Chapter 4: An Introspection
A simple and short chapter highlighting the character's changes in daily life, personal opinion on their relationship, and wrapping up events set in motion by chapter 3.
Enoch
A few days after chapter 3
Strength returned to my limbs partially, but my bruises weren't gone. Unable to successfully hide the large mark on my neck, I made up a story about an accident involving a homunculus. Most people believed it, but only because it had healed itself over some, and they believed it to be fresh. Horace found out about the truth, but he was my roommate and I couldn't bring myself to try and explain any reason I wore a turtle neck to bed. I considered taking advantage of him as a confidant, but decided the less anyone knew the better. The discoloration of my eyes was fading well.
Brandon acted more distant to me than usual, I assumed to play down any chances of a scandal.
Olive expressed great concern for my state lately, but I refused to elaborate anything for her. Consequently, this just made her more concerned and curious. I felt bad for brushing her off at every chance I could, but it was a necessary evil.
Miss Peregrine took extreme notice of my state, and even went as far to pull me aside a minute and ask me if everything was alright. I untruthfully told her I was fine, but, like Olive, she was not satisfied with the answer. I never saw her monitoring me, but I always felt her watching. I limited any interaction with people to a bare minimum to avoid saying something I might regret.
On the bright side, the time I had resulted in my collection of parts and pickled hearts being immaculately organized.
Brandon
I felt more energized than I have in years. The night with Enoch had been the biggest break in monotony in all the time I have been in the loop.
I couldn't begin to say the same for Enoch, he looked like total shit the past few days. I made sure not to bother him because he was probably an emotional train wreck.
In a conversation with Emma, his state was brought up. I confessed to her it was my doing. I trusted her enough to not reveal the truth to everyone, and I needed some kind of person to discuss my situation with. Emma's opinion on the matter was rather confused; she disapproved on how rough I am on him, however she praised the fact that I was bringing some love and culture into the children.
To reassure Enoch, I wrote him a note lauding him for how incredible he did that night, along with a message that I was concerned about how little he was eating.
Like icing on the cake, I've never performed better and trained harder on that pitiful tree.