Later that night, Ann recovered conscious once more and after three hours of explanation; she felt a little more comfortable with the mutants' presence.
"So… you ok now?" April asked.
"A little… I'm just pretending this is only a dream… a weird one, though. Anyway, if you're not working for the company then… what were you doing there?" Ann asked.
"It's kinda hard to explain. Mikey… maybe you should tell her" April said.
"The name Teresa Ruiz sounds familiar to you?" Mikey asked.
"Teresa? What do you know about her?" Ann asked a little shocked by the sudden question.
"It's another long story and we ain't have time. The thing is Mikey says he can see and talk to her ghost" Raph explain.
"O…k… this dream is getting weirder and weirder. First of all: ghosts and spirits don't exist and second…" Ann said but Mikey interrupted her.
"That's what I thought at first but I can assure you I can talk to Mrs. Ruiz's ghost and she needs my help" Mikey said.
"What could you do for her? She's dead! She's dead and you can't prove what you're saying! I don't even know why I'm still here, so… good night!" Ann said angrily and started to walk away.
"Tell her about the scar in her neck" Mrs. Ruiz said to Mikey.
"What about the scar in your neck?" Mikey asked. Ann froze and turned around to face him.
"My… what?" Ann said with a puzzled face.
"Tell her about her how she got that scar" Mrs. Ruiz continued.
"You were hiking and you fell and slashed your neck with a branch. That's how you got that scar" Mikey repeated every word that the ghost told him.
"How do you… No! You're… it can't be!" Ann yelled.
"Tell her about the slumber party" Mrs. Ruiz said.
"Remember the slumber party when you were 17? You were trying on your mother's favorite dress but you split…" Mikey related the memory.
"… soda on it…" Ann whispered ending the phrase.
"Remember what happened next?" Mikey asked.
"Teresa and I tried to clean it before my mom would discover it but… nothing worked…" Ann said chuckling a little.
"And what did she do then?" Mikey insisted.
"She put the dress on her and…" Ann continued.
"… took the blame for you" Mikey ended Ann's statement.
"Everything is… true, you're not lying!… All our memories… everything… but how?" Ann asked still shocked and surprised.
"Listen Ann, I'm not asking you to believe me but your friend needs us… all of us. She won't rest in peace until she knows her son is ok" Mikey said.
"Danny? Of course he's ok! His father takes good care of him and I visit him regularly" Ann said.
"Apparently he's ok, but what she fears the most… is Mr. Ruiz's fiancée" April said.
"Miss Sandoval maybe looks like a heartless woman but she hadn't harm Danny in any way but who really worries me is Mr. Ruiz; he's so kind and gentle, always pleasant with his fiancée and it seems that she takes full advantage of that. It's like she has a power on him! Everything she wants, he gives it to her! He pretends he's happy with her but… I know he deserves better" Ann commented.
"I can't believe his mother chose her to marry his son!" Mikey exclaimed.
"Mrs. Dávila thought her son deserved to be with a woman of his category and Miss Sandoval seemed to be a nice catch; unique daughter of a wealthy man and all that stuff. When Deborah's father passed away she inherited everything" Ann said.
"Well, seems like a very nice catch if ya ask me" Raph teased.
"Ann, did you know about the incident in the hotel?" April asked.
"The police said it was caused by a gas leak. Teresa could probably die for inhaling all the gas or maybe the smoke when the fire started so… it's kind a relief knowing she didn't bur… eh…well… you know..." Ann winced at the creepy statement.
"Do you know if Mr. Ruiz had… enemies?" April asked.
"I don't think so. Like I said, he is too kind and generous with people. He's a gentleman, a good listener, very intelligent, a great father, good loo… er… I mean… eh… in general, he's a good person!" Ann blushed a little.
"Ok, so… what about his fiancée?" Raph asked.
"I'm not so sure about that but… once I heard … her father made a bad inversion and… he almost loses everything" Ann said.
"You think he proposed the idea of marrying his daughter just for Ruiz family's money?" April asked.
"I fear yes. That would explain why she was and is always asking him for more and more things! And… her last credit card bill was like… Whoa! I'd never seen so many zeros behind the 1 in my life" Ann exclaimed.
"Seems like ya know every move of this 'family', don't cha?" Raph asked in suspicion.
"I'm his secretary, duh! I have full access to his bills, passwords and house. Besides… Teresa, he and I were good friends. She was lucky to have such a good man as husband. We always used to tease ourselves saying who would marry him… hehe… yeah, those days were priceless" Ann said smirking slightly at the memories.
"Ok… Ann, it's getting late; you should be home by now. Sorry, seems like we lost track of time" April said.
"Don't worry. It was nice… scary… but nice" Ann chuckled.
"So, can we count with you on this?" Mikey asked.
"Everything for my 'sis'. Don't worry; I'll help you guys… and Teresa… if you're there, of course" Ann answered.
"She says thanks and she trust you will" Mikey passed Mrs. Ruiz's message to her friend.
"I better take ya home, girl. I ain't gonna be watchin' the alleys all night so ya don't get robbed or worse" Raph said sitting on his bike.
"We're going… in a BIKE?" Ann asked terrified.
"What's wrong?" Raph asked.
"Bikes are… dangerous! My brother broke his leg on one of those" Ann said nervously.
"C'mon Ann! Raph is a great racer, you'll be ok" Mikey said smirking friendly.
"O…k… I hope you're right" Ann said not trusting Mikey's smile and sitting behind Raph.
"Hold on tight, girl" Raph said and started the engine.
"AHHHH! N-NOT SO FAAAAST…!" Ann yelled in fear grabbing Raph's waist tightly. April and Mikey laughed at the scene.
"I better get into the copter… I'm tired. Night Mikey" April said with a little yawn.
"Night April" Mikey said. Once he was alone, he sat below the tree again.
"Heh! Your friend is funny" Mikey said to Mrs. Ruiz.
"Yes, she is a nice woman… almost like a sister" Mrs. Ruiz said.
"Did you notice the way she describe him?" Mikey asked with a playful smirk.
"Mhmm… don't tell anyone but I wish she would be Teodoro's fiancée" Mrs. Ruiz commented. Mikey's eyes opened wide.
"What the shell?"
"Why not? She's better than Deborah and you know it" Mrs. Ruiz said.
"Oh, right. That viper" Mikey muttered.
"Watch your words, kid. She may be a viper but she is also a woman. You must show respect towards women" Mrs. Ruiz said in a typical Leo-like voice… in this case, a mother-like voice.
"Why I have the feeling you've been mothering me since you met me?" Mikey chuckled.
"Was I too obvious?" Mrs. Ruiz asked sheepishly.
"Very obvious if you ask me" Mikey answered.
"I can't help it. I was a mother in progress when I died, remember?" Mrs. Ruiz said in a serious tone.
"Ok, ok! No need to be cranky!" Mikey teased.
"No me estoy poniendo gruñona, jovencito!" Mrs. Ruiz said in a very serious tone… almost angry.
"See? When you're angry you start talking in your language" Mikey said.
"Oh… sorry" Mrs. Ruiz apologized blushing a little.
"No need to… Mrs. Ruiz… what Ann said… was it true? Deborah's story"
"Yes… that's why I will not rest until that woman leaves my family alone" Mrs. Ruiz said.
"Couldn't you go and… scare her maybe?" Mikey teased.
"Someone has been watching too many movies"
"Hey!" Mikey said feeling offended while Mrs. Ruiz giggled
"Mrs. Ruiz… you've told me about your life already but… we haven't talked about your death"
"I don't remember many things now. The last thing I can remember was that I sent my husband and my Danny to see his pediatrician and… after a few seconds I started to feel dizzy and I couldn't breathe. When I woke up… I only saw ashes and…" Mrs. Ruiz couldn't continue and sighed heavily.
"I'm so sorry" Mikey said sadly.
"I was lucky to die by asphyxia than burned alive"
"O… k… change of … *yawn*…topic…" Mikey yawned a rubbed his eyes in tiredness.
"You should go to sleep"
"Nuh-huh! I have to… *yawn*… wait for Raphie" Mikey yawned again.
"Your brother will be ok, you need to sleep. I'll take care of him"
"You sure? He can't see you" Mikey remind her.
"But he can feel me instead" Mrs. Ruiz said.
"Uh?" Mikey looked confused now; how that could be possible? "But how?"
"Close your eyes" Mikey did it "Now take a deep breath"
"Mmm… I hadn't noticed your perfume" Mikey said inhaling the sweet essence.
"Well, your brother did" Mrs. Ruiz smirked.
"Hmm… so, he's been …*yawn*…acting, huh?" Mikey said with a very tired voice.
"Mikey, please. Go to sleep, now" Mrs. Ruiz ordered soflty.
"Aww…" Mikey pouted.
"No pienso repetirlo dos veces… go to sleep!" Mrs. Ruiz said in her motherly tone.
"Ok, ok!… Night mom!" Mikey said teasingly.
"Mamá… *sigh*… Danny… si tan solo viniera de ti esa palabra…" Mrs. Ruiz sighed and let a tear roll down her face.
Two hours later Raph appeared.
"Heh! Looks like everyone's out fer today" Raph commented.
"Heh!… Ya era hora, jovencito! Si tan solo me pudieses escuchar te daría un..." Mrs. Ruiz yelled angrily but knowing he couldn't hear her.
"I know yer here, lady" Raph said. Mrs. Ruiz looked surprised.
"Sorry I'm late. It's kinda hard driving with a scared girl trying to rip my waist in two with her arms!" Raph explained. Mrs. Ruiz giggled.
"I don't know why ya choose mah brother" Raph said "Anyway… I hope this ends well… for Mike's sake. Night lady" Raph said looking at Mrs. Ruiz direction before getting into the copter.
Teresa wasn't sure herself why she had chosen Mikey. Maybe it was destiny, maybe not. Coincidence? Could be. What she did know was that this new friend could be the cure to her restless soul.
