The Girl of Shadows [COMPLETE]

Epilogue - Nikolas Baker

["I'll see you when the road decides it's time for our paths to cross again." -B.M.]

December 6, 2188

Niko's POV

The sky fell dark near the end of 5 o'clock. By then, mom had made the most amazing dinner. Rolls, pot roast, carrots, asparagus. All of which I enjoyed to the greatest extent.

The room smelled of gingerbread. It was lit with the enormous twelve foot Christmas Tree we had in the corner of the den. Colorful and festive was all I felt every time I was in there.

And you could hear faint Christmas Carols playing on the radio. It did get annoying to hear the same ones play on loop for hours on end.

I set the table, put my napkin in my lap, and waited for my parents to arrive for their feast.

I stuffed my face with the steaming delectables, grinning widely at their riveting taste. Mom chuckled quietly at my actions, while dad stayed his usual grumpy self. I adapted to ignoring that.

"Is it good, honey?" She asked, genuinely curious.

I nodded ferociously, giving her that adorable little kid smile. She returned my gesture and began to eat as well. Dad didn't move, as he was too occupied reading the newspaper. He'd occasionally take a sip of his water, but he never touched his food.

Silence was echoing everywhere. I couldn't hear anything but the carols in the distance. Plates clinking from forks and spoons was all the noise that would occasionally return after a while.

"How was work, dear?" Mom asked Dad. He didn't reply. She sighed and repositioned herself.

"Was fine." He sounded muffled. He glanced at her for a split second before returning to the article he had been caught up in. I started to hum a carol, as it was my favorite, but dad slammed his fist on the table.

"Stop, Niko." Dad firmly said. I slouched in my chair.

"Be nice, Will." Mom nervously glanced back and forth between dad and I. I didn't know exactly why, but I was too tired to notice.

"I'll do whatever the hell I want." He mumbled. I jumped, surprised and nervous about Mom's reaction. She gasped and glared at him angrily. I tried to block out their potential fight by only focusing on the music that I heard in the background.

"Will!" Dad glanced up. Mom was furious.
"Niko, are you full, honey?" She was trying to mask the fact she was angry, but I knew she was under the surface. I was young, not stupid.

I nodded and wiped my mouth. I then rose to my feet to play with my toys by the fireplace.

My parents started their daily argument from there. I heard yelling, gasps, cries, and everything in between. Blocking that out wasn't half as easy, but I tried my best. Then Dad sprinted up the stairs.

I turned to see Mom bawl into her hands on the floor. I tried to comfort her within seconds of viewing it, but she shook me off. I winced, then hearing Dad's booming footsteps reach the landing of the stairs. He was huffing and puffing as he descended them, holding a grey firearm in his hands. My eyes went wide and so did Mom's. I froze from fear.

Then the tears fell down my face within seconds. Mom held her hands up as he pointed it at her, fuming meticulously.

"You're a cheating whore!" He screamed. I wailed.

"Shut UP, NIKO!" I covered my mouth as he yelled at me, collapsing to the carpet below me.

"Will, it was a one time thing!" She argued, stepping back slowly with her hands in the air still. All was silent.

"But with my BOSS?!" He said back. She sniffled. He tilted himself over as he pointed that part out.

"You don't need to do this. We can work this out together."

"No. You say that every time, so I have to tell you goodbye." Then the thunder that echoed in my ears started.

Mom dropped to the floor as I observed my father. He held the firearm in his hands, eying it guiltily. He began to sob as I tried waking Mom up. He gave himself the same treatment that Mom had. I was sitting on the floor, covered in blood and heavy tears. I stayed there for a while before a knock was heard at the door.

It was the police. I was only seven, so when they busted through our apartment door I began to cry again, but much heavier. They took me out of the house and wrapped yellow tape around the door. I heard the low octaves of police walkie talkies everywhere as they tried to question me.

"He's just a child, leave him be." I heard one of them say.

"But he's a key witness." Another replied, looking up from the tiny notepad.

I didn't speak for hours. Processing everything made my lips sew up with an invisible string. I spent the night in fear, waking up from continuous nightmares in a temporary home.

I decided to stay awake, as my heart had been damaged severely.

My parents were dead. My mind was traumatized. My body endlessly trembled.

Nearly dozing off, I saw a man in black. His eyes were tense and his smile was bright. I could see it in the darkness of the room, instilled with terror once again.

He took me home. Holding his hand, I saw a family. A happy family.

Then I was a part of it.