Retribution

The Last Woman Alive

   Y/N finds herself alone in Lakay. Her horse got spooked and ran away, she hasn't eaten in three day's, and she has nearly gotten eaten by an alligator four times. The night folk aren't easy to deal with either. She was exhausted, tired of fighting and absolutely alone.

   She was prepared for the worst. Her impending death. She knew it was lingering out there in the Bayou. She never should've came here but what choice did she have? Her gang got arrested and lynched. She hardly escaped with her life.

   She found herself sitting by the fire that night, just staring at the night sky. She lamented her life, all the what if's, could have's and should not's. She had a gash in her leg from an alligator bite and was losing blood quickly.

   She found herself humming the tune to her favorite song.

Oh my darling, oh my darling
Oh my darling, Clementine
Thou art lost and gone forever
Dreadful sorry, Clementine

   Then she heard humming. A male voice. She pulled out her Navy Revolver at the sound. It was pitch black and eerie. She was vulnerable. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to give you a fright" the voice said.

   She kept the revolver equipped and ready. She saw the figure stepping towards her with their hands up, surrendering. She immediately felt more at ease. "Honest, I didn't mean anything by it" he said. He stepped closer, revealing his face in the fire light.

   She lowered the gun slowly. "What do you want? Who are you?" She asked defensively. "The name is Lenny, miss. I was making my way back to camp, and I just heard you humming that tune. I decided to join. Honest miss, I mean you no harm" he said gently.

   "You're in a real bad way, aren't you?" He asked. She wasn't standing up and she was holding her bloody leg. "Can I help you?" He asked. She nodded her head, giving him permission. He came over and looked at her bite carefully. "I have a few medical supplies to stop the bleeding but to help you clean it up... I'd have to take you to camp" he said.

   She stared at him, skeptically. "Would you do that? Come back to camp with me?" He asked calmly, and gently. "It's a short ride" he said. She nodded yes. What were her choices? "Okay, good. Come on" he helped her up, onto his horse, and they rode into camp at Shady Belle.

"We're a bunch of misfit's but most of us are good folk... good folk that do bad thing's" he said. She knew that all too well. It reminded her of the gang she ran with. People are complex creatures with many sides to them. Good folks, can do bad things and bad folk...can do good. There is a distinction, a line perhaps... to who is who. You know it when you feel it.

She liked the man she just met, Lenny. He was nice and seemed genuine. Lenny tied his horse up to a hitching post. He held his hand out. "Let me help you down miss" he said gently. Y/N grabbed his hand and hopped down. She winced at the pain. Just putting pressure on it by standing hurt.

"Miss Grimshaw! Reverend Swanson!" He called out. They have a reverend? "We have an injured woman who needs your assistance" he said, as Susan Grimshaw came charging towards them. "What do you think this is Lenny? A hospital?" Susan griped.

"She's in a bad way... I ran into her in Lakay" he said. "Oh dear..." Susan got a glimpse at Y/N's leg. "What seems to be the problem?" Reverend said, slurring his words, showing up later into the introduction. "Oh good heavens..." he said, getting a look at Y/N's leg.

"Well what did ya do to it Mrs. Adler?" He asked, stumbling. "Wh-What?" Y/N narrowed her eyes at the drunk fool. "This isn't Miss Adler, Reverend" Susan sassed. "Go get some of your morphine" she sassed. He tried to protest. "Now!!" She ordered. He did as she said.

They walked Y/N back to an empty tent. "If this ain't Miss Adler, why are you taking her to Miss Adlers tent?" Reverend asked, cackling up a storm. "Get that fool out of here!" She yelled. Javier and Charles escorted him away.

"You'll feel a pinch" Susan said, sticking the needle into Y/N's skin. Y/N didn't flinch. She's felt far worse. "Good..." Susan said. "It's for the pain" she said. "Thank you" Y/N said, feeling it's effects immediately. "Sure dear" She said.

"What's your name?" Susan asked. "Y/N Y/LN" Y/N answered. "What happened?" Susan asked. "Gator... in the swamp. Spooked my horse... and it bit my leg" Y/N explained. "This doesn't look good... but I reckon we got it just in time before infection spread" Susan explained.

"You could've lost your leg... or your life" Susan said. "What were you doing in Lakay?" Susan asked. The drugs were kicking in big time. Y/N was an open book, and could barely feel a thing. "My gang... they were... they were hanged in Saint Denis... I was... I was running" Y/N said.

"Did anyone follow you?" Susan asked. "No... I got away. I was the only one" Y/N said. "Well... you're very fortunate you did Miss Y/LN" Susan said, matter of fact. "What gang were you in?" Susan asked. "Any we would know?" She asked.

"No one big... just me and five other women" Y/N said. "Women??" Susan asked. "Yes ma'am" Y/N began slurring her words now. "Interesting... A lot more options these days than in mine" Susan said. Y/N just smiled.

   "Well, you're all bandaged up" Susan said. "How are you feeling?" She asked. Y/N just smiled ear to ear. "I'll take that as good..." Susan laughed. "Okay well, you get some sleep now. Gotta heal up..." she said. "Nice meeting you Y/N" she said.