Wednesday, December 24, the streets are snowed in for the holidays. Families settled inside with fireplaces ignited and sharing quality time. Gabriel felt that familiar wistful longing for things to be normal again, but he'd already gone too far off the deep end joining Talon. There was no going back, and he'd have to live with that.

It was easy getting in and staying quiet. Gabriel stood in his son's room, watching him sleep. The shadow found solace in watching his loved ones live their lives without him. It was better off that way. His arms crossed over his armored chest, eyes flickering towards the door as it opened.

His eyes silently met yours under his hood. He suddenly regretted being so bold as to visit his family again when he was technically declared a dead man.