Obscure Occurrences |C. BAREBONE|

☛ Thirty ☚

• December, 1926 •

Today, Langdon Shaw was leading the Barebone's excitedly into Shaw Newsagents, this is where he would introduce the Second Salem family to his Father. Hopefully, he would sell the story of strange happenings to Henry Shaw and prove that witches existed amongst the people of New York.

However, all the Barebone's were greeted with was odd stares and disgusted expressions. Many employees hoped the family would be removed promptly from the building. But with Langdon still in the way, leading the freaks through the bustle of workers, no one could stop him. While Mary Lou hastily followed behind the younger man, Credence clutched his leaflets close to his chest, along with his broad-rimmed black hat. The boy was attempting to clean himself up a little, he didn't know why, maybe it's because the Shaw name sounded familiar... Like something Credence surely shouldn't like.

Without warning, Langdon Shaw burst through a pair of doors which opened to a huge office full with two men. One, being the head of Shaw news and the other... It was him. In tidal waves the image of last December seeped into Credence's mind. He could see Genevieve smiling happily, her laugh ringing through the air as that man -sitting on the sofa- hugged Genevieve idly to himself.

Credence felt the darkness then, just like he did before. The entity living in the depth of him scared Credence. When he felt it he calmed himself the best he could, trying not to release destruction upon New York. But sometimes he couldn't help it.

He didn't want to hurt anybody.

"Your brother and I are busy here, Langdon. Working on his campaign. We don't have time for this" Mr Shaw Sr chastised his son, his gruff tone much like Mary Lou's before Langdon shot back at his Father.
His voice was angry yet full of a desperation. Langdon only wanted his Father's attention, to no longer be drowned in the shadow of his brother. But that couldn't be, not when Mr. Shaw used his light only to make his oldest son bigger and greater. There was no space for Langdon. Credence understood the need. He wanted to be wanted. And he was, now he was every time he saw a certain witch. Genevieve wasn't evil, she loved him and he believed it. Genevieve still didn't know what it was. She couldn't understand if it was love or just extreme like; nevertheless, she was never going to leave him behind, not like she did before.

Before Credence could pull himself back to reality, a leaflet had fallen from his grip, right when his family were leaving for home.

Instantly, Credence stiffened as Henry Shaw Jr picked the leaflet from the floor. For some strange reason, in that moment he remembered Genevieve, his once bride-to-be. The greying man never thought he would get so lucky, it was just too good to be true.

It was December twenty-fourth, 1925 And Henry Shaw Jr had a wedding ring safely secured in his coat pocket. He could feel his body humming, his heart racing with wild anticipation; Henry was confident she would say yes. He could just imagine her as he waited on her doorstep. Henry could already feel her arms tightly wrapped around him and her brown curls coming undone.

The man was gonna have it all.

However, When Victor Burnett opened that door, Henry could already tell that something was wrong.

"What's happened? Is everything all right? Is it Genevieve?" Henry worried to no avail. His only answer being:

"She's gone Mr. Shaw. I'm sorry but my daughter is gone. I hope you could find it in your heart to forgive me...  Forgive her".

Once the door was closed on him, Henry buzzed with anger, unable to organise his thoughts as he suddenly sped down the street, pulled the ring from his pocket and threw it to the gutter.

He didn't want to look back to see the glimmering jewel, to see the secret promise of forever, his heart broken. Like he said... it was too good to be-

His mind was pulled from the memory once he heard a whimper from the boy before him. Everything about the Barebone boy was dark and sorrowful, it could make the jolliest of people depressed. Plus, there was the fact that he believed in witches, mystical beings out to kill them all.

But, there was one thing Henry could be jealous of. Credence got the girl.

Henry didn't know that of course. So he approached Credence Barebone with an exaggerated arrogance and, with a crumple of the leaflet, Henry hissed:

"Here you go freak, why don't you put that in the trash where you belong".

If Genevieve was there, she would've cursed her ex-suitor to hell. She never saw this side of the man but she would only want to hurt him from there. But, Credence carried on silently, ignoring the insult as Modesty intertwined her hand with his own, offering a small ounce of comfort to her adoptive-brother.

Am I really a freak?