AC Syndicate: Isolated Files [OS]

Never Alone

[Chapter Image by myself]

On the night of the spring of 1880, a high-ranking Assassin and a seven-year-old boy stopped in front of a building not far from Big Ben. The dark-haired boy, too young to learn to climb, and only recently initiated into the Brotherhood, the hooded woman crouched down and asked him to hold onto her. The child who knew no fear climbed onto her back. With his legs and arms, he wrapped around the adult's waist and shoulders. Assured that he was clinging to her, she raised her arm and aimed at a point where her grapple could lock on. She triggered the mechanism that propelled the grapnel up the building. It clung firmly to the brick of a chimney. She jumped onto the wall and let the iron cable rewind.

The climb stopped at the edge of the roof. The boy climbed down from the woman's back and waited for her to retrieve the grapnel and attach it to her gauntlet. He was fascinated by the gauntlet she was wearing and dreamed of having the same one later on. With the grapnel back in its place, she told him to come along and they both set off to the flat part of the roof. The Fryes' friend helped the young boy to climb up and avoid slipping on the tiles. When he had done this last effort, he looked ahead. He could see the clock tower up close, including the glowing dial.

"Woah..." he breathed, amazed by the beauty of the building.

The Southwark-born brunette also had her eyes on Big Ben, still resplendent despite the years that had passed. She smiled slightly as her eyes showed her joy and pride in showing it to the boy who was keeping her company.

"Not bad, right?" she said.

"It's... it's wonderful," he could barely whisper, so fascinated was he.

She couldn't help but look at the boy, just to see his heart-warming face of wonder.

"This is where I meditate, where I think... And this is where I console myself when I am sad or upset."

"You miss Jacob and Evie, don't you?"

The friend of the irresistible Frye twins turned her brown eyes back to the clock tower. Her throat tightened, but the tears did not come. She missed them, indeed, but she had learned to live with their absence. Besides, she took comfort in the thought that Jacob would be back soon. Half-heartedly, she replied that he would be, but not to worry.

"Jacob's return is only a matter of day," she added, looking at the young initiate.

The latter could only nod his head. He was also looking forward to meeting the Master Assassin, he liked him very much, just as he liked him. He could only get along well with him and be accomplices, for the boy was like his son to him. Indeed, the young dark-haired boy with brown eyes grew up without a father, next to his mother, who stood next to him in front of Big Ben. Victoria had managed to rebuild her life, with an Assassin, despite her separation from Jacob and the love she had for him - and still did. But the Templars killed her husband, the father of her son. The boy had been a baby when Jonathan Lynch had taken a bullet to his heart to protect Victoria.

As she looked at Big Ben, she thought of her beloved Jonathan. She hoped that in the Eternal and at his parents' side he was proud of his son, and even of her. Although she was hiding a deep sadness, she smiled. A slight breeze had just fluttered the bottom of her coat and hood. She had taken it as Jonathan's response to her thoughts to him.

"Mum?" called her son.

Victoria's smile disappeared and her eyes fell on the one she loved most in the world who had just pressed himself against her, resting his head on her hip.

"Do you love me?"

"Of course I do," she smiled, stroking his hair tenderly.

He lifted his head as she left her hand on top of his head. He smiled at her answer, but his little grin of joy faded and his eyes narrowed.

"And we'll be together forever?"

The question pinched the Fryes' friend's heart. She wished she could say yes so easily. But her son, a young initiate, had to understand something quickly. She broke away from him and faced him.

"Damian, I'll tell you something I learned as an Assassin."

She took the pocket watch out of her jacket pocket. It was a gift from Jacob a long time ago. She had always cared for it and carried it with her at all times. It was an object of great sentimental value to her. She showed him the symbol of the Brotherhood, visible through the half-savonnette. Damian looked at the pocket watch, intrigued.

"Look at this symbol. The Assassins of centuries past live by this sign. It is in this emblem that I find their wisdom... and sometimes my strength."

"For real?" her son asked, looking at his mother, fascinated.

"Yes, it is. Whenever you feel lonely or lost, remember that all these Assassins will be there to guide you."

As she spoke, her fingers tightened on the watch, which she finally placed against her heart, as her son listened attentively to her words.

"And one day I will live through this symbol, with them," she finished, looking at her watch, which she had separated from her chest.

She put the object back in her pocket and looked at the luminous dial of Big Ben. What she had just said was her secret to bearing the pain of losing her loved ones... Her father, Thatcher and Mary, Jonathan... and the pain of being so far away from Jacob - both because of the distance and because of their separation. The Creed meant a lot to her. She had learned so much in the Brotherhood, from Jacob and Evie, who had always been there for her, as friends and as an Assassin. The Creed was Victoria Reid's whole life.

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This scene was inspired by a sequence of the Lion King. The picture at the end of the chapter was made by myself.