ɢʀօաȶɦ, աɛ ɢʀօա ȶօɢɛȶɦɛʀ | Enoch O'Connor

Don't Harm It

Hugh and Millard crept through the hallways of the mansion, their footsteps soft on the patterned rugs. They glanced around nervously, hoping they might slip past unnoticed. The sounds of quiet chatter drifted from the kitchen as they approached, but they still held out hope of sneaking away to the garden. As they reached the kitchen's doorway, however, a voice stopped them in their tracks.

"And where do you two think you're going?" Miss Peregrine's voice was calm and sharp, like a knife hidden beneath a silk handkerchief.

Miss Peregrine sat at a small, round table near the window, pouring tea with the grace of someone who seemed to know everything that happened within her walls. She had a stern, elegant beauty about her, with raven-black hair swept up into a bun that seemed to defy even the gentlest breeze. Her piercing blue eyes studied the boys with a knowing gaze, and her high-collared blouse and long black skirt gave her the appearance of a figure pulled from an old portrait.

Across from her, Emma and Olive were seated, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern.

Emma Bloom, with her fair hair and delicate features, looked like a figure from a storybook. She wore a pale blue dress and sat upright, as if always ready to leap into action. Beside her, Olive Abroholos Elephanta, with her dark curls tied back and wearing her signature flame-resistant gloves, leaned forward with wide eyes, clearly interested in the unfolding situation.

Hugh hesitated, trying to mask his nervousness. "Oh, we were just... um... outside... getting some fresh air," he stammered.

Millard, who was invisible as usual, added, "Yes, indeed. It was quite invigorating, actually."

Miss Peregrine's brow arched, and a slight smirk touched her lips. "Is that so?" Her voice carried a hint of skepticism, as though she could see right through their words. "And I suppose you've been enjoying this 'fresh air' for the past hour?"

The boys glanced at each other, and with a sigh of resignation, Hugh gave in. "Fine... we went to the circus."

There was a collective gasp from Olive and Emma, and Miss Peregrine's eyes narrowed. "The circus?" she repeated, her tone laced with disapproval. "You know the rules, Hugh. And Millard, I'm especially disappointed in you for encouraging this."

Millard tried to defend himself. "I wasn't encouraging! I was merely... observing."

"Well, there will be no dessert for either of you tonight," she declared, waving a hand as if dismissing the very idea.

Hugh grumbled under his breath, and the two boys turned to leave. But as Hugh took his first step toward the hallway, Miss Peregrine's voice stopped him again. "Wait." Her eyes were fixed on him with a strange intensity, as if sensing something was amiss. She tilted her head slightly, studying Hugh's appearance. "It seems you've brought home a friend."

Adrenna's heart lurched in her chest. She clung to Hugh's shadow, her pulse racing. She didn't dare move, barely dared to breathe. Had Miss Peregrine somehow sensed her presence? As the other children glanced around the room, their expressions ranging from curious to confused, Adrenna remained as still as a statue.

Miss Peregrine stepped closer, her hand reaching out toward Hugh's shoulder, her fingers just inches away from the place where Adrenna hid. Panic surged through Adrenna like a jolt of electricity, her instinct for survival overpowering her curiosity. In an instant, she sprang from Hugh's shadow, zooming across the room in a streak of darkness and taking refuge in the deepest corner where the shadows lay thickest.

A shiver swept through the room, a cold whisper of air that made everyone's hair stand on end. The children gasped, and Hugh and Millard both screamed, "A ghost! There's a ghost!"

Emma jumped to her feet, her eyes wide. "What was that?"

Olive clutched the edge of the table, her gloves glowing faintly from the sudden excitement. "It... it felt like something passed right by me."

Miss Peregrine, however, remained calm. Her lips curved into a smile that held both surprise and delight. "It appears we have a visitor," she remarked, her eyes scanning the dimly lit corners. "Emma, Olive—find it. But be gentle."

The chase began in earnest. Adrenna darted from shadow to shadow, slipping between the legs of the furniture, vanishing beneath tables, and hugging the darkest places of the room as if they were lifelines. Every time someone got close, she would shift again, her form barely more than a streak of shadow and a fleeting sense of movement.

Emma lunged toward the corner where she thought she saw a flicker, but Adrenna zipped away, leaving only a chill in her wake. "It's fast," Emma said, her voice a mix of frustration and fascination.

Olive edged closer to the darkest spot near the fireplace, peering into the shadows as if she could catch a glimpse of the elusive figure. "I can't see it... but I can feel it," she murmured a hint of awe in her voice.

Miss Peregrine stood back, her eyes twinkling with interest as she observed the children's efforts. "Don't scare it off," she warned, her tone still carrying an amused lilt. "It's not here to harm us."

But Adrenna wasn't sure of that herself. The sudden exposure made her heart pound in her chest, her body trembling as she darted away from yet another close call. She wasn't used to being pursued like this—not when she had always been the one hiding in the dark, watching the world from the safety of the shadows.

It felt like an eternity of darting and dodging before she found herself backed into a corner with no escape route in sight. The children drew closer, and she could hear their footsteps, and see the faint glow of Olive's gloves inching toward her. For the first time, Adrenna felt truly cornered, and she knew she had to make a choice—reveal herself, or continue hiding and risk being discovered anyway.