Grey > Alma

How Far

Riya smirked at Barron. "I knew it!" she muttered. She watched Barron run off and she wanted to follow, but felt compelled to turn away. When she did, she found the specters of Abe and Annie once more. Her small victory faded away and she was filled with the depression she felt every time she thought about or someone mentioned their deaths. Tears fell onto her cheeks and Riya stumbled backwards. She ran to the Priest Hole and up the stairs.

Annie suddenly appeared in front of her. "Don't take your meds!" she ordered, hands out.

Riya let out a shriek, tumbling back.

Annie reached out and took her hand. It felt strange, like when you place your hand on the top of water, not under. "Mała Wizja, I never knew how much that medication suppressed you and I'm sorry."

Riya regained her footing. She yanked her hand from the dead woman's. "You're sorry?" she demanded. "You're dead!"

Annie held her hands together, desperate to rekindle the connection they'd shared in life. "I know. And I'm sorry for that too. And for never telling you about... well, you." She shrugged, hands in her pockets. "I just... Abe wanted Jake to be normal and, if you knew about your peculiarity, he'd need to know about his."

"I don't understand!" Riya yelled. "Other than being a freak and crazy, I've never felt peculiar. I can't be- I'm not-!" Riya insisted.

"You are!" Annie cut her off. She took Riya's hands again and sat them down, explaining everything.

*

Riya rushed forward the Children's Home. She was in the loop and around the garden when she saw Barron step inside the Home. The brunette pulled a pistol from her purse and set the bag down outside the door. Keeping her heels silent, she stepped up behind the Wight holding her brother hostage.

Miss Peregrine turned to face Barron, snapping, "I thought I told you to be quiet!"

"And I thought I told you you're not giving orders today," Barron reminded, pulling this weapon/appendage closer to Jake's neck.

A gun cocked behind Mr. Barron. "Perhaps, but you sure as fuck aren't either." It was Riya she was sneering behind the beast gone peculiar. "Now, get your lobster claw arm off my brother or these walls will be painted with your brain, however small it may be."

"I can kill him before you can shoot me," Baron promised.

"I imagine it will happen quite at the same time."

"Your brother will be dead."

"So will you. How's that for immortality?" Riya asked.

Barron slowly retreated from the boy's throat.

Riya walked around Barron, her eyes never leaving him. She jerked her head to the side and Jake moved behind Miss Peregrine who seemed only too content to let Riya do whatever she damn pleased.

"Now, that that unpleasantness is out of the way, I'll just be going."

"Oh, no," Riya hissed, shaking her head condescendingly.

"Our deal was he lives, I live."

"There was no deal!" Riya barked in reminder. "But I won't kill you." She let the handle go, the gun suddenly pointing up as her finger remained loop by the trigger.