Author's Note
Get comfy, this is a long one!
"Dani? Danielle, wake up."
She heard Sadie whisper to her, nudging her shoulder gently.
"Sadie?" She blinked, Sadie's beautiful face slowly becoming clear. "God, I had a horrible dream again...t-the bank, it went like my other dream...Hosea died, only this time, Lenny did too...and John got arrested and I-I think I drowned?" When Sadie just smiled at her, Dani frowned, "Sadie...that was a dream, right?"
"No, darlin'," Sadie rasped, brushing the red locks from Dani's face, "it wasn't."
"So...I did drown?"
"No. Well, not quite. You're just unconscious. You need to wake up, Dani. Wake up so you can come back to me for real."
Dani nodded, watching Sadie slowly fade away, hearing Dutch call her name in the distance, "I will, I promise, I'll see you real soon."
"I love you, Danielle." Was the last thing she heard Sadie say before she creeped back into consciousness.
"Danielle? Danielle! Can you hear me?" Dutch was shaking her when she woke up. As she regained consciousness fully, she coughed up some of the water still in her system. "Oh! My girl, you're alright! You're alright." Dutch patted her back, helping her expel the water.
"Dutch?" Dani rasped, her throat now dry from the coughing. "Dutch." she whimpered, pulling her now only father figure into a hug.
"It's alright, it's alright." He promised, pulling a piece of seaweed free from Dani's hair.
"Danielle!" She heard Javier call from a distance. She figured Dutch must have caught up with him earlier, and they had split up to see if they could find anyone else along the shoreline. "You're alive!" He said, kneeling beside her and Dutch, patting her shoulder.
"So are you." She smiled back. "What about the others?"
"I found Bill," Javier said gesturing back in the direction he came from, "he's behind me, somewhere. Haven't seen Micah or Arthur though."
"Me neither," Dutch sighed, "I'm sure they'll turn up soon enough."
"Dani!" Bill said, trying to catch his breath as he finally caught up, "You're alright." He breathed out, and Dani smiled at the worried tone in his voice. Sure, Bill could be an asshole sometimes, but he was still a brother.
"I'm glad you're alright too, Bill." She smiled.
Dutch stood, holding out a hand to Dani to help her up, using his free hand to point to a small alcove not too far from the shore. "There, we can rest up there. Maybe we should wait a while in case Arthur and Micah are lookin' for us. Don't wanna be followin' each other around in circles."
"Right." Dani nodded, leaning into Dutch and Javier as they helped her to the alcove.
As she sat down to rest while Javier set about getting a fire going, while Bill ended up finding a canteen for water, Dani already felt herself drifting off to sleep. She thought she heard Micah calling to them but, honestly, she didn't care. If it had been Arthur, sure, she'd jump awake. But Micah? She still detested the man, and as cruel as it may be, she wouldn't mind never seeing him again.
She wasn't sure how long she slept for. Could've been a few hours, could've been a few minutes. All she did know, was it was Dutch calling Arthur's name.
"Arthur! You're...you're alive!"
As Dani opened her eyes fully, she saw the other men, Micah included, walking towards a clearly exhausted Arthur. She quickly felt herself becoming wide awake. "Arthur…" she breathed, a sigh of relief escaping her lips. She pushed herself to her feet and ran to Arthur, pulling him into a hug, "I'm so glad you're alright."
"It is a goddamn miracle!" Dutch laughed. Dani pulled back from the hug and helped Dutch lead Arthur to their makeshift camp. "Here, have somethin' to drink. Have a drink. Somebody get him a goddamn drink!"
Arthur certainly looked like he needed that drink, his face was bright red with sunburn, and his voice was as rough as the sand beneath their feet. He must've walked for miles, Dani figured. They got Arthur into their little alcove, and Dani refused to leave his side as he rested.
"So," Arthur finally spoke, the water he kept drinking soothing his throat, "where the hell are we?" He asked, standing up and walking to Dutch. Dani stood and followed him.
"We...are on the island of Guarma. Javier asked a local. It's an old sugar plantation island. Second island east of Cuba." Dutch answered.
"Is it anywhere near Australia or Tahiti?"
"It's on the way I guess."
Dani sighed and turned away from them, I don't care much about where we are, all I care about is gettin' back to Sadie. And Abigail, and Jack, and...god, John you better be okay.
"So...what next?" Arthur asked.
As Dani had turned, she spotted men coming up over the top of the alcove. Armed men. "Uh...Dutch…"
The other men turned and they all raised their hands. "Well, next I guess we're gonna get shot." Dutch snarked.
The armed men said something in what Dani presumed to be Spanish, since Javier was able to talk to a local before.
"Gentlemen," Dutch drawled, "this is quite a welcome."
"Who are you?" A man on a horse asked, he sounded American.
"Senor, por favor. We are no one."
"What's your name?"
Dani tried to hide her smirk as Dutch worked his magic, "Aiden O'Malley."
"Is that so? What are you doin' Mr. O'Malley?"
"Survivin'. We were lost at sea, in the storm."
Well, that part ain't a lie, Dani thought as she and the others were shackled together at the ankles and waists. She was in between Dutch and Arthur.
"Is that so?"
"No," Dutch snipped, "I'm in the habit of lookin' like this...is all of this really necessary?"
"We got enough troubles around here right now, Mr. O'Malley, without takin' a chance on a bunch of vagabonds. Behave yourselves," he pointed at them, "and no harm will befall you."
"Vamos!" One of the guards yelled. He shoved Dani as the others ahead started moving.
She clenched her jaw to stop herself from glaring at him.
"That means move!" The man on the horse yelled, "You've got a long walk ahead of ya."
Dutch spoke up again, "I don't get your drift, mister, uh?"
"Levi Simon. Senior Overseer for Alberto Fussar." The man, Levi, answered. "We run the third most productive sugar plantation in the Northern Caribbean. Of course, where there's money to be made, there's trouble."
"What sort of trouble?" Dutch asked.
"Oh, the usual sort. People wantin' what ain't theirs, and others tellin' 'em to take it."
"I don't get you."
"Labor troubles. And other thieves and pirates lookin' to disrupt our ways of working."
"Well, how very upsettin' for you." Dutch said, and Dani could hear the slight tone of sarcasm in his voice.
"Not half as upsettin' as it'll be for them. Mr. Fussar has a lot of very powerful friends."
"I will bet that he does." Dutch sneered.
"Bunch of Hatitan pirates won't frighten him. They'll be strung up in the streets soon enough."
"And do we seem like Hatitan pirates to you, Mr. Simon?"
"You seem like someone or other." Levi glared.
"We was headed to Tahiti."
Levi chuckled, "You was goin' the scenic route! Just as soon as I know exactly who you are, you'll be free. Meantime, you'll not starve."
Dani cast a nervous glance back at Arthur, who shook his head. She knew that meant he was telling her to stay calm but she couldn't. They'd be done for if Mr. Simon found out who they were.
Mr. Simon then said something in Spanish to his men before addressing the gang again, "Welcome to Guarma, gentlemen, ma'am. Now, if you'll excuse me." He said before riding off.
"So what now, Aiden?" Arthur grumbled. Dani stepped to the side slightly so the two could talk quietly.
"I don't know, what do you think?" Dutch replied.
"I think we gotta get out of here."
"Yes, but they can't find out who we are."
"Well, for now, we're stuck then."
Dani sighed, "Goddammit."
"Well, for what it's worth, I think I would've preferred Tahiti." Arthur joked.
"You and me both." Dutch agreed.
As they kept walking, they came across more guards, chaining up more prisoners.
"Who are these people?" Dutch asked.
"Who knows?" Arthur replied.
"Well they got them chained and lashed, but they don't look too dangerous. Excuse me, sir! Who are our new friends here?"
One of the guards chuckled and replied "Criminales."
"What crime did they commit?"
"Insurrecion."
One of the new prisoners laughed darkly, "Insurrection? That's quite a word."
The guard spoke in Spanish again, and they started moving again.
As they moved further along the beach, they were stopped by a gunshot coming from the trees beside them. The guards were all shot and killed, giving Arthur the opportunity to grab the keys to the shackles. He got himself free and passed the key to Dani before grabbing the guard's gun and running to cover.
"For once, I don't think they're shootin' at us!" Dutch smirked.
Dani unlocked herself and grabbed another guard's gun before running to cover beside Arthur. She, Arthur, and whoever was shooting from amongst the trees managed to take down all the guards while Dutch and the others freed themselves.
"Everyone okay?" Dani asked, walking over to the now unshackled gang.
They all gave their affirmative.
"Damn," Dutch said, looking up at a small cliff, "reinforcements. Now we're in trouble."
"Come on, come on dammit!" A man suddenly called from the treeline, "Everyone, follow me!"
They had no reason to not trust the man, he'd probably just saved their lives, so they followed after him.
Dani had almost made it into the trees when she heard Javier groan, she turned and saw him fall to the ground, clutching his leg, "Javier!"
"Ah, get outta here!" He insisted, "Get outta here, there's a lot of 'em!"
"What'd you think?" Dani turned to Dutch.
"We gotta move, Dutch!" Micah yelled, pushing past the others.
Dutch turned back to Javier, "Don't lose faith, son! We'll find you!"
Dani hesitated, wondering if she should take the risk and try to help Javier.
"Run, Danielle!" He told her, "I'll be fine!"
"Dammit," she hissed, "We'll find you, I promise!" She called to him before taking off after Dutch and the others.
They followed the stranger to some old ruins, "Quickly," he said, "I have some guns stashed here." He opened some boxes that had some surprisingly good rifles in them.
"Now we're talkin'." Dani smirked, lifting one of them.
Once the first few guards were taken care of, Dutch instructed Arthur and Bill to push up with him.
"Go," Dani nodded, "we got you covered!"
Soon enough, the remaining guards knew they were outnumbered, and began their retreat.
"Come," the stranger said, "follow me, quick!"
They ran off with him into the jungle.
"What you doing here?" He asked as they made it deep into the trees.
"I have no idea." Dutch answered, "Runnin' from somebody or something I guess."
"Aren't we all. Hercule Fontaine." The man finally introduced himself.
"Dutch van der Linde. These drowned rats are Micah, Bill, Arthur, and Danielle."
"Okay. Well, Fussar will be desperate to find you. We must be very careful."
"So, who is this Fussar?"
"A tyrant, driven by nothing but power and greed. Our only purpose is to work ourselves to death to make him rich." Another man answered.
"Leon wants the people to stand up to Fussar, but most are too afraid." Hercule explained.
"And you?" Dutch asked.
"I am not from here. I bring things in and off the islands, behind Colonel Fussar's back. Let's, uh, let's rest a moment." Hercule suggested, the group coming to a stop atop a hill. "Down there is Aguadulces. Fussar's compound. The sugar cane these poor men kill themselves farming gets processed in that factory there."
"They're little more than slaves shipped in from other islands. A group escaped yesterday into the jungle, hoping to find a way back to their homes." Leon said. Dani imagined how incredibly risky such an escape must have been.
"Now Fussar's men are out hunting them down. That old fort," Hercule pointed, "Cinco Torres. My men and I use that as a hideout when we are here. Come on, I know somewhere you all can rest."
"Can we trust you?" Dutch asked.
"I don't see you have any choice." Hercule replied. And they all knew he was right. "I am the only one who can arrange a boat for you. But...I need something in return. Help Leon with that group of escaped workers, and then come meet me at the fort."
"You help us get back our friend, and get outta here, we will do everything we can." Dutch assured.
"Thank you." Hercule said.
"Gracias." Leon nodded.
"If your friend is still alive, they will have him at Fussar's compound. There is a cave hidden below the cliffs. It will lead you right there." Hercule told them as they reached a campsite.
"Thank you." Dutch nodded.
"The workers are somewhere in the jungle. Hopefully we can get to them before Fussar does."
"Of course."
"Gentlemen, madame, goodbye."
"Well," Micah drawled once the gang was alone, "if this is a tropical paradise, so far it ain't up to much."
Dani rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"I'll go scope the entrance to that cave." Dutch said, Dani frowned at his weary tone. "Arthur…"
"I need to get some rest." Arthur told him.
"Well...you're right. We all need to relax. What a mess. I...am so sorry." Dutch said as he sat down.
"Just...get some sleep, Dutch." Dani said, patting his shoulder before laying down herself.
"Micah, guard this spot...Bill, do some more scouting, carefully."
Dani sighed once Dutch had stopped talking. Her eyes slowly closing as she drifted off to sleep.
She woke with a start. She had a nightmare about the bank job again. Only this time, Hosea came back, all pale and bloody, and asked her why she didn't save him. "Why didn't you tell me about the dream, Danielle? Did you want me gone? Why didn't you warn me?" The nightmare taunted, over and over while Dani begged and pleaded for it to stop. Then, Lenny would appear. "I thought we were friends, Dani? I wasn't even in your nightmare, didn't you care about me?" Then John appeared. "Why'd you leave me, kid? You just let them take me, and you left!" The dream Dani had tucked herself into a corner, hugging her knees, her hands on her ears trying to block out the voices, her eyes squeezed shut. Eventually, Sadie appeared, tears streaming down her face. "You promised you'd come back! You said you'd always come back! Why did you lie?!"
And that was when Dani woke up. Covered in sweat, she wasn't sure if it was the heat of the island or the stress of the dream that caused it. Maybe both? Probably both. She saw Arthur coming towards her with a canteen of water.
"You alright?" He asked as she took the canteen.
"Yeah…" Dani sighed after taking a big swig of water.
"You sure? Seemed like quite the bad dream."
"Just...everything that's happened. It's a lot. I'll be fine once we're home."
Arthur nodded, "Alright, if you say so."
"I just wanna get back. I hate not knowin' if they're all okay." Dani said, running her hands through her sweat dampened hair. It had gone more curly with the heat and humidity.
"They'll be fine. They'll take care of each other." Arthur assured.
"And John? He got arrested, Arthur, what if they hanged him?"
"They won't hang him." Arthur said, conviction in his voice, "They need him. They'll keep him until they figure out what happened to us. 'Sides, you heard Agent Milton, they only really want Dutch."
Dani shook her head, "He killed Hosea. They killed Lenny. They won't stop until we're all in the ground!" She argued.
"Enough!" Arthur snapped, and Dani immediately shrunk like a berated puppy dog. "I am tellin' you, they'll be fine. No point worryin' about somethin' we can't do nothin' about."
"I...I know." She conceded, "I just hate this. I hate not knowin'."
"I know. Just try to focus on gettin' off this island. That's the main thing."
Dani nodded. And that was the end of that.
"So, you wanna come with me? See if we can't find those people Leon was lookin' for?" Arthur asked.
She would be grateful for the distraction, she supposed, "Sure. But where do we start? This place is huge."
"I don't know, but it's better than sittin' around here all day."
Dani nodded and stood, following Arthur through the jungle.
Eventually, they came across a body, hanging from a tree by the neck.
"Shit, that don't look good." Arthur mused.
"We must be close to-." She was cut off by Arthur being hit by something.
"What the hell was that?" He wondered as he plucked a small dart from his arm.
"I don't-ah!" Dani was hit by the same thing. "The hell?" She started to feel dizzy, "I don't...feel so…" she couldn't finish her thought as she collapsed, Arthur falling with her.
She was startled awake by cold water being thrown on her face, "What the hell?" She tried to move, but her hands were tied to the arms of a chair.
Her captur yelled something in Spanish.
"What?"
He smacked her face, "Who are you?" he asked again, in English. "Where are you from?" He smacked her again.
"My...my name is...is Bessie Matthews...I'm American." She panted, licking the blood from her lip.
He punched her in the stomach this time, "Why are you here?"
She couldn't answer, the punch had knocked all the air from her lungs.
He smacked her again, "You want me to keep hitting you, woman? Maybe this will make you talk." He pulled a knife and held it to her face.
"I…" she panted, trying to catch her breath, "I got lost...our ship, it crashed."
"Who was the man you were with?"
"The man?"
He dug the knife in just enough to cut her cheek, it would be enough to leave a small scar at least. "Who is he?!"
"I-I don't know! I just met him. He...he was lost too."
The man hummed in thought before talking to another guard. They spoke in Spanish, Dani didn't understand a word.
Dani spat some of the blood from her mouth onto the ground while she waited. Where the hell is Arthur? She thought.
Next thing she knew she was being untied and dragged from the chair. "What's goin' on? Where are you takin' me?"
The guard just tied her hands together and pushed her forward. "Move!"
He led her outside, she scanned the area for Arthur but couldn't see him, just ruins. She was pushed towards three men, who were just as battered as she was. Her heart sank when she saw four ropes hanging from the ruins. Shit...Arthur where the hell are you? These must be the escaped workers.
Soon enough, she and the men were hanging by their necks from the ruins. It was like when she was fighting the water after the boat tipped her, fighting with everything she had to take a breath. As the darkness started to creep in, she could swear she saw Arthur approach. Wait… "A-Arth-" she tried, but could barely breathe, let alone speak. She heard gunshots ring out, and suddenly she was able to breathe again. She clutched her neck as the air filled her lungs, finally.
"Arthur…" Dani panted, trying to catch her breath.
Just as Arthur and Leon started to untie Dani and the other men, they heard yelling coming from the far side of the ruins.
The reinforcements were too close for Arthur to untie Dani, so he quickly took cover and defended her and the others. Dani always was in awe of Arthur. As much as he and the others in the gang praised her own shooting, she never felt like she could match Arthur, or even John. She knew she was good, of course, but she always felt just a little behind.
"Took you long enough." She joked when Arthur approached and untied her, helping her to her feet, after taking out all the other guards.
"Sorry to keep you waitin'." He smirked back. "You alright?"
Dani rubbed her neck and wiped some of the drying blood off her cheek, "Yeah. Fit as a fiddle."
Leon spoke in Spanish to the other men as he helped untie them.
"Thank you, my friend." A man with one arm spoke, "I'm Baptiste, I work with Hercule. We owe you our lives."
"Wouldn't be the first time I owed you one." Dani smirked.
"Yeah, don't you worry," Arthur smirked back, "I been keepin' count." Then he shook his head and pushed the chair that had been used to hang Dani and the other men. "This place...makes me miss home."
"Hercule is getting a boat lined up," Baptiste said, "to get you and your men out of here. Just meet him at Cinco Torres."
"We'll be there." Arthur assured.
"Good, good. This is for you." Baptiste handed Arthur some money. "It's not much, but it's the least we can do."
"Thanks."
"Thank you." Dani said, smiling at him.
"Good luck gettin' home."
"Let's get outta here." Arthur said once Baptiste was gone.
"Yeah, let's."
The next day, Arthur and Dani set out to find Dutch at the cave Hercule told them about. They couldn't even think about leaving without Javier.
"Hey." Dutch called as he saw them approach.
Arthur replied with a "hey", Dani with a "mornin'".
"So, uh, what's the plan?" Arthur asked after taking a quick look over the edge of the cliff.
Dani felt a little dizzy when she saw the water, but shook it off.
"Well," Dutch started as he handed Dani and Arthur a torch each, "I found the cave Hercule spoke of and also a...guide." He gestured along the cliff face, "She's up ahead. I think we can trust her." He started making his way along the edge, "Follow me, the entrance is along here. Just watch your footin'."
Dani took a deep breath before following behind Arthur.
"So, what do we do when we get Javier back?" Arthur asked.
"Well...we're gonna get the hell outta here. Then, set sail for the one place ain't nobody gonna be expectin' us. Get everybody together, and get ourselves back on course." Dutch said, as he led the way.
"And where would that be?"
"The place we just escaped from!" Dutch laughed.
Dani and Arthur stole a look at each other, "Dutch, you wanna go back to Saint Denis?" Dani asked.
"If it was you got left, you'd want us to go back." Dutch argued.
"Well, yeah, I'd want it but I wouldn't expect it."
"Well that's the point! Ain't no one gonna expect it! We come back from the dead, gather everyone, and we leave before anyone realises we even resurrected!"
"An insect bite you or somethin'?" Arthur quipped, "'Cause you gone, friend."
"We look like what we are. A bunch of desperados, on the run. But with the other women, a change of clothes, heh, we are a choir, or a gang of pilgrims or somethin'."
"Whatever you say." Arthur sighed, "We're a bunch of penniless fugitives on some Caribbean dump, sneakin' through caves," he gestured to the cave they now stood in, "while two of our best men got shot back home. How could I doubt you, Dutch?" Dani's eyes widened as Arthur ranted on, she'd never heard him stand up to Dutch like this.
"You got no idea, Arthur. No idea at all. I will do whatever it takes for us to survive."
"I guess that's what I'm afraid of." Arthur grumbled as he took a step to go deeper into the cave.
"Hold on." Dutch stopped him.
"Why?"
"Gloria?!" Dutch called into the cave. There was no reply for a few moments, but then they heard a woman's voice reply in Spanish. "Buenas días." Dutch greeted as the woman approached.
"Buenas dias…" Gloria greeted, shuffling over to them. "Dinero, the money, the gold…"
"Aqui." Dutch replied, handing her a gold bar. She snatched it and sniffed it, "Oh it's genuine, you old hag."
"Vamos, vamos. Rapido." Gloria gestured as she headed into the cave again.
Dutch turned to Arthur and Dani, "Now, that gold right there, it's the last bit of gold I have in my pocket from the bank. The rest of it is-."
"At the bottom of the sea." Arthur finished for Dutch as he led the two into the cave behind Gloria.
"Exactly."
"You know," Arthur spoke up as they furthered into the cave, "wasn't Fussar one of the fellers Bronte pointed out to us at the party in Saint Denis?"
"Yeah...you're right." Dutch realised. "I knew I'd heard that name before."
Arthur hummed in agreement before saying, "We met up with Leon. That situation with the workers is dealt with. Captured, tied up, beaten…"
"Almost hanged…" Dani added on, rubbing her still sore neck.
"Poor bastards." Dutch said.
"No, that was us." Arthur said. "Are you sure this Hercule feller ain't just usin' us?"
"Almost certainly." Dutch nodded, "But he's the best chance we have right now of gettin' out of this place. Won't be long before someone figures out who we are and sends word to the US."
Dani bit her lip before asking the question that had been on their mind since they fled Saint Denis, "So, Dutch, what happened with John in the bank?"
"He survived, unlike dear Hosea and Lenny. The only one they took alive. Why is that, you think?"
She frowned, "I-I don't know, I was already on the roof, I didn't see."
"And Abigail...I presume she was able to slip away in time."
Arthur shared Dani's frown, "What're you talkin' about?" He asked.
"You know, when I look back at all the chaos of the past few weeks, the apparent superficial chaos, I begin to wonder...maybe, for somebody, this is all goin' exactly to plan."
"I still ain't sure what you're sayin', Dutch." Arthur drawled.
Dani frowned again, is he suggestin' John set this up?
"Nor am I, quite, but, that many Pinkertons arrivin' like clockwork once again?"
Gloria interrupted their conversation when they reached a door, "The door is stuck, you'll have to lift it."
"Pardon me, my Queen." Dutch snarked, before trying the door, "Arthur, come help me with this."
"Just lift it...lift it!" Gloria said. She rushed on ahead, well, as fast as she could shuffle, once the men got the door open. She brought them to a ladder.
"This way?" Dutch asked.
"Si, then you pay more."
"Okay." Dutch said, Dani noticed a dark look start to appear on his face.
"Pay more...pay now." Gloria had pulled a knife on him.
Dutch swiped it away easily and pushed her into the ladder, holding her up by her neck.
"Dutch!" Dani cried.
"What are you doin'?" Arthur snapped.
Dani's face showed a look of horror as Dutch started banging Gloria's head against the ladder, still choking her. "Dutch, what the hell are you doin'?!" She cried again.
"Easy, Dutch!" Arthur said. "What was that?" He asked as Dutch let the old woman's body drop to the floor.
"Horrible old crone." Dutch replied, as though they were having a normal conversation.
"But you killed her."
"She was gonna betray us, Arthur, couldn't you tell?"
"No."
"Well, I got some Spanish...she was."
"You keep killin' folk, Dutch." Dani finally spoke again. The hurt and worry still present on her face.
"I am just tryin' to make sure that some of us survive, Danielle. Now, shall we proceed?" He gestured for her to go up the ladder.
"I guess…" she said, starting her climb.
"Listen, you think I want any of this?"
"I don't know."
"Of course I don't...but I made a pledge to you all. We would survive, no matter what." It was raining when they reached the top. The once bright sunny day turned cloudy, grey, and damp.
"So how did you know she was gonna betray us?" Arthur asked as they hid behind the walls of the ruin they came up to. "What she say?"
"It was in her eyes, and the way she was leadin' us."
"But you said you knew Spanish." Arthur bit back.
"I know human beings, Arthur."
"Jesus." Dani sighed, running her hands through her hair.
Arthur sighed, "You gonna strangle me next?"
"I'm doin' the best I can." Dutch replied, grimly.
Their conversation was cut short by guards laughing and cheering as they came through the gate to the compound.
They watched from their hiding spot as the guards had Javier tied to a donkey, being dragged along the dirt. They could hear him groaning in pain as the other men taunted him.
"I have had enough of this." Dutch said, leaving their spot.
Dani and Arthur looked at each other, sighing before following Dutch.
"We're gonna have to sneak around," Dutch whispered, "this way." They crept over to another small building. "They're all listenin' to that fool. They won't notice us if we stay quiet." They stayed low and crept into the building, a small workshop. They noticed a couple guards across the way. "We need to deal with them."
"Well, I'm sure you got some ideas." Arthur whispered.
"Shut up and help me kill them."
Dani held back as Dutch and Arthur took the guards out. She came out to help Arthur move the bodies in some tall grass behind a wall.
"Let's head around the back of the building, and see if we can find a way through." They slipped around to the back of the bigger building, Dutch stopped to peek in a window. "Let's go in there." He whispered.
"Why?" Arthur asked.
"Well, you know me, Arthur. We'll cause ourselves a little distraction, and then poof...we will disappear."
There were only two more guards inside. They waited for them to separate before taking them out.
"Okay, now we need to create a diversion." Dutch said as he looked around the building.
"Well, what do you think? Find another old lady to strangle?" Arthur grumbled.
"That is enough, Arthur. This is a war."
"Well if this is a war, then we need to start blowin' stuff up."
"Exactly." Dutch chuckled.
"Is there any dynamite?" Dani asked from her spot by the main door, where she was keeping watch.
"Oh no, we don't need dynamite, we've got a furnace and lots of sugar."
"Sugar?"
"Oh yeah." Dutch made his way to a shelf of sugar bags and started cutting them open. "You'll see, no problem. Dani, make sure all the doors and windows are closed, go on, quick."
Dani nodded and closed the one open door and the shutters on the windows. Arthur helped Dutch with the sugar.
Dutch had found a lantern to start the fire, and some kindling. "Alright. You two head on out and wait for me, I'll get this goin'."
Dani and Arthur nodded before heading out the side door.
"You sure about all this?" Dani whispered.
"I'm not sure 'bout anything anymore." Arthur whispered back.
Before they could say anymore, Dutch came out the same door they did, "We'd better hurry. Follow me." They stayed low again and crept behind a small shed over to a well. "That place has to blow soon, get ready to make a run for Javier." A few moments later, an explosion came from the warehouse, and all the guards that once crowded Javier, who was now in a cage, were running to investigate. "Now, let's go!"
"Am I glad to see you." Javier rasped as they reached him.
"I promised we'd find you, didn't I." Dani smiled, Javier just gave a tired smile back.
"Alright. Come on, son." Dutch said, helping Javier out of the cage. He shot the lock, "It's gonna be okay. I got you." The guards were alerted to their presence when Dutch shot the cage lock.
"We'll cover you." Dani said, nodding to Arthur who nodded back as they each took cover.
Once Dutch got Javier safely behind a wall, he helped Dani and Arthur with the guards. "There's more comin'." He said after the first wave was dealt with, "I'll grab Javier, you shoot us some space!"
"I thought I was dead, for sure." Javier said as Dutch carried him away, Dani and Arthur following behind.
"Not yet, my friend." Arthur replied. "You okay there?" Javier didn't respond. "Javier? Shit...I think he's passed out, Dutch."
"We gotta move." Dutch said.
They fought their way along the side of the compound, managing to get out the back gate. The guards didn't let up though.
"Shit, they're comin' out after us." Dutch hissed, "You two got them?"
"Yeah," Dani replied, "just keep movin'!"
"Come on, let's see if we can lose them in the fields!" They made their way through the tall sugar cane. "Head down towards the river."
"Get across the river!" Dani said as she covered behind a rock. "We can hold 'em off from there!" She covered Dutch, Arthur and Javier as they crossed the river. Arthur called back to her that she would be okay to cross, he would cover her. "Where's Dutch and Javier?" She asked as she crouched beside Arthur, behind a rock.
"He got Javier out, said we should stay back and take care of the rest of these guys."
"Makes sense, we can at least slow 'em down." She ran over to another rock to draw their fire as Arthur shot them.
Soon enough, they seemed to have taken them all down.
"Let's get the hell outta here." Arthur said, and they took off running.
"So what now?" Dani asked as they slowed to a walk through the jungle once they got a good distance from the compound.
"We go to Hercule's place, and get out of here. Hopefully."
Dani nodded, "And...Dutch?"
Arthur sighed, "I don't know."
"I'm worried, Arthur. He...the way he killed that woman? He didn't need to do that. I know she pulled a knife on him, but, Jesus, he could've just got rid of it. Maybe threaten her a little but...that was-."
"I know."
"And...was he really suggestin' John or Abigail ratted us out? Because you know they wouldn't."
"I know."
"I think Hosea might've helped Abigail get away, maybe he gave himself to save her. Or maybe they got separated and she didn't even know what happened to him. And the Pinkertons probably only kept John alive because they wanted to interrogate him. See if he would give us up if we got away, I don't know, but what I do know, is neither of them would ever rat us out."
"I know." Arthur pressed. "I know...I don't know what to do about Dutch right now. I just think we should get off this damn island, and figure things out from there."
"Right."
"But, listen...if things get worse-"
"Worse?" Dani asked, her eyebrows raising.
"Just in case. You need to make sure you get your family safe. Sadie included."
"I...Of course. But, what about you?"
"I'd make sure you'd all get away."
"Arthur." Dani stopped in her tracks. "You're my family too. I ain't leavin' without you. I won't."
He sighed again, "Look, like I said, let's just get off this island first. Worry 'bout the rest later."
Dani frowned, but relented, "Alright."
When they reached Cinco Torres, Dutch was talking with Hercule.
"Alright, now, we did what you asked." Dutch said.
"It's like I said, Fussar knows who you are, and knows the price on your head." Hercule countered, "It's a big problem."
"I see."
"But if we can silence him, then I can help you escape before anyone has time to get here from America. That way, we all get what we want."
"We want to get the boat that you promised us."
"And you will. But you have found yourself in the middle of a war, my friend. Fussar has called in the Navy from Cuba. There's no way a boat could leave right now."
Another man ran into the room, clearly distressed. He spoke to Hercule in French.
"Come," Hercule said as he stood, "follow me."
Dani's jaw dropped when she saw what had the man so distressed.
"So now we have a real problem." Hercule said. "This must be the boat he called in from Cuba."
"That's a goddamn warship." Bill said in awe.
Dani just nodded, her mouth still agape.
"You kinda have to hand it to this feller…" Micah drawled.
"So I guess great minds think alike." Dutch mused.
"So what now?" Arthur asked.
"We fight, or we run." Hercule said with conviction.
"Any of you feel like runnin'?" Dutch asked the gang. When no one said anything, he continued, "So what do we do?"
"I will go get the cannon ready." Hercule said before running to do so.
"Okay, let's get to it." Dutch laughed.
They crouched behind what little cover they had and shot down. The fort was shaking with the force of the explosions hitting it.
"There's more comin' down the right side of the beach!" Micah called.
"Let's prepare the welcome party." Hercule smirked.
"Why the hell are we doin' this? This ain't our fight!" Micah snipped.
Dani rolled her eyes.
"Do you want to get off this island, or not?" Hercule bit back.
"He's usin' us!"
"Just shoot, Micah!" Dutch ordered.
"You said you were gettin' us a goddamn boat, Hercule!" Bill yelled.
"I am! What do you want me to do? We are trapped up here!"
"Just shut up and shoot!" Dani snapped. Honestly…
As Arthur helped Hercule push the canon towards the edge of the fort, they noticed more men getting out of lifeboats and running onto the beach.
"This don't look good!" Micah said.
"Aw, damn it!" Dutch hissed. "Let's go down there and clear 'em off the beach."
"Wait, wait, I'll come too." Hercule insisted.
"And me." Arthur said.
"I'll stay with the others and watch the front, don't take too long!" Dani called to them.
Their split positioning helped, Dani noticed. If the men on the beach focused on Dani and the others at the top of the fort, Arthur, Dutch, and Hercule dealt with them, and vice versa. As the number of men on the beach dwindled, she noticed Hercule and Arthur start to make their way back up to the fort.
"Where's Dutch?" She asked as Arthur and Hercule reached them.
"Holdin' 'em off." Arthur replied. "Just keep shootin'!"
"You man the cannon," Hercule told Arthur, "I'll get you some more shot. Aim at the waterline, we need to put a serious hole in that boat!"
After what felt like a hundred cannonballs, the ship finally sank. Dani smiled as she watched it sink, she could hear Hercule's men cheering.
"Let's get down from here." Hercule said, "Come on."
"That was quite some shootin'!" Dutch said with a smile when they reached him.
"Thank you." Hercule replied as he and Dutch shook hands.
"What now?"
"Oh, they'll be back. But, I found a boat for you, and he should be arriving on the dock anytime now."
"Great. Micah, go meet with the captain. If he's amenable and discrete tell him we'll be ready to set sail soon. Bill, Danielle, come help me collect poor old Javier. Hercule, it was a great pleasure to make your acquaintance!"
"Thank you, Hercule." Dani smiled before following Dutch and Bill.
"We got a real problem." Micah said as he met the others at the dock. "Nice Mr. Fussar don't want us goin' nowhere. He knows just who we are, if he can keep us here for a few more days, well…"
"And what about the Captain of the ship here?" Dutch asked.
"They got him trussed up like a hog, guards all over the place. Got us surrounded with gun positions so when we try to sail out he's gonna blow holes in us."
"This feller is really beginnin' to try my patience."
"And he ain't even had you tortured yet." Arthur quipped.
"I like the man's style. He's thorough, nasty, and vindictive." Micah said.
"Yeah, sounds like your type of man Micah." Dani said with a sarcastic smile.
He ignored her. "However, in this instance, I don't see we got any alternative but we go and free our friendly Captain...and destroy the artillery." He pulled some explosives from his pack.
"For once, I agree with you." Arthur said, taking some of the explosives.
"Yeah," Dani sighed, "me too."
"Hercule?" Dutch asked. Hercule had gone with them to make sure they got to the dock.
"Oh, I'll fight Alberto Fussar every day I can."
"Alright. Bill, you're gonna guard Javier on the ship here." The excited look on Bill's face fell. "Arthur, Danielle, Micah, let's get to work. Hercule, we follow you."
"This way."
"Quick, let's get up around the back of that artillery post." Micah said as they crept through the jungle. "There's two guards. Arthur, come on, get your knife ready."
The explosion drew the attention of the other guards in the area.
"Come on, there's another set of cannons up ahead!" Hercule said as they shot their way over to it.
"I'll get the dynamite rigged on these cannons." Micah said, "There'll be more comin'."
"We'll hold them off." Dutch said.
"Just be quick!" Dani told Micah.
"Let's go up here, we'll have a better view!"
They followed Dutch up the hill and got into position.
"Look, more of Fussar's men coming through the fields!" Hercule pointed.
"Okay, come on, let's pick them off before they get too close!"
With their height and positioning, they managed to do just that.
"How are you gettin' on with those cannons, Micah?" Dutch called.
"Nearly there!" A few moments later he was done. "Okay, we are live. Stand back!" They backed up the hill again. "The Captain's bein' held in the workers' compound. This way!" Micah led them up over the hill, more guards were on the other side. "The Captain's in that blue buildin', straight ahead!"
The guards had the advantage of cover on the other side of the hill. "Let's push up on 'em!" Dani called, "Get 'em out of their cover!"
They managed to clear the guards out of the small courtyard. "Alright Arthur," Dutch said, "you get the Captain out of that cabin. We'll cover things out here."
"You boys alright?" Dani asked once Dutch, Arthur, and the Captain came out of the cabin. "I heard the gunshots."
"Fine." Was all Arthur responded with.
Dani nodded and left it at that.
"Back to the ship," Dutch called, "come on!" They started running back towards the docks. "What happened to Fussar? He escape?"
"That who you were shootin' at?" Dani asked.
"I didn't see him." Hercule said.
"Damn it!" Dutch hissed.
They fought their way back down towards the dock, but there were still more guards yet.
"Fussar is up there I think!" Hercule said as they took cover behind some ruins.
"In the tower?" Arthur asked.
"Yes. Yes, that's him." They stole a glance at the tower to see Fussar loading another cannon.
"This goddamn idiot…" Arthur growled. "Come on!"
"He's shooting, we have to take him down!"
"He'll have to keep loadin' that thing!" Dani called over the noise. "Stay in cover, and move after he takes a shot!"
"Danielle, there's another cannon up there on our left. Can you get to that?" Hercule asked.
Dani took a quick look. "I'll try! Just cover me!" She ran over to the cannon. "Oh, wait until I tell Jack about this." She whispered to herself, smirking as she aimed the cannon at the tower Fussar was on. She hit the top of the tower and it crumbled on top of Fussar. "Haha! Yes!" She hollered, and ran to meet the others by the boat. "I got him for ya, Javier!" She smiled.
"Captain, can you handle the ship?" Dutch asked. The Captain had been beaten for god knows how long.
"I'll be fine." He insisted. "Come on, we'll get goin' with the tide, before I get anymore surprise interviews with local officials."
Dani stood next to Arthur on the boat and watched Dutch bid farewell to Hercule for the final time. They waved to him as Dutch joined them on the boat.
"We survived." Dutch said as he sat down.
"Just about." Arthur sighed.
Dani felt a lot of things. Relieved to be off the island. Excited to get back home to her family. Nervous to be on a boat again. She took a deep breath and tried to stay positive. We'll make it. I'll see them. I'll see her.
"Well, what now?" Bill asked after they'd been sailing for a while.
"W-what now?" Micah mocked, "What do you mean, what now?"
"I mean, we're headin' back to Lemoyne, again, and we're all wanted men...and woman." He added Dani on at the end. She smiled at him.
"We slip ashore one by one...find out what's what." Dutch said.
"And we don't cut and run now? Head back to Blackwater." Micah said, eagerly.
"No!" Dani hissed.
"No." Dutch said at the same time.
"Why not?"
"Because...the last thing they'll be thinkin' is for us to turn up."
"We been on the run for a while now," Arthur spoke up, "and it feels like...like our luck has turned, you know? And it ain't turnin' back. We had a good run of it I guess."
"We ain't even played our hand yet! We just need to put some more money in our pockets, make our escape. Broke, alone, they're gonna pick us off, one by one. And you know it." Dutch argued.
"Maybe."
"Not. Maybe. We need to split up, keep a low profile, try to track down the rest. But...carefully. See if they sent any mail. Arthur, you check Shady Belle. We'll find each other eventually, we always do."
"And then what?" Javier asked.
"Then we meet up, we gather the family, we get some money and get the hell outta there. That's the plan."
"We all acting crazy, and that, that's not what I thought we were gonna be doin' here!"
"We have been in a bad way. Listen. I will kill for my family. Any of you wanna judge me for that," he gestured at them, "that's fine. But that is who I am. Anyone disagree?" They all looked around, staying silent. "Anyone?" Dutch said nothing more. Just walked away.
Dani sighed and stood, walking to the edge of the boat, resting her arms on the side. I'm comin', Sadie. I promise.
When deciding who was going where after getting off the boat, Dani said she would check the train station in Rhodes, to see if there was any mail. She asked if there might be any for anyone with the last name Kilgore. There was a letter for "uncle Tacitus" from "Caroline", his niece, wishing him well after his vacation, stating that Caroline and the "grandnieces" took a vacation of their own. They were in Lakay, a small village just north of Saint Denis, according to the letter.
"Lakay." Dani breathed. She'd walked just outside of town to read the letter. "Alright. Lakay it is." She couldn't afford a horse, or even a carriage ride, and didn't know where Midnight was, so she would have to walk. Dani just hoped she was alright. That horse was family just as much as John was.
The walk to Lakay felt long, but she didn't care. She was going to see her family. That's all that mattered. She came across a small cabin just as the sun started to set. That has to be them, she thought. She could feel excitement bubbling in her stomach. Although, that could've just been the hunger.
Dani felt tears of joy reach start to form as she neared the cabin and saw Abigail outside.
"A-Abigail!" She called, her voice wobbling.
Abigail perked up, turning in her seat. "Dani? Dani!" She ran over to her, practically jumping into her arms. "Thank god you're alright! They, they got John! Arrested him!"
"I know," Dani soothed, "I know. We'll get him back...I just...where's Sadie?" She asked, pulling back from the hug to look into Abigail's eyes.
"Oh, she's inside!" Abigail answered, excitement now in her eyes. "She's been worried sick, even though she wouldn't admit it. She's...she's been the best, Dani. I don't know if we would've made it without her."
Dani felt pride swell in her chest. "I'm glad she took care of you. I'm glad you had each other."
"Come on, everyone'll be so excited to see you!" The brunette dragged her to the house. "Arthur got here a few hours ago too!"
Dani just laughed and let Abigail lead her by the hand.
Cheers of "Dani!" and "Danielle!" rang through the small cabin when everyone noticed her.
She felt Jack's arms wrap around her waist, "Aunt Dani!"
"There's my favourite little man!" She gushed, lifting him and kissing his cheek over and over. "I missed you so much!"
"I missed you too!" He giggled.
She greeted the others with hugs, kisses on cheeks, and handshakes. She couldn't see Sadie though. "Not that I ain't happy to see ya'll, but...where's Sadie?"
"She's outside." Miss. Grimshaw answered. "Smokin', I think."
"Excuse me." Dani smiled, they all smirked in return. Jack smiled too.
She took a deep breath before opening the back door. Sadie had her back to her, smoking, as Miss. Grimshaw said. She hadn't seemed to notice the door had opened. Dani pulled it closed slowly, as quietly as she could. She casually leaned on the porch railing beside Sadie, waiting for the blonde to notice her.
Sadie did a double take before throwing her cigarette into the water and falling into Dani's arms, "Dani!" she breathed, wrapping her arms around Dani's neck.
Dani smiled, wrapping her arms around Sadie's waist, "I missed you so much." She smiled, the tears falling freely now.
"I missed you too." Sadie laughed, some tears falling down her face too.
"I'm so sorry, I said I wouldn't leave and-."
Sadie cut her off, pulling back from the hug, "Yeah...but you promised you'd always come back. I knew you'd be back. I never doubted you."
Dani gave her a huge smile before finally, finally, kissing her. After not getting to kiss Sadie for so long, Dani felt like she could breathe again. It was like Sadie was giving her life.
They separated when they needed air, "What happened here?" Sadie asked, her thumb grazing the small scar on Dani's cheek that she knew for sure wasn't there when she left.
"Some asshole tied me to a chair and beat me for information. Pulled a knife when I wouldn't talk. You know how it is." Dani said with a smirk as though it was the most normal thing ever.
Sadie laughed, "Yeah, just a normal day then." She leaned in and kissed the scar. She then laughed as she properly looked at Dani.
"What?" Dani laughed.
"Your hair!" Sadie said through her laughter.
"Excuse me! I was in a damn jungle! And that was after I had almost drowned in the ocean! How would your hair look after-."
Sadie just laughed and kissed her, her hands grabbing the hair she was just laughing at.
The kiss was interrupted by Dani's stomach growling, Sadie laughed again.
"Sorry…" Dani blushed. "I ain't eaten properly in days."
"Well, come on then," Sadie said, holding her hand out for Dani, who quickly took it, "let's get some food in ya."
Dani smiled as she sat down to eat, Sadie sitting on her left, Jack on her right. She wouldn't be completely happy until they got John back safe, but after worrying she'd never see any of her family again, she could rest for now.
Author's Note
So I couldn't figure out where I wanted to end this chapter while writing the actual Guarma part, so I just kept it going! Even when I got to the end there I wasn't sure where I wanted it to end. I hope that was a good spot and I hope you enjoyed this pretty long chapter! Hope everyone is doing well too!