Guns and Flames (RDR2)

17 - Futile

Two months have passed, and Charlotte by now has completely settled into the gang and made friends with Mary-Beth, Karen, Charles, and Tilly. Micah's case is still the same as when she first met him, still that hellishly annoying man. Charlotte got closer to John by the time, making Javier fall back in her mind. But she's still indecisive on who to love. The rest of the camp members look up to her, admiring her bravery and confidence.

Some days ago the gang caught a piece of information about the O'Driscoll's whereabouts. Looks like a trap set up by the O'Driscolls, they have to rescue a family captured by them. Dutch invites the whole team with him, except for Ms. Grimshaw and Pearson. Dutch put them in charge of the camp while they were gone. On the way there, Charlotte followed close behind John the entire time.

They were on the dirt road, almost arriving at their camp when the gang got ambushed. The gang immediately unholstered their guns and started firing at the O'Driscolls. They got into a pretty heated fight and most of the O'Driscolls were killed, but this was the moment when one sneaked up on Charlotte and grabbed her from behind. Charlotte tried to kick O'Driscoll off of her but no matter what move she made, everything was futile against this man.

Even the strongest fall, huh?

The man was even stronger than she was. Charlotte began screaming as loud as she could. Unfortunately, she was further away from the whole gang but then John finally heard her screams and tried to shoot the man, but missed, due to the fear of accidentally shooting down Charlotte. The O'Driscoll man had hit her from behind and she collapsed onto the ground. Then this man quickly grabbed her and put her on his horse and went into the woods.John tried to follow them but they lost him. So he was there, in the middle of nowhere, alone. All of a sudden he heard rustling from behind.

"God damn it, John! Don't go disappearing on us like that!" -a familiar voice yelled out.John turned to face the voice, only to see a worried Arthur.
"...they...took her away." -John explained as he was shaking. Arthur's eyes widened in shock.
"Come, let's talk with the rest of the gang." -Arthur gestured at John to follow him out of the woods and back to the house. They freed the family from the O'Driscoll boys and told them to get as far away from here as possible. Afterward, the gang came together, John told them that Charlotte had been taken away and he didn't know where she was by now. As Micah was leaning against a tree, he smirked and said...
"All that muscle and she's still weak." -he laughed evilly. To which John turned not only his head towards him but his revolver as well.
"You dare say that again and I will break you in half." -John threatened Micah before lowering his revolver.

The gang fell silent for a moment, that is, until Arthur stepped in.
"I am with John's statement." -he nodded.
"As for you, Micah..." -he stepped closer to him. "...you better watch your mouth before it accidentally gets too dry for you to speak another word." -Arthur explained as he narrowed his eyes before turning away from him.
Micah as usual laughed it off and went back to his horse. Afterward, the gang spread out to avoid being followed, except Arthur, because he went after John. They were on their way back to camp.
"It's just the two of us. I believe we can find her." -Arthur said as he was riding next to John.
"You mean...we go and find her now?" -John looked at him with his eyes sparkling with hope.