|the telepath | 0
FROM IRELAND TO THE ISLAND
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"You packed your coat, didn't you? It might get cold."
"I made you a packed lunch for the journey so you wouldn't go hungry."
"Please be nice to the other children."
My mother fussed over me as if I was still a small child, brushing down my clothes like it would make any difference. She hugged me tightly.
"Promise me you'll listen to everything Miss Peregrine has to say, will you?" she pleaded, taking my face in her hands.
"Of course I will," I replied, offering a small, sad smile as some form of reassurance. We both knew this could likely be the last time we ever saw each other. The thought made my eyes prick with tears and my words come out in a jagged breath, but I didn't dare let any fall. We both had to be strong, but that was easier said than done as I clung to the woman who had raised me for 16 years, one last time.
It had only been a month since I'd heard of a home for peculiar children, a month since I'd even known what a peculiar was, yet already it had changed my life dramatically.
When I turned fourteen, I realized I could do something that no one else could—I could read minds. Not only could I read minds, but I could change them. Plant ideas in heads, take away memories. I could make people live in their worst nightmare or their dizziest daydream.
Of course, it took me two years to realize that people doing exactly as I wanted, saying things I was sure I'd already heard them say, wasn't simply by chance. The villagers had begun whispering, and that's what led me to a panic-stricken mother, less than a week after my birthday.
"It's not safe for you here anymore, Bobby," she explained, sitting me down. "If they find out what you can do, they'll take you. Do you understand?" The answer was no. I didn't understand. Who would take me? What for? But as always, I nodded to keep her from worrying, keeping my arms down by my sides. She'd only realize what I was doing and push them away if I moved, keeping me out of her head.
I now knew the basics, and apparently, that was all I needed to know. I was a peculiar. I was being sent off to a "loop" with children similar to myself for my own safety, and it was unlikely I'd ever be returning.
One month later, there I was, one boat ride away from my new home. The home I could possibly be spending the rest of eternity in.
The boat ride was long, tedious, and lonely. My mother claimed she couldn't come with me for whatever reason, so I was left alone with a friendly but desperately dull driver and a list of instructions on how to enter the loop that I clung to in my right hand.
Despite the talk we'd had a month ago, my knowledge of the home still had more gaps than I could think of. Now that I had the time to worry, nearly a thousand questions echoed in my head about what this foreign place would be like. I wasn't even sure how to get there. The thought of entering the driver's head for some answers crossed my mind, but he was too far away. Judging by the way he would twitch now and then, I assumed the only thing occupying his thoughts was the idea of a smoke once we reached the island.
"We're here, miss," came his strong accent after what felt like hours of travel. Somehow, I managed to give him a small smile and a 'thank you' as I finally set foot on solid land (something I'd never been more thankful for).
Small, squat houses lined the streets under a grey sky. It was like walking into a zombie movie, and if it hadn't been for the occasional car driving by, I would have thought the place deserted. Had I been there for any other reason, I might have even laughed at the fact it already seemed as though I'd traveled back in time twenty years before even entering the loop.
Despite the island's small size, I still managed to get lost. None of the locals seemed willing to point me in the right direction, something about not understanding a word I said due to my 'funny accent.'
That was until I passed a girl who seemed just as out of place as I was. She looked to be a similar age to me but with light blonde hair and a pale blue dress, old-fashioned but still pretty, standing out against the grey surroundings. What caught my eye most of all were her shoes. They appeared to be the complete opposite of her otherwise dainty appearance, made of lead and clunky with four straps to each shoe.
"Excuse me?" I waved, capturing her attention. "Do you know where the children's home is?" I asked, and to my surprise, she smiled and nodded.
"You must be Robyn," she replied, keeping a quaint smile etched on her face. "I'm Emma. Miss Peregrine sent me out to fetch you in case you got lost." I shook the hand she outstretched and gave a smile of my own, this time a genuine one. "Nice to meet you, Emma."
It didn't take us long to reach the loop, though it was long enough for me to know that the two of us were likely to get along well. Emma somehow preoccupied my mind from its pessimistic thoughts as we walked, explaining she couldn't reveal too much before we entered the safety of the loop. She took the time to answer any questions she could with patience, something necessary when I'd been bombarding her, desperate for answers. She seemed to understand what I was going through and knew what to say to keep my thoughts elsewhere.
My heart dropped the instant we stepped into the tunnel. The entrance to the loop, I was told. I was about to meet the people I would never be able to leave. Would I like them? Would they like me? Did it even matter?
"You'll be fine," Emma reassured, seeming to read my thoughts, which was ironic, really. However, as she placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder, I could instantly see inside her head.
A table filled with children of all different ages and peculiarities, some obvious and some I'd have to find out from more than a simple image. At the head of the table sat a strange lady who I assumed to be Miss Peregrine. She wore a blue dress with sharp edges, matching perfectly with her hair. The table erupted into laughter just as I was about to look further, and at that moment, I knew I didn't need to.
It seemed as though a boy with a net over his head had said something funny, and the children couldn't stop giggling.
All but one boy at the head of the table. His dark eyes remained fixed on the food on his plate, and I could have sworn I saw them roll. He ran a hand through his brown curls before returning to his food.
Unfortunately, my intrigue was cut short as Emma removed her hand from my shoulder, bringing me back to reality. She didn't seem to have noticed what I'd done as she led me into the entrance where I would begin my new life.
'I'll be fine,' I repeated in my head.
'I'll be fine.'
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And there we have it guys, the first chapter of my new story!
What do you think of Robyn?
What do you think her mother is hiding her from?
I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'll be posting a new one ASAP so keep your eyes peeled.
In the meantime please comment, vote, and all that jazz
- Andrea x
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The Telepath » Enoch O'Connor
Fanfiction"So you can read minds?" He asked with a flash of curiosity to his eyes mixed with slight panic. "Read them, play with them, anything I want really. Why? Is there something you don't want me to see, Mr. O'Connor?" · Robyn Animo has only known she w...
