Chapter Text
Wednesday Addams had gotten used to her visions. They typically showed her violent and gruesome things, it was quite an enjoyable experience, but recently something had changed.
She still got the occasional images of blood and death when she’d touch an object and get swept away in a vision. But in her sleep she’d started experiencing much more saccharine things. She’d see her own hands tangled in a head of blonde hair. A fanged grin hovering above before descending upon her. A honeyed voice whispering sweet nothings into her ear. Amongst other things the three girls in her dreams would subject her to, the torture was never ending.
At first she’d convinced herself they were only dreams and nothing more. Flights of fancy conjured up by her teenage hormone addled brain, but they weren’t always carnal in nature. Many of them were simply disgustingly romantic. As they continued she realized how similar they felt to the visions she experienced in her waking hours, and she could no longer deny that these were more than simple dreams. Wednesday considered going to her mother for help, but she wasn’t ready to reveal to her mother that she had started having visions in the first place.
Specific details about the people in her dreams were hard to make out. Everything had an odd foggy quality to it, but it was always the same three people. The images stuck with her throughout her days no matter how hard she tried to forget them. It was beginning to drive her mad, and not in the fun way. She knew in her soul that these three were real people, and that she had to find them, if for no other reason than to put a blade through each of their hearts in hopes it would stop the torment.
Wednesday followed behind Principal Weems, walking into her new dorm at Nevermore Academy, her parents following just behind. The room had an odd sense of familiarity to Wednesday but she couldn’t quite place why, it was far more colorful than any place Wednesday would ever willingly grace with her presence.
“It’s so… vivid.” Gomez breathed from behind Wednesday as they came to a stop. Morticia let out a slight gasp at the colorful room.
A clearly excited and bubbly blonde bounced her way over to Wednesday. “Howdy Roomie!” She declared in an excited voice.
“Wednesday, this is Enid Sinclair.” Weems said, her ever present smile still showing.
Wednesday simply found herself staring at the colorful girl silently. The same way she would usually greet new people, but it was different this time. She couldn’t have spoken if she wanted to, something about the girl in front of her froze her in place.
Similar to the room, there was an odd sense of familiarity to Enid Sinclair. Wednesday was certain she’d seen this girl somewhere before but it was like a fog had overtaken her brain. She continued to stare in silence for a few moments until the other girl finally spoke up.
“Are you feeling okay?” Genuine concern evident in her voice. “You look a little pale.”
Wednesday was still unable to speak, so her Father spoke up for her.
“Wednesday always looks half dead.”
“Oh.” Enid said, a smile gracing her face. “Welcome to Ophelia Hall!” She opened her arms and moved towards Wednesday for a hug. Ordinarily something Wednesday would never allow, especially from a total stranger, but she found herself unable, and unwilling, to move away.
Enid pulled her into a tight hug, squeezing the short goth girl in her arms for a few seconds. Wednesday felt the blush rise on her cheeks as she continued to stand completely motionless while Enid hugged her. She wasn’t sure why she was allowing this, but something about it felt… nice.
Morticia and Gomez shared a quick look with each other, both shocked Wednesday was accepting physical touch from a stranger. Weems looked on, none the wiser.
Enid pulled back and grinned at Wednesday again. “Actually you look a little better now, guess hugs really can cure anything.”
“Enid,” Weems started, “Please take Wednesday to the registrar's office, to pick up her uniform along with a copy of her schedule. And give her a tour along the way.”
Wednesday turned around and looked at her parents. Both of them looking back at her with a mixture of confusion and concern on their faces. She walked past them back into the hallway, Enid skipping along behind her, accidentally brushing against Morticia as she went.
“Nevermore was founded in 1791 to educate people like us, Outcasts, Freaks, Monsters, fill in your favourite marginalized group here.” Enid spoke as they walked along.
“You can save the sanitized sales pitch.” Wednesday interrupted, an odd feeling settling in her chest when she saw Enid’s face drop in disappointment at her speech being interrupted. What was wrong with her? Was she getting sick? She shook her head slightly refocusing on the bubbly girl in front of her. “I don’t plan on staying here long.”
“Why not?”
“This was my parent’s idea.” Wednesday noticed the trophy case to her right, and the old black and white photo inside. “Oh look, there’s my mother smirking at me. They’ve been looking for any excuse to send me here. It’s all a part of their nefarious, yet completely obvious plan.” She stopped speaking for a moment, realizing she had said much more than she intended to.
“What plan?” Enid asked, sounding intrigued.
Wednesday eyed Enid for a moment as she hesitated. She’d already let this girl know more than she’d ever say to any other stranger. Surely she was coming down with something. Still, what harm is there in sharing with someone she’d never see again after she made her escape.
“To turn me into a version of themselves.”
Enid grimaced for a moment as she turned and started walking again, Wednesday quickly falling into step beside her.
“Well in that case, perhaps you can clear something up. Rumor’s been swirling around that you killed a kid at your old school and your parent’s pulled strings to get you off.”
Wednesday opened her mouth for a snarky response, but found herself unwilling to mislead Enid. “Ridiculous,” she snapped. “I merely defended my brother from bullying, and one of the bullies lost a testicle to the piranhas. They did threaten me with attempted murder though. Would have looked terrible on my record, people knowing I’d failed.”
Enid’s eyes widened in surprise before nodding along. She hasn’t known the tiny goth for long, but using piranhas to defend her loved ones seemed right on brand for the dark and quiet girl.
They stepped out into quad, Wednesday internally noting it was actually a pentagon but deciding to keep that unhelpful comment to herself, lest she interrupt her guide again. Enid began to give her a rundown of the other students and the cliques of outcasts. She pointed out two girls by name, a vampire named Yoko and a Siren named Divina. The vampire winked at them as Divina smiled and waved. Wednesday felt her blood run colder when she made eye contact with the two from across the quad.
The two girls returned to their newly shared dorm. Wednesday silently changed into her new uniform before leaving.
“C’ya later roomie!” Enid called out as Wednesday approached the door to leave. She stopped in her tracks, one hand already on the handle. Usually she would ignore the platitudes of everyone, including her own family, but she found herself thinking back to Enid’s slight frown from earlier.
Wednesday turned her head to look at the blonde werewolf sitting on her bed, and an odd sensation started in her stomach. Yes, sick, surely. Still she found herself speaking before she could stop herself.
“Goodbye.” With that, Wednesday left the room.
“Look at you my little deathtrap.” Gomez said as Wednesday approached the car. He walked over to her and couldn’t resist putting his arm around his daughter as he pulled her closer. “Seeing you in this uniform brings back so many terrible memories, doesn’t it Tish?”
“Yes.” Morticia breathed, smiling at her husband and daughter. “Why don’t you boys wait in the car? Wednesday and I need a moment.”
Gomez smiled and pressed his forehead to Wednesday’s one last time before stepping away to stand at his wife’s side.
Pugsley approached Wednesday and quickly threw his arms around her in a hug before she could protest or stop him.
“Pugsley,” Wednesday started as Pugsley slowly pulled away from the hug. “You’re soft and weak. You’ll never survive without me. I give you two months, tops.”
“I’m gonna miss you too sis.” he said, before turning away and getting into the car with his father, Lurch opening the door for them.
Morticia approached her daughter trying her best to keep the knowing smile that tried to creep onto her face away. “I have an offer for you Wednesday.”
“What is it, Mother?” Wednesday asked, tone cold.
“Give Nevermore a chance, an honest chance, if after a week you can tell me you have no reason to stay here, you may return home.”
Wednesday eyed her mother suspiciously. Morticia Addams wasn’t one to make deals unless she believed she had the upper hand. Still this would be much simpler than Wednesday’s original plan of running away. Survive boarding school for a week and stay just as miserable as she has been by the end? Child’s play.
“You swear?” Wednesday asked, still suspicious.
Morticia nodded. “I swear it. I have confidence you’ll grow to love Nevermore, and find it as life changing as I did.”
“Agreed.”
“Thank you, Wednesday.” Morticia smiled sincerely at her daughter. “Oh I got you a little something.” She held up a pendant. “W” allowing it to flip down after a moment. “M. Our initials. It’s made of obsidian, which Aztec priests used to conjure visions. It’s a symbol of our connection.”
Wednesday took the pendant and examined it closely. She was grateful for the gift, but her annoyance at being shipped off to Nevermore and animosity towards her mother controlled her words.
“Which one of your spirits suggested this toe-curling tchotchke?” Her mother’s face fell, and Wednesday found herself feeling the slightest bit bad. Still she went on. “I’m not you mother. I will never fall in love, or be a housewife, or have a family.” Wednesday was pretty sure at least one of these things were a lie, if her dreams did in fact come true, but of course she wasn’t going to let her mother know that.
“I’m told girls your age say hurtful things,” Morticia said, the hurt seeping into her voice, “and I shouldn’t take it to heart.”
“Fortunately you don’t have one.”
“Finally a kind word for your mother.” She smiled, reminding herself of what she knew that Wednesday did not. “Lurch the crystal ball please.” The tall man passed the black case he’d been holding over. “We can’t talk to you for the first week, while you’re settling in, so we’ll call you next sunday, and see the results of our agreement then.” Morticia ghosted her hands near Wednesday’s shoulders before turning away and following the rest of the family into the car.
“Don’t worry my love, our little scorpion won't be alone.” Gomez said as he handed Morticia a handkerchief. Afterwards reaching down and flipping a switch, releasing something from under the car.
“She really won’t be,” Morticia wiped her eyes of the budding tears and turned to smile at her husband. “I had a vision.”