Punctured Lungs (Wednesday x Xavier) DISCONTINUED

Shadow of a stalker

Wednesday, Enid, Xavier and Ajax all sat together in a booth at the Weathervane. They sat in a booth by the window, the café pretty empty. Wednesday had ordered a Crackstone coffee, their most caffeinated drink. She needed it to stay awake later, she had told Maria that they could meet up there before heading back to Nevermore to work on their project.

The group sat together eating and talking once in a while, the two girls had told the boys everything. And since then, there hadn't been much conversation since they were still processing the information they had received.

The radio was on in the background, and the silent group couldn't help but hear the words from the broadcaster that echoed their conversation:

"Okay folks, just a reminder to lock your doors and look out for Tyler Galpin. A Hyde that recently escaped his holding facility. We don't know the exact efforts that the authorities are making, but we have been assured that they're trying their best. Whatever the hell that means. Just- stay vigilant, stay safe," he finished, "and now some country throwbacks! Dolly Parton 9 to 5!"

Tumble out of bed and I stumble to my kitchen,
Pour myself a cup of ambition....

"The authorities are bullshit," Ajax commented, scoffing at the ridiculousness of that announcement, "he literally said a bunch of none sense before playing country music to distract us."

"At least it's a good song...?" Enid tried.

"Enid, you're the only one here that has listened to this song," Xavier told her light heartedly.

Wednesday sat there silently, listening to the banter. They were obviously just trying to distract themselves. She stared blankly out the window, watching the few people on the street. She noticed less people had been out since the announcement that Tyler had escaped.

Wednesday felt a tap on her shoulder. She stiffened, it had caught her off guard. "Oh, Maria. Let's-" she spoke as she turned around. But was surprised to see a woman holding her young child in her arms. Smiling at her.

"Hello..." Wednesday spoke apprehensively. The woman smiled strongly, "Hi! You're the one that stopped the monster the last time right? You'll do it again this time?" The woman asked, speaking quickly.

Xavier could tell Wednesday was uncomfortable with this woman's confrontation. His hand went to Wednesday's thigh and he leaned over, "I'm sorry ma'am but if you could kindly walk away and take your business elsewhere? We're students trying to get on with our lives as teenagers and not as lowlife vigilantes lurking around in every corner, waiting for Tyler to pop up. Thanks," he finished, offering her a stiff smile.

The woman gave him a dirty look before hoisting up her child and huffing away. Wednesday watched her leave and the tension between her shoulders eased. She didn't like the attention she had received. But it was the only one so far, and she prays it's the last one.

"Wednesday hey!" She heard someone cry out to her as the door to the weathervane opened. It was Maria Sweless. Wednesday nodded in her direction before collecting her things and bidding her group farewell.

She walked over to a smiling Maria. "You're awfully chipper for someone who's about to work on a history project," Wednesday commented. Maria gasped, feigning offence, "Why I never?! I like history!" She smirked.

The two girls then left the shop and kept walking back to Nevermore. They walked in silence. Wednesday could tell Maria wanted to say something, she could see her opening and closing her mouth from the corner of her eye. "Just say it," Wednesday deadpanned. "Oh! Uh...I was just gonna ask if you needed help cleaning up your dorm," Maria said, "I saw that it was such a mess yesterday."

"No, Enid and I have already cleaned it up," Wednesday informed her. "Oh, alright. Sorry your book went missing though," Maria said kindly. Wednesday stopped in her tracks, the book? How did she know about the book? "What book Maria?"Wednesday questioned.

Maria stopped and turned around, shrugging, "the one Yoko told me about, Enid must've told her this morning, then she told me." Wednesday nodded sceptically and continued walking. Maria smiled and fell into step with her.

.
.
.

"So...I was thinking, we could probably just write about your great great grandma aunt thing, Goody," Maria suggested, brainstorming in her notebook.

She and Wednesday sat at a table in the middle of the dusty library.

"I don't have a problem with that," Wednesday replied. "Great!" Maria grinned, "She's one of my favourite people in Outcast history. Along with Crackstone. Even though they were enemies and she killed him, I just think it's like they both have such interesting stories and mindsets and-"

"Alright, I get it. You can stop now," Wednesday spoke scathingly. She was having trouble finding the patience to deal with Maria.

"Let's just split the work, I'll do each of their origins, and you can write about their relationship together," Maria told her.

"Great. I'll take my leave now, head back to my dorm to work on it. I prefer writing on my typewriter," Wednesday explained.

"Oh...okay! See you I guess..." Maria stuttered out.

Wednesday looked over her shoulder to make sure Maria wasn't going to follow her out of the library. She walked to her dorm, taking her time. Her head full of thoughts.

Why would Enid tell Yoko about the book?
About how they lost it?
About how their room was ransacked?

She had to admit that Enid did like to gossip, but Enid was not the type to announce their business to everyone around them. Especially if it's something of this magnitude.

But how else would Maria know?

Wednesday stopped in front of a mirror in the empty hallway. She huffed, looking at her reflection. She looked at the dark circles under her eyes, her concealer was wearing off.

As she went to check closer in the mirror, she felt someone bump into her. She stumbled but caught herself. Wednesday turned around to see who had  bumped her.

But when she turned around she was met with no one. The hallway was as empty as it had been. The mahogany walls didn't seem to be hiding anyone. She looked around and saw a note on the floor.

Wednesday bent down to pick it up. It was on a ripped out corner of a notebook. And on the little piece of lined paper read:

Watch your back.
I'm watching you

Wednesday's eyes widened. Another stalker? But she  couldn't shake the phrase that popped into her head.

Well here we go again.

——-

Thanks for reading guys! I hope you enjoyed it! Thanks for all of your support.

Lots of love <3