El Viaje de Coquita
El Capítulo Veintiséis
They found the rest of the dead family waiting at a cable car station.
Julio was the first to see them. "There they are!"
Pepita landed on the platform with Dante tumbling to a stop behind her. Coco, her parents, and Socorro dismounted from Pepita and reunited with the others.
Óscar and Felipe embraced their sister, Julio and Victoria gave Coco big hugs, and Rosita pinched Socorro's cheeks.
Once the euphoria wore off, Victoria set her gaze hard on Héctor. "Alright, you've caused enough trouble with this family for one night. It's two hours before the day is done, so you best be heading back to your gueto soon."
"Victoria?" Coco walked over to her daughter.
"Mamá, what were you even doing running around with Socorro and that músico? Do you realize how close you're cutting this with getting Socorro back home?"
Socorro stepped in. "She was trying to send me home, but I wanted to figure out why Papá Héctor never came home. The whole journey was my idea."
"Did you find anything?"
Imelda nodded. "We did. He was on his way home from his music tour when he was murdered by Ernesto de la Cruz."
Héctor and the two Cocos were the only ones who didn't gasp at the revelation.
"Who is this Ernesto de la Cruz?" Victoria asked.
"He was Héctor's childhood friend."
"They considered each other brothers."
"He became a famous musician by singing the songs written by Papá."
Imelda nodded. "The whole reason I made the rule of no music was so I wouldn't have to listen to my husband's songs being played all throughout the square."
"Does this mean that the ban is lifted now?" Rosita asked.
"Can Papá be part of our family again?"
"There's one thing we need to do first."
"What is it?" Julio asked.
"We need to fulfill Elena's pledge and put an end to México's adoration of de la Cruz."
"And how are we going to do that?" Victoria asked.
Socorro's eyes lit up. "I might know a way."
It was now half an hour before sunrise. Ernesto de la Cruz's 84th Annual Día de los Muertos Sunrise Spectacular was underway, and the stadium was packed with fans of every lifespan ready to watch the show.
The orchestra finished the opening overture, and the lights in the stadium dimmed, signalling the start of the show.
Two spotlights illuminated a pair of fake mountains on either side of the stage.
Suddenly, the entire stage was orange with fiery lights, and fake flames were jetting out from the stage floor all around the mountains, which now carried two eagles with Frida's face.
The birds' chests slammed open as dancers assembled on the stage in front of the displays and performed their choreographed dance.
The performance on top of the mountains played out just as had been rehearsed, except that the dancers that fell off the merlin's mountain slunk off to the backstage area.
Frida saw them off. "Tiena suerte, muchacha."
"Gracias, Frida." Socorro followed her family backstage.
Everyone shed their Frida costumes and huddled together in a circle.
"Is everyone clear on the plan?" Coco asked.
Victoria nodded. "Find Socorro's book,..."
Her father picked up. "...give it to Socorro,..."
Imelda finished up. "... and then send her home."
"And then once she's back in the Land of the Living,..."
"...we take care of Ernesto in the Land of the Dead."
Héctor held out a cempazuchitl flower. "Everyone take a pedal."
Everyone complied, and they set off on their mission.
Imelda led the way through the halls. "Now, we just need to find de la Cruz."
"¿Sí?" The man in question was just stepping out of his dressing room.
The whole family hid behind the wall as Ernesto sized up Imelda.
"Espera un minuto..."
In the time it took Ernesto to register who was standing before him, he was met with a boot to the face that sent his head spinning.
"That's for murdering the love of my life!"
Héctor revealed himself to Ernesto. "She's talking about me!"
"Héctor?! How did you - - ?" He was met with another boot to the face.
"And that's for trying to murder my tataranieta!"
Socorro emerged into the hall. "She's talking about me!"
"You!"
Ernesto pulled his jacket tighter, revealing through a bulge where he was hiding... "The book!"
The rest of the family appeared behind Socorro and her tatarabuelos.
Ernesto immediately sprinted down the corridor behind him.
"After him!" Imelda led the family down the dark hallways.
Ernesto barged through the costume room. "Security! ¡Ayudenme!"
The Riveras weren't far behind him.
Soon, they were surrounded by guards underneath the stage.
Coco and Julio led the way into battle, with the twins behind them using each other's arms as nun-chucks. Rosita and Victoria cleared the way for Héctor, Imelda, and Socorro to chase after Ernesto.
A stagehand caught sight of Ernesto. "Places, señor! You're on in 30 seconds!"
Ernesto shoved him out of the way and tried to open the door.
Before he could, Imelda grabbed his shoulders and pulled him away, jerking the book out of his pocket and sending it to the floor.
They both fought for possession of it, and Socorro tackled Ernesto away from Imelda.
Imelda landed on a nearby platform. "Socorro! ¡Tengo el libro!"
Socorro ran to get the book from Imelda, but Ernesto beat her to her.
Suddenly, the platform began to rise, taking Ernesto and Imelda with it.
The mariachi tried to throw the shoemaker off the platform, but he couldn't get her to let go of the book.
Socorro waved the family to the stairs leading to the side wing. "Come on! This way!"
The twins held off the guards while the rest of the family hurried to the stage where Imelda and Ernesto were.
The announcer could be heard speaking to the audience. "Damas y caballeros, the one... the only... Ernesto de la Cruz!"
All the spotlights flashed on, forcing Ernesto to hold off fighting the book from Imelda to greet the audience with a smile and a wave.