The Bird and the Bee

Chapter 14

The bird let out a quiet chirp, Alma quickly looking over when she heard it. It was so terribly dark, she couldn't see a thing in the room and Jenny was having a difficult time finding her way to the woman. She carefully flew up to the blocked window of the cabin, carefully pushing the box aside with her wing and letting in the light. The ravenette squinted at the sudden light, her eyes hurting and bloodshot. Jenny took the moment to look over her closely, seeing how pale she looked and the small blood stains on the collar of her jacket. Miss Honey stepped into the light, letting out a quiet trill which gained Alma's eyes to move over and look at her, immediately recognizing her and relief filled them before panic took over instead. She tried to say something, but it was muffled from the tape she forgot was covering her. Jenny shifted back, her muscles aching terribly but she quickly stepped forward and raised her finger against her own lips to signal for her to stay quiet. The brunette gently wiped away the tears that finally fell from her eyes, falling over the dried tear stains from previously. Jenny tried to keep herself calm, her fingers brushing against the woman's cheek to carefully find the edge of the tape. She pulled on it carefully, drawing a wince from the older woman and she sent her an apologetic look, going back to carefully peel it off. After about a few minutes, she finally got it off, tossing it aside and running her thumb softly over the agitated mark it left on her face.

"Jennifer, what are you doing here?" Alma questions immediately, her voice a weak whisper and she didn't bother covering the panic in her voice, her eyes searching her wildly. Jenny didn't answer, immediately trying to undo the rope on her ankles, her hands shaking badly from how weak her muscles were, but she wasn't going to give up. Not yet. Her hands fumbled with it, unaware of the foot steps Alma heard coming down the stairs and the older woman hissed out a response.

"Someone's coming." She says quickly and Jenny met her eyes for a moment before quickly shifting, hiding behind the woman so she wouldn't be seen. Her feathers brushed against the woman's tied hands, Alma brushing her thumb across them just when the door opened.

"How did you get that off?" A man says, glancing at the tape on the floor and then to the woman, seeing the red mark on her cheek. Alma didn't reply, sending him an unwavering glare, the bags under her eyes only intensifying the intimidating look.

"Answer me." The man mutters, stepping forward and leaning over the woman, grabbing her up by the jaw to face him but Alma only sunk her teeth into the skin of his hand, making him pull back with a shout. "You bitch!" He snapped, smacking her harshly across the face and Alma let out a small noise, her hand holding the Honeyguide closer but panic went through her when she felt Jenny move out from her hands. She opened her eyes when the man gripped her jaw, slamming her head back against the wall and smiling at the quiet cry she let out, tears building in her eyes as Alma tried to hold her glare.

"Such an honor to finally meet the Miss Peregrine that is spoken so highly of." He says sarcastically, her finger tips digging in so hard that it hurt. "Tell me, how does it feel to be captured by the very man who killed your dear boy?" A dark laugh fell from his lips when Alma couldn't hide the devastation that ripped at her features, the ymbryne trying so hard to fight the tears that she knew already fell, trying to withhold her glare.

"Such a pity." The man smiles when suddenly he glanced down when he seen the Honeyguide emerge from behind the woman's back. Confused, her let go of the older womans jaw throwing her back against the wall as he raised an eyebrow.

"Who's this little thing?" He smiles, Jenny waiting a moment before suddenly lunging towards him, her talons digging into his eyes. The man let out a scream, the Honeyguide quickly flying away from his reach as he blindly grabbed for the bird, the door behind him opening when Barron had entered. He seen the small brown bird shift back into Miss Honey, confused as he never seen the woman before but only grew more agitated when he seen the trouble she cause. Jenny didn't know quite what to do as the man stepped forward, the woman standing in front of Alma as he did.