The Peregrines

Chapter 20

(Pic: Gannet bird)

Mother Dust gave orders through Reynaldo. 'Remove the beast from the cart', they instructed. Emma and Jake then carefully tipped the hollowgast onto the floor. 'Place it in the sink', they commanded. Emma and Sharon assisted Jake in lifting and placing the creature in the basin of the deep sink. They gently cleaned its wounds with water from the tap, being cautious not to wash away the white paint. Afterwards, Mother Dust inspected the hollowgast while Reynaldo requested Jake to point out all its injuries.

"Now, Marion," Myron said, addressing Mother Dust informally, "You needn't heal every last cut and bruise. We don't want the creature in top health; we only want to keep it alive. You see?" he said.

"Yes, yes," Reynaldo said dismissively. "We know what we are doing."

Myron harrumphed and turned his back, making a show of his unhappiness. "Now she will make the dust," Reynaldo said. "Stand back, and be careful not to breathe it in. It will put you to sleep instantly."

As we stepped back, Reynaldo took precautions by putting on a dust mask to cover his nose and mouth. He then carefully untied the shawl that was wrapped around Mother Dust's right arm, revealing a short stump that ended above her elbow. Using her left hand, Mother Dust started massaging the stump, causing a fine white powder to fill the air.

Reynaldo held his breath as he swept through the air with one hand, gathering the dust. We were captivated yet slightly disgusted as he accumulated about an ounce of the substance, causing Mother Dust's stump to shrink. He then passed the dust to his mistress, who leaned over the hollow and blew some of it in its face, just like she used to do to me.

The hollow took a deep breath and then suddenly twitched. Everyone, except Mother Dust, jumped back. Reynaldo clarified that the reaction was automatic due to the powder, causing the body to slow down. As Mother Dust sprinkled more powder into the hollow's wound, Reynaldo explained that it could either heal wounds or induce sleep, depending on the dosage.

While he spoke, a white foam formed around the wound and started to emit a soft glow. Reynaldo mentioned that Mother Dust's powder was a part of her, with a limited supply. Every time she healed someone, she used a bit of herself.

"I hope this doesn't seem like a rude question," Emma said, "But why do you do it if it hurts you?"

Mother Dust paused her work on the hollow, pivoted to face Emma with her good eye, and spoke in the loudest voice we had ever heard from her, despite the mushy garble caused by her lack of tongue. I noticed their body language and noticed that Mother dust became tense, something felt really off. She swiftly glanced at Reynaldo, then at Myron, and then back at the children. Reynaldo translated. "I do it because this is how I was chosen to serve," he said.

"Then . . . thank you," Emma said humbly.

The hollow needed time to recover fully. It was in a deep sleep and would only awaken once its most serious injuries had been treated, a process that was expected to last throughout the night. Since the hollow had to be conscious when Myron connected it to his machine, the second phase of our rescue mission would have to be postponed for a few hours.

Before that moment, the majority of us were confined to the kitchen. Reynaldo and Mother Dust were there, with Mother Dust having to regularly apply powder to the hollow's wounds. Emma and Jake also stayed in the kitchen, as they didn't want to leave the hollow unattended, even though it was sound asleep.

Emma kept us entertained with stories from the past while we waited in Miss Peregrine's house. Myron would pop in every now and then, but he was mostly busy conducting security sweeps with Sharon and Nim. It seemed like he was becoming overly protective, probably worried about his brother's followers launching an attack. I understood his concern, but I couldn't help feeling guilty. Being an Ymbryne, I struggled with the idea of others risking their lives for me. It just didn't sit right with me, when our sole role is to protect those who are vulnerable.

Throughout the evening, Emma, Jake, and I discussed what the next day could bring. If Myron managed to fix his machine, we could soon be inside the wights' fortress. We might reunite with our friends, my brother, and Miss Peregrine. Our mother...

"If we're very sneaky and very, very lucky," Emma said. "And if . . ." She hesitated. Emma and Jake were seated next to each other on a lengthy wooden bench against a wall, while I stood in front of them. Suddenly, Emma moved in a way that concealed her face from Jake's view.

"What?" I said.

She looked back at me and Jake, her face pained. "If they're still alive."

My heart raced when I heard that word, I really don't want to imagine stumbling upon their lifeless bodies. "You know what, I, uh, I think it's time for me to sleep," I forced a smile, concealing my anxious expression.

"It's not nightfall yet! Wait KIRA!"As I walked away, I could hear Jake shouting. I decided to head towards the library, hoping to find a photo album of the family. Upon entering, I closed the door behind me and turned towards the fireplace. To my surprise, I noticed someone standing there, and I couldn't help but freeze in my tracks.

"I-I'm so sorry, I didn't think anyone was in the library... I can- I'll come back another time," My cheeks started to feel warm and I realized I was blushing intensely as I turned towards the door.

"Kira Peregrine, we finally meet at last," The moment the voice spoke, it froze me in my tracks. How does he know my name? I spun around to look at him, offering a sheepish smile. When I glanced at the man, I noticed his messy hair, the bronze goggles covering his eyes with tinted lenses, and his loose black attire - I couldn't place where I knew him from.

"I'm sorry, I don't think I know you at all," I approach closer.

"That's to be expected. Alma definitely wasn't one to brag about her offspring to our family, that's for sure." The man spoke.

"Our family?" I said with doubt. "I highly doubt that," I crossed my arms.

"I hope my big brother has been treating you well," He cooed. Big brother? 

"Myron?" I asked and the man nodded. "But then if your brother is Myron, that makes Alma your sister, and that makes me your-" It suddenly dawned on me and I had to pause. I already knew that my mother has two brothers, Myron and Jack... I'm in trouble....

Then I heard someone from downstairs shout, "COME QUICKLY! IT'S WAKING UP!"

Just as I was about to exit the library, a clicking sound caught my attention from the right. I turned around cautiously and saw a stranger standing close by, aiming a gun at my head. His eyes were a chilling milky white, with a single black dot as his pupil. I heard the sound of another gun clicking from my left side, so I swiftly turned to find someone standing just an arm's length away, also pointing a gun at my head

Wights.