Some Strange Type of Peculiar Love

The Gypsies

Hugh's POV

Fiona and Bronwyn came back an hour and a half or so later. Their eyes were both red rimmed and puffy. They handed out the jugs and everyone took a much needed sip of water.
"It tastes kind of Earthy." Horace complained.
"Well it's from the Earth!" Bronwyn glared at him.
I ran up to Fiona, "Are you ok?" I asked. She nodded, for once she didn't have that hunted look in her eyes.
"I'm fine, aren't you tired?" She whispered.
To be honest, I was exhausted. But I wouldn't go to bed without knowing she was back at camp. She laid down and snuggled into me. I put my arm around her and kissed her head.
"Emma can you make a fire?" Whined Claire.
"I can't, it'll be seen from the sky."
"Oh ok."

When everyone was asleep Fiona whispered in my ear.
"Hugh?"
"Yes love?"
"I'm scared."
Fiona was always scared, but she never outright said anything unless it was bad.
"It'll be ok love."
"How do you know that?"
"I don't, but if I'm with you I'll be ok."
She nodded and swallowed.
"Promise you'll never leave me."
She looked up at me, her eyes were shiny.
"Even if we separate, please never leave me."
Separate? I love her, I'll only love her.
"I'll never leave you Fiona, I'd marry you now if I could."
That answer seemed to satisfy her as she kissed me, and I kissed her back.
"Quit snogging!" Grumbled Millard.
Thankfully the dark hid my sheepish grin.

When I woke up Fiona was still asleep. I untangled from her and stumbled into the rising sun.
"Hugh?" It was Millard.
"What?"
"Come with me, I have to use the bathroom."
I groaned and reluctantly went with him.

When we were done we washed our hands in the stream.
"What I wouldn't do for some toothpaste, deodorant, and a fresh pack of underwear from smart aid." It was Jake, he looked like hell.
"Smart aid?"
"Yeah, I used to work there before I came to the island."
I wondered what the present was like, Miss Peregrine always told us to not think about it, that it would only make us sad, but I always felt more curious than anything.
"Are there flying cars?" I asked.
"No, but this guy named Elon Musk is working on it."
I nodded.
"Are there still fashionable clothes?" Horace peered out of the bushes. "Sorry, I didn't mean to pry."
"You're fine, but no not really. Although, throughout the school year they have homecoming dances, prom and the Sadie Hawkins dance, people usually get pretty dressed up for those."
Horace seemed disappointed but was content with his answer.
"Do they know about us?"
"Nope."
"What are you guys doing over here?" It was Emma, Miss Peregrine was on her shoulder.
"Using the loo!" Enoch zipped his pants and Emma scoffed and rolled her eyes.
"Ok well we need to get going."
I headed back to our camp, Fiona was up and playing with the little ones.
"I say we head straight." Jake shook his head.
"The wights are expecting us to go that way!"
"They didn't even expect us to survive!"
"What about the zeppelin?"
"May I add that we are in WWII, zeppelins were everywhere!" Millard earned glared from Emma and Jake.
"Well—"
We were quieted by the sounding of hooves. Was there a path near by? Emma shushed everyone, Millard stripped down and went to spy.
"Millard!" Emma whisper shouted, but he was already gone.
"Guys! Come here! Hurry!" It was Millard. My heart quickened it's pace as I stepped on the ground, trying not to snap any twigs. Millard was a few meters away in a clearing. In front of him was the back of a horse drawn carriage, the last of 3.
"Climb in! They're stretching, they won't see us!"
Emma didn't argue and climbed in handing Millard his clothes.
"Ah thank you, it's very nippy."
Jake, Enoch, Horace, Bronwyn and Miss Peregrine jumped in quickly.
I jumped in and lifted the littles up before giving Fiona a hand. She whispered a quick thank you and I pulled the cloth back closed.
"Wyn! You didn't say you had your trunk!"
"Shh!" Enoch hissed at Horace.
"What's in there?" Asked Jake.
Bronwyn opened it to find crushed breath mints, The Tales of the Peculiar, the front doorknob, a few nightgowns and the bath mat.
"Oh thank the birds, we're saved! Bronwyn remembered the bath mat!" Enoch said snidely. Fiona giggled and covered her mouth with her hand.
Bronwyn rolled her eyes and laughed, soon all of us were giggling like madmen. The past few days have been so heavy, it felt nice to finally have something to laugh about.
"Oh Wyn can you read us a story?" Olive pleaded.
"Sorry my little magpie, it's too dark!"
"Emma could light a flame!"
I turned to look at Emma, who was out cold.
Jake laughed. "Not a chance in hell I'm waking her up.
Miss Peregrine cawed and we realized we stopped. Emma jolted awake and walked to the curtain.
"Millard,"
"I know." He said stripping down, he handed his clothes to Bronwyn, who handed them to Enoch. Bronwyn already tucked Miss Peregrine away. The curtain was ripped open by a burly mans hand.
"Who are you!" The man was big, his ginger hair formed a lamb chop beard. I grabbed Fiona's wrist and pulled her behind me.
"Please, we're orphans, our home was bombed!" Emma had tears in her eyes, I couldn't tell if she was acting or finally realizing what happened to our home.
"Behkir? Who's that?" A woman called and Behkir stiffened. "Some kids jumped in the bag of the wagon. Stay back, they could be war criminals!"
"I just told you—"
"Quiet! Put your arms up and step down," He boomed. "Don't try anything or we'll turn you to Swiss cheese!"
Damn. Even the best Peculiars weren't as good as a gun, even telekinetics struggle.
Millard must have already slipped away as a man in his late twenties or early thirties climbed in his spot to make sure there wasn't anyone trying to hide.
"Get up!" He yelled, I turned to see Horace hiding in the corner and I rolled my eyes.
"Pansy." I said under my breath.
"Ha! Told you!" Enoch laughed.
"Quiet!" Bekhir yelled.
Fiona's grip on my hand grew stronger.
Three men held long sharp black knives.  We were quickly ushered us into a big metal cage in the center of a circus tent.
"What do we do? We need to get to a loop for Miss Peregrine!" Olive's eyes were shimmering with tears.
"A loop?" One of the men said skeptically.
"Oh sod off! You can't just trap and spy on us like some experiment!"
Suddenly Bekhir was back with a pretty woman in a yellow dress.
"You didn't say you were syndrasti!"
"Hullo," Millard was behind him dressed in a maroon shirt way too big with golden tassels handing down.
"Millard!" Emma yelled.
"It's ok, his son is peculiar!"
They both stride to us, Fiona was holding onto the bars by the door like a sad dog.
"Fiona get back!" It was Jake, he tried to grab her but she shook him off. Bekhir unlocked the door and she was the first one out.
I could see Emma's hands glowing orange just incase.
"Come out syndrasti! Tonight we celebrate!"
Everyone cheered and I walked towards Millard.
"What were you thinking? He could be a wight!"
"He's not! His son is peculiar!"
"Did he tell you that? Were you born yesterday or are you just stupid?"
"Millard one of the oldest tricks in the book!" Emma reprimanded.
"You guys can shut up! His son is peculiar. I met him."
"Really then where is he?" I said skeptically.
Millard pointed to an ordinary boy dressed in long pants and rain boots, much too hot for this nice September weather.
"What's his deal?" Asked Jake, he was behind me. Enoch was already talking to a busty woman with voodoo dolls.
"Radi, come here!" His sleeve waved in the air as I can only assume he tried to signal him over. Fiona walked towards him and looked him up and down before sniffing him like a dog. She shrugged and smiled at him.
"Uh hi." Radi said.
"Take of your boots." Millard commanded.
Radi did what he was told. He was floating about 5 inches.
"He's like me!" Olive ran to Radi and hugged him.
"No Olive, he's like me."
"Huh?"
"His feet are still there, but he's invisible like me."
"Oh." Olive looked disappointed, but I can tell she likes being one of a kind.

For dinner we had roasted chicken and lamb with potatoes and bread. Radi and Millard have been talking for hours about life and invisibility. I felt jealous, Millard was my best friend. I was happy he had someone to relate to but I don't want him to replace me. It sounds childish I know, I'm 16 for birds sake, but I still have feelings. Fiona was playing with the goats and chicken. They seemed content with her petting them. Jake, Emma, Enoch and Horace were watching a puppet man while Claire and Olive were playing with the other young ones.
"Carful!" Bronwyn called, she was holding a newborn and burping him ever so gently. Claire and one of the boys were roughhousing and laughing. The twins were snuggled up next to a woman and her husband. I estimated them to be about 60 years old.
"That's Magda and John," One of the Gypsies' men informed me. 
"They were never able to conceive, I think they like your little masked friends."
I nodded and smiled, he patted my shoulder and walked away.
All seemed good.

Hours later we were sleeping. Fiona fell asleep with the animals, the chicken was nested on her lap and she was leaning on the goat.
"She's good with animals huh?" Jake whispered. I jumped a bit but turned to talk.
"Oh yea, she's good with all living things."
"But people."
I frowned at him. "She's fine with people."
"I didn't say she wasn't, she just...never speaks. Can she even talk?"
"Yes she can talk," I said frustrated. "But she only talks to me or the other animals."
"Why is that?" I scoffed at him, his inability to read my tone astounded me. I shot him a glare that finally seemed to get through to him. "Sorry, I didn't mean to pry."
"It's fine." My fists were clenched at my sides.
"I uh should get some rest."
"Yeah, you should." I said bitterly.
I walked over to the animal pen and shook Fiona awake. The chicken clucked and she nestled it into her cheek.
"I'm going to bed, are you gonna stay here?"
She nodded her head and fell back asleep. I smiled at her, she was beautiful even sleeping.
"That was a terrible story!" Olive whined. I heard Enoch laugh. I laid and pulled my sleeping bag up to my chin.
Lights out

3/1/21

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