Some Strange Type of Peculiar Love

2 Months Later

Hugh's POV

We spent 4 days in that cell before we were rescued. It felt like an eternity. I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep, I just laid there with my eyes open staring at the ceiling. I heard the others talk about me. Everyone eventually came back from wherever they were, even Bronwyn, Melina and the brothers, but I hardly noticed. They all tried to talk to me, to get me to do something other than just lay there, but I couldn't feel anything. Millard eventually laid my head down on someone's jacket. Every once and awhile he'd come dab the beads of sweat from my forehead and wash my face with his sleeve. Bronwyn spent most nights comforting Claire who awoke crying.

"Jake! Emma!" Olive cheered.
I didn't bother to look up when they came.
"I have the key, I stole it from the wights."
"How?"
"Jake has his own hollow now."
"Is that what that rank smell is?" Horace said in disgust.
"I have two right now, but we need to hurry."
Jake twisted the key in the metal jail and the lock made a pop sound.
Enoch reached out and pulled my hand but I stayed stiff on the ground.
"Listen lad, I'm sorry about your girl, but we need to save Miss Peregrine," he paused, "I promise we'll do something for her when we.... get to somewhere." I nodded and stood up. Enoch patted me on the back and we walked out of the cell.

It's been 2 months since we defeated Caul in the Library of Souls. I guess when we were in the collapsed loop our time reset, now I can age like a normal.

Everyone is all happy and exited, but to me it feels pointless. Yes, I get to grow older and not worry about turning into dust, but was it even worth it? I mean site, I could grow old with Millard and do more than play soccer all day, like see a movie or go to a shopping mall. But that wasn't anything we couldn't have done in a loop. The only reason I wanted to grow old is so I could grow old with her.

Jake went home and then we followed shortly after, something about his parents shipping him away, I was too out of all of it to care. All I really remember is sitting on the god awful public bus. It did feel good to see him again, though. Plus, the present has a lot of good food and air conditioning is God sent. Miss Peregrine created a loop back in the shed of Jake's house leading back to the acre, Bentham's house was only a couple blocks away. Melina and I spent most days using the panloopticon, traveling to different loops around the world. So far we've been to 23 different areas, but no sign of Fiona or anything that belongs to her. We even went back to the present day Menagerie, but it was just an empty field. Every night I went back to the house for dinner—which I barley had an appetite for— and then into Jake's spare bedroom which now held 3 twin beds for Millard, Horace, and I. Enoch got the basement to himself and all the girls shared one room. Although more often that not the little ones climbed into bed with Enoch.

Melina and I have become close now. She spent everyday looking for Fiona with me. There was someone in her loop named Marcus, he was captured while she hid. They were best friends.
Things started to change though. Jake and Emma started to get more secretive. It all came to head tonight.
"We're going and you can't stop us! So who's coming?" It was after dinner and another one of Jake and Emma's secret meetings they thought no one knew about.
"I'm not disobeying Miss P!" Claire stomped her foot. A lot of us have grown up some, but Claire still was like a little child clinging to her mom.
"Going where?" I asked.
"To rescue an un contacted peculiar."
"Oh."
"Do you want to help."
"I'll stay here and check the loops."
"Oh."
"I'll go!" Olive volunteered.
"I'm sorry Olive, but you're too little." Olive looked disappointed but relieved, I think she's over the whole 'running for our lives' kind of deal.
"I'll go." Bronwyn offered.
"But-" Olive started. Bronwyn held her hand up to silence her and patted her head.
"I'll be back soon."
"You need me too, I know everything about cars." Enoch said.
"And I." Said Millard.
"Fine, everyone pack lightly and let's go."
I trudged back into my bed room and laid down. My feet ached and my whole body was tired but my brain was still running a mile a minute. A half an hour later I heard the light click of the door shutting, Miss Peregrine was still snoring peacefully.
"I hate how we have to keep splitting up, and of course it's now when we're all finally together." Horace whined.
"We're not all together. Fiona isn't here." I snapped. Horace shrunk back, "I didn't mean it like that, I just meant-"
"I don't care what you meant."
"Goodnight, Hugh."
Horace shut off the light and I drifted off to the sweet memories of Fiona.

Miss Peregrine was furious the next morning.
"WHERE ARE THEY!" She boomed.
"They uh-"
I took this as my signal to leave and let Horace do all the explaining. I crossed the muggy backyard and into the shed. The next moment I could smell the rotten stench of the Devils Acre. Our loop automatically transported us to Bentham's house. I walked down the hall and someone tapped my shoulder.
"Hey."
"Hey Mel."
"I'm thinking Africa today."
"Africa?"
"I'm never going to stop looking for him, and we've been through all of Europe."
"Ok then Africa it is."

Today we visited 4 countries, most we've ever gotten in a day. Melina lifted every rock just to be sure there was nothing smashed under it. I was almost thankful there wasn't—I don't know
If I could handle another dead body, Peculiar or not.
"Do you believe in God?" Melina asked.
We were getting ready to go to France where Melina's family lived. We had already searched France, but Melina liked to go back to her time and visit her mule, Habib, in exchange for helping me look for Fiona.
"I believe in the birds."
"Hmm."
"Do you?"
"I'm Jewish, did you know that?"
I shook my head. I knew that our house in Cairnholm was bombed because of something with Germans and the Jewish. Abe was Jewish too I think.
"No, I didn't."
"Well now you do, and in Jewish culture we wait one full year exactly to plan a funeral."
"I'm not gonna stop lo-"
Melina shook her head, "I'm not asking you to stop looking for her, I'll never stop looking for Marcus," she paused, "but if anything happens to me, please wait one year."
"Ok."
"Promise?"
"Promise."

3/16/21