CHRONICLES OF THE FUTURE PART 2
"The Ex-Hero"
The children were formed in a single-file type fashion when they followed the gods out the door. Their minds were racing with extreme sadness, and shock. Maria and Manolo no longer in love? Joaquin's spirit broken? That's too sad.
It took them no longer than fifteen minutes to reach the nursing home that La Muerte and Xibalba were talking about.
"Remember, my name is not La Muerte in this disguise; my name is Kate."
"And my name is Ron." Xibalba said.
The kids gave them a face that told them they understood. Then, they walked in. Like usual, the nursing place was depressing in some wings, and very much alright in other wings of the building. They walked and walked until they found a large room with eight men seated around a table playing cards and watching the game on the tv next to them.
La Muerte pointed at the man wearing the purple uniform. That was Joaquin. He looked very broken and sad while the other men were laughing and talking. Before the the tour group entered, another nurse dashed by and walked over to Joaquin.
"Mr. Mondragon, it's time for your lunch." He looked up at her with daggers in his eyes.
"You know I don't eat."
"You have to, sir."
He rolled his eyes and snatched the nearby walking cane.
"Fine."
The gods and kids waited for a few minutes after Joaquin was settled into bed with the tray of food on his lap with the TV playing. He hadn't eaten in a few days and was now letting the scent and look of the delicious food get to his hunger.
Finally letting go of his pride for an hour, he ate and enjoyed the taste. Then heard a knock.
"What do you want?!" he angrily yelled.
"You have some visitors, Mr. Mondragon."
Visitors? Nobody ever visited him. Gasp! What if it was Maria and Manolo? Had they finally gotten back together, so he could go to the Land of the Remembered in peace? He sat up more, and switched off the tv.
"Alright!" he said.
His face dropped when he saw it wasn't his friends.
"Get out of my room! The news is playing."
"I'd have respect if I were you. Kate said.
"Why?"
The human spun and her human look was gone. La Muerte was now in the room; her husband had changed too.
"La Muerte? Xibalba? Why are you here with these kids?"
"They came here to find out what happened in the early years after the Dia de los Muertos with Chakal."
"Oh. Well, I don't wanna talk about it."
"Oh, please?!" The kids whined.
"Wait, they know that story?"
"Joaquin, there is a secret wing at the museum up the street that holds all the information."
"The Book of Life?"
"Yes."
"Huh. And here I thought the world had missed a good story."
"Only these kids know." She said pointing down at the tour group.
Joaquin put the food away.
"Well, after the Day of the Dead, a few years went by, and Manolo and Maria were visiting General Posada for his birthday. Manolo chose to spend some father-son time with him, because Carlos was dead. Anyway, I don't know all that much about what happened because I wasn't there. I arrived, and the General was drowning in a pool of his own blood. Manolo didn't say anything. I thought it was his fault, too."
"Tell us more?" Xibalba said.
"No, I'm gonna take a nap." Joaquin said. He obviously was trying to get out of talking to hide his tears.
"Let's leave him, Children." Said La Muerte.
While the group exited, each kid one by one yelled their own tribute to the ex-hero.
"JOAQUIN!" They all yelled.
He smiled and responded by repeating it , and sounding just like he did when he was young.
While they walked out, the kids kept talking about how sad it it was to see him like that.
"It's too bad he wasn't there when General Posada was in trouble." Said Luke.
"Alright, we're going to our next stop." Xibalba said
"Who are we meeting now?"
"Manolo."
That meant they were on their way to an insane asylum. Oh, boy.