A War Within Two Worlds

80 Years

Yasmini's POV

Victor never comes downstairs for anything, he only ever went to his room or where they kept Bronwyn. After Emma told him why she was out there, he refused to speak to me. Although, those two were the only ones who blamed me. The others thought I was a bloody hero. Bloody? God, I am becoming a Brit.

I left the plate of food by Victor's door like I had for the last week. Eventually, he'd nibble on some toast or chicken, but nothing much. I missed him, and I wanted to talk to him, but it felt wrong trying to intrude on him.

But on the third day, I didn't care. I opened his bedroom door and sat on the bed across from him. Victor was reading one of Millard's books.
"Go away."
I swallowed hard and flattened my skirt.
"You're upset, I want to be there for you."
Victor slammed his book shut and looked at me.
"She went to go look for you."
"I know, and I know it's my fault."
Victor's eyes softened but he didn't speak.
"I'm you're...." I paused, were we still together even? 
"I'm you're girlfriend, I want to be here for you." I looked at my hands and picked at my nails.
"I love you."
I looked up.
"W-what?"
"I love you, Yasmini Maria Aldello. I love you."
Victor strode toward me.
"Vic, you're upset and not thinking straight." I said facing him.
"No I'm not, but I've known I've loved you since I've met you."
"I'm so sorry." I fell into Victor's lap. To my surprise, he laughed.
"Do you really thing Bronwyn wouldn't have left anyways? She does whatever she wants!" I laughed awkwardly before his face fell dark.
"Did, she did whatever she wanted." He took a deep breath, "but I'm happy she did, because of her, Miss Peregrine was able to kill that hollow, instead of the hollow killing all of us. I just wish," he sighed deeply, "I just wish it wasn't her."
"Victor?"
"Yes?"
"I love you too."

80 Something Years Later......

Victor's POV

Mini was asleep in the crook of my arm. We laid under the partial shade from one of Fiona's oaks. Mini's face glowed from the sun. I kissed her temple and she groaned as she turned into me.
"I'm dead."
I laughed, "You're not dead."
"It's my specialty, I would know." Enoch called from the tree.
"Go away!" Mini called.
"Miss Peregrine said I had to watch you."
Miss Peregrine caught us some years ago, lucky for us, we happened to have our clothes on that time. Emma was once not so lucky. All and all though, Miss Peregrine didn't seem to mind Mini and I dating. Although she somehow didn't know about Hugh or Fiona— or just chose not to. Speaking of the two, Fiona and Mini are roommates now, but Hugh's still with Millard.
"She said you had to watch once! And it was 25 years ago when we went camping on the beach!" Mini sat up annoyed. One thing about her, never interrupt her naps.
"Make me!" Enoch taunted. Mini smiled vindictively. "If you say so," Mini stood up and raised her right hand and rolled her eyes back. Enoch was lifted up from the branch and then dropped from 6 feet up and onto the ground.
"Ow!"
Mini rolled her eyes, "I barley dropped you."
Enoch rubbed his elbow, "you're lucky we're friends." Mini laughed and Enoch smiled, but tried to hide it. I couldn't blame him, her smile was infectious.
"Whatever." Enoch grumbled and walked away.
Mini laid back down and giggled. I smiled at her and kissed her temple again. Mini sat up violently.
"What's the matter?" I said shooting up next to her, Enoch was running to us in a sprint.
"What's the matter?"
"Abe."
Mini jumped back up on her feet.
"What about them?"
Enoch panted, "he's.... dead..." he said between gasps.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
Mini shrunk back a little bit. Charlotte only died a few years ago at the age of 96, but it absolutely destroyed her.
"Hollow."
Mini grabbed my hand. I couldn't breathe, I hated Abe after what happened, they were looking for him. But we were also close friends for years.
"Miss Peregrine wants us all inside, now."

Mini held my hand as my leg bounced up and down.
"It's been assumed that the hollow that killed Abe was send by Barron." Everyone around us gasped audibly. Miss Peregrine held her hand to silence us, "The hollow has since been killed, but he has a grandson."
Abe had kids? Let alone grandkids?
"Why do we care about his kid?" Mini asked pointedly.
"He's peculiar."
Mini leaned back in the couch agitated. 
"So he's coming here?" Emma asked warily. I could tell Enoch and Mini wanted to say something snarky, but they didn't.
"Yes."
Emma nodded before she got up abruptly and went up the stairs, a moment later I heard her slam her door. Miss Peregrine briefly flinched and looked at all of us.
"Now, is there anything anyone would like to say?"
A few kids raised their hands but Mini glared at her, "So what are you going to do when a hollow inevitably follows him into the loop, or a wight?" She had her jaw clenched and glared at Miss Peregrine.
"Nothing of the sort will happen."
Mini scoffed, "can you engrave that on my tombstone?"
I felt my blood boil and I left the room before I yelled.

"Can I come in?"
"Of course, darling."
Mini opened the door and laid down next to me.
"I didn't mean to make you angry, I'm sorry if..." I know what she wanted to say, I'm sorry your sister was murdered, but I knew she just couldn't really.
"Abe and I were best friends."
"I'm so sorry." He grabbed my hand and rubbed my thumb.
"For years I wanted him to suffer the way Wyn did, but now, it just feels worse."
"It always does."

5/10/21