A while has passed since the Rave'N dance commenced. Seeing the students settled down, Principal Weems and Ms. Thornhill began making their way to the middle of the floor, a mic in the former's hand. "Good evening, everyone!" Weems said to the mic, all heads turning to her.
"I would like to again welcome you all to this year's Rave'N." She paused, looking at the excited faces of the students. "Let us thank Ms. Thornhill and the decorating committee for this wonderful venue. They worked hard to make this an unforgettable night for everyone."
The sound of claps and cheers filled the hall. With how little time the committee's had, they certainly made the best of it with what they could.
Weems continued, her voice echoing throughout the hall. "Remember, this evening is about fun, but of course, we must all be… civil about it." She said, her gaze looking at the 'responsible' students.
"Now, without further ado, let the Rave'N officially begin!" Weems exclaimed, toasting her glass up.
Music filled the room the moment Weems finished speaking, an upbeat, energetic music. Students began standing up, dancing to the rhythm of the DJ's beat. The fog machine released fog-like smoke on the ground, creating a mysterious atmosphere coupled with the dim lighting. The air was mixed with the sweet scent of the punch.
All of a sudden, the lights dimmed and "Goo Goo Muck" started playing in the speaker. Wednesday Addams and Tyler Galpin, at the center of the dance floor, the goth girl's arms started moving wildly. Flaring to the rhythm of the song. The tension from the drama earlier was gone, replaced by excitement at this event.
'I didn't expect this!' Tyler thought happily. He expected Wednesday to just throw her hands up half-heartedly, or stand still while he danced. But this is a welcomed surprise!
Wednesday spun, appearing behind him. Tyler, not wanting to be one-upped, followed her steps. The two of them took the dance floor for themselves. This caught the attention of the other students, cheering at their unusual choreography. The unbothered, expressionless, stoic Wednesday Addams was dancing! Like a zombie!
Everyone got fired up. This is a party! Why, out of all of them, Wednesday Addams was having the most fun? The crowd slowly formed a wide circle around them, giving the pair space to perform their strange yet hypnotic routine.
Wednesday's eyes never left Tyler's for long, her movements sharp and unpredictable, moving like a zombie on a dance floor. Her black dress swayed and twirled with each spin, the dim lights catching the silver accents in her dark braids.
Tyler tried to mimic her steps, bending his knees and jerking his arms to match her offbeat rhythm. He stumbled once, but Wednesday caught his hand for only a second, guiding him back into step without a single word. The students roared, their cheers echoing through the hall as phones came out to record the spectacle.
The DJ, surprised but amused, quickly shifted the mix to a darker, faster beat, letting the drums pulse in time with Wednesday's sharp movements and sudden convulsions. Couples who had been swaying awkwardly on the edges of the floor were now emboldened, joining in with their own moves, though none could match the eerie intensity of the eccentric goth girl.
Those sitting at their tables cheered, except for Xavier Thorpe and Bianca Barclay. Looks like another cold is about to happen. Even Lucas Walked was dancing with his date, or not. He paused, excusing himself off the dance floor. But who cares? This is the Rave'N!
—-
"Whoever invented high heels clearly had a side hustle as a torturer." Wednesday spoke, staggering as she made her way to the couch at the lobby. Once seated, a voice behind her spoke. "As my dear mother always says, "Fire tests gold, suffering tests a woman.""
Wednesday turned her head as relief rushed to her feet free of the heels — Bianca Barclay, sitting in her lonesome. She hummed. "Speaking of suffering, where is your date? I didn't see you and Xavier at the dance floor."
"We had a little tiff. About you actually." Bianca looked at the ground, her voice wavering. "You don't know what it's like."
"Being beautiful and popular?" Wednesday asked sarcastically. "Never knowing people's true feelings." Bianca replied, "If someone likes me for me."
Wednesday's eyes turned to her amulet, a necessity that all sirens wear, lest they want everyone pestering them about poems of devotion. "What about your amulet?"
Bianca scoffed. "It's not foolproof. It's a mild prophylactic, so to speak. That's why Xavier broke up with me." She paused, tightening her hold on her amulet. "The worst part is I could never trust his feelings either. I never knew if they were real or not." She added, almost convincing herself.
Bianca looked up, meeting Wednesday's eyes. "You're lucky." Wednesday tilted her head, confused. "Do tell."
"You don't care how people think of you." Bianca answered, her words barely holding together. Wednesday looked unfazed, but deep down, somewhere in the cold crevices of her dark heart, she cared more than she let on. However, no one will know. No one. "Honestly, I wish I cared a little more."
Feelings, emotions, things she usually ignored. Not because it doesn't matter, but because they are illogical. It controls, obsesses. It's not her way, her way is fact, her way is the truth. Not how she feels, not opinions nor beliefs. And if she obsesses, it would only be in the pursuit of what is real.
All her life, Wednesday has pursued the empirical. The world is cruel, and facing it with a vulnerable front, one made of feelings and emotions, would break anyone unprepared. In her mind, logic reigns. The mind should always be what controls the body.
So as her mind became sharper, her heart became cold. Like winter solace, the eye of a snowstorm. But sometimes, in times countable in hand, her feelings leaked out. Not intentionally, just an accident born from an avalanche occurring inside her. Once in a while, she's burdened by the emotions she so desperately tries to suppress.
Though, just as the mind can want, the heart can desire. Unbeknownst even to her impeccable mind, she has a desire that everyone has. The desire for a hand to pull her out of the ice she's buried herself in.
—-
At the edge of the dance floor, Weems signaled something to Ms. Thornhill, who then signaled it to DJ Blood Suckaz. All of a sudden, the music stopped, the DJ held the mic near his mouth. "Yo-yo-yo! Almost eleven o'clock, so haul it out on the dance floor one last time…"
The beat started to get louder, the students, even those sitting on their tables tired from the dance, got up excitedly. Loud cheers and excited screams filled the air. "Before the raven says, "Nevermore.""
A new beat started playing, higher, faster than the last one. Enid, Yoko, Divina, Kent, everyone was giving it their all. Dancing like it's the end of the world. This is the peak of their lives, might as well enjoy it! Teens who have so much waiting for them, right now is not the time to brood. Even Xavier got up to dance!
Standing once again in the middle of the dance floor was Wednesday and Tyler, surrounded by the others, simply watching as they danced. Her gothic dress made a stark contrast to his white suit. Their gazes met from time to time. Each meeting seemed to make the world around go slow, stretching what little time it took. That is, until a droplet of red liquid fell to Tyler's shoulder.
Wednesday's eyes turned to his shoulder, her eyes widening in anticipation. From around the room, sprinkles of red liquid dropped, slowly turning to a full-blown rain of blood. The room was silenced, each student stood still, unable to believe what's happening. Wednesday, smiling, began counting in her head. One… two… th—
"AAAAH!"
A scream erupted from the back, the voice was… Principal Weems. The realization began settling in, a series of terrified screams followed, filling the air. The sprinkler, as if mocking them, began pouring out more. Students rushed to leave, pushing each other to get away from the place. The venue began to flood with the 'blood,' some students tripping over each other.
Panic and fear shows the worst out of men. Friends who danced with each other, who laughed and drank together began pushing one another to put themselves first. Gone was the air filled with excitement and joy, replaced only by fear and dread.
While all of this is happening, two people stood still in the middle of the dance floor. Wednesday looked around, the chaos ensuing making her smile. Tyler, on the other hand, is looking around concerned. Wednesday took her finger and put it in her mouth, tasting the liquid with a smile before a frown formed on her face. "They couldn't even spring for real pigs' blood." she said disappointingly, turning around, "It's only paint."
The studets scrambled around, pushing each other to get to the exit first. Wednesday felt someone bump to her, and again, and again, and— her head snapped upwards, her body convulsing amidst the chaos. A vision.
Wednesday found herself in the forest, running… growling, snarling. Running at a speed no normal human could. The path was familiar, somewhere she's been before. This path— it's where the monster's lair should be! Her point of view changed. "Run!" She heard a deep voice yell as Eugene fell on the ground, terrified and screaming.
She snapped out of her vision, back to the crimson chaos of the Rave'N dance. Wednesday felt a hand on her shoulder. "Wednesday! Are you okay?!" Ms. Thornhill yelled, the screams of the students deafening her sense of hearing.
"Eugene is in the woods. He's in danger." Without waiting for a reply, Wednesday ran. Weaving between the panicking students towards the back exit. 'Eugene! Why wouldn't you listen?!'
She opened the door, greeted by the dark, eery forest. Without hesitation, Wednesday ran in. She could feel the wind hitting her wet skin, the cold could make anyone pause and tremble but right now, all she could think of is Eugene. 'Why would you go alone?!'
Her heavy stride broke her heels. Wednesday, without a second thought, threw it away, running in barefoot. Now's not the time to think. At this very moment, her worry for that boy outweighs any shoes in the world. The dry ground felt painful, Wednesday could feel pebbles digging in to her feet — but she could take it, she could endure this. 'Stay alive, Eugene!'
"Eugene!" Wednesday shouted, receiving no answer. She ran deeper into the forest, towards the vision she saw. "Eugene!" Still nothing, just the silence of the night.
Wednesday felt close, she has to be. She turned, now only a few meters from the monster's cave. "Eugene!" She yelled again, looking around for any sign. Again, sil—
"Run!"
Wednesday's head snapped to her left. "Eugene!?" She shouted. "Wednesday! Over here! Aaa—!" this time, Eugene answered back, his screams and the monster roar echoing in the forest. She ran, as fast she could, just quick enough to see the monster staggering as it… retreated. Wednesday swears she could see blood and teeth falling from its mouth.
"Wednesday, help!" The yell snapped Wednesday out of her daze. She turned to the direction the monster came from. There he was, Eugene, safe and unharmed, but beside him, tattered and lying in a pool of blood — is Adam Cain.
Wednesday rushed to their side. "Help him, Wednesday! T-the monster! He hit it b-but it tackled him and slashed his neck!" Eugene said, his voice breaking between his words. Wednesday analyzed the scene before her, Eugene's panicked words, Adam's rugged breath and gaping wound.
"Clean towel." She muttered, her hands reaching behind his head to the straps of his mask. "W-what?" Eugene replied, unable to hear her words from his sobs. "Clean towel, now!" She shouted, startling Eugene who fumbled with his bag.
'This mask, I can't apply pressure with this mask in the way.' Wednesday unbuckled the strap, each one taking an effort with how tightly it was fasten. Every second wasted with this, he inches closer to death. If Wednesday learned one thing right now, it's that Adam Cain can't be the monster, else he wouldn't be dying in her arms right now.
Wednesday got to the last strap, but by then, Adam's breath turned to gargle. 'It's that deep?!' Just as Wednesday unfastened the last one, his breathing stopped. "Ah…" she whispered, shaken, different from her usual unbothered tone.
Despite her morbid personality, her macabre life… this is the first time Wednesday has encountered death this close. Death, merciless, unkind, inevitable. To watch the life fade off of someone you knew is different from merely seeing the corpse of some homeless man at the morgue. Different from crime scenes of strangers.
Death, often tantalizing to her, shook something inside. The harbinger of woes has never looked more terrifying than now.
"I-is he—" Before Eugene could finish his words, Wednesday dropped the answers he feared. "He's dead."
Eugene stood up, dropping the towel, he took a few steps back. "No… we were just… we were feeding deers.. a-and… no…" Wednesday watched as Eugene stammered with his words, shaken, trembling. She let out an exasperated sigh, the exhaustion from this night catching up to her.
Wednesday gave Adam's corpse one last look, there's nothing they could do. No one could escape death, no one on this world could revive the dead. She could only imagine how Principal Weems would react. Her golden boy dead, could she bury him, like she did with Rowan, along with the truth? Only time will tell.
She turned to Eugene, her eyes containing a finality in the situation and a promise —she'd catch that monster next time. "Eugene, we need to info—"
Before she could finish speaking, she saw something unimaginable at the corner of her eyes. Like an object possessed, Adam's corpse sprang forward, arms reaching for something in the air. Wednesday and Eugene's eyes widened. Stepping back in surprise from the scene in front of them. The two watched as slowly, impossibly, the man whom they wholeheartedly believe was dead, stood up.
Standing upright, joints cracking as he bent his back, pointing himself towards the sky. Then, after an eternity, Adam breath once more. A deep gasped, taking in the air deprived from him by the wound, now gone, covered in dried blood. Slowly, he turned his head to Wednesday, his mask sliding off his face, revealing the mystery underneath.
Wednesday's eyes widened, his face, his appearance. What… is that? His face, a face full of surgical scars; pale and dead lips; those mismatched eyes. He looks pieced together, like a jigsaw puzzle of flesh meant to mock God and nature. As if struck by lightning, realization began to dawn in. Memories began flashing in her mind — his innocence, the sheriff's description, the dark tower and the mad man — all of it, all of it is making sense.
His figure stood radiant amidst the dark, lit up by the moonlight peeking through the clouded sky. It felt like a declaration, of his existence and whatever else he represented. To anyone else, he might've looked terrifying, monstrous even. But to Wednesday Addams, he looked… beautiful. The empty void of his eyes flickers with life, sudden and true, a broken lightbulb threatening to turn off. He was dead before, now he lives.
"Adam…" Wednesday whispered. Adam locked eyes with her in an intensity even she didn't expect. "Wednesday..." he whispered, his voice hoarse and unnatural, like two voices overlapping. Wednesday boldly stepped forward. The eyes are the window to the soul, often more honest than the mouth that speaks. Right now, Wednesday's eyes held no fear, but so much more.
They say answers often lay beyond the curtains that hides behind the question. But now that Wednesday has caught a glimpse, she finds herself asking for more.
"What… are you?"
—-