MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN.

CHAPTER 5

Enoch O'Conner's POV.

I had always found solace in the shadows. They were familiar, comforting, like an old coat that still fit despite the wear and tear. I watched from the edges of the garden as Jake mingled with the others, his wide eyes taking in our peculiarities as if he were observing a freak show instead of family. There was something about the way he moved—hesitant but curious—that irked me. I had seen plenty of newcomers come and go, and they never ended well.

Jake was different from us, wasn't he? Just a normal kid who stumbled into our world, not realising the danger that lurked just outside the protective walls of our loop. I'd seen it before—people drawn to us, thinking they were special, thinking they could play in a game that wasn't theirs. But our world was no game. It was life or death, and I wouldn't let anyone drag us down with them.

I leaned against a weathered oak tree, arms crossed, my expression carefully crafted into a scowl as I watched the others cheer and laugh. They were so eager to embrace him, to welcome him into their circle, but I couldn't help but think they were being naive. I could hear their laughter ringing in my ears, a melody that grated against my nerves. They saw him as one of us, but I saw him for what he was—a potential threat.

"Enochhhh!" Emma called to me, her voice bright and filled with enthusiasm. "Come and join us! We're playing a game!"

I didn't move, keeping my back pressed against the rough bark. "What kind of game?" I called back, forcing a disinterested tone into my voice. The last thing I wanted was to get caught up in their childish antics.

"It's nothing dangerous," she replied, a hint of a challenge in her tone. "Just jumping over a fire Olive made."

"Yeah, right," I muttered under my breath. They could jump all they wanted, but I wasn't about to participate in a game that could end with someone getting hurt—especially not someone new who didn't know the rules.

I watched as Jake approached Olive, his curiosity piqued by the flickering flames she conjured. They looked so carefree, so blissfully unaware of the horrors that could descend upon us at any moment. I hated it. I hated how they made it seem so easy, how they wrapped themselves in the illusion of safety. It sickened me to see them embrace a new boy, to trust him so quickly, as if they had forgotten the past.

I glanced away, scanning the horizon for any sign of danger. The hollow monsters could come at any moment, creeping through the shadows. They were relentless, always searching, always hungry. It was only a matter of time before they caught a whiff of Jake and turned him into their next target.

As I turned back to the garden, I saw Emma cheering Jake on as he prepared to jump over the flames. There was an intensity in her gaze that I couldn't quite understand—a hopefulness that felt almost naive. She had always believed in the good in people, a trait that had gotten her into trouble more than once. I admired her optimism, but I also knew it was dangerous.

"Can't you see he's going to get hurt?" I snapped, pushing away from the tree and making my way closer to the group. I stepped into the light, the shadows retreating as I approached. "This isn't some silly game. It's a serious matter, and you all treat it like a joke."

Jake landed successfully on the other side, and the group erupted in cheers. My stomach twisted in annoyance. "You think it's all fun and games, don't you?" I said, my voice colder than I intended. "You think because you can jump over some fire, you're invincible? You think that because you're a part of this peculiar family, you're safe?"

Jake looked at me, confusion etched across his features. "I didn't—"

"Exactly!" I cut him off, unable to contain my frustration. "You didn't know, and that's the problem. We're not just kids playing pretend. We're fighting for our lives every single day, and you don't seem to get that. We can't afford to be reckless."

Emma shot me a glare, a fierce protectiveness flashing in her eyes. "Enoch, give him a chance. He's still figuring things out. You can't expect him to know everything right away."

"But you can't be so quick to welcome him," I shot back. "He's a liability. He doesn't belong here, and the sooner we realise that, the better."

"Why are you being so harsh?" Olive piped up, her fiery spirit ignited. "He's just learning. We all had to start somewhere."

I clenched my fists, the rising anger inside me threatening to bubble over. They were all too eager to embrace the unknown, but I had learned the hard way that the unknown was often dangerous. "And look what happened to Abe!" I snapped, my voice echoing with bitterness. "He fought the hollows for years and paid the price. We can't afford to lose anyone else to their greed."

A heavy silence fell over us, and I could see the shock in Jake's eyes, the realization dawning on him that this was no ordinary gathering of kids. We were all scarred by our pasts, marked by the battles we'd fought. I could feel their frustration, their disappointment, and I couldn't help but feel isolated.

Jake shifted uncomfortably, glancing between us. "I didn't mean to disrupt anything," he said, his voice small. "I just thought—"

"Thought what? That you could just walk in here and everything would be fine?" I snapped, letting the icy edge of my tone slice through the air. "This isn't a fairy tale. We don't get to pretend we're safe just because we want to be."

Emma stepped forward, her expression resolute. "Enoch, you need to stop being so cynical. We can't live in fear of what might happen. We have to face it together."

Her words were noble, but they fell flat against the reality of our situation. I could see the vulnerability in Jake's eyes, and it made my stomach churn. The last thing I wanted was for him to feel like he was under attack. But I also couldn't let myself believe that everything would be okay. I wouldn't let my guard down—not when we were teetering on the edge of disaster.

"Fine," I said, letting out a frustrated sigh. "But if anything happens to any of you because of him, I won't hesitate to blame it on your blind trust."

With that, I turned and stalked away from the group, the shadows swallowing me once more. I needed space to think, to remind myself of the truth. I had to protect them, even if it meant being the bad guy for a while. I had seen too much darkness to let the light in so easily.

As I moved deeper into the garden, I could still hear the laughter and chatter behind me, a reminder of the camaraderie they shared. But that camaraderie came with risks, and I wouldn't let them forget it. I refused to let their optimism blind them to the reality we faced every day.

Jake might have been a new addition to our peculiar family, but he didn't yet understand the stakes. He needed to learn, and I would make sure he did. After all, if he was going to survive in our world, he had to know the truth.