A War Within Two Worlds

Accident

Victor's POV

It was an accident. We were scared. We were angry.
I was scared he was going to kill her. Mama loved us, she would have never let any harm come our way, but then she died.
He always hated Wyn. She was too 'manish' for him. We grew up on a farm with Papa, but then he died, too. Being manish was a good thing on the farm, but it wasn't here. Mama did what she had to do, she married a man she didn't even love from the city. Wyn and I didn't want to leave the farm, but we knew we had to. We sold our livestock and left.

Eric never liked us.
I was an accident.
He just kept hitting her. She told him how she lifted over 20o lbs. He beat her for lying.
It was an accident.
I grabbed him by the collar of his shirt.
It was an accident.
I put my hands around his neck so he could feel the fear we felt when he did the same to us.
But then his neck snapped and he died.
It was an accident.

We ran. We didn't know what to do, so we ran. We took all the money we could find and left at the dead of night. I have no idea what they ever think happened. Did they think he killed himself? Did they know we did it?

The sirens droned on as we ran. There's a war now, a man named Hitler wants to kill all the Jews.
We're Jewish.
But mama had us lie when we got here, she said Eric knew it would be best. As much as I hated him, he was right. England fought against the Germans, but most of them didn't take kindly to what they think caused the war.

We hid in an old shed for days. I watched over as Bronwyn slept. She cried for mama most days, I did too. Bronwyn and I were 6 years apart, but we couldn't be any closer. We grew up homeschooled, learning at our kitchen table how to multiply fractions. I always hated being homeschooled, I wanted to go out and meet people. But Wyn always found the best in everything.
"We get to be together all day!" She'd say.
"We're always together." I'd ruffle her curls and she'd giggle madly.

"Good evening." I spun around to see a woman dressed in royal blue.
"W-who are you?" I asked. Wyn was awake now and ready to fight.
"I'm Miss Peregrine, and I'm here to help."
I eyed her wearily, but I was too tired and cold to argue. I stood up and held Wyn's hand.
"You'll be safe now."

I crossed the green lawn with Bronwyn's head resting on my shoulder. It was dark, but the house had a calming yellow glow coming through the glass.
"An orphanage?" I asked cautiously. Over the past hours (by boat) she's hardly spoken.
"You are what we call peculiar." She said as she unlocked the door. A girl with sandy blonde hair stood in the doorway.
"Miss Bloom, why are you still awake?" She asked sternly. The girl was in her pink nightgown and looked to be shaken up.
"Claire's run a fever, I think she's really ill!" The girl said with tear brimmed eyes.
"Take these two to the spare bedroom upstairs, where is Claire now?" The girl pointed down the hall and Miss Peregrine left without a word.
"I'm Emma." The girl said.
"I'm Victor, this is Bronwyn."
"Hullo." Bronwyn said softly. Emma and I shook hands and I set Bronwyn down.
"What's your peculiarity?" She asked as we walked up the stairs.
"We're super strong!" Bronwyn said.
"What do you mean when you say peculiar?" I asked taking the last step.
"Well you know you're peculiar, right?"
I shrugged. Bronwyn ran off into a pink room when she saw a girl around her age.
"Hi! I'm Wyn!"
"I'm Olive!"
Emma led me down the hall as the girls —who were becoming fast friends— voices started to fade.
"Peculiardom is.... interesting. There are monsters that hunt us, usually we live in something called a loop. Some of us here have been to multiple in our lives."
"Is this a loop?" I asked, still not knowing what a loop was.
Emma laughed and shook her head.
"No, all of us are really our ages."
"What do you mean?"
"For instance, if Miss Peregrine opened a loop today we'd stay, how old are you?"
"15."
"Right, then you'd stay 14 forever."
Forever?
"I'd never get older?"
The idea of immortality scared me, but it intrigued me too.
Emma shook her head, "I'm afraid not, but for now we're safe and not loop bound!" She tried to lighten the mood.
"You said there were monsters?"
Emma's face got dark as she stopped and opened a door. Two twin beds lied by two different windows. The room was a deep yet calming blue and the sheets were a grey plaid.
"Wow."
"Yes, and about the monsters, they're called hollowghasts, hollows for short."
"Are they scary?"
"I fear them yes, but I've never seen one. But no one can, they're invisible." I crossed my arms over my chest.
"Are you trying to trick me?" I said playfully, but the girl's face looked deeply troubled.
"I wish. Miss Peregrine will explain everything in the morning." Emma turned toward the door and Bronwyn teetered in.
"Try and get some rest."

I couldn't sleep.
"Vic?" Bronwyn whispered into the dark.
"Yes, Wyn?"
"I can't sleep."
"Just close your eyes." I felt fraudulent saying that when even I had my eyes closed but couldn't sleep.
"I miss home."
I propped myself up on my elbows and turned my head into her general direction.
"Home?"
"You know, the farm, Gilbert, and mama." She said softly. Gilbert was our only make sheep and everyone's favorite. Mama made sure to sell him to somewhere where not only he wouldn't be eaten, but where he'd be happy.
"I'm sure Gilbert's having fun with all his friends." I said in an attempt to not talk about mama.
"Wyn? Listen to me very carefully." I said.
"Ok." The six year old walked over and sat at the end of my bed. I lifted the covers for her and she snuggled in.
"You can't tell anyone about what we did to Eric, ok?"
"Ever? Not even Miss Peregrine?"
I was going to shake my head, but she wouldn't be able to see me.
"Never. Not another soul."
"Ok. Vic?"
"Yes?"
"Can I sleep here tonight?"
"Just for tonight."
Wyn yawned and put her head on my chest.
"Night night."

4/21/21