Blood and Sweaters

Chapter 21

Ophiomormous
Snakelike

The sound of screams and heavy breathing filled the poorly lit room of the nunnery. Sister Margot dabbed a cool wet washcloth on Marta's forehead while Mother Maria, the head nun held her hand whispering words of encouragement.

The pain was nothing like she had ever experienced before. Her contractions were now close by, she knew it wouldn't be long now before she would get to meet her baby.

A million thoughts ran through her mind. Was she even ready to become a mother? Was that what she even wanted for herself? All this time she had carried the child thinking it would carry the Cabrera lineage forward but now they were a hunted species and surviving by herself was proving hard enough. Would she be able to be on the run with this child? Or would he or she just hold her down? Maybe she could just leave the child behind in the church.

"It's time my child," Mother Maria said as she held onto Marta's hand a little tighter.

~~~

"1, 2, 3. And the winner is Aria!" John shouted as he held Aria's hand up.

"It was a good fight Vipera," Oscar said as he lifted himself off the mat of the ring, giving Aria a sideways hug.

"Who's next?" Aria challenged with a smirk.

"I am!"

Ransom stalks towards the ring a devilish smile on his face. Aria watched in awe as he pulled his black wife beater over his head and dropped it on the floor, revealing the beautiful black ink that spanned in various-sized tattoos from his shoulder blades to his lower hips, before slipping into the ring.

"You sure you wanna do this Drysdale?"

"If I don't have you pinned to the mat in under five minutes, I'll change my name," Ransom announced confidently.

"That confident Drysdale?"

"You bet, Torreto."

Moving to the center of the ring they both put up the fist as John counted down. The little crowd around the ring chanted Aria's name.

"He has no idea what he's got himself into."

"She's never lost a fight."

"The heartless hitman for a reason."

"Cold."
"Cruel."
"Heartless."

The murmur of the crowd filled Aria's mind and senses, normally she would pride herself on the comments that were passed around. Cold, cruel, and heartless, she enjoyed hearing those words when she was in a fight but now as she looked towards who was standing opposite her, she wasn't so sure. Shaking off her doubts, she cleared her head and reminded herself that this was just a play fight and that this wasn't Ransom, the man she loves but rather just another fighter.

As soon as the whistle sounded Ransom grabbed onto Aria trying to bring her down but the girl was agile and maneuvered her way out of his strong arms. Swiftly she kicked the back of his knee bringing him down to kneel on the mat. Readying herself she aimed to land the final blow but then she caught the pained look on his face and something tugged in her cold heart.

She couldn't do it, she couldn't hurt him. Not Ransom. The crowd around her fell silent at her hesitation. All eagerly anticipating her next move. Aria grabbed onto Ransom's pulling him up to her.

"I can't do it-," she whispered loud enough for only him to hear, "-I can't hurt you even if it is just for a stupid street fight."

Everyone gasped in shock at Aria. 'The heartless hitman' backing down from a fight? That was unheard of.

"Anyone has anything to say to me?" Aria threatened in a low voice causing the room to fall silent.

"Didn't think so."

Immediately the small crowd dispersed. People scurrying away as fast as their legs could carry them, no one wanting to get on the Vipera's wrong side.

"What was all that smack talk about changing your name?" Aria teased as she turned to look at a beaming Ransom.

"I stand by my words," he replied confidently, taking her in his arms.

"Any thoughts in mind?"

"How about you call me yours," Ransom said smugly earning a laugh from Aria.

Wrapping her arms around his neck she brought him into a warm embrace. Despite all the hurt, pain, and fears she experienced in the last few days somehow holding Ransom this close to her made her forget every bad thing in the world. She felt safe. There was nothing in this world she wouldn't trade for this feeling.

The sound of someone clearing their throat caused the love birds to jump apart and away from each other.

"Sorry to interrupt but there's someone here to meet Aria-," Oscar announced, "-something about a sighting."

Aria's eyes lit with hope. Could this be the moment she waited for her entire life? Was this the beginning of the end for the Cabrera lineage and her revenge?

~~~