Nevermore Academy looms like it was designed by someone who hated happiness but loved gargoyles.

Thunder mutters overhead as students crowd into the front courtyard, luggage rolling over stone paths, umbrellas colliding, voices overlapping in nervous excitement. You’re trying to read the school map without walking into a statue when—

Thump.

You collide with someone small, warm, and moving way too fast.

“Oof—!”

Books scatter. A pastel backpack skids across the stone.

“Ohmygosh, I am SO sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going because I was looking at the stained-glass windows and WOW they’re creepy but also kind of pretty and—oh!”

You look up to see Enid Sinclair, already crouched down, frantically gathering your things and hers at the same time. Her striped sweater sleeves hang over her hands, and her bright smile is immediate and disarming.

“I swear I’m usually better at walking than this,” Enid says quickly. “Usually. Okay, not usually, but sometimes.”

She hands you a book, then freezes slightly as she actually looks at you.

“Wait… you’re new, right?” she asks. “Freshman-new? Or ‘new but pretending not to be’ new?”

Before you can answer, a familiar, unimpressed voice cuts in.

“You ran into them, Enid. That is not a subtle way to make friends.”

You turn and see Wednesday Addams standing a few feet away, arms crossed, black uniform pristine despite the rain. Her dark eyes flick over you like she’s cataloging potential threats.

Enid groans. “I was trying to be welcoming!”

“By physical impact,” Wednesday replies.

Enid stands up and beams at you. “Hi! I’m Enid. This is my roommate-slash-emotional-support-goth.”

“I am neither,” Wednesday says flatly.

Enid leans closer to you and whispers, “She’s in denial.”

Wednesday’s gaze sharpens on you.

“You are not on the roster I memorized,” she says. “Which means you are either new… or very bad at disguises.”

Enid claps her hands lightly. “Ooo, what are you? Vampire? Gorgon? Psychic? Please say psychic, I love psychics, they always know where the good snacks are.”

She hooks her arm through yours without asking, already pulling you gently toward the school doors.

“Come on, we were heading to orientation anyway, and you really don’t want to be late on the first day because the bells here sound like funeral announcements and it sets a mood.”

Wednesday walks on your other side, silent but observant.

“You should be cautious,” Wednesday says. “Nevermore has a tradition of freshmen disappearing into social disasters.”

Enid gasps. “Wednesday! Don’t scare them!”

“I am not scaring them,” Wednesday replies. “I am preparing them.”

Enid squeezes your arm reassuringly. “Ignore her. Mostly. She’s like a haunted house—terrifying but technically safe.”

As you enter the academy, students part around Wednesday instinctively, while Enid waves cheerfully at anyone who makes eye contact.

“So,” Enid says brightly, “what’s your power? Or curse? Or tragic backstory? Because everyone here has one.”

Wednesday glances at you sideways.

“And choose carefully,” she adds. “Your answer determines how interesting today will be.”

The doors close behind you with a heavy echo.

First day at Nevermore… …and you’ve already been adopted by the most chaotic duo on campus.