NEVER MINE ✧ enoch o'connor

𝟏𝟒. Feels Like

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GRACIE ABRAMS - Feels Like
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ENOCH

We were quickly examined for any minor deficits then afterwards sent to the bathrooms to wash up. Horace's awful timing got us stuck on the moving staircases, and eight minutes it took to overcome it. On our way back-wearing clean clothes from Suji's handbag-a food cart greeted us for lunch in the infirmary. I helped myself to a turkey sandwich, treacle tart, and pumpkin juice. Sleep took over the majority of us once we were all bathed and nourished.

I woke up to an amber sky hours later. The nurses seemed to have identified their primary patient because, while we were served dinner that evening, Suji's parents arrived at the Wing to see her. You could tell the couple had their lives in order by the way they came in, dressed in navy blue scrubs. That alone made it more disheartening to see them break down at the sight of Suji.

I watched the mother, a delicate woman, hunched over the bed and wiping away at her tears. Her husband, a lanky man with a boyish look, stood bravely at her side but I knew it pained him to see his daughter in that condition.

Claire and I sat together on her bed, curtains shoved aside to eliminate the feeling of isolation, with bowls of tomato soup in our laps. The others were within earshot, conversing lightly to give Mr. and Mrs. Lee their time for sorrow.

Claire was mopping up her rich soup with chunks of cornbread when Horace said, "She's not dead, you know."

"Of course she's not," Claire piped up abruptly. Then: "You're not just saying that, are you?"

"No, we've all seen it. The Dream entails that Suji is alive and well. So,"-Horace shrugged-"I don't think there's much to be worried about."

"Except we're dead if she's out any longer than three days," I reminded them.

"Two days, actually," noted Hugh. "This one's coming to an end." He burped and a few bees escaped.

"Say, Jake," whispered Fiona, "when were you going to tell us the reason behind our decamping from Miss Peregrine's Loop? I've got so many questions."

It was obvious he didn't want to talk about. Yet he seemed to have spent some time in speculation because his narratives sounded too confident. "They were... weird, those Hollows," he started. "I'm certain they're the ones that invaded the Loop in Jeju; the same ones that killed Suji's friend. And clearly, there's something in Miss P's Loop that are of value to them."

"Or someone," countered Hugh.

"What makes you say that, Jake?" asked Olive.

"We talked to Miss Peregrine beforehand that night," he went on, "and she mentioned the other ymbrynes - how they were just barricading Loop entrances at the time..." A pause to allow himself to ponder. "You'd think, if they were only in the midst of preparation, we would've heard news about a Hollow attack. I mean, no way they dodged that kind of bullet. Miss Avocet's Loop is in Blackpool and I honestly thought they were the most susceptible. But..." Another pause that only built up the suspense. "I highly doubt those Hollows stepped foot into Blackpool before ours-or any of the neighbouring Loops for that matter."

I felt my face distort with ire and had to intervene. "Well, we could've destroyed them if you'd said anything to us sooner," was my dispute. "Why do something so cowardly such as running away?"

To this, Jake replied, "Those weren't the same Hollows we defeated last year. Miss Peregrine was certain they were a bigger threat, and I believe her now." For a moment his eyes flickered at something behind me, and then back. "Staying away will be our best chance at survival."