Arcane | Enoch O'Connor

Ten - "Neither do I, Gracie..."

"Uh, Dad, I don't feel too good..."

"Neither do I, Gracie." That only means one thing; the monsters are already here and there's no escaping them. Dad rushed over to me, hugging me as if he would never see me again. What if I actually never saw him again? How could I be so negative, of course Dad wouldn't get himself killed by a bunch of hollows when he's destroy an entire population of them in his earlier days. He pulled away before turning away on his heel. "I'll tell Miss Peregrine that I'm off. Stay in the loop and look after yourself. I'll see you soon, no more than two or three days."

I put my head in my hands, closing my eyes.

"When can I sleep again?" I mumbled, not intending for Enoch to hear or respond. He picked me up and carried me around the room before I went downstairs to see the others on Enoch's back. Surprisingly enough for his slim figure, he was actually quite strong. Moments after I was set down, all the younger children squished me with love and affection. I couldn't wait to stay in the loop with all my friends.

"Oh and Gracie, we can sleep later." Enoch laughed from behind me after I was free from Claire, Olive and the twin's embrace. Miss Peregrine announced that they were heading back and she also suggested that I should pack so I could move into Emma's room. I pulled my dark, luscious locks into a loose messy bun only for it to be pulled right out again. Once they had all left, Enoch spun me around, his hands on my hips. "I like your hair down, it's pretty. Also, I can't believe this is actually happening. No more travelling back and forth through loops to see each other."

Enoch planted a kiss on my lips before allowing me to dress and pack. I didn't really want to dress in future clothes whilst in 1940, so I packed two outfits, leaving the rest in Dad's suitcase. He would be coming home soon, so I dragged the suitcase down the stairs with mine so he could pick it up at the house. I felt my life flash before my eyes as the suitcases toppled down each step. Groaning, I picked myself up and the suitcases before walking down the the loop - my new home.

The same pit-stomach feeling I had earlier, lingered now. I took a breathe remembering the familiar feeling from my childhood when the hollow was in our house. As my brain filled with memories, notions and future predictions, I wondered if my dad would be alright. He left in a rush to find this monster and to kill it, with barely anything to stab it with. The further I began to think, I began to question my future. What if both my parents are killed by hollows? Dad is a hollow hunter but so was Abe... it's a possibility I hated to think of.

A steaming cup of freshly made coffee was thrust into our hands by Olive before she ran into the garden to join Claire's tea party. The struggle of lugging the cases upstairs continued and I flopped onto the bed that was made for me, grateful of the fact that I could sleep. However much I tried I failed. I eventually came to the conclusion that sleeping would have to wait for later and it was time to take a walk by the beach anyway. Thinking Enoch was trailing behind, I skipped down the stairs, two at a time.

"Grace, is Enoch with you? It's time for our daily stroll." Miss Peregrine motioned to the door which was wide open allowing sunlight to pour in. We had already made it halfway down the beach when Enoch arrived out of breathe. I wondered what took him so long until he began to explain between heavy breaths.

"I was just checking the peculiar calendar, which has been moved yet again and talking about birthdays, when is yours?" He panted, dark curls hanging over his brows. I had the urge to brush them out of his face but he looked so cute.

"January seventeenth."

"Oh so not that far away." Enoch mumbled and the volume of his voice lowered to inaudible. I clasped his hand as the September sun smothered us in warmth. Birds chirped overhead, competing with the pair of us as we ran down the beach, trying to catch up with the rest of the children. Hugh and Fiona were the first to notice us and it was then that it dawned on the couple that Enoch was still holding my hand. Their eyes traveled down and the boy dropped my hand quicker than one could blink and I felt my heart sink ever so slightly. I know there shouldn't have been anything to be disappointed by but I couldn't help it.

I felt sick as Enoch repeated the question he had just asked out loud.

"You want me to repeat the entire story again?" I nodded vigorously. "I was getting our drinks and Horace... he told Miss Peregrine that Jake..." I felt the tears begin to sting my eyes; I don't think I was prepared to lose the best parent I could ever ask for yet. I forced the tears back, for the sake of hope. I paced the room thinking to myself. He can't be dead and Horace must have simply had a bad dream. Jake Portman was fighting a hollow, a monster he has killed many times prior. He was not fighting in a war were there was a low chance of survival. He was fighting a species he had already wiped out many years ago.

"Is there a chance you can... bring him to life permanently, if we find out he is genuinely dead of course?"

"If I could bring people back to life permanently, do you think that Victor would still be lying in his bed day in, day out?" Enoch snapped which shocked me.

"Sorry for asking." I threw my hands up in surrender before searching for Emma. I might have lost my dad so I definitely don't need Enoch's snappy remarks. When he is out of his mood, then he can come and find me.