If Miss Thrush's loop had a larger banister, I would have slid down it, I was so excited. I almost succeeded in packing without waking Melina, but I didn't, she wasn't that mad though.

"I think I'm going to miss you." She said, before yawning and heading to the bathroom to change, do morning stuff. "Better to do it when there are less crowds." I just changed in the bedroom and went down to the dining room.

After breakfast I sat in the parlor, where the other peculiars slowly trickled in to wish me luck back to Cairnholm.

"Keep out of trouble." Suggested Jeffrey and Casper.

"You're a charming girl, Nettalyn." Fedor said along with Helen.

Arthur shuffled in by noon, and I was probably going to leave any second. He shoved papers and a pencil into my hands. "Here's our address, write yours on here."

"Why?" I asked as I wrote.

"Because your the most fascinating person that I've met in a while, so I'm corresponding to you. Send me back some Cairnholm stuff, and maybe I could hear from the rest of your loop? You've gotten me interested." He said.

"I guess I could."

"Great, now I'm rubbish at goodbyes, so bye, and I'll write you later." Then he walked away.

I kid you not, ten minutes later Headmistress Peregrine was standing in front of me.

"Oh, my dear girl, I've missed you!" She smiled, giving me a hug. "I'm appalled at my improper timing, I couldn't get away because of incidents." Her smile drained and she made a forlorn expression.

"Oh, dear. What's wrong, Miss?" I asked.

"Never mind that, I shall tell you once we've gotten you back. Oh, you're sure to raise their spirits." She said in a heavy voice. I noticed she had taken to wearing black again. After I came, she started to wear brighter colors. What had happened to cause a change? Had someone passed? If it had happened and they hadn't told me, I was ready to raise some hell!

As it were, at all times I'd seen her yet, she was at her lowest point. Like a bird whose wings had been clipped. I didn't like to think I was a mood-enhancer, a drug to take them from a stupor, but I was still hoping nothing was wrong. Maybe Emma had accidentally burned part of the house down? Again? Did Miss Peregrine have to break into her funds to buy a new stove? Did the loop skip, and they got a year older?

I knew better than to plague her with questions before she was ready to answer, so I stayed quiet. All throughout the horse and carriage ride, and the rowboat we had to row ourselves back to the island. The bombs would start falling soon.

I felt my emotions change the minute I stepped onto the familiar dock. Silly, aimless villagers were going about their business. That was sure to change in an hour or so. I was envious of them. One of my friends could be dead! But they wouldn't have any idea. I guess it was an occupational hazard. My melancholy thoughts were interrupted with thoughts of everything is probably fine. And I was nearly reassured when I was walking across the lawn. Everything seemed as joyful as when I last was there.

Somewhere in my mind I was thinking that death came with greyness. Maybe if the grass was dead, or the gulls were crying, I'd have thought more about what awaited me. I'd have noticed how nobody was playing outside, not even Claire, Charlotte, Olive or Marcie. The garden was looking more overgrown than usual, and the flowers themselves looked dead.  I made note of the lack of human habitation.

Miss Peregrine started a coughing fit. She was sneezing at the pier, but I figured it was random. Her brown streaked with grey hair was falling out of its bun and she looked so pale. So frighteningly pale.

"Miss, I'm worried for your health." I said in a concerned tone. She tried to wave me off as I led her through the house's threshold, where all my family's coats were gathering dust.

"I think you should go up to your room, really." I suggested. With a bit more prodding, she started up the stairs, mumbling something about 'she needs to be told gently.'

Sorry you had to wait longer for that one. And I have a question for you. How do you feel about Raid the Village?