Chapter 8

POV Millard

I know I wanted to hate her. But it was hard. I sat in my bed, doing nothing in particular. It was the afternoon and I haven't even bothered to leave my small room. I sighed and put my pillow over my head. There was a knock on the door but I ignored it. They knocked again and this time the door opened.

"Hullo." I heard Olive say. "Go away Olive." Came my muffled voice. Instead of listening she jumped on my bed. I groaned and Olive jumped on my foot. "Not the things I use to walk!" I complained. She giggled and when she saw I wouldn't get up, she started to be a little annoying.

"Olive leave him alone, he's mentally suffering." Emma came in and carried Olive away. "Can you at least close the door?" Emma came back and sighed while she closed the door. I sat up in my bed and decided I would do something today. I swung my legs off the bed and walked out the door. The sun was really bright, it almost blinded me.

I went into the classroom that the little kids used and took out a book from one of the shelves. I carried it in the crook of my arm as I walked out to the back of the house. I sat in the shade of a few of the trees Fiona created. I saw many of the kids playing but decided against joining them. Olive and Claire came walking up to me. "Do you want to play, Millard?" Claire asked. I shrugged and asked," What?" Both girls looked at eachother and in usion, said" Hide and Seek." I stood up and said," I'm going to my room to change, I'll meet you guys by this tree." They nodded and I walked inside and up the stairs. I changed into my usual clothes and walked out again. I saw that the little girls had managed to round up four more kids. Emma, Bronwyn, Hugh, and Horace.

"Who wants to be the seeker?" Claire asked. Everyone looked around the circle we had gathered in. I personally didn't care. "1...2...3 Not it!" This went repeating fast until Hugh was declared the seeker. We scattered around, I hid with Claire. We both hid in the carin near the house. "Be queit." Claire whispered. I shrugged and held my breath for as long as I could. Claire giggled and put her hands over both her mouths. I smiled and we could hear bees buzzing.

"Shh... I know someone is hiding here." We heard Hugh whisper. We kept quiet until we heard someone crawl through the carin's tunnel. I knew Hugh had found us and I could tell Claire did too, but when that someone's head came through, it wasn't Hugh.

"Hello." Came the blonde girl's voice. Claire waved but I kept queit, making sure to be invisible. But then I relised I was wearing clothes and by that matter, could be seen. "Hello." Claire shyed away. She kind of smiled and hid her face away.

"I'm Cindy." She smiled. "I'm Claire. And this is Millard." Claire whispered. "That's amazing trickery. How did you make the clothes be that way?" She asked. I was a little offended by her comment so without thinking, I said, " For your information I am much alive and am highly offended by your saying that." Cindy's eyes widened and she smiled. "Well sorry for offending you, didn't mean to. I haven't seen a peculiar in years. Mind my dear sister. And is this little girl here one as well?" Claire and I stared at her and we heard Hugh say, " Found you both!" " Are you peculiar?" Claire asked. Cindy nodded and smiled for what I recall it being about four times.

"Well I guess Hugh found us now. We best be out of the carin." I said a little discouraged. Cindy, Claire, and I crawled out of the tunnel where we found Hugh, Emma, and Horace. Cindy shook all of their hands and skipped off in the trees.

"Well she was cheerful." Emma said a little too bitterly. I shrugged and Horace asked," Is she Peculiar?" Claire shrugged and replyed with," She sure knew a lot about peculiarness." Conversations erupted, Emma asking if she was a wight.

There was a giggle among the trees and we became silent. "Cindy?" Claire asked. "Yes?" Came her voice echoing along the trees. "Are you peculiar?" There were more of Cindy's giggles and she spoke." Yes, my sister and I both. Her name is Echo." And out of one of the bushes came a girl that looked liked Cindy. I could have called her the same girl except she was more still and silent. Cindy appeared from one of the trees and walked next to her sister. "Say hello Echo." She instructed her sister. "...hello Echo." Came a small whisper. "What makes her peculiar?" Hugh asked. "...peculiar." Came Echo's voice. "She echoes, it was a wierd coincidence for thats her name." Cindy gave us a polite laugh. "...name." Echo whispered. "What are you two doing here?" Asked Emma, she was the one who always questioned people a bit too much when the younger wards were around.

"We've been looking for peculiars, we've no where to go." "...to go." Came Echo's voice. "We better bring them to the bird." Bronwyn said hiding Olive, who had just joined us, and Claire. "Well, what are you waiting for." Emma said, already walking in the direction of the house. We all followed them into the house, eager on what the bird would say. We hadn't had any new arrivals since Lori... Those that hadn't been there during the game followed with puzzled looks and eagerness as well.

That night at dinner, Miss Peregrine introduced her new wards, Cindy and Echo, the twins. "Please make the new comers feel welcome." She told us all. "...welcome." Echo whispered with shame. "What are their peculiar abilities?" One kid shouted. The rest of us turned our heads as Echo once again, sheepishly, spoke her ability. "...abilities?" She said almost on the verge of tears. "Miss Preston here echoes what anybody says. And her sister can teleport and control the winds." "...the winds." Echo once again said, a tear giving way. "Why is she crying, she looks ashamed." Olive said in a worrying tone. "...ashamed." Echo sobbed deeply and ran out of the dining room.

"Oh dear." Miss Peregrine sighed. "Will anbody help her feel more welcome, Miss Bloom" Emma nodded and stood up." I could help as well." Horace said. Since the twin's arrival he had'nt uttered a word to anybody. Miss Peregrine nodded her head and both were set to comfort the poor girl.

We sat without dinner being served, waiting for Emma, Echo, and Horace. "She always does this in public." Cindy apoligized. "She doesn't like her ability. Told me she's ashamed of it." Confusion broke out as questions were asked. "How did she tell you. Dosen't she only echo?" One kid asked. Cindy cleared her throat and said," She has a spotless memory. And yes she only repeats the last words in the last sentance of anybody. And she comunicates by pen and paper. She can write freely however she likes but talking's the problem." The kid who asked the question nodded.

Echo came back and sat in the seat next to Emma. Emma whispered something to the bird and she nodded. The kids who had kitchen duty appeared with platters that made my mouth water. Goose was laid out and the kids devored it. I took a goose leg and ate quietly while others chimed up conversations. "Polite persons do not chew with their mouths opened." Miss Peregrine scolded. Some of the rebelious kids rolled their eyes, scoffed, and continued to eat that way.

"You okay sis?" Cindy asked. Echo shook her head. " Why aren't you eating anything?" Olive asked. "She prefers to dine alone. She worries. Whenever she opens her mouth and no one has said anything, and this happens on occasion, she will blurt out things they have said to her over the past. She ... well yeah." Echo looked at her sister. " Are you sure?" She asked. Echo nodded her head," ...sure." Her sister nodded and whispered," Okay". Echo opened her mouth and she said," You are a useless daughter!" Before she could blurt out any more echoes, she stuffed her mouth with mashed potatoes and a peice of goose. She swallowed and nodded at her sister.

"You understand her well." Horace said blushing a bit. "Well, she's my twin. Why wouldn't I? And I've grown up with her, protecting her and she doing the same for me." "Is your sister in any other way peculiar?" He asked. Cindy nodded and spoke. "She can seek into our minds. Speak into them as well." I looked up to Echo, who's cheecks were rosy red as the flowers Fiona grew.

"Amazing." I whispered. Echo smiled," Amazing." She repeated as a thank you.

I did mean it as one. I could hear her say in my head. "She does so on rare occasion though. Will only do it with the people she trusts. She hardly ever does anybody." Who else do you speak to? I tried asking her. I heard giggle. I looked up to Echo. My sister, you, and Horace. I nodded. Are you shy? There was a really long pause. Yes.

"Miss Peregrine, will my sister and I share a room?" The bird smiled sweetly and nodded her head. "I think Miss Bloom would show you both to your quarters." Emma stood up, food still in her mouth. "Er... I think someone else would like to fill in for Miss Bloom." Emma sat back down and continued with dinner. "I can show them." Horace volunteered. Miss Peregrine nodded and all three of them took off upstairs.

"Somethings up." Emma said to me. "What makes you say that?" I asked curious. "Horace seems to like one of the twins, trick is who? Cindy or Echo. I place my bets on Echo, he did volunteer to come with me to make her feel better." I thought about this and a mischievous smile crept up on my face... I think. "Wait... why are you telling me this? Oh god... No I won't do it. Well I'll consider but I might decline. " Emma sighed and looked at me with pleading eyes. "Please Millard, I thought we were friends. Come on. Please." She kept bugging me, even followed me to my room.

"No." I would say and she would ask again. She sat on my bed and gave me a threating glare. "Remember that secret you asked me to keep. Miss Peregrine knows nothing. Would you like that to change?" I shook my head and finally gave in. "But who though, Echo trusts me. You know I hate it when I betray a persons trust. But I do love to spy. Fine, but who. I keep asking you that."

" Horace. Echo can go through your thoughts. But do so when I say so. We have to get a little more proof before we actually pull this off..." "Is this why we are friends? Because you use me?" Emma turned to me and shook her head. "Nah, you're a good guy. But not as good as Abe that's for sure." I shrugged . Emma left and closed the door. Probably to meet up with Abe.

I crwaled into bed and closed my eyes, it was difficult to sleep though. There was a racket downstairs and a lot of screaming. Then there was the knocks on the door. By the time I was drifting off to sleep, more rackets were heard. I felt like doing something but I was so tired. Finally, drowsiness took over and I could finally sleep.

"Wake up!" I heard someone knock on my door. I opened my eyes and yawned. I looked out my window and saw it was a stormy morning. I stood up and headed down to breakfest. The kids who served it up obviously took time to cook it and prepare it because blueberry pancakes were a luxury. "Good morning children." Miss Peregrine spoke. "...children." Echo said brightly. "Does that girl have an off switch?" Enoch said, clearly annoyed because he put his hands over his ears.

Echo glared at him. She then focused her attention to the plate of food. I finished quickly and went to grab the book I had been reading the day before when Olive and Claire had come to play a game. I read at where I left off at but found it to be impossible due to the distractions.

Fiona grew flowers and trees for the young ones to play in and their cheers and laughter filled the winds. Some of the others were kicking the footballs around and decided to be foolish. All around us the kids were playing and shrieking with joy.

I was continuing to read when Echo came hopping along. Her wavy blonde hair bouncing as well. "How do you do?" I asked as she sat down next to me. She peered into my book and said,"...you do?" I closed the book and she looked a little startled. She looked at me and smiled. I'm doing fine, and you? "Good." I awnsered. "Good." She repeated. Cindy appeared from the tree I had been leaning on by hopping infront of us. "How do you Millard?" She smiled and did a sort of curtsy."...Millard." Echo smiled happily. "Good, and you Cindy?" She giggled and gave a thumbs up. "...Cindy." Echo grinned. Her sister turned and smiled," I thought you called me but you were just echoing. My apologies Echo, for thinking that." Echo bowed her head as if accepting it and repeated the last three words she had said.

"How did you... I mean I was leaning on that tree all morning, how did you get into that tree?" Cindy hesitated to say so, but she finally found the corage to." Well, didn't Miss Peregrine say I could teleport and control the winds?" "...the winds." Echo said as always doing so. "So what do you guys do around here for fun?" Cindy asked. I shrugged and said," Well we go off exploring and playing games sometimes. And the bird gives us lessons, the older ones in one class while the younger ones in a diffrent one. We also go down to the beach. And thats pretty much all that happens if you don't know how to invent better ways to have fun." Cindy and Echo both sighed at the same time.

"I wish we could have fun." Cindy said without a smile. "...fun." Echo sighed. "We could go to the beach. We would probably have to ask the bird permission to do so though. I will lean on the idea she'll decline, for the stormy weather. 'Tis dangerous to go to a beach or coast during sush poor weather, it's dangerous." Cindy and Echo exchanged glances and nodded. "We'lle take that chance." Cindy said. "...chance." Echo repeated in a determined tone.

I shrugged and stood up. "Can I just put the book away first." The girls nodded and I hurried into the house and up the stairs with the twins keeping pace behind me. I reached the classroom and put the book back on the shelf. The twins waited for me to wrap it up and we headed to Miss Peregrine's study. I knocked slightly and heard her voice. I gulped and opened the door.