This chapter is gonna be nearly as horrible as the last one, so brace yourself. Also, there is a reference to one of my friends in this chapter but I'm not going to say her name because that would embarrass her. Anyway, hope you enjoy! Or at least half-enjoy...
ISLA POV
Millard and Isla walked into the living room, annoyed. Isla's expression changed when she saw Bronwyn's tearstained face and the panicked looks on everyone else's (except the twins of course, she couldn't see theirs at all). She then noticed that Victor was missing. "What's wrong? Where's Victor?"
"He left," said Emma.
"What do you mean, 'left'?"
"He left the loop."
"Oh my birds. You can't be serious."
"She's dead serious, I," Thalia confirmed.
"We have to go get him."
"On it," said Millard.
"Me too!" sniffled Bronwyn.
Isla bent down to her level. "Sorry sweetheart, let the big kids handle this."
"He's my brother! I'm helping. You are not talking me out of this."
"Alright." Millard patted Bronwyn's curls. "You have the job."
Bronwyn grinned. "So what are we waiting for? Let's go get Victor back!"
"Wait!" Isla stopped them. "I have to change first."
"What!?" Millard looked at her.
"My shirt's feelings would be hurt if it wore it to save someone!"
"Um..."
Thalia rolled her eyes. "She thinks that shirts have feelings. It's stupid, really."
Isla gasped and stroked her shirt. "Don't mind her. She doesn't know you like I do."
After a little bit of arguing, Isla finally agreed to go with the shirt she had on, but was sulky and wouldn't talk to anyone except Millard.
They walked into the bog, Bronwyn at the lead. When they were halfway through the bog, Bronwyn gasped. Her voice shook. "I-I th-think I found V-Victor."
Isla ran up to see why the little girl's voice was shaking and covered her mouth. Victor was lying on the ground with his eyes missing. She walked back and forth, muttering, "Oh my birds, oh my birds, oh my birds" over and over again through her hand. Millard walked over to her and she leaned on him for support, still muttering.
Bronwyn let out a sob and ran over to her brother's body, hugging him to her little chest. "No, no, Victor! Come back! Come back!" She pinched herself repeatedly. "Wake up, Bronwyn! Wake up, wake up! This is just a dream! Just a dream!..." Her voice faded into quiet sobs. Bronwyn cradled Victor's body as the three children headed back to the loop.
Horace's dream... Isla thought, it wasn't just a nightmare, like I hoped. Oh my birds, oh my birds, oh my birds...
So sorry! If Isla's weird "shirts have feelings" thing bothered you, don't worry. That's the only time it will be mentioned. Probably...