I'll Keep You Safe - Wenclair

Chapter 5: A Changed Person

Wednesday, for maybe the first time in her life, decided to do the right thing. Principal Weems needed to know what she had seen. Something could be done then. Maybe those kids wouldn't die.

As she approached the office, she saw Bianca waving goodbye and shutting the door, leaving. Her eyes seemed a bit bluer than usual, and her scowl a bit deeper.

Wednesday truly did not understand the siren's distaste towards her. Sure, she was cold and unempathetic, but those were qualities everyone else had come to endure. Why was Bianca different?

Bianca maintained scorching eye contact as she disappeared down the hallway, presumably returning to her dorm. Wednesday rid herself of the uncomfortable feeling, and entered.

"Ms Addams, what a pleasant surprise," Weems said, a fake smile plastered on rosy cheeks and fiery eyes.

"Principal Weems," Wednesday said, closing the door behind her. "We need to talk."

"Whatever about, Ms Addams." She batted her eyelids, feigning curiosity. Or maybe innocence.

"Surely you know about the animals at Poe's feet," Wednesday started.

"Indeed."

"I had a vision about them. There will be more. A wolf, and two students, to be precise. And that's just what I saw. I thought I should inform you so you could implement some kind of procedure to prevent these unnecessary deaths from occurring." Wednesday sat down in the chair opposite her principal.

"A vision, you say?"

"Yes."

Weems stood up, rounding her desk to sit on the arm of the chair next to Wednesday. "Your mother had such visions. They were vastly unpredictable and unreliable. And she was a dove! With you being a raven, Wednesday, I doubt you could trust anything your mind tells you at all."

"A raven?"

The principal stood up, smoothing down her skirt. "These animals are a sick prank, Wednesday. That is all they are. They may continue, but they will not escalate," she said, smiling condescendingly. "Do not worry your little head about it. Stick to schoolwork."

"But-"

"Shut the door on the way out."

*****

When Wednesday returned to her dorm room, she slammed the door so hard Enid feared it would come off the hinges.

Wednesday had never been this angry. She had never even shown emotion beside frustration and satisfaction. Enid didn't know how to handle it - what to say, what to do. Should she leave the room? Should she give Wednesday a pillow to punch? This was uncharted territory, and while she was excited to be charting it, she was scared.

She didn't want to mess up and be shut out forever.

"You good?" She cringed at the bluntness.

Wednesday eyed her for a second, presumably weighing the costs and benefits of telling Enid the truth. "No." She practically stomped over to her dresser and began undoing her plaits.

"What happened?"

She paused again, looking at Enid through the reflection in her mirror. "I told Weems that I had a vision and she brushed it off. She ignored everything I had to say, and said it's 'just a prank'. People are going to die, and she brushed it off."

Enid goes silent for a second, trying to figure out what to say. It's not everyday you hear that people are going to be murdered and the person who was supposed to protect them has failed. She had no advice, no idea what to say.

"I get it. That must be a lot. To be one of the only people truly worried about this," she said, giving Wednesday a soft smile. If she was honest, she wasn't sure if Wednesday had ever really received compassion, especially when the girl softened. She hadn't done that before. "If it helps, I believe you. And I'll help you find the culprit, if you want some help."

Wednesday didn't understand why, but she didn't feel able to respond. No words seemed adequate, and her voice didn't feel functioning. So she just nodded.

She'd never felt so cared for, so seen, as Enid was making her feel in that moment. Enid's worried eyes lingered on her as she shuffled through all the emotions she was feeling, trying to put a name to at least one. What was that warmth in her chest? Was it the feeling of someone caring for her?

And what about the pulsing in her chest? She had always been under the impression that she didn't have a heart. Was it frozen all this time? Was Enid thawing it?

And the feeling in her stomach, she didn't have a name for it. It felt like a hurricane had sprung into action, whipping around inside her. Maybe she was scared to put a name to that one.

She had only been at Nevermore a week and things were already changing more rapidly than Wednesday cared to admit. She'd become the most informed person on a future murder case, to no use. She was being forced to become something of a detective. Even her curious nature failed to aid her in finding anything to look forward to in this situation. She'd become someone who wanted to look forward to things, even subconsciously, in a tiny corner of her mind. She'd become someone who detected even the smallest hint of emotion within herself.

She didn't like the change. She wasn't in control of these new aspects of herself. They weren't determined by her. She was determined by them. By circumstance.

She had a name for one of the emotions she detected.

Fear. 

~~~~~

short one today, my bad gs