Pov: Abuelita
We were all worried. Miguel did not come home last night. We waited until midnight and tried to look for him. But we couldn't find him.
It was about seis de la mañana. None of us could sleep.
That's when we heard the door to our residence open.
"Miguel Rivera, you better have a good excuse fo-" I opened the door and saw a oficial de policia.
"Are you the Rivera family?" He asked.
Miguel's parents walked out.
"Yes… have you found our son?" His mama asked.
"Io siento. Last night, he was found bleeding in an alleyway. Is this his?" The officer showed his guitar. It had blood on it.
Miguel's mother fell to her knees and beginning wailing. His father fell down in shock.
"You lie!" I said. "My grandson cannot be dead! He- He can't be!" I felt tears in my eyes.
"Mother!" My son said.
I looked at him.
"Where is he?" He asked.
"If the parents follow me, I can take you to the depósito de cadáveres." The officer.
I walked up and took the guitar and walked away as Miguel's parents went with the officer.
I walked into Miguel's room. I grabbed a photo we took last year of him playing in the plaza. He loved the plaza so much. I walked into the offrenda and placed the photo on the offrenda and placed the guitar underneath the photo. I could only pray that it isn't true.
Later
It was about noon when the two came back. Miguel's mother was emotionless.
"Well? Where is Miguel?!" Rosa asked.
My son looked at us.
"Miguel… is gone." He said.
We were all silent.
"On dia de Muertos… dios mio." Berto said.
Pov change: Miguel
I was still processing everything. This isn't real. I stared at my hands and saw
"Mijo… can you look at me?" I looked up and saw the female skeleton. "What is your name?"
"M-Miguel… Rivera…" I said.
"Miguel Rivera… age 12… living in Santa Cecelia…murdered…" She said.
I didn't say anything. I looked down again.
"Miguel, please look at me."
I did so.
"Listen… I know that this must be hard on you, seeing how young you are. I am going to assign you to one of our special case workers. Here's his card."
I reached up and grabbed it to stare at it.
'Javi Tuchano
Special case worker
Located in LOTD New Arrivals'
"W-What about tonight? It's Dia de Muertos… can I go home and see my familia?"
She looked down.
"I'm sorry but you must go through the process like any other person… I'm afraid you won't be able to see your familia tonight." She said.
I looked down and began to cry. I didn't even get to say goodbye to my familia…
"Mijo, I am so sorry." She said. "Do you have any familia here? Someone who we can try and call?"
Pov: Héctor
Today was a special day. It was the second year I can actually go to the living world with my family. Before, I would constantly try to cross over to see my daughter Coco. But after the events of dia de Muertos two years ago, meeting Miguel, and discovering the truth of De Lá Cruz, now my goal is to just see my family as many Dia de Muertoses until they're here permanently.
"Héctor! Move your lazy butt!" Imelda said.
"I'm just so emocionado to see Miguel again!" I said.
"He has grew so much last year." Coco said.
I smiled as I saw Julio appear, adjusting his hat.
"I wonder what Rosa and Miguel got?" Julio asked.
"I hope we eat some more of Abuelita's famous tamales." Rosita said.
"Maybe some candy?" Oscar asked.
"Or shoes?" Felipe asked.
"Why don't we go and find out for ourselves?" Imelda asked.
"I agree with Imelda! Let's go!" I said.
Later
We made it to the departure and saw the familiar female guard.
"Ah the Rivera family. It's so good to see you all together." She smiled.
We all waited to see our photos on the offrenda, which they were. Abuelita was always good with that.
"Enjoy your trip, Héctor." She said as I heard the check mark for my picture.
I walked over to the others and we proceeded to the living world. We looked up and saw Pepita fly over us.
"That's odd." Julio said.
"Que?" Imelda asked.
"Where is Dante?" Julio asked.
"Probably eating our food again." Rosita said.
"Oh that alebrije is so gracioso." Coco chuckled as we continued to walk over the bridge.
Later
We walked into the cemetery and saw the living and the dead being together.
"It's always good to see families reunited." I said.
"Like us papa." Coco said.
I smiled.
As we followed the path to our home, we saw Dante outside the gate.
"Ah there he is." Julio chuckled.
As we got closer, we saw that he seemed sad.
"Dante? What is it?" I kneeled down.
He whimpered as he looked at us.
"Héctor?" I heard.
I stood up and walked in and saw no set up, no music, no one. I looked to my left and saw the offrenda room. All of the dead were in there. I walked in and saw it.
"No… no it can't be…" I said as I saw the guitar with blood on it.
I saw Miguel on the offrenda.