When Wednesday opened the cabinet, a mechanism inside triggered immediately, and a crossbow bolt shot out with precision, striking the wall beside her.
Wednesday pulled it free without reacting and looked at it.
It was her.
Not a posed picture, not something taken openly. It had been captured without her noticing.
Enid, who had flinched at the sudden shot, stared at the photo with visible concern.
"You have a stalker," she said.
Wednesday glanced at her, unimpressed.
"Don't be envious."
Enid frowned, clearly not sharing that perspective, but she didn't argue as Wednesday focused on the photograph again. Holding it steady, Wednesday closed her eyes and reached out with her ability, trying to trace the person behind it.
Her mind searched for a connection.
Anything tied to the image—but all she saw was the grounds of Nevermore, students moving about, no fixed figure in sight.
Wednesday opened her eyes again, her expression tightening for just a fraction of a second.
Enid stepped closer, watching her carefully, and that was when she noticed it.
A thin black tear slipped from the corner of Wednesday's eye.
"Wednesday…" she said, her voice lowering.
Wednesday wiped it away immediately, her expression returning to normal as if nothing had happened.
"It's nothing," she said. "Don't worry about it."
Enid didn't believe that, and she glanced toward Thing, who had been watching from nearby. The two exchanged a brief, uneasy look, both understanding that whatever just happened.
On Pugsley's side,
He arrived at his new dorm room in Caliban Hall, stepping inside with a mix of curiosity and caution. The room was large, far larger than what he expected, and already occupied.
Ethan.
He had been staying there alone, and from the look of things, he had no issue with the arrangement.
Gomez stepped in behind Pugsley, looking around with clear nostalgia.
"Caliban Hall… my old stomping ground," he said, his tone filled with fond memory as his eyes moved across the room.
Morticia followed, her gaze more observant than sentimental.
"Thank you for agreeing to share the room with Pugsley," she said, her voice calm as she looked toward Ethan.
Ethan waved it off casually.
"No need to mention it. I was staying alone in the room anyway," he said.
Gomez smiled at that, clearly pleased.
"Excellent then I am certain you two will become the best of friends," he said. "A best friend is important. They become like a brother, someone who can provide you alibis for crimes, bury the holes you dig, and always have your back."
Ethan nodded, taking that statement far more seriously than most would.
"Umm… okay. We can dig holes together," he said.
Morticia added, as if recalling something entirely normal,
"It wouldn't be his first time digging. He and Wednesday once dug up a corpse."
Ethan exhaled slightly, remembering.
"Yeah… that was a ghastly experience for my nose," he said.
Pugsley's attention sharpened immediately.
"So is it really true you aren't affected by garlic like regular vampires?" he asked, clearly curious.
Ethan shook his head.
"No. I actually enjoy garlic dishes," he replied.
Gomez and Morticia exchanged a brief look.
It seemed Pugsley had found someone he could get along with, even if the nature of that bond was… unconventional.
Satisfied, they left the room.
The door closed behind them.
"What is the relationship between you and Wednesday?" Pugsley asked as he is curious about the relationship between her sister and this guy.
"Of course I'm her boyfriend," Ethan said, his tone carrying a bit of pride.
"Oh… that is cool," Pugsley replied
To him, that wasn't a small thing. Becoming Wednesday's boyfriend was like putting your finger into a plug—you get a jolt of shock and pain at the same time. Wednesday was like that, and the fact that Ethan was still standing there normally made it even more interesting.
He looked at Ethan again, curiosity not fading.
"So who made the first move?" he asked, his curiosity clearly not fading.
"Of course it was Wednesday," Ethan said immediately, a confident tone slipping into his voice as he began to speak a little too freely. "She was clearly charmed by my handsome—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
Wednesday was standing at the door.
Her expression hadn't changed. It rarely did. She simply stood there, watching him with that same half-dead, unreadable look that made people rethink their life choices.
"Go on," she said, her voice calm. "Continue."
Ethan straightened slightly, trying to recover without making it obvious.
"Wednesday, I'm just explaining things to your brother," he said. "Our story deserves some… structure."
"Then allow me to narrate," Wednesday replied as she stepped into the room, her tone precise. "I will ensure the details remain accurate. At present, your version suggests a level of charm that does not exist."
Pugsley's attention sharpened instantly, his eyes moving between them.
Wednesday continued without hesitation.
"At our first meeting, he attempted to—"
Ethan moved quickly, covering her mouth before she could finish the sentence.
"That part isn't necessary," he said, his voice lower now, controlled. "There's no reason to include your brother in that level of detail."
Wednesday tilted her head slightly, her expression unchanged, but her tone sharpened just enough to carry intent.
"Then should I describe how persistent you were," she said, "or how many women you surrounded yourself with? I'm sure that would improve your reputation."
Pugsley's interest only increased.
Ethan exhaled, realizing this was getting out of control faster than expected.
"Okay, Pugsley," he said, cutting in before Wednesday continued, "it was me who pestered your sister. Not the other way around."
*****
A/N: The Patreon version is already updated with 40 advanced chapters. If you'd like to read ahead of the public release schedule, you can join here:
👉 patreon.com/JamesA211