"Because, by brooding on it, the design
I shrank from, which before I warmly sought."
Wednesday stood just outside their dorm room. Her hand hovered over the handle as she hesitated. She swallowed and turned it.
"Enid, I-" Her words died as soon as she found the room to be empty. She thought for a split second that Enid's absence could be a blessing; A delay from the inevitable crushing guilt when she would have to confront her own inadequacies and apologize. However, it did not. It only made her feel worse as she knew Enid would perseverate over her mistake. Wednesday chewed her lip as she tried to find the best course of action to remedy her egregious error.
Balling her hands into fists she took a deep breath before reaching into her pocket for her phone. She loathed having to use the socially demanding device but she knew it was the fastest way to summon her werewolf. She begrudgingly unlocked it and was suddenly alerted to a new text message from an unknown number. Frowning slightly she tapped the screen to open it.
8
Wednesday stared at the unusual message then tapped on the number. It didn't bother ringing as an automated voice answered immediately.
"I'm sorry but the number you are trying to reach is no longer in service."
"Strange..." Wednesday said slowly before pacing the room. "Idiot." She cursed herself for getting distracted but something about the message intrigued her.
"It's good to see you too." Enid said, frowning as she stood in the doorway.
"Enid." Wednesday said, walking over and showing her phone to her. "I just received this peculiar message from a seemingly disconnected number." Enid glanced at it then stared at Wednesday unamused.
"And that's really the most pressing thing right now?" She said, feeling irked.
"What? No, you're right. We should be thinking about how-" Wednesday said, turning back around as she headed towards a crime board in the corner of the room.
"I'm staying with Divina tonight." Enid said, breaking Wednesday out of her monologue.
"-what? Why?" She asked, confused.
"I need to clear my head and I can't with you-" Enid gestured to the board as Wednesday scribbled something down. "-it doesn't matter. I'm just going to grab my toothbrush." Wednesday blinked slowly.
"You… You are upset with me?" She hazarded a guess. She paused then shook her head quickly. Of course Enid was upset with her. That's why she had hurried back to the dorm to begin with. "Enid-"
"I'm not… upset with you." Enid said slowly, forcing the words out as she clenched her jaw. She closed her eyes momentarily and Wednesday set her phone down to focus on her. "I'm disappointed with myself for failing to stop you." She said, opening her eyes again.
"You did try to stop me. I just- I thought-" Wednesday battled with herself internally as how best to phrase her next words.
"As a service wolf, your service wolf, I failed you. It's never the fault of the partner." Enid said, with the smallest hint of a quaver to her voice before she cleared it. "That's the first thing we learn in training."
"It wasn't your fault, Enid." Wednesday said, taking a step forward. "I purposely tried to deceive you in order to- to put myself in harm's way." She said, putting a hand to her chest.
"And did I stop you?" Enid demanded.
"You tried to. You told me. I didn't listen. I'm sorry." Wednesday said feeling deeply ashamed.
"I should have held you down." Enid said, clenching her fists.
"You were trying to be respectful, unintrusive." Wednesday argued.
"And is that my job, Wednesday?" Enid nearly shouted as she took a step forward.
"No but-" Wednesday fumbled with her words.
"I got licensed so I could protect you!" Enid said as her claws and fangs lengthened from stress.
"You couldn't have stopped me." Wednesday said, shame welling up inside her like a burst pipe.
"Who's stronger?" Enid said with a derisive laugh. "The Blood Moon werewolf or the 5 foot 1 inch seer?" Wednesday bit her tongue. She couldn't argue with the facts. Had Enid really wanted to stop her, she easily could have.
"You were being cautious." Wednesday said, the taste of iron flooded her mouth as she bit down on her tongue hard enough to draw blood. "With that kind of strength."
"I'm going." Enid said, holding up her hands and shaking her head.
"Enid, please." Wednesday begged as Enid strode past her and straight into the bathroom. "Please." She continued as Enid walked back out with her toothbrush gripped tightly in her hand. "I'm sorry!" Wednesday said, stepping in front of the door to block her.
"Wednes…" Enid said, repressing a whine.
"I'm sorry." Wednesday said with painful earnesty. Enid pressed her forehead to Wednesday's, who relaxed at once at the touch. Enid pressed a gentle kiss to her lips before moving her aside. "Enid!"
"I love you and I'll see you tomorrow but tonight…" Enid said, feeling as heartbroken as Wednesday looked. She turned away and closed the door behind her. Wednesday stood frozen where Enid left her. She debated between following after her or giving her the space she requested. Begrudgingly she decided on the latter and headed back to the crime board. She needed something else to focus on.
Picking up her phone she reread the message and glanced back at the board. She tried to recall the vision she had before she had touched the other papers. She closed her eyes.
There were bodies scattered on the ground. A lone figure stood in the center of it all. She furrowed her brow. She couldn't remember a face. The figure crouched down and started arranging his victims. Then it struck her. The papers behind the courthouse were arranged in the same manner as the bodies were 8 years ago. How could she have missed such an obvious clue?
Opening her eyes she started drawing where the bodies would have been. Once she finished she crossed her arms and took a step back. It looked like a circle connected to a half circle, but what could that mean? Maybe the fact that there were seven victims meant something? What about the papers themselves?
She withdrew the first one she had managed to grab from her pocket. She uncrumpled it and smoothed it out. It was just a flyer for a boxing match. She turned the paper over. There was nothing on the back.