(commission) Pried (Patreon)

It was a dusky evening in the Mohave. The air was dry, biting the moisture from my lips away second by second. I sat looking into the old town I used to visit from a nearby cliff. Used to be known as Dividitaña, a hub of all good things in life for a rancher such as me. These days it's only known as the valley of the damned. And damned I was staring into its empty streets.

I walked in, and it was so quite I could hear the sand being dragged through the rotten wood by the hot winds. I gazed around and all I could see was history. There was no future to this place. And... there’s no place here presently. I indulge myself on those memories, looking into them for some escape from this ghost town.

Two score ago, when I was but a child, it was thriving town. It was vying to be the state capital and it came very close. All sorts of industry filled the place. The biggest two was a mining company owned by a mister Slate, and the other was a jewellers owned by a mister Arnold. Both where symbols of excellence and wealth back in those days. Known all around the southwest for quality unmatched. By my time there, both where still young in their early twenties

Now these two companies...they were mighty dependant on each other. See slates mine was the best source of gold for miles, and it was famous in those many miles round for having some of the finest gemstones. Which worked well with Arnold’s jewellery. The gold and gems came together in his crafts giving them a massive amount more worth. The relationship between the two grew strong over their shared business, so strong they arranged for their children to marry.

I was brought back to the present by the crack of bone under my feet. I don't dare look down at what I had just done, instead continuing deeper into town. I do what I can to move back to my memories. I'd came with my mother; my father having worked here in those days. Id enjoys candies made by local confectioners. At six ...this place never got better.

I couldn't remember everything. I was so young. A haze sat over the time, some of it was age. some of it was my own mind trying to make me forget. However golden that place was...even at six I could see the cracks. In the back of my mind, I knew it wouldn't last. Good things never do. I had this friend... This girl was sweet and kind-hearted. I saw her a lot on the few trips we made that year. I couldn't remember why for a long time. I’d thought we just met in the markets. Such childlike wonder.

The last time I saw her, she handed me a locket of gold. I admired its beauty and thanked her. I didn't understand it's true value at the time...but it was worth far more to me as a reminder than it was as metal. It held a picture of her in it. I held onto it even to today.

It was... A couple years later I heard though hushed tones that slates mine was having some difficulties right at the time when Arnold's jewellers had a large order worth thousands from the east. The whole town was panicking thinking both their main money-makers were going to crumble. However. To everyone's surprise, they managed the sale.

I remember asking my father about it...it always made him angry. I saw a lot less of my friend after this. Whenever I asked about that...much the same anger. I didn't see her for another twelve years. That was when I next got to visit the town, and when I saw it's fall. My mother dared not bring me there more than she had to. I begged to go at many ages, and she told me it wasn't safe. I didn't realize why until I returned.

It was dropped on me one day. I was to be married to the girl I once knew. I had no choice, my father did all but threaten my life. I was afraid of the six shooter he had started wearing. In this moment, I look upon the site of the wedding in front of Me. The town was abandoned that day, and no traveller dared touch anything from the massacre that occurred.

The entire event was etched so deeply into my mind, it was free of haze. On the day, I was excited. I had no idea of the storm brewing. I wore my finest suit and attended. My father came to me " my boy... You’re going to be doing a great service to us. Just keep a big smile."

"I barely know this woman father, are you sure this is necessary?" I could remember his smile, fake as it was, fading. It haunted my mind. He had become ruthless in the years that passed. I know he had been... Cruel towards my mother. It broke me in some ways seeing how she had taken it all. "It's more needed than you realize. Don't worry...it will be short."

I walked down the aisle and waited at the altar, waiting for the woman that was to be made my wife eagerly. My mother always taught me to make the best of a bad thing. I had enjoyed the girl’s presence before, maybe it wouldn't be so bad. And hell... Maybe it wouldn't have been. I'd never get to know. I walk into the same old church these many years later. And there he sat. My father, in the same pew he had been in that fateful day.

I walk down to him. He noticed me. I was worried he'd draw his six. Before he could move a muscle in his retched body, I had pulled my own colt from its holster. "I was wondering when you'd come home. You here to kill your old man?" As he talked, I moved Around to face him, before taking his gun from his belt. "This is not my home. And you haven't been my father for a long time."

"You're still a Slate you little ingrate!"

"No... I’m not. I refuse to carry your name and your legacy. And I refuse your money all the same.".

The man seemed to slump back in his seat, before putting a cigarette in his mouth. "You think so little of me? What I did, I did for you."

"Don't pull that shit with me. You did it for you and your pride. If it was for me...

I wouldn't have been in the middle of it." I shout back, before cocking the handle. " You made my wedding a trap... A battle for your revenge."

"They tried to cut me out! Those rat bastard Arnold's broke a decade long deal." He screamed at me. He was old now. Frail too. I didn't trust him however, keeping the pistol trained on him. "Do you expect them to burn their own company down for your sake? the Arnold's had people to take care of."

"SO DID I! I HAD MY WIFE...I HAD YOU... I had a dozen odd miners who I paid. They left us all in the dust."

"You did that yourself! Don’t act like you cared for anyone but you. Those miners ended up on their ass after you shot up the church... I ended up having to flee the state, so I didn't get blamed for it. Oh yeah, and mother died in your little shoot out. You were so occupied with making it convincing. "

"She should have mov..." Before my father could finish that thought, I cracked him over the head with his own pistol. " Don't you dare try and say it was her fault. I will shoot you dead right here and now!"

"You are already going to kill me...what does it matter?" He responded, wiping the blood from his lip. "I didn't come here to shoot you. I just ...I needed to know if there was more. All I can find is that the Arnold's switched supplier... Please... Tell me there was more. That there was an affair or anything other than you... Being bitter."

"I did it because those Arnold's couldn't be trusted. They brought pistols to a wedding too. They are scum!" I bring my hand to my head before sighing. "You...you shot her right in front of me because of your pride? You are a cruel. vile man. The fact your blood is in me makes me feel dirty. Like I had blood on my hands. So why don't I justify that feeling?" I ask, bringing the barrel to his forehead, pressing it into his skin.

"Do it. you think your so good...you think you’re so noble. DO IT. KILL ME! Maybe then you'll understand why I had to do it." He screamed desperately. I looked to him before breaking open the cylinder before dropping the bullets to the ground. I toss his gun to the ground. "I'm no killer."

"This is why I never told you...you'd have chickened out...you’re a yellow belly...you’re a coward!"

"I'm an Arnold." I tell him, before leaving without a further word. I listen out in case he follows me, but he doesn't. I leave that dessert town, back to my home. I leave those memories behind.

commission for anon. he knows who he is and he is amazing