Chapter 1: Wednesday and Victor
The Addams family's vintage hearse wound its way along the mountain road, its wheels crunching pleasantly over damp fallen leaves.
Morticia sat in the passenger seat, elegantly trimming the thorns from a black rose, while Gomez hummed a Spanish tune, sipping red wine and occasionally glancing at their daughter across from him.
Wednesday stared expressionlessly out the window, her fingers lightly tapping against her knee as if calculating the timing for some murderous scheme.
Her black double braids hung neatly over her shoulders, her pale face appearing particularly gloomy in the dim interior of the vehicle.
"So, darling," Morticia began, her voice like silk wrapped around a blade, "do you truly believe releasing the Piranhas into the swimming pool was a mistake?"
"Of course not," Wednesday replied coolly, her eyes still fixed on the withered trees flying past outside. "I only regret not starving them for three days first."
Gomez burst into laughter, nearly spilling his red wine.
"That's my girl!" He wiped tears of laughter from his eyes. "But next time, do remember to notify me in advance so I can prepare the camera."
The corner of Wednesday's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. "Father, if you had been present, those Piranhas might have suffered indigestion from overexcitement."
Just then—
"Whoa! Piranhas? Cool!"
An unfamiliar voice suddenly spoke up right beside Wednesday.
The Addams family turned in unison.
A black-haired boy had appeared beside Wednesday at some point, sitting cross-legged while holding a deformed human skull, an exaggerated smile plastered across his face.
He wore a black leather jacket with a silver spider brooch pinned to the collar, his eyes like two pieces of obsidian illuminated by sunlight—if obsidian could sparkle madly.
"Hi there!" He waved enthusiastically, his movements so broad he nearly hit Wednesday in the face. "Mind if I hitch a ride?"
Wednesday's eyebrows lifted slightly—her highest form of showing surprise.
Morticia narrowed her eyes. "Child, where did you come from?"
"The back seat." The boy shrugged as if this were the most obvious thing in the world. "You didn't lock the door."
Gomez blinked. "We did lock it."
"Locked?" The boy tilted his head, showing a confused expression. "Oh, then maybe I remembered wrong. Perhaps it was the trunk?"
He patted the coffin-shaped suitcase beside him. "Seriously, your trunk design is so thoughtful—it even has a pillow."
Wednesday stared at him with her blood-freezing eyes. "Who are you?"
"Ah! Right! Introductions!" The boy suddenly slapped his forehead with such force that one might worry he'd knock himself out.
"My name is Victor Black. You can call me Vic, or 'that madman,' or 'chocolate fiend'—"
He suddenly handed the human skull to Wednesday. "A gift! One of my collections. I thought you might like it."
Wednesday took the skull, her fingertips gently tracing the cracks on the cranium.
The skull had clearly undergone special treatment, its surface smooth with some dried blood still lingering around the eye sockets. The corner of her mouth lifted almost imperceptibly by one millimeter.
"She likes it!" Vic suddenly leaned in close to Wednesday's face, so close he could count her eyelashes. "I knew it! See, Venom, what did I tell you?"
His collar suddenly squirmed, and a mass of black viscous substance protruded from his shoulder, coalescing into a ferocious maw filled with sharp teeth.
"She's sweeter than chocolate," Venom rumbled in a low voice that sounded like sandpaper scraping against metal.
Wednesday's eyes widened slightly—her highest form of showing shock.
"Wow!" Vic clapped excitedly, nearly hitting the car roof. "She actually has an expression! Venom, maybe we made history!"
"Shut up, Vic," Venom rolled its eyes. "You're scaring the little girl."
"I'm not scared at all," Wednesday immediately returned to her expressionless state, though her fingers still tightly gripped the human skull.
Gomez and Morticia exchanged a glance.
"So..." Gomez tentatively asked, "You are...?"
"Oh! Right!" Vic abruptly sat up straight, almost hitting the car roof again. "I'm a new student at Nevermore Academy! A Shapeshifter! Well, sort of... Actually I'm hosting a symbiote, but the headmaster said, 'just pretend to be a Shapeshifter, don't scare the other students,' so—"
"—so we're posing as Shapeshifters," Venom added, its voice echoing through the car interior. "Though I think this disguise sucks."
Wednesday stared at Venom, a flicker of interest in her eyes: "It can talk?"
"It?" Venom bared its teeth in displeasure. "I have a name, little girl."
"Don't mind it, it's just hungry," Vic waved his hand dismissively. "By the way, you don't mind me hitching a ride, do you? I originally wanted to ride my motorcycle here, but Venom was like—"
"Oh, remember, Vic, you almost ran over three crows last time—"
"—so we're hitchhiking," Venom sighed. "By the way, those three crows later sued us."
Morticia smiled, revealing her signature sharp teeth: "Of course not, dear."
Wednesday looked down, studying the human skull, asking faintly: "Why did you choose this car?"
Vic grinned, showing overly white teeth: "Because your car is the coolest."
"—and it smells like murder," Venom added, taking a deep breath. "Ah... the fresh scent of death."
The corner of Wednesday's mouth lifted another millimeter.
Soon, the Addams family and Vic arrived at Nevermore Academy.
Nevermore Academy's spires loomed faintly beneath dark clouds, like some sleeping monster.
Vic jumped out of the car, stretching, while Venom lazily yawned on his shoulder.
"Ah! New life! New friends! New... uh, corpses?" Vic tilted his head looking at the crow statues on the academy gates. "Venom, do you think they're real or specimens?"
"It would be a pity if they're specimens," Venom licked its lips. "I bet they'd be delicious."
Wednesday stood beside him, still holding the human skull.
"Oh! Right!" Vic slapped his forehead. "Venom, do me a favor?"
Venom squirmed, extending a black tendril that coiled around the human skull in Wednesday's hands, then retracted back into Vic's body.
Wednesday raised an eyebrow: "...Convenient."
"Super convenient!" Victor grinned triumphantly, gesturing animatedly, "We can also hide chocolate, keys, daggers—"
"—and your brain, if you had one," Venom snarked.
"Shut up, Venom."
Principal Larissa Weems stood on the steps, arms crossed, her sharp gaze sweeping over them. Her tall figure appeared particularly imposing in the twilight, silver-gray hair neatly combed back.
"Wednesday Addams." She nodded, her voice deep and powerful, "And...Victor Black."
"Hi, Auntie!" Victor waved enthusiastically, nearly hitting a Faceless student passing by.
Larissa's mouth twitched: "I'm your cousin."
"Close enough!" Victor said cheerfully, completely ignoring the principal's warning glare, "My mom's a Shapeshifter, my dad's...uh, who knows, maybe an alien?"
"—or an idiot," Venom muttered.
Wednesday glanced at Victor: "You're relatives?"
"Distant! Super distant!" Victor made an exaggerated gesture, "Probably about three or four galaxies apart."
Larissa sighed, the action suddenly making her look years older: "Your dorm rooms have been arranged. Wednesday, you're with Enid Sinclair. Victor, you're with—"
"—Wednesday!" Victor raised his hand like an elementary student eager to answer in class.
Larissa narrowed her eyes: "No."
"Why?!"
"Because you're male."
"That's sexist! And how dare you assume my gender? What if I'm a Walmart shopping bag?" Victor protested, turning to Venom, "Venom, say something!"
"She's the principal, Victor."
"Traitor!!"
Wednesday spoke calmly: "I don't mind."
Everyone looked at her.
"If he can be quiet," she added.
Victor immediately covered his mouth, nodding frantically, eyes wide as saucers.
Larissa rubbed her temples: "Suit yourselves."