When the Devil Cries (Arthur Morgan X Male OC)

32. Savior

From Arthur's POV

Standing perfectly still in the bone-biting snow, a plethora of white flakes delicately fluttered to the ground around me as the old man and I stared at one another, neither of us saying a single word.

I didn't know who the hell this stranger was, or where on Earth he came from, but I was willin' to bet he was having the same thoughts about me.

It was a rarity to find someone you could trust in this country, and with every misty breath the each of us took, I could feel my heart pounding faster and faster in anticipation.

The last thing I wanted to do was murder an innocent man in cold blood especially after everything we'd been through, but if takin' his life meant protecting Eddie's, well...then I weren't gonna exactly have a choice.

I just hoped it didn't come to that.

"Oh, I'm sorry, mister..." I replied calmly, carefully raisin' my hands in a diplomatic manner. "I didn't mean to disturb you. I...I thought this cabin was abandoned."

The old man chuckled at that.

"So, figured you'd move in, eh?"

I paused in confusion, glancing back at the house. "What? No. I...I just--"

Suddenly remembering that the stranger had no idea about Eddie, I brought myself to a halt and sealed my lips shut, hesitant to say anymore.

The old man probably thought I was the only one trespassin' on his property at the moment, and I wasn't sure how I felt about letting him know about the damn-near defenseless man resting inside.

I doubted this stranger had any ill intentions and was just being cautious, but considerin' how things turned out back at Dutch's camp...I just didn't know who I could trust anymore.

But it was his house after all, and more than likely...he was probably gonna learn about Eddie anyway, whether I liked it or not.

"You forget how to speak, boy?" The man teased, breakin' me outta my thoughts. "What're you doin' here? I hope you ain't plannin' to rob me. Ain't much to take from this cabin, 'cept for a gorgeous view, heh. But I doubt you're here for that. So...what is your business?"

Deciding to put my faith in this man, I remained quiet for a few moments more before lettin' out a sigh of defeat, unable to lie any longer as I finally opened up to him.

"...I ain't here to rob you, mister." I explained, my tone sinking with worry. "It's...it's my friend. He's inside. He was shot in the leg not too long ago, and now he can't walk. But...there's no doctors out here, and your cabin is the only kinda shelter I've been able to find in these woods. That's why I'm here."

Switchin' to a more serious temperament, the old man's casual grin disappeared at the dire news and he furrowed his brows in concern, looking through the cabin's windows.

"...Your friend was shot?" He repeated. "By who? What happened?"

"Outlaws." I answered vaguely, earning a sympathetic expression from the stranger.

"Ah..." he breathed out, his eyes downcast with discouragement, "I see. Did they rob you?"

I scoffed. "Somethin' like that."

"Well, I'm sorry to hear that. Roads ain't safe, nowadays. Bandits are everywhere." He gazed towards the horizon, changing the subject. "Where'd you two come from? Ain't no towns around these parts. You locals?"

"No. We're from the area around Annesburg. We've been runnin' non-stop."

His eyes widened in surprised. "Annesburg? Well, that explains why you look so tired. You boys covered a whole lotta ground to get here. And if I remember correctly, there are no doctors in Annesburg, are there?"