The One Who Saw The Monster

The One Who Saw the Monster

By Makena G.

The clock on the wall reached 7:30 when I awoke, just like every other morning. The sheer curtains drifted apart to unmask a beautiful horizon through the mountains of Cairnholm, Wales. Every day, the people of Miss Peregrine's loop follow the same routine. I still feel as though I do not belong here and the fact that none of the children like me doesn’t help. Everyone is peculiar but I was not and would never be. Never in a million years did I think that one day, I would find my peculiarity.

Enoch’s loud footsteps conquered all other noises as he walked downstairs for his chores. However, he was sure to roll his eyes at me before his morning began. ”Hey Abe, bad hair day?” he dissed.

The first order of business for everyone was in the garden. The twins were already outside, playing catch, wearing their white covers to ensure no one is turned to stone. Claire walked by, holding up her shimmering golden locks, using the mouth on the back of the head to munch on an apple, recently pulled by Olive. Olive had to power to manipulate air and by doing so, levitate. One of her morning chores was to return a fallen bird from its tree, which happened every day because the same exact acts take place due, to the repeating time loop. Fiona was off in the garden gathering all of the ripe fruits and vegetables for breakfast. All of the other children including Emma, Bronwyn, Horace, Millard, and Hugh were completing their inside tasks first.

At the corner of the garden, Miss Peregrine was standing with her stopwatch, as usual, to ensure that today would be exactly the same as the last. Miss Peregrine was stern, yet gentle and kind was needed. She was the ymbryne of the September 3rd, 1940 time loop. A Ymbryne is a female peculiar who has the power to change into a bird and create time loops in which protect other peculiar children.

In the garden, we have precisely 43 minutes and 34 seconds to play and do chores and when that is finished, we meet the rest of the children inside for some tea and relaxation.

“That’s the time everyone, inside now,” Miss Peregrine ordered, as she watched all of us swiftly enter the home. The children's home was huge and perfectly suited all of our needs. This is where all of us belonged, as we are peculiar, and no one else seems to like that. The only problem with this is that it seemed I was not peculiar. While everyone else was making plants grow with their mind, setting fire from their hands, and giving life to inanimate objects, I was simply ordinary. There was absolutely nothing special about me and the only thing that delayed me from fully believing this and leaving the island is that only peculiars can enter time loops. I am in the time loop so why aren’t I peculiar?

Everyone was gathered at the table for tea with one empty chair next to me. Then, the most beautiful girl came walking through the doorway, wearing a lovely yellow dress the perfectly complemented her chestnut brown hair. I tried not to blush as she gracefully sat down in the empty chair. She always wore, acted, and did the same thing every day but every day I fall for her all over again. However, she has not fallen for me even once, I think. She never talks to me and sometimes does not even make eye contact.

As we were sipping our tea, I peered through the window on the other side of the room, hidden by sheer pink curtains. Outside was a tall, pale figure that had just climbed over the hill from the bay outside. It seemed to not have much of a face but the mouth had sharp, pointy teeth and even though it did not have eyes, I felt its cold stare. The body was ginormous with arms and legs looking like sharp, pointy, smooth sticks.

My cup smashed on the floor with my mouth hanging wide open. Miss Peregrine stared at me in disbelief. I tried to make the words of what I saw but it was moving closer so I just pointed. All of the children looked at the window then back at me.

“What are you talking about Abe? There is nothing there,” questioned Claire, using her front mouth.

“I don’t see anything,” said Enoch in a mocking voice. When he said the comment, I could have sworn that I saw Emma glare at him for a split second.

The other children all looked at me strangely but this was probably the first time that I did not feel stupid. I saw a dangerous-looking figure outside but they did not see it. Suddenly, Miss Peregrine stood up swiftly with a stern, almost worried, look on her face.

“Everyone into the large dining room, immediately.” Miss Peregrine ordered, “Abe, come with me.” I followed her, no questions.

We walked outside of the door and Miss Peregrine grabbed her already armed crossbow. Our walking quickly turned to running as there was not much time. That creature was getting closer and whatever he was after, it was apparently not good.

“Abe, did you see a tall mass with pointy arms and legs?” Miss Peregrine asked, seriously.

“Yes, that is exactly what I saw,” I replied, “ There it is, do you see it?”

“No Abe, I cannot see this… thing. I believe only you can. Based on what you said, this thing is called a hollowgast.”

I froze. I had read about these things in the old books on the bookshelf. I thought they were just myths because no one had been able to see the actual hollowgast before, only its shadow. Why could I see it?

We peered around the corner of the house and what I saw shook me to my core. That was a hollowgast and it was at the window, about to break it open and crawl inside. As Miss Peregrine readied her crossbow, the hollowgast turned to face directly at us. Its mouth released terrifying tentacles that headed towards us. Miss Peregrine was at a major disadvantage, she couldn’t even see the beast, let alone shoot it. Before she had the chance to do anything, she was lifted up into the air by a tentacle. At this moment I realized what hollowgast was doing. The book I read about these monsters stated that they first abduct the ymbryne of a time loop and kill them to then take out the eyeballs of the children of that loop. I was not about to let this happen so I sprang for the crossbow lying on the grass. I could see it, I could take it down.

Knowing what would happen if I failed, I readied the crossbow. The hollowgast was less than 10 feet away with a tentacle coming my way. I aimed for the head, trying to dodge Miss Peregrine, and fired. I hit it.

The hollowgast feel quickly to the floor, its tentacle freeing Miss Peregrine. I did it, I killed the hollowgast. Trying to comprehend what had just happened, I fainted and hit the ground hard.

When I awoke, I was on the couch with Emma standing over me. She said all of them were safe. As I was about to ask questions, as I had so many, Emma leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. No words could explain my confusion.

It seemed dark outside and it seems that Emma was there the whole night. There was a bandage around my head over what felt like a ginormous bruise.

“Abe, you saved us all, thank you!” Emma exclaimed, “and don’t worry, Miss Peregrine is okay.” She smiled at me

I think I finally found my peculiarity after all of these years. I could see hollowgasts. On top of that, Emma actually talked to me! I knew one day all of this would happen but it happened so fast, but I am not complaining.