The Old Therebefore

episode four , woe what a night

JOSEPHINE MONROE in a white version of her childhood home. She turned and saw her grandmother sitting there, poised and ready. Her grandmother was like a viper, but graceful like a swan. "Florence." Her grandmother, Euphemia stood up and walked over the girl. "Why are you here?" The older woman asked as she stood up.

"What do you mean, Mémé?" Josephine's French accent got thick in one part. Josephine's head titled. Her eyes were wide and the bottoms of her hair was blue. Josephine wasn't sixteen anymore, and she was shorter and she had her big glasses on.

Josephine, come back. Come back to me.

"Florence, you're too young to be dying." Mémé out her hands on her hips. Her lenga fell into the floor, the silver and green decorations. Her silver jewelry matched her perfectly. "Florence, someone is out there. She's out there waiting for you to come back to her."

Josephine, I don't know if you are aware. But we're soulmates.
I don't know what happens after this
Perhaps, I will fight for us.

"I'm, dying?" Josephine spoke slowly as her grandmother hugged her tight

"I love you Flora, but you can't stay here— you are not mine to keep." Euphemia let go of Josephine before she spoke again, "now let go."

Wednesday's hair was braided differently, and she had her head in her hands. She could hear a low humming. The ones in the hospital wing, Nurse Fortescue seemed to hover over the two girls. Wednesday's bangs covered her eyes but she could see Josephine. "Come on, Josie. Please wake up— oh look at you, Cara Mia. You look so beautiful. I would die for you, kill for you. Either way, Cara Mia, what a bliss." Wednesday rambled when she was nervous, and she had never been nervous like this in her life. "Josephine just come back to me."

Josephine blinked as she was blinded by light, she felt someone next to her, Josephine rolled her head over it see Wednesday sitting next to her with a guilty look on her face. Josephine smiled and put one of her hands on top of Wednesday's hand. The raven haired girl looked up and her eyes lightened up, if Wednesday smiled she would be. "Josephine." Wednesday breathed as she thanked got an anger look and smacked the girl, who just gave a silent chuckle.

Josephine reached up towards Wednesday's face before kissing her deeply. Josephine knew she couldn't wait one more second to kiss Wednesday knowing she had almost died. Wednesday leaned in and slowly, their lips formed together like they were meant to be. Going back and forth, Wednesday wrapped her arms around Josephine's waist and Josephine pulled her Wednesday's face in and kissed her hard and fast.

When Wednesday and Josephine broke apart, Wednesday panted. "What happened?" Wednesday concerned about her soulmate.

"Tyler, there was something in my drink. It tasted weird, like copper. Like oysters— I'm allergic to them." Josephine tried her best to remember, and she did pretty well for the most part. "How long was I out? Have I missed a lot of classes? What about the Rave'n?"

"They can't plan things without their class president, can they? As for your classes, I've been collecting your work and putting it in a binder. Most of the teachers haven't been assigning homework due to the fact everyone's distraught that you're here." Wednesday's voice settled above a whisper. "Do you feel alright; should I go get Nurse Lucky? Do you need water, food, extra pillows, your father's jacket?" Wednesday started to fuss and Josephine just smiled.

"My father's jacket, and some water please? Mon trésor." Josephine switched her language and it took Wednesday by surprise. The double-braid girl didn't know Josephine knew two languages.

"What was that last part, was it French? You speak LSF?" Wednesday was almost enthusiastic about this discovery. Josephine nodded as she watched her soulmate question her multi-lingual background. "Never mind, Cara Mia. I'll be back." And before Wednesday could register what she was doing, she kissed Josephine on the top of her head (like she had seen her father do so many times). "I shall be back." Wednesday left without another word.

Josephine was being tortured by Nurse Fortescue couldn't a girl just almost die in peace? Finally the short haired woman went on break and Josephine got to talk with Nurse Lucky about her condition. How someone slipped copper (which is more of a sedative and too much can send someone like Josephine into a deadly coma). However, Nurse Lucky wasn't concerned with her condition because if the woman knows anything it's that: the devil works hard but Josephine Monroe works harder. Josephine had finished all her work and placed it down by the time Wednesday had gotten back with Josephine's things all of her work was done.

"You finished a week and a half with of homework in half an hour?" Wednesday raised an eyebrow as she gave the jacket that belonged to Josephine's father along with her water bottle. "Nevermind that." Wednesday waves her hand dismissing her own question before sitting down in the chair she had been in before Josephine's had woken up.

Josephine pushed her self up and started to chug her water, making Wednesday laugh. Josephine smiled as she turned to her soulmate. "I heard what you said, when I was in the coma. Yes, I did know. I know you— and you have never been the type of girl to be in a friendship, much less a relationship." Josephine admitted and all Wednesday could do is admired her.

"I would make an exception for you. Josephine, you have never judged me for what my interests, like Enid. Cara Mia, you don't stop me from investigating the monster that is out there, like Tyler. You don't hold me back from befriending who I want, like Xavier." Wednesday put her hand on Josephine's cheek before pulling Josephine into a soft kiss on the lips. "Go to the Rave'n with me?" Wednesday whispered as they both pulled away.

"Yes, of course I would. And, just for shits and giggles. We should go snoop through Xavier's art studio." Josephine's enthusiastic answer made Wednesday smile, a genuine Wednesday Addams smile. Wednesday nodded, Josie knows how much figuring out the monster in the woods, so who is she to stop her. Because there was something in the woods, and it's coming.

🦇

Josephine was called to Wednesday's from out of no where, so naturally, she was concerned. So to see Wednesday dressed up and ready to go on some kind it mission. "We are going on an unauthorized trip to the morgue, as, a," Wednesdays mouth went dry, "date." Wednesday managed to croak out as Josephine gave a silent laugh. "Whatever, Dr. Kinbott tells me I should get out more. She says I need to open my mind to new people and experiences." Wednesday monologues as they walked out of the dorm and out of the school, walking through the woods. "Who am I to argue with her professional clichés?"

"You're so serious." Josephine walked side by side with Wednesday, slowly grabbing her hand.

"While I do the autopsy, you find the files of the monster's other victims and make copies." Thing tapped loudly against the once they had gotten into the morgue. Wednesday placed her black bubblegum onto the camera that would see them. "Don't pout. Your scalpel skills are questionable. Do you remember my 13th birthday, when Uncle Fester gave me that cadaver? You sliced right through that man's carotid." Wednesday reminisced which made Josephine give a silent chuckle. Thing tapped aggressively multiple times, making Wednesday sighed. "No." Wednesday looked at Thing with a stern look. "No." Wednesday inhaled sharply as she looked over at the body drawers.

"Magnificent hematoma. There you are. Thursday, 7:23 p.m. The body is that of a 50-year-old male. Lacerations and defensive wounds appear on both hands. What remains of the chest and torso indicates a frenzied attack. Subject has been almost entirely disemboweled." Wednesday read aloud to Josephine. Before waving Josephine over, "This is curious."

"Subject's left foot is missing." Josephine pointed out as she looked over Wednesday's short shoulder to read the paper.

"It appears to have been chewed off at the ankle." Wednesday continued before looking at Thing. "Have you seen a left foot anywhere?" Thing gave frantic tapping singles as he game back from the copier (which Wednesday had sent him off to do). "Calm down. Who's coming?" Wednesday nodded at his taps before she climbed into the body drawer.

Josephine thought about a snake, then she found herself as a snake. She was a small blue corn snake and she made her way over under a table, where she could spy on whatever was happening. "Appreciate you coming back to the office, Doc." Sheriff Gladpin walked into the room.

"No problem, Sheriff. Whatever I can do to help. Whatever or whoever is responsible for these killings, In all my years, I've never seen injuries like them." The doctor responded, then there was a clattering noise. "I thought you should see this before I issued my report on the latest victim. It's a real noodle-scratcher." The doctor explained. "The killer cut off two toes from the victim's left foot. Best guess, they used a surgical saw. The final autopsy report's still pending."

"Minute you're done, send it straight to my desk. Media blackout on the toes." Sheriff Gladpin asked— or well more demanded.

"Sure thing, Sheriff. Been a busy couple of weeks, huh? At least I'm going out in style. Friday's my last day." The doctor replied happily.

"Happy retirement, Doc." The sheriff responded with optimism.

"Gonna surprise Mrs. Anwar with a four-week cruise. Excited to trade rib shears for Mai Tais. See yourself out. I'll lock up." After Dr. Anwar's words there was in eerie silence where nothing happened. "I don't remember this one coming in. Full rigor. You've been dead a while. Guess you won't mind waiting another day for me to cut you open." The doctor opened up Wednesday's compartment and monologues before closing the compartment up and leaving. Josephine wiggled out from under the table in her blue corn snake. The snake-transforming girl walked over the Wednesday's compartment and opened it up.

"Five more minutes. I was just getting comfortable." Wednesday watched as Josephine raised an eyebrow before becoming her little corn snake and laying on Wednesday's chest.