manipulate // enoch o'connor

08 // jealousy

  OLIVE WORRIED ABOUT ENOCH. Not only that, she worried two things and two things only; one, Enoch's health and two, what Clara would do to him. Olive does not trust her, because she seems like an endless puzzle— the only thing you will get trying to figure it out is a massive headache.

Mustering up the courage she had left, she went to the basement to check on the two. Clara had not been upstairs for quite some time now. It was starting to rub off to Olive that they might have done or even doing something she may not like.

Olive faced the door of Enoch's room. Nervous, she slowly opened it,the loud creaking was heard but no response from the inside. She gulped. The lantern inside Enoch's room stayed lit, she asked herself, "Are they.. Awake?"

Waking farther inside the room, Olive's heart thumped with paranoia and anxiousness. Is she going to like what she sees? She took a deep breath before continuing.

Olive's jaw dropped, feeling her heart shattered into pieces. There they were, sleeping. Enoch's arm wrapped around Clara, while Clara's head leaned onto his chest. Enoch's blanket covering only half of their bodies. The only grateful thing Olive was for, was that they were fully clothed.

She felt a pang of jealousy crash over her. Jealousy filled with anger. Tears rushing onto her cheeks, she wiped them. Olive blew the lantern's light, and she ran upstairs.

✧ ✧ ✧

  EMMA FOUND OLIVE CRYING IN THE KITCHEN. Worriedly, she asked, "My, my! Olive! What happened?"

"C—Clara happe—happened!" Olive stuttered, continuing to sob. Emma placed a comforting hand onto her back and rubbing it.

"E—Enoch.. He's cuddling with her!" She continued, "I'm so jealous! Only if he let me take care of him, I would— I would be the one beside him."

"Olly," Emma called Olive by her nickname, "If Enoch actually likes her, that would be impossible.. Enoch hasn't been able to show emotions for decades, since Victor died. It's not gonna come back just because of.. A new peculiar." She comforted her.

"You're r—right." Olive sniffed, wiping her tears, "He's not l—like that."

"I've heard Enoch say to Miss Peregrine that he's suspicious over Clara. If that is true, maybe we can use it to drive her out of your way."

Olive nodded, "Good plan, Ems."

"Let us plan the rest tomorrow. Let's enjoy some sleep." Emma suggested, but Olive shook her head.

"Clara's not in her room. Maybe we can check her room and see if she's hiding anything." Olive told her. Emma raised an eyebrow but smiled deviously.

"Okay."

✧ ✧ ✧

  THE TWO SEARCHED CLARA'S ROOM. Searching her closet, the large chest on the end of her bed, her desk— nothing. Olive saw the beige-colored coat hanging behind Clara's room's door.

A coffee-toned envelope shoved onto the pockets. Olive quickly grabbed the note, and called, "Emma! I found something!" She whispered-shouted.

Emma approached her, a lantern in hand, "What's that, Olly?"

"I don't know. I'll open it." Olive ripped the envelope and took the letter out. She, then unfolded the note and saw Clara's neat handwriting. The note said,

Dear Miss Barlow,

  I hope you are well, and I'm very sorry if I left our loop. I had no choice. Bad energy was the only thing I've felt there. I'm safe now, I've transferred onto a lovely loop with lovely people.

  I can't tell you where I am, but please don't worry. I am fine.

  Thank you for everything. I will try to write to you as much as I can.

Clara Prescott

Olive frowned at the letter, "Who's Miss Barlow?"

"Maybe her former ymbryne. She did tell us that she escaped her loop, because she was abused. Why is she writing to her?" Emma asked, taking the note and placing it back onto the coat, "We'll probe her tomorrow. Let's get some rest."

✧ ✧ ✧

  CLARA WOKE UP WITHIN THE ARMS OF ENOCH O'CONNOR. She wanted to pull away from his grasps, but his angelic state paralyzed her, making her unable to do so. She pressed her head onto his chest, listening to his heart beat. She wondered what he had endured; he could not be possibly be an arse with no reason behind it. Enoch feels like a guy I could really love, but I know I can't. I'll hurt him, and he'll loathe me until the end of time, she thought. She had to go up early, since she had to send a letter to Barron. 

"Enoch? Enoch?" He groaned, tightening his grasps onto her petite body, "I have to go." He squinted, seeing Clara immediately and removing his arms around her. He moved backwards, too. "Clara. G'morning." He greeted her, his husky tone sounded somewhat better, "Uh, sorry."

"It's nothing. You feeling better?" Clara asked politely, fixing her hair and lacing it with a ribbon tied around her wrist. Enoch smiled shortly and nodded, "I'm glad."

"Go back to sleep. Sorry if I've woken you up." Enoch yawned, and Clara stood up and left the bed. "Bye Enoch." She heard him mutter the same response and she left his room quietly, bringing the bowls, trays and other utensils he had used yesterday. 

She went to the kitchen room to place the equipment she had by the sink, and she immediately went to her room. Clara noticed that her room seemed as if someone has entered inside it without her permission. Looking around, she noticed that the letter sealed in a neat, envelope was not inside its envelope anymore. Who could have bombarded here without my permission?

When she walked near her desk, she almost slipped. It was a good thing that she held onto something before she could fall off. Looking down, Clara saw the envelope, torn messily. She took the envelope and closed her eyes. When she opened her eyes, her peculiarity showed her Emma and Olive talking-- What they spoke about was something she cannot hear, but she saw Olive take the letter from her coat, read it and left it on the table. 

When she blinked her eyes, she was alone again. With the knowledge she recently learned, her jaw clenched. She cannot get caught. Not this early. Not at all.

author's note

i haven't published anything in a while. i'm sorry about that!
truth to be told, i haven't been writing. although now,
i will try my best to do so! also i hope you are well
and safe from COVID-19. stay safe everyone x