Chapter Text
A sharp snap rings out as a notebook is slammed shut. A pair of hands descend collectedly to lay on the cover.
A fluorescent light hellscape humming incessantly, walls painted white meant to convey a calm and a sterile environment—neither of which were true to the state of Willow Hill—which is where Wednesday Addams has found herself for the last two weeks and four days.
“And if I refuse?” A seated Wednesday retorted to the nurse that stood over her.
“This isn't something you can refuse Ms. Addams. We’ve taken your vitals and blood pressure daily for weeks now, this is part of the routine.” The nurse responded with fake patience.
“You aren’t the nurse that takes my vitals which makes this anything but routine.” Wednesday’s eyes rose to meet the nurse’s.
“Well she isn't here today, in fact I’m covering her shift. So you’re stuck with me, sorry.” A smile containing nothing and a chuckle barely harboring more spreads from the nurse's stubbly face.
Her eyes narrow. “I don’t like being touched.”
“I can get nurse Louise to do it, it’s no problem at all.” The nurse attempts to navigate the situation he sorely misunderstands.
“Perhaps I wasn’t clear—I don’t like anyone touching me.”
“You let Katja take your vitals didn’t you?”
“She took her time to keep the touching to a minimum. I find it unlikely you nor nurse Louise would do the same.”
“What makes you think I wouldn't take my time?”
“Lack of dedication to your job.” Wednesday snips.
“Well… What if I promise to keep the touching to a minimum?” The nurse responds after taking a breath.
Wednesday’s eyes sink to the nurse’s nametag before dropping further down to the black cover of her notebook. This wasn’t worth the headache or the risk of staying here longer than she needs to—regardless of what she wanted.
“Very well… Hudson.” Wednesday swallows, removing her left hand from the notebook and hovering her arm outwards.
Nurse Hudson breathed out in relief and moved towards her arm, pushing the squeaking cart along with him.
Wednesday kept her eyes on her notebook and attempted to think of anything else, remaining completely still in the process. Even as the first touch from Hudson reached her and she felt her chest tighten, she fought the instinct to flinch—and the instinct to break his fingers.
Her eyes finally tore themselves from her notebook as she looked to her right, out to the rest of the common room. A barely audible TV plays—mounted high on the wall—playing reruns of a sitcom that holds the attention of three patients.
“Just about done here, Addams.” Hudson says quietly as he scribbles away on his clipboard. “See, not so bad right?”
Wednesday continues looking throughout the common room, her eyes flickering to the nurses’ station for a moment, but gathering nothing from the other nurses’ whispers.
When she looks back to the rest of the common room, something outside of the large windows that line the back wall catches her eye. A raven, one of its wings seems to be damaged, a small frayed red string caught in its feathers.
“Odd.” Wednesday says, more so to herself, but that doesn't stop Hudson from responding.
“What?”
Her eyes shift as if they could turn further behind her and stare out the back of her head at Hudson.
“A raven.” Her eyes return to the window.
“huh—that's pretty cool, don't think I’ve ever seen a raven before. At least not in real life—didnt even know we had ravens around here.”
Wednesday stays silent and simply watches the bird as Hudson finishes.
“All right, thanks for the cooperation Ms. Addams.” Hudson suddenly says as he pushes the squealing cart to the next patient, an imitation of friendliness pouring out as he talks to the next patient.
Wednesday immediately stands—the plastic chair screeching back against the tile as she shifts her attention back to her left arm for a moment then down to her notebook.
She snatches up her notebook and pencil quickly and turns her head back to the window to find the raven gone. Wednesday tilts her head slightly before spinning on her heels and retreating to her room.
Wednesday places her notebook and pencil together neatly on the bolted down table in her room and stands still as a small bit of hesitation hits her. She considers which she prefers at the moment, a shower or writing. Normally she heads off to shower after the nurse does their rounds, but she considers the group therapy session they last had—encouraging Wednesday to use her writing for putting her thoughts down and expressing how she feels.
At that notion, she promptly raises her eyes to the larger than life bathroom door and goes to shower.
“Dinner in five, Addams.” A nurse calls while passing by the door—like a prison guard.
Wednesday pauses her writing and puts her pencil down, rereading the page, a collection of ideas for her novel. Ranging from character arcs to settings to tone shifts.
“Amateur.” She sighs to herself as she skims the page, frustrated.
She goes to close her notebook, letting the pages hitch briefly and slide past her thumb and lets out another sigh as she closes her eyes. A migraine starts rooting itself at her forehead as she thinks of outside—outside the walls of this psychiatric penitentiary, back home.
Wednesday thinks of her father, Gomez Addams, and being awakened by the sounds of his opera showers. A part of her finds herself missing it—maybe she really had gone mad and deserved to be locked in an asylum after all. But she figured two weeks and four days of Willow Hill could do that to just about anyone, even her.
Despite this rationale her mind continues to wander, thinking of her mother, Morticia Addams. When her mother had pushed her into therapy just 3 months ago—how her mother would hum to herself while tending to her plants—when her mother opened Wednesday's door and found her- “Addams!” A raised voice cuts through her rambling mind, not yelling, but surely not quiet either.
Wednesday turns her head to her doorway to find a nurse standing there, nurse Louise, looking just slightly annoyed.
“Come on sweetie, I called for you a few times already. Dinners up” She motions for Wednesday to follow.
Wednesday glances past Louise as the commotion of dinner finally leaks through the doorway. She stands—hands at her sides as she briskly walks up to Louise.
“What nutrition paste awaits me tonight?”
“It’s not paste dear, It may not be the best, but it's not that bad. We're having chicken, rice and peas.” She smiles at her.
“We have vastly different definitions of the word bad.” Wednesday flatly stated. “Though I suppose it is still edible.”
“See, that's the spirit” Louise’s smile grows before she turns and walks out into the common room with Wednesday. “I’ll bring your food to you dear, go relax.”
Wednesday took her seat at the far plastic table near the corner, resting her arms on it was enough for it to wobble before she pressed her forearms down more evenly to stabilize it.
Louise brings Wednesday a tray of food, her smile quickly re-attaching itself to her face and as she places the tray in front of her, although telling it was food solely by looking at it was a feat in itself.
“Thank you.” Wednesday said, her eyes focused on the tray of food as Louise said her pleasantries—which were not listened to—and left.
Wednesday’s eyes shifted towards the utensils. “I wonder what foodborne illness I will catch from this.”
“Earth to Enid.” A voice says lightheartedly, a chuckle accompanying it.
Enid Sinclair blinked and turned her head “What? Sorry—I was just…” Her voice trails off momentarily as she turns her attention back to a tree outside. “There was this bird, and-”
“You got distracted by a bird?” The man laughed, a mocking smile plastered on his face. “Doesn’t take much, huh?”
“It wasn't just a normal bird—it-shut up Bruno.”
Bruno laughed and shook his head “Hey, I’m not the one who zoned out over a bird.”
Enid rolled her eyes “God you’re insufferable.”
“And yet you love me.”
“Love is a strong word.” Enid's eyes squinted as she fought back a smile.
Enid grabbed her backpack, throwing her arms through both straps as Bruno returned to the paper in front of him.
Enid glances at the paper, repelling her urge to correct an incorrect answer. “Ready?”
“Yep, I’ll walk you out, just give me a second.” Bruno responded as he finished his attempt at the homework.
“No rush… But also… You got number 7 wrong.”
Enid glanced back at the tree outside the window, trying to recall more about the bird. But no details sprang forth in her mind.
Bruno stuffed the homework and his pencil into his backpack with little care as he slung one strap over his shoulder. “All done.” He stood and initiated walking and Enid followed.
“You coming to the game on Saturday?” Bruno asked casually, as though it was no big deal.
“Are you kidding of course I am. I mean even if you weren't playing, there's no way I would miss a hockey game.”
“Big words for someone who moved here only like—what? Ten months ago? Eleven?” Bruno face scrunches.
“Nine actually, will be ten in… a week I think.” Enid tilts her head “But that’s besides the point, I’ve always been into hockey. After all, my older brothers had full reign of the tv growing up so I didn't really have a choice. Either learn to like it, or I don't."
Bruno’s response was a nod and a grunt. “Your brothers coming too?”
“Uh… No. Just me.” Enid flushed ever so slightly.
Another nod from Bruno acknowledging that, yes, words were indeed said.
“So…” Enid says, dragging the word as they make their way down the overcrowded hallways of the school. “Wanna hang out or something like at the park or the mall even? I think they opened a Auntie Anne’s just the other day.”
“I uh… I would but I really just wanna relax as much as I can before the game you know? Otherwise I would, like one hundred percent.”
“Oh- oh yeah no totally get it.” Enid stammers out
“Maybe after the game? I could totally do it after if you’re down.”
“Yeah, totally I would like that—yeah. No pressure, I'm down for whatever, you know?”
Bruno lets a third nod out. “Bet.”
As they exit the school, the air has a touch more of a crisp bite than there was even this morning—signs of changing seasons.
Bruno shifts to head towards the parking lot as Enid shifts towards the bus line.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Then afterwards is game day.” Bruno raises both his eyebrows to emphasize.
“Yep! I’ll see you tomorrow!” She smiles
“See ya.”
“Bye.”
Enid walks towards the buses and rolls her eyes at herself
“So stupid.” She whispers to herself
“Why did you bring it up like that? Why couldn’t you just ask to hang out without making it seem weird and pushy?”
She briefly closes her eyes and shakes her head. “Oh yeah, I know you have a game and all, but do you wanna go to the mall cause I really wanna get some pretzels” She says mocking herself.
Enid boards the bus and throws herself down in a seat. “So dumb.” she groans.
She reaches into her pocket, fishing out her phone and earbuds. She pops her earbuds in, tucking her blonde hair behind her ear and promptly opening Tiktok to mindlessly scroll, distracting her from her perceived awkwardness with Bruno and the fact that going home was steadily approaching.
At least she knew only her brothers would be home at this time, at the very least there was that.
The next morning, Wednesday was greeted with the same unalterable commotion that mornings usually gifted to her by Willow Hill.
Nurses speaking loudly, other patients in the common room and the stench of bleach filled her senses—someone had likely thrown up. Not an uncommon occurrence during the waking hours.
Although what was uncommon was the sound of trays clattering. She had slept in. And the nurses let her.
Wednesday in one swift motion shoots straight up—swinging her legs off of the bed—at the same time using one hand to rip the sheets off of her.
With a deep breath she stands, her eyes shooting towards the door leading out of her room as she just waited for a minute. Then two, then three. No nurse was coming to get her.
Wednesday takes mental note of this break in routine and heads to the bathroom to ready herself for another day of the same activities.
When she exits her room, she finds breakfast is well under way, almost everyone has started eating.
“Addams, you nearly missed breakfast.” A recently caffeinated nurse Hudson calls out upon seeing her.
Wednesday marches across the common room towards Hudson.
“Why did none of the nurses wake me?”
Hudson eyes meets Wednesday’s before darting towards another nurse Wednesday hadn’t bothered to remember the name of.
“Ah- jeez, sorry Addams—I told Mar—uh… Nurse Bennet to get you up-”
“She didn't.” Wednesday interrupts, her face as blank as the day she was born.
“Sorry Addams, but hey! At least you didn’t miss it after all.” He smiles, shining his coffee stained teeth.
Wednesday’s eyes shoot to the side at the cart of food.
“Powdered eggs… Again.” She whispers to herself, not of any importance, but there isn't much to do in a psych ward.
“Well go ahead and eat up Addams, I’ll bring your meds to you afterwards. Big day for you huh.” Hudson drones on.
Wednesday brings her gaze back to Hudson.
“Big day?”
“Yeah… You know because you’re…” Hudson's eyes flash confusion across his face.
Wednesday stays muted and unmoving.
“Did no one tell you?” He questions, an eyebrow raising.
“Tell me what?”
“You know you’re going home today, right?”
Wednesday’s eyes widened, the sounds of the common room seemed to slip away in an instant.
“I’m what?”