In short, they told Bianca who told Principal Weems who told Sheriff Galpin that there was a dead body in the forest, but after searching all night, they somehow missed the obvious – the dead body.

October asked, "How did you miss a dead body again?"

"'Cause it wasn't there," Sheriff Galpin replied. "No footprints, no blood, no sign of a struggle. Nothing, nada. My search party looked all night."

"Well, your search party must have left their seeing eye dogs at home," Wednesday retorted. "I saw that monster kill Rowan right in front of me."

Sheriff Galpin asked October, "Did you get a good look at this monster thing?"

Wednesday gave October a glare. He had to lie through his teeth for her, even though he didn't even see the damn thing, which sucked.

"Murderers don't hang around to talk," October replied. No lying.

Sheriff Galpin asked, "Maybe it was one of your classmates?"

Principal Weems stated, "Sheriff, I find that question offensive."

"I don't care, 'cause I got three other dead bodies in the morgue." He scoffed, "Hikers just ripped apart in the woods."

"The mayor said those were bear attacks," Principal Weems told him.

Wednesday looked annoyed althouh October was kind of amused, because it seemed like some parents were arguing, but October found Principal Weems to be a little...fruity. Besides, Principal Weems was too good for the sheriff anyway.

"Well, the mayor and I disagree on that," the sheriff replied.

"So, you automatically assume that a Nevermore student is behind it?" October stated, "You ever heard the saying 'never assume because it makes an ass out of u and me'?"

They continued on to Principal Weems's office.

As soon as they walked in, Principal Weems said, "My guess is Rowan ran away." She sat down at her desk. "State troopers have put out an alert and I've contacted his family, but they haven't heard from him either."

"Dead people are notoriously bad at returning calls," Wednesday stated, making October snicker at that.

Sheriff Galpin asked, "And what were you two doing out in the forest with him?"

"You know, what teens do. They took off to make out in the woods for privacy," October stated sarcastically. "And my sister just ran off and I went to look for her." That part was at least the truth.

The sheriff snapped, "Do you think this situation is funny?"

October sobered, "No. Clowns are funny. I think you're hilarious."

It looked Principal Weems was trying not to smile.

Wednesday was giving him the most epic death glare for the making out comment. "I heard a noise in the forest and went out to go investigate. That's when I stumbled upon the attack."

The sheriff looked at October, "And you?"

"My sister ran off, I went to find her. She was trying to help Rowan, but he was long dead. We ran into Bianca Barclay and asked her to get help," October said.

The sheriff asked, "And just to be clear, this monster wasn't a bear or some other wild animal?"

Wednesday said, "My brother and I hibernated with grizzlies. We know the difference."

October nodded.

Principal Weems stood up, "Thank you sheriff. I think Wednesday and October are done now."

"Actually, I would like to speak to Sheriff Galpin. Alone." Wednesday glared at October, letting him know that it was definitely a matter that was to be discussed in private.

"I'm not sure I can allow that," Principal Weems stated.

"I'm sure I can take her down to the station to get a formal statement," the sheriff said. It was silent for a moment, before he continued, "Let's go."

"Fine," Principal Weems said. "You have five minutes." She ushered October out the door, closing it behind them.

October leaned against the banister, feeling confused. He knew that he didn't have the whole story. Wednesday didn't tell him everything, besides what the monster looked like. He loved puzzles, but these pieces just didn't fit together. Rowan died. He saw the body. He heard the growling, which sounded inhumane, which went with the monster.

That was about it. He didn't know anything else. He didn't know what went down in the forest with Wednesday and Rowan.

He was pulled out of his thoughts when he heard, "Hey, October."

October blinked at Rowan.

It didn't fit.

He saw Rowan's dead body. He knew what a dead body looked like. He worked a week in a mortuary. And now he was staring at Rowan like an absolute idiot, with his mouth open.

But something else didn't fit. He didn't even know Rowan. He didn't even know Rowan's name until Wednesday shouted it, while she ran after him. He didn't even know if Rowan even knew his name.

Deputy Santiago opened the office door, to show the sheriff and Wednesday the apparently alive Rowan.

Wednesday had gone to her therapy session, but October decided to stay behind and try to figure anything out about Rowan. Wednesday thought it was a good idea.

"I don't get it," Ajax told October. "You saw a dead guy and he turns out not to be dead. It's like The Walking Dead."

October asked, "What do you know about Rowan?"

"Nothing, except that Xavier is his roommate," Ajax said. "I think I heard them arguing a few days ago. You should talk to him. Oh, I think Rowan has telekinesis."

October nodded and went to go find Xavier, however, Wednesday had returned. She grabbed his arm and dragged him somewhere else.

He asked, "Where are we going?"

"We're going to talk to Enid. She said she was the queen of gossip," Wednesday stated.

"If Bianca Barclay wins again this year, I will literally scratch my own eyes out!" Enid said.

"I will pay money to see that," Wednesday told her.

Enid turned to face them with a large smile. "Howdy, roomie and her brother! I'm so glad that you two decided to stay."

"I thought you wanted your single room back," Wednesday said.

"Full disclosure, I don't like living solo and Thing gives a killer neck massage. It's a win-win." Enid asked, "So why the change of heart?"

"I refuse to play the role of a pawn in someone else's corrupt game," Wednesday said, with her arms crossed.

"She's talking about Rowan," October clarified. "We saw him this morning, clearly alive."

"Making me believe I'm losing my mind. It's not nearly as fun as I anticipated," Wednesday said. "You're Nevermore's gossip queen. What's Rowan's story?"

"Other than being a weird loner," Enid said. She looked at them, "Uh – no offense."

"None taken," Wednesday stated.

"Xavier Thorpe's his roommate," Enid said. "I mean, if either of you had a cell phone, you can just text him and ask him." She turned to the girl wearing sunglasses that was behind her. "Yoko! Flare those whiskers. The Poe Cup droops for no one."

October asked, "What's the Poe Cup?"

"My entire reason for living right now," Enid told him. She looked excited, "Part canoe race, part foot race, no rules. Each form has to pick an Edgar Allan Poe short story for inspiration. You two can grab a brush; maybe take a stab at being social?"

"I do like stabbing," Wednesday stated. "The social part, not so much. Besides it'll cut into my writing time. October will love to help you out."

October asked, "I will?"

Enid asked, "He will?"

Wednesday shoved him into Enid, who hugged him, "Thank you so much, October! You won't regret it."

"I think I will," October said. "I mean – I'm happy to help." He glared after his sister. Although he got some weird looks from the other girls since Enid was still hugging him.

The next morning, October met the Séance Club in the library. There were only three people there. A girl with white hair and a black headband, blue lip gloss painted lips, and black nail polish. There a black girl with blue curly hair. There was only one boy with shoulder length hair that was either black with blond streaks or blond with black streaks.

"She's Casper," the blue haired girl stated, pointing to the white haired girl. "I'm Rebecca and this is my brother, Joshua. He does not look like family, but he might as well be. Who cares about our last names because we clearly don't care about yours?"

"I'm October," he said, sitting down at the table with them.

They just nodded at him in response.

"We meet in the cemetery on Fridays and Saturdays at ten at night," Rebecca told him.

"Okay," October replied.

"Xavier told me that he hadn't spoken to Rowan since the night of the Harvest Festival and that Rowan's side of the room was packed up in the morning," Wednesday told October as he looked for bugs for Natasha to eat. "He also wants to know what's going on with you and Enid."

October was confused. That was a weird thing to wonder about. He spoke slowly, "Nothing. Besides, I don't think I'm her type anyway." At least, he was sure that he wasn't the right twin or the right gender.

Wednesday eyed him, most likely doubting that, and nodded. She crouched down to look at a shrub.

October glanced back at her, to ask, "What's going on with you and Tyler?"

"Nothing," Wednesday replied. "He owed us a favor."

October doubted that and nodded.

Enid came over, "What are you two doing?"

"Looking for bugs for October's pet black widow," Wednesday told her.

"Oh," Enid replied, confused.

October had to go to the conservatory, which he didn't understand why since the class seemed kind of useless but he had it with Ajax, Enid, and Rebecca.

When he walked in, it looked like Wednesday was arguing with some plant.

October walked to her, "Why are you yelling at Thing?"

Wednesday looked at him.

Bianca came over, "Shouldn't you be happy that your sister made a friend?" She added, "Even if it's a plant."

"I go for quality over quantity," Wednesday replied. October nodded.

He noticed that there weren't any open tables, which meant that they had to sit with other people.

There was an open seat next to Enid. He went for it, but Wednesday shoved him into the open seat next to...Xavier.

Xavier looked up at him and looked a little disappointed.

It was a little frustrating knowing that Xavier was disappointed that it wasn't Wednesday.

October looked at the spider that Xavier was drawing in the notebook. "I like spiders. I actually have a pet black widow named Natasha."

Xavier nodded and pushed his notebook a little towards October, before holding his hand over the page, causing the spider to come to life.

October reached out to touch it, but Wednesday had came over and smashed it, leaving graphite on the table and on Wednesday's hand.

"I doubt October is impressed with your tricks, Mr. Thorpe," Ms. Thornhill said.

"Admit it, you're a little impressed," Xavier said.

"I think I'd be more impressed if you can draw up some fries," October responded.

That caused some to snicker at that, but Enid was the one who laughed the loudest.

"Wednesday and October, we're thrilled to have you two join us on our journey into the world of carnivorous plants," Ms. Thornhill told them.

October was caught off guard at the teacher's red boots.

Ms. Thornhill pointed at the plant next to her, "Now, who can tell us the name of this beauty?"

"Dendrophylax lindenii," Wednesday stated.

"Otherwise known as the ghost orchid," Bianca added.

"First discovered on the Isle of Wight in 1854," Wednesday continued.

"Very good, Wednesday," Ms. Thornhill praised, before looking at Bianca, "Looks like you may have competition for first chair, Bianca."

October rested his cheek on his first, feeling like he was going to fall asleep. He wasn't entirely sure what career he wanted, but he was sure it had nothing to do with plants like this.

He was about to fall asleep when he heard Ms. Thornhill say, "October, perhaps you can identify the ghost orchid's greatest qualities."

"Resilience and adaptability," October told her. "It can thrive in hostile environments."

"But its mere presence can change the ecosystem, causing the established plants to reject it," Bianca added.

Wednesday added, "Usually because the native species is allowed to thrive unchecked. Nothing weed whacker couldn't fix."

"Wow, you two are so smart and clearly like to show-off," October cut in. "Can you shut the hell up already?" He didn't need to turn around to look, "And would you stop death glaring me, Wednesday?"

From the corner of his eye, he noticed Xavier turn around to look.

"Thank you, ladies, for those illuminating insights," Ms. Thornhill stated. "Clearly the plants aren't the only carnivores in class today."

"My brother's allergic to meat," Wednesday added. "So he's probably feeling herbivorous."

October was helping Enid with the canoe again. Or more like, trying to help Enid but he decided to show her some videos that a girl had shown October when he agreed to scare her parents.

Theodore in the rap battle was rapping, "Bully! A challenge. I love competition, now where would I mount a stuffed head of a Winston? Ha! I'm into fitness digging ditches through a isthmus, rough riding down to Cuba like 'what's up bitches?'"

Enid busted out laughing and October paused the video because Enid was saying, "I need to enter rooms like that."

October started laughing at the thought of Enid saying that as she walked into a classroom, "I'll pay money to see that."

He was aware of someone standing behind him.

"I have to get back to the woods, but Weems has been watching me like a vulture circling a carcass," Wednesday told them.

October asked, "And you want us to cover?"

"I have beekeeping club this afternoon. I need Enid as a decoy, and I need you to go to Xavier's room and look around," Wednesday ordered them. She seemed a little more bossier than usual.

"Bees totally creep me out," Enid stated. "Why don't you ask Thing? Wait, you can't because he's mad at you."

"Why's he mad? He's the one who screwed up with Rowan," Wednesday stated.

"All I know is that we spent an hour giving each other manis and he really opened up," Enid told. "He feels like you don't respect him as a person. Even Ajax respects him as a person and Ajax gets freaked out by him."

Well, Ajax didn't appreciate coming in to find Thing asleep on his pillow. Apparently that crossed the whole 'like a good roommate, stay over there' boundary that they had set up, although Ajax was fine with Salem sleeping on his bed. Thing did apologize for that though.

"Technically he's only a hand," Wednesday replied.

"Don't say that about Thing," October told her, "He's family."

"He would do anything for you," Enid said. "He even helps October out with Natasha. Go apologize and we'll consider helping you."

Wednesday stalked off and October had no clue how to help Wednesday.

Enid asked, "So, what's going on with you and Xavier?"

"Nothing," October replied. "He has eyes for Wednesday. It's a curse of mine; crushing on straight guys."

Enid nodded, "I know the feeling. I hate crushing on straight girls."

"You and me both," October told her.

Wednesday ended up getting Enid to where the beekeeping hive was, before she handed October a UV light to use to search the dorm room for...something. So, he took his backpack to Xavier's dorm, not entirely sure what to even look for, although Wednesday told him to use his psychometry to find any helpful memories, but at least he wouldn't have to lie to Wednesday about it.

So Xavier seemed a little surprised to see him. He wore a red shirt that actually looked good on him.

"Wednesday wants me to look around Rowan's side of the room," October told him. Be blunt.

Xavier didn't look that impressed. He asked, "Has anyone ever tell you that you and your sister are nuts?"

"We prefer the word kooky," October replied.

"Don't know what she's hoping to find, but be my guest," Xavier told him. "That was his side." He pointed and October went over to look through the desk drawers.

He got two drawers in, finding nothing in particular, even though he went through memories of Rowan doing homework or other trivial things at the desks, which wasn't interesting or helpful. although there was one particular memory of Xavier getting telekinetically thrown into a wall following an argument. He found a memory of a particular book interesting. However, something else was interesting. He saw Prinicpal Weems and a few others cleaning up Rowan's side, but Rowan wasn't a part of those memories. It didn't make any sense. If Rowan was expelled, wouldn't he pack up his side by himself?

Xavier asked, "Hey, do you know what's going on with Wednesday and Tyler?"

"It's something. He owed us a favor," October told him, going back to try and get more information from the desk. "If I were you, I would find some other girl to crush on."

There was a pause before Xavier asked, "What about you and Enid? I saw you two laughing together while you helped her paint her canoe."

That question again... Why did he care?

"I'm not her type," October replied. Enid preferred chicks over dicks and he would never out someone like that. "We were watching a video on her phone."

Xavier asked, "What's your type then?"

October laughed at that, "I'm cursed. I'm too creepy and all I'm good for is being brought home to scare parents."

"That's rough," Xavier told him.

"I'm used to it," October replied with a shrug. He looked at the bed and went over to it.

"You shouldn't be," Xavier told him.

"For my type, I'm bi," October replied.

"I vaguely remember you saying something about that when we were ten. You told me you kissed some guy named Jeff," Xavier told him.

"Ah, Jeff," October replied. "Not all that good-looking but he asked because he was confused."

Xavier asked, "But someone named Jeff?"

"I made out with a guy named Chad," October said, "Is his name any better for you?"

"That's worse than Jeff," Xavier stated.

"A hell of a lot better than a girl named Strawberry Rain," October said. "She was not a very good kisser."

"Did that mother give birth to a shampoo bottle?" Xavier joked.

"Her sister was named November Rain. Their dad was a fan of Guns 'N Roses," October said.
He went under the bed and turned the UV flashlight on. 

It looked like there were a lot of fingerprints in one area and pried the floorboard up. He took out a feathered mask and looked at it. He saw Rowan standing in front of an Edgar Allan Poe statue, snapping twice, then standing with a crowd of people in purple cloaks. He saw Rowan ripping a page out of a book. He found himself wondering if Rowan was part of some secret society or a cult. He wasn't sure what was more exciting.

There was a knock on the door and October placed the floorboard back in place, before crawling out from under the bed. Xavier went to answer it and October stuck the mask in his backpack along with the flashlight, zipping it up.

It was Bianca at the door.

"You're not supposed to be up here," Xavier told her. "How'd you get past the Housemaster? Use your siren power?"

"Probably the same way Wednesday gets past him," October said. "Just distract him and he falls for it every time."

Bianca smiled at him, "Thank you." She looked at Xavier, "Besides, I can't with this." She showed Xavier her necklace. "I wanted to see how you were doing. I'm sorry about Rowan. I know you guys used to be close."

Xavier asked, "Since when did you give a damn about Rowan?"

Bianca asked, "You were the one afraid he'd do something to Wednesday. Isn't that why you've been following her around like an eager eyed puppy?" Bianca looked at him.

October held up his hands, "Hey, we were just discussing stupid names."

"I knew a guy named Richard Rash," Bianca told him.

October sputtered at that, "Poor Dick. He never stood a chance."

Bianca nodded at him but looked at Xavier, "But seriously, what do you see in her? You suddenly have a thing for a tragic goth girl with funeral parlor fashion sense?"

"That's a compliment," October told Bianca.

"It really wasn't," Bianca replied.

"To us it is," October told her.

Bianca asked, "Why are you two so weird?"

"They prefer the word kooky," Xavier told her.

"I'm gonna go," October said, before leaving.

Fun fact, October's ability was originally spider maniuplation but then it hit me, he has psychometry. I think it was cute if one twin can see the future while the other can see the past. I think it works better.