Chapter Text
Chapter 1
Yoko had been watching Wednesday since she saw her crying in the quad about three weeks ago. Yoko had been rushing to meet up with the other Nightshades. That night they were officially initiating Eugene into the Nightshades. She hadn’t even noticed Wednesday really until the wind shifted and she caught her scent. Yoko had stopped, turned, and found the girl sitting at a table alone. At first, Yoko felt smug. Served Wednesday right after what she had put Enid through but the longer she watched Wednesday, the more she noticed how distraught the girl was. Yoko was shocked, to say the least, when Wednesday actually began crying in the quad. Not silent tears but an actual sob escaped her lips. Not loud enough to be heard by the majority in the quad. Then, suddenly, Wednesday dried her eyes, straightened her back, and quickly left the quad looking as though nothing happened.
Yoko never told the others what she witnessed that day but she had been keeping an eye on Wednesday ever since. All of them, surprisingly Enid and Thing too, had finally cut Wednesday out of their lives. Yoko and the others figured what happened must have been pretty bad for Thing to move out with Enid so everyone supported Enid. Really, Wednesday never considered them friends anyway so they just stopped talking to her. Interestingly, Wednesday had tried talking to all the Nightshades but they all kept brushing her off. After a few tries, Wednesday had stopped trying to make contact. Not even looking at them if they shared a desk in class. Even the teachers had noticed and made sure none of them were partnered with Wednesday. They all breathed a sigh of relief; not being sure what she might to do each of them.
To anyone who didn’t know Wednesday, she didn’t seem any different than she ever had. She still threatened people, scared people away with her scary stare, and was still on top of her game in her classes. She had even beaten Bianca more times than she had lost in fencing. But … but when Yoko got close to Wednesday, she noticed a faint smell of blood (sometimes fresh and sometimes day old) and antiseptic. She also occasionally caught Wednesday staring not just at Enid but all of the Nightshades. Most would not notice but Yoko could tell that Wednesday was sad as she looked at the others. Yoko could only assume Wednesday looked at her the same way when she wasn’t paying attention. Yoko had tried to catch her by turning quickly or using a mirror but somehow Wednesday kept avoiding making eye contact even after Yoko could feel her eyes on her.
Yoko was pulled from her thoughts when she saw Eugene coming down the hall towards her. Eugene had also limited contact with Wednesday after the “incident.” He was dating Ajax and was trying to keep harmony in his relationship. “Hey Eugene,” Yoko said when she saw Eugene in the hall. “Do you have a minute?”
“Yoko, hi. Yeah. Sure. What’s up,” Eugene asked.
Yoko didn’t miss the slight eye roll when she said, “It’s about Wednesday.”
With a small sigh, Eugene asked, “What about her.”
“Does she still come help you with the bees?”
“Yeah, I mean she has to have an extracurricular activity and the Hummers still have the least amount of people.”
“How has she been?”
“What do you mean? She’s been Wednesday. She comes to the shed, does what needs to be done, and leaves.”
“She doesn’t talk to you about anything? You haven’t notice anything different or worrisome?”
“Yoko,” Eugene sighed again, “we talk about what needs to be done with the bees. That’s all. We all agreed that Wednesday really messed up this time so limited contact unless necessary. Remember? And as for anything different, well, she is the Wednesday that she was when she first came here. She has returned to who you all kept telling me and Enid she was.”
Yoko doesn’t think that last part is right anymore but she just says, “Okay. Thanks, Eugene.”
“No problem,” Eugene says as he gave a little wave and walked on.
It was Friday and Yoko’s last class had been cancelled so she was done for the day. Yoko had about an hour before everyone else would be done with class. If she remembered correctly, Enid said she had her last class with Wednesday. 'What was it again? Oh yeah, botany. How could she forget that after the events of their first semester together,' Yoko thought as she shook her head. With that thought, she made her decision. She was going to continue “checking on” Wednesday.
------------------------
Yoko was pulled from her homework with the opening of the door to the greenhouse where the botany classes were taught. Luckily, she was situated in a manner that no one would notice her as they left the class. First out the door was Wednesday, back straight, eyes forward, marching back to the main building. Yoko quickly went around the left side of the greenhouse so no one would see her but she would still be able to see where Wednesday was going.
When she got to the other side of the building, she walked a little from a crowd of people heading the same way as Wednesday. Using them to hide her from Enid, while keeping an eye on Wednesday. She was going to Ophelia Hall.
Yoko made it to the first set of stairs just as Wednesday turned to go up the next set. Yoko quietly followed keeping her distance. Even while Wednesday was unlocking her dorm room door, she didn’t notice Yoko. Yoko stayed in the shadows of the lower set of stairs until she heard Wednesday’s door close. Then she slowly and very quietly crept to the door noticing that Wednesday hadn’t completely closed the door. That was another sign something was wrong. Wednesday would never leave herself vulnerable in such a way since Enid moved out.
Yoko listened as Wednesday puttered around the room expecting to hear her start typing on her antique typewriter. Instead, after what sounded like Wednesday dropping her bag and going into her in suite bathroom, she heard what sounded like Wednesday dropping to the floor. After a few minutes, Yoko smelled it. Fresh blood.
Slightly panicked, Yoko slowly pushed Wednesday’s door open, slowly sticking her head in the room, expecting a knife (or dagger excuse her for not knowing the difference) to be thrown at her head. She was not met by a flying projectile but what she saw scared her even more.