Even the name of the city was as dark and gloomy as they made it out to be; Blackwater. It was surely named well, seeing as the lake that surrounded it was dark and murky to the point where you couldn't even see your feet if you tiptoed in. With all of the buildings lined along the cobblestone streets and sidewalks, it just went along with the gray design of it all. Smoke billowed from the chimneys above, seeming to almost blend with the dark clouds that hovered, hiding away any form of sunlight to brighten things up. It was supposedly appealing to everyone who lived there. How was it that those who had money ended up in such gloomy places? Where were the white picket fences and gardens full of flowers and fruit; the humming bees going from tulip to tulip to collect pollen for their nest; the rays of light beaming down through the puffy white clouds; the feeling of hope and love in the air like it was Spring every single day?

These questions formed in the mind of the man who looked down on the city from above, peering at the passer-byers through the binoculars in his hands. To think that this was where they'd find fortune to live out their days was beyond him. He found it hard to comprehend any of it. But whatever Ol' Dutch said, went. It was how he'd always been. How all of them had been. He was, after all, the leader of the gang. The Dutch Van Der Linde Gang, specially named after him.

"There it is boys…the motherload. Best we wait 'til nightfall to get movin'," Dutch's raspy voice rang out in a harsh whisper, as if he'd been listening to Arthur's thoughts. He paced behind them for a moment before kneeling down right beside the man, putting a hand on his shoulder, "You ready for this?"

"Ready as I'll ever be, so long as you're sure it'll work," Arthur responded, setting down the binoculars and getting to his feet, brushing Dutch's hand off as he made his way to his mare. They'd been riding for days just to get there, and all he wanted was for it to pay off like Dutch promised. But that was just the thing; Dutch's promises were usually broken. At least recently, when he'd accepted the newest member of the gang into the loop, filling the leader's head with ideas that were either downright stupid or too risky. In Arthur's eyes, he was nothing more than a rapscallion who was only in it for the money. Wouldn't've been the first time, that was for sure. Not to mention, Arthur wasn't someone to have bad gut feelings about anyone, but this man…this man made him gag to the point where he could taste the burning vile in his throat.

"Arthur m'boy, o' course it'll work. Have a little faith, will ya?" Dutch mounted up and clicked his tongue, starting off towards where they'd set up camp to gather what they needed and to rest before they made their move. Heaving a sigh and trying not to think of the possibilities of this plan turning upside down, Arthur followed the group, staying close to Dutch's side.

"Henry, I already told you," the woman started, pinching the bridge of her nose and rubbing her temple with her thumb, "I can't work in these conditions. I need a better job, and this ain't it. Especially with men not keepin' their grubby hands to themselves."

"Ya can't just up and leave! I ain't got no one else to cover for me! C'mon, Jo," the bartender argued, frowning as he poured someone their seventh glass of whiskey. He set the bottle down and leaned against the counter, eyeing her as if pleading for her to stay. She crossed her arms over her chest, putting a hand up to a man who was now approaching her from the other side of the counter, giving her a lustful look. She'd had enough of this back and forth with this job, having to tend to men who were looking for any way to get away from their wives and seemingly difficult life. Or so they always made it out to be, going off about the woman they'd been sleeping with for the past three years and complaining she wasn't good enough anymore. Men. Stubborn and as dull as mules at times.

"Look, I got a brother to take care of. You know that. I've left him in the dust for far too long, and I got to be able to provide for him at least. This just ain't makin' the cut," the woman shook her head and gave him a soft smile, "You've never been too hard on me. Always been like a father in fact, and I'm glad to have someone I can trust and who can look out for me when I need it. So…can ya do this one thing for me? Please?" Henry bit his bottom lip, chuckling softly as he nodded and reached out a hand for her to take,

"Alright, Johanna Matthews. But I expect some visits every now and then, ya hear?" The woman rolled her eyes playfully and surprised the man with a hug instead,

"Thank you. And of course. Don't wanna leave my best friend hangin'." She then pulled away and punched him lightly on the shoulder, causing him to wince a bit and rub the spot gingerly.

"Anytime kid," he said, watching as she picked up the small bag she always tended to carry everywhere and left the saloon, disappearing into the night.

"Jo! Guess what, guess what?" a small boy at the age of ten came running up to her as soon as she got through the front door, hardly even giving her a chance to set her belongings down. Johanna let out a breath as her little brother knocked the wind out of her, practically causing her to fall over as she wrapped her arms around him securely. She ruffled his hair and planted a kiss on his head, relief filling her to see he was at least in a joyful mood. On most occasions, he'd completely ignore her due to her long absence when he got home from school and she wasn't there to greet him. It always made her heart sink to see him in such a state. But now her curiosity was peaked, seeing as he was bouncing on his feet like a puppy when it's owner came home.

"What is it, Toby?" she asked, brushing a few strands of hair from his face as he grinned at her, revealing a letter from behind his back. Her insides twisted, knowing exactly what it was already. They'd been coming in the mail for several years around birthdays mostly, but this wasn't around anyone's birthday. She licked her dry lips nervously, taking the letter with shaky fingers as she tried not to let her brother's excitement pressure her too much. Of course, being ten, he wouldn't have understood what it really meant that their parents were writing them, but it meant more than a great deal to her. She'd been the one to look after him since he was a toddler, though he'd always clung to their mother and father whenever they paid him a sliver of attention.

There'd been far too many things behind the curtain that he didn't know about that set her on edge when they sent a letter home. Ever since she'd been old enough to get a job, they'd treated her like complete garbage, though they obviously never saw it that way. They'd seen it as growing character, and her mother had always brought her own past up and how horribly difficult it was. That Johanna's life was perfect compared to how hers had been. But Johanna knew it couldn't be true, at least to the extent she made it out to be. Who's parents left their children for months on end without a word, only to come back and do it again a week later? Butter them up as though they'd never left, giving gifts left and right until they seemed fulfilled enough to ditch them again? It didn't make sense to her, and holding the letter that said the exact same words the others always said sent a jolt of anger up her spine.

"Jo?" Toby frowned, placing his hand on her now clenched one as she scanned the words one by one:

Dear Jo and Toby,

We've missed you both dearly and are happy to say we'll be coming home by the end of next month. There'll be no more traveling until Toby is finished with school hopefully, so we'll have plenty of time to catch up. We know we haven't been there enough for you two, and we want to make it up to you. We'll also be bringing some gifts from our travels that will brighten your spirits! Expecting a clean home to come back to!

Sincerely,

Ma & Pa

Tears pricked at her eyes, but she refrained from crying in front of her brother, knowing she was the only one there to be strong for him. It was always empty promises with them, and she knew it all too well. It was the same pattern every single time, and she'd had enough. She was twenty-eight and hadn't even gone on with the life she'd dreamed of since she was a little girl. Going out into the world and setting her own path and goals. She'd never even been given that opportunity due to caring for her brother, who was still too young for her to just go. Still…she always clung to the bit of hope she had left to spare when it came to her parents, seeing as they were her only hope at the end of the day. Johanna didn't have any friends besides Henry, and he was far more poor than herself. There was no one she could rely on; no extended family to reach out to. She was to fend for herself alone until her brother came of age to work and build up to splitting apart from her.

"They'll be home soon," Toby tried again, a soft smile tugging at his lips as he looked at her carefully. When she still didn't respond, he kneeled down and took her face in both of her hands, studying her as she looked back at his soft features. He'd taken after their father as far as appearance went, where she resembled more of her mother. He had lighter hair that looked like pure gold when sunlight shone across it and a pair of deep-set green eyes. His dimples and chubby cheeks made him look younger too, as well as the few freckles that were spotted along his nose. Just taking in his sweet innocent face made her day a whole lot better, and she couldn't help but smile at his attempt to lighten the mood.

In a swift movement, she'd scooped him up in her arms, her heart warming up to his outburst of giggles; one of the loveliest sounds nature had to offer in her opinion. She always loved kids; wanted to have some of her own one day if she could. Plopping him down on the couch, she blew a raspberry on his stomach and started tickling him, his legs kicking about as he tried to wriggle from her grasp. He managed to just slip under her arm and roll onto the ground, the two laughing wildly as they regained their breath.

"I can't wait for Ma and Pa to get home," he stated, closing his eyes as he rested his head against the cushion of the couch, as though he were picturing a good time with them. Johanna heaved a sigh and shook her head, her mood once again fading into hurt as she got to her feet and made her way to the back windows, drawing the curtains open to reveal the stables in the small field they had.

"Hey, Jo?" Toby called, making her glance back to see him twiddling his fingers nervously, "You think they'll leave again?" Her stomach dropped at the question she knew she'd hear when he came to the right age, and here he was, asking what she could only assume the answer would be. But how could she bear to tell him what she thought without breaking his little heart? Contemplating how to go about it, she sat down beside him and pulled her knees to her chest, keeping her gaze trained on the window as she spoke softly,

"I hope they don't, bud." He leaned his head against her shoulder and drew little invisible shapes on her arm absentmindedly, the two sitting in silence for what seemed like hours before he fell asleep soundlessly. Johanna dove into her own thoughts for a while, thinking about the short amount of time she'd spent with her parents when they were around. She hardly even knew them; didn't know the things they liked, where they ever went, or even how they'd met. They were strangers for the most part who didn't seem to know in all honesty how to care for them properly. Perhaps it wasn't their fault. She didn't like to think that of people, but at the same time, it was hard to consider otherwise with how they'd treated them. Johanna had been the one raising Toby and looking after the house, when all she wanted nowadays was freedom.

After some time, she carried her brother upstairs and tucked him into his bed, heading to her own room to get some sleep too. She needed time to mentally prepare for her parent's arrival in a few weeks; something she was not looking forward to.