"What do you mean it wasn't an animal attack?" Victoria questioned Wednesday as she laid on Enid's bed, sitting straight up. "Are you a psychic?"

Sheriff Galpin had just announced another death to the press, enforcing more outrageous protocols in Nevermore. Wednesday had disappeared for a few hours during Outreach Day after talking to Tyler-which she didn't get to eavesdrop on until Wednesday was then filling her in.

She didn't speak to him much after the interaction with Blaise-she was too afraid he'd find out the person she used to be.

She was most afraid that he'd begin to investigate and find those videos of her somewhere on the internet. She'd have to move continents instead of schools if that ever happened to her. But she decided to not test the waters, avoiding his messages.

Apparently, a few hours after the memorial statue of Crackstone was suddenly set ablaze (much credibility to Thing), a homeless man named Fabian was attacked by an animal.

Sheriff Galpin had no way to point the blame on the school as much as he wanted to because all of the Nevermore students had already been gone.

"Yes, actually, she's psychic," Enid said. "Awesome isn't it?"

"There's nothing awesome about being psychic," Wednesday said grumpily. "I often wonder if this gift was passed onto my younger brother, perhaps then he'd learn to toughen up and I wouldn't be here in the first place."

"So have you got any clues yet on what the monster is?" Victoria asked.

Wednesday looked irritated by defeat as she proclaimed, "No idea. But Thing and I are planning a little trip to the morgue. Eugene's been a bit of help, I must say, more help than I anticipated. But there is one thing that's been on my mind since Rowan got killed."

"What's that?"

"Rowan's wallet," Wednesday said calmly. "It's nowhere to be found and as far as I know, you're the last person who had it."

And as far as Victoria knew, Tyler was the last one who had it. But she didn't know how she could bring it up to Wednesday. After all, she wasn't confident whether Tyler had returned it to him or not.

"You're right..." Victoria said with a long thought. "Do you suppose whoever tampered the scene also took the evidence? Along with Rowan's body..."

Enid shivered at the thought. "Okay, you guys are giving me the heebie jeebies."

"For the last time, Enid, heebie jeebies don't exist," Wednesday said as Thing agreed. Wednesday turned to Victoria and said, "Well, I've figured out why Rowan had that mask."

"Why's that?"

"It was some ridiculous club he was a part of called the Nightshades. Nothing special about it, except for the fact that Rowan got kicked out last summer. Xavier and Bianca are in it, as far as I know, along with a handful of other wannabes." Wednesday said. "They tried to kidnap me when I entered their hideout, but they're poorly skilled when it comes to the art of mischief. It's a wonder they're not disbanded yet."

Victoria and Enid shared a short grin with this information as she wondered why Xavier had never mentioned this club before. But then again, it was a secret.

"What of the unused polaroid films?" Victoria asked. "I figured they'd be pretty irrelevant if they weren't hidden from sight though."

Wednesday nodded and said, "Thing went back to look for the camera that went along with them. Found no traces of it though, which is strange."

"Which means whoever tampered with Rowan's death also took his camera," Victoria said, putting the pieces together.

"We've got two mysteries," Wednesday said. "Solving who killed Rowan and who hid it."

"I don't suppose they're the same person," Victoria said, analyzing the situation. "I think I know which mystery I like best."

"Oh no, don't say it," Enid complained.

"I'm gonna find out who killed Rowan," Victoria said. "He seemed like a good person."

"Before he tried to kill me," Wednesday said.

"Right, that," Victoria nodded with a sheepish smile.

Finished with their discussion, Enid clapped her hands together loudly, remembering something.

"Oh my gosh! Ajax's party is in four days and I don't know what I'm supposed to be yet!" Enid exclaimed with distress.

"What's the point of dressing up anyway," Wednesday asked. "We all know who we really are inside."

"It's for fun," Victoria answered. "It's an open invitation for anyone who's willing to dress up."

"Well consider the invitation torn, scrapped, burned, and gone with the wind as ashes," Wednesday said.

"Aside from that," Victoria said with a grin as she got up to finally leave their room. "I'm sure you'll figure it out, Enid. If not, come over and I'll give you some polyjuice."

"Polyjuice?" Wednesday and Enid questioned.

"Shapeshifting potion," Victoria said with a short grin before adding, "Temporary shapeshifting potion."

As she exited their room, she saw Xavier standing outside her dorm waiting patiently.

"I should've figured you weren't in your room," he said, approaching her. "I've got the costume idea put together."

"What would that be?"

He grinned. "A captain and a siren."

How ironic and iconic it would be.

But dreadful.

Victoria felt an urge to ask Xavier whether it was an act of spite against Bianca or not, but she kept her mouth shut. She had more important matters in her hands: her costume. Her costume would have to go all out, otherwise she felt like there was no point in attending the party at all. Not having a good costume was like having a bad cake at a birthday.

So when the night went by, she collected photos of her inspiration on a Pinterest board. She couldn't help but suddenly feel discouraged by the costume idea more as she noticed their thin and delicate complexions. Though most of them weren't even real sirens, they sure passed more than she did.

She already had her costume together as a matter of fact. It was just her body that she thought stood in the way. So she found herself only fulfilling herself with water as she filled out her health chart.

"It's just until after the party, then I'll get back on track," Victoria convinced herself.

She'd even doubled her running time, taking the longer route to Jericho. She found that there was nothing to be afraid of, as the animal attacks only seemed to happen at night.

As her legs carried her through the dewy and cold weather, she kept one thought in mind: I'm not going back to Big Vicky.

Never again.

There was a thin line between addiction and ambition that she couldn't make out. She didn't understand it-not that she wanted to. All she knew was that she was losing weight and that's what made her slowly fit into the crowd and feel better about herself.

In what world can we live in without feeling good about ourselves?

On the second day of her "fasting," she avoided leaving her room. There were many students handing out candy and treats in an early celebration of Halloween and she refused to fall into the trap. She ran her extra miles, feeling accomplished. She'd pass the Weathervane, avoiding Tyler's view as the wind blew harshly.

On the third day, she stopped her fast. She had nothing because "The party's less than a day away," she'd tell herself. "I can handle it." Even though Enid had taken initiative to keep Victoria on track with her meals, she seemed to be wrapped up in her own mess-which was understandable on Victoria's behalf, not to mention she found it to be a good fortune of hers.

She avoided the Weathervane that day, feeling more disgusted at herself when she even had the mere thought of caffeine. She was already several months clean from it. So instead, she took a shortcut around Kinbott's office.

And finally, on the morning of the party, she found herself preparing for one last jog before presenting herself. She double braided her long hair back with her running sweats as she stepped off Nevermore grounds to join the midst of the forest.

It was sprinkling lightly as she huffed, able to see what laid ahead of her. It was a relaxing shower of coolness before it began to shower. Fortunately, it was not foggy so she could see fine.

She ended up in Jericho again, like she did everyday, and avoided Kinbott's office, as she was going to purposely miss an appointment later that day. Around the town she went, surrounding the shops that she still had yet to see inside, as she'd only ever watch from afar several times.

She didn't have the time though, as consistency was something she knew she couldn't hold onto forever. One day, it'd break and she feared she'd find herself back where she started from.

Hence the loop and "ambition."

As she turned around the corner to behind the Weathervane, she came to an abrupt stop, bumping harshly into someone.

"Tyler?"

He towered over her, an black umbrella in his hand with furrowed brows and a stern jaw. He was layered with warm clothing for the weather, unlike Victoria, who wore a wind jacket. His expression seemed unsurprised as he sighed.

"Through hail and storm," he muttered under her breath, holding the umbrella above both their heads. "I knew you'd be back. What the hell are you doing out in this weather?"

She didn't say anything, as she had a gut feeling that things were not about to go as she planned. If Tyler found out why she was seeing Kinbott and found out who she once was-probably still was-she'd never be able to face him again.

It was an awkward few moments as the rain tapped the umbrella above their heads loudly like ricocheting bullets.

"At first, I thought it was a now and then thing you did since I started seeing you at the beginning of the term," Tyler said skeptically. "But after what that boy said at the Weathervane..."

She saw where the conversation was heading and quickly shut him down.

"Will you just stop it, Tyler?"

"Stop what?" he demanded. "Looking out for you?"

She hesitated to answer. "Yes, I can look out for myself just fine."

"I'm not stupid, Victoria," Tyler's tone rose as the rain got louder. "Allergic to coffee or 'something'? The way you avoid anything that has to do with food, the way you grow uncomfortable around some people... through this weather, no one in their right mind is going to run from Nevermore to here!"

But she liked to think she was in her right mind.

"You don't get it!" she exclaimed angrily.

"Don't tell me what I don't get. My dad told me what the investigators found at the Harvest Festival and your stomach content from the hospital!" Tyler exclaimed loudly, possibly even angered by her lies.

"Stop treating me like you give a damn, Tyler, I'm sick of it!" Victoria said, finally allowing the frustration of the mixed signals he'd been giving her a chance to show. "God, you have no idea how it feels at all. You don't know any of the things I do or why I do them."

She was doing it for him.

Because just maybe, she'd have the chance for him to see her the way she saw him.

She wouldn't have to fear that he'd find out the kind of person she once was.

"I do care!" Tyler shouted, now fuming as she angrily stared him in the eye, seeing a whole new person before her. "I- just look me in the eye and tell me you're not lying, Victoria. You have no idea how much you worry me."

Her eyes flickered to the cold ground for a second.

He could never know who she was.

Never know her fears.

It made her vulnerable and vulnerability meant she could only get hurt again.

She stared Tyler in the eye with every strength and poker face she had in her. 

He stared her up and down without a word as he seemed to hold himself back. For a brief second, she seemed to see that there were things she didn't know about him either.

Her silence only made him more frustrated at her ignorance.

"I'm not going to sit back and watch you destroy yourself." Tyler declared. "You're already perfect the way you are."

"I don't care what you think. No one is perfect, Tyler."

But she truly believed that he was.

Victoria didn't break away from his eyes as her heart beat out her chest. He was so close to her, she could smell the aroma of coffee from him and feel his warmth. All the things she wanted to avoid.

Truth be told, she perhaps was doing it for him. Around him, she cared about every little bit of how she looked. Whether she was presentable or if a hair was out of place... she wanted him to see only the best of her. She couldn't help but think that if he were to ever see who she once was, it'd all change his mind.

Her words took him aback.

Had he gone out of line trying to prove he cared for her?

"I'm going to find out either way," Tyler said sharply under his breath. "And when I do, I'm not going to let you continue treating yourself like this."

"Good luck with that," Victoria said expressionlessly. "But you'll find nothing."

Tyler seemed to think otherwise as he angrily stepped away, finished with her stubbornness, as he disappeared through the backdoor of the Weathervane with a slam.

Leaving her to continue her lonesome journey.

- - - - - - -