We crept inside the house and were greeted by a peculiar bunch of children. We made our way to the dining room table where there was the heavenly scent of food. Everyone scrambled to their seats when they heard the steps of heels coming closer and closer. There were two open seats that I assumed were ours.

"Everyone let's go around the table and introduce yourselves." Miss Peregrine instructed. To my left, a little girl with curls sat.

"My name is Claire and my peculiarity is that I have a mouth in the back of my head." She giggled as she brought a chicken drum to the back of her curls. She was adorable until I realized if I got too close I would lose a limb.

"Hello, I'm Brownyn, and I have super strength." She says with a proud smile.

Sitting here feels like an alcoholics anonymous meeting. I began eating my food as everyone went around. As everyone was introducing themselves, I completely zoned out and focused on my hunger. I only got their names because do you know how awkward it would be if I forgot right after? I guess I'll figure out their peculiarities after.

"So, that was everyone," Miss Peregrine announced. "How about you two. Tell us more than your gifts. Tell us things that we wouldn't know."

Charlie went right away saying stuff about his sports. Then he talked about his peculiarity and how he is the top football player in the state. The kids looked in awe as he went on and on about the future but was put to a stop when the bird zipped him off."

"Charlie, I think that's enough. How about Alice. What about you?"

I gulped and set my fork down but immediately picked it up so I had something to fiddle with.

"Well, what do you wanna know?" I asked quietly.

"Like your hobbies!" Said this sharp-looking kid who I think is named Horace.

"What's your favorite color?" Asked Claire.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" Emma asked from across the table.

I was a little overwhelmed by all of the suggestions. I looked around the room and began.

"Well, I play a lot of instruments and I listen to a lot of music. My favorite color is probably pale yellow. Uh, no I do not have a boyfriend. So yeah, that's me."

"Wait, you didn't tell us your peculiarity," Hugh announced.

"Alice isn't peculiar. She' is equivalent to the color gray, " Charlie said. "There's nothing special about her except for her long nails that can literally cut through anything but I wouldn't call it peculiar," Charlie smirked, leaning back in his chair. The front legs were tilted up and that's when I took my boot and "lightly" tapped it. I heard a thud and got up from my chair. Whoops. I was too upset to stay there. This is what Charlie does: he acts differently when there's a new crowd or a crowd that he wants to fit in with while I'm left there being pushed. I mean I pushed him physically this time, but that's beside the point.

"Children clean up and let's show the guest's the loop," Miss Peregrine desperately said. "And Alice could I speak to you?" I felt a chill go up to my spine. She put her hand on my back and led me to what I assume is the living room. I saw the children leave quickly out the door along with my brother. Wow, that was quick.

"Alice, you peculiarity is a gift," Miss Peregrine began. "It's gonna take time to discover it. Just trust me that you're peculiar because I can see it in you, Alice. Discovering yourself takes time and time here is endless."

"I don't know." I quietly said.

Miss Peregrine got up as she checked her pocket watch. She did those eyes again which meant it's time to go. She handed me a gas mask and instructed me to put it on. Maybe I've been hallucinating this whole thing from the gas and now I'll finally be awake in reality. As we walked outside the other kids had the same masks on as me.

It was raining and I forgot how much I hated the rain until now. I gathered with the group and heard a plane nearby. I looked up and saw bombs dropping. Oh my God! Why are they just watching? We need to leave! Like right now. Nobody else was moving which made my feet glued. Miss Peregrine pulled out her stopwatch just right before the bombs reached the house and everything looped. I was in shock and barely even heard when Miss Peregrine sent the little kids to bed. Everyone took off their gas masks but it took me a while because it was pulling on my hair. Everyone gathered into the house. I noticed Charlie was talking to Miss Peregrine.

"So we're just going to stay here for the night and then go back to the tavern to try to call our mom to send us back. We really enjoyed your hospitality, but we really need to be back in our own house in our own time."

Miss Peregrine let it go and dismissed us. Emma came to us and gave us some pajamas that we turned down. She gave me a nightgown and I don't think I could keep shaving my legs just to wear that. Charlie slept in a shared room with Horace and I slept in the same room with Emma. As I got Into my bed, Emma lit a candle with her fingertips.

"I hope you don't mind. I am awfully terrified of the dark."

"I don't mind," I said as I plugged my earbuds into my phone to listen to some music. Thank God that I have music downloaded onto my phone because I need some sound to fall asleep. I had one earbud in and one out.

"You know, Alice," Emma said from the other side of the room. "I think we really need you here because you're just like us and I think we could be really good friends." Emma yawned and I could hear her shuffle to a comfortable spot. Maybe I should stay but what about home? What about my future? Do I even have a future here? Oh God, how lost I am.