AN- I realize this is a slow start, but I know some people love angst... so... yeah. Enjoy!
Soon it would be morning.
It had taken a lot of convincing before the weakened young man was finally untied. He fell to the floor out of exhaustion. Sitting in one position for 6 hours did more strain on his body than one might think.
The first thought that came to Hector's mind was that he wanted to attack the man who made him suffer these past couple hours. But he didn't have the strength, physically or emotionally.
It was a double edged sword.
Not only was he suffering from what could have been an overdose to having his daughter pay the price if he did something stupid. Esto fue completamente ridículo!
He figured it was best to ultimately do what Ernesto wanted and sat down to try and write a new song. The partners were expected in Ha Sta Cecelia tomorrow night to perform. A day ago, Hector would have been excited. But now, he just wanted to be home with his family; he wanted to see his wife, "mi amor", he thought.
The last night he saw her, he remembered how worried she looked as she saw them off at the train station. Imelda kissed Coco goodbye, not giving Ernesto another look. Hector thought about the way he held her, kissed her, told her he loved her... "mi amor..."
Fondness turned to hatred as Hector stared at his partner taking another sip of wine looking pretty pleased with himself.
"How's it going, amigo?", boasted Ernesto.
Hector slammed his fist on the desk causing every content to fall on the floor. "Cobarde! How do you expect me to write a song under these circumstances? COBARDE!"
Ernesto slyly smiled taking yet another shot, every one making him drunker by the minute. "I'm sure you'll find inspiration", he said. He pulled out two photos from his jacket. They were small but precious.
Hector gasped, immediately checking his pants pocket for the photos of his wife and child he had kept them in; they were gone. Getting up, he attempted to take a few steps forward. "Ernesto! Give those back to me!" They were the only photos of Imelda and Coco that Hector could afford.
"You remember what I said Hector...", replied Ernesto, taking Coco's photo, (It was a picture of her taken months before. She wore her blue dress, uncomfortable that there was a strange man taking her picture, but was joyous once her father snapped it), and ripping it in half.
Before an enraged Hector could even get near Ernesto, he thought of something. He had not heard from Coco in a while. She had remained behind the safety of her own bedroom door. Once in a while she would ask for her papa and he would respond to reassure her. But it's been longer since the last time he heard her. He began to worry.
He immediately ran to her door and tried to turn the knob. It was locked.
There was a faint whimper.
"Gracias a Dios!", thought Hector. His darling girl was still... alive. He shuddered. But if she was... you know... why didn't she speak? He turned to Ernesto. "I beg of you! Open this door! I want to see my girl!"
Ernesto chuckled. "She wouldn't shut up. I had to make some... adjustments."
Hector shook his head, rage filling him again. Never had he felt this for anyone before, much less this long. "If, if you've hurt her...", he stammered shakily. "Open this door!"
For the first time, Ernesto didn't see a problem with that. There was something up his sleeve that Hector had not known about. Let's just say that if Hector had made a run for it, he wouldn't get very far with a round of bullets in his legs.
Slowly but surely, Ernesto picked the key out of his pocket and did as he was told.
Coco was sitting on her bed, closest to the head. She had been tied up in the same position Hector had been in. When she saw her papa, she whimpered. The rag in her mouth made it impossible for her to talk.
"Coco! Darling!", yelled Hector, relieved when he got to reach his daughter and cut her free. He checked her wrists for rope burns because unlike him, she didn't have any. Once he threw the rope aside, both father and daughter wrapped each other in their arms; Hector held Coco protectively as he kissed her forehead. She smiled at the positive affection she had hungered for.
"Alright, back to work", muttered Ernesto.
Hector sneered at him as he took a step forward. He had his daughter, why not make a run for it? No, it wasn't worth the risk. Maybe there was a way to escape. He had to think of one, a good one. But in the mean time, it would be best to just go on with the tour. After all, Hector knew one thing for sure, this time, if Ernesto even tried to lay his hands on Coco again... Hector might just kill him.
"I want to go home Papa. I miss Mama", whispered Coco.
"We will, mi ángel, I promise."