( the shitty kidnappers )
EPISODE THREE
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

IT WAS SAFE TO SAY ODESSA WAS MORTIFIED. HOWEVER SHE COULDN'T HELP THE LAUGH THAT ESCAPED HER. The bag was for disorientation but Odessa sat there until the bag was pulled off their heads and Odessa saw people in cloaks and couldn't help but laugh again.

It was the type of laugh - the one where you accidentally make eye contact with someone during something extremely serious - Wednesday looked at Odessa and shook her head nudging her with her foot telling her to stop.

"Sorry, I'm sorry I couldn't help it." She muttered pulling at her ties, whoever tied them had a few lost brain cells because Odessa could burn them off.

A light was pointed in their faces and Odessa turned to Wednesday. "Look Wednesday it's your type of party." She heard someone in the cloaks try to cover a snort and it made her raise and eyebrow. However she sat up straighter when someone began talking.

"Who dares breach pur inner sanctum?" The voice asked and Odessa sighed. "Oh great nevermores into cults too." She sighed and then looked over at Wednesday. "You can take the mask off, Bianca."

Someone dropped their cloak and had a mask on. "Never-mind, this is definitely not your party Wednesday." Odessa muttered as she stared at everyone taking their disguises down. Odessa who had finally burned most of the rope let it fall and just let her wrists relax behind her back.

They turned off the light that was in Odessa and Wednesdays face. "Wait, I prefer you with it on." Wednesday said once it was off, Odessa couldn't help the snort that left her. The situation was hilarious to her.

Some of them seemed a bit offended that the redhead found this funny. "How did you guys get down here?" Odessa looked over seeing Xavier standing there and she pursed her lips. "Rowan showed us. Back pocket." The redhead muttered.

Xavier walked over and pulled the picture from her pack pocket flipping it open. "We tracked the watermark to the Poe statue. Then the riddle was pretty easy to solve, clever, but easy." Odessa said and someone stopped her.

"Wait, there's a riddle?"

"Oh my lord." Odessa muttered ready to face palm. "I thought we just snapped twice!" The guy added and Odessa groaned loudly. "How do You think someone would know to snap twice?!"

"Well, aren't you the brightest in the brunch." Wednesday added and Odessa shrugged in agreement. "The nightshades are an elite social club. Emphasis on elite." Bianca stated and odessa mocked her smile back at her.

"We have roof parties, camp outs, the occasional midnight skinny-dip." Yoko stated and odessa furrowed her brows wondering how a siren could skinny dip if they immediately turned into fish. It was one of those things that made her mind go off track, even if it was a dumb thought.

"And yokos an amateur mixologist."

Odessa paused, how the hell are Yoko and Bianca in the same room civilized when Bianca gave her the allergic reaction to garlic. "She makes a killer virgin mojito. It can get pretty wild." Ajax said nodding pretty impressed with himself.

"Wow, impressive. Do you guys even have bedtime?" Odessa asked mocking shock. All she received was fallen smiles. "Last we heard the nightshades had been disbanded." Wednesday spoke up.

"Yeah, the group kind of lost its charter 30 years ago after some normie kid died." Xavier explained looking at Odessa, Odessa turned to look at him but he looked away and she didn't notice. "But we have a lot of wealthy alumni, so weems looks the other way as long as nobody makes any waves."

Odessa wondered how truly messed up the circle of nevermore was.

"Someone like Rowan?" Wednesday asked. "We booted that loser last semester." Bianca said with furrowed brows. Odessa looked at Wednesday then at the rest of them with furrowed brows. "I think they've been watching to much gossip girl."

That earned her a few glared making her grin back at them.

"Question is, what are we gonna do with them?" Bianca asked. "Only members are allowed in this library." Bianca said and Odesa shrugged leaning back and huffing, she was a bit bored. "I say we invite them to pledge."

Nope, not happening.

"What?" All of the rest of them asked looking at Xavier like he grew three heads. "They are legacies." Xavier said pointing over to the pictures, one of Gomez and Morticia, the other of her mother, and who she assumed was her mother boyfriend at the time.

"After the crap they pulled in the Poe cup? There's no way in hell." Bianca protested and Odessa jerked her head back in confusion. "Why are you mad about it? There's no rules, we just played you at your own game. Seriously, poisoning Yoko, and have a siren under to destroy our boats...."

Yoko looked at them in confusion. "Wait what?"

Yoko was ignored and Bianca sent Odessa a withering look that she ignored. "We talk about not making waves? Shes a Tsunami, and that one, shes a literal forest fire." Odessa furrowed her brows. "Forest fire- what the hell-" she muttered.

"Just because we beat you at your own game?" Wednesday asked. "Let us Save you the trouble." The Addams Girl stated as Odessa turned to her. "We're not interested in joining."

"You're seriously turning us down?"

"Can you believe it?" Odessa said back smiling. They all looked perplexed at Wednesday and Odessa. "Untie them." Bianca ordered and Xavier went to untie Odessa but Odessa tossed the half charred rope on the floor in the center.

"Burned my ropes ten minutes ago."

Wednesday held up her rope as well and Odessa stood up putting her hand out letting Wednesday grab it to stand up. Wednesday grabbed her bag and Odessa stopped in front of Xavier staring up at him sticking her hand out.

He placed the picture in her hand and she sent him a small smile before walking off with Wednesday. The siren with a black eye stepped in front of them. "Do you want a matching black eye?" Wednesday asked and Odessa cringed when he didn't move.

He only did when Wednesday shoved the rope at him and then both of them were allowed to go up the steps. They all watched as moth female walked up the steps and Odessa paused halfway up turning to the nightshades.

"It's people like you, that give kidnapping a bad name. Morticia would be so disappointed." She said pointedly, before turning and walking up the steps to catch up with Wednesday.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

THE FOLLOWING MORNING EARLY BEFORE SCHOOL Wednesday snuck into Odessa's room due to Enid being asleep still and rather she admitted it or not, she had a bit of common curtesy. When she pushed the window open she saw Odessa sitting at the desk doing her hair.

She didn't know what to do with it so she put it in two half up half down ponytails. She shoved all her stuff away and angled her chair to Wednesday who was sitting on the small couch near the bookshelf. "There's a lot of threads in this investigation." Odessa muttered as she stood up looking at the other half of the photo.

She walked over to where the mirror was and moved the mirror to the side and flipped a small switch that illuminated an evidence board, red string running across in different directions connecting to photos, and anything they could find.

Wednesday stood up and walked up next to Odessa. "Impressive." She stated holding the book as Odessa turned looking at the book as well. Odessa unpinned the photo from the evidence and straightened it out lining it up with the rip in the paper.

The board one of the main pieces was of rowan with his picture connecting to multiple pieces on the board.

"How are we involved in a pilgrim apocalypse?"

"I'm not sure, but we'll figure it out."

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

IT WAS TIME FOR THEM TO GET THEIR VOLUNTEER TICKETS FOR DIFFERENT THING IN THE SMALL TOWN. Odessa stood with Wednesday in the quad. "All students will report for their volunteer jobs at 10:00 am sharp. Followed by community lunch at 1:00. As you know, this year outreach day culminates in a very special event, the dedication of a new memorial statue in the town square. Which will also include performances by nevermore students." Weems said looking at everyone in the quad.

"As representatives of our school, I trust you will all put your best face forward."

Teacher went around handing out slips and the fencing teacher held out two for the girls, Odessa grabbed one as did Wednesday and he walked to the next student as before Odessa could open her Enid skipped in front of them.

"Yes! I got pilgrim world! I do have natural people skills and a love of preforming, so it's kind of the obvi choice. What'd you get?" She asked them after rambling.

Odessa looked at Wednesday and motioned her first. "Uriahs Heap, whatever that is." Wednesday said and Odessa turned to Enid who made a gross face. "Eww, it's this weird creepy antique store. You'll love it though."

Odessa snickered, but opened her ticket slip and flipped it over because it was upside down. "the Weathervane, oh hey I love that place." Odessa said grinning as she shut the slip and slid it in her uniform pocket. "I'm crossing my claws Ajax and I will be outreaching together."

Odessa followed enids line of sight seeing Ajax looking at the blonde, weems came over as Enid dragged Odessa off and all she heard was Wednesday would be accompanying the marching band. She snickered but caught her step before she tripped because of enids excitement.

"Jesus, E, slow down!" Odessa muttered as Enid pulled her up the steps near ajax and she smiled shyly at him.

"Oh my god, please stop!"

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

GETTING OFF THE PURPLE BUS ONTO THE STREETS OF JERICHO Odessa saw Wednesday head off and went to follow but she got side tracked and distracted seeing Xavier staring a blank wall covered with white. Walking over she furrowed her brows standing next to him.

"Why are you staring at a blank wall?" She asked staring at the wall as well. "It wasn't blank last outreach day." He said simply and Odessa looked over at his stern but solemn expression. "Are you staring by any chance? Because we rejected your invitation?"

Xavier shrugged. "Mm I did go out on a limb for you, both of you." Odessa shrugged rocking on her heels. "Oh please, I'm just cannon fodder in whatever Cold War You're waging with Bianca, Wednesday and I are a package deal so...it only makes sense she's involved."

"Truth be told, we have more pressing issues." Odessa added looking at the wall. "Like what?" Xavier asked looking over at her. "Tracking down the monster that killed your former roommate, wether people believe us or not isn't the big issue."

Xavier threw his head back ignoring the last part. "Oh my god." He said turning to her as she tilted her head up with a blank look. "For the last time, Rowan was expelled. Everyone saw him leave."

Odessa raised a brow. "Have you spoken to him since?" She asked seriously. Xavier stared down at her for a long moment, but then sighed heavily. "I texted him a few times, but I never heard back."

"I just figured he wanted nevermore in his rearview mirror." Xavier added shrugging.

"Or he's dead."

"Optimistic as ever. You know I don't even get why you guys care so much. It's not like you knew the guy." Xavier said walking past her onto the sidewalk. Odessa watched him for a moment before following. "I'm not sure why you care so little."

"People can dismiss us and make a million excuses, but we aren't gonna stop." Odessa explained pulling the book from the backpack, Wednesday was gonna meet her and she was gonna give it to her, and the backpack since Wednesday didn't bring hers.

"Oh, great. I guess you can add thief to your resume." Xavier scoffed and Odessa smiled sarcastically as they stopped and turned to face each other. "I don't know what the big deal is about an old nightshades journal anyways." He said as Odessa unfolded the photo the one her and Wednesday both owned.

She lined it up again and held it together flipping the book over to him. "You didn't seem surprised when we showed you this last night." Odessa muttered Xavier looked away from her sighing heavily. "You've seen it before haven't you?"

Xavier gave in. "Yeah, a couple days before the harvest festival. It was open on Rowan's desk. So I assumed he stole it after we kicked him out of the nightshades. Then I confronted him about it, he went kind of ballistic." Xavier explained and Odessa recalled when Wednesday finally told her about the flashing visions.

"And he threw you against the wall with his telekinesis..." she trailed off and Xavier furrowed his brows but nodded. "Yeah."

"How did you know that?"

"Confidential informant." She mumbled looking down in the book, Xavier stared for a moment before he pointed at the book. "It's weird that you're both in this, this journal is like what, 30 years old?"

"And what the hells crackstone doing in the picture with you guys?" He asked and Odessa frowned before her head snapped up to Xavier. "You know who that is?" She asked.

"Yeah, its Joseph crackstone. He's like, jerichos founding father. He's a big deal around here." Xavier explained to her and she sighed. "Look." He said pointing up as some construction workers unrolled a flag.

"That's him."

The guy matched up to the picture, well what she could see in the picture. The hat and jacket and all. Soon they started walking again as Odessa slid the book away.

Xavier pointed to a path and she turned as they both walked near the bleachers. Odessa pulled Wednesday close to her while the mayor spoke and explained what Xavier told her.

"Now, on behalf of the entire Jericho community, we are so please to have you all here today." The mayor said smiling, Wednesday nodded at Odessa who had just finished relaying all the information.

The redhead slid the backpack off handing it to Wednesday. "Your generosity and hard work are truly...outreachous!" He said laughing at his own joke, Odessa cringed and shook her head as weems walked up near weems.

"Okay, everyone, we'll see you back here at one o'clock for lunch, enjoy!"

( 🔥🧚🏼‍♀️☄️ ) ━━ AUTHORS NOTE
      Wednesday book?