MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN.

CHAPTER 6

Olive's POV.

I stepped further away from the group, the garden's shadows wrapping around me like a familiar cloak. The laughter and cheers of the others faded slightly, but I could still feel the warmth of their camaraderie lingering in the air. It was annoying, how they could so easily disregard the reality of our situation, especially with a newcomer like Jake around.

But there was one voice I couldn't ignore, the light and playful lilt of Olive. "You're such a grump, Enoch!" she called, a teasing edge to her tone. I turned to see her skipping toward me, her fiery curls bouncing as she moved, a small flame flickering in her palm. "You really need to loosen up. It's not like the hollows are going to come crashing through the garden gates right this second."

"Right, and that's exactly what makes it so easy for them," I retorted, keeping my expression neutral. Olive always had this way of getting under my skin. She was bright and warm, a living flame of optimism, while I was the one who preferred the shadows, who understood that darkness lurked just beyond our little sanctuary.

She rolled her eyes, crossing her arms in that defiant way she had. "You think you're the only one who knows what's at stake? Just because you're the resident pessimist doesn't mean you're the only one with a sense of danger. I know the risks as well as you do, Enoch. We all do."

I felt my temper flare at her insistent cheeriness. "But you don't take it seriously!" I snapped, my voice sharper than I intended. "You treat everything like it's just a game. Playing with fire, literally. You think it's fun to jump over flames, and that it makes you invincible. But it doesn't!"

The look on her face shifted from playful to serious, her brows furrowing in frustration. "You're acting like I'm some kind of child. I can control my abilities, you know that." Her tone was defensive, and it irritated me even more.

"Control? Is that what you call it?" I scoffed, gesturing toward the small flames flickering between her fingers. "You think just because you've got your little fire tricks under wraps that you're safe? One slip-up, one moment of carelessness, and everything could go up in smoke. You could hurt someone, Olive, even yourself."

She stepped closer, her expression unwavering, and the air between us crackled with tension. "And you think being a cynic will keep us safe? Hiding away in the shadows won't protect us from the hollows. We have to live, Enoch! We can't let fear dictate our lives."

I felt my frustration bubbling over, her words cutting through the protective barrier I'd built around myself. "Living in fear is smart when there's real danger around every corner," I shot back. "Maybe you need to stop being so carefree and understand that our lives depend on being cautious."

Her eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I thought she might throw one of those tiny flames right at me. "You think you know everything just because you've had to grow up fast. But you're not the only one who has had to deal with loss and danger, Enoch! We all have our scars."

"Then why do you act like everything's a joke?" I asked, my voice low. "Why do you refuse to see the reality we're in? You want to pretend we're just kids playing in a garden, but we're not. We're fighting to survive!"

She took a deep breath, and for a moment, the fight seemed to drain from her. "I'm not pretending, Enoch. I just want to find joy where I can, even when it's hard. Life is already a struggle. We can't let the fear win. We owe it to ourselves to find happiness amidst the chaos."

Her words hit me like a blow, and for a second, I couldn't find a retort. I wanted to argue, to prove that my way of thinking was the only way that made sense in a world filled with danger. But part of me recognized the truth in what she was saying. It was just hard to accept that while she wanted to find joy, I only saw the impending disaster lurking around the corner.

"So you think by jumping over a fire, everything will be okay?" I asked, trying to regain my footing in this conversation. "You think a little spark of happiness can drown out the hollows?"

"I think it's worth it to try," she replied, her voice firm but softer now. "We have to fight back in any way we can, Enoch. We can't let them take that from us."

I looked at her, really looked at her, and saw the determination in her gaze, the flicker of fire that matched the flames dancing between her fingers. She was resolute, unyielding, and it both frustrated and intrigued me. It was maddening to think how someone so vibrant could believe so wholeheartedly in the goodness of life when we lived in a world that wanted to consume us whole.

"Fine," I said at last, exhaling sharply. "You want to play with fire? Just don't come crying to me when you get burned."

Olive's lips curled into a half-smile, and despite my irritation, I couldn't help but feel a flicker of warmth at her spirit. "I'll take my chances. But just know, if you ever want to join in the fun, you're welcome to."

I rolled my eyes, pushing past her to rejoin the group. "Don't hold your breath," I muttered, though a part of me was already calculating the odds of her setting something ablaze, just to prove me wrong.

As I walked away, I felt the tension still hanging in the air, a thread connecting us that neither of us could quite sever. I didn't know what it meant to embrace joy, but if Olive wanted to chase it, I would let her. Just as long as she remembered that the shadows were always waiting, lurking just beyond the light.

And I would be there, ready to pull her back when the flames threatened to scorch her too close.