I woke up to the sound of muffled voices and the creaking of wooden floorboards. My body felt heavy, and a dull ache throbbed at the back of my head. As I opened my eyes, the first thing I noticed was the dim light filtering through the cracks in the wooden walls. The air was cold, and I was lying on a hard surface, covered only by a thin blanket.
I sat up slowly, the blanket slipping down to my waist. My body was sore, and I realized I was completely naked beneath the blanket. Panic surged through me, but I tried to stay calm. I looked around the room, the room was small and rustic, with wooden walls with holes in them, and a single door. A few people were present, all dressed in old-fashioned clothing. A woman with a stern expression and graying hair stood near the table i was on to, her arms were crossed. Beside her was a younger woman with a gentle face and long, light brown hair. I had the feeling i saw them somewhere, they turned to me.
The older woman spoke first "You're awake. Good. We were starting to worry."
I cleared my throat "Where... where am I?"
The younger woman stepped forward, offering a small smile "You're safe. We found you unconscious in the snow. Arthur and Javier brought you back with John." Then she pointed to a guy with chin length hair and bandages all over his face, laying on a table.
Arthur, John and Javier? The names sounded familiar, but I couldn't place them.
i furrowed my eyebrows as i though before replying "I don't remember anything. The last thing I recall is falling asleep in my bedroom."
The older woman raised an eyebrow "Your bedroom? You must have been dreaming. This is the Grizzlies. You're lucky to be alive."
The younger woman nodded "I'm Mary-Beth, and this is Susan. What's your name?"
'Wait, Mary-Beth, Susan, Arthur, Javier and John? i know those name! aren't those characters from Red Dead Redemption?' i tried to not let my though show "Dylan." i replied.
"You have an accent, where are you from?" Mary-Beth tilted her head.
"I'm from Belgium." by the look they gave me i explained "It's in Europe, between France and Germany."
Susan narrowed her eyes "Europe? That's a long way from here. How did you end up naked in the mountains?"
I shook my head trying to remember "I don't know. I just remember going to sleep, and now I'm here."
Mary-Beth glanced at Susan, who sighed "Well, you're here now. We'll figure out what to do with you."
I glanced around the room, noticing several other people watching me curiously. if i remember those are, Abigail, Jack, Strauss, Tilly, Karen, and Sadie, they were all present, their expressions going from concern to suspicion. All of them looked like their in-game versions, but more alive. Tired, cold, hungry. But alive.
At that moment, the door opened, and a rugged man with a weathered face stepped inside "He's awake?" he asked.
i recognized him as Arthur, same blue coat and the voice too.
"Yes, Arthur." Susan replied "This is Dylan."
Arthur approached me, his eyes scanning my face "You remember anything about how you got here?"
I shook my head "No. Just that I went to sleep in my room, and now I'm here."
"Well, Dutch will wanna talk to you. Follow me." Arthur turned toward the door.
Susan stepped over, holding a pair of blue pants. They looked worn and patched up, but clean. "Here," she said, handing them to me. "These should fit well enough."
I sat up, holding the blanket tight around me with one hand, reaching out with the other to take the pants. Mary-Beth looked away politely, but I caught the little grin tugging at her lips. The fabric of the pants felt rougher than what I was used to. Not synthetic. Not mass-produced. Real wool or cotton, something made by hand, dyed in a way that wasn't perfect. It wasn't unpleasant, just… different "Thank you ma'am." i thanked her before standing up. The floor was cold, but I felt good. The air was fresh, and despite the chill, I felt better than I had in years. The air was purer and my asthma seemed to almost vanish just from that.
Arthur noticed my lack of discomfort "You'll be okay in just those pants? It's freezing out there."
I nodded, used to these comments about me being fine in cold weathers "It's cold, but I feel good. The air is clean. It's refreshing."
Arthur grunted again "It's near ten below. You're damn lucky."
Arthur opened the door and held it as we stepped outside, the snow crunching beneath our feet. The landscape was breathtaking, even with the snow storm the outside looked magnificent, a stark contrast to the big city I was used to.
'Maybe in the future if i find a pen and some paper i'll draw that place.' I though as i looked around, following Arthur.
I recognized the setting from the game, Colter, the abandoned mining town where the Van der Linde gang took refuge during the snowstorm.
Arthur guided me to another cabin, if i remember correctly there was Hosea, Dutch, and a woman called Molly in there during the prologue of the game. Dutch always talking with Hosea about plans and where to go next, and Molly putting on makeup.
My chest tightened from all the new informations, i was in another world, only wearing a worn pants, and i was going to meet Dutch Van de Linde the leader of the Van der Linde gang and the principal antagonist in the first game.
We stepped inside the house. It was warmer, a fire burning in a small chimney, Dutch sat in a chair near the flames, a thick coat draped over his shoulders, Hosea was next to him, reading a book, Molly sat on a chair near the back, dressed in a dark green jacket, her red hair pinned back under a fur-lined hood. She glanced up at me for only a second before looking away. Just that one glance was enough to punch the air out of my lungs. She is pretty! Delicate features, pale skin, striking red hair. I had to force myself not to stare.
Dutch stood up as soon as he noticed me. His voice boomed across the room "Finally, our guest is awake!"
He walked over, clapping a hand on my shoulder like we were old friends "I'm Dutch van der Linde." he said, grinning "And this here is Hosea Matthews, my old partner. And Molly O'Shea." he pointed to them. Molly barely glanced back, and Hosea just gave me a quick glance and a polite smile.
"My name's Dylan." I said, nodding to each of them "Thank you for not letting me rot in the cold. Would've frozen if it weren't for Arthur and... Javier, right?" i faked not knowing who they were. i needed to stick to the gang for now, and doing like i don't know the mis the only logical thing to do to not being seen as suspicious.
Arthur nodded from the corner. He was already lighting a cigarette.
"I just wanted to say thank you." I said, turning slightly toward him "For not letting me die out there. I owe you."
He just shrugged "Ain't nothing. Can't leave innocent folks to die, no matter how strange the situation."
Dutch grinned wider, clearly enjoying the exchange "That's what we believe too. People helping people. We're a community here. A family."
"If there's anything I can do to help." I said, meeting Dutch's eyes "just let me know. I'm not looking for charity."
Hosea tilted his head "You any good with your hands, or you're head?"
"I can work." I said "Build things, cook, hunt a bit. I'm a bit overweight but strong."
Dutch smiled again. "Well, that's what I like to hear. We all got to pull our weight around here. Right now, though, just focus on warming up. We'll figure out the rest soon."
I nodded "Alright. Thanks again for not let me die out there."
The next day i was talking with Mary-Beth beside the fire of the chimney. she gave me a white shirt she found. She tried to give me boots but no one had my size and when i went to Dutch he said he'll find something, so i'll have to be barefoot for now. thankfully i was always barefoot in my home so it wasn't really a problem.
"I tried to find boots too." she said "But... no one has your size. You got big feet."
I smiled a little "Yeah. I've always had trouble finding shoes. Even back home."
I held my hands out toward the flame. "Thanks again for the shirt."
She glanced at me again, and her tone softened "You don't have to keep saying thank you. We help each other out around here. That's the deal." She stood up, brushed some ash off her skirt, and moved to help Susan who was arranging some cans on a shelf.
Jack came over a minute later, dragging a piece of cloth like it was a blanket. He plopped down next to me without a word.
"Hey." I said.
He looked at me with big eyes, sniffled once, then pointed at my feet "Why don't you got shoes?"
I smiled "Didn't have time to pack."
He blinked "Ain't your toes cold?"
"Yeah." I said "They are."
He frowned and looked down at his own boots, then back at mine. "I could ask Mama if you could borrow my old ones."
I smirked then looked over at Abigail, she was pretending to help Susan, but her eyes were definitely on us.
"You don't have to" I said gently "I think Dutch said he'd find me something."
He nodded, with a serious look "Okay. But if he don't, I'll ask Mama anyway."
"Thanks, little man." i laughed while patting his head.
I leaned back a little, still close to the fire, and let myself breathe. The shirt itched slightly at the collar, but I didn't care. i felt strangely happy, no one judging me, no one annoying me about their beliefs, just people trying to survive and live a somewhat peaceful life. apart from Micah, but that will be for later.
I have a new life, Let's try to not fuck it up this time. and let's hope it's not just a dream.
[So, What do you think of this first chapter? i played the game when it came out 6 years ago and never played it since i finished it for the first time, and a few days ago i found a fan fic about this game, it made me want to play the game again and after a few hours i got an idea and decided to write that fic]