A Chill in the Heat of the Night Ch.9 (Wednesday) - Early Access (Patreon)

All characters in this story are over the age of 18.

The night air was crisp against Wednesday’s cold skin as she climbed up the bricked walls of the castle. She had a single-minded goal: to rescue Enid and inflicted brutal revenge against the assailants who kidnapped her. She made her way up the wall, inch by inch. Those long nights of rock-climbing up jagged mountains with her father and Uncle Fester were proving to be quite useful.

Before she reached the top, her hand came upon a loose brick. She scratched around the layer where it was cemented, feeling how weak and rotted it was. This was going to be her entrance. She glanced over her shoulder and let out a quiet whistle. Thing emerged from her backpack and scurried down her arm. When the sentient hand reached the brick, he assisted Wednesday with wedging it out, creating a small opening. One by one, the two of them worked to remove the bricks. Some of them crumbled due to their age. All the while, Wednesday kept a sharp eye open for any guards that might notice them slipping through the cracks. Thankfully, it seemed that the people in this dark establishment were more preoccupied with what was going on inside the castle.

Eventually, Wednesday and Thing created a large enough gap for both of them to slip inside.

As she entered the castle, Wednesday was struck by how bland and lifeless the interior was. The walls were painted a sickly white, and the only light came from flickering bulb strips that cast eerie shadows across the corridor. The air was thick with the smell of fresh-scented candles as if it was overcompensating by masking the natural odor of this place. In the distance, she heard the sound of footsteps echoing through the empty halls. Thing perched himself on Wednesday’s shoulder as the goth girl used the shadows to blanket herself in darkness. She remained deathly silent as two men dressed in white marched down the corridor. The smiles on their faces were as fake as the walls. Once they disappeared out of sight and their footsteps could no longer be heard, Wednesday stepped out of her hiding spot and turned to her trusty companion.

‘’This place is unpleasant to a shocking degree. I can’t imagine what it’s like for you.’’

Thing twined his fingers in agreement.

‘’I doubt Enid is having a good time here. She’s probably sick to death of the color scheme. Or, the lack thereof. Come on.’’

Wednesday crept silently through the corridor, her eyes darting back and forth, looking for any sign of Enid. As she turned a corner, she came face to face with a guard. The guard was a tall, burly man, with a bushy beard and piercing blue eyes. He looked at Wednesday with suspicion and raised an eyebrow.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice gruff.

Wednesday hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to proceed. ‘’It sickens me to say that I’m lost. Perhaps you can help me with where I need to go.’’

The guard narrowed his eyes. ‘’Nice try. I don’t want to have to hurt you. But, I can’t let you wander around without supervision.’’

He reached out and tapped Wednesday's arm with a silver rod. The goth girl stared down at the rod for a moment, waiting for something to happen. The guard watched on in puzzlement. He drummed it lightly against Wednesday’s arm a few more times.

‘’Is that supposed to do something?’’

The guard’s eyes widened in fear. ‘’You’re not a werewolf!’’ He took a step back, his hand reaching down to his belt before pulling out a whistle.

Wednesday knew she had to act fast. The last thing she needed was for more guards to be summoned and distract her. However, searching for Enid in this building by herself was going to take too long. Judging from the exterior when she first came upon the castle, this place was too big to simply walk around and hope for the best. She needed a guide. And this poor unfortunate soul was going to be her victim. She grabbed his arm before he could blow for help, flipped him over her head and slammed him to the ground, using her small size and agility to her advantage. She then grabbed the silver rod and used it to strangle the guard, cutting off his air supply, and leaving just enough room for him to wheeze.

‘’I’m here to find a werewolf named Enid Sinclair!’’ She said. Her calm, monotone voice did little to sway the guard as he struggled to break free.

‘’We don’t use names…’’ he gasped. ‘’We give them numbers. I don’t know who that is!’’

Wednesday tightened the grip around the guard’s neck. ‘’Taller than me. Blonde hair with blue and pink highlights at the end. She wears it out, but can sometimes have a braid on her right side. She tends to play with it when she’s nervous. Different colored nails. She has scars going down the side of her face, as well as some light freckles. They can be quite bewitching when she crinkles her nose in a certain way and…’’

Her gushing over Enid would have continued if not for Thing poking her hips and gesturing to the guard, who looked to be on the verge of passing out. Wednesday regained her composure and loosened her hold on him so that he could breathe. The goth girl felt her cheeks flare up after realizing she had gone on about Enid for longer than necessary.

If the situation wasn’t dire, Thing would have made a snide remark about it.

‘’I…I think I know that one…’’ the guard coughed. ‘’Yeah, she’s one of the ones about to be prepped today.’’

‘’Prepped?’’ Wednesday inquired.

‘’They’re going to take the wolf out of her. Make her normal.’’

Wednesday tensed. ‘’That’ll kill her.’’

‘’No, no, we’re going to save them. Cleanse their soul from the monster within…’’ he was gagged as Wednesday pulled on the rod, pressing it harder against his throat.

‘’I don’t have time for this! Take me to where she will be prepped!’’ she demanded, her voice cold and steady.

Her concern for Enid had skyrocketed. She knew how much it meant to Enid to finally wolf out. It felt like she had been completed. Wednesday was not going to let anyone take that away from her.

XXX

‘’Let me go!’’ Enid screamed and lashed out.

Her superior strength couldn’t help her as she was still reeling from the earlier assault by Abraham. Her stomach felt like it had been turned into knots. She tried to muster enough strength in her arms to wrestle free from the grip of the two guards that were forcing her down onto the chair. But, she was powerless to do anything other than accept her fate as they folded two straps around her wrists to keep her in place. They did the same thing with her ankles, making Enid immobile. She tried to will the wolf out. However, all she felt was a painful sickness erupting from the pit of her stomach.

‘’You don’t want to do this! Please, let me go!’’

Her pleas fell on deaf ears. The guards rose to their feet and marched back against the wall. They weren’t going to leave the room as long as Enid posed a genuine threat. The wolf girl tried to crane her head and bite at the restraints around her arms. But, they were just out of her reach. A wave of nausea swept over her, nearly making her pass out. As she tried to stop her vision from going blurry, she scanned the room and noticed her surroundings. Everything about this room felt similar to everything else she had seen ever since she got here. But, this room had something else…a large object that was shrouded beneath a cloth. Whatever the object was, it could reach the ceiling.

‘’What is that?’’ Enid asked.

Isadora appeared from around the corner and walked over to the mysterious object. She turned and face Enid with a smile. The grimness of Enid’s state didn’t seem to affect her, as she smiled like always. The warmth from her expression felt false and cold. ‘’This is your salvation. Once I remove this cloth, your soul shall be saved. The wolf inside of you will be gone.’’

‘’This isn’t going to work!’’ Enid barked. ‘’I am a werewolf!’’

‘’Not for long.’’

Enid gasped and sat back in her chair. There was nothing she could do. Her heart raced uncontrollably, pounding against her chest as Isadora reached for the cloth and began to pull it down. A thousand terrible thoughts consumed Enid. She closed her eyes and sobbed. She wished that she had more time. She wished that there was a chance for her to speak with her friends and family one last time.

She wanted to see Wednesday again.

Suddenly, there was a loud bang as the door to the room opened, catching everyone off guard. Enid looked over her shoulder and felt the air being sucked out of her lungs as she saw who had burst through the door.

‘’Wednesday?’’

There she was. Enid’s roommate was holding a guard almost twice her size hostage. When their eyes locked, a smile broke out across the wolf girl’s face. Even though she was still strapped to the chair, this was the safest she had felt since she got here.

Isadora’s face twisted with worry. She turned to the guards. ‘’Stop her! She’ll ruin the procedure.’’

The guard in Wednesday’s chokehold coughed. ‘’She’s not a werewolf…’’

Wednesday released him before whacking him over the back of his head with the rod, knocking him unconscious. She quickly assessed the situation as the other guards brought out their weapons and tried to surround her. All the while, Wednesday’s eyes remained locked on Enid. Her body was tensed and coiled, ready to defend herself. The guards rushed forward, their long silver weapons glinting in the dim light. Wednesday ducked and weaved, her small size and agility making it difficult for the guards to land a blow. She knocked out the first guard with a quick jab to the throat, his body crumpling to the ground in a heap. She spun around, kicking another guard in the gut and sending him flying.

Enid watched on in awe until she felt something on her arm. She looked down and saw her favorite sentient hand working to untie the straps. ‘’Thing?’’ she gasped with joy and relief.

He offered Enid a quick thumbs-up before continuing his efforts to free her.

The remaining guards closed in on Wednesday, their rods flashing in the air. But she was too fast for them. She dodged and parried, her lithe body moving with an almost unnatural grace. She knocked out another guard with a swift uppercut, her fist connecting with his chin and sending him sprawling to the ground. She spun around, her leg sweeping out to knock two more guards off their feet. As they lifted their heads, she swung her weapon and clattered them both in the face. Only two guards remained, and they were hesitant to attack. They had seen the skill and ferocity with which Wednesday fought, and they knew they were no match for her.

‘’Afraid?’’ she glanced over at Enid before giving the guards a deadly glare. Her eyes were ablaze with fury. ‘’You should be!’’

Wednesday didn't hesitate. She charged forward, her body a blur as she knocked out the final two guards with a powerful combination of strikes on their knees, ribs and faces. In the blink of an eye, all of the guards in the room were on the floor. Those that were still conscious were writhing and wailing in agony. But, Wednesday had no time to cherish the sweet symphony. She rushed over to Enid, who was now free from her restraints thanks to Thing.

"Let's get out of here," Wednesday said, her voice low and urgent.

Enid flung herself into Wednesday’s arms. ‘’I thought I’d never see you again!’’

Wednesday froze. This reminded her of their first hug. Hesitantly, Wednesday returned the loving embrace. It was almost amusing. The two of them had done far more explicit things together. Yet, a hug was enough to make Wednesday’s black heart skip a beat. She rested her head against Enid’s shoulder. The wolf girl’s warmth and gentle hold felt like home. ‘’The feeling wasn’t mutual. I never doubted my skills. It was only a matter of time before I found you again.’’

When they pulled apart, Enid gazed at Wednesday with a mix of excitement and curiosity. ‘’But, they made it sound like I was dead and that you had been framed for my murder.’’

‘’Those are details that can be dealt with later. For now, let’s…’’

They heard the door shut behind them. A mechanism near the handle flashed red and beeped loudly. Isadora was standing next to it. ‘’You’re not going anywhere!’’

Wednesday stared at her darkly. ‘’I guess I’ll have to torture you until you free us.’’

‘’That won’t happen,’’ she replied. Her smile faltered slightly, but she continued to force it. ‘’This door can now only be opened from the outside. Van Sloan will be here soon, and you will both see that his word is true. There is no escape. We will cleanse the werewolf’s soul.’’

Before Isadora could finish her sentence, the mechanism beeped again and flashed green. They all watched as the door slowly opened and two silhouettes came into view. Enid looked closely and recognized the figures as Thomas and Pietro. The stout man was carrying a small multi-flavored milkshake. The two guides stopped in their tracks and took in the scene in front of them. Their eyes went wide with horror as they saw the beaten guards crying for help on the floor. Seizing their fortunate opportunity, Wednesday grabbed Enid's hand and they ran out of the room, crashing through Thomas and Pietro. The guides fell to the floor and heard the girl’s footsteps echoing through the empty halls.

Thomas groaned and leaned closer to Pietro. ‘’I told you this was a bad time.’’

XXX

Wednesday and Enid could hear the sound of guards shouting in the distance, but they didn't look back. They had to escape. As they ran, Enid couldn't help but feel a sense of overwhelming exhilaration. Wednesday had come to rescue her. She had fought off half a dozen guards, using her incredible athleticism and dry wit. She was more than just the cooky girl that other people tended to avoid, she was a force to be reckoned with. And Enid loved that fact so much.

She could almost say that she loved…

‘’Are you hurt?’’ Wednesday said to her as they ran.

Dragged out of her thoughts, Enid shook her head. ‘’No, thanks to you.’’

‘’What were they planning on doing to you?’’

‘’I’m not sure,’’ Enid gulped. The mystery of whatever was hidden beneath that cloth was better left unsolved. ‘’I don’t want to think about that. Let’s just get out of here!’’

‘’We’re going to go back out the way we came in. We’re going to have to climb down the side of the castle.’’

‘’We’re inside a castle!?’’

They ran down a long, winding staircase, their breath coming in short gasps. The sound of shouting grew louder, and Wednesday knew they were running out of time. Soon, they would be boxed in with no route to escape from. She wasn’t invincible. And she could tell that Enid wasn’t in the best state to fight. Their only hope was to leave before being swarmed.

‘’How did you find me?’’ Enid questioned.

‘’It’s a long story,’’ Wednesday noticed Thing coming out from her backpack to see what was going on. The goth girl gave a wry grin. ‘’I had help.’’

Thing nodded before flexing his knuckles at Enid. The wolf girl broke out into a beaming smile. ‘’She said what about my freckles?’’

Wednesday glared at the hand. ‘’I was actually referring to her scars. Although, I do admit her freckles carry the same beguiling quality.’’

Enid blushed and her eyes went starry.

They came around the last corner and spotted the opening in the wall that Wednesday and Thing had created earlier. When they reached their destination, Wednesday helped Enid through the hole. The wolf girl hesitated when she looked down and saw how high they were. Below was a seemingly infinite chasm. At the bottom of the gulf, the river crashed against the rocky shore with fury. Even the toughest werewolf wouldn’t want to take their chances diving into such savage waters. Enid gripped her fingers through the cracks between the bricks and climbed out. She watched as Wednesday emerged through the opening. There didn’t seem to be an ounce of fear in her body as she looked at Enid confidently. ‘’Follow my lead!’’

Enid nodded. Then, her gaze was turned back inside through the opening. At the end of the corridor, she could see Abraham…a handgun in his grip, and the barrel pointed towards them. Wednesday hadn’t noticed. Enid’s ears perked when she heard the trigger being pulled back.

‘’No!’’

Her instincts kicked into overdrive. She grabbed Wednesday and tried to pull her out of the way. But, the resulting action made Wednesday slip. They both tumbled just as Abraham fired upon them. A silver bullet whizzed above Wednesday’s head, missing her by less than an inch.

Wednesday, Enid and Thing fell into the river and disappeared into the vast unknown.