Chapter Text
It was only yesterday when Uncle Fester and I began our journey toward the Canadian wilderness. Somewhere beyond the border, Enid was waiting—transformed into an alpha for far too many days. If we don’t hurry, Enid will remain an alpha until death.
It was getting dark. The moon began its ascent. Uncle Fester took a sharp turn into the forest, stopping after a couple of miles in.
We got out of his easy-to-spot scooter and started setting up our camp. “Yikes! There’s a mouse stuck on the wheel. More food for me, though!” He grabbed the mouse and placed it on the cold grass. The bloodied rodent had an unpleasant stench attached to it. Uncle Fester was probably drooling at that.
I walked over to the back of his scooter and grabbed the two tents and utensils for food. “Wednesday, start the fire. I’ll set up the tents.” I nod once and light a few twigs to start a fire. “Oh, and make sure to burn the mouse. It’s more crispier that way.” Another nod, and he giddies his way to set up the tents.
I pick up the dead rat by its bloodied tail and push it down a stick. I watch as it burns above the flames. Only after a few more pieces of meat were burned did Uncle Fester return. “Ooo! Is it ready?!” He walked his way to the two logs around the fire.
“Yes. But I suggest restraint. Your digestive system will thank you.” We each take a stick of meat and chew on it. The night air fills our silence. “So, how do you plan on bringing Enid back?” Chunks of beef came flying out of his mouth as he spoke. “I’ll think of a plan. For now, we must find her. If we’re too late, we may never see her again.” The last sentence stung. I don’t know why, but the thought of her not being around was disturbing.
“Clean up, I’ll head to bed. We’ll be ready to leave at dawn.” I got up and dusted my palms on my pants. “Sure thing! Good night, Wednesday!” I walk inside my tent and open my backpack. There it was, Ophelia’s Diary. I go through the pages once more, hoping a vision will find its way to me. Nothing. Just endless madness and psychotic drawings. I close the book and place it beside me as I lie down to sleep.
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I woke up to the sound of rustling leaves, as if someone was trying to run away. I got up instantly and looked through the tent door to see Uncle Fester running towards a bush. I suppose his stomach wasn’t behaving. I had brought some of Enid’s belongings with me. Along with her mobile phone. I tapped the screen to check the time. 2:37 AM. Great.
I walked out of my tent with a flashlight and Enid’s phone. “I’m heading for a stroll. Won’t be out for long. Try not to attack any wild animals while I’m gone.” I say it loud enough for my Uncle to hear. “Got it! Grrrrh!” I could so clearly hear him grunt. It made me nauseous.
I walked for around 20 minutes. 20 minutes of silence ‘til I felt a presence. It wasn’t Weems, my spirit guide. She took a break, apparently, because she’s been of much help, and I tire her out. Pathetic. I shine my flashlight around the forest. “Show yourself.” I circle the area once to get a view of whoever was stalking me. “I said, show yourself! Now!” This time, my voice was louder and more frustrated. Suddenly, a pair of hands pulled me back behind a tree. “Shh.” The man who just strangled me dares to tell me to shush. I tried biting the hand, but I could barely move my mouth. There was a familiar scent in this guy. The scent of coffee beans, blood, and…
Him. Tyler. The monster I supposedly left behind in Jericho. The boy I never thought I’d encounter again. I relax a little, my shoulders still tensed. Someone else came out to the forest, someone who looks like a cop. She had a gun and a flashlight out, as if she were searching for something. Or someone.
“There’s nothing here. Those reports must’ve been false. Retreat. Let’s get back.” I hear her say a couple of meters away from where she last stood. After confirming she left, I shoved his hands away from my face. He looks at me, his left hand scratching the back of his head. “Hey..?” I study him for a bit. He looks tired, out of breath. “What was that for?” He sighs and drops his hand. “There was a cop, she was looking for outcasts.” That was not believable. “And why exactly would she be looking for outcasts at the devil's hour?” He looked away for a bit, as if he was hiding from something. “There’s.. A group. Of hydes hiding in this area. It’s like a community to help us control ourselves and.. Yeah.” I tilt my head a bit. “So you’ve joined a cult?” Tyler leans against the tree behind him. “Not necessarily. Ms.Capri told me I’d fit in the community. Except I feel more of an outcast here than I was before.” He looks at me like he expects sympathy. “Well, I don’t want to do anything with you and your cult of monsters. Farewell.” I turn on my heel and walk back towards the camp. “Wait! Uh, Wednesday, what are you doing here? It’s far from Jericho, and you’re in the middle of the semester.” I stopped as he grabbed my arms. “I suppose that what my presence here has nothing to do with you.” I yanked my arm back and continued walking. “Wait. One last thing.” I sighed and turned back to face him again. “Why didn’t you do it?” What could he possibly mean? “I don’t follow.” He ran his fingers through his curls. “You know exactly what I mean, Wens.” “If you’re here to pester me, you may leave now. You don’t have to concern yourself with my actions.” He sighed, “Come on, Wednesday. It was my life that was on the line, I just want to know what could’ve possibly been the reason why I wasn’t killed off.” The wind howled, blowing my bangs away from my face. “I told you, didn’t I? I missed. End of conversation.” “We both know that’s not why you didn’t do it, but fine. I’ll let it slide.”
For what seemed like eternity, Tyler finally spoke. “Is that.. Color?” He pointed towards the phone hanging out of my pocket. “It’s Enids.” He’s a bit confused now. “Then why do you have it?” It stays quiet for some time. “She’s gone.” “Gone?” I bring the phone out. Holding it with two fingers. “She’s missing. She transformed into an alpha to save me from when your uncle buried me alive. She ran away the second I opened my eyes.” Tyler looks visibly uncomfortable. “I’m sorry. For what I helped cause.” His face shows he’s truly sorry, but I won’t buy that. Especially from a murderous monster. “Sorry doesn’t fix anything.” “Right. So, you’re looking for Enid?” I start walking towards the camp, Tyler following behind me. “Yes. And I advise you to leave before your pack starts a search party.” He scoffs before replying. “Like they’d do that.” “So your cult of hydes doesn’t find the satisfaction of your presence?” He threaded his fingers through his curls. “Yeah, you can say that. I don’t think they’d really care if I ever went missing. So I wander the woods at night.” If he doesn’t have anything to do at this so-called Hyde Camp, he could be of better assistance to my search to find Enid. No, that’s a terrible idea. A murderous Hyde helping find the girl he scared off? But before I could stop myself, I offered him something. “Help me find Enid.” He looks at me with shock. “W-what? Actually?” “If you don’t want to take the offer, it’s fine as well. You’ll just die out of misery.” He stops to look at me. “No, no, I’ll take it. At least then I’ll come to better use.” He starts showering me with ‘Thank You’s’, as if I just gave him something worth the world. “This won’t change the fact that I don’t forgive you for your murderous acts and betrayals.” His smile fades a bit, lifting his hand to scratch his neck. “Right.”
We walked back to the camp. Uncle Fester was asleep in his tent. I walked in to mine, and Tyler stood outside. “Right. You don’t have a place to sleep. What a shame.” I grabbed an extra blanket and handed it over to him. “I’ll let you sleep in my tent. Just for tonight. You sleep in the far left corner, I’ll sleep in the right.” He walks into the tent and sits in the left corner. “Thank you.” I cross my arms above my chest and wait for sleep to come over. “By tomorrow, I expect you to have your own tent.” I don’t think he heard anything. He was asleep already. I finally close my eyes. Getting enough rest will be crucial to save Enid.