I hope you all enjoy chapter 6! Please tell me what you think and leave a review.

I wish you all a happy new year!

Inside the parlor Enoch was just about to start cleaning the first cut when the doorbell rang. But they decided to ignore it. There were enough people outside to deal with whoever had chosen the most unfortunate moment to come to their door. Only Miss Peregrine seemed to be unsettled by the unexpected visitor.

"Ssh, don't worry. The others are more than capable to deal with whoever it is" Olive answered calmingly. Miss Peregrine seemed to have her doubts but still stopped struggling. Whether it was because the pain became too unbearable or Olive's words were convincing enough remained unclear.

Carefully Enoch dipped a towel into a bowl of lukewarm water and started to clean one of the many cuts on Miss P's small body. Her posture immediately became rigid and she buried her head in Olive's chest who was pressing her closer to her body.

Everyone was highly concentrated. Emma released a breath she didn't know she was holding when Enoch was done with the first cut. They allowed themselves a short break before continuing with the other cuts.

"Do you think it will be necessary to stich all of those cuts?" Emma asked after Enoch was done with the second one. Miss P shuddered slightly. She was not a huge fan of needles but if it was necessary she would not put up a fight. Not that she was in the position to do so.

Enoch took a closer look at the cuts before answering. "No, I don't think so. I will stich the deep ones but those that are only superficial can heal on their own."

It took about an hour before Enoch was finally done. By now the three children felt exhausted and wished for nothing more than this nightmare to be over while Miss Peregrine was hardly able to keep her eyes open. But the work was not done yet. Enoch stabilized Miss P's broken wing as well.

"Miss P, I think it would be good if you ate and drunk something" Emma said after Enoch was done. "I'll get you something of the leftovers from lunch" Before the bird could protest her disagreement the blond girl had left the parlor to the kitchen.

"How long do you think it will take until Miss Avocet arrives?" Olive asked and Enoch shrugged.

"I don't know. I mean she has to care for her own children first. I hope she's here in time otherwise we have a big problem." Enoch answered and sighed. He opened and closed his right hand. It felt oddly stiff.

Emma returned with some leftover meat from their sandwiches and some water in a dropping glass. She offered it to Miss Peregrine but she turned her head away declining the offer.

"I know that you are probably not hungry but you have to eat something. You have to regain your strength so that you can turn back soon!" Emma said. As Miss Peregrine made no further effort to accept the offer after all Emma added "At least drink some water!"

"Let me try it" Enoch said. He motioned for Olive to hand the bird over to him. He cradled her close against his chest. He could feel her breathing steadily. She had stopped shivering and also the bleeding had stopped.

"Now, Miss P, I think Emma is right. You should be a good girl and eat something" Enoch said as if he was talking to a child. Unfortunately this didn't spark a protest in the bird as he had hoped. He had hoped that her pride would get the better of her.

"Imagine our positions were reversed. You would make us eat something too, right?" Enoch tried a second time. Miss P's normally piercing eyes turned to him but showed nothing but deep exhaustion. She just wanted to sleep.

"I know you are tired" Enoch said. "You don't have to eat much. Just this little piece here and a drop of water." Enoch grabbed a piece of meat off the plate and held it near the bird's beak and waited. After a couple of minutes Miss Peregrine had obviously come to the conclusion that it would be easier this time not to put up a fight. Slowly as not to hurt her boy she took the piece of meat and gulped it down.

"Good girl!" Enoch praised her. Normally if he had talked to his headmistress like that she would probably tore his head off.

Miss Peregrine swallowed some drops of water and then she finally closed her eyes and fell asleep.