Niffler on the Run
Chapter 3
Eli sticks to Newt's side as they make their way through New York's streets.
Newt smiles down at them, glad that they've calmed down from their experience at customs. Her passport was a success.
The sound of shouting then meets his ears and he unconsciously moves towards his, Eli sticking to his heels.
Newt spots a rally, reading the signs. 'New Salem Philanthropic Society'. He was simply curious. Eli grabs the sleeve of Newt's coat as to not lose him when Newt heads into the crowd.
Eli ends up bumping into a woman eating a hot dog with mustard. She's frightened for a moment when her eyes lock with the woman's but her fingers grasping Newt's coat merely pulls her along and the woman is forgotten in the crowd.
"But where there is light there is shadow, friend. Something is stalking our city, wreaking destruction and then disappearing without a trace..." The woman gathers the crowds attention. "We have to fight- join us, the Second Salemers, in our fight!"
A man brushes through the crowd and trips on Newt's case. Eli jumps in fright, clinging to Newt.
"I'm so sorry- my case-" Newt hastily apologizes.
The man spots Eli and gently smiles at her. "No harm done."
The man falling had drew attention to Eli and Newt, causing the woman to call out to them. "You, friend! What drew you to our meeting?" She calls.
Eli gives three sharp tugs to Newt's coat, a signal that she needed to leave at that very moment and was very uncomfortable.
"Oh... I was just... passing..." Newt struggles to come up with an answer, more concerned on getting Eli out of the situation.
"Are you a seeker? A seeker after the truth?" She questioned.
"I'm more of a chaser, really," Newt admits, struggling to get away.
"Keep an eye on your young one. There is danger in the city," The woman eyes Eli, causing Newt great discomfort.
The woman continues her rant, letting Newt duck down, grab his case and scoop the panicking child into his arms as he maneuvers his way out of the crowd.
He manages to get up near the entrance of the bank and out of the crowd before he sets the child down. "Eli? Can you hear me?"
"P-Pickett!" The child manages between gasps for air.
"He's under your cap," Newt tugs them into a secluded space before pulling the hat from her head to reveal a head full of curly brown hair. Pickett perks up from where he was happy nestled in her curls.
Newt picks the Bowtruckle up and deposits him into Eli's shaking cupped hands. Eli gently strokes the top of Pickett's head.
"Are you alright now?" Newt questioned, carding his fingers through Eli's now unruly hair.
Eli opens her mouth to answer when something catches Newt's eyes.
There, busy shoving a beggar's coins into a pouch on it's belly, is a Niffler that Newt could of sworn was in his case a moment ago.
Newt knows that he has to get the Niffler back into his case and running through crowds wasn't going to help Eli.
He sets the suitcase onto the ground and pops it open. "The Niffler's gotten out. Would you go in and count the animals please?"
Eli doesn't question him and steps into the suitcase before descending down the stairs.
Newt latches the case closed and hurries after the Niffler.
A suspicious bank employee eyes Newt. "Can I help you, sir?"
"No, I was just... just... waiting..." Newt motions towards a bench and sits next to the man from earlier.
His eyes rake through the crowds in search of the missing Niffler when his eyes fall onto a boy clutching to his mothers dress.
The man next to him notices.
"You're a dad, aren't you? The way you looked at that little boy, I can tell. Where are they?" The man doesn't recognize him from earlier.
"Oh, er," Newt looks around. "School?"
"What brings you here?" Jacob pulls him into conversation as Newt looks on distractedly.
--The Child in the Suitcase--
"What are you doing in New York anyway?" Tina Goldstein questions Newt as she guides him through busy traffic on their way to MACUSA headquarters.
"I came to buy a birthday present," Newt answers truthfully.
"Couldn't you of done that in London?" Tina questioned.
"No, there's only one breeder of Appaloosa Puffskeins in the world and he lives in New York, so no..." Newt knew all about Puffskeins and wanted to obtain one to give to Eli. Her very own magical creature to care for.
They finally arrive at the basement after being dismissed with Madam Picquery.
They make their way into the wand permit office which was only slightly larger than a cupboard.
A man appears, looking for Tina who had ducked under her desk.
"Goldstein!" He barks and Tina guiltily slowly emerges from behind the desk.
Graves then appears and Newt stands awkwardly as they converse.
"Mr Graves, sir, this is Mr Scamander- he has a crazy creature in his case and it got out and caused mayhem in a bank.
"Let's see the little guy," Graves moves towards the case as Newt begins to panic.
Tina opens the case before she realizes its contents.
Newt's stomach drops when he spots nothing but baked goodies inside.
Eli.
Newt feels like throwing up but settles from stumbling away from the suitcase, tripping over nothing and landing on his back, all while staring at the suitcase in horror.
Graves notices nothing, dismissing Tina and walking away.
Eli was still in the suitcase and now in some random strangers possession.
A dangerous child was on the loose. If Eli lost control of her emotions for long enough or if her body felt threatened, her obscurus could bubble up and add more damage.
"My case-" Newt blurts in horror. "My creatures."
He doesn't mention the last but most important thing out loud.
'My child'
