Chapter 5: Anything for My Woe
At the police station, the cold breeze blew through the destroyed roof. Ritchie sat with her feet on the desk, her gaze sharp.
"What changed your mind?" she asked.
Wednesday looked at her, eyes dark, determined.
"I would rather die than spill my secrets to a side piece. But I'm desperate. If your Hydra is free, Enid's demise will happen. I embrace death—but not hers."
Ritchie raised an eyebrow. "This Hydra has something to do with the Galpins. Not sure what. Tyler's mother is alive… searching for her husband."
"It's a trap," Wednesday said flatly.
Ritchie leaned forward. "Explain."
"If I were a twisted psycho seeking revenge, I'd target the rest of their family first, before them. Don't just deal with Donovan," Wednesday said, eyes narrowing.
Ritchie stood. "Then the Hydra's bait worked."
"True—but she wants all of the Galpins," Wednesday added.
"I'll have officers head to Willow Hill now," Ritchie said, reaching for her phone.
Wednesday grabbed it. "We don't have time. We need to find Tyler's mother."
A gentle voice echoed from the corner.
"I know where she is."
Both Ritchie and Wednesday turned. It was Agnes, smiling.
Meanwhile, in the sewers, Donovan grunted, straining against his chains. A low growl filled the air. A female Hyde crawled in, her eyes gleaming.
"Françoise…" Donovan whispered.
Then a clap, slithering in the distance. Helena appeared, light glinting off her green-scaled shirt, her face representing a younger Françoise.
"Well done, Judy. You outdid yourself," Helena said, voice dripping venom.
A loud growl cut through the air as Françoise lunged at Helena. Helena's hydra head launched from her pinky, biting into Françoise's skin and hurling her against the wall.
"FRANÇOISE!" Donovan yelled.
Françoise recovered, crawling on walls, leaping with agility. Helena flicked her fingers, and snakes slithered from the cracks, wrapping around Françoise, constricting.
"Judy… bring me Tyler," Helena commanded.
Before Judy could respond, a massive hand slammed Helena into the wall, her head splattering. Tyler, in Hyde form, roared, charging into the chaos.
He reached Françoise in human form. Helena's body twisted and reformed, taller now, her face mimicking Laurel Gates.
"Tyler, my dear…" Helena whispered venomously. "Kill your mother."
Tyler's eyes widened, fury igniting. He transformed into a colossal Hyde, claws gleaming. Françoise roared, leaping to meet him.
They clashed, bodies slamming against walls, tearing chunks of stone and metal, clawing and biting with relentless force. Sparks flew where claws struck metal, debris raining down. Lightning arced from the ceiling, striking both Hydes mid-leap, throwing them back.
Uncle Fester's chuckle echoed. "Oh, such fun…"
Wednesday burst in, eyes scanning. "Where is she?"
Donovan pointed left. Wednesday sprinted, reaching Judy and Helena.
"Wednesday… you dare ruin my revenge?" Helena hissed.
Judy drew her gun, firing. Time slowed as Wednesday leapt gracefully, slicing bullets in half with her blade. Metal scraped metal in a symphony of chaos.
Helena's pinky twisted; a hydra head shot at Wednesday. Agnes tackled her just in time. Helena unleashed two more hydra heads; lightning arced, stunning them.
Wednesday moved in, slicing Helena's hand clean off, driving her blade into her chest.
"What doesn't kill me… makes me stronger…" Helena whispered, melting into the ground.
"A clone," Wednesday muttered, glancing behind her. Judy was already gone.
Ritchie and her officers stormed in. Tyler grabbed his mother, sprinting for safety. Donovan, bloodied, snapped his chains with raw force, wrists torn. He drew his gun, pointing at Tyler.
"Stand down!" Donovan barked.
Tyler glared, dragging Françoise with him.
"You… killed people," Donovan spat, voice trembling.
Françoise stepped forward, eyes blazing. "And you… didn't do any better!"
Donovan's hands shook as he tightened on the gun. "I—"
"Stand… down!" Françoise snapped, claws scraping the floor. Tyler dragged her away, moving with unstoppable momentum.
Donovan threw his badge, yelling after them.
At Nevermore, Wednesday entered the dorm. Enid stood before her.
"Wanna tell me why you're late?" Enid asked softly.
"I got caught up," Wednesday muttered.
Later, as Enid slept peacefully, Wednesday watched over her, eyes dark, tired, but refusing to look away.
A soft voice broke the silence. "What happened, Weds?"
"I got a vision… you may die… by a Hydra," Wednesday said, her voice cracking.
Enid looked up, determination in her eyes. "Then let's catch us a snake, my Weds."
They kissed, giggling softly.
At the Addams family household, 6 AM. Xavier examined the paintings in the main hall.
Morticia's voice cut through. "If what you say is true, then the Addams family may be at risk."
"Who are we dealing with?" Xavier asked.
"I blame Momma for this… but, convinced my sister was dead, I did something… something no one should ever do," Morticia said, her voice heavy.
"Necromancy?" Xavier guessed.
"Worse," she replied. "Combining two souls… into one."
At Nevermore Academy, posters advertised the Thursday night Halloween Mash. Lilnette wandered the hall, spotting a young girl with brown hair and green shirt, scales glinting on her face.
"Oh… uh… are you new?" she asked.
The girl smiled. "Yes. Would you like to be my dance partner? My name is Helena… call me El."
Lilnette's eyes widened. "No one… ever asked me to a dance… they think I'm… ugly…"
"Being a vampire isn't ugly," Helena said, a twisted smile forming. "Embrace who you are."
At Willow Hill, underground, Judy tinkered with machines. A clone of Helena appeared.
"I trust your work is almost done," Helena said.
Judy nodded. "Yes. I'm almost done. This will make you your own person…"
Helena patted Judy's shoulder. "Good girl." She grabbed a purple dress from the table.
"Uh… dance?" Judy asked.
"I have a date," Helena said, walking away.
Back at Nevermore, in Lilnette's dorm, she held up two dresses.
"Pink..? No… I guess red…"
She settled on a glittering violet-red gown. Her pink hair fell over her shoulder, framing her nervous smile.
"The Monster Mash…" Lilnette whispered, eyes shining.
In a cave, Tyler and his mother sat over a fire, eating bacon and eggs.
"You killed how many?" Françoise asked.
"That does not matte—"
She smacked him across the face, yanking his hair. "Answer."
Tyler's eyes widened.
"I don't know…" he muttered.
His mother sat back, sipping coffee. "Don't be like your father, sweetie."
Tyler's face tightened, rage simmering beneath his skin.