"W—where are Father and Mother? Where are they!" Her cousin anxiously demanded, scared at the answer she was going to receive.
Mallory couldn't put it into words. The reality was hard to grasp, and she turned to her left, looking at the room inside which her uncle's body was. She noticed tears brim up in Colette's eyes as she hurried towards the front of the sitting room.
"NO!!!!" came a piercing scream from Colette's lips, before she began to cry with her hand covering her mouth. "This can't be true! Father, please wake up!" the young woman cried.
"It wasn't me, Colette…" Mallory whispered, her tears trickling down her cheeks. "It was Baron Kaiser. He was the one who did this!"
They heard voices from the front of the entrance, and before long, Mrs. Nottingham made her appearance. A gasp was heard from her when she saw Mallory soaked in blood. But at the same time, another person burst into the corridor right behind her, looking confused. It was none other than Baron Kaiser, and a chill ran down Mallory's spine.
"He is the one responsible for all the deaths here!" Mallory raised her voice, glaring at Baron Kaiser with frustration. "Summon the local authorities!"
Everyone's attention shifted towards the baron, who appeared perplexed as he asked, "I'm sorry, Lady Mallory, but I'm not quite following your train of thought. I just arrived a moment ago."
"You are lying!" Mallory shook her head in desperation. "You came here looking for your ring. And we invited you to have dinner with us. A—and by the time I re-entered the room, you had killed them and threatened to kill me too!"
Baron Kaiser's eyebrows furrowed deeply and he appeared taken aback. He said, "I understand that you are in grief, but what you say doesn't make sense."
"He is correct," Mrs. Nottingham replied, her expression filled with bewilderment. "Baron Kaiser just arrived in his carriage a moment ago, right after we got here. How is it possible that it's him?"
This left Mallory dumbstruck, as she didn't know how the baron had made it so. He was in the manor with her, right in front of her, before she had locked herself in the room to protect herself. She knew what she saw!
"I am speaking the truth! Please believe me!" Mallory pleaded with them in frustration. She noticed the sceptical expression on Mrs. Nottingham's face.
"Mallory…" Colette spoke up, inhaling deeply as she composed herself. "If the baron killed my parents… why are his clothes clean and without a drop of bloodstain? Why is it you who has blood on your hands and clothes?"
How would she know why Kaiser had no blood on him?! Mallory questioned herself. She told the only truth she knew,
"By the time I came from my room, Uncle Wilfred was gone… I hoped he was still there, and I tried to wake him up. Colette, you must trust me when I say that the baron is the one responsible for their deaths. Please!"
But Mallory's pleas fell on deaf ears, and Colette stayed quiet. Her eyes shifted to look at the baron, who continued to hold a frown. He said, "Lady Mallory, you can accuse me later. But we should inform the authorities so that they can look into the matter."
"You are right, Baron Kaiser," Mrs. Nottingham nodded in agreement. Seeing Colette continue to sob, she turned to Hattie and asked, "What are you doing, standing here? Go fetch a glass of water."
The maid, not understanding what or how it happened, nodded and left for the kitchen.
Walking towards Colette, the woman put a comforting arm around her while giving a side eye to Mallory before they went to see Lady Doris.
Baron Kaiser stood in the same spot, his eyes meeting Mallory's angry ones, which had tears in them.
"I won't hurt you for now. But it is unfortunate, Lady Mallory. It could have ended in a second, but you chose to drag on the torture," Baron Kaiser threatened in his calm and lowered voice.
Mallory would have never guessed that the baron would be a murderer. Her hands shook beside her. She was scared of him… Of what he could do. It was only now did she realise that he had laid a trap, a trap in which she had stepped into. He had said things he knew she wanted to hear so that he could manipulate her.
She could hear the painful cries coming from the other side of the corridor, which belonged to her cousin.
"Why?" Mallory demanded, the question eating her from the inside. She had seen him holding papers. "How did you do it?"
Baron Kaiser offered her a small smile. He replied, "I needed the manor for reasons."
A tear rolled down Mallory's cheek. He killed them for such a simple reason? She said, "You would have gotten the manor once you married me."
Mrs. Nottingham returned with Colette to where they were. Baron Kaiser sent his coachman to bring in the guards, while everyone waited.
Mallory went to sit beside Uncle Wilfred's lifeless form with a dazed look, while Colette switched between her parents. Hattie would have suggested getting water so that the blood could be washed out and a change of clothes, but her lady was shaken.
Gently, Mallory caressed Uncle Wilfred's cheek, tenderly closing his eyes. Every now and then, she would look up to see the baron walk past the room that was scaring her.
Four guards arrived at the manor, and transported the victims to the carriages bound for the mortuary. One guard meticulously recorded the scene, including everyone's statements, before departing.
Lady Nottingham said to Colette, "This place isn't safe to stay the night. If you want, we can return first thing in the morning, but for now, we should head back to the Nottingham manor so that you can rest the night. Lady Mallory if you—"
"No," came the firm word from Colette, trying to stop the sobs. "S—she won't be riding with us. I don't want the ill omen following us," she said, wiping her nose with her handkerchief.
"If you say so," Mrs. Nottingham said, as if internally relieved not to have the troublesome Winchester woman in her carriage. "Let us leave then."
Mallory, who had turned to look at Colette, saw her refuse to meet her eyes. Her heart broke. She knew her cousin was grieving like her, but it hurt more that her cousin suspected she had something to do with it.
"Lady Mallory, would you like me to drop you off at the magistrate's building?" Baron Kaiser asked with concern in his voice. "We could also speak about why you mentioned me as the killer."
This bastard! "I will be right here… " Mallory clenched her hands. She wanted to punch him, but something in her gut said it wouldn't go well.
"Okay, if you say so." Baron Kaiser didn't insist further, and he walked out of the manor. Mrs. Nottingham and Colette were the next ones to follow him out of the manor, climbing inside the carriage before leaving.
Hearing the carriages leave, Mallory, who had been standing, suddenly flopped on the ground.
"Lady Mallory!" Hattie quickly came to her side, who had stayed back in the Winchester manor.
It took a second before all the emotions broke loose, and Mallory began to cry. Tears continuously spilled one after another, falling on her dress, which absorbed them. Her heart was being wrung by the very thought that her uncle and aunt didn't exist in this world anymore. She tried to grasp her surroundings, but she was being pulled into darkness as if the ground didn't exist.
Hattie put her arms around Mallory, while the latter wailed, the deserted corridors echoing with her voice. Even the maid was left in shock, not able to utter a word with the sight she had been greeted with on her way to the kitchen.
Mallory's chest heaved, and she tried to stop her tears before saying, "We should get inside the room and lock it."
Hattie pulled away from her ladyship, worry imminent in her eyes. She asked, "Baron Kaiser?"
Mallory nodded, wiping her red rimmed eyes with the back of her sleeves. She stated,
"He cannot be trusted, Hattie. I should have paid attention… when I didn't hear the sound of his carriage. He must have left the carriage outside the manor, making it appear he just arrived after sneaking out of here. If only I knew…"
"Please don't blame yourself, milady. None of us saw this coming," Hattie consoled her.
"He killed everyone…" Mallory whispered. "He wanted the manor," and this made the maid frown.
Standing up, they secured themselves in the sitting room, bolting the door and shuttering the windows, curtains tightly drawn. That night was the harshest, and it wasn't because the clouds grumbled in the sky. Mallory and Hattie took turns resting, to make sure Baron Kaiser wouldn't intrude and kill them.
By the time the sun rose high in the sky, word had reached out all over Reavermoure about the massacre that had taken place in Winchester's manor. The news about Mallory being the sole survivor reached the townfolks' ears, eyebrows rose, and the old rumour that had been present but not spoken out loud rose up again with speculations.
George Kingsley, who still vividly remembered Mallory Winchester's unexpected assault on his nose, was quick to fuel the gossip. In a small gathering, he expressed, "I always suspected her heart was not pure. To kill the people who had been feeding her."
"But weren't you pursuing Lady Mallory until recently, Mr. Kingsley?" one of the gentlemen inquired.
George scoffed before remarking, "I was attempting to monitor her behaviour as it seemed rather dubious. Once she stepped inside a room, and when it opened, she wasn't there."
"Do you think she's involved in any sort of witchcraft?" Another person inquired, leaning in eagerly to hear the scandalous gossip, showing little concern for the unfortunate woman at the centre of it all.
"Why else would one kill people? Not sparing the servants either. Poor Lady Colette," George sighed, his tone seemingly filled with sympathy.
"Word has it that she tried to put the blame for the murders on Baron Kaiser. How brave of her to make such accusations against a nobleman like him! And he even called the guards," the second gentleman stated, shaking his head in disbelief. "Trying to cover her sinful actions."
"If the magistrate hasn't decided yet, we should talk to him about punishing her," proposed one of them, who thought he was going to do a noble deed and the others agreed. Because to them, it was clear that Mallory Winchester had killed people in the past, and had struck again.
The following day, Mallory and Hattie visited Nottingham's grand estate.
"I was worried about Colette and thought to come see her," Mallory remarked as Mr. Nottingham emerged at the entrance.
"Colette is still recuperating from the shock, Lady Mallory, and is currently not receiving any visitors. It would be best to give her some time to process it," Mr. Nottingham responded with a wary look. After a brief moment of silence, he replied, "I'll inform her of your visit."
"I wanted to ask her when she was ready for the… burial," Mallory said, and she could tell that the man wanted her off his property.
"I will inform you once I bring it up," Mr. Nottingham curtly responded.
"Thank you," Mallory murmured softly as she exited with her maid.
A day later, Hattie ventured to the market to replenish the provisions. However, she came back with some news in the evening. She entered the manor with haste and called out, "Milady! Lady Mallory?"
Hearing her maid's voice, Mallory stepped out of the room and caught Hattie gasping for air.
"What's wrong, Hattie?" Mallory inquired with concern.
"That, milady, I was in the market and I overheard," Hattie seemed to struggle to find the right words. "Lord Wilfred and Lady Doris were buried last evening, milady... I apologise."
Mallory gazed at Hattie, as though she hadn't quite grasped her maid's words. However, it gradually became clear to her. The manor filled itself with the sound of thunder as dark clouds collided and raindrops started to fall. She softly murmured,
"I understand..." Although she wasn't their daughter, she had longed to say a final goodbye to them. However, her cousin was quite displeased with her, convinced that she had separated them from her.
How could her cousin possibly believe that she would ever cause them any harm? The absence of trust pained her deeply, beyond what words could convey.
As Mallory attempted to regain her composure after the news, Hattie was far from finished. She advised,
"I believe it would be unwise to remain in this place. I happened to overhear a conversation among some individuals, and it seems that there are people who wish to impose some form of punishment upon you. The things they said were disturbing, and I am worried for your safety."
This is why Baron Kaiser hadn't come for her, Mallory thought to herself. He was well aware that he wouldn't have to lift a finger, as the townsfolk would take care of everything. To hunt her down. In the past, there was once a woman who was set on fire after people believed she was a witch.
A shiver coursed through her body as she attempted to come to terms with the situation. Everything was going downhill, and she only had Hattie by her side now.
"Okay," Mallory whispered, nodding to herself. "We should gather the necessary things and depart from this place. There's a little money in the drawer and jewels that can be sold." She didn't want to leave, but did she have a choice?
"Yes, my lady!" Hattie agreed.
Before long, they gathered all the essential items and carefully stowed them in the carriage, ensuring they had enough provisions to fend off hunger during their journey. Thunder and lightning accompanied the rain as it fell from the sky, intensifying the storm.
"I would like to visit Uncle and Aunty before we leave," Mallory remarked softly.
"Then we shall," Hattie replied. The two women took the coachman's seat, before leaving the manor.
Upon reaching the church, they parked the carriage beneath a tree and proceeded to the back of the graveyard with an umbrella over their heads, even though they were drenched. After carefully searching the area, they eventually found the graves.
Mallory felt a pang in her heart as she gazed upon the graves and the names inscribed upon them. She wanted Kaiser to face the consequences of his actions, yet she felt utterly helpless. Furthermore, the townspeople were planning to condemn her for errors she had not committed.
Praying for their souls' peace, Mallory and Hattie were about to depart, when a thought suddenly struck the former. It seemed rather insane for her to entertain such thoughts, but there was no harm in trying it.
But what if...?
"Hattie, wait!" Mallory halted her maid, who glanced back at her with a quizzical expression. "We should dig the ground."
Hattie's complexion grew ashen. "You want to bring them along?" she inquired. There was no space inside the carriage, and it was not a good idea, unless her lady wanted to have a final glimpse of them before they would start to decay.
"No, not them," Mallory quickly replied. She then turned in the direction of the older graveyard, which was locked.
It took the maid five seconds, before her eyes widened and she shook her head. She said, "It is the restricted side of this place, and you said it yourself that it is cursed." Evening had passed, inviting night and she didn't feel it was safe.
"But what if my grandmother's stories were not mere fabrications? What if the object that has power will help me put Kaiser in his place?" Mallory asked with hope, knowing she sounded crazy. "Desperate times need desperate measures," she added.
Hattie appeared torn. She remained devoted to Mallory, yet hesitant to explore the forbidden land. She admitted, "I am frightened, Lady Mallory."
"I will be with you, Hattie," Mallory promised, and the maid gulped. "We need to look for shovels. They should be around here."
With the rain pouring, it camouflaged their figures. While Mallory found the shovels, Hattie picked up two lanterns from the backhouse of the church and lit them. They then made their way to the front of the older graveyard, which was locked.
"Look there!" Mallory gestured in a particular direction. "There appears to be a gap!"
As Mallory attempted to pass through the wired fence, a barbed wire unexpectedly pierced her left arm, causing her to let out a cry of pain.
"Are you okay?!" Hattie asked in concern.
Mallory suppressed her pain, her lips tightly pressed together. One end of the wire had dug into her skin, leaving an open wound with blood seeping out of it. She replied, "I am fine." She pushed the wire aside so that Hattie could pass through.
Once inside, they split up and looked for the squarish headstone. With the bushes and trees surrounding this locked graveyard, it hid the light of their lanterns. After nearly fifteen minutes, Hattie found the headstone and shouted over the thunder, "Lady Mallory! I think I found it!"
Mallory hurriedly arrived beside Hattie. She raised the lantern, such that light fell on the nameless grave. The tombstone was short and covered with moss, as if to attract less attention.
"This must be it," Mallory whispered, her heart racing.
Setting aside the lanterns, the women started to dig the ground. With the rain, it made it harder as the mud felt heavier.
Hattie occasionally paused, feeling fatigued. However, Mallory, driven by an insatiable desire to discover this artefact, persisted without pause. It took them several hours before Mallory's shovel made contact with something.
The two women stared at each other. Having heard it was cursed, the maid quickly withdrew her shovel from the grave. She asked for permission,
"Milady, may I go up?"
"Yes," Mallory replied, her eyes set beneath her. She continued to remove the mud, until she found the upper door of a coffin.
"How big is this object we are looking for?" Hattie asked from above, who held the lanterns above the grave they had dug.
"It should be small," Mallory shouted. Maybe this is how people buried valuables many years ago, she thought to herself.
Taking a deep breath, her trembling fingers found the edge of the coffin's door and pushed it upward. At the same moment, lightning struck in the sky, momentarily lighting up the ground, which briefly revealed a person inside the coffin, before darkness fell again.
Mallory's heart pounded along with the clouds that growled in the sky. When the lightning flashed once again, both women jumped in their places.
"This is not an artefact. It's a person..." Mallory shouted against the rain.
"Oh my goodness! We've unearthed a woman's final resting place!" Hattie responded, her words filled with worry, much like a hamster that had taken an unfortunate tumble.
However, Mallory's curiosity peaked. Grasping the lantern that Hattie had abandoned, she cast its glow upon the coffin's occupant. She stated, "This is not a woman."
There lay a man, as if he had just been laid to rest that very morning.
His clean, shaven face highlighted his strong jawline. His closed eyes rested below dark eyebrows that were slightly arched. Occasionally, his features would soften when the lightning failed to strike. His cheekbones were sculptures of subtlety, framing the noble straightness of his nose and the fullness of his lips.
His skin was turning paler from the drops of water that continuously fell on him, while his long, black hair lay soaked, a dark halo forming around his serene face.
"Milady!" Hattie called out to Mallory. "There's no other square headstone around. Perhaps what Lady Selia said was only stories."
The flicker of hope that had ignited earlier faded, leaving Mallory in darkness again. She understood that the odds were against her, yet she clung to a glimmer of hope for her survival. The so-called powerful object didn't exist… and her hand tightened in disappointment.
"You're probably right," Mallory conceded, letting out a sigh of exasperation.
She knew if her grandmother was watching her now, she might be laughing at her for pointlessly digging up a grave. Because that was how her grandmother was, peculiar at odd times. Gathering her thoughts, she said,
"We should restore the grave to its original state. You can take a break." Her arms ached from the relentless work, and she could only anticipate that the discomfort would intensify as time passed. "Here, take the lantern."
Passing the lantern to Hattie, Mallory went to pick up the lid of the coffin. Unbeknownst to her, blood from her earlier wound trickled and fell on the dead man's face.
"Forgive me for disturbing your sleep," Mallory whispered to the dead, before closing the coffin.
Climbing out of the dug ground, Mallory began pushing the mud back into the hollowed earth. It was much easier than digging and took less time. Unable to see her lady working alone, Hattie soon joined, helping to finish the task.
"I can feel every inch of my arms," Mallory said, massaging them one at a time.
"It is finally done, milady," Hattie huffed. Simultaneously, the rain finally came to a stop. As they walked, she noticed Mallory's arm and exclaimed, "Your arm is bleeding!"
Quickly, Hattie bandaged Mallory's arm with a handkerchief before they left the locked graveyard. But when they crossed the graveyard, Mallory stopped her maid from stepping forward.
Mallory stared far ahead of them. Adjacent to their carriage stood two additional carriages, accompanied by four guardsmen. And there was George Kingsley accompanying them. By now, even the maid had caught sight of them, and her peaceful expression fell off her face.
Before a word was spoken, George spotted them.
"She's there!" George raised his voice, angrily pointing his finger at them. "Catch her!"
"Hattie, hurry!" Mallory urged, abandoning the shovel and lantern before pulling her maid along.
Mallory and Hattie ran as quickly as possible on the slippery, damp ground. The men closely chased them, hot on their trail. As the women grew tired, it was only a matter of time before the men captured the maid and subsequently Mallory.
"Let go!" Mallory demanded, struggling to break free. Despite the guardsman's efforts to restrain her, she managed to deliver a forceful blow to his stomach with her knee.
"Omph!" The guardsman grunted, releasing her as pain shot through him.
Unfortunately, Mallory's luck took a turn for the worse when George forcefully grabbed her, twisting her wounded arm and pinning her against a tree. She let out a cry of suffering.
"What do you think you are doing?!" Mallory demanded, feeling pain shoot from her arm even more than before. She felt helpless.
"Capturing the killer of the Winchester family," George murmured, subtly shifting his position to stand closer behind her. He inhaled the scent of her damp hair. He then stated, "Mallory, you have violated the rules. Murdering Lord Wilfred and his wife, along with the servants. You pose a significant danger to Reavermoure, and the town's head has issued a direct order for your arrest."
"I'm innocent! It was Baron Kaiser, not me!" Mallory protested.
"Lady Mallory is innocent!" Hattie spoke up, only to be met with an angry glare from George.
"Assisting a criminal and aiding her escape—rest assured, your actions will not go unnoticed, servant," George threatened. He gestured to two guards, who forcefully removed the maid. He then told Mallory, "We discovered your carriage packed with belongings, indicating your intent to escape. Had you accepted my proposal, I could have assisted you... Maybe you've had a change of heart?"
Mallory clenched her jaw in response. Attempting to calm her mind, she simply nodded to George's satisfaction. She sensed his grip on her hand loosen, allowing her to turn and meet his eyes.
"I told you several days ago. Did I not? I am your only opportunity," George declared with a smug smile, each word oozing confidence.
"I know..." Mallory replied, her hands tightly clenched. "But I also told you."
A look of confusion crossed George's face, and just as he was about to ask about it, Mallory swiftly raised her hand and delivered a powerful punch to the man's face. She was certain she heard a crack.
"ARGGH!" George groaned loudly.
"I would never marry you. Not a worthless man like yourself!" Mallory glared at him.
"You wretched woman!" George, furious and seething, touched his bleeding nose.. With a sudden motion, he grasped her neck, causing her to collide forcefully with the tree. He watched her under his hold, licking his lips before saying,
"I've been lenient with you, wanted to extend kindness, and even prevented my father from punishing your family for the embarrassment you caused. But it seems you prefer a direct approach. I'll teach you a lesson before you die."
Mallory's face turned pale as she grasped the meaning behind his words. As he moved closer, she fiercely clawed at his face, causing him to let out another yelp.
George's fury reached its peak, and this time he was the one who raised his hand. With a single blow to her head, she fell unconscious and collapsed to the ground.
When Mallory regained consciousness, her head and body hurt immensely. She squinted her eyes, before pushing herself to sit upright. As she looked around, she noticed the rusted iron bars before her and the walls surrounding her on three sides.
Dungeon. She was in Reavermoure's dungeon.
Mallory's chest was filled with a sense of dread and anxiety. She hurriedly dashed to the front of her cell, gripping the iron bars tightly as she desperately called out for help.
"Is there anyone present?! Please! Hello?"
"Be quiet! Do you not realise that it is unacceptable to create a disturbance?" A guard reprimanded her from the end of the corridor, out of her line of sight.
"But it's a mistake that I am here!" Mallory didn't stop trying to clear up the confusion that was circulating. "I am innocent here! I didn't harm or cause harm to anyone—"
"Yes, you didn't kill anyone, and I didn't fuck a woman in here for not shutting up her mouth," the guard warned about the consequences of not remaining silent.
Mallory bit her lip in anger. No one was listening to her, and they were only jumping to conclusions! She was angry at Baron Kaiser, but George Kingsley… She was going to haunt him first when she turned into a ghost!
Her right hand still throbbed from the force of her punch to his face.
She hopefully tugged on the iron bars, hoping they would break away given their rather rusty appearance. A sigh escaped from her when they remained in their place. She glanced at the tiny window of the cell, only to find that daylight still lingered.
Where was Hattie?
Anxiety clouded Mallory's expression. She shouted out, "Hattie, are you here?!"
"You bitch! You don't close your damn mouth. I will sew it shut for you!" The guard let out a menacing growl, causing Mallory to swiftly move back from the iron bars.
She hoped Hattie was safe. If something happened to her maid, it would be all her fault. Had she not proposed to dig up the grave, they would have left Reavermoure by now. She closed her eyes, praying Hattie would be fine. "Please be alive," she prayed silently.
After what felt like hours, Mallory heard the guard's voice, "Mallory Winchester? She's here."
Was it Colette who had come for her? Her cousin must have finally understood that she hadn't killed anyone. Sh—
Her face dropped with disappointment upon realising it was Baron Kaiser. With an angry voice, she asked, "Here to witness my downfall?"
"I wish. However, I must depart for Wingston as my presence is required there, and the journey is quite lengthy," the baron responded in a composed and steady tone. "It has come to the town head's attention that you were the only person in the manor apart from the deceased at the time of their deaths. Kingsley made it effortless, though. He said you tried to rob your relatives' bodies."
"Did you find what you were looking for in my manor?" Mallory questioned, and the look in the man's eyes turned grave.
She couldn't fathom that just days ago, she had been envisioning a future with this person. This murderer.
"Unfortunately, no. What a disappointment it was," he said, appearing tired at the thought of it. Looking at her, he remarked, "You look rather dull. I will order that the guard provide you with better food. Everybody deserves a memorable last meal before their death."
She was going to die… The thought sank into Mallory's mind.
As she stared at the space in shock, the baron walked away from there without sparing her another word.
As the sky shifted its hues in the evening, Mallory found herself forcefully dragged from her cell, her wrists bound by cold chains. A guard led the way, with another following closely behind. As she stepped forward, her spirits plummeted, and tears welled in her eyes.
However, even in the face of death, Mallory was determined not to reveal any weaknesses in front of those who didn't deserve it. They walked through the passageways, where flickering torches illuminated the walls, and before long, the distant noises of the crowd reached her ears.
They finally emerged into the open, met with the angry outbursts and shouts of the townsfolk. The sky was a beautiful blue and peach, transitioning to the night. At least the view was favourable, though not the position she was in, Mallory thought to herself.
She suddenly experienced a harsh pull through the chain, which caused her to stumble and climb the scaffold.
"Punish her quickly! How dare she kill people!"
"Execute her already!!"
"She must be held accountable for her actions! May divine mercy elude you, you heartless woman!"
The townspeople had gathered with great anticipation around the scaffold to witness her execution. Some people even went as far as to fling spoiled fruits and vegetables at her. One landed squarely on her cheek, leaving a redness.
"QUIET!" The hangman's assistant shouted loudly to quieten the crowd. "QUIET!"
It took a good few seconds before the people went silent. The hangman's assistant pulled the scroll that he was holding in his hands, before he read it out loud.
"MALLORY WINCHESTER IS HEREBY ACCUSED OF BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATHS OF LORD WILFRED WINCHESTER, LADY DORIS WINCHESTER, AND THE SERVANTS WHO WORKED THERE. SHE WAS DETAINED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FLEE FROM REAVERMOURE, WHICH SUGGESTS OF HER BEING GUILTY. MOREOVER. SHE WAS DISCOVERED WITH A SHOVEL BESIDE THEIR GRAVES."
The crowd surrounding the scaffold let out a collective gasp and murmur. They regarded Mallory with a mixture of shock and repulsion.
At the same time, a person's polished black shoes made their way towards the crowd.
On the scaffold, one of the guards unchained Mallory's hands, before she was pushed to kneel down before the wooden platform where her head would rest.
In her final moments, her eyes raked through the crowd to find her cousin, who wore an angry expression, and refused to look at her even though she was there. She eventually discovered Hattie, who was visibly upset. She was relieved to see her maid, knowing that she was safe. There also stood the town's head and George, watching her with the rest.
"AS A RESULT OF THE CRIMES SHE HAS COMMITTED, SHE WILL FACE EXECUTION!"
Following the hangman's assistant's statement, once again the crowd erupted in yelling and screaming. This was it, she pondered quietly. This was the essence of her existence, and it would end here.
"HEAD DOWN!" Mallory was commanded, and she let her head rest to the side with her face facing the executioner with an axe in his hand. "POSITION!"
Her heart pounded in her chest. She watched the executioner come stand next to her, taking his position, and upon the hangman's assistant's word, he raised the axe. This time, she closed her eyes tightly.
The crowd fell silent, holding their breath, and they heard the man declare, "EXECUTE!"
Mallory, who was anxiously awaiting her fate, was startled by a sudden, jarring noise beside her, causing her heart to leap. After a second, when she finally opened her eyes, she found herself looking at the executioner, who was now sprawled on the ground.
"What happened?? What's happening?"
"Did the executioner faint?!" Curiosity filled the air as onlookers strained to catch a glimpse.
Mallory lifted her head and observed a trail of blood staining the floor of the scaffold where the executioner was situated. He was dead.
The hangman's assistant's eyes grew wide as he exclaimed, "Blood..." His words swiftly circulated, and he then gazed at the gathering and questioned, "Who was it?! Who killed him?!"
Everyone exchanged glances until they caught a man standing at the back. One after another turned to look at the mysterious tall man. He stood with an air of sophistication, donning a sleek black coat over his black shirt. His ebony hair cascaded down his shoulders.
When Mallory noticed the man, her complexion grew pale. No… That was not possible, she said to herself.
A smirk played at the corner of the man's lips as he played with a pebble in his hand. He remarked, "It seems my aim hasn't lost its touch. Shame to interrupt the main event, but I do hate missing a good show."
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