Hollow City: The Second Novel of Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children

you.”

Olive laughed. “Jacob, you’re silly. You really thought we were made up?”

“Of course. And even after I met you I still did, for a while. Like maybe I was losing my mind.”

“Real or not, it’s an incredible coincidence,” said Millard. “To have been reading that story just last night, and then happen upon the very bit of geography that inspired it the next morning? What are the chances?”

“I don’t think it’s a coincidence,” Emma said. “Miss Peregrine opened the book herself, remember? She must’ve chosen that story on purpose.”

Bronwyn turned to look at the bird on her shoulder and said, “Is that right, Miss P? Why?”

“Because it means something,” said Emma.

“Absolutely,” said Enoch. “It means we should go and climb that bluff. Then maybe we’ll see a way out of this forest!”

“I mean the tale means something,” said Emma. “In the story, what was it the giant wanted? That he asked for over and over again?”

“Someone to talk to!” Olive answered like an eager student.

“Exactly,” said Emma. “So if he wants to talk, let’s hear what he has to say.” And with that, she waded into the lake.

We watched her go, slightly perplexed.

“Where’s she heading?” said Millard. He seemed to be asking me. I shook my head.

“We’ve got wights chasing us!” Enoch shouted after her. “We’re desperately lost! What on bird’s green earth are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking peculiarly!” Emma shouted back. She sloshed through the shallows to the base of the rock, then climbed up to its jaw and peered into its open mouth.

“Well?” I called. “What do you see?”

“Don’t know!” she replied. “Looks like it goes down a long way, though. I’d better get a closer look!”

Emma hoisted herself into the giant’s stone mouth.

“You’d better come down from there before you get hurt!” shouted Horace. “You’re making everyone anxious!”

“Everything makes you anxious,” Hugh said.

Emma tossed a rock down the giant’s throat, listening for whatever sound came back. She started to say “I