Obscure Occurrences |C. BAREBONE|

☛ Thirty-Three ☚

• December, 1926 •

Genevieve approached the Second Salem church with a smile which was soon dismantled. As the small church came into view, Genevieve noticed how destroyed it truly was. Causing her -without question- to sprint inside, ignoring the obvious bodies which littered the floor. It was the first time Genevieve was thankful for a death.

Mary Lou got what she deserved. Genevieve thought as a crumpled Credence came into view... Along with Graves.

All Credence could repeat was his pleading cries, his begging for help. It destroyed Genevieve as she crept closer until the crying suddenly stopped... It was followed by this crack of skin against skin, an obvious slap as a red mark festered on Credence's cheek and Percival grew more frustrated.

"How dare you-" Genevieve began to threaten before Graves pointed his wand toward Genevieve.

"Your sister's in grave danger Credence-" Graves said harshly after roughly slapping the boy's shoulder, "- We need to find her".

And with that, Graves violently gripped Credence and Genevieve before he apparated to some unknown area. 

☛✹☚

Eventually, Credence had led the two wizards toward a destroyed building where only rubble was left. Of course, Graves took the initiative and entered first while Genevieve wrapped both her limbs around Credence's arm as she gripped his hand tightly. She offered him a comfort he had been deprived of and what Graves had cruelly snatched away.

Even when Credence knew Genevieve was an accomplice of Graves, he refused to think she would betray him once again. And Genevieve liked to think things could just remain in the dark, ignorant to Credence. But she couldn't just let Grindlewald poison his mind, especially when it came to them. Grindlewald could do what he wanted, but he wasn't going to pull Genevieve down with him.

"Credence" she called, stopping him and turning Credence around to face her.

"Yes" he mumbled quietly.

"I...-" Genevieve gulped down her fear, "- I want you to know that everything I said was my truth. Graves didn't put any words into my mouth... It was all me".

Initially, Credence didn't know what to think as Genevieve continued into the house. And he didn't exactly know what was awaiting him inside. But, he knew it wasn't pretty.

As they all climbed the stairs -Credence guarding Genevieve from Graves as he walked between them- Graves asked:

"What is this place?".

"Ma adopted Modesty out of here, from a family of twelve-" Credence began quietly,
"- she misses her brothers and sisters, she still talks about them".

"Where is she?" Graves asked curtly from the top of the stairs.

"I don't know".

From there, Graves walked further up the dark and dingy corridor before his harsh confession.

"You're a squib Credence. I could smell it off you the minute I met you".

"W-What?" Credence whimpered as his hand clutched Genevieve's painfully tight.

"You have magical ancestry but no power... Ask Genevieve" Graves slyly added as he searched the house.

But, despite what Grindlewald thought, Credence trusted Genevieve too much as she looked up at him in raw faith. Nobody had looked at him like that. So he believed her.

"But you said you could teach me" Credence announced with worry building in his voice.

"You're unteachable-" Graves said as he approached Credence, "- your mother's dead. That's your reward".

Genevieve had never seen Credence so upset. He physically shook at the truth and was unable to look anywhere but the floor.

"I'm done with you... Come Genevieve" Graves called, but the witch remained firmly beside the squib. And when Grindlewald saw her eyes, he knew she was still loyal, she just wouldn't let go of the boy.

"Suit yourself" he spat before continuing to search for Modesty, calling her like a lost pet.

Once the monstrous wizard was out of view, Genevieve pulled Credence further up the stairs and cupped his cheeks in her palms. 

"Don't listen to him" Genevieve murmured against his jaw, her voice wavering as her eyes flickered between him and the hallway. However, her words didn't seem to reach the boy.

He appeared to vibrate with an anger as the witch stood before him, scared yet oddly comforted as a darkness emanated from the young man.

"Credence?-" She questioned, only to be interrupted by a crackling of the walls. One by one they were crumbling to the floor to reveal a regretful but astonished Graves. He couldn't comprehend what he was seeing. Only that he finally made a mistake.

"Credence-" Graves greeted with an odd respect, "- I owe you an apology".

But Credence didn't hear, he remained wrapped in Genevieve embrace while his tear-glazed eyes remained fixed downward.

"I trusted you-" he whimpered, "- I thought you were my friend... I thought you were different".

"You can control it, Credence" Graves reassured as a dark aura surrounded the witch and himself. But Credence had had enough with Graves' façade.

"I don't think I want to Mr. Graves".

And with a haunting roar, Credence released a black entity which engulfed both him and Genevieve, pushing them past Graves and onto the streets of New York.