Principal Weems drove Wednesday into the
town of Jericho, and parked in front of a three
story, white building.
"Dr. Kinbott's office is on the second floor.
Other Nevermore students swear by her."
Weems said.
"And you'll be waiting here until I'm done?"
Wednesday asked.
"Perhaps afterwards we can visit the
Weathervane for hot chocolate." She suggested.
"Principal Weems, this feeble attempt at
bonding is beneath you." Wednesday said, as she
climbed out of the car. "And chauffeuring your
students around is clearly below your pay
grade."
"Given your history, I'm sure you're intent on
running away. I'm here to prevent that from
happening." Weems revealed.
Wednesday stared at her. "I wish you luck." She
said, closing the car door and entering the
building.
...
"I read the notes from your school counselor." Dr. Kinbott said, as she lead Wednesday into
her office.
Dr. Kinbott was a tall, thin woman with blonde
hair, blue eyes, and had a crescent moon
necklace.
"Mrs. Bronstein. She had a nervous breakdown
after our last session and had to take a six-
month sabbatical."
Dr. Kinbott gestured to a chair. "Go ahead and
take a seat."
Wednesday sat in a chair, and Dr. Kinbott sat
across from her.
"How did you feel about that." She asked.
"Vindicated. But someone who crochets for a
hobby isn't a worthy adversary."
"Adversary? I hope we can forge a relationship
based on trust and mutual respect."
Wednesday sighed.
"This is a safe place Wednesday. A sanctuary where we can discuss anything. What you're thinking, feeling, your views on the world, personal philosophy. She explained.
"That's easy. I think that this is a waste of time.
I see the world as a place that must be endured.
And my personal philosophy is kill or be killed."
"So, for instance, when someone bullies your
brother, your response is to dump piranha in
the pool."
"You know the old saying, never bring a knife to
a sword fight. Unless the knife is concealed."
Wednesday said.
"The point is you assaulted a boy and showed
no remorse for your actions. That's why your
here." Dr. Kinbott explained.
"He lost a testicle. I did the world a favor.
People like Dalton shouldn't be allowed to
procreate. I've answered all your questions.
Wednesday went to stand up, but Dr. Kinbott
stopped her.
"We're not done yet." She said with a smile.
Wednesday sighed again and reluctantly sat back down.
"Therapy is a valuable tool to help you
understand yourself. It can teach you new ways
to deal with your emotions. It can also help you
build the life you want." Dr. Kinbott explained.
"I know the life that I want." Wednesday harshly told her.
"Tell me about it."
Wednesday stayed silent.
"Everything said in these sessions is strictly
confidential."
Wednesday still didn't speak.
"Do your plans involve becoming an author? I
understand you've written three novels about a
teen girl detective, Viper De La Muerte. Can
you tell me about her?"
"Viper is smart, perceptive, chronically
misunderstood." Wednesday huffed.
"Any luck getting your work published?" Dr.
Kinbott asked.
"Editors are short-sighted fear-based life forms.
One once described my working as gratuitously
morbid, and suggested I seek psychiatric help.
Ironic isn't it?" Wednesday said with disdain.
"How did you take that?"
Wednesday smirked a bit. "I sent her a thank you."
...
Wednesday was getting mousetraps ready and setting then in a box.
After Wednesday sent it, the reader opened it and screamed as the mouse traps clamped down on her fingers.
...
"I've always been open to constructive criticism."
"I'm glad to hear that. Because I was sent the
manuscripts as part of your psych evaluation,
and some of the drafts that you're currently
working on."
Wednesday frowned. She didn't like the fact that
this woman had read her work.
"The two relationships I found most intriguing
were that of Viper and his mother, Dominica,
and of Viper and his new friend, Vixen, who
Viper seems to admire quite a bit. Why don't we
dig into that?"
Wednesday's mouth twitched uncomfortably.
"Wednesday, part of this journey requires us
going to uncomfortable places emotionally."
"I don't travel well." She told her firmly. "Do you mind if I use the powder room first?"
Dr. Kinbott gestured to the door of the
bathroom, and Wednesday got up and entered
the bathroom, locking the door behind her. She
looked around the bathroom, and accidentally
knocked over a candle with her bag.
"Wednesday?" Dr. Kinbott called. "Is everything okay? You can't hide in there for the rest of the session."
"I'm alright. Just..preparing myself for our
uncomfortable journey." She responded.
Wednesday noticed a window, and tapped her
backpack. "Nail file." She whispered.
Thing popped out of the bag and handed her
the nail file. She then used it to unlock the
window and climb out onto the roof of the
building next door.
She then walked to the edge of the building,
climbed over, and slid down a pipe.
She was about to cross the street when she bumped into someone.
"Sorry! Are you okay?" A voice asked.
Wednesday looked up to see Y/n. "Yeah, I'm alright."
She grabbed Y/n's arm and She crossed the street. Then glanced over at Principal Weem's car, to make sure she didn't spot her.
"Watch out!" Y/n yelled still in Wednesday's grasp.
She was so busy looking at Weems, she wasn't
watching where she was going, and bumped into
a man carrying a crate of apples. When she
touched the man, Wednesday's eyes went wide
and her head flew back.
"Wednesday!"
...
The farmer was sitting in his car, and picked
up his phone to look at it. When he looked back,
he saw a truck coming straight for him.
The truck and his car collided, and the driver
sat limp in his car with a broken neck.
...
Wednesday's vision ended and her head went
forward. She glanced at the farmer who glared at
Wednesday and Y/n who was behind her.
"Who let you out? You goddamn weirdo." He
growled.
Y/n stepped in front of Wednesday and did something to him.
The man stumbled back and Wednesday grabbed her arm. Wednesday dragged her to keep them walking.
"What did you do?"
"Oh, don't worry about it. He won't mess with you or me anymore." Y/n said smiling.
...
Inside a coffee shop called the Weathervane, the
boy at the counter was having trouble with the
espresso machine.
"You read Italian, right? The boy asked Y/n, who was sitting at a booth with Wednesday.
"Of course I do." Y/n said as she got up and followed the boy behind the counter.
Y/n grabbed the instructions and tried to look at the machine but the two flinched as the machine spewed out smoke.
Once the smoke cleared, Wednesday was
standing in front of the counter, staring at
them, making the two jump.
"Holy crap!" The boy exclaimed.
"Jesus, do you make a habit of scaring the hell
out of people?" Y/n asked.
"It's more of a hobby." Wednesday replied.
"You go to Nevermore." He realized, then
turned to Y/n. "You didn't tell me they changed up the uniform."
"They didn't." Y/n replied.
"What are you doing behind the counter? Are you the mechanic for this place?" Wednesday asked Y/n.
"No, I'm just good at mechanics. Plus you led me here. Anyways, this is Tyler." She explained, gesturing to the boy standing next to her.
Wednesday hummed, then turned to Tyler.
"I need a quad over ice. It's an emergency."
Tyler and Y/n just stared at her.
"It's four shots of espresso." Wednesday told them.
"Yeah, I...I know what a quad is, but spoiler
alert, the espresso machine's having a seizure,
so all we have is drip." Tyler gestured to a man pouring drip into a cup.
"But drip is for people who hate themselves and
know their lives have no real purpose or
meaning." Wednesday complained.
The man pouring the drip heard her, and
awkwardly put the pot down and walked away.
"What's wrong with your machine?" She asked.
"It's a temperamental beast with a mind of its
own." Tyler answered in frustration.
"And it doesn't help that the instructions are in
Italian." Tyler huffed, holding up the
instructions.
Wednesday walked to the other side of the
counter and watched as Y/n tried to read the instructions.
"I need a tri-wing screwdriver and four
millimeter Allen wrench." Y/n read.
Wednesday looked at her confused. "Wait, you
read Italian?"
"Of course. It's the native tongue of
Machiavelli." She told her.
"Impressive." Wednesday muttered.
Wednesday glanced at her and smirked a little.
Then she looked at Tyler. "Here's the deal. We are going to fix your coffee machine, then you're going to make my coffee and call us a taxi."
"Uh, no taxis in Jericho. Try Uber?" He
suggested.
Wednesday grabbed the tools from Y/n, her hand brushing against hers as she did so.
"Hey! I was using those!" Y/n snarled.
"Hush." Wednesday whispered as she glared at her.
Wednesday began working on the machine with Y/n. "I don't have a phone. I refuse to be a slave to technology."
"Then you're out of luck."
"Where you going?" Y/n asked.
"That's on a need-to-know basis." Wednesday
told her. "What about trains?"
"Nearest station is Burlington. It's half an hour
away." Tyler informed her.
"You have a valve issue. I've seen it before."
Wednesday said to them.
"Where? You have one of these monsters at
home?"
"Steam-powered guillotine. Built it when I was
ten. I wanted to decapitate my toys more
efficiently." Wednesday causally explained.
Tyler and Y/n just nodded awkwardly, as
Wednesday and Y/n finished fixing the machine.
"Wow. Thanks. I never met a Nevermore kid
who got their hands dirty, other than Y/n. I didn't catch your name, or is that on a need-to-know basis too?"
Wednesday looked at Tyler."Wednesday."
"Well, tell you what Wednesday. To show my
appreciation, how about I drive you to
Burlington myself?" Tyler offered.
"Perfect. Put that quad in a to-go cup."
"Uh, but I don't get off for another hour."
Wednesday held up some money.
"I'll sweeten the pot."
"Twenty whole dollars. Tempting, but no." Tyler
declined.
Wednesday held up more money. "I'll make it
40."
"60?" Y/n asked pulling out another twenty. Wednesday glanced at her and smiled a little.
"Uh, listen Wednesday and..Y/n, one fun fact about me, I can't be bought, so either wait, or find someone else to drive you."
"I could drive you." Y/n offered.
"How?"
"I mean, I know how to drive but I don't have a car. We can steal one." Y/n suggested again.
"I don't want you getting in trouble as well." Wednesday said firmly.
Y/n and Wednesday let out a huff but went to go sit down in a booth with Y/n and wait.
Y/n was disappointed. She wanted to spend as much time as she could with Wednesday before she left.