Thanks to Mason, my beta!

Credence was walking down the street. His scarred hands were hidden in his pockets and he kept looking over his shoulder to check if someone was following him. But no one was there; it was night and the small alley was deserted.

He stopped and leaned against a wall, his eyes closed. He knew that he couldn't stay out for much longer, or his mother would be mad at him yet again. He flinched as he heard a sound and opened his eyes.

In front of him there stood a man who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. His hair was dark black and his eyes were like little holes that stared at him. He was clothed in black robes and was wearing a tie. He didn't move, but he also didn't take his eyes off of Credence. Scared, Credence made a step backwards. But the man put on a smile and held up his hand to greet the boy.

Unsure, Credence held his hand up too, but he quickly drew it back, reminding himself of the scars that adorned his skin. His eyes wandered to the ground and stopped as he spotted the thin belt that held the man's robes together. It was a brown, leathery belt. Credence's eyes twitched.

Belt.

Suddenly, he wasn't able to think of anything else. He closed his eyes and opened them again, but as he opened them, he saw his own belt that was holding his trousers. He flinched and jerked his head backwards in pain.

Take it off, he heard a voice say. The voice belonged to Mary Lou.

His mother.

Credence shook his head. "No," he whispered. "No..." He tried to focus on the man that stood in front of him, but he couldn't stop staring at the belt. Its buckle was out of silver metal. Clank. Clank. Credence heard the metal striking in his head. He was shaking and sank to the ground.

"No..."

When he opened his eyes again, the alley and the strange man had disappeared. He was back home and his mother's cold eyes stared at him.

"Ma," Credence heard himself say.

She stretched out her arm.

"Take it off," she said. Her voice was no more than a whisper, but to Credence it felt like she was shouting.

Credence hid his hands in his pockets. Mary Lou stood there, waiting.

Credence swallowed. From behind he heard his sister approaching. Mary Lou said something to her without taking her eyes of Credence.

Slowly, Credence started fumbling with his buckle. The metal felt cold and hard in his hands.

"Credence." Someone touched his shoulder. Credence blinked. Before him stood the man in the black robe. But before Credence could see him properly, everything got blurry again.

He was now standing in his room, his hands stretched out. Mary Lou was standing right next to him, the long belt in her hand. Credence's fingers were shaking. She raised her hand.

"Ma." A whisper came out of Credence's mouth before the leather hit his skin. He screamed out. His cry was audible down the entire alley. Credence was squirming on the ground, his entire body quivering. He wanted to get the picture out of his head, he didn't want to think about it any more... But when he opened his eyes he was in that room with his mother, who didn't stop beating him and the pain got worse with every blow...

Tears were streaming down his face.

Back in his room, he broke down on the floor. The throbbing in his hand wouldn't stop, but there was no more pain. Mary Lou went to the door and left Credence down on the ground, his hands covered in blood. He was all alone.

All alone.

Credence cried out. Something was touching his hands. Credence tried to open his eyes and see what it was, but he wasn't able to. All he knew was that suddenly the pain got less. Someone patted his head.

Credence opened his eyes. He was back in the street. The man was sitting next to him and pocketed something that looked like a long stick.

Credence's eyes wandered to his hands. There were no scars left. The skin was pale and free from blood.

"Credence," the man said. "It is Credence, isn't it?"

Credence bowed his head and stared on the ground. "Please don't hurt me," he whispered. "Please don't..."

The man got up. "Credence," he said from above. "Get up."

Credence was shaking as he got to his feet. His hands twitched and he felt how he lost control over his body.

His hands moved close to his trousers and he covered his belt with them.

"Credence," the man said again. "I won't hurt you."

Credence barely heard him. His eyes got stuck with the man's heavy leather belt.

"My name is Percival Graves," the man said in a louder voice. "I'm here to help you."

Credence's eyes widened. Once more he heard the loud banging sound in his head and his hands couldn't stop shaking.

His legs gave in and he sank to his knees. "Please, Ma. I am so sorry. Please don't hate me."

"Credence, can you hear me?" The man came closer and Credence tried his best to focus on him.

"Help me," he croaked. "Please, I'll do anything you say... Help me," he whimpered.

"Shh." The man carefully stroked his back. "I want to help you, Credence. I won't leave you here alone."
Credence leaned against his shoulder, sobbing.

"Shh," Percival Graves said. "It's okay. I got you." He patted his head. "I got you. I won't hurt you." The tears slowly decreased and Credence's breathing grew steady again. His hands stopped shaking.

"Credence, I am so glad I found you. You are a special boy. Your mother doesn't know how special you are. She has no idea. But I know. I've been looking for you. And I have selected you to help me with something – to be my assistant." He paused for a moment. "My friend. Do you think we can do that?"

Credence looked at him. "Your friend?" he whispered.

Percival Graves nodded. "I trust you, Credence," he said quietly. "I've chosen you. Now you can choose."

Credence was running down the street. He didn't know what time it was, exactly. But he knew that it was late. Probably too late.

Panting, he stopped at the corner. He looked back. A part of him didn't want to believe what had just happened. It had seemed just like a dream. But when he looked down on his healed hands, he knew that it hadn't been a dream. It had all been real.

Quickly, he walked to the grey building that was his home. If he had any more luck today, it wasn't as late as he thought he was.

The corridor was deserted. Credence took his jacket and shoes off and walked up his staircase. There was no sign of Mary Lou or his sisters. He went to his room and opened his door.

At once, he froze. His mother was sitting on his bed, staring at him as he entered.

Credence bowed his head.

"You are late," she said.