Unlikely Companions

Chapter 15 Green Flashes

"He has her!" Credence yelled, pulling at Newt's vest. "We need to go back -!"

They were back inside of Newt's suitcase, along with the Goldstein sisters. Queenie had been crying for a while, and her eyes were rimmed red even though she had stopped sobbing. Tina, instead, let desperation consume her from inside – she was rocking back and forth in her chair.

"She's in the forest, Credence. Grindelwald didn't take her," Newt said for what felt like the thousandth time.

"But –"

"You saw a flash of green, didn't you?" Tina asked. "Are you certain, Credence?"

"Y-yes," he said. "She was bleeding from her shoulder and then he pointed the wand at her and threw a green beam –"

Queenie began sobbing again, louder. Tina reached for Newt, tangling her fingers on the fabric of his coat.

"I can't believe it," Queenie wailed. "She was such a good witch and now she's..."

"She's what?" Credence asked. "Is there something you are not telling me?"

"Credence," Tina said softly, as if asking him to stop.

"He deserves to know," Newt said, who had been the most controlled until then. "Credence, you must understand that green flashes are usually not a good sign."

"Why? What can they do?"

Newt hesitated. When he spoke again, his voice was distant and pasty – as if he were reciting something he once read.

"A green flash is very characteristic of the killing curse. If Mathilda was kneeling there, unmoving, when you saw the flash, and she was gone when the light disappeared –"

"She's dead?" Credence asked, interrupting. "Is that what you are saying?"

Queenie let out another sob, and this time took refuge in her sister's arms, while Tina finally let a single silent tear roll down her face.

"I'm afraid she might be," Newt said, keeping his voice controlled. "I'm sorry, Credence."

He was processing everything, slowly. That's why Mathilda hadn't gotten up. That was why the sisters were crying. That's why Newt's voice was so distant.

"No," Credence said. "She can't be. She's strong, she was holding him off!"

"No one has been able to survive the killing curse," Newt said. "And if she was injured, it would have only made it harder for her to disapparate."

"But –"

Newt shrugged, and Credence saw how the tears started to roll down his face as well.

"No," he yelled. "I'm sure that if we go back, she'll be there – alive and well. We only left her behind and we need to find her."

"All you'll find is her body," Tina said. "It's better, Credence, if your last memory of her is a good one."

"A good one?" he said, incredulous. "That wasn't a good moment. He – Grindelwald – would have killed us both if..."

He wasn't able to finish. If he would have killed them both, then he would have also been able to kill her as she stood alone.

"Credence is right," Queenie said suddenly. "We can't leave her body there, she'll be eaten by beasts or worse... And Tilda deserves better than that."