This takes place after the movie Coco. This is my first Fanfic. Instead of commenting that it is trash, try telling me what could be done better. Don't like, don't read. Hopefully this will be the only time I try to describe violence. Also, not sure if I will include much Spanish if any. Sorry, on with the story!

Disclaimer: Obviously… I own nothing… All characters belong to Disney and Pixar.

POV – Miguel

It was just another day after school. I was playing in the plaza when I realized it was getting dark. Abuelita is not going to be happy that I am late for dinner. Again. I was making my way home hurriedly down an empty street when it happened. At first, I didn't know what was happening, whether they were on drugs or if it were for… other reasons… But either way, I was in too much fear and shock to move or scream. An older man, tall and heavy set, had come up behind me and threw me into an empty alley. I turned around just in time to see him pull out a knife. He was telling me to keep quiet and he wouldn't kill me. As he started to make his way towards me, I screamed for help. He lunged forward and I dodged. I tried running towards the road to find someone that could help… But I never got the chance.

I felt a sharp pain in my right leg and I fell, letting out a scream. I looked to find that he had thrown the knife and it was deep into my thigh. He ran towards me and yanked the knife downwards to make a large gash running from mid-thigh down my calf saying that I should have just kept quiet. I looked up afraid and in tears, trying to crawl backwards away from him. At that moment, a young couple came running into the alley to see what the screaming was about but stopped abruptly. They gasped and the young man whispered something that couldn't be heard. I called for them to help but the older man ran towards them with the knife and they ran the other direction.

POV – 3rd Person

As a young couple were out for an evening walk, they heard what sounded like a kid screaming. They started running around to find where it was coming from. They came upon the alley Miguel was down and stopped in shock, gasping in the process. The young man whispered under his breath, "The Rivera boy!" Miguel was bleeding heavily. He was crying and shouted out of fear, "Please, help me!" They were about to, until they noticed the angry older man running at them with a bloody knife. They took off to find the police.

The angry man turned back around and said, "No one is going to help you now." He jumped on Miguel and started beating, stabbing and slashing him, over and over. Miguel thought for sure he had a few broken bones now. He screamed and cried and tried to fight back, his last thoughts being "I'm sorry mi familia." When the boy stopped screaming and moving, the man got up just in time to see the young couple from earlier running towards the alley with the police and the Rivera family in tow. He didn't have time to run far before the police tackled him and Abuelita started beating him with her shoe. The young couple stood in the background pitying the Rivera family, for they knew they were already too late.

Miguel's older cousins, Abel and Rosa, come running up, followed by his Papa and Mama holding his baby sister Socorro. They all collectively gasp when they notice their unmoving boy drenched and laying in a lake of his own blood. Rosa takes baby Socorro. She stands there sadly for a moment before motioning for the equally sad looking Abel to follow her and Socorro home. His baby sister should not see this. Miguel's Mama and Papa kneeled down beside Miguel. Both were fighting back tears. Papa slowly picked up and cradled Miguel in his arms. Mama gently brushed his hair away from his now glassy eyes and tear stained cheeks. They realized they would never be blessed with Miguel's wonderful music, his smile, cheerful chatter or jokes again. Abuelita came up shortly after and stopped in shock, tears streaking down her face silently.

The next few days were exceptionally hard for the Rivera family as they tried to cope with the loss of their 13-year-old child that brought cheer and music into their lives. The whole community was sad by his sudden passing, and the family came to realize that his music and cheerfulness meant something to not just them, but to the town as well. They now knew how popular Miguel had been around the community as a few hundred people came by over the next week to offer comfort, bread, candles and cooked meals. The meals were much needed as not even Abuelita felt up to cooking. It would be awhile before anyone could get over the rare death of a child. Even more so for someone as special and loved as Miguel.

End Ch. 1

Next chapter we will follow Miguel in his journey through the Land of the Dead.