{ Edited - 22nd July, 2021 }
{ Edited - 1st May, 2024 }
Hey readers!
Little update:
I changed the cover of this book from:
To:
And instead of having our usual 2000 worded chapter, it is now reducing to 1700 or 1600.
Happy Reading!
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{ All fan arts does not belong to me nor the video unless stated that it is mine }
Book 1 Preview:
Miss Peregrine discovered that her daughter, whom she initially thought was a regular peculiar, was actually a Ymbryne. When Kira revealed her true identity, tragedy soon followed as the three ymbrynes were captured. Despite the risks she took, Kira managed to save her mother and the wards in the end.
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Book 2 Description:
Kira's heroic act of sacrificing herself to save everyone from certain death by channelling the electrical charge through her body to Barron, her childhood friend, has left her with the daunting task of saving her mother from becoming a permanent feral. On top of that, she must also protect her mother's wards without any experience in children's care.
Kira, without any prior Ymbryne experience, protocol, or training, is doing her utmost to ensure nobody gets harmed during their quest to locate another Ymbryne who can assist with her mother's predicament. It won't be too long before Kira encounters the individual who will completely transform her life, accompanying her on their thrilling adventure to find another Ymbryne.
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{ Edited - 22nd July, 2021 }
{ Edited - 1st May, 2024 }
I dislike the fact that we're stuck on three rowboats rowing out of the harbour, passing other boats, seabirds nesting, and fishermen staring at us as we row by.
I found it hard to make eye contact with anyone, so I tried to avoid talking to the children as much as possible. Even when they were just trying to check on me because I was quiet, I felt too guilty and overwhelmed to respond. If only I had told Miss Raven or Miss Crow, maybe all of this could have been avoided.
Absolutely, I could've mentioned the time when I learned to manipulate time outside of our regular loop to create a new loop, although it wasn't strong enough to last more than a minute or a second. I could've also shared the moment when my visions doubled in clarity, my nails grew faster, or when my memory started to get better.
I knew all about the side effects of developing a Ymbryne's trait, but I decided not to share that information with them. They could have supported me in preparing for early Ymbryne training at the Ymbryne Academy, where I could become qualified to be a full-fledged Ymbryne and help those in need.
I used to be so reserved in the past that I couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed, and now look where we are. . . There were 11 people, along with a bird, squeezed into the 3 rowboats, silently rowing out to sea as the harbour faded into the distance.
The kids were discussing the importance of taking things slowly and steadily, rather than rushing and risking harm to everyone involved. They decided to set small goals and take tiny steps to ensure a smooth journey in the long run. However, in our situation, our main objective was to locate the mainland and escape from this blasted tiny boat!
As we rowed past the old lighthouse, I couldn't help but reflect on how peaceful it looked now, free from any disturbances in the distance. It's hard to believe that just last night, it was the site of so many traumatic events for all of us. Some of us even came close to losing our lives. The memories of that night will forever be etched in my mind.
The children had to face a terrifying ordeal without Miss Peregrine by their side to protect and comfort them. And let's not forget the other group of children who witnessed their Ymbryne being taken away and their house being bombed shortly after.
And then there was the moment when Millard was shot in the chest while bravely fighting to save our headmistress and a new friend. We've all been through hell, both physically and emotionally. But the resilience of these kids never ceases to amaze me.
They managed to bring me and Miss Peregrine back, and perhaps even more than they bargained for. I fought my own battles to help these children reclaim what was rightfully theirs - their protector.
Miss Peregrine, who returned in one piece but severely injured, sat perched on the stern at the rear of the boat, gazing at the sanctuary she had established on September 3rd, 1940 fading into the distance. As we rowed beyond the breakwater, the smooth harbour water transformed into small waves lapping at the sides of our boats.
I listened to a plane zoom by, hoping it was a sleek aircraft that could transport me back to the Portman's residence and away from the chaos and destruction I had created. Unfortunately, I remain here with my mother's final request to safeguard the children she risked her life for, now confined within three fragments of wood floating on the endless, watchful gaze of the ocean.
Our boats smoothly glide along the calm small waves, with a gentle current assisting in steering them towards the coast. The kids are taking turns rowing to avoid getting tired. Hugh is currently rowing, with Jake ready to take his place. Olive is sitting behind them, her eyes shielded by a sun hat, focused on a map in her lap. Occasionally, she looks up from the map to check the horizon.
Horace called out from a nearby boat, curious about the distance separating us from the mainland. Olive, on the other hand, narrowed her eyes towards the island and then glanced down at her map. She carefully measured the remaining ocean with her outstretched fingers and responded with a hint of uncertainty. "Seven kilometres?"
Millard, who was also in our boat, whispered something to her, causing her to furrow her brow and tilt the map to the side, then furrow her brow once more, then said, "I mean, eight and a half."
When she uttered those words, I sensed a slight deflation within myself and noticed a similar reaction in everyone around me.
It's hard to believe that a mere eight and a half kilometres could feel like such a long journey. We could have easily covered that distance in an hour if we had taken a ferry like we did when we first arrived in Cairnholm with Jake.
However, the problem was that the ferry service between the island and the mainland wouldn't begin for another thirty years. So, we had no choice but to rely on engine-powered boats, which could cover the distance effortlessly.
Rowing machines were not an option as they couldn't accommodate passengers and luggage, and they required constant adjustments just to stay on the right path.
It gets even worse - the water-filled ditch we were trying to cross was dangerous, known for swallowing ships: a stretch of unpredictable sea spanning eight and a half kilometres, scattered with decaying wrecks and remnants of sailors, while our enemies lurked somewhere in the deep, dark depths.
Some of us feared the wights were nearby. Though, according to what I've heard, while I was unconscious and the bird cage was thrown into the water, a submarine filled with wights submerged. A battle between peculiars and wights took place fighting over a Ymbryne. But now, somewhere beneath us in that German submarine, they're waiting. If they weren't already aware of our departure from the island, they would soon find out.
They didn't go through all that trouble of kidnapping Miss Peregrine and me just to quit after one failed try. The warships creeping along like centipedes in the distance and the British planes circling above made it too risky for the submarine to come up during the day, but once night fell, we'd be vulnerable.
We knew they were coming for us, ready to capture both Miss Peregrine and I, and leave the others to perish. With determination, we rowed, desperately hoping to reach the safety of the mainland before darkness and trouble engulfed us.
The young men on our boat rowed until the morning wind calmed and the sun shone intensely, causing sweat to trickle down their faces. It was then that I noticed we had forgotten to bring a bottle of fresh water, and that using sunscreen in 1940 simply meant finding shade.
"You're sweating buckets," Olive said to Jake. "Let me have a go at the oars before you melt away."
As I glanced at the neighbouring boats, I couldn't help but admire Bronwyn's incredible stamina. Despite her petite frame, she single-handedly rowed one of the boats effortlessly. On the other side, Emma sat across from her, but unfortunately, she couldn't offer any assistance. Being an 88-year-old girl with the ability to levitate, she struggled to pull the oars without propelling herself into the air. Even with her heavy boots, a sudden gust of wind could easily whisk her away like a kite which is something that none of us want.
Let's take a moment to consider a few things. Imagine if you accounted for all the suitcases and boxes that were weighing down their boat. They were filled with clothes, food, maps, books, and even some less practical items.
For example, there were several jars of pickled reptile hearts sloshing around in Enoch's duffel bag. Then there was the blown-off front doorknob from Miss Peregrine's house, which Hugh found in the grass and decided he couldn't live without. And let's not forget the bulky pillow that Horace rescued from the house's flaming shell. He claimed it was his lucky pillow, the only thing that kept his paralyzing nightmares away.
Some belongings were incredibly valuable to the children, who held onto them tightly while rowing. Fiona held a pot of earthy garden soil firmly between her knees. Millard had smeared his face with brick dust from a bomb explosion, a peculiar action that appeared to be a form of mourning. Although their attachments may have appeared unusual, I could understand - those items were all they had left of their home, while for me, they were simply memories that the island helped me recall.
After three hours of rowing, the island had diminished in size to that of an open hand. It appeared completely different from the intimidating fortress surrounded by cliffs that I had seen a few weeks ago. Now, it seemed delicate, like a small piece of rock at risk of being swept away by the waves.
"Look!" Enoch shouted, standing up in the boat next to ours. "It's disappearing!"