Chapter 3: I Love My Woe
12:00 a.m. — quiet rooms, louder hearts.
The dorm was quiet except for the faint hum of a soft song and the muffled sound of two people making out like it was illegal.
Wednesday and Enid were tangled on the bed, breathless and awkward and perfectly themselves.
"You're going to be the death of me. I like death," Wednesday whispered, lips brushing Enid's.
"Come on, no need to be edgy," Enid laughed into another kiss.
Her hands slid around Wednesday's waist. "Wanna exchange clothes tomorrow?"
"I would rather be impaled and set on fire," Wednesday answered bluntly.
"So yes?" Enid teased.
"Only if you shoot me afterward." They both giggled, laughter muffled into each other.
— ✦ —
Isadora's office smelled faintly of old paper and lavender. She pinched the bridge of her nose and groaned at the stack of paperwork blinking back at her.
"I shouldn't care, but… they can't just be doing that in their room," she muttered.
A soft creak and the door opened. A slim girl with long purple hair and red eyes stepped to the desk, pale and small and somehow all appetite.
"Lilnette," Isadora softened. "I trust you're doing well?"
"I need blood," Lilnette said, voice fragile.
Isadora blinked, then moved with practiced gentleness, pulling a blood pack from the fridge. "Here," she said, offering it with a nervous smile.
Lilnette sipped delicately. "Thanks."
"Why do you look frightened every time someone walks in?" Lilnette asked, tilting her head.
"I just… had a bad childhood," Isadora muttered.
Lilnette's expression softened as she finished the pack. "You okay?" she asked quietly.
Isadora forced a smile she didn't quite mean.
— ✦ —
Willow Hill, under bright fluorescent lights, smelled of antiseptic and stale fear. Dr. Fairburn was reading patient reviews when the shadow came up behind her.
"I was wondering when you'd show up… Helena," she said without turning.
The scales on Helena's arms caught the light. She stepped forward, voice flat as glass. "I won't hurt you. All I want is Judy."
"She quit," Fairburn said bluntly.
Helena's eyes narrowed. "Don't lie to me. Ever again."
"You deserved a normal life," Fairburn said, softer now. "You can still have one."
"I'm wanted," Helena replied coldly.
"Maybe. But if we expose Judy, you'll be fine—"
"I don't want revenge, silly. I want justice." Helena smiled, cruel and thin. "Tell me where Judy is… or I'll eat out your internal organs."
"Right here, bitch!" Judy burst into the room and fired three bullets into Helena's head. The Hydra girl toppled backward through the window. Fairburn screamed.
"Judy!" she cried.
Judy yanked Fairburn by the arm. "She isn't dead. Get to Tyler's cave—maybe then we'll have a chance." They ran.
Outside, on the asphalt, Helena sat up. The three bullet holes knitted closed, her skin shedding in papery strips.
"I hate this part," she sighed.
— ✦ —
Tyler's cell smelled of metal and the electricity of shock collars. He had been a coiled animal, head bowed, until footsteps broke the routine.
"What did I say?" he muttered with a dark chuckle. "Screwed."
Judy stood at the entrance, gun ready, hands trembling. The lights went out.
"Shit," she whispered.
Claws scraped stone. A roar filled the room.
Tyler lunged, fully Hyde. Judy fired; the bullet grazed him, enough to stagger—just enough to throw off the attack. She ran, dragging Fairburn with her.
She whistled. Crows came to circle—then Tyler shredded them apart.
Suddenly, he collapsed back into human form, panting, weak without a master.
"Without a master, he's weak," Fairburn breathed. "Thank God. But Judy—what's with the crows—?"
Before she finished, Judy struck her across the head with the butt of her gun. Fairburn slumped.
Judy sprinted to her car, tires shrieking. She mashed the gas—only to see Helena standing directly in the road.
A serpent-head shot out, sinking teeth into the hood. The car crumpled like tin.
Judy rolled free as metal and glass collapsed around her.
"You're going to show me where Tyler's mother is, or you die," Helena spat.
Judy's throat bobbed. She nodded.
— ✦ —
Dawn in the courtyard, and Enid was doing what Enid does best: rainbow ice cream cone in hand, utterly unbothered.
A red-haired girl approached, smirking. "You don't deserve Wednesday," she said.
"And who are you to be talking, ginger?" Enid snapped, claws flicking playfully.
"Agnes," the girl purred. "Someone with looks, furball."
Before the catfight could escalate, Wednesday appeared—eyes knives. "Back up, before I make Crackstone look like a saint."
Agnes froze, then bowed mockingly. "It's an honor."
Wednesday took Enid's hand and pulled her away. Enid grinned back; Agnes watched, jaw tight. "Why can't it be me…" she muttered. Then she noticed something that made her pause. Wednesday—wearing a rainbow sweater. Enid—wearing something goth. Faces of disbelief.
"Uh—your rashes are showing," Enid whispered.
Wednesday popped a pill with a dull look. "I know."
— ✦ —
In class, Wednesday studied while Ajax slid in beside her.
"You took her from me," he said bitterly.
"You lost her when you stoned yourself," Wednesday replied without looking up.
"Why would she choose you?"
"No idea. Maybe she's dumb," Wednesday said, deadpan.
Ajax blinked, then nodded like he'd accepted a worst-case scenario.
Across the hall, Lilnette leaned close to Enid. "You're Wednesday's girlfriend?" she asked.
Enid's grin spread wide. "Yup. So in love. Cute, huh?"
Lilnette tilted her head. "What is love?"
Enid's face softened. "Girl, love is a curse and a gift."
"In your case?" Lilnette asked.
"A gift," Enid said firmly, and Lilnette watched her like she'd never seen someone glow before.
— ✦ —
Beneath Willow Hill, Judy paced.
"I swear she was here. I mean it," she muttered.
Helena's voice was nearby, dripping disgust. "You're useless to me now."
"Wait— I can bring her to you," Judy blurted.
"How?" Helena asked.
"We can use Tyler." Judy's voice was small.
"You lost your job," Helena said, cold.
"Maybe. But his mother is all he needs for motivation," Judy pleaded. "Give me two days. I'll make your reunion happen."
"Two days. And if they aren't here… you're dead." Helena's footsteps faded.
A clank of chains. Tyler stepped forward, eyes bright. "Find my mother first," he said. "Then I'll deal with your snake problem."
— ✦ —
Back at the dorm, Enid and Wednesday flipped through clothes.
"What color? Pink or blue?" Wednesday asked, very deadpan.
"PINK, WEDNESDAY! Matching divas!" Enid squealed.
"Kill me," Wednesday muttered.
— ✦ —
At the sheriff's office, Ritchie typed. Then the room tilted—an invisible force yanked her into the air and slammed her into the wall. She fumbled for her sidearm.
"What the—?" she gasped.
A Hyde stepped out of the shadows, thinner and more feminine than Tyler's usual hulking form but still wrong, its face warped.
"Tyler…?" Ritchie whispered.
The creature roared, voice breaking into words:
"WHERE IS MY HUSBAND?"