"Red for Dead" An RDR Universe Short Story (Male Character)

Forgotten Peoples

I woke up to the sound of a loud gunshot against my ears.

"FUCK!" I thought to myself, ears ringing. Only then did I realize, where am I? 

I had no idea where I was, my hands were behind my back, and I could only see black. There must've been a bag over my head or something, I felt the rough tension of the rope binding my hands together. At once, the bag was ripped off my head, I was a basement, a cellar, I had no god damn idea. The masked men around did not at all look familiar. They were all older, a stupid smug smirk on their tattered faces. Whoever these people were, they caused what happened back in Geyser. What the fuck could they possibly want with me? Why am I still alive?

As I sat there, asking myself that question, running through every possible situation, I was greeted with a welcoming punch to my stomach, causing me to double over, a loud string of curses leaving my mouth. Whoops and cheers from the men ensued, as another punch landed, and another, and another.

"Holy shit, i'm going to die here." I thought to myself, to weak at this point to even make a noise, hell, I was barely able to formulate a thought.

After what felt like hours, the beatings stopped, I lied there beaten to a bloody pulp. What could they possibly want with some kid my age? 

"Who.. who are you?" I asked in a strained voice, blood dripping from places I didn't even know exist. The resulting silence was loud, deafening, as the door to the top ripped open. A man stepped down, smartly dressed, another stupid mask around his face. I repeated my question. "Who are you?"

The man, who I could only assume was their leader, was silent. I remained silent as well, refusing to give him the satisfaction of any sign of fear. But he was undeterred, his eyes burning with intensity as he leaned in close.

"We will ask the questions here. I will ask the questions here.  Who are you?" 

I looked around in confusion, what did they want from me? this town? I should probably speak, they massacared an entire town, they'll kill me if they don't get what they want. 

Ryan: "Ryan. My name, is Ryan"

??: "Ryan, that was some work you did back there. Almost took out my enforcer. Almost..." The man replied twirling a cigarette in his hands. 

??: "Well, you're going to be taking the place of that girl you saved.. but we're going to find her. Very soon."

Ryan: "Wha- Riley..? What.. what could you guys possibly need with her?"

The leader paced the room, looking down at me, like it was some courtesy for me to be in his presence.

??: Well children, they tend to be easy to break, easy to get information out of. And then ultimately, easy to discard. You'll do just fine pretty boy. 

And then it clicked. Shit, I need to go. They're gonna... shit, shit.

I backed up in my chair, more frantically looking around me, men stepped closer. Holding me still. 

??: "Time is up Ryan, it's time to talk" The man said, a dagger unsheathed from his hip

Fuck.

??: What do you know about the Geyser family?