Enoch rose from his bed with a yawn. Stretching and twisting until he heard all of the satisfying pops he needed to hear. Loud steps and the patter of feet came muffled from beyond his door. He guessed Claire and Olive were running to wake everyone up for breakfast.
Enoch rolled his eyes.
'Good luck with Emma.' Enoch thought sarcastically. She's been crying ever since Abe left. Which was months ago.
His thoughts were interrupted as he heard a soft knock on his door. He knew it was Claire, as Olive would have banged on the door and Claire is the only one he won't yell at when he is woken up. Well, her and Victor.
"Come in." His voice was gruff and deep as it hadn't been used for a minimum of four hours.
"Breakfast is ready, Enoch." Claire spoke as she descended the steps to his basement. She glanced around at all of the jars and blood splatters as she did every time she entered his room.
"I'm coming, now leave you little pest." Enoch grumbled.
Claire giggled and ran over to Enoch and gave him a short hug. "Hurry up! Or else Bronwyn might eat your food. Or Victor!"
Now, Enoch knew Bronwyn wouldn't dare, but. Victor? Victor knows no bounds with Enoch and will gladly piss him off. Claire scurried off and Enoch rushed to get ready.
'I sweat to the bird, if that menace has eaten my food again.' Enoch thought as he raced up the stairs.
He entered the kitchen to see Claire giggling with Olive, Hugh and Fiona smiling like goofs at eat other, Millard reading, Horace about to fall asleep, Bronwyn trying to coax Emma to eat, and Victor reaching for his food with a smirk.
Enoch rushed to his seat and smacked his hand away. "Don't you even think about it!" He whispered harshly.
Victor's smile only grew, "Oh, c'mon O'Connor! You knew I was only joking!"
Enoch shook his head and began to eat. Breakfast was quiet without Abe, other than Emma's crying, and Enoch sort of missed the obnoxious laughter and stories Abe brought. Only a little tiny bit though.
"Hey, O'Connor, I got something to tell you after we eat, yeah?" Victor whispered to Enoch.
"Why can't you tell me now?" Enoch whispered back.
"The bird would kill me if she heard me say it, that's why." Victor chuckled, "It's important, promise."
"Polite persons do not whisper at the dinner table, if you have something to say, please say it to the entire table. Mr. Bruntley, Mr. O'Connor, would you like to share?"
"No we would not. My apologies, Miss Peregrine, everyone. It will not happen again today." Victor said.
"Today? Mr. Bruntley?" Miss Peregrine said with a knowing smile and a twinkle in her eye.
"Yes Miss Peregrine." Victor smiled.
Miss Peregrine only chuckled.
Victor shot Enoch a look and motioned towards the door. Enoch nodded. The two boys excused themselves. Victor brought Enoch to his room and glanced around to make sure no one was near before turning to Enoch.
"I'm leaving."
Enoch blinked. Leaving? He expected something like planning a prank or going to town during the night. But leaving? That threw Enoch for a loop.
"W-what?" Enoch cleared his throat. "What do you mean leaving?" He said.
"Like Abe!" Victor smiled. "I don't want to be trapped in this loop forever! I want to go out and explore, see new people, experience new things, you get me?"
