Arthur Morgan returns with Money and joy for the Van Der Linde Gang. Hope seems to be looking good for the gang. Arthur Morgan and Sadie Adler open up to one another about their past.
But the past is the past right? Not so. The Past reflects on who we are now. But it doesn't have to make us what we are…The Future on the other hand, well, sometimes we look forward to it…sometimes we dread it…and sometimes, it's neither.
Arthur already seems to be healing much quicker than he probably should be. Quite interesting don't you think? How will this affect Arthur?
As Always…Only One Way To Find Out…
-Chapter 12- Only happy people have nightmares, from overeating. For those who live a nightmare reality, sleep is a black hole, lost in time, like death…
Arthur and Sadie Adler slept next to each other. Sleeping soundly…only…Arthur wasn't having a peculiarly friendly dream.
Arthur's Dream…
Arthur was riding on his horse, he felt younger. At least in his twenty's. He rode down a dirt road, heading home to his dear wife, Eliza, and his boy, Isaac. As he rode down the path, he stopped his horse as he dismounted it. He had his Father's hat which he still wore to this day.
Arthur then walked up the steps to the house. He reached for the doorknob and tried to open it…only…it was already slightly open. Arthur looked at it with suspicion. His right arm reached for his Cattleman Revolver on his belt.
He slowly pushed the door open…and what he saw horrified him…His face went pale…his mouth open…his breathing labored…his heart sank and beated. He could feel tears streaming down his face as slowly walked forward, sort of shuffling.
The body of Eliza lied on the ground. With a shotgun wound in her gut. Her eyes were open, yet lifeless and dead. Then there was…Isaac…his head bleeding as if a bullet had pierced his skull…he was only nine…only nine…Arthur fell to his knees. He slowly closed Eliza's eyes…The tears were swelling up.
He gently placed her head on his lap. Then, he placed a gentle, saddened kiss on her forehead. He hugged her body. He started to sniffle and tears became more and more.
No…No, he couldn't relive this! No…No, No, No….
"Eliza, don't do this to me…please…Wake up…wake up!" Arthur said to Eliza's dead corpse.
"Tragic, Isn't it," A Monstrous voice was heard. Arthur stood up on his feet and looked around.
"What the hell is this?!" Arthur said as his house started to be torn apart, he was now in a void of darkness…yet his feet were on solid ground.
"This is your New Destiny, Arthur Morgan," The Monstrous Voice called out. Arthur looked around.
"What?! Where the hell are you!? What do you want?!" Arthur shouted. Suddenly, a huge shadow came over Arthur.
"A Great Darkness hides amongst the shadows, Arthur Morgan, You must seek it out and destroy it…before it takes everything from you," The Monstrous Shadow said. It was huge, much larger than Arthur. It had a pair of glowing white eyes. Arthur couldn't really make out the shape of it.
"What?! What are you talking about?!" Arthur shouted as he backed up away from the Shadowy Monstrosity.
"You must choose to accept the gift presented to you…or refuse it and be left with no control…no dignity…no humanity…Many have refused such a gift and they have become monsters themselves…Losing their humane Minds and becoming Mindless Monsters…This gift dwells within you, Arthur Morgan, It will come out when it knows you are ready," The Shadow Monstrosity spoke to Arthur.
"You mean the damn Relic I found?!" Arthur shouted, still confused as to why this was happening.
Suddenly, the Shadow Figure extended out its shadowed claws and held up two orbs. One was the one Arthur recognized. Swirling Patterns and a Blue Glow. The other one had a Red Glow to it. This one, however, was brighter than the other.
"You must choose your path, Arthur Morgan, The Path of The Tigrex…Or The Path of The Rathalos, Choose wisely," The Shadow Monstrosity said as it extended.
Arthur looked at the two orbs, confused about what was actually happening.
"Which is which?" Arthur said as he tried to calm down and get a sense of what was happening.
"The Blue Dragon Orb is The Path of The Tigrex. A Ferocious Beast, capable of overpowering its prey within seconds. Fast and agile on its feet, it presents an ability to glide from one location to another, it is the ultimate hunter," The Shadow said.
"And the red one?" Arthur asked.
"The Red Dragon Orb is The Path of The Rathalos. The King of the Sky, fast in the air and viscous in every aspect. Capable of breathing fire, it presents itself with a powerful tail, poisoning its prey before delivering a killing blow, strong wings and powerful nonetheless," The Shadow Monstrosity said.
Arthur looked at the two orbs, pondering on which one would be best but…What the hell was this anyway?! Where was he?! Why was he here!? And what the hell is a Tigrex and a Rathalos?!
"Uhm…I uh…I guess the blue one…" Arthur said.
"You have Chosen…Wisely," The Shadow Monstrosity said. It then offered Arthur the Orb. The red orb in its hand slowly turned to dust and blew away out of sight. Arthur was hesitant at first, not sure if he should touch it or not. He looked up at the Shadow Monstrosity.
"So…Do I just…Grab it or something?" Arthur asked, but the Shadow Monstrosity had no reply. It only stared at Arthur intently with its glowing white eyes.
Arthur shrugged with annoyance.
"Alright…here goes nothing," Arthur said as he grabbed the orb with two hands. As soon as he touched it, heavy strain overtook his entire body. He couldn't let go of it once again. It felt just like when he touched that other Orb for the ten thousand dollars. Arthur began to slowly fall on his knees as the strain was heavier than before.
The Shadow Monstrosity moved away from Arthur.
"Touch The Orb…They Shall See…Touch The Orb…They Will Plead…Touch The Orb…And Death Will Bring…Awake The Inner Monster…which dwells within…" The Shadow spoke as it slowly started to disappear. Everything around Arthur started to twist and turn. Arthur's strain slowly went away as he closed his eyes…
Just then he heard a loud roar. Then the image of a Giant creature. It had huge arms that had small wings on them and brownish-colored scales with a few blue patterns on them, it had a decent-sized tail with three sharp edges on it. It had two hind legs to support its feet. It roared as it breathed heavy fire from its mouth.
The image flashed back and forth.
End of Arthur's Dream…
Arthur jerked awake, sitting upright, breathing heavily. He looked around and saw he was still in Sadie's Tent. He looked next to him. Still sleeping quite soundly and softly, Sadie slept on her side, in her nightgown, and snored softly.
Arthur wiped the sweat off his forehead. It felt a little chilly. He slowly got up off the cot and walked to the opening. He checked outside to see the sun was slowly rising. Barely breaking the Horizon. Arthur closed the tent back up. He looked at his hand and saw his veins start to glow blue, but quickly went back to their original color and disappeared.
Arthur then walked back to the sleeping Sadie, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. He slipped on his socks and boots and walked out of the tent. If he wanted breakfast, along with the gang needing breakfast, the best it was to go out hunting. As Arthur walked through the camp to get to his horse, Dutch quickly noticed Arthur.
"Arthur," Dutch said. Arthur stopped and looked at Dutch.
"You're up rather early," Arthur said. Keeping his voice down so the rest of the gang could sleep peacefully.
"I could say the same for you," Dutch said as he sat on a crate, his hat was off and it looked like he had woken up not too long ago…only, it looked like he hadn't gotten much sleep at all either.
"How's Molly?" Arthur asked as he placed a foot onto a crate, leaning on it.
"She's fine, sleeping like an angel…Speaking of sleeping, how did you and Sadie get along?" Dutch asked. Arthur's face slightly reddened.
"Oh, we just slept in the same tent, I had a rough dream I'll give ya that," Arthur said.
"What sort of Dream?" Dutch asked curiously.
"I don't know, it was…all…much…a little too much to comprehend," Arthur said as he tried not to think about it too much. He just wanted to start the day off anew.
"Many dreams can be…a little too much to understand or…comprehend," Dutch said. Arthur gave a small chuckle.
"I guess so…" Arthur said.
"You did good, Arthur. You did real good," Dutch said.
"Just being your good ole' man of action as you would say," Arthur said. The back of his shoulder started to tingle. Arthur clenched it gently, getting a firm grip on it. Dutch quickly noticed.
"How's the wound?" Dutch asked.
"Little numb, but, I'll live, I'm gonna go catch the gang some food, I'll be back before eight," Arthur said.
"Stay safe, Son, Happy hunting," Dutch said. Arthur nodded his head and started to make his way to his horse.
As he walked to his horse, he passed by John's Tent…but he heard a few whispers. Arthur stopped, intrigued to hear what was happening.
"Why'd you leave me like that, John?" The voice of Abigail said, quiet and calm. John seemed to let out a sigh.
"I guess it was just a heated moment…Sadie was shot to hell…Arthur was in trouble. I guess I didn't really have the time to say goodbyes," John said.
"I was worried aboutchu, John, that was the fifth time you had left me…Why do you keep doing this?" Abigail asked John.
"Because I'm an Outlaw, Abigail. I can't change the things I've done…None of us can. Hell…The only one who would be deemed innocent is Jack…" John said.
"You an Outlaw, John Martson, but you not a bad man…sometimes at least," Abigail said.
"I'm always a bad man, Abigail, I can't change that," John said with slight guilt.
"Yes, you can," Abigail protested.
"I just helped Micah Bell murder half an entire town, robbed a couple of folks just to get his guns, practically got the Sheriff killed along with a lot of law…all for five hundred dollars and a rat," John said.
"That wasn't your fault, Micah pulled the trigger first, not you," Abigail said.
"That doesn't matter Abigail…point is I killed a lot of people just to get one man out…I kill too many people…rob too many…I don't…I don't feel like myself, Abigail…Like…I'm not in control anymore," John said. Arthur listened closely. He understood what John was feeling. Arthur had killed a lot of people in his time…ever since Blackwater and Sadie Adler's House…Along with the Train Robbery up in the Mountains…Arthur had been trying to avoid killing people.
Micah merely dragged Arthur into the O'Driscoll Heist in Valentine, but Arthur resented the action to kill any Lawmen.
Arthur started to step away from the tent, he began walking to his tent. He quickly saw Micah Bell leaning against Arthur's Wagon. Sharpening his knife with a rock. Micah quickly saw Arthur coming forward.
"How you feelin', Cowpoke?" Micah asked.
"Fine, I guess," Arthur said, he started to pack his bag for his hunting trip, grabbing his necessary items.
"I heard John broke ya out of Strawberry, how'd that get on?" Arthur said. He then walked into his tent to change his clothing. Micah stayed outside the tent and leaned against a post.
"About as you'd expect, shot up half the town and killed a lot of law," Micah said.
"When will there be a moment when you don't cause a massacre every time you get involved in something?" Arthur said from inside his closed tent. Micah simply chuckled.
"Not quite sure, I wouldn't have started the shooting, had John not paid five hundred dollars for me, otherwise, I would've just walked out the door with him," Micah said.
"Is that really the only reason you shot up half the town? For five hundred dollars? I get that its a lot but, to kill an entire town for it?" Arthur said.
"I get it, Arthur, but right now, we need all the money we can muster, Can't waste it on a no-good bastard such as myself," Micah said.
"What're talking about, Micah?" Arthur said from inside the tent.
"Arthur, I ain't worth much. I may be a good gun but…I ain't a good human being. I've seen the first thing of what human beings can do…what they're capable of…It…it really ain't pretty," Micah said as he looked down at the ground, still leaning against the post.
"What's gotten into you, Micah? I've never heard you speak like this," Arthur said.
"Is that really a surprise, Cowpoke? You've only known me six months, sure I made a helluva mistake back in Blackwater…but, I'm trying to set from what we did wrong to right," Micah said. Arthur was silent for a few moments, not really sure how to respond to Micah.
"So, what? You blame yourself for what happened in a tragedy of your life," Arthur said. Micah simply chuckled.
"A lot of bad things have happened in my life, Cowpoke…Gettin' sleepless nights ain't fun…Those damn bastards are…well…they're still out there," Micah said.
"Whose they?" Arthur asked.
"It's best you don't know about them…Better for you that way," Micah said. Arthur then came out from his tent, dressed in a Red French Collar Shirt, with blue jeans and Classic Roper Boots. He wore no gloves and had no spurs. His collar was opened. His hat was off, left on the shelf in the tent. His hair was able to breathe finally. His hair consisted of a Right Parted Fade, it had grown a little but not by much. His facial hair was slightly scruffy, it was thin, but it had just the right amount of hair on it to look good. Micah simply chuckled.
"You go into town like that, Ladies'll be crawlin' all over ya," Micah said with a few chuckles. Arthur scoffed.
"Whatever you say, Micah, I'm just gonna go huntin', nothin' crazy," Arthur said.
"If you say so, Cowpoke," Micah said as he started walking off. Arthur watched on as Micah walked away. Arthur shook his head a little. He grabbed his Bolt Action Rifle and Bow off his weapon rack. Afterward, Arthur went to his horse. His horse was a Hungarian Half-bred. She had a greyish coat with a few black speckles across her body. With a light grey mane and tail.
"Hey, girl, ready for a huntin' trip," Arthur said as he started to pat his horse on the neck. She gruffed in amusement. Arthur then mounted up on her.
"Giddy-up," Arthur said, his horse started to trot off, heading down the path. The Heartlands would be full of deer at this time of day. Hopefully, he could get at least two. Mary could handle carrying two. She was a strong horse. It was funny though…He named his horse after a woman he had been with a long time ago. Mary Linton… Arthur wasn't sure why he had named his horse that name…but he found a liking to the name. Mary Linton apparently hadn't loved him enough to stay with him. Guess Arthur wasn't good enough for her either. At least in her eyes.
Arthur trotted down the path and make his way into The Heartlands.
"Easy girl," Arthur said, his horse stopped. Arthur dismounted Mary and started looking for tracks. He crouched down. Grabbing his bow off his back. As Arthur made his way up a small hill, he came over it. Just down the slope, there was a Herd of Whitetail Deer. There were at least six or seven. Arthur pulled out an arrow from the quiver on his back. Slowly putting the arrow on the bow, he pulled the string back. He lined his arrow with the Deer.
He took a breath in…then let it out. He let the arrow fly. The arrow was too quick to follow as it pierced one of the Whitetail Deer in the side. Killing it immediately as it let out a yelp of pain. The others were alerted as they looked on at what had happened, and quickly prepared to scurry off. Arthur acted quickly as he brought out another arrow, putting it on his bow. The Herd started to run, but Arthur had his shot. Arthur let another arrow fly. He hit another Whitetail Deer. Causing it to fall to the ground and die.
Arthur put his bow back on his back. He whistled for his horse to follow. Which obliged obediently to the call.
Arthur walked down the slope. His horse was next to him.
They both got to the Deer corpses. Arthur grabbed one carcass and put it on Mary's back, just behind the saddle. Arthur then began to tie it down with rope, making sure it was secure. Arthur then walked to the other Deer…which he started to hear moans of pain.
The deer he had shot was still alive.
"Shit," Arthur cursed himself quietly. Arthur then ran to the deer and got down on his knees. The deer cried in pain. Arthur brought out his knife.
"Easy…easy, it's alright, it'll be over soon…" Arthur said as he attempted to comfort the animal. Arthur then slowly put the blade of his knife in the Deer's throat. Its cries went away as the life in its eyes faded away. Arthur placed a hand on its cheek.
"Rest now, rest," Arthur said. Arthur then slowly pulled out his knife. Putting it back in his holster. He then picked up the deer and put it over his left shoulder. The deer wasn't all that heavy, though, considerately, Arthur was a strong man. Hell, he was probably the strongest one in the gang. Dutch was probably the closest one to his strength, and Charles most likely. Sadie Adler was no doubt the strongest woman in the gang. Arthur wondered how she would do in a full fist fight, however, that didn't mean he was gonna fight her. If anything, Sadie would eat him alive. Sure she was a lady, but Sadie was fierce, unpredictable, determined, brave, and above all, dangerous. It was one of the many attributes that Arthur liked her…Wait…Like her? Arthur and Sadie had grown so close so fast in the short amount of time they'd known each other. Sadie was still grieving for her deceased husband. But already, it seemed Sadie had high affection for Arthur. And he to her as well. He did like Sadie for who she was. He just wasn't sure she felt the same…and he didn't want to live with himself of her getting with another man, right after she had just lost one.
They had slept together of course, but that was more of comfort rather than romantic. Both had been through a lot. The ideal fact that Arthur had seen Eliza right in front of him brought back bad memories…then his dream made it even worse. At least the first part of it. He wasn't sure what the hell he dreamed about, but it sent chills down his spine, something felt so real about it…yet…it was terrifying all together.
Arthur put the deer on Mary, setting it on top of the first deer. Tying it down to both Mary and the first deer. Making sure it was secure and tight.
Arthur then mounted up on Mary.
"Good girl, let's get home now," Arthur said as his horse started to trot off back to Horseshoe Overlook. The Gang would be happy to have some breakfast. It had been a while before they were able to have a proper morning meal. Hopefully, Pearson would make something else other than his famous Beef Stew.
To Be Continued…