manipulate // enoch o'connor

  FINALLY, IT WAS DINNER. The moment Clara was waiting for. She had not eaten another thing except for mashed potatoes and milk for about a century and a decade. She sat by Enoch's left side, and in front of her was Fiona sitting. Miss Peregrine only stood and watched as they eat. 

"So," Olive started, taking another spoonful of the soup they were eating, "How was the tour, Enoch, Clara? Were you able to explore everywhere?" 

"Not really," Clara's eyes fell onto Enoch's but quickly turned away, "Um, I got tired. So I told Enoch and we went back.. It looks peaceful everywhere. Feels nice." 

"That's Miss Peregrine's loop for you,"  A voice spoke, then an empty space pulled a chair away from the table. Clara figured it was Millard, who was naked. 

"It is rude to be naked in a dining table. Wear clothes, Mister Nullings. The food would not run away." Miss Peregrine lectured him. He obeyed and left. Jacob arrived later on, with Emma by his side. Olive offered him a seat nearby her, but he and Emma ended up sitting beside each other. 

Clara saw Horace grin mischievously to Enoch, "What?" Enoch asked, jaw clenching.

"Are you jealous, Enoch?" Horace asked, his eyebrows raising in sync as if it said, 'nice'.

"Why would I be jealous?" Enoch asked, his accent thickening. "Jacob could marry Olive for all I care." He huffed, rolling his eyes after.

"How about, let's just enjoy this dinner that we are given?" Clara asked, trying to break the tension. "Yeah? Okay, yeah." 

✧ ✧ ✧

  AFTER DINNER, MISS PEREGRINE RESTARTED THE LOOP. It was quick, but it was amazing and brilliantly done. They were settled down in the Living Room, Enoch was standing nearby Miss Peregrine, Emma, Jacob and Olive sat on the couch, Horace had a taller chair and the rest sat onto the floor. 

The peculiars started to watch Horace's dreams as he projected it to them. Clara didn't really pay attention for almost all of it, but she did when she heard something, "I don't think you are what you say. You're a liar."

Clara gulped. Horace's dreams are predictions of the future, she remembered.

"Trust me." Another voice said. Clara could only see silhouette of two people facing each other closely. "I won't hurt you."

And they kissed. The peculiars started to make disgusted faces, "This is the second time, Horace! You really want a love life?!" Exclaimed Millard.

Clara snifled a laugh. Miss Peregrine called the showing off and told everyone to sleep. The peculiars obeyed but Clara didn't want to sleep, she stayed in the living room, sitting on the couch all by herself— lost in her thoughts.

"Do you mind if I, uh.. Join you?" Clara looked to see Jacob, standing up in front of her.

"Jacob," Clara said, "No, not at all.. Please." She patted the seat beside her as if to say that he should sit beside her.

"Jake," He said as he sat beside, "Only my grandfather calls me Jacob."

"Oh, sorry." Clara flustered in embrassment, "I didn't know."

"It's alright." Then there was silence. It seemed awkward yet comforting for Clara. A day. A day without training nor Barron scaring her. A day where she wasn't alone.

"What's your peculiarity, Clara?" Jacob asked, "I couldn't help but ask. I've seen everyone's peculiarity but yours."

"I haven't shown anyone.. Except for Enoch," Clara told him, "I was with him the whole day. But, anyway.. It's uh, reality manipulation."

Jacob looked at her, eyes widened in surprise, "Really? How does that work?"

"Well, I could show you."

The lights from the living room faded and turned into a grassland. Clara and Jacob were now standing. The only light they are able to see was the moonlight dancing alongside the stars.

The two could feel the cold wind brushing through their skin. Jacob shivered, "This is.. Amazing."

"Thanks." Clara smiled to him, "Does this feel real to you?" She asked.

Jacob nodded, "Feels peaceful. Eternal. I could be here all my life and still be happy. Euphoric."

After what Jacob said, they were, once again, sitting on the couch in the living room. He turned to look at Clara, "Clara. Your nose."

Clara wiped her nose. There was blood dripping from the inside. "It's okay. It happens when I overuse my powers."

"Maybe you should rest," Jacob suggested, "You look tired. I still have to go back to the present time. My dad might be worried I've been gone for long."

Clara remembered that Jacob is from the present time. "How does your father feel with, you know.. Your peculiarity?"

"My dad. He doesn't believe it. He sends me to see a psychologist— It's like, a doctor for your mind.. He thinks I have some.. Mental illness or even a disability. But the truth is, I got my peculiarity from my grandfather. He's told me about everyone in here. Tales. His adventures. Everything.."

"My parents did the same." Clara told him, "They believed that I was making shit up in my head. That I was feeble-minded.. They almost sent me to Pennhurst State School and Hospital. It's an asylum."

"Shit." Jacob winced, "How old were you then?"

"I was seventeen. I heard them talking about it through a telephone. I ran away."

"God. I'm sorry." Jacob told her, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"It's okay.. You're probably right, though, I should rest," Clara yawned.

"I'll walk you to your room." They stood up, turned off the lights inside the living room and walked upstairs. Not long, they reached Clara's room.

"Good night, Clara."

"Good night, Jacob."