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“Mr. Benedict will be caring for you children now..” Miss Peregrine explained to the lined up peculiar children.
“Why can't you!”
“Who's that?”
“Where are you going then!?”
Miss Peregrine sighed, a sad smile still on her face as the children boarded The MV Shortcut.
“Children, we already went over this.. I must go tend to other peculiars, that kind man next to me is Mister Ben-'' As Miss Peregrine turned to him she gasped, the kind fellow dropping to the ground. “Oh my-”
Milligan ran over, picking Mr Benedict up quickly and holding him in his arms.
“Well.. thank you Milligan” Miss Peregrine said simply, as she turned back to the bewildered children. “Mister Benedict has decided on some different tactics than I have so I trust you children will respect him.. as well as his associates” Miss Peregrine added, glancing at Milligan.
“Yes Miss Peregrine!”
The children said in unison to Miss Peregrine.
“Oh.. I'll miss you all so much”
Miss Peregrine said with a sad smile as she held her arms open, the children hugging her tightly in one big clump, Olive's gloves slipping slightly leaving a very light burn.
“Oh Miss Peregrine I'll miss you so much!” Emma Bloom cried out, the girl was as light as air itself so she wore large led shoes to hold herself down. As for Olive, she had extremely hot hands that could burn anything, so she wore gloves.
“Stop being such a wimp.” Enoch muttered, although he couldn't deny he would miss Miss Peregrine. Enoch had the great ability of creating life, which he used in rather questionable ways.
“Leave her alone Enoch, she's upset” Fiona quipped with a glare to the older boy, Fiona had been gifted with the peculiarity of creating life but in other terms. She could manipulate the growth of pants, growing them quicker, larger, smaller, slower, it was quite helpful when it came to dinner.
Enoch only scoffed and turned away. The Twins were gripping tightly onto Miss Peregrine, refusing to let go despite her constant cooing and soothing to them.
Claire and Bronwyn were asking Miss Peregrine questions of the new loop and children she would be caring for, of which Miss Peregrine often answered she didn't know much.. which was true. Millard, Hugh and Horace were already speaking with Cannonball the second in command on The MV Shortcut.
Two Days later and the children had arrived at Stonetown with Mr. Benedict.
Mr. Benedict unlocked the door to the large stone home and was greeted with hugs from Kate, Reynie and Sticky. Constance waited until later to hug Mr. Benedict in private.
“Are these the new kids?” Kate asked excitedly to Milligan, hugging his large frame tightly as he smiled down at her.
Constance shot the peculiars muddy looks from across the room.
“Now, now children!” Mr. Benedict exclaimed with a smile as the children talked and chatted.
“I know we're all excited to meet each other and all. However…”
Constance groaned.
“We will not be staying here for much longer.” He said, his warm smile dropping to a serious tone.
Mr. Benedict turned to Rohnda as she walked over and gingerly whispered something in the kind man's ear.
Mr. Benedict hurried to the one way windows and gazed out at the road, seeing an imposing large vehicle rushing there way.
The salamander.
“We all must hurry! Come now kids” Number Two quipped, ushering the children out of the back door. Kate ran ahead to the cellar door and unlocked it with Milligans help, the new group of children rushing behind them as they ran down into the sewars.
“I've taken the liberty of creating a mechanical loop for us” Mr. Benedict explained. “I am well aware that Miss Peregrine's children know of this term. However, Sticky I assume you have read up on that?” He inquired.
“Yep! I- I can explain it to the rest of us now if you'd like?” Sticky offered.
“We have little time, Sticky. However the main thing to know is that behind this door..” Mr. Benedict gestured to the corroded metal door behind himself. “Is our way to safety.” He said with a tired smile.
The children readily nodded and watched as he opened the door that would “lead to their safety” By what means? None of them but the mastermind himself knew that.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The children stepped out of the sewer and through the door, gazing around at the sunny bright clearing in a forest, the sun filtering through the vine draped leaves as the lake in the center sloshed about lazily, the wind making the wood of the cabins creak and crack.Kate was the first to react, “Woah- how'd we get here!? We were underground like two seconds ago!” She exclaimed.Mr. Benedict only chuckled “The expanse of loops and their abilities far reach our understanding, Kate” He said with a smile.Fiona gazed around, musing at all the plants and foliage. Enoch rolled his eyes “I preferred the sewer.”Emma looked up at the canopy of the clearing “That could keep me from floating away-” she mumbled to herself.Bronwyn grinned as she spotted all the fallen branches and boulders to lift.Millard was nowhere to be seen…The Twins were beginning to get used to the adults of their new group, staying near Ronda.“Now, this is all quite new.. however I'll explain it the best I can!” Number Two exclaimed, with a grin, biting viciously into an apple as she half ran half skipped to a large boulder. Standing atop it proudly as she gazed down at the children.“Welcome children.. to the Antiquus encampment! We're hoping this will both provide some change of scenery for us, as well as safety from Ledroptha and some practice for your peculiaritys” She explained.“Who's Ledroptha?” Olive whispered to Emma, she simply shrugged.“Now, we'll split you into cabins for living and all-” Number Two began to say before watching the society move a little closer together. “And don't worry- you'll see eachother plenty, this is mostly for sleeping and all” Number Two clarified.Mr. Benedict nodded, attempting to join his daughter on the rock before being denied and brought back down. “We don't want you to fall Mr. Benedict” Number Two said cautiously.Mr. Benedict nodded and stabled himself back on the grass. “Yes, thank you Number Two-” He said with a soft smile.“Uh, Number Two?” Reynie called as he raised his hand.“Yes Reynie?” She responded in a muffled tone as she took another bite of her apple.“You said peculiarities, but it's only Constance with telepathy” He stated in a confused tone, Constance crossing her arms with a huff.“Yes, well the new children..” Mr. Benedict gestured to the peculiars “Have quite amazing abilities, or.. as they call it peculiarities. And I believe you children might as well..”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Just as Mr. Benedict finished his sentence a haughty deep laugh came from behind the group, as the society froze in fear, a shiver shooting up Kate's spine at the recognition of the voice. The new group of children turned around in confusion, their eyes landing on a large muscular well dressed man named McCraken.“Peculiar? These four? Hah!” McCraken remarked, putting his hand to his rather large chest as he laughed again.Constance scowled, all her anger focused on the man standing before them.Number Two snapped her matching yellow baton out, a scowl on her face.“You thought your little “loop” could keep us out, didn't you Benedict?”McCraken asked with a smirk as he walked closer to the children, crushing the soft green grass under his wing tipped shoes. The grass almost instantly withered away, not bothering to pop back up.The man walked over to Claire, bending down to her height.“Now.. ducky, care to share with ol’ McCraken what this place is?” He asked, forging innocence.“Uh- .. Antiquus Camp?” She answered timidly.“Shut up!” Constance snapped, pulling Claire back by the shoulders. “Don't answer to him” She hissed into the younger girl's ear sharply.“Oh.. now, now, Miss Contraire.. is that any way to talk to your little friend?” McCraken mocked as he straightened himself, glaring down at Constance with hatred, a scar from a bite mark still prominent on his hand. Presumably from Constance.Constance only glared back at him, refusing to answer. McCraken poked Claire in the nose simply, “No need to fear big bad McCraken, ducky..” He said with a predatory gleam in his sharp eyes, reaching for his black leather briefcase.Number Two snapped into action, hitting the bag out of his grasp with her baton as she jumped in front of the two girls. “If you harm those girls I swear to god you'll be dead within the hour.” She promised, grabbing his shirt collar and staring him down.He snickered in her face “As alert as ever Pencilla” He noticed, using her first name.“Don't you dar-” Unfortunately Number Two was unable to finish her sentence, McCraken hastily placing his chloroform doused handkerchief to her nose as she collapsed to the ground, Rohnda running up to avenge her step sister but failing as Sharpe came up behind her and shoved her down with some struggle.Mr. Benedict ran to the children but fainted mid stride, Enoch catching him with a grunt.Milligan however was nowhere to be seen..“Now that we've handled your little crew.. some changes will be made” Crawlings said with a smirk as he emerged from the sewer door, walking in front of McCraken. However he was quickly shoved back.“I said that was MY line, moron”McCraken snapped, pushing Crawlings into Sharpe and sending them both sprawling into the bushes.