Strangers By Nature | Red Dead Redemption II |

Chapter Fifteen | The Begining of the End

Arthur and Peter wandered into Rhodes, in need of some food for the next couple of weeks. Saint Denis is on lockdown, everyone in the damn city must be looking for them. So they chose Rhodes. Somewhere away from everything they hoped.

"I'm gonna go grab some food, go check the mail fer me will ya?" Arthur instructed as Peter wandered off to the post office. Something felt off about Rhodes, Peter could swear people were looking at him. Just looking away when he saw them.

He felt like he was being watched by a sniper or something. However, once he was inside the building he felt slightly less exposed, still uncomfortable.

He walked up to the attendant so helpfully name-tagged as Alden and asked to check his mail.
"Could I see the mail for Peter Charlton and Arthur Morgan?" He asked the man,
"Are you both of those men?" Alden asked,
"No, he's a uh. A friend."
"Alright, I guess you look trustworthy."

Peter was then handed two letters. One addressed to Arthur and one to himself. He sat down on one of the benches, stuffing Arthur's letter into his satchel as he opened his own.

Peter,

I told my family about you and Lynn, Anne, and Glen have so many questions for you. They couldn't be more excited to hear that you're still around. Michael is shocked and incredibly interested to meet you. On Saturday we're having a special dinner at 8 pm if you'd like to attend, we'd love to have you and Arthur over.

Take a west turn from the Saloon on the north side of Saint Denis and we will be in the small home with the blue door.

PS: I've always kept a photo of you and I on me, always manages to cheer me up when I'm feeling down. I've included the photo in this letter.

PPS: Bring the photo back to me I love it.

Love, Steph

Peter smiled at the letter as he read it. He never thought he'd speak to her again, let alone get a letter inviting him to a dinner with her family. She even invited Arthur. Which is kind enough to make Peter want to cry.

He didn't cry however until he saw the photo, it was a photo that was taken by a man in town when they were kids. He was testing out his fancy new camera. It's Peter holding Stephanie up over a fence so she can pet a cow. Peter remembers that cow, name was Butterball. It really liked people.

He sniffled a bit as he placed the card and the photo back into his bag. Happily walking towards the door when something caught his eye, a wanted poster on the wall.

- WANTED -
HOMOSEXUAL SERIAL MURDERERS
PETER CHARLTON and ARTHUR MORGAN

PETER J. CHARLTON
Wanted for: Murder, Indecent Exposure, and theft
$1,600 REWARD!

ARTHUR L. MORGAN
Wanted for: Murder, Indecent Exposure, Bank Robbery, Train Robbery, and theft
$6,800 REWARD!

- DEAD OR ALIVE -
Reward granted for the deaths and or capture of criminals. Bring bodies no matter the status to your nearest sheriff's station for payment.

BOTH MEN ARE ARMED AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. WANTED IN ANY AND ALL UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TERRITORY.

POSTED MAY 10th, 1899

Peter ripped the poster down, looking at it as he began to panic.
"Can I help you with something Mr. Charlton?" Alden asked from his booth, Peter quickly ran out of the building in search of Arthur. As he did he pushed his hair into his face in an attempt to seem less noticeable.

How did this happen? It says all U.S. Territory. How the hell did they manage that, they might as well be war criminals. Peter almost fainted it was too much, stumbling out into the road. Holding his chest as he tried to breathe.

Arthur wandered out of the general store with his hands full of groceries, chewing on some jelly beans the store had just started selling. They tasted really good.
"Arthur we need to go. Now." Peter said as he ran up to his partner,
"What? Why?" He asked as he swallowed the candy,
"Look at this." Peter handed Arthur the poster as he looked around cautiously.
"Homosexual serial killers huh?" Arthur scoffed.
"There's a $8,400 reward for our heads we need to get the hell out of here!"
"Relax. I've had a picture of me up many times. It was never that big of a dea-" Arthur stopped as a group of men appeared at the end of the road.

Arthur and Peter looked over as they stood their ground with caution.
"PUT DOWN YOUR GUNS AND NOBODY HAS TO DIE ALRIGHT?" The group of men shouted from down the dusty dirt road.
"TAKE YOUR OWN ADVICE AND LEAVE YOU BASTARDS!" Arthur shouted back at the men as Peter waited for any sudden movements.
"I'LL GIVE YA ONE LAST CHANCE BOYS!" A man at the forefront of the group shouted.

Arthur didn't even flinch, neither did Peter. And the second a shot was fired, Arthur whipped out his pistol and shot the man in the head.
"Shit!" Peter shouted as Arthur and he ducked behind a porch, bullets raining down onto them.

Arthur poked his head out, firing at the men as bullets seemingly came from every conceivable direction around us. Peter snuck around behind the building to flank the men from the left. It worked just barely as he shot a few men down.

A man collapsed as blood pooled below him, tripping another who Peter shot in the head. Then another in the jaw as Arthur shot them from the front.

Suddenly a man flipped around to face him, and before Peter could even think he was shot. He threw himself back as he howled, blood pouring down his leg as he assessed the wound in his abdomen. It hurt bad enough he is hesitant to look, however not bad enough that he can't move.

Peter stumbled over to Arthur as blood soaked into his shirt,
"There's too many of 'em we've gotta make a break for the horses!" Peter shouted as he continued shooting at the men, all of whom looked to be from different states. Some looked like Raiders. Some looked like lawmen.
"Shit!" Arthur shouted as his pistol jammed.

As the town came down on them they took off as fast as they could, Arthur hopping on Spirit as Peter jumped onto Eclipse as fast as he could. Blood had stopped leaking from the wound, yet the pain was getting worse the more he exerted himself.

The two took off with as much speed as they could muster when Peter was thrown from his horse, Eclipse squealing in pain as Peter lifted his head from the ground and saw her poor hoof that'd been shot clean off.

Peter couldn't see Arthur at all, he was somewhere in the distance. But what he did see was his rifle on the floor in front of him. He crawled over to it, however, once he got it a man grabbed the barrel and wrestled him for it, then suddenly. He threw the butt of the gun into Peter's head and he was knocked out cold.