"Well, may I serve you something? I can't exactly talk unless I serve you a drink first." Rose smiled faintly.
"Hm? Oh... alright. I'll have a pint of your strongest liquor." Evie chuckled lightly, "I have a feeling I would need something strong to relax these nerves of mine."
Rose nodded and grabbed a glass, filling the glass half way for starters, after remembering Evie's last visit, "What do you have to ask me, Ms. Frye?"
"I was wondering what event my brother has gone through to turn him into... into a completely different man?" Evie questioned, watching Rose fill her glass.
"Well..." Rose began, thinking of where to start, "I've only been around Jacob during the evenings. So I can only inform you a little that I know, so my apologies on not completely fulfilling your request." She sighed before continuing, "What I recall after your leave was... Jacob was not stable for half a year after your leave. He was more reckless than usual. Or at least that's what I've collected during his countless visits."
Evie's heart sank from the thought.
"He always arrived with cuts and bruises almost every night as months passed. Thankfully they were just minor." She looked down, trying to hold herself together as she remembered her time spent with him, "I treated him each time, even though I had to struggle my way through to heal him each time. Afterwards Jacob would always drink his sorrows away, which is when I started limiting him. I will admit, I feel guilty to this day the amount I used to serve him each time he requested." Rose chuckled with a distasteful look, "I wanted to help heal him not just physically, but also emotionally as time passed, but... the last time he stopped for a period of time was when he..." The young woman fell silent.
"He what...?" Evie asked.
"He kissed me... then up and ran out the door and avoided me for quite some time. Then there was one time he came by, just a few months later with a look of sorrow in his eyes and severe cuts on his face and wounds deep to where I needed to disinfect then stitch and wrap up..." Rose added, "He didn't want to inform me on what happened to him. I kept pestering him as I healed him, but at one point he yelled and walked out the door again, leaving me with nothing, but worries."
"I'm... I'm sorry to hear that..." The young woman said faintly, feeling a slight piercing pain in her chest as she continued to listen.
"I don't know what happened to that man." Rose looked at Evie with sadness, "He was always so cheery, but as the years passed, I noticed the times he was cheery was when you were near."
Evie's face turned a little red by the sudden statement. She cleared her throat, taking a drink, trying to stay calm and collected as she was waiting for Rose to continue. Rose chuckled lightly as she looked away, thinking of what else there was to tell her, but there was nothing else coming to mind.
"I'm sorry I don't have much information to give to you, but you can always ask Sergeant Frederick Abberline." Rose stated, "Jacob always went to him for I assume missions."
Evie nodded, "Thank you." She smiled sheepishly, finishing her drink before standing up.
"Anytime you need help with anything, I'll be here." Rose smiled with a wave of farewell, "Have a nice evening, Ms. Frye."
"You as well, Ms. Moore." Evie walked out of the building, thinking to herself on where Abberline could be.
Rose watched Evie walk out, leading her to recall the eventful nights with Jacob, "I'm sorry, Evie..." Rose mumbled, feeling miserable for not giving Evie all of the information she had stored, but she knew in order for them to reconnect, Evie would have to open the wounds herself in order to help him heal...
Four Years Ago...
"Welcome— Mr. Frye?!" Rose was about to welcome the next customer that was walking in, until she saw it was Jacob staggering his way to the bar, all disheveled with little bruising on his face, "What has happened to you?!" The young woman ran to him, feeling troubled.
"Hm? Oh! good evenin', Moore. Nothin' ta worry, just minor bruises. Anyway, happen ta have Moore? Heh... gittit?" Jacob spoke, his voice slurring the words.
"Mr. Frye, you're injured and drunk!" Rose spoke, distressed.
"I... I only a lil' injad and drunk." Jacob laughed, unable to stand up straight.
"Dear God, Mr. Frye..." The young woman sighed with worry and disappointment, "You reek of booze. What happened?"
"N-Nothin' fo ya ta fret ova." Jacob chuckled, viewing everything as a joke, "Ya know ya have the prettiest eyes. And tha long, flowing black hair. Such beauty, Ms. Moore." He curled a strand of her hair with his index finger, beginning to doze in and out of sleep.
Rose's face turned flushed, but she brushed it off so she could assist the drunk Jacob on sobering up, "We need to sober you up so you'll stop this meaningless flattery, Mr. Frye."
"I'm jus fine and bein' honest, Ms. Moore." He gave her a childish grin, "Please do not fret and I must say, I neva lie when drunk."
Jacob looked deeply into her eyes as though giving her a look of fondness, leading her heart to flutter by the words. Rose tried to ignore the words so she could help him get better. Their conversation ended with mixed feelings swarming around them. The young woman called for some assistants to help her lead him into the back room, to lie him down so she could help him. She placed some kind of cream over the bruises and got a cold rag and placed it on his forehead, waiting for him to wake from his little nap so she could give him water and nice warm food. Several minutes passed until Jacob awoke with a migraine.
"Ugh... what the bloody hell? Why do I feel like I got whacked by a hammer?" Jacob slowly sat up.
"Well, that's what tends to happen when getting in fights and overdrinking, Mr. Frye." Rose walked in with a tray of warm food and a glass of water, "Best to take it easy."
"Hm? What happened?" Jacob looked over at Rose, his eyes widening by the thought of shame.
"You happened to have walked in here with bruises on your face and drunk to high heavens, wanting to drink even more." Rose responded, "You joked and tried to flatter me with such words I know were just sweet lies from the booze." She chuckled lightly, setting the tray on his lap.
Jacobs face became flushed, "Wh-What did I happen to say...?" He questioned as he felt a bit of stinging on his face from the bruises.
Rose looked at him with a straight face, "Ya know ya have the prettiest eyes. And tha long, flowing black hair. Such beauty, Ms. Moore. Is what you happened to have stated, Mr. Frye." A mischievous grin ran across her face, awaiting to see a reaction, "You need to practice on your lying when trying to flatter a lass."
His face turned slightly crimson as he cleared his throat, "W-Well... I never lie when I'm drunk, Ms. Moore." He smirked, trying to hide his flustered face.
"And when have I not heard that line before?" She giggled, "You need to work harder, Mr. Frye, if you ever want to win the woman of your dreams heart."
"So I assume I haven't won yours quite yet?" His smirk grew after noticing a shade of cardinal covered her cheeks, "Do I happen to see a shade of crimson on those pretty little cheeks of yours?"
"Oh, quiet down, Mr. Frye and sober up!" She grabbed a piece of the food off of his tray and shoved it in his mouth to silence him, looking away, hiding her flushed face, "Goodness..." Rose stood up, walking away, "Once you're done, you should head home. No more drinking for you tonight, Mr. Frye. Wouldn't want another incident like this."
As she was about to return to the bar, her wrist was grabbed and she was tugged down, landing on the couch, sitting beside Jacob. She froze, shocked by the sudden pull, taking her seconds for her to realize what happened. The young woman tried to keep a bit of a distance, noticing Jacob must have forgotten the last time they spent together which left her a bit saddened.
"Well, mind letting me practice with you?" Jacob whispered huskily in her ear.
"I-I beg your pardon?" She became flustered by the sudden excitement building up just by the cause of his closeness and the tone of his voice.
"Would you mind assisting me on my flattery?" He whispered, leading Rose to feeling his warm breath hit her bare skin, making her shiver, "I have quite fondness for you, Ms. Moore. Such beautiful ocean blue eyes that continue to drown me with praise towards you." He stared deeply into her eyes, soon moving his eyes down slightly low, "Those luscious faint pink lips always curled into a smile, soon exposing those pearly white teeth of yours." Jacob smiled softly, "And such beautiful bone structure from those blushed cheeks of yours. Such magnetizing beauty I just can't look away from." The young man placed his hand on her cheek as he cocked his head to the side with a smirk, looking back into her eyes.
"Damn you, Mr. Frye!" She covered her reddened face with her hands, her face on fire as embarrassment took it course, "Alright, alright... I take it back..." Rose sighed deeply, "You're such a smooth talker. Goodness..."
"I'm flattered, Ms. Moore." Jacob grinned from ear to ear, "Do I get a reward for success?" He smirked.
"Just maybe, Mr. Frye." She stood up, looking over her shoulder, "Now please let me return to work." The young woman began to head back, but got pulled back again.
"Only if you promise to spend a nice evening with me." He stood up, looking at her with a youthful looking grin.
"Fine... tomorrow evening..." The young woman resigned easily, looking away to hide her rosy face, soon tugging away.
"I'll be looking forward to it." Jacob smiled genuinely, watching Rose walk away, before eating what was served to him.
As months passed, their time together seemed blissful as they reconnected their bond. Happiness always surrounding the two lively adolescents. Or at least that's what Rose collected from their time spent together, until one late fateful evening. Rose became a little worried since Jacob has not showed up yet. Once he did though, the young lass froze by the sight of him. The young man would usually always arrive with a huge grin across his face, but one evening, he walked in as a complete trainwreck.
"Mr. Frye! What happened?!" Rose ran up to the young lad.
Jacob stumbled to the floor. His clothes torn. His face full of cuts and bruises. His body covered with some punctured wounds. The young lass was frightened by the thought of what happened. She cupped his face, examining his whole body, filled with nothing, but fear.
Jacob could barely speak, "The... The Rooks and Blighters..." His eyebrows knitted as tears began to flow down his face, "All... All are..." The young man buried his head between her neck and shoulder, bawling as he gripped onto her arms weakly, "Whitechapel... The gang in Whitechapel are all... all..."
"What happened?" Rose held the back of Jacobs head, comforting him.
"The Rooks and Blighters are all..." He gulped hard before speaking, "Dead..." Jacob muffled faintly, "A gruesome massacre happened and... and I couldn't help any of them!" He looked up at her, his face pale, looking as though he was falling ill.
"Dear God... Mr. Frye..." Rose looked at him, overwhelmed with concern, "It's not your fault, Mr. Frye! War is unpredictable, none of this—?!"
"It is all my fault!" Jacob interrupted with a screech, "If I listened to Freddy none of this would have happened! Ugh... Christ..." He groaned from pain.
"Mr. Frye!" Rose shouted, "Sod everything for now so I can heal you!"
"No... Ms. Moore... just... just let me die." He shook with fear and severe depression, "After what just happened... I shouldn't even be alive either—?!"
"Mr. Frye, stop this idiotic self-pity! Get a hold of yourself and let me help you!" Without a second thought, she slapped him in the face, not hard, but firm enough to knock some sense into him.
Jacob was in shock that all he could do was nod. The young lass sighed with slight relief, helping him walk to the back room, lying him on the furniture to help disinfect, stitch, and wrap up his cuts and wounds. A deep sigh of relief left her lips as she saw his skin become less pale and that he was beginning to look better than when he arrived in shambles. The young lad examined the work Rose did, amazed on how she healed him. He looked over at her with a small grin before he was questioned on what happened.
"So... Mr. Frye..." Rose looked at him, concerned to question on what happened, but gulped down her concerns and asked, "What caused this? What happened to you and your gang?"
Jacob closed his eyes tightly, looking as though he was falling weak by the thought as a deep sigh escaped before responding, "I... I was informed that the Blighters were rallying up together to take control of Whitechapel. I thought my men would be able to strike out all of them by a sneak attack, but we were ambushed and ended up fighting as best we could..." He clenched his hands tightly, trying to continue, his voice crackling as he forcefully blurted out the rest, "After seeing all my men down... dead... I snapped... I ended up killing every last Blighter. Once I calmed down, I saw my hands and clothing covered with blood which made me question myself... Was there even a point to this? All I caused was death to my men and to others... Was it worth it...? Was it...?"
"Mr. Frye..." Rose spoke lowly, lightly cupping his cheek, turning his face to look at her, "Life is unpredictable. You can't control everything that's coming your way. It's painful, yes, but keep in mind... everything is either something to learn from or a blessing from above." She peered into his eyes, trying to look calm for the sake of him, "Everything will get better. It just takes time to heal just like these wounds." Rose placed her hand under his chin, placing a soft kiss on his forehead, "Please rest. I'll be cleaning the bar. If you ever need help with anything just holler, okay?" She grinned faintly before turning to head back.
"Thank you..." Jacob spoke lowly as the young woman walked away.
"You're welcome..." Rose whispered to where only she could hear as a tear slid down her cheek while a faint grin crossed her face.
When Jacob finished the meal she made for him, he felt a sharp twinge in his chest. He sighed lightly before grabbing a pen and paper he saw nearby. He stared at the objects for a few minutes, figuring out on what to write. Once his mind was clear to think straight, he wrote Rose a note before getting dressed and leaving the place in the back of the building. The young man looked behind him, seeing the young lass work while humming, letting out a faint chuckle before walking out.
"Jacob?" Rose walked back to check on him, but all she saw was an empty plate and water glass with a note beside it, "Hm?" The young woman walked up and read it.
Dear Rose Moore,
Thank you for your care and my deep apologies for always relying on you when I feel you should be the one relying on me. I will admit, it makes me feel weak, but I promise you, I will become a stronger and more wiser man as the years pass. So please keep in mind, I will always be near if ever in need of help. Until then...
"Okay..." A weak smile appeared on her face as she hugged the note.
Present Time...
"I wonder where Abberline could be..." Evie whispered to herself, using her eagle vision to search for familiar faces, "Hm? Oh!" She spotted him only a block away.
She ran from building to buidling until he was right below her. The young woman climbed down the building and landed right in front of Abberline, making him jump, "Oh! Good evening Mrs. Green, surprised me there for a moment." He chuckled, grabbing hold of his chest, "What brings you out here this late evening?"
"I wanted to ask what my brother has been doing the past five years I've been away." Evie questioned, ignoring how Abberline greeted her, "Do you happen to have time to speak with me?"
"Of course." Abberline grinned, "I'm heading to my office to work on some papers, would you mind if we walk and talk?"
"Not at all." Evie exposed a small grin, beginning to walk with him.
"What do you have to ask me about your brother?" He asked.
"I heard he was more reckless than before I left. But I noticed he improved on a lot of things. Do you have the slightest idea on what could have caused it?" Evie asked, a bit surprised of asking such a question.
Abberline scratched the back of his head, thinking of when he started to change, "Well, what I can recollect is, yes, he of course was reckless, but I assume after one fateful evening when he was encountering the gang leader, Maxwell Roth, things appeared to have taken a turn to the worse..." He stopped in his tracks for a moment, thinking of how to clarify the main key of the issue, "Roth and Frye made arrangements on ridding all of Crawford's allies last I heard, but I was never given an explanation on what truly happened later those days. All I was given was a dead Roth..." He looked down, placing his hand on his forehead, thinking of what else happened, "I tried to get an explanation out of him, but he never gave me his reasons. All I recall after that is... he wasn't the same since that evening. Yes, he still has his sense of humor and still that goofy personality depending on the person he's with, but what I later noticed was, he became more cautious on everything and brought back every bounty alive, no kills on their allies, and has made London feel safer than ever." He chuckled faintly, looking back up at Evie, "That's all I have... I'm sorry I don't have anything else. You can always ask Ned Wynert, he's helped him out a lot last I recall."
"Alright... thank you, Abberline. I'll go find him, have a nice rest of the evening and call me if ever need of assistants on capturing your targets." Evie smiled.
"My pleasure, Mrs. Green. Have a nice evening yourself and I will keep that in mind." He tipped his hat with a smile, watching the older twin jump up to the top of the building.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Green..." Abberline sighed deeply as he continued to walk to his office.
A Little Over Three Years Ago...
"Hey, Freddy." Jacob patted his back, standing beside him.
"How the hell did you know it was me?!" Abberline jumped, groaning with frustration after seeing Jacob blow his cover.
"You know, you really need to improve on your disguises more." He laughed lightly.
"Sod it, what do you need this time, Mr. Frye?" He glared at him.
"I wanted to ask how much you know about this man named, Maxwell Roth?" Jacob leaned against a wall as he asked.
"Why the sudden question? Do you happen to have some sort of business with that man?" The elder man questioned with concerned curiosity.
"Well, not particularly, it's just I keep receiving invitations on joining him for a drink." Jacob began, "So, I'd like to know if there are any wary signs I should keep a close watch on?"
Abberline was hesitant on responding, but thought it would be best to answer instead of letting this young man do more reckless things, "Well, the man is known to have a few loose screws in his head, so it's best to be wary on his offers given." He began, "He's a reasonable man, last I heard, but when he's angered by one, he will cause chaos to several others, so I suggest you be wary on what you say and do if you ever encounter that man."
Jacob looked intrigued by the explanation, "Thanks, Freddy." He grinned, patting his shoulder as he passed by, "I'll keep that in mind. I'll be around here for awhile, so if needing help on anything, please do not hesitate on calling for my assistants and my Rooks." The young man bowed teasingly with a smirk before climbing his way up the building.
"Please don't do anything idiotic!" Abberline shouted as he watched Jacob climb.
All Jacob did was laugh as he was reaching the top, "When have I ever done things wrongly, Freddy?" He looked down.
"It's not what you've done wrongly! It's what you've done carelessly! So please! Don't make things harder than they already are for me!" Abberline yelled.
"I'll try my best not to!" Jacob laughed as he turned, running off.
"Dear God I hope so..." Abberline whispered to himself, shaking his head as he walked away, praying nothing bad will happen to his reputation.
A few days passed and a hard knock on the door came from Abberline's front door during the late evening. The older man groaned from annoyance, wondering who could be arriving at his place at this time of night. He was groggy as he dragged his way to the front door, cursing to himself. When he opened, he saw a bedraggled Jacob, looking as though he was like death warmed over.
"What in the bloody hell happened to you?!" Abberline grasped Jacob's shoulders, concerned of his well-being.
"Don't ask... just... just please take care of Roth for me." He covered his eyes with one hand, pinching the bridge of his nose, looking as though he was holding in his tears, "He's in the carriage in the front. I'll... I'll explain things later, just please take care of that damn bastard for me!" Jacob looked at Abberline with a look of anguish in his eyes and a growl of frustration as he turned and ran out the closest window, climbing up.
"Mr. Frye!" He called out to Jacob, but he didn't stop, "Dear Lord..." Abberline sighed deeply, rubbing the back of his head out of frustration, "What in God's name happened to him...?"
Sergeant Abberline put on his coat, wondering to himself on what was going on as he walked down to the carriage. When he opened the carriage, he smelt a strong scent of smoke, covering his nose as he examined the body. He saw the corpse of Maxwell Roth, amazed by how Jacob made his assassination appear simple and harmless. Abberline looked around, wondering if Jacob was near, but saw no sight of him. A deep sigh left his lips, questioning himself on why Jacob seemed so dead inside when he arrived. The older man brushed it off and took care of what was given to him, hoping to hear an explanation the next day.
Present Time...
"Now... where, oh, where could Wynert be?" Evie questioned aloud, trying to remember if he was on the train or roaming around London, "Well, let's start off on the train then..." She sighed, beginning to run towards the train.
Evie hopped on the train, praying that Wynert was there and smiled with a scoff as she saw luck was on her side. She saw him looking through a folder filled with papers, mumbling to himself. The young lass saw he never changed.
"Mr. Wynert." She called out, "Do you happen to have a minute?"
"Hm? Oh, Ms. Frye, quite a pleasure to see you back here." He grinned, "What can I do ya for?"
"I'd like to ask you what's turned Jacob into such a... such a humble man?" She was hesitant at first, but gave in by the cause of her curiosity.
"Whatever do you mean? Does he not seem the same to you?" Wynert questioned, cocking his head to the side.
"He seems completely different than the last I saw him five years ago. Do you happen to know on what might have changed him?" She questioned.
"Well, I don't exactly share things involving other clients, so I'm sorry, Ms. Frye." He gave a crooked grin, feeling bad for not giving her information about her brother.
"Please? I would be indebted to you even if you give me the tiniest amount of information on what I missed while I was away." Evie pleaded.
"Ms. Frye, I'm deeply sorry. I would love to if I could, but I feel it would be best if you asked him directly. If not answered by him then you can ask others of what's been happening while you were away." He apologized, "You could ask Ms. MacBean. She's right next door." The man pointed out, "That's all I can suggest... I'm sorry."
Evie sighed, nodding her head, "Thank you..." She turned and walked in the next room, slightly frustrated by having to walk to one person after another to find out on what she has missed during her absence.
Three and a Half Years Ago...
"Hey, Ned." Jacob rested his arm on Ned's shoulder as he stood beside him, "I happen to have a request that might tickle your fancy."
"Oh? And what might that be, Frye?" He looked up at Jacob, pushing his arm off of him, "It better not be like last time, Frye. I almost got arrested because of you." Ned glared, folding his arms, waiting for Jacob to continue.
"No, nothing like last time, Ned." He chuckled, holding his arms up as if surrendering, "This is something simple. I just need you to decipher something for me."
"Simple, huh? Doesn't sound simple to me if I'm having to translate codes for you." He glared, "What do I get out of it?"
"How about twenty-six cargos of supplies that you've been needing the past few months? Would that be enough for you to decipher a few files for me?" Jacob smirked at him, knowing fully well he'd get a yes out of it.
"Fine, but first, do you have the shipment?" Ned questioned.
"Yes, I have it heading our way. Half of it is already by the docks in Whitechapel, the rest will be arriving tomorrow at dawn. Promise." He grinned, crossing his heart, "Do we have a deal?" Jacob held out his hand.
"You've got yourself a deal, Frye." Ned shook his hand, giving a look of satisfaction.
"Fantastic." Jacob grinned from ear to ear, "The files are on the train and it'll stop in a half hour, shall we catch a ride?"
"Now when you say, catch a ride, do you mean you're going to hijack another carriage, Frye?" Ned rolled his eyes, looking over at Jacob seeing him already jump on a cart, beckoning him over.
"You going to join me?" Jacob held out his hand, "Or are you wanting me to hold you by the waist while I use my grappling hook and free run from rooftop to rooftop?" He smirked.
"Carriage it is..." Ned groaned, grabbing Jacob's hand and hopping on, holding on tight, knowing how fast Jacob is going to go.
"Off we go!" He laughed with a big grin on his face as they dashed off.
They reached the train in under fifteen minutes which was a new record for Jacob. He stood tall, proud of the change in his record, completely forgetting the aftermath of his brash driving if not fully focused on it. Ned shook as he got off the carriage, his legs wobbling by the fear he had towards almost crashing into things by the cause of Jacob's way of driving. Jacob whistled, walking all dandy while heading towards the train, looking back to see how Ned was.
"How was the ride, chap?" Jacob laughed, looking at Ned.
"Just shut up and show me the files..." Ned passed him, irritated as he tried to keep a good balance on his footing.
"I'll take it that it was fun?" The young man scoffed, amused by the other man's reaction.
The train arrived a little after, letting Jacob and a few others in his crew climb aboard. Jacob walked to his room, going through the pile of papers he had scattered on his desk. The young man mumbled curse words, getting slightly frustrated from the unorganization he left himself in.
"Where the hell did I place those damn files...?" Jacob murmured to himself.
"Ahem... do these happen to be the files, Frye?" Ned questioned, pointing out the folders that were lying on his bed.
"If only I could keep my head on straight for once." He chuckled faintly, walking over, "Goodness..." Jacob shook his head, embarrassed, "Here are the files, think you could translate them and give them to me by this evening?"
"I'll give it a shot, but I can't make any promises on that." Ned responded, "Wait a tick..." The young man looked closer at the pages, "From the look of all this, it's easier to translate than I thought..." The man scoffed with surprise, "Now let's see here... On July tenth of eighteen sixty-nine there will be a drop-off at the dock in the City of London to pick up and deliver to the abandoned factory in Westminster by midnight. Sharp." Ned mumbled the rest, skimming through the words.
"What else does it have on there? Is there anything to our liking?" Jacob asked, ecstatic.
Ned stood there, speechless, "If my calculations are correct, there will be two-hundred and fifty explosives in one cargo, along with five shipments of medical kits, gold, and a year of supplies to live off of!" Ned looked up at Jacob with excitement, "Do you know what we could do with all of that?!"
"Half of that, actually. And yes." Jacob nodded with a smile, "Well, appears it's time for some looting this evening. I'll go assemble some of my finest men. Hope to see you tonight." He smirked with a wink before running off.
Nightfall came and Jacob arrived at the destination. He informed his men to standby while he stealthily took the men out one by one. The young man was surprised by the small amount that were aboard, so everything happened smoothly. As he finished, he made his way to Ned, informing him on what to do next. While they took all the shipments, he came across some notes, informing on where the supplies are supposed to actually go to. When he read them, he was in shock.
"Jacob? Is something the matter?" Ned asked.
"Yes, something's most definitely wrong. If you'll excuse me, please take this shipment to the address that's on this while I take care of some business of my own..." Jacob spoke, handing the paper to Ned before running off.
"No way..." Ned mumbled to himself after looking at the paper, "Alright..." He sighed deeply, seeing Jacob run off, "Be careful."
Present Time...
"Ms. MacBean?" Evie called out her name as she entered the next room, "Do you have a minute?"
"Hm? Oh! Mrs. Green, what can I do to assist you this evening?" The older woman questioned.
"I was wondering if you wouldn't mind me asking about my brother and what he has been up to while I was away?" Evie questioned.
"About your brother? Well... I can't exactly say much seeing as to how I've mainly spent my days in this train." She laughed faintly, "So I'm sorry that I can't inform you much, but-"
"Dame Evelyn Frye, do my ears deceive me or do I happen to be hearing you question people about my life?" Jacob asked sternly, his eyes narrowed and his arms crossed as he leaned against the wall.
"My apologies, Mrs. Green, but I can't tell you anything!" Ms. Macbean whispered, whistling as though she wasn't going to say a word to her.
"Well, since you won't tell me a damn thing, I came down to the last resort of asking those you've interacted with." Evie looked at him, irritated and nervous of the outcome.
"Christ... you'll never leave the past be, will you, Evie?" Jacob scoffed.
"You're doing just the same, Jacob." She growled, "You're not reasoning with me! You're giving me the cold shoulder still! Why won't you just be upfront with me like you were when we were young?! Why won't you open up to me?!"
"Well, I think it's time for me to leave." Ms. Macbean whispered, "Have a nice evening ya two." She chuckled awkwardly, leaving the room.
"Because Evie! I just can't! I can't do this! It just kills me each time the past comes back and haunts me! I can barely make it through the days with you by my side to be honest!" His voice cracked as he gave the look of sufferage, "I can't do this... it kills me ever so deeply to be around someone I can't even call my own for Christ's sake!" He walked up to her, "Do you know how many years I suffered through with this feeling?! I was able to stand the sight of you with others, but... but once I saw you officially become someone else's bride-to-be... I couldn't bear it... I couldn't bear anymore of it."
"You think you were the only one that suffered?! Do you know how long I've stayed up for you to return home?! Do you know how terrifying it was to stay home, worried sick each time you left so late at night?!" Evie gripped her chest, holding in her tears.
"Evie... I'm sorry... I really am, but... I just couldn't stay home most times." He looked at her, trying to keep a good distance, "The thought of me doing something regretful continued to terrify me, that I felt the only right thing to do just to keep you safe was to watch you from afar." Jacob closed his eyes tightly, trying to hold himself tightly together, "I couldn't bare the thought of causing emotional nor mental harm to my own sister... to a woman I happen to love so deeply to where it hurts... I couldn't take it, Evie... I just couldn't..."
"Jacob..." Evie covered her mouth, hiding her trembling lips, "You're not the only one who suffered that thought..." She closed her eyes tightly, "You're not the only one who suffered the feel of that emotion!" She crouched, landing on the floor in a fetal position, "To this day... I wondered why our lives became separate. It felt as though I lost my other half the day we went on different paths." She rested her chin on her knees, looking up at him, "It scared me. It pained me. The distance between us broke me and shattered every piece of me."
"Christ, Evie..." Jacob covered his face as he knelt down, "Fine... I surrender..." He looked over at her, "If this will help you... if this will help us... then sod it... I'll tell you everything." The young man looked down as he spoke, "As long as you do the same for me." He sat beside her, sitting in the same position
Evie looked at him, both of them breaking down as they sat side by side, "Okay..."
Evie nodded, continuously wiping away the tears as Jacob did the same. Jacob inhaled then exhaled slowly, preparing himself to tell her his whole story. A deep sigh escaped before he opened his lips slightly, beginning to tell her what has happened as the years passed.