The next few days passed by quickly. The atmosphere was tense, but everyone busied themselves with small jobs to keep occupied.

Arthur and Javier had been sent to find John, you'd protested at first about Arthur leaving so soon after getting back but one look at Abigail and Jack and you realized he was the best hope they had. They'd only been gone half a day before bringing him back bloodied and half-eaten by wolves. Abigail was relieved, you all were, and little Jack hadn't left John's side since. Only Sean was yet to be found, you prayed he was okay wherever he was. Trying not to think about what could have happened.

By day five the atmosphere was getting too much for you to handle.

"Goddamn it!" You shove your bleeding finger into your mouth. Arthur's eyes shoot up to you from the gun he's cleaning on his lap.

"Y'okay?" He eyes the small specs of blood on the trousers you were repairing.

You sigh and nod, finger still in your mouth. Arthur smirks at the sight and focuses his attention back on his gun.

"Arthur I can't stand this."

His eyes shoot back up to yours, an eyebrow cocked, "The sewing? I'm sure Grimshaw has a million other things lined up for you if you wanna do somethin' else."

"No, the waiting. Here. All of it."

The pressure had been mounting in you, it's was almost as if the finger prick was all that was needed to release what bubbled under your surface.

Arthur, realizing the seriousness of the conversation puts his gun on the table and crosses the room to crouch at your feet. Taking your hands in his he kisses your knuckles.

"Sweetheart we're safe. Micah and Lenny are down South looking for a new camp. We'll be warm and free and forget all about this mess."

"And then what? Dutch gets bored of playing petty outlaw and tries another job like Blackwater?"

Arthur sighs deeply, "Blackwater was a mistake, I know, but Dutch ain't like that. He's just trying to keep the gang safe, fed, and together."

You shoot up snatching your hands from his. Arthur barely keeps his balance in his crouched position.

"SAFE!? Is that what he's doing, keeping us safe!?" You turn to leave.

He stands quickly and grabs your arm to stop you. His voice drops as if trying to calm a spooked horse.

"Y/n, you know he never would have done a job as dangerous as Blackwater had it not been for Micah."

"You weren't there Arthur. I don't recognize him anymore. He's changed. He left people to die. 'Save those that need saving and shoot those that need shooting'. Ain't that what he always says? Well, what about the kids on that boat Arthur? DIDN'T THEY NEED SAVING!?" Your eyes burn into his.

"And where's Sean Arthur!? Is the gang all together now?"

Arthur sighs and looks away; he can't look you in the eyes. The truth is he agrees with you, he doesn't recognize the man that's been like a father to him. He's become reckless and greedy. Risking more than necessary and losing people in the process. He thinks of Davey who's not long since buried.

You shrug your arm from his grip. "Arthur, I know you're loyal to him, I am too. But right now, I'm scared. I don't think we can survive much more of this."

He looks at you but doesn't know what to say. Agreeing with you but not able to say it out loud.

You sigh, not able to fight anymore. You notice how tired Arthur looks. His hair longer, the lines around his eyes deeper. This must be harder on him than most, he's hunting every day, guarding camp most nights. He's the protector and provider of the camp and bears a lot of the strain.

"I'm gonna take some time, try to get some rest." You push through the cabin door and straight into Dutch.

"Miss Y/L/N. Have you seen-?"

You push past him, he's the last person you want to see right now.

"He's in there." You spit over your shoulder heading to the horses where you see Charles readying for a hunt.

No doubt Dutch has another errand for Arthur. You always knew Arthur was his right-hand man but sometimes Dutch was a downright slave driver. It was no secret that Dutch didn't approve of your relationship, stating that 'whores are the devil's distraction Arthur, they'll lure you away from what matters, trust me I know. You scoff at the memory. You bet Molly would've loved to have heard that one, certain Dutch was referring to her.

"Grimshaw's yelling driven you into the cold?"

Charles says as he finishing tacking up Taima.

"Something like that..."

"Well you're not missing much out here but Pearson's navy stories and Uncle's excuses."

"Actually I was wondering if I could come hunting with you? Be a nice distraction, whaddya say?"

Charles smiles knowing something was wrong and that you wanted to talk, he could read you like a book.

"Sure, go grab your bow and I'll get Caesar ready for you."

Smiling you quickly gather your things, mount up, and set off onto a trail.

Once your quite a ways from camp Charles draws up beside you.

"So what did you want to talk about?"

"Am I that obvious?"

He smiles, "An open book."

You sigh and begin to tell him about your fight with Arthur and your concerns about Dutch. Charles listened quietly, nodding and humming just letting you vent.

"...and now I just want to punch the mustache off of his face" you finish.

Charles bursts out laughing, clutching his stomach and leaning over his saddle.

You smile, relieved to have a friend like Charles. He understood the weight Arthur bared in the gang and always gave you advice when you needed to talk.

"Okay, now that's an image I'm never getting out of my head." He catches his breath.

"I just-...." You trail off seeing the bush move to your right. Then to the left of Charles. Both of you falling silent and pulling your horses to a stop.

"Shhh, it could be a cougar," Charles whispers.

Two men on horseback appear from the bushes on either side of the trail, four more appear behind on foot. Six guns are trained on you and Charles.

"Well, I'm no cougar but I do bite...." One of the men smirks.

O'Driscolls.

"Y/N get out of here." Charles hisses but as you turn Caesar to flee to the side one of the men from behind jumps and grabs the reins, holding him in place.

"Uh uh, no you don't lady." He sneers.

"Now we were just coming to say hello, there's no need to be like that." The first man says as he dismounts coming towards you both.

"My wife and I were just out hunting, we don't have any valuables on us"

You glance at Charles, why did he say that?

"Now that's not necessarily true, is it? Y'see, I t'ink you've got something valuable right here..." He stops by Caesar's head eyes directly on you.

"You can have our horses, just leave me and my wife be."

Why did Charles keep calling you that?

And then you realized, just as the man confirmed your fears.

"You might wish she was your wife mister, but I know that this here is Morgan's whore. And I think ol' Colm would be quite pleased to see her "

Oh Shit.

You don't see Charles being pulled from Taima until you hear him yell. He's quickly stripped of his weapons and pushed face-first to the ground, a gun to the back of his head.

The man who seems to oversee the group continues, eyes still on you. "Now, I'm sure you don't want anything to happen to your friend here, so I suggest you come with us quietly".

You nod and dismount. Knowing when you are beaten. You keep your eyes on Charles not knowing what to do next.

"Morgan ain't no fool, you're a real pretty thing."

The man circles you, licking his lips and eyeing you like a prize cow. His gaze makes you feel naked, you pull your thick jacket tighter to yourself.

"What do you want?" Your voice sounding much more confident than you actually are.

He stops circling, back in front of you. You get a good look at him. His smile was crooked and his dark hair limp down to his shoulders. He has a scar that runs from the edge of his mouth, he looks like he's smiling even when he's not.

His small beady eyes make you shudder.

"Well right now sweetheart, I'm thinking I want what Morgan's had."

Your eyes widen as you realize what he means, you hear Charles roar and struggle against the man holding him down.

"Leave her alone!"

He overpowers his captor briefly before another steps in. Jamming the butt of his gun into Charles's head.

You go to help but the man with the scarred smile grabs you, spinning you to watch as Charles is repeatedly hit with the gun.

"No! Stop please!" You watch as Charles falls limp to the ground unconscious. Blood staining the snow around his head.

You struggle pathetically against the man, sobbing at the sight of Charles.

The man leans into your ear, hand sliding over your mouth. "Shhhhh, sweetheart. I'll make you feel better."

A few of the others chuckle. Your stomach lurches as he calls you sweetheart. Only Arthur called you that. Your blood begins to boil. You're angry. Angry for Charles, angry at Dutch, angry at these men, and angry that you left Arthur while fighting.

You bite down on the man's hands.

"Argh! He instantly releases you; you stumble forward falling to your knees.

"You fucking bitch!" He yells, clutching his hand.

Shit, you didn't think this through.

You watch as he raises his gun, butt coming down against your temple.

Then.

Darkness...