|the telepath | ii
QUITE THE PECULIAR DAY
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"You don't have to help me. You're still new, I don't mind if you don't want to be thrown straight into a chore" Olive informed me in a quiet voice that seemed shy as we reached the kitchen, not long after my conversation with Miss Peregrine. I shook my head and gave her a faint smile. For whatever reason, the girl seemed just as nervous as I was, though I couldn't see why.
"I don't mind. I used to help my mum in the kitchen all the time back in Ireland" My smile faltered slightly at the mention of my mother but I quickly pushed the thought to the back of my mind yet again and focused on the task at hand.
Olive seemed to notice but thankfully knew better than to say anything, instead helping me to peel the potatoes. We moved to easier subjects thereafter. She told me all about the children in the home, she told me about her peculiarity, and just how long she'd been in the loop. By the end of it, we were both giggling like schoolchildren to the point where Miss Peregrine had to poke her head around the door to see if we were getting the chore completed.
"Almost done, Miss Peregrine" Olive replied before touching an un-gloved hand to the food and cooking it in an instant.
'That would explain the teapot' I thought.
Olive and I set the table before the children began to enter the room and take a seat. I stood awkwardly at the head as they spoke to each other, reminding me again of how clearly they must have known each other for quite some time. They teased each other and laughed as I silently prayed for Miss Peregrine to hurry up. A few of the children had begun to notice me at this point and a couple had even started asking questions about my 'unusual outfit' before being gently scolded by Emma who politely reminded them of their manners. I didn't see anything wrong with what I was wearing. However, I suppose an outfit designed for 1963 didn't quite belong in a time 20 years prior.
"Children" rang a voice from the door, capturing the attention of the table in an instant. Miss Peregrine entered the room and stood behind me, placing a hand on my shoulder as she addressed the children.
"This is Robyn," she announced to the table. "She's going to be living with us here. I trust you'll all help me in welcoming her to our home"
The introduction was met with a series of small hello's and friendly waves which I returned politely albeit not quite as eager. I couldn't help but notice the boy at the end of the table, the boy who I saw sulking in Emma's memory had barely looked up from his plate, though I heard him mutter a "Great a new person" as I sat next to him in the only empty seat at the table.
I decided I didn't like him very much at all.
My first thought was to sit by Emma but that seat was taken by a boy with dark hair who she couldn't seem to stop blushing at. At first glance, a seat next to Olive seemed empty but the tapping of a knife and fork told otherwise (Millard, of course, was told quite promptly to put some clothes on). That left just that one seat. Though I was grateful that at least I would be near Olive. Everyone was quick to introduce themselves and I repeated their names over and over in my head to try and remember.
Claire was the first. A little girl who embodied both beauty and the beast with a mouth on the back of her head. Then there was Horace who had prophetic dreams that he could project. Hugh had bees living inside of him, Fiona could control nature, the twins wore strange costumes for whatever reason, Victor and Bronwyn each shared the strength of ten men and Millard was, of course, invisible. Abe and Enoch seemed reluctant to share their peculiarity. Or rather, Abe deliberately skipped past himself and Enoch simply refused to take part in the conversation. I only learned of his name due to Olive who'd eagerly introduced the boy. Had I gotten closer, I could have found out for myself. Though I kept my distance. Even sitting next to him, I felt as though I wasn't wanted there.
Supper was lively and loud, even Enoch eventually had a few choice words to say. Though they were mostly to Olive. I'd have assumed they were together had it not been for the difference in body language. She liked him; he didn't feel the same way. When you can read someone's mind. It becomes easy to connect inside thoughts to outside actions.
Before long, everyone had finished their meals and was making their way into a sort of sitting room where a radio began to play. "Miss Peregrine?" Bronwyn asked after a short amount of time of the children muttering along to the words as if they knew them all off by heart."Yes?" The bird replied not used to any kind of interruption at this time. "We listen to the radio every day. Why doesn't Horace play us one of his dreams?" She asked with a slight pout that for anyone else her age would never have worked. Miss Peregrine gave a small smile, muttering a 'very well' before Horace situated himself in the middle, his eyepiece in hand. It didn't take long for the projection to begin.
I'd heard Horace's dreams were prophetic so was of course more than confused to see that the majority of the dreams took place in a tailor's shop as Horace picked out some clothes. They were, of course, beautiful clothes but clothes nonetheless.
However, it soon got more interesting. I saw myself in a dark room. It was empty minus a man with white eyes stood opposite my image. A few of the children had turned their heads making me sink into my seat. Even Enoch appeared to have taken some kind of interest. Just as I was about to take a closer look, the scene quickly changed and I sat back up, glad the attention had been taken away. It was just a dream, right? The rest of the dream seemed fairly normal, Millard in the library, everyone on the grass having a picnic and soon the brief scene of me and the white-eyed man had left everyone's mind. Everyone's but mine, of course. I took a glance at Miss Peregrine, but she seemed unfazed.
"Time for the reset children" her voice rang after a few more minutes of seeing into Horace's dreams. Miss Peregrine led us out of the room, but the scene still wouldn't leave my head. For now, at least, I tried to focus on the reset. I'd never seen one before. Following the children outside, my curiosity grew. I was so drawn into watching the scene unfold, that I didn't notice that someone was tapping me with something until they spoke.
"Hey" he half yelled, immediately capturing my attention before shoving a gas mask in my hand (I'll give you three guesses as to who that was.) Quickly, I put the mask over my head and returned my gaze to the scene. Suddenly, the silence of the dark was invaded by the buzz of planes flying over our heads and a storm brewing as raindrops started to fall at our feet. One plane in particular flew right over the house and though I couldn't see properly, I was sure that was a bomb being dropped. It was a bomb being dropped. I turned quickly, not wanting to look, and grabbed the person closest to me by the sleeve instinctively. Of course, that person had to be Enoch O'Connor. He shook me off quickly and though I couldn't see past his gas mask, I could tell he was rolling his eyes. In return, I was also glad he couldn't see passed my gas mask as my cheeks burned in embarrassment.
Then, time seemed to come to a standstill and the music from the old record player Miss Peregrine had set up stopped with it. The rain stood motionlessly in the sky and the bomb, inches away from the house, was petrified to stillness. All I could see was Miss Peregrine fiddling with her pocket watch as we all watched. The rain shot back to the sky, the bomb disappeared, then the planes, and suddenly it was September 3rd all over again. The peaceful night had returned.
"Time for bed," Miss Peregrine announced and sent us all on our way. I walked slowly to my room, still in awe at the sight I'd just witnessed. This earned me a shoulder from someone walking past to get their room first though for now I didn't mind. So maybe my new home wasn't so bad. The children seemed nice and the scenery was beautiful. However, suddenly I was pulled out of my thoughts by another loud noise from the other side of the wall.
It was going to be a long night.
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A/N
Hey! It's been a while. For anyone who has been here for a while, you may know that this chapter was originally paired with the chapter before it, but I've made the executive decision to separate them! Let me know what you think as well as your general thoughts on the story so far, I love to hear your feedback :)
- Andrea x
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The Telepath » Enoch O'Connor
Fanfiction"So you can read minds?" He asked with a flash of curiosity to his eyes mixed with slight panic. "Read them, play with them, anything I want really. Why? Is there something you don't want me to see, Mr. O'Connor?" · Robyn Animo has only known she w...
