When the Devil Cries (Arthur Morgan X Male OC)

20. Lion and the Lamb

From Arthur's POV

SHADY BELLE

Doin' our best to keep our breaths steady, Eddie and I stood perfectly still as Dutch approached the enemy gang, both of us unable to believe that Atticus Rose himself was finally here.

All this running, all this hiding, all this death -- it was because of this man.

This man was the reason Eddie's family was dead. He was the reason Eddie had to flee from his own home, and he was the reason Hosea was now gone.

Everything we had endured up to this point -- the struggle, the pain, the paranoia -- it was because of a single, goddamned, man...and he had about a hundred others standin' behind him.

We were in deep shit.

Steppin' up to the camp's entrance, Atticus strolled through the lingering gun-smoke and blood-stained grass as he observed each and everyone of us, his eyes starin' us down like a hawk.

I could tell his attention was truly focused on Eddie -- and I assumed that was the main reason he was here -- but so far, he hadn't said a word to the boy. Instead, he simply carried on and met Dutch in the middle, acknowledging the man with a stoic but sincere expression.

A low sigh escaped Dutch.

"Mister Rose..." he said, his voice containing the same nature as a volcano about to erupt, "what is it...that you want?"

Atticus brought his gaze to Eddie, his brow furrowing with an unfriendly sense of recognition.

"...I'm afraid you have something of mine, Mister Van der Linde."

Dutch gestured to Jack who was still bein' held in Rodrick's iron grip.

"And I'm afraid you have something of mine." He scoffed. "It turns out we are both thieves in this fine country of...civilization. Aren't we, Atticus?"

Rose shook his head. "Far as I'm concerned...we're thieves livin' among our own people."

Dutch took a cautious step towards him while the rest of our gang stayed back, ready to pounce at a moment's notice in case anythin' went south.

"Well, Mister Rose," he responded in an dangerously nonchalant tone, "normally I would kill you for what you did to my brother, but for the sake of that boy...I will holster my guns. For now. Regardless of whatever quarrel you may have with me however, I implore you to leave the child...out of this."

Atticus didn't display a shred of sympathy.

"Well, as much as I would like to," he refused, "I can't."

Dutch's fist clenched. "And why is that?"

Rose examined the people in our gang, his glare hoppin' from one of us straight to another.

"Because in spite of all the money you've stolen, Mister Van der Linde...I know innocence is the only currency you truly understand. Which is why I'm willing to give the boy back." Atticus paused, raising a finger. "For a price."

Dutch's patience was wearing thin.

"And what price is that?"

Atticus pointed a hand towards Eddie, causin' the pianist to shift uncomfortably as he stood beside me.

"Give me Theodore Bishop," the man proposed, "and I'll return the child. If not, well...I suppose I'll just have to take the boy with me, then."

John nearly started another shootout right there.

"You give him back to us, now!" He shouted. "You son-of-a-bitch!"

Dutch held up an arm in front of Marston, preventing the man from going further.