Afraid

Chapter 10

Jacob came crashing down the steps entering the case, colliding with various objects as he did. He found himself in a small wooden shed, containing a cot, a variety of tools, a desk and quite a bit of equipment. On the desk, there was an old typewriter and a pile of manuscripts. Newt glanced at Jacob, "Will you sit down?"

Jacob collapsed onto a crate. "That's good. Where's Rayla?"

Newt ignored the question and moved forward to examine the bite on Jacob's neck, just a quick glance.

Rayla entered the shed through a small door, grinning widely. Newt headed to his small workstation in a quick stride noticing the smiling girl. He smiled at her, feeling glad that she loves this as much as he does.

"Ah, that's definitely the Murtlap."

"Was there any doubt about it?" Rayla questioned.

He smiled slightly, continuing, "You must particularly susceptible. See, you're a Muggle. So our physiologies are subtly different."

He busied himself at his workstation. Rayla walked to the desk and picked up one of the manuscripts.

"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Nice." She flipped through it, "I could help you with, you know... It wouldn't be the best cause I don't know much, but still."

Newt glanced at her, "Uh, yes. That'd be great."

Rayla smiled and continued to read through the manuscript. Newt took the poultice he had made and rapidly applied it to the bite on Jacob's neck.

"Oww..."

"Stay still. Now that should stop the sweating," he handed Jacob some pills, "and one of those should sort the twitch."

Jacob was hesitant to take the pills, but shrugged and swallowed them. Newt, who had removed his waistcoat, undone his bow tie, lowered his suspenders and taken off his vest, picked a meat cleaver and cut up a chunk of meat from a large carcass, then tossed them into a bucket. He handed it to Jacob.

"Take that."

Jacob looked disgusted. Rayla tried not to laugh at his face. Newt, not noticing this, had his attention on a small spiny cocoon, which he slowly began to squeeze. As he did so, the cocoon produced a luminous venom, which Newt collected in a glass vial.

"Come on..."

Jacob leaned to the side, trying to get a better view of the cocoon.

"What you got there?"

"Well this, the locals call "Swooping Evil", not the friendliest of names. It's quite an agile fellow."

As to demonstrate, Newt flicked the cocoon, which unraveled, dangling from his finger. Rayla's face lit up with excitement and curiosity.

"I've been studying him. And I am pretty sure his venom could be quite useful if properly diluted. Just to remove bad memories, you know."

Suddenly, Newt threw the Swooping Evil toward Jacob. The creature burst from its cocoon, revealing a batlike, spiky, colorful creature, and it howled in Jacob's face before Newt called it back.

Jacob recoiled quite dramatically, whereas Rayla was laughing with delight at the sight of the beautiful creature. Newt was smiling, this was clearly his idea of a small joke.

"Probably shouldn't let him loose in here though."

Newt opened the door of his shed and walked out. Rayla followed, practically bouncing.

"Come on!"

Jacob, startled, slowly followed the duo out.

The place was huge. Each of Newt's creatures had its own perfect, realized habitat. Jacob stepped into this world, spinning slowly, amazed.