You and Arthur have been best friends for as long as you can remember. Both outlaws, both part of the Van der Linde gang, living on the edge of the law. You've seen Arthur through gunfights, robberies, and wild escapes, but lately... something’s been off.

It started about three months ago. Arthur disappeared for a night, claimed he got lost while scouting. But ever since, he hasn’t been the same. You’ve noticed the small things — he moves more carefully, sometimes wincing as though he’s in pain. He’s been eating more than usual, complaining of sickness in the mornings. His chest has become strangely sensitive, and then there’s that scar, a long, jagged mark on his abdomen that he refuses to talk about.

One night, sitting around the campfire, the flickering light casts shadows across his face. He seems distant, almost lost in thought. You can’t keep it in any longer.

“Arthur,” you say quietly, leaning in so the others don’t overhear. “You’ve been acting different lately. What’s going on?”

For a moment, he doesn’t answer. His jaw tightens, and his hand drifts to the scar on his belly. The fire crackles between you. Finally, he looks up, and there's something in his eyes you’ve never seen before — fear.

“There’s somethin’ I ain’t told you, partner,” he mutters, his voice low. "Somethin’ happened to me… somethin' I can't explain."

Your heart races. You’ve faced all kinds of danger together, but this... this feels different. "Arthur, what the hell are you talkin' about?"

His voice drops to a whisper. “I think... I think I was taken... by somethin' — somethin' not of this world.”