A Peek into the Crystal Ball
This can't go on any longer.
Wednesday stared at the black container resolutely. The thought of her parents' reaction to her calling them was something that she certainly did not want to savor, but anything was better than the feeling she got whenever around her werewolf roommate. Her wonderful, bubbly, drop-dead gorgeous, ball of sunshine, light-of-her-life-
ENOUGH! she chastised herself, cursing her overactive mind. The doubling and sometimes even tripling of her heart rate when she was around Enid was already enough for the raven to deal with; these saccharine thoughts were all but what Wednesday wanted at the moment. Fortunately for her, said roommate was nowhere to be found on this day. Something about a sleepover at Yoko's dorm.
Steadying herself, Wednesday peered into the crystal ball. Thing made his way over to her, eager to finally get back in touch with the rest of the Addams Family. Clouds began to form within the ball.
"My little deathtrap! What a surprise, to be receiving a call from you!" The first to answer was her father, Gomez.
"Greetings, Father. Shocking to see you alone and not adjoined at the hip to Mother."
"Your mother just went out to take care of some business, but she should be- Oh! I think that's her now!" He looked away from the ball. "Tish, our little storm cloud is here on the ball!" Morticia entered into view of Wednesday and Thing.
"Hello, Wednesday. What a surprise to see you call, we've all missed you so terribly much over here," she pouted in her usual silky tone.
"I can't say I relate," she retorted. Thing tapped his fingers in disapproval.
"Oh, Thing! I barely even noticed you there! How has it been, taking care of our Wednesday?" Morticia asked. The appendage pushed in front of Wednesday and bombarded the parents with signs and taps, much to their amusement.
"Well, I'm glad that you've been taking such good care of each other. From what I've heard, it seems you two have gotten quite a bit closer over the semester." Thing and Wednesday turned to each other, slightly confused.
"Do tell, Mother."
"My brother dropped by a few days ago, regaling us of his grand adventures in Nevermore with you," Gomez interjected. "It seems the school is treating you just as terrible as it did your mother and I all those years ago, isn't that right, cara mia?" He grabbed Morticia's hand and stared longingly into her eyes.
"Of course. I wouldn't expect anything less." She pulled him into a passionate kiss, as if they had completely forgotten who they were talking to just two seconds prior.
"Is it so hard to refrain from jumping on each other like teenagers on aphrodisiacs every four seconds?" she asked in a venomous tone, already getting sick from watching them. Their kiss was soon interrupted, however, by yet another Addams.
"Oh, hey sis! I was wondering what the racket was all about!" Pugsley popped his head into view of the crystal ball. A small smile unwittingly crept onto Wednesday's face.
"Still alive, Pugsley? My family is just full of surprises for me today." As her brother stepped fully into the frame, she realized just how much he had grown in the short while she had been away from home. His head nearly met their mother's, and a little mustache was starting to grow on the top of his lip.
"Well then, now that the whole family's here, why not be so kind as to enlighten us of your reason for calling?" Morticia began. "Surely we know better than to assume that our dear Wednesday is calling just to check in," she teased with a smile.
"A ridiculous assumption, indeed, Mother. I am currently occupied with a matter of grave importance. It is imperative I get to the bottom of this mystery I am currently facing." Her family's faces lit up slightly.
"Another mystery? So soon after the Hyde incident? You have such a penchant for trouble, my little viper," Gomez noted with pride for her.
"It has to do with one person. Their very existence confounds me. On the surface, we have nothing in common. Everything about the two of us is fundamentally different. Yet, throughout my tenure here, I can't seem to rid myself of them. They always find their way into my business, even if I never ask for it." Thing quickly caught on to the identity of the person, but kept his hand shut for now.
"That is quite a simple mystery, Wednesday," Morticia started, her gaze softening. "That person is merely your friend. I never thought I'd see the day our daughter would get along with others. It warms my non-existent heart, does it not, mon cheri?" Puglsey's smile, too, grew wider and wider with each sentence Wednesday said.
"If it were that simple, I would not have subjected myself to this call with you," she snapped. "Though it surprises both you and me, I have made several... friends, in my stay here. Even still, this one perplexes me to no end." She looked down, almost in defeat.
"If even Sis is getting this hung up on them, they must be quite the person, huh?" Pugsley was hard at work trying to imagine the kind of person who could affect his dear sister in such a way.
"In recent memory, I've found it increasingly difficult to maintain a steady heart rate around her. On top of that, I can't seem to control the warmth that comes to my face whenever I speak to her. It's as if I become sick by simply looking at her. Whatever disease I may have, I require your assistance in identifying it. Despite my experience, there isn't a single virus or infection that I can think of that matches my current symptoms." Wednesday felt a strange relief, as if saying everything she did had removed a heavy weight from upon her chest.
Her parents and brother all shared smug grins with each other, all understanding the situation.
"What's with the self-satisfied grins?" Wednesday queried, folding her arms in front of her.
"This is a most grave condition, my little deathtrap," Gomez began in a low tone.
"Indeed. An illness that every Addams must face. A curse, even! I had deluded myself into thinking that you would never experience it, but what a fool I had been!" Morticia monologued dramatically, falling into Gomez's arms.
"Ay, cara mia, do not fret. There may be hope yet for our dear Wednesday," he declared with both hope and concern.
"Hold on, I don't quite follow. What curse are you talking about?" Wednesday scanned their three faces, searching for answers, yet was unable to glean any information from them.
"My dear sister, how can you not understand? Oh, how I struggle to even say it!" He placed both hands over his heart, aching at the thought of his sister's curse. Well, Mother's tendencies have certainly rubbed off on him, the older sister thought.
"Must we spell it out for you, Sis? This curse you bear, it's... it's... Oh, I simply can't! Thing, please, just tell her!" Pugsley was on the verge of bursting out laughing, much to the amusement of everyone except Wednesday.
"Thing, don't tell me you know what they're talking about. How am I the only one unaware of such an important fact?" He was shaking, as if burdened by knowledge of the curse. Slowly, he pointed to her, made yet another finger heart, then opened his hand quickly, indicating an explosion. It was at this point that her family could no longer contain their laughter.
"It is love, my dear Wednesday! Right under our noses, the waves of love have swept our poor, cold-hearted daughter away!" Morticia exclaimed.
"For the second generation, Nevermore has granted us Addams love. Truly a magnificent thought. Perhaps we should send you there next, Pugsley!" Gomez bantered, pulling his son into a one-armed embrace.
"Dad, don't tease me like that!" Pugsley pushed back with a laugh.
Wednesday couldn't believe what she had just heard. Love? How was that even possible? For her to be in love with anyone, let alone... No. This could not be love. She refused to believe it.
"You can't be serious. It is impossible for me to fall in love. I have never felt love for anyone, nor will I ever feel love for anyone in the future." She was desperately racking her brain, trying to think of any alternative to love. Any alternative to her feelings that, when given a name, only began to make more sense with each passing moment. Any alternative to the implications this would bring.
"My daughter, when love calls an Addams, there is no ignoring it. Once it has gotten its grip on you, you are a slave to it. To whoever your heart belongs to. They will consume your every waking thought, and perhaps they already have." As much as she hated to admit it, Gomez's was a most accurate prediction.
"To love is a wonderful thing, Wednesday. It may take some time, but please, try to embrace it. It is in our nature to feel a love most potent, most beautiful. And no matter who has captured your heart, we will support you." Morticia's genuine smile and fond eyes were foreign sights to Wednesday, at least in her mind. She couldn't bear to look.
"That's right, Sis! Honestly, I never thought I'd see the day where you'd describe someone with such warm words. Whoever's deserving of them must be someone quite special."
Wednesday stayed silent, her mouth ajar. The concept of love was one foreign to her, and now, it had sprung on her without warning. Could she even call this love? Was she even worthy of saying that she loves her? Should she even love her? As these questions flew around in her head, she fell to her seat as her eyes slowly widened. The sound of soft pattering intertwined with whirling thoughts.
Thing grabbed her hand.
She directed her gaze down to Thing, who was gently tapping out a message on her hand. Her breathing steadied, and she placed her other hand on top of his.
"Thank you, Thing," she spoke, almost in a whisper. Having regained composure, she once again returned to her family.
"I will keep what you've said in mind. Though I'm not thoroughly convinced, it is a possibility I will... explore." She looked back at Thing, who only signaled for more.
"And... Thank you. For engaging in this conversation with me today." The three smiled back at her endearingly.
"Of course, Wednesday. Always know that your father and I love you, and we wish only the worst for you in this critical moment in your life."
"I must be going now. There's... a lot for me to think about."
"Of course, my little deathtrap. Please, keep in touch."
"Wait, Sis!" She turned at the sound of Pugsley's voice. "When you come back, do you think we could play together again? Y'know, like the good old times, when we were still little kids." The memories of guillotines, decapitated dolls, and days spent chasing each other around with whatever murderous weapons they could find came flooding back to her.
"Consider it done."
Pugsley closed his eyes, as if partaking in those same memories. "...Thank you, Sis."
"Goodbye, Wednesday. Goodbye, Thing. Stay safe." Morticia, Gomez, and Pugsley waved at the ball before it eventually clouded over and returned to its original, blank state. Thing tapped out a message.
"I... don't know how I'm feeling." She noticed Thing sink ever so slightly. "However, I at least have some new leads to follow up on. I will get to the bottom of my emotions. I trust that you will be my accomplice in this mission?" Thing pepped back up and gave a triumphant thumbs up to her.
"Good. Then let's get to it."