The Cell Day One:
Iris cracked her heavy eyes open and saw the phial containing Percival's memory on the desk beside her. The sun from the window behind her caught the glass, making the silvery memory shimmer as it swirled around inside. Like a storm in a bottle just waiting to be unleashed, Iris thought.
No doubt MACUSA Aurors were already swarming the hospital along with the press since the news had broken about Percival regaining consciousness. Everyone seemed to have a stake in his fate. After all, there was always profit to be gained from the misfortunes of others, she thought bitterly.
Snatching up the phial and using some force, she pushed the glass stopper off with her thumb, accidentally breaking it off rather than removing it. The sharp glass sliced the pad of her finger open. Crying out in frustration, she slapped her palm down hard on the table while, in the other hand, still holding the precious memory safe between her bleeding fingers.
She could not allow her anxiety to keep her from doing what was necessary. Sucking in a resolute breath, she pressed onwards and poured the liquid into the pensive before plunging headfirst into the memory.
She found herself in Percival's handsome flat on the Upper East Side. She heard the turning of the lock at the front door and saw Percival walk in, only to be knocked unconscious by a jinx from an assailant in the hallway.
As Percival fell to the floor in front of her, Iris almost instinctively stepped back as Grindelwald entered the flat and shut the door closed behind him. The white-haired wizard knelt down next to Percival, his wand in hand, and then everything went black.
Iris waited for another room to appear, some other scene, but she stood there suspended in darkness. It was then she realized she was in the cell in the basement where they had found Percival. Her heart began pounding anxiously as she extended her hands and she felt around for a wall to brace against. She needed to get her bearings.
Percival had lived for months in this darkness. She could feel the horror of this revelation burrowing itself deep inside of her. It was something she knew would stick in her mind and eat away at her thoughts for the rest of her life.
Without warning, the charmed door opened, revealing a bright square of light and a tall figure beyond. Grindelwald disguised as Percival stepped inside. Both she and the real Mr. Graves (who was on the floor), were temporarily blinded by the light. Despite being stunned for a moment, Percival shot to his feet, his hands tied behind his back, and threw himself against Grindelwald like a battering ram. The dark wizard was knocked into the wall, and Percival made a break for the door. Suddenly, the magical opening snapped closed right in front of him. Grindelwald stepped away from the wall and brushed himself off. Pulling out his wand, he wordlessly cast a Lumos charm and tossed the ball of light in the air so that it hung in the center of the room.
"It would not be wise to run, Mr. Graves," he informed him. "Even if you got through the door, you'd find the way quite difficult."
Percival breathed heavily, staring at the wall where there once was an escape. Iris could see the fury burning bright in his eyes.
"I want you to know, I do have great respect for you, Mr. Graves. I don't wish to hurt you." Grindelwald told him, seeming to be honest. "However, if you continue to be troublesome, I cannot promise I won't."
Percival turned to the dark wizard then, his anger thinly veiled. "You're him, aren't you? Gellert Grindelwald."
A ghost of a smile crept onto Grindelwald's face. "Indeed, I am."
"No one is going to believe you're me," Percival said, indignantly.
Grindelwald let out a dry, humorless laugh. "Why do you think I picked you- the unquestioned leader with no family, who is completely detached from his colleagues? Even your second-in-command seems to run away from you at every turn. You are an easy role to play, Percival Graves."
This insult was cutting and, in a way, Grindelwald was right. Iris unconsciously wrung her hands together guiltily, knowing she was part of the reason why Percival had been so alone during this time. From the outside, it looked as though he had no attachments within MACUSA- that the job was all he had. Because of her absence in his life, she had left him vulnerable and open to this attack. If she had not fought with him months before, maybe this would never have happened.
"What is your goal by becoming me, Grindelwald?" Percival asked, pressing for more specific information.
"To create enough chaos that will, in turn, reorder the world as it should be." Replied Grindelwald, his words both lofty and vague. It was the mission statement of a manifesto Percival was certain had been swirling around in the terrorist's head for decades.
"Wizard supremacy over No Majs." Muttered Percival. He knew this man's MO and had been keeping a close eye on his movements in Europe. This sudden appearance in New York was a sharp detour from his campaign to dominate the political speres of Europe, however.
"The American Wizarding community has been quivering in the shadows for far too long. The way tensions are now, it will only take a little push to drive them to do what ultimately must be done." Grindelwald explained. It was clear enough in his tone that he was disgusted with the state of things in America. Still, it seemed he also saw the potential to move things along quicker given he provided a spark to start his movement.
"You intend to gaslight the President and MACUSA officials in order to turn them against the No Maj community," said Percival, realizing that taking his place as the DMLE would put Grindelwald in the perfect position to execute his plan.
"Natural law demands our dominance over those weaker than us," Grindelwald explained. "The No Maj's are filthy, cruel, things who've only led us to war and misery. I would hope you'd understand, considering your pureblood lineage."
The mention of his bloodline made him grit his teeth. There was nothing illustrious about his parents, certainly not his father. If anything, they proved the opposite of Grindelwald's point.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I don't." Percival told him defiantly, he stood a little straighter then.
Iris felt her heart swell with pride only to have it spiral into a freefall as Grindelwald raised his wand and sent Percival crashing into the stone wall once more. The bound man connected with a hard thud and fell to the floor.
Iris wrapped her arms around herself as she watched him slowly roll over onto his knees, his breathing heavy.
"I am so sorry to hear that," muttered Grindelwald before leaving the room. The portal door shut quickly behind him. Iris and Percival were plunged into darkness once more.
This was only the first day of Percival's captivity and Iris found she was already crying.
AN: I'm Back :P When I first posted this update, the font got all messed up. Huge thank you to teamXtrek for bringing it to my attention!
