Every Last One Of Them - Red Dead Redemption II

Act One | The End of a Relationship

Hugh sat underneath a tree, reading a book he'd yet to learn the name of. He'd found it while looting a house not too long ago. The cover has been ripped off so it's only the bonded pages themselves.

It's a nice day out for once, John is feeding the horses, Hosea is planning something, and Dutch is chopping wood. Arthur had left earlier that day, bright and early all done up. He looked good no matter how much it pissed Hugh off to admit it.

Arthur's always been described as handsome, girls always seem to fawn over him like he's some higher power. Hugh's not necessarily ugly, but he's never been called handsome. He's been called cute, pretty boy, and the like. Tends to tick him off rather than make him feel good.

Arthur and him don't get along. Never have since the day Hugh and Ron joined Arthur, Dutch, and Hosea. Nine years ago as of last month.

His father died when he was young, he'd contracted tuberculosis and died before Hugh was born. His mother tried her best for a couple of years but by his fifth birthday, she just couldn't do it anymore. She gave Hugh and his brother to an orphanage, the nuns that ran it seemed kind enough.

His brother Ron was his twin, they'd done everything together since the day they were born. Including being abandoned.

The nuns weren't kind, they were far from it. Hugh and Ron were told to read the Bible daily and recite passages, and if they messed one up they'd get beaten with a ruler. The smallest mistake and they'd get punished, Hugh once dropped a pencil and was forced to polish all the silver in the dining hall. There was so much silver his hands began to bleed.

That was the last straw for him, after five grueling years of abuse Hugh snapped. Sister Elizabeth hit him one more time when he didn't finish his food and he swatted the old woman, beating her down in a fit before running away with Ron.

The twins spent three years living off the land, stealing food from homes at night. Gathering supplies from anyone they could.

On a particularly cold night, Hugh had to find something to keep himself warm. So he wandered away from Ron, looking around for light. A fire. Anything.

Right as he saw the smallest light however a man appeared out of nowhere. Hugh stumbled back with a crazed look in his eye as he pointed a small knife he'd found at the stranger.

Another man then appeared, both with wide eyes as Hugh slowly backed up. He doesn't remember how it happened, how the men managed to coax him into dropping the knife. But it was that night he met Dutch and Hosea. Men he considers his real parents.

He was brought to a cabin along with Ron, they ate for the first time in days before being gifted proper beds for the night. The boys even got proper baths.

That night always makes Hugh smile, no matter what time. Knowing how there's still good in even the most criminal of people.

He and Ron met Arthur the following morning, to say the meeting went poorly would be an understatement. Arthur was only two years older than the two yet he still felt superior, what else could you expect from an immature fifteen-year-old? Hugh didn't like being spoken down to yet Arthur insisted upon it. As they've grown older however the reasons for their distance have become less and less meaningful.

At this point, their only excuse for being so distant from one another is simply because. Doesn't bother them anymore, they don't speak and everyone is as it's always been. Doesn't interfere with much of anything besides John.

John was adopted a little while after Arthur, Hugh, and Ron, the ten-year age gap changed the dynamics between them, however. Unlike the rivalry between Hugh and Arthur, they took up almost big-brother-style roles to John.