Obsession {~Gradence~}

Let me protect you {3}

The next day, during the usual Anti Witchcraft meeting, all that Credence could do, was to think about that man named Percival Graves. He stayed up almost the whole night thinking about what he said. He was also thinking about today when they'll meet again.

He was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he didn't even notice his mother standing right next to him and calling his name. When he came back to normal, he jerked his head towards her.

"Credence, didn't you hear what I said?" asked Mary Lou slightly mad.

"Sorry Ma, I-.." started Credence and was cut short by his mother.

"We'll discuss this when we get home. Now, get up there and tell them." she jerked her head slightly towards the bench she was standing on a few moments ago so that people could hear and see her better.

Even though she wasn't specific about what he had to say, Credence knew what she was talking about. Every once in a while, he has to tell a little speech which, of course, Mary Lou wrote and made him learn by heart. It was about his real mother and what an abomination she was and that with Mary Lou's help, Credence is walking on the right path now. And he had to say that everyone should be careful because witches are very dangerous creatures and no one should trust them or even be near them.

Credence slowly got up on the bench and listened to Mary Lou add a few more words before he could speak. He looked at the crowd and someone particularly caught his attention. A man in the very back of the crowd. A tall man with raven black hair, smiling at him.

When Mary Lou called his name, meaning that he could begin speaking, he hesitated.

How could he say that awful speech when now, he didn't mean any of those things anymore? He doesn't know what kind of witch his real mother was, but he really wants to believe that she was a good one.

He turned to Mary Lou and muttered: "I can't."

Mary Lou's eyes widened with fury. "Credence," she said in a threatening voice and Credence just sat there shaking his head and began to regret doing this.

She grabbed his arm and pulled him down, gave him an ugly look and stepped up on the bench again. He looked for Graves, but the crowd was too big to see him.

After the meeting was over, Modesty raised her hand and Credence took it in his. Even his sister looked scared of what was going to happen to him. On their way home, he told Modesty to go up in Chastity's room and cover her ears. When they arrived home, and Credence was left alone with Mary Lou downstairs, Credence took off his belt, looking at his feet and handed it to Mary Lou. She gave him 5 hard hits in each palm, 5 on the back and one across the face. Credence was crying and screaming after every hit, but Mary Lou couldn't care less that he was in pain.

When she was done, she just handed him back his belt and said "Now leave and hand out the leaflets and don't you come back until you're done." her voice was nonchalant and Credence could swear that he saw a smirk on her face.

Credence got up, wiped his tears away and the blood on his face and left taking the leaflets with him.

He went to meet with Mr. Graves, even though it was still a bit early, but he was going to wait there for him. And when he reached the alleyway, he was surprised to see Mr. Graves there, pacing up and down. When he noticed Credence, his jaw dropped. Graves stared at him as Credence got closer to him. When they were one arm length away, Grave said "Credence...She did this to you, didn't she?" he cupped Credence's face with his hands and pulled him into a hug.

Credence started crying again and Graves kept whispering into his ear that it's okay now and that he's got him. Credence rested his head on the man's shoulder and slowly, his tears stopped.