𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙣-Hector Escaton

𝙫𝙞𝙞𝙞.

𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙣

𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧: 𝙫𝙞𝙞𝙞.

Eudora leaned back in the saddle of her horse. She was shaking despite herself. Where was Hector? He couldn't have been decommissioned, could he? What had happened to him? Had another guest killed him and now his gang's story was trying to correct?

She should not have cared.

At all.

But as she sat beside William and Lawrence, looking down at two men that Armistice was meant to meet with, Hector was the only thing on her mind.

Lawrence had been given a horse, though the rope around his neck still remained, the other end thrown loosely around the horse's neck to keep him in place.

"Apparently, she needs to make certain this thing they're looking for is where they think it is," Lawrence said. "She said she'd signal if the information was good."

Eudora swallowed as she watched Armistice ride up to the pair before her.

She bit down hard on her lip as Armistice promptly slit one of their throats, shooting the other in the chest.

"Guess that's the signal," William said.

"Or the information is bad," Eudora pointed out, though, she knew that Armistice was a killer on her best days. Killing two nobodies was nothing for her.

Where the hell was Hector?

All the same, they followed Armistice. When they finally set camp for the night, Eudora steered clear of the others. She didn't quite like the looks she was getting from some of the men. They couldn't hurt her, but all the same, it felt... gross. 

She saw a few of the men, actual people, approach William, but whatever he said sent them away quickly enough.

He sat beside Lawrence by a smaller fire they had made.

Eudora didn't have a fire, but that was all right. Her anxiety was through the roof and making her shake enough that she was producing heat. 

She glanced up at the sound of William's voice as he spoke to Armistice. "I'll ride at dawn. I'll go get whatever you want out of that prison and bring it back myself."

Armistice rose to her feet to better look him in the eye. "Suppose you make it out alive. What's your price?"

"Nothing but a few words," William answered. "I want the story behind your tattoo."

"What's your interest in it?" Armistice asked.

"You ever heard of a man named Arnold?" William asked. "You could say that he was the original settler of these parts. He created a world where you could do anything you want, except one thing- - you can't die. Which means no matter how real this world seems, it's still just a game. But then Arnold went and broke his own rule. He died right here in the park. Except I believe he had one story left to tell. A story with real stakes, real violence." He drew a cloth from his pocket, unfolding it. Eudora couldn't see what was inside. "You could say I'm here to honor his legacy. And I think your tattoo is the next piece of the puzzle. So, do we have a wager?"

Armistice seemed confused by this. "You aim to break into a prison and take out twenty men alone?"

"Not alone," he corrected. "I'll take Lawrence and Eudora. And I'll need one match."

"One match, two pistols, one idiot, and one scared little girl."

William chuckled.

"I'll take those odds," Armistice agreed.

William smiled.

It wasn't long after that he moved to sit beside Eudora. "You're not cold?" he asked. 

"No," Eudora answered. "Is that worrying?"

"No. Not if you're not worried."

"I'm always worried."

He snorted. "So your father says. I hope I'll be seeing old Cain at the gala."

"Of course. He wouldn't miss it for the world," Eudora answered. "He likes this place more than he likes home."

She clamped her mouth shut suddenly as she realized what she'd just said. "Fuck," she muttered. "Don't tell him I said that."

William chuckled. "You remind me of how I was when I was younger," he said.

"Really?" she asked, holding back a laugh. "For some reason, I don't believe you."

"Really," he said. "This place made me who I am today. Before that, I was afraid. I didn't know the limits this place had, and now I know there are none. I didn't know how the hosts worked, how they adapted and learned. And then one... taught me."

Eudora shivered.

"Then... you're right, I'm that."

Hector.

Hector, Hector, Hector.

Why the hell couldn't she stop thinking of him?

"I met Armistice before. I helped her with the saloon heist, the Mariposa. The leader of this gang, I'm guessing he's what they're looking for."

"Hector Escaton?" William guessed.

"Yeah," Eudora said. She looked at the ground, drawing lazy circles in the sand with her finger. "He's- - he's interesting."

William said nothing, watching her expression, waiting for her to continue. "You said a host taught you something? I think- - I think Hector did the same for me." It felt like her throat was closing. "I was drawn to him more than I've ever even been drawn to a person. I gave him my earring, I made him a promise..."

"A promise?" William pressed.

"It was stupid of me. I told him that, if we pulled off the heist, I'd take him to the beach, let him see the ocean. I'm kind of glad that the heist failed, but I- -" she swallowed the lump that was still growing in her throat, "I hate that he's forgotten me."

William hesitated a moment, choosing his words very carefully. "Those things are damn near close to human, kid. Sometimes, I think they understand the world better than we do. He may not remember, but you will. And that's better than nothing, isn't it?"

Eudora nodded slowly. 

"I guess so. I just wish I didn't care so much."