Many things have happened on park benches. At Maria's favorite park bench, she would write and listen to music and simply take a moment to breathe. However, there were moments where the time seemed to slip far away from her, the light would change rapidly, she would see flowers that hadn't been around her before, and even the air would have a different taste to it. It was one of these days that Maria found herself sitting on her bench, playing with the gold chain on her long necklace. The moment the light changed, she happened to leave the bench. She rode her scooter to the nearest park, too focused on her thoughts to notice the differences in scenery. She arrived at the park and took a seat at a new bench. However, the bench was not as it used to. What was old was now new, brand new. Maria looked up suddenly, and only then did she take in her surroundings. The few people around her were like those out of a 1940's film. The park had different equipment, and-
"You're not from here, are you?" A little girl spoke. Maria jumped slightly, then looked down at the child. Her blonde curls bounced in the breeze as she fiddled with her pink dress.
"I thought I was, but," Maria pondered, "Everything's different."
"Here, come with me," the girl offered her hand. Maria let the child lead her out of the park, through a wooded area, and to the doorstep of a lavish and intricate house. The girl knocked on the door. A woman opened it, a pipe hanging from her lips.
"Claire, you're early," the woman spoke, intrigued.
"Sorry Miss Peregrine, but someone came through the loop," Claire responded. Miss Peregrine looked up to the newcomer, her eyes widening slightly. Maria furrowed her brow. Suddenly, Maria stumbled forward, clutching her head.
Miss Peregrine caught her by her shoulders, "Are you alright, my dear?"
Maria looked up at Miss Peregrine, "I don't-" Maria cut herself off with a cry of agony.
"Claire, help get her in the house please," Miss Peregrine quickly ordered. The pair helped lead Maria into the home and onto a couch. Maria lay herself down, still clutching her head while trying to control her breath.
"Miss Peregrine," a blonde girl walked into the room, "Who-"
"Emma, gather the children and keep them upstairs for now please," Miss Peregrine commanded.
"Yes Miss Peregrine," Emma spoke, taking Claire's arm and leading her away. Miss Peregrine pulled up a chair, sitting next to where Maria had rested her head.
"I'm so sorry," Miss Peregrine soothed, "but what you're about to experience is no cakewalk."
Maria groaned, rubbing her skull, "You look familiar."
Miss Peregrine ignored the comment, "What you're experiencing is a memory block, someone has hidden one of your memories from you for a very long time. It's currently coming down."
"Ah," Maria chuckled, "So that's what hurts."
Miss Peregrine chuckled, "Indeed."
"How did I get here?" Maria questioned.
"I'm going to figure that out, you get some rest," Miss Peregrine strode from the chair, leaving Maria to her lonesome.
Maria sighed.
Miss Peregrine walked upstairs, "Children, did anyone see our guest enter the loop?"
"I found her at the park, I didn't see here before then Miss," Claire spoke.
"Well one of us let her in," Enoch rebuted.
"It wasn't me, I promise!" Claire spoke.
"Then who…" Miss Peregrine spoke.
"No one let me in," Maria cut in, standing at the bottom of the stairs, "Also, nice place."
"You should be resting, child," Miss Peregrine dismissed, then noticing the chain around Maria's necklace. She walked down the stairs until she reached Maria. She pulled the necklace out into the open. On the end of the chain there was an ornate pocket watch. Both girls looked at the pocket watch, then to each other. Maria then passed out.
"Miss Peregrine," Emma spoke as her keeper caught the visitor, "What's going on?"
"The memory block just fell," Miss Peregrine explained, carrying Maria back to the couch, "Follow me."
"Miss, who is she?" Olive asked as Miss Peregrine lay the girl down.
"Our guest has a blocked memory, someone wanted her to forget something," Miss Peregrine turned to her children, "Upon arriving here that barrier started to fall, opening her memories up for her to see."
"Why'd her memories come back once she got here?" Browlyn asked.
Miss Peregrine turned back to Maria and took ahold of her necklace. She popped open the pocket watch, running her thumb over the face of the clock, "Children please go play outside, I believe our guest and I need to speak in private when she wakes up." All the children strode out of the room, except for one.
"Miss Peregrine, are you alright?" Emma asked.
"I hope so, Emma," Miss Peregrine spoke, "For her sake."