Author's Note: Here's chapter 5! I had a bit of a hard time with this one, but I'm reasonably happy with the end result. Well, I'll stop talking now, so enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 5
"Uh, Wednesday?" Anxiety was evident in Tyler's voice. "I really don't think this is a good idea."
They had trekked nearly half a mile to a remote part of the woods for their first practice session. Of course he chose this moment to get cold feet.
"Don't whine," she said. "After analyzing every option, I've determined that this is the optimal method for teaching you to control the Hyde."
Tyler glanced sideways at Pugsley, who was contentedly munching on some trail mix. "You mean by using your brother as bait?"
"I admit that he wasn't my first choice, but he'll suffice." She had initially gone to her mother—thinking how convenient it would be if Morticia were to be involved in an unfortunate bear attack—but she had been otherwise...preoccupied. The image of her parents she had stumbled upon continued to fill her throat with bile every time she thought of it. It was a feeling akin to reflux, only infinitely worse.
"Pugsley will be fine," she told him firmly. "He's experienced in these matters."
"It's true," her brother said around a mouthful of trail mix. "This isn't half as bad as some of the things sis has had me do. Honestly, this is way better than being waterboarded."
Wednesday eyed him. "You are growing up, Pugsley. You are not nearly as soft, weak, and pathetic as the last time I saw you."
Her brother's grin was wide enough to split his face. "Thanks, sis. I think that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."
She nodded brusquely. "Now go over there and wait quietly until you're needed."
He nodded and trotted off in the direction she had directed. Wednesday turned back to Tyler.
"You two seem close," he said, "...at least, I think."
"We have spent many hours practicing torture techniques together," she replied flatly.
He glanced in Pugsley's direction. "Are you sure about this? If I lose control..."
"Your concern is unneeded." She reached inside her blazer and pulled out an obsidian dagger. "I have prepared for every eventuality."
Tyler's brow furrowed. "Wouldn't a gun be better?"
She wasn't surprised by his response, but it was still irritating. She raised her chin slightly, accepting the challenge. "Stand against that tree and don't move."
"Uh...ok?" He didn't even question her as he moved to obey. He was still far too trusting for her liking, but she decided to let it slide this time.
Once Tyler was in place, she released the dagger. There was a resounding crack as the blade struck wood. He turned his head slowly to see the dagger embedded a mere hair's breadth from his head. He quickly stepped away from the tree and touched his ear, as if to ensure it was still intact.
She casually retrieved the dagger and slid it back into her pocket with the others. "Like I said, I'm prepared for every eventuality. You should take off your clothes now."
He gaped at her as if she had sprouted wings. "W-What?"
"Your clothes," she said again. "There's no point in being wasteful. You may find a tree to change behind if you insist on succumbing to needless embarrassment."
He shivered, but she was unable to ascertain whether it was from the cold or from dread at what was about to happen.
"Alright," he said with obvious reluctance. "Just give me a minute."
Wednesday crossed her arms to wait as he slunk behind a tree like a guilty child afraid of being caught. Utter foolishness.
"Ok," he called a minute later. "Are you guys ready?"
"We're ready."
There was answering silence. Wednesday was beginning to think he was going to try to back out again, but finally he said, "Ok. Here it goes."
Wednesday heard his transformation rather than saw it—cracking bones and guttural growls that weaker beings might have called hair-raising. The Hyde emerged, gazing at them with the bloodthirsty eyes of a predator.
Wednesday stared back calmly until the creature's gaze slid away from her. He had apparently realized that she was off-limits for potential prey, and turned his full attention to Pugsley instead. Her brother sat very still, gaping at the Hyde with a shocked expression. Perhaps she could have done more to prepare him—but where was the fun in that?
The Hyde started to lope towards Pugsley, but she stepped smoothly in front of him, barring his way. "Tyler, stop. You don't want to hurt him."
He had already explained to her that the Hyde was unable to understand speech, but she had to start somewhere. Unfortunately, Nathaniel Faulkner's diary had contained nothing about how the Jekyll was supposed to help the Hyde control their powers.
The Hyde growled and snapped viciously, enraged that someone had dared to stand between him and his quarry. He raised one gnarled, long-clawed hand toward her.
Pugsley called her name frantically, but she shook her head. "I'm fine, Pugsley. Stay where you are."
Keeping her eyes fixed on the Hyde, she slowly extended her hand towards him. The creature hesitated, then wrapped his hand around her smaller one almost clumsily. She couldn't be certain, but she thought that he was trying to avoid scratching her.
She braced herself for the wave of revulsion that occurred whenever she touched someone, but it never came. She would have reasoned that her aversion simply didn't extend to non-human beings, but touching Tyler had never generated a negative response either. She stored the thought away for another time. Perhaps it was part of the connection between the Jekyll and the Hyde.
The effect of their hand-holding on the Hyde was immediate. He calmed and started whimpering softly, then the transformation began, leaving Tyler curled up on a bed of dead leaves. She picked up the blanket she had brought for this purpose and flung it over him.
"We've made enough progress for today," she said. Pugsley hurried over with Tyler's neatly folded clothes, and she tossed those at him as well. "Get dressed—we're going back."
Tyler nodded, teeth chattering as he complied. He didn't quite meet her eyes.
Their walk back was impeded by Tyler's slow progress. Apparently, the transformation made him feel like he had been run over by a truck. His words, not hers. She eventually ordered Pugsley to assist him in the interest of expediency.
By the time they made it back to her room, he still wouldn't look at her. She sat down on the edge of her bed, gesturing for Tyler to use her writing chair. She had little patience for his
sulking, or whatever this was.
Out of the corner of her eye, she glimpsed Thing lurking under her pillow. "I see my parents still have you spying on my every move," she said.
Thing crawled out reluctantly, forming signs with his fingers.
"Of course I saw you. A toddler could have picked a better hiding spot."
He made several more rapid signs.
"Stop with the dramatics and find me a pen and something to write on. You might as well make yourself useful."
Thing scuttled away with an injured air, but he eventually returned with a black leather notebook and pen. She crossed her legs as she faced Tyler. "Tell me everything you remember."
He swallowed before speaking. "He wanted to kill...that's all he thinks about. He knew that he couldn't have you, but your brother..." He paused, scrubbing at his face tiredly. "He wanted to tear him apart."
"What else?" she prompted.
"I remember taking your hand—as soon as we touched, it was like the urge to kill was just...silenced."
"I see." Her pen flew across the page as she jotted down his words. Nathaniel Faulkner had neglected to record the details on how to tame a Hyde, but she meant to rectify his oversight. If everything went according to plan, she would become world-renowned for her discovery.
"I'm sorry," Tyler said abruptly.
She halted her writing to glance at him. "Why?"
"For touching you. You must have hated it."
"It was a necessary evil."
His lips quirked into a wry smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.
She snapped her notebook shut, then stood. She reached for her daggers, intending to return them to their case, but as soon her fingers closed around the first hilt, her head was thrown back violently. She was barely aware of Tyler lunging forward to break her fall before the vision crowded out everything else.
She was in the forest—dead leaves under her feet and a gray, overcast sky overhead. The air was charged with enraged roars that seemed to shake the ground. The Hyde stood a short distance away, his massive form looming over Pugsley. The creature's back was riddled with obsidian daggers, but the pain had only heightened his desire to kill. She retrieved her last dagger, and—
There was fiery agony...and blood. So much blood. She gritted her teeth as she yanked out the dagger and tossed it aside. Her knees gave way and she crumpled to the ground. Tyler bent over her, and even with her blurring vision she could see the horror etched on his face. Pugsley was there too. Tears streaked down her brother's cheeks, but he was whole and unharmed. They were both calling her name, but they sounded oddly far away, like she was submerged underwater. Then they, along with everything else, gave way to the heavy blackness that pressed all around her.
She inhaled sharply as she came back to reality.
"Wednesday!" Tyler cried. "Thank goodness."
She realized that his arms were still around her, and she pushed him away as she sat up.
"Are you ok?"
"I'm fine."
He looked at her anxiously. "What did you see? Please tell me that I'm not going to hurt someone again."
"You didn't hurt anyone."
"Then what was it?"
"That's none of your concern."
"But—"
"Tyler," she said firmly. "Even if you waterboarded me I wouldn't tell you, so you might as well stop asking. We'll resume our practice first thing tomorrow, so get some rest."
He still looked discontent, but he said nothing more as he laid down on his cot.
Wednesday climbed into bed, reviewing the vision in her mind. Her visions had shown her many things, but she had never foreseen her own death before. How very intriguing.
Author's Note 2: The plot thickens, haha. I hope you liked the chapter! This story continues to be so much fun to write, so I plan to continue updating as frequently as I can. Please leave a review if you feel inclined—they really do motivate me to keep writing!
