ornery

Once Enid had heard the news that Reena, who had always hated school dances, was actually going, she was ecstatic. "Oh my God! Reena Mohan is going to the Rave'N. My whole world is tilted! You know what you need?"

"A bullet to the head?" Wednesday guessed.

"A whole bottle of Fireball?" Reena hoped.

Enid shook her head. "A dress."

Reena rolled her eyes. "I have dresses, Enid."

"None that are good enough for the dance," Enid denied. "Those are fashion emergencies not even lightning could resuscitate. Thing, back me up here." Thing gave a thumbs up. "You need something that screams, 'Stand back, bitches! I have arrived!' And I know just the place!"

The store Enid brought them to was called Hawte Kewture and the only thing Reena wanted to do is light the whole place on fire.

"What kind of dystopian hellscape is this?" Wednesday insulted. 

"Our first roomie shopping spree!" Enid exclaimed. "The dance committee's suggesting all white to match the theme, but that's not gonna fly with us."

"We have more pressing business than to worry about a dress for a dance Reena doesn't want to attend," Wednesday stressed.

"I would rather hunt a monster than take one step in the hell that this store is," Reena backed her up.

Enid frowned. "But I thought we were bonding."

"I feel we'll only slow you down. You're a gazelle. We're wounded fawns. Cut us loose and go run with the pack," Wednesday persuaded her.

"Are you sure?" Enid was itching to follow the other Nevermore girls who went in.

"Very," Reena assured her, finally getting Enid to go inside. "Time to talk to the Sheriff."

While the two were walking down the sidewalk, Thing tried to get their attention. "I'm going to see Galpin. I'm not stop..."

In the window of Uriah's Heap were two beautiful dresses. One was black with wonderful frills and the other was dark red silk with gold detailing.

"That dress is fucking amazing," Reena mumbled. "There's no way I can afford that."

Dr. Kinbott came out of the shop. "Hi, Wednesday, Reena. Those dresses will certainly turn some heads."

"Are you collecting more exotic trinkets for your office?" Wednesday asked.

"Those are souvenirs from my travels. That's how I step outside of my comfort zone. Speaking of which, are you guys going to the Rave'N this weekend?"

"We're not required to answer your questions out in the wild, are we?"

"I look forward to talking about it at our next sessions."

"Sure," Reena sarcastically agreed. 

The two went back on their way to the Sheriff's office, and when they got there, they said nothing, simply putting the photo Xavier drew in front of him.

"We all know that there's a monster out there," Wednesday got right to business. "If we're going to stop it, I think it's time we put our differences aside and work together."

"If we don't, I'm afraid catching it will be far more difficult," Reena continued.

"And this is your stake for me to deal you in?" Sheriff Galpin compared the drawing to the photo of the monster and sighed. "I'm sorry, you gotta do better than that. You got some nice detail though."

Wednesday grabbed the photo back. "We didn't draw it."

"I need to know who did."

"Unless we're exchanging intel, I'm not at liberty to say."

"Why would I share information about an ongoing murder investigation with high school kids?" Sheriff Galpin questioned.

"Because we go to Nevermore and you don't.," Wednesday explained. "Don't you want eyes and ears behind those ivy-covered walls?"

"Nobody else from Nevermore is gonna talk to you," Reena pointed out. "We're your only chance."

"Listen, Velma and Daphne, why don't you and the Scooby gang stick to your homework and leave investigating to the professionals," Sheriff Galpin shooed them away.

Reena rolled her eyes. "Fine, your loss."

The phone rang and the Sheriff picked it up. "What?"

"Mayor Walker's on line two," the voice rang out. "He's looking for an update."

"Hey, Addams, Mohan," the Sheriff called after them. "Let me see that sketch again."

Wednesday gave the photo back. "The person who drew this, that your suspect?" They nodded. "When you bring me some concrete evidence, maybe we'll talk." The Sheriff went back to the phone while the two girls left.

Reena smirked. "That went perfectly."

"Our only problem is now we need evidence," Wednesday brought up.

On their way out of the station, they ran into Tyler. "Don't want to ask what trouble you're in now."

"Nothing I can't handle," Wednesday replied. "Your father's in particularly frustrating form today. Avoid."

"He made me want to bang my head on a wall over and over again," Reena shared.

"Yeah, welcome to my world," Tyler mumbled. "You guys have the Rave'N this weekend, right? It was all the buzz at the Weathervane today."

"We must be the only people not obsessed with this stupid dance," Wednesday noted.

"We both hate school dances," Reena informed him. "Especially since the last school dance I went to I ended up getting crowned homecoming queen and I had punch poured on me like in Carrie."

Tyler smiled. "So, you're not going?"

"Actually, she was forced to ask someone as an act of self-preservation," Wednesday filled him in.

Tyler was a little confused. "Sure, that happens, I guess. So, who is it?"

"Xavier," Reena answered. "We do archery together. He's... fine."

"Got it. Hope you two have fun." Tyler walked past them.

"What stick is up your ass?"

Tyler scoffed. "No stick is up my ass. I just thought we were all friends. If you couldn't tell, Xavier and I aren't on the best terms. A friend doesn't go to a dance with someone their friend is on bad terms with."

"We're dealing with a lot right now," Wednesday interjected. "We need to prioritize." 

"Thanks for clearing that up. I guess, give me a call if I ever move up your to-do list." Tyler slowly walked away.

"Not one word," Wednesday warned Thing.

"Well, I guess we're down a friend," Reena commented.

"Nobody needs friends."

"That's the biggest lie I've ever heard."

* * *

The murder board had to be relocated to Eugene's bee shed because Enid refused to let the two girls keep in their dorm. "Enid wouldn't let us keep this in our dorm."

"We can find somewhere else if you aren't feeling a murder board in here," Reena offered.

"No worries," Eugene assured them. "Mi colmena es su colmena. I assume this is the creature that's been rampaging in the woods."

Wednesday looked at him. "You've heard about it before?"

"Rumors. Mr. Fitts banned me from bug-hunting until further notice. Claimed a bear was on the loose, which I knew was a lie. Didn't match their hibernation schedules. Speaking of monsters with sharp claws, could you give this to your roomie?" Eugene held up a jar of honey. "Put in a good word for me? I hear she's still sans date for the Rave'N."

"Eugene."

"I know the chances of her asking me are next to zero, but I don't care. I'll keep putting myself out there until Enid finally... sees me."

"And if she never does?"

"She will. I'm playing the long game. My moms say people will appreciate me when I'm older. They're probably just trying to make me feel better, but..."

"Listen, people like me, Reena, and you, we're different," Wednesday cut him off. "We're original thinkers, intrepid outliers in this vast cesspool of adolescence. We don't need these inane rites of passage to validate who we are."

Reena frowned. "I'm not sure what half of what you just said means."

"Don't worry about it."

"So you're not going to the Rave'N either?" Eugene assumed

"I am, actually," Reena corrected. "With Xavier."

Eugene looked down. "I see."

"Trust me, I have absolutely no feelings for Xavier," Reena reiterated. "I swing the other way. But, there are ulterior motives to me going with him."

"Sketches are the closest thing we have to a lead to try and stop this thing," Wednesday added.

Eugene looked closely at the board. "That circle... I think I know where that is."

"Show us," Wednesday demanded. Eugene led them to the cave, and it was exactly like the photo. "It's definitely a match. What were you doing out here?"

"Collecting specimens," Eugene answered. "This place is ground zero for hоrny gypsy moths. You think it's in there?"

"Only one way to find out." Wednesday walked up to the opening of the cave, the other two behind her. 

"Isn't that just cozy," Reena commented.

Eugene looked down into the cave. "I'm not a huge fan of enclosed spaces. I'm claustrophobic."

"If you hear me screaming bloody murder, there's a good chance I'm just enjoying myself." Wednesday went in with no hesitation, and the other two had no choice but to follow. "This is definitely its lair."

Reena shined her flashlight on some bones. "The monster has certainly been hungry."

"Are those human?" Eugene asked.

Wednesday picked one up. "No, I think it's got a taste for venison."

Eugene inspected the cave and found shackles on the wall. "Check this out."

Below the shackles, there was a claw stuck in the rock, which Wednesday was quick to go over to. "Yahtzee."

"What is that?"

"Concrete proof."

Reena sighed. "Xavier's shed probably has something we can compare this to."

Wednesday put the claw in her bag. "Let's get going, then."

* * *

They left Eugene back at his shed and went on their way back to Xavier's makeshift art studio. When they arrived, Wednesday got a plastic bag from her backpack.

Wednesday looked down at Thing. "All right, we won't be long. We just need to find something to match against the claw's DNA."

It didn't take long until Reena found a bloody cloth in a bucket. "This should work."

"Perfect." Wednesday used a paintbrush to pick it up and put it in the bag she had just got out. 

Right after Wednesday put it in her backpack, Xavier opened the door, catching them. "What the hell are you doing?"

"How do you know what the monster looks like?" Wednesday shot back. "Or are these all just self-portraits?"

Xavier scoffed. "What, you think it's me? I was gonna save your life."

Reena narrowed her eyes at him. "Was is the keyword."

"The monster did save my life," Wednesday agreed. "Or was that you the night Rowan was killed?"

Xavier shook his head. "You so are out of line now."

"I'm trying to uncover the truth. And your art seems to have a recurring motif."

"Yeah. This creature's been haunting my dreams for weeks. I try to block it out, but I can't. So I just... come in here and paint it. When I was painting this one, claws reached out and took a swipe at me. That's how I got these scratches."

"I thought you were able to control your ability."

"Not when it comes to this."

"Maybe it's your guilty conscience," Wednesday suggested.

"Or you're just lying as you did before," Reena pointed out.

"I told you I'm not the monster, okay?" Xavier raised his voice.

Wednesday grabbed the photo Xavier drew out of her bag. "You just happened to draw pictures of it, down to the location of its lair in the woods? Those are some pretty vivid dreams."

"We get your dad is a psychic, but these dreams seem a little too detailed to be true," Reena added.

"You were in here," Xavier realized. "Before, when I caught you outside. That's the only reason you asked me to the Rave'N?" He scoffed. "To try and cover. You are unbelievable."

Reena avoided his eyes. "It wasn't personal."

"No, it never is with you, is it? I mean, do you even care about anyone or anything at all, Reena? Or is it just Wednesday? Get out!"

It took a second for either of the girls to move, and Wednesday was the first to leave, Reena staying back for a second. "Really, Xavier, I'm sorry."

"It doesn't matter. Just leave me alone."

Reena sighed and left, meeting Wednesday and Thing outside. "I actually feel bad now."

"Well, at least you don't have to go to the dance," Wednesday pointed out.

"Actually, I kinda want to go now. I'll have to find a dress that'll work, but it seems like it would be a little fun. I mean, I ruined two friendships for this, so why not go?"

"Oh," Wednesday muttered. "So, you'd be going alone?"

"Unless I can find a date last minute, romantic or not," Reena confirmed, unknowingly giving Thing an idea.

"Well... we need to bring this to Sheriff Galpin."

"Right."

* * * 

Wednesday and Reena stormed into the Sheriff's office, bags with the bone and bloody cloth in hand. "That's the claw of the monster and that's a dried blood sample from a potential suspect. He used it to dab scratches on his neck. Run the DNA test and see if they match."

The Sheiff was flabbergasted. "I'm sorry, do I work for you?"

"You asked for concrete evidence. That's it."

"If you want to stop the monster, you'll do it," Reena continued. 

"Where'd you get this?" the Sheriff questioned. "And who's the suspect?"

"Run the test first, then we'll explain everything," Wednesday gave no other answer. 

"I'm not playing games, Addams. Mohan."

"Neither are we, Sheriff."

The Sheriff hit a button on his phone. "Bernice, bring me a DNA authorization form, please. Hmm."

Reena smirked. "Lovely doing business with you."