Saving Arthur Morgan | rdr2

Chapter 37

"Times up Miss Monroe." That ominous voice boomed overhead.

Arthur and the baby froze in time. My whole world before me just isn't real..but it's so much and everything to me.

"What? It's been years. Why now?" I stand, grimacing at the pain but trying my best to cover it.

A shadow suddenly walked along the wall of the living room now, looming over me.

"You saved him. It's time to go back now." A shadowy hand reaches for mine but I back away.

"No. You can't take away my child..and husband."

"Well...there is a price, if you wish to stay here. If you went back it would be as if nothing happened. That girl, Lindsay was it? Hmm, you'll be pleased to know that she has forgotten and moved on. No one will bat an eye if you just stay missing."

"So I can stay?" I ask slowly, waiting for the but.

"You can stay...if I can take away all of your memories and pain you cured to your loved ones back home. I would be..invincible." The figure squeezed his hand into a fist as if to crush something and growled the words.

"Invincible? You feed on memories?"

"I can feed on anything valued or painful to another. A soul, memories, happiness...oh you name it and I can."

Would I be selfish to do this? Should I agree? But if it makes him invincible what would he use that power for? It seems it would help to erase the pain I caused but at what cost..?

"If I agree, what will you do with that new found power?"

"That is none of your concern!" He shouted, the shadow suddenly doubled in size and the once grayish color turned darker.

I winced at the voice, holding up a hand in defense.. and then I saw it. Deep within the shadow was a red pulsating heart, it beat fast and strong.

It has a heart..if only I could get close.

The shadow shrunk finally as the tension eased, the heart disappearing within the darkness.

"Were you once human?" I finally ask.

"Yes..I was." There was pain, I could hear it in the tone.

"Are you immortal?" Silence at my question.

"No yet." He finally answers.

"Hmm..so if you took my loved ones memories, you'd become immortal?"

"You are smarter than I thought you were." I could hear a smile but nothing before me.

The shadow approaches suddenly, I back into the kitchen as a menacing chuckle breaks overhead.

A shimmer of light flashes beside me almost like a beacon. The butcher knife glimmers in the darkness of my kitchen.

"Please agree Miss Monroe..or should I call you Mrs. Morgan now?" I could hear the desperation now.

"So what are your plans after I agree, I want to know."

Once again the shadow grew, flaming eyes sparked directly at me.

"What did I say!!!" The shadow lunged, the heart beating so fast in front of me. I jumped towards the knife, stabbing wildly at the shadow until finally I hit the mark.

Agonizing screams echoed as the shadow shattered into sparks and fell to the floor in ash. I dropped the knife with a clatter, shaking awfully.

My body screamed with pain, too much action but it's...it's over. I fell to the floor of my kitchen, tears of joy and confusion running down my face as the realization hit me. No more 2019, this is what I have now.

"Bella?" Arthur called as he rushes in, arms still wrapped around baby William.

"I'm fine..it's finally over." His face was still pinched with concern.

"Yes, I told you. But please come, sit down and rest. He'll be up soon and waiting for his supper." He chuckled but I could see the worry still.

I try my best to laugh it off, nodding. "Yes. I better rest while I can." My hands still shake but being beside him now makes a world of difference.

We sit close now, one of Arthur's arms wrapped around me and the other around our son. Relief washes over me, I'm so thankful. "It's over Mrs. Morgan. Don't you worry that pretty head of yours. You've got something way more important to worry about now."

"Yes. I love you both. More than anything." I squeeze his hand, kissing his ruggedly handsome face.

"And I never thought I'd love someone like I do you and our son..but here I am, proven wrong once again." He says with a smile.

The end.