Credence vows to fight. He holds Graves' gaze, a tremendous effort for him, and he promises himself to survive. That's what he's done all of his life. With Ma, he'd grit his teeth and hide what he could do, even at the expense of his own memories. Here, he tried his best to adapt to the strange situations thrown at him, including the arrival of who he believes is the original Mr. Graves.

He's dead back home. He's sure of it. But here? Here will be different. Here, with Mr. Graves helping him, he won't be bullied. He won't be ashamed, or scared. Even if it's hard, he wants to find enough courage to do what he can. This village has given him a second chance, he realizes. Maybe he can make it better.

Or maybe these are thoughts far too whimsical for the eldest Barebone child, full of worthless, wasted potential and complete and utter uselessness. Credence's gaze drops, and his hands clasp in front of him.

"I'd rather not talk about it," He says quietly, remembering all too well how it had bled into something else. Something disasterous. He'd turned into a monster.

"What's inside me... I hate it. But sometimes, it's comforting. It was at first." He clenches his fists. "Is that normal?"

He's not normal. Graves had said as much - Graves doesn't have all the answers. And yet Credence digs, desperate and in need of some form of solace.