The Addams Family's vintage hearse wound its way along the mountain road, its wheels crunching pleasantly over the damp fallen leaves.
Morticia sat in the passenger seat, elegantly trimming the thorns from a black rose.
Gomez hummed a Spanish tune while sipping red wine, occasionally glancing at his daughter across from him.
Wednesday Addams stared expressionlessly out the window, her fingers tapping lightly on her knee as if calculating the timing for some murder plot.
Her black double braids hung neatly over her shoulders, her pale face appearing particularly gloomy in the dim interior of the car.
"So, dear," Morticia began, her voice like silk wrapped around a blade, "do you really think putting piranhas in the pool was a mistake?"
"Of course not," Wednesday replied coldly, her eyes still fixed on the withered trees flying past outside. "I just regret not starving them for three days first."
Gomez burst into laughter, nearly spilling his red wine.
"That's my girl!" he said, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes. "But next time, remember to give me a heads-up so I can prepare the camera."
The corner of Wednesday's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. "Father, if you were there, those piranhas might suffer from indigestion due to overexcitement."
Right at that moment—
"Whoa! Piranhas? Cool!"
An unfamiliar voice suddenly rang out beside Wednesday.
The Addams Family turned their heads in unison.
A black-haired boy had somehow appeared next to Wednesday, sitting cross-legged and holding a deformed human skull in his hands, an exaggerated smile plastered across his face. He wore a black leather jacket with a silver spider brooch pinned to his collar. His eyes were like two pieces of obsidian illuminated by sunlight—if obsidian could flash maniacally.
"Hi there!" he waved enthusiastically, his movements so large he almost hit Wednesday's face. "Mind if I hitch a ride?"
Wednesday's eyebrows raised slightly—the highest form of surprise she ever displayed.
Morticia narrowed her eyes. "Child, where did you get on from?"
"The back seat," the boy shrugged, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "You didn't lock the door."
Gomez blinked. "We did lock it."
"Locked?" the boy tilted his head, looking confused. "Oh, maybe I remembered wrong. Perhaps it was the trunk?"
He patted the coffin-shaped suitcase beside him. "Seriously, your trunk design is so thoughtful. It even has a pillow."
Wednesday stared at him with eyes that could freeze blood. "Who are you?"
"Ah! Right! Introductions!" The boy slapped his forehead so hard it was worrying he might knock himself out.
"I'm Victor Black. You can call me 'that lunatic' or 'chocolate fiend'—oh, right!"
He suddenly handed the human skull to Wednesday. "A gift! One from my collection. I guessed you'd like it."
Wednesday took the skull, her fingertips gently tracing the cracks along the cranium. It had clearly undergone special treatment. The surface was smooth, and dried bloodstains lingered around the eye sockets.
The corner of her mouth lifted almost imperceptibly—by a millimeter.
"She likes it!" Victor suddenly leaned close to Wednesday's face, close enough to count her eyelashes. "I knew it! See, Venom? What did I tell you?"
His collar wriggled. A mass of black, slimy substance emerged from his shoulder, coalescing into a ferocious, oversized mouth filled with sharp teeth.
"She's sweeter than chocolate," Venom growled in a low voice that sounded like sandpaper grinding against metal.
Wednesday's eyes widened slightly—the highest form of shock she ever displayed.
"Whoa!" Victor clapped excitedly, nearly hitting the car roof. "She actually has an expression! Venom, maybe we made history!"
"Shut up, Victor," Venom rolled its eyes. "You're scaring the little girl."
"I am not scared," Wednesday said flatly, immediately returning to her expressionless state, though her fingers still gripped the skull tightly.
Gomez and Morticia exchanged a look.
"So…" Gomez asked tentatively, "you are…?"
"Oh! Right!" Victor sat up straight, nearly hitting the roof again. "I'm a new student at Nevermore! A Shapeshifter! Well, sort of… Actually, I'm a host to a Symbiote, but the headmistress said, 'Just act like a Shapeshifter. Don't scare the other students,' so—"
"—so we're pretending to be Shapeshifters," Venom added, its voice echoing inside the car. "Though I think this disguise sucks."
Wednesday stared at Venom, a flicker of interest in her eyes. "It can talk?"
"It?" Venom bared its teeth. "I have a name, little girl."
"Ignore it. It's just hungry," Victor waved dismissively. "By the way, you don't mind me hitching a ride, do you? I wanted to ride my motorcycle here, but Venom told me, 'Oh, remember, Victor, you nearly killed three crows last time,' so—"
"—so we hitched a ride," Venom sighed. "By the way, those three crows sued us later."
Morticia smiled, revealing her signature sharp teeth. "Of course we don't mind, dear."
Wednesday lowered her head to examine the skull again. "Why did you choose this car?"
Victor grinned, showing overly white teeth. "Because your car is the coolest."
"—and it smells like murder," Venom added, inhaling deeply. "Ah… the fresh scent of death."
The corner of Wednesday's mouth lifted another millimeter.
Soon, the Addams Family and Victor arrived at Nevermore Academy.
The spires of the academy loomed beneath the dark clouds like some slumbering monster waiting to awaken.
Victor hopped out of the car and stretched while Venom lazily yawned on his shoulder.
"Ah! New life! New friends! New… uh, corpses?" Victor tilted his head at the crow statues on the academy gate. "Venom, are they real or specimens?"
"If they're specimens, that's a pity," Venom licked its lips. "I bet they'd be delicious."
Wednesday stood beside him, still holding the skull.
"Oh! Right!" Victor slapped his forehead. "Venom, a little help?"
Venom wriggled, extended a black tentacle, coiled it around the skull in Wednesday's hand, and retracted it into Victor's body.
Wednesday raised an eyebrow. "…Convenient."
"Super convenient!" Victor laughed triumphantly. "We can also hide chocolate, keys, daggers—"
"—and your brain, if you have one," Venom quipped.
"Shut up, Venom."
Headmistress Larissa Weems stood on the steps with her arms crossed, her sharp gaze sweeping over them. Her tall figure looked particularly imposing in the twilight, silver-gray hair neatly combed back.
"Wednesday Addams," she said, nodding. "And… Victor Black."
"Hi, Auntie!" Victor waved enthusiastically, nearly hitting a faceless student walking past.
Larissa's mouth twitched. "I'm your cousin."
"Close enough!" Victor replied with a grin, completely ignoring her warning look. "My mom's a Shapeshifter. My dad is… uh, who knows? Maybe an alien?"
"—or an idiot," Venom muttered.
Wednesday glanced at Victor. "You're related?"
"Distant. Extremely distant," Victor said, gesturing wildly. "About three or four galaxies apart."
Larissa sighed, an action that suddenly made her look years older. "Your dorm assignments are ready. Wednesday, you're rooming with Enid Sinclair. Victor, you're with—"
"—with Wednesday!" Victor raised his hand like an elementary school student eager to answer.
Larissa narrowed her eyes. "No."
"Why?!"
"Because you're a boy."
"That's sexist! And how dare you assume my gender? What if I'm a Walmart shopping bag?" Victor protested, turning to Venom. "Venom, say something!"
"She's the headmistress, Victor."
"Traitor!"
Wednesday spoke faintly. "I don't mind."
Everyone turned to look at her.
"If he can be quiet," she added.
Victor immediately covered his mouth and nodded frantically, his eyes wide.
Larissa rubbed her temples.
"Suit yourselves."