Hi everyone who is still reading!

I can't believe that it's already the 12th chapter. Thank you so much for all the amazing reviews, it really makes me happy to read them! I just wanted you to know, that I'm going away for the weekend and I don't know if I will be able to update from there. There will definitely be another update on Tuesday at the latest.

Chapter 11

Downstairs Olive had her hands full with the younger children. They still didn't want to go to bed, at least not in their own rooms. Claire had began to cry again because she was scared that the lightning might hit the house. And also the twins and Bronwyn winced every time they heard the thunder.

Desperately Olive tried to distract them by reading stories but they were barely listening and missed their headmistress too much. Fiona and Hugh had gone into the conservatory to get Peanut because he needed to be fed again.

"Olive, could you please show me how to prepare Peanuts meal?", Fiona asked carefully. She knew that Olive had enough on her plate already. But she didn't want to do it the wrong way, which could have lethal consequences for the baby squirrel.

"Could you just wait a second, please?," Olive asked a little bit annoyed. She didn't want to be mean to Fiona, she knew that she was doing the best she could. But it was just getting too much here. Olive hoped that Emma and Enoch would return soon so they could give her a hand.

Fiona was surprised by Olive's reaction. She had never seen her like this. Olive saw that Fiona was taking her harsh tone to heart. "I'm sorry, Fiona. I didn't mean it like that. It's just that I don't know what to do first, with all the little ones crying," Olive sighed. "Claire, please don't be scared anymore, we're all together and nothing's going to happen. " Olive tried to put Claire down but she began to cry even more. Olive was now running out of patience. She called Horace and Millard: "Could you two please help me here? I can't do this alone. Please take care of the little ones while I go to the kitchen with Fiona and Hugh." Horace put away the book he was reading in the other corner of the room and went over to sit down next to Claire and the twins. "Where is Millard?" Olive asked confused. " Has he wandered off again?" The other children shrugged their shoulders. No one had seen him. Millard had taken off his clothes to sit unnoticed alone in the corner. He was still concerned about Miss Peregrine. He couldn't get the picture of his ymbryne laying in her bed, moaning in pain out of his head. And even seeing her afterwards in the parlour didn't reassure him, he could see that she was hiding her true feelings. He was just happy that no one could see him now.

"Millard, where are you? I need your help here as well," Olive said. "If you should decide to turn up again, could you please help Horace with the little ones."

Olive went off with Fiona and Hugh while Horace began to tell Claire, Bronwyn and the twins about his best dreams.

Meanwhile Emma and Enoch had other problems. They had followed Miss Peregrine into the bathroom and saw her clutching the toilet bowl. Emma approached her, knelt down and began to rub circles on her ymbryne's back. Enoch didn't know what to do, helplessly he was standing in the doorway and watched the two women.

Miss Peregrine was panting heavily. Every few seconds she retched and threw up. After the third time there wasn't anything left in her stomach, which didn't stop the gag reflex, though. So the next time she was throwing up bile instead.

Every time made Alma's stomach clench more painfully which made her gag again. It was like a vicious cycle and she couldn't break it.

"Shh, Miss Peregrine," Emma tried to calm her down. " It's gonna be alright."

After a few minutes Alma finally stopped heaving and placed her head on the toilet seat, catching her breath.

"Is it better, Miss P.?" Emma asked. Miss Peregrine couldn't even lift her head, she was so exhausted. She didn't want this anymore, all of it, she just wanted it to stop. The whole day had been one struggle after another. She couldn't even remember how her body felt without any pain. Alma just wanted to fall asleep and not wake up for a long time.

Emma took her hand of her ymbryne's back and used it to brush a strand of hair out of Miss Peregrine's face. Even if she wasn't touching her completely she could feel the heat emanating from her skin. She turned towards Enoch. "She's burning up again, her temperature has been climbing rapidly," Emma noted. "Could you please give me a wet washcloth, Enoch?" Enoch went towards the cabinets, pulled one out and soaked it in the sink. Emma took it out of his hand and wiped first Miss Peregrine's forehead and then her mouth.

Alma spat a few times to get the sour taste out of her mouth. "Would you like to rinse your mouth, Miss P.?" Emma asked. Miss Peregrine nodded weakly . Enoch had already filled a jar with water and handed it to Emma. Carefully she held it to her ymbryne's lips and helped her cleaning her mouth.

"I'm sorry, I don't feel so good," Miss Peregrine moaned after spitting out the water.

"We can see that, Miss P.," Emma said comforting. " Now we have to get you back to your bed and see what we can do to make you better. Do you think you're done with vomiting for now?"

"I don't know," Miss Peregrine answered breathlessly, she had started shivering which gradually changed into violent shaking. Emma began to rub her back again. She could feel that Alma's night gown was soaked in sweat again.

"What's happening?" Enoch asked concerned. "This isn't good. "

"Her body is reacting to the infection, her brains tries to raise the body temperature further by shivering. But her climbing temperature is worrying me. Could you please give me the thermometer, I'd like to take her temperature again." Enoch went to the medicine cabinet and took the thermometer to give it to Emma who was now hugging their headmistress to calm her down a bit. After some seconds Emma inspected the scale and frowned. " She's got a temperature of 39.5 degrees."

"That's way too high, isn't it?" Enoch asked alarmed. " It could be worse but it's definitely a high-grade fever. But we can't forget that it's an important way of the body to fight the infection and therefore necessary. I've got no idea, though, when it is time to step in and try to reduce the fever."

"I just want to lie down again," Miss Peregrine whimpered and ended their discussion.

"Yes of course. Do you think you can stand up?," Emma asked while standing up herself. Miss Peregrine nodded and tried to rise. "Careful!" Emma intervened."If you stand up too quickly you will be sick again." Together with Enoch she lifted her and slowly they went towards Miss Peregrine's bedroom. Emma had been right: As soon as she was upright, Alma could feel the acid coming up her throat again but she tried to swallow it back down.

Arriving at her bed she laid down on her side with the help of her children and pulled her knees towards her chest. She seemed to be able to control her gag reflex for the time being but the cramps were as bad as before. Alma wrapped her arms around her stomach and tried to stifle a moan. She didn't want her children to see her like this but apparently she had no other choice. She was helpless, she couldn't even cover herself with the blanket on her own. Emma saw that she was still freezing and longing for the blanket but didn't give it to her.

"I'm sorry Miss Peregrine, but we have to change your clothes first, you're completely soaked in sweat."Emma ignored the protest of her ymbryne and sent Enoch to refill the hot-water bag.

"And tell Olive what happened and that I will be busy here for some time. Maybe you could help her if she needs help," Emma added.

As Enoch had left Emma dressed Miss Peregrine and covered her with the blanket. She sat down on the edge of the bed and stroke Miss Peregrine's cheek.

"How are you feeling now?" She asked. "Is there anything I can do?"

Alma shook her head. "I feel terrible but I guess you can see that. If only these cramps would stop. I thought my headache had been bad but that's nothing compared to this." Emma could see that her ymbryne was barely holding back the tears. It broke her heart so she took Alma's hand and tried to comfort her as best as she could. "I'm going to get the hot-water bag from Enoch and some more tea," Emma said. As she saw her headmistress grimacing she added: "I know that it will be hard to think about drinking something but there's no way around it. You have already lost too much fluids. You will only get worse if you don't keep it down." Then Emma stood up and headed for the door. "Will you be alright on your own for a couple of minutes? She asked. " I will be back as quickly as possible." Then she closed the door and ran downstairs where she found Enoch and Olive in the kitchen.