AC Syndicate: Isolated Files [OS]

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(Chapter Image by myself)

Under the grey skies and the cold, damp atmosphere of England, a train from Wales was travelling to London. Among the passengers was the Fryes' friend, Victoria Reid. The journey may have been faster than by car, but it was still a long one for the woman who was about to reach her forty-first year. With teary eyes, she watched the landscape pass quickly under her worried and impatient gaze. She had fled to Cardiff, where she had formed her own Brotherhood a decade ago. Jacob had forced her to leave London during the Autumn of Terror brought on by Jack the Ripper, just long enough for him to be finished with him.

Evie had called Victoria to tell her to come back to her home town. She knew what had happened... and she knew Jacob's condition. Jacob was recovering from his injuries, including the one to his eye, at home. A nurse was coming by to give him the necessary care until he was fully recovered. As she imagined the horrors he had suffered, and thought of the trauma the Ripper had caused her before leaving London, Victoria let a tear roll down her cheek. She realised this and brushed it away with her thumb. Her heart was pounding in her chest at the thought of returning to London, at the thought of seeing Jacob still recovering.  

The train finally arrived at the station in London, a relief for the passenger. It barely stopped for a few minutes when the brunette got off. With a quick step, she left the station to find a car and go to Whitechapel. In the neighbourhood where Jacob lived, she got out of the horse-drawn carriage and gave money to the coachman. A shiver ran down the Assassin's spine, still marked by the terror that Jack. And the dismal condition of the London borough did not help her to put the terrible memory out of her mind. For that, she partly blamed the Indian Brotherhood for teaching fear tactics with phobic gas. A method she had never approved of, even though she had learned it. She had always refused to even use it — unless it was absolutely necessary. She shook her head to chase away the memories that still made her shiver with fear. She continued to walk over the muddy cobblestones through the streets and alleys of Whitchapel.

In front of the house, the brunette contemplated each brick of the wall that stood before her. Then her eyes fell on the window of the Frye twins before moving to the front door. She breathed in deeply, eyes closed, and exhaled slowly with her eyelids open. She knocked on the green painted wood. Victoria had to wait a few moments before someone opened the door. In the meantime she looked around, slowly moving her mouth. As soon as she heard the door being opened, she turned to the first face in the house she saw: Evie Frye.

"How nice to see you again, Vic," the twin said before gently taking her friend in her arms.

Without any resistance, Victoria let herself go and even returned her embrace. She was so happy to see Jacob's sister again. It had been ages since they had seen each other. The former Rook was on the point of tears as she was so glad and relieved to see Evie's face again, tarnished by time, but also by recent events.

"I'm glad you're good. I've been so worried about you and Jacob," she replied in a trembling voice.

Without letting go, the two brunettes broke off their embrace. Evie could see her friend's eyes watering, although she was smiling.

"It's over, Victoria. It's all right. I'm fine and Jacob is gradually recovering from his injuries. He's safe and sound."

Pinching her lips together, Victoria closed her eyes and nodded. Then she looked again at the intrepid sister and thanked her.

"Come in, he'll be happy to see you," Evie invited with a pleasant smile.

Without delay, Victoria complied as the Frye twin indicated that she was going to see Inspector Abberline. The former waitress at the Seven Bells — now defunct — nodded her head in approval.

"Be safe," she said.

Evie only replied with a smile before setting off for Scotland Yard. Alone, with the door closed behind her, Victoria climbed the stairs to Jacob's flat. It was a little tidier than the last time she'd been there — the night she'd been badly injured by Jack before leaving a week later. But despite the better state of the flat, it was possible to see the damage that had been done during Jack's visit to the Frye twin's house on the night of his disappearance. Victoria didn't dare imagine what had happened here, and she didn't want to know. She concentrated on her destination: Jacob's room, whose door had been left open.

She saw Evie's brother leaning against the side of the window with his arms crossed. The pale light of the city reflected on his face, giving him a pallid complexion. Her eyes were lost in the void, just as her mind was lost in his thoughts. She could also see a string running around his face, through his brown hair. She guessed that he had an eye patch. 

Jacob was dressed simply in a white shirt, albeit somewhat yellowed by time and wear, and dark grey, almost black trousers. She finally knocked on the door with her index finger before clearing her throat.

"Hello, sir."

Jacob flinched and turned his face towards her. The brunette's heart skipped a beat when she saw him with the eye patch she had guessed.

"Vic?"

Tears welled up in her eyes and she pinched her lips. He lifted himself off the wall against which he was leaning and walked towards her. The brunette did the same.

"Jacob..."

They both grabbed each other and hugged. Victoria could no longer hold back the tears she had been holding so tightly. She let herself go. She wanted to tell him so many things, but her tears of joy and relief stopped her. She was so happy that he was safe and sound despite all that had happened.

"I was so scared for you," she could barely say as she tightened her embrace.

Jacob did the same as she did, happy that it was all over despite his broken heart and the guilt that filled him. But seeing Victoria again did him a world of good. Then they separated a few inches and looked at each other for a few moments. The brunette finally felt reassured and safe since her return to her home town. She could finally feel at home in London.