A War Within Two Worlds

Jacob

Yasmini's POV

I felt my ears pop and the weather get colder as I exited the loop. I held Victor's trembling hand and stroked it. I wanted him to stay home, but he refused. Part of me, though, was happy he was there. I was nervous, plus, his strength was always handy.

Emma stepped lightly over the crushed stones as I shivered. Our once beautiful house, was now a crumbled nest of dust and old gray brick. I heard some debris move and I picked up a nearby brick with my mind. I stepped in front of Emma despite Victor's hushed protesting. Emma's hands were red with flame. Enoch and a blurry blob of dust that I could only assume as Millard were hiding behind Emma and Victor. I stepped around a corner and recognized it as our foyer. My heart hurt at the sight, even though our home was still up and running smoothly. I heard another footstep and turned around violently to see a boy with dark black hair.
"Holy shit! Y-you're Yasmini, right?" The blue eyed boy started at me with wide eyes. Emma was stunned, just staring at him avidly.
"That's me."
"We need to go, now." Victor said aggressively. Jacob flinched, "you're Victor, right? You have a sister too, Bronwyn?"
My bird, how much did Abe tell him?
"How about you stop asking stupid questions and shut up and come with us." Enoch grumbled, "it's bloody freezing here."
"Are the others there?"
Fiona and Hugh were also at home as Fiona was too afraid to come with, and the littles weren't allowed because of how small they are.
"Yes, now let's go."

We stole a painted horse and buggy from town to take back home. Jake talked intently to Emma, who twirled her hair around her finger.
"So, what's the present like, Jacob?"
Jacob blushed, "it's boring, you can call me Jake though, or anything you want." He said playfully. Enoch made a 'gag me' gesture and Emma glared at Victor and I as we giggled.
"So, Yasmini, you lived in the Holocaust too?"
I swallowed hard. It's been decades long, but every time I think of that day, my blood runs cold and bile gathers in my throat. Do I lie to him and say I was in a completely different war?
"Sort of." I finally said.
"I never knew any other Jewish people, I'm not really Jewish but my dad is." He beamed.
"Yeah." I said again. I'm not Jewish, but Victor is, and he never really talked about it, I don't think he was very religious.
"So are you a hunter?" Enoch asked with his arms crossed defiantly.
"Me? No, I've never been."
I rolled my eyes as Enoch chuckled, poor Jake didn't even know what kind of hunter we were talking about. Emma laughed like a dumb school girl and leaned in while squishing her arms together to make her chest look bigger.

Victor and I were enjoying our time in the sun when I felt a cast of shade. Victor was snoring peacefully next to me and I looked up to see Jacob.
"Yasmini? Everyone calls you Mini, right?"
I nodded.
"Cool, everyone calls me Jake."
I nodded again, "are you like Abraham?" I asked. It felt strange to think that this kid was a part of him, but he did look like it. Not in the eyes, but they had the same hair and nose, and they both were tall, although Abraham filled out better and definitely worked out while the kid standing in front of me looked too skinny and almost sickly.
"I'm not peculiar."
I laughed, "hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you are. Only peculiars can enter loops."
Jake gawked at me, "a-are you sure?"
"Positive." I glanced over Victor and smiled as I played with his hair.
"How long have you two been together?"
"Longer than most people live." I sighed happily.
"My grandpa never talked about Emma."
"Hmm."
"But he talked about you."
I felt myself blush.
"He talked about you, Victor, Charlotte, and another girl named Bronwyn, weren't her and Victor siblings? Is she here?"
I looked sharply at him suddenly remembering what happened last time someone came and left from our loop.
"Don't talk about her, ever." I spat. Jane backed up and looked around nervously, "s-sorry."
"You should be, stop poking your nose around in things that don't concern you."
Victor stirrer and I rubbed his shoulder as Jake turned away.
"You look like him." I said softly when he was a few meters away. Jake turned back halfhearted and nodded.

Dinner was... well, it went how you would expect.
"Are there rocket ships, like the Flash Gordon books?" Emma asked.
"Um, yeah. We actually can walk on the moon."
I marveled silently and wished that I could walk on the moon. Victor sat across from me stone faced, but listening.
"How long are you staying?" Olive asked.
"I leave next week." I breathed a sigh of relief and gave a reassuring nod to Victor.
"I'm sorry, but I have to go back to the hotel soon or my dad is going to freak."
Hotel?
"You mean you aren't staying overnight in the loop?"
Jake shook his head, "I'll be back tomorrow, I promise."
"You're going to be coming in and out?" Enoch turned to Miss Peregrine, "he's going to get us killed!"
"Now children, if any such thing were to happen like that again, I will personally kill the hollow like last time."
I snorted, "you mean I'll kill the hollow like last time." Everyone around started to clamor and whine, the feeling of dread in my stomach deepened.
"What happened last time?" Jake asked timidly.
"I had a sister." Everyone went silent to look at Victor, who was staring down at his plate.
"Bronwyn, right?"
Victor's head snapped up violently, "don't you ever say her name."
Jake made a choking sound and coughed.
"She was killed when your grandfather left and led a hollow to the loop."
"It wasn't Abe's fault, and I never hear you blame Charlotte!" Emma yelled.
"Hollows were never after Charlotte the way they were after Abe!" I shouted.
"It won't happen again!" Claire whined.
"Claire, Olive, Horace and Enoch, please go upstairs." Miss Peregrine said sternly. I gritted my teeth.
"Why? They should hear this, they're just as affected as we are!"
"Miss Aldello,"
"What? You're going to sit here and tell me I'm wrong?" I snapped.
Miss Peregrine glared at me before addressing the young ones again, "you may stay, but be quiet while I explain—"
"Explain what?"
"Explain that Jake is peculiar and has the same gift as Abe!" She yelled. She's never really yelled at me before, but I wasn't backing down.
"Good, you finally got the gall to tell him," I glared at Jake, who looked as if he would drop dead at any moment from fright, "you know now, and I get that it's... difficult," I cleared my throat, "but you need to make a decision, stay or go."
"Miss Aldello!"
I glared at her, but kept my mouth shut.
"You may return and come whenever you like, I assure you there are now hollows present in this island."
I snorted and felt the angry heat from Emma radiating down my back making me sweat.
"This discussion is over, now is reset. Jake, will you join us?"
"This is such bullshit!" I slammed my hands on the table, but in my rage everything flew back. I gasped and put my hands to my mouth. Everyone— even Victor and Enoch— looked at me afraid.
"I-I'm so sorry." I ran up the stairs and slammed the door behind me.

5/12/21