As consciousness slowly became familiar to the girl, she felt suspended in a haze of confusion. Her body felt heavier than ever and sluggish as she couldn't feel herself move. Her arm was unable to do so as she realizes that she's in a hospital room.

She awoke with Enid by her side, sleeping on her arm as she tried to move it. When she did, Enid was shocked back to life and hugs Victoria while reciting prayers.

"Thank you, thank you for being alive!" Enid said, hugging her tightly.

"I- can't- feel- my arm!" Victoria wheezed weakly as Enid immediately stood up straight and apologized.

Enid wiped a little tear off her eyes as she explained the aftermath.

"Wednesday's claiming that Rowan's been murdered by a monster and she saw it with her own eyes, but no one really believes her except for me. Even the sheriff questioned her after he found out that you were potentially slipping into a coma near the crime scene because he thought she had something to do with it, but now that you're awake, you can finally make things clear and not press charges!"

"I wasn't going to press charges on anyone..." Victoria said, confused.

She then remembered the events of what happened at the Harvest Festival. The monster's bulging eyes burned her brain as she tried to forget, shaking her head.

"What's wrong?" Enid asked.

"I- Wednesday's telling the truth," Victoria said, her head pounding. "There was a monster. Oh, Enid, poor Rowan. It was horrible, I didn't know what to do- but- but we need to tell the sheriff!"

Enid shook her head gravely. "Victoria, you'll sound like a nut job."

"Why?"

"Because Rowan's somehow alive."

"I- what?" Victoria raised her voice. But before she got any answers, the sheriff walked in with a nurse, looking relieved. Sheriff Galpin seemed tired, as he had dark bags under his eyes. Enid took it as her sign to leave when the nurse nodded her head once at her. Enid patted her sore arm before walking out the door.

"Miss Halliwell," Sheriff Galpin said and seated beside her with the nurse standing next to him.

Even just being called by her last name made her think she was about to dive into hot water.

"I understand that you're an acquaintance of my son, Tyler?" he asked. She nodded. "So I'll tread lightly in this situation. Do you think you're up for some questions I have?"

"Yes."

Pleased, the sheriff continued. "What's the last thing you remember before blacking out?"

She hesitated, but it wouldn't mean much considering she just woke up from what they could believe was a concussion. "I- I thought I heard something in the forest and went to investigate. I think that's what happened because I remember walking into the forest."

"How could you, of all people in the carnival, hear a noise from the forest with all of the music that was going on?" he asked. "I understand that you had some friends with you, why didn't they come along to investigate?"

"I was only with Enid until she went off to get food," Victoria explained, deciding to leave out the part that she came across Rowan and Tyler. "And I wasn't feeling well when I heard a noise in the forest. That's the last thing I remember."

"Is that all that happened?"

"I think so," Victoria said. "But it's come to my attention that there are potential charges that are going to be pressed. I have no intentions on doing so."

The sheriff nodded, almost disappointed. But then he said something that made her tense.

"One of my detectives discovered gastric contents in a nearby trash," the sheriff said. "It hasn't been tested yet, but we–I believe it to be yours."

"Why's that?" Victoria asked.

The nurse took the role of explaining the context. "You see, while you were asleep, we wanted to check your stomach contents to see if there were any signs of poisoning... We tested your blood and we got clean results. But- we did notice that your stomach barely had anything–there were clear signs of malnourishment."

"Not to mention, there was some gastric content residue on your shirt when they found you," Sheriff Galpin added.

Victoria only had one way to get out of this uncomfortable situation now. Revealing the truth. At least, part of it.

"So what, I've got some habits?" Victoria asked defensively. "I'm seeing a doctor already, there isn't much you can do in this situation. If you're really here to find out whether Wednesday's tale is true, I don't remember seeing anything peculiar, sheriff."

Sheriff Galpin only stayed quiet for a few moments before standing from his seat, deciding that perhaps the young woman was not ready for any further questions. "Hm... If you remember anything, come down to the station. But let's schedule it ahead of time if you're able to because I'm working on the animal attack cases right now."

"Murder cases?"

"I forget you're new in town, Tyler mentioned that," Sheriff Galpin said, nodding his head before letting her in-the-know. "There's been a couple of animal attacks so I'd look out if I were you. Especially because you like to play detective yourself."

- - - ᡣ𐭩 - - -

Victoria was writing on her health tracker in her dormitory. Her mother had even sent her a truth-proofing quill that she was forced to use when writing on the tracker. There were not many loopholes around that one, as everyone in the school only had access to pencils.

Her health tracker looked very scarce under her food chart, making her feel not upset–but good. She had kept her fasting hours rather consistent. And her running charts looked good as well, besides the fact that she missed the two days she spent at the hospital.

She had just arrived back to her dorm three hours ago, being greeted by Enid, who watched her eat a chicken sandwich until she left. Most of the time, she was scolding Victoria until the witch hushed the werewolf with an "anti-Enid lock" on her door. So she began to tell Victoria about the Poe Cup event that was nearing–seeing that Rowan never got the chance to tell her about it himself since he left the school.

She would have been greeted by Principal Weems, who she expected to be breathing down her neck like a ghost, but Weems seemed to be too busy and caught up trying to keep Wednesday out of trouble.

She jotted down her most recent meal before there was a knock at her door. Enid had said she was going to return with more food, but she was already hoping to slip away from Enid before that could happen.

"Enid, for the last time, I'm not-" Victoria paused when she opened the door that revealed Xavier. Not Enid. "-joining the Poe Cup," Victoria improvised quickly, her voice trailing off with confusion. "You're not Enid."

"No, I'm not," Xavier said through his teeth.

Victoria stood there awkwardly, unsure about what he wanted.

"No 'thank you'?" he asked with a little sarcasm.

"Excuse me?" Victoria said, furrowing her brows.

Xavier shrugged. "I just figured I'd at least get a thank you by now for possibly saving your life twice." He had a smuggish smile on his face. She figured that his actions were very bold.

"Possibly once, on my way to Jericho," Victoria said. "But I don't recall another time."

Xavier leaned on the frame of her door. "I guess no one told you that I found you near the crime scene then."

Her furrowed brows rose. "You? No one told me so I wasn't aware. I figured that Sheriff Galpin-" She paused, aware of her rambling.

"Sheriff Galpin," Xavier nodded. "He's your friend's dad right? That one who works at the Weathervane."

"I'm honestly not sure if we're close enough to be friends," Victoria said with a shrug. Tyler had not sent her any messages yet nor made any calls. His behavior gave her an unsteadiness of mixed feelings she was very unfamiliar with. But then it was at that moment she remembered she had his number.

"We're merely acquaintances," Victoria responded.

"Acquaintances," Xavier nodded. "Interesting way to put it."

There was a silent pause between them before Victoria decided to put an end to the thick tension.

"Thank you, Xavier."

He laughed through his teeth, lowering his head. "I was only joking. I just wanted you on your toes before I passed a message."

"What would that be?"

"Weems wants you to join an extracurricular activity."

Victoria nodded, noticing that something else seemed to be on his mind.

"Is that all?" she asked him. "I had plans for later so..." Of course, she was not going to tell him about her daily run.

"No, I was curious about something," Xavier continued. "Would you perhaps like to go out some time? At your convenience..."

This took her aback, as she'd never gone on a date before. She thought she may have misheard him and didn't answer until she realized she was fully awake. But she couldn't help but wonder what Tyler would think. But after all, he was just a mere acquaintance...

"I'd love that," she smiled.

Perhaps twenty pounds less was magic.

- - - - - - -