His boots left deep imprints on the mud as he walked across. His two companions, Norman and Seth, followed behind him. They wore long black coats, nearly reaching their ankles. They, too, also wore boots, the durable leather kind.

"Cane. " said Norman from behind. " The Militia that we are supposed to meet up with is no where near here."

Cane stopped, splashing mud on his boot as he placed the other in a puddle.

"They will be on the path, but farther ahead. We shall meet with them there. "

Norman kept walking, passing Cane. " Seth, Cane, We must needs hurry then. Langstrom is elusive and so like that shall he remain. "

Cane resumed walking, Going at a faster pace. " We might have some left over currency from our last bounty if you both had not wasted it on the rum you consumed. That left over currency could have been used to rent horses. " Said Cane glaring at Seth and Norman.

Norman and Seth both scoffed, simultaneously. " We have need for our rum, We cannot help the fact that you do not drink for your religion. "

Cane bit back sharp words, but he could not completely disagree. All three had their preferences. Cane himself was religious, a Catholic.

His mother had been Catholic, not his father,but he was still a believer in God, but not in religion.

Seth was the tallest of the group. He had light blonde hair that barely covered his ears.He was the thinnest one of the entire group and far from the most lethal of the three bounty hunters.

Cane was the most Lethal. He had found both Seth and Norman at a bar, while on a bounty, and recruited them both. Ever since then they had been collecting bounties across

the colonies.

Cane had very short black hair, and was tan as well as half-Indian. He was shorter than Seth but taller than Norman. Cane was built, the result of having to duel with two swords and a bit of experience in blacksmithing. He was toned from walking, but all three did that.

Norman had virtually no hair, always keeping it less than half an inch. He was shorter than the rest, but had more of a stronger, sturdier body. His nose was close to his face giving him sort of a flat faced appearance. His jaw was square, making him look meaner and more serious.

" We should be there in a few days. " Said Cane." Hopefully we can be in Maryland soon."

"Where do you believe Langstrom's main base is, Cane? " asked Norman.

Cane looked over at Norman, " To tell you the truth I could care less. Right now we have witnesses who have spotted him in Maryland. "

" Hopefully we can catch him this time. " said Seth, " He's been very close to being found before."

*************

Adar had been waiting and thinking.

When will they send her? Time is running out, any later and my plan can't be executed

A knock on the door, startled Adar.

" Boy, you have a visitor. " Said the guardsmen.

Adar immediately stood up from his crisscross position.

The door opened and in came a girl followed by a guard, the same guard who accompanied her the last time she had come. Adar smiled this was what he had hoped for.

***

Melanie was outraged at first when she was ordered to try to get out as much information from the boy as she could.

"Why would I do such a thing! You plan on hanging him next week. I will take no part in such dealings."

Captain Barnette smiled. He was sitting at his desk, while Melanie sat in front of it.

"Commander Langstrom has ordered us to get as much information out of the boy as we can. Why? Anyone could care less. But we must obey him. What can I offer you? "

Melanie was on the verge of getting up and walking out right then, but a thought struck her." I do request one simple thing ." said Melanie

Captain Barnette nodded, " If it is reasonable and in my power I will grant it. "

"I ask that you grant those women in the cellars much better conditions, and that you make sure that none, absolutely none of the men may harass them. "

Captain Barnette smiled "Is that all? "

"I also request that you let the boy live. "

The smile on Captain Barnette's face dropped. " You will have to take that up with Langstrom. That is his decision solely. "

At least those women will have better conditions Thought Melanie. At the very least they won't have to worry about those sick men

***

Melanie had chosen to wear a long blue dress, that had long sleeves, in the morning. The dress was a very modest dress, designed not encourage the carnal desires of men  when she went down to the cells. Her hair was down, curling out from underneath her white cap. She had made sure to comb it extra carefully that morning. She also wore plain flat shoes.

She entered into the cell of the boy, followed by Darius. She had heard jeers come from the other cells, as she entered the cellar, that were directed towards her.

The boy was standing in the center of the room, smiling as well, as though he had expected her.

"What have you come here for ? " asked Adar.

Melanie smiled, " Let me properly introduce myself first. My name is Melanie. What is your name? "

The boy gave a bow, lowering his head, "It is an honor Melanie. Now I know the name of the one who treated my bruises and cuts. "

Melanie was perplexed. She wasn't sure if the bow was a jest or just a customary habit he had.

"No need to kiss the ground. " Said Melanie. "I was merely doing what I was told to do."

Adar looked up, then stood straight.

Melanie now saw him clearly. His dark hair was touching his eyebrows. His hair seemed to be a very dark brown color, his eyes hazel.

Melanie estimated she would only reach the top of his shoulder if she stood next to him.

"My name is Adar. " said Adar smiling.

"Nice to meet you, Adar ." said Melanie," Now to answer your earlier question. I am here simply because you said you wished to see me more often. "

"Yes. Thank you. I also wish to apologize for how I may have sounded the last time. I did not mean to imply that I merely wished to see you because you were attractive, which you are."

Melanie gave a chuckle

Imply ? He's doing it right now!

Noise began to arise from a cell across then a hallway. It sounded like another fight was breaking out in one of the other cells.

" A horrible thing it is to be here. " Said Adar looking at the floor. "I can't even sleep. The other prisoners allow me no sleep. There ruckus keeps me up all night and day. And that is another thing, I cannot tell the time. I see no sunlight. "

Melanie grabbed her right arm with her left.

"I Wish I could do something, truly I do."

Adar looked up, staring straight into Melanie's eyes. " You know... They took away my mother, ripped my grasp from her.

She couldn't even have a proper funeral."

Melanie saw the anger that flashed in Adar's eyes, momentarily, then go back to their normal composed look.

"I am- "

Noises came from outside the cell, screams and curses.

Darius turned around momentarily to look through the bars. He looked outside of the cell. The two guardsmen seemed to have gone into a cell. A fight most likely.

What worthless people Thought Darius They fail to even perform a simple task such as this.

Darius heard a cell door open, then silence.

They must have taken care of it

Darius turned around to see Melanie with a knife at her throat. Adar was behind her, one arm around her neck, the other arm with the knife clutched and at her neck.

" Tell them to open the door. " Said Adar.

Darius hesitated, going for the flintlock pistol at his side.

Adar smiled ," I wouldn't make such an erational move. I without a doubt will kill her. Now tell them to open the door. "

Darius gritted his teeth. How did he manage to get a hold of her without her making a sound? If I let Melanie die, Captain Barnette would never forgive me, and I fear what Langstrom would do to me.

Darius backed up against the door and knocked on it " Open the door! The prisoner has a hold of the girl! "

Darius heard footsteps coming toward the door.

"Keep your hands up and look toward me as you back out of the room. One Incorrect mistake and she will pay dearly. " said Adar.

Darius saw Melanie's eyes widen with fear.

The door opened and Darius backed up with his hands up. He would wait for his chance to rescue Melanie once the boy made his way outside of the cell with her.

Darius slowly made his way out into the hallway. His back abruptly hit something hard. He turned around, and to his dismay he saw a large bulky prisoner along with others, about 12 in all standing there free and out of their cell. Before he could move, a hard blow was dealt to his head with a club.

Melanie was scared. She saw Darius fall unconscious. Now she had no one to protect her, no one to ensure these men wouldn't get a hold of her. Her fears were beginning to get worse by the minute. She regretted coming here. She suddenly felt the Adar release his hold on her.

" Sorry for the way I had to act, Melanie. "

said Adar. " It was all necessary for the plan of escape."

Melanie was relieved, but only for a second.

Soon the rest of the prisoners were staring at Her, not in a way that was appropriate. Adar walked in front of her as they both exited the cell.

" No one is allowed to touch her." said Adar.

" She is our means of escape, if anything happens to her, then we can say farewell to our freedom. "

A prisoner came forward, one that Melanie recognized. It was the prisoner that had gotten in a scuffle with Adar, the day she had patched up both of them.

"What if we do touch her ? "

Adar gripped his knife by his side. " Then you will answer to me. "

The other prisoner laughed. " You have a certain something for our means of escape ?"

Laughter came from the prisoners behind them.

Adar shook his head, " Free the rest of the captives. And Lock..." Adar pointed at the fallen escort of Melanie.

" His name is Darius." said Melanie from behind Adar.

Adar turned to look at Melanie, giving a bit of a smile then looked back at the rest.

"Lock Darius with the rest of the men. "

" I Don't think that is a good plan. " Snorted one of the prisoners.

"Why? " asked Adar.

" Because the guardsmen are dead." cackled the same prisoner.

Melanie felt fear course through her body as she heard the word " dead. "

"You killed the guardsmen! "

"No need to be angry, after all you killed three of Langstrom's men."

Adar clenched his fist." That was different. "

Melanie thought his tone started to sound dangerous.

Adar just sighed and walked past the prisoners, to the door.

Melanie quickly followed behind Adar, avoiding eye contact with the prisoners as she squeezed past them.

Adar stopped to look at the door, then tapped on it twice, softly.

"Shouldn't be a problem. We have a key for this door after all. " Said Adar, " It's the door at the end of the stairs we have to worry about, we don't have a key to it. "

Melanie realized he was talking to her.

" So what do you plan to do now ?"

asked Melanie.

"I'll think of something. "

Adar looked back. The cell doors were all opened, about 50 or so prisoners stood cramped small hallway. Most of the prisoners looked dirty, their dirt stained face emphasizing it more. Their clothes looked like giant rags.

"Bring the key here. " Said Adar. " We need to open it now."

A prisoner came from the group, presenting the key to Adar.

Once he had the key. He inserted it into the lock. Before he turned the key to unlock it, he spoke. " As agreed, We will do what is necessary to get out of this building. It should be 6 hours past noon. We will cooperate, that is if you wish to escape. Once out of this building... Every man for himself."

Adar turned the key, a Click noise came from the door. Soon the group of prisoners began to get excited. Some were already pushing and shoving. Melanie began to get nervous, what would she do once they left the cellar.

" Quiet! " said the bulky prisoner. " We still have another door to get past before we can run from this wretched place!"

Adar put his knife in his mouth, biting down on the blade, then pushed open the metal door with both of his hands.

He saw the stone steps leading up to the metal door, the door to their escape .

Adar began to ascend, climbing up the steps. He could hear the voices of excited prisoners behind him. He felt Melanie grip on to the back of his shirt. He stopped 2 steps from the door.

"Melanie knock on the door. Tell them to open up."

Melanie was reluctant.

"Hurry up!" hissed prisoners from behind her.

"They won't open the door to me. " said Melanie.

Adar smiled," Just do as I say, please. "

Melanie stepped forward. She rapped on the metal door. Silence fell behind her.

"Darius, what was all that noise down there? " , asked the guardsmen on the other side of the door.

Melanie looked back at Adar, eyes widening.

"Just some rowdy prisoners, that's all . " said a prisoner from the back.

Silence. Did he fall for it. Did he recognize that that wasn't Darius's voice. Thought Melanie.

The door began to slightly open. Light shone on half of Melanie's face. The Guardsmen opening the door saw Melanie, then Adar behind her. His eyes recognized the danger. Before he could react, Adar flung his knife at him. Adar saw the blade go towards the guardsmen, hilt over blade, then land between his eyes. The guardsmen's eyes rolled to the back of his head. Adar ran past Melanie and slammed his body into the door

opening it fully.

Two other guardsmen stationed at the door saw their companion fall, blade embedded in his forehead ; then they saw the door open.

They saw a boy, followed by prisoners, alot of prisoners.

The guardsmen stood no chance, the attack was so fast and unexpected. Soon the guardsmen had been outnumbered, beaten to death.

Melanie had felt an enormous push behind her as the door opened, almost equal to the force of a buffalo stampede. She now saw prisoners flood into the room. They immediately began to break the windows in the room and rush out.

Adar pulled out the knife between the man's eyes. He rarely missed his mark.

He looked over to see prisoners jump out of the broken windows. Then he spotted Melanie, scared and seemingly lost in the midst of the panic.

" Please somebody. " yelled a prisoner. " Help me find my wife."

Adar heard the sound of boots coming down the hallway. Langstrom's men!

Adar looked back, about 30 prisoner still were in the room. Langtsrom's men rushed into the room, swords and guns ready. The prisoners immediately turned on them.

The two groups clashed together, screaming and cursing making the most of the noise, muffling out even the gun fire.

Adar immediately went to get Melanie.

"Hurry we can.-"

A guardsmen stepped in front of Adar and swung his sword. Adar ducked, then came up with a slash to the man's chest. The man screamed, clutching his chest, then He was stabbed from behind by another prisoner.

Melanie saw guardsmen fall, then prisoner. She had never seen so much gore . Blood was sprayed all around her, some of it even landing on her. She stepped back, her leg touching something. A man, prisoner, lying on the floor with a gash that went across his face. Blood covered most of his face, appearing as a red mask. His eyes stared into nothingness. He was dead.

Melanie stifled a scream, covering her mouth.She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Blood... so much of it. A hand grabbed her shoulder, she instinctively pulled away.

"Melanie, Hurry follow me. More guards are coming soon. "

Melanie turned to see Adar.

He saw the scared frightened face she had.

"Follow me Melanie. You can trust me. "

Adar grabbed Melanie by the arm and pulled her along with him, plowing through the battle happening in the room. He led her into the hallway.

"We should head for the door now. " started Adar.

"I can't. " Said Melanie ." There are more prisoners trapped in another cellar, down the hall. All of them women."

Adar let her arm go. Should I help her?

Melanie looked at Adar, " If you really were telling the truth about your mother being taken away, then you wouldn't want other children to lose their mothers. All of those women down their are probably mothers. I know for a fact that some are mothers.

He looked her in the eye. She wasn't scared like she had been in the room, with all those people dying. Now she seemed resolute.

"Lead the way. "

Melanie turned and ran down the hallway.

Adar turned and ran, following after her.

He could hear the screams coming from the ongoing battle.

They made their way down to the room. Melanie stopped at the doorway . Adar walked past her and Into the room.

Melanie expected to see guardsmen attack Adar. But she heard nothing. She looked around the corner.

"This door, it looks identical to the one that held us. " Said Adar

"Yes it is.Why did you just walk in here!? A guardsmen could have attacked you! "

"They would have left their post, probably ran to see what the commotion down was all about. They left their post, during the time of battle. Cowards."

Adar heard foot steps come down the hallway. Adar jumped In front of Melanie, knife out . A man came running in, 4 others followed him. They were prisoners.

"I need to get my wife, is she down there! "

Adar looked puzzled, " What happened in the other room? And how did you know that the women were being kept down here ?"

"I told him."said Melanie coming out from behind Adar, " I helped his wife when she first came. I have passed on messages between both, I would have been punished if I would have been caught. "

Adar turned to look at her then relaxed.

The man looked worried, "The prisoners held their own, dealing with most of the men. All of Langstrom's men headed outside to get the prisoners. None are inside . "

"Perfect. " Said Adar ,"But how do we open the door? "

"I'm a locksmith. I just came from England a few months ago, only to be captured during a town raid nearby and brought here. "

" Luck seems to be on our side, today. " Said Adar.

The locksmith pulled a small bag hidden underneath his shirt. He pulled out his tools and began to work on the door.

"They didn't check you for any weapons or hidden items? " asked Adar.

"Apparently they didn't. " answered the man.

Adar had never believed in luck. Yet that seemed to be changing at the moment.

"Finished. " said the locksmith as he got up hastily.

He pulled open the door and began to go down the stone steps . The other 4 followed him, nodding at Adar as they passed him.

"After you. " Said Adar to Melanie.

Once they arrived at the door at the bottom of the steps, The locksmith made quick work. They soon opened the door and rushed inside, immediately taking out the guardsmen.

Adar looked at the hallway, the cell doors and the torches. It truly was the identical to the cell that held the men.

"We need to get out of here, quickly. " Said Melanie.

The locksmith grabbed the keys from the guardsmen and frantically searched the cells for his wife. At the last door he found her, immediately embracing her and kissing her.

About 30 women was the total count, not including Melanie.

Adar saw all sizes and ages within the hallway. From young ladies to elderly ladies.

He saw Melanie embrace a few.

"We must hurry. " Said Adar as he bent down and took a sword from the sheath of a guardsmen. He turned and immediately ran up the stone steps. All the women followed behind him. Adar ran passed the last metal door at the end of the steps . He rushed to the window ,In the room, and broke it with the hilt of the sword.

The women began to rush out of the window. Adar began helping the women climb the window to the other side. The 4 men began to help as well.

"I will stay behind. " Said Adar. " The women need a guide. "

The locksmith smiled, " I am forever indebted to you and your friend, Melanie."

Adar had helped the last of the women. The 4 who had helped the locksmith found their wives as well and accompanied them out.

Adar was sweating. He looked up and saw Melanie standing there.

"Aren't you going to leave? "

"I wouldn't have any place to go. "

"Well you can't stay here. Do you have family elsewhere ?"

"None that I know of."

Adar paused for a moment ." Well, I can't leave you here. "

Adar helped Melanie climb out the window, and then turned around, pulling out a match.

" I wonder how you'll feel when something you own is burned... Langstrom. "

He lit the match and flung at the nearest curtain. It landed and then began to catch on fire, going up the curtain.

Adar smiled then jumped out to follow after Melanie.

                      End Of Chapter