Chapter 1
I woke up while feeling the stinging pain on my side. The sun rays pierced through my eyes forcing it to open. My head throbs while the world seemed to have shaken as I scan the room. Then I realized, I was in a..hospital?
I gathered my strength to lift up my torso just in time for an unfamiliar face to come by my side.
“Finally, you have woken up”.
“Where?..who are you? Who…am I?” my blood ran cold as it dawned on me that I am bearing not a single clue of who I am, let alone how on earth was everything around.
“Y/N”
I frowned, that name did not even sink in, I barely have an idea if I was really the one she is referring to but who else could it be?
“This might sounds overwhelming but you suffered from an amnesia” well that seemed to have explained all this out of thin air awakening with no memories of who I am as well as my past life except that incident of screaming, the excruciating pain of my side, dead bodies and a falling debris that ended up to nothing.
“How” you asked.
“You have fought with a hollowghast together with other peculiar escorts of yours, upon the extermination of the wight mastermind, you ended up wounded and none of your escorts other than you and the other one, came out alive, though he recently just passed away on his bed from a serious infection that afflicted him far worse from what we can cure.”
“How long have I been in a comatose?”
“About almost a year. Nine months precisely” That was far too long enough to assume that I was in a serious fatal injury.
A few days later, I learned that I am a peculiar who can feel the presence of the wight by projecting my keen sense around the vicinity. Hence, I joined a peculiar force against the wights who opted to turn down the base of the hollowghast operation.
“Y/N, you live in a loop from September 3rd 1943, Cairnholm, Wales. Your family were worried sick about you and they could hardly wait to see you.” I was surprised.
“A family? Does that mean that I…am married or something? To whom?”
“Yes, her name is Alma LeFay Peregrine though technically she is the headmistress of the house taking care of the charges or so called, your children”
“How did that happen?”
“Sorry I don’t know much but you’ll know eventually as you get to meet them. I’ll send out a rendezvous for you to be taken there.”
“I need to get back to the loop.” It’s now or never, I felt the sudden urge to go back to where I belong. The children and Alma.. they are my living proof.
I stood in front of a cave leading to what seems like a paradise. Kevin, another peculiar, helped me with my bags
“She’s back! Everybody she’s back!” my head snapped into a girl with brown trousers paired with brown sweater and pigtail hairs jumping into my arms “Y/N! We missed you so much.”
She looked back at me expecting for me to show her the same enthusiasm but all there ever was is total confusion. Then there followed a bunch of kids sharing the same happiness washed over their faces as they greeted me. Now I got anxious on how to deal the situation and that was before Kevin chimed in.
“Greetings children, I am Kevin pleased to meet you and I am bringing Y/N back to you but Miss Y/N right now is still not feeling well and she would like you all to take everything easy okay?”
The children nodded confused as to what might had gotten into me and how such “I am not feeling well”
We proceeded into the house and a wave of familiarity washed over me. Something about the house gave me a sense of safety, belonging and relief. I know full well that I lived here, it is no surprising that I have felt such senses.
What caught me off guard is the headmistress. My heart skipped a beat and I seemed to have taken my breath away. She is stunning. It got me into thinking how I ended up being loved by someone as exquisite as this woman in front me.
“Y/N..” she mumbled in her breath
“Miss Peregrine, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Kevin extended his hand to her which she awry took. Nervous maybe. “Mind if I take a moment with you?”
She nodded. Then off they went into the parlour. At some point during their conversation, I heard her burst out in tears.
Moments later, she and Kevin ended their conversation eventually leading the three of us at the foyer bidding goodbyes.
“Y/N, I have to go now and Miss Peregrine, it was a pleasure to meet you again”
“Thank you Kevin, for bringing her safe”
Before he could turn back, I bid him a genuine “thank you” and with that, off he goes.
Tension builds up. I could not even bring my eyes to the woman who stood in front of me forcing our eyes to lock in together.
“Y/N..” With some effort, I finally brought myself to look at her. To my surprise, her eyes were brimming with tears.
Out of instinct, I brought my arms up to embrace her. She cried unto my shoulders and I closed my eyes thinking how I could make it up to her.
“Kevin told me everything. Oh Y/N, it is hard to believe what you have gone through”
“I’m sorry Miss Peregrine. I got you worried a lot.” She chuckled at how I addressed her.
“Alma, please”
“Yeah..Alma” Alma I make it sure to sink in and have those words engraved in my mouth.
“I am going to prepare dinner. You can sit at the parlour to rest and I’ll call you when the food is ready.”
“Thank you” she turned back to the kitchen.
The children get inside the parlour and a small girl with blonde curly hairs stood up front looking sad.
“Y/N? Miss Peregrine said you don’t remember us?”
“…I am sorry”
“It’s okay, I know you ended up like that because you protected us.” Said the other girl of the same size but with brown hair.
A blonde girl in blue dress sat down beside me to hug me. I hugged her back then followed the others. I cannot help myself but tear up as well.
Dinner went well and now it is time for “reset”. I did not know what that means so I asked Emma what that is. She dropped her gaze hiding the hint of disappointment in her eyes.
“The day is about to end and it is at this point where Miss Peregrine rewind the last 24 hours. Preserving the loop”
“I see..” though I barely understood what she meant.
Now we are outside. As I put my mask on I cannot help but wonder why.
Planes flew over us. Then there is this one plane dropping the bomb. I gasped and attempted to gather the children and run for our lives.
"Y/N. It's okay" said Emma.
I closed my eyes waiting for the end.
Then I realized no destruction ever happened at all. The plain was drawn back to their paths as if a force were pulling them. Everything seemed to have..reversed?
Ahh.. I see. So this is what they meant by reset.
The reset ended and we headed back inside.
The children are in bed. Now it is I and Almab eing the remainig persons in the parlour.
The silence is deafening until she spoke up.“It’s time for bed, come..” so I followed and now I am in the room which I could only assume as once ours.
I noticed a photograph of me and her along with the children. I examined the photo and strangeness crept up to me. I cannot help but feel the weird sense of having to see a stranger wearing my face ever so happy.
Meanwhile, Alma was changing into her nightwear. I am panicked. I cannot imagine having to sleep beside her. Awkward..
Alma seemed to have noticed my worry for she have offered.. “There is a guest room just right beside this room. I see you may be needing some time alone. I figured you have been so stressed the past few days.”
“Thank you” and so I headed outside slightly relieved from the tension.
As I lay on my bed. I cannot help but recall the day. The faces of the children, Alma.. had I just not left, none of these would have happened.
I remember not a single thing. Though there are things that incited familiarities, none of those have ever told me the depth of my relationship to the children, especially to Alma. I cannot remember loving her.
I cannot help but wonder..What does life looks like nine months ago?