Chapter Text
It was supposed to be any regular Friday. Coming home after a long day at school to an empty house, doing homework before starting dinner, and then playing the famous Red Dead Redemption II game everybody raves about. It makes sense. It’s what any school kid who doesn’t have present parents would do.
Opening the door to the two-bedroom, one-bathroom house I lived in with my two consistently-absent parents, I found it once again empty. No surprise there. Of course they wouldn’t try to get home on time to spend some family quality time with their fifteen-year-old daughter. My annoyance only grew when I entered the kitchen, finding a note on the fridge that was written by my mother.
I didn’t even read it.
It was the same message every time. Same wording, same dialogue, and the same bells and whistles of before. I should just throw it away, but who cared? My parents didn’t care. We lived pretty well, but my parents were in massive debt, debt that they put themselves in after many bad financial decisions that even I understood was bad. I tried not to think about it. How those bad decisions kept my parents away from home.
Keep them away from me. Their daughter who just wanted to spend a little more time with them ever since my grandfather passed away. Yet, here I was. Alone once more.
Setting my backpack down, I began to work as soon as I sat down at the small circular kitchen table, sighing into my hand as I wrote. I didn’t really pay attention to the questions. I never did. I know that my teachers were convinced I was a genius, but I didn’t want to show it.
And while that may have been true, what do I have to prove to them? Why be a genius in a world that treated geniuses like nothing more than scrap?
Oh, there I go again.
I sighed, looking down at my homework with a grimace. The name at the top made me grimace even more. My name, written in cursive letters that were like a fancy signature.
Miranda Boone.
My teachers told me consistently that it was hard to read in cursive, but what do they know and why should they even care? They don’t know much about me. They only know I’m some child that lives in a broken home, being left to fend for themselves for a majority of the time. When was the last time mom and dad came home? When did I last see them?
I shook my head again, trying to chase the thoughts away before I fell into a quiet somber. I didn’t even want to do my homework. Not while it was Friday night. I can do this Sunday night.
Frustrated and torn in my emotions, I put my pen down and got up, leaving behind my backpack and homework strewn on the table. It was still daylight, so when I entered the small living room next to the kitchen, I closed the curtains throughout the room, casting it in darkness. I dragged my bean chair to the middle of the living room floor, right in front of the tv my parents had bought three years ago. It still ran well, and I could reach over to turn on the console.
I turned on my xbox, hoping it would continue to work. But to my disappointment, it wouldn’t turn on. Oh great. Was it broken?
I turned on a light next to the couch behind me before reaching the console. I looked throughout it, finding it was still plugged in. I sighed, taking it off the plug to check it over in the light. It looked fine. Maybe it was the motherboard?
With a grimace, I took the xbox to my room at the back of the house. My room was a mess when I entered, but it was the chaos I needed to hide the frustration as I set the xbox on my desk, filled with tools and other knick knacks I’ve collected all over Detroit. I began to pull apart the console, all the way to the motherboard, placing the RDR2 disc carefully on a shelf halfway through.
I could tell right away that something was spilled into the console. The motherboard looked absolutely wrecked. And from the smell of alcohol, I knew who it was. One of my parents must have been drinking and managed to dump beer into the xbox, luckily not coating the disc by a miracle. But that meant I needed another motherboard. And fast before my parents got home and griped at me for tearing apart the console.
I left my room, grabbing my backpack and wad of cash before heading out. As I walked, keeping my head low and making sure my jet-black hair could hide my face. If I was lucky, I would be left alone as I walked to the game store. And I guess I was lucky so far when I appeared before those clear doors, bars covering the windows.
My parents didn’t like me coming here on my own, but who cares? I have my knife on me and I wasn’t afraid to defend myself. On the streets of Detroit, you needed to keep yourself safe. Not be afraid of what might not happen.
As soon as I entered the store, a familiar voice greeted me from the register, “Well, howdy, Miranda! Whatcha in for?”
“I need a new motherboard for an xbox one,” I replied, finally tying my hair up into a ponytail to look up at my friend. He was a cool dude. A decade older than me, but he was a friendly guy to everybody. And today, he must be playing the part of Red Dead Redemption II with his cowboy outfit. I lifted an eyebrow at his outfit. “What the hell are you wearing?”
“What? I like it,” the cashier, Ray, said with a shrug, turning away from me to go through the parts he had in the drawers behind the counter. I looked around as he rummaged through, seeing a couple of kids at the games looking through. Nobody she knew. Probably some passing tourists. “Oh! Here it is! Why isn't that the second motherboard this year?”
“Yeah, well, my parents don’t exactly hold back when it comes to drinking,” I replied grimly, grabbing my wad of cash and putting it on the table. The moment the motherboard was put down, I raised an eyebrow at it. It wasn’t the normal green in color. Instead, it was purple and black. “Ray, what’s up with this?”
Ray shrugged, scratching his unkept beard before replying, “Some dude dropped it off and said that he wanted to sell it. So I bought it. Never seen such a motherboard, but it’s made for a console like an xbox. How about 40?”
“40? Are you trying to rob me, Ray?”
Ray laughed, slapping the counter slightly before grabbing the wad of cash. As he wafted through the bills, he corrected, “Sorry, honey. I was joking with you. You’re a regular, so I’ll give it to you for $35.”
I grumbled but nodded, taking my change and the motherboard before telling him, “Thanks, Ray. You’re a lifesaver. Oh, and don’t tell my parents I was here, okay?”
“When are they ever around?” Ray laughed as if it was some joke. But when he saw I wasn’t laughing, he cut himself off, clearing his throat. “Sorry. That was insensitive. When are they ever gonna pay off that massive debt?”
I shrugged, “Don’t know. But they spent all of my college funds, so…”
Ray sucked in a breath, shaking his head, “Sorry, Miranda. Hey, if you ever need any help, my pops can help you. He knows you're quite handy. He can hook you up with a job so you can afford college.”
I smiled at the offer, telling Ray as I walked out of the door, “I’ll think about it. Thanks, Ray! Have a great weekend!”
I left that store before I heard his response. I rushed back home, my luck continuing as I got home safely and entered the home again. I rushed to my room, dropping my backpack into my desk drawer before going to fix my xbox with the new motherboard. As I fixed it, I couldn’t help but think of what I said to Ray. I wasn’t lying when I said my parents spent my college money. They told me themselves a few months back when I was thinking of what colleges to go to.
I didn’t want to remember what they said. I ignored them as soon as they told me that they used all the money saved for my college on debt. Every cent. Every cent I saved since I was taking odd jobs on the streets at the age of ten. Well, that’s what they think.
Under my bed was another backpack. A backpack full of essentials and money that I could use in case I needed to get out of here. My parents never go through my room, so I hid a backpack with cash I’ve been collecting since they’ve told me they took my money. Was some of it stolen? Probably. But it was mine now and only mine. I had to save every cent for college.
Or else, I was going to end up like my parents.
I finished the xbox, putting it back together before I plugged it into a spare outlet to test it. It booted up almost immediately, though the icon glowed purple instead of white. Weird, but whatever. I slid the RDR2 disc in, hearing the familiar whirl. I smiled, green eyes sparkling as I watched it.
Then, it shut off.
I blinked. What the fuck just happened?
I looked it over, unplugged it and replugged it in, and I even shook it to hear if anything got undone while I was putting it together. Nothing. I tried to turn it on. But as soon as I pressed the icon, I felt a shock that made me hiss. I tore my hand away, shaking it while hissing out a curse. When I looked down at my hand, I didn’t see anything, so I figured it must be an electric shock.
Well…that was a waste of $35.
I sighed, sitting on my bed in defeat. I didn’t want to do homework and I couldn’t play RDR2. What a great Friday night this was turning out to be. I felt tired then, just tired of everything that’s going on.
Life hasn’t been too great. It never has been. Not since my grandfather died. He was the gentlest soul I had ever met. He raised me while my parents worked, and lived with us as soon as my grandmother passed when I was two. He always kept me company, even if most of the time we watched western movies so he could nap while I watched those cringy western movies.
The least I can do tonight was change, standing up once more to get out of my school clothes and into more comfortable clothes. A black sweatshirt with a white tank top underneath and a pair of light-colored pants. As soon as I finished, I laid down on my bed, closing my eyes as I threw an arm over my face. I can deal with all the bullshit when I wake up later. Probably Saturday morning.
Maybe, when I wake up next, I can go and curse out Ray for giving me a faculty motherboard.
I snored away, completely oblivious to my surroundings as I slept.
Until I heard an annoyed voice shout, “HEY! Get out of there!”
I groaned, opening my eyes to a surprise. A man, dressed in loose clothes and overalls, held a pitchfork towards me. I blinked a couple of times out of confusion as the man continued to shout at me, “I don’t want any whores hanging around this place! We’ve got a whore house for a reason!”
He thrust the fork towards me and I shot up, hands up as I replied, “Woah! Calm down, asshole! I’m not a whore!”
The man scoffed, “Then get the fuck out of my barn!”
Barn? I blinked, confused before I realized that I was on a pile of hay. And the scents that flooded my nose, ranging from manure to fresh hair, told me that I was really in a barn. What the hell?
Before I could fully gather my surroundings, the man reached forward, grabbing my sweatshirt roughly. And with a yelp, I was yanked up, the man dragging me away from the pile of hay and through the horse barn. Horses neighed as I was pulled by my sweatshirt by the strange man. I struggled, cursing, “WHAT THE FUCK! Get off me!”
“Got a mouth on ya, girl? Take it back to your daddy!” And suddenly, I was thrown into bright light and into mud. I felt the cold of the mud hit the side of my face, causing me to wince when my cheek hit a small rock. I maneuvered, sitting up quickly just in time for a smaller male, a younger male, throwing a backpack at me. The man who had pulled me from the barn cursed at me. “Now scram!”
The pair turned, the man shutting the barn door before I could curse at him. I blinked, my ass sitting in mud while the backpack laid in my lap. What the fuck just happened?
I looked around, seeing I was in the middle of a horse ranch. With fencing spanning a ways back towards the surrounding tall trees. In the middle of the woods. Did I accidentally take something? How did I end up in the middle of the forest? I was on the edge of Detroit, but there was no horse ranch near Detroit.
And how did I end up in a horse barn?
I finally looked down at my backpack, raising an eyebrow at how ruined it was. Curious, I looked through it, seeing that it was my emergency runaway pack. Had all my money and all my essentials!
Did I somehow grab it? Nobody except I knew where this backpack was. If I was taken, it would have been just me.
But I should be glad I have this at least. Standing up, with a little slip in the mud, I slipped my backpack on and turned down the path away from the horse ranch. I was clearly no longer welcome here. And with a quick pat down, I breathed a sigh of relief at feeling my knife in my pocket. I always carried it with me but you never know.
I began to walk, cursing at my bare feet any time a pebble or sharp rock dug into my heel. Ahead, I could hear more horses, a herd of them on the side of the pasture furthest away from the barn. Bunch of beauties. But that man didn’t seem so…rich to have these kinds of horses. A couple of shires, thoroughbreds, and paints. All expensive breeds if my books were correct.
Okay…now I am confused.
If only I had a phone, I could see where I was.
With a sigh, I kept walking, down the path and towards an even wider dirt road. I looked around, hearing a horse approaching from my right. I looked, raising a hand when I saw a man approaching on horseback. He looked rich, with a fancy suit and an eyeglass chained to his collar.
“Excuse me!” He ignored me, continuing on as if he didn’t hear me. “Hey! Excuse me!”
He merely sighed, urging his horse forward. My arm fell to my side, sighing as I grimaced. What the hell was that for? I didn’t look that bad, did I?
Well, if he won’t talk to me, I’ll follow his direction, the prick. Grabbing the straps of my backpack, I began to walk in the direction the man went, going left. The guy was far gone by the time I took the corner, hearing the rush of a river not far. This was strange. I was so used to the sounds of the streets and cars passing by.
But it was…quiet.
Too quiet.
I stopped, frowning as I noted how I could only hear the rapids and not birds. Ahead, I heard a shout and I froze when a gunshot rang through the quietness of the forest, above the rush of water nearby. And seconds later, I saw the same horse that the man rode, but without the rich man. It rushed past me and I had to jump out of the way to avoid getting trampled. Looking up towards the corner, I saw two more horses come around the corner, ridden by two men with rags over their faces, serving as masks.
When they saw me, I got up, ready to bolt when their horses picked up their pace to catch up. One trotted past me while the other stopped, the man carrying a pistol next to his hip. I raised my hands, telling them, “Sorry, I don’t have any money on me.”
“Aw, well would you look at that,” the man on the horse in front of me said, the mocking tone in his voice setting me on edge. “Looks like someone is away from their mom and pops! Whatcha name, little lady?”
When I didn’t answer immediately, I could hear a hammer set behind me. I gulped, though my throat was surprisingly dry as I replied, “Miranda. Miranda Boone.”
“Miranda…” the man repeated, something in his tone shifting. I could tell from the rise in his mask that he was smiling. “What a pretty little name for a pretty little thing. You say you got no money?”
“I don’t, I swear!”
The man looked behind me, asking his partner, “You think she don’t got no money?”
I didn’t hear a reply, but the man chuckled as if it was a joke, “Yeah, I don’t believe her nether.”
He got off his horse then, lifting his pistol so the barrel pointed towards my chest. He asked me with a more bored tone, “Now, are you gonna keep lying or do I have to force ya?”
“I don’t have money, honest,” I replied. I could feel the weight of my knife against my hip. “But I may have something else.”
“Really? Well, whatcha have?”
“Can I reach into my pocket?”
The man’s eyes narrowed under his cowboy hat. I slowly reached for my pocket, pulling out my knife. It was a folded knife. A simple flick could open it. I handed it to the man, keeping my hands raised as he took it. He inspected it, barrel lowering but not enough to be out of danger. His eyes told me that he didn’t know what it was. And maybe I can use that to my advantage.
“How is this a knife?”
“I can show you how to open it,” I replied, pushing a hand forward. The man gave me a suspicious look before raising his gun.
“Show me.”
I took my knife back, flicking it out of its fold and showing him the blade. The man hummed, taking a step closer, “That’s gotta be worth something.”
I had a bad feeling rise in me and I couldn’t help but wonder if these men were going to just rob me. But then I was pulled down from behind by my backpack, causing me to yelp. The first man sighed, lowering his pistol as he told his partner, “Seriously?”
“She has a pack,” a grumpy voice echoed behind me. “But how does it open?”
The first man hummed, looking down at me as I sat there. “How do you open your pack?”
“It’s a backpack,” I replied with a raised eyebrow. They didn’t know what a backpack was? Was this some sort of joke? “You can’t open it?”
The man lifted the pistol’s gun to my head, asking in a harsher tone, “Open. It.”
I hesitated, then slowly slipped the backpack off my back, folding my knife again. You don’t bring a knife to a gunfight, that much I knew. I just needed to comply. For now. I was about to zip it open when there’s a sound behind us. It sounded like the neigh of a horse.
All three of us looked back just when a voice called out, “Howdy, there!”
There was an old man in a top hat and ragged clothes on a wagon, with a dark grey shire pulling the wagon. As soon as he was close enough, he gave us three a smile. He greeted us politely, “Gentlemen! Thank you so much for finding my granddaughter! She must have lost her horse!”
“This your daughter?” The first man sounded skeptically as the old man chuckled.
“Well yes! Isn’t that right, granddaughter!” I gave the man a raised eyebrow and he gave me a smile. Not a kind smile. But a smile told me that I should play along.
I chuckled, mostly out of nervousness as I greeted back, “Oh! Hey, granddad! I was just looking for you! These men were just making sure I was all right. I took a little tumble from my horse!”
I went to get up when the first man grabbed my shoulder in a harsh gripe, his eyes narrowed as he asked the old man, “What’s her name if she’s your granddaughter? You two look nothing alike!”
The old man sighed, shrugging as he replied, “Well…my memory fades a lot. But I know my granddaughter when I see her. And I know she can protect herself.”
Before I could move, the old man whipped out a pistol from under his coat, headshotting the man in front of me. Behind me, the first man raised his pistol to shoot, but I took that chance to grab his wrist as he fired. I heard the horse freak out as I began to fight the man. And he didn’t hold back.
Raising his free fist, he threw a punch, right into my face. Okay, maybe something a knife could help with in this gunfight. With a flick of my other wrist, I screamed as I threw the knife into the man’s wrist holding his gun, making the man scream out in pain before I yanked it out. The man’s pistol fell to the ground as the man grabbed his bleeding hand, screaming in pain.
He was quickly silenced when a gunshot echoed, his head whipping back before the man dropped. Leaving two horses that freaked out, running off. I breathed out, my heart racing with adrenaline. I looked back at the old man, panting as I breathed out, “Thank you, sir. I didn’t know what else to do.”
“Well, it looked like you needed a little bit of help,” the old man replied as he holstered his pistol. His grey shire pawed the ground, snorting with a shake of its head as if annoyed. “You lost, lady?”
“Yeah, a little.” I looked around, putting my backpack on. “Know where I can find a phone? Or where am I?”
“Phone? What the hell is a phone?” The old man seemed confused and I couldn’t help but give him a strange look. He scuffed, waving a hand of dismissal as he answered my next question. “I was just heading to Strawberry. Need a ride?”
Strawberry? Why did that sound familiar? “Yeah, sure. If you don’t mind.”
The man smiled, nodding as he scooted over, patting the seat next to him. I smiled, walking over to the wagon and getting on. As soon as I settled, the man snapped his reins and the horse pulled the wagon forward. He remarked as we rode the wagon down the road, “I see you took a couple of tumbles. Might do some good to get a bath at the saloon when we get there.”
“That…would be nice,” I replied, looking down at my dirty clothes. “Didn’t expect this day to go the way it has.”
“Hey! At least you see the end of the day, unlike those fellers.” Snapping the reins again, the old man gave me a friendly smile. “So, what’s your name, little missy?”
“Miranda. Miranda Boone,” I replied, lifting a hand to him. The man regarded my hand for a moment before he smiled.
Taking my hand with a firm shake, he introduced himself, “JB Cripps. Fellow traveler and merchant of trades!”
Cripps? Why…why did that sound familiar? I glanced into the back of the wagon, seeing and smelling animal parts stored in the wagon. My eyes widened as I asked, “Are you the man who makes anything out of anything?”
“Why, yes! That’ll be me!” The old man, Cripps, snapped his reins once more. “Surprised that a young lady like yourself knows me.”
I shrugged, faking curiosity, though internally, I was freaking out. “Yeah…um…I was actually seeing if you needed help. With your business? Must be a lot of work by yourself.”
Cripps was quiet for a moment, giving me a look before he chuckled, “You know, few would want to work with me. Do you have what it takes to be under an old man such as me?”
Like I had a choice. I shrugged, “I think it’ll be fun.”
“Great! Then I guess I have an apprentice now!”
I stared at him, eyes wide, “Wait…what?”
Cripps shrugged, “You seem like a lively woman. And they always say that a woman who is ambitious is one to avoid. But not to me! You want to learn from the great and magnificent Cripps? How can I deny a young lady?!”
I stared at him as Cripps began to hum to himself happily, as if I was the one who hired him. I slowly looked away from him, looking around to the small town that appeared around a stone corner, the rich man nowhere to be found with a rushing river next to the road down the cliffside. And to my horror, I saw Strawberry, small and in one piece.
What the hell was going on?
And how the fuck did I end up in Red Dead Redemption 2?!