger that caught her senses. Wednesday emerged back with a tray with two steaming cups and a towel.

“Here.” Wednesday said, setting a cup by the counter for Enid to take. “There’s honey if you’d like. Eugene’s special batch.” Wednesday said, monotone with her usual perfect posture and arms in front of her, as if waiting for Enid to cower back to her side of the building anytime.

The werewolf did consider it for a minute, but instead, she chose to relax and be grateful.

She stepped up to the counter and grabbed the towel Thing was offering her, quickly drying the raindrops that fell from her multicolor hair before taking one of the cups in her hands to bring up to her nose, the warmth spreading quickly all over her face in a reassuring way.

She noticed Wednesday hadn’t moved, limiting herself to eye her. That’s when Enid gave the cup a cautionary whiff.

It might have been a trick of the light, or the absence of, but she swore Wednesday smiled for a quick second. 

“I did not poison your tea.” The Addams said, turning to grab her own cup a bring it to her lips.

Enid eyed her with caution, then relaxed once the Addams had taken a long (a seemingly calming) sip.

“You can’t blame me for thinking it.” 

Now she definitely saw it, the hint of a smile from behind Wednesday’s cup of tea, and Enid couldn’t help but think of ways she could be able to see that smile again. 

“It wouldn’t make much sense anyway, considering you werewolves are immune to most toxins.” Wednesday said matter of factly. 

Enid risked a sip of her drink by then, considering the tone of the other woman sounded sincere, but mostly because it smelled amazing. She gave a low hum at the warmth finally returning to her chest and went to add a bit of honey to her cup.

“I would think an outcast flower shop would grow their own wolfsbane somehwere.” She said, eyeing Wednesday as she stirred her tea.

Wednesday set her cup down.

“Only small samples in the back, under special order. We’ve had one too many normie clients asking about it. ”

The words sank deep into Enid’s stomach, spreading like the warmth of the tea across her chest. She only nodded in response, and both of them stayed silent while they drank their cups. Wednesday noticed the wolf’s discomfort, but was unsure about what to say next, and even more unsure about why she cared so much about saying something that could be comforting in any way.   

The atmosphere was dark and heavy in more ways than one, but Enid did appreciate that at least Thing was making an effort to make light conversation with her, while Wednesday sipped her tea in silence. 

“So you made the bouquet Eugene and Bianca brought over! It was beautiful.” Enid said, and Thing responded with a curtsy.

Enid laughed, truly laughed an easy laugh for the first time that night, maybe even that day, and risked a look at Wednesday. Those dark eyes looked even more beautiful in the low light, like the cloudy night sky itself, and Enid thought for a second that she would gladly get lost in those eyes. 

Then Wednesday met her gaze. 

She kind of wished the tea had been poisoned now, when she choked embarrassingly on her last sip.

Wednesday eyed her with a raised eyebrow and Thing scurried to the back office to find some napkins. 

“You shouldn’t worry too much about normies around here. We get a few waves of mindless tourists around Halloween, but that’s mostly it. Most people keep to themselves. Eugene and Bianca would even call some of them ”nice”.” Wednesday’s words caught Enid by surprise.

Enid smiled a small smile over her cup of tea, relaxing into it. 

“So you don’t think anyone in town is “nice”?” Enid asked. She regretted the question immediately, not wanting to risk sounding too flirty with the person she was pretty sure hated her guts.

Then again, people who hate your guts don’t offer you warm tea and a towel when there’s a storm. 

“Being ”nice” is a facade people use to cover a lack of basic decency and common sense.” The Addams said in her usual tone and just in time to turn around and grab a napkin from Thing as he carried the rest over to Enid. 

Enid accepted a napkin from Thing and that piece of cynicism from Wednesday, and although she wasn’t in the mood to debate philosophy with her neighbor, her next words caught her too much by surprise to think of anything else. 

“I believe it’s better to be interesting.”    

Wednesday set her cup down and turned her attention to some flowers on a shelf by the wall. Enid stayed back a second. The way Wednesday seemed to speak in riddles should drive her crazy, it was frustrating at the very least, but also alluring somehow. It made Enid want to ask questions, keep the conversation going, just to get a glimpse of what the other girl was thinking. 

But maybe this wasn’t the time to challenge Wednesday’s patience with questions and witty remarks. Also, Enid was pretty busy at the moment fighting back a blush that she swore came out of nowhere. 

After quickly finishing her cup of tea she dared to wander the store, maintaining a healthy distance between her and Wednesday. Almost like a dance.

Wednesday appreciated it, her escape from the conversation hadn’t been as swift as she had wanted, but when the tiniest heat started emanating from her cheeks at the sight of those blue eyes paying undivided attention to her, she knew she couldn’t stay under that kind of vigilance for long.

She saw as Enid wandered the aisles lined with herbs, flowers and plants.

Inadvertently, their little dance had led them to meet again as they stood next to the small potted tree that twisted its branches between the counter and the stairs.   

“I have to ask.” Enid said, turning to face Wednesday as she broke the delicate silence.

“Of course you do.” She said, but no venom laced her words.

“Why a flower shop?” 

Wednesday had gotten that question before, mostly from nosy clients, and even from Bianca and Eugene at some point. And like with any other question, she had a sarcastic bite to give in exchange. 

For some strange reason, that sarcastic retort never came to her, instead the words started flowing out of her mouth before she could stop them. 

“It’s not entirely mine. Not yet at least.” She said, voice low as she fixed an errant branch of the twisted tree. 

Enid almost jumped back when the small trunk seemed to twist with Wednesday’s touch into a more comfortable position.

“Ravenwood is my mother’s, like it was her mother’s before and her mother’s before, all the way back to the first Frump settlers that came to this country.”

Wednesday stopped then, feeling like she had already shared too much. By now Enid had leaned closer, an empty cup of tea between her hands and looking at Wednesday like a child waiting for a bedtime story. Wednesday wasn’t sure what compelled her to go on. Maybe she had misplaced some of her arsenic after all, or maybe it was those beautiful blue eyes looking up at her that made her lose control of her own mouth once more.

“They learned from the land and coexisted with the natives, who taught them all about the benefits of the local flora. They did their best to spread their knowledge, but of course that brought unwanted attention, and their eventual doom.” 

Enid stayed silent as Wednesday poured some more tea into her cup, listening attentively to Wednesday’s story. 

“My family has spread like a disease across lots of places, but we’ve settled near this town for quite a few generations now, and so my great-grandmother set up the shop here. We’ve been occupying the building since around 1912.” 

“Whoa, wait, since World War I?” Enid asked surprised. 

“I’m told business was great back then. Many funerals.”

Enid ignored the grim statement said with such cheer (if anyone could describe anything Wednesday said as cheerful) but she guessed it made sense. She allowed the smaller girl’s words to sink in, the quiet around them no longer felt heavy or uninviting, the opposite actually. 

Then, as if the night couldn’t get any weirder, Wednesday asked her a question.

“Why a tattoo parlor?” 

Enid set her cup back down on the counter, being caught a little by surprise, as she looked for an answer. 

“Well, that’s not a nearly as interesting story.” She said, Wednesday’s eyes over her own cup of tea prompted her to go on.

“Originally I set off to be a lawyer, can you believe it?” Enid said, gesticulating wildly like she usually did when she was excited. 

“Hardly.”

“Same! That’s why I dropped out during my second semester. My parents were pissed . Even more when I told them I was learning how to tattoo.” Enid laughed at that last part. She was thankful she could laugh about it now.

“Eventually I learned to not pay any mind to how my parents or anyone thinks I should live my life. And saved enough to open up my own shop with Yoko and Ajax.”

“That’s impressive.” Wednesday said. No sarcasm, no sharpness. It was said with such earnestness that her voice sounded just a little bit small.

To say Enid was taken away was an understatement. 

They stayed like that for a while making light conversation, until thunder no longer roared outside and their tea had gone cold. Neither of them noticed when the rain had stopped nor when hours had passed, but they did notice sleep creeping up on both of them. Wednesday had to stifle a yawn, but Enid wasn’t so worried about not appearing as tired as she was when she stretched her tired limbs. 

“I should get going. Now that it’s not pouring outside.” The blonde said, setting her cup back down on the tray Wednesday had brought. 

“Of course.” Wednesday said simply. Why she felt slightly disappointed was beyond her. 

Still, as if it would made the moment longer, she walked Enid back to the service door without saying a word. 

“Thank you, Wednesday. For the tea and… the company.” Enid said with a soft smile, lingering for a second before walking back to her own shop.

“No need to thank me. I suppose that’s what neighbors are for.” Wednesday said. Her face was as stoic as ever, but Enid noticed how it was the slightest bit softer than before. 

That made her ease into a small laugh.

“Quite interesting neighbors.” Enid said. She swore the corner of Wednesday’s mouth lifted the slightest bit.

“I could say the same.” Wednesday said before moving back to her own door. “Good night, Enid.”

“Good night, Wednesday.”

The first person to arrive at the shop that next morning was Eugene, whistling a tune for himself as he made his way to the back office, where Wednesday was still working diligently.

“Please don’t tell me you spent the night here.” He said, much too preoccupied with his coworker for his usual greeting. 

“I won’t, then.” Wednesday replied simply, not taking her eyes away from the papers on her hands. 

Eugene tried to flicker on the lights, to no avail.

“The power went out?”

“Enid destroyed the panel with her claws. I’ve already called Uncle Fester.”

Eugene paused then, eyeing Wednesday incredulously, but he supposed that wasn’t the strangest thing that had happened to them. He was ready to fire a long round of questions, but Wednesday was sleep deprived, there were two cups of tea carefully set down to dry by the sink, and it was barely a Tuesday, and so he settled on accepting whatever this was.

“I’ll do a coffee run.” He said casually. 

“Thank you.” Wednesday said. 

Now Eugene knew she was definitely sleep deprived. 

Thing crawled from under the aprons he had nested in for the night, but before he could stretch the sleep out of his tiny body, Eugene snagged him with him upstairs.

“What the hell happened last night?!”

Chapter Text

The morning after the storm was peaceful, cloudy, and considerably more chilly than previous mornings. Autumn was making itself more present everyday as leaves began to turn slowly from vivid green to a wide arrange of oranges and yellows. This was Wednesday’s favorite time of the year. 

Fester had come by first thing in the morning, enjoying himself the cover of the gray clouds that remained blocking the sun, to work on the messed up electrical panel that had been destroyed last night.

But oddly enough, what his niece had described had no signs of being their main problem right now.  

“Have you been making enemies?” Fester asked with his characteristic creepy smile as Wednesday approached.

She had never been able to sneak up on him. 

“Always.” Wednesday said simply, inspecting the panel. “But sadly this isn't the case.”

Fester laughed his usual maniacal laugh before replying. 

“Welp, I have to say, you can’t really blame your werewolf friend for this.”

“Don’t tell me you’re getting sentimental, Uncle Fester.” Wednesday said, almost annoyed. 

“No, I mean it literally. Someone has been messing with your panel.”

Her Uncle Fester wasn't a jokester, more of a prankster if anything, so the nonchalant way he said that while wiping his hands made Wednesday tense. 

“What?” That wasn’t what she was expecting to hear. 

Wednesday took a closer look next to Fester, eyeing the now demangled circuit panel to reveal just what her uncle was talking about. 

“See for yourself.” Fester said, pointing to a section where the cables had been mangled and cut, not by werewolf claws but by common pliers. “Some good handiwork there. Just messed up enough for the storm to do the hard work.”

Enid might have clawed at the panel in her frustration, but it was mostly superficial, the gash hadn’t even scratched the cables inside of it. This was someone else’s doing.

Wednesday’s face twisted slightly in confusion as many scenarios went through her mind. Collecting clues had taken her nowhere in her investigation, as had her fieldwork with Pugsley and Pubert to pay a visit to the usual suspects. 

It was frustrating, to say the least, how things had just become weirder.

“What do you think it means?” Fester asked her while he cleaned his hands. 

“That there’s someone in this town foolish enough to mess with my store.” 

It was said so grimly that a chill ran down Fester’s back, much to his pride. 

After a few hours, the panel had been fixed. Just in time for Enid to come by, stepping out of her service door to take a break from painting and checking in on what she assumed was her mess. 

“Hi, Fester! Hi, Wednesday!” Enid said happily. 

Her smile gave away a slight nervousness, mostly guilt about the panel, Wednesday assumed, but there was something else there. Ever since last night, something had shifted around them, or rather, between them. 

Wednesday of course chose to ignore it.

Nothing had actually changed. 

The two had simply had some tea and a surprisingly nice conversation while the storm passed. So why was she feeling nervous about seeing Enid?

“Hey there, little wolf.” Fester greeted Enid first, fist-bumping her as if they were old comrades. 

Wednesday simply eyed the display, fairly estranged. 

“Hello, Enid.” Wednesday said, monotone as ever, but avoiding looking into the werewolf’s eyes for more than a second. 

“Again, I'm really sorry about the panel. The bill is on me.” Enid said. 

“Lucky for you that won't be necessary.” Fester said casually as he happily put his tools away. 

“What? Why?” Enid asked.

“Because you didn't mess up the panel it was-” But just in time Wednesday interrupted her uncle. 

“The storm fried the circuits. Your claws merely scratched the door, which my uncle already replaced with a spare he kept.” She said. “All debts are in order with him, but perhaps you’d want to sharpen your claws for future occasions.”

Enid eyed Wednesday for a second, confused and slightly offended about the claws comment. Then Fester spoke up again. 

“I keep a sharpening stone in my tool kit if you need it.”

Ignoring the Addams’ fascination with sharpening objects Enid simply expressed her relief, and after going back and forth with Wednesday as she insisted on paying for the door, the subject was dropped once Wednesday gave her one of her signature death glares. 

The fact that it elicited more of a grin out of Enid rather than a fearsome shiver made Wednesday tense. 

“Enid, we need you here!” Yoko called from inside the tattoo shop then, catching their attention and cutting short their little argument. 

“Alright, I better get back to my side.” Enid said, pointing back to her door. “But thank you again, guys.”

Fester waved her goodbye with recommendations for sharpening stones to buy online while Wednesday only regarded her with a polite nod. Once Enid was out of (werewolf) earshot, Fester whispered.

“Why didn't you tell her?” He asked.

Wednesday took her time to answer as they made their way back to the flower shop. 

In truth, she didn't think Enid had anything to do with the recent mishaps at the shop, but a gut feeling wasn't evidence enough to rule her out of her list of suspects. 

“I prefer not to take any chances.”

Fester only nodded in understanding. 

“I won't tell you how to conduct your list of suspects.” He said simply, marching towards the front door with Wednesday by his side. “But I will tell you this: she was with me for most of the night while we fixed the wiring in her shop. Not a touch of suspicious behavior, sadly. The cameras will tell you as much.”

Fester pointed towards the spot where an old security camera was hidden on the corner of the alley, installed years ago as an additional safety measure. Wednesday had religiously checked said camera for the past week in preparation for any annoying tourists that might want to play around on her property. Now she had a better reason to check the footage. 

Wednesday ignored how the fact that Enid had an alibi made her feel relieved. She knew better than to be so trustworthy. 

“You are indeed getting sentimental, Uncle.” Wednesday replied dryly. 

Uncle Fester laughed again. 

“What can I say? She reminds me of my Debbie.”

“The woman who tried to murder all of us.” 

“What a woman she was!” He said, sporting a lovesick smile that made Wednesday nauseous. 

With that Fester took his leave, claiming he had some business to attend to three towns over and that he would be off the radar for a while. Wednesday regarded him with a polite nod and a warning that if he had to hide from the police inside the shop again to at least remember to turn the lights off on his way out. 

Uncle Fester, as usual, made no promises and left with his characteristic maniacal laugh. 

“How much was the hit?” Yoko asked Enid as she walked back into the shop. 

The vampire, just like the werewolf and the gorgon next to her, sported a pair of jeans and an old t-shirt essentially ruined by paint of all colors and days of tiresome work. 

At least they were done with that base coat of gray. 

“Nothing. Wednesday paid for it.” Enid said with a smile as she went to refill her water bottle. 

She didn’t notice the look Yoko and Ajax shared. 

“Ajax, hold the imposter down. Enid has been replaced by a changeling.” Yoko said, making Enid turn around to level her with a look.

“Haha, very funny.” She said sarcastically, leveling them with a look while Ajax snickered. "I thought you two would be happy about not having to pay for another thing to fix here."

“I'm happy. Those panel things are mad expensive.” Ajax said. 

But Yoko wasn’t done with the topic, much to Enid’s dismay. 

“So what? You and Addams are friends now? When did that happen?” Yoko asked, a sly grin on her face. 

Enid tensed immediately. She knew that tone.

“I wouldn’t say friends. I don't think.” Enid said, avoiding giving further details as she got to work again, doing her best to ignore Yoko. “We just talked for a while last night.”

And that bit of information was enough to make Yoko drop everything and take a sit next to Enid, like a kid about to listen to a bedtime story. Ajax at least had the decency to keep working as he prompted Enid to go on. 

Enid had let Yoko know last night how she had stayed behind after Fester was gone to get some paperwork done, and also to avoid walking home during that terrible storm. When Enid came home much later than that, perfectly dry and with a lovesick smile on her face, Yoko knew something had been up, as much as Enid refused to elaborate, claiming they had a long day ahead tomorrow. 

“Ok, didn’t you two want a stop to this stupid feud?” Enid said, hands resting on her hips. 

“Flirting with the goth neighbor is not exactly how I imagined it would go but I honestly can’t complain.” Yoko said, grin still in place. 

Enid let out a deep breath to calm down. She had never been good with Yoko’s interrogations. 

“I am not flirting with Wednesday.” Enid said, and at least she knew that to be true. She had never attempted anything, assuming Wednesday would just stab her for it.

She of course omitted the fact that she wouldn’t mind if such hypothetical flirting were to be reciprocated. 

“Does this mean we’re inviting them to the opening?” Ajax asked innocently. 

He had argued that it would be rude not to invite them, but Yoko and Enid had pointedly refused after yet another argument about parking spots with Wednesday and Bianca. 

In truth, Enid hadn’t thought about it.
 
She looked at the flyers on her desk while Ajax and Yoko talked about… something, she wasn’t really paying attention. 

Of course they had to invite them, especially after Eugene and Bianca had brought over those flowers that sat beautifully by the display window. But it was an entirely different thing if Wednesday actually decided to attend. 

The trio went back to work after that but Enid’s mind couldn’t help but wander back to last night and back around to the idea of inviting Wednesday to the opening. 

Enid had never been shy, not the slightest, so why was it weighing so much on her just to think about inviting Wednesday? The worst she could say was no. Although you never knew with the Addams.  Would she be overstepping? Would Wednesday even show up? It was a Halloween party after all, but she guessed she couldn’t assume the girl even liked Halloween. Did she even like anything at all?

Her spiraling must have been showing on her face all morning, because by the time lunchtime ran around and Ajax went out to get some food Yoko had approached her, no grin or sarcasm this time. 

“Your face is killing me. What are you thinking about?” That didn’t mean her friend wasn’t going to be blunt about it. 

“Sometimes I’m really glad you dropped out of psychology.” Enid replied, and Yoko gasped in fake offense. 

“I’m offended. I’m great with people.” She said, taking a seat next to Enid. “But I don’t need a degree in psychology to know something’s on your mind.”

Enid thought about it for a second. She knew very well what was on her mind, she just didnt know why. 

“It’s just…” She trailed off. “I know it’s silly, but I don’t want to overstep, you know?”

Yoko took a second to reply, given that Enid provided little to no context. 

“This is about Wednesday, right?”

With that question Enid tilted her head back as she let out a deep breath. 

“Yeah.”

Yoko nodded in understanding then. 

“I’ll be honest with you-” Yoko said.

“When are you not?”

“Rude.” Yoko said before resuming. “That girl is scary as hell. Even her friends are scary, and yes, that includes Eugene. No one can be that nice. But!”

“Oh, there’s a but.” Enid said amused. 

“I don’t know what happened last night. And I know you won’t tell me no matter how much I beg you. So I think you already know the answer to whatever question is making you frown for hours straight. You have good instincts, Enid. Trust them for once.”

Yoko tended to drop little bits of wisdom like that from time to time, always surprising Enid. 

“You would have made a good psychologist.” She said eventually, giving her friend a side hug.

“I know. I’m great.” Yoko said, matching Enid’s smile. “My mom would’ve probably preferred that to an art degree too.”

“Oh, totally.” 

The two laughed it off before putting some of the tools away for a well-earned rest. The feeling of knots inside Enid’s stomach receding, but not disappearing. She assumed it would never disappear unless she did something about it. 

Over at Ravenwood, Wednesday had decided to skip lunch yet again to stare at the murder board in her office during lunch break.

An investigation rarely ran smoothly, the Addams was well aware of that, but this entire ordeal was becoming too frustrating. 

She had gone through the basics as soon as she found the time, and while checking the security cameras she had finally managed to cross out some suspects form her list. Among them, were Enid and her coworkers. While the vampire and the gorgon had left before the worst part of the storm, Enid had stayed back with her uncle Fester, just as he had said, and after he left the lights stayed on with all the doors locked.

The unusual part of the video came at the 10 pm mark, when a barely discernible hooded figure walked into the alley, then 32 seconds of lost footage, and then nothing. She couldn’t even tell the panel had been tampered with.

Still, whoever this person was knew that there was a hidden camera in the alley, and exactly how to mess with the footage. This was no amateur. 

Wednesday ran a frustrated hand through her hair, caring very little about her now disheveled bangs, when she heard a knock on the door. 

Bianca stepped inside.

“How’s the investigation going?” 

Wednesday did not reply, she limited herself to glare daggers at her coworker. 

She had not told Bianca about the panel per se, more like the siren had figured it out herself, which was impressive on it’s own. Besides, there was little to no reason to lie about it to Bianca and the others, and an extra pair of eyes around the shop couldn’t hurt. 

“Still nothing.” Wednesday said, bitterness and frustration in her tone. 

Bianca eyed her for a second, but out of mercy with her coworker, she did not say a word.

She stepped closer to hand Wednesday the piece of paper in her hands.

 “Can you help me with this? A guy came by yesterday asking for a bunch of stuff, but some I don’t recognize.”

Wednesday eyed the list. Most of it was just common herbs that almond moms and hippies bought for weight loss teas and alternative medicine; some were a bit stranger, but nothing fairly dangerous. 

What struck Wednesday as odd was the fact that it was all listed with each plant’s binomial name.

“I already crossed out some of them, those last few I can’t find. But there was something odd about the guy that asked for those.” Bianca said.

“Not a lot of people ask for lemongrass in perfect latin.” Wednesday replied.

“Exactly.”  

Wednesday helped Bianca find the rest of the order while she enquired about who placed it.

Just some guy she had never seen before, and based on the description, neither had Wednesday, but it was a fairly big town, and Wednesday rarely paid attention to random boys. He was also, apparently, sent by his herbalist aunt to pick some stuff for her. 

That’s when Bianca pointed at the contact number and name on the sheet. 

“At what time did he come by?” Wednesday asked in her usual monotone. 

“Right at closing time. Why?” Bianca asked, but Wednesday turned immediately to her desk.

The small murder board that had been struggling to take shape lay scattered on it.

Bianca hummed in understanding.

“Background check?” Bianca asked and Wednesday nodded. 

With their most recent incident, she wasn’t willing to take any chances. 

That’s why Wednesday set up a small trap.

The shop prided itself on it’s collection of some rare herbs and flowers, although rarely anyone asked about them, much less was willing to pay a fair price for them. That’s when a background check comes in handy, or a less conspicuous alternative: a decoy. 

The order listed a rare herb known as Adoniceae Mysteria, which Wednesday recognized as a powerful sedative and allucinogen that she did not sell to just anyone, if ever. But it was also conveniently similar in looks to Ashwagandha. If this was in fact just a random order of ingredients for something this woman found on the internet, she would be none the wiser about the results. If her intentions were different, however, they would most likely hear from them again.  

The pair walked diligently in silent efficiency, just how Wednesday liked it, as she mentally reviewed her list of suspects to plan her next move. And something told them their young stranger and his mysterious aunt had something to do with it. 

Sadly, her musings were interrupted when Bianca spoke up.

“I noticed Enid came by earlier.” Wednesday’s hands stopped moving for just a second, and to her frustration, she knew Bianca had noticed, if only for the grin on her face. 

“It was probably the first time I saw her leave with a smile on her face. And without yelling, too.” She added. 

“Make your point.” Wednesday said, putting all her focus on packaging the herbs.

“No point. I’m just saying.” Bianca said innocently. “I thought that was what you wanted.” 

“It’s what Eugene and the rest of you wanted.” 

Bianca hummed in acknowledgment.

“So nothing you want is involved, then?”

But before Wednesday could say anything else they both heard the front door open. 

“Oh, hey!” And that was Eugene, much too cheery to be greeting just a regular client.

Chapter Text

Each flicker of the candles made the shadows against dark walls dance. Each deep breath, each slight breeze, every minimal gesture felt like a guttural scream against the quiet that enveloped the room.

And as the veil between the world of the living and the world of spirits thinned, Wednesday did everything she could to focus. 

She thought about her many questions, the mystery that did not seem to want to unravel before her, and her annoying visions. 

A slight shiver ran down her spine. A usual sign that the seance was working, and that she was in the presence of some spirit helpful enough to allow itself to communicate. 

Wednesday took another deep breath, repeating inside her head the question that haunted her. 

Who was trying to harm them and the store?  

She knew she had to keep her questions short and simple; she also cared very little about the why since she could find out on her own later. 

A long minute went by, and then, all at once, every candle in the circle that surrounded the Addams blew out. 

Enveloped in complete darkness once more, and overcome with frustration, Wednesday let out a deep breath, blowing an errant strand of hair away from her face. 

This was useless. 

Normally, whenever she ventured into more spiritual territory, she asked her mother for help, with all her experience, but this was a venture she preferred to keep to herself. And mostly to avoid telling her mother about the vision that had been plaguing her for more than a month now, with dead end after dead end in her investigation. 

As Wednesday stood up from the chalk-strewn floor, a light tap against the floor tiles caught her attention. 

She sighed again. 

“No, Thing, I cannot ask Mother for her help. You know that already.” She said, as Thing climbed up the shelving to turn the lights back on. 

Some more tapping again. 

“Well, we seem to have exhausted that resource.” Wednesday took a seat back on her dark leather desk chair. “Maybe a sacrifice is in order.”

Thing climbed in front of her to sign something. Something preposterous about taking a break, which Wednesday ignored. However, Thing did not like being ignored, as he went on and on about how Wednesday was straining herself and being more hard-headed than usual. 

Just as she was about to say something, a gust of wind made its way from the back window against Wednesday's back, making some of the papers on her desk fly away. 

Maybe the spirit from before hadn’t had enough of mocking her. 

As she stood up to pick up the mess, Wednesday noticed something by her feet. 

An overly colorful leaflet, given to her that same afternoon by an overly colorful werewolf. 

The sparkling sheet of paper had an illustration of the newly remodeled storefront, with the details of a party on Halloween night, just a week from today, to celebrate the official opening of Kaleidoscope Tattoo. Enid had mentioned games, snacks and drinks all catered by local small businesses, as well as the mandatory nature of costumes. 

Wednesday picked it up with a curious look. The same nauseating feeling that had come over her when Enid extended the invitation earlier. 

Then Thing tapped something excitedly. 

“Stop that ,Thing. This is nothing but another obstacle in my investigation.” She said, setting the paper back down on her desk. “The last thing we need is a pathetic gathering full of drunken idiots blasting that noise they call music.” Wednesday stood up then and went back to put away the candles and her grimoire. 

That's when Thing spoke (tapped) again. 

“How, exactly, do you mean an opportunity?” Wednesday asked. 

And after he explained, even she had to admit it wasn't absurd. 

This party her neighbors were throwing was the perfect opportunity to set their bait and catch their stalker.

The store would remain completely empty for the entire night, everyone would be next door, much too preoccupied with whatever nonsense Enid had planned for the evening, not to mention it would be too noisy for anyone to even notice anything going on around the block. 

The perfect opportunity to strike. 

And for Wednesday to finally catch her prey. 

Thing seemed to tap lightly on the table in excitement, carefully hiding it from Wednesday, as not to show he was actually excited that his familiar agreed to go to a party. A miracle in itself. 

But while the smaller Addams celebrated, Wednesday seemed lost in thought again. 

And how could she not? Enid's words from earlier echoed inside her head for what she recounted was the sixth time that day. 

“ Really hoping to see you there.”

And that damned smile, directed just at her, despite the invitation being directed to the entirety of Ravenwood.

If the visions haunted her dreams, that overly-sweet smile haunted her every waking moment, honestly making it difficult to concentrate at times, near impossible to do when Enid was around, on her more constant visits to Ravenwood. 

She caught that ridiculous thought in time to tune back into what Thing was saying just as he mentioned “costumes”.

“Don't be absurd, Thing.” She said, serious as ever. “I’ll stay back here, hidden in the shadows. We can use Pugsley’s walkie-talkies to communicate.”

In an effort to quiet those annoying echoes of a certain blonde, Wednesday was resolute in avoiding even approaching the store next door. Not just for the party. 

Thing thought about it for a second, before signing something back to Wednesday. 

“Risky? You offend me, Thing. You know better than anyone else that I am my most deadly in my own territory.”

But then we risk the stalker not showing up if they see someone staying behind. 

It was true. Wednesday knew it, if the knot stuck inside her throat was anything to go by. 

“No one will see me.” She said, growing annoyed. 

What if they do? Then it's all for nothing. 

It was true. Wednesday knew it, Thing knew it. And besides, it was just a stupid party, nothing she couldn’t handle, if only for a few hours. 

When Wednesday found herself unable to come up with more excuses and unsure about why she needed them exactly, she sighed. 

“Okay.” She said, defeated. 

Just enough to make Thing tap away in excitement. 

—

It was clear to Wednesday that whoever messed with her panel was planning something bigger and much more sophisticated than a simple prank; this person knew what they were doing, and so, with this new opportunity in the form of Enid’s party, Wednesday decided to take some extra security measures.

With the help of Thing a small device had been placed behind the camera lens on the security cameras in the back alley, ready to burst an ink packet directly against anyone who messed with the camera, while a different sensor would alert her and the entire block in time to catch their little stalker. 

Normally, Wednesday would prefer a poison dart or a small explosive, but this was a job that required finesse, not muscle.

Thing scurried back from the alley into the office, and Wednesday caught a good look at him waving and jumping around on the live footage.

“You never fail to amaze me, Thing.” Wednesday said over the walkie-talkie, and the appendage gave back a courtesy.  

Also, Thing really wanted to go to this costume party, so everything had to go perfectly.   

The sound of yelling and a door slamming loudly over the security system’s speakers caught the attention of both Addams. 

“No, you don’t understand. I need those by Friday!” 

A ruckus coming from the back alley wasn’t rare these days, and Wednesday had even gotten somewhat used to it. Still, it was usually a few curse words and the sound of boxes being tossed around, and although Wednesday refused to eavesdrop on any conversation that would not serve her a purpose, she couldn’t help but being caught by surprise by the image of Enid slamming her door as she stepped out into the alley.

“Well, because I have a store opening on Saturday!” She said angrily, then some words Wednesday couldn’t make up.

“What do you mean order earlier? I ordered those a month ago! You-” Then her claws came out. A set of multicolor knives. What a beautiful sight, even from a small screen with low resolution.

“Ugh, that asshole hung up on me!” 

A frustrated groan escaped the werewolf before kicking a trash can with such strength that it was sent flying against a brick wall, effectively denting it. But what was just another dent on her once pristine trash cans? 

Wednesday caught the thought a little too late. What was she doing here, violating someone’s privacy just to do what? Catch a glimpse of the most annoying girl she had ever met? The girl with the most beautiful claws she had ever seen rip metal apart and the most piercing blue eyes and-

No. She stopped the thoughts again, before she spiraled. She had to remind herself to do that much more often lately, particularly after that storm the other day.

“Oh, Thing. Hi.” She heard Enid say, effectively snapping her out of her thoughts. 

Thing had been shamefully spotted on his way down the water pipe and back into the alley.

“Sorry about that, I’ll fix those in a minute.” Enid said, sounding much smaller than she had just a second before. Frustration still seeped from her voice. 

Wednesday isn’t sure about what came over her; a good excuse would be that she felt compelled to go on Thing’s rescue after being caught, but then again, why would she need an excuse? 

Either way, before she knew it, Wednesday was opening the door to the alley.

“Are you okay?” Wednesday asked, stepping down the small stairs.

Enid seemed surprised to see her there, as did Thing.

“Yes.” She said, taking a deep breath. “Just a little frustrated. I’ll replace those.”

“No need.” Wednesday said immediately, guarding her distance.

“Why not?” 

Right, why? A mere month ago, Wednesday would have been furious over yet another trash can ruined and in need of replacement over her emotionally unstable neighbors. Now, she felt something she had rarely felt before: sympathy.

“Pubert stabbed a hole in that trash can. He is going to replace it anyway.” Still, Wednesday lied. Not the first time she had used Pubert as a scapegoat, not that the little boy wouldn’t be thrilled to stab holes into the trash can anyway.

“Oh, really? I didn’t see any holes in i-” Just before Enid turned around to inspect the trash can, Wednesday spoke up again, taking another step towards the werewolf. 

“You sounded disconcerted on the phone. Normally, I like the sound of frustration, but I feel compelled to ask about it.” 

Not the smoothest of saves, but Wednesday still felt compelled to ask.

Enid avoided her gaze, which she rarely did. 

Thing took the opportunity to scurry back inside, allowing them some privacy, but reserving some questions for her relative for later. 

“Yeah, I just found out we’re not getting the furniture I ordered in time for the opening on Saturday, so we just have one couch and some rug Ajax found as a reception and we barely have a front desk at all because our old one got damaged in the move and-” Enid stopped her rambling with a deep breath. “Sorry, didn’t mean to drop all that on you.” 

Wednesday simply stood there, watching Enid, listening to her every word, as a strange feeling spread from her chest up. Then, as if something had taken over her, she spoke up.

“We could help.” She said. Blurted out, rather. 

“What?” Enid asked, fairly estranged. 

“We have a small sitting area in the shop that’s barely ever used. If you don’t mind cast iron patio furniture.” 

Enid didn’t say anything, she had been caught by surprise. The last thing she thought Wednesday would do was offer her help with the opening, but then again, this wasn’t the first time Wednesday had come to her rescue.

“That would actually be great.” She said, a small smile growing on her face. “Thank you so much, Wednesday.” 

Enid almost launched at her for a hug in her excitement, arms stretched out with that huge grin still present. But at this point, Enid knew Wednesday wasn’t big on hugs. Or human contact for that matter, so she stopped on her tracks when Wednesday gave half a step back. 

“Sorry.” Enid said with a guilty smile, but still clearly excited. “I know you’re not a hugger.” 

Wednesday cleared her throat. She didn’t trust her voice at the moment. 

“I’ll tell Pugsley to bring the furniture over once he comes back from his route.”  

“Oh it’s no trouble, I could just take them. Werewolf strength and all.” Enid said, smiling past the previous awkwardness once again. How it disgusted Wednesday. 

She cleared her throat once more. This time, Enid noticed. 

“That’s okay, I know you have a lot to do. And having Pugsley carry heavy stuff is a pastime of mine.” 

Enid giggled at the comment, and Wednesday almost cleared her throat again just to get rid of that annoying knot that had made residence on the back of her trachea.

“Hey, E? Do we have any trash bags left?” Just in time, Yoko called from the store. 

Enid gave a small sigh, she almost seemed disappointed. Then again, Wednesday wasn’t very keen on trusting her senses at the moment.

“Alright. I have to go back to the store but again, thank you so much.” Enid said before disappearing back into her own service door, shooting Wednesday that sweet smile. 

The taller girl was clearly making amazing efforts to stop herself from hugging Wednesday, holding both her hands behind her back, and despite her disgust for any kind of physical contact, she appreciated the self-control. 

Once back safe inside her office, Wednesday had but one thought: Why did she keep doing these things?

A second later, Thing voiced, or rather signed, her own thoughts back to her. Wednesday did not have an excuse. The words had simply escaped her, humiliating as it was, feeling betrayed by her own mouth.

“We need that party to happen. It's too late to back down.” Wednesday said, sounding as calm and collected as ever.

She convinced herself in a matter of seconds that it was nothing. The small table and chairs sat in a dimly lit corner of the shop and had only been used a handful of times by waiting clients or for the staff to have a quick break. A small annoyance for the greater good of setting up their stalker trap. 

Yes, that was it. 

Thing, however, didn’t seem too convinced. 

—

“Hey, and what did the furniture store say?” Yoko asked as she and Enid worked on getting the place up to shape.

“Oh, that.” Enid said, caught by surprise for a second. She had seemed absent-minded all afternoon. “Not really, we won’t have the furniture until November, despite paying for it upfront.” She rolled her eyes.

Yoko and Ajax moaned in shared frustration. 

“That’s okay. People can just stand around and hang out, right?” Ajax said.

Enid seemed to light up again.

“Oh, it won’t be necessary. Wednesday is lending us tables and a couple of chairs from their place. It should be enough, right?”

Enid said it so casually, as if Wednesday would be the first person to jump at the opportunity to help them, that it made Ajax and Yoko share a look. 

“Okay, what was that about?” Enid asked, putting her phone down once she noticed the smirk on her best friend’s face. 

“Nothing, that’s great!” The vampire said. “We’re just curious about why is Elvira, Mistress of the Snark lending you her furniture.”

Now Enid rolled her eyes.

“Honestly, I thought she still hated us.” Ajax said.

“Us most likely, but Enid…” Yoko added teasingly, much to Enid’s annoyance.

“C’mon. Don’t call her that.” Enid told Yoko. “And she’s- They’re just being nice. That’s what neighbors do.”

“You’ve also been visiting them an awful lot lately.” Yoko added with a small smile, looking at Enid over the brim of her glasses. Ajax barely managed to suppress a laugh. 

“So? I dropped off the invitation.” Enid said plainly, but avoiding her friends' eyes.

And it was true, never mind all the other times Enid had just found excuse after excuse to wander back into Ravenwood. Talking to Eugene about a new batch of honey, catching up with Bianca about the Owner’s Association latest bullshit complaint, or even listening to Pubert go on and on about what Pugsley and him got up to on their routes. 

At first, Enid would admit those were excuses. She was well aware she wanted to see Wednesday again after the night of the storm, and then she felt like that again, and again, find new reasons to just be near the Addams.

And even though it grew to be very fun to be near the people of Ravenwood, she still felt drawn to Wednesday somehow. The girl who had gotten on her nerves consistently for weeks on end now felt like a mystery to unravel. Every time Enid learned something new about Wednesday, exchanged another conversation (or debate) about life and whatnot with her, or even caught a stray glance from the goth (often followed by the faintest of blushes), she felt like she needed more of it.

“I think it’s cool that you have a crush on Wednesday. She’s kinda your type, and her friends are really nice and all.” Ajax said innocently, going back to his duties, placing shelves. 

At that, Enid lost all motor capabilities for a split second, enough for her to stumble against her chair and to send some papers flying from her work table and into the air.

Enid wasn’t dumb either.

She knew she liked Wednesday, but she also knew how complicated anything of the sort would be.

“Damn, Ajax, you broke her.” Yoko added before standing up to help gather the mess of papers.

Enid simply turned back to the boy, making him jolt at the sudden movements and the way her claws had come out the slightest bit.

“You guys are being real dicks, you know that?” She finally said, grabbing some paperwork and her cardigan exaggeratedly.

“Oh, come on, Pup! We’re just joking!” Yoko called as she walked back out the front door.

But after a not-so-forceful slam at their very expensive glass door, Enid was out of there, signaled by the bell she had placed on top of the frame in an effort to make the place more fun. It did not feel as fun as it had earlier. 

Enid took a deep breath as she walked down the sidewalk, clutching her papers. It was not news that her friends could be borderline… annoying. It was a universal truth. And Enid accepted she could be pretty annoying herself, especially when Yoko refused to talk about the girls she went out with or when Ajax “forgets” to mention important details about gossip or even mishaps with work-related stuff. 

Hell, this wasn’t even the first time they had teased her about having a crush on someone, so why was she getting so worked up over it? Normally, she would spill every detail and gush nonstop about whatever cute girl had caught her attention, even before exchanging a mere word with said girl.

But this time it was different. She knew it deep down. 

Because although she liked Wednesday, odd, kinda creepy but oh so sweet Wednesday, she was pretty sure Wednesday did not like her back. She knew by now that the Addams were not your average family, but beyond that, Wednesday had never corresponded to her advances in any way. 

And besides, they did not start in the most friendly of terms. Mere weeks ago, the mention of her name made Enid’s blood boil, over a stupid feud that Wednesday herself had started. 

In her younger years, Enid would have paid no mind to that, going the extra mile to become Wednesday’s object of adoration. But she wasn’t in school anymore. These things had repercussions, especially when said crush was your next-door neighbor enemy-turned-kinda-friend. 

On top of that, she was much too busy getting the store off the ground. 

And so every little hint of hope she caught on Wednesday’s long stares or seemingly small favors she had to stomp out of existence. 

For the good of the store. 

By the time Enid had resolved her mind the smell of fresh black coffee hit her nose at full force. And just before she thought about how the smell reminded her of Wednesday and the ever-working coffee machine they kept at Ravenwood, Enid noticed she had walked more than a couple of blocks, passing her bus stop completely, and ending up on a street she barely recognized. 

“Great.” She muttered, annoyed as she pulled out Google Maps on her phone. 

The smell hit her again, and a cozy cafe greeted her as she looked up across the street. 

The Weathervane, as a small sign atop the door read. 

Maybe a cup of coffee could help her clear her mind.

Chapter Text

The days passed by, and with the date of the tattoo shop’s opening looming over her neighbors, Wednesday saw less and less of the face that had become so familiar.  

Still, she kept busy assisting Thing with orders and suppressing the disturbing truth that she actually missed Enid. That she looked forward to her impromptu interruptions during the day just to ask if they were making too much noise, or ask for Thing’s help to take a look at the air vents, and to ask for advice about the many kinks of the building. Or just to make conversation, really. Take a quick break. 

That terrible feeling had nestled between her throat and her stomach long ago, and was becoming much too familiar for Wednesday’s comfort. 

Today marked the third day with no Enid in sight, and Wednesday loathed how aware she was of it.

It must have been pretty apparent, too, that she had gotten caught up inside her own thoughts again, because Thing was furiously tapping at the work table as Wednesday over-trimmed some roses that remained only as thorns. 

Wednesday looked down at the massacre.

“I’ll bring these to Father later.” She said simply, setting aside the pointy stem to work on the next flower.  

Thing tapped the table again, gentler this time. 

“Nothing’s a matter, Thing. I was simply deep in thought.”

Then a question. 

“About the case.” And a lie. 

Wednesday felt a pang of guilt. Not over the minuscule lie but because she hadn’t been dedicating proper time and concentration to her investigation, once more, all because of a certain werewolf. 

Thing tapped away some theories he had been meaning to share, while Wednesday only half-heartedly nodded, until Eugene came into the office, asking for assistance with a client. 

Normally, this was Bianca’s duty, but she had left earlier to deal with some “family things”, a topic Wednesday knew not to pry into, and so, it became Eugene’s job for the day. That did not mean he was very good at it. 

“Hey, Wednesday?” He peeked his curly head from the door. “I have a guy out front who says he placed an order and is here for pickup? Do we have anything scheduled for today?” 

Thing had tapped something, a question, but Wednesday barely heard it. She practically leaped from her seat towards the door. 

This was the boy who had placed the mysterious order.

She finally got to lay another trap. 

Eugene gave Wednesday an estranged look, since Wednesday rarely opted to tend to the clients, especially mere pickups; but after a quick second,d she was behind the counter, placing a quite large brown paper bag on the counter. 

“Tyler, correct?” Wednesday asked, studying the lanky guy’s moves. 

“Yep, that’s me.” He said, flashing Wednesday a dorky smile that was met with menacing silence. 

“That’ll be all, then.” Wednesday said after the boy paid, in cash, mind you.

“Great! Thank you.” And without another word, he was out of the door. He hadn’t even bothered to check the contents of the bag. 

Wednesday knew well enough that this strange guy could be just that, another young man running errands for a family member, or just another oddball in a town full of oddballs. Still, one could never be too cautious. 

“You really don’t trust me enough to hand a bag?” Eugene joked as he emerged from the office.

“Bianca’s client. She asked me to do it before she left.” Wednesday said, only half lying. 

Bianca had reminded her that their mysterious pick up was scheduled for today, and that if Wednesday was planning something, this was her chance. Despite Bianca’s resistance to being dragged into Wednesday’s “schemes”, as she called them. 

Wednesday also didn’t feel too good about the amount of lying she had been doing lately, so it felt like a small respite to have Bianca on her side for once. Not because she didn’t enjoy a good cover story from time to time. 

Still, she knew that with enough time, the pieces of this puzzle would start falling into place and they would be back to normality. 

Eugene didn’t ask about the order again, instead choosing to deliver some bad news 

“So…” There it was. “The mail came in.”

Of course. 

Eugene handed her a small stack of envelopes, all containing bills that would soon be crammed inside Wednesday’s drawer next to its predecessors. 

“I’ll take care of that.” Wednesday said, calmly. 

Normally, Eugene would take that as his sign to go do anything else, but this time he lingered by Wednesday's side. 

“I’ve noticed that most of those envelopes used to be white and are a very menacing shade of pink now. Any updates on that?” He asked, searching for Wednesday's eyes. 

If she needed a reminder on why she was lying in the first place, this was it. It was no secret to the staff that the store was struggling; no need to add to the mix that they might have a stalker/possible murderer (if lucky enough) on the loose.

It would all be worth it once her prey had been caught. And then she could worry about the store. 

“Nothing to report.” Wednesday said, still calm. Keeping her composure was key these days.

But Eugene wouldn’t let it go. 

“You know, if there's anything me or Bianca could do…” He said, trailing off. “I mean, you know, we’re a team. We could brainstorm some ideas… For once.” 

He was clearly nervous, gesticulating every single word. Wednesday remained looking through her stack of documents. 

“I will let you know when I need your assistance.” She said, again, keeping calm. Even if her words were a little strained. 

“Do you promise?” Eugene asks her then. 

Wednesday pauses for a moment before turning to look at the young man. 

She probably did not look so calm, judging by the way Eugene took two cautionary steps back.

“Okay, just- I know you're busy, like all the time. But that's what Bianca, and I and Thing and even Pugsley and Pubert are here for. We’re all team Ravenwood and we just think that, if the store needs it, we’re ready to step in with whatever, you know?” 

Wednesday did not answer. Eugene tried once more. 

He gave her an awkward half smile. 

“Ya know?” 

Wednesday remained still; she did not even blink. But she felt lightheaded somehow. 

“Eugene.” She said, more sternly than she intended to. “The only assistance I need is for you to take care of the clients for the afternoon. Nothing more, nothing less.”

And with that, the Addams returned to her mindless sorting of documents, her back now turned to Eugene. 

He took a deep breath. Probably to say something else, but only a sigh came out. 

“You’re the boss.” He said, deflated, as he left the office. 

Thing tapped something from his spot at the desk, about not having to be so rude when Eugene was just offering to help, but Wednesday didn't acknowledge him. 

Mere minutes later, she was all alone again. 

The rest of the afternoon went by in unusual calm. Eugene had left with only a quick goodbye shouted from the front of the store, and Thing hadn’t even bothered with such gestures. 

Wednesday dreaded the tense atmosphere, but dreaded much more the conversation that awaited her back at the Addams mansion. 

That one she could at least stall for. Another late night awaited her. 

But while Wednesday readied the store for closing, a last-minute visitor entered. The same guy from earlier. That Tyler guy. 

“Hi!” He said, clearly in a rush. 

Wednesday noticed dark green fabric hanging from his backpack.

“I’m so sorry, I forgot my aunt wanted me to buy something else too.” His hair was undone, and dark circles were beginning to appear under his eyes. 

Clear signs of a long, tiresome shift. 

Wednesday eyed him silently as he struggled through a text chain to find a name.

“Uhm, she said it’s… Salix alba?” He said, looking confused at his phone screen. 

“White Willow.” Wednesday replied. 

She moved towards the back of the store, to the dampest corner of the showroom, where she kept a handful of similar flowers. The boy followed her, looking unsure if he even should be in the first place. He kept a respectful distance between them, lurching slightly as he avoided touching some of the more thorny flower bushes around the shelves. 

Wednesday kept her back turned to him as she went to find the leaves, but made sure to keep Tyler in her peripheral. Mostly out of habit. 

Tyler reached for a flower in front of him. Purple stems and deep green leaves. When the flower recoiled to show huge thorns pointing at him, the young man jumped back. 

He gave an embarrassed laugh when Wednesday turned slightly to look at him. 

“Feisty ones, heh?” He said. 

“You have no idea.” She said grimly as she passed him. 

She returned to the register with Tyler in tow. 

“Does your aunt usually call every plant by its scientific name?” Wednesday asked as she trimmed a few leaves. 

The boy gave her a light chuckle.

“She does call lettuce Lactuca sativa. My dad used to think she meant a different kind of plant for a while.” He joked. Wednesday kept trimming. 

This was a harmless plant, mostly used to treat light skin conditions such as eczema, and certainly not hard to find either, so not an odd request.

“Not a lot of people bother to learn the scientific names of plants. Much less use it daily. I get that it's a bit weird.” Tyler said, trying to keep some sort of conversation going. 

Normally, she wouldn’t make small talk with a client, but no one could deny it was odd. Or frustrating, to say the least.

“Most people in this town are.” Wednesday said finally. 

She placed the leaves inside a small paper bag, and Tyler chuckled again. 

“You can say that again.” 

“Why would I?”

Wednesday only eyed him, unwavering, as he stammered. 

“Well, no, I didn't mean- You don't have to- Uhm.” Then he laughed again. 

“I get it.” He said finally, still smiling. 

All three times Tyler had come into the store, the small talk was meaningless and questions were kept to a minimum, part of what made Wednesday doubt this guy’s ill intentions or involvement. 

Today was a bit different.

“This place is really big, huh? Doesn’t look it from the outside.” He commented, looking up at the high ceiling lined with dry herbs.

“Tall ceilings.” Wednesday said sharply, not wanting to give anything away.

“And is it always this hot? I swear it feels like summer in here and autumn out there.”

“Best temperature for the plants.”

“I thought flowers wilted under heat.” The boy said, and judging by his smile, he seemed genuine in his ignorance.

“Not these.” Wednesday said simply, practically shoving the small bag and the change against his chest. 

Tyler seemed to take the hint, and after an awkward wave and a quick “thanks again!” he left the store. 

Not a minute after the glass door had closed behind him, and once Wednesday had lowered her guard slightly, she heard a noise coming from the back alley. A rustling, loud enough to be heard all the way to the front of the store.

Wednesday walked to the front door, peering just to check the man had effectively walked away and was a good few feet away from the door.

Once that was confirmed, Wednesday made the trek to the back office to access the service door as she went through the entirety of her day in her head: Bianca and Eugene had already left, Thing had left soon after with Pugsley and Pubert, and she had seen her neighbors lock up the front door and leave hours ago. 

That left only two options: either she got lucky and her prey had presented itself earlier than expected, or another unlucky tourist had been bold enough to wander into her alleyway.

Either possibility made Wednesday smile a very, very small smile of sadistic satisfaction. Her knives had gone too long without being thrown at an unsuspecting victim. 

But just as Wednesday reached for the door, and for her trusty boot knife, the old rusty hinges squeaked. Not loud enough for the average person to hear, but just enough for Wednesday to wince slightly and for a familiar scream of horror to attack her eardrums. 

Her eyes adjusted to the dark, and she saw Enid, startled, multi-color claws fully out and sporting the fluffiest, most atrocious pink coat Wednesday had ever seen. 

“Wednesday! Why did you have to scare me?!” She said, pulling back her claws while she steadied her breath.

“Why are you rattling garbage cans at night?” Wednesday said, calmly retrieving her knife back to her pocket. 

Enid had certain concerns, but besides her neighbor’s tendency to carry hidden knives on her person, it was mostly about the noise in the alley.

“So you heard that too?” 

Enid asked, and Wednesday simply nodded in response. So it wasn't her. 

“And your plan was to stab me before considering it might have been me?! Your neighbor?!” Enid asked louder this time. 

Wednesday spotted something then, her eyes zeroing on something behind Enid, further into the alley, a possible clue to their mystery; while Enid fumed at the fact of being almost stabbed AND ignored.

“I thought we had an unwanted visitor. Guess it wasn’t my lucky day.” Enid ignored the way Wednesday said that so calmly. “And I was sure you had left earlier.”

“I forgot my charger.” She said. “And I thought you had left early too!” 

Enid watched as Wednesday knelt next to the trash cans in the alley. One of them had fallen and spilled over, precisely the one Enid-ahem, Pubert, had damaged just last week and had replaced with a “new” trash can the boy had “found” somewhere. Hence, the dent at the bottom, which made it particularly prone to fall over if manipulated. 

And right next to it, a muddy shoe print. 

Someone had been there recently. 

Enid hovered behind Wednesday's shoulder as she took out a small forensic set, seemingly out of nowhere, to take a sample of the mud. It was red, argillaceous, unlike the usual muddy puddles on the alley. 

“Unusual.” The Addams mused. 

“It’s also not garbage day.” Enid added, snapping a picture of the print. As she zoomed in, Enid noticed something. “Boots Size 10. Maybe another podcaster? Or some stupid teen?” 

“We’re about to find out.” Wednesday stood up quickly, confusing Enid. 

Then she marched back into the office, despite Enid’s pleas to slow down and explain. 

Still, the werewolf followed her, getting used to hovering beside her, eyes fixed on the screen Wednesday was typing into. 

Upon fast-forwarding through a lot of footage from the day, Wednesday finally paused at the second when a couple of hooded figures entered the alley, sneaking around pathetically with ski masks and a flashlight.

“Looks like you were right.” Wednesday said, almost absentmindedly. 

Enid took pride in the comment, maybe more than necessary.

The camera showed the exact moment the two guys, young, tall, and idiotic entered the alley slowly and silently arguing. They never noticed the camera recording them from above as they inspected the alleyway and the locks on both service doors. That's when one of the burglars toppled the trash can, causing the loud noise and sending them dashing back out the alley and down the street, most likely. 

That's when the taller guy left the shoe print on their frantic sprint. 

Besides that, Wednesday could count at least 23 mistakes these amateur stalkers had committed. 

“I honestly don’t get those people. Messing with some random store for what? Clout? Shits and giggles? We barely even carry any cash to steal.” Enid asked, fairly mad. 

“You assume there’s any sort of thought behind their actions.” Wednesday replied, and Enid almost chuckled at that

“That’s actually true.” 

The mystery of the day was solved, but something still lingered between them, something that was also making them unable to say their goodbyes, despite being long past closing hours for both shops. 

That tenuous feeling like the air had become a thousand times more dense than usual became apparent, as Wednesday found herself once more lingering at her doorway, looking at colorful tattoos and light blue eyes. 

“You don’t think they’ll come back, do you?” Enid asked, eyeing the alleyway behind her. 

“I’m hoping they do, so they leave with a lesson learned.” 

Enid would have normally been disturbed by Wednesday’s somber remark had she not been used to them by now. 

Without even noticing, Enid smiled.

“I think they had enough by being scared shitless by a trashcan.” Enid said. “And honeslty, I have enough to worry about to add some idiots messing with the alley to the mix.”

Enid noticed Wednesday lingered in the alley, looking around, most likely for clues. 

And if Enid hadn’t known better she would swear Wednesday was even trying to make conversation with her, but only because she was doing exactly the same. She even felt silly about feeling so suddenly shy, especially after getting scared to death twice in the past hour. 

It got even worse when Wednesday said.

“I was just closing up. Do you mind if I walk you out?” She had asked, failing to maintain her usual menacing eye contact. 

Enid was caught by surprise, to say the least. One look at her claws could tell you she was not afraid to walk around at night; people close to her knew as much. Wednesday, by now, knew as much. And so maybe her need to clarify was because of that and not because Enid had taken way too long to reply, standing by her own door like a deer caught in the headlights.

“I must say, I don’t believe you’re incapable of protecting yourself from the two dumbest robbers alive, or anyone for that matter. I just wouldn't want you to get all the fun of an alley fight.” If Wednesday was lying, Enid couldn’t notice, not like she tried to look very hard for a tell.

Enid laughed then. Maybe she didn't care so much for a tell. 

“If you wanted to walk me home so bad, you could’ve just said so.” Enid teased. 

Then she immediately turned around, not wanting to lose that little spark of courage. Because who knew what could happen when you flirted with an Addams? 

As she opened the door to the studio, she could hear Wednesday catch up to her to give her witty (and very offended) retort back, but Enid had been faster and made a beeline straight for her work station. Just one of the many ways she had found to help her win arguments against Wednesday. 

“Ah! Here it is.” Enid said, retrieving her charger victoriously, and cutting Wednesday off again.

By now, normally Wednesday would have taken her chance for a word in, but it never hit her. That’s when Enid found the Addams staring at the side wall of the studio, currently under work by Enid herself and very much not ready. 

The left side of the studio was made up of a brick wall, most likely put up many years ago by the original owner in an effort to convert a huge ground-level space into two separate areas for selling or renting. But where on the opposite side was a simple brick wall painted black, this side, restored and primed, showed off some of the original brickwork as it surrounded a huge mural. 

Based on the very messy sketch, and for what Wednesday could make out from some odd lines painted over and over, the final piece would be a huge vine or plant of some sort, with colorful leaves that stretched all across the huge wall. This part was still in very rough shape, but a full moon in the background, mostly finished by now, displayed Enid’s artistic talents better. The style was whimsical, colorful, much like an illustration on a novel, but also entirely unique. Entirely Enid, in a way. 

Enid had never been shy about showing off her work, even her most embarrassing early pieces, but something came over her at the idea of having Wednesday’s critical eye analyze her work.

“Yeah, I’m still working on that.” Enid said, standing between Wednesday and the half-painted wall. Trying to look casual in her attempt at distraction. “Hopefully it’s done by opening day.”

A small sigh escaped Enid. 

To be entirely honest, the plan of having a huge mural as the central decor of the store hadn’t been a spur-of-the-moment thing. It was something Enid had wanted to do for a very long time, especially now that she and her friends were calling the shots at the estudio. 

That’s why it was so strange she had procrastinated the task for weeks, placing excuse after excuse between her and the paintbrush. 

She knew she was running out of time, and that this wasn’t another task she could pull off with a mere all-nighter. 

She also didn’t know what caused this sudden wave of art block that had come over her every time she sat down to sketch something. 

“Would you like some help?” 

And it suddenly didn't matter, because whatever she thought was happening could not be happening. Wednesday wasn't offering to help her, much less help her with something that involved colors and a complete mess. 

“Looks like you need it.” The Addams added. Still, it did not soften the surprise. 

Enid rolled her eyes then. 

“Ha, ha. Good joke.” She said, turning the light at her work station off to walk back out. 

“You know I don't do jokes.” Wednesday replied as she caught up to Enid. 

Enid took a deep breath. She had been meaning to simply get her charger and walk back home to binge Netflix and eat leftovers, not be subjected to an emotional rollercoaster. 

“Don't you have a bunch of things to do? Away from color and paint?” Enid asked, with a bit more of a bite to her words than she had intended to. 

Wednesday did not seem to mind.

“I do. But Thing does enjoy these sorts of endeavors. He could lend you a hand.”

Enid stopped dead in her tracks as she locked the door behind them. 

“Was that a pun?” She said, biting back an incredulous smile. 

But Wednesday turned around to walk out the alleyway before giving anything away. 

After that, it was just silence between them for the remaining walk. A comfortable silence this time, not the ones they seemed to be lingering around lately. 

The walk, which was only meant to cover the short alleyway and the sidewalk, extended for several blocks until Enid stopped, signaling the end of the night. 

“I take a turn here.” She said, as she noticed Wednesday had to go the opposite way. 

She also tried to ignore the disappointment she felt for simply having to take a left turn. She chose to blame her sudden blush in the cold weather as she shoved her hands into her coat pockets. That could also help her suppress this terrible urge she had to hug Wednesday, had it not been for the girl’s aversion to touch. 

“Thanks for accompanying me.” Enid said, a small smile pulling at her lips. “It was fun… Except being scared to death twice.”

“A good near-death experience is always fun.” Wednesday said, and Enid swore this time she saw the faintest smile on dark black lips. 

“See you tomorrow, neighbor.” Enid said, smiling proudly this time.

Wednesday said nothing, but once again, lingered for just a second too long.

Chapter Text

“Why am I doing this again?” Pugsley said, huffing and sweating as he came back from carrying four massive cast-iron chairs over to the store next door. And he still had a table left to move.

“Because I know you drank the last batch of my imported coffee last week.” Wednesday said monotone, barely looking up from an arrangement she was working on. 

“For the last time, I did not drink your stupid Ethiopian coffee!” He protested. Wednesday still wouldn’t look up.

“I never mentioned it was Ethiopian.” She said simply. 

Eugene, who was dusting off the shelf for the second time that day, didn't even bother to hide his cackle. 

“She got you good.” He said through a fit of laughter. 

Pugsley went back to his task, slouching even more than usual in defeat. 

“I’ll get the table.” He groaned.

At that moment, the front door swung open, and there was Enid, bouncing about in excitement. Her blonde hair sported a fresh touch-up of its usual blue and pink strands. 

“Oh! Let me help you with that, Pugsley.” She said casually, cheery as always, as she effortlessly lifted the iron table with one hand.

“Whoa! That’s amazing, Enid. Thank you.” Pugsley said with a smile, before Wednesday cleared her throat loudly. 

His smile dropped instantly.

“Actually, I got it. Thank you, though.” He corrected, struggling to carry the table on his own. 

“Good.” Wednesday said as she finished up the arrangement on her hands to set it on the side of the counter.

Enid limited herself to watch Pugsley with an apologetic look, even if it was a little bit funny. She had tried to help before, but the story behind the (kind of unfair) punishment did make her laugh a little. Siblings will be siblings, she guessed. 

“How’s the party planning going?” Bianca said, appearing from behind a shelf with a bag full of trimmed leaves. 

“It’s…going.” Enid said, sighing through a tired smile.

Bianca only nodded in understanding at the vague response, knowing full well from Yoko that they were nowhere near ready for tomorrow, but spirits remained high. At the very least, Enid's. 

“Well, let us know if you need anything.” Bianca said as she took the leaves out back. “It would be a blessing with this painfully slow day we’re having.”

Enid tensed slightly but did her best to give Bianca a sincere smile back. Her neighbors were having these types of slow days more frequently than ever, which couldn’t be good for any business. 

“I trust Thing is being a helpful assistant.” Wednesday said, calmly setting the arrangement down. 

“The best.” Enid assured with a grin. “Hope I'm not keeping him from his actual work, though.“

“Not at all.” Wednesday said. Her refusal to add any further detail told Enid she wouldn’t be able to pry anything additional.

“Well, we should be done by tonight anyway.” 

“That's good.” Wednesday said, picking a handful of dark roses to begin a new arrangement. 

After a long pause, during which Enid realized she had been staring at Wednesday's graceful hands work away to remove the torns on the stems, the Addams spoke up again. 

“Did you need anything?” Wednesday asked with her usual bluntness. 

“Uhm, yeah! Actually.” Enid fumbled trying to get her hands out of her pockets. “Thing asked me to come get some stuff for the mural.”

Enid pointed towards the back office, hands placed awkwardly at her back, waiting for permission to go to the employee-only area. Or, even better, to be personally escorted.

To her disappointment, Eugene stepped in faster than Wednesday. 

“Oh, I know where it is. Here. Let me help you.” He said, setting the duster down on the counter. 

Wednesday, who had stopped her mechanically precise work, limited herself to watching them go. She did her best to drown the strange pang of disappointment that had settled in her stomach. 

Hours later, Yoko got ready to close the store for the night, yet again leaving behind a paint-covered Enid to stay at the shop until way past reasonable hours. 

“This is the third time this week that you’ve stayed the night here. I even feel bad collecting your part of the rent. You need to get some rest.” Yoko said, having lift her dark glasses to better glare at Enid.

“I know, but I promise this is the last day. I just want to be done with this thing.” Enid said, dropping some paint into a tray. 

The half-painted wall seemed to mock her every time she even stared at it by now. 

Then, as if on cue, Thing came rushing with some paintbrushes in tow, startling Yoko. 

Enid let out a laugh as he signed a quick “sorry”.

“And besides, I have a great assistant with me. We’ll be done in no time.” Enid fist-bumped Thing then. 

Yoko sighed. She had to get used to the disembodied hand sooner or later. 

“Okay, that’s good. I’m also taking no offense on the fact that I offered my help and you refused.”

Enid rolled her eyes fondly before replying. 

“Yoko, my absolute best friend, light of my life, you are a great tattooer… but you suck at painting.” 

Yoko gasped in mock offense. 

The wall that stood just opposite to them, looming with the memory of having to be repainted by Ajax twice was evidence enough. And that was just a blank wall.

“That’s actually fair.” Yoko conceded, refusing to stare at the antagonistic gray wall. 

“Well, I left some coffee brewing and a few snacks in the back office if you guys get hungry.” The vampire said, putting on her jacket as she marched towards the front door, all grievances forgotten. “Call me if you need anything?”

“Sure thing.” Enid said with an easy smile. And Thing gave a mock salute back, which actually made Yoko laugh this time. 

The hardest part was over at least, now that Enid had stuck to an idea and had blocked the entire thing on semi-abstract shapes, the skeleton of the mural essentially. And with Thing’s help, the seemingly eternal blotches began to take form, making the drawing come to life. 

But unlike previous nights, where Enid had been singing and dancing around to her K-pop playlist or just gossiping with Thing, she seemed distracted, and unusually quiet.

Thing asked her something then, just her opinion on a shade of blue, nothing too complicated, but still Enid barely gave a paint a glance before telling Thing that whatever he would pick was okay. Not the same Enid that had spent almost two hours mixing the perfect shade of violet the previous night.  

Thing tried again, suggesting something absurd just to test if Enid was actually paying attention, like adding a huge UFO in the upper left corner to liven up the piece.

“Sure. That sounds good.” Enid replied, still absent-mindedly painting the deep blue background, which she had been doing for the past hour. 

That’s when Thing put down his paintbrush and scurried over to her, tapping a simple “Are you okay?” and doing his equivalent of looking up at her with worried eyes. 

Enid seemed to snap out of a trance almost, dragging a hand along her face. Her tiredness was clear, but it just didn’t seem to be the only thing bothering her. 

“Yeah. Just really tired, I guess. Maybe Yoko is right and I do need some sleep.” She said with a sigh. 

But Thing wasn’t much for letting things slide. Especially when her new friend was feeling so out of sorts. 

Luckily, all it took was a quick coffee break, a manicure, and a listening ear (hand).

“I don't know, Thing. It's just… These colors shouldn't work, but they do! And that palette wasn't in my initial vision at all, but it has started to really grow on me, but it just feels like too much compromise, you know? What if it just feels like it works right now, but it doesn't in the end? And then I spent all this time and effort and- paint on this mural, and it's terrible. What then? I have the opening in a few days. And then it's keeping the store afloat. And then growing the store. And then who knows what else! And yes, I used to hate this wall, but I don’t anymore, I like this wall. A whole lot, actually. So what if I mess it up and it’s just like at the beginning? I mean, I have to see this wall every. Single. Day from now on. What then, Thing?”

And Enid could have kept going, but she was essentially out of breath by then. 

The werewolf had a natural habit of rambling, especially when she was nervous, but this was a whole different thing. She was gesticulating so wildly that a few drops of paint splashed around her.

Thing had already taken a few cautionary steps back, just in case. 

When she had nothing else to say, red on the face at the prospect of having said much more than intended, Thing stood still thinking his next words carefully.

“This isn't really about the mural, is it?” He signed. 

And with that, Enid walked to a chair and dropped dramatically onto the old leather, practically deflating into the seat as she ran a hand through her blonde hair. 

“No, it's not.” She sighed. 

“Wednesday?” He asked. 

A whimpered “uh-hum” was Enid’s answer. An understandable response, if anything. 

Thing crawled next to her, taking his time.

“Don’t you think you should just tell her how you feel? At least so it doesn’t stress you out anymore.” 

“Ugh, I've tried, I really have…” Enid said, dragging a hand down her face. Thing immediately slapped her shoulder, reminding her that the paint was still fresh. 

Enid replied with a quick sorry before explaining herself. 

“I just can’t read Wednesday. Like, at all! And I'm pretty good at reading people! I can't tell what goes through her mind when we argue, when I try to flirt with her, not even when she out right tells me what she’s thinking, which usually involves a crime of sorts.”

But before Thing could reply, a noise startled them both.

A metallic rattling, coming from the alleyway. Not loud enough to worry under usual circumstances, but Enid had recently lost trust in the seemingly innocuous sounds that came from the alleyway.

She and Thing shared a look, then a shrug, as Enid went to investigate. She opened the door slowly, cautiously peeking from the opening to make sure no murderous stalkers were in the alleyway, and unsheathed her claws in anticipation.

All she saw was an empty alleyway, damp from an earlier drizzle. 

Enid took a deep breath to steady her nerves. Her warm exhale formed a small cloud in the chilly night air, making her aware that she had stayed later than she had intended.

“Do you think it was the wind, Thing?” Enid asked as she stepped down into the alley, looking around at the old trash cans.

Not a sound from the appendage.

“Thing?” Enid called, looking back at her own door. Thing wasn’t there.

“Oh, c’mon. This isn’t funny.” She called again, crossing her arms. 

She turned around with a small pout, ready to go back to her painting duties. 

That’s when she noticed her neighbors’ door was slightly ajar, and with everything that had happened in the past few days, it felt more than unusual for someone like Wednesday to take such a risk.

Enid sniffed the air around the door, but couldn't capture anything our of the ordinary. Black coffee and fresh dewy blossoms.

“Thing?” She called again. Maybe he had opened the door and she hadn’t noticed. 

To be fair, Enid did know better than to go into the creepy store next door unaccompanied, especially at night, but something inside her made her steel her nerves and go investigate. Maybe Wednesday’s crazy habits really were rubbing off on her. 

She opened the door slowly, trying to make out anything in the deep dark of the store. 

It always felt strange how even her wolf senses sometimes struggled inside the dimly lit store. Maybe it was because of all the contrasting essences clouding her perception, or some weird arcane security system Wednesday kept. She kind of hated that feeling. 

“Hello? Thing?” Enid called again. 

“If this is a prank, I swear to god…” She warned, her patience running low.

Suddenly, she heard a low whistle, like something cutting the air in front of her, and that was the moment a small knife got stuck to a wall millimeters away from her face, gracing a strand of colorful hair.

A piercing, high-pitched scream came out of her. 

“Enid? What are you doing here?” Wednesday Addams emerged from the shadows, calm as usual, as if she hadn't almost stuck a knife between Enid’s eyes.

“What the actual fuck, Wednesday?!” Enid yelled, her chest moving up and down as she tried to steady her breath. The sight of the knife much too close to her face for comfort.

“Trespassers get a knife between the eyes.” She said simply. “Store policy.”

“Well, you missed.” Enid replied, fairly annoyed, finally taking a seat on the office chair next to her to try to calm down.

Wednesday moved to retrieve her knife from the wall.

“It was a warning shot.” She said.

“What are you doing here?” Wednesday asked again, cleaning the knife with a handkerchief.

Enid took a deep breath.

“I heard a noise in the alley and went to investigate. Then I saw your door was open.”

Wednesday went to turn on the desk lamp that stood next to Enid, hardly sufficient light to illuminate the room, as it cast long shadows on the walls and sharpened Wednesday’s already sharp features. Not an unflattering look for the Addams. 

Enid immediately kicked herself mentally for thinking about that at a moment like this.

“I thought you left hours ago.” Enid said, calmer now.

“I was catching up with some paperwork, since you finally turned that noise down enough to concentrate.” Wednesday said. “I was just about to check if you were done to return home with Thing.” 

“First of all, it’s called music.” Enid said, offended. “And Thing was just with me, he just sort of left when I went to the alley.” 

Another sound interrupted them, the sound of paint cans clashing and splashing, coming from next door.

Wednesday tensed, her eyes filling with worry.

“Let’s go.” She said, dashing for the back door with Enid close behind. 

They moved quickly, avoiding the errant cardboard boxes on the small back office of the studio, just in time to see a dark, monstrous figure dashing out the door. 

Wednesday ran to catch it, but the second she stepped out of the store into the foggy street, she could only see a long shadow from the corner down the street and out of sight. She was too late.

“Thing!” Enid cried, catching Wednesday’s attention again.

The werewolf knelt next to Thing, who lay unmoving and covered in paint on the hardwood floor.

He wasn’t responding, and his fingernails were covered in a dark red that did not match any of the colors they had been using. Next to him, Enid’s phone lay, screen completely smashed.

Wednesday knelt next to them and began inspecting Thing for any injuries, trying to wake him up. 

Wednesday emerged back from her office, carrying their first aid kit to tend to Things wounds while he explained what had happened.

He was mostly fine by now, only a few scratches and bruises to worry about once the paint had been washed off. 

The red on his fingernails turned out to be not his blood, but a good scratch he had managed to land on the intruder’s face.

“That was good thinking, Thing.” Wednesday conceded as she opened the first aid kit.

“Now we know we’re looking for someone with one hell of a scratch on their face, at least.” Enid said, giving Thing a comforting squeeze on his thumb.

He tried to give a curtsey, as he usually would, but he was still much too tired and disoriented from the hit.

“Sit still.” Wednesday said, approaching him with a huge needle with surgical suture to tend to a wound that required stitches. 

It was enough to make the poor hand shake slightly in fear, since he wasn’t good with needles. Enid cleared her throat as she shot Wednesday a glare.

After a pause, Wednesday rolled her eyes and added a quick “please” under her breath. The effort was enough to make Enid smile with satisfaction, and for Thing to calm down and hold back a laugh.

Once patched up, he recounted how he had heard footsteps on the street when Enid had come out to the alley. He returned to the front of the store from the back office to find a tall figure, too tall to be a normie or a humanoid outcast, rummaging through the work stations. 

He grabbed Enid’s phone from the outlet by the entrance of the small office and did his best to record the intruder. 

Its face was covered with a dark hood, but Thing could still see its yellow eyes when it turned towards him. 

Their struggle landed them straight against the buckets of paint on the opposing wall, and after the creature had managed to grab Thing away from its face, it smashed him against the wall, and the room began to spin. 

He could only hear a grunt of pain and the creature's footsteps as it ran out the door, and everything turned black. 

“So it knew we were here.” Wednesday said, her monotone almost faltering at the anger of being played with yet again.

“And was just waiting for us to leave.” Enid added, arms crossed. “But why? What could they possibly want from my store? Ink bottles and plastic wrap?”

Now that Thing was patched up, Wednesday began putting the first aid kit away.

“Not something to take.” She said. “A way in, it was rummaging through the side of the wall we share"  

“But it’s all brick, isn’t it? Not very subtle to cut through there.” 

“Not all of it. The offices are a later addition, built with drywall—a testament to America’s commitment to cheap, inadequate construction.”

Enid groaned at the newly shared fact, because apparently, everything that separated her store from whatever it was that that thing wanted was some wood and cardboard. And because a violent creature had just been inside her store without anyone noticing. 

“This is ridiculous. I’m going to call off the opening until this whole thing is resolved.” Enid said, standing up straight. 

She went to grab her phone, which surprisingly still worked enough to turn on, if only with half a screen.

“Wait.” Wednesday said, rounding the counter to stand next to Enid. “Thing, you said you recorded the intruder, right?”

He nodded effusively, and the three of them huddled to get a better look of the video. 

“I’ll send it to you, we won’t be able to see anything with the screen like this.” Enid said, immediately opening her contacts to type Wednesday’s number.

The Addams seemed to tense for a second, unmoving. Enid looked at her expectantly, then exasperatedly.

“Are you serious? You don’t have a phone?” Enid asked. 

“Cellphones are soul sucking devices that turn people into slaves of their own idiocy.” 

Thing tapped something quickly, before the two could argue some more. 

“Right, send it to the store’s number.” Wednesday said, going into the back office to retrieve the old device that was mostly used by Bianca to manage text orders. 

The video hardly showed anything of use, mostly a very low angle of shadows and Enid’s unfinished ceiling, while Thing tried to focus the camera on the intruder. 

A tall monstrous figure, covered with dark rags, hunched over cardboard boxes and a tattoo bed that had been moved to the corner, clawed hands scratching against the wall, testing. It’s low growls could be heard in the background. 

The video becomes unstable due to Thing tripping on something, and then the creature turning around instantly to charge at him and grab him. The phone falls to the ground, and everything turns black before the video cuts off with a loud crack.

“There. Pause it.” Wednesday instructed. 

One frame, near indiscernible due to the lack of light, showed their intruder’s face. 

Protruding yellow eyes, sickly gray skin, and patches of hair unlike anything Wednesday had ever seen in her life. Its long nails, stretched out in a way that seemed painful, looked more like exposed bone than any type of claw. 

“What even is that thing?” Enid asked in horror.

“We’re about to find out.” 

Chapter Text

After the handful of times the Ravenwood team had been over at their neighbors’ shop, it was still a surprise what they had managed to pull off after long, torturous weeks of cardboard box hell. 

The place looked nothing like it had before their arrival. The once-moldy walls had all been primed and painted a dark, moody green, and every wall was lined with either shelves of colorful ink, neon signs, toy figurines, or art pieces, some by the tattoo artists themselves. 

The faulty overhead light that had nearly electrocuted Ajax to death twice had been replaced with a vintage hanging lamp and several mood lights throughout the studio, set, for tonight, in various alternating colors. 

The three work stations, consisting of the huge dark leather tattoo beds, ring lights, and some supply carts, had been placed in the back, away from drunken guests. 

Only one bed had been set as a chair near the back, where Yoko worked on the flash tattoo station, currently tattooing a small seashell on the arm of a siren girl they had seen coming into the shop a handful of times. 

The reception desk was now covered by a long, dark tablecloth and several snacks, while Ajax tended to drinks for the guests. 

But truly, the crowning piece was the left side wall. Once an old, deteriorated brick wall, it now stood as a piece of art by itself, with the image of a tree that extended its branches in all directions, twisting and turning into beautiful shapes and colors under an equally enchanting image of a colorful full moon. The art style made it seem straight out of the pages of a storybook, like a fairy tale you would stumble upon as a kid.  

“Guys! Welcome to Kaleidoscope!” Enid appeared from the crowd, her usually colorful outfit even more colorful and sparkling this time, matching perfectly her makeup and plastic fairy wings that hung from her back.

“So… what do you think?” She asked, waving a plastic wand around as they all looked around the store.

“The place looks amazing.” Bianca said, mesmerized by how different the place looked.

“And that mural is sick.” Pugsley added.

Enid smiled proudly.

“Thanks. That one is thanks to Thing. I couldn’t have finished it without him.”

From his spot, perched atop Pugsley’s shoulder, Thing gave Enid a quick finger heart sign.

Yoko cleared her throat, appearing next to Enid. 

“And Yoko and Ajax, who primed the wall.” Enid added with a roll of her eyes and the smallest smile.

Next to her, the vampire and the gorgon exchanged a fist bump. Yoko opted to dress as a mad scientist, claiming she needed a costume that would at least match her gloves if she was to man the tattoo station for the night. Ajax was covered in cheap fake scars all over his face and arms, with an oversized football jersey and a football helmet that could not be comfortable at all.

“Sick prosthetic, dude.” Ajax complimented Pugsley’s costume, a creepy rendition of Captain Hook, complete with Thing as his trusty severed hand perched atop his shoulder.

The girls would eventually get around to explaining to Ajax that Thing was a sentient hand and not just a taxidermied hand the Addams kept around, but Thing found the entire ordeal hilarious and even insisted on keeping the joke going for as long as possible.

When the gorgon reached out to grab Thing, Eugene moved between them just in time to grab a ghost-shaped cookie from the table.

“These are great!” He said, mouth full and spilling a few crumbs, to Bianca’s disgust.

“Yeah, they’re from that café down the street. The Weathervane, I think?” Ajax said. 

Eugene tried to get the crumbs out of his fake beard to no avail. For his costume, he had opted for something simple yet fun, pasting a fake beard to his face and borrowing one of Things' paintbrushes and palettes to complete his Bob Ross costume.

Bianca had preferred something more chic: A black dress and some glamorous skull makeup that made her bright eyes pop in an eerie but beautiful manner. 

And lastly, Pubert, who had insisted to his parents that he should attend the party also since he was also invited, had fallen asleep an hour ago after terrorizing the neighborhood kids with his own version of “trick or treating”.

“Where’s Addams?” Yoko asked the group about the evident absence of their boss. “I’m dying to see her costume.”

“She should be on her way. She was just wrapping some stuff up at the shop.” Bianca said.

“Just don’t get your hopes up. Wednesday doesn’t really to costumes.” Eugene added.

The mention of Wednesday somehow got Enid's anxiety about the entire night to flare up again, and so she excused herself to go grab some welcome drinks for her neighbors. 

Enid barely made it to the make-shift bar before Yoko appeared next to her.

“I just have to ask one more time, are we sure your girlfriend is handling whatever creepy stalker situation we have going on?” The vampire said, nearly startling Enid.

She had gotten used to Yoko just sneaking around, though.

She grabbed the drinks, avoiding eye contact with the vampire. She trusted Wednesday, she really did, she just didn’t know how far trust would take them against whatever that creature from the other night was.

“We are sure. You saw it yourself, there’s traps and cameras everywhere. And the store is already closed for the night. Worse comes to worse, we don’t even find out.” Enid said, carrying the drinks back.

She had spent all night hoping “worse” would be a minor case of prevented thievery. Or just stopping Wednesday from slitting said thieves' throats. 

“And she is not my girlfriend.” Enid clarified, maybe a second too late, once she caught the insinuation.

That at least made Yoko laugh. 

“Took you a minute.” She said, grabbing one of the cups left on the table. 

Enid only side-eyed her. 

“Alright, I’ll be back to my station.” The vampire added, downing the cup in her hands. “Good luck to you two, lovebirds.” 

“Don’t get too drunk or your lines are going to be messier than usual!” Enid called, and Yoko flipped her off as she disappeared to the back of the store. 

On the other side of the wall, where only the faint thumping of the bass could be heard, Wednesday sat in her office, reevaluating clues with papers scattered across her desk. 

Possibly also stalling.

The murder board that sat on the corner of her office had tripled in size in a matter of days. Something that would normally be a good thing, if it meant she had at least found some answers to add to it. 

Wednesday and Thing had poured themselves after work into finding exactly what they were dealing with. But after days of research, nothing matched the image of the monster they had to see on loop for days. 

This creature matched no known description of either outcast or beast that Wednesday could find. 

And her already unhelpful visions had become scarce and far between, with her rest often being interrupted by faint dreams of twisting thorns and the smell of petrichor and something metallic, definitely blood.

Wednesday found herself thinking about that vision quite often, trying to make sense of it. At least the previous, more violent ones were clear enough. 

Her phone rang, snapping her out of her musings. 

“You were only given this number for emergencies.” She said immediately upon pick up.

“And this is an emergency. Where are you?” Enid asked on the other end.

“I’ll be there in a minute.” Wednesday said, hanging up the phone without another word. 

What had she gotten herself into? 

Sadly, she just couldn’t stay behind all night, or her plan would be ruined. So she steeled her nerves, grabbed the dark cape that hung by the door and set off on her way, giving the hidden cameras one last quick check before locking the store for the night. 

The door to the cold storage was sealed tight under lock, and the Addams wondered if it would stay like that for the rest of the night. 

Wednesday prided herself on being patient, methodical. She could wait as long as it was necessary to catch her prey, go on long stakeouts, and spend long nights doing research. But what she never managed to tolerate was parties.  

Her phone rang again. 

“I said I'm on my way.” Wednesday said sternly.

The voice that replied was anything but.

“Oooh, where to? Halloween party? Halloween arson?” The voice of her Uncle Fester greeted her. 

She should get used to checking the caller ID before answering.

“I thought you were someone else.” Wednesday said, calmer this time, but still exasperated. 

“I could have been. That happened to me once, you know?” Her Uncle replied, immediately launching into telling another of his stories. 

“Why are you calling, Uncle Fester?” Wednesday cut him off immediately. As entertaining and gory as his stories could be, she was in a bit of a hurry.

“Right! I found your monster!” He said animatedly. 

Wednesday took a seat on her desk immediately, shuffling through papers and prompting her uncle to go on.

“Well, you’re really going to need something stronger than your regular ol’ exterminator for this one. You’ve got yourself a Hyde.” 

Wednesday prompted him to go on.  

She had read about such creatures before, but they were fairly rare, and fairly dangerous if the rumours and scattered records were anything to go by. 

“That’s right. I showed the video you sent me to one of my sources, definitely a Hyde. Not a fully formed one, though, so that’s good news.”

Wednesday stopped to look at one of the old books she had been studying, which contained a small passage on Hydes. 

Apparently not a lot of information existed about that particular type of outcast, mostly because their thirst for blood was so great that it overpowered their humanity entirely, going on murderous sprees and thus killing anyone who tried to study them, or even control them. 

An excerpt in particular caught Wednesday’s attention.

Every Hyde has a master. They cannot survive without one, and often act only on their master's whims. 

As if he could read the book himself, her Uncle spoke up again.

“Since your Hyde is still only in the process of transformation, that means their master is probably still working on it. They might need a little extra something to complete the transformation.”

“Something like what?” Wednesday asked.

“Well, from what I've heard, electroshock does wonders! But a better result involves a complete purge to the body with some rare herbs and poisons. Besides the whole psychological torture bit.” Fester explained, and Wednesday immediately tensed. 

“You have that vault of yours under lock, right?” Fester asked.

“Of course.”

“Good! I’d take extra precaution.” He said. “I don’t think anyone would start the process of making a Hyde just to leave it halfway. It’s also incredibly painful for the Hyde to stay like that.”

“So it has all the more reason to want to get in.” Wednesday said, more to herself than anything.

“Oh, yeah, it’s going to be out for blood.” Fester said through a chuckle. 

“Unless I find its master first.” 

“Bingo.” 

“Thank you for the information, Uncle Fester.” Wednesday said quickly. “Let’s keep this between us for the time being.”

“Anything for my favorite niece.”

“I’ll tell Pugsley and Pubert you said that.” Wednesday said, a sly grin adorned her face. 

“I’d expect nothing less! Good luck with your Hyde problem.”

“I don’t need luck.” 

The sound of sirens on the other end of the line told Wednesday their conversation would be over soon, as it often happened during Uncle Fester’s business trips.

“Oops, gotta go. Pigs are on the way. Bye-bye!”  

Uncle Fester hung up promptly after that, and Wednesday took a minute to revise the papers spread across her desk once more. 

Finally she updated her murder board with some answers, and every inch of red string on it began to point out in a single direction. Who could be this mysterious master controlling the Hyde? Had she even met them before? And what exactly were they willing to do to complete the transformation? 

On top of all the questions that swirled in her mind, a split-second worry hit her, as a new text from Enid made the store phone chime. 

Enid: Remember costumes are mandatory!!!!

She was late for the party, and she did not have a costume.  

The neighboring shop, an appropriately named kaleidoscopic display of ignominy on any regular day, was even harder to endure during the launch party. 

It was a myriad of colors, sounds, and smells that crashed with any preconceived notion of a tattoo shop. Even more now with the giant inflatable ghost placed at the entrance with a huge bucket of candy. The sign above the bucket read “take as many as you want!” and the early trick-or-treaters had taken it to heart, judging by the nearly empty bucket. 

Next to the horrid decoration, the door had been covered in fake cobwebs. Wednesday almost rolled her eyes at the hypocrisy of having called her own, authentic cobwebs gross when her neighbors first moved in. 

A set of giant speakers, which Pugsley had assisted Yoko at powering up, had been placed around the store. The bass of a song she did not recognize thumped inside her skull with every step Wednesday took deeper and deeper into the shop. 

Halloween decorations hung from the ceiling, including a disco ball that had definitely seen better days hanging from the center beam. Apparently, another one of Ajax street finds, from what Enid had told her. 

The only source of light inside were strings of fairy lights, placed on the walls of the shop, and the multicolored strobe lights that assaulted Wednesday’s senses. The faulty smoke machine in the corner, on top of the sea of people in costumes around her, made it difficult to look around.

She could still make out some familiar faces, like Pugsley by the snack bar or Bianca chatting with Enid’s vampire friend. 

By now, Wednesday had wandered towards the back of the place, skillfully avoiding the loud, drunken guests as she found herself drawn to every little detail Enid and her team had managed to pull off before the event. Industrial decor that framed some works of art by all three resident artists hung on the walls, a nice black mirror (no doubt an addition made by Yoko), some tasteful Chesterfield-style armchairs by the waiting area, her very own patio set at a strategic spot by the flash tattoo station, and most importantly: Enid’s mural.

Floor to ceiling, beautifully hand-painted, depicting a night sky with a bright and colorful full moon in a surrealist style that felt overwhelming but also too unique to ignore. The brush strokes, precise yet unrestrained at the same time, made the once dreary wall appear like a window to a fairy tale world. 

The image of a tree spread its roots and branches around in perfect symmetry with the night sky above it. And despite the clearly unfinished spots on the tree branches, with big patches of blue and grey towards the back end of the wall, it still looked fantastic. 

Under normal circumstances ,this would never be a painting to Wednesday’s liking, and in a way, it still wasn’t. She admired the gruesome works of old masters like Caravaggio and Titian, and this might as well be an illustration on a children’s book, but she couldn’t help but be mesmerized by it.

“Yeah, I might have run out of time with that one.” A familiar voice snapped Wednesday out of her musings. 

Or maybe it was the light tingle of warm breath near her ear, distracting her enough to struggle to come up with an answer. 

“With all the… recent distractions.” Enid trailed off, eyes focused ahead on the nearly finished mural.

Wednesday felt a pang of guilt run down her spine. It had been days since their last encounter with the creature, but they had been spent coming up with a plan to capture the culprit and tending to their own responsibilities at work. 

Enid lent her help, much to her insistence and despite Wednesday’s arguments, but it had also taken away from her time preparing for the opening. 

“It’s good.” Wednesday said, trying not to give her sudden dizziness away. 

In truth, “good” didn’t even come close to Wednesday’s fascination with the painting. 

“Was that a compliment, Addams?” Enid said, eyes shining with something, but still fixed on the wall. A smirk spread across her face.

“Don’t get used to it.” Wednesday replied immediately, appreciating her wits hadn’t been compromised in this encounter. 

Enid giggled before speaking up again, not daring to break eye contact with the wall in front of them and end such a delicate moment. 

“I’m glad you could make it.” Enid said.

“It’s part of the plan.” Wednesday clarified in her usual monotone. 

It had felt only fair to let Enid in on her plan, considering her insistence on canceling the opening. But Wednesday knew they couldn’t waste their chance, even less now that she knew the creature was sure to strike out of desperation sooner or later. 

“I still think you can have a little fun tonight.” Enid said. 

Her voice was barely audible over the music, and that’s the only reason they both attributed to the fact they were standing so close to each other. 

“I don’t have fun.” Wednesday replied, turning to look at the taller girl for the first time since arriving. 

A grave mistake.

Her bright blue eyes, framed with hues of pink and purple that made them even more dazzling than usual, were almost blinding, even more than her surroundings. The color matched the tattoos along her arms, exposed and covered in the same glitter that adorned the tables, no doubt from a decoration incident. 

In all its chaos, it worked. Just like everything that regarded Enid. 

“You also said you don’t wear costumes.” Enid said, grin still in place, as she eyed the black cape that covered Wednesday’s small frame. 

In all fairness, the cape wasn’t a true costume; Wednesday hadn’t intended it to be, and she had even refused to entertain that ridiculous thought from earlier. 

She had simply borrowed an old fabric that hadn’t made it to her Day of the Dead altar and had skillfully tied it around her shoulders with a leather strand typically used for some flower arrangements. 

Enid eyed the pattern, swirling dark red, almost black, with even darker thorny roses that danced all over the fabric and down Wednesday’s form, stopping just short of her dark leather boots; it made enough of an illusion to look as if Wednesday was gliding among the crowd instead of walking.

The hood of the cape, tied around her neck, covered most of Wednesday’s face, stopping just before the end of her bangs and Enid made the most of looking at those deep brown eyes in the low light.

Dark, smoky makeup framed her gaze, like the eyes of a predator in dark fog. 

Enid risked a look down at Wednesday's lips, only for a second, out of weakness, and noticed probably the most color she had seen on the other girl’s face, wearing a deep, dark red lipstick that matched her cape. 

“Also part of the plan. I have to blend in.” Wednesday replied, turning her gaze back to the mural in front of her. 

And as fun as all that bantering was, Enid really wanted to just tell Wednesday how beautiful she looked and how much she appreciated that she was there tonight. Maybe even tell her how much she had been looking forward to it, if the liquor in her cup got her feeling brave enough. 

But before Enid could retort, a girl about their age wearing a cat costume approached them, shrieking in excitement. Enid matched the sound in something resembling a greeting, while Wednesday simply stood there, observing the strange ritual.

“Oh my god, sorry, this is my neighbor! Wednesday, this is Annie, my friend from college.” Enid said excitedly. 

The other girl, who already smelled of alcohol despite just having arrived at the party, launched for a hug. Wednesday took a step to the side, avoiding the lanky arms but nearly making the other girl trip, while Enid gave her an awkward laugh and explained that Wednesday was “not really a hugger.” 

As if nothing had happened, two other girls wearing similar costumes approached them, multiplying the excited screeching tenfold. 

Wednesday took her chance to leave then.

She wandered around the party until she found a quiet enough corner by the sofas. Or so she had thought.

“You know, I'm all for a subtle approach, but this is a little much. Even for you.” Bianca appeared next to her, eyeing the guests with a critical eye almost as sharp as Wednesday’s.

What was it with people trying to sneak up on her?

“Should I understand what you're talking about?” Wednesday replied, still eyeing the crowd. 

Bianca took a sip of her drink before explaining.

“Uhm, your 'calculated investigation'?” The air quotations almost offended Wednesday.

Besides, she had been very careful not to let her coworkers see even a glimpse of her investigation. As far as Bianca knew, their problems revolved only around nosy tourists and constant debt, not murderous monsters. 

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Wednesday said sharply, feigning ignorance.

“You know acting tough doesn't work with me.” Bianca said, checking her lipstick in a nearby mirror. “I'm just curious, haven't you asked her out? I know Enid won't take the first step.”

Wednesday nearly choked on thin air at Bianca’s words. If needed, she would immediately blame it on the ancient fog machine, or have Pugsley drop some of his firecrackers and have a swift escape. 

“Honestly, Wednesday. If you implicate me in helping you out with your crush, at least keep me up to date.” Bianca added. 

At that point everything had suddenly become too much for Wednesday. The music was too loud, the lights were too bright, her heart beat too fast. She couldn’t help but lash out.

“Is there a reason you sound like an insufferable matchmaker?” Wednesday snapped.

Bianca smirked. “Because I am one. Efficient too. Consider it community service.”

“I prefer a restraining order.”

“Cute.” Bianca rolled her eyes. “But come on, everyone can see it. You’re practically pining for her in Morse code.”

“I don’t pine. I observe. And if she were to notice, it would mean she’s too easily distracted.”

Bianca tilted her head. “So, what you’re saying is… you want her to notice.”

Wednesday’s jaw tightened. “What I want is for you to stop speaking nonsense before I regret not poisoning your drink.”

Bianca raised her cup with a sly grin as she took a sip. 

“You’d never. You need me alive. I’m your only ally in this tragic little romance.” She said. “And the only person who knows how to actually interact with clients at the store.” Possibly true.

“I do not have allies. I have liabilities.” Wednesday replied, avoiding the topic again.

“Then at least admit Enid is your favorite liability.”

Wednesday’s silence lasted half a beat too long.

Bianca chuckled. “Thought so.”

Wednesday’s lips tightened into the faintest line. “If I wanted your analysis, I would’ve commissioned a report.”

“You don’t need a report, you need honesty. And maybe a nudge.” 

“Since when are you so hypocritically hell-bent on honesty?” Wednesday said coldly. 

Bianca’s smile faded immediately, and silence fell between them again.

“This conversation is over.” The shorter girl said. 

Bianca said nothing as Wednesday stalked back into the crowd. She knew that Wednesday would lash out if confronted, and that she was being merciful at that moment, even if it did sting.

“Cute lipstick, by the way!” She added, on a petty attempt to get a last rise out of the Addams.

Bianca finished the rest of her cup in one swift motion, before turning around to go find Divina or Ajax for a more relaxed conversation, maybe another drink too. 

But just as she turned, someone bumped into her, making her drop her cup and splash her dress a little.

“Dammit.” She muttered, immediately trying to dry the dress with a napkin.

“Sorry.” The person said quickly, picking the cup up from the floor.

It was a tall, skinny guy, wearing an old dark hoodie and jeans that had been ripped to make a very low-effort zombie costume. His face, mostly covered by the hoodie, had been covered in green and purple makeup, accentuating the circles under his eyes and some fake scars across his face. 

No one particularly remarkable, and no severe damage to her dress had been made, but Bianca did manage to recognize his face as he set the cup back on the nearby table, promptly disappearing back into the crowd. It was their mysterious customer from a few weeks ago. 

It was too crowded. In the short span of time Wednesday had been talking to Bianca, the guests had easily doubled, maybe even tripled, as the music rivaled the shouted conversation occurring around her, and people bumped shoulders carelessly just to get around. 

“Sorry!” Someone slurred as they slid past Wednesday, bumping her arm. The smell of alcohol pungent in the air. 

Wednesday tried her best to look around without raising suspicion, navigating the crowd as best as she could. But with every masked stranger around, the list of suspects might as well be endless. 

Another bump against her arm, and everything turned black in an instant; her head snapped up painfully before she got lost in a vision.

She suddenly felt cold, too cold, like being lost in the woods in the middle of winter. The smell of mildew from her visions intensified tenfold, and she could faintly hear water drops echo behind her. A piercing scream chilled her blood, a scream of pure agony.

Wednesday closed her eyes, or maybe it was just her vision clouding, when she found herself in that very same room once more. Walls still painted a depressing shade of gray, cardboard boxes still strewn around, as she dashed for the back door.

She faintly heard a voice calling her name, muffled by the sound of her own heartbeat inside her ears. 

When her eyes adjusted again, Wednesday could only see multicolored flashing lights. Her legs felt weak, and her head throbbed with the familiar pain she never managed to get used to. 

Warmth spread behind her back as a strong hand steadied her on her feet. She could hear a voice calling for her again, but this time she could make out a familiar voice. 

“Wednesday, what happened? Are you okay?” It was Enid, one arm behind her back and the other hovering over her arm, as if afraid to touch her.

Her blue eyes were fixed on Wednesday’s, filled with worry and anxiety.

The shorter girl looked all around her for the source of the vision; their prey was near, and most likely trying to play with them. 

Enid stopped her from moving further between the sea of people. 

“They’re here.” She said, voice hoarse and trying to steady her breath. “The stalker is here.”

“What? Did you see them?” Enid asked, looking around.

“They walked past me. I had a vision.” 

“But how? I thought the stalker was like a huge monster or something.” Enid asked, while Wednesday led her further inside the store.

By now, Wednesday managed to stand on her own and make her way through the crowd, elbowing a few guests as she made her way to the back office. She made it to the door to find it slightly ajar, and a cold breeze nearly ran a shiver down her spine.

Then the power went off. 

The deafening music was immediately replaced by the booing and loud chatter of the crowd. The multicolored lights were replaced by the guests turning on their phone flashlights to try to illuminate the pitch black store. 

Ajax turned to look at Yoko, who had moved on from her station to see what was happening. Enid caught their eyes from the other side of the store, which immediately told them something wasn’t right.

“All right, everyone! Please calm down. We are having a small issue with the electrical panel, which will be fixed shortly. Just remain calm.”

On a sprung of quick thinking, Ajax took care of calming everyone down, assuring it was only a power outage.

Wednesday went straight for the back office to get to the service entrance. Enid followed behind as Bianca and Pugsley ran to her side from the sea of confused guests. 

“Hey, what’s going on?” Pugsley asked, matching Enid’s worried expression.

“We think someone broke into your store.” She explained.

“What?” Bianca asked, as mad as she was confused. 

The three of them followed Wednesday outside as Enid explained.

“Yeah, that thing from the other night at my shop. We think it came back.”

“What thing?!” Pugsley asked in horror and slight curiosity.

“Wednesday didn’t tell you?!” Enid nearly shrieked in surprise, and Bianca’s expression shifted immediately to pure anger.

“As if that’s a surprise.” Bianca pushed past Enid, leading them through the metallic doors and into Ravenwood.

Past the small office and inside the store, they found Wednesday, kneeling on the ground.

The scene in front of them nearly petrified them in place. 

Plants lay strewn about covering the floor in dirt and leaves; one of the tallest shelves had fallen to the ground, leaving broken glass, clay, and dirt all over the floor.

Wednesday turned to face them, and that’s when they saw Eugene, lying on the bloodied floor, unconscious and covered in blood they could only assume was his. He was breathing heavily, painfully. 

“Get help! Now!” Wednesday ordered, desperation seeping through the anger in her words in an unusual display of emotion.