I am no one, I'm nothing

Capitulo Quince

"Come, this way." Padre Perez guided the hooded sisters by the hands, while Aldonza and Pedro crept behind them, hands brushing tenderly against each other's as they made their way through the brick tunnel. There was a small sheen of light emitting from the end of the structure. The five individuals walked with purpose, intent and curiosity, their boots clicking and clacking against the paved road, the rotted cobblestone of yore. The night sky seemed to envelope them with velvet arms, swallowing everything around them except for the whites of eyes, the chilling breath from others against the back of the neck.

"Padre," Pedro began in a strong voice. "Where are we going?"

"Shh!" Sister Julia exclaimed sternly, angling her eyebrows at the man with ferocity. "You'll startle them!"

"Startle who?" Aldonza asked with a smirk slowly sliding onto her face. "We've been walking for hours, not that I'm complaining-" She sighed heavily and pushed tumbling curls away from her face, brightening her view of the murky tunnel.

"Mission work isn't for the meek." Sister Maria stated in a sickly sweet voice.

"Well then who is it for?" Pedro questioned roughly. "The rich and lavish who have to do these things to-"

"It's precisely for the meek." Padre Perez's voice echoed through the tunnel, giving it the authority of a higher power as the gentle voice bounced off the curved walls and into his followers. "It's for everybody, Sisters. There is no one that cannot be benefitted by God's love, for is it not true that God's love is felt when individuals engage in His plan by spreading the Word?" He stopped decisively and turned to face the Sisters and his guests with open arms. "I, for one, am honored to have you help serve, Aldonza y Pedro. I trust you are doing it with a pure heart?"

Aldonza glanced with rusty eyes at Pedro, who nodded vigilantly. "Si, of course."

"Some," Aldonza murmured, surprising herself as the words came toppling out of her mouth without conscious consent. "-might say that we-that I, particularly-am not fit to do the work of God. But I am turning over a new leaf, a new life. I wish to be a woman of God, Padre." She nodded with a wide-eyed expression, and gripped Pedro's hand for support.

"Mi Hermana," The Padre spoke gently as he approached her. "Of course, of course. Tonight, we shall bapti-"

A shrill, terrifying scream suddenly pierced the air, causing the occupants of the tunnel to shrink from shock at the sound of the noise. "Help!" A high-pitched yowl echoed. "Help! Please, God in Heaven, don't let me die-Help me, someone!"

Pedro bolted towards the sound of noise, his heavy boots weighing him down and every additional screech adding to his motivation, his desire to help the helpless victim. Aldonza quickly followed, her skirts billowing in the wind as she caught up to her lover, who was now crouched on the ground and clutching the form of a shuddering man. A woman was hovering over him, heaving with rage as she kicked the howling man, beat him with the heel of her boot and spat on him.

"Stop!" Pedro yelled up at her, trying to block the man from her assertive blows. "Stop it!"

"Why?" The woman yelled, gorging herself with anger and hatred. Her red hair was large and tangled; her shirt was in a similar state, and it hung wretchedly off her left shoulder, where a large wound was festering and leaking from her dark skin. "Why should I? After all the sick bastard did to me-"

"She's lying!" The man hurriedly shouted as he held his leg, which was twisted unnaturally and lying in a puddle of crimson blood. "The useless bitch is lying! She's a twisted scoundrel, nothing but a filthy whore-"