It may have not been Friday the thirteenth, but it indeed felt so–as Victoria and Xavier were helping Ajax set up for Wednesday's surprise birthday party in Joseph Crackstone's spooky crypt.

She'd been there by herself for an hour until Xavier and Ajax had finally arrived to help while Enid was distracting Wednesday, while leading her to the crypt.

"Would you hurry, Victoria, Wednesday's almost here!" Xavier scolded. "Where's your magic when it's most needed?"

"Magic doesn't work like that, Xavier."

She was on a ladder, hooking on a long poster that Xavier had painted a few hours before. And because she was the most useful of them both, she took the initiative to start hanging things as they cleaned the place for a cake.

"It's too far to the right," Xavier complained. "You might have to untie it and do it again."

She sighed. Her arms had been hanging in the air for quite a while now and she was getting tired. It was almost midnight too. She scooted over, trying to reach for the string of the poster again when her foot missed a step and she lost her balance.

It happened in a flash as she grasped onto the wall, her weight and gravity pulling her down as she was dragged against the rugged wall. As she fell onto the floor on her bum. She felt a sharp pain on her dominant right forearm.

There was a six inch gash cut clearly through her skin like a slice of cake. She breathed heavily, rolling down her sleeves and pulled against it as it bled.

At least the ladder had broken her fall.

"Oh shit, are you badly injured?" Ajax questioned as he helped her up.

"Hush, you two, Enid just texted she's here," Xavier hissed as he blew out the candles and grabbed the cake.

Victoria turned to Ajax. "I'm okay."

As her arm was stained with crimson.

"Wow, sorry to hear I missed it," Tyler said sarcastically through the phone as Victoria laid in bed.

Wednesday's party was a very brief moment of celebration, as she stayed for the cake (seemed to enjoy it), discussed that she wondered how many more birthdays she had left before she actually would start to enjoy them (which was never), and then nonchalantly thanked Thing before leaving (not before saying she'd get him back though.)

She'd just arrived back to her dorm from Crackstone's Crypt and it was nearing two in the morning. She then called Tyler, remembering that he asked her to notify him when she got back as she told him everything that happened—well, almost everything.

Though that was before she cleaned her cut and bandaged it as best she could.

"You're very much a night owl, aren't you?" Tyler asked through the phone.

Truthfully, she just liked to speak to him. Speaking to Tyler was easy.

"I like to think I can pull off both," Victoria said with a laugh. "I'd stay out more if not for Nevermore. Plus it's a small town so there's not much to do."

"I know a spot or two," Tyler said sneakily. "If you're up for it, we could go haunted house hunting... or something of the sort."

Victoria grinned. "Is that a date?"

"Only if you say yes."

She grinned. "Then yes. I'd love to go haunted house hunting with you. Even though there's no such thing as ghosts."

- - - ᡣ𐭩 - - -

"The mayor's in the hospital?" Victoria asked Wednesday and Enid, seeing if she heard them correctly, as she laid in her bed, waiting for Tyler's text.

Wednesday nodded and said, "I believe whoever tried to kill him knew he had some evidence behind the so-called animal attacks."

Victoria nodded, thinking it made sense. But one mystery of hers never got answered. "Whatever happened to Rowan thought? The fake one, have you solved that riddle yet?"

"Thing and I are still working on it," Wednesday answered. "But we haven't found his wallet at all. Nor discovered why he has hidden polaroids."

"Not to mention, he doesn't even have a camera to be found," Enid exclaimed.

"That's what throws me off guard," Wednesday said, seeming to be in a long train of thought.

Victoria's phone chimed and she picked it up, seeing Tyler's message of arrival on her screen. She was dressed in all dark clothing. A laced black tank, warm dark denims, and a thin but warm navy cardigan as she got up from her bed and opened her window to crawl out.

"Well, I'll see you guys in the morning," Victoria said. "Take care of Gomi until I'm back."

But Wednesday stopped her. "Just where do you think you're going?"

"Haunted house hunting or something," Victoria answered briefly. "Tyler said he knows a spot."

"Ooh, where're you guys going?" Enid asked with her hands together.

"Some abandoned garden around the hills."

"Would it happen to be the Gate's mansion?" Wednesday asked.

"No," Victoria responded, confused. "We're going somewhere similar to a botanical home."

Wednesday immediately stood. "No, you're not. We're going to the Gate's mansion to investigate. I'm coming with you. And so is Enid."

Enid's teeth clattered. "Um! No thank you, Wednesday. You can't convince me to even step into an old creaky house even if it's been cleansed with anti-ghost water."

Victoria suddenly felt a wave of disappointment by the sudden company. "But why?" she asked. "Who's going to take care of Gomi? It's just a little exploring and-"

"Victoria, I followed Mayor Walker from the Gate's mansion to town before he got hit by a car," Wednesday explained sternly. "We've got better things to do than worry about dates right now. And Thing can watch Gomi, I believe he's gotten quite good with it. And Enid-"

Enid's ears perked up.

"If you come with, I'll wear your snood," she said, holding every ounce of a grudge back.

Victoria held in a sigh as she messaged Tyler. "Change of plans."

At least she would still get to hang out with Tyler.

So a few minutes later around eight, Victoria sat in the passenger seat of Tyler's car apologetically. They were sitting alone as he didn't say anything, surprised by the company that awaited.

"I didn't mean for this to happen," Victoria said, being the first to speak. Though he didn't say anything, she could sense his disappointment. She may have done better off just canceling plans on him.

"It's alright," Tyler said, much on his mind. She had the strong urge to ask him, but she didn't want to risk making the tension even thicker. It broke when the doors opened and Wednesday and Enid sat in the car with their matching snoods.

"Tyler," Wednesday greeted, her eyes flicking at him up and down.

"Wednesday."

There seemed to be a void between them that Victoria sensed as she lowered in her seat. Perhaps she could have avoided this if she never decided to sneak out.

"Look, I'm sorry about my dad arresting your dad," Tyler said to Wednesday as Victoria raised a brow.

"What?"

"Long and crazy story," Enid said.

So as Tyler drove to the Gates' mansion, Victoria discovered that over Parents Weekend, mister Gomez Addams had been arrested for the murder of Garrett Gates–a normie who apparently mistook Wednesday's mother's kind affection for reciprocated feelings. Victoria understood why, as she saw Wednesday's mother's legacy almost everywhere in the school.

Garret Gates had been so blinded by his hatred for outcasts that he broke into the school in an attempt to take his anger and hatred out on Gomez Addams. That's when things rose brutally as Wednesday's father was apparently arrested for killing–though it was stated as self defense.

"How'd he get freed then?" Victoria asked.

"He was poisoned," Wednesday said. "He was already dying so it was the poison that killed him. Even the autopsy reports showed that, but they were removed from archives and hidden by the previous sheriff."
"Sheriff Walker," Enid filled in the gaps.

"Now Mayor Walker," Victoria said with realization.

"Possibly even previous Mayor Walker," Tyler said under his breath. Victoria looked at him surprised as he tried to reason. "He's a corrupted man, perhaps whoever put him in the hospital is someone he's wronged. It's got to have been personal."

"You're right about that," Wednesday said, agreeing. "But it's got to be bigger than that."

The car slowly came to a stop outside the gates as Victoria was the first to step out the car.

"We want to find anything that could've motivated someone to attempt to kill Mayor Walker," Wednesday said as Victoria approached the locked gate.

"Alohomora," she thought. Child's play.

She pushed open the gate as the four of them entered the property. Victoria could already feel the lifeless fog create a chill that brushed against her legs. The first place they went to was the garage. Victoria tried to unlock it as well, but nothing happened.

"It's not the lock that's the issue," Tyler said. "It's probably jammed."

He rattled the door harshly a couple of times. Victoria thought he'd break a bone if he didn't stop. If not, he probably would have sent a warning of their presence to anyone that was residing in the house.

"Here, let me," Enid said.

She pulled on the doors effortlessly as she smiled. Tyler held an expression of surprise on his face as he followed Wednesday and Enid inside, side by side with Victoria.

"It's a werewolf thing," Victoria whispered.

"It's the car that hit Mayor Walker," Wednesday noted as they came across a blue Cadillac–that was not plated. "That means whoever hit him must've been here within the past two days."

They entered the mansion through the back door as Tyler sighed.

"What's on your mind?" Victoria asked.

"Other things we could be doing right now," Tyler said hopelessly longing to what could've been. But she remained curious and out of the-know.

"What would we be doing?" she asked, but before Tyler could answer (not that he would actually admit it), Wednesday spoke up.

"Tyler, you check the rest of the ground floor. The rest of us will head upstairs to look for possible clues."

"Why do I have to go alone?" Tyler asked. "I'll just take Victoria with me."

"You're a man," Wednesday answered simply.

Tyler doesn't protest and only walks away as Victoria gives him an apologetic grin. He returned it with a little wave as he bravely disappeared down the hall.

They entered a room. A little girl's bedroom. It was very empty and tidy, which was uncanny. Something was off. Victoria's attention was caught by a cup of tea on the nightstand. It was empty, but as she touched it, the cup was lukewarm.

"Oh my- Wednesday," Victoria said breathlessly. "I think someone's living here."

She sees Wednesday carrying a box in her hand. It's a music box.

There was suddenly a loud commotion downstairs that made Enid and Victoria jump as they followed Wednesday out and towards the stairs. Tyler's scream of agony filled the house as Victoria ran, pushing past Wednesday.

"Tyler!"

But Wednesday snatches her by the arm with quick reflexes as they see a familiar monster's shadow cave against the wall. The three girl's sprinted to the dumbwaiter as Victoria only thought the worse as to what could've happened to Tyler.

She wasn't given much time to consider as the three crawl into the small space, feeling the monster's breath at their ankles. It begins to attack them from the outside (Wednesday's snood saving their life) and Victoria's eyes meet the vicious monster's. She knew that it could see right through her and smell her fear, desiring to tear the life out of her.

Her adrenaline was rushed even more when the dumbwaiter begins to fall at a quick speed before the force slams them onto the ground. They roll out the machine, covered in dust as Victoria realized they were in the basement.

The basement had marinating body parts. Victoria didn't understand anything about it until Wednesday gasped.

"The body parts of the victims," she said, exasperated. "Whoever's behind the attacks are collecting body parts must have control of the monster!"

"No time to think, let's go!" Enid screamed.

After moments of fear and panic, they rush out the window, Wednesday almost losing a leg in the process. They rushed away from the home as Victoria heard Tyler's groans. She sprinted to the noise as Wednesday and Enid followed her in a panic.

"Tyler!" Victoria exclaimed with relief and hysterics when she found him lying against the stone wall, out of breath. "I thought something- I thought-"

She didn't get to finish her sentence as he winced and she moved his shirt, seeing the large gashes across his chest. Without hesitation, she removed her cardigan before Wednesday could even order her to apply pressure. She wrapped it around him, tightening it as he moaned in pain at her ruthlessness.

"What the hell?" a new voice breaks the scene.

The four of them look up to see Xavier, who's suddenly alarmed by the bloodiness of the situation.

"Xavier," Victoria says with worry in her eyes. "I hope you can drive."

As soon as they pull up to the driveway, Tyler's able to stand as he stubbornly refuses to slow them down when they step inside the house. His arm was resting over Victoria as she quickly sat him down at one of the dinning chairs.

"First aid kit," Wednesday demands. "He needs disinfecting, stitches, and a first aid kit, where is it!"

"It's in the upstairs bathroom," Victoria exclaims, rushing upstairs, leaving Xavier and Wednesday surprised by her knowledge of his home.

When she returns with the first aid kit, Wednesday immediately gets to work. In the moment, she doesn't even feel an ounce of jealousy as she tensely and timidly sits herself in the dark living room, refusing to look at anyone.

All along, she thought her worst fear was becoming the person she once was again. Or that Tyler would find out who she really was. But it all seemed so small to her new fear. Losing Tyler. He almost died, and it created a woke in her that refused to go to sleep as she felt her eyes water with relief. Now that he was a part of her life, she couldn't imagine one without him.

She held her breath as she allowed the denial she'd been hanging onto for so long fall.

And in that moment, she realized that she wanted him. She wanted to be his.

But it felt impossible with the secrecy and void that stood between them. She was holding herself back, afraid that they would pass the point of no return in their relationship.

But perhaps they had already passed it.

Sheriff Galpin suddenly barged into his home with an alarm when he saw his son sitting in the dimly lit dining area with three other students.

"Addams," he growled angrily before Wednesday took the blame.

But she also told him about the missing body parts in the basement. He kicked them out to think for himself before making a final decision.

"I'm fine, dad," Tyler said with a hint of annoyance as his dad questioned him.

He hadn't seemed to realize that Victoria had fallen into a deep sleep on his couch until Tyler himself noticed and brought it to his attention. His dad flicked on the lights as he started in disbelief.

"What the hell happened to her arm?" his dad raised his voice. "For goodness sake, Cole asked me to keep an eye on you both..."

His dad soon left to go back to the Gate's mansion with Wednesday and the rest. Perhaps this time, they'd finally catch solid evidence.

Tyler felt as if his organs had stopped functioning when he saw the bloody gash on her arm. It looked reopened or brand new, he couldn't tell. But her beautiful skin had been folded with blood staining her arm.

Soon, she was laying on his bed, dressed warmly as she slept peacefully. Tyler had bandaged her arm with thoughts flooding his mind. It was a certain type of guilt that no one else would be able to understand.

"I never should've asked her to sneak out," he thought, feeling angry to himself. It was all his fault.

He continued to think that until he woke up to her fingers twitching. It was still dark out as she opened her eyes and saw Tyler, who'd just woken up, beside her with relief.

"Sorry, I'm more tired than I thought," she said, turning to her side. "Are you alright now? Where're the others?"

Tyler didn't answer, as he had one question on his mind.

"Did the monster do that to you?"

"Do what?" she asked before his eyes fell on her arm. She suddenly sensed his full concern and quickly said, "No."

He didn't seem any more relieved as he asked, "What the hell happened then?"

"It was a little accident," Victoria said, embarrassed by the situation. "I just slipped a few days ago, but who cares? I want to know what the hell happened to you! I thought you were-"

She couldn't answer as she fell silent before managing to finish her sentence quietly. "I thought you were going to die."

Tyler, still facing her, didn't say a thing. He knew there was more to what she had to say, despite all he wanted to share with her. He was patient enough.

"I tried to go back for you, but- but I had to run and then these horrible horrible thoughts just occurred to me-" Victoria continued on, "-didn't matter because honestly, I never would have been able to live with myself if you died!" She was now sitting, leaning against the wall as she was no longer tired.

She was out of breath as Tyler seemed to find it amusing.

"What the hell is so funny?" she asked angrily. She had poured her heart out and he was still able to make light of the dark situation. She was unsure how to feel about that.

"That's how I feel about you all of the time," Tyler said. "You know well that I know why you see Kinbott. I've already put it all together. I wish I could tell you more, but you're always putting yourself in dangerous situations while already being a danger to yourself. This habit of yours–this addiction–it could kill you, Victoria. And you're foolish if you think I'm going to just let me watch you starve to death."

She felt a wave of defeat as her breathing quieted as he continued.

"You said that you wouldn't be able to live with yourself if I died, how do you suppose I feel?" Tyler continued, his hands expressing his frustration as he sat up, facing her. "I would never forgive myself again. Never let go of what could've been. I know you said there's no such thing as ghosts, but God knows you would haunt me for the rest of my existence, Victoria."

She had to look away from him for a few moments as he breathed heavily, especially from the pain in his chest that had been marked by the monster–despite finally getting it all off his chest. She could only manage one word.

"Tyler..."

"So for my sake, if not yours," Tyler interrupted her, unfinished. "Let me help you."

She felt her heart flutter with hope beyond what she could ever imagine from his words that brought a stinging sensation to her eyes. Never had she felt such a bond with someone she wasn't even confident about until that moment.

She leaned toward him close enough to hear his heart beat as hers pounded against her rib cage with a nervousness like never before. He met her halfway, their lips and bodies colliding after a battle of feelings in denial. He laid on his back as their bodies didn't part, their lips making up for the times they could've been.

And there it was. The point of no return.

- - - - - - -