(We are back; it is now after Martin was found dead. Poor Bloke. Ah, well. Onwards!)

"What's happened?" Miss Peregrine asked as Jane and Jacob entered. 

"Just a death. You know, usual Carinholm stuff." said Jane, her sarcasm unmistakable.

Jacob explained it to Miss Peregrine, and she left.

"What's she in such a tiff about?"

"A death. Poor soul. He looked like-" Jane tried to say, but Jacob shushed her and explained to Millard and Emma what was wrong. Millard sucked in his breath while Emma looked worried.

"Hollows only hunt peculiars, though, right?" Jacob asked.

"No! Where'd you get that from? If our family's lucky, the barman will die before he can collect dad's tab." Jane admonished him.

"Your humor seems a little dark today. Are you alright?" Millard asked.

"I snuck in to see the guy in the fishmonger's. Either he got in one hell of a bar fight or it's a hollow." Jane scowled bitterly.

----------------

Miss Peregrine returned, pulling Enoch and Horace by the shirtsleeves. Jane raised an eyebrow.

"We've just had word of a new threat. A man outside our loop has died under suspicious circumstances. We can't be certain of the cause or whether it represents a true threat to our security, but we must conduct ourselves as if it did-" Miss Peregrine announced, but was cut off by Jane.

"Miss Peregrine, it's definitely a hollow. I've got pictures, see?" She reached into her jeans pocket and brought forth Polaroid photos, each of Martin's mangled corpse, and handed them to her. "If the hollow were any closer, he'd be sitting next to Jacob." She gestured to her brother in the corner with her head as Miss Peregrine gingerly took the photos. Her brother and company stared. Where on earth had she had time to take photos? But no matter.

"May I ask, Miss Portman, what possessed you to take photos of this?" 

"Well, call it instinct. I just knew I had to. The fishmonger just rolled his eyes, and told me I better make sure our dad didn't know, given my 'mental stability'" the last two words she used her fingers to show she was quoting. She was definitely in a toxic mood.

Miss Peregrine nodded, and continued. "Until further notice, no one is to leave the house whatsoever." As the group dispersed, Jane mouthed to Enoch and Horace, who were still standing together; "Talk to you later." Jacob confronted Miss Peregrine.

"We have to go." 

"My rules apply to you as well, Portmans!" Miss Peregrine clucked.

"But-" Jacob started, however, Jane cut him off.

"Okay, we will." Jane nodded, and sped off, leaving Jacob behind.

-----------------------

"Enoch! Horace! A word." Jane called up, and their two heads appeared over the railing.

"Down here, guys." they cautiously came downstairs. "I saw you were brought in together. So. What's up? You guys need someone to talk to...?"

"We're fine." Enoch said curtly before Horace could answer, dragging him by the finely tailored sleeve.

------------------------

Jane stood outside the door of Emma's room. She silently pushed it open without herself in sight. The quiet was unbearable. 

"Mill, shut the door, please." Bronwyn said.

"I'm right next to you!" Millard shouted. Suddenly, Jane hopped in.

"BOO!" Jane cried. Emma fell of her perch, and Jane assumed the same for Millard, for she heard another crash. Bronwyn stayed where she was, her face shocked and she was breathing fast. Only Enoch was neutral, playing with his clay placidly.

"What's up, guys?" Jane asked, a playful smile flickering across her lips.

"You-" Emma gasped, and Jacob stormed in.

"Hey, Jake. You okay? Looks like someone bruised your ego."

"Miss Peregrine won't let me leave."

"So? There's a hollow out there. It's best where we are." her hair seemed to glow, and it seemed redder.

"Well, I'm going." Jacob announced.

"I'm coming with you." Emma said boldly.

"You ain't." Bronwyn gasped.

"To what? Turn into an old prune? For him?" Enoch asked.

"Listen here, all of you!" Jane told them. Everyone's heads swiveled. "The wights. I bet you, as soon as we head to the monger's, he'll have us surrounded. It's all logical, and checks out. You leave, and the wight comes here and captures me, Miss Peregrine, and Miss Avocet."

"How long have you been working this out?" Millard asked, incredulous.

"Exactly three minutes and twenty-five seconds." Jane sighed. Suddenly, she got a twisted gleam in her eyes. "Unless..." but she didn't finish. Her eyes crossed, and her legs locked. She fell upon her knees.

"Jane!" Jacob cries, while the others look on in shock.

--------------------------

A small girl, no bigger than Claire, is sitting in a chair next to an old man.

"Grandpa, what are you trying to tell me? There's monsters?! What kinds?" she asks, doodling.

"Well, they had awful, hunched backs! And tentacles!" He recalled terrifying detail after detail.

"Grandpa, I'm scared." the little girl squeaked. 

"There's no need to be, my little Feniks." he assured. The scene dissolves. 

A little girl and boy are racing.

"You can't get me!" sings the little boy.

"Oh yes I can!" shouts the little girl, determined. The old man is seen chuckling as they compete.

"That's my little Yakob! That's my little Feniks! Go, go, go!" He's getting into it. The twins flop down onto the couch, grinning. The scenario changes.

There's darkness, and a young woman opens her eyes. She's floating, seemingly, in darkness. It surrounds here, she cloaks herself in blackness.

"Why, hello, Jane." a blue wisp of seemingly glowing smoke floats above her, welcoming her.

"W-where am I?"Jane asks shakily.

"Beyond the veil!" a spooky voice chants. Jane blinks, recollecting something.

"I-I died. W- how am I here? I need to help my friends!"

"There, there now." A slow, mulish, smoke blob comes forth. It seems to have the shape of a girl with round glasses. The original blob seems to smile.

"You may return, for a price." 

"What is it? I'll do anything!" Jane barks desperately. 

"Of course..." and there is darkness.

----------------------------

"Jane! Wake up!" Jacob shakes her violently. A cup of water floats forth.

"Try this." Millard tells him. Jacob splashes her. Jane sputters, and wakes up.

"Who are you?" she asks curiously. There is a tense silence.

"Oh no." Millard moans. Everyone freaks.

"Guys! I'm only kidding!" Jane giggles. "I needed a little humor break after what I saw."

"What'd you see?" Bronwyn asks eagerly.

"I went beyond the veil, made a deal with a smoke blob." Jane waves it away, like an annoying mosquito. Everyone stares.

"I'm not kidding." Jane sighs, finally. "Seems like I'm dying soon. But whatever. Life is short. Now, when are we going?" she turned to Jacob.

"W-What?"

"When are we going. As in, to kill the flipping hollow."

"Alright," Jacob said, rubbing his hands together. "Let's do this. First order of-"

"Hold up. Listen up real quick. It is agreed that when the ward left Miss Avocet's loop, the children were killed- or worse- correct?"

"What's the or worse-" Enoch begun.

"Next," Jane pressed on. "We need to find said hollow. How do you all think we should do it?"

"Well, we can't just wander around until we find one," Millard pointed out. 

"True." Jacob nodded.

"Well, we've got you." Jane pointed out, and there was a hush.

"I've only ever seen one," he warned. "I'm not exactly an expert."

Jane snorted. "Oh, come on. Like you wouldn't recognize the giant, tentacled creature wasn't a hollow. Give me a break."

"And if he shouldn't happen to see one?" said Millard. "It could either mean that there's none to be seen or that they're hiding. We'd be clueless, as we are so clearly now."

"Millard has a point." Jane sighed, defeated. Everyone silently nodded.

"Well, it appears logic has prevailed yet again-"

"Unless..." Jane began.

"Don't say that, remember?" Millard reminded. Jane shook it off.

"Since when has logic worked out?" she demanded. "It's never worked for me. Not even for homework. I say, let's wing it." she chuckled. "Get it? Wing it?"

"Not. Funny." Jacob replied. She shrugged, grinning.

"Well, no point making decisions that weigh on your life on an empty stomach." Jane hopped up.

"I've got it!" Enoch cried. "This bloke- you said he's at the fishmonger's, right?"

"Yes." Jane said bitterly.

"We've got to ask him." Enoch smiled hi evil smile.

Oh my goodness. I am in school currently, and I can't believe it.

88 freaking views. 88 views!!!!!!!!! I love you all, and I'm sorry for the delay, homework can really get me down.

MORE COMING SOON!

I have so much planned for this. You have no idea. I just need to get them to the fishmonger's, and BAM, I've got all pf it through Hollow City, almost.

Thanks for your support!!!!! LOVE YOU!!!!

Eat something.