Puzzle Piece
Wednesday despises time travel as a concept.
She wasn't talking in the scientific sense - though she has many thoughts on that as well- rather in the literary sense. As a narrative device. It's a rather lazy tool used to create formulaic self-indulgent plots. Plots filled with holes and a level of believability that shatter the instant a second thought is spared
But crouching here behind a dead log in the middle of the night, she couldn't help but ponder its luxuries. What she'd use it for. Like warning her past self about the dangers of dealing with Nevermore's one and only wizard.
Caspian Lee was going to be the death of her.
If Wednesday told herself this at the beginning of term, it would've fed into her suspicion about him. If she told herself this after the bash and her visions, it would've confirmed it. If she told herself this after the call with her mother, it would barely be a surprise at that point.
But this? No warning would've prepared her for this.
She would've called it dumb luck if it didn't happen at an impossibly constant rate.
Here she thought he was clever, cunning, and dare she say, suave. He has shown the ability to be that, but it would appear there was another side to the coin.
The brashness. The gall. The audacity. The lackadaisicalness.
He was both a panther and a panda. One survived off of skill and opportunism, and the other stumbles through life and still somehow survives.
Perhaps it was better when they were on a 'glare' and 'side glance' only basis. Wednesday doesn't think she can take any more of his 'brilliant' ideas.
She studied Caspian as he studied the police station. He glanced quickly at her before narrowing his eyes. “Something to share with the class Addams?”
“If this is as far as you go-”
“Stop trying to get me to bail yeah?” Caspian squared his shoulders. “Whether you like it or not, I gave you my word. I'll help you”
“I don't even know if I want your help anymore.” She murmured, giving him a disapproving once over. The only things he's done were give her mini heart attacks and mental facepalms. Both of which she could've done without.
“You can't blame me for the chapel. The geezer came out of nowhere! I had to think on my toes. Mind you, not as easy to do when the only things you know about Jesus is presents and Saint Nicholas.”
“We do things my way this time. No fires, no Christmas, no fun, can I be any clearer?” She locked eyes with him.
Caspian gestured half-heartedly. “After you Addams.”
“Caspian…” She growled.
“I swear it, bloody hell…”
She lingered on him as if her death glare alone could get her point across. But it would seem he was impervious to her effects. He even dared to look slightly offended.
She adjusted her binoculars with a sigh. She had a good view of the backside of the building from their vantage point. Thanks to her numerous visits with Sheriff Galpin, she's memorized the layout down to the broken water cooler.
“1 security camera monitoring the service entrance, 5 inside.” She knits her brows. “We'll need to loop their feed so I can work freely.”
She brought up the small radio her mother sent her, lowering the volume in her left earbud. “I've been listening in on their channels. There are a few officers in the building. We need them cleared out so I can get what I need.”
“And what is that exactly?”
She narrowed her eyes.
“Right...still classified,” Caspian sighed, brushing his hair. “I thought we were starting over, right?”
She tore her eyes away. She wasn't sure it was wise to trust him with such vital information after what she just witnessed. But then again, his help would prove valuable. And try as she might, she couldn't ignore the very useful skills he brought to the table.
Before she could respond the back door swung open, both she and Caspian ducking instinctively.
A policeman came sauntering out, shivering at the cold. He had an unlit cigarette in one hand, and a cup of steaming coffee in the other. He dawned a thick mustache, contrasting the blush on his white cheeks.
He leaned against the brick wall underneath the dim lamp light, placing the paper cup on the window ledge. He rubbed his hands aggressively before producing a lighter, fiddling with the flame much to his vocal frustrations.
Wednesday tilted her head, her smirk growing with the plan in her mind. “Lure him to the tree line.”
Caspian gave her a look before wordlessly drawing his wand. She seized up slightly only to relax again when he pointed it away. He glanced around for a while before finally finding his target. A lone fast food container.
Wednesday was all for world annihilation, but she'd rather it be through something more spectacular than the slow suffocation of the human race.
She strained her ears as he muttered something under her breath. Latin? French? Ancient tongue? Whatever it was, it caused a vivid red spark to shoot out of his wand. The garbage suddenly warped and contorted every which way.
She arched her brows high when the Styrofoam turned into a fidgeting snow hare. Caspian was one step away from pulling a rabbit out of a hat, but she admits this was a far more impressive feat.
Wednesday couldn't help but watch as the hare began hopping down the hill, approaching the forest border just a dozen meters ahead.
She hesitated. “What are the ethical implications wit-”
“I don't like thinking about it either.”
She sent him an alarmed sideways glance. From his stiffness and the odd intensity he gave the bouncing bunny, she deduces he either doesn't know or doesn't want to know. Caspian just went from powerful magic wielder to producer of intelligent life. That was a leap in power levels she was not prepared to deal with. She's spent too much mental energy on the boy already. She needs to save some for the mission at hand.
The hare reached the edge, crossing over from the forest floor onto the stiff concrete parking lot. The man took a long sip of his drink before catching sight of the creature. He leaned forward as if his eyes were deceiving him, but didn't budge.
“One hare isn't doing it,” Wednesday brought the binoculars up. “Send in the reinforcements.”
She heard Caspian shuffle awkwardly before releasing a small 'ah' of understanding. He procured half a dozen more hares from more garbage. Due to his repeated muttering, she deduced he was speaking some form of Latin, but the exact words she wasn't sure of.
When he was done, they had a sizeable litter of different sizes and colors. That was sure to get the mustached man's attention.
She watched their mini army descend upon the unsuspecting policeman before turning to Caspian. “This is where you pay attention now. Got it?”
“I don't appreciate the tone-”
“Well I didn't appreciate you wishing the priest a happy Christmas but here we are.”
He winced. “You heard all that?”
“Unfortunately.” She murmured, shaking her head. “When he comes to the edge, I need you to spill his coffee on his shirt, and make it look like an accident.”
“Really?” Caspian rolled his eyes. “I was planning to wack it out of his hands so thanks for the clarification.”
She rubbed her temples. “Do you ever stop talking?”
“Well when it-”
“That was a rhetorical question." She snapped. "You do have those in your universe, don't you?
“As a matter of fact we-” Caspian bit his tongue at her glare.
“Anything else vexatiously witty to add or shall I continue?” She didn't wait for his response, “When he goes back inside - while translucent - retrace his footsteps, and slip in behind the door. Stay hidden...” She paused, sending him a glare as if daring him to say something sarcastic.
Thankfully for both their sakes, he stayed silent.
“There should be a room directly to your left with three screens. That's the security office, where they monitor the cameras. Wait for someone to open it before slipping in. Once in, wait under the desk for my call. You brought your phone right?”
Caspian nodded.
“Give me your number.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Your phone Caspian.”
“Oh, sure…”
He fished out his device, opening it before handing it to her like it was some mythical object. Ironic since he was quite literally toying with one in his other hand.
Wednesday inspected his phone. It was impossibly clean. It was either he barely used it, or he was meticulously organized. She glanced at him.
She quickly concluded it was the former.
Out of curiosity, she swiped up to check his recent apps. He only had two, Spotify and Safari. He had an alarming amount of notifications for his various social media. It would appear that like her, he seldom checked it.
She was tempted to sift through his phone further but held back, putting her number in. She hesitated at the name portion, her eyes darting up to find him distracted with the hares.
After some deliberation, she punched in 'Addams'.
“What about the people inside?” He asked when she handed his phone back.
“I'll handle it, just make sure you're out of the way.”
“Ok…I think I follow… Spill the beverage, follow the steps, wait for the door, hide under the table, and stay invisible. Easy enough.” He barely finished before flourishing his wand, his body shimmering translucent.
“Caspian!” She grasped for him, grabbing nothing but air. “Stay quiet.”
“As if you need to-”
She sent a sobering look in his general direction.
“I mean…Of course! Quiet as a Joberknoll.”
She shook her head, eyes following his imprints in the snow. Caspian better not mishandle this or she'll have to explain to Xavier why his roommate suddenly moved to Tasmania with no intention of returning.
The wave of snow Hares came to a stop at the forest line. Wednesday turned her binoculars to the now-approaching policeman. She watched as he stood incredulously over the leaping litter, cigarette hanging precariously from the corner of his agape mouth.
He eventually crouched down when a baby hare hopped on his shoe.
Suddenly, the bottom of his coffee cup erupted, sending the scalding liquid splattering squarely in his lap.
“Gosh darn it!” He yelped along with other obscenities that would have a nun blushing. It was so loud she was sure the whole town heard.
The hares dispersed back into the trees. The corner of her mouth quirked when a black ball of fur flew through the air, the man bunting one by accident.
After fruitlessly dusting off the liquid, he promptly spun on his heel, making the awkward walk back to the door. Wednesday had a small spillage in mind, not whatever that was. At least it ensured he would retreat rather than tough it out.
The man opened the trash bin, tossing the cup in without closing it. She muses that was probably why the forest area around the building was so filthy. He was about to open the door when he suddenly whipped his head back.
Wednesday clutched her binoculars.
He must've heard something because, from her quick scan, she didn't see anything. She couldn't tell if Caspian was right behind him or a couple steps away.
She held her breath as he scanned over his shoulder, squinting slightly. It must've only been a handful of seconds, but it felt like hours before he finally wrenched the door open. She let out a misted breath when it jerked unnaturally before fully closing shut.
Caspian was in.
To say Wednesday had her doubts would be an understatement. However, deep down beneath her black heart, she knew he could pull off such an operation. After all, one doesn't simply evade her investigative tactics off sheer dumb luck alone.
She waited a few seconds before procuring a tape recorder and FM transmitter from her bag. She rewound the tape, the inverted voices vaguely reminding her of high-pitched cult chanting.
After, she checked the radio was on the right channel before taking off her snood, wrapping it meticulously. She then adjusted the knobs and dials on her transmitter, blocking out long-range radio signals while allowing short-range ones. With all that set, she placed everything carefully on the frozen log.
She gave Caspian more time to steer clear of any high-traffic areas before rolling up her sleeves. She held down the radio-speak button with one hand and pressed play on the tape recorder with the other.
“This is 89 to base, we need all available units at 10-20 for a 10-58, over.” Sherrif Galpins muffled voice came booming from the device.
A pause. "10-9, you're a little muffled over?”
Wednesday rewound the tape. “This is 89 to base, we need all available units at 10-20 for a 10-58, over.”
“Um,” The cackling voice hesitated. “We were ordered to stay put…over?”
Wednesday rolled her eyes, winding the tape forward. Of course, the only competent officer in town answered her. “We're dealing with multiple drawn out 10-50s, calling for back up, over.”
No response. The branches above her swayed with the night breeze. “Who is this?”
She rewound the tape further, unwrapping the snood a bit to clear up the sound. “God damnit Valquez! Your ass better be en-route or else you'll be pulling double shifts on march madness! You hear me?”
Wednesday waited patiently for his response, bringing the radio up to her ear. “10-4…” The voice whimpered. “On our way…over.”
Satisfied, she placed the items back in her bag. She was well-versed with Lieutenant Valquez. His voice was the white noise for her recent study marathons. She didn't know what a 'March Madness' was, but Valquez seemed extremely excited about it.
The door flew open, and a total of four men flooded out. Wednesday gripped her phone patiently.
“Donovan wants us up there?”
“I think it was him- wait? What happened to your pants? Pissed yourself, McCormack?”
A chorus of groans broke out amongst the group.
“Again McCormack?”
“I told you not to watch that movie - “
“They make adult-sized diapers, I can get them for you-”
“Ohh shut the fuck up the lot of yous! That was one sodding time! One time! I spilled coffee on myself. Since you're all so quick to bust my balls, why don't cha give 'em' a sniff yeah?... Hmmm? No takers?”
“I'll take your word, McCormack.”
“Classic McCormack.”
They shut the doors to their cruisers, their lights and siren blaring to life. McCormack was also a familiar name to her. He was usually the reason why Galpin kept barking 'keep the coms clear' at Valquez.
She waited until the sirens were out of earshot before dialing Caspian's phone. It took an unusual amount of rings before he finally picked up.
“Alright, I bought us 30 minutes.”
“…What did you do?” His electronic voice asked tentatively.
She shook her head. “Unimportant, are you in the room?”
“Yes, by the way, this desk is bloody minuscule, thanks for the heads up.”
“You wanted to help me, remember? Peak over the desk now.”
She heard movement accompanied by some hushed curses.
“Ok,” He grunted. “What am I looking for?”
“You should see one camera facing you and the exit. Do you have eyes?”
Caspian clicked his tongue for a few seconds. “Uh-huh, I see it.”
“Keep the phone nearby but out of sight. I'll have to walk you through it.”
“Walk me through wha-”
“Grab the mouse.”
“Excuse me?”
“Grab the mouse.” She repeated plainly.
There was a pause on the other end before more shuffling. Wednesday played with the tips of her braids, shivering at a cold gust of wind. She said she could handle it, which she could. She trained to withstand all forms of torture before she was twelve. That included extreme cold. She can withstand temperatures up to negative twenty-eight degrees. But that didn't mean she was completely impervious to the elements.
She furrowed her brows when the shuffling increased in volume. It was followed by much more cursing than necessary for what she asked.“What on earth are you doing?”
“Looking for the mouse,” Caspian grumbled voice far away. “Where's the enclosure?”
Wednesday blinked before it finally hit her. “The mouse is the lump of plastic beside the keyboard.”
“What? What are you on about? You said mouse-”
“I know what I said it's not an actual mouse it's-” Wednesday fought back an impatient sigh. “Just look beside the keyboard.”
“It better be a board housing various door keys or I swear to Merlin-”
“The keyboard has buttons labeled with the alphabet, do you see it?”
Wednesday bit the inside of her cheek. It would appear she quite literally needed to walk him through this, step by step. Lucky her.
“Ahh, I see. So this is a mouse…It doesn't resemble one at all. Looks more like-”
“Focus, Caspian.” Wednesday pinched the bridge of her nose, closing her eyes. This was just going swimmingly.
She drew in a calming breath. “Glide it along the desk to move the white arrow on the screen. Make sure not to make any big gestures, you're still being watched.”
“That doesn't sound ominous at all…” He muttered dryly. She heard the distinct sound of scraping plastic on wood. “Alright, I'm doing it.”
“Hover the white arrow over the camera facing you. Then click the right button on the mouse to select it.”
More scraping for a while, followed by a tactile click.
“Ok…I did it…something popped up beside the arrow.”
“Press the record button.”
“The what?”
“It should be a small filled-in circle, maybe it's red, with a ring around it. It should be in the…” Wednesday struggled for the proper terminology before giving up “In the rectangle that just came up.”
“ok…” He mumbled, kissing his teeth. “I think I found it.”
She huffed. “ 'Think', will have to do… Make sure you're not making any sudden movements, then click it with the left button. After 20 seconds, click it again.”
She heard the first tactile click. She played with the tips of her braid before the second click came exactly twenty seconds later.
“Now what?”
Wednesday blinked. That was a good question. She knew she had to loop the video but after everything that happened, it slipped her mind on exactly how . She searched through her memory bank, back to when Thing drilled it into her head.
“Addams?”
“Quiet, let me think.”
“You don't know how to do this either, do you?” He let out a satisfied scoff, his smirk oozing from the speaker.
“Thing usually deals with the technology I'll admit.” She conceded reluctantly.
Thing was the tech-savvy one. He was always scrambling the cameras and setting up the face times with serial killers. Wednesday never felt the need or want to learn modern technology. She saw the effects it had on her fellow students. Enslaving them to their devices. How they become lost empty corpses if it died on them. Some can't even study without music, let alone pass without the internet.
Wednesday exhaled, digging through her bag for the instructions. She was always prepared, even for her unlikely shortcomings.
She neatly unfolded the paper, eyes skimming over Thing's scrawling handwriting. “Now there should be a loop, a circle drawn from an arrow. It should be at the bottom of the screen.”
“Is it like two arrows creating a circle?”
“Yes. Press it.”
“Ok…done.”
“Now double check. Move something subtly, like a leaf or a plant.”
She heard rustling on the other end.
“Does it show up on the camera?”
“Nope.”
“Then we're in.” Wednesday let out a sigh of relief. “Do that for the back entrance. The rest I'll deal with once I'm inside.”
She could now relax a bit, shifting in her crouched position. Though, she still had to make sure he was doing it right. She eyed her surroundings while she counted the clicks and scraping. She flashed her eyes from the light dusting of snow on the nearby boulders to the hard dirt and bare trees. She half-heartily wondered what happened to all those snow hares. They couldn't possibly survive out in this weather for long.
She was about to ask, but Caspian beat her to it.
“Is Thing alright?”
Wednesday pursed her lips warily. “He's fine.”
She waited for his response.
“That's good…I uh…” He cleared his throat uncomfortably. “If he's still experiencing side effects after a couple weeks…it's best you call me yeah? I might be able to help.”
Wednesday chewed on her bottom lip. It was a… thoughtful gesture she decided. But she was more than capable of looking after her helping hand. “That won't be necessary. Besides, I prefer a message by raven or rat.”
“Oh...Fair enough I suppose.”
Wednesday decided not to ask him about the hares in case he tried offering his help again.
“Done.” Caspian panted proudly. “Time check?”
“23 minutes and 33 seconds left.” She drew her sleeve over her watch, waltzing down the hill. “Open the door for me.”
She was careful to keep in line with the officer's large footprints. She quickly realized that due to the nature of the spill, he walked in an unorthodox pattern. Caspian probably had trouble keeping up and made a noise that alerted him. It was poetic really. The more brazen you are, the more you pay for it. Karma at its finest.
She caught the door as it swung open without warning.
“Welcome to my humble abode.” Caspian crossed his arms, dawning what she's quickly realizing is his trademark half grin.
She rolled her eyes, scooting past him. It would seem his little slip-up did nothing to shake his confidence. To Caspian, karma wasn't the consequence of cockiness. It was simply the price. A price he would happily pay time and time again.
She revelled in the heat for a brief moment before striding into the nearby security room. She grabbed the mouse, placing it on its designated pad (it annoyed her how he didn't use it) to check the cameras.
“Does it suit your standards?” Caspian drawled after some time.
Wednesday bit her lip, moving on to work on the other cameras. “It's acceptable.”
“Is that a compliment Addams?”
“It's a statement.” She replied smoothly. ”If you get a dopamine hit, it's due to your Pavlovian response to my neutral words.”
She expertly looped the other camera feeds, triple checking them before darting out the door. She weaved through the halls of the small station straight to Galpin's office. His office was in the corner of the large sectioned room, the entrance and reception area a few steps away.
She wasted no time, dropping down before procuring her lock-picking tools.
“There you are…” Caspian came trodding behind her, a bit out of breath. “You're surprisingly fast.”
“And you're surprisingly slow.” She remarked dryly, feeling for the right clicks.
“Oh, picking locks are we?” He cleared his throat dramatically. “Allow me…Aloham-”
Wednesday felt the final click, the door floating ajar.
She shot up, raising her brow at his outstretched wand. “You were saying?” She couldn't help but throw a little cockiness back at him.
“Impressive...” He nodded, lowering his wand. “See? that was a compliment without all the needless fine print-.”
“I'm well aware of the difference.”
She briskly walked in, heading straight to the large file cabinet in the far corner. Since this town is so small, their records room was quite humble. Filled to the brim with DUIs and noise complaints. Yet the most important files were kept in Sherrif Galpin's office for obvious reasons.
She tugged the heavy drawer open, thumbing through the beige folders. She thought about drawing the blinds to the many windows of his office but decided against it. It would just be another piece of continuity she'd have to worry about when she'd sever the loop later on.
“Woah…is this little Galpin Jr?”
She paused in her thumbing, glancing over at Caspian behind Galpin's desk. He was holding up a framed picture. She didn't recall it being there on her previous visits.
“He seems much less threatening here without the frothing mouth and jagged claws.”
“Let me see.”
He turned it around. She knitted her brows. It was an exact copy of the photo she had. It was of him being held by his beady-eyed mother, Galpin awkwardly leaning over. She could've sworn Tyler said they had no pictures of her, but here Sherrif Galpin was with two.
“He has her eyes.” Caspian snickered, his own eyes going abnormally wide for added effect.
“Of course he does,” Wednesday responded stiffly, turning back around, “She was a Hyde.”
Caspian's snickering promptly stopped. “Oh…”
There was silence for a while. The only sound was the ruffling of papers as she drew files out.
“What happened to her,” He asked in a low tone.
Wednesday sighed heavily. “Died in a psychiatric hospital from postpartum depression.”
“Ahh…" He awkwardly coughed. "Not good...”
She heard movement behind him, followed by some light rummaging. Caspian was most likely snooping around, probably finding inspiration for more of his 'ingenious' jokes. She continued sifting, stopping on a particularly interesting file. She carefully plucked it from the cabinet.
'The Ansel Gates and Nevermore Academy Scandal: April 1990'
It was thinner and far older than the rest. At first, she thought it was about her parents and Garret Gates and the nightshade. But she quickly realized it was dated six months before that controversy. Additionally, why would they name that case after his father Ansel, not Garret? Unless it was something completely separate.
"Stand clear and keep watch,” she muttered, thumbing the aged edges before placing it to the side.
She heard him sigh loudly. She felt a stirring of suspicion in her stomach. She spun around, finding him leaning against the door frame. “Put it back.”
He glanced at her innocently. “Huh?”
“Put it back. We can't afford to get careless.”
“I dunno what your-”
“Now Caspian.” She steeled her eyes. “Exactly where you found them”
He challenged her gaze for a good while before letting his facade fall with a disbelieving chuckle.
“You are one paranoid girl you know that?” He wagged a finger, reluctantly stuffing his hand in his pocket.
He procured a handful of office supplies. Notes, Pens, staples. Perhaps he was a petty thief after all. Or maybe he was just bored out of his mind. Wednesday has long given up on attempting to figure out why Caspian Lee does what he does.
She turned back around, her unwanted helper placing the items back rather noisily. Like a child who had to put back a toy at the store.
She paused when the feeling in her gut didn't budge. She pursed her lips. “Caspian, back… everything .”
He made an odd noise, a mixture of bafflement and annoyance. “Oh, I mean - T-there's no way you-”
“If there's one thing you should know about me,” She turned over her shoulder to glare at the exasperated boy. “I don't like repeating myself.”
He ran a hand through his hair, sneering at her lightly. “Eyes in the back of your bloody head too…Bravo” he muttered.
He dragged his feet over to a metal locker, opening it with a flourish. He made a show of placing the pen back. “Y'know, this would go a lot faster if I can help.”
Wednesday let out a slow breath through her nose. Caspian Lee was definitely going to be the death of her, one way or another.
She offered one last annoyed look before stepping to the side. “Grab me files on anything about Laurel Gates and the Gates family as a whole. I'll start photocopying.”
He practically materialized beside her, instantly thumbing through files. “Interesting choice, Laurel, isn't she-”
“The genocidal racist from last term? Yes.” Wednesday straightened out the folders on the table, striding over to the nearby photocopying machine. “While you're at it, I need everything on Tyler Galpin and the Quad Attack.”
“The Quad Attack?” He turned to face her. “Why do you-”
“Are you going to ask questions or are you going to help?”
They locked eyes for a moment before he turned away. She took his silenced rummaging as a response. She booted up the photocopier. It was on older devices, probably from the mid-80s. She just hoped she didn't need to reference Things instructions this time around.
They worked efficiently and silently. Who would've thought with less thievery and jokes about deceased mothers, they'd actually get some work done. Initially, she read every page before photocopying, but when it was clear there was simply too much to go through, she opted for skimming the headlines only. Like a politically charged millennial.
She checked her watch. Ten minutes has gone by since she looped the cameras, leaving them with thirteen minutes and forty-five seconds left before Valquez and his crew returned. She glanced at the small stack of folders she had left. At this pace, they would finish in no time.
“Hey…here's everyone's testimonials about the quad attack. Huh….” He cleared his throat. “Sinclair said: ' We were chilling in the quad when Tyler like, came out of nowhere and started attacking us, and then Caspian came in and well...I'm not exactly sure what he did but he started waving some kind of weapon that shot explosions- ' Weapon that shot explosives? That's a bit barbaric isn't it?”
Wednesday, waited for the flashing light to slide past her paper before glancing back. He was on the bottom drawer now, in a deep squat, nose stuffed in a paper.
“Bianca said; 'The baby bitch Tyler-' Woah!” Caspian let out a whistle. “Language Barcaly! Language… ' The baby bitch Tyler thought he could sneak attack us, but little did he know'…”
Wednesday frowned as he suddenly stopped talking. “Little did he know what?”
He grimaced, flipping to the other page. “I rather not say. Barclay has…a surprisingly large lexicon of curses. She'd fit right in with us in the UK that's for sure.”
Wednesday copied another page. She would've never thought Bianca had a dirty tongue. Though she supposes people react to trauma differently. It would seem the well-spoken and sharp Queen Bee had a nasty sailor's mouth.
“Ah, Ajax! This should be good. Ajax said; 'This dude came out of nowhere and shot a ball of fire at the dude like - shit was crazy man! Caspian went like 'skiddaddle-skiddooddle' then a red lighting bolt hit him in the face - wham! (Witness makes grand gesture). Then we went flying back right? I tell you it was exactly like I was being pulled by a leash…Not that I know what that feels like (Witness laughs nervously). Anyways, he told me to gun for the blocked door and I was like 'Shoot bet I guess,' so I ran like a motherfucker then bam! (Witness makes another large gesture) the door came off its hinges yeah? Like something out of a Michael Bay movie like that one scene from Dark Side of the Moo-' Is this even English?” Caspian sighed, rubbing his brows as if it actually pained him to read that.
“No, it's, Ajax.” She responded numbly. The Gorgon used a twisted form of English that would have Poe rolling in his grave. She was lucky most of it flew right over her head. Not that she cared. If she ever started understanding his lingo, she knew she was spending too much time around him.
Wednesday briefly wondered what Caspian would think of her testimonial. She did make it a point to leave his involvement out with strategic phrasing. Maybe he'd appreciate it after reading Ajax's.
“I should probably get rid of this,” He muttered. “It's hard evidence of my existence.”
She instantly spun around, closing the gap between them. “If I won't allow you to steal a silver-tipped 0.75mm fountain pen, what makes you think I'll let you walk out of here with an original case file?”
Caspian gawked at her. “H-how'd you know it was silver tipped?... And 0.75mm?” He asked, genuinely horrified. “You really do have eyes in the back of your head.”
She plucked the folder wordlessly from his hands. She wishes she did. she'd have found out her stalker's identity ages ago.
It was silent for a while longer. Wednesday gathered up all her copies, neatly slotting them into her leather binder. She'd organize them later, right now they just needed to get them printed and out the door.
She was about done placing the original files back in the cabinet before Caspian perked up again. “Huh…'Break-in at the Gates estate; January 2023' That was-”
“This year.” Wednesday knitted her brows, crouching down beside him. She took the file from his hands, eyes darting down to the narrative section.
Gates estate suffered a break and entering on January 19, 2023, at approximately 4:05 am. No one was present, Forced entry; Suspect(s) believe to be armed and dangerous due to the aggressive nature in which the cellar was pried open. Nothing appears to be stolen, however, an undocumented room was discovered in the basement of the house.
“You don't think this was Tyler's doing… do you?” Caspian muttered, leaning over her shoulder.
Wednesday felt her stomach drop, reading and rereading the passage. “No…there was no way this was Tyler…” She locked her wide eyes with his confused ones. “Tyler was still on the run, they were still tracking him…The trail went cold in late January.”
She felt her blood freeze over.
She bolted up, swaying. At the sudden change in altitude or the revelation, she didn't know. She took two steps to reach the photocopier, yanking the top open
“Wait so you're saying…This was someone else? ”
“Precisely.” Wednesday clipped.
The Dendrophylax lindenii left on Laurel's grave, the break-in of January 19. Tyler couldn't be in two places at once. Enid's words from the night of The Bash flooded her mind.
'Have you ever thought it could be someone else? Someone else she would've known.'
'Would your first thought after almost drowning in the Atlantic Ocean be, ‘Im gonna kill so many kids because of this.’
There were other pieces left unaccounted for on the board. A new player Wednesday has yet to encounter.
Someone with a connection to Laurel. Someone who worked with Laurel. And she was sure it was no coincidence that the break-in and Dendrophylax lindenii happened within the time window of the Quad attack.
She just found a very, very big piece of her jigsaw puzzle. And she was sure her photocopied evidence had many more to offer.
“But how do you know it's even connected?” Caspian drew her from her spiraling thought, now right behind her.
Wednesday hurriedly copied another page. Just a few more to go. “I don't, but if I cross-reference these files with the ones I already have, there's a likely chance it will confirm it.”
“Confirm what exactly?”
“That Tyler and Laurel were just the tip of the iceberg, pieces of a chess board. Manipulated to do the dirty work. That Crackstone, Gates, whoever's waiting in the wings, they're the real threat.”
“I don't follow. A Real threat? Realer than Tyler's Hyde?”
“Or worst. I don't know how but it's just as I feared.” She gripped the folder. “Nevermore Academy is yet again, in grave danger.”
He didn't respond right away. “That's a tad bit dramatic innit?”
Suddenly a bright light flashed across their faces, but it wasn't from the photocopier.
A beam of headlights gleamed through the window, followed by the distinct sound of tires crunching gravel.
Her hair stood on end. The frosted front doors were directly to the left of Sheriff Galpin's office. They were trapped if they didn't get out before then.
Caspian hissed, ducking beside the photocopier. “They're back already?”
“Impossible, even going well above the speed limit they shouldn't be back for another 7 minutes.” Wednesday didn't bother checking her watch, she knew she was right. She stuffed the paper, haphazardly in her binder
“Well the impossible just became, 'happening right fucking now' , so let's get a move on!”
“No.” Her eyes darted from the door to the last two pages she still had to copy. Caspian followed her eye line.
“Are you crazy that - that-” He gestured exasperatedly at the machine. “Whatever the hell that is! You'll get caught before it farts out another piece of parchment!”
“I'm not leaving without the finished file.” She sent him her hardened gaze. She placed the second page the instant the other was done. She could do it, she could make it.
They seized up when the sound of slamming car doors echoed through the walls.
Caspian squared his shoulders. “I can stall them-”
“Don't!” She stressed. “It'll only raise more suspicion”
If Caspian's idea of 'stealth' was setting ablaze to a three-story apartment, she rather not witness his take on 'stalling' someone.
He clenched his jaw. “If I get caught then they'll know I had all the jewels, they'll look into me-”
“Then leave .” She bit out, replacing the page with the last one.
She watched the boy clamp his mouth shut in her periphery. He sat frozen, but his eyes moved frantically, weighing his options. She was on her last page when angry voices began approaching.
He shot up, giving her one last look before heading for the door.
Looks like he wasn't completely clueless after all. He knew when to fold when he was given a bad hand.
She bore holes into the slow-moving line of light. The voices were getting clearer by the millisecond, whoever it was was in a mood.
The second it was done, she tore the warm paper from the receiver, slamming the lid down, and jamming the off button in one fluid motion. She grasped for her binder in one hand at the original file in another, racing to the cabinet. She stuffed it as carefully as she could before she heard keys jingling.
She shot up, slamming the cabinet shut with her foot. She spun around to make a run for the exit when she came face to face with a cursing mess storming down the hall.
Her eyes widened. “What are you still doing here?”
Looking back, she barely remembered what happened in those few seconds.
Before she could finish her sentence, Caspian practically leaped into the room, shutting the door behind him. He roughly grabbed her shoulders, throwing her in a nearby locker before joining her in the tight space.
By joining her, he, by all meanings of the word, stepped on her.
The front doors swung open not a second later.
Wednesday let out a small gasp of pain, a searing pang shooting up from her ankle. A hand swiftly covered her mouth, pinning her head against the metal wall. He took his foot off, but the damage was done.
She may not remember what happened in those few seconds, but she'll never forget the pain in her foot at the intensity of his eyes. His reddening face and his haggard breath ghosting at her forehead. It was a well-documented fact that Caspian didn't care to hide his emotions, but she didn't think it possible to display so many in one look.
“The tipping sign is there for god damn reason, and you just go barrelling down the turn?”
Wednesday furrowed her brows. Galpin.
“He probably doesn't know left from right.”
“I'll make sure he never sets foot in an 18-wheeler for at least 5- no - 10 years Jack! You can count on that. I found an empty beer can in his back seat, I can pin him for a DUI.”
“He passed the roadside test and the breathalyzer? He's just stupid Don”
“His stupidity endangered lives! You saw how shaken up the Quinns were. Their family has been here since prohibition, I ain't ever seen them shaken like that.”
They both instinctively shrank further into the shallow locker when the door to the room flung open. She tried to perch herself on her toes to peek through the slits, grimacing in the process. Only when Caspian pressed his hand further into her mouth did she realize he still had it there.
She tore it off, sending him a searing look before peaking through the slits.
Galpin looks haggard, eyes bloodshot and skin more grey than she remembered. He crossed in front of the locker, collapsing into his chair.
“We gotta look after our own, he'll be an example for the rest of em.” He rubbed at his eyes. “I already have that-that… freak-show mad-house to worry about. I don't need these 'outta staters' barrelling down my roads.”
The other officer, Jack, leaned on the photocopier. He was deputy to Galpin even though he visibly had more years on him. He seldom spoke on the radio. But when he did, he had a very distinct northwestern accent.
Galpin let out a long sigh, placing his sheriff's hat on his desk. He was just about to prop his feet up when he did a noticeable double take.
She followed his eye line, landing on the picture of Tyler's mom. She heard - rather felt- Caspian gulp.
Galpin stretched out an experimental hand, hesitating, before pivoting the frame back to its proper position. From her view, she couldn't see his face, but she can tell his gaze was lingering on the frame.
Wednesday shivered, she can practically hear the wary gears in his head begin to turn. She was suddenly acutely aware of the compromising position she was in. The confined space, her racing heart. The warmth of Caspian's body pressed against hers, the smell of their salty sweat mingling. The growing pain in her ankle she bit her tongue to suppress.
If they were going to get caught, she rather in the act of the crime than cowering away from it. Or whatever this constitutes as.
“Still hurts? Dunnit Donny?”
She let out a small sigh. She's never been so relieved to hear that northwestern accent.
Galpin tore his gaze away, scratching his head. “Yep…I wish I had more time with her…”
“Did you know that she was…” Jack gestured vaguely.
“No…” Galpin admitted after some time, his voice quieter than usual. “But when I found out, I didn't care…I still wanted to grow older with her. Sit back on the front porch...watch the seasons change. I'd have put down my hat and badge...beer in one hand, hers in my other, and Tyler…”
Galpin shook his head, leaning on his desk. Hunched over like that, Wednesday swore he aged ten years right before her eyes,
“Tyler, god Tyler…I was a terrible father.”
“Don't say that-”
“Don't go all yes-man on me, Jack… I could barely look at him because he looks so much like her...Maybe if I looked at him more, I'd have caught everything before it started-”
Galpin cut himself off with a sigh like he's been down this rabbit hole one too many times before. She doesn't doubt he has.
She hasn't given much thought to the other Galpin, let alone the state of their household. It would make sense that their already broken house was in ruins now. Galpin as she could've suspected, drowned himself in his work. How he didn't resign or was forced to resign after his son was killing people right under his nose was beyond her. There was a very viable case to be made she was sure of it. But nonetheless, he practically lived at the station now, which made Thing's snooping about in his house at the beginning of term exponentially easier.
She knew he was looking for Tyler after he escaped, which made his uncanny ability to elude the authorities that more intriguing. How exactly did a fifteen-foot monster go unnoticed?
Speaking of, her thoughts on Tyler were…complicated to say the least. What little hormonal 'feelings' she harbored for him were annihilated after he revealed himself as the killer. But she couldn't help but pity him. They did share some interesting… firsts. Some were mildly passable (pleasant on the best days), most deplorable. But all facades at the end of the day.
“I just want to talk with him,” Galpin's thick voice drew her attention. “They-they whisked him off so darn fast... I couldn't even talk to him…And now he's all alone out there, he's scared, confused. He's not even a man yet…he's just a boy… my boy. ”
She feels Caspian tense as Galpin abruptly shoots up, pacing back and forth in front of the locker. Wednesday got a better view of his weary face. It was still as stoic as ever, but his eyes glimmered ever so slightly. His frown creased not as sternly as before.
Her stomach dropped when he stopped pacing right in front of the locker, pinching the bridge of his nose.
He was so close that she was sure he'd be able to hear their breathing, so she held it.
She felt Caspian shift slightly against her, drawing his wand up. She swiftly put her hand out to stop it, shaking her head slowly.
He had this strange look in his eye. His hand retracted, but it was clear he had no intention of heeding her warning if Galpin so much as looked at their direction.
Which he almost did, turning to stare at the locker before Jack stopped him short.
“Uh…Where's Valquez?”
Galpin furrowed his brows. He cocked his head back, his ear perking at the usual silence before pivoting around.
He darted out of his office, hands on his hips, followed dutifully by the elder officer. “Valquez?…Valquez!”
Wednesday slumped against the locker, her hand subconsciously groping at her pained leg. It almost reached that point where it was so painful it numbed itself. Almost that is. She waited for their voices to grow distant before opening the door.
She would’ve collapsed onto the floor if Caspian didn't catch her.
“Are you al-” He cut himself off when he caught sight of her twisted ankle.
Safe to say it wasn't supposed to bend that way.
“We have to leave, now! ” She hissed, eyes darting around.
He swiftly crouched in front of her, pointing his wand. “Let me-”
“No!”
He jumped slightly back when she swatted his wand away. She took in big gulps of air, steadying herself on her one good leg. They didn't have much time.
“You have to let me help you.” He grits his teeth, eyes desperate.
The sound of hurried footsteps returned.
Caspian suddenly pulled her to the floor, catching her before she could crash right into him.
She bit the inside of her cheek as she lay there, face-planted in his chest. If they both escaped, she had to have a serious conversation - accompanied by a few torture devices - about manhandling her.
He scooted them over to the wall, beneath the interior window of the office. The shadow of Galpin appeared on the floor in front of them.
“Radio him!” Galpin hollered before fidgeting with his own device. “God damn this piece of junk…”
“Radio here isn't working either!”
“Let's try the cruiser.” Galpin moaned, adjusting his hat. “This night couldn't get any worst.”
Wednesday silently thanked her past self for keeping the jamming device on.
The front doors creaked open, the rush of footsteps racing out. Wednesday wrenched herself free from Caspian's side, limping up.
“Here, wrap your arm around my neck.”
She gave him an indigent once over before reluctantly following suit.
She subconsciously stiffened when he slithered his hand around her waist for stability. She's never experienced this much needless physical touch in the last eight years. Galpin was right, this night couldn't get any worst indeed.
“Bring me to the control center.” She ground out.
They limped as hurriedly as they could through the small office. Caspian quickly drew his wand, muttering a quick Latin phrase before the door unlocked. Wednesday spilled into the chair, clacking away on the keyboard. She checked all the cameras to ensure they were still on loop before setting a timer to terminate it.
“We have 30 seconds.”
“Merlin's beard,” Caspian ran a hand through his hair. “Well we aren't getting anywhere in 30 seconds… unless…”
She struggled to get up. When he didn't offer his neck she met his unsure eyes.
“What are you doing? We have less than-”
Suddenly he bent down, hooking his arms behind her knees and cradling her upper back in his arm. Before she knew it, she was weightless and moving.
She was winded by the action. She couldn't breathe out the proper words for a while. Even when she could, her mind still couldn't comprehend that he actually swept her off her feet bridal style. It was only when the cold gust of wind hit her face that she found her voice.
“Put me down, or I'll cap your knees tomorrow!” She seethed with as much venom as she could muster. Her cheeks warmed from both anger and the bitter cold. And maybe a bit of embarrassment. This was definitely more physical touch than she was used to. The last time she was held like this had to be in infancy, where she had no say in the matter.
She was sure if looks could kill then he'd be a dead man right now. But luckily for Caspian (unlucky for her), he wasn't looking.
“Put you down and what? Limp our way home and leave a trail of footprints?” Caspian shot back hurriedly, retracing the footprints back to the safety of the forest.
The wind was picking up now, the snow on the ground swirling. A storm was coming.
She was just about to retort when the familiar voice of the town's sheriff tore through the air. She looked back just as they were crossing the thick tree line.
“Is his car still- Wait …what's that-…Hey…stop!”
Caspian did the opposite.
They raced through the woods, He ducked and twisted every which way. But they weren’t moving as fast as they could be. He would turn back occasionally to magically blast their footprints away. Thankfully he had the peace of mind to do that because all Wednesday could think about was clutching her files.
She was glad she was so focused on that one thing because she was suddenly sent tumbling, landing on the snow-covered floor in a heap. She inhaled sharply, the pain in her ankle increasing tenfold. It was definitely broken. She pushed herself up into a sitting position, caressing the swollen appendage.
“Ah… fuckin hell that hurt…” Caspian groaned, holding his foot. He rolled around in pain until the sounds of shouting drew closer.
Wednesday's mind raced, they couldn't make it in time. Not with him carrying her and covering their tracks.
He pushed himself up, limping to her. “I can walk it off let's-”
“No!” She shoved his hand away abruptly.
“Now's not the time, to muck about-”
“Stop-”
“I won't tell a soul I carried you if it really bothers-”
He reached out again, but she shoved the leather binder into his awaiting hands.
He paused, looking down before sending her a wary look. “Addams…What are you doing?
“Take the files back.”
“What?”
“Leave me and take the files.” She whispered seriously. If there was ever a time tonight he needed to listen to her, it was right now.
Caspian didn't respond right away. “You'll get expelled-”
“If we lose the files then we lose Tyler's next move.” She shoved the folder further into his chest, pleading with his confused eyes. “Go, keep them safe, I'll figure it out later.”
She doubts Weems could explain away this given her reputation and all. When she gets expelled, at least she can try solving this case from home. Or whatever boarding school or juvenile detention center she would be sent off to next. It wasn't the most optimal choice, she'd be away from all the action and therefore evidence. It was like solving a murder mystery on the phone ten thousand miles away. But there was still a chance, though very slim she could pull it off.
But if she got caught with the files, there was no chance whatsoever.
He darted his eyes around before shaking his head vehemently. “I'm not leaving.”
She gazed up at his hardened face and thin lips. She was only slightly confused. Wednesday always assumed Caspian was a smart individual. Even though tonight has her rethinking that assessment (capable was a better term), she still thought he'd instantly jump to the obvious and right solution.
When she saw the bright lights of their torches cut through the inky blackness of the night, she urged his frozen body further away. “Take it!”
He finally moved.
But it was towards her.
“Caspian stop!” She hissed. He, forcefully but gently, dragged her around the tree and out of sight. She tried fighting against him, but it was fruitless.
Wednesday attempted to get up, only to be pushed back down by her shoulders. She glared up at him incredulously. What did he think he was doing?
His eyes were hard and jaw-locked. He looked deathly serious and calculating, all humor and flippancy of before was gone. It was like his look in the quad but without the crazed fear in them.
“Don't move, don't make a sound…and probably don't breath.”
“What-”
“You said you wanted to turn invisible right?” he couldn't help but flash a smirk.
She blinked. He then took a few steps back, pointing his wand to the sky.
“Acendio!”
She could only watch as he suddenly shot twenty feet in the air, disappearing into the inky blackness.
“Don?” A haggard voice heaved out a few trees away.
Wednesday whipped her head over her shoulder. From where she was seated, she could peek just from around the tree. She saw Galpin whipping his light around frantically while his partner caught his breath.
“I-i saw something. Didn't you?”
Galpin was met with a half-shrug. He scanned his light more deliberately, before suddenly landing on Wednesday's tree. She tore herself from the corner. Did they see her?
“Fan out…”
She gulped, there was her answer.
She wedged herself further between the roots, bringing her knees to her chest. She tried to steady her breathing. It was alright, Caspian (wherever he jetted off to) had the binder of incriminating evidence.
She watched the light wrap around her tree, bobbing closer.
If she gets caught now, all was not lost. Her pride, ego, and self-respect might be bruised in the battle, but it was a small price to pay to win the war. Thing will move onto Plan C when she wouldn't return. They'd regroup later. She'd somehow get the files from Caspian and go from there.
The crunching of footsteps got closer.
Wednesday shivered.
Getting caught now would mean the end of her short time here at Nevermore. She never figure out who her stalker was. She'd never joined Xavier's archery club. She'd never get the chance to turn down Enid for a spa day in town. She'll never beat Bianca in the fencing tournament.
She breathed in. She'll miss out on all of that. It's funny, she spent so much time reading classic literature, philosophy, mystery, and history. She had a wealth of quotes and sayings she picked up from Machiavelli to Plato. Yet the only quote that currently came to mind was a saying her father use to echo when she was a child.
'Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.'
Theodor Seuss Geise.
How ironic that the only thing she can think about before getting caught was a children's author.
She watched as the light slowly crept its way around the root, almost casting on her swollen ankle.
She furrowed her brows.
It was almost casting on where her swollen ankle should be. But all Wednesday was staring at was snow-covered dirt.
She darted her eyes frantically down, just in time to see her whole body disappear.
Her lips quirked up in a surge of realization as a tingling sensation engulfed her neck. She wanted to inspect further when she was suddenly basked in light.
She froze, staring wide-eyed right at Galpin's blue ones. He was a few paces away, staring directly at her. She dared not even blink, like even that movement alone would give away her position.
It must've only been a brief past through, but it felt like he was staring right into her soul. He moved the light away from her but stepped closer. Scanning the area.
Wednesday let out a shallow breath but held it again when it misted slightly.
Remember, don't breathe.
She fought the urge to shift when Galpin got frighteningly close, standing just on the opposite side of the root. If he stepped over it he'd probably land squarely on her swollen ankle. If the invisible branch he stepped on didn't grab his attention, her pained grunt would.
She'd have to bite her tongue off to merely stifle the noise.
Thankfully, she didn't have to.
“Just texted em'. Valquez and his team were ordered up to the spillage.”
Galpin whipped around. “On whose orders?”
“They say yours, sir.”
“Mine?” He scoffed. “I ain't say nothing…”
The howling wind filled the silence, licking their faces.
“Well…are they coming back?”
“10 minutes out.”
Suddenly there was movement in one of the trees up ahead. Two flashlights were promptly directed to the sky.
She cringed. Caspian.
“You hear that?”
“Probably just the wind Don.”
He locked his jaw, moving away from her. She urged him to drop it and head back to the warmth of the station.
But of course, Sherrif Galpin being the ever-persistent serviceman, didn't budge.
“Get the dogs I want a search party, 2 miles radius from this point.“
Wednesday swallowed the lump in her throat when they were a good distance away, reaching for her ankle. But to her utter horror, it was completely visible! She darted her eyes and saw her whole body fading back into existence. That same tingling feeling shimmering off her skin.
She pressed herself further into the rough tree bark. Galpin wasn't even 10 steps away. His back was to her, but if any of them turned around they'd for sure see her. Her mind raced with answers.
Was the magic fading? Did he actually leave her? He must have if the rustling in the trees were anything to go by. She was relieved he finally summoned the wits to go through with it, but she would be lying if she didn't feel just a tad bit disheartened. Why go through all the trouble of hiding her if he was just going to leave? A bit cruel, even by her standards.
By this point, she was bare for the world to see. She could only cover her face with her snood and sit as frozen as a corpse. All she had to do was stare forward, pretend like she wasn't there and maybe she'd actually turn invisible.
She didn't jump when a guttural moan caught the two men's attention.
“Chief…”
Silence again until a snap of a twig was followed by more groaning.
“It's a bear.” She heard Jack sigh thankfully before scaring it off with a rather belly-busting yell. “Probably poked around our trash. Damn, McCormack...how many times do I have to tell him about the bin.”
“A bear…in winter,” Galpin muttered unconvinced.
“You know what they say about global warming and such, probably messed with his hibernation clock or summin.”
Wednesday spared a side-long glance and the conversing pair. She willed Galpin, to agree with his obviously tired partner.
“You still want the dogs?” Jack said after some time.
Galpin rubbed his stubble, before finally taking his hat off. “No, call it off.”
Wednesday fought against the relaxing of her muscles. She still was painfully visible to the naked eye.
“There’s a storm coming, best we start heading back.” Jack chipped a little too eagerly, dialing on his phone.
Galpin pivoted around with his hands on his belt one last time before nodding once. “Sorry for dragging ya out here.”
“Don't beat yourself up Don, probably just all wound up from the spillage.”
“Yeah…”
With one final look, the pair headed back the way they came, chins down.
Wednesday lets out a sigh when their crunching footsteps finally fell out of earshot. She stretched her stiff joints, lying limp against the tree.
She massaged the area of her broken ankle, drawing her pant leg up. Staring back at her was a splash of angry purple and raw green creeping its way up her calf.
She blew her fringes out of her eyes. What was it she said to Caspian at the start of the night?
'I won't be breaking, anything if you follow my lead and keep a low profile.'
Well, so much for that.