Horokenesis

Chapter one

                                                                                   Modern Day

Irena heard a knock, she walked over to the window and peered through at the people standing on her doorstep. She jumped back in dismay at the sight of those she knew so long ago. She began to walk to the door but stopped herself. She needed more time. She couldn't face them, not yet.

She tip toed to the door and scanned the group again. There were two new faces. Two girls. One had long dark hair that fell down her back and caramel skin. She seemed to know Irena was there and looked straight at her. Then she stepped back and grabbed the hand of the boy beside her. Was that... Abe? What was he doing holding a hand that wasn't Emma's? Ire a stepped back in disgust.  The other girl had very light hair that was puled back in a bun. She had pale blue eyes and was staring at something next to her as if some invisible force was talking to her. Irena quickly counted the peculiars in front of her. 11. That couldn't be right. Where were Fiona and Miss Peregrine? Irena's stomach filled with dread. She looked at Hugh who was silent and not lookin g up from his feet. No. Not her too. 

Then she heard a voice. It had a thick accent so it was hard to understand but she knew immediately who it was. "Are you sure this is the right house? We've been knocking for ages!" Enoch. At least some things hadn't changed. "Calm down Enoch. She could just have been upstairs." She heard Emma's calm voice reply.  

"If she doesn't come when I count to 5 I'm busting the door down" She heard Enoch yell. Irena  had to do something. She couldn't have a broken door the already suspicious neighbors would call the police. She ran over to the couch and snapped her fingers. The arguing and counting stopped. Excellent, she thought, now I have time to think.  But the the tears slipped down Irena's  face. She thought of her real family. Little Peter must be so old now. She hadn't seen him for over 70 years. She hadn't seen their little cottage. She hadn't sat with Cedric in his workshop since her 1939. She hadn't laughed with Mama nor hugged Papa. 

She hadn't seen Iris in a long time either. Irena stood up and walked over to her door where Enoch was. She smiled sadly at him. He still hadn't recovered by the look on his face. She glanced over next to Hugh where Fiona usually stood. Now it was just her and Enoch by the looks of it. The tears came again forcing themselves out as she let out a sob. She looked at Bronwyn whose eyes were glued at the door with a look of utter desperation. Irena couldn't take it anymore. A surge of grief crawled over her like a thousand spiders. Almost everyone she loved was dead. Mama, Papa, Cedric, Iris, Fiona, and Victor...  

Irena grasped Cedric's watch as she sat down on the couch. She started counting back from ten in the language she hadn't spoken in so long. It was miracle she remembered "desať, deväť, osem, sedem, päť, štyri, tri, dva, jeden.