X marks the spot

Let Me Stand Next to Your Fire

"First time Dad doesn't pay attention to you, you make excuses. Then come two and three, then you start looking inside yourself. Trying to find the thing that's making him mad. And you dig and dig and dig and fucking dig. Finding nothing. After that they just keep coming. One after the other. But by that time, you're used to it. Numb to it. Because, after all. It's your fault."

A black car with darkened windows turned left on the road, entering a garage. The building itself was quite a tall one. At least, that was what Aaron could see from his own vehicle, and how far the camera app on his phone would allow him to zoom in without the image being completely ruined or pixilated. He had an idea, a sneaking suspicion, one that he hoped he was wrong with. That it wasn't who he thought it was on the inside. That it was just some nobody, that would've made what he knew would probably come next be so much easier.

But, life for the young man rarely worked out that way, and this would be no exception.

It was then that he noticed another reason that he had come to this building. A man walked out of a store, towards his car without any care in the world. Aaron quickly looked to his glove compartment, the one that held his pistol with no rounds in. So, either this plan worked as intended, or it would get bloody and messy.

He took a breath, trying to remove the previous thoughts from his mind, taking the gun from the box, and leaving the car. Now fully commited to the first part of his plan.

And the start of what, somehow, turned out to be one of his best and worst days all at once.

The cloth dipped into water once again, the hands that held the cloth twisted it. Trying to get rid of any – or at least most – of the blood that was on it. Trying to not aggravate any more of the wounds. The water itself was starting to become just a bloody mess. Next to the first bowl laid a backup one, just in case. Even if it wasn't used, it would still be useful to have.

Rebecca lifted up the cloth to a place just above Maria's eyebrow, gently placing pressure on the cut on the other woman's face. She winced at it. Rebecca pulled back for a moment, "Sorry." She apologised, voice soft. Her eyes conveyed the same emotion. Along with the fear and confusion for the situation they currently found themselves in. Still trying to process what had just happened.

"Just... Just don't pause, it makes it easier. Pain comes in one go, sure, but it's quicker that way. Just... please. Get it done." Maria's voice was unusually vulnerable, a slight pained crack to it. She cleared her throat at the end, trying to cover it up. But Rebecca heard it, and her eye's softened even more for her fellow woman. "Don't look at me like that." Rebecca internally sighed, only going back to her task, continuing to use the cloth to try and get rid of any of the remaining blood that was still dripping from a few cuts on Maria's face. Each time the cloth touched, it was another flinch of pain.

"You want me to stitch it up, or you?" Rebecca asked, her tone still soft and understanding. This time though, she masked the other emotions better. Maria eyed her for a moment, considering her answer, opening and closing her mouth a few times before she finally decided on her answer, a single nod. You.

Rebecca went with her answer, gently turning the woman's head to get better access to the wound. And lightly, or as lightly as she could, started to thread the needle to stitch the wound up. Maria flinched, but that was the only reaction she gave. Mainly keeping to muffled grunts of pain as Rebecca continued to do what she could for the cut. There weren't many on her face, but still the guilt hit her.

Before she could apologise anymore, a phone started to ring. Luckily, when Rebecca jumped, her job was done. The two shared a look, Maria nudging her head a little towards the phone that laid on the table a little bit away from them. Sighing, Rebecca rose, walking towards the buzzing device. Picking it up, she saw the name on. Flicked the answer button and held the phone up to her ear.