As The Woe Turns: A World Before Woe

In The Dark We Conspire

Laurel Gates walked through the dark woods leading away from the academy unafraid. The only light source to illuminate her path was the one above hanging low in the midnight sky. A three quarter moon. A waxing gibbons. The absence of light didn't bother her. She could traverse the path that lay ahead in her sleep covered in a dense fog blind folded. She'd done it innumerable times. She knew it better than she knew herself anymore. She took a deep breath and carried on.

Her mask slipped farther with every step she took. Eventually she slid the cat glasses from her face and tucked them into her pocket. Don't get it wrong, she was supposed to wear the glasses. She definitely saw better with them, but her father Ansel would ridicule her endlessly. He called them a weakness. It was her inability to control her body thus herself. He always did favor her older brother Garrett more. It was in the end her brother that turned out to be the weak one. Oh bitter irony. The family fell apart without him.

Soon her destination came into view. A stark house with a rusted gate and severely overgrown grounds. It had sat abandoned for so long. When she returned it was her place of refuge. She cleaned and reset her room and nothing else. She brought life back to what was once hers alone. The structure hadn't changed, it was exactly as she remembered it, only it had fallen into ruin under three inches of dust, spiderwebs and mold much like her family name. A name she hadn't used in years. Gates. Once revered now deplored. She was officially declared dead after all. The last living descendant of a once proud line decimated by the cruel had of fate. She couldn't magically come back to life. The amnesia story could only work so many times. So she opted to develop personas, she changed her name and appearance at will, when it suited her, or when the situation warranted it. She had worked and conned until the house was once again hers. Coming back to Jericho had felt like jumping into an ice water bath. At first it burned and stung. It was painful, but eventually she became numb to it just like everything else. She gained employment banking on family knowledge and google. It had worked for a little over a year now. It helps a lot when those in charge only wish to see the world with rose colored glasses. She only saw the best in others. The light. Never the darkness.

Now all her scheming and carefully plotted plans for revenge were coming to fruition. She had waited long enough. However, there were still a few loose ends. Not everything was going according to plan. She'd have to improvise. Best laid plans as they say. Laurel put the key in the lock and turned the knob. The door squeaked open. She walked in and closed the door behind her.

At first the house looked empty, untouched, but almost immediately she felt the dark presence. She walked into the library. There stood a man. An older man somewhere in his mid to late sixties. He looked completely unassuming. If you didn't know, you'd never know. He looked kind. Grandfatherly. He was average height a little round but not overweight. He was balding with just a salt and pepper ring like a halo around his head. He was darker skinned with deep brown eyes and a salt and pepper mustache over his lip. He was standing looking at a large painted family portrait. His eyes focused on the young teenaged girl situated between her parents smirking.

"You're late. I hate lateness. I was just about to leave." He grumbled in a thick New York accent. He'd seen some stuff. He'd done some stuff while at home in the Bronx. What brought him to Jericho Vermont? The promise of a better life that never came. "I know. I'm sorry I got caught up." Laurel stated. The man simply nodded. "Fine." He stated dryly. "Why'd you ask to meet?" He asked.

"Everything's falling into place. There will be an Addams on campus. A girl. Her name is Wednesday." Laurel stated. "Ok...alright...Wednesday Addams huh? Things are happening." The tone of the man changed. There was a sing song quality to his voice. "And the wolf?" He asked. "We can't use her." Laurel replied flatly. "And why not?" The man bristled. "Are you telling me I cleared that big ass room out for nothin'?" He spat. "No not for nothing. She's never alone. She's popular and people would notice a change in her personality. Besides, I think herwolf side is unreachable. It's beyond even what I can do. Instead, I think En-the wolf will be in the room with the Addams heir. I can make this work to our advantage." Laurel hissed. "Oh and how so? What about the plan?" The man growled. "The plan goes on as it was intended. We will bring down The Addams Family. I've been grooming someone else. Haven't you noticed the killings?" Laurel grinned. "The bear attacks? Clever." The man returned her smile. "Alright then, what do you want from me?" He asked. "Keep doing what you've always done. Do your job. Keep your head down and keep an eye on everything. I'll take care of the rest." Laurel huffed. "That I can do. Thanks for the status report." He seemed satisfied. Laurel turned away for a split second then turned back. The man was gone. Evaporated into thin air. It startled her at first but she was getting used to it. "Outcasts." She grumbled shaking her head.

Laurel exited the house. Her plans were falling into place. Tyler had nearly fully submitted. He helped get information from his father and well he murdered two people. She had a strong ally inside the school. The principal was starting to fall for...in line. She had the book, and an Addams would soon be joining them. There was a bounce in her step as she headed back towards Nevermore. Soon. Soon she'd have her revenge. Soon the world would be changed for the better. Soon everything would be worth it. Soon she'd make her father proud even if it was from beyond the grave. She'd make Garrett the disappointment. Then she'd rub it in their cold dead faces that she was able to accomplish something neither of them ever could. She'd restore the family name.

Soon.

Soon.