Darkest Grace
1.
Heaven help us
Grace Foy certainly felt fear as she walked up to the iron gates of Duchesne. The grey New York day already added to the gloomy mood, the school sat their like an ancient building, intimidating but beautiful, Grace wanted to think she knew private schools, her entire life she had gone to one. But her warm and comfortable school she had attended in Toronto hardly counted as a private school compared to Duchesne and all its glory.
Grace sighed she hated this feeling, she hated that her mother looked worried all the time, Isabelle Foy was the strongest person Grace had ever met, she was focused and alert all the time, but Grace had seen her mother with a blank expression, with fear in her eyes, when she called for her, her mother jumped, this scared Grace, her mother wasn't supposed to be flighty or unsettled. Her father was worse some how, her father was always bright and cheerful, always interested hearing about Grace's day and always hoping to make it better.
Now her father was withdrawn and quiet, she heard his late night hushed conversations on the phone, the worry in his voice that had never been there before. Grace had always been close with her parents, most girls with successful parents like hers, never had time for their children. Isabelle and Allen Foy wanted to change that. But now it was like Grace didn't know them anymore, she needed them now more than every, for Grace too was forgetting who she was.
Grace had lived all her life in Toronto Ontario, she always knew that was her home, but Grace always wondered if she truly belonged there. Though she loved her city, she loved the bright lights, the snow the people. Eilish had a second life in New York City, the home city of her mother and both sets of grandparents, Grace was always drawn to the great city, and she could feel a connection deep in her bones.
When she visited her grandparent's old home on Riverside Drive, she was home, it wasn't the same home, a different home. An older home, a home that had a very sad past a past Grace never wanted to remember. As Grace got older it faded a little, but the out of place feeling she always had only got stronger. Grace had spent every Christmas, Thanksgiving and any holiday in New York with her family. Grace had family all around the United States, but they mostly stayed around the East coast.
That including Grace's favourite cousin, Dylan Ward. Dylan's father was the former Isabelle Ward's brother, Dylan and Grace were the youngest in the family, Grace was only three months younger than Dylan, which always meant they bonded when the grown ups got together and spoke of boring things. But Grace and Dylan grew very close the winter when they were both nine years old.
It had been snowing straight for two days, Grace recalled. Dylan and Grace were both going mad being cooped up in the house. So they pulled on their hats and their coats and decided to have a giant snow fight in the back yard. They last for nearly three hours, running through the huge back yard with the huge willow trees for cover. Until Grace had some how misplaced her hat, her hair was filled with snow and her face was bright red from the cold.
Grace soon announced she was cold, Dylan smirked at her and told her since she was Canadian she should be able to handle the cold. Grace replied by tossing a huge ball of snow in his face. They wondered back inside a few minutes later, they spent the rest of the day in front of the fire, reading their grandparent's huge text volumes, even though neither of them really understood what they meant. Dylan and Grace kept in close contact for four years; Dylan was easily her best friend.
But then Dylan and his family moved to Connecticut, it shouldn't have made much of a difference but it did. Grace and Dylan lost contact. She heard about Dylan getting into trouble, getting kicked out of almost every school he went to. The times she did get to see her cousin, he was sullen and rarely spoke to her. Then on unremarkable day in late October, she walked back home from school, seeing her parents looking nervous and fearful, her mother's eyes were read as if she had been crying.
Grace immediately was filled with fear; she had never before seen her parents reduced to such a state. Her parents called Grace and her twelve year old sister Risa down. And they started out by telling them they were moving to New York in a few weeks, in a way Grace wasn't surprised, some how Grace always knew her parents were leaning towards moving there, but as you always were, Grace was still a little shocked. She managed to ask why, while Risa said nothing. Then they carefully told their two daughters, about the latest family drama.
Grace had vaguely been aware of her mother's family moving back to New York, she had heard of the mysterious deaths of young people from wealthy families. Then she heard that Dylan was missing. Grace wondered for a moment whether or not her parents were telling the truth. Missing was such an awful term, usually was prettied up for were pretty sure they're dead.
And Grace did not know how to react; Grace had never lost anyone close to her, besides her old cat Alistair when Grace was seven. It felt like being punched in the gut, or what she thought being punched in the gut would feel like. That was how Grace had ended up looking up to her new school. Grace knew New York, she knew the style and she knew there was no way on heaven or earth she could match it. Grace was currently wearing black leggings and a blue tank top with black writing, a striped vest and her favourite leather jacket. And her studded black boots. Even though Grace looked good, even really cute, she knew her ego would be shattered into pieces when she walked into those doors.
Duchesne looked far more like those English estate houses Grace had toured with her family when Grace was younger, than a school. Grace had heard from her cousin, when he had taken the time to take to her. That Duchesne used to be a manor house, for the Flood Family, "Flood?" Grace had raised her eyebrow "What kind of name is that?" Dylan had sighed, and Grace thought he was refraining from rolling his eyes, but he more than any one was used to Grace's nit picking at every little detail she thought was stupid.
"I don't know Gracie, a stupid one I guess, but bear with me" Grace couldn't help but smile, Dylan was the only one who ever called her Gracie. "Any one so these Flood chicks have a Governess Named Madame Duchesne" "Well they could have called it Flood" Grace said. "Madame Duchesne, sounds ominous" "Well Madame is just ominous is general" Dylan said, Grace nodded "True" "So what did she like murder the Flood younglings in rampage?" "Grace you watch too many slasher flicks" "Yes I know, but still answer my question" "No, no one went on a rampage" "You disappoint me Dylan" I said "I'm sorry"
"Well anyone all the little Flood Younglings died with the SS Endeavor sunk" "That's not interesting that's just sad" Grace said "I am aware Grace, but everyone says the Flood kids haunt the landing on the third floor" "Have you seen them?" "Of course not, it's ridiculous; I just thought you'd like to know" "Your school's haunted good for you Dylan" Grace said "And Grace what is your school?" Grace thought for a minute "Made of ice, because it's Canadian" "Ha-ha" Dylan said weakly "You know I'm not nine anymore I know Canada's a functioning country" "Wow you are smart" Grace used to tease her cousin all the time after he fell for her most of Canada doesn't know the name of their president (We have a Prime Minister) though after that Dylan seemed to read up about everything there was to know about the so called land of ice and snow.
He'd seen what the parliament buildings looked like, and they were certainly not igloos, and he knew that they had summer. Every once in awhile Grace would get him on one though, But not anymore Grace thought, the feeling that had haunted her all week, the shortness of breath, the gut wrenching feel returned, as she thought that Dylan and her would her would never discuss her home country again.
They would never watch bad slasher flicks in the dark, where Dylan would scare the crap out of her by sneaking up on her in the dark. He would never tell her the on going Saga about getting kicked out of all his private schools, or his on going attempts at getting expelled from Duchesne, and now he never would. Grace shut her eyes tight so tears wouldn't leak out, she refused to cry on her first day of school, and forever be remember as that one crying girl, Besides Grace just looked awful when she cried.
Her pale face got all red, she made this horrible breathing noise that sounded like she was chocking, no, Grace Foy would not cry. She took a deep breath in, and her tears were gone, so she bravely walked into the doors of her new school, even though on the inside Grace had never been more scared in her life. Just as Grace had fore seen she was soon surrounded by too many gorgeous New York girls, all looking like they had just stepped away from a modeling shoot.
No one way these people real teenagers, their faces were completely void of any flaws, their hair was perfect, and they were perfect. It took all of Grace's strength just to walk to her assigned locker. Her hands were shaking as she dialed the numbers to open it up "Hey!" a cheery voice said, Grace whirled around, ready to take on her opponent.
But it wasn't anyone Grace needed to immediately pummel, well not because she was threatening Grace. But maybe Grace would want to mess up that gorgeous face of hers. Right now Grace felt like a bag lady on the streets in Toronto. "Hi?" Grace asked a little confused to why this girl was talking to her. "Oh I'm sorry, where are my manners, I'm Allison Ellison, but you can call me Ally. They asked me to show you around" "I'm Grace Foy, nice to meet you"
Ally gave her another warm smile "So where are you from Grace?" "Toronto" Grace said "Like in Canada?" "Yeah that's the one" Grace said "Neat" Grace wasn't sure if being Canadian was actually neat, or just totally lame. "So as it turns out we're both in the same English class" Grace nodded "So I'll help you learn to ropes today for however long you need me" Grace actually felt grateful for Ally Ellison, she actually seemed like a genuinely nice person, but Grace still was a bit doubtful people like that existed in this universe.
The class room, if that's what you would call it, Grace wasn't convinced this was a school yet. Was open, with the large bay windows bringing in a perfect amount of light, the floors were white marble, and was just a lovely welcoming room. Grace felt her nerves began to ease a little, she could do this. Ally was kind enough to let Grace sit with her. They called out attendance, "Grace Ward!" Grace felt her face turn bright red, when ever they were in New York they often mixed up her name, it got slightly less embarrassing after awhile, but right now Grace just wanted to die, because she was going to have to correct the teacher.
"Um it's Foy actually" Grace said "What?" the teacher asked "My name isn't Ward, it's Foy" "Then why does the list say Ward?" "It just happens sometimes, my family here last name is Ward, but mine isn't" the teacher grumbled, already Grace knew she was going to be on his bad side. "Grace Foy!" he said "Here" Grace said, well that was stupid. As they finished attendance, Grace noticed a red haired girl, another one of those damn gorgeous New Yorkers, was looking at her. Grace didn't think her out fit was that bad, when Grace met the girl's eyes, she quickly turned away.
Grace rolled her eyes; it was going to be a very long day.