Chapter 10 - Freedom

"You don't have to go back, Credence," she said softly, sitting beside him as the moon crested the hilltop. "We don't have to go back."

She had seen the way he looked at her after the audience had gone home, a mixture of terrible rage and hatred causing him to shake from head to toe. And yet his eyes spoke in such an opposing manner, revealing his vulnerability, begging for an escape from this hell. She knew right then and there that they had to leave, even if it was just for one night.

Taking him by the hand, they fled into the city, her steps faltering as her body began to change. They were able to make it into a deserted alley when her ankles fused together, smooth scales rapidly spreading from the tips of her toes to her lower legs, and suddenly she fell forward, the Obscurial seizing her around the waist to keep her from hitting the ground.

He held her for a moment before she transformed in his arms, forcing him to let go, her weight too much for a single man to carry.

Terrified, Credence pressed his back against the wall, head turning as he looked towards the street, praying that no one saw them. It was just another reminder that they were unfit to live alongside normal human beings. And if they couldn't exist amongst magical and nonmagical people, where could they go? Was there even a place for them?

Her body thrashed against the earth, twisting and writhing as she was forced into a second transformation. Within seconds she had reverted back to her human form, her chest heaving as she lay in a heap on her side.

"Credence," she whispered breathlessly, lifting a trembling hand off the ground. He knelt beside her and felt the warmth of her fingers against his cheek. "Hold on, Credence," she told him, grasping his wrist and Apparating onto the rooftop of the nearest building.

The world around them faded in an instant, only to reappear moments later as their feet made contact with the wooden surface.

Credence stumbled forward, still unused to this strange mode of transportation. He preferred flying under his own power, but he didn't trust himself not to lose control and demolish the city in the process.

Beside him, his companion gasped, clutching her chest and sitting down heavily on the roof. "I really don't like it when that happens," she said between labored breaths. She swallowed hard, then turned to look at him. "Are you alright now, Credence?"

Was there ever a time when he was alright? No, he didn't think so. But he did feel better out here in the fresh air, away from the noise and smell of the circus. So he nodded, still somewhat unsure of himself. He hadn't been outside like this since Mary Lou passed away, a thought which made him quake with fear, head bowed as he sank to the ground beside her.

Credence hugged his legs and rested the side of his head on his knees, facing away from her. He'd forgotten how big the world was, and for the next several minutes he did nothing but stare at the neighboring buildings, feeling very much like a lost child who had wandered away from his mother.

Silence stretched between them, the rising winds catching strands of hair and ruffling them against his scalp. His mind began to wander, thinking back on everything he'd been through during the past few months. There was always someone there who used him, seeking to manipulate and control, never caring for his well being or seeing him for the person he was beneath the swirling mask of darkness.

"They said I am a miracle," he murmured, his voice no more than a whisper in the dark. "But can someone be a miracle and a mistake at the same time?"

The Maledictus moved closer, her brow furrowed with concern. "Please don't say that. I know there are times when you feel like you don't belong, like everything is wrong and there's nothing you can do to make it better." Her gaze drifted towards the ground, sadness creeping into her voice as she continued speaking. "Believe me, I've been there. I understand. I don't even know where we are right now, or where we'll go from here. But it doesn't matter. As long as I'm with you, I'll be alright." She leaned against the Obscurial, her arms around him, resting her head on his shoulder. "We'll be alright," she whispered, as if trying to convince herself that this was the truth. "Somehow we'll get through this."

He was still a moment longer, watching as the skies gradually lightened. Shades of gold and crimson replaced the darkened hues that spread across the horizon, and when he looked over at her he saw that she was smiling, comforted by the light and his presence.

Slowly, she got to her feet and walked towards the edge of the roof, hair and dress fluttering on the wind. If they left, they would have the freedom to experience moments like this whenever they wanted, rising to face the dawn in a world of magic and opportunity. Credence knew it wouldn't be easy, but at this point anything was better than that carnival of forgotten and exploited misfits.

He lifted his head, watching the silhouette of her body move against the circle of the sun. It was time to move on, away from the horrors of their past and on into a brighter reality. One where they could hopefully find their place in the wizarding world, somewhere their talents would be appreciated.