oof, i loved arthurâs reaction to her escape attempt! imagine if itâd been longer, like you said reader was around 15-19, if she were 15ish and he found her again when she was in her early 20s or something đ maybe even with a family of her own
(AN: Oh. My. GOD! *screams*, straight outta a soap opera but make it darker, lol. I had so much fun writing it!!!.)
Alter version of this
Warnings/MDNI: Not incest, strictly platonic, abuse, death// I don't condone such behaviour
You'd found a quiet, unassuming happiness on the ranch, a kind of peace you'd never known before. The people Annabelle left you with were very good at covering your tracks and gave you the best opportunity to start your new life. Sure, there was the occasional pang of guilt, a fleeting thought of your brother and how he might have worried after your sudden disappearance. For leaving without a word. But you consoled yourself, convinced it was for the best. He was your guardian, not your puppeteer. The dread of him coming and taking you back didn't fade though. Both of you had conflicting views, you needed freedom, and space to grow into yourself instead of witnessing the dangers and the crime they committed there and pretending it was fine, and the Alder ranch had given you exactly that.
The work was hard, but you loved it, and the Alders treated you like family. And then Farris arrived. When you were 18.
When he arrived, you were wary at first, assuming heâd be just another complication, perhaps a jerk. You already feared meeting new people but he quickly proved you wrong. Farris was thoughtful, with an understated kindness that made him easy to be around. His silence wasn't standoffish; it felt respectful like he knew you had your own reasons for being there, just as he did. He had a way of giving you space without making you feel lonely, and when he did speak, it was usually to ask questions that felt... refreshing. He genuinely wanted to learn from you, which was a new experience, and something that made you feel a bit prouder of the knowledge you'd gathered on the ranch.
And there was something undeniably magnetic about him. He was handsome in a way that didnât demand attention, with an earthy charm that suited the simplicity of ranch life. You caught yourself smiling at his quiet humour, the way heâd sneak a comment here or there to lighten the load. Working alongside him, you felt more like an equal than you had in a long time, and that feeling, that respect, was something you hadn't realized youâd been missing all along.
When Farris confessed his feelings, it caught you so off guard that, for a moment, you didnât know what to say. Someone wanted to be with you? You, with your past and all the silent shadows that came with it? But Farris was gentle, giving you time to think, to consider your own heart without pressure. And you did think, a lot, trying to let this possibility unfold in your mind. Eventually, with a shy, tentative "yes," you opened up, your whole being feeling like a flower cautiously reaching toward sunlight, still uncertain yet irresistibly drawn.
The two of you became the talk of the ranch, your quiet glances and shy smiles making even the Alders chuckle with delight. It was sweet, people said, watching you both, a pair of lovestruck teens caught up in something innocent and tender.
Farris eventually opened up about his past, speaking softly, as if sharing a guarded wound. His parents had been trapped in a constant cycle of bitterness, each too absorbed in their own struggles to think about him. They didnât care for each other, for the vows theyâd made, or even for the boy caught in between. By the time they split, heâd been left to fend for himself, a ghost drifting between them, unwanted. Yet here he was, looking at you with such hope, with a gentleness that was born from hardship but longing for something better, beautiful and loving than what his parents had.
He wanted a love that was real, something far from the fractured, selfish version heâd grown up with. And he wanted it with you. That simple, earnest wish kindled something inside you, something bright and tender, something you hadnât dared hope for until now.
Now, at twenty, youâre happily married. Farris has never once wavered from his vow, not for a single moment. Heâs never let you feel the sting of loneliness or regret. Heâs only ever been there, his love a steady presence, his every word and gesture a reminder that heâs here for you, that he will always be here.
He knows pieces of your past, the fragments you were willing to share. You chose to tell him only as much as felt necessary, as much as you felt safe giving away. Heâs never pressed for more, never pried into the shadows youâve tried so hard to leave behind. Instead, he accepted every part of you, the parts you showed him, and the parts you held back. And in his acceptance, youâve found a peace you didnât think possible, a quiet sense of safety that feels like home.
You both thrived together in the quarters on the ranch, living in a cozy one-bedroom home that felt like a world of your own. It was small, yet everything you needed was right there, wrapped in love and laughter. But Farris, with his dreams and ambitions, wanted something more, a life away from the ranch and its unpredictable weather.
So, you both made the leap and moved near Valentine, a small community with friendly faces and warm hearts. Farris found a job at a nearby publishing office, where he poured his creativity into his work, while you channeled your talents into selling beautiful embroidered fabrics. Farris supplied your creations to the local markets, and together you earned enough to not just survive but to thrive.
In the evenings, your home transformed into a small haven of learning. You taught the local children, sharing knowledge and igniting a spark of curiosity in their eyes. For you, spreading knowledge felt like soaring through the sky; every lesson was a chance to lift someone else up. You found joy in teaching, especially the girls, encouraging them to embrace their potential and dream big.
You were now eight months pregnant, combing your hair in the mirror after freshening up in the morning. When you were satisfied with your appearance and turned around, you saw Farris walking towards you, shaking his head in what seemed like mild disappointment.
âWhat?â you chuckled, touching your hair and turning back to the mirror to check for anything on your face.
He didnât say anything at first, instead reaching for two bracelets from the jewelry box he had gifted you. He gently put them on your wrists, a soft smile playing on his lips.
âYou know how much I hate seeing you empty-handed, not looking like a newlywed bride,â he said, his voice teasing yet affectionate.
You let out a laugh, a genuine one that echoed through the room. âThatâs because Iâm not! Itâs going to be a year soon, Iâm not so new anymore.â
He frowned playfully and pulled you closer, his hands resting on your waist. âIt doesnât matter. For me, itâs important to see my beloved ready. It makes me feel happy to see you every time, all dolled up.â
Farris gave a little smirk, his eyes glinting with that familiar playfulness. âAnd whatâs wrong with getting ready for me?â he teased, adjusting the bracelets on your wrist as if they were the final touch to a masterpiece. âItâs a good thing. It should be the first thing you do after waking up, come out looking all lovely, and before I get home too. And itâs not up for debate, alright?â He tapped your nose, his tone both firm and light-hearted, making you grin and blush at the same time.
âAlright, alright,â you laughed, shaking your head at his silly demands, which you knew were simply his way of showing how much he adored you. You couldnât imagine a day without his little ways of making you feel cherished. You are officially spoiled rotten.
"You and your demand of seeing me ready all the time.. I literally just woke up..." You tried to stifle a yawn, still sleepy-eyed as you leaned into him, but Farris only chuckled softly, his eyes crinkling with that familiar fondness.
âWell, thatâs on you,â he teased, pressing a gentle kiss to your forehead. âIf I had my way, youâd wake up ready for a wedding every day.â
You let out another laugh, warm and easy. âYou mean you want me walking around in a heavy gown and jewels while Iâm like this?â You gestured to your rounded belly, the weight of the baby beneath your hand both grounding and joyful.
He grinned, resting a hand over yours. âEvery bit of it. The bracelets, the smile, all of it. Even just like this, especially like this.â
A soft warmth bloomed in your chest, and you rested your head against his shoulder, feeling content in a way youâd never quite known before. âYouâre lucky I indulge you as much as I do,â you murmured, trying to sound exasperated, but the smile in your voice betrayed you.
âWell, c'mon, that's my right as your husband now, and Iâm grateful every day,â he replied, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear. His hands stayed on your shoulders, steady, as though grounding you there with him. "After all I earn for you, to buy you all this so you wear it. Not keep them in a damn box."
He leaned down, his voice a quiet murmur. âYouâre glowing, you know. Itâs like⌠even the smallest things make me grateful that youâre here. That youâre mine.â
You smiled, closing your eyes and savoring the moment. âI know,â you murmured back, brushing your fingers lightly over his hand. âAnd youâre the best thing thatâs ever happened to me. And this little one,â you added, giving your belly a gentle pat, âwell⌠I think theyâd agree.â
He chuckled, a sound that felt like sunshine on a quiet morning. âThen I guess Iâd better keep making you happy, huh? Not that Iâd want to do anything else.â
He drew you into his arms and pressed a kiss to your forehead, then another, softer one, on your lips. His hand drifted down to rest gently over your belly, his thumb tracing gentle circles.
âLove you both,â he said quietly, the words wrapped in tenderness. You rested your head against his chest, feeling his heartbeat, and let out a sigh of pure contentment.
âLove you too,â you whispered, letting yourself sink fully into the embrace, savoring the warmth and comfort of the moment.
Before you knew it, time slipped through your fingers like grains of sand, and you were blessed with a beautiful daughter, Adia, a precious gift that illuminated your lives in ways you never imagined. Farris had poured his heart and soul into building another room in your small house, carefully crafting every plank and stone, each stroke of his hand a testament to his love and commitment since the moment he learned you were expecting.
Now, Adia was six months old, a bundle of joy who filled your days with light. You had just finished your evening classes and, with a sense of anticipation, hurried to cradle your daughter, who stirred from her peaceful nap.
"Aww, my cutie," you squealed, "Look who's finally back to earth." The innocence of her giggles somehow bittersweet in the quiet of the house.
You carried her into the kitchen, âLetâs get some (coffee/tea) ready before dad comes home,â you said softly,
âLet me heat those pastries too-â you began, but were abruptly cut off by a sharp knock on the door. Confusion twisted your stomach as you approached, pausing just before turning the handle. A sudden thought struck you like ice water.
Farris has keys. Why would he knock?
With a racing heart, you crept to the window, peering through the curtain. The dim light of the lamp outside cast eerie shadows across the porch, and your blood ran cold. There they were, three masked men.
Charles stood at the front, his fist raised to knock again, while Sean shifted nervously beside him, eyes darting around as if sensing the gravity of the moment. But it was the figure in the distance that sent a chill through your bones.
Leaning against his horse, Arthur's entire form was cloaked in black, the cigarette smoke curling from his lips, lingering like a sinister whisper in the dusky air. He stood there with an unsettling casualness as if the weight of his presence meant nothing to him. He looked more dangerous than the last time you had seen him, if that was even possible. But you knew better. He was not here to offer a friendly visit. No. His intentions were laced with malice.
He looked like death himself.
âI swear, Arthur, this is the house. I saw her here,â Sean insisted, his voice taut with urgency.
Panic gripped you. No, no, no. You backed away from the window, the world narrowing down to the pounding of your heart and the cold sweat that broke out across your skin. One hand flew to cover your mouth, the other instinctively clutching Adiaâs small head to your chest, as if you could shield her from the impending storm.
This has to be a fucking nightmare.
The dread of your past clawed its way back into your mind, and you jumped at the sound of another heavy knock, followed by murmured voices. The familiar cadence of Arthurâs tone sent a wave of nausea through you. It felt like a sinister echo from your past, threatening to shatter the fragile peace you had fought so hard to build.
What if Farris comes and they do something to him? The thought twisted in your gut, a dark cloud overshadowing your desperate need for escape.
You raced to turn off the stove, the pot of simmering pastries forgotten, then dashed for the back door, your only thought to reach Farris or find help. But as you flung the door open, dread flooded through you. There stood Charles, frozen in place, eyes wide with a mix of surprise and something else, guilt.
"N-no, please...Charles.... don't. Leave me alone, I beg you..." you stammered, your voice trembling.
He took a step back, but his eyes betrayed him, brimming with remorse. "I am just following orders."
Before he could close the distance, instinct kicked in, and you slammed the door shut, your breath coming in panicked gasps, adrenaline coursing through you. Even Adia seemed to sense the shift in the air, her small body tensing against you as you bounced her gently, cooing in a feeble attempt to soothe her. But the noise around you grew louder, the panic rising like bile in your throat. You needed a weapon, something to protect her.
Suddenly, the front door was thrown off its hinges, splintering wood echoing through your small sanctuary. Heavy footsteps thudded against the floor, reverberating in your chest as you sprinted to Adiaâs room, locking the door behind you with shaking hands.
Then came the shattering of the back door, another sound that sent your heart racing as you backed away in horror, retreating to the closet. You clutched Adia tightly, covering her mouth with your palm as silent tears streamed down your face.
Everything you had built, your little heaven, was about to be shattered. The weight of dread pressed against your chest, making it hard to breathe. His anger was palpable, suffocating, reverberating through the very walls of your home. After all these years, if he had still found you, it meant he had been hunting you, waiting, and his patience had finally run out.
An impatient Arthur was not a forgiving one.
'Farris, donât come home. Please, just donât.' The words twisted in your throat, heavy with despair, as you whispered them into the darkness. It was the first time you ever wished for him not to return, and the realization shattered your heart.
âShh, baby, please,â you murmured frantically, rocking Adia gently.
This time they didn't bother kicking the door, it was simply blown to pieces. The door frame splintered, and you could hear the heavy footsteps.
It took no longer than 5 seconds for him to fling the closet open and stare down, with eyes that now were empty. So different, so fucking different from the ones you grew up with.
"A-arthur..." You whimpered out shaking your head as if telling him to just forget all this and go.
"Grab the fuckin' kid, Charles."
"No- NO! NO! ARTHUR! Don't you touch her!" But it was futile for you to fight against the latter as he snatched her like a doll and took her out with Sean. You leapt after her but Arthur grabbed you by the hair and slammed you to the ground, wasting no time to pin and immobilize you.
âHad fun?â he sneered, landing a blow to your face that sent stars dancing in your vision. He held back, just enough to keep you conscious, but the intent was clear, this was just the beginning. âOh I bet you did, right? While I worried sick day and night!â
The next hit came like a thunderclap, the sting of his palm echoing through your skull. âFuckin' left after everything I did! Like I didnât even fuckinâ matter to you at all! And then what do I find? That you are here, enjoyin' your life, OPENING YOUR LEGS FOR SOME GUY!?â
You coughed blood and managed to stop him from hitting again another "A-arthur, s-sorry. Please, don't...I'll visit you in the camp whenever you want me to, you can come here when-" He landed another slap and then gripped your chin with a bruising force shutting you up, the pressure on your throat tightening to the point where you struggled to breathe. You were sure that you were going to die then and there. His fingers dug in, a cruel reminder of the power he wielded over you.
âYou donât get a say in this,â he hissed, his voice low and menacing, a dark promise wrapped in each word. âYouâre comin' with me, whether you like it or not. And if you make a sound, Iâll make sure your precious little lover pays for it.â
âNO! I-Iâll go,â you gasped, each word a desperate attempt to stave off the storm brewing within him. âIâll go with you.â Adia's wails outside the room made the situation only worse, every fibre of your being just telling you to rush out and hold her to your chest.
Every fibre of your being screamed against this nightmare, but the thought of what he could do to Farris, the man who had given you a life, a family, made your heart race with terror.
Arthurâs grip slackened just a fraction, enough for you to catch a gasp of air, but his expression remained cold, and calculating. âYou better mean it, or I swear to God, Iâll burn everything you love to the ground just to watch you squirm, just like you made me, for all these fuckin' years."
He yanked you to your feet, his grip on your hair forcing you to stumble forward, a reminder of his unyielding control.
âAdiaâŚâ you whispered, desperately trying to reach him with your thoughts. Pleading him pathetically again, once fucking again. It's never going to end.
He didnât respond, but the sight of Charles trailing behind, cradling your daughter, confirmed your worst fears, they were taking both of you. The cold night air bit at your skin, amplifying the fear clawing at your insides. Seanâs sympathetic glance pierced through your growing anger, igniting a furious spark within you. You lost it when he mouthed a 'sorry'.
âFuck you,â you spat, the words slipping out before you could contain them.
Arthur halted, his body tense as he turned to face you, fury simmering just beneath the surface. âThe fuck did you jus' say?â
âI-â You hesitated, the weight of your situation pressing down harder with every passing second.
But before you could form a coherent thought, a voice shattered the night.
âHEY! (Y/N)! Who the hell are you guys!?â
Your heart plummeted. âFARRIS, NO! RUN, PLEASE!â
Arthurâs gaze flickered with annoyance, and without a second thought, he threw you aside like a ragdoll, sending you crashing into Seanâs waiting arms.
âWhat, not happy to see your brother-in-law?â Arthur taunted, a cruel smile spreading across his face as Farris stepped into view, his expression shifting from shock to rage, but he knew better than to lose his cool in front of these criminals.
It was the brother you had warned him about, the outlaw who had haunted your past like a shadow.
âLook, I know how you must feel,â Farris began, his voice steady despite the terror swirling around. âBut weâre married now. You canât just take her away from her family, Sir. Not like this.â His calm facade masked the storm brewing beneath, his protective instincts surging in response to the sight of you, bruised and at the mercy of men he had no trust in. Not to mention his daughter being held by one of them.
âHow I feel? I'll tell you how I felt. I barely slept not knowing if she's even alive out there, in this brutal world, searchin' for her at every chance. How I feel, my ass,â Arthurâs voice dripped with venom, his eyes narrowing.
âYou son of a bitch, you have no idea what Iâm capable of.â
âJust let him go, Arthur, it's not his fault! Don't do anything to him! You can kill me if you want!" you pleaded, your voice breaking as you looked between the men who now stood as barriers in your life, one of them representing something you desperately wished to protect. âPlease, donât do this.â
Farris took a cautious step forward, his body tense, but he had to for his family.. âYou donât have to do this, Sir. She's your family, don't hurt her like this, don't take her away like this, from me, we love each other...please. Think of the child at least.." He pleaded, trying his best to win this losing battle.
Arthur drags you forward, placing the pistol in your trembling hands. Farris stands there, helpless, his gaze moving from Arthur to you, filled with confusion and a sorrowful acceptance.
Arthur leans in close, his whisper twisted with venom. "Youâre the one who ran, sister. You wanted this life, didn't you? Now, you end it. Show him youâre done."
You shake your head, choking back sobs. "Please, Arthur... donât make me do this! Please!"
Arthurâs hand closes over yours, his grip unyielding, forcing your fingers around the gun. "No one to run to this time," he says, his voice laced with dark satisfaction. "If you want to keep breathing, youâll do as I say. Or maybe heâd prefer a slower death? Iâve got time.â
âDo it,â he hisses, tightening his hold until the gun aims squarely at Farris.
Charles steps forward, desperation flickering in his gaze. He turns to Arthur, his voice low but urgent. âArthur... come on. Just let him go,â he pleads, his hand shielding Adia's eyes. âHeâs done nothinâ worth all this.â
Arthurâs jaw clenches, his eyes cold and unyielding as he keeps the gun levelled. âStay the fuck out of this, Charles,â he warns, his voice a harsh whisper. âShe made her choice the moment she left without a word. This is your punishment, ya' hear me?.â
You glance at Farris and the sadness in them nearly undoes you. His lips part, trying to reassure you even in his final moments. But the fear is there, and the heartbreaking acceptance, as he takes one last look at Adia in Charles's arms and then meets your eyes. He nods, just once, his lips moving in a silent farewell. âI love you both, never forget it and this isn't your fault. Remember that," he whispers, his voice barely reaching you.
Arthur digs his fingers into your wrist, forcing you forward. "Go on then," he sneers, "show him how much you love him."
"Fa-rris no, please, I love yo-" The words painfully get stuck in your throat, as you hiccup.
Your vision blurs, but with Arthurâs iron grip guiding you, your finger finds the trigger, pressed down by his strength, leaving you powerless. The shots echo through the stillness, ringing in your ears as you watch the light fade from Farrisâs eyes.
He drops to his knees, his gaze still locked on yours, one last shuddered breath escaping him.
Arthur finally releases you, and you collapse, the gun falling from your hands as you sink to the ground, numb with shock and despair.
"See?" Arthurâs voice cuts through the silence, laced with dark amusement. "This was always your choice. Remember that."
âNo!â you choke out, tears streaming down your face, screams sounding raw and primal, rip from your throat as your heart shatters into fragments. You lunged toward him, instinctually rushing to his side cradling him.
âFarris! No, no! Please, don't! I am so sorry!â Your voice was a repetitive haunting echo in the cold night air, but he didnât respond. You couldnât breathe, a flood of emotions clawing at your throat.
Arthur stepped forward, a sinister smile spreading across his face as he savoured your despair. "Guess, he just had to die today. Did a mistake comin' back. And you..."
With a swift movement, he grabbed your arm and pulled you away, dragging you toward the waiting horse tethered nearby while you thrashed and tried to reach back into Farris's embrace. âThis is how you pay for your betrayal, to me and the gang,â he hissed, hoisting you onto the horse with a force that left you gasping.
âHE DID NOTHING WRONG! YOU FUCKIN' BASTARD! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU ALL! YOU ARE ALL FUCKED UP!" you pleaded, tears streaming down your face, blurring your vision as you turned back to where Farris lay. The cold grip of dread consumed you, and every fibre of your being screamed for answers.
Arthur merely chuckled, a dark and chilling sound that reverberated in your ears. âWrong place, wrong time. Itâs a shame, really, right boys?"
He mounted the horse behind you, the weight of his presence suffocating.
You felt the horse begin to move, hooves thudding against the ground as the distance between you and Farris grew. You strained against the reins, desperate to look back, to Farris or to see Adia safe in Charles's arms but Arthurâs grip on your waist was unyielding.
âStop! Please!â you cried, your heart racing with each passing moment. âFarris! Farris!â The name escaped your lips like a prayer, but the silence that answered only deepened the void within you.
Every beat of your heart echoed the same questions, how could he do this? Why would Arthur tear apart the life you had fought so hard to build? You started thrashing trying to jump off the horse and when that didn't work you started smacking yourself on the head.
âStop wailing like a fucking lunatic,â Arthur growled, his voice low and menacing as he grabbed your wrists. âYouâll only make this worse for yourself.â
And so you cried, tears mingling with the night for the life you had lost and the love you had been taken from.
You stumble back into camp, hollowed out by grief, barely feeling the hands that try to guide you or the murmurs of people around. Itâs like your own heartbeat is drowning out everything else, each beat a cruel reminder that youâre alive while heâs⌠Farris is gone. Every step feels heavier, like dragging chains through mud, and the weight of it pulls you into a fog that you canât see your way out of. Itâs all too much, and you canât bear the thought of another breath in this place, under Arthurâs shadow.
Arthurâs voice comes from behind, gruff and dismissive. âGet her settled, Miss Grimshaw. Sheâll calm down soon enough.â
Itâs a trigger, hearing his voice, so callous, so indifferent. The anger wells up, fierce and desperate, drowning the fear as you pivot, finding him with your gaze. Arthur turns, catching sight of you just as your hand reaches out, fast and resolute, seizing the gun holstered at his hip. You grip it tightly, the cold metal a final, grim comfort.
âHey!â Arthurâs eyes flash, more surprised than afraid, but he freezes, hands raised as if to placate you, assessing the danger in your expression.
âWhatâre you doing?â His voice is low, a warning, but thereâs a crack in it, something uncertain. Heâd expected grief, but not this.
You steady your trembling hands, the barrel pointed between you and him and everyone around. Your voice, a rasp torn from the depths of your pain, barely makes it out. âWhy should I stay? Hm? After what youâve done⌠after you took everything from me?â
Arthurâs expression darkens, his jaw clenched, but he doesnât make a move. The camp falls deathly silent, all eyes watching. âYou wouldnât, stop it." He says, but thereâs a flicker of doubt there. He didnât think you had this in you.
âI have nothing left,â you hiss, the tears burning in your eyes as you hold his gaze. "Just...why Arthur..?"
Something flickers in Arthurâs face then, a flash of worry, but he schools it quickly. âPut it down. Now. Youâre no good to anyone dead. Least of all that little girl of yours.â His voice cuts, striking right at the fragile remnants of your will.
At the mention of Adia, your grip weakens and you glance at her, your baby who will not even properly get to know her father. The thought of her, defenceless and alone, keeps you anchored just long enough for the fight to drain from your muscles. Your hands go limp and Arthur immediately takes the gun from your hands. You snatch your daughter from Charles, your knees hitting the dirt as the tears finally spill over, and Arthur is there, one hand resting on your shoulder as if heâs won some twisted victory.
But he canât take your grief. Thatâs yours alone.
There were old faces and new ones at this camp, but you couldnât bear to see anyone, each familiar visage only serving as a reminder of the life you once knew, a life that felt like a distant memory now. Even Annabelle has died, as Hosea informed you with a heavy heart. It just couldn't get any worse.
You spent days in a daze, confined within the solitude of your tent, surrounded by the oppressive security that hung in the air like a storm cloud and staring at your wedding ring sometimes, reminiscing about the fairytale of life that got snatched from you in a blink of an eye. Each moment dragged, your sense of time warped as you replayed the events that had brought you here, Farris, Arthur, and the unbearable weight of loss.
You hold Adia close, not letting anyone near her, not the women from camp who bring food and clean clothes, and especially not Arthur. Each time he approaches, thereâs something in his gaze, a mix of guilt and a twisted sense of responsibility, as if heâs trying to make up for what heâs done. But you donât forget, and you donât forgive. Never.
You could never forget how he looked at her with disgust that day, his contempt for you and your choices etched deep into his features. Calling you all sorts of names. Reducing you to some mere wench.
He tries, though, lingering outside the tent with trinkets and offerings. Small things, toys heâs scrounged up from nearby towns, little comforts he imagines will make it easier for you both to settle in here. You can see the frustration tightening his jaw every time you refuse to accept anything from him, every time you turn your back, clutching Adia tighter.
âYâainât lifting a damn finger here,â he announces one morning to the others, his voice rough with command as if heâs declaring some kind of victory over the damage he caused. He stands tall, as though heâs your protector now, trying to mould himself into something noble. âKeep her off chores, you hear?â
His words carry through the camp, but theyâre hollow, a show for the others. To everyone watching, itâs Arthur taking care of his sister and her child, doing what any family man should. Yet to you, itâs just another layer of manipulation. His guilt is a quiet thing, veiled beneath the orders he barks, the food he insists you eat, and the rare times he offers to hold Adia.
Then, one fateful day, you discovered you were pregnant. The news came as a surprise, a sudden twist in a life already tangled in chaos. For a fleeting moment, happiness flickered within you, a light in the darkness. Yet, that joy was overshadowed by your relentless sorrow for Farris. You cried daily, the tears mingling with the hopes and dreams you had lost.
No one left to wait for now, no one whose warmth you could sink into at night, no one to smile at as you fuss with your hair, adjusting every strand just right. Who would make you feel seen and safe, someone to dress up for, to look at with eyes full of love, watching their gaze soften in return? Your hands remain empty now, the very same hands that Farris doted on , the fact that the last thing he saw was them holding a gun at him. Your heart would shatter physically every time you think about it if it was practically possible.
He wouldn't be here to witness the birth of his second child.
âIf itâs a boy, what a fine addition that would be, right Arthur?â you overheard Dutch say one day, his voice carrying through the thin fabric of your tent. You cringed at the thought. You knew exactly what Arthurâs vision entailed which was a shadow of Dutch's, raising your blood, his nephew, to be just like him, a cold-blooded killer, a reflection of the darkness that now surrounded you. The thought filled you with dread, the prospect of your child inheriting that legacy.
You were going to raise your son like how Farris was. A gentle soul.
As you held Adia close, her soft breaths a balm against the tumult of your thoughts, it steeled your resolve. No matter the cost, you would raise your children to know love, to know compassion and to see beauty in a world that had torn you apart.
