Chapter 9
"I'm still waiting, Wednesday."
Wednesday's face was a mask, but inside she was writhing. She had made a fatal mistake in underestimating Enid. She hadn't thought that her rainbows-and-sunshine roommate would be capable of true blackmail. Oh, how she had erred.
She forced herself forward, legs feeling like lead. This was torture of the most extreme form. She could almost admire Enid for it. Almost.
"That's it," Enid said encouragingly. "Just a little further."
"Your attempt at cheerleading is neither helpful nor productive," Wednesday said in a flat voice.
Enid rolled her eyes. "Then stop being such a baby and come on."
Wednesday slowly lifted her arms and, inch-by-inch, wrapped them around Enid. Her movements were stiff and jerky, like a puppet being controlled by an incompetent puppeteer. "I despise you," she muttered.
Enid gave her a horrifically brilliant smile. "I love you too, bestie." She flung her own arms around Wednesday, returning the embrace with a repulsive amount of vigor. It was almost as if she enjoyed it.
Wednesday was gasping for breath by the time Enid finally released her. Not because the other girl's grip had been overly tight, but because her airways began to close whenever she was exposed to prolonged physical contact. She supposed it was due to an allergic reaction of some sort.
"That's two," Wednesday told her once she could breathe again. "Your quota for the day is nearly full."
"I know, I know, you don't need to remind me."
Three hugs per day. That was the condition. Enid had originally requested unlimited hugs, but Wednesday had put her foot down, narrowly saving herself from a humiliating fate. She would have never been able to escape the shame of having 'too many hugs' written on her tombstone as the cause of her demise.
"Can we begin now?" Wednesday asked.
"I guess," Enid shrugged unenthusiastically. "What do I do?"
"Just stay there for now."
Wednesday turned to Tyler, who was trying—and failing—to keep a straight face. As if the embrace itself wasn't torturous enough, she was forced to have a peanut gallery as well. Their first hug earlier that morning had been in front of her entire family. The mere memory of it made her want to gouge her eyes out.
"What are you waiting for?" she said. "Go get undressed."
"Uh yeah, sorry." He hurried away, disappearing behind a thick-trunked oak tree.
"You guys ready?" he called a few moments later.
"Wait a second," Enid said. Her voice sounded even higher than usual. "Shouldn't I wolf out or something?"
"No," Wednesday told her. "If you're in your werewolf form, it will give the Hyde the impression that you're looking for a fight. Use it only as a last resort."
"So, you really just want me to stay here like a sitting duck?"
"That's the idea. You're bait, remember?" Any iota of guilt she may have felt had been eradicated after those two hugs.
Wednesday confirmed that they were ready, and the familiar sounds of Tyler's transformation echoed through the forest. Enid looked like she might faint as the Hyde appeared from behind the trees. She had seen him once before, but that had been under the shroud of darkness. Here in the midday light, she could finally see the creature in all its hideous glory.
Wednesday moved to intercept the Hyde.
"What are you doing?" Enid asked anxiously.
"I'm fine, Enid. Remember what I told you."
She reached for the Hyde's hands and took them firmly in her own. Enid watched the display with horrified fascination. "That's just...ew."
Enid jumped as the Hyde's whining suddenly increased in volume. "What's happening? Is he going to attack?"
"Calm down," she told her sternly. The last thing she needed was for Enid to get involved and rile the Hyde further. "He accidentally nicked me with one of his claws, that's all." It had happened a few times before, and the creature always had the same reaction.
The Hyde's whimpers quieted, and the training session went smoothly after that. Perhaps Laurel was napping, she mused.
Eventually, the reverse transformation was triggered—they had found that the Hyde form could only be maintained for about an hour—and Tyler was left curled up on the ground.
Enid made a small 'eep' and spun around. "Wednesday, you could've warned me," she whined.
"I didn't think it was necessary. Anyone with eyes could see that the Hyde wasn't wearing jeans and a flannel."
Tyler finished dressing, looking at her wearily. "Your hand...is it ok?"
"It's barely a scratch," she informed him. "Nothing you need to concern yourself with."
They started the hike back, with Tyler dragging behind as usual. After he had stumbled and nearly fallen twice, Wednesday impatiently ordered Enid to assist him.
"I'll pass, thanks," Enid said tartly. "I'm bait, remember? Not a pack horse. If you're in such a hurry to get back, why don't you help him yourself?"
Wednesday sent her a dark look, but finally looped an arm around Tyler's waist. She hated wasting time. In the interest of expediency, she could put up with this if need be.
"Put your arm around my shoulders," she told him.
"Wednesday, I'm really ok. You don't need to—"
"Stop speaking and walk."
They continued forward, making better progress than before. Enid studied her with a thoughtful expression, but Wednesday ignored it.
Later that night she was in bed with Enid on the cot below. The other girl had nearly gone into hysterics when she found out the actual owner of Thing's oversized cot. In the end, Wednesday had ceded the point for the sake of her own sanity and Tyler had moved to the cell next door.
She was paying dearly for that decision now. For the past half hour, Enid had alternated between staring at her cellular phone, furiously typing into it, and looking like she was going to throw the device across the room.
Wednesday knew what she wanted. She would usually abstain from giving it to her on principle, but her patience was wearing thin.
"What is it, Enid?" she said at last.
Enid sat up with an exaggerated huff. She hadn't even begun speaking and Wednesday was already regretting that she had asked.
"It's Ajax," she said. "We were texting, and he made a stupid comment that I talk a lot. Isn't that like awful?"
"I don't see a problem with stating a fact."
"Ugh, why am I even talking about this with you?" Enid said. "Anyway—"
And yet you continue to talk, Wednesday thought dryly.
"I asked him if he was calling me annoying, and he said I was being"—she made air quotes with her fingers—"too dramatic. How ridiculous is that?"
"Again, I fail to see a problem."
Enid continued as if she hadn't heard. "So, we started fighting and now he's not texting me anymore. What should I do, Wednesday? I know I talk a lot sometimes, but it's not like I can help it. The words just come out and I can't stop them, especially when I'm nervous." Tears sprang to her eyes. "You don't think he's going to break up with me, do you?"
"Enid, I'll be frank with you. You do have an unfortunate habit of talking incessantly, but no one is perfect. You are also honest, loyal, and so kind that it disgusts me sometimes. If Ajax fails to appreciate you for the partner you are, I will personally ensure that he suffers for it."
Enid offered her a watery smile. "Thanks, Wednesday. I think that's the closest you've ever come to saying something nice about me." She sat up straighter, pulling her pillow to her chest. "So, let's talk about you and Tyler—I need a distraction anyway. What's going on with you two? Go on, spill."
Wednesday regarded her, face expressionless. "In order to form a response, I'm going to need more specific instructions, Enid."
"I mean doesn't this whole Jekyll and Hyde thing basically mean that you're like soulmates?"
"Hardly," she said flatly. "I am merely using his sentiments in an advantageous manner."
"Really?" Enid frowned. "I kind of thought that you liked him—since you're ok with touching him and everything."
"I am still working out the reason for my lack of physical aversion. My current theory is that it is somehow linked to our Jekyll and Hyde connection. I will have to conduct more research before I can come to a conclusion."
Enid threw her hands up in exasperation. "Gosh, Wednesday, have you ever even considered that it could be because you have feelings for him?"
"I've already told you that is not the case," she replied, growing slightly irritated. "Why are you being so persistent? I thought you hated him."
"I did, but after watching him today, anyone could see that he's totes in love with you. And I mean, having a thing for a serial killer monster is kind of on-brand for you, to be honest."
"You're mistaken. I assure you that Tyler is nothing to me."
Enid clutched her pillow to her chest, lips forming a petulant pout. "Ok, I guess I was
wrong. Sorry for even thinking that the stone-hearted Wednesday Addams might actually like
someone."
She settled back onto her cot with a wide yawn. "Well, jet lag sucks, so I'm going to bed now. Goodnight, Wednesday."
"Understood. If you fail to wake, I give you my word that I will throw you a funeral to remember."
Enid groaned. "Ugh, seriously? Now I'm never going to be able to fall asleep."
But despite her griping, it wasn't long before her roommate's breathing evened out into the deep, steady cadence of slumber.
Sleep eluded Wednesday, however. Something Enid said had struck a chord. Not the part where she was stone-hearted or where it was on-brand for her to be attracted to serial killing monsters. Those statements were fairly accurate, all things considered.
No, it was Enid's accusation that she had failed to consider every possibility regarding her connection with Tyler. Wednesday prided herself on being unbiased and clear-sighted, willing to examine every lead no matter where it took her. That was a large part of what made her such a formidable investigator.
Was she was overlooking something? If so, what...?
Her musings were interrupted by a loud gasp. Enid sat bolt upright in the dark. "Oh my gosh!"
"What?" Wednesday asked.
"I just realized I forgot about our third hug!"
Wednesday cursed herself inwardly. She should have pretended to be asleep, but it was too late now. It probably wouldn't have stopped Enid anyway. Her roommate was as dogged as the Grim Reaper, except instead of collecting souls, she collected hugs. In other words, she was like the Grim Reaper—only infinitely more terrifying.
"Come on, Wednesday," Enid said impatiently. "You might as well get it over with."
Wednesday stood reluctantly, throat already tightening with dread. Limit or no limit, death by hugs was becoming a frighteningly real possibility.
