Wednesday

Chapter 6: Runaway Zombie

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Morticia sat at a small vanity in her tent, brushing her hair when she felt a presence behind her. She turned and saw Wednesday standing in her tent, arms crossed.

"Wednesday, you missed all the campfire activities." Morticia told him.

"Then my timing is perfect."

"Are you here to talk?"

"We don't solve anything in this family with words. We do it with deeds. Most of them dirty. Case in point, your theft of Gabriel's book." Wednesday scowled. "I'm giving you one last chance to return it to me."

Morticia gave him a small, almost mocking smile. "You know I won't do that."

"Then you leave me no choice." He held out a piece of red cloth. "I'm challenging you to a duelo-a-ciegas."

Morticia slowly grinned, standing up. "You want to cross blades in a blind duel? I feel your grandmamas bony fingerprints all over this gambit. I know you two have been talking. She used to pit me and Ophelia in the same way."

"This has nothing to do with Grandmama." He denied. "It has to do with you crossing boundaries. We duel tonight, under the full moon. Do you accept my challenge?"

Morticia stared at her son squarely in the eyes and took the red cloth from him, accepting the challenge.

The two shared a heated, almost deadly gaze as Gomez strolled in the tent, whistling happily.

"Ah, there's my little landmine." He strolled past his wife and son, not seeming to notice how they were each trying to burn a hole in the other's head.

"Darling." Morticia spoke to him. "Wednesday and I are going to sword fight in the woods and settle our differences."

Gomez gasped, grabbing a shower cap and a bucket of shower supplies. "Music to my ears! I'm going to shower in one of the rustic stalls. Have fun!"

He exited the tent, leaving Morticia and Wednesday to their silent staring contest.

...

The Cadet leader and his troops snuck into the camp, preparing to take the grounds back from Nevermore.

"Secure this perimeter of tents first. Tie up the Outcasts using your superior knotting skills." He ordered.

"Sir..." one of the cadets spoke up. "...We don't think this is such a good idea. They did win fair and square."

Their leader scoffed. "Who the hell told you to think? That's how you get killed. Your survival depends on following orders. My orders. Watch and observe. It's all about stealth and surprise."

He proceeded to demonstrate by slowly making his way towards one of the tents. The tent, unfortunately, just so happened to be the one that had fireworks and a trip wire attached to it.

The leader tripped over the wire and fell inside the tent, setting off the fireworks. Even more unfortunately, the tent also happened to be the one that held a zombie inside.

The leader looked up at Slurp, who looked back down at him. The man screamed as Slurp unhinged his jaw, and attacked the leader, biting down on the top of his head.

The boys watched the shadows of the horrific encounter unfold, and proceeded to scream with fear and retreat.

Pugsley and Eugene were roasting marshmallows with some other students by a campfire when they looked up and saw the fireworks going off.

They looked at each other, knowing exactly what those fireworks meant. "Slurp."

...

Morticia and Wednesday stood in the center of the forest, along with a small table and a trunk between them.

(Y/n) stood by the table, agreeing to be a witness to the duel at Wednesday's insistence.

"El duelo-a-ciegas is a very old Addams tradition. The outcome of this duel shall be binding." Morticia told Wednesday.

"I'm aware of the consequences." Wednesday said. "(Y/n) will be our witness. Along with Thing."

The two bent down and picked up their swords, moving them off the top of a box. They lifted the lid to reveal two glass hearts. One white, one red.

"Whoever pierces the other's glass heart first wins." Wednesday picked up the white heart and pinned it to his top. "If I win, you return Gabriel's book."

"And if I win..." Morticia placed the red heart on her top. "I will burn it."

Wednesday faltered for a moment, not expecting his mother to have such harsh suggestion.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

Wednesday nodded.

(Y/n) came over, placing a hand on his arm. "I know I agreed to just watch and not interfere, but are you really sure this is the best solution?" She whispered.

"I'm sure, Cara Mia. I need to get that book back." He reassured her by placing a kiss to her forehead, and then grabbed his blind fold, tying it around his eyes as his mother did the same.

(Y/n) went back over to the small table as the two drew their swords. Thing rang a small bell, beginning the duel.

...

Eugene and Pugsley looked down at the dead Cadet leader.

"I knew we should've told someone. Slurp was more your friend anyway." Eugene said.

Agnes suddenly appeared inside their tent. "Harboring a murderous zombie will get both your butts expelled for sure."

Pugsley narrowed his eyes. "What are you doing here?"

"Proving myself to your brother by handling his low priority tasks. Like keeping you alive." Agnes told him.

Pugsley sighed heavily. "We need to find Slurp."

Eugene shook his head. "No way. I'm out of the zombie business."

"Relax. Slurp never tried to eat my brain." Pugsley reminded him.

"Because that would be empty calories." Agnes snipped.

"Look, the last time I was alone with a monster in the woods, I ended up in a coma." Eugene insisted.

Pugsley rolled his eyes and grabbed Eugene's arm. "Stop bragging. Come on."

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