Dendrophylax lindenii
“See ya Wenya! - So Thing, how should we start are pseudo spa day?… Manies? Of course you’d say that.”
Wednesday slightly wrinkled her nose. “You spoil him Enid.”
Enid shot her a quick glare before resuming her lively conversation with the severed hand.
Oh how the mighty have fallen.
Wednesday made her way through Ophelia hall with purpose, the lingering pockets of students shuffling out of her way. It was Friday and the last period just started, the buzz in the air from the upcoming weekend (and Bash) was practically smothering.
For her, weekends were the time to get real work done. Weekends were designated for finding her stalker or snooping around Crackstone’s everlasting legacy…or adding an extra chapter or two to her novel.
She was only able to skim through the files she received from Thing. Her classes this term were evidently more tedious and time consuming than she’d like to admit. No doubt Weem’s altered her schedule, believing she needed a more advance course load.
How flattering.
But she did manage to acquire an important detail from her brief flip through. Laurel Gates was buried in Jericho in the public cemetery (The Gates’s will didn’t clarify the specifics of where a person should be buried a second time). She figured she’d pay a quick visit on her way to scout out the police station for weak points. Nothing was completely impenetrablel, even the most sturdiest of fortresses start to crack when prodded correctly.
Once Wednesday got acclimated to the work load, she’d have plenty of free time to prod wherever she pleased.
Liking poking into her stalker more. They’ve been suspiciously quiet as of late, but she supposes she hasn’t done anything noteworthy these past few days either.
Wednesday pushed through the heavy doors of the halls, mentally sifting through her minds catalogue on all things related to her stalker.
She was correct to assume that they would be a student. It could account for the lack of activity as well as they too would be acclimating to the new semester. She wasn’t sure what type of outcast they were, or if that even played into the matter, but she wasn't one to leave any stones unturned.
She went down her list of suspects starting with Xavier, who she always seemed to run into now days. She suspects that was mostly his doing, as he always finds a way to bring up his previous offer to teach her to paint. Her answer was always the same, she’ll take him up on his offer when she gets the chance. It wasn’t for a lack of interest in his new abilities, she just didn’t have the time to dedicate a whole night to them.
But when he wasn’t spending his free time with her, he was off on his own or with their classmates. Another new revelation, the lone artist has seemingly found a group worth spending time with. It was far from being a normal occurrence for him and the company he kept was far from ground breaking. It comprised of familiar faces like Yoko and Ajax and sometimes Divina and Kent. But by far the most common ones she saw were Caspian, Ajax, Bianca, and Enid. But compared to last term, where he was almost always on his own, it was a noteworthy development. With the being said, he still spent most of his time alone in his studio. She can imagine it was next to impossible to try and lose yourself in your craft with Caspian and Enid bantering next to you.
That brings her to Enid, who should be the easiest suspect to investigate as she quite literally lives with her. Wednesday even had a 4th spare during the week, she could easily sift through her belonging for evidence. But Wednesday has been putting off actively trying to persecute Enid. She can easily prove her innocence but just as easily prove her guilt. It was a stupid reason and she was stalling, she knows that. She was ashamed to admit that she was willingly turning a blind eye to a prime suspect just because it may inconvenience her. But as long as no other soul knows about that hiccup in her logic, she would take all the time she needed to mentally prepare for that outcome.
The only person she could really consider ruling out was Bianca, but even then she wasn’t particularly sold on. Yes she was in Botany class when she arrived, but Wednesday measured the time it would take to double back to the dinning hall and sprint to Botany. Bianca could've made it back in time without breaking a sweat. She would need to ask the students in that class if they noticed her come in a little later than usual. But she has a sinking suspicion they would be less than cooperative. Oh well, torture always seemed to work for her.
With her prime suspects splayed out in-front of her, she chewed on her bottom lip. The stalker was someone unassuming, someone her eyes automatically skimmed over in a crowd. Someone who’s constant device usage or staring wouldn’t be of notice to her. It was someone who had a reason to despise her so much as to shadow her constantly. All her suspects fit the bill to varying degrees of success, but none fit perfectly just yet.
Interesting.
She would’ve loved to make more headway on the issue during her spare today, but she unfortunately had other things planned for her.
Wednesday entered the courtyard, the crisp late-winter wind licking at her face. She eyed the various pockets of huddling students outside, they're breaths forming barely visible clouds of mist. Her eyes fell on the humming car infront of her.
Why Weems decided to move her court appointed therapy session was beyond her.
She flung the door open.
“Weem’s I don’t understand why this couldn’t wait for Mond-”
She stopped mid sentence, her eyes went round as they landed on the startled figure already inside.
Caspian stared back at her in surprise. “You?” He accused, barely hiding his objection.
“You.” She glowered back.
“Ahhh so I see you, two have met.”
Wednesday whipped her head to the voice that was evidently not Weem’s. It was a much elderly lady who Wednesday thought shouldn't be within 10 feet of a steering wheel. She recognized her as the head of the Seer department. She new she didin’t have the gift that she had, but the way her grey eyes studied her unnerved Wednesday nonetheless.
“Professor Botfick, when you offered to take me in to town, I didn’t know it’d be,” Caspian gave Wednesday a once over “At a cost.”
Wednesday ignored him. “I was told my session next week was moved up, there must be some sort of mis-”
“Ahh no mistake my darling. Now come in take a seat! Cherish your back while you still can!” The woman cried out. Wednesday sat down, closing the car door.
What a turn this day just took.
“Weem’s had some surprise business matters to attend to in Egypt, she requested I take over some responsibilities while she's away. I saw I had to drive two students into town on separate days and…” The woman paused for a good while. Wednesday was sure she forgot they were even in the car for a moment there. “And I thought. why not spare me two trips? I’m not as, outdoors inclined as I once was.” She babbled on.
Wednesday side eyed Caspian, who sat crossed armed in his seat .“And why does he need to head into town?”
“uhhh that’s a good question…” The old professor’s forehead creased, as if straining to remember.
“I need to pick up some things.” Caspian said after some time.
“What things?”
“None of you-”Caspian bit his tongue, running a hand through his hair. “Clothes, school supplies, things of that sort.-um if you don’t mind me asking, are we going to start moving any time soon?” He inquired, leaning over the console.
“Not until the young girl puts her seat belt on.” The elderly lady said, placing her glasses precariously on her nose.
Caspian sat back down with a heave, gesturing at Wednesday.
“Very well Addams, let’s get this show on the road.”
Wednesday carefully plucked the seat belt from it resting place, eyeing it with contempt. Addams’s don’t wear seat belts, but she suppose it was a small price to pay to get her therapy sessions over and done with.
But it was quickly apparent to Wednesday that she could’ve gotten there faster if she walked.
“How fast does this thing go?” Caspian muttered, eyes darting around the slow moving tree line outside.
She sent him a sidelong look. “You seem to be in a rush.”
“I wasn’t aware preventing the needless loss of time was enough to be considered as, in a rush. ” Caspian bit out.
Wednesday blinked. “Touchy today are we?
He let out a toneless chuckle. “Now why are you heading into town Addams?
“Court ordered therapy sessions.”
“Why am I not surprised…what did you do, let loose a rabid swarm of flesh eating gnats on the local sweets shop?”
Wednesday tilted her head at his rather specific guess. “I failed to dispose my brother’s bullies. Piranhas were far less effective than anticipate, though…the screaming was worth it.”
He finally tore his eyes away from the window to appraise her. “Of bloody course you did.”
They sat in silence for while but Caspian couldn’t stop shuffling in his seat. He was more snappy today, some would even go as far to say he was down right rude. It amused Wednesday, but his incessant leg bouncing did annoy her to no end.
“Stop bouncing your leg before I chop it off.”
“I’d like to see you try.” He snorted.
She turned to him seriously.
“We both know that I’m more than capable of that.”
“You don’t scare me Addams.”
Her jaw clenched. “A deadly miscalculation on your part.”
“You know,” He wet his tight smirk. “your whole shtick with this… this sadistic nonsense you have going on, it gets old pretty fast.”
“Bold of you to assume I care what other people think.” Wednesday narrowed her eyes at him. He of all people should know that. Perhaps she gave him too much credit after all, or perhaps he was finally starting to crack.
He stayed quiet again, eventually crossing his leg over his bouncing knee.
Wednesday decided to press him further. “What happened to your supplies Caspian?”
”Ah” He sneered to himself. “Finally, I thought it'd never come…the questioning, and new record at that! Took you a whole 5 minutes this time around…They got lost on the way here.”
“How?”
“I dunno they just went missing.” He said bluntly.
Caspian was evidently not acting like himself at all. He would’ve crafted a better lie than that. He was anxious for some odd reason, it was making him restless and quick tempered.
“Why so nervous?” She said after some time.
“What, you care for my wellbeing now?” He risked a glance at her before turning away. “Have you ever realized that maybe...possibly, there's a chance I don’t like being in confined spaces with you? Though I shouldn’t be surprised. You did jus say, you haven’t given much thought to how you affects others.”
Wednesday pursed her lips. That was an acceptable answer she supposed, she's been told she had that effect on people. But she couldn’t help but think back to her mind map of him. Caspian was a lounging panther, not a caged flighty cat. She caught a glimpse of his eyes in the windows reflection. She smirked a bit at what she saw. It was almost comedic how much he revealed through his eyes. He would make for a pretty deceiving lier if he could tame them.
Because it was as clear as day to her that something had him worried, and it wasn’t the car ride nor her presence.
Ok, perhaps it was a bit of her presence.
They finally made it to town, Ms.Botfick twisting the engine to a stop.
“Alright Ms. Addams, your new therapist should be waiting for you inside. Mr.Lee, I doubt we can gather all your supplies in under an hour. So Ms.Addams will accompany us for the rest of the excursion.”
“Oh I don’t think that’ll be nessecary. I assure you, I'll be able to gather what I need in no time. In fact,” Caspian's eyes practically lit up. “you should probably stay here. I wouldn’t want to needlessly strain you when we’d be leaving so soon.”
The elderly lady smiled. “How sweet of you dear, but I was given strict orders not to let any students out of my sight. I'll have to accompany you. However,” The weary teacher sighed, as if imaging the tedious walk around town. “if you wish to expedite the process, I don’t mind if you run off a head. Just tell me which store you’ll be in and I’ll meet you there on my own time.”
She turned to Wednesday “Best be off Ms. Addams, I’m told they got an excellent substitute for Ms.Kinbot.”
The therapist didn't last 20 minutes before needing to take a mental break. She supposed she did better than most, but it was a far cry from what Kinbot was able to draw from her. Either way, Wednesday promptly slid the window to the washroom shut.
Time to get down to business.
She waltzed over to the town church, receiving some skeptical gazes but most onlookers tend to look the other way. Wednesday loved how predictable people can be. They shout and yell about keeping students out of Jericho, but when it comes to actually doing anything about it, they turn a blind eye. Spineless hypocrites, all of them. Wednesday remembered telling a wailing Enid that Jericho will open up in no less than a month. They’ll quickly realize that the students was of no danger to them and more importantly, just how much their economy relied on the them.
But with all that being said, she decided to stick to the back streets, just to cover her bases.
She made the brisk walk to the cemetery, the last remnants of snow clinging to the aging headstones. She marched up and down the rows of graves, glancing over each of the names before she caught something out of the corner of her eye. She stopped in her tracks, pivoting to squint at it. It was something…foreign.
She cut through rows of gravestones till she was standing directly over it.
Lying on the base of fresh headstone was a lone Dendrophylax lindenii or as Bianca would choose to call it, The Ghost Orchid. It was shrivelled and wilting but it still held some structure when she picked it up. It was one of Laurel’s personal favourite. The same flower she introduced during their first class. She glanced quickly to the owner and sure enough, ‘Laurel Gates, 1981-2022’.
Somebody already paid her a visit.
She placed the flower back down on the tombstone, the revelation sinking in.
The only person she could think of was Tyler, but he should be about half way upstate by now. Besides, it would be extremely risky to return to town just to place a flower out of…what… respect? Respect for his former master who manipulated him into doing terrible things? Then again, she wasn’t completely sure how master-hyde relationships functioned. Maybe he developed some form of Stockholm syndrome while under her, or perhaps his shackles wasn't broken by death…
She checked the time. She’d be expected to meet Botflick in 20 minutes, she wanted to pass by the police station to give it a quick look over before heading back.
She turned on her heel towards that direction when she caught sight of a flash of purple in the tree line a head.
She froze.
Caspian?
She quickened her strides, breaking into a full out jog when his form disappeared behind the foliage.
He was up to something. She knew it. Whatever business he had in this town had him on edge. She’d finally be able to catch him in the act. But she couldn’t lose him, not now. She can put an end to this once and for all and get on with the rest of her plan. Whatever he was hiding, no matter how dirty or scandalous, she’ll see. The consequence of her finding out however, she’ll decidedly deal with later. She burst through the leaves, stopping right before she bumped into his body.
Safe to say she was not expecting him to be standing right there.
“what the-…Addams!” He practically jumped from her, taking a couple steps back. He was pointing what appears to be a ruler at her direction.
“Tell me what’s going on Caspian.” She snarled.
“What? Where-..I thought you-”
“Enough with the games. I know you’re up to something, I know you and Weem’s are hiding a bigger conspiracy.”
“Wednesday you-you got it all wron-”
“Oh really? Misplaced evidence, poorly constructed cover ups, half baked answers to your mysterious arrival. Somehow, you've got Weems, Sheriff Galpin, the whole town covering for you. So believe me when I say my suspicions are justly warranted. Now tell me, what are you do right now Caspi-”
“I was taking a piss alright!”
Her mind went blank, she blinked once, then twice. “What?”
“I was gonna- y’know” He gestured exasperatedly.
She shook her head. “Yes I know what a male does when they must relieve themselves.”
“Perfect!” He threw his hands up. “Then there's no mystery here. I was running around trying to get all my school supplies I didin’t have time to stop for a break. I figured a quick pit stop in the bushes would do. I though ‘what are the odds of coming across someone here’, but I guess I was sorely mistaken.”
She appraised his awkward shifting figure. He was flushing now, from the cold air or their interaction she couldn’t be sure. She begrudgingly admitted that it made sense, but her eye latched onto the object he held in his right hand.
“If you were about to use the washroom, why were you waving ruler around?” The second she asked that her mind began to wander.
What would someone of the male species need with a ruler when they were just about to pull their…
Oh…Oh
Wednesday felt her eyes widen as she took a step back, Caspian seemingly coming to the same conclusion as well.
“WHAT no? Ugh Addams that disgust-why would you. No…NO…I wasn't going to… I just-” If it were any possible his cheeks reddened even more.
Caspian took in a deep, deep breath. “There were bug- insects, around I was swatting them away.”
“Insects, in winter?” Her voice was more shakier than she’d like. She cleared her throat, her mind a burning mess. She was trying to actively prevent herself from visualizing Caspian with his ruler in one hand and...
She felt her cheeks burn.
“Well I swear I felt them alright! And-and may I ask you what you’re doing here exactly? Your session doesn’t end for another 10 minutes.”
“I left early.” She straighten her posture, willing her intrusive thoughts away.
“I didin’t know you could do that.”
“You can’t.”
They stood in silence, both unable to look the other in the eyes. What a turn the day took. Never in all her speculation of the boy did she think she'd ever be placed in such an odd situation. A gust of wind seemed to break him out of his revere.
“Well ok then…that solves that.” He said, wiping his hands on his blazer.
“I guess it does.”
“So…we’re good here?”
“Yes…”
“I can get on with my…business then?”
“I suppose.”
He slowly went to turn around, stopping when she made no effort to move.
“Soo why are you still standing there?”
“Well go on then.” She said stiffly.
In any other situation she would’ve cherished the comical way his face contorted in mortified realization. However, she was currently forcing herself to maintain eye contact while simultaneously willing her own pulse to a slow down.
“What do you-” He stammered, smiling oddly as if he didn’t fully believe it. “No no no no you don’t actually… you do!Addams I can-, “ His mouth hung in horror. “I can’t fathom to explain how weird that is.”
She swallowed a lump in her throat. “I want to see if you’re telling the truth. I don’t see what the problem is, I’ll barely see anything if you-”
“Barley see anythin- You don’t just ask someone to- ”
He stopped himself, freezing up as he ran his hands through his hair.
“I’m not leaving Caspian.” She affirmed, crossing her arms to show just how serious she was.
She wasn’t sure what insight she’ll gain from…watching him,....but she was a thorough individual. Or perhaps her mind simply wasn’t working properly at the moment.
“Merlins beard…you're insane, actually, utterly insane.” he stressed. For the first time since she met him, he sent her a pleading look. A white flag perhaps? She was just glad her eyes didn’t betray her true emotions like Caspian does, as she sent him her blankest stare.
He swallowed in defeat. “Can you at least…y’know turn around?”
She paused. “Fine.” She promptly pivoted on her heel, letting out a shaky breath that mystified the instant it left her mouth. She closed her eyes, trying to gather her bearings. This was silly, to get all worked up over something as basic as human anatomy. She was just caught off guard thats all. Yes that precisely it. Her mind wasn’t in the right place for such a topic.
Once she was confident that she had her breath under control, she cocked her head a bit.“What’s tak-”
“Shut up! I'm having performance issues.” He muttered something under his breath (probably some curses directed at her) before Wednesday got the confirmation she needed.
“Y’know, this fucked up right? and I’m pretty sure this is illegal.” He said mid way through, muttering some more choice words under his breath.
After a while it stopped. She heard Caspian shuffle around, taking it as her chance to do the same.
“Merlin that was disgusting…” He said, closing his eyes before opening them at Wednesday’s continued silence. “What?…you wanna check the colour too? Wanna see if it measures up to your standards?” He half sneered before shuddering.
“I hope you’re happ- Actuallly… I don’t care if you are or if I’ve even satisfied this…freaky obsession you have with me.”
She ground her teeth. “I am not obsessed.”
“Oh really now Addams?” He chuckled heartlessly at her. “You’re not obsessed? Would a non obsessed individual have asked someone to take a leak in-front of them? Yeah you’re convincing no one here.”
She tore her gaze from his, biting her tongue. She reluctantly admits he gave a very valid point. Perhaps Thing was right, she was to preoccupied with him. It was interfering with her work and her own self. She shelved the idea.
“You’re hiding something Caspian Lee, and it scares you to know that I’m precariously close to discovering your secret.” She chose, narrowing her eyes.
“What scares me is the lengths you’re willing to go for this fantasy you have about me!” Caspian side stepped her, quickly striding out of the woods. She ran to catch up with him
“Something happened here last week.”
“You’re delusional.”
“You froze that car!”
“Addams!” He stopped, spinning to glare down at her.
“I tried being patient with you. I really did… I thought maybe you were just a very untrusting individual, perhaps a little weird and obsessive but who isn't? But no, you’re just bored girl and for some reason you’ve chosen me to entertain you! So I’m going to say this for the last time or else I’m going to Weems. There’s no mystery…..nothing happened here last week, and I did.not.freeze.a.car!”
A car horn tore them from their heated exchange. They spun around to face Ms.Botfick crawling down the street towards them.
Caspian all but ran from her, Wednesday following behind in a slow stroll.
She forced the urge to pinched the bridge of her nose. Caspian was trying his very hardest to be a dead end for her. But it'll be exponentially harder to push against that dead end, now that the threat of Weems entered the mix. Perhaps she should refrain from pushing the boy too hard, just for a little while until whatever's gotten him rilled up passes over. But she was sure by then the trail would've gone cold. She was at an impasse. If she pulls the thread that is Caspian Lee, potentially getting expelled in the process (given how serious the mystery is), then she'll never find who her stalker was, or what Tyler was up to, or who left the flower on Laurel Gates grave. Was the mystery of Caspian Lee worth all that? Perhaps one of these days she should take Enid and Thing up on their spa activities. If she intends to keep up with this level of absurdity for the rest of the term, she’d need a fully functioning mind.
She flung the door open, slouching inside.
What a turn this day took