“Does he really not know, Jas?”


    Daniel and Jasper were leaving the farm. Jasper glanced a few times toward the path leading to the house.


    “No, Jas. It’s dangerous to go there,” Daniel sensed it. “And with what we know…”


    “I knew something was rotten, bro. I could feel it.”


    “Realistically, if you hadn’t overheard them talking, you wouldn’t have figured it out. You were hooked. Like all of us.”


    “Yeah. But still, everything was so nice. There’s no way it could all be fine. It’s just impossible for everything to be that perfect.”


    “It still is for them. I mean the creators.”


    “Screw the creators.”


    “Want to check out the farms, Jas? There’s still plenty of time till evening.”


    Jasper didn’t reply but followed him. They didn’t head toward the fountain but back the way they’d come, toward the station.


    The other houses and yards were indeed far smaller than Reed’s. Clearly, the best one had been given to the worst guy in town. It made sense. Jasper walked, occasionally adjusting his hat, drawing his revolver, holding it lightly, then holstering it. Daniel found it amusing just watching him.


    “Bro,” Jasper said, staring ahead as he spoke, “what do you think’ll happen when the week’s over?”


    “Probably nothing. We’ll take the train and head home. Me to Emma, you to…”


    “The whores, I know what you were gonna say,” Jasper cut in, not as cheerful as before. “But I don’t want to go back, bro. It’s work, work, and a little fun there. It’s different here. I don’t feel stressed. Yeah, I was pissed about the fake robot crap they pulled, but that’s still part of the process. Part of their game. And Yann’s right. We just gotta play it. But when I think about all this ending soon…”


    “We could come back, Jas. Whatever it costs…”


    “We’ll find the money, but the free time? Who’s got weeks and weeks of free time? I bet this place will fill up with rich guys banging the fake women and drinking, then leaving. The rest will be retirees coming for the same thing with more time, but then it’ll just be full of them.”


    Daniel rarely saw him like this and let him talk. Jasper had been dead serious all day, nearly killed the stablehand, all to uncover the truth. He was so deep into this place.


    And now he was trying to find himself.


    Daniel had thought about these things too but hadn’t brought them up with Jasper. He didn’t think he’d get it. Maybe he’d been wrong.


    “Places like this make you realize how monotonous our lives are,” Jasper went on. “In our world, we’ve got two or three main duties, a little sleep, a little fun, and that’s it. But here, something’s always happening.”


    “You think that, Jas. If someone from years ahead came back to our time in reality, they’d say the same. We’re just buried in work and can’t enjoy it. Here, you’re carefree.”


    “No, bro. Every era’s more fun than ours. I mean the real one.”


    “They’ll talk about ours later too. Like how someone invented a park like this. And the next ones will say the same—that we had interesting times.”


    “Maybe you’re right. Guess we just can’t live them. Isn’t that what Barnes keeps saying—‘Live your story’? Or something like that. Probably doesn’t just mean in the park.”


    Jasper paused for a moment, then continued more quietly.


    “You see that?”


    Daniel stopped. Four riders were approaching. The horses were almost identical—brown with white around the eyes. Some had spots on their bellies. Jasper had already drawn his revolver; Daniel did the same. They didn’t aim them, just held them low in their hands.


    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    “Isn’t that Reed?” Jasper pointed with his gun.


    “And the sheriff’s next to him.”


    The riders moved almost in sync. The horses stared ahead blankly with empty eyes. Reed fixed his gaze on Daniel and Jasper, while Jake noticed them a bit later. All four wore black gloves.


    “Bro, what did Yann say about Jake? Is he real?”


    “No. It was just an example he gave.”


    “Look at his reactions. He’s worried. He senses what’s coming. That’s not very robot-like.”


    “Didn’t we agree not to care about that anymore?”


    The four riders drew closer and stopped in front of them. While Jake and Reed were familiar, the other two looked scarier, though neither Daniel nor Jasper knew them.


    One had red hair and a beard, no hat. He carried a rifle slung over his shoulder. The hair on his arms was red too, and he wore black gloves. The other was probably heavier than Jasper but solid and strong, with a big head and a big beard. His wide hat hung around his neck. He had no rifle, but his pistols gleamed at his waist, and between them was something like a stick—definitely for blowing things up.


    Silver barked at the horses and started circling them.


    “Get that dog away,” Reed growled.


    “The only dog here is you, Reed,” Jasper shot back, unable to hold it in.


    If he wasn’t mad before, he sure would be now.


    Reed stayed serious for a moment, then smirked and turned to Jake.


    “Sheriff, care to explain why these two are still wearing your badges? And why you gave them to them in the first place?”


    “They earned them, Reed. And I needed deputy sheriffs.”


    “There are two guys to your right more deserving of deputy badges.”


    Jake turned right and looked at the two Daniel hadn’t seen before. Reed shifted his gaze back to Daniel and Jasper.


    “Meet them, you punks. The bald one’s Wade. Wade Gage. Also known as the Smoke Killer. It’s not your business why. And if you find out, it’ll probably be the last moments of your lives—before you see parts of your body scattered everywhere.” Reed laughed with his last words. “And the redhead’s Bart Bane. You don’t want to know what he can do. Remember his hair and pray you never catch him in a bad mood. So what can you offer, you little worms?”


    Sheriff Jake raised a hand toward Reed.


    “Please, Reed. Let’s stop this while we can. I’m happy with my new guys. Daniel and Jasper. People know them in town, and they’re respected at Violet’s bar.”


    “At that whore Violet’s bar? Is that what a sheriff and his men should be good for? Being recognized by the lowlifes at Violet’s? Please, Jake.”


    Jake took a breath, glanced at them, then at Reed. The two new guys—Wade and Bart—grinned, showing their teeth.


    “It’s real easy on horseback, you dog,” Jasper went on. Daniel tried to stop him by tugging his sleeve, but he kept going. “Come down here, and let’s see what you’ve got.”


    Jake dismounted first.


    “No, no. None of that in my town, gentlemen. Please.”


    “Your town?” Reed said, now off his horse too. “If it weren’t for me, you’d still be the kid hiding under that bar whore’s skirt—the one who screws the whole town.”


    Jake grabbed his holster.


    “What, Jake? Gonna shoot me? Without my money, you’re nothing, and you know it. If you’re pulling that revolver, aim it at those two instead.”


    Jasper stepped forward. The redhead Wade’s rifle was in his hands. Bart rolled up his sleeves and clenched his fists.


    “Careful, fatso,” Reed said, standing tall and doing nothing but talking. His gaze was calm. “One more step, and even your little sheriff buddy won’t save you.”


    “Hold up, Jas,” Daniel said.


    “They don’t scare me.”


    “Me neither,” Daniel whispered quietly. “But let’s see what they want. In a real situation, neither of us would take on three armed guys.”


    “I still would…”


    “Better not.”


    “What are you cooing about, lovebirds?” Reed taunted.


    “That you’re a miserable bastard who hides in his farm all day,” Jasper snapped.


    Daniel had no strength left to stop him.


    “I’m miserable. You’re right. But I’ve got a good heart. So I’ll give you a choice. Option one: toss your badges and guns on the ground, surrender, and spend the night in jail. Come morning, my good friend Sheriff Jake here will let you go, and you can live out your pathetic lives. If you refuse that, I’ve got option two. We’ll do it all for you. And if you’re lucky enough to survive, you’ll rot in jail.”


    Jasper looked at Daniel. Daniel could read his eyes. He knew him. Nothing good was coming. But Jasper surprised him. He grabbed his badge and threw it on the ground. Daniel followed with relief. Next came the revolvers.


    Daniel bent to set his down, but Jasper hesitated. Everyone in front of him drew their weapons and aimed at him. Jasper finally bent slowly and placed it on the ground.


    “Hands up, you sorry excuses for humans,” Reed said, grabbing handcuffs from Jake’s pocket and walking toward them. Daniel and Jasper raised their hands. Wade was right there too.


    They lifted their hands, but Jasper couldn’t hold back. He slammed an elbow into Reed’s face, but almost instantly, Wade’s rifle smashed into his. That was the last thing Daniel remembered.


    Then came the darkness, and after it, they woke up in jail.