(Chapter 11: Dishonor)
It has been a good few weeks since the bloody massacre at Sisika Penitentiary all just to rescue one person, the rescue mission turned into an all out battle with the prison guards. Many lives were lost, many prisoners would never be truly free since their poor souls were forced to wander the prison grounds aimlessly as spirits.
Now the Marston Gang has grown into a good size for a gang, it consisted mostly of freed prisoners from the penitentiary. Jack Marston was the leader, Dred Jackson was second in command, Rebecca McIntyre was third in command, Bill Pierce got last in command. Word had gotten out across the entire state, the news would eventually make its way West of the Grizzlies Mountains, Markus Van Der Linde knew of it. The BlackJacks knew of it.
A large meeting had been assembled by Markus, and Douglas. Both wanting to voice their opinions of the matter at hand. To Markus and the BlackJacks, the location of the gang was unknown.
"Folks, it seems that our mission to kill Jack, to watch him hang from the gallows, it seems that the mission is failed. There was a supposed large scale shootout, we couldn't find Jack's corpse among the wreckoning." Douglas announced, getting some upset groans from the members of the BlackJacks.
"Douglas shall report this incident to the FBI of Blackwater, he will report it to Archer Fordham. I can assume search parties and bounty hunters, shall find Jack and his mongrels at some point in time. We can all hope it is soon." Markus added on, shaking the hand of the leader of the BlackJacks.
Markus had sided with the BlackJack gang, yet he kept his attire on. He wanted to be a leader of his own right, he wanted to be the leader of himself. Now the search for Jack would begin, it would be a long stretch.
Meanwhile, in Fort Wallace, the rescued inmates were lounging around. Jack and Dred were speaking amongst themselves about the penitentiary, they spoke of the massacre. Dred wondered what the Marston Gang could do to move forward.
"Jack, these returning soldiers, the rescued inmates. We're all starving, I know you are too. Your other two buds are hurt, they require a meal just for them to heal up by a slight bit." Dred said with concern, looking at the groaning gang members in which were just released from the penitentiary. Some of the rescued inmates started throwing up from the migraines they were having, the fact that they all were weary, and weak made it worse for them.
"These people aren't gonna last long, they're all open for diseases when they are in this state. I'm surprised we all didn't catch anything while in that hellhole of a prison." The brave african american added on.
"I'll tell you what, I'll go head into town to get some provisions. You keep watch over my two buds, you're the second in command from here on." Jack announced to Dred, the black gang elite nodded his head in agreement.
As Jack was heading over to his horse to leave, he looked back at the fort, wondering if anyone else was willing to travel into town to get some supplies.
"Anybody wanting to come with me, I could possibly use some support."
A young black male approached Jack, he had to be in his late teen years or in his early twenties. He looked very fragile, his eyes had lost emotion from the suffering he went through at Sisika.
"I'll go." The black adolescent said in response, climbing on to Arthur and sitting behind of Jack.
The two made their way towards Annesburg to get some supplies from the store, any tonics or provisions would be necessary, extra items would suffice.
"So, my friend, what happens to be your name?" Jack asked, the dark skinned teen behind him remained awfully quiet.
"Ezekiel, my name is Ezekiel."
"Well Ezekiel, I am Jack Marston. Welcome to the gang, my old gang leader always had a motto."
"What was your motto?"
"We're gonna find out what you need. So, Ezekiel, what are you needing?"
There was a pause and then a sigh from Ezekiel, sounding like what he was wanting to say was hard for him.
"I need food, I need money. Matter of fact, money is what got me into the penitentiary. I was homeless prior to all of this, I tried to rob a bank all alone. I was desperate, I was sick. I knew that I wouldn't last long out on the streets of Strawberry, I was caught. Since my skin is dark of color, they sent me to the penitentiary."
Jack shook his head in disbelief, hearing on how society would instantly move this poor african american soul to the penitentiary instead of a prison. Other prisons were not as harsh as Sisika was, it all depended on who owned the prison.
"Damn those bastards for doing that to you, it seems like we all are after the same thing. I can promise you this, Ezekiel. Once we get everyone fed and back up on their feet, we will get money by any means necessary. This all comes at a cost though, we won't be so liked by society. The law is gonna be all over us, if we can get more numbers, maybe we will have a chance."
Ezekiel was concerned about this new gang life, there was so many opportunities for things to go wrong. Especially since town after town was being built, since the wilderness was coming to an end. The FBI was flexing their muscle over all remaining gangs in America, they proved to be the demise of the Van Der Linde gang. The American Army was a huge threat too.
Back at Fort Wallace, Dred was speaking to Bill about the massacre at Sisika. Rebecca was listening to their conversation.
"That massacre is only bad for us, all we did at that shithole was slaughter everyone we seen. As you can tell by my current situation, I have been shot a good few times. Rebecca can't even walk, she's been fucking shot in the knee." Bill groaned weakly, feeling the effects of his four wounds on his torso.
"I still feel unbearable pain in my knee, I think the bullet still remains in there." The irishman groaned, rubbing at her wounded knee.
"Well then, I think we should see all of you to the hospital." Dred announced, Bill nodded his head as he moaned loudly in pain. Dred decided to speak again.
"I think all of the bullets you took are still lodged in your bodies, it is best that they get removed."
Dred looked into a nearby chest and found some health tonics, this would suffice the two for now until Jack, and Ezekiel, returned.
The two suffering elites of the Marston gang were given a cup full of the health cure, their moans started to subside for now. Dred walked out of the tiny nursery facility within Fort Wallace, Tonya would be waiting for him.
"Hey, Dred. I'm not feeling to sure about this gang life. All it's gonna do is land us into more trouble, all of us will go back to some sort of prison island."
"Don't worry, Jack has us a promised land awaiting for us once we get enough money in our bags. He spoke of a tropical island in the South Pacific, Tahiti."
Tonya looked to the ground and sighed, her eyes had a thousand yard stare in them. She was going through traumatic episodes of the hell she went through at Sisika, she received the worst treatment out of all the females. She was raped over and over, she gave birth to many babies she never wanted. She remembered seeing the hanging bodies of the innocent, she remember people vomiting after being provided horrible food rations. She wondered if Sisika would be different if William Barlow wasn't in charge.
She couldn't get rid of the thoughts of William out of her mind, that ruthless and racist bastard did ungodly things to the people at the penitentiary. He didn't kill them, he would let them suffer and did nothing to help the dying. She then remembered herself at the gallows, seconds away from being hanged. A hand patted her on the shoulder, snapping her out of her flashbacks.
"What's wrong, Tonya?" Dred asked, seeming concerned for his friend before him. She looked into Dred's eyes with eyes of fear and worry.
"Tonya, don't be afraid. Nothing has happened to us yet, I'll let you know when we should be worried. Put troubled mind to rest and look towards the future, us sitting on the beaches of Tahiti. Living the best lives we all can."
(Blackwater)
"You mean to tell me that Jack killed all of those people?" Archer Fordham asked, sounding quite shocked in his tone of voice.
"Yes, hundreds of bodies. Even the owner's wife was dead, her corpse was fucked up." Douglas responded, Markus nodded.
"Hundreds of bodies, damn.." Archer Fordham said as he placed his face into the palm of his hand.
"Jack probably has all of the prisoners from that island in his gang. The prisoners that were alive after the massacre, we haven't seen the owner of the prison island either. There was arrows at the location too, these arrow tips have a rough black tip. Must have been fire arrows." Markus announced as he placed a bundle of burnt arrows onto the desk.
"If Jack destroyed Sisika Penitentiary, and killed all of those guards, and set free some prisoners. I'm gonna put a five hundred dollar bounty on that son of a bitch. Alive or dead." Archer said as he gave the two men the papers with Jack's face on it.
"Five hundred dollars.." Douglas said with a grin growing on his face, turning his head towards Markus. Markus had the same look on his face as Douglas did, the BlackJacks would have a huge amount of money for themselves if they was to capture Jack.
(AnnesBurg)
Jack, and Ezekiel hitched Arthur at the post out in front of the store. The gunsmith was right across the street from them, the two marched on into the store.
"Remember, Ezekiel, only get the items that we all need. We'll get some ammo after we get what we want from here." Jack explained, the store owner watched the two enter his store.
Ezekiel decided to grab some health cures, and some miracle tonics. Jack would get some food and drink provisions for the starving and tired gang members, specifically the rescued inmates of Sisika. The store owner continued to watch the two, slowly pulling a cattleman revolver from the desk drawer.
The store owner kept it hidden behind the desk, continuing to give Jack, and Ezekiel a hateful glare. Once Jack, and Ezekiel had grabbed what they wanted, they approached the counter to see the owner with an angry expression.
"Why the long face, partner?" Jack asked, the store owner remained silent for five seconds before answering.
"What's your name, bud?" The owner asked, he knew exactly who the white man was but not the young black man.
"Elliott, Elliott Morgan." Jack lied, keeping his real name a secret. The owner quickly aimed the revolver at Jack's head.
"Cut your bullshit, Marston. I've read in the papers that you killed several men, and rescued some prisoners from Sisika Penitentiary."
Jack raised his arms up in surrender, no citizens were approaching the store as of yet. Ezekiel wanted to shoot the owner of the store.
"Congratulations smartass, you've found me. Now explain to me, how the hell you know me?" Jack growled, giving the owner a hateful glare right back towards him.
"Annesburg bar a few weeks ago, heard your name being spoken by the prized fighter, Bill Pierce. I also heard you speaking of a supposed gang, you apparently got Bill, and that irish whore of yours, on board with your gang." The owner answered, Jack began to reach for his revolver.
"Listen fella, I don't want you speaking of Rebecca like that around me. You understand!" Jack growled, raising his voice. Ezekiel looked over at Jack, it became apparent to him that Jack was in love with Rebecca, or had some sort of crush on her.
The store owner pulled back the hammer of the gun, it clicked and was ready to fire at any moment.
"Or what!" The owner shouted, Ezekiel shoved Jack to the side and quickly fired his revolver into the skull of the owner.
Blood splattered all over the wall behind the owner as he collapsed behind the desk, Jack looked at Ezekiel. The adolescent african american was shaking as he held the gun, seeming scared.
"Killing is hard, I'm sorry I have a weak reputation. It's just that.." Ezekiel was interrupted by Jack, whom had a smile on his face.
"You're a good man, Ezekiel. Killing is hard, especially for the ones who have the best hearts. In reality, we need more humans like you in this world. I'm gonna go get some ammo, you take role as the store owner for now until I get back." Jack said before he rushed out of the store and towards the gunsmith.
A citizen approached the store in which Ezekiel was in, he stood frozen, without knowing what to do. He forgot to clean up the blood on the wall behind him..
"Hey, where is Jim?" The citizen asked, implying to Ezekiel that the store owner went by that name.
"He is out of town." Ezekiel lied, trying to trick the Annesburg citizen.
"He isn't out of town, I was here earlier. He told me, that he would have my hunting rifle fixed by the time I got back." The citizen said, correcting Ezekiel.
He balled up his fists and tried to think of another lie to tell the citizen as he began to sweat slightly, beading up on his head.
"He needed some gun oil or something." Ezekiel said with a shaky voice, now the citizen could tell that he was lying to him.
"Cheap ass liar, tell me where Jim is!" The citizen shouted before noticing some blood on the wall behind Ezekiel.
"Holy shit.."
Ezekiel gulped as he knew that the citizen seen the blood, the citizen bolted towards the doors only to get shot in the back by the adolescent. The citizen let out a pained cry and collapsed a few seconds later, a pool of blood slowly forming under him.
An Annesburg deputy noticed some citizens running in terror, he grabbed his revolver, and made his way to investigate the scene. Ezekiel quickly opened up the cash drawers and pulled out a few money clips, the total amount was twenty dollars. The deputy suddenly rushed in and aimed at Ezekiel.
"Stay right where you are!" The deputy screamed, the adolescent african american raised his arms up in surrender.
A few more deputies entered the store and the three of them slowly approached Ezekiel, as they began to tie his hands up with ropes, Marston rushed in with a newly equipped bolt action rifle.
Ezekiel broke free, quickly pistol whipping the deputy behind him, Jack fired a rifle shell into another deputy. Ezekiel would kill the third deputy by shooting him in the chest with his revolver. It seemingly became noticeable that the young african american was getting used to killing.
"We've got to move, now!" Jack shouted, the two raced outside and downed a few more deputies that had already arrived. The two climbed on Arthur, bolting up the hill as fast as the arabian horse could go.
Deputies were on their tail in a matter of seconds, four of them were. Jack could hear them firing at him, and Ezekiel.
"Take care of those deputies if you can." Jack said calmly, Ezekiel turned around and fired at the legs of a horse. Bringing down the deputy but not killing him, he managed to shoot another deputy in the throat. Jack could hear the teen bringing down some men after them.
"You seem quite skilled for a man who's never fired a gun before." Jack said, quite impressed.
Ezekiel would bring down the other two deputies as they neared Doverhill, once those two deputies were downed, the two outlaws vanished into the Cumberland Forest. Ezekiel couldn't believed that he killed quite a few people and his heart was racing a mile a minute.
"It seems that rescuing me and destroying the prison gave us a dishonorable reputation."
Jack chuckled in a nervous laughter, he was filled with concern. The more they killed, the more dishonorable the gang became. With more killings, especially killing the deputies, their bounty would go higher…