NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 3: Cursed Romance
Lunette couldn't sleep all night. She felt like someone—or something—was watching her, and she grew increasingly paranoid. At one point, she thought she saw a hand crawling on the floor, but she wasn't sure. "Holy shit, were you up all night?" Enid asked, jumping when she saw Lunette sitting with wide-open eyes. "Couldn't sleep. You grind your teeth when you sleep," Lunette said, trying to find an excuse for being awake all night. Enid muttered, "Damn it, I knew Wednesday was right," as she walked into the bathroom. Lunette lay back down, closing her eyes, hoping to relax, but quickly slipped into a deep sleep.
"Wake up, wake up." Lunette felt someone shaking her. She groggily opened her eyes to find Enid standing over her, concerned. "What?" Lunette mumbled, still half-asleep. "I thought you were dead; you weren't breathing," Enid said. "Anything else?" Lunette asked, turning back to her pillow. "Wake up! You missed breakfast. It's lunch now, and after that, I want to take you shopping," Enid said, a smile returning as the worry faded.
Enid's urgency didn't let up. "Don't ask questions. Hurry up and get dressed. I have to find Wednesday," she added. Lunette nodded, rubbing her eyes and getting out of bed. The two girls had made it out of Nevermore and were walking through Jericho. Lunette had one earbud in, blasting music to drown out the noise of the afternoon. "So, Lunette, how do you like Nevermore so far?" Enid asked cheerfully. Lunette pulled out the earbud and gave her a tired smile. "It's... different," she replied, still trying to shake off the grogginess. "Not what I expected; it's a bit weird." Enid grinned. "Good to hear! You'll get used to the weirdness. It's kind of our thing."
Lunette chuckled softly. "Yeah, I've noticed. So, why are we looking for Wednesday again?" Enid's voice grew a little more concerned but stayed upbeat. "She was acting strange last night. Stranger than usual, I mean. I think she might be at therapy, but I'm not sure. I just want to make sure she's okay." Lunette sighed inwardly but nodded. "Mhm," she murmured, not fully convinced but willing to help for Enid's sake. "Oh, she'll be fine," Enid reassured herself. "Wednesday can handle anything. But it doesn't hurt to check on her, right?"
As they continued through Jericho, the town buzzed with afternoon activity. The sun cast warm light over the cobblestone streets. Lunette adjusted her hoodie, trying to keep up with Enid's energetic pace. "Thanks for coming," Enid said, glancing at Lunette with a bright smile. "I know you probably had other plans." "Not really," Lunette replied with a small smile. "I was just going to wander around all day. Even if I don't really like Wednesday, she's important to you, so I'll help." Enid nodded enthusiastically. "We'll find her. She can't have gone far."
Eventually, they found Wednesday at a coffee shop called the Weather Vane. Enid quickly walked in, with Lunette right behind her. "Wednesday, when did you leave?" Enid asked, still cheerful but now clearly concerned. "6 in the morning. I had to check something out," Wednesday replied nonchalantly, glancing at Lunette. "What's she doing here?" "Trust me, I don't want to be here," Lunette said, rolling her eyes. "Maybe you shouldn't have come," Wednesday said, her voice indifferent, a slight glare in her eyes. "I only came because Enid was worried," Lunette retorted, sliding onto the bench with a tired sigh.
A boy in an apron and with a notepad approached. "Hey Wednesday, Enid, and who are you?" "I'm Lunette. I want a vanilla double espresso with frothed milk," Lunette said, not looking up from her phone. "Hot chocolate for me!" Enid chirped. "Black, no sugar or cream," Wednesday added, her focus still on her paper. The boy nodded and walked away.
"So, what were you checking out so early?" Enid asked. "Just something that came up," Wednesday answered, sounding indifferent. Lunette yawned. "Next time, let someone know. I need to sleep." Wednesday rolled her eyes at Lunette. "Where are you going?" "In the bathroom. I'll be back." Lunette nodded and went to the bathroom, then washed her hands. When she returned, her latte was on the table. She took a sip, turning her head just as the bell above the door jingled.
A male voice taunted the group. "How fitting. What's a freak like you doing out in the wild?" "Nevermore freaks," another boy laughed. "This is our booth, freaks," one boy hissed. "Why are you three dressed like you belong in the 1600s?" Lunette asked, sipping her latte. "We're pilgrims," the boy hissed at her. "Potato, po-tah-to," Wednesday remarked nonchalantly. "Our job is at Pilgrim World," one boy snarled, slamming a piece of paper on the ground. "It takes a different and special kind of stupidity to devote an entire theme park to idiots responsible for mass genocide," Wednesday said, as Lunette and Enid nodded in agreement.
"My dad owns Pilgrim World, so who are you calling stupid?" the boy hissed. "If the buckled shoe fits, which it doesn't," Lunette quipped, glancing down at his shoes. "Come on, guys, back off," Tyler, a boy they recognized, stepped into the conversation. "Stay out of it, Galpin," one boy sneered. "Yes, stay out of it," Wednesday agreed, standing quickly and positioning herself in front of the boy. "Wednesday, calm down," Enid urged, standing up as well.
The boy smirked, eyeing Wednesday. "So tell me, freak, have you ever been with a normie before?" "I've never found one that could handle me," Wednesday replied, leaning closer to the boy's face. "Boo," she whispered, making him flinch. One of his friends grabbed Wednesday's shoulder. In an instant, Wednesday swung her head back, slamming into the boy's nose with a sickening crunch. He stumbled back, clutching his nose in agony. Another boy lunged, but Wednesday was faster, stepping aside and pushing him onto the table. Enid snatched her hot chocolate just in time to avoid spilling it. The boy groaned, and Wednesday twisted his arm back before slamming her platform boot into the back of his knee, sending him to the floor with a grunt.
Lunette, seeing another boy run at her, didn't hesitate. She grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back, her voice low and threatening. "Get lost." As they dealt with the boys, a voice broke through. "Tyler, what the hell is going on?" the chief asked, looking down at his son. "They were harassing the girls, and this happened, I guess," Tyler explained, shaking a little.
The chief glanced at the trio: one girl standing with a cold, unblinking stare, another absentmindedly playing with her nails, and the third looking like a scared puppy. "Are these little things taking down three boys?" he said incredulously. "My apologies, officer," Principal Weems rushed into the shop. "These three slipped away from me." She turned to the girls. "Miss Sinclair, Miss Addams, and Miss Nami, it's time to go," she said in a strict tone. The three girls quickly left the coffee shop, adrenaline still pumping from the unexpected fight.