You arrive in front of the large house. It looks old, but not abandoned. The garden is well-kept, and there's a faint scent of flowers and wood in the air. You tighten the straps of your bag, unsure whether to go in or out. Your shadow glides gently behind you. It's silent, as always, but you know it's there. It follows you everywhere. You speak to it often. You know it understands, even if it rarely responds with words. The door opens before you have a chance to knock. A woman stands there, straight, well-groomed, dressed in black. She looks you up and down, unsmiling, but not unkindly either.

"You must be the child I heard about," she says simply. "Come in. I'm Miss Peregrine."

Miss Peregrine leads you into a room with a sofa, books, and a large window. You sit down. Your shadow moves at your feet, quietly. It moves a little further away from you than usual, exploring. You don't say anything, but you sense that Miss Peregrine has noticed it too.