AUthor's Note: Short chapter this time, guys. TO increase word count I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have reviewed so far (Jose, love ya man! Bat Freak, same to you!) and to tell you I don't own El Tigre, if you haven't figured that one out yet.
El Tigre: Evolution
"I just want to see how the story ends. Is that so wrong?"
-Diego Luxe
Chapter 14
This chronicler would like to say that the heavens opened up and the tears of angels poured down to commemorate the day Miracle City's finest hero was laid to rest, but alas, the drought continued, and the sun beat down mercilessly on the funeral procession. Manny, honoring White Pantera as El Tigre, looked around, with a kind of sorrowful pride. His father's fears of being washed up and disrespected were unfounded. Thousands of people lined the streets, civilian, hero, and villain alike, heads bowed in respect as the procession went on.
The funeral itself was a blur to Manny. Heroes his father had worked with but he had never met got up to saw a few words, there was the whole "Ashes to ashes…" bit, and so on. He looked down the whole time. Frida, who was sitting next to him, noticed this. She quietly placed a comforting arm on his shoulder.
After the funeral, people came up to Manny, giving their condolences. Manny thanked them mechanically. Even when Frida's father came up to him and shook hands with him, saying, " I'm sorry, Rivera. Your father…was a good man," Manny just nodded. Chief Suarez didn't blow up on him, but instead returned the nod, showing that he understood. A bandaged Toshiro (who had been just released from the hospital) came limping up to Manny.
"I'm most sorry for your loss, Manny," he said politely.
"Last time I saw you conscious, you threatened to "sumobliterate" me…" Manny said blandly.
Toshiro bowed. "And I humbly apologize for that. Now is a time for healing. If you need anything, I will be glad to assist you. After all, you are not the only one who has lost a father…" Toshiro glanced at the ground. Manny went to say something, but Toshiro shuffled away. Manny sighed and was just about to go join his family when a voice made him freeze.
"My heart goes out to you, Manny Rivera."
As Manny turned, his eyes narrowed.
It was Diego Luxe.
"Really, it does," Luxe added. "It's such a tragedy."
"You bastard," Manny said, quite simply.
"Quite a mouth you have there, boy."
"You hired those guys, didn't you?"
"Guilty."
"Why are you doing this? All of this?" Manny demanded.
Luxe looked up and thought for a moment before he answered. "Have you ever borrowed a book from the library and gotten so enthralled in the story that you just had to finish it? But when you get close to the end, you find that someone has torn out the last few pages, leaving that compelling, addicting story incomplete. Well, that is what has happened to me. That is why I am using all my resources to collect the pages of the Tome and crushing anyone who gets in my way. I just want to see how the story ends. Is that so wrong?"
Manny took all of this in and then said, "Los Alados are using you."
Luxe laughed in disbelief. "Them? Using me? Did the Prophet tell you that? In case you haven't noticed, the Alados are denser than rocks. They're only good for fetching pages. They serve one man and one man only, the master of the Tome, and right now, that's me." Luxe turned to leave. "Godspeed, Rivera!"
"I will kill you…that I swear," Manny said to Luxe's retreating figure.
Manny turned to see his family and Frida in the midst of a sea of people. He was alone, but it wouldn't last long. He knew what he had to do.
As the crowd thinned slightly Frida looked around for Manny. When she couldn't find him, she became worried. She wandered off in search of her friend.
A LITTLE LATER…
The door to the Prophet's chamber burst open. The Prophet had been watching the funeral in his water-bowl.
"I knew you would come," the Prophet said matter-of-factly.
Standing in the doorway was Manny.
"I'll do it," he said.