Wednesday's Week

Woe's Suspect

The vision started in Jericho's streets. There was something moving around me very fast. They were turning down an alley way. A shadowed person. I could not move toward them. They turned around and the sun illuminated their face.

It was Coach Vlad. He had replaced his usual track suit for a button up and slacks. He had sunglasses and a hat to cover his face.

My vision moved. We were in the Catholic Church of Jericho. The spire stabbed the sky. Vlad was at the alter. The candles were unlit and the wind blew through an open window. He opened a box. I looked over his shoulder. The holy oil.

I snapped back out of my vision. I had fallen to the floor and they had me laid out like a seizure patient. Sheriff Galpin stood a few feet away as I sat up, "What did you see?"

"Give her a moment!" Weems ordered. She looked into my face. "Wednesday, did you see who it is?"

I had imprisoned Xavier because I jumped to conclusions and decided. I had missed the answer because I trusted my visions. I wouldn't make that mistake again. And I knew Coach Vlad was not the one who did it. He had been the one to start the race at the obstacle race so how could he have thrown that disc from the forest. No, this was tied to the fake Marcus and fake Enid. Now there was a fake Coach.

Galpin leaned down. "Who did you see?"

"I saw Coach Vlad. But I don't-"

The sheriff stood up, reaching for his cuffs, "Thank you Miss Addams, I'll take it from here."

I jumped up, "It's not him. You are making another mistake." I covered the door to keep them from leaving.

Principal Weems folded her arms. "She might be right. Vlad was with me when the circle was dropped into the siren race."

The sheriff shook his head, "I'm afraid you just are too scared to have another one of your staff members be a monster. This is a school for outcasts, Larissa."

"Wait, I have an idea." I spoke up, demanding both their attention. "Silently detain Coach Vlad for the next events. Don't cause panic and don't let the culprit have someone to hide behind. If nothing tampers with the next events, then maybe it was him. But maybe something will still happen."

Galpin pondered the idea. It was smart and almost fool proof. I was proud of coming up with it so fast. "Very well, Addams."

I was allowed to leave. I turned back to the auditorium seats. I watched Weems cross over to the teachers and whisper into Vlad's ear. He followed her. I've rarely felt what guilt is. I'm not even sure I could define it. And I wasn't going to start becoming familiar with it now.

"How'd it go, bestie?" Enid grabbed my arm. Her claws dug into me in her nervous state, but I allowed it.

I watched Galpin and Weems leave the room. "Pointless. We are going to do that hunt and we are going to be in harms way. I hope you are prepared," I said excitedly. A normal monster hunt would be a piece of cake. But an unknown enemy who has it out for the school but most of all me, this would be exciting.

Enid and I prepared in our room by ourselves. I relished the missing silence. Only us and Thing. Perfection. Enid had almost no clothes for practicality instead of fashion. "We have to be camouflaged in, Enid. It's time for you to use my closet." She frowned at how I smiled.

I gave her a hardy athletic legging and a thin black sleeved top tucked in. Then a black vest with lots of pockets. We put a black beanie over her blonde hair.

I opted for black cargo pants, my combat boots, a small backpack for Thing and Nero, nighttime goggles, a utility belt with weapons, and a black thermal under a black t- shirt.

"You look really cool and I look like I'm going to rob a bank!" Enid complained.

I strapped weapons to the both of us, "Fine, wear pink so whatever is hunting us has a easy target."

She fell silent but rocked back and forth on her feet. "So we just have to make sure nothing kills us?"

I stood up, "We are winning this too." I can multi task.

Everyone but the contestants had dinner in the pavilion. Torches and candles lit the whole open area. The contestants ate on the balcony. Enid stared down  at her boyfriend woefully. He didn't seem too jovial to be with his friends instead of her.

I scanned the other players. Only two from each school. Starting off with Eternal was twin Vampire sisters. They were both surprisingly muscular and tall. I had seen them boss around a lot of other vampire students. The Sirens were a guy and girl. The girl from Sun's children kept shimmering in a certain light. I believe she had the power to turn invisible. The guy was a Gorgon. His hair was tied back in a way that would be easy to rip off if he wanted to stone anyone. He wore a shirt ripped at the sleeves to show a tattoo on his bicep. I turned to Enid, "We will win this."

They didn't have what I had. A werewolf bestie. And the full moon was out tonight.  Thing peaked out of the backpack. He was also most valuable.

Weems floated up through the balcony floor. "Students, a perimeter will be built around the forest. I will have judges stationed around in the woods to watch. The goal is to capture the monster in these."

The vampire teacher from Elite stepped forward with various colored blocks She took a block to demonstrate and threw it at an empty chair. A net spring around the chair and it tightened.

The vampire teacher spoke, "Keep maiming down to a minimal. Only hurt if you or anyone else is being harmed."

"And most of all, have fun and stay safe," Weems spoke as she stared at me.