AC Syndicate: Isolated Files [OS]

Merry Christmas

The sun set over the snowy horizon of London. The children, who had drawn the silhouettes of angels on the ground or made snowmen, had gone home to warm up by the fire and spend Christmas Eve with their families. But some were still outside, throwing snowballs at each other and laughing, until one of the adults in their family yelled at them to go home. It was always with hilarity that they rejoined their parents, happy to be on Christmas Eve. Only one stayed behind, sad to see his friends leave and jump into the arms of their parents or older brothers and sisters. He was saddened and envious at the same time, which made him sigh.

A hooded woman came up behind him. Witnessing his sigh and guessing the saddened look on his face, she gently laid a hand on his shoulder. A tear escaped and rolled down the twelve-year-old's face. In a compassionate tone, she said:

 – It's time for you to go home too, Jack.

He simply nodded and turned round. He looked at the woman, whose eyes he could barely see through the hood. He realised that the snow was beginning to fall. She looked up to see the snowflakes falling too. With a small, more cheerful smile, she looked back at the boy and jerked her head to the side to indicate the direction to follow. The destination: The Kenway Manor.

There was even more snow than a few hours earlier. All along the road, the flakes had multiplied and grown in size. The darkness of the night and the light from the gas lampposts gave a magical quality to the falling ice crystals. Jack admired them while his companion paid the Rooks who had brought them back. She walked towards the mansion, passing it by a few paces. Halfway along the road to the centre of the garden, bounded by the walls of the manor house and the brick fence topped with iron bars. It warmed the brunette's heart to see him so admiring, despite the deep suffering he had been experiencing since the death of his mother — which he had witnessed — and his release from Lambeth. She wore a sad smile and silently thanked him for making her smile. She too was sad, and not just for Jack. Mrs Disraeli, a lady she liked — and she liked her, too — died on 15 December 1872. Benjamin Disraeli was in mourning, and the Frye twins were also suffering — but not as much as the widower.

– Shall we go, kiddo?" she called in a soft voice.

He turned towards her suddenly, interrupted in his contemplation. She nodded with a big smile. Jack returned it. He then ran to catch up with her. They both walked to the door, which she pushed open. In the empty entrance hall, the boy laid his coat on the coat rack while she loosened the straps on her gauntlet. The hidden blade was useless in the headquarters, especially this evening. And there was no risk of the enemies attacking in the evening, as the two orders had agreed a truce for Christmas two years ago. A ridiculous idea according to one of the twins, but he respected it all the same.

– Go and join Jacob and the others, I'll be there in a moment.

Jack nodded and went straight to the great hall. She went up the stairs to Jacob's study — formerly Edward Kenway's — to drop off her hidden blade. There he saw Henry Green, Frederick Abberline and the Frye twins. He also saw Clara O'Dea, resplendent in her dress, which intimidated him somewhat.

– Victoria is coming.

The sound of cardboard caught his attention, making him turn his head in the direction from which it had come. He squinted and frowned.

– What's that? asked Jack.

He moved a little closer to the box, which seemed to be alive, and saw that there were holes in the lid — spoiling the colourful pattern. Then he heard scratching and moaning. An animal?!

– You really should let him out, recommended Evie.

– I told you to put a big bow on the collar instead of locking him in a box," Clara reminded him. Victoria wouldn't have blamed you for that...

– But it would have spoilt the surprise, he explained.

– You didn't keep it in there all day, did you?

– Freddy, who do you think I am? retorted the almost offended twin. I'm not a torturer. I went to fetch him from the Prime Minister's while Victoria was away bringing Jack back. I put him in this box as soon as I heard them coming back.

–  Thank God, commented Evie, folding her arms.

Just as Jacob was about to reply to his sister, the recipient of the gift came into the room, stripped of her coat — left next to her blade, upstairs.

– Thank God for what?

– Good evening Miss Reid, greeted Abberline.

–  Inspector, she replied politely with a nod.

Then she turned to Clara, whom she found splendid. She made sure to tell her just after greeting her, giving her a hug. Evie and Henry were just as happy to see Victoria, and vice versa, in better circumstances than Mrs Disraeli's funeral. May her soul rest in peace. She took each of them in turn in her arms, before finishing with Jacob. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek.

Just as she had let go of him to face him and smile — he had time to smile back — the box under the tree began to shake, and even barked in annoyance. Intrigued, she turned her head in the direction of the Christmas tree. She questioned the twin with her eyes. He rubbed the back of his head, this time with an embarrassed smile, and replied:

– I think your present's getting a little impatient...

Behind this answer was an invitation to open the present. She pursed her lips, her eyes closed. She suspected what it was. Her face showed it through a smile that Jacob perceived. He watched as the brunette made her way to the tree. She knelt down in front of the restless, moaning box. She removed the knot and then the lid.

With tears in her eyes and being barked at, she gasped in surprise. She discovered a welsh corgi, barking at her. She recognised him. She immediately took him out of the box and into her arms. She cried with sorrow, thinking of Mary-Anne, but also with joy because she was happy to have Desmond. She stood up and turned to the others, unable to hold back her tears. Desmond moved to raise his head and try to lick his new owner's face. He could only reach the underside of her chin. He too seemed happy to have a new owner.

With a tender smile, Jacob approached her and put his arm around Victoria's shoulders. Desmond wanted to sniff the Frye twin. He kissed the brunette's cheek. The corgi also wanted to lick Jacob's face, as if to dissuade him from getting any closer to her. Slightly early, but the circumstances — named Desmond — were extenuating, he wished her in a soft voice: 

– Merry Christmas, Victoria.