It was a trap.
"Don't move," Reed demanded and threw the arrow somewhere.
"Are there more traps?" She looked ahead but the light was dim and she could barely see anything in the dirty ground.
"There are thin strings that once you step on, the hidden crossbows will shoot towards your direction. Those bastards are really good at playing."
They weren't ordinary rebels, indeed.
"Let me go first," he said, which made her worry. Even if she disliked Lord Knight and they bickered most of the time, she wouldn't wish ill for him.
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"Why? Do you want to go first?" His eyes narrowed at her darkly.
"No, but…"
"Then just think about yourself, Lady Lewis. Caring too much for the people you barely know won't do you good," he said coldly.
"Well, I care because I'm not heartless, my lord. I also don't want to witness another death. It's rather gross."
"In that case, you have nothing to worry about. I won't die for anyone." He stepped forward and another arrow came which he immediately caught before it could hit him. Melrose was surprised.
Was he in the army before? Perhaps, a general? That stirred up her thoughts as Reed continued to walk. Multiple arrows flew towards him and he made use of only one arrow to counter those. He made it seem so easy like he was just playing.
"How come you know so many things, Lord Knight? Did you serve in the army before?" she asked out of curiosity.
He reached the first cell and the arrows stopped. He turned to her with a stern expression.
"You have seen how cruel this world is, Lady Lewis. People who have no one to protect them must learn certain things for survival."
He made it sound like he had no one to depend on ever since. Did he have a rough life? She couldn't help but wonder.
"Get over here," he ordered.
She looked at the ground closely and noticed the very thin strings blocking the way, which was impossible not to touch. She didn't have the same skill Reed had in catching and dodging the arrows. She couldn't be careless.
"Is it safe now?" she asked with a little doubt.
"Yes. All arrows were used up so it doesn't matter if you touch the strings. Move now so we won't waste time."
She sighed and took a step forward. She was reluctant at first, but she had faith that Lord Knight would not have her killed despite how much he disliked her. She believed he was not that petty.
After taking three steps and nothing happened, Melrose was convinced that there would be no more flying arrows. Besides, she doubted if Lord Knight's calculation had ever been wrong. She had this feeling that he never made a mistake in everything that he did.
She smiled when she finally crossed the gap and stood in front of Reed. She looked around and saw that the cells were locked. Everyone in the cells were now looking at them as if they were their only hope. Melrose's lips formed a thin line as she witnessed the situation of the villagers. Most of them were wounded, there were even corpses at the corners. Worse, she saw a child.
"Please help us!"
"My father is bleeding!
"Please spare us some mercy!"
In the middle of all the cries, a different voice echoed in her mind that caused her to jolt.
"Help me, Mellie! Help me!"
She gasped and shook her head. She turned to Reed who was staring at her intently.
"How can we unlock the cells? We don't have the keys. I think the rebels had it."
Reed looked around. "We don't really need the keys. An axe is fine."
Reed could easily break the huge chains with bare hands but there was no normal human who could do that. Melrose was sharp. Provoking suspicion about his identity was the least thing he wanted.
Melrose's gaze stopped at the steel rod not so far. "That rod seemed sturdy, Lord Knight. You should try using that instead of demanding for an axe."
Not wanting to stay longer in the dirty and cold dungeon, Reed just got the rod without a question.
"Stay back," he demanded to her before pounding on the chain of the first cell.
Melrose jolted at the loud sound that it made. The chain was rusty so it did not take long before it was destroyed. She went to help a woman with a child who could barely walk while Reed was unlocking the second cell. There were seven cells in the dungeon but only three were occupied and it was hard for her to think that these people were the only survivors in the whole village.
"Are you alright?" Melrose asked the young girl who had stains of blood in her white dirty clothes.
The girl nodded and looked at the woman who was slumping on the ground. It must be her mother, Melrose thought.
"Let me help your mother," she said. The woman's leg was injured and still bleeding so she could barely move.
Melrose told the others to go upstairs and she would treat their wounds later before holding the woman's elbow.
"Let's get out here first and I will treat your wound," she assured.
But suddenly, the woman pulled something on her pocket and the next thing Melrose knew, she felt a sharp pain that seeped through her every nerve. She froze and her gaze fell to her right chest where the woman stabbed with something long and sharp. She could feel it stuck inside, almost reaching her back.
Blood dripped down the woman's hand.
"Why did you…" Melrose gasped in pain.
A hand caught the woman's wrist and twisted it so hard that it made a cracking sound. Unsatisfied, Reed let go of her hand and aimed for her neck. His eyes were so dark that it turned almost pitch black as he strangled her. The young girl cried and begged Reed to stop but like a devil who only knew how to slaughter, it was as if he could not hear anything.
Realizing what was about to happen, Melrose held Reed's arm to get his attention even though moving felt like a torture.
"Stop, m-my lord! Stop!"