I am SO SO SO sorry about not updating this for almost two years...I had no ideas for it, and other projects took over my brain, but hopefully, I can finally put this into the complete category. So again, I apologize for the wait and hope you enjoy it ^^.
Héctor did his best to relax as he brushed through the bird's nest he liked to call his hair, Imelda in the next room preparing herself and Coco for the trip to the police station.
The musician was unsure how to tell them what had happened; it had been difficult enough to say it to his beloved.
It seemed the day would be an interesting one. At least Héctor did not have to worry about being mercilessly murdered by his friend turned lunatic.
How had things gotten so bad?
Did Ernesto always hate him? Even when they were children? The idea he had poison lying around ready to use made his blood run cold; he had been prepared and willing to use it just because Héctor wanted to go home.
Killing him might have been the plan all along so he would not have to share whatever they got from the shows, and his behavior leading up to the attempt had also been telling.
Grabbing his bags in desperation, showing what he truly cared for and wanted at that moment, the songbook and his guitar.
Oh!
He had left his songbook and guitar behind!
But, he was alive and could write more songs, and the police could help him recover his things later.
Little footsteps drew Héctor's attention away from the morbid thoughts and made a smile rise on his face as Coco ran over to him with her pink ribbons in her hands before she held them up for her father to take.
"You want me to put in your hair ties?" Héctor asked, smiling wider as he took the little pieces of cloth to tie them into little bows at the tops of his daughter's braids, making her giggle.
Oh, how he loved those little birdsong giggles and laughs that put any man-made tune to shame with how much joy they inspired.
"There you are, Pequeño" Héctor chuckled as Coco hugged his leg in appreciation.
"Thank you, papa!" Then, Coco ran off to show her mother the new bows, and Héctor returned to cleaning up his appearance.
Strange, why did he smell smoke? Perhaps one of their neighbors was cooking something? An odd time of day for it, but who was he to judge if someone wanted a snack?
Imelda's shout of his name sent Héctor running for her, and that is when he noticed the billowing clouds of black spilling into the house and felt the heat.
"The town is on fire!"
55555
The Rivera family raced through the smoke and flames spreading across the town. Homes and businesses quickly succumbed to the heat, falling as if pushed.
Coco was safe in her father's arms, tucked into a damp blanket as her parents and uncles looked for a way out of the inferno, glad to see that it seemed everyone else in the town had made it out already.
"There's the enterance!" Oscar called out and pointed at the opening, which thankfully had not been taken over by fire and smoke yet.
"Let's go quickly!" Héctor said, noting how quickly the fire was starting towards their one way out, and the group ran as fast as their legs could carry them...until...
Héctor was yanked back and quickly wrenched his body around to avoid falling on Coco. He cried out as a vicious kick to his back made pain explode in his spine and curled around his daughter to keep her from being hurt by his attacker.
"You! You foul demon!" Imelda's voice was heard screaming as Héctor looked up to see Ernesto glaring at him, looking at his once-friend as if he was nothing but burro droppings on his shoes.
Héctor quickly dropped Coco as he was yanked to his feet. "Go! Run to your mama!"
The crazed man tried to yank the smaller one over to where a roaring fire was, intending to toss him in.
The musician was having none of it and tried to twist around in the other man's grip as he did before to stomp at his feet.
Héctor yelped as fire licked at his leg, and Ernesto took this as his opportunity to try and throw him in but screeched in pain himself as a little pink shoe made contact with his eye, sending him into the flames as his would be victim dashed forward to prevent being grabbed again.
Coco had tears running down her face as her father snatched her up, ignoring the screams of Ernesto as he burned and ran; the Rivera's grateful for the ability to breathe fresh air as they broke past the smoke barrier.
The fire was put out in record time by the firefighters alerted to the situation, but the damage was done, not as bad as it could have been, but it would need a lot of repairs.
But at least it was over
