queen of hearts / enoch o'connor / on hiatus

iii.

*

"Frances are you going to watch the rewind with us?" The children ask as they raise their voices in agreement. Ms. Peregrine was quick to dismiss the noise with a few sharp words before asking me herself.

"Sure," I answer although I don't really see the purpose of it all.

Once supper was done, Ms. Peregrine helped me go to the parlor where the rest of the children were and sat me down on one of the nearby sofas. 

"Here you go Frances. It's hot chocolate." One of the children, Millard I believe, says as I try grabbing for it but I can't really do much.

"Excuse me but can you put it in my hands please? I can't really grab it," I say as he apologizes and puts the mug in my hands but I retract from the heat and it tips over.

"Be careful would you!" The Scottish boy says as I felt rough hands put the mug in my hands. Honestly would it kill for that boy to be polite? Chivalry is indeed dead.

"Sorry."

I hear the children quiet down as Horace shows his peculiarity to the others while I sat poker faced, not seeing the point of me being here in the first place.

"Horace can show glimpses of the future through his dreams. Most of the time his dreams are just about clothes so you're not missing out." A girl whispers next to me as I jump slightly out of fright. "Sorry about that. I'm Emma." She says as I say a thank you to her.

I hear waves and the children whispering excitedly to each other. I wonder what's happening? I hear the children groan as I hear something click. 

"Emma what did you see?" I ask her as she helps me stand to go outside for the rewind. "Well we saw someone, a girl I think, walking to the ocean and two people really close with each other, no idea who though. And of course Horace and his clothes." She says as she passes me something and fits it on my face. What is this thing? I question as a peculiar tune begins to play.

"Emma? Would you mind telling me what's happening as of this moment?" I ask her seeing as though I couldn't see what was occurring as of the moment.

"Bombs are falling down Cairnholm," She says casually as I try to comprehend what she had just said. "Im sorry but could you repeat that?" I ask her as I hear the music in inverse. I grab her arm tightly, fearing of bombs dropping on my head.

"Is it over yet?" I was met with no response as I felt the mask removed from my head.

"Now children, time to got to bed." Ms. Peregrine declares as the children chat with each other, "Enoch and Emma, help Frances walk upstairs to her room." 

"Enoch would you mind?" Emma shouts as I try not to tip over the grass, my heels sinking. I hear someone mutter and walk up to us grabbing my arm roughly as he drags me with Emma.

"You know for a boy who was born at the same time as me I would hope you'd have more chivalry than this."

"You know for someone who's blind, I expected that you'd keep your mouth shut." He retaliates as I scowl the slightest bit.

"I'm blind not mute you dolt." I retaliated as I try my best not to kick him in the shin. That boy lacks class.

*

"Never walk to the street by yourself Frances. Always have an escort with you wether it may be your cousin Mason or any male family member."

"Never talk before a proper introduction."

"You must know every name in the hierarchy."

My mother says as she walks around the room and the handmaids tighten my corset one more.

"Is it all really necessary for me to know such rules mother?" I ask as the handmaids finally leave us alone."Although you may be peculiar Frances no child of mine will have horrid manners no matter where they may be." She says as she looks over my jewelry.

"Why would I even need this mother? " I ask whilst fixing my hair.

"Because once we get you fixed we will find you a rich husband," She says stopping behind me.

" Now wear this necklace."

"Of course mother." I say as I pat my gown and stand up to face her.

*