Blood and Sweaters

Chapter 15

Induratize
To make one's heart hardened or to resistant to someone's pleas

Veronica opened the wooden trap door that led to the basement. The creaking sound that the hinges made somehow added to the eerie feeling of the darkroom below. Cautiously walking down the aged steps, she tried not to make a noise as to alert the old woman that was downstairs. Rage coursed through every vein in her body as she thought about her cousin. Every time she blinked Aria's bloody body was all she could see and the person who caused all that pain was Alba Cabrera.

Hidden in a dark corner, Alba watched the fiery redhead make her way over, a stomach-churning smirk on her face. The old lady's body trembled in fear, her eyes frantically darting around the dark room searching for a way out but there wasn't any.

"It's quite cold in here isn't it?" the girl observed.

When Alba didn't answer Veronica picked up a bucket from the other side of the room. Alba could hear the swishing of the liquid within. Veronica picked up the bucket throwing the contents at Alba. A shriek filled the cold empty basement as the liquid made content with the older woman's skin. Alba didn't know what to expect.

Was it Acid? Gasoline? Immediately she rubbed at her body, trying to rid herself of the substance. It burned, sending a shiver down her spine.

"Oh, please! Stop being so dramatic!" Veronica screamed, shutting up Alba instantly.

"It's just water. But at least now you know a fraction of the fear we felt last night."

Relief filled her heart as she processed the girl's words, but it was short-lived when Veronica crouched to her level, catching her face in her hand.

"The fear you just felt is nothing compared to what you're going to feel when Aria gets her hands on you."

Two large men came down the stairs, halting next to Veronica. As if the icy water didn't cause enough shivers already, the sight of the men made Alba tremble like a little wet kitten on a cold winter's day.

"Boys, take good care of our guest but whatever you do, DO NOT kill her or Aria will have both of your heads," Veronica warned in a dangerously low voice.

Taking one more look at Alba, she gave a small wave and left the men to get to work.
~~~

Ransom sat in the uncomfortable metal chair as he waited for the doc to finish checking Aria's injuries. The girl had put up quite a fight with the doc this morning and of course, she won in the end. After all, she was Aria Torreto, there was no winning against her. The doc finally gave in and explained to Veronica how to help her shower.

"Everything seems to be fine. I'll give you a few pills for the pain," the doctor clarified.

"Give me anything that makes me sleep and I promise you the first thing I do when I wake up is make sure you sleep eternally," Aria warned in an intimidating voice.

The honey-haired man gulped nervously but managed a nod, hastening his actions.

"I have business to take care of," she smirked at Veronica.

The doctor finished up and hurriedly said his goodbyes before Veronica escorted him out.

Aria walked over to Ransom and sat down on his lap, his arms encircling her as he tried not to hold her too tight.

"Knock it off love birds," Veronica walked back into the room.

"It's showtime baby!" Aria shouted before giving Ransom a quick kiss.

~~~

Alba sat with her back against the wall, every fiber of her body hurt. All she wanted to do was close her eyes and make the pain stop but she couldn't. She wouldn't. She feared what would happen if she did.

The sound of the creaking stairs caused terror to wash over her, raising the fine hairs on the back of her neck. Pulse beating in her ears, loud and irregular, but she barely heard it, for her mind was clouded with fear.

"Hey there Mama Cabrera!" Aria walked in, a venomous sneer on her face, Ransom, Aria, and John behind her.

Alba's entire life flashed in front of her eyes, she silently prayed for a miracle. For some way out.

"I told him it wasn't worth it. I told him not to. I told him it would come back to ruin our entire family," Alba sobbed.

"Ruin your family!?" Veronica spat at the aged woman, throwing a punch at her mouth.

John pulled Veronica back, holding her close to try and calm her down.

"Well I'm glad I get to prove you right."

Aria stood in front of Alba who was laying on the floor, bleeding from Veronica's punch as Aria hovered over her.

She had no expression on her face, something Ransom had gotten used to.

Please, Torreto! Spare me! I beg of you! Don't punish me for my husband's actions!" Alba pleaded with the girl.

"I have no time for this." Aria announced, shaking her head and standing up.

"You know a Torreto always gets the job done."

Aria peered down at the sobbing lady, she pulled out her gun. Crouching to Alba's level, she pressed the gun into the older woman's mouth, looking dead into Alba's eyes.

"This is for my mom," she whispered before pulling the trigger.

~~~