Since the previous night, Lunette had isolated herself in her dorm room, her usually nonchalant demeanor shattered by the traumatic events. She cried silently, not wanting anyone to hear her pain. The images of Rowan's mutilated body and the monstrous creature that attacked him replayed in her mind endlessly, a haunting reel she couldn't escape from.
The room was dark, the only light coming from the dim glow of a small desk lamp. Lunette sat on her bed, her knees drawn up to her chest, and her head buried in her arms. The silence of the room was oppressive, filled only by the soft, muffled sounds of her sobbing.
As the night wore on, Lunette's tears eventually dried, leaving her feeling empty and exhausted. She lay down, curling up under the covers.
Meanwhile, Wednesday seemed unaffected by Rowan's death, her demeanor as cold and detached as ever.
"How could you have missed a dead body?" Wednesday questioned the sheriff, walking briskly behind him. Principal Weems followed closely, her expression stern.
"Because the body wasn't there, Addams. No blood, no guts, nothing besides a pair of glasses," the sheriff responded, his frustration evident.
"Well, your search party must have left their seeing-eye dogs at home. I know what I saw," Wednesday retorted, her eyes narrowing. "I saw that monster kill Rowan in front of my own eyes."
"Ever get a good look at it?" the sheriff asked, his skepticism clear.
"It didn't seem to stick around to talk," Wednesday shot back, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Sure it wasn't one of your classmates?" the sheriff insinuated.
"I find that very offensive, officer," Weems cut in, her voice sharp. "These are children, not murderers."
The sheriff sighed, rubbing his temples. "Look, I'm not saying she's lying. I'm just saying there's no physical evidence. We'll keep looking, but until we find something concrete, there's not much more we can do."
Wednesday's eyes flashed with determination. "Evidence or not, something happened to Rowan.'
"Look, I really don't care what you do. I have three bodies in the morgue," the sheriff said, his voice annoyed. "The hikers were found with their bodies ripped apart, torsos separated from their legs, and limbs scattered everywhere."
"I thought those were bear attacks. That's what the mayor said," Wednesday remarked, her tone sounding skeptical.
"Well, I and the mayor both disagree on that," the sheriff replied sarcastically.
"So you automatically want to assume that a Nevermore student had something to do with this? Or that they are murderers? There is no evidence that this crime was committed by anyone from our school." Principal Weems interjected, her frustration clearly showing in her face.
"I'm sorry, I completely forgot you only teach the non-weird, outcasted kids there," the sheriff shot back, sarcasm dripping from his words.
Principal Weems' eyes narrowed. "These are children, Sheriff. We need to protect them, not accuse them without cause."
Wednesday was getting irritated with Principal Weems and the sheriff more and more. They were in the middle of a heated conversation when she turned and left without saying anything. Returning to Nevermore, her steps were intentional and fast.
She could hear students whispering and muttering about her as she moved through the hallways. She moved faster, ignoring their comments even though they seemed to echo about her. She was determined to get to her shared room, her haven where she could collect her thoughts and make plans for the future.
A voice from the hallway yelled, "Wednesday!" turning heads and attracting more curious glances to her. It was Enid, her voice slightly worried.
Wednesday stopped and looked at Enid, who was coming at her quickly. Her tone was calm but tinged with annoyance as she asked, "What is it, Enid?"
"How are you doing? I've heard about Rowan's situation," Enid remarked, her worried eyes bulging.
"I'm fine. Where's Lunette?" Wednesday asked, her tone flat and unyielding.
"I think she's still in the dorms. I heard her crying last night, but I didn't want to say anything," Enid replied, her voice softening with sympathy.
"Did she eat?" Wednesday pressed, her expression unwavering.
"Probably not. She needs to eat and drink something," Enid admitted, looking worried.
"Is the cafeteria still open?" Wednesday asked.
"Yeah," Enid confirmed.
"Good. I'll get something for her," Wednesday said, her tone decisive.
Without waiting for a response, Wednesday turned and headed towards the cafeteria. Enid watched her go, sensing the urgency but knowing better than to offer more than what was asked.
Entering the cafeteria, Wednesday quickly scanned the options. She grabbed a tray and began filling it with a variety of food, ensuring there was enough to tempt Lunette into eating. Once the tray was full, she made her way back to their dorm.
Opening the door quietly, Wednesday found Lunette sitting on her bed, her expression a mix of sadness and resignation. Wednesday walked over and placed the tray on a nearby table.
"Lunette," Wednesday called, her voice steady and authoritative. "You need to eat."
Lunette looked up, her eyes red and swollen from crying. She tried to muster a small smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I'm fine, really," she said, though her tone was unconvincing.
"You need to keep your strength up," Wednesday insisted, her tone brooking no argument.
Lunette nodded slowly, taking a deep breath before reaching for a piece of fruit. "Thanks, Wednesday," she murmured, her voice shaky.
"Just eat," Wednesday replied, her demeanor as cold and focused as ever.
As Lunette began to eat, the room was filled with a tense silence. The weight of recent events hung heavily in the air.
Lunette had finished eating everything on the tray. She felt a little better physically, but the emotional weight of the past night still hung heavily over her. She leaned back against the headboard, staring blankly at the wall. Despite her attempts to keep her composure, the sadness was still evident on her face.
Wednesday, showing no sign of softening, stood up and grabbed her bag. "We need to keep moving forward. There's no time to wallow," she said curtly. "I'll be back later. Don't lock yourself in here all day."
Lunette nodded. "I won't," she replied, though her voice lacked conviction.
Wednesday left the room without another word, leaving Lunette alone with her thoughts.
"Come on, bitch, get up. You can't be lazy," Lunette muttered to herself, rolling on her bed and trying to gather the energy to face the day. She knew she couldn't stay in bed forever.
She sat up, rubbing her eyes and taking a deep breath. "Okay, Lunette. Time to get your life together," she said, trying to convince herself. she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up,
Lunette crawled to the bathroom, feeling the cold tiles beneath her hands and knees. She sat on the floor for a few minutes, gathering her strength. The silence in the small space felt almost comforting.
Eventually, she forced herself to stand up and step into the shower. She turned the water on and let it cascade over her.
Lunette stood under the warm spray, feeling the water begin to soothe her aching muscles. She reached for the bottle of body wash, squeezing a generous amount into her hand. She lathered it across her skin, scrubbing away both physical and emotional dirt. The scent of the soap filled the air, a small comfort amidst the turmoil.
Next, she grabbed the shampoo, working it into her hair until it formed a thick lather. She massaged her scalp, trying to focus on the simple, repetitive motions, a way to reclaim a small part of herself. As she rinsed the shampoo out, she watched the suds swirl down the drain, imagining her worries being washed away with them.
For a few moments, she stood under the water, letting it wash over her, before finally turning off the shower. She stepped out, feeling a little lighter, a little more ready. Wrapping the towel around her body, Lunette stepped out of the shower and began to dry off. The soft fabric absorbed the water from her skin, and she felt a sense of relief as the warmth from the shower lingered.
Once she was mostly dry, she reached for a bottle of coconut lotion. Squeezing some into her hand, she rubbed it into her skin, the rich scent of coconut filling the air. The lotion was smooth and hydrating, making her feel even more refreshed. She took her time, ensuring every inch of her skin was moisturized.
As she finished, she took a deep breath, and once she was finished with the lotion, Lunette pulled on her outfit. The familiar clothes. She chose a simple, yet cute outfit.
As she adjusted her shirt and smoothed out her pants, she glanced at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes still held a hint of sadness.
"Alright, you look cute. Maybe sad, but there's food, so that's a good thing," Lunette muttered to herself, giving her reflection a small, encouraging nod.
Just then, Wednesday walked into the room, her usual stoic expression unchanging. "Lunette, get up. We have to be in the forest.''
She stopped short when she saw Lunette already dressed and ready. "Great, you're up finally. Hurry up and meet me in the hall. If you take more than five minutes, I'll leave without you."
Lunette rolled her eyes but nodded, knowing that Wednesday meant every word. She quickly grabbed her bag and took one last look in the mirror before heading out to meet Wednesday in the hall.
"So, why are we going into the forest this late?" Lunette asked, trying to keep up with Wednesday's brisk pace.
"Well, if someone hadn't been crying all night and didn't go to sleep until 3 in the morning, we wouldn't be out this late," Wednesday retorted, her tone sharp.
"Wasn't me," Lunette mumbled.
"Just keep up. We don't have time to waste," Wednesday said, not breaking her stride.