A slow dance

A slow dance
Alessandro

Walking into the depths of the dimly-lit bunker triggered some past memories of my days in CDP.
I remember that I once swore that I would never stray away from that life.
Look at me now.
I regret not leaving faster. The normalcy of everyday life, which I used to sneer at, is the very thing I love waking up to, because I have my beautiful wife beside me.
However, these two fools are doomed to not even have a taste of that normalcy.
With a smirk, I stood before the side-by-side cells Nine Edwards and my grandfather were locked in. The contrast between the cells was satisfying.
For my grandfather, his cell was exquisite. He was contained in a fine glass box with a TV that had movies he’ll die watching, a side fridge filled with whatever he desires, a nice single bed, a decent restroom, and so many, many nice things.
Unfortunately, he doesn’t get to enjoy it so much. After his recent assassination attempt on Carrie, the tendon in his other foot was cut. Essentially, walking around to enjoy the little bliss that surrounds him would be quite a task for him.
Nonno should count himself fortunate. After what he did, his hands, tongue, and maybe eyes should have felt some wrath. But I chose to go easy since he’s family.
On the other side was Nine Edwards. His cell was a large contrast to Nonno’s, a perfect replica of the room where he afflicted Carrie with endless torture.
His cell is the best artwork I’ve seen in ages.
Completely covered in the crimson of dried blood, a barely surviving mattress was the only thing worth seeing. In a corner was a potty provided out of pity; the rusted plates that served the man were close to the entrance, displaying how he devours the little portions they feed him.
And boy, there was music too— the music of the chains restraining him.
From the videos I’ve seen, the chains are long enough for him to walk around the small room; that’s luxury enough.
Now, I must remind Nine Edwards that his suffering has just begun.
The man we were paying big bucks to maintain this place walked to me with a nose mask to protect me from the stench coming from Nine Edward’s prison.
“Nine Edwards,” I called when I reached the barred door.
He was seated with his back facing me, and it appeared he was meditating.
That’s quite interesting. All that meditation and he still hasn’t realised that he needs to at least apologise.
I bit back my chuckle and pocketed my hands.
And I said, “With one bullet, I can make your stay here turn to your worst hell. It would be wise to answer when I speak to you.”
His chains rattled. He turned, and his horrible condition was revealed.
His gaunt appearance bore semblance to the skeletal symbol of death; his skin had gotten wrinkly, his lips pale, his hair thin and very scanty.
However, his eyes were still full of life. No, I can dare to call it vengeance.
His anger was clear even as his dry voice croaked, “Mafia dimwit.”
The prison keeper brought a chair for me.
I sat on it and eyed the little box the keeper dropped next to me.
“I'm surprised you can still speak,” I commented. “But then, this wonderful hotel I've provided is enough luxury, isn't it? With so many nice things, your stay here must be pleasant.”
Those eyes of his blazed. And slowly, he dragged his lips into a smirk.
“Where… is she?”
My lips twitched. And my hands clenched.
“Where's Carrie? You fucking dimwit,” his low voice demanded, and soon, croaky laughter spilled out of him. “Isn’t she going to say hi to her father? I've been waiting for her.”
“I see.” I crossed my legs, exhaled, poked the insides of my mouth with my tongue and gave a curt nod. “You still haven't learnt your lesson.”
“Ha!” His tone grew bigger. “Did you come here hoping for an apology?”
“And why would I? Nine Edwards,” I unknotted my legs and leaned forward, “you are smart, you should be able to tell why I've locked you up here. To torture you to hear those bloodless lips whisper a barely half-ass apology? No.”
From my belly, I chuckled.
I got up from the chair, shifted to the barred gate and squatted to his level.
“Nine,” I whispered, “You are here… simply… to be tortured. That's all.”
The emotions in his eyes vanished, and I basked in that view.
“If I had handed you over to the police, at most you'd have gotten a few measly twenty years. Eating well, living well, walking free within prison walls. But Nine, when you kidnapped Carrie, she was not able to do any of that.” I clenched my jaw and sent back the rousing emotions trying to appear. “So why should you?”
“Ale…” He hated that he couldn't lash me with his words. “Alessandro Valante you-”
I sucked in a sharp breath and announced, “Your first phase of suffering officially ended yesterday. Today, we start a new routine.”
With a sinister smirk, the very one that used to wreak havoc when I was the devil in these streets, I rose to my feet and snapped my fingers at the prison keeper.
“Release it.”
First, the man clicked a switch on the wall framing Nine Edwards' cell. The switch activated the steel boards that blocked half of the barred gate from the bottom. That way, the only way to see the prisoner was to stand.
“What do you think you're doing?!” Nine Edwards snapped. His chains rattled harder as he rushed towards the front with scattered steps. “Let me out, you fucking devil! Let… Cough cough.”
“Save that voice so you can hear yourself when you take your last breath,” I advised with a satisfied smile.
The prison keeper carried the box on the ground and placed it on the unblocked part of the gates. He flapped the box cover, and two snakes jumped out.
“Argh! No! No!”
“Ayyy, Cretino. Don't fret,” I mused at his sudden agility.
He hopped from place to place to avoid the slithering animals, but those ones were quite determined to hurt him.
“Please,” he grabbed the gate, “please release me! Please!”
My laughter filled the room. “You won't die, okay? These species aren't very dangerous. They'll strike only once, and it'll take about two hours for their poison to spread. Exactly five minutes to that, my boy over there will kill them for you and give you the antidote.”
“Oh, thank you. Thank you!” He cried in relief.
I sniggered. “Can you handle the pain, though? A fresh batch of snakes will be released every six hours. We happen to have a lot. Be a darling and help us exhaust them, okay?”
“No!!!” He groaned and pressed himself against the rusted bars. “Get… Argh!”
One of the snakes had bitten him.
He fell with a thud and gripped his foot in distress. At the same time, the second snake struck.
Nine Edwards cried at the top of his voice.
His pain sounded like a melody, and I briefly wished I could show Carrie this view.
But I can't. Even though she's healed, I don't want her near anything or anybody from those dark times.
“See you next year, Nine Edwards.” My hands slid into my pockets. “Don't worry, you'll be alive by then. I'll make sure of it.”
“Sir,” the prison keeper bowed.
“Does my grandfather sleep often?”
“Sometimes. Should I wake him?”
I didn't plan much for my grandfather's torture. Just showing him my face would have been enough to turn him berserk.
“Don’t bother,” I said. “Make sure he eats well. And,” I patted his shoulder. “Take care of yourself.”
“Yes, boss.”
I glanced at Nine Edwards, whose screams almost drowned my words.
The view and sound of his pain has definitely eased the part of my soul that has been begging for revenge.
Now I can fully focus on more important things.
I snapped off the nose mask. And with sturdy steps, I walked out of the bunker.
The moment I got outside, the fresh air of the settling night eased my heart. I glanced at the surrounding forest, smiled and wondered if Carrie already went for a walk by the beach.
I still have some work left here in Venice before I leave. So I won't be returning till tomorrow morning.
I hope she's fine. I should call her to-
My phone vibrated. It was a message from Carrie.
With a smile, I clicked it.
It was a picture of her cute feet in the sand of the beach. Next to her feet was something pearly and white.
Carrie sent a text.
Il Mio Fiore 🌹: Today’s walk. I found a lost necklace.
Another text entered.
Il Mio Fiore 🌹: Come home soon. I don't want to miss our morning hug.
With a bigger smile that wrinkled the sides of my face, I texted her back.
‘I’ll be there before you wake up.’
Heartily, I chuckled at the wink emoji she sent, tucked my phone into my pocket and walked further away from this place, which I might actually never come back to.