AC Syndicate: Isolated Files [OS]

Grief

[Text written for Codextober 2024 - theme of 08.10: Grief]

Another day dawned over London and Whitechapel station. The Frye twins' train hideout had been at a standstill for several days now. This morning, Evie had risen early to join Henry Green in taking refuge in the Brotherhood's missions. For her, it was the only way to take her mind off the recent events that had led to a tragic loss, stabbing her and her brother Jacob in the heart. He was still asleep when she left the train at dawn. Once again, it had been a difficult night... in fact, an alcoholic one. He often went round the pubs of London, except for the Seven Bells, before returning an hour or so before sunrise. That was when he wasn't spending his time in Robert Topping's fight clubs.

Despite the drink, Jacob knew that it wouldn't help him to forget, to chase away the guilt that weighed on his heart. And what killed him even more inside was the knowledge that it wouldn't change the reality: Victoria was dead. She had sacrificed herself to save the ailing Evie, and he hadn't arrived in time to save her from death. The Fryes' friend had lost her life before his very eyes. Despite this, the enemy had been neutralised, the mission accomplished...

Suddenly, the impetuous brother woke up, sitting up, panting and sweating. He looked around him. Then his eyes became lost in the emptiness in front of him. He swallowed and whispered:

– Victoria...

Once again, he had had that horrible vision of himself holding her lifeless in his arms. He still remembered the way he screamed her name, with great distress in his voice, as Evie struggled to her feet. She had fainted from a blow to the head, caused by a violent projection. She didn't immediately understand what was happening, her vision still blurred, and her brother's voice muffled by a terrible ringing in her ears.

– Please, Vic... Wake up...

With his hand on the left side of her face, his thumb caressed the brunette's scratched cheekbone. The tears began to flow, his eyes no longer able to contain them. The pain in his chest was unbearable. He sobbed, continuing to caress the brunette's face with his fingers.

– Stay with me, Blackbird... I beg you... Come back to me...

He felt his sister coming towards him, one hand on her dislocated shoulder. Evie was in pain, but it would be nothing compared to the reality that awaited her and lay before her. Then she saw the amount of blood on the ground and the serious, fatal wound on the brunette's abdomen. Her throat began to tighten and tears began to well up. As soon as she had stopped beside him, Jacob raised his head, refusing to let Victoria leave.

– Evie, help me, please... I can't wake her up.

She knelt down beside her twin, her eyes growing teary. The words she was about to say were a real torture for her heart, which was beginning to be invaded by suffering. She put a hand on her brother's shoulder, nodding very slowly.

– Jacob... There's nothing we can do for her... (She sobbed, unable to hold back any more.) It's too late... Victoria is... (She broke down, tears streaming down her cheeks.) Victoria is dead...

The Frye twin refused, shaking his head, crying as much as his sister. He kept whispering:

– No, no, no, no, no, no... Please Victoria... come back... Don't leave me...

He held her tight, nestling his nose in her neck and rocking back and forth. Evie continued to cry, her hand caressing her brother's shoulder. Victoria would never wake up again, and the Frye twins would have to live with this absence that would tear them both apart.