Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

The sound of each drop of water coming out of the ceiling was like absolute torture. How long have I been here? A few hours, a couple of days? It's almost time, the plan will form for sure. I trust that he finished with the preparations already.

I slightly moved my hands, trying to shake off the pins and needles. I shifted from my sitting position, having to rest on my knees just so my hands could reach the shackles just so my wrists wouldn't bleed. I heard three yips coming from the barred window, making me look up.

The signal! It's time.

I waggled my fingers, shifting my position once more. I cracked my neck, my neck's been killing me for days. I opened my palms, feeling the vibrations in the air. Then the prison door burst opened and someone crashed onto the floor. He looked awful, bruises and cuts all over him, he's bleeding everywhere. 

The person who threw him in their spit blood on the floor. "Tomorrow, bastard. We will see if you will stay silent, or else we will make it permanent for you."

The guy didn't reply, only groaned on the floor in pain.

"Wait until tomorrow and then you shall see your maker." Then the person looked at me and smiled evilly. 

He walked into the cellar, stepping over the other guy. He grabbed my chin, making me looked up to him. 

"The beautiful Masked Musician. Here bound to Earth from I, The Undertaker, and his demons." 

I didn't reply, if I did he would make me look worst than that guy over there. The Undertaker, a stupid name if you asked me. From all the names he could take, he chose the Undertaker. Wow, just wow. I'm just saying that I've heard better. 

"No reply, eh?" He mused. "Have you cut out your tongue just like what we will do to that sneaky rat?"

I shook my head.

"Good. That's good." He said, touching my mask.

Please don't. Please don't, I said silently in my head.

He smirked as if he was listening to my silent pleading. But he just turned and kicked the guy on the floor in the stomach. Making him cough up blood then left the room. 

I gritted my teeth. This isn't how it was suppose to go. Now if I escape, he'll ask me to have him go with me. And if I don't he'll scream that I escaped, alarming everyone.

"You're lucky." The guy muttered.

"Excuse me?" I asked.

He chuckled and flipped himself over so he could see me. "At least you were treated much nicer compared to me."

"Yeah, I could see that."

"So you are the Masked Musician?"

"Yup, that's me."

"Sitting here, locked up in a cellar."

I gritted my teeth. "Which is part of my plan."

"Your plan, huh? Your so called, 3 week plan."

That made me stop. "It's been 3 weeks? Wow, I've been here for a while. And how did you know about-"

"The nearby village has high hopes for your safe return."

"Ah, I see."

"It seems that we will be here for a while. Would you tell me how it is you got here?"

"A story? Are you asking for a story."

"Seeing here that I might bleed to death, a story from you will probably end my life quick and painless."

I frowned at the comment then shrugged. "Your funeral."

"Well it started in the cold, silent night of-"

"Listen here Musey, I don't want to hear you life story, seeing that I only have a few minutes left."

Musey, really? I looked at him. "You seem a bit... positive, you bleeding to death and all."

"Positive?" He asked, chuckling that turned to coughing. "I've been close to death many times in my life. So I get used to it, you know?"

"That I can relate."

"So the story?"

"Well my partner were and I were traveling by. When we stopped by the village for the night and saw The Undertaker and his demons taking his monthly tribute. How he treated the people and how they cowered in fear in his presence, disgusted me." I shook my head. "I hate how people can do that. Take from the poor, the weak, the defenseless, and no one can do anything about it."

The guy became silent, making me worried.

"Are you dead?" I asked.

He stirred. "Sorry no, I was just... sorry." He looked up at me. "You were worried?"

I looked away. "Well I didn't want it that my story telling killed you."

He laughed.  "Nothing can kill me, than just a story."

"Well anyway, back to the story." I said. "The innkeeper told me that it used to be a peaceful town. Then when the The Undertaker and his goons showed up, they resided over to this castle here for their base camp. He threaten to kill the men and children and keep the women if they didn't pay the tribute. That was five years ago."

I looked on the ground. "Just a month ago, they couldn't pay their tribute. They killed dozens of children to prove they weren't joking. If only I have arrived sooner..." I stopped.

"The world can be pretty cruel."

"I told them, I told them give me two weeks. And I will give everything that is rightfully theirs."

"How?"

"Well I was going to escape today. But if it weren't for you, I would be at the village by now."

"Wait, are you accusing me?" He asked in disbelief.

"I'm quite glad they didn't kill all of your brain cells."

"I didn't lose any brain cells!" He protested.

"My partner gave me the signal minutes ago. I probably missed my chance."

"And you think you have everything under control? You are stuck in the cellar!"

"Shh!" I told him. "And what, you think you can do better? After those endless night of screaming from your torture?"

He gritted his teeth. "Fine. Show me your so called, brilliant three week plan."

I heard the three yips once more.

"What was that?" He asked.

"My partner." I replied.

"Is a dog?"

Fidget is not a dog, how can he think that sound is a dog? "Shut up and let me focus." 

Once more I opened my palms. They began to cover themselves with sound waves, making them visible. You could see a glowing aura around my hands like a blade. Sound waves are like vibrations, and with each vibration, it sharpens the aura. 

"Three, two, one."

Then there was a loud clang of the metal shackled crashing to the floor. I close my palms releasing the sound waves from my hands. I cracked my knuckles, and smiled. The Masked Musician has been released, time for The Undertaker to meet his Undertaker.

I came over to the guy and placed my hand on his chest. He wore a mask like me, all I could see were his bright blue eyes. I quietly sang a healing song, his wound began to close up and the color went back to his face. Then I got up and tried to open the door but it was locked. 

"Uh hello? I'm still tied up here?" The guy said.

"Get out yourself, I already healed you."

"And I thank you for that. But they took my weapons and I can't get out."

"Pathetic." I muttered.

"What?"

"People like you only rely on your weapons. You should also rely on your strength and mind, but it sounds pretty stupid so people don't bother trying."

"Let me have you know, I rely on my strength and mind. I'm just used to my weapons and refuse to do anything without them."

I looked out the window of the cellar door. "Then they will be the cause of your early death."

"And why is that?"

"Say your weapons were somehow taken from you, like, right now. What will happen? This will happen. You were held captive, tortured with only inches from death. All because you don't want to do anything with your weapons."

I saw that there was only one sleeping guard. That hurts, they underestimate me. 

"Why you. When I get out of this-"

"Which you won't," I said, looking back at him with a smile. "Without your weapons, you won't."

"I'll scream. I'll scream that you escaped."

I made a slashing motion with my hand towards him. Suddenly his voice didn't came out, he looked at me in alarm.

I smirked. "And how will you scream without a voice, I would like to know."

He started to scream stuff at me, making me bet that he was swearing a lot. I ignored him and looked at my obstacle, a door. I put one hand and sang another song to silence the sound the door will make next. Then I open my right palm, showing once again the sound wave blade and slashed the door into fourths. It crashed to the floor, not making so much as a sound. 

The guard woke up with a start and saw me. I sheepishly smiled, he grabbed a knife and ran towards me. The first move was easy to dodge, I front flipped over him and tapped him on his head. A huge sound bomb emitted from that made him flying across the room. I kicked the knife over to the guy, only a few feet away from him.

I waved my fingers. "Toodles." And raced out the door.

I raced through the hallways, my feet barely touching the ground. I sharply turned a corner, having to jump on the wall as a kick stand or else I would have crashed into it. From the past few days, or I guess weeks I've been listening to the countless of footsteps, voices or anything to emit a vibration with echolocation. I've memorize the whole castle grounds with nothing but echolocation.

Something made me stop, I cocked my head to the left then to the right. I place my hand on the floor, feeling the vibrations. Footsteps, footsteps coming fast. But only of one person, but powerful. I turned just a the moment someone crashing into me, making me crash into the wall. I slowly opened my eyes to see the guy, and he's angry.

He once again started to mouth stuff at me, I think he's screaming at me. I'm not that sure though.

"Do you know sign language, maybe that would be helpful." I suggested.

He pointed at himself, at me then what seemed to be snapping a twig.

"Oh, you're threatening to break me like a twig, right?"

He nodded. Then motioned it again. I was feeling a bit threatened so I did the humane thing.

I sonic blast him.

He climbed out of the wall, glaring at me. He pointed at himself.

"Yeah? What about you?"

He the motions a quacking duck.

"You're a quacking duck? That's new."

He glared at me then motioned again. "Oh, you want your voice."

The guy looked up to the ceiling, mouthing thank you.

"Can I get a please? Oh wait..."

He shot me a glare.

I rolled my eyes. "Fine." I motioned a slicing sound, only vertical.

Then he came charging to me like a bull seeing red.

"Toro!" I yelled like a Spanish bull fighter, then got out of his way.

Since he didn't have a weapons, I'll play fair and not use my power. He tried to punch me, but I got down then sweeped his feet. He quickly got up and started throwing a series of punches. Each one I had to block or dodge them, feeling worried of one of them actually landing on me.

I laughed, amused at this.

"Why. Are. You. Laughing!" He demanded with each punch.

I said, dodging each strike. "Because. You're. Not. Landing. A. Blow!"

I back flipped to give some distance. Now I really have to get serious. He's someone dangerous to be an enemy. He's big and strong, and his punches are deadly. It's only thanks to my quick reflexes and agility that I haven't been touch. He's used to his weapons so this is barely a third of his power I bet. From his skills he must use an axe or maybe a sword, so he's use to close range. But all he got is his strength and stamina, but I must be fair in this fight. But guards should be coming by now and locating the noise from our fight. I have to leave, but I don't want to let this guy win by a forfeit. But a draw will have to do for now.

"Your welcome is all I wanted, you know." I said.

He punched me in the face, making me slam to the wall. "You don't deserve one."

My jaw dropped, not literally like my jaw is broken, only in disbelief. "You hit a girl, you hit me. How dare you."

"Hey you were the one who blasted me first. And you stole my voice!"

I rubbed my jaw. "And I healed you went you were almost dead. And gave you a knife to cut you free. And I got a punch in return, gee thanks."

He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it.

"I'm glad it's not my doing to make you speechless." I said coldly and turned to walk away. "Don't bother following me, get lost in these corridors all I care. This place is like a labyrinth, if you haven't thought through like me and memorize them, you wouldn't be in this situation."

"I came to find you."

I stopped and turned to him. "I barely know you."

"I know, but neither do the villagers. They begged me to at least check on you, it's been three weeks and most of them thought you were dead. I was about to decline when one of them said it was the Masked Musician who went there to help them. Then I had to see myself if that was true."

"How flattering You got tortured just to see me."

"I thought that if you died, I might as well finish your job. For them."

"Well as you can see I'm not dead. Now go before you get yourself killed or something."

"And let a woman do all the work?"

"Haven't I already been?"

He didn't reply. I turned to walk again.

"They have my weapons." he told me. "At least lead me to where they are. You did say that you memorize the whole place, where are they keeping my weapons?"

I sighed, I can't believe I'm doing this. "But this doesn't mean I'll all of a sudden become your friend, you are still the enemy to be."

"A frenemy?" He suggested.

"Would you like to be the enemy part?" I suggested.

"What about an acquaintance?"

"Maybe."

I placed my hand on the floor and close my eyes, emitting vibrations from my hand to feel weapons. Then I opened my eyes.

"Follow me."

"Okay, acquaintance."

"Don't push your luck." I warned.

"Sorry."

"Acquaintance." I added with a hint of a smile. 

We race through the hallways, I took sharp corners and went up and down stairs without warning. I did this for fun, and to see if he would try to get into another fight. But surprisingly he silently followed, like a loyal dog. I motioned him to stop, not wanting him to crash into me. I looked back and put my finger to my lips, telling him to be quiet.

I quietly opened the door. "Oh wow."

The whole place was like a bank, a treasure room. Money, gold came to your knees. There were thousands of gold things like crowns, jewelry, swords with golden hilts. Anyone, even the most generous people could be tempted to steal a few of these. But then the thought of how they got this hit me, making me angry. I grabbed my violin case and my dagger that they took away from me. The guy picked up two swords and strapped them to his side. Now with his swords he can be a full threat, I should watch my back. I've never really saw what he looked like.

He's quite tall and well built, with striking blue eye and short, tousled brown hair. He wears a mask like me, to hide his identity. And he wears a long black leather jacket with a big hoodie that pulled up. He looked a but older than me, probably in his 20s. His swords made him look very deadly, I have to keep my guard up.

"Let's go." I told him, eyeing the whole room.

"No."

I knew it, he turned on me already.

"What?"

I turned to see it was the Undertaker holding the guy with a gun aimed at his head. All of his men were right behind him, swords, guns ready to use.

I froze. "Oh this isn't good." I muttered.

The Undertaker tsked me. I'm really starting to hate that name. "My lovely Musician, why have you ran away from me?"

I didn't reply, no, I refused to reply.

"Still? You still won't talk?" The Undertaker asked. "Now I'm really worried that you have cut off your tongue."

I ignored his words. I quickly flicked my wrist, making The Undertaker's, silencing him and his hearing. What I really had to worry about is the other guy. 

"I thought you were an actual professional. But you got him at knife point in seconds."

He had the guts to chuckle. "With you and your echolocation stuff, I thought you would be the first to know they were coming, before the swordsman."

My eyes shifted from him to the, sigh, The Undertaker. "That's no excuse."

I quickly glanced behind me to see a window, then looked back at them. A quick and simple escape, then I could continue with the plan. But then there's the chance that they will kill him before I can finish with the plan.

"You can go ahead, Musey."

I shook my head. "No, I can't."

"It's fine, I can take of this myself."

"That's what I'm worried about."

"Musey, leave." This time it was an order.

I shook my head again. "No. No man left behind. Never. I promised that to myself a long time ago. Now shut up."

The Undertaker will slice the guy's neck if I made one move, I know that for certain. And even if I had to kill the Undertaker, there were also his men right behind him. What I will have to do next will leave the guy completely useless for the next few minutes.

I slowly put my hand over my mouth, and slightly coughed.

"Hey Undertaker! I'm over here!"

As reflex of hearing his name, he looked behind him. At this moment, I slammed my hands together for a sonic clap, sending both of them to the wall. No one moved, the guards were frozen from shock on what just happened. I was the first to move, I made a big slicing motion in front of me. Seconds later many of the guards crumpled to the ground with huge gashes on their chests. I quickly jumped over them and picked up the guy, who was still disorientated by the sonic clap. I tossed him over my shoulder, slightly catching his heavy weight. I need to work out some more.

I began to walk quickly, that turned to jogging, then started to sprint. I jumped up into the air, making a slight spin then turned to sound with the guy. We raced through the hallways, bouncing off walls, passing by guards. I am in no control of the speed, so the best thing I can do is redirect my route with the walls, hoping to find the exit. I finally found the the exit and got out of sound form as I got out of the open door. The guy started to stir and l had him lean against the wall.

"Sorry about that."

"No grudges right?" He got back on his feet and started to stretch. "So this is it? You get held captive for three weeks then leave?"

"No." I gave a high pitch whistle and Fidget bound to me from the surrounding forest.

I bent down and extended my arm, he climbed onto it and sat on my shoulder. "You did your part, right?"

He yipped in reply. 

"What is that? A cat?"

Fidget began to growl at his accusation.

"Sorry. Never mind." I asked. "But it does look familiar to me."

I shrugged. "There are many martens that looks like him."

"So what now?"

"Come around the side, or else someone will see us."

We walked over to the right side of the castle. Then I pointed out something to the guy.

"You see this?" I asked him.

"What I see is some kind of  crack of shallow dug up dirt. I bet it surrounds the whole castle."

"Correct. But what you don't know is that this this crack of dug up dirt is actually yards long into the Earth."

"You serious?" He got to his knees and looked into the crack. "Yeah your right, It's like the smaller version of the Grand Canyon. How did you do this?"

"With my trusty partner, he rounded up some digging friends. Oh and remind me to thank them later."

Fidget yipped twice. Then looked over behind him to show a bunch of moles, rats, snakes and other small burrowing creatures behind the bushes. 

"Okay now watch this." At the words of this, Fidget jumped out of my shoulder and headed to the forest.

I thrust out my arm, feeling the sound waves emitting out of it. It started to glow, and the air started to hum quietly. I lifted my arm then slammed my fist onto the ground. At first nothing happened, but then the ground began to shake. Strong sound waves were running through the ground from my hand. I quickly lifted it form the ground and started to ran to the forest, the guy followed behind me. 

We watched as the castle began to shake violently, then slowly sink to the ground. We heard countless of screams from inside, probably the Undertaker's men. Soon the castle was up to the windows, no one could get out without any outside help. 

"Holy mother of God." The guy muttered.

I walked out of our hiding place.

"If my memories serves me correct." I muttered.

I broke a window with my foot. I peered into it, yup it's the treasure room. We walked to the front of the castle to meet the village headman, who stood there shocked.

"What. Where. How." He stammered, totally confused.

"Just at the right side of the castle is the treasure room. If any police come and threaten to take it back, state that it's the possession of the village's. If he refuses of this, I will be right nearby."

"I, uh-"

"I understand if the castle is a historical landmark." I got a pen and wrote something down in his hand. "I know a Branded who can control Earth, if you give him a fair price and mention my name, he will be more than happy to bring the castle up to it's normal position."

"How, how can we ever repay you?"

I looked at him. "I don't know what you mean."

"Well you did-"

"I'm a traveling person, who happened to past by a simple village to stay for the night. I went to a nearby castle for some sight seeing and accidentally broke it. I have given you money to pay for the damages. Right?"

The headman slowly figuring out what I mean nodded. "Uh, right."

I looked at the guy. "Right?"

He shrugged. "Right."

The village headman, looked at me then at the castle, then back at me. "Thank you. Both of you. We are forever in your debt." He quickly ran back to the village to tell the news.

I stared at the castle. "You can keep it."

"Keep what?"

"The Undetaker's and his demon's bounties. I don't want them."

"But you were the one who did all of this. You don't want any money in return."

I looked at him. "Sometimes money doesn't satisfy a person compared to the happiness brought to the person."

"You know we never did finished that fight."

"I know."

"You went easy on me because I didn't have me swords."

"I know."

"I want to-"

"If you want a rematch, you will be outmatched."

"What do you mean by that? Just because you're one of the Branded means you're better than me?"

"Well I didn't say it like that. But I can see you get the point."

He poked me in the chest. "Being the Branded doesn't mean anything. You're just any other person, only freaky."

I swatted his hand away. "Oh so I'm freaky all of a sudden? Just because I have powers?"

"Yeah."

"Well that's kinda racist."

"Oh so you're calling me racist, now?"

"You know what, I just give up. Never mind."

Fidget came to my side, a huge buck came out of the forest with my backpack on one of it's antlers. I took it out of it and stroked it's head.

"Thank you, at least someone's nice."

"So we're parting ways now, right?" The guy asked.

"Why? You had this life time plan that we'll become partners. Then we fall in love, get married, and grow old together?"

He turned away. "No. That's stupid."

I whispered something into the buck's ear, it gave a short nod and went into the forest. I watched as it left, I didn't turn back to him. If he was a true swordsman, he wouldn't strike me from behind.

"I should know the name of my rival." 

"I'm your rival now? What great honor."

"You know my name, the Masked Musician."

He was quiet for a moment. "I'm called the Double Death Swordsman."

I froze, the Double Death? No it can't be. I quickly turned around to find no one there. A cold breeze blew towards me, making me shiver even more from his name. So I was right, he really was someone dangerous to be an enemy.

I arrived home later that evening. I dropped everything to the floor and headed to the bathroom for a long bath. It gave me time to think.

The Double Death Swordsman, I should have known. He's a famous bounty hunter, he always hunts at the dead of night. He's called the Double Death Swordsman because he hunts his target and leaves them with only an inch from death. The come's back at midnight to finish the job. He's a respected hunter for being thorough with his skills, he's even one of The Five Bountyhood Hunters.

The Five Bountyhood Hunters are five of the most powerful, experienced, famous assassins and bounty hunters in Medieval America. They work under the government, under the King. There are rumors that The Big Five don't really care about the King, they only do it for the money and fame. All of them have the biggest bounties, bigger than even my Dad. From the ranges 500 million to 1 billion, that's something since my own bounty is barely 435 million, as my bounty as Melody and The Masked Musician put together. It would be great to become one of The Big Five, I actually want one. Though most hunters hate the thought of being under the government, but there are benefits. Like they're pardoned from their actions and their bounties are canceled, and they can also do 'agreements' without the watch of the government. The only reason there is such thing as The Five Bountyhood Hunters is that they are allies of the government, The Big Five don't hurt them, and they don't her The Big Five. And when they are needed, they have the choice to fight with other hunters for the government. So it's a bit like a win-win agreement between the both of them.

The Five Bountyhood Hunters are the Double Death Swordsman, Bloody Blades, Animalia, The Magician, and the Elemental Twins, Burning Water. They are five of the ten members of the Bountyhood. The Bountyhood is like the group of ten powerful assassins and bounty hunters. No one knows who's in the Bountyhood not including The Big Five. The members always change either by the government or the members quit. Once that happens, the government chooses a bounty hunter or assassin to fill in the slot without telling them. I'm hoping to be at least in the Bountyhood, that's what everyone with a bounty wants.

I heard Fidget scratching the bathroom door.

"Come in."

He peered in, his eyes closed. Fidget is probably the definition of house broken. I can be so proud of him at times.

"It's okay Fidge."

 He opened his eyes and jumped on top of the toilet. He held a letter in his mouth.

"Oh the mail came today?" 

I got it out of his mouth, thankfully Fidget holds the letter by his teeth. I looked at the envelope with curiosity. It was a golden envelope, in careful fancy cursive was addressed to me. There was no return address, so I didn't know who sent it to me. I've never received such a letter before.

What made me so unsure about this letter was that no one knows my address.

_________________________________________

That was quick right? I've uploaded this chapter. And remember the stuff I wrote about the Bountyhood and The Big Five. Very key to the book, just reminding you.

What is inside the letter?

Let's find out in the next chapter!

RubixCube89201

P.S I was thinking of a Rubik's Cube bounty hunter or assassin. You think it would be cool?