Chapter 21.

The Challenge

"What you doing, kid?" asked the Candle Maker.

"Do we have a deal?" asked Manolo.

"We have a deal," said Xibalba, "Now tell me, boy, what keeps you up at night? What eats at you from the inside? What, do tell, is your worst fear? Got it."

Xibalba clicked his fingers and Manolo found himself in the centre of a huge arena filled with the people of the Land of the Remembered.

"Manolo Sanchez!" said Xibalba, "You will have to defeat every bull . . . the Sanchez family ever finished!"

"That would be thousands!" said Luis, who was in the emperor box with Carmen, Jorge, Carmelo, Alexander and Ingram.

"All . . . at . . . once!" said Xibalba, "If you complete this task . . . you, Alexander and Ingram will live again. And if you fail, you will be forgotten. Forever. And as for Alexander and Ingram they will fade from existence. Forever."

"WHAT?!" shouted Alexander and Ingram.

"This is impossible. It can't be done!" said the Candle Maker.

All of the bulls charged at Manolo but Manolo kept dodging them.

"You can do it!" said Carmelo.

Back at San Angel:

One of Chakal's men chased two boys until Carlos punched him.

"Are you two all right?" asked Carlos.

"Chakal is coming!" said one of the boys, "With a whole army behind him!"

"You boys warn General Posada," said Carlos and the two boys ran off towards San Angel, "I will buy you some time. Who wants to go first?"

Chakal's men step aside as Chakal walked through them.

"I hate . . . bullfighters," growled Chakal.

"Then come and get some," said Carlos.

Chakal and Carlos charged at each other and Carlos's life candle in the Cave of Souls went out.

Back In The Land of The Remebered:

Manolo was still dodging the bulls.

"Manolo! Get out of there!" said Jorge.

Two bulls hit Manolo and he fell to the ground. Light appeared and Carlos arrived and he was now a white calavera skeleton.

"What is happening?" asked Carlos.

"Carlos!" said Carmen.

"Carmen!" said Carlos.

"Manolo! Your father is here!" shouted Alexander.

"Papa?" asked Manolo.

"Chakal and his men are at the gates of San Angel!" said Carlos.

Manolo stood up and all of the bulls transformed into a huge bull and it let out a loud roar, that was louder then Alexander's roar was.

"Whoa! That is a very huge bull," said Alexander.

"It sure is," agreed Ingram.