CHAPTER 3: Crazy Town
Manolo had been placed into this insane institution a long time ago. This poor man's probably been here for years; missing out on holidays and the outside world in general. The kids made sure in staying close to their guides when they entered the place. Everywhere were people staying in one spot; either talking to themselves, or plainly just rocking back and forth where they were.
The long hallway had steel doors with a single window the size of an average person's face. Crazy laughter and yelling flooded out of the rooms with a spine tingling echo. Some people ran to the windows and tried to snatch at the kids, for the sake of scaring them.
Some rooms didn't even have a window. Some were entirely padded and held patients wearing straight jackets. These poor people weren't even at fault. They had to be locked up if they were a threat to anyone, or themselves. Why weren't they being treated?! They were just locked up.
Eventually, Manolo's room was found. The children were instructed to stay behind the gods until they said it was safe. He had gone crazy from loneliness once the divorce was final between him and Maria. Now the kids knew what people meant when they said "I'm crazy for you."
When they entered, they knew it was Manolo. He had that Sanchez curl. Only, he wasn't the same. He sat in the corner with his tray of food pushed away from him, and ran his hand across the floor like some type of animal was there. But there wasn't.
"Don't try any reasoning with him, kids. Leave this to us."
"Why?" Asked Sasha.
"Because he's too far gone, that's why." Said La Muerte.
She held out her hand to Manolo, and he accepted it very calmly.
"These are some of your fans, Manolo." She said, while pointing to the kids.
He looked at them with craze all over his face.
"Why does he look so empty?"
"Because he is."
When La Muerte saw he looked alright, she allowed the kids to go up to him and shake his hand.
"Why won't he speak?"
"He doesn't know how to, anymore. He let his anger make him act like an animal and so they treat him like one."
Sasha's tender little heart broke, and she ran to Manolo, and hugged him instead of shaking his hand.
He looked surprised at the girl.
"T-t-thank-you." He forced out.
He obviously was too sick to speak anymore, but the kids stayed and told him at how they adored him and his heart. He understood, he just didn't know how to tell them.
"No retreat." The kids said as they all put their hands out in a team-like way.
"N-n-n-o surrender." He said.
With everyone on the verge of tears, they said good-bye.
Now it was onto Maria's.