A Peculiar Time in 1944 - A Millard Fanfic (Miss Peregrine's Home) #wattys2020

Chapter 25

Aurora made her way through the bog as quick as she could in the mud, the present day Cairnholm was wet and rainy, Aurora had wished she'd brought a coat with her but there had been no time. She had to talk Victor out of this ridiculous plan. There was just no way he could make it to a new loop before aging out. He didn't even have Millard's Map of Days! Aurora looked to the sky again trying to tell if the sun had set but there were too many grey storm clouds. Luckily there was just a light misting and the sky hadn't opened up yet otherwise she'd be drenched.

After what seemed like forever, with her shoes sticking to the muddy grass and slowing her down, she finally reached the house. It looked the same as when Millard had first brought her to the loop only the plants had overtaken more of the house and more dust and dirt had settled on the destroyed furniture inside.

Aurora entered through the broken glass window in the parlor, the debris collected just enough to make a small mound for her to walk on. She hated seeing the house in this condition, but it made her appreciate her loop even more. She looked around for Victor but couldn't find a trace of him on the first floor. He couldn't have left already could he? She certainly hoped not, otherwise this would be a great waste of time.

"Victor!" she called and heard her voice echo through the empty rooms. She looked at the stairs and contemplated searching the second floor but after one step the wood creaked and groaned so much that Aurora thought it best not to test it. The last thing she needed was to fall through the floor and break something.

She walked through the back hall past the telephone that Abe called every night and ended up on the opposite side of the dining room. She had made it around the whole first floor and still no Victor. Perhaps she could catch him at the ferry? She was just about to call his name once more before leaving when something fell loose above her. There was a large hole in the ceiling of the dining room and when she looked up to see what had rolled out she fell backwards into the mound of dirt and debris as she let out a blood-curling scream.

MISS PEREGRINE P.O.V.

"What do you mean, they're gone?" she demanded.

"Victor left this letter." Bronwyn explained holding out the paper to her. "He said he's leaving and that if Aurora's not here that means she left with him."

All the commotion had drawn a crowd as the other children listened to hear what was going on. Emma was just walking back from helping the baby squirrel back to it's tree and Millard was right behind her, finished with his research for the day and returning for supper.

She quickly read through the letter becoming more distressed with each word on the page. Eleanor seemed to sense her worry.

"Would you like help getting them back, Alma?"

She straightened her posture and took a deep breath before replying calmly, "No thank you Miss Nightjar, they're my wards I'll retrieve them. Please make yourself at home and if you need anything the children will be more than happy to assist you." She said and Claire nodded smiling at the ymbryne, "Miss Bloom, Mr. Nullings if you would kindly come with me." She instructed in a firm tone before the three of them headed for the loop entrance, the children all knowing she only called them by their last names when the situation was severe.

oOo oOo oOo

MILLARD P.O.V.

They hurried through the bog helping Emma along with her lead shoes. None of them spoke, they all had the same question on their minds anyway. What if they were too late? What if they'd already begun to age out? It was the only question and none of them wanted to know the answer. They would get there in time, they would bring them back. They had to.

They had just stepped out of the muddy bog and into the soft grass of the lawn when they heard an ear-piercing scream -- Aurora. They all ran ahead as quick as they could, when they reached the house Miss Peregrine pushed open the front doors and they followed her inside. She peered into the parlor and rushed in, laying in a mound of bricks, wood splinters and other debris was Aurora. She was violently shaking, had tears streaming down her face and was beginning to hyperventilate.

Miss Peregrine knelt down beside her, "Aurora, Aurora what's wrong dear? What happened?"

Aurora only looked over the headmistresses shoulder and pointed a shaky finger. They all looked and saw something in the ceiling of the dining room. Miss Peregrine took the lead with Emma following close behind while Millard stayed in the parlor with Aurora who had turned her head to face the ground as she sobbed uncontrollably. They heard both women gasp in shock and Millard only took a few steps, changing his angle so he could see what Miss Peregrine and Emma saw.

In the large hole in the ceiling was Victor, he was on his back with his head and one arm hanging out of the hole. His eye sockets were black and empty, it took Millard's mind a moment to comprehend the gravity of the situation. Victor was dead.

Miss Peregrine and Emma both had their hands over their mouths in shock, Emma looked to the ground trying to compose herself while Miss Peregrine lowered her hand but didn't take her eyes off Victor.

"Miss Bloom I need you to escort Miss Abbott back to the loop immediately. Mr. Nullings, I need you to stay behind with me."

Emma turned and knelt down by Aurora, "Aurora come on." She instructed calmly in a soothing voice grabbing Aurora by the arm, "I need you to come with me." She said as she lifted Aurora – still shaking – from the ground, "It going to be alright, you're alright." Emma continued the soothing words as she wrapped an arm around Aurora's shoulders and led her back home.

"Mr. Nullings." Miss Peregrine called him regaining his attention once the girls had left. "I need you to disrobe. The hollow that did this might still be lurking. It'd be best if you had the advantage of not being seen if it should appear here again." she ordered him still looking at Victor. He did as he was told and added his clothes to the mess of debris.

oOo oOo oOo

Getting Victor's body had been tricky and Millard was still in a state of shock himself. Miss Peregrine had Victor by one arm and Millard had him by the other as they carried him back to the house. He still couldn't believe it, Victor was dead, Victor was dead. How would poor Bronwyn react? How would any of them react? Surely Emma would be bombarded with questions when the others saw the condition Aurora was in. She wouldn't answer any of them of course, she'd have her full attention on Aurora. Then a horrible thought entered his mind.

It could have been Aurora.