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Enid stood nervously in front of Wednesday's imposing front door, clutching the carefully wrapped gift in her hands. It was Wednesday's 16th birthday today, and Enid had spent weeks crafting the perfect present for her darkly charming friend.
Finally building up the courage, Enid knocked sharply on the black lacquered door. Hearing footsteps from inside, she smoothed down her pink dress and waited anxiously to see if Wednesday would receive her.
The door swung open slowly, revealing the gothic beauty herself. Wednesday stared up at Enid with glittering eyes, her black locks falling around her pale face like a midnight shroud.
"You..." she hissed, recognition slowly dawning. "You're early."
Enid smiled sweetly, trying to hide her trembling hands.
"Happy birthday, Wednesday." She held out the neatly wrapped package towards her friend.
"Your gift."
Wednesday took the package, her fingertips brushing against Enid's delicate hands. She stared down at the small bundle curiously, tilting her head slightly.
"What could this be..." she murmured suspiciously. She carefully unwrapped the black paper, her eyes widening as she revealed the black sleek shovel with a scorpion engraved on the blade.
"Enid..." Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"Do you know what this makes me think of?" she asked softly, her gaze never leaving the weapon. Enid nodded nervously, sensing the weight of whatever dark thoughts were swirling behind those intense dark eyes.
"Nero..." Wednesday breathed, her fingers tracing over the scorpion emblem.
"You understand..." Her voice trailed off again, lost in her own shadows. She lifted her gaze back to Enid, searching her face.
Wednesday suddenly grinned wickedly, her lips curving cruelly around perfect white teeth.
"Wanna dig up a hole?" she asked innocently, though her eyes flashed dangerously. She hefted the shovel experimentally, testing its weight.
"Know somewhere real special I could...excavate?" Her voice dropped lower, nearly a purr, eyes glinting mischievously. She reached out and grabbed Enid's hand, her grip firm yet delicate.
"Come on." She began tugging Enid toward the dark, mysterious woods behind her family's estate. "We've got digging to do."
Enid found herself being dragged along by Wednesday's ironclad grip, her usual shy demeanor melting away under that intense, hypnotic pull. The woods loomed ahead, shadows stretching long and menacing over the damp earth.
"W-where exactly are we going?" Enid squeaked out nervously, glancing around at the towering trees that seemed to lean in closer as they ventured deeper.
Wednesday just smirked darkly. "You'll see..." she whispered, stopping abruptly at the base of a particularly twisted old tree. She knelt down gracefully, positioning herself like she was about to get down to business.
"Get on your knees." Her voice left no room for argument.
Enid's cheeks flushed crimson at Wednesday's commanding tone. She dropped obediently to her knees in the damp mossy earth before her friend. Wednesday watched her every movement hungrily.
"Good girl." She murmured approvingly, running a hand through Enid's soft hair. Wednesday grabbed Enid's small hand again and placed it firmly on the shovel's handle.
"Start digging." She commanded, her eyes boring into Enid's subdued gaze.
"Uncover what lies beneath." Her lips curled into a wicked grin.
"Y-you're going to make me..." Enid stuttered, eyes widening as she glanced up at Wednesday again. "You're not going to...do it yourself?" Her voice trembled slightly.
"No." Wednesday shook her head, her expression turning almost cruel.
"Why should I dig when I have you?" She leaned down, her face just inches from Enid's.
"You're going to dig for me. Won't you, Enid?" Her voice dripped with sinister sweetness, daring Enid to refuse.
Swallowing hard, Enid nodded in submission beneath Wednesday's piercing gaze. "Yes..." she whispered, taking hold of the shovel tightly. Already she could feel dirt and mud staining her pink dress, but she didn't care. This was for Wednesday.
Lifting the shovel over her shoulder, Enid began to dig, heaving the tool into the earth with all her strength. She ignored the way the exertion made her sweat, the damp soil caking onto her knees and fingers. Each strike of the shovel echoed through the woods as Enid worked, consumed by the task Wednesday had assigned her.
Wednesday watched on approvingly as Enid's normally prim and proper demeanor gave way to the gritty physical labor demanded of her. A dark, twisted satisfaction filled Wednesday's heart to see Enid obeying so willingly.
Enid paused mid-swing, the shovel meeting something solid beneath the dirt. She wiped damp bangs from her forehead, breathing heavily as she stared down at the ground.
"I think...I hit something." Her voice carried a hint of trepidation.
Wednesday crouched down next to Enid, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Keep going Enid. Don't stop now." She urged softly yet commandingly. "You're so close."
Enid nodded even as she continued scraping away dirt, the mysterious object beneath refusing to reveal itself fully despite her efforts.
With one final heave, the shovel clattered against the last bits of dirt covering the object. Enid brushed away the remaining soil to reveal a small, delicate box made of pure rosy porcelain. It fit neatly in the palm of her hand, adorned with intricate golden filigree patterns that seemed to shimmer in the dappled forest light.
Wednesday gasped, her fingers reaching out reverently to trace the box's dainty edges.
"It's beautiful..." she breathed. Her dark eyes locked onto Enid's, shining with an unnamable emotion. "You did well."
Wednesday's voice dropped to a husky whisper.
"Open it." She instructed Enid, though it sounded more like a plea. Her gaze remained fixated on the pink box, barely blinking as she awaited what secrets it may hold within its dainty confines.
Enid hesitated only a moment under Wednesday's burning intensity before carefully lifting the box's tiny latch and easing open the lid.
As the box creaked open, a simple yet elegant silver ring came into view, adorned with Enid's name etched delicately along its band. Wednesday's breath caught at the sight, her cheeks flushing an uncommon pink beneath her ghostly complexion.
"Enid..." she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. Before Enid could react, Wednesday grasped her hands tightly, the ring still nestled in Enid's palm between them.
"From the moment I met you, you've been like a ray of insufferable sunshine cutting through my darkness. At first I resented you for it..." A small, nervous laugh escaped her.
"But the more time we spent together, the more I found myself craving your light. Your kindness. You." Wednesday's eyes searched Enid's face desperately.
"I think I might be in love with you, Enid." The words spilled out in a rush, vulnerable and sincere.
Enid stared at Wednesday in amazement, blinking back tears at the stunning confession. She glanced down at the ring again, tracing the engraved letters with trembling fingertips.
"It's...it's beautiful Wednesday. The most beautiful thing I've ever seen." Her voice quivered with emotion, heart swelling in her chest. "Did you really...make all this effort just for me?" She looked up at Wednesday through misty eyes.
"Do you really feel that way about me?" Enid asked softly, hopeful but still struggling to comprehend such intense feelings being directed her way.
Wednesday nodded fervently, taking both of Enid's hands in hers. "Only for you, my dear Enid." She brought Enid's hands to her lips, kissing them tenderly.
"From the first moment I laid eyes on you, I was drawn to you in ways I couldn't understand. You have no idea how hard I've tried to fight these feelings." She gave a self-deprecating, shaky laugh.
"But I'm tired of fighting. I want you to have this ring as a symbol of what you've come to mean to me."
Her thumbs stroked over Enid's cheeks, wiping away a tear that escaped.
"Please say you'll wear it. That you might...could possibly feel for me even a fraction of what I feel for you." Wednesday's eyes searched Enid's, open and vulnerable in a way she rarely showed anyone.
Enid chuckled through a sniffle, shaking her head in disbelief. "Your birthday present to yourself turned into this..." she murmured, a small smile playing on her lips.
Looking up at Wednesday again, Enid felt her own heart thudding hard in her chest. "Actually...I feel the same way. About you." She admitted nervously but with certainty.
"I tried so hard not to let on...thinking you'd just grow tired of my shyness and naivete." Enid confessed, squeezing Wednesday's hands back reassuringly.
"Seeing this...it's like a dream."
Wednesday's eyes widened, overjoyed by Enid's confession. She pulled Enid close then, wrapping strong arms around her in an embrace.
"Yours is the only dream I want to live," Wednesday vowed against Enid's ear before sealing it with a deep kiss.
Even amidst the shadows of the woods, their love shone bright. A dark flower blooming.
Wednesday's hands trembled slightly as she carefully plucked the ring from its box, the silver band catching the dim light filtering through the trees. She held Enid's left hand gently, her dark eyes locking with Enid's.
"With this ring..." Wednesday began, her voice soft but steady, "I promise to cherish every part of you—your light, your darkness, your quirks, and your quiet strength." She slid the ring onto Enid's finger, the cool metal a perfect fit.
"There," she whispered, her thumb brushing over the ring as if to seal the promise. "Now you're mine, and I'm yours. Forever." Her lips curled into a rare, genuine smile, one reserved only for Enid.
Enid stared down at the ring, her heart swelling with a joy she'd never known. "Forever," she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper. She leaned in, pressing her forehead against Wednesday's, the two of them lost in the moment, surrounded by the eerie beauty of the woods.
And in that moment, the darkness felt a little less daunting, the light a little less blinding, as they found balance in each other.
The End.