Other patrons, including Tyler, watch in stunned silence. Wednesday and Aleksander remain completely unfazed, not even breaking a sweat.
Tyler fidgets awkwardly, miming his question.
"Where'd you learn those... kung fu moves?"
Wednesday's voice is calm, almost bored.
"My Uncle Fester taught me. He spent five years in a Tibetan monastery."
Tyler's curiosity piques."Whoa... was he a monk?"
Wednesday deadpans, without blinking.
"Prisoner."
Tyler hesitates before pressing on.
"Are you the same?"
Aleksander shrugs casually."My grandfather taught me."
Before Tyler can continue, the front door swings open.Sheriff Donovan Galpin enters, scanning the tense room."Tyler, you wanna explain what the hell's going on?"
Tyler stammers, pointing towards the boys.
"They were harassing a customer and both put them in their place."
Galpin eyes Wednesday, disbelief plain on his face."This little girl and skinny boy took down six boys? Did you help her?"
Tyler quickly replies."Dad, I swear, I wasn't involved."
Wednesday studies Tyler and Galpin carefully, recalling the information Aleksander had shared about Sheriff Galpin.Suddenly, a voice cuts through the room from behind her:"Apologies, Sheriff. This one slipped away from me."
Galpin turns as Principal Weems steps, her voice cold as steel, addresses Wednesday.
"C'mon, Miss Addams. Time to go."
Galpin's expression shifts, shock flickering. He steps forward, eyes narrowing on Wednesday."You're an Addams? Don't tell me Gomez Addams is your father."
Wednesday nods quietly.
Donovan Galpin scowled."That man should be behind bars. Guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I'll be watching you."
Principal Weems then turns to Aleksander with a raised eyebrow."I didn't expect you to be a troublemaker, Mr. Morozova."
Aleksander shrugs, calm."You can check the security cams. They were hostile from the start."
Weems exhales a tired sigh."Come with me."
She glances at Aleksander."I'm guessing you came here by bike, so don't take too long."
Aleksander nods and follows Weems. Just before leaving, he stops and faces Galpin."For a sheriff, you seem a little... lacking."
Galpin stiffens, annoyed."Watch your tone, kid."
Aleksander chuckles lightly."I'm just stating facts. You called Gomez Addams a murderer, but he got out. Look closer at the case—there's a lot that doesn't add up."
Galpin frowns as Aleksander presses on."Maybe you should ask why the Gates family dropped all charges."
Donovan Galpin questioned "What do you mean?"
Alexander shrugged and answered."Like their ancestor, they hated outcasts. So isn't it strange they dropped charges? If the killer was really an outcast, they'd have used all their money and influence to destroy Nevermore."
Galpin feels a flicker of doubt in his gut. The kid might be onto something. But his own biases make the truth hard to accept.
Although Gates Family hid it quite well, but quite a few individuals like mayor and Sheriff knew Gates Family hated Outcasts like there Ancestors.
Aleksander, satisfied that he had planted the seeds of doubt, turned to leave. Just before stepping out, his eyes briefly met Tyler Galpin.
Principal Larissa Wheems took Wednesday by the arm and led her quietly back to Nevermore.
Aleksander reached his bike, ready to leave when a small figure caught his attention. A young boy, about six or seven, stood nervously looking around. He had soft, round features, light brown or dark blonde hair cut simply but slightly messy, and bright blue or green eyes full of fear.
Aleksander approached gently and asked, "Are you lost?"
The boy nodded cautiously."I got lost."
Aleksander crouched to his level and said, "Tell me your name. Maybe I can help find your parents."
The boy replied."My name's George Denbrough. My brother calls me Georgie."
Something clicked in Aleksander's mind. The name was familiar, and studying the boy's face, he realized this was Georgie—the same Georgie from It.
Aleksander extended his hand. A single white feather materialized in his palm.
Georgie stared in wide-eyed awe.
"You can do magic."
Aleksander nodded."I can. Now watch—this feather will take you to your family."Georgie bounced with excitement as Aleksander murmured the incantation:"Avenseguim."
A burst of orange light flared from his hand. The feather animated instantly, hovering and drifting forward like it was tugged by an invisible force, tracing a clear path through the air.
Aleksander and Georgie followed it down the street. The feather led straight to Bill Atenbourgh, who scanned the area frantically, calling his brother's name.
The feather floated right up to Bill's face. He froze, eyes locked on it.
"Brother!" Georgie's voice rang out.
Bill spotted Georgie trailing the stranger. He rushed forward, pulling his brother into a tight hug. Relief washed over him, but he quickly scolded, "Don't ever wander off like that again."
Bill pulled back from the hug, turning to Aleksander with genuine gratitude."Thank you so much. I don't know what we'd have done without you."
Aleksander shrugged modestly."No problem. Happy to help."
As they talked, Georgie bounced on his toes, eyes sparkling as he waved the bracelet at Bill."That guy made magic! The feather flew us right to you—like whoosh!"
Bill stood in awe, glancing between his brother and heeyed Aleksander curiously, picking up on something different about him."You're an Outcast, aren't you? From Nevermore Academy?"
Aleksander nodded."Yeah, that's right."Bill smiled faintly."We're from Derry. My parents won this lucky trip to Vermont—thought it'd be a nice getaway. Guess Georgie had other ideas."
Aleksander knelt in front of Georgie, extending his palm. A silver bracelet materialized there, etched with intricate phoenix engravings that gleamed faintly under the streetlight.
Georgie and Bill stared in shock, mouths agape.
Aleksander slipped it onto Georgie's wrist.
"Keep this safe. It'll protect you—like a phoenix rising from trouble."
While Georgie fiddled with the bracelet, twisting it around his wrist in fascination, Aleksander stepped closer to Bill and lowered his voice."As you can guess, I'm good with magic. Learned some divination—peering into futures. Saw something dark ahead for your brother. Not sure what, but in a year or two. Keep watch on him."
Aleksander slipped a card from his pocket—sleek, with their detective agency details—and handed it over.
Bill took it, eyes flicking from the card to Aleksander, processing the warning.
For a split second, Aleksander's vision blurred. Above Bill hovered a spectral figure—an ethereal sea turtle forged from swirling cosmic energy, its ancient eyes glowing faintly as if guarding him from the shadows below.
Aleksander muttered."Maturin."
Aleksander sensed a subtle cosmic nudge—Maturin, the ancient turtle guardian, weaving its influence to make Bill trust him fully.
While Bill's face paled, fear gripping him as he clutched the card tighter. A gut instinct urged him to trust this stranger's words.
"What should I do?" he whispered urgently. "Should I tell my parents?"
Aleksander sighed, glancing at Georgie.
"I don't think your parents could do much."
Aleksander knew Pennywise wielded psychic influence over Derry's adults, rendering them apathetic and blind to the town's child disappearances.
Aleksander gestured toward Georgie's bracelet, its phoenix engravings catching the light."That'll protect him for a while. But if trouble hits, call me."
Bill nodded, still shaken, pocketing the card as Georgie admired his gift. The brothers waved goodbye and headed off, leaving Aleksander to mount his bike under the fading streetlights.