He did as Emma asked. Jake never questioned Olive, Enoch or Bronwyn about Miss Hawk and her children - in fact, he didn't find the strength of mind and the nerve to ask even Miss Peregrine or Emma. He never had the chance to, either, what with the chaos of packing, and the aftermath.
The children had never been sent to bed; they'd never been allowed their sandwiches. In fact, just as Miss Peregrine was instructing Claire and Emma to begin making sandwiches for their 'dinner', Jake had returned, with Barron on his tail and a whole new agenda in mind. Now, he wasn't so bothered about Miss Rebecca Hawk and her children, or how confusing the peculiar household seemed to be; he was preoccupied with scrambling thoughts of how to protect the other children, how to fight Barron off when no one else could, how to keep the children together and safe when Barron took Miss Peregrine as one of the hostage Ymbrynes.
When Barron had gone, and the promised hollow was on its way, Miss Avocet, who had previously been reassuring the younger children - particularly Claire, the twins and Bronwyn - pulled him aside, along with Emma, Enoch and Olive, to talk privately, away from the ears of the others.
"At first chance you get, you're to leave, and you're to take the children with you," she said firmly, her arms folded and, for the first time, a stern expression daunting her careworn face. "You're not enough to hold off more than one hollow, and even with the added help of being able to see them, you're not enough. Children - at first chance you get, you're to contact Miss Hawk in Blackpool, and to acquire the help of the peculiars living in her loop."
"But how?" Enoch arched an eyebrow, lips twisting in a sneer. "We don't know if they're even alive - "
" - yes, you do," Miss Avocet said. "I have recently acquired a particular piece of information, a letter from Miss Hawk delivered to Miss Peregrine and I shortly after I awoke - "
"I want to see it," Olive said immediately, holding out one leather-gloved hand.
Miss Avocet looked away for a moment, watching the other children closing all the doors and windows. Millard and Horace came running in with Miss Peregrine's crossbow and armfuls of sharp and heavy gardening tools in time for Bronwyn to kick the couch straight at the door, slamming it shut and locking the door that couldn't be locked. She hesitated, before slipping her hand into the pocket of her long beige dress, and producing a letter.
Enoch snatched it the moment she had pulled it from her pocket, unfolding it with slightly shaking fingers, eyes quickly scanning the page.
"Dear Miss Peregrine,
I am very much alive, as are my children. As has once occurred, we were attacked in our new loop, by no more than eleven hollows. They seem to have learned from the last time, in which all four hollows were killed; the children fought them off once more, and not without injury, though it seems, despite the odds of battle, they have escaped with lesser injuries. Theodora has once again been walking, despite her previous injury to both her legs, and Luke has been managing well despite his broken arm. The children are now taking shelter in Miss Avocet's vacant loop, and it is due to be reset at 4:30 today.
Meanwhile, I have decided to try my best to scout the location in which the captured Ymbrynes have been taken. As I'm certain you're aware, they're in the basement of Blackpool tower, not far from the pier, where the children are hiding.
If I do not return, my friend, please reset my loop. I fear the children will not survive the night.
My deepest regards, Miss Rebecca Hawk."
Olive slumped with relief, and Emma put an arm around hers to support her. Enoch, meanwhile, sighed and rubbed his thumb over his jaw, tucking the letter safely in the pocket of his trousers - much to Miss Avocet's chagrin.
"I'm off, children," said Miss Avocet, swallowing. "Be safe."